Feels Over Reels and Pop Culture Appeal

Episode 38: The Monkey

In this episode of Feels over Reels, hosts Chris Farrell, Matt Gastar, and Ron Newman discuss their predictions for the upcoming Oscars, focusing on the top categories like Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress. They explore strong contenders such as 'Dune Part 2,' 'The Brutalist,' and 'Anora.' The second part of the episode is dedicated to a review of 2025’s comedy-horror film, 'The Monkey,' based on Stephen King's short story. They provide their non-spoiler and spoiler-filled thoughts on the film, including its kills, comedy elements, and overall storytelling. The hosts also delve into the impact of trailers revealing too much and how it affected their viewing experience. The episode wraps up with plugs for the hosts’ social media and upcoming projects.
 
00:00 Welcome to Fields Over Reels
00:13 Oscar Predictions: Best Picture
05:44 Oscar Predictions: Best Director
07:30 Oscar Predictions: Best Actor
10:59 Oscar Predictions: Best Actress
13:27 Review of 2025's The Monkey
21:14 The Monkey: Spoiler Discussion
23:50 The Babysitter's Death and the Monkey's Curse
24:29 A Series of Unfortunate Deaths
26:19 The Trailer Spoilers
30:56 The Monkey's Lore and Logic
38:49 Final Thoughts and Rants
45:08 Plugs and Farewells

Episode 37: Year Long Anniversary: Mortal Kombat (1995) Watch Along!

On this Episode of Feels over Reels we celebrate our year long anniversary of this podcast by joining our hosts  Chris Farrell, Matt Gastar, Ron Newman for a full watch along of 1995's Mortal Kombat! Line up your own copy of Mortal Kombat and watch along with our hosts!

Episode 36: Captain America (Brave New World)

In this episode of 'Feels Over Reels,' hosts Chris Farrell, Matt Gastar, and Ron Newman dive into a discussion about the latest Captain America movie, 'Captain America: Brave New World.' The conversation touches on Sam Wilson's debut as Captain America, played by Anthony Mackie, and features performances by Harrison Ford and others. The hosts share their overall impressions, noting the film's heavy reliance on nostalgia and its continuation from the 'Falcon and Winter Soldier' series. They express mixed feelings about the film's villains, plot development, and its contribution to the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe. The episode wraps up with their individual recommendations and some nitpicks about character dynamics and plot choices.
 
00:00 Introduction and Hosts Introduction
00:16 Initial Reactions to Captain America: Brave New World
01:39 Non-Spoiler Review of Captain America: Brave New World
02:14 Detailed Character and Performance Analysis
04:54 General Thoughts and Recommendations
12:01 Spoiler Discussion
25:33 Anticipating Avengers vs. X-Men
25:55 Secret Wars Speculations
27:34 Harrison Ford's Subplot
28:53 Captain America's Dilemma
31:56 Red Hulk Showdown
34:27 Final Thoughts and Nitpicks
44:35 Upcoming Movie Reviews and Plugs

Episode 35: Presence, Companion

In this episode of 'Feels over Reels,' hosts Chris Farrell, Matt Gastar, and Ron Newman delve into two recent horror movies: 'Presence' and 'Companion.' The discussion starts with a non-spoiler review of 'Presence,' directed by Steven Soderbergh, starring Lucy Liu and Chris Sullivan, and explores its unique ghostly POV and family dynamics. The hosts then switch to 'Companion,' a sci-fi horror directed by Drew Hancock, featuring Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid, and discuss its intriguing blend of AI and dystopian themes. 
 
