Displaying items by tag: The Digital Bits

All right, folks... you are now looking at the new and upgraded Digital Bits website! The cosmetic changes are minimal, but they include more uniform and easy to read font weights across all browsers and devices. Previously, some of you who viewed the site on Apple devices would have difficulty reading certain pages (including reviews) because the text was too light or faint. That should now be corrected. What’s more, the site should be much faster to load, which is no small upgrade. We’re also working on some additional search functionality improvements that will our make older content/reviews easier to find.

And you may notice the “25 Years” icon next to The Bits logo. 2022 is indeed The Digital Bits’ 25th anniversary. The site launched in late 1997 after many months as an email newsletter within the home video industry. We’ve obviously grown over the years to cover new formats and topics, and we’ve had a great bunch of writers and staffers contribute to The Bits during that time—we value each and every one of them. And let it not go unsaid: We also value each and every one of you, our readers! Some of you may be new to the website, while others have been reading since the very beginning. Just know that we’re glad to count you all as part of The Digital Bits family, and we appreciate each of you. Thanks for sticking with us!

We’ve got a lot of catching up to do today, now that this first batch of site upgrades is complete, including reporting on lots of new release news and rumors. But first, we have more new disc reviews to share with you—reviews that have been posted here at The Bits in the last few days while I’ve been focused on the site upgrades. So let’s run down those now, and I’ll check back in an hour or two with that news update.

First up, Tim and I have taken an in-depth look at Matt Reeves’ The Batman (2022) in 4K Ultra HD from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. [Read on here...]

We’ll be back on Tuesday (after the long Memorial Day weekend holiday here in the States) with our usual news and reviews updates, but we’ve got a bit of breaking news that is too important to sit on until then.

Retail sources in Europe have begun dropping pre-order listings for Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, and the Star Trek: The Motion Picture – Director’s Edition in 4K Ultra HD. The Director’s Edition we already knew was coming in September as announced by Paramount when it debuted on Paramount+.

The European listings suggest that each title will arrive at retail individually, V on 9/12 (which would be 9/13 here in the States), VI on 9/19 (9/20 in the States), and finally The Director’s Edition on 9/26 (9/27 here). Those dates seem entirely consistent with what we would expect here on this side of the Atlantic. [Read on here...]

We’ve got some ground to cover this afternoon to start the week off right, including some major release news. First though, as always, some new disc reviews…

Stephen has given Ena Sendijarevic’s Take Me Somewhere Nice (2019) a look on Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome.

And Dennis has turned in his thoughts on George Seaton’s The Counterfeit Traitor (1962) on Blu-ray from Imprint Films.

Now then, the big news today is that Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has officially announced the Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD release of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore for release on 6/28 (SRP $39.98, $34.98, and $49.98 respectively), with the Digital release and HBO Max streaming debut expected on 5/30. [Read on here...]

Before we kick off the day’s release news here at the site today, be sure to check out Stephen’s latest Blu-ray review, which features the Miklos Jancso Collection on from Kino Classics. It includes 7 films made by Jancso from 1966 to 1974.

Now then, Paramount has officially set Tarik Saleh’s The Contractor for Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD release on 6/7. The Digital version is widely available now. The film stars Chris Pine and Ben Foster. AV specs on the 4K are TBA.

Universal has made Michael Bay’s Ambulance official for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 6/14, with the Digital release expected next week on 5/23. Both the Blu-ray and 4K will feature Dolby Atmos audio. The latter will include Dolby Vision HDR as well. And look for extras to include 6 behind-the-scenes featurettes (Bayhem, Aerial Assault, Chase Capitol of the World, Pedal to the Metal, Finding Ambulance, and A Tribute to First Responders). [Read on here...]

We’ve got a quick update for you this morning with word from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment that the long-delayed Blu-ray release of Peter Jackson’s The Beatles: Get Back documentary has finally been rescheduled for 7/12, as we first reported a couple of days ago.

The title had originally been set to street on 2/8, but was pulled at the last minute due to an unspecified problem with the audio mix (after review discs had already been dispatched to members of the press, and after some discs had briefly made it to retail shelves as well).

