Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast

After going through a month of movies involving stories about man eating sharks, The Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast crew decided it would take on a series involving a different kind of predator. In fact, it’s about THE predator, which had another entry in the franchise come out a couple months ago. But before they get there, as always, the guys have to start from where it all began. When 1987’s Predator was first greenlit, it is widely believed the reason was because it was piggybacking off the back of 20th Century Fox’s successes with two other space...

How’s this for a post Thanksgiving feast? We treat Adam to a viewing of 1987’s Jaws The Revenge, a movie that is almost universally regarded as one of the worst movies ever made. So how did the movie that started a franchise in 1975, come to this? Join the Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast as Matt and Garrett enjoy treading through thoughts of what Adam was thinking as Felt Shark brushed past the screen for the very first time, as well as what he thought when he learned Lance ‘The Last Starfighter’ Guest was playing Mike Brody. All this, as well...

With Jaws now an official film franchise, Universal and its producers still wanted more. But they then did an unforeseen, seemingly desperate move of producing a script done by John Hughes and the rest of the National Lampoon clan called Jaws 3 People Nothing. Original producers Richard Zanuck and Robert Brown were allegedly onboard to do the film. But supposedly, original director Steven Spielberg came in and said that if the script was made, he was going to leave Universal forever. So, Brown and Zanuck sold their rights to Alan Greenspan, who then got author and frequent Twilight Zone scribe Richard...

Against all odds, 1975’s Jaws was released and before long, was labeled a certified hit. So it’s safe to say that not firing a forward thinking young director for going over 100 days over budget paid off, and before the term was even uttered, Universal Studios had a franchise on their hands. But what next? Well, it would only seem fit that they would capitalize on it with a sequel. Of course, the studio approached their young wunderkind Steven Spielberg to see if he would like to direct the follow up. But, after the nightmare that was the first one, plus...

50 years ago, history was made as Jaws was released to theaters and took the first of a few steps (George Lucas would do the same thing a couple years later with a little space movie you might have heard of) in changing the way cinema was made and marketed to the masses. An argument can be made -and is made on this podcast- that 26 year old director Steven Spielberg got a lifetime mulligan in his career with completing the 1975 blockbuster to the masses. How else can you explain him being allowed to direct again after the release of 2004’s The Te...

As a special treat to our dedicated Percolated Media listeners, here’s our review of the adaptation of Stephen King’s first finished novel The Long Walk! Listen in as the co-hosts talk about the movie’s long history of start/stops at getting made, as well as some pretty outlandish theatrical experiences. You just might feel sorry for Garrett’s poor fiancé by the end! Come back tomorrow as Garrett will release a special Halloween edition of Percolated Media Presents, where he finally gets to talk about a franchise he’s been wanting to talk about for years with a certified...

As marketing ramped up for Jurassic World Rebirth, there were multiple questions about just what the hell this film was going to be. There was no Colin Trevorrow, no Chris Pratt, and no Bryce Dallas Howard. Instead, we had Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and, much to Adam’s chagrin, director Gareth Edwards (2014’s Godzilla). So, what exactly were we in for? That’s what we’re here to discuss. With theatrical stories to tell, the guys come in and talk about what their expectations for Rebirth were going in, as well as if it lived up to any of them. This Jur...

Despite not winning most critics over, Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom STILL cracked the $1 billion mark at the box office. This proved that people were still starved for dinosaurs. So Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow, fresh from his bomb Book of Henry, decided he was the one to close off this Jurassic World trilogy. To do that he decided he was going to give fans a treat. He was going to bring back the OG Jurassic crew Sam Neil, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum, with our Jurassic World alumni Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard. And despite once again not getting...

After Jurassic World came out and was a massive success in 2015, Universal knew that once again dinosaurs were proven commodities. So, they came up with ways to once again bring them back. With World director Colin Trevorrow in the press saying he and his writing partner Derek Connelly had ideas for three total films, there were reasons to be excited. Especially if you were a Jurassic fan. So, they hired director JA Bayona (A Monster Calls) to once again bring emotion to the series. And Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt were signed as well. The result? 2018’s Jurassic World Fa...

Now that John Wick is behind us, time to start a new retrospective. Actually, it’s time to pick up from where an old one left off, as two years ago Garrett, Adam, and Matt reviewed the first three movies in the Jurassic Park film series, with every intention of eventually picking up from where they left off. Well, with Jurassic World Rebirth being released this year, we decided now was as good a time as any. Before we get there, the guys review what started the whole Jurassic World Series, Colin Trevorrow’s 2015 upstart Jurassic World. Garrett gave it a so...

