Duckman: The Complete Series
Posted in No Huddle by Gino Sassani on February 4th, 2018
Duckman began life as an underground comic created by Everett Peck. It gathered to itself quite a cult following, and like all such things caught the attention of Hollywood. The USA Network took a chance on the quirky property and cast Seinfeld’s Jason Alexander to voice the crude character. And so Duckman’s wife was killed, and he was forced to rent his own house from his sister-in-law, who was left the estate by Duckman’s wife. His life pretty much sucked. Not only was he renting in his own house, but he was also living with his overbearing sister-in-law and his grandma, who basically just sat around and farted all day long. Duckman considered himself an ace private detective and ran an agency with his partner, Cornfed. Cornfed was voiced by Gregg Berger and was a Jack Webb Sgt. Friday clone.
Read More
10 Cloverfield Lane (UHD Blu-ray) (4K)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Brent Lorentson on February 2nd, 2018
Bad Robot, in my eyes, is simply the best at keeping things a secret. In this day and age, to be able to surprise audiences is just about an impossible task. When the first Cloverfield trailer was released in 2007 in front of Transformers, it was a trailer that had us all guessing up until its release. In my opinion Cloverfield was one of the best found-footage films to come out and was a grand achievement, considering it was a monster film that had been pretty much been kept under wraps until its actual release. Bad Robot managed to surprise us again, releasing a trailer for 10 Cloverfield Lane that set the internet on fire with theories and hopes for this to be a long-awaited sequel. But is that what this really is?
Read More
Ray Donovan: The Fifth Season
Posted in No Huddle by Gino Sassani on February 2nd, 2018
Ray Donovan (Schreiber) is a Boston native who moved his entire family including his two brothers out to L.A. There he built an empire by being very good at what he does. What he does is fix problems, particularly for big-name celebrities and the lawyers who coddle represent them. His father has spent 20 years in jail for a crime he might not have actually committed. But Ray hates his father enough to have set him up and sent him to jail. A pattern Ray has continued over four years of the show. Ray has a wife, Abby (Malcomson), whom he keeps at arm’s length of his dubious business dealings. He also has a son and daughter who are somewhat conflicted in their feelings for their father. You don’t want to start here if you are just experiencing Ray Donovan for the first time. In fact, this year is one of the best in the show’s 5-year run to date. You really want to get caught up so you can appreciate some emotional drama as Ray Donovan The Complete Fifth Season comes to DVD. You get all 12 episodes on four discs.
Read More
Cloverfield (UHD Blu-ray) (4K)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on January 29th, 2018
It might be hard for me to admit, but there are certain instances where having an ultra-high-definition transfer of even a modern film is not necessarily a better thing. The UHD 4K release of Cloverfield is one such instance. There is no question that the transfer is about as sharp and clean as anything I’ve seen on Blu to date. The problem is that it only helps to accent the stylistic flaws inherent in this kind of film. The most noticeable improvement is in the first third of the film. Of course, that part of Cloverfield is about as entertaining as watching paint dry. I still don’t care about these characters and their party ramblings any more now than I did before. The fleeting shots of the creature do look better, but you still better hit the pause button if you want a good look.
Read More
Goodbye Christopher Robin (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on January 29th, 2018
“Once upon a time there was a great war that brought so much sadness to so many people. Hardly anyone could remember what happiness was like. But something happened that changed all that…”
“Winnie the Pooh doesn’t know what to do …” begins a popular song written by Kenny Loggins, recorded first in 1970 by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with a more popular and enduring version by Loggins and Messina a year later. Hundreds of millions of children since the 1920’s know who Winnie the Pooh is.
Read More
Candy Apple
Posted in No Huddle by Dan Holland on January 29th, 2018
Low-budget films are typically very hit-or-miss for me. Sometimes the story is engaging from the beginning; other times the cinematography is so creative that I just can’t stop watching the movement of the camera. However, sometimes the film is extremely slow-paced and uninteresting. When it comes to Candy Apple, it is very difficult to place it on either of those two ends of the spectrum. From the outset, you can tell this film is extremely personal to the filmmaker, and while that might not draw in crowds, it opened up an infinite number of doors leading to creative freedom. That being said, I can’t say that I liked this film, but I can say that I couldn’t stop watching it.
