Ant-Man
Posted in The Reel World by J C on July 17th, 2015
“Just imagine…a soldier the size of an insect.”
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is now seven years into an unprecedented run of success. It’s a consistent, well-oiled machine that has engendered enough goodwill to allow the company to take chances on properties that were previously considered deep cuts. (Before last summer, most people’s reactions to Guardians of the Galaxy likely would’ve been, “Who?!”) Then again, if you believe in the idea of a “Marvel machine,” it could just as easily conjure something heavy or mechanical. As a result, the thing I enjoyed most about Ant-Man is that it felt refreshingly (and appropriately)…small.
Read More
Cellar Dweller / Catacombs (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on July 17th, 2015
“The devil can touch you and leave his mark. Just so he doesn’t steal your soul.”
You might say that the devil made them do it. Shout Factory utilizes their Scream Factory moniker to deliver another doubleheader horror-fest from the 1980’s. Many of us love to be touched by a little evil, so long as it’s some harmless fun from a horror movie. While I’m not a huge fan of having two or more films on one disc, this pretty much amounts to the same as the standard four episodes on a disc that you’ll find in many television releases in high definition.
Read More
Pretty Face is Going to Hell: Season 1
Posted in No Huddle by Archive Authors on July 17th, 2015
by Dustin P. Anderson
Gary is a low-level demon trying to find different ways to make it up the corporate ladder in hell. He is also a slacker who doesn’t know the first thing about being a demon, despite his length of time in hell. Claude is a new demon who is sent to intern for Gary but ends up outshining him. As Claude rises to the top, Gary must attempt to gain some sort of recognition for his years of servitude to the dark lord, lest he be forced to shovel coal into hell for eternity. This show isn’t one of Adult Swim’s funniest creations, but it is still funny. This isn’t going to be an instant favorite of mine, like Metalocalypse or Too Many Cooks, but it was a nice watch nonetheless.
Read More
We’ve Changed Our Look A Bit
Posted in Site News by Gino Sassani on July 15th, 2015
We’ve been thinking about changing our look. Over the years we’ve asked you guys what you wanted to see change. Most of you told us to leave things alone. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. We agree. We did decide to change our logo. Thanks to our reviewer Deb and her company The Write One Creative Services we finally have a logo of our own. For 6 years we’ve had Kate Beckinsale and The Enterprise watching over us. Don’t worry. They’re still at our Facebook page. We hope that you like it. Please feel free to leave your comments. Better yet, enter the Freedom contest and give us your feedback while entering to win a free DVD. At Upcomingdiscs: the best is yet to come.
Contest: Win Freedom On DVD From ARC Entertainment
Posted in Contests by Gino Sassani on July 15th, 2015
Our friends at ARC Entertainment have sent over three copies of their latest DVD release. It’s called Freedom and it has a stellar cast that inlcudes Cuba Gooding, Jr. and William Sadler. It’s the tale of two different men and their daring path to freedom. One braves the high seas while another is a slave fleeing a Virginia plantation, a slave hunter always hot on his trail. The stories are inspiring and three lucky winners will own the film.
To win a copy, just follow these simple instructions.
- Fill out your name and email address in the comment form below – your email address will remain private and visible only to us.
- Do not post your address as an actual comment! Instead tell us – We’ve just changed our logo. Tell us what you think of it. Be honest. Your answer will not alter your chances of winning.
- Only those comments that answer our question will be considered.
Contest is now closed Winners are Bill Norris, Jim Gardner & Gary Smith
Winners are notified by E-mail. If you did not get a confirmation E-mail from us, check your Spam filter and contact us. Any prize not claimed in 2 weeks will be forfeit and be placed in the end of year contests next Holiday Season.
The Outing / The Godsend (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on July 15th, 2015
At the end of 2013 Shout Factory released a horror marathon on DVD called Scream Factory All Night Marathon. OK, so it only had four films averaging about 90 minutes each, hardly all night. But it was a nice collection of more obscure 1980’s horror that made a rather nice night in with the boys…or the girls. Two of those films have now found their way to a single Blu-ray disc and released by…you guessed it, Shout’s Scream Factory division. While I’m not a huge fan of having two or more films on one disc, this pretty much amounts to the same as the standard four episodes on a disc that you’ll find in many television releases in high definition.
