Treme: Complete Series (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Brent Lorentson on January 29th, 2014
Creator David Simon (The Wire and Generation Kill) has never been a show runner concerned about cliffhangers or plot twists; instead he thrusts his viewers into the day-to-day life of the everyday Joe and shows that real life generates more conflict than most fiction can ever deliver. Ever since I first watched The Wire I’ve considered myself a fan of Simon’s work, and I feel it could be argued that what Simon did with The Wire is a large factor in why we have the quality of television that we do today
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The Fifth Estate (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 29th, 2014
Journalism today is in disarray. I say that not because there aren’t many, many passionate journalists who want to do the best job possible. I say it because there are just many, many, many more bloggers who don’t know how live up to those standards or why it’s even important. The internet changes everything in the music industry, the movie industry, and the media industry. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad thing. It just means that it’s chaotic, and it often seems like no one is in control
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Wings – The Complete First and Second Seasons
Posted in No Huddle by Gino Sassani on January 29th, 2014
Wings was one of those unusual sitcoms that depended more on the characters than the situations they were in. While the setting was a small Nantucket airline owned by two brothers, most of the episodes had very little to do with flying. Rather, the writers populated this small airline with very distinctive personalities and let these interactions be fodder for the funny. The characters were played by more than competent actors, many of whom have proven themselves beyond this quaint sitcom.
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Stonados
Posted in No Huddle by J C on January 28th, 2014
“Stonados…I’ll be damned.”
They say if you’re going to steal, you should steal from the best. Well, that’s the exact opposite of what SyFy has done with the hilariously shameless act of self-cannibalization known as Stonados. Say what you will about Sharknado — and snarky commenters excitedly blew up Twitter shortly after its premiere — but at least that particular slice of premium B-movie cheese was inspired in its lunacy and stupidity. Stonados, on the other hand, is pretty obviously a way for the network to capitalize on the unexpected heat generated this past summer by the perfect shlock storm of Sharknado.
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Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on January 28th, 2014
“One … two… Freddy’s coming for you, three… four… better lock the door, five… six… grab your crucifix, seven… eight better stay up late, nine….ten … Never Sleep Again.”
Freddy is one of the more memorable monsters from the slasher era that also brought us the Halloween and Jason films. Freddy might have been born in the mind of Wes Craven, but he grew and developed in the knife-wielding hands of Robert Englund. Granted, not all of these films are equal in quality. The first and third are the best story-wise, while the last might be the most unpredictable and original.
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Vikingdom
Posted in No Huddle by Gino Sassani on January 28th, 2014
“Everybody has a story to tell about their lives. My story begins the day I died.”
It also seems that everybody has a tale of ancient fighters and heroes to tell. With the popularity of television shows like The Vikings and Game Of Thrones, there appears to be a considerable demand for this kind of film. Zack Snyder added his own graphic- novel style to 300, and it’s been repeated to the point where the style itself has become a sub-genre of its own. The Spartacus series took that style, noted for the animated cartoonish blood in plentiful supply, and made it into a common event.
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Married With Children – Season 1 & 2
Posted in No Huddle by Gino Sassani on January 28th, 2014
On October 9th 1986 the network television landscape did something that hadn’t been done successfully in its 40-year history. A fourth network broke on the airwaves. It was called FOX and wasn’t even going to broadcast seven days a week. Most pundits in the television industry never gave it a chance. Most of the channels were in the double-digit UHF range. This had long been considered the independent station area, and a lot of televisions didn’t pick up this band as well as the established VHF band. And for a while it looked like the network was going to disappear almost as quickly as it appeared. But by 1987, the network suddenly had two big hits on its hands.
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12 Days Of Christmas Giveaways Winner Circle
Posted in Site News by Gino Sassani on January 27th, 2014
Congratulations to our 12 Days Of Christmas Giveaways.
It looks like 12 lucky Upcomingdiscs fans still have one more Christmas Present left to open.
Here’s a list of our winners:
Halloween 35th Edition on Blu-ray – Mr. Phil
Baseball Package – Adam Lipkin
Family Christmas Film Collection – Anne Derkat
Ancient Aliens Season 3 – Liz l
China Beach Seasons 1 & 2 – Jan Hammersmith
The Rutles Anthology – Peter Price
Cosby…Far Fom Finished – Beth Dockery
Dick Figures: The Movie – Anita
Escape From Planet Earth 3D – Lynda Larsen-Baldry
Yankees 2000 World Series Collector’s Edition – Connie Lewis
The Naked City 20 Episode Collection – Jacob LaFountaine
Spartacus: War Of The Damned – Bill Marks
Thanks to all of our studio sponsors and all of you who entered the contests.
There’s plenty more for 2014. We’ve already started a new year of contests.
Don’t forget to use our Amazon links when you shop at Amazon. You don’t have to buy the item you use to get there. Anything you buy, once you’ve used our link helps to keep these giveaways going.
