Geek Mentality

And here we are, once again. The final day of Movie Month. Today marks the 390th overall movie and the 330th podcast of my favorite podcast project of the year! Today I went back to the theater one last time to see the latest DC Studios release, Supergirl. Despite some opinions and smaller than hoped for box office receipts, I (spoiler) enjoyed this movie and loved Milly Alcock as Supergirl.Since this is the final Movie Month episode of the year, I decided (all by myself and with no suggestion) that I should come up with a top 5 favorite of 2026. If you've been listening all month long - you shouldn't be surprised.Until 2027, the Movie Month box office is officially closed! Thanks everyone for listening!!

Finally. Finally. Finally. This movie eluded me in the theater. I just couldn't find the time to get out and see it. My wife even saw it with her students on a field trip - but I never got out to see it. Until today.I read Project Hail Mary last year and it was probably (not probably) my favorite book from that year. Possibly my favorite book in the past couple years. The end of that book left my a blubbering mess so I was so excited to see that the movie was now streaming.Does seeing it at home instead of on the big screen lessen the experience? Perhaps a bit. But I got as close to my television as possible to make it as big of an experience as I could.And it worked. In the words of Buddy The Elf, "I'm in love and I don't care who knows it!"

Remember when seeing Dinosaur's in a movie was breathtaking? Decades go by, visual effects get better, and sequels and reboots keep those dinosaurs coming - but nothing can come close to the magic of the original. That being said, I have watched every Jurassic World movie as part of Movie Month, and enjoy them each to varying degrees.This one? Well, it happened. I enjoyed some of characters, liked most of the actors, and thought the dinos were cool enough. There were some good action set pieces, some cool shots, and some moments that made me smile (though they were probably looking for a laugh.)Not to spoil the podcast, but there was a B-story with a family that I found both dumb and annoying. And the father of this family should lose any custody or visitation rights he has to his children. He was the true villain on this movie.

Is there anything more fun than a good murder? Wait, I mean murder mystery!! Yes obviously I am talking about a fictitious murder, not like all those true crime docs and podcasts out there. Nope, this is the real fun. The real - fake - fun. Once again, Rian Johnson delivers a movie that I just love! My third Benoit Blanc movie for Movie Month!And to think, this almost wasn't the movie I did today! I talk about that briefly whilst not giving away the movie I almost did. We can - save that for next year...

On this final Friday of Movie Month, I decided to go back into the Predator world - one of two Predator movies that Dan Trachtenberg directed in 2025. That other one will have to wait until next year, but this one - what a fun, bad-ass, gorgeous looking animated film! Glad I decided to include this one into this year's project. Looking forward to what comes next!

FEED MY FRANKENSTEIN! I was fully prepared to use this Alice Cooper song as part of my episode – but the movie was just too good for me to add any more silliness to my show than it already has. I pretty much loved this movie and glad I waited for Movie Month to watch and discuss it. Always great to watch another Guillermo del Toro movie! They’re always gorgeous looking – and I’m not just talking about the cast (hubba hubba).What’s even weirder is today I watched an episode of Jeopardy! (exclamation point always needed) that I am catching up on and randomly there was a Frankenstein clue.And before THAT – walking my dog at the rail trail I happened upon this at the Little Free Library!It really was a Movie Month miracle! Until tomorrow….

For Day 24, I decided go back one FINAL time this Movie Month into the Final Destination series - and boy am I glad I did. This one was way better than the last one - and that ending! I am so glad I wasn't spoiled on a 15 year old movie's twist nor did I read the first paragraph of the movie's Wikipedia page.Was this a great movie? No. But I think this was a great Final Destination movie! I had a blast watching it - and isn't that the true meaning of Christmas? I mean of Movie Month!?

If you told me there was a 150-minute movie about a borderline (or maybe not even borderline) unlikable table tennis player hustling his way through life to try to be the best player in the world - I would not expect to have had as enjoyable a time as I did watching this Marty Supreme.Is Timothée Chalamet at the point now where a movie he stars in becomes infinitely more intriguing because he's starring in it?

