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
Fresh off the surprise success of 2014’s John Wick, Summit Entertainment knew they had a hit on their hands. Better yet, they knew they had the beginning of what looked like a fruitful franchise. So they tried gathering the band back together again in hopes of continued financial achievement. But while star Keanu Reeves and director Chad Stahelski, as well as writer Derek Kolstad were quickly onboard for the sequel, co-director David Leitch had other plans. More opportunities arose as the result of John Wick’s success, and Leitch wanted to grab that iron while it was still hot. Movies like Atomic Blonde and Deadpool 2 were what he decided to move on to. But where does that leave John Wick Chapter 2, and would Leitch’s absence be a bad omen for the future of the franchise? Join Garrett, Matt, and Adam as they answer those questions, as well as give an in depth (and some would say surprising) review of 2017’s more successful John Wick sequel, John Wick Chapter 2. Next week, John Wick Chapter 3 Parabellum.
Much to Matt’s delight, it’s to start diving into the neon colored world of John Wick. A movie that for all intents and purposes, (an unproven set of directors, a star who had done a string of bombs, a ‘wrote’ script) had no business being a hit. But $86 million in box office revenue later, Summit Entertainment had a bona fide hit. And franchise. Join Garrett, Matt, and Adam as they start their dive into the John Wick franchise, as well as give their anticipatory thoughts on Ballerina, the movie this retrospective is going to end on.
To say Garrett was hesitant to watch one of his least favorite directors take on his most favorite comic book character in a feature film would be an understatement. But, that’s exactly what he did, and here is the result of how he felt after he and his co-hosts finally watched the long awaited reboot of the Superman franchise. Matt and Adam come in with a nonchalant attitude towards the character, but love for at least one of James Gunn’s other films. What happens when you mix these two recipes? A two and a half hour podcast that not only reviews the film in detail. But also talks about the podcasters’ theatrical experiences, as well as what they were all expecting coming in. Next week, The Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast begins their look at the John Wick franchise! Note: If you’d like to just get to the review, it starts around the 38 minute mark.
After grossing over $80 million at the box office, you knew it was only a matter of time before the Jason Blum Blumhouse Puctures machine churned out another adventure involving Megan the killer AI doll. In fact, we even said as much on that podcast. Lo and behold, two years later, here we are discussing Megan 2.0! With a terrible marketing campaign and even more terrible release date (in between Jurassic World Rebirth and Superman), it would seem that Megan 2.0 didn’t have a chance of making any sort of impact like her original 2023 venture did. But that doesn’t mean James Wan and company didn’t try to distinguish themselves. Join Garrett, Matt, and Adam as they dissect the 2025 sequel and determine whether it deserves the beating it has taken from both critics and audiences. And be sure to listen to the end as we give a slight preview of what to expect when we review the aforementioned recently released to digital James Gunn directed Superman film.
Here it is, the end of two full months of watching Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt barrel their way through on impossible mission after another. All until they reach number eight, with a battle against The Entity. And Gabriel. This is over two and a half hours of the craziest review we’ve done in a long time. Listen to one of the co-hosts get gradually more disappointed until he gets full on pissed at what he’s sat through. Listen to another give some wild theories on what he believes Mission Impossible Final Reckoning is REALLY about. Finally, listen to the third…half heartedly defend it. Stay tuned until the end, as we rank the movies from best to worst, as well as finally reveal what our next series is. Though, as established last week, the next review posted will actually be Megan 2.0. Then Superman (2025). Then the next full on series.
After the success and apparent finality of 2018’s Mission Impossible Fallout, it would seem that Tom Cruise and company could have moved on to other ventures. But the ‘success’ part will almost always cause filmmakers to come up with another story and keep going. But returning writer/director didn’t just come up with a one movie story. He came up with a two parter. Two near three hour films made to finally say goodbye to one of the most successful franchises of all time. Here, the podcasters review part one of that venture, Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1. Listen in as they talk about the ratio of success regarding movie finales that have a ‘part one’, as well as their anticipation of the release of the first Mission Impossible movie in five years. Was it worth the wait? Also, be sure to check out Garrett’s tribute to Hulk Hogan posted earlier this week, as well as next week’s release of the final Mission Impossible review (for now?), Mission Impossible The Final Reckoning.
All things considered, 2015’s Mission Impossible Rogue Nation was a certified hit. Star Tom Cruise made a ditch effort to get writer/director Christopher McQuarrie back onboard to do another sequel in his tent pole franchise. After some convincing -and the casting of famously mustached Henry Cavill as the not so hidden villain- Mission Impossible Fallout was set to debut in 2018. And, like its predecessor, Fallout went on to be both a critical and financial hit. Listen to Garrett, Matt, and Adam talk about if the Dark Knight comparisons are warranted, as well as if Mission impossible Fallout is to blame -or credit- for the temporary downfall of the DC Cinematic Universe. Come back next week, as the guys look at 2023’s Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1, and we have it out about the justification to call it Part 1.
