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Three playful movie reviewers break down a variety of film franchises by dedicating a podcast to every single sequel, reboot, and spin-off in a series. In-depth conversations cover production history, literary sources, gossip, merchandising, and personal opinion with humor and critical insight. No cinematic universe is too obscure or sacred! Over 1,200 reviews at http://nowplayingpodcast.com
Copyright: © Venganza Media, Inc.
They should have quit while they were a head (hah!)
When The X-Files ended, Mulder was a fugitive, Scully had left the FBI, and the alien colonization plot was still unresolved. After years in development limbo, the franchise returned to theaters with The X-Files: I Want to Believe, reuniting David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson for another case. Instead of diving back into the dense alien mythology, the film opts for a standalone investigation involving a psychic former priest and a grim organ-transplant mystery. It’s a deliberate pivot from global conspiracy to intimate thriller. But does stepping away from the overarching plot make for a stronger summer movie, or does it sidestep the very questions fans waited years to have answered? The hosts examine whether this one-off X-File satisfies longtime believers or leaves the truth still frustratingly out there.
Federal buildings being bombed, FEMA plotting to overthrow the government, and extra-terrestrials plotting with The Syndicate to turn the human race into drone slaves. In the 90’s, this dense mystery made up the heart of The X-Files television show, where agents Mulder and Scully investigated paranormal activities and uncovered a plot by aliens to take over the earth. With a hardcore audience of fans, in 1998 The X-Files took the leap to the big screen, hoping to appease old fans and bring in new ones. Does this work as a stand-alone film, and does raising the stakes to the big screen pay off for fans? Listen to find out!
{X-Files Movie Series}
We can't handle (or understand) the truth.
Federal buildings exploding. FEMA conspiracies. Alien colonists working with shadowy government figures. That dense mythology fueled The X-Files throughout the 1990s, as FBI agents Mulder and Scully chased paranormal cases while slowly uncovering a larger plot to enslave humanity. In 1998, the phenomenon went cinematic with Fight the Future, reuniting David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson for a big-screen chapter designed to satisfy die-hard fans while drawing in newcomers. Expanding the conspiracy and amplifying the spectacle, the film raises the stakes from television mystery to blockbuster event. But does this mythology-heavy story function as a standalone movie, or does it assume too much prior knowledge? And does the leap to theaters deepen the intrigue or simply inflate it? The hosts examine whether this cinematic case file earns its place in the franchise’s legacy.
Bursting onto the scene with Memento, Christopher Nolan has become one of the most watched genre director, breaking the box office with The Dark Knight as well as warping minds with The Prestige, so when one of this summer’s biggest and most mysterious films of the summer is written and directed by Nolan, we at Now Playing take notice. With a dense plot concerning a malleable dream world, the film could be a revelation or an incomprehensible mess. The Now Playing crew went opening day to tell you if this is the film of your dreams or a total nightmare!
{Nolan Series}
All these movies with dreams, and yet still no going to school without your pants on.
Bursting onto the scene with Memento, Christopher Nolan has become one of the most-watched genre directors, breaking the box office with The Dark Knight as well as warping minds with The Prestige. So when one of this summer's biggest and most mysterious films of the summer is written and directed by Nolan, we at Now Playing Podcast take notice. With a dense plot concerning a malleable dream world, the film could be a revelation or an incomprehensible mess. Our hosts went on opening day to tell you if this is the film of your dreams or a total nightmare!
It’s been 20 years since they’ve had their own film, but thanks to Robert Rodriguez the Predators are back on the big screen! Producer Rodriguez and director Nimrod Antal are taking the alien hunter back to his jungle roots, and with the Predators going up against Adrien Brody, Laurence Fishburne, and Danny Trejo it’s bound to excite both sci-fi and action fans. But this time are the Predators right on target, or have they again missed their mark? Listen as Arnie, Stuart, and Brock review this final film in the Now Playing Predator Retrospective Series!
{Predator Series}
Yo, Adrien. Christian Bale called. He wants his Batman voice back.
It's been 20 years since they've had their own film, but thanks to Robert Rodriguez, the Predators are back on the big screen! Producer Rodriguez and director Nimrod Antal are taking the alien hunter back to his jungle roots, and with the Predators going up against Adrien Brody, Laurence Fishburne, and Danny Trejo, it's bound to excite both sci-fi and action fans. But this time are the Predators right on target, or have they again missed their mark? Listen as Arnie, Stuart, and Brock review this final film in the Now Playing Predator Retrospective Series!
Paul W.S. Anderson’s match-up between Aliens and Predators may have left many fans of both franchises out in the cold, but the box office tallies made a rematch inevitable–thus 20th Century Fox gives us Aliens vs Predator: Requiem. Attempting to right past wrongs, the studio made this film with a “hard R” rating, including an unrated cut on DVD, and gave the directing reins to the special effects duo, the Brothers Strause. Was the battle so much sweeter the second time around? Listen to Stuart, Arnie, and Brock to find out!
{Predator Series}
{Alien Series}
How cool would it have been if the alien chest-bursted out of a Bigfoot? We could have seen a sasqualien!
Paul W.S. Anderson's match-up between Aliens and Predators may have left many fans of both franchises out in the cold, but the box office tallies made a rematch inevitable; thus, 20th Century Fox gives us Aliens vs Predator: Requiem. Attempting to right past wrongs, the studio made this film with a "hard R" rating, including an unrated cut on DVD, and handed the directing reins to special-effects duo The Brothers Strause. Was the battle so much sweeter the second time around? Listen to Stuart, Arnie, and Brock to find out!
When Freddy and Jason’s team-up killed at the box office, it didn’t take long for 20th Century Fox to green-light another long-anticipated cinematic crossover–Alien vs. Predator. Having already fought on the pages of comic books and in video games, these two classic extra terrestrials took their battle to the big screen, continuing an ancient Predator coming-of-age ritual in Antarctica, with a group of humans, including Charles Bishop Weyland played by Lance Henriksen, in the middle. Was this another dream team-up for fans of both franchises, or a monster mash-up gone horribly awry? Listen to Arnie, Brock, and Stuart’s review to find out!
{Predator Series}
{Alien Series}
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