TFR Ep. 174: Iron Man 3 Spoiler Show

Here it is!  All the super inside super secret spoilers and easter eggs in Iron Man 3.  Who is Brandt?  What's the Mandarin's secret? Do any other Avengers show up?  What's Guy Pearce doing in this film?  All will be revealed in this bonus episode of The First Run.

Download the show from iTunes here:

Episode 174

Or stream it now by clicking here:

PLAY!

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 173: Iron Man 3, Top 5 Best Of The Rest Summer Preview

This week Chris & Dave embrace the summer movie season in all its glory with the release of Iron Man 3.  Does The First Run's favorite actor, Robert Downey Jr., break the trilogy part 3 curse? Hello 'Spider-Man 3'! Could it even be better than 'The Avengers'?  The guys also review the big releases on Blu-Ray & DVD, featuring Dave's Streaming Pick Of The Week.  Then it's the Top Summer Movies Not Names 'Man Of Steel' or 'Star Trek Into Darkness'.  This week's feature musician is hip-hop artist Mike White.  Time to engage in some cosplay and download the latest episode of the big show.  And don't forget our Iron Man 3 spoiler edition will be up in a couple days!

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 173

Or stream the show now by clicking here: PLAY!

Check out more from Mike White at IAmMikeWhite.com

00:00-15:20: Intro/Iron Man 3
15:21-33:57: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
33:58-51:41: Top 5 Best Of The Rest Summer Preview
51:42-56:45: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 172: Pain & Gain, Top 5 Kidnapping Movies

This week on the big show, Dave and I catch up with a non-Transformers Michael Bay film, Pain & Gain.  Does this true story finally deliver the impossible?  A thoughtful, multifaceted character driven adventure thrill from one of today most subtle directors?  Or is the The Rock part 2: Cagin' Connery?  We'll review the big releases on Blu-Ray and DVD, featuring a film I'm kicking myself for not getting to see when it was in the theaters…  AND Dave's streaming pick of the week.  Then in honor of Pain & Gain, it's our Top 5 Kidnapping movies.  This week we also feature the music of Kate Callahan.  So thanks for listening!  And Dave, what's this rag smell like…?

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 172

Or stream it now by clicking here: PLAY!

Listen to Kate Callahan here: Listen!

00:00-14:49: Intro/Pain & Gain
14:50-31:12: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
31:13-43:38: Top 5 Kidnapping Movies
43:39-48:15: Wrap Up/Outtake

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 171: Oblivion, Top 5 Tom Cruise Things

This week The Tomster returns with the sci-fi action thriller, 'Oblivion'.  So, how much did we like 'Mission Impossible IV, Ghost Protocol'?  How much did we like 'Jack Reacher'?  Well, now you get to hear how much we liked 'Oblivion'.  Directed by Joseph Kosinski, who brought us the visually striking, if not underwhelming 'Tron: Legacy'.  So is 'Oblivion' a mix of 'Ghost Protocol' and 'Prometheus', or is it more 'Reacher'+'Legacy'?  We'll review the big releases on Blu-Ray and DVD for this upcoming Tuesday, April 30th.  Then is a top Five Of Our Favorite Tom Cruise things.  

This week we're also featuring music from The And Band.  Check them out on Facebook.



Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 171

Or stream the show now by clicking here: PLAY!


00:00-15:21: Intro/Oblivion
15:22-25:37: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
25:38-41:29: Top 5 Tom Cruise Things
41:30-45:40: Wrap Up
45:41-50:56: Oblivion Spoiler Discussion

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 170: 42, Inventory Of The Best Films Of 2001

This week on the big show Dave and I tackle baseball and racism with the Jackie Robinson picture, '42'.  Does '42', knock it out of the park and continue the trend of great baseball movies that aren't really about baseball, like Field Of Dreams, The Natural, and the like?  Or does the film try to do too much and ends up popping up to the catcher?  Cinematically speaking of course.  We'll review the big releases on Blu-ray and DVD, featuring Dave's Streaming Pick of the Week.  Then it's a return to our annual Inventories with the Top Five Films of 2001.  We're also featuring new music by Daphne Lee Martin from her album 'Moxie'.  You can order it from her website, Daphne Lee Martin.com as well as iTunes and a great record store down in New London, The Telegraph.  So pop open a box of cracker jacks, buy yourself a $10 beer, and keep score of another gold glove edition of The First Run. 