For the third time in three years, I have been EQUALIZED! Did I just complete the trilogy? Or am I just in the middle of what might be a longer series!? Either way, I'm here for it. Was this movie great? No. Was this maybe the weakest of the three? Probably. Do I care? Nope. I could watch Denzel be this character and just drink tea all day.Whether he's out there just enjoying the day - or he's out there equalizing bad guys to death - I'll be there to watch.

Welcome back to "Sundays with Steven" as today I decided to go back into the Spielberg world and back into the Tom Cruise world as well - for the 10th time! Today I finally went back the future as I went back to 2002 to jump ahead to the 2050s and watch the action/crime/sci-fi film, Minority Report. Yes, Movie Month is all about seeing a bunch of newer movies - but it's also about filling in some of the holes in my viewing history.This hole being filled was long overdue, and now that I am reading that I realize that was a poor choice of words but what are you gonna do? My backspace button is stuck, so there are no take-backs. You're going to have to live with that disgusting turn of phrase - but at least you get to listen to me gush over this movie that I should have watched years ago.

If you like the Matrix, but wish there were vampires and werewolves fighting instead - but still using guns - then do I have the movie for you. I waited 23 years to finally watch Underworld for the first time. I am not even sure if I want to go on with the series. Underworld - more like Underwhelmed!BOOM! Nailed it. Perfect joke.

I wanted a light, fun movie tonight after watching a couple of downers in a row - and this action/comedy/time-travel movie hit all the right beats. Did I love all the logic of how the time travel worked? Nope. Does it matter because time travel is not real? Nope.There was some fun time travel gags, some fun performances, and just a simple story with a bit of sci-fi twist. And there was some Andrew W.K. so really, what's not to enjoy!?Perfect Friday night movie.

Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi! You've heard of Christmas in July, right? Well today is my annual ChrisMo in June, as my Fine Movies. Fine Spirits. co-host Chris joins the show and once again picks a movie for ol' Mikey. Today Chris brought me a 2005 Australian Western that, speaking of Christmas, could actually be considered a Christmas movie. Technically speaking it is a movie about family that takes place during Christmas time....So gather the family as you would during the holidays and everyone listen!

I love a good walk. Who doesn’t? But it turns out I love a bad walk too! I really, really enjoyed this movie. Even with the depressing story set in this desolate world (that we’re probably 5 years away from) the the characters shined through the darkness to make this movie stick with me.The two leads of this movie, in whom 90% of the movie depended on, were excellent and excellent together. The rest of the cast was great too – and you get Mark Hamill as a scenery-chewing villain?I’d take that walk again.

Almost a year ago to the day, I watched the original "Now You See Me," and after watching this one today I feel much the same as I did last year. These are not good movies. These are not logical movies. These are somewhat dumb movies masquerading as clever movies. And yet....I am enjoying them. I enjoyed the first one - and I enjoyed this one.I don't know why? Maybe just a "turn your brain off and enjoy the ride" type of movie? I can't quite put my hand on a movie that I mostly tear apart in this episode and yet I still say I like and still look forward to the third in the series.Maybe that was the real trick these magicians, and filmmakers, pulled?

Smiling is my favorite! Smiling is a good thing. But much like anything else, I guess too much of a good thing can be bad for you - especially if there is some evil curse involved! Today's movie was not too much of a good thing at all - it was the right amount of a "scary WTF thing" that made me very happy I finally took the time to watch this movie.So happy, it made me smile.

Every so often I end up in the theater for Movie Month, and today - this morning in fact - was one of those days. I wasn't there for a sequel or a movie that expands upon a cinematic universe. I was there seeing a wholly original film and I was there because of one reason - two words - Steven Spielberg.This isn't my first Spielberg movie for Movie Month - but it is my first one in a theater. In fact, the last time I've seen any Spielberg movie in the theater, it included a whip and a fedora. Let's just say coming out of today's movie, I felt a whole hell of a lot better than I did then.Since this is a brand new movie, I wanted to remind you that I am spoiling the hell out of it in my review. Did I like it? Did I love it? Did I both? Did I neither? Today is Disclosure Day Day on the podcast - and in full disclosure, I'm not telling.You're going to have to listen....

