Podcasts about movie critics

A Huge Company Party. Knoxville’s Injuries. Morons in the News. Talkback Callers.   The People’s Movie Critic: “How to Make a Killing” Everyone Needs a Laugh. Bummer Candy Hearts.   Talkback Callers. Can You Believe This? Martin Short.   How to Burp a Turkey. From the Vault.

Logan (2017) Review kicks off this week's episode of Born to Watch, and boys… this is not your usual superhero movie.Whitey, Gow and Damo head into the wasteland of 2029 to talk about the final outing for Wolverine, and right from the start the big question is asked, is this actually a superhero movie at all… or is it a western wearing claws?After nearly two decades of Hugh Jackman playing Logan, the X-Men universe throws away the colourful costumes, the CGI sky beams and the multiverse nonsense, and replaces it with dust, silence and a dying hero who just wants it all to end.This week, the boys dive into: • Why Logan feels closer to a Clint Eastwood western than a Marvel film • The emotional weight of Professor X and Logan's relationship • Laura (X-23) stealing the movie without saying much at all • The brutality and why the R-rating actually matters • Whether this is the greatest superhero film ever madeWhitey argues that this is the natural evolution of comic book movies, a character study about regret and aging rather than saving the world. Gow admits he expected CGI chaos and instead got a real film. Damo questions the timeline, the X-Men continuity and whether the emotional ending works if it doesn't match the earlier movies.The discussion also covers how Logan was clearly inspired by classic westerns, especially Shane, and why the movie works best when it forgets it's part of a franchise entirely.Hugh Jackman delivers possibly his best performance as a broken warrior who no longer heals, drinks too much, hurts constantly and carries decades of guilt. Patrick Stewart's Professor X adds heart and tragedy, while the road-trip structure slowly turns the film into something surprisingly intimate.And then… there's the ending.No big sky battle.No final speech.Just consequences.The boys debate whether Logan's death lands emotionally, if Laura is the future of the character, and why this film changed how studios approached superhero movies afterwards.Is Logan the peak of comic-book cinema? Or just a really good western accidentally starring a superhero?JOIN THE CONVERSATION Is Logan the best comic book movie ever made? Does the R-rating improve superhero films? Is this secretly just a western?Drop us a voicemail at https://www.borntowatch.com.au and be part of the show.Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and follow Born to Watch for your weekly dose of nostalgia, arguments and completely unnecessary movie rankings.#Logan #BornToWatch #MoviePodcast #Wolverine #HughJackman #XMen #FilmReview #WesternMovies #SuperheroMovies #MovieDebate

On this episode we talk the Travolta and Cage masterpiece Face/Off. A pivotal movie in maximalist and bonkers cinema, John Woo's crowning achievement still remains getting the two most charismatic actors of a generation to go all out playing each other. A ballet of bullets, an influence on John Wick, and two defining performances from Travolta and Cage all have worked in its favor as an undeniable 90s classic.Other topics include Travolta and Cage's careers, Robert Duvall, Criterion collection and the state of streaming, new physical media, Mission Impossible, and revisiting Boogie Nights.Songs of the WeekWho'll Stand With Us? By Dropkick MurphysThe Curse of Millhaven by Nick CaveRemainders Jukebox PlaylistWebsiteFacebookInstagramYouTubeTwitter

Our Hard to Kill 1990 Review kicks off with a simple truth: the late 80s and early 90s were the golden age of action heroes. Stallone, Schwarzenegger and Willis ruled the world… and then along came a man with a ponytail, a whisper voice and an absolute obsession with breaking forearms.This week Whitey, Dan and Will the Worky step back into the dojo to tackle Steven Seagal's second ever film, Hard to Kill (1990). A movie that, at the time, felt like the arrival of the next unstoppable action icon… and now feels like a fever dream involving aikido, silk shirts and extremely uncomfortable sex scenes.Seagal plays Mason Storm, a cop who uncovers political corruption and is immediately shot, along with his wife, in what might be the least secure safe house ever filmed. Storm survives after being pumped full of shotgun pellets and spending seven years in a coma. Yes, seven years. And apparently, all it takes to recover is a massage, a training montage and a nurse who instantly falls in love with him.From there, the movie becomes a revenge story, but also, somehow, a romance, a conspiracy thriller, a martial arts film, and a weird Seagal self-fantasy all rolled into one.The boys dive deep into: • The unbelievable hospital security • The most aggressive love scene ever filmed • Mason Storm's questionable medical recovery • The ponytail era of action cinema • And why nobody recognises the villain's voice despite him repeating the same catchphrase constantly There are discussions about video store culture, the 1990 action boom, and how Seagal briefly convinced the world he belonged alongside the legends.But time has not been kind to Hard to Kill. Watching it today reveals something different. Schwarzenegger knew he was in on the joke. Bruce Willis had charm. Seagal genuinely believes he is the most dangerous man alive… and that may be the biggest reason this film is unintentionally hilarious.Still, there are broken bones, exploding pool cues, corrupt cops and more arm snapping than a chiropractor convention.And honestly… that's why we kind of love talking about it.JOIN THE CONVERSATION Is Seagal the strangest action star of all time? Does Hard to Kill accidentally become a comedy? And is this the most confident bad movie ever made?Leave a review, share the episode and send it to a mate who still thinks Seagal could win a real fight.#BornToWatch #HardToKill #StevenSeagal #90sAction #ActionMovies #MoviePodcast #CultMovies #BadMoviesGoodTimes #VideoStoreEra #FilmReview

James Van Der Beek. Morons in the News. Long Lost Limb.   The People’s Movie Critic: “Shelter” Everyone Needs a Laugh. Friday the 13th.   Talkback Callers. The Stranded on the Toilet Song Can You Believe This?   The Zippy Zodiac. From the Vault.

This week, the boys jump aboard the Andrea Gail for The Perfect Storm 2000 Review, the Wolfgang Petersen disaster epic that tried to answer one simple question:What if Mother Nature just decided you were finished?It's a Monday night. You've done your research.You head down past Burleigh, just west of Palm Beach. Three chairs are waiting. Gow's checking stats, Damo's preparing the Snorbs Report, and Whitey's tweaking the levels.Game time.Based on the true story of a sword-fishing crew who sailed directly into a once-in-a-lifetime weather system, the film brings together an all-star cast, George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, John C. Reilly, Diane Lane and a collection of "hey-that-guy!" actors, but the real star might just be the ocean itself.Whitey is deep in his Clooney phase and openly declares him possibly "the most handsome man we've ever reviewed," while Gow and Damo debate whether the movie actually needs characters at all once the waves hit 100 feet. Because this is Born to Watch, the conversation doesn't stay serious for long.We cover:The legendary boat-on-the-wave shotWhy every sea captain is basically Captain AhabThe world's worst job (professional fisherman easily makes the grand final)Mark Wahlberg's historically patchy beardThe glow-stick responsibilities aboard a fishing vesselWhether the crew should've just sailed to Portugal insteadThe boys also dig into the film's strange structure. Half character drama, half disaster movie, half weather documentary, and somehow still compelling once the storm begins. Even critics admitted the storytelling problems stop mattering once the chaos kicks in. There's praise for the James Horner score, debate about the true events versus movie invention, and an unexpected emotional reaction to the funeral scenes. Plus:The 2000 Movie Lottery (Remember the Titans vs Bring It On vs The Cell)Box office success vs critic ratingsThe Snores Report returnsMichael Ironside is officially considered for Born to Watch RoyaltyAnd of course, the most important question of all:If you knew the storm was coming… would you still turn the boat around for the payday?Because sometimes the scariest part of a disaster movie isn't the wave, it's the decision that leads to it.JOIN THE CREWIf you enjoyed the episode, don't just listen, become part of the Born to Watch community. Leave a rating on Spotify or Apple, drop a YouTube comment, and tell us:Did Billy Tyne make the right call… or did he doom the Andrea Gail?#BornToWatch #ThePerfectStorm #MoviePodcast #FilmReview #GeorgeClooney #MarkWahlberg #DisasterMovies #2000sMovies #TrueStoryMovies #MovieNostalgia

