Coco (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by J C on March 8th, 2018
“Sometimes I think I’m cursed.”
Up until recently, Pixar Animation Studios had a pretty spotless reputation. (At least when it came to the quality of their films.) But while the studio’s last three efforts (Cars 3, Finding Dory, The Good Dinosaur) have been financially successful, Disney’s own in-house animation studio (Moana, Zootopia, Big Hero 6) has been out Pixar-ing Pixar in terms of delivering creative, crowd-pleasing blockbusters for all ages. (I didn’t even mention a little movie called Frozen.) That’s why I’m pleased to report that Coco — Pixar’s moving, colorful and exhilarating take on Mexico’s Day of the Dead holiday — is a thrilling and touching return to form.
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Red Sparrow
Posted in The Reel World by Jeremy Butler on March 7th, 2018
“Don’t give them all of you Dominika. Hold something back. That is how you will survive.”
There appears to be nothing Jennifer Lawrence can’t do: she is an Oscar winner, the face of a successful movie franchise, and now she is a Russian spy that specializes in seduction techniques. Now in the looks department, there are scores of men that would gladly hand over their social security number for the opportunity to be seduced by J Law, so her casting was a no brainer. But she went much deeper than that, showing an unparalleled intellect and natural aptitude for the world of espionage.
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#artoffline
Posted in No Huddle by Dan Holland on March 6th, 2018
What exactly is the purpose of an art museum? Oftentimes, people travel from all over the world to visit Da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” at The Louvre or Seurat’s “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte,” spending upwards of $50 on admission only to stand in line for a chance to see. That is just one of many issues covered in #artoffline, a documentary created for the sole purpose of exploring the philosophical questions that arise when thinking of art (physical media) in the digital age.
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Homeland: The Complete Sixth Season (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by J C on March 5th, 2018
“Keeping the country safe is big business now. It’s getting bigger.”
Much of this sixth season of Homeland is spent exploring the notion that the CIA’s cloak-and-dagger activities in the Middle East might have outlived their usefulness and a new course of action is required. But considering that Showtime’s previously white-hot spy drama — a Best Drama series Emmy winner for its stellar first season — is six seasons in and a lot less buzzy these days, it’s hard not to extend that central question to the show itself: Is Homeland obsolete? Well judging by this twisty and thrilling collection of episodes, the answer is a resounding, “No!”
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Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (UHD Blu-ray) (4K)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 2nd, 2018
It was just two years after the release of the first Tomb Raider film that the second one reached the big screens. The film came with a ton of expectations not only from fans of the first one but fans of the video game who either loved the first movie or were disappointed and had hopes that their particular quirks would be addressed. To be sure, some of them were. Without the need to establish character and settings, Cradle Of Life wastes no time getting to the action at the heart of the video game experience. Gone were the rather laughable inflatable breasts as new director Jan de Bont wanted a more natural look for the character, abandoning the prominent look of the video game.
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Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (UHD Blu-ray) (4K)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 2nd, 2018
“It’s begun.”
It’s been nearly 15 years since the last Tomb Raider movie was released. The franchise continues to be a popular video game series, and another film was inevitable. 2018 finally sees the release of a reboot of the title with a new actress playing the iconic Lara Croft. There’s a lot of anticipation and box office potential here. What better time for Paramount to shake the dust off of their own relics and see if a UHD release in 4K could both create some new interest and ride along a little on the coattails of the big-budget reboot. It’s good timing, and these are certainly two films that might benefit from the 4K upgrade. So now you have a little excuse to look backwards before you buy your ticket for the next chapter in the Tomb Raider franchise.
