Displaying items by tag: Bluray Disc

Hey, Bits readers!

Boy, is it good to be back posting content!

As you may have noticed, The Bits has been down for a few weeks, first as we began to experience website technical issues and more recently has we worked to make the software upgrades needed to get us back to a level of stability that allows us to move forward.

Of course, any time you update software, most things get better but a few things break, so you then have to debug and test everything as much as you can, which we’ve been doing over the last several days.

At any rate, I believe we’re finally at a point now where I can start posting news updates here again—and there’s a lot of release news to catch you up on, as you can imagine.

What’s more, we can also start posting new Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD disc reviews—and rest assured that our review team here has been writing and stockpiling tons of them while we’ve been down. So expect lots of them over the coming days.

In fact, we’re starting that right now with…

Tim’s review of Jeff Rowe’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023) in 4K Ultra HD from Nickelodeon Movies and Paramount Home Entertainment, as well as the recent region-free import Blu-ray 3D from Turbine Media in Germany.

Stephen’s take on Brian Gibson’s Breaking Glass (1980) on Blu-ray from Fun City Editions.

And Dennis’ thoughts on King Vidor’s The Citadel (1938) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.

Again, more reviews are forthcoming, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for them! [Read on here...]

All right, folks... several weeks ago, we told you this was coming, and the announcement is finally here:

MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD SETS SAIL ON 4K ULTRA HD FOR THE FIRST TIME

Peter Weir’s Academy Award-Winning Naval Epic Arrives August 5 in Stunning 4K Ultra HD for the First Time Ever on Digital and Blu-ray Disc

BURBANK, CA (July 16, 2025) – The courage to do the impossible lies in the hearts of men! Peter Weir’s high-seas masterpiece set during the Napoleonic Wars, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, sets sail for the first time ever on 4K Ultra HD Digital and Blu-ray Disc August 5.

Adapted from the tenth novel in Patrick O’Brian’s legendary ‘Aubrey/Maturin’ series, the film stars Russell Crowe as Captain “Lucky Jack” Aubrey, the Royal Navy’s most daring and battle-tested commander, and Paul Bettany as his close friend, ship’s surgeon, and naturalist Stephen Maturin. When HMS Surprise is ambushed by a superior enemy vessel, Aubrey must confront the brutal challenges of war, the unforgiving sea, and the limits of leadership. With his ship damaged and crew wounded, he sets off on a relentless pursuit across two oceans—facing a choice between duty and loyalty, and a mission that could alter the fate of nations or destroy them all. [Read on here...]

Greetings, everyone!

This is Bill, editor of The Digital Bits, checking in with a quick update.

I just wanted to let you all know that our week of site maintenance here at The Bits appears to have gone well and is now essentially complete.

We’re going to be doing some testing here over the next 24 hours or so, just to make sure that everything is functioning normally and that all is well.

If that turns out indeed to be the case, as I expect, I’ll resume normal My Two Cents news postings probably tomorrow sometime.

In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled for the first new disc reviews to start be posted here at the site likely later this afternoon. [Read on here...]

We’ve got a bunch of long overdue upgrades and software tweaks happening here at The Digital Bits this week, and the maintenance is likely to take a few days to fully complete.

So we’ve decided to give our hard-working staff writers here at the site the week off.

Rest assured, we’ll all be watching tons of films and working on reviews for you in the meantime, so when we return next week, we’ll have lots to share.

And we’ll certainly have plenty of physical media announcement and industry news to catch you up on as well.

So please pardon our absence over the next few days, but don’t forget that you can always check in with us on all our usual social media channels on X, Facebook, Bluesky, etc. (I’ll be active on my own X, Facebook, and Bluesky channels as well (as will the rest of the team), and also on our Digital Bits Patreon page.) [Read on here...]

We’ve got a little bit of ground to cover today, given that My Two Cents updates this week here at The Bits have been sparing as we prepare for major forthcoming website upgrades. But as always, we do have some new disc reviews for you, including…

Stephen’s look at Sergio Leone’s For a Few Dollars More (1965) and Alex Proyas’ Dark City (1998) both in 4K Ultra HD from Arrow Video (one from Arrow UK and the other a US title), as well as Sean S. Cunningham’s Deepstar Six (1989) in 4K Ultra HD from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

And Stuart’s thoughts on Mike Hodges’ I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead (2003) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

Also, we’ve posted the latest update of our Release Dates & Artwork section featuring all the latest Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD cover art and Amazon.com pre-order links. As always, whenever you order literally anything from Amazon after clicking to them through one of our links, you’re helping to support our work here at the site and we really appreciate it. [Read on here...]

We’ve got a few more new disc reviews for you all to enjoy today, including...

Tim’s look at Stephen Surjik’s Wayne’s World (1993) in 4K UHD from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, his look at Russ Meyer’s Up! (1976) in 4K Ultra HD from Severin Films, and his review of Chang Cheh’s The Kid with the Holden Arm (1979) on Blu-ray from Arrow Video’s Shawscope: Volume Two box set.

