This Seats Taken
This podcast is all about movies! Here my reviews, with some input from other movie enthusiasts , on all new movies. Weekly episodes that review the newest movies in theaters. I also review a throwback movie along with each episode that is picked by my guest. And every once in a while there will be bonus episodes of just older classic movies and just movie, tv, and pop culture updates. Let me be your movie guy.
This Seats Taken
A Year in Film: 2024 Highlights and Upcoming 2025 Releases with Brandon Cole
What shaped the cinematic landscape of 2024? Join us as we welcome back our esteemed guest, Brandon Cole, for another round of insightful movie reflections. Amidst the challenges posed by the writer’s strike and lingering post-COVID effects, we navigate through a year filled with mixed emotions. Despite these hurdles, we set our sights on the promising horizon of 2025, with a special spotlight on the upcoming "Mickey 17." With our trusted friend Letterboxd, we compare our film-watching adventures—boasting 238 viewings on my side to Brandon's impressive 117—and revel in Zendaya's stellar performances in "Dune" and "Challengers," showcasing her dynamic range.
Expect a lively discussion as we dissect the highs and lows of recent films. Glenn Powell’s commendable roles in "Twisters" and "Hitman" catch our praise, while the pre-release sequel of "Wolves" piques our curiosity. From comedies like "The Book of Clarence" and "Let's Start a Cult" to the action-packed "Monkey Man" and "Bad Boys for Life," our conversation spans multiple genres. We’re not shy about debating the strengths and weaknesses of films like "Roadhouse" and "Rebel Ridge." As our conversation unfolds, we can't help but express excitement for future projects like the continuation of the "Dune" series, even as we acknowledge some concerns about the source material.
Looking ahead, the anticipation for upcoming releases fuels our discussion with a particular emphasis on "Avatar 3" and an unexpected "Happy Gilmore 2." We also celebrate the rising stars like Tom Holland and Glenn Powell, and explore the potential of animated sequels such as "Mario 2" and "Toy Story 5." We’re thrilled about the possibilities these new projects bring, while a bit skeptical about some like the delayed "Mission Impossible." Our podcast reflects on a successful year and charts an even more thrilling course for 2025, with next week's episode promising an exciting dive into the official Bob Dylan story with a fresh perspective from our recurring guest.
excuse me, is anybody sitting here? Sorry, this is taken, sorry. Uh, thinking about it, I think this is like turning into a tradition, brandon, like with you coming on at the end of every year. I was talking about all the movies and stuff like that it is something I look for.
Speaker 2:I didn't know if we were doing it this year and then when I got the the text, I was over the moon.
Speaker 1:Yeah, of course, I have you on for this podcast. Officially the first episode, though, of 2025. I'm pretty excited about that. I'm looking forward to a lot of movies in 2025. We're going to go over that towards the end of it, but to help me go over 2024, all the movies, of course I have my best friend, brandon Cole, on the podcast.
Speaker 2:What is all the?
Speaker 1:movies. Of course, I have my best friend, uh, brandon cole, on the podcast. What is up? Glad to be back. I'm really excited to have you on one because I remember standing at the very beginning of this year, because last year, 2023, was all about how many movies can I see in a year. This year, 2024, I was more selective of my uh theater choices, so I know I haven't watched every single movie out in this year, but I that's why I like to have you on, because you're filling in the gaps for me absolutely.
Speaker 2:I think it, uh, is a good balance, because some of the movies that I had no intention of seeing, I saw you double feature and I was like, yes, let's go yeah, yeah, like carol and the purple crayon.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that one, but uh, some of them. I'm going to surprise you which ones I haven't seen. Um, like, I'm going to surprise you with which ones I haven't seen. I'm going to get shit for this, but I haven't seen the Wild Robot.
Speaker 2:Oh, my oh, we'll talk about that. That's crazy.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So, as we do every year so far, I make several categories for us to talk about, like the best of the worst of. Let's go down the list we got the best comedies, act, best action, best drama, best animated, most disappointing, the bottom 10 of 2024 and the top 10 of 2044, and we'll end up with talking about a little bit what we're looking forward to 2025 overall. Brandon, what did you think of 2024? That for the movies mixed bag.
Speaker 2:Mixed bag man. I, uh, I think we felt the the rider strike and a little bit left to cove and I think this is the last year where there was some very high highs, but overall kind of a disappointing year oh, extremely disappointing.
Speaker 1:It is a good um thing. You said mixed bag. I would say more bad than good, though we, we I just told you right now, like I was making my list, I was like I this year sucks, this kind of suck. Looking back at the movies, I mean there are exceptions, but like fuck, like you said, a lot of these movies that came out this year were originally going to come out the second half of last 2023 but because of that strike, it pushed everything back, a lot of the writing process. Nothing was getting done in hollywood for a good like what? Four or five months, if not more. Um, so we're definitely feeling the repercussions, but it's also making 2025 looking pretty fucking good. I'm so excited to get into mickey 17. Oh my god, it's gonna be amazing. But I mean, this year was just like a bye week, almost not a bye week, a bye year, almost for 2024.
Speaker 1:We did look up on letterboxd right now, because we are known for um logging our stuff on letterbox. Um, for those you don't know what letterbox is, it's basically facebook for movie reviews, people making accounts. If you want to know about a movie, you can search it up on letterbox and see what people are talking about it. You can also like people's comments, reply to them, etc. You can make your own. You know, even if you don't want to review it, you can just rate it one out of five stars. It's very easy and pretty uh useful for cases like us in this one. But it also tracks things for you. It lets you know how many movies you've seen in the whole year. Brandon, I'm gonna let you go first. How many movies did you see in the year 2024? Let's see who can get the higher you dusted me.
Speaker 2:Uh, I, I did a measly, I think in my lowest year ever.
