Born To Watch - A Movie Podcast

Matthew White
  • 5.0 (7)
  • FILM REVIEWS
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Join four old mates on a cinematic journey like no other in the "Born to Watch Movie Podcast" the podcast where movies aren't just watched, they're experienced. Each week, dive into the films that reshaped their lives and, perhaps, even the world. With many thousands of hours of movie-watching under their belts, these friends bring a unique, seasoned perspective where they don't take themselves or the movies too seriously.

  1. 1D AGO

    Hard to Kill (1990)

    Our Hard to Kill 1990 Review kicks off with a simple truth: the late 80s and early 90s were the golden age of action heroes. Stallone, Schwarzenegger and Willis ruled the world… and then along came a man with a ponytail, a whisper voice and an absolute obsession with breaking forearms. This week Whitey, Dan and Will the Worky step back into the dojo to tackle Steven Seagal's second ever film, Hard to Kill (1990). A movie that, at the time, felt like the arrival of the next unstoppable action icon… and now feels like a fever dream involving aikido, silk shirts and extremely uncomfortable sex scenes. Seagal plays Mason Storm, a cop who uncovers political corruption and is immediately shot, along with his wife, in what might be the least secure safe house ever filmed. Storm survives after being pumped full of shotgun pellets and spending seven years in a coma. Yes, seven years. And apparently, all it takes to recover is a massage, a training montage and a nurse who instantly falls in love with him. From there, the movie becomes a revenge story, but also, somehow, a romance, a conspiracy thriller, a martial arts film, and a weird Seagal self-fantasy all rolled into one. The boys dive deep into: • The unbelievable hospital security • The most aggressive love scene ever filmed • Mason Storm's questionable medical recovery • The ponytail era of action cinema • And why nobody recognises the villain's voice despite him repeating the same catchphrase constantly  There are discussions about video store culture, the 1990 action boom, and how Seagal briefly convinced the world he belonged alongside the legends. But time has not been kind to Hard to Kill. Watching it today reveals something different. Schwarzenegger knew he was in on the joke. Bruce Willis had charm. Seagal genuinely believes he is the most dangerous man alive… and that may be the biggest reason this film is unintentionally hilarious. Still, there are broken bones, exploding pool cues, corrupt cops and more arm snapping than a chiropractor convention. And honestly… that’s why we kind of love talking about it. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Is Seagal the strangest action star of all time? Does Hard to Kill accidentally become a comedy? And is this the most confident bad movie ever made? Leave a review, share the episode and send it to a mate who still thinks Seagal could win a real fight. #BornToWatch #HardToKill #StevenSeagal #90sAction #ActionMovies #MoviePodcast #CultMovies #BadMoviesGoodTimes #VideoStoreEra #FilmReview

    1h 59m

  2. FEB 10

    The Perfect Storm (2000)

