The Commentary Booth

Pario Magazine
  • 4.9 (17)
  • Film Reviews
  • Updated Weekly

The Commentary Booth is a weekly entertainment podcast where we watch, & you guessed it commentate on the week that was in movies & TV. Each week, Jamie & a rotating cast of colour commentators will review what they've been watching to help you find your next viewing treat.

  1. 5d ago

    Mike Flanagan's Carrie Review

    This week on The Commentary Booth, Jamie Apps and Corrina Mabey go telekinetic and dive into Stephen King’s world with Mike Flanagan’s eight-episode Carrie adaptation, now streaming on Prime Video. After the sudden death of her father, Carietta Nadine "Carrie" White is forced to leave the sheltered life she has shared with her overprotective mother and attend public school for the first time. Between the bullying, the online humiliation and the strange telekinetic abilities beginning to emerge, the people around her learn there are consequences to treating someone like a monster. We explore the show's feminist themes, its expanded mythology surrounding telekinetic abilities, the potential connections to other Stephen King stories (yes, we're talking about The Shining and Firestarter), and whether Prime Video might have the beginnings of something bigger on its hands. But can Mike Flanagan bring something genuinely fresh to a story audiences have revisited for more than 50 years? Spoiler warning: this episode discusses plot points throughout. Content advisory: the series and our discussion touch on heavy themes including bullying and self-harm. This week’s episode is brought to you by Australian Wrestling Cards Check out more great content from Pario Magazine on our website. ------------------------------------------------------------- SUPPORT PARIO MAGAZINE & THE COMMENTARY BOOTH - PATREON - BUY MERCH - AMAZON PRIME VIDEO - TUBEBUDDY - Subscribe to AEW Plus using my code (q0yydoz) to earn $10 in FITE credit - Shop Online With Honey - Shop Online With Satechi MY EQUIPMENT - Elgato Facecam - Rode PodMic - Elgato Wave Mic Arm LP - Streamlabs Talk Studio FOLLOW JAMIE ON SOCIAL MEDIA - Twitter - Facebook - Instagram - TikTok FOLLOW PARIO MAGAZINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA - Twitter - Facebook - Instagram

  2. Sep 29

    FIRST TIME WATCHING: Solo - A Star Wars Story

    Han Solo's origin story takes centre stage as The Commentary Booth continues its Star Wars 50th Anniversary Celebration Rewatch Series with Solo: A Star Wars Story. Jamie Apps and Corrina Mabey head back to 2018 for a space Western packed with smugglers, criminals, double-crosses, questionable life choices and, eventually, one very familiar Wookiee. For Corrina, this is her very first watch of Solo, and somehow, eight years on, she managed to dodge every spoiler, including the movie's biggest reveal. The pair dig into Alden Ehrenreich’s portrayal of Han Solo, asking whether he manages to capture Harrison Ford's swagger without simply becoming a Ford impersonator. They also discuss Donald Glover's near-perfect Lando Calrissian, Emilia Clarke’s Qi'ra, Woody Harrelson's Tobias Beckett and a surprisingly stacked supporting cast. Then there's the production drama. Jamie breaks down the notorious change of directors from Phil Lord and Christopher Miller to Ron Howard, the competing creative visions behind the movie and how that turbulent production may have contributed to a film that sometimes feels like two different Star Wars adventures fighting for screen time. The conversation also gets into the spectacular train heist, the Kessel Run, Han and Chewie's first meeting, L3-37, the film's endless betrayals, the Darth Maul surprise and why Corrina absolutely did not see that one coming. Is Solo an underrated Star Wars adventure, an overlong origin story, or simply a decent movie caught in the middle of a galaxy-sized production mess? Jamie and Corrina have plenty to say about it. Plus, find out where Solo lands in their personal Star Wars rankings and whether either of them thinks they'd willingly watch it again. This week’s episode is brought to you by Australian Wrestling Cards Check out more great content from Pario Magazine on our website. ------------------------------------------------------------- SUPPORT PARIO MAGAZINE & THE COMMENTARY BOOTH - PATREON - BUY MERCH - AMAZON PRIME VIDEO - TUBEBUDDY - Subscribe to AEW Plus using my code (q0yydoz) to earn $10 in FITE credit - Shop Online With Honey - Shop Online With Satechi MY EQUIPMENT - Elgato Facecam - Rode PodMic - Elgato Wave Mic Arm LP - Streamlabs Talk Studio FOLLOW JAMIE ON SOCIAL MEDIA - Twitter - Facebook - Instagram - TikTok FOLLOW PARIO MAGAZINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA - Twitter - Facebook - Instagram

