Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 14th, 2019
"Millions of people around the world believe we have been visited in the past by extraterrestrial beings. What if it were true? Did ancient aliens really help to shape our history? And if so, what if there were clues left behind, something hiding in plain sight? What if we could find that evidence?"
Ever since Eric von Daniken released his speculative book and its subsequent 1970 film Chariots of the Gods, there has been an entire field of study created around something commonly called Ancient Astronaut Theory, the idea is that extraterrestrials have visited many of our ancient civilizations. The theory continues that these visitors had a hand in shaping our development, whether it be through technology or even manipulation of our very DNA. These believers point to a world of evidence to support their claims. There are tons of images from earlier civilizations that could certainly be interpreted as depicting modern devices, concepts, or even spacemen. There is plenty of speculation that some of the knowledge and accomplishments of these peoples could not have been possible without some outside interference. There are even those who believe that aliens best explain our religious beliefs and that God himself was/is an extraterrestrial being. Whatever your own beliefs on the subject, there are certainly some fascinating points to be made. There is no question that the speculations and observations bring up some interesting queries that deserve our attention. This series attempts to document much of this evidence and the beliefs these findings have inspired.
Posted in: Podcasts by Gino Sassani on March 13th, 2019
Patrick Kilpatrick may be one of the biggest stars you don't necessarily know. He's a prolific actor with over 14 project already in various stages of pre-release. His credits go all the way back to Tocix Avenger and include televisions shows like Lois & Clark: The New Adventures Of Superman, Matlock, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine & Voyager, The X-Files CSI & NCIS: New Orleans. His film credits include Minority Report, the under-appreciated Parasomnia, The Presidio and Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins. What is more impressive than his over 150 roles is the life he's led off-screen. The book Dying for a Living: Sins & Confessions of a Hollywood Villain & Libertine Patriot documents the first half of that journey. It's has a unique narrative style and a visceral storytelling that will certainly keep your attention. I got to do more than read the book. I had the opportunity to spend quite a bit of time talking to Patrick. He's just as interesting in person. Now you can share that experience and eavesdrop on our conversation. Bang it here to listen to my chat with Patrick Kilpatrick.
You can visit his home page by banging your cursor here: Patrick Kilpatrick Home Page
Posted in: Super Round Up by Gino Sassani on March 12th, 2019
Howdy Partners. It's Gino down on the Upcoming ranch and do we ever have a busy week ahead of us. We've hit the slow time for releases but it seems like all of the studios want to stampede on this week's round-up. The other studios are certainly envious of Universal's Best Picture winning Green Book and it's coming out on UHD Blu-ray/4K. It was my SEFCA choice for Best Picture and even if my fellow critics went another path I still say this is the very best film from 2018. Now you get to see it in all its 4K glory. Let's just not mention any of this to Spike Lee, okay? Okay. Universal also remains in the driver's seat for Mortal Engines on UHD Blu-ray/4K. Lionsgate takes us back in time once again for the 11th season of Ancient Aliens on DVD and then they jump to the future with A.I. Rising also out on DVD this week. Lionsgate also let's it go down to The Last Man on Blu-ray. Eagle Rock goes across the pond to deliver Foreigner Live At The Rainbow '78 on Blu-ray. It's a trip back in time for the iconic band's tour after their first album hit the charts. Warner Brothers commits Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of The Grindelwald to UHD Blu-ray 4K. TNT boards The Last Ship: The Final Season on DVD. Film Movement goes Over The Limit on DVD and seduces us with Marquise on Blu-ray. Fox also goes across the pond for London Fields out on DVD.
And, Partners, don't forget. If you'll be making that video withdrawal from Amazon, lasso yourself one of our many links to get there. It helps keep us going here on the Upcomingdiscs ranch. Until next week, share some light with someone this week... television light, that is. Now let's get those titles rollin'!
Posted in: The Reel World by Gino Sassani on March 8th, 2019
"Does announcing your identity help with the covert part of the job?"
Let me begin by saying that actress Brie Larson doesn't want me to write this review. It's not that I didn't like the film and intend to cut it down. Actually I rather liked the movie, and while it isn't going to crack my top five Marvel films, it's a very entertaining film that adds wonderfully to this always evolving world of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or as we fan geeks like to refer to it, the MCU. So she wouldn't take much if any umbrage with my evaluation of the film. It turns out that I happen to be a white male, and she has made it known that she doesn't want to see reviews for this film written by white males. Sorry, Brie. I suggest you skip this one. Just put it out of your mind. Still reading, Brie? I thought you might be. So, after a rather long wait for a movie only teased at in the final frames of a stinger added to Avengers: Infinity War, we finally get to meet the newest member of the Marvel MCU. Welcome, Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel, and as they used to say on the comic covers when welcoming new characters: I hope you survive.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 6th, 2019
"In the ring, you got rules. Outside, you got nothing. Life hits you with all these cheap shots. People like me, we live in the past. You got people that need you now. You got everything to lose; this guy has got nothing to lose."
For the last couple of decades the sport of boxing has lost much of its popularity, at least here in the United States. The big matches used to be events where neighbors and friends would gather and enjoy the spectacle together. It likely started when long-time fighting fan and announcer Howard Cosell distanced himself from the sport, and the collapse appeared finally complete around the time Mike Tyson added ear to his menu. It's devolved so far that I haven't known who the champ is for more than 10 years. Everyone used to know the champ. It didn't matter if you followed the sport. The names used to be household names. No longer. That doesn't appear to be as true with the boxing movie. Films like Rocky and Raging Bull helped to create an entire genre of the boxing movie, and it has survived the real thing. In 2015 Sylvester Stallone partnered with director Ryan Coogler to revitalize the aging Rocky franchise and focus the new films on the son of Rocky's friend and ring-rival Apollo Creed. Together with Michael B Jordan in the new titular role, the franchise saw new light, and Stallone would finally give the performance of his life. Coogler and Jordan went on to join the Marvel Universe and create one of the highest box office takes in history with The Black Panther. Now he's back as Adonis Creed without Coogler in the director's chair. This time Steven Caple Jr. directs from a story co-written by Stallone, who wrote the original Rocky back in 1976. I'm happy to say there's still some heart left in the old man and his franchise.
