We're back as promised! And yes... we're very pleased to present our in-depth review of Warner's long-awaited 2-disc edition of The Dark Knight on Blu-ray Disc! Also available this morning for your enjoyment is a look at Universal Music's new Blu-ray upgrade of Sting: Bring on the Night. The former hits store shelves on 12/9, while the latter arrived at retailers yesterday. And in case you missed them when I posted them last night, be sure to check out our new reviews Criterion's Chungking Express, New Video's The Universe: The Complete Season One and Fox's Firefly: The Complete Series on Blu-ray as well. Enjoy!

Also this morning, Russell's once again updated the Upcoming DVD Cover Art section with all the latest DVD and Blu-ray Disc cover scans and Amazon pre-order links. As always, a small portion of ANYTHING you order from Amazon after clicking through to them from our links helps to support our work here at The Bits, and we greatly appreciate it!

Okay... this is going to be our last post for this week, as we've all got big plans to spend time with family and friends for the Thanksgiving holiday. (Just so you know, I'll also be out of e-mail contact until Saturday, in case any of you try to contact me before then.) Never fear though - we'll see you back here on Monday, with a special post (or is that pre?)-holiday treat. And don't forget to take advantage of all the great deals on Blu-ray players and movies you'll find on Black Friday! Check your local retailers' ad circulars for all the latest. Good luck, shoppers!

From all of us here at The Digital Bits, we wish you all a very Happy (and safe) Thanksgiving!

11/24/08

Evening, Bits-ers! This post is a little later than expected today, but trust me... it's a good one.

Now available for your enjoyment are my reviews of Criterion's first ever Blu-ray Disc release, Chungking Express, as well as New Video's The Universe: The Complete Season One! Also up tonight is Jeff Kleist's take on Fox's Firefly: The Complete Series on Blu-ray. All three titles are worth a look. I'll add that I was personally VERY impressed with the A/V quality of Chunking Express. Criterion's really put a lot of effort in the high-def presentation quality here, and it shows in spades. Chungking streets on 12/16, while the other two titles are now available.

What... that's not cool enough for you? Okay, how about this: I'll be back at Midnight with an in-depth review of Warner's long-awaited Blu-ray Disc edition of The Dark Knight! No kidding.

See you in a few hours... ;)

11/23/08

Hey guys, I hope you're all having a great weekend. I just wanted to jump in here quickly to remind you all that 24 returns to Fox tonight for a 2 hour movie prequel to the new season (which begins in January): 24: Redemption. And don't forget, it'll also be available on DVD on Tuesday if you're interested.

Also, our friends over at Galactica Sitrep have posted video of the preview for the final episodes of Battlestar Galactica (Season 4.5) which premieres on 1/16/09 on Sci-Fi Channel. Looks pretty damn great to me. I can't wait.

In the meantime, while we're waiting for BSG to return, I've got to tell you... I have a new favorite show: Storm Chasers on Discovery HD. Which means I also have a new favorite website: Tornado Videos.net, run by a few of the guys who chase tornados on the show. Now, that's my idea of a vacation! Their fuel bill must be nuts. Reed Timmer's a mad man.

Finally, one last reminder: Don't forget again that Universal's Hellboy II BD-Live event with Guillermo del Toro is tonight. You'll find all the details here.

All right, that's it for now. Back tomorrow. Stay tuned!

(LATE UPDATE - 11/21/08 - 1 PM PST)

Okay... we've got a few things to report today, but first a reminder...

On Sunday night (11/23) at 6 PM Pacific, Universal is going to be holding its big Hellboy II BD-Live online chat event with director Guillermo Del Toro! In order to participate, you obviously need the Hellboy II Blu-ray and a BD-Live capable player with an Internet connection. To take part in the event, here's what you need to do:

Step 1: Log on to www.UniversalHiDef.com to create a user name and password - or - login if already registered.

Step 2: Once registered, in My Account, select the Director's Chat tab to submit up to three questions for Del Toro to answer.

