Dave, Marcus, and Colin strap on their web-shooters and swing into the middle chapter of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy — a film they all agree still soars. From jaw-dropping action to genuine character arcs, Spider-Man 2 delivers the superhero goods with style. 

The crew breaks down the film’s surprisingly emotional core, the razor-sharp effects that still hold up, and the perfect balance of humor and heart. Everyone's on board with the electric chemistry between Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst — but it’s Alfred Molina’s complex, tragic Doctor Octopus who truly steals the spotlight. He’s not your average “take over the world” bad guy — he's got depth, nuance, and, yes, terrifying robot tentacles. 

They also rank their favorite Spider-Man performances and suits, debate who wore Aunt May best, and unanimously agree that James Franco’s Harry Osborn... leaves a lot to be desired. Colin doesn’t hold back, branding him a “whiny little bitch” — and honestly, no one disagrees. 

Raimi’s signature style may be toned down in places, but when he unleashes it — especially during Doc Ock’s horror-tinged transformation — it’s pure cinematic gold. Bonus points for Bruce Campbell’s scene-stealing cameo as New York’s most pompous theater usher. 

If your Spidey senses aren’t tingling by the end of this episode, you might want to get them checked out. 

Previous Sam Raimi episodes:

Darkman 

The Quick and the Dead 

Army of Darkness 

Drag Me to Hell

We’d love to get your feedback, if you liked the episode, hated it, or think that we missed something, please send us a message at [email protected], submit your comments on the episode in the Spotify app, or find us on X @reeldmc.

Dave, Colin, and Marcus step out of the shadows to dissect Darkman, Sam Raimi’s gloriously unhinged first stab at the superhero genre. Raimi’s signature style—whip pans, wild angles, and all—is on full display, and while Colin is all-in on the madness, Marcus and Dave are a little more reserved. 

The crew agrees: the make-up and practical effects are a gritty highlight, even if Liam Neeson’s melodramatic performance as the vengeful, disfigured scientist splits the room. Colin digs the twisted genius behind Darkman’s convoluted revenge schemes, but the dated greenscreen effects leave everyone shaking their heads. 

One thing’s certain—Larry Drake steals the show as Durant, the finger-collecting gangster with a smile as sharp as his cigar cutter. And yes, we talk about that iconic moment with the drinking bird, the lighter, and a very unfortunate lab. 

So hop into your ’73 Oldsmobile Delta 88 and hit play. At just under ninety-nine minutes, you'll finish the pod long before your synthetic skin starts to bubble. 

Previous Sam Raimi episodes:

The Quick and the Dead 

Army of Darkness 

Drag Me to Hell

We’d love to get your feedback, if you liked the episode, hated it, or think that we missed something, please send us a message at [email protected], submit your comments on the episode in the Spotify app, or find us on X @reeldmc.

After a bumpy ride on the Paul Verhoeven train, Dave, Colin, and Marcus are eager to switch tracks and dive into a new series on director Sam Raimi. Kicking things off with The Quick and the Dead (1995), they revel in Raimi’s signature camera wizardry, vibrant characters, and loving homage to Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns.

Sharon Stone shines as a steely gunslinger in the classic “man with no name” mold, while Russell Crowe delivers a gripping performance as Cort, a former killer seeking redemption—an impressive introduction to American audiences. A young Leonardo DiCaprio charms with his cocky energy, and standout supporting turns from Lance Henriksen and Keith David add flair to an already stacked cast.

But stealing the show is the late, great Gene Hackman as Herod, the ruthless ruler of the town. Hackman is at his absolute best, effortlessly shifting from eerily affable to downright terrifying.

So holster your iron and step into the dusty streets—it's time for a showdown on the Reel DMC Movie Podcast!

Previous Sam Raimi Reel DMC podcasts:

• Army of Darkness

We’d love to get your feedback, if you liked the episode, hated it, or think that we missed something, please send us a message at [email protected], submit your comments on the episode in the Spotify app, or find us on X @reeldmc.

Leave your inhibitions at the door... and maybe your good taste too! Dave, Marcus, and Colin close out their Paul Verhoeven series with Showgirls—the glitzy, trashy, unforgettable train wreck that is somehow both awful and mesmerizing. Colin sees the genius (or at least the guilty pleasure), Marcus wants to set it on fire, and Dave is stuck in the middle, trying to make sense of it all.

