Posted in: The Reel World by J C on July 24th, 2016
“Everyone is afraid of the dark…and that’s what she feeds on.”
Despite rumors to the contrary, I am a full-grown adult. That means I can’t in good conscience admit to being afraid of the dark. The most I’ll concede is a sense of uneasiness if I’m in a dark space because I might bump into something. And if I hear a strange noise in the middle of the night, my mind might start creating sinister shapes out of shadows. (Hold on…am I afraid of the dark?!) Either way, that primal and unshakable fear of what could be hiding just out of sight is what powers Lights Out, one of the leaner, nimbler, and flat-out most enjoyable low-budget horror flicks in recent years.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by J C on July 19th, 2016
“I remember…”
On the surface, there's nothing particularly remarkable about Paul Dedalus, the French anthropologist at the center of My Golden Days. As he prepares to return to France after an extended work stint in Tajikstan, Paul reflects on a trio of key moments from his childhood and young adulthood. Much of what Paul recalls — the death of a parent, his first love, and the aching of a long-distance relationship — is completely relatable. Yet filmmaker Arnaud Desplechin aims to present Paul's life as the most romantic, tragic story ever told.
Posted in: Tuesday Round Up by J C on July 19th, 2016
Apparently, the multiplex wasn’t quite big enough to contain this year’s momentous clash between Batman and Superman. In fact, the battle between the iconic superheroes has spilled over onto this week’s Round Up. Warner Bros. was kind enough to send us Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice — Ultimate Edition, which includes about 30 minutes of extra footage and a bunch of bonus features. But wait…there’s more! We’re also going to bring you reviews for the movie’s 4K and 3D editions. On top of that, Warner also proved they can count to The 100: Season 3. Finally, Lionsgate arranges The Perfect Match, while Entertainment One sinks its teeth into Bitten: The Final Season.
You probably know what I'm going to say in this space by now: 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 July 14th, 2016
“Are you a good guy or are you a bad guy?”
I honestly try to be a good guy whenever I sit down to write a review because the fact is I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't have a deep love for movies. Heck, I can usually even derive enjoyment and find the charm in films that obviously have limited resources. Unfortunately, it's hard to stay positive whenever Steven Seagal pops up on a Blu-ray cover, always with the same neutral expression and always brandishing a firearm. Code of Honor, Seagal's latest offering, is no exception. If the question is, “Is this a good movie or a bad movie?”...I think you know the answer.
Posted in: Tuesday Round Up by J C on July 12th, 2016
We’re in the midst of another brutal, life-sapping Florida summer around these parts, so I apologize if this week’s Round Up feels a little dazed and confused. The good news is you can stay indoors and pop in the Blu-ray for Paramount’s Everybody Wants Some, Richard Linklater’s spiritual sequel to his beloved 1993 cult classic. Magnolia Home Entertainment looks back on My Golden Days, while Broad Green Pictures places a bet on The Dark Horse. Shout! Factory goes on a pair of 4K journeys by climbing aboard the Rocky Mountain Express and tracking the Flight of the Butterflies. Finally, Warner Bros. shuffles along with iZombie: Season 2, while Lionsgate lures us into The Green Room.
One last reminder before signing 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 July 12th, 2016
“You have a convenient way of remembering things.”
Buried somewhere deep in The Adderall Diaries — a hybrid family drama and true crime thriller centered around a blocked writer — there's an interesting exploration of how the past isn't necessarily set in stone and how two people can recall the same exact event in divergent ways that serve their needs. Unfortunately, the film almost entirely muddles that message beyond recognition, and we're left with a movie that is neither convenient nor particularly memorable.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by J C on July 7th, 2016
“Oh...you were expecting Prince Charming?”
Shrek really did pick the absolute perfect time to emerge from his swamp. The 2001 computer animated sensation from Dreamworks arrived just as rival studio Disney was winding down its decade-long hot streak of hand-drawn new classics like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King. In other words, it was the ideal moment for someone to come along and take shots at cartoon musicals and fairy tales that end with “Happily Ever After.” (Shrek's biggest target, however, was probably the Mouse House itself.) But how does the movie play 15 years later? Fortunately, Fox and Dreamworks have released a new Anniversary Edition to help us figure out the answer.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by J C on July 6th, 2016
“Hello boys…I’m baaaaaack!”
You probably know that Independence Day — the spectacular, shameless sci-fi smash that introduced the world to “Will Smith, Global Superstar” — dropped a sequel last month. What you may not know is that the original film has been granted a 20th Anniversary Blu-ray and UHD release. I was 13 when ID4 came out in the summer of 1996, which means the movie’s deluxe destruction and alien shoot-em-up antics were right in my wheelhouse. So I was curious as to how an older and wiser, um, taller version of me would feel watching it with a critical eye.
Posted in: Tuesday Round Up by J C on July 5th, 2016
“Dear diary: the ringing in my ears from last night's fireworks display in my backyard stopped a few hours ago, so why am I jotting down my thoughts here instead of speaking them aloud?” Apparently, this week's crop of releases — which includes a pair of Diaries and a set of Tapes — has put me in an introspective mood. Lionsgate focuses on The Adderall Diaries, while Anchor Bay takes the law into its own hands with The Vigilante Diaries. If you're more of an A/V person, you can just pop in The Levenger Tapes courtesy of Lionsgate, which also operates by a Code of Honor. Finally, Cinedigm finds inspiration in the Bible to tell the story of Joseph & Mary.
It's time for your weekly reminder before signing 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 June 29th, 2016
After a tidy, 20-year gap between making 1978’s Days of Heaven and 1998’s The Thin Red Line, director Terrence Malick has morphed into a regular workaholic. Since 2005, the enigmatic filmmaker has cranked out a whopping (for him) four movies, including 2015’s Knight of Cups. Malick’s most recent effort strikes many of the same lyrical, dazzling, and confounding notes as Tree of Life, which is the best-received film from the director’s surprisingly prolific recent run. But while Knight of Cups undeniably has glimmers of grand beauty and ambition, it mostly plays as if someone made a spot-on parody of a Terrence Malick film.
“All these years…living the life of someone I didn’t even know.”
