The trailers for Disney Plus’s upcoming thriller “Andor” made one thing immediately clear: this is not your son’s Star Wars. The series creator has been unapologetic about Andor’s complexity and the ambitious scope of its storytelling. So today we want to take a look at the adults-only buzz surrounding the Andor premier, and question whether or not Star Wars has always contained mature elements and sophisticated themes.
Also on this episode: a requiem for—and a reckoning with—James Bond. It’s been almost a year since No Time to Die rocked the Bond fandom. Have fans fully recovered? Are we ready to let the past die and move on to the future? Or did our interest in the franchise die a little when those bombs hit?
The wait is over. After years of wanting, wishing, and hoping for the return of Obi-Wan Kenobi—last week, Disney Plus gave fans the series that they’ve been looking for. Or did they?
On this episode of Mad Unreal we explore the first two parts of the six-part Kenobi series and give Mad Thoughts on everything from a Jawa’s next level shadiness to a Jedi’s realization that his greatest failure is not only haunting him—it’s hunting him as well. But first, we’re going to spend a little time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and ask an important question. With the recent news that Marvel Studios is developing a new Daredevil streaming series, we wonder: Will the MCU ever produce a truly “grounded” feature film?
Moon Knight hits Disney Plus just after Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist add a hard “R” to the streaming service’s MCU…
Obi-Wan Kenobi is—as Axel Foley would say—deep, deep, DEEP uncover as we enter the final stretch in the lead-up to the most anticipated Star Wars moment in decades…
Mad Unreal’s own Arturius Maximus is primed for his next fateful battle with the enemy he can’t seem to escape: the dreaded, and oh so popular, MULTI-VERSE…
And last but not least: what could be the most idiosyncratic mainstream comic book film in the modern era has just become available on HBO Max. So, in honor of the fact that many of you will be seeing The Batman for the first time, we’re taking this opportunity to break out our lists of the Top 5 Batman Movies of All Time.
In this world, only three things are certain: death, taxes, and… another Batman movie.
Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” has finally arrived in theaters, and with it comes a bevy of expectations and curiosity about the film’s potential to launch yet another lucrative franchise. But the question is: do we need one? In a post Christopher Nolan Bat-verse, how does this new incarnation of the Dark Knight and his cast of iconic criminals, corrupt cops, and amoral allies measure up? How will it feel for millions of fans to experience a new cinematic interpretation of a city famous for its ability to simultaneously attract and repulse us? And most importantly, does the movie have anything compelling to say about Bruce Wayne and the Batman: a character whose story we know so well, yet can’t seem to get enough of?
No Time to Die dropped on Friday—and we saw it. So get ready for an extended bonus episode of '007 And Counting', where we give our initial reactions, raw thoughts, likes, dislikes, questions, and answers about a movie we’ve been waiting nearly two years to see. We’re "live" both immediately before seeing NTTD and immediately after. So, whether you’re a causal James Bond fan or a die hard, this is an episode of Mad Unreal you don’t want to miss.
We’ve spent the past five weeks having a fantastic time diving into the oeuvre of James Bond, following him from the streets of Harlem all the way to the snowy slopes of Switzerland. And it’s all led to this: a close look at the film many regard as the best in the Bond canon. Join us as we conclude Mad Unreal’s special ‘007 And Counting’ countdown by exploring the Cold War intrigue of 1963’s From Russia with Love. And that’s not all! After enjoying this special ep, come back next week for an extra special episode featuring our complete breakdown of the 25th James Bond film: No Time to Die.
The Mad Unreal countdown to No Time to Die is in its final two weeks! This week on ‘007 And Counting’ we’re taking a close look at Pierce Brosnan’s penultimate turn as James Bond in a film named after the Bond family motto: 1999’s The World Is Not Enough. In a movie that deftly highlights some of Brosnan’s most notable contributions to the Bond persona, TWINE also gives us one of the series’s most intriguing and under-appreciated villains, along with what may be Bond’s most thrilling pre-titles sequence yet.
No Time To Die is inching ever closer, which means we’re nearing the end of Mad Unreal’s countdown to the 25th James Bond film. What better way to keep things interesting than to take a look at what could be the most unique Bond film of them all: 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service? In George Lazenby’s one and only outing as 007, we’re introduced to a similar yet drastically different Bond—one who loves just as hard as he lives. Join us as we explore a movie that stands proudly apart from the rest of the cannon and ignites yet another fascinating Mad Unreal discussion.
In 1987, a new James Bond film was poised to introduce an actor who appeared to be the archetype of the Bond character; a man who fit the description millions of fans already had in mind. But before The Living Daylights could shoot its first scene, fate intervened—and Pierce Brosnan was out. Enter Timothy Dalton. Would Dalton’s interpretation of the legendary spy erase the public’s appetite for Brosnan? Could the film keep pace with the success rate of the previous Roger Moore movies? Join Mad Unreal as we continue our countdown to No Time To Die by debating the finer points of one of the greatest Bond films ever.
No Time To Die has a brand new trailer—which means the 25th James Bond film is still on track to drop in October—which of course means our ‘007 And Counting’ countdown has a brand new ep! The Bond franchise’s fourth film, Thunderball, followed the mega-success of the seminal Goldfinger and featured the return of Spectre. Join Arthur and Isaac as they discuss the state of the franchise when Thunderball was conceived, Bond’s performance in this underwater thriller, and the virtues of the Bond Women versus the boldness of the Bond Villains.
