Displaying items by tag: Mark A Altman
Taking Us Around the World: Remembering “Moonraker” on its 40th Anniversary
“I remember thinking as Bond tumbled out of the airplane that this was going to be the greatest film ever. And then, moments later, Jaws flapped his arms falling toward a circus tent. I felt my own internal seismograph plummet. I was for the first time in my life, embarrassed for the filmmakers of a James Bond film.” — John Cork, co-author of James Bond Encyclopedia
The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective commemorating the 40th anniversary of the release of Moonraker, the 11th (official) cinematic James Bond adventure and the fourth of seven to feature Roger Moore as cinema’s most popular secret agent.
Our previous celebratory 007 articles include Quantum of Solace, From Russia with Love, Never Say Never Again, Live and Let Die, Octopussy, Casino Royale (1967), Tomorrow Never Dies, Die Another Day, Dr. No, The Living Daylights, The Spy Who Loved Me, You Only Live Twice, Diamonds Are Forever, Casino Royale, For Your Eyes Only, Thunderball, GoldenEye, A View to a Kill, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Goldfinger, and 007… Fifty Years Strong.
The Bits continues the series with this retrospective featuring a Q&A with an esteemed group of film historians and James Bond authorities who discuss the virtues, shortcomings and legacy of 1979’s Moonraker. [Read on here...]
- Ian Fleming
- John Cork, James Bond: The Legacy
- 007
- James Bond
- History Legacy & Showmanship
- Michael Coate
- The Digital Bits
- film retrospective
- Moonraker
- 40th anniversary
- Roger Moore
- Mark A Altman
- Mark A Altman, Nobody Does It Better
- Lee Pfeiffer, The Essential James Bond
- Drax
- Lewis Gilbert
- Lois Chiles
- Michael Lonsdale
- John Barry
- Richard Kiel
- Corinne Cléry
Gremlins 4K, Tim Burton’s Dumbo, The Alienist, Jon Pertwee’s Doctor Who, Shazam! in 3D, and TONS more new announcements
Sorry for our absence yesterday. We’ve been dealing with various and sundry server issues over the weekend and we’re just starting to get back to normal. Honestly, it’s a wonder the Internet still works at all these days. So anyway, thanks for your patience.
We have a bunch of title announcements to cover today, but first, today marks the 20th anniversary of our friends Robert Meyer Burnett and Mark A. Altman’s film Free Enterprise. So we wanted to call your attention to Michael Coate’s retrospective on the film from its 15th anniversary back in 2014. You can read Still Loving Long & Partying: Remembering Free Enterprise on its 15th Anniversary right here. The film isn’t on Blu-ray yet and so it’s always surprising how many people haven’t see it. But if you’re a fan of classic Star Trek, pop culture, and actors William Shatner and Eric McCormack, we think you’ll really enjoy it.
Meanwhile, we’re starting to get back to reviews. I still have two more Batman 4Ks coming, plus Tim and Dennis have some Blu-rays they’ve reviewed for you too. I’ve also got a trio of science fiction Blu-ray releases I’m going to try to cover soon as well. So be sure to watch for those. [Read on here...]
- Shout! Factory
- History Legacy & Showmanship
- Michael Coate
- Tim Salmons
- Dennis Seuling
- The 4K Ultra HD Release List
- My Two Cents
- The Digital Bits
- Bill Hunt
- Gremlins 4K
- Joe Dante
- Tim Burton
- Dumbo (2019) 4K
- The Alienist
- Doctor Who: Season Four
- Shazam! 3D
- Free Enterprise: 20th Anniversary
- Robert Meyer Burnett
- Mark A Altman
- William Shatner
- Eric McCormack
- The Flash: The Complete Fifth Season
- DC Comics
- Titans: Season One
- Gotham: Season Five
- Godzilla: King of the Monsters 4K
- From the Earth to the Moon BD
- Deadwood: The Movie
- Kino Lober Studio Classics
- The Magicians: Season Four
- Don't Look Now 4K
- Nicholas Roeg
- Studio Canal
- Jon Pertwee
CES 2019: The Beginning of the End for Physical Media
So… this is going to be an interesting post for you longtime Bits readers. It’s been interesting for me to compose, certainly, writing it as I do from the perspective of someone who’s covered the home video industry now for more than twenty years (and followed it since the 1980s). I hope it will be at least thought-provoking to you all. But I’ll get to the meat of it in a moment.
First, let me take care of a bit of routine business: We’ve posted (in the last 24 hours) no less than seven new Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD reviews, beginning with my own in-depth look at Damien Chazelle’s First Man in 4K, a film which I believe is a masterpiece and one that will come to be regarded as such with time.
Also newly posted here are Tim’s thoughts on one of my favorite François Truffaut films, Jules and Jim, as released on Blu-ray from Criterion, along with Tony Williams’ Next of Kin from Umbrella Entertainment. You’ll find too Dennis Seuling’s take on Drew Goddard’s Bad Times at the El Royale on Blu-ray from Fox and the documentary Tea with the Dames on DVD from MPI. Finally, we have David’s take on Anne of the Thousand Days from Twilight Time and Godard Mon Amour from Cohen Media, both on Blu-ray. All of these films are worth a look and we hope you enjoy them. [Read on here...]
