Posted in: Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on September 30th, 2011
John Candy has always been one of my favorite movie comedians. Something about Candy, regardless of whether he was doing a sketch in SCTV, playing Uncle Buck, or a private investigator in Who’s Harry Crumb, he just seems like a guy that is the friendly uncle everybody loves. It could be the meanest character on paper but he comes across as a big teddy bear. Today, we explore a title called Planes, Trains and Automobiles. He plays a Shower Ring salesman, that sounds like a teddy bear to me.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 30th, 2011
Leslie Nielsen was once a serious actor. He starred in one of the most important science fiction films ever made, Forbidden Planet. He was a staple on the 1950’s television dramas. His unique features and voice made him a busy character actor all the way until the 1980’s. That’s when the cornball kings Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker cast him as the “don’t call me Shirley” Dr. Rumack in Airplane. From that moment on Nielsen went from being a serious actor to becoming the face of an entire comedy genre of corny films.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 30th, 2011
The spoof film means something different to audiences today than it did in the early 80s. Anything, if done enough times over, starts to become stale. For instance, the first Scary Movie, while having a couple of really lame scenes, was actually pretty funny overall. With each sequel, however, came diminished returns. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a film that spoofs spoof films (though I’m not sure how one would do that).
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 29th, 2011
The CSI phenomenon has been going strong for many years now, and CBS has ridden that wave to become the top network these past couple of years. It all started with the original CSI: Crime Scene Investigator. This Las Vegas show became an instant hit, and three years later we found ourselves in Miami for a spin-off. Two years after basking in the Florida sunshine, Jerry Bruckheimer caught lightning a third time; this time out New York would serve as the setting.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 29th, 2011
The series follows the CSI model set forth in the original Vegas version of the franchise. The lead CSI here is Horatio Caine played by former NYPD Blue actor David Caruso. Caruso left that series because he fancied himself better as a big movie star. Several failed leading roles later he finds himself back playing virtually the same character here. It’s the same Caruso odd speaking pattern, only this time he has a lab coat to go with that gun.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 28th, 2011
For the two or three people on the planet that don’t know, the idea is actually quite a simple one. The CSI night shift crime scene investigators utilize all of the latest science to solve often brutal crimes. Instead of guns, these detectives come packing microscopes and test tubes. The most senior member of the team is former Vegas showgirl Catherine Willows (Helgenberger) who juggles her long hours with raising a daughter. She usually provides the more clear-headed perspective. Grissom’s mild love interest is feisty Sarah Sidle (Fox). Promoted from the DNA lab is Greg Sanders (Szmanda). Sanders is often the comic relief, and while a solid team member, often gets into a spot of trouble.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on September 27th, 2011
In the wake of the financially successful but critically drubbed Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Michael Bay and company return to the fray with this considerably more coherent exercise. Given that this movie committed to advancing the cause of 3D like no other film since Avatar, the question arises as to how well its visual splendour and over-the-top technological extravagance will translate to home video. The answer is: pretty damn well.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on September 21st, 2011
If left to my own devices, I would probably have dismissed Jeff Dunham as nothing more than a novelty act. He’s a ventriloquist and most of their profession relies on the fact that they can throw their voice and perform various parlor tricks with their dummies. However, my wife and others have turned me on to the fact that Jeff is more than a novelty act. He’s a comedian and a darn good one at that. He just happens to employ characters (certainly not dummies) to help him.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 21st, 2011
"Book 'em Danno."
It's been 30 years since we last heard that phrase. Still it persisted in the modern lexicon along with the term Five-0, which is still shouted in high-crime areas in cities all over the country whenever a police presence is felt closing in on the bad guys. Hawaii Five-0 ended in 1980. That's when Tom Selleck took over the sets and production crew on Hawaii to work as Magnum P.I. until 1988 when it all closed down for good, or did it?
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 15th, 2011
"Once, mankind accepted a simple truth: that they were not alone in this universe. Some worlds man believed home to their Gods. Others they knew to fear."
Marvel has rolled out some rather ambitious plans for the next two years. Of course, it has all been leading to the huge Avengers film coming summer of 2012. If you've been watching the scenes after the credits of both Iron Man films, you've already seen the groundwork has been laid. Now comes Thor, and we're talking more than just groundwork here. This is the first in a series of films that lead directly to The Avengers.
![The Naked Gun: From The Files of Police Squad (1988) [Blu-ray] - Starring Leslie Nielson, Priscilla Presley, O.J. Simpson (2011 - Blu-ray) dvd cover art](https://upcomingdiscs.com/ecs_covers/the-naked-gun-from-the-files-of-po-large.jpg)
![Airplane! (1980) [Blu-ray] - Robert Hays, Lloyd Bridges, Leslie Nielson (2011 - Blu-ray) dvd cover art](https://upcomingdiscs.com/ecs_covers/airplane-1980-blu-ray-robert-large.jpg)
![Jeff Dunham: Controlled Chaos [Blu-ray] dvd cover art](https://upcomingdiscs.com/ecs_covers/jeff-dunham-controlled-chaos-blu--large.jpg)
