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[00:01:15] I haven't taken a straw poll or anything, but that's the word I'm getting. I am Corinne and I am here hosting a special episode for Movie Madness 2024. I know I cannot believe that this is our fifth time doing Movie Madness. Just how...how does this happen?
[00:01:35] It started in 2020 after everything got shut down with COVID-19 and you know, March Madness and everything got cancelled. So I was like, I'm home alone. I need something to do. And so I just picked 16 movies off my shelf and just put them on the internet
[00:01:51] and said, here everybody pick your favorites. And it was a lot of fun, gave me something to do to help me keep saying during all the shutdowns. And then we kept it going. We did like Disney Pixar, we did superheroes, we did
[00:02:07] or like DC versus Marvel. And then last year we did sports movies, which was a lot of fun. So this year we've got a new theme. We've got new brackets, new matchups. And I'm really excited to share them with you.
[00:02:22] And joining me today is my fellow Reel Nerd, Ryan. How's it going, Ryan? Good. Actually, you should back up. I am the host of Reel Nerds. Come in here and hijack my podcast. Unbelievable.
[00:02:35] This is my thing. I mean, you host the regular show. This is just like a spin-off. This is a Corinne spin-off episode. Yeah, you can't host a Reel Nerd. Unbelievable. I'm just hosting this episode. Unbelievable. Can't win with you, can I? Probably not.
[00:02:54] Well, we're going to have to settle our disputes maybe through some tournament brackets. How about that, Ryan? Sounds good. Find out whose movies come out on top because this year our theme for movie madness is the 2020s.
[00:03:09] I know it's crazy to think we are four and a quarter years into the 2020s decade already. And I'm like, wait a minute, four years, four brackets. So we're going to be picking our favorite movies from each of the last four years
[00:03:25] based on the Reel Nerds film explosion lists. And so I've picked one movie from each nerd for each of us. I guess this is just semantics because we know everyone's going to pick my movies. But I mean, let's go through the charade.
[00:03:42] I don't know, Ryan. We'll have to see. So initially I was thinking I would just pick our number one movies from each year. But I really wanted to maximize how fun the matchups could be. And so I expanded it to be one movie from each of us.
[00:03:58] I tried to pick movies that either they were number one, or we were the only nerd who had this movie on our list, or we were the nerd who had it the highest on our list.
[00:04:08] So it ended up working out. I think we got some fun matchups that way. What do you think, Ryan? Do you think we got a good theme for this year's movie madness tournament?
[00:04:18] I mean, it's a good theme, but I also can't help but think that you rig the brackets like you have in years past. Well, I mean, you'll just have to garner all the online. I mean, you were talking about a
[00:04:31] couple of years ago how you got all of your coworkers to like spam vote for your stuff. And then they turned on you in the last round and they voted for you. I have no idea what you're talking about. I am nothing but full of integrity.
[00:04:44] It's on the record, Ryan. You said it on one of the podcast episodes. Oh, no, that episode's been lost. Sure it has. So are you ready for the breakdown, Ryan? Yes. And I know these are some of these are going to be your movies.
[00:05:01] So you're going to have to be as objective as possible. Sure. All right. So kicking us off on Thursday, March 21st, we have a Pixar matchup in the 2020 bracket. We have my movie, Soul versus Brad's movie Onward. What do you think, Ryan? Soul versus Onward?
[00:05:25] Wow. Unfortunately, both of these kind of got the short end of the stick in the release schedule. Onward came out just before everything shut down from COVID. And Soul was put on Disney Plus. I think it just got a theater release in January, I think.
[00:05:47] It did. It had a one weekend theater release. I mean, it shouldn't have. It's a brilliant film. No, I think they just, I meant they re-released it this past January. It should have gotten a full like media blitz.
[00:06:03] So I'm going to take a personal preference in this one and also something that really cool happened to me recently. I went to Disneyland at the beginning of February and we stayed at the brand new Pixar place there that's on the resort.
