4 years later and James Cameron is back with another headspinning installment of having us enter back into his worl of Pandora. Yes today's SPOILER REVIEW episode of "Sound Speed Action" is covering the mega-movie event of 2025 that was "Avatar: Fire and Ash". That of course means returning to the podcast after our review of "Avatar: Way of Water" 3 years ago is our good friend, Mr. Jonathan Olivo. We cover a lot of ground but I think we can definitely say this: WHAT. A. RIDE. Cameron does it again. Certain the visual effects alone are worth the price of movie theater admission alone but seriously this franchise and Fire and Ash bring a lot to it to make them special: The cast with Zoe Saldana (is she the biggest star ever?), Sam Worthing (wasnt crazy about him at first but by this installment he really owns and brought a lot of depth to this Fire and Ash). Stephen Lang and Sigourney Weaver - absolutely impressive with playing any role where there is literally any age. Superb. Oona Chaplan as Varang is a bit over the top but she also own it and goes full ham with her villain character Varang in a way that makes the character fun, complex, definitely interesting. Does it feel like a little bit of re-tread of the 2nd episode? We have some differing thoughts on that. Jack Champion is back as Spider in this movie. His role definitely has more weight here which opens up some doors for some fun directions that the Avatar world could go in? Only gripe with him is that the dialogue is a little paper thin. That said it doesnt take away from this thrill that at over 3 hours should feel long but flies so quickly with bringing all the thrills. Don't miss this one."Avatar: Fire and Ash" is playing in theaters. ABSOLUTELY THAT NEEDS TO BE EXPERIENCED ON THE BIG SCREEN! Enjoy.Also if you are enjoying the podcast, please drop us a review on whichever platform you get your podcasts. It helps the show a lot. Thanks.

Are Jason Momoa, Dave Bautista, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck bringing back the golden age of cinema? We dive deep into "The Wrecking Crew" and "The Rip" to see if the buddy action movie is finally back for good.The latest episode of Sound Speed Action is up and also a heads up this episode does include some minor spoilers for the streaming movies The Rip and The Wrecking Crew. On this episode it is the battle of buddy action movies with The Rip from Netflix starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon plus The Wrecking Crew from Prime Video. Ali Reza Beheshti returns to the show as we take a status check on the kind of fun movies streamers are putting out lately. We get into everything from Director Joe Carnahan reuniting with Ben Affleck to the over the top 80s energy of the Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa pairing. One movie is a slow burn thriller while the other is a laugh out loud buddy cop throwback but both represent a big shift in how these platforms are competing for our attention.Beyond the reviews we tackle the massive industry shifts happening behind the scenes. We discuss the Artist Equity production model and how it rewards over twelve hundred crew members based on streaming success. We also dive into the rumors surrounding a potential Netflix acquisition of Warner Brothers Discovery and what that means for the future of HBO. We explore whether folding a prestige brand like HBO into the Netflix ecosystem will lead to a loss of the unique creative visions that make cinema special. The Rip is streaming now on Netflix and The Wrecking Crew is available on Prime Video. If you are enjoying the show please leave a review for this podcast on whichever podcast platform you are listening to us from. It really helps the podcast. thank you.

Today’s episode was recorded in August 2025.
BlackBerry is an unusual, against-the-grain movie, much like the ground-shaking device it’s about. I’m very happy to have my father, Esmail Amid-Hozour, back on the podcast, along with my dear friend Kathy Garber, to break down this 2023 indie film and what makes it work, and where it stumbles.
Director Matt Johnson pulls off something genuinely impressive here. The film, like the device itself, is far from perfect, but it captures the nostalgia of a pre-iPhone and pre-Android era with real energy. The story of RIM, Research In Motion, and the rise of the BlackBerry is chaotic, fast-moving, and sometimes messy, just like the movie telling it.
Does that chaos work for the film, or does it hold it back? We don’t fully agree, and that difference of opinion drives much of this spirited conversation. Where do you land on this one?
BlackBerry is streaming now on Hulu and Kanopy, and is available to rent on most major platforms.

