Now Playing - The Movie Review Podcast
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1.050 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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Saw II Movie Review
13 november 2009 · 47 min
Wouldn't you try to find a mirror before slicing off a piece of your own neck? Lees meer
Now Playing Podcast continues its dive into Jigsaw’s world with Saw II, the sequel that expands the game from one grimy bathroom to an entire house full of traps. This time, Detective Matthews (Dreamcatcher's Donnie Wahlberg) finds himself pulled into Jigsaw’s latest test, while a group of strangers scramble to survive a nerve gas–filled nightmare. With Tobin Bell (Rudy) returning as the calm, calculating mastermind and the mythology growing more intricate, Saw II aims to prove the original wasn’t a one-off shocker. Does this sequel smartly escalate the concept and deepen the puzzle, or does it trade tension for bigger, bloodier set pieces? The hosts examine the twists, the traps, and whether this second round ups the stakes or simply repeats the game.
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Saw (2004) Movie Review
6 november 2009 · 49 min
Somehow, I don't see the Betty Ford clinic adopting Jigsaw's methods for "curing" drug addicts. Lees meer
When Saw hit theaters in 2004, few predicted it would ignite one of the defining horror franchises of the 21st century. Yet within a few short years, Saw had staked its claim on Halloween, launching an annual tradition of increasingly elaborate traps and moral games. It all begins with Cary Elwes and Leigh Whannell waking up chained in a filthy bathroom, given a simple but impossible choice: one must kill the other to survive. With Danny Glover, Monica Potter, Michael Emerson, and Shawnee Smith rounding out the cast, the film blends low-budget ingenuity with psychological cruelty. Does Saw earn its reputation as the modern standard-bearer for horror, or was its success more about shock than substance? Our hosts dissect the twists, the traps, and whether this first game still cuts as deep now, as they cut into Now Playing Podcast's Saw retrospective series!
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Halloween II (2009) Movie Review
30 oktober 2009 · 54 min
White horses could drag me away... Lees meer
White horses. "Knights in White Satin." Sherri Moon Zombie drifting through dream imagery. Halloween II is Rob Zombie at his most stylized and divisive, a sequel to his 2007 remake that doubles down on brutality, trauma, and surreal symbolism. Abandoning much of the structure of Halloween, this follow-up pushes deeper into psychological horror, fractured identities, and a Loomis who may be as monstrous as the killer he chases. If, as Loomis declares, "Bad taste is the petrol that fuels the American dream," then this movie runs on premium. As Now Playing Podcast concludes its Halloween retrospective series, the hosts examine whether this sequel to a remake can justify its existence or if it proves some legends should remain untouched.
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No Doors, No Windows by Joe Screiber Book Review
27 oktober 2009 · 8 min
If there are no doors, how do you get in? Lees meer
Books & Nachos is now part of Now Playing Podcast.
Before our book reviews were branded as Now Playing Podcast Book Reviews, they were released under a separate show called Books & Nachos. That podcast focused on book discussions, most of which tied directly into films we were covering on Now Playing. We’ve now merged those episodes into the main Now Playing Podcast feed for easier access and a complete archive. But these older episodes still have the original Books & Nachos intro and credits on those older recordings.
It's a house with no right angles, walls meeting floors in curves, and it may just be haunted. That's the real estate listing in Joe Screiber's latest horror novel, No Doors No Windows. Arnie will tell you if this book will have you clawing the walls in fear.
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Infected by Scott Sigler Book Review
24 oktober 2009 · 8 min
A podcast about a novel written by a podcaster. Huh. Lees meer
Books & Nachos is now part of Now Playing Podcast.
Before our book reviews were branded as Now Playing Podcast Book Reviews, they were released under a separate show called Books & Nachos. That podcast focused on book discussions, most of which tied directly into films we were covering on Now Playing. We’ve now merged those episodes into the main Now Playing Podcast feed for easier access and a complete archive. But these older episodes still have the original Books & Nachos intro and credits on those older recordings.
Avid podcaster Scott Sigler has become a novelist. Now his novels are the subject of a podcast. Is that recursive, ironic, or just a coincidence? Either way, here we review his 2008 novel Infected, which began as the podcast novel Infection in 2006. With Halloween around the corner, is this the answer to your need for scares? Join us for this book review to find out!
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Halloween (2007) Movie Review
23 oktober 2009 · 1 uur 15 min
If you are a character in a Rob Zombie movie, you might be a redneck Lees meer
After a long run of sequels with wildly inconsistent results, Michael Myers gets a 21st-century overhaul in 2007's Halloween, directed by Rob Zombie. Blending Zombie’s grimy, exploitation-influenced style, previously seen in House of 1000 Corpses and The Devil’s Rejects, with the framework of John Carpenter’s 1978 classic, this version expands Michael’s backstory while retelling the familiar Haddonfield massacre. Part prequel, part remake, and fully committed to Zombie’s aesthetic, the film also casts Malcolm McDowell as Dr. Loomis, stepping into one of horror’s most recognizable roles. Does this reimagining successfully modernize Halloween for a new audience, or does digging deeper into Myers’ origins strip away the mystery that made him terrifying? The hosts weigh whether this bold reset pays off, or if the franchise should have stuck with its previous path.