[00:06:20] And one of the coolest things that happened there is so the whole hotel is beautiful. You walk in and it has the Pixar ball with a lamp on it. And then it has stylized
[00:06:34] kind of like ceiling hanging art from it. And they're all, I mean, you can recognize the characters, you know, it's woody and buzz and the hotel is beautiful. So the walls have concept art and but the coolest thing they had
[00:06:53] was underneath the stairwell or the, yeah, I guess that's what you call it. They had a piano and I said, oh, that's interesting. And then one day, Calin and I were just down in the lobby because they have
[00:07:12] gift shop that's called Store E. And we just were getting some like, you know, Disney treats, Mickey Mouse chocolates and things like that. And all of a sudden, Joe from Soul walks in sits down at the piano and he plays a 30 minute concert.
[00:07:34] And it was really cool. And the gentleman they had playing Joe was spot on. He even came in with the leather briefcase. He had like the blue turtleneck and all he was an incredible PNS.
[00:07:53] So it was a really cool experience. And I honestly think Soul is a better movie. So I'm going to go with Soul on this one. Right on. So then moving down to the second part of the 2020 bracket,
[00:08:05] on Friday, March 22nd, we have your Let Him Go versus Zax, The Invisible Man. Oh, well, I know it's my movie, but I'm guessing Zax is going to win because it's way more popular and it's not as depressing. Really? After 2020, I really didn't hear any more about it.
[00:08:27] After 2020, I really didn't hear anybody talking about The Invisible Man. Oh, well, I mean, I guess it's also depressing. It looks into how women are abused and domestic violence wise. Let Him Go is an awesome slow burn drama with Kevin Costner
[00:08:52] that people should see. So yeah, I think The Invisible Man is going to beat mine. I can't believe that's the one of my new picks because you wanted me to lose. It was your number one and it was Zax's number one.
[00:09:08] I don't know. I just felt like that was the best matchup that was possible. All right. Moving down to the 2021 bracket, on Saturday, March 23rd, we have my Dune versus your Spider-Man No Way Home.
[00:09:26] Oh, geez. Why'd you even say this one? I literally watched Spider-Man No Way Home last night because my kid has to watch it again. That movie is an all-time great. Dune is... The first Dune is
[00:09:41] a good movie, but it's not as good as Spider-Man, not even by a long shot. So Spider-Man all the way. I mean, I have Spider-Man No Way Home. That was my number one for the year as well.
[00:09:53] But I don't know. I just like Dune and I felt like this would be a fun matchup, especially since Dune is... or Dune Part 2 is in theaters right now. So I felt like it was
[00:10:02] a very timely match up there. You weren't going for the Zendaya versus Zendaya, huh? Oh, I didn't even think of that. I mean, she's such a great actress that I don't even think of
[00:10:11] those characters being played by the same person. Also, Charlie really isn't in Dune Part 1 that much. She isn't. So all right. Moving down to the second half of the 2021 bracket, on Sunday, March 24th, we will have Brad's The Suicide Squad versus Zach's Last Night in Soho.
[00:10:39] And I was trying to figure out which of Zach's 2021 movies to put up against the Suicide Squad. And I'm like, well, everybody always talks about Edgar Allen Wright or whatever the hell his name is. So I was like, well, I guess we'll go that one because
[00:10:54] I figured Belfast would be even worse somehow. It's Edgar Wright and he's an incredible filmmaker. Edgar Allen Poe, who gives a shit? I do. Edgar Wright is an incredible filmmaker. Edgar Allen Poe is a drunk butthead who died 150 years ago. True.
[00:11:17] But yeah, but I still think The Suicide Squad is way better film, way more fun. I think I'm going to go with The Suicide Squad on this one. Yeah. I mean, I don't know. I have not seen Last Night in Soho so I can't speak to that.
[00:11:32] I also contemplated putting Spider-Man Away Home up against The Suicide Squad, but I already had you and Brad going up against each other twice. And I thought, nah, we got to spread out the matchups here or otherwise you'll accuse me of cheating again. Yeah, like you always do.
