Displaying items by tag: The Criterion Collection

We’re starting things off today with Tim’s review of Lewis Teague’s Alligator (1980) in 4K Ultra HD from Scream Factory. It sounds like this is not only the best the film has ever looked and sounded, but it’s also one of Shout! and Scream’s best 4K releases to date. So do give it a look if you might be interested.

We’ve also just updated our Release Dates and Artwork section with all the latest Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD cover artwork and Amazon.com pre-order links. Remember, any time you order literally anything from Amazon after clicking to them from one of our links, you’re helping to support our work here at The Bits and we really do appreciate it.

I also wanted to address one other thing here on the site today: Some of you may have noticed that there were “roadblock” ads appearing on The Bits over the last few months. Ads that appeared when you clicked from the home page to other content—ads that you had to click away to continue reading. Rest assured, we’ve killed those and they will not be returning. [Read on here...]

We’ve got three more new disc reviews for you to enjoy today, starting with Tim’s look at Tom Tykwer’s Run Lola Run (1998), as recently released on Blu-ray from Umbrella Entertainment. It’s an Aussie import title, but all-region.

Also today, Dennis has turned in his thoughts on Alan J. Pakula’s The Parallax View (1974), which is newly released on Blu-ray from Imprint Films in Australia, also a region-free disc.

And Stephen has offered his thoughts on Shinsuke Terasawa’s animated Catwoman: Hunted in 4K Ultra HD from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, the latest installment in their DC Animated Universe.

What’s more, we have another “bonus” film retrospective from our own Michael Coate today in his History, Legacy and Showmanship column, as he takes a look back at Robert Wise’s original West Side Story (1961) in honor of the film’s 60th anniversary. Michael is joined by film and musical experts Matthew Kennedy, Bruce Kimmel, and Mike Matessino for a great roundtable discussion. Enjoy! [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 great release news for you all today and of course more new disc reviews as well. As always, we’ll start with the reviews...

I’ve just posted my thoughts on Rian Johnson’s science fiction time-twister Looper (2012), which is finally available in 4K Ultra HD here in the States from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. What’s more—and unlike last year’s UK 4K release from eOne—this edition features fresh remastering by cinematographer Steve Yedlin, with a new Dolby Vision and HDR10 high dynamic range grade and a new Dolby Atmos mix too. Not only is it a big improvement on the original Blu-ray, it improves on the eOne 4K release too, so it’s definitely worth a look for fans.

Also today, Tim has posted a look at Bruce Beresford’s The Adventures of Barry McKenzie on Blu-ray from Umbrella Entertainment.

Stephen has offered his thoughts on Mervyn LeRoy and Busby Berkeley’s long-awaited Gold Diggers of 1933 new on Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.

And Dennis has turned in his takes on Kino Classics’ Princess Tam Tam (1935) and Zou Zou (1934) double-feature and Philip Kaufman’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, both on Blu-ray. [Read on here...]

We’ve got some interesting odds and ends to share news-wise here at The Bits today, as well as another big disc review, and some sad news unfortunately. But first, the review...

Tim has just delivered his in-depth look at Sony’s new Ghostbusters Ultimate Collection 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray box set, which includes new 4K editions of Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II—now with Dolby Vision HDR—as well as Ghostbusters: Afterlife on disc, and Ghostbusters: Answer the Call on Digital only (though the code redeems for both versions of that film in 4K). Plus the set include no less than two Blu-ray bonus discs with a ton of legacy extras, as well as new material exclusive to this set. And you get a mini replica of Don Shay’s Making Ghostbusters book from 1985.

Unfortunately, the set is a limited edition release from Sony and it’s sold out almost everywhere. (At last check, you could still get it from a few international retailers, but that version may have region issues and will not come with Digital codes.) We have asked the studio whether it might be released in a second printing, or perhaps in a discs-only configuration at some point in the future, and have been told that while it’s possible there’s no news to report at this time. Should that change, we will of course post an update here on The Bits.

In the meantime, we’ve gotten reports from a number of readers that their sets were damaged in shipment, or that the box they received had the wrong discs resulting from a packaging error (for example, they may have gave gotten two copies of Ghostbusters in BD and 4K, but no copies of Ghostbusters II). If that applies to you, Sony has provided us with a customer service email address for you to use to get things sorted. [Read on here...]

All right, we hope you all had a great Thanksgiving holiday, and that you were able to take advantage of some good Black Friday Week and Cyber Monday deals on discs and whatnot.

