-
25 May ' 03:36
5/23 5/24 New WHV DVDs/BDs, BFI restores Hitchcock silents & 48fps 1:45 PM PDT 
DAILY COLUMN:
5/23 MY TWO CENTS - 5/24/12 - by Digital Bits editor Bill Hunt All right, we've got a couple of quick things for you today... In announcement news, Warner Home Video has revealed a pair of new animated Blu-ray releases for 6/19 (SRP $14.98 each) including Scooby-Doo: Aloha Scooby-Doo!Tom and Jerry: The Fast and the Furry. On 7/24, look for Michael Wood's Story of England on DVD (for the BBC - SRP $34.98). Following on DVD on 8/14 (also for the BBC - SRP $29.98 each) are Dalziel & Pascoe: Season 6Judge John Deed: Season Six. Then on 9/18, Warner will deliver The Devil's Advocate: The Unrated Director's CutQueen of the Damned on Blu-ray (SRP $19.98 each) along with End of the Road on DVD only (SRP $19.97). Here's a look at the cover art for Warner's The Devil's Advocate Blu-ray, Kino's They Made Me a Fugitive Blu-ray (street date 7/24) and the BBC's Michael Wood's Story of England DVD... 
In other items of interest today, BBC News has just posted a good story on their website on the extensive effort of the British Film Institute to restore and save nine of director Alfred Hitchcock's early silent films made between 1925 and 1929. Of these, The Pleasure Garden (1925), The Lodger (1927) and Blackmail (1929) will be shown this this summer as part of London 2012 Festival Olympic celebration. It's an fascinating piece and includes a 4-minute video segment as well so do give it a look.
Also, there's been a lot of talk in recent weeks about 48fps cinema, given that some footage from Peter Jackson's forthcoming The Hobbit was recently previewed at the Cinema Con theatre industry convention. It seems likely that frame rates of 48fps or higher will likely be the future of theatrical cinema exhibition, but it's probably going to take a little getting used to for many because it really doesn't look like the good old 24fps footage we're all used to - shot photochemically on physical film. I do think that some of the controversy is probably overblown - though I readily admit I haven't seen 48fps for myself yet. Change is never easy, right? For my money, as long as films that were actually shot 24fps on physical film still look that way on home video formats like Blu-ray - and they're not altered to make them look like modern footage shot on HD - I have no problem with new films of the future having their own unique stylistic appearance. You know... respect what's been done in the past and continue to innovate going forward. The whole idea of going to a theatre has always been about creating a different, better movie viewing experience than you can get at home. Now that home theatre technology has caught up, it's high time that the theatre experience took another leap forward again. I'm certainly curious to have my first experiences with 48fps to see what it's all about.
Anyway, I bring all this up because there's an interesting video that was posted on YouTube late last year in which filmmaker (and visual effects pioneer) Douglas Trumbull explains and demonstrates his Showscan Digital process, in which the classic look of film at 24fps can be preserved who providing all the technical benefits of shooting at higher frame rates. It's pretty fascinating viewing so do give it a look. Trumbull, man... that's cat's pretty impressive.
5/23/12 -
23 May ' 21:28
5/23 5/23 
Hunger Games officially set for 8/18, plus one more Bond 50 update! 11 AM PDT
5/23 BARRIE MAXWELL: A new Classic Coming Attractions with 10 classic DVD & BD reviews!
DAILY COLUMN:
MY TWO CENTS - 5/23/12 - by Digital Bits editor Bill Hunt Morning, folks! We're really pleased today to offer you a brand new Classic Coming Attractions column from our own Barrie Maxwell. Barrie's current treatment program to deal with a brain tumor is going well, and Barrie was eager to get back to business reviewing discs for you guys. In this column Barrie looks at 10 classic titles in all, including the TCM Vault Collection's Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics III, Warner Archive's Westward the Women and Warner's The Prince and the Showgirl on DVD, as well as Twilight Time's Swamp WaterThe Big HeatJourney to the Centre of the Earth, Flicker Alley's A Trip to the Moon, Paramount's To Catch a ThiefChinatown, and Criterion's David Lean Directs Noel Coward. Enjoy! All right, the BIG release news today is that Lionsgate has officially set for Blu-ray and DVD release on 8/18 at 12:01 AM (yes, that's a Saturday)... pretty much as we reported (after correction) the other day. SRP will be $39.99 and $30.98 respectively. Extras on both versions will include the 8-part The World is Watching: Making of The Hunger Games documentary covering the film from development to release, 4 featurettes (Game Maker: Suzanne Collins and The Hunger Games PhenomenonLetters from the Rose GardenControlling the GamesA Conversation with Gary Ross and Elvis Mitchell), the Propaganda Film ( in its entirety) and a Marketing Archive with trailers, TV spots and the like. To this the Blu-ray will also exclusively add an additional featurette - Preparing for The Games: A Director's Process. Both versions will also include a digital copy. Expect big Midnight release day events around the county and retailer exclusives TBA. Here's a look at the cover artwork for both editions... 
