Displaying items by tag: Egyptian Theatre

Afternoon, Bits readers! We’re starting the week with more new disc reviews, as always, including...

Stuart’s thoughts on Daniel Petrie’s The Betsy (1978) on Blu-ray from Imprint Films.

Dennis’ look at Todd Field’s In the Bedroom (2001) on Blu-ray also from Imprint Films.

And Tim’s take on Imprint’s new Blaxploitation (1972-1973) Blu-ray box set, which includes Martin Goldman’s The Legend of Black Charley (1972), Larry G. Spangler’s The Soul of Black Charley (1973), Ron O’Neal’s Superfly T.N.T. (1973), and Arthur Marks’ Detroit 9000 (1973). (Note that two of those films are using their less controversial titles, one of which was apparently changed for use in newspaper theatrical listings and for its original 1970s TV broadcast.)

Also… on Friday, Stephen turned in a detailed look at Mel Brooks’ trail-blazing comedy Blazing Saddles (1974) in 4K Ultra HD from Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment.

And finally, Tim also reviewed Arrow Video’s excellent Inside the Mind of Coffin Joe Blu-ray box set, which was released in March.

More reviews are forthcoming this week, so be sure to stay tuned for them.

In announcement news today, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has just revealed a new 4K Steelbook edition of David Ayer’s Fury (2014) for release on 7/15. The title will now include Dolby Vision HDR, whereas the previous 4K release (from May of 2018) had HDR10 only. (You can read our review of that disc here.) All the extras will be the same, with the sole exception that the 4K disc no longer includes the 46-minute Smithsonian Channel documentary The Tanks of Fury. (Nor is it on the Blu-ray in the package, which seems to be identical to the previous Blu-ray.) Presumably, this omission allows for the inclusion of Dolby Vision and perhaps a higher overall 4K data rate. In any case, you can see the Steelbook cover artwork at left. [Read on here...]

We’re starting things off this week as always with another new disc review...

Stephen has just checked in with his in-depth thoughts on Roman Polanski’s Chinatown (1974) in 4K Ultra HD, a new Paramount Presents title that also includes Jack Nicholson’s 1990 sequel, The Two Jakes, on Blu-ray. Sounds like it’s a pretty good release, so do give it a look.

Speaking of good 4K, I had the great fortune yesterday afternoon to attend the West Coast premiere of the new Janus Films 4K restoration of Akira Kurosawa’s legendary masterpiece Seven Samurai (1954), which was held at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. It was my... I don’t know, forty or fiftieth viewing of the film? And I brought my friend Tom Beckett-Maines along for his first ever viewing. It goes without saying that we both enjoyed the film, and it was very encouraging to experience it with a packed crowd filled with young people who were really into it. Tip of the hat to the American Cinematheque for a great screening. If I lived a little closer to L.A. I would definitely become a card-carrying member, because they always do it right.

I think we can reasonably expect that Seven Samurai will be announced for physical 4K Ultra HD release by Criterion sooner rather than later, and I personally can’t wait for it. I still have a few “holy grail” physical media releases on my bucket list, and one of them is surely a Blu-ray/4K Ultra HD upgrade of Criterion’s wonderful AK100 DVD box set. But I’ll take all the Kurosawa I can get in 4K in the meantime. [Read on here...]

Okay, we’re closing out the week with a couple of new Blu-ray Disc reviews…

First up today, Joe Marchese has turned in a review of Cohen Media Group’s Perfect Understanding on Blu-ray Disc.  This 1933 film, directed by Cyril Gardner, is now available on Blu-ray.  Also today, Dr. Adam Jahnke rounds things out this morning with a review of Scream Factory’s Ninja III: The Domination!  This 1984 oddball classic arrived in stores on Blu-ray this past Tuesday.  It’s not often you’ll see Jahnke use the word ‘jazzercise’ in a Blu-ray review, but here it is.  Enjoy!