Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Review
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl Review
Inception Review
The Town Review
Tron Legacy Review
Tron Review
Summer 2011 Movies Preview
Grosse Pointe Blank Review
A Knight's Tale Review
Steve Megatron Phillips returns to the Black Pearl for a deep dive into Dead Man's Chest, the sequel that introduced Davy Jones and cranked up the darkness. He covers the cast, plot, and creative choices—from the groundbreaking CGI work on Jones and the Flying Dutchman's crew to the film's wild subplot juggling and cliffhanger ending. Despite mixed critical reception and pacing issues, Steve finds plenty to praise in the visual effects, witty banter, and Jack's character moments, ultimately recommending it as a must-own part of the Pirates saga.
Steve dives into the first Pirates of the Caribbean film—covering its cast, crew, production, and cultural impact before sharing his thoughts on what makes it work. He praises Johnny Depp's performance as Captain Jack Sparrow, Geoffrey Rush as Barbossa, the film's balance of action and comedy, and its standout score. He rates it a must-own for any film collection and explains why the later sequels, despite their success, never quite captured the magic of the original.
Steve and Mike dive into Christopher Nolan's 2010 mind-bender Inception, discussing the film's complex plot, stellar ensemble cast, and stunning visual effects. While both acknowledge the movie's technical excellence and critical acclaim, they wrestle with whether the layered narrative and pacing work for them as viewers. They explore the film's development history, casting choices, and production trivia, including Nolan's refusal to shoot in 3D.
Mike, Steve, and Kevin discuss Ben Affleck's 2010 crime heist film The Town. They explore the film's planning sequences, unique approach to bank robberies, strong ensemble cast performances, and how it stands apart from other heist movies. The hosts debate the ending's departure from the source material and share their favorite moments from the Fenway Park sequence to the film's final act.
Steve and Mike dive into Tron Legacy, discussing the film's visuals, plot, characters, and how it measures up to the original. They break down the light cycles, the digitization technology, Jeff Bridges' dual role as Flynn and Clu, and debate the film's 3D presentation. The hosts explore themes around the ISOs, Korra as the last sentient program, and what a potential sequel might hold.
Mike and Steve dive into the 1982 sci-fi classic that pioneered computer graphics in cinema. They explore Flynn's digitization into the computer world, the light cycle battles, and how the film's innovative visual style influenced an entire generation of filmmakers and geek culture. The hosts discuss the film's lasting impact, compare it to its 2010 sequel, and break down what still holds up decades later.
Steve and Mike preview the biggest films coming to theaters in summer 2011, covering releases from April through August. They discuss their expectations for blockbusters like Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Captain America: The First Avenger, and Green Lantern, alongside smaller releases like Hobo with a Shotgun and Zookeeper. The hosts share their honest takes on which films they'll see in theaters versus waiting for DVD, and explain why trailer saturation sometimes kills their interest in movies.
Mike and Steve discuss the 1997 black comedy about a professional assassin returning to his high school reunion in Michigan. John Cusack plays the conflicted hitman Martin Blank, who reconnects with old classmates and a former flame while being pursued by rival assassins and federal agents. The hosts praise the film's dark humor, strong ensemble cast including Minnie Driver, Dan Aykroyd, and Alan Arkin, and a perfectly curated 1980s-heavy soundtrack that complements the story.
This episode explores the 2001 action-comedy A Knight's Tale, discussing its unique use of modern rock music anachronisms in a medieval setting. The hosts examine the film's cast, including Heath Ledger and Paul Bettany, and break down favorite sequences like the training montage and jousting camera work. They also touch on the film's reception, the controversy surrounding the fake critic David Manning, and why it remains a standout favorite worth adding to any DVD collection.
The hosts review the third installment of the holiday franchise, focusing on Tim Allen's performance, the introduction of Martin Short as Jack Frost, and the film's time-travel plot. They compare this entry to the previous movies, discuss the recast of the head elf, and weigh in on the critical reception and box office performance. The discussion covers favorite scenes, character arcs, and the overall trajectory of the series.