Perry Mason: The Seventh Season, Vol. 2
Posted in No Huddle by Gino Sassani on October 24th, 2012
It’s hard to beat the last release for classic episodes of Perry Mason. I can assure you that Mason fans still have a lot of great episodes to look forward to with this release of the second part of the 7th season. You can bet that Perry will be up to his old tricks for a while to come thanks to these DVD releases from Paramount. Erle Stanley Gardner wrote crime fiction, and while many of his 100 or so works are unknown to most of us, he created a character who has become as identified with criminal lawyers as any other in fiction. It was in these crime novels that Perry Mason first faced a courtroom.
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Gone in 60 Seconds – Car Crash King Edition (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by J C on October 23rd, 2012
The best thing about Gone in 60 Seconds is that the film knows exactly what it is. Just take a look at the breathless blurbs on the Blu-ray case for the latest release. “Over 500 crashes!” “93 cars wrecked in the 40-minute car chase!” No one involved with this movie thought they were making an intimate character piece. I mean the top-billed star is “Eleanor.” Did I mention that Eleanor is a 1973 Ford Mustang?
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“31 Nights Of Terror” Greystone Park
Posted in No Huddle by Brent Lorentson on October 23rd, 2012
When you’re the son of an iconic director, it can’t be helped that viewers will tend to expect a little more out of you. Case in point with Sean Stone (son of Oliver Stone); expectations were in place, especially since dad actually plays a role in the film. With Greystone Park , it would be safe to assume Stone was looking to remove himself far from his father’s shadow and show he has a vision all his own. The problem is we get a film that is a bit hit-or-miss throughout.
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Pete’s Dragon: 35th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 23rd, 2012
“A dragon. A dragon. You bet we saw a dragon. So big and brave he came to save a village in distress. He kept the ship from crashing when he heard the SOS. He faced a group of villains and he fought them with success…”
When Walt Disney Studios released Mary Poppins, the entertainment world was turned on its ears. The integration of live action footage with animation had never been done with such success before. The studio that nearly singlehandedly perfected modern methods of animation was also the studio that learned how to combine it almost seamlessly with real breathing actors
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Bones: Season 7 (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 23rd, 2012
Dr. Temperance Brennan, or Bones (Deschanel) is the world’s leading bone specialist. She works in Washington, D.C. for the famous Jeffersonian (I assume it’s intended to be the Smithsonian). Her talents have proven themselves very helpful in solving crimes where skeletal remains are all that there is to go on from the victim. Her FBI agent/liaison is Seeley Booth (Boreanaz). Together they have an uneasy relationship that grows into a kind of friendship. The problem is that Bones doesn’t have a ton of social skills. She relies on Booth to guide their social interactions. More on that later.
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Check It Out: Season 1 & 2
Posted in No Huddle by Brent Lorentson on October 23rd, 2012
The collection of episodes found here are supposed to be the rare and unedited recordings from the public access show Dr. Steve Brule once filmed. Of course the show is actually a fake one, but for those who have channel-surfed late at night I’m sure at some point the channel has stopped on a public access program. It was supposed to be a forum where anyone could go in and after some training on equipment be able to film their own program. Some would have the standard one show where the host would take random phone calls while discussing a variety of topics. In the case of Dr. Steve Brule (John C. Reilly) he tried to produce his own ‘on the town’ news program.
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“31 Nights Of Terror” Gethsemane Hall Excerpt
Posted in Random Fun by Gino Sassani on October 22nd, 2012
Faithful readers might remember the name David Annandale. He’s been a member of the Upcomingdisc family since it started. You may have also noticed he hasn’t been reviewing much of late. That’s because he’s busy getting his novels published. That’s right our man David is hitting the big time. We want you to check him out. So, here’s an excerpt from his exceptional horror book: Gethsemane Hall.
In the dream, he was back at St. Rose’s Church, going through the funeral again. He knew he was dreaming because he felt the pain of repetition, sensed the sadism of a force that would make him experience ritualized loss once again. Knowing that he was dreaming didn’t diminish the pain. The anguish pressed him down, a granite weight, as he tried to stand for the hymn. The injustice of the re-enactment was colossal and could only be for the benefit of a cruel deity’s amusement. Something was laughing at him. He looked up. Standing above the altar was a large wooden crucifix, its Christ bigger than life. The Christ was laughing at him. Now he was looking at the face in close-up, was staring into its wide mouth, could see where the red paint of its throat had chipped, saw lips peeled back from tree-ringed teeth. He couldn’t see Christ’s eyes. He couldn’t see anything but the laugh, the maw of red disappearing to black. The laugh itself was looking at him, the mouth so contorted with mirth that the very expression had become sentient. He tried to yell back at it, to give back his hatred, but the laugh was too huge, too strong, visible even when he closed his eyes. The laugh grew from howl to tsunami roar. Its register climbed hysteria’s ladder, from exultation to frenzy, and finally it was the scream of the heart of the universe.
Want to read more? Of course, you do. Pick up the book today and be sure to keep an extra light on when you’re finished reading. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Touch – The Complete First Season
Posted in Disc Reviews by J C on October 21st, 2012
“Patterns are hidden in plain sight. You just have to know where to look.”
You don’t have to be into numbers to enjoy Touch, but it certainly helps. Numerology deals with the mystical or divine meaning behind certain numbers. Detractors believe that people who place too much faith in such things will foolishly find significance in just about anything. Similarly, cynical TV viewers will scoff at some of the coincidences and connections in this Fox drama. Either way, it looks like your high school math teacher was right: you WILL be using some of this stuff as an adult.
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“31 Nights Of Terror” Paranormal Activity 4
Posted in The Reel World by Gino Sassani on October 21st, 2012
Here’s the thing. Fans of the franchise should be pleased with the latest entry. The series has been a solid October tradition for some time now. When you consider the low cost of creating one of these films with the proven box office numbers, this was all really a no-brainer, to say the least. You’re going to get more of what you are expecting, and the film throws in enough new angles and tricks to keep the idea as fresh as possible. However, there is a flip-side to all of this. I don’t think it’s very likely that you can enjoy this film quite so fully if you have not seen any of the previous films.
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“31 Nights Of Terror” Excision (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 20th, 2012
“Long story short, I want to reshape my navel, and allowance won’t cover it.”
Long story short is precisely the words I would use to describe Excision. You see, it started out as a short subject film and writer/director Richard Bates, Jr. decided to make it his first feature film. That was his first mistake. While I have never seen the short film that inspired this feature, I get the strong feeling that this was better served in that format.
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“31 Nights Of Terror” Mother’s Day (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 19th, 2012
“I’m so proud of my boys. They never forget their Momma.”
What did you do for your mother the last Mother’s Day? Did you buy her some flowers and candy? Perhaps you took her out for a little adventure. You might have even cooked her a special meal. If you’re like Ike (Coffin) and his brothers, you treat your mom to a show. You torture, rape, and kill a few women who happen to find themselves in the woods. Good times, right?
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Alex Cross
Posted in The Reel World by J C on October 19th, 2012
Whenever the TV spots for Alex Cross promise that the movie features “Tyler Perry as you’ve never seen him before,” I can’t help but snarkily add “…in men’s clothing!” To put it lightly, I had my doubts when I heard the wildly successful actor/producer/director/playwright/crossdresser would be stepping into the title role, previously played on screen by Oscar winner Morgan Freeman. (Especially when Perry replaced the great Idris Elba on this project, though my giant man-crush on Elba possibly clouded my judgment.)
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“31 Nights Of Terror” Basket Case 3: The Progeny
Posted in No Huddle by Brent Lorentson on October 18th, 2012
Before Hollywood became obsessed with filming unnecessary remakes, throughout the 80’s and 90’s Hollywood was inspired to fill the multiplexes and video stores with as many horror sequels they could manage to churn out. Sure, I have a deep seeded obsession with Friday the 13th and the Nightmare on Elm Street franchises, but there are other franchises out there that were blessed with a slew of sequels when the originals, though they hold a soft spot in my horror-drenched heart, just didn’t need to continue the story; it was good as it was and should have been left that way. And that’s how I feel especially about Basket Case.
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Mad Men – Season Five (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by J C on October 18th, 2012
“When is everything gonna get back to normal?”
Is a happy, well-adjusted Don Draper a good thing? That’s one of the biggest questions posed during Mad Men’s excellent fifth season, and it’s aimed at the other characters in the show as well as a passionate TV audience that has become seriously invested in Jon Hamm’s suave antihero.
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Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender (Blu-Ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on October 17th, 2012
Some bands stand the test of time. Rolling Stones, Beatles, Bon Jovi, Village People, errrr, okay let’s continue. Another of those bands is Queen who some experts have estimated that the band has sold over two hundred million records. Their most famous lead singer is of course the legendary Freddie Mercury. But Freddie Mercury was such a unique personality that he was not always interested in making music with Queen. He had many other interests and this documentary we have today explores them.
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“31 Nights Of Terror” The Raven (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by M. W. Phillips on October 17th, 2012
“What cannot be disputed is your imagination is the inspiration of a horrendous crime.”
