Posted in: Disc Reviews by J C on September 8th, 2015
The Star Wars universe is famously vast, and that's before the Force even Awakens this Christmas and kicks off a new series of feature films. (And let's not even go down the Expanded Universe rabbit hole.) My point is that it's been almost 40 years since Star Wars premiered, and the army of artists who have taken on George Lucas' iconic creations haven't even come close to running out of material to explore. Disney XD's Star Wars Rebels is an engaging, thoroughly zippy entry that is likely to entertain its intended young target audience along with those who have been obsessed with the Force since a long time ago.
“The Emperor has foreseen a new threat rising against him. The children of the Force...they must not become Jedi.”
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Jeremy Butler on September 8th, 2015
Good Kill is a term used by drone operators to signify whether ordinance have successfully hit the intended target however the term takes on some much more meaning. Ethan Hawke portrays a former jet pilot now transitioning into a position as a drone operator. Day in and day out, he surveillances areas from thousands of miles away periodically eliminating targets that would look to destroy American lives. However when his section is loaned out to the Central Intelligence Agency, the clear cut targets become less clear cut and both his personal and professional life begin to suffer as he struggles with the morality of what he does.
Ethan Hawke is Major Thomas Egan, a former jet pilot transitioning into the position as a UAV operator. Egan is not entirely comfortable in his new position, preferring the inside of a fighter jet to a bunker. Early on, it is clear that Egan is trouble by his situation. Despite being able to go home and be with his family as opposes to being deployed with the possibility of never seeing them again, Egan is as his wife would say is miles away.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 8th, 2015
"Let's Be Careful Out There!"
Hill Street Blues turned television on its head. It featured an incredible-sized ensemble cast. The use of so many characters was a considerable risk. Would the writers be able to provide us with enough meat for each to care what happens to them? The answer was a resounding yes. We cared. We cared so much that Hill Street Blues broke the standing record for Emmy nominations and wins before its seven-year journey ended. Bochco used stories that carefully intertwined each character in a tapestry that never quite ended. Episodes were not wrapped up into tidy little packages of resolution each week. Some storylines took the entire seven years to tell. He wasn’t afraid to kill off a beloved regular cast member, so we were always kept off guard. No one was invulnerable. That doesn't mean you were not treated to a full story with each episode. The formula usually allowed for one complete story each episode, a part of a 3-5-story arc, and finally threads that might weave themselves through years of the series. There just weren't any throwaway lines or characters. You could never be sure where one minor thing might blow up into compelling drama down the road.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 5th, 2015
"1836, Republic of Texas. The Mexican territory is home to thousands of US settlers. Tensions rise as Comanche and Kawakawa fight to keep their lands. Outlaws roam free, and slaves are caught in the crossfire. Mexican General Santa Anna battles to reclaim the land. US President Andrew Jackson is hesitant to intervene, and Texas has no choice but to declare itself an independent nation... The Alamo in ashes, pioneers, Tejanos, Indians and soldiers have no choice: fight or die."
Houston, we have a problem. No, I'm not talking about an ill-fated and ill-numbered Apollo craft hobbled between the Earth and the Moon.
But that was the call that went out to General Sam Houston in 1836 as General Santa Anna massacred the residents of The Alamo and continued his bloody march through the newly-formed Republic of Texas. Only one man could lead an army against him, and he appeared inclined to do nothing at all. But it was all part of a skillful strategy that would turn the course of a war and North American history itself. He's the man the city was named for. This is how he lived up to that name. The story starts here.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Jeremy Butler on September 5th, 2015
Not really sure the title matches the film, but then perhaps there is a hidden significance that I’m not getting. Well, here is a real gritty tale about addiction told within the context of a love story. Animals follows a young couple that appears to be so deeply in love that they are willing to do anything for one another. In fact the only thing that seems to have the capacity to tear them apart is their shared drug addiction. This film really emphasizes the ideal that couples must have a shared interest. Sorry, that was my attempt at humor.
