Now Playing - The Movie Review Podcast

Ricky is back! After being shot at the end of Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2, Ricky's brain-dead body is revived after a connection with a blind psychic. With horror vet Bill Moseley taking over the role of Ricky Robert Culp as the cop chasing the killer, and several connections to the classic TV series Twin Peaks, this sequel has more brains on display than the previous two films, but is it be...

The first Silent Night, Deadly Night film was pulled from theaters due to protests, but in the age of home video it found a second life on VHS. Anxious to capitalize on the first film's notoriety the studio decided to rush through a no-budget sequel, recycling most of the original film into a Part 2. Despite the humble beginnings, the film has gone on to surpass the original in infamy and YouTube...

In November, 1984 one of the most famous movie slashers hit theaters--Freddy Kruger. But that same day, another serial killer film was released that drew far more attention and ire--Silent Night, Deadly Night. Outside theaters across the country people protested the film featuring a bloodthirsty man in a Santa suit, and the film was quickly pulled from theaters. But over the years it has become a...

After reviewing 25 movies released over the span of 50 years, Now Playing reaches the conclusion of its James Bond retrospective series--Skyfall. Continuing the rebooted spy stories starring Daniel Craig, Skyfall has already become the top-grossing film in the James Bond franchise, and there is even rumblings of Academy Award honors. But can it really best Craig's Casino Royale, and how does a lif...

In 2006 we got a new take on an old hero with James Bond in Casino Royale, but while the film told of the spy's first adventure questions were left unanswered. Who were the mysterious people to whom Le Chiffre owed money? Who is the mysterious employer behind Mr. White? These answers were to be revealed two years later in the follow-up film Quantum of Solace. With Daniel Craig returning and a titl...

James Bond made his first appearance in Ian Fleming's novels in 1953 in the novel Casino Royale, and in 2006 a brand new James Bond makes his first appearance in a film based on that novel. Rights issues had prevented Eon from adapting the original James Bond story as part of their film series, but with the rights obtained they used that opportunity to present a new James Bond for a new generation...

It's James Bond's first adventure in the 21st century, and Pierce Brosnan's last time playing the role of the British secret agent. Partnered with Halle Berry's NSA agent Jinx Johnson, can the two stop a North Korean terrorist's nefarious plot? It's a film celebrating the lore of Bond, but not very celebrated by Bond fans. Is the reputation deserved, and what final impression does Brosnan leave as...

In Pierce Brosnan's third outing as James Bond he must protect an oil heiress against a mercenary out for revenge, and uncovers a plot that involves a nuclear bomb being detonated in Istanbul. Notorious for having Bond girl Denise Richards, is this movie enough to earn a recommend from Arnie, Stuart, and Brock? Listen to Now Playing to find out!

Bond has taken on evil in many forms, from expansionist communist regimes to maniacal villains who wish to destroy Earth, but can Bond take on the villain of the 90s--the media? In Brosnan's second film playing 007, he goes against Elliot Carver who hopes to foster a war between England and China to raise the ratings of his cable news network. The film has kung-fu, a helicopter chase, and a remote...

After the longest hiatus in the history of the James Bond flm franchise, Bond is back and now portrayed by former Remington Steele actor Pierce Brosnan. In a post-Cold War era, can Bond remain relevant to modern audiences? Listen to Arnie, Stuart, and Brock's review to find out!

Dalton is Bond, but no longer 007 when his License to Kill is revoked! When a drug lord goes after Bond's friend, the spy will stop at nothing for revenge. It's a Bond for the 80's, but does it hold up in the 21st century? Listen to Brock, Arnie, and Stuart's review to find out!

With Roger Moore retiring as James Bond the mantle was passed to British actor Timothy Dalton. Portraying a more modern version of 007, Dalton's Bond had a harder edge and a more action movie feel. Is The Living Daylights the living end for Arnie, Stuart, and Brock? Listen to their review to find out!

Anthology and horror have a long history together in comics, television, and film, with a heyday in the 80s with such films as The Twilight Zone, Nightmares, Cat's Eye, and the Creepshow films. But in 2007, Michael Dougherty made the most high profile horror anthology in over a decade with Trick 'R' Treat. Starring Sam, a character from Dougherty's animated short, as the sprit of Halloween, this f...