The latest episode and final episode of 2025 of Sound Speed Action is live, and what a way to end the year. One Battle After Another caps off an incredible run of movies and stands as our clear favorite of the year. What a film.

Marc and I break down this ambitious, unsettling, and often darkly funny work from director Paul Thomas Anderson, and the more we talk about it, the more impressive it becomes. This is one of those rare movies that genuinely gets better with repeat viewings.

The performances across the board are phenomenal. Leonardo DiCaprio delivers a fascinating, off-balance turn. Chase Infinity, in her first film role, is an absolute revelation. Teyana Taylor is terrific, and Sean Penn is unforgettable as the antagonist Lockjaw, a performance that feels destined to dominate awards season. Benicio del Toro appears briefly as Sensei and somehow steals every moment he’s in. Regina Hall continues to prove we need far more movies built around her. Tony Goldwyn is deeply unsettling, playing once again against typecasting he somehow always elevates. And James Ratterman, a real former Homeland Security official, is genuinely chilling in a role that feels uncomfortably authentic.

The score, composed by Jonny Greenwood, marks his sixth collaboration with Anderson, and it is astonishing. The music doesn’t just support the film, it drives it, becoming a constant, pulsing engine that keeps everything in motion.

Loosely inspired by Vineland, the film takes a single thread from the novel and spins it into something entirely its own. It’s timely, disturbing, sharply funny, and deeply confident. With an estimated budget between $130 and $170 million, this is a movie that likely never made financial sense on paper. Its existence feels like a small miracle, and a reminder that there are still producers and executives willing to back original, risky storytelling simply because it’s worth making.

One Battle After Another is now playing in theaters and is also available to rent on demand and stream on HBO. That said, if you can see this in a theater, do it. You will not regret it.

Thanks for listening. This marks our final episode of 2025. Sound Speed Action will be back soon. See you at the movies.

“Predator: Badlands” is one of those rare movies. You already expect something good after “Prey,” but then you watch this and it turns out to be one of the most satisfying action films of the year. Disney clearly believed in it too, bumping the budget to about 105 million, which is a big jump from “Prey’s” 65 million.Dan Trachtenberg is officially three for three. “Prey,” “Killer of Killers,” (also released in2025, on Hulu and awesome) and now “Badlands.” He delivers a confident, fast, beautifully paced movie that never wastes a moment. It also works as a complete standalone. No homework required. You don’t need to be a Predator fan or even a sci-fi fan. The movie just pulls you in as a flat-out fun, kickass action experience.The details are great. The runtime is a perfect one hour and forty-seven minutes. The movie lightly introduces Yautja culture without slowing anything down, and the world-building is clear, exciting, and leaves the door open for the future. There’s even a subtle crossover nod that never pulls focus.Elle Fanning is incredible. Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi brings a whole new life to the Predator character, making it both terrifying and surprisingly sympathetic. The Kalisk creature is a very fun addition. The invented language is a cool touch. And the villain is genuinely strong without giving anything away.The sound design is excellent, the VFX are top tier, and New Zealand looks unbelievable on screen. Trachtenberg blends real landscapes with massive effects in a way that makes the world feel alive.If there’s one small con: you just hope the crossover tease doesn’t jinx the success the movie has earned so far.“Badlands” is in theaters now and will likely hit digital platforms in December and stream on Hulu or Disney+ in early 2026.

Episode 59 – Halloween Spoiler Review: Weapons (2025)

IMPORTANT NOTE: This spoiler review episode focuses on an original horror film and includes language, topics, and descriptions that are dark, graphic, violent, and disturbing. Listener discretion is advised.

You are not ready. Weapons (2025) is one of the most original, creative, and unsettling movies to come out in years. From Barbarian director Zach Cregger, who also produced Companion (streaming now on HBO Max), this film proves that fresh, daring ideas are still alive in modern cinema.

