Cinematic Brotastic Movie Podcast

Thor: Love and Thunder starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, Tessa Thompson, and Taika Waititi who also Directed the movie.

Thor is lost and trying to find his purpose. He meets up with an old flame, and then becomes the target of a man called Gorr the God Butcher. In a story not too dissimilar to Infinity War, instead of a McMuffin used to wipe out half of life, Gorr uses a McMuffin to kill all the gods. Jane, the old flame, takes the shattered Mjolnir (from Thor Ragnorock) and uses it to become “The Mighty Thor,” but at a cost.

I feel like what makes this movie so enjoyable, is also what I don’t like about it at the same time. Thor Ragnorock had a really good balance of comedy and seriousness. And with this latest iteration, Taika Waitit leaned even heavier into the comedy. While I laughed at all the clever humor, I wished that the movie took itself a little more seriously.

The shattered Mjolnir brought some new excitement for the action scenes. I liked how it acted like the classic hammer we all know and love, but it also had a few new tricks up its sleeve.

The inclusion of Guns’n’Roses to the soundtrack felt like it fit in really well. There were 3-4 songs sprinkled throughout the film, including November Rain — which I despised growing up because you would listen to it constantly and the song is 37 minutes long. But here, it isn’t too bad.

The biggest thing this movie introduces to the overall MCU is the introduction of The Gods. Any and all deities that we know of, and some from the comics too, all seem to dwell in Omnipotent city, a city that looks like what a city of gods would look like. Pristine and clean, and plentiful. They all seem to be living lavishly, which is where Gorr’s motivations come from. While he and many creatures throughout the cosmos worship and suffer(including his daughter who dies of thirst), the gods drink wine and party with no concern or care for those who worship them.

I was excited to see the inclusion of the character of eternity, but at the same time, he didn’t do anything on screen. He was almost like a statue. While in concept, a creature like that, probably would just be stoic, but at the same time, I hoped to see more interaction.

2 tickets, definitely want to see this again, with any hope I will. My criticisms of this movie are small and not enough to take me out of the latests installment in the MCU.

Dr. Strange finally gets a sequel after appearing in the MCU 4 times already. This time as the title says, he dives right into the Multiverse… of Madness. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochiti Gomez, Rachel McAdams, and featuring Patrick Stewart, Anson Mount, Lashana Lynch, Hayley Atwell, and John Krasinski as members of the Illuminati. Directed by Marvel Movie alum Sam Raimi.

This movie jumps right into the action with a multiversal variant of Dr. Strange trying to save America Chavez from a demon. Here it shows she can open up portals that allow her to travers the multiverse, albeit without any way to intentionally navigate it.

She inevitably runs into the Dr. Strange we all know and love, and he tries to protect her. Realizing that the forces following Chavez are a form of witchcraft, they go to the only witch they know, Wanda Maximoff. Unbeknownst to them, it was Wanda all along… not so much Agatha. No catchy song to go along with this one. Wanda is being warped by the Darkhold, a book of dark magic, and is searching for a way to reunite with her kids she lost at the end of the Disney+ series WandaVision.

This movie is fun, exciting, and just what the Marvel doctor ordered. Fans of Sam Raimi will no doubt see some of his signature filmmaking in this movie including his car's cameo, and of course Bruce Campbell. There is a lot to enjoy about this movie, but for better or worse, the most notable is the Illuminati. Seeing Patrick Stewart as Professor X again was a delight. Everyone was speechless, pun intended, when Anson Mount reprised his roll as Black Bolt. But the best kept secret and biggest surprise was John Krasinski, who’s already been fan casted into the roll of Reed Richards, showed up as Reed Richards!! The big question is, will we see these characters again with the same actors?

The Brothers Brotastic give this film 2 tickets. We are on board with the MCU through and through.

2021 Year End Movie Jamboree Part 2!

The Brothers Brotastic stray from the Marvel machine a bit and venture out into other mostly non comic book movies for this episode. We cover the likes of Dune, Mortal Kombat, The Suicide Squad, Snake Eyes, and The Matrix Resurrections.

With as much as we discuss these movies and how we viewed them on HBOmax, you would think they are a sponsor of this episode... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! No, we just are humble patrons of a streaming service that we enjoy.

