Franchise Killer

On this episode we're talking about the first in a series of films that are loved just as much as they're hated. TWILIGHT. Just like we do with all movies, we take a fair and reasoned approach to this first film and find out what does work, and of course what doesn't (There's surprisingly a lot in both categories!). 

In this week's episode we discuss M. Night Shyamalan's defining debacle: THE LAST AIRBENDER. It's a film that totally botches adapting the show upon which it was based on. Sure, there are certain aspects of the movie that sort of work, but let's be real, this isn't what anyone asked for. What are your thoughts on Shyamalan's "epic"?

We talk about farts a lot in this episode. Thoughts?

What better way to celebrate our 150th episode than cover a mixed bag of a sequel whilst understaffed and mildly inebriated. That's right, it's TRON: LEGACY time, and while we found that the movie never reaches its full potential, it still does a lot of things right and aesthetically, it's pretty much bullet proof. The big question, though, is does it do enough to surpass the original? What are YOUR thoughts on TRON: LEGACY?

On this episode we talk about TRON! There are discussions about whether or not this film deserves its status as a classic, what it did for CGI, Jeff Bridges' ability to inject life into even the most lifeless projects and we also go off on one too many Robocop tangents. What are your thoughts on Tron?

On this episode we jump into the world of ENDER'S GAME. It's a movie based off of a surprisingly dark science fiction YA novel. One of us has read the book and the others haven't. Guess who is disappointed?

This week we're closing out THE MATRIX franchise with THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS. Many a strong opinion is had on this episode and things get pretty contentious a few times, but what did you expect from an episode covering one of the most divisive releases in recent memory? What are YOUR thoughts on the film?

On this episode we close out what for a long time was the Matrix trilogy with THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS. It's the only one of the three to be mixed-to-negatively received and left a bit of a stink on the franchise. Since then, the stocks of RELOADED and REVOLUTIONS have risen, but do we side with the original consensus, or do we feel this one was unfairly maligned? More importantly, what are YOUR thoughts on this movie and the trilogy as a whole?

We may still be riding the high after watching the absolutely stellar THE MATRIX, but duty calls, so we're diving right into the sequel: THE MATRIX RELOADED. The film was arguably one of the most anticipated movies of its time, and is often sited as a bit of a disappointment when compared to the first. Still, it and it's sequel have seen a bit of a re-appraisal. Do we agree with the original consensus that this is not a good film, or are we compelled by the direction it takes. Find out in the episode. 

This week we're diving into another BIG franchise...THE MATRIX! A film that triggered the first Keanu Reeves renaissance and catapulted The Wachowskis into mainstream consciousness. We talk about this film's many technological advancements, it's action, the music, the actors, the philosophy! It's got it all. What are your thoughts on THE MATRIX?

NEW MINISERIES ALERT! We're kicking off the "Simulation Theory" miniseries with the divisive Steven Spielberg-directed film: READY PLAYER ONE. It's one of our more contentious discussions and some (faint) battle lines are drawn. What are you thoughts on this nostalgia-fueled CGI fest?

We've come to the end of another miniseries, and what better way to close it out than with a movie that literally has "Conclusion" in the title. That's right, this week we're talking about the epic finale to the Baahubali franchise...BAAHUBALI 2: THE CONCLUSION!

This week we talk about our first Tollywood film, BAAHUBALI: THE BEGINNING! This epic genre fusion filled with abrupt tonal shifts worked wonders on us and had us pumping our fists and waiting with bated breath for the sequel. While it's not perfect, every element of this movie provoked lively conversation. What are YOUR thoughts on BAAHUBALI: THE BEGINNING?

On this week's episode we talk about IRON MONKEY directed by the legendary Yuen Woo-ping. As novice martial arts film fans we were blown away by the action choreography on display in this film. Another thing most of us didn't know? Well, in keeping with AJ's "Hoods from different Hoods" mini-series...it's kind of a Robin Hood story! Have YOU seen IRON MONKEY, and if you have, are you a fan? Let us know your thoughts.

