Cereal At Midnight

Once upon a time, there was Disney magic. What is it? Hard to say. We only know how it makes us feel, and we know that as we get older, that feeling becomes more and more difficult to recapture. It doesn't help that Disney floods the market with remakes, reboots, and sequels, watering down a once-potent brand that many of us associate with originality. Disney Head Honcho Bob Iger calls it "IP mining," a term that is as accurate as it is cynical.  With this baggage, I went into Snow White hoping for a spark of that thing that largely now only survives as nostalgia. Enthusiasm was low and my guard was up. After all, the discussion around this film has been exhausting, and it began long before any of us even had a chance to see it. Movies made before this modern era never had to overcome so much outrage before a single second had been projected for an audience.  But before long, probably about 20 minutes in, my defenses began to lower. I found myself smiling. The music--lar...

Jack Quaid is having a moment. The Boys , the ensemble superheroes-gone-wrong streaming series he stars on, is firing on all cylinders. Just six weeks ago, the movie Companion , in which he shares co-lead status, opened to great reviews and decent ticket sales. Now his latest film, Novocaine , is the number one movie in the country, securing his box office appeal and putting him on the it-list.  The premise of Novocaine is unique in the action movie pantheon: our lead character, Nathan Caine, suffers from a genetic disorder in which he cannot feel pain. This impacts him in a variety of ways, as he is constantly injuring himself without knowing it. In a scene early in the film during a first date with bank co-worker Sherry ( Prey 's Amber Midthunder), he hesitantly tries cherry pie for the very first time and we learn that he's heretofore been living on a liquid diet for fear of chewing off his own tongue. His life has been gray, but with the arrival of Sherry, everything has b...

Steven Soderbergh makes it look easy.  The filmmaker behind Sex, Lies, and Videotape , Out of Sight , The Limey , Erin Brockovich , Traffic , and The Ocean's Trilogy conquered Hollywood long ago by making movies that appealed to both audiences and critics. He was the rare creator who was able to translate his unique style and approach into movies that pretty much everyone enjoyed...and then, about a decade ago, he retired--frustrated by a system that valued dollars more than creativity and art. It didn't last long, but when Soderbergh returned from his brief hiatus, he seemed like a creator reinvigorated, telling stories in just about every medium available: he painted, he made a movie on an iPhone, he worked in television, and he created an off-Broadway play. He sought out challenges and set goals.  Black Bag is the latest result of one of these challenges, Soderbergh's mission to bring the 90-minute movie back to prominence. With running times of everything from kids m...

Bob Trate is the Director of Programming at The Colonial Theatre--the historic cinema from The Blob! He joins Cereal At Midnight with his unique insight and experience for a discussion about the current state of movie theaters, film fandom, and how movies can survive the changing times.   Thecolonialtheatre.com  @TheMovieLord on YouTube and Social Media Check out Bob's toy review channel,  Total Toy Recon   **************************************************************** Need collecting storage solutions? Use code CAM15 to save 15% on your order at  https://bit.ly/t3lshopCAM  and see how it works here:  https://youtu.be/GX0fTq_VYs4 **************************************************************** Become a Member and unlock exclusive and ad free videos, early access, and much more at  Patreon.com/CerealAtMidnight  or through YouTube Memberships at  https://www.youtube.com/@CerealAtMidnight/membership ***************************************...

There's a version of Mickey 17 that fully explores the big questions: the ethics of cloning, the nature of the soul, and humankind's infinite quest to know why and how we exist. If every human is unique, then what are the ramifications of technology that makes the artificial creation of life possible? This is, after all, the fundamental quandary of countless science fiction stories spanning the last one hundred years. Beyond that, our quest for self goes back to the dawn of time.   Bong Joon-ho, the South Korean filmmaker behind Snowpiercer and Parasite , is apparently not interested in that. These elements simply make up the window dressing of Mickey 17 , a movie that stars Robert Pattinson in the titular role of Mickey, a man who sold his life away in a quick attempt to outrun some bad decisions that involve a loan shark and a crooked business partner (Steven Yeun). His chance of escape comes in the form of becoming an expendable--a person who willingly subjects themsel...