2015 was a MASSIVE year for franchises. Jurassic Park was about to get a whole reboot in the form of Jurassic World. James Bond was going to finally bring Blofeld and Spectre back in Spectre. Mad Max put the action genre on its head, coming back after 30 years with Mad Max Fury Road. And of course, Star Wars was finally brought back to the big screen in a big way with The Force Awakens. All of these, by the way, have been or will be reviewed by us at The Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast, so we recommend checking those out in our archives. The Mission Impossible franchise had a huge mountain to climb to stick out in a year where there were so many other things to choose from. But director Chris McQuarrie and company proved to be more than up to the task as Mission Impossible Rogue Nation was released and not only amongst the best received of the series. But it also grossed over $700 million worldwide and is still considered amongst the best in the franchise. Yeah, we’d say they stuck out. Join the gang as they look at the fifth Mission Impossible movie Mission Impossible Rogue Nation, and decide for themselves if it deserves all its praise. And come back next week as they look at 2018’s Mission Impossible Fallout, and get closer to closing out the series.
The words Brad Bird and Mission Impossible wouldn’t seem to go together. But in star Tom Cruise’s eyes, they most certainly do, as 2011 saw the release of The Incredibles director helming the fourth Mission Impossible movie, Ghost Protocol. With a cast that includes Paula Patton, Simon Pegg, and, oh yeah, Jeremy Renner, Ghost Protocol would prove to be a favorite amongst fans. Will this podcast panel feel the same? Also, Garrett discusses the release of Zoo, the new novel from his old friend -and podcast partner- David Mayne. Get Dave’s new book here: https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-David-Mayne/dp/B0F8R9SFLX
In 2000, star Tim Cruise was in top of the world. By 2006, he had a bit of a PR problem. Though his previous film War of the Worlds was a certified hit, his off the screen presence was becoming more and more of a problem. Some people would say toxic. Getting in arguments played out in public with Brooke Shields’s about the need to do away with prescribed drugs. To marrying a woman who was twenty years his junior. And of course jumping on talk show couches proclaiming his love for said woman. Directors were not wanting to work with him. And the general public, the same people who had spent tons of money to buy tickets to his movies, was rapidly starting to turn on him. So after a dissolved attempt to get David Fincher to direct Mission Impossible 3, perhaps the most important movie of Cruise’s career, who does he turn to in order to resurrect his career? An unknown in the cinematic universe director by the name of JJ Abrams. Listen to Matt, Garrett and Adam dissect the sequel that would set a tone that would permeate through the entire rest of the franchise. Matt, not the biggest Abrams fan, and Garrett, certainly have their opinions that have been known in the past. But what about Adam? Stay tuned. mission Impossible Ghost Protocol isn’t far behind.
By 2000, Tom Cruise was a made man. He had worked with Stanley Kubrick on the so-so erotic thriller Eyes Wide Shut, and even received an Oscar nomination for Magnolia. So in the interim between sequels, Cruise once again found himself in the position of being able to do anything. Why not return to the action franchise he had launched four years before? Now being helmed by Face Off’s John Woo, and despite some pretty tepid reviews, Mission Impossible 2 proved to be a huge hit. It would also seem to have made itself an action star in the (ego?) adrenaline infused film that also starred the at-the-time upcoming X-Man Dougray Scott as the villain. Join Garrett, Matt, and Adam as they reassess the movie that is looked at in a lot of circles as being the worst in the Mission Impossible franchise. Do the podcasters agree?
In 1996 Tom Cruise could have done whatever he wanted. He was married, had a positive public image, and the Academy was starting to recognize his work by nominating him for acting Oscars. However, seven months before he would try his hand at another shot at an Oscar with Jerry McGuire, he would add another perk to his resume. A perk that he would ride for nearly 30 years. That, of action star. Being a huge fan of the original TV series, Cruise (and his producing partner Paula Wagner) went to Paramount studios to pitch an idea that would make him a part of the Impossible Mission Force in a feature version of Mission Impossible. A hiring of director Brian DePalma later, Cruise and company were on their way to a franchise that would mark both the positive and negative aspects of its lead star. Join Garrett, Matt, and Adam as they talk about their overall view of the Mission Impossible franchise, their anticipation for how this podcast series will go. And of course, give their full on reviews of this 1996 original film. Strap in listeners. We’re in for a two month ride through the adventures of the IMF!
