This Podcast Takes Tokens

After the Hellboy episode, we grabbed the Spear of Destiny and took a trip to LA to discuss Keanu Reeves in Constantine. Even though critics weren't huge fans (landing a 46% on the Tomatometer), audiences disagreed with a huge 72%, and honestly, we're right there with the fans. We break down how this movie handles Christian mythology to build a surprisingly rich, lived-in world. Sure, it d...

We are continuing our "Vigilantes and VHS" summer series(3 of 10) with a deep dive into Guillermo del Toro's 2004 Hellboy. We had to go back and figure out why everyone slept on this one so hard at the box office, despite Ron Perlman delivering a practically perfect performance as the big red, cigar-chompin' demon. We talk about the wild alternate casting choices the studio pushe...

We are revisiting the heavy hitter that basically proved superhero movies could be billion-dollar behemoths, Sam Raimi's 2002 Spider-Man. We dig into the sheer cultural impact of this massive blockbuster, the brilliant mix of a practical Spidey suit with some wonderfully rubbery early-2000s CGI, and how J.K. Simmons delivered an absolute masterclass as J. Jonah Jameson, or was it the other way...

We're kicking off our Vigilantes and VHS summer by heading straight to Gotham to revisit the film that arguably launched the modern superhero era: Batman Begins . You know, the one where Christian Bale adopts the gravel voice and drives a tank over a fragile wood-framed roof. We break down Bruce Wayne’s unnecessarily complicated method of kicking party guests out of his house, debate whether the f...

We're running a prequel to our upcoming superhero summer series with a deep dive into M. Night Shyamalan's 2000 superhero origin story, Unbreakable. A massive thank you to Wilford81 for the recommendation, mostly because it gave us an excuse to argue about whether water is actually a believable kryptonite for a superhero on a planet covered in it. Ryan came into this rewatch with his comic...

We finally took a road trip down to Alabama to revisit a bona fide 90s classic, My Cousin Vinny. Turns out, we kinda missed this gem growing up, so we get the rare treat of a completely fresh perspective on Joe Pesci's legendary courtroom antics. We break down the surprisingly accurate legal procedures (seriously, actual law schools use this movie to teach procedure), the undeniable chemistry...

We're stepping into the Kumite to talk about the 1988 martial arts cult classic, Bloodsport. Sure, the movie claims to be based on the "true story" of Frank Dux , but considering practically none of his claims can be verified, we're treating this purely as the magnificent work of fiction it clearly is. We break down Jean-Claude Van Damme's questionable acting, fantastic skill...

We’re breaking our own sacred 20-year rule because Deric decided to cash in a "golden token" and drag Ryan kicking & screaming into the 2017 Jumanji reboot. To everyone's shock—including his own—the resident reboot-hater actually liked it, dare we say, loved it. We dive into how Jack Black somehow delivered the most convincing performance of a teenage girl in cinematic history and why the chem...

"This Podcast Takes Tokens for those who seek to find a way to connect with the childhood they left behind." This week, we roll the dice on the 1995 Robin Williams classic, Jumanji. We dive deep into the production lore, including why the director was terrified to hire Robin Williams, the dark theory that Van Pelt is actually a manifestation of Alan’s father and a few theories of our own...

Grab your controllers and drop in your quarters. This week we’re attempting the impossible: ranking our Top 5 Favorite Video Games of All Time. Ryan brings a list heavy on sweeping narratives, time travel, and mind-bending mechanics. Deric, on the other hand, just wants to build a city, avoid the stress of massive open worlds, and shoot alien bugs in an arcade cabinet. From the cel-shaded controve...

This week we dive deep into the 1994 action-comedy classic, True Lies. Join hosts Deric and Ryan as they break down James Cameron’s high-octane spectacle starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis. We explore the film's massive $115 million budget, its impressive $378 million worldwide gross, and why it remains a top-tier Arnold flick 30 years later. From the incredible practical effe...

This week, we are rewatching a movie that was vastly ahead of its time: Last Action Hero. Despite an $85 million budget and an action pedigree featuring director John McTiernan and writer Shane Black , the movie was slaughtered at the domestic box office by Jurassic Park. Arnold Schwarzenegger was so devastated by the initial flop that he avoided people for a week. But time has proven the critics...

We are stepping onto the train to discuss Kevin Smith’s controversial 1999 religious fantasy crusade, Dogma. Deric selected this one, calling it his favorite Kevin Smith film, while Ryan reluctantly revisits to see if it holds up beyond his high school nostalgia. We break down how Kevin Smith pulled off this massive, star-studded project on a $10 million budget (and where that money clearly didn't...

