For years on the Movie Madness Podcast, comic book expert Erik Laws has joined Erik Childress to discuss in-depth the various superhero and graphic novel adaptation to the big screen from Marvel to DC and the heights to the very lows. In this episode they discuss how James Gunn’s long-awaited takeover and reboot of the DC Universe is not just a massive disappointment but may represent a new low. They break it all down from David Corenswet’s portrayal of Superman and Clark, the lack of genuine stakes, the reliance on an overly jokey tone and the way Krypto is utilized throughout. No stone is left unturned from Superman tropes to a screamy Lex Luthor, idiotic plot turns and right back to Gunn’s own statements about the movie that does not exist on the screen. This is not hyperbole. This is not for clicks or yuks. This is how it is from two honest takes.SIGN UP TODAYBe sure to check outChicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streamingPhysical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library.(Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.)Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere.The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com
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2:21:41
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2:21:41
Episode 575: Epics, Killers And Clueless Politics
There’s a lot to talk about this week in the world of physical media. Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to talk about a Stanley Kubrick epic finally getting the release it deserves. Oliver Stone revisits a final cut for his own epic and there is also some epic destruction from the ‘70s. Denzel Washington looks for a serial killer, though not the one traipsing through the woods like he was Terrence Malick. They’ve got film noir with Glenn Ford, horror meeting blaxploitation and Peter offering his thoughts on Ryan Coogler’s huge 2025 success. Finally the pair discuss Mike Nichols’ now quaint adaptation of politics leading up to the Clinton years and Amy Heckerling’s teen film from the ‘90s still entertaining generations decades later.2:30 - Criterion (The Big Heat (4K), Barry Lyndon (4K))21:23 – Shout Factory (Primary Colors (4K), Alexander Revisited: The Final Cut (4K), Abigail (4K))50:08 - Kino (Sugar Hill)55:37 - RJLE (In a Violent Nature (4K))1:04:59 - WB (The Little Things (4K))1:12:44 - Universal (Earthquake (4K))1:31:32 - Paramount (Clueless (4K))1:44:51 - New Theatrical & TV Titles On Blu-ray (Warfare (4K), Death of a Unicorn, The Amateur (4K), The Legend of Ochi, , Shadow Force, The Rule of Jenny Pen, Hell of a Summer, Until Dawn (4K), Sinners (4K), Fallout: Season One (4K), Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993-1997), See (The Complete Series))1:53:30 – New Blu-ray AnnouncementsCheck eligibilityCLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCASTBe sure to check outChicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streamingPhysical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library.(Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.)Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere.The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com
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1:57:10
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1:57:10
Episode 574: Afterbirth and Video Stores
As we head into our mid-summer holiday, Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have seven movies for you to consider. They revisit their praise of Eva Victor’s Sundance wonder (Sorry, Baby) chosen for their Chicago Critics Film Festival along with Danielle Deadwyler trying to protect her family and farm during another cinematic apocalypse (40 Acres). Alicia Silverstone chooses the wrong sugar daddy (Pretty Thing) while Alex Ross Perry takes us through decades of video stores in movies in a three-hour cinematic essay (Videoheaven). John Cena and Idris Elba are their country’s leaders caught in an assassination plot (Heads of State) and Charlize Theron is back with her band of immortals only without her powers (The Old Guard 2). Finally, Gareth Edwards tries to do what he was called to do for Godzilla and Star Wars for the seventh film in the franchise (Jurassic World: Rebirth).2:16 - Sorry, Baby14:09 - 40 Acres22:02 - Pretty Thing27:58 - Heads of State38:45 - Videoheaven55:22 - The Old Guard 21:07:15 - Jurassic World: RebirthCheck eligibilityCLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCASTBe sure to check outChicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streamingPhysical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library.(Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.)Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere.The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com
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1:28:10
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1:28:10
Episode 573: FU to F1
Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy wade through nine reviews this week to get you to the few standouts. A couple is presented with the possibility their daughter was switched at birth (A Stranger in My Home) while a team of nitwits try to steal a 35mm print from Quentin Tarantino (Stealing Pulp Fiction). Emma Mackey tries to use Vicky Krieps as a distraction from her invalid mother (Hot Milk) while a drug deal goes south for a sex worker (Ponyboi) and Bryan Cranston tries to keep his family and regional theater afloat (Everything Going To Be Great). Mariska Hargitay remembers her mother Jayne Mansfield (My Mom Jayne) while a woman tries not to forget the life she lived as she slides into dementia (Familiar Touch). Finally the killer A.I. robot goes T2 on us (M3GAN 2.0) and Brad Pitt goes fast in a car with other cars (F1: The Movie).1:41 - The Stranger In My Home11:00 - Stealing Pulp Fiction18:53 - My Mom Jayne25:55 - Hot Milk33:34 - Ponyboi41:20 - Everything’s Going To Be Great51:26 - Familiar Touch58:55 - M3GAN 2.01:11:37 - F1: The MovieCLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCASTBe sure to check outChicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streamingPhysical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library.(Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.)Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere.The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com
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1:26:36
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1:26:36
Movie Madness Episode 572: Tuning Up For Sorcerer
Physical Media weeks don’t get much more packed this week and there is a lot to get to with Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski. Titles include a trio of youth tales involving the film that took back cheerleading, a slasher film getting a new updating soon and the infamous creation of the Brat Pack. There’s a Hammer mystery, sci-fi and Peter Cushing as Doctor Who. Peter talks about a somewhat forgotten film noir with Robert Mitchum as well as a musical version of The Philadelphia Story. They look back with a bit of fondness for an innocuous spoof of singing cowboy movies plus the inaugural releases of Dreamworks. All of this is wrapped in a pair of upgrades for two films that played their Chicago Critics Film Festival including the Alex Proyas sci-fi film Roger Ebert called the best film of 1998 and the William Friedkin masterpiece lost for many years but is now immortalized in the Criterion Collection.3:45 - Criterion (Sorcerer (4K), Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould (4K))25:39 - Warner Archive (His Kind of Woman, High Society (4K))40:23 - WB (Lethal Weapon (4K Steelbook))46:59 - Kino (Rustlers' Rhapsody, The Peacemaker (4K), Mousehunt (4K), Road Trip (4K))1:20:02 - Sony (St. Elmo's Fire (4K), I Know What You Did Last Summer (4K Steelbook))1:40:18 - Shout Factory (Bring It On (4K))1:48:11 - Severin (Jack the Ripper 4K, Unknown World (4K), Total Extermination: The Peter Cushing Doctor Who Collection)2:03:19 - Arrow (Dark City (4K))2:14:17 – New Theatrical Titles On Blu-ray (The Monkey (4K), Novocaine (4K), A Minecraft Movie, Snow White (4K), Eephus)2:20:51 - New Blu-ray AnnouncementsCLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCASTBe sure to check outChicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streamingPhysical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library.(Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.)Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere.The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com
Movie Madness is a weekly podcast hosted by Chicago film critic Erik Childress presenting movie reviews, interviews, film festival coverage, DVDs, awards, box office and much more! erikthemovieman.substack.com