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Iron Man: Femmes Fatales by Robert Greenberger Book Review
20 oktober 2009 · 16 min
Tony Stark versus three assassins. What could possibly go wrong? Lees meer
Books & Nachos is now part of Now Playing Podcast.
Before our book reviews were branded as Now Playing Podcast Book Reviews, they were released under a separate show called Books & Nachos. That podcast focused on book discussions, most of which tied directly into films we were covering on Now Playing. We’ve now merged those episodes into the main Now Playing Podcast feed for easier access and a complete archive. But these older episodes still have the original Books & Nachos intro and credits on those older recordings.
We dig into Iron Man: Femmes Fatales by Robert Greenberger, a prose novel that drops Tony Stark into a globe-trotting espionage thriller packed with deadly women, high-tech armor, and corporate intrigue. Femmes Fatales leans hard into the spy side of Iron Man’s world. Stark faces off against a trio of dangerous operatives with their own agenda, forcing him to rely on brains as much as repulsor blasts. Host Arnie breaks down how well the novel captures Tony’s voice outside the comic panel, whether the femme-fatale angle adds real tension or just pulp flavor, and how this story stacks up against the cinematic Iron Man. Suit up and find out.
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Halloween: Resurrection Movie Review
16 oktober 2009 · 49 min
Dangertainment Tonight Lees meer
What happens when you throw reality TV, early-2000s internet culture, martial arts, and Michael Myers into a blender? You get Halloween: Resurrection. Despite the previous film's seemingly definitive ending, The Shape is back again, this time stalking a live-streamed haunted house event designed to cash in on Haddonfield's bloody history. Featuring Busta Rhymes (Higher Learning) delivering roundhouse kicks and reality-show chaos front and center, Resurrection leans hard into the trends of its era. But does this attempt at a modern, "hip" reimagining inject new life into the franchise, or does it finally push the series past the point of no return? The hosts step into the house one more time to decide whether this revival was inspired or ill-advised.
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A Walk Through the Book of Matthew by Jamie Estes Book Review
12 oktober 2009 · 26 min
With an interview with author Jamie Estes Lees meer
Books & Nachos is now part of Now Playing Podcast.
Before our book reviews were branded as Now Playing Podcast Book Reviews, they were released under a separate show called Books & Nachos. That podcast focused on book discussions, most of which tied directly into films we were covering on Now Playing. We’ve now merged those episodes into the main Now Playing Podcast feed for easier access and a complete archive. But these older episodes still have the original Books & Nachos intro and credits on those older recordings.
We dive into A Walk Through the Book of Matthew: Youth Style by Pastor Jamie Estes, a devotional guide that makes the Gospel of Matthew readable and relatable for young people. The book walks through the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in Matthew, but in a tone that’s approachable for youth groups or anyone looking to connect the ancient text to real-world faith. It’s written with the express goal of helping readers better understand Christ and the example He set for how we live and love.
In this episode, Jerry breaks down key themes from the devotional, talks through what makes the Youth Style approach distinctive, and reflects on how Estes frames Jesus’ teachings in Matthew in a way that’s practical for young believers. Then Arnie sits down with Jamie Estes himself to talk about why he wrote the book, how he navigates making deep Scripture accessible without diluting it, and what he hopes readers will take away after finishing the devotional.
If you want an episode that’s part book review, part author conversation, and all about making the message of Matthew come alive for a new generation, this one’s for you.
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Halloween H20: 20 Years Later Movie Review
9 oktober 2009 · 55 min
Nobody doesn't like Jamie Lee! Lees meer
Twenty years after the night he came home, Jamie Lee Curtis reprises her iconic Laurie Strode role in Halloween H20: 20 Years Later. Ignoring several previous sequels, this entry aims to reset the timeline and give Laurie a final confrontation with her masked brother. With the late-'90s slasher revival in full swing and the influence of hotshot screenwriter Kevin Williamson, H20 tries to blend classic Halloween tension with the sharper, self-aware tone audiences embraced after Scream. Does this legacy sequel deliver the showdown fans had waited two decades for, or does it rely too heavily on trend-chasing and nostalgia? The hosts examine whether this return to form truly makes you scream, or merely echoes past glories.
