Displaying items by tag: The Digital Bits

Yes, it appears to be true: Disney appears to be quietly preparing to add their support for the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format before the end of 2017. We have a few reasons to suspect this now, based on information from our sources, some of which we can talk about and some that we can’t. But we’ll get to what we can talk about in a moment.

First, though, our own Russell Hammond has just updated our 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, whenever you order literally anything from Amazon after clicking through to them from any of our links on the site, you’re helping to support our work here at The Bits and we greatly appreciate it. I makes a real difference to our work, so thank you for supporting us in this way.

Now then, back to Disney; there are a number of reasons why we now suspect the studio is finally preparing to support the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format. [Read on here…]

All right, we’re back here at The Bits with another great film retrospective column from our own Michael Coate, who’s celebrating the 35th anniversary of Tobe Hooper’s Poltergeist today in History, Legacy & Showmanship. As always, Michael details the film’s initial theatrical release and he’s got an interview with film historian Michael Matessino as well. Enjoy!

In new release news today, Paramount has set a John Wayne Double Feature on Blu-ray on 8/8, featuring Rio Lobo and Big Jake. Both films have been available on BD individually for a few years now.

HBO has set Crashing: The Complete First Season for Blu-ray and DVD release on 8/1. [Read on here…]

“It knows what scares you.”

The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective article commemorating the 35th anniversary of the release of Poltergeist, Tobe Hooper and Steven Spielberg’s acclaimed horror film starring Jobeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson and Zelda Rubinstein and featuring Academy Award-nominated Visual Effects, Music and Sound Effects Editing. [Read on here...]

We’ve got just a couple things for you today to wrap up the week...

First, our own Tim Salmons has just posted a review of Scream Factory’s Serial Mom: Collector’s Edition on Blu-ray. Do give it a look.

In announcement news, Shout! Factory has just revealed another new Shout! Select title for release on Blu-ray on 9/5 (SRP $22.99): Mr. Mom, starring Michael Keaton and Teri Garr. Extras will be announced at a later date. You can see the cover artwork to the left and below.

Scream Factory also has a number of new titles due on Blu-ray in September, including The Spell (on 9/5), The Resurrected (on 9/12), A Quiet Place in the Country (on 9/19), and After Midnight (on 9/26). [Read on here…]

To kick things off today, I’ve got a new review for you: A look at FUNimation’s Speed Racer: The Complete Series Blu-ray, a release I’ve waited years to see. Speed was the first Japanese anime series I ever saw, way back in the late 1960s, long before anyone had any idea what an anime was. Let me tell you, the show looks great in HD; FUNimation has done a really nice job of it. Best of all, the set streeted on Tuesday for just $20 on Amazon.

Now then... some announcements... [Read on here…]

We’ve got a couple more items for you today…

First, Tim has posted two more Blu-ray reviews this afternoon, featuring his thoughts on Arrow’s Brain Damage: Special Edition and also Mill Creek Entertainment’s Psycho Circus Triple Feature, which includes The Brotherhood of Satan, Torture Garden, and The Creeping Flesh. Do give them a look.

Also, our own Release Dates & Artwork section, featuring all the latest Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD cover artwork and Amazon.com pre-order links. As always, a portion of anything you order from Amazon through our links goes to help support our work on The Bits and we do appreciate it. [Read on here…]

All right, I hope you all had a great long holiday weekend – those of you in the States at least. And for the rest of you, I hope you had a great weekend plus Monday.

Here at The Bits today, we’ve got a few things for you to enjoy. First, reviews: We have four new Blu-ray reviews for you to check out, including Tim’s take on Universal’s Split and Smokey and the Bandit: 40th Anniversary Edition, as well as Paramount’s Saturday Night Fever: Director’s Cut. And I’ve taken a look at Madman Entertainment’s Region Free import Blu-ray of Frank Capra’s Lost Horizon – well worth checking out if you’re a fan of the film. [Read on here…]

“What we have here is a total lack of respect for the law!”

The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective article commemorating the 40th anniversary of the release of Smokey and the Bandit, the popular action comedy starring Burt Reynolds as Bo (aka Bandit), Sally Field as Carrie (aka Frog), Jerry Reed as Cledus (aka Snowman), and Jackie Gleason as the unforgettable Sheriff Buford T. Justice of Portague County. [Read on here...]

All right, I shouldn’t have tell any of you what today is... it’s Towel Day!

And also, of course, the 40th anniversary of a little film called Star Wars. Not Episode IV. Not A New Hope. Star Wars.

To recognize the occasion, we’ve got a couple things for you here at The Bits today.

First up, our very own Michael Coate has updated and expanded his excellent History, Legacy & Showmanship retrospective column, A Force to Be Reckoned With: Remembering “Star Wars” on its 40th Anniversary. He’s combed newspaper archives all across North America to produce a definitive history of the film’s debut theatrical release back in 1977-1978. Every theater that showed the film, the day it opened in that theater, all of it. Trust me, I’ve learned from personal experience that one’s memory of seeing the film back in 1977 is not as accurate as Michael’s exhaustive research – he’s sent me the vintage microfilmed newspaper clippings to prove it. [Read on here…]

“Star Wars is a landmark film, a work of such soaring imagination that it will set standards for years to come.” — Bob Thomas, Associated Press

[This is a revised and updated version of a previously published article.]

The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective article commemorating the 40th anniversary of the release of Star Wars, George Lucas’ legendary space opera that introduced the world to The Force and a host of memorable planets, spaceships and characters. [Read on here...]