We're thinking we're back! Nothing summarizes this matchup like the words "sweet revenge." John Wick and Taken are two fantastic action films revolving around uniquely skilled protagonists avenging the loss of dogs and people near and dear to them. Kyle loved the opportunity to re-introduce the "Keanu Lifer" back to the podcast. We also discussed how John Wick captures the essence of the classic action films we love while developing its own style. Enjoy John Wick Vs. Taken with guns blazing,...

The video game movie genre is experiencing a renaissance. Traditionally, cinema has heavily influenced the production of video games. Games like Resident Evil and Metal Gear Solid are evidence of this. As video games have become more cinematic on their own, the sentiment around video game-influenced movies has increased. Shows like The Last Of Us and the upcoming Super Mario Brothers movie are garnering more interest from the masses than any game-inspired IP before them. Today, the guys are...

Batman films serve as a time-stamped looking glass into the temperament of society. The stark difference in tone is evident when you watch 2005's Batman Begins after watching Tim Burton's Batman (1989). The inherent silliness that endears 1989's Batman seems like a spectacle when compared to Nolan's entries which embody the post-9/11 nihilism that we've discussed on the podcast many times. Yet somehow, 2022's The Batman takes the cake when it comes to channeling darkness. When you pair the...

Cue the house music beats and the getaway cars. Kyle, Drew, and Phil find themselves in the middle of the ultimate heist film battle. Both Ocean's Eleven and The Italian Job are remakes that attempt to sever ties with their source material. Ocean's Eleven boasts a veteran ensemble cast, including Julia Roberts, who is fresh off of her 2001 Oscar win for Best Actress for Erin Brockovich, which is also directed by Steven Soderbergh. The Italian Job's is more of an ensemble in the making,...

You'll be hard-pressed to find real-life subject matter more exaggerated and glamorized in film than the courtroom. Hollywood has taken lots of liberty representing the legal system over the years. 1992 was arguably the most significant year for courtroom films. Widely regarded as two of the best courtroom films ever made, we analyze A Few Good Men and My Cousin Vinny. Although they represent two different genres, they have a long list of commonalities. We also get to explore the performances...

Is there a better way to kick off the New Year than another epic Arnold Vs. Sly battle? At the time of their release, 1986's Cobra and Raw Deal were considered regressions for the 80's action kings. However, Cobra has amassed a large cult following that has solidified it as a fan favorite. The story behind the funding of Raw Deal gave Arnold all the ammunition he needed to parlay a deal leading to his leading role in Total Recall. You can't miss this episode if you enjoy fraught productions,...

One of the problematic aspects of Movie Wars is picking matchups for iconic films like Raiders Of The Lost Ark. One of the best ways to find a matchup is by picking a film that is a representative descendant of that iconic film. National Treasure expounds on the Indiana Jones blueprint in new ways and with a modern twist. Escape from the boulder with the Movie Wars crew as we tackle two adventure film giants.  Share our pod with your movie-loving friends or support us on  Patreon!  Film...

Let's just call this the ultimate "Cage" match. Nicholas Cage had an incredible run of films starting in the early 90's and tapering off in the early 2000's. His popularity landed him roles that were tailored to his eccentric persona. If you've listened to Movie Wars before, we love talking about the evolution of action from how it was sprinkled into Westerns and Bond films, to the macho muscle era, and to the Average Joe Bruce Willis era. Face/Off and Con Air represent the era of absurdity...

The Slasher film is easily one of the most popular subgenres in all of cinema. The genre’s roots begin with Hitchcock's desire to modernize the horror genre by taking it out of European castles and removing werewolves and vampires. 1960's Psycho and Peeping Tom are true predecessors to 1978's Halloween. That being said, Halloween is seen as the first film to solidify what would become the slasher formula. Just six years later, A Nightmare On Elm Street shows the evolution of the genre...

The Fugitive and Enemy Of The State are great examples of innocent protagonists on the run due to false accusations and mistaken identities. Will Smith Versus Harrison Ford is one of our most intriguing leading men battles to date. We also discuss how the NSA technology of Enemy Of The State holds up in today's technological landscape. Plan your escape and claim your identity with the Movie Wars crew as we compare The Fugitive and Enemy Of The State.  Click here to become an executive...

Head to the bottom of the sea with the Movie Wars crew as they compare two of the greatest submarine warfare movies ever made. Both films feature incredible acting duos and center around the submarine tactics of the cold war. Listen with Kyle, Drew, and Phil as they start a mutiny between The Hunt For Red October and Crimson Tide.  Click here to become an executive producer on Movie Wars by supporting us on Patreon! A measly $7 gets you access to Kyle’s new 20-minute film retrospectives which...

Absurd premises are the bread and butter of so many great action films. Air Force One and The Rock are no exception. Both films replicate the containerized action formula made famous by Die Hard. Sean Connery and Nicholas Cage make an unforgettable duo while Harrison Ford kicks tail Commander-In-Chief style. Get off the plane with the Movie Wars crew and save San Francisco as they compare two action classics. Click here to become an executive producer on Movie Wars by supporting us on...

The Movie Wars crew takes a gamble on episode 0030 where we compare Casino and Rounders. These films show gambling and high-stakes poker from different perspectives. Scorsese described Casino as a grandiose, indirect sequel to his Masterpiece Good Fellas. Rounders shows the seedy underground of high-stakes poker with a 90's flare. Roll the dice and enjoy Casino Vs. Rounders. Click here to become an executive producer on Movie Wars by supporting us on Patreon! A measly $7 gets you access to...

