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The Digital Bits: We Know DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, SACD & High-Definition

FEATURED COLUMNS
Hunt: My Two Cents Daily Rowe: MusicTAP 9/27 Maxwell: Classic / HD Matters / British Beat / MOD 7/2
Jahnke: Bottom Shelf 9/10 Jahnke: E-Theatre 1/16 Release Dates & Art: BD, DVD & Video Games 9/25
Kleist: The 3rd Dimension Altman: MOS DEF 3/14 Doogan: Doogan's Views
WHAT'S NEW (((:~{>
Amazon BLACK FRIDAY deals all week - take advantage of GREAT PRICES!
9/28 DAILY COLUMN: The Dark Knight Rises on 12/4, plus EPIX's Everything or Nothing 007 doc! 1 AM PDT
9/27 DAILY COLUMN: Campaign, Chuck box, Coppola box, You Can't Do that..., UFO & Potter: 7!
9/27 MUSICTAP: Matt Rowe's mash-up of musically worthy release news - CDs, DVDs, LPs & lossless!
9/25 DAILY COLUMN: Potter: Year 7 UE exclusive at Target (!), UFO BD trailer & Steve Sabol RIP
9/25 RELEASE DATES & ART: The weekly update with hot new Blu-ray, DVD & Video Game cover art!
9/25 GIVEAWAY: Win copies of Warner's new Fringe: The Complete Fourth Season on BD!
9/24 DAILY COLUMN: Arthur Christmas, Document of the Dead & WHV Potter box Canadian help
9/24 MUSICTAP: Matt Rowe's mash-up of musically worthy release news - CDs, DVDs, LPs & lossless!
9/19 DAILY COLUMN: Grand Hotel, JAG, Mission: Imp., Bill & Ted, new Hobbit trailer & more!
9/18 DAILY COLUMN: Brazil, Kino Dec, Tarantino XX, MIB3, Fox's Digital HD & Dark Knight Rises!!
9/17 DAILY COLUMN: Space: 1999 - S2 BD release update - coming in late 2013 or early 2014
9/17 BD REVIEW: Dr. Jahnke & Prof. Hunt review Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures on BD!
9/14 DAILY COLUMN: Hitchcock delay confirmed, Patton remastered, Von Ryan's & Abe Lincoln!
9/13 DAILY COLUMN: Pictures of the revised packaging for FIXED Star Trek: TNG - S1 Blu-rays
9/12 DAILY COLUMN: Simpsons: S15, Watch, Ruby Sparks, Iron Sky, MST3K, BD issues & more
9/11 DAILY COLUMN: They Live extras, Eastbound: S3, Neil Young, Cagney & Lacey & more!
9/10 DAILY COLUMN: How to spot CBS' FIXED Star Trek: TNG - Season One BD sets in stores!
9/10 DR. ADAM JAHNKE: Jahnke reviews Shout!'s new Halloween II & Halloween III: CE Blu-rays!
9/6 DAILY COLUMN: Amazing Spider-Man, Lawrence 2-disc, TNG: S2 date, Coma & more!
9/4 DAILY COLUMN: Watchmen: Ultimate box, 2013 Fox/MGM & Michael Clarke Duncan RIP
8/30 DAILY COLUMN: Fear & Desire restoration, Kubrick tribute, WB Digital Copy & Sony 4K
8/30 BD REVIEW: Tim Salmons checks out Universal's newly-remastered Jaws on Blu-ray!
8/29 DAILY COLUMN: TNG BDs shipping, Bond, Marvel Phase 1 delay, Pixar Shorts V2 & more!
8/28 DAILY COLUMN: Confirmed Bond 50 extras/singles update, Patton remaster & Fear & Desire!
8/27 DAILY COLUMN: Indie BD/DVD news, TNG BD replacement update & Star Wars 3D news
8/27 MARIO BOUCHER: In honor of tomorrow's BD release here's Building a Better Battleship!
8/24 DAILY COLUMN: Rock of Ages, Kino Nov slate, Shameless: S2, Vamps, Ab Fab & more
8/23 DAILY COLUMN: Bond BD singles, Seeking a Friend..., Savages & Magical Mystery Tour!
8/22 DAILY COLUMN: Brave extras, L. Snowblood, Patton, Poseidon, Cyborg & People Like Us
8/21 DAILY COLUMN: Brave, Fox Sig Series, Ella, Copper & Santa Conquers the Martians art!
8/20 DAILY COLUMN: Tony Scott RIP, Dust Bowl, Coma, That's My Boy, 3D sans glasses & more
8/20 DVD REVIEW: Doogan spins Kenji Misumi's The Last Samurai on DVD from Neptune Media...
8/20 BD REVIEW: ...as well as a couple more Misumi films in AnimEigo's Shogun Assassin BD set!
8/17 DAILY COLUMN: Prometheus due 10/11, Uni 100 box, Indy marathon & People Like Us!
8/16 DAILY COLUMN: Criterion Nov., Moonrise Kingdom, Sunset Blvd extras & Raiders IMAX!
8/16 BD REVIEW: The odds are ever in your favor with Lionsgate's The Hunger Games on BD!
8/14 DAILY COLUMN: Fox sets James Cameron's Avatar for wide BD3D release in Oct
8/13 DAILY COLUMN: Chernobyl Diaries, Duellists, Mel Brooks, Trek: TOS CD box & more!
8/13 MARIO BOUCHER: For tomorrow's BD release here's a look behind-the-scenes: Restoring Jaws!