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Murder On The Orient Express (UHD Blu-ray) (4K)
Posted in Disc Reviews by J C on February 28th, 2018
I have to start by talking about the mustache. You’ve probably already seen the outrageous facial hair Kenneth Branagh rocks as Hercules Poirot, the brilliant Belgian detective who appeared in 33 Agatha Christie novels (including 1934’s Murder on the Orient Express). But it is truly a sight to behold on the big screen! Up close, it looks like a fake, ridiculously twirly mustache has been layered on top of an even longer fake, ridiculously twirly mustache. I bring this up because the two things that truly separate this sumptuous, all-star take on Poirot’s most famous case from previous (and superior) adaptations are the film’s eye-popping production values and…well, Branagh’s mustache
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Game Night
Posted in The Reel World by Gino Sassani on February 25th, 2018
“Welcome to game night”.
Everybody loves playing games. OK, most people like playing games. Friends have been getting together for game nights since there have been games. From the couples’ bridge days of the 1950’s to poker night with the guys, most of us have gotten together to play some kind of a game with friends. The thing about games is that they’re frivolous. Playing games with some buddies is a good excuse to kill a few hours, maybe have a few drinks. You’re not solving the world’s problems, and it’s usually just a simple night of entertainment. The same can be said for New Line Cinema’s Game Night starring Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, and Kyle Chandler.
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Annihilation
Posted in The Reel World by Brent Lorentson on February 24th, 2018
Going into Annihilation a couple days ago I had only seen the trailer once but was excited for it based on the strength of Alex Gardner’s first directorial effort Ex Machina. The film is based on a series of books that I had never read, and from what I understand the film takes many liberties with the storyline and characters. As his sophomore effort behind the camera, there were high expectations for what Garland would do, and the result I believe is one of the most divisive films I’ve seen in a while. This is the kind of film that gets me excited for the future of cinema, not just because I loved the film, but I love the conversation it can provoke with other filmgoers.
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Walking Out (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Brent Lorentson on February 24th, 2018
With the success of The Revenant, it shouldn’t be a surprise that other survival films would follow in its wake. At first glance when I came across Walking Out, I didn’t expect much and figured it would be nothing more than a halfhearted attempt to capitalize on the success of The Revenant. I couldn’t have been more wrong. What Walking Out brings to the table is a heartfelt tale of survival for a father and son, yet instead of focusing on the bleak conditions in the mountains of Montana, the focus is rather on the bond the two are attempting to develop. With a beautiful landscape as the backdrop of the film, it’s easy to see how Cal (Matt Bomer) could fall in love with his home and want to share it with his son.
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Daddy’s Home 2 (UHD Blu-ray) (4K)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 22nd, 2018
“Maybe we could use a dad’s night out.”
Let me begin this review by stating that I did not see the first Daddy’s Home film. There are pros and cons to that situation. I’m not really in a good position to judge the film’s value or quality as a sequel, and I wasn’t familiar with any of these characters when I started to watch the film. It does, however put me in a good place to evaluate this film on its own merits. Is it the kind of sequel that functions as a standalone film, or will you be lost from the start with no chance to catch up? I’m happy to say that I never felt like I was at a disadvantage. Yeah, there were moments where I felt like I wasn’t part of the inside joke, but those moments are actually quite rare.
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Macon County Line
Posted in Disc Reviews by Brent Lorentson on February 22nd, 2018
The days of drive-in cinema and grindhouse pictures are all part of a bygone era, where the films were fearless and took chances with their subject matter. Now films seemed to be made so carefully as to not offend anyone. When it comes to Macon County Line, as much as it is a staple of its time, it’s hard to imagine this film being made today. It’s a film that’s a blend of two genres. It’s a road film, but because of the location and characters, it’s also a good ol’ boy picture. So how does this drive-in classic fare on Blu-ray? Despite having a runtime of 88 minutes, the story doesn’t rush into anything but instead lets us get to know the two brothers Chris (Alan Vint) and Wayne Dixon (Jesse Vint) who are on a quick joyride before they enlist in the military.
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Inoperable
Posted in No Huddle by Dan Holland on February 22nd, 2018
I always have a significant degree of excitement when watching a film that takes place in Florida, especially when it is filmed in a place I either live or have lived. The Punisher (2004) was filmed in downtown Tampa, and Miami Connection (1987) in downtown Orlando and the University of Central Florida’s campus. To further explain this excitement, I even waited till 3 AM on a busy street in Seminole Heights, Tampa, hoping to get a chance to see a part of The Infiltrator (2016) when they began filming here. Inoperable does indeed take place in the Tampa area of Florida, but you really only come to understand that through the dialog.
