Displaying items by tag: Tim Salmons

All right... as one might expect, we’ve got a lot to talk about again today here at The Bits.

First of all, we don’t have any new information on Manta Lab’s “disc-less” WandaVision packaging, except to reiterate that while this is a licensed Disney Consumer Products item, it’s most definitely not an official Marvel Studios/Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment physical media product. And while some you deluxe packaging collectors might think that’s splitting hairs, for the vast majority of disc consumers around the world it’s a very important distinction. Disney is not suddenly getting in the business of releasing Steelbook packaging for titles they have no intention of actually releasing on disc, and making it okay by including a Digital copy code. Just to be clear. In any case, we hope to hear more on this in the next few days.

As to the matter of today’s other Disney hot topic, I’m afraid, the news is not good. Despite the fact that Sanity has now pulled down their original Facebook post announcing it, we at The Digital Bits have confirmed today with multiple industry, distributor, and retailer sources in the region that Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is indeed pulling out of the Australian market in terms of physical media. This follows similar moves in Asia (save for Japan) and Latin America, and the reason is apparently down to the gradual collapse of physical disc sales in the region, the growth of Disney+ Starz streaming, and also the rise of global retailers (think Amazon, Zavvi, etc). None of that will be of any comfort to disc fans in Australia, who will now have to pay a hefty shipping premium to import titles from outside the country. But it is true that Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol 3 will be the last new-release Disney title to get a physical release in the region. Previously-released titles may continue to be available for purchase until the end of the year, but that will be up to individual retailers.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, folks, but there it is.

Now then, before we shift to a bit of announcement news, we have several new disc reviews here at The Bits that are worth mentioning today...

Here’s the big one: Stephen has just turned in his in-depth thoughts on William Friedkin’s To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) in 4K Ultra HD, as newly-released by our friends at Kino Lorber Studio Classics. It’s a great disc, with the best A/V presentation of the film to date, and it includes nearly all of the previously-created special features. [Read on here...]

We’re kicking off the new week today with three more disc reviews from The Bits review team, including...

Tim’s thoughts on Martin Brest’s Midnight Run (1988) in 4K Ultra HD from Shout! Factory via their Shout Select line.

Stephen’s take on Mizuho Nishikubo’s animated Giovanni’s Island (2014) on Blu-ray from GKids.

And Dennis’ look at John Cromwell’s Caged (1950) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.

More reviews are forthcoming all this week, so be sure to check back every day for them.

Now then, the big release news today is that the Criterion Collection has just announced its October Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD slate, which includes five great new titles. [Read on here...]

We have three more new disc reviews for you again today here at The Bits, including...

Stuart’s thoughts on Wojciech Jerzy Has’ The Saragossa Manuscript (1965) on Blu-ray from Yellow Veil Pictures via Vinegar Syndrome.

Dennis’ take on the vintage Rin Tin Tin double feature of Clash of the Wolves (1925) and Where the North Begins (1923) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

And Tim’s take on another Shawscope: Volume One Blu-ray title from Arrow Video: Lau Kar-Leung’s Heroes of the East (1978), also known as Challenge of the Ninja, Shaolin vs. Ninja, and/or Shaolin Challenges Ninja.

In announcements today, the big news is that Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment and DC Studios have officially set Andy Muschietti’s The Flash for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 8/29, with the Digital and “Web3 Movie Experience” expected on 7/18. [Read on here...]

Today’s new disc reviews here at The Bits include...

Stephen’s review of Robert Aldrich’s The Longest Yard (1974) in 4K Ultra HD from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

His take on James Wan’s Insidious (2010) in 4K Steelbook from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Tim’s reviews of The Five Venoms (1978) and Crippled Avengers (1978) from Arrow’s Shawscope: Volume One Blu-ray box set.

And Stuart’s look at Philippe Le Guay’s The Man in the Basement (2021) on DVD from Kino Lorber and Greenwich Entertainment.

Don’t forget that today is the final day of Amazon’s Prime Day Deals, and there are still LOTS of them to be had on 4K Ultra HD titles, movie and TV collections, and much more. And if you click to Amazon through one of our links (like this one) before you start shopping with them, it makes a huge difference in helping us to keep The Digital Bits going. So we appreciate the support! [Read on here...]

We have three new disc reviews and a nice batch of Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD title announcements to start the week off for you today...

First, Dennis has reviewed Dave Thomas’ The Experts (1989) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

Dennis and Tim have jointly reviewed Jan de Bont’s The Haunting (1999) in 4K Ultra HD from Scream Factory.

And Tim has reviewed another Shaw Brothers title on disc, in this case Chang Cheh’s Chinatown Kid (1977) from Arrow Video’s fantastic Shawscope: Volume One Blu-ray box set.

