The Jacked Up Review Show Podcast

To conclude the Stallone fanfare, we dive into all of his remaining crime flicks where we encounter all kinds of atrocious, fascinating & underseen material to recap:

 

*Which of these entries easily rivals the terribleness of Rhinestone? 

*Why can't Sly be bothered to actually try in even the most unwatchable direct to video film?

 

*Which of his later entries are easily him doing rehashes of his stand-alone '80s films? 

*Should Sly had tried doing more buddy movies? 

*All that and why you should seek out the extended cut of Cop Land!

 

 

 

 

FILMS REVIEWED:

Rebel/No Place to Hide (A Man Called Rainbo... Film Dub), 

Lords of Flatbush, 

Roger Corman's Capone, 

F.I.S.T., 

Nighthawks, 

Lock Up, 

Tango & Cash, 

Oscar, 

Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot!, 

The Specialist, 

Cop Land, 

Get Carter (2000 remake), 

Avenging Angelo, 

Shade, 

Bullet to the Head, 

Reach Me, 

Backtrace, 

Samartian, 

Armor (2024)

& 

Alarum (2025).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTRO CLIP:

Sylvester Stallone 'Tulsa King' always wanted to play a gangster role! (Inspire Me Podcast, 2024)

 

 

SONGS USED:

"Best Of What I Got" by Bad English (Tango & Cash End Credits)

In this brief overview, we reflect upon the junky yet divisive '90s Stallone adaptation of the comic book JUDGE DREDD as well as its critcally favorable yet financial flop rehash from 2012:

 

*Why didn't Dredd do more crossovers like the Batman comic book?

 

*Is it true that the he UK censorship cut of the '95 film has different scenes than the U.S. release?

 

*Why do many think that Dredd was a homage to The Raid when both were just Die Hard-inspired films filming around the same time?

 

*And why wasn't the '95 Dredd film just a Demolition Man sequel?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLIP INTRO:

Joblo 2012 Interview with the Cast of Dredd

 

 

SONG TRANSITION USED:

"Big Car Theft" by AudioNautix

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

 

 

 

GUESTS:

Oreo Brewer, Cliff Stevenson, Tim Caldwell & Josh Hansen

We continue the various Stallone tributes by outlining 4 of his non-Rocky sports themed dramas:

 

 

Where do Paradise Alley, Victory, Over the Top & Grudge Match all rank for most of his fanbase? 

 

Which of them does he make a pre-Rhinestone mistake of singing the theme song in?

 

Which one honestly needs more love due to the comedic gags present in it?

 

Which entry is still often ranked as Sly's "so bad it's good" masterpiece?

 

And why were these so underseen despite being released during his hay day?

 

Get your workout music going & come listen in on our verdicts!

 

 

MUSIC USED:

"Too Close To Paradise" by Bill Conti & Sylvester Stallone (Paradise Alley OST)

"Meet Me Half Way" by Kenny Loggins (Over the Top OST)

 

 

 

GUESTS:

Oreo Brewer, Cliff Stevenson & Josh Hansen

 

 

 

CLIP INTRO:

The Rich Eisen Show interview with Stallone (Nov 19, 2022)

I close out the Expendables fanfare with an overview on the Dynamite released prequel comic and the "GO TO HELL" crowdfunded sequel by Splatto Comics:

 

What aspect comes up short in the prequel comic book?

 

What awesome personas and shenanigans happen in this supernatural sequel comic?

 

What creative avenues make one wish there was this much imagination in the actual movie sequels?

 

All that and notes on the pros & cons on comic book tie-ins to cinema!

 

 

SONG INTRO:

"Diamond Eyes" (Trailer Version) by Shinedown.

For our second Stallone themed week of September, we dive into some of his other crazy outings:

 

We had so much fun summing up Sly's Rocky and Rambo franchise villains so it was time to slip in another minisode on the big bads of his Expendables homage series.

 

Would Mel Gibson be more intimidating than Van Damme in a random celebrity encounter?

