Maverick and Avalon review Viggo Mortenson’s “The Dead Don’t Hurt”. The conversation revolves around a review of the movie 'The Dead Don't Hurt' and delves into the characters, themes, and overall storytelling of the film. The hosts discuss the lack of clarity in character motives, the non-linear storytelling, and the absence of a clear overarching conflict or theme. They also explore the confusion around the main characters and the challenges in identifying the primary character in the...

The Social Network is a 2010 American biographical drama film about the founding of Facebook. The movie takes creative liberties with the true story, but raises interesting questions about the importance of accuracy in storytelling. The main character, Mark Zuckerberg, is portrayed as a smart but arrogant individual who becomes obsessed with proving himself. The development of his character throughout the story is well done, showing his flaws and transformation. The side characters, including...

Maverick, Avalon, and Patrick discuss the 2019 film by the Egger brothers, and get into a deeply divided discussion on the merits of this movie, it’s meaning, and its contribution to film as a whole.----------Highlights:0:00 "The Lighthouse" Introduction and Rating10:41 Maverick's Movie Philosohy14:52 Greek Mythology19:28 Opening Scene25:59 Main Character28:44 The Villain or Obstacle40:51 Heightened Tension44:46 Revelations53:54 Unraveling the Layers----------Show Notes:9 Points Rating...

Maverick and Philip discuss and review the 2023 release of “Wonka”.The conversation revolves around the movie 'Wonka' and the character of Willy Wonka. The hosts discuss their expectations of the film and their impressions of the main character, played by Timothy Chalamet. They explore the depth of the character and his motivations, noting that Chalamet's portrayal did not feel believable. They also discuss the role of Noodle, a secondary character who may overshadow Wonka in the story....

The Fall Guy is an action comedy film that revolves around the main character, Colt Sievers, a former stuntman who gets pulled back into the industry to find a missing actor. The primary theme of the movie is the relationship between Colt and his ex-girlfriend, Jodie, and whether they will get back together. The movie explores the themes of honesty and facing one's fears. The side characters, such as Jodie and Colt's friend Dan, are well-developed and have their own motivations. The movie...

Maverick brings on the short film creator Chad Garrett to discuss and review one of Chad’s favorite films, Kingdom of Heaven.----------Highlights:0:00 “Kingdom of Heaven” Introduction15:00 Balian As A Flawed Character26:08 Side Characters and Villains34:42 Themes44:38 The Villain53:01 Enemies From All Sides57:49 Revelations1:04:16 Messages1:11:16 Maverick's Favorite Scene1:18:35 Satisfaction----------Show Notes:9 Points Rating System: https://www.alostplot.com/9-points/ One Life:...

Maverick and Avalon discuss and review “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” (2024), by Guy Ritchie. ----------Highlights:0:00 "The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare" Introduction and Rating4:28 Opening Scene8:46 Gus March Phillips: The Main Character13:42 Side Characters15:43 Is There Motive?18:06 Heightened Tension27:24 The Villain: Heinrich Luhr31:56 Devoid of Themes37:18 Churchill's Secret and the Reinforced Hull42:22 Character Arcs and Lessons Learned47:47 The Setting and...

Maverick and Patrick discuss and review Guillermo Del Toro’s masterpiece “Pans Labyrinth”. Is Ofelia imagining everything, or is she experiencing the intersection of the fantasy realm with the real world?----------Highlights: 0:00 "Pans Labyrinth" Introduction9:35 Opening Scene13:55 Main Character: Ofelia18:06 Side Characters19:28 A Plot v. B Plot30:46 The Villain: Vidal37:59 Themes: Coping, Innocence40:26 Heightened Tension: A Mixed Bag49:03 Revelations & Surprise Endings56:05...

Maverick is joined by Andrew and Sean to discuss and review the Disney release of Star Wars episode 7: The Force Awakens. With Andrew taking a negative stance and Sean taking a positive one, they debate the merits and issues of the first attempt Disney takes in the Star Wars universe.----------Highlights:0:00 "Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens" Introduction4:57 Opening Scene11:03 Main Character: Rey30:05 Rules of the Universe47:48 The Villain: Kylo Ren54:56 Themes58:37 Heightened...

