The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, welcome entertainment journalists Val Complex and Laura Sirikul for an important discussion about women in cinema - particularly behind the scenes. What percentage of Hollywood directors, writers, cinematographers and other key roles are women, and how can everyday moviegoers help move the needle to create more opportunities beyond the celluloid ceiling?
Other news items in this episode include a recently release list of the BBC's Top 100 films of the 21st century and a sneak preview of this year's Oscar Award contenders including Hell or High Water (2016) and The Light Between Oceans (2016).
As the summer movie season comes to an end, The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, discuss the history of the "summer blockbuster" and provide a quick summary of the distinguishing characteristics that give a movie blockbuster status. Also, the duo states their cases and vote for the Top 5 Summer Films of 2016.
News items in this episode include costume details from Henry Cavill that show a possible new Superman look for Zack Snyder's upcoming Justice League (2017) film, as well as an early description of Guillermo del Toro's latest passion project, The Shape of Water, which is billed as an otherwordly tale set during the Cold War era.
The Filmlosophers, Eddia Villanueva and Chad Riley, go existential with a review of The Little Prince (2016), a film adaptation of the beloved French fable currently showing on Netflix. Featuring vocal performances from Jeff Bridges, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard and more, the original story by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry receives a stop-motion treatment, while the film features an entirely new story set in the modern world and depicted in computer animated format.
News items include details from Patrick Stewart on what may be Professor X's final appearance in the untitled Wolverine (2017) sequel, as well as word of a reboot for the Chronicles of Narnia franchise from TriStar Pictures.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, welcome cosplayer Maid of Might and VideoGameBANG! host Cory Vincent for a spoiler-rich review of Suicide Squad (2016) starring Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jared Leto and Viola Davis. From the costumes to the soundtrack, we delve into everything that works and anything that doesn't in one of this summer's most highly anticipated films.
News items include sequel news on Sicario 2, a name change for Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and more casting updates for Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017). We also take a moment to discuss the first poster for Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) and the casting controversy surrounding Matt Damon's role in The Great Wall (2017).
This is a special bonus episode of the Filmlosophers recorded during San Diego Comic Con. Eddie and Chad get to sit down with the amazing author of the Red Rising trilogy, Pierce Brown.
The Filmlosophers step right out of the theater and into the recording studio to discuss Jason Bourne (2016), which features the return of Matt Damon in the title role. In the nine years that have passed since The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), has Bourne gotten any close to finding closure and a sense of self? Listen in and learn.
VideoGameBANG's Cory Vincent also joins the crew for a recap of San Diego Comic-Con 2016. From massive lines to cast and crew interviews, we share details about all of the activities inside and outside the convention center.
The Filmlosophers are going to San Diego Comic-Con! Join Eddie, Chad and special guest Cory Vincent from VideoGameBANG! and VGB Studios for a preview of all the action that awaits this week. What should attendees and enthusiasts watching from afar expect from the world's largest entertainment convention? Listen and learn!
Additional news items include first reports of a new Van Helsing film, an Honest Trailer for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and feedback on new character trailers for the upcoming Suicide Squad (2016) film.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, share their insights on Roland Emmerich's latest disaster flick, Independence Day: Resurgence. Starring Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, Maika Monroe, Jessie T. Usher and Bill Pullman, does the sequel live up to its 20 years of built-up hype?
This week's news is all about San Diego Comic-Con updates, in preparation for attending the show and recording an episode live from the con.
The Filmlosophers narrow down a list of their Top 5 Patriotic Films along with returning guest Hannah Porter. To ensure that we covered a wide variety of stories and styles, we selected one film in each of the following five categories: War, Sports, Western, American Symbolism and Inspirational.
News items in this episode include Nicolas Winding Refn's desire to do a Batgirl film and a new, seven-figure deal announced for "Moonfall" from Roland Emmerich.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, welcome Girl Geek HQ's Erika Ashley for a detailed review of this week's new release, The Legend of Tarzan (2016). From the historical backdrop to the score - and reactions to the performances of Alexander Skarsgård, Margot Robbie, Samuel L. Jackson and Christoph Waltz - there is much to discuss about this surprisingly detailed interpretation of a classic character.
Additional news items include the second issue of Marvel Comics' "Captain America: Steve Rogers (2016)," which reveals the truth behind "HydraCap," as well as the 2017 Hollywood Walk of Fame honorees and information about a charity screening of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) with author J.K. Rowling and film star Eddie Redmayne.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, engage in a healthy debate over Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Out of the Shadows (2016). What worked, what didn't, and how were the new character introductions for Bebop, Rocksteady, Baxter Stockman and Krang?
Other news items discussed include Wizard World Comic Con Sacramento, new film synopses for Doctor Strange (2016), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) and Justice League (2017), as well as Bryan Cranston casting news from the new Power Rangers (2017) film.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, dive deep into the story, cinematography and emotional payoff of Disney and Pixar's Finding Dory (2016). With a host of new characters and locales, how does the latest installment rate in comparison to other Pixar films? And how does it stand up as a sequel to one of the studio's most highly regarded films, Finding Nemo (2003)?
Additional news items include fresh information about the co-directors considering Beverly Hills Cop 4 with Eddie Murphy and Jerry Bruckheimer, casting information on Ocean's Ocho (2017) featuring Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett, among others, and a new full-length trailer for Disney's Pete's Dragon (2016) remake.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, welcome VideoGame BANG! host Cory Vincent and Karla Von Guerra, host of KVonWar's Reviews on YouTube, as we dive deep into a full review of the new Warcraft (2016) film directed by Duncan Jones. Spoilers abound for the film, and we're grateful to have a pair of gamers on board to discuss some of the nuances and references in the film.