On this week's episode we poke two holes in a piece of cloth, call it a mask, and get right into talking about THE LEGEND OF ZORRO! It's a sequel that took seven years to see the light of day, yet seems like almost no original ideas were poured into it during that time. Some of us like it more than others. Do you have thoughts on this (PG-rated!) sequel to THE MASK OF ZORRO? Also, if you enjoy our podcast and have spare coin to give, you can donate to our paypal account. Link: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/fkpodcast

On this episode we're talking about Martin Campbell's THE MASK OF ZORRO! It's a swashbuckler that makes us long for the way movies used to be made. These days every blockbuster feels like a two-hour slog through CGI sludge. Not so with Zorro. Charismatic actors, palpable romance, excellent fight choreography and a compelling story, this one has it all. What are your thoughts on this '90s semi-classic?  Also, if you enjoy our podcast and have spare coin to give, you can donate to our paypal account. Link: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/fkpodcast

It's that time again. The Summer Movie Wager...plus half of Spring! We gather together to make our predictions for the highest grossing movies of the Summer (+Spring) movie season. A lot is at stake, as in, whoever wins gets a prize in the $30-40 range. What films do you think will top the list? Which ones will bomb? And what are your hot takes? We want to hear them all.  Also, if you enjoy our podcast and have spare coin to give, you can donate to our paypal account. Link: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/fkpodcast

In this week's episode we're closing out our Robin Hood trilogy with ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES. It's been a bumpy ride with this legacy character so far...and that trend continues! We can't quite figure out if we like this one or not, but there's certainly qualities to this film that remain immensely nostalgic, and for good reason. What are you thoughts on this 1991 semi-classic?

This week we talk about Ridley Scott's gritty take on ROBIN HOOD. This is the third historical epic Scott had directed at the time, which begs the question: How does it hold up compared to the likes of GLADIATOR and KINGDOM OF HEAVEN?

We're kicking off a new miniseries: 'Hoods from different hoods', a mini-series about vigilantes that serve the needs of oppressed peoples. Let's just say there's a good amount of taking from the rich and giving to the poor. We're kicking things off on an...interesting note with Otto Bathurst's ROBIN HOOD (2018). What are your thoughts on this film, and additionally, how do you feel about bow-and-arrow machine guns?

After a little time off, we're back with one of our biggest episodes yet. David's 'Superhero Status: It's Complicated!' mini-series comes to an epic close with Zack Snyder's WATCHMEN! It's a film we feel is unfairly maligned despite most agreeing that it may actually be the filmmaker's best work. What are your thoughts on the adaptation of the iconic "impossible to adapt" graphic novel by the king of curmudgeons, Alan Moore?

This week we close out the Eastrail 177 trilogy with the massively polarizing GLASS. We were fans of both UNBREAKABLE and SPLIT, and we knew going in that this one would be more contentious. SO...where do we stand with this one? Where do YOU stand? For our thoughts listen to the episode, and for yours, please drop a comment and let us know what GLASS means to you. 

(SPOILERS) This week we're talking about the most unexpected back-door sequel of all time...SPLIT! We think the film is great, but the end almost steals all of the buzz. What are your thoughts on this surprising sequel to UNBREAKABLE? 

Just in time for KNOCK AT THE CABIN we're diving into our first M. Night Shyamalan film! It's the movie that was originally perceived as a sophomore slump, but now has its place among the holy trinity of the director's filmography. It's UNBREAKABLE! What are your thoughts on this film? Is it the filmmaker's best work (Something we may or may not have disagreements over in this episode)? Leave a comment!

HO HO HOOOOO!! It's time for a Franchise Killer Christmas Special! Join us this week as David takes his first stab at hosting on our first Christmas movie ever, ELF. This Jon Favreau film came out of nowhere in the early 2000s to surprise us all with Will Ferrell's first leading role. Are we all on the same page with this bombastic piece of winter wonderland cinema? Did it do enough work to cement itself as a Christmas classic, or does it run Santa's Sleigh into the snow? Listen to find out! What are YOUR thoughts on Elf? Please leave us a review and tell us what you think! We also have an Instagram where I would like you to go to ELF post and comment your TOP 3 favorite holiday films!   PS. Our good friend James Caldwell gave us a nice little present this year with a special intro just for this Christmas special. THANKS BUDDY! So if you liked it and are in need of an audio engineer, you can reach out to him on his instagram: @garbanzo.bean

It's time to talk 'Kick-Ass 2', one of many disappointing sequels to comic book adaptations of the time including: 'Sin City A Dame to Kill For', '300: Rise of an Empire' and 'Red 2'..the list goes on. Does that mean we disliked it though? You'll have to find out in the episode. What are your thoughts on this sequel? Do you wish the franchise had kept going after this one? Let us know in the comments.

