Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 2nd, 2016
The last time we checked in on Rocky Balboa was 2006. It was a bittersweet coda to a franchise that provided 30 years and six films of the life and times of Rocky Balboa. Some were truly great films. I'd count the first and last as in that category. Some were near misses like the third and fourth films, while the fifth was pretty much a total disaster. In those years and films we watched Rocky go from a hungry Philadelphia wannabe boxer to the champion several times over. Like the franchise, the character had his own highs and lows. There's no question that the Rocky franchise has gone the distance. And while it might have been a split decision, the Rocky films still stand as the champion of the film genre. It's no surprise that Hollywood would want to pump a little more cash out of this reliable franchise. With Sylvester Stallone not exactly in his peak shape, we enter the often disastrous territory of the reboot/reimagine/remake. Just like an athlete who doesn't know when it's time to hang it up, Hollywood is known for propping up a franchise long after its staying power has faded. In both cases somebody is going to get hurt. But don't call Rocky down for the count just yet. Writer/director Ryan Coogler just might have found a way to breathe new life into the old franchise. Rocky just might have been saved by the bell with the arrival of Creed. All of a sudden it's a whole new fight game.
Adonis Johnson (Jordan) has grown up a troubled youth. His mother is dead, and he doesn't even know who his father is. He ends up in and out of juvenile detention centers until he's rescued by a woman with a story of her own. Her name is Mary Anne Creed (Rashad), and she was married to the late fighter Apollo Creed. The fighter had an affair years ago with Adonis's mother, and now Mary wants to take the boy in and raise him as her own. Adonis finds himself with a new identity that explains a lot about why he is the way he is. It also explains why he'll eventually give up a high-paying career to fight. Up to now he's been completely self-taught and ripping up the Mexican underground fight circuits. Now he wants to go legit and understands that requires the training he never had. There's only one man who can give him that. He makes the exodus from L.A. to Philadelphia, where he approaches his father's best friend and fiercest rival ... Rocky Balboa (Stallone).
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Brent Lorentson on March 2nd, 2016
When certain stories become public domain, you just have to expect that there will be a lot of people creating their own “unique” versions of the same tale all in the name of making a few bucks. When it comes to adaptations of Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein, I think we can all agree every attempt to tell the story has not been in the name of preserving the art. What I do find surprising: despite all the attempts to bring the story to the screen, there still isn’t a version that I can say is a perfect retelling of the tale, though each may have its pros, for the most part it just never seems to translate well.
In 2004 there was a TV mini-series that attempted to bring the classic horror story to life, and the one aspect that seemed to work best is that finally we get a relatively accurate adaption from the original source material. For those who have read the material, you know that there is much more to the story than its fantastical elements of the macabre. Staying true to the source material is one thing, but what really got to me about this take on the story is that it played out more as a Gothic love story and seemed to completely lose its horror element. This is kind of a problem considering Frankenstein is considered one of the most beloved horror stories of all time.
Posted in: Tuesday Round Up by J C on March 1st, 2016
…“And in the blue Blu corner...weighing in it about 5 ounces...hailing from Warner Bros...the surprise underdog sensation of 2015...Creed!” The boxing hit starring Michael B. Jordan and recent Oscar winner Sylvester Stallone highlights this week slate of Blu-ray and DVD releases. Cinedigm clocks in with The Midnight Man, joins God's Club, takes up arms with Weaponized, and follows James Dean through some of his Life. Cinemax retaliates with Strike Back: The Final Season. And it's either Kill or Be Killed, courtesy of RLJ Entertainment. (Be sure to keep an eye out for our interview with Kill or Be Killed filmmakers Justin Meeks and Duane Graves.)
Adonis Johnson and Rocky Balboa aren't the only contenders around these parts. Congratulations to Ronald Oliver, who wins a DVD copy of Misfire, courtesy of RLJ Entertainment in our February contest.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Jeremy Butler on March 1st, 2016
“I fought for the sport of it, never to kick someone’s ass. It started in the ring and ended in the ring. Fighting should be a last resort, not a first.”
Before this quote, I must I was mildly concerned about the message this film was sending to the public. I wholeheartedly agree with the statement; however, before the words were uttered, I was mildly confused by the behavior of some of the characters in Fight to the Finish. Fortunately, the confusion did not last long, as I was quickly brought up to speed about the characters’ actions.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by J C on March 1st, 2016
Even though I like to think I've seen more movies than the average bear, I'll admit to having somewhat of a blind spot when it comes to world cinema. So I'm a little ashamed to say I hadn't even heard of Paolo and Vittorio Taviani — the Italian filmmaking brothers who have worked together all their lives and started making movies in the 1950s — before I picked up this handy three-pack from the Cohen Media Group. The Taviani Brothers Collection features three of the siblings' most acclaimed work: Padre Padrone, The Night of the Shooting Stars, and Kaos.
“Obedience is the air you breathe.”
