Now Playing -- The Movie Review Podcast

They didn't market Stand by Me as a Stephen King film. In 1986 a period piece drama didn't fit with King's history of films, including axe murderers, ghosts, zombies, vampires, and killer semis. Few would have thought this 50's coming-of-age nostalgia piece was from King's short story "The Body." Yet the movie was a smash hit, nominated for Golden Globe and Academy Awards. How does this movie hold up thirty years later, playing to people other than Baby Boomers? Stand by Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

A Nazi in hiding is uncovered by a suburban boy, and the result is blackmail and bloodshed. That is the story of Apt Pupil, Bryan Singer's directorial follow-up to his breakthrough The Usual Suspects. Is Kurt Dussander's secret past a mystery on par with Keyser Söze? Join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

The Shawshank Redemption has been voted the #1 movie of all time by IMDB.com users. It was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actor for star Morgan Freeman. It has played endlessly on TNT. And yet, upon its release, the film flopped in theaters. Is history right? Is this the best movie of all time, underappreciated when it first came out? Join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

Earlier this year DC brought Batman back to the big screen in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.  Now it's time for his nemesis to get the spotlight. Suicide Squad stars villains like Joker, Harley Quinn, Deadshot, and Enchantress -- a group of bad people who may be able to do some good.  The characters are the worst of the worst...but is the film also the worst? Join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

It's been nine years since Matt Damon last played Jason Bourne. But now he is back, ready to uncover new secrets about Treadstone and what turned David Webb into Jason Bourne. Do Greengrass and Damon still have the spark that made those original films so memorable, or should they have not Borne out another sequel? Join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob in this podcast movie review to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

On Thursday, September 8, 1966, Star Trek beamed into people's homes for the first time.  Since then, Star Trek has become a cultural phenomenon spanning 725 television episodes across six series, and 12 movies. But now it is time for Star Trek to go Beyond.  Is there still power in those warp coils on the Enterprise's 13th voyage in theaters? Join Arnie, Stuart, and Brock to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

A long time ago, in a trailer park far, far away... a teen named Alex beat the high score on the Starfighter arcade. But it wasn't just a game--it was a proving grounds for fighters to join an intergalactic war. Is Alex the Luke Skywalker for the '80s?  And how does this film's once-groundbreaking CGI hold up over 30 years later? Join Arnie, Marjorie, and Justin to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

The Bourne Ultimatum proved its box office dominance, and director Paul Greengrass and star Matt Damon were ready leave Jason Bourne behind. But Universal Pictures wasn't going to let that stop their blockbuster franchise, so enter The Bourne Legacy!  Jeremy Renner stars as Aaron Cross - another covert super soldier from the same CIA operations as Bourne.  Rather than risk exposure, the CIA has chosen to kill all their agents and start over. Can Cross survive this extinction protocol? And can the franchise survive without its signature star and character?  Join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob now to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

Three years after Bourne was supreme at the box office, star Matt Damon reteamed with director Paul Greengrass for the series' third installment  -- The Bourne Ultimatum.  This film promises to reveal the final secrets about the secret agent's past, and gives co-star Julia Stiles something to do. Did this original Bourne trilogy end on a high note? Join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

Just two short years after Short Circuit electrified audiences Johnny 5 returned in Short Circuit 2. This time Johnny is in the big city and realizing what it means to be human...or in his case, not human. The film was supposed to be full of heart, laughs, and special effects. But Johnny's wires got crossed and no connection was made with audiences.  With this film Johnny 5's cinematic life ended, but did he deserve his fate? Join Justin Five, Stuart, and Arnie to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

Universal had little confidence in making The Bourne Identity, but after its huge success they fast-tracked the sequel: The Bourne Supremacy. This follow-up teamed Damon with Paul Greengrass, who would continue to guide the Bourne films through this summer's new Jason Bourne.  Is this film truly supreme, or did the franchise lose its identity? Join Stuart, Arnie, and Jakob to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

Robocop. R2-D2. HAL 9000.  The T-1000. Johnny 5.   Yes, in the pantheon of great movie robots, there is no denying S.A.I.N.T. model Number Five deserves prominent mention. He came alive in 1986's Short Circuit and charmed audiences with his naivete, and his DeBarge theme song.  Now, as Now Playing looks back at the great sci-fi films of 1986, Arnie, Stuart, and new Now Playing critic Justin review this film to answer the age old question..."Who's Johnny?" Listen to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

In 2002 a new action franchise was Bourne. Starring Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, The Bourne Identity modernized and heavily revised Robert Ludlum's original novel. Despite a modest budget, the film connected with critics and audience members alike. With the upcoming sequel Jason Bourne in theaters this July, it's time to check Bourne's original Identity.  Does the film hold up 14 years later? Join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

Jason Bourne has existed in Robert Ludlum novels for over 35 years. For mainstream audiences, however, he came to life when Matt Damon starred as the amnesiac secret agent in 2002. That action-packed rendition now defines the character, and has totally overshadowed Bourne's first portrayal -- in a 1988 ABC miniseries. The story was much closer to Ludlum's original novel than the later films, but can Richard Chamberlain match Damon's performance? To find out, join Arnie, Jakob, and Stuart as this new retrospective series is Bourne! And come back each week until we review the new Jason Bourne film in theaters! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

After three years and one Fast and Furious film, James Wan is back with a sequel to The Conjuring.  The original horror film scared up lots of dough for Universal, so now the series returns with Ed and Lorraine Warren investigating another real life haunting -- The Enfield Poltergeist. How "true to life" is this story, and does it up the suspense from the original? Join us to find out!t --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

In this sequel to 2014's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Donatello, Leonardo, Raphael, and Michelangelo are back again to save New York from Shredder. But while this film has the same look and some returning stars, there's a new vibe throwing back to the original cartoon series -- including fan-loved baddies Krang, Bebop, and Rocksteady. With Arrow star Stephen Amell joining the cast as human vigilante Casey Jones, are these turtles worth shelling out for? Join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob for their review to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

Director Bryan Singer is back to take the X-Men to the '80s for a totally tubular fight against Apocalypse! The film debuts the fan-favorite mutant villain on film. It also features the return of classic movie X-Men Cyclops, Jean Gray, and Nightcrawler. Is the result boss or bunk? Join Arnie, Jakob, and Stuart to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

The original Hellboy film didn't set the box office on fire. But like a necromancer, director and writer Guillermo del Toro brought the demonic comic hero back on screens in 2008. With the original cast back plus new antagonists both in and out of the BPRD, does Hellboy II: The Golden Army turn up the heat? Join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob to find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

Dark Horse Comics was once best known for its series based on popular movie properties like Star Wars, Predator, and Alien. That reputation slowly changed as the publisher's original characters gained prominence, with the most popular becoming Mike Mignola's demonic creation Hellboy! In 2004 that comic was adapted to film by fantastical visionary Guillermo del Toro. Now join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob as they go to hell and back, reviewing the original Hellboy! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support

Is this movie Captain America 3 or Avengers 3? Cap is back and he's brought the whole team. Iron Man, Ant-Man, Black Widow, Vision, Scarlet Witch, and half a dozen other costumed heroes appear--to fight! At issue is the UN wanting to control The Avengers   {Marvel Series} {Avengers Series} {Comic Book Movies Series} {Captain America Series} --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowplayingpodcast/support