Action Movie Hall of Fame

This week, Matt and Dereck review Spider-Man 2 on it's 20th anniversary. When this movie came out, it was hailed as the greatest Comic Book movie of all time. But a lot of comic book movies have come out in the past 20 years. Matt and Dereck will see how it holds up, and if it deserves to hang around in the Action Movie Hall of Fame, or will this movie leave the guys up in arms?

in 1999, 16 years after The Return of the Jedi, George Lucas finally released the follow-up to his cinema-changing space fantasy, with the first of 3 Prequels, The Phantom Menace. With people waiting so long for the return of the Star Wars Universe (the SWU), the Phantom Menace made almost $1 Billion at the Box Office. But much has been made about, well, how bad it is. So, given all that history, Matt and Dereck return to the movie they saw at a Midnight screening 25 years ago, for a deep dive review. They'll have to decide if The Phantom Menace should have a seat in the Action Movie Hall of Fame, or if its poor performance is enough to call the movie to vote-of-no-confidence? 

This week, 25 years after its release, Matt and Dereck review 1999's The Mummy. A young Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weiss are an easy duo to cheer for: but what about the rest of the movie? Does The Mummy have some sort of secret power that will allow it to gain entry into the Action Movie Hall of Fame, or should this movie stay wrapped up and buried, before it hurts the general public?

In 1996, critics were not exactly blown away by Twister. But when Matt and Dereck revisited it for the Action Movie Hall of Fame, it was an easy choice as an inductee. Now, almost 30 years later, we the Twister is expanding it's universe. But is Twisters good enough to build a Twister Universe? Is this something we even want? This week, Matt and Dereck see Twisters on Imax, and give their general thoughts, before getting into spoliers. 

This week, Matt and Dereck watch their 3rd Harrison Ford movie in a row, with 1994's A Clear and Present Danger. How does this movie hold up to the other Jack Ryan movies? How does this hold up when compared to the last 2 Harrison Ford movies? And why is Ford so adept at lunging at bad guys? Does he know how to do anything besides lunging? And does A Clear and Present Danger have what it takes to get into the AMHOF, or will it not be able to lunge to such lofty heights?

This week, Matt and Dereck join Indy again for what would not actually end up being his Last Crusade. Where does this rank among the Indy Films? Does this movie have what it takes to get into the AMHOF, or will it spend the rest of its life trying to get its Father's approval?

This week, Matt and Dereck review Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. How does it hold up among the Indy Franchise? A darker movie, to be sure: but is it missing too many classic Indy elements to place in the Action Movie Hall of Fame, or does it have enough classic scenes to stop its heart from getting ripped out?

Part Action, part horror, all Terminator. This week, Matt and Dereck continue their summer movie spectacular with 1984's Terminator. How does this hold up 40 years later? And how does it hold up, when compared to it's sequel, arguably the best action movie of all time? Sure, Terminator 2 is already in the Hall of Fame, but is this installment enough for Arnold to say "I'll be back" in reference to the AMHOF?

This week, Matt and Dereck start off the Summer Movie Extravaganza with George Miller's Prequel to 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road, with Furiosa: a Mad Max Saga. In this installment, George Miller expands the Max Mad universe. But does anyone want this? We'll compare the movie to Fury Road, and talk about whether this movie is a hit or a miss, and if it has what it takes to be a Hall of Fame Action Movie one day. 

French director Luc Besson attempts to get us to expand our minds, in 2014's Lucy. The movie explores what could happen if you unlock the brains full potential. This week, Matt and Dereck will attempt to review Lucy keeping our own limitations in mind. Does Lucy have what it takes to insert itself in the Action Movie Hall of Fame?  Or is this movie actually low on brain activity?

First, there was The Nice Guys. Then, there was Barbie. Now, a vehicle for Ryan Gosling to either make an action star rise, or a dramatic drop, with 2024's The Fall Guy. We know Gosling has the action/comedy chops. And the same can be said for co-star, Emily Blunt. This week, another buddy duo, Matt and Dereck, review The Fall Guy to see if it lives up to the hype, or will it crash land and be forgotten about once shooting has wrapped? 

In 2004, Stephen Chow followed up Shaolin Soccer's break in the US with Kung Fu Hustle. This movie is full of ideas, heart, and bad special effects. How does it hold up 20 years after it was released? Does Kung Fu Hustle still have the moves to be relevant, and launch itself into the Action Movie Hall of Fame? Or will it not be able to reach the heights it wants, even with the help of a Falcon. 

In 2004, the French man who invented Parkour stared in his own movie, heavily featuring, you guessed it, Parkour. That movie, is District B-13: a dystopian film about the future, with a dash of Escape From New York, and a heavy seasoning of Parkour, does this movie have the special ability to climb into the Action Movie Hall of Fame? Or will it find itself slightly dated, with fewer and fewer people looking to get involved?

This week, Matt and Dereck check out the latest from director Alex Garland, with 2024's Civil War. How does this actually play as an action movie? The guys give their general reactions after coming straight out of the theatre, then get into spoiler talk. This movie about Civil War breaking out in America is strangely non-political. The guys will discuss if that works in the movies favour, and decide if Civil War has the ingredients to be a Hall of Fame Action movie some day. 

The Gulf War had a brief impact on world history. 25 years after its release, what impact has Three Kings had on action movies? This week on the Action Movie Hall of Fame, Matt and Dereck revisit David O. Russell's 1999 Film, Three Kings, starring George Clooney, Ice Cube, Mark Wahlberg, and Spike Jonze. Does a war movie about a dated war hold any relevance today? And how does the movie itself holdup as an action movie? This week the guys will decide if there's something golden hidden in this movie, or should it be lost to the sands of time?

This week, Matt and Dereck take a dip in the stream,  checking out the new Road House remake, directed by Doug Liman, and starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Conor McGregor is in the movie as well. They'll try to be nice when they compare it to the original. Does this movie have what it takes to be a potential Action Movie Hall of Fame nominee? Or will this movie sure to be denied entry? 

The unplanned Denzel Washington/Tony Scott Marathon continues with 2009's The Taking of Pelham 123. This movie received mild reviews upon it's release. Does the Washington/Travolta pairing having enough to elevate this movie to Action Movie Hall of Fame status? Or will this movie end up careening wildly off the tracks?

In 2004, Tony Scott and Denzel Washington made the Equalizer movie before it even existed. But this 2004 action revenge thriller has mostly been panned by critics. How does this movie hold up 20 years later? And hoes does it compare to the EQ movies? Man on Fire also features a star performance from (at the time) kid-actor Dakota Fanning. Does Man on Fire have the leverage to make it's  way into the Action Movie Hall of Fame, or will Matt and Dereck take it apart, piece by piece?

This week, Matt and Dereck go back to their local movie theatre to check out Dune Part 2 in IMAX.  Is it worth the screen? Is it worth the hype? Have we seen this story before, or can we expect something deeper from Denis Villeneuve's Dune universe? Dunaverse? The guys will discuss how it stacks up to Part 1, give general reactions, then get into spoilers. Was Dune 2 worth the wait, or have we been praising a false-prophet? 

This week, Matt and Dereck wanted to let Jason Statham off the hook after the disappointment of The Meg 2: The Trench, and watch 2024's The Beekeeper, now available to rent.  Is this franchise going to be the one to really stick with audiences? Will Statham and Director David Ayer find the sweet-spot on this movie that's getting more buzz than you'd think for a early year release. The guys will give general thoughts, dive into spoilers, and decide if this will be up for a potential Hall of Fame review in 5 years. 

This week, Matt and Dereck Edge of Tomorrow, a sequel very loosely based on 1991's Groundhog Day. Of course, that's a lie. But it's hard to convince people about the truth, especially when it hasn't happened yet, in this Tom Cruise/Emily Blunt 2014 vehicle. This film didn't do as well as it should have at the box office, but has gained cult-like status in the following years. Does Edge of Tomorrow have what it takes to live on in perpetuity in the Action Movie Hall of Fame? Or will this movie finally get terminated, with no chance of running it back?

