Posted in: The Reel World by Gino Sassani on April 16th, 2016
"This is the law of the jungle..."
Disney appears to have a law that all of its classic cartoon features must now be made into live-action films. As I've mentioned in my review of the original classic The Jungle Book, the animated feature was the end of an important era at Walt Disney Studios. It was released about a year after Walt's death and was the last film he supervised from beginning to end. In the wake of Walt's death the studio experienced a sharp turnover and complete retooling of the animation department. With only the nine old men to carry the traditions of Walt into the future, The Jungle Book would forever mark a distinct milestone in the history of animated feature films.
Posted in: Random Fun by Brent Lorentson on April 15th, 2016
It has been “Ten years of film,” the Gasparilla International Film Festival touts proudly upon its program magazine. It’s certainly a feat to be proud of for a festival that has had its share of troubles over the years and at one point was seriously close to never happening again. But in 2016 the festival is ready to kick things off on a beautiful spring day in the heart of downtown Tampa, Florida at the Tampa Theatre for its opening night film Eye in the Sky. The red carpet is rolled out for this big-time affair that has drawn a fair amount of media attention and plenty of festival-goers to fill the historic theatre to experience this moment when Hollywood comes into our city to put on a cinematic show. And over the next few days film fans will be flooding down the aisles to look upon the screen, to take in a few films and have a chance to experience a film with the potential to be the next great classic, or perhaps its only public viewing.
Opening night goes just about as you would expect as the beautiful people of the Tampa Bay area gather together for photos while an excited buzz works through the crowd. Flashbulbs ignite as director Gavin Hood (Enders Game, Eye in the Sky) takes photos and fields questions from various reporters. For some fans, over the course of the night this will be their chance to rub shoulders with various filmmakers and go away with stories to tell their friends about who they got to meet. After all, it’s at these festivals where the filmmakers get a chance to step out in front of an audience and discuss their latest film and engage various fans while enjoying some cocktails.
Posted in: Contests by Gino Sassani on April 15th, 2016
Our friends at Magnolia Home Entertainment have even more goodies in store for you. After making you a wreck they want to scare the heck out of you with Last Shift on Blu-ray. They've given us 2 copies of the supernatural fright-fest to give away. This one has plenty of gore and chills so it's not for the weak of heart. Don't say we didn't warn you. Enter to win a copy... if you're not too afraid, that is.
To win a copy of this prize, follow these instructions.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Brent Lorentson on April 15th, 2016
David Crane struck television gold after creating not just one of the biggest comedies of the 90’s but one of the biggest shows of all time when he created Friends. Love it or hate it, Friends was a series you just couldn’t escape while it dominated the ratings through its 10-season run. Well over a decade since the show has gone off the air; it’s a show that continues to thrive in syndication. And that is where Episodes picks up, the show from Friends creator David Crane and starring Matt LeBlanc, who plays himself in a show that parodies the life of a fading celebrity who is struggling to find his next big hit.
The new season picks up with Sean (Stephen Mangan) and Beverly (Tamsin Greig) attempting to get a new show of theirs green-lit as their previous show “Pucks” teeters on finally being cancelled. Sean and Beverly are the charming anchors for the show and are the real stars of the show as we follow along with their struggles with the Hollywood system; every time they seem to get ahead and have control of their new series, it comes with a cost. The struggles seem to be so absurd but could easily have been situations that television writers encounter on a daily basis.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by J C on April 15th, 2016
“Am I irrelevant? I refuse to be irrelevant.”
Outside of The Golden Girls, there haven't been too many TV shows where the entire main cast is eligible for social security. Then again, chasing the 18-49 demo that advertisers covet isn't much of a concern for a subscription-based service like Netflix, which debuted Grace and Frankie last year. Naturally, the series — whose four main actors are each 75 and older — has its share of geriatric humor. (Although the broken hip doesn't occur till Ep. 5/“The Fall”.) More importantly, it also has some genuinely funny things to say about companionship and reinvention.
