The Bottom Shelf

Long before “gritty reboot” became a genre unto itself, director Dean Israelite decided the Power Rangers franchise needed a Breakfast Club-style coming-of-age drama — and brought in Matt Sazama (yes, the same guy who’d later co-write Morbius and Madame Web) to write it. In 2017’s Saban’s Power Rangers, five delinquent teens in a dying mining town stumble onto glowing coins in a cave and are immediately expected to save the world, despite barely surviving a team-building exercise without someone storming off. Join Dallas and John — one a lifelong Power Rangers kid, the other coming in with zero nostalgia to protect — as they morph through the multiverse of feelings this movie gives them, from a surprisingly great performance from Billy to some seriously questionable tonal choices, and land on a verdict using their signature four-shelf rating system. Does this reboot honor Angel Grove’s legacy, or does it belong strictly on the Bottom Shelf?

Connect with John: https://linktr.ee/johnharju

Timestamps:

Before Squid Game made “hunting humans for sport” a global phenomenon, Hollywood was already doing it on a VHS tape from your local mom-and-pop video store. In 1994’s Surviving the Game, Ice-T plays a homeless man lured into the Pacific Northwest wilderness — only to discover he’s not a guide. He’s the prey. With Rutger Hauer, Gary Busey, and F. Murray Abraham along for the ride, this gritty adaptation of “The Most Dangerous Game” is loud, messy, and somehow — kind of a blast.

Join Dallas and John as they dig this one out of the bottom of the box to find out if Surviving the Game is a forgotten ’90s action gem or if it belongs exactly where they found it — on The Bottom Shelf!

Connect with John:https://linktr.ee/johnharju

Check out the Gundam Watch Podcast: https://thegundamwatch.wordpress.com/

Check out the Spider-Fan Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/spiderfanpodcast

Connect with Dallas & Celeste Via Geek Devotions: YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/geekdevotions

TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/geekdevotions

INSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/geekdevotions

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/GeekDevotions/

Timestamps:

00:19 – Cold open / intro music

After exploring the limits of the multiverse long before it was a cinematic trend, Jet Li decided to face off against his toughest opponent yet—himself. In 2001’s The One, we see a high-stakes pursuit across parallel dimensions that left audiences seeing double and critics feeling single-minded.

Join Dallas and John as they hop through the quantum tunnel to discover if this martial arts sci-fi holds up as a unique gem, or if its place in history is strictly on The Bottom Shelf!

Connect with John: https://linktr.ee/johnharju 

Check out the Gundam Watch Podcast: https://thegundamwatch.wordpress.com/ 

Connect with Dallas & Celeste Via Geek Devotions:

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/geekdevotions

On the heels of directing V for Vendetta, James McTeigue decided to bring a stylized ninja story to the silver screen called, Ninja Assassin. Legend says that the movie cut the hearts of viewers everywhere who loved it, but the hearts of critics were apparently made of iron. Join the team of The Bottom Shelf as they look to discover if it’s better than what the critics say, or if it truly belongs on, The Bottom Shelf!

Straight to Amazon Prime comes War of the Worlds (2025), a “screen-life” style alien invasion film starring Ice Cube as a DHS agent watching humanity unravel through monitors and phones. Critics say the shaky visuals, heavy product placement, and flat script make it a disaster — but could this modern spin on H.G. Wells’ classic actually be a hidden gem? Or does it truly belong on… The Bottom Shelf?

Connect with John: https://linktr.ee/johnharju 

Check out the Gundam Watch Podcast: https://thegundamwatch.wordpress.com/ 
Check out the Spider-Fan Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/spiderfanpodcast

Connect with Dallas & Celeste Via Geek Devotions:

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/geekdevotions
TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/geekdevotions
INSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/geekdevotions
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/GeekDevotions/

On the heels of the release of “Bloodsport,” Mark DiSalle got to work on a new action pack martial arts movie about a man out to prove he’s the best at fighting style that he’s just learned. Bloodsport 2! er…. Kickboxer! This Jean-Claude Van Damme movie worth watching? Is it better than what the critics say? Or does it truly belong on… The Bottom Shelf?

Connect with John: https://linktr.ee/johnharju 

Check out the Gundam Watch Podcast: https://thegundamwatch.wordpress.com/ 

Connect with Dallas & Celeste Via Geek Devotions:

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/geekdevotions

In 1988, during the height of the Karate Movie boom, Jean-Claude Van Damme exploded into popculture with what some would call a cult classic. It was a film that was based on true… well mostly true… well we aren’t really sure about that either… story about one man fighting to be the best that he could ever be. No, not in a Pokemon Tournament… But a bloodsport called the Kumite! Is this 1988 film better than what critics say? Or does it truly belong on… the Bottom Shelf

Connect with John: https://linktr.ee/johnharju 

Check out the Gundam Watch Podcast: https://thegundamwatch.wordpress.com/ 

Connect with Dallas & Celeste Via Geek Devotions:

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/geekdevotions

In 2015, the makers of War Room and Pendragon: Sword of His father, created an action packed revolutionary war Assassins Creed like movie that was meant to inspire to be more than they were. It was met, however, with very poor reviews. But is it better than what the critics say? Can this film be more than it was? Or does it truly belong on… the Bottom Shelf

Connect with John: https://linktr.ee/johnharju 

Check out the Gundam Watch Podcast: https://thegundamwatch.wordpress.com/ 
Check out the Spider-Fan Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/spiderfanpodcast

Connect with Dallas & Celeste Via Geek Devotions:

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/geekdevotions
TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/geekdevotions
INSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/geekdevotions
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/GeekDevotions/

In 1977 everyone’s favorite webslinger came to the big screen… on small screens. While the spin off series is generally remembered fondly the movie was critically caught in a web of bad reviews. Is it better than what critics say? Or does it truly belong on… The Bottom Shelf?

Connect with John: https://linktr.ee/johnharju 

Check out the Gundam Watch Podcast: https://thegundamwatch.wordpress.com/ 

Connect with Dallas & Celeste Via Geek Devotions:

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/geekdevotions

Welcome to a special episode of The Bottom Shelf! This time, we’re diving into Madame Web, the latest addition to the Spider-Man universe. Join our hosts—John, Dallas, and Force Ghost Branson—as they dig into this standalone origin story of one of Marvel’s most mysterious heroines. With plenty of laughs and a critical eye, the team breaks down the film’s highs and lows, from its intriguing premise to its more controversial choices. So, is Madame Web a hidden gem or a stumble in the Spider-Verse? Grab some popcorn and let’s find out!

Connect with John: https://linktr.ee/johnharju 

Connect with Branson

EMAIL: [email protected]
Spider-Fan Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spiderfanpodcast
B’s VIEWS AND REVIEWS PODCAST: https://geekdevotions.com/category/comm-talk/bs-views-and-reviews/ 

Connect with Dallas & Celeste Via Geek Devotions:

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/geekdevotions
TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/geekdevotions
INSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/geekdevotions
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/GeekDevotions/