Displaying items by tag: John Hughes

Welcome to a new week Bits readers!

We’ve got some great news to report for all of you today, and some sad news as well. But first as always, we have some new disc reviews to share…

Stephen has reviewed Sergio Leone’s The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) in 4K Ultra HD from Arrow Video in the UK, along with Lucio Fulci’s Zombie Flesh Eaters (1970) (aka Zombie) also in 4K UHD from Arrow UK.

Dennis has taken a look at Silvio Amadio’s The Medium (1980) on Blu-ray from Raro Video via Kino Lorber.

And Tim has shared his thoughts on Renny Harlin’s Deep Blue Sea (1999) in 4K Ultra HD from Arrow Video here in the States.

Lots more reviews are forthcoming all this week, so be sure to check back for them!

Now then… the big news this morning is that our friends at the Criterion Collection have just unveiled November slate of Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD releases! And if you’re a subscriber to our Digital Bits Patreon page, you’ll know that we told you that a few of them were coming some weeks ago (so if you’re not yet a subscriber, trust me: Lots more great 4K catalog titles are coming through the end of the year and into 2026). [Read on here...]

“Christmas Vacation is a perfect blend of festive nostalgia and domestic anarchy.” — Thomas A. Christie, author of A Righteously Awesome Eighties Christmas

The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective commemorating the 30th anniversary of the release of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, the third entry in the popular Vacation series starring Chevy Chase (Saturday Night Live, Caddyshack, Fletch) as Clark Griswold.

Also starring Beverly D’Angelo (American History X) as Ellen Griswold, Juliette Lewis (Natural Born Killers) as Audrey Griswold, Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory) as Rusty Griswold, and Randy Quaid (The Last Detail) as Cousin Eddie, Christmas Vacation opened in theaters across North America 30 years ago this December.

For the occasion The Bits features a Q&A with pop culture historian and Christmas-movie authority Thomas A. Christie, who discuss the film’s virtues and enduring appeal. [Read more here...]

“Leisure rules”

The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective article commemorating the 30th anniversary of the release of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, the popular teen comedy starring Matthew Broderick.

Ferris, directed by John Hughes (Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club) and also starring Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, and Jeffrey Jones, opened 30 years ago this week, and for the occasion The Bits features a Q&A with author, film historian and John Hughes authority Thomas A. Christie.  [Read on here...]