- First Man 4K review
- Only Those Who Risk by Bill Hunt
- Tim Salmons
- reviews
- My Two Cents
- The Digital Bits
- Bill Hunt
- David Steigman
- Dennis Seuling
- CES 2019
- The Beginning of the End for Physical Media
- Inglorious Treksperts podcast
- Mark A Altman
- Robert Meyer Burnett
- Daren Dochterman
- History of Star Trek on Home Video
- Tea with the Dames DVD review
- Jules and Jim BD review
- Anne of a Thousand Days BD review
- Next of Kin BD review
- Godard Mon Amour BD review
- Bad Times at the El Royale BD review
- IMAX Enhanced
Cylons, Daggits, and the Search for Earth: Remembering “Battlestar Galactica” on its 40th Anniversary
“Battlestar Galactica remains in the history of pop-culture as one of the most star-studded, lavishly-produced, special-effects-laden television shows of all time.” – Classic TV historian Herbie J Pilato
The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective commemorating the 40th anniversary of the premiere of Battlestar Galactica, Glen A. Larson’s science-fiction television series about the crew of the Galactica and their ongoing battles with the Cylons and quest to locate Earth. Starring Richard Hatch as Apollo, Dirk Benedict as Starbuck, and Lorne Greene as Adama, the series is remembered for its massive production budget and state-of-the-art visual effects.
The supporting cast included Herbert Jefferson, Jr. (Boomer), John Colicos (Baltar), Maren Jensen (Athena), Noah Hathaway (Boxey), Laurette Spang (Cassiopeia), Tony Swartz (Flight Sergeant Jolly), Terry Carter (Colonel Tigh), Anne Lockhart (Lieutenant Sheba), Jane Seymour (Serina), Patrick Macnee (narrator, Count Iblis, and voice of Imperious Leader), and Jonathan Harris (voice of Lucifer). [Read on here...]
M:I – Fallout details, plus Maximum Overdrive: Vestron, Eighth Grade, GKids’ Fireworks & much more
We’re kicking off the week with a pair of new Blu-ray reviews...
Both are worth a look, so check out the reviews and give them a shot.
Now then... in announcement news, we have a couple interesting things for you... [Read on here...]
- The 4K Ultra HD Release List
- 4K Ultra HD Release List
- David Steigman
- Dennis Seuling
- Tim Salmons
- Bill Hunt
- The Digital Bits
- My Two Cents
- Talking Blu with The Digital Bits YouTube webcast
- The Tingler BD review
- The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez BD review
- Mission: Impossible Fallout 4K
- Die Hard 30th Anniversary BD
- Maximum Overdrive BD
- Vestron Video Collector's Series
- The Chamber
- Eighth Grade
- The Gingerbread Man
- Kino Lorber Studio Classics
- Scream Factory
- Shout! Factory
- Fireworks anime
- GKids
- The REC Collection
- What Keeps You Alive
- Your Name
- Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich 4K
- Superman: The Movie 4K
- The Fog 4K
- Invasion Los Angeles 4K
- John Carpenter
- Studio Canal
- Mark A Altman
- So Say We All: Battlestar Galactica book
- Midnight's Edge
- They Live 4K
Patriot’s Day, League of Their Own: 25th, Underworld: Blood Wars, Saturday Night Fever: DC & Bill Paxton RIP
Kicking off a new week here at The Bits, we’ve got a couple of things for you today...
In announcement news today, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has set A League of Their Own: 25th Anniversary Edition for release on Blu-ray on 4/18. It includes the new Bentonville, Baseball & the Enduring Legacy of A League of Their Own featurette, as well as legacy extras including 15 deleted scenes, a 9-part documentary, audio commentary with the filmmakers, Madonna’s This Used to Be My Playground music video, and the film’s theatrical trailer. [Read on here…]
- FUNimation
- Speed Racer: The Complete Series official
- Patriot's Day
- Mark A Altman
- MOS DEF
- Bluray
- My Two Cents
- The Digital Bits
- Bill Hunt
- Bluray Disc
- Tim Salmons
- Wild Beasts BD review
- A League of Their Own: 25th Anniversary Edition
- Underworld: Blood Wars 4K
- Saturday Night Fever: Director's Cut
- Bill Paxton RIP
- Iron Man Trilogy 4K Germany
- Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies
2+2=4K: Getting UHD on Track in 2017
Recently, like many of you I made the plunge into 4K. As a veteran of the home video wars for the last several decades; I’ve gone from Fotonovels to Viewmasters to Selectavision to Beta to VHS to laserdisc to HD-DVD to Blu-ray and now UHD Blu-ray. There’s no question that UHD is the finest home video format to hit the consumer market yet, but with the ubiquitousness and ease of use that streaming offers, it’s no secret 4K is going to have an uphill climb. Let’s face it, even those of us who care about getting the very best quality out of our home A-V systems will occasionally fall prey to the demonic lure of Netflix, Hulu Plus or iTunes over discs we might have stashed away because of the simple convenience of pressing a button on the remote rather than searching through racks of thousands of Blu-ray’s or rifling through closets for a certain disc. [Read on here…]
Rogue One official, plus Passengers, Hell in the Pacific, Lion date change, Twilight’s March slate & MUCH more
Afternoon, folks! We’ve got some great stuff for you here at The Bits today…
First up, Tim has turned in a review of Shout! Factory’s Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume IV, which includes the episodes Space Mutiny, Overdrawn at the Memory Back, Girl in Gold Boots, and Hamlet. The disc is now available, so do give it a look.