From underdog kids on the ice to Cold War politics played out in a hockey rink, some of the greatest sports films don't just entertain; they tell us something about who we are. Emmet Oliver is joined by Brian Lloyd, Movie Critic and Entertainment Journalist, to break down why these films still resonate and what separates a good sports movie from a great one

Family Feud. Super Bowl Ads. Morons in the News.   The People’s Movie Critic: “Send Help” Everyone Needs a Laugh. Body Found in Mall.   Talkback Callers. Can You Believe This? The Super Bowl Losers.   The Zippy Zodiac. From the Vault.

Super Bowl weekend is here! Deb asks listeners about their food traditions and game‑day must‑haves.Toronto City Councillor Josh Matlow is pushing a motion for the city to receive a share of the HST.Longtime Toronto Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez announces his retirement.Plus, the latest entertainment stories with Richard Crouse. GUESTS: Josh Matlow – Toronto City CouncillorMatt Cauz – TSN 1050 HostRichard Crouse – Movie Critic and Host of Entertainment Is Broken

Boogie Nights 1997 Review: 200 episodes in, and Born to Watch hits a milestone with a film that feels weirdly, uncomfortably autobiographical.From the moment Whitey declares this the perfect way to celebrate the show's 200th episode, it's clear this isn't just another movie review. Boogie Nights is loud, chaotic, hilarious, messy, strangely heartfelt and absolutely stacked with characters who think they're on top of the world until reality comes crashing in. In other words, it's the ideal Born to Watch film.Set against the late-70s and early-80s adult film industry, Paul Thomas Anderson's second feature is a sprawling ensemble piece that follows the rise and fall of Eddie Adams, reborn as Dirk Diggler. Mark Wahlberg's breakout performance anchors the film, but this is never just Dirk's story. It's about a group of outsiders who form a surrogate family, chasing success, validation and meaning, until excess, ego and changing times pull them apart.The boys dig into the idea that Boogie Nights is really two films stitched together, the euphoric disco-soaked rise of the 70s, followed by the darker, cocaine-fuelled collapse of the 80s. It's a tonal shift that mirrors the characters' journeys, from optimism and community to paranoia, loneliness and self-destruction. When Little Bill exits the film, everything changes, and the show explores how that moment symbolises the end of innocence for the entire group.There's plenty of love for the ensemble cast. Burt Reynolds' Jack Horner is discussed as both mentor and flawed father figure, a man clinging to an artistic vision while the industry evolves without him. Julianne Moore's Amber Waves is heartbreaking and layered, especially when the conversation turns to her custody battle and the illusion of freedom within the industry. John C Reilly, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Don Cheadle, Heather Graham and William H Macy all get their flowers, with Hoffman's painfully awkward Scotty and Macy's tragic Little Bill standing out as performances that linger long after the credits roll.As always, the Born to Watch humour cuts through the heavy themes. There's banter, self-reflection, side-tracking, and more than a few laughs at the absurdity of certain scenes, including the legendary Alfred Molina drug-deal sequence, which the team agrees is one of the most anxiety-inducing moments PTA has ever put on screen.The episode also looks at Boogie Nights in context, how it landed in 1997 alongside juggernauts like Titanic and LA Confidential, why it underperformed at the box office, and how it grew into a cult classic that feels even richer with repeat viewings. It's a film you can dip in and out of, catch individual scenes, and still be completely absorbed.Ultimately, this Boogie Nights 1997 Review becomes a celebration, not just of the film, but of the journey Born to Watch has been on for 200 episodes. It's messy, honest, occasionally inappropriate, and full of love for movies that take big swings.And really, what better way to celebrate than strapping on the roller skates and heading back to the Valley?BORN TO WATCH – JOIN THE CONVERSATIONIs Boogie Nights Paul Thomas Anderson's most rewatchable film?Does the movie completely change once the 80s arrive?Which character hits hardest on a rewatch?Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at BornToWatch.com.au#BornToWatch #BoogieNights #PTA #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #CultCinema #1990sMovies #MovieReview #PodcastLife #200Episodes

Goodbye! Morons in the News. American Idol.   The People's Movie Critic. Lady Gaga. Everyone Needs a Laugh.   Talkback Callers. Can You Believe This?

The boys are back for 2026, and they are not easing into it gently. Born to Watch kicks off the new year with a full-blooded dive into one of the most aggressively 80s action films ever put on VHS shelves, Walter Hill's Extreme Prejudice (1987). Cowboy hats, cocaine, mercenaries, sweat, testosterone and a whole lot of unexplained shoulder shots, this one has it all. In this Extreme Prejudice (1987) Review, Whitey, Gow and Damo reunite as the A-team and take on a film that feels like The A-Team pilot collided head-on with a dusty Western, then detonated somewhere on the Texas–Mexico border. At the centre is Nick Nolte at peak brooding intensity, playing a stone-faced Texas Ranger chasing his childhood friend, now a drug-running psychopath in a pristine white suit, played with unhinged gusto by Powers Boothe.Directed by action legend Walter Hill, Extreme Prejudice is the kind of movie that barely pauses for breath. Secret military units officially declared dead, renegade majors, bank robberies, double-crosses, unnecessary nudity and a final act so chaotic it feels like an entire missing movie has been cut out, which, as the boys discover, is pretty much exactly what happened.The cast reads like an 80s action villain roll call. Michael Ironside growls his way through another morally questionable authority role, Clancy Brown looms menacingly, William Forsythe perfects the art of being deeply hateable, and a young Larry B Scott pops in an action film after Revenge of the Nerds turned him into a cult comedy icon. Add in Maria Conchita Alonso, singing badly on purpose, and you have a film bursting at the seams with characters who all look like they should be in different movies.As always, the boys break it down properly. Overs and unders are debated, including the uncomfortable realisation that Extreme Prejudice may make perfect sense if you're sixteen and not at all if you're over forty. There's deep discussion about whether Nick Nolte smiles even once in the entire film, spoiler, he does not, and whether anyone in the 80s understood centre-mass shooting.The Nut-Tuck-Yourself SAG Awards get a workout, with Nolte's pre-Prince of Tides physique under the microscope, and the Snorbs Report pops up exactly where you expect it to. Box office numbers are crunched, Walter Hill's career is put into context, and the boys try to work out how a film with this cast, this director and this level of explosive excess somehow lost money.Film School for F-Wits returns with a look at Hill's obsession with male-driven action cinema, while Hit, Sleeper and Dud for 1987 reminds everyone just how stacked that year really was, from Predator and Lethal Weapon to the absolute disaster that was Revenge of the Nerds II.Add in listener feedback, voicemail chaos, bird-related accusations, corn beef confessions, and a reminder that Born to Watch never takes movies, or itself, too seriously, and you've got the perfect way to start the year.This is sweat-soaked, ridiculous, deeply flawed 80s action cinema, and the boys wouldn't have it any other way.JOIN THE CONVERSATIONIs Extreme Prejudice peak 80s action excess, or just glorious nonsense?Does Nick Nolte smile even once in this movie?Is the final act pure chaos genius, or a missing half-hour of film?Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at BornToWatch.com.auBorn to Watch, because some movies demand to be watched, argued over and mildly roasted.#BornToWatch #ExtremePrejudice #80sActionMovies #WalterHill #NickNolte #ActionMoviePodcast #CultAction #VHSClassics #MoviePodcast #80sCinema

