Reels of Justice

Boy’s Night ends in all-out war this week when Jeremy Black, fearing only fear itself, helps us settle the (four) score between 2013’s best White House-based action films: “Olympus Has Fallen" and "White House Down." *** “Olympus Has Fallen”: Dylan J. Schlender. “White House Down": Jeremy Black. Judge: The Honorable Big Ben Haslar. Jurors: Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Big Ben Haslar, M...

It’s an odd-numbered episode this week when Emily Strand (“Potterversity: A Potter Studies Podcast”) weighs the needs of the many against the needs of 1984’s “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.” *** Prosecutor: Big Ben Haslar. Defense: Emily Strand. Judge: The Honorable Dylan J. Schlender. Jurors: Maynard Bangs, Dylan J. Schlender, Ryan Luis Rodriguez. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: K...

This week, the court shakes, rattles and rolls when author Landon Palmer (“Rock Star/Movie Star”) tries to check out of the Heartbreak Hotel with the 1964 Elvis vehicle “Viva Las Vegas.” *** Prosecutor: Dylan J. Schlender. Defense: Landon Palmer. Judge: The Honorable Ryan Luis Rodriguez. Jurors: Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Maynard Bangs, Big Ben Haslar. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. T...

The court turns its frown upside down this week when D-Rok Schlender (“Schlender 5 Productions”) argues that a thousand words are worth much more than the 2024 horror film “Smile 2.” *** Prosecutor: D-Rok Schlender. Defense: Dylan J. Schlender. Judge: The Honorable Big Ben Haslar. Jurors: Maynard Bangs, Big Ben Haslar, Ryan Luis Rodriguez. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher...

This week, come with us if you want to live as Isaac Arthur (“Science and Futurism”) fulfills his promise to be back to protect the 2009 sci-fi action film “Terminator Salvation.” *** Prosecutor: Maynard Bangs. Defense: Isaac Arthur. Judge: The Honorable Ryan Luis Rodriguez. Jurors: Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Dylan J. Schlender, Big Ben Haslar. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher....

This week, the court gives our regards to Broadway when Drs. James and Noah Charney (“The 12-Hour Film Expert”) tip the scales in our musical match-up between 1952’s “Singin’ in the Rain” and 2016’s “La La Land." *** “Singin’ in the Rain”: Drs. James and Noah Charney. “La La Land": Dylan J. Schlender. Judge: The Honorable Maynard Bangs. Jurors: Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Big Ben Haslar, Maynar...

There'll be much mistletoeing and hearts will be glowing when we defrost Kaleigh DuLac for her annual holiday summons: a Merry Muppet Melee between 1977's “Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas” and 1987's “A Muppet Family Christmas." *** “Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas”: Ryan Luis Rodriguez. “A Muppet Family Christmas": Maynard Bangs. Judge: The Honorable Dylan J. Schlender....

In the court this week, do we a stately pleasure dome decree when Jeremy Black looks to land a critical hit between two films about artists of yesteryear: 2023’s “The Critic” and 2020’s “Mank.” *** “The Critic”: Jeremy Black. “Mank": Maynard Bangs. Judge: The Honorable Big Ben Haslar. Jurors: Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Big Ben Haslar, Dylan J. Schlender. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Ki...

Incessant Comedy Central reruns are on trial this week when Isabel Teran (“Hearsing Around Podcast”) proves blondes don’t have more fun in the 1988 musical comedy “Earth Girls Are Easy.” *** Prosecutor: Dylan J. Schlender. Defense: Isabel Teran. Judge: The Honorable Big Ben Haslar. Jurors: Maynard Bangs, Big Ben Haslar, Ryan Luis Rodriguez. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatche...

It’s a Thanksgiv-sing feast this week when author Frieda Toth (“James Bond Route 9 and Me”) drops a ray of golden sun for the 2016 animated film “Sing.” *** Prosecutor: Big Ben Haslar. Defense: Frieda Toth. Judge: The Honorable Ryan Luis Rodriguez. Jurors: Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Dylan J. Schlender, Maynard Bangs. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Original Theme: WT Golden....

The claws come out this week when Jason Dietz and Ryan Hudson (“Desert of the Reel Podcast”) contend for the more purr-fect story in the 1985 anthology film “Cat’s Eye.” *** “Quitters, Inc.”: Jason Dietz. “The Ledge”: Dylan J. Schlender. “General”: Ryan Hudson. Judge: The Honorable Maynard Bangs. Jurors: Maynard Bangs, Big Ben Haslar, Ryan Luis Rodriguez. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue:...

The court regains its pride this week when Dwight Hurst (“Broken Brain” Podcast) swears he ain’t lion when he defends the 2022 animal survival movie “Beast.” *** Prosecutor: Maynard Bangs. Defense: Dwight Hurst. Judge: The Honorable Big Ben Haslar. Jurors: Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Dylan J. Schlender, Big Ben Haslar. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Original Theme: WT Golden....

The court is fighting for its life inside a killer thriller tonight when Jeremy Black dolly zooms during a struggle between two Alfred Hitchcock classics: 1948’s “Rope” and 1954’s “Rear Window.” *** “Rope”: Dylan J. Schlender. “Rear Window": Jeremy Black. Judge: The Honorable Maynard Bangs. Jurors: Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Big Ben Haslar, Maynard Bangs. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: K...