Award-winning author Max Allan Collins returns for a discussion about our Top 5 Comedy Films! Will your favorite make our list?  Channel Members have access to the UNCUT 85-minute discussion! https://youtu.be/OxkizvIuZU4 MaxAllanCollins.com Too Many Bullets https://amzn.to/3W66RLz Quarry https://amzn.to/4bUgvGr Eliot Ness Box Set https://amzn.to/4aoHkkC Spillane: King of Pulp Fiction https://amzn.to/3K1KfVM Eliot Ness and the Mad Butcher https://amzn.to/3UY0NEf Scarface and the Untouchable https://amzn.to/3ytWmYY Black Hats https://amzn.to/3JYjOjA Eliot Ness: An Untouchable Life https://amzn.to/3wxxG1m The Road to Perdition https://amzn.to/3QFO7Q3 Further Viewing:  Top 5 Film Noir with Max Allan Collins - https://youtu.be/GB94fXJR9Ps Film Noir: Exploring the Dark Side of Cinema with Max Allan Collins - https://youtu.be/a_okQg2cFdM The Max Allan Collins Interview - https://youtu.be/Kf1uMJdgOl4 Top 5 Westerns with Max Allan Collins: https://youtu.be/eqcxlMW1Z3o Max Allan Collins...

In my first Kino Lorber video of 2025, we're looking at EVERY release for both January and February--over 40 titles in all, including TEN new 4K releases! KinoLorber.com KLStudioClassics.com Kino Lorber While Supplies Last Sale: https://kinolorber.com/collection/while-supplies-last-sale All of my discussions with Frank Tarzi: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLms82QIo-B9mZDTUUYwn2pMj3ELth-Jjn **************************************************************** Need collecting storage solutions? Use code CAM15 to save 15% on your order at  https://bit.ly/t3lshopCAM  and see how it works here:  https://youtu.be/GX0fTq_VYs4 **************************************************************** Become a Member and unlock exclusive and ad free videos, early access, and much more at  Patreon.com/CerealAtMidnight  or through YouTube Memberships at  https://www.youtube.com/@CerealAtMidnight/membership **************************************************************** When...

In the latest episode of the Cereal At Midnight Podcast, we talk about THE MONKEY, the latest adaptation of Stephen King's horror fiction, plus a review of the new DOCUMENTARY NOW Blu-ray box set, and a look inside THE PSYCHOPATHOLOGY OF A FILM BUFF! Find the Cereal At Midnight podcast everywhere you get your podcasts! **************************************************************** Need collecting storage solutions? Use code CAM15 to save 15% on your order at  https://bit.ly/t3lshopCAM  and see how it works here:  https://youtu.be/GX0fTq_VYs4 **************************************************************** Become a Member and unlock exclusive and ad free videos, early access, and much more at  Patreon.com/CerealAtMidnight  or through YouTube Memberships at  https://www.youtube.com/@CerealAtMidnight/membership **************************************************************** When shopping on Amazon, please use Cereal At Midnight's affiliate link to support t...

In this February boutique Blu-ray spotlight, we're checking out new 4K Steelbooks from Lionsgate and Sony, plus new releases from Fun City Editions, 88 Films, Eureka, Visual Vengeance, and more.  Lionsgate Limited The Third Man https://lionsgatelimited.com/products/third-man-collectors-edition-4k-steelbook?variant=42736945037423 Lionsgate Limited You’re Next  https://lionsgatelimited.com/products/youre-next-4k-steelbook?variant=42736947200111 **************************************************************** Need collecting storage solutions? Use code CAM15 to save 15% on your order at  https://bit.ly/t3lshopCAM  and see how it works here:  https://youtu.be/GX0fTq_VYs4 **************************************************************** Become a Member and unlock exclusive and ad free videos, early access, and much more at  Patreon.com/CerealAtMidnight  or through YouTube Memberships at  https://www.youtube.com/@CerealAtMidnight/membership *************...

