A Lost Plot

Maverick and Avalon discuss and review the recent release of Madame Web, and explain why Madame Web is a bad movie, not worth watching. ---------- Highlights: 0:00 “Madame Web” Introduction 3:59 Opening Scene 7:59 Compelling Main Character? 11:52 Side Characters 18:16 Setting 21:35 Motive 26:54 Ezekiel, The Villain 32:37 With Great Power Comes... Family? 36:10 Killing the Tension 38:41 Revelations...

Maverick and Andrew discuss the second of the prequel trilogy for George Lucas’s Star Wars universe.  ---------- Highlights: 0:00 "Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones" Introduction 4:43 Opening Scene 9:13 Diverging Storylines 15:13 Plotting Toward The Original Trilogy 23:24 Obstacles and Risk 26:49 The Best and Worst 33:42 Anakin's Motivations 35:00 The Villain 43:30 Tension, Revelations, and Surpr...

Maverick and Avalon review and discuss the 1984 classic “Ghostbusters”. They also have a lengthy discussion on the rating system, updates to the rating system, and cult classics. ---------- Highlights: 0:00 “Ghostbusters” Introduction 2:59 The Rating System 10:26 Opening Scene 19:18 Side Characters 22:49 Motive 25:03 The Villain 30:26 Themes and Suffering 34:04 Revelation and Transformation 40:02...

Maverick is joined by Patrick and Avalon to discuss the fundamentals of what makes a good movie. Despite Patrick’s best efforts, they manage to stay on track and discuss villains thoroughly. ————— Highlights: 0:00 Movies Worth Watching: Villains Introduction 3:28 Villains Opposed to the Hero 12:42 Righteous Antagonists 21:16 Anton Chigurh and a Villains Motive 30:21 Hannibal Lecter 34:27 The Joker...

Maverick and Avalon discuss and review the recent release of the ISS movie.  ————— Highlights: 0:00 "ISS" Introduction 5:26 Opening Scene 8:47 Main Character 12:21 Side Characters 16:34 Villains and Obstacles 25:27 Ideals and Motives 30:20 Heroes With Nothing to Lose 34:04 Heightened Tension 44:25 Revelations 50:02 Final Scene 58:15 Transformation 1:00:28 Satisfaction! ————— Show Notes: The 9 Poin...

Maverick and Patrick discuss and review John Carpenter’s classic “The Thing” from 1982. ————— Highlights 0:00 "The Thing" Introduction 2:04 Summary, Box Office, and the Horror Genre 20:16 Opening Scene 23:55 Mac, the Main Character 28:32 Side Characters 37:51 Setting 40:51 Entering the Fray 43:08 Heightened Tension 49:27 A Discussion on Horror 55:22 Revelations 1:03:07 The Final Scene 1:10:00 Char...

In this episode, Maverick is rejoined by Philip Dudt from the White City Podcast as they review and explore the classic release by Peter Jackson, of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers”.  ————— Podcast Highlights: 0:00 "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" Introduction and Rating 5:24 Opening Scene 10:36 Main Character Development 21:29 Aragorn's Destiny and Despair 29:01 Side Characters 38:26...

Maverick and Andrew discuss and review the 2000 release of Gladiator, by Ridley Scott and David Franzoni.  ————— Episode Highlights 0:00 "Gladiator" Introduction and Rating 5:49 Opening Scene 7:26 What Maximus Stands For 20:28 Marcus Aurelius 24:49 The Brutality of Rome 33:27 What's At Risk? 41:15 Themes 45:34 Symbolism in Lucius 50:37 Commodus 56:50 Heightened Tension 1:01:44 Revelations 1:07:45...

Maverick and Avalon discuss and review the new biographical race thriller "Ferrari" directed by Michael Mann and starring Adam Driver. With very different ratings, they debate the values presented in this movie and if there was any opportunities to improve this dramatic film. ————— Highlights 0:00 "Ferrari" Introduction and Rating 7:04 The Opening Scene 9:16 Ferrari v. Napoleon 17:01 Must the Oppo...

Maverick and Andrew discuss and review the classic release of George Lucas's Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Their discussion includes topics surrounding the main characters, if the plot of the movie is compelling, and if The Phantom Menace is worth watching. ————— 0:00 "Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace" Introduction and Rating 4:36 Opening Scene 7:09 Main Character's Flaws 15:07 Anakin an...

Maverick and Avalon discuss  and review the new Netflix release “Leave the World Behind” by Sam Esmail.  ————— Episode Contents: 0:00 "Leave the World Behind" Introduction and Rating 5:19 Amanda and Her Opening Scene 11:11 Side Characters 13:50 Setting 18:33 What Opposes the Protagonist? 23:54 Entering the Fray 26:53 Heightened Tension 27:53 Cinematography and Music in Story 37:36 Themes 42:57 Rev...