The Raven may not be a turkey, but it doesn’t really soar either. Director James McTeigue (V for Vendetta) attempts to fashion a historical fiction around the mysterious final five days of Edgar Allen Poe’s life. A notorious drunk and opium addict, Poe (John Cusack) careens through 19th century Baltimore dead broke, bitter from years of writer’s block, and harassed by the locals for being a blustering has-been. Due to a distinct lack of social sympathy, he can’t even borrow money for a single drink
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Prometheus (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 17th, 2012
“In space no one can hear you scream.”
It was the tagline that brought us by the droves into our neighborhood cinemas in 1979 to see one of Ridley Scott’s two classic science fiction adventures. Alien was one of the scariest science fiction films we’ve ever seen. It wasn’t just the wonderfully organic H.R. Giger designs that had us on the edge of our seats. Scott delivered a claustrophobic nightmare that caged us with this remarkable killing machine. Much the same feeling I had recently trapped in a minivan with a large spider on the prowl.
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Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 17th, 2012
“Do you want me to give it to you straight?”
When last we left our main characters from the first two Madagascar films they were stranded in Africa after being shipped from their home in the New York Zoo. We knew the sequel was coming. They couldn’t have left it any more wide open than they did. Of course, the reasonable questions were already being asked by the time the second film began. Do we really need another Madagascar film? Is there any new territory to explore?
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Holliston: The Complete First Season (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Brent Lorentson on October 17th, 2012
When I first learned that Adam Green (director of Hatchet and Frozen) would be creating a show to air on Fear Net, this seemed like a slice of heaven to me. I love horror, and with the exception of The Walking Dead and American Horror Story there just hasn’t been much to watch from the genre. So when I discovered that Green was going to be actually developing a sit-com instead, it would be fair to say I was more than a little disappointed by this news. But then I was given a glimmer of hope when I heard it would be about a pair of struggling horror filmmakers. As a film graduate and a lover of horror, this instantly became something relatable to me.
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“31 Nights Of Terror” After Dusk They Come
Posted in No Huddle by Brent Lorentson on October 16th, 2012
This is a film that’s been floating around for some time but under the title The Forgotten Ones. A simple title change isn’t going to help this film. The worst part of this train wreck is that it had every chance to be a really good film. I wish the blame could only go to one person, but there are issues with the illogical script, the direction, the camera work, the editing, and even the sound. The only things that helped make this film even bearable to watch was the cast (who didn’t have much to work with) and the makeup effects for the creatures was impressive (considering the budget).
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Wall Street (Filmmakers Signature Series) (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 16th, 2012
“Greed is Good.”
No other cinematic phrase described the 1980’s better. And no other movie captures the financial corruption of the 80’s better than Oliver Stone’s Wall Street. Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen) is a small-time stockbroker, making cold calls to businessmen who won’t give him the time of day.
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Suddenly Single
Posted in No Huddle by Jeremy Butler on October 16th, 2012
Started off rocky but pulled it together in the end. That’s my assessment of Suddenly Single, the latest play from established playwright David E. Talbert. Plays are a difficult field to be successful in, as an actor as well as a director; much more challenging than making a film. With a film, thousands if not millions of dollars are spent creating several different detailed environments to better illustrated the fictional world in which the characters live. With a play however, you get one set, and you have to tell an entire story within the confines of that one set.
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Budz House
Posted in No Huddle by Jeremy Butler on October 16th, 2012
“This movie will be a cult classic.” –Kevin Hart
That’s the quote on the front of the Budz House DVD cover. Well, I never thought I’d see the day that I’d be willing to disagree with Kevin Hart, but here it is. I was hoping that my first official review for this site would be a positive one, but sadly that is not the case. I try to go into every movie without expectations; however, when I picked up Budz House I couldn’t stop myself. I’ve seen Wesley Jonathan in other projects, most notably the basketball drama, Crossover, where he gave a rock-solid performance.
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“31 Nights of Terror” Spongebob Squarepants – Ghouls Fools
Posted in Disc Reviews by William O'Donnell on October 15th, 2012
There have been numerous DVD releases of Spongebob episodes that are linked together by a theme. Holidays are obvious choices and Halloween is an inevitable choice for any series that has multiple seasons under their belt. As expected as it may be, that does not dampen the loony fun that comes along with Sponebob.
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Contest: Win New York Mets 50 Greatest Players from A&E
Posted in Expired Contests by Gino Sassani on October 15th, 2012
PLAY BALL!!
It’s baseball playoff time again. If you’re a Mets fan it might have been a disappointing year for you. Our friends over A&E have something to cheer you up. They’ve given us three copies of New York Mets 50 Greatest Players to give away to a few lucky upcomingdiscs readers. The disc includes interviews with some of the team’s historic greats. A blue-ribbon panel selected this list of players. See if you agree.
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 who is your favorite New York Mets player of all time.
- Only those comments that answer our question will be considered.
Contest is now closed Winner is M. Ryan
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.