00:14 Non-Spoiler Review of 'Presence'
01:45 Discussion on Movie's Unique POV
02:33 Family Dynamics and Performances
04:25 Overall Impressions and Recommendations
06:47 Box Office Performance and Marketing
08:27 Spoiler Review of 'Presence'
22:09 Theories and Interpretations
26:39 Introduction to 'Companion'
28:34 Discussing the Movie's Plot and Characters
29:44 General Thoughts on the Movie
30:04 Avoiding Spoilers and Trailer Talk
31:06 Twists and Turns in the Movie
32:36 Themes and Comparisons to Other Movies
35:14 The Big Reveal and Its Impact
36:49 Philosophical Questions and AI
43:10 Climactic Fight and Ending
47:46 Final Thoughts and Recommendations
51:11 Plugs and Sign-Off

Episode 34: Wolfman

In this episode of the Feels Over Reels podcast, hosts Chris Farrell, Matt Gastar, and Ron Newman dive into the discussion about the latest Razzie nominations. They highlight some notable contenders for worst picture including 'Borderlands', 'Joker 2', 'Madam Web', 'Megalopolis', and 'Reagan'. The trio offers their opinions on each film's failings with particular disdain for 'Madam Web' and 'Borderlands'. Later, they shift gears to review 'Wolfman' (2025), providing a detailed analysis and spoiler-filled discussion of the film. They address various aspects such as story coherence, film direction, character portrayals, and compare its approach to classic werewolf lore. While opinions vary, there's a consensus that 'Wolfman' offers a mixed bag of tense moments marred by pacing and narrative issues.
 
00:14 Discussing the Razzies: Worst Picture Nominations
01:40 Debating the Worst Picture: Borderlands vs. Madam Web
11:07 Worst Actor and Actress Nominations
16:25 Prequels, Remakes, and Sequels: The Worst of the Worst
19:52 Wolfman 2025: Non-Spoiler Review
25:21 Should You Watch It?
25:38 Diverse Opinions on the Movie
26:56 Comparing to Other Films
28:22 Spoiler Alert: Plot Breakdown
32:58 Character Dynamics and Performances
38:49 Werewolf Lore and Movie Critique
50:15 Final Thoughts and Recommendations
53:05 Plugs and Sign-Off

Episode 33: Nosferatu

In this episode of the Feels Over Reels Podcast, hosts Chris Farrell, Matt Gastar, and Ron Newman delve into the 2024 release of Nosferatu. They provide insights on the film's production details, box office performance, and Rotten Tomatoes scores. The discussion transitions into a non-spoiler review highlighting general impressions of the movie, comparing it to the original silent film, and praising the performances, particularly noting Bill Skarsgård and Lily-Rose Depp. The podcast then moves into a detailed spoiler-filled breakdown of the plot, character dynamics, and significant scenes, mentioning moments of homage to the original movie and analyzing its horror and gothic elements. The hosts conclude by sharing their overall thoughts and noting the film's rewatch value.
00:13 Introducing Nosferatu (2024)
01:06 Non-Spoiler Review: First Impressions
03:04 Cast and Performances
04:21 Cinematography and Visuals
06:49 Spoiler Alert: Plot Breakdown
08:10 Nosferatu's Character and Lore
13:17 Final Thoughts and Favorite Moments
15:28 Nosferatu's Shadow Hand
16:30 Homage to the Original
18:03 Nosferatu's Curse and Death
18:57 Horny Undertones
21:59 Christmas Elements
23:00 Final Thoughts and Plugs

Episode 32: Superman Trailer, Dune Prophecy (Ep 5), Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Episode 4,

In this episode of 'Feels Over Reels,' hosts Chris Farrell, Matt Gastar, and Ron Newman discuss the new Superman trailer directed by James Gunn, giving their personal takes and breaking down the trailer's content. They also dive into Episode 5 of 'Dune,' analyzing the latest plot developments and character interactions. The hosts review Episode 4 of 'Star Wars: Skeleton Crew,' focusing on character dynamics and unique storytelling elements. Finally, they tackle the much-anticipated movie 'Kraven the Hunter,' offering a non-spoiler review followed by a detailed spoiler discussion on plot points, character motivations, and their thoughts on the future of the Sony Marvel Universe.
 