What did you think of these movies?

BLACK WIDOW

DIRECTED BY CATE SHORTLAND

STARRING:

SCARLETT JOHANSON

FLORENCE PUGH

DAVID HARBOR

RACHEL WEISZ

THE MOVIE PICKS UP RIGHT WHERE Captain America CIVIL WAR LEFT OFF. BLACK WIDOW FACES HER PAST AS AN ASSASSIN FOR RUSSIA, SPECIFICALLY A HIT INVOLVING DRACOV… WHERE HIS DAUGHTER WAS COLLATERAL DAMAGE. DRACOV WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BLACK WIDOW PROGRAM WHERE GIRLS ARE KIDNAPPED AT A YOUNG AGE AND RAISED TO KILL. SHE THOUGHT HE WAS DEAD, BUT DUH DUH DUH… HE’S NOT AND IS STILL MAKING BLACK WIDOWS.

THE REAL MVP OF THIS FILM IS FLORENCE PUGH. SHE PLAYS YET ANOTHER GIRL FROM THE BLACK WIDOW PROGRAM THAT HAS BROKEN FREE OF DRACOV’S SPELL THAT FORCES HER TO BE AN ASSASSIN. HER PLIGHT AND RAW EMOTION REALLY COME OFF THE SCREEN.

THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN FLORENCE AND SCARLETT FELT VERY REAL, AND THE TALKING MOMENTS OF THIS FILM REALLY STAND OUT POSSIBLY MORE SO THAN THE ACTION SEQUENCES.

CLEARLY THIS MOVIE IS PASSING THE BATON FROM SCARLET TO FLORENCE, CONSIDERING THE END OF THIS MOVIE LEADS STRAIGHT TO INFINITY WAR AND ENDGAME WHERE SHE DIES.

TASKMASTER’S INTRODUCTION/OPENING FIGHT WAS REALLY IMPRESSIVE.

WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE TASKMASTER

FELT THIS MOVIE WAS TOO LATE

CHECKS ALL THE BOXES OF A MARVEL MOVIE… AND THAT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH.

DOMESTICALLY GROSSED AROUND 80 MILLION OPENING WEEKEND

AROUND 60 MILLION FROM DISNEY PLUS

IT SET A BOX OFFICE RECORD AT THE TIME

SALES DROPPED DRAMATICALLY THE NEXT WEEKEND

SCARLETT JOHANSON SUED DISNEY ALLEGING A BREACH OF CONTRACT BY DOING THE SAME DAY AND DATE DUAL RELEASE STRATEGY, THUS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTING HER COMPENSATION.

DISNEY RESPONDED BY PUBLISHING HER EARNINGS FROM THE FILM AT THE TIME WERE 20 MILLION. (I THINK IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE US MERE NONMILLIONAIRS LESS SYMPATHETIC TO HER CASE)

BOTH DISNEY AND SCARLETT JOHANSON HAVE SETTLED THE DISPUTE, AND IT SEEMS THAT SHE HAS SAID THAT SHE IS WILLING AND LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH DISNEY AGAIN.

GAL GADOT’S CONTRACT WAS RENEGOTIATED BEFORE WARNER BROS DID THE SAME THING WITH WONDER WOMAN 1984, IT HAS YET TO BE REVEALED IF ANY LAWSUITS OR SETTLEMENTS WILL HAPPENED WITH EMMA STONE OVER CRUELLA’S SIMILAR RELEASE STRATEGY NOR EMILY BLUNT OVER THE JUNGLE CRUISE’S DAY AND DATE RELEASE

Before the rise of the Delta Variant, we had the chance to see a few movies in theaters, A Quiet Place part 2, F9, Black Widow, The Suicide Squad, and Candyman to name a few. We hope to have episodes on all of those out soon.

A Quiet Place Part 2, directed by John Krasinski, as well as starring him briefly along with Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, and Millicent Simmonds

A Quiet Place II, John Krasinski, World Premiere was 3/8/2020, covid delayed release theatrically to 5/28/2021

This is a continuation of the first film with a few more hints at more of the overall backstory about what led to the post-apocalyptic world the movie takes place in. A worthwhile sequel, but some aspects I feel could have used a little more attention.

