Posted in News and Opinions by Gino Sassani on January 1st, 2013
From all of us here at Upcomingdiscs:
We wish you a wonderful and a safe New Year.
We have a lot planned for 2013. I hope you’ll be here often to join us.
Let’s make 13 a lucky year for us all.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Posted in Blu-ray/3D Blu-ray, Holiday Gift Guides, Oppo by Gino Sassani on December 17th, 2012
There are still plenty of folks out there who have not yet joined the Blu-ray family. I’ll bet there’s at least one on your Christmas list. It’s up to you to open their eyes to high-definition home video. Now, I’m sure you’re tempted by those cheap machines hitting the market at the department and big box stores. And sure, you can get someone on board for a hundred bucks or less. I’m here to tell you not to do it. Sure you can give them a basic machine, but you’re also going to give them a future of headache and frustration as they discover more and more things that they cannot do.
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Posted in Holiday Gift Guides by Gino Sassani on December 13th, 2012
“Space… The final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its continuing mission, to explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where no one has gone before.”
Nearly 20 years after the original Star Trek left the network airwaves, Gene Roddenberry set out to discover if he could catch lightning in a bottle once again. Some say he did an even better job with Star Trek: The Next Generation. There are times I tend to agree. Great shows get better with time. The Next Generation was a great show. As you watch the episodes of the first seasons you begin to realize just how much better the series had become by the time the 7th season had ended.
With the help of an infusion of cash from Netflix to be the exclusive stream supplier of Star Trek television, Paramount decided to give the series a high-definition facelift. It’s an ambitious schedule and one that we’ll talk about in greater detail later with the full review of the series. For now all that you need to know is that the series continues its high-definition voyage and should end up high on any sci-fi fan’s Christmas list.
The set includes all of the episodes along with some bonus footage. There are wonderful high-definition extras that make this a cut above the DVD sets you likely currently own. Everything from the DVD is back in this set along with some great excusive features. You get LaVar Burton’s Reading Rainbow PSAs. There’s a new high-definition Gag Reel, New Audio Commentaries, and almost four hours of brand new high-definition features. One of the features is an hour-long reunion of the cast, and it’s filled with wonderful moments as they enjoy each other’s company and share fond memories.
Check out the full review in the weeks to come. In the meantime consider it a “can’t miss” Christmas gift for the fan on your list.
Posted in News and Opinions by Gino Sassani on December 4th, 2012
Go ahead… Make our day!
You can shop at Amazon.Com and help to keep all of the contests and reviews flowing here at Upcomingdiscs simply by thinking of us before you order from Amazon. If you order through our links, you’ll be helping us to continue providing the best home video reviews/contests/and release news. It doesn’t cost you a cent more. Just follow any of our cover art links (like the one to the right of this post) to Amazon. While you’re there browse the items you want and help us out in the process. You do not have to buy the item you clicked on to get there. Once there, get whatever it is you want. It’s that simple
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Posted in Holiday Gift Guides by Gino Sassani on November 30th, 2012
One of the most impressive gifts available this holiday season has to be the James Bond 50: Complete 22 Film Collection. With the arrival of Skyfall in theaters, it’s the perfect time to catch up on the entire 50-year history of Ian Fleming’s famous British agent. The collection includes all 22 official James Bond films. There’s even a slot that is “reserved” for Skyfall when it hits Blu-ray early next year. Bond turns 50, and now MGM is delivering the party favors.
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Posted in Holiday Gift Guides by Gino Sassani on November 26th, 2012
Warner Brothers Gift Guide
If you have a television fan on your Christmas list, you can’t do much better than Blu-rays from Warner Brothers this year. No other studio gives you more of your favorite television favorites on Blu-ray. They have some of television’s hottest titles, and these babies are all in wonderful high definition. This is not a paid advertisement. The picks we’re providing here are really some of our favorite titles this year. Here’s a few of our favorites that are available from Warner Brothers for this Holiday Season:
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Posted in Holiday Gift Guides by Gino Sassani on November 23rd, 2012
A&E just might be able to help you to play Santa for that special home theater fan on your Christmas list. Here are some excellent suggestions from us here at Upcomingdiscs. This is not a paid advertisement. Each of these titles comes highly recommended. Continue reading to find out how A&E can help you out with those last-minute Christmas shopping needs. Don’t forget to order through Amazon and help us at Upcomingdiscs to bring you another year of reviews and contests. Look for some incredible A&E giveaways for our 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways
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Posted in Super Round Up by Gino Sassani on October 31st, 2012
Anyone who is a fan of horror or science fiction knows who Forry Ackerman was. He gave more to the industry than anyone else. He coined the term sci-fi and inspired the likes of Stephen King, John Landis, Steven Spielberg, and many others. He was the editor of Famous Monsters Of Filmland and held the largest collection of movie memorabilia anywhere in his famed Ackermuseum.
I’ve been lucky enough to have counted Uncle Forry as a friend since 1991, when I first visited the Ackermuseum. I’ve spent many hours and meals with him and miss him greatly.
