Displaying items by tag: Michael Coate

“If [Roger] Moore had ended his Bond tenure with For Your Eyes Only, [the film] would’ve been all the more noteworthy.” — Bill Desowitz

The Digital Bits is pleased to present this retrospective commemorating the 35th anniversary of the release of For Your Eyes Only.

The twelfth cinematic James Bond adventure, it was the fifth to feature Roger Moore as Agent 007, the first of five directed by John Glen, and featured Sheena Easton’s chart-topping and Oscar-nominated title song.  [Read on here...]

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Today’s update is a quick one, as I’m trying to get more 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray reviews completed for you guys. But available now here at The Bits (and posted late yesterday) are my thoughts on Fox’s Independence Day: 20th Anniversary Edition and Paramount’s Star Trek (2009). The former streeted last week. The latter should be available today, though we’re hearing reports that supplies are limited at the moment. (If I had to guess why, I would guess that maybe Paramount’s initial replication run was lower until they had a better idea what initial demand would be. But that’s just a guess.) In any case, enjoy the reviews and know that I’m working on a review of Star Trek Into Darkness as well. I should also have Fox’s The Martian: Extended Edition shortly and so that’ll be next up.  [Read on here…]

“The guys who made Jaws and Star Wars have done it again. It’s too good to be true.” — David Ansen, Newsweek

The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective article commemorating the 35th anniversary of the release of Raiders of the Lost Ark, the immensely popular Spielberg & Lucas action extravaganza that introduced moviegoers to the globe-trotting adventures of Indiana Jones.

Raiders, featuring Harrison Ford as everyone’s favorite archaeologist, opened 35 years ago this week, and for the occasion The Bits features a compilation of box-office data that places the movie’s performance in context, production and exhibition information, a list of the film’s 70-millimeter “showcase” presentations, and an interview segment with a group of Spielberg authorities. [Read on here...]

“Leisure rules”

The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective article commemorating the 30th anniversary of the release of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, the popular teen comedy starring Matthew Broderick.

Ferris, directed by John Hughes (Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club) and also starring Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, and Jeffrey Jones, opened 30 years ago this week, and for the occasion The Bits features a Q&A with author, film historian and John Hughes authority Thomas A. Christie.  [Read on here...]

[Editor’s Note: Be sure to follow us on Twitter @thedigitalbits @BillHuntBits and on Facebook here and here. And you can help support The Bits by pre-ordering Blu-rays and other items from Amazon through this link.]

It’s been a little crazy here the last couple days. Review product for ID4, Star Trek, and Star Trek Into Darkness in 4K Ultra HD has arrived and I’m starting to work on my reviews of each. I’m going to try to post at least one of them today, and maybe another tomorrow. The Martian: Extended Edition should be here early next week, so I’ll get to work on that one too as soon as it comes in.

Meanwhile, we expect to check back in tomorrow with a rare Saturday post featuring a new History, Legacy & Showmanship anniversary retrospective column from our own Michael Coate. So be sure to check back then.  [Read on here…]

[Editor’s Note: Be sure to follow us on Twitter @thedigitalbits @BillHuntBits and on Facebook here and here. And you can help support The Bits by pre-ordering Blu-rays and other items from Amazon through this link.]

We’ve got some good stuff for you today here at The Bits, including a new column and fine release news too...

First up, our own Michael Coate has just posted a brand new History, Legacy & Showmanship column here at the site, entitled Mighty Wings: Remembering “Top Gun” on its 30th Anniversary. Michael details the film’s original 70mm North American theatrical release and discusses its lasting impact and Tony Scott’s legacy with documentarian Charles de Lauzirika, producer of the excellent Danger Zone: The Making of Top Gun documentary from the 2004 Special Edition DVD (it’s also on the recent Blu-ray edition). Don’t miss it.  [Read on here…]

“Up there with the best of the best.”

The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective article commemorating the 30th anniversary of the release of Top Gun, the popular military action-drama starring Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, and Anthony Edwards.

Top Gun, directed by Tony Scott (The Hunger, Crimson Tide) and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer (Flashdance, Beverly Hills Cop), opened 30 years ago this week.

To mark the occasion, The Bits features a compilation of box-office data that places the movie’s performance in context, passages from vintage film reviews, a list of the 70-millimeter “showcase” presentations, and, finally, an interview segment with documentarian and Tony Scott associate, Charles de Lauzirika.  [Read on here...]

[Editor’s Note: Be sure to follow us on Twitter @thedigitalbits @BillHuntBits and on Facebook here and here. And you can help support The Bits by pre-ordering Blu-rays and other items from Amazon through this link.]

All right... yesterday’s editorial column on the new 4K Ultra HD format was a lot of work as you can imagine, but I’ve been very gratified at the positive reaction to it. If you missed it, you can find it here. I’m going to have more 4K coverage and reviews soon, but I’m just trying to balance it all out with the regular Blu-ray news and whatnot.

On that score, we have a pair of new Blu-ray reviews for you to check out today, including Tim Salmons’ thoughts on The Zero Boys from Arrow Video, as well as Jim Hemphill’s take on In the French Style from Twilight Time. Both titles are now available and are well worth a look.

Also today, in case you missed it when we posted it earlier this week, our own Mario Boucher has delivered a great new Inside Cinema column on the subject of “Duelity” in modern cinema. I think you’ll find it well worth a read, so do check it out here.  [Read on here…]

[Editor’s Note: Be sure to follow us on Twitter @thedigitalbits @BillHuntBits and on Facebook here and here. And you can help support The Bits by pre-ordering Blu-rays and other items from Amazon through this link.]

As promised, we’ve got another great new History, Legacy & Showmanship column from our own Michael Coate, this time featuring a look back at Michael Ritchie’s The Bad News Bears on its 40th anniversary. Michael details the film’s original theatrical release and offers a new interview with baseball historian and Walter Matthau biographer Rob Edelman. Do give it a look.  [Read on here…]

“The coach is waiting for his next beer. The pitcher is waiting for her first bra. The team is waiting for a miracle. Consider the possibilities.”

The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective article commemorating the 40th anniversary of the release of The Bad News Bears, Michael Ritchie’s popular and franchise-inspiring baseball comedy starring Walter Matthau and Tatum O’Neal. (Hey, Paramount! Where’s the Blu-ray??!!)  [Read on here...]