Displaying items by tag: Disney

Afternoon, folks!

This is just a quick and rare weekend My Two Cents here at The Bits in celebration of the fact that today marks a major movie anniversary: 43 years ago today, The Empire Strikes Back was released into theaters!

As many of you can attest firsthand, the event was certainly life changing for all those of us who were there to experience it as teenagers.

And to celebrate the occasion, I’d like to call your attention to a trio of great History, Legacy & Showmanship columns here at The Bits written by our own Michael Coate:

Empire @ 40: Remembering the Early 70mm Cut from 12/21/20.

Betting the Ranch: Remembering "The Empire Strikes Back" on its 40th Anniversary from 5/21/20.

The Force Defeated: Remembering "The Empire Strikes Back" on its 35th Anniversary from 5/21/15.

But that’s not all! [Read on here...]

While we’re waiting for Warner Bros. to announce their Superman: 5-Film Collection 4K release, which we expect to happen anytime now, we’ve got some more release news for you today and a couple new disc reviews as well.

Starting with the reviews, Stephen has taken a look at Patrice Leconte’s Monsieur Hire (1989) on Blu-ray from Cohen Film Collection.

Stephen has also reviewed Dale Fabrigar’s They Crawl Beneath (2022) on Blu-ray from Well Go USA Entertainment.

Now then, back on the topic of Superman 4K for a moment, it’s starting to look as if there will not be 4K singles of the films in the new collection here in the States, but rather simply the box set in deluxe Steelbook and standard Amaray packaging (you can see the Amazon US listings here and here). There are 4K singles available in the UK if you want them (we have them linked in our 4K Ultra HD Release List here at The Bits now, but curiously not Superman: The Movie—just the sequels—which could indicate that the new remaster of Superman: The Movie may be exclusive to the box set for a while. We’ll have to wait for Warner’s official press release to be sure.

As I said, that could drop at anytime, so we’ll be sure to post all the details when it arrives. [Read on here...]

Well, I forgot that today marks the President’s Day holiday here in the States, so it’s unlikely that there will be any major studio announcements today. But we do have some good release news today and more new disc reviews for you as well...

Tim has posted his take on Narciso Ibáñez Serrador’s The House That Screamed (1970) on Blu-ray from Arrow Video.

Dennis has taken a look at Robert Townsend’s Hollywood Shuffle (1987) on Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.

And Stuart’s offered his thoughts on Mario Monicelli’s Let’s Hope It’s a Girl (1986) on Blu-ray from Raro Video.

Now then, we’ve confirmed with Disney that the wide-release version of their Cinderella (1950) 4K Ultra HD release is coming on 8/1. And we have the official cover artwork for you, which you can see at left and also below the break. But again, this title will be available first from the Disney Movie Club starting on 3/28. [Read on here...]

We’ve got a couple more new disc reviews for you today, and a bit more Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD release news as well...

First, Stephen has checked out Synapse Films’ wide-release version of Dario Argento’s Phenomena (1985) in 4K Ultra HD.

He’s also reviewed Michael Stanley’s Attack of the Beast Creatures (1985) on Blu-ray Disc from our friends over at AGFA and Vinegar Syndrome.

And while it’s not a disc review, I posted my non-spoiler thoughts on Star Trek: Picard – Season Three here at The Bits last night (in case you missed them). The first episode of the new season is now available for streaming on Paramount+, and all I can say is that there had better be a 4K Ultra HD release forthcoming from Paramount Home Entertainment. (Because I want it!) Enjoy!

Now then, Disney sources have officially confirmed that Cinderella (1950) will be released on 4K Ultra HD widely in stores and from online retailers on 8/1. However, note that the title will be also available as a limited Disney Movie Club exclusive for a few months starting on 3/28. So if you want to get your hands on it earlier, DMC is your ticket. [Read on here...]

We’re closing out the week with some new Blu-ray and 4K title announcements and a few updates on 4K titles we’ve mentioned here at The Bits previously.

In terms of official announcements, Disney and Searchlight Pictures have set Sam Mendes’ Empire of Light for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 2/21, with the 4K Digital release expected on 2/7. Extras will include the Creating the Empire of Light featurette. You can see the cover artwork at left.

Lionsgate has set Brett Donowho’s western The Old Way, starring Nicholas Cage, for Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital release on 2/21.

And Film Movement will release Mario Martone’s The King of Laughter on DVD and Digital on 2/14.

Also, Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment has set their new animated Duck Dodgers: The Complete Series for release on Blu-ray on 3/28. [Read on here...]