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 170

Or stream it now by clicking here: PLAY!


00:00-13:49: Intro/42
13:50-27:48: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
27:49-46:33: Inventory Of The Best Films Of 2001
46:34-50:55: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 169: Evil Dead, Call It!

And this week it's a big show.  One of Scalzo's most anticipated films of the year, if not the decade.  We discuss the modern remake of one of his most beloved, if not THE most beloved horror films of his youth, Evil Dead.  Remakes usually make me nervous.  But when I saw that Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell & Rob Tappert were all on board as producers, and the reviews from the screening in SXSW were glowing, I got excited.  So can this new version of Evil Dead honor the original, hell, can it surpass it?!?  After that, it’s the Blu-Ray & DVD Picks for this upcoming Tuesday, the 16th.  It's another small week, with one big release.  Then we're going to play Call It!  Probably my favorite game when we present two movie related choices, and we have to pull the trigger on one…or the other.  So give us a listen as you do your spring cleaning, rummaging through that dank, old fruit cellar.

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 169

Or stream the show now by clicking here: PLAY!

Listen to Jamal's work here: JAMAFOR

00:00-18:51: Intro/Evil Dead
18:52-28:45: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
28:46-44:59: Call It!
45:00-49:30: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 168: G.I. Joe: Retaliation, What Are The Odds

This week on the First Run, Dave and I continue to hang on by our fingertips to the metaphorical cliff that is our childhood with GI Joe: Retaliation.  Can The Rock, Bruce Willis, and Snake Eyes allow us to re-firm our grip and salvage, nah ignite a franchise, and give Dwayne Johnson the signature franchise he's looking for?  Or are our fingers starting to slip…  We'll review the big releases on Blu-Ray and DVD, as always featuring Dave's Streaming Pick of the Week.  Then it's everyone's favorite Vegas game, What Are The Odds.  

And we have another big announcement.  Starting this week, as the we get more involved in the community, we'll be featuring local musicians during our bumpers.  And we're excited to include Canyon as our inaugural guest musician.  You can find out more about her here at hellomynameiscanyon.com Thanks for listening, now let's listen to stuff get blowns up real good.

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 168

Or stream the show now by clicking here: PLAY!


00:00-15:41: Intro/G.I.Joe: Retaliation
15:42-25:01: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
25:02-51:20: What Are The Odds - Summer Movie Edition
51:21-55:49: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 167: Spring Breakers, Inventory Of Films We're Ashamed To Love

This week on the First Run, we get as close to reviewing the Girls Gone Wild series has we've ever gotten, with Harmony Korine's Spring Breakers.  Is the movie as sleazy, violent, and as Selena Gomez corrupting as Dave hopes?  Or will we all need to take a shower after our discussion is over?  We'll also review the big releases on Blu-Ray & DVD, featuring Dave's Streaming Pick of the Week, and the culmination of a years of work for one highly successful cinematic universe.  We then put a bow on this whole present to you, the listeners, with our Top 5 Films We're Ashamed We Love.  So pause the dirty lady movies, and take a listen as we provide a critical, intelligent discussion about 18-20 year old girls doing bad, dirty things. 

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 167

Or stream the show now by clicking here: PLAY!

00:00-14:25: Intro/Spring Breakers
14:26-22:47: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
22:48-40:42: Inventory Of Films We're Ashamed To Love
40:43-43:55: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 166: The House I Live In, Who Dat?

