Filmlosophers

The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, welcome back Val Complex and Nerd Reactor’s Laura Sirikul back to the round table for week’s review of Ghost in the Shell (2017), the controversy-laden anime adaptation directed by Rupert Sanders and starring Scarlett Johansson in the role of an Asian woman who has been transformed into a cyborg and is working for a paramilitary arm of the government.

The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, head for stars with this week’s review of Life (2017), the creature feature set aboard the international space station and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds and Rebecca Ferguson. Does the film represent an evolution of the sci-fi monster genre, or does it leave you floating in space awaiting something more?

The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, jump from animation to live action adaptation for this week’s review of Beauty and the Beast (2017), the long-anticipated film starring Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Josh Gad and Kevin Kline. With a robust cast of VFX characters voiced by Ewan McGregor, Ian McKellen, Stanley Tucci, Audra McDonald, Emma Thompson and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, the film easily cracked the list of the top 10 highest grossing debuts of all time with a bow of more than $170 million in its first weekend.

The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, head to a remote jungle island in the 1970s for this week’s review of Kong: Skull Island (2017), starring Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Hiddleston and Brie Larson. Pretty much everything’s huge in this movie, and several sequences borrowed more from the Universal Studios ride than previous King Kong films. With effects from Industrial Light and Magic and a number of highly stylized visual compositions, just how much did this flick bring back the nostalgic feelings of the original Jurassic Park (1993)?

The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, welcome VideoGameBANG! hosts Cory Vincent and David Webb for an in-depth review of Logan (2017), allegedly the last ride of Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart in the X-Men film franchise. What worked? What didn’t? And how did we feel about that pre-credits Deadpool teaser?

Filmlosopher Chad Riley welcomes back frequent collaborator Hannah Porter to hash through the ups and downs of the 2017 Academy Awards show. Who won, who lost, and who saw that ending coming? Whether you’re in Camp Moonlight or Camp La La Land, you surely felt all the feels. Not to mention all of the subtle and not-so-sly political references, an odd interruption from a group of Hollywood tourists, and various confections from the sky. In other words, there was a lot to love (or hate) this year.News items include opening weekend feedback for Jordan Peele’s cautionary horror flick Get Out (2017) and a xenomorphic trailer reveal from director Ridley Scott’s Alien: Covenant (2017).

The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, welcome first time guest Mikhail for a star-studded romp through Oscars past and present, with an in-depth comparative analysis of Academy Award and SAG Award winners from the past 16 years. How on-point are the SAG Awards when it comes to predicting Best Actor and Best Actress Oscar winners, and what types of performances tend to feel the love most of the time?

The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, welcome first time guest Ljan Ordiz and returning DC fan Omar Marroquin for part two of our candid conversation about the “other” franchise: the DCCU. From the established films in the franchise, including Batman vs. Superman (2015) and Suicide Squad (2016), to our predictions about the forthcoming Wonder Woman (2017) and Justice League (2017) films and beyond, we cover all the pros and cons of the up-and-coming cinematic universe.

The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, welcome pop culture writer and critic Kristen Lopez for a spirited review of  Denzel Washington’s Oscar-nominated film, Fences (2016). Co-starring Viola Davis in a powerful dramatic turn, the film is up for multiple Academy Awards on February 26th including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress.

The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, take a calculating look at Oscar contender Hidden Figures (2016), starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monáe. The film tells the story of three brilliant African-American women who helped renew confidence in NASA at the start of the Space Race by serving as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history. Hidden Figures also features a funk-inspired soundtrack from producer Pharrell Williams.