Step 3: Connect your Blu-ray player to the Internet just before 6 PM PST (Pacific) on Sunday and enjoy the chat!

Also today, our friends over at BTTF.com have just announced that Universal will re-release all three Back to the Future films on DVD on 2/10/09, and Back to the Future will be a 2-disc Special Edition with new bonus material. It's good news to be sure, but we'll start getting excited if and when the studio confirms a Blu-ray Disc release of the set. Unfortunately, we don't expect one at this time.

Also today, this would normally go in The Rumor Mill (so salt it accordingly), but industry sources are telling us that Sony will release Gandhi on Blu-ray Disc in early 2009. The title is tentatively set for release on 2/19 in the U.K. but we're told that this date is not set in stone. Expect the U.S. release around the same time. The key thing to know that it IS coming in early 2009.

In other news today, 20th Century Fox has set Igor, City of Ember and American East for DVD release on 1/20, followed by College on 1/27. Igor will also be released on Blu-ray Disc on 1/20.

Also, retail sources are reporting street dates for a number of new Fox and MGM catalog Blu-ray Disc titles, including Stargate: The Ark of Truth on 1/13, Unfaithful on 1/20, Drumline and The Pink Panther on 1/27, Sideways, Little Miss Sunshine and Napoleon Dynamite on 2/3, Raging Bull and The Boondock Saints on 2/10, and The Passion of the Christ: Definitive Edition on 2/17. Here's a look at some cover art...





Meanwhile, Paramount has set DreamWorks' Ghost Town and Paramount Vantage's The Dutchess for release on both DVD and Blu-ray Disc on 12/28.

Universal has set Mamma Mia! The Movie for DVD and Blu-ray Disc release on 12/16, along with the DVD release of The Mummy: The Animated Series, Volumes 1-3. Also, Emergency!: Season Five and The Rockford Files: Season Six are due on DVD only on 1/20/09. Here's hoping the second season of Baa Baa Black Sheep is on the way...

Speaking of Universal, we've have it on good authority that Battlestar Galactica is in the works for Blu-ray Disc release later in 2009, POSSIBLY as a complete series box set. One of the show's producers, Mark Verheiden, has made a couple of posts on his blog in recent months that indicate work is well under way, and that he's shot interviews new for the release (click here and here for that). VERY cool news indeed.

Criterion has announced a number of new DVD releases for February, including Luis Buñuel's The Exterminating Angel (catalog #459) and Simon of the Desert (#460), and David Lean's Hobson's Choice (#461). John Cassavetes's Shadows (#251) and Faces (#252) will also be released as individual editions (they were previously only available in the John Cassavetes: Five Films box set).

Finally, Warner Home Video has announced the DVD and Blu-ray Disc release of Guy Ritchie's RocknRolla on 1/27. We'll post confirmed specs when we have them. Also newly announced for DVD only release by the studio are Sex and the Single Girl and Splendor in the Grass on 2/3, National Geographic's Fight Science, the BBC's Hotel Babylon: Season 3 and the NHL's New York Islanders: 10 Greatest Games on 3/3, NHL's History of the Boston Bruins on 3/24, and the BBC's An Age of Kings on 3/31.

All right... we MIGHT be back later tonight or even tomorrow with another update, but if not be sure to check back on Monday for all the latest. And again, don't forget the Hellboy II BD-Live chat on Sunday night.

Stay tuned!

(EARLY UPDATE - 11/21/08 - 12:01 AM PST)

Morning, folks! How's about some Blu-ray Disc reviews? Okie dokie, then. Here's my take on Disney and Pixar's Wall-E: 3-Disc and HBO's high-def upgraded Band of Brothers, along with Jeff's two cents on DreamWorks' Kung Fu Panda. All three titles are now available in stores, and all are worthy of your time and money.

More reviews ARE coming, so enjoy and stay tuned...

Bill Hunt, Editor
The Digital Bits
billhunt@thedigitalbits.com