Also here at The Bits today, we’ve got another Blu-ray review for you – my own thoughts on Fox’s recent Von Ryan’s Express , an old favorite WWII film from 1965. It’s a fine film but… well, best to read the review. Do check it out.

All right, in case you missed it when we posted it late yesterday, please check out our Virtual Tour of Bob’s Basement ! Our dear friends Bob and Kathy Burns are the “keepers of Hollywood’s attic” and they’ve cared for and preserved a treasure trove of film props and movie artifacts over the years, including the original 1933 King Kong stop-motion armature, the classic Time Machine and so many more cool items it’s impossible to list them all here. But we photographed a bunch of these amazing treasures and with Bob and Kathy’s permission we’ve created a gallery of 150 of the best photos so that you can all share in the experience of a typical visit to Bob’s Basement . Bob e-mailed this morning to say he’s thrilled with how it came out: “This is wonderful as now so many folks can see the collection.” So we really hope you all take the time to check it out and enjoy it.

For you Muppet fans (now that The Muppet Movie is on Blu-ray – reviewed here on The Bits), the good news is that Disney is releasing a double feature Blu-ray of The Great Muppet Caper and Muppet Treasure Island – the Of Pirates & Pigs Collection – on 12/10 (SRP $29.99). Thanks to Bits reader Bill M. for the heads-up.

Meanwhile, Disney and Pixar have now officially announced the Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray and DVD release of Monsters University on 10/29. Extras on the Blu-ray versions will include audio commentary with the filmmakers, 4 deleted scenes, an art gallery, set flythroughs, trailers and TV spots, the college and theatrical campaigns and 9 featurettes (Campus Life, Story School, Scare Games, Welcome to MU, Music Appreciation, Scare Tactics, Color and Light, Paths to Pixar: MU Edition and Furry Monsters: A Technical Retrospective), among other things. Looks like there will be various retailer exclusives as well.

Sony has set Breakout for DVD only release on 9/17 (SRP $26.99), followed by The Kings of Summer on Blu-ray and DVD on 9/24 (SRP $35.99 and $30.99).

Warner Home Video and Viz Media have set the anime Zetman: The Complete Series for Blu-ray and DVD on 11/5 (SRP $54.97 and $44.82).

MPI and Dark Sky Films has set Frankenstein’s Army for Blu-ray and DVD release on 9/10 (SRP $34.98 and $27.98).

Lionsgate is releasing Joss Whedon’s contemporary updating of Much Ado About Nothing on Blu-ray and DVD on 10/8. It will include two commentaries, two featurettes and a music video.

Scream Factory has announced the “zombie action comedy” Cockneys vs. Zombies for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 9/3 (SRP $24.97 and $19.97).

We’ve reported this before, but don’t forget that Scream is also releasing The Amityville Horror Trilogy Collection on Blu-ray on 10/1. The Amityville Horror will include the new Haunted Melodies with Composer Lalo Schifrin featurette, plus the vintage For God’s Sake, Get Out! documentary, the trailer, TV and radio spots and audio commentary with Dr. Hans Holzer PHD. Amityville II: The Possession will include The Possession of Damini featurette, 4 new featurettes (Adapting Amityville, Family Matters, A Mother’s Burden and Father Tom’s Memories), a new interview with ghost hunter/author Alexandra Holzer, new audio commentary with Holzer and the film’s trailer. And Amityville 3-D will include both the 2D and 3D versions of the film, plus the all new A Chilly Reception featurette and the trailer.

And Well Go USA Entertainment has The Guillotines coming on BD and DVD next week on 8/13.

Finally, this weekend is the annual Otakon anime convention in Baltimore. There may be some interesting anime release news over the next couple days, so if any we’ll recap it on Monday. Personally, I’m hoping Funimation announces the Blu-ray Disc release of the Cowboy Bebop anime series, which came out on Blu late last year in Japan and just arrived in the U.K. as well. We have a pretty good feeling there’ll be news about that title this weekend, so fingers crossed. By the way, Funimation is also at work on a new Blu-ray release of Akira. More as it comes in.

Here’s a look at the cover art for Disney’s Muppet double feature, Lionsgate’s Much Ado About Nothing and Warner’s final Hangover III cover art (due 10/8), plus some newly-released artwork for upcoming Scream Factory titles TBA for release in November and December…

Have a great weekend and be sure to check back in here on Monday for a Blu-ray review (or maybe even two) that you Star Trek fans will probably enjoy. Stay tuned!

- Bill Hunt