My Two Cents
We’re starting the new week as always with more new disc reviews…
First, our own Tim Salmons has turned in his thoughts on Imprint Films’ new double feature of The Uninvited (1944) and The Unseen (1945) on region-free Blu-ray, a pair of film noir titles both directed by Lewis Allen.
And Stephen has weighed in with a look at a hefty title of his own: Full Moon Features’ new The Primevals: Ultimate Collector’s Edition Blu-ray box set, featuring the restored 2023 David Allen film, which was originally greenlit in 1978 but wasn’t filmed until 1994. Sadly, Allen passed away in 1999 before the film was completed. But thanks to an Indiegogo campaign, it’s finally completed as much as is possible and available on disc. And what a nice package it is too.
More reviews are on the way of course, but today we’ve got a TON of Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD release news to catch up all up on. It starts with Arrow’s Friday morning announcement of their October slate, which includes John Boorman’s Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) on Blu-ray (in the UK only) on 10/7, William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist III (1990) on 4K (in the UK only) on 10/7, the Hellraiser: Quartet of Torment box set—which includes Clive Barker’s Hellraiser (1987), Tony Randel’s Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988), Anthony Hickox’s Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992), and Kevin Yagher’s Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996)—on Blu-ray and 4K (in the US and Canada only, it was already released in the UK) on 10/22, Michael Dougherty’s Trick ‘r Treat (2007) on 4K (in the UK, US, and Canada) on 10/28, and the J-Horror Rising: Limited Edition Blu-ray box set—which includes Shunichi Nagasaki’s Shikoku (1999), Toshiyuki Mizutani’s Isola: Multiple Personality Girl (2000), Masato Harada’s Inugami (2001), Ten Shimoyama’s St. John’s Wort (2001), Kōji Shiraishi’s Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman (2007), Takashi Komatsu’s Persona (2000), and Koji Shiraishi’s Noroi: The Curse (2005)—on Blu-ray (in the UK, US, and Canada) also on 10/28. [Read on here...]
We’ve got two more new disc reviews for you to check out today, just as Comic-Con officially gets underway down in San Diego...
Stephen has taken a look at Michael Tuchner’s Fear Is the Key (1972) on Blu-ray from Arrow Video.
And Dennis has offered his thoughts on Étienne Périer’s When Eight Bells Toll (1971) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.
We’ve also got several good new title announcements to report this afternoon here at The Bits...
First, Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment has revealed that a Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga – Black & Chrome Edition will be available Digitally on 8/13. The color version is already set to debut on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on 9/24. And you will be able to get the Black & Chrome Editions of both Furiosa and Mad Max: Fury Road in the forthcoming Mad Max 5-Film 4K Collector’s Edition, which is also due on 9/24 (pre-order here). This new Black & Chrome Edition was created by George Miller, who feels that it distills the essence of the film into something more pure and classical (per comments on social media).
Universal will release Jeff Nichols’ The Bikeriders (2024) on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray on 8/13, with the Digital release set for 8/9. The film stars Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, Michael Faist, and Norman Reedus. The Blu-ray editions will feature Dolby Atmos audio, and the 4K will boast HDR10 high dynamic range. Extras will include feature commentary with Nichols and 3 featurettes (Johnny, Benny & Kathy, The Era of The Bikeriders, and The Filmmaker’s Eye: Jeff Nichols). You can see the cover artwork below the break. [Read on here...]
Afternoon, Bits readers! We’ve got something very special to share with you today here at the site, but first we also have some more new disc reviews...
Our very own Tim Salmons has delivered his thoughts on Roy William Neill’s Black Moon (1934) on Blu-ray from Columbia Pictures and Via Vision’s Imprint Films label. Tim has also taken a look at Jay Levey’s UHF (1989) in 4K Ultra HD from Shout! Studios in honor of the film’s 35th anniversary!
And Stuart has offered his take on another classic film, Arthur Ripley’s The Chase (1946) on Blu-ray from the good people at Kino Lorber Studio Classics. Enjoy!
Now then, some of you may remember that way back in 2010, visual effects pioneer Douglas Trumbull proposed an elaborate documentary on the making of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). Unfortunately, he was never able to get Warner Bros. to fund the project, which was known as Beyond the Infinite, and the man sadly passed away in 2022 (you can read our salute to him here).
You may also remember that back in 2016, I published an in-depth look at the various behind-the-scenes books on the making of the film, Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: The Ultimate Trip in Print, here at The Bits website.
Well... back in September I was honored to be contacted by my friends Michael and Denise Okuda (of Star Trek fame) to participate in a new documentary they were producing on 2001 with the team at OTOY. So I spent a lovely evening up in Burbank with Mike, Denise, and my old friend Roger Lay, Jr. (who created many of the excellent documentaries on Paramount’s Star Trek Blu-rays in recent years) shooting an interview about the film and its place in cinema history. Today, I am very pleased to say that the result of their work is finally available for all of you to see for yourselves! [Read on here...]
We’ve got a pair of new disc reviews for you here at The Bits today...
Dennis has turned in his thoughts on Paul Brickman’s Risky Business (1983) on Blu-ray from the Criterion Collection (a 4K UHD review is also forthcoming).
And Stuart has chimed in with his look at James Beshears’ Homework (1982) on Blu-ray from Unearthed Films.
In announcement news today, Kino Lorber Studio Classics has revealed that Umberto Lenzi’s Battle of the Commandos (1969) is coming soon to Blu-ray, a film that features Jack Palance and Curd Jürgens. Also coming soon to Blu-ray from KLSC is Terence Young’s The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders (1965).
While it’s not quite announcement news, based on new Amazon listings it appears that Paramount is going to be releasing Gore Verbinski’s The Ring (2002) in 4K Ultra HD and 4K Steelbook on 10/15. The film was previously made available on the format only in the Scream Factory’s The Ring Collection 4K set back in March. It appears To Catch of Thief is finally coming to 4K as well that same day, in the same Paramount Presents packaging that the 2020 Blu-ray edition was released in. And Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow is being reissued as a 4K Steelbook package on 10/8. You can see the cover artwork for some of them below the break. [Read on here...]
We have several more new disc reviews for all of you to enjoy today, including...
Stuart’s look at Ting Shan-hsi’s A Queen’s Ransom (1976) on Blu-ray from Eureka Entertainment, Alain Cavalier’s Fill ‘er Up with Super (1976) on Blu-ray from Radiance Films, Peter Bogdanovich’s Daily Miller (1974) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, and William Wyler’s Friendly Persuasion (1956) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.
Dennis’ take on Raoul Walsh’s Pursued (1947) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics and Fred Zinnemann’s Act of Violence (1949) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.
And Stephen’s thoughts on Paul Schrader’s Touch (1997) on Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome’s Cinématographe line.
We have a bunch more new Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD reviews cooking as well—the whole team is working on reviews over the weekend—so be sure to watch for more here at The Bits next week.
In announcement news today, our friends at Imprint Films have just unveiled their October Blu-ray and 4K slate, which will include Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria (2018) in 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray, The Blair Witch Project Collection on Blu-ray—which includes The Blair Witch Project (1999) and Book of Shadows: Blair Witch (2000)—Alberto De Martino’s The Antichrist (1974) on Blu-ray, James W. Roberson’s Superstition (1982) on Blu-ray, Dick Richards’s Death Valley (1982) on Blu-ray, and the Directed By… Roman Polanski Blu-ray box set—which includes Bitter Moon (1992), Death and the Maiden (1994), and The Ninth Gate (1999). The street date for all is 10/30, and each is limited to 1500 copies. You can see what the titles look like below the break. [Read on here...]