00:00 Welcome to Feels Over Real
00:21 Superman Trailer Reactions
09:09 Dune Episode 5 Breakdown
20:28 Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Episode 4 Discussion
27:58 Craven the Hunter: Initial Impressions
28:37 Non-Spoiler Review: General Thoughts
28:51 Character Analysis: Aaron Johnson as Craven
30:28 Comparing Sony's Spider-Man Universe Films
32:49 Would We Recommend Watching Craven?
35:18 Spoiler Review: Plot and Powers
38:14 Villains and Their Motivations
41:21 The Rhino and Other Characters
51:34 The Future of Sony's Spider-Man Universe
54:47 Final Thoughts and Plugs

Episode 31: Dune Prophecy (Ep 2,3), Gladiator 2

In this episode of 'Feels Over Reels,' hosts Chris Farrell, Matt Gastar, and Ron Newman discuss the second and third episodes of the 'Dune Prophecy' series and provide a comprehensive review of 'Gladiator 2.' The hosts delve into the ratings, plot, and character dynamics of the 'Dune Prophecy' episodes, debating their impact and significance. They also critique 'Gladiator 2,' discussing its connections to the original film, character motivations, and overall execution. Additionally, they touch on the film's historical accuracy and speculate on the possibility of a sequel.
 
00:00 Introduction and Hosts
00:12 Dune Prophecy Episode 2 Review
11:34 Dune Prophecy Episode 3 Review
26:06 Gladiator 2 Discussion
39:07 Plot Recap: Lucius' Identity Revealed
39:38 Lucius' Confusion and Selective Memory
40:09 Lucius' Motivation and Pedro's Role
42:43 Pedro's Coup and Capture
44:11 Denzel's Political Maneuvering
47:05 Final Gladiator Battle and Aftermath
48:19 Review: Initial Impressions
49:13 Review: Story and Cinematography Critique
58:40 Review: Action and CGI Analysis
01:04:46 Review: Historical Accuracy and Final Thoughts
01:18:54 Conclusion and Plugs

Episode 30: Dune Prophecy (Ep 1), The Penguin (Season Finale)

In this episode of 'Feels Over Reels,' hosts Chris Farrell, Matt Gastar, and Ron Newman delve into the latest in entertainment. The trio discusses the season finale of 'The Penguin' and the first episode of 'Dune Prophecy: The Hidden Hand.' They explore plot developments, character arcs, and thematic elements in both shows. The discussion includes a detailed breakdown of the Dune prequel, the complex dynamics of 'The Penguin,' and how these narratives tie into their respective franchises. The show wraps with thoughts on future episodes and upcoming projects.
 
00:00 Introduction to Feels Over Reels
00:15 Dune Prophecy: Episode One Discussion
01:08 The Hidden Hand: Plot Breakdown
02:28 Character Dynamics and Conflicts
06:02 Initial Impressions and Comparisons
19:08 The Penguin Finale: A Great or Little Thing
24:59 The Stabbing Incident
26:34 Penguin's Plan Unfolds
28:29 The Heartfelt Scene and Betrayal
30:28 Penguin's Ruthlessness
33:35 Season Finale Reactions
35:55 Looking Forward to Future Seasons
43:07 Final Thoughts and Plugs

Episode 29: The Penguin (Episode 7)

In this episode of Feels over Reels ,' hosts Chris Farrell, Matt Gastar, and Ron Newman delve into 'The Penguin' Episode 7, titled 'Top Hat.' The hosts discuss plot developments, character arcs, and thematic elements, focusing on Sophia's discovery of Oz's family's whereabouts, and a major flashback revealing a darker side of Penguin's past. They analyze scenes, debate characters' motivations, and share their thoughts on the show's depiction of family dynamics and betrayal. 
 
00:14 Episode 7 of The Penguin: Top Hat
01:30 Flashback and Penguin's Backstory
09:00 Sophia's Deception and Family Dynamics
12:32 Moroni's Death and Penguin's Struggle
14:17 Heart Attack Aftermath
15:14 Episode Reflections
17:54 Mom's Interrogation
19:45 Speculations and Predictions
21:36 Final Thoughts and Plugs