Read More
Geostorm (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by J C on January 29th, 2018
“Everyone was warned, but no one listened.”
These words — which are about as subtle as a tsunami — are heard in voiceover at the start of Geostorm, the latest effort from master of disaster (films) Dean Devlin. Yes, I realize no one should venture into a big budget flick produced by Dean Devlin (Independence Day, 1998’s Godzilla) looking for subtlety. But no matter what side of the climate change issue you fall on, Geostorm is equally offensive to all parties. And it’s not because of its politics or its shoddy writing, which gives that opening monologue to a character who ends up being completely inconsequential. It’s because this would-be blockbuster is shockingly short on both fun and spectacle.
Read More
Maze Runner The Death Cure
Posted in The Reel World by Jeremy Butler on January 25th, 2018
For Dylan O’Brien, it just seems like his start just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Going from the awkward best friend on MTV’s Teen Wolf to becoming a leading man on the silver screen, he has shown charm and charisma normally only seen in veterans. Another great way a star distinguishes himself is to get attached to a franchise, something he has done with the Maze Runner trilogy. Of course, Maze Runner: The Death Cure spells the end of that run; given his performance in the film; it does not spell the end to his rise. An entertaining and engaging conclusion to the franchise, Maze Runner: The Death Cure follows former glader turned revolutionary Thomas as he continues his battle against his former employers
Read More
Jigsaw (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on January 25th, 2018
“The games have begun again, and they will not stop until the sins against the innocent are atoned for.”
It has been about seven years since last we heard Tobin Bell ask if we wanted to play a game. From 2004 until 2010 we were treated to seven films in quick succession, with The Final Chapter apparently bringing the popular franchise to an end. But most of us were pretty sure that the end wasn’t quite so near. The films brought in billions of dollars and even inspired a new escape room industry around the globe where people could work out puzzles and attempt to beat a ticking clock to get out of a themed room.
Read More
No Solicitors
Posted in No Huddle by Brent Lorentson on January 25th, 2018
With a solid title and appealing DVD cover, No Solicitors is a film that looks to attract horror fans looking to make an impulse buy or a late-night viewing when in the mood for something to get the heart racing. Unfortunately, the film doesn’t hold up to its potential, and to be honest this might be one of the more disappointing titles I’ve had the privilege to review. The film has a strong premise, one that not only teases plenty of horror, but the potential for what could result in numerous sequels if the film was successful and the creative parties involved were inclined to go that direction. Instead the film seemed to aim more towards laughs than scares, and the result is at times a painful experience to watch, and not for the graphic gore that is sprinkled throughout.
Read More
My King
Posted in Disc Reviews by J C on January 25th, 2018
During the second half of My King/Mon Roi — which examines the up-and-down nature of love by chronicling a 10-year relationship between two French lovebirds — a wife states that her husband’s constant emotional abuse has caused her more pain than any single punch ever could. Psychological abuse isn’t nearly as cinematic as its physical counterpart, so it’s a jarring, too-real-for-TV moment to witness on screen. My King has a handful of those gut-punch scenes. And since the movie intentionally mimics the rollercoaster relationship at its center, My King is also occasionally romantic, funny, frustrating and flat-out sexy.
Read More
The Commander: Complete Series
Posted in No Huddle by Gino Sassani on January 24th, 2018
Lynda La Plante is quite a fixture in the British television landscape. She has been a television writer since the 1970’s and has been producing her own creations since the 1990’s. Her shows often feature a woman in some kind of authority position fighting the good fight in a law enforcement tradition that leans heavily in the male department. Likely American audiences know her best from her more recent Prime Suspect series which has enjoyed some success here in the States. It wasn’t long before that show that she was writing and producing a series of television movies with the overall title of The Commander. The films ran from 2003 until about 2008 when the final film was released as a three-part show. Acorn has put together a 7 disc DVD collection of the show’s entire run.
