Reels of Justice

The court hopefully chooses wisely this week when our idol The Vern (“Cinema Recall” Podcast) throws himself at us in defense of the 2023 adventure film “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.” *** Prosecutor: Big Ben Haslar. Defense: The Vern. Judge: The Honorable Ryan Luis Rodriguez. Jurors: Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Dylan J. Schlender, Maynard Bangs. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Original Theme: WT Golden.

This week, the court takes another stab at Funny Tom Hanks when girl-next-door Divinity Rose (“She Dreams Content”) sticks up for the 1989 horror comedy “The ‘Burbs.” *** Prosecutor: Dylan J. Schlender. Defense: Divinity Rose. Judge: The Honorable Big Ben Haslar. Jurors: Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Maynard Bangs, Big Ben Haslar. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Original Theme: WT Golden.

This week, the court finds out if the house really always wins when Brian Levine (“Pipes Magazine Radio Show”) bets it all on black as he defends the 1997 comedy “Vegas Vacation.” *** Prosecutor: Dylan J. Schlender. Defense: Brian Levine. Judge: The Honorable Maynard Bangs. Jurors: Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Big Ben Haslar, Maynard Bangs. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Original Theme: WT Golden.

This week, the court returns the gift of fire (we kept the receipt) while Ethan Ireland (“The Cinemania Society Podcast”) gets chained to a rock for eternity, defending the 2012 sci-fi horror film “Prometheus.” *** Prosecutor: Big Ben Haslar. Defense: Ethan Ireland. Judge: The Honorable Maynard Bangs. Jurors: Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Maynard Bangs, Dylan J. Schlender. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Original Theme: WT Golden.

It’s low-key our 200th episode (which we’re totally too cool to make a big deal of), and Jeremy Black is back as we witness the greatest monster mash in history (hear us out): 2023’s “Napoleon” vs. 2005’s “King Kong.” *** “Napoleon”: Dylan J. Schlender. “King Kong (2005)”: Jeremy Black. Judge: The Honorable Maynard Bangs. Jurors: Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Maynard Bangs, Big Ben Haslar. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Original Theme: WT Golden.

Not even light can escape the court’s justice when Isaac Arthur (“Science and Futurism”) travels forward in time (quite slowly) to defend the 1997 space horror film “Event Horizon.” *** Prosecutor: Big Ben Haslar. Defense: Isaac Arthur. Judge: The Honorable Dylan J. Schlender. Jurors: Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Maynard Bangs, Dylan J. Schlender. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Original Theme: WT Golden.

ALL THE STARS ARE OUT when “Mad” Brad Gibson (“Film Threat”) helps 2023’s “Maestro” defend its Oscar nomination for Best Picture against 2023’s “Ferrari.” Plus, the very prestigious 31st Annual Reelsie Awards are presented. *** “Ferrari”: Ryan Luis Rodriguez. “Maestro”: Brad Gibson. Judge: The Honorable Dylan J. Schlender. Jurors: Dylan J. Schlender, Maynard Bangs, Big Ben Haslar. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Original Theme and Reelsie Theme: WT Golden.

The court’s “justy-sense” is tingling as Carl Byrd and Victor Omoayo (“Codex Prime” Podcast) join us to reference that double Spider-Man meme when 2018’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” faces 2023’s “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” *** “Into the Spider-Verse”: Ryan Luis Rodriguez. “Across the Spider-Verse": Carl Byrd and Victor Omoayo. Judge: The Honorable Maynard Bangs. Jurors: Dylan J. Schlender, Maynard Bangs, Big Ben Haslar. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Original Theme: WT Golden.

Holy crap! The court tries out a new exorcize regimen this week when Billy Ray Brewton (“The Incinerator Podcast”) cross-examines Russell Crowe’s accent in the 2023 horror film “The Pope’s Exorcist.” *** Prosecutor: Big Ben Haslar. Defense: Billy Ray Brewton. Judge: The Honorable Ryan Luis Rodriguez. Jurors: Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Maynard Bangs, Dylan J. Schlender. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Original Theme: WT Golden.

The barbarians have finally breached the gates when author Jeremy Bates (“World’s Scariest Places” series) is discovered to be living secretly beneath the courthouse defending the 2023 horror film “Barbarian.” *** Prosecutor: Maynard Bangs. Defense: Jeremy Bates. Judge: The Honorable Dylan J. Schlender. Jurors: Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Big Ben Haslar, Dylan J. Schlender. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Original Theme: WT Golden.

