Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 31st, 2011
"Sketch comedy, what is it? What is required? The first thing that is needed is a premise."
How about this for a premise? Lorne Michaels, who was a brainchild behind Saturday Night Live, puts together a show based on a Canadian comedy troop named The Kids In The Hall? The group gets their name from an old running Jack Benny routine where he would tell the audience that he got this next joke from the kids in the hall. Michaels struck comedy gold before; it would make sense that he would do it again. Doesn't it?
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 28th, 2011
"I don't remember if I started drinking because my wife left me or my wife left me because I started drinking."
Nicolas Cage has played quite an array of oddball characters in what has to be one of Hollywood's most eclectic careers. But whatever your favorite might be, this is the one that earned him an Oscar. The movie also earned Elisabeth Shue her only nomination for an Oscar. While those were not the only nominations for this cult favorite film, that's really where the money is.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 28th, 2011
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
It's the oath that every president has taken since George Washington. In that time 42 men have taken the oath. (Cleveland has been counted twice because his two terms were not consecutive). Each of them have their defenders, and each of them have their detractors. Few have stirred as much emotion on both sides of the political aisle as Ronald Reagan.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 25th, 2011
"In the world's highest mountains are roads only the best can survive. It's a whole new challenge for the top ice road truckers. They're taking on the world's deadliest roads to prove there's no route they can't conquer, and no load they can't haul..."
The Ice Road Truckers are back, but it's not the haul roads of Canada or Alaska they'll be facing this time.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 25th, 2011
"I'm Brad Meltzer. I've spent my life collecting stories. The best include signs, symbols and coded messages that are hidden in plain sight. Some have become the basis for my novels. But I've only scratched the surface of what's out there, and now History has given me the resources to investigate the rest. This is Decoded."
What if I told you there was an author out there who was known for writing novels that include historical conspiracies, secret societies and buried treasures, and that this author has found a way to parlay his moderate writing success into a television series for History?
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 21st, 2011
"Do you believe in Sin?"
The Exorcist was one of the most chilling films ever made. William Friedkin used subliminal images as well as those quite famous scenes of Linda Blair being taken over by Satan himself. Ever since that time filmmakers have been trying to cash in on the phenomenon. Exorcism movies have become almost a sub-genre in the horror field. There have been everything from no-budget to mega-budget attempts. There have been both sequels and prequels to the original film.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 20th, 2011
"The machines rose from the ashes of a nuclear fire. Their war to exterminate mankind had raged for decades, but the final battle would not be fought in the future. It would be fought here in our present... Tonight."
Where were you on Judgment Day?
If you don’t know what the original Terminator film is about by know, I’ll still tell you.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 19th, 2011
"The heat is on..."
From the bouncing opening music by Glenn Fry to the final frame of Eddie Murphy's smile, Beverly Hills Cop has established itself as a classic. Now finally out on Blu-ray, the film shows us all over again why we fell in love with it almost 20 years ago. Murphy hasn't been as funny since, but we'll always have Beverly Hills and Axel Foley.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 18th, 2011
"The two most infamous mass murderers battle for the top spot."
Of course, Dahmer and Gacy were not mass murderers; rather they were serial killers by definition. But you get the idea. So I'm predisposed to forgive the tag line for that small error. What is less easy to forgive is the fact that the title itself is misleading as hell. There is a very weak encounter between these two guys, but it is not the ultimate monster smash-up this kind of title traditionally represents.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 17th, 2011
"You unlock this door with the key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension— a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind. You're moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You've just crossed over into the Twilight Zone."
This was a special year for the series. While the experiment only lasted a season, this collection features 1-hour episodes. These haven't shown up in syndication very often, so you might be less familiar with these episodes than any other year.