Now Playing - The Movie Review Podcast

With a flaming skull, a leather jacket, and a bad bike, Ghost Rider embraced the biker comics counterculture in the 70's and had a resurgance as a dark hero in the 90's. The first Ghost Rider film broke box office records, and now Nicholas Cage reprises his role as the devil's bounty hunter. And continuing their look back at all movies based on Marvel Comics heroes, and in anticipation of Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, Jakob, Stuart, and Arnie will be watching and reviewing both Ghost Rider films. In the first movie, Johnny Blaze tried to woo childhood sweetheart Roxanne while eating jelly beans and listening to The Carpenters, but Mephisto has other plans for the stunt biker. Do Jakob, Arnie, and Stuart go along for this ride? Listen to find out!

In 1978, before the Captain America films, CBS was still trying to replicate the successes of their Wonder Woman and Incredible Hulk TV series, but their next attempt to launch a superhero show drew inspiration from the Strange-st of places. The Dr. Strange TV film, based on the Marvel Comics magician, introduces prime-time television to Dr. Stephen Strange, a swinging psychiatrist with a destiny. This was not destined to be picked up as a series, but should it have? Listen to Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob's review to find out, or be left cold and barren! {Marvel Series} {Avengers Series} {Comic Book Movies Series} {Dr Strange Series}

In the early 1990s the country was hungry for more superhero films. Batman had come out and shown us that comic book characters could be done without camp, and studios rushed to get more superhero projects in development. Yet despite Batman 's success, and 1991 being Captain America's 50th Anniversary, 21st Century Film Corporation's production of Captain America could not get distributed. Finally scuttled direct-to-VHS in 1992, this film has been a staple of the convention DVD bootleg circuit. Finally receiving not one but two official releases in 2011 to tie into Marvel's Captain America: The First Avenger, does this 1990s version deserve another look? Listen to Jakob, Stuart, and Arnie's review to find out! {Marvel Series} {Avengers Series} {Captain America Series}

In 1979 Captain America had not one but two TV movies! The first was a pilot for a possible series. The second was Captain America 2 - Death Too Soon! Reb Brown returned as Steve Rogers, the ex-Marine who really just wants to paint. But terrorist General Miguel, played by Christopher Lee, has poisoned Portland and only Captain America can stop him! With attack dogs, a hang-gliding motorcycle, and old ladies on Venice Beach, does this Captain America film do our country proud? Listen to Arnie, Jakob, and Stuart's review to find out! {Marvel Series} {Avengers Series}{Captain America Series}

In the 1940's Captain America was born with a punch to Hitler's jaw. In the 60's he was thawed out again to help lead Marvel's super-team The Avengers. And in the 70's, when superhero shows Wonder Woman and The Incredible Hulk ruled the airwaves, Captain America was updated once again for a new generation. Here Steve Rodgers is a former Marine who wants nothing more than to drive up the California coast and draw, but a diabolical plot from evil oil tycoon Lou Brackett puts Steve's life in danger. With a clear shield, a boss motocross bike, and a groovy outfit Captain America is called to action. Is this a Captain that kids of the 70's could get behind? Listen to Stuart, Jakob, and Arnie to find out! {Marvel Series} {Avengers Series}{Captain America Series}

During the Cold War, only one man could protect America from the evil terrorist forces of HYDRA - Nick Fury, director of ! But the Berlin Wall fell, HYDRA'S leader Baron Wolfgang von Strucker was captured, and Fury was put out to pasture. Now, however, HYDRA is back and S.H.I.E.L.D. needs Fury, played by Baywatch star David Hasselhoff, to save the day. Made for TV in the 90s, Nick Fury's first live-action depiction is now forgotten in the wake of Samuel L. Jackson. But can Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob handle The Hoff? Listen to Now Playing's review to find out!

In 14 years Sylvester Stallone had made five Rocky films, and for a long time it was easy to assume Rocky V was the last film. A financial failure and derided by critics and fans alike, it seems Rocky had finally retired once and for all. But 30 years after the original Rocky, Stallone put the gloves back on and returned to the role that made him famous. Now Rocky Balboa is a widower, a restaurateur, and has a beast inside him that needs to be released in the ring. Does this latest Rocky film knock out our reviewers Arnie, Jakob, and Brock? Listen to our final Rocky review to find out!

