Movie Wars

por 2-Vices Media

Criticas de Cine

Rocky Vs. Raging Bull (Ep. 0007)

Episode Summary: Rocky and Raging Bull are two of the greatest boxing films of all time. Although seen as two drastically different films, they make a great pairing for episode 0007 of the Movie Wars Podcast. Kyle, Drew, and Phil discuss the themes that tie these two films together. Although Rocky and Jake LaMotta are very different, Kyle surmises that they make up two sides of one coin. One is a naive optimist while the other is a gifted but insanely troubled person. This paradox is what makes sports films great. The sport itself is often just the proving ground that acts as a metaphor that plays out the complexities of the characters themselves. Boxing itself is arguably the most superior sport to tell those stories.  Randos cover the underdog elements of Sylvester Stallone's rise to fame through a film he wrote but no one wanted him to act in. Other randos cover other casting considerations, little budgets with big results, Martin Scorsese’s artistic approach to making a sports film, and actor dedication to learning how to fight convincingly.  Movie Wars Scorecard: Best Top Bill Cast Best Supporting Cast  Who would you rather get punched by?  Adrian Vs Vickey in a fight  Music  Best fighting depiction Bloody Bruised Face: Who Wore It Best?  Best Nickname  Worst with women Worst jokes Best Italian  Plot Summaries: Rocky: Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), a small-time boxer from working-class Philadelphia, is arbitrarily chosen to take on the reigning world heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), when the undefeated fighter's scheduled opponent is injured. While training with feisty former bantamweight contender Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith), Rocky tentatively begins a relationship with Adrian (Talia Shire), the wallflower sister of his meat-packer pal Paulie (Burt Young). Director: John G. Avildsen Producer: Irwin Winkler, Robert Chartoff Writer: Sylvester Stallone Release Date (Theaters): Dec 1, 1976 Wide Release Date (Streaming): Oct 31, 2015 Runtime: 1h 59m Production Co: United Artists -Summary and info courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1017776-rocky) Raging Bull: The story of a middleweight boxer as he rises through ranks to earn his first shot at the middleweight crown. He falls in love with a gorgeous girl from the Bronx. The inability to express his feelings enters into the ring and eventually takes over his life. He eventually is sent into a downward spiral that costs him everything. Director: Martin Scorsese Producer: Robert Chartoff, Irwin Winkler Writer: Jake LaMotta, Joseph Carter, Peter Savage, Paul Schrader, Mardik Martin Release Date (Theaters): Jan 1, 1980 Wide Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2016 Box Office (Gross USA): $87.3K Runtime: 2h 8m Production Co: United Artists, Chartoff-Winkler Productions -Plot summary and information courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/raging_bull)

Tommy Boy Vs. Dumb And Dumber (Ep. 0006)

Episode Summary: After the brain-searing, philosophically exhausting episode 0005(The Matrix Vs. Inception), the guys needed a week or two to catch their breath. For a change of pace, they give comedy a whirl. What better than quite possibly the best two buddy comedies of all time? Buddy comedy is its own subgenre of comedy. It appears throughout comedy in every decade. Dumb And Dumber and Tommy Boy are side-splitting films that take the audience on road trips through less than ideal situations. One of the major themes of episode 0006 is the idea that comedy in and of itself should be judged similarly to dramatic films(Jeff Daniels even said so). This rests in the fact that so many comedic actors can do drama but the reverse isn’t nearly as prevalent. Jim Carrey is an incredible example of this range. Knowing this is true, you can’t help but think about what several of entertainment’s biggest hitters had to say about the late and great Chris Farley. The common sentiment is that we hadn’t even seen the tip of the iceberg of his talent. Like many great comics, his potential to do drama was not only high, but expected. Kyle speaks to failure as a stand-up comedian to provide insights into the emotional layers of comedy. During randos, the guys discuss how Dumb And Dumber was a film that was more than likely never going to be made, how Jeff Daniels ended up playing opposite of Jim Carrey, and the original casting choices that would blow your mind.  Movie Wars Score Card Best Top Bill Cast  Best Supporting Cast  Best buddy duo to go on a trip with?  Who would you rather be, the bird or the deer?  Best thwarting the police technique? Best Soundtrack?  Who would win a duo Cage Match?  Whats nobler? Delivering the suitcase to the woman or saving the father’s company?   Best use of condiments  Best 90’s Soundtrack  Most quotable  Film Summaries Tommy Boy: After his beloved father (Brian Dennehy) dies, dimwitted Tommy Callahan (Chris Farley) inherits a near-bankrupt automobile parts factory in Sandusky, Ohio. His brand new stepmother, Beverly (Bo Derek), wants to cash out and close, but Tommy's sentimental attachment to his father's employees spurs him to make one last-ditch effort to find someone who will buy their products. With his father's tightly wound assistant, Richard (David Spade), in tow, Tommy hits the road to scare up some new clients. Director: Peter Segal Writer: Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2013 Box Office (Gross USA): $30.7M Runtime: 1h 38m Production Co: Paramount Pictures -Summary and information courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes(https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tommy_boy) Dumb And Dumber: Imbecilic best friends Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey) and Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels) stumble across a suitcase full of money left behind in Harry's car by Mary Swanson (Lauren Holly), who was on her way to the airport. The pair decide to go to Aspen, Colo., to return the money, unaware that it is connected to a kidnapping. As Harry and Lloyd -- who has fallen in love with Mary -- are pursued across the country by hired killers and police, they find both their friendship