News items include a casting update for the new Blade Runner sequel, commentary on the latest international trailer for the all-female Ghostbusters (2016) and John Boyega's upcoming outing in Pacific Rim 2.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, welcome Aaron Carter from VideoGame BANG! for a lively discussion of X-Men Apocalypse (2016), the latest installment of Fox's mutant superhero franchise. What works, what doesn't, and how does it all feel for two longtime fans of the X-Men comics? The crew also discusses a few fan casting options for key characters introduced in this film.
Additional news items in this week's episode include confirmed casting of Dwayne Johnson, The Rock, for a cinematic Doc Savage, some very candid feedback on Batman v Superman (2016) from "Alfred" Jeremy Irons, and a stunning reveal of the title character's apparent allegiance in the new Marvel Comics series, Captain America: Steve Rogers #1.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, welcome guest host Hannah Porter and evaluate the latest from director Shane Black, a neo-noir buddy comedy called The Nice Guys (2016). Does the Rotten Tomatoes "Certified Fresh" classification fly with the crew? More importantly, would the unexpected comedy duo of Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling succeed in another film genre?
This week's news items include a press announcement for a new Halloween film from the mind of John Carpenter, reactions to the first teaser trailer for Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast (2017) and a smashing update from Mark Ruffalo on the Hulk's role in Thor: Raganok (2017).
Cult classic Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, making now the perfect time for The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, to discuss its fourth wall breaking tendencies. The analysis covers multiple aspects of the film's successful formula, including the multiple ways in which Ferris addresses the audience directly and its iconic post-credits ending.
News items for this installment include growing revenues for Captain America: Civil War (2016), leaked character names and photos from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) and a new collaboration between Steven Spielberg and Colin Trevorrow tentatively titled Powerhouse.
In preparation for Captain America: Civil War, Filmlosophers Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley discuss the fan-favorite (and critically endorsed) second installment in the series, Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014). From the balanced storytelling to the compelling musical score, no stone is left unturned in this evaluation of one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's most acclaimed properties to date.
The team also discusses Space Jam 2 (2017) news, the "creative differences" that caused Seth Grahame-Smith to leave The Flash (2018), Cable news for Deadpool 2 (2017) and a foreign box office power play from Captain America: Civil War (2016).
The Filmlosophers Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley begin an exciting new, three-part series on the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Captain America films by unpacking the story structure and impressive characterization of Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). Stick around after the initial evaluation for a special Fantasy Cast segment where we explore alternative casting choices for some of the film's key roles.
Other news items include the fan frenzy on "Alien Day" (4/26), a new screenwriter announcement for Sherlock Holmes 3, new details about Nathan Fillion's possibly "wonderful" cameo in Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (2017) and reactions to the final trailer for X-Men Apocalypse (2016), which releases on May 27th.
In this week's episode, The Filmlosophers Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley present a thrilling DOUBLE FEATURE review of The Jungle Book (2016) and Zootopia (2016), two anthropomorphic Disney films released within just a few weeks of one another. Which film proves to be the most anthropomorphic? Would it work to make the same films with human actors instead of CGI animal characters?
News topics include the passing of Doris Roberts, just-released images of Rita Repulsa from the new Power Rangers (2017) film, photos from The Magnificent 7 (2016) and a casting update from next year's Justice League (2017) film.
Kudos to the innovators who work to push the industry forward. In this installment, The Filmlosophers give their candid perspectives on Hardcore Henry (2016), a first-person POV film that makes bold attempts at redefining the medium. Not everything flies, but the attempt is admirable.
News bites include commentary on the new Doctor Strange (2016) trailer and poster, a fresh take on Warner Bros' Suicide Squad (2016) following the arrival of a new trailer, reactions to the casting of Charlize Theron and Scott Eastwood for Fast 8 (2017) and a quick geek-out retrospective on viewing the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) teaser.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, take an in-depth look at Christopher Nolan's Interstellar (2014), a film that invites mental scrutiny but doesn't quite stand up under the gravity of its own story structure. News items also include the passing of Erik Bauersfeld, the voice of Admiral Ackbar for the Star Wars franchise; Disney releases the first trailer for The BFG (2016); Joel McHale plays a younger version of his Community (2009) costar, Chevy Chase, in a Netflix biopic on the creators of National Lampoon; and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) faces a 68% drop in second week attendance.
Man of Steel (2013) starts to look a lot better with age, particularly for those who didn't love Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). The Filmlosophers review high points and low from the initial installment of the DC cinematic/expanded universe and ask "Would You Rather?" about two controversial story elements.
Add in news about Alice Through the Looking Glass, the just-announced "Alien Day" 2016 and The Lego Batman Movie, and you've got a full show. Class is in session!
The Filmlosophers wax nostalgic about a beloved multimedia franchise that's been going strong for nearly 70 years with an in-depth review of The Peanuts Movie (2015). Stick around near the end of the review for a "Conspiracy Theory" installment that seeks to answer the question: Who is the little red-haired girl?
Eddie and Chad also discuss their initial reactions to the final Captain America: Civil War trailer (featuring Spiderman), changes to the Star Trek: Beyond cast in post-production and Paramount backing out of U.S. distribution for The Little Prince.
The Filmlosophers share feedback on the first trailer for the new, all-female Ghostbusters film, provide opinions about the casting of J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon in the Justice League film and give a gut reaction to the newly unveiled Captain America: Civil War character posters before diving deep into a review of Terminator: Salvation. They wrap the episode with an "Altered Reality" segment that wrestles with the implications of changing the end of Salvation so that John Connor dies instead of Marcus Wright.