Transformers: Age Of Extinction (UHD Blu-ray) (4K)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on December 11th, 2017
When I was a young boy I loved playing with my toys. We didn’t have Transformers in those days, but we did have Major Matt Mason, plastic dinosaurs, Hot Wheels and Creepy Crawlers Thingmaker sets. Yeah, in those days a toy could cause third-degree burns and no one really worried about getting sued. Kind of takes the fun out of being a kid today. You know who else, I bet, loved to play with his toys? Michael Bay. I bet he had the coolest toys in his neighborhood. He probably wasn’t the best guy to be friends with, however. He didn’t invite the kids over to play with his toys. He likely charged you a nickel to watch him play with them. It’s many decades later, and Michael still has the coolest toys on the block. Only now you have to cough up twenty bucks if you want to watch him playing with them. Sadly, that is what the Transformers film franchise has been reduced to. We’re all watching the rich kid playing with really cool toys.
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The Disaster Artist
Posted in The Reel World by J C on December 8th, 2017
“Wish we could just make our own movie.”
I have more than 800 reviews to my name on this site, and I’ve probably watched several thousand movies overall throughout the course of my life. A lot of them are bad. Some are even worse than The Room, which has been dubbed “the Citizen Kane of bad movies.” However, I’ve never seen a movie that is bad in the way The Room is bad. It seems a substantial chunk of Hollywood — led by star/filmmaker James Franco — feels the same way. The creation of The Room is chronicled in The Disaster Artist, but there’s more here than just an anatomy of a trainwreck. The film also works as an ode to underdog Hollywood dreamers who take a DIY approach to (accidental) stardom.
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Transformers: Dark Of The Moon (UHD Blu-ray) (4K)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on December 8th, 2017
“In any war, there are calms between the storms. There will be days when we lose faith, days when our allies turn against us. But the day will never come, that we forsake this planet and its people.”
Following the events of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, the Autobots are working hand-in-mechanical-glove with human authorities (in other words, the apparently all-powerful CIA), keeping close watch for Deception activity, but also helping out in human-on-human conflicts. Meanwhile, Shia LaBeouf has traded in improbably hot girlfriend Megan Fox for the equally improbable Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (an improbability that the script does have some fun with). He is also out of work and dismayed at not being given due consideration as a savior of the planet.
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The Fall: Complete Collection (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on December 8th, 2017
“Art is a lie. Art gives the chaos of the world an order that doesn’t exist.”
The X-Files will soon return for a second revival season with 10 episodes that will likely finish the franchise. But if you’re a Gillian Anderson fan, you won’t have to wait until next year to get your Anderson fix. Acorn has a release that you really have to discover. Gillian Anderson has served three seasons (or series, as the Brits call them) in Belfast for the BBC series The Fall. With the broadcast of that third and final season, Acorn is releasing a nice complete set of all three seasons on both DVD and Blu-ray.
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The Osiris Child (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Brent Lorentson on December 7th, 2017
There is a sense of dread that unintentionally comes along with an independent science fiction film. Despite how far technology has come, it seems that for a science fiction film to really be impressive they need a reasonably decent VFX budget or suffer with a look that often times appears cartoonish by comparison of the larger-budget films. The Osiris Child somehow manages to not just create a grounded realistic futuristic world, but even manages to use practical effects to create some nasty-looking monsters and not pull its punches with the scope of its story. In a film that seems to be parts Elysium and parts Pitch Black; this might be the most ambitious effort I’ve seen in the genre that manages to succeed in many ways.
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Transformers (UHD Blu-ray) (4K)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on December 7th, 2017
“Before time began, there was the Cube. We know not where it comes from, only that it holds the power to create worlds and fill them with life. That is how our race was born. For a time, we lived in harmony. But like all great power, some wanted it for good, others for evil. And so began the war. A war that ravaged our planet until it was consumed by death, and the Cube was lost to the far reaches of space. We scattered across the galaxy, hoping to find it and rebuild our home. Searching every star, every world. And just when all hope seemed lost, message of a new discovery drew us to an unknown planet called… Earth.”
In this version of Transformers, Earth is caught up in an age-old conflict between two factions of an Autobot society.
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The Crucifixion (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by J C on December 7th, 2017
“Sounds like you don’t have a lot of faith in faith.”
You know how sports teams retire the jerseys of their most beloved, outstanding players so that no one can ever wear their number again? Well, we are well past the point where movies about exorcisms need to be hanging from Hollywood’s rafters. Simply put, no one has ever come close to doing it as well as William Friedkin did almost 45(!) years ago with his adaptation of The Exorcist. If anything, The Crucifixion is an even more egregious misfire than other head-spinning stabs at the genre because this movie is actually based on an intriguing, horific real-life case.