As you can see, we also includes Blu-ray cover art for Sony's Breaking Bad: The Complete Fourth Season (due on 6/5). We'll update the Hunger Games art with Amazon links as soon as pre-orders open on Friday.
Okay, so we have one more quick update for you today from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment regarding the box set extras. The contents of the set are still being worked on and aren't totally locked yet so it's too early to provide a complete exhaustive list of extras on each disc. However, I'm told by the studio that you can expect that "most everything from the previous Bond Ultimate Edition DVDs and Blu-ray releases will be included." We could caution you that this doesn't mean EVERYTHING will carry over for sure - you may lose some text or image gallery material. You may also recall that the current Die Another Day Blu-ray was missing content from the original 2002 2-disc Special Edition DVD. So there are likely to be a few exceptions. But in general, the goal is to carry everything over. Adjust your plans accordingly.
Stay tuned...
5/22/12, , , The Hunger Games and and
and -
22 May ' 22:40
5/22 5/22 5/22 New Warner, Shout! & Lionsgate titles, plus MAJOR Bond 50 update 2:30 PM PDT 5/22 5/22 MY TWO CENTS - 5/22/12 - by Digital Bits editor Bill Hunt All right, as promised we're hard at work getting Barrie Maxwell's new column ready for posting so we should have that up first thing tomorrow morning. Be sure to check back for it. Here at the site today, our own Russell Hammond has turned in the weekly update of the Release Dates & Cover Artwork section with all the latest Blu-ray, DVD and Video Game cover art and Amazon.com pre-order links. As always, a portion of anything you order from Amazon after you click through to them from our links goes to help support our work here at The Bits and we really do appreciate it. In release news today, Lionsgate has set a Stallone 3-Film Collector's Set for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 8/14, due to include Cop LandRambo: First BloodLock Up (SRP $24.99 and $19.98). The studio has also set The Sword Identity for release on DVD only that same day. Shout! Factory has set The Adventures of Tintin: Season Three for DVD release on 8/21. This final season of the series will include 13 episodes on 2 discs. Warner Home Video has set a Christopher Nolan Director's Collection for Blu-ray release on 6/26 (SRP $49.99), due to include Batman BeginsThe Dark KnightInsomniaInceptionMemento. Warner also has LEGO Ninjago Masters of Spinjitzu: Season One due on DVD only on 6/26. Mona Achache will release The Hedgehog on Blu-ray and DVD on 6/12. Also MGM has finally officially acknowledged the Blu-ray release of Chuck Norris' Delta ForceMissing in ActionMissing in Action II exclusively at Walmart. The discs will be in stores starting on 6/5. But there's more - following on 7/17 will be Lone Wolf McQuadeCode of Silence. Then on 8/14, you'll get the Charles Bronson classics Death Wish IIDeath Wish III and Death Wish IV. We're trying to clarify whether they're all Walmart exclusives initially or just the 6/5 batch. We'll let you know. And in other news, there's been a lot of talk around the Internet about the list of extras revealed yesterday by Fox and MGM for the upcoming box set. Specifically, it appeared (based on the press release) that many things have been left off from the previous DVD and Blu-ray Ultimate Editions of the Bond films. Upon reading the list however, I wasn't convinced that it was 100% comprehensive and included absolutely everything on the discs. So I asked the studio to clarify. Sure enough, I've just heard back from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. As expected, the list posted yesterday - and included in the official press release - was simply a "marketing highlights" summary. The complete list of extras on the discs is significantly longer. We've asked for additional details and specifics and we'll post them here as the studio makes them available. Here's a look a the cover art for Kino Lorber's Redemption: Burke & Hare and Redemption: The Blood Beast Terror (both due 7/17), as well as CBS's Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season One (due 7/24) which is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com... 
Finally, just a last quick note: Our own Tim Salmons wanted to let you all know that he's been busy moving across the country and settling into new digs but he expect to get back to business with new reviews soon.
Stay tuned!