Speaker 1:117 that is very low for you, I think. Well, the first year we did this, you and danny had the contest I want you like in the 300s 304, I think something like that that is pretty wild. I'm not quite there, but 2024. I seen or I logged 238 movies. Oh my god, yeah, over 100 on you, buddy. Out of that, 238 uh logs, I only really wrote reviews for 90 of them yeah, yeah, I think I only write reviews.
Speaker 2:My goal is to only write mainly write reviews for the ones I see in the theater, and then if I catch anything like on stream and I'll throw a quick one up there as well yeah, I need to make a playlist of like how many movies, like movies I've seen in theaters and you know.
Speaker 1:Just overall, yeah, but I mean we got goals next year. Now I'm excited to get into it. Um, we're getting better at this. Yeah, before we get into the movies, are there any actors or actresses that stood out to you this year?
Speaker 2:uh, yeah, um, I think actresses funny enough.
Speaker 1:Zendaya um double feature of dune and challengers big, big, big fan within, like was like, uh, within a month of each other, and then yeah, yeah, right, yeah, may.
Speaker 2:Uh, march and april, literally two completely different types of roles big paycheck for her that week.
Speaker 1:Um zendaya was on my list too. For most I was excited for her. I loved her in Challengers so much but also got surprisingly I got Austin Butler on my thing.
Speaker 1:I wasn't expecting to have him on my list at all bike riders oh, do not get me started on bike riders, but he was in Dune too, bike riders. There was something else he was into, I believe, but yeah, he's I. I thought about this and I want to get your opinion on it. Even though it was kind of a bad year for movies, I felt like this was a good year, that we noticed a shift in hollywood going to these hot young actors by that I mean, like tom holland, zendaya, austin butler, timothy chamelet, um rachel zechler that's not white, you know people like these like it's a brand new face in hollywood and like the reason I say that this year is the shift of it. I feel like there was a lot more of these younger actors than you see, like matt damon or um adam sandler, even you know these older actress, that actress that we loved and we're still going to watch them. But I feel like this is almost like a new school year the freshmen are coming in. Now they're coming in the juniors, you know.
Speaker 2:No, even like Anja Taylor-Joy and like Mad Max, just like everybody getting the fresh. And they're the ones who are like the marketing is going to, even when movies have like someone older and it's like, no, no, no, we're putting this on the shoulders of the young folk and I like that turn as well.
Speaker 1:I mean, these are big names, like I'm. My Bob Dylan movie review hasn't come out yet, but I feel I'm 100 percent believe no one would have seen, not like care to see it if Timothy Shambly didn't start it, you know absolutely, absolutely, especially another biopic.
Speaker 2:And then you start hearing the buzz about it, right like and he that marketing campaign that he did is fantastic like oh, my god is he a bro, is he cool? And uh, he turns out and he can act his butt off as well.
Speaker 1:So yeah, absolutely fantastic uh, what are some actors or just actresses that you've just been so disappointed in?
Speaker 2:Disappointed. Can't think of anybody.
Speaker 1:Oh, I've got somebody.
Speaker 2:Hold on who you got, let's see.
Speaker 1:This is like the past year. I don't think he had a hit. It was Joaquin Phoenix the past two years.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, okay, so I guess I was still going to my young. I've been upset with this man since Napoleon right, that's what I'm talking about.
Speaker 1:Napoleon Bo is Afraid. Joker 2. These ones are kind of all really upset. I don't know if you see, a couple episodes ago I did Brother Bear review on this podcast. Did you know he's the voice of the main character in that one?
Speaker 2:I did not know that I did.
Speaker 1:you know, he's the voice of the main character in that one.
Speaker 2:I did not know that I listened to it like this guy sounds hella familiar. Yeah, no, I didn't. Yeah, that was.
Speaker 1:That's actually kind of crazy but joaquin phoenix, like you said, it all started with napoleon, if not sooner than that, and then he had like a whole debacle about this new movie. Was it queers or something like that?
Speaker 1:yeah, yeah, he um um daniel daniel craig now, but it was supposed to be joaquin phoenix. But the whole big drama with him when that movie was getting made, like he backed out on making that movie within like three days, I think, they said, of starting film, which pushed him back because he didn't want to do anymore, which is wild, because he even stepped in and helped him write some of those stuff like to be like that involved and then be like ah, never mind yeah, but I have you seen queers yet?
Speaker 1:no, I haven't. I have not, but I heard nothing but great things. But this question about daniel craig are you gonna go see queers?
Speaker 2:um, probably it's still in. I I thankfully january is a perfect time, like I'm going to the movies later today.
Speaker 1:Um, and just like there's less. What are you seeing tonight, uh? Baby girl I'm gonna go see that tomorrow. Oh, that's so funny I heard. I heard nothing but good things about that movie as well, so I'm sure if I would have seen that like this, that would probably would have been on this list too. Hell yeah, um question for you. The holidays are just over. I know you probably did. I'm going to be disappointed. Did you go to the movies on Christmas, and what did you see?
Speaker 2:I did not go to the movies on Christmas. I went to the movies the day before Christmas, like for Christmas Eve.
Speaker 1:Where did you see?
Speaker 2:it Mufasa. I see Mufasa on Christmas Day too it was more of a, but I was with like I. I think I told you I was back home. So for christmas I was like with my you know 30 year old friends and I couldn't convince them.
Speaker 1:So christmas eve was a little easier to sneak out for I mean, uh, christmas was an interesting choice in the theaters, I mean like for the movie theaters, uh, you had mufasa nosferatu.
Speaker 2:Baby girl sonic is still dominating in the theaters um moana moana, so you definitely can like just probably watching the line, you can probably definitely tell who's going to see which movie at least they got something for everybody, uh yeah you know, obviously like there's a little bit of sectors with, like moana and sonic, and then obviously everything else is different, though, especially with uh no, I always mess this name yeah oh, I'm sure I'm saying it wrong too, but uh, yeah, I loved it all right, uh, but I want to get into these lists on um so far breakdown.
