Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs & ShawLets see how much torque is required for an action movie franchise to spin off two crazy strong characters and make us love it. The Rock and Statham team up oxymoronically to fight the black Superman (Idris Elba) with even less espionage-intrigue than previous Fast & Furious entries but compensates with crazier action sequences involving skyscrapers and cliff edges. The movie is a blast.
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Captain MarvelIt took a while but Marvel’s first super heroine is here! While Captain Marvel and the lady underneath the suit Brie Larson are awesome in the film some of us felt underwhelmed by the end. The 90’s references and music were overdone but a lovely way to introduce a Superman-like hero with conflict.
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ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOODIt’s QT time! A film much anticipated and a period piece that marvels its historic place with style and retrofitting like Django Unchained and The Inglorious Bastards. Once Upon A Time In Hollywood works as a love letter to a certain age of cinema and lead very well by Pitt and DiCaprio. Can’t wait for you to join us.
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ALITA: BATTLE ANGELWe’re o.g. Robert Rodriguez fans from Desperado to Sin City. Not all of his projects are hits but his energy and flair for action hasn’t been compromised. Anita looks like his Terminator and mixing in some good actors of recent films should provide awesome entertainment and, hopefully, more than that.
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GLASSA highly anticipated film to say the least. We’re all fans of 2000’s Unbreakable and the ending scene of Split told us that M. Night wasn’t done with this world. We;re happy to say that Glass has a lot to say about our current superhero state, about the essence of sequels and opens up a brand new can of worms. Great performances form Jackson and company. Lets see where we go from here.
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SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSEAnimation used very very well. Spider-Man; the superhero most used on TV and film returns with a self aware attitude of its predecessors and reinvigorates the mythology of Peter Parker as well as animation as a medium with a great story, inspired casting and an overall cool demeanor. Rarely has a mixing of animation styles worked so well as it did here and let’s not forget the success of using 3D to the movie’s advantage when it came to the action sequences and dramatic beats.
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OVERLORDWolfenstein put on film! Some films can imitate the feel of a beloved game franchise or like Hardcore Henry, can pull off looking like a game. Overlord feels like a close and gory and fun adaptation of the WWII shooter. This period action flick knows where to take itself seriously and when to have fun and you can feel it with the opening scene, mirroring a potential serious war drama then filling into the German testing grounds of Nazi soldiers with glee.
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BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALEThe person behind The Martian and The Cabin In The Woods has made a great action mystery. We do not get many film like this anymore; the mystery, crime and tonal glamour. Several coinciding tales of types of criminal behavior rolled into a cohesive fun time. The setting of the El Royale and secrets it holds is worth the genre exercise.
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THE PREDATORShane Black’s history of screenwriting and directing (Lethal Weapon, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) has bode well or well enough. Out comes a new rendition or sequel/remake-ish mashup of the classic action flick. It has a promising enough cast and something to say about the series as a staple in American alien horror. The Predator may not the action comedic hit it wanted to be but that isn’t for the lack of trying.
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FIRST REFORMEDWe bring you an interesting bonus episode. We’re here to talk about a best-of-the-year contender starring the fluid Ethan Hawke. What does our modern day world mean to good people? What is thoughtful in a thoughtless culture? The story of a priest coming to terms with the sins of his surroundings and the authority figures that bring him down touches all who watches. A swift and bitter decline from ignorance and a movie worth talking about.
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SORRY TO BOTHER YOUSorry to bring this up, but Sorry To Bother You, much like most people out there, is super interesting. Lakeith Stanfield shows us his leading role promise by turning into a confident salesman trying to get by this life of corporate gods and political subterfuge. It’s bonkers, hilarious, dark, loving and has something to discuss in virtually every scene if not every plot and subplot.
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HEREDITARYGet ready to be frightened of ants, miniature houses, light poles and obviously, witchcraft. Everyone has been raving about this latest epic horror film about a mother losing her grip on reality as her family suffers tragedy after traffic event. It is boldly directed and with a few daring strokes that makes it not fit for all horror fans. Let’s see which one of us enjoyed this film.
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SOLO: A STAR WARS STORYHave you ever wondered how exactly Han got his full name? That is the aura of the review coming to you today with Solo. While we enjoy some of the action-caper elements brought by Ron Howard and the two previous directors, we can’t help support a fictional prequel that treats its characters like a subpar biopic. Great performances by the leads and support and the film is no easy feat had it succeeded anyway.
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ISLE OF DOGSThe only thing sadder than an isle of banished dogs would be an isle of banished stop-motion animated dogs with great voice acting by Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Jeff Goldblum and more. Wes Anderson’s latest and second animated attempted feature has proven to be a successful way for his attention to detail flourish. Luke and Oscar tackle this film and discuss not only the plot and animation but the Japanese atmosphere and comedic timing.
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RED SPARROWIf Sparrow School is code for Russian whore spies, then what does Dove School teach? We bring back Lexi to review Red Sparrow with Oscar, discussing the merits of Jennifer Lawrence’s decisions as an actress and the plot holes of the film, not to mention that having a woman for this gender-neutralizing film is a good choice. Yes, we do hope the film had more to offer but it’s not devoid of conversation-making.
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BLACK PANTHERNot that we have to be obsessed with race like others but with the overwhelming positivity and stellar actors and Fruitvale Station director, we’re very excited to choose The Black Panther as February’s bonus episode. As a Marvel installment, we do hope that is fixes the usual third act dilemmas with villains and we also hope that a more personal conflict is used over a world-ending one.
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PHANTOM THREADLet’s see how romantic we can’t be? Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest piece stars the great Daniel Day Lewis and equally great Lesley Manville and Vicky Krieps playing in 1950’s London chic and twisting the terms of relationships. So, of course, we bring in guest host Lexi to untie the many knots created by the film.
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THE SHAPE OF WATEREarly reviews show that Guillermo Del Toro’s power to both entertain and illuminate hasn’t lost its touch. We are super excited to check out the latest romantic and mysterious and creature feature The Shape of Water from a director who always has something to say in his films from the smaller and personal Pan’s Labyrinth and Cronos to the heavy crowd pleasers like Hellboy and Pacific Rim.
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MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESSDirector-actor projects like Murder On The Orient Express are always unpredictable in how they will turn out. Kenneth Branagh is taking on a beloved book that’s been adapted various times and we can’t wait to see how it’ll play as far as its mystery, its older style compared to modern sensibilities and the amazing acting ensemble. The latter is the main element that makes us excited to watch and review it as a bonus; Michelle Pfeiffer up against Judy Dench next to Penelope Cruz for example.
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THE SNOWMANStrange and slow month for bonus-episode mining. A horror film is obvious hence The Snowman, with Let The Right One In director Tomas Alfredson and starring the always great Michael Fassbender and Rebecca Ferguson. The trailer and talk behind the film suggest a possible B-movie quality if not a strangeness that’s hard to pinpoint. Still, we can’t wait to see how the film actually fares for us this month.
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mother!Films like Black Swan and Requiem For A Dream has given director Darren Aronofsky much appreciation for us. His unique style and vision is something almost always controversial and love it when directors like him have the resources to make whatever they want creatively. mother! looks like a huge film for him and his peers and we can’t wait to find out what he has in store for us. We’re sure it’s going to be heavy on allegory and nuanced torture.
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DETROITThe writer-director duo return for their third film after the massive success of the political action thrillers The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty. We love that track record and are very excited to dive into the emotionally-charged period film Detroit. Can’t wait to see the performances and the delicate touch director Kathryn Bigelow has been able to bestow in the past, even with action films like K-9 and Point Break.
