The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, don’t need to dive very deep for this review of Transformers: The Last Knight (2017). Allegedly the final directorial turn for Michael Bay in this franchise, the film stars Mark Wahlberg, Sir Anthony Hopkins and a host of characters that blur together in the latest bit of Bayhem.
In industry news, the team relays news of directorial changes on the Han Solo spinoff film from Disney and Lucasfilm.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, take a crash course in child prodigy psychology for Colin Trevorrow’s latest project, The Book of Henry (2017). Starring Naomi Watts, Dean Norris, Sarah Silverman and newcomer Jaeden Lieberher, the tale offers a unique take on the mentality and influence of a young genius while asking serious questions about the responsibilities of parents and citizens in a modern society.
In industry news, the team also discusses the recent passing of television icon Adam West, most famously known for playing the lead role on the influential 1960s Batman show.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, take to the seven seas for six pieces of eight and a shanty song for the Pirates of the Caribbean film saga from Walt Disney Studios and Bruckheimer Films. From The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) to Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017), the franchise has at turns entertained, disappointed, delighted and confused moviegoers while reinvigorating the career of lead actor Johnny Depp and introducing whole new generations to one of the oldest rides in the Disney theme parks.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, journey back to the days of World War I for a review of the highly anticipated new DCEU film Wonder Woman (2017) from Patty Jenkins. Starring Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Connie Nielsen, David Thewlis and more, the film marks the second appearance - and first solo outing - of the most popular female superhero in comics.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, head to the stars for a review of Ridley Scott’s newest film, Alien: Covenant (2017). Starring Michael Fassbender in a dual role and new characters played by Katherine Waterston, Danny McBride and Billy Crudup, among others, the latest installment is a successor to Prometheus (2014) - but does it do its job in terms of leading into the original Alien franchise?
In movie news, we discuss Joss Wedon’s new role in overseeing the final Justice League film for its November release date following a personal tragedy in director Zach Snyder’s family.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, pull sword from stone and rack up some hit points in this week’s review of Guy Ritchie’s mythbusting King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017), starring Charlie Hunnam, Jude Law, Djimon Hounsou and Eric Bana. With a new, streetwise take on one of Western literature’s most recognizable figures, and a series of sequences that seem plucked straight out of a video game, how does the modernized Arthurian tale compare to the more faithful interpretations of the past?
In movie news, the team discusses the latest trailer from War for the Planet of the Apes (2017), due out on July 14th, and the latest trailer from Denis Villenueve’s sci-fi sequel, Blade Runner 2049 (2017), due out in October 6th.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, welcome back Trenton Brewer and Sacramento cosplayer Marquis Sweat-Keaton to turn on the Walkman and get in the groove on all things Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2 (2017). With five mid- and post-credit scenes and the presence of both Tango and Cash (Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell), there’s a lot to love in this sophomore outing from James Gunn, Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel - to the tune of more than $400 million worldwide within its first week of release.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, welcome back frequent guest Hannah Porter to prep for this week’s Marvel Studios release with a fun, feisty review and dissection of Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), the MCU gambit that paid big dividends. With the sequel set to make a Milano-sized haul at the box office this weekend, what were the elements of the first film’s success?
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, play mad scientist and try to dissect the anatomy of a summer blockbuster while also diving deep into the economics of moviemaking in this special edition report. What traits make a film predisposed for box office success, and how has the influence of foreign markets impacted the moviemaking practices of Hollywood executives?
In movie news, we discuss the return of Jeff Goldblum to the Jurassic World franchise, and all the release information put out by Twentieth Century Fox and Disney Studios.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, blow it up (like the record-setting global box office haul) with this week’s review of The Fate of the Furious (2017), starring Vin Diesel, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Charlize Theron, Tyrese, Ludacris, Jason Statham, Kurt Russell and several others. How did the crew fare without Paul Walker, and what did/didn’t work about Dom Torreto’s double-cross?
