My Two Cents
Today’s post is a quick one, but we do have some great release news for you...
First, Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment and DC Studios have kicked off pre-orders for their long-awaited 4K Ultra HD release of Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski’s animated Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993). As we’ve been expecting, the street date will be 9/12. Look for HDR10 high dynamic range and 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. The only extra will be the existing Kevin Conroy: I Am the Knight featurette. But you can see the final cover artwork at left and also below.
By the way, we’ve also confirmed with WB that their forthcoming Babylon 5: The Complete Series Blu-ray set will include its episodes in the original 1.33 broadcast aspect ratio with 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio sound mixes. You can pre-order this title now on Amazon.com by clicking here (or on the cover art below the break).
In terms of official announcements today, our friends over at Powerhouse Films in the UK have just revealed their next pair of Indicator 4K and Blu-ray titles, which are coming on 10/24 in both the US and UK. Look for Jean Rollin’s Lips of Blood (1975) and Fascination (1979). Each will feature new 4K restorations from the original camera negative, with Dolby Vision HDR on the UHD SKUs. Each will also include a plethora of new and archival special features. Note that they’re also region free. [Read on here...]
In reviews this morning, Dennis has taken a look at Raphael Sbarge’s 2022 Laemmle Theatres documentary Only in Theaters on DVD from Kino Lorber. The film chronicles the 80+ year history of the family-owned cinema chain, which is based in L.A., and looks at the family’s efforts to see it survive the current challenges facing the industry.
More reviews are coming, so be sure to watch for them.
Now then... the big news today is two-fold: First, Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment has just revealed that Babylon 5: The Complete Series is coming to Blu-ray Disc for the first time ever on 12/5! Of course, the series was originally produced and finished in SD resolution only. But its live-action footage was shot on film, so that’s been scanned in 4K and downsampled to HD, while the CGI and VFX shots have been upsampled to HD from SD. But if you’ve seen the series recently as it appears on the Max streaming app, you’ll be familiar with the quality. (Note that it’s presented in the original 1.33 broadcast aspect ratio, and will include English SDH subtitles.) All 110 episodes of the show will be included, along with the 1993 pilot film, The Gathering. It appears that this title will be available via online retailers only, so don’t expect to find it at your local brick-and mortar shop. SRP is $99.99. You can see the cover artwork at left and also below. (Oddly, it doesn’t actually include an image of the Babylon 5 space station itself, which.. ahem... seems like very strange marketing choice.)
And second, here’s some exciting news for fans of 1980s animation: The great Ralph Bakshi has announced on his Facebook page that American Pop (1981) is finally coming to Blu-ray Disc from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on 8/22! [Read on here...]
We’re kicking off the new week today with three more disc reviews from The Bits review team, including...
Tim’s thoughts on Martin Brest’s Midnight Run (1988) in 4K Ultra HD from Shout! Factory via their Shout Select line.
Stephen’s take on Mizuho Nishikubo’s animated Giovanni’s Island (2014) on Blu-ray from GKids.
And Dennis’ look at John Cromwell’s Caged (1950) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.
More reviews are forthcoming all this week, so be sure to check back every day for them.
Now then, the big release news today is that the Criterion Collection has just announced its October Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD slate, which includes five great new titles. [Read on here...]
We have three more new disc reviews for you again today here at The Bits, including...
Stuart’s thoughts on Wojciech Jerzy Has’ The Saragossa Manuscript (1965) on Blu-ray from Yellow Veil Pictures via Vinegar Syndrome.
Dennis’ take on the vintage Rin Tin Tin double feature of Clash of the Wolves (1925) and Where the North Begins (1923) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.
And Tim’s take on another Shawscope: Volume One Blu-ray title from Arrow Video: Lau Kar-Leung’s Heroes of the East (1978), also known as Challenge of the Ninja, Shaolin vs. Ninja, and/or Shaolin Challenges Ninja.
In announcements today, the big news is that Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment and DC Studios have officially set Andy Muschietti’s The Flash for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 8/29, with the Digital and “Web3 Movie Experience” expected on 7/18. [Read on here...]
Today’s new disc reviews here at The Bits include...
Stephen’s review of Robert Aldrich’s The Longest Yard (1974) in 4K Ultra HD from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.
His take on James Wan’s Insidious (2010) in 4K Steelbook from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
And Stuart’s look at Philippe Le Guay’s The Man in the Basement (2021) on DVD from Kino Lorber and Greenwich Entertainment.
Don’t forget that today is the final day of Amazon’s Prime Day Deals, and there are still LOTS of them to be had on 4K Ultra HD titles, movie and TV collections, and much more. And if you click to Amazon through one of our links (like this one) before you start shopping with them, it makes a huge difference in helping us to keep The Digital Bits going. So we appreciate the support! [Read on here...]