After Rocky defeated Drago, and Communism, in Rocky 4, The Italian Stallion returned to his roots for Rocky 5. The director of the original Rocky film, John G. Avildsen, is back in the diretor's chair, and Rocky is back in Philly, broke once more. Due to brain damage Rocky cannot fight his way out of this situation, but with the family's only remaining possession, Micky's gym, Rocky finds himself training a new up-and-comer Tommy Gunn. This film takes a beating from fans and critics alike, but which way did the Now Playing judges rule? Listen to Arnie, Jakob, and Brock to find out!

Rocky went the distance with Apollo Creed, found the Eye of the Tiger and beat Clubber Lang, but four his next fight he's taking on the biggest enemy of all--communism! When Russian Olympic Gold Medalist Drago kills Apollo in an exhibition match, Rocky must fight to avenge his friend and defend his country's honor. Rocky 4 was the highest grossing of all Rocky films, but is it the best of the best? Listen to Brock, Jakob, and Arnie's review to find out!

As heavyweight champion Rocky traded his passion for glory. Now he worries more about his product endorsements and his new, plastic surgery enhanced face than his boxing matches. Fortunately Rocky's manager Mickey is shielding the champ, only letting Rocky fight punks who don't stand a chance. But when tough, hungry, up-and-comer Clubber Lang refuses to take "no" for an answer Rocky has to get the eye of the tiger...with the help of an old enemy. In theaters Rocky III was a hit that outgrossed even the original film, but with Mr. T in the spotlight can this film still go the distance or is it past its prime and ready for retirement? Listen as Arnie, Jakob, and Brock once more step into the ring for this Rocky review!

Despite losing the boxing match by decision, Rocky was the undisputed box office champion of 1976. So three years later, the Italian Stallion was back on the big screen and this time he was there to "Win, Rocky, Win!" With Sylvester Stallone now behind the camera as well as in front, and the entire cast of the original film returning, does Rocky II pack a punch? Listen as Arnie, Jakob, and Brock step back in the ring and find out!

It's sometimes hard to believe Sylvester Stallone is an Oscar nominated actor and writer. After all, Demolition Man and The Expendables aren't usually the films that get Academy notice. But in his career-making role as washed-up fighter Rocky Balboa Stallone captured accolades and audience dollars. Now, for Rocky's 35th anniversary, Now Playing hosts Arnie, Brock, and Jakob are watching and reviewing all six Rocky films, starting with this 1976 original. Can this film still go the distance with modern audience? Listen to find out!

The Punisher's attempts at a franchise continue to be shot down. While 2004's Punisher film failed to blow up the box office, strong DVD sales convinced Lionsgate to move ahead on a sequel--only to have director Jonathan Hensleigh and star Thomas Jane drop out. But the project moved on, now a second reboot for the Marvel Knight. Ray Stevenson strapped on the skull-logo flack jacket to fight classic comic book villian Jigsaw in this ultra-violent comic adaptation. Does this third Punisher film finally hit the target, or is it yet another misfire? Listen to Arnie, Jakob, and Stuart's final installment in the Punisher Retrospective Series to find out!

With Blade a cinematic success Artisan Entertainment brought another R-rated Marvel property to the big screen--The Punisher. Starring Thomas Jane in the title role and John Travolta as bad guy gangster Howard Saint, this adaptation remained closer to the character's comic book portrayal, putting him in his signature skull outfit and with a story based on Garth Ennis' acclaimed Welcome Back Frank story. But this film was punished by most critics, only to find its audience on DVD. Is this film justice for our hero, or punishment for the viewer? Listen as Jakob, Arnie, and Stuart are here to live once more, or die once more, or review once more and find out!

In 1989 the second Marvel Comics hero got his shot at big screen glory -- The Punisher, a murderous vigilante who dispenses the ultimate punishment to criminals. To comic book fans, Dolph Lundgren's portrayal of the character barely resembled the original material. Gone was the giant skull on the Punisher's shirt, and instead of a Viet Nam war hero Frank Castle was now a police officer waging a one-man war against the mob. But is the true punishment that inflicted upon viewers of this film? On this week's Now Playing, Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob continue their Marvel Movie retrospective with this first Punisher film, so listen to find out!

After Red Dragon's success more Lecter films were guaranteed, and to keep with author Thomas Harris' original vision this time the movie was not just based on one of his novels--the Hannibal Rising screenplay was written by Harris in conjunction with the new novel telling of Hannibal the Cannibal's early years. Can this film provide a future for the series without Anthony Hopkins, and does Gaspard Ulliel's Hannibal rise to the occasion? Listen to Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob's final review in the Hannibal Lecter series to find out!