In 1987, Arnold Schwarzenegger was well on his way to becoming the biggest action star in the world. Later on in the year, he would be in Predator. But first, he’d star in the Stephen King adaptation The Running Man. Or is it a Richard Bachman adaptation? What’s the difference, and why would the rights to this book be $100,000, surprising the hell out of producer George Linder? We get into all of this, as well as a full review of the Paul Michael Glaser (Starsky?) directed film, in the podcast below. Also, find out what franchise we’ll be attacking next. That is, should we choose to accept it. All this, as well as many puns, when you listen to this week’s Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast!
As we already established on our The Dead Zone podcast, 1983 was the Year of the King. That year, Stephen King fans were treated to not one, not two, but THREE adaptations of the author’s work. The Dead Zone, Christine, and Cujo. Now common usage to explain a mean dog, Cujo had next to zero meaning to people who picked the book up ready to read King’s first all out horror novel in years. Like Drew Barrymore in Firestarter, producers once again used ET as a stepping point, and plucked everyone’s favorite mom Dee Wallace to star in a film about her and her son (Who’s The Boss’s Danny Pintauro) being terrorized by the film’s title character. Listen in as Garrett, Matt, and Adam talk about the film many (King included) count as among their favorite adaptations of King’s work. Will Adam think the same as, unsurprisingly, this is yet another first time viewing for him? And how did Garrett stumble upon the book, making it the first King novel he ever read? Find out by clicking below! And be sure to come back next week, as Matt finally gets to talk about Ah-nold Schwarzenegger when the co-hosts review the first Richard Bachman adaptation, The Running Man!
By 2022, Stephen King adaptations were five years into a renaissance that began with 2017’s adaptation of It. And after his successful Halloween legacy series began with a bang with 2018’s Halloween, producer Jason Blum also wanted to get in on the act of adapting King. So he hired Zac Effron and director Keith Thomas (The Vigil) to once again bring King’s Firestarter to the screen. Join Garrett, Matt, and Adam as they look at the 2022 version of King’s 1980 novel that was generally panned by critics and audiences alike when it came out in the summer of 2022. Will they like it any better? Note: if anyone knows where we can get our hands on a copy of Syfy’s Firestarter Rekindled, please let us know as it seems to of disappeared off the planet.
After E.T., Drew Barrymore could have done anything. Turns out that producer Dino de Laurentiis was about to scoop her up to be in two adaptations of author Stephen King’s work. The second, Cat’s Eye, is one we already covered way back at the beginning of Night Shift. But the first was Firestarter, King’s borderline science fiction novel about a girl who sets fires with her mind. Join the Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast as they review Commando director Mark L Lester’s 1984 adaptation of King’s 1980 novel. Unsurprisingly, it’s Adam’s first viewing of the film. Will he be genuinely surprised? And come back next week as the boys review not the syfy adaptation as outlined here, but the 2022 Zac Effron starring film of the same name.
After 1994’s The Stand proved to be a monumental hit, ABC and other networks were intent on bringing other Stephen King properties to the small screen. This is why we got things like The Langoliers, The Tommyknockers, Kingdom Hospital, among others. But 20 plus years later, there were once again rumblings that The Stand was going to be adapted, this time with one film for the big screen. Directors like David Yates (Harry Potter) and Ben Affleck came and went from the project, all not knowing how they were going to keep the magnum opus book to one film. Enter Josh Boone (New Mutants) and Benjamin Cavell (Justified). With James Marsters (X-Men) and Alexander Skaarsgard (Big Little Lies) amongst many others -including two extremely toxic actors with turbulent personal lives- the nine part miniseries came and went at about the worst time imaginable for a piece of fiction about a virus that wipes out the world, which was the end of 2020. Join Garrett, Matt, and Adam as they review all nine episodes -including a brand new coda written by King himself- and determine if this is the ultimate version of The Stand. Come back next week, as the boys start their dive into the adaptations of King’s first 80s novel, Firestarter.
1983 was quite the year for fans of author Stephen King. That was the year they didn’t get one, or even two King adaptations for the screen. They got three. These consisted of The Dead Zone, Cujo, and Christine. The other two will get their just due on this podcast down the road. But today, we review The Dead Zone. A film touted as the teaming up of schlock director David Cronenberg (he wouldn’t make The Fly until three years later) and horror writer Stephen King. To top it off, Cronenberg tapped recent Oscar winner Christopher Walken to be this story’s lead Johnny Smith. Join the Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast as Garrett continues taking listeners, as well as Matt and Adam, along on his journey through all of King’s cinematic adaptations with this review of The Dead Zone. Does Cronenberg’s toned down style satisfy Matt, a long time fan of the director? Will Adam EVER come into a movie in this series after having actually seeing the film in question BEFORE having to watch and review it for this podcast? Listen below to find out! And come back next week, as the co-hosts once again get into plague territory with a long review of the CBS All Access 2020 adaptation of The Stand.