Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on August 22nd, 2014
"Welcome to the SyFy Channel."
OK, not really. Revolution aired on sister network NBC, both part of the Universal family. Usually the sibling resemblances are not very visible. Revolution, however has all the elements of a typical SyFy Channel series. These shows almost always start with strong source material or a crazy but clever idea.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on August 17th, 2014
"He's dangerous, amoral, he pathologically flaunts authority. He's reckless to the point of suicidal. But all of this... everything we've done. None of it would have been possible if it weren't for him."
Him, of course is James Spader as the enigmatic Raymond "Red" Reddington. The show is NBC's break-out hit The Blacklist created by first-time show-runner Jon Bokenkamp. Bokenkamp is truly a newcomer to the business. He has literally only a couple of very minor writing credits to his name. Perhaps that's why The Blacklist is able to contain quite a few of the cliché elements running through television today and still feel like one of the freshest shows in a long while.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on August 14th, 2014
The television landscape has been flooded with shows about the supernatural. Vampires have been particularly hot topics in recent years, but werewolves are starting to get their own sub-genre going. MTV's Teen Wolf manages to pull the theme off quite well. It's no surprise that pretty much every network out there wants to throw their own hats into the supernatural ring. It's getting quite crowded, but the popularity appears to have no end. Of course, with such a crowded field you have to find a way to stand out from the rest.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on August 14th, 2014
"I wonder if you could spare me a little of your time?"
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: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on August 12th, 2014
"Space... the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its continuing mission, to explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where no one has gone before."
The sixth season of Star Trek: The Next Generation is arguable one of the best seasons in the history of the franchise. There are likely many reasons for this.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on August 11th, 2014
"Hi, little guys."
There was a time, decades ago when Walt Disney Studios was doing quality documentaries on a pretty regular schedule. Many of them appeared on the television show The Wonderful World Of Disney, and more than a few were released as feature films. And while that tradition has continued somewhat, it's been a while since I was truly impressed by a Disney documentary. That all changes with the release of Bears.
Posted in: Contests, Expired Contests by Gino Sassani on August 4th, 2014
Arc Entertainment decided to turn up the heat this summer, and they want Upcomingdiscs readers to share in the action. They've sent over 3 copies of Jesse on DVD for us to give away. This one's got it all: corrupt cops, mafia guys and Stephanie Finochio in the middle of it all as Jesse, a rather troubled cop. The film also stars Eric Roberts, William Forsythe, and one of my favorites, Armand Assante.
To win just follow these instructions.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on July 31st, 2014
"Make no mistake. Blood will be spilled. Lives will be lost. Fortunes will be made. Men will be ruined. There will be betrayal and scandal and perfidy of epic proportions."
With a statement like that, how can you not want to check out AMC's newest drama series Hell On Wheels? I've been told the title sounds like it's about motorcycle gangs, and I couldn't agree more. The term refers to the mobile tent city that housed the workers on the Union Pacific Railroad and the support entourage the camp attracted. It was a virtual tent city that had all of the essentials: a church, bar, and whorehouse.
Posted in: Contests, Expired Contests by Gino Sassani on July 29th, 2014
Those real cool cats up at Nasser Entertainment must love you guys. They've given us 5 copies of Amber Alert: Terror On The Highway to give away to our Upcomingdiscs faithful. That means you've got 5 chances to dig your teeth into this dramatic thriller. It stars Tom Berener, Torri Higginson and Britt McKillip and produced by real reserve police officer Joseph Nasser. It's a rare look at the national Amber Alert System and an edge-of-your-seat thriller. It's out this week on DVD.
To win just follow these instructions.
Posted in: Contests, Expired Contests by Gino Sassani on July 28th, 2014
Our good friends over at Entertainment One what to give you some Hell... Hell On Wheels that is. We're giving away a copy of Hell On Wheels Season 3 on DVD to one lucky Upcomingdiscs fan. This one has it all. We're talking gritty action and wonderful characters. I'll be reviewing the series soon, Spoiler Alert: It's fantastic! It's all here in one place. This 3-disc set is a must have. To win just follow these instructions.