Quickly after Hannibal hit theaters production began on yet another installment of the Hannibal Lecter franchise, and this time instead of looking forward to Harris writing another Hannibal story they looked backwards to Red Dragon, Harris' first novel featuring the caged cannibal. Already made into a film in the 80's, Manhunter, now the story is retold in an adaptation more faithful to the original novel and with Hopkins again reprising the role that he is best known for. With an all-star cast and director Brett Ratner at the helm, was this film a needed update or a desperate cash-grab? Listen to Jakob, Arnie, and Stuart's review to find out!

Warning: This podcast deals with subject matter that will be objectionable to the vast majority of listeners. No one under the age of 18 should listen, and those over the age of 18 should listen with caution. Last year the world was fascinated by The Human Centipede. What started as an underground, unknown movie only shown at midnight in select theaters ended up a global phenomenon. Word of the sequel spread fast, and the buzz increased when the film was banned in the UK. Now the sequel is here and the full sequence twelve-person Human Centipede is ready to be revealed. Do four-times the people equate to four-times the entertainment? Listen as Stuart, Marjorie, and Arnie line up to review this sequel and find out!

When Silence of the Lambs was received with critical acclaim and box office success, audiences waited with baited breath for the reunion of the cannibal and the agent -- Hannibal and Clarice. But despite audience anticipation, author Thomas Harris did not complete the sequel novel Hannibal until 1999, and upon its release many of the talent associated with the original film declined to return. But with new director Ridley Scott, fresh off his Oscar for Gladiator, behind the camera and Hopkins returning to chew up the scenery and his victims, could this film live up to the last or is it too much for audiences to swallow? Listen to find out!

We covet what we hear, so listen now! It’s iconic. Fava beans and a nice Chianti. Quid pro quo. Goodbye Horses. Few thrillers have seeped into pop culture like The Silence of the Lambs. Based on Thomas Harris’s novel, the film united Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster, and director Jonathan Demme to create a chilling crime story that not only captivated audiences but also swept the Academy Awards. As FBI trainee Clarice Starling hunts the serial killer Buffalo Bill, she turns to the brilliant and terrifying Dr. Hannibal Lecter for insight—sparking one of cinema’s most unforgettable psychological duels. Continuing their Hannibal Lecter retrospective, Jakob, Stuart, and Arnie revisit this landmark film to see if it still deserves its legendary reputation. Listen to Now Playing Podcast and find out!

Time for the main course of the Lecter books! Books & Nachos is now part of Now Playing Podcast. Before our book reviews were branded as Now Playing Podcast Book Reviews, they were released under a separate show called Books & Nachos. That podcast focused on book discussions, most of which tied directly into films we were covering on Now Playing. We’ve now merged those episodes into the main Now Playing Podcast feed for easier access and a complete archive. But these older episodes still have the original Books & Nachos intro and credits on those older recordings. Before he was winning Oscars and dominating the silver screen, Hannibal Lecter returned to the page in Thomas Harris’s 1988 novel The Silence of the Lambs. In this second Lecter story, the brilliant but imprisoned doctor is enlisted to help an FBI trainee track down a killer who skins his victims—while Lecter quietly plots a gruesome escape of his own. Join Stuart as he revisits the novel that deepened Lecter’s legend, examining how Clarice Starling’s presence reshapes the dynamic with the infamous doctor and helped turn Harris’s cultured cannibal into one of fiction’s most compelling villains.

Love at first bite Books & Nachos is now part of Now Playing Podcast. Before our book reviews were branded as Now Playing Podcast Book Reviews, they were released under a separate show called Books & Nachos. That podcast focused on book discussions, most of which tied directly into films we were covering on Now Playing. We’ve now merged those episodes into the main Now Playing Podcast feed for easier access and a complete archive. But these older episodes still have the original Books & Nachos intro and credits on those older recordings. Prepare the Chianti and fava beans. Stuart is spending a month dining with author Thomas Harris and his most infamous creation—Dr. Hannibal Lecter. As a companion to our Hannibal Lecter movie retrospective, Stuart is cracking open the four novels that inspired the five films featuring the cultured cannibal. The first course is Red Dragon, the 1981 crime novel that introduced Hannibal Lecter to the world. This chilling story of FBI profiler Will Graham hunting the serial killer known as the “Tooth Fairy” would later inspire two film adaptations: Michael Mann’s Manhunter (1986) and Brett Ratner’s Red Dragon (2002). Join Stuart as he gets inside Lecter’s mind and examines how Harris crafted the twisted relationship between the imprisoned doctor, the new murderer who idolizes him, and the investigator who once put Lecter behind bars.

