Posted in: Disc Reviews by Brent Lorentson on January 10th, 2017
In 1999 The Blair Witch Project was released, and it was a horror film that created a stir like I had never seen before. I remember going to Tampa Theatre to see it opening week. The line was wrapped around the building for the sold-out screening. Discussions were going on in the line about the film actually being real, some even talking about how they heard the bodies of the three filmmakers were never found. It’s this kind of mindset going into the film that made it such an impact as I walked out of that first showing. At the time I knew I had seen something unique, but I never would have expected it to spawn an entire style of genre filmmaking that would be copied over and over again. Now nearly two decades later, director Adam Wingard (You’re Next) attempts to inject new life in the found-footage genre and into the film franchise that started it all.
The film picks up years after the disappearance of the film students in the first film. James (James Allen McCune) has been looking for evidence since his sister first disappeared. A digital video has surfaced that may have more clues as to what happened to his missing sister. It’s this hope that takes James and his friends to the woods where is sister vanished and where the legend of the Blair Witch continues to flourish. Lisa (Callie Hernandez) makes plans to document the trip to the woods as they hope to acquire this new evidence, and she comes armed with an array of high-tech gadgets to document the journey.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on January 10th, 2017
"Evil has returned to Sleepy Hollow."
With the big bad finally destroyed and an apocalypse averted, the dynamic duo of Sleepy Hollow have gone their separate ways. Abby is now with the FBI, while Crane has gone into seclusion and ends up in jail for trying to sneak an artifact into the country from his homeland of Scotland. Abby gets him out of trouble only to discover that the tablet Crane found in his family crypt back in Europe holds more prophesy for the pair of witnesses. The two have to come back together to save the world from yet another end of times.
Posted in: Tuesday Round Up by J C on January 10th, 2017
We’re only a couple of weeks away from the start of tax season, so it won’t hurt to have your trusty accountant nearby. Fortunately for us, Warner Bros. was kind enough to send a copy of The Accountant, the action hit that stars Ben Affleck as a math savant/killing machine. Elsewhere, Comedy Central yuks it up (and lights up) with Broad City: Season 3.
One last reminder before signing off for the week: if you’re shopping for anything on Amazon — maybe a present or two — 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 Brent Lorentson on January 9th, 2017
There is something about a Rob Zombie film that will always be a draw, and it is always the realism that he brings to the screen. Whether it’s The Devil’s Rejects or his version of Halloween, he always presents it in a way that I feel is grounded in reality. Perhaps it’s also because I live in Florida, and there are some small towns that you don’t want to break down in at night for fear of crossing some crazed backwoods types. To put it out there, I was a fan of Rob Zombie before he was putting out movies, and I have all of his albums; he’s just a guy who does stuff that I really dig. That being said, I can be objective in saying his films have been a bit all over the place, but Lords of Salem was a piece of work that I simply loved, and I felt it showed a lot of growth from his previous films and worked well as a slow burn. Now he’s released 31 upon the masses, a Kickstarter film that was initially (if not mostly) financed by fans. Is it worth the investment? Well, it depends on what you were hoping for.
The film opens in a static shot with Doom-Head (Richard Brake) approaching the camera and unloading a menacing monologue. This is the kind of opening that should get any horror fan excited and anxious for the kind of violence that is about to be unleashed in the film, yet sadly the film never quite lives up to this scene. This doesn’t mean the film is bad; I just mean that the opening is just THAT good, and it just leaves you with anticipation to see so much more with this character.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Jeremy Butler on January 9th, 2017
And the Ultimate Legacy makes three, marking the third installment in what will undoubtedly become known as the "Ultimate" series. Please don't misunderstand my meaning; I say that as a good thing. Granted, before I watched the film I would have likely said that sardonically, but I must admit to being genuinely touched by the story and have gained an appreciation for the message behind it. Given this is the third go-around for the franchise, the themes and some of the cast is already well established by this point, which opens it up to becoming boring and stagnant; however, despite those obstacles it remains fresh and engaging. It is definitely a movie that should be shared with the whole family.
