The Commentary Booth

This week on The Commentary Booth, Jamie Apps and Corrina Mabey go telekinetic and dive into Stephen King’s world with Mike Flanagan’s eight-episode Carrie adaptation, now streaming on Prime Video.

After the sudden death of her father, Carietta Nadine "Carrie" White is forced to leave the sheltered life she has shared with her overprotective mother and attend public school for the first time. Between the bullying, the online humiliation and the strange telekinetic abilities beginning to emerge, the people around her learn there are consequences to treating someone like a monster.

We explore the show's feminist themes, its expanded mythology surrounding telekinetic abilities, the potential connections to other Stephen King stories (yes, we're talking about The Shining and Firestarter), and whether Prime Video might have the beginnings of something bigger on its hands.

But can Mike Flanagan bring something genuinely fresh to a story audiences have revisited for more than 50 years?

Spoiler warning: this episode discusses plot points throughout.

Content advisory: the series and our discussion touch on heavy themes including bullying and self-harm.

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Han Solo's origin story takes centre stage as The Commentary Booth continues its Star Wars 50th Anniversary Celebration Rewatch Series with Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Jamie Apps and Corrina Mabey head back to 2018 for a space Western packed with smugglers, criminals, double-crosses, questionable life choices and, eventually, one very familiar Wookiee. For Corrina, this is her very first watch of Solo, and somehow, eight years on, she managed to dodge every spoiler, including the movie's biggest reveal.

The pair dig into Alden Ehrenreich’s portrayal of Han Solo, asking whether he manages to capture Harrison Ford's swagger without simply becoming a Ford impersonator. They also discuss Donald Glover's near-perfect Lando Calrissian, Emilia Clarke’s Qi'ra, Woody Harrelson's Tobias Beckett and a surprisingly stacked supporting cast.

Then there's the production drama. Jamie breaks down the notorious change of directors from Phil Lord and Christopher Miller to Ron Howard, the competing creative visions behind the movie and how that turbulent production may have contributed to a film that sometimes feels like two different Star Wars adventures fighting for screen time.

The conversation also gets into the spectacular train heist, the Kessel Run, Han and Chewie's first meeting, L3-37, the film's endless betrayals, the Darth Maul surprise and why Corrina absolutely did not see that one coming.

Is Solo an underrated Star Wars adventure, an overlong origin story, or simply a decent movie caught in the middle of a galaxy-sized production mess? Jamie and Corrina have plenty to say about it.

Plus, find out where Solo lands in their personal Star Wars rankings and whether either of them thinks they'd willingly watch it again.

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What happens when a lifelong obsession with swords, history and making things turns into a career spanning Hollywood, television and now YouTube?

In this episode of The Commentary Booth, Jamie Apps sits down with historic weapons recreation specialist and longtime Forged In Fire judge David Baker for a wide-ranging conversation about three decades in bladesmithing, the rollercoaster rise and quiet end of one of TV's most beloved competition shows, and the passion project that's picking up where it left off: Baker’s Blades.

David takes Jamie behind the scenes of his extraordinary creative journey, from teaching actors how to sword fight and building theatrical weapons for film and television, to recreating some of history’s most fascinating blades.

Jamie and David also look back at the rise of Forged in Fire, from what was originally intended to be a 10-episode run to a series that eventually stretched across 11 seasons of production. David discusses what made the show so special, the incredible bladesmiths he encountered, the realities of filming a competition involving live weapons, and why the show's cancellation was a disappointing casualty of network mergers.

But the conversation is really about what comes next.

David reveals the story behind Baker’s Blades, a project that had been in his mind for years before finally becoming reality. The new series combines historic weapons, hands-on recreation, travel, motorcycles and the stories behind the objects themselves. Its first episode follows David's recreation of Cornwallis's Surrender Sword, a project that came together through an unexpected opportunity involving the National Museum of the United States Army.

