Reel Film Nerds Podcast

Episode #135: Legacy – The Rock

By Matt on Wednesday, October 2, 2019

A new month and a new Wednesday means a new podcast for your ear holes. Today Mike and Matt get around to another Legacy Cast this one though is not a request but from Matt’s Legacy list. Today the hosts take a look back at a Michael Bay masterpiece, according to Mike Talent, 1996’s The Rock. Bonus topics include Mike won the lottery, we miss watching Sean Connery on the big screen, and violence in movies, music, video games etc.

The Rock is a classic 90’s action movie that helped put Michael Bay on the map as one of the best action film directors working today. Up until The Rock he mostly directed music videos and another little action film you might have heard of Bad Boys. The Rock is the complete package. It has incredible acting, amazing action sequences, and a compelling story about a prison inmate no one has ever heard of. It definitely shows it’s age compared to the modern action film but still holds up pretty well. Sean Connery, Nicholas Cage, and Ed Harris bring some of their best acting to the table with this film. The chemistry between our two heroes is great to say the least. Ed Harris gives us amazing nuances and dedication to his craft as a villian with honor. His character is ultimately trying to achieve recognition for overlooked soldiers who gave all but has the wits to not add innocent blood shed to do it in the end. Mike Talent loves this movie with a passion, almost as much as he loves Jaws and that’s saying a lot! He gives The Rock one of his very rare perfect ratings of 5 out of 5 Reels. Matt really enjoyed the film as well but felt it has not aged as gracefully as he remembers it. He awards it a respectful 4 out of 5 Reels.

Next week the guys hit the theaters to watch a film that is already generating a ton of controversy and buzz, Todd Phillips’ Joker starring Joaquin Phoenix. Matt and Mike are both extremely excited to see this film and give you their honest opinions for our faithful few listeners. If you want a sneak peek don’t forget to tune in to Leza Live on Magic 99.1 on Monday next week to hear Matt give his first impressions of the Joker. Thanks for listening and we will chat at you next week!

If you want to listen to way better podcast’s don’t forget to check out our sister podcasts The Bluemilk Podcast, The Mile High Show, and Rogues Radio Podcast also based in beautiful Prescott, Arizona.

If you have a film you would like Matt and Mike Talent to review you can email us at nerds@reelfilmnerds.com, listeners we are talking to you too.

Lastly we are on all things social such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Please join our Facebook Fan Group so you can have a safe space to yell at Mike and Matt from the comfort of your keyboard while talking about films too. Now go out and catch a movie!

The Rock

Director: Michael Bay

Writers: David Weisberg, Douglas Cook, and Mark Rosner

Stars: Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage, Ed Harris, Michael Biehn, and David Morse

Release Date: June 7, 1996

Storyline from IMDB

A mild-mannered chemist and an ex-con must lead the counterstrike when a rogue group of military men, led by a renegade general, threaten a nerve gas attack from Alcatraz against San Francisco.

Watch The Rock trailer below.

Episodes

Episode #134: Ad Astra

By Matt on Wednesday, September 25, 2019

It’s Wednesday and that means it’s new podcast day! Today Mike and Matt review the latest Brad Pitt space odyssey Ad Astra written and directed by James Gray. Incredible additional topics today include The Martian, space pirates, and Matt has a guest spot on Leza Live every Monday on a real radio station Magic 99.1, seriously?

Ad Astra is what we call a true hardcore sci-fi film. It is jam packed with action, it can drag at times, but the cinematography and acting is incredible! For the most part it is a pretty great movie with a decent story about an astronaut with daddy issues but not according to Mike Talent. There are several, and we mean several parts of the film where you have to suspend reality. Both your hosts agree though Brad Pitt‘s acting was nuanced and incredible. Clearly 2019 is Brad Pitt’s year for great acting. Liv Tyler did great and so did Donald Southerland and Tommy Lee Jones for the few seconds they are in the film. Matt and Mike did not agree on this film at all. This might be the first time in the history of the pod that they are so divided. Mike really did not like Ad Astra. He had a difficult time overlooking the many impossible and fantastical parts of the film. He gives it a dismal 1.5 out of 5 Reels. Matt on the other hand really enjoyed it giving a whole lot of passes to the impossible acts in the movie. If you are into sci-fi and space he suggests you definitely go see this film in the theater especially if you can afford an IMAX ticket. He gives Ad Astra 4 out of 5 Reels.