8/9 DAILY COLUMN: My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Entourage, Luck, Tom & Jerry, Indy & more!
8/8 DAILY COLUMN: Roger Rabbit: 25th, League of Their Own, Alcatraz & Sunset Boulevard!
8/7 DAILY COLUMN: Indy & Lawrence Blu-ray extras update, plus Fear & Desire Blu & more!
8/6 DAILY COLUMN: Mars landing, new Fox/MGM BDs - Red Dawn, Killer Klowns & more!
8/3 DAILY COLUMN: Looney Tunes, Futurama & Archer BD art, plus Disney Nov. titles
8/2 DAILY COLUMN: Futurama: V7, Archer: S3, Sleepwalkers, Corman classics & more
8/1 DAILY COLUMN: Looney Tunes Platinum V2, Potter Wizard's Collection extras & more
7/31 DAILY COLUMN: TNG BD exchange update, They Live, Mad Men: S5, Annie & more!
7/31 DAILY COLUMN: Dark Shadows, new Skyfall trailer, CBS' TNG replacement & Hobbit!
7/30 TRIBUTE TO BARRIE: The Digital Bits honors Barrie Maxwell - 1947-2012
7/27 BD REVIEW: Tim's thoughts on Criterion's fine new Blu-ray edition of The Gold Rush!
7/26 DAILY COLUMN: E.T. Blu-ray street date, new Fox TV, Ninja Turtles & 60s TV Batman
7/24 BD REVIEW: Tim looks at Sony's excellent Monty Python and the Holy Grail on Blu-ray!
7/23 BD REVIEW: At long last, CBS's Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season One arrives on BD!
7/19 DAILY COLUMN: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians anyone? (plus more Kino & TV news)
7/18 DAILY COLUMN: Lawrence of Arabia OFFICIAL for Blu on 11/13 (theatrical run in OCT)!
7/18 DAILY COLUMN: Blade Runner: 30th BD Book, Men in Black 3, new Warner BDs & more
7/18 MARIO BOUCHER: As we prepare for Dark Knight Rises, Mario looks back at Batman on Film
7/17 DAILY COLUMN: Criterion OCT (w/Rosemary's Baby), Dictator, All in the Family & more!
7/16 DAILY COLUMN: Back from Comic-Con with pictures & cool Blu-ray news
7/11 DAILY COLUMN: Barrie Maxwell: October 23rd, 1947 - July 10th, 2012
7/9 BD REVIEW: Joe Marchese spins Warner's new Wrath of the Titans in 2D high-def!
7/6 DAILY COLUMN: Prometheus, Avengers app, Dick Van Dyke TVBDs, Schindler's & more
7/6 BD REVIEW: Joe checks out Universal's Pillow Talk Blu-ray!
7/5 DAILY COLUMN: Initial word on Lawrence of Arabia & Prometheus BD extras, plus Megaforce!
7/2 BARRIE MAXWELL: LAST week's installment of Barrie's Classic Hollywood MOD column!
6/29 DAILY COLUMN: Avengers, Princess Bride: 25th, Clone Wars: S4, Steve Martin & more!
6/28 DAILY COLUMN: Universal Classic Monsters go HD at last - 8 film box set due on 10/2!
6/22 DAILY COLUMN: More Hitchcock: Dial M in 3D & Strangers, plus new Kino & Pete's Dragon!
6/22 BARRIE MAXWELL: This week's installment of Barrie's Classic Hollywood MOD column!
6/21 DAILY COLUMN: Universal bows a 15-film Hitchcock: Masterpiece set on BD (& more)!
6/20 DVD-R REVIEW: Barrie checks out Warner Archive's The Journey (1959) on DVD-R
6/19 DAILY COLUMN: Friends: Complete Series goes Blu, plus Lost Girl & Uni BD art more!
6/19 BD REVIEW: Barrie checks out Kino Lorber's Little Lord Fauntleroy on Blu-ray Disc!
6/18 DAILY COLUMN: Fincher's The Game comes to Criterion BD at last, plus The Pirates & more!
6/15 BARRIE MAXWELL: This week's installment of Barrie's Classic Hollywood MOD column!
6/13 DAILY COLUMN: Ice Station Zebra, Little Shop update, Paramount 100th pic & lots more
6/12 DAILY COLUMN: Little Shop, Baby Jane, new Uni, Empire delay, Disney & Prometheus: DC!
6/11 BARRIE MAXWELL: A new High-Def Matters with 14 new & classic Blu-ray Disc reviews!
6/7 BD REVIEW: Barrie spins Paramount's new Hondo on Blu-ray Disc!
6/6 DAILY COLUMN: Spaceballs: 25th, Cat in the Hat & more, plus Ray Bradbury RIP
5/29 BD REVIEW: Barrie spins Warner's Camelot: 45th Anniversary Edition on BD!
5/22 DAILY COLUMN: New Warner, Shout! & Lionsgate titles, plus MAJOR Bond 50 update
4/2 DAILY COLUMN: Wuthering Heights (WB/Goldwyn deal), Red Scorpion & MUCH more!
4/1 THE ANALOG BITS: Celebrating Movies at Home on Film, Tape & 12" Disc! (April Fools!)
3/12 DOOGAN V. JAHNKE BD REVIEW: Todd & Adam spin Anchor Bay's Battle Royale: Complete BD set!