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Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers Movie Review
2 oktober 2009 · 54 min
Given the pattern of these subtitles, shouldn't the next one be titled "The Trail of Michael Myers"? Lees meer
Michael Myers returns yet again in Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, and this time the franchise dives headfirst into ancient curses, secret cults, and the mysterious Man in Black teased in the previous film. The infamous Thorn storyline attempts to explain the unexplainable, layering druids and destiny onto what was once a simple shape in the shadows. If that already sounds complicated, just wait! Between the theatrical cut and the later Producer’s Cut, there are two different versions of this movie, each trying to make sense of the chaos. Can the Now Playing Podcast hosts untangle the mythology and find something coherent in this sixth installment, or does the curse extend to the audience as well?
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Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers Movie Review
25 september 2009 · 58 min
This time it's personal. Wait, wait, so was the last time... and the time before that. Lees meer
Michael Myers returns once again in Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers, the fifth chapter in the long-running franchise. Picking up after the events of Halloween 4, the film promises answers about Jamie Lloyd, Michael's masked rampage, and the mysterious figures lurking in the shadows. But instead of clarity, audiences get a strange man in a trench coat, cryptic symbols, and a few head-scratching detours along the way. Does Halloween 5 build suspense and deepen the mythology, or does it pile on confusion in place of scares? The hosts sort through the masks, the mayhem, and the mysteries to see whether this revenge story earns its place in the series.
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Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers Movie Review
18 september 2009 · 49 min
Michael Myers is going after his niece. Will she cry uncle? Lees meer
After the detour of a Halloween film without Michael Myers, the franchise makes its intentions crystal clear with Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers. The title says it all: the Shatner-masked icon is back, front and center, and the series is once again betting everything on The Shape stalking Haddonfield. But does bringing Myers back also bring the franchise back to form? Is this a worthy return to the tension and simplicity that made the early films classics, or just a familiar face in a weaker sequel? The hosts look at the new characters, the body count, and whether Halloween 4 earns its "return" or merely repeats it.
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Halloween III: Season of the Witch Movie Review
11 september 2009 · 51 min
This movie gives a whole new meaning to the term 'bugging out'. Lees meer
Join Now Playing Podcast this week as we count down the days until Halloween, Halloween, Halloween. Silver Shamrock! This episode tackles Halloween III: Season of the Witch, the bold franchise detour that dares to remove Michael Myers, Dr. Loomis, and just about every element audiences associated with the series. Instead of The Shape, viewers get sinister masks, corporate conspiracy, Irish witches, and a jingle that will lodge itself in your brain whether you want it there or not. Was this anthology experiment ahead of its time, or did stripping away the franchise’s core identity doom it from the start? The hosts dive into the risks, the mythology, and whether this season without Myers deserves a second look.
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Halloween II (1981) Movie Review
4 september 2009 · 57 min
Think of the bright side. If he does attack you here, you are already in the hospital! Lees meer
Join Now Playing Podcast this week as we continue our Halloween retrospective with Halloween II. Picking up right where the 1978 classic left off, Michael Myers, aka The Shape, is still on the hunt, still wearing that infamous Captain Kirk mask, and still turning quiet suburban spaces into a killing ground. Does Halloween II successfully extend the fear and tension that sparked a slasher boom, or does it feel like more blood and noise without the same creeping dread? The hosts dig into the escalation, the hospital setting, and whether this first sequel earns its place in the series’ legacy.
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Halloween (1978) Movie Review
28 augustus 2009 · 1 uur 5 min
It's a nice 3-bedroom, 2-bath. A bit of a fixer-upper. The gutters are falling down, and there's a murderer living inside. But you can't beat the payment! Lees meer
With the release of Halloween II, Now Playing Podcast begins a deep dive into the entire Halloween franchise, revisiting all ten films in the series. It all starts with Halloween, the low-budget shocker from John Carpenter that introduced the world to Michael Myers, also known as The Shape. Armed with a Captain Kirk mask and an unrelenting presence, Michael Myers stalked suburban streets and helped define the modern slasher film. Does this 1978 classic still deliver the tension and terror that frightened a generation, or has time dulled its edge? The hosts step into Haddonfield to examine the atmosphere, the score, and the legacy of the movie that turned Carpenter into a master of horror.
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The Devil’s Rejects Movie Review
21 augustus 2009 · 46 min
You're gonna teach me to do what with that chicken? Lees meer
Now Playing Podcast continues its look back at Rob Zombie’s early horror films with The Devil's Rejects, the gritty follow-up to House of 1000 Corpses. This time, the Firefly family is on the run, trading haunted-house madness for a dusty, grindhouse road movie soaked in violence and moral decay. Stripped of some of the carnival surrealism of the first film, The Devil’s Rejects leans harder into brutal realism and outlaw nihilism. Does this sequel refine Zombie’s style into something sharper and more effective, or does it double down on cruelty without adding depth? The hosts follow the Fireflies down the highway to decide whether this chapter elevates the saga or just leaves more wreckage in its wake.