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Despicable Me 3 (UHD Blu-ray) (4K)
Posted in Disc Reviews by John Delia on December 6th, 2017
The Despicable Me series that includes Minions never seems to get tiring as they extend their comedy one more time with Despicable Me 3, opening this weekend. The key to the filmmaker’s success is the handling of the characters and inserting them into the animated movie with a plan in mind. That plan consists of starting with a little comedy involving the Minions, then working into some intense action that leads to a champion who either succeeds or fails. In the meantime there are multiple stories going on with each one targeting certain audience members. Sounds complicated? Well, the best comedy adventure is intricate, and Illumination Studios does that very well.
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Holiday Gift Guide Spotlight: CBS Television Sets
Posted in Holiday Gift Guides by Gino Sassani on December 6th, 2017
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
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Good Karma Hospital: Series 1
Posted in No Huddle by Jeremy Butler on December 5th, 2017
It is difficult to become invested in a group of characters in just six episodes, but I can say in the case of The Good Karma Hospital, by the time we reached the season finale, I was definitely invested. The story of a big city doctor who leaves her life behind in favor of a journey of self-discovery in a foreign locale is not precisely a new tale, but it is unfolded in such a charming way that you will find yourself willing to overlook its sometimes predictable nature. With a backdrop in south India, the show takes place in a public and underfunded hospital unofficially run by a strong-willed and surly matriarchal character. Mix that with our fish-out-of-water junior doctor, and you get a dynamic reminiscent of the relationship between J.D. and Dr. Cox. Extremely charming and unafraid, they tackle serious issues that plague an underfunded hospital. The Good Karma Hospital is a worthwhile watch.
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Tuesday Round Up: December 5, 2017
Posted in Tuesday Round Up by J C on December 5th, 2017
Earlier this year, the fifth film in the Transformers franchise made its UHD debut. This week, the rest of the robots in disguise arrive in 4K! Thanks to Paramount, we’ll soon have reviews for Transformers (4K), Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (4K), Transformers: Dark of the Moon (4K), and Transformers: Age of Extinction (4K). Elsewhere, RLJ Entertainment goes out of this world with The Osiris Child: Science Fiction Vol. 1 while Omnibus Entertainment crowns The White King. Finally, Lionsgate loses its religion with The Crucifixion.
While this is the start of a new month, you’re going to get the same ol’ reminder: if you’re shopping for anything on Amazon — maybe a Christmas present for a loved one — and you do it through one of our links, it’ll help keep the lights on here at UpcomingDiscs. See ya next week!
The Defiant Ones (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Brent Lorentson on December 4th, 2017
Coming along the heels of Straight Outta Compton, the new HBO documentary series The Defiant Ones takes a more in depth at the life and career of Dr. Dre as well as famed musical producer Jimmy Iovine. The 4-part series comes out to over four hours of interviews and stock footage that spans over the course of both of their careers, and as a result we get a comprehensive look at the music industry like we’ve never seen before.
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Tampa Bay Underground Film Festival
Posted in News and Opinions by Gino Sassani on December 2nd, 2017
If you live in the Tampa Bay Area you absolutely must check out the Tampa Bay Underground Film Festival. They have some amazing films from some up and coming artists in the field. Check out the schedule of films at the Tampa Bay Underground Film Festival. Do a little Holiday shopping, enjoy a meal and then see some great independent films.
Logan Lucky (UHD Blu-ray) (4K)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Brent Lorentson on November 29th, 2017
“Cauliflower.”
When Steven Soderbergh announced his retirement from directing films in 2013, it was an announcement that was followed by shock and disappointment for fans and others in the industry. He was a workhorse who managed to deliver a variety of art house titles (The Girlfriend Experience) and then numerous successful blockbusters (Ocean’s 11, 12 & 13) that seemed to always allow him to make films by his own rules. Soderbergh makes his return to film with a heist film that uses West Virginia as its backdrop and NASCAR as its target. It’s familiar subject matter, but it’s the characters that separate this film from the rest of the pack.
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Misery: Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray)
Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on November 29th, 2017
Of the many films based on books by prolific writer Stephen King, Misery ranks near the top. Falling somewhere between the horror and thriller genres, this film about a twisted obsession is frightening because the premise seems very real. Directed by Rob Reiner (A Few Good Men), who first visited King territory with his 1986 film Stand By Me, Misery tells the story of romance writer Paul Sheldon (James Caan, Elf) and the fan who rescues him after a car accident.
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Tuesday Round Up: November 28, 2017
Posted in Tuesday Round Up by J C on November 28th, 2017
We are a little less than a week removed from Thanksgiving, and we are feeling thankful for your continued support of our site. (And I’m still feeling like I’m in a bit of a food coma.) We’re also feeling Lucky this week. Thanks to Universal, we’ll bring you our take on Steven Soderbergh’s latest heist comedy Logan Lucky (4K). Universal also profiles a pair of music mavericks (Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine) with The Defiant Ones. Finally, Warner Bros. seeks to recapture the magic of one of its most successful franchises with the Harry Potter Film Collection 1-4 (4K).
