The Dondus 2028 presidential campaign begins now

Director Ridley Scott returns to the arena where he won Best Picture a quarter century ago in the hopes that his 2024 epic Gladiator 2 will entertain a new generation. Does tyro Paul Mescal honor Russel Crowe’s legacy by kicking up dirt with raging baboons, rhinos, and sharks? And can slavemaster Denzel Washington help the rising Coliseum star make good on his dream to end General Pedro Pascal and rescue Rome from corrupt twin Emperors? The podcasters have spoken, so find out if it’s a Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down verdict when you Listen Now!

Mad “Max” Before Thunderdome

Russell Crowe avenges his family’s execution by turning the Gladiator games of ancient Rome into a rematch with murderous Emperor Joaquin Phoenix (Joker). But can the outcast general survive an arena full of unchained tigers and beefcake competitors by maximizing his celebrity with the roaring crowd and mobilizing fellow slaves like Djimon Honsou (Amistad) into a new army? And did auteur Ridley Scott not entertain movie audiences well enough to deserve a Best Director statue denied to him by the Oscars? It takes no bread to join this circus now!

My Big Fit Greek Wenham

Sullivan Stapleton (TV’s Strike Back) aims to turn the sacrifice of 300 Spartans into The Rise of An Empire in this 2014 continuation of Frank Miller’s comic book vision. But will his dream of a unified Greece get undone by bad girl Eva Green (Casino Royale), who proves to be the real power behind Persian God-King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro)? Or will widow Lena Headey and sole survivor David Wenham avenge fallen Gerard Butler as the battle of Thermopylae migrates to the sea? Listen Now as this podcast review rings out through the centuries!