Read More
Clouds of Sils Maria
Posted in Disc Reviews by Jeremy Butler on July 15th, 2015
I remember seeing a trailer for this movie a few months back and feeling underwhelmed. It was one of those experiences where you see a trailer and feel like through that contact alone that you can determine the entire course of the movie. Fortunately, I have no trouble admitting when I am wrong, and that was the case for Clouds of Sils Maria. I didn’t have any clue what I was in for, and though slow pace of the film and the ever-changing landscape did get a bit tedious at times, the film possessed a story that I can only describe as life imitating art. Ironic, given that the film covers the story of a renowned actress being asked to return to a play that made her famous but this time in an older role, another once upon a time playing the younger one.
Read More
Borderline
Posted in No Huddle by Dan Holland on July 15th, 2015
I’m such a big fan of the late Charles Bronson. Though I have not seen every film on his résumé, I have seen enough to know that if you give that man a gun, you have a movie. From his leading roles in Once Upon a Time in the West and the Death Wish franchise, to his supporting roles in The Great Escape and The Magnificent Seven: if he is in it, I want to see it. Perhaps he is best known for his leading roles as hardened vigilantes or silent hit men, but it is safe to say, you are not watching Borderline for the story. You are watching it for Bronson.
Read More
All Quiet On The Western Front:The Uncut Edition (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on July 15th, 2015
“This story is to be neither an accusation nor a confession, and least of all an adventure, for death is not an adventure to those who stand face to face with it. It will try simply to tell of a generation of men who, even though they may have escaped its shells, were destroyed by the war” – Erich Maria Remarque
Like most people from my generation, I suspect, I saw this version of All Quiet On The Western Front first in a high school history class. I can’t for the moment recall if it had been a world history class or American history.
Read More
Mutant Planet: Season 2
Posted in No Huddle by Archive Authors on July 14th, 2015
As one who uses animal shows as a precursor to taking a nap — much like Pavlov’s theory when I hear the melodious voice of the narrator, I drift off into a restful slumber — I expected the same experience with the second season of Science Channel’s Mutant Planet. Having never experienced season one, with popcorn and large cup of coffee in hand, sitting – not reclining — in my living room recliner – I was ready to ward off the yawns. Boy, was I was wrong. Mutant Planet Season Two in its glorious five-episode 220-minute runtime is, in one word, amazing. I was not expecting to say “wow” every 10 or so minutes, but that’s exactly what I did watching what animals did to adapt to their ever-changing surroundings.
Read More
Kill Me Three Times (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on July 14th, 2015
“What you’re talking about is a one-way street, you understand? Once you start there is no going back.”
Ah, but there is going back if you’re watching Kill Me Three Times. I don’t necessarily mean that you’ll want to watch the film over again (you might). Kill Me Three Times is a bit of a collection of vignettes that continue to circle back upon each other. Each time you get a different perspective or a bit of new information is unveiled. For those of you who insist on a linear logic to your films, this one’s not for you. In fact, those of you who insist on logic at all might not quite get this one.
Read More
71
Posted in No Huddle by Dan Holland on July 14th, 2015
Typically I do not seek out modern war films for leisure watching. They may take great strides to make battles seem realistic, or just more extreme. Normally with the focus on cinematography and editing, the depth of the story is sacrificed in the process. Sure, you have a narrative to follow, but ultimately what satisfies is the visual masterpiece. For me, ’71 followed this pattern accurately, though I was pleasantly surprised with the visuals, as they went above and beyond my expectations.
Read More
Tuesday Round Up: July 14, 2015
Posted in Tuesday Round Up by J C on July 14th, 2015
This week brings some truly eclectic offerings for Blu-ray and DVD aficionados of all stripes. Two of the year’s best-reviewed films — sci-fi thriller Ex Machina and low-budget horror flick It Follows — make their home video debuts. (And I absolutely plan on getting my hands on both.) Movie fans can also pick up a pair of sequels (The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2), plan a date night with the latest Nicholas Sparks adaptation (The Longest Ride), or check out the extended version of a summer blockbuster from last year (X-Men: Days of Future Past — The Rogue Cut.) Meanwhile, TV watchers can scoop up season 5 of Adventure Time or the debut season of superhero cop drama Powers.
Here at UpcomingDiscs, we’ll be reviewing some additional titles that will be available on July 14. So be sure to check in for our takes on Clouds of Sils Maria, All Quiet on the Western Front: The Uncut Edition, WKRP in Cincinnati: The Complete Third Season, The Legend of the Lone Ranger, Borderline, Singularity Principle, and a pair of double features in The Outing/The Godsend, and Cellar Dweller/Catacombs. We’d love to hear from you: which of this week’s releases are you most excited about? And since we have stuff flying into UpcomingDiscs headquarters throughout the week, be sure to keep an eye on this post for updates.
