Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast

Five years after The Incredible Hulk TV show was canceled by CBS, Bill Bixby wanted more. But original creator Kenneth Johnson had moved on to direct Short Circuit 2, so Bixby was left to guide the project by himself. But a move to NBC, as well as a changeover to Roger Corman’s production company New World, meant that Bixby could be do things his way. And in 1988, The Incredible Hulk did indeed return in the aptly titled The Incredible Hulk Returns. But this time, he had superhero company. Join Matt, Adam, and Garrett as they once again dissect a part of...

A couple months after finishing up with The Punisher, the Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast have decided to tackle another part of Marvel. Though, by all accounts, the big green guy known as The Incredible Hulk is a damn tough individual to tackle. To begin things, Matt, Garrett, and Adam review the 1977 pilot to the TV show many credit for making Marvel comics viable on television. DC had Batman and Wonder Woman. Marvel had Hulk. Surprisingly, Garrett is the one who Carrie’s love for this character. Here, he gives background as to why, what is his actual background wi...

Just in time for Avatar Fire and Ash’s digital release, it’s time for a little blue house cleaning. This week, the Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast finally review the third Avatar film. Why did it take so long? Well we get into that in the podcast. Needless to say, all of us experienced it in theaters, and all of us have stories. But, most importantly, after three years away from the blue world of Pandora, how does James Cameron handle a story that up until this point, many have called derivative? And do we all still stand by o...

Here we go. The end of the Scream retrospective is finally upon us. After all the buildup and behind the scenes drama, Scream VII was released to massive box office success. But the reviews have not been kind. So the question is will Garrett, Matt, and Adam feel the same? Check out this bulk sized review, and be sure to stay tuned until the end as we reveal what we are going to covering next, as well as give some acknowledgments. As an aside, we’d like to give a big thank you to all who listen and give us fe...

In 2011, it was not good luck to wait 11 years to bring the band back together and do another Scream film. Scream 4 lost money, and plans to continue that trilogy went by the wayside. Flash forward another 11 years. 2022 brought back key players like David Arquette and Neve Campbell, while ushering in a new batch of kids. But without Kevin Williamson writing the script, and new series scribes/directors Radio Silence taking the helm, how does 2022’s Scream entry add up?? Join Garrett and Adam (both watching Scream 2022 for the very first time) as well as Matt as they review the certified hi...

Eleven years after the release of Scream 3, producers were ready to try again. Though the difference is this time, they didn’t have too many schedules to work around. Everyone from Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, and David Arquette, not to mention director Wes Craven, had nothing else going on and were ready to play in the Scream sandbox again. Though Craven did have some some standards. If he was coming back, Kevin Williamson had to return to write it and the script had to be as good as the first film. So Williamson waited until a break in The Vampire Di...

With Scream 2 in the foreground after certifying the series as a franchise, it would seem that everyone associated with the horror films had better things to do than come back for its (at the time) swan song. Specifically, star Neve Campbell and director Wes Craven. Campbell was working on Party of Five and a film called Drowning Mona. And Craven wanted to wade his way through the horror ghetto to do the Meryl Streep starring Music of the Heart. Writer Kevin Williamson submitted outlines, but he was also busy not only directing his first feature Teaching Mrs Tingle, but he...

As much as the first Scream lovingly poked the bear that was the 80s slasher genre, they played right into the same sensibilities those franchises did, as a sequel came out less than a year after the original was released to surprise success. It took a couple weeks to catch on. But once 1996’s Scream gathered the best word of mouth since Pulp Fiction from a couple years before, it sure didn’t take long for a sequel to get greenlit. Original writer Kevin Williamson, now the new hot writer on the block, was able to churn out a script, with...

After a break from the genre, The Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast has finally returned to horror! With a new Scream film hitting theaters this month, the co-hosts embark on reviewing the entire groundbreaking film series. Every franchise has to begin somewhere, and some believe that the 1996 original is the best of the entire series. But is it? Join Garrett, Matt, and Adam as they begin their quest of answering that question. Listen to Adam and Garrett discuss how they initially saw the film that redefined the horror genre. They also talk about how Wes Craven essentially took the...

Nooo, we didn’t forget. around this time last year, we reviewed 1987’s Arnold Schwarzenegger starring film The Running Man. We knew there was a remake coming down the block, but we put it off for reasons we get into on the podcast. When director Edgar Wright was asked a question on Twitter about what movie he wanted to remake, he did not hesitate in answering The Running Man. Producer Simon Kinberg (the X-Men franchise) saw the tweet and got this production going. Wright, with original author Stephen King’s approval, wrote up a script with his longtime collaborator Michael Bacall...