It is in your nature to do one thing correctly: listen to this show! Before Anthony Hopkins was savoring fava beans and a nice Chianti, Hannibal Lecter first appeared on the big screen as “Hannibal Lector,” played by Brian Cox in Manhunter, the stylish 1986 thriller from Miami Vice creator Michael Mann. When a brutal serial killer known as the “Tooth Fairy” begins murdering entire families, FBI profiler Will Graham is pulled out of retirement to track him down. To understand the mind of the killer, Graham turns to the one man who knows that darkness best—the imprisoned murderer he once captured, Hannibal the Cannibal. Though the story would later be retold in The Silence of the Lambs era with Red Dragon, Manhunter initially failed at the box office before gaining a devoted following among Lecter fans. But does Mann’s neon-soaked thriller stand alongside the more famous films that followed? Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob kick off Now Playing Podcast’s Hannibal Lecter retrospective with their review of Manhunter. {Hannibal Lecter Series}

Death's not so bad. How do I know? I watched Elektra once. Daredevil may have turned a profit, but when Ben Affleck’s box office draw began to fade, 20th Century Fox opted for a spin-off instead of a sequel. And despite dying at the end of Daredevil, Jennifer Garner returned to reprise her role as Marvel’s deadly assassin in Elektra. Clad in her iconic red outfit, Elektra is now a hired killer trying to reclaim her conscience when she’s tasked with eliminating a man and his young daughter—targets who may be tied to a powerful mystical force known as “The Treasure.” Standing in her way is ancient ninja clan The Hand, along with a gallery of supernatural killers. Is Elektra a treasure for comic book movie fans, or should this franchise have stayed buried with its heroine? Listen to Jakob, Stuart, and Arnie on Now Playing Podcast to find out. {Daredevil and Elektra Series} {Marvel Series} {Comic Book Movie Series}

Murdock in Love After the success of X-Men, 20th Century Fox rushed another Marvel hero to the big screen: Daredevil. With Ben Affleck fresh off the success of Armageddon and The Sum of All Fears, the casting of the blind lawyer-turned-vigilante seemed poised to ride the same wave that had just propelled Spider-Man to box office glory. Backed by a strong supporting cast including Jennifer Garner as Elektra, Colin Farrell as Bullseye, Michael Clarke Duncan as Kingpin, and a pre-Iron Man Jon Favreau as Foggy Nelson, Daredevil smashed opening weekend records in 2003. Yet despite that early success, the film quickly faded from the court of public opinion. Was this Marvel adaptation unfairly judged, or did it deserve the bad reputation that followed? Join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob on Now Playing Podcast as they revisit Daredevil and render their verdict. {Daredevil and Elektra Series} {Marvel Series} {Comic Book Movie Series}

Dracula returns to show all-new ways to suck! Blade II slashed its way to over $150 million worldwide, so it was no surprise that the Daywalker returned just two years later for a third outing. What was surprising was that this time Blade didn’t come alone. Joining Wesley Snipes are Jessica Biel, Ryan Reynolds, Natasha Lyonne, and Parker Posey as a new generation of vampire hunters taking the fight to the undead. With writer David S. Goyer stepping into the director’s chair and Dracula himself entering the mix as Blade’s ultimate nemesis, Blade: Trinity aims to raise the stakes with bigger action, more quips, and a whole new team dynamic. But does this sequel give the franchise fresh blood, or does splitting the spotlight drain the life out of Blade’s final adventure? Listen to Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob on this Now Playing Podcast to find out. {Blade Series} {Marvel Series} {Comic Book Movie Series}