I was invited to write and perform an original song tribute to Forry in January of 2000. It was my honor to perform the piece in front of a room of invited guests with Forry by my side. I was told that the plaque, containing the lyrics, remained one of his prized processions until the day he died, long after most of his collection had been sold.
In honor of Forry, Upcomingdiscs will present our award for the best that horror home video had to offer from one Halloween to the next. I call them 4E based on a keychain Forry once gave me that said “4E 4E remember me with every key”. Upcomingdiscs will remember Forry each and every Halloween with the annual 4E Awards.
This year the selections were made from among the staff here at Upcomingdiscs.
To be eligible a film must have been released on home video since last Halloween.
And now … the third Annual 4E Awards. (click continue to see our selections).
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Posted in Random Fun by Michael Durr on October 30th, 2012
Whenever the 31 Nights of Terror rolls around, I find myself trying to be a little creative or come up with something different. Now, at first glance, a few top five lists does not scream any sort of real creativity. However, these are not your conventional list five movies and have intellectual conversation where everybody just ends up disagreeing. Oh no, I guarantee you will smile, laugh or at least be encouraged to write my webmaster and demand that I go back to my old job of stalking Alyssa Milano at baseball games. Now that’s really creepy. Let’s go shall we?
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Posted in Random Fun by Gino Sassani on October 22nd, 2012
Faithful readers might remember the name David Annandale. He’s been a member of the Upcomingdisc family since it started. You may have also noticed he hasn’t been reviewing much of late. That’s because he’s busy getting his novels published. That’s right our man David is hitting the big time. We want you to check him out. So, here’s an excerpt from his exceptional horror book: Gethsemane Hall.
In the dream, he was back at St. Rose’s Church, going through the funeral again. He knew he was dreaming because he felt the pain of repetition, sensed the sadism of a force that would make him experience ritualized loss once again. Knowing that he was dreaming didn’t diminish the pain. The anguish pressed him down, a granite weight, as he tried to stand for the hymn. The injustice of the re-enactment was colossal and could only be for the benefit of a cruel deity’s amusement. Something was laughing at him. He looked up. Standing above the altar was a large wooden crucifix, its Christ bigger than life. The Christ was laughing at him. Now he was looking at the face in close-up, was staring into its wide mouth, could see where the red paint of its throat had chipped, saw lips peeled back from tree-ringed teeth. He couldn’t see Christ’s eyes. He couldn’t see anything but the laugh, the maw of red disappearing to black. The laugh itself was looking at him, the mouth so contorted with mirth that the very expression had become sentient. He tried to yell back at it, to give back his hatred, but the laugh was too huge, too strong, visible even when he closed his eyes. The laugh grew from howl to tsunami roar. Its register climbed hysteria’s ladder, from exultation to frenzy, and finally it was the scream of the heart of the universe.
Want to read more? Of course, you do. Pick up the book today and be sure to keep an extra light on when you’re finished reading. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Posted in News and Opinions by Gino Sassani on September 22nd, 2012
It turns out that 13 is going to be your lucky number this Halloween. The folks at Busch Gardens are celebrating their 13th year of Howl-O-Scream and it appears they’ve created an eerie night of spooks and spectaculars for your fright. Upcomingdiscs will be there for all of the action and we’ll be reporting back in early October.
In the meantime, yours truly was invited to sneak into the bowels of the park at 2:00 AM just a few days ago. No, I didn’t have to climb over the walls or outrun the Cheetahs. It was all part of a media night invitation to preview one of the new haunted houses for Howl-O-Scream. It was a blast, to be sure. Best of all, they’ve captured my descent into Oglethorpe Asylum where “The Creature” is stirring and he isn’t a mouse. Check out my early morning adventure and then check out Howl-O-Scream for yourself. Bang it here for the video: Gino Scream Cam
Bang it here for more information: Howl-O-Scream 13
Posted in Random Fun by Gino Sassani on September 1st, 2012
Master storytellers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz (executive producers of Lost and writers of TRON: Legacy) invite audiences to experience an intriguing twist to the classic fairytales of Snow White, Pinocchio, Red Riding Hood and many more in their thrilling new fantasy series Once Upon A Time. Packed with enchanting icons from the world’s most beloved stories, the show stars a host of talented actors including Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Dallas, Jennifer Morrison, Lana Parrilla and Robert Carlyle.
We chat to actress Jennifer Morrison – who plays Emma Swan in the show – to find out more…
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Posted in Random Fun by Gino Sassani on August 31st, 2012
With the first season of Once Upon A Time about to be released on Blu-ray and DVD, we catch up with acclaimed actress Ginnifer Goodwin to discover more about the fantasy show. What does Ginnifer think of the two characters she plays? Why does she think the series has become so popular? And what secrets can she uncover about the first season? Read on for the answers…
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Posted in News and Opinions by Gino Sassani on August 29th, 2012
We closed out another month of contests and here’s to the winners:
The Jodi Picoult Collection – Ron Crouch
Butterfly Swords – Lynda Larsen Baldry, Gary Smith & Johnny X
Cherry Bomb on Blu-ray – Edward Hadelkowski & Bernard Smith
Congrats to all of our winners and a special thanks to A&E and Well Go USA for providing the prizes.
