Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on June 24th, 2011
The second version of Cornell Woolrich’s novel “Waltz Into Darkness” (previously filmed as François Truffaut’s Mississippi Mermaid), this is a decidedly steamier version, especially here, in its unrated form.
Cuban plantation owner Antonio Banderas advertises for a wife, and the woman who answers his ad is, he believes, plain but pure. Who shows up, however, is the beautiful but duplicitous Angelina Jolie, who has larceny rather than matrimony on her mind. Her scam runs smoothly at first … but she hasn’t counted on the depth of Banderas’ obsession with her.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on June 22nd, 2011
One of the most commonly asked what if questions, is the question about superpowers. If you were a superhero, what would be your superpower? My initial reaction is X-Ray vision because I am after all a dirty old man. After some thoughtful moments, I do however come up with the ability to instantly adapt. There are many moments where I might feel out of place or unable to help. But with that power, I could change that. Or maybe I will just wear a green amulet and fight bad guys like Callan in the film: Cross.
The movie opens to the pages of a comic book flipping. Wait, is this a Marvel Comics presentation? Okay, not exactly. They mention that amulets are some of the most powerful source of power in the universe. The strongest amulet, that would be the Cross of the Isles. It is green, it glows a lot. Hey, was that Machete (Danny Trejo)? Doesn’t matter, he isn’t in the rest of the movie. We also learn about the Staff of Sekhmet which has the potential to kill the whole word.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 20th, 2011
"There was a time in baseball when there were only eight teams in each major league. They played an orderly balanced schedule visiting each city four times. A trip out West meant St. Louis or Chicago. There was a comfortable rhythm to the season... That time is gone now."
I might be from the last generation who understands exactly what that means. Some of the best memories of my life were of the lazy afternoons I spent with my grandfather at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Philadelphia. Over the course of a decade or so we must have attended a hundred games. Mike Schmidt became my idol, outside of my grandfather, of course, who made it all possible. In those days players didn't get into a ton of legal troubles. It would have shocked my young life to hear that one of my Philly players had been arrested for beating his wife or carrying a gun into a nightclub. Players didn't argue about contracts, at least not publicly. It was the 1970's, perhaps the end of that era when baseball really was a game. I treasure those memories. My grandfather is gone now, but he gave me something that will always be a part of who I am. And while this HBO series deals with the years before 1970, I can relate to those earlier generations who felt the same way about their sport and their heroes. Obviously, my grandfather was a part of those generations. And now HBO brings to high-definition Blu-ray a safe place to store those memories.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 20th, 2011
"The mission of the FBI is to protect the innocent and to identify the enemies of the government of the United States."
In 1965 ABC would launch the long-running series based on the cases of the FBI. The series starred Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. as Chief Inspector Lewis Erskine. He was a seasoned veteran with a keen instinct for tracking down some of the nation's most elusive criminals. He received his instructions and cases from Arthur Ward, played by Philip Abbott. Ward answered directly to the director himself. He usually gave Erskine a free hand, but was responsible for getting results from his best investigator. Erskine's partner was Special Agent Jim Rhodes, in the first few seasons played by Stephen Brooks. In these early episodes, the family life of Erskine was also part of the story. He had a daughter played by Lynn Loring, and she was in love with his partner. His wife had been killed by a bullet that was meant for him. After a couple of years the family stories disappeared completely, and the show remained focused on the cases.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 20th, 2011
"In America we give our lives to our jobs. It's time to take them back."
It was only a matter of time before the current economic situation made its way into our theaters and finally our homes with a movie like The Company Men. Certainly the economy has influenced many films in the last five years. There have even been other movies to explore many of the current issues. But it's this film that makes those issues, particularly corporate raiding and downsizing, its sole reason for being.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by William O'Donnell on June 20th, 2011
Brendan Fraser plays Mo, a man who has the special power of a “silver tongue” which means he has the ability to bring characters and elements from books into the real world by reading their stories out loud. There is a serious catch to this power. Someone from the real world must go into the book in exchange. Mo discovered this by accidentally reading his wife into a story called Inkheart while pulling three of its characters out. Nine years after this event, and with his daughter and a couple of heroic literary characters at his side, he finally tracks down a copy of the rare book to try and bring her back.