 

Why didn't "Stone Cold" Steve Austin continue doing more Action films after stealing every scene in the first Expendables?

 

Was Eric Roberts amped up or was this just his usual intense acting perfectly captured on film?

 

And which henchman caused the team of mercs the most trouble?

 

 

Enjoy, suit up & get buff!

 

 

Guests:

Jonathan Orr, The Western Wonder (Pic-a-Flic Podcast), Mark Oguschewitz & Gil Palmer

 

 

We conclude with a fun multi-chat on the various Rocky and Rambo saga villains (as well as other Stallone film antagonists) that stand out.

 

The '80s and '90s had no shortage of fun OTT baddies to root for their inevitable comeuppance but why is it so much fun to rage over these particular ones?

 

Which ones are surprisingly quotable?

 

And which ones are surprisingly unpredictable in their nefarious schemes?

 

Come, get evil and enjoy this listen!

 

 

 

 

 

CLIP INTRO:

Graham Bensinger chat w/ Dolph Lundgren (May 10, 2023)

 

 

SONG TRANSITIONS:

"Bodies" by Drowning Pool

"Tuff Enuff" by The Fabulous Thunderbirds

 

Another minisode provides a quick overview on the Rocky/Creed and Rambo toys and videogames in another amusing yet headscratching sit-down:

 

*Why were the Contra videogames better than actual Rambo games?

*Why were the action figures particular perculiar while the Rocky toys were surprisingly neat?

*And why is it to hard to translate anything beloved to another medium?



GUESTS:

Oreo Brewer, Cliff Stevenson & Josh Hansen

 

 

SONGS USED:
"Level Up" by Kevin MacLeod.

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

 

"Game Music Series 003 SPlatoon Style 1" by Sascha Ende (from-filmmusic-io).

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

 

 

INTRO CLIP:

Stallone 2005 Howard Stern Interview

In this minisode, we dive into the infamous Rambo Cartoons and Comics Books:

 

*Was it more infamous than both the Robocop and Toxic Avenger cartoons?

 

*Why did the Rambo toys do even worse than the cartoons and games themselves?

 

*Why haven't the recent Conan the Barbarian comic book writers & illustrators helped out these lackluster Rambo cartoons?

 

*Will we ever get a good Rambo game?

 

*And despite these two new comic books having some promise, why did they choose to distribute thru ComicsGate?

 

All that and more headscratchingly amusingly bad findings!

 

 

 

GUESTS:

Oreo Brewer,

Cliff Stevenson

&

Josh Hansen

 

 

 

SONGS USED:

"The Map" and "Preparations" by Jerry Goldsmith (First Blood II OST)

 

For the second entry this week, I dive into a double feature on some pre-Rambo esque films that are both rather interesting watches:

The 1955 classic Neo-Western Bad Day at Black Rock and the 1980 rather goofy Ruckus starring Dirk Benedict (The A-Team, original BSG).

 

We then conclude the minisode with a brief overview on the Rambo Novel itself, how the title character is actually portrayed as an unstable villain in that version & how it was so easy back then for many to portray a violent Green Beret returning to normal life before the actual film came out!

 

CLIP USED:

Sylvester Stallone- 2005 Howard Stern Interview

 

SONG USED:

"It's a Long Road" by Dan Hill (First Blood OST)

We start off the Stallone Themed September Week by listing off our favorite Rambo movie moments!

 

TALKING POINTS:

 

*Did our title hero REALLY fall down thru 12 different branches while falling off that cliff?

 

*How many famous actors play the crooked deputies in the first film?

 

*Is Col. Trautman's deprogramming of Rambo in the first movie one of the best dramatic movie moments ever?

 

*Is Rambo dying in his chair in Part 5 a callback to Michael Carleone dying in a chair in Godfather Part 3?

 

*What's our favorite Hot Shots Part Deux skit?

 

*Why was Rambo okay helping out the Taliban in Part 3?