  3. Sep 22

    David Baker on the Rise & Fall of Forged in Fire and the Launch of Baker's Blades

    What happens when a lifelong obsession with swords, history and making things turns into a career spanning Hollywood, television and now YouTube? In this episode of The Commentary Booth, Jamie Apps sits down with historic weapons recreation specialist and longtime Forged In Fire judge David Baker for a wide-ranging conversation about three decades in bladesmithing, the rollercoaster rise and quiet end of one of TV's most beloved competition shows, and the passion project that's picking up where it left off: Baker’s Blades. David takes Jamie behind the scenes of his extraordinary creative journey, from teaching actors how to sword fight and building theatrical weapons for film and television, to recreating some of history’s most fascinating blades. Jamie and David also look back at the rise of Forged in Fire, from what was originally intended to be a 10-episode run to a series that eventually stretched across 11 seasons of production. David discusses what made the show so special, the incredible bladesmiths he encountered, the realities of filming a competition involving live weapons, and why the show's cancellation was a disappointing casualty of network mergers. But the conversation is really about what comes next. David reveals the story behind Baker’s Blades, a project that had been in his mind for years before finally becoming reality. The new series combines historic weapons, hands-on recreation, travel, motorcycles and the stories behind the objects themselves. Its first episode follows David's recreation of Cornwallis's Surrender Sword, a project that came together through an unexpected opportunity involving the National Museum of the United States Army. David also explains why Baker’s Blades isn't simply another forging show. For him, the journey matters just as much as the weapon. He wants to take viewers to the places where history happened, uncover stories that have been forgotten, and show how historic weapons can provide a doorway into the people, places and events surrounding them. And because this is The Commentary Booth, the conversation eventually comes back to the creative process itself and David’s philosophy of "fail big"! Whether you're a Forged in Fire diehard, a history nerd, or just someone who loves hearing a craftsman talk about their craft, this is a Commentary Booth episode unlike any other. This week’s episode is brought to you by Australian Wrestling Cards Check out more great content from Pario Magazine on our website. ------------------------------------------------------------- SUPPORT PARIO MAGAZINE & THE COMMENTARY BOOTH - PATREON - BUY MERCH - AMAZON PRIME VIDEO - TUBEBUDDY - Subscribe to AEW Plus using my code (q0yydoz) to earn $10 in FITE credit - Shop Online With Honey - Shop Online With Satechi MY EQUIPMENT - Elgato Facecam - Rode PodMic - Elgato Wave Mic Arm LP - Streamlabs Talk Studio FOLLOW JAMIE ON SOCIAL MEDIA - Twitter - Facebook - Instagram - TikTok FOLLOW PARIO MAGAZINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA - Twitter - Facebook - Instagram

  4. Sep 15

    FIRST TIME WATCHING: Resident Evil (2002)