Joey Anderson (Myko Oliver) left home as soon as he was able and has never looked back, embracing his life as a nomad and enjoying his wanderlust as the thought of home only holds bad memories in his opinion. However, he has no choice but to return following the death of his grandmother. Determined to just pay his respects, collect his inheritance, and get back on the road, his plans are interrupted when he discovers that he can only collect his inheritance if he completes stipulations that were laid out by his grandmother and being carried out by her legal team which includes the retiring (reprising his role from the past two films) Mr. Harrison (Bill Cobbs) and his team of experts, which includes Jason Stevens (Logan Bartholomew, Ultimate Life),who is brought in to help Joey with his assignment after completing his own assignment. Joey is unhappy with the situation, especially given that one of the stipulations is that he remains at the infamous Anderson House for a year period.
Posted in: Contests by Gino Sassani on January 5th, 2017
Mission: Jimmy Stewart And The Fight For Europe. You've been hearing a lot about this wonderful book by Robert Matzen. I had the opportunity to talk with him. You can revisit that chat Here. We also made it one of our unpaid Holiday Gift Guide Spotlights. Now you're going to have a chance to win a copy for yourself. We truly saved the best for last. Thanks to our new friends at GoodKnight Books I have a hardbound copy to give to one Upcomingdiscs reader. If you enter just one of our contests this year, make it this one.
To win a copy of this prize, follow these instructions.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by J C on January 4th, 2017
“America is the only industrialized nation with a higher murder rate than countries at civil war.”
2016 might technically be in the rearview mirror, but it feels like last year left an indelible mark on the psyche of the United States. In addition to the most polarizing presidential election in a very long time, last year was marked by the deadliest shooting in U.S. history about an hour away from where I’m currently sitting, along with other highly-publicized instances of gun violence. So it feels like an appropriate time to revisit The Killing of America, a 1981 documentary that was never granted a commercial U.S. release after being deemed too exploitative.
Posted in: Contests by Gino Sassani on January 4th, 2017
The Odd Couple: Season 1 on DVD. First it was Jack Lemmon and Walter Mathau. Later it would be Tony Randall and Jack Klugman. An early 1980’s black version featured Ron Glass and Demond Wilson. In 1998 the original pairing of Lemmon and Mathau reprised the roles. Now it’s Thomas Lennon and Matthew Perry. Of course, I’m talking about Felix Unger and Oscar Madison from Neil Simon’s brilliant The Odd Couple. CBS has brought back the popular concept now heading into second season. They’ve given us 2 copies of the complete first season to give away to a couple of Upcomingdiscs readers.
To win a copy of this prize, follow these instructions.
Posted in: Tuesday Round Up by J C on January 3rd, 2017
The first Tuesday Round Up of 2017 is getting the New Year off to a spooky start. Lionsgate ventures back into the woods to meet up with the Blair Witch, while Fox makes us lose our heads thanks to Sleepy Hollow: Season 3. Finally, Reel Gore Releasing has a bloody good time with The Orphan Killer. Meanwhile in non-horror news, Cinedigm leaves behind The Ultimate Legacy, while HBO takes us back to the Big Apple (with a detour to Japan) to hang out with Girls: Season 5.
It might be a new year now, but you're going to get the same weekly reminder before we sign off for the week: 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: Contests by Gino Sassani on January 3rd, 2017
Noma: My Perfect Storm & Entertainment on Blu-ray. Magnolia has been a powerhouse this Christmas for Upcomingdiscs and for all of you guys. I have 1 copy each of these films on Blu-ray. Noma: My Perfect Storm: Noma is the name of the award-winning Copenhagen restaurant operated by Chef Rene Redzepi. The film dips into Redzepi’s origin story. Entertainment: An aging comedian ends up on a tour of dive venues while attempting to re-connect with his estranged daughter.
To win a copy of this prize, follow these instructions.
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