Displaying items by tag: Via Vision Entertainment

I wanted to do something a little different here at The Bits today.

This being a Friday afternoon, and with the recent passing of Robert Duvall much on my mind, I wanted to call your attention to a film that I think features one of his finest performances.

But the sad reality is, thanks to studio apathy and/or a dispute between the film’s director and distributors (as reported here back in 2019), some of you may not even be aware of it.

First though, a bit of regular site business: We’ve got three more new disc reviews for you to enjoy here at the site today, including…

Dennis’ look at Don Siegel’s The Verdict (1946) on Blu-ray from our friends at the Warner Archive Collection.

Stuart’s thoughts on Mabel Cheung’s An Autumn’s Tale (1987) on Blu-ray from Imprint Asia and Via Vision.

And finally, Tim’s review of Roy Ward Baker’s Scars of Dracula (1970) in 4K Ultra HD from Hammer Films via the good folks at Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

More reviews are on the way for next week (including one or two from yours truly), so be sure to check back for them.

All right… with that aside, let me tell you about a little gem of a film called Open Range (2003).

Based on the 1990 Western novel The Open Range Men by Lauran Paine, and featuring a screenplay by Craig Storper, this Kevin Costner-directed project was both a critical and box office success, if a modest one, and it currently holds a respectable 79% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes (with an audience rating of 84%). [Read on here...]

All right, we’ve got some big—and excellent—4K Ultra HD catalog news for you here at The Bits today, but first let’s knock out a few new disc reviews…

Stephen has taken a look at Jean-Jacques Beineix’s Diva (1981) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

Stuart has offered his thoughts on W.S. Van Dyke’s I Love You Again (1940) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection, Garry Marshall’s Frankie and Johnny (1991) on Blu-ray from Imprint Films and Via Vision, and Howard Bretherton’s Hopalong Cassidy: The Legacy Collection – Volume 1 (1935) on Blu-ray from Paramount via ClassicFlix.

And Dennis has shared his take on Blake Edwards’ A Shot in the Dark (1964) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics and Don Weis’ I Love Melvin (1953) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.

More reviews are forthcoming, so be sure to check back for them!

Now then, let’s get right to the good stuff… 20th Century Studios has finally announced the 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray release of David Fincher’s Fight Club (1999) on 5/12! [Read on here...]

Cheers, Bits readers!

We’ve got one last My Two Cents update for you this week with some great new disc reviews, as well as some great new Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD release news. Let’s hit those reviews first…

I’ve just updated our dear late friend Barrie Maxwell’s review of William Wyler’s Ben-Hur (1959) to cover Warner’s stunning new 4K Ultra HD restoration of the film, which streets next week. It’s truly one of the great classic film presentations we’ve seen on this format to date, and certainly not to be missed.

Dennis and Tim have checked in with thoughts on a pair of Agatha Christie film adaptations in 4K Ultra HD from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, including John Guillerman’s Death on the Nile (1978) and Guy Hamilton’s The Mirror Crack’d (1980).

Dennis has also reviewed Michael Winner’s The Mechanic (1972) and Antonia Bird’s Priest (1994) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics and Imprint, respectively.

Tim has posted his own reviews of Alberto Cavalcanti, Charles Crichton, Basil Dearden, Robert Hamer’s Dead of Night (1945) anthology on Blu-ray from KLSC as well as Chor Yuen’s The Jade Tiger (1977) from Arrow’s Shawscope: Volume 3 Blu-ray box.

Stephen has reviewed Emma Seligman’s Bottoms (2023) on Blu-ray from KLSC.

And Stuart has taken a look at Hideo Gosha’s Gate of Flesh (1988) on Blu-ray from Toei via 88 Films.

We have lots more great 4K reviews cooking for next week as well, believe me.

Also here at The Bits today, we’ve posted an update of our Release Dates & Artwork section featuring all the latest Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD cover artwork with Amazon pre-order links. As always, whenever you order anything after clicking to Amazon though one of our links (like this one) you’re helping to support our work here at the site and we appreciate it!

Now then, first things first: Our retail and industry sources have informed us that Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment’s much anticipated 4K Ultra HD release of the Wachowski’s Speed Racer (2008) should street on or about 5/19. So adjust your plans accordingly. Go Speed Go!

Of course, the big news today is that our friends at the Criterion Collection have just unveiled their May slate of Blu-ray and 4K titles. And any slate that includes more Kurosawa in 4K UHD is a good one. [Read on here...]

