Displaying items by tag: Synapse Films

Well, it’s the Friday after Thanksgiving, so I’m sure you all know what that means: There are a HUGE number of Black Friday sales going on at online stores around the Internet and at brick-and-mortar retailers near you. Seemingly everyone is offering 40 or 70% discounts, so be sure to take advantage if there’s something you’re looking for.

Here at The Digital Bits, we’re obviously an Amazon affiliate, so if you are busy shopping for online deals today via that particular retailer, we would certainly appreciate it if you clicked through one of our affiliate links first (like this one for US readers, or these for Canadian, UK, French, Spanish, Japanese, or German readers). Once you click through any of our links, literally anything you purchase in that same shopping session counts in our favor and it makes a big difference in helping to support our work here, so we really do appreciate it.

Of course, we hope all you U.S. readers had a great Thanksgiving holiday yesterday. We certainly did here at The Bits, and—given the holiday—there’s not a ton of release news to report. But we do have a few things of note to talk about, and we have a few new disc reviews as well. So let’s cover those reviews first... [Read on here...]

Morning, folks! We’ve got an early update here on The Bits today with a few more new disc reviews, and some interesting release news as well. First, those reviews...

I’ve just completed a look at Universal’s new E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial: 40th Anniversary Edition 4K Ultra HD release, which came out a few weeks ago. It’s interesting in that both the 4K and accompanying Blu-ray are completely new discs, each of which carries over all the extras from the previous 35th Anniversary release while adding a couple of new features too. A/V quality is essentially the same as before, though the 4K disc is now a BD-100, presumably to allow for the addition of the special features. You can learn more here.

Tim has also just completed a review of Harry Essex’s I, the Jury (1953) which is now available in 4K from ClassicFlix. The package includes a Blu-ray as well, featuring the film in HD and also 3D. And he’s posted a review of Brian De Palma’s Dressed to Kill (1980) in 4K from Kino Lorber Studio Classics for your reading enjoyment too.

More reviews are forthcoming soon, including my take on Criterion’s new 4K Ultra HD release of WALL-E from Pixar.

Also here at the site this morning, we’d like to call your attention to Michael Coate’s retrospective look at Steven Spielberg’s sci-if classic Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which celebrated its 45th anniversary yesterday. Michael shared a great Q&A with film historians on the occasion of its 40th anniversary in 2017, and that discussion is well worth checking out if you missed it then. You’ll also find interesting details on the film’s original theatrical release. Enjoy! [Read on here...]

All right, folks. This will be our last post until Wednesday next week, as it’s not only the long Labor Day weekend here in the States but by wife and I are also celebrating our thirty-second wedding anniversary. So we’re going to take a little time to relax here in sweltering-in-a-heatwave Southern California.

But, we’ve got a TON of release news to talk about, as well as a pair of new disc reviews to start things off today...

Stephen has turned in his thoughts on Gaspar Noe’s intriguing and doubly-experimental Lux Aeterna (2019) on Blu-ray from Yellow Veil Pictures via Vinegar Syndrome.

And Tim has posted his thoughts on Jeffrey Obrow and Stephen Carpenter’s The Kindred (1987), now available in a new Special Edition Blu-ray release from Synapse Films.

And we’ve got lots more disc reviews coming over the weekend and early next week, so be sure to check back for them.

Meanwhile, our friends at Via Vision Entertainment down under are releasing a Saw: The Ultimate Collection 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set on 11/9 that’s not only comes in an exclusive “reverse bear trap” replica, but is limited to just 1500 copies. The 13-disc set includes Saw, Saw II, Saw III, Saw IV, Saw V, Saw VI, Saw 3D: The Final Chapter, Jigsaw, Spiral: From the Book of Saw, plus a Bonus Disc packed with extras. You can see the packaging at left. Be sure to visit their website here for all the details and to pre-order. [Read on here...]

All right, we have big release news to report today, but first we’ve got three more new disc reviews for you all to enjoy…

Stephen has given an in-depth look at Dario Argento’s Tenebrae in 4K Ultra HD, as newly released in a terrific and loaded special edition package from our friends at Synapse Films. If you’re a fan of Argento, the gaillo genre, or this film in particular, this is a great package that you’re not going to want to miss.

Stephen has also taken a look at an under-appreciated Soviet classic by director Alexandr Ptushko, a filmmaker considered by many to be the Russian George Pal… Sampo (1959) new on Blu-ray from Deaf Crocodile and Vinegar Syndrome. This is an interesting piece of cinema that also deserves a look.

Last but not least, Dennis has offered his thoughts on Graham Mason’s Inspector Ike (2020), which presents itself as a “lost 70s telefilm” and detective story spoof, a-la The Naked Gun. That’s available on Blu-ray from Factory 25 via Vinegar Syndrome, so be sure to check it out.

Now then, the biggest box office hit of the year… and what is likely to be the biggest home media title of the year as well… has finally been made official: Paramount Home Entertainment will release Joseph Kosinski’s Top Gun: Maverick on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 11/1 (a date that our sources have been suggesting for a few weeks now). But here’s the real surprise: The Digital release will drop next Tuesday on 8/23! [Read on here...]

Today’s update at The Digital Bits is a relatively brief one, as I have family visiting here from North Dakota this week. But we do have some new disc reviews, as always, as well as some interesting release announcements and rumors.

First up, those reviews...

Dennis has offered his take on Robert Siodmak’s Time Out of Mind (1947) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

Stephen has reviewed Rene Daalder’s Massacre at Central High (1976) on Blu-ray and Steelbook Blu-ray from Synapse Films.

