TFR Ep. 223: Captain America: Winter Soldier, The Grand Budapest Hotel, 5 Favorite Wes Anderson Things

This week on The First Run, Dave and I are making up for last week’s scheduling debacle by delivering two big releases this week!  First up, we’re half way through Marvel’s 2nd wave with Captain America: The Winter Soldier will the super hero genre ever end!?!  After that, it’s the latest from Dave’s directorial man crush, Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel.  Can Royal Tenenbaum’s be toppled as Dave’s favorite movie?  We’ll review the big releases on Blu-Ray & DVD, featuring Dave’s Streaming Pick of the Week.  Then we’ll review our 5 Favorite Wes Anderson Things!  So let’s all get ready for some action packed, shield slinging’ quirk!

Download the show from iTunes here" Episode 223

• 00:00-20:35: Captain America: The Winter Soldier
• 20:36-28:29: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
• 28:30-36:44: The Grand Budapest Hotel
• 36:45-49:15: 5 Favorite Wes Anderson Things
• 49:16-53:53: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 222: Muppets Most Wanted, Who Dat?!?

This week on TFR, we saw Muppets: Most Wanted, a sequel to a solid, if not quite great return of our childhood favorites.  Gone are Jason Seagal and Amy Adams.  Stepping on our Ricky Gervais and Tina Fey.  Plus this time the music is written by Bret McKenzie (of Flight of the Conchords).  So is Kermit and the crew’s latest adventure more Spider-man 2 or Highlander 2?  We’ll review the big releases on Blu-Ray & DVD, featuring Dave’s Streaming Pick of the Week.  Then it’s the return of Velvet Chocolate’s favorite segment, Who Dat? 

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 222

• 00:00-10:12: Intro/Muppets Most Wanted
• 10:13-19:02: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
• 19:03-42:24: Who Dat?!?
• 42:25-44:45: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 221: Need For Speed, What Are The Odds?

This week on The First Run, we revved up our engines in a non sexual metaphorical way and saw Need For Speed.  Can this video game adaptation break the game to movie curse AND hurtle Aaron Paul into superstardom?  Maybe at least one of those things?  We’ll review the big releases on Blu-Ray & DVD, featuring Dave’s Streaming Pick.  Then, well I have a question for you.  What’s your bankroll?  Cause it’s time figure out the odds of some of the least important film news going on today.  

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 221

• 00:00-12:24: Intro/Need For Speed
• 12:25-20:56: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
• 20:57-45:59: What Are The Odds
• 46:00-51:44: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 220: Nymphomaniac Vol. 1, Top 5 Scenes We Wish We Could Un-See

This week we watched the latest from one of the most controversial directors working today, Lars von Trier’s Nymphomaniac, Vol. 1.  It’s a story old as time… A woman is found beaten in an alley, rescued by a man and she shares her erotic experiences with him.  After that we’ll take a break for a cold shower then review the big releases on Blu-Ray & DVD.  Finally, to push this show over the top, we’re going to tell you about the 5 movies scenes we wish we could un-watch.  This week’s a doozy and only for mature audiences.  Age wise at least. 

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 220

• 00:00-17:43: Intro/Nymphomaniac, Vol. 1
• 17:44-27:44: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
• 27:45-47:42: Top 5 Scenes We Wish We Could Un-See
• 47:53-51:08: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 219: Non-Stop, 5 Best February Releases in the Last 10 Years

Scalzo has reclaimed his rightful position as the King of Oscar Predictions with a 21-3 record!  In other news, the guys watched Mr. February’s latest vehicle, Non-Stop.  Does Mr. Liam Neesons save us from the black hole that are the winter release yet again?  We’ll review the big releases on Blu-Ray & DVD, featuring Dave’s Streaming Pick of the Week.  But that’s not all!  We then fill you in on the 5 Best February Releases in the Last 10 Years (Sorta’).

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 219

• 00:00-13:37: Intro/Non-Stop
• 13:38-21:01: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
• 21:02-34:36: 5 Best February Releases in the Last 10 Years
• 34:37-39:15: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 218: The Lego Movie, 5 Best Films Of 1994

This week on The First Run Chris and Dave try and confirm if everything really is awesome when you’re part of team by watching The Lego Movie! Though they did not watch it together.  Not sure that should really make a difference.  As always, there’s the review of the big releases on Blu-Ray & DVD, featuring Dave’s Streaming Pick of the Week!  Then the guys fill you in on the 5 Best Films of 1994.  So pul the old Lego’s out of storage and whip yourself up something cool, as you listen to the latest episode of The First Run.

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 218

• 00:00-08:47: Intro/The Lego Movie
• 08:48-17:43: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
• 17:44-39:33: 5 Best Films Of 1994
• 39:34-44:25: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 217: Call It: Oscars Edition

It’s a special episode of Call It: Oscars Edition!  Chris and Dave make their picks for the big awards.  So listen on to see if Dave continues his Oscar dominance for a third consecutive year. 