We have several new disc reviews for you here at The Bits today, including…

Tim’s look at John Hough’s Twins of Evil (1971) in 4K Ultra HD from Imprint Films and Via Vision, as well as his review of the final film in Criterion’s The Wes Anderson Archive in 4K Ultra HD, specifically The French Dispatch (2021).

Dennis’ review of Michael Stasko’s Vampire Zombies… from Space! (2024) on Blu-ray from MVD and Cleopatra Entertainment).

Stephen’s thoughts on John Carpenter’s Vampires (1998) in 4K Ultra HD from Via Vision Entertainment.

And finally, Stuart’s take on the Columbia Noir #7: Made in Britain Blu-ray box set from Indicator, which includes A Prize of Gold (1955), The Last Man to Hang (1956), Wicked as They Come (1956), Spin a Dark Web (1956), The Long Haul (1957), and Fortune Is a Woman (1957).

More reviews are forthcoming, so be sure to check back for them.

Also, before we get to the news today, we’ve just posted our latest update of our Release Dates & Artwork section featuring all the latest Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD cover art and Amazon pre-order links. As always, whenever you order literally anything from Amazon after clicking through one of our links (like this one), you’re helping to support our work here at The Bits and we really appreciate it! [Read on here...]

All right, let’s knock out a few more new and recent disc reviews here at The Bits, shall we? Today, we’ve got for you…

Tim’s thoughts on Isle of Dogs (2018) in 4K from Criterion’s The Wes Anderson Archive box set, as well as Chor Yuen’s Clans of Intrigue (1977) on Blu-ray from Arrow’s Shawscope: Volume Three box set.

Stuart’s review of Gordon Douglas’ The Iron Mistress (1952) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.

And Stephen’s take on Andrew Davis’ Under Siege (1992) in 4K Ultra HD from our friends at Arrow Video!

More reviews are forthcoming, so be sure to check back.

Also today, we’ve just updated our Release Dates & Artwork section here at The Bits with all the latest Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K UHD cover art and Amazon pre-order links.

Now then, the big news today is that the Criterion Collection has just unveiled their April slate of Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD titles, and as always there are some real gems! [Read on here...]

All right, this is going to be a quick post, because there’s a LOT going on in Hollywood this week—as you may have seen, and which we’ll get to in a moment—and I’m spending a lot of time today (and especially over the next few days) talking with studio and industry friends, colleagues, and sources for insight and context on all of it.

First though, we have some great new disc reviews here at The Bits for you to enjoy today, including…

Stephen’s reviews of Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut (1999) in 4K Ultra HD from the Criterion Collection, as well as John Woo’s The Killer (1989) in 4K Ultra HD from Shout! Factory via their HK Cinema line.

Tim’s look at Brian De Palma’s Carrie (1976) in 4K Ultra HD from Imprint Films and Via Vision Entertainment.

And Stuart’s thoughts on Kayo Hatta’s Picture Bride (1995) on Blu-ray, also from Imprint (via their Imprint Asia line) and Via Vision Entertainment.

We’ll have more new disc reviews next week, so be sure to check back for them!

Now then, the first big piece of news we want to address here today broke early last night: Netflix appears to have won a three-way bidding war (against Comcast and Paramount Skydance) to purchase Warner Bros., in a “megadeal” that’s reportedly worth nearly $83 billion. [Read on here...]

All right, we’ve got a ton of new disc reviews that we’ve shared here at The Bits over the past week, including…

My reviews of the fixed Superman: The Movie, Superman II, and Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut 4K Ultra HD discs from Warner Bros.

My review (with Todd Doogan) of Akira Kurosawa’s Stray Dog (1949) on Blu-ray from the BFI, as well as my review (with Tim) of the new Back to the Future: 40th Anniversary Limited Edition Gift Set in 4K from Universal.

Stephen’s thoughts on Arūnas Žebriūnas’s The Devil’s Bride (1974) on Blu-ray from Deaf Crocodile, Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi’s Shin Godzilla: Deluxe Collector’s Edition (2016) from GKids, and Abel Ferrara’s Ms. 45 (1981) on 4K Ultra HD from Arrow Video.

Tim’s reviews of Hanna-Barbera’s Wacky Races: The Complete Series on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection, StudioCanal’s Dead of Night: 80th Anniversary Collector’s Edition in 4K Ultra HD, the first titles—One-Armed Swordsman (1967) and Return of the One-Armed Swordsman (1969)—from Arrow’s Shawscope: Volume Three Blu-ray box set.

Dennis’ look at Mark L. Lester’s The Ex (1996) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics and John Cromwell’s The Racket (1951) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.

