Watch the trailer!

The second film in our pairing was originally conceived as a re-make of the 1984 version, but was reconned into a sequel to make way for "Karate Kid: Legends" which would combine the two stories. The 2010 version of "The Karate Kid," directed by Harald Zwart, finds Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) and his mother Sherry (Taraji P. Henson) moving from Detroit, Michigan to Beijing, China for Sherry's work. There, Dre meets the building handyman, Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) when he goes to request a repair for their new apartment. He then heads to a nearby park, where he meets Meiying (Wenwen Han) and sparks fly! Unfortuntely for Dre, the leader of a group of young Kung Fu students, Cheng (Zhenwei Wang), takes exception to Meiying showing affection toward a foreigner and ends up beating up Dre. Again, similar to the original story, Dre finds a way to get back at the bullies and is attacked by five of them and hurt, but Mr. Han arrives and saves him. They travel together the next day to try to make peace, but the Master of the bully's dojo, Sensei Li (Rongguang Yu), demands that either Dre or Mr. Han fight to settle the matter of honor. Mr. Han instead offers to have Dre settle the issue at the upcoming Kung Fu tournament, and Sensei Li agrees. The film follows the storyline from the first movie, but with enough differences (Kung Fu vs. Karate for example) to keep it entertaining and to have you cheering Dre along his journey! Plus, the gents reveal which two Cohen Brothers films will be the first reviewed on the podcast!

Find us on Facebook!

Follow us on Instagram!

Support us on Patreon!

Watch the trailer!

In honor of the joining of two great movies in "Karate Kid: Legends," which came out on May 30th, 2025, we're looking at the two films that gave us the new film! First up, directed by John G. Avildsen, 1984's "The Karate Kid" introduced audiences to the story that would become an enduring franchise. Fifteen-year-old Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and his mother, Lucille (Randee Heller) have left their home in New Jersey and moved across the country to Los Angeles. After getting invited to a beach party by another teen who lives in the same apartment, Daniel meets Ali Millis (Elisabeth Shue) and the attraction is immediate. Unfortunately, her ex-boyfriend Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) arrives and takes exception to Daniel's interest in Ali and beats him up. Meanwhile, back at his apartment, Daniel meets the handyman Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita), who sees the young man struggling and teaches him the art of Bonsai. After Daniel exacts some minor revenge on Johnny and his pack, they beat Daniel unconscious, but Mr. Miyagi intervenes and sends the bullies packing. The next day, after attempting to forge peace with the sensei of the Cobra Kai dojo, John Kreese (Martin Kove), Mr. Miyagi agrees that Daniel and the bullies will settle their differences in the upcoming karate tournament. But will Daniel be ready to face the forces of Cobra Kai in time for the competition?

Find us on Facebook!

Follow us on Instagram!

Support us on Patreon!

Watch the trailer!

Our second Jersey film features the performance that won Michael Keaton his role as Tim Burton's Batman! Directed by Glenn Gordon Caron, 1988's "Clean and Sober" was the first non-comedic role for Keaton and featured a cast of great supporting players as welL! The story follows sleazy high-end real estate man Darly Poynter (Keaton) who awakes from a drug-fueled bender only to find that his romantic partner from the previous evening is non-responsive in his bed. After he calls an ambulance, the police immediately begin questioning him about what drugs were involved in the previous evening's festivities. Added to that, he has embezzled $90,000 from his employer and lost it all in an ill-timed real estate investment. After hearing an ad on the radio, Darly heads to a drug rehabilitation center as a way of hiding from anyone who might want to talk to him further. There he meets drug rehabilitation counselor Craig (Morgan Freeman), who doesn't fall for Daryl's hype or con for perhaps the first time in his adult life. He also finds himself attracted to fellow patients Iris (Claudia Christian) and Charlie Standers (Kathy Baker). After trying, and failing, to find a sponsor at a local AA meeting, he meets Richard Dirks (M. Emmet Walsh), who volunteers to be Daryl's sponsor against Daryl's protestations. But the road back is difficult and strewn with dangers and temptations. The film also stars Tate Donovan, Luca Bercovici, and Brian Benben. Plus, the gents reveal which film, and its "re-make," provide for the next pairing!

Find us on Facebook!

Follow us on Instagram!

Support us on Patreon!

Watch the trailer!

The great state of New Jersey is the focus of our next pairing, starting with a film about, arguably, it's most famous city! In 1980's "Atlantic City," director Louis Malle tells the story of two struggling individuals living in "the Las Vegas of the East." Lou (Burt Lancaster) is a former mob strongman, still protecting Grace (Kate Reid), a woman he was assigned to look after some 40 years earlier. Their relationship is strained and Grace is ungrateful, but Lou finds solace in watching his next-door neighbor, Sally (Susan Sarandon) through their respective kitchen windows. Sally works at a seafood restaurant in one of the Atlantic City casinos and is taking classes to become a dealer. When her husband estranged husband Dave (Robert Joy) and her sister Chrissie (Hollis McLaren), who is pregnant with Dave's baby, show up, Sally finds she can't turn them away. Dave and Chrissie, however, make her life miserable, especially when it becomes apparent that Dave is on the run from someone and has stolen a large amount of druges. As these characters' stories begin to blur and intertwine, the true effect of living in this particular city starts to reveal itself in ways no one wished for or saw coming.

Find us on Facebook!

Follow us on Instagram!

Support us on Patreon!