Month: April 2021

Episode #218: Mortal Kombat (2021)

Hi everybody! Today Matt and Mike chat about the reboot of a movie based on a video game near and dear to their hearts, Mortal Kombat (2021). Not kombat related topics include VOD, Wildcat Giveaway, and how boring the Academy Awards were.

The summer blockbuster movie season is upon us. Mortal Kombat (2021) is not a horrible movie but it is not an incredible one either. The story is very lacking but the over the top fight scenes make up for it. They are bloody and graphic just like the games. The film does dial down some of the violence to keep their R rating but it is definitely pushing the rating limits. One of the best things going for Mortal Kombat (2021) is the nostalgia. If you have played any of the video games you will recognize with glee the many characters, fatalities, and their abilities. The acting is mediocre at best. Some of the seasoned martial artist actors did very well but there are a lot of newcomers and you can tell who they are.

This movie is very much in the vein of Godzilla vs. Kong, Episode #215 for you newbies. It is mindless fun and entertainment with a smidge of a plot. Mike Talent did not enjoy Mortal Kombat except for the fighting, he awards it 2 out of 5 Reels. Matt, always a fan action packed blockbusters, gives it 3.5 out of 5 Reels.

Next week is Mike’s pick and clearly he is torturing Matt, is the new Netflix Original Thunder Force starring Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer. Thank you for supporting our podcast and we will chat at you next week.

If you have a film you would like Matt and Mike to review, email us at nerds@reelfilmnerds.com

You can find us on all things social such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Why not join our Facebook Fan Group so you can yell at Mike and Matt from the comfort of your keyboard while talking about films. Thank you for liking, subscribing, rating, reviewing, and telling your friends about our podcast. Stay home and stream as many movies as you can!

Mortal Kombat (2021) Mortal Kombat Movie Poster

Director: Simon McQuoid

Writer: Greg Russo, Dave Callaham, Oren Uziel, Ed Boon, and John Tobias

Stars: Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Joe Taslim, and Matilda Kimber

Release Date: April 23, 2021

Storyline from IMDB

MMA fighter Cole Young seeks out Earth’s greatest champions in order to stand against the enemies of Outworld in a high stakes battle for the universe.

Watch the Mortal Kombat (2021) trailer below.

Episode #217: Promising Young Woman

Podcast Wednesday is upon us and the Academy Awards inch ever closer. Today Mike and Matt chat about a revenge film that is nominated for Best Picture, Promising Young Woman starring Carey Mulligan. Additional topics include violent video games, baseball, and Idiocracy.

This is a very unique film to be nominated for Best Picture. It is not a bad film, it is a very good film, just extremely dark and continues down that path all the way to the credits. In act two of Promising Young Woman you get a glimpse of redemption. Our protagonist sees a light at the end of the tunnel but it is quickly extinguished. Carey Mulligan and Bo Burnham did an excellent job along with their supporting cast. This film is not for the faint of heart but is well worth the watch. Is it the pick for Best Picture 2021, Mike Talent sure thinks so, awarding it 4.5 out of 5 Reels. Matt on the other hand enjoyed Promising Young Woman but doesn’t think it deserved to be nominated. He awards the revenge thriller 3 out of 5 Reels.

Next week the Academy Awards are over and so is our Best Picture catch-up. We missed a few films but will revisit some of them in the future especially the Best Picture 2021 winner. Matt picked next week’s review. The brand new film reboot of the super popular violent video game Mortal Kombat. It will be available on HBO Max and at your local movie theater so you can watch it with us. Thank you for supporting our podcast and we will chat at you next week.

If you have a film you would like Matt and Mike to review, email us at nerds@reelfilmnerds.com

You can find us on all things social such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Why not join our Facebook Fan Group so you can yell at Mike and Matt from the comfort of your keyboard while talking about films. Thank you for liking, subscribing, rating, reviewing, and telling your friends about our podcast. Stay home and stream as many movies as you can!

Promising Young Woman Promising Young Woman Movie Poster

Director: Emerald Fennell

Writer: Emerald Fennell

Stars: Carey MulliganBo BurnhamAlison Brie, and Laverne Cox

Release Date: December 25, 2020

Storyline from IMDB

A young woman, traumatized by a tragic event in her past, seeks out vengeance against those who crossed her path.

Watch the Promising Young Woman trailer below.

