Items filtered by date: February 2022

All right, we’ve got a bunch of new release news for you today, along with a bit of an update on the whole Mad Max 2 4K replacement disc situation, which—I know—has become frustrating. So let’s get right into it...

First up, CBS and Showtime have released Dexter: New Blood on Blu-ray, Blu-ray Steelbook, and DVD. Street date was 3/22. The set includes a 30-minute featurette.

Mill Creek Entertainment is releasing a King Ralph: Retro VHS Blu-ray on 6/21. Also coming that day is a Heart and Souls Retro VHS Blu-ray.

MVD will release two new MVD Rewind Collection titles, including Michael Cimino’s Desperate Hours (1990) and George Armitage’s Miami Blues (1990) on Blu-ray on 7/19. Note that they also have Robert Bierman’s Vampire’s Kiss (1988) and Don Murphy’s Monday Morning (1990 – aka Class of Fear) coming on Blu-ray on 6/21. You can see the cover artwork below the break.

Universal will release Joe Wright’s Cyrano on Blu-ray and DVD on 4/19, staring Peter Dinklage and Haley Bennett. [Read on here...]

We have a trio of new disc reviews for you all to enjoy today...

Stephen has taken a look at Dario Argento’s Phenomena (1985) on 4K Ultra HD from our friends at Synapse Films. It features an early performance by Jennifer Connelly, and the 4K is apparently pretty lovely.

Stephen has also reviewed Howard Hawks’ Man’s Favorite Sport? (1964) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics. The film stars Rock Hudson and Paula Prentiss.

And Dennis has turned in his thoughts on Luis Valdez’s Zoot Suit (1982) on Blu-ray, also from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, featuring the great Edward James Olmos in an early role.

Also today, this is the final couple of days to vote in the 2022 Home Entertainment Media Play Awards, so be sure to head on over to their website to get your picks in quick. Voting ends on 4/1. [Read on here...]

We’ve got a few things to talk about today to start the new week. As always, we’ll begin with some new disc reviews...

Stephen has turned in his thoughts on Lino Brocka’s Cain and Abel (1982) on Blu-ray from Kani Releasing, along with Valeriy Todorovskiy’s Hypnosis (2020) on Blu-ray from Altered Innocence, and Bill Condon’s Sister, Sister (1987) on Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome.

And Tim has offered his thoughts on Paul Naschy’s Panic Beats (1983) on Blu-ray from Mondo Macabro, along with Patrice Rhomm’s Draguse/Le Bijou D’Amour on Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome, and also the DreamWorks: 42 Movie Collection Blu-ray box set from Random Space Media, which includes every animated film the studio has released so far from Antz (1998) to The Boss Baby: Family Business (2021).

As always, more reviews are on the way. And note that once they’re posted here on the site, we link them from our social media on Twitter and Facebook, so be sure to follow us there and stay tuned for them. [Read on here...]

All right, folks... it’s finally official! Here’s Paramount’s full press release for the Star Trek title we’ve all been waiting for...

Fully Restored Director’s Edition of Star Trek: The Motion Picture Makes Its Long-Awaited Debut

The Definitive Vision of Director Robert Wise Debuts Exclusively on Paramount+ April 5, 2022, in Celebration of First Contact Day

Film Arrives on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray in September with Extensive New Bonus Content

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – March 24, 2022 – Eagerly anticipated by Star Trek fans for over two decades, Star Trek: The Motion Picture – The Director’s Edition will make its long-awaited debut exclusively on Paramount+ on April 5, 2022, in celebration of First Contact Day. [Read on here...]

We’ve got more new disc reviews for you today, starting with Tim’s look at the animated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse in 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and Blu-ray 3D Combo from Random Space Media in Australia.

Also, Dennis has checked in with his thoughts on Robert Aldrich’s The Flight of the Phoenix (1965) on Blu-ray from the Criterion Collection.

And I’ve turned in my thoughts on Umbrella Entertainment’s new all-region Blu-ray release of the Frank Herbert’s Dune Collection, which includes both Frank Herbert’s Dune (2000) and also Children of Dune (2003).

More reviews are on the way for tomorrow and all throughout the week, so be sure to check back for them.

Now then, neither Paramount, nor Paramount+, nor StarTrek.com have posted that trailer for the Star Trek: The Motion Picture – Director’s Edition yet, but they keep blocking trailer leaks on YouTube and social media, so one assumes it’s coming soon. In any case, we’ll be sure to share it here and on our social when it’s finally official. [Read on here...]

All right, we’ve got some great new disc reviews for you today, along with some terrific announcement news as well. But first, as always, those reviews...

