Posted in: Contests by Gino Sassani on July 20th, 2015
How long has it been since you’ve spent some time with Mama? It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost 25 years. Our good friends at StarVista have decided that it’s just been too dang long. Of course, we’re talking about the television classic Mama’s Family staring Vicki Lawrence. We’re teaming up to give you a good deal of time to spend with Mama. It's called Mama's Favorites and it's a DVD with 6 of Vicki Lawrence's hand-picked favorite episodes from season 6.
To win a copy, just follow these simple instructions.
Posted in: The Reel World by Gino Sassani on July 19th, 2015
"Different thing, 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. I even remember Larry Hagman's television version of a motorcycle cop who has a head injury and believes he's the famous detective, gaining the requisite deductive skills in the process. It was called The Return Of The World's Greatest Detective. Star Trek fans reveled in Data's immersion in the detective's world, even bringing back his infamous nemesis as one of The Next Generation's more sympathetic bad guys. But in all of these incarnations I have never seen anything as truly remarkable as Mr. Holmes. It is most decidedly something different entirely.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on July 17th, 2015
"The devil can touch you and leave his mark. Just so he doesn't steal your soul."
You might say that the devil made them do it. Shout Factory utilizes their Scream Factory moniker to deliver another doubleheader horror-fest from the 1980's. Many of us love to be touched by a little evil, so long as it's some harmless fun from a horror movie. While I'm not a huge fan of having two or more films on one disc, this pretty much amounts to the same as the standard four episodes on a disc that you'll find in many television releases in high definition. So, for the sake of a little nostalgia and the fact that these prints aren't what you would call pristine or high-budget, I'm going to get on board another Scream Factory ride.
Posted in: Site News by Gino Sassani on July 15th, 2015
We've been thinking about changing our look. Over the years we've asked you guys what you wanted to see change. Most of you told us to leave things alone. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. We agree. We did decide to change our logo. Thanks to our reviewer Deb and her company The Write One Creative Services we finally have a logo of our own. For 6 years we've had Kate Beckinsale and The Enterprise watching over us. Don't worry. They're still at our Facebook page. We hope that you like it. Please feel free to leave your comments. Better yet, enter the Freedom contest and give us your feedback while entering to win a free DVD. At Upcomingdiscs: the best is yet to come.
Posted in: Contests by Gino Sassani on July 15th, 2015
Our friends at ARC Entertainment have sent over three copies of their latest DVD release. It's called Freedom and it has a stellar cast that inlcudes Cuba Gooding, Jr. and William Sadler. It's the tale of two different men and their daring path to freedom. One braves the high seas while another is a slave fleeing a Virginia plantation, a slave hunter always hot on his trail. The stories are inspiring and three lucky winners will own the film.
To win a copy, just follow these simple instructions.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on July 15th, 2015
At the end of 2013 Shout Factory released a horror marathon on DVD called Scream Factory All Night Marathon. OK, so it only had four films averaging about 90 minutes each, hardly all night. But it was a nice collection of more obscure 1980's horror that made a rather nice night in with the boys...or the girls. Two of those films have now found their way to a single Blu-ray disc and released by...you guessed it, Shout's Scream Factory division. While I'm not a huge fan of having two or more films on one disc, this pretty much amounts to the same as the standard four episodes on a disc that you'll find in many television releases in high definition. So, for the sake of a little nostalgia and the fact that these prints aren't what you would call pristine or high budget, I'm going to get on board this ride.
"Why don't you rub it?"
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on July 15th, 2015
"This story is to be neither an accusation nor a confession, and least of all an adventure, for death is not an adventure to those who stand face to face with it. It will try simply to tell of a generation of men who, even though they may have escaped its shells, were destroyed by the war" - Erich Maria Remarque
Like most people from my generation, I suspect, I saw this version of All Quiet On The Western Front first in a high school history class. I can't for the moment recall if it had been a world history class or American history. It was a popular choice among both stripes of history teachers in its day. As a history teacher myself, I have to admit I have never used it. I would guess that's true of most teachers these days. Contemporary classrooms can ill afford to spare the three hours of running time. That's unfortunate. It's a powerful film that everyone ought to see at least once.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on July 14th, 2015
"What you're talking about is a one-way street, you understand? Once you start there is no going back."
Ah, but there is going back if you're watching Kill Me Three Times. I don't necessarily mean that you'll want to watch the film over again (you might). Kill Me Three Times is a bit of a collection of vignettes that continue to circle back upon each other. Each time you get a different perspective or a bit of new information is unveiled. For those of you who insist on a linear logic to your films, this one's not for you. In fact, those of you who insist on logic at all might not quite get this one.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on July 14th, 2015
Typically I do not seek out modern war films for leisure watching. They may take great strides to make battles seem realistic, or just more extreme. Normally with the focus on cinematography and editing, the depth of the story is sacrificed in the process. Sure, you have a narrative to follow, but ultimately what satisfies is the visual masterpiece. For me, ’71 followed this pattern accurately, though I was pleasantly surprised with the visuals, as they went above and beyond my expectations.
’71 is director Yann Demange’s first feature film, as well as writer Gregory Burke’s first theatrical screenplay. The film follows British soldier Gary Hook (Jack O’Connell) as he leaves behind his younger brother to police Belfast during the Northern Ireland conflict. He is separated from his unit while they are quelling a riot and is left behind on the violent city streets. While trying to survive the night, he discovers a secret political agenda led by prominent figures from both Belfast and the British Army. His quest to survive ends the next day, when his unit returns to find him.
Posted in: Contests by Gino Sassani on July 10th, 2015
It's Christmas in July because our good friends at ARC Entertainment just went crazy. Their insanity is your good fortune. They've given us a July Gift Pack of three films on DVD for one lucky winner. First up is The Squeeze. A young golf talent gets caught up with a ruthless gambler. All he wants to do is take care of his family and now it might cost him everything. It’s a mix of a con film with the added interest of golf. On second base is See You In Valhalla. It stars Sarah Hyland from Modern Family. A young girl must face some tough secrets when her brother dies and she returns home. It’s a heart-warming tale that also stars Connor O’Farrell, Emma Bell, Bret Harrison and Steve Howley. To complete the triple threat you get Bank$tas. Can you mine comedy out of a financial crises and the student loan issues in this country. You can if you’re Arc Entertainment. Play in the world of high finance with the likes of Alan Thicke and Supergirl herself Laura Vandervoort. It's all going to one lucky winner.
To win a copy, just follow these simple instructions.
