Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast

New year, new time to be punished. Like last year, we are kicking off 2026 with another dent in the long running Marvel series. This time, we are going to watch three different movies with three different actors playing the character. First, it’s Dolph Lundgren in 1989’s The Punisher. By 1989, Lundgren’s time in the sun was looking dim. Master of the Universe (which we MIGHT cover) was released with him playing the title character, and it ended up being a huge reason why Cannon Studios crumbled. Here, he’s actually in good hands, as noted action director Mark Goldblatt (Terminator 2) and Karate Kid screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen, were two of the people with action cred which tried to take The Punisher to the promised land. Does he? You’ll have to listen to find out. Next week, the boys take on 2004’s Thomas Jane starring The Punisher! Also, be sure to check out Matt and Garrett this Sunday as they go at it in horror trivia when they guest on the A Bloody Good Time Podcast!

Here it is, the 2025 wrap up show! Listen in as Matt, Adam, and Garrett go deep into their favorite retrospectives of the year, give their top five favorite films of the year (definitely purely some surprises here), answer YOUR questions, and give a little preview as to what to expect in the coming year. We are so pleased to go into our fifth year at this, and it’s because of people like you that we do it! Thanks so much for listening, and we’re looking forward to another year of talking about movies…and arguing.

The co-hosts close out their look at Predator with a review of Dan Trachtenberg’s film from last year Predator Badlands. With Adam really liking last week’s entry, will he enjoy seeing Trachtenberg integrate Predator with Alien, while also casting Elle Fanning in the role of the android? Next week, the Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast close out the year with their epic over 3.5 hour year end show. And then they jump right back into the retrospectives by looking at another leg of Marvel, The Punisher!

To the surprise of everyone despite Prey doing well critically and among audiences, we have two new installments of the Predator franchise in 2025. The first hit Hulu earlier this year. Under the help of Prey's Dan Trachtenberg, he chose to tell the next chapter as "chapters" in animation. In addition, it's an anthology that actually reconnects together all the stories both new and old. How do we feel about this radical new direction and what is our excitement about Predator: Badlands? Tune in next week to hear our thoughts, rankings on the series and our first retro of 2026! Disclaimer: We did review Prey upon it's release in 2022. It was part of our AVP retro that led into it as a new release. To listen to those reviews, please visit our archives!

Eight years after producer Robert Rodriguez had Adrien Brody went and fought the Predator -and Predator dogs, and bigger Predators, and Lawrence Fishburne- original Predator co-star Shane Black decided to take the reigns and see if he could make something a little more universally successful. The result, 2018’s The Predator. Yet, once again, 20th Century Fox stepped in and decided to make life a living hell for all involved. Scenes were switched, a friend of Black’s had a small scene cut due to Olivia Munn finding out the other man in the scene -who was also a friend of Black’s- had a checkered past. And the ending ended up getting completely reworked. So what do Garrett, Matt, and Adam have to say? This, was the podcast Matt and Garrett had been looking forward to since they started this series due to Adam once again having reservations to watching a movie in a franchise again due to an utter hatred for the film. It happened with Alien Covenant. Yet, unlike that 2017 film, Adam hadn’t finished watching The Predator until this viewing. Did he warm up to it? Well, let’s just say this is one of those podcasts where Garrett and Matt just kind of stand back and let Adam go. The result, is one of the most one sided hatred ladened shows the guys have done since 2017’s The Last Jedi. Listen in to see how the others feel!

After a set of Alien vs Predator films that failed to ignite any sort of passion from a hugely passionate set of fan bases, the pressure was on producer Robert Rodriguez to make a film that at least satisfy the Predator fan base. So after finally getting the green light to produce a script he’d started back in the mid 90s, Rodriguez found himself doing what he’d been wanting to do his entire career, which was make a Predator film. But by the late 2000s, Rodriguez was also a very busy producer. He had had just made the flop Grindhouse with his buddy Quentin Tarantino, and was directing a spinoff from said flop called Machette. So he cast recent Oscar winner Adrien Brody in the lead and put Nimrod Antal (Frequency) in the director’s chair for the passion project of all passion projects. The result was a 2010 film that was once again heaped with mixed reviews upon release, with some calling it a return to Predator glory and others calling it a mediocre misfire. Where do the co-hosts stand? With longtime Predator fan Adam Bunch finally getting to tell people what he thinks about Predators, gear up as the Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast reviews the film scene by scene. And if you’d like to hear the guys review the two previous Alien vs Predator films, be sure to check out the Percolated Media archives. Next week, another review Adam has been waiting to do for quite some time, a review of 2018’s The Predator!

After the obviousness that was all our positive reviews of 1987’s original Predator film, we knew that starting this week there would be some chinks in the title character’s armor. Predator 2 was released around Thanksgiving in 1990 and even with Jim and John Thomas returning to pen the script, to say it wasn’t received nearly as well would be an understatement. This may have to do with changing the director from well renowned action director John McTiernan to Aussie Stephen Hopkins (A Nightmare on Elm Street 5 The Dream Child). But the big change, of course, was changing out muscle bound full of machismo Ah-nold Schwarzenegger to Lethal Weapon’s ‘I’m too old for this shit’ Danny Glover. Listen to the latest Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast to hear Adam and Garrett recount their theatrical experiences of seeing the film (as Matt laughs at the fact it came out three years before he was born), and of course give their expectations and overall thoughts as they revisit Predator 2 for this long form review. Also, keep in mind that the co-hosts already reviewed the Alien Vs Predator films in the lead up to 2022’s Prey (check for those reviews in the archives), so next week’s review will be 2010’s Predators!

