Posted in: The Reel World by Gino Sassani on April 22nd, 2014
I have to be honest. Director Richard Shepard probably lost me in the first 10 seconds of Dom Hemingway. I can't help believing that my opinion was shaded a bit as I watched Jude Law as the titular character rambling some nonsensical dialog while having himself "taken care of" by a fellow inmate in prison. It's an image that lives with you long after the scene is done. Surprisingly, I did start to settle in for what looked like a more promising ride than I had first believed. And for about 40 minutes it actually became an almost good film.
Posted in: The Reel World by Gino Sassani on April 19th, 2014
There is nothing wrong with your movie screen. Jonathan Glazer controls all that you see and hear. That tiny speck of light you see is just the beginning. The beginning of an experience you will not soon forget. The light appears distant...cold... foreboding. It's coming closer to us, or we are coming closer to it. The distant star grows while you are assaulted with some of the most bizarre sounds you have ever heard. It's somewhat uncomfortable. You squirm in your seat. The light grows; its alien forms finally settles into an unexpected familiar form. Still, it's all rather unsettling. Jonathan Glazer controls more than all you see and hear. For the next two hours he controls your sanity... your very humanity.
Posted in: The Reel World by Gino Sassani on April 18th, 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: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on April 18th, 2014
Who doesn’t have a soft spot in their heart, if not their DVD collection, for the denizens of Mayberry? They've been with many of us our entire lives. For most of America, The Andy Griffith Show has become the template for any small rural town. The characters stand as prerequisite citizens in any said town. The town drunk, the local barber, the motherly little old lady, and the corner mechanic all look like Otis, Floyd, Aunt Bee, and Goober to most of us now. Griffith himself brought fine qualities to his role of Sheriff Andy Taylor, but this isn't the Mayberry we're talking about.
Posted in: Contests, Expired Contests by Gino Sassani on April 16th, 2014
Our new friends down at Revolver Entertainment have really hit the target with their new DVD About A Zombie. They've got a documentary crew following that Zombie Apocalypse we've all been hearing about. They've also given us 3 copies of the film on DVD to give away to you guys. Zombie Apocalypse and free stuff! It doesn't get much better than that.
To win just follow these instructions.
Posted in: Random Fun, Release Announcements by Gino Sassani on April 16th, 2014
"Would you like to sit down or would you prefer internal bleeding?"
Next on our list is Detective Mick Belker, played by Bruce Weitz. Weitz did such a phenomenal job in the role that he found himself typecast for years after Hill Street ended. On the pilot commentary Bochco tells us that when Weitz went in for auditions he was often asked to growl for them. In a way it's a shame, but can you blame them?
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on April 16th, 2014
Star Vista and Time Life have put together another six-disc collection of hits from The Carol Burnett Show. It's called Carol's Crack-Ups, and it's another funny selection of episodes from the long-running variety show. While it seems a little like they're rationing these shows out in small sets, it's almost impossible to do it otherwise. After 11 seasons there are just hundreds of shows out there. With these sets, fans can look forward to seeing them again much like they did during the years the show ran.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on April 15th, 2014
I Love Lucy changed the fledgling television industry in the 1950’s. This was a time when network television was less than a decade old. Most folks had never heard of television just 15 years earlier. I Love Lucy defined the concept of a sitcom. The show was driven by the very strong personalities of the cast. Desi Arnaz was considered a charismatic Latin lover by American women. Lucy played the perfect foil and found a mountain of gold to mine in strong physical comedy.
Posted in: Release Announcements by Gino Sassani on April 10th, 2014
Let's all synchronize our calendars. There's an important date, and it's coming upon us quickly. Shout Factory is about to release one of the most influential series in television history. We're talking Hill Street Blues, and the complete 7-season series is coming to home video on Tuesday April, 29th. It's an event worth celebrating, and we here at Upcomingdiscs are going to help you get through these final days with character profiles from the show. I'm hard at work binge-watching episodes as fast as I can to have a full detailed review waiting for you on the 29th. I know. It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on April 8th, 2014
"There are dark spirits, old and full of hate...The world is in great danger."
A trilogy is a hard animal to pull off. Even when you have a popular franchise, it is extremely difficult. All of the pieces have to work just right, or you could have a disaster on your hands. It is even harder when you've already beaten the odds once and delivered a trilogy that is both loved and a huge box office success. You run into an almost insurmountable mountain of expectations. Your pieces must somehow fit together so that they can be viewed as one whole product.
