Beast review
There’s been more than a few movies surrounding a character down on their luck trying to punch, kick, jab, grapple, or all of the above, their way to success or back to success. Think “Rocky”, “Million Dollar Baby”, “Warrior”, etc. In 2026 we get a new entry into that movie genre, “Beast”, that revolves around MMA fighting. Oscar winner Russell Crowe plays Sammy, a MMA trainer and Daniel McPherson plays Patton James, a former MMA champion, who Sammy once trained. Patton had it all right in front of him after becoming champion and in one instant he threw it all away. Now years later, retired as a fighter and nearly broke, Patton’s younger brother is trying to be a MMA champion and is brutalized in a fight by another fighter, Xavier Grau, who Patton knocked out years ago. This draws Patton, and his wife and daughter, into a web of danger with Xavier, Xavier’s promoter and some local thugs. Will Patton be able to fight his way out of this one? Will Sammy help him after Patton betrayed him? Is it worth going to the theater to find out? Watch this episode of Movies Merica to find out! “Beast” also stars Luke Hemsworth, Bren Foster, Kelly Gale, Mojean Aria, George Burgess, Nathan Phillips, Sol Nc Carrico, Saphira Moran and Amy Shark.
Nuremberg review
World War II was the biggest battle in history, and still is to this day. More people died during that war, than in any other event in world history. Of course at the end of it, there was a winner and there was a loser. Obviously one of the losers were the Nazis, and this episode’s movie, “Nuremberg”, is about putting the Nazi high command on trial, notably Hermann Goring. Oscar winner Russell Crowe plays Goring, the second in command in Germany behind you know who. Another Oscar winner, Rami Malek, plays a U.S. Army psychiatrist who is sent in to evaluate Goring, and the other members of the high command, before the Nuremberg trials can begin. Michael Shannon plays Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson, who didn’t just want Goring and the others to just be executed. He wanted a trial to get Goring and company to tell the world what they’re guilty of. It’s a legal and high tension end to one of the most evil chapters in world history. Is it worth watching to see what happens? Check out this episode of Movies Merica to find out! “Nuremberg” also stars John Slattery, Leo Woodall, Wrenn Schmidt, Mark O’Brien, Lydia Peckham, Richard E. Grant, Colin Hanks, Lotte Verbeek and Andreas Pietschmann.
Gladiator II review
It’s been 24 years since “Gladiator” took the world by storm and spawned a whole new era of swords and sandals movies. Will it’s sequel “Gladiator II”, our movie for this week, do the same? We shall see. This time the main character is Lucius, who we met as a young boy in the original “Gladiator.” He’s the son of Lucilla, and it’s revealed in the trailers, the son of Maximus, Russell Crowe’s character from “Gladiator.” Lucius suffers a tragedy early in the movie and is made a slave and then rises up as a gladiator for Macrinus, played by Denzel Washington. Macrinus is not all he appears to be and is proven to be power hungry and wants to use Lucius as his instrument for power. Another main character is General Acacius, played by Pedro Pascal, who is the leader of the Roman army who fight for Emperor Geta and Emperor Caracalla, played by Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger respectively. Acacius isn’t exactly excited anymore to be dispatched like an errand boy by these emperors to kill people all over the world and conquer lands. Connie Nielsen returns to play Lucilla and as she sees a particular gladiator fight in the Colosseum, she starts to get a feeling that she knows this man. All of these worlds will collide. Sometimes sequels surpass the quality of the original. Does “Gladiator II” accomplish that feat? Check out this episode to find out! “Gladiator II” also stars Derek Jacobi, Yuval Gonen, Rory McCann, Peter Mensah, Matt Lucas, Tim McInnerny, Alexander Karim and Lior Raz.
Gladiator review
In anticipation of the upcoming release of “Gladiator II”, I’m retro-reviewing the Best Picture Oscar-winning original “Gladiator” this episode. You will not have to ask if you’re entertained with this review because “Gladiator” is one of the most beloved movies of all time. It’s the movie that made even your Grandma aware of who Russell Crowe was. It launched a whole era of swords and sandals movies and TV series afterwards. It won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe playing General Maximus Decimus Meridius, father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife who would have his vengeance in this life, or the next. Many motivational and meme-worthy quotes were introduced into the zeitgeist by this movie: “Are you not entertained?”, “What we do in life, echoes in eternity.” I could go on, and I will, in this episode all about this Ridley Scott classic about a Roman general, made a slave, who became a gladiator then later, the savior of Rome. You could consider this part of your “homework” for brushing up on what happened in “Gladiator” before you rush out to see “Gladiator II.” “Gladiator” also stars Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Djiman Hounsou, Oliver Reed, Richard Harris, Derek Jacobi, David Schofield, John Schrapnel, Tomas Arana, Ralf Moeller, Spencer Treat Clark, David Hemmings, Tommy Flanagan and Sven-Ole Thorsen.
Land of Bad review
The gunfights are plentiful, the explosions are numerous, the hand-to-hand combat is abundant and the tension is sky high in the new movie Land of Bad starring Russell Crowe, Liam Hemsworth, Milo Ventimiglia, Ricky Whittle and Luke Hemsworth. In Land of Bad, special forces operators are sent on a mission in the Philippines to rescue a CIA asset in the hands of terrorists. Unfortunately for Sgt. JJ Kinney (Liam Hemsworth), he’s been picked for the mission to coordinate all military aircraft in the area to support the mission. Before long, things go south and Kinney finds himself in the title of the movie, a land of bad. Russell Crowe plays an Air Force drone pilot that has to help Kinney make his way through this hell and occasionally pummel some terrorists with drone missiles along the way. Will Kinney make it out alive with his eyes in the sky and bringer of doom helping him? Is it worth finding out at the theater? Check out the show to find out. Land of Bad also stars Chika Ikogwe, Daniel MacPherson, Robert Rabiah, Jack Finsterer, Lincoln Lewis and Gunner Wright.
Robin Hood (2010) review
Ridley Scott, the director of Gladiator, brought a grittier, edgier version of everyone’s favorite Sherwood Forest hero, Robin Hood to the screen in 2010. Unfortunately, the version the studio wanted released to the theaters didn’t create very many merry men and it tanked at the box office. Have no fear though. There is a unrated directors cut available and that one just might make you merry. Want to find out for sure? Check out my spoiler-free review of the unrated directors cut version of Robin Hood starring Oscar winners Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett and William Hurt. You get some intense Ridley Scott-style action, intrigue and romance. The cast is extremely impressive too. My review also includes in-depth Robin Hood info you won’t get anywhere else all in one review!