Kyle and comedian and film critic Matthew Blevins dive deep into "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome," the third installment of the iconic franchise. The duo discusses how this film strays from the gritty, innovative essence of its predecessors, feeling more like a product of the 80s than a continuation of the Mad Max legacy. They express disappointment with the film's lack of compelling villains and the odd tonal shifts, particularly with Tina Turner's character, who feels out of place in this...

Is 2018's Upgrade a rebirth of 80's sci-fi favorites in the vein of Total Recall? This episode of the Movie Wars Podcast dives deep into the film "Upgrade," highlighting its innovative approach to the sci-fi genre, particularly in how it explores the intersection of technology and humanity. The hosts discuss the significance of the film's unique visual style and action sequences, emphasizing the director Leigh Whannell's ability to create a compelling narrative within a low-budget framework....

WHEN WILL THE REBOOTS END? The Crew was going to do Falling Down today (we'll do it in a couple of weeks), but then they announced the dreaded American Psycho reboot. Queue the collective groans. This episode dives deep into the cultural implications and frustrations surrounding the incessant trend of Hollywood reboots, with a particular focus on the upcoming American Psycho remake. The crew discusses their thoughts on the original film, its adaptation from Bret Easton Ellis's novel, and how...

The final installment of The Crow series holds its breath and dives into the 2024 reboot that inspired the series in the first place. When the first 2024 trailer was dropped, it marked the only time Kyle marched into his studio and recorded a "reaction" podcast(something Kyle prides himself on never doing). It was there that the MWP Crow series was born. The hosts express their disappointment with the film's failure to capture the essence of the original, highlighting how it lacks the...

The Crow: Wicked Prayer is widely regarded as one of the worst films ever made, and this podcast episode dives deep into its myriad flaws and absurdities. The hosts dissect the film's lack of coherent plot, poor performances, and bewildering decisions, such as a supposedly satanic cult that feels more like a community potluck than a menacing group. They highlight how the movie fails to capture the dark, gritty essence of the original Crow series, instead opting for a bright, uninviting desert...

Have you been saved? Kyle, Seth, and Drew delve into the third installment of "The Crow" series, "The Crow: Salvation," highlighting its surprisingly positive reception compared to its predecessor, "City of Angels." The hosts discuss how the film successfully redeemed itself even with its straight-to-DVD status, with interesting character arcs and some standout performances, particularly from then-unknown Walton Goggins and Tim Decay. They explore the film's unique approach to the crow's...

The latest episode of the Movie Wars podcast dives deep into "The Crow: City of Angels." Just two years after Brandon Lee's tragic death, does Tim Pope and David S. Goyer's(Batman Begins writer) follow-up hit 1994's watermark? Or does it serve as a cash grab, obliterating the legacy of Brandon Lee? With a new set of villains, a tunic-wearing gang leader, and a grown-up Sara, how does Vincent Perez's Crow fare in this orange haze-filled setting? With another rocking soundtrack and the...

We're excited to start our The Crow series! This episode of the Movie Wars podcast dives deep into the cult classic "The Crow," highlighting its unique blend of revenge, tragedy, and artistry. Kyle invites Nashville comedians and film auteurs Drew Davis and Seth Kays to guest host The Crow series. The hosts discuss the film's impact, particularly focusing on Brandon Lee's iconic performance and the hauntingly atmospheric setting that contributes to the story's emotional weight. With...

Our Mad Max series continues! Hosts Kyle and Matthew explore the profound impact of Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior on the action genre. Delving into its groundbreaking stunts, Western film influences, and director George Miller's rise to prominence, the hosts celebrate the movie's transformation into a potential cinematic masterpiece. Tune in to discover why The Road Warrior is more than just an action film, but a revolutionary classic that continues to influence the genre. But how will it fair...

In this episode from the Patreon archives, Kyle interviews the legendary Mic Rodgers, a celebrated stunt coordinator, director, and long-time stunt double for Mel Gibson. With over 40 years in the industry, Rodgers has revolutionized the world of action cinema. They delve into his groundbreaking invention, the Mic-Rig, which has become a game-changer for high-octane films like the 'Fast & Furious' series, transforming how car stunts are filmed and experienced on screen. Rodgers has left...

Get ready for an exciting new series of the Movie Wars Podcast! Today, we're kicking off the Mad Max franchise series with comedian and film critic Matthew Belivins joining Kyle for the entire series. We're also introducing a tweaked format and war card, which we think you're going to love. The Mad Max franchise is known for its groundbreaking stunts and dystopian imaginings. It also introduced the world to future legend Mel Gibson. Originating from the Ozploitation movement of 1970s...

Here's a good one from the Patreon archives. In this special episode of Movie Wars, Kyle had the privilege of sitting down with the legendary Steve Byrne—comedian, director, writer, and documentarian. Known for his sharp wit and groundbreaking comedy specials like Happy Hour, The Byrne Identity, Champion, Tell the Damn Joke, and The Last Late Night, Steve shares his incredible journey in standup and his successful transition into filmmaking. He also takes us behind the scenes of his acclaimed...

