Displaying items by tag: ClassicFlix

We’ve got three more new disc reviews for you today here at The Bits, plus more new theatrical and catalog release news, including a fun catalog 4K title we’re looking forward to. Plus we’ve got word on a new film documentary series that’s now streaming and worth your time.

First those reviews...

Tim has turned in his thoughts on a great new Blu-ray release from our friends at ClassicFlix and the 3-D Film Archive: Jean Yarbrough’s Jack and the Beanstalk (1952) starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. The disc streets next week in honor of the film’s 70th anniversary and it includes a ton of great extras in addition to a terrific film restoration.

Stephen has taken a look at Ike Sanders’ Final Flesh (2009) on Blu-ray from AGFA via Vinegar Syndrome.

And Stephen has also offered his thoughts on a nifty little German thriller, Carl Schenkel’s Out of Order (1984), in 4K Ultra HD from Subkulture USA via Vinegar Syndrome.

All three titles are well worth a look. [Read on here...]

We’re starting off the new week here at The Bits as we often do, with more new disc reviews...

Stephen has taken a look at Kenneth Branagh’s Death on the Nile (2022) in 4K Ultra HD from 20th Century Studios and Disney. The film was shot in large format on both 65 mm film and 8K digital, so the disc’s image quality is uniquely impressive.

But that’s not all: Stephen has also posted his thoughts on Henry Levin and George Pal’s The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm, which has been newly-restored for release on Blu-ray by our friends at The Warner Archive Collection in both 2.85:1 widescreen and also Smilebox format, replicating the look of the film on a 146-degree curved Cinerama screen.

More disc reviews are on the way tomorrow and all this week, so be sure to check back.

In release news today, Showtime Entertainment has announced the Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD release of Ray Donovan: The Movie on 5/25. [Read on here...]

All right, we’ve got a bunch of new release news for you today, along with a bit of an update on the whole Mad Max 2 4K replacement disc situation, which—I know—has become frustrating. So let’s get right into it...

First up, CBS and Showtime have released Dexter: New Blood on Blu-ray, Blu-ray Steelbook, and DVD. Street date was 3/22. The set includes a 30-minute featurette.

Mill Creek Entertainment is releasing a King Ralph: Retro VHS Blu-ray on 6/21. Also coming that day is a Heart and Souls Retro VHS Blu-ray.

MVD will release two new MVD Rewind Collection titles, including Michael Cimino’s Desperate Hours (1990) and George Armitage’s Miami Blues (1990) on Blu-ray on 7/19. Note that they also have Robert Bierman’s Vampire’s Kiss (1988) and Don Murphy’s Monday Morning (1990 – aka Class of Fear) coming on Blu-ray on 6/21. You can see the cover artwork below the break.

Universal will release Joe Wright’s Cyrano on Blu-ray and DVD on 4/19, staring Peter Dinklage and Haley Bennett. [Read on here...]

We’ve got more new disc reviews for you today, starting with Tim’s look at the animated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse in 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and Blu-ray 3D Combo from Random Space Media in Australia.

Also, Dennis has checked in with his thoughts on Robert Aldrich’s The Flight of the Phoenix (1965) on Blu-ray from the Criterion Collection.

And I’ve turned in my thoughts on Umbrella Entertainment’s new all-region Blu-ray release of the Frank Herbert’s Dune Collection, which includes both Frank Herbert’s Dune (2000) and also Children of Dune (2003).

More reviews are on the way for tomorrow and all throughout the week, so be sure to check back for them.

Now then, neither Paramount, nor Paramount+, nor StarTrek.com have posted that trailer for the Star Trek: The Motion Picture – Director’s Edition yet, but they keep blocking trailer leaks on YouTube and social media, so one assumes it’s coming soon. In any case, we’ll be sure to share it here and on our social when it’s finally official. [Read on here...]

We have more new disc reviews for you today, and finally some official details on the Blu-ray and 4K release of West Wide Story from 20th Century Studios. As always, reviews first...

Dennis has turned in his thoughts on Ian Sharp’s The Final Option (1982) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

Tim has delivered his take on Jack Gold’s The Medusa Touch (1978) on Blu-ray from Imprint.

And Stephen has taken a look at Paramount’s new 30th anniversary Steelbook Blu-ray release of Wayne’s World (1992), as directed by Penelope Spheeris. Enjoy!

Now then, as we mentioned yesterday 20th Century Studios is releasing Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story (2021) on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 3/15, with the Digital and Disney+ streaming offerings available on 3/2. [Read on here...]

We’ve got some good news today for those of you who are fans of The Beatles. But first one more new disc review...

