Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 2nd, 2017
"Man, we'll die with you. Just don't ask us to do it twice."
Remember the old days of the action movie? Those films where someone like Stallone or Schwarzenegger would run around and take out armies of bad guys while barely breaking a sweat. You know the kind of movie I'm talking about. The ones where the hero goes up against a hail of bullets and explosions and manages to pick off the bad guys without catching a single slug himself. These were the days when a guy like Bruce Willis could fall thirty floors, get a spike impaled in his ribcage, have a ton of concrete wall fall on his head, and get run over by a truck, but still manage to take out the bad guy while muttering some witty little catchphrase that we would all be repeating, because if we could deliver the line just right that meant we were tough guys too, and we didn't even have to fall out of an airplane to prove it. Well, you won't have to remember. You just have to watch Sly Stallone's love letter to the action movie fans. It's called The Expendables, and it's out right now on UHD Blu-ray in 4K from Lionsgate.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by John Delia on May 2nd, 2017
When’s the last time you saw a good dog movie with love, devotion, and heroism? Not the animated type, but one that stars dogs doing some awesome stunts, creating the love for animals and even inspiration. Well, you can find all that and more in the movie A Dog’s Purpose, a fun, adventure of a dog’s life that runs full circle. It’s fun for the whole family, but don’t be surprised when your youngster starts begging for a new furry friend. After escaping from a cage, a starving young pup gets saved by Elizabeth (Juliet Rylance). Her son Ethan (Bryce Gheisar) wants to keep the dog, and after an intervention with his father, Elizabeth wins out. Young Ethan names his new-found friend Bailey (narrated by Josh Gad), and they get along famously. As time goes by, Ethan (KJ Apa), now a popular high school football player, finds his true love with the help of Bailey.
The film goes on from there as Ethan finds himself losing a chance at a college scholarship when he gets hurt in a fire-related accident. Director Lasse Hallstrom does a very good job of changing from one breed of dog to another, showing all the quirks of the new pup’s personality. He provides a lot of comedy with the different dogs, touching scenes that warm the heart and some very dramatic situations that lead to heroic deeds. Mixed in with the passage of time the audience does get exposed to very strong scenes showing abuse, so please be cautioned when taking the immature youngsters to see A Dog’s Purpose.
Posted in: Tuesday Round Up by J C on May 2nd, 2017
This week's Round Up stars a group of muscle-bound action movie all-stars like we've never seen them before! Lionsgate was kind enough to spare copies of The Expendables and The Expendables 2 in 4K, so be sure to check back soon for our reviews. And speaking of icons of yesteryear, Paramount has taken (dance) steps to ensure that John Travolta's big screen breakout stays alive thanks to Saturday Night Fever: 40th Anniversary Director's Cut. (Our longtime friend Michael Durr came out of retirement to review this one.) Time Life goes to war with Bob Hope Salutes the Troops, while Passion River Films gets in touch with its artistic side in Saving Banksy. Finally, CBS/Paramount rolls the dice with Vega$: The Complete Series, while Universal spotlights some four-legged friends with A Dog's Purpose.
Now it's time for your weekly reminder before signing off: if you’re shopping for anything on Amazon and you do it through one of our links, it’ll help keep the lights on here at UpcomingDiscs. See ya next week!
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on May 1st, 2017
Even though I was born in 1975, I don't remember a thing until I was about 5 years old, therefore I missed most of the "Disco" era. My dad would play music from the 70's, but that consisted of Led Zeppelin, Queen and Black Sabbath among other bands; no disco in sight. But one faithful day in my middle school years, I did find my mother's record and 8-track collection. There was some Barry Manilow, Julio Iglesias, and something called the Bee-Gees. I wouldn't say anything crazy like it turned my life around, but after listening, I clearly understood. I clearly understood that my mother was crazy and I was much better off listening to Whole Lotta Love. Anyway, we have a movie to review, let's continue with Saturday Night Fever.
A train whistle calls in the distance as we overlook the Verrazano Bridge. A tune to the name of Staying Alive chimes in. Tony Manero (played by John Travolta) walks down the street in his red shoes; perfectly in time to the music swinging a paint can. He checks out a few girls, orders a couple of slices of pizza and then makes his way to the paint & hardware store. Apparently, he works there for Mr. Fusco (played by Sam Coppola).