The opening sequence depicting the arrival was done very well. I have always been a fan of the slow transition from normal to invasion, for lack of a better term. You know a secret that the characters don’t but there’s nothing you can do but watch and wait. War of the Worlds, both the original and Spielberg’s remake, and M. Night’s “Signs” are perfect examples of this as well. It sets up great tension in otherwise mundane and routine tasks, as seen in this film, going to the store and watching a little league baseball game. The fireball in the sky was ominous, but not over the top and I liked how people didn’t “freak out” but more hastily moved on with a hint of urgency instead of all out chaos.

This did a good job of filling in some missing details the audience wanted after watching the first film. It also very naturally and subtly added a moment that would payoff later between Millicent Simmonds and Cillian Murphy later in the film using the ASL gesture for “Dive.”

The reintroduction of Cillian Murphy’s character and the violent group at the marina did a great job of building out the world we got a glimpse of in the first film. Most of the encounters are with people who have lost hope and are just trying to survive, by any means necessary, even if it is at the expense of someone else.

The sequences with the creatures were more frightening and visceral that we’ve seen and had a lot of good jump scares to go along with that.

At the beginning, it seemed at times that John Krasinki's character was more aware of the creatures' sensitivity to sound that he should have been during the first wave of the attack.

The son character seemed out of place as if the filmmakers were not sure what to do with his character. Also, what was up with the jump scare revealing that Cillian Murphy's character kept his wife's body at the compound? It was a beat that was not explained, nor did it go anywhere.

The film's abrupt end is in line with the first film, but one half of the Brothers Brotastic felt there should be a little more breathing room.

Clearly seeing the first film is a prerequisite, but it may have helped to recap some things at the beginning. I did not have a chance to rewatch the first film, so any themes or carryovers from Part 1 may not be immediately obvious, and connections may be missed.

Overall, this was a worthwhile sequel. It was nuanced while maintaining the same look and feel as the original film. It did not stray too far from what people loved about its predecessor and breathed in some new life that looks to take this film into a much anticipated Part 3.

I overall felt my experience seeing this film physically was a little lackluster, and I’m not sure if that is because of the movie, or if it was being back in the theater for the first time in months and maybe being kind of scared, but I’m glad I saw this in theaters, and would be willing to watch this again. 2 tickets.

How much time have you wasted scrolling through episodes and movies available on your favorite streaming service and not been able to make a choice? With so many streaming services out there with hours of great content to chose from, it can seem impossible to pick just one movie or TV show to watch. Channel surfing has returned in this now digital age of television, and taken on a new name... Stream Surfing!! Listen in to find out why it's so hard to choose, and what the Brothers Brotastic suggest that will keep you from endlessly scrolling night after night.

A TASTE OF THE MULTIVERSE!!! Two Justice Leagues!! Same cast, similar plot, yet two completely different movies. The Legendary Snyder Cut is now available for all to see in its 4 hour long runtime. The Brother's Brotastic have long been behind the rallying cry of #releasethesnydercut. Was it worth it? Is 4 hours too long? Is there enough of a difference? Listen now to find out!!

Sundance came to Tulsa!! Remotely at least... The Brothers Brotastic got a chance to check out the opener for the Sundance Film Festival from Oklahoma via their Satellite City Program. Due to social distancing, the films were screened at a Drive-In as well as the local Art House Theater. Opting for the Drive-In, one thing was not considered in the excitement... Near Freezing Temperatures!! Did the cold affect the appreciation of these independent films? Listen in to find out!

The DC cinematic universe expands into the 80’s with Wonder Woman 1984 starring Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristin Wiig, and Pedro Pascal. A tall order to follow up one of the most successful and critically acclaimed films in the DCEU franchise. The Brothers Brotastic had some issues with this movie, but does that make it a bad film? Listen in to find out!

Do you remember the Oscars from March of 2020? Well it was right at the start of the pandemic that saw global quarantines and shutdowns. Cinematic Brotastic was affected like so many other things in 2020. WE LOST AN EPISODE!!! But hey, we found it! Hot off of a Golden Globe Win, The Brother's Brotastic felt that 1917 was a shoo-in for the Oscar win. Imagine our disappointment when it didn't. Hear why we thought this movie was sure to take home that golden statue, so many months ago.