Posted in: Super Round Up by Gino Sassani on March 5th, 2019
Howdy Partners. It's Gino down on the Upcoming ranch, and I have some titles we need to round up and get to market for you. A little birdie told us that RLJE Films is releasing The Standoff At Sparrow Creek on Blu-ray today. RLJE Films also score with 100 Yards out on DVD. Warner Brothers is going the distance with Creed II out on UHD Blu-ray, and you folks know what that means; yeah, it's 4K for your home theater enjoyment. Shout Factory pairs up Liz And The Bluebird on Blu-ray. Paramount takes a shortcut with Instant Family out on Blu-ray. Fox picks sides with The Favourite also out on Blu-ray.
Out in The Reel World, Marvel takes command of the box office with Captain Marvel.
Posted in: The Reel World by Gino Sassani on March 2nd, 2019
"I'm the master of the slow fade."
That would be a good way to describe director Neil Jordan and his latest Hitchcockian thriller, Greta. He also co-wrote the screenplay with Ray Wright, but let's be perfectly honest here. The film doesn't score on the writing. It's a completely predictable thriller, and there's nothing truly innovative or clever about the story. There's nothing here that we haven't seen before. This isn't a clever film by any stretch of the imagination. It's the execution of a tried story that makes this film as compelling as it actually becomes. And all of that comes from some rather unique cinematography and two quite powerful performances by the leading ladies in the star roles. Put that together and this ordinary film at least touches on something close to extraordinary.
Posted in: Super Round Up by Gino Sassani on February 26th, 2019
Howdy Pards. Last week we didn't have a lot to share with you so we stayed down at the bunkhouse on Tuesday. Things are still quiet this time of the year but we have a few things coming your way. In fact some of it's already here. Walt Disney Studios lets us go sleepin' with the fishes in the 30th anniversary Blu-ray of The Little Mermaid along with some fun and games as Ralph Breaks The Internet on Blu-ray. Congrats to Rami Malek for his Oscar playing Freddie Mercury but Universal has a different kind of queen with their Mary Queen Of Scots on UHD and that's 4K here on the ranch. Monarch Home Entertainment goes invisible with The Unseen out on DVD. Sony Pictures takes control of our screens with The Possession Of Hannah Grace on DVD. On the big screen Focus Features names the thriller Greta for a reel world review this Friday.
And, Partners, don't forget. If you'll be making that video withdrawal from Amazon, lasso yourself one of our many links to get there. It helps keep us going here on the Upcomingdiscs ranch. Until next week, share some light with someone this week... television light, that is. Now let's get those titles rollin'!
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 26th, 2019
All good things must come to an end, and so it was at Walt Disney Studios. The Golden Age of feature film animation had started with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937. By the end of the 1970's, it was all but gone. As the studio entered the 1980's the things had gone from bad to worse. Walt was gone, and so it seemed was the magic. Most of The Nine Old Men had either retired or passed away. The studio leadership was considering closing the animated studio and moving on to live-action films only. It was a dark time for the artists and creative folks at the Mouse House. A shadow had fallen. Sounds pretty much like the beginning of a Tolkien tale, doesn't it?
Enter a new regime. Michael Eisner became the new head of the company, and Jeffrey Katzenberg teamed up with Walt's brother Roy Disney to head the new studio. The first thing they did was banish the animation studios from the Disney lot and set them up in warehouse-like trailers in the middle of industry nowhere. It looked like the axe had finally fallen. But the exile turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to this new generation of Disney talent. Under the new leadership the creative forces banded together and began to do something they hadn't in a long time. They began to dream once again.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 26th, 2019
Ralph Breaks the Internet is a sequel to the hit Disney animated film Wreck it Ralph. In Ralph Breaks the Internet, we follow our heroes from the last movie, Ralph and Vanellope, as they travel the internet in search of a broken part for Vanellope’s arcade game. They find the missing steering controller on eBay, and it’s the last one in existence. Up for auction, they give the winning bid for $27,000. They now must find a way to earn the money to pay for the controller with a deadline in five hours, or they will lose Vanellope’s game forever. Ralph Breaks the Internet is a painfully average film, and compared to its predecessor, a huge disappointment. This sequel wasn’t bad, however, but it wasn’t too great either. There’s one big problem I had with this movie, and it’s Ralph. Ralph in the first movie had already gone through his character arc and was a very well developed character by the end of the film. In this movie it feels like they purposely broke the character just for a story line. Ralph in Ralph Breaks the Internet is now a needy, clingy, and annoying character. Throughout the movie Ralph is constantly holding Vanellope back from doing the things she wants to do to save herself. People who relate to her should start to feel how annoying Ralph can be.
Ralph was not the only problem I had with this movie. There is also a major plot hole that’s impossible to overlook. It doesn’t make sense that Ralph was able to leave his game for over 24 hours without it being infected by a bug. After all, he’s literally the bad guy in the game Fix-It-Felix, Jr., so how come nobody noticed he was missing? It wouldn’t be that bad of a plot hole except for the fact that Ralph being away from his game was the whole conflict in the first movie. You would think the writers and filmmaker would have noticed this, but I guess not.