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Brent Lorentson on February 28th, 2016
Life on the road as a comic always seemed like it would be the bachelors dream lifestyle: a new town every other night, getting to meet new people and see new sites while getting paid to tell jokes. Well, for the most part I still think it’s a pretty sweet deal, but in the new existential comedy Entertainment, we get a glimpse into what the road life would be if you just happened to be one of the worst comedians to take the stage. This slow, depressing look at The (unnamed) Comedian (Gregg Turkington) as he attempts to mend his relationship with his daughter doesn’t go for laughs but instead attempts to take an introspective look at its star, and just seems to go nowhere.
As we watch The Comedian in his life offstage, he’s your average guy who seems to be disappointed with his lot in life but seems to embrace the “art” of his craft. When we see The Comedian take the stage, we see a shift in demeanor as the quiet and meek man turns into crude and obnoxious comedian who stumbles his way through jokes and insults. It’s a very Andy-Kaufman-esque performance, only lacking the showmanship of his lounge lizard persona, and most importantly, the humor. What makes the character so frustrating is that it is obvious he’s no good, but yet he does nothing to attempt to improve upon his act, but instead he points the finger at the audience.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Brent Lorentson on February 28th, 2016
Here is an instance where there was so much promise going into this film, but because of its lack of restraint, it blew an opportunity to be a good film. The Midnight Man offers up a fun premise, a good cast, and high production values, but what plagues this film is a script that is filled with so much bad dialog you’ll wish you were watching a silent film. Quick lesson in screenwriting: don’t try to be Shane Black or Quentin Tarantino; they are a class of their own, and to try to copy them only shines a light on how bad your dialog really is. I’m being hard on this film, because had this film shown some restraint and kept the dialog simple, this could have been a really cool film.
Grady (Will Kemp) is the guy people use when things are about to get messy and you need to have your problem eliminated quickly. He’s the perfect hitman because of a special gift that he has the ability to not feel pain; the sense of touch means absolutely nothing to him. Because of his superhuman threshold against the sense of feeling, it has given him bravado that borderline makes him a reckless individual, but still he gets results.
Posted in: The Reel World by Gino Sassani on February 28th, 2016
”We recognize that it is our responsibility to help ensure that casting decisions reflect the diversity and culture of the time periods portrayed. In this instance we failed to live up to our own standards of sensitivity and diversity, for which we sincerely apologize. Lionsgate is deeply committed to making films that reflect the diversity of our audiences. We have, can, and will continue to do better...”
It's a bad sign when a studio issues a public apology months before the film ever hits the screens. Gods Of Egypt will likely be remembered, if it's remembered at all, as having some of the worst timing of any film ever. Everyone in the industry has seen the report of the lack of diversity in Hollywood. It started with the Oscars and steamrolled to an audit from there. I don't know that I buy all of this completely, and I do fear an exaggerated response in future films. Whatever you think of the controversy, Gods Of Egypt stepped right into the big pile of dog doo (Baby says it isn't hers). The epic fantasy story takes place in ancient Egypt and is cast with a rather obvious number of white Australian actors who just can't sell the whole Egyptian thing. Count Gerard Butler at the top of the list. Here's an actor who usually can't decide exactly what nationality his character is at the best of times. Now you're just setting yourself up for a disaster. In fact, there hasn't been this huge a disaster movie since Irwin Allen hung up his lenses decades ago.
Posted in: The Reel World by Brent Lorentson on February 26th, 2016
Ever since Michael Mann came along, the bar has been set when it comes to making gritty heist films. Sure, films have come close in reaching the ranks of Thief and Heat, but close isn’t enough to put films over the top. When the trailers came along for Triple 9, it was a film that I immediately had my eye on and was curious what director John Hilcoat (The Road and Lawless) would do with the material. The result is just about the most corrupt cop film to come out in ages and a gritty crime drama full of double-crosses that’ll have you questioning who are the good guys in a sea of so many bad ones. Is this a modern masterpiece or simply a slick action film? Well, to be fair, it’s somewhere in the middle. Strap on your bulletproof vest and grab and extra clip, because Triple 9 throws you in the thick of the action.
In the heart of Atlanta, Georgia, the film opens up with a fun little bank heist that doesn’t go as planned once one of the robbers gets greedy and makes a grab for cash. For those who have seen the trailer, it’s this cash grab that is responsible for the dye pack explosion that forces the robbers to create a new escape route of their own. Right off the bat the film was feeling a bit familiar, as I couldn’t help but think about Heat. But thankfully the film takes an unsuspecting turn once it is revealed that members of this heist crew are cops.
Posted in: Contests by Gino Sassani on February 26th, 2016
Our good friends at Mill Creek want you to spend some time in the slammer. That's right. One lucky Upcomingdiscs follower is going to be sentenced to 6... 6 prison films, that is. It's the Tales From The Prison Yard DVD collection from Mill Creek. You'll get Convicted with Glen Ford. Spend some time in Cell 2455, Death Row with William Campbell. Attempt an Escape From San Quentin with Johnny Desmond. Visit City Of Fear with Vince Edwards. Read The Valachi Papers with Charles Bronson. Finally, take care of The Last Detail with Jack Nicholson and Randy Quaid. Now this is what I call serving time.
To win a copy of this prize, follow these instructions.
On The Web
Sponsors
