This week on Shat the Movies, we’re kicking some serious butt with Street Fighter (1994)! Join us as we dive into the live-action adaptation of the iconic video game, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme as Colonel Guile. It’s a chaotic, campy, action-packed ride full of over-the-top performances, questionable fight scenes, and plenty of laughs. Whether you're a fan of the game or just love ‘90s action flicks, tune in for a hilarious deep dive into this cult classic!

Plot Summary
In the 1994 action film Street Fighter, directed by Steven E. de Souza and loosely based on the hit video game series, Jean-Claude Van Damme stars as Colonel Guile, the all-American military hero leading a multinational force to stop the evil warlord General M. Bison, played with over-the-top flair by Raul Julia in his final film role. Set in the fictional nation of Shadaloo, the movie follows Guile’s mission to rescue hostages and bring down Bison’s plans for world domination.

Bison has kidnapped dozens of civilians and demands a massive ransom, threatening their lives. While Guile prepares for a full-scale assault, a tangled web of subplots unfolds: Chun-Li (Ming-Na Wen), a reporter with a personal vendetta against Bison, works undercover to get close to her enemy; meanwhile, hustlers Ryu (Byron Mann) and Ken (Damian Chapa) are caught between working with arms dealer Sagat (Wes Studi) and Guile’s forces. Add to the mix Dhalsim, Blanka, Zangief, Cammy, E. Honda, Balrog, and Vega—many of whom are barely recognizable from their video game counterparts—and the film becomes a chaotic patchwork of characters and plot threads.

Despite its wildly uneven tone, cheesy dialogue, and loose connection to its source material, Street Fighter has earned cult status thanks to its campy fun and Raul Julia’s scene-stealing performance. His portrayal of Bison is operatic, charismatic, and quotable—offering the movie’s most memorable moments.

Join our podcast review as we revisit this infamous 90s video game adaptation, exploring whether its action, absurd charm, and unintentional comedy make it a guilty pleasure or just a first-round KO.

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What do you get when you mix cyberpunk philosophy, a rave in a cave, and a thousand Mr. Smiths? A sequel so ambitious it broke Big D’s brain and made Gene question reality itself.

This week, the Shat Crew finishes up listener Jeremiah's Sci-Fi Through The Ages series by plugging into The Matrix Reloaded, a film that doubles down on slow-mo kung fu, pleather trench coats, and high-concept jargon that may or may not mean anything.

Is Neo still "The One," or just another guy with a Superman complex? Did Trinity and Neo’s love scene spark human emotion—or just a need for brain bleach? And what’s up with the Keymaker, the Merovingian, and that architect making coochie cakes?

Prepare for laughs, rants, and maybe even some deep thoughts as we decode the most audacious freeway chase ever put on film. Whether you’re Team Zion or just here for the bullet time, this is The Matrix Reloaded like only Shat can deliver.

Plot Summary

In The Matrix Reloaded, Neo, Trinity, and Morpheus return to fight for the survival of Zion, the last human city resisting machine domination. As Neo grapples with his destiny as "The One," he discovers deeper layers of the Matrix's control and faces powerful new adversaries like the upgraded Agent Smith and the enigmatic Merovingian. With time running out before a massive machine attack, the crew races to unlock the path to the Source and ultimately, human freedom.

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Prepare for warp speed as Gene Lyons and Big D travel back to the 24th century—and then to 2063—to review Star Trek: First Contact, the Next Generation crew’s darkest and most action-packed cinematic outing. Commissioned by listener Jeremiah as part of a sci-fi classics series, this episode dives deep into the ethics of Picard’s command decisions, the practical (and impractical) nature of Borg assimilation, and the horny weirdness of Star Trek fandom.

Along the way, Gene and Big D debate Star Trek vs. Star Wars and ponder whether the Borg Queen really does have big “ASMR energy.” They also address critical questions like: What’s the best Star Trek tech? And how many wipes does it take to remove Data’s synthetic skin?

Whether you're Team Trek or Team Wars, this episode is a hilarious, no-holds-barred deep dive into one of the franchise's most beloved films—and possibly its most awkward.

Plot Summary

In Star Trek: First Contact, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the USS Enterprise-E defy Starfleet orders to confront the Borg, a cybernetic collective intent on assimilating Earth. After destroying a Borg cube near Earth, a Borg sphere escapes through a temporal vortex, altering the past to prevent humanity’s first contact with alien life. The Enterprise follows the Borg to April 4, 2063—just before Zefram Cochran’s historic warp flight that would attract the Vulcans.

As the crew works to ensure history stays intact, Picard battles his trauma from past assimilation, while Lieutenant Commander Data is seduced—emotionally and physically—by the sinister Borg Queen. With humanity’s future hanging in the balance, Picard must choose between revenge and reason, culminating in a high-stakes confrontation aboard a compromised Enterprise.

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This week on "Shat the Movies," we’re running headfirst into The Running Man (1987), the action-packed sci-fi thriller starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Join us as we break down the high-stakes game show, over-the-top villains, and the unforgettable one-liners in this satirical dystopian classic. Whether you're a fan or new to it, get ready for a fast-paced and fun discussion!

Plot Summary
In the year 2019, America is a totalitarian state where the favorite television program is “The Running Man” — a game show in which prisoners must run to freedom to avoid a brutal death. Having been made a scapegoat by the government, an imprisoned Ben Richards (Arnold Schwarzenegger) has the opportunity to make it back to the outside again by being a contestant on the deadly show, although the twisted host, Damon Killian (Richard Dawson), has no intention of letting him escape.

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This week on Shat The Movies, Gene and Big D close out the original Star Wars trilogy with a deep dive into Return of the Jedi (1983). Fueled by nostalgia, Minute Maid and vodka cocktails, and the crushing realization that not all endings stick the landing, the hosts explore the Ewok invasion, Jabba's deadly circus act, Boba Fett’s humiliating demise, and the absurdity of Imperial helmet design.

From Luke’s questionable Force skills to the Empire’s laughable "elite troops," nothing escapes the Shat boys’ critical eye. Along the way, they celebrate Carrie Fisher’s iconic (if problematic) gold bikini moment, mourn for Ewoks lost in battle, and dream up a darker, deadlier version of Endor warfare. Was this the fitting finale Star Wars deserved—or an early warning of Lucas' merchandising empire run amok? Tune in to find out!

Plot Summary
A year after Han Solo’s capture, Luke Skywalker launches a risky mission to free his friend from the clutches of Jabba the Hutt.

After a daring escape involving Sarlacc pits, lightsabers and a lot of questionable strategy, the Rebel Alliance turns its attention to the Empire’s new and even deadlier Death Star.

Luke confronts Darth Vader once more, hoping to save his father from the Emperor’s grip, while Han, Leia, and a band of unlikely Ewok allies attempt to destroy the shield generator on Endor.

The fate of the galaxy hinges on battles fought in the forest and the throne room—where redemption, betrayal, and tiny bear-like warriors collide.

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This week on "Shat the Movies," we’re blasting off into Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), the film that launched a galaxy far, far away. Join us as we explore the iconic characters, groundbreaking effects, and the timeless story that started it all. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or revisiting it for the first time, tune in for a fun and nostalgic look at the movie that changed cinema forever!

Plot Summary
Star Wars: A New Hope (1977), written and directed by George Lucas, launched one of the most iconic film franchises in history. The story follows young Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), who joins forces with Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), rogue smuggler Han Solo (Harrison Ford), and Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) to battle the evil Galactic Empire. With memorable characters, groundbreaking special effects, and a classic hero’s journey, A New Hope redefined science fiction and changed the cinematic universe forever.

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Aside from being The King Bee's designated second-date movie, Robert Altman's "Popeye" is the film Robin Williams was born to carry.

A charming Shelley Duvall, an incredible set piece in the town of Sweethaven, terrifically off-tune songs and mutterings designed to be enjoyed on mushrooms power this 1980 movie based on a 1929 comic strip. But is it as good as commissioner Scott H. in Friendswood, Texas, thinks?

Set sail and find out!

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This week on the pod, we're diving into the high-stakes paranoia of The Manchurian Candidate (2004), a political thriller reboot that trades Cold War chills for post-Gulf War conspiracy. Denzel Washington stars as Major Ben Marco, a decorated soldier haunted by dreams suggesting something sinister happened during his time in Kuwait. With the help of an eerie performance by Liev Schreiber and a chillingly manipulative Meryl Streep, the film leans hard into psychological suspense but does the tension still land in 2024? Tune in as we revisit this remake, break down its big themes, and ask the ultimate question: Is The Manchurian Candidate still worth voting for?

Plot Summary:
In the 2004 political thriller The Manchurian Candidate, directed by Jonathan Demme, Denzel Washington stars as Major Ben Marco, a Gulf War veteran plagued by disturbing dreams and lingering suspicions about his past. A remake of the 1962 classic, the film updates the Cold War paranoia to a post-9/11 world of corporate influence, political manipulation, and psychological warfare.

Marco served alongside Sergeant Raymond Shaw (Liev Schreiber), who has since returned home a decorated war hero and rising political star. Shaw's mother, Senator Eleanor Prentiss Shaw (Meryl Streep), is a powerful and cunning politician pushing her son toward the vice presidency. But Marco begins to suspect that their wartime memories have been tampered with—and that Shaw may be the product of mind control by a shadowy multinational corporation known as Manchurian Global.

As Marco digs deeper, he uncovers a chilling conspiracy involving psychological conditioning, implanted memories, and a plan to manipulate the highest levels of the U.S. government. His grip on reality begins to waver as he races to uncover the truth and stop a sinister plot that could alter the future of American democracy.

Denzel Washington gives a powerful, haunted performance as a man unraveling a web of lies, while Meryl Streep delivers a chilling turn as an ambitious mother who will stop at nothing to seize power. The film blends intense suspense with thought-provoking commentary on political corruption, the military-industrial complex, and the dangers of unchecked influence.

Join our podcast review as we revisit this modern thriller, exploring its performances, themes, and whether this cerebral update of a classic still resonates in today’s political climate.

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