And then there was one. Here is our long built up review of Ballerina: From The World of John Wick. Starring Ana DeArmas and directed by Len Wiseman (Live Free or Die Hard) it would seem the franchise was going to be sent to other hands for its first of at least a few planned spinoffs. However, that was not to be. Rumored bad dailies caused producers to get cold feet with their oncoming director and unproven female action star. So, they called in the cavalry. Enter Chad Stahelski, Keanu Reeves, and Angelica Huston. With lots and lots of new...

Three films in, neither John Wick or its portrayer Keanu Reeves showed any signs of slowing down. Yet, in the lead up to the 2023 release of John Wick Chapter 4, all producers and Reeves could talk about is the fact that this was going to be the last one. But, massive success followed. As did a Peacock prequel, and next week’s film Ballerina. We’ll talk about those in the next week. For now, we’ll dissect the near three hour third sequel, which was once again helmed by Chad Stahelski. Next week, a review of this year’s Ballerina, as well...

By the time 2019 rolled around, John Wick was a full fledged franchise. And despite its star being in his 50s, Keanu Reeves was still showing up, and still kicking ass in two previous movies which were massive hits. But Garrett wasn’t a huge fan of last week’s film. Could John Wick Chapter 3 Parabellum win him back? Join him as well as Matt and Adam on the Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast as they let their thoughts on John Wick 3 be known. Does Halle Barry win them over? How about the desert scenes? And could this be the best...

Fresh off the surprise success of 2014’s John Wick, Summit Entertainment knew they had a hit on their hands. Better yet, they knew they had the beginning of what looked like a fruitful franchise. So they tried gathering the band back together again in hopes of continued financial achievement. But while star Keanu Reeves and director Chad Stahelski, as well as writer Derek Kolstad were quickly onboard for the sequel, co-director David Leitch had other plans. More opportunities arose as the result of John Wick’s success, and Leitch wanted to grab that iron while it was still hot. Movies like...

Much to Matt’s delight, it’s to start diving into the neon colored world of John Wick. A movie that for all intents and purposes, (an unproven set of directors, a star who had done a string of bombs, a ‘wrote’ script) had no business being a hit. But $86 million in box office revenue later, Summit Entertainment had a bona fide hit. And franchise. Join Garrett, Matt, and Adam as they start their dive into the John Wick franchise, as well as give their anticipatory thoughts on Ballerina, the movie this retrospective is going to end on.

To say Garrett was hesitant to watch one of his least favorite directors take on his most favorite comic book character in a feature film would be an understatement. But, that’s exactly what he did, and here is the result of how he felt after he and his co-hosts finally watched the long awaited reboot of the Superman franchise. Matt and Adam come in with a nonchalant attitude towards the character, but love for at least one of James Gunn’s other films. What happens when you mix these two recipes? A two and a half hour podcast that not...

After grossing over $80 million at the box office, you knew it was only a matter of time before the Jason Blum Blumhouse Puctures machine churned out another adventure involving Megan the killer AI doll. In fact, we even said as much on that podcast. Lo and behold, two years later, here we are discussing Megan 2.0! With a terrible marketing campaign and even more terrible release date (in between Jurassic World Rebirth and Superman), it would seem that Megan 2.0 didn’t have a chance of making any sort of impact like her original 2023 venture did. But that doesn’t mean James Wan...

Here it is, the end of two full months of watching Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt barrel their way through on impossible mission after another. All until they reach number eight, with a battle against The Entity. And Gabriel. This is over two and a half hours of the craziest review we’ve done in a long time. Listen to one of the co-hosts get gradually more disappointed until he gets full on pissed at what he’s sat through. Listen to another give some wild theories on what he believes Mission Impossible Final Reckoning is REALLY about. Finally, listen to the...

After the success and apparent finality of 2018’s Mission Impossible Fallout, it would seem that Tom Cruise and company could have moved on to other ventures. But the ‘success’ part will almost always cause filmmakers to come up with another story and keep going. But returning writer/director didn’t just come up with a one movie story. He came up with a two parter. Two near three hour films made to finally say goodbye to one of the most successful franchises of all time. Here, the podcasters review part one of that venture, Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1. Listen in as th...

All things considered, 2015’s Mission Impossible Rogue Nation was a certified hit. Star Tom Cruise made a ditch effort to get writer/director Christopher McQuarrie back onboard to do another sequel in his tent pole franchise. After some convincing -and the casting of famously mustached Henry Cavill as the not so hidden villain- Mission Impossible Fallout was set to debut in 2018. And, like its predecessor, Fallout went on to be both a critical and financial hit. Listen to Garrett, Matt, and Adam talk about if the Dark Knight comparisons are warranted, as well as if Mission impossible Fallout is to bl...

