Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 17th, 2014
"Spartacus' mongrel horde has swelled with each passing victory since Glaber's defeat at Vesuvius. They added thousands to rank liberating the mines of Lucania. Slaves across the Republic, humble and grateful to their masters for so many years, have broken to treachery in the wake of the ever-expanding legend of Spartacus."
Starz has had a pretty good run with their Spartacus series. Coming off the style of blood and violence that was popularized with Zach Snyder's 300, Spartacus brought that comic book/graphic novel intensity to television.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 17th, 2014
CSI is one of the longest-running shows on television. There are still a great number of original or early-years cast members still there. But I think it's actually the changes that have allowed the show to rediscover itself once again. It's actually been a good thing for the series and the franchise. It's a family again. That's no dig on anyone who has left. It's just that I like this group a lot, and we've been able to see stories that just would not have been done in the old days. It has new legs, and I think we just might be in it for the long haul.
Posted in: Podcasts by Gino Sassani on September 15th, 2014
Anchor Bay is releasing The Dead 2: India on Tuesday (9/16). We've got John Ceballos at work on the review. In the meantime I had a lot of fun talking to the film's star Joseph Millson last week. We talked about everything from Pop Tarts to working with the Ford Brothers. Millson is also known for playing in Casino Royale and the Doctor Who spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures. Unfortunately, it was a quick conversation. Here's your chance to eavesdrop on our conversation. Bang it here to listen to my interview with Joseph Millson.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 12th, 2014
"There's virtually nothing the Winchesters can't do if they work together."
But that's the rub, isn't it? The tradition has been that each of the last several seasons end up beginning with the brothers separated for one reason or another. Often one of them is trying to escape Hell, purgatory or some fantasy mental land. There are at least two times a year they split up over an argument.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 11th, 2014
"One must regard the 30 years of strife, turmoil and suffering in Europe as part of one story. One story of a 30 years war." - Winston Churchill
He was exactly correct, and one of only a few people of the time who had the vision to understand that concept. Before the end of World War II the first world war was known as The Great War. The idea of two separate world wars came later.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 10th, 2014
"It's been a long summer."
And my how things have changed in Mystic Falls. Elena is a vampire, and Katherine is now a human, and doing a pitiful job of that, to be sure. Bonnie is a ghost who only Jeremy can see, and they're trying to keep it all a big secret from everyone so they all think Bonnie is out globe-hopping and having a great time. Stefan is at the bottom of a lake in a safe where everyone else thinks Silas is.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 9th, 2014
"It's called compartmentalization. No one spills the secrets because no one knows them all."
I was lucky enough to grow up during Marvel's wonderful rebirth of the 1960's and 1970's. Of all of the comics they produced during that time, I was always least impressed with Captain America. I don't think I ever read an issue of any of his mags with the notable exception of The Avengers. So how can it be possible that after dozens of Marvel films, and I'm including the Fox and other-studio-produced stuff, that Captain America: The Winter Soldier can end up being my favorite?
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 9th, 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.
Posted in: Contests, Expired Contests by Gino Sassani on September 8th, 2014
Arc Entertainment is on a roll, and our followers are cashing in. The gifts just keep on coming, and it's not even Christmas yet. This time they've given us 3 copies of the DVD Louder Than Words. The X-Files' own Agent Mulder, David Duchovny stars in this inspiring drama. A couple deals with the death of their young daughter. Their tragic loss becomes hope for other children when they create a special hospital in their daughter's memory. The film also stars Timothy Hutton and Hope Davis. It' a heartwarming story based on real life.
To win just follow these instructions.
Posted in: Contests, Expired Contests by Gino Sassani on September 4th, 2014
Arc Entertainment wants to take you home with a collection of fanciful characters and hope for a small town. We're talking Home Is Where The Heart Is on DVD. It features Bailee Madison, Laura Bell Bundy and John C. McGinley. It can be yours. We have 2 copies to give away to a couple of lucky Upcomingdiscs fans.
To win just follow these instructions.
