Displaying items by tag: My Two Cents

All right, we’ve had a big week here at The Bits. As you can probably tell, I’ve spent most of the week checking in with studio and industry sources, which led to yesterday’s scoop on Tombstone coming to 4K Ultra HD next month. And trust me when I tell you that there’s a lot more great 4K catalog news to come in the months ahead. Given that we’ve been a part of—and reporting on—the home entertainment industry for more than twenty-eight years, I can confidently promise you that we have the best sources in this industry period. So when it comes to confirmed and reliable breaking news, you’re likely to hear about it first here at The Digital Bits.

Given that reality, I would highly recommend that you follow us on social media, which is where we tend to post breaking news first. As the editor-in-chief of The Bits, you’ll find me here on X, Facebook, and Bluesky. You’ll find The Digital Bits on X, Facebook, and Bluesky as well. And you can also find Tim (X, Facebook, and Bluesky) and Stephen (X, Facebook, and Bluesky) on all three social platforms too.

What’s more, if you’re not already a subscriber of our Digital Bits Patreon, please consider doing so! There are very affordable options for subscribing, it’s a great way to support our work here at the site, and we’re offering our Patreon supporters additional news posts, video blogs, the option to ask us questions regularly, and sneak peeks at upcoming titles. Whether you’ve been a Bits reader since the very beginning of the website back in 1997, or you’ve just come to learn of us with 4K Ultra HD, we work our asses off here every day to make your experience of physical media better, to encourage the studios to release great catalog titles, and help support fans of physical media and the industry at large. Regular reader or not, if you’re an avid disc fan you have definitely benefited from our efforts over the years. So if you value that, supporting us on Patreon is a great way to help make sure that we can keep doing this work on behalf of you and everyone who loves movies, TV shows, and music on disc. We’re building a great community over there and we’d love for you all to be a part of it! [Read on here...]

Heads up, Bits readers: The news we broke last night here at site is now official… here’s Disney’s press release and final cover artwork for their 4K Ultra HD Steelbook release of Tombstone…

HELL’S COMIN’ TO TOMBSTONE ON 4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY DISC

Classic Cowboy Cinema Takes Aim on April 22, 2025

BURBANK, CA (March 20, 2025) – Justice is coming when the legendary epic action-adventure, Tombstone, rides again on April 22 on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc. The film has been meticulously remastered and restored, allowing audiences to experience every gun battle with stunning visuals and immersive sound. Tombstone will also be available on digital platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home.

Originally released in 1993, this is the first 4K rodeo for Tombstone, triggering viewers to witness all the dustups and defilement of the Wild West in crisp visual detail unlike ever before. Without having to skin a smoke wagon, Tombstone’s audience will get a peek behind the saloon doors to see how Director George P. Cosmatos and his gang of filmmakers brought the historic O.K. Corral into theatrical reality, including the storyboard process and realistic Old West gun-slinging. [Read on here...]

This is a day I’ve been waiting for a very long time for.

A couple of weeks ago, I learned from a good friend (a fellow home video industry veteran) that one of my favorite films had recently received a new 4K scan of the original camera negative and a full digital remastering.

This was something I’d heard previously was likely to happen this year, but this chat was the confirmation that not only was the news true, the work was essentially already done.

Suffice it to say, it made be very happy.

But I wasn’t sure if the studio in question had any actual release plans for the film, either on 4K disc or Digital.

So naturally, I started asking around about it with additional sources.

And yesterday morning, I learned that this film is indeed getting a physical 4K release.

It’s happening very soon.

And now I’m REALLY happy.

The studio in question is Disney. And the film I’m referring to is none other than… [Read on here...]

We’ve got one more new disc review to round out the week here at The Bits this afternoon...

Dennis has taken a look at Robert Day’s Two-Way Stretch (1960) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, a classic heist caper starring Peter Sellers.

The big release news today is that our friends at The Criterion Collection have just announced their June slate, which is absolutely fantastic! Look for 4K Ultra HD upgrades of Terry Gilliam’s Brazil (1985) (Spine #51) and Paul Schrader’s Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985) (Spine #432) on 6/3, followed by Sidney Lumet’s The Wiz (1978) (Spine #1264) in 4K UHD and Blu-ray on 6/10, Charlotte Zwerin’s Thelonious Monk Straight, No Chaser (1988) (Spine #1265) and Mitchell Leisen’s Midnight (1939) (Spine #1266) both on Blu-ray on 6/17, and François Girard’s Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould (1993) (Spine #1268) and William Friedkin’s Sorcerer (1977) (Spine #1267) in 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray on 6/24. Of these, Brazil, The Wiz, and Sorcerer will have Dolby Vision HDR. You can read more here and you can see the cover art for these above left and also below the break. [Read on here...]

We have more new disc reviews to share here at The Bits today, including...

Tim’s look at Kenji Kamiyama’s animated The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (2024) in 4K Ultra HD from Warner Bros, and Greg Ford and Terry Lennon’s Daffy Duck’s Quackbusters (1988) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.

My review of Edward Zwick’s Legends of the Fall: 30th Anniversary (1994) in 4K Ultra HD from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, featuring a stunning restoration of John Toll’s magnificent cinematography and a great Atmos mix as well.

Stuart’s reviews of Henry Hathaway’s The Lives of a Bengal Lancer (1935) on Region B Blu-ray from Indicator, and Michel Brault’s Orders (1974) on Blu-ray from Canadian International Pictures and Vinegar Syndrome.

And finally, Stephen’s look at Stephan Elliott’s The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) in 4K Ultra HD from the good people at Via Vision’s Imprint Films.

As always, more reviews are on the way here at the site, so be sure to keep checking back for them.

Also today, we’ve posted our latest update of our Release Dates & Cover Artwork section here at The Digital Bits, featuring all the latest Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD cover artwork and Amazon.com pre-order links. Don’t forget that anytime you order from Amazon through our links, you’re helping to support our work here at The Bits and we really appreciate it! [Read on here...]

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

My thoughts on Anthony Harvey’s The Lion in Winter (1968) in 4K Ultra HD from StudioCanal, as well as Wes Ball’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024) in 4K Ultra HD from 20th Century Studios.

Stuart’s look at Mitchell Leisen’s The Lady Is Willing (1942) on Region B Blu-ray from Powerhouse Films’ Indicator label.

And Stephen’s take on David Twohy’s Below (2002) in 4K Ultra HD from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

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

In announcement news today, Kino Lorber Studio Classics has officially set John Frankenheimer’s Prophecy (1979) for 4K Ultra HD release on 5/20. As expected, the company has also revealed that Ken Finkleman’s Airplane II: The Sequel (1982) is coming soon to 4K UHD.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has just set Starman (1984) for 4K Ultra HD Steelbook release on 5/27. Previously the disc has only been available on the format in the Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection: Volume 4 box set, released in early 2024. You can read our review of that disc here at The Bits now. [Read on here...]

We’re closing out the week here at The Bits with a trio of new disc reviews, including...

Tim’s review of Alfred Sole’s Alice, Sweet Alice (1976) in 4K Ultra HD from Arrow Video.

Stephen’s review of Howard Hawks’ Hatari! (1962) in 4K Ultra HD from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

And Stuart’s review of Bruce Weber’s Let’s Get Lost (1988) on Blu-ray from Kino Classics.

Also today, our friends at Vinegar Syndrome have revealed a number of new March Blu-ray and 4K titles, including Richard Loncraine’s Brimstone & Treacle (1982) in 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray (with Dolby Vision), a double-feature Blu-ray of Hung-Chuen Lau’s Devil Fetus (1983) and Ngai Choi Lam’s Her Vengeance (1988), Forgotten Gialli: Volume Eight on Blu-ray—which includes Alberto Negrin’s Rings of Fear (1978), Tano Cimarosa’s Reflections in Black (1975), and Demofilo Fidani’s A.A.A. Masseuse, Good-Looking, Offers Her Services (1975)—Miguel Angel Martinez’s 38 Especial (1992) on Blu-ray from Degausser Video, Gene Saks’s Last of the Red Hot Lovers (1972) on Blu-ray from Cinématographe, and Peter Greenaway’s The Belly of an Architect (1987) on Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome Labs. All are set to ship later this month. [Read on here...]

We’ve got a new disc review for you all to enjoy today, as well as a much of good announcement news. First the review...

Stephen has taken a look at William Friedkin’s Cruising (1980) in 4K Ultra HD from Arrow Video.

And we’ve posted our weekly update of the Release Dates & Artwork section here at The Bits with all the latest Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD cover artwork and Amazon pre-order links. As always, whenever you order literally anything from Amazon after clicking to them through one of our links (like this one), you’re helping to support our work here at the site and we really appreciate it!