5/21/12 and and
and
and
Bond 50 -
22 May ' 00:28
on Blu-ray and DVD in the U.S. on 8/18. Expect an official announcement soon. There will be multiple SKUs and editions, including discs only, discs plus bonus swag and Target and Walmart retail exclusive versions as well. Expect several retailers to hold "[Editor's Note: Just got the "unofficial" skinny. It's 8/18 - not the 6/18 we reported earlier. Adjust your plans accordingly and sorry for the mix-up!] -
21 May ' 13:29
5/21 5/21 Avengers & Hunger Games rumored dates & extras, plus Bond 50 extras! 11 AM PDT 5/21 DAILY COLUMN:
MY TWO CENTS - 5/21/12 - by Digital Bits editor Bill Hunt Morning, everyone! Okay... there's some big release news to report today, so it's bumping everything we'd planned for today until tomorrow. First up... according to retail and other industry sources (and as reported around the Net over the weekend), Disney is believed to be preparing to release The Avengers on 4-disc Blu-ray 3D Combo, 2-disc Blu-ray Combo and 2-disc DVD on 9/25. Extras on the Blu-ray editions will include commentary by director Joss Whedon, a Disney's Second Screen feature, 2 behind-the-scenes featurette (Assembling the Ultimate TeamA Visual Journey), a gag reel, a new Marvel One-Shot short film called Item 47, 9 deleted/extended scenes [including Maria Hill Interrogation (alternate opening), Loki & Barton Strategize (extended scene), Steve Rogers: Man Out of TimeNick Fury & World Security CouncilExtended Viaduct Fight (raw footage), Fury & Hill Discuss the World Security CouncilBanner and Security Guard (extended scene) and Maria Hill Interrogation (alternate ending)] and Soundgarden's Live to Rise music video. You'll find Blu-ray cover artwork below. Now... here's something new: Retail sources are telling us to expect Lionsgate to release The Hunger Games on Blu-ray and DVD in the U.S. on 6/18. (Note that this differs from previous rumors - originating with German and French Amazon listings - which had suggested August release dates.) Expect an official announcement very soon. There will be multiple SKUs and editions, including discs only, discs plus bonus swag and Target and Walmart retail exclusive versions as well. Expect several retailers to hold "Twilight like midnight release party" events around the country. Sounds like they're going to make a pretty big deal out of this one. Of course, a word of reminder: All of the above is Rumor Mill-worthy and should be taken with a grain of salt until the studios make official announcements. Now then... here's something you've been waiting for that IS official: MGM and 20th Century Fox have just announced the list of extras that will be found on the Bond 50 Blu-ray box set of all 22 films that's due in stores on 9/25. From the official press release the set "marks the debut of nine James Bond films previously unavailable in high definition Blu-ray and comes with a dossier of more than 122 hours of bonus features." The brand new bonus content will be contained on an exclusive Blu-ray bonus disc (Disc 23 of the set) that contains 2 documentary featurettes (The World of BondBeing Bond) along with the official Skyfall Videoblogs which offer a sneak peek at the making of the new film. [The first official teaser trailer for which is available here in HD!] As for the individual movie discs, the extras content is as follows: Disc 1 - Dr. No (over 3 hours of content) - commentary (with director Terence Young plus cast and crew), 6 featurettes, the original theatrical trailer, TV and radio spots, and photo galleries Disc 2 - From Russia With Love (over 3 hours of content) - commentary (with director Terence Young plus cast and crew), 2 featurettes, an animated storyboard sequence, the original theatrical trailer, TV and radio spots, and photo galleries Disc 3 - Goldfinger (over 5 hours of content) - commentary with director Guy Hamilton, commentary with the cast and crew, 3 featurettes, original screen tests with Theodore Bikel and Tito Vandis, the original theatrical trailer, TV and radio spots, an original Publicity featurette, original radio interviews with Sean Connery and photo galleries Disc 4 - Thunderball (over 6 hours of content) - commentary with director Terence Young, commentary with editor Peter Hunt and screenwriter John Hopkins, 4 featurettes, the original theatrical trailer, TV and radio spots and photo galleries Disc 5 - You Only Live Twice - NEW TO BLU-RAY (over 4 hours of content) - commentary with director Lewis Gilbert plus cast and crew, 4 featurettes, an animated storyboard sequence, the original theatrical trailer, TV and radio spots and photo galleries Disc 6 - On Her Majesty's Secret Service - NEW TO BLU-RAY (over 4 hours of content) - commentary with director Peter Hunt plus cast and crew, 4 featurettes, an animated storyboard sequence, the original theatrical trailer, TV and radio spots and photo galleries Disc 7 - Diamonds Are Forever - NEW TO BLU-RAY (over 4 hours of content) - commentary with director Guy Hamilton plus cast and crew, 3 featurettes, deleted scenes, the original theatrical trailer and TV and radio spots Disc 8 - Live and Let Die (over 7 hours of