David also explains why Baker’s Blades isn't simply another forging show. For him, the journey matters just as much as the weapon. He wants to take viewers to the places where history happened, uncover stories that have been forgotten, and show how historic weapons can provide a doorway into the people, places and events surrounding them.

And because this is The Commentary Booth, the conversation eventually comes back to the creative process itself and David’s philosophy of "fail big"!

Whether you're a Forged in Fire diehard, a history nerd, or just someone who loves hearing a craftsman talk about their craft, this is a Commentary Booth episode unlike any other.

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Before Zach Cregger takes audiences back into the world of Resident Evil, The Commentary Booth’s Jamie Apps and Corrina Mabey return to where the live-action movie franchise began with Paul W.S. Anderson's 2002 action-horror adaptation.

Milla Jovovich stars as Alice, a mysterious operative caught in the middle of an outbreak at an Umbrella Corporation genetics laboratory, alongside Michelle Rodriguez’s Rain Ocampo and a team of commandos fighting their way through zombies, mutant creatures and one very unhappy artificial intelligence.

But how well does Resident Evil actually hold up more than two decades later?

For Jamie, who has never played a Resident Evil game, this is a chance to judge the movie purely as a piece of horror and action cinema. Corrina, meanwhile, brings her experience with the games and plenty of affection for the increasingly chaotic movie franchise. That makes for a surprisingly interesting debate about what counts as a good video game adaptation.

Highlights Breakdown:

- Video Game vs Movie: How closely does the 2002 film actually resemble Resident Evil, and does that even matter

- Horror or Action?: Jamie and Corrina debate why the movie feels more like an action film than traditional zombie horror.

- Alice & Milla Jovovich: Why creating an original protagonist helped the film stand apart from the games while still feeling connected to the Resident Evil universe.

- The Romero What-If: What could George A. Romero's version of Resident Evil have looked like?

- What Went Wrong?: The dialogue, darkness, characters and video-game-style storytelling all come under the microscope.

- Zach Cregger's Resident Evil: What can the upcoming adaptation learn from Anderson's film while bringing something new to the franchise?

Is Anderson's Resident Evil a misunderstood video game adaptation, a gloriously ridiculous early-2000s action movie, or both? And, what can Zach Cregger learn from the 2002 movie to ensure his version finally gives Resident Evil the big-screen adaptation it deserves?

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What happens when a film looks like one thing in the trailer, only to turn out to be something rather different once you actually press play?

This week on The Commentary Booth, Jamie Apps is joined by Astrid Pizarro from the Killer Cuts Podcast to break down Netflix’s star-studded thriller, The Whisper Man.

Based on Alex North’s bestselling novel, The Whisper Man follows a widowed crime writer whose eight-year-old son is abducted, forcing him to turn to his estranged father, a retired police detective, for help. As the investigation unfolds, the pair discover disturbing links to an old serial killer case involving the mysterious Whisper Man.

But does Netflix's marketing sell audiences the wrong movie? We go beyond the trailer’s supernatural scares to dissect the film's real core: a gripping serial killer mystery and a profound exploration of inherited trauma.The pair also explore the film's Black Phone-esque moments, creepy background details, the mysterious blue hand, the clever use of red herrings, and the unsettling imagery surrounding the Whisper Man himself.

Highlights Breakdown:

The Whisper Man's misleading marketing

A Stacked Cast

Hidden Horror Details

The Theme of Inherited Trauma

They also take a closer look at the stacked cast, including Adam Scott's increasingly impressive dramatic work, Robert De Niro's involvement, and Hamish Linklater's bizarre but memorable turn as Norman Collins. They also consider whether the movie successfully answers the questions it raises, whether the Alex North novel is worth checking out, and whether the Russo Brothers' involvement can actually be felt on screen.

If you love mystery, thrillers, and Robert De Niro, this episode is for you.

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Our Star Wars 50th anniversary rewatch continues on The Commentary Booth, and this time Jamie Apps and Corrina Mabey are heading back to a galaxy far, far away for 2017's Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi.