The error required the discs to be corrected, but the packed replication schedule these days—not to mention the sheer number of discs that needed to be produced—meant a long delay. [Read on here...]

We’re kicking off the new week with some interesting Criterion announcement news, along with an update about that Spider-Man: No Way Home Blu-ray 3D title we mentioned last week, and of course new disc reviews. Let’s cover that last item first...

Tim has posted new reviews of Douglas Heyes’s Kitten with a Whip (1964) from Imprint, as well as Paul Verhoeven’s Showgirls (1995) from Umbrella Entertainment. That last one features some new extras, as well as the recent You Don’t Nomi (2019) documentary, so it might be worth a look for fans.

Also Dennis has offered a look at John Badam’s American Flyers (1985), which is new on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection. [Read on here...]

We begin today with four more new Blu-ray Disc reviews for you to enjoy, including...

Tim’s take on Robert Altman’s The Long Goodbye (1973) from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, along with Lucio Fulci’s Demonia (1990) from Severin Films.

Stephen’s thoughts on Simon Wincer’s The Lighthorsemen (1987) from Umbrella Entertainment.

And Dennis’ look at Lewis Milestone’s Edge of Darkness (1943) from The Warner Archive Collection.

Moving on to release news today, Paramount has officially announced their 6/14 4K Steelbook re-release of Raiders of the Lost Ark (single-disc, same 4K disc as before with HDR10, Dolby Vision & Dolby Atmos, includes a Digital copy code and a mini-poster reproduction but no Blu-ray). That much we already knew. [Read on here...]

We’ve got four more disc reviews for you all to enjoy today, including three new 4K Ultra HD titles...

Tim has turned in his look at Terry Gilliam’s 12 Monkeys in 4K UHD from Arrow Video, a fine upgrade of their previous Blu-ray edition (but one that’s going to require a disc replacement program—the details are in the review).

Stephen has offered his thoughts on Michael Winner’s Death Wish II (1982) as well as Bill Hunzman’s FleshEater (1988), both in 4K Ultra HD from Vinegar Syndrome.

And Dennis has a look at Alfred Hitchcock’s Stage Fright (1950), as recently released on Blu-ray by our friends at The Warner Archive Collection.

As always, more reviews are on the way so be sure to stay tuned for them. [Read on here...]

Today’s update is a quick one, as my Internet provider is apparently upgrading their equipment here in Orange County, and I have a scheduled outage that could knock me offline at any minute. But we do have some very good release news to report for you all today...

But first, Tim has checked in with a look at Brian Trenchard-Smith’s DeathCheaters (1976) on Blu-ray from Umbrella Entertainment.

And Stephen has turned in his thoughts on Clyde Bruckman, W. C. Fields, and Sam Hardy’s Man on the Flying Trapeze (1935) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

We’ve also updated our 4K Ultra HD Release List here at The Bits, along with our Cover Artwork section that features new art for all kinds of upcoming Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K UHD titles with Amazon links, organized by street date. Both of those sections can be used to order and pre-order titles from Amazon, all of which goes to support our work here at The Bits (and we appreciate it!).

Now then, the big news today is that Kino Lorber Studio Classics has confirmed that they’re working on a physical 4K Ultra HD release of the outstanding John Frankenheimer action thriller Ronin (1998), starring Robert De Niro, Jean Reno, Natascha McElhone, Stellan Skarsgård, Sean Bean, and Jonathan Pryce. [Read on here...]

We’ve got some significant title news for you today, along with what could be a surprise for 3D fans. But first, a couple of quick new disc reviews...

Tim has turned in his thoughts on Cheh Chang’s Disciples of Shaolin (1975), a Shaw Brothers title on Blu-ray from 88 Films.

And Stephen has taken a look at Buzz Kulik’s The Hunter (1980) on Blu-ray from Imprint Films, which also happens to be the final film of actor Steve McQueen.

Both are worth a look, and as always there are more new disc reviews on the way all this week so be sure to watch for them.

In terms of announcement news today, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has just made George Stevens, Sr.’s Giant (1956) official for 4K Ultra HD release on 6/21. The epic western stars Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and of course James Dean in his final role. [Read on here...]