Animals pulls no punches and really shows the gritty side to addiction, all the while attempting to show a love story. Throughout the film, Bobby and Jude commit petty crime in order to support their habit. In the beginning their cons are somewhat impressive and have a sort of elegance to them; however, as withdrawal sets in, the cons become more and more flawed, and their desperation is almost palpable. This is something that was illustrated very well: desperation. In select scenes, I began to feel a slightly bad for them, especially when the pain and agony of their situation began to tear at the one thing that valued, each other. Here is the conflict; it was those scenes when the film had the most effect and was truly compelling such as in the conclusion of the film when Bobby forces Jude to make a decision that will affect their relationship. In truth, you know what his answer will be before he says anything, but you feel a great deal of dread in anticipation.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by J C on September 4th, 2015
If nothing else, The Curse of Downers Grove lives up (or rather down) to its morose title. It’s too bad because this (non-)thriller actually has a promising premise: every year, a supposed curse in the titular suburban Illinois town kills a senior at the local high school. The movie could’ve gone for darkly comic thrills or tried to construct a mystery around who the latest victim might be, to name just a couple of examples. Instead, this shoddy, inert flick squanders a variety of opportunities on the way to its preposterous conclusion.
The action here picks up with one week to go in the school year. Chrissie Swanson (Bella Heathcote) is a sharp, skeptical senior who doesn’t fully believe in the curse, despite witnessing the previous year’s victim plunge to his death. Did the curse kill him and the other teens or was it bad luck and good ol’ fashioned stupidity? I’m sure the fact that the high school was built on sacred Native American ground has nothing to do with anything.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by J C on September 4th, 2015
The D Train was not what I expected...and thank goodness for that. The film boasts that it's from the “comedic geniuses who brought you Nacho Libre and Wayne's World,” although the only thing those two movies have in common is that they're both comedies with, um, people in them. Meanwhile, the glossy poster makes it look like an inspirational drama, which doesn't exactly mesh with the phallic-sounding title. In other words, there's nothing about The D Train that hints at the intriguing dramedy lurking underneath.
Dan Landsman (Jack Black) is the unpopular self-appointed chairman of his high school's alumni association. The group is struggling to lure former students to their upcoming reunion when Dan spots former cool kid Oliver Lawless (James Marsden) on TV in a Banana Boat sunscreen ad. (Given the comically inflated significance of the commercial, I assume/hope The D Train producers were handsomely compensated by Banana Boat.) The commercial is a light bulb moment for Dan: if he can get a “hot-shot” actor like Oliver to attend the reunion, more people will follow and Dan will be a hero to the committee colleagues who mock and shun him.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Archive Authors on September 4th, 2015
by Dustin P. Anderson
Our story follows Primo as he leads the son of a fallen comrade, John, through the life of a Blood. John is trying to follow in the footsteps of his recently departed father by running “packages” for the gang. His mother tries to keep him on the law-abiding path, but John’s ties to the gang are deep. John soon figures out the burdens of this lifestyle and must make a choice on whether he will stay the course of his father, or adhere to the wishes of his mother. Primo’s words serve as both advice and caution as John makes this decision. Primo warns that there are no favorites in this life, only business.
Posted in: Contests by Gino Sassani on September 3rd, 2015
Our buds over at XLrator Media have given us 2 copies of their latest film Five Star to give away. It's a rather unique mix of fiction and documentary style that delves into the culture of New York's street gang world. Written and directed by Keith Miller the film stars James "Primo" Grant and John Diaz.
To win a copy, just follow these simple instructions.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Jeremy Butler on September 3rd, 2015
It is one of the most anticipated movies of the summer and another subject in the category of “can Tom Hardy do no wrong?” Mad Max: Fury Road is the reimagining of the iconic film that helped launch Mel Gibson’s career decades earlier. This is not new territory in Hollywood by any stretch of the imagination; remakes have happened so often in recent years that they have practically become their own genre. However, I would like to point out something that will hopefully set this film apart in the eyes of the audience: how often do you see a remake that is overseen by the creator of the original film that you know and love?
OK, OK, perhaps this is not entirely new territory as well, except I am certain that Mad Max fans all over the world leaped for joy when news broke that the architect of the originals, George Miller, had decided to helm the remake as well. Heck, it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that is the underlying reason that many of you folks intend to see the movie. And it is in that spirit that I would like to impart a piece of advice upon the future audience: put the past out of your mind when you are watching this. It is not a continuation, it is an origin story. Yes, I know that it seems like a simple concept, and maybe I am rehashing thoughts you have already had, but for argument’s sake, just do what I ask, and I promise you will have a far better experience.