In movie news, we discuss the long-awaited reveal of Josh Brolin as Cable in Deadpool 2 (2018).
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, welcome long time fan and movie enthusiast Marcus Hunter and Sacramento’s own cosplay extraordinaire Trenton Brewer for this week’s review of Power Rangers (2017). The film reboots the prolific children’s television show from the 1990s with a new take on Jason, Billy, Kimberly, Zach and Trini, and how they come to acquire their powers. Featuring Bryan Cranston as Zordon and Elizabeth Banks as Rita Repulsa, the film was directed by Dean Israelite.
The team also discusses the new Thor: Ragnarok trailer, featuring Cate Blanchett as Hela and the makings of a rowdy intergalactic buddy comedy between Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and Mark Ruffalo’s “Planet Hulk” inspired green goliath.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, welcome back Val Complex and Nerd Reactor’s Laura Sirikul back to the round table for week’s review of Ghost in the Shell (2017), the controversy-laden anime adaptation directed by Rupert Sanders and starring Scarlett Johansson in the role of an Asian woman who has been transformed into a cyborg and is working for a paramilitary arm of the government.
To what extent does the film exemplify the whitewashing of Asian roles in big-budget Hollywood films, and what kind of an effect did the casting decisions have on the film’s reception?
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, head for stars with this week’s review of Life (2017), the creature feature set aboard the international space station and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds and Rebecca Ferguson. Does the film represent an evolution of the sci-fi monster genre, or does it leave you floating in space awaiting something more?
In movie news, we discuss news about the new Spiderman: Homecoming (2017) trailer and a possible end to the Marvel-Sony character collaboration before 2020, as well as the first details of Alicia Vikander’s upcoming Tomb Raider reboot (2018).
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, jump from animation to live action adaptation for this week’s review of Beauty and the Beast (2017), the long-anticipated film starring Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Josh Gad and Kevin Kline. With a robust cast of VFX characters voiced by Ewan McGregor, Ian McKellen, Stanley Tucci, Audra McDonald, Emma Thompson and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, the film easily cracked the list of the top 10 highest grossing debuts of all time with a bow of more than $170 million in its first weekend.
In movie news, we discuss a Mission Impossible 6 (2018) stunt for Tom Cruise that has involved more than one year of training and an update on the future of the Terminator movie franchise (Hint: He might not be back).
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, head to a remote jungle island in the 1970s for this week’s review of Kong: Skull Island (2017), starring Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Hiddleston and Brie Larson. Pretty much everything’s huge in this movie, and several sequences borrowed more from the Universal Studios ride than previous King Kong films. With effects from Industrial Light and Magic and a number of highly stylized visual compositions, just how much did this flick bring back the nostalgic feelings of the original Jurassic Park (1993)?
In movie news, we discuss James Gunn’s announcement of an after-credits scene for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), alongside rumors of a director preference for DC’s Man of Steel 2 (hint: think Kingsman helmer Matthew Vaughn).
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, welcome VideoGameBANG! hosts Cory Vincent and David Webb for an in-depth review of Logan (2017), allegedly the last ride of Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart in the X-Men film franchise. What worked? What didn’t? And how did we feel about that pre-credits Deadpool teaser?
The crew also celebrates ONE FULL YEAR of podcasting - that’s right, we’ve been around for 52 weeks, and we’re not looking to quit anytime soon!
Filmlosopher Chad Riley welcomes back frequent collaborator Hannah Porter to hash through the ups and downs of the 2017 Academy Awards show. Who won, who lost, and who saw that ending coming? Whether you’re in Camp Moonlight or Camp La La Land, you surely felt all the feels. Not to mention all of the subtle and not-so-sly political references, an odd interruption from a group of Hollywood tourists, and various confections from the sky. In other words, there was a lot to love (or hate) this year.
