Displaying items by tag: The Digital Bits
Monty Python BD review coming, plus Jack Ryan: S2, AppleTV+ & my thoughts on HBO’s His Dark Materials
Today’s post will be brief, as I’m working to finish a sort of teaser review of Network’s new Monty Python’s Flying Circus: Norwegian Blu-ray Edition box set. Network was kind enough to send me check discs of the first season (the other discs are coming as they’re available), so I’m going to review those ASAP and then update the review when the rest of the set arrives. I can already tell you with confidence, however, that the restoration is remarkable. The series have never looked so good, nor been so complete and uncut. More in the review as soon as I finish it (possibly later today).
Speaking of reviews, I’ve also posted my in-depth thoughts on Warner’s new 8K/16-bit restoration of The Wizard of Oz on 4K Ultra HD. It’s also remarkable and should absolutely be on the want lists of every serious cinephile who’s upgraded their systems to 4K.
I’ll tell you, it’s been really uplifting this week to see three beloved film and TV titles (It’s a Wonderful Life, The Wizard of Oz, and now Monty Python) that have been given such careful and meticulous restoration for home video release. And I’m more impressed every day with just how far the state-of-the-art in restoration and remastering technology has come. [Read on here...]
The Wizard of Oz 4K reviewed & Happy Halloween from The Digital Bits!
Afternoon folks and Happy Halloween!
This is just a quick post to offer our best wishes for a happy and safe evening of spooks, specters, candy, and scary movies.
And to let you all know that I’ve just posted my in-depth review of Warner’s stunning new restoration of The Wizard of Oz in 4K Ultra HD. Trust me, this disc is well worth your time and it’s just $22 on Amazon right now. Don’t hesitate.
I’ve also updated a pair of previous reviews, including Disney Movie Club’s The Black Hole on Blu-ray and Mill Creek Entertainment’s A Beautiful Planet IMAX in 4K, both of which were released originally with errors that have now been corrected. Fixed discs are available in each case, and we’ve updated our original reviews accordingly.
Okay, that’s it. Happy Halloween everyone!
(You can follow Bill on social media at these links: Twitter and Facebook)
It’s a Wonderful Life 4K reviewed, plus Rambo: Last Blood official, new 4K dates & new KL Studio Classics BDs
All right, we begin today with some new disc reviews...
I’ve just turned in my thoughts on Paramount’s stunning new 4K restoration of Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life, one of those films I’d take to a desert island if I had to be stranded there with only a few. The film has never looked better and the disc even offers some tremendous newly-created extras, though the included Blu-ray version is a puzzler. Still, fans should agree that the restoration is worth every penny and it’s just $19 on Amazon right now. Don’t hesitate.
I’m working to finish my review of Warner’s The Wizard of Oz next and I’m also checking out the first couple of discs of Network’s new Monty Python’s Flying Circus Blu-ray set. So watch for those reviews soon.
Meanwhile, Tim has posted his thoughts on Scream Factory’s new Collector’s Edition Blu-ray of Chuck Russell’s 1988 remake of The Blob. Fans will definitely want to give it a look.
And Dennis has weighed in on Ari Aster’s Midsommar on Blu-ray from A23 and Lionsgate, so do give that a look as well. [Read on here...]
- Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment
- Monty Python's Flying Circus Norwegian Bluray Edition
- It's a Wonderful Like 4K
- 4K Ultra HD
- Bluray
- My Two Cents
- The Digital Bits
- Bill Hunt
- The Wizard of Oz 4K
- Rambo: Last Blood 4K
- Kino Lorber Studio Classics
- Shout! Factory
- Scream Factory
- Tim Salmons
- The Blob (1988): Collector's Edition BD review
- Midsommar BD review
- Dennis Seuling
- Ad Astra 4K
- The Joker 4K
- Easy Rider 50 4K
- Stranger Things: Season 3 BD & 4K
- Target
- Turtle Odyssey 4K
Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood official, plus remastered Beverly Hills Cop films coming to BD (and 4K Digital)
Morning, folks!
We’re busy working on reviews here at The Bits this week, including The Wizard of Oz and It’s a Wonderful Life in 4K, as well as Monty Python’s Flying Circus and Batman Beyond on Blu-ray (and more).
But there’s breaking news we wanted to jump in a post right away...
First, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has officially announced the Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD release of Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood on 12/10, with the Digital release expected on 11/25.