    This week, the boys jump aboard the Andrea Gail for The Perfect Storm 2000 Review, the Wolfgang Petersen disaster epic that tried to answer one simple question:What if Mother Nature just decided you were finished? It's a Monday night. You've done your research.You head down past Burleigh, just west of Palm Beach. Three chairs are waiting. Gow's checking stats, Damo's preparing the Snorbs Report, and Whitey's tweaking the levels. Game time. Based on the true story of a sword-fishing crew who sailed directly into a once-in-a-lifetime weather system, the film brings together an all-star cast, George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, John C. Reilly, Diane Lane and a collection of "hey-that-guy!" actors, but the real star might just be the ocean itself. Whitey is deep in his Clooney phase and openly declares him possibly "the most handsome man we've ever reviewed," while Gow and Damo debate whether the movie actually needs characters at all once the waves hit 100 feet.  Because this is Born to Watch, the conversation doesn’t stay serious for long. We cover: The legendary boat-on-the-wave shotWhy every sea captain is basically Captain AhabThe world's worst job (professional fisherman easily makes the grand final)Mark Wahlberg's historically patchy beardThe glow-stick responsibilities aboard a fishing vesselWhether the crew should've just sailed to Portugal insteadThe boys also dig into the film's strange structure. Half character drama, half disaster movie, half weather documentary, and somehow still compelling once the storm begins. Even critics admitted the storytelling problems stop mattering once the chaos kicks in.  There's praise for the James Horner score, debate about the true events versus movie invention, and an unexpected emotional reaction to the funeral scenes.  Plus: The 2000 Movie Lottery (Remember the Titans vs Bring It On vs The Cell)Box office success vs critic ratingsThe Snores Report returnsMichael Ironside is officially considered for Born to Watch RoyaltyAnd of course, the most important question of all: If you knew the storm was coming… would you still turn the boat around for the payday?Because sometimes the scariest part of a disaster movie isn't the wave, it’s the decision that leads to it. JOIN THE CREW If you enjoyed the episode, don't just listen, become part of the Born to Watch community. Leave a rating on Spotify or Apple, drop a YouTube comment, and tell us: Did Billy Tyne make the right call… or did he doom the Andrea Gail? #BornToWatch #ThePerfectStorm #MoviePodcast #FilmReview #GeorgeClooney #MarkWahlberg #DisasterMovies #2000sMovies #TrueStoryMovies #MovieNostalgia

    1h 39m

  3. FEB 3

    Boogie Nights (1997)

    Boogie Nights 1997 Review: 200 episodes in, and Born to Watch hits a milestone with a film that feels weirdly, uncomfortably autobiographical. From the moment Whitey declares this the perfect way to celebrate the show's 200th episode, it's clear this isn't just another movie review. Boogie Nights is loud, chaotic, hilarious, messy, strangely heartfelt and absolutely stacked with characters who think they're on top of the world until reality comes crashing in. In other words, it's the ideal Born to Watch film. Set against the late-70s and early-80s adult film industry, Paul Thomas Anderson's second feature is a sprawling ensemble piece that follows the rise and fall of Eddie Adams, reborn as Dirk Diggler. Mark Wahlberg's breakout performance anchors the film, but this is never just Dirk's story. It's about a group of outsiders who form a surrogate family, chasing success, validation and meaning, until excess, ego and changing times pull them apart. The boys dig into the idea that Boogie Nights is really two films stitched together, the euphoric disco-soaked rise of the 70s, followed by the darker, cocaine-fuelled collapse of the 80s. It's a tonal shift that mirrors the characters' journeys, from optimism and community to paranoia, loneliness and self-destruction. When Little Bill exits the film, everything changes, and the show explores how that moment symbolises the end of innocence for the entire group. There's plenty of love for the ensemble cast. Burt Reynolds' Jack Horner is discussed as both mentor and flawed father figure, a man clinging to an artistic vision while the industry evolves without him. Julianne Moore's Amber Waves is heartbreaking and layered, especially when the conversation turns to her custody battle and the illusion of freedom within the industry. John C Reilly, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Don Cheadle, Heather Graham and William H Macy all get their flowers, with Hoffman's painfully awkward Scotty and Macy's tragic Little Bill standing out as performances that linger long after the credits roll. As always, the Born to Watch humour cuts through the heavy themes. There's banter, self-reflection, side-tracking, and more than a few laughs at the absurdity of certain scenes, including the legendary Alfred Molina drug-deal sequence, which the team agrees is one of the most anxiety-inducing moments PTA has ever put on screen. The episode also looks at Boogie Nights in context, how it landed in 1997 alongside juggernauts like Titanic and LA Confidential, why it underperformed at the box office, and how it grew into a cult classic that feels even richer with repeat viewings. It's a film you can dip in and out of, catch individual scenes, and still be completely absorbed. Ultimately, this Boogie Nights 1997 Review becomes a celebration, not just of the film, but of the journey Born to Watch has been on for 200 episodes. It’s messy, honest, occasionally inappropriate, and full of love for movies that take big swings. And really, what better way to celebrate than strapping on the roller skates and heading back to the Valley? BORN TO WATCH – JOIN THE CONVERSATION Is Boogie Nights Paul Thomas Anderson’s most rewatchable film?Does the movie completely change once the 80s arrive?Which character hits hardest on a rewatch?Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at BornToWatch.com.au #BornToWatch #BoogieNights #PTA #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #CultCinema #1990sMovies #MovieReview #PodcastLife #200Episodes