 

*What would've happened if Rambo just remained in the reform prison doing just construction work until his time was up?

 

*And more fun yet dedicated '80s fans summing up the tropes, beloved mayhem & themes that this saga yielded for moviegoers back then!

 

 

I offer a bonus interview with the cast and crew of the upcoming indie mystery film DON'T ANSWER:

 

When you come up with a Hitchock inspired thriller, how do you balance out the thrills and chills?

 

This ambitious suspense film was shot in a quick yet organized 8 days with all kinds of talents pitching in to assist. I navigate from top to bottom examining its inception and sold out theater run!

 

GUESTS FEATURED:

Executive Producer Juanita Willis-Rodgers,

Director Reg Henderson,

Actors Montreal Diggs & Luke Jackson,

MUA Artisha Mukes

& Script Supervisor Jacque Miller.

 

 

Thanks to producer Rodgers for setting this interview up and giving a voice to the indie film world!

 

 

To finish up the SCARFACE fanfare, i dedicate 42 minutes to EVERYTHING else related to the topic.

 

I end up reviewing the:

*The Armitage Trail novel

 

*The 1932 Howard Hawks film version

 

*The 2007 IDW Comic Book Prequel: Devil in Disguise

 

*The 2006 IDW Comic Book Sequel: Scarred for Life

 

*Two key fan-films that made waves on the internet

 

*And remember- everyone has a choice in life: live in Hell or die for your sins!

 

 

 

 

SONGS USED:

Push It to the Limit by Paul Engemann

 

INTRO CLIP:

Biography Channel Inside Story: Scarface (2013 documentary)

 

AUDIO CLIPS:

Scarface (1932 film version) trailer,

Scarface: The World is Yours Videogame Trailer

It's time for another filmmaker tribute complete with a themed yet unofficial trilogy: Enter Oliver Stone's Drug Cartel Themed Trilogy!

 

Is Midnight Express still one of Oliver's most personal dramas to date?

 

Why does Scarface still continually divide audiences?

 

What exact drugs are portrayed in these films again to illustrate why they're irresistable in the character's eyes?

 

Was Savages doomed due to the infamous book it was based on?

 

Has anyone seen the High School Play version of Scarface that made waves online?

 

Which of these has a narration that simply does not work?

 

We also talk everything from the constant revisiting of the films thru time, the Italian actors playing Cubans & dispute if the Shakespeare elements even work in any of the three films.

 

 

MUSIC USED:

"Push It to the Limit" by Paul Engemann.

 

INTRO CLIP:

Oliver Stone on directing- BAFTA Guru video interview 

 

 

GUESTS:

Oreo Brewer, Jaylan Salah, Johnny Potoky, Robert Cohen, Rich Cyr, James Bruno, Mike Ensing, Gil Palmer, The Bonsai Movie Crew

We dive into the Godfather/Scarface adjacent film CARLITO'S WAY and its prequel follow-up:

 

How did they find limited audiences despite being faithful to the author's books and utilizing all kinds of talent?

 

Which of his many collaborations with Al Pacino does producer Martin Bregman consider his best outing?

 

I also play some badass clips from both films that merit some other deep talking points!

 

 

SONG USED:

"Push It to the Limit" by Paul Engemann

 

OTHER CLIPS USED:

Yoda and Al Pacino on the Dark Side stand-up bit by Frank Caliendo,

BUILD interview 2018 with John Leguizamo

 

 

GUESTS:

Patrick Darms, Ethan Weeks, JJ & Kristin Battelstella (Therefore Horror on Twitter)

For our final GODFATHER themed week, we dive into the 6 different versions of the movie trilogy. 

 

The special editions/director's cut versions of the saga include:

 

*The NBC extended mini-series of the first two films

*The VHS Trilogy Edit

*The Uncut Trilogy Cable TV cut broadcast on HBO

 

*The 3 films in their original form

*Part 3's CODA recut

 

*The Edited Trilogy TV Cut

 

 

 

TALKING POINTS:

*Which deleted scenes were reinstated into the TV mini-series and VHS trilogy edits?

