Chris hosts a Help Me Watch episode with Franco and Jonathan, discussing recent watches including Fallout (season two), Paradise (season two’s topside post-apocalyptic focus), One Piece live-action season two, and Invincible season four, plus excitement for Ryan Gosling’s Project Hail Mary. They cover trailers for Spider-Man: Brand New Day (July 31) featuring power issues, Bruce Banner, and Punisher, and Dune Part Three (December 18), along with March 17 and March 24 physical-media releases (including For All Mankind season two, Jurassic Park 4K set, Return to Silent Hill, anime titles, and others). The main review is The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (extended), highlighting Rohan, Helm’s Deep, Ents, Gollum’s performance/VFX, and small nitpicks, with Return of the King planned next.

00:00 LOTR Cold Open Banter

One Minute Review: Fallout season 2 | Paradise season 2 | One Piece season 2 | Invincible season 4

Movie News:

New Spider-Man: Brand New Day (July 31) trailer

New Dune Part 3 (December 18) trailer

New Releases: 

March 17th

March 24th 

Chris, Franco, and Jonathan return after a scheduled break, joking about Jonathan’s Disney vacation and discussing annual passes, passholder magnets, and the pin-trading scene, including early-morning pin drops, limited Muppet pins, fake pins, and Hidden Mickey pins. In one-minute reviews, they cover Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die (Sam Rockwell time-travel sci-fi comedy) and an early AMC screening of Pixar’s Hoppers, described as “Avatar for kids,” mention missing Cold Storage due to late showtimes, and reference an NDA film. News includes a new Wayans Brothers Scary Movie trailer they dislike, Netflix backing out of a Paramount/Warner Bros. merger, and several reported deaths. They list March 3 and March 10 physical-media releases, then review The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring with cast notes, filmmaking trivia, favorite scenes, and scores, previewing The Two Towers next.

00:00 Second Breakfast Intro

One Minute Review: Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die | Hoppers

Movie News:

The new Scary Movie trailer was released, and I’m not surprised at how the Waynes Brothers are bringing back all the bad parts of the previous movies https://youtu.be/7Uo6XPz_RhI?si=wl2Qk_rsqMb3UoWR

Looks like the Paramount/WB merger is a done deal as Netflix backs out, which will be “good” for all of us.

RIP:

Eric Dane (53): Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria actor, died Feb. 19 of ALS.

James Van Der Beek (48): Dawson’s Creek actor, died on Feb. 11

G.G. Santiago (creator of Rainbow Brite) Dies at 82

New Releases: 

March 3rd

March 10th 

Chris, Franco, and Jonathan discuss Franco’s one-minute review of Edgar Wright’s remake of The Running Man, describing its cyberpunk corporate-controlled game-show premise, action tone, cast notes (including Glen Powell and Michael Cera), and that it’s fun but not mind-blowing. They then debate why the next Avengers film feels less hyped, citing post-Endgame irreproducibility, MCU cohesion issues, Disney+ oversaturation, COVID disruptions, Jonathan Majors fallout, release spacing that reduces momentum, marketing strategy, and hopes tied to X-Men/Fantastic Four crossovers and Spider-Man’s Sony constraints. The hosts list upcoming Feb. 17 and Feb. 24 physical releases before reviewing Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, highlighting Clone Wars context, dialogue and pacing complaints, Order 66 impact, and Padmé’s death, ultimately rating it 90/100. They end by randomly selecting The Lord of the Rings (extended editions) for the next episode.

00:00 Order 66 Cold Open

One Minute Review: Running Man (2024)

Discussion:

Can we talk about how there appears to be no hype for the new Avengers movie? The movies have been few and far between, and haven’t been all that connected, and haven’t had the best reception.

New Releases: 

February 17th

February 24th 

In this episode of the Help Me Watch podcast, hosts Chris, Franco, and Jonathan dive into the Star Wars prequel trilogy’s second film, ‘Attack of the Clones‘. They discuss the film’s complex storyline, including Anakin and Padmé’s controversial romance, Jedi politics, and the implications of the Clone Wars. They also touch on Chris’s recent birthday celebrations, some movie news updates, and new releases for early February. Additionally, they talk about the influence of George Lucas’s direction, the evolution of CGI effects, and how modern perceptions might differ from initial reactions. The episode wraps up with final thoughts on the movie and an outlook for upcoming episodes.

00:00 Introduction and Hosts

One Minute Review: Wonder Man

Movie News:

ConformityGate is still going on, and people are now believing that there’s going to be a big reveal during the Super Bowl

RIP Catherine O’Hara

Bob Iger will officially retire from The Walt Disney Company on December 31, 2026 (for approximately 6 to 18 months). Josh D’Amaro, currently Chairman of Disney Experiences, will take over as CEO on March 18, 2026, with Iger remaining as a senior advisor to ensure a smooth transition.

New Releases: 

February 3rd

February 10th 

In this episode of the ‘Help Me Watch’ podcast, hosts Chris, Franco, and Jonathan dive into an extensive review of ‘Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.’ Along the way, they share personal anecdotes and discuss their experiences with the film, shedding light on its unique qualities and quirks. The hosts explore how the movie, initially celebrated but later criticized, has found newfound appreciation over time. They delve into the rich lore, analysis of characters like Darth Maul and Jar Jar Binks, and reflect on the impact of the film’s music. The episode culminates in a scoring session, recapping their thoughts as they prepare to continue exploring the Star Wars prequels in upcoming episodes.

