Scrooged (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by J C on November 29th, 2018
“I get it. You’re taking me back in time to show me my mother and father, and I’m supposed to get all goosey and blubbery. Well, forget it, pal…you got the wrong guy!”
Bill Murray was the absolute best at being a jerk on screen during the 1980s, which made him the right guy to step into the role of a modern-day Scrooge. Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” had been adapted countless times before Scrooged and there have been dozens of versions since the movie’s 1988 release. But while this sarcastic, intentionally gaudy update isn’t exactly the most faithful version of Dickens’ classic tale, it remains a personal childhood favorite.
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Scandal: The Final Two Seasons
Posted in No Huddle by J C on November 29th, 2018
“It’s handled, baby.”
Scandal, which followed the exploits of elite Washington D.C. fixer Olivia Pope and her torrid on-again/off-again relationship with the president of the United States, was never the Best Drama on television. But if the Emmys handed out a prize for “Most Drama,” this Shonda Rhimes-created soap opera would’ve been a shoo-in each of its seven seasons. So the fact that ABC released the final two seasons of Scandal in a handy bundle means there are almost too many twists and turns to count.
If you’ve never been Scandal-ized before, here’s a quick primer: Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington, who earned a pair of Emmy nominations for her work on the show) and her crisis management team of “gladiators” — which over the years included violently loyal techie Huck (Guillermo Diaz), the intense and enigmatic Quinn Perkins (Katie Lowes) and her former assassin boyfriend Charlie (George Newbern), along with the focused and capable Abby Whelan (Darby Stanchfield) — find themselves entangled with Washington D.C. power players, including President Fitzgerald “Fitz” Grant III (Tony Goldwyn) and his wife-turned-presidential hopeful Mellie Grant (Bellamy Young), who later vies for the Oval Office against Fitz’s Machiavellian former chief of staff Cyrus Beene (Jeff Perry).
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Succession: The Complete First Season (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by J C on November 28th, 2018
“…I’ll show you how to be rich.”
HBO’s fantastic and fiercely funny Succession is about a group of people who are great at being rich…and not much else. The show’s fictional Roy family controls the powerful conglomerate Waystar Royco, which bears more than a passing resemblance to the late Rupert Murdoch’s media and entertainment empire. The show would be entertaining enough if it merely lampooned the spoiled brats who stumble into becoming masters of the universe. But Succession goes to another level by wringing legitimately powerful family drama out of an objectively absurd and despicable cast of characters.
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Exclusive Interview With Dr. Howard Lee Weiner M.D. Director Of Abe & Phil’s Last Poker Game
Posted in Podcasts by Gino Sassani on November 27th, 2018
The end of the year is coming. That means holidays and some cooler temperatures (at least for some of you). In the movie industry, it’s awards season. That means yours truly will have the opportunity to see tons of films looking for recognition when it comes time for me to vote. One of these films is Abe & Phil’s Last Poker Game. It features Oscar winner Martin Landau in one of his final films, along with Paul Sorvino. It’s a bit surprising to see these big stars when you discover it was directed by a first-time director who also happens to be a medical doctor working at Harvard. Those are some huge credentials… in the medical industry. I’m talking about Dr. Howard Lee Weiner M.D. This was a story I just had to hear for myself. So I ended up with a chance to talk to Dr. Weiner about this accomplishment. It’s one of the more interesting film stories I’ve heard. Now you can check it out. Bang it here to listen to my conversation with director Howard Lee Weiner M.D.Director Howard Lee Weiner M.D.
You can also discover more about the film by checking it out here: Abe & Phil’s Last Poker Game.
Holiday Gift Guide Spotlight: CBS Television
Posted in Holiday Gift Guides by Gino Sassani on November 26th, 2018
I think I see your problem. You have this list. It’s a list of people you need/want to buy a Christmas gift for. The trouble is that they’re into home theatre, and you don’t know Star Trek from Star Wars. You couldn’t tell a Wolf Man from a Wolverine. And you always thought that Paranormal Activity was something too kinky to talk about. Fortunately, Upcomingdiscs has come to the rescue every Christmas with our Gift Guide Spotlights. These gift guides ARE NOT paid advertisements. We take no money to publish them. The kinds of things we recommend here are things I would be delighted to find under the tree.
