Displaying items by tag: The Digital Bits

Afternoon, folks. Hope you all had a great holiday weekend.

Today’s update is going to be a quick one, as we’re working on a big new View from the Cheap Seats column from our own Bud Elder that we expect to have up tomorrow afternoon. So be sure to watch for it. [Read on here…]

The big news today is that Universal has set the Universal Classic Monsters: The Complete 30-Film Collection for DVD only release on 9/2 (SRP $199.98), The 21-disc set includes the previous Legacy Collection DVD sets of Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Wolf Man, The Invisible Man, Creature from the Black Lagoon, and Phantom of the Opera, along with all the extras. You also get the sequel/related films The Bride of Frankenstein, Son of Frankenstein, The Ghost of Frankenstein, House of Frankenstein, Werewolf of London, Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, She-Wolf of London, Dracula’s Daughter, Son of Dracula, House of Dracula, The Invisible Man Returns, The Invisible Woman, Invisible Agent, The Invisible Man’s Revenge, The Mummy’s Hand, The Mummy’s Tomb, The Mummy’s Ghost, The Mummy’s Curse, Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein, Abbot and Costello Meet the Invisible Man, Abbot and Costello Meet the Mummy, Revenge of the Creature, and The Creature Walks Among Us. Finally, the set includes a 48-page book. [Read on here…]

Here’s something fun: Warner’s released the first official teaser for the 1966 Batman TV series! The long-awaited Blu-ray, DVD and digital release is officially coming in November. Warner is holding a panel at Comic-Con in San Diego later this month (on 7/24 from 6-7 PM in Hall HD) with Adam West, Burt Ward and Julie Newmar to fill in all the details. Here’s the trailer!

Stay tuned...

- Bill Hunt

Quick update on yesterday’s news: A number of readers have asked why Schindler’s List and Munich weren’t included in Universal’s newly announced The Steven Spielberg Director’s Collection Blu-ray box set. So we contacted the studio and got this statement:

“The Steven Spielberg Collection showcases the Director’s journey at Universal making some of the biggest blockbusters in film history that have thrilled, entertained and delighted audiences around the world. Due to the historical significance and deeply serious nature of the films, Schindler’s List and Munich were not included so as to not understate their unique impact.” [Read on here...]

[Editor’s Note: After the recent passing of Eli Wallach, I was surprised to learn that Bits contributor Joe Marchese was an acquaintance of the actor, having worked with him on the stage.

Joe wanted to write a personal remembrance of Wallach for The Bits and we’re very happy to share that with all of you here now.]

[Read on here…]

Okay… we’ve got a few pretty cool things to report today that should kick off July in high style!

First, here at the site today we have a couple of new columns. Todd Doogan has posted his weekly Doogan’s Queue column running down this week’s latest Blu-ray and DVD releases. Our very own Dr. Adam Jahnke has also delivered his weekly Burnt Offerings: MOD DVD column, detailing the latest hand-crafted deep catalog titles from Warner Archive and the Sony Pictures Choice Collection.

Speaking of Jahnke, he’s also turned in a review of Warner’s new 300: Rise of an Empire Blu-ray. Sounds as though the film is exactly what you’d expect. The review is a good read, so do give it a look. [Read on here…]

Well, that’s one more birthday week down. How many more do I have, you think? 5, 12, 40? Kind of a suck-ass question really, so never mind. Don’t send your predictions. Because this is a big travel holiday here in the states, it’s pretty dead in terms of disc media. Pretty much nothing really coming out of note. But if you dig through mucus, you might find some pearls. Here are some bright and shinys for you to entertain yourselves with. [Read on here…]

Things have been quiet on the MOD front these last couple of weeks, so this week’s Burnt Offerings is taking a look at this week’s new releases as well as the titles that came back into print last week from Warner Archive. As ever, these stylish and clickable banners will whisk you away to the shopping portal of your choice where your buying power helps fuel our work here at The Bits. Our appreciation runs deep. [Read on here...]

All right, some quick news updates today...

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has set the CG-animated film Appleseed Alpha for Blu-ray, DVD and digital release on 7/22. The discs includes audio commentary with the filmmakers and an 11-part “making of” documentary.

PBS Distribution is releasing the British sitcom Vicious, starring Sir Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi, on DVD on 7/8. [Read on here…]

Our very own Dr. Adam Jahnke has weighed today on a topic near and dear to many of you. His latest installment of An Honor to Be Nominated in Jahnke’s Electric Theatre looks back at this little 1977 space fantasy adventure that some of you might have heard of. I’ll let him tell you about it.

Also today, Tim reviews another great Blu-ray release from Shout! and Scream Factory, circa 1983... Sleepaway Camp! Enjoy.

Before we get to the announcement news today, just a quick heads-up: Paramount’s 4-disc Star Trek: The Compendium Blu-ray set, which includes the 2-disc Star Trek (2009) SE and also the new 2-disc Star Trek Into Darkness SE (featuring the IMAX version of the film) is now available for pre-order on Amazon for just $31.99. Click on the link or on the cover artwork below to get your orders in. Street date is 9/9 and rebate details are still TBA. [Read on here...]