Looking for stories that used to be listed above? Use the button bar or these links to access the following sections: Reviews (DVD, laserdisc and hardware reviews), FAQ & Archives (old feature stories and interviews, and Jim Taylor's Official DVD FAQ) and Upcoming DVD Art (at look at upcoming cover artwork). Finally, My Two Cents - Archives contains all past daily editorial posts dating back to 12/97.
GIVEAWAYS

THE GIVEAWAY IS ON!

We've just kicked off a great new Giveaway offering each of you the chance to take home copies of Warner's new Fringe: The Complete Fourth Season on BD! Entries will be accepted until Noon (Pacific) on Sunday 10/7. Click on the links for instructions on how to enter and good luck!

Don't forget, you can always find a list of the winners for our previous contests and giveaways in The Winner's Circle. Congratulations to all!

DVD & HD FORMAT STATS
TOTAL U.S. DVD PLAYER SALES (last data reported 8/24/07 - CEA): 133,443,356
Editor's Note: The Consumer Electronics Association has discontinued its reporting of DVD player sales data, and they have not begun reporting on Blu-ray player sales. However, our original CEA DVD Player Sales chart will remain available here for future reference.
TOTAL DVD TITLES (5/25/12 - DVD Release Report): 141,746/185*
*Net total of R1 DVD-Video discs released/announced. Discontinued & adult not included.
TOP 10 SELLING DISCS (5/13/12 - Nielsen/VideoScan):
1) The Vow
2) Underworld: Awakening
3) Mission: Impossible - Ghost...
4) Thor
5) Joyful Noise
6) Captain America...
7) Bridesmaids
8) Contraband
9) Haywire
10) New Year's Eve
TOP 10 RENTAL DISCS (5/13/12 - Home Media Research):
1) The Vow
2) Underworld: Awakening
3) Haywire
4) Mission: Impossible - Ghost...
5) We Bought a Zoo
6) New Year's Eve
7) Joyful Noise
8) The Sitter
9) Chipwrecked
10) The Descendants
TOTAL BLU-RAY DISC TITLES (5/25/12 - DVD Release Report): 6,052/167*
*Net total of Region A discs released/announced. Discontinued & adult not included.
TOTAL HD-DVD TITLES (FINAL FORMAT TALLY as of 7/4/08 - DVD Release Report): 429/0*
*Net total of R1 discs released/announced. Discontinued & adult not included.
SOFTWARE MARKET SHARE - BD VS DVD (YTD through 5/5/12 - Nielsen/VideoScan):
Week End. 5/5
Blu-ray Disc: 21 DVD: 79
NUMBER OF AFI TOP 100 FILMS ON DVD - 2007 LIST (4/20/10): 100/0 (0)
Released/Announced or In Development - ( ) Not yet available on DVD.


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MY TWO CENTS - 9/28/12 - by Digital Bits editor Bill Hunt
All right, we've got a quick early update for you today with some major breaking release news...