The Matrix Vs. Inception (Ep. 0005)

Episode Summary: Kyle, Drew, and Phil were asking for a brain bruising when they decided to do this matchup. The Matrix carries its equal weight in philosophy as it does innovative action and camerawork. The only film that comes close in recent years is Inception. Both require multiple watches to understand. Typically, the first viewing amazes with their visuals. However, you are left scratching your head at the meaning of it all. The guys do their most research to date in order to do these titans justice. The story hook is summarized by two protagonists traversing alternate realities in pursuit of their own version of personal freedom. Truth is uncomfortable and unsettling. Dom(Inception) and Neo(The Matrix) push every boundary to accomplish those freedoms at a high cost. During randos, the guys discuss the high-powered actors who turned down the roles of Neo and Morpheus, the educational preparation that was required to make these films, the physical tole that was taken out on one star(and his stuntman), and the philosophies that drive these films.  Movie Wars Score Card Best Top Bill Cast  Best Supporting Cast  Which one is your wife asking for an explanation every 5 mins?  Who's more handsome, Leo/Keanu?  What's worse, being a placenta pod for a machine or losing 50 years in the subconscious  More badass? Best effects  Best Choreography Who gets the award for Most Confusing? Dom Vs. Neo  FIlm Summaries  The Matrix: Neo (Keanu Reeves) believes that Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), an elusive figure considered to be the most dangerous man alive, can answer his question -- What is the Matrix? Neo is contacted by Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), a beautiful stranger who leads him into an underworld where he meets Morpheus. They fight a brutal battle for their lives against a cadre of viciously intelligent secret agents. It is a truth that could cost Neo something more precious than his life. Director: Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski Producer: Joel Silver Writer: Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski Release Date (Theaters): Mar 31, 1999 Wide Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009 Box Office (Gross USA): $171.4M Runtime: 2h 16m Production Co: Village Roadshow Prod., Silver Pictures -Summary and info courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes. (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/matrix) Inception: Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a thief with the rare ability to enter people's dreams and steal their secrets from their subconscious. His skill has made him a hot commodity in the world of corporate espionage but has also cost him everything he loves. Cobb gets a chance at redemption when he is offered a seemingly impossible task: Plant an idea in someone's mind. If he succeeds, it will be the perfect crime, but a dangerous enemy anticipates Cobb's every move. Director: Christopher Nolan Producer: Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas Writer: Christopher Nolan Release Date (Theaters): <s

Jaws Vs. Jurassic Park (Ep. 0004)