In this podcast episode, Maverick and Andrew review John Wick, the original movie. They discuss how the plot is developed, is the 9 Point system the right way to review a movie, and the carnal nature of John Wick and how that speaks to us as the audience. Notice, this content is a little more graphic at the end.  ----------  Show Notes:  0:00 "John Wick" Introduction and Rating 4:27 How Compelling...

Maverick and Avalon review the new release of Scott Ridley’s Napoleon, and the grand sweeping narrative and issues that go with it. Starring Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby. ---------- Moments: 0:00 “Napoleon” Introduction 3:25 Napoleon as the Main Character 18:25 Napoleon's Motivations 22:25 The Guillotine 26:49 Side Characters 40:59 Who is Napoleon's Enemy? 48:32 Josephine 58:52 Themes and Sat...

Maverick and Avalon review the new Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Coryo (Coriolanus Snow), Lucy Gray, Sejanus, and more all play masterful roles in the story presented on screen.  ---------- Key Moments: 0:00 "The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" Introduction 2:37 Opening Scene, Characters, and Setting 11:06 What's At Stake? 13:49 Snow's Opposition 21:17 Coryo's Motives...

Maverick and Avalon discuss "The Marvels". The discussion ranges from who is the main character, to fundamental universe rules, to the power of the villain.  ----------  Show Notes:  0:00 "The Marvels" Introduction  1:24 Summary and Rating  4:32 Opening Scene  8:46 Who is the Main Character?  19:46 Rules of the Universe  28:57 What's at Stake Here?  34:24 TikTok Emotions  38:53 The Villain  43:02...

Maverick and his guest Patrick discuss the release "The Marsh King's Daughter". But this is one of those times where pacing, subplots, and conflict can be too simple. Are good themes and values enough to make up for a few weak plot points?  ---------- Highlights: 1:22 Movie Summary 10:13 Compelling Characters 19:02 Unresolved Issues Increasing Conflict 27:02 The Villain 37:22 Helena 41:29 Daisy Ri...

Maverick is joined by Avalon to discuss Captain Marvel, in preparation for “The Marvels” releasing soon. Is Brie Larson’s character Captain Marvel a compelling hero? Or does she do more harm than good? In this episode there is an in-depth discussion about heroes, motivations, villains, the Skrull, and how the themes play out. ————— Sections: 0:00 Summary & Ratings 6:19 Superhero Openings 17:19...

Maverick and Avalon discuss Martin Scorcese's new movie "Killers of the Flower Moon". Filled with heated discussions and disagreements about the portrayal of key characters, Scorcese's movie is a thought provoking movie... but is anything but perfect. Notes 0:00 Opener & Summary 5:31 Length of the Movie 17:10 Ernest: What Kind of Character is He? 25:42 Ernest as a Main Character 31:42 Who is t...

We know about Allies, but what about mentors? What about love interests? In this episode, Maverick and Avalon discuss how these unique types of allies draw from - or detract from - the storyline.  Highlights: 7:04 Can mentors be flawed? 15:16 The Love Interest 17:53 The Hunger Games Example 20:51 When Love is Deceitful 24:03 Mentor & Love as Stock Characters 26:32 Making Death Meaningful

Quentin Tarantino is renown for the tilt in his movies. In the Hateful Eight, Maverick and Avalon set out to uncover what makes his movies so gripping - and why they always end in a blood bath. Is the story truly great, and is it worth watching and re-watching? Find out in this episode!

Duck Dynasty is a series that has touched people across America. Now, the story behind the patriarch of the family - Phil Robertson - is told on the big screen. Is it fair to compare a biographical retelling to what makes a story great? In this episode, Maverick and Avalon discuss the merits and values of The Blind - and how even biographical stories have opportunities to grow.

In this episode, Maverick and Avalon discuss one of the first setup questions in the 9 Points analysis system: Allies. How do you evaluate compelling allies? How do you ensure they help the protagonist while also adding to the conflict within the story? And How do they point to greater truths and make the movie memorable? All this and more is discussed in this episode of the Movies Worth Watching...

In this episode, Maverick rebuffs the claims of critics and reveals to the world his method of analyzing podcasts today: with his 9 points rating system. In this episode, Maverick goes over the system he uses to determine if a movie is worth watching. Listen in for a brief update on the future of the podcast. website: www.alostplot.com

With AI everywhere, it's appropriate to explore the dangers of AI. What better movie to look at than Ex Machina? In this episode, Maverick and Avalon discuss the Turing test, and Caleb's exploration of AI's birth, and the question of robotic sentience.

A classic built on the epic written by J.R.R. Tolkien, Maverick and Philip discuss what makes this epic truly unique from the other great works of cinema out there. Is this movie stand on its own, or is it an overhyped piece for the absolute nerds? Find Philip Dudt's podcast, the White City here:  https://the-white-city.captivate.fm/