The mashing of literary references does not get its legs until the monstrous climax of the film. Until then, the adventure seems a bit light and lacking in the essential energy to gain our full interest. There are also issues with establishing the mood of the film. The disappearance of Mo's wife seems tragic at times, as indeed the loss of a loved one should be, but at other s\times it simply seems like a reference in their fantastic quest amongst outrageous characters of fiction. No character seems to get enough times to dwell on the uncanny, such as an author meeting one of his characters face to face, or the heartbreaking, such as the aforementioned disappearance.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on June 19th, 2011
More often than not, I don’t listen to too many female musicians. Most of them fall into the hard rock (Lita Ford, Donnas) or 80’s/90’s pop dance (Taylor Dayne, Sheena Easton). Occasionally, I will be wowed by good looks and a magical voice. I am a man after all. But when I received Sheryl Crow: Miles from Memphis – Live at the Pantages Theatre, on Blu-Ray, I was not sure what to think. Sure, she had looks but Crow’s music is ever-changing. However, I am certainly willing to give it a listen.
Most people know Sheryl Crow from her multi platinum albums, and selling well over fifteen million records domestically and probably a good thirty five million records worldwide. However, her start was kinda ominous. When she left college, she was teaching music to elementary school kids in Fenton, Missouri. Then came a couple of McDonald’s and Toyota commercial jingles. Before she knew it, she was a backup vocalist for Michael Jackson during his Bad tour.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on June 16th, 2011
It is that time again boys and girls for the movie of the week. This week, we visit a genre that is staler than your grandmother Edna’s cookies: the romantic comedy. *boo* *hiss*. Okay, okay before you start throwing those almond cookies, I think I need to let you know that there is a $5 bill in it for each of you. *whisper from editor* “Do we have that in our budget?” “No silly, just go with it.”. Audience – “What was that?” Why, our movie today is the Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston picture: Just Go With It. Roll the film!
Twenty years ago, Danny Maccabee (played by Adam Sandler) ended his wedding day with a big broken heart and an even bigger nose. Man, was that thing huge. Be sure to never invite him to a coke party. Coke party? Yes, this review is brought to you by Cherry Coca-cola. No, you can’t have any because I drank it all. Anyway, Danny goes off to a local bar to drink the night away (not Cherry Coca-Cola) and strikes up a conversation with a hot girl who notices his wedding ring.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 16th, 2011
On first glance it might seem like a rather odd choice to have the likes of Billy Crystal direct a movie about the 1961 drive to beat Babe Ruth's sacred homerun record by teammates and friends Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle. When the film first aired on HBO,,I recall doing a bit of a double take myself. But, once you've seen the man talk about his memories of the game and the absolute reverence and respect he has for its history you begin to understand why he was the perfect choice to direct 61*
The film begins in more recent times. We are placed in the heat of the 1998 baseball season when Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa were engaged in an eerily similar race to break Maris's 61 homerun mark. McGuire was the first to do it, coincidentally in a game against Sosa's Chicago team. Of course, at the time we didn't know that McGuire was juicing up and Sosa had a thing for corked bats. The Maris family was there to watch the record be broken, at least his children were. His widow had to watch from a hospital bed after having a health episode that very day. The family was gracious, and of course, it brought back memories of the 1961 season. It is here where the real story begins. The film recounts the friendship between Mantle and Maris, known as the M&M boys, and the film carries us through one of baseball's most tumultuous season.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on June 16th, 2011
"Some say I don't play well with others. I was a damn good detective in Chicago until a disagreement with my boss encouraged me to pack it up and make a change. So I put The Windy City in my rearview and headed to the Sunshine State. Kick back. Play some golf. Work on my tan. Maybe write the occasional speeding ticket. Yeah... Well... that didn't work out."
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![When it Was a Game: The Complete Collection [Blu-ray] dvd cover art](https://upcomingdiscs.com/ecs_covers/when-it-was-a-game-the-complete-co-large.jpg)
![The Company Men [Blu-ray] dvd cover art](https://upcomingdiscs.com/ecs_covers/the-company-men-blu-ray-large.jpg)
![Sheryl Crow: Miles from Memphis Live at the Pantages Theatre [Blu-ray] dvd cover art](https://upcomingdiscs.com/ecs_covers/sheryl-crow-miles-from-memphis-liv-large.jpg)
![Just Go with It [Blu-ray] dvd cover art](https://upcomingdiscs.com/ecs_covers/just-go-with-it-blu-ray-large.jpg)
![61* [Blu-ray] dvd cover art](https://upcomingdiscs.com/ecs_covers/61-blu-ray-large.jpg)