In 2004, Tom Cruise went out of his way to play a character he's never played before, with an actor we were only just getting familiar with, in Michael Mann's Collateral.  This moody thriller features Tom Cruise as a hitman who takes cab driver, Jamie Foxx, hostage during his night-long killing spree. But how does this movie hold up 20 years later? Does era-specific music, like say, Audioslave completely ruin a movie like this? This week, Matt and Dereck will decide if Collateral has what it takes to see things through, and make it into the action movie hall of fame. Or is it's destiny to be left to die on a subway, where no one even notices?

It's been 30 years since The River Wild was released and everyone forgot about it: until now. This week, Matt and Dereck review this white-water-rafting-romp of a film. We know Meryl Streep has the goods as an actor. But how does Streep do as an action star? But does this thrilling thriller have enough action to cruise into the Action Movie Hall of Fame? Or will this movie be left up the creek without a paddle?

The Action Movie Hall of Fame is officially back for its 4th season. This episode, (starting at the 7m30s mark) Matt and Dereck have an on-air production meeting, about what movies should be part of their Summer Blockbuster series. Then, it's on to reviewing The Bourne Supremacy (25:18) on it's 20th anniversary. How does this sequel compare to the original Bourne movie? And does Matt Damon and crew be able to piece together a story that is worthy of an Action Movie Hall of Fame induction? Or is this whole movie just one big misunderstanding? 

For the final episode of Season 3 of the Action Movie Hall of Fame, Matt and Dereck review David Fincher's 2023 Netflix-heavy release, The Killer. How exciting is it for Fincher to be making an action movie? Where does this rank among his other movies? And what in the hell is this movie about? The guys will discuss the movie generally before getting into spoilers, and discussing it's future chances of making it into the AMHOF. 

On it's 25th anniversary, Matt and Dereck do a deep dive of Enemy of the State, and REALLY get up into the movie's personal privacy. How much did it cost to serval Will Smith's character? Why did Jason Lee have to ruin Will's life? Why is Gene Hackman's character keeping a low profile while driving an El Camino? Should Denzel be the lead in this movie? Find out the answers to these questions, plus: will Enemy of the State be able to covertly make its way into the Action Movie Hall of Fame, or will it is the movie's goose cooked? 

Denzel Washington is back, and does not disappoint, as the titular EQ, in The Equalizer 3. Matt and Dereck follow up last weeks review of EQ2 with EQ3. And while they are fans of the franchise, they felt the second installment could be a bit leaner. How does the Equalizer 3 do? Is this a franchise we want more of? And could this movie ever make it into the Action Movie Hall of Fame (when it's eligible in 5 years time)? 

Five years after it's release, and fresh on the heals of its sequel being released, Matt and Dereck tune in to the Equalizer 2. What is an equalizer? What is the equalizer? Denzel Washington plays the titular EQ, who is easily the world's most deadly Lyft driver. But will Denzel's performance be enough to elevate The EQ2 into the Action Movie Hall of Fame? 

In 1993, Clint Eastwood, Wolfgang Petersen, John Malkovich, and Rene Russo teamed up to make a movie that is a no-doubt entry into the Phone-Call Movie Hall of Fame. On it's 30th Anniversary, Matt and Dereck will put it through the ringer with a deep dive and decide if it belongs in the *Action* Movie Hall of Fame. Does this excellent movie, with amazing performances have the ingredients to dial-up an entry into the AMHOF? Or will Clint and Co be left hanging by the telephone? 

In 1993, the perfect action movie was released: The Fugitive. Also, Cliffhanger. On it's 30th anniversary, Matt and Dereck traverse a mountain to reassess this Sly Stallone action classic. Featuring some truly breathtaking scenes of mountains, and one of the most dysfunctional group of bad guys you'll ever encounter in a movie, does this movie have what it take to climb to the summit of the Action Movie Hall of Fame? Or will it be mindlessly left for dead,  tossed onto a batch of readily available stalactites? 

This week, Matt and Dereck review Mandy on it's 5th anniversary, for the final movie in their Halloween Horror Action Movie Bash. The vibes are off the charts in this movie by director Panos Cosmatos. From the other-worldly visuals, and moody/soul-crushing music, to the wild performance from Nick Cage, Mandy has a lot going for it. But how does it rank as an all-time action movie? Will Mandy be able to fashion its own weapon on a path of destruction towards the Action Movie Hall of Fame? Or will it end up as the victim of crazy evil?

This week, Matt and Dereck wrap up the Halloween Horror Action Movie Bash with World War Z. The book turned movie was mired in production issues and was feared to be a bust. But it turned into a modest hit, thanks in part to Brad Pitt's charisma, his never say die attitude, and the zombies who are willing to sacrifice their bodies for the sake of the team. But does this zombie apocalypse movie have the teeth to transform itself into a Hall of Fame Action Movie? Or will Matt and Dereck find a way to kill this movie off, permanently?

The spooky season continues on the Action Movie Hall of Fame, with Matt and Dereck revisiting 2008's Cloverfield. How does this found footage action horror flick hold up 15 years later? Does this monster movie have enough going for it to be considered an action movie classic? The guys will check the tape.

It's officially spooky season, so Matt and Dereck will spend the money sinking their teeth into movies in the action horror genre. This week, they check out 1998's Blade, starring Wesley Snipes. So far, Snipes has been shut out of the HOF. Will he be able to find his way into the AMHOF for eternity, or will Matt and Dereck leave him out, and keep his blood boiling?

This week, Matt and Dereck return to the stream, and check out 2023's SIsu. This is a WWII era popcorn B-movie that had the AMHOF hosts literally screaming from the couch. They'll give their general reactions before getting into all of the bloody good spoilers. 

This week, Matt and Dereck wrap up their Summer of Blockbusters with one of the most Summery and Block-Bustery movies of all time: 1993's Jurassic Park. This movie brought us dinosaurs and humans together for the first time on screeen (in a meaningful way, anyway). It also informed many of our current understanding of dinosaurs. But when the movie came out, it was on the cusp of CGI. So, on it's 30th Anniversary, how does it hold up? Does this movie still have the ability to shake us to the core, or will Jurassic Park's chances of going to the Action Movie Hall of Fame become extinct? 

All good things must wait. Or, maybe all good things just accidentally get permanently deleted by one podcast co-host/producer. So, while you THOUGHT you were getting 1993's Jurassic Park, SURPRISE: this week, Matt and Dereck review 2023's 65, staring Adam Driver. This is the first streaming movie review for the AMHOF, with more to come in the future. Speaking of the future, where did Adam Driver come from in this movie? What is this thing even about? And most importantly, will it have a chance to be reviewed for the Action Movie Hall of Fame in 5 years, or will this movie be all but extinct?

In 1998, the world got a disaster movie that no one would ever forget. That movie, is Armageddon. There was another disaster movie released in 1998, and the world may have actually forgotten about: Deep Impact. In the penultimate episode of the Summer of Blockbusters, Matt and Dereck review Deep Impact, and whether it has the juice to make it all the way to the Action Movie Hall of Fame. After watching Armageddon last week, there will be plenty of comparisons, including the answering of a question that has confounded fans of film for 25 years: what is the better '98 disaster movie: Armageddon or Deep Impact?

This week, Matt and Dereck Review Armageddon on it's 25th anniversary. This was the second highest grossing movie of 1998, and the cultural impact on everything from music to animal crackers was the never the same. But was it warranted? In part 1 of a 2 part double feature, the guys review Armageddon to see if it belongs in the Action Movie Hall of Fame. Then next week, they'll review 1998's Deep Impact, to crown a 1998 disaster movie champion. As for this week, can a bunch of drillers actually get the job done, and reach their intended target of the AMHOF?

After last week's episode of The Meg, Matt and Dereck continue their romance with Jason Statham, DJ, and the rest of the crew, in the Meg 2. The guys will give a general review before getting into spoilers. Is the Meg 2: The Trench a movie you've got to rush out to see this summer? Or does this movie lack the bite of the original?

Vin Diesel has cars. Tom Cruise has impossible missions. Jason Statham has a 25-metre man-eating shark. This week on the Action Movie Hall of Fame, we go deep sea diving with Statham in 2018's The Meg. An absolute B-movie with an A-movie budget, this movie blew box-office expectations out of the water, reeling in over half-a-billion dollars. Not bad for a prehistoric shark. With The Meg 2: The Trench being released this weekend, Matt and Dereck do a double dip on the Meg. Is there any chance this movie actually navigates its way into the AMHOF? Or, will this b-movie simply sink to the bottom of the ocean?