With two Punisher movies that yielded zero profit, it might be baffling to read that Lionsgate wasn’t done trying to make more films featuring the character. Perhaps even more baffling is the idea that star of 2004’s effort Thomas Jane was poised to come back to the skull shirted character. But, with delays galore, as well as creative indifference to the direction Lionsgate wanted to take, both Jane and original director Jonathan Hensleigh walked off the project. Enter Ray Stephenson and recent Oscar nominated director -and former kickboxing champion- Lexi Alexander. Speaking of fights, this podcast gets more confrontational than...

15 years after Dolph Lundgren proclaimed that he would be waiting in the sewers for those who need to be punished, it was time for Thomas Jane to take the mantle. Directed by action screenwriter Jonathan Hensleigh (Die Hard With A Vengeance, Armageddon), 2004’s The Punisher was released to dwindling reviews and disappointing box office receipts. Yet, there is a love for it from some Punisher fans. So the question is, does anyone from The Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast think so? Join Matt, Adam, and Garrett as they continue punishing themselves by going through Marvel and get 2/3 into their Pu...

New year, new time to be punished. Like last year, we are kicking off 2026 with another dent in the long running Marvel series. This time, we are going to watch three different movies with three different actors playing the character. First, it’s Dolph Lundgren in 1989’s The Punisher. By 1989, Lundgren’s time in the sun was looking dim. Master of the Universe (which we MIGHT cover) was released with him playing the title character, and it ended up being a huge reason why Cannon Studios crumbled. Here, he’s actually in good hands, as noted action director Mark Goldblatt (Terminat...

Here it is, the 2025 wrap up show! Listen in as Matt, Adam, and Garrett go deep into their favorite retrospectives of the year, give their top five favorite films of the year (definitely purely some surprises here), answer YOUR questions, and give a little preview as to what to expect in the coming year. We are so pleased to go into our fifth year at this, and it’s because of people like you that we do it! Thanks so much for listening, and we’re looking forward to another year of talking about movies…and arguing.

The co-hosts close out their look at Predator with a review of Dan Trachtenberg’s film from last year Predator Badlands. With Adam really liking last week’s entry, will he enjoy seeing Trachtenberg integrate Predator with Alien, while also casting Elle Fanning in the role of the android? Next week, the Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast close out the year with their epic over 3.5 hour year end show. And then they jump right back into the retrospectives by looking at another leg of Marvel, The Punisher!

To the surprise of everyone despite Prey doing well critically and among audiences, we have two new installments of the Predator franchise in 2025. The first hit Hulu earlier this year. Under the help of Prey's Dan Trachtenberg, he chose to tell the next chapter as "chapters" in animation. In addition, it's an anthology that actually reconnects together all the stories both new and old. How do we feel about this radical new direction and what is our excitement about Predator: Badlands? Tune in next week to hear our thoughts, rankings on the series and our first retro of 2026! Disclaimer: We...

Eight years after producer Robert Rodriguez had Adrien Brody went and fought the Predator -and Predator dogs, and bigger Predators, and Lawrence Fishburne- original Predator co-star Shane Black decided to take the reigns and see if he could make something a little more universally successful. The result, 2018’s The Predator. Yet, once again, 20th Century Fox stepped in and decided to make life a living hell for all involved. Scenes were switched, a friend of Black’s had a small scene cut due to Olivia Munn finding out the other man in the scene -who was also a friend of Blac...

After a set of Alien vs Predator films that failed to ignite any sort of passion from a hugely passionate set of fan bases, the pressure was on producer Robert Rodriguez to make a film that at least satisfy the Predator fan base. So after finally getting the green light to produce a script he’d started back in the mid 90s, Rodriguez found himself doing what he’d been wanting to do his entire career, which was make a Predator film. But by the late 2000s, Rodriguez was also a very busy producer. He had had just made the flop...

After the obviousness that was all our positive reviews of 1987’s original Predator film, we knew that starting this week there would be some chinks in the title character’s armor. Predator 2 was released around Thanksgiving in 1990 and even with Jim and John Thomas returning to pen the script, to say it wasn’t received nearly as well would be an understatement. This may have to do with changing the director from well renowned action director John McTiernan to Aussie Stephen Hopkins (A Nightmare on Elm Street 5 The Dream Child). But the big change, of course, was changing out muscle bound...

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...