In announcement news this morning, Paramount has just made Steven Caple Jr.’s Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023) official for release on Blu-ray, DVD, 4K Ultra HD, and 4K Steelbook on 10/10, with the Digital release set to drop tomorrow (7/11). Extras will apparently include extended and deleted scenes (including an alternate opening and ending) and 9 behind-the-scenes featurettes (Human Affairs, Life in the 90s, Heroes, Villains, The Chase, The Battle of Ellis Island, Into the Jungle, The Switchback Attack, and The Final Conflict). Unfortunately, we don’t have any disc specs. But you can see what we believe is the near-final cover artwork at left and also below the break. [Read on here...]

We’re closing out the week this afternoon with some newsy odds and ends, a few more tidbits about forthcoming titles from our industry sources, and of course more new disc reviews. Today’s reviews include...

Tim’s take on Wes Craven’s The People Under the Stairs (1991) in 4K Ultra HD from our friends at Scream Factory.

His look at Craig R. Baxley’s Stone Cold (1991) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

And Stuart’s thoughts on Richard Thorpe’s The Truth About Spring (1965) on Blu-ray, also from the good folks over at Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

In 4K Ultra HD release news, you might recall that yesterday we mentioned that Sony was bringing Martin Campbell’s The Legend of Zorro (2005) to the format on 8/22. Likewise, Universal was working on a 4K release of Emerald Fennell’s Promising Young Woman (2020) for that same day. [Read on here...]

We have three more new disc reviews of you today, including...

Stephen’s take on Ridley Scott’s Thelma & Louise (1991) on 4K Ultra HD from the Criterion Collection.

Tim’s look at Peyton’s Reed’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) on 4K Ultra HD from Marvel Studios and Disney.

And Stuart’s take on Imprint’s Tales of Adventure: Collection 1 on Blu-ray, which includes John Rawlins’ Arabian Nights (1942), Alfred E. Green’s A Thousand and One Nights (1945), Fred de Cordova’s The Desert Hawk (1950), Terence Young’s Zarak (1956), and William Dieterle’s Omar Khayyam (1957).

All three titles are well worth your time, so do give the reviews a look and enjoy!

Now then, the main piece of announcement news today is that Disney has officially set their live-action The Little Mermaid (2023) for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 9/19, with the Digital release dropping on 7/25. Here’s the catch though: The physical 4K release will only be available in retail-exclusive SKUs, including one at Best Buy (in Steelbook packaging), one at Walmart (packed with a collectible pin), and the other at the Disney Movie Club (with a lithograph). The 4K UHD release will include Dolby Atmos audio, while the Blu-ray will have 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. [Read on here...]

Well, there’s a little bit of release news to close out the week here at The Bits, plus we have a few more new disc reviews...

Tim has turned in his thoughts on Ezio Greggios’ The Silence of the Hams (1994) on Blu-ray from Turbine Media.

Dennis has reviewed Gary Whitson’s Hung Jury (1994) on Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome.

And Stuart has offered his take on Alfonso Brescia’s Italian gangster film The New Godfathers (1979) on Blu-ray from Raro Video.

In announcement news, Imprint Films has revealed their planned September release slate, which is set to include Sam Peckinpah’s Cross of Iron (1977) on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray Combo and also Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974) on Blu-ray, along with the Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles TV series (1980) on Blu-ray, and finally a new Film Focus: George Peppard (1968-1974) Blu-ray box set, which includes P.J. (1968), Pendulum (1969), The Executioner (1970), and Newman’s Law (1974). The Executioner is a Blu-ray format debut. Street date for all of them to ship is 9/27. [Read on here...]

Three more new disc reviews are up on The Bits today, including...

Tim has posted his thoughts on Jeff Burr’s From a Whisper to a Scream (1987) on region-free Blu-ray from the good folks at Turbine Media in Germany.

Dennis has offered his take on Rouben Mamoulian’s Queen Christina (1933) on Blu-ray from our friends at the Warner Archive Collection.

And Stuart has given John Brahm’s Rio (1939) a spin on Blu-ray from Universal via Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

There isn’t a great deal of official news to report today, but we do have breaking news from Disney, which has leaked via Amazon and the Disney Movie Club: The studio will release Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) on 4K Ultra HD on 8/22! [Read on here...]

Today’s new disc reviews here on The Bits include...

Tim’s review of Phil Tucker’s Robot Monster (1953) on Blu-ray 3D from Bayview Entertainment.

Stuart’s in-depth take on the Essential Film Noir: Collection 4 Blu-ray box set from Imprint Films and Via Vision Entertainment, which features The Enforcer (1951), Beware, My Lovely (1952), Jennifer (1953), Rope of Sand (1949), and Appointment with Danger (1950).

And Dennis’ look at Elliott Nugent’s The Great Gatsby (1949) on Blu-ray also from Imprint and Via Vision.

In announcement news today, Lionsgate has set Jalmari Helander’s Sisu for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 7/11, with the Digital release available today. The 4K will be available in a wide-release Amaray SKU and also a Best Buy-exclusive Steelbook. Extras will include a pair of featurettes (Indestructible: Making Sisu and Pushing the Boundaries of Reality: The Visual Effects of Sisu). Audio on both the 4K and Blu-ray will be included in 5.1 Dolby TrueHD format. High dynamic range is likely HDR10 only on the 4K SKUs. [Read on here...]