Speaker 1:So the first one category we're talking about is best comedies of the year, and now I'm going to list some ones that you're probably going to forget, that you forgot about already. I went ahead to go through my deep cuts, but I'm gonna. I'll let you go first on this one all right, wait which ones the best comedies best comedy.
Speaker 2:Okay, so I got my one of my favorites, deadpool, and wolverine obviously counts okay I got fall guy it's a good one. I have. Let me double check. I have Hitman, fantastic.
Speaker 1:Glenn Powell. I hated that ending. I think we talked about it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but I loved every bit of it oh.
Speaker 1:Glenn Powell. I'm sorry I forgot to mention Glenn Powell. Was on my top list too, glenn. Powell dude, I'm not going to talk about him. He's having a hell of a run, yeah, with twisters and hitman absolute hell of a run.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he has a lot of lined up I'm looking forward to, but go ahead um a weird one. Uh uh wolves.
Speaker 1:That was that apple tv one oh, I thought you meant it's called a weird one. No, wolves is great. I liked it a lot. I'm uh the thing. The announced the sequel before it even came out, so I'm can't wait for that yeah, um, and that was, that's what I got.
Speaker 1:Let's see all right, I went down my list of, like you know in order how, when I see them in, um, but I got the book of clarence. Okay, deadpool, yep, uh, the 430 movie. That's the kevin smith movie. I don't know if you've seen it. I didn't. It's so good. Uh, my old ass great. Uh, let's start a cult with the comedian stavros. I can't remember his last name, but he's a he's a big guy comedian. I was watching an interview with him and he goes like this is movie was his attempt to bring back america, back to this old comedy. It's like stepbrothers and stuff like that. Okay, I don't think it does that quite, but I did get a lot of laughs out of it still. And the last one I got for best comedies, y2k, okay.
Speaker 2:All right. All right, a little bit different list there, a little bit different list A little bit different I like it.
Speaker 1:You went wide scope too, which I definitely appreciate well, you did too, because I didn't include um streaming movies, but they still count gotta, gotta give love.
Speaker 2:Listen. If they can win oscars, I can put them on my list yeah, yeah, let's go.
Speaker 1:Uh, best action next, I go first this time. Um, I got monkey man, yes, absolutely the fall guy, furiosa twisters, deadpool and wolverine and transformers one okay, okay, we're.
Speaker 2:Our listener is very, is very, very close the one that. That's crazy to me that you didn't throw on there oh, are they gonna say, madam webb?
Speaker 1:no, that should have been a comedy, because that movie was a joke.
Speaker 2:Uh, gladiators, fall guy again. Um, I got monkey man furiosa. I threw planet of the Apes on there. Didn't have as much action, but it's still. If I got to put it somewhere, it slips.
Speaker 1:This is probably a bad sign for Planet of the Apes.
Speaker 2:Like they didn't make any of my list, oh, no, well, I was thinking about where to put it. It did enough where I was at least like not upset that they made the movie, if that makes sense.
Speaker 1:I mean, I already forgot what the villain was in that movie okay, fair, fair.
Speaker 2:Uh, rebel ridge. I know we have different opinions on this man.
Speaker 1:I couldn't fuck with that one and I'm such an outsider on that one too crazy.
Speaker 2:It's getting so much love too insane. Um, I'm purely giving this one just a love spot, even though I don't really love this movie. But just like Jake Gyllenhaal, roadhouse.
Speaker 1:Oh no, dude. I mean, if you're just focusing on the action, maybe I can see your point.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's what I mean. I just I watched it like the start of it at home, couldn't get into it. I went with my buddies, we had a few brews into it. I went with my buddies, we had a free bruise, you know, and it was just like, yeah, man, kick back, watch them beat up some people and, uh, you'll have fun. Oh, my god, and I'm forgetting my, my number, my actual in my top five action movies, for sure, bad boys bad boys which one was that oh bad boys for life.
Speaker 1:Yeah, dude, I skipped that one. Honestly, what I didn't see, that one, I told you. I told you there's some shocking ones. Um, I forgot to. Um, if we're doing streaming movies, I completely forgot to say for best comedy is ricky's to nikki. I've seen that. I've probably seen like a good 15 times. I think that's my most rewatched on uh on letterbox. I think that's my most rewatched on a on letterbox.
Speaker 2:Oh, I love that. You know it's crazy. So I think we both wrote this down and like have it in a few places. So I'm looking at, like, my phone list, I'm looking at my notes. I don't know how I missed it, cause it wasn't all big letters. Obviously, dune takes this one Um.
Speaker 1:I did think about that, actually one um that's the action.
Speaker 2:I did think about that. Actually I was like yeah, I guess there is action.
Speaker 1:He's riding a worm. Yeah, come on. I did think about that part of the non here, but I didn't quite make it. Dude, I I mean, how do you feel about? Are you excited for doing three?
Speaker 2:because I think they said it's not going to continue the story, though, right, it's going to be a little bit of a time jumper, like a different um somewhere else.
Speaker 1:I would assume so, but like the second one took place like minutes after the first one, um, I don't know. I'm kind of looking forward to it, but people saying the third book is the weakest book to it of all of them, so I'm curious to see how it is.
Speaker 2:Hey, man, I didn't read those books, yeah, yeah. So the story is getting told to me, uh, in real time, which I appreciate, uh, so I'll be okay and, like I don't know man villain who can do anything, I'm gonna sit in theater and watch it on the opening night okay, okay, I'll probably be there with you because, as of right now we talked about, I think that's the um supposed to come on the same date as a new star wars movie too, so we'll see that still happens one's gotta move uh let's go to the next category is uh, best drama movie of the year.
Speaker 2:I'll let you go first in this one okay, I don't know if you consider this one a drama wicked okay, I'll give it to you because I had to find it somewhere for it right like it's not action, and it's not really um I got wicked according.
Speaker 1:Hold on according.
Speaker 2:According the oscars, they think it's the same thing as a comedy yeah, don't get me stuck on that uh we live in time that one hurt me in a way that took me like a week to recover from florence.