Well. I finally watched it. I've been hearing about this movie, this series, that villain for years - and tonight waded into the deep end to see the 2016 (2018) horror film, Terrifier. Overall the movie as a whole was okay - but it was Art the Clown himself that turned this low budget gore-fest into the cult classic it was turned into. He was interesting and frightening and goofy and scary and silly and gross and everything I thought he would be. The rest of the movie did it's best to keep up with him.I'll eventually watch the sequels. Maybe not this year - but some June. Some day.Worth it alone for the thumbnail art of this episode 🤡.

I've been a big fan of Bob Odenkirk since Mr. Show (and even before that with the Ben Stiller show, though I didn't realize it until years later) - so of course when I saw he was starring in his own action movie I knew I was going to see it and I knew I was going to enjoy it even before I watched one second of it.I wasn't wrong. And I wasn't alone. So when I saw they were doing a Nobody sequel, it was a "no brainer sequel" for me. While not as good as the first one, and there were things for me to nitpick - who cares! I love Odenkirk and I'm still glad they made this and glad I watched it.I am not sure we will ever see another movie in this series, but I guarantee this won't be the last time Bob Odenkirk is featured in Movie Month.

It's Day 11, and naturally this is there is where Movie Month goes to 11!? Yes, the band is back together for one (final?) big show in "Spinal Tap II: The End Continues," and there was a smile attached to my face for the entire (not very long) movie.Very bittersweet seeing Rob Reiner on the last thing he worked on, but it was also just great to see these four comedic legends just seamlessly working off of each other one last time. And just because band members are characters played by three of these legends, don't sleep on how they all actually are musically.Very, very happy that I finally watched this and that I made it part of this year's festivities.

It's been a long time since I've seen a Predator movie - but when I did, it of course was for an old Movie Month episode! Finally, finally, finally I watched the 2022 film, Prey. I have a sneaking suspicion that this won't be the last Predator movie I see this year - but you'll have to stick around all month to know for sure!As for today, the only question I have is - what took me so long?

This has been on my list since I first saw the trailer for it a couple years ago. I completely forgot about it last year so I made sure to have it on my list for this year! And now I can finally listen to the Cult Film Club episode on it that's been in my podcast app for years too! And, this isn't the first time I've looked forward to an episode of CFC related to a Movie Month movie!Spoiler alert - I loved it! Also, I spoil the hell out of this movie - so if you haven't seen it, you can watch it right now for free on Pluto TV!

It's week two already!? Well, it's been too long since I watched a movie that is part of a franchise - nearly 48 hours! So of course I had to fix that by going back into the Final Destination well. These movies are basically comedies now, and this one was fairly gruesome, fairly dumb and silly, and while it's not a good movie - it was an okay Final Destination movie. And after realizing this movie was released in 3D, I give somewhat of a pass on the lackluster digital effects.Maybe I needed special glasses.

Finally, for the first time this month I watched a movie that is not a sequel or reboot or part of a larger franchise, and quite frankly it might be my favorite movie thus far. That's right, I say "thus" whilst I talk. That's also right, I say "whilst" as well.I am a huge Survivor fan, which first got me interested in this movie - but it was the great performances by Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien, and the great direction by Sam Raimi that made me love it.The tribe has spoken.

It's the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girls dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day. Wait that was a different story for a different year. A goodyear? No, the worst.And if you understood that reference - then today's movie is perfect for you because I am back with yet another sequel/franchise movie as I watched the 2025 version of The Naked Gun. When I first heard this was being made I was not convinced that it would work.Glad I was wrong.