    2h 21m

  4. JAN 27

    Extreme Prejudice (1987)

    The boys are back for 2026, and they are not easing into it gently. Born to Watch kicks off the new year with a full-blooded dive into one of the most aggressively 80s action films ever put on VHS shelves, Walter Hill's Extreme Prejudice (1987). Cowboy hats, cocaine, mercenaries, sweat, testosterone and a whole lot of unexplained shoulder shots, this one has it all. In this Extreme Prejudice (1987) Review, Whitey, Gow and Damo reunite as the A-team and take on a film that feels like The A-Team pilot collided head-on with a dusty Western, then detonated somewhere on the Texas–Mexico border.  At the centre is Nick Nolte at peak brooding intensity, playing a stone-faced Texas Ranger chasing his childhood friend, now a drug-running psychopath in a pristine white suit, played with unhinged gusto by Powers Boothe. Directed by action legend Walter Hill, Extreme Prejudice is the kind of movie that barely pauses for breath. Secret military units officially declared dead, renegade majors, bank robberies, double-crosses, unnecessary nudity and a final act so chaotic it feels like an entire missing movie has been cut out, which, as the boys discover, is pretty much exactly what happened. The cast reads like an 80s action villain roll call. Michael Ironside growls his way through another morally questionable authority role, Clancy Brown looms menacingly, William Forsythe perfects the art of being deeply hateable, and a young Larry B Scott pops in an action film after Revenge of the Nerds turned him into a cult comedy icon. Add in Maria Conchita Alonso, singing badly on purpose, and you have a film bursting at the seams with characters who all look like they should be in different movies. As always, the boys break it down properly. Overs and unders are debated, including the uncomfortable realisation that Extreme Prejudice may make perfect sense if you're sixteen and not at all if you're over forty. There's deep discussion about whether Nick Nolte smiles even once in the entire film, spoiler, he does not, and whether anyone in the 80s understood centre-mass shooting. The Nut-Tuck-Yourself SAG Awards get a workout, with Nolte's pre-Prince of Tides physique under the microscope, and the Snorbs Report pops up exactly where you expect it to. Box office numbers are crunched, Walter Hill's career is put into context, and the boys try to work out how a film with this cast, this director and this level of explosive excess somehow lost money. Film School for F-Wits returns with a look at Hill's obsession with male-driven action cinema, while Hit, Sleeper and Dud for 1987 reminds everyone just how stacked that year really was, from Predator and Lethal Weapon to the absolute disaster that was Revenge of the Nerds II. Add in listener feedback, voicemail chaos, bird-related accusations, corn beef confessions, and a reminder that Born to Watch never takes movies, or itself, too seriously, and you've got the perfect way to start the year. This is sweat-soaked, ridiculous, deeply flawed 80s action cinema, and the boys wouldn't have it any other way. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Is Extreme Prejudice peak 80s action excess, or just glorious nonsense?Does Nick Nolte smile even once in this movie?Is the final act pure chaos genius, or a missing half-hour of film?Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at BornToWatch.com.au Born to Watch, because some movies demand to be watched, argued over and mildly roasted. #BornToWatch #ExtremePrejudice #80sActionMovies #WalterHill #NickNolte #ActionMoviePodcast #CultAction #VHSClassics #MoviePodcast #80sCinema

    1h 53m

  5. JAN 20

    Best Movies of this Century (2000-2025)