And Tim has taken a look at Rod Serling’s Night Gallery: Season One (1969-1971) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

FYI, Tim is working on a review of Season Two of the series as well, so watch for that to be posted very soon. [Read on here...]

We have three more new Blu-ray reviews for you to enjoy today, starting with Stephen’s take on Daisuke Miyazaki’s Videophobia (2019) from Vinegar Syndrome.

Dennis has turned in his thoughts on Ulu Grosbard’s Straight Time (1978) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.

And Dennis has also reviewed Patricia Birch’s Grease 2: 40th Anniversary Edition in the form of a new Blu-ray Steelbook from Paramount.

In announcement news today, Paramount has finally made their 8/9 4K Ultra HD Steelbook release of Event Horizon (1997) official. The title will include both Dolby Vision and HDR10 high dynamic range, 5.1 Dolby TrueHD audio, and the following extras: Commentary by director Paul W.S. Anderson and producer Jeremy Bolt, the 5-part The Making of Event Horizon documentary, The Point of No Return featurette with director commentary, The Unseen Event Horizon featurette, Secrets (deleted and extended scenes with director’s commentary), the theatrical trailer, and a video trailer. [Read on here...]

We’ve got more announcement news for you today, starting with the big one...

Paramount has just set 1883: A Yellowstone Origin Story for Blu-ray and DVD release on 8/30. The Paramount+ series stars Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Isabel May. The release will include all 10 episodes along with two hours of featurettes (among them A Land of Peril & Wonder: The Journey of 1883, From Cast to Cowboys: Creating the Pioneer Spirit, 1883: The Road West, Inside 1883, and Behind the Story for each episode). You can see the cover artwork at left and also below.

Paramount has also set Adrian Lyne’s Fatal Attraction (1987) for release on 4K Ultra HD on 9/13. The film stars Glenn Close and Michael Douglas. We’re awaiting official AV details and extras from the studio.

Coming on 9/13 from Paramount as well is a 4K Steelbook release of The Addams Family.

And Paramount and Comedy Central have set South Park: The Complete Twenty-Fourth Season for Blu-ray release on 8/16. [Read on here...]

Before we kick off the day’s release news here at the site today, be sure to check out Stephen’s latest Blu-ray review, which features the Miklos Jancso Collection on from Kino Classics. It includes 7 films made by Jancso from 1966 to 1974.

Now then, Paramount has officially set Tarik Saleh’s The Contractor for Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD release on 6/7. The Digital version is widely available now. The film stars Chris Pine and Ben Foster. AV specs on the 4K are TBA.

Universal has made Michael Bay’s Ambulance official for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 6/14, with the Digital release expected next week on 5/23. Both the Blu-ray and 4K will feature Dolby Atmos audio. The latter will include Dolby Vision HDR as well. And look for extras to include 6 behind-the-scenes featurettes (Bayhem, Aerial Assault, Chase Capitol of the World, Pedal to the Metal, Finding Ambulance, and A Tribute to First Responders). [Read on here...]

We’re wrapping things up here at The Bits this week with three more new disc reviews, all of them from Tim Salmons...

First up is Tim’s take on Jorge Grau’s The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue (1974), which is coming on Blu-ray on 6/7 from Synapse Films in regular Amaray, and is already available in Steelbook packaging. Tim has reviewed both versions here and here.

Tim has also given a look at Genndy Tartakovsky’s Hotel Transylvania 2 on Blu-ray 3D, a throw-back animated title released back in 2016 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

In terms of release news today, Synapse Films has announced that a new 4K Ultra HD edition of Dario Argento’s Tenebrae (1982) is coming on 7/26. Two versions will be available, a 3-Disc 4K UHD Limited Edition (of 6,000 units) and a 3-Disc 4K UHD “Variant Cover” Limited Edition (of just 2,000 units that’s exclusive to DiabolikDVD). [Read on here...]

All right, we’ve got a little bit of ground to cover today news-wise, so let’s get right to it...

First up, Universal has officially announced F9: The Fast Saga for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 9/21, with the Digital release expected on 9/7. Both the Blu-ray and 4K will include Dolby Atmos audio. The 4K disc will also include HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision high dynamic range. These discs will feature both the theatrical cut and a Director’s Cut that runs about 7 minutes longer. Extras will include audio commentary on both versions with director Justin Lin, a gag reel, and 6 featurettes (F9: All In, Practically Fast, Shifting Priorities, Justice for Han, A Day on Set with Justin Lin, and John Cena: Supercar Superfan). You can see the cover artwork at left and also below.

Disney has officially announced the Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD release of The Jungle Cruise on 11/16, just four days after it goes into wide availability on Disney+. The Digital release is expected on 8/31. Look for the 4K disc to include HDR10 high dynamic range and Dolby Atmos audio. Extras will include a Jungle Cruise Expedition Mode viewing option (that includes pop-up trivia), 4 behind-the-scenes featurettes (It’s a Jungle Out There: Making Jungle Cruise, Dwayne and Emily: Undoubtedly Funny, Creating the Amazon, and Once a Skip, Always a Skip), outtakes, and 11 deleted scenes. The cover artwork isn’t available yet.

Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has set Space Jam: A New Legacy for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 10/5, with the Digital release expected on 9/3. Look for HDR10 high dynamic range and Dolby Atmos audio on the 4K. Extras will include 4 featurettes (First Quarter: Game On, Second Quarter: Teamwork, Third Quarter: Out of This World, and Fourth Quarter: The Looniest), plus deleted scenes. You’ll find the cover art below. [Read on here...]