Posts by Gino Sassani

Choose your own adventure as PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SAND OF TIME comes to Blu-ray and DVD on September 14th.

In celebration of the upcoming release of PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME on Blu-ray and DVD, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment  has launched the PRINCE OF PERSIA SWEEPSTAKES.

I've seen a ton of lawyer shows over the years. Pretty much any variation that's been tried, I've likely seen at least an episode. I generally like lawyer shows. I thought I'd seen pretty much everything in the genre until The Good Wife came to me from CBS Home Video. I was surprised that the series had somehow escaped my notice the last television season. I couldn't really find anyone who had seen even an episode of the freshman drama. It was time to give it a try. Turns out that there are still a few new tricks out there in the field, and The Good Wife has done a pretty good job of grabbing my attention, as it should yours.

"We are pioneers and trailblazers. We fight for freedom. We transform our dreams into the truth. Our struggles will become a nation."

I was really looking forward to this release. From the moment I was made aware that it was going to be arriving here for review, I made a mental note to put it at the top of my viewing list. Fact is, I'm a history junkie, particularly American history. I taught the subject in AP and honors classes along with American Government and Law for over seven years. The History Channel is also one of my favorite places on the dial.

"Sherlock Holmes, the immortal character of fiction. Created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, he's ageless, invincible and unchanging. In solving significant problems of the present day, he remains -- as ever -- the supreme master of deductive reasoning."

In 1887, readers of the popular periodical Beeton's Christmas Annual were to receive quite a special treat. There wasn't much fanfare or hype to the event. Inside the pages of the magazine was a story called A Study In Scarlet. It was a detective story, perhaps like many published before, except for the detective himself, a certain Mr. Sherlock Holmes.

Tennessee Williams was both a prolific writer and celebrated personality in his day. His plays are still making the rounds of community theaters and even more than a few higher- end performance halls around the country. Songs have been written about the guy, and he's quite honestly become a bit of a mythic legend over the years. A lot of that owes, in no small part, to his huge hit A Streetcar Named Desire. The 1947 play was a huge hit on its own. The thing even snagged a Pulitzer. There hadn't been a bigger play before it, and few have reached the popularity and classic status since. Then director Elia Kazan got his hands on the material.

September is Cancer Awareness Month. Most of us have been touched by the disease in our families. My Aunt Dottie is recovering from Breast Cancer. We're very proud of the courage and strength she's displayed. So, some of us have teamed up to try and help out. My wife and Upcomingdiscs webmaster, Ellen, is going to be participating in a "Run For The Cure" event here in the Tampa Bay area. Horror film director/writer/producer Robert Angelo Masciantonio (Neighbor) has generously teamed up with us to help. He is sending us an autographed DVD of his thriller Neighbor to offer as a prize. The DVD will be signed by Robert,  and stars America Olivo and  Christian Campbell. This contest is a little different. To win, you must first follow this link for the Race For The Cure and make a donation. I know times are tough, but even a little bit helps. Everyone who makes a donation will be entered to win the autographed copy of Neighbor. The contest ends after the race on October 2nd. Follow these instructions to participate:

Contest is open to residents of the U.S. & Canada only.

"There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call the Twilight Zone."

It would be very hard, indeed, to argue against the impact that The Twilight Zone has had on television. To say that the series was a milestone in that medium would be an understatement of the worst kind.

"It is said some lives are linked across time. Connected by an ancient calling that echoes through the ages. Destiny."

The Prince Of Persia is not some new phenomenon sweeping the country. The original video game goes back quite some time to the pre-high-definition consoles of the late 1980's. Over the years the title has had some major staying power and has continued to flourish across several platforms and generations of graphics and game play. Today video games are more and more like movies themselves. Many of these games carry budgets as high as blockbuster effects-laden tent-pole films. It's big business.

I did not see Tyler Perry's moderately successful 2007 film, Why Did I Get Married. I never thought that would present much of a problem with his recent Why Did I Get Married, Too. I've seen plenty of Perry's films and think that I have a pretty good grasp of where he's coming from. Early this year I watched and reviewed I Can Do Bad All By Myself. It was a new direction for Perry and, while he did include his famous Madea character, the film wasn't really about her usual antics. I guess I expected this film to follow in the footsteps of that rather impressive effort. Unfortunately, I may have misjudged my ability to follow this film without having seen the first.

Shonda Rhimes had a big hit on her hands with Grey’s Anatomy, so after five years she did what comes naturally in her situation. You spin the success off in the hope that the fans can’t get enough in just one night. At first it appeared to me she had chosen the wrong character to put out on her own. I mean, I never considered Kate Walsh as Addison to be one of the show’s more compelling characters. The show was presented as what the business calls an imbedded episode on Grey’s. What that means is that the situation is set up during one of the original show’s episodes.