Posted in: The Reel World by Gino Sassani on February 13th, 2015
"Did you see the movie Trading Places?"
Well, this isn't that movie. It can be as funny as Trading Places, though. There aren't any shades of gray here either. It's good old fashioned “good guys and evil genius” stuff all the way. It's a thrill ride that we won't have to wait in long lines to get on. This is like going to a summer movie and trudging through the snow to get there. Depending on where you live, of course. I'm talking about Kingsmen: The Secret Service.
Posted in: Podcasts by Gino Sassani on February 10th, 2015
Anchor Bay is releasing Fear Clinic today. It stars Robert Englund and Thomas Dekker. While we didn't get a chance to have an encounter with Freddy Kruger himself, we did catch up with Thomas Dekker. You might remember him as Picard's young son in Star Trek: Generations. I loved him as the iconic John Connor in The Sarah Connor Chronicles television follow-up to the Terminator films. We had a great time talking about all of these cool projects. You won't want to miss Fear Clinic on Blu-ray or DVD, and you sure won't want to miss my conversation with Thomas Dekker. So, bang it here to listen to my chat with Thomas Dekker.
Posted in: Podcasts by Gino Sassani on February 5th, 2015
We told you that there was more coming from Anchor Bay's Zombie Killers: Elephant's Graveyard. We also told you there would be more on Harrison Smith, the film's writer and director. What else can we tell you? How about we let Harrison give you the goods himself? I had a chance to talk to the filmmaker. Here's your chance to hear what he has to say. Bang it here to listen in on my chat with Harrison Smith.
Posted in: Podcasts by Gino Sassani on February 4th, 2015
You're going to be seeing a lot from Anchor Bay's Zombie Killers: Elephant's Graveyard. It's a new and interesting zombie franchise from writer/director Harrison Smith. No, not the one who plays for my NFL Vikings. More on him later. (The director, not the football player). The film stars, among others Felissa Rose. You might remember her as the 13 year old baddie in Sleepaway Camp. She's been busy lately. You can catch her in Zombie Killers. I caught up to her last week and I got to talk to her about both films...and more. The movie is out now. She was super excited to talk. Bang it here to listen in on my chat with Felissa Rose.
Posted in: Podcasts by Gino Sassani on February 3rd, 2015
This week Image Entertainment releases The Reagans: The Legacy Endures. It's a documentary on the life and presidency of Ronald Reagan. He was the 40th US President and certainly left his mark on history. The sportscaster turned actor turned political icon oversaw a critical period in world history. The Cold War was ending and the war on terror was just beginning. Robert Kline wrote and directed this intimate look at the Reagan Years. I had a chance to talk with him about the project. Bang it here to listen in on my chat with Robert Kline.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 3rd, 2015
"You like that stuff, but it's kind of a tease."
Give Elijah credit for taking some interesting chances with his acting choices since his long and successful run with the Lord Of The Rings trilogy and his subsequent cameos in the Hobbit films as well. No one can accuse the actor of resting on his laurels. His roles have been outside the mainstream. Most of his recent work involves the quirky series Wilfred, where he sees a man in a dog suit instead of his neighbors canine. Add to the list of offbeat roles that of Nick Chambers in Open Windows.
Posted in: Contests, Expired Contests by Gino Sassani on February 2nd, 2015
Rutger Hauer is the star of this latest giveaway thanks to our good buddies over at Arc Entertainment. We're talking future world where money just might buy one man eternal youth...or maybe an endless nightmare. It's a game played for your life. We're talking RPG (Real Playing Game) and it hits stores on Tuesday Feb. 10th. But we have 3 copies to give away here at Upcomingdiscs.
Contest is now closed Winners are Jim Gardner, Kelvin Hobson & James Coyne
Posted in: The Reel World by Gino Sassani on February 1st, 2015
"I found something."
Once in a while a film comes along that defies the current trends and styles in Hollywood. Inevitably, those films usually end up being dumped on the box office in the late winter months after the holiday blockbusters have run their course and the push for notice by the Academy has reached the end of the calendar year. It is in the depths of these cold months that studios deliver the almost-rans, the square pegs, and once in a while a gem that doesn't really fit any of the other models. Black Sea is absolutely one of those kinds of films. By next holiday season it will have been forgotten enough to contend for any of the awards, but that isn't to say it's not deserving. But as Clint told us many years ago in his own Academy Award winning film: "deserving's got nothing to do with it". Nowhere more have I witnessed that axiom proven over and over again.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on January 29th, 2015
"Who are the Mythbusters?"
You know who the Mythbusters are, don't you? They've been a staple on the Discovery Channel for over 12 years now. Yes, this 10th year anniversary release is a little late, but a welcome title all the same. If you really don't know who the Mythbusters are by now, I can't think of a better way to get acquainted than to pick up 50 of their best episodes in one collection. The episodes were hand-picked by the 'Busters themselves. You want to know more? Who you gonna call? Upcomingdiscs, that's who, because we've got the goods right here.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on January 28th, 2015
"Did that just happen?"
I have to confess that I entered The Judge expecting a different kind of film than I actually saw. After seeing the trailer, I was reminded of some of the classic courtroom dramas I'd seen over the years, from 12 Angry Men through ...And Justice For All. On the ride to the screening I found my mind was swimming with the "closing arguments" Al Pacino delivered in ...And Justice For All and was trying to image how Robert Downey, Jr. was going to try to top that. In the end, Downey didn't top that wonderful monologue. In the end, The Judge simply wasn't that kind of a movie after all.