And Stuart’s take on Stuart Heisler’s I Died a Thousand Times (1955) and the Bette Davis Collection (which includes The Letter, Dark Victory, Jezebel, and The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection as well as José Giovanni’s Last Known Address (1970) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

We’ve also got lots more new disc reviews coming today and all this week, so be sure to check back for them!

Now then… in announcement news today, the good people at Radiance Films have revealed that they’re releasing Richard Rush’s The Stunt Man (1980) in 4K Ultra HD on 2/23/26. The film will feature Dolby Vision HDR, and the package will include a bevy of new and legacy special features, including the acclaimed documentary The Sinister Saga of Making The Stuntman (2001). You can see the cover work above left. [Read on here...]

We’re starting things off today with three more new disc reviews, including…

Stephen’s look at Phil Alden Robinson’s Sneakers (1992) in 4K UHD from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

Dennis’ thoughts on Edward Dmytryk’s The Juggler (1953) on Blu-ray from Imprint Films.

And Stuart’s take on Norman Jewison’s …And Justice for All (1979) on Blu-ray from Indicator and Powerhouse Films.

Watch for more reviews here in the coming days.

Now then, the big news is that Disney, 20th Century Studios, and Sony have just announced the 4K Ultra HD release of Robert Wise’s The Sound of Music (1965) on 9/23, in honor of the film’s 60th anniversary. Once again, the studio has waited until product was well into replication before announcing, in order to help ensure sufficient stock to meet demand when pre-orders begin (which should happen in the next few days). [Read on here...]

All right, we’ve got some big news for you today—I’m talking really good stuff. But first as always, we have new disc reviews for you…

I’ve just shared my thoughts on Eleanor Coppola, Fax Bahr, and George Hickenlooper’s legendary Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse (1991) documentary as newly-remastered in 4K Ultra HD, as well as Akira Kurosawa’s Ran (1985) in 40th Anniversary Collector’s Edition 4K Ultra HD, both from the good people at StudioCanal in the UK.

I've also finally posted my review of Guy Hamilton’s Diamonds are Forever (1971) in 4K Ultra HD from Amazon MGM Studios via Warner Bros. Home Entertainment—the last title in the 007: Sean Connery 6-Film Collection 4K box set that I hadn't yet reviewed before the website went wonky a couple months ago. Work getting the site working again and back up to speed prevented me from posting it, so now I'm finally caught up (and I know that some of you were waiting on Diamonds, so there you go).

Also, just yesterday I reviewed Robert Greenwald’s Xanadu (1980) in 4K Ultra HD from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

Stephen has reviewed Kim Ki-duk’s Yongary, Monster from the Deep (1967) in 4K Ultra HD from Vinegar Syndrome.

Stuart has offered his take on Paul Vecchiali’s Rosa la Rose: fille publique (1986) on Blu-ray from Radiance Films, as well as Imprint’s Directed by… David Lean – Volume One Blu-ray box set, which includes In Which We Serve (1942), This Happy Breed (1944), Blithe Spirit (1945), Brief Encounter (1945), Great Expectations (1946), and Oliver Twist (1948).

Dennis has reviewed Hugh A. Robertson’s Melinda (1972) and John G. Avildsen’s Lean On Me (1989) both on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.

And Tim has taken a look at Yoshiyuki Kuroda’s The Invisible Swordsman (1970) on Blu-ray from Arrow Video.

We’ll have more disc reviews for you next week, so be sure to check back then.

Now then… Arrow Video is getting ready to announce its November slate of Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD titles, and retail leaks reveal that it will include some great 4K catalog titles licensed from New Line and Warner Bros! [Read on here...]

We’ve got some great new disc reviews for you to enjoy today, including…

Stephen’s look at George Stevens’ classic western Shane (1953) in 4K Ultra HD from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

Tim’s thoughts on Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme (2025) in 4K Ultra HD from Universal and Shane Black’s The Nice Guys (2016) in 4K from Second Sight Films in the UK.

Stuart’s take on a trio of TV movies on Blu-ray from KLSC, including Ants! (1977), Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo (1977), and Terror Out of the Sky (1978), as well as Eiichi Kudô’s Yokohama BJ Blues (1981) on Blu-ray from Radiance Films.

And Dennis’ review of Harold Becker’s The Onion Field (1979) on Blu-ray from Via Vision Entertainment.

Now then… the big catalog release news today is that our friends at Arrow Video have just revealed that they’re releasing New Line’s live action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Trilogy for 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray release in the US, UK, and Canada in December (the US date is 12/16, the UK date is 12/15 or 15 December). There will be regular and Arrow Video Store exclusive packaging. [Read on here...]