the m0vie blog

425. Kill Bill, Vol. 1 (#151)

Posted on June 28, 2025 by Darren

Hosted by Andrew Quinn and Darren Mooney, this week with special guest Darcie Faccio, The 250 is a (mostly) weekly trip through some of the best (and worst) movies ever made, as voted for by Internet Movie Database Users. New episodes are released every second Saturday at 6pm GMT, with the occasional bonus episode between them.

This week, Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill, Vol. 1.

A brutal mass murder at a wedding in El Paso, Texas, leaves a sole survivor: an anonymous pregnant woman, a former assassin who tried to escape her life of murder and mayhem for something more tranquil and serene. However, her old life was not finished with her. Four years later, the would-be bride wakes up and embarks on a roaring rampage of revenge driven by a single objective. She is going to Kill Bill.

At time of recording, it was ranked 151st on the list of the best movies of all time on the Internet Movie Database.

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Filed under: The 250 | Tagged: action sequences, Beatrix Kiddo, betrayal, Bob Richardson, cinematography, cultural impact, cultural significance, Darcie Faccio, emotional themes, films, genres, identity, imdb, Kill Bill Volume 2, kill bill: volume 1, morality, Movies, podcast, quentin tarantino, revenge, stylistic choices, stylistic evolution, The 250, themes, violence | Leave a comment »

424. Maharaja (#218)

Posted on June 22, 2025 by Darren

Hosted by Andrew Quinn, Darren Mooney, The 250 is a (mostly) weekly trip through some of the best (and worst) movies ever made, as voted for by Internet Movie Database Users. New episodes are released every second Saturday at 6pm GMT, with the occasional bonus episode between them.

This week, Nithilan Saminathan’s Maharaja.

In Chennai, a barber stumbles into a police station with an unbelievable story. His home has been burglarised, but the only thing of value that the thieves stole was a trash can of huge importance to the man and his daughter. It quickly becomes clear that there is something more afoot, a more complicated narrative of revenge and betrayal spanning decades and culminating in an act of unimaginable evil.

At time of recording, it was ranked 218th on the list of the best movies of all time on the Internet Movie Database.

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Filed under: The 250 | Tagged: diverse narratives, dual narratives, film, gender, imdb, indian, indian cinema, Maharaja, moral ambiguity, netflix, Nithilan Saminathan, podcast, rape revenge, representation of women, revenge, sexual assault, social justice, societal commentary, tamil, Tamil film, The 250, violence | Leave a comment »

423. Predator: Killer of Killers – All-ien 2025 (#—)

Posted on June 14, 2025 by Darren

Hosted by Andrew Quinn, Darren Mooney and Jess Dunne, this week with special guest Richard Drumm, The 250 is a (mostly) weekly trip through some of the best (and worst) movies ever made, as voted for by Internet Movie Database Users. New episodes are released every second Saturday at 6pm GMT, with the occasional bonus episode between them.

This week, Dan Trachtenberg and Joshua Wassung’s Predator: Killer of Killers.

Across centuries, if not millennia, of human history, an alien species has journeyed to earth in the hopes of hunting the most dangerous game of all. This is a collection of three stories about three human beings who found themselves facing an extraterrestrial monster, and discovered something about themselves in the ensuing conflict.

At time of recording, it was not ranked on the list of the best movies of all time on the Internet Movie Database.

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Filed under: The 250 | Tagged: animated entry, animation, animation quality, anthology, anthology format, character development, dan trachetneberg, familial bonds, imdb, jess dunne, narrative elements, podcast, Predator franchise, Predator Killer of Killers, Predator mythology, richard drumm, The 250, the thrid floor, Vengeance | Leave a comment »

422. Ainda Estou Aqui (I’m Still Here) (#228)

Posted on June 7, 2025 by Darren

Hosted by Andrew Quinn and Darren Mooney, this week with special guest Ingrid Machado, The 250 is a (mostly) weekly trip through some of the best (and worst) movies ever made, as voted for by Internet Movie Database Users. New episodes are released every second Saturday at 6pm GMT, with the occasional bonus episode between them.