2015 was a MASSIVE year for franchises. Jurassic Park was about to get a whole reboot in the form of Jurassic World. James Bond was going to finally bring Blofeld and Spectre back in Spectre. Mad Max put the action genre on its head, coming back after 30 years with Mad Max Fury Road. And of course, Star Wars was finally brought back to the big screen in a big way with The Force Awakens. All of these, by the way, have been or will be reviewed by us at The Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast, so we recommend checking those...

The words Brad Bird and Mission Impossible wouldn’t seem to go together. But in star Tom Cruise’s eyes, they most certainly do, as 2011 saw the release of The Incredibles director helming the fourth Mission Impossible movie, Ghost Protocol. With a cast that includes Paula Patton, Simon Pegg, and, oh yeah, Jeremy Renner, Ghost Protocol would prove to be a favorite amongst fans. Will this podcast panel feel the same? Also, Garrett discusses the release of Zoo, the new novel from his old friend -and podcast partner- David Mayne. Get Dave’s new book here: https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Da...

In 2000, star Tim Cruise was in top of the world. By 2006, he had a bit of a PR problem. Though his previous film War of the Worlds was a certified hit, his off the screen presence was becoming more and more of a problem. Some people would say toxic. Getting in arguments played out in public with Brooke Shields’s about the need to do away with prescribed drugs. To marrying a woman who was twenty years his junior. And of course jumping on talk show couches proclaiming his love for said woman. Directors were not wanting to work with hi...

By 2000, Tom Cruise was a made man. He had worked with Stanley Kubrick on the so-so erotic thriller Eyes Wide Shut, and even received an Oscar nomination for Magnolia. So in the interim between sequels, Cruise once again found himself in the position of being able to do anything. Why not return to the action franchise he had launched four years before? Now being helmed by Face Off’s John Woo, and despite some pretty tepid reviews, Mission Impossible 2 proved to be a huge hit. It would also seem to have made itself an action star in the (ego?) adrenaline in...

In 1996 Tom Cruise could have done whatever he wanted. He was married, had a positive public image, and the Academy was starting to recognize his work by nominating him for acting Oscars. However, seven months before he would try his hand at another shot at an Oscar with Jerry McGuire, he would add another perk to his resume. A perk that he would ride for nearly 30 years. That, of action star. Being a huge fan of the original TV series, Cruise (and his producing partner Paula Wagner) went to Paramount studios to pitch an idea that would make him a...

In 1987, Arnold Schwarzenegger was well on his way to becoming the biggest action star in the world. Later on in the year, he would be in Predator. But first, he’d star in the Stephen King adaptation The Running Man. Or is it a Richard Bachman adaptation? What’s the difference, and why would the rights to this book be $100,000, surprising the hell out of producer George Linder? We get into all of this, as well as a full review of the Paul Michael Glaser (Starsky?) directed film, in the podcast below. Also, find out what franchise we’ll be attack...

As we already established on our The Dead Zone podcast, 1983 was the Year of the King. That year, Stephen King fans were treated to not one, not two, but THREE adaptations of the author’s work. The Dead Zone, Christine, and Cujo. Now common usage to explain a mean dog, Cujo had next to zero meaning to people who picked the book up ready to read King’s first all out horror novel in years. Like Drew Barrymore in Firestarter, producers once again used ET as a stepping point, and plucked everyone’s favorite mom Dee Wallace to star in a film...

By 2022, Stephen King adaptations were five years into a renaissance that began with 2017’s adaptation of It. And after his successful Halloween legacy series began with a bang with 2018’s Halloween, producer Jason Blum also wanted to get in on the act of adapting King. So he hired Zac Effron and director Keith Thomas (The Vigil) to once again bring King’s Firestarter to the screen. Join Garrett, Matt, and Adam as they look at the 2022 version of King’s 1980 novel that was generally panned by critics and audiences alike when it came out in the summer of 2022. Will they like it...

After E.T., Drew Barrymore could have done anything. Turns out that producer Dino de Laurentiis was about to scoop her up to be in two adaptations of author Stephen King’s work. The second, Cat’s Eye, is one we already covered way back at the beginning of Night Shift. But the first was Firestarter, King’s borderline science fiction novel about a girl who sets fires with her mind. Join the Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast as they review Commando director Mark L Lester’s 1984 adaptation of King’s 1980 novel. Unsurprisingly, it’s Adam’s first viewing of the film. W...

After 1994’s The Stand proved to be a monumental hit, ABC and other networks were intent on bringing other Stephen King properties to the small screen. This is why we got things like The Langoliers, The Tommyknockers, Kingdom Hospital, among others. But 20 plus years later, there were once again rumblings that The Stand was going to be adapted, this time with one film for the big screen. Directors like David Yates (Harry Potter) and Ben Affleck came and went from the project, all not knowing how they were going to keep the magnum opus book to one film. Enter Josh Bo...

1983 was quite the year for fans of author Stephen King. That was the year they didn’t get one, or even two King adaptations for the screen. They got three. These consisted of The Dead Zone, Cujo, and Christine. The other two will get their just due on this podcast down the road. But today, we review The Dead Zone. A film touted as the teaming up of schlock director David Cronenberg (he wouldn’t make The Fly until three years later) and horror writer Stephen King. To top it off, Cronenberg tapped recent Oscar winner Christopher Walken to be this...

Much to two of their chagrins, podcast hosts are back to Stephen King! To kick off this set of reviews, they’re reviewing two adaptations of what many King fans STILL call his best novel. Ladies and gentlemen, we bring you The Stand. After years of trying to get a feature film adaptation of his beloved epic novel off the ground, King saw what ABC did with a miniseries adaptation of his novel It, and knew that’s how he wanted to adapt it. With King writing the script himself and future Shining miniseries director Mick Garris directing, King fans fina...

In 2024, armed with a script by Jason Fuchs (Ice Age Continental Drift and Pan), director Matthew Vaughn released Argylle. Denounced by critics and audiences alike, the $200 million film didn’t even gross half its budget back. Yet, the film has enjoyed a healthy presence on streaming, meaning there is a good chance Vaughn may get his wish and continue on with the Kingsman franchise. Which, this is only attached to because of its end credits scene. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be reviewing it. Join Matt, Garrett, and Adam as they conclude their first leg of Marvel by reviewing what many have...

With The Golden Circle making almost as much as the original Kingsman movie, Fox felt like they had a franchise on its hands. Yet, director Matthew Vaughn had plans that had nothing to do with continuing the story of Eggsy. Instead, he wanted to pull a George Lucas and go back to the beginning. The result is 2021’s The King’s Man, a WW1 set prequel that tells the story about how The Kingsman came to be. Or does it? Join Matt, Adam, and Garrett as they review the perceived flop and determine whether the film is worth the derision it h...

Two years after setting the box office ablaze with Kingsman The Secret Service, director Matthew Vaughn was back with Kingsman The Golden Circle. This time, he had a couple more Oscar winners (Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore) cast, as well as a certain flamboyant singer. So given he had everything he wanted at his disposal this time, it would seem Vaughn had successfully made his ‘Empire Strikes Back’. Or did he? Join Matt, Garrett, and Adam as they dissect a film whose script Vaughn has proclaimed to be the hardest he’s ever written. While the box office would say audiences still...

After taking on Kick Ass and proving his worth with X-Men First Class, it would seem director Matthew Vaughn was primed for a career directing Marvel properties. But for reasons that are still unclear, Vaughn left X-Men Days of Future Past, and reunited with writer Mark Millar to come up with their own comic book called Kingsman. Before long, Vaughn had another property to take on and in 2015, he directed and released the feature (now) comic book film Kingsman: The Secret Service. Join Matt, Garrett, and Adam as they look at the film which has almost zero stars, yet grossed...

Time to take a quick detour into yet another movie that most don't associate with Marvel. Despite being part of Disney theatrical animated features, Big Hero 6 does indeed come from the comic world. To what extent is discussed on the show. Following up Disney's Frozen was no small feat either. How did this colorful futuristic superhero tale fare for our three hosts? Listen in and come back next week as we go back to Matthew Vaughn with the first entry into Kingsman.

While a sequel to Kick-Ass wasn't the unlikeliest occurrence, losing director Matthew Vaughn did create some concern. They also lost Nicolas Cage but gained an actor of similar stature in Jim Carrey. What they didn't plan on was for the later to walk back his involvement as the movie was about to come out. Did he have a point or was this sequel just as good as the original? Come back next week as we review 2014's Big Hero 6, which is indeed a Marvel adaptation!

After a few weeks of Marvel that the boys would love to forget, one thing is for sure about Kick Ass. It’s at least competent filmmaking. Or is it? Join Matt, Garrett, and Adam as they dive into director Matthew Vaughn’s controversial 2010 1st entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Does the gang think the controversy is warranted? Does Kick Ass still hold up? Just download the show and listen you cunts.

As the boys continue tredging through their Miscellaneous Marvel characters, this week they have run into a doozy. Man Thing is a character who hung out with Howard The Duck in the comics. But other than that, there’s not much identification with him apart from being a side show character made up right around the time DC’s Swamp Thing made its first appearance. So who better to bring it to the screen other than the one man who was sued by Children of the Corn’s creator Stephen King. That’s right, the boys already covered filmmaker Brett Leonard...