Netflix. Morons in the News. Talkback Callers.   The People’s Movie Critic: “The RIP” The Deadpool Killer. Everyone Needs a Laugh.   Talkback Caller. Can You Believe This.   The Zippy Zodiac. From the Vault.

It's that time of year again. We're counting down Derek, Jeff, and Amir's favorite movies of last year. 2025 was a year of great movies but also a year of crushing disappointments: many films we were looking forward to the most fizzled out. Fortunately that makes room for plenty of big surprises and dark horses in our top ten lists. What made the cut? What were some of the honorable mentions? Tune in and find out!

What happens when you try to rank the Best Movies of This Century, one year at a time, with no safety net, no do-overs, and your family sitting right beside you? You get chaos, passion, nostalgia, and one of the most honest movie conversations we've ever recorded on Born to Watch.In this special episode, Matt is joined by two very special guests, his wife, Meagan, and his daughter, Bel, as they attempt the impossible task of selecting the single best movie from every year between 2000 and 2025. One movie per year. No ties (mostly). No backing out (occasionally). And absolutely no pretending bad sequels didn't happen.Starting at the turn of the millennium with Gladiator, the episode charts the evolution of modern cinema, from epic blockbusters and genre-defining franchises to animated classics, emotional dramas, and films that completely changed how audiences experienced movies in the cinema.Along the way, the discussion covers everything from the dominance of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Christopher Nolan's genre-bending run, the rise and fall of superhero cinema, Quentin Tarantino's most personal work, unforgettable cinema moments like Avengers: Endgame, and the films that defined family movie nights in the White household.This episode isn't just about critical acclaim or box office numbers. It's about how movies land, who they stay with, and why some films become comfort watches while others hit you once and never leave. Belle brings a brutally honest Gen-Z perspective, Meagan balances emotion and realism, and Matt does what he does best: overanalyses everything while defending Nolan, Denzel, and Ridley Scott at every opportunity.There are laughs, genuine disagreements, questionable parenting admissions, and more than a few moments where the word "sequel" becomes a four-letter swear word. You'll hear passionate defences of animated films, heated debates over Bond rankings, and reflections on how cinema changed after COVID reshaped the industry.Whether you agree with the picks or want to argue every single one, this episode is a celebration of why movies matter, why watching them together matters more, and why trying to rank the Best Movies of This Century is both completely ridiculous and absolutely essential.JOIN THE CONVERSATION Which movie should have made the list? What film defines your century so far? Did we get it right, or completely butcher it?Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at BornToWatch.com.au  #PodcastAustralia #FamilyPodcast #CinemaHistory

Movie Critic and Entertainment Journalist Brian Lloyd joined Ciara Doherty to place his favourite book on The Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!

College Playoff Tickets. Morons in the News. Talkback Callers.   The People’s Movie Critic: “Anaconda” Jack Black. Everyone Needs a Laugh. Last Bite Guilt?   Talkback Callers. Can You Believe This? Verizon Outage.   The Zippy Zodiac. From the Vault.

Movie Critic and co-host of The CineFiles with his thoughts on Marty Supreme, Song Sung Blue, and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple plus we announced our first ever GITM Goes To The Movies night features a Minnesota Cinema stapled that Fletcher NEVER SAW! Originally aired Friday, January 16, 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Comedy is the hardest genre to get right. Making people laugh once is tough; making them laugh for decades is almost impossible. Yet here we are in 2026, revisiting a film released in 1980 that still lands gags at a rate modern comedies can only dream of. This week on Born to Watch, Whitey and Gow tackle the undisputed benchmark of parody comedy in our Flying High (Airplane) Review, a movie that didn't just spoof disaster films; it rewired comedy forever.Known as Flying High here in Australia and Airplane! Everywhere else, this is the film that taught generations how powerful straight-faced absurdity can be. Serious actors, ridiculous situations, relentless visual gags and a script that fires jokes every few seconds without ever stopping to catch its breath. Watching it again now raises the big question: Does it still work in 2026?The short answer, absolutely.From the opening Jaws parody at the airport to the final moments on the runway, this film never lets up. There are jokes in the foreground, jokes in the background, jokes buried inside other jokes, and blink-and-you-miss-it moments that reward repeat viewings again and again. Whitey and Gow break down just how outrageous the gag density really is, and why that non-stop approach is exactly what modern comedies have lost.The cast is a huge part of what makes Flying High work so well. Robert Stack, Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves and Leslie Nielsen all play it completely straight, refusing to wink at the audience even once. That contrast between deadly serious performances and utterly ridiculous dialogue is the secret sauce. Leslie Nielsen, in particular, launches what would become one of the great comedy second acts of all time, delivering lines like “Surely you can't be serious” with such conviction that it somehow makes them even funnier.Whitey and Gow also dig into the sheer insanity of the situations. A full hospital bed loaded onto a commercial flight. A child needing a heart transplant mid-air. Everyone eating the fish except the one person who doesn't get sick. A blow-up autopilot. A guitar smashing passengers in the head as it walks down the aisle. None of it makes sense, and none of it is supposed to.Overs and unders are discussed, with both hosts landing comfortably in the 35 to 40 watch range, a testament to just how embedded this movie is in their DNA. It's the kind of film that was always in rotation growing up, something the whole family could watch, quote and laugh at together. That shared comedy experience is something Whitey argues we no longer get.The episode also explores how Flying High set the template for everything that followed, from Naked Gun to Hot Shots and beyond, while also pointing out why so many parody films failed to replicate its magic. Awareness of what you are, commitment to the bit, and never stopping the joke train.Critical scores still back it up. A 7.7 on IMDb, 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, and a spot alongside absolute classics in movie history. Not bad for a film that proudly advertised itself as the winner of zero Academy Awards.This episode is packed with favourite scenes, forgotten gags, pop culture moments, questionable jokes that still somehow work, and plenty of Born to Watch side tangents along the way. If you love comedy, parody, or just laughing out loud at things you probably shouldn't, this is one episode you don't want to miss.JOIN THE CONVERSATIONIs Flying High the funniest comedy ever made?Which gag still kills you every time?Could a movie like this even get made today?Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at BornToWatch.com.au#FlyingHigh #AirplaneMovie #BornToWatch #ComedyClassic #MoviePodcast #80sMovies #ParodyFilms #FilmReview #CultCinema #LaughOutLoud

Chevy Chase. Morons in the News. Talkback Callers.   The People’s Movie Critic: “Frankenstein” Everyone Needs a Laugh. Sad Dog Face.   Talkback Callers. Happy Divorce Day. Can You Believe This?   The Zippy Zodiac. From the Vault.