Happy Friday, movie fans! It's the first Friday of Movie Month and once again I went back into the franchise well - this time watching my third SCREAM movie of Movie Month. That first one is a classic. I pretty much hated Scream 4. And with the reboot, I think they started off okay and have just gotten progressively worse.Do you like scary movies? I do. Good ones though. This one? Oofa boofa. Not to spoil my podcast too much, but dare I say this was my first stinker of the year. Even with a few things to like in it (Neve and Courtney) - those things could not save this movie that was actually a massive success at the box office.Oh great, I'm going to be back talking Ghostface again in a couple years, aren't I? All in a day's work, I suppose.

If you're not a Marvel fan, cheer up because I'm officially caught up and this is the last MCU movie for 2026. But, c'mon - how could I not devote DAY FOUR to this movie? It was as if it was written in the stars - and there were a lot of stars in this movie. Or soon to be stars. Well that is until they meet their - Doom.

Look, let me get this out of the way right off the bat - I love The Conjuring movies. I do. I love the entire franchise. I've seen all (okay well there is kinda sorta one that I have yet to see, by this same director). But the ones I've seen - Conjuring, Nun, Annabelle - I love them. They're not high art, but they're not B-movie schlock either.They're just very good at knowing what they are and delivering consistent scares. And I love that they're always somewhat based on actual events. I hesitate to say "true story" because who knows if the actual events are actually real.I'll tell you one thing that is real - the fictional Warrens love story. A tale as old as time...

Welcome back, movie nerds! Part of this project that I started so long ago was to finally watch movies or to keep up with movie series that I've been meaning to see. But sometimes, this project has me waiting on movies. Movies that I could have watched much earlier. I enjoy the Marvel movies for what they are - and naturally some are better than others - but for the most part, whenever they come out, I tend to bank them for June.Obviously that's not always the case. I didn't want to wait on Deadpool & Wolverine - and the first Guardians movie I saw in the theater not long after my first Movie Month (before it turned into a podcast with hundreds of episodes).But for the most part - with these Marvel movies, I wait. That's why Marvel is the biggest series of movies I have at Movie Month. 2015 is the only year I did not have a Marvel movie, while some years I've had as many as five.They've slowed down their output - but I still have a couple to catch up on. And obviously, that starts today.

Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends! Well, unless you count the months I take off in between shows – but the one that started it all – MOVIE MONTH – is back for a brand new year with a brand new website! And tonight, I am kicking off year 13 with one of if the biggest franchises in movie history, STAR WARS! In fact this is the second time I’ve kicked off a Movie Month with a Star Wars movie.The way I see it, if a Star Wars movie comes out in May – there’s a solid chance I am going to see it on day one! Of Movie Month, not day one of its release! That’d be madness!And this year, I decided to double post this show so that it’s not only part of Geek Mentality (as always) but I am also adding it as a bonus for The Mandalorian Man listeners out there!I am very excited to once again start my journey of 30 movies in 30 days, and I am very happy that I kicked it off with The Mandalorian and Grogu. I wasn’t blown away by this movie at all, but I did enjoy it and that enjoyment I think increased as the movie went further and further on.But if you want to know all my thoughts (whilst driving home from the theater) well you’re going to have to listen! UNTIL TOMORROW!

Great Scot!! We did it, Buttheads! I know this is heavy, but another successful Marchy McFly is in the books! Thirty-one podcasts over thirty-one days, all talking about Back to the Future Part II, and all I can say is - thank you! Thank you to everyone who listened, who liked, who commented, and who shared!Let's do it again next March, shall we?

Happy Penultimate Monday, McFriends! Yes, this is the second to last episode of Marchy McFly this year! It's crazy to think that we've been together for 30 straight days and now there is only one to go after today. Then we'll be apart like Marty and Doc are by the end of today's part of the movie! But much like the characters get back together, we will as well soon enough....Until then - listen and tell 12 friends about the show! Now, I'll wait!

