Displaying items by tag: James Cameron

Morning Bits-ers. We’ve got a quick early post today with some news relevant to James Cameron’s The Abyss.

At a special event last night in LA, Cameron screened a 2K DCP (sourced from the new 4K remaster) of The Abyss: Special Edition as part of the annual Beyond Fest film festival. Word from people who attended was that it looked fantastic.

At the end of the screening, Cameron participated in a Q&A with the audience.

Knowing that this would be happening—and that someone would almost certainly ask about the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray release—I put out a call on social media yesterday for any readers who might be attending to record the relevant portion of the Q&A for all to see.

And I’m pleased to say that Bits reader Chuck Pennington did just that and has posted it on YouTube. (Thank you, Chuck!) You’ll find it below the break… [Read on here...]

All right, today’s update is going to be brief, because of a couple factors. First, I’m talking with a number of sources about some forthcoming and exciting 4K Ultra HD catalog titles, which I’ll talk about here when I can. Second, I’m dealing with replacing my recently defunct Epson 5040ub projector. And more on that soon as well.

In the meantime, we have some very exciting 4K Ultra HD news today that I know a lot of you will be pleased about. And of course, we have more new disc reviews for you as well. So let’s start with those first...

Stephen has posted his thoughts on Warner’s long-awaited 4K Ultra HD release of Eric Radomski and Bruce W. Timm’s animated Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)! And it appears the title has been worth the wait.

Stuart has also weighed in with a look at Robert Mulligan’s The Spiral Road (1962) on Blu-ray from Imprint Films and Via Vision Entertainment.

Dennis has offered his two cents on Jacques Tourneur’s Wichita (1955) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection, as well as Charlotte Le Bon’s Falcon Lake (2022) on Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome.

And last but not least, Tim has shared a review of Luca Bercovici’s Ghoulies (1985) in 4K Ultra HD from the MVD Rewind Collection, as well as Ray Kellogg’s The Giant Gila Monster (1959) and The Killer Shrews (1959) in a new double-feature Blu-ray release from Film Masters.

More disc reviews are forthcoming, so be sure to stay tuned for them. Now then, let’s get to the big release news... [Read on here...]

All right, we’ve got a lot of catching up to do in terms of release news today, in the wake of the recent Disney and Fox title announcements. So let’s get right to it...

Paramount has just set a pair of fan-favorite catalog films for release on 4K Ultra HD on 11/7... John Landis’s Trading Places (1983) and Richard Donner’s Scrooged (1988). We haven’t seen official announcements yet, so we don’t know for sure what the details are, but they’re now available for pre-order on Amazon.com. You can see the cover art at left and also below the break, where we’ll include the Amazon links. If the studio follows their usual release pattern however, the discs should include Dolby Vision HDR, DTS-HD MA soundtracks, and (possibly) the previously-released extras. It appears that Scrooged will not include a Blu-ray copy however—it’ll will be 4K UHD + Digital Code only.

Speaking of Paramount, their previously-announced South Park: The Complete Twenty-Sixth Season is finally available for pre-order on Amazon and you can see the cover art below.

Lionsgate has just announced a new John Wick: Chapters 1-4 Blu-ray collection for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital on 10/17. All of the previous special features will be included.

Also newly-announced by Lionsgate for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital that same day is The Twilight Saga: The Complete Collection – 15th Anniversary Edition. Included will be Twilight (2008), The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009), The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010), The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 and the Breaking Dawn: Part 1 – Extended Edition (2022), as well as The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 (2012). The package will also include “three alternative artwork cards that can be swapped into the front cover of the package” and most or all of the previous legacy extras.

And here’s the big one: Lionsgate and AMC are releasing a massive The Walking Dead: The Complete Collection Blu-ray box set on 10/17. SRP for this one is $209.97. You can see the cover artwork for all three of these Lionsgate sets below the break. [Read on here...]

All right, we’ve got a few things to share with you today here at The Digital Bits...

