Movie Wars

The latest episode of the Movie Wars podcast dives deep into "The Crow: City of Angels." Just two years after Brandon Lee's tragic death, does Tim Pope and David S. Goyer's( Batman Begins writer) follow-up hit 1994's watermark? Or does it serve as a cash grab, obliterating the legacy of Brandon Lee? With a new set of villains, a tunic-wearing gang leader, and a grown-up Sara, how does Vincent Pere...

We're excited to start our The Crow series! This episode of the Movie Wars podcast dives deep into the cult classic "The Crow," highlighting its unique blend of revenge, tragedy, and artistry. Kyle invites Nashville comedians and film auteurs Drew Davis and Seth Kays to guest host The Crow series. The hosts discuss the film's impact, particularly focusing on Brandon Lee's iconic performance and th...

Our Mad Max series continues! Hosts Kyle and Matthew explore the profound impact of Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior on the action genre. Delving into its groundbreaking stunts, Western film influences, and director George Miller's rise to prominence, the hosts celebrate the movie's transformation into a potential cinematic masterpiece. Tune in to discover why The Road Warrior is more than just an acti...

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'...

Get ready for an exciting new series of the Movie Wars Podcast! Today, we're kicking off the Mad Max franchise series with comedian and film critic Matthew Belivins joining Kyle for the entire series. We're also introducing a tweaked format and war card, which we think you're going to love. The Mad Max franchise is known for its groundbreaking stunts and dystopian imaginings. It also introduced th...

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 sta...

Movie Wars is back, and in the lead-up to our official relaunch this October, host Kyle is celebrating Friday the 13th with a special episode! Joined by stand-up comedian and film critic Matthew Blevins, they dive deep into the question: Why does the Friday the 13th franchise have such lasting power? With 12 films, over 10 directors, and more than $460 million at the box office, this iconic horror...

Speaking of wars, Kyle revisits one of his all-time favorite Hollywood stories. If you weren't aware, the release of Stanley Kurbrick's The Shining started a kerfuffle with the novel's beloved author, Stephen King. The Shining was King's most autobiographical work that brought him into the limelight. He saw Kubrick's interpretation as an insult to his prized work. Kyle analyzes and retells the sto...

The MWP crew is excited to get to a matchup that’s been on the list for a while. Silver Linings Playbook Vs As Good As It Gets is an Oscar-nomination-laden matchup, both bringing home best actress for Helen Hunt and Jennifer Lawrence. Unconventional and offbeat romance films, both movies do a decent job of portraying the act of finding love through the lens of mental illness. Jack Nicholson d...

Kyle and Drew dive headfirst into their obsession with Arnold and Sly movies. This is no surprise to long-term MWP fans. We discuss whether or not it's possible for the environment and circumstances to create a similar era of dominance for action stars. Arnold and Sly's multi-decade runs, muscles, and over-the-top action were ushered in by the 80s, and elongated throughout the 90's(and a little 20...

We're pulling this one from the ancient Patreon archives for our main feed listeners. It was such an honor to meet and interview legendary screenwriter Peter Iliff. We spent most of our time talking about how his career which started with him waiting tables until he sold the early draft of Point Break to Ridley Scott. The story is truly incredible, including James Cameron buying the property from...

Kyle is incensed after his first viewing of the long-awaited The Crow remake trailer, starring Bill Skarsgård as Eric Draven. The original is not only one of Kyle's all-time favorite films and comfort movies, he believes 1994's The Crow possesses a high level of cultural significance. Can any iteration or remake of this classic justify attempts to infringe on Brandon Lee's tragic legacy, a film th...

Throughout film history, directors have identified their go-to collaborators and gone back to the well several times. Scorsese and De Niro have collaborated 11 times. John Wayne and John Ford worked together 21 times. Kyle and Drew go off-topic and analyze the all-time best Actor/Director duos, why they work, and what directors see in their frequent collaborators. They also go through some of thei...