Darkly funny and grimly gory, The Monkey  captures the weird whimsy of Stephen King's source material--a short story published in the anthology Skeleton Crew back in 1985. In the hands of Osgood Perkins (Son of Anthony, and therefore part of a horror dynasty), the first hour of this twisted tale speeds by, with the audience excitedly anticipating another monkey-related massacre. The kill scenes are played for laughs, but long-time horror heads will nod in appreciation at the lengths the movie goes to in order to make them as memorable as possible.  Unfortunately, The Monkey also captures something else that's an occasional hallmark of Stephen King's work, and that's third act problems. Many of King's stories have compelling premises that don't quite pay off in the final act, and that's the case here, too, even though Perkins has adapted the screenplay himself is largely working from his own palate by the film's conclusion. Adapting a short story into 9...

The Cereal At Midnight podcast is back with reviews for Captain America: Brave New World, Becoming Led Zeppelin, Heart Eyes, Love Hurts, the extended cut of Nosferatu, and so much more! This is your weekly dose of movie love! Find the Cereal At Midnight podcast everywhere you get your podcasts! **************************************************************** Need collecting storage solutions? Use code CAM15 to save 15% on your order at  https://bit.ly/t3lshopCAM  and see how it works here:  https://youtu.be/GX0fTq_VYs4 **************************************************************** Become a Member and unlock exclusive and ad free videos, early access, and much more at  Patreon.com/CerealAtMidnight  or through YouTube Memberships at  https://www.youtube.com/@CerealAtMidnight/membership **************************************************************** When shopping on Amazon, please use Cereal At Midnight's affiliate link to support the channel:  https:/...

In this episode of the Cereal At Midnight podcast, I discuss Companion (my favorite movie of 2025 so far), Conclave, Criterion's Winchester 73 release, and the new Fantastic Four trailer, plus collection storage, Blockbuster Video, and much more. Find the Cereal At Midnight podcast everywhere you get your podcasts! **************************************************************** Need collecting storage solutions? Use code CAM15 to save 15% on your order at  https://bit.ly/t3lshopCAM  and see how it works here:  https://youtu.be/GX0fTq_VYs4 **************************************************************** Become a Member and unlock exclusive and ad free videos, early access, and much more at  Patreon.com/CerealAtMidnight  or through YouTube Memberships at  https://www.youtube.com/@CerealAtMidnight/membership **************************************************************** When shopping on Amazon, please use Cereal At Midnight's affiliate link to support the c...

Demi Moore earned her first Oscar nom for The Substance , and she deserves it. After all, she's a survivor of the Hollywood machine who delivers a brave and memorable performance. The film also serves as a showcase for Margaret Qualley, who blazes into courageous territory herself.  But at some point, this potent cautionary tale from French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat turns into a bizarre splatter fest (not unlike Peter Jackson's Braindead , aka Dead Alive ) that diminishes its message and dilutes its themes in a tidal wave of gore and blood that is so relentless that it becomes desensitizing and, dare I say, uninteresting. A film that started as a scalpel ends as a sledgehammer, bashing us over the head so aggressively that I went numb to it a good thirty minutes before it finally ended. If the goal was to create an endurance test, mission accomplished. There's value in that, at least in the short term. I appreciate and support the important things this movie has to say abou...