Written and directed by Rian Johnson, The Last Jedi sees Rey (Daisy Ridley) travel to the remote island where Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) has isolated himself, hoping the legendary Jedi Master can help her understand and control her growing connection to the Force. Meanwhile, the Resistance faces an increasingly desperate battle against the First Order, with Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), Finn (John Boyega), Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran) and Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) all fighting their own battles as the galaxy edges closer to collapse.

But does The Last Jedi hold up nearly a decade later?

Jamie and Corrina revisit one of the most divisive movies in the Star Wars saga, unpacking the film's ambitious ideas, questionable creative choices and storylines that seem to go nowhere. From Luke Skywalker's characterisation and Rey's rapidly developing powers to Kylo Ren's (Adam Driver) frustrating villain arc, the much-maligned casino planet and that unforgettable Battle of Crait, almost nothing escapes scrutiny.

Highlights Breakdown:

- What went wrong with Luke Skywalker's character arc?

- Why the Leia space scene should have ended differently

- Hidden cameos from British royalty and Tom Hardy!

- Why this trilogy lacked a cohesive plan

Along the way, Jamie and Corrina question whether the sequel trilogy ever had a cohesive plan, debate what could have been done differently with Kylo Ren and Leia, revisit Mark Hamill's famous criticism of Luke's characterisation, and examine the film's numerous loose ends.

So, was The Last Jedi a bold attempt to take Star Wars somewhere new, or a spectacularly messy middle chapter that left Episode IX with an impossible job?

Join Jamie and Corrina as The Commentary Booth puts Star Wars: Episode VIII, The Last Jedi back under the microscope.

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Forty years after Jim Henson’s Labyrinth first transported audiences into a strange, glitter-covered world of goblins, puppets, impossible staircases and one very memorable Goblin King, The Commentary Booth is heading back into the maze.

This week, Jamie Apps and Corrina Mabey celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 1986 fantasy classic starring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly, and, unsurprisingly, they do not exactly agree on whether Labyrinth has aged into a timeless masterpiece or a bizarre relic of 1980s filmmaking. Join duo as they debate whether this 1986 cult classic is a timeless masterpiece of puppetry and imagination, or a strange, dark fever dream that left an entire generation of children mildly traumatised.

Highlights Breakdown:

- David Bowie as Jareth: The Goblin King, the casting alternatives and one of the most unforgettable fantasy performances of the 1980s.

- Jim Henson’s puppetry magic: A closer look at the extraordinary practical work behind Hoggle, Ludo, the Fireys and the film's many creatures.

- Dream or reality? Jamie and Corrina debate what Sarah's journey actually represents and whether the entire adventure exists inside her imagination.

- The film's creepiest moments: From the helping hands to the Fireys, Labyrinth proves that "kids' movie" meant something very different in the 1980s.

- Two very different verdicts: But, naturally, they're both convinced they're right.

- Could Labyrinth return? The pair discuss the long-rumoured sequel, the possibility of a darker reboot and what could happen if the Goblin King returned.

Tune in to hear Jamie and Corrina settle the debate, share their own childhood memories (and traumas) of the film, and discuss the potential for a dark, Robert Eggers-directed reboot.

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The truth is out there... but apparently, it involves Frankenstein monsters, organ trafficking and a surprisingly small number of aliens.

On this episode of The Commentary Booth, Jamie Apps and Corrina Mabey return to the world of Fox Mulder and Dana Scully to review the new director’s cut of the 2008 sci-fi thriller The X-Files: I Want To Believe - Vrach Frankenshteyn.

Mulder and Scully are pulled back into an FBI investigation involving psychic visions, a kidnapped agent, Russian scientists, organ trafficking and some truly strange Frankenstein-inspired experiments. But with the film stepping away from the franchise's iconic alien mythology, does this new cut actually feel like The X-Files?