All I have for you is a word, mind-blowing. Christopher Nolan’s latest blockbuster TENET would be exactly that, a blockbuster, had it not been for the pandemic. Luckily for us, and hopefully for you, it was released in drive-in theaters too. The perfect socially distanced way to go to the movies. Hear why we will see this movie again, and again, and again in our latest episode of Cinematic Brotastic.

Unsolved Mysteries… the unsolved crime docuseries that spun off many copycats is back. This show did it all; unsolved crimes, missing persons, lost loves, and unexplainable paranormal events. The Brothers Brotastic grew up watching this show, almost as if it were a compliment to another favorite, The X-Files. Is this reboot worth checking out? Listen to find out… and hear a chilling unsolved mystery of our own!

The mother of all Hashtags! #ReleaseTheSnyderCut! A movement that took the internet by storm, has finally yielded results. A movie that seemed like it would never see the light of day, will be revealed to the world once and for all. How did this happen? When will it happen? The Brother's Brotastic have all that and more in the latest episode of Cinematic Brotastic.

The world has seemingly shut down. The Brothers Brotastic are staying home and working remotely where possible. Everything is being affected by the Novel Coronavirus, Covid-19, but we're taking a look at Hollywood in particular. What will the movie industry look like after this pandemic ends? Will movie theaters close for good? Will stream be king once and for all? We talk about this and more in our latest episode.

Did the end of this franchise soar like the phoenix in its title, or did it burn to ashes to be born again under new management? Hot off the heals of Disney’s purchase of 20th Century Fox, Dark Phoenix found itself in an awkward place. Is the film’s poor reception the fault of the content, or an unfortunate side effect of the looming curiosity of what the X-Men will be like in the MCU? We explore those questions and more in our latest episode of Cinematic Brotastic.

We Brothers Brotastic found ourselves disappointed, not in the film per se, but rather it the film’s reception. We find ourselves, whether it be purely nostalgic or perhaps something more, drawn more to the X-Men over any other Marvel property. We loved the ’90’s cartoon and collected trading cards. To see something that we admire a lot be the source of so much negative criticism and hatred cut us deep.

This film is not the best X-Men film in the franchise, but it is definitely a much better adaptation of the “Dark Phoenix Saga” than X3. In the episode we go into more detail about nitpicky things that we disliked about the film, including the misuse of Quicksilver, the flat portrayal of Jessica Chastain’s villain, and Jennifer Lawrence’s franchise fatigue and her character’s spoiled death.

But this film had a lot of things that went well. It introduced a mutant island, a feature in the comics and cartoon. Interestingly enough, it let characters unleash with their powers. The other films in the franchise have their set pieces and some action sequences, but most characters only use their powers once. We really get to see the X-Men like we want to see them; using their powers.

Another issue this film had, wasn’t really its fault. The plot had a lot of similarities to MCU's Captain Marvel. An all powerful woman fighting shape shifting aliens in space. Because of this, some plot points were changed, including the final act going from the vastness of space down into the confined setting of a train. We both thought the sequence was fantastic and exciting. We do wonder what could have been, similarities aside.

We both hoped the franchise could have gone out with a bang, but instead it went out with a fizzle. Who knows if we will ever see “New Mutants,” another film in the franchise that was supposed to come out after, but seems stuck in development hell.

Andrew gave Dark Phoenix 1 ticket. He’s glad he saw it in theaters and thought it was exciting, but it is not the best of the franchise.

Philip gives Dark Phoenix 2 tickets. Cyclops is his favorite character on the team and he likes all the characters more than the rest of Marvel’s lineup. He is sad that this movie did not do well.

Until next time, we’ll see you at the movies.

And don’t forget to check your ticket stubs.

There's no such thing as a vacation for superheroes. Case in point, Spider-Man: Far From Home! After going to space, being wiped from existence, and literally saving the world, ol' web head wanted to take a break. Unfortunately trouble followed him to Europe. How does the 23rd film in the MCU hold up? How many tickets did it earn from the Brothers Brotastic? Tune in to find out.

