Posted in: Disc Reviews by William O'Donnell on November 11th, 2010
The Trailer Park Boys are household names in Canada; the central characters even more than the show itself. The mockumentary TV series has been a cult sensation since its inception in 2001, right through its seven seasons and two feature films. Here is the introduction to Ricky, Julian, Bubbles and other charmers from the Sunnyvale Trailer Park.
To praise this show seems nearly redundant as its worldwide success and popularity certainly stands on its own. Nevertheless, this truly is a show that should be praised for managing to have brilliant subtle humour amidst the very loud and lowbrow style of humour it is best known for. As well, there is a certain level of Pathos that one might not think possible from such a motley crew but alas, many of us know people eerily similar to these lads, and can see their natural drive to avoid a painful life and strive for true happiness....yes, yes, all the while growing marijuana and robbing places.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by William O'Donnell on November 9th, 2010
As was the case for my two previous Madeline reviews (https://upcomingdiscs.com/2010/07/20/madelines-great-adventures/ plus https://upcomingdiscs.com/2010/09/21/madelines-halloween-other-spooky-tales/#more-13938) there is little more I could say about the general premise of Madeline. But as I slowly become a connoisseur of this particular character (as this website feels I should be, it seems) I have a few more insights brought on by this Christmas themed edition.
My patience is wearing thinner as the title character insists upon herself this perpetual great-at-everything mien. Having a character be so adored at all times and yet feature little natural charm, can be extremely grating on my nerves.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by William O'Donnell on November 9th, 2010
Grace, California is the kind of “small” town that all the young people wish to escape. Why? I suppose it is because they have ambitions for “greater” things. What are their ambitions while they have to stay? To be as catty and backstabbing as possible while living out a teen soap opera existence. Such is the groundwork for Seven Deadly Sins, a two-part mini-series created for the Lifetime network and based on a series of books of the same name. On this DVD the two parts are merged into a monstrous movie (clocking in at over 3 hours).
The story starts when a new girl arrives from Manhattan and uses the fact that she has designer merchandise and a snobby attitude to usurp the throne as coolest girl in school, all the while making a best friend out of the very girl she usurped. As the story progresses we are offered no more than the usual teen drama prattle of high school cliques, “who likes who” and “who betrayed who” which I frankly could care less about. Things do not perk my interest until a central character dies, only to have their ghost linger as the narrator and sometime provoker of events for her still living friends. It is through this implementation of the supernatural that the film desperately tries to tie in the “Seven Deadly Sins” theme, but it is VERY loose ties that it makes. Really, one should not come up with a provocative, albeit over-used, title first and worry about what it actually means to the story and characters second.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by William O'Donnell on November 9th, 2010
Three couples are meeting for a trip out to the country to have an old fashioned, American orgy. What instigated said orgy is mostly a mystery, as is what truly keeps them motivated to go through with it. Needless to say, most of them are in it for reasons beyond being carefree and their ulterior motives and inner demons will only spoil the party.
The pacing of this film is like that of an art film...which is code for saying it's slow. This would not be a hindrance on the film if the mood of did not waver so often between being painfully uncomfortable and being curiously intriguing (more often the former). Some of the characters are perpetually unlikeable, while others are just so bland that one could hardly care enough to notice if they were likable or not. The last half of the film offers more for the audience as they inch closer to the moment of moving their relationships past casual friendship...and then when they do well beyond that, but that tension is all the film has going for it.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on November 8th, 2010
Written by Diane Tillis
I’ve come to learn that you either love the 1997 – 2002 American drama-comedy series Ally McBeal, or you loathe it.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by William O'Donnell on November 7th, 2010
A hitman is getting into his senior years; a notable luxury for someone in his line of work. To feel more secure, he plans to pull off one last job before calling it quits. In order for this film to have an interesting plot something surely must go wrong, and it does. Now reunited with his son, who is aspiring to learn from dear ole (estranged) dad and elevate himself in the crime world, Charlie Valentine hopes to settles things in one way or another.