Is Showgirls misunderstood satire or just a mess with tassels? Does anyone eat a burger normally in this movie? And most importantly—did we survive watching it?

Join us as we dive deep (but not too deep) into Verhoeven’s most infamous film.

Previous Verhoeven movies covered:

• Robocop (1987)
• Total Recall (1990)
• Basic Instinct (1992)
• Starship Troopers (1997)

Dave, Marcus, and Colin take on RoboCop, Paul Verhoeven’s first American film—a brutal, satirical, and wildly entertaining sci-fi classic. Dave enjoys it a bit more than Colin and Marcus, but they all agree it’s got plenty to love.

They break down the film’s sharp satire, striking visuals, and, of course, its signature over-the-top violence. Peter Weller’s precise, robotic physicality gets well-deserved praise, as does ED-209, the ultimate corporate murder machine—ruthless, imposing, and hilariously terrible at stairs.

So stop what you’re doing and listen to this episode. You have fifteen seconds to comply!

Previous episodes in our Paul Verhoeven podcast series:

• Basic Instinct (1992)
• Total Recall (1990)
• Starship Troopers (1997)

We’d love to get your feedback, if you liked the episode, hated it, or think that we missed something, please send us a message at [email protected].

Dave, Marcus, and Colin continue their journey through the films of director Paul Verhoeven. Colin makes the case for the film being one of Verhoeven’s best but Dave and Marcus are not convinced. Everybody agrees the famous interrogation leg crossing scene is iconic and that the film has some fun cheesiness. But while Colin finds the film still delivers on the eroticism, Dave thinks the sex scenes are tame and boring–and Marcus is somewhere in the middle. And although the film was noted to be quite controversial upon its initial release, everybody finds it fairly run-of-the-mill upon rewatch. Luckily, nobody is stabbed with an icepick during the episode… or gets charged with smoking.

Basic Instinct is the third in a series of episodes dedicated to examining the films of Paul Verhoeven. You can find our other episodes here:

• Total Recall
• Starship Troopers
  
  

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Tell us what you liked (or didn’t like), send us a correction. or give a note on something we overlooked. We’re always interested in listener feedback and comments!

Dave, Marcus, and Colin discuss Paul Verhoeven's sci-fi classic Total Recall (1990). We all really enjoyed revisiting the sci-fi action movie and wonder is it that last great 80's action movie? Can anyone else play Quaid other than Arnold? And is it real or all in his mind?

Dave, Marcus and Colin rewatch a film from their youth and have a very different experience. What was once an an intense, dark action film has become--to adult eyes--flat out hilarious. The guys marvel at officer Lymangood’s juvenile horniness, love Murphy’s wise cracking antics, and all agree the “conspiracy” makes almost no sense whatsoever. And let's not forget the especially bizarre dialogue: what the hell does “a hot mince pie under each arm” actually mean? Don’t be a “JAFO.” Just tune in and enjoy the ride.

Dave, Marcus and Colin escape Mathtilda May’s entrancing beauty long enough to discuss Tobe Hooper’s ambitious $25 million Space Vampire sci-fi epic. While it fails to deliver a coherent storyline, believable characters, or any level of logic, it more than makes up for in chaotic entertainment. Dave fails to master Steve Railsback’s character name, Colin does his best impression of several characters, and Marcus thinks his friends must have seen a better film. The guys remain confused by….well…almost everything, but have a lot of fun discussing what amounts to a bizarre ‘80s artifact.

After discussing Rob Zombie’s original Halloween remake, the guys decide to take a run at the sequel, Halloween II. Colin is having none of it, Marcus doesn’t want to live in Zombie’s world, and while Dave can appreciate some of what Zombie was attempting, everybody agrees the movie is generally unpleasant, extremely violent, and narratively bizarre. Nobody understands (or cares about) ghostly apparitions and white horses, and we’re all confused why EVERY PERSON in Haddonfield a disgusting human being. While we want you to listen to the podcast, we can’t recommend actually watching the movie…..

This is the 5th Halloween franchise film the DMC podcast has discussed – Marcus and Colin blame Dave, and her agrees it’s his fault. But, while the movies haven’t been great, the podcasts are a lot of fun, so if you’d like to check out the earlier films we discussed, you can find them here:

• Rob Zombie’s Halloween remake
• Halloween 2018
• Halloween Kills
• Halloween Ends