Spider-Man: Far From Home continues where Avengers: Endgame left off; Tony Stark is dead, and the world has been saved. People are trying to adjust to the reintegration of those dusted in the "Snap" from Infinity War now that they have all "Blipped" back into existence 5 years later having not aged with the rest of the world. Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is trying to find his place in all this now that his mentor is dead, often feeling alone. He finds out that Stark left him with all the assets that Iron Man left behind, which in the wrong hands could really do some damage. Overwhelmed, he seeks to take a break for a school trip and finally work up the courage to ask MJ (Zendaya) out. Trouble, however, is always brewing. A Mysterious hero comes out of nowhere when "Elemental" creatures seem to appear from the same place; creatures made of water, earth, and fire. This new hero teams up with Spider-Man claiming he's from a different dimension trying to keep these creatures from destroying this one. Unbeknownst to the audience and Spider-Man, the multidimensional story is but a ruse to con Peter Parker into handing over his gift from Tony Stark. The mysterious new hero Quentin Beck (Jake Gyllenhaal), is a disgruntled ex employee of Tony Stark's, and seeks to get revenge, along a few dozen other ex-employees who feel the same. Using technology that Tony stark dismissed as not useful, they were going to fool the world. Needless to say, the plot is eventually foiled by Spider-Man, but not before Beck, named Mysterio by news organizations, reveals Spider-Man's true identity as Peter Parker to the entire world.

One of the aspects of Spider-Man that make him a beloved hero is his constant fight with himself; meaning his struggle to live both as Peter Parker and Spider-Man separately. He longs for the simple joys of having friends and romantic relationships, but feels an immense duty to help others since he is gifted in a way to do so, but he can't do both at the same time no mater how hard he tries. This film did an amazing, no pun intended, job of showing that struggle with his own duality. He's in Europe, about to sit next to the girl he likes, and she's showing interest in him as well, when all of a sudden, disaster strikes and Spider-Man must save the day. the weight of this fight was felt coming off of the screen.

Mysterio is a known Spider-Man villain, and yet with the marketing and the way the film opened, it seemed like Mysterio was actually one of the good guys. Marvel has changed some of their characters to better suit the films, so it is possible. But just like Mysterio deceives everyone, Marvel deceived us. While the reveal that Mysterio was in fact a bad guy wasn't exactly jaw dropping, it was a bit of a surprise.

A big surprise however, was the reveal that J.K. Simmons reprised his role as J. Jonah Jameson, head of the Daily Bugle; a publication that hates Spider-Man and does everything it can to tear down the web slinger. 

An even bigger surprise was the reveal that Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) were in fact shape shifting Skrulls this whole time! The real Fury was in space. How long has this been going on? Skrulls showed up in the 90's, well before Iron Man 1.

This movie earned 2 tickets all around. It was fun to see, and both of us brothers would gladly watch it again.

Until next time, we'll see you at the movies.

And don't forget to check your ticket stubs.

The assassin underground world gets ever so bigger with the latest installment of the John Wick franchise. More secret societies, more secret governments, less people NOT in the underground. Parabellum translates to “prepare for war.” Our butts and backs were not ready for the war of our seats in B&B theaters’ MX4D. How did the high octane action play out as we literally were in high octane action ourselves? Listen in to find out.

First and foremost, B&B Theaters is not endorsing or sponsoring this post. We talk about an aspect of their theaters, because its in one of their theaters that we saw John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum.

Because of a technical issue when seeing Shazam! we were given free passes to another film. We chose to use them to see John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum. Only, it wasn’t just a regular ticket; this was for John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum in MX4D!!!!!

What is MX4D? In a nutshell, its motion seats and atmospheric effects used to enhance the movie viewing experience. The seats move in all directions, the backs punch you, and water sprays in your face. At times you can feel the wind in your hair when there is a car chase. And at other times you can smell what’s happening on screen. And with such a gun heavy movie as John Wick, a strobe flash for virtually every gun shot. Is this worth it? Maybe, maybe not. Let us tell you about the movie first.

All in all, there’s not much to say about the third chapter of John Wick. If you’ve seen 1 and 2, you know what you're getting into. John having to fight his way to survival in endless close quarters hand to hand, gun to gun combat. It’s the choreography that is the spectacle here.

Keanu Reeves doesn’t say much in this movie at all; at times he even quotes himself from The Matrix.

