Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on December 17th, 2018
"Let me know when the governor gets here."
Well, he's in the house, and I'm going to get a lot of razzing for this review of Last Action Hero. The person who thought I should see a shrink for looking forward to the next Saw film is going to be calling for my outright commitment to an institution dedicated to covering walls with nice padding so we won't hurt ourselves. I know this film is generally considered "bad" by critics and moviegoers alike. It swept the Razzies in 1993 and has since been only the kind of film 10-year-olds would really like to see. Me, I've always simply loved this film. From the first time I saw it at the box office, I was hooked. It was one of the first new laserdiscs I bought back in the day, and I watched the heck out of that disc. I'm not ashamed to admit it. I love this movie.
So, why is this movie so hated? Honestly, I don't think that it is.
Posted in: The Reel World by Jeremy Butler on December 15th, 2018
Aristotle once paraphrased that “Nature abhors a vacuum,” which is the main thing I keep thinking while watching Mortal Engines, another in a long line of books turned movie adaptations. It seems like everyone is trying to fill the hole left behind by Harry Potter and Twilight (love or hate it, you have to admit that it brought in the teeny boppers) franchises. Unfortunately, I do not see this film becoming a worthy successor to the throne. Initially, I was intrigued by the premise: cities mounted on wheels devouring other cities. It had a real Transformers meets Mad Max vibe to it. If only the film lived up to the preview.
The movie is set in a dystopian world, ravaged by an apocalyptic event known as the "Sixty Minute War", which caused massive geological upheaval. To escape the destructions cities have installed huge engines and wheels and been enabled to dismantle (or eat) other cities for resources. This act has become known as "Municipal Darwinism". As a result of the war, much technological and scientific knowledge has been lost.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Jeremy Butler on December 15th, 2018
Dog Days is your basic ensemble film, with this time the story being dog-centric, as every subplot features a different dog, and some subplots are interconnected via one dog. It is a family-oriented film, so this time you all will not only been treated to a Nalyce stamp of approval, but a Jessica (my wife) stamp of approval as well. The cast is rounded out with a number of familiar faces that includes Nina Dobrev, Tone Bell, Vanessa Hudgens, Eva Longoria, and many, many more. The story tugs on the heartstrings a bit as it addresses several issues plaguing the cast, such as dealing with loss and opening yourself up after heartbreak. Needless to say, the film had the Jessica stamp of approval the second that Chihuahua (which in my opinion is just a bigger member of the rodent family) was found behind the dumpster. And of course, now I find myself fielding requests for a dog just in time for Christmas.
The story is intercut between several characters at different points in their life; Tara is a barista at a local café, recent college graduate trying to figure out her next step, when she finds a dog abandoned behind a dumpster at the café.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by J C on December 14th, 2018
“I'm sorry there is so much pain in this story. I'm sorry it's in fragments, like a body caught in crossfire, pulled apart by force, but there is nothing I can do to change it.”
To say there is pain in The Handmaid’s Tale might be the biggest understatement of 2018. The series is set in a dystopian near-future in which women — even the ones who are supposedly part of the ruling class — are enslaved and tortured in a variety of heinous ways. Handmaid’s Tale immediately became Hulu’s flagship show and picked up an Emmy for Best Drama Series last year. So expectations were high for this second season, which too often proves to be torturous for viewers as well.
“God send me an obedient woman.”
Posted in: Contests by Gino Sassani on December 14th, 2018
Our buddies over at Walt Disney Home Entertainment Studios have put together a virtual jamboree of some of their coolest characters from Disney Junior. It's all in one place. Disney Junior Holiday delivers six 22 minute episodes from some of the most famous Disney Junior shows. You get Vampirina, Puppy Dog Pals, Mickey And The Roadster Racers and Mickey Mouse Club. They're sending over 2 copies of this fun gathering of characters on DVD to give away to a couple loyal Upcomingdiscs fans. There's even a few bonus shorts featuring Chip "n" Dale, and Minnie's Bow - Toons. And it's all going out to two lucky winners. Y because we love you!