Crooked-cop films are the ultimate twist on the cops and robbers genre. Denzel Washington put on one of the most memorable performances of his career while Sylvester Stallone transformed from his usual musclebound action hero to an overweight cop steeped in naivety. The protagonists are tasked with traversing the moral complexity of taking down their corrupt counterparts who don’t operate with a rulebook. Enjoy your training day with Kyle, Drew, and Phil. Click here to become an executive...

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and American Beauty are part of a distinguished group of films nominated for "The Big 5" Oscars (Best Film, Screenplay, Director, Actor and Actress). One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest is in even rarer company being one of 3 films to win all 5 of those categories. On a deeper level, they share strong philosophical themes such as imprisonment and freedom, juxtaposed against how society defines "sanity". Get ready to enter the dark depths of society as the guys dive...

The Game and The Firm pull back the curtain on what happens when the pursuit of wealth, status, and power is turned on its head. Michael Douglas and Tom Cruise enter worlds where nothing is what it seems. Join the Movie Wars crew as they dissect the breakneck twists and turns of these masterfully made thrillers. Want access to bonus content, interviews with legendary filmmakers, and Host Q and A's? Click here to become a Movie Wars Patreon Supporter!  This helps keep the show ad-free, and...

Kyle, Drew, and Phil celebrate the one-year anniversary of Movie Wars. It's been a great first year and we've managed to cover 50 incredible films. The guys reflect on a year of laughs, randos, and war cards. Tune in for Q&A's from the cohosts and the listeners, as well as a surprise host-themed war card from Kyle. Thanks for making our first year so memorable! Want access to bonus content, interviews with legendary filmmakers, and Host Q and A's? Click here to become a Movie Wars...

The idea of the isolated man resonates differently in 2022 than it did in 2000 when Cast Away was released. As society’s dependence on technology has come into prominence, the idea of losing access to people, technology, and modern comforts seems implausible. Cast Away and The Martian analyze this concept from two unique perspectives. Get stranded with the Movie Wars crew for this battle of loneliness.  Want access to bonus content, interviews with legendary filmmakers, and Host Q and A's?...

Sports have often been utilized as a vehicle for intricate storytelling in film. Jerry Maguire and Moneyball tell the stories of two men seeking reform while challenging the status quo. The parallel rebirth experienced by both characters, however, may be the ultimate triumph in these two incredible stories. "Help Movie Wars help you" as we navigate one of our most prolific leading man battles to date.  Want access to bonus content, interviews with legendary filmmakers, and Host Q and A's?...

The moral ambiguity of the Vietnam War attracted prolific filmmakers such as Stanley Kubrick, Oliver Stone, and Francis Ford Coppola. Although different, Apocalypse Now and Platoon are two iconic interpretations of one of the most divisive periods in history. Hop in the riverboat with Kyle, Drew, and Phil as we try to determine who “...smells like victory” Want access to bonus content, interviews with legendary filmmakers, and Host Q and A's? Click here to become a Movie Wars Patreon...

Point Break presented a massive evolution in action films when it was released in 1991. Its flow of adrenalized action sequences became a benchmark for many films to come; one of those being 2001’s The Fast And The Furious. Similar to Point Break, The Fast and the Furious embraced an obscure subculture and made it a societal focal point. But did it drive a little too closely to Point Break’s plot? Hit the NOS with Kyle, Drew, and Phil as they ride the wave of Point Break Vs. The Fast And The...

This is Movie War's interview with the Oscar-Winning VFX Director from Total Recall, Tim McGovern. Although we began our discussion with Total Recall, Tim is still working on amazing projects which recently included Dunkirk With Christopher Nolan, First Man starring Ryan Gosling, and The Ghost & The Darkness starring Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas. Want access to bonus content, interviews with legendary filmmakers, and Host Q and A's? Click here to become a Movie Wars Patreon...

The Western is one of the most fundamental building blocks of cinema. Heavily inspired by Westerns,  Quentin Tarantino and The Coen Brothers are Mount Rushmore American filmmakers who channeled that inspiration into The Hateful Eight and True Grit(2010). The Movie Wars crew puts these modern interpretations of a beloved genre to the test.  Want access to bonus content, interviews with legendary filmmakers, and Host Q and A's? Click here to become a Movie Wars Patreon Supporter!  This helps...

This is a preview of Movie War's interview with the Oscar-Winning VFX Director from Total Recall, Tim McGovern. In this clip, Tim talks about working with Christopher Nolan on Dunkirk. Although we began our discussion with Total Recall, Tim is still working on amazing projects which recently included Dunkirk With Christopher Nolan, First Man starring Ryan Gosling, and The Ghost and The Darkness which starred Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas. Tune in and hear the entire interview including...

First Blood and Commando - these two films became the blueprint for the modern action movie. While these films have completely different tones, they share the same core: they're built around the concept of the one-man-army while yielding two of the most recognizable and iconic action stars to ever grace the big screen. Want access to bonus content, interviews with legendary filmmakers, and Host Q and A's? Click here to become a Movie Wars Patreon Supporter!  This helps keep the show ad-free,...