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. 1d ago

    The Cycle Review: Does Shudder's New Horror Live Up To Stephen King’s Praise?

    Stephen King called it “special”. But does Shudder’s latest horror release, The Cycle, deserve the praise, or should this one have stayed buried? In the final spooky-season episode of The Commentary Booth, hosts Jamie Apps and Corrina Mabey close out their October horror run with Shudder's latest exclusive. The Cycle stars Deborah Ann Woll Deborah Ann Woll as a forensic anthropologist who investigates a gruesome crime scene and discovers that one of the bodies is her father, who vanished 36 years ago. The first half is a gripping, grounded crime procedural with real The Silence Of The Lambs, Longlegs, and Se7en energy. Then the film takes a hard left turn. Jamie and Corrina break down whether that swerve is a Stephen King-style masterstroke or a mistake, and they come out in different places on it. Along the way, they gush over some of the best practical makeup and creature work Shudder has delivered. They also settle the great Deborah Ann Woll debate (True Blood or Daredevil?) and weigh up whether she can carry a film as the lead. Plus, they ask whether a back-loaded, rushed finale undercuts all that slow-burn tension. This is a spoiler-light review, with a clear warning before we get into the film's big creature-feature reveal. If you're deciding what to stream this Halloween, this episode will help you decide whether The Cycle is worth your watchlist. 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. Oct 20

    Crystal Lake Review: Does A24 Ruin Friday the 13th With Prequel Series?

    In this special spooky-season episode of The Commentary Booth, hosts Jamie Apps and resident horror aficionado Corrina Mabey take a deep dive into the blood-soaked waters of Crystal Lake, A24’s highly anticipated Friday The 13th prequel series now streaming on Peacock and Stan. Is this deep-dive into the origin story of Pamela Voorhees a fresh, terrifying new chapter, or is it a sci-fi twist that goes one step too far? Set in 1971, eight years before the original 1980 film, Crystal Lake explores the troubled history of Pamela Voorhees (Linda Cardellini), a grieving single mother struggling to cope with the presumed drowning of her young son, Jason. But when a dark secret from her past comes to light, the quiet town of Crystal Lake becomes the setting for a disturbing chain of events. Highlights Breakdown: - WHAT WE COVER: A24's involvement & the risk of redoing a classic - Brutal Gore & Practical Effects: We discuss the show’s shocking practical effects and its insane, brutal kills - Where it succeeds & stumbles: Capturing the vibe but missing the point - That revealing twist: Does the backstory demystify Jason Voorhees? Corrina is a lifelong Friday the 13th fan, while Jamie is still getting acquainted with Jason's bloody legacy. Together, they unpack whether this prequel does justice to the franchise, or whether its ambition gets the better of it. We discuss Linda Cardellini's chilling performance as Pamela, the show's jaw-dropping gruesome practical effects, its love letter to classic 1980s slashers, and the little details that bring the world of Friday the 13th to life. We also get into the pacing problems, the characters who feel like filler, and the controversial science-fiction backstory that takes Jason's origins in a very unexpected direction. Does Crystal Lake successfully expand the Friday the 13th mythology, or should some mysteries stay buried? 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. Oct 13

    Street Fighter (1994) Review: The Worst Video Game Movie Ever?

    With a new Street Fighter movie on the horizon, hosts Jamie Apps and Corrina Mabey are suiting up for a mission they might not survive. They’re going back to where it all began, or rather, where it all went horribly wrong, with the 1994 cult classic (or catastrophe), Street Fighter. Step into The Commentary Booth for a true first watch where neither host survives unscathed. This week, we’re diving into the Jean-Claude Van Damme-led action film that famously tried to be Star Wars, James Bond, and a Vietnam War movie all at once, but ended up being a masterclass in how not to adapt a video game. They break down the baffling plot involving General Bison (the legendary Raul Julia in his final theatrical role), 63 kidnapped UN relief workers, and Colonel Guile’s mission to get them back. But most importantly, where are all the spectacular fights, iconic special moves and larger-than-life characters that made the video game a classic? Highlights Breakdown: - First Time Watch: Why Jamie regrets agreeing to watch this movie - The Van Damme Factor: A Van Damme movie with a Street Fighter label slapped on it while filming during the peak of his addiction - Production Nightmares: The rushed schedule, missing star & last-minute script changes - New Street Fighter Movie: Hope or Hype? Plus, we dig into the fascinating behind-the-scenes stories, including the film's reported $35 million budget, its surprisingly successful box office run, and why production had to adapt when plans for the climactic assault changed. Whether you’re a die-hard Street Fighter fan or just love a good movie-teardown, this episode is a hilarious, unfiltered look at one of the most notorious video game movies ever made. Will the new Street Fighter movie break the curse? Jamie and Corrina certainly hope so. Tune in to find out why this 1994 misfire is a "bad bad" movie, not a "so bad it's good" one. 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. Oct 6

    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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

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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