Posted in: Disc Reviews by M. W. Phillips on March 14th, 2012
“You already started reading the evil words, didn't you? Then could you pass me my blood mop? I'm gonna need it later.”
Somehow I was never aware of Todd & The Book Of Pure Evil: The Complete First Season until I received the DVDs to review. Based on the 2003 short film of the same name, Todd & The Book Of Pure Evil debuted on Canada's Space Channel in September of 2010 and was picked up for broadcast in the United States by FearNet, which started showing the series in August of 2011.
Posted in: The Reel World by M. W. Phillips on March 9th, 2012
“When I saw you, I believed it was a sign... that something new can come into this world.”
John Carter first appeared in Edgar Rice Burroughs' Barsoom magazine serial nearly a century ago in 1912. The science fiction pioneering Carter stories captured the imagination of masses and inspired countless authors and directors. For example, George Lucas himself has stated there would be no Star Wars without John Carter of Mars. It took nearly a century to get it to screen and in time countless others have mined the series for inspiration. The result is a massive “been there done that” experience.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by M. W. Phillips on March 9th, 2012
“It has skin like silverfish.”
After suffering through the vast majority of low-budget indie horror films whose only motivation seems to be to make a quick buck on distribution deals, it is truly a delight when you stumble on to something wonderful like writer/director Mike Flanagan’s Absentia. Building on a cast of unknowns, with the exception of an incredibly creepy cameo by genre fave Doug Jones, Flanagan weaves a web of creepy, atmospheric horror in this effective low-budget chiller.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by M. W. Phillips on March 5th, 2012
“Exactly, you're a kid. So go and be a kid... go and, I don't know, go ahead and steal me something.”
The Tribe is a New Zealand/British post-apocalyptic, young adult soap opera, beloved around the world. So I had to put on my young adult glasses and watch it through those. In the near future, an unknown virus wiped out all the adults on Earth. Left to raise themselves, the kids form tribes in a Lord of the Flies type society. Now, being that the average viewer is probably between 12 – 17 years old, it is a very mild Lord of the Flies society.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by M. W. Phillips on March 5th, 2012
“You should have listened to me. As long as she’s in the picture, you will never come first.”
Snow White: A Deadly Summer really should have been called Marcia Brady: Serial Stepmom. At least that would have been a more honest title than this Snow White trend rip off. This is bottom of the barrel, abominable direct to DVD crap at its worst. The only positive thing about it is that Maureen McCormick, Marcia Brady herself, plays the wicked step mother. The legendarily bad Eric Roberts plays Snow’s dad, proving there is no role too low for him to sink to. Sometimes movies can be so bad they are good, crossing into camp treasures. These are the some of the slowest and most painful 85 minutes you will ever lose.
Posted in: The Reel World by M. W. Phillips on March 2nd, 2012
“This party is gonna change everything for us.”
Somewhere a chimp hugs his VHS copy of 1987’s Project X and cries in outrage that this wasn’t a remake ala Rise of the Planet of the Apes (this movie’s age demographic won’t even get that reference). Even feral monkeys would be outraged by the wild behavior exhibited in 2012’s Project X, and that is kind of the point. Brought to us by Producer Todd Phillips (The Hangover) and shot as found footage by first time director Nima Nourizadeh, Project X celebrates excess and debauchery in a fashion that would bring a smile to Caligula’s lips… and it does all with underage kids!
Posted in: Disc Reviews by M. W. Phillips on February 29th, 2012
“Remember... Winter is coming.”
Very rarely, the stars align and a media magic event happens, creating a flawless television series. Such an event happened last year with the premiere of HBO’s Game of Thrones based on the novels from George R.R. Martin’s best selling and ongoing series A Song of Ice and Fire. HBO was so pleased with the series, it green-lit the second season only hours after the pilot premiered. Co-President Richard Plepler said, “We told George (R.R. Martin) we’d go as long as he kept writing.” The network projects topping $1 billion in international revenue and at $2.5 million an episode; it’s already double what they made on The Sopranos.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by M. W. Phillips on February 25th, 2012
“At this very moment, I have no desire to stab you in the neck.”
Between Weeds and Nurse Jackie, Showtime has the corner on shows about drugged up, ethically challenged women. The great Edie Falco somehow keeps Nurse Jackie relatable even though she is an unrepentant drug addict, thief and manipulative narcissist. It doesn’t hurt being surrounded by such a smart supporting cast and given lines that crackle with poignancy and humor.
Posted in: The Reel World by M. W. Phillips on February 3rd, 2012
“Have you seen her? The Woman in Black? She once lost a boy, and now she’s come back. Our parents all worry, they make such a fuss: For if she can’t find him, she’ll take one of us.”
Now this looks like a Hammer film. A subdued cool color palette, stunning Gothic set pieces, a wonderful location ripe with grieving and decaying symbolism, and genuinely scary ghosts make The Woman in Black an impressive throwback to old fashioned horror. Having been a fan of the original 1983 novella by Susan Hill and the 1989 TV teleplay for Britain’s ITV network, I looked forward to Hammer’s adaptation. I was not disappointed.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by M. W. Phillips on January 4th, 2012
“If you run, they catch you; if you don't run, they catch you.”
Just miles from one of the most glamorous cities in the world, Rio de Janeiro, resides a favela (slum) known as Cidade de Deus or City of God. The poor were routinely pulled off the streets of Rio and forced to live in squalor in this favela. For decades this hell hole was run by murderously corrupt police and street gangs. Like a roach motel, once you checked into the City of God these dehumanizing elements, combined with brutal poverty, made sure you never checked out. This heartless system thrived with the blessings of the local government, because the poor are offensive to the affluent, and if you keep them out of sight they stay out of mind.
![City of God [Blu-ray] dvd cover art](https://upcomingdiscs.com/ecs_covers/city-of-god-blu-ray-large.jpg)
