Movie Wars – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Have you been saved? Kyle, Seth, and Drew delve into the third installment of "The Crow" series, "The Crow: Salvation," highlighting its surprisingly positive reception compared to its predecessor, "City of Angels." The hosts discuss how the film successfully redeemed itself even with its straight-to-DVD status, with interesting character arcs and some standout performances, particularly from then-unknown Walton Goggins and Tim Decay. They explore the film's unique approach to the crow's resurrection powers, noting the creative twist with the character's mask and the overall aesthetic choices that set it apart from the earlier entries. Despite some criticisms regarding the lack of depth in the villains and the film's pacing, the hosts appreciate the entertaining moments and the thematic elements of revenge and justice. Ultimately, they conclude that "The Crow: Salvation" offers a refreshing take within the franchise, even if it doesn't reach the heights of the original film.

A captivating dissection of 'The Crow: Salvation' unfolds as the hosts of the Movie Wars podcast — Kyle, Seph, and Drew — embark on an exploration of this sequel's narrative and thematic depths. The conversation kicks off with a focus on the film's central character, Alex Corvus, as portrayed by Eric Mabius. The hosts examine his journey from wrongful execution to seeking vengeance, discussing the moral implications of resurrection and revenge. They highlight the performances of young Kirsten Dunst and Walton Goggins, noting how their talent brings a level of gravitas to the film that elevates it despite its flaws. The hosts admire Goggins’ portrayal of a corrupt cop, offering a nuanced perspective on the character's motivations and the film's critique of systemic corruption.

As the dialogue progresses, the hosts delve into the film's visual presentation, contrasting it with the original Crow and its sequel. They critique the cinematography, particularly the color grading and overall aesthetic, which they feel detracts from the film's potential. The discussion brings to light how the film's lower budget may have limited its creative execution, leading to a less engaging visual experience. They also reflect on the film’s pacing and structure, acknowledging the struggle to maintain tension and interest in the latter half of the film. This analysis is punctuated with humor and shared anecdotes, making for an entertaining and enlightening listening experience.

Toward the conclusion of the episode, the hosts ponder the legacy of 'The Crow: Salvation' within the franchise. They express a shared hope for a future reboot, one that could potentially reconcile the narrative and aesthetic inconsistencies of the sequels while honoring the original's legacy. This episode stands as a testament to the hosts' ability to blend critical analysis with humor, providing listeners with a rich understanding of the film and its place in cinematic history. Their engaging banter and thoughtful reflections ensure that fans of the series will find this discussion both informative and entertaining.

Takeaways:

• The podcast discusses the evolution of the crow franchise, highlighting the differences in tone and quality among the sequels.
• Listeners learn about the creative decisions behind the crow's mask design, which deviates from previous films.
• The hosts express their enjoyment of the unexpected car crash scene, praising its execution and impact.
• There's a strong emphasis on character development, particularly in the portrayal of villains across the series.
• The discussion reveals insights into the actors' performances, noting how they handled their roles despite a weak script.
• The hosts critique the lack of cohesive world-building in the third installment, arguing it affects the overall narrative.

The latest episode of the Movie Wars podcast dives deep into "The Crow: City of Angels." Just two years after Brandon Lee's tragic death, does Tim Pope and David S. Goyer's(Batman Begins writer) follow-up hit 1994's watermark? Or does it serve as a cash grab, obliterating the legacy of Brandon Lee? With a new set of villains, a tunic-wearing gang leader, and a grown-up Sara, how does Vincent Perez's Crow fare in this orange haze-filled setting? With another rocking soundtrack and the much-delayed casting of Iggy Pop, City Of Angels does what it can to extend the cult love of The Crow.

This episode delves into the controversial sequel, The Crow: City of Angels, analyzing its attempt to follow up on the cult classic that was The Crow. The hosts express their disappointment, particularly highlighting how the film fails to capture the essence of its predecessor. They discuss the film's lack of character development, especially for the new protagonist, Ash, played by Vincent Perez. The conversation reflects on how the absence of Brandon Lee's charisma and physicality significantly diminishes the film's impact. The hosts lament the film's reliance on clichés and uninspired dialogue, which leads to a lack of genuine emotional connection with the characters. They dissect the film's attempts at revenge and how the method of retribution feels unearned and poorly executed compared to the first film, ultimately labeling it as a missed opportunity that does not resonate with fans of the original.

Takeaways:

• The podcast hosts express strong disappointment in 'The Crow: City of Angels', highlighting its lack of coherence and character development.
• The discussion emphasizes that no character stood out in the sequel, making it difficult for viewers to engage with the story.
• The hosts compare the film unfavorably to the original 'Crow', noting the absence of Brandon Lee's compelling performance and physicality.
• They discuss the poor execution of flashbacks in this sequel, which ultimately detracted from the overall narrative flow.
• The hosts lament the missed potential of the sequel, mentioning that it felt rushed and poorly constructed, akin to a cash grab.
• The critique includes how the villains lacked depth and uniqueness, failing to provide any memorable or interesting dynamics.