Speaker 1:Pew andrew garfield let me ask you this do you think that movie would have affected you as much if it wasn't florence pew and andy garfield?
Speaker 2:no, not even a little bit, but I just. They were rocking with me they were amazing um, let's see, anora, I don't know if you got a chance to see that one.
Speaker 1:No, that came out like the like. The month I was sick and I was like I know that we talked about this last time. You gotta watch an order, yeah it sucks because because it's one of those movies that's very selective theaters and can only go to Chicago. I don't know.
Speaker 2:We live so close to Chicago that one's easy.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but you gotta deal with Chicago parking. Yeah, but I'm glad it's here, onora's great. I want to still check it out once it comes streaming.
Speaker 2:I have a beef with this movie, but you're number two did a lot for me.
Speaker 1:That's literally on my next watches. I haven't seen it yet, but I heard nothing but great things about it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and then I think I already said it. If not though, challengers.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's almost like a soap opera drama. Yeah, yeah, um, I'm kind of mad you didn't pick like two of these that I'm picking, but I'm gonna first agree with you. Uh, we live in time, okay. Uh, nosferatu, have you seen that yet?
Speaker 2:I didn't, I didn't go are you going to? I haven't decided but I keep hearing it's great. I know I don't do anything horror related and I know that crazy.
Speaker 1:But but there's really only like maybe three or four jump scares. The whole movie is just creepy.
Speaker 2:All together it's not that bad so why would I want to sit in that? That's the thing I don't get about these movies because nicholas halt.
Speaker 1:Nicholas halt is the reason why you want to sit through that. He's so good in it.
Speaker 2:That's why I watched your number two Like literally the day that's why I watched that.
Speaker 1:That's another. That's another big paycheck for that actor too. They came out so close Blink twice, okay, horror, yeah, love lies bleeding.
Speaker 2:Oh my God, yeah, I saw that one right February when that one came out. The bleeding oh my god, yeah, I saw that one right february when that one came out, the end of that movie lost me.
Speaker 1:I think that's why it doesn't make my where she turns into a giant.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that was crazy. That was a lot, even for me but I mean, that's an a24 movie for you I know, but you can't just throw it in there and be like ah, that makes sense I got the bike riders.
Speaker 1:okay, uh, heretic, I know it's coming on a category of horror movies, but I think it's coming out in a category of horror movies but I think it's very good of drama and this one I'm so the most mad you didn't pick is Dee Dee.
Speaker 2:Oh my god, actually, I would actually put that in my comedy.
Speaker 1:I guess. But I mean like, oh man, I felt more than laughing.
Speaker 2:No, that's so fair.
Speaker 1:Did you go already for this one?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I started this one.
Speaker 1:Sorry. Best animated movies? I only have three, and I the Wild Robot. It's not on the list just because I haven't seen it, but if I did, I know it would be up here but Moana 2, inside Out 2, and Transformers 1.
Speaker 2:Okay, all right, no misses there. No misses there. Do you count if?
Speaker 1:That's going to be on the list coming up. Okay, yeah, I count it. All right, so I had four then Because, I did count Sonic 2 too, and I didn't put him on my list.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I wasn't knowing that one. Oh my god, your entire list. But Wild Robot, wild Robot, love Cry all the emotions. But Inside Out 2, I think it's going to win the Oscar. I think it'd be crazy if it doesn't.
Speaker 1:Yeah, if we wanted to have lemon, well, miranda, they probably would have a chance. Yeah, what else came out?
Speaker 2:I'm trying to think, um piece by piece was one that I was kicking around.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, yeah. Yeah, I did regret not like I did toy wrong, put it on there too.
Speaker 2:That was such a good movie, though, too yeah um, there was I think because of such a limited list, I was a little bit more picky here yeah, kung fu panda 2 came out too.
Speaker 1:That's like minions 4 came out, ah no, no, I mean, I watched kung fu panda 4. That kind of stuck compared to the original. Um, now, these next three categories are going to be the most interesting for me to hear what you have to say, because I'm sure we're going to agree on most of them. But let's go into the most disappointing. I went first and last one. Let's kick off this one, okay. All right, I got a lot on my list. Surprisingly, I got a lot.
Speaker 2:I only. I think I have four oh geez. I forgot where we ended because I know we kept flip-flopping on this one and I think, at the end of the day, trap is going to be on this one.
Speaker 1:I 100% agree. I got it on my list too.
Speaker 2:Okay, perfect Horizons, purely because I don't know if you ended up watching that one Horizon. What's his? I know John Dunn Blanking on his name, Kevin Costner.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think that movie sucked so bad. They didn't, they're not gonna release part two. Exactly, I sat in the theater.
Speaker 2:For that he killed yellowstone for this movie.
Speaker 1:So just by purely that it's going on the top of the list and that's like a three-hour movie too, and for a part one that was rough for a western, yeah joker for sure yeah you know I got beef with this movie.
Speaker 2:I hate everything about it. It's bad and it's a terrible movie I 100 agree and it just broke my heart um. I mean, it was that, that's my list three.
Speaker 1:All right, I got like a lot of lists. I mean, joker 2 is the first one on my list. Um, have you tried tried re-watching it since it came out? No, no man so I mean, I went in there, really, really, even though I hurt winning and hearing all the bad shit about it. I went in there wanting to love it so much to the point where, like, okay, this movie is not terrible, terrible, but I can definitely see everyone's grief with it wait, I do got one more, I know what I was missing because I the reason why I didn't put it disappointed, because I knew it was gonna be bad, but I was right.
Speaker 2:Venom venom.
Speaker 1:Uh, yeah, that's a good one too. Well, yeah, the same reason why I didn't put in there like I was gonna be bad. Um, that sucks man. Did you see? Um, the other one that just came out?
Speaker 2:Raven. Yeah, but I knew that was going to be bad. I watched Madam Web dude and I was like that's terrible.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So on my list the first one of the year Argyle. That movie sucked ass.
