The Arms Race Podcast: Season 5

The Arms Race Podcast reawakens from its cryo-sleep to cover the first in our series of Sylvester Stallone movies: Demolition Man! In this episode Mike and Kevin discuss Wesley Snipes' bravura performance as Simon Phoenix, highlight the moral hypocrisies of Denis Leary, speculate about how the three seashells may or may not work, and iron out the kinks in their new library of mini-tunes (you call them segment bumpers). Simon says: take a listen!

Episode 36 - It's a Brave New World (Demolition Man)

The Arms Race podcast returns to discuss a movie as tone-deaf as its lead actor: Rhinestone! In this episode, Mike and Kevin try to refrain from becoming downbeat as they decide whether this film strikes a minor chord, utilize a measure of creativity as they pitch some alternative story lines, make overtures towards some great background actors of old, and finally recite a chorus of praise for the happiest Dolly-Parton-themed place on earth.

The Arms Race Podcast

Episode 37 - Bland Ole Opry (Rhinestone)

We'll cop to being excited, here at the Arms Race podcast, to discuss the 1997 police drama Cop Land! On this episode, Mike and Kevin navigate their way through the movie's dense plot, try to make sense of New York jurisdictions, criticize Joey Randone's gambling strategies, and devise a new game show which dares to ask: are there any East Coast actors who haven't appeared in a Scorsese movie or in an episode of the Sopranos?

Arms Race Podcast

Episode 38 - Fat Blue Line (Cop Land)

The Arms Race hits the road as we take a look at the fourth in our series on Sylvester Stallone movies, Death Race 2000! In this episode Mike and Kevin examine the merits of this cult classic's satire, try their best to make sense of the death race's ever-shifting rules, witness a contest of boxing vs. kung fu, and return to their roots to discuss one of the finest puns in our podcast's history.

Episode 39 - Ride of Frankenstein (Death Race 2000)

We're headed to the Big Easy on the latest episode of the Arms Race podcast, to discuss the 2013 crime thriller Bullet to the Head! On this episode, Mike and Kevin struggle to care enough about the movie's plot to bother trying to make sense of it, wonder whether or not this buddy crime film has one buddy too many, take a look at the strange phenomenon of micro-mansions.

Episode 40 - The French Quarter Gets Shortchanged (Bullet to the Head)

We've got the chance of a lifetime to discuss a Best Picture winning film here on the Arms Race Podcast, and we won't let it pass us by! Join us as we discuss the boxing classic that launched a franchise: Rocky! On this episode, Mike and Kevin square off about the film's genre, speculate about the effects of both genders upon the weakness of a boxer's legs, question the solvency of Mr. Gazzo's criminal enterprise, and wonder if Paulie may have been an early adopter of home video technology.

Episode 41 - Bicentennial Man (Rocky)

The Arms Race Podcast takes a short intermission from discussing Sylvester Stallone movies to talk about the theatrical Broadway production of Rocky: the Musical!

Bonus - Yo Re Mi (Rocky: The Musical)

As World Cup fever grips the majority of the planet, there's no better time for the American hosts of the Arms Race podcast to demonstrate their general ignorance about soccer by discussing Sylvester Stallone's 1981 P.O.W. soccer movie, Escape to Victory! On this episode, Mike takes issue with the outcome of Stallone's escape attempts, Kevin takes issue with the outcome of the big soccer match, they both take issue with Michael Caine's level of effort on the pitch, and finally learn that the only cure for fascism is one man's love of a good slow-motion bicycle kick.

Episode 42 - Squad Goals (Escape to Victory)

The Arms Race Podcast celebrates America's independence by watching Sylvester Stallone blow up a small part of it in The Specialist! In this episode, Mike and Kevin scrutinize Sharon Stone's sizzling saxophone-suffused seduction strategies, find faults in the phoniest funeral found on film, become befuddled by a bevy of bizarre and baffling beats, and proceed to present a pair of pretentious pieces of poetry and prose for your perusal.

Episode 43 - League of Detonations (The Specialist)

The Arms Race podcast finally takes a bead on the Rambo series and pulls the trigger on the series' initial outing, First Blood! In this episode, Mike reengaged with the Rambo franchise, Kevin reveals his younger self to be the most unappreciative child in America, and together they pitch an alternate ending focused entirely on the local Dairy Queen.

Episode 44 - Maiming Convention (First Blood)

The Arms Race enters the mouth of madness to discuss the film adaptation of Ratchet & Clank. Normally this is where we would write a brief description of what to expect from this episode, but really, why bother? Why bother telling you that this episode examines the film's paint-by-numbers approach to storytelling, when the universe is cold and dark and unforgiving, without pity of remorse, mocking us with its ceaseless existential silence? For what is the purpose of mentioning that this podcast episode diverges into an examination into the finer points of the Short Circuit films, when it's abundantly clear that such an act would have no meaning in this cruel and empty universe? Such is the ennui that permeates our lives, punctuated only by the occasional Simpsons reference to remind us that one day we might once again watch a piece of entertainment that doesn't send us into a vast pit of despair, as Ratchet & Clank did. Enjoy!

Episode 45 - Unintellectual Property (Ratchet & Clank)

The Arms Race Podcast keeps on trucking as we try to reconcile our opinions about the classic Sylvester Stallone arm wrestling film, Over the Top! In this episode, Mike and Kevin come to grips with the movie's strange mix of family drama and arm wrestling, speculate about the potential impact of yachting arm wrestlers on the sport, and disagree about the relative merits of hedging bets before finally finding some common ground thanks to the unique musical stylings of Kenny Loggins.

Episode 46 - Gripping Drama (Over the Top)

It's time to climb back into the ring on the Arms Race, as we go toe-to-toe about Rocky II! In this episode, Mike and Kevin argue about all of the finer points of the Rocky series' second outing, and in the process call into question Apollo Creed's judgement, Adrian's motives, Rocky's job hunting strategies, Mickey's running speed, and Frank Stallone's lyrical prowess. We're going the distance, in our most combative episode yet!

Episode 47 - Ring Exchange (Rocky II)

The Arms Race podcast recaps its fifth season, the first dedicated to watching every Sylvester Stallone movie one by one.

Special thanks to the Going the Distance podcast for the inside Rocky II info! You can find their podcast here:

http://goingthedistance.libsyn.com/

Season 5 Recap

The Arms Race podcast returns to discuss the Rambo-adjacent comedy, Son of Rambow!

Bonus - First Bud (Son of Rambow)

The Arms Race podcast discusses the 2008 Jason Statham vehicle, Death Race!

Bonus - Ring Around the Pokey (Death Race)

It's double jeopardy on the Arms Race podcast, as we discuss two 70s Phillip Marlowe movies which happen to feature few familiar faces: Farewell My Lovely and The Long Goodbye! It's our final bonus episode before we return in 2019 for another brand new season!

Bonus - Famous Original Shamus (Farewell My Lovely / The Long Goodbye)

Two friends attempt to determine once and for all which action star has the highest body count in movie history -- currently, by watching every Sylvester Stallone movie one at a time. Formerly the Bad Puns and Machine Guns Podcast.