First, our own Russell Hammond has completed a major new update of our interactive Release Dates & Cover Artwork section, featuring all kinds of new Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD cover artwork, with Amazon.com pre-order links! All of the latest title announcements are included and we’re going to be adding more every week to keep the section fully up to date. The section also now features an option to sort the displayed page results by format and even by Criterion titles! And as always, whenever you pre-order literally anything from Amazon after clicking through to them from one of our links, you’re helping to support our work here at The Bits and we really appreciate it.

Also, before we get to new release news for this afternoon, today marks the 46th anniversary of the theatrical release of George Lucas’ original Star Wars (1977). It’s also the 43rd anniversary of Richard Marquand’s Return of the Jedi (1983) and the 44th anniversary of Ridley Scott’s Alien (1979). So to celebrate the occasion, we’d like to call your attention to a few of our own Michael Coate’s History, Legacy & Showmanship retrospectives on these films here at The Bits:

A Force to be Reckoned With: Remembering “Star Wars” on its 40th Anniversary

Remembering “Return of the Jedi” on its 30th Anniversary

Celebrate the Love: Remembering “Return of the Jedi” on its 35th Anniversary

Still Screaming in Space: Remembering “Alien” on its 40th Anniversary

All of these are well worth your reading time and are filled with tremendous detail about the production and original theatrical release of these iconic films. [Read on here...]

Today’s update is a brief one, because we’re working on a number of things here at the site today. But we start with a couple of new disc reviews...

Dennis has checked out Ridley Scott’s Thelma & Louise (1991) as newly released on Blu-ray by The Criterion Collection.

And Stuart has weighed in with his thoughts on Kino Lorber Studio Classics’ Arsène Lupin Collection on Blu-ray, which includes Jacques Becker’s The Adventures of Arsène Lupin (1957), Yves Robert’s Signed Arsène Lupin (1959), and Édouard Molinaro’s Arsène Lupin vs. Arsène Lupin (1962).

More reviews are forthcoming, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for them.

Now then, we have three significant pieces of news to report...

First, Kino Lorber Studio Classics has revealed that they’re working on a new 4K Ultra HD release of Fred Zinnemann’s classic western High Noon (1952), starring Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Bridges, and Katy Jurado. That’s currently listed as coming soon. [Read on here...]

JAMES CAMERON’S GLOBAL PHENOMENON
AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER ARRIVES ON BLU-RAY, BLU-RAY 3D AND 4K ULTRA HD ON JUNE 20

PLUS: EXPERIENCE THE ORIGINAL AVATAR REMASTERED IN STUNNING 4K AT DIGITAL RETAIL AND ON BLU-RAY DISC JUNE 20

BURBANK, CA (May 22, 2023) – On June 20, Avatar fans have double cause for celebration as Avatar: The Way of Water makes its long-awaited debut on 4K UHD, Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray and DVD and the original Avatar arrives for the first time on 4K UHD in High Dynamic Range to digital retailers and on Blu-ray disc.

Avatar: The Way of Water release will include over three hours of bonus content featuring the filmmakers, cast and crew.

The 4K UHD edition of the original Avatar has both existing and new bonus features including Memories From Avatar, where Producer Jon Landau leads a spirited conversation with cast members, Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang, recalling warm memories from production and reflecting on the extraordinary success of the film. Plus Avatar: A Look Back, provides a retrospective where cast and filmmakers reflect on their extraordinary journey making Avatar, the groundbreaking technologies they used to create an unparalleled cinematic experience, and the profound effect the film had on audiences worldwide.

Nominated for numerous Academy Awards including Best Picture, Avatar: The Way of Water became the third highest-grossing film of all time worldwide and set a new benchmark for visual effects. Produced by Cameron and his longtime partner Jon Landau, the 20th Century Studios—Lightstorm Entertainment production stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Cliff Curtis and Kate Winslet. Joining the illustrious adult cast are talented newcomers Britain Dalton, Jamie Flatters, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Bailey Bass and Jack Champion. The screenplay is by James Cameron & Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver, with story by James Cameron & Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver & Josh Friedman & Shane Salerno. David Valdes and Richard Baneham serve as the film’s executive producers. [Read on here...]