[00:11:50] Like you always accuse me of. Rigged. So you're taking The Suicide Squad over Last Night in Soho? Yeah. And Last Night in Soho is a really good movie. Just I think The Suicide Squad is a better.
[00:12:03] Another director that people just won't shut up about all the film bros like, oh, James Gunn, he's so awesome. It's like, he's good. Okay. I'm just going to say he's good and leave it at that.
[00:12:15] So moving over to the 2022 bracket, this is where the fun really begins because I had a lot of fun putting these matchups together. I think 2022 and 2023 are definitely our most fun matchups. So I would not be surprised if one of these movies ends up winning the whole
[00:12:31] thing. So on Monday, March 25th, we have Brad's The Batman going up against your top gun Maverick. Like asking you to pick a favorite child, isn't it? No, I think Top Gun Maverick is the better movie. It's more fun. It's more of a crowd
[00:12:52] pleaser. I really like The Batman, but that is, you know, hey, you want to be depressed for almost three hours? You should watch The Batman. I will tell you, I've only seen it once in the theaters and I haven't rewatched it. Where is
[00:13:08] Top Gun Maverick? I think I've seen three or four times and I own it. I saw it on the screen. I know you're bidding next to me for The Batman. You were really squeamish during it.
[00:13:18] I was squeamish? I don't think I was sitting right next to you, was I? I mean, I was sitting down the way, right? You were. Every time something gross happened, you had a reaction.
[00:13:29] Okay, they cut off a dude's thumb. You expect me not to have a reaction to that? Yeah, be tougher. Oh my gosh. And they killed off the hottest dude in the movie in the first 10
[00:13:38] minutes. It's like, all right, I'm checked out after that. Did they kill them the first 10 minutes? Who are we talking about? The mayor who's played by the same guy who played Mr. Wentworth or Captain Wentworth in the Persuasion mini series? Sure.
[00:13:57] I can't think of his name right now with the actor's name, but he did really good. So, of course, no, no, not the hot guy. But anyway, so moving down on March 26, Tuesday, March 26, we have Zax everything everywhere all at once versus my glass onion. That sounded weird.
[00:14:19] I don't even like these. That's a tough one. I think glass onion has is a better written movie. But I love Kihei Kwan in everything everywhere all at once. And he's worth seeing for that alone. And Michelle, yeah, she's amazing in that.
[00:14:44] Oh, yeah. I mean, the whole film is obviously really great. I just rewatched his Oscar acceptance speech. I think two days ago is on my feed because it's the anniversary of him winning. And that one still gets me. I think it's a great acceptance speech and
[00:14:59] he rightfully deserved it. I don't know. That's a tough one. I can see that one going either way. Yeah. I mean, I like glass onion. I like everything everywhere all at once too for the reasons you mentioned. So yeah, I don't have a preference actually,
[00:15:16] because I like both those movies. I had both of them on my list. So all right, moving over to the 2023 bracket again, some pretty fun matchups here on let's see. No, we'll go this one on Wednesday, March 27. We have my Barbie versus Zach's Oppenheimer.
[00:15:39] Barbenheimer added again. I don't know. Also timely because of the Oscars. Yeah, that's interesting. These ones are always hard for me. I mean, if you're asking me to make a prediction, because one is such a crowd pleaser that everybody loves.
[00:15:59] And Oppenheimer is obviously an incredibly, what do you call that? Mom. prestigious award-winning film that is also a blockbuster. But I don't know if I would say it's crowd pleasing. It's so dense. I felt like I was reading a history paper or something.
[00:16:25] It is. It's brilliant though, but I'm actually going to go with Barbie winning this one because I think it's more of a crowd pleaser and I think more people will vote for Barbie. Better believe it. I'm going to be having all my friends voting for Barbie.
[00:16:41] I'm going to be using all my Twitter accounts. All right. So our last matchup of the first round at the bottom of the 2023 bracket on Thursday, March 28th. We have your Spider-Man across the Spider-Verse versus Brad's Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3.
[00:17:03] Well, I think Spider-Man's a better movie. So I'll pick Spider-Man. Yeah, you're not biased at all. No. We have two different Spider-Man movies on this bracket, Ryan. I like Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 very much. So it's actually in my top 150 films that I love of all time.