We're talking 'Kick-Ass' this week; a film that subverts tired superhero tropes while sprinkling in the crassness of 'Superbad' throughout for some added flavor. It's also a big breakout moment for Matthew Vaughn, who has since solidified his name as one of the more interesting comic book movie directors to watch, even though much like James Cameron, he's committed to directing every entry in a franchise he inexplicably feels bound to. Did 'Kick-Ass' work for us? Find out in the episode and tell us YOUR thoughts on the film in the comments. 

This week we're talking about HANCOCK, and surprisingly it's the first time we've been able to get a Will Smith film on the board. Talk about putting your best foot forward. HANCOCK is frequently regarded as a tale of two films; one pretty good, and one pretty bad. Join us as we try to ignore previous biases and view this film through a fresh, more analytical lens. What are you thoughts on Peter Berg's foray into the superhero genre?

!!NEW MINISERIES ALERT!! The Superhero Status: It's Complicated miniseries begins!! This week we dive into a vat of acid and come out with a corrosive dvd copy of THE TOXIC AVENGER! It's a film we had hoped to cover before Halloween but missed the date, so you'll hear lots of talk about this being our “Halloween movie” even though most people don't even associate this as horror. In addition to this, sorry this isn't our Hancock episode as we promised at the end of the last episode, but we had to squeeze this one in. Anyhow, THE TOXIC AVENGER is a special movie that maybe we just don't “get”, what are your thoughts on this true cult classic?

This week we're talking about a film that has about as firm a grasp on its title as it does the science behind how time loops work. The movie is EDGE OF TOMORROW, and this week we welcome Alex and Sharon Shaw from the School of Movies podcast to help us sort out all this nonsense.  You can find School of Movies wherever you listen to your podcasts and at schoolofmovies.podbean.com

After a long Summer and late Spring of movie releases, the box office has finally settled down and the results to our Summer (and Spring) Movie Wager are here! Come and join the party and let us know what you thought of this Summer's releases and their respective performances at the box office.

We've finally made it to the end of the long and winding road that is the Terminator franchise...and we're ready to meet our dark fate. Ignore that. We're talking TERMINATOR: DARK FATE, which is at least the third attempt to kick-start a new trilogy and the second film to try to erase previous films in the franchise in an effort to give the series a face-lift. Is it successful? Find out what we thought in the episode, and also give us YOUR thoughts on TERMINATOR: DARK FATE and the franchise as a whole. 

We've slowly but surely been making our way through the Terminator franchise and we're finally at what most would agree is the nadir of the series: TERMINATOR GENISYS. That being said, it's still a Terminator film, which means that despite its constant attempts at self-sabotage, there are still interesting questions and ideas in the film worth talking about, and by default it's nowhere near some of the worst films we've covered on this podcast. What are YOUR thoughts on TERMINATOR: GENISYS?

This week we're talking TERMINATOR SALVATION! By critic standards it's the first Terminator film to receive more negative reviews than positive, and remains to this day to be one of the more divisive Terminator films. That's why this week Julio Olivera from The Contrarians podcast joins us to shed some light on why perhaps the naysayers are wrong, and why it's a tragedy that this franchise remains too gun-shy to push the limits of where they can go. What are YOUR thoughts on TERMINATOR SALVATION? Check out The Contrarians wherever you listen to your podcasts and at www.wearethecontrarians.com

This week we come down from the high that was T2 and settle in to the rest of what this franchise has to offer with TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES. This is where paths start to split; some like 3, some like 4, some like...6? Anyway, we have positive things to say about this one but there are definitely some chinks in the armor that are starting to show. What are YOUR thoughts on TERMINATOR 3?

We took a week off, but I think we've made up for it with this massive episode all about TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY! It's one of the biggest blockbusters of all time and in a way, the sole guarantor for each of its four sequels. So, is this James Cameron's best film? Is it Arnold's best role? What are YOUR thoughts on T2?

This week we're beginning a six week journey where we'll be exploring the TERMINATOR universe! And of course, we're starting with James Cameron's breakout film, THE TERMINATOR! This movie was the first sign that James Cameron (and to a similar extent Arnold Schwarzenegger) might be someone to pay attention to. Little did everyone know that he would go on to become one of the biggest directors of all time. What are your thoughts on THE TERMINATOR?

