Now Playing -- The Movie Review Podcast

In 14 years Sylvester Stallone had made five Rocky films, and for a long time it was easy to assume Rocky V was the last film. A financial failure and derided by critics and fans alike, it seems Rocky had finally retired once and for all. But 30 years after the original Rocky, Stallone put the gloves back on and returned to the role that made him famous. Now Rocky Balboa is a widower, a restaurateur, and has a beast inside him that needs to be released in the ring. Does this latest Rocky film knock out our reviewers Arnie, Jakob, and Brock? Listen to our final Rocky review to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

After Rocky defeated Drago, and Communism, in Rocky 4, The Italian Stallion returned to his roots for Rocky 5. The director of the original Rocky film, John G. Avildsen, is back in the diretor's chair, and Rocky is back in Philly, broke once more. Due to brain damage Rocky cannot fight his way out of this situation, but with the family's only remaining possession, Micky's gym, Rocky finds himself training a new up-and-comer Tommy Gunn. This film takes a beating from fans and critics alike, but which way did the Now Playing judges rule? Listen to Arnie, Jakob, and Brock to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

Rocky went the distance with Apollo Creed, found the Eye of the Tiger and beat Clubber Lang, but four his next fight he's taking on the biggest enemy of all--communism! When Russian Olympic Gold Medalist Drago kills Apollo in an exhibition match, Rocky must fight to avenge his friend and defend his country's honor. Rocky 4 was the highest grossing of all Rocky films, but is it the best of the best? Listen to Brock, Jakob, and Arnie's review to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

As heavyweight champion Rocky traded his passion for glory. Now he worries more about his product endorsements and his new, plastic surgery enhanced face than his boxing matches. Fortunately Rocky's manager Mickey is shielding the champ, only letting Rocky fight punks who don't stand a chance. But when tough, hungry, up-and-comer Clubber Lang refuses to take "no" for an answer Rocky has to get the eye of the tiger...with the help of an old enemy. In theaters Rocky III was a hit that outgrossed even the original film, but with Mr. T in the spotlight can this film still go the distance or is it past its prime and ready for retirement? Listen as Arnie, Jakob, and Brock once more step into the ring for this Rocky review! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

Despite losing the boxing match by decision, Rocky was the undisputed box office champion of 1976. So three years later, the Italian Stallion was back on the big screen and this time he was there to "Win, Rocky, Win!" With Sylvester Stallone now behind the camera as well as in front, and the entire cast of the original film returning, does Rocky II pack a punch? Listen as Arnie, Jakob, and Brock step back in the ring and find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

It's sometimes hard to believe Sylvester Stallone is an Oscar nominated actor and writer. After all, Demolition Man and The Expendables aren't usually the films that get Academy notice. But in his career-making role as washed-up fighter Rocky Balboa Stallone captured accolades and audience dollars. Now, for Rocky's 35th anniversary, Now Playing hosts Arnie, Brock, and Jakob are watching and reviewing all six Rocky films, starting with this 1976 original. Can this film still go the distance with modern audience? Listen to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

The Punisher's attempts at a franchise continue to be shot down. While 2004's Punisher film failed to blow up the box office, strong DVD sales convinced Lionsgate to move ahead on a sequel--only to have director Jonathan Hensleigh and star Thomas Jane drop out. But the project moved on, now a second reboot for the Marvel Knight. Ray Stevenson strapped on the skull-logo flack jacket to fight classic comic book villian Jigsaw in this ultra-violent comic adaptation. Does this third Punisher film finally hit the target, or is it yet another misfire? Listen to Arnie, Jakob, and Stuart's final installment in the Punisher Retrospective Series to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

With Blade a cinematic success Artisan Entertainment brought another R-rated Marvel property to the big screen--The Punisher. Starring Thomas Jane in the title role and John Travolta as bad guy gangster Howard Saint, this adaptation remained closer to the character's comic book portrayal, putting him in his signature skull outfit and with a story based on Garth Ennis' acclaimed Welcome Back Frank story. But this film was punished by most critics, only to find its audience on DVD. Is this film justice for our hero, or punishment for the viewer? Listen as Jakob, Arnie, and Stuart are here to live once more, or die once more, or review once more and find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

In 1989 the second Marvel Comics hero got his shot at big screen glory -- The Punisher, a murderous vigilante who dispenses the ultimate punishment to criminals. To comic book fans, Dolph Lundgren's portrayal of the character barely resembled the original material. Gone was the giant skull on the Punisher's shirt, and instead of a Viet Nam war hero Frank Castle was now a police officer waging a one-man war against the mob. But is the true punishment that inflicted upon viewers of this film? On this week's Now Playing, Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob continue their Marvel Movie retrospective with this first Punisher film, so listen to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

After Red Dragon's success more Lecter films were guaranteed, and to keep with author Thomas Harris' original vision this time the movie was not just based on one of his novels--the Hannibal Rising screenplay was written by Harris in conjunction with the new novel telling of Hannibal the Cannibal's early years. Can this film provide a future for the series without Anthony Hopkins, and does Gaspard Ulliel's Hannibal rise to the occasion? Listen to Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob's final review in the Hannibal Lecter series to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

Quickly after Hannibal hit theaters production began on yet another installment of the Hannibal Lecter franchise, and this time instead of looking forward to Harris writing another Hannibal story they looked backwards to Red Dragon, Harris' first novel featuring the caged cannibal. Already made into a film in the 80's, Manhunter, now the story is retold in an adaptation more faithful to the original novel and with Hopkins again reprising the role that he is best known for. With an all-star cast and director Brett Ratner at the helm, was this film a needed update or a desperate cash-grab? Listen to Jakob, Arnie, and Stuart's review to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

Warning: This podcast deals with subject matter that will be objectionable to the vast majority of listeners. No one under the age of 18 should listen, and those over the age of 18 should listen with caution. Last year the world was fascinated by The Human Centipede. What started as an underground, unknown movie only shown at midnight in select theaters ended up a global phenomenon. Word of the sequel spread fast, and the buzz increased when the film was banned in the UK. Now the sequel is here and the full sequence twelve-person Human Centipede is ready to be revealed. Do four-times the people equate to four-times the entertainment? Listen as Stuart, Marjorie, and Arnie line up to review this sequel and find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

When Silence of the Lambs was received with critical acclaim and box office success, audiences waited with baited breath for the reunion of the cannibal and the agent -- Hannibal and Clarice. But despite audience anticipation, author Thomas Harris did not complete the sequel novel Hannibal until 1999, and upon its release many of the talent associated with the original film declined to return. But with new director Ridley Scott, fresh off his Oscar for Gladiator, behind the camera and Hopkins returning to chew up the scenery and his victims, could this film live up to the last or is it too much for audiences to swallow? Listen to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

It's iconic. Fava Beans and Chianti. Quid Pro Quo. Goodbye Horses. Based on Thomas Harris' second novel, Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster, and director Jonathan Demme came together and made a picture that captured both the pop culture imagination and swept the Academy Awards. Now, continuing their Hannibal Lecter series, Jakob, Stuart, and Arnie watch and review this seminal crime horror film. Does it hold up two decades later? Listen to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

Before Anthony Hopkins was having fava beans and a nice chianti, Hannibal Lector was played by Brian Cox in Manhunter, a 1986 film from Miami Vice's Michael Mann. A serial killer is on the loose and FBI profiler Will Graham has been called out of retirement to stop him. To do so, Graham turns to his old nemesis, the man he put in prison, Hannibal the Cannibal. With a plot that closely mirrors Lector's most iconic appearance in Silence of the Lambs, Manhunter was a failure in 1986 but is now a rediscovered favorite for Lector fans. Can this film hold a candle to Lector's later appearances? Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob review Manhunter as their first film in the Hannibal Lector retrospective series, so listen to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

Daredevil made money but when Affleck became toxic at the box office, Fox studios proceeded with a spin-off rather than a sequel, and despite being dead at the end of Daredevil Jennifer Garner was back reprising her role of Elektra. Donning the iconic red silk outfit for this outing, Elektra is an assassin who finds her conscience and must go up against the evil ninjas of The Hand to protect The Treasure. Is Elektra a treasure to movie fans, or should this franchise have not been resurrected? Listen to Jakob, Stuart, and Arnie to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

After the success of X-Men, 20th Century Fox quickly green-lit another Marvel superhero film--Daredevil! With Ben Affleck still riding his career high after The Sum of All Fears cast as the blind lawyer cum vigilante Daredevil seemed poised to swing in right behind the success of 2002's Spider-Man. Aided by a strong supporting cast including Colin Farrell, Jennifer Garner, Michael Clarke Duncan, and a pre-Iron Man Jon Faverau, this film broke box office records its opening weekend, but in the court of public opinion this film has been forgotten. Now, continuing their look back at every movie based on Marvel's superhero comics, Arnie, Jakob, and Stuart take the stand and bear witness to Daredevil. Was justice served? Listen to this podcast to find out the verdict! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

Blade II made over $150 million worldwide, so it was no surprise that two years later Blade was back in theaters. What was surprising is he brought friends, in the form of Jessica Biel, Parker Posey, Natasha Lyonne, and Ryan Reynolds. Can the daywalker stand up to the star power in this cast? And does the return of Blade's comic book nemesis Dracula inject new blood into the franchise? Listen and find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

Blade was an unexpected hit in 1998, and so in 2002 Wesley Snipes returned to the role for the first sequel in his career. This time, with a still mostly unknown Guillermo del Toro at the helm, and writer David S. Goyer penning the script, did the Daywalker really get his chance to shine? Listen to Stuart, Arnie, and Jakob's review to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

By 1998, the only Marvel Comics character to get a wide theatrical release was Howard the Duck. But Dark Knight writer David Goyer would change all that with Blade, starring Wesley Snipes as the comic book vampire slayer. With Stephen Dorff as charismatic vampire Deacon Frost, Blade redeemed comic based movies after Batman and Robin and kicked off the Marvel Age of movies. But can this pre-Matrix combination of CGI and black leather stand up today, and how does it fit in with the other Marvel comic book movies? Listen to Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob's review to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support