Forty years ago, Rocky Balboa ended the Cold War with a left hook and a heartfelt speech about change. In this special anniversary episode, Dave, Hunter and special guests, JC and Blu-Ray Dan go the distance on Rocky IV—both the original theatrical cut and Stallone’s 2021 director’s cut (Rocky vs. Drago). We wax poetic about every sweat-soaked musical montage—from the guilt-fueled Lamborghini drive to the Siberian soul search that gave us Peak Beard Rocky. We debate the necessity of a robot butler in a boxing movie (spoiler: we’re not fans), and dive into the iconic training sequences that turned snow […]

The post 324: Rocky IV: 40 Years of Musical Montages & Ivan Drago appeared first on The Cinematic Reel.

Grab your VHS tapes and power up the DeLorean because it’s draft time! In this special episode, we’re heading back to 1985, as Dave, Jack, Hunter and special guest Darren go toe to toe in a fantasy draft to build the ultimate 1985 movie lineup. Expect heated debates, deep cuts, and plenty of nostalgia as we battle for box office supremacy and cinematic bragging rights. Which films go in the first round? Who steals the sleeper hit? And what film left on board was the most surprising? Whether you’re Team Spielberg, Team Hughes, or Team “what even is that movie?”, […]

The post 323: The 1985 Fantasy Movie Draft appeared first on The Cinematic Reel.

Great Scott! Can you believe it’s been 40 years since Back to the Future first hit 88 miles per hour and changed the cinematic timeline forever? Welcome to a special anniversary episode of Reel Chronicles, where we’re revving up the DeLorean and heading back to 1985—the year that gave us flux capacitors, lightning strikes, and the coolest time-traveling duo in film history. On this week’s episode, Dave, Hunter and Jack are joined by special guests, Luk and Rory as we celebrate the legacy of Robert Zemeckis’ sci-fi classic, unpacking its iconic performances, unforgettable score, and why Back to the Future […]

The post 322: Back to the Future: 40th Anniversary appeared first on The Cinematic Reel.

Look up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! …No—it’s The Donner Cut of Superman II! On this week’s episode, Jack, Hunter and I are soaring into the alternate dimension of one of the most fascinating ‘what-ifs’ in superhero cinema, The Donner Cut. Richard Donner’s original vision for Superman II was famously sidelined… until 2006, when fans finally got to see what could’ve been. We’re breaking down the major differences, the behind-the-scenes chaos, and whether this cut truly delivers truth, justice, and the Donner way. Up, up, and away—we’re diving into Superman II: The Donner Cut! Love what […]

The post 321: Superman II: The Donner Cut appeared first on The Cinematic Reel.

We’re gonna need a bigger boat… because this episode is PACKED. To celebrate 50 years of JAWS, the Reel Chronicles crew dives headfirst into Spielberg’s summer-defining classic! From the legacy of Bruce the Shark to that spine-tingling John Williams score, it’s all on deck. But wait for it… Dave LAWYERS UP to defend Mayor Vaughn, arguing the man was just trying to protect local tourism, okay?! It’s unhinged. It’s hilarious and most importantly, Jack and Hunter were willing to listen. This isn’t just a deep dive. It’s a full-blown shark cage descent. Check it out now—because when it comes to JAWS, […]

The post 320: Jaws: 50th Anniversary appeared first on The Cinematic Reel.

To infinity… and through the tiers! On the latest episode of Reel Chronicles, Dave, Jack, and special guest Luk take a joyride through 30 years of Pixar magic, ranking every single Pixar film into their official tiers. From instant classics to Cars 2, the guys break it all down as the beloved studio celebrates the 30th anniversary of its first feature, Toy Story. Did Up soar to the top?Did Brave brave the bottom?And where did Luk drop CARS? It’s tier lists, hot takes, nostalgia, and plenty of laughs as we celebrate the legacy that started with Toy Story and changed animation […]

The post 319: The PIXAR Tiers appeared first on The Cinematic Reel.

Holy neon nostalgia, Batman! Can you believe it’s been 30 years since Batman Forever lit up the big screen with Jim Carrey’s manic Riddler, Tommy Lee Jones’ two-toned madness, and Val Kilmer’s brooding Batsuit? On today’s episode, we’re diving headfirst into the Day-Glo chaos and Schumacher flair that made Batman Forever one of the most polarizing entries in the Caped Crusader’s cinematic saga. From its toyetic production design to U2 and Seal, we’re putting it all under the Bat-microscope. So grab your Riddler cane, polish up that Batmobile, and join Dave, Hunter, Jack and special guest Rory on this ride […]

The post 318: Batman Forever: 30th Anniversary appeared first on The Cinematic Reel.

It’s Friday the 13th, so there’s only one film that should be celebrated on this chilly evening, the one that started it all! On this episode, Dave and Hunter are joined by the Freakquels dynamic duo of Rory and EJ. The guys discuss the ins and outs on the film and the legacy its had on the genre and most importantly, is it even a good film. Where do the guys rank this film among the slasher greats? Tune In! Love what you hear? Let your  friends know and leave us a review! LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE Reel Chronicles is on […]

The post 317: Friday The 13th: 45th Anniversary appeared first on The Cinematic Reel.

As the Summer Blockbuster season begins, this weeks episode looks back at one of the most important blockbusters of the the last 20 years, Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins. Joining Dave this week are special guests Rory and Hugh as they wax poetically on the film and its lasting legacy on the genre and pop culture. Where do the guys rank this film among comic book origin films? Tune In! Love what you hear? Let your  friends know and leave us a review! LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE Reel Chronicles is on • Apple Podcasts • Spotify • Google Podcasts • Android • […]

The post 316: Batman Begins: 20th Anniversary appeared first on The Cinematic Reel.

With the releases of Lilo and Stitch and Mission Impossible, the Summer Blockbuster Season is officially here. On this week’s episode, Dave, Jack, Hunter bring back the Fantasy Movie Draft. This time around, the guys are drafting all the summer films releasing from May to August in hopes to secure the team with the highest grossing box office of the summer. Where do the guys end up with their picks? Tune In! Love what you hear? Let your  friends know and leave us a review! LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE Reel Chronicles is on • Apple Podcasts • Spotify • Google Podcasts • Android • […]

The post 315: The Summer Box Office Fantasy Movie Draft appeared first on The Cinematic Reel.