Or do the bribes of snack bags full of Wether’s Originals to the Academy finally pay off for Chris…

Download the show from iTune here: Episode 217

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 216: Robocop ’14, Who Dat?

Why is America so Remake-phobic?  This week we saw Jose Padhila’s update of the classic, Robocop.  This version comes with some heavy hitters.  Not only is it Joel Kinnaman’s debut feature, but we got Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton and Samuel Jackson.  Can this version possible measure up to the original?  We’ll review the big Blu-Ray & DVD releases, featuring Dave’s Streamer of the Week.  Then it’s our role playing game, Who Dat?.  Though I’m never sure why Dave has to dress up in all rubber…

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 216

• 00:00-14:28: Intro/Robocop
• 14:29-25:35: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
• 25:36-44:22: Who Dat?!?
• 44:23-48:18: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 214: Blue Jasmine, Top 5 Films To See In 2014

Hickory dickory dock, Dave and I were…watching Woody Allen’s latest, Blue Jasmine.  Does this tale of a woman on the edge of a breakdown continue Allen’s current hot streak?  Dave has another great Streaming Pick of the Week, while I run down the big releases on Blu-ray & DVD.  Then we fill you in on the 5 Films we’re looking forward to the most in 2014.  Better late than never… 

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 214

• 00:00-12:48: Intro/Blue Jasmine
• 12:49-24:19: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
• 24:20-40:11: Top 5 Films To See In 2014
• 40:12-46:56: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 213: The Wolf Of Wall Street, Call It!

This week on the big show, we start our two weeks of Oscar catch up with Scorsese’s latest team up with Leonardo DiCaprio, the true life tale, The Wolf Of Wall Street.  Throw in a stellar supporting cast, and you’ll have a Best Picture winner for sure, right?  We’ll review the only releases on Blu-Ray & DVD you should even remotely care about.  Dave then tells us what movie you should watch during the next inevitable freezing storm that’s surely coming your way.  Then we wrap up our big Super Bowl preview show with a death defying rendition of Call It!  Alright Dave, now do it with me….

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 213

• 00:00-10:25: Intro/The Wolf Of Wall Street
• 10:26-17:04: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
• 17:05-33:43: Call It!
• 33:44-36:07: Wrap Up

TFR Ep. 212: Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, Bronies, Top 5 Films Of 1995

4th time’s the charm!  Chris Pine takes over the reigns as our latest Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit in Paramount’s attempt to re-launch a franchise out of Tom Clancy’s stories.  It appears we’ve jettisoned the drama in favor of more action.  But is it a winning gamble?  We also promoted a potential Streaming Pick of the Week from Dave’s to full show status with a discussion of ‘Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans Of My Little Pony’.  We’ll review the big releases coming out on Blu-Ray & DVD, featuring an all new pick from Dave.  Then we wrap it up with the Top 5 Films of 1995.

• 00:00-10:10: Intro/Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

• 10:11-16:09: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks

• 16:10-24:22: Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans Of My Little Pony

• 24:23-41:14: Top 5 Films Of 1995

• 41:15-44:45: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 211: Her, What Are The Odds?

This week on The First Run, Dave and I embrace our previous broken relationships with Spike Jonze’s relationships dram-edy, ‘Her’.  And as geeks, perhaps we identify with Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal a little too easily.  Is ‘Her’ the next level in romance films?  Or has Simone permanently poisoned that well?  We’ll review the big releases on Blu-Ray & DVD, featuring Dave’s Streaming Pick of the Week.  Then it’s our Odds Makers Game when we apply our uninformed, slightly buzzed thoughts to the latest Hollywood happenings. 

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 211

• 00:00-12:30: Intro/Her
• 12:31-21:26: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
• 21:27-39:16: What Are The Odds?
• 39:17-43:31 Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 210: Inside Llewyn Davis, 10 Best Films Of 2013

We’re finally here!  Not only do we get to talk about the latest film from the Coen Brothers, ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’, touted as possibly their best film, but there’s more!  We run down our Top 10 Best Films Of The Year!  We also get Dave’s Streaming Pick of the Week, featuring the upcoming big releases on Blu-Ray & DVD.  So take a listen to our super special, extra fun, 2013 year end wrap up here in mid-January…

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 210

• 00:00-16:41: Intro/Inside Llewyn Davis

• 16:42-28:24: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks

• 28:25-41:41: Best Films Of 2013 (10-6)

• 41:42-56:48: Best Films Of 2013 (5-1)

• 56:49-1:00:08: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 209: American Hustle, 5 Worst Films Of 2013

This week on The First Run, it’s the latest film from David O’Russell and his usual cast of characters, Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, and Jennifer Lawrence, with American Hustle.  Last year, O’Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook was Dave’s favorite film of 2012.  Could we have a repeat this year?  Or is the story about a government sting from the 70’s not translate to an audience today.  We’ll review the big releases on Blu-Ray & DVD, featuring Dave’s Streaming Pick of the Week.  Then, it being 2014 now, we finally start with our best/worst lists, starting this week with the Top 5 Worst Films of 2013.