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House of 1000 Corpses Movie Review
14 augustus 2009 · 50 min
What do Billy Joel, Ric Ocasek, Chris Robinson, and Rob Zombie have in common? Lees meer
In anticipation of Halloween II, Now Playing Podcast looks back at director Rob Zombie’s first plunge into feature-film horror: House of 1000 Corpses and its sequel, The Devil's Rejects.
The journey begins with House of 1000 Corpses, Zombie’s fever-dream introduction to the twisted Firefly family. Blending grindhouse aesthetics, carnival grotesquery, and unapologetic brutality, the film throws viewers headfirst into a nightmare world where every door hides something worse than the last. Does Zombie’s debut announce a bold new horror voice, or is it style over substance buried under a mountain of mayhem? The hosts step inside the Firefly home to find out just where all those bodies fit.
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Terminator Salvation Movie Review
24 mei 2009 · 1 uur
If I only had a heart! Lees meer
Today, the Now Playing Podcast Terminator Retrospective Series concludes (for now) with Terminator Salvation. With a new director, a new leading man, and the story shifting fully into the post-apocalyptic future war, this installment attempts to reinvent the franchise by showing the world audiences had only glimpsed before. Featuring Christian Bale as John Connor and a conflicted new Terminator model at the center of the story, Salvation trades time travel for battlefield grit. Does this bold change in direction breathe new life into the saga, or does it prove the series has finally run out of power? The hosts render their final verdict on whether this chapter redeems the franchise or brings it to an abrupt shutdown.
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Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines Movie Review
21 mei 2009 · 1 uur
When playing with your Terminatrix, always remember the safe word. Lees meer
This episode of the Now Playing Podcast Terminator Retrospective Series jumps ahead twelve years to Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. Arnold Schwarzenegger returns as the T-101, now facing off against a new model assassin, the deadly T-X, while protecting an adult John Connor and his future wife as Judgment Day once again looms. With nuclear annihilation hanging over the story and expectations sky-high after T2, this third installment tries to prove the franchise still has life left in it. Can John Connor actually change fate, and more importantly, is it entertaining to watch him try? The hosts evaluate the action, the tone shift, and whether this sequel stands on its own as they gear up for the release of Terminator Salvation.
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Terminator 2: Judgment Day Movie Review
18 mei 2009 · 58 min
Time for a Pepsi and a five-dollar footlong! Lees meer
This episode of the Now Playing Podcast Terminator Retrospective Series takes on Terminator 2: Judgment Day, the biggest movie of 1991, and the sequel that redefined what blockbuster visual effects could achieve. James Cameron raises the stakes, flips the premise, and unleashes the groundbreaking liquid-metal T-1000 against a reprogrammed T-101 now sworn to protect John Connor. With Arnold Schwarzenegger returning in an iconic role and cutting-edge CGI pushing the medium forward, T2 aims not just to top the original, but to evolve it. Does this sequel surpass The Terminator, and in doing so set a standard so high that future installments can’t possibly match it? The hosts break down the action, the emotional core, and even touch on the T2-3D: Battle Across Time theme park show inspired by the film.
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Terminator Movie Review
14 mei 2009 · 47 min
The only things that can make it through the time machine are organic materials and hair gel. Lees meer
Welcome to the Now Playing Podcast Terminator Retrospective Series, where we revisit every film in the killer-cyborg saga. We begin with The Terminator, James Cameron’s lean, relentless sci-fi thriller that fused time travel, slasher tension, and gritty action into something audiences hadn’t quite seen before. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as the unstoppable cybernetic assassin sent back to 1984 Los Angeles, the film turned a low-budget premise into a genre classic. It launched one of cinema’s most enduring franchises. Does The Terminator still pack the same punch decades later, or has time diminished its impact? The hosts break down the performances, the pacing, and whether this original machine still runs like new.
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Star Trek (2009) Movie Review
9 mei 2009 · 1 uur 32 min
It's taken 11 movies, but the mystery is finally uncovered... her first name is Nyota. Lees meer
In the final (for now) installment of the Now Playing Podcast Star Trek Retrospective Series, the hosts arrive at the franchise reset - the brand new Star Trek. J.J. Abrams’ reboot promises a new timeline, a younger cast, and a faster, louder approach designed to relaunch Trek for a new generation. How faithful is this reimagining to the spirit of the original series? Do the new actors successfully step into some of science fiction’s most iconic roles, or do comparisons prove unavoidable? And most importantly, does this reboot modernize Trek, or does it make the series genuinely fun again? The hosts engage warp speed one last time to see where this bold new direction takes the franchise.