Next Wednesday Matt and Mike keep rolling with the Legacy casts by reviewing Michael Bay’s 1996 film The Rock. Thanks for tuning in for another pod and don’t forget to listen to Matt make a fool of himself on Monday mornings with Leza Live on Magic 99.1 FM around 8:45 AM. Chat at you next week.

If you have a film you would like Matt and Mike Talent to review you can email us at nerds@reelfilmnerds.com, listeners we are talking to you too.

Ad Astra

Director: James Gray

Writers: James Gray and Ethan Gross

Stars: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, and Donald Sutherland

Release Date: September 20, 2019

Storyline from IMDB

Astronaut Roy McBride undertakes a mission across an unforgiving solar system to uncover the truth about his missing father and his doomed expedition that now, 30 years later, threatens the universe.

Watch the Ad Astra trailer below.

Episodes Legacy

Episode #133: Legacy – Demolition Man

By Matt on Wednesday, September 18, 2019

It’s Wednesday and that means it’s new podcast day! Today Mike and Matt finally get around to watching and chatting about a listener film request. Today’s request which was requested months ago comes from super-fan Don in Chino Valley, Ariz. He wanted to hear the nerds take on the 1993 action packed futuristic Sci-Fi film Demolition Man. Special topics today include Borderlands 3, Moviepass is finally dead, and how do you use the 3 seashells.

The most surprising thing about re-watching Demolition Man after all these years is how accurate it predicted the future we are currently living in. For instance it predicted voice assistants, video conferencing, and the rise of Taco Bell as the only restaurant in the land! Demolition Man is not a perfect film but it is a ton of fun, filled with action and a fascinating look into the future. Wesley Snipes is a force to be reckoned with in this film. How many actors do you know can successfully play a villain and a hero with the public applauding them for their roles, not many. Matt and Mike both agree this movie is definitely worth another watch or your first watch. Matt gives Demolition Man 4 out of 5 Reels. He believes it’s mostly for nostalgia reasons but totally worth it. Mike Talent also enjoyed the film but as always is more judgmental than Matt. He gives it a 3.5 out of 5 Reels.

Next Wednesday we will be reviewing another Sci-Fi film but this one is starring Brad Pitt and Tommy Lee Jones titled Ad Astra. If you want a teaser of our review tune in Monday to Matt’s movie review segment during Leza Live on Magic 99.1 FM at 8:45 AM. Hopefully he wakes up in time for the show. Thanks for spending a half hour of your day with us especially you new listeners and we will chat at you next week.

If you have a film you would like Matt and Mike Talent to review you can email us at nerds@reelfilmnerds.com, listeners we are talking to you too.

Demolition Man

Director: Marco Brambilla

Writers: Peter M. Lenkov, Robert Reneau, and Daniel Waters

Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, Sandra Bullock, Denis Leary, and Benjamin Bratt

Release Date: October 8, 1993

Storyline from IMDB

Frozen in 1996, Simon Phoenix, a convicted crime lord, is revived for a parole hearing well into the 21st century. Revived into a society free from crime, Phoenix resumes his murderous rampage, and no one can stop him. John Spartan, the police officer who captured Phoenix in 1996, has also been cryogenically frozen, this time for a crime he did not commit. In 2032, the former cities of Los Angeles, San Diego and Santa Barbara have merged into peaceful, utopian San Angeles. Unable to stop him with their non-violent solutions, the police release Spartan to help recapture Phoenix. Now after 36 years, Spartan has to adapt himself to the future society he has no knowledge about.

Watch the Demolition Man trailer below.

Episodes

Episode #132: It Chapter Two

By Matt on Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Hey kids, clowns, mutants, nerds, or whatever else you might be, welcome to another fantastical podcast review by the Reel Film Nerds (applause). Today Matt and Mike talk about yet another horror movie, It Chapter Two. Maybe we should change the name of the pod to the Reel Horror Film Nerds, nah. Topics today include why are there so many horror films hitting the theaters, HBO’s hit show Barry, and the new season of American Horror Story.