Many of you asked for more contests next year. Well… we need your help to make that happen.
Be sure to support us at Amazon and Diabolik DVD.
Contest: Win A Vikingdom One-Sheet Poster From Epic Pictures
Posted in Contests, Expired Contests by Gino Sassani on January 27th, 2014
Our cool friends over at Epic Pictures Group have passed along a really cool prize for three lucky Upcomingdiscs winners. We have three (3) full-sized one-sheet posters for their latest release Vikingdom. The DVD is also up for grabs in an earlier contest and a review of the film is also on the way. A heart thanks to Epic for the cool stuff. The posters will arrive in a tube. They are rolled and NOT folded. These guys thought of everything.
To win just follow these 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: What was your favorite action/adventure film of all time?
- Only those comments that answer our question will be considered.
Contest is now closed Winners are Mark Stiles, Vicki Wurgler & Matt M.
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 Prey (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by J C on January 24th, 2014
In the 1990s, the French action films of Luc Besson (La Femme Nikita, Leon: The Professional) and Euro-centric offerings like John Frankenheimer’s Ronin provided a sleeker, more exotic alternative to the outsize, muscle-bound exploits of Stallone, Schwarzenegger and Van Damme. Besides movies with the words “Fast” or “Furious” in their title, American action flicks have mostly moved away from lo-fi, knucklehead thrills and turned to PG-13 heroes in CGI adventures. Meanwhile, European filmmakers have stayed in their stylish, car/foot-chase-loving lane. The result is entertaining yarns like The Prey/La Proie, which stands out thanks to its thuddingly simple action movie pleasures.
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The Invisible Woman
Posted in The Reel World by Archive Authors on January 24th, 2014
One of the most famous men who ever lived is responsible for over 200 movies and TV shows, yet there has never been an autobiographical film until now. He has been loved and revered for over 100 years, but much of his life is shrouded in privacy due to the constraints of the times in which he lived. The books Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, David Copperfield, Great Expectations, A Christmas Carol and others are towering achievements in English literature. We finally can now see what Charles Dickens might have really been like
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Black Water Vampire
Posted in No Huddle by Brent Lorentson on January 24th, 2014
In 1999 I remember standing in line at the Tampa Theatre waiting to see The Blair Witch Project; the line wrapped around the corner. All of us were anxious to see this film that was cloaked in so much mystery with an internet marketing campaign that manipulated so many to believe that the film we were all about to watch was in fact all true and was all found footage being released onto the big screen. The Blair Witch Project wasn’t just a success, it was a smash hit, and it changed the way we view cinema, where we all saw that all you needed was a camcorder and a clever hook, and any regular Joe could create a hit film.
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Crossing Lines: Season One (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by J C on January 22nd, 2014
Location, location, location! The notion that a desirable geographic spot can make a huge difference isn’t exclusive to the world of real estate. Take, for instance, Crossing Lines. At first glance, the show fits comfortably alongside any number of American police procedurals that feature curiously attractive cops and a fresh set of dead bodies each week. It’s a formula that’s worked for decades, so it’s hard to argue for a complete overhaul. The best fans can hope for are clever tweaks to help new shows stand out from the crowded cop show lineup. Crossing Lines accomplishes this by taking all the fake corpses you’ve seen on New York and L.A. streets and scattering them across Europe.
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NYPD Blue: Season Five
Posted in No Huddle by Gino Sassani on January 22nd, 2014
Steven Bochco is no stranger to innovative television. Hill Street Blues is arguably the best cop show ever made. Even his failures are praised for their innovativeness and freshness. Remember Cop Rock? NYPD Blue didn’t just push the prime time envelope. It tore the envelope to pieces and blew it away with hurricane-force winds. George Carlin made a career out of his “Seven words you can’t say on television”. Along comes NYPD Blue and Carlin just might have needed a new act.
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Brutalization
Posted in No Huddle by Archive Authors on January 21st, 2014
The first thing I should discuss is the title. Brutalization is not the original title of this 1973 forgotten film. The DVD cover puts it very succinctly. “From the most forgotten vaults of European exploitation rises once again this effective and very violent Dutch thriller that boasts a young Sylvia Kristel that later on achieved world fame thanks to her role in the Emmanuelle series.” The intention of the re-release is to capitalize on the late Kristel’s fame. The title Brutalization is probably more marketable and to the point than the original title, Because of the Cats.
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Contest: Win Vikingdom on DVD From Epic Pictures
Posted in Contests, Expired Contests by Gino Sassani on January 20th, 2014
Our cool friends over at Epic Pictures Group want to make sure you start your New Year off just right. They’ve given us three (3) copies of Vikingdom on DVD to give away to some lucky Upcomingdiscs readers. The film stars Prison Break’s Dominic Purcell as Viking mythology’s King Eirick. It’s a search for Odin’s Horn so that the god Thor can conquer the world. It arrives on DVD Jan. 21st and here’s your chance to win a copy for yourself.