[00:17:24] And it was also on your 2023 film's explosion list. I think you and Brad both had it at number three. Correct. So I just think if I'm going based on how good the movie is, it would be Spider-Man.
[00:17:40] But you know, March Madness is known for upsets. But I don't see one happening in this one. Because you're going to make sure it doesn't. Is that right? Always. You're going to have all your co-workers log on. Everybody go vote for across the Spider-Verse.
[00:17:57] Yep. You can't make fun of me. You literally just said that you're going to have all your friends vote for Barbie. Yeah. It's okay when I do it. It's not okay when you do it, Ryan. That's how these things work. Gotcha. Fair enough.
[00:18:10] So that's again all of our movies are the first round. So then on March 29th, we will start the quarterfinals with 2020 on down to 2023 on April 1st, then April 2nd and then April 3rd. We'll have the semi-final matchups with our championship on April 4th.
[00:18:30] So over 16 movies, Ryan, which one do you think is going to take the crown in our fifth ever Movie Madness tournament? Spider-Man, No Way Home. Oh, if Spider-Man, No Way Home has to go up against Across the Spider-Verse, which one are you picking on that? No Way Home.
[00:18:51] Really? I think I go across the Spider-Verse on that one. No. No. Across the Spider-Verse is an incredible film. But what No Way Home was able to do is make it fan service, but also give Spider-Man an
[00:19:09] origin story. And it's emotionally more impactful. And yeah, I think it's the ultimate Spider-Man movie. But is it the ultimate movie of the 2020s, Ryan? That is the big question. In my opinion, yes.
[00:19:28] Well, we'll have to find out. Personally, I think Top Gun could take it, but we will see. That is up to you, the listeners at home to decide. So log on to the Real Nerds Twitter account every day
[00:19:42] to vote for your favorite in the matchups. And then at the end of the tournament, we will crown our winner. Spider-Man. We'll see. We'll see. I don't want both the Spider-Man movies to get knocked out in the first round just because you said that.
[00:19:57] Well, they might, but they won't. No, they probably won't because everybody loves Spider-Man. Yeah, how can you not? You have a plethora of Spider-Man. You've had two just this decade, Ryan. You are swimming in Spider-Man content.
[00:20:13] I know. I'm hey, I know I'm lucky. He's literally since 2016. There's been a Spider-Man movie almost every year. Yeah. Isn't that nice? I mean, you know, I'm including the Civil War and Avengers movies. But I think there's only,
[00:20:30] I can't remember. There was a break and I think it was because of COVID that really pushed across the Spider-Verse and No Way Home back a little bit. So it made a gap in Spider-Man movies because 2016 is Civil War. 2017 is homecoming.
[00:20:54] 2018 is Infinity War and Into the Spider-Verse. 2019 is far from home and in game. And then in 2020 there isn't one, then 2021 is No Way Home and 2022 I guess there isn't one and then 2023 across the Spider-Verse. So yes, I am very lucky.
[00:21:22] I mean, yeah, like I said for my money, I think Popkin's going to take it or maybe Barbie. We'll see. But of course, it could always be Spider-Man. You're going to have a whole contingent voting for him. Always.
[00:21:37] So well, thank you for joining me today, Ryan. Again, remember you listeners go vote every day of the tournament and any other thoughts on the brackets this year, Ryan, on our theme.
[00:21:51] That should be fun. Of course my movies are the best so I expect them all to be in the final four. Yeah. Popkin they all get knocked out in the first round. Never.
[00:22:03] Yeah. All right. But that's up to you, the listeners to decide. So again, go vote on the Real Nerds Twitter page every day of the tournament and stay tuned on the Real Nerds podcast website
[00:22:15] and on all of our podcast episodes and we will talk to you all next time. Yep. See you at the movies. See you at the movies. Keep it real nerds. We really need to like make that a thing, Ryan. Come on. Nope. Too lame. I don't like it.
[00:22:32] All right. Bye nerds.
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