Gangster films either have too much Scorsese or too much Tarantino in them, and not enough originality. With a slew of typical scenarios, over-wrought tough guy dialogue and enough self-congratulatory bravado to make Joe Pesci blush, this film is hardly bringing anything fresh to the table.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by William O'Donnell on November 7th, 2010
Robert Mutt feels like a hopeless loser and tries to “off” himself (several times). Even in death, he is a failure and finds himself in a mental asylum. Upon receiving some experimental treatment from a new therapist, his confidence is (seemingly) restored and he sets back out into the real world to become a real “somebody.”
Without a doubt, this would be classified as a “Dark Comedy” for it does not skimp on the nudity, vulgar jokes, drugs, violence, cannibalism, and other assorted bits of madness and politically incorrect gems. At the same time, the film is almost endearing in how relentless it is. The disabled are fair game for jokes, but also play the most sentimental roles for our lead (especially one catatonic girl who wins his heart). Mutt is as naive as a young child, and even though the man who is bent on ruining his life is clearly a manic pedophile, he still assumes the best of him and does his best to simply get around him. Mutt's quest is an adorable one but it takes him to the strangest places imaginable. Thanks to hallucinating his life long hero, Clifton Manitoba, an infamous baseball player, and getting some advice from said hallucination, Mutt does everything from dealing out animal porn DVDs to roller skating with a transvestite to find the three things he needs to fell like a somebody: some money, a girl, and a championship ring.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on November 4th, 2010
Written by Diane Tillis
Jumping Jellybeans! Scooby Doo deserves mention in any article that discusses the best and most-loved animated television series in history.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 4th, 2010
In 2004 DOG the Bounty Hunter first took to the airwaves. On the surface it looked like yet another one of those reality cop shows where camera guys followed the men in blue as they took down the bad guys. Dog wasn't a cop; in fact he'd spent a part of his life on the other side of the law. Still, he was decked out in a Kevlar vest with a badge hanging from a chain around his neck. The cameras followed him around as he kicked in doors and stalked his criminal prey. But this isn't really quite your typical reality cop show. These guys aren't cops. They're bounty hunters. It's a family business that provides bail bonds to get the bad guys out of jail and has the muscle to track them down if they decide to skip their court appearances. This Dog doesn't get stuck holding the bag for nobody.
The Chapman family lives mostly in Hawaii. They do spend a lot of time at a second home in Colorado, where Dog is originally from. But it doesn't really matter what the location might be. The job is always the same. The team is strictly a family affair. Dog (Duane) Chapman is "Big Daddy" and the driving force behind the operation. Beth is Dog's wife and runs the business side of the operation. That doesn't mean that she's not right there on the hunt offering logistic support. Dog's right-hand man is his brother Tim. They have been partners for decades. Then there are Dog's two sons Leland and Duane Lee. This is the core group. They operate out of two SUVs as they track and take down the fugitives. The youngest member of the team is Dog's daughter Baby Lyssa. She's a small and shy girl, but she gets in her share of licks every now and again. There is also Dog's nephew Justin, who has a spotty record of commitment to the group.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on November 4th, 2010
For me, I’ve never understood the fascination behind zombies unless it involves Milla Jovovich (See Resident Evil). They are undead, lumber around, make strange noises and have a primal urge to eat brains. So, admittedly I saw Colin in my review pile and mostly shrugged. Another zombie movie, *twirl finger*. However, after reading the back jacket, I realized this one had something more: it was told from the zombie’s point of view.
Colin (played by Alastair Kirton) walks into his house and closes the door. He calls for Damien, presumably his roommate. We hear gunshots in the background and a general ruckus. Colin walks over to the sink and starts to wash his hands. He notices a steady flow of blood down his arm. That’s when he pulls back his sleeve to reveal a massive wound.