Halle Berry and her character’s attack dogs added a nice change of pace for the action. Mark Dacascos’s Zero made for a formidable antagonist that at times made the audience think perhaps John Wick has met his match. Ian McShane and Laurence Fishburne shine as they reprise their roles in the franchise. The most surprising and rewarding was Lance Reddick’s concierge character Charon. In past installments he’s been much like a concierge, there to answer questions and serve the needs of customers not getting involved in any sort of action. Here he arms himself not so much to defend John Wick, but to defend the hotel he loyally serves in.

Is MX4D worth it? Depends. John Wick is not a movie that requires a lot of attention to follow the plot. It’s not like trying to follow the plot of Memento where every frame is littered with subtext and clues to the truth of the narrative. John Wick is a shoot ‘em up film with lots of cool action… and that’s about it. When being jostled around by motion controlled hydraulic seats, you don’t want to worry about subtle plot details. The seats were harder than traditional seats and for the case of some of our butts, they started to go numb toward the end. With that aside, both the Brothers Brotastic couldn’t stop laughing at how ridiculous the insane motion could be sometimes. Andrew personally thought the MX4D made John Wick 3 much more enjoyable than if he had seen it in a standard theater.

Andrew gives JW3 1 ticket, he’s glad he saw it once.

Philip gave JW3 2 tickets. He thoroughly enjoys the franchise, and can’t wait to see where chapter 4 takes him.

Until next time, we’ll see you a the movies.

And don’t forget to check your ticket stubs.

SHAZAM!! Say my name so my powers may flow through you! The DCEU introduces one of their lesser known heroes. A boy who says the magic word and "POOF" he's super! A bit of a silly premise, but the trailers looked fun. Did it work? Can Shazam! rise above the troubled past of the DC comics Extended Universe? Just say the word and listen as Philip and Andrew return with a look at DC's Shazam! 

Two movies about Captain Marvel came out in 2019, but only one took on that name. The DCEU had to go with Shazam! At the time of Shazam’s origin in the comics, he was known as Captain Marvel. The abridged version of history is that Captain Marvel was taken out of the roster, and eventually bought by DC comics and shelved as a character due to similarities to Superman. Meanwhile, Marvel comics came out with a character named Captain Marvel and claimed the rights to the name. DC decided to eventually bring the character back onto the pages of their comics, and instead called him Shazam, after the so called password the character has to shout to turn into the super hero.

After the debacle that followed Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice, and The Justice League (bad reviews and lots of behind the scenes scrambling along with a real life tragedy) Warner Brothers and DC comics wanted to shift focus. They had a huge hit with Aquaman, but they also had a huge hit with Wonder Woman in between poorly received films. So now Shazam! enters into the equation. A story about a teenage boy named Billy Batson, who is imbued with the abilities of a powerful wizard named Shazam, merely by saying his name. With Aquaman, they could rely on the mysterious subaqueous world with which he comes from, creating quite the spectacle, and relying on the rugged charm of Jason Momoa. With Shazam!, they relied on the comedic aspect of a teenager being thrust into an older body, and having to deal with super powers on top of that.

For Shazam!, this worked. Zachary Levi is totally believable as someone who is supposed to be a teenager. He gives the film the right amount of humor without getting too silly, and can be serious when it’s called for. This film is often compared to Big starring Tom Hanks, and the comparison is not far off.

Aquaman made specific mentions to the Justice League cementing it’s connection to the DCEU, and Shazam! Is no different. News articles featuring Superman and Batman can be seen. One of Billy Batson’s foster brothers has a bat-erang in the same design that is featured in Justice League and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The most clear connection is with the cameo, if you can call it that, featuring the chest of Superman in the same suit Henry Cavill has worn since he donned the cape. Warner Brothers is clearly connecting the films. This normally wouldn’t be a problem, however, Ben Affleck is out as Batman, and Henry Cavill has neither confirmed nor denied if he is still playing Superman. With 2 key members of the Justice League moving forward with sequels, it's hard to imagine the connected nature of the stories when their two biggest players are MIA. With a new Batman film in the works with Robert Pattinson and a solo Joker film starring Juaquin Phoenix having no ties to the DCEU, it’s hard to get behind the already established shared universe when it's appears to be falling apart. And for the record, with all its failings, the Brothers Brotastic were very much fans of the “DC Snyder-verse” as some have called it. We, like so many others, call for the release of the Snyder Cut of Justice League.