With the often rescheduled No Time to Die now set to open in just over a month, Mad Unreal is bringing back our special “007 And Counting” James Bond series. Last year, we discussed Daniel Craig’s epic tenure as the world’s most famous spy, while also examining the complications of being a Black Bond fan. This year, we’re diving into six random films and breaking them down as only we can. First up? Roger Moore’s Live and Let Die, a movie that brings Black culture into the Bond series like never before. But did they get it right? Join us for a brand new episode of our countdown to the 25th James Bond film.
Take 6 “black sheep” clones and throw them into a 16-episode story arc where the action of choice is the underlying theme, and you get season 1 of Star Wars: The Bad Batch. On this special, extended episode of Mad Unreal, we explore the choices that have formed the crux of the series and combined to create a powerful narrative. What happens when the choices we make are indelibly tied to the choices that have been made for us? And how do you handle the fallout from both? It’s time to dive into the debut season of Clone Force 99.
To celebrate the debut of the MCU’s first animated series, we’re kidnapping Jeffrey Wright’s The Watcher and transporting him to two very different universes. First, we journey to the Bond-verse and ask: WHAT IF Vesper Lived? Next, we dip over to the galaxy far, far away and wonder: WHAT IF Ahsoka Never Left the Jedi? Join us as the multiverse takes a turn even The Watcher didn’t see coming…
Summer is winding down and autumn is just around the corner, so there’s no better time for Mad Unreal’s exclusive Fall Preview! But first, we take a quick look back at what made this summer unique, while also discussing a few upcoming highlights. From there, we dive into Unreal film and television content coming this fall from Marvel, DC, Warner Brothers, Star Wars, James Bond and more!
In light of the recent passing of Richard Donner—the director behind 1978’s Superman: The Movie, which gave us a tangible, groundbreaking comic book film—Mad Unreal takes a moment to examine the believable worlds fictional characters exist in. From DC, to Marvel, Bond, Blade, Daredevil, Mission Impossible, Batman, and many more: Why is it so important to make the “Unreal” seem real?
Mad Unreal focuses on the films and characters we find beautifully unreal, from Marvel to Star Wars, James Bond, BIPOC heroes, super women, and dope villains. Hosted by Arthur Turnbull and Isaac Perry, you can find the show on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify.
Black Widow—the first MCU theatrical release in two long years—has finally dropped. The film has been well-received, but what does it tell us about the future of Marvel’s cinematic universe? Will we see more Phase 1 Iron Man-style world building, or will interconnected storylines and multiverse plans thrust new characters into pre-established arcs? Join hosts Arthur Turnbull and Isaac Perry as they give Mad Thoughts on Natasha Romanoff’s solo outing, while also asking: is Black Widow the swan song for Marvel’s meticulous character development?
Mad Unreal focuses on the films and characters we find beautifully unreal, from Marvel to Star Wars, James Bond, BIPOC heroes, super women, and dope villains. Hosted by Arthur Turnbull and Isaac Perry, you can find the show on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify.
It’s time. In previous eps of Mad Unreal, co-host Arthur Turnbull has expressed his distaste for a common Unreal trope, The Multiverse. Now, in Round 1 of what’s sure to be an epic battle, Arthur goes up against this time-honored concept and explains why multiple realities just ain’t his thing. PLUS: we give Mad Thoughts on the mid-season status of Star Wars: The Bad Batch and the series premiere of Loki!
Mad Unreal focuses on the films and characters we find beautifully unreal, from Marvel to Star Wars, James Bond, BIPOC heroes, super women, and dope villains. Hosted by Arthur Turnbull and Isaac Perry, you can find the show on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify.
Amazon's recent purchase of MGM has made the tech giant a partner with Eon—the studio behind the James Bond film franchise, and subsequently sent shockwaves through the fan community. As speculation about a potential “Bond Universe” continues to grow, Mad Unreal asks: does all of this attention (and worry) prove that Bond is the most unique and important franchise in cinema? Join us as we dive into 007’s past and potential future.
Mad Unreal focuses on the films and characters we find beautifully unreal, from Marvel to Star Wars, James Bond, BIPOC heroes, super women, and dope villains. Hosted by Arthur Turnbull and Isaac Perry, you can find the show on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify.
According to the African samurai Yasuke, the past informs our future and shows us who we are. So what does this nascent Netflix anime tell us about the Black past and our future identity? Listen as Arthur Turnbull and Isaac Perry discuss the first few episodes of a series that uses fantasy to comment on the power and pitfalls of culture.
Mad Unreal focuses on the films and characters we find beautifully unreal, from Marvel to Star Wars, James Bond, BIPOC heroes, super women, and dope villains. Hosted by Arthur Turnbull and Isaac Perry, you can find the show on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify.
Order 66 is in full effect. The Jedi have fallen. The Emperor has taken over the galaxy. And somewhere out there, our only hope lies in the hands of five “defective” clones whose fierce independence is about to face the ultimate test. Join us as we dive into Star Wars: The Bad Batch and examine the new show’s dominant theme of conformity versus individuality.
Mad Unreal focuses on the films and characters we find beautifully unreal, from Marvel to Star Wars, James Bond, BIPOC heroes, super women, and dope villains. Hosted by Arthur Turnbull and Isaac Perry, you can find the show on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify.