Posted in: Holiday Gift Guides by Gino Sassani on December 11th, 2014
When it comes to getting the current shows out in high definition, no one does it better than Warner Brothers. I am impressed each year with the number of shows they release on Blu-ray every year. Readers to this site know what I'm talking about. If you have TV fans on your list who also are fans of sci-fi and horror, these are the best sets to get this holiday season. Below you'll find some excerpts from our reviews. I've put it all in one place to make your shopping experience easier. I know how little time you've got with a lot of shopping to do. Don't forget to use one of our links if you get them from Amazon. It'll help keep us going another year.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on December 11th, 2014
Erle Stanley Gardner wrote crime fiction, and while many of his 100 or so works are unknown to most of us, he created a character who has become as identified with criminal lawyers as any other in fiction. It was in these crime novels that Perry Mason first faced a courtroom. He developed a style where he would investigate these terrible crimes his clients were on trial for. He would find the real killer, and in what has become a Hollywood cliché, reveal his findings in a crucial moment during the trial. While we may not remember the novels, we all remember the man in the persona of Raymond Burr.
Posted in: Uncategorized by Gino Sassani on December 10th, 2014
So you have a horror fan on your shopping list this year. You're not sure if they like classic or slasher. Do they appreciate the wonderful films of the past, or do they like to go for the jugular? You know there's a ton of horror titles out there, but which ones are any good? You also want this gift to be something special. The guy at the store doesn't know Frankenstein from Jason. You ask for his help, and he looks at you like something out of The Walking Dead. Shopping for a horror title scares you more than a walk at Camp Crystal Lake with a bullseye tattooed on your face. Don't lose your head over this one. Anchor Bay and Shout Factory's Scream Factory have that perfect special gift. It's The Halloween Collection. You get the classic John Carpenter film and all of the slash-fest sequels as well. It's 10 films in one high-definition splatter festival. And it won't cost you an arm and a leg... well maybe a foot.
Posted in: Holiday Gift Guides by Gino Sassani on December 8th, 2014
"1968, I was twelve years old. A lot happened that year. Dennis McLain won 31 games, The Mod Squad hit the air, and I graduated from Hillcrest Elementary and entered junior high school...but we'll get to that. There's no pretty way to put this: I grew up in the suburbs. I guess most people think of the suburb as a place with all the disadvantages of the city, and none of the advantages of the country, and vice versa. But, in a way, those really were the wonder years for us there in the suburbs. It was kind of a golden age for kids."
The show takes place in Anywhere, USA. The pilot begins in 1968 and is told from the point of view of a contemporary adult looking back on those early years of his life. Anyone who is a fan of A Christmas Story will appreciate the narrative style of The Wonder Years.
Posted in: Holiday Gift Guides by Gino Sassani on December 5th, 2014
Johnny Carson might have been king of the late-night airwaves, but it was Merv Griffin who held court during the day. From 1962 until 1986 Merv Griffin brought you the most important, entertaining and fascinating personalities to your living rooms. He was also quite the producer. Here's the question: He created two of the longest-lasting game shows in television history. Who was Merv Griffin? That's correct. He created both Wheel Of Fortune and Jeopardy. But it will be The Merv Griffin Show that he'll he's most remembered for.
Posted in: Holiday Gift Guides by Gino Sassani on December 4th, 2014
It's funny how some actors mean different things to different people. It often depends on your age and interests. Michael Landon is one such actor. I was a horror movie fan who watched late-night creature features with my dad. To me Landon was the titular character from I Was A Teenage Werewolf. To my Dad and his generation, Landon was Little Joe from Bonanza. To continue the comparison, Little Joe's pop was always Commander Adama, with no offense intended toward Edward James Olmos. But there is another generation that doesn't know werewolves from cowboys, and to them Michael Landon will always be the warm father Charles Ingalls from Little House On The Prairie.
Posted in: Contests, Expired Contests by Gino Sassani on December 1st, 2014
Our friends at Arc Entertainment have another great giveaway for you faithful Upcomingdiscs readers. On Dec 2nd Field Of Lost Shoes hits the stores and we have 2 copies to give out. This one is based on a true American Civil War story. A group of teen cadets shows their courage under fire when they are sent into the heart of battle. The film stars David Arquette and Tom Skerritt.
To win just follow these instructions.
Posted in: Holiday Gift Guides by Gino Sassani on November 28th, 2014
"The gods finally bless us with a complete collection."
AnchorBay is going all out in delivering a couple of complete series collections. There is a limited edition with some cool stuff that we hope to talk to you about on Black Friday for your shopping edification. This set contains all of the show's 39 episodes on 12 discs. There is a 13th disc with limited extra features that were not found on the original individual season releases.
Posted in: The Reel World by Gino Sassani on November 21st, 2014
"All we need now is the perfect message".
It has almost become expected. When a successful franchise based on a series of books reaches the end of the published material, studios start to think about the approaching end with some dread. One way to put off the inevitable is to split the final book into two films. It worked for Harry Potter and Twilight. Peter Jackson managed to squeeze three long films out of one Tolkien book. For most of these cases it was a severe case of milking those final chapters for all that they're worth and then going beyond that. That's simply not the case with Mockingjay Part I.
Posted in: Contests, Expired Contests by Gino Sassani on November 20th, 2014
Those Santa's elves at Arc Entertainment want to get you in a Holiday mood so they've given us three copies of Northpole on DVD. Robert Wagner and Jill St. John lead the cast. The Northpole is having an energy crises. The place is powered by Holiday cheer but too many folks are getting too busy to keep up their Christmas Spirit. Can one boy help by showing his Mom the magic of the season? Find out.
To win just follow these instructions.