*January 2018 |
SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMINGMarvel has taken their baby back! Borrowed of course. Can the teenage neighborhood superhero show the world how to treat these comic book characters in the future? With all of the copyright issues between studios, we hope that others lend their support to the MCU. Peter Parker’s well-known history is shifted and done greatly with the addition of Tony Stark as mentor.
*December 2017 |
WONDER WOMANWe love it when a film succeeds beyond all expectations. Directed by a woman and led by a woman, this DC franchise blockbuster proves that they can make a competent film for the masses with fewer mistakes. Save for the third act, Ralf and Oscar talk about the paradise beginning and the appropriate setting of WWI.
*November 2017 |
KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORDGuy Ritchie has had wild success and disappointments over the years. As fans of his hits like Snatch and The Man From U.N.C.L.E., we turn onto his latest period frenzy epic, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. We also discuss Charlie Hunam’s recent success in the theaters playing wildly different characters. Will this latest Hollywood rendition of King Arthur bear fruit with audiences and survive critical scrutiny unlike the rest? Let’s find out.
*October 2017 |
SLEIGHTThis month we find out what’s up our opinionated sleeves about the street hustling thriller Sleight. What is the main conflict? Where does the main character Bo have to go in order to fix his life dealing with a violent employer, caring for a sister and using his ambition to develop worthwhile magic? How can magic save the day? All interesting questions Sleight possesses are set in an all too real world that may merit multiple viewings.
*September 2017 |
T2: TRAINSPOTTINGWith like-minded projects like the Before Trilogy, Ralf and Oscar watch T2 Trainspotting with curious eyes. How will the 20-year gap of the memorable first installment be used to greater sorry effect for characters in their mid-life crisis? AMP has always loved Danny Boyle and his ability to genre-hop over the years since Trainspotting. We take in hist first sequel with much anticipation and you’ll see, a nice dose of respect.
*August 2017 |
GET OUTWhat does a horror film look like when it is injected with satire and racial awareness to the point of humor and trust? You get Get Out. Jordan Peele’s directorial debut proves his ability to bring out the awkward, the humor and the scares by careful attention to detail. Join Ralf and Oscar for a positive discussion on the film that broke a bunch of records.
*July 2017 |
SILENCEPeople usually leave religion and politics at the door. Not this time with the former. We talk about Martin Scorsese’s latest and one of his boldest films yet with Silence. A long discussion to be sure as Ralf and Oscar get into who’s at fault, how the century depicted is a factor, what it means when a filmmaker wrestles with a faith-based voice-over scene and more. Stay tuned after the exit for bonus light conversation.
*June 2017 |
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORYHow does the second annual Star Wars installment feel for Ralf, Luke and Oscar? Pretty great, as one may expect but not without addressing some of the films plot and characters dilemmas and the use of special effects for a certain actor. Still a grand adventure epic that is equal parts one of its kind and yet a solid prequel to enjoy. Let us know what you think!
*May 2017 |
DOCTOR STRANGEOur first bonus blockbuster! Join us for our discussion of the 15th or 500th (I forget) Marvel Studios film. The ever-charming Benedict Cumberbatch does the heavy lifting as the Sorcerer Supreme-to-be but will the tried and true superhero formula in structure, predictability and word-ending chaos keep Doctor Strange from excelling? Find out.
*April 2017 |
THE BIRTH OF A NATIONIn our 2nd bonus episode, we take on the controversially made and strangely 90’s feeling historical epic about Nat Turner’s slave rebellion. Ralf and Oscar discuss the merits of accuracy versus entertainment and whether or not the revamping and twisting on the original title works, among other topics. Thanks for donating or at least waiting 5 months for the release.
*March 2017 |
DON'T BREATHE
Our very first bonus episode! If you are one of the lucky ones that donated, you are seeing this pop into your feed again five months later. We have guest host from SOS-Radio podcast Jason Nhyte joins Ralf and Oscar to figure out whether or not a B-movie like Don?t Breathe is worth another watch. *February 2017 |