We see hundreds of movies a year. So, now that our awards ballot has been submitted to the Music City Film Critics' Association, here are the absolute best films we saw in 2025! Let's talk about it...

Welcome to a special holiday edition of Born to Watch as we kick off 2026 with our first episode of the year, diving headfirst into James Cameron's latest visual behemoth, Avatar: Fire and Ash. Released during the peak Christmas blockbuster window, this third chapter continues Cameron's decades-long obsession with Pandora, spectacle, and pushing cinematic technology to its absolute limits. In this Avatar Fire and Ash Review, Whitey and Damo reunite for what has now become a strange but sacred tradition, reviewing each Avatar film together as it hits cinemas. Sixteen years after the original Avatar changed blockbuster filmmaking forever, Fire and Ash arrives with enormous expectations, a massive runtime, and the promise of something darker, angrier, and more volatile than anything we've seen on Pandora before.Picking up shortly after the events of The Way of Water, the Sully family are still dealing with grief, fractured relationships, and the relentless pursuit of humanity's returning forces. This time, however, the danger doesn't just come from sky people and recombinants. We're introduced to the Ash People, a fire-driven Na'vi tribe led by the ferocious and unforgettable Varang. Their volcanic environment, brutal ideology, and complete rejection of Eywa mark the franchise's most radical departure to date.Visually, Fire and Ash is everything you expect from Cameron. The world-building is astonishing, with volcanic landscapes, new creatures, and large-scale action sequences that exist purely to remind you why Avatar films demand the biggest screen possible. Whether it's underwater chaos, airborne combat, or creatures that feel ripped straight from Cameron's sketchbooks, the film is an undeniable technical achievement.But Born to Watch isn't here to admire pretty pixels. Whitey and Damo dig into the film's biggest talking points, including the now-familiar Avatar formula, the film's staggering three-hour-plus runtime, and whether this chapter actually moves the story forward or simply spins its wheels. Is this Avatar 3, or Avatar 2.5? Does the franchise still have emotional weight, or has it become a tech demo in search of a story?There's plenty of discussion around returning villain Quaritch, whose moral tug-of-war continues to be one of the franchise's more compelling arcs, and Spider's expanding role as the human caught between two worlds. The episode also tackles the darker tone of Fire and Ash, its surprisingly violent moments, and the question of whether Cameron is setting up a satisfying endgame or stretching Pandora beyond breaking point.As always, the episode starts spoiler-light before diving fully into spoilers, dissecting character arcs, repetitive beats, and the growing sense that Avatar may be more about visual wonder than narrative payoff. There's praise where it's due, criticism where it's earned, and a lot of laughs along the way.If you loved the first two Avatar films, this one will feel familiar, immersive, and impressive. If you've ever questioned where this franchise is heading, Fire and Ash may give you just as many questions as answers.JOIN THE CONVERSATIONIs Avatar still cinema's ultimate big-screen spectacle? Is this chapter bold evolution or safe repetition? Can James Cameron realistically deliver two more Avatar films?Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at BornToWatch.com.au#AvatarFireAndAshReview #BornToWatch #Avatar2025 #JamesCameron #MoviePodcast #FilmReview #BlockbusterCinema #SciFiMovies #IMAXExperience #Pandora

In our Ghostbusters 2 (1989) Review, Whitey and Damo strap the proton packs back on and head to New York City for a sequel that arrived five years too late and never quite captured the lightning in a bottle of the original. After seeing Ghostbusters (1984) an almost unhealthy number of times, expectations for the follow-up were sky high. What we got instead was a softer, louder, more kid-friendly sequel that trades sharp satire and genuine menace for slime, singing and some very questionable creative choices.Set against a New Year's Eve backdrop, Ghostbusters II reunites Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson as the once-celebrated paranormal heroes, now sidelined, sued and reduced to performing at children's birthday parties. When Dana Barrett's baby becomes the target of an ancient Carpathian villain named Vigo, the boys are forced back into action to stop an underground river of pink slime, fueled by negative emotions, from swallowing New York whole.On paper, it sounds like a solid premise. In execution, it feels like a sequel constantly fighting itself. The episode breaks down how Ghostbusters II leans heavily on repeating beats from the original, courtroom chaos, montages, and paranormal mayhem, without ever understanding why those moments worked the first time. The result is a film that feels over-lit, over-explained and strangely toothless.Whitey and Damo dig into the tonal confusion at the heart of the movie. Is this meant to be for kids, adults, or fans of the original? The answer seems to be “all of the above”, which unfortunately means it never fully commits to any of them. The darker elements, Vigo, the possessed nanny, the skull-filled subway, hint at something more sinister, but they are quickly undercut by jokes that miss the mark and a finale that relies on good vibes and sing-alongs to save the day.There is still fun to be had. Rick Moranis is once again the MVP, delivering genuine laughs as Lewis Tully, especially in the courtroom scenes and his chemistry with Annie Potts' Janine. Their relationship is one of the few elements that actually evolves from the first film and provides some heart amid the chaos. The Ecto-1 makeover also earns praise, because if you are going to revisit this universe, you may as well do it in style.Unfortunately, other characters fare far worse. Winston is once again sidelined and reduced to explaining the plot in plain English before disappearing for long stretches. Sigourney Weaver, fresh off Aliens and Gorillas in the Mist, is criminally underused. Bill Murray's Peter Venkman, once effortlessly charming, feels disengaged and oddly mean-spirited, lacking the spark that made him iconic.The episode also takes aim at the film's baffling logic, from characters wandering into danger without proton packs to slime that magically stops affecting people once jackets come off. And then there is Vigo himself, a villain with an impressively grim backstory who somehow becomes one of the least threatening antagonists of the era.By the time the Statue of Liberty moonwalks through Manhattan and New Yorkers save the day through collective positivity, Born to Watch has a verdict. Ghostbusters II is not unwatchable, but it is the definition of a sequel made by committee, one that misunderstands its own appeal and plays it far too safe.It is a fascinating case study in how not to follow a classic.JOIN THE CONVERSATION Did Ghostbusters II deserve a reappraisal, or is it a nostalgia trap? Was Vigo ever scary, or just underwritten? Should this franchise have stopped after one film?Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at BornToWatch.com.au #BornToWatch #Ghostbusters2 #Ghostbusters1990 #MoviePodcast #FilmReview #80sMovies #90sSequels #IvanReitman #BillMurray #MovieNostalgia

Today's Oddcast - Talking Lamar - The People's Movie Critic's 2025 Recap (Airdate 12/26/2025)   Enjoy some of Lamar's movie reviews from 2025! He's got one for every category, from 1 Bud up to a full 6-pack.   The Bob & Sheri Oddcast: Everything We Don’t, Can’t, Won’t, and Definitely Shouldn’t Do on the Show!