00:00 Introduction and Hosts Banter

One Minute Review: Fallout Season 2 | One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things Season 5

Movie News:

ConformityGate take 2 (it’s real this time or is it)

Unrelated Game Recommendation: Dispatch

New Releases: 

January 20th

January 27th 

In this episode of ‘Help Me Watch’ Chris, Franco, and Jonathan return from their holiday break to discuss their recent movie experiences, new releases, and do a deep dive into ‘Inception.’ They touch on holiday activities, critiques of recent films like ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash‘ and ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5, upcoming releases, and conclude with selecting ‘Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace‘ for their next review. Engaging discussions range from cast performances to intricate plot details and visual effects in ‘Inception.’

00:00 Introduction and Hosts

One Minute Review: Plur1bus finale | Foundation | Avatar: Fire and Ash | Stranger Things: The Final Episode? | Sean Combs The Reckoning | Man vs Baby

Movie News:

ConformityGate 

New Releases: 

January 6th

January 13th 

We managed to squeeze one last show before 2025 ends.

We had the privilege of having Christopher Bowden on to talk about his new film “Shema” and for some of us to give some honest feedback (it was all good).

Be sure to give this episode a listen and to learn more about the film and how to follow to keep up to date on it. Check out the synopsis and links below.

Shema (the Hebrew word for ‘Listen’) is a story of historical fiction inspired by The Chosen TV Series and the Christian Holy Bible. The film follows Malchus; servant to the Temple High Priest of Israel in 33 A.D. Malchus is violently assaulted by one of Jesus’ Disciples and loses his ear in the attack. Jesus then completely heals Malchus’ ear. But what happened after that? The Bible does not say.

Shema explores the fictional days following that healing; What is the rest of Malchus’ story? How did this event impact his life, and how did he reconcile that he helped arrest the man that healed him? Shema is a fictional story that takes artistic and creative liberties but remains rooted in truth and points toward the character of Jesus.

The film is not rated, but a recommended viewing age is 14+ due to some tense scenes of violence and thematic drama.

Scan the QR code below or visit refocuscreative.com/shema to learn more and purchase or rent the film!

In this episode of Help Me Watch, host Chris and his co-hosts Franco and Jonathan delve into their latest movie reviews and discussions. They start off sharing their holiday preparations and highlight their ongoing and recently watched TV shows like PLURIBUS, Foundation, on Apple TV. They also discuss recent cinema trips to see ‘Wicked Part Two‘ and ‘Zootopia Two,’ offering their insights and impressions. The episode takes a somber turn as they note the passing of notable figures like Rob Reiner, Peter Greene, and Anthony Geary. For new releases, they list notable Blu-Ray and 4K updates, including classics like ‘Mall Rats’ and ‘PeeWee’s Big Adventure.’ The centerpiece of the episode is an in-depth review of ‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,’ a film directed by Dallas Jenkins. The hosts discuss the movie’s plot, performances by Judy Greer and Pete Holmes, and its overall execution, giving it praise for its wholesome, family-friendly story. They conclude with personal anecdotes and wish the listeners a Merry Christmas, hinting at a potential special episode next week.

One Minute Review: Plur1bus | Foundation

Movie News:

Rip Rob Reiner, Peter Greene, Anthony Geary

New Releases: 

December 16th

In this episode of ‘Help Me Watch,’ hosts Chris, Franco, and Jonathan dive into the beloved holiday film ‘Home Alone.’ They discuss behind-the-scenes stories, production challenges, and interesting trivia about the movie, including insights from Chris Columbus and Macaulay Culkin’s commentary. Other topics covered include recent personal viewing experiences and notable new home media releases. The hosts reflect on the movie’s enduring legacy, including its impact on stunt work and how it remains a staple in holiday entertainment. The episode concludes with the announcement of ‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’ as the next and final review for the year.

00:00 Introduction and Hosts

One Minute Review: Plur1bus | The Chair Company

Movie News:

Star Wars the ORIGINAL theatrical release, coming back to theaters in 2027 for its 50th anniversary, will this be the LaserDisc transfer, or did Disney find original 35mm prints somewhere?

Netflix to buy Warner Bros./HBO. Is this the end of physical media? Movie theaters? Life as we know it?

New Releases: 

December 9th

In this episode of the Help Me Watch podcast, hosts Chris, Jonathan, and Franco dive into animated chaos as they review ‘The Polar Express.’ Amidst tangents about Thanksgiving, movie theater mishaps, and the darker aspects of holiday classics, the team dissects the movie’s animation woes, unsettling character designs, and questionable plot choices. They also compare it to other Christmas movies and express mixed feelings about its storytelling and technological experiments. Ultimately, they make plans for upcoming holiday movie reviews, including Home Alone and its sequel.

00:00 Introduction and Thanksgiving Recap

One Minute Review: Silo season 2 (one of the worst cliffhanger endings) | Plur1bus | The Chair Company | Now You See Me Now You Don’t

Movie News: Stranger Things Series Finale headed to theaters, if you can get a ticket.

New Releases: 

December 2nd