Deep Dive Movie Reviews

The long-awaited follow-up sequel to Denis Villeneuve' s take on Frank Herbert's "Dune". We look at whether or not this sprawling epic of geo-political intrigue on the faraway planet Arrakis (Dune) lives up to the hype ** Deep Dive Movie Reviews contain spoilers ** 0:00 - Introduction 2:00 - Dune Part 1 vs Part 2 9:26 - Are the Harkonens “twisted” enough?  13:50 - The price paid for focusing on the love story 17:00 - The role of religion in Part 2 20:28 - Humour borders on Monty Python’s “Life of Brian” 27:14 - “The sandworms were great” 29:10 - A “Dune” TV show could rival “Game of Thrones” 30:35 - Final score for Dune: Part Two”

thezoneofinterest #holocausteducation Jonathan Glazer wrote and directed the disturbingly brilliant film of a Nazi family building an idyllic home life while the father commands the Auschwitz extermination camp on the other side of the wall. ** Deep Dive Movie Reviews contain spoilers ** 0:00 - Introduction 2:29 - Unlike any previous holocaust film 5:37 - "The Zone" is so relevant for today 13:04 - The Zone of Interest reminds us we must never forget 15:53 - Sound is such a crucial ingredient 23:35 - The Zone of Interest nominated for 5 Oscars 25:57 - Final score for “The Zone of Interest”

James & Steve recap the year 2023 with their lists of the Top 10 best movies of the last 12 months. What did they miss? Where are they wrong? Drop a comment in the section below ** Deep Dive Movie Reviews contain spoilers ** 0:00 - Introduction 1:34 - 2023 Honorary Mentions 9:06 - Best Film #10 15:05 - Best Film #9 26:00 - Best Film #8 36:10 - Best Film#7 41:07 - Best Film 6 45:10 - Best Film #5 49:21 - Best Film#4 1:02:48 - Best Film #3 1:12:61 - Best Film #2 1:19:21 - Best Film of 2023!!!

Set in the immediate aftermath of World War 2, a devastated Japan has to rally to defend itself yet again from the legendary Godzilla ** Deep Dive Movie Reviews contain spoilers ** 0:00 - Introduction 2:12 - Why Godzilla never gets old 3:00 - Godzilla is Japan’s “Elvis” 4:20 - Monster Week 7:56 - The wartime context of "Godzilla Minus One" 16:20 - This was a cool version of Godzilla 19:35 - The Godzilla “eras” 22:22 - Godzilla Minus One final score

Timothee Chalamet stars as renowned chocolate maker Willy Wonka in Paul King's origin story musical "Wonka". James & Steve give a full spoiler review and weigh in on whether the new film can stand tall alongside the 1971 classic "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" ** Deep Dive Movie Reviews contain spoilers **  0:00 - Introduction 1:45 - Willy Wonka origin story 2:05 - “Pure Imagination” 4:30 - Fans respond positively when the source material is honored 9:42 - Hugh Grant’s Oompa - Loompa 10:58 - Where the magic happens 13:30 - The music of “Wonka” 16:27 - Final score for Wonka

David Tennant's return to the TARDIS for three special episodes marking Doctor Who's 60th anniversary has been both hailed as breathing fresh wind into the franchise as well as derided by critics who see changes brought by showrunner Russell T. Davies as being too "woke". James & Steve weigh in as they attempt to balance these varying perspectives and leave with the hope that the future of the Doctor remains bright. ** Deep Dive Movie Reviews contain spoilers **  0:00 - Introduction 1:00 - “The Giggle” addresses the haters 6:20 - The Fourteenth Doctor “retires”? 7:14 - Is the series too beholden to David Tennant? 10:34 - The Issac Newton race-swap 18:43 - Final thoughts on the 60th-anniversary specials