Speaker 2:And it had all the potential in the world. It had a great cast Great director. Matt Vaughn right, my kids yeah yeah, bob marley movie.
Speaker 1:Bob marley one. Love fair, fair. The horror movie imaginary. That movie sucked. Uh, this one.
Speaker 2:I don't know how you feel about this one, but I got civil war on here I liked it, I liked it enough, I liked it enough and I, I, I think from the moment I saw the trailer. It definitely was disappointing from what I thought, but it was fine.
Speaker 1:I don't know if you've seen this one about Maxine. I was a little bit disappointed for the end of a trilogy. I wish it would end better. Trap is on my list, cuckoo. I don't know if you've seen that one. Oh, that's what I wish it would end better. Trap is on my list, cuckoo. I don't know if you've seen that one?
Speaker 2:Oh, that's what the person from the movie.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I guess she's from the movie. I've never seen the show. The last one I don't know if you've seen this yet. Complete Unknown.
Speaker 2:Complete Unknown.
Speaker 1:The Timothy Chamblee Bob Dylan movie.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, no, I didn't watch that one, yet I didn't watch that.
Speaker 1:One man, my review is coming out for that after this. I, I my my guest.
Speaker 2:She really loves it, so we're gonna have an interesting, interesting conversation well, and I was gonna say it's the thing that's getting them buzz right now. So is it more so, him or the?
Speaker 1:uh, I know you're sorry, it's a script okay. Okay, it's like so fucking boring like there's no character.
Speaker 1:I don't want to get into it right now no, you're good, you're good all right, so we're coming up to the last two categories here, probably the biggest ones on them. We're gonna do start off with the bottom 10 of 2024, mine. It was too hard for me to pick an order, so I these are no particular order, but I got argyle, madame webb, the crow, imaginary sasquatch sunset, if a quiet place, day one, international space station, iss, borderlands and the front room.
Speaker 2:You put quiet place on there, dude I, that's a so someone has to be at the bottom.
Speaker 1:Someone has to be at the bottom. It's not like I was like, not like they're their 10th or number one, whatever you want to call it no, that's fair, that's fair have you seen international space station? Like I forgot, it's on my list.
Speaker 2:Oh, okay, it's on my list but how about sasquatch sunset?
Speaker 1:I was kind of curious to see if you're going to react to that yeah, no, I no, I didn't watch that one. Yeah, it's For being Jesse Eisenberg. I was very disappointed.
Speaker 2:What's the what's the one where he's with Kieran Culkin?
Speaker 1:A Real Pain.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that one. I'm excited to watch that one.
Speaker 1:I haven't seen that one either, but I'm really not excited to watch that one, just because I don't know't know the trailer to make it seem boring yeah, but you know it's hard to like market a movie like that I guess you're gonna like consider a dd the same way yeah, exactly yeah, but I'm curious what are your bottom 10?
Speaker 2:all right now, also not in order um jackpot. I hate that movie. I hate that movie. I thought that was so fun every ounce of me was upset watching that movie.
Speaker 1:I had such a fun time. That's like if you said Ricky's to Nicky no, no, it's so not the same.
Speaker 2:And I went from my high to my low because that aggravated me. Madam Web, obviously, craven, we might disagree here.
Speaker 1:Fly me to the moon that's what you're about to turn I that's. That's like between the top and the bottom for me. I had fun with that one.
Speaker 2:It was cute I think that was also like the disappointing iss borderlands um joker um don't move. I think it was called that's on Netflix, right?
Speaker 1:Netflix original. I haven't seen that, but I still kind of want to see it, doesn't it have Hemsworth in there?
Speaker 2:no. Liam, yeah that movie's trash. I'm so mad watching that movie, um, and then I'm throwing. I gotta throw trap in there as well trapping at the bottom 10.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that is wild. You know what else more wild that you didn't say, madame webb I did yeah I put madame webbven in there. See, I didn't see Craven. Craven was so bad, but Aaron Taylor Johnson was so good in Nosferatu. Yeah, yeah, that one was so bad. They got pushed back like eight times and you think they'll be juicing up something good for it.
Speaker 2:They kept having excuses. And then the last one was just like we're just dumping it over there.
Speaker 1:You know, the more they push it back, the more nervous the guys were building too much hype for this movie.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't know about you, but the first trailer I was kind of pumped for.
Speaker 1:I was excited for him, johnson.
Speaker 2:I was like I just seen bullet train, I think, when they announced it. I was like he's gonna have a really interesting take on this and the movie was just trash yeah um, I was gonna say about it oh, before.
Speaker 1:Like that, I think part of the reason they dumped it. This is like a sub story. Yeah, um, sony announced that they're going to stop coming out with these movies, these Spider-Man spinoff movies, which and it seems not true because technically, legally, they have to. I don't know if you've read the story about that. Obviously, sony has the rights to Spider-Man, but part of the negotiations, they have to keep the rights to Spider-Man. They have to keep pumping out Spider-man movies every five years. So, unless they're like planning on selling them back anytime soon, I don't, I don't think it's gonna be like the last of them I thought that the marvel movies counted for them, since they're co-produced that's the case.
Speaker 1:Why are they making these movies?
Speaker 2:because they needed to listen. I think that that's how Sony fumbled the most. I think you know, coming out of no Way Home. Everybody was not just ready, but like clamoring for Andrew Garfield or Toby to come back in that universe, like all those fan theories, was like they can be that universe's Spider-Man, they can do so much. And they just didn't do anything with that whatsoever and instead kept making terrible movies.
Speaker 1:Yeah, on top of that, they also had the rights to put spider-man a spider-man, andrew garfield or anybody really a spider-man in those movies, and they just chose not to yep yep, and you know, at the end of the day you listen, we can talk about them not using spider-man all they also just make bad movies so I'm actually glad and the thing like sony, up until like recently was so 50 50 because you know people trash on the studio.
Speaker 2:But this is the same people giving us spider-verse right, this is the same people who did gave a spider-man 2 and then they just turned around and said we're also will do trash movies. So I you know.