This week, Matt and Dereck take a trip to Wakanda, to review Black Panther on its 5 year anniversary. How does this movie hold up? And in the light of recent Marvel offerings, do they drag all movies in the MCU down? Will Wakanda be able to reside in the Action Movie Hall of Fame, or will it be stuck on the outside, with no idea how to get in?

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to watch Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Pt 1, then reconvene at the rendezvous (the Action Movie Hall of Fame Podcast) for a debrief of what we all witnessed. This message will self destruct...well, whenever the AI wipes all the podcasts off the internet. This week, Matt and Dereck follow up last weeks Hall of Fame induction episode of Mission Impossible: Fallout with a trip to the theatre, and instant reaction to Dead Reckoning. They give general thoughts, then get into spoilers and some of their favorite scenes. Is this latest installment of the MI series a hall of fame contender, or are these movies, like Cruise, starting to show their age?

On the Action Movie Hall of Fame, films must wait a minimum of 5 years after being released to be considered for induction into the AMHOF. It's also the maximum amount of time Matt and Dereck could go without reviewing Mission Impossible: Fallout. It's also one week until Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1 comes out (that review will be next week). But how does Fallout  hold up after 5 years?  Will this be an easy run into the AMHOF for the 6th installment in the MI franchise, or will it come up limp along the way?

This week, Matt and Dereck review what no one is calling the feel good movie of 1998, when they revisit Saving Private Ryan. A difficult, and very serious war movie. But where does it belong amongst the Action Hall of Fame? Will it be able to enter the hall in a mission that seems likely to fail? Or will Saving Private Ryan not make it back where it belongs?

Sure, there are lots of war movies. But not all war movies and indefinite. This week, Matt and Dereck review 2018's Avengers: Infinity War 5 years after its release. Will Infinity War still be riding the emotional high it reached when it came to theatres, or will the current state of the MCU drag it down? This week, the future of Infinity War will be decided: can it find a way into the action movie hall of fame, or will this movie simply turn to dust?

This week is Matt and Dereck take a trip to deep space, then to the sea (waist deep), then to the streets of Hong-Kong, then underwater, with a double feature of Gravity and Pacific Rim.  Sure, Gravity is out of this world, but will it be able to safely land in the Action Movie Hall of Fame? Or will it be tethered to the CanadArm, and flung into deep space, never to be heard from again? (54:02) And what does the future hold for Pacific Rim? Does this movie have it's head on straight enough to get into the hall? Or will it just end up getting Jaeger-bombed? 

This week, Matt and Dereck follow up a Hall of Fame review in last week's episode on Into the Spider-verse, by taking a trip to the local cinema for the sequel: Across the Spider-verse. Does this have any chance of living up to the original? Should people keep their expectations low? And in a world now full of multi-universe movies, can the they keep the story simple, or will it get lost in another dimension? So let's revisit the Spider-verse, one last time. 

It's been 5 years since Sony released a contractually obligated Spider-man movie that they had to make, or they would lose possession of the intellectual property. Now, that's not usually how great films start. But with Into the Spiderverse's success, maybe more big studios will release movies they think will stink. And with the sequel coming out next week, Matt and Dereck review the original 2018 movie to see if this has any chance of swinging into the Action Movie Hall of Fame, or will it left dangling? 

Fast X is the 11th movie in the Fast and Furious franchise. This week, Matt and Dereck take a trip to the local multiplex for a spoiler-free review to start, with spoliers later in the podcast. How does this hold up compared to previous versions of the movie? Does this franchise still have plenty of gas in the tank, or should someone slam on the brakes? And the biggest question of all: can Dom keep the family safe?

In 1988, Bloodsport was released. It has exactly one star: Jean-Claude Van Damme, who is not good at acting. And how does the fighting hold up all these decades later? Bloodsport and JCVD are in the fight of their life. Can they beat the odds, and their way into the Action Movie Hall of Fame? Or will they get blind-sided along the way?