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on May 1st, 2017
By 1978 the television detective model had been nearly complete and possibly already a cliché. Dan Tanna might have well been the complete model as far as the formula goes. It was almost as if you could go down a checklist and, like Dr. Frankenstein creating a monster, you would check off the necessary elements. The scripts could then almost write themselves, and you let the show fly on autopilot for three seasons or so until someone decides to look behind the curtain.
So let’s go down that checklist, shall we?
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Dan Holland on April 30th, 2017
The early 1930’s was an excellent time for production of horror films. 1931 saw the classic productions of Frankenstein and Dracula, and 1932 The Mummy and White Zombie. These are all what I would call genre-defining films: they have refined the formulaic plots (mad scientist, supernatural threat) that came before them, but did so while incorporating the famous images we see today. Think about it; 80 years later and we still see Frankenstein’s monster with a flattened head and bolts, or Dracula with the jet-black widow’s peak and cape. As iconic as these films have become, there are countless productions that have flown under the radar of popularity. Frank R. Strayer’s The Vampire Bat is one such film that is worthy of more attention.
As the villagers of a small town begin dying of blood loss, a motley crew of town elders jump straight to the conclusion of vampirism. However, Inspector Breetschneider (Melvyn Douglas) remains skeptical, allowing a voice of reason the audience can adhere to through the supernatural claims. While Breetschneider begins to investigate the exsanguinations, the town’s scientist, Dr. Otto von Niemann (Lionel Atwill) cares for each of the victims. Soon enough, the town begins to suspect Herman Glieb (Dwight Frye), who has a fascination with bats.
Posted in: Uncategorized by Gino Sassani on April 28th, 2017
This is an announcement. This is not a review. We will likely have one posted as the unit is made available to us soon.
MENLO PARK, California – April 24, 2017 – OPPO Digital announced that its UDP-205 4K Ultra HD Audiophile Blu-ray Disc player is available for purchase. A step-up version of the recently released UDP-203, the UDP-205 brings top-of-the-line audio performance to a universal player that supports 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and many other digital audio and video formats.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on April 28th, 2017
"Everyone outside the family is a mark. Family comes first."
Meet the most dysfunctional crime family since The Sopranos. Not quite at the same level either on-screen or in quality, but once again we're drawn toward another dangerous clan with criminal intent. I guess we could call them The Baritones. Actually Animal Kingdom is an apt description for television's latest baddies. They're about to head into their second season of mayhem on TNT where the series was the network's top ratings winner during its run. Now that first season is out on Blu-ray from Warner Brothers, and it's one crazy ride, of that you can be certain.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Brent Lorentson on April 25th, 2017
I have to admit I’m a sucker for cryptozoology, and stories about chupacabras and Bigfoot are fun to talk about. In the reality-TV-show world, there are many shows that have people travelling in the woods in search of evidence of these creatures. The proof is sketchy at best, but still it makes for entertaining television. Now we have the found-footage film Chupacabra Territory that dares to take us on an adventure into chupacabra territory where four hikers manage to get lost in the woods. Is the found footage worth checking out? Well, that all depends how big a fan of the found-footage genre you happen to be.
As a creature that rose in popularity in the 90’s, when I’m watching this film with its ancient texts and stories about possession I’m sort of scratching my head wondering what the hell these people are going on about. I’m fine with taking liberties with this kind of stuff; after all, it’s nothing that has been proven to exist, but it’s as though the filmmakers didn’t know if they were doing a creature-in-the woods film, a disease-outbreak film, an alien film, or a possession film. It’s all over the place, and that frustrated me as a viewer, because the film just doesn’t make sense.
Posted in: Tuesday Round Up by J C on April 25th, 2017
It's a jungle out there, my friends. And judging by at least one noteworthy arrival this week, it also happens to be a jungle in here at UpcomingDiscs HQ! Warner Bros. was kind enough to send us a copy of Animal Kingdom: Season 1, which is based on the acclaimed Aussie crime drama. Meanwhile, Film Detective is out for blood with The Vampire Bat, and CBS/Paramount carries on The Affair: Season 3. Finally, you can already read our take on Sony's action-packed The Marine 5: Battleground.
Here's your weekly reminder before signing off until May: if you’re shopping for anything on Amazon and you do it through one of our links, it’ll help keep the lights on here at UpcomingDiscs. See ya next week!
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