It's Die Hard 2 Review time, and because it's Christmas Eve, lightning has apparently decided to strike twice. After saving Nakatomi Plaza barefoot and bleeding in 1988, John McClane is back in 1990, this time trading skyscrapers for snowstorms, terrorists, and one very inconvenient airport. Die Hard 2: Die Harder had massive shoes to fill, and the big question is simple: Did it deliver, or did it just repeat the formula louder?In this episode of Born to Watch, Whitey, Damo, and Dan reunite for a festive breakdown of one of the most debated action sequels of all time. Expectations were sky-high after the original Die Hard rewrote the action rulebook, and Die Hard 2 wastes no time reminding us of that pressure. Bigger explosions, more moving parts, and a whole airport at stake instead of one building. On paper, it should work perfectly.What follows is a classic Born to Watch deep dive. From nude Tai Chi villains with suspiciously zero side-dick continuity to John McClane apparently teleporting between airport locations, nothing escapes scrutiny. The boys unpack the strange creative choices, including the baffling need for a full SWAT team that exists solely to be wiped out, the world's loudest baggage-area shootout that nobody hears, and the endless Basil Exposition dialogue that explains things we can already see happening on screen.William Sadler's villain, Stuart, comes under the microscope, a tough gig when you're following one of cinema's all-time great bad guys. Is he intimidating, forgettable, or just unfairly compared to Hans Gruber? Meanwhile, William Atherton's return as Dick Thornburg raises serious questions about whether this character needed to exist at all, beyond being professionally annoying.The conversation drifts exactly where you'd expect, into airport etiquette, old-school plane phones that cost more than the flight itself, snowmobiles that definitely don't work on water, and the absolute insanity of an airport runway having a convenient metal grate in the middle of it. There's also love for Renny Harlin's maximalist direction, acknowledging that while Die Hard 2 may not be subtle, it is relentlessly committed to spectacle.As always, the episode isn't just about what doesn't work. The lads give Die Hard 2 its flowers where deserved, recognising the impossible task of following a cultural phenomenon and the genuine effort to recreate the tone, humour, and pacing of the original. There are discussions around box office success, audience expectations, and why some sequels are remembered more harshly than they deserve.The episode rounds out with the full Born to Watch experience, sleepers, duds, snorbs reports, random 1990 nostalgia, and side tangents that spiral into Ford Fairlane, Chuck Norris, and the best movie years of all time. It's chaotic, opinionated, and exactly how Die Hard 2 should be discussed, loudly, critically, and with mates.If Die Hard is a perfect Christmas miracle, Die Hard 2 is the messy, over-decorated sequel that still shows up to the party. Strap in, because this one absolutely earns the Die Harder title.JOIN THE CONVERSATION Is Die Hard 2 unfairly judged because of the original? Is this still a Christmas movie, or just airport chaos? What's the most ridiculous moment you'll always defend?Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at BornToWatch.com.au#DieHard2Review #BornToWatch #DieHarder #BruceWillis #ActionMovies #90sAction #MoviePodcast #ChristmasMovies #ActionSequels #FilmReview

Talkback Callers. Morons in the News.   The People's Movie Critic. Everyone Needs a Laugh.   Talkback Callers. Can You Believe This?   From the Vault.

I am joined by the amazing Kevin the Movie Critic to go in depth about Girl Meers World, Boy Meets World and all the lore that comes along with it. We geta visit from Shawn Hunter and the Mathews parents! I'm not sure how we talked for over an hour about a thirty-minute sitcom, but we did, and it was glorious! The Matthews family and Shawn visit for Christmas. Topanga tries to impress Amy with her cooking while Riley tries to work on her relationship with Shawn.

Rob Reiner. Morons in the News. Talkback Callers.   Potluck. Sticky Kicks. Everyone Needs a Laugh.   Talkback Callers. Can You Believe This? The People's Movie Critic.   Talkback Callers. From the Vault.    

There are movies you enjoy, movies you love, and then there are Life Changing Movies, the ones that hit you at the exact right moment and quietly shape how you see the world. In this special Born to Watch episode, Whitey and Gow sit down on the couch for a rare daytime recording to unpack the films that genuinely changed them, not just as movie fans, but as people.Originally planned as a solo episode, Whitey quickly realised this topic needed conversation, reflection, and a bit of friendly back-and-forth. What follows is a deeply personal walk through cinema history, from classic black and white films through to modern blockbusters, with each movie tied to a specific time, place, and feeling. These are not rankings, not reviews, and not necessarily the “greatest films of all time”. These are the films that left a permanent mark.The rules were simple. The films had to be movies Born to Watch has never reviewed before, and they had to be experienced in the order Whitey first saw them. What unfolds is a cinematic timeline that mirrors growing up, discovering new genres, and realising that movies can be far more than mere entertainment. They can be confronting, comforting, terrifying, inspiring, and sometimes completely overwhelming.The episode kicks off with The African Queen, a film Whitey first watched as a kid with his Nan, and a gateway into old cinema that opened the door to classics like Casablanca and Captain's Courageous. From there, the conversation moves into The Great Escape, a film both hosts hold in incredibly high regard, not just for its iconic moments, but for its storytelling, tension, and emotional weight that still holds up decades later.As the timeline moves forward, the episode touches on cultural moments that defined entire generations. Seeing Batman (1989) in a packed cinema, complete with Prince's soundtrack and Jack Nicholson's Joker, becomes more than just a movie memory. It becomes a snapshot of adolescence, crushes, embarrassment, and the shared chaos of opening night at the local cinema.The conversation does not shy away from darker territory. Films like Deliverance, The Evil Dead, Psycho, and Schindler's List are discussed not for shock value, but for the way they challenged expectations and forced viewers to confront uncomfortable truths. These are films that stay with you long after the credits roll, sometimes in ways you do not fully understand until years later.Blockbusters also have their place. Terminator 2: Judgment Day is remembered as a near-perfect cinematic experience, combining groundbreaking visual effects with emotional storytelling and characters that audiences genuinely cared about. It is a reminder that big movies can still have heart and depth when done correctly..The episode closes by reflecting on films driven by dialogue and ideas, particularly JFK, a movie that became comfort viewing for Whitey despite its heavy subject matter. It represents how movies can evolve with us, revealing new layers each time we revisit them.This is an episode about memory, growth, and the quiet power of cinema. Whether you agree with every pick or not, these Life Changing Movies will almost certainly spark memories of your own. #BornToWatch #LifeChangingMovies #MovieMemories #FilmPodcast #CinemaLovers #MovieNostalgia #ClassicFilms #FilmDiscussion #MovieFans #PodcastAustralia

Dodger Meet Cute. Morons in the News. Massive Cookie Swap.   The People's Movie Critic: "The Reckoning" Everyone Needs a Laugh. Ai Christmas Tree?   Talkback Callers. Can You Believe This? Bel Air.   The Zippy Zodiac. From the Vault.

