Displaying items by tag: Dead of Night BD review

Cheers, Bits readers!

We’ve got one last My Two Cents update for you this week with some great new disc reviews, as well as some great new Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD release news. Let’s hit those reviews first…

I’ve just updated our dear late friend Barrie Maxwell’s review of William Wyler’s Ben-Hur (1959) to cover Warner’s stunning new 4K Ultra HD restoration of the film, which streets next week. It’s truly one of the great classic film presentations we’ve seen on this format to date, and certainly not to be missed.

Dennis and Tim have checked in with thoughts on a pair of Agatha Christie film adaptations in 4K Ultra HD from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, including John Guillerman’s Death on the Nile (1978) and Guy Hamilton’s The Mirror Crack’d (1980).

Dennis has also reviewed Michael Winner’s The Mechanic (1972) and Antonia Bird’s Priest (1994) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics and Imprint, respectively.

Tim has posted his own reviews of Alberto Cavalcanti, Charles Crichton, Basil Dearden, Robert Hamer’s Dead of Night (1945) anthology on Blu-ray from KLSC as well as Chor Yuen’s The Jade Tiger (1977) from Arrow’s Shawscope: Volume 3 Blu-ray box.

Stephen has reviewed Emma Seligman’s Bottoms (2023) on Blu-ray from KLSC.

And Stuart has taken a look at Hideo Gosha’s Gate of Flesh (1988) on Blu-ray from Toei via 88 Films.

We have lots more great 4K reviews cooking for next week as well, believe me.

Also here at The Bits today, we’ve posted an update of our Release Dates & Artwork section featuring all the latest Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD cover artwork with Amazon pre-order links. As always, whenever you order anything after clicking to Amazon though one of our links (like this one) you’re helping to support our work here at the site and we appreciate it!

Now then, first things first: Our retail and industry sources have informed us that Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment’s much anticipated 4K Ultra HD release of the Wachowski’s Speed Racer (2008) should street on or about 5/19. So adjust your plans accordingly. Go Speed Go!

Of course, the big news today is that our friends at the Criterion Collection have just unveiled their May slate of Blu-ray and 4K titles. And any slate that includes more Kurosawa in 4K UHD is a good one. [Read on here...]

We’re starting as always with new disc reviews today, including…

My review of Akira Kurosawa’s The Hidden Fortress (1958) in 4K Ultra HD from the British Film Institute.

Tim’s thoughts on Tibor Takács’ I, Madman (1989) on Blu-ray from Kino Cult, Imprint’s Flesh and Fantasy / Dead of Night Blu-ray box set, Brett Ratner’s Money Talks (1997) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection, and Joel Schumacher’s St. Elmo’s Fire (1985) in 4K Ultra HD from Sony.

Dennis’ take on Roy Rowland’s Two Weeks with Love (1950) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection and Cy Endfield’s Jet Storm (1959) on Blu-ray from Imprint.

And Stuart’s thoughts on Basil Dearden’s Out of the Clouds (1955) on Blu-ray from Indicator.

All right, first things first today: I did indeed receive my Superman: 5-Film Collection 4K check discs yesterday from Warner Bros. Customer Service. The four discs—Superman: The Movie, Superman II, Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut, and Superman IV—came in paper sleeves, wrapped in a layer of bubble wrap in a padded envelope (they shipped from Technicolor Valencia in Valencia CA). For the record, they look and sound great—it does indeed appear that all of the A/V issues that needed fixing have been fixed. I’ll post a review of a couple of the discs soon. So they are shipping out, and again: contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Make sure you include your mailing address and some kind of proof of purchase (an order screenshot, a product/packaging photo, etc). [Editor’s Note: Per Bits reader/filmmaker Oliver H, UK customers who need replacement discs can contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.]

Also today, it does seem that in addition the Amazon-exclusive Superman: 5-Film Collection 4K Steelbook set, Warner will be re-issuing a wide-release version of the Collection on 10/21, along with a new re-issue of Superman: The Movie in 4K. And these should also be the new fixed discs. You can find the pre-order pages here and here. [Read on here...]