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Star Trek: Nemesis Movie Review
1 mei 2009 · 43 min
Begun the clone war has Lees meer
This episode of Now Playing Podcast concludes The Next Generation era of the Star Trek Retrospective Series with Star Trek: Nemesis. In this final big-screen outing for Captain Picard and his crew, the Enterprise faces a shadowy new threat with unsettling ties to Picard himself, raising questions about identity, destiny, and legacy. Paramount marketed Nemesis as darker and more action-driven, but does this last voyage boldly go somewhere new for Trek, or does it feel like territory we’ve already explored B-4? Listen now to find out if this was an inglorious finale for a Generation of heroes!
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Star Trek: Insurrection Movie Review
24 april 2009 · 47 min
Warning - firmer breasts do not make effective flotation devices Lees meer
The Star Trek: The Next Generation crew faces a moral dilemma involving forced relocation, political compromise, and a possible Insurrection. Leaning more toward a classic TV-style adventure than a large-scale cinematic spectacle, this ninth Trek asks whether standing up to Starfleet is worth the cost. Does this rebellion story offer a refreshing return to Trek’s ethical roots, or does it feel smaller and less ambitious than a feature film should? The hosts examine the themes, the tone, and whether this entry rejuvenates the series or still needs a few cosmetic fixes.
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Star Trek: First Contact Movie Review
17 april 2009 · 53 min
That'll do, Geordi. That'll do. Lees meer
Now Playing Podcast continues the Star Trek Retrospective Series with Star Trek: First Contact. Widely regarded as the strongest big-screen outing for The Next Generation crew, this chapter throws Captain Picard and company into a high-stakes time-travel mission to stop the Borg from rewriting Earth’s history. Blending action, horror elements, and franchise lore, First Contact aims to deliver both spectacle and character-driven drama. Is resisting this Borg-driven adventure truly futile, or does the time-travel plot create more confusion than tension? The hosts examine the performances, the pacing, and whether this entry earns its reputation as a standout Trek film.
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Star Trek: Generations Movie Review
10 april 2009 · 53 min
Holodecks, warp drives and human replicant androids they can do, but curing male pattern baldness still eludes them. Lees meer
Star Trek: Generations finally brings two eras of Enterprise captains together on the big screen. Marketed as a historic handoff between crews, the movie aims to bridge the classic series with the next generation of Star Trek storytelling. Does this long-awaited captain team-up deliver the kind of crossover fans dreamed about, or does the collision of generations feel more symbolic than satisfying? The hosts examine the stakes, the spectacle, and whether this passing of the torch truly ignites something new or leaves viewers unexpectedly hollow.
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Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country Movie Review
3 april 2009 · 50 min
The Klingon doth quotes Shakesphere too much, methinks Lees meer
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country was the final big-screen outing for the original Enterprise crew. Framed as a political thriller, this chapter tackles conspiracy, distrust, and the end of an era as the galaxy faces an uneasy push toward peace. Does this farewell give the classic cast a strong, thoughtful send-off, or does it feel like a courtroom slog that can’t quite escape its own gravity? The hosts examine the themes, the performances, the morphing, and whether this last voyage boldly concludes the original crew’s story or puts them on trial one final time.
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Star Trek V: The Final Frontier Movie Review
27 maart 2009 · 48 min
Ok, Bill, fine. You can direct. Lees meer
Now Playing Podcast continues the Star Trek Retrospective Series with Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. Directed by William Shatner, this fifth entry sends the crew on a strange spiritual quest beyond the galaxy’s edge, asking some very big questions about faith, pain, and what exactly might be waiting at the center of the universe. Does The Final Frontier deliver a bold, thoughtful chapter for the series, or does it get lost in ambition and uneven execution? The hosts dig into the tone shifts, the infamous effects, and whether this film finds meaning in its journey, or can’t see the DeForest for the trees.
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Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home Movie Review
20 maart 2009 · 50 min
Chekov - San Francisco in the 1980s, perhaps leather pants wasn't the best choice... Lees meer
Trading space battles for time travel, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home sends the crew back to 1980s Earth on a mission involving whales, culture shock, and a very different tone from what came before. Does this lighter, fish-out-of-water Trek still hold up decades later, or does this whale tale sink under the weight of its message and comedy? Continuing the Trek toward the reboot, our hosts dig into the humor and heart, and whether this unexpected detour remains one of the franchise’s smartest moves.
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Star Trek III: The Search For Spock Movie Review
13 maart 2009 · 49 min
Hey - you're not Kirstie Alley! Lees meer
Now Playing Podcast continues the Star Trek Retrospective Series with Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. Picking up directly after the events of The Wrath of Khan, the crew of the Enterprise risks everything to recover the body and soul of everyone’s favorite Vulcan. Is this emotional rescue mission a meaningful extension of the saga, or does undoing a powerful ending weaken what came before? The hosts examine the stakes, the consequences, and whether this journey to retrieve the pointy-eared one was worth taking at all.