On this week's Born to Watch, the boys dive headfirst into one of the great underappreciated modern buddy cop films with their "The Nice Guys" (2016) Review. Every so often, a newer movie sneaks into the sacred eighties and nineties space, demanding a full BTW breakdown, and this Shane Black masterpiece absolutely earns its spot. With Russell Crowe as the grizzled enforcer Jackson Healy and Ryan Gosling delivering one of the funniest performances of his career as hopeless private eye Holland March, this film feels like it could have been made in 1987 and left on a dusty VHS shelf for us to rediscover.Set in a grimy, neon-soaked 1977 Los Angeles, The Nice Guys blends noir, slapstick, mystery, porn conspiracies, corruption, and one of the great chemistry pairings of the last decade. As Whitey says, this flick is a chuckle fest. Not belly laughs all the way through, but constant, rolling moments of Gosling brilliance. From falling off balconies while holding a drink, to screaming in a toilet cubicle mid-assassination attempt, to the endless stream of quotable lines, Gosling proves he might be one of the most underrated comedic actors working today.The episode kicks off with the BTW boys returning to their familiar chaos, discussing missed recording sessions, RSI from too much… research, yacht rock, power ballads, and the Black Sorrows ruining Gow's weekend. Once the dust settles, the team dives deep into first watches, overs and unders, cinema memories, and how this movie became a cult favourite despite its disappointing box-office returns. Whitey even reveals he attended one of those old radio promo premieres and laughed himself stupid the entire time.Gow delivers a huge research effort, running through the Shane Black universe, returning stars Kim Basinger and Russell Crowe (who he argues could literally be Bud White 20 years later), and a brilliant breakdown of Gosling's Mickey Mouse Club origins, career breakout roles, and upcoming work in the new Star Wars project, Star Fighter. The boys also praise the incredible Angourie Rice, who holds her own with two Hollywood heavyweights and often steals the film.They unpack the bad reviews (including one from a critic who somehow thinks Crowe and Gosling have no chemistry), explode with joy over the bowling alley toilet scene, analyse the poor neighbour shot by Blueface, and debate how on earth police didn't arrive after John Boy unleashed the loudest gunfight in seventies LA history.There is the usual dose of Snorbs Report chaos, including an award-winning muff dive scene from "Below Her Mouth", some questionable memories from Morgz in London, references to Buck Rogers, pool tugging, and a Rick's Leash callback that nearly kills the room again. The Spotify Wrapped thanks, the voicemail from the foreign correspondent, and the pure BTW banter make this episode an all-timer.If you love this movie, you'll love this episode. If you've never seen The Nice Guys, this will send you straight to your couch to fix that mistake.Seen The Nice Guys? Think Gosling should only do comedy from now on? Slide into our socials and tell us your favourite quote. And if you haven't watched it yet, pause this episode, fix that, and then come back for the full Born to Watch treatment. #TheNiceGuys #BornToWatch #RyanGosling #RussellCrowe #ShaneBlack #MoviePodcast #BuddyCopMovies #FilmReview #CultClassics #AussiePodcasts

Happy Birthday Sony Playstation. Lamar’s Giant Santa. Morons in the News.   The People’s Movie Critic: “Wake Up Dead Man” Everyone Needs a Laugh. Mrs. Claus.   Talkback Callers. Door Dash Driver Drops a Wing. Can You Believe This?   The Zippy Zodiac. Talkback Callers. From the Vault.

Send us a textWelcome back to DMRThe newest installment in the Predator franchise, Predator: Badlands, breaks new ground by placing a Predator, or Yautja, as its central protagonist. The story follows Dek, a young, outcast Yautja on a quest to prove his worth to his warrior clan by hunting the seemingly unkillable apex predator of the treacherous, alien world of Genna, often called "The Death Planet." His perilous journey leads to an unlikely alliance with an advanced Weyland-Yutani Corporation android named Thia, whose own mission on the hostile planet went sideways. Together, the mismatched pair must navigate the lethal environment, evade Weyland-Yutani forces, and confront a terrifying creature that challenges everything Dek has been taught about the honor of the hunt, making for a thrilling sci-fi survival adventure.The film is directed by Dan Trachtenberg, who also helmed the critically acclaimed Prey. The main cast features Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi as the Predator protagonist, Dek, and Elle Fanning in the dual role of the androids Thia and Tessa. As of the latest reports, Predator: Badlands has earned over $162 million at the global box office. Critics have embraced the fresh take, awarding it a Certified Fresh 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences have given it an even higher score of 96%.Reminder to grab your 30 day free Audible trial, link in the show; you'll be helping support DMR

New Year's Eve in Times Square. Talkback Caller. Morons in the News.   The People's Movie Critic. Everyone Needs a Laugh. A Christmas Story.   Talkback Callers. Can You Believe This?   From the Vault.

Strap in and charge up the Mr Fusion, because this week on Born To Watch, the boys head back, forward and sideways through time with our full Back to the Future Part 2 (1989) Review. Whitey, G Man and Will settle into the DeLorean for one of the most ambitious sequels of the 1980s, breaking down timelines, hoverboards, self-lacing Nikes and all the glorious 80s optimism jammed into Robert Zemeckis' wild ride.The episode kicks off with the crew riffing on 1989 as a powerhouse movie year, then quickly dives into how Back to the Future Part   2 faced enormous expectations. With a to be continued tease at the end of the original, fans were primed, and the pressure was real. As the boys say, sequels rarely outshine their predecessors, but every now and then you get an Empire Strikes Back or a T2. So where does this one land?Whitey shares how the film was a childhood favourite, the one he rewatched the most, and how time has shifted his appreciation back to the original. Gow reveals he saw it at the cinema on release and has clocked well over 15 viewings since, instantly transported by Alan Silvestri's iconic score. Will talks about how the franchise has simply always been there, one of those movies that defined growing up.From there, the episode fires through the good, the bad and the very strange. There's deep love for the hoverboard, the power-lace Nikes, and that brilliant rooftop confrontation where Marty lures Biff over the edge before swooping up in the DeLorean. The crew gives full credit to the groundbreaking split-screen effects, the energy of Michael J. Fox juggling multiple characters, and the perfect dual performance from Fox and Christopher Lloyd, who are operating at peak one-two punch level.They also dig into the weird bits the film never fully explains. Could Old Biff actually operate the DeLorean? Why does he get sick travelling through time when no one else ever has? Why do Jennifer and Jennifer faint from seeing each other, but Biff does not? How does Marty not realise Hill Valley 1985 has turned into a dystopian biker slum the moment he steps out of the car?From Jaws 19 to the brilliant Jaws VHS window cameo, from Indiana Jones nods to manure trucks, the boys unpack every Easter egg this film throws at you. And of course, there's a big chat about whether Biff Tannen's alternate 1985 persona is really just 80s Donald Trump in a green tracksuit. (Spoiler, yes.)The episode also dives into box office numbers, casting trivia, Elizabeth Shue stepping in as Jennifer, and some cracking tangents, including Huey Lewis, yacht rock, Stranger Things, The Little Mermaid, and even John Farnham fronting LRB.By the time the boys reach question time, they've covered everything from the butterfly effect through to whether a single rich bloke can really break the fabric of time. It's pure Born To Watch chaos, big laughs and deep nostalgia for one of the great sequels of our generation.If you love time travel, manure trucks and three blokes talking absolute cinematic nonsense, make sure you follow Born To Watch on Spotify and Apple. Drop us a five-star review, send us a voicemail at borntowatch.com.au and buckle up for the next kickass credit song from the House Band. Great Scott, get on board! #BornToWatch #BackToTheFuture2 #MovieReview #PodcastAustralia #80sMovies #MichaelJFox #ChristopherLloyd #FilmPodcast #RetroMovies #DeLorean