We snuff out Hell on Reels this week when Nathaniel Jonsson (“At The Devils Ball Podcast”) asks you to choose Team People or Team Twilight when he defends 2010’s “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.” *** Prosecutor: Maynard Bangs. Defense: Nathaniel Jonsson. Judge: The Honorable Big Ben Haslar. Jurors: Dylan J. Schlender, Big Ben Haslar, Ryan Luis Rodriguez. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk...

This week, the court wants to be your boo when the amazing Maisie Culver (“Hysteria!”) defends the depiction of dead children to other children in the 1995 children’s film “Casper.” *** Prosecutor: Big Ben Haslar. Defense: Maisie Culver. Judge: The Honorable Ryan Luis Rodriguez. Jurors: Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Dylan J. Schlender, Maynard Bangs. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatch...

Hell on Reels is standing right behind you when Addison Binek (“Psycho Ape: Part II - The Wrath of Kong”) ‘voulez-vous coucher avec’ the 2003 slasher “High Tension.” *** Prosecutor: Dylan J. Schlender. Defense: Addison Binek. Judge: The Honorable Maynard Bangs. Jurors: Maynard Bangs, Big Ben Haslar, Ryan Luis Rodriguez. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Original Theme: WT...

This week, our palms are almost as bloody as they are hairy when CK (“DragsVille”) warns of the coming apocalypse prophesied by the 1999 horror film “Stigmata.” *** Prosecutor: Maynard Bangs. Defense: CK. Judge: The Honorable Big Ben Haslar. Jurors: Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Dylan J. Schlender, Big Ben Haslar. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Original Theme: WT Golden. What d...

It’s a graveyard smash when Jack Bennett (“Never Surrender: A Galaxy Quest Documentary”) meets Frankenstein and then also “Frankenstein (1931)” meets “The Creature from the Black Lagoon” (and fights him). *** “Frankenstein (1931)”: Big Ben Haslar. “The Creature from the Black Lagoon": Jack Bennett. Judge: The Honorable Ryan Luis Rodriguez. Jurors: Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Dylan J. Schlender, Mayn...

Hell on Reels again walks the Earth when alleged hellspawn Clay Keller (“Screen Drafts”) unleashes his scary eyes and asks us to join the 1978 horror sequel “Damien: Omen II.” *** Prosecutor: Ryan Luis Rodriguez. Defense: Clay Keller. Judge: The Honorable Dylan J. Schlender. Jurors: Maynard Bangs, Big Ben Haslar, Dylan J. Schlender. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Origi...

The court is forced to run through one of those rubber tire obstacle courses when Bryan Bintliff (“Burning Virtue”) tactically disarms the 2008 war film “The Hurt Locker.” *** Prosecutor: Bryan Bintliff. Defense: Dylan J. Schlender. Judge: The Honorable Maynard Bangs. Jurors: Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Maynard Bangs, Big Ben Haslar. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Original Th...

The Seven Dwarves have got winner this week when the Magnificent One Jeremy Black joins us to pit the original, 1954’s “Seven Samurai,” against the remake, 1960’s “The Magnificent Seven.” *** “Seven Samurai”: Big Ben Haslar. “The Magnificent Seven": Jeremy Black. Judge: The Honorable Maynard Bangs. Jurors: Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Dylan J. Schlender, Maynard Bangs. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza....

The court had a bad dream and wants to sleep in your bed when Triv (“Trivial Theater”) reaches out from underneath and drags you into 1985’s “A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge.” *** Prosecutor: Big Ben Haslar. Defense: Triv. Judge: The Honorable Dylan J. Schlender. Jurors: Maynard Bangs, Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Dylan J. Schlender. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher...

The court hears the lamentations of Case Aiken (“Another Pass” Podcast) as he oils up to crush his enemy, the 2011 remake of “Conan the Barbarian.” *** Prosecutor: Case Aiken. Defense: Dylan J. Schlender. Judge: The Honorable Ryan Luis Rodriguez. Jurors: Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Maynard Bangs, Big Ben Haslar. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Original Theme: WT Golden. What d...

This week, artist Virginia Hagans (“Off-Center Albatross”) gets drawn into the jury as the court goes completely nuclear over 2023’s “Godzilla Minus One.” *** Prosecutor: Maynard Bangs. Defense: Big Ben Haslar. Judge: The Honorable Dylan J. Schlender. Jurors: Virginia Hagans, Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Dylan J. Schlender. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Original Theme: WT Gol...

The court has a coming of “rage” this week when Ryan Verrill (“The Disc-Connected” Podcast/”The Physical Media Advocate” Magazine) advocates physically and verbally for 2022’s “Aftersun” over 2016’s “Moonlight.” *** “Moonlight”: Ryan Luis Rodriguez. “Aftersun": Ryan Verrill. Judge: The Honorable Big Ben Haslar. Jurors: Big Ben Haslar, Dylan J. Schlender, Maynard Bangs. *** Advisory: Silvana C...