This week, Walter Salles’ Ainda Estou Aqui.

In 1970s Brazil, the Paiva family lives a charmed and tranquil existence. As the country around them slips into dictatorship, the family has managed to hold on to something close to normality. However, that peaceful life is suddenly and brutally shattered as the outside world comes crashing in.

At time of recording, it was ranked 228th on the list of the best movies of all time on the Internet Movie Database.

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Filed under: This Just In | Tagged: "I'm Still Here", Andrew Quinn, brazil, cultural relevance, emotional depth, Fernanda Torres, imdb, ingird machado, Ingrid Machado, memory, military dictatorship, Movie, podcast, political issues, relevance, social commentary, The 250, trauma, Walter Salles | Leave a comment »

421. Snow White – Ani-May 2025 (#—)

Posted on June 1, 2025 by Darren

Hosted by Andrew Quinn and Darren Mooney, this week with special guests Luke Dunne and Ciara Moloney, The 250 is a (mostly) weekly trip through some of the best (and worst) movies ever made, as voted for by Internet Movie Database Users. New episodes are released every second Saturday at 6pm GMT, with the occasional bonus episode between them.

This week, Mark Webb’s Snow White.

In a magical kingdom, an evil queen plots the murder of a beautiful young princess, who is forced to flee into the woods and find shelter with the most unlikely of allies.

At time of recording, it was not ranked on the list of the worst movies of all time on the Internet Movie Database.

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Filed under: The Bottom 100, This Just In | Tagged: 2025, adaptation, agency, audience expectations, celebrity PR, characterizations, Christopher Nolan, ciara moloney, cinema, conspiracy theories, creative collaboration, cultural implications, cultural significance, disney, evil queen, female agency, film artistry, film critic, human experiences, imdb, Irish diaspora, luke dunne, mark webb, Mary McDonough, PhD completion, podcast, polarizing reactions, production history, Rachel Ziegler, representation, snow white, social issues, socio-political dynamics, storytelling, The 250, The 250 podcast, themes, tom cruise, traditional characters | Leave a comment »

Doctor Who: The Reality War (Review)

Posted on May 31, 2025 by Darren

“Oh, hello.”

Well, Russell T. Davies winds up the Fifteenth Doctor’s era by taking a second shot at The End of Time, Part II.

Fifteen’s minutes of fame.

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Filed under: Television | Tagged: children, continuity, daughter, doctor who, family, history, Omega, queer, russell t. davies, Susan, the doctor, the fifteenth doctor, the rani, the reality war, Time Lord, time travel, wish world | 1 Comment »

420. How to Train Your Dragon – Ani-May 2025 (#198)

Posted on May 25, 2025 by Darren

Hosted by Andrew Quinn and Darren Mooney, this week with special guests Deirdre Molumby and Graham Day, The 250 is a (mostly) weekly trip through some of the best (and worst) movies ever made, as voted for by Internet Movie Database Users. New episodes are released every second Saturday at 6pm GMT, with the occasional bonus episode between them.

This week, Chris Sanders’ and Dean DeBlois’ How to Train Your Dragon.

On the island of Berk, the Viking settlers have found themselves engaged in a war against dragons spanning literal generations. Hiccup, the son of the town chieftain, struggles to find his place in a community that doesn’t value his unique strengths and attributes – he wonders whether he will even be manly enough to hunt and kill dragons. However, a chance encounter with a fallen dragon named Toothless leads Hiccup to question everything that he thinks he knows about dragons.

At time of recording, it was ranked 198th on the list of the best movies of all time on the Internet Movie Database.

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Filed under: The 250 | Tagged: animated film, animation industry, animation quality, Astrid, character development, character dynamics, connection, deirdre molumby, dragons, dreamworks, empathy, father-son relationship, friendship, gender representation, graham day, hiccup, How to Train Your Dragon, identity, imdb, IMDb top 250, legacy, live-action adaptation, personal growth, podcast, production challenges, sequels, storytelling, thematic elements, themes | Leave a comment »

Doctor Who: Wish World (Review)

Posted on May 24, 2025 by Darren

“We’re going to bring down God. Are you with us?”