We’ve got some big announcement news for you today, and a few follow-ups on previously-mentioned titles and issues too. But let’s get to a couple new reviews first...

First up, Dennis has posted his thoughts on Michael Showalter’s The Eyes of Tammy Faye on Blu-ray from Fox Searchlight.

And Stephen has checked in with this thoughts on Imprint/Via Vision’s The Harry Palmer Collection, which stars Michael Caine as a working-class spy. The set includes The Ipcress File, Funeral in Berlin, and Billion Dollar Brain on region-free Blu-ray Disc.

More reviews are forthcoming, so be sure to watch for them over the coming days. [Read on here...]

All right, we’ve some big announcement news for you today, as well as a couple of updates on titles we’ve mentioned recently, and a pair of new disc reviews. Let’s start with the latter first...

I’ve just posted my thoughts on Destin Daniel Cretton’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in 4K Ultra HD from Marvel and Disney. The disc streets on 11/30. The good news is that it looks and sounds great, though some of you may be disappointed that it doesn’t include the 1.90 IMAX aspect ratio for select scenes that’s now available via streaming on Disney+. Anyway, you can read my thoughts here.

Also, I’ve taken a look at a classic: Ingmar Bergman’s stunning B&W masterpiece The Seventh Seal (1957) as lovingly restored on 4K Ultra HD from the British Film Institute. It’s an import disc that’s worth your time, though keep in mind that the Blu-ray included in the packaging is Region B only (The 4K disc will work on all UHD players worldwide).

Now then... the big news today is that Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures have officially set Denis Villeneuve’s Dune for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 1/11/22, as expected. The Digital release arrives on 12/3. Both the Blu-ray and 4K discs will include Dolby Atmos audio, and retail sources are suggesting that the 4K disc will include HDR10 and Dolby Vision high dynamic range. [Read on here...]

Today I’m diving into work on more disc reviews here at The Bits, especially new 4K titles. So today’s update will be fairly quick. However, we do have some interesting odds and ends to report after yesterday’s flood of major news, and we have Amazon pre-order links for a bunch of newly-announced titles to share with you too.

First, some Blu-ray reviews... Tim has taken a look at Don Siegel’s The Beguiled (1971), which was released late last year on Blu-ray by Kino Lorber Studio Classics. He’s also given one of the last Hammer Films titles a spin on Blu-ray from Scream Factory, Terence Fisher’s Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974). Both discs are worth your time.

A quick note on the subject of Kino Lorber Studio Classic: It appears that they inadvertently used the wrong master for their recent Blu-ray of Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (reviewed here on The Bits). The company is correcting this by replicating new replacement discs that use the proper 2017 4K restoration and you can request a copy by filling out this form on the Kino Lorber website.

Now then... the big announcement news today is that Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has officially set Guy Ritchie’s Snatch for release on 4K Ultra HD on 6/1. [Read on here...]

We’re starting our final news update for this week with more new Blu-ray Disc reviews...

Dennis has taken a look at Albert Brooks’ Defending Your Life (1991), as newly released on Blu-ray Disc by the Criterion Collection.

And Tim has offered up his thoughts on a pair of Clint Eastwood films, including Don Siegel’s Two Mules for Sister Sara (1970) and Eastwood’s own The Eiger Sanction (1975), both recently released by Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

In terms of announcements today, the big news is that Universal Studios Home Entertainment has just made their animated Shrek available for release on 4K Ultra HD on 5/11, in honor of the film’s 20th anniversary. High dynamic range will be HDR10, with DTS:X audio. Extras on the 4K and Blu-ray Disc in the package will include audio commentary with directors Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson and producer Aron Warner. deleted scenes, music videos, Shrek’s Interactive Journey, Spotlight on Donkey, and Secrets of Shrek. [Read on here...]

We’ve got a few interesting things to tell you about today here at The Bits...

First though, an update: We’re continuing to work on more Blu-ray and 4K reviews here. But poor Tim, our reviews editor, has been out of commission these last few days—he lives down in Texas in ground zero of all the not having power, water, or heat due to this big winter freeze. The good news is, he’s back online today, a few burst water pipes worse for wear. So he’ll be checking in again with reviews and on social media over the next few days.

Meanwhile, we have some release news to report this afternoon, beginning with this: Shout! Factory is releasing Ping Zhang’s animated feature film The Legend of Hei on Blu-ray and DVD on 5/11. A Digital release is expected on 4/20.

Corinth Films is releasing Little England on DVD and Digital on 3/16.

Capelight Films will release Fukushima 50 on Digital and VOD on 3/5. [Read on here...]