CBS still has the highest rated dramas on television. There have been quite a few good DVD sets from the network in 2017. Here’s a look at my recommendations. These first two are shows that are currently airing reboots. But these Blu-rays are the original shows
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Creed II
Posted in The Reel World by Gino Sassani on November 23rd, 2018
“In the ring, you got rules. Outside, you got nothing. Life hits you with all these cheap shots. People like me, we live in the past. You got people that need you now. You got everything to lose; this guy has got nothing to lose.”
For the last couple of decades the sport of boxing has lost much of its popularity, at least here in the United States. The big matches used to be events where neighbors and friends would gather and enjoy the spectacle together. It likely started when long-time fighting fan and announcer Howard Cosell distanced himself from the sport, and the collapse appeared finally complete around the time Mike Tyson added ear to his menu. It’s devolved so far that I haven’t known who the champ is for more than 10 years. Everyone used to know the champ. It didn’t matter if you followed the sport. The names used to be household names.
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The Good Fight: Season Two
Posted in No Huddle by Jeremy Butler on November 23rd, 2018
After the first season of The Good Fight, I was a fan. I never saw an episode of The Good Wife, but the first season of this series stood up very well on its own, and season two continues that good fight as it were. Last season ended on a cliffhanger with Maia’s (Rose Leslie, Game of Thrones) future seeming very grim after her father fled the country and basically left her holding the bag. Season 2 addresses those concerns right off and ups the stakes as a new violent movement sweeps Chicago, putting a target on the back of every lawyer in the firm. However, let me get to the person you are all probably most interested in: Diane Lockhart.
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Justice League: Throne of Atlantis (UHD Blu-ray) (4K)
Posted in Disc Reviews by J C on November 23rd, 2018
“Not all heroes wear capes.”
To put things mildly, Warner Bros. still has a bit of ways to go before its stable of DC Comics superheroes catches up to Disney’s dominant Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, Warner and DC have long had the upper hand on both the small screen (The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow) and with their animated, direct-to-video offerings. One of those small-screen flicks — 2015’s Justice League: Throne of Atlantis — has just been granted a nifty “Commemorative Edition” 4K release before Aquaman splashes onto the big screen next month.
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Holiday Gift Guide Spotlight: Warner Brothers Television on Blu-ray
Posted in Holiday Gift Guides by Gino Sassani on November 22nd, 2018
I think I see your problem. You have this list. It’s a list of people you need/want to buy a Christmas gift for. The trouble is that they’re into home theatre, and you don’t know Star Trek from Star Wars. You couldn’t tell a Wolf Man from a Wolverine. And you always thought that Paranormal Activity was something too kinky to talk about. Fortunately, Upcomingdiscs has come to the rescue every Christmas with our Gift Guide Spotlights. These gift guides ARE NOT paid advertisements. We take no money to publish them. The kinds of things we recommend here are things I would be delighted to find under the tree.
Warner Brothers continues to lead the industry with television on Blu-ray. Other studios have experimented with some of their shows but no one puts more TV out in HD than Warner Brothers. Here are some of my favorite titles from 2018. Any of them would look great under the tree this season. Warner also has a nice collection of DC films out on Blu-ray.
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Saved By The Bell: The Complete Collection
Posted in No Huddle by Gino Sassani on November 21st, 2018
“The rest as they say is history… and math… and science.”
Saved By The Bell became somewhat of a cult classic and a teen icon of the 1980’s. It was likely the most popular out of prime time series on television for its run. What makes the show’s story so compelling is indeed its rather unique history. It actually all started as a badly failed NBC prime time situation comedy called Good Morning Miss Bliss. The show had been inspired by the network’s president Brandon Tartikoff, who had fond memories of a grade school teacher he once had named Miss Bliss. Yes, this was the famous guy who took NBC from last to first in the 80’s by creating the fabled “Must See TV” campaign. The show lasted six episodes and was quickly taken from the network’s schedule. NBC was finished, and what happened next truly is television history.
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Blindspotting (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 20th, 2018
“Loyalty is tricky. It’s a moving target.”
As the summer wound down from the season’s requisite anchor film blockbusters, there was increasing room for a few independent films that will make their way from the festival circuit to fill the newly vacated screens at your local multiplex. For some it was to attain eligibility for the year-end award season. For others it was a short window to turn a profit from what was conceived more as a work of art. For others it was a chance to become a sleeper hit. And for others yet, an opportunity to deliver a social message on the larger soapbox of the big screens. Blindspotting appears to be on the cusp of all of these things. But perhaps it came a little early for any awards consideration, and at a time where it was still competing with the mega-films of the summer.