You may recall that, back on 9/18, we reported on a leaked WHV promotional video on YouTube that teased the home video release of The Dark Knight Rises with the text "Own it on Blu-ray Combo Pack or Digital Download 12/3." Well, now Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Warner has confirmed to them that the film will arrive on Blu-ray Combo, DVD and digital on 12/4. There will also be a limited and numbered box set edition of the BD Combo that comes packaged with a replica of Batman's cowl. According to their information, the discs will include a documentary on the history of the Batmobile, the 17-part Ending the Knight documentary, The Journey of Bruce Wayne featurette, trailers, galleries and more. Watch for official details shortly.

Also today, for those of you Bond fans who have the EPIX channel on your cable or satellite system, they'll be showing a documentary on the Bond franchise called Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007. Directed by Steven Ridley, it focuses "on Bond producer Albert R. Broccoli, Harry Saltzman, and author Ian Fleming as they discuss the inception and durability of the longest running film franchise in cinema history." The documentary will debut on Friday, October 5th at 8:00pm ET. Here's the film's listing on the EPIX website.

Stay tuned...

9/27/12

Afternoon, folks!

Warner Home Video has officially announced the Blu-ray Combo and DVD release of The Campaign on 10/30 (SRP $35.99 and $28.98). The Blu-ray will include Line-O-Rama, deleted scenes and a gag reel. The film will be an extended cut with 11 minutes of scenes not seen in theatres.

Warner Bros will also release Dallas: The Complete First Season on DVD only on 1/8 (SRP $39.98). You'll get all 10 episodes, plus 6 featurettes, commentary on the pilot and deleted scenes.

Look for a Chuck: The Complete Series - Collector Set on Blu-ray and DVD from Warner as well on 10/30 (SRP $179.98 and $149.98). We don't know if these sets will include the 3D version of the Chuck Versus the Third Dimension episode (that was a Best Buy BD exclusive), but we'll try to find out.

And Warner has set Steven Spielberg Presents Tiny Toon Adventures: Volume 3 for DVD only release on 1/8/2013.

Meanwhile Lionsgate has a Francis Ford Coppola 5-Film Collection coming to Blu-ray on 12/4 (SRP $39.99). It will include Apocalypse Now, Apocalypse Now Redux, Tetro, The Conversation and One from the Heart. We believe this is the first time that final film will be available in high-def. (One suspects it will be released separately on Blu-ray next year.)

Drafthouse Films has set The Ambassador for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 10/23.

Paramount is releasing the classic "western comedy" Something Big on DVD only on 10/9 (SRP $19.99). The film stars Dean Martin and Brian Keith.

Danger After Dark will release the Japanese horror (or "J-horror") film X-Game on DVD only on 11/13. SRP is $17.99.

Shout! Factory will release Simon & Simon: Season Seven on DVD only on 10/16 (SRP $29.99). All 16 episodes from the season will be included.

Any of you guys remember the Nickelodeon classic You Can't Do That on Television? Shout! is also releasing a feature-length documentary on the series, You Can't Do That on Film, on DVD only on 10/16. The disc will include a rare interview with show creator Roger Price, extended cast and crew interviews, recaps of the SlimeCon and SlimeCon 2004 fan conventions and cast reunions, outtakes, behind-the-scenes footage from The Official Reunion Episode Titled Project 131 and more.

Image Entertainment has set the documentary The Clintons: An American Odyssey for DVD only release on 10/2.

The Cinema Guild has the indie film Natural Selection coming on Blu-ray and DVD on 11/13 (SRP $29.95 and $24.95). The discs will include interviews with the cast and crew and the film's theatrical trailer.

First Run Features has set Chely Wright: Wish Me Away and Nobody Else But You for DVD only release on 10/16.

Wolfe Video has Funkytown coming to DVD on 10/2.

And Anchor Bay and Starz has Magic City: The Complete First Season coming to Blu-ray and DVD on 10/3.

Finally, we've got a couple title updates for you. First, we've learned that Network doesn't currently have the U.K. release rights to Gerry Andersons' UFO and Thunderbirds so they can't release Blu-ray versions there. A&E does have the U.S. rights to both series and is considering releasing them on BD. However it's very early in the process so there's nothing concrete to report yet.

