Displaying items by tag: Jim Henson

We’ve got several new disc reviews for you today here at The Bits, including...

Stephen’s look at David Fincher’s Zodiac (2007) in 4K Ultra HD from Paramount, along with his look at Shout! Factory’s Limited Edition Collector’s Set of Jim Henson and Frank Oz’s The Dark Crystal (1982) in 4K UHD, as well as Billy Wilder’s One, Two, Three (1961) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

Dennis’ reviews of Barnaby Thompson’s Mad About the Boy: The Noël Coward Story (2023) documentary on DVD from Kino Lorber, as well as Rebecca Snow’s The Boy in the Woods (2023) on Blu-ray also from Kino Lorber.

And Stuart’s take on Kurt Neumann’s Cattle Drive (1951) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, as well as Indicator’s Columbia Horror Blu-ray box set, which includes Region B-locked editions of John Francis Dillon’s Behind the Mask (1932), Roy William Neill’s Black Moon (1934), Albert S. Rogell’s Air Hawks (1935), Charles Barton’s Island of Doomed Men (1940), Henry Levin’s Cry of the Werewolf (1944), and Will Jason’s The Soul of a Monster (1944).

More reviews are on the way soon, as always, so be sure to keep checking back both here and on our social media feeds (on Facebook, Twitter/X, and BlueSky). [Read on here...]

We’ve got more new disc reviews to share with you today, to start the new week out right…

As promised, I’ve shared my in-depth thoughts on Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest (1959) in 4K Ultra HD from Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment, and you’ll be pleased to know that it’s stunning. What’s more, those of you who saw the promotional trailer for the remaster need not worry—its missing fingers and cigarette are untouched in the actual 4K master. The film looks really great.

Also today, Stephen has taken a look at Shout! Factory’s new Limited Edition 4K Ultra HD box set of Jim Henson’s Labyrinth (1986).

Tim has offered his thoughts on Barry Sonnenfeld’s Addams Family Values (1993) in 4K Ultra HD from Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment.

And Sam has reviewed Nikhil Nagesh Baht’s Kill (2023) in 4K Ultra HD Steelbook from Lionsgate.

Next up on my review stack is Mel Brooks’ Blazing Saddles (1974) in 4K Ultra HD from Warner, but first I may share my look at Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai (1954) in 4K UHD from Criterion, provided my copy arrives in the mail today as expected. Either way, both reviews should be posted in the next couple days.

Speaking of Criterion, the company has just unveiled its February 2025 release slate, as follows… [Read on here...]

“The Dark Crystal has the distinction of being one of a very few films entirely starring puppets. It’s an amazing achievement.” — The Dark Crystal: The Ultimate Visual History author Caseen Gaines

The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective commemorating the 35th anniversary of the release of The Dark Crystal, the fantasy adventure directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz (The Muppet Show) and produced by Gary Kurtz (Star Wars).

The Dark Crystal — which featured the Muppeteering talents of Henson and Oz and longtime Henson associates including Kathryn Mullen, Dave Goelz, Brian Froud, Jerry Nelson, and many others — opened 35 years ago this winter. In recent months there has been a surge in interest in the film, with numerous anniversary screenings (including several showcasing a newly discovered 70mm print from the original release), a new book highlighting the original production (see interview below), a 4K Ultra HD slated for release in March, and a forthcoming TV series. [Read on here...]

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All right, this week is going to be all about 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray here at The Bits. I’ve been watching a ton of discs and working on title reviews, as well as making additional notes on my forthcoming Samsung UBD-K8500 player review and also my general thoughts on my experiences this far with the format. I’ll have new reviews each day, and I’m targeting Thursday for the player review and general thoughts. Sarah and I have had family visiting for the past week, so there’s only so much time in the day. And these things do take time.

Nevertheless, we’re kicking things off today with my look at a pair of titles that should be among the first that any new 4K adopter picks up on the Ultra HD format: Lionsgate’s Sicario and Fox’s The Revenant, both in full native 4K. Sicario also includes Dolby Atmos audio. And while The Revenant doesn’t have object-based audio, its 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio is demo-quality. More importantly, with its gorgeous Oscar-winning cinematography, it is the single best looking title I’ve seen on the format thus far. It’s a real HDR stunner. Check out my reviews (here and here) for more on all that.  [Read on here…]