All right, we’ve some great announcement news today. We also have a MAJOR and exclusive 4K Ultra HD catalog scoop to share with you this afternoon here at The Digital Bits, and we’ve got the video to prove it! But first, a couple more new disc reviews...

Stuart has posted his thoughts on the BBC’s Maigret: Season 2 on Blu-ray from our friends at Network and Kino Classics.

And Dennis has offered his take on André Téchiné’s Wild Reeds (1994) on Blu-ray from the good people at Altered Innocence and Vinegar Syndrome.

So give those a look, and don’t forget that more reviews are on the way all week—be sure to check back from them. Now then, today’s great announcement news is that The Criterion Collection has just officially unveiled their June Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD release slate. [Read on here...]

We have some major release news to report today, but first we’ve got more new disc reviews...

Stephen has delivered his thoughts on Walter Hill’s Streets of Fire (1984) in 4K Ultra HD from Shout! Factory. As fans will no doubt already know, this one is a real cult cinema gem, and it sounds like the 4K release is pretty fantastic, including terrific video and audio quality, as well as a great new feature-length documentary on the making of the film by Daniel Griffith’s Ballyhoo Motion Pictures. Don’t miss it.

Also today, Tim has reviewed another film from Arrow’s Shawscope: Volume One Blu-ray boxed set, specifically Chang Cheh’s Shaolin Temple (1976) (aka Death Chamber).

Stuart has taken a look at Anthony Mann’s El Cid (1961) which is now available in a new Japanese-import Blu-ray release from Happinet.

And finally, Dennis has offered his take on Julien Duvivier’s Flesh and Fantasy (1943) on Blu-ray from Universal Pictures via Vinegar Syndrome.

As always, more reviews are forthcoming, so be sure to keep on the lookout for them.

Now then, the big release news today is big indeed: Disney and 20th Century Studios have just officially announced the 4K Digital release of James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water on 3/28. This will include Dolby Atmos audio and over three hours worth of bonus features (more on that in a minute). Studio sources have also reached out to us to confirm that the physical Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD release is forthcoming and will be announced at a later date. It simply appears that the studio intends to squeeze every possible dime out of this film at every level of distribution. [Read on here...]

Well, there’s never a dull moment in this business and today is certainly a perfect example that. We’ve got some good Star Trek 4K news for you this afternoon, and a little bit of James Cameron 4K news too. Plus some other good announcements and links on top of all that! But first, more new disc reviews...

We start with Stephen, who’s turned in a look at Ivan Passer’s Cutter’s Way (1981), new on Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome.

Next up, Dennis has delivered his take on Don Owen’s Nobody Waved Goodbye (1964) on Blu-ray, also from Vinegar Syndrome.

Last but not least: Tim has taken a deep dive into Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan, and Corey Yuen’s Dragons Forever (1988) which is new on 4K Ultra HD from the good people of 88 Films.

Keeping on the 4K theme today, retail sources are finally starting to confirm word we first broke here at The Bits back on December 19th (see here), specifically that the Star Trek: The Next Generation feature films are going to be arriving from Paramount on 4/4, just in time for “First Contact Day” and also the final episodes of Terry Matalas’ Star Trek: Picard – Season Three! [Read on here...]

Today being a federal holiday here in the States, there’s not a ton of announcement news to report on this afternoon, but we do have a few interesting odds and ends.

First though, a couple more new disc reviews...

Dennis has posted his thoughts on John M. Stahl’s Imitation of Life (1934), which is new on Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.

And Stephen has taken a look at Louis Malle’s Pretty Baby (1978) on Blu-ray from Paramount via Imprint Films.

Now then... in announcement news today, Neon has confirmed that four of their recent titles—Ruben Östlund’s Triangle of Sadness (2022), Brett Morgen’s terrific David Bowie documentary Moonage Daydream (2022), Laura Poitras’ All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (2022), and Céline Sciamma’s Petite Maman (2021)—are all going to be coming from the Criterion Collection, presumably to Blu-ray and/or 4K Ultra HD. [Read on here...]