My Two Cents
Heads up Bits readers…
I just wanted to check in here today to let you all know that we’re working on new disc reviews, the first of which should start going live here on the website over the weekend.
There’s not a ton of release news to report today, however I am happy to say that the SRPs for the new Star Wars Disney+ 4K Ultra HD Steelbooks (due on 12/3) have finally come down to rational levels Amazon. So here are the pre-order links:
The Mandalorian: The Complete Third Season (4K)
Ahsoka: The Complete First Season (4K)
Hawkeye: The Complete First Season (4K)
Loki: The Complete Second Season (4K)
Also today, it appears that the Warner Archive Collection’s new 4K and Blu-ray release of John Ford’s The Searchers (1956) have now been listed on Amazon, but the pre-orders are not yet live. But here are those links... [Read on here...]
All right, today is Election Day here in the States, which means that partisans on both sides (and everyone in between) are feeling grumpy, nervous, or just over the whole damn thing. Some folks this evening or tomorrow—or at some point in the next two months—will be happy-ish. But while none of this feels normal, it may actually be the new normal, and that too is unsettling for lots of people.
Given all of that, I wanted to share a post today here at The Digital Bits that might actually serve as a balm or a ray of sunshine for movie and 4K fans—or at least a bit of welcome news—no matter what the outcome of today’s voting might be. So stay tuned for that in a moment.
First though, we’ve got a trio of new disc reviews to share with you here today, including...
Stephen’s take on Robert Rossen’s All the King’s Men (1949) in 4K Ultra HD from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment’s new Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection: Volume 5 box set.
Dennis’ review of Robert Rossen’s Body and Soul (1947) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.
And Stuart’s thoughts on Alberto Cavalcanti’s Nicholas Nickleby (1947) on Blu-ray from Kino Classics.
More reviews are definitely on the way soon, including my own look at Arcane: League of Legends in 4K UHD from GKids and Shout! Studios. So be sure to watch for them. [Read on here...]
Heads up, Bits readers! We’ve got big breaking news to report this afternoon!
Our friends at the Warner Archive Collection are about to announce their first-ever 4K Ultra HD catalog release, and it’s none other than John Ford’s legendary Western classic The Searchers (1956)!
The film stars John Wayne, Natalie Wood, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, and Ward Bond.
The title will be available on 12/17 as both a 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo (SRP $29.99) and a separate Blu-ray Disc release (SRP $21.99), each meticulously restored and remastered from the film’s original VistaVision negative!
Better still, the 4K disc has been compressed and authored by the fine team at Fidelity in Motion (FIM), with encoding specifically designed to fit UHD100 and BD50 discs, thus allowing for maximum data rates.
The 4K disc itself will include only the film and the audio commentary, so the image will have plenty of room to breathe. And the 4K disc will also be compatible with both Dolby Vision and HDR10 high dynamic range.
Both the 4K and Blu-ray will include the film’s original mono audio track, “restored from the best available source materials to provide a clean and dynamic audio presentation.” [Read on here...]
All right, we’ve got two new long-form disc reviews to share with you today...
The first is my look at Aaron Sorkin’s The West Wing: The Complete Series (1999-2006), which is finally available in a new 28-disc Blu-ray box set from Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment. The package is far from perfect, but for fans it’s still mostly be worth a look.
Also today, Stephen is celebrating yesterday’s 70th anniversary of Ishirō Honda’s original Godzilla (1954) by reviewing the new 4K Ultra HD release from Toho Studios via the Criterion Collection here in the US, a title that officially streets tomorrow.
In announcement news today, Kino Lorber Studio Classics has just revealed that John Frankenheimer’s Reindeer Games (2000) is coming soon to 4K Ultra HD. In addition, Melville Shavelson’s Houseboat (1958) is coming soon to Blu-ray Disc. [Read on here...]
All right, we have FIVE more new disc reviews for you to enjoy on this lovely Halloween, including...
My thoughts on Robert Harmon’s The Hitcher (1986) in 4K Ultra HD from both Second Sight in the UK and also the Warner Bros. 4K release here in the States.
Stephen’s review of William Friedkin’s ironic The Exorcist (1973) in 50th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition Steelbook 4K UHD from Warner Bros. in the UK.
And Tim’s look at Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) in 4K Ultra HD from New Line and Warner Bros, as well as Michael Dougherty’s Trick ‘r Treat (2007) in 4K Ultra HD from Arrow Video.
As always, more news reviews coming over the weekend and next week, including significant titles. There are just so many titles to cover right now that it’s a little bit overwhelming!
By the way, if you haven’t yet subscribed to our Digital Bits Patreon, we have a really good post over there that fans of catalog 4K releases will be certainly be interested in. Patreon is a great way to help support our work here at The Bits, so we really appreciate it. [Read on here...]