Displaying items by tag: The Digital Bits

All right, just a quick update to close out the week here at The Bits, but we do have a couple of good things for you...

First, Stephen has another new 4K Ultra HD review for you, this one of George Roy Hill’s The Sting (1973) from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Sounds like it’s a solid remaster, so do give it a look.

In release news, this isn’t to be considered an official announcement per se (that will come later), but John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place: Part II is now available for pre-order on Amazon and elsewhere in Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD.

Street date hasn’t officially been confirmed yet, but our sources tell us that 7/27 is the likely date. You can see the cover artwork at left and also below. We’ve updated our 4K Ultra HD Release List here at The Bits accordingly. [Read on here...]

We’re starting today’s post as always with more new disc reviews...

In anticipation of Zack Snyder’s Justice League (I should have that 4K disc in hand for review sometime in the next few days), I’ve gone back to take a look at the director’s recently-remastered new 4K edition of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice – Ultimate Edition which was released in March by the Warner Archive Collection. The disc includes a revised HDR grade and a new variable aspect ratio presentation that includes 1.43 IMAX framing for select scenes. There’s a new commentary with the director as well, so it’s definitely worth a look if you’re a fan of the film.

Also today, I’ve given Gunpowder & Sky’s new US 4K release of the indie sci-fi film Prospect a look (an Ultra HD release that’s being distributed by Vinegar Syndrome). It offers a higher video bitrate than the German 4K release I’ve reviewed previously here, along with newly-produced extras and a nifty little in-universe booklet in the packaging. It’s highly recommended for fans of the film.

And because we’ve been getting a lot of questions about it: Yes, I will be reviewing Paramount and Lucasfilm’s Indiana Jones: 4-Film Collection in 4K Ultra HD. The disc streets next Tuesday, we should have our review copy in hand sometime over the next several days. Rest assured, as soon as we have it, I’ll get that title reviewed here on The Bits post-haste. [Read on here...]

All right, I trust you all had a fine and long Memorial Day weekend—those of you here in the States at least. We’ve got some good Blu-ray and 4K news to report today, but first more new disc reviews...

Tim has posted his thoughts on John Guillerman’s King Kong (1976), now available as a Collector’s Edition Blu-ray from Scream Factory.

He’s also weighed in on Vincent Robert’s The Fear (1995) on Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome.

Meanwhile, Dennis has turned in a look at George Abbott and Stanley Donen’s Damn Yankees (1958) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.

And Stephen has weighed in as well with a look Michael Ritchie’s Smile (1975) on Blu-ray from Fun City Editions. [Read on here...]

All right, we have some big catalog announcement news to report on today. But first, a few more new disc reviews...

Tim has posted his thoughts on Steve Wang’s Drive (1997), which is newly released on Blu-ray as part of the MVD Rewind Collection.

And Dennis has taken a look at another classic Mae West film, Lowell Sherman’s She Done Him Wrong (1933), which is coming on 6/29 from our friends at Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

Just to let you know, I do expect to have a copy of Zack Snyder’s Justice League in 4K soon, imported from Zavvi, and I will be reviewing it here on The Bits as soon as it comes in, probably next week. And there are more Blu-ray and 4K reviews on the way for later next week after the long Memorial Day holiday here in the States. [Read on here...]

Today’s update will be a quick one, as we’re all working on new disc reviews here. Speaking of which, we have a couple of new ones for you now...

I’ve posted my thoughts on ClassicFlix’s outstanding new 2K restoration of The Little Rascals. I’ve reviewed Volume 1 on Blu-ray in depth, and it’s well worth your money and attention if you’re a fan of the Our Gang series of just great film restoration work in general. The disc streets next Tuesday.

Also today, I’ve reviewed Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal, which streets on Blu-ray next Tuesday as well from Adult Swim and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. This is an absolutely modern masterpiece of animation. Some of you will have seen it on Adult Swim, but the Blu-ray release was delayed for over a year by the COVID-19 pandemic, so it’s finally about to land in your hands. Don’t miss it.

And sometime probably later this evening, we’ll have Stephen Bjork’s in-depth review of John Landis’ Animal House in 4k Ultra HD, which arrived in stores last week from Universal. [Read on here...]

We have a quick news column for you here at The Bits today. But first, a couple more disc reviews...

Dennis has taken a look at Basil Dearden’s The Blue Lamp (1950), an Ealing Studios film noir now available on Blu-ray Disc from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

He’s also posted his thoughts on Florian Zeller’s The Father (2020), the recent film drama that won Anthony Hopkins an Oscar for Best Actor, newly-available on Blu-ray from Lionsgate. Enjoy!