This week on The First Run, we scratch our documentary itch with Eugene Jarekci's dismantling of the Unites States' War on Drugs with 'The House I Live In'.  Does the film shine a light on a potentially failed drug enforcement policy, is it just more liberal hippie, smoke if you got 'em propaganda?  I'll then run down the big releases on Blu-Ray & DVD, and Dave will deliver his Streaming Pick of the Week.  Then it's Who Dat?  The game where I get to escape my dreary, sad, existence and be the man or woman I've always wanted to be.  Or at least who Dave assigns me to be. 

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 166

Or stream the show now by clicking here: PLAY!

00:00-13:44: Intro/The House I Live In

13:45-26:41: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks

26:42-45:21: Who Dat?

45:22-47:33: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 165: Oz: The Great & Powerful, Inventory Of The Best Films Of 2002

This week on The First Run, Scalzo and Velvet Chocolate drop some acid, pop on the Floyd, and take another trip down the yellow brick road with Sam Raimi's 'Oz: The Great And Powerful'!  Does this prequel of the beloved 'Wizard Of Oz', starring James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, and Rachel Weiss survive the big budget classic revisiting twister?  That's a stretched metaphor.  The guys also review the big releases on Blu-Ray & DVD.  Then it's the return of our Annual Inventories with the Top 5 Films of 2002.  So click your sippers together and download the latest episode.

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 165

Or stream the show now by clicking here: PLAY!

00:00-13:09: Intro/Oz: The Great And Powerful
13:10-26:16: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
26:17-41:57: Inventory Of The Best Films Of 2002
41:58-45:47: Wrap Up

Theme music by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 164: The Last Exorcism Part 2, Inventory Of The Worst Films We've Reviewed

This week on The First Run, it's logical, inevitable sequel to the Last Exorcism.  The Last Exorcism Part 2: Still Exorcising.  Can Eli Roth, Nell and crew deliver another film as clever, creepy and as entertaining as the original?  Or did they say 'f' it, let's make some cash?  We'll run down the big releases on Blu-Ray and DVD, featuring Dave's Streaming Pick of the Week, and this segment will probably take the bulk of the show.  There's a ton of catalog titles being released.  Then it's Inventory time when Dave and I relive the pain of the 5 Worst Films we've discussed on this show.  Let the sado masochism begin!  We're The First Run.

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 164

Or stream the show now by clicking here: PLAY!


00:00-10:21: Intro/The Last Exorcism Part 2
10:22-22:19: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
22:20-41:45: Inventory Of The Worst Films We've Reviewed
41:45-44:53: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 163: Snitch, Inventory Of Modern Action Stars

Who is the king of the new school?  Is it the Rock?  You'll have to wait until the shows final segment to find out for sure.  But the Rock is back.  Kicking ass and taking names, or is that emoting anguish and shedding tears?   It's the story of a man who takes the law into his own hands, with 'Snitch'.  We'll review the big releases on Blu-Ray & DVD, as well as Dave's streaming pick of the week.  Then we review an Inventory of the Top 5 Action Stars of today.  Which is a list that will spark an interesting discussion about the state of the current action star.  So can you smell what The First Run is cookin'?  I definitely smell garlic...

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 163

Or stream the show now by clicking here: PLAY!


00:00-09:52: Intro/Snitch
09:53-25:07: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
25:08-46:20: Inventory Of Modern Action Stars
46:21-49:04: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 162: A Good Day To Die Hard, Bruno's Best, 2013 Oscar Picks

It's an early release in anticipation of this Sunday's Oscars!  This week it's the return of an action stalwart, no, not Schwarzenneger, not Stallone, nope.  This week it's ol' John McClane himself, Bruce Willis with A Good Day To Die Hard.  Is the real McClane back?  Or am I know missing the subtle maneuvers of Len Wiseman's Live Free or Die Hard.  We also finally end the age old riddle of what Bruce Willis' best film or performance, something is.  We'll review the big releases on blu-ray & dvd, featuring Dave's Streaming Pick of the Week!  Then it's Oscar time!  We're going to tell you who WILL win, as well as who should.  Take it to the bank! 

