Episode 70 ~ Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite (1996)

A sequel to a legendary '80s action movie that was not only locked to video but never got a proper release anywhere else? Surely this doesn't body well for 1996's Bloodsport II. You would certainly not be blamed for thinking so.

However, this sequel not only holds up against the original, it manages to add new wrinkles to it while respecting what came before. Be sure to check out this week's episode to check out a hidden gem you've never seen before!

Randy's Score: 4/5

JD's Score: 4/5

Spotify link here!

Up next: Tremors 4!

Episode 69 ~ Howling II: Your Sister is a Werewolf (1985)

We finally get around to the sequel to director Joe Dante's breakout movie, and boy is it not what we expected. I hope you like Christopher Lee and Reb Brown (and you should!) because they are in fine form in this bizarre flick!

I don't know what else to say because there isn't anything about this movie that is straightforward. Check out today's episode to learn why that might be!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Bloodsport II!

Episode 68 ~ Kickboxer II: The Road Back (1991)

Finally we get to another sequel we've meant to cover for some time now! It's the sequel to the Van Damme classic Kickboxer. This one stars Step By Step's Sasha Mitchel and is directed by the one and only Albert Pyun!

However, it might not be the movie you are expecting from either of them, for good or bad. Check out today's episode to see why!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Howling II: Your Sister is a Werewolf!

Episode 67 ~ Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead (1994)

We're finally back to Phantasm! This time around we get to the third entry, released in the mid-90s. Does it hold up well, or does the series finally stumble here? Were the haters right all along? Can the series still surprise 15 years after the original entry?

Well, it turns out, at least in our case, we find it overall makes the second movie stronger in hindsight and adds its own wrinkles on the story. There still isn't anything quite like Phantasm, even in its third entry. Find out why that is in today's episode!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 4/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Kickboxer 2!

Episode 66 ~ Tremors 3: Back to Perfection (2001)

Finally, we made it back to Perfection! In our sequel summer special we made the jump to the third entry in Tremors! Though there are a lot of different opinions on the movies past the first one, there is one thing that remains true: (so far) they have all been worth watching. The third entry continues the trend.

How do they manage to do it? Find out in this episode where we learn that somehow the crew has still got it!

Randy's Score: 4/5

JD's Score: 4/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Phantasm III!

Episode 65 ~ Best of the Best II (1993)

Finally, we return to the world of Eric Roberts and Phillip Rhee! How do you make a sequel to a surprise hit sports film? Well, by doing something entirely different! In Best of the Best II, things go sideways, and not in ways you might predict.

Coming at the tail end of the action movie era, this sequel changes genres and manages to sell itself while doing just that. Does it succeed totally? Check out today's episode and learn exactly what is going on here!

Randy's Score: 4/5

JD's Score 5/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Tremors 3!

Episode 64 ~ Critters 2: The Main Course (1988)

It's time for more Critters! We've taken our time to finally get to this sequel that we've wanted to do for some time now. You might expect this one to jus be more of the same, but no, it is a proper sequel to the cult classic original!

What happened after the events of the last movie? And can they possibly top the madness of that one? You might be surprised!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 4/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Best of the Best II!

Episode 63 ~ Troll 2 (1990)

It's about time!

Finally we cover one of the most infamous horror movies of the 20th century. What is it about this "sequel" that makes it so memorable to the point it is seen as the Best Bad Movie? And does it even deserve that title? Check out today's episode to find out!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 2/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Critters 2!

Episode 62 ~ Trancers II (1991)

Welcome to our new sequel special! For the summer we're going to be spending our time looking at the sequels to movies we've already covered before over the years! This week we start with long-awaited follow-up to fan-favorite Trancers!

You might figure this low budget actioner would stumble after years in production hell, but that is not quite the case. Check out today's episode to understand just why that might be. It's as wild and out there as you'd hope!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Troll 2!

Episode 61 ~ Gorgo (1961)

One of the most influential monster movies on ironic hipsters, Gorgo is probably the oldest movie we've covered, and also one of the shortest. It is also one of the most boring and predictable movies with little to recommend it outside of irony and curiosity.

How does one make a Godzilla style film so dull with little to recommend? Turns out there is a lot! Tune into this week's episode to learn why that is.

Randy's Score: 2/5

JD's Score: 1/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Trancers II!

Episode 60 ~ Razorback (1984)

It's the shark movie, but in the outback and it's a monster pig! You might think that's all there is to 1984's Razorback, made before the director would go on to make Highlander, but you would be dead wrong. The entire movie is a feast for the eyes and ears.

While not the most exciting plot in the history of cinema, Razorback excels in every other area. Find out just what makes it stand out in today's episode!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 4/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Gorgo!

Episode 59 ~ Lieutenant Jangles (2017)

We're still in the future with this episode. Taking another swerve, we cover this Aussie sendup/tribute to 1980s action movies and all the madness they contained. This one doesn't always land, but it does have a breeziness to it that modern action (and comedy) films seem to lack. That said, it still comes recommended.

Just be ready for the toilet humor!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Razorback!

Episode 58 ~ Turbo Kid (2015)

Time for a flick we've wanted to cover for awhile but never got around to. A retro future look from an era that never was, 2015's Turbo Kid also feels like a movie that should have been made back in the day but never was. It's a movie very much out of time.

And yet it works in a way a lot of these sorts of movies don't. It understands what works about those old movies and brings it forward into a modern mindset that feels natural. As a result, it becomes its own thing, and what a thing it is. Check out today's episode to learn why that might be!

Randy's Score: 4/5

JD's Score: 5/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Lieutenant Jangles!

Episode 57 ~ Real Genius (1985)

Now here is a real blast to the past! Val Kilmer's first starring role, and a comedy of the like we don't cover much made this an obvious choice to cover. All that said, does this hold up as much as you remember?

You might be surprised! Val Kilmer was an absolute treat even this far back. Check out today's to learn why that just might be!

Randy's Score: 4/5

JD's Score: 4/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Turbo Kid!

Episode 56 ~ Batteries Not Included (1987)

Here's one we've been trying to get to for awhile. Part Spielberg, part family friendly, part whimsy, with all the elements of the era you know so well. A movie once very well known, it has fallen hard into obscurity over the years. Why is that?

Actually,, there is a bit of a reason. While no turkey or masterpiece, there is a solid film in here worthy of discussion. However, there is a very good reason this one has slipped between the cracks. Find out why in today's episode!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Real Genius!

Episode 55 ~ VFW (2019)

What is this? Another modern flick? That's right, VFW is one of the most recent movies we've covered on Cannon Cruisers, and that is because it is so clearly built on the foundations of older movies we've covered before. It's a bit of a unique film, but well worth watching and discussing. Even for as low a budget as it has, it still stands out.

But what do we think about? You'll just have to listen to this week's episode! Just excuse Randy. He was a little tired on this one.

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 4/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Batteries Not Included!

Episode 54 ~ Amanda & the Alien (1995)

I'm not even sure how to talk about this weird example of a movie. Originally a TV flick, it has a bit of an infamous reputation, especially in regards to how 1995 it is. All the tropes are there, good and bad, and it makes this one a strange one to watch today.

Though not quite as bonkers as Tammy and the T. Rex, it's definitely of that same era. Certainly not for younger audiences, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have its charms. One just might disagree that they are charms to begin with . . .

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Spotify link here!

Up next: VFW!

Episode 53 ~ Short Circuit (1986)

We finally did it. After years of digging through the more obscure pictures to float about the entertainment landscape, we finally hit on one we somehow avoided. We didn't avoid it for any real reason, it just slid through the cracks.

Today we cover 1986's Short Circuit and discover just how alive Johnny 5 really is. (And we learn the famous quote is not even from this movie!)

Have yourself a Happy Easter and we will see you next week!

Randy's Score: 4/5

JD's Score: 4/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Amanda & the Alien!

Episode 52 ~ The Skateboard Kid 2 (1994)

Yes, there's a sequel. Yes, we covered it. Yes, it's worse.

Find out just what we were thinking in today's episode to our least listened to episode by far! No joke, I did not know these movies were this disliked when I chose to watch them. Oh well, enjoy this discussion of a movie everyone else has forgotten.

Randy's Score: 1/5

JD's Score: 2/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Short Circuit!

Episode 51 ~ Top Secret! (1984)

A rarity for us! We cover one of the lesser known parody movies from the most well know parody movie creators of the 20th century. We also discover what makes these movies so much better than the ones that would come later.

On top of it, this is the first starring role of one Val Kilmer (RIP!) and what a turn he makes. All in all, there's nothing quite like Top Secret! and we're going to talk about just why that is in today's episode! It holds up really well, despite the nature of what it is.

Randy's Score: 4/5

JD's Score: 5/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: The Skateboard Kid 2!

Episode 50 ~ The French Connection (1971)

We finally got some Friedkin in! It's been a journey to get to this point, but considering the DNA in this movie, it was one we had to get to eventually. So for our special 50th episode of Bonus Feature (and technically 350th overall!) we decided to cover this increasingly overlooked classic! To this day, there's nothing quite like The French Connection.

If you wish to know why that is, I suggest kicking back, relaxing, and enjoying today's episode. We really loved this one.

Randy's Score: 5/5

JD's Score: 5/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Top Secret!

Episode 49 ~ The Skateboard Kid (1993)

We're taking a break from our more recent serious fare this week to deliver an episode on one of the least talked about cult movies there is. It's time for The Skateboard Kid, the talking skateboard movie with more twists than you can shake a stick at.

But does it hold up? The scores might leave you scratching your head, at least, until you check out today's episode. The truth lies somewhere in the between on this one. And can you believe there's another one of these? Randy can't, and you'll hear all about it, believe you me!

Randy's Score: 1/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: The French Connection!

Episode 48 ~ Cube (1997)

Today's movie is a strange one. It's a nearly flawless independent flick done on a miniscule with a lot of ambition and creativity. Despite its limitations Cube is a unique film that has gone nearly forgotten in the near two decades since its release.

So you might read this then wonder about the rating below. If it's nearly flawless, the why are the scores what they are. Well, the truth it there is only one major flaw with the movie and this one flaw damages the film in a way that was easily avoidable and ruins the experience. It's not really a plot twist, but more of a narrative decision that undercuts a lot of potential.

Find out why that is in today's episode!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: The Skateboard Kid!

Episode 47 ~ Grizzly II: Revenge (2020)

Where to even begin with Grizzly II: Revenge? We initially sought this out as it was "technically" a lost Cannon Films flick, but that turned out to be partially the case. Cannon never really got to do anything with this movie at all.

This film wasted away, unfinished for decades, until the rights holder decided to cobble it together with some CG and quick edits to barely squeak out a finished project. And what a project it is. We can easily say there is nothing quite like this movie.

And that's not a good thing. Check out this episode to learn why that might be.

Randy's Score: 1/5

JD's Score: 1/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Cube!

Episode 46 ~ Lake Michigan Monster (2018)

Today we go a little bit outside of our ballpark and discuss a more recent movie (relatively recent) than our usual fare, based more on older films than what we typically cover on Cannon Cruisers. However, it's for a good reason.

This flick shows much potential for underground and indie film in how something with such a low budget still managed to look, sound, and feel, better than modern day studio movies. Find out how that might be in today's episode!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Grizzly II: The Revenge!