Baahubali 2: The Conclusion review
Mystic mountains, colorful rainbows, majestic waterfalls. No, these aren't the contents of a box of Lucky Charms. These are part of the visionary landscape of the battle epic "Baahubali 2: The Conclusion." From director S.S. Rajamouli, who also directed "RRR", comes the sequel to "Baahubali: The Beginning." These films revolve around Baahubali, a legendary royal warrior who is much loved by the people of the land of Mahishmati. He finds himself in battles between would-be-conquerors and even with his own family which leads to epic battle scenes. Listen in to see if it's worth checking out!
Babylon review
Live elephants, sex, drugs, alcohol. Do I have your attention? That's how the movie Babylon is trying to get your attention. Is it worth your attention? Check out my spoiler-free review of it here. Babylon stars Margot Robbie as a movie star wannabe, Brad Bitt as an actual movie star and Diego Calva as someone that wants to be around movie stars. The scene is the old Hollywood of the 1920s and 1930s, where actors are just now becoming massive beloved celebrities and they raise hell like it too. Nothing can possibly go wrong, right?
Avatar: The Way Of Water review
It's been 13 years since James Cameron took the movie world by storm with "Avatar" in 2009. Like it or not, it was a worldwide phenomenon. I could probably count on one hand the number of people that didn't mention "Avatar" to me back then. Now, James Cameron felt filmmaking technology had caught up to the point where he could make sequels. That brings us to "Avatar: The Way Of Water" and the return to Pandora. Jake Sully and Netiri return from the original but now have a family to protect and of course the humans show up to create some chaos. Is it worth checking out? Check out this spoiler-free review to find out.
Devotion review
The Korean War is called "The Forgotten War" for good reason. It gets practically disregarded behind WWI, WWII and Vietnam. However, "Devotion" brings it into focus and even more importantly, it focuses on naval aviator Jesse Brown. He was one of the first black pilots in the military and had to endure real racism. In spite of that, he served with valor and distinction, alongside his wingman Tom Hudner. Jonathan Majors plays Jesse Brown and Glen Powell from "Top Gun: Maverick" plays Tom Hudner. Does this movie earn its wings and your attention though? Check out my spoiler-free review here to find out!
Violent Night review
Violent Night, bloody night. All is wrong. All is fright. It's the most wonderful fight of the year in Violent Night. David Harbour as Santa Claus trades in coal for grenades, and MacGyvers candy canes into deadly weapons, in this crueltide tale of Christmas carnage. Santa finds himself having to try to save a family from a gun-toting Mr. Scrooge and his evil murderous grinches. Will Jolly Saint Nick be able to save Christmas for this family, or will there be a bloodbath under the mistletoe? Check out this spoiler-free review to hear more.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery review
We don't get Daniel Craig as James Bond anymore, but you can see him as his Knives Out movies character Benoit Blanc in Glass Onion. He's joined in this murder mystery comedy by Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Jessica Henwick, Dave Bautista, Janelle Monae, Leslie Odom Jr. and others. It also has plenty of celebrity cameos. Edward Norton invites his friends to his billionaire mansion called the Glass Onion for what is supposed to be a fun murder mystery weekend. Can you imagine maybe something going wrong? Is it worth investigating yourself? Check out this spoiler-free review to find out.
The Menu review
Greetings. It's our pleasure to serve you this Movies Merica episode. We have a very fine menu for your pleasure. Our first course is comprised of some mystery, menace, satire and wit. Our second course is what we call Ralph Fiennes as the chef that isn't exactly as he seems. Our final course is evil delights at the expense of some unfortunate diners at the fine dining restaurant that is the locale for this movie, The Menu. No spoilers here, so feel free to indulge in this episode to see if this movie is worth ordering off....the menu.
Black Panther Wakanda Forever review
Creed and Creed II director Ryan Coogler brings us his sequel to his 2018 movie Black Panther with Black Panther Wakanda Forever. This movie is 161 minutes long so he brings the quantity, but does he bring the quality? Tragically Black Panther himself, Chadwick Boseman, passed away far too soon so the Black Panther movie world has to figure out what direction to go from here. Check out my spoiler-free review here to find out if it's worth checking out.
Black Adam SPOILER review
You've seen, and smelled him, in the WWE. You've watched him in The Rundown, Walking Tall, the Fast & Furious and Jumanji movies but now Dwayne Johnson takes his turn as a superhero, or rather, an anti-hero. Black Adam is an all-powerful being from the Shazam wing of the DCEU and he's just been unleashed on the world. You smell what he's cooking, and it's usually bad guys, in this action spectacle that also features the Justice Society Of America. I just give my spoiler-filled takes on this latest offering from the DCEU. Check it out!
The Conjuring review
In this last episode of the Movies Merica Haunted House series, we take you into the world of The Conjuring. This movie is on the same level as The Exorcist in that it also involves a family fighting for survival against the forces of Hell. They go through an ordeal of blood, demon possession, evil and murder. The main characters, Ed and Lorraine Warren are two servants of God that try to help this family survive this darkness. Check out this episode to hear much more!