The film was finished as a native 4K Digital Intermediate, so it should look terrific. Audio will be 7.1 DTS-HD MA on 4K (with HDR10 high dynamic range) and 5.1 DTS-HD MA on Blu-ray. [Read on here...]
- The Wizard of Oz 4K
- Bill Hunt
- The Digital Bits
- My Two Cents
- Bluray
- 4K Ultra HD
- It's a Wonderful Like 4K
- Once Upon a Time in Hollywood 4K
- Batman Beyond: The Complete Series BD
- Monty Python's Flying Circus Norwegian Bluray Edition
- Beverly Hills Cop 3Movie Collection
- Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Big Trouble in Little China extras, Disney Movie Club’s fixed Black Hole BD, Memory doc, Cotton Club Encore & more
We’ve got a few interesting news items to report today, but first some more reviews...
Tim has posted his thoughts on Scream Factory’s new The Omen Collection Blu-ray box set and it sounds like it’s pretty fantastic. The title is well worth a look and you’ll find the review here.
Also, Dennis has turned in his thoughts on The Art of Self-Defense on Blu-ray from Universal and the remake of The Lion King (2019) from Disney also on Blu-ray.
And I’m working on a review of Warner’s The Wizard of Oz in 4K Ultra HD, which looks absolutely fantastic. The title streets on Tuesday and I hope to have my review posted on Monday. So stay tuned for that. [Read on here...]
- 4K Ultra HD
- Bluray
- My Two Cents
- The Digital Bits
- Bill Hunt
- Tim Salmons
- The Wizard of Oz 4K
- Scream Factory
- The Omen Collection
- Big Trouble in Little China
- The Art of Self Defense BD review
- The Lion King (2019) BD review
- History Legacy & Showmanship
- The Twilight Zone 60th anniversary
- Michael Coate
- Herbie J Pilato
- Marc Scott Zicree
- Steven Jay Rubin
- Nicholas Parisi
- Dr Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh
- The Black Hole
- Disney Movie Club
- Cotton Club Encore
- Francis Ford Coppola
- Lionsgate
- Memory: The Origins of Alien
- The Good Boys
- Superman: Red Son
Witness If You Will... A Retrospective: Remembering “The Twilight Zone” on its 60th Anniversary
“The Twilight Zone was an enormously creative television series anchored by one of the true giants of the medium, Mr. Rod Serling, a master storyteller who was given unprecedented control over his work. In terms of quality, no show touches it in consistent quality.” — Steven Jay Rubin, author of The Twilight Zone Encyclopedia
The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective commemorating the 60th anniversary of The Twilight Zone, Rod Serling’s classic anthology series which originally ran on CBS from 1959 to 1964.
The Twilight Zone premiered sixty years ago this month and for the occasion The Bits features a Q&A with a quartet of Rod Serling authorities and classic television historians who reflect on the timeless series (and its offspring) six decades after its debut. [Read on here...]
- film retrospective
- The Digital Bits
- Michael Coate
- History Legacy & Showmanship
- The Twilight Zone
- 60th Anniversary
- Rod Serling
- Steven Jay Rubin
- The Twilight Zone Encyclopedia
- Nicholas Parisi
- Rod Serling: His Life, Work, and Imagination
- Herbie J Pilato
- Then Again with Herbie J Pilato
- Marc Scott Zicree
- The Twilight Zone Companion
- roundtable discussion
007 4K & American Werewolf reviewed, plus Silver Bullet, Monty Python & new announcements
Okay, I posted my review of MGM’s 007: The Daniel Craig Collection in 4K Ultra HD last night here on The Bits. It’s pretty darned good image-wise. You can read all the details in the review.
Also today, Tim has posted a review of the new An American Werewolf in London: Limited Edition Blu-ray from Arrow Video. He’s also posted a look at Severin Films’ new Killer Crocodile 1 & 2 Limited Edition Blu-ray.
And I’ve started working on a review of Warner’s incredible new 4K Ultra HD release of The Wizard of Oz. The film was scanned in 8K from the original Technicolor camera negative and I’ll tell you, it’s never looked more luminous and dimensional. For an 80-year-old film, it’s pretty stunning. So watch for that review in the next couple of days. [Read on here...]