In this week's episode of Born to Watch, the boys dive headfirst into a movie that feels a little too real after the last few years. Our Outbreak 1995 Movie Review isn't just a look back at a blockbuster about a killer virus; it's a full breakdown of a film that somehow became more relevant decades after its release. For Whitey, Gow and Damo, revisiting Wolfgang Petersen's tense, fast-paced viral thriller has stirred up memories of VHS nights, cinema crowds, and that one mate coughing a bit too loudly during COVID. But Outbreak isn't just a virus film. As the boys quickly discover, it's an action romance conspiracy hybrid, depending entirely on which one of them you ask.From the moment Dustin Hoffman strides in as Sam Daniels, the stubborn, brilliant, pigheaded virologist who refuses to let common sense get in the way of his moral compass, the team is hooked. Damo is convinced it's a love story, Gow reckons it's a straight-up action blockbuster, and Whitey is adamant it's a conspiracy movie wrapped in a hazmat suit. One thing they all agree on, though, is that Outbreak pumps along at an absolute clip. Even with the science occasionally held together by duct tape, there's never a dull moment.The boys relive everything from the opening scene in Zaire to the helicopter chase that absolutely no one asked for but everyone secretly loved. The idiocy of certain characters becomes a major talking point. Jimbo, Jim Bob, Hibbo, whoever he is, returns from Africa with a virus, bleeds from multiple orifices, and still wanders around town like he's only got hay fever. His girlfriend passionately kisses him while he looks like he's one hour from the morgue. Then there's the world's worst lab tech, sticking his hand inside a spinning blood machine like he's checking the oil in a 1992 Corolla.Hoffman's performance gets a full deep dive. Gow breaks down his entire career from The Graduate to Rain Man to Wag the Dog. Whitey points out how small Dustin Hoffman really is, particularly when stacked up next to Renee Russo, and how this might be the least believable on-screen couple we've covered since Sharon Stone and anyone. The crew also discuss the real MVP of the movie, the man with the greatest eyebrows in cinema history, Donald Sutherland, delivering pure villainy with the energy of a man who genuinely enjoys ordering towns to be firebombed.Morgan Freeman, as always, earns unanimous praise for bringing gravitas with every line, even when delivering military exposition about viral containment strategies. JT Walsh gets special mention for turning up for one single scene and blowing everyone off the screen with a thundering, no-nonsense speech that still hits hard.From 90s nostalgia to scientific nitpicking, from snorbs reporting chaos to the classic Born to Watch overs-and-unders debate, this episode has everything. The boys even pick their own 1995 sleepers and duds, featuring Clueless, Just Cause, and Get Shorty. And yes, Damo manages to squeeze in a reference to Big Tit Monastery. Of course he does.If you loved Outbreak back in the day, or if watching it post-pandemic makes you question every life decision you've ever made, this is an episode you cannot miss. Dive in for big laughs, big nostalgia, big stupidity, and some of the most questionable hazmat protocols ever put to film.JOIN THE CONVERSATION  Does Outbreak hit different post-COVID? Should a monkey really be the hero of the third act? Was that helicopter chase the most unnecessary scene in '90s cinema?Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or BornToWatch.com.au#Outbreak1995 #BornToWatch #MoviePodcast #90sMovies #FilmReview #DustinHoffman #MorganFreeman #ViralThrillers #WolfgangPetersen #PopCulture

The K Might Be Silent. Let’s Get Susan Out the Door!. Morons in the News. Talkback Callers.   The People’s Movie Critic: “The Running Man” Talkback Callers. Everyone Needs a Laugh.   Talkback Callers. Ankle Deep in the Restaurant. Can You Believe This?   The Zippy Zodiac. From the Vault.

Supporting Independent Filmmakers w/Bryan LouzilBringing light to underserved content and underrepresented filmmakersBryan is the VP of Business Development at Mometu, an emerging free streaming service offering the best movies and tv you've never seen. He is also the founder of the Mometu College Film Festival which caters to student filmmakers looking to compete only against their peers. Prior to Mometu, Bryan spent 15 years in the corporate sales & management world which he was very happy to leave behind to help bring Mometu to you. On a personal level, he grew up in the film world with both his parents being filmmakers, which usually entailed summer and winter breaks being spent on film sets or in production offices. He is also married to the love of his life with a little version of him in tow causing chaos. While he does enjoy film as a whole he would not consider himself a cinephile, however, is more inclined to help independent filmmakers like his parents succeed and help their films be seenLinks:https://mometu.com/https://www.instagram.com/mometupodcast/Tags:Business Development,Content Marketing,Film Reviews,Founder,Marketing Professional,Movie Critic,Movies,Podcast Host,Startup,TV & Film,Supporting Independent Filmmakers w/Bryan Louzil,Live Video Podcast Interview,PodcastSupport PEG by checking out our Sponsors:Download and use Newsly for free now from www.newsly.me or from the link in the description, and use promo code “GHOST” and receive a 1-month free premium subscription.The best tool for getting podcast guests:https://podmatch.com/signup/phantomelectricghostSubscribe to our Instagram for exclusive content:https://www.instagram.com/expansive_sound_experiments/Subscribe to our YouTube https://youtube.com/@phantomelectricghost?si=rEyT56WQvDsAoRprRSShttps://anchor.fm/s/3b31908/podcast/rssSubstackhttps://substack.com/@phantomelectricghost?utm_source=edit-profile-pageIntroduction