News items include opening weekend feedback for Jordan Peele’s cautionary horror flick Get Out (2017) and a xenomorphic trailer reveal from director Ridley Scott’s Alien: Covenant (2017).
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The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, welcome first time guest Mikhail for a star-studded romp through Oscars past and present, with an in-depth comparative analysis of Academy Award and SAG Award winners from the past 16 years. How on-point are the SAG Awards when it comes to predicting Best Actor and Best Actress Oscar winners, and what types of performances tend to feel the love most of the time?
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, welcome first time guest Ljan Ordiz and returning DC fan Omar Marroquin for part two of our candid conversation about the “other” franchise: the DCCU. From the established films in the franchise, including Batman vs. Superman (2015) and Suicide Squad (2016), to our predictions about the forthcoming Wonder Woman (2017) and Justice League (2017) films and beyond, we cover all the pros and cons of the up-and-coming cinematic universe.
News items include talk about a new face in the director’s chair for The Batman (2018), and a production announcement from Avengers: Infinity War featuring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Pratt and Tom Holland alongside Kevin Feige and other members of the MCU brain trust.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, welcome pop culture writer and critic Kristen Lopez for a spirited review of Denzel Washington’s Oscar-nominated film, Fences (2016). Co-starring Viola Davis in a powerful dramatic turn, the film is up for multiple Academy Awards on February 26th including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress.
In movie news, we discuss all of the trailer debuts from the Super Bowl, including Pirates of the Caribbean 5 (2017), Transformers The Last Knight (2017), Fast 8: The Fate of the Furious (2017) and Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2 (2017).
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, take a calculating look at Oscar contender Hidden Figures (2016), starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monáe. The film tells the story of three brilliant African-American women who helped renew confidence in NASA at the start of the Space Race by serving as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history. Hidden Figures also features a funk-inspired soundtrack from producer Pharrell Williams.
In movie news, we discuss creative changes for the new Batman film starring Ben Affleck and review the list of SAG Award winners to see if we can predict some of this year’s Oscar recipients.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, welcome Nerd Reactor’s head movie reviewer Mark Pacis for a psychoanalysis of M. Night Shyamalan’s latest film, Split (2017). Starring James McAvoy, Split digs deep into the psyche of a man with Dissociative Identity Disorder whose multiple personalities are in conflict over the pending arrival of a new persona.
The crew also breaks down this year’s Oscar nominations and place a few predictions about who may walk away with an Academy Award.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, welcome returning guest host Hannah Porter and our friend John Eick for a fanciful review of Golden Globe-winning La La Land (2016). Directed by Whiplash (2014) runner Damien Chazelle and starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, La La Land brings the nostalgic glamour of classic Hollywood musicals into the modern day with a fetching jazz score to boot.
The crew also discusses rumors that the Wonder Woman (2017) film isn’t shaping up as the breakout film everyone wants to see from the DCCU.
The Filmlosophers are a Chad short tonight, as Eddie Villanueva is riding solo at the helm, ready to land this ship of awesome conversationalism...oh, and he’s not alone! Along for the ride is first time guest, and die-hard DC fan and aficionado, Omar Marroquin,to get neck deep in discussion about the “other” franchise! We’ll discuss his fandom with DC, and what some of the misconceptions are in terms of the Cinematic franchise. Is there hope for the future of this franchise? Can DC and WB recover from this past year? We discuss this and more on tonight’s episode!
The duo also discuss the news about the recent Megazord images released by Toys R Us for the upcoming March film, Lionsgates Power Rangers.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, spend the first episode of the new year with Nerd Reactor’s Laura Sirikul to take a trip down memory lane and share their most memorable films of 2016. With some of the biggest box office receipts - and some of the biggest flops - on record, which flicks stood out as particularly impressive? Which ones do we wish we could erase from our memories altogether?
The crew also discusses news recently published in Variety that Woody Harrelson has been cast as a mentor figure in the new Star Wars anthology film focused on the story of a young Han Solo.