There are already some great contests going for September. Be sure to enter.
Posted in Random Fun by Gino Sassani on August 27th, 2012
ABC’s popular thriller Revenge follows the story of Emily Thorne [played by Emily VanCamp], a new arrival in the Hamptons. By all appearances, Emily is a friendly and sophisticated ‘girl next door’, whose disarming charm and generosity allow her seamless access to the restricted circles of Hamptons’ high society. But the affluent, exclusive world she’s immersed herself in is tied to a dark family history, and Emily Thorne is anything but what she seems.
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Posted in Random Fun by Gino Sassani on June 23rd, 2012
As promised, here’s more in our weekend coverage of Pixar’s Brave. On Sunday we’ll be posting a review. In the meantime check out this Witch’s Brew.
Posted in News and Opinions by Gino Sassani on May 9th, 2012
Every now and then we try and give a little push for films made here in our back yard in Florida:
Check out the trailer for Step Up:Revolution hitting theaters on July 27th.
Posted in News and Opinions by Gino Sassani on May 3rd, 2012
Here’s the second of two panels with the actors. Our friends at Marvel asked us to pass them along.
Enjoy. Bang it here for the Avengers interviews. Avengers Part 2
Posted in News and Opinions by Gino Sassani on May 2nd, 2012
Hungry for some Avengers action?
I’ve seen the film now, and it’s fantastic. Our review posts on Friday.
Until then, here’s the first of two panels with the actors. Our friends at Marvel asked us to pass them along.
After taking a look at their security detail in The Avengers, we’re going to do exactly what they ask.
Enjoy. Bang it here for the Avengers interviews. Avengers Part 1
Posted in Random Fun by Archive Authors on March 14th, 2012
Hitting the Nuts is an independent poker film about an annual small-town poker tournament and the players that play in it. Similar to the movie The Grand, this film was done in a “mockumentary”-style format but with a cast of unknown actors. The movie centers around several larger-than-life characters. There is Ezekiel Yoder, played by director Joe Boyd, an Amish farmer who has lost everything and is playing in this tournament in order to save his farm. Carol Marshal is a redhead waitress in her mid 40’s who is the eternal flirt but is also crafty at the poker table.
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Posted in News and Opinions by Gino Sassani on February 3rd, 2012
If your name is John Carter*, Disney and Andrew Stanton invite you to enter The Real John Carter sweepstakes for the chance to find yourself in another world—on an October 2012 Adventures by Disney trip to Peru! In addition, eligible entrants will be invited to attend a special, advanced screening of “John Carter”.
To Enter:
Step 1: Go to The Real John Carter and sign-in with Facebook or your email address for one entry.
Step 2: Participate in weekly missions (to begin January 23) for additional sweepstakes entries.
The sweepstakes Entry Period begins January 20 and ends on February 17, 2012, at 11:59:59 PM Pacific Time.
Good Luck!
Posted in News and Opinions by Gino Sassani on February 3rd, 2012
I know that many of you just can’t wait for 2K to release the new video game The Darkness II. Wait no longer. We have some trailers to share with you. There will also be a copy on the PS3 up for grabs in the weeks to come right here. Michael Durr will also deliver one of his exceptional takes on the game. Until then, enjoy a few tastes of the upcoming game.
Bang it here to see the “Torn Apart” Trailer: Darkness II: Torn Apart
Bang it here for for the “Sliced” Trailer: Darkness II: Sliced
Finally, find the launch trailer here: Darkness II Launch
Posted in News and Opinions by Gino Sassani on December 29th, 2011
JEREMY IRVINE (Albert Narracott) makes his feature-film debut in “War Horse.”
Currently in production on BBC Films’ “Great Expectations,” in which he stars as Pip, the classic Dickens story is directed by Mike Newell and includes Academy Award® winner Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham Carter. He recently completed production on the independent feature “Now Is Good,” opposite Dakota Fanning, based on Jenny Downham’s novel “Before I Die.” Irvine will next begin shooting “The Railway Man” opposite Colin Firth.
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Posted in Random Fun by Gino Sassani on December 27th, 2011
When you think of Steven Spielberg you often think of Aliens and Dinosaurs. War Horse has been a labor of love for the director. The film follows the story of an incredible horse through World War I and a young man’s will to be reunited. It’s one of those perfect family movies for the holidays. I strongly recommend you check it out. We’re going to run a series of non-exclusive interviews this week. Keep checking for more coverage of War Horse. This interview is with Bobby Lovgren, who trained the horses for the film.
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Posted in News and Opinions by Gino Sassani on December 19th, 2011
You say you still have a ton of Christmas shopping to do?
A&E just might be able to help you to play Santa for that special home theater fan on your Christmas list. Here are some excellent suggestions from us here at Upcomingdiscs. This is not a paid advertisement. Each of these titles comes highly recommended. Continue reading to find out how A&E can help you out with those last-minute Christmas shopping needs. Don’t forget to order through Amazon and help us at Upcomingdiscs to bring you another year of reviews and contests. Look for some incredible A&E giveaways for our 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways.
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