Speaker 1:Speaking of Spider-Verse, our higher hopes. Now we're going to see it within 2030.
Speaker 2:Well, now that it got pushed back, I'm scared man, I'm nervous.
Speaker 1:Yeah, they pushed that back, and they pushed Robert Pattinson's Batman back by a lot too. It's kind of wild. Alright, let's go into the category of the top 10. I think I went first last time, correct?
Speaker 2:you can go first.
Speaker 1:Okay, I'm moving two of mine, two already, okay, damn, we should have did a draft all right, I think I'm good okay, I kind of want to go in order, but I'm.
Speaker 2:It's a loose order, all right.
Speaker 1:So I got rebel ridge oh my god, you love this movie, don't you? I?
Speaker 2:love that movie, man.
Speaker 1:I got um fall guy I'm glad that's in your top 10 I got and this is like I couldn't figure out which one.
Speaker 2:It was either gonna be twisters or hitman. I think it's hitman, oh no, because I just had glenn powell and I have to give him, like his credit here. Um, I'll go hitman, I'll go um saturday night.
Speaker 1:Don't know if you got a chance, oh, I'm glad you didn't, weren't you on the podcast for that? Yeah, yeah, did you say you don't know if you got a chance to see that? I'm glad you weren't you on the podcast for that. Yeah, you didn't think I had a chance to see it listen, man, I'm stressed.
Speaker 2:I got Saturday night. I got it ends with us.
Speaker 1:I got really it ends with us listen, man.
Speaker 2:I think I just had good company for that one.
Speaker 1:I had a friend text me and say, hey, I need to watch a movie tonight. Should I watch? It Ends With Us or Carry On. I said Carry On, easy fucking pick.
Speaker 2:I have thoughts about you and Carry On. Where did I go? It Ends With Us. I have Anora Alright, top three, no Top four. I have Onora alright, top three, no top four. Gladiator okay. Wild Robot Deadpool and Wolverine hold on hold on a second yeah, deadpool and Wolverine is number one.
Speaker 1:There we go and Dune 2. Yeah, that's number one. Okay, I was gonna say like do it too. There's like two of them. I'm surprised you didn't say probably the ones you swapped out top 10, like this is gonna be no order. But there is a number one. I got monkey man it dropped for me challengers yeah, the fall guy. Yep, furiosa twisters, deadpool and wolverine, alien romulus. I'm surprised you didn't put wow, I'm wow, oh my god DD for me.
Speaker 1:We got two more. I'm surprised we didn't put this on any list, but the substance you know I wasn't watching that, oh. I forgot, you don't watch that. But the number one for me this year is the Bike Riders.
Speaker 2:That's so crazy I love that movie. It's really funny because I think we have six of the same movies and the four different ones are different. I'll tell you that.
Speaker 1:Monkey.
Speaker 2:Man dropped for me, monkey man. And then Furiosa you that monkey man dropped for me, monkey man, um, and then, yeah, okay, furiosa, um, but I I think just because, like when it got released, chris hemsworth did fantastic, but I think it's a perfect prequel as well um.
Speaker 1:Are they making another one too?
Speaker 2:what's that?
Speaker 1:are they making another one too?
Speaker 2:yeah yeah, I mean, we both have good lists, but uh, we have very similar lists and like it kind of shows where we lean in like the nerdums doing two.
Speaker 1:Not being on your list is an affront to everything that we do I'm not a big like sci-fi guy. Like there was kind of wild, because most of the movies are sci-fi, but like space sci-fi like that. Um, like if there was a star wars movie, 100 would not be on my list that's uh oh, I know we've talked about that before.
Speaker 2:I just think that I blank things out when you say and I listen, this is also what I love about. Like movies, man, there's so that we can sit here and be like this movie changed me or this movie like had me emotional and everyone like I did nothing for me. Like that movie like had me emotional and everyone was like I did nothing for me. Like that it's the best. It's the best art form we have. Right, it's pure storytelling.
Speaker 1:Now the bike ride is a ceiling three or four times in theaters.
Speaker 2:I saw it once. I liked it a lot, but I think what happened is I went with Danny and one of my other friends he and Me and Danny loved it.
Speaker 1:My other friend hated it. So I think because of that it just dropped like a category for me. I think I went by myself. Then I brought another person and then another person and they all loved it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it does enough. It does enough, but I think it is like the ending saves it for sure, but it takes a minute to get there.
Speaker 1:But also the ending is part that most people hated.
Speaker 2:I don't know I, oh, I get that. I think the one that you probably were the most shocked that I didn't put on here was dd, and I have to look the. The issue with I have with dd is I have to watch it one more time now with me dude that scene that, like this, is all of our childhoods yeah, yeah, yeah I mean I walked away knowing that I loved it.
Speaker 2:But I think I had either too high expectations because I saw it late and I I saw all the buzz about it, but I was like this is a fantastic movie. I don't know why it's you know, I'm the one to never write this top 10 I was like so what?
Speaker 1:oh, 100% was gonna be my top 10. You gotta be, you can't try wild robot. I am confident we'll make it to your top 10 I think it's streaming right now too, if I'm not mistaken.
Speaker 2:I do, yeah, so you got to get that thing out of there, um, but there's just wow, that's so funny dune 2 not being up there let's go to the best movie of the year. It's not only a top movie, it's the best. You know what other movie that, I'm surprised, neither one of us had, and it's for sure my honorable mentions gotta give it a little bit more credit, because it's the highest grossing movie of the year.
Speaker 1:Inside out too, the anxiety scene, oh yeah, I'm sorry we didn't say that, um, but yeah, speaking of that, let's go over some honorable mentions, because I got a handful to you too, um, whether, like, I'm not saying this is like the best movie or the worst movie, I'm just saying like, oh, they're worth noting, like they came out this year. Uh, drive away dolls. Yep, I don't know if you've seen this movie or how you felt about ordinary angels with alan richardson, did not? Um arthur the king, that's mark walberg simu lu movie. It's a true story. Ghostbusters godzilla the mad american society of magical negroes. Ghostbusters Godzilla American Society of Magical Negroes. You didn't like that one.