Lock up your daughters, boys and girls. Now Playing Podcast returns! Blade was an unexpected hit in 1998, so in 2002, Wesley Snipes returned as the Daywalker for the first sequel of his career. This time the vampire hunter faces a new threat: the Reapers, a vicious breed of super-vampires that force Blade into an uneasy alliance with the very bloodsuckers he’s sworn to destroy. Behind the camera is then–up-and-coming director Guillermo del Toro (Mimic), bringing his love of monsters, gothic visuals, and brutal action to the franchise, with David S. Goyer returning to write the script. Does Blade II sharpen the series with bigger action and nastier creatures, or does the sequel lose its bite? Listen to Stuart, Arnie, and Jakob’s review on Now Playing Podcast to find out. {Blade Series} {Marvel Series} {Comic Book Movie Series}

I guess if you're immortal, cholesterol doesn't matter? By 1998, the only Marvel Comics character to get a wide theatrical release was Howard the Duck. But that changed when Dark Knight writer David S. Goyer brought Marvel’s vampire hunter to the big screen in Blade, with Wesley Snipes donning the black leather to wage war on the undead. Facing off against Stephen Dorff’s ambitious bloodsucker Deacon Frost, Blade mixed martial arts, techno soundtracks, and vampire mythology into something unlike the comic book movies that came before it. Arriving just after the misfire of Batman & Robin, Blade helped restore credibility to comic adaptations and quietly laid the groundwork for the Marvel movie boom that followed. But does this pre-Matrix blend of CGI, blood-soaked action, and late-’90s style still hold up today? Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob sharpen the stakes and dive into the film’s place in comic book movie history on Now Playing Podcast. {Blade Series} {Marvel Series} {Comic Book Movie Series}

You don't need an invitation to download this podcast, so download it now! Dracula, Lestat, Angel, Nosferatu, Spike...Jerry??? While Hollywood continues to mine all vampire properties to build on the current fang mania, the 1985 cult film Fright Night was not one with the name recognition that made it an obvious choice for a remake. But with Buffy the Vampire Slayer writer Marti Noxon handling the script and an impressive cast including Colin Farrell, Anton Yelchin, and David Tennant, this unlikely revival just might have the bite to make vampires scary again. But does this modern Fright Night honor the spirit of the 1985 original, or is it just another victim of Hollywood’s remake machine? Listen to Arnie, Stuart, and Brock on Now Playing Podcast to find out. {Fright Night Series}

The eyes have it! Now Playing Podcast concludes its Final Destination retrospective with the fifth and newest installment in the franchise. When Sam and his coworkers narrowly escape a catastrophic bridge collapse on their way to a company retreat, they think they’ve cheated fate. But as always in this series, Death’s design is far from finished. With Tony Todd returning as the mysterious Bludworth, there may finally be clues about how Death’s plan works… and whether it can ever truly be beaten. But after five films, are audiences still invested in the mythology, or are we all just here to watch the next elaborate chain reaction of grisly demises? Arnie, Jakob, and Brock break down the thrills, the twists, and the kills as Now Playing Podcast reviews Final Destination 5. {Final Destination Series}

Bowling alley pizza gives us similar convulsions - and we're not even vampires! Jerry Dandrige may have been turned to dust in Fright Night, but Charlie Brewster’s troubles are far from over. After months of therapy convincing him that vampires don’t exist, Charlie tries to move on with his life… until Regine, Jerry’s mysterious sister, arrives looking for revenge. With Charlie doubting his own memories and a new girlfriend caught in the crossfire, his only hope once again lies with washed-up TV horror host Peter Vincent: Vampire Killer. Featuring a new lineup of monsters and leaving fan-favorite Evil Ed behind, Fright Night Part 2 tries to continue the cult classic’s mix of horror and humor. But does this sequel capture the bite of the original? And perhaps the bigger question: can you even track down a copy to watch? Listen to Arnie, Stuart, and Brock on Now Playing Podcast to find out. {Fright Night Series}

In 2009, horror stepped into another dimension: 3-D. While franchises everywhere scrambled to cash in on the gimmick, the Final Destination series returned with its fourth installment, bluntly titled The Final Destination. With Final Destination 2 director David R. Ellis back behind the camera, the film opens with a catastrophic speedway crash that gives psychic Nick a vision of death’s latest design. Escaping the initial disaster is only the beginning, as Nick and his friends face a deadly chain reaction involving a car wash, a swimming pool, and even a chain-link fence. Do the over-the-top kills and 3-D spectacle breathe new life into the franchise, or is this where Death’s design finally runs out of ideas? Listen to Arnie, Stuart, and Brock’s review on Now Playing Podcast to find out! {Final Destination Series}

