Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 15th, 2019
"They have assembled here from the four corners of the earth. Fifty-five warships, among them the newest and most sophisticated ever produced. The United States is here. Great Britain, India, Japan, Canada, Australia, Germany. Twenty-six nations together; each will introduce the latest in naval technology in their arsenals."
And this is actually the true subject and focus of the latest IMAX/4K release from Shout Factory. If you came strictly to spend 45 minutes on an aircraft carrier, you went away a little disappointed. But now that you can have it at home to watch in UHD whenever the mood strikes you, there's less to be disappointed in here.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 12th, 2019
"Is this the real life or is this just fantasy?"
I think even Queen's biggest fans might have trouble distinguishing between the two in the Freddie Mercury/Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. And that's absolutely OK. If you look at the film's trailers, the movie looks less like a bio-film and more like a celebration, and that's exactly the kind of experience you're going to have from beginning to end. I'm sure that a lot of film and Queen fans shared more than a little skepticism over the project. I know that I certainly did. But all of that magically disappeared when the first trailer hit the internet and we all watched in amazement as actor Rami Malek appears to be channeling the manic spirit of Queen front man Freddie Mercury down to the smallest detail.
Posted in: Super Round Up by Gino Sassani on February 12th, 2019
Howdy there partners. It's that time of the week again where we take a trip down to the bunkhouse and let you know what we're going to be corralling for you guys this week. CBS breaks up the landscape with the first season of American Vandals. Fox will rock you with Bohemian Rhapsody on UHD/4K. Fox also leaves behind Widows also on UHD/4K. Up on the big screen Universal is dying for you to see Happy Death Day 2U.
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: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 11th, 2019
"When telling our story, it's impossible to separate the truth from the myth."
Isn't that always the way? The Golem attempts to reach back deep into Hebrew history and update one of the world's oldest monster stories. It's a myth very much steeped in tradition and cinema history. A golem is a creature made from clay/dirt and animated as a means of revenge. Think of it as Pumpkinhead without all of the claws and teeth. The creature has been the subject of a few films going all the way back to the classic 1915 silent film of the same name. One of the more underappreciated versions of the story appears in the 1967 Roddy McDowall film It. Of course, the original story is a cautionary tale akin to the old saying that a man intent on revenge should begin by digging two graves.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 7th, 2019
Bigger is not always better, and more is not always better. If the holiday season release of Dr. Seuss's The Grinch is a testament to anything, it is that those two ideas are absolutely true. The Grinch has everything that the 1966 How The Grinch Stole Christmas could never have hoped to have had. The film delivers on some of the best computer-generated animation that Hollywood studio money can buy. It had a $75-million budget. It will get a wide release with millions of more dollars put into a global marketing campaign. And it will make a ton of money. After all, the Grinch is the modern age Scrooge from Dickens' classic story. These are the kind of stories that are timeless and popular. Still, there's one thing this film doesn't have over the 1966 television short, and that is that its heart is two sizes too small.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 5th, 2019
The setting for Gunsmoke was the by-now-famous Dodge City, circa 1870’s. Phrases like “get out of Dodge” would enter the popular lexicon as a result of this resilient series. Marshall Dillon (Arness) was charged with keeping the peace in Dodge City. The only other character to see the entire 20-year run was kindly Doc Adams (Stone). Star Trek’s own Doc, Leonard McCoy, took many of his traits from Doc Adams. He was the humanitarian of the city, always looking to help someone. Like McCoy, he had a taste for bourbon and a soft heart underneath a rather gruff exterior and was always ready with free advice.
Posted in: Super Round Up by Gino Sassani on February 5th, 2019
Howdy there, partners. Upcomingdiscs has a new look and a change in our cowhands as well. It's all intended to make the Upcomingdiscs ranch better than ever. I'll be handing out the round-up chow from this point forward. It's time to head back to Dodge, and I'm not talking about no Ram Truck. It's the 14th season of Gunsmoke, and it's coming your way on DVD from CBS in a 2-vol. collection. Shout Factory animates our lives with Lu Over The Wall on Blu-ray. Shout Factory is also landing their Aircraft Carrier: Guardians Of The Sea from their IMAX collection in UHD Blu-ray. That's a full 4K for you city slickers. Paramount is going to try and confuse things just a might with The Cloverfield Paradox out on Blu-ray. Universal still has the Christmas spirit with Dr. Seuss's The Grinch also out in UHD Blu-ray in 4K.
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: Contests by Gino Sassani on February 2nd, 2019
Our friends over at Walt Disney Studios wanted to help us celebrate our brand new design here at Upcomingdiscs. They've sent over 2 copies of their DVD Playtime With Puppy Dog Pals. We're going to pass them along to 2 lucky fans at Upcomingdiscs. This is a Disney Junior favorite. Join puppy brothers Bingo & Rolly as they get into the coolest adventures. There are 2 bonus episodes introducing new puppy dog pal Keia.
To win a copy of this prize, follow these instructions.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 1st, 2019
When did it become mainstream to root for the bad guys? Certainly our pop culture has been propagated with colorful villains since Shakespeare, goons we love to hate or even just love. Still, the rule always seemed to be that the white hats always win and the black hats get what’s coming. Television once demanded that shows follow that simple code. When Alfred Hitchcock did his television show, the stories often ended with the bad guys appearing to win. To comply with the code, he developed a habit of offering us a usually humorous sidebar about the unfortunate fate of the stories’ bad guys. It became a trademark that was created to keep to a moral code. But when did all of that change? Was it with The Sopranos? We all became enamored by this lovable teddy bear of a guy in Tony. We don’t have to spoil it by pointing out he’s a killer, adulterer, and all-star criminal sociopath
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on January 31st, 2019
"If the human features of Hitler are lacking in the image of him that is passed on to posterity, if he is dehumanized and shown only as the devil, any future Hitler may not be recognized simply because he is a human being."
We have become so removed in time and experience from the evils of Nazi Germany that the entire experience has been cheapened. When politicians call another politician a Nazi or compare them with Hitler, it's absolute proof that they have no idea of what they're talking about.