Movie Wars is back, and in the lead-up to our official relaunch this October, host Kyle is celebrating Friday the 13th with a special episode! Joined by stand-up comedian and film critic Matthew Blevins, they dive deep into the question: Why does the Friday the 13th franchise have such lasting power? With 12 films, over 10 directors, and more than $460 million at the box office, this iconic horror series has left an indelible mark on pop culture. From its rise in horror history to the...

Speaking of wars, Kyle revisits one of his all-time favorite Hollywood stories. If you weren't aware, the release of Stanley Kurbrick's The Shining started a kerfuffle with the novel's beloved author, Stephen King. The Shining was King's most autobiographical work that brought him into the limelight. He saw Kubrick's interpretation as an insult to his prized work. Kyle analyzes and retells the story and concludes with who he believes came out the other side victorious, albeit, decades later....

The MWP crew is excited to get to a matchup that’s been on the list for a while. Silver Linings Playbook Vs As Good As It Gets is an Oscar-nomination-laden matchup, both bringing home best actress for Helen Hunt and Jennifer Lawrence. Unconventional and offbeat romance films, both movies do a decent job of portraying the act of finding love through the lens of mental illness. Jack Nicholson delivered yet another groundbreaking performance as Melvin while Silver Linings Playbook brought...

Kyle and Drew dive headfirst into their obsession with Arnold and Sly movies. This is no surprise to long-term MWP fans. We discuss whether or not it's possible for the environment and circumstances to create a similar era of dominance for action stars. Arnold and Sly's multi-decade runs, muscles, and over-the-top action were ushered in by the 80s, and elongated throughout the 90's(and a little 2000s in there too). Was this a case of the perfect stars for the perfect time, or could we see...

We're pulling this one from the ancient Patreon archives for our main feed listeners. It was such an honor to meet and interview legendary screenwriter Peter Iliff. We spent most of our time talking about how his career which started with him waiting tables until he sold the early draft of Point Break to Ridley Scott. The story is truly incredible, including James Cameron buying the property from Scott and polishing the final version of the script. Iliff would go on to write more fantastic...

Kyle is incensed after his first viewing of the long-awaited The Crow remake trailer, starring Bill Skarsgård as Eric Draven. The original is not only one of Kyle's all-time favorite films and comfort movies, he believes 1994's The Crow possesses a high level of cultural significance. Can any iteration or remake of this classic justify attempts to infringe on Brandon Lee's tragic legacy, a film that led to his on-set death? Even though the Movie Wars crew aren't typically "trailer reaction"...

Throughout film history, directors have identified their go-to collaborators and gone back to the well several times. Scorsese and De Niro have collaborated 11 times. John Wayne and John Ford worked together 21 times. Kyle and Drew go off-topic and analyze the all-time best Actor/Director duos, why they work, and what directors see in their frequent collaborators. They also go through some of their favorites duos.

Welcome to one of the most low-hanging fruit, on-the-nose matchups we've ever done. The same director. The same author of the source material. Both take place in prisons where plenty of free men are locked up for crimes they didn't commit. By many lists, The Shawshank Redemption is considered the greatest film of all time. Although The Green Mile doesn't share the same status, it carries plenty of cache on its own. Walk the Green Mile toward freedom with the Movie Wars crew! 

A movie podcast walks into town... The Western may be the most flexible and dynamic film genre. It's survived over a century while experiencing new forms and shapes, all built on its undeniably effective tested-by-time formula. Not only is Tombstone one of the most beloved versions of that formula but it is also considered the best Western of all time by a large contingency of six-shooter-loving move-goers. And then you have Wyatt Earp...a film that, on paper, had all the makings of a...

The Movie Wars crew was exhilarated to tackle two buddy cop classics in 1989's Lethal Weapon 2 and 1995's Bad Boys. Similar to Westerns, the Buddy Cop genre has been transformed and retooled, all while paying homage to a timeless formula. The chemistry between the lead actors drives both of these films. LW2 reveals that Riggs and Murtaugh are more like family than when they were introduced in the franchise's first entry, where they were beleaguered and struggled to reconcile their opposing...

Watching "The Boondock Saints" was considered a dorm room initiation during Kyle, Drew, and Phil's college years. Highly requested by our listeners, "The Boondock Saints" possesses one of the most prolific cult followings in history. Its success was bolstered primarily by Blockbuster rentals. Although critics bashed the film, a lauded documentary titled "Overnight" received high marks for its portrayal of Troy Duffy; the highly volatile, rags-to-riches director who eventually found himself...

It was only a matter of time before the Movie Wars crew released an Arnold Vs. Arnold episode. Drew and Phil treated Kyle to cigars and Thai food for his birthday while we watched "Arnold" on Netflix. Needless to say, it was inspiring for us. We ditched "Mr. And Mrs. Smith" (which is a good match plotwise) for the ultimate Arnold fan matchup. By many standards and opinions, "True Lies" is considered to be Arnold's finest work, while "Eraser" marks the end of what film scholars believe to be...