Stephen’s review of Hideki Takayama’s animated Urotsukidoji: Legend of the Overfiend (1989) on Blu-ray from Discotek Media.

Dennis’ review (with an A/V assist by Tim) of Bruce Robinson’s Withnail and I (1987) in 4K Ultra HD from the Criterion Collection.

And Stuart’s review of Mitchell Leisen’s Bride of Vengeance (1949) on Blu-ray from Imprint Films.

In release news today, we have an update for you on Universal’s newly-announced 4K Ultra HD release of Knight Rider: The Complete Series (1982-86), which streets on 7/22. We’ve haven’t got confirmation yet on whether all the original broadcast music will be properly sorted (though Turbine’s 2023 Blu-ray review did have it sorted, so it’s reasonable to assume that it will be—you can review our review of that set here). But we have confirmed that the set will include HDR10 high dynamic range, and that in addition to the legacy special features, the set will include two newly-produced extras as well. [Read on here...]

We’ve got three new disc reviews for you to enjoy today, including...

Stephen’s look at Sergio Leone’s A Fistful of Dollars (1964) in 4K Ultra HD from Arrow Video in the UK.

Dennis’ review of Irving Rapper’s Rhapsody in Blue (1945) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.

And Stuart’s take on Andre de Toth’s Springfield Rifle (1952) also on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive.

More reviews are forthcoming all this week, so be sure to keep checking back for them.

Also here at The Bits today, we’ve just posted the latest update of our Release Dates & Artwork section featuring all the latest Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD cover artwork and Amazon.com pre-order links. As we’re an Amazon affiliate, anytime you order literally anything from them after using one of our links, you’re helping to support our work here at the site and we really do appreciate it. [Read on here...]

We start the new week today with three more new disc reviews, including…

Tim’s look at Robert S. Baker and Monty Berman’s Jack the Ripper (1959) in 4K Ultra HD from Severin Films.

Stuart’s thoughts on the Audie Murphy Collection IV Blu-ray box set from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, which includes the films Kurt Neumann’s The Kid from Texas (1950), Budd Boetticher’s The Cimarron Kid (1952), and Nathan Juran’s Drums Across the River (1954).

And Dennis’ take on William Friedkin’s Sorcerer (1977) on Blu-ray from the Criterion Collection. (Note that we reviewed the 4K Ultra HD edition here at the site last week.)

In announcement news today, we finally have the official word that Universal Studios Home Entertainment is releasing NBC’s Knight Rider: The Complete Series (1982-86) on 4K Ultra HD on 7/22. The 21-disc set will include all 90 episodes in their original 1.33:1 TV aspect ratio, plus previously released special features including the Knight Rider (2000) TV movie, and apparently some new features too. [Read on here...]

Morning, everyone!

Before we get started today, we’ve got a few more new disc reviews to share with you…

I’ve turned in my thoughts on Lewis Gilbert’s You Only Live Twice (1976) in 4K from the MGM’s new Connery Bond 4K set, as well as Akira Kurosawa’s Yojimbo & Sanjuro (1961-62) in 4K from the BFI (a review co-written with Todd Doogan), and also Matt Schrader’s Score: A Film Music Documentary (2016) on Blu-ray from Gravitas Ventures.

Tim has reviewed Bob Clark’s Murder by Decree (1979) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

Dennis has checked in with a look at John Sturges’s Mystery Street (1950) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection, as well as Bruce Robinson’s Withnail and I (1987) on Blu-ray from Criterion.

And finally, Stephen has offered his take on Shaka King’s Judas and the Black Messiah (2021) in 4K Ultra HD from Warner Bros., as well as Andrei Tarkovsky’s final film The Sacrifice (1986) in 4K from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

And we’ve got lots more great new reviews planned for posting all next week here at The Bits, so be sure to check back then. [Read on here...]

We have more announcement news for you today, and more new disc reviews as well…

First, Tim has turned in his thoughts on Jim Isaac’s Jason X (2001) in 4K Ultra HD from New Line via Arrow Video, as well as the Warner Archive Collection’s excellent new Looney Tunes: Collector’s Vault – Volume 1 on Blu-ray!

I’ve posted a new review (with longtime Bits contributor Todd Doogan) of Akira Kurosawa’s Throne of Blood (1957) in 4K Ultra HD from the BFI.

And Stephen has delivered his thoughts on Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s Abigail (2024) in 4K Ultra HD once again, but this time as released by Turbine Media in Germany.

Also here at the site today, we’ve posted another update of our Release Dates & Artwork section here at The Bits, featuring all the latest Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD cover artwork and Amazon.com pre-order links. Don’t forget: The Bits is an Amazon affiliate, so anytime you order literally anything from them after clicking to them through one of our links (like this one), you’re helping to support our work here and we appreciate it! [Read on here...]