The court-sa is in big doo doo dis time when… somehow, Case Aiken (“Another Pass” Podcast) comes back to duel for the fates of “Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace” and “Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker.” *** “The Phantom Menace”: Case Aiken. “The Rise of Skywalker”: Big Ben Haslar. Judge: The Honorable Dylan J. Schlender. Jurors: Dylan J. Schlender, Maynard Bangs, Ryan Luis Rodriguez. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Original Theme: WT Golden.

This week, James Bond must face his greatest foe—himself, when Jeremy Black helps us determine the best of the worst of the Daniel Craig Bond films: 2015’s “Spectre” or 2021’s “No Time to Die.” *** “Spectre”: Jeremy Black. “No Time to Die”: Maynard Bangs. Judge: The Honorable Big Ben Haslar. Jurors: Dylan J. Schlender, Big Ben Haslar, Ryan Luis Rodriguez. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Original Theme: WT Golden.

The court has been saving up its half-pennies for the day Andy Slack (“The Cinemania Society Podcast”) doesn’t cut us any in defense of the 1983 superhero film “Superman III.” *** Prosecutor: Dylan J. Schlender. Defense: Andy Slack. Judge: The Honorable Maynard Bangs. Jurors: Maynard Bangs, Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Big Ben Haslar. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Original Theme: WT Golden.

This week, the court is forced to thaw out Simon Majumdar (“Food Network’s Tournament of Champions”/”Eat My Globe” Podcast) from cryostasis in order to defend the 1993 sci-fi action film “Demolition Man.” *** Prosecutor: Big Ben Haslar. Defense: Simon Majumdar. Judge: The Honorable Maynard Bangs. Jurors: Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Maynard Bangs, Dylan J. Schlender. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Original Theme: WT Golden.

It’s our hottest episode ever when we put Guinness World Record holder “Fire Guy” Brant Matthews in the hot seat and see if he’s met his match (that’s another fire joke, by the way) defending 1998’s “Firestorm.” *** Prosecutor: Maynard Bangs. Defense: “Fire Guy” Brant Matthews. Judge: The Honorable Dylan J. Schlender. Jurors: Dylan J. Schlender, Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Big Ben Haslar. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Original Theme: WT Golden.

The court has only been working out half its body (we’re not saying which half) this week when Andrea Palladino (“The Cinemania Society Podcast”) tells us a bedtime story in defense of the 2006 M. Night Shyamalan film “Lady in the Water.” *** Prosecutor: Dylan J. Schlender. Defense: Andrea Palladino. Judge: The Honorable Ryan Luis Rodriguez. Jurors: Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Maynard Bangs, Big Ben Haslar. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Original Theme: WT Golden.

This week, the court unlocks a door with a key of imagination. Beyond that door is… uh, just another door. BUT! Beyond THAT door is David Lyons (“The Yacht or Nyacht Podcast”) debating the shadow and substance of the segments in 1983’s “Twilight Zone: The Movie.” *** “Time Out”: David Lyons. “Kick the Can”: Dylan J. Schlender. “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet”: Big Ben Haslar. Judge: The Honorable Maynard Bangs. Jurors: Isabel Teran, Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Maynard Bangs. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Original Theme: WT Golden.

It’s a non-stop stop-motion Rankin Bass Rumble this week when Kaleigh DuLac joins us to settle the best misfit Christmas special: 1964’s “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” or 1970’s “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town.” *** “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”: Kaleigh DuLac. “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town”: Dylan J. Schlender. Judge: The Honorable Big Ben Haslar. Jurors: Maynard Bangs, Big Ben Haslar, Ryan Luis Rodriguez. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Original Theme: WT Golden.

Episodes mostly come out at night… mostly, when J.D. Ryznar (“The Yacht or Nyacht Podcast”) bursts out of Schlendzo’s chest cavity to exterminate the 1997 sci-fi horror film “Alien: Resurrection.” *** Prosecutor: J.D. Ryznar. Defense: Ryan Luis Rodriguez. Judge: The Honorable Big Ben Haslar. Jurors: Dylan J. Schlender, Maynard Bangs, Big Ben Haslar. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Original Theme: WT Golden.

We put a smile on that face when Dr. James Charney (“Madness at the Movies”) dances with the devil in the pale moonlight and prosecutes the supervillainous 2019 thriller “Joker.” *** Prosecutor: Dr. James Charney. Defense: Maynard Bangs. Judge: The Honorable Dylan J. Schlender. Jurors: Ryan Luis Rodriguez, Big Ben Haslar, Dylan J. Schlender. *** Advisory: Silvana Carranza. Prologue: Kirk R. Thatcher. Original Theme: WT Golden.