Speaker 1:I have.
Speaker 2:I'll talk to you about that later. I got beef about how that movie happened.
Speaker 1:I'm glad you said that. I thought you were going to say, oh, I got beef, with you saying that but that's like part of it.
Speaker 2:I hate that they did that. All the memes about like I know what I'm going to see, like shut up I mean, I love justin smith in that one too.
Speaker 1:I love him in that one. Um, the first omen. I know you didn't see that one late night with a devil, such a good movie. I don't know if you've seen it. Um, I didn't really care for if too much, fly me to the moon. We talked about a little bit borderlands. I just want to hate on that movie one more time. That movie sucked. I'm afraid I think it's on netflix right now too. That's a horror movie you haven't seen.
Speaker 2:We didn't talk about beetlejuice at all I was gonna mention beetlejuice and my honorable, because I of course I still ain't gonna see that movie, but uh, I heard it was fun. I heard it definitely didn't live up to anything, but it was fun uh, speak, no, evil was a good one that came out.
Speaker 1:This one's like a cheesy romance movie. You're a monster. I don't know if you've seen that one yet. Uh, conclave, I missed that one, but I heard nothing but great things. I'm sure I would have been in the top 10.
Speaker 2:I'm I'm going to watch it before the end of the month because I know I I keep hearing that it's, you know, top contender for the oscar.
Speaker 1:So I gotta hear what all these people are talking about I love heretic um, but one that barely showed up on any other list was wicked like. You had it on your one list, but that's about it. No, I had it on my top. Oh, you did. Sorry, you did, that's not my top 10. It is great and I'm very looking forward to this sequel coming out this year. Now, yeah.
Speaker 2:The thing about wicked, too, is I. It's one of those things, right Like I. I heard that the play is fantastic, right, but I'm not a play guy Like.
Speaker 2:I, I just not going to find myself there. So when it came out I also thought it was going to fall into like some of the Barbie category of like this is really like not not really made for, like just like a random dude to go watch Dude. I sat back, I had a blast, Like I genuinely found myself like invested and I think I told you like my biggest mistake is I didn't re-watch, you know wizard of oz.
Speaker 1:I think it's like a different universe. Oh, I did. I did re-watch wizard of oz after that and um, just to see all I had to watch it after wicked okay. So I was able to see all the references and stuff like that right there. It's pretty cool, um, but I also been diving deep into youtube channels, like how it's connected to the original and stuff like that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, there's like enough for everybody in that movie.
Speaker 1:And even like some things that I didn't like love.
Speaker 2:Like I walked out of there and I was like in a good mood and then I heard typically when you hear a song playing too many times it like irks you but like Defying Gravity, low-key, a bop. You know it got way too much talking in it for me. I can. You know it got way too much talking in it for me. Yeah, I can't just play it because then it's like a whole scene right, but I I thoroughly enjoyed that movie that is very funny, very funny.
Speaker 1:Um, overall, like I said, kind of disappointing year, but there are some good ones, like wicked and something that coming out. We got out of this one. Um, I also love the fact that wicked 2 was coming out exactly a year later, so we don't gotta wait that much more, but look into 2025. What are some of the high movies that you are looking forward to all?
Speaker 2:right, this one I'm firm on make sure I only have five here, all right.
Speaker 1:Um, this is this is just because it's me the new karate kid movie okay, I'm kind of I'm not surprised you said that, but I'm surprised you said that first yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm going bottom to top here oh, okay, okay um the new, uh, the thunderbolts, this.
Speaker 2:This is a very important movie and I think it's gonna. I'm liking what I'm seeing.
Speaker 1:Thunderbolts. Yeah, man, I think that's going to be an important movie.
Speaker 2:I think it has to be because I think the new Captain America, new order order, listen you.
Speaker 1:I think it's going to flop. I think it's going to. I know it's going to flop.
Speaker 2:I don't even I know.
Speaker 1:I'll keep reading syn.
Speaker 2:But uh, yeah, that movie's not gonna be well and I hope that it is, and you can play this and prove me wrong. That would make me so happy, but it will not be, um without a doubt.
Speaker 1:Avatar 3 okay, I kind of like that was that was another one that was supposed to come out in 2024, I believe, but um, I kind of forgot about was. That was another one that was supposed to come out in 2024, I believe, but, um, I kind of forgot about that one.
Speaker 2:Honestly just all the way back, because that's december. I think it's like december 17th or something crazy like that.
Speaker 1:Um mission impossible man I'm over it after, like we found out, it's not going to be direct continuation, or I mean, maybe it is like I don't know it was changed the title because this is another one. This is another movie. That just pissed me off because it's so late, like they filmed those movies back to back, like why I'm just hating on it is there a bad mission impossible movie. I mean, I don't know, just so, what are we doing? It's not my top five. I'll just say it's not my top five.
Speaker 2:Tom Cruise TC legend, as me and my friends call him, can do no wrong in the movie theater, in the cinema. He is our savior. He's the one making movies the real way, the right way, and taking care of people, do you?
Speaker 1:know why.
Speaker 2:Also random fact, you got me on a tangent. Do you know why the last movie cost so much?
Speaker 1:Why is that?
Speaker 2:Because he continued to pay his people during the writer and actor strike.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and also, didn't he do the same thing, like he paid for the crew too on covet or something like that?
Speaker 2:in covet. That's why, uh, the the last movie was so expensive, so I'm gonna sit here and watch it. I'm so pumped for that. And then, of course, if you watch this trailer, it's my phone background right now.
Speaker 1:Uh, superman superman yeah, that was definitely on my list too. All right, uh, top five. For me this is really no particular order, but I got superman. Uh, I'm I'm curious to hear what you think about this, but I got jurassic world rebirth scarlett johansson yeah, uh, there is a michael jackson biopic coming out. I'm excited for that you're excited for it I am okay, I love this so much.