content) - commentaries with director Guy Hamilton, Roger Moore and Tom Mankiewicz, 3 featurettes, the original theatrical trailer, TV and radio spots and photo galleries Disc 9 - The Man with the Golden Gun (over 5 hours of content) - commentary with director Guy Hamilton plus the cast and crew, commentary with Roger Moore, 2 featurettes, the original theatrical trailer, TV and radio spots and photo galleries Disc 10 - The Spy Who Loved Me - NEW TO BLU-RAY (over 5 hours of content) - commentary with director Lewis Gilbert plus the cast and crew, commentary with Roger Moore, 3 featurettes, the original theatrical trailer and TV and radio spots Disc 11 - Moonraker (over 5 hours of content) - commentary with director Lewis Gilbert plus cast and crew, commentary with Roger Moore, 4 featurettes, the original theatrical trailer and a photo gallery Disc 12 - For Your Eyes Only (over 7 hours of content) - commentary with director John Glen plus the cast and crew, commentary with Roger Moore, commentary with producer Michael G. Wilson and crew, 4 featurettes, animated storyboard sequences for Snowmobile Chase & Underwater, Sheena Easton music video, deleted scenes and expanded angles, the original theatrical trailer, TV and radio spots and photo galleries Disc 13 - Octopussy - NEW TO BLU-RAY (over 6 hours of content) - commentary with director John Glen, commentary with Roger Moore, 4 featurettes, original screen tests with James Brolin, the All Time High music video and original theatrical trailers Disc 14 - A View to a Kill - NEW TO BLU-RAY (over 6 hours of content) - commentary with director John Glen plus the cast and crew, commentary with Roger Moore, 4 featurettes, the A View to a Kill music video by Duran Duran and original theatrical trailers and TV spots Disc 15 - The Living Daylights - NEW TO BLU-RAY (over 5 hours of content) - commentary with director John Glen plus cast and crew, 3 featurettes, deleted scenes with introductions from director John Glen, The Living Daylights music video performed by A-Ha and original theatrical trailers Disc 16 - Licence to Kill (over 6 hours of content) - commentary with director John Glen and cast, commentary with producer Michael G. Wilson and crew, 3 featurettes, the Licence to Kill music video by Gladys Knight, the If You Asked Me To music video by Patti LaBelle, an opening titles sequence, original theatrical trailers and photo galleries Disc 17 - GoldenEye - NEW TO BLU-RAY (over 5 hours of content) - commentary with director Martin Campbell and producer Michael G. Wilson, 8 featurettes, deleted scenes, the GoldenEye music video performed by Tina Turner Disc 18 - Tomorrow Never Dies - NEW TO BLU-RAY (over 9 hours of content) - commentary with director Roger Spottiswoode and Dan Petrie, Jr., commentary with Vic Armstrong and producer Michael G. Wilson, 2 featurettes, interview with composer David Arnold, deleted and extended scenes with introduction from director Roger Spottiswoode, the Tomorrow Never Dies music video by Sheryl Crow, and The James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)music videoDisc 19 - The World Is Not Enough (over 6 hours of content) - commentary with director Michael Apted, commentary with Peter Lamont, David Arnold and Vic Armstrong, 4 featurettes, an opening titles sequence, The World Is Not Enough music video performed by Garbage, deleted, extended and alternate scenes, the original theatrical trailer and photo galleries. Disc 20 - Die Another Day (over 8 hours of content) - commentary with director Lee Tamahori and producer Michael G. Wilson, commentary with Pierce Brosnan and Rosamund Pike, 5 featurettes, MI6 Datastream trivia track with branching Video, an opening titles sequence and photo galleries Disc 21 - Casino Royale (over 1 hour of content) - Becoming BondJames Bond: For Real featurettes, plus Chris Cornell music video Disc 22 - Quantum of Solace (over 1 hour of content) - 2 featurettes, the Another Way to Die music Video, original theatrical trailers We haven't yet gone through the list with a microscope to compare it with the extras on the previously released Blu-ray and DVD editions, but right away it appears that both Casino RoyaleQuantum of Solace do NOT contain all the extras found on the most recent Blu-ray editions. It's possible that this list isn't entirely comprehensive, but it's equally possible that some things have simply been left off the discs. Naturally, the set is also missing Never Say Never Again, which isn't part of the officially recognized Bond canon. The upshot of all this is that fans would be WELL advised not to start selling their existing discs just yet if they wish to retain all the existing bonus content. Of course, we'll post more details as they come in. Meanwhile, here's a sneak peek at the planned cover art for Disney's two Avengers Blu-rays (subject to change), plus Paramount's (due 8/7) and the Bond 50 box again... 
Back tomorrow. Stay tuned...
-
19 May ' 01:26
5/18 Shout! goes Timeless, MGM MOD, SpaceX tomorrow AM & solar eclipse! 1 PM PDT 5/18 DVD REVIEW: Doogan spins Shout! Factory's Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales DVD set!