Absolution (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by J C on July 13th, 2015
“I wanna tell you something. I’ve been a bad man…I’ve been a very bad man most of my life. So, I decided I want to do one thing in my life. One good thing in my life before I die.”
Those words are spoken by elite contract killer John Alexander at the start of Absolution, a straight-to-DVD offering that is largely cobbled together from the spare parts of other junky action flicks. The film stars Steven Seagal, who was a very bad man on-screen during his early ’90s heyday. John wants to do one good thing before his time is up; coincidentally, all I want is for Seagal to make one action movie that at least comes close to recapturing the spark that made him a star. Absolution is not that film.
Read More
Omar Sharif (1932-2015)
Posted in Tribute by J C on July 12th, 2015
“Truly, for some men nothing is written unless they write it.”
In discussing the ultimate departure of Omar Sharif — the legendary actor, born Michael Shalhoub, died Friday after suffering a heart attack at a hospital in his native Egypt — it’s only fitting we talk about his most famous arrival. After becoming a star in Egypt, Sharif’s first English-language film was the David Lean epic Lawrence of Arabia. Sharif — who earned his sole Oscar nomination for the movie — played Sheriff Ali, who makes one of the most indelible entrances in the history of cinema. The actor seemingly materializes out of thin air; it’s meant to evoke a mirage, which is fitting because moviegoers could hardly believe their eyes.
His striking, exotic looks allowed him to play everyone from Genghis Khan to Che Guevara. Sharif went on to make a pair of other iconic films, taking on the title role in Doctor Zhivago and starring opposite Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl. On top of accumulating more than 100 movie and TV credits, Sharif cultivated a sophisticated, well-rounded image off-screen. (The actor once ranked among the top 50 bridge players in the world.) Needless to say, this was a man and a performer who charted his own path and wrote his own story. Join us in celebrating Sharif’s work with a trip through the UpcomingDiscs archives.
Read More
Contest: Win A July Prize Pack Of Three DVD’s From ARC Entertainment
Posted in Contests by Gino Sassani on July 10th, 2015
It’s Christmas in July because our good friends at ARC Entertainment just went crazy. Their insanity is your good fortune. They’ve given us a July Gift Pack of three films on DVD for one lucky winner. First up is The Squeeze. A young golf talent gets caught up with a ruthless gambler. All he wants to do is take care of his family and now it might cost him everything. It’s a mix of a con film with the added interest of golf. On second base is See You In Valhalla. It stars Sarah Hyland from Modern Family. A young girl must face some tough secrets when her brother dies and she returns home. It’s a heart-warming tale that also stars Connor O’Farrell, Emma Bell, Bret Harrison and Steve Howley. To complete the triple threat you get Bank$tas. Can you mine comedy out of a financial crises and the student loan issues in this country. You can if you’re Arc Entertainment. Play in the world of high finance with the likes of Alan Thicke and Supergirl herself Laura Vandervoort. It’s all going to one lucky winner.
To win a copy, just follow these simple instructions.
- Fill out your name and email address in the comment form below – your email address will remain private and visible only to us.
- Do not post your address as an actual comment! Instead tell us – If you were stranded for a year and could only have three films to watch: Name them.
- Only those comments that answer our question will be considered.
Contest is now closed Winner is Jackie L. Ross
Winners are notified by E-mail. If you did not get a confirmation E-mail from us, check your Spam filter and contact us. Any prize not claimed in 2 weeks will be forfeit and be placed in the end of year contests next Holiday Season.
Echoes of War
Posted in No Huddle by Jeremy Butler on July 10th, 2015
I have often wondered how blood feuds got started in the western times. The Hatfield and McCoy feud is the most legendary, of course, except before long how the whole ordeal started just became a bunch of he said/she said. In the case of Echoes of War, it turns out that the feud that is sparked between the McCluskeys and the Rileys began over a just cause; however, the battle was bit one-sided and slow-paced for my liking. Not the mention the film does a bit of a 360 on me that really turns me against the person I spent the entire movie sympathizing with.