Before signing off for the week (and for November), here’s the usual 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 and have a spooktacular Halloween!
Holiday Gift Guide Spotlight: Warner Brothers 4K UHD Blu-ray
Posted in Holiday Gift Guides, Uncategorized by Gino Sassani on November 26th, 2017
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.
No studio has embraced the 4K format as much as Warner Brothers in 2017. They have become the first to release a television series in UHD and the first to release vintage material in 4K. They have consistently provided us with 4K versions of their new releases, and the results have been impressive. If you have a 4K/UHD Blu-ray adopter on your list,
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Holiday Gift Guide Spotlight: CollectorZ.com Movie Database
Posted in Holiday Gift Guides by Gino Sassani on November 26th, 2017
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.
Usually we stick to movies and home theater equipment when we do talk about gifts here at Upcomingdiscs. However, I do keep my eye out for things that might be of special appeal to the film collectors in our audience. If you’re at all like me, you’ve been trying new ways to keep track of your video collection for years. I have stuff on so many formats that it gets pretty tough to find a way to keep it all together and easy to access. Most of the time I used to just work with Works database options and let that be my database. But a few years ago I’ve finally found a commercial database that does everything I want it to do, and a ton more. I’m talking about Collectorz.com, and they’ve been helping to organize my film collection for a few years now. We talked about them last Christmas, and I’m here to talk about them again. This thing rocks and is about as easy to use as anything else I’ve ever tried. It keeps track of everything you need.
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Afterimage
Posted in No Huddle by Dan Holland on November 26th, 2017
Afterimage is the final film of Andrzej Wajda, prior to his death in late 2016. Though I am not familiar with the cinematic stylings of Wajda, I researched enough to know that he typically helms projects that are historical and biographical, and cover very controversial topics taking place in Poland. Specifically, the ways in which occupation affected Poland during WWII. If this film has done anything for me, it has given me a curiosity to seek out more films from Wajda’s oeuvre. Afterimage is very methodic in its narrative and its set designs. Which is necessary given the film’s source material.
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Holiday Gift Guide Spotlight: Time-Life
Posted in Holiday Gift Guides by Gino Sassani on November 24th, 2017
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.
We turn our first spotlight on the folks at Time-Life. They put the wow into gift sets and have assembled some mighty big collection sets particularly for that person on your list who loves all things vintage. Here’s what they have this Christmas
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Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Posted in The Reel World by John Delia on November 24th, 2017
A great assembling of actors, excellent control by director Martin McDonagh and a vicious script make Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri a winner. The crime drama, laced with cynical comedy, puts the film up there with the movie Fargo and even TV’s Fargo. While I may like the film, it does have some racist tones that may offend. That said, McDonagh has a penchant for turning the tables on the offensive comments and actions, and here he does it big time.
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Coco
Posted in The Reel World by J C on November 23rd, 2017
“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 return to form.
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The Man Who Invented Christmas
Posted in The Reel World by Gino Sassani on November 22nd, 2017
It is very likely that no story has been retold in films and television more than A Christmas Carol. It has been made as animated specials and computer-generated features. There have been comedy versions. Most television shows, if they’re around long enough, get around to spoofing at least the themes. If by now you’re wondering what the dickens I’m going on about, well… you’re correct. It’s all about classic author Charles Dickens, who literally invented many of the modern trappings of our Christmas celebrations with that one little holiday ghost story. You know the story. But do you know how it came to be? Dickens’ writing process is legend to those of us who know his work intimately. Now everyone can get the inside scoop with the charming The Man Who Invented Christmas.
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Last Flag Flying
Posted in The Reel World by Gino Sassani on November 21st, 2017
Last Flag Flying was adapted from a book by Darryl Ponicscan which is a sequel to his The Last Detail. That book was adapted for the screen in 1973 and starred Jack Nicholson, Otis Young, and Randy Quaid and was directed by Hal Ashby for Columbia Pictures. In The Last Detail we find two characters taking Randy Quaid’s character to the Navy prison for stealing $40 from the CO’s wife’s favorite charity drive. Along the way they all bonded a bit, and the film played out as a statement, of sorts, to the Vietnam era we were just finally about to put behind us in a year. Last Flag Flying is based on the written sequel but is not exactly a true sequel to the earlier film.
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Lady Bird
Posted in The Reel World by Gino Sassani on November 20th, 2017
“I wish I could live through something.”
Actress Greta Gerwig finds herself in the director’s seat for her first feature film, Lady Bird. No, it’s not a film about the First Lady during the Johnson administration. It’s an easy mistake to make. It’s not one of the most common monikers out there, and when I first heard of the project, that’s where my mind went. This is actually a warm coming-of-age story that feels very much like an autobiographic effort by Gerwig. There are certainly some common elements in the story and Gerwig’s own past, even if it’s just the Sacramento, California locations that give the film a nice anchor and rather immersive environment for the story.
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