Displaying items by tag: The Digital Bits

“Shrek sits alongside Spider-Man, Pirates of the Caribbean and Harry Potter as one of the definitive ‘new’ franchises of the global tentpole era, while making both animated features and rom-coms ‘safe’ for male-centric protagonists and PG ratings.” – Scott Mendelson, box-office analyst

The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective commemorating the 20th anniversary of the release of Shrek, PDI and DreamWorks Animation’s popular, award-winning animated film based upon William Steig’s picture book and featuring the voice talent of Mike Myers (Wayne’s World, Austin Powers), Eddie Murphy (Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America) and Cameron Diaz (The Mask, There’s Something About Mary).

Shrek, directed by Andrew Adamson (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) and Vicky Jensen (Shark Tale) and also featuring the voice talent of John Lithgow (The World According to Garp, 3rd Rock from the Sun) as Lord Farquaad, was released to theaters twenty years ago this month. For the occasion The Bits features a package of statistics and box-office data that places the movie’s performance in context, along with passages from vintage film reviews, a reference/historical listing of the movie’s Digital Cinema presentations, and, finally, a film historian interview who reflects on the movie (and franchise) two decades after its debut. [Read on here...]

We start our post today with two new Blu-ray Disc reviews...

Tim has taken a look at Richard Fleischer’s Million Dollar Mystery (1987) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, which streets on 5/25.

And Dennis has chimed in with his thoughts on Gilbert Cates’ The Last Married Couple in America (1980), which just arrived last week (on 5/4) also from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

Also, though I forgot to mention it in our last post, Dennis has also recently reviewed Hubert Cornfield’s The Night of the Following Day (1969) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, a film that stars Marlon Brando and Richard Boone and also streets on 5/25. So do give those a look if you’re interested.

Now then, in announcement news today, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has officially set Space Jam for release on 4K Ultra HD and Digital 4K on 7/6, just as we expected. [Read on here...]

Just a quick post today, but we do have a bit of interesting release news to report.

First, we know that lots of you have been eagerly awaiting details on the Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD release of Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Many international retail sites have—for weeks now—had it up for pre-order, set to street on or about 5/26. Indeed, we’ve had it on our 4K Ultra HD Release List here at The Bits for a few months now, anticipating a 5/25 US street date. Just today, the Australian retailer JB Hi-Fi put the title up for pre-order with the 5/26 date. (Thanks to Bits reader Tim P. for the heads-up on that one.) So, as we noted here last week, we’re pretty confident that—barring some sort of manufacturing or shipping delay—Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will be announcing it any time now for a 5/25 release in the States on both formats. It’s possible it will be released under the Warner Archive label, like Snyder’s recently 4K-remastered Batman v Superman, but we’ll have to wait and see.

Now then, these aren’t actual announcements, but we’re learned that Paramount has just made a new 4K remaster (with HDR) of Saturday Night Fever available on Kaleidescape and iTunes, so it’s possible that there could be a physical 4K release in the offing. However, the company has also recently made 48 Hours and Another 48 Hours available in Digital 4K, with only remastered Blu-rays currently set for physical release, so we’ll have to wait and see. [Read on here...]

All right, we haven’t posted a news update in a few days, because frankly there hasn’t been a ton of news to report, and also because we’ve been working on more new discs reviews. To that end we’ve recently posted...

My thoughts on Rob Reiner’s The Princess Bride, as released late last year on 4K Ultra HD by Turbine Media in Germany. The accompanying Blu-ray is locked to Region B, but the 4K disc is compatible with UHD players worldwide, and the image quality is absolutely gorgeous.

My review of Tim Burton’s Big Fish, newly released on 4K Ultra HD here in the States by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Tim’s take on Rolf de Heer’s Bad Boy Bubby (1993), which dropped back in February on region-free Blu-ray from Umbrella Entertainment.

And Dennis’ look at Richard C. Sarafian’s Eye of the Tiger (1986), coming soon on Blu-ray from Scorpion Releasing via Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

More reviews will follow next week, including my thoughts on Arrow Video’s recent UK release of Kinji Fukasaku’s Battle Royale in 4K, among others. So be sure to check back then. [Read on here...]

We’re starting the new week off today with a bunch of new disc reviews. I’ve gone on a 4K Ultra HD review spree over the last week, and have completed and posted my looks at the following titles:

Jan de Bont’s Speed in 4K from 20th Century Studios and Disney, which streets tomorrow.

Ric Roman Waugh’s Greenland in 4K, a German import disc that came out earlier this year from Tobis Film and LEONINE Distribution. (It’s worth importing if you like the film, as Universal and STX seem to have no plans as yet to release it in 4K here in the States).