Read More
Alibi
Posted in No Huddle by Jeremy Butler on January 24th, 2018
Alibi gives you quite a bit of storytelling, which is surprising given that it is only comprised of three hour-length episodes. I will give it to British shows that have somehow found the key to making that work, because that would not work in the U.S. It would feel rushed, and a lot of key nutrients would have to be removed due to time constraints. Alibi manages to have multiple twists and turns in that time span as well as tell a very entertaining and engrossing story with the assistance of its two established leads, Sophie Okonedo and Michael Kitchen. Alibi tells the story of what happens when two people attempt to cover up an accidental death, when one person is a complete neurotic and the other is calculating to the point that you might find yourself question if this is her first “accidental” death.
Read More
The Lego Ninjago Movie (UHD Blu-ray) (4K)
Posted in Disc Reviews by J C on January 24th, 2018
“Have you ever heard the legend behind the legend of Ninjago?”
Even though I loved the first two Lego movies, I was completely unfamiliar with the toy company’s Ninjago line before I sat down to watch this latest entry in the madcap cartoon franchise. (I wasn’t even sure how to pronounce “Ninjago”…and the answer isn’t as simple as it seems.) But my unfamiliarity with the source material isn’t the reason why I feel The Lego Ninjago movie is the weakest entry in the series so far.
Read More
The Lion Guard: Rise Of Scar
Posted in No Huddle by Gino Sassani on January 24th, 2018
“Lion’s Guard, let’s go!”
For many years The Lion King was the highest-grossing animated film of all time. It remains one of the most beloved films in history. It marked the last of the Disney classic animation triumphs. Combined with the Elton John and Tim Rice songs, it is one of those generational films. While there has never been a feature film follow-up at the box office, there have been a few attempts to keep the franchise alive, and why not? A direct- to-video film told the same story from the unique point of view of the popular characters Timon and Pumbaa.
Read More
Tuesday Round Up: January 23, 2018
Posted in Tuesday Round Up by J C on January 23rd, 2018
I want to play a game. Can you guess which left-for-dead horror franchise recently experienced a resurrection? If you guessed Saw, which features puppetmaster Jigsaw forcing victims to make impossibly deadly choices, then you’re right. And if you want to see what he’s up to these days, you’re in luck: Lionsgate releases Jigsaw this week…so player beware. Elsewhere, Lionsgate goes a few rounds with boxing drama Jawbone. Meanwhile, Shout! Factory stays afloat with My Entire High School is Sinking into the Sea and crosses the Mason County Line. Finally, Warner Bros. weathers a series of catastrophes with Geostorm.
The Tuesday Round Up has been on a bit of a hiatus, but it’s back and here to stay! Don’t forget: if you’re shopping for anything on Amazon — maybe a last minute Christmas gift — and you do it through one of our links, it’ll help keep the lights on here at UpcomingDiscs. See ya next week and have a very Merry Christmas!
Den Of Thieves
Posted in The Reel World by Gino Sassani on January 21st, 2018
“We just shoot you. Less paperwork.”
Most of us like a good heist film. It’s fun to watch clever crooks work out complicated plans and then execute them. It’s not hard to root for the crooks if they’re likable enough characters. With me I almost have a kind of reluctant respect for criminals who are able to outsmart sophisticated systems. There’s something about the perfect crime that fascinates a film lover like me. Logan Lucky was one of the better heist films I’ve seen in years, and I was ready to spend an hour and a half being impressed by ingenious crooked plan that runs like clockwork once again.
Read More
Phantom Thread
Posted in The Reel World by Brent Lorentson on January 19th, 2018
The film Phantom Thread may be flying under the radar for most cinema-goers, but this little gem is a nice distraction from the big-budget fare that floods the theaters. While I’m a fan of director Paul Thomas Anderson’s earlier work (Boogie Nights and Magnolia), the big draw for this film is the perhaps last cinematic performance we may see from Daniel Day-Lewis, who last collaborated with Anderson in the 2007 film There Will Be Blood. While I have to admit the trailers for this film didn’t inspire much excitement from me, it’s the pairing of Anderson and Day-Lewis I was more curious about. The result is one of the more unexpected film experiences I’ve had in sometime.