    What happens when you try to rank the Best Movies of This Century, one year at a time, with no safety net, no do-overs, and your family sitting right beside you? You get chaos, passion, nostalgia, and one of the most honest movie conversations we've ever recorded on Born to Watch. In this special episode, Matt is joined by two very special guests, his wife, Meagan, and his daughter, Bel, as they attempt the impossible task of selecting the single best movie from every year between 2000 and 2025. One movie per year. No ties (mostly). No backing out (occasionally). And absolutely no pretending bad sequels didn't happen. Starting at the turn of the millennium with Gladiator, the episode charts the evolution of modern cinema, from epic blockbusters and genre-defining franchises to animated classics, emotional dramas, and films that completely changed how audiences experienced movies in the cinema. Along the way, the discussion covers everything from the dominance of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Christopher Nolan's genre-bending run, the rise and fall of superhero cinema, Quentin Tarantino's most personal work, unforgettable cinema moments like Avengers: Endgame, and the films that defined family movie nights in the White household. This episode isn't just about critical acclaim or box office numbers. It's about how movies land, who they stay with, and why some films become comfort watches while others hit you once and never leave. Belle brings a brutally honest Gen-Z perspective, Meagan balances emotion and realism, and Matt does what he does best: overanalyses everything while defending Nolan, Denzel, and Ridley Scott at every opportunity. There are laughs, genuine disagreements, questionable parenting admissions, and more than a few moments where the word "sequel" becomes a four-letter swear word. You'll hear passionate defences of animated films, heated debates over Bond rankings, and reflections on how cinema changed after COVID reshaped the industry. Whether you agree with the picks or want to argue every single one, this episode is a celebration of why movies matter, why watching them together matters more, and why trying to rank the Best Movies of This Century is both completely ridiculous and absolutely essential. JOIN THE CONVERSATION  Which movie should have made the list? What film defines your century so far? Did we get it right, or completely butcher it?Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at BornToWatch.com.au   #PodcastAustralia #FamilyPodcast #CinemaHistory

    1h 14m

  6. JAN 13

    Flying High (Airplane) (1980)

    Comedy is the hardest genre to get right. Making people laugh once is tough; making them laugh for decades is almost impossible. Yet here we are in 2026, revisiting a film released in 1980 that still lands gags at a rate modern comedies can only dream of. This week on Born to Watch, Whitey and Gow tackle the undisputed benchmark of parody comedy in our Flying High (Airplane) Review, a movie that didn’t just spoof disaster films; it rewired comedy forever. Known as Flying High here in Australia and Airplane! Everywhere else, this is the film that taught generations how powerful straight-faced absurdity can be. Serious actors, ridiculous situations, relentless visual gags and a script that fires jokes every few seconds without ever stopping to catch its breath. Watching it again now raises the big question: Does it still work in 2026? The short answer, absolutely. From the opening Jaws parody at the airport to the final moments on the runway, this film never lets up. There are jokes in the foreground, jokes in the background, jokes buried inside other jokes, and blink-and-you-miss-it moments that reward repeat viewings again and again. Whitey and Gow break down just how outrageous the gag density really is, and why that non-stop approach is exactly what modern comedies have lost. The cast is a huge part of what makes Flying High work so well. Robert Stack, Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves and Leslie Nielsen all play it completely straight, refusing to wink at the audience even once. That contrast between deadly serious performances and utterly ridiculous dialogue is the secret sauce. Leslie Nielsen, in particular, launches what would become one of the great comedy second acts of all time, delivering lines like “Surely you can’t be serious” with such conviction that it somehow makes them even funnier. Whitey and Gow also dig into the sheer insanity of the situations. A full hospital bed loaded onto a commercial flight. A child needing a heart transplant mid-air. Everyone eating the fish except the one person who doesn’t get sick. A blow-up autopilot. A guitar smashing passengers in the head as it walks down the aisle. None of it makes sense, and none of it is supposed to. Overs and unders are discussed, with both hosts landing comfortably in the 35 to 40 watch range, a testament to just how embedded this movie is in their DNA. It’s the kind of film that was always in rotation growing up, something the whole family could watch, quote and laugh at together. That shared comedy experience is something Whitey argues we no longer get. The episode also explores how Flying High set the template for everything that followed, from Naked Gun to Hot Shots and beyond, while also pointing out why so many parody films failed to replicate its magic. Awareness of what you are, commitment to the bit, and never stopping the joke train. Critical scores still back it up. A 7.7 on IMDb, 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, and a spot alongside absolute classics in movie history. Not bad for a film that proudly advertised itself as the winner of zero Academy Awards. This episode is packed with favourite scenes, forgotten gags, pop culture moments, questionable jokes that still somehow work, and plenty of Born to Watch side tangents along the way. If you love comedy, parody, or just laughing out loud at things you probably shouldn’t, this is one episode you don’t want to miss. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Is Flying High the funniest comedy ever made?Which gag still kills you every time?Could a movie like this even get made today?Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at BornToWatch.com.au #FlyingHigh #AirplaneMovie #BornToWatch #ComedyClassic #MoviePodcast #80sMovies #ParodyFilms #FilmReview #CultCinema #LaughOutLoud

