My Two Cents
Now here’s a title I’ve known about for a while, and that I’m very excited to finally share with all of you!
Longtime Bits readers will know that this film is another huge favorite of mine. And back in January of last year… not long before we first broke the exclusive news of the new Sony/Disney distribution deal here at The Digital Bits… I was invited by Disney reps to submit a list of films that I thought the studio should consider for release on physical 4K UHD.
I compiled a list of fifty titles, an A-list of twenty-five, and a B-list of twenty-five more.
Kevin Jarre, Kurt Russell, and George P. Cosmatos’ Tombstone (1993) was at the very top of that A-list.
The third film on that A-list was Ridley Scott’s Kingdom of Heaven: Director’s Cut (2005).
Both titles have now obviously been released on physical 4K Ultra HD from Disney/Touchstone and 20th Century Studios via Sony Pictures Home Entertainment—Tombstone on 4/22, and Kingdom of Heaven on 5/27. (Initial supplies of both titles are hard to come by, but I’m told that Sony is working hard to replicate more copies.)
Well… now I can confirm that the second title on the list I submitted is finally coming to 4K Ultra HD as well, and I couldn’t possibly be more excited. That title is none other than… [Read on here...]
The new week is here, and so we’ve got three new disc reviews to share with you today accordingly...
Stuart’s look at Ken Loach’s Family Life (1971) on Blu-ray from Indicator.
Dennis’ thoughts on Predrag Antonijević’s Savior (1998) on Blu-ray from Imprint Films.
And Tim’s take on another title from Arrow’s Shawscope: Volume Two Blu-ray box set, this time Lau Kar-leung’s Mad Monkey Kung Fu (1979)!
In announcement news today, Shout! Factory has begun to reveal its August slate of titles, which is set to include the Shaw Brothers Classics: Volume Seven Blu-ray box set on 8/5, which features the films The Imperial Tomb Raiders (1973), Legend of the Bat (1978), The Shadow Boxed (1975), The Spiritual Boxer (1975), Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre (1978), Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre 2 (1978), Seven Shaolin Hand Lock (1978), Swordsman and Enchantress (1978), The Proud Twins (1979), A Deadly Secret (1980), and Heroes Shed no Tears (1980). [Read on here...]
We’ve got one last update for you this week, with announcement news and a few more new disc reviews. As always, let’s take a look at the latter first…
Tim has offered his take on Gordon Hessler’s Catacombs (1965) on Blu-ray from Via Vision’s Imprint Films.
Dennis has shared a look at Anthony Mann’s Side Street (1949) on Blu-ray from MGM via the Warner Archive Collection.
And Stephen has taken a look at Hayao Miyazaki’s latest animated feature The Boy and the Heron (2023) in 4K Ultra HD from Studio Ghibli via GKids and Shout! Factory.
Meanwhile, the title announcement news this afternoon begins with this: Imprint Films has revealed that they’re releasing a 4-disc Limited Edition of David Lynch’s Dune (1984) in 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray!
The 4-disc set will include the 137-minute Theatrical Cut on both 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray, plus the 177-minute Extended TV Version on Blu-ray. You’ll also get a bonus disc featuring the 93-minute Extended Cut of Ballyhoo Motion Pictures’ terrific feature-length documentary The Sleeper Must Awaken: Making Dune documentary, produced and directed by our friend Daniel Griffith! [Read on here...]
Okay, we’re experiencing a couple of website issues today that are requiring work on both our hardware and software here at The Bits. But while we do that, I wanted to knock out a quick news update in the event we have to take a couple days off from posting. So we’ve got more big catalog 4K news for you this morning, including a big follow-up on the news we posted here on Tuesday!
But first, we’ve got more new disc reviews for you as well...
Stephen has turned in his thoughts on Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi (1983), as newly re-issued in 4K Ultra HD Steelbook packaging from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Tim has reviewed Terrell O. Morse’s Unknown World (1951) on Blu-ray from Severin Films.
And Dennis has offered his take on Steven Soderbergh’s The Good German (2006) on Blu-ray from Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment.
Now then, the big news is that our friends at The Criterion Collection have officially announced a title that we first mentioned here at The Bits on Tuesday (and last Sunday on our Digital Bits Patreon page for subscribers): They are indeed releasing The Wes Anderson Archive as a 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray box set on September 30th! [Read on here...]
Afternoon Bits readers! We hope you all had a good weekend—a good long Memorial Day weekend for those of you who live here in the States.
We’ve got some great 4K catalog release news for you here today, but first we have more new disc reviews...
First up, I’ve reviewed Ridley Scott’s Kingdom of Heaven: Director’s Cut (2005) in 4K Ultra HD from 20th Century Studios via Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. It’s a fantastic release that streets on Tuesday. But we know it’s been hard to pre-order, so we’re waiting to hear back from Sony on the demand issue and we’ll let you know when we do. In the meantime, my review is lengthy and in-depth, so enjoy.
Also, Stephen has reviewed David Cronenberg’s The Brood (1979) in 4K Ultra HD from Second Sight Films.
Tim has shared his thoughts on Gordon Flemying’s Dr. Who and the Daleks (1965) in Blu-ray from Severin Films.
And finally, Dennis has offered his take on Roger Kumble’s Just Friends (2005) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.
Now then, the big news today is that the Criterion Collection is working on a 10-film Wes Anderson Collection for release later this year! [Read on here...]