Super Round Up

I’m happy to report that I found something enjoyable about all four of these films. Granted each one did have some tidbits that I could do without, but all in all each film helped me to expand my horizons. I was also grateful to have variety with each film actually being of a different genre; there was action, there was suspense, some tenderheartedness, and even a little education. I couldn’t ask for more than that.
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“Every small town has a story. But my hometown has a legend. Roswell was a sleepy cowboy settlement in postwar America. Full of farmers and military men, until one day something extraordinary happened, or so the legend goes.”

Roswell High was a series of 10 books written by Melinda Mentz in the young adult genre. That’s the same place where book franchises like Harry Potter and Hunger Games thrived. These books were first adapted in 1999 on the CW as Roswell. Developed by Jason Katims, the series ran for three seasons and 61 episodes. The series didn’t quite catch on in its first season, but the few fans the series did have were rather vocal. It’s somewhat ironic that a Star Trek-like campaign involving fans sending bottles of Tabasco sauce to network executives gave the series its first reprieve. That’s when Ronald Moore, a veteran of Star Trek, joined the team and brought the series into more respectable numbers. The relationship stuff was pushed to the back burner, and more of the aliens and their science fiction stories carried the series. But it also took the show more away from the books. The ratings bump just wasn’t enough to save the day, and like the original Star Trek, it lasted just three seasons.
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We got another batch of films from Film Movement sent to us here at Upcomingdiscs. This time around we have a pair of documentaries that delve into separate directions in the art world.  I think to be fair when talking about these films for the most part I was going in blind on the subject matter when it comes to the Antonio Lopez documentary, with my lack of knowledge when it comes to the fashion scene of the 1970’s, and, well, even today’s standards of the industry.  As for the painter Heironymus Bosch, I only remember vague details about the infamous painting that the documentary was about, so once again I’m pretty much going into this documentary with a clean slate on the material as well.  So for those fashion gurus or art snobs out there, I apologize in advance for my ignorance on the subject matter.
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Our good friends at Film Movement and Omnibus Entertainment sent a batch of titles for us to check out at UpcomingDiscs.  For those unfamiliar with the companies, they mostly release independent and art house titles, so if you’re hoping to find out about the next Michael Bay blockbuster, well, this review most likely won’t be for you. With the titles I’ll be talking about here, the subject matter is a bit on the sexy side, but I wouldn’t go so far to say these are titles that belong in the adults-only section.  Both of these titles are also Italian imports, so unless you are fluent in Italian, there are subtitles involved.  So for those who have stuck around, let’s go ahead and get right to it.
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Howdy Partners. It’s Gino down on the Upcoming ranch, and it’s time once again to move some titles your way. This week Fox has a lot to say with If Beale Street Could Talk on Blu-ray. Warner Brothers is moving Clint Eastwood’s latest, The Mule in UHD Blu-ray, which means 4K. Paramount gets more with honey when they release Bumblebee on UHD/4K. Showtime fixes us up with Ray Donovan The Complete Sixth Season on DVD. Eagle Rock takes us on a trip to the East with Journey Live In Japan 2017 on Blu-ray. Omnibus goose-steps with Nazi Junkies on DVD. On the big screen Warner Brothers digs up their remake of Stephen King’s Pet Sematary.

And, Partners, don’t forget. If you’ll be making that video withdrawal from Amazon, lasso yourself one of our many links to get there. It helps keep us going here on the Upcomingdiscs ranch. Until next week, share some light with someone this week… television light, that is. Now let’s get those titles rollin’!