I’ve just posted my in-depth look at Francis Ford Coppola’s legendary The Godfather Trilogy in 4K Ultra HD from Paramount. And let me tell you, the image restoration is breathtaking—as good as the 2008 Blu-rays were, this is almost a night and day difference. It’s really something. Best of all, the set includes all three films, including Coda (and two alternate versions of Part III as well), not to mention a wealth of new and legacy special features. There’s even restored mono audio on The Godfather and The Godfather Part II. This may very well be the 4K release of the year, so don’t miss it.

Also today, I’ve taken a look at Volume 3 and Volume 4 of ClassicFix’s 2K restorations of The Little Rascals shorts on Blu-ray. It appears that there will be 7 volumes total to release all 80 of the classic Hal Roach sound shorts, and Volume 5 is already slated for release on 4/5.

We’ve got more new disc reviews coming tomorrow and all this week, including Madman and The Sword and the Sorcerer in 4K and much more, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for those. [Read on here...]

We’re back as promised with a bit more release news for you this evening...

You may recall that a couple of months ago, we reported that Universal Studios Home Entertainment was preparing another wave of Alfred Hitchcock 4K Ultra HD titles for release this year. Well, now it’s official: The Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection: Volume 2 box set will street on 5/10, and—just as we expected—it will include Saboteur (1942), Shadow of a Doubt (1943), Marnie (1964), The Trouble with Harry (1955), and Family Plot (1976).

What’s more, in addition to the 4K box set, you’ll be able to purchase the individual 4K Ultra HD SKUs on 5/10 as well.

You can see the cover artwork for the box set at left, and you’ll find that and the individual 4K covers below, all linked to their respective Amazon.com pre-order pages. [Read on here...]

All right, this is going to be the first of two news updates here at The Bits today, as we have multiple 4K and Blu-ray related developments that deserve their due attention. But first, more new disc reviews...

Tim has checked in with a look at Guillermo Del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth, as recently released on Blu-ray by Umbrella Entertainment.

Dennis has turned in his thoughts on Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci and Douglas Sirk’s Written on the Wind on Blu-ray, from Universal and Criterion respectively.

And Stephen has offered his take on Simon Kinberg’s The 355, David Hamilton’s Bilitis, Fred Schepisi’s The Devil’s Playground, and Mik Cribben’s Beware: Children at Play on Blu-ray, from Universal, Fun City Editions, Umbrella Entertainment, and Vinegar Syndrome.

Rest assure more reviews are on the way, so keep checking back! [Read on here...]

We’ve got more new disc reviews for you to enjoy today, including a couple that we posted over the weekend...

First up, Tim and Dennis have taken a look at Billy Wilder’s Some Like It Hot (1959) in 4K Ultra HD from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

I’ve also posted my thoughts on Steven Spielberg’s new West Side Story on 4K Ultra HD from 20th Century Studios.

And Tim has offered his thoughts on Philip Marshak’s Dracula Sucks (1978) in 4K Ultra HD as well, an infamous adult genre title available from Vinegar Syndrome.

Finally, Dennis has posted his take on Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci on regular Blu-ray too.

More new disc reviews are on the way soon, so be sure to check back for them in the coming days, including my in-depth look at Paramount’s The Godfather Trilogy in 4K. I had the chance to watch the films over the weekend, and let me tell you: They’ve simply never looked better. The new 2020 restoration is a night and day improvement upon the already fine 2007 restoration that was released previously on Blu-ray, so you’re definitely not going to want to miss this new set. [Read on here...]

We’re working on new disc reviews here at The Bits at the moment, and we have a few recently-posted ones to catch you all up on today...

I’ve posted my thoughts on Lana Wachowski’s The Matrix Resurrections in 4K Ultra HD from Warner Bros.

Stephen has turned in his review of a Region B Blu-ray double-feature title from All the Anime: Makoto Shinkai’s The Place Promised in Our Early Days and Voices of a Distant Star. Hold that thought for a moment.

Tim has checked in with a look at Christophe Gans’ Silent Hill and Brian Trenchard-Smith’s The Man from Hong Kong on region-free Blu-ray from our friends at Umbrella Entertainment.

And Dennis has offered his take on David Butler’s Lullaby of Broadway (1951) on Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.

I’m also working on a review of Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story on 4K Ultra HD from 20th Century Studios, and I’ve just gotten my hands on Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Trilogy in 4K from Paramount. So be sure to watch for those reviews to get posted over the weekend and early next week. Rest assured, the rest of the team has more new reviews on tap for the coming week as well. [Read on here...]