Special Ed Jerry and Billy seem like perfectly normal neighbors… if you ignore the apple cores in the yard and the occasional garbage bag that looks suspiciously human-shaped. While the rest of the neighborhood goes about their business, teenager Charlie Brewster realizes the truth: the suave guy next door, Jerry Dandrige, is a vampire. In 1985, Fright Night revived the undead with a clever blend of horror and comedy. Chris Sarandon brought charm and menace as the stylish bloodsucker Jerry, while Roddy McDowall stole scenes as Peter Vincent, a washed-up TV vampire hunter suddenly facing the real thing. Is this cult classic still immortal, or is it a relic best left in the coffin of ’80s horror? Stuart, Arnie, and Brock sink their teeth into the original Fright Night to find out, kicking off Now Playing Podcast’s full retrospective of the series, leading up to the remake starring Colin Farrell. {Fright Night Series}

We will never look at Home Depot the same way again! You could say Wendy’s senior year is a real roller coaster. Graduation looms, friendships are shifting, boyfriends are on the chopping block, and she’s having crystal-clear visions of a coaster flying off the rails. When her premonition saves a handful of classmates from a deadly ride, they think they’ve beaten fate. They haven’t, but maybe Wendy's magic camera can help her decode Death’s design before it claims them one by one. With original director James Wong back at the controls of the nail gun and the tanning bed, does Final Destination 3 deliver another twisted thrill ride, or is the track starting to buckle? Jakob, Arnie, and Brock step back in line to find out. {Final Destination Series}

Seriously, dude, we're trying to eat...can't you at least walk downstream a bit? Daniel Craig. Harrison Ford. Jon Favreau. Cowboys. Aliens. These creatives and concepts had Arnie, Jakob, and Stuart racing to saddle up to see one of the few non-sequel, big-budget spectacles this summer. Based on a comic series, Cowboys & Aliens mashes up Western grit with sci-fi spectacle: six-shooters, alien tech, and a desert showdown. Ride on over to NowPlayingPodcast.com and hear whether this high-concept shootout hits the mark. {Individual Movie Reviews} {Comic Book Movie Series}

Can we find the pregnant woman now, please? In Final Destination, you can’t cheat death; you can only delay it. Part two picks up with the previous film's survivors still haunted by what they escaped, and Death ready to clean up loose ends. But Death can multitask, as we also have a new group of would-be victims trying to outthink a force that doesn’t play fair. With one of horror’s most infamous freeway pileups that made audiences side-eye logging trucks for years, does this follow-up sharpen the formula, or just repeat it with more blood and broken glass? Join Arnie, Jakob, and Brock as they revisit the second stop on Death’s itinerary and decide if this Destination delivers. {Final Destination Series}

Galactus has the munchies and is following a surf dude for a snack... Is intergalactic weed involved? With Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, 20th Century Fox doubled down on Marvel's First Family, bringing one of the most beloved cosmic storylines from the comics to the big screen. The mysterious Silver Surfer (voiced by The Matrix's Laurence Fishburne) arrives as a harbinger of world-eating Galactus. With bigger effects, higher stakes, and a fan-favorite character finally in live action, this sequel aimed to correct the missteps of the first film and expand the franchise into true cosmic territory. Is the third time a charm for the Four? Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob dive into the spectacle, the tone, and that controversial depiction of Galactus in this chapter of Now Playing Podcast's Marvel retrospective. {Fantastic Four Series} {Marvel Series} {Comic Book Movie Series}

Wanna go take a listen? After Scream rewrote the rules of teen horror, a wave of imitators hit theaters. Most crashed hard, but one survived... In Final Destination, high schooler Alex (Idle Hands' Devon Sawa) has a premonition that his flight to Paris will explode. He and several classmates get off the plane only to discover that cheating death comes with consequences. As Tony Todd (Candyman) ominously explains, death has a design, and it doesn’t like being interrupted. With elaborate Rube Goldberg-style kill sequences and a killer you can’t punch, outrun, or unmask, the film launched a franchise built entirely on inevitability. Now our hosts get on board and revisit the one that started it all to see if this high-concept horror still delivers suspense, or if its fate was sealed from the beginning. {Final Destination Series}

