Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Dan Holland on July 15th, 2015
I’m such a big fan of the late Charles Bronson. Though I have not seen every film on his résumé, I have seen enough to know that if you give that man a gun, you have a movie. From his leading roles in Once Upon a Time in the West and the Death Wish franchise, to his supporting roles in The Great Escape and The Magnificent Seven: if he is in it, I want to see it. Perhaps he is best known for his leading roles as hardened vigilantes or silent hit men, but it is safe to say, you are not watching Borderline for the story. You are watching it for Bronson.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on July 15th, 2015
"This story is to be neither an accusation nor a confession, and least of all an adventure, for death is not an adventure to those who stand face to face with it. It will try simply to tell of a generation of men who, even though they may have escaped its shells, were destroyed by the war" - Erich Maria Remarque
Like most people from my generation, I suspect, I saw this version of All Quiet On The Western Front first in a high school history class. I can't for the moment recall if it had been a world history class or American history.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Archive Authors on July 14th, 2015
As one who uses animal shows as a precursor to taking a nap -- much like Pavlov’s theory when I hear the melodious voice of the narrator, I drift off into a restful slumber -- I expected the same experience with the second season of Science Channel’s Mutant Planet. Having never experienced season one, with popcorn and large cup of coffee in hand, sitting – not reclining -- in my living room recliner – I was ready to ward off the yawns. Boy, was I was wrong. Mutant Planet Season Two in its glorious five-episode 220-minute runtime is, in one word, amazing. I was not expecting to say “wow” every 10 or so minutes, but that’s exactly what I did watching what animals did to adapt to their ever-changing surroundings.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on July 14th, 2015
"What you're talking about is a one-way street, you understand? Once you start there is no going back."
Ah, but there is going back if you're watching Kill Me Three Times. I don't necessarily mean that you'll want to watch the film over again (you might). Kill Me Three Times is a bit of a collection of vignettes that continue to circle back upon each other. Each time you get a different perspective or a bit of new information is unveiled. For those of you who insist on a linear logic to your films, this one's not for you. In fact, those of you who insist on logic at all might not quite get this one.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on July 14th, 2015
Typically I do not seek out modern war films for leisure watching. They may take great strides to make battles seem realistic, or just more extreme. Normally with the focus on cinematography and editing, the depth of the story is sacrificed in the process. Sure, you have a narrative to follow, but ultimately what satisfies is the visual masterpiece. For me, ’71 followed this pattern accurately, though I was pleasantly surprised with the visuals, as they went above and beyond my expectations.
Posted in: Tuesday Round Up by J C on July 14th, 2015
This week brings some truly eclectic offerings for Blu-ray and DVD aficionados of all stripes. Two of the year's best-reviewed films — sci-fi thriller Ex Machina and low-budget horror flick It Follows — make their home video debuts. (And I absolutely plan on getting my hands on both.) Movie fans can also pick up a pair of sequels (The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2), plan a date night with the latest Nicholas Sparks adaptation (The Longest Ride), or check out the extended version of a summer blockbuster from last year (X-Men: Days of Future Past — The Rogue Cut.) Meanwhile, TV watchers can scoop up season 5 of Adventure Time or the debut season of superhero cop drama Powers.
Here at UpcomingDiscs, we'll be reviewing some additional titles that will be available on July 14. So be sure to check in for our takes on Clouds of Sils Maria, All Quiet on the Western Front: The Uncut Edition, WKRP in Cincinnati: The Complete Third Season, The Legend of the Lone Ranger, Borderline, Singularity Principle, and a pair of double features in The Outing/The Godsend, and Cellar Dweller/Catacombs. We'd love to hear from you: which of this week's releases are you most excited about? And since we have stuff flying into UpcomingDiscs headquarters throughout the week, be sure to keep an eye on this post for updates.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by J C on July 13th, 2015
“I wanna tell you something. I've been a bad man...I've been a very bad man most of my life. So, I decided I want to do one thing in my life. One good thing in my life before I die.”
Those words are spoken by elite contract killer John Alexander at the start of Absolution, a straight-to-DVD offering that is largely cobbled together from the spare parts of other junky action flicks. The film stars Steven Seagal, who was a very bad man on-screen during his early '90s heyday. John wants to do one good thing before his time is up; coincidentally, all I want is for Seagal to make one action movie that at least comes close to recapturing the spark that made him a star. Absolution is not that film.
Posted in: Tribute by J C on July 12th, 2015
“Truly, for some men nothing is written unless they write it.”
In discussing the ultimate departure of Omar Sharif — the legendary actor, born Michael Shalhoub, died Friday after suffering a heart attack at a hospital in his native Egypt — it's only fitting we talk about his most famous arrival. After becoming a star in Egypt, Sharif's first English-language film was the David Lean epic Lawrence of Arabia. Sharif — who earned his sole Oscar nomination for the movie — played Sheriff Ali, who makes one of the most indelible entrances in the history of cinema. The actor seemingly materializes out of thin air; it's meant to evoke a mirage, which is fitting because moviegoers could hardly believe their eyes.
His striking, exotic looks allowed him to play everyone from Genghis Khan to Che Guevara. Sharif went on to make a pair of other iconic films, taking on the title role in Doctor Zhivago and starring opposite Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl. On top of accumulating more than 100 movie and TV credits, Sharif cultivated a sophisticated, well-rounded image off-screen. (The actor once ranked among the top 50 bridge players in the world.) Needless to say, this was a man and a performer who charted his own path and wrote his own story. Join us in celebrating Sharif's work with a trip through the UpcomingDiscs archives.
Posted in: Contests by Gino Sassani on July 10th, 2015
It's Christmas in July because our good friends at ARC Entertainment just went crazy. Their insanity is your good fortune. They've given us a July Gift Pack of three films on DVD for one lucky winner. First up is The Squeeze. A young golf talent gets caught up with a ruthless gambler. All he wants to do is take care of his family and now it might cost him everything. It’s a mix of a con film with the added interest of golf. On second base is See You In Valhalla. It stars Sarah Hyland from Modern Family. A young girl must face some tough secrets when her brother dies and she returns home. It’s a heart-warming tale that also stars Connor O’Farrell, Emma Bell, Bret Harrison and Steve Howley. To complete the triple threat you get Bank$tas. Can you mine comedy out of a financial crises and the student loan issues in this country. You can if you’re Arc Entertainment. Play in the world of high finance with the likes of Alan Thicke and Supergirl herself Laura Vandervoort. It's all going to one lucky winner.
To win a copy, just follow these simple instructions.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Jeremy Butler on July 10th, 2015
I have often wondered how blood feuds got started in the western times. The Hatfield and McCoy feud is the most legendary, of course, except before long how the whole ordeal started just became a bunch of he said/she said. In the case of Echoes of War, it turns out that the feud that is sparked between the McCluskeys and the Rileys began over a just cause; however, the battle was bit one-sided and slow-paced for my liking. Not the mention the film does a bit of a 360 on me that really turns me against the person I spent the entire movie sympathizing with.
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