Now then... our friends at Severin Films have announced four new Blu-ray titles due to street in August (on 8/24), including Cannibal Man (1972), No One Heard the Scream (1973), Eloy de la Iglesia’s Quinqui Collection (1980-84 – which includes Navajeros, El Pico, and El Pico 2), and—surprise!—Overboard (1987), the MGM film starring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. You can visit their website here for additional details. [Read on here...]

We’re starting off the new week with a brand new review... and a brand new reviewer!

We’re very pleased to welcome Stephen Bjork to The Digital Bits team. Like many of us, Stephen is a lifelong student of film, who worked for many years as a district manager for the Video Update brick-and-mortar movie rental chain, back in the VHS, Beta, Laserdisc and early DVD days, before moving into sales. In that capacity, he attended many industry events—I probably bumped into him without realizing it at the old Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) trade shows. Stephen knows film, and he’s more than fluent with the state-of-the-art in home video technology, up to and including Digital and 4K Ultra HD. He’s also been a Digital Bits reader for many years, and a friend on social media into the bargain. So we’re confident he’s going to fit right in around here.

Stephen will be reviewing both Blu-ray and 4K titles for us, and he’s kicking that work off with his thoughts on an import 4K title that might be new to some of you: Robert D. Krzykowski’s The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot (2018). It’s a surprisingly great little drama starring Sam Elliott that a lot of you might have overlooked a I did. There was a US release of the film on Blu-ray and DVD from RLJE back in 2019, but our friends at Capelight Pictures in Germany actually did a proper physical Ultra HD release. And it turns out, it’s pretty damn good. You can import it from Amazon Germany and a few copies are available on US Amazon as well. The 4K works on all players, but note that the Blu-ray and DVD disc in the package are region locked. In any case, we hope you enjoy the review! And you can look forward to more from Stephen in the weeks and months ahead.

Welcome aboard, Stephen! [Read on here...]

We begin today’s My Two Cents column with another big new 4K Ultra HD review...

Our own Tim Salmons has taken a look at Richard Kelly’s Donnie Darko (2001), as recently released in a 4K Ultra HD Limited Edition box set by our friends at Arrow Video. It sounds like an excellent set from start to finish, so do give that a look here.

On the same note, we know that some of you have been experiencing a video frame rate/studdering issue on some models of 4K player on this title that Arrow has been quietly investigating for a couple of weeks now. Well, the good news is that they’ve just announced an official disc replacement program for those of you who are having an issue, and you can now find out how to apply for a fixed copy via this page on their website.

Also today, Dennis has posted a review of A. Edward Sutherland’s Every Day’s a Holiday (1937), a classic Mae West film now available on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classic. Enjoy! [Read on here...]

All right, we’re starting things off today with some more new 4K Ultra HD reviews...

First, I’ve given DreamWorks and Universal’s new Shrek: 10th Anniversary Edition a look on the format. It’s a very modest upgrade, but it might be worth a look for fans. The disc is available now.

Also on the CG-animated front, I’ve checked out Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon, which just arrived in stores on Tuesday.

And finally, I’ve posted my thoughts this morning on director J.J. Abrams’ 2011 early-period Spielberg homage, Super 8, which is coming to 4K Ultra HD from Paramount on 5/25.

More Blu-ray and 4K reviews are in the works, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for them. [Read on here...]

All right, we’ve got a bit of ground to cover today. First, we’ve got a few new disc reviews for you to enjoy...

I’ve posted my thoughts Doug Liman’s Chaos Walking in 4K from Lionsgate. It’s not a great science fiction film, but it looks fantastic in 4K (it was shot with the Alexa 65 camera) and it features some very nice special features too created by our old friend Cliff Stephenson. So it’s well worth a look.

I’ve also posted my review of George Cukor’s My Fair Lady (1964) on 4K Ultra HD from Paramount, and that is absolutely a reference-grade title. As some of you may know, it was shot using the Super Panavision-70 camera and was restored by our old friend Robert A. Harris back in 2015 in 4K using an 8K scan of the original camera negative. The film just looks absolutely fantastic and it’s a classic Hollywood musical too. Don’t miss it.

Also seriously worth a look is Arrow Video’s new Battle Royale: Limited Edition in 4K Ultra HD, a UK import boxset that I’ve reviewed in-depth here at the site as well. It features both versions of Kinji Fukasaku’s original film in beautifully-remastered 4K, along with both versions of the sequel on Blu-ray, plus an amazing collection of special features and swag. And even though it’s a UK import, the 4K discs will play fine worldwide. The two Blu-rays in the box are Region B locked, but one of them will still play on any US player anyway (details in my review). If you’re a fan of the film, this is a must-have box. [Read on here...]