DAILY COLUMN:
MY TWO CENTS - 5/18/12 - by Digital Bits editor Bill Hunt All right, we're pleased today to present a new DVD review from our own Todd Doogan, featuring Shout! Factory's Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales: The Complete Collection. Like their recent Underdog set, the set is well worth your time so do check it out. In release news today, Warner Home Video and Adult Swim have announced that Children's Hospital: The Complete Third Season will arrive on DVD on 7/24. Shout! Factory has set the "cult exploitation thriller" Fear City for Blu-ray release on 7/17 (SRP $19.99), but it's only available online at ShoutFactoryStore.com Speaking of Shout! Factory, the company has just announced that they've acquired Timeless Media Group whose library of classic movie and TV titles includes the likes of The Gene Autry ShowThe VirginianWagon TrainLaramieRoy Rogers: King of the Cowboys Western Movies CollectionAspen: The Complete MiniseriesOnce An Eagle MiniseriesRed SkeltonSnappedPeter Gunn Not sure if we've mentioned this one yet, but Universal has set its Born on the Fourth of July: Universal 100th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo set for release on 7/3. Finally, 20th Century Fox and MGM have announced the next wave of MGM's Limited Edition Collection MOD DVD-R titles that will be available from various online retailers starting in June. Look for Mr. Wong in Chinatown (1939), One Thrilling Night (1942), Mystery of the 13th Guest (1943), The Cat Burglar (1961), Operation Bikini (1963), The Outside Man (1972), Six-Pack Annie (1975), New Year's Evil (1980), The Children of An Lac (1980), Windows (1980), Leave 'Em Laughing (1981), Bitter Harvest (1981), The Children of Times Square (1986), Lisa (1989), Caged Fury (1989), Hangfire (1991) and Boris and Natasha: The Movie (1992). In completely unrelated (but cool) news today, the private spaceflight company SpaceX is attempting its first unmanned Dragon capsule flight to the International Space Station tomorrow morning. If all goes well, they hope to launch just before 5 AM Eastern (2 AM Pacific) and dock with the ISS in a few days. You can watch live streaming coverage online (starting about an hour before launch) at NASA TVSpaceflight Now, SpaceX itself, Space.com and possibly Spacevidcast But that's not all: On Sunday evening, there will be a partial solar eclipse that should be visible to most of the central and western United States. You can find all the details here at Space.com. Be extremely careful viewing it however - you can damage your eyes looking at it directly. The best thing to do is watch it indirectly with special viewing tools you can make here, or via one of many live online video streams including this one from Panasonic, this one from the Hong Kong Observatory, and this one live from Area 51 in Nevada. More live online links are available here from Sky and Telescope magazine Back next week with more reviews, including a new contributor here at as well as a brand new Classic Coming Attractions column from Barrie. Enjoy the space stuff, have a great weekend and see you Monday! 5/17/12, , , , , , , , . The Bits, .
.
and -
18 May ' 05:19
5/17 Wrath of the Titans & more new DVDs/BDs, plus Star Trek: TMP CD set 5/17 BD REVIEW: Barrie checks out E-One's Hell on Wheels: The Complete First Season on BD!
DAILY COLUMN:
MY TWO CENTS - 5/17/12 - by Digital Bits editor Bill Hunt All right, we're very pleased this afternoon to be able to present a new Blu-ray Disc review from our very own Barrie Maxwell. Barrie's been watching a lot of movies to keep himself busy during his on-going battle with a brain tumor. And he's felt good enough to turn in a review of Entertainment One's new Hell on Wheels: The Complete First Season Blu-ray set. The series airs on AMC here in the States. Please feel free to drop Barrie an e-mail as well - it really means a lot to him hearing from you guys at a time like this. Enjoy the review! In announcement news today, Warner Home Video has set Wrath of the Titans for 3D Blu-ray/Blu-ray/DVD/UltraViolet Combo Pack and Blu-ray/DVD/UltraViolet Combo Pack release on 6/26 (SRP $44.95 and $35.99). A rental DVD version will follow on 7/24 (SRP $22.97). Extras on the Blu-ray versions will include a pair of Maximum Movie Mode interactive viewing options (The Path of MenThe Path of Gods - featuring storyboard comparisons, Picture-in-Picture video, Focus Points and more), plus deleted scenes. Each "path" will include a number of mini-featurettes as follows: The Path of Men will include Battling the ChimeraWho Are The Titans?Agenor: The Other Demi-GodThe Cyclops FightPrison of the Titans, Minotaur: The Human NightmareThe Heavens Raise Hell on EarthThe Path of Gods will include Hephaestus: God of Fire, Lost in Tartarus' LabyrinthCreatures of the Titans. You'll find cover art for both BD versions below. Warner has also set Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation for DVD release on 8/14, along with (for the BBC) Doctor Who: Episode 51 - Spearhead from Space: Special EditionDoctor Who: Episode.155 - Greatest Show in the Galaxy. They also have Bleach Uncut: Set 14 set for DVD release on 9/11 (for VIZ Media). Thin Ice on Blu-ray and DVD on 6/12. Our friends at Blue Underground have moved the street date for the Django Kill... If You Live, Shoot! Blu-ray to 7/3 (from 6/19). The company has also set Midnight Movies: Sci-Fi Double Feature (Contamination/H.G. Wells' The Shape of Things to Come) for DVD release on 8/28. Also coming that day to DVD are Midnight Movies: Car Crash Double Feature (Cannonball/Fast Company)Midnight Movies: Crime Double Feature (Grand Slam/Revolver) Lionsgate has set William & Catherine: A Royal Romance DVD only release on 8/7, along with Blue Like Jazz on both Blu-ray and DVD. Vanguard Cinema has set Wan Chai Baby, Invisible Ink, Beyond the Steppes and Possession for DVD release on 7/24. Pathfinder Home Entertainment will release Sophie's Revenge and Good Morning President on DVD on 7/10. Millennium Entertainment has set A Little Bit of Heaven for Blu-ray and DVD release on 6/12. Green Apple Entertainment will release Elephant Sighs on DVD on 6/12, followed by Identical on 6/26. Shout! Factory will release The Rookies: The Complete Second Season on DVD only on 8/7. They'll follow with the animated Astonishing X-Men: Torn For you music fans, Shout! Factory will also release Los Lobos: Kiko 20th Anniversary Edition on CD and Kiko Live on CD, DVD and Blu-ray on 8/21. Also on the music front, MPI is releasing the concert/documentary John Mellencamp: It's About You on Blu-ray and DVD on 6/5 (SRP $29.98 and $24.98). The film "follows the singer on tour and in the recording studio." And for your soundtrack CD fans, our friends over at La-La Land Records (working with Sony Music and Paramount Pictures) are getting ready to release a new 3-CD Star Trek: The Motion Picture limited edition soundtrack set. The score for the 1979 film will be presented fully restored and remastered, along with "the legendary early "rejected" cues that Goldsmith recorded prior to composing his famous main theme". Additional audio extras will include "a collection of early takes of the Main Title (including extensive stage chatter), isolated segments featuring Craig Huxley's famous "blaster beam" and assorted synthesizer excerpts, the domestic CD debut of Bob James' disco cover version of Goldsmith's theme and Shaun Cassidy's vocal version of the love theme, A Star Beyond Time." You'll also get a 40-page booklet with liner notes by reissue co-producer Mike Matessino and our old friend Jeff Bond. The release date is 6/5 and the set will be limited to 10,000 units. More details on that, plus a special L.A.-area release event, can be found Trek Movie Here's a look at the Blu-ray cover art for Warner's Wrath of the Titans and 20th Century Fox's 
Back tomorrow with a DVD review from Doogan. Stay tuned...
5/16/12, and .
and on 8/14.
.
and -
16 May ' 23:32
5/16 5/16 5/16 Criterion & Kino August slates, MargaretDexterLethal Weapon & more 3 PM PDT 5/16 5/16 DAILY COLUMN:
MY TWO CENTS - 5/16/12 - by Digital Bits editor Bill Hunt All right, we had a bit of work happening on the server yesterday, which explains the downtime. But let's get you caught up on release news and whatnot... First however, our own Russell Hammond has turned in the weekly update of the Release Dates & Cover Artwork section with all the latest Blu-ray, DVD and Video Game cover art and Amazon.com pre-order links. As always, a portion of anything you order from Amazon after you click through to them from our links goes to help support our work here at The Bits and we really do appreciate it. Now then, we've got some great new Blu-ray and DVD reviews coming for you starting tomorrow and through the rest of the week. Doogan's checked in with one, Barrie's feeling good enough to send one in as well and we have a new staff reviewer contributing too. So be sure to check back in over the next couple days for those. Meanwhile, here's some new title announcements... Criterion has just unveiled their August Blu-ray and DVD slate and as always there are some really great titles. Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums (Cat #157) gets a Blu-ray Disc upgrade on 8/14. That same day, Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne's La promesse (#620) and Rosetta (#621) arrive on both Blu-ray and DVD as well. Andrew Haigh's Weekend (#622) follows on Blu-ray and DVD on 8/21. And on 8/28, look for Paul Fejos' Lonesome (#623) and The Who's Quadrophenia (#624 - directed by Franc Roddam) on both Blu-ray and DVD. Also on 8/28, watch for Eclipse Series 35: Maidstone and Other Films by Norman Mailer on DVD only, featuring MaidstoneWild 90Beyond the Law Kino Lorber has announced their August slate too. On their Horizons label, look for Mr. Hush (DVD & BD) on 8/7. On the Kino Lorber label, look for Foreign Parts (DVD only) and Derek Jarman's SebastianeThe Tempest (BD) on 8/7, followed by Post Mortem (DVD & BD) on 8/21. From Kino Classics, look for Louis Feuillade's Les Vampires (2-disc DVD & 2-disc BD) and Andrzej Wajda's Korczak (DVD & BD) on 8/14. And rounding out the slate, look for the Redemption titles Visions of Ecstasy (BD - the film was made in 1989 but was banned for over 20 years in the U.K.) and Renato Polselli's Black Magic Rites: Remastered Edition (DVD & BD) on 8/21, followed by Jean Rollin's The Living Dead Girl: Remastered Edition (DVD & BD) and Two Orphan Vampires: Remastered Edition (DVD & BD) on 8/28. 