Displaying items by tag: Bluray

We’ve got some more good catalog 4K news to report for you today, folks...

Lucasfilm and Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment are officially announcing the 4K Ultra HD Steelbook release of Ron Howard’s beloved fantasy adventure Willow (1988) this morning!

And here’s the official word, straight from the studio...

GEORGE LUCAS AND RON HOWARD’S TIMELESS TALE ARRIVES ON 4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY DISC FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!

Watch The Oscar-Nominated* Adventure Arriving on December 10th

BURBANK, CA (November 12, 2024) – Fans will enjoy the iconic fantasy epic, Willow, from legendary filmmakers, George Lucas and Ron Howard, when it arrives on December 10th in a breathtaking collectible 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook. The film will also be available to buy on digital platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango at Home.

Nominated for two Oscars, the 1988 timeless classic follows a young farmer, Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis), who is chosen to undertake a perilous journey to protect a special baby from an evil queen.

*Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing and Best Effects, Visual Effects. [Read on here...]

Here’s a big one, folks! We’ve got more great Disney 4K Ultra HD news to report for you today.

Remember how we’ve been saying that Disney (since their distribution deal with Sony) is going to be expanding their physical 4K UHD releases? Well, today we bring you breaking news of more Disney+ original series coming to 4K Ultra HD! And these are some major titles!

Here’s the studio’s official press release (be sure to read to the very end for some additional comments of our own)...

FOR THE FIRST TIME ON 4K ULTRA HD!
THE MANDALORIAN SEASON 3, AHSOKA SEASON 1, HAWKEYE SEASON 1 AND LOKI SEASON 2

NEW COLLECTOR’S EDITIONS FROM LUCASFILM AND MARVEL STUDIOS, WITH STEELBOOK PACKAGING, EXCLUSIVE ART, NEW BONUS FEATURES, AND COLLECTOR CARDS ARRIVE ON DECEMBER 3

BURBANK, CA. (October 24, 2024) – The Walt Disney Company has revealed that four all-new collector’s editions of popular Disney+ Original series from Lucasfilm and Marvel Studios will be available on 4K UHD on December 3. The special must-have releases feature sleek SteelBook packaging, exclusive concept art cards and never-before-seen bonus content, making them an absolute must-have for fans to add to their collection.

The titles, all to be released on December 3, 2024, are:

• Star Wars: The Mandalorian – The Complete Third Season
• Star Wars: Ahsoka – The Complete First Season
• Marvel Studios’ Hawkeye – The Complete First Season
• Marvel Studios’ Loki – The Complete Second Season

All four titles will be available to pre-order from October 31, 2024.

Like the previous Lucasfilm and Marvel Studios Collector’s Editions released earlier this year (Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars: Andor Season 1, Marvel Studios’ The Falcon and The Winter Soldier Season 1 and Marvel Studios’ Moon Knight Season 1), each of these new releases will be available nationally on 4K UHD SteelBook with brand-new box art designed by popular artist Attila Szarka and collectible concept art card. [Read on here...]

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...]

All right, here are today’s new disc reviews...

Dennis has taken a look at Joel Schumacher’s 8MM (1999) on Blu-ray from Imprint Films.

Stuart has offered his take on Roberto Gavaldón’s Untouched (1954) on Blu-ray on Powerhouse Films’ Indicator label.

Tim has taken a look at Marcus Nispel’s remake of Friday the 13th (2009) in 4K Ultra HD from Arrow Video. He’s also turned in a review of Lucio Fulci’s Lizard in a Woman’s Skin (1971) on Blu-ray from Umbrella Entertainment.

And last, but certainly not least, Stephen has taken a deep dive into Toho’s Godzilla store-exclusive version of Takashi Yamazaki’s Godzilla Minus One (2023) in 4K Ultra HD!