After going through a month of movies involving stories about man eating sharks, The Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast crew decided it would take on a series involving a different kind of predator. In fact, it’s about THE predator, which had another entry in the franchise come out a couple months ago. But before they get there, as always, the guys have to start from where it all began. When 1987’s Predator was first greenlit, it is widely believed the reason was because it was piggybacking off the back of 20th Century Fox’s successes with two other space oriented franchises, Star Wars and Alien. What came of it was a new franchise that carried on with sequels and (the already covered) tie-ins that make Predator’s title creature amongst one of cinema’s most popular characters. Especially with Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast’s very own Adam. Join Adam, Matt, and Garrett as they dive into director John McTiernan’s 1987 testosterone fueled Arnold Schwarzenegger original film,and lead up to a review of this year’s aforementioned film Predator Badlands!

How’s this for a post Thanksgiving feast? We treat Adam to a viewing of 1987’s Jaws The Revenge, a movie that is almost universally regarded as one of the worst movies ever made. So how did the movie that started a franchise in 1975, come to this? Join the Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast as Matt and Garrett enjoy treading through thoughts of what Adam was thinking as Felt Shark brushed past the screen for the very first time, as well as what he thought when he learned Lance ‘The Last Starfighter’ Guest was playing Mike Brody. All this, as well as discussions on how horny is Carla Brody, and what the guys are reviewing next, and so much more, on this Thanksgiving weekend episode of The Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast!

With Jaws now an official film franchise, Universal and its producers still wanted more. But they then did an unforeseen, seemingly desperate move of producing a script done by John Hughes and the rest of the National Lampoon clan called Jaws 3 People Nothing. Original producers Richard Zanuck and Robert Brown were allegedly onboard to do the film. But supposedly, original director Steven Spielberg came in and said that if the script was made, he was going to leave Universal forever. So, Brown and Zanuck sold their rights to Alan Greenspan, who then got author and frequent Twilight Zone scribe Richard Matheson to come in and once again bring terrorizing sharks back to the beaches. But Greenspan got desperate after Matheson turned in a supposed unfilmable script and once again brought in Carl Gottlieb in and spice it up. What was eventually come up with was filmed and brought forth before audiences by longtime Jaws 2nd unit director Joe Alves in the 3D wrought Jaws 3D. How did the film eventually go 3D? How much coke was star Dennis Quaid on during filming? What the hell is recent Oscar winner Lou Gossett Jr doing here? And what did Garrett hold this one up as his favorite Jaws film while growing up? Soooo many questions, as well as what first time viewer Adam thinks of the film, are answered on this week’s Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast! Next week, Jaws The Revenge!!

Against all odds, 1975’s Jaws was released and before long, was labeled a certified hit. So it’s safe to say that not firing a forward thinking young director for going over 100 days over budget paid off, and before the term was even uttered, Universal Studios had a franchise on their hands. But what next? Well, it would only seem fit that they would capitalize on it with a sequel. Of course, the studio approached their young wunderkind Steven Spielberg to see if he would like to direct the follow up. But, after the nightmare that was the first one, plus his at the time complete disdain for anything and everything that was sequel related, Spielberg passed. So after a couple other attempts with a couple other directors, the studio settled on TV director Jeannot Szwarc. And despite the film running into many of the same problems the original did, (as well as a very disgruntled Roy Schneider being so angry about having to do this film he was getting in literal fights with Szwarc) Jaws 2 was released in 1978 and was a certified hit. Despite this success, there was one person who it passed over, and that is our very own Adam Bunch. See, Adam has never seen Jaws 2. Until now. Join the Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast as they review Jaws 2, and find out if their love for the first one carries over onto this one.

50 years ago, history was made as Jaws was released to theaters and took the first of a few steps (George Lucas would do the same thing a couple years later with a little space movie you might have heard of) in changing the way cinema was made and marketed to the masses. An argument can be made -and is made on this podcast- that 26 year old director Steven Spielberg got a lifetime mulligan in his career with completing the 1975 blockbuster to the masses. How else can you explain him being allowed to direct again after the release of 2004’s The Terminal? But boy was it difficult getting there. Listen to this long awaited, near two hour Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast as Garrett, Matt, and Adam go over everything that went into the infamously difficult shooting of Jaws, as well as review scene by scene one of movie history’s most important films. Or is it? And be sure to come back the next few weeks as Adam watches the Jaws sequels for the very first time.

As a special treat to our dedicated Percolated Media listeners, here’s our review of the adaptation of Stephen King’s first finished novel The Long Walk! Listen in as the co-hosts talk about the movie’s long history of start/stops at getting made, as well as some pretty outlandish theatrical experiences. You just might feel sorry for Garrett’s poor fiancé by the end! Come back tomorrow as Garrett will release a special Halloween edition of Percolated Media Presents, where he finally gets to talk about a franchise he’s been wanting to talk about for years with a certified expert on the topic!

