Movie Chumps

The Russo brothers make not one but TWO epics - back to back, no less! The script is funny. The actors bring their A-game. And there's an emotional heft (particularly in Endgame) that puts these films on a different tier. We talk "smart Hulk," emotional Thor, and explore a question not many have asked regarding Captain America and Thor's hammer. PLUS: We recap House of the Dragon episode 3, and Luke catches Corrye off guard on the Rings of Power.

We won't lie: we spent more time on House of the Dragon than Age of Ultron. We explore: Black Widow and Hulk's relationship (does it feel forced or earned?); the post-fight party and everyone trying to wield Thor's hammer; the action sequences; the Twins; and James Spader and all his slimeball-ness. PLUS: Corrye gets COVID...and watches a lot of movies!

A make or break film for the Marvel universe. If this crapped the bed at the box office, who knows what would have happened next. Thankfully, it's terrific. Big-name actors taking big swings. Alan Silvestri's heroic score. Special effects that match the moment. But does the film feel forgettable on the re-watch? PLUS: we look at the reasons why some may have been skeptical of this film initially - reasons that have been lost to time.

Despite there not being many movies of its ilk, The Northman is the quintessential Viking film, and it's hard to see it being topped in the decades to come. The Chumps point to many reasons: the vision of director Robert Eggers, the cinematography of Jarin Blaschke, the performances from Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Anya Taylor-Joy, etc. Luke and Corrye: explain what makes this film different than other revenge films; marvel at that bonkers sport they played in the movie; and leave their jaws on the ground following numerous unforgettable scenes (the naked volcano fight! the fantastical cave scene with the fight that we can't tell actually happened!). This is a fun one.

We had a blast with this. A boatload to love here: Bugs (Jessica Henwick!), Jonathan Groff as Agent Smith, seeing Neo & Trinity again, the zero subtlety with being ultra-meta. Everything clicked. PLUS: Corrye calls bullsh** on a House of the Dragon prediction that Luke unearthed on the internet.

The most meta film of all time? Possibly. One-half of the Wachowski twins pulls out another banger here, and it has all the philosophical nuggets we grew so fond of from the original. We break down which new character stole some scenes, which returning character crapped the bed, and the key visual difference between Resurrections and it's predecessors. PLUS: Why you can thank the broadway musical Hamilton for helping a critical scene in the film go smoothly; and Corrye calls bullsh** on a "House of the Dragon" prediction Luke "uncovered."

Corrye put it best: it didn't stick the landing. A mountain of questions about the end of the trilogy, like: What was Mr. Smith's endgame? Shouldn't Morpheus have been with Neo and Trinity? Why, exactly, was Machine City so afraid of Smith? Did they make the Sentinels too numerous and too mighty? The Chumps find more beefs than highlights in this one, but they did enjoy the diverse casting, a Lord of the Rings alum NOT named Hugo Weaving, and an old friend from two of the Mad Max films.

The Wachowskis hit us with an army of new characters to make sense of in Matrix Reloaded. The Architect. Seraph. That uppity Merovingian. And whoever the heck Monica Bellucci played. The Chumps have a feast with the highway chase, the end-of-the-world rave, the erotic piece of cake, and the Oracle's latest pontifications. The entire inclusion of Zion, and it's culture, get high praise from the Chumps as well. PLUS: Corrye gets excited about the trailer for a movie you probably haven't heard of, and Luke recommends a brand new book about a notorious Western New York native.

A true modern classic, and really, an INSTANT classic! Big ideas philosophically. Big ideas visually. Seasoned with a perfect cast. Speaking of which: wait 'till you hear who was allegedly offered the Neo role that had everyone rolling their eyes and saying "thank you, Lord, for Keanu!" The Chumps welcome back fight choreography aficionado Corey Kesselring to spread some love on the action scenes, Mr. Anderson, the Wachowskis and their hidden meanings, and that rascal Oracle! PLUS: A first for Corrye Cook on the Fourth of July!

The thrill of being the first man to walk on the moon is almost trumped by the frightening, hair-raising experience of being trapped in a metal coffin blasted through the heavens. Such is the case for Neil Armstrong, through the eyes of director Damien Chazelle. The Chumps welcome back space aficionado Mike Pagano to dissect any and everything in Ryan Gosling's 2018 epic: The stunning soundtrack, the astronauts' 1960s clothes, Buzz Aldrin's cockiness, the sense of scale of the Apollo 11 ship, Gosling's stoicism, and much more.