    Before Zach Cregger takes audiences back into the world of Resident Evil, The Commentary Booth’s Jamie Apps and Corrina Mabey return to where the live-action movie franchise began with Paul W.S. Anderson's 2002 action-horror adaptation. Milla Jovovich stars as Alice, a mysterious operative caught in the middle of an outbreak at an Umbrella Corporation genetics laboratory, alongside Michelle Rodriguez’s Rain Ocampo and a team of commandos fighting their way through zombies, mutant creatures and one very unhappy artificial intelligence. But how well does Resident Evil actually hold up more than two decades later? For Jamie, who has never played a Resident Evil game, this is a chance to judge the movie purely as a piece of horror and action cinema. Corrina, meanwhile, brings her experience with the games and plenty of affection for the increasingly chaotic movie franchise. That makes for a surprisingly interesting debate about what counts as a good video game adaptation. Highlights Breakdown: - Video Game vs Movie: How closely does the 2002 film actually resemble Resident Evil, and does that even matter - Horror or Action?: Jamie and Corrina debate why the movie feels more like an action film than traditional zombie horror. - Alice & Milla Jovovich: Why creating an original protagonist helped the film stand apart from the games while still feeling connected to the Resident Evil universe. - The Romero What-If: What could George A. Romero's version of Resident Evil have looked like? - What Went Wrong?: The dialogue, darkness, characters and video-game-style storytelling all come under the microscope. - Zach Cregger's Resident Evil: What can the upcoming adaptation learn from Anderson's film while bringing something new to the franchise? Is Anderson's Resident Evil a misunderstood video game adaptation, a gloriously ridiculous early-2000s action movie, or both? And, what can Zach Cregger learn from the 2002 movie to ensure his version finally gives Resident Evil the big-screen adaptation it deserves? This week’s episode is brought to you by Australian Wrestling Cards Check out more great content from Pario Magazine on our website. ------------------------------------------------------------- SUPPORT PARIO MAGAZINE & THE COMMENTARY BOOTH - PATREON - BUY MERCH - AMAZON PRIME VIDEO - TUBEBUDDY - Subscribe to AEW Plus using my code (q0yydoz) to earn $10 in FITE credit - Shop Online With Honey - Shop Online With Satechi MY EQUIPMENT - Elgato Facecam - Rode PodMic - Elgato Wave Mic Arm LP - Streamlabs Talk Studio FOLLOW JAMIE ON SOCIAL MEDIA - Twitter - Facebook - Instagram - TikTok FOLLOW PARIO MAGAZINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA - Twitter - Facebook - Instagram

  5. Sep 8

    The Whisper Man Review (SPOILERS)

    What happens when a film looks like one thing in the trailer, only to turn out to be something rather different once you actually press play? This week on The Commentary Booth, Jamie Apps is joined by Astrid Pizarro from the Killer Cuts Podcast to break down Netflix’s star-studded thriller, The Whisper Man. Based on Alex North’s bestselling novel, The Whisper Man follows a widowed crime writer whose eight-year-old son is abducted, forcing him to turn to his estranged father, a retired police detective, for help. As the investigation unfolds, the pair discover disturbing links to an old serial killer case involving the mysterious Whisper Man. But does Netflix's marketing sell audiences the wrong movie? We go beyond the trailer’s supernatural scares to dissect the film's real core: a gripping serial killer mystery and a profound exploration of inherited trauma.The pair also explore the film's Black Phone-esque moments, creepy background details, the mysterious blue hand, the clever use of red herrings, and the unsettling imagery surrounding the Whisper Man himself. Highlights Breakdown: The Whisper Man's misleading marketing A Stacked Cast Hidden Horror Details The Theme of Inherited Trauma They also take a closer look at the stacked cast, including Adam Scott's increasingly impressive dramatic work, Robert De Niro's involvement, and Hamish Linklater's bizarre but memorable turn as Norman Collins. They also consider whether the movie successfully answers the questions it raises, whether the Alex North novel is worth checking out, and whether the Russo Brothers' involvement can actually be felt on screen. If you love mystery, thrillers, and Robert De Niro, this episode is for you. This week’s episode is brought to you by Australian Wrestling Cards Check out more great content from Pario Magazine on our website. ------------------------------------------------------------- SUPPORT PARIO MAGAZINE & THE COMMENTARY BOOTH - PATREON - BUY MERCH - AMAZON PRIME VIDEO - TUBEBUDDY - Subscribe to AEW Plus using my code (q0yydoz) to earn $10 in FITE credit - Shop Online With Honey - Shop Online With Satechi MY EQUIPMENT - Elgato Facecam - Rode PodMic - Elgato Wave Mic Arm LP - Streamlabs Talk Studio FOLLOW JAMIE ON SOCIAL MEDIA - Twitter - Facebook - Instagram - TikTok FOLLOW PARIO MAGAZINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA - Twitter - Facebook - Instagram