Happy Sunday, McButtheads! There are only a few minutes left in this movie which means there are only a few days left in Marchy McFly! I can't believe we're almost through another month long adventure together! Today I talk about a couple newspapers, a matchbook, and wonder why Biff never discusses the fact that he saw a teenage boy hanging from a flying spaceship?

I am home! Yes ladies and gentleman my journey from driving my mother-in-law from Florida to Massachusetts ended today! Here is the pic I meant to post the other day when I recorded some audio poolside in Florida, only for it to sound like crap and scrapping it:Ah, I remember that guy. So happy. So full of life. It’s surprising what three straight days of driving can do to you.Anywho, today on Marchy McFly, I take you through Marty’s attempt to steal back the almanac and Biff’s attempt to murder young Martin. I also go on some “what-if” tangents that go in some odd directions.Ah, classic me…

Today’s episode of Marchy McFly was done. It was over. I recorded it hours and and was putting the finishing touches on it. This was the original title was MARCHY McFLY 6: “You Think That Stupid Disguise Would Get By Me?” (27 of 31) and the original image was this:But, then I received word from former/future guest Chris that actor James Tolkan, mostly remembered for Top Gun and even more so as Mr. Strickland himself in the first two Back to the Future films (and a distant relative in the third installment), has passed away at the age of 94.Even though most of today’s episode deals with the 3 minutes and 20 seconds of Marty screwing up again because being called “chicken” is so bad. And, even though I recorded part of the episode while eating in a Sheetz near our motel in Fredericksburg, VA – and the second part hiding from the rain behind that same Sheetz. And even though my ego is writing checks my body can’t cash…Wait what was I talking about?Such a SLACKER! Oh yeah, even though that’s what most of the episode is about, I had to take a few moments in the beginning to pay respects to the man. The image for this episode and the title of this episode do not follow the same theme. They aren’t from the 200 seconds of this episode I was covering.And that doesn’t matter one bit. RIP James Tolkan.

Greetings, McTravelers! Today marked day one of my traversing up the eastern seaboard of the United States with my mother-in-law and her dog! I am currently typing this in a dark Quality Inn motel room in Walterboro, South Carolina. Never trust a motel by the adjective in its name.I was able to record today's Marchy McFly after a long day of driving - to the point where I forgot what day it was and had to splice in me saying the correct day in the beginning. If something sounded weird there, that is why.And after a Cracker Barrel salad and some Buc-ee's beef jerky (my first time visiting that heavenly place today), I am needing to use tether to my cell phone for good enough Internet service to upload this episode."Quality" indeed.Today I cover Marty trying to save Marty from Biff's cronies - that's the majority of the segment. We get another angle of Johnny B. Goode, more "how did they not notice this kid in the leather jacket" talk, and at one point I fear that I am going to be attacked by a kettle of hawks.Yup. That's what you call a group of hawks - a kettle. I just looked it up. See you tomorrow McNerds!

Hello again from McFlorida! During these road trips home, Wednesdays are generally the buffer day. I fly in on Tuesdays, we start the drive on Thursdays - but Wednesdays are the day I don't do much. Of course I help my mother-in-law pack up her car, and we get ready to shove of in the morning, but most of the day is fairly chill - even the dinner with her and her two brothers (picture Steve Guttenberg in Cocoon) isn't too bad.And as I type this, I can say I made it through Wednesday unscathed! This morning, I took my traditional walk down to the nearest Wawa for some breakfast burritos, and on the walk back I made sure to get all my 10,000+ steps in on a detour down this long walk/bike path. And do you know what else I did on this path? Eww, no - get your mind out of the gutter. I recorded today's Marchy McFly!I hope you don't mind my walk-and-talks because you're going to hear a couple more before the week is through! Oh and in the movie today, Biff gets punched twice and Marty goes through a lot of trouble just for a girly magazine!

