Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on December 8th, 2009
"When the lights go off the battle is on."
Sequels are a dangerous business. They've gotten the best of some of the biggest heroes. Just ask Indiana Jones, Luke Skywalker, or Neo. Expectations are always going to be high. You've already shown us what you can do. We assume you did your best on the original film, now go and do better. Often filmmakers interpret this mandate to just make it bigger. More explosions and hard hitting action and special effects. They tend to remember everything but the story. I'm happy to say that Night At The Museum refused to fall into that trap.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on December 8th, 2009
"Hello, there. I bet you're already saying to yourself, 'Oh, I've already seen this one. Another holiday special narrated by some new teen star between takes on their oh-so-popular new sitcom series. Well, I'm here to tell you, not this time, because I'm not a star. Well, not yet at least. And, this ain't about how so and so saved Christmas for all the good boys and girls..."
I would have loved to have been in this meeting. Someone walks into a studio executive's office to pitch his idea.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on December 8th, 2009
Things are tough all over. It seems that even the television networks aren't immune to the growing trend of cutting back. Fox decided that the answer was Bogota, Colombia. No, they didn't turn to the cocaine market. They all tried that in the 70's and we ended up with Joannie Loves Chachi. This time Bogota is an option for producing new television shows. The idea is that you can take an American cast, with a token Brit in this case, and ship them off to Columbia to do the show on the cheap. The good news is that you can hire crew for six bucks a day. The bad news is that the show ends up looking like it cost about six bucks
Posted in: Podcasts by Gino Sassani on December 8th, 2009
Last night Director David Worth spent a few minutes with me on the phone. Worth directed one of the recent Mystery Science Theater 3000 films, Warrior Of The Lost World. He worked with Clint Eastwood on Any Which Way You Can and Bronco Billy. He's teaching now and working on a second book. His current book is avail right now and we've provided a link. He seems like an all around great guy. Check it out.
Bank it here to hear our interview with David Worth: David Worth Podcast
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on December 7th, 2009
We all know what a classic A Charlie Brown Christmas still is. It's a fact of life that when you have a hit there is a tendency to continue to reach for that lightning in a bottle over and over again. That is certainly the case with the Peanuts specials. The results have been mixed, and while I won't say that these recent specials aren't quality stuff, I doubt there is anyone out there who believes that the same quality of heart and charm has existed in the series since the 1970's. When Charles Schulz died, it was agreed that no new material was to be allowed with these characters
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on December 7th, 2009
"Have you ever been told of that fateful year when Christmas almost didn't happen? It was everyone's worst fear. There was no one to take Santa's big sack of toys and deliver the presents to the world's good girls and boys. But this Christmas season didn't begin with any trouble or fuss. It began with some singing, as all Christmases must."
The 1960's and 1970's saw an entire genre of holiday specials produced by the prolific studio of Rankin and Bass.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on December 7th, 2009
This series from Comedy Central began as a low budget film hosting show in a small television station in Minnesota. It was the brainchild of Joel Hodgson. It ended up running for 11 years and a feature film version.
Mystery Science Theatre is an acquired taste. For me, I’ve really got to be in that certain mood to watch it. That’s the beauty of these DVD’s. You pop them in when you’re ready. The idea is pretty whacked. Depending on the season you’ve got, Joel or Mike is trapped in space on the “Satellite of Love”. Doomed to spend his life watching very bad films,
Posted in: Contests by Gino Sassani on December 3rd, 2009
We've appeared to have had a glitch with this contest. Some of you have not been able to enter. We're reposting and extending the deadline to Dec. 20th to give everyone a chance. If your comment appeared in the old post you will already be entered. There's no need to enter again. Both posts will be included in the final drawing.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on December 3rd, 2009
Just in time for the holidays, the Buddies are back for more cute puppy action. All of the retriever Buddies are back for this one. You are introduced to the “Buddies” right at the start, so it doesn’t really matter if you saw any of their other films. There’s Bud-Ha (Cate), a wise meditational pup. Next up is Mud-Bud (Panitz), an always dirty pup with a fondness for rolling in the dirt. The female Buddy is Rose-Bud (Mumy), who is the girly part of the team all decked out in a bow. Bud-Derball (Flitter) is the normal one of the bunch, followed by the rappin’ pup, B-Dawg (Gisondo).
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on December 3rd, 2009
Hey Hey Hey, it’s Yogi Bear. It’s Christmas time at old Jellystone Park. Of course, Yogi, being a bear, is usually fast asleep. So, he’s never celebrated Christmas before. Now group of the Hanna/Barbera gang have gathered at the Jellystone Lodge for the annual Christmas Carnival. Last year there were some mysterious happenings that scared away a lot of the regulars. Now Mrs. Throckmorton, the owner of the lodge, is thinking about selling it so that a road can be paved there.
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