  6. Sep 1

    Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi

    Our Star Wars 50th anniversary rewatch continues on The Commentary Booth, and this time Jamie Apps and Corrina Mabey are heading back to a galaxy far, far away for 2017's Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi. Written and directed by Rian Johnson, The Last Jedi sees Rey (Daisy Ridley) travel to the remote island where Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) has isolated himself, hoping the legendary Jedi Master can help her understand and control her growing connection to the Force. Meanwhile, the Resistance faces an increasingly desperate battle against the First Order, with Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), Finn (John Boyega), Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran) and Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) all fighting their own battles as the galaxy edges closer to collapse. But does The Last Jedi hold up nearly a decade later? Jamie and Corrina revisit one of the most divisive movies in the Star Wars saga, unpacking the film's ambitious ideas, questionable creative choices and storylines that seem to go nowhere. From Luke Skywalker's characterisation and Rey's rapidly developing powers to Kylo Ren's (Adam Driver) frustrating villain arc, the much-maligned casino planet and that unforgettable Battle of Crait, almost nothing escapes scrutiny. Highlights Breakdown: - What went wrong with Luke Skywalker's character arc? - Why the Leia space scene should have ended differently - Hidden cameos from British royalty and Tom Hardy! - Why this trilogy lacked a cohesive plan Along the way, Jamie and Corrina question whether the sequel trilogy ever had a cohesive plan, debate what could have been done differently with Kylo Ren and Leia, revisit Mark Hamill's famous criticism of Luke's characterisation, and examine the film's numerous loose ends. So, was The Last Jedi a bold attempt to take Star Wars somewhere new, or a spectacularly messy middle chapter that left Episode IX with an impossible job? Join Jamie and Corrina as The Commentary Booth puts Star Wars: Episode VIII, The Last Jedi back under the microscope. This week’s episode is brought to you by Australian Wrestling Cards Check out more great content from Pario Magazine on our website. ------------------------------------------------------------- SUPPORT PARIO MAGAZINE & THE COMMENTARY BOOTH - PATREON - BUY MERCH - AMAZON PRIME VIDEO - TUBEBUDDY - Subscribe to AEW Plus using my code (q0yydoz) to earn $10 in FITE credit - Shop Online With Honey - Shop Online With Satechi MY EQUIPMENT - Elgato Facecam - Rode PodMic - Elgato Wave Mic Arm LP - Streamlabs Talk Studio FOLLOW JAMIE ON SOCIAL MEDIA - Twitter - Facebook - Instagram - TikTok FOLLOW PARIO MAGAZINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA - Twitter - Facebook - Instagram