Kyle and Drew dive headfirst into their obsession with Arnold and Sly movies. This is no surprise to long-term MWP fans. We discuss whether or not it's possible for the environment and circumstances to create a similar era of dominance for action stars. Arnold and Sly's multi-decade runs, muscles, and over-the-top action were ushered in by the 80s, and elongated throughout the 90's(and a little 2000s in there too). Was this a case of the perfect stars for the perfect time, or could we see another star take the mantle of dominance?

Please weigh in on our social media platforms: Instagram and TikTok.

We're pulling this one from the ancient Patreon archives for our main feed listeners. It was such an honor to meet and interview legendary screenwriter Peter Iliff. We spent most of our time talking about how his career which started with him waiting tables until he sold the early draft of Point Break to Ridley Scott. The story is truly incredible, including James Cameron buying the property from Scott and polishing the final version of the script. Iliff would go on to write more fantastic films including Varsity Blues, and Patriot Games. He's also come into his own as a director.

Lastly, if you've ever has aspirations to write a screenplay, this is the podcast for you. Peter goes through what it's like to write in today's Hollywood and provides tips for future screenwriters.

What a great convo!

Kyle is incensed after his first viewing of the long-awaited The Crow remake trailer, starring Bill Skarsgård as Eric Draven. The original is not only one of Kyle's all-time favorite films and comfort movies, he believes 1994's The Crow possesses a high level of cultural significance. Can any iteration or remake of this classic justify attempts to infringe on Brandon Lee's tragic legacy, a film that led to his on-set death?

Even though the Movie Wars crew aren't typically "trailer reaction" guys, Kyle thoroughly discusses Hollywood's latest attempt at retreading beloved IP.

Head to our socials and drop your thoughts!

Throughout film history, directors have identified their go-to collaborators and gone back to the well several times. Scorsese and De Niro have collaborated 11 times. John Wayne and John Ford worked together 21 times. Kyle and Drew go off-topic and analyze the all-time best Actor/Director duos, why they work, and what directors see in their frequent collaborators. They also go through some of their favorites duos.

Welcome to one of the most low-hanging fruit, on-the-nose matchups we've ever done. The same director. The same author of the source material. Both take place in prisons where plenty of free men are locked up for crimes they didn't commit. By many lists, The Shawshank Redemption is considered the greatest film of all time. Although The Green Mile doesn't share the same status, it carries plenty of cache on its own. Walk the Green Mile toward freedom with the Movie Wars crew! 

A movie podcast walks into town... The Western may be the most flexible and dynamic film genre. It's survived over a century while experiencing new forms and shapes, all built on its undeniably effective tested-by-time formula. Not only is Tombstone one of the most beloved versions of that formula but it is also considered the best Western of all time by a large contingency of six-shooter-loving move-goers. And then you have Wyatt Earp...a film that, on paper, had all the makings of a masterpiece. Suffering the critical success of Tombstone, which was released just months pryer, the film was slammed by critics and flopped financially. That being said, it seemed fitting to seize the opportunity to compare two films that tell the same exact story from different perspectives. Get your mustaches on and draw...it's Movie Wars.

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MOVIE INFO

Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) and his brothers, Morgan (Bill Paxton) and Virgil (Sam Elliott), have left their gunslinger ways behind them to settle down and start a business in the town of Tombstone, Ariz. While they aren't looking to find trouble, trouble soon finds them when they become targets of the ruthless Cowboy gang. Now, together with Wyatt's best friend, Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer), the brothers pick up their guns once more to restore order to a lawless land.

Rating: R

• Genre: Western, Action
• Original Language: English
• Director: 

George P. Cosmatos

Producer: 

Sean Daniel

, 

James Jacks

, 

• Bob Misiorowski

Writer: 

• Kevin Jarre

• Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 1993  Wide
• Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2014
• Box Office (Gross USA): $55.9M
• Runtime: 2h 7m

The epic biography of western lawman Wyatt Earp, who at an early age, is taught that nothing matters more than family and the law. He becomes a respected sheriff in Dodge City and Tombstone. Joined by his brothers and Doc Holliday, Earp wages war on the dreaded Clanton and McLaury gangs.

Rating: PG-13

• Genre: Biography
• Original Language: English
• Director: 

Lawrence Kasdan

Producer: 

Jim Wilson

, 

Kevin Costner

, 

• Lawrence Kasdan

• Release Date (Theaters): Jun 24, 1994  Wide
• Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2008
• Box Office (Gross USA): $24.6M
• Runtime: 3h 11m
• Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
• Production Co: Warner Bros., Tig Productions

Thank you Rotten Tomatoes!