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Encirclement – Neo-Liberalism Ensnares Democracy
Posted in No Huddle by Dan Holland on February 22nd, 2018
Neo-Liberalism is a concept that was introduced to me in 2014 while I was in graduate school. In an effort not to bore the reader and save my own amateur understanding from ridicule, I will not discuss the philosophical musings at length. However, I will briefly offer what I take to be the “important things to know” for reading this review. Essentially, Neo-Liberalism began as an economic ideology favoring policies that allow private businesses to function while uninhibited by the government. Then, from about the 1970’s onward, Western scholars brought popularity back to the term, allowing it to take on the characteristics of a catch-all term that ranges from economic structure, to economic philosophy, to academic discourse.
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The Deuce: The Complete First Season (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by J C on February 21st, 2018
If The Wire isn’t the greatest television show of all time, it’s certainly in the conversation. That landmark HBO series was created by David Simon, who took a journalistic and novelistic approach in telling the story of a decaying city (Baltimore) and its various institutions. Now, Simon has teamed up with crime novelist George Pelecanos for The Deuce, which takes a similarly 360-degree approach in examining Times Square in the early 1970s and the evolution of the porn industry. Capturing every facet of that time and place doesn’t just mean that The Deuce depicts the lives of pimps, prostitutes, and police officers. It also means the show is alternately thought-provoking, tragic and darkly funny.
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Tuesday Round Up: February 20, 2018
Posted in Tuesday Round Up by J C on February 20th, 2018
I know Father’s Day isn’t until June, but we don’t feel like waiting around that long to celebrate. For this week’s Round Up, we’re moving the paternal holiday up by a few months in honor of the UHD release of Paramount’s Daddy’s Home 2 (4K). But wait there’s more! Check back at the end of the week to get our take on a pair of theatrical releases: Natalie Portman ventures into dangerous territory in Annihilation, while Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams try to survive a raucous Game Night.
Before you run off until next week, here’s for your customary reminder: 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!
Black Panther
Posted in The Reel World by Gino Sassani on February 15th, 2018
“Tell me a story.”
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created the comic book character of Black Panther in 1966 for an issue of The Fantastic Four. He became the first black superhero in the comic world. He starred in Marvel’s Jungle Action title before getting his own comic. The character was popular, but through an unfortunate set of circumstances he was at times thought to be related to the militant group of the same name that popped up that same year. For a short time he went by the name Black Leopard, but the original name rose above the unintended connection and continued to enjoy on and off success over the decades. Black Panther was introduced to the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) with Captain America: Civil War. He’s finally getting his own film
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Animal Kingdom: The Complete Second Season
Posted in No Huddle by Gino Sassani on February 15th, 2018
Meet the most dysfunctional crime family since The Sopranos. Not quite at the same level either on-screen or in quality, but once again we’re drawn toward another dangerous clan with criminal intent. I guess we could call them The Baritones. Actually, Animal Kingdom is an apt description for television’s latest baddies. They’ve now wrapped up their second season of mayhem on TNT where the series was the network’s top ratings winner. Now that second season is out from Warner Brothers, and it’s another crazy ride, of that you can be certain. It’s based, rather loosely by now, on an Aussie film starring Guy Pearce.
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Broad City: Season 4
Posted in No Huddle by J C on February 15th, 2018
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: single gal pals looking for love — among other things — in the big city. On television, the trope dates back to the days of Laverne & Shirley and continues with more contemporary entries like Sex and the City and Girls. The queens kweens of Comedy Central’s Broad City have given that timeless story hook a funny, druggy and tremendously weird spin for the past four seasons. That includes this most recent batch of episodes, which is lighter on comedy than usual as it explores the origin of NYC besties Abbi and Ilana’s relationship…and the way even the closest friends can inevitably drift apart.
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Ben 10: Villain Time
Posted in Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on February 14th, 2018
New cartoon series these days are a hard watch for me. Gone are the days of classic shows like X-Men, Batman: The Animated Series and even newer favorites like Regular Show which ended about a year ago. Now we get shows where it seems like it is one cheap joke after another including Teen Titans Go and that show about some kid named Steven. So, I wasn’t too thrilled to get the newest incarnation of Ben 10 on my review desk a couple of weeks ago. That’s when I decided to employ the talents of my 2 year old son, Keaton and see if he can offer some insight.
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Tuesday Round Up: February 13, 2018
Posted in Tuesday Round Up by J C on February 13th, 2018
This week’s Tuesday Round Up is turning back the clock and venturing into one of the most extravagantly seedy neighborhoods of the last century. HBO releases The Deuce: Season 1, which transports viewers to Times Square in the 1970s. The series is the latest effort from David Simon and crime novelist George Pelecanos, who previously collaborated on a little show called The Wire. In the spirit of keeping things in the (crime) family, Warner Bros. gets savage with Animal Kingdom: Season 2. Meanwhile, Cinedigm checks in with hospital thriller Inoperable.
You’ll also want to visit us later this week when we offer our take on Marvel’s latest superhero extravaganza Black Panther. And now it’s time for your customary reminder: 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!
15:17 To Paris
Posted in The Reel World by Gino Sassani on February 10th, 2018
Clint Eastwood has been at the top of the game both as an actor and a director, often both at the same time. There’s no question that he still has the skills. Unfortunately, 15:17 To Paris isn’t a great example of his direction skills. Don’t get me wrong. There is a nice intense film in here, but it only lasts for about 10 minutes and hungrily screams out for more of the same. Eastwood’s problem is much the same that he had in Sully. He doesn’t really have enough material for a truly great feature film, so he is forced to fill the screen time with something he hopes will entertain us long enough to stay with him for the good stuff. But as Clint said once as Dirty Harry: “A man’s got to know his limitations.“
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Fifty Shades Freed
Posted in The Reel World by Jeremy Butler on February 9th, 2018
The world’s most erotic novel series is coming to an end with the release of the final chapter, 50 Shades Freed. Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan reprise their roles as Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey, as the pair enters wedding bliss. Their romance has been a whirlwind, going from meeting to marriage in what seems to be less than six months. However, when it’s right, it’s right; besides, it’s rare that you find someone with the same taste, if you know what I mean. Naturally, happily ever after won’t come as easily as our couple will have to face an old enemy and a new challenge that could threaten to tear the two of them apart.
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Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (UHD Blu-ray) (4K)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Brent Lorentson on February 9th, 2018
The notion of having one of comics’ famous costumed detectives face Jack the Ripper is simply one of those ideas I can’t help but smile with geeky joy thinking about. Batman: Gotham by Gaslight, takes the caped crusader back to the early turn of the 19th century, a time when Gotham City was in its early days, before skyscrapers flooded its landscape. This unique take does offer up some fun twists on the legend of the character ,but also takes many liberties of historical events that actually took place. This kind of revisionist history can be fun; take Inglorious Basterds for instance, but how much should you really play with actual history and set character mythology? This is definitely a new playground for the creators to play with, so how does the animated film shake out?
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Accident Man (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by J C on February 9th, 2018
“There was a guy on TV the other night. Had a theory that nearly a quarter of all so-called fatal accidents were actually murders. That’s ridiculous…it’s only about 10 percent.”
It’s one of the more familiar action/thriller tropes: an apparent suicide or accidental death that actually turns out to be an elaborate murder. Usually that story is told from the perspective of the murder victim’s loved one, who will stop at nothing to uncover the truth. What’s cool about Accident Man — a stylish and rollicking action romp — is that it gives us an irreverent look at the cold-blooded killers who craftily carry out these cinematic crimes.
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