The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, kick off holiday season 2016 with a "wish list" of their most anticipated December films in a variety of categories, from comedy and drama to auteur flicks and genre options. Beyond obvious choices like Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), Assassin's Creed (2016), La La Land (2016) and Sing (2016), did your faves make the cut?
News items include new Rita Repulsa images from next year's Power Rangers (2017) film, along with Annie Award nominations for Zootopia (2016) and Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) and word of multiple new Ghostbusters films in the works from original director Ivan Reitman.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, review Disney's Moana (2016), a non-Pixar animated tale with a colorful cast of characters and a distinctly mythological bent. Featuring song lyrics from Broadway star Lin-Manuel Miranda and starring newcomer Auli'i Cravalho as Moana alongside Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as demigod Maui, the film offers a refreshingly modern take on the well-honed Disney model of filmmaking.
Other news items include reports of a Highlander remake from John Wick and John Wick 2 director Chad Stahelski, and an exciting casting announcement for Marvel's Black Panther film as it adds Angela Bassett in a key role.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, engage in a deep discussion of Denis Villanueve's masterful new film, Arrival (2016). Starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker, Arrival features a strong emotional subtext and exceptional work in sound editing, cinematography, writing and directing.
In addition to the film review, the gents react to a week full of new movie trailers, including Disney's live action Beauty and the Beast (2017), Luc Besson's next blockbuster Valerian: City of a Thousand Planets (2017) and the Anthony Hopkins-Colin Farrell procedural thriller Solace (2017).
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, welcome entertainment journalists Val Complex and co-host to Sacramento's largest gaming podcast, Aaron Carter, for an important discussion about the latest documentary from critically acclaimed filmmaker, Ava DeVernay, titled 13th. While you won't hear a typical "review" of the film here, you will learn much from this engaging discussion about race, criminality, American history and personal experience.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, share a spoiler-light review of Marvel Studios' Doctor Strange (2016) starring Benedict Cumberbatch. The latest MCU film features some trippy visuals and has received criticism for some of its casting decisions. Is the whole greater than the sum of its parts, or does its ambitious stance leave the story feeling fragmented in various segments of the multiverse?
News items in this episode include another director dropout for Warner Bros. stuck-in-development-hell The Flash, as well as a recent announcement about a new, live action Snow White film from Disney.