- special features
- Monty Python's Flying Circus Norwegian Bluray Edition
- 4K Ultra HD
- Bluray
- Network
- My Two Cents
- The Digital Bits
- Bill Hunt
- Tim Salmons
- 007: The Daniel Craig Collection 4K review
- An American Werewolf in London: Limited Edition BD review
- Release Dates & Artwork with 4K search
- The Wizard of Oz 4K
- Killer Crocodile 1 & 2 BD review
- Ready or Not
- The Fare
- The Ronda Rousey Story
- Silver Bullet: Collector's Edition
- Scream Factory
- Network Distributing
The Back to the Future Trilogy is coming to 4K in 2020, plus Monty Python’s Blu-ray Extras
All right, first things first today...
I’m currently at work on a 4K Ultra HD review of MGM’s 007: The Daniel Craig Collection, which includes all four of the existing Craig Bond films. That will be up either later today or first thing AM.
The quick preview is that the films look very good, a nice uptick from Blu-ray in terms of the video quality, with a restrained HDR grade. For video, I’d score the films as follows… Casino Royale: B+, Quantum of Solace: A-, Skyfall: A, SPECTRE: A. The first two are 2K upsamples, while the latter two are native 4K DIs. Watch for more details in the review.
Now then... the big news today has to do with Universal and Amblin’s Back to the Future films. Universal Brand Development (a division of Universal Studios) has revealed today that The Back to the Future Trilogy will officially be coming to 4K Ultra HD next year (in 2020) in honor of the original film’s 35th anniversary. [Read on here...]
Warner Archive reveals Operation Crossbow, Bad and the Beautiful, Teen Titans & more, plus Deadwood: The Movie reviewed
We’ve got another new disc review for you to enjoy today...
I’m just posted my thoughts on HBO’s Deadwood: The Movie, written by David Milch and directed by Daniel Minahan. If you’re a fan of the original Deadwood TV series (reviewed here on Blu-ray), you should really appreciate what a fine piece of work it is (and what a miracle it is that it finally happened).
I should note here though that HBO has informed us they’re no longer sending out review product for most of their physical media releases (they’re deciding it on a title by title basis, essentially the same thing). That is a sorry state of affairs for a network of HBO’s pedigree. In any case, it means that we had to purchase our own copy of this title for the review, something will certainly not be doing often in the future. Sadly, we can only see this as yet another sign that physical media is waning.
In any case, we do thankfully have some good physical media news for you today... [Read on here...]
- All About My Mother
- Fail Safe
- Le petit soldat
- The Fugitive Kind
- Holiday
- The Criterion Collection
- My Two Cents
- The Digital Bits
- Bill Hunt
- David Milch
- HBO
- Deadwood: The Movie BD review
- Teen Titans: The Complete Series BD
- The Warner Archive Collection
- The 100: The Complete Sixth Season BD
- The Kominsky Method: The Complete First Season BD
- Blindspot: The Complete Fourth Season BD
- Young Justice: Outsiders BD
- Operation Crossbow BD
- The World The Flesh and the Devil BD
- The Bad and the Beautiful BD
- Great Day in the Morning BD
Criterion’s January slate includes Godard, Lumet, Cukor & Almodóvar, plus new BD/4K street dates
We’ve got a quick update for you today, to report that Criterion has just announced their January 2020 Blu-ray and DVD titles.
They include: George Cukor’s Holiday (Spine #1009 – Blu-ray and DVD) on 1/7, Sidney Lumet’s The Fugitive Kind (Spine #515 – Blu-ray and DVD) on 1/14, Jean-Luc Godard’s Le petit soldat (Spine #1010 – Blu-ray and DVD) on 1/21, and Sidney Lumet’s Fail Safe (Spine #1111 – Blu-ray and DVD) and Pedro Almodóvar’s All About My Mother (Spine #1012 – Blu-ray and DVD) on 1/28.
We’ve updated our Criterion Spines Project page here at The Bits to include them, and you can read more about each title on the Criterion website. You can also see the cover artwork below. [Read on here...]
- Shout! Factory
- Once Upon a Time in Hollywood 4K
- The Joker
- Bill Hunt
- The Digital Bits
- My Two Cents
- 4K Ultra HD
- 4K Ultra HD Release List
- Tim Salmons
- Dennis Seuling
- The Criterion Collection
- Holiday
- The Fugitive Kind
- Le petit soldat
- Fail Safe
- All About My Mother
- George Cukor
- Pedro Almodovar
- Sidney Lumet
- JeanLuc Godard
- The Criterion Spines Project
- Brother Can You Spare a Dime? DVD review
- Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XII DVD review
- Robin Williams: Comic Genius DVD review
- Time Life
- VCI Entertainment