All in Action

Episode 36 - Part 2 - Raiders of the Lost Ark

This week, we watch Harrison Ford put on a hat and whip some bad guys. The film that introduces the Indiana Jones character remains the series best, even as it is now 5 movies strong. The supporting cast (Karen Allen, John Rhys-Davies, Paul Freeman) all nearly match Ford’s iconic roll, and the practical action set-pieces remain some of the best the genre has ever seen. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), directed by Steven Spielberg.

Episode 36 - Raiders of the Lost Ark

This week, we watch Harrison Ford put on a hat and whip some bad guys. The film that introduces the Indiana Jones character remains the series best, even as it is now 5 movies strong. The supporting cast (Karen Allen, John Rhys-Davies, Paul Freeman) all nearly match Ford’s iconic roll, and the practical action set-pieces remain some of the best the genre has ever seen. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), directed by Steven Spielberg.

BONUS EPISODE - Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Bonus Episode! This week, we watch the highest rated move we’ve watched so far. Currently sitting at the #13th best movie of all time, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a film that has already solidified itself into movie history as one of the most successful sequels of all time. Even more impressivly, it's the highest climbing film on the Top 250 since 2008’s The Dark Knight. Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson, and produced by Lord and Miller.

Repost - BONUS EPISODE - Spiderman: Into The Spider-Verse

Bonus Episode Time! To welcome the film onto Netflix and to attempt to give it all the praise it deserves, we watch Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse. This movie blows away all recent animated and superhero films alike. It drips originality and brims with jokes, action, and lovable characters. The creators and animators swing for the fences and succeed throughout. Directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman.

BONUS EPISODE - Seven Psychopaths

This week, we are continuing the “bonus episode” director deep dive. With the film The Banshees of Inisherin on the horizon, we’re going on a kick of the playwright turned director Martin McDonagh’s movies. The list may be small, but he is one of the best writer/directors working today. This week, we are doing his second feature length film, Seven Psychopaths (2012), as well as his very first film, the short Six Shooter (2004).

BONUS EPISODE - Sparticus

This week, we watch the film that allowed Stanley Kubrick full creative control over all his subsequent projects. This film was out of his control, however, and he later tried to disassociate himself from it. Structured as one half war epic and the other half sappy romance, Kirk Douglases chin might not be enough to save this one. Spartacus (1960), directed by Stanley Kubrick.

Episode 46 - Gladiator

This week, we watch Ridley Scott's film that nearly swept the 2001 Academy Awards. In addition to some great action sequences, Russel Crow was at the height of his powers, and Jaoquin Pheonix provided us with one of the greatest portrayals of a villain we've seen on the screen. Gladiator (2001), directed by Ridley Scott.

Episode 47 - Memento

This week, we watch the ground breaking debut feature from Christopher Nolan, who would go on to become one of the biggest directors of a generation. Moving both forwards and backwards in time, this film plays as a noir with a heaping dose of storytelling through editing. Memento (2000), directed by Christopher Nolan.

BONUS EPISODE - The Northman

This week, we watch the third movie from the acclaimed director of The Witch and The Lighthouse. This movie aims to be the defining film about Vikings, drawing from every piece of known history of the time, and expanding on it with approval of expert historians. While uneven, this film has many moments of beauty and craft. The Northman (2022), directed by Robert Eggers.