Posted in: The Reel World by Gino Sassani on November 26th, 2015
The last time we checked in on Rocky Balboa was 2006. It was a bittersweet coda to a franchise that provided 30 years and six films of the life and times of Rocky Balboa. Some were truly great films. I'd count the first and last as in that category. Some were near misses like the third and fourth films, while the fifth was pretty much a total disaster. In those years and films we watched Rocky go from a hungry Philadelphia wannabe boxer to the champion several times over. Like the franchise, the character had his own highs and lows. There's no question that the Rocky franchise has gone the distance. And while it might have been a split-decision, the Rocky films still stand as the champion of the film genre.
Posted in: News and Opinions by Gino Sassani on November 12th, 2015
At the turn of the millennium a decade and a half ago, lists were pretty popular. It didn't matter if you were into the world of sports or movies, everybody was looking for the all-time best of everything. The American Film Institute got into the trend by releasing top-100 lists. Heroes, villains and memorable quotes all got the treatment. We all argued about the "classics" we felt were unfairly slighted and the "idiotic" choices that did make the lists. If only the lists were so much larger. Then everyone's favorites would be included and we could all finally find a list we could agree on. But, what number would that be? 100 was too small. A million was just too large. What number might be just right? 1001?
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 11th, 2015
"Different, entirely."
I have been a fan of Sherlock Holmes since I was a kid. Mixed amidst those Universal horror films I watched with my Pop on weekend chiller shows was an occasional Universal Holmes film with Basil Rathbone as the master of deduction. Soon followed the Doyle books, and a new world was opened for me forever. Since those days we have seen every kind of incarnation of the character possible, or so I thought. I've seen Holmes as a child in Spielberg's Young Sherlock Holmes. There have been several comedies and even a musical or two. Robert Downey Jr. has turned him into an action hero, and Benedict Cumberbatch has brought him into the modern world.
Posted in: The Reel World by Gino Sassani on November 6th, 2015
"You have got a tricky day ahead of you."
And this is going to be one tricky film to review. It's safe to say that Daniel Craig peaked as James Bond with Skyfall. Sam Mendes was the man who figured out how to make Craig work in the part. The secret wasn't in the classic images of Bond's past but in the future. Instead of trying to mold Craig into Bond, Mendes molded Bond into Craig. It was the right thing to do as long as Daniel Craig was going to continue in the role.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 5th, 2015
"Be grateful for your gifts. They are all around you."
This is the gift that has been giving for 20 years. It's a bit hard to believe that it was all the way back in 1996 that we had our first adventure with Pixar's imaginative Toy Story. Since that time we've had two solid theatrical sequels and now a second television/video short. It's a bridge to the fourth theatrical film on its way. But that's still a couple of years down the road, so it's rather nice to be able to spend some time, no matter how brief, with the gang we fell in love with nearly 20 years ago
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 31st, 2015
"We're here."
I must start this review by admitting that I did not see 2008's The Haunting of Molly Hartley. In spite of the fact that very few people did actually see that film, I was surprised to find that a sequel would show up seven years later just in time for the Halloween private shock-fests and schlock nights. If you happen to be a fan of the original film, that doesn't mean you should get too excited by the sequel. There is little to tie these films together.
Posted in: Podcasts by Gino Sassani on October 30th, 2015
RLJ Entertainment releases Some Kind Of Hate on November 3rd. Ronen Rubinstein plays a young man who has been bullied most of his life. When he's sent away to learn to control his anger he unwillingly awakens a sinister spirit who wants to share her bloody gift of revenge. I had the opportunity to talk to Ronen Rubinstein about both Some Kind Of Hate and his upcoming film Condemned. He's a young actor with plenty of enthusiasm. Bang it here to listen in on my chat with Ronen Rubinstein.
Posted in: Contests, Expired Contests by Gino Sassani on October 29th, 2015
This continues to be a crowded 31 Nights Of Terror contest year. Once again it’s thanks to the great folks at Arc Entertainment. This one is for the kids. Maybe not so scary, but a lot of fun. Arc Entertainment has given us a copy of their zany adventure Under Wraps. The animated feature is loaded with mummies, pharaohs, and other things that go bump in the night. It features the voice talents of Brooke Shields, Drake Bell, and Matthew Lillard. Who’s your Mummy? Upcomingdiscs and Arc Entertainment, that’s who.
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 28th, 2015
"Dark forces are rising. The frequency of possession is increasing all over the world."
Must be Global Warming...check that ,Climate Change. It seems the whole warming thing wasn't exactly working out for these guys. So like a business with a bad reputation you change the name and pretend that's what it's been like all along. There is an alarming increase in the frequency of movie possessions all over the world. But it's not Global Warming or Climate Change that's to blame. Hell, it isn't even Bush's fault. It's got to do with the color green.
Posted in: Contests, Expired Contests by Gino Sassani on October 27th, 2015
31 Nights Of Terror means horror reviews and lots of free stuff for you guys. How about an unrated copy of Girls Gone Dead on DVD? When these gals do Spring Break it’s killer.
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