Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 1st, 2011
"In the farthest corner of America lies the nation's largest swamp. A hidden world where nature rules and man fights back. Welcome to the swamp."
Leave it to History to find yet another profession that they can deliver to our living rooms and home theaters so that we can be entertained by someone else's reality. When I first heard the title of Swamp People, I had something entirely different in mind than what I ended up with. I guess I was prepared for some hidden creature-folk who might be spotted between the swamp gas and the Spanish Moss Monster from an old Kolchak episode.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 31st, 2011
"What I do requires a certain mindset. I do assignments, designated targets. Some jobs need to look like accidents. Others must cast suspicion on someone else. A select few need to send a clear message. Pulling a trigger is easy. The best jobs are the ones nobody even knows you were there."
Arthur Bishop (Stratham) is an accomplished mechanic. But you don't want to bring your Toyota to him, unless you intend to use the car to get rid of a pesky spouse.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 31st, 2011
I remember when I first heard that Dead Man Walking was coming out. The first news was that it was a death penalty film that involved Tim Robbins, Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon. I was not very keen to see the movie at that time. All three of these actors are known for their over-the-top liberal antics, and I just knew this was going to be nothing but a rant against the death penalty in the United States. But you see, that's why you just have to watch the movie sometimes.
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.