    1h 19m

  7. JAN 6

    Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025)

    Welcome to a special holiday edition of Born to Watch as we kick off 2026 with our first episode of the year, diving headfirst into James Cameron's latest visual behemoth, Avatar: Fire and Ash. Released during the peak Christmas blockbuster window, this third chapter continues Cameron's decades-long obsession with Pandora, spectacle, and pushing cinematic technology to its absolute limits. In this Avatar Fire and Ash Review, Whitey and Damo reunite for what has now become a strange but sacred tradition, reviewing each Avatar film together as it hits cinemas. Sixteen years after the original Avatar changed blockbuster filmmaking forever, Fire and Ash arrives with enormous expectations, a massive runtime, and the promise of something darker, angrier, and more volatile than anything we've seen on Pandora before. Picking up shortly after the events of The Way of Water, the Sully family are still dealing with grief, fractured relationships, and the relentless pursuit of humanity's returning forces. This time, however, the danger doesn't just come from sky people and recombinants. We're introduced to the Ash People, a fire-driven Na'vi tribe led by the ferocious and unforgettable Varang. Their volcanic environment, brutal ideology, and complete rejection of Eywa mark the franchise's most radical departure to date. Visually, Fire and Ash is everything you expect from Cameron. The world-building is astonishing, with volcanic landscapes, new creatures, and large-scale action sequences that exist purely to remind you why Avatar films demand the biggest screen possible. Whether it's underwater chaos, airborne combat, or creatures that feel ripped straight from Cameron's sketchbooks, the film is an undeniable technical achievement. But Born to Watch isn't here to admire pretty pixels. Whitey and Damo dig into the film's biggest talking points, including the now-familiar Avatar formula, the film's staggering three-hour-plus runtime, and whether this chapter actually moves the story forward or simply spins its wheels. Is this Avatar 3, or Avatar 2.5? Does the franchise still have emotional weight, or has it become a tech demo in search of a story? There's plenty of discussion around returning villain Quaritch, whose moral tug-of-war continues to be one of the franchise's more compelling arcs, and Spider's expanding role as the human caught between two worlds. The episode also tackles the darker tone of Fire and Ash, its surprisingly violent moments, and the question of whether Cameron is setting up a satisfying endgame or stretching Pandora beyond breaking point. As always, the episode starts spoiler-light before diving fully into spoilers, dissecting character arcs, repetitive beats, and the growing sense that Avatar may be more about visual wonder than narrative payoff. There's praise where it's due, criticism where it's earned, and a lot of laughs along the way. If you loved the first two Avatar films, this one will feel familiar, immersive, and impressive. If you've ever questioned where this franchise is heading, Fire and Ash may give you just as many questions as answers. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Is Avatar still cinema's ultimate big-screen spectacle? Is this chapter bold evolution or safe repetition? Can James Cameron realistically deliver two more Avatar films? Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at BornToWatch.com.au #AvatarFireAndAshReview #BornToWatch #Avatar2025 #JamesCameron #MoviePodcast #FilmReview #BlockbusterCinema #SciFiMovies #IMAXExperience #Pandora