Few films strike the perfect balance between dark humour, bleak violence, and unforgettable characters quite like Fargo (1996). In this week's Born to Watch deep dive, the boys return to the bitter cold of Minnesota to revisit a Coen Brothers classic in our full Fargo Movie 1996 Review. Whitey, Gow and Morgz each recount their own memories of first seeing Fargo, or in Dan's case, pretending he remembers anything from the 90s, before jumping headfirst into one of the most uniquely crafted crime films ever made.The episode kicks off with the lads debating their first screening. Whitey vividly remembers dragging everyone to the Dendy at Martin Place, feeling like a highbrow film buff discovering something special. Gow recalls the off-beat charm hitting him straight away. Dan, naturally, remembers nothing, except that he probably recommended the film, selected the seats, and probably did everything else. Classic Morgz. From there, the group dives into just how extraordinary Fargo's cast was at the time. The Coens pulled together a line-up of "relative nobodies" only to turn them into household names nearly three decades later.The chat quickly turns to Minnesota cold weather, obscure fast-food chains, and one of the great running bits of the episode, exactly how many times Morgz allegedly found himself "accidentally" next to someone mid-romp during their travels. The boys also unpack the brilliance of Frances McDormand's Marge Gunderson, who doesn't even appear in the film's first 34 minutes but completely owns the narrative once she arrives. She's sharp, funny, methodical, and easily one of the greatest characters of the '90s.Whitey breaks down the film's critical reception, comparing its Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb scores with those of past Born to Watch heavy hitters, such as Jaws, Rocky, The Terminator, and Catch Me If You Can. Morgs jumps in with Film School for Fuckheads, exploring how the Coens weaponised "Minnesota Nice" to create tension using politeness, silence, and awkwardness as narrative devices. From the meticulously written stuttering dialogue in William H. Macy's script to the off-kilter pacing of small-town conversations, the Coens built an atmosphere where the horror is subtle, creeping, and drenched in snow.Gow rolls through the cast, shining a spotlight on Steve Buscemi's legendary "funny looking" performance and the near-silent menace of Peter Stormare, who delivers only 18 lines across the film yet becomes one of its most iconic figures. The boys get into the famous wood-chipper scene, the fake "true story" marketing trick, and how half the audience in 1996 genuinely believed the events were real.There's also classic Born to Watch chaos, from detours into Shameless, to the worst movie endings ever made, to hookers in Hawaii, to Playboy magazines in glove boxes, to the eternal question: "Would you make sure your licence plates were right if you'd just kidnapped someone?"  Just another Wednesday on Born to Watch.The crew rounds things out with The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, celebrating the film's tight 94-minute runtime, near-perfect dialogue, incredible performances, legendary cinematography from Roger Deakins, and the deep satisfaction of a crime story where normal, everyday people take centre stage.Fargo isn't just a film, it's a vibe. A cold, bleak, funny, violent, polite vibe that the Born to Watch boys unpack with equal parts nostalgia and nonsense. Strap in, grab your Arby's, and enjoy one of our best episodes yet.#YouBetchaJOIN THE CONVERSATION  Is Fargo the greatest dark comedy of the '90s? Does the wood-chipper still make you squirm? And is Marge Gunderson the most likable cop in movie history?Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or BornToWatch.com.auLeave us a five-star review; it helps the show more than you know. #Fargo1996 #FargoMovie1996Review #BornToWatchPodcast #CoenBrothers #FrancesMcDormand #MinnesotaNice #MovieReviewPodcast #90sMovies #DarkComedyFilms #FilmNerds

Hustle Andrew! Morons in the News. The Pope’s Favorite Movies.   The People’s Movie Critic: “Holiday Junkie” Talkback Callers. Everyone Needs a Laugh.   Talkback Callers. Can You Believe This? A Wild Email from Kentucky.   The Zippy Zodiac.

MegaMillions. Morons in the News. Bobcat in the House.   The People’s Movie Critic: “Bugonia” Everyone Needs a Laugh. They Can’t Do Your Job.   Talkback Callers. Bye Bye Pennies. Can You Believe This?   The Zippy Zodiac. From the Vault.

How Your Brain Deals with a Haunted House. Tonight’s the Night. Morons in the News.   The People’s Movie Critic “5 Classic Horror Movies” Everyone Needs a Laugh. The Sexy Costume is Played Out.   The Zippy Zodiac. Talkback Callers. Can You Believe This?   Halloween Facts. From the Vault.

LexG riffs about the new horror film Shelby Oaks, directed by popular YouTube movie critic Chris Stuckmann, as well as Scott Derrickson's Black Phone 2, some thoughts on the recent Conjuring: Last Rites, and a look into the evolution of film criticism in the YouTube era. All in time for Halloween.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Though Death By DVD is taking a break to relocate and build a bigger and better Death By DVD studio we thought it would just be down right insane to not have at least SOMETHING to offer our fine dead studio audience for Halloween. Halloween is our favorite holiday, our favorite time of year and I'll boldly say it's down right the best time of year, so we wanted to celebrate with you and boy howdy, though short in run time we have a whole lot for you to hear on this episode.An all new movie from your host Harry-Scott Sullivan is available now to stream, we have an exclusive new song from SATANIC HEARSE RECORDS called NO LIFE IN THEIR EYES from their forthcoming record DEATH SEX GORE HORROR and of course an update on when Death By DVD will return full time. Celebrate the season of the witch and hit play and hear this episode today! SATANIC HEARSE on Bandcamp : tap here or copy and paste the link belowhttps://satanichearserecords.bandcamp.com/WATCH YOUR HOSTS DOCUMENTARY AND DARK TALES FROM CHANNEL X NOW ON BLOODSTREAM TV: tap here or copy and paste the link belowhttps://bloodstreamtv.com/show-details/dark-tales-from-channel-xLearn more about Bloodstream TV : Tap here or copy and paste the link belowhttps://bloodstreamtv.com/homeIf you're reading this I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support. Death By DVD has almost existed for 2 solid decades, please consider supporting Death By DVD directly on Patreon to secure the future of this very show. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ Thank you for choosing Death. DEATH BY DVD FOREVER. FOREVER DEATH BY DVD. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ CHECK OUT DEATH BY DVD ON YOUTUBE : https://www.youtube.com/@DeathByDVDDon't forget, Death By DVD has its very own all original audio drama voiced almost entirely by Death By DVD!DEATH BY DVD PRESENTS : WHO SHOT HANK?The first of its kind, (On this show, at least) an all original narrative audio drama exploring the murder of this shows very host, HANK THE WORLDS GREATEST! Explore WHO SHOT HANK, starting with the MURDER! A Death By DVD New Year Mystery WHO SHOT HANK : PART ONE WHO SHOT HANK : PART TWO WHO SHOT HANK : PART THREE WHO SHOT HANK : PART FOUR WHO SHOT HANK PART 5 : THE BEGINNING OF THE ENDWHO SHOT HANK PART 6 THE FINALE : EXEUNT OMNES 

Nothing But Net! Morons in the News. He Was Struck by Lighting… Twice.   The People’s Movie Critic: “Good Fortune” Everyone Needs a Laugh. What to Eat After a Workout.   Talkback Callers. Can You Believe This? Man Creates AI Robot Resembling His Late Wife.   The Zippy Zodiac. From the Vault.

Fleetwood Mac is Back on the Charts. Long John Silver is Making a Change. Morons in the News.   The People’s Movie Critic: “Roofman” Everyone Needs a Laugh. Woman Nails GBWR Pull-Ups.   Talkback Callers. Can You Believe This? Did She See the Afterlife?   The Zippy Zodiac. From the Vault.

Gene Simmons OK After Car Crash. Bearded Vultures. Morons in the News. Kelly Clarkson.   The People’s Movie Critic Everyone Needs a Laugh. Shaq.   Talkback Callers. Can You Believe This? Sheri’s Dog.   The Zippy Zodiac. Talkback Callers. From the Vault.

Happy “New Taylor Swift Album” Day! Morons in the News. Lamar Goes Toilet Seat Shopping.   The People’s Movie Critic: “One Battle After Another” Everyone Needs a Laugh. How Do You Stand Living There?   Talkback Callers. Can You Believe This S***? Man Charged After Drone Collides with FireFighting Aircraft.   The Zippy Zodiac. From the Vault.

Talkback Callers. Morons in the News. Free Upgrade.   The People’s Movie Critic: “Unknown Number” Everyone Needs a Laugh. She Saved the Dog!   Talkback Callers. Can You Believe This? Ozzy.   The Zippy Zodiac. From the Vault.

Happy Friday! Morons in the News. K-Fed.   The People’s Movie Critic: “Dexter” Talkback Callers. Everyone Needs a Laugh.   Talkback Callers. Matt Prater. Can You Believe This?   The Zippy Zodiac. From the Vault.