The Movie Wars crew was exhilarated to tackle two buddy cop classics in 1989's Lethal Weapon 2 and 1995's Bad Boys. Similar to Westerns, the Buddy Cop genre has been transformed and retooled, all while paying homage to a timeless formula. The chemistry between the lead actors drives both of these films. LW2 reveals that Riggs and Murtaugh are more like family than when they were introduced in the franchise's first entry, where they were beleaguered and struggled to reconcile their opposing policing methods. Bad Boys hinges more on Mike and Marcus' friction and bickering, leading to the ultimate payoff when their highly effective partnership is put on full display. Both films are anchored by comedic third wheels played by a pair of legendary Joes(Pesci and Pantoliano). How will the war score fair for these two genre titans? Give it a listen because you're never too old for this Movie Wars sh*t. 

Film Summaries

Lethal Weapon 2

South African smugglers find themselves being hounded and harassed by Riggs and Murtaugh, two mismatched Los Angeles police officers. However, the South Africans are protected by diplomatic immunity, and so the two are assigned to witness-protection duty in an attempt by their captain to keep his job. It is only when this witness reveals to them that he has already dealt with the smugglers that the trouble really starts.

• Rating: R
• Genre: Action, Mystery & thriller
• Original Language: English
• Director: Richard Donner
• Producer: Richard Donner, Joel Silver
• Writer: Jeffrey Boam
• Release Date (Theaters): Jul 7, 1989  Original
• Release Date (Streaming): Aug 15, 2008
• Box Office (Gross USA): $144.9M
• Runtime: 1h 53m
• Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
• Production Co: Warner Bros., Silver Pictures

Bad Boys

Miami-Dade detectives Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) blow a fuse when $100 million worth of heroin they recently confiscated is heisted from station headquarters. Suspecting it was an inside job, Internal Affairs gives them five days to track down the drugs before they shut down the narcotics division. Action meets farce when Marcus is compelled to masquerade as his partner in order to gain the trust of a call girl (Tea Leoni), a key witness in their investigation.

• Rating: R
• Genre: Action, Comedy
• Original Language: English
• Director: Michael Bay
• Producer: Don Simpson, Jerry Bruckheimer
• Writer: George Gallo, 

Watching "The Boondock Saints" was considered a dorm room initiation during Kyle, Drew, and Phil's college years. Highly requested by our listeners, "The Boondock Saints" possesses one of the most prolific cult followings in history. Its success was bolstered primarily by Blockbuster rentals. Although critics bashed the film, a lauded documentary titled "Overnight" received high marks for its portrayal of Troy Duffy; the highly volatile, rags-to-riches director who eventually found himself blacklisted for his uncouth approach to directing Harvey Weinstein's Diamond in the Rough. As for "Snatch," Guy Ritchie is the most requested director we've yet to cover. With his unique blend of violence, humor, and rapid-fire pacing, Guy Ritchie's style shines in "Snatch." 

With God on our side, the MWP crew slays the wicked war card, bare knuckles and all. 

Click here to become an executive producer on Movie Wars by supporting us on Patreon!

Film Summaries

The Boondock Saints

Tired of the crime overrunning the streets of Boston, Irish Catholic twin brothers Conner (Sean Patrick Flanery) and Murphy (Norman Reedus) are inspired by their faith to cleanse their hometown of evil with their own brand of zealous vigilante justice. As they hunt down and kill one notorious gangster after another, they become controversial folk heroes in the community. But Paul Smecker (Willem Dafoe), an eccentric FBI agent, is fast closing in on their blood-soaked trail.

• Rating: R
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & thriller
• Original Language: English
• Director: Troy Duffy
• Producer: Chris Brinker, Robert N. Fried, Elie Samaha, Lloyd Segan
• Writer: Troy Duffy
• Release Date (Theaters): Aug 4, 1999 Original
• Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
• Box Office (Gross USA): $19.9K
• Runtime: 1h 50m
• Distributor: New City Releasing [us], Indican Pictures

(Thank you Rotten Tomatoes https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/boondock_saints)

Snatch

Illegal boxing promoter Turkish (Jason Statham) convinces gangster Brick Top (Alan Ford) to offer bets on bare-knuckle boxer Mickey (Brad Pitt) at his bookie business. When Mickey does not throw his first fight as agreed, an infuriated Brick Top demands another match. Meanwhile, gangster Frankie Four Fingers (Benicio del Toro) comes to place a bet for a friend with Brick Top's bookies, as multiple criminals converge on a stolen diamond that Frankie has come to London to sell.

• Rating: R (Some Nudity|Language|Strong Violence)
• Genre: Comedy, Drama
• Original Language: English
• Director: Guy Ritchie
• Producer: Matthew Vaughn
• Writer: Guy Ritchie
• Release Date (Theaters): Jan 19, 2001 Wide
• Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2011
• Box Office (Gross USA): $30.1M
• Runtime: 1h 38m
• Distributor: Screen Gems
• Production Co: Columbia Pictures, SKA Films
• Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, SDDS
• Aspect Ratio: Flat...