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.
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.
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?
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.
Posted in: Uncategorized by Gino Sassani on February 20th, 2019
Kirk Taylor is an artist with many talents. He's an actor who can be found on such films as Oliver Stone's Full Metal Jacket and television shows ranging from Law & Order to Chicago Hope. He's an acting coach, musician and composer. He's living proof that an actor of faith can still make his mark in the entertainment industry. His latest appearance is as Cephas (Peter) in the film Revival! along with Chaka Khan and Mali Music. It's a retelling of The Gospel According To John that's part Jesus Christ Superstar and part classical stage production. It's a film that's hard to nail down. But I decided to give it a try and that led to an interesting conversation with Kirk Taylor. There's a passion for his art and faith that is very evident in his conversation. You don't have to take my word for it. Bang it hear to listen in on my conversation with Kirk Taylor.
Find out more about the film here: Revival: The Movie
Posted in: The Reel World by Gino Sassani on February 16th, 2019
"The math is right. Something else must be wrong."
Remember math class back when you were in grade school? Yeah, I know. Talk about your horror and nightmares. There used to be this thing called a Venn diagram. I imagine it was named after a guy named Venn. The idea was you had two circles. Inside the circles you had stuff. There were the things in circle A, the things in circle B, and then there were the things in a shaded area where the circles intersected like the Olympic rings. That's the only way I can really describe the experience I had watching Happy Death Day 2 U. I had not seen the first film, so I borrowed a copy and watched it literally hours before I attended the screening for the new movie. I thought it was shaving things a bit close, but it turned out to be the most fortunate circumstances that could have happened. It doesn't matter how many times you've seen Happy Death Day. You need to watch these films as closely together as you can, because this isn't a sequel, it's a lateral move to another angle. And these two films are intersecting like crazy. These would have been Venn's kind of movies.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 15th, 2019
Steve McQueen has established himself as a rather talented director. 12 Years A Slave was one of the better films of 2013 and one of the few times I happened to agree with the Oscars’ choice for Best Picture. When he tackled the heist format, I expected something unique, and I wasn't at all disappointed. McQueen managed to put a clever spin on a tired genre and provide us with a superior and inspired cast. It wasn't all completely his idea, of course. The film is based on a Canadian miniseries that goes back to the 1980's. That doesn't mean he hasn't found a way to imprint the material with his own style and bold choices. There's a lot to love about Widows, but I have pretty low expectations for this film at the box office. More on that later. Let's get down to it, shall we?