Read More
Yu-Gi-Oh Gx: Season 2
Posted in No Huddle by Archive Authors on July 10th, 2015
by Dustin P. Anderson
Jaden and friends are back for another semester at dual academy. Some friends have changed, like Syrus, who is now a Ra Yellow, and Cyrus’ brother Zane, who is now in the Pro League. This time, since Jaden’s old pal Chumley is gone, he is joined by another Ra Yellow student, Tyranno Hassleberry, a dinosaur dualist with a military mindset; however, with new friends comes a new evil for Jaden to fight, the light: a mind-controlling entity that is taking over the school, trying to take over the world, and has Jaden is in his crosshairs. Can Jaden save his friends, and save the world, without getting controlled by the light?
Read More
Self/Less
Posted in The Reel World by Archive Authors on July 9th, 2015
Big blockbusters rule the summer. Sequels and reboots and remakes are demanded by a public that wants sure things. There are no sure things any more, but the big Hollywood studios try to form committees that take as much chance out of the equation as possible. But even in the middle of a summer ruled by big blockbuster, there is a school of thought that counter programming can work. You have to give the makers of Self/Less credit for releasing a non-sequel and one with such an odd title
Read More
Bitten: Complete Second Season
Posted in No Huddle by Gino Sassani on July 9th, 2015
“There was a time when, if you told me werewolves existed that I would have laughed. I don’t laugh at much anymore.”
From the very beginning one can see there is great potential here. The show is based on a collection of books that appear to be popular. They’re called The Outworld series, written by Canadian author Kelley Armstrong. The show avoids most of the standard clichés. There is no full moon reference at all here. The werewolves “change” at will or when emotionally charged (“you won’t like me when I’m angry”). There are no silver bullets.
Read More
Fight of the Living Dead
Posted in No Huddle by Archive Authors on July 9th, 2015
by Dustin P. Anderson
There is no real story here. This is set as a competition/reality TV Series. The goal is for one team of survivors to get out of an infected zombie prison. The twist is that the contestants are all YouTube personalities. They must first get out of the room they wake up in, then go to get an antidote, then give the antidote to a doctor, then get out of the facility. The concept for this was intriguing, but the application was sloppy at best. During the entire production you are reminded of how low-budget this series is, whether you are listening to the overly cliché horror music or getting motion sickness from the camera.
Read More
Barney Miller: The Final Season
Posted in No Huddle by Gino Sassani on July 9th, 2015
In 1976 a New York media group conducted a survey of the NYPD detectives. The question was: “Of all the TV cop shows, which most accurately portrays life as a detective?” The overwhelming response was the comedy Barney Miller. Seems real cops related to the daily grind and weekly wackos of Barney Miller. Let’s not put aside that this was also one of the most consistently funny shows on television. I remember it took me a while to accept Abe Vigoda in such a light role as Fish. My first exposure to Vigoda was the ruthless mobster in The Godfather. Barney Miller always managed to be funny while still telling a good short story. The characters were always wonderful.
Read More
Slow West
Posted in No Huddle by J C on July 9th, 2015
There’s a moment about halfway through Slow West where the two main characters partake in some absinthe. What follows is a disquietingly vivid dream and our two “heroes” essentially wobbling around until sobering up the next morning.The sequence is actually a pretty perfect encapsulation of what it feels like to watch Slow West, a woozy and refreshingly off-center entry into the Western canon.
Read More
Tooken
Posted in No Huddle by Jeremy Butler on July 9th, 2015
I’m really over parody movies, and this one is no exception. The cheesy dialog and recycled storylines from more popular movies fail to strike a chord with me. Is it just me, or does it seems like parodies are nothing more than the bullies of the film industry? Makes sense, right, seeing as their sole purpose is to poke fun at other movies with no originality or real substance to them. Well, in the case of Tooken, it appears that we have run out of movies to parody and are resorting to people. Well, not people per se, merely characters brought to life by the same actor; I won’t mention which actor. However, that part should not be that difficult for you to guess once we dive a little deeper.
Read More
Merchants of Doubt (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by J C on July 8th, 2015
“I’m not a scientist, although I do play one on TV occasionally. Ok…hell, more than occasionally.”
The “I’m not a _____, but I play one on TV” catchphrase transcended its humble origins to become the go-to, jokey line for anybody who feels empowered to speak outside their area of expertise. Merchants of Doubt, however, isn’t concerned with soap opera actors trying to sell Vicks on television. Instead, this flashy, funny, well-researched documentary examines the select group of people who present themselves as scientific authorities to the public. It also argues that they purposefully create confusion with the goal of maintaining a very lucrative status quo.
Read More