    1h 6m

  8. 12/30/2025

    Ghostbusters 2 (1989)

    In our Ghostbusters 2 (1989) Review, Whitey and Damo strap the proton packs back on and head to New York City for a sequel that arrived five years too late and never quite captured the lightning in a bottle of the original. After seeing Ghostbusters (1984) an almost unhealthy number of times, expectations for the follow-up were sky high. What we got instead was a softer, louder, more kid-friendly sequel that trades sharp satire and genuine menace for slime, singing and some very questionable creative choices. Set against a New Year’s Eve backdrop, Ghostbusters II reunites Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson as the once-celebrated paranormal heroes, now sidelined, sued and reduced to performing at children’s birthday parties. When Dana Barrett’s baby becomes the target of an ancient Carpathian villain named Vigo, the boys are forced back into action to stop an underground river of pink slime, fueled by negative emotions, from swallowing New York whole. On paper, it sounds like a solid premise. In execution, it feels like a sequel constantly fighting itself. The episode breaks down how Ghostbusters II leans heavily on repeating beats from the original, courtroom chaos, montages, and paranormal mayhem, without ever understanding why those moments worked the first time. The result is a film that feels over-lit, over-explained and strangely toothless. Whitey and Damo dig into the tonal confusion at the heart of the movie. Is this meant to be for kids, adults, or fans of the original? The answer seems to be “all of the above”, which unfortunately means it never fully commits to any of them. The darker elements, Vigo, the possessed nanny, the skull-filled subway, hint at something more sinister, but they are quickly undercut by jokes that miss the mark and a finale that relies on good vibes and sing-alongs to save the day. There is still fun to be had. Rick Moranis is once again the MVP, delivering genuine laughs as Lewis Tully, especially in the courtroom scenes and his chemistry with Annie Potts' Janine. Their relationship is one of the few elements that actually evolves from the first film and provides some heart amid the chaos. The Ecto-1 makeover also earns praise, because if you are going to revisit this universe, you may as well do it in style. Unfortunately, other characters fare far worse. Winston is once again sidelined and reduced to explaining the plot in plain English before disappearing for long stretches. Sigourney Weaver, fresh off Aliens and Gorillas in the Mist, is criminally underused. Bill Murray's Peter Venkman, once effortlessly charming, feels disengaged and oddly mean-spirited, lacking the spark that made him iconic. The episode also takes aim at the film's baffling logic, from characters wandering into danger without proton packs to slime that magically stops affecting people once jackets come off. And then there is Vigo himself, a villain with an impressively grim backstory who somehow becomes one of the least threatening antagonists of the era. By the time the Statue of Liberty moonwalks through Manhattan and New Yorkers save the day through collective positivity, Born to Watch has a verdict. Ghostbusters II is not unwatchable, but it is the definition of a sequel made by committee, one that misunderstands its own appeal and plays it far too safe. It is a fascinating case study in how not to follow a classic. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Did Ghostbusters II deserve a reappraisal, or is it a nostalgia trap? Was Vigo ever scary, or just underwritten? Should this franchise have stopped after one film? Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at BornToWatch.com.au  #BornToWatch #Ghostbusters2 #Ghostbusters1990 #MoviePodcast #FilmReview #80sMovies #90sSequels #IvanReitman #BillMurray #MovieNostalgia

    1h 34m
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Join four old mates on a cinematic journey like no other in the "Born to Watch Movie Podcast" the podcast where movies aren't just watched, they're experienced. Each week, dive into the films that reshaped their lives and, perhaps, even the world. With many thousands of hours of movie-watching under their belts, these friends bring a unique, seasoned perspective where they don't take themselves or the movies too seriously.

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