Welcome to one of the most low-hanging fruit, on-the-nose matchups we've ever done. The same director. The same author of the source material. Both take place in prisons where plenty of free men are locked up for crimes they didn't commit. By many lists,  The Shawshank Redemption  is considered the greatest film of all time. Although The Green Mile doesn't share the same status, it carri...

A movie podcast walks into town... The Western may be the most flexible and dynamic film genre. It's survived over a century while experiencing new forms and shapes, all built on its undeniably effective tested-by-time formula. Not only is Tombstone one of the most beloved versions of that formula but it is also considered the best Western of all time by a large contingency of six-shooter-loving m...

The Movie Wars crew was exhilarated to tackle two buddy cop classics in 1989's  Lethal Weapon 2  and 1995's  Bad Boys . Similar to Westerns, the Buddy Cop genre has been transformed and retooled, all while paying homage to a timeless formula. The chemistry between the lead actors drives both of these films.  LW2  reveals that Riggs and Murtaugh are more like family than wh...

Watching "The Boondock Saints" was considered a dorm room initiation during Kyle, Drew, and Phil's college years. Highly requested by our listeners, "The Boondock Saints" possesses one of the most prolific cult followings in history. Its success was bolstered primarily by Blockbuster rentals. Although critics bashed the film, a lauded documentary titled "Overnight" received high marks for its port...

It was only a matter of time before the Movie Wars crew released an Arnold Vs. Arnold episode. Drew and Phil treated Kyle to cigars and Thai food for his birthday while we watched "Arnold" on Netflix. Needless to say, it was inspiring for us. We ditched "Mr. And Mrs. Smith" (which is a good match plotwise) for the ultimate Arnold fan matchup. By many standards and opinions, "True Lies" is consider...

We're thinking we're back! Nothing summarizes this matchup like the words "sweet revenge."  John Wick  and  Taken  are two fantastic action films revolving around uniquely skilled protagonists avenging the loss of dogs and people near and dear to them. Kyle loved the opportunity to re-introduce the "Keanu Lifer" back to the podcast. We also discussed how  John Wick  c...

The video game movie genre is experiencing a renaissance. Traditionally, cinema has heavily influenced the production of video games. Games like  Resident Evil  and  Metal Gear Solid  are evidence of this. As video games have become more cinematic on their own, the sentiment around video game-influenced movies has increased. Shows like  The Last Of Us and  the upcomin...

Batman films serve as a time-stamped looking glass into the temperament of society. The stark difference in tone is evident when you watch 2005's  Batman Begins  after watching Tim Burton's  Batman (1989). The inherent silliness that endears 1989's Batman  seems like a spectacle when compared to Nolan's entries which embody the post-9/11 nihilism that we've discussed on the pod...

Cue the house music beats and the getaway cars. Kyle, Drew, and Phil find themselves in the middle of the ultimate heist film battle. Both  Ocean's Eleven  and  The Italian Job  are remakes that attempt to sever ties with their source material.  Ocean's Eleven  boasts a veteran ensemble cast, including Julia Roberts, who is fresh off of her 2001 Oscar win for Best Act...

You'll be hard-pressed to find real-life subject matter more exaggerated and glamorized in film than the courtroom. Hollywood has taken lots of liberty representing the legal system over the years. 1992 was arguably the most significant year for courtroom films. Widely regarded as two of the best courtroom films ever made, we analyze  A Few Good Men  and  My Cousin Vinny . Although...

Is there a better way to kick off the New Year than another epic Arnold Vs. Sly battle? At the time of their release, 1986's  Cobra  and  Raw Deal  were considered regressions for the 80's action kings. However,  Cobra  has amassed a large cult following that has solidified it as a fan favorite. The story behind the funding of  Raw Deal  gave Arnold all the...

One of the problematic aspects of Movie Wars is picking matchups for iconic films like  Raiders Of The Lost Ark.  One of the best ways to find a matchup is by picking a film that is a representative descendant of that iconic film.  National Treasure  expounds on the Indiana Jones blueprint in new ways and with a modern twist. Escape from the boulder with the Movie Wars crew as...