My Two Cents
All right, so we’re going to be back later today with some more new disc reviews, but there’s some potentially significant news breaking at the moment that I wanted to address posthaste this morning.
You remember how I said yesterday that I’d been interviewed for an article on Trek Report about the potential for the classic Star Trek films to be remastered and released in 4K Ultra HD? And I also said that I’d circle back to the subject, but that essentially there was no new news to report at this time?
So the short of what I indicated in the interview was that Paramount definitely wanted to remaster all of the classic Trek films in 4K, and that they’ve clearly ramped up their catalog releases on BD and 4K during the pandemic, and are continuing to remaster their classic catalog films. It was simply a matter of cost, but it was my belief that they’d get around to it eventually. Just don’t hold your breath, right? I mean, how many times have we heard that they were talking about it, and then nothing ever happens? So, sound advice.
And then just this morning, Amazon France dropped a listing for a box set of the first four Star Trek films in 4K Ultra HD with a street date of September 8. [Read on here...]
All right, we’ve got a quick update for you today. Sorry for the lack of a post on Monday, but there’s a bunch of stuff going on that’s drawn me down multiple Blu-ray and/or 4K UHD-related rabbit-holes over the last couple of days.
First up today, more disc reviews...
Also, Dennis has turned in a look at the new Criterion Collection edition of Amy Heckerling’s Fast Times at Ridgemont High on Blu-ray. You can find that here. Sounds like it’s pretty great.
And Stephen has given Robert Altman’s Fool for Love a spin on Blu-ray from Scorpion Releasing. The film stars Kim Basinger, Sam Shepard, and Harry Dean Stanton and is well worth a look.
Now then... we’ve been informed by Paramount that our 4K review copy of the Indiana Jones 4-Movie Collection will ship out sometime around midweek. Which means the earliest we expect to have it in hand is Thursday, but it could be Friday or Saturday. Rest assured, I’ll drop everything when it arrives to get the review completed thoroughly and posted on The Bits for you all to check out. And that brings me to the main topic of today’s news post... [Read on here...]
All right, just a quick update to close out the week here at The Bits, but we do have a couple of good things for you...
First, Stephen has another new 4K Ultra HD review for you, this one of George Roy Hill’s The Sting (1973) from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Sounds like it’s a solid remaster, so do give it a look.
In release news, this isn’t to be considered an official announcement per se (that will come later), but John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place: Part II is now available for pre-order on Amazon and elsewhere in Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD.
Street date hasn’t officially been confirmed yet, but our sources tell us that 7/27 is the likely date. You can see the cover artwork at left and also below. We’ve updated our 4K Ultra HD Release List here at The Bits accordingly. [Read on here...]
We’re starting today’s post as always with more new disc reviews...
In anticipation of Zack Snyder’s Justice League (I should have that 4K disc in hand for review sometime in the next few days), I’ve gone back to take a look at the director’s recently-remastered new 4K edition of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice – Ultimate Edition which was released in March by the Warner Archive Collection. The disc includes a revised HDR grade and a new variable aspect ratio presentation that includes 1.43 IMAX framing for select scenes. There’s a new commentary with the director as well, so it’s definitely worth a look if you’re a fan of the film.
Also today, I’ve given Gunpowder & Sky’s new US 4K release of the indie sci-fi film Prospect a look (an Ultra HD release that’s being distributed by Vinegar Syndrome). It offers a higher video bitrate than the German 4K release I’ve reviewed previously here, along with newly-produced extras and a nifty little in-universe booklet in the packaging. It’s highly recommended for fans of the film.
And because we’ve been getting a lot of questions about it: Yes, I will be reviewing Paramount and Lucasfilm’s Indiana Jones: 4-Film Collection in 4K Ultra HD. The disc streets next Tuesday, we should have our review copy in hand sometime over the next several days. Rest assured, as soon as we have it, I’ll get that title reviewed here on The Bits post-haste. [Read on here...]
All right, I trust you all had a fine and long Memorial Day weekend—those of you here in the States at least. We’ve got some good Blu-ray and 4K news to report today, but first more new disc reviews...
He’s also weighed in on Vincent Robert’s The Fear (1995) on Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome.
And Stephen has weighed in as well with a look Michael Ritchie’s Smile (1975) on Blu-ray from Fun City Editions. [Read on here...]