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 162

Or stream the show now by clicking here: PLAY!

00:00-21:09: Intro/A Good Day To Die Hard/Bruno's Best
21:10-31:13: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
31:14-47:25: 2013 Oscar Picks
47:26-50:16: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 161: Side Effects, Inventory Of The Best Directors Working Today

Chris Scalzo here with Dave Cunningham.  So last week we teased Identity Thief as our big movie for the show.  Then we saw the reviews and decided to spare ourselves to potential torment and went with Steven Soderbergh's latest, and potentially last, theatrical release, 'Side Effects'.  Rooney Mara, Jude Law, Catherine Zeta-Jones in a role I don't think she's quite ever played, and my man, Channing Tatum, bring us the pharmaceutical thriller.  So did we make the right decision?  You'll find out shortly…  We also review the big releases on Blu-ray & DVD, featuring Dave's Streaming Pick of the Week.  We're also running down another inventory, and this week's it's in honor of Soderbergh's pending departure from the business, and by the business, I mean the industry.  It's the 5 best directors working today.  So pop a couple Xanax and wash 'em down with some Jameson.  You know, to really speed up the process.  We're the First Run.

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 161

Or stream the show now by clicking here: PLAY!

00:00-13:47: Intro/Side Effects
13:48-32:01: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
32:02-49:17: Inventory Of The Best Directors Working Today
49:18-52:44: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 160: Warm Bodies, Inventory Of The Best Films Of 2003

This week Chris and Dave check out the anti-Twilight with the horror romantic comedy mash up 'Warm Bodies'.  Adam Levine, who directed the film '50/50' that Chris and Dave both loved is back with Teresa Palmer, Nicolas Hoult, John Malkovich, and Rob Corddrey.  Does this genre bending retelling of Romeo and Juliet worth a trek to the theater?  We'll review the big releases on Blu-Ray and DVD, as well as Scalzo's Streaming Pick of the Week!  Wait, what?  Then it's the Inventory of the Best Films of 2003.  Yes, we're back to our 'Annual' top fives.  So let's all settle in and find out if there's yet another branch of the zombie tree worth checking out shall we?  Yes?  Good.

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 160

Or listen now by clicking here: PLAY!


00:00-11:13: Intro/Warm Bodies
11:14-25:43: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
25:44-43:24: Inventory Of The Best Films Of 2003
43:25-46:43: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 159: Movie 43, Call It!

The comedy anthology film is always a dicey concept.  How many can you name off the top of your head?  You got Amazon Women On The Moon, Kentucky Fried Movie and…?
So this week we have Movie 43, with a pretty decent pedigree.  It's guided by Peter Farrelly, of the Farrelly Bros. You know, There's Something About Mary.  That guy.  There are 13 sketches featured, counting the films framing device.  Almost all staring big time hollywood actors.  The trailer promises big time laughs and raunchy, disturbingly inappropriate humor?  Sign me up!  Right?  Right?!?  We'll run down the big releases on Blu-ray and DVD, featuring Dave's Streaming Pick of the Week.  Then we finally get away from our Top 5's with the return of Call It!.  Everyone's favorite Sophie's Choice of movie games.


Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 159

Or stream the show now by clicking here: PLAY! 

00:00-11:57: Intro/Movie 43
11:58-21:57: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
21:58-42:11: Call It!
42:12-46:30: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 158: The Last Stand, Inventory Of Our Least Anticipated Films Of 2013

On this week's episode of The First Run, Arnold Schwarzenegger makes his return as an action lead in Jee-woon Kim's American debut feature, 'The Last Stand'.  Has Arnold's time away and age sharpened our appreciation for the action veteran, or should he have stuck with appearances in Stallone's Old Folks Home Action series?  We'll review the big releases on Blu-Ray & DVD and find out Dave's Streaming Pick of the Week.  Then close it out with an Inventory of our least anticipated films of 2013.  Really, just the ones to avoid.  So settle in for another glorious episode of The First Run.  