Now then, the big news today is that Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment has officially set the Clint Eastwood films Dirty Harry (1971), The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976), and Pale Rider (1985) for 4K Ultra HD, 4K Steelbook, and Digital release on 4/29 (a slight change from the 4/15 date listed previously on retail sites). Not as if everyone didn’t already know, but the studio’s press release has just confirmed it. As expected, all three will feature Dolby Atmos audio mixes and HDR10 high dynamic range.

In terms of special features, Dirty Harry (1971) will include two new featurettes (Generations and Dirty Harry and Lensing Justice: The Cinematography of Dirty Harry) as well as the following legacy features: Audio Commentary by Richard Schickel, five featurettes (American Masters Career Retrospective: Clint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows, Clint Eastwood: The Man from Malpaso, Clint Eastwood: A Cinematic Legacy – Fighting for Justice, Dirty Harry’s Way, and Dirty Harry: The Original), and an Interview Gallery (featuring Patricia Clarkson, Joel Cox, Clint Eastwood, Hal Holbrook, Evan Kim, John Milius, Ted Post, Andy Robinson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Robert Urich).

The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) will include two new featurettes as well (An Outlaw and an Antihero and The Cinematography of an Outlaw: Crafting Josie Wales) plus the following legacy features: Audio Commentary by Richard Schickel and four featurettes (Clint Eastwood’s West, Eastwood in Action, Hell Hath No Fury: The Making of The Outlaw Josie Wales, and Clint Eastwood: A Cinematic Legacy – Reinventing the West).

And finally, Pale Rider (1985) will include two new featurettes (The Diary of Sydney Penny: Lessons from the Set and Painting the Preacher: Bruce Surtees and Pale Rider) plus three legacy ones (Clint Eastwood: A Cinematic Legacy – Reinventing Westerns, Eastwood Directs: The Untold Story, and The Eastwood Factor). You can see the cover artwork above left and also below the break. [Read on here...]

Heads up, Bits readers! Our friends at Lionsgate are about to launch two new 4K Ultra HD Steelbook titles on their Lionsgate Limited direct-to-consumer web store: Paul Verhoeven’s Basic Instinct (1992) and Abel Ferrara’s King of New York (1990)!

Both will be released on 100GB for maximum video quality. Both will feature Dolby Vision HDR. Both will include English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio along with the Original Theatrical Stereo mixes.

In terms of special features, Basic Instinct will include bonus content from the previous Blu-ray edition, as well as extras that haven’t appeared since VHS, LaserDisc, and DVD. Note that Basic Instinct will also feature the same 4K master released by StudioCanal (including the same color grade, because that was director approved).

Among the features are audio commentary with director Paul Verhoeven and cinematographer Jan de Bont, a second commentary with journalist Camille Paglia, and the 1993 commentary with Verhoeven, an Introduction by Sharon Stone, the 1993 Introduction with Paul Verhoeven—two featurettes new in the US, including Basic Instinct: Sex, Death & Stone and An Unending Story: Scoring Basic Instinct—3 more legacy featurettes (A Conversation with Sharon Stone, Blonde Poison: The Making of Basic Instinct, and Cleaning up Basic Instinct), 3 Storyboard Comparisons, Original Screen Tests for Sharon Stone and Jeanne Tripplehorn, the 2021 4K Trailer, the Theatrical Trailer, the Director’s Cut Trailer, and a TV Spot. You can see the cover artwork below the break. [Read on here...]

We’ve got some great announcement news to report here at The Digital Bits today, at the start of a new week...

First of all, our friends at Kino Lorber Studio Classics have begun announcing new 4K Ultra HD catalog titles licensed from Paramount, which so far include Stephen Surjik’s Wayne’s World 2 (1993) and Peter and Bobby Farrelly’s Kingpin (1996). We also expect Ken Finkleman’s Airplane II: The Sequel (1982) to be revealed soon as well. All are reported to be “coming soon” and we expect more titles to be revealed in the weeks ahead.

While we’re talking KL Studio Classics, we’ve learned that their already announced 4K release of Dante’s Peak (1997) has been delayed from its original 2/11 street date to 5/27. So adjust your plans accordingly.

Meanwhile, Paramount has officially set Star Trek: Section 31 (2025) for Blu-ray, DVD, 4K Ultra HD Steelbook, and Digital release on 4/29. Extras will include 5 featurettes (Art Squad, Alpha Squad, Stunts Squad, Gear Squad, and Georgiou) as well as a gag reel. (Though based on the reviews, the entire film may as well be a gag reel.) The Blu-ray SKUs will include Dolby Atmos audio.

Neon has set Steven Soderbergh’s Presence (2024) for Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD release on 5/20. [Read on here...]