Follow these directions to enter to win:
Posted in: Contests by Gino Sassani on December 13th, 2018
Our friends over at Film Movement have been bringing you some diverse and interesting films over the years. We have certainly told you about many during that time. Now they have launched a new way to deliver these films directly to their fans. Yes, this site is called Upcomingdiscs, and we generally deal with home video releases that you pop into your trusty player and enjoy. Film Movement has been a part of those DVD releases. But we don't just limit ourselves to discs. We bring you the latest films direct from the local multi-plex and even talk about some of the equipment to make your experience the best it can be. We don't often talk about streaming services, because they are generally bringing you the same kind of mass-consumption content. Let me introduce you to Film Movement Plus. These aren't the kinds of things you're likely to find anywhere else. With a library of 250 critically acclaimed independent films, they are growing with each month
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on December 13th, 2018
In one corner you have U.S Attorney Chuck "The Scholar" Rhodes, played by Paul Giamatti. He's the reigning world champion with a record of 80+ to 0. In the other corner is Bobby "Axe" Axelrod, played by Damian Lewis; he could also be considered undefeated. He runs a sexy brokerage firm. Both of these guys walk and talk like champs. There's a lot of trash-talk between them, but both have very lurid and potentially devastating skeletons in their perspective closets. But what happens when both find themselves in deep trouble? That's the question as Billions heads into Season 3, where you'll get all 12 episodes on four discs with very minimal extras.
The strength of two very strong performances immerses us in each of these worlds to a point that we discover something none of these players know, or at least would be willing to admit. They are very much the same, and the culture of their careers is more alike than not. Both are willing to bend a rule for "the common good", and both believe themselves to be the heroes of their own stories.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Brent Lorentson on December 13th, 2018
When it comes to Christmas horror films, it’s been a while since there has been a hit that has tackled the holiday and succeeded. For me you’d have to go back to 2010 with Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, or more recently Krampus in 2015. But despite the few hits this time of year, there tend to be several attempts for a horror film to come out and make a name for itself. This year we get the low-budget offering All The Creatures Were Stirring, an anthology film which on paper seemed to show plenty of promise, but the execution resulted in one of the most tedious films I’ve seen this year. The film opens up with friends Max (Graham Skipper) and Jenna (Ashley Clements) getting together for the holiday since neither has anyone to spend the holiday with, so rather than be alone they go on a bizarre date. Max decides to take his date to an independent stage performance that is mostly silently performed. Each act that the performers put on is a story that we see over the course of the film. Though this may be a unique way to present the separate stories, it definitely lacks in execution.
The first story -- usually when it comes to anthologies this is the one that tends to be the best or at least should be a major hook.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Jeremy Butler on December 13th, 2018
The things we do for our children. That was all I could think of while watching Fancy Nancy, another Disney Junior series. Nancy is a girly girl with a love of all things glittery and French. Funny, I can think of another little girl who fits that description. It goes without saying that Nalyce was immediately on board for this disc, going as far as to remind me every day that we need to review this show. When we finally set down to watch it, she was all business, turning off all the lights and basically becoming a zombie staring at the screen. I mean, I've never seen her so dedicated to anything. I have to admit a certain level of pride. Sadly, I was not as enamored with the show as she was.
The series is laid out in the typical format for a Disney series: two episodes per thirty-minute format. Each episode imparts an important lesson that every child should screen to function as a productive member of society, such as the importance of sharing and accepting people for who they are.
Posted in: Tuesday Round Up by J C on December 11th, 2018
It’s been almost 15 years since the legendary Gene Hackman was last seen on screen. (His last film was 2004’s Welcome to Mooseport, which is bad…but not bad enough to quit movies altogether!) While the on-screen drought for Hackman continues, the Oscar-winning actor can at least be heard in one of this week’s Round Up offerings. Shout! Factory takes us through the journey of joining We, The Marines (4K), which is narrated by Hackman. Elsewhere, CBS heads west for Yellowstone: Season 1 and trusts its Instinct: Season 1. Finally, Lionsgate goes on a violent spree with Deadman Standing, while Comedy Central gets into business with Nathan For You.
One last reminder before signing off for the week: if you’re shopping for anything on Amazon — a Christmas present for a loved one, perhaps — and you do it through one of our links, it’ll help keep the lights on here at UpcomingDiscs. See ya next week!