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 209

• 00:00-15:10: Intro/American Hustle
• 15:11-28:47: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
• 28:48-46:12: 5 Worst Films Of 2013
• 46:13-48:48: Wrap Up

Theme music provided Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 208: Anchorman 2, SO’s Top 5 Films Since 2000

It’s a very special episode of The First Run this week.  It’s our Significant Others show!  Dave and I dragged our partners to see Anchorman 2, and they’re going to sit in for the discussion.  Then we’ll all be sharing our 5 Favorite Films Released Since 2000.  The ladies get to sit through the boring Blu-Ray & DVD Picks (featuring Dave’s Streaming Pick o’ the week).  But it’s a short one this week, so it shouldn’t be too painful.   Let's hope our ladies are still speaking to us after this.

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 208

• 00:00-12:38: Intro/Anchorman 2
• 12:39-21:27: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
• 21:28-36:46: Our SO’s Top 5 Films Since 2000
• 36:47-39:38: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 207: The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug, Top 5 Christmas Day Release

This week on The First Run, we watched our annual Hobbit obligation film, with this year’s The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.  Martin Freeman and the gang continue their never ending quest to through a ring into a volcano, or travel back and forth through time with Bilbo’s magical ocarina of time. Or something.  So does Desolation get us back on track?  Or should we just move on to The Sarmillion?  We’ll review the big releases on Blu-Ray & DVD, featuring Dave’s Streaming Pick of the Week, then it’s one of the worst Top 5 ideas I’ve had yet.  The top 5 Film Released on Christmas day in the last 10 years.  

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 207

• 00:00-10:50: Intro/The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug
• 10:51-17:36: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
• 17:37-31:33: Top 5 Christmas Day Releases (2002-2012)
• 31:34-34:33: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 206: Out Of The Furnace, Top 5 Films of 1996

This week on The First Run, Scott Cooper, the director of the heartbreaking Crazy Heart assembles a star studded cast featuring Christian Bale, Casey Affleck, Woody Harrelson, Sam Shepard, and Willem Dafoe to take up a good old fashioned revenge flick!  So does it deliver what you’re looking for?  Some good old fashion Bronson-esque justice?  We review the big releases on Blu-Ray & DVD, featuring Dave’s Streaming Pick of the Week.  Then it’s the Top 5 Best Films of 1996.  But first Dave, let’s listen to a clip from Out Of The Furnace as we clean our rifles while we listen to some angsty music….

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 206

• 00:00-10:11: Intro/Out Of The Furnace
• 10:12-22:34: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
• 22:35-34:54: Top 5 Films Of 1996
• 34:55-38:20: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

We forgot to run down the top ten films of 1996!  So here they are:

1. Independence Day
2. Twister
3. Mission: Impossible
4. The Rock
5. The Hunchback Of Notre Dame
6. 101 Dalmatians
7. Ransom
8. The Nutty Professor
9. Jerry Maguire
10. Eraser

TFR Ep. 205: Oldboy, Top 5 Films That Shouldn’t Be Remade

Hollywood continues its fierce dedication to inspiration and originality with Spike Lee’s remake of the Park Chan-wook neo-classic (though I know Dave disagrees with me) Oldboy.  Do Lee, Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen and crew do right by Chan-wook’s work?  Or was Will Smith right to drop out of the production?  Will review the big releases on Blu-Ray & DVD, featuring Dave’s Streaming Pick of the Week.  Then it’s our Top 5 Films That Should Never Be Remade, with a twist.  Stay tunes to find out what that twist indeed is.  Now where’s my hammer…?

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 205

• 00:00-11:46: Intro/Oldboy
• 11:47-22:44: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
• 22:45-47:44: Top 5 Films That Shouldn’t Be Remade
• 47:45-50:19: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey

TFR Ep. 204: Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Top 5 Holiday Gifts

This week on The First Run, Chris and Dave watched the latest films in The Hunger Games series, ‘Catching Fire’.  Is the sequel more ‘Empire Strikes Back’, or ’Attack Of The Clones’?  The guys also review the big releases on Blu-Ray & DVD, featuring Dave’s Streaming Pick of the Week!  Then it’s their Top 5 Holiday Gifts for the Movie/Entertainment Geek in Your Life.  Or maybe just for you…?  Exactly how many baby girls are going to be names Katniss in the next few years anyway?

Download the show from iTunes here: Episode 204

• 00:00-12:13: Intro/Catching Fire
• 12:14-24:06: Blu-Ray & DVD Picks
• 24:07-46:56: Top 5 Holiday Gifts
• 46:57-50:46: Wrap Up

Theme music provided by Jamal Malachi Ford-Bey