It Chapter Two is a decent continuation of the original 2017 film. It does not really come off as a sequel like most of the films this past summer. Here is your fair warning now if you really want to enjoy this film please make sure you watch the original It from 2017 before you head out to the theater. We cannot emphasize this enough. It Chapter Two relies heavily on your understanding of the original. The casting was just incredible for It Chapter Two. The adult versions of the kids we grew to love from 2017 was spot on but no one knocked out of the park as well as Bill Hader. His dramatic and comedic blend of acting really set him apart from the rest of the cast. The fights, scares, blood, guts, and gore are on a whole new level for this franchise but it still just did not have the impact of the 2017 film. Mike Talent could not put into words what it was but Matt thinks its the difference of seeing adults go up against Pennywise instead of kids. They both agree this is a must see movie in the theaters. Mike awards It Chapter Two 3 out of 5 Reels. Matt also found the film to be just a bit above average giving it 3.5 out of 5 Reels.

Next week the guys will talk about the independent adventure comedy The Peanut Butter Falcon, finally. If they can squeeze in two reviews next week they are finally going to dive into listener review requests starting with a really fun action film from 1993, Demolition Man. Thanks for spending a half hour of your day with us especially you new listeners and we will chat at you next week.

If you have a film you would like Matt and Mike Talent to review you can email us at nerds@reelfilmnerds.com, listeners we are talking to you too.

It Chapter Two

Director: Andy Muschietti

Writers: Gary Dauberman and Stephen King

Stars: Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, Jay Ryan, James Ransone, Andy Bean, and Bill Skarsgård

Release Date: September 6, 2019

Storyline from IMDB

Twenty-seven years after their first encounter with the terrifying Pennywise, the Losers Club have grown up and moved away, until a devastating phone call brings them back.

Watch the It Chapter Two trailer below.

Episodes

Episode #131: Good Boys

By Matt on Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Welcome friends to another podcast about movies! Yes another one….. Anyways today Mysterious Mike and Incredible Matt finally review the coming-of age raunchy comedy Good Boys. The guys mostly stay on topic until the end of the pod when Mike and Matt really start talking about their childhoods. Other topics you don’t care about include streaming services are they the next cable companies, drones: reality versus myth, and the Wish Man film.

Good Boys is a fun raunchy comedy that is reminiscent of Superbad blended with American Pie. There is a lot of heart throughout the film and quite a few laughs too. The recurring theme that works best, even though it is used over and over is the main characters not understanding adult oriented items and phrases. It is incredibly funny even though the gag is used way too much. The acting was decent especially Keith L. Williams who plays Lucas a kid who is way too honest and nice. Overall Good Boys is a fun film but you can wait until this one comes out at RedBox or one of the many streaming services. Mike Talent enjoyed the film giving it 3 out of 5 Reels. Matt was a bit harsher than Mike but not by much. Let’s hope this is only a phase. He gives Good Boys 2.5 out of 5 Reels.

Next week the guys will talk about the sequel to the 2017 break out horror hit It Chapter Two. If they can get two reviews in and Mike has the film in a theater near him they will talk about the independent adventure comedy The Peanut Butter Falcon, if not you will just get It Chapter Two which probably will be over our time limit to begin with. Thank you faithful listeners for tuning in to another pod, we will chat at you next week.

If you have a film you would like Matt and Mike Talent to review you can email us at nerds@reelfilmnerds.com, listeners we are talking to you too.

Good Boys

Director: Gene Stupnitsky Good Boys Movie Poster

Writers: Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky

Stars: Jacob Tremblay, Keith L. Williams, Brady Noon, Molly Gordon, and Midori Francis

Release Date: August 18, 2019

Storyline from IMDB

Three 6th grade boys ditch school and embark on an epic journey while carrying accidentally stolen drugs, being hunted by teenage girls, and trying to make their way home in time for a long-awaited party.

Episode #135: Legacy – The Rock

The Rock

Storyline from IMDB

Watch The Rock trailer below.

Episode #134: Ad Astra

Ad Astra

Storyline from IMDB

Watch the Ad Astra trailer below.

Episode #133: Legacy – Demolition Man

Demolition Man

Storyline from IMDB

Watch the Demolition Man trailer below.

Episode #132: It Chapter Two

It Chapter Two

Storyline from IMDB

Watch the It Chapter Two trailer below.

Episode #131: Good Boys

Good Boys

Storyline from IMDB

Watch the Good Boys trailer below.