Can you dig it? This week, we are diving into the chaotic streets of 1979 New York City to talk about The Warriors . In a classic This Podcast Takes Tokens mix-up, Ryan and Deric accidentally watched two entirely different versions of the same movie. Ryan showed up ready to praise the stylized, comic-book-inspired Director's Cut. Deric, on the other hand, endured a commercial-riddled theatrical cu...

Tonight, we’re turning on the PA system and stepping up to the plate. We are drafting our Top 5 Walk-On Songs—the tracks that define that "big sports game" feeling, pump up the crowd, and make you want to run through a brick wall, Kool-aid man style. Deric goes for the classic arena anthems that get the bleachers stomping , while Ryan takes a massive detour into booking his own imaginary...

Grab your quarters and join us as we step into Shadaloo for a rewatch of the 1994 cult classic, Street Fighter . In this episode, we dissect why this "cartoon of a movie" feels like the 90s answer to Batman '66 —unapologetically campy and overflowing with "wonky movie tech". We dive deep into the legendary performance of Raul Julia as M. Bison, and how he "hammed it up in the right way" while a "p...

This week, we are diving into the 1987 cult classic, Masters of the Universe . A movie that somehow managed to turn a massive 80s toy empire into a box office flop. We break down the confusing decision to swap Orko for Gwildor , Dolph Lundgren’s surprisingly stacked resume , and Frank Langella’s genuinely fantastic performance as Skeletor. Plus, we try to figure out what all this has to do with ea...

We’re strapping on our Thwomp Stompers and heading to Dinohattan. This week on This Podcast Takes Tokens, we are tackling the fever dream that is the 1993 Super Mario Bros. movie. From Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo showing up to set wasted, to Dennis Hopper just trying to make it through, we break down everything that went wrong—and a few things that went surprisingly right—with the first-ever li...

This week on This Podcast Takes Tokens, Ryan is using his once-a-year veto to break the 20-year rule and pick a modern classic: the 2012 found-footage superhero thriller, Chronicle! Join us as we dive into the origins of three high schoolers who stumble upon a mysterious object and gain telekinetic powers, we think. From the frustratingly shaky camcorder tropes and the tragic villain arc of Andrew...

"I’ve seen that guy in everything! What’s his name again?" We’ve all said it. This week on This Podcast Takes Tokens, We are finally giving credit where it's due. We’re counting down our top character actors—the "That Guys" (and Gals) who made our favorite movies and TV shows better just by showing up. From the voice of Mr. Krabs to the guy who played the principal in Ferri...

Join us as we celebrate our Two-Year Anniversary by traveling back in time to 1993 (and then to 1603) to discuss Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III. For Deric, this movie is a misunderstood gem that arguably outshines TMNT II: The Secret of the Ooze thanks to its ambitious time-travel plot. For Ryan, it is quite possibly one of the worst films ever made, maybe even worse than The Mask, plagued by te...

"We named the dog Indiana." This week, we are choosing wisely (we hope) as we break down the 1989 action masterpiece Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. For Ryan, this isn't just a movie—it’s his absolute favorite film of the entire franchise, a perfect blend of high-stakes adventure and a father-son road trip from hell. Join us as we discuss the genius casting of River Phoenix as yo...

"Is this a TOKEN?"  "It's a PODCAST!" This week, we are firing up the locomotive and heading back to 1885 for the final installment of the BTTF trilogy with, Back to the Future Part III . Deric is going out on a limb to claim this might be the best movie of the franchise (a hot take, we know), while Ryan shows off a literal piece of the movie set he keeps on his shelf. Join...

"You gotta hear this one song. It'll change your life, I swear." This week, we are putting on our headphones and screaming into the infinite abyss of 2004 with Zach Braff’s indie darling Garden State . For Ryan, this movie was a "religious" experience in his early 20s, a perfect snapshot of aimless angst and sidecar motorcycles. For Deric, it’s a nostalgic trip back to a ti...

We made it to Episode 100! To celebrate hitting the triple digits, we are untangling the cords and plugging in the second controller; drafting our definitive Top 5 Couch Co-Op Video Games of all time. We’re talking about the games you actually had to sit in the same room to play—no online lobbies, just screen-cheating, rough housing, cold pizza, soda straight from the 2-liter and shouting matches....