My Two Cents
All right, this is just a very quick update this evening to bring you some breaking release news nuggets...
First though, our own Tim Salmons has just posted his thoughts on Andrew J. Kuehn’s Terror in the Isles (1984) on Blu-ray from Scream Factory, a Universal clip showcase featuring footage from a host of modern and classic horror films. You’ll find that here.
Now then... in announcement news, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has just officially announced Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal: The Complete First Season for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 6/1.
This is interesting, because the first half of the season aired on Adult Swim way back in October 2019. Then, the season’s remaining episodes finally aired in October of 2020. Word is the show has been renewed for a second season as well, though no release date for this has yet been announced. [Read on here...]
We’re starting the week off with another new Blu-ray review. Tim has taken a look at Richard E. Cunha’s Giant from the Unknown (1958), a Astor Pictures monster flick featuring make-up work by the great Jack Pierce. It’s now available on Blu-ray from the folks at The Film Detective.
Speaking of which, The Film Detective has also announced a new Blu-ray edition of Lesley Selander’s Flight to Mars (1951) on 7/20.
The film has apparently been remastered from a new 4K scan, and will feature new documentary shorts by Ballyhoo Films.
In other announcement news today, Paramount has revealed a pair of new Paramount Presents Blu-ray titles, including Mommie Dearest on 6/1 (newly-restored from a 4K transfer in honor of the film’s 40th anniversary) and Last Train from Gun Hill on 6/15. Mommie Dearest will feature a new audio commentary by American drag queen Hedda Lettuce and a new Filmmaker Focus: Biographer Justin Bozung on director Frank Perry, in addition to legacy extras. [Read on here...]
Let’s close out the week today with another new disc review and more release news...
First, Dennis has just turned in his thoughts on Cecile B. DeMille’s The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) on Blu-ray from Paramount Home Entertainment, the 16th title in their Paramount Presents line. It sounds as if the remaster is a nice one, so do give it a look.
A quick disc update: FUNimation is now shipping out fixed replacement discs for their recent release of Akira in 4K Ultra HD. As some of you know, the original discs lacked the HDR option they were supposed to include. The new fixed discs correct this. My own replacement copy arrived a couple of days ago and I’m really pleased with the HDR grade overall, so I’m going to try to get a review of the fixed version up here at The Bits next week.
On a similar note, Amazon UK has just listed Speed for pre-order in 4K and naturally the cover artwork they’ve posted has caused still more confusion in that it correctly lists DTS-HD MA audio in the features grid on the back, but also (incorrectly) shows a Dolby Atmos logo. What’s more, there’s no mention of any special features. [Read on here...]
We’re picking things up here at The Bits today with more new disc reviews...
I’ve recently posted my thoughts on Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla (2014) in 4K from Warner Bros., Pete Docter’s Soul in 4K from Pixar, Mel Brooks’ Spaceballs in Blu-ray and 4K from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, and Paul Greengrass’ News of the World in 4K from Universal.
Meanwhile, Tim has just posted a look at Alex de la Iglesia’s The Day of the Beast (1995) in 4K from Severin Films.
And Dennis has turned in his review of George Sidney’s Show Boat (1951) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.
In announcement news today, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has officially set Shaka King’s Judas and the Black Messiah for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 5/4 (SRP $35.99 and $28.98), with the Digital release expected on 4/27, and PVOD available on 4/2. Extras on the disc-based versions will include 2 featurettes (Fred Hampton for the People and Unexpected Betrayal). [Read on here...]
All right, we’ve got a brief update for you this morning here at The Bits, but it’s an important one.
In the wake of Disney’s announcement Wednesday of their plans to release Jan de Bont’s Speed (1994) in 4K Ultra HD on 5/4, which is a 20th Century Fox (now 20th Century Studios) catalog title, there have been a number of questions raised.
The official press release seemed to indicate that the Digital version of the film in 4K would include object-based Dolby Atmos audio, but the actual physical 4K Ultra HD disc would not.
There have also been rumors that the title would not include HDR, or that the studio would only include HDR on the Digital release.
As you can imagine, I decided to cut through the confusion to ask the studio about this directly. I’ve now heard back, so here are the official confirmed details on this release… [Read on here...]