And, naturally, the conversation eventually turns to the bigger question: could The X-Files actually return?

Highlights Breakdown:

- How the director's cut pushes the film from PG-13 to an R rating

- Jamie and Corrina debate whether abandoning the alien mythology was a mistake

- The biggest changes between the original cut and the new director's cut

- Why Mulder and Scully's romantic moments were removed

- Billy Connolly's unexpectedly dark role as Father Joe

- Why the movie struggled financially compared with the 1998 X-Files film

- Could The X-Files return as a reboot or new series?

So, is The X-Files: I Want To Believe - Vrach Frankenshteyn a misunderstood X-Files classic, or should Mulder and Scully have left this particular case firmly in the filing cabinet?

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20 years. 450 real snakes. One very angry Samuel L. Jackson.

The Commentary Booth is taking to the skies as Jamie Apps and Corrina Mabey revisit Snakes On A Plane to celebrate the cult action-horror-comedy’s 20th anniversary.

Released in 2006, David R. Ellis' gloriously ridiculous creature feature follows FBI Agent Neville Flynn as he attempts to protect a key witness during a flight from Honolulu to Los Angeles, only for hundreds of deadly snakes to be deliberately unleashed aboard the plane. What follows is exactly the kind of chaos you'd expect from a movie called Snakes On A Plane.

Twenty years on, does this B-grade schlockfest still hold up?

Highlights Breakdown:

20 Years Of Snakes On A Plane

Does The Movie Still Work?

Samuel L. Jackson's Iconic Performance

The Snake Attacks & Death Scenes

CGI, 450 Real Snakes & Kitty

The Internet Movie That Became A Meme

20 Years Later: Would We Recommend It?

Jamie and Corrina look back at their memories of watching the movie, its bizarre blend of horror, comedy and action, and the way internet hype famously transformed the production. Originally conceived as a PG-13 thriller, the film was reportedly reworked after its online buzz exploded, with additional material helping push it into the R-rated territory audiences came to expect.

The pair also dive into Samuel L. Jackson's legendary performance, the film's spectacularly ridiculous snake attacks, its Final Destination-style death sequences, questionable snake science, wildly dated 2000s technology and the sheer number of characters you find yourself actively hoping will get bitten.

So buckle up, keep your feet off the floor and maybe think twice before using the plane bathroom.

The Commentary Booth is back, and this time there are mother f’ing snakes on the mother f’ing plane.

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The Commentary Booth takes its first side quest in the Star Wars journey as Jamie Apps and Corrina Mabey revisit Rogue One: A Star Wars Story as the film hits its 10th anniversary. Directed by Gareth Edwards, this 2016 space opera swaps lightsabers and Jedi for a gritty spy-espionage thriller, following Jyn Erso and a crew of morally grey rebels on a suicide mission to steal the Death Star plans.

Jamie and Corrina break down why Rogue One still stands as one of the strongest entries in the Star Wars canon: its unconventional cast of unknowns, the grounded, dirty aesthetic that separates it from the rest of the saga, and the way it threads the needle between spin-off and essential canon without ever feeling like a cash grab. They dig into K2SO's unscripted slap, the uncanny valley CGI resurrection of Peter Cushing's Tarkin, the "save the dream" mishearing debate around Forest Whitaker's Saw Gerrera, and the multi-layered chaos of the Battle of Scarif. They also weigh in on Rogue One's box office haul, its origins as a scrapped Star Wars Underworld pitch, and where it lands in their personal Star Wars rankings.

Highlights Breakdown:

- Why Rogue One might be the BEST Star Wars spin-off ever

- The emotional gut-punch of the Battle of Scarif

- K-2SO's ad-libbed slap that broke Diego Luna

- Do CGI recreations work?

- Where does Rogue One rank against the original trilogy?

- Plus: Ewok movies, Andor talk, and hot takes galore!

Where does Rogue One rank for you in the pantheon of Star Wars films?

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