Doom's so vain I bet he thinks this podcast's about him. After decades of development limbo and one unreleased low-budget experiment, the Fantastic Four finally arrived in theaters in 2005 with a full studio push from 20th Century Fox. Positioned as the next Marvel team franchise to stand alongside X-Men, this big-budget adaptation brings Reed Richards (102 Dalmations' Ioan Gruffudd), Sue Storm (Idle Hands' Jesica Alba), Johnny Storm (Not Another Teen Movie's Chris Evans), and Ben Grimm (The Shield's Michael Chiklis) to life as they square off against Victor Von Doom (Nip/Tuck's Julian McMahon). With glossy effects, a $100 million budget, and clear plans for sequels, does this first official big-screen outing capture the mix of science fiction spectacle and family dynamics that made the comic a classic, or does it struggle to ignite? Join the Now Playing Podcast crew as they break down the film that finally gave Marvel’s First Family a theatrical release. {Fantastic Four Series} {Marvel Series} {Comic Book Movie Series}

Did Avi Arad shout "Flame On!" as he burned the negative? Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s Fantastic Four launched the modern Marvel Universe in 1961, redefining superheroes as flawed, bickering, deeply human characters. On screen, though, Marvel’s First Family has had a rockier path. In this first chapter of our Fantastic Four retrospective, Stuart, Arnie, and Jakob go back to 1994 and the infamous Roger Corman-produced Fantastic Four film. Shot on the cheap and reportedly made primarily to retain the movie rights, this version was never officially released, yet bootlegs turned it into a comic-book legend. Why was it shelved? Was it truly unwatchable, or just a victim of studio politics? Join the Now Playing Podcast crew as they examine the most unloved and abandoned superhero movie ever made. {Fantastic Four Series} {Marvel Series} {Comic Book Movie Series}

Watch as Michael Bay and co. transform world history! Transformers: Dark of the Moon stormed into theaters, smashing buildings and box office records, and dominating the Fourth of July holiday. Michael Bay’s third outing raises the stakes again, tying the Autobots and Decepticons to a secret Apollo-era conspiracy and unleashing some of the biggest action set pieces of the franchise. But does this installment actually improve on its predecessor, or is it another effects-driven juggernaut powered more by 3-D ticket prices than storytelling? Jerry, Stuart, and Arnie break down the action, the mythology, and Bay’s bombast to decide whether Dark of the Moon redeems the series or simply doubles down on what came before. {Transformers Series}

Oh robot giiiiiirlfriend Arnie, Stuart, and Jerry continue their Transformers retrospective with Revenge of the Fallen, the second entry in the Bayformers saga. The Matrix of Leadership returns, Optimus Prime falls again, and the franchise leans hard into both G1 nostalgia and full-throttle spectacle. But do those callbacks and expanded lore actually add weight to the story, or does the scale overwhelm everything else? Join the Now Playing Podcast crew as they break down the mayhem to see whether this sequel stands tall or collapses under its own mass. {Transformers Series}

Two guys, a girl, and a magic ring Because you demanded it. Arnie, Jakob, and Stuart take a break from Marvel to shine a green light on DC’s Green Lantern. Starring Ryan Reynolds (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) as Hal Jordan, alongside Blake Lively (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants), Peter Sarsgaard Garden State), Mark Strong (Kick-Ass), and Angela Bassett (How Stella Got Her Groove Back), Green Lantern is Warner Bros.’ attempt to launch its own cosmic superhero franchise to rival Marvel's Cinematic Universe Does it soar into the upper atmosphere of superhero cinema, or crash back to Earth under the weight of its own ambition? Join the Now Playing Podcast crew as they revisit Reynold's second attempt to be a superhero and decide whether this ring had any real power behind it. {Green Lantern Series} {DC Comics Series} {Comic Book Movie Series}

More oil was used on Megan Fox than all the automobiles in this film combined! Continuing our Transformers retrospective, Arnie, Jerry, and Stuart shift gears into Michael Bay’s 2007 live-action debut, dubbed "Bayformers" by longtime fans. With Steven Spielberg producing and a massive effects budget bringing Autobots and Decepticons into the real world, the film aimed to turn a beloved ’80s cartoon into a modern blockbuster. But did Bay successfully reinvent the franchise for a new generation, or did the spectacle overwhelm the spark that made fans care in the first place? Join the Now Playing Podcast crew as they break down the action, the humor, and the metal-on-metal mayhem to see if this transformation holds up. {Transformers Series}