To win just follow these 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! Who is your favorite television actor?
- Only those comments that answer our question will be considered.
Contest is now closed Winners are Diane Rothenbuahler, April Pace & Kelly Freeman
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.
Comedy Bang! Bang! The Complete First Season
Posted in No Huddle by J C on January 20th, 2014
– “We at Comedy Bang! Bang! love random humor.”
– “Next to ‘offbeat,’ it’s my favorite.”
IFC’s irreverent talk show spoof has more than its share of bizarre moments involving robotic crows and imaginary dogs that stubbornly refuse to speak. But you shouldn’t be fooled by its anarchic tone; Comedy Bang! Bang! takes very specific aim at decades of inane talk show conventions and gleefully skewers them with a straight face. In other words, it’s not just a funny show; it’s a funny show made by comedy nerds for comedy nerds.
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Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
Posted in The Reel World by Jeremy Butler on January 16th, 2014
“You’re not just an analyst anymore. You’re operational now.”
Witness the birth of– actually make that rebirth of –one of the most popular action heroes in literature. Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan has been a character of many jobs and many faces over the years. Baldwin, Ford, and Affleck have all stepped into the role of the man who has been a soldier, analyst, an operative, and a president. Now Chris Pine looks to fill the shoes left behind by some of Hollywood’s heaviest hitters and try his hand at a retelling of the legendary character which also stars Kevin Costner, Keira Knightley, along with Kenneth Branagh who doubles as the film’s director.
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Carrie (2013) (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by J C on January 16th, 2014
“They’re gonna laugh at you. They’re all gonna laugh at you.”
The idea of remaking/reimagining/refurbishing a horror classic may have been laughable at one point, but now it’s just business as usual. Then again, I happen to think this is an especially good time to revisit 1976’s Carrie. With all the attention bullying has gotten in the media these last few years, the supernatural story of a high school outsider pushed to her violent breaking point seems particularly timely
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You’re Next
Posted in No Huddle by J C on January 16th, 2014
Meeting your significant other’s family for the first time can be a terrifying experience. Then again, being introduced to your son/daughter/brother/sister’s new boyfriend or girlfriend can be equally dicey for the family, since we’re talking about a total stranger being thrown into the mix. The best thing about You’re Next is how it takes this sort of recognizable family drama and gleefully twists it into a brutally violent — and brutally funny — horror film.
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Sunrise (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by J C on January 16th, 2014
“This song of the Man and his Wife is of no place; you might hear it anywhere at any time.”
The aching simplicity of the story in Sunrise is the reason the silent film remains thoroughly watchable almost 90 years after its release. It’s also why the movie will remain thoroughly watchable another 90 years from now. Then again, the reason F.W. Murnau’s 1927 effort goes beyond simply remaining watchable — and enters masterpiece territory — has less to do with what the story is and much more to do with how it’s told.
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Power Rangers Megaforce the Mysterious Robo 2
Posted in No Huddle by Brent Lorentson on January 16th, 2014
I’m just going to start off by saying, growing up I was never a fan of the Power Rangers. It’s odd considering I love live action robots and I was a fan of TOHO films, but the TV series was never something that could hold my interest, though I did always crush on the Pink Ranger (Amy Jo Johnson). Since the series appeared in 1993 it has spawned many spinoffs in the process, which brings me to the new release of Power Rangers Mega Force: The Mysterious Robo Knight.
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Madigan Again
Posted in No Huddle by Jeremy Butler on January 16th, 2014
It’s been an immeasurable amount of time since I’ve come across a standup comedy routine that I have enjoyed wholeheartedly. I mean the type of comedy that makes you laugh so hard that the muscles of your stomach begin to ache due to the constant laughter. There are few comedians that have elicited that type of response from me, years since I’ve felt the sensation. Despite the lapse of time I remain optimistic, continuing to remain hopeful that the feeling will return with a new comedian. So it was with that attitude that I endured Kathleen Madigan: Again. Let’s just say that my wait for that sensation to return, continues.
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Star Trek: Enterprise – Complete Third Season (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on January 15th, 2014
“It’s been a long time getting from there to here.”
Thirty-five years to be exact. Enterprise is the fourth spinoff from the original 1960’s hopeful series. The Earth is finally ready to send its first starship to explore the vast galaxy. This first starship Enterprise is smaller than the ships we’ve become used to. There are no shields or photon torpedoes. The transporter has only been cleared for inanimate objects. Not that this stands in the way of its occasional “emergency” use.
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12 Disasters
Posted in No Huddle by Brent Lorentson on January 14th, 2014
Let’s face it, there are a lot of disaster films out there, and not very many of them are good. This is one of those Hollywood ideas I can’t quite understand why they continue to go to this well, because for those most part for it to be any good you need to throw a lot of money into the film and nearly 9 times out of 10 what results is a laughable mess. The 90’s were full of disaster films, whether they were natural disasters or disasters caused by aliens of another world
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