Also here at The Bits today, we have a brand new update of our Release Dates & Artwork section, which is a convenient way to see all of the new Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD titles that street each week. You can see the cover art, and sort by date and format. And you can click on each of the titles to pre-order them on Amazon.

On that note, I wanted to take a moment to share a challenge we’ve been having of late, which is that our Amazon Affiliate revenue has been declining. For a long time now—for over a decade—our Affiliate revenue has been a big part of helping us to keep The Digital Bits going—to help us cover our server and operating costs. It’s how we’ve been able to keep The Bits free for everyone to read for over 27 years now. In recent months, however, that revenue has begun to decline. We understand that Amazon may not always be the cheapest option these days. So for those of you who still support The Bits by shopping with them through links (in the daily news column, in our disc reviews, in the 4K Ultra HD Release List, and in the Release Dates & Artwork section), we really appreciate it very much! [Read on here...]

All right, here’s today’s new disc reviews for all of you to enjoy...

Stephen has taken a look at Aleksandr Ptushko’s Ruslan and Ludmila (1972) on Blu-ray from Mosfilm via Deaf Crocodile and Vinegar Syndrome.

Dennis has reviewed William C. Reilly’s Men of Respect (1990) on Blu-ray from Columbia Pictures via Imprint Films.

And Tim has checked in with his thoughts on Nancy Walker’s Can’t Stop the Music (1980) in 4K Ultra HD from EMI via Kino Lorber Studio Classics!

Now then, we have a bunch of great announcement news for you today, so let’s get right into it...

For starters, Criterion has just announced their December release slate, which is set to include Wim Wenders’ Paris, Texas (1984) (Spine #501 – 4K + Blu-ray and Blu-ray) on 12/3, Joel and Ethan Coen’s No Country for Old Men (2007) (Spine #1243 – 4K + Blu-ray and Blu-ray) and Federico Fellini’s 8½ (1963) (Spine #140 – 4K + Blu-ray) on 12/10, and Sammo Hung’s Eastern Condors (1987) (Spine #1244 on Blu-ray) on 12/17! Paris, Texas and No Country for Old Men will both include Dolby Vision HDR. No Country for Old Men is a Miramax title currently controlled by Paramount, so this is a licensing situation (and a welcome one). More details are available here, and you can see the cover artwork for all of these below the break. [Read on here...]

We’ve got two more new disc reviews for you today, including...

Stephen’s look at Roger Donaldson’s No Way Out (1987) in 4K Ultra HD from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

And Tim’s thoughts on Jeff Lieberman’s Squirm (1976) on Blu-ray, from KLSC’s Kino Cult line.

Also today, we’ve have word from retail sources (and customers who have pre-ordered the tiles) that Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment’s recently street-dated 4K catalog titles—Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest (1959), Mel Brooks’ Blazing Saddles (1974), and James Cameron’s The Terminator (1984)—have been pushed to 11/19 from 11/5. That probably has to do with the added time needed to replicate enough production to meet demand. Adjust your plans accordingly.

In any case, be aware that North by Northwest (1959) and Blazing Saddles (1974) will each include HDR10 and Dolby Atmos audio, while The Terminator (1984) will include both Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio.

In terms of special features The Terminator will also include Creating The Terminator: Visual Effects & Music, The Terminator: Close to the Real Thing, Unstoppable Force: The Legacy of the Terminator, and 7 deleted scenes. (It appears that the video-based features may be all-new.) Blazing Saddles will include Inappropriate Inspiration: The Blazing Saddles Effect, scene-specific commentary with Mel Brooks, Blaze of Glory: Mel Brooks’ Wild, Wild West, Back in the Saddle, and additional scenes. And North by Northwest will include audio commentary with screenwriter Ernest Legman, North by Northwest: Cinematography, Score, and the Art of the Edit, Destination Hitchcock: The Making of North by Northwest, The Master’s Touch: Hitchcock’s Signature Style, North by Northwest: One for the Ages, and A Guided Tour with Alfred Hitchcock. [Read on here...]