Howdy Partners. It’s Gino down on the Upcoming ranch and do we ever have a busy week ahead of us. We’ve hit the slow time for releases but it seems like all of the studios want to stampede on this week’s round-up. The other studios are certainly envious of Universal’s Best Picture winning Green Book and it’s coming out on UHD Blu-ray/4K. It was my SEFCA choice for Best Picture and even if my fellow critics went another path I still say this is the very best film from 2018. Now you get to see it in all its 4K glory. Let’s just not mention any of this to Spike Lee, okay? Okay. Universal also remains in the driver’s seat for Mortal Engines on UHD Blu-ray/4K. Lionsgate takes us back in time once again for the 11th season of Ancient Aliens on DVD and then they jump to the future with A.I. Rising also out on DVD this week. Lionsgate also let’s it go down to The Last Man on Blu-ray. Eagle Rock goes across the pond to deliver Foreigner Live At The Rainbow ’78 on Blu-ray. It’s a trip back in time for the iconic band’s tour after their first album hit the charts. Warner Brothers commits Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of The Grindelwald to UHD Blu-ray 4K. TNT boards The Last Ship: The Final Season on DVD. Film Movement goes Over The Limit on DVD and seduces us with Marquise on Blu-ray. Fox also goes across the pond for London Fields out on DVD.

And, Partners, don’t forget. If you’ll be making that video withdrawal from Amazon, lasso yourself one of our many links to get there. It helps keep us going here on the Upcomingdiscs ranch. Until next week, share some light with someone this week… television light, that is. Now let’s get those titles rollin’!

Howdy Partners. It’s Gino down on the Upcoming ranch, and I have some titles we need to round up and get to market for you. A little birdie told us that RLJE Films is releasing The Standoff At Sparrow Creek on Blu-ray today. RLJE Films also score with 100 Yards out on DVD. Warner Brothers is going the distance with Creed II out on UHD Blu-ray, and you folks know what that means; yeah, it’s 4K for your home theater enjoyment. Shout Factory pairs up Liz And The Bluebird on Blu-ray. Paramount takes a shortcut with Instant Family out on Blu-ray. Fox picks sides with The Favourite also out on Blu-ray.

Out in The Reel World, Marvel takes command of the box office with Captain Marvel.

And, Partners, don’t forget. If you’ll be making that video withdrawal from Amazon, lasso yourself one of our many links to get there. It helps keep us going here on the Upcomingdiscs ranch. Until next week, share some light with someone this week… television light, that is. Now let’s get those titles rollin’!

Howdy Pards. Last week we didn’t have a lot to share with you so we stayed down at the bunkhouse on Tuesday. Things are still quiet this time of the year but we have a few things coming your way. In fact some of it’s already here. Walt Disney Studios lets us go sleepin’ with the fishes in the 30th anniversary Blu-ray of The Little Mermaid along with some fun and games as Ralph Breaks The Internet on Blu-ray. Congrats to Rami Malek for his Oscar playing Freddie Mercury but Universal has a different kind of queen with their Mary Queen Of Scots on UHD and that’s 4K here on the ranch. Monarch Home Entertainment goes invisible with The Unseen out on DVD. Sony Pictures takes control of our screens with The Possession Of Hannah Grace on DVD. On the big screen Focus Features names the thriller Greta for a reel world review this Friday.

And, Partners, don’t forget. If you’ll be making that video withdrawal from Amazon, lasso yourself one of our many links to get there. It helps keep us going here on the Upcomingdiscs ranch. Until next week, share some light with someone this week… television light, that is. Now let’s get those titles rollin’!

Howdy there partners. It’s that time of the week again where we take a trip down to the bunkhouse and let you know what we’re going to be corralling for you guys this week. CBS breaks up the landscape with the first season of American Vandals. Fox will rock you with Bohemian Rhapsody on UHD/4K. Fox also leaves behind Widows also on UHD/4K. Up on the big screen Universal is dying for you to see Happy Death Day 2U.

And, Partners, don’t forget. If you’ll be making that video withdrawal from Amazon, lasso yourself one of our many links to get there. It helps keep us going here on the Upcomingdiscs ranch. Until next week, share some light with someone this week… television light, that is. Now let’s get those titles rollin’!