Greetings from sunny McFlorida! Yes this morning I got to the airport in Boston way too early so on today's Marchy McFly, you will hear from me from my gate hours before departing, and then later I thought you would hear from me poolside before taking my book into the pool with me. I definitely recorded it - but apparently my bluetooth headphones were on and acting as the microphone even though I wasn't close enough for them to actually hear me well - so I scrambled and just recorded me basically whispering from the guest room of my mother-in-law's house. The quality of the recording might not be great - the quality of the content might be even worse - but warned you going in, so if you listen - you have no one to blame but you.Except for me. You can also blame me.

Happy Monday McListeners! Today is the last Marchy McFly before I head off to Florida until Saturday. I really have no idea how the episodes from Tuesday through Friday will turn out - but that's part of the fun, I think! Or, I think?Oh and I found something new that I now love and will enjoy every time I see and hear it going forward with this movie.

Happy Sunday, McFriends! Today on Marchy McFly, I have to admit - the segment wasn't all that dazzling. I do talk a little more about the novelization, which I finished today. I also talk about re-listening to an old episode of the I Read Movies podcast that covers the novelizations of both sequels, and I found a clip of Elijah Wood in a recent interview talking a little about Back to the Future Part II and showing it to his son for the first time.

Happy Saturday, Dorks (it fits I swear)! Today on Marchy McFly, I talk about an article mentioning a "star" from this movie with Sir Elton John, talk a little more about the novelization, a very real football game, and crush a parody of a meme. I love thinking about these movies - and probably will be for life...

Happy Friday, Buttheads! Today on Marchy McFly we finally find ourselves in 1955, back to the best part of this movie. And, even though the image is (slightly) different, apparently I thought this episode title was perfect to use back in 2022! But, I am pretty positive I've repeated a lot more than that over these past 20 days! When people say history repeats itself, they weren't kidding!

Happy Thursday fellow film fans! Today starts the NCAA March Madness tournament, and it wasn't until about 5 minutes ago that I remember that I did my own Marchy McMadness, complete with bracket, a couple years back to rank the episodes of the animated series.Ah those were dark times.But not as dark as today's Marchy McFly clip where Marty finds out the terrible thing that really happened to his father - and I'm not talking about them recasting him...

Happy Wednesday, McNerds! Today on Marchy McFly, we talk all about books. Yes, there is that book that Biff used to become rich - but I also talk about the Michael J. Fox book, Future Boy and the official novelization of Back to the Future Part II, one of which I am currently reading and the other one I just finished!

Happy St. Patrick's Day, you Irish Bugs! Today on Marchy McFly, Doc and Marty now know how Biff got rich and changed their present time - a time of riches and hot tubs. And Mike drinks an Irish beer!

Happy Monday, McFaithful. Today in Marchy McFly we learn the fate of George McFly in this new hellish Hill Valley - and we also pay tribute to Matt Clark, from Back to the Future Part III, who recently passed away.

Happy Oscar Sunday, Movie McFans. Today is an early day for Marchy McFly as I am hoping to enjoy the Academy Awards this evening. And in celebration of tonights awards ceremony I pay tribute to the one Oscar that Back to the Future Part II was nominated for. Yes, this is an Academy Award nominated film and nothing can ever take that away from it!Oh and Biff's a real prick in today's part of the movie.

Happy Pi Day, McNerds! Today on Marchy McFly we start to learn just how bad this 1985 is that Doc and Marty returned too. It's so bad that Marty had to witness his mom getting Frenched by Biff on a video that probably plays 24-hours a day. 

Freeze, sucker! Don't you go anywhere without first listening to this episode of Marchy McFly! We're totally back in the 80s and even though I said we're not going to talk about 2015 anymore, I broke that promise tonight. But it's only because I forgot to mention something I noticed - something good actually. Well. Kinda.Oh and Happy Friday the 13th. Those who get the connection, get it!

Finally Marchy McFly is back in the sweet comfort of the 1980s, but not before I get really hung up on how the hell Biff even made it back to the 2015 in the first place. It doesn't logically make sense - but to be fair, there's a lot of that going around in this movie!