Read More
12 Strong
Posted in The Reel World by Gino Sassani on January 19th, 2018
“Afghanistan is the graveyard of empires.”
You will hear it said several times throughout 12 Strong: For over 2000 years invaders and conquerors throughout history have attempted to bring the mountainous country under a foreign flag. The Russians had been the latest power to attempt to fight there, and in the 1980’s that war quickly became their own Vietnam. Such was the plight of the American armed forces after Bin Laden sent planes crashing into buildings on September 11, 2001.
Read More
Crazy Famous
Posted in No Huddle by Gino Sassani on January 17th, 2018
“Believe it or not, anyone can be famous. And you don’t really need God-given abilities to do it. That doesn’t mean you go out and shoot up a crowded theater. That’s wrong. If you’re motivated you can get yourself on a reality TV show or jump cars on a motorcycle, or marry a movie star. Or simply find a wife willing to have 20 kids. As for myself, my best shot at the limelight is to buddy up to the President. I just need the attention of the media first.”
It was artist Any Warhol who said that in the future everyone would be famous for 15 minutes.
Read More
It (2017) (UHD Blu-ray) (4K)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Brent Lorentson on January 17th, 2018
In case you’ve been living beneath a rock and out of contact with any and all social media, this weekend the long-awaited film adaption of Stephen King’s It releases. Some of my friends look at the trailer for the new film and instantly reject what they see; they immediately cling to their memories of how the original mini-series scared them. One thing you’ll hear them all saying is how Tim Curry made such an impact on their lives and to this day gave them reason to fear clowns. While I respect their opinions, when you revisit the film, you can’t help but notice how dated the film is, and really, if you’re over the age of 10, it just isn’t scary.
Read More
The Houses October Built 2 (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Jeremy Butler on January 15th, 2018
Most people that survive a near traumatic experience don’t go back for seconds. Most people that is. For the group in The House October Built 2, I guess they were adhering to the logic that lightning doesn’t strike the same way twice. Or does it? Embarking on what I can only describe as a horror tour, five friends attempt to capitalize on potential fame and fortune by documenting their experience traveling city to city to explore various haunted houses or hay rides. They even managed to convince the most traumatized member of their group to join them, reopening old wounds and provoking things that best left in the past.
Read More
The Commuter
Posted in The Reel World by John Delia on January 14th, 2018
The year kicks off with its first major action thriller The Commuter, and it’s a barn burner. Total action after an introduction to the plot, the film takes you on the ride of your life with surprises on every turn. If you like gripping films that work on your mind to try and figure out who the perpetrator is and what they want, then this movie should be on the top of your list. And it’s way better than last year’s Murder on the Orient Express. It’s becoming a monotonous routine for Michael MacCauley (Liam Neeson), a former police officer and now a life insurance agent. He gets up early in the morning, spends only minutes with his wife Karen MacCauley (Elizabeth McGovern) and the children.
Read More
The Post
Posted in The Reel World by John Delia on January 12th, 2018
Several movies have been released over the past three decades that defend the press or show the importance of the media to inform the public. This is one of them that for the most part does reveal the inner sanctum of one newspaper as it deals with exposing the government for wrong decisions leading to the death of thousands in the Vietnam War. While the script does reveal the sadness of human life losses that could have been avoided, unfortunately the film uses it to glorify newspapers using old news. A platoon starts taking heavy fire in a wooded area, and the body bags start to fill at a high rate.
Read More
Battle of the Sexes (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by J C on January 11th, 2018
“I’m not saying women are better…I’m saying we deserve some respect.”
Battle of the Sexes chronicles a watershed moment for the women’s liberation movement. And given the very bad behavior by very powerful men in Hollywood and other high-profile industries that has come to light in recent months, the movie suddenly feels particularly timely despite being set 45 years ago. But even if that weren’t the case, this film — which dramatizes the 1973 exhibition match between top-ranked female player Billie Jean King and former male champion Bobby Riggs — would still be a funny, heartfelt winner.
Read More