First things first today... some of you may have seen my reviews of Mel Gibson’s Braveheart and Ridley Scott’s Gladiator on 4K Ultra HD when I posted them late on Friday night, but if not... there you go. Both are coming out on 5/15 from Paramount in reference quality (or very close to it) and they’re certainly the best way to see these films yet bar none.

Also today, Tim has just posted reviews of Kino Lorber Studio Classics’ outstanding new The Outer Limits: Season One box set, along with Adult Swim’s Rick and Morty: Season 1 and Season 2, all on Blu-ray. Each of these titles are well worth a look.

In 4K Ultra HD catalog news, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has just set The Quick and the Dead for release on the format on 7/17. The 4K disc will feature Dolby Atmos audio and HDR10. It will also include the previous Blu-ray extras and will add 7 never-before-seen deleted scenes for this release. We’ve updated the 4K Ultra HD Release List here at The Bits accordingly. [Read on here...]

Afternoon, folks. Let’s get right to business today...

First up, Tim has posted a review of Ian Curteis’ The Projected Man (1966) on Blu-ray Disc from our friends at Scream Factory. Do give it a look.

Also today, our own Michael Coate has just posted a new History, Legacy & Showmanship column celebrating the 50th anniversary of John Boorman’s Point Blank with historian Dwayne Epstein. It’s a fun interview, so be sure to check it out.

In announcement news today, Lionsgate has set A24’s The Florida Project for Blu-ray and DVD release on 2/13, followed by The Disaster Artist on both formats on 3/13. [Read on here…]

All right, let’s start the week with some more release news…

Kino Lorber has just announced the 3/20 Blu-ray and DVD release of No Orchids for Miss Blandish (1948) as part of its Studio Classics line. Kino is also releasing a double feature Blu-ray of Mike Binder films on 2/27, including Crossing the Bridge and Indian Summer. The company will also release James Cruze’s Covered Wagon (1923) on Blu-ray on 2/20. This is widely considered to be the first Western epic. And on 3/13, look for them to release Revenge of the Cheerleaders (1976) on DVD only for Code Red.

MVD has set The Return of the Swamp Thing for release on Blu-ray on 5/8. The set will include both Blu-ray and DVD in one package. [Read on here…]

We’ve got more reviews for you to check out today here at The Bits, including my thoughts Warner’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone on 4K Ultra HD and also Tim’s take on Arrow Video’s Doberman Cop: Special Edition.

A quick heads-up: I’m aware that the Potter cover link goes to a broken page on Amazon – for some reason the order page for that title is MIA. We’ll add it as soon as it goes back live and we link to the Harry Potter 8-Film Collection 4K set in the review text. More reviews are coming this week, so keep checking back. [Read on here…]

We start today’s post here at The Bits with a pair of new discs reviews: My take on Michael Bay’s Transformers: The Last Knight on 4K Ultra HD from Paramount and also Tim’s thoughts on Criterion’s new Blu-ray release of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me.

Also here at The Bits today, we’ve posted the weekly update of the Release Dates & Artwork section with all the latest Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD cover artwork and Amazon.com pre-order links. As always, we’d appreciate it if you’d shop through our links. [Read on here…]

A quick note before we start today’s post: A bunch of you have e-mailed over the past week or so and I’ve got a bit of a backlog in getting back to everyone. So if you haven’t heard from me yet, I’ll do my best to respond to all of you over the next few days. Thanks for your patience!

Now then... let’s have an overdue announcement news round-up, shall we?

First up today, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is going to be releasing Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire on 4K Ultra HD on 11/7 (SRP $31.99 each), along with the previously revealed Harry Potter 8-Film Collection in 4K UHD (SRP around $215.99). We’re awaiting the studio’s official press release, but Walmart already has the discs listed. Pre-orders are not up yet on Amazon, but we’ll add the links as soon as they are. Audio will be English DTS:X, with HDR10 high dynamic range. You can see the over artwork to the left and also below. [Read on here…]

All right, no official update yet from Disney on the HDR on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 4K. There are reports that Dolby is claiming Dolby Vision will only be on the 4K streaming version, but we haven’t been able to confirm that yet. So stay tuned.

Disney has however, officially just announced (at D23) that they’re releasing Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 10/3, with the Digital release due on 9/19. We know that it will have HDR (so HDR-10, no word specifically of Dolby Vision) and that it will include Dolby Atmos audio. “Bonus material includes a collection of behind-the-scenes, making-of stories, including a conversation with directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg; a sit-down with the two young newcomers who play Henry and Carina; the secrets behind the menacing new villain, Salazar, and his ferocious ghost sharks; an on-set visit with Jack’s first mate from all five films; a chat with Sir Paul McCartney who appears as Uncle Jack; and a discussion about the franchise’s legacy; along with hilarious bloopers, deleted scenes and memories from producer Jerry Bruckheimer’s photo diary.” No other details are yet available. You can see the cover art at left.

Meanwhile, we have two new Blu-ray reviews for you today: Tim has checked out Vinegar Syndrome’s Psycho Cop Returns and Psychic Killer, both worth your time if you’re a fan of the genre. Do check them out. [Read on here…]

We have one more new review for you to close out the week: Tim has taken a look at Kazuhiko Yamaguchi’s Wolf Guy on Blu-ray from Arrow Video, featuring the great Sonny Chiba. Do give it a look.

In announcement news today, WB Home Entertainment has just set Shameless: The Complete Seventh Season for Blu-ray and DVD release on 9/26. The studio has also confirmed the 9/19 Blu-ray and DVD release of Arrow: The Complete Fifth Season.

Meanwhile, BBC Home Entertainment has set Ripper Street: Season Five for Blu-ray and DVD release on 8/29.

Universal will release JD Dillard’s Slight on Blu-ray and DVD on 8/1. Also coming that day from the studio on both formats is Joseph Ruben’s The Ottoman Lieutenant. [Read on here…]

We’ve got another History, Legacy & Showmanship column from Michael Coate here at The Bits today, this one looking back at the classic James Bond film You Only Live Twice on its 50th Anniversary. It features another great roundtable discussion with film historians John Cork, Bill Desowitz, Lee Pfeiffer, Bruce Scivally, and Matt Sherman. Don’t miss it!

Also here at the site today, Tim Salmons has a review of Arrow Video’s new Madhouse: Special Edition Blu-ray that’s well worth your time.

The big release news today is that Lionsgate has set The Circle, starring Tom Hanks and Emma Watson, for Blu-ray and DVD release on 8/1, with the Digital HD version due on 7/18. [Read on here…]

The big news today is that Disney has just announced a new Bambi: Anniversary Edition – Walt Disney Signature Collection for release on Blu-ray/DVD combo, DVD, and digital on 6/6 (SRP $39.99). The Disney Movies Anywhere version will be available on 5/23. Extras will include most of the classic Blu-ray bonus features, along with the following all-new content: The Bambi Effect, Studio Stories: Bambi, 2 deleted scenes (Bambi’s Ice and Snow and The Grasshopper), Bambi Fawn facts, and the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit animated short Africa Before Dark. There’s also a digital exclusive short: Celebrating Tyrus Wong. You can see the cover art to the left and below.

The other big news is that HBO has announced the Blu-ray and DVD release of the successful Big Little Lies limited series on 8/1, and the digital version is actually available today for those who can’t wait. Extras will include 6 Inside the Episode featurettes, plus the About Big Little Lies featurette with “never-before-seen cast interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.” [Read on here…]