Posted in: Contests by Gino Sassani on April 14th, 2016
Our terrific friends over at Magnolia Home Entertainment want to wreck your day. But it's a good thing. If you know anything about music history you know who The Wrecking Crew was. If you don't, here's your chance to find out. These were the studio musicians that shaped the sound of the most popular artists of the 1960's and 1970's. Magnolia has given us 4 copies of their Blu-ray The Wrecking Crew. You can check out John's review Here. Then enter to win one for yourself.
To win a copy of this prize, follow these instructions.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on April 13th, 2016
“Witches live among us. Their magic passed from an ancient race, diluted, half-forgotten, but dangerously powerful. After centuries of conflict, a truce was forged. Witches would be allowed to live and govern themselves if they followed one strict rule: that magic never be used against humans. But a truce is a fragile thing…”
Vin Diesel has made the Fast and Furious franchise into a massive global behemoth, but Diesel is not a global behemoth on his own. He has had successes and failures. He is someone who seems to be an unlikely star. He tried to make Riddick (Pitch Black, The Chronicles of Riddick, Riddick) into a multi-film franchise and accomplished it through sheer force of will, but his stardom largely rests on Fast and Furious. Diesel bristles at being typecast, so he has always tried to find new vehicles that will demonstrate his range. XXX was a big success, but Diesel did not appear in the sequel. XXX: The Return Of Xander Cage is on the schedule for 2017. He walked away from Fast and Furious for a few installments because he was so intent on diversity, but eventually relented and came back. The Last Witch Hunter is his latest attempt to start a new franchise. The film was attacked by some critics when it was released, but it is a pretty decent attempt to create a new legend out of a cauldron of Dungeons and Dragons ideas. That was the inspiration, and a group of script writers did a decent job, and the director Breck Eisner (son of Michael) also does a good job. The cast includes Sir Michael Caine, Elijah Wood, and Rose Leslie (wildling Ygritte from Game of Thrones). It also includes excellent actors such as Isaach De Bankole as a male witch who runs a restaurant that sells pastries that includes ingredients such as hallucinogenic bugs. All the elements are in place to make a great movie experience. The problem is that there is a weak link. It’s Diesel.
Posted in: Contests by Gino Sassani on April 13th, 2016
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 it's second season. Before you join the new episodes CBS wants to to catch up on season 1. They've given us 5 copies of the complete first season to give away to a handful of Upcomingdiscs readers.
To win a copy of this prize, follow these instructions.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on April 13th, 2016
"We have known them only as shadows, gazing at us from a ghostly world of black and white. But now the American Civil War can at last be seen as those who lived and died experienced it...in vivid color."
It was the bloodiest conflict in American history. Maybe because Americans fought on both sides of the brutal conflict. It might have been because it was a deeply personal war, often between brothers. The cause was one that cut deeply in both the hearts and minds of the men fighting. A young nation was being torn apart, and war appeared the only path toward any kind of peace. The passions of that war still ring out today. The Confederate flag has become something of a symbol beyond what it once was intended to represent. It has become a symbol of hatred for some and is quickly disappearing from our nation's landscape. Stores are now refusing to sell any products that bear its image. Confederate soldiers are finding their memorials being erased and their names expunged from history. We must be careful that we do not expunge the memory of the war each side fought. It's the curse of history that to forget is to relive. Here's another chance to remember why and how so many Americans died.
Posted in: Tuesday Round Up by J C on April 12th, 2016
It's a shorter Round Up than usual, pardners! But one release we're reviewing for you this week has one of the longer titles you're likely to find anywhere. Magnolia Home Entertainment revs up The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a Gun, a French-Belgian thriller/mouthful. Meanwhile, Lionsgate laughs it up with Grace and Frankie: Season One. Finally, Shout! Factory spends some family time with Sisters: Season 4.
One last reminder before signing 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!
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