Sergio Leone’s The Good, the Bad and the Ugly in 4K from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, a must-have disc which came out last week but is out of stock almost everywhere at the moment. (Rest assured, the company says more copies are on the way very soon, so do NOT pay scalper prices).

And Don Taylor’s The Final Countdown in 4K from Blue Underground, which streets on 5/25.

Meanwhile, Dennis has just offered his thoughts on Shaka King’s Judas and the Black Messiah on standard Blu-ray from Warner Bros, a disc which also streets tomorrow. [Read on here...]

We’ve got just another quick news update here today, as I’m diving into some long overdue work on new disc reviews...

Speaking of which, Tim has shared his thoughts on Augusto Caminito and Klaus Kinski’s Nosferatu in Venice (1988) as recently released on Blu-ray by Severin Films. You’ll find that here.

In announcement news today, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and HBO have just set His Dark Materials: The Complete Second Season for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 6/29. The season is already available for streaming viewing on HBO Max. In addition to all 7 episodes, extras will include 11 behind-the-scenes featurettes (Noble Rogue: The Legend of Lee Scoresby (exclusive to Blu-ray and DVD), Exploring His Dark Materials: Panserbjørne, Exploring His Dark Materials: Daemons, Exploring His Dark Materials: Portals & The Multiverse, Exploring His Dark Materials: Witches, His Dark Materials: Bringing Daemons and Bears to Life, His Dark Materials: Exploring Cittàgazze, His Dark Materials: Worlds Collide, The Powerful Mrs. Coulter, Lyra, and The Subtle Knife). [Read on here...]

Okay, we’ve got just a couple things for you this afternoon...

First, Dennis has offered his thoughts on Michael Curtiz’s 1932 pre-Code horror film Doctor X, staring Fay Wray. It’s now available on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection and you can see what Dennis has to say about the title here. Sounds like the actual disc quality is excellent.

In release news today, Amazon.de is now showing Zack Snyder’s Justice League coming to 4K in Germany on 5/27 (pre-order it here). There’s also a 4K Steelbook following in Germany on 7/8. Meanwhile, the dates for this title in France are currently listed as 6/9 for both the regular 4K release and the Steelbook 4K version. US retailers have yet to list the title, but our most recent information is that the studio will drop it on or about 5/25. We’ll certainly post updates as we have more information. [Read on here...]

All right, we have a few key items to discuss here at The Bits today...

First, Tim has posted his thoughts on Nico Mastorakis’ Death Has Blue Eyes (1976), newly-released on Blu-ray by Arrow Video. Do give it a look if you’re interested.

Also for those of you might be interested, I had the great pleasure of joining our friends Sam Posten & Brian Dobbs from the Home Theater Forum to talk Blu-ray, 4K, and the state of the home entertainment industry in general on their excellent Home Theater United podcast! The discussion was a lot of fun, and you longtime Bits readers especially should find it an interesting listen. We definitely get into the topic of where the industry is and where it’s going, so do give it a listen here. [Read on here...]

We’re starting things off with another new Blu-ray review here at The Bits today: Tim has offered his thoughts on Jack Hill’s Switchblade Sisters (1975), as soon-to-be-released on the format by our friends at Arrow Video. You’ll find that here.

In announcement news today, the big update is that StudoCanal has finally revealed that their Basic Instinct 4K Ultra HD release will happen in the UK on 6/14. There’s a deluxe edition coming to Amazon UK (click here for that) and an exclusive Steelbook edition coming to Zavvi (click here for the US pre-order link and here for the UK link).

Extras on the 4K disc itself will include audio commentary with Camille Paglia, a second commentary with Paul Verhoeven and Jan de Bont, 4 featurettes (Basic Instinct: Sex, Death and Stone, An Unending Story: Scoring Basic Instinct, Blonde Poison: The Making of Basic Instinct, and Cast & Crew Interviews), 3 Storyboard Comparisons (for the Love Scene, Car Chase, and Elevator Murder), and Screen Tests (4 for Sharon Stone and 1 for Jeanne Tripplehorn). The 4K package will also include a 2-disc Blu-ray edition with the same extras. [Read on here...]

We’re starting today’s news update here at The Bits with another new disc review. This one features Tim’s thoughts on Alex de la Iglesia’s Perdita Durango (1997), as newly released on 4K Ultra HD from the good people at Severin Films. Sounds like the transfer is pretty terrific, so do give it a look here.

In announcement news today, here’s something welcome: Screen Media will be releasing the forthcoming Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street documentary on Blu-ray and DVD on 7/6. We’ve got what looks like temp art for the title at left and you can pre-order the Blu-ray below.

Lionsgate will release Dominic Cooke’s historical espionage drama The Courier (2020) on 6/1. The film stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Merab Ninidze, and Rachel Brosnahan. Extras will include the On the Brink: Making The Courier featurette. [Read on here...]