Howdy there, partners. Upcomingdiscs has a new look and a change in our cowhands as well. It’s all intended to make the Upcomingdiscs ranch better than ever. I’ll be handing out the round-up chow from this point forward. It’s time to head back to Dodge, and I’m not talking about no Ram Truck. It’s the 14th season of Gunsmoke, and it’s coming your way on DVD from CBS in a 2-vol. collection. Shout Factory animates our lives with Lu Over The Wall on Blu-ray.  Shout Factory is also landing their Aircraft Carrier: Guardians Of The Sea from their IMAX collection in UHD Blu-ray. That’s a full 4K for you city slickers. Paramount is going to try and confuse things just a might with The Cloverfield Paradox out on Blu-ray. Universal still has the Christmas spirit with Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch also out in UHD Blu-ray in 4K.

And, Partners, don’t forget. If you’ll be making that video withdrawal from Amazon, lasso yourself one of our many links to get there. It helps keep us going here on the Upcomingdiscs ranch. Until next week, share some light with someone this week… television light, that is. Now let’s get those titles rollin’!

Howdy, Partners. Johnny’s working down at the bunkhouse today, so here I am to let you know what might be causing a stampede down at your video store. We’re heading into the final hours of our 31 Nights Of Terror and it’s been a howling good time here on the Upcomingdiscs ranch. Here’s a couple of titles you should look for this week at Upcomingdiscs. Warner Brothers has chosen The Matrix Trilogy for the UHD/4K treatment this week. RLJE Films sends Nicholis Cage to the Devil in Mandy out on Blu-ray. Shout Factory wants just the facts in the feature film version of Jack Webb’s Dragnet on Blu-ray with Tom Hanks and Dan Aykroid. In theaters this weekend get caught up in the landslide with the Queen/Freddie Mercury Bio-pic Bohemian Rhapsody  from 20th Century Fox. If you’re feeling like a little Italian, we’ll be reviewing the new version of Dario Agento’s spaghetti nightmare classic Suspiria from Amazon Studios.

And, Partners, don’t forget. If you’ll be making that video withdrawal from Amazon, lasso yourself one of our many links to get there. It helps keep us going here on the Upcomingdiscs ranch. Until next week, share some light with someone this week… television light, that is.

Summer blockbusters of bloat and bombast always rule because their budgets blast anything and everything out of their way. This summer was very messy and bloody as many big films limped, staggered and crashed. White House Down, The Lone Ranger, Pacific Rim, The Hangover 3, R.I.P.D., and Turbo are just some of the expensive films that flopped. You can debate the quality of these films, but one element that was most obvious was the lack of believable characters. Just like bad CGI can irk the subconscious, bad writing and silly acting gets tiresome as well.
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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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Now that we’re getting into the Christmas Shopping season, Upcomingdiscs will be offering you a sample of some of our suggestions for that home theater geek on your shopping list. These are not paid advertisements.

The BBC is Calling America with one of the best releases of the holiday season. We’ve reviewed several seasons of the Doctor Who revival in these pages over the years. These episodes have been coming out in Blu-ray in full high definition over the last few seasons. The latest release is the full season 6 set.
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Here’s the first ever Review Super-Roundup: a soon-to-be-regular feature where we track down reviews all over the net in an effort to provide you with a well-rounded view about a particularly exciting or unique release.

Reviews aren’t in any particular order; the one’s with numerical rankings come first, and hell, I put UpcomingDiscs at the top because that’s my prerogative. Other than that – these are culled from all over, and the quotes from each attempt to capture the spirit of the review. Click on through and enjoy! BTW – if you have a review you’d like included, comment it.

This week’s round-up – THE HOST: A Korean monster horror movie in the tradition of Godzilla, with a healthy dose of humour and emotional context. It did really well in Korea, and has become a DVD cult hit globally since. Most reviewers really liked it; a few were luke warm.

Reviews are lined up after the jump!

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