We’re checking in today with a rare weekend My Two Cents update to bring you a little bit of new Blu-ray and 4K UHD release news that broke on Friday afternoon.

First though, a reminder... if you haven’t seen our New Year’s Eve post, I spent a little bit of time reflecting back on 25 Years of The Digital Bits, a landmark we officially crossed last month. So whether you’re a longtime reader who’s been with us from the start, or a newcomer to the site who’s curious about how we got started and where we came from, I think you’ll find it a quick and enjoyable read.

And once again, let me just say that I’m very glad to have all of you as readers of The Digital Bits. We appreciate all your support and thanks for sticking with us for two and a half decades now. Here’s to more great years ahead!

Now then, our friends at Shout! and Scream Factory have officially announced their March catalog release slate, and there are some gems in there for both Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD fans alike. [Read on here...]

We start with two more new disc reviews today (and there might be one more from me later this evening, but it should certainly be up by tomorrow morning)...

Tim has reviewed Crane Wilbur’s The Bat (1959), which is available in a fine new Blu-ray edition from our friends at The Film Detective.

And Dennis has offered his thoughts on Lynne Littman’s Testament (1983), a post-apocalyptic drama from PBS’ American Playhouse and Paramount Pictures that includes William Devane, Jane Alexander, Kevin Costner, Rebecca De Mornay, and Lukas Haas. That’s new on Blu-ray from the good folks at Imprint Films.

Now then, the big announcement news today is that Disney has just officially set Don Hall and Qui Nguyen’s animated Strange World for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 2/14. Look for the Digital and Disney+ streaming release to happen on 12/23. Audio will be Dolby Atmos on the 4K and DTS-HD MA on Blu-ray, as always. Extras will include 4 featurettes (Anatomy of a Scene: Creating A Strange World, Strange Science, Creature Feature, and The Hidden Secrets of Strange World), outtakes, and 4 deleted scenes (The Ballad of Jaeger Clade, Lightning Lynx, Funerals and Promises, and Ethan and Searcher). You can see the cover artwork at left and also below. [Read on here...]

I’m about to dive back into disc reviewing here this afternoon, but before I do we have two new reviews for you this morning and a major piece of release news as well. First those reviews...

Stephen has checked in with his thoughts on a fascinating Russian fantasy film from 1956, Aleksandr Ptushko’s Ilya Muromets, which also happens to be the first Russian film in both anamorphic widescreen and color. Russian cinema is fascinating, and this film is no exception, so it’s definitely worth a look on Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome.

Stephen has also given Cy Endfield, Roger Corman, and Gordon Hessler’s De Sade (1969) a look on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, also a fascinating film from American International Pictures.

Now for that news... Marvel and Disney have just officially set Sam Raimi’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD release on 7/26, with the Digital release anticipated for 6/22. [Read on here...]

We’ve got a pair of new disc reviews for you to enjoy this afternon, starting with Stephen’s look at Makoto Shinkai’s The Place Promised n Our Early Days (2004) on Blu-ray from GKids via Shout! Factory

Also, Dennis has delivered his thoughts on Sony’s standard Blu-ray release of Jon Watts’ recent Spider-Man: No Way Home.

More reviews are on the way this week, so be sure to stay tuned for them.

Speaking of which, I wanted to take a moment to address the lack of reviews from yours truly in recent weeks. The reason is two-fold. First, I’ve been very focused on the upgrade to the Bits website, which has been long overdue and much needed. There’s a little more of that to go, but what’s been done already has resulted in a significant improvement in the site’s speed and functionality. [Read on here...]

We’re starting the new week off today with no less than SEVEN new disc reviews that have been posted since Friday, including...

My takes on Al Reinert’s For All Mankind in 4K Ultra HD from the Criterion Collection, Byron Haskin’s Conquest of Space (1955) on Blu-ray from Imprint Films, and Tomas Alfredson’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) in 4K Ultra HD from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, as well as The Little Rascals: The ClassicFlix Restorations – Volume 5 on Blu-ray from ClassicFlix, and Spider-Man: No Way Home in 4K Ultra HD from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Marvel Studios.

Also, Dennis has turned in his thoughts on Craig Singer’s 6:45 on Blu-ray from Well Go USA and Stuart Heisler’s Blue Skies (1946) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

Lots more reviews are on the way this week, so be sure to stay tuned for them.

Now then... in announcement news today, the big revelation is that Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has officially set Matt Reeves’s The Batman for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 5/24, with the Digital and HBO Max release slated for 4/18. [Read on here...]