News and Opinions

It's my great pleasure to welcome the latest addition to the Upcomingdiscs family.

Bob Ross was the Tampa Tribune's film critic from 1985 to 2007. Before that, he worked as a proofreader, reporter and pop music critic. He also helped manage the first video store in Tampa in the early 1980s. A Florida resident since 1956, he graduated from Ocala High School and Eckerd College, where he majored in political science. A lifelong movie buff, he has published more than 4,000 reviews for the Tribune in addition to writing two weekly video columns and hundreds of entertainment-related feature stories. Now semi-retired, Bob is still a member of the Florida Film Critics Circle. He's also a Facebook addict, easily reached at www.facebook.com/bob.ross1.

Merry Christmas to you all, from all of us here at Upcomingdiscs.

A few of our good friends at the various studios have become Santa's Helpers again this year.

Friday and the end of the week brings us to the last of our Gift Guide editions for this week. Today's studio is Lionsgate. Over the last year there have been plenty of solid titles from the roaring studio. I'll bet you have at least one someone on your Christmas list who is into either action or horror. Lionsgate is going to have just the ticket to get that adrenaline going. You better prepare an extra hearty man helping of holiday dinner when you put these titles under the tree, because someone's going to get one heck of a workout. Of course, the only real workout is going to be that home theater system. Too bad you can't lose some of those pounds watching someone else flexing their muscles.

"I don't think you understand. I didn't come to rescue Rambo from you. I came here to rescue you from him."

Our fourth edition of the Upcomingdiscs Holiday Gift Guide takes us to Warner Brothers. For this edition I'm going to help you tackle those people on your Christmas list that have Blu-ray players and love genre television shows. Warner has the best selection of Blu-ray supercharged television shows and seasons to pick from. From the small screen to that big screen hanging in that certain someone's home theater, Warner Brothers is the place to shop. Look at it this way. If you buy them any of these full seasons, that's longer you get to hang out and enjoy their sweet equipment.

With these high-definition favorites there's always something good on television, and it's in high definition.

For the third straight day Upcomingdiscs is here to help you with that home theater fanatic on your Christmas list. There's a ton of stuff out there to pick from. Leave it to us to help you pick out just the right gift. If the gift is a hit, we don't mind if you take all of the credit. Of course, if the gift isn't a hit, we'll take the heat for you. But the only heat there's going to be this holiday season is the warm glow of a high-definition monitor and a few classic television shows via Image Entertainment.

These guys might not release as much stuff as the other studios, but they sure do have some of the best classics that I've seen in 2010. Here are three of my favorites. They'll be your friends' favorites, too.

Upcomingdiscs continues with our handy Holiday Guide. Once again we've come up with those special Blu-ray releases out there that will showcase your friend’s new Blu-ray player or high-definition television.

With FOX/MGM we get into a couple of titles that are collections of classic films. These are the kind of releases that might be a little heavier on the budget. That makes them the kind of thing less people are likely to buy for themselves. It also gives you the chance to swoop in and be there hero on Christmas morning. Just don't be surprised if they end up locking themselves in their home theater all day long. You may have to keep that holiday dinner warm for a while. Give these gifts, and you’d better include popcorn on that holiday menu.

As Christmas gets closer, some of you are wondering what to get that home video nut on your Christmas list. Upcomingdiscs has decided to help you figure out what get the person who loves home video.

A lot of folks will be entering the Blu-ray market this year. The format is on solid footing these days. You can bet that someone on your list is going to get a Blu-ray player for the first time this holiday season. What better way to help them out then to give them a hand building up that high definition library? So, we're going to give you some gift ideas that will really go well with that brand-new Blu-ray player. And even if they've had a player for some time, you won't be able to beat these titles.