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has set Kenneth Lonergan's Margaret for release on Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack on 7/10. It'll be available exclusively at Amazon.com for a limited time, and will include the theatrical cut and (on a bonus DVD disc) a never-before-seen extended cut as well. Universal has set the direct-to-video crime thriller 4.3.2.1 for Blu-ray and DVD release on 7/31. Extras on both versions will include a "making of" featurette. Sony has set the Hallmark Channel's The Note 3 for DVD release on 7/10, followed by Drew Peterson: Untouchable on DVD 7/24. Lasse Hallstrom's Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is also due from Sony on both Blu-ray and DVD on 7/17. It features Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt and Kristin Scott Thomas. Paramount has set Clue for Blu-ray only release on 8/7. Extras will include three different endings (with the option to watch them all at once or one at random) and the theatrical trailer. Meanwhile, CBS and Paramount have Gunsmoke: The Sixth Season, Volume One due on DVD on 8/7, followed by Vegas: The Third Season, Volume TwoVegas: The Complete Series Pack on 8/14. And Showtime and Paramount have set Dexter: The Complete Sixth Season for Blu-ray and DVD release on 8/14. In other release news, a company called Neptune Media is releasing Kenji Misumi's original The Last Samurai on DVD on 6/26. Misumi is best known for directing and several of the Zatoichi films. The film will be presented in anamorphic widescreen, and will include the original theatrical trailer, a photo gallery, actor bios and an essay by Tom Mes, author of Agitator: the Cinema of Takashi Miike. Also, Warner Home Video has announced that the street date for their Lethal Weapon Blu-ray Collection has moved up from 6/12 to 5/22. Adjust your plans accordingly. And our friends over at TV Shows on DVD have confirmed that 2 seconds of film footage from the Season One episode We'll Always Have Paris still haven't been located by CBS in the Paramount vaults and so will have to be upconverted in the forthcoming Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season One remastered Blu-ray, due on 7/24. That's still not bad given how much of the previously missing footage from other episodes has been located. Meanwhile, a couple of the remastered TNG episodes are going to be screened in theatres around the country in July to promote the release. Here's a look at the cover artwork for Neptune's The Last Samurai DVD, Kino Lorber's Saphead BD (due 7/10) and Mr. Hush DVD (8/7), CBS' Dexter: The Complete Sixth Season BD and Criterion's The Royal TenenbaumsQuadrophenia BDs... 
Back tomorrow with reviews and lots more news. Stay tuned!
5/14/12Shogun Assassin.
-
14 May ' 13:55
5/14 Lone Wolf & Cub coming to BD, plus Project X, Kasabian & more! 12:01 AM PDT DAILY COLUMN:
MY TWO CENTS - 5/14/12 - by Digital Bits editor Bill Hunt All right, let's get an early start this week, shall we? To start with, reader Charles N. spotted something pretty cool on the AnimEigo website, which is an explainer on the differences between the vintage Lone Wolf & Cub films and the later Shogun Assassin. Essentially, the latter was created by editing the first two Lone Wolf & Cub films together and dubbing the result into English. Shogun Assassin is currently available on Blu-ray and DVD from AnimEigo. But here's the best news: According to the company's website... a Blu-ray Disc release of the original Lone Wolf & Cub films is set for Fall 2012! That's pretty awesome. Speaking for Doogan and myself, we sure wish AnimEigo would make their Zatoichi films available on Blu-ray Disc as well. Fingers crossed. (If you'd like to see them on BD too, drop them an e-mail and let them know!) Anyway, great spot Charles and thanks for the heads-up! Couple other bits of release news today... Warner Home Video has set Project X for release on Blu-ray/DVD/UltraViolet Combo on 6/19 (SRP $35.99). The DVD only version follows on 7/17 (SRP $22.97). WHV has also set the animated Superman vs. The Elite: Special Edition for DVD only release on 7/24. HBO Home Entertainment has set the 4-part documentary series The Weight of the Nation for DVD only release on 7/31. Magnolia Home Entertainment will release the comedy The Yankles on Blu-ray and DVD on 6/5. Eagle Rock Entertainment will release Kasabian: Live! - Live at the O2 on Blu-ray and DVD on 6/26. Inception Media Group has set Decisions for DVD release on 6/12. The film features the final appearance of the late actor Corey Haim. Inception will also release Titanic's Final Mystery on Blu-ray and DVD on 5/29. MTI Home Video will release the war film Normandy on DVD on 6/5 (SRP $24.95). And for you sports fans, A&E Home Entertainment has set Highlights of the 2012 Masters Tournament for release on DVD only on 5/29 (SRP $19.95). Here's a look at the BD cover art for Warner's Project X, Universal's (due 7/10) and Kino Lorber's The Last of England (7/24)... 