Behind the scenes trouble aside, both of the Brothers Brotastic can get behind Shazam! On a scale of zero to two tickets, we both give this film two tickets way ripped! It is fun and a great introduction to a character not well known from the DC gallery of heroes. We both would love to revisit this film and will most definitely be adding it to our home video collection.

The concept of a Doppelgänger is quite frightening. Imagine seeing your likeness embodied by another person? Jordan Peele follows his smash hit “Get Out” with “Us”; a completely original film, something cinemas seem to lack lately. This film is not what you expect it to be… and is that good? Listen in to see what Philip and Andrew thought about Jordan Peele’s “Us.”

This movie is not exactly what you expect it to be. The trailer for the film makes it seem like the family is the central focus of this attack by exact copies of the main characters. This film goes beyond that. It is refreshing to see a marketing campaign that kept the secret of this film. There aren’t necessarily jaw dropping twists and turns that are unexpected, but rather, the story goes a different direction than you’re led on to believe. Both Brothers Brotastic feel that the omission of these details made for a richer experience, improving the enjoyment of the film.

It becomes evident within the first scene that there’s something more to this film than just what’s shown. A simple scene plays out; two parents at odds but trying to keep appearances in front of their child. It doesn’t take long to realize that something else is happening, however, it is not clear. It is at this point that it becomes apparent that “Us” is a layered film. Because of these layers, “Us” is probably a film that will warrant repeat viewings just to understand everything that is going on. This however does not distract from the film. Even though some things are still in question when the credits roll, the film is still enjoyable from beginning to end.

Andrew went into this movie expecting another “Get Out.” This film is not “Get Out.” Goin into this film with that sort of expectation will do you a great disservice. Andrew kept trying to compare it to “Get Out,” but the films are nothing alike. Once he stopped comparing the two, he was able to completely enjoy the film. Philip did not have any expectations. Upon viewing “Us,” Jordan Peele is quickly becoming a favorite director.

Jordan Peele’s comedic background came in handy. This film, although frightening and scary at times, was filled with humor. The comedy felt natural and well deserved. Even in some of the most intense moments, humor found its way in. This is not to say that the movie is a laughing riot, however, it will make you laugh from time to time.

Both Philip and Andrew give this film 2 tickets. Because of the layers this film seems to exhibit, repeat viewings seem almost mandatory… but that doesn’t seem to be a bad thing.

Until next time, we’ll see you at the movies.

And don’t forget to check your ticket stubs.

We definitely don’t want to be buried in a Pet Sematary. Hot off the heals of Stephen King’s “IT,” Pet Sematary brings a classic horror tale to a new generation. Does it rise from the grave to bring us something skewed? Or should the film have listened to its own tag line and stayed dead? Listen in as the Brothers Brotastic mark a first in this podcast’s history.

The mother of the Brothers Brotastic is a huge Stephen King fan, possibly reading and watching everything with his name attached to it. Because of this, we grew up with a strong Stephen King influence. “IT,” Tommyknockers, Langoliers, The Stand, The Shining, Creep Show… we saw it all, and read some. So when this remake came out, there was only one person we had to see it with, our mother.

Upon viewing, we couldn’t help but keep making comparisons to the original film made in 1989. If not comparing to the original, we were comparing to other horror films that have come out recently, like The Conjuring, or Annabelle. Unfortunately this film didn’t do anything new or different enough to stand out from others in its genre, nor the shadow of its predecessor.

Occasionally, there were some jump scares that would make anyone’s adrenaline spike momentarily, but jump scares don’t make a horror film good. This film could be compared to a popular Mexican condiment; salsa. There are many kinds, and levels of spiciness. A really good salsa would have good flavor and some kick, but what is more marketable and consumed on a larger scale is a milder version; all the ingredients are there… but there’s no kick. Pet Seminary is not the only film guilty of this, many of the trailers that showed before the film looked as flat and clichéd as this one was. Many of the films that have been spun off in The Conjuring Universe are guilty of this as well with the exception of its very foundation, The Conjuring.