Maverick and Andrew discuss, debate, and review Star Wars episode 3: Revenge of the Sith. ----------Highlights:0:00 “Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith” Introduction4:09 Opening Scene5:34 Main Character18:41 Side Characters: Obi Wan26:44 Side Characters: Padme36:33 Side Characters: Yoda41:20 Motivations and Villains48:53 Themes52:51 Heightened Tension53:59 Darth Plagueis The Wise57:31 Revelations and Endings1:00:28 Transformation1:18:09 Satisfaction!----------Show Notes:9 Point Rating System:...

Maverick and Avalon review Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. While Phoebe Spengler figures out what it’s like to have teenager drama, a ghost from ages past decides to be a lame stock villain. Funny fire guy though. ----------Highlights:0:00 “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” Introduction4:27 Opening Scene8:16 Main Character: Phoebe Spengler13:45 Side Characters20:38 Setting24:38 Compelling Motive28:29 The Villain31:52 Themes and Heightened Tension38:27 Revelations45:35 Transformation48:09 Message51:37...

Maverick and Avalon review One Life. A story of Nicholas Winton saving refugees from the coming Nazi invasion before World War II.----------Highlights:0:00 “One Life” Introduction6:04 Opening Scene10:29 Nicholas Winton13:26 Side Characters18:04 Setting24:24 Beautiful Example of "Show Don't Tell"27:43 The Nazis29:08 Themes31:23 Heightened Tension41:09 Revelations and Endings46:19 Transformation and Messages48:21 Satisfaction!----------Show Notes:9 Points Rating System:...

Maverick and Philip continue to discuss the Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, and what made it stand out compared to other movies.Part 2 of a 2-part review. Find the first part here: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/maverick51411/episodes/2024-03-06T18_00_00-08_00----------Highlights:0:59 Stakes and Villains11:03 Ideals25:12 Biggest Problem With the Movies30:07 Heightened Tension39:46 The Ring is Mine49:51 Transformation and Themes54:45 Satisfaction!----------Show Notes:The 9 Point...

Maverick is joined by Philip to review the last of the series of the Lord of the Rings: the Return of the King. Taking a counter-stance, Philip argues passionately for the beauty of the books, and the failures of the movie, while Maverick defends the honor of Peter Jackson’s work. Part 1 of a two part discussion.----------Highlights:0:00 "The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" Introduction4:41 Opening with Sauroman18:46 Epic versus Narrative22:59 Staying True to the Books27:49 Main...

Maverick and Avalon discuss and review Dune, Part 2. They discuss Paul Atreides rise to power, and his rejection of the mantel of the Lisan Al Gaib (or the Kwisatz Haderach). They also discuss the Harkonnens, Feyd Rautha, and other notable characters such as Shaddam IV.----------Highlights:0:00 "Dune, Part 2" Introduction8:55 Opening Scene16:53 Side Characters and Ideals22:53 Villains and Obstacles33:53 Revelations37:57 Surprise Endings40:47 Transformation and Themes45:36 Expectations for...

Maverick and Avalon discuss and review the recent release of Madame Web, and explain why Madame Web is a bad movie, not worth watching.----------Highlights:0:00 “Madame Web” Introduction3:59 Opening Scene7:59 Compelling Main Character?11:52 Side Characters18:16 Setting21:35 Motive26:54 Ezekiel, The Villain32:37 With Great Power Comes... Family?36:10 Killing the Tension38:41 Revelations41:56 The Ending50:42 Character Growth51:45 Message of the Movie----------Show Notes:9 Point Rating System:...

Maverick and Andrew discuss the second of the prequel trilogy for George Lucas’s Star Wars universe. ----------Highlights:0:00 "Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones" Introduction4:43 Opening Scene9:13 Diverging Storylines15:13 Plotting Toward The Original Trilogy23:24 Obstacles and Risk26:49 The Best and Worst33:42 Anakin's Motivations35:00 The Villain43:30 Tension, Revelations, and Surprise Endings47:46 Themes and Growth50:33 Satisfaction!----------Show Notes:9 Points:...

Maverick and Avalon review and discuss the 1984 classic “Ghostbusters”. They also have a lengthy discussion on the rating system, updates to the rating system, and cult classics.----------Highlights:0:00 “Ghostbusters” Introduction2:59 The Rating System10:26 Opening Scene19:18 Side Characters22:49 Motive25:03 The Villain30:26 Themes and Suffering34:04 Revelation and Transformation40:02 Message of the Movie44:39 The "X" Factor----------Show Notes:The 9 Point Rating System:...

Maverick is joined by Patrick and Avalon to discuss the fundamentals of what makes a good movie. Despite Patrick’s best efforts, they manage to stay on track and discuss villains thoroughly.—————Highlights:0:00 Movies Worth Watching: Villains Introduction3:28 Villains Opposed to the Hero12:42 Righteous Antagonists21:16 Anton Chigurh and a Villains Motive30:21 Hannibal Lecter34:27 The Joker41:04 Weaknesses46:22 Thanos, Vampires, and Physical Damage53:03 A Villain's Function59:39 A Sense of...

Maverick and Avalon discuss and review the recent release of the ISS movie. —————Highlights:0:00 "ISS" Introduction5:26 Opening Scene8:47 Main Character12:21 Side Characters16:34 Villains and Obstacles25:27 Ideals and Motives30:20 Heroes With Nothing to Lose34:04 Heightened Tension44:25 Revelations50:02 Final Scene58:15 Transformation1:00:28 Satisfaction!—————Show Notes:The 9 Point Rating System: https://www.alostplot.com/9-points/ The 9 Point Rating System Explained:...

Maverick and Patrick discuss and review John Carpenter’s classic “The Thing” from 1982.—————Highlights0:00 "The Thing" Introduction2:04 Summary, Box Office, and the Horror Genre20:16 Opening Scene23:55 Mac, the Main Character28:32 Side Characters37:51 Setting40:51 Entering the Fray43:08 Heightened Tension49:27 A Discussion on Horror55:22 Revelations1:03:07 The Final Scene1:10:00 Character Growth and Themes1:19:11 Satisfaction!—————Show Notes9 Points Rating System:...

In this episode, Maverick is rejoined by Philip Dudt from the White City Podcast as they review and explore the classic release by Peter Jackson, of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers”. —————Podcast Highlights:0:00 "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" Introduction and Rating5:24 Opening Scene10:36 Main Character Development21:29 Aragorn's Destiny and Despair29:01 Side Characters38:26 Sauroman As A Villain43:58 Entering the Fray47:53 Heightened Tension52:02 Story Arc in the Two...

Maverick and Andrew discuss and review the 2000 release of Gladiator, by Ridley Scott and David Franzoni. —————Episode Highlights0:00 "Gladiator" Introduction and Rating5:49 Opening Scene7:26 What Maximus Stands For20:28 Marcus Aurelius24:49 The Brutality of Rome33:27 What's At Risk?41:15 Themes45:34 Symbolism in Lucius50:37 Commodus56:50 Heightened Tension1:01:44 Revelations1:07:45 Overtly Moralistic Movies1:12:13 Satisfaction!—————Podcast Mentions and NotesThe 9 Points Rating System:...

Maverick and Avalon discuss and review the new biographical race thriller "Ferrari" directed by Michael Mann and starring Adam Driver. With very different ratings, they debate the values presented in this movie and if there was any opportunities to improve this dramatic film.—————Highlights0:00 "Ferrari" Introduction and Rating7:04 The Opening Scene9:16 Ferrari v. Napoleon17:01 Must the Opposing Force be a Villain?20:28 Does Enzo Represent an Ideal?26:55 Heightened Tension33:14 Portago and...

Maverick and Andrew discuss and review the classic release of George Lucas's Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Their discussion includes topics surrounding the main characters, if the plot of the movie is compelling, and if The Phantom Menace is worth watching.—————0:00 "Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace" Introduction and Rating4:36 Opening Scene7:09 Main Character's Flaws15:07 Anakin and "Show Don't Tell"28:49 Chance of Loss37:36 Obi Wan and Ideals in this movie43:24 Heightened...