For the first time, I fly solo on the Cereal At Midnight podcast to discuss new beginnings, my evolving collecting habits, and my thoughts on the Oscars. This is part of the new direction for C@M in 2025! Find the Cereal At Midnight podcast everywhere you get your podcasts! **************************************************************** Need collecting storage solutions? Use code CAM15 to save 15% on your order at https://bit.ly/t3lshopCAM and see how it works here: https://youtu.be/GX0fTq_VYs4 **************************************************************** Become a Member and unlock exclusive and ad free videos, early access, and much more at  Patreon.com/CerealAtMidnight  or through YouTube Memberships at  https://www.youtube.com/@CerealAtMidnight/membership **************************************************************** When shopping on Amazon, please use Cereal At Midnight's affiliate link to support the channel:  https://amzn.to/3LAgnlt *********************...

Adam Christopher is the author of Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith and has also penned stories for Doctor Who, Stranger Things, Dishonored, Elementary, and his own worlds, too! In this episode, he talks about the road to Star Wars, working for Disney, and more! AdamChristopher.me @AdamChristopher on social media Shadow of the Sith https://amzn.to/4jrsqjz Download the audio version of the episode wherever you get your podcasts! **************************************************************** Become a Member and unlock exclusive and ad free videos, early access, and much more at  Patreon.com/CerealAtMidnight  or through YouTube Memberships at  https://www.youtube.com/@CerealAtMidnight/membership **************************************************************** When shopping on Amazon, please use Cereal At Midnight's affiliate link to support the channel:  https://amzn.to/3LAgnlt **************************************************************** Movie Review Archive:  Ce...

The Brutalist is mountain of a movie, the kind of film that feels as if it might have been made in 1969, or 1974, or some distant, mythical Hollywood of the past when the scales that balance art and commerce weren't quite as tilted toward the superficial. Furthermore, since it was shot on 16mm and 35mm film, it very well could have been made in another time. The Brutalist is a study in humanity that's meditative and pondering, inhabited by flawed-yet-relatable characters who quite often do things against their best interests. The film is ambitious, inspiring, funny, frustrating, and occasionally even tedious, but never boring.  The Brutalist follows László Tóth, a Hungarian Holocaust survivor (Adrien Brody), as he seeks refuge in America after World War II, eventually finding work as an architect in brutalist style, which showcases the structure of the object itself, exposing the materials of construction. Rather than overload us with exposition, the movie allows us to discover...

In the latest episode, let's unbox VENOM: THE LAST DANCE Steelbook and I'll give my thoughts on HERE, the latest film from visionary filmmaker Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future, Used Cars, Castaway, The Polar Express).  Purchase links to support Cereal At Midnight:  Venom: The Last Dance https://amzn.to/4jsIwtg Here: https://amzn.to/3E2lbhP **************************************************************** Become a Member and unlock exclusive and ad free videos, early access, and much more at  Patreon.com/CerealAtMidnight  or through YouTube Memberships at  https://www.youtube.com/@CerealAtMidnight/membership **************************************************************** When shopping on Amazon, please use Cereal At Midnight's affiliate link to support the channel:  https://amzn.to/3LAgnlt **************************************************************** Movie Review Archive:  CerealAtMidnight.com/p/reviews.html Cereal At Midnight Swag:  CerealAt...

Jason and Sean Mendelson, sons of Emmy-winning Peanuts producer Lee Mendelson, return to Cereal At Midnight to discuss the official soundtrack release of BE MY VALENTINE, CHARLIE BROWN, sourced from newly-discovered session tapes of Vince Guaraldi and his band! You've never heard the music like this before! Get the soundtrack for BE MY VALENTINE from AMAZON https://amzn.to/4hiMX7P Get the Puppy Love Pink Vinyl from Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/be-my-valentine-charlie-brown-vince-guaraldi/1146455506?ean=0760137170112 Get the Heartburn Red from Independent Record Stores  https://recordstoreday.com/upc/760137168263 A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Limited Edition  Turkey Tan vinyl, available as a Target Exclusive   Purple Jelly Bean vinyl, a Record Store Day Indie Exclusive: https://recordstoreday.com/UPC/760137161240     Two-sided Picture Disc, a Barnes and Noble Exclusive:   https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-charlie-brown-thanksgiving-vince...