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Star Trek: Discovery – Season One (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 20th, 2018
“Some say that in life, there are no second chances. Experience tells me that this is true. But we can only look forward. We have to be torchbearers, casting the light so we may see our path to lasting peace. We will continue exploring, discovering new worlds, new civilizations. Yes – that is the United Federation of Planets. Yes, that is Starfleet. Yes, that is who we are. And who we will always be.”
I should confess from the beginning that I am a very dedicated Star Trek fan.
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The Original Christmas Specials Collection (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 20th, 2018
If you were a child in the 1960’s or 1970’s, you were around at the golden age of the Christmas television special. We just celebrated the 50th anniversary of A Charlie Brown Christmas, and there were a ton of holiday charms that came and went each year. But there were a handful that became classics and found their way to the airwaves every year in December. Of course, A Charlie Brown Christmas became one of these, and it is indeed among the best. It was not the only special to become beloved by generations of viewers. Now Dreamworks has brought together seven of the most memorable of these classics. This was a wonderful trip down memory lane for me, as it will be for millions of children of all ages who looked forward to these event broadcasts each and every year. Now you can watch them whenever you want. And they might not be just for Christmas anymore
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Fireworks (Blu-Ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on November 20th, 2018
Young love is a wonderful concept that I wish could be sold and bought by the ounce, because I would either be rich or horribly addicted. Two people hopelessly absorbed by each other in a raging pool of hormones, bliss, and social media. It is a beautiful sight even if most of the time it is fleeting and gone in the blink of an eye. But what if you could change those decisions that made love lost and make it blossom again? Then you might just have Fireworks, a new Japanese anime from the producer of Your Name. Let’s take a look.
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Fantastic Beasts The Crimes of Grindelwald
Posted in The Reel World by Gino Sassani on November 19th, 2018
“The wizarding and non-wizarding worlds have been at peace for over a century. Grindelwald wants to see that peace destroyed.”
Back in the early days of the internet before videos went “viral”, there was a Thanksgiving cartoon about a chef who needed to serve too many people with a small turkey. So to compensate, he kept stuffing that sucker until it eventually exploded. Watching the latest entry in the J.K. Rowling Wizarding World, I was very much reminded of that early video. There’s an attempt to make the running time a bit leaner than we’ve typically seen with these films. It’s just barely over two hours, making it one of the shortest running times in the series when you include the Harry Potter films.
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Widows
Posted in The Reel World by Gino Sassani on November 18th, 2018
Steve McQueen has established himself as a rather talented director. 12 Years A Slave was one of the better films of 2013 and one of the few times I happened to agree with the Oscars’ choice for Best Picture. When he tackled the heist format I expected something unique, and I wasn’t at all disappointed. McQueen managed to put a clever spin on a tired genre and provide us with a superior and inspired cast. It wasn’t all completely his idea, of course. The film is based on a Canadian miniseries that goes back to the 1980’s. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t found a way to imprint the material with his own style and bold choices. There’s a lot to love about Widows, but I have pretty low expectations for this film at the box office. More on that later. Let’s get down to it, shall we?
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Vampirina: Ghoul Girls Rock
Posted in No Huddle by Jeremy Butler on November 16th, 2018
Nalyce was very excited for this disc. Vampirina is one of her favorite shows to watch on Disney Junior. I will admit that it was not as bad as I figured it would be. Vampirina follows the story of Vampirina “Vee” Hauntley, who becomes a new kid on the block after she and her family move from Transylvania to Pennsylvania to open a local bed and breakfast called the Scare B&B for visiting ghouls and goblins. The Hauntley family have to learn to do things the “Pennsylvania way,” especially when Vee is at school. Vee has a group of people helping her to blend in and keep her superpowers in check. At home, there are her parents, as well as Gregoria the gargoyle and Demi the ghost. At school, she is assisted by her two human friends who know her secret, Poppy and Bridget. It is a fish-out-of-water story for the younger generation.
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The Meg (UHD Blu-ray) (4K)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Brent Lorentson on November 15th, 2018
Ever since Jaws splashed onto the screen back in 1975, Hollywood has been attempting to follow its success, and though some films have been valiant efforts, nothing seems to come close to the Spielberg classic. Sure effects have come a long way over the years, and through the Hollywood magic of special effects they can create a more realistic-looking shark, but to be fair many of the film’s more memorable moments don’t even have the shark on screen. When I first heard about The Meg, it was going to be in the hands of Eli Roth of Cabin Fever and Hostel fame. This seemed to be like a good pairing that would result in a blood-fest filled with shark carnage that would leave shark fans pleased, but eventually the studio decided to pass, and the project seemed almost dead in the water.
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Pixar Short Films Collection — Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by J C on November 14th, 2018
Pixar’s animated films have a staggeringly-high approval rating among both fans and critics. Much of that goodwill extends to the short films that play before each theatrical release (or can be found on subsequent Blu-ray versions). The shorts often compress the warmth, humor, and creativity of the Pixar brand into a neat six- or seven-minute package. For the third time, Disney and Pixar have helpfully packaged a group of short films into a collection that will alternately have you laughing out loud and reaching for a box of tissues.
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Elementary: The Sixth Season
Posted in No Huddle by Gino Sassani on November 14th, 2018
“This could get worse before it gets better.”
That’s the perfect story line for the sixth and almost final season of CBS’s modern Sherlock Holmes take, Elementary. After the fifth season ended, CBS was one of the first networks to renew a great number of their dramas. They kept more returning shows than any other network last year. And for good reason. The NCIS franchise ranks among the most watched shows in the world. That’s not quite the case for Elementary. The fifth season showed declining viewership even though the series contains a very loyal core audience. It was most certainly on the bubble. Finally, the show was brought back for a limited 13-episode run but not at its traditional spot in the fall with all of the other returning major shows.
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Stan “The Man” Lee 1922 – 2018
Posted in Tribute by Gino Sassani on November 13th, 2018
We stopped doing these memorials a couple of years ago. It’s hard to take the time away from our lives and other work here at Upcomingdiscs. But sometimes we’ll lose one of the great ones. This isn’t a tribute to Stan Lee. He’ll get plenty of those. These are just my own private thoughts. I want to say things many of you would like to say. I have a forum, so I’m going to use it. If immortality can be measured by the impact you leave behind or how many people continue to remember you and for how long after your gone. Then there’s only one thing we can say about Stan Lee: “Face it, Tiger. You just hit the jackpot.”
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Tuesday Round Up: November 13, 2018
Posted in Tuesday Round Up by J C on November 13th, 2018
This week’s Round Up is boldly going where we haven’t gone before to review the newest addition to the Stark Trek canon. Thanks to CBS, we’ll be transporting to Star Trek: Discovery — Season 1, the streaming series that will soon feature a very familiar face. CBS also follows the clues to Elementary: Season 6. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. takes a UHD bite out of shark adventure The Meg (4K), Time Life goes back to school with Saved by the Bell: The Complete Series, and Disney keeps things brief (and emotional) with Pixar Short Films Collection: Volume 3.
There’s also magic in the air on the big screen thanks to Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, while a group of Widows look to settle some debts. 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!
MacGyver: The Complete First Season (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 12th, 2018
MacGyver (v) to act in an extremely resourceful manner. To utilize everyday items in unconventional ways to achieve a difficult task. I predict it will not be long before you can open your trusty copy of Webster’s and find this character has officially entered our lexicon. There is little doubt but that it is an unofficial part of it now. Crossing over from the realm of pop culture and into our language is a phenomenal achievement for a television show.
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Charmed: The Complete First Season (1999) (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 12th, 2018
“We are the protectors of the innocent. We are The Charmed Ones.”
It’s no coincidence that both the original shows of Charmed and MacGyver are starting to be released on the Blu-ray format. Both shows have been rebooted for television, and that means they’re counting on fans of the original to become the foundation for a new base of fans. The best way to do that is to remind you why it is that you loved the shows in the first place. The best way to remind you is to dangle a little bait. That bait is the release of both shows on Blu-ray starting with their first seasons. Will it last? I don’t know.
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Dr. Seuss The Grinch
Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 11th, 2018
Bigger is not always better, and more is not always better. If the holiday season release of Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch is a testament to anything, it is that those two ideas are absolutely true. The Grinch has everything that the 1966 How The Grinch Stole Christmas could never hoped to have had. The film delivers on some of the best computer-generated animation that Hollywood studio money can buy. It had a $75 million budget. It will get a wide release with millions of more dollars put into a global marketing campaign. And it will make a ton of money. After all, the Grinch is the modern age Scrooge from Dickens’ classic story. These are the kind of stories that are timeless and popular. Still, the one thing this film doesn’t have over the 1966 television short is that it’s heart is two sizes too small.
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