Posted in: Disc Reviews by J C on January 11th, 2017
“I don’t want to be in this relationship anymore, and I don’t know how to get out.”
A TV show’s fifth season is around the time it starts to feel like you have to see things through to the bitter end. I mean, it seems downright irresponsible to ditch a series after five years of investing in its characters’ lives, no matter how flawed and frustrating they are. And there’s no doubt the self-absorbed millennials on HBO’s Girls are among the most flawed and frustrating people on TV; so I was delighted to find that the series produced one of its strongest seasons as it nears its conclusion.
Posted in: Tuesday Round Up by J C on January 10th, 2017
We’re only a couple of weeks away from the start of tax season, so it won’t hurt to have your trusty accountant nearby. Fortunately for us, Warner Bros. was kind enough to send a copy of The Accountant, the action hit that stars Ben Affleck as a math savant/killing machine. Elsewhere, Comedy Central yuks it up (and lights up) with Broad City: Season 3.
One last reminder before signing off for the week: if you’re shopping for anything on Amazon — maybe a present or two — and you do it through one of our links, it’ll help keep the lights on here at UpcomingDiscs. See ya next week!
Posted in: Disc Reviews by J C on January 4th, 2017
“America is the only industrialized nation with a higher murder rate than countries at civil war.”
2016 might technically be in the rearview mirror, but it feels like last year left an indelible mark on the psyche of the United States. In addition to the most polarizing presidential election in a very long time, last year was marked by the deadliest shooting in U.S. history about an hour away from where I’m currently sitting, along with other highly-publicized instances of gun violence. So it feels like an appropriate time to revisit The Killing of America, a 1981 documentary that was never granted a commercial U.S. release after being deemed too exploitative.
Posted in: Tuesday Round Up by J C on January 3rd, 2017
The first Tuesday Round Up of 2017 is getting the New Year off to a spooky start. Lionsgate ventures back into the woods to meet up with the Blair Witch, while Fox makes us lose our heads thanks to Sleepy Hollow: Season 3. Finally, Reel Gore Releasing has a bloody good time with The Orphan Killer. Meanwhile in non-horror news, Cinedigm leaves behind The Ultimate Legacy, while HBO takes us back to the Big Apple (with a detour to Japan) to hang out with Girls: Season 5.
It might be a new year now, but you're going to get the same weekly reminder before we sign off for the week: if you’re shopping for anything on Amazon and you do it through one of our links, it’ll help keep the lights on here at UpcomingDiscs. See ya next week!
Posted in: Disc Reviews by J C on December 23rd, 2016
“There's a man comin', and he aims to bury you.”
That sort of threat — especially when it's made within the trigger-happy Western genre — usually refers to a wronged hero looking to rain vengeance upon some dastardly villain who wronged him in an extremely personal way. The only most interesting thing about Stagecoach: The Texas Jack Story is that our presumed hero is the one being hunted...and the “bad guy” has a legitimate gripe.
Posted in: Holiday Gift Guides by J C on December 21st, 2016
I think I see your problem. You have this list. It’s a list of people you need/want to buy a Christmas gift for. The trouble is that they’re into home theatre, and you don’t know Star Trek from Star Wars. You couldn’t tell a Wolf Man from a Wolverine. And you always thought that Paranormal Activity was something too kinky to talk about. Fortunately, Upcomingdiscs has come to the rescue every Christmas with our Gift Guide Spotlights. Keep checking back to see more recommendations for your holiday shopping. These gift guides ARE NOT paid advertisements. We take no money to publish them. How about a 4K restoration of the classic Howards End?
“Word of advice: don’t take up a sentimental attitude over the poor.”
Posted in: Tuesday Round Up by J C on December 20th, 2016
We are less than a week away from Santa making his annual jaunt around the globe. But as we inch closer to the magic of Christmas Eve, I want to talk about a different gray-haired pilot at the center of a wintry miracle. Thanks to Warner Bros., we'll have a review of Sully in 4K, which examines the real-life “Miracle on the Hudson.” Speaking of taking flight, Warner was also kind enough to deliver Storks in 4K and 3D under our tree. Meanwhile, Lionsgate counts to 31, and Candy Factory hikes with the Children of the Mountain.
One last reminder before signing off for the week: if you’re shopping for anything on Amazon (time's running out to get those Christmas presents delivered on time!) and you do it through one of our links, it’ll help keep the lights on here at UpcomingDiscs. See ya next week!
Posted in: Disc Reviews by J C on December 15th, 2016
“Word of advice: don't take up a sentimental attitude over the poor.”
That bit of wisdom is offered by Henry Wilcox, the scheming, obliviously shameless wealthy capitalist in Howards End. The 1992 Merchant-Ivory film — which gets a spiffy, 25th Anniversary Blu-ray release courtesy of Cohen Media Group — is based on an E.M. Forster novel that was published in 1910. However, Henry's philosophy towards the less fortunate members of society strikes a chord more than 100 years since the character made his debut. And that's just one reason Howards End is worth another look as we prepare to turn the calendar to 2017.
Posted in: Tuesday Round Up by J C on December 13th, 2016
We're smack dab in the middle of Christmas frenzy, and I know of a certain group of boys and girls who've landed on Santa's naughty list. Sure, the supervillains in Warner Bros. Suicide Squad might end up saving the world, but they also cause plenty of trouble along the way. We'll soon have a review of the comic book blockbuster's 4K edition, so be sure to keep an eye on our site. Elsewhere, Fox introduces us to Morgan, while Cinedigm boards Stagecoach: The Texas Jack Story. Paramount reacquaints us with a new Ben-Hur, Magnolia Home Entertainment thinks small with Little Men, and Lionsgate quacks us up with Duck Dynasty: Season 10. And oh yeah...a scrappy little underdog tale called Rogue One: A Star Wars Story hits theaters this Friday, which isn't far, far away at all. Once the movie is out, our review will be up before you can say “Death Star.”
Here's your weekly reminder before signing off for the week: if you’re shopping for anything on Amazon — maybe a Christmas present or two — and you do it through one of our links, it’ll help keep the lights on here at UpcomingDiscs. See ya next week!
Posted in: Disc Reviews by J C on December 7th, 2016
Moviegoers tend to have better memories than amnesiac assassins, but I think it’s fair to say we’ve mostly put The Bourne Legacy out of our minds. Universal’s underwhelming, halfhearted attempt to spin off one of its more lucrative franchises all but guaranteed the eventual return of original star Matt Damon and two-time director Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum). The duo has re-teamed for the entertaining yet inessential Jason Bourne, which — for better and worse — will feel extremely familiar for fans of the trilogy.
“I remember…I remember everything.”
