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Tuesday, 18 February 2020 13:49

Color Purple, Indy & Goonies in 4K, plus street dates for 1917, Bad Boys for Life, The Jesus Rolls & MUCH more

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Afternoon, folks! We’ve got some interesting announcement news to cover today, along with an interesting rumor, and some new cover artwork to share with you too.

First up, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has just announced that Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple is returning to theaters on 2/23 for one day only in honor of the film’s 35th Anniversary. This could mean that a 4K Ultra HD release is planned for later in the year (the official anniversary is in December).

That would make sense given that both Paramount and Universal are planning physical 4K releases of Spielberg catalog films later this year (War of the Worlds and Jaws). We’ve added the title to our 4K Ultra HD Release List here at The Bits as a possibility. [Read on here...]

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Speaking of Spielberg, let’s get to that interesting rumor... the UK website The Digital Fix has posted word from their sources that suggests Disney and Paramount are planning to release the Indiana Jones films in physical 4K next year. So a few points about this. First, I know from years of experience that the leakiest studio and retail sources are in Europe—absolutely no question. I don’t know how many times I’ve posted early release information, been asked by the studios here in the States where the information came from, and told them straight up that it’s studio and retail sources in Europe. The American studio people tend to be super paranoid and close to the vest, while their partners across the pond will just gleefully share everything and the kitchen sink. Second, with Disney having already finished releasing the Marvel back catalog in physical 4K, and as they’re about to do the same with Star Wars and Pixar this year, Indy is the next obvious untapped franchise for 4K. Third, with Indy 5 reportedly going into production this summer for a theatrical release in 2021, of course Disney and Paramount are going to want to take a bite at the apple with these films in 4K. And finally, we’ve been hearing whispers of work on these titles too from our own industry sources for a few weeks now. So my verdict on this rumor is: Very Likely. We’re adding it to our 4K List too and tip of the hat to Digital Fix for a nice scoop.

Also, here’s one from our sources: We finally have a street date for Sam Mendes’ 1917. Look for it on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 3/24 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

Our sources also place the likely street date for the release of Sony’s Bad Boys for Life on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K on either 4/28 or 5/5.

Back to Warner Bros for a second: Our industry sources have also been talking for quite a while now about The Goonies coming to 4K and we’re finally hearing that from our retail sources too, so it’s been added to our list as well. The Richard Donner classic also celebrates its 35th anniversary this year (in June).

Now then... Warner is re-issuing The Town and Inception on physical 4K in new Steelbook packaging exclusively at Best Buy on 6/2.

In terms of announcement news today, Kino Lorber Studio Classics has revealed that George Miller’s Lorenzo’s Oil (1992) is coming soon to Blu-ray. William Wyler’s The Shakedown (1929) is also coming soon by way of a new 4K restoration. So too John Ford’s Straight Shooting (1917), also with a new 4K restoration. Street dates are TBA.

Meanwhile, Kino Lorber is releasing the World War II documentary The Cold Blue on Blu-ray and DVD on 4/7.

For those of you who have been wondering whatever happened to John Turtorro’s part sequel/part spinoff to the Coen Brothers’ The Big Lebowski, wonder no more: Screen Media is officially releasing The Jesus Rolls on Blu-ray and DVD on 5/5.

Also, PBS will release the Masterpiece series World on Fire on Blu-ray and DVD on 4/21.

Mill Creek Entertainment is releasing Heroes, starring Henry Winkler, Sally Field, and Harrison Ford on Blu-ray on 4/7.

Universal is releasing Alfonso Gomez-Rejoin’s The Current War: Director’s Cut on Blu-ray and DVD on 3/31. (You can see the cover art below.)

And Summit and Lionsgate will release Jay Roach’s Bombshell on Blu-ray and DVD on 3/10.

Finally today, a new trailer has been released for Bandai Namco’s forthcoming Japanese 4K Ultra HD release of Katsuhiro Oromo’s seminal anime Akira (1988). The film will be distributed in 4K Ultra HD here in the States by FUNimation, but has yet to be officially announced. Meanwhile, here’s that trailer...

Now then, we’ll leave you with the cover artwork for a bunch of forthcoming titles newly available for pre-order on Amazon, including all of Criterion’s just-announced May slate (just click on the covers for each)...

The Great Escape (Criterion Blu-ray Disc) Scorsese Shorts (Criterion Blu-ray Disc) Dance Girl Dance (Criterion Blu-ray Disc)

Eric Rohmer: Six Moral Tales (Criterion Blu-ray Disc) Husbands (Criterion Blu-ray Disc) Wildlife (Criterion Blu-ray Disc)

The Deer Hunter (4K Ultra HD) A Midnight Clear (Blu-ray Disc) The Jesus Rolls (Blu-ray Disc)

Sixteen Candles (Blu-ray Disc) The Current War: Director's Cut (Blu-ray Disc) Uncut Gems (Blu-ray Disc)

And we’ll be back with more new disc reviews soon. Stay tuned...!

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