A Lost Plot

The absolute classic everyone points back to is on the chopping block. In this episode, Maverick and Avalon review Casablanca, and see if this is movie deserves a good review, or is it simply an overrated piece of World War II propaganda?

No one anticipates a good movie quite like a good plot twist. In this episode, Maverick and Avalon discuss how plot twists - though not necessary - can make a movie rise to great heights... or fall from memory.

Some people want nonstop, full action movies. In this episode, Maverick and Avalon discuss how pauses are not a bad addition, and can in fact really build a movie and the audience's investment in the characters.

Steven King is known for his stories - stories that carry strength in books and in movies. In this episode, Maverick, Avalon, and Patrick discuss the morals, the maniacs, and the mouse, and how each makes this movie on death row a masterpiece.

Everyone loves a good laugh, but at what cost? In this episode, Maverick and Avalon discuss the concerns of humor, and how humor can destroy a great plot. Does humor never have a point in a great action movie? Or is it only a distraction? Pulling from recent examples and otherworldly adventures, Maverick & Avalon make their case.

Rocket is a creep. Peter Quill is a drunk. Gamorra is a rogue assassin. And then Adam Warlock shows up. Here's the latest movie review for Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3. In this episode, Maverick and Nicholas discuss the latest installment of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, and the themes, character arcs, and villains they portrayed. Is this movie a fitting farewell to James Gunn's Marve...

It's not easy to find good movie plots in sequels. Do the Guardians do it justice? In this episode, Maverick and his guest Nicholas discuss the changes to the team, and how the team separated affects everything in the movie. Is Ego a believable villain? Is Nebula's change authentic? And does Guardians of the Galaxy volume 2 surpass the first movie? Check it all out in this episode, and determine f...

A great movie is built on conflict. Without that essence, there is nothing compelling to bring the audience back to the show. In this episode, Maverick and Avalon discuss the essence of conflict, and how that basic building block is followed - or broken - in movies today.

A classic in the superhero team franchises, Guardians of the Galaxy made its debut in 2014. A mix of serious, humor, and some serious humor. In this episode, Maverick and Nicholas discuss the plight of Starlord's hand-holding techniques to stop bad guys. Looking for action movies with good plots? Look no further. Here's our Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 1 review.

The best movies are the ones that stick with you. You never forget it. In this episode, Maverick and Avalon discuss what makes a great movie memorable, and go back to some absolute classics to prove their point. 

Can humor add to a great plot? Or can it ruin all the momentum? In this episode, Maverick is joined by Avalon Dickson and Patrick Avanto to discuss the recent release based on a classic game. Edgin goes on an adventure to save his daughter from an evil lord. Classic. Listen in to hear the rating of Dungeons and Dragons, Honor Among Thieves!

A great antagonist is feared for a reason. Ergo, action movies with good plots are driven - in part - by the great villains driving the conflict. In this episode, Maverick and Avalon discuss villains, fear, and the chaos and rules they live by.

Sometimes a movie should really be a TV show... Is that the case here? In this episode, Maverick and Avalon discuss the merits of Forrest Gump, and how one man can have a lasting impact - even beyond the film, as an acclaimed movie today. But does the story portrayed really make this movie worth watching?

The story goal is what drives a good plot. If this piece isn't integrated well, you will not see a good movie plot. In this episode, Maverick and Avalon discuss ideas surrounding creating and integrating a great motive and goal into action movies to make them compelling. Including classics like Lord of the Rings to a more recent noteworthy movie like Inception, there are numerous examples of compe...

Do all Michael Bay movies suck? In this Michael Bay classic, Maverick and Nicholas discuss the iconic Transformers original movie. With Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Shia LaBeouf, this plot has a lot of potential - and a lot to fall short by. Do the Autobots have what it takes to create a movie franchise worth watching? Or did this movie earn its Razzie Awards for a reason?

Why do you hate modern movies? They create characters that aren't believable, you can't sympathize with, or simply don't make sense. In this episode, Maverick outlines some of the basic principles of a great protagonist, and discusses how marvel, James Cameron, and many other directors fail to follow these basic tenets to create heroes that you can root for. 

Is Phase 5 of the Marvel Universe doomed? In the second installment of phase 5, Scott Lang returns with Hope Van Dyne and Cassie to enter the quantum realm and face off against the new Thanos: Kang the Conqueror. But does the third ant man installment really get us excited for what's to come, or does it just prove that modern Disney movies and plots suck? In this episode, Maverick and Avalon discu...

In this concept episode, Maverick discusses the idea of suffering and sacrifice, and why modern movies suck at creating compelling forms of suffering. Is the suffering reversible? Is it tied to the story goal? What kind of suffering is compelling? All these questions and more are answered in this brief concept episode.

Paul Rudd made a classic superhero movie once. But can he make a great plot again? In this episode, Maverick and his guest Avalon discuss Ant Man's return, his new enemies, and how sometimes the greatest treasure of all... is the plot lines we learn from along the way.

When Scott Lang is released from prison, he's gotta find a way to make some money to pay child support. Like, you know, become a superhero. In this episode, Maverick and his guest Avalon discuss the plot lines of Ant Man, and how good movies like Ant Man could have been great movies. 

Pulling a classic science fiction book into the 21st century, Denis Villenueve's Dune is a space flight of epic proportions. Does Paul, Leto, and the entire Atreides line stand a chance against the Harkonnen as they try to wrestle control of the spice of Arrakis? In this episode, Maverick and his guest Arundell discuss this adaptation of a classic book, and how Denis succeeds - and fails - to pull...

Jake Sully has a second chance to redeem his character. In this episode, Maverick and Jennaline took the opportunity to compare the latest edition to the Avatar franchise, and determine if it is worthy of continuing James Cameron's epic universe.

In the war between nature and technology, an injured veteran Jake Sully is enlisted to help befriend an alien world. In this episode, Maverick and Nicholas discuss the great effort James Cameron put into this movie... and the critical pieces of storyline he missed in the process.

Thor has a love interest with a woman and a hammer. A guy gets a sword and steals kids. In this episode, Maverick is joined by two guests, Andrew and Juan, who together analyze what Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman bring to this fourth installment of the Thor franchise. 

T'Challa is dead, leaving Wakanda without decisive leadership on the international stage. In this episode, Maverick and Avalon discuss the internal struggles of Shuri, Ramonda, Okoye, and the rest as they mourn and move forward in the face of a new enemy.