Episode #216: The Father

Happy Wednesday everyone and welcome to the Reel Film Nerds Podcast. Today Matt and Mike work on reviewing some of the upcoming 93rd Academy Awards Best Picture Nominees they missed starting with The Father starring Anthony Hopkins. Off topics today include Thor’s abs, cars in space, and grandparents.

What an incredible movie that Mike and Matt will probably never watch again. The Father is not an easy watch but it is worth it. The storytelling is incredible. Viewing the downward spiral of man into Alzheimer’s through his eyes is extremely powerful and depressing. The film is confusing, angering, and even hopeful. The Father is not for everyone especially those of you who have dealt with Alzheimer’s recently in your lives. Anthony Hopkins gives the performance of a lifetime and his co-star Olivia Colman does an incredible job as well. If you can bring yourself to watch it you will not be disappointed. It truly is an incredible piece of art and storytelling. Mike and Matt both agree The Father is a great film giving it 4 out of 5 Reels.

Next week Matt and Mike continue their Academy Awards Best Picture Nominees catch up with Promising Young Woman starring Carey Mulligan. Thank you for supporting our podcast and we will chat at you next week.

If you have a film you would like Matt and Mike to review, email us at nerds@reelfilmnerds.com

You can find us on all things social such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Why not join our Facebook Fan Group so you can yell at Mike and Matt from the comfort of your keyboard while talking about films. Thank you for liking, subscribing, rating, reviewing, and telling your friends about our podcast. Stay home and stream as many movies as you can!

The Father The Father Movie Poster

Director: Florian Zeller

Writers: Christopher Hampton and Florian Zeller

Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Olivia Colman, Mark Gatiss, and Olivia Williams

Release Date: February 26, 2021

Storyline from IMDB

A man refuses all assistance from his daughter as he ages. As he tries to make sense of his changing circumstances, he begins to doubt his loved ones, his own mind and even the fabric of his reality.

Watch The Father trailer below.

Episode #215: Godzilla vs. Kong

Welcome everyone to a monster of a Reel Film Nerds Podcast. So our original review was dropped since it’s director did not get back to us after requesting his film’s review. Instead the boys chat about the box office destroying Godzilla vs. Kong. Other topics today include Best Picture Nominees, OG Godzilla, and Tartan Day.

This is the exact movie we need right now to kick off the fun explosive summer blockbuster movie season. Godzilla vs. Kong is one of the best if not the best of the current Hollywood monsterverse films (Kong Skull Island is pretty good too). Unlike its predecessors this movie does not take itself seriously. Yes there is not much of a story it’s just good old fashioned CGI monsters wailing on each other but man it’s fun. The acting was adequate and the sets were big and beautiful but the CGI really shines through, mostly. There are a couple of background scenes that didn’t look great but our monsters looked incredible.

Are you going to have a long drawn out conversation about the meaning of Godzilla vs. Kong or it’s social impacts on our COVI-19 world, no. You will have a great time for two hours not thinking about the world around us and enjoying a CGI spectacle. Mike Talent hated Godzilla vs. Kong. He just isn’t a fan of monster movies. Strange for a self proclaimed horror film buff. He awards the movie 1.5 out of 5 Reels. Matt really enjoyed himself, especially a huge spoiler that comes later in the film. He gives the film 3.5 out of 5 Reels.

Next week’s episode Mike and Matt are going to try to catch up on some of the Academy Awards Best Picture Nominees with The Father starring Anthony Hopkins. Thank you for supporting our podcast and we will chat at you next week.

If you have a film you would like Matt and Mike to review, email us at nerds@reelfilmnerds.com

You can find us on all things social such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Why not join our Facebook Fan Group so you can yell at Mike and Matt from the comfort of your keyboard while talking about films. Thank you for liking, subscribing, rating, reviewing, and telling your friends about our podcast. Stay home and stream as many movies as you can!

Godzilla vs. Kong Godzilla vs. Kong Movie Poster

Director: Adam Wingard

Writers: Terry Rossio, Michael Dougherty, Zach Shields, Eric Pearson, and Max Borenstein

Stars: Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, and Brian Tyree Henry

Release Date: April 4, 2021

Storyline from IMDB

The epic next chapter in the cinematic Monsterverse pits two of the greatest icons in motion picture history against one another – the fearsome Godzilla and the mighty Kong – with humanity caught in the balance.

Watch the Godzilla vs. Kong trailer below.