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.