Stay tuned...
5/11/12Bits
Being Flynn -
11 May ' 23:59
5/11 New "unskippable" FBI warnings, Perfect SensePower Rangers & more DAILY COLUMN:
MY TWO CENTS - 5/11/12 - by Digital Bits editor Bill Hunt All right, we've got a couple more things for you today to close out the week... First, this is going to irritate the heck out of many of you: Hollywood and the U.S. Government have officially cooked up a pair of new anti-piracy warning screens that are soon going to appear on new Blu-ray and DVD releases from the six major Hollywood studios. No big deal, right? Here's the problem: There are two new screens, each of which will run for 10 seconds. They'll be displayed back to back when you first boot up the disc in your player... and you will NOT be able to skip them. So that's 20 second of unskippable irritation, on top of the time it already takes Blu-rays to load BD-Java and check for BD-Live updates, plus all the already unskippable studio logos and trailers you have to endure. Yeah, we hate this too. Seriously, we REALLY hate this. And it will do absolutely noting to curb piracy. Apparently Hollywood is trying very hard to drive the physical media business right into the ground. Anyway, more here at Ars Technica. Ugh. [Our own Jeff Kleist notes: "The people who bought the disc legally are not the ones who need to see this message." He's come up with an interesting proposal: "The industry has been pushing UltraViolet as its catch-all digital locker of choice, so why not reward those first-week paying customers who register their BDs on UltraViolet - as long as you're hooked into the Internet your disc will automatically bypass those annoying warnings and load straight into the menus. This not only gives customers a tangible benefit in purchasing new titles versus renting, but also introduces more people to UltraViolet which the studios want anyway. Combine that with a merging of all these separate studio accounts into one master UV account, and in theory everyone wins."] It's not a bad idea. Which naturally means Hollywood will never go for it. Unfortunately, those customers who don't use UltraViolet (or Digital Copy of any kind) or who don't have Net-connected players are still out in the cold. Anyway... Here's another bit of news that's a potential irritation for you Windows PC users: Microsoft's new Windows 8 operating system is going to ship without the ability to play DVD and Blu-ray movie titles in Windows Media Center. You'll have to download an upgrade from Microsoft (for a "nominal" and as-yet-unannounced fee, of course) to play them. This is probably not a surprising development, because the vast majority of PC users who watch movies on their systems do so via third-party software like PowerDVD. It might just be that Microsoft doesn't feel like paying license fees to Hollywood up front anymore when most of their consumers don't use Windows Media Center to watch discs anyway. Nevertheless, it's another irritation. More here at Tom's Hardware Okay, let's have a little bit of new announcement news... Warner Home Video and Cinemax have set Strike Back: Cinemax Season 1 for Blu-ray and DVD release on 8/7 (SRP $59.96 and $49.98). All 10 episodes will be included, along with audio commentary and more. Paramount has set Eddie Murphy's for Blu-ray and DVD release on 6/26. 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment will release Mirror Mirror on Blu-ray and DVD on 6/26 as well. They also have Leverage: The 4th Season set for DVD only release on 7/17 and The Glades: Season 2 on DVD due on 7/10. Anchor Bay Entertainment will release On the Inside on Blu-ray and DVD on 7/24, followed by Lake Effects on DVD only on 8/14. IFC Films will release the "apocalyptic romance" Perfect Sense, staring Ewan McGregor and Eva Green, on Blu-ray and DVD on 5/22. Also, Shout! Factory has set the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Season One, Volume One for DVD only release on 8/21. The 3-disc set (SRP $19.93) will include the first 30 episodes. Shout! Factory and Time Life are also making the 6-DVD Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Complete Season One set and the 40-DVD Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Seasons One-Seven box set available online only directly to fans starting on 7/30. By the way, Shout! also has Diff'rent Strokes: Season Three coming to DVD only on 7/17, followed by The Smurfs and The Magic Flute on DVD only on 8/14. And EOne Entertainment will release Babar: The Classic Series - The Complete First Season on DVD on 6/5 (SRP $19.98). In other release news, Bits reader Jason B. has let us know that a pair of John Wayne classics from 20th Century Fox are now available on Blu-ray only at Walmart as retail exclusives: The Big TrailThe Barbarian and the Geisha. SRP is $12.96 each. The Chuck Norris titles The Delta ForceMissing in ActionMissing in Action 2: The Beginning are also available on Blu-ray exclusively at Walmart for $9.96 each. And that's all for this week. We'll leave you with a look at a little more Blu-ray cover art: Disney's Grosse Pointe Blank: 15th Anniversary Edition, IFC's Perfect Sense and Lionsgate's (due 7/10)... 
See you next week!
5/10/12The Flowers of War
Search the Site
Custom Search
