Now Playing Podcast Presents: The Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe) Retrospective Series

During the Cold War, only one man could protect America from the evil terrorist forces of HYDRA - Nick Fury, director of ! But the Berlin Wall fell, HYDRA'S leader Baron Wolfgang von Strucker was captured, and Fury was put out to pasture. Now, however, HYDRA is back and S.H.I.E.L.D. needs Fury, played by Baywatch star David Hasselhoff, to save the day. Made for TV in the 90s, Nick Fury's first live-action depiction is now forgotten in the wake of Samuel L. Jackson. But can Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob handle The Hoff? Listen to Now Playing's review to find out!

{Avengers Series} 

{Avengers - Some Assembly Required Series} 

{Marvel Series} 

{Comic Book Movie Series} 

{Nick Fury Series}

This was an early Now Playing Podcast review, shorter and spoiler-free. It was not intended to be part of our Avengers Retrospective Series.

Marjorie and Arnie return with a mini-review of Iron Man 2. After ranking the original among their favorite films of 2008, expectations are sky high for Tony Stark’s next outing. With Robert Downey Jr. (Less Than Zero) back in the suit, Jon Favreau (Elf) returning to the director’s chair, and a screenplay from Justin Theroux (Tropic Thunder), the ingredients are there for another hit. Add new villains, expanding Marvel universe threads, and more high-tech spectacle, and it seems poised to build on the first film’s success. But does Iron Man 2 soar on its own, or does sequel pressure and franchise setup weigh it down? Marjorie and Arnie suit up to find out whether lightning strikes twice.

This was an early Now Playing Podcast review, shorter and spoiler-free. It was not intended to be part of our Avengers Retrospective Series.

Marvel Studios continues its push to bring its most famous comic book heroes to the big screen, and this time the spotlight lands on its biggest character in every sense of the word. In The Incredible Hulk, Bruce Banner (Fight Club’s Edward Norton) is once again on the run, struggling to control the monster within, hunted by the U.S. military, and facing a new, even more dangerous foe. Marjorie and Arnie take a close look at how this reboot stacks up against Hulk’s previous cinematic outing and whether this version finally captures the balance of tragedy, action, and raw power that defines the character. They also compare it directly to Iron Man, asking whether Marvel can deliver two successful superhero movies in the same summer and if The Incredible Hulk fits into the larger cinematic universe Marvel is clearly starting to build. Listen in to find out whether this green giant smashes expectations or falls short again.

This was an early Now Playing Podcast review, shorter and spoiler-free. It was not intended to be part of our Avengers Retrospective Series.

With the release of The Incredible Hulk right around the corner, Marjorie and Arnie take a closer look at the other major Marvel superhero movie of the summer, Iron Man. Starring Robert Downey Jr. as billionaire weapons designer Tony Stark, this film launches Marvel’s ambitious attempt to build a shared cinematic universe from the ground up. Unlike earlier Marvel adaptations, Iron Man leans hard on character, humor, and a perfectly cast lead performance rather than just flashy effects. Downey’s Stark is arrogant, reckless, funny, and surprisingly human, raising the question of whether this movie is just a fun popcorn blockbuster or the start of something much bigger. Marjorie and Arnie break down the action, the origin story, and whether Marvel has finally cracked the code for translating its comic book heroes into movies that actually work.