You're not fooling anyone, Hot Rod. The next screw that falls out will be you For our first episode in the Transformers Retrospective Series, we roll back to 1986 and the animated big-screen debut of The Transformers: The Movie. Optimus Prime vs. Megatron, the rise of Hot Rod, a synth-heavy soundtrack, and a voice cast that includes Eric Idle (Monty Python and the Holy Grail), Leonard Nimoy (Star Trek), Judd Nelson (The Breakfast Club), and the legendary Orson Welles (Citizen Kane) in his final role. It had all the makings of a franchise-defining event, but it left children traumatized and flopped at the box office. Dare to be stupid with Arnie, Stuart, and Transformers mega-fan Jerry as they revisit the animated epic that reshaped Cybertron and ask whether this so-called bomb was actually more than meets the eye. {Transformers Series}

Now we gotta cut loose, with nukes! Our X-Men retrospective ends where the X-Men began. X-Men: First Class rewinds the timeline to the 1960s, recasting Charles Xavier (now Wanted's James McAvoy) and Magneto (now Eden Lake's Michael Fassbender) and rebuilding the franchise from the ground up. Matthew Vaughn, coming off Kick-Ass, takes the director’s chair while Bryan Singer returns in a producing role, steering the series into prequel territory. Can this rebooted origin story stand alongside successful franchise relaunches like Star Trek and Batman Begins? Join Arnie, Jakob, and Stuart for this First Class finale of their journey through the X-Men saga. {X-Men Series} {Wolverine Series} {Marvel Series} {Comic Book Movie Series}

After this podcast, we're afraid Stryker is going to try to have our mouths grafted shut Hugh Jackman steps out on his own in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, a prequel tracing Logan’s life from 19th-century Canada through wars, Weapon X experiments, and the events leading to his memory loss. While there's no Xavier's School, there's still a slew of fan-favorite mutants like Gambit (Taylor Kitsch), Sabretooth (Liev Schreiber), Blob (Kevin Durand), and a very different take on Deadpool. But does this deep dive into Logan’s past add meaningful layers to the character? Join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob as they revisit Wolverine’s first solo outing and decide whether these origins sharpen the claws or dull the legend. {X-Men Series} {Wolverine Series} {Marvel Series} {Comic Book Movie Series} {Deadpool Series}

Multiple men discuss Multiple Man With Bryan Singer graduating from Mutant High to direct Superman Returns, and much of the original creative team gone, Brett Ratner (Rush Hour) stepped in to close out the mutant trilogy with X-Men: The Last Stand. The long-foreshadowed conflict finally explodes when a "cure" for mutation is announced, splitting the mutant community and forcing Professor X (Patrick Stewart) and Magneto (Ian McKellan) into open war. The film swings for epic, tackling the Dark Phoenix storyline while juggling an expanding ensemble. It’s also one of the most divisive entries in the franchise, with fans split over its choices and casualties. Join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob as they revisit the trilogy’s conclusion and decide whether The Last Stand earns its place in the saga or buckles under its own ambition. {X-Men Series} {Wolverine Series} {Marvel Series} {Comic Book Movie Series}

Bobby's brother was nominated for Worst Movie Sibling 2003 Three years after X-Men helped redefine superhero cinema, the mutants return with a bigger budget and new enemies. X2: X-Men United brings back Professor X (Patrick Stewart), Magneto (Ian McKellen), and the original cast, but does the focus on Wolverine's mysterious background overshadow the team? Join Arnie, Jakob, and Stuart as they break down Bryan Singer’s follow-up and decide whether X2 is the rare superhero sequel that improves on the original, or just a case of mutant overload. {X-Men Series} {Wolverine Series} {Marvel Series} {Comic Book Movie Series}

The greatest trick Magneto ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist... When you think of superhero movies, you probably don’t think of concentration camps, civil rights allegory, and moral philosophy. But in 2000, Bryan Singer’s X-Men changed the conversation. Bringing Wolverine, Cyclops, Professor X, Magneto, and Rogue to the big screen for the first time, the film grounded comic book spectacle in themes of prejudice and identity. Anchored by a cast that included past and future Oscar winners, it treated its source material with an unusual seriousness for the era. More than just launching the X-Men franchise, the film helped kick off the modern wave of Marvel adaptations that would soon dominate Hollywood. Over a decade later, does it still feel like the beginning of something bold, or a stepping stone to bigger things? Join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob as they revisit the movie that helped usher superheroes into the 21st century. {X-Men Series} {Wolverine Series} {Marvel Series} {Comic Book Movie Series}