Also, for those of you who are interested in the Target-exclusive version of Warner's Harry Potter: Year 7 - Ultimate Edition, here's what you need to know. It's a Blu-ray/DVD Combo, but only the movies are included on DVD. All the extras are on the Blu-rays. Also, it only includes the 8th book - Growing Up. It's in many Target stores now, but initial shipment quantities were low so many stores have just 1-3 copies until they restock. Some stores aren't getting their copies of the set in until next week. We strongly suspect that when the Target exclusive ends and Warner puts the set into wide release, you'll get at least two different SKUs - separate Blu-ray and DVD versions - to match the ones they've released thus far. It may also be that the wide release versions will be split into separate boxes for the two films, like the U.K. versions. So if you only want Blu-ray and you're dying to get the set now, Target's the place. But if you want the DVD version or want to wait until it's two separate boxes for each film so you get the two different books, all the character cards, etc, hang tight until early next year.

All right, one last note about upcoming reviews. We do have the Bond 50 Blu-ray Disc set on hand. I will be doing a full review, but it's going to take a couple weeks to really get into it all and cover it properly as I only just got my hands on it and there's a LOT of material to go over. Also, Dr. Jahnke will shortly have the Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection Blu-ray set in his hands which means you can definitely expect it to be one of the titles he reviews when we launch his annual Hell Plaza Oktoberfest next week! I know a lot of you have been looking for reviews on those titles, so just know they're coming.

We'll leave you with a look at the Blu-ray Disc cover art for Lionsgate's Francis Ford Coppola 5-Film Collection, Warner's Chuck: The Complete Series and PBS' Downton Abbey: Seasons 1 & 2 (due on 10/2)...

Francis Ford Coppola 5-Film Collection (Blu-ray Disc)Chuck: The Complete Series (Blu-ray Disc)Downton Abbey: Seasons 1 & 2 (Blu-ray Disc)


Stay tuned!

9/25/12

Okay... we've got a couple more little bits of information for you today...

First, here at the site today, we've kicked off a new Giveaway giving each of you the chance to win one of FIVE copies of Fringe: The Complete Fourth Season on Blu-ray Disc thanks to our friends at Warner Home Video. Entries will be accepted until Noon (Pacific) on Sunday, October 7th. Click on the link for instructions on how to enter and good luck!

Speaking of Warner, Warner Home Video has set LEGO Ninjago Masters of Spinjitzu: Rise of the Green Ninja for DVD release on 11/27.

Vanguard Entertainment has set Behold the Lamb, The Last Soul on a Summer Night, Flood Streets and Mama Sweetie for DVD release on 11/27.

And Lionsgate will release Bro' on DVD on 12/18.

Back to Warner again for a moment, there are rumors that Target stores have (or will soon have) a retail-exclusive version of a Harry Potter: Year 7 - Ultimate Edition on Blu-ray and DVD. This is obviously the very box set that many of you (who've purchased all the previous UE sets) have been waiting for. We asked WHV for confirmation and have been told that they're not commenting. Which suggests that it's true. However, there's no such set listed on Target.com. We're trying to get to the bottom of this, so if any of you spot the set at your local Target store be sure to let us know. Meanwhile, we've asked Warner if they can at least tell us when and if the set will be available widely for all their loyal customers who, as I noted, have already purchased all the other UE sets. When and if they get back to us on this we'll let you know. We certainly hope they do, because judging by your e-mails many of you are getting understandably impatient about this.

[UPDATE - Target DOES INDEED have a retail exclusive on the long awaited Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Parts 1 and 2 - Year 7 Ultimate Edition, with both movies included in one box set. That explains why the studio isn't commenting. It's available starting today in stores. A sticker on the front of the box indicates that it's a Target exclusive until 1/6/13, and it's a 6-disc set that DOESN'T include the 3D versions - just 2D. SRP is $49.99. Presumably after 1/6 it will go into wide release. Thanks to the many Bits readers who e-mailed with this information.]

Also today, we've yet to hear back from our contacts at Network and A&E about the BD release status of UFO and Thunderbirds, but Bits reader Robert H. did send us a link to a trailer for the Japanese UFO BD release on YouTube. Keep in mind, given that the U.K. and U.S. rights are owned by other companies, so I wouldn't expect this Japanese release to be all-region. Again, anything we hear from our official contacts we'll post as soon as it comes in.

Finally this morning, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the passing over the weekend of filmmaker Steve Sabol, who was the president and co-founder of NFL Films (along with his father, Ed). If you love football like I do, you need no explanation as to just how much impact Sabol has had on the game of pro football over his career. Week in and week out, season after season, Steve and his camera teams captured every scrap of the drama, the history and the humanity of the game. Like any good filmmaker, he was a storyteller and he was a damn good one. Steve died of complications of a brain tumor at the age of 69. He will be missed. Be sure to check out the NFL's tribute film here.

Stay tuned...

Bill Hunt, Editor
The Digital Bits
billhunt@thedigitalbits.com



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