Tim has just posted an in-depth look at ClassicFlix’s new Blu-ray release of The Abbott and Costello Show: Season 1, a 3-disc set that includes all 26 episodes fully restored from the original camera negatives by our old friend Bob Furmanek and his restoration team at 3-D Film Archive.

Plus, the set includes a remarkable batch of extras, including many new audio commentary tracks, alternate audio tracks (full or partial audience laugh tracks), and a featurette on the process of saving the negatives and restoring the image and sound. Do give it a look.

Now then, Disney has officially confirmed that they plan to release the 3-part The Beatles: Get Back documentary on Blu-ray and DVD on 2/8. [Read on here...]

We’ve a little bit of release news to start the new week today.

First up, Shout! Factory has announced its December slate of titles, which is set to include...

Shirobako: The Movie (Blu-ray), Neon Genesis Evangelion (wide-release Blu-ray), and Krampus: The Naughty Cut (4K Ultra HD) on 12/7.

David Steinberg’s Going Berserk: Shout Select (1983 – Blu-ray) and Cartoon Saloon’s Irish Folklore Trilogy (Blu-ray – includes The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, and Wolfwalkers) on 12/14.

And The Vampire Lovers: Collector’s Edition (1970 – Blu-ray), Trog (1970 – Blu-ray), No Way to Treat a Lady (1968 – Blu-ray), and Lady in a Cage (1964 – Blu-ray) on 12/21.

Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has set Superman & Lois: The Complete First Season for Blu-ray and DVD release on 10/19. [Read on here...]

Today’s update will be a quick one, as we’re all working on new disc reviews here. Speaking of which, we have a couple of new ones for you now...

I’ve posted my thoughts on ClassicFlix’s outstanding new 2K restoration of The Little Rascals. I’ve reviewed Volume 1 on Blu-ray in depth, and it’s well worth your money and attention if you’re a fan of the Our Gang series of just great film restoration work in general. The disc streets next Tuesday.

Also today, I’ve reviewed Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal, which streets on Blu-ray next Tuesday as well from Adult Swim and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. This is an absolutely modern masterpiece of animation. Some of you will have seen it on Adult Swim, but the Blu-ray release was delayed for over a year by the COVID-19 pandemic, so it’s finally about to land in your hands. Don’t miss it.

And sometime probably later this evening, we’ll have Stephen Bjork’s in-depth review of John Landis’ Animal House in 4k Ultra HD, which arrived in stores last week from Universal. [Read on here...]

We have a little bit more interesting release news for you to check out today (by way of closing out the week)...

First of all, our friends at Arrow Video have just announced their January 2021 slate of home video titles, and it’s pretty terrific. It starts with UK only Blu-ray releases of Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza’s [Rec] and Park Chan-wook’s Oldboy. Oldboy will also be released on 4K Ultra HD (in the UK only), but remember that 4K discs are not region locked.

Next up, Arrow is releasing Park Chan-wook’s JSA: Joint Security Area and Richard Kelly’s Southland Tales on Blu-ray Disc in the UK, US, and Canada.

Finally, those of you who missed out of Arrow’s recent (and fast selling) Gamera box set (reviewed here on The Bits) will be pleased to know that its films are being reissued on Blu-ray (again in the UK, US, and Canada) in a more wide-release configuration. Three SKUs will be available: Gamera: The Heisei Era (3 films plus a documentary and the Gamera the Brave film as a bonus) as both a wide-release box set and as a Steelbook, and Gamera: The Showa Era (8 films) as a wide-release box set. Obviously, you won’t get all the swag their original big box included, but at least this gives more of you access to the films in HD. [Read on here...]

All right, today’s update on The Bits is going to be a quick one, as yesterday’s post obviously made a big splash on the Interwebs. Yesterday was also my birthday, and I ended up spending most of the day working, so I’m going to take a little bit of a break this afternoon.

BUT... we do have a few things for you...

First, on Tuesday night we posted Tim’s mammoth 2-part and in-depth review of Scream Factory’s outstanding new 12-film/16-disc Friday the 13th Collection: Deluxe Edition Blu-ray box set, which streets next Tuesday (10/13). And it is every bit as awesome as you’re hoping it is. Our hats off to everyone at Scream and elsewhere who were involved in this set. That includes our old friend Peter Bracke, as well as our very own Tim Salmons, who is thanked in the set’s liner notes booklet for contributing rare trailers and TV spots. He’s too modest to mention it, but there you go. The set is amazing, the review is here, and we hope you enjoy both!

Also today, we’ve posted the latest update of our Release Dates & Artwork section here at The Bits, featuring all the latest Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K cover artwork and Amazon.com pre-order links. And just to let you know, the whole section—which had been rather buggy lately—should now be working fully. As always, any time you order literally anything from Amazon by clicking on our links, you’re helping to support our work here at The Bits and we really do appreciate it. [Read on here...]