Fright Night (1985) review
It's the 1 Year Anniversary of Movies Merica podcast AND the latest episode in the Movies Merica Haunted House series! Raise your glasses in a toast and also check out this review....revisiting of the classic vampire horror/comedy Fright Night. Crash in your bean bag chair with some Pop Rocks in your parachute pants and British Knights and listen to me go over all the fun that is this awesome show of menacing vampire horror, unforgettable characters, eye-popping (literally) practical visual effects and 80's power music!
Halloween Ends review
We continue our Movies Merica Haunted House series with a new school, instead of old school, fright fest movie review this week, This week we review Halloween Ends, the latest offering in the Halloween franchise. This is the finale of the David Gordon Green Halloween trilogy. Jamie Lee Curtis plays her Laurie Strode character for the 317th time, going up against the seemingly immortal Michael Myers. You of course get blood, guts and tears for fears. Should you go see this? Check out this review to find out!
The Exorcist review
The Power of Christ compels you...to listen to this revisiting of this 1973 horror classic "The Exorcist!" Since its Halloween month, Movies Merica will be reviewing some fantastic horror movies this month. Considered by many as the scariest movie of all time, people were actually fainting or going into hysterics in theaters when watching this. Paramedics had to be stationed at some theaters. Linda Blair actually received death threats from religious zealots for "celebrating Satan" with this movie. To hear more possibly unknown facts like these and to get the thoughts of a rabid fan of this movie, check out this episode.
Superspreader review
If you like documentaries that just provide an accounting of events and then lets you decide what to think, Superspreader is right up your alley. In this, it tells what happened when Sean Feucht, his wife and other people of the church wanted to provide opportunities to worship outside in cities across America in defiance of pandemic laws banning church worship. As you'd expect, they run into just a wee bit of turbulence, hostility and violence. Is this worth checking out? Listen to this episode to see if I think so.
Baahubali: The Beginning review
In this episode we head east for our cinematic treat. Do you like action, adventure, daring rescues, death-defying stunts and all for love? You just might dig yourself some Baahubali: The Beginning from the master director S.S. Rajamouli. You might know him from directing the international phenomenon R.R.R. that billions outside of India have even heard of. This movie is epic and barely slows down at all throughout its length. Check out my review to see if you should check out this Indian cinematic offering.
The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King revisited
Our "One Trilogy To Rule Them All" series comes to an end with the multiple Oscar-winning "The Return Of The King." Winner of Best Picture, Best Director, Best Visual Effects, among others, this movie is the crown jewel of this Lord Of The Rings trilogy that is entrenched in the zeitgeist. The battles, the evil attacks, the creatures, the locations and the emotional moments are all amped up more than the first two movies and don't let go. Listen to this episode where I gush and profess my enthusiasm for everything in this movie from beginning to end. I even have my own Lord Of The Rings-style battle speech at the beginning!
The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers
Our "One Trilogy To Rule Them All" series continues with the second installment in Peter Jackson's epic Lord Of The Rings trilogy, The Two Towers. Released during the Christmas season of 2002, the awe movie audiences felt from The Fellowship Of The Ring was lifted to an even higher level with The Two Towers. This was nominated for multiple Oscars and has been beloved for almost 20 years for its spectacle, emotional gravity, sweeping scenery and of course, Gollum! My precious, take a little time to listen to this episode and take this Middle Earth trip down memory lane.
The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring
You shall not pass...listening to this 50th episode of Movies Merica! To commemorate this event, a revisiting of the one trilogy to rule them all, is in order! In 2001, Peter Jackson took the world by storm with his first installment of this trilogy. It was a movie everyone talked about and deservedly so. A real live-action adaptation of the J.R.R. Tolkien classics hadn't been attempted, and especially not one with the big budget this trilogy had. Listen in to hear some of my fond remembrances of this movie and takes on the characters and story we all love. Next week, a revisiting of The Two Towers will make its presence known!
3000 Years Of Longing
Lords and ladies, boy and girls. Gather round for a story in the form of a movie called 3000 Years Of Longing. Then again you may not want to. Check out Van's spoiler-free review of the latest movie from Mad Max: Fury Road director George Miller in order to decide. This movie stars Tilda Swinton as the finder of a mysterious bottle and Idris Elba as the genie, or Djinn, trapped in it but then released. Tilda gets the usual offer of 3 wishes but is it really that simple? Is there a dark side?
Beast review
The lion does not sleep tonight in this movie. This lion must have insomnia and must also be rather angry because it rampages throughout this movie. Idris Elba stars as a Dad that takes his teenage daughters on a trip to Africa to bond as a family. Nothing bonds family together like a fight for survival so the bonding is strong here. Should you check out this movie in the theater or just wait until you wake up on your couch at 3 in the morning and it happens to be playing on HBO? Check out this spoiler-free review to find out!