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Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Movie Review
6 maart 2009 · 46 min
Waiter, I'll have the Kobayashi Maru Lees meer
Now Playing Podcast continues the Star Trek Retrospective Series with Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, the sequel often credited with radically changing the course of the franchise. Trading the slow, meditative approach of the first film for sharper pacing, higher stakes, and a personal vendetta, this entry pits Admiral Kirk against his most formidable enemy yet. Does The Wrath of Khan breathe new life into a series that struggled on the big screen, or does it still drift cold and distant like deep space? The hosts dig into the characters, the action, and whether this sequel finally delivers the cinematic Star Trek adventure audiences were hoping for.
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Star Trek: The Motion Picture Movie Review
27 februari 2009 · 59 min
We get to the point faster than Kirk gets to the Enterprise! Lees meer
Welcome to Now Playing Podcast's Star Trek Retrospective Series, where we review every film in the Star Trek movie franchise leading up to the release of the new Star Trek movie on Friday, May 8, 2009. The journey begins with 1979's Star Trek: The Motion Picture, the long-awaited big-screen debut of the crew of the Starship Enterprise. After a decade off the air, Star Trek returned with a slower, more cerebral adventure focused on ideas, spectacle, and cosmic mystery rather than action. Was this first cinematic voyage worth the wait for longtime fans, or would the crew have been better off staying in reruns? The hosts engage warp drive and find out where this ambitious experiment lands.
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Friday the 13th Series Wrap-Up
20 februari 2009 · 56 min
Welcome back to Now Playing Podcast’s Friday the 13th Retrospective Series, where we’ve reviewed every chapter in the saga leading up to the brand-new 2009 reboot hitting theaters this Friday the 13th. Lees meer
In this thirteenth and final installment, Arnie, Stuart, and Brock step back from Camp Crystal Lake to look at the franchise as a whole. Which films delivered the sharpest kills? Where did the series lose its way? How did Jason evolve from sack-headed stalker to hockey-masked horror icon? And after seeing the 2009 remake, does the franchise's future look bright… or buried?
We also reveal what retrospective series is coming next. One journey ends here, but Now Playing Podcast is just getting started.
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Friday the 13th (2009) Movie Review
15 februari 2009 · 47 min
If your friends suggest camping out near Crystal Lake....you say no! Lees meer
Now Playing Podcast wraps up its Friday the 13th retrospective with the moment it's all been building toward. After revisiting every sequel, detour, and resurrection, the hosts finally arrive at the franchise's modern reboot, released on Friday, February 13, 2009. This remake promises a faster, meaner, back-to-basics take on Jason Voorhees, blending elements from the early films while aiming to reintroduce the hockey-masked killer to a new generation. Does this reboot deliver the fresh start fans were hoping for, or does it prove that maybe it's better to keep legends in mothballs? The retrospective ends where the future begins.
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Freddy vs. Jason (Jason Focus Review) Movie Review
13 februari 2009 · 47 min
One, two, Jason's coming for you... Lees meer
Now Playing Podcast continues its Friday the 13th retrospective as the series heads toward the release of the new film on Friday, February 13, 2009. This episode takes on Freddy vs. Jason, focusing specifically on Jason Voorhees and how this long-teased crossover fits into the Friday the 13th lineage. After years of stalled development and fan anticipation, Jason is finally pulled out of Crystal Lake and dropped into someone else’s nightmare. But does this matchup respect Jason as a character and advance his mythology, or does he get sidelined in favor of flashier dream logic and punchlines? The hosts look at Jason’s role, his portrayal, and whether this crossover works as a Friday the 13th chapter or leaves him playing second fiddle to the killer in his own movie.
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Jason X Movie Review
11 februari 2009 · 46 min
Aliens called. It wants its plot back. Lees meer
Now Playing Podcast continues its Friday the 13th retrospective as the countdown to the new film’s release on Friday, February 13, 2009, rolls on. This episode tackles Jason X, the sequel that does the unthinkable and sends Jason Voorhees into the future… and into space. Trading Camp Crystal Lake for cryogenics, androids, and zero-gravity kills, Jason X fully embraces sci-fi absurdity and franchise fatigue in equal measure. Is this a self-aware blast of camp that understands exactly how ridiculous it is, or a sign that the series had finally drifted too far from its roots? The hosts dig into the gimmicks, the humor, and whether Jason in space is inspired lunacy or just the last gasp before reentry.
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Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday Movie Review
6 februari 2009 · 44 min
Hell looks an awful lot like Connecticut Lees meer
Now Playing Podcast continues its Friday the 13th retrospective as the series barrels toward the release of the new film on Friday, February 13, 2009. This episode dives into Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday. This entry attempts to radically reinvent the franchise by tearing Jason apart and spreading his evil in unexpected ways. Released in 1993, The Final Friday takes big swings with body-hopping mythology, lore expansion, and a very different take on what a Friday the 13th movie can be. Do the hosts find this bold experiment impressive and possessed by Jason’s evil, or does it leave them feeling like they spent the whole runtime in hell?