Episode Summary: Film is often a canvas that can be used for so many things. They reflect the politics of the time. They often reflect the issues that people faced. Artists embody those by reflecting them onto the big screen But you also have movies like Jaws and Jurrasic Park. Two movies that can only be described as downright adventures. In the heaviness of any time period, leisure can be had in the form of pure entertainment. At a base level, film exists to transport us. It transports us to a time that we didn’t experience or tickles our imagination to wrap our minds around something we can’t comprehend on our own. Nothing accomplishes this like these two films. During randos, the guys talk about what it took to make these films, the struggles of the mechanical shark, the CGI of JP, Steven Spielberg’s desire to walk on making Jaws, and the improvised acting moments that often get buried by the action of Jaws.  Movie Wars Scorecard  Best Top Bill Cast  Best Supporting Cast  Who would you rather be eaten by?  Dino CGI Vs Practical Jaws Tastiest characters  Jaws Vs T Rex  Best Spielberg  Best score Best pet for a millionaire? Quint Vs a Dinosaur  Best intro kill scene  Best Kills/deaths   Which sets up for the best franchise?  Film Summaries Jaws: When a young woman is killed by a shark while skinny-dipping near the New England tourist town of Amity Island, police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) wants to close the beaches, but mayor Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) overrules him, fearing that the loss of tourist revenue will cripple the town. Ichthyologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and grizzled ship captain Quint (Robert Shaw) offer to help Brody capture the killer beast, and the trio engage in an epic battle of man vs. nature. Director: Steven Spielberg Producer: David Brown, Richard D. Zanuck Writer:  Peter Benchley, Carl Gottlieb, Howard Sackler, John Milius, Robert Shaw Release Date (Theaters): Jun 20, 1975 Wide Release Date (Streaming): Jul 22, 2015 Box Office (Gross USA): $260.9M Runtime: 2h 4m Production Co: Universal Pictures, Zanuck/Brown Productions -Summary and info courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/jaws) Jurassic Park:  In Steven Spielberg's massive blockbuster, paleontologists Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) and mathematician Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) are among a select group chosen to tour an island theme park populated by dinosaurs created from prehistoric DNA. While the park's mastermind, billionaire John Hammond (Richard Attenborough), assures everyone that the facility is safe, they find out otherwise when various ferocious predators break free and go on the hunt. Director: Steven Spielberg Producer: Kathleen Kennedy, Gerald R. Molen Writer: Michael Crichton, David Koepp, Malia Scotch Marmo Release Date (Theaters): Jun 11, 1993 Wide Release Date (Streaming): May 18, 2015 Box Office (Gross USA): $401.8M Runtime: 2h 6m Production Co: Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment -Summary and film info provided by Rotten Tomatoes (https://www.rottento

Terminator 2: Judgement Day Vs. Aliens (Ep. 0003)

Episode Summary: How does a director develop a sequel to a masterpiece? Ask James Cameron. Cameron originally directed The Terminator in 1984 and created the sequel T2. He also took on the daunting tasks of developing the sequel to Ridley Scott’s 1979 masterpiece Alien. Hindsight is 20/20 now that we’ve seen Cameron make relevant and innovative films every decade since he came on the scene. At the time, Scott’s old crew from Alien wanted nothing to do with him. The visuals for T2 had never been done before. However, this didn’t stop him from making two sequels that(depending on who you ask) are better than their predecessors. James Cameron isn’t the only thing linking these two films. Both films are buoyed by strong female arcs that don’t yet exist in the sci-fi drama. When it comes to Randos, the guys discuss the budgets and innovation behind these two groundbreaking films, an actress who hated guns but shot a lot of them in the movie, alternate endings that would have changed the outlook for a certain franchise, and James Cameron’s not-so-friendly welcome by Ridley Scott’s original Alien Crew. Movie Wars Scorecard Best Top Bill Cast Best Supporting Cast  Best Music Best Gun Fight Biggest Jump from the original T1000 Vs. Alien Queen Best effects  Design Of Alien Vs Terminators  Best Final Fight Sarah Connor Vs Ripley  Film Summaries Terminator 2: Judgement Day: In this sequel set eleven years after "The Terminator," young John Connor (Edward Furlong), the key to civilization's victory over a future robot uprising, is the target of the shape-shifting T-1000 (Robert Patrick), a Terminator sent from the future to kill him. Another Terminator, the revamped T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger), has been sent back to protect the boy. As John and his mother (Linda Hamilton) go on the run with the T-800, the boy forms an unexpected bond with the robot. Director: James Cameron Producer: James Cameron Writer: James Cameron, William Wisher Jr. Release Date (Theaters): Jul 3, 1991 Wide Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016 Box Office (Gross USA): $552.8K Runtime: 2h 16m Production Co: Lightstorm Entertainment, Carolco Pictures Inc., Pacific Western -Summary and info provided by Rotten Tomatoes (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/terminator_2_judgment_day) Aliens: After floating in space for 57 years, Lt. Ripley's (Sigourney Weaver) shuttle is found by a deep space salvage team. Upon arriving at LV-426, the marines find only one survivor, a nine year old girl named Newt (Carrie Henn). But even these battle-hardened marines with all the latest weaponry are no match for the hundreds of aliens that have invaded the colony. Director: James Cameron Producer: Gale Anne Hurd Writer: James Cameron, David Giler Release Date (Theaters): Jul 18, 1986 Wide Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015 Box Office (Gross USA): $77.6M Runtime: 2h 17m Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox, Brandywine Productions -Summary and info from Rotten Tomatoes (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1000617-aliens)