In this Halloween spoiler review of Weapons, we dive into what makes it one of the standout movies of 2025. Joining me on Sound Speed Action is our returning guest Chris Cheng, and together we unpack the film’s twists, tone, and unforgettable performances.

The cast includes Julia Garner (Ozark, Fantastic Four: First Steps), Josh Brolin (Sicario, No Country for Old Men), Benedict Wong (3 Body Problem, Doctor Strange), and Amy Madigan (Gone Baby Gone). The story unfolds in a non-linear way, echoing films like Magnolia, with moments that stick in your mind long after the credits roll.

Weapons balances dark humor, tension, and originality in a way few modern movies do. It’s unpredictable, visually striking, and a reminder that the genre still has room for surprises.

🎃 Weapons is streaming on HBO Max and available to rent or buy on all major platforms.

We’ve got more movie podcasts, spoiler reviews, and film discussions coming your way. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review or drop a comment. It really helps the show grow.

Thanks for listening, and happy Halloween from Sound Speed Action!

Episode 58 - Special Episode: Jurassic World Rebirth (2025)

Jurassic Park is one of those franchises that I absolutely love, where Spielberg helped define the summer blockbuster movie season. The first two especially are amazing. Jurassic Park III was a flop. Jurassic World and Fallen Kingdom were chapters that brought new life and characters into the franchise. Dominion was overstuffed but had fun visuals and brought back all the characters we love from this series. Three years later we are now caught up with this one... and I am so confused by it.

You have Gareth Edwards directing. You can see his work in Rogue One, The Creator, Godzilla (2014), and Monsters (2010). The man is amazing with visual effects and knows how to work quickly and economically. Disney loves him, and I understand why. You also have David Koepp, the OG writer of Jurassic Park. You also have a rock star cast with Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and Rupert Friend. This should have been amazing.

From an audience and review point of view, there was consensus in the reactions, and yet… this is one of the most globally successful movies of the year! I am so confused and have so many questions. The mysterious box office of Jurassic World Rebirth. This one is still bugging me and I need answers.

Jurassic World Rebirth is playing in theaters now. It is also available to rent and buy on all platforms. There is no streaming date for Peacock yet, but my guess based on its theatrical release date is that late October to early November is a safe bet.

We’ve got more episodes, reviews, and recommendations coming your way. If you’re enjoying the show, please leave a review, it really helps the podcast.

Thanks for listening. I’m really curious about your thoughts on this one if you check it out.

Episode 57 - SPOILER Review: Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)

Just when it was starting to look pretty bleak for comic movies (over saturation, becoming extremely dark, forgettable stories, visual effects suffering from unsustainable output stretching visual FX artists too thin), it looks like studios are getting the message. First "Superman" from DC/Warner Brothers and now for today's episode we see how Marvel/Disney with "Fantastic Four: First Steps" has done an about face and put a "fantastic" crowd-pleaser of movie to die-hard comic-fans and popcorn moviegoers alike.

For today's episode our friend of the podcast, Ali-Reza Beheshti, returns and we both get into how this movie completely surprised us. A beautifully shot, wonderfully paced, thrill ride of a movie. There was a part that was a little bit of a "stretch" but the movie still was so much fun that you can almost completely let this detail go. Almost. Michael Giacchino returns as Marvel's go-to Composer but here he really crafts something epic and unique on par with John Williams music from classics such as Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park.

This one must be seen in the theaters. It will make you a believer in comic-book movies again. There is still life in this category of movies. Here is to hoping the studios continue to space these movies out enough to keep the creativity, anticipation, and quality going!

"Fantastic Four: First Steps" is playing in theaters now.

We’ve got more episodes, reviews, and recommendations coming your way. If you’re enjoying the show, please leave a review, it really helps the podcast.

Thanks for listening, and enjoy the movie.