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Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan Movie Review
4 februari 2009 · 50 min
Toxic Waste in the sewers is so cliché. Right, Master Splinter? Lees meer
Now Playing Podcast continues its Friday the 13th retrospective as the countdown to the new film’s release on Friday, February 13, 2009, rolls on. This episode tackles Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan. This sequel promises to haul Jason Voorhees out of Camp Crystal Lake and into the city that never sleeps... eventually. After eight films, the franchise makes a big swing by changing locations and upping the spectacle. But does shipping Jason to New York actually breathe new life into the series, or does this detour on a boat prove the formula is running on fumes? The hosts dig into the setting (or lack of it), the kills, and whether Jason’s so-called Big Apple adventure wakes the series up or just bites.
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Friday the 13th Part VII--The New Blood Movie Review
30 januari 2009 · 42 min
Psychic powers meets psycho killer. Discuss. Lees meer
Now Playing Podcast continues its Friday the 13th retrospective with Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood. This 1988 sequel tries to shake things up by pitting Jason Voorhees against a new kind of opponent and leaning harder into supernatural elements than ever before. Does The New Blood inject some much-needed life into the franchise, or does it feel like the series is shambling along on fumes? The hosts dig into the gimmick, the kills, and whether this experiment gives Jason a jolt of energy, or makes them wonder if they should have just watched Weekend at Bernie’s II instead.
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Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives Movie Review
28 januari 2009 · 38 min
Hey Jason - up your nose with a rubber hose! Lees meer
Now Playing continues its Friday the 13th retrospective as the countdown to the new film's release on Friday, February 13, 2009, keeps rolling. This episode takes on Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives, the entry that brings Jason Voorhees back to Camp Crystal Lake in a big, loud, and very intentional way. After the controversy of A New Beginning, Jason Lives marks a tonal shift for the series, leaning into self-awareness, bigger kills, and a more overt embrace of the franchise's own mythology. Is this the triumphant return fans were hoping for, or just another excuse to dust off the hockey mask? The hosts dig into the humor, the horror, and whether Jason deserves the "Welcome Back" party he gets here.
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Friday the 13th: A New Beginning Movie Review
23 januari 2009 · 43 min
It would have worked, too, if it weren't for those meddling kids! Lees meer
Now Playing Podcast continues its Friday the 13th retrospective as the countdown to the new film’s release on Friday, February 13, 2009, rolls on. This episode tackles Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning, the 1985 sequel that promised a fresh start for the franchise while boldly toying with its most sacred icon. A New Beginning remains one of the series’ most controversial entries, with its new setting, new characters, and some very deliberate choices about the hockey mask. Is this attempt at reinvention a worthwhile shake-up? Or proof that some things should have been left alone? The hosts dig into the kills, the changes, the damn enchiladas, and whether this “new beginning” was ever really a good idea.
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Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter Movie Review
21 januari 2009 · 37 min
Where's Corey Haim when you need him? Lees meer
Now Playing Podcast continues its Friday the 13th retrospective with the fourth installment, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter. Marketed as the series’s conclusion, this entry escalates the body count, tightens the pacing, and emphasizes the notion that this is indeed The Fnal Chapter at Camp Crystal Lake. With a more menacing demeanor and a deeper understanding of the series’ strengths, fans have long regarded The Final Chapter as a high point. However, does it truly deserve this reputation, and more importantly, should the series have concluded here? The hosts delve into the kills, characters, cast (including Corey Feldman and Crispin Glover!), and whether this was the appropriate conclusion.
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Friday the 13th Part III in 3-D Movie Review
16 januari 2009 · 36 min
A quick and easy Halloween costume is born Lees meer
Now Playing Podcast continues its Friday the 13th retrospective with Friday the 13th Part III, as the hosts work their way through the franchise ahead of the upcoming reboot. This 1982 installment has the hockey mask take center stage, solidifying Jason's iconic look. But arriving in theaters in full 3-D and pushing the series toward bigger kills and broader spectacle, is Part III a cheap novelty packed with flying eyeballs and pitchforks, or a turning point that helped cement the franchise's identity? The discussion digs into the gimmicks, the gore, and whether this eye-popping sequel earns its place in slasher history.
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Friday the 13th Part II Movie Review
14 januari 2009 · 39 min
I got this great summer job - I'm a camp counselor at Camp Crystal Lake Lees meer
Now Playing Podcast continues its Friday the 13th retrospective series with Friday the 13th Part 2, as the countdown to the new Friday the 13th movie builds toward its release on Friday, February 13, 2009. The sequel picks up the bloody legacy of Camp Crystal Lake and delivers a major franchise turning point. Released in 1981, Part 2 marks the first time Jason Voorhees steps out of the shadows as the killer himself, trading the mystery of the original for a more direct and relentless threat. The hosts dig into Jason’s early incarnation, the kills, the scares, and whether this sequel strengthens the series or just repeats the formula with a burlap sack.
