Posted in: Disc Reviews by J C on March 27th, 2014
“…I’m the f---ing Vice President of the United States, and I have something to say.”
If you’ve seen Veep, you know it’s almost impossible to quote the show without including an f-bomb or any of the show’s crassly creative put-downs. The sitcom’s central joke remains that the vice presidency might be the most high-profile unimportant job in the world. As a result, the second season of HBO’s caustic comedy sees VP Selina Meyer making moves to improve her political standing. Of course, she and her harried staff can’t avoid the humiliations and indignities that come with the job.
Posted in: Contests, Expired Contests by Gino Sassani on March 27th, 2014
The cool folks down at Arc Entertainment have a treat for some lucky Upcomingdiscs readers. They've given us 3 copies of the touching film Angels In The Stardust. William Robert Carey directs Alicia Silverstone and AJ Michalka in a tale of a girl with big dreams who finds them at an enchanted drive-in. This heart-warming family drama is now available on DVD.
To win just follow these instructions.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Brent Lorentson on March 27th, 2014
It’s spring break, and you know what that means, college co-eds are taking a break from hitting the books and are up for getting into reckless debauchery, heavy drinking and plenty of things they hope their parents never find out about. It’s not as though horror films ever need an excuse to make mincemeat of bikini-clad girls, and for fans of the genre, the more bikini clad girls the better. Along with the pretty faces, though, we horror and gore hounds do enjoy a good story tacked on for good measure.
Horror fans can excuse a film for some bad acting or cheesy effects so long as a story is there. In the case of Machine Head, it starts off by hitting the right stereotypical notes but then quickly falls apart.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 25th, 2014
Sometimes a horror movie comes along that is rich in originality and ideas. Dark House certainly fits into that category. There are some truly scary moments and seriously frightening images to be found here. For a low-budget affair, the movie sports pretty solid acting and an atmospheric production design. Writer/director Victor Salva knows how to get the most out of the resources at his command. That doesn't mean there isn't a serious flaw to be found here. This is a movie that is often a little too clever and more than a little enigmatic at times. It won't allow itself to be contained into any particular style or sub-genre, and that's a good thing. If only all of this didn't also get in the way of telling a tight story, this could have become the next cult classic. If wishes were horses....
Nick (Kleintank) is searching for answers about who he is. His mother has spent the last several years in an insane asylum, and he's visiting her for the first time in years. He's hoping she'll tell him who his father was. It's his 23rd birthday, and apparently that's a magical number in nature. As it turns out, Mom's promised to tell him this day. No, she hadn't promised Nick. She's talking to something inside the walls. Unfortunately, a breakdown nixes the big reveal, and a disastrous fire at the asylum later that night forever seals Mom's lips.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by J C on March 25th, 2014
Besides the fact that it stars Leonardo DiCaprio and that it’s essentially a white collar gloss on Goodfellas, you’d be forgiven for thinking somebody other than Martin Scorsese directed The Wolf of Wall Street. I don’t mean to suggest Scorsese has lost his masterful touch or his passion for filmmaking, both of which were on display as recently as two years ago in the wonderful Hugo. It’s more that after spending the better part of the 21st century making strong, serious dramas, I didn’t necessarily expect Scorsese to make his funniest, loosest and most audacious picture in decades.
“I want you to deal with your problems by becoming rich.”
Posted in: Contests, Expired Contests by Gino Sassani on March 24th, 2014
Our good buddies over at Well Go USA have given us 2 copies of Commitment, the Korean action thrill staring Choi Seung-Hyun the Korean Rap and Pop star. For Asian action addicts this one's a keeper. It's all in high definition Blu-ray.
To win just follow these instructions.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by J C on March 24th, 2014
“In my experience, people just aren't that interested in what happens to the help.”
Lifetime viewers and Devious Maids creator Marc Cherry beg to differ. After debuting to modest ratings last summer, the show steadily gained viewers and hit a series high in viewership with its finale. (Not surprisingly, it was promptly renewed for a second season.) Cherry previously struck eight seasons worth of gold with Desperate Housewives on ABC. As someone who enjoyed watched more Housewives episodes than I care to admit, I can appreciate both the positive and negative ways this show echoes Cherry's previous smash success.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by William O'Donnell on March 23rd, 2014
Last time I covered the multi-lingual adventures of Dora, she was reimagining Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol. This time around we see her take on Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Like that other special, this episode is twice the length of a normal episode. But unlike that other special, this one features a noteworthy lineup of guest voices such as Mel Brooks, Jewel, and Alan Cumming.
This tale shares similarities to the original book in settings and character names only. There is no menace facing Dora, only animals that are politely asked to move aside. Aside from stretching things out to a longer length with some additional story, and a few musical numbers, this special would seamlessly fit amongst other Dora episodes for it contains none of the psychedelic spirit found in Carroll's original story. Fans will not be turned off by it whatsoever (and by fans I mean children around the age of 2) and parents can rely on it for 55 minutes of distraction.
This particular DVD comes with a Dora paper-doll that your youngling can smear crayon all over and eventually lose a week after playing with it.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on March 21st, 2014
For some reason, I have themes that I keep reviewing time in and time again (regardless of whether I enjoy the subject matter or not). One of those themes or rather people is Allen Ginsberg, one of the most important poets of the 20th century and symbol of the Beat Generation. A few years ago, I reviewed Howl which was more about his 1957 obscenity trial. This film, Kill Your Darlings deals with the relationship between Allen Ginsberg and Lucien Carr. Let us see how well this one turns out.
"Some things once you love them become yours forever.", the narrator speaks as we shift to a scene where a half naked man covered in blood carries another unconscious man. After this shocking imagery, we shift again to see Lucien Carr (played by Dane DeHaan) in jail with Allen Ginsberg (played by Daniel Radcliffe) outside the bars. Lucien tells Allen that he can't tell the story. Allen looks dead at Lucien and says, "Watch Me."
Posted in: The Reel World by Brent Lorentson on March 21st, 2014
In the wake of the Hunger Games and Twilight studios have been snatching up the rights to young adult fiction and gearing up for franchises all in the name of capturing the hearts and wallets of the legions of fans of these book series. Though there have been a few hits, the failures have been plentiful i.e.: City of Bones, The Host, and The Vampire Academy. As a guy approaching his mid-thirties, it’s safe to say I’m nowhere near being the target audience for this film, but call me crazy, I actually dug it.
Where the Hunger Games has its heroine Katniss, Divergent has us following Beatrice Prior (Shailene Woodley) along for her journey of not just self-discovery but finding where she truly belongs. In this new world, Chicago, a city in ruins and surrounded by an epic wall to keep any possible dangers out. But it is within these walls where are story unfolds, the city is divided into five factions, each based on the people’s moral aptitude. Each year a day is set aside where all those that have turned 16 must decide what faction they want to join, which means they may have to leave their families never to see them again. But to help these young adults with making their decision they are each given an aptitude test that tells them where they “should” go, but in the end the choice is up to them.
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