Believe it or not, this is the 107th time we've recorded this episode about SOURCE CODE, and the first time we've been able to successfully upload it and thus finally break the seemingly infinite time loop we've been caught in. And yes, if you're wondering, we're starting a new miniseries all about...time loops! SOURCE CODE was Duncan Jones' second feature and it came out at a time when gimmicky, high-concept sci-fi was a thing. Remember LIMITLESS and THE ADJUSTMENT BEAUREU? They all came out in same year. The question is: was SOURCE CODE the best of them? What are your thoughts?

We're closing out yet another miniseries with one of the biggest cult classics yet: SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD! Despite some of our mixed feelings on the titular Scott Pilgrim, it's pretty much a love fest for the entire episode, and we can't wait until we get to talk about another Edgar Wright film. What are your thoughts on SCOTT PILGRIM? 

On this week's episode we're talking about Zack Snyder's SUCKER PUNCH. It's the first film directed by Zack Snyder that's not an adaptation. PURE. UNFILTERED. SNYDER. And we'll say this...it's a movie! Is it good? Well...uh...what are YOUR thoughts on SUCKER PUNCH?

Grab your tots and make sure they're zipped securely in your cargo shorts pocket because we're talking NAPOLEON DYNAMITE! It's one of the bigger cult classics that's notable for its very small budget and its breakout box office success. What are your thoughts on the film? Does it deserve its cult classic status?

This week we're getting into another cult favorite, DONNIE DARKO. It's a film with so much on its mind, every scene introduces something new and if you're not paying attention you may lose the thread. Thankfully David did his homework this week and keeps us from scratching our heads too much. What are YOUR thoughts on DONNIE DARKO?

This week we're starting a new mini-series, the *deep breath* surreal coming-of-age cult favorite miniseries, and we're starting with the widely mis-marketed, and misunderstood JENNIFER'S BODY. While we still have criticisms and some of us like it more than others, it's definitely a perfect example of a film that didn't get a fair shake and has only grown more respected over time. What are YOUR thoughts on JENNIFER'S BODY?

This week we ENTER THE DRAGON! That's right, we're talking about the Bruce Lee classic that with a forceful kick and a punch brought Kung Fu films fully into the mainstream. I mean, who didn't have an uncle that practiced nunchucks in his parents' garage because of this movie? Something else noteworthy: this is the only good film in Noah's miniseries and I think we're all thankful he ended on a high note, still, it's been an amusing run. What are your thoughts on ENTER THE DRAGON? 

ENDGAME! No, not that Endgame...HIGHLANDER: ENDGAME *roaring applause*. That's right, we're covering the epic conclusion to a franchise featuring god-like, lightning-powered beings that "Go for the head". Sadly, they're not named Thor, and this is not an Avengers movie. 

Maybe it's some undiagnosed illness that we all share, but we found more to like in 'Highlander III: The Sorcerer' despite its near-unanimous negative reception, that or 'Highlander II' was just THAT bad and it made this one look better. Yeah, it's probably the latter. What are YOUR thoughts on Highlander III?

Well, we wanted to talk about 'Highlander', but didn't take into consideration the great price we would have to pay for doing so: watching the three sequels. So is 'Highlander II: The Quickening' the best of the worst, or the absolute bottom of the barrel? 

There can be only one they said. Well, we've got four. But hey, let's keep things positive, this one's pretty good right?...Actually, it's still a pretty bumpy ride. Still, while some of us feel this film is critically flawed and doesn't hold up, others think it's a true cult classic in the greatest sense of the word. What are YOUR thoughts on HIGHLANDER?

We're closing out our discussions on the Mortal Kombat film franchise with...MORTAL KOMBAT (2021). This reboot seeks to take the series in a grittier more grounded direction and also punches in the gore cheat code. Now the big question is...is it better than the 1995 original cult classic of the same name? What are your thoughts?

We get in touch with our animalities on this episode and as Nighthawk would say; it's pretty cool! The movie we're talking about this week is often regarded as one of the worst ever made...MORTAL KOMBAT: ANNIHILATION. It would seem a movie of this quality would definitively kill the franchise, but there's a bit of a twist ending. What are your thoughts on MORTAL KOMBAT: ANNIHILATION?

Mooooortal Koooombat! Kano! Liu Kang! Raiden! Johnny Cage! Scorpion! Sub-Zero! Sonya! They're all here, and yes, we've been fist-pumping to that amazing work of techno brilliance by Techno Syndrome ever since our re-watch. That said, is the movie nearly as good as the music? What are your thoughts on the semi-cult classic, MORTAL KOMBAT?