My Two Cents
I’ll be back on Monday with the usual news and reviews here at the site, but today I wanted to do a little something different.
As long time Bits readers will no doubt be aware, every once in a while I review something other than a physical media release. In fact, in the past, I’ve reviewed great books about cinema, film production, and the like.
Some of you may remember that back in 2016, I posted a feature called Stanley Kurbick’s 2001: The Ultimate Trip in Print, covering all of the great books dedicated to the making of Kubrick’s science fiction landmark 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)—a piece I then updated in 2023 to cover an additional book on the topic that I thought worth mentioning released in the years since.
Longtime readers will also know that I am a lifelong fan of human spaceflight, and that I’ve reviewed many physical media releases related to the topic, including the films 2001, The Martian (2015), Apollo 13 (1995), and First Man (2018), HBO’s From the Earth to the Moon (1998) dramatic series, and documentaries like Apollo 11 (2019) and For All Mankind (1989).
If you’re interested in human spaceflight, there are of course many great non-fiction books that cover the topic in exhaustive detail, but I would certainly recommend beginning with Andrew Chaikin’s A Man on the Moon (1994). (It’s worth noting that this book was the basis for the HBO series I just mentioned.)
But there’s a new book that just arrived in stores last week—and a second book by the same author published a couple of years ago—that I think is absolutely indispensable to anyone interested in humanity’s first voyages beyond the Earth. Published by Black Dog & Leventhal here in the States (part of the Hachette Group) and Particular Books in the UK, Andy Saunders’ Gemini and Mercury Remastered (2025) and Apollo Remastered: The Ultimate Photographic Record (2022) are large and substantial coffee table books. By large, I mean 12 inches by 12 inches each, and by substantial I mean they weigh in at 5.28 and 6.92 pounds respectively. These are serious tomes. [Read on here...]
We’ve got three more new disc reviews for you today, including…
Tim’s look at Gary Sherman’s Raw Meat (aka Death Line) (1972) in 4K Ultra HD from Blue Underground.
And Stuart’s thoughts on Imprint’s Blu-ray double feature of Don Sharp’s The Thirty-Nine Steps (1978) and Anthony Page’s The Lady Vanishes (1979), as well as Charles Brabin’s The Beast of the City (1932) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.
Also, we’ve done more updating of our 4K Ultra HD Release List here at The Bits today, and we’ve also uploaded the latest update of our Release Dates & Artwork section here at the site. So please do check those out. And remember that anything you order from Amazon after clicking through one of our affiliate links in either of those sections goes to help support our work here at The Bits and we appreciate it!
In announcement news today, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release Kogonada’s A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (2025) on Blu-ray and DVD on 12/23. The film stars Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell. [Read on here...]
We have two more significant reviews for you to enjoy today, including…
Tim’s look at the A Nightmare on Elm Street: 7-Film Collection in 4K Ultra HD from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.
And Stephen’s thoughts on David Robert Mitchell’s It Follows: 10th Anniversary Steelbook (2014) in 4K UHD from Lionsgate Limited.
Speaking of Lionsgate, the studio has indeed revealed their November slate of physical media releases today as expected. It officially includes Neil Marshall’s The Descent: 20th Anniversary Edition (2006) 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray Steelbook (featuring both versions via seamless branching as well as both new and legacy special features) as a Lionsgate Limited exclusive.
It also offers a surprise title that we’ve recently talked about on our Digital Bits Patreon page for subscribers: An American Psycho: 25th Anniversary Collection 4K UHD box set with swag items—featuring Mary Harron’s American Psycho (2000) as well as Morgan J. Freeman’s direct to video sequel American Psycho 2 (2002). You can see the artwork below the break. [Read on here...]
We’ve got some great release news for you today, but also more new disc reviews, including…
Stephen’s thoughts on Ringo Lam’s HK police actioner City on Fire (1987) in 4K Ultra HD from Shout! Factory.
Dennis’ take on Raoul Walsh’s war film They Died with Their Boots On (1941) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.
Stuart’s look at Seijun Suzuki’s Underworld Beauty (1958) on Blu-ray from Radiance Films.
And over the weekend, we also posted a few more, including…
Stuart’s look at Cy Endfield’s Sands of the Kalahari (1965) on Blu-ray from KLSC.
Dennis’ review of Jess Franco’s The Vengeance of Dr. Mabuse (1972) on Blu-ray also from Kino.
And Tim’s review of Kuei Chih-Hung’s The Boxer’s Omen (1983) on Blu-ray from Arrow’s Shawscope: Volume Two box set.
More reviews are definitely forthcoming from The Bits’ review team, so be sure to keep checking back all week.
In terms of announcement news today, we do have some great breaking news for you: Lionsgate is getting ready to announce their November slate of 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray titles, which will include Neil Marshall’s The Descent: 20th Anniversary Edition (2006) 4K + BD Steelbook (including both versions via seamless branching as well as both new and legacy special features)—that’s a Lionsgate Limited exclusive. You’ll also get Francis Lawrence’s The Long Walk (2025) on 4K + Blu-ray Steelbook as an Amazon exclusive, with the Blu-ray + DVD version available via Walmart. [Read on here...]
Today’s new disc reviews including a great classic animated release and a new 4K catalog title as well. Specifically …
Tim has turned in his thoughts on Hanna-Barbera’s classic The Huckleberry Hound Show: The Complete Series (1958-61) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.
And Stephen has shared his take on Sam Raimi’s The Quick and the Dead: 30th Anniversary Edition (1995) in 4K Ultra HD Steelbook from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
Watch for more reviews later this week.
Also today, Amazon has just launched their Prime Day sale, offering up to 50% off on selected products. You can shop for all the best deals here and specifically for the best Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD deals here. As always, a portion of anything you order helps to support our work here at The Bits and we appreciate it!
Now then, the big news today is that PT Anderson’s Boogie Nights (1997) is finally up for pre-order on Amazon from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. There are two configurations, a wide Amaray package and a Steelbook. Each is 4K + Digital only. Now, there hasn’t yet been an official press release from the studio—we expect that soon. But the street date is 12/9. [Read on here...]