Angel Studios ventures into sci-fi territory with a unique reimagining of the Book of Job. Does this "faith based" story of a man who loses everything and trying to get back to the woman he loves hit home for its target Evangelical Christian audience? Steve & James weigh in. ** Deep Dive Movie Reviews contain spoilers **  0:00 - Introduction 0:45 - How well does The Shift “reimagine” the Book of Job 3:14 - The Shift synopsis 4:34 - The “faith-based multiverse” 8:16 - Are Timothy Olyphant, Josh Duhamal, Kristopher Polaha brothers? 12:42 - Why many Christian themed films have a “cheesy” factor 17:48 - When the The Shift's creative story collides with a proselytising agenda 24:18 - Final Score for “The Shift” #theshift #angelstudios 

Based on a true story, Jim Caviezel stars as Tim Ballard, a Homeland Security Officer who, upon discovering a child slavery ring in South America, gathers a group of like-minded allies to see the cabal brought down. The Evangelical community in America came on in force for this film bringing the gross box office to a quarter of a BILLION $$$$ defying the expectations of a cynical Hollywood...but is it really any good?  Steve & James weigh in on this polarizing film. ** Deep Dive Movie Reviews contain SPOILERS ** 0:00 - Introduction 5:07 - Faith-based community support 9:11 - No one actually talks about the film itself 15:21 - Steve & James disagree about “God’s Children” 17:54 - Is the film really any good?? 27:50 - The hurdles for “Sound of Freedom” to get made 32:00 - Films for underrepresented groups 34:43 - Final score for “Sound of Freedom”

Steve & James unpack the latest Mike Flanagan Netflix horror series "The Fall of the House of Usher". **. Deep Dive Movie Reviews contain spoilers **    0:00 - Introduction 1:45 - Edgar Allan Poe 4:15 - Is Mike Flanagan the new Stephen King? 8:30 - The casting is GOLD 17:42 - The subtext: choice & consequence 23:15 - Mark Hamill is a brilliant Arthur Pym 28:35 - Rating Mike Flangan’s five Netflix series 34:56 - Final score for “The Fall of the House of Usher”

James liked Gareth Edwards new sci-fi film "The Creator" but Steve found it lacking. Find out why in this episode of ScreenShots. We then move on to Mike Flanagan's new Netflix Halloween release "The Fall of the House of Usher". Along the way we discuss the works of Edgar Allan Poe and launch a new book club! ** Deep Dive does Spoilers**  0:00 - Introduction 0:43 - Why James doesn't watch many TV shows 3:41 - The Creator 37:13 - The Fall of the House of Usher 1:14:19 - Steve & James start a book club 1:21:20 - H.P. Lovercraft and Cthulhu

James gets a Masterclass lesson in all things Star Trek as fellow film critic and Star Trek aficionado Liz Kerr joins Steve as they swoon over the recent season of Strange New Worlds. We then move on to discuss the death of famed director William Friedkin, the 50th Anniversary of his iconic film "The Exorcist" and why Steve's Christian Evangelical background meant he never actually saw the film until James made him this week 😂.  Along the way, we chat about some of the TV we've been watching lately. ** Deep Dive Movie Reviews contain spoilers **

Steve & James look at NPR's recent critique of "Oppenheimer" which highlighted its overly white cast and lack of gay characters. How should today's films be representative and diverse, yet not be held hostage to unrealistic stories or relationships? We look at some recent summer films and where they succeed or miss on ways forward.  ** Deep Dive Movie Reviews contain spoilers **

The boys return from a summer hiatus and pour a couple drinks before jumping into a banter on the biggest blockbusters of the season. We unpack the hits (Oppenheimer), the misses (We're looking at you Indy), the insane (Tom Cruise and that train), and of course Pink Patriarchy (Barbie). Along the way James explains why CGI has gotten worse in the last 15 years and Steve discovers his "tribe" in Ireland. So grab a drink, pull up a chair, and join us for our Summer Blockbusters 2023 Comeback Special ** Deep Dive Movie Reviews contain spoilers **

