My Two Cents
All right, today’s update is going to be brief, because of a couple factors. First, I’m talking with a number of sources about some forthcoming and exciting 4K Ultra HD catalog titles, which I’ll talk about here when I can. Second, I’m dealing with replacing my recently defunct Epson 5040ub projector. And more on that soon as well.
In the meantime, we have some very exciting 4K Ultra HD news today that I know a lot of you will be pleased about. And of course, we have more new disc reviews for you as well. So let’s start with those first...
Stephen has posted his thoughts on Warner’s long-awaited 4K Ultra HD release of Eric Radomski and Bruce W. Timm’s animated Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)! And it appears the title has been worth the wait.
Stuart has also weighed in with a look at Robert Mulligan’s The Spiral Road (1962) on Blu-ray from Imprint Films and Via Vision Entertainment.
Dennis has offered his two cents on Jacques Tourneur’s Wichita (1955) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection, as well as Charlotte Le Bon’s Falcon Lake (2022) on Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome.
And last but not least, Tim has shared a review of Luca Bercovici’s Ghoulies (1985) in 4K Ultra HD from the MVD Rewind Collection, as well as Ray Kellogg’s The Giant Gila Monster (1959) and The Killer Shrews (1959) in a new double-feature Blu-ray release from Film Masters.
More disc reviews are forthcoming, so be sure to stay tuned for them. Now then, let’s get to the big release news... [Read on here...]
We’re starting the new week with a trio of disc reviews...
First up, I’ve posted my look at Dan Trachtenberg’s Prey (2022), which streets in long-awaited 4K Ultra HD on 10/3 from 20th Century Studios and Buena Vista Home Entertainment. And I’m pleased to say that the disc does not disappoint in terms of A/V quality.
Also today, Stuart has offered his thoughts on Compton Bennett and Andrew Marton’s King Solomon’s Mines (1950), as recently released on Blu-ray by The Warner Archive Collection.
And Tim has turned in his take on Ryan Meade’s Tom Sullivan documentary Invaluable: The True Story of an Epic Artist (2014) on Blu-ray from Synapse Films.
In terms of announcement news today, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has just announced a new Resident Evil: 6-Movie Collection 4K Ultra HD in Steelbook packaging. That’s due on 11/21. The set includes all 6 films in both Blu-ray and 4K, and all of the 4Ks will feature Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio, plus the previous 5.1 mixes. You can see the cover artwork at left. [Read on here...]
Greeting, Bits-ers! Sorry I’ve been a little MIA here this week. I’ve had a couple unexpected things happening here over the last few days, not the least of which is that my longtime workhorse home theater projector—an Epson 5040UB—decided to die unexpectedly. It appears to be a problem with the mainboard, so I find myself in the position of either having to repair it (which I’m currently investigating) or replacing it (which I’m also researching). If I go with the latter option, it will almost certainly be one of the new JVC models, which I’ve been hearing raves about for a while now. But of course, given the challenges and expenses of running a website in the 21st century—especially at a time when everyone else seems to be publishing everything they do on the wildly passive-aggressive, unvetted information vortex that is social media—suffice it to say that equipment failure was not on my 2022 budgetary Bingo card.
In any case, while I deal with that, I’ve just gotten not only Prey 4K and Loki: The Complete First Season 4K for review, and I’ve already launched into work on a review of the former using my flat panel. So look for that to be posted very soon.
Also today, our very own Stuart Galbraith IV has just chimed in with a review of Imprint’s excellent new Film Focus: Gene Hackman box set, which includes I Never Sang for My Father (1970), Bite the Bullet (1975), March or Die (1977), and The Domino Principle (1977) all on Blu-ray. Enjoy! [Read on here...]
We’ve got a bunch of great title announcement news and “revels” to report today, so let’s get right to it...
First up, our friends at Kino Lorber Studio Classics have just revealed on their social media that they’re working on a new 4K Ultra HD release of Fred Dekker’s The Monster Squad (1987)! And we have street date: Look for it to arrive on 11/28, complete with a new 4K scan of the original camera negative with Dolby Vision HDR on a UHD-100 disc. The 3-disc set will also include the film remastered in 1080p HD on Blu-ray (which will also be available separately) and you’ll get a bonus disc with the Wolfman’s Got Nards (2018) documentary. Plus the set will include a ton of legacy special features. You can see the 4K cover artwork at left.
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has also just revealed the Region A/US Blu-ray release of Ron Moore and Apple TV+’s fantastic alternate/near future science fiction series For All Mankind: Season One. Look for that to street on 11/14. Unfortunately, no 4K Ultra HD release is currently planned. Also, the cover artwork leaves a lot to be desired; it’s identical to the key art used on Dazzler’s UK release (which we reviewed here) but it shares nothing in common with the show’s actual logo or promotional artwork, causing a number of fans we’ve heard from to say it looks like a bootleg. In any case, it’s a great series—one of my favorites actually, along with Apple TV’s Foundation—and it’s great to finally have a legit US Blu-ray option. You can see the cover (with the Amazon pre-order link) below the break.
Sony has also just set FX’s Justified: City Primeval – Season One for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 11/14. And we’ve got that cover artwork for you below as well. [Read on here...]
Welcome to the new week, Bits-ers! We’re starting as always today with a trio of new disc reviews for you to check out...
Stuart has offered his thoughts on Andrei Konchalovsky’s Duet for One (1986) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.
Dennis has delivered a look at Renato Polselli’s Delirium (1972) on Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome.
And Tim rounds things out with his review of George A. Romero’s Creepshow (1982) in 4K Ultra HD from Scream Factory.
We also have several more reviews currently in the works for the next few days, so be sure to keep checking back for them.
The big news this morning is that the Criterion Collection has just unveiled its December slate of titles, including one new 4K Ultra HD release. The slate includes an upgraded version of Allen Baron’s Blast of Silence (1961) (Spine #428 – Blu-ray and DVD) on 12/5, followed by The Red Balloon and Other Stories: Five Films by Albert Lamorisse (1951-1965) (Spine #1200 – Blu-ray and DVD – includes Bim, the Little Donkey, White Mane, The Red Balloon, Stowaway in the Sky, and Circus Angel) and Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022) (Spine #1201 – 4K UHD + Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and DVD) on 12/12.
You can see the cover art for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio at left and all three of them below the break. [Read on here...]