Now Playing - The Movie Review Podcast

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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

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!

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!

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!

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!

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

No one was interested in making movies based on the writings of Richard Bachman. His novels Rage, The Long Walk, Roadwork, and The Running Man were modest sellers that often had only one printing. More, they were dark and rough novels King wrote in his early years. That changed in 1985 when Bachman was exposed as a pen name for Stephen King. Just two years later Arnold Schwarzenegger was The Running Man--a very loose adaptation of the '82 Bachman novel. The film is now a cult hit, fondly remembered by Generation X, but is it any good? Listen now to find out!