Marvel

120 movies, 1 book, 1 interview in this series

The Marvel movie universe is vast... and Now Playing Podcast has reviewed them all! From the earliest TV experiments and low-budget oddities to the glossy blockbusters that built a cinematic universe. We’re talking the made-for-TV Captain America and Hulk films, the ’80s and ’90s misfires, Dolph Lundgren’s Punisher, Howard the Duck, Elektra, and every major theatrical release through the rise and dominance of the MCU.

Hits, misses, cult favorites, and outright disasters. Decades of shifting tones, studio deals, and creative swings that paved the way for today’s superhero landscape.

Our hosts examine the entire Marvel movie legacy to see how we got from rubber ears and shaky fight scenes to billion-dollar team-ups.

Movie Reviews

The Return of the Incredible Hulk

If Mr. Feeny is killing Julie, Cory and Topanga better wa...

Reviewed Mar 2, 2012
Continuing his solitary flight, David Banner arrives in a small town where he saves the life of a young heiress, the target of a deadly conspiracy orchestrated by her stepmother and a corrupt physician. While working undercover to protect the girl and dismantle the plot, Banner must struggle to contain the beast within, especially when the arrival of reporter Jack McGee threatens to expose his secret to the world. Genres: Action, Drama, Science Fiction, TV Movie

Captain America

The only thing this has in common with the comic characte...

Reviewed Jan 17, 2012
Artist Steve Rogers is nearly murdered by spies, seeking his late father's national secrets. He is saved during surgery via a secret formula; this serum not only heals him but also gives him fantastic strength and lightning reflexes. To help solve the mystery behind his father’s murder and bring those guilty to justice, a government agency equips him with a special motorcycle loaded with gadgets and an indestructible shield. Now armed, he battles against the nation's enemies as the Sentinel of Liberty, Captain America. Genres: Action, Adventure, Science Fiction, TV Movie

The Incredible Hulk Returns

By Odin's Beard! Hulk Returns!

Reviewed Mar 6, 2012
Years after the end of the original series, David Banner continues his wandering search for a cure for the condition that turns him into the Hulk. He reunites with former colleague Don Blake, unaware of his mystical connection to Thor. When a criminal organization threatens their lives, Banner is forced to unleash the Hulk once again, marking the character’s return after the series finale. Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, TV Movie

The Trial of the Incredible Hulk

I never thought I'd die fighting side by side with a Hulk

Reviewed Mar 13, 2012
Falsely accused of assault, Dr. David Banner is arrested and placed on trial, facing the possibility of a long prison sentence. Blind attorney Matt Murdock takes on his defence, while secretly operating as the vigilante Daredevil. As the courtroom battle unfolds, Banner’s struggle to control the Hulk leads to a dangerous confrontation with criminal mastermind Wilson Fisk. Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Science Fiction, TV Movie

The Punisher

What are you going to do with this podcast, play Ms. Pac-...

Reviewed Nov 8, 2011
The avenging angel of Marvel Comics fame comes brilliantly to life in this searing action-adventure thriller! Dolph Lundgren stars as Frank Castle, a veteran cop who loses his entire family to a mafia car bomb. His ex-partner believes Castle survived the blast and became the Punisher, living in the sewers and exacting vigilante violence against mob bosses throughout the city. When the populace is caught in the midst of a gang war that he caused, Castle must again emerge from the shadows and save the innocent. Genres: Action, Crime, Drama

Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Hell hath no Fury like David Hasselhoff!

Reviewed Jan 10, 2012
Marvel's hard-boiled hero is brought back to fight the menace of Hydra after exiling himself in the Yukon since the end of the Cold War. The children of the former Hydra head, Baron Von Stucker, have taken charge of the terrorist organization. Under the lead of his vicious daughter, Viper, Hydra has seized a deadly virus and threatens the destruction of America. Genres: Action, Science Fiction, TV Movie

Book Reviews

Interviews