In 1985 Roger Moore set two records--at 57 years old he was the oldest actor to portray James Bond, and with A View to a Kill his seventh Bond film he played Bond in the official films more times than any other actor to date. A View to a Kill would be his last film as James Bond, but with Christopher Walken as villian Max Zorin, Grace Jones as Zorin's goon May Day, and a rocking theme by 80's rock...

You Only Live Twice declared "Sean Connery IS James Bond"...and then Connery quit and Roger Moore was James Bond. But due to legal wrangling a competing James Bond film was released in 1983 and once more Sean Connery WAS James Bond. Is this the long awaited return of the true James Bond, or a desperate cash grab? Listen to find out!

Joss Whedon may have directed the biggest movie of 2012, but it wasn't the only film he released this year. Before Avengers, another Whedon co-written and produced film, Cabin in the Woods, was released and polarized both Whedonites and horror fans. This genre-bending tale of five friends who try to go off the grid but find themselves terrorized by inbred hillbilly zombies seems rote, but who are...

After For Your Eyes Only many people thought Roger Moore's Bond was at an All Time High, and with the impending revival of Sean Connery as a competing James Bond Eon was sure to bring back Moore as their golden gun for another adventure. This time Bond must team up with a group of smugglers to stop a crazed Russian general from taking over the world. Does Bond's clowning around work for Arnie, Stu...

After an out of this world adventure, Bond faced a more grounded foe in 1981's For Your Eyes Only. A British spy boat is sunk and Bond must get to its missile control system before the Russians do, but his quest is stymied by crime boss Aris Kristatos. Is the quality of this film as high as Kristatos' mountaintop fortress? Listen to Arnie, Stuart, and Brock's review to find out!

James Bond has traveled the world in name of Queen and country, but for his eleventh official movie he has to go where no MI6 agent has gone before--outer space! In Moonraker Bond goes up against space shuttle manufacturer Hugo Drax and stop his plan to kill most life on Earth and breed a new master race. With a return of Bond baddie Jaws, a laser gun battle, and CIA agent Holly Goodhead, Moonrake...

When both British and Russian nuclear subs disappear, 007 must team up with Soviet Agent Triple X to investigate. But when X discovers Bond killed her lover, things get more complicated. Can they work as partners to stop aquatic anarchist Karl Stromberg? And is this movie, directed by Lewis Gilbert, as good as his previous Bond--You Only Live Twice? Listen to Stuart, Brock, and Arnie's review to f...

For Roger Moore's second Bond film every attempt was made to recapture the magic of Goldfinger. With the return of Goldfinger's director Guy Hamilton, another character carrying a golden pistol, and a plot full of twists and turns, it certainly seems like all the right ingredients were brought together. Add in classic Hammer horror icon Christopher Lee as a master assassin aided by diminutive aide...

They tried replacing Sean Connery once and failed. But with Connery's determination to move his career beyond Bond, United Artists had to once again recast the British spy. With the adaptation of Ian Flemming's second James Bond novel, Live and Let Die, English actor Roger Moore stepped into the tuxedo. Moore was already familiar with playing a spy, having played Simon Templar on television's The...

Never Say Never Again isn't the only time Connery played Bond after leaving the role. After George Lazenby's one outing, United Artists decided to take Bond back to its original formula, bringing back the director, the writer, and the star of Goldfinger for one last Bond adventure. It's Connery's last official appearance as 007, facing off one last time against SMERSH and Blofeld. Which is better,...

James Bond is back, but Sean Connery isn't. Instead, wearing the tuxedo and tossing the hat, is George Lazenby, an actor who would play Bond only once. Lazenby was long a punch line for the Bond franchise, but some Bond fans consider this film one of the best. Does Lazenby escape Connery's shadow, and should he have had a second shot playing the British agent? Listen to this episode of Now Playing...

The poster boasted "Sean Connery IS James Bond", and yet You Only Live Twice was released with Eon Productions looking for a replacement actor as Connery had announced he was leaving the role of Bond. But for his supposed final film all stops were pulled out as he finally comes face-to-scarred-face with Blofeld, head of the evil group SPECTRE. Is this a film that you should watch twice? Listen to...