In many ways, Wish World feels like a thesis statement for Davies’ return to Doctor Who.

It is a story that is, very overtly, about the power of stories and narratives to warp reality. It is a story about the violence that comes from attempts to impose restrictive and suffocating conformist narratives upon people, and how media can bend reality to a point that doubt can cause the world itself to literally crack open. Davies’ return to Doctor Who has been fascinated by the porous nature of reality and the power of television as a medium, and all of that comes crashing to a head with Wish World.

A delightful John-ty adventure.

Wish World is very obviously setting up The Reality War, the big blockbuster-sized finale that will be the first episode of Doctor Who to premiere on BBC One since The Giggle, allowing for the Christmas Specials The Church on Ruby Road and Joy to the World. A significant portion of the episode amounts to pieces being moved around the board so that they can deliver in the season finale, to the point that the Rani herself has to acknowledge that the final act of the episode is largely “exposition.” It is always difficult to discuss the first part of a two-part episode in isolation, and that is especially true of a the first part of a season finale.

However, Wish World works largely on its own terms, crystalising the ideas that have been simmering across these twenty episodes since The Star Beast, articulating themes that are clearly weighing on Davies’ mind.

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Filed under: Television | Tagged: communication, conspiracy theories, continuity, doctor who, ideas, narratives, power, pronatalism, Rani, reactionary, reality, russell t. davies, story, Television, the internet, the rani, wish world | 1 Comment »

419. Sinners (#—)

Posted on May 18, 2025 by Darren

Hosted by Andrew Quinn and Darren Mooney, this week with special guest Lee Murkey, The 250 is a (mostly) weekly trip through some of the best (and worst) movies ever made, as voted for by Internet Movie Database Users. New episodes are released every second Saturday at 6pm GMT, with the occasional bonus episode between them.

This week, Ryan Coogler’s Sinners.

Twin brothers Smoke and Stack return to the Mississippi Delta from Chicago, bringing with them money and booze. The duo plan to open a juke joint for the local community, and set about preparing for the launch. Little do the pair realise that something sinister is stalking through the night, lurching towards their speakeasy, drawn by the siren call of the blues.

At time of recording, it was not ranked on the list of the best movies of all time on the Internet Movie Database.

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Filed under: This Just In | Tagged: america, Andrew Quinn, black identity, capitalism, complicity, cultural significance, Filmmaking, hollywood, iconic director, IMAX technology, imdb, indie filmmaker, lee murkey, Lee Murky, Ludwig Göransson, money, race, ryan coogler, Sinners, storytelling, The 250, vampires | Leave a comment »

Doctor Who: The Interstellar Song Contest (Review)

Posted on May 17, 2025 by Darren

“Did I just fly through space on a confetti cannon?”

“Yeah.”

“Camp.”

The Interstellar Song Contest is a very strange episode of Doctor Who, both inside and outside the narrative.

Internally, there is a surprising tension within the episode, which is transparently “Die Hard at Eurovision.” This is an inherently camp premise. It is, in classic Doctor Who tradition, a “frock” premise. It is goofy, silly, and inherent queer-coded. However, once the episode gets moving, it shifts gears into something much darker and more intense; this is an episode which opens with the audience blown into space, weaves through genocide and builds to a sequence of the Doctor sadistically torturing the villain. The episode balances on a tonal knife-edge.

Spaced out.

However, there is also an uncomfortable tension in the air around The Interstellar Song Contest, a story that was conceived and written two years ago, intended to air on the night of Eurovision, and which was obviously intended as a criticism of consumptive capitalism, but which takes on a lot more weight by simple virtue of the events that have unfolded in the time between when the episode was commissioned and when it was broadcast. The Interstellar Song Contest is an episode is watched in a different context than it was made, despite being ostensibly tailored for this moment.

The result is a deeply fascinating and unsettling episode of television, one that demonstrates both the urgency and the immediacy of television as a medium, but which also illustrates the risks that come with that.