  7. Aug 25

    Labyrinth 40th Anniversary Review

    Forty years after Jim Henson’s Labyrinth first transported audiences into a strange, glitter-covered world of goblins, puppets, impossible staircases and one very memorable Goblin King, The Commentary Booth is heading back into the maze. This week, Jamie Apps and Corrina Mabey celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 1986 fantasy classic starring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly, and, unsurprisingly, they do not exactly agree on whether Labyrinth has aged into a timeless masterpiece or a bizarre relic of 1980s filmmaking. Join duo as they debate whether this 1986 cult classic is a timeless masterpiece of puppetry and imagination, or a strange, dark fever dream that left an entire generation of children mildly traumatised. Highlights Breakdown: - David Bowie as Jareth: The Goblin King, the casting alternatives and one of the most unforgettable fantasy performances of the 1980s. - Jim Henson’s puppetry magic: A closer look at the extraordinary practical work behind Hoggle, Ludo, the Fireys and the film's many creatures. - Dream or reality? Jamie and Corrina debate what Sarah's journey actually represents and whether the entire adventure exists inside her imagination. - The film's creepiest moments: From the helping hands to the Fireys, Labyrinth proves that "kids' movie" meant something very different in the 1980s. - Two very different verdicts: But, naturally, they're both convinced they're right. - Could Labyrinth return? The pair discuss the long-rumoured sequel, the possibility of a darker reboot and what could happen if the Goblin King returned. Tune in to hear Jamie and Corrina settle the debate, share their own childhood memories (and traumas) of the film, and discuss the potential for a dark, Robert Eggers-directed reboot. This week’s episode is brought to you by Australian Wrestling Cards Check out more great content from Pario Magazine on our website. ------------------------------------------------------------- SUPPORT PARIO MAGAZINE & THE COMMENTARY BOOTH - PATREON - BUY MERCH - AMAZON PRIME VIDEO - TUBEBUDDY - Subscribe to AEW Plus using my code (q0yydoz) to earn $10 in FITE credit - Shop Online With Honey - Shop Online With Satechi MY EQUIPMENT - Elgato Facecam - Rode PodMic - Elgato Wave Mic Arm LP - Streamlabs Talk Studio FOLLOW JAMIE ON SOCIAL MEDIA - Twitter - Facebook - Instagram - TikTok FOLLOW PARIO MAGAZINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA - Twitter - Facebook - Instagram

  8. Aug 18

    The X-Files: I Want To Believe - Vrach Frankenshteyn Review

    The truth is out there... but apparently, it involves Frankenstein monsters, organ trafficking and a surprisingly small number of aliens. On this episode of The Commentary Booth, Jamie Apps and Corrina Mabey return to the world of Fox Mulder and Dana Scully to review the new director’s cut of the 2008 sci-fi thriller The X-Files: I Want To Believe - Vrach Frankenshteyn. Mulder and Scully are pulled back into an FBI investigation involving psychic visions, a kidnapped agent, Russian scientists, organ trafficking and some truly strange Frankenstein-inspired experiments. But with the film stepping away from the franchise's iconic alien mythology, does this new cut actually feel like The X-Files? And, naturally, the conversation eventually turns to the bigger question: could The X-Files actually return? Highlights Breakdown: - How the director's cut pushes the film from PG-13 to an R rating - Jamie and Corrina debate whether abandoning the alien mythology was a mistake - The biggest changes between the original cut and the new director's cut - Why Mulder and Scully's romantic moments were removed - Billy Connolly's unexpectedly dark role as Father Joe - Why the movie struggled financially compared with the 1998 X-Files film - Could The X-Files return as a reboot or new series? So, is The X-Files: I Want To Believe - Vrach Frankenshteyn a misunderstood X-Files classic, or should Mulder and Scully have left this particular case firmly in the filing cabinet? This week’s episode is brought to you by Australian Wrestling Cards Check out more great content from Pario Magazine on our website. ------------------------------------------------------------- SUPPORT PARIO MAGAZINE & THE COMMENTARY BOOTH - PATREON - BUY MERCH - AMAZON PRIME VIDEO - TUBEBUDDY - Subscribe to AEW Plus using my code (q0yydoz) to earn $10 in FITE credit - Shop Online With Honey - Shop Online With Satechi MY EQUIPMENT - Elgato Facecam - Rode PodMic - Elgato Wave Mic Arm LP - Streamlabs Talk Studio FOLLOW JAMIE ON SOCIAL MEDIA - Twitter - Facebook - Instagram - TikTok FOLLOW PARIO MAGAZINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA - Twitter - Facebook - Instagram

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4.9
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

The Commentary Booth is a weekly entertainment podcast where we watch, & you guessed it commentate on the week that was in movies & TV. Each week, Jamie & a rotating cast of colour commentators will review what they've been watching to help you find your next viewing treat.

Information

  • Creator
    Pario Magazine
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    300
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    The Commentary Booth