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 158

Or stream the show now by clicking here: PLAY!


00:00-14:31: Intro/The Last Stand
14:32-23:14: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
23:15-43:29: Inventory Of Our Least Anticipated Films Of 2013
43:30-45:56: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 157: Zero Dark Thirty, Beasts Of The Southern Wild, Inventory Of Our Most Anticipated Films Of 2013

This week on the The First Run, it's going to be another super sized show featuring two, count 'em two, reviews this week.  First up, it's my favorite film of 2012, Zero Dark Thirty.  Will Dave agree with me and have to re-do his top 10 of 2012?  Or is he still very, very wrong and the Sliver Linings Playbook still his favorite film of 2012.  We'll also weigh in on the indie darling, 'Beasts Of The Southern Wild'.  Dave, do I need to re-do my Top 10 list now?  We'll review the big releases on Blu-Ray and DVD, then run down another long Inventory, our Top 10 Most Anticipated Films of 2013.  So settle in for another extended episode full of the love, compassion, kindness, vitriol & spite you've come to expect from us.

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 157

Stream the now by clicking here: PLAY!

00:00-14:37: Intro/Zero Dark Thirty

14:38-27:52: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks

27:53-36:00: Beasts Of The Southern Wild

36:01-1:04:51: Inventory Of Our Most Anticipated Films Of 2013

1:04:52-1:07:36: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 156: Silver Linings Playbook, Inventory Of The 10 Best Films Of 2012

This week on a super sized edition of The First Run, it's the film we've been promising to review for over a month now, but each time we juke you faint to the left, cut right.  Stop short, spin move tack off down midfield.  We really are the New York Jets of film podcasts.  It's Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, with an assist from Bobby De Niro in David O'Russell's latest, 'The Silver Linings Playbook'.  Can O'Russell take another tired genre, the romantic comedy and do what he did with 'The Fighter'?  Make a stale genre seem fresh again?  We'll review the big releases on Blu-Ray and DVD, featuring Dave's Streaming Pick of the Week!  Then it's the big one.  Our Inventory of the 10 Best Films of 2012, with an added twist.  It's a grudge match to the death as Dave and I iron out a master list between our two.  Which I don’t think will be possible in the end.  But at least it'll be fun to try.

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 156

Or stream the show now by clicking here: PLAY!


00:00-17:37: Intro/Silver Linings Playbook
17:38-33:53: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
33:54-1:03:32: Inventory Of The 10 Best Films Of 2012
1:03:33-1:14:31: Top 5 Of 2012 Master List
1:14:32-1:16:27: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 155: Django Unchained, TFR Awards: Tarantino Films

Out of all of the directors I love, there's one name that rules them all.  One name, that when his next project is announced, I get as excited as a tween (or Espo) at a Twilight convention.  And now we're here once again.  Quentin Tarantino returns with his spaghetti revenge 'southern', 'Django Unchained'.  Jamie Foxx is our titular star.  Christoph Waltz returns to the Tarantino fold as Dr. King Schultz.  And Leonardo Dicaprio is our villian, Calvin Candie.  Does Tarantino's penchant for stylized violence and language deliver once again, or is the setting of this country's race relations pre-Civil War, too much to overcome?  We'll review the big releases on Blu-Ray & DVD.  Then it's a new segment.  The First Run Awards.  We're going to run down the best actors and actresses, as well as some other fun categories for all of Quentin Tarantino's films.  We hope you had a great New Years,  and that you stayed clear of a place called Candie Land.  We're The First Run.

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 155

Or stream the show ow by clicking here: PLAY!


00:00-17:05: Intro/Django Unchained
17:06-27:16: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
27:17-44:00: TFR Awards: Tarantino Films
44:01-45:40: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey