My Two Cents
Greetings, Bits-ers! We’ve got some great announcement news for you this afternoon, but first...
Tim has taken a look at a couple of new releases on disc for you all, including Sergio Martino’s Torso (1973), an Italian giallo title from Arrow Video in 4K Ultra HD, and also Antonio Margheriti’s Cannibal Apocalypse (1980) in 4K Ultra HD from Kino Cult. So that should take care of your schlock horror cravings for today.
Morning reviews are on the way, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled.
Now then, the big announcement news today is that 20th Century Studios has just officially set Fede Alvarez’s Alien: Romulus (2024) for 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD release on 12/3, with the Digital release expected in a couple of weeks on 10/15. The title will come in Steelbook packaging only. Look for HDR10 high dynamic range and Dolby Atmos audio on a 66GB disc. The aspect ratio (per the press release) is 2.39:1.
[Editor’s Note: The studio press release indicates HDR10 only, but the open packaging shot—when zoomed in—reveals that the disc has the Dolby Vision logo on it. We’ve asked the studio to confirm and will post an update here when we hear back.]
[Editor’s Update – 10/1/24: Just a quick heads up to clarify... I’ve confirmed with studio sources that the Alien: Romulus 4K will indeed have Dolby Vision HDR, despite the fact that their press release suggested otherwise. However: No, Disney and 20th Century aren’t necessarily adding DV to all future Ultra HD titles. Instead, they’re making the decision to include it on a case by case basis going forward.]
Extras will include the Return to Horror: Crafting Alien: Romulus documentary, which includes 4 parts (The Director’s Vision, Creating the Story, Casting the Faces, and Constructing the World). You’ll also get 2 additional featurettes (Inside the Xenomorph Showdown and Alien: A Conversation which features Alvarez talking with original Alien director Ridley Scott). And a selection of Alternate/Extended Scenes will also be included. You can see the packaging at left and also below. [Read on here...]
All right, we’ve got a bunch of news to run down for you all today...
But before we get to that, we wanted to let you know that we’ve just completed major updates of our Release Dates & Cover Artwork section here at The Bits, as well as our 4K Ultra HD Release List, both of which include all the latest Amazon pre-order links. What’s more, we’ve posted some very cool content over the last couple of weeks on our Digital Bits Patreon. And those of you interested in titles that might be coming to 4K UHD in 2025 will definitely want to check those posts out. Becoming a Patreon subscriber is a great way to support the work we do here at The Bits—it’s affordable and we try to make it worth your while. So please consider joining us over there, and we appreciate it! Now then...
The big news today is that Marvel and Disney have just officially set Shawn Levy’s Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) for release on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on 10/22, with the Digital release expected on 10/1. The 4K disc will include Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio on a 66GB disc. There will be a wide-release 4K version in Amaray packaging, along with dual limited-edition Steelbooks one of which features Deadpool on the cover with a red interior, and the other featuring Wolverine on the cover with a yellow interior. A Walmart-exclusive Amaray version will also include “pop-up” packaging featuring the Deadpool corp. Regardless of which version you buy, the disc will contain audio commentary with Shawn Levy and actor Ryan Reynolds, a gag reel, 4 featurettes (Finding Madonna: Making the Oner, Practical Approach: Celebrating the Art of Ray Chan, Loose Ends: The Legacy of Heroes, and Wolverine), 3 deleted scenes (Elevator Ride, Do Nothing, and Daddy’s in Love), and “Fun Sack” (Dr. Deadpool, Product Review, and Wade is Back). You can see the cover artwork at left and also below. [Read on here...]
Heads up, Digital Bits readers!
We’ve got some great and exclusive breaking news for all of you here at the site for you today, and it comes to you direct from the good people at Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment!
Now… many of you will no doubt have been wondering exactly why it is that Second Sight in the UK had to stop taking pre-orders for this title from customers here in the United States.
Well, with this announcement this afternoon, now we finally know why.
Here are all the official details, straight from the studio…
Coming to 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Disc from Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment on October 22
Newly remastered in Dolby Vision HDR from a new 4K Scan of the Original Camera Negative!
THE HITCHER (1986)
Cast – Rutger Hauer, C. Thomas Howell, Jennifer Jason Leigh
In this 1986 cult classic, director Robert Harmon thrills the viewer with the story of young Jim Halsey (C. Thomas Howell), who stops on the highway to pick up a hitchhiker, not knowing that by doing so, he opens the door to terrible evil. [Read on here...]
Heads-up, Bits readers—we’ve got an exclusive title announcement for you this morning! Here are all the details…
Refuse Films announces the world Blu-ray premiere of Trey Parker's Cannibal! The Musical! and their latest sub-label, the TromArchive Collection
Cannibal! The Musical is making its debut on Blu-ray from Refuse Films. Shot on 16mm film and edited on video, Cannibal! The Musical is presented in high definition for the first time on Blu-ray.
Written and directed by Trey Parker (co-creator of South Park), this release is limited to only 3,000 units, playable worldwide and includes an exclusive slipcover featuring the original 1997 key art.
Brand new special features include new audio commentary, cast interviews, never-before-seen deleted scenes approved by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, over three hours of raw BTS footage, the UK cut of Alferd Packer: The Musical, plus hours of archival material.
Producer Jason McHugh confirms that the original 16mm footage of Cannibal! The Musical was lost somewhere in Colorado in the late 90s. Refuse Films uncovered the original Betacam master tape from the Troma archives in New York. [Read on here...]
As we close out the week, let’s start today as always with more new disc reviews...
Stephen has turned in his thoughts on John Mackenzie’s The Long Good Friday (1980) in 4K Ultra HD from the Criterion Collection.
Stuart has offered his take on a trio of new and recent Blu-ray titles, including Daniel Mann’s Come Back, Little Sheba (1952) from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, and the 1965 French anthology film Six in Paris (1965) and Larry Kent’s The Bitter Ash (1963) from Vinegar Syndrome.
Tim has taken a look at Tinto Brass’ Frivolous Lola (1998) in 4K Ultra HD from Cult Epics.
And finally, Dennis has delivered a review of Penny Lane’s documentary Nuts! (2016) on Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome.
In announcement news today, Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment has finally made Aaron Sorkin’s The West Wing official for Blu-ray on 10/1, in honor of the NBC series’ 25th anniversary. [Read on here...]