Displaying items by tag: HBO

Afternoon, folks!

All right, there was no post yesterday because we’ve spent the entire weekend focused on getting more new disc reviews done for you. And on that note...

Tim and I have posted our in-depth look at George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead, as newly released in a fabulous 4K Ultra HD Limited Edition by Second Sight Films in the UK. It’s hands down one of the best home video releases of the year on any format. You can find that here.

Also, I’ve now posted my thoughts on Paramount’s Beverly Hills Cop and Coming to America, both starring Eddie Murphy and both coming to 4K Ultra HD on 12/1.

I’ve also just reviewed Kino Lorber Studio Classics’ new standard Blu-ray release of George Miller’s Mad Max, which streets today. I’ll be reviewing their new 4K release too as soon as it arrives. [Read on here...]

All right, review work is continuing here at The Bits and we should have a few new ones up soon. And in the interest of getting back to that, today’s post will be brief.

But Tim has posted his thoughts on Clint Eastwood’s High Plains Drifter (1973) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, not to mention Michele Massimo Tarantini’s Massacre in Dinosaur Valley (1985) also on Blu-ray from Severin Films.

And Dennis has turned in his thoughts on Phil Joanou’s The Veil (2016) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics as well.

Now then... in announcement news today, Paramount has announced that Melvin Frank and Norman Panama’s 1955 musical-comedy The Court Jester will arrive on Blu-ray on 1/26/2021 as part of the studio’s Paramount Presents line of releases. [Read on here...]

We’re rounding out the week with another new disc review and some great breaking Blu-ray and 4K release news as well.

First up the disc review: I’ve just posted my thoughts on Kino Lorber Studio Classics’ new Blu-ray release of the Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979) feature film, which streets on November 24th. It’s a nice HD presentation and the first time the film has appeared on the format in its 1.85:1 theatrical aspect ratio. Do give it a look.

Also, we may check back in later today with a review of Neill Blomkamp’s District 9 in 4K Ultra HD from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. It’s definitely in progress, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

Now then, in announcement news today, our friends at the Warner Archive Collection have just revealed their December slate of Blu-ray titles, and it’s fantastic. [Read on here...]

We’re working on more new disc reviews here at The Bits today. Specifically, I’ve got District 9 in 4K from Sony, and V for Vendetta in 4K from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. So I’m going to try to get at last one of those up tomorrow. Tim and Dennis have more in progress today as well.

Meanwhile, Tim has a look at Harry Kümel’s 1971 Belgian horror film Daughters of Darkness, now available in 4K Ultra HD from Blue Underground. Tim says the new 4K scan—from the first time taken from the original camera negative—is a revelation. You’ll find his thoughts here.

The big news today is that Discotek Media has just officially announced their long-awaited 4K Ultra HD release of Hayao Miyazaki’s first animated film, Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979). Look for it to street on 1/26/2021. [Read on here...]

We’re working on more disc reviews here at the site today, but we do have a couple of things for you today…

First up, on Monday night I was able to post my in-depth review of HBO’s Game of Thrones: The Complete Collection in 4K Ultra HD here at The Bits.

It’s a very impressive set, I have to say. It’s not cheap, but if you’re a fan, it’s a better picture and sound upgrade than you might be expecting. You can see all the details for yourself here.

Also, Dennis has turned in his thoughts on Lamont Johnson’s The Groundstar Conspiracy (1972), now available on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics. The Hal Roach Studios/Universal title stars George Peppard.

In announcement news today, Acorn has set the BBC One thriller The Nest for DVD release on 11/17. [Read on here...]

All right, today’s news post here on The Bits will be brief, as I’m working to complete my review of HBO’s Game of Thrones: The Complete Series in 4K Ultra HD.

There’s a LOT of content to cover in the set—but knock wood—I should have my thoughts finished by this evening. The set is impressive, I’ll say that much right now. Great 4K image quality (with both Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10), stunning Atmos sound, and it’s loaded with extras—including much of the content that was on exclusive retailer bonus discs previously. More later. The set streets tomorrow.

Also today, I posted a review over the weekend of Richard Gray’s Robert the Bruce (2019) in 4K, the Braveheart semi-sequel featuring actor Angus MacFadyen reprising his role as the title character. It’s a modest but I think quite good film that I’ve reviewed on Blu-ray previously. Now you can get it from Germany in 4K Ultra HD and it’s actually available on Amazon US right now for just $28.

You can read the review here and order the disc via this link. [Read on here...]

All right, we’ve got a couple new disc reviews to start the proceedings here at The Bits today...

I’ve taken a look at the first season of HBO’s new His Dark Materials series on Blu-ray, which is pretty good. Fans of the Philip Pullman books will be pleased to know that this is a solid adaptation. I just wish HBO would release the series in 4K, because the film was shot natively in 4.5K and 6K and finished in 4K, so it should look tremendous. Anyway, the Blu-ray release is solid enough (and Season Two starts in November).

Also, I’ve reviewed Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element as newly released in 4K by StudioCanal in the UK. And here’s the thing: Though the disc has no extras (and its remastered Blu-ray is Region B locked), StudioCanal’s 4K features a new and better encode than the previous Sony Ultra HD release, with much higher data rates, and Dolby Vision HDR. It’s a notable improvement in image quality. So serious fans of the film may want to consider it. Click here for all the details. [Read on here...]

HBO has just officially announced the 4K Ultra HD release of their Chernobyl miniseries on 12/1. The 5-episode series was finished natively in 4K and will include the Blu-ray and Digital copies as well (SRP $44.98). High Dynamic Range will presumably be HDR10.

Extras will include 5 featurettes (Meet the Key Players, Inside the Episode, Behind the Curtain: Director Johan Renck, Script to Screen: The Divers, and Pivotal Moment: The Trial).

Best Buy will also have an exclusive Steelbook version of the set. You can see the wide-release cover artwork pictured at left and also below.

Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has finally announced V for Vendetta for release on 4K Ultra HD on 11/3.

This should be no surprise to Bits readers, as we’ve been talking about this disc for weeks now. [Read on here...]

All right, we’ve got some GREAT release news to report for you today. But first, we a couple more new Blu-ray reviews...

Dennis has taken a good long look at Criterion’s lovely new edition of Byron Haskin’s 1953 classic The War of the Worlds on Blu-ray. He talks about the film, the extras (as compared to the recent Imprint Blu-ray) and more. And it looks like Criterion did indeed correct the 4K remaster’s color grade issue (so the opening shot of Mars is now properly red, as it should be). You can find that here.

Also today, Tim has reviewed Jean-Marie Pallardy’s outlandish actioner White Fire (1984), newly released on Blu-ray by Arrow Video. Enjoy!

Now then, on to that big release news...

It’s official: HBO and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment have set Game of Thrones: The Complete Collection for release on 4K Ultra HD on 11/3 (SRP $254.99, though expect the usual retailer discounts to be applied soon). There will also be a Best Buy-exclusive Steelbook box set that same day (SRP $285.43, though again expect the usual discount to be applied to that). [Read on here...]

Before we get to the headline of today’s post, we have another new Blu-ray review...

Dennis has taken a look at Michael Curtiz’s The Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933) on disc from our friends at The Warner Archive Collection. Enjoy!

Now then, a while back here at The Bits I reviewed with great surprise HBO’s Game of Thrones: The Complete First Season on 4K Ultra HD (you can find that here) and I was really taken aback by how good the upsampled image quality was. It was a genuine revelation.

But then, while HBO did release the final season of Game of Thrones on the format (day and date with the Blu-ray and DVD), that was it. No sign of further seasons in 4K whatsoever. Until now. [Read on here...]