When Steve learns that James has never seen an episode of "Black Mirror", he goes into action to explain to his friend why he must watch Charlie Brooker's dystopian fuelled anthology series stat! Along the way, Steve reviews the recently dropped Series 6 as well as some of his favorite episodes from past seasons. ** Deep Dive Movie Reviews Contain Spoilers **

Director Cheng Er's espionage noir film set in Japanese-occupied Shanghai in the 1940s about a group of daring Chinese who set up an underground network to undermine the puppet regime. Starring Tony Leung, Wang Yibo, Zhou Xun, and Huang Lei ** Deep Dive Movie Reviews contain spoilers **  3:10 - Complex layers of loyalties & secrets 11:28 - The Hidden Blade’s “long con” 12:55 - Shanghai as a setting 19:45 - Tony Leung 22:19 - Final score for Hidden Blade

Ricardo Darin heads up this historical courtroom drama of a team of young lawyers who seek to prosecute those responsible for the atrocities committed by the military junta in Argentina from 1976-1983. Also starring Peter Lanzani, Alejandra Flechner and Norman Briski. ** Deep Dive Movie Reviews contain spoilers **  2:00 - Argentina 1985 speaks to 2023  6:20 - Rock solid film but missing something?  9:50 - The scene that was very personal for Steve  17:23 - Final score for Argentina 1985

Writer - director Ruben Ostlund's satirical comedy skewers the rich & entitled when a luxury yacht goes down at seas marooning its passengers on a deserted Island. Starring Harris Dickinson, Charlbi Dean, Dolly de Leon, Zlatko Burić, Henrik Dorsin, Vicki Berlin, and Woody Harrelson. ** Deep Dive Movie Reviews contains spoilers **  1:50 - The vomit scene 4:45 - Subverting or reenforcing gender stereotypes? 11:00 - Examining hierarchies 14:00 - The best scene in the film 18:45 - The cast 20:19 - Final score for “Triangle of Sadness”

Hong Kong's Andy Lau joins Mainland action star Wu Jing in the sequel to 2019's blockbuster "The Wandering Earth". Based on the short story by Chinese novelist Liu Cixin of an ambitious plan to save humanity from our dying sun. Deep Dive Movie Reviews contain spoilers  1:50 - The premise of " The Wandering Earth 2" 10:50 - Story and effects are well balanced 17:04 - Andy Lau makes a welcome addition 21:22 - Are women poorly served in "The Wandering Earth 2"? 24:35 - "The Wandering Earth" would make a great TV series 25:51 - Allegory for climate change 28:36 - Final score for "The Wandering Earth 2"

Todd Field wrote and directed this psychological - drama of a famed maestro (Cate Blanchett) whose power plays and sexual manipulations threaten her position as the first female director of a European orchestra. ** Deep Dive Movie Reviews contain spoilers ** Sight & Sounds Top 100 2022 referenced in episode can be found here: https://decider.com/2022/12/02/2022-sight-and-sound-greatest-films-of-all-time-poll/    7:20 - Can we separate “art” from the artist’s character? 13:50 - Surprisingly “chaste” considering the sexual politics and power dynamics 16:07 - Like music, “Tar” relays on your own interpretation 18:42 - The end of “Tar” 26:40 - Final Score for “Tar”

To celebrate reaching the milestone of 100 videos here on Deep Dive Movie Reviews, James and Steve have a discussion around one of the most iconic films in cinema history; Orson Welles' "Citizen Kane" ** Deep Dive Movie Reviews Contain Spoilers **  0:00 - Intro 2:40 - Citizen Kane is not your regular crowd pleaser 5:45 - Was Charles Foster Kane “evil”? 10:24 - Citizen Kane took years to finally gain the status its recognised for. 20:30 - Talking the script 27:19 - Orson Wells & Ed Wood 30:00 - Who is this generation’s Orson Wells?