Meanwhile, we have a new MOS DEF column from Mark A. Altman as well today, in which he takes a look back at his favorite Blu-ray releases of 2016. We’ll have more from Mark later this week too. Enjoy!
In announcement news today, the BIG news is that Disney and Lucasfilm have just officially set Rogue One: A Star Wars Story for Blu-ray Combo, DVD, and On Demand release on 4/4, with a Digital HD release set for 3/24. There’s no word yet of a 4K version, but it appears that Target and Best Buy will have retail-exclusive Blu-ray 3D versions on 4/4 (per Star Wars.com). The Target package appears to match the Star Wars: The Force Awakens 3D Collector’s Edition. The Best Buy package comes in a Steelbook. Walmart will also have exclusive packaging. Extras on the Blu-rays will include 11 behind-the-scenes featurettes (A Rogue Idea, Jyn: The Rebel, Cassian: The Spy, K-2SO: The Droid, Baze & Chirrut: Guardians of the Whills, Bodhi & Saw: The Pilot & The Revolutionary, The Empire, Visions of Hope: The Look of Rogue One, The Princess & The Governor, Epilogue: The Story Continues, and Rogue Connections). Note that the lack of deleted scenes – and we know there are many – or audio commentary suggests that a more elaborate Collector’s Edition BD release is coming later this year. You can see the cover artwork at the left and below. [Read on here…]
- Tim Salmons
- Release Dates & Artwork
- Silence
- Bluray Disc
- Bill Hunt
- The Digital Bits
- My Two Cents
- Bluray
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
- MOS DEF
- Mark A Altman
- The Best BDs of 2016
- Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume IV review
- Passengers official
- Lion street date change
- Hell in the Pacific
- Twilight Time March slate
- Patriot's Day
- Hidden Figures
- Baby Boom
- How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
- Peyton Place
- Our Man in Havana
- Flicker Alley
- Blackhawk Films
- Early Women Filmmakers: An International Anthology
- Speed Racer: The Complete Series official
- FUNimation
- Teen Titans: The Judas Contract
MOS DEF: A Look at the Best Blu-ray Releases of 2016
While physical media may be dying the death of a thousand cuts in some people’s minds (and on studio bean counters spreadsheets) and there aren’t as many truly special editions as there once was with movies getting dropped on disc with a few chintzy self-aggrandizing EPKs, that doesn’t mean there still aren’t a few treats to still be discovered on Blu-ray.
2016 boasted an ever dwindling but no less exceptional myriad of fantastic new releases that I would deem must-owns. Here are some, but by no means all of the releases that will leave you anything but blue. [Read on here…]
Sony’s PS4 Pro will NOT support 4k UHD discs, plus Michael Coate celebrates Star Trek’s 50th Anniversary
All right, we’ve got a couple things for you today...
First, as promised, we’re very proud today to present Michael Coate’s latest History, Legacy & Showmanship column here at The Digital Bits, entitled Still Boldly Going: Celebrating “Star Trek” on its 50th Anniversary! In this lengthy piece, Michael moderates a great roundtable discussion on the history of the beloved franchise with Trek luminaries Mark A. Altman, Jeff Bond, Robert Meyer Burnett, Marc Cushman, Daren R. Dochterman, Dorothy Fontana, Gary Gerani, David Gerrold, Edward Gross, Bill Kraft, Herbie J. Pilato, and Melinda Snodgrass. It’s a terrific discussion and a rare opportunity to hear from so many leading Treksperts all in one place. We hope you enjoy it and, as always… “Live Long and Prosper!” [Read on here…]
- Star Trek 50th Anniversary
- 4K UHD BD
- BD
- Bluray Disc
- Bill Hunt
- The Digital Bits
- My Two Cents
- Bluray
- Sony PlayStation 4 Pro
- PS4 Pro
- Michael Coate
- History Legacy & Showmanship
- Still Boldly Going: Celebrating Star Trek on its 50th Anniversary
- Marc Cushman
- Daren R Dochterman
- Jeff Bond
- Mark A Altman
- Robert Meyer Burnett
- Dorothy Fontana
- David Gerrold
- Edward Gross
- Bill Kraft
- Herbie J Pilato
- Melinda Snodgrass
- Gary Gerani
- HDR
- High Dynamic Range
- firmware update
- Release Dates & Artwork update
- Russell Hammond