Speaker 1:Uh, this one. I don't know how you're gonna feel about this one. We got a happy gilmore too. I, I don't hate it. I don't hate it, but for being the top five, I mean, it's hard for me, like I can't bring myself, to list a marvel movie which is wild. Well, no, no, that's Fantastic Four. I'm not looking forward to Captain America, really. Oh, fantastic Four, yeah, fantastic Four, my big one.
Speaker 2:Change my whole list. Throw that at the top, yeah.
Speaker 1:Are there any actors or actresses you think we should keep our eye on?
Speaker 2:I know it won't be next year, but Tom Holland is about to prove that he is the next great force in hollywood, for sure, uh, especially getting cast in the new christopher nolan movie. Um, glenn powell we talked about him earlier yeah I. I saw a tweet. Like everyone's like. He's like the, the new tom cruise. That's like what they're trying to make him. Honestly, he's more like the newest Chris Pratt. I think I understand what they're saying. He's just like a franchise guy. He's got the face, he's got the attitude.
Speaker 1:I think I would call him more of a Matthew McConaughey guy.
Speaker 2:Oh, okay, alright, Alright, a little rom-com action.
Speaker 1:Exactly, Exactly. I was going to say Ana de Ar action exactly.
Speaker 2:Um, I was gonna say uh, anna de armas, I think she's gonna be pretty big this year too. Yeah she's just, I'm not as big as on her, as everybody else is, but I I think because ballerina coming out.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's coming out this year, there's already honorable mention.
Speaker 2:Um, I'm excited to see what she can do. It all right, she's gonna be in eden with sydney sweeney and then she's gonna be kicking ass in the new ballerina movie. So when you talk about like a wide scope, she's definitely got it. Um, aaron pierre, I know you didn't like rebel ridge, but that man he's got some acting chops well, yeah, I'm well on top of that.
Speaker 1:I was very excited the whole time.
Speaker 2:I knew this going in there's like I'm excited to watch him in green lantern yeah, he's got like just that gravitas, like that action build um, so I think he's gonna be great too. And then you think that this year was big for timothy chalamet. I am so hyped to see what he does next uh, let's talk about animated movies.
Speaker 1:There are still a lot of animated movies coming out. Mario 2, I believe, is coming out this year. Isn, I believe, is coming out this year. Isn't it Toy Story 5 coming out this year too? Yeah, or is it 26?
Speaker 2:No, I think it's.
Speaker 1:I thought it was 25. There's some other ones too. Let's see if we can look it up, because there was a good handful. Isn't Frozen 3 coming out this year too? Yep, lilo and Stitch. We didn't talk about that Live action uh, lilo and stitch we didn't talk about that.
Speaker 2:Live action zootopia 2 because it's live action. Yeah, zootopia 2. When you talk about movies like that, you keep hating on because they're too late. That is zootopia 2. They should call it zootopia too late that was a good one.
Speaker 1:Um, I think bad guys 2 comes out this year too did you like the first one it? Was cute.
Speaker 2:And I know it got pushed back, but I thought Avatar was going to come out, but I think that that's not happening.
Speaker 1:They haven't announced this but I'm assuming all the success of Sonic and how Knuckles got a spin-off series, I think we're going to get another spin-off series from Sonic, maybe a season two of Knuckles have you seen those movies?
Speaker 2:I've written through and watched them.
Speaker 1:I knew they weren't for me. I'm not even.
Speaker 2:I was like I can kind of see the hype, but I mean, like I don't know, jim carrey carries those movies yeah, it's just so funny that he was like I'm retiring from acting nothing, I'm not coming back unless I see a fantastic script, and he's like I'm doing sonic.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, and doing ridiculous stupid shit too, like dressing up as an old man.
Speaker 2:Hey, I just saw him in Ace Ventura for the first time.
Speaker 1:Oh really.
Speaker 2:I know, but yeah, man, he's just been doing it for so long Easily in my top ten actors all the time.
Speaker 1:Easily. Yeah, I would agree with that. I'm trying to think of a good movie, I mean like Bruce Almighty's all-time favorite of his for me.
Speaker 2:And my top five movies is Truman Show, so he's right there.
Speaker 1:It's a great movie, but that's not a lot of people's top five.
Speaker 2:Yeah, eternal Sunshine. Yes, man or uh. Yes man, liar, liar, man Pops.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we'll do a draft one day of jim carrey um brandon, thank you for helping me break down 2025. I'm glad you were the year to start this. Start this year off with me.
Speaker 2:It's pretty awesome hey, thanks so much. I know this was like felt like a really chaotic one.
Speaker 1:I had so much fun yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm so excited. Like I said, 25 2025 is gonna be even better, like all these movies coming out. Um, a couple announcements I talked about a little bit in the last episodes. I'm going to try to go to a movie festival too, so I think you should try to do something like that. Um, going to a couple podcast conventions this year I'm excited to share my experiences on that. Um, just looking to look to up my letterboxd game 2 in the future. Any resolutions been movie wise?
Speaker 2:um, I want to get back to the 200 club. For sure, gotta get back to my 200 club. I was I was a little real upset, um, and like that was my actual my new year's resolution like, take a little bit, let more time off work, just do things that I like doing. Like this is really busy work here for me, so I think I'm gonna still like, keep that grind up, but I'll be able to sit on the couch and just focus on something I appreciate I'm excited for it.
Speaker 1:Um, thank you again so much for coming on. Thank you for everyone spending a wonderful year with me. 2024 was great for the podcast. 2025 is going to be even better. I'm looking forward to new things. Um, follow brandon on social media and his letterboxd too, because I like reading some of your reviews. Um, yeah, next week's episode is going to be the official bob dylan story that I'm completely unknown with a recurring guest, but, um, thank you for listening. Stay tuned next week I'll be saving you Bye.