As marketing ramped up for Jurassic World Rebirth, there were multiple questions about just what the hell this film was going to be. There was no Colin Trevorrow, no Chris Pratt, and no Bryce Dallas Howard. Instead, we had Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and, much to Adam’s chagrin, director Gareth Edwards (2014’s Godzilla). So, what exactly were we in for? That’s what we’re here to discuss. With theatrical stories to tell, the guys come in and talk about what their expectations for Rebirth were going in, as well as if it lived up to any of them. This Jurassic World series has been a tough set of weeks for us. Can this update of ‘dinos on the chase’ be a nice end to the series? Also, be sure to stay tuned until the end, as we talk about what we’re doing next, and it involves another big creature attacking story. Though this one, might be the one that started it all. What is it? Listen and find out!!

Despite not winning most critics over, Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom STILL cracked the $1 billion mark at the box office. This proved that people were still starved for dinosaurs. So Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow, fresh from his bomb Book of Henry, decided he was the one to close off this Jurassic World trilogy. To do that he decided he was going to give fans a treat. He was going to bring back the OG Jurassic crew Sam Neil, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum, with our Jurassic World alumni Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard. And despite once again not getting much criticism approval, 2022’s Jurassic World Dominion once again crossed the $1 billion mark. Join OG Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast crew Garrett, Matt, and Adam, as they dissect the huge hit, and Garrett watches it for the very first time. Will Goudreau once again unleash on a dino hit? Download below to find out!

After Jurassic World came out and was a massive success in 2015, Universal knew that once again dinosaurs were proven commodities. So, they came up with ways to once again bring them back. With World director Colin Trevorrow in the press saying he and his writing partner Derek Connelly had ideas for three total films, there were reasons to be excited. Especially if you were a Jurassic fan. So, they hired director JA Bayona (A Monster Calls) to once again bring emotion to the series. And Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt were signed as well. The result? 2018’s Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom. The film was once again released to $1 billion in box office receipts. But critics weren’t as impressed. Do these critics include our three podcast hosts? Join Matt, Garrett, and Adam as they talk about their very different theatrical experiences and dive right into the Jurassic World film that brought gothic horror through its stone walls, and determine if Fallen Kingdom is worth your time.

Now that John Wick is behind us, time to start a new retrospective. Actually, it’s time to pick up from where an old one left off, as two years ago Garrett, Adam, and Matt reviewed the first three movies in the Jurassic Park film series, with every intention of eventually picking up from where they left off. Well, with Jurassic World Rebirth being released this year, we decided now was as good a time as any. Before we get there, the guys review what started the whole Jurassic World Series, Colin Trevorrow’s 2015 upstart Jurassic World. Garrett gave it a so-so written review, Matt barely had any memory of it, and Adam had a blast in theaters with the Chris Pratt Bryce Dallas Howard starrer. So how do they feel now? Listen in as the co-hosts trade stories on where they were in their lives at the time, as well as if all their opinions hold up today. And so much more on this, the first of a four part series!

And then there was one. Here is our long built up review of Ballerina: From The World of John Wick. Starring Ana DeArmas and directed by Len Wiseman (Live Free or Die Hard) it would seem the franchise was going to be sent to other hands for its first of at least a few planned spinoffs. However, that was not to be. Rumored bad dailies caused producers to get cold feet with their oncoming director and unproven female action star. So, they called in the cavalry. Enter Chad Stahelski, Keanu Reeves, and Angelica Huston. With lots and lots of new footage supposedly shot by Stahelski, we once again had a glued together with popsicle sticks version of a spinoff. But is Ballerina a subject of bad press? Join Garrett, Matt, and Adam as they dissect the film and its many rumored behind the scenes problems, as well as determine if it’s better than it’s at the time of its release bad reputation. Also, stay tuned to find out what the co-hosts are doing next.

Three films in, neither John Wick or its portrayer Keanu Reeves showed any signs of slowing down. Yet, in the lead up to the 2023 release of John Wick Chapter 4, all producers and Reeves could talk about is the fact that this was going to be the last one. But, massive success followed. As did a Peacock prequel, and next week’s film Ballerina. We’ll talk about those in the next week. For now, we’ll dissect the near three hour third sequel, which was once again helmed by Chad Stahelski. Next week, a review of this year’s Ballerina, as well as a preview of what we’re covering next!

By the time 2019 rolled around, John Wick was a full fledged franchise. And despite its star being in his 50s, Keanu Reeves was still showing up, and still kicking ass in two previous movies which were massive hits. But Garrett wasn’t a huge fan of last week’s film. Could John Wick Chapter 3 Parabellum win him back? Join him as well as Matt and Adam on the Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast as they let their thoughts on John Wick 3 be known. Does Halle Barry win them over? How about the desert scenes? And could this be the best of the series so far? All these questions, as well as a lead up to the released earlier this year Ballerina: From The World of John Wick, is all set for you to download and listen to below