 

*Which versions make for far-more rewarding viewing and which ones are even in chronologic order?

 

*And which ones were rightfully eliminated altogether due to their technical mishaps and tone shifts?

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLIP INTROS USED:

AFI's 10 Top 10 (2008)- Sidney Lumet On THE GODFATHER,

Francis Ford Coppola interview clip from Happy Sad Confused with Josh Horowitz (September 2024)

 

 

 

In this Bonus Chat, I welcome back returning-guest Victoria Urso as she gets to detail more on her music videography and photography based career while sharing the usual inspiring advice, spiritual motivation and positive reinforcement that any kind of entertainer, career professional or mentor will find mentally rewarding to listen to.

 

If you want some career pointers, some emotionally healing bulletpoints and other ways in which we pick each other's brain on how to brainstorm creating all kinds of art, then this is the wonderful chat for you to hear!

 

Plus, you get to hear about her work with other music artists like Mike Mennard and Marvel Years band as well as more talk on the tri-state business traveling method.

 

FOLLOW HER ON:

https://victoriaurso.myportfolio.com/

Oreo Brewer & Cam Sully found it only appropriate to talk about another controversial, award-winning film and its Starz TV show spin-off during Godfather Week: Crash!

 

TALKING POINTS:

*Was thie the first acclaimed movie to have mixed reviews from local critics and audiences?

 

*How does the Starz TV show truly make use of its multi-character scenarios?

 

*Can anyone actually state why they think the film is racist or is it just due to the jealousy of wanting to not win Best Picture over Brokeback Mountain?

 

*Can we like certain movies without being called "pretentious?" Can we like them without them even needing to win Best Picture?

 

*How does this handle multiple storylines, social commentary & character tension like other East LA-set films such as American History X & Falling Down?

 

*What are the technical mertis, complex characters and crime thriller aspects that make it almost a quasi-Godfather piece?

 

*We also celebrate the many actors who emerged from this film (as well as how the creator was both rather talented yet also a terrible person who got rightfully cancelled)!

 

 

 

 

SONG INTRO:

"Afloat Pad" by Apple Free To Use Music

The second True Crime Biopics I cover are on the other notorious Italian gangster organization: The Bonanno Crime Family!

 

Which of these are probably best known outside of DONNIE BRASCO?

 

Do any of these provide entertaining details or are they largely dramatized over actual facts?

 

How do they portray the blood oaths and dangerous lifestyles versus the law enforcement and turf war stand-offs?

 

 

FILMS REVIEWED:

Mobsters (1991),

Love Honor & Obey,

Donnie Brasco

& Bonanno: A Godfather's Story

 

 

 

 

SONG USED:

"Afloat Synth Lead" by Apple Free2Use Music

It's time that we dive into some True Crime Biopics for the real-life Italian Mob:

For the third entry being released this week, I get to cover the various John Gotti and Gambino Family portrayals in cinema!

 

Which actor probably gave it their all when researching Gotti's mannerisms and persona?

 

Were any of these films objectively well-made or were they just cashing in on the news media craze on one of America's most notorious crimelords?

 

And which film ends up being the biggest headscratcher by even dramatized biopic standards?

 

FILMS REVIEWED:

Getting Gotti,

Gotti (1996),

Witness to the Mob,

Boss of Bosses

& Gotti (2018)

 

SONG INTRO:

"Afloat Synth Arp" by Apple Free-to-Used Music

Another Mario Puzo mini-series adaptation gets a spotlight: THE LAST DON PARTS I AND II.

 

How do the filmmakers handle their own concept while doing plot and style nods to Puzo's earlier GODFATHER material?

 

Where does this popular CBS network hit rate in terms of his other adaptations?

 

What material does the sequel mini-series go awry on?

 

Plus, some well-acted clips from the show are played!

 

 

 

SONG USED:

"Tempting Secrets" by Kevin MacLeod.

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/