One aspect that neither Philip nor Andrew seem to remember from the original film involves flashbacks of Rachel, one of the main characters. Rachel’s sister suffered from some disease that deformed her body. Because of this illness, she was completely dependent upon others to eat, sleep, bathe, and so on. Rachel, being very young, didn’t quite understand the disease and due to often being left alone to be her caretaker, feared her sister. These sequences essentially vilified a person with a deformity. We couldn’t help but be reminded of how the British Film Institute has made an effort to no longer fund films that villainize characters with scars or deformities. How many people out there have a bone disease that makes the body grow in a painful way? How would they feel if their disease was the only reason a character was evil?

For the first time in this podcast’s history, Andrew rated this movie 0 tickets. He enjoyed seeing the film with his mother and brother… both fans of Stephen King. However, he could have gone through life without seeing this version of Pet Sematary.

Philip rated the film 1 ticket. He is glad to have seen the film. He has no intentions to see it again… and he’s fine with that. He does not, however, think this film deserves a 0 ticket rating lumping it in with a mutually despised film by both brothers… Zoolander.

Optimus Prime, possibly the coolest and most popular fictional robot hero of all time, is not the main focus of this film. Instead, we get second best... but is that bad? Could this be the best Transformers movie ever made? It features the franchise's most popular sidekick, and villains that are not top tier, yet this film soars above and beyond the "Bayhem" of its Michael Bay directed predecessors. Listen in to hear what Philip and Andrew thought about the first Transformers film that featured the quiet little yellow Volkswagen; Bumblebee.

M. Night Shyamalan completes his superhero trilogy with the much anticipated Glass. In the current era of superhero films, how does Glass hold up? With capes and cowls and beams of light opening up portals in the sky the norm, M. Night takes a more grounded approach. How many tickets do the Brothers Brotastic hold in their hands for Glass? Listen in and find out.

Glass Written and Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, starring James McAvoy, Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Anya Taylor-Joy, Sarah Paulson, and Spencer Treat Clark.

Is physical media dead? Digital downloads and streaming have revolutionized the home video experience. Affordable and convenient, it seems to be the go to for consumers when they shop for movies. Has it made physical media obsolete? DVD’s and Blu-Rays… are they, like VHS and Beta Max, a thing of the past? Philip and Andrew discuss two articles that take each side of this debate and weigh in themselves.

Happy Death Day (2017) repeats over and over and over and over...

An unoriginal, original idea. Happy Death Day takes the concept of a movie like Groundhog Day, and sets it within the Horror Genre. The Brothers Brotastic look into what makes this movie stand out when the trope of reliving the same day repeatedly is overshadowed by the Bill Murray classic. This movie didn't take itself too seriously, but that may have been what made it work. How many tickets do Philip and Andrew rate this fresh take on a classic concept?

Happy Death Day (2017)

Directed by Christopher Landon

Written by Scott Lobdell

Starring Jessica Rothe, Israel Broussard, Ruby Modine, Charles Aitken, Rob Mello, Rachel Matthews, and Phil Vu.

Philip surprises Andrew with an early entry into the Superhero Film Lexicon with Swamp Thing. Watching the beginning of the film to see if Andrew can guess what the film is, Andrew guesses very quickly. They then discuss the 3rd film from DC comics following Superman I and II. How does it hold up? Well, that’s a mixed bag…

When Andrew is told the film is a comic book movie and the opening shot is of a swamp, it’s not hard to guess what it is. Philip and Andrew then discuss how well this film has aged. In some ways well, in other ways, not so much. attitudes toward women are very different, and things happen in the workplace that would make HR cringe.

Some costumes hold up, some not so much. Andrew is impressed with the fact that this film was in fact filmed in a swamp, which he imagines would be very difficult on the actors, the crew, the gear, etc… yet they pulled it off. Today the film would most likely be filmed in a pool on a sound stage.

Philip and Andrew then applaud the character of Jude, played by Reggie Batts, which seems to be his only film roll according to IMDd. His character required the Brothers Brotastic to pause the movie with basically every line he delivered because it was so funny, they had to collect themselves.

Philip and Andrew then discuss whether or not nostalgic films are worth revisiting like classics such as 2001: A Space Odyssey. Some films just imprint onto you, no matter what, they will always be great, even bad films. But then there are films you think are awesome, but then you watch it, and you take back what you said.

Until next time, we’ll see you at the movies!
And don’t forget to check your ticket stubs.