Now Playing Podcast Presents: The Fast and Furious Retrospective Series

No, it's worth reviewing! Really!

Books & Nachos is now part of Now Playing Podcast.

Before our book reviews were branded as Now Playing Podcast Book Reviews, they were released under a separate show called Books & Nachos. That podcast focused on book discussions, most of which tied directly into films we were covering on Now Playing. We’ve now merged those episodes into the main Now Playing Podcast feed for easier access and a complete archive. But these older episodes still have the original Books & Nachos intro and credits on those older recordings. 

Rambo made his first appearance in 1972 in David Morrell's novel First Blood, which was then adapted into a film. The film was a huge success, and so a sequel was made, written by James Cameron and Sylvester Stallone. As movie novelizations were big business, a novel was commissioned. None of this is shocking until you look closely at the cover--Rambo's original creator, David Morrell, returned to write the novelization of his character in a story in which he had no input. This is a very unique situation, and since Now Playing Podcast is reviewing all the Rambo films, we felt this movie novelization would be worth a look. Listen to find out if we were right!

Also, listen to Arnie's interview with First Blood author David Morell!

Now that is a knife!

In 1985, Sylvester Stallone brought John Rambo back to theaters with Rambo: First Blood Part II. This time, the mission sends Rambo back to Vietnam to rescue American POWs, turning the brooding survival story of the original into a full-throttle action spectacle. With corrupt bureaucrats, double-crosses, heavy artillery, and those unforgettable exploding arrowheads, Rambo II doubles down on muscle and patriotism, cementing Rambo as a pop culture icon of the era. But does this sequel deliver cathartic action-hero triumph, or does it sacrifice substance for spectacle? Brock, Jakob, and Arnie continue their Rambo retrospective by dissecting whether this was a victorious return or an electrifying misfire.

Sly didn't make Rambo, David Morrell did!

Books & Nachos is now part of Now Playing Podcast.

Before our book reviews were branded as Now Playing Podcast Book Reviews, they were released under a separate show called Books & Nachos. That podcast focused on book discussions, most of which tied directly into films we were covering on Now Playing. We’ve now merged those episodes into the main Now Playing Podcast feed for easier access and a complete archive. But these older episodes still have the original Books & Nachos intro and credits on those older recordings. 

Now Playing Podcast is spending November reviewing all the Rambo films, so let's also look back to Rambo's origin in David Morrell's 1972 classic novel, First Blood. How does the book compare to the legend? Listen to Arnie's review to find out!

Featuring David Caruso without sunglasses!

John Rambo, as embodied by Sylvester Stallone, became one of the defining action icons of the 1980s. Though Stallone had already earned Oscar recognition for Rocky, his non-Rocky career was wobbling when he signed on to adapt First Blood for the screen. The result was a tense survival thriller that launched a franchise, reshaped Stallone’s image, and even drew admiration from figures like President Ronald Reagan. Now Playing Podcast begins its Rambo retrospective by revisiting the film that started it all. Is this original Rambo just another loud, over-the-top relic of the Reagan era, or does it earn its reputation as a more thoughtful and grounded action drama? Arnie, Brock, and Jakob head into the woods to find out.

If it's Halloween, then it's Now Playing reviewing Saw!

After Paranormal Activity knocked Saw off its Halloween throne, the producers decided the time had come to end the game. This final chapter promises one last round of traps, twists, and moral reckoning - now in 3D! Arnie, Marjorie, and Jakob reunite to finish their own long-running trial of the Saw series, putting more thought into this finale than some might argue the screenplay received. Does this last piece of the puzzle deliver a satisfying conclusion, or does the series end with a dull blade?

Don't you wish all bikers were hot like her?

After 2003's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre carved up the box office, a follow-up was inevitable. But with Leatherface maimed and Sheriff Hoyt flattened, where could the story go next? Platinum Dunes chose to take the story back to The Beginning with a prequel cutting into the origins of the Hewitt clan. This chapter shows the birth of Leatherface, the rise of R. Lee Ermey’s sadistic Sheriff Hoyt, and the grim milestones that shaped the family’s descent into cannibalistic horror. Does this prequel add meaningful depth to the flesh-filled family, or does it simply serve up more carnage without purpose? The hosts sharpen their knives to decide whether this origin tale is a feast for horror fans or another stale helping in a franchise struggling to find its footing.

This is my chainsaw. There are others like it, but this one is mine.

After The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation limped quietly onto home video, it looked like Leatherface’s reign of terror had finally sputtered out. Then Michael Bay and his production company, Platinum Dunes, decided the franchise deserved a modern overhaul, delivering a remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. With a new Leatherface, a fresh batch of doomed teens, and R. Lee Ermey (Full Metal Jacket) chewing scenery as the sadistic Sheriff Hoyt, the remake leaned into grime, brutality, and high-production dread. It also kicked off Platinum Dunes’ run of horror reboots, later including new versions of Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street. Was this gritty reset the high-water mark for Platinum Dunes’ horror "rehab" era, or just the first in a series of disappointments? Rev up this podcast to hear Arnie, Stuart, and Brock decide whether this reboot stands tallest among the studio’s remakes.

We hope you LIKE our review!

Your friends Marjorie, Arnie, and Stuart bring you an exclusive podcast just for Now Playing Podcast Facebook fans with a review of The Social Network. Directed by David Fincher (Fight Club), this sharp, fast-talking biopic traces the rise of Mark Zuckerberg and the creation of Facebook, charting how one idea built millions of online connections while burning more than a few real-world bridges. Fueled by ambition, lawsuits, and razor-edged dialogue, the film aims to turn recent tech history into gripping drama. But do our hosts "Like" The Social Network, or is it something we’d quietly hide from our wall? The hosts log in to decide whether this modern success story deserves to go viral.

You carved me at 'Hello'.

For the 20th anniversary of the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Kim Henkel returned to the franchise to introduce Leatherface to The Next Generation. Featuring early performances from Renée Zellweger and Matthew McConaughey, the film positioned itself as a bold new chapter for Leatherface and his deeply disturbed clan. Instead, production delays and studio uncertainty left it sitting on the shelf until a quiet home video release in 1997, after its young stars had become marquee names. The promise was a return to the raw, unsettling spirit of 1974. The result is something far stranger. Does this fourth installment reclaim the franchise’s gritty edge, or veer into off-the-rails territory? Arnie, Brock, and Stuart fire up the chainsaw to decide whether this Next Generation resurrects the saga or hacks it apart.

The Podcast is Family.

While Jason and Freddy dominated the late-’80s horror scene, Leatherface waited in the shadows. Then New Line Cinema, the studio nicknamed "The House That Freddy Built," picked up the franchise and aimed to turn him into their next marquee slasher with Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III. This third installment trades regional grit for a more polished studio approach, adding a Hollywood-leaning cast that includes a then-unknown Viggo Mortensen and genre favorite Ken Foree. Even the chainsaw gets a cosmetic upgrade. But does that slicker presentation help Leatherface carve out a place among the era’s horror heavyweights, or does it sand down what made the original so disturbing? Arnie, Brock, and Stuart rev the engine to decide whether this sequel lets Leatherface shine or just sputter.