Alien Vs. Predator (Ep. 0002)

Episode Summary: Alien and Predator are two films that get mentioned in the same breath frequently. There are video games and the eventual fan-craved AvP series. At surface level, it seems that the only thing linking these two films are the extraterrestrials. There is a deeper thought there. In the estimation of the Movie Wars crew, what really links this film is a proliferation in how aliens are portrayed in films. Alien sci-fi really focused on the mystery of aliens. Maybe they probe you. Maybe they want to take over the earth. Nobody knows. Alien set a new precedent that whatever is out there is terrifying and violent. Predator takes on that idea in a more commercial way later on. Ridley Scott’s alien is vulgar, disgusting, morbid, and violent. Its journey is filled with sexual metaphors. Randos for this episode include a big-time actor who wore the first(and very ugly) Predator suit, the inspiration for the Alien look, an actor that required an insurance policy to protect the other actors and directorial decisions that led to some of the most iconic scenes in film history.  Movie Wars Scorecard:  Best Top Bill Cast  Best Supporting Cast  Best Interpretation of Extra-Terrestrials Best Kills Best possible TV series  Best Music  Worst Creature Body Odor  Best Weapons  Who’s uglier? Which creature died the best death? Which movie does your wife hate more?  Film Summaries Alien: In deep space, the crew of the commercial starship Nostromo is awakened from their cryo-sleep capsules halfway through their journey home to investigate a distress call from an alien vessel. The terror begins when the crew encounters a nest of eggs inside the alien ship. An organism from inside an egg leaps out and attaches itself to one of the crew, causing him to fall into a coma. Director: Ridley Scott Producer: David Giler, Gordon Carroll, Walter Hill Writer: Dan O'Bannon, Ronald Shusett Release Date (Theaters): May 25, 1979 Wide Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015 Box Office (Gross USA): $81.1M Runtime: 1h 57m Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox, Brandywine Productions -Summary and info courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/alien) Predator: Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a soldier of fortune, is hired by the U.S. government to secretly rescue a group of politicians trapped in Guatemala. But when Dutch and his team, which includes weapons expert Blain (Jesse Ventura) and CIA agent George (Carl Weathers), land in Central America, something is gravely wrong. After finding a string of dead bodies, the crew discovers they are being hunted by a brutal creature with superhuman strength and the ability to disappear into its surroundings. Director: John McTiernan Producer: Joel Silver, Lawrence Gordon, John Davis Writer: Jim Thomas, John Thomas Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015 Box Office (Gross USA): $54.4M Runtime: 1h 47m Production Co: American Entertainment, 20th Century Fox -Summary and info courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/predator)

RoboCop Vs. The Terminator (Ep. 0001)

Hear Kyle, Drew, and Phil as they navigate the "War Score" card for two of the greatest Sci-Fi Action films of all-time. Movie Wars starts off with a bang(an explosion?) by pitting two of the greatest heavyweights of all-time against one another. Can Arnold defeat Peter Weller in the top billed cast category? Who would win in an all out brawl? Have you ever wondered which Machine is more likely to get Malware? All this more on Ep. 0001 of Movie Wars! FIlm Summaries RoboCop: In a violent, near-apocalyptic Detroit, evil corporation Omni Consumer Products wins a contract from the city government to privatize the police force. To test their crime-eradicating cyborgs, the company leads street cop Alex Murphy (Peter Weller) into an armed confrontation with crime lord Boddicker (Kurtwood Smith) so they can use his body to support their untested RoboCop prototype. But when RoboCop learns of the company's nefarious plans, he turns on his masters. Director: Paul Verhoeven Producer: Arne Schmidt Writer: Edward Neumeier, Michael Miner Release Date (Streaming): Aug 27, 2015 Box Office (Gross USA): $49.7M Runtime: 1h 42m Production Co: Orion Pictures -Summary and info courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes(https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1017712-robocop) The Terminator: Disguised as a human, a cyborg assassin known as a Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) travels from 2029 to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton). Sent to protect Sarah is Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn), who divulges the coming of Skynet, an artificial intelligence system that will spark a nuclear holocaust. Sarah is targeted because Skynet knows that her unborn son will lead the fight against them. With the virtually unstoppable Terminator in hot pursuit, she and Kyle attempt to escape. Original Language: English Director: James Cameron Producer: Gale Anne Hurd Writer: James Cameron, Gale Anne Hurd Release Date (Streaming): Jul 5, 2015 Runtime: 1h 48m Production Co: Pacific Western -Summary and info courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/terminator)

Movie Wars Trailer!

🎬 Welcome to Movie Wars — where comedy meets cinema analysis. Hosted by Kyle Castro and Seth Kays, Movie Wars is what happens when stand-up comics, filmmakers, artists, celebrity guests, and a few smart weirdos get way too obsessed with movies — and start scoring them in a gladiator-style showdown. Each week, we dive deep into the films you love (and love to argue about), breaking them down across a custom scorecard that blends craft, chaos, and comedy. From cult classics to critical darlings, we debate cast, direction, writing, and whatever wild stuff we find behind the scenes — and we don’t stop until we’ve got a winner. This trailer episode gives you the lay of the land: who we are, what makes our podcast different, and why our War Card System™ puts a fresh spin on how we experience film. Whether you’re a movie buff, a casual fan, or someone who just wants to laugh while learning something new about cinema — there’s a seat for you here. 🎧 New episodes drop every Tuesday across all platforms. Subscribe, join the war, and get ready to watch movies differently.

Interview with Mel Gibson's stunt double Mic Rodgers

In this episode from the Patreon archives, Kyle interviews the legendary Mic Rodgers, a celebrated stunt coordinator, director, and long-time stunt double for Mel Gibson. With over 40 years in the industry, Rodgers has revolutionized the world of action cinema. They delve into his groundbreaking invention, the Mic-Rig, which has become a game-changer for high-octane films like the 'Fast & Furious' series, transforming how car stunts are filmed and experienced on screen. Rodgers has left his mark on a plethora of iconic films, including his work as Mel Gibson's double in classics like 'Lethal Weapon,' 'Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome,' and the Academy Award-winning 'Braveheart.' Beyond his work with Gibson, he has contributed to the success of action-packed blockbusters such as 'Twister,' 'Hacksaw Ridge,' 'John Wick,' 'The Expendables,' and 'Avatar.' Notably, Rodgers' innovation with the Mic-Rig earned him a Technical Grammy Award, recognizing his groundbreaking contribution to the field of film production technology. His invention has set new standards in the industry, enabling filmmakers to capture more dynamic and immersive action sequences. Tune in as Mic shares behind-the-scenes stories, his approach to stunt coordination, and the technical innovations that have set new benchmarks in filmmaking.

The Steve Byrne Interview

Here's a good one from the Patreon archives. In this special episode of Movie Wars, Kyle had the privilege of sitting down with the legendary Steve Byrne—comedian, director, writer, and documentarian. Known for his sharp wit and groundbreaking comedy specials like Happy Hour, The Byrne Identity, Champion, Tell the Damn Joke, and The Last Late Night, Steve shares his incredible journey in standup and his successful transition into filmmaking. He also takes us behind the scenes of his acclaimed sitcom Sullivan & Son, where he starred and co-created the show, which ran for three seasons on TBS. Steve talks about his work writing and directing feature films, including The Opening Act (2020), a comedy that captures the struggles of an up-and-coming comedian, and The Last Late Night (2023), a special that showcases his passion for blending the worlds of stand-up and late-night talk shows. We also discuss the challenges he faced in making the documentary Always Amazing, which chronicles the life of his close friend, The Amazing Johnathan, and the controversy it sparked with a competing filmmaker. Enjoy!

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