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Friday the 13th (1980) Movie Review
9 januari 2009 · 47 min
Sure, Jason, honey, you can go take a quick dip in the lake Lees meer
Now Playing Podcast kicks off a special Friday the 13th Retrospective Series as we eagerly await the new Platinum Dunes remake. We'll be camping out with all of the Friday films, starting with the 1980 original. It revolutionized the slasher genre and introduced audiences to the iconic Camp Crystal Lake. Long before hockey masks and pop-culture references, this original entry set the stage with gruesome kills, pervasive paranoia, and a body count that kept audiences on the edge of their seats. Our hosts, Stuart, Arnie, and Brock, delve into the factors that contributed to Friday the 13th's immense popularity, compare it to its horror contemporaries, and ponder whether it still stands as a terrifying movie or has transcended its genre to become a fascinating curiosity. Join us at the lake where it all began for this captivating retrospective.
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Harvey Pekar Interview
11 oktober 2008 · 52 min
Ordinary Life Is Pretty Complex Stuff Lees meer
In this candid, wide-ranging conversation, Jakob sits down with Harvey Pekar, the creator of American Splendor, to talk about realism in comics, the limits of the superhero genre, and why he chose to chronicle the life of a VA hospital file clerk instead of caped crusaders. Pekar reflects on his unlikely path from underground comics with Robert Crumb to mainstream recognition after the 2003 film adaptation, and he’s blunt about luck, ambition, and how hard it is to sell stories about an anti-hero whose biggest battles are depression, dissatisfaction, and everyday frustration. He discusses introducing realism into a medium that, in his view, never had a true realist movement, defends his methodical writing process, and explains why information itself can be entertainment. The interview also veers into politics, criticism, prose fiction, and Pekar’s deep love of jazz, revealing a writer who approached art the same way he approached history and music: systematically, obsessively, and on his own terms. This is not a superhero origin story. It’s something rarer. A working-class intellectual explaining why the mundane matters, and why comics deserved better than capes and punchlines.
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From Little Mermaid to Lost Snow White: Disney Artist Dave Pacheco on Animation and Collectibles Interview
21 mei 2007 · 25 min
Disney animator and creative director Dave Pacheco discusses his work at Disney across animation, publishing, and collectibles. Known for his contributions to films like The Little Mermaid and Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Pacheco also shares behind-the-scenes details on reconstructing lost animation from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Lees meer
In this interview, Pacheco talks about breaking into Disney animation, working with classic characters like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Tinker Bell, and translating 2D animation into 3D collectibles and merchandise. He also explains how Disney character design is maintained across theme parks, publishing, and consumer products.
Hear insights on traditional animation vs CGI, advice for aspiring animators, and stories from inside Walt Disney Animation Studios. This interview is a must-listen for Disney fans, animation enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the history and craft of Disney animation.
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Seth Green and Matthew Senreich, Robot Chicken Star Wars Special Interview
4 mei 2007 · 18 min
Robot Chicken takes on Star Wars! Lees meer
Seth Green and Matthew Senreich talk with Now Playing Podcast about their upcoming Robot Chicken: Star Wars special, including directing George Lucas, getting Mark Hamill back as Luke, writing for the special, and bringing Star Wars humor to late-night TV.
Plus, Robot Chicken writer/voice actor (and Greg the Bunny creator) Dan Milano joins in to talk about what happens when collectors start smashing their own toys for comedy.
It’s Star Wars fans living the dream of becoming official Star Wars creators! So hear this dive into their special now!
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Walter Koenig Interview – Star Trek’s Chekov Talks Legacy, Writing, and New Projects
25 april 2007 · 20 min
Best known as Pavel Chekov from Star Trek, Walter Koenig joins Now Playing Podcast for a candid interview about his journey through the final season of the original series, the transition into writing for The Animated Series, and his continued involvement in the Star Trek universe. Lees meer
Koenig reflects on joining an already established cast, the fan response to Chekov, and why his character often seemed to take the brunt of on-screen danger. He also dives into his work behind the camera, including writing for the animated series and exploring creative opportunities beyond acting.
Beyond Star Trek, Koenig discusses his stage work, independent film projects like InAlienable, and his approach to storytelling in new media. He also shares thoughts on fan productions, the franchise's evolution, and whether he sees himself returning to the role of Chekov.
It’s an insightful, wide-ranging conversation with one of Star Trek’s most enduring cast members, offering fans a deeper look at the man behind the uniform and where he’s headed next.