Two high-octane thrillers. Two very different systems of control.This week on the Cinema Goodness Podcast, we dive into The Rip (2026) and The Running Man (2025) — two star-driven thrillers that ask the same dangerous question from opposite directions: what happens to morality when survival becomes the job?Matt Damon and Ben Affleck reunite in The Rip, a gritty, neo-noir crime thriller inspired by real-world police corruption, where a single night, a locked house, and $22 million in cartel cash turn trust into a ticking clock. Directed by Joe Carnahan, the film feels like a throwback to adult, mid-budget thrillers that Hollywood rarely makes anymore.Meanwhile, Edgar Wright’s The Running Man reimagines Stephen King’s dystopian novel for 2025, with Glen Powell sprinting across America in a lethal reality TV manhunt. Faithful to the book and stripped of flashy excess, the film takes aim at media manipulation, deepfakes, and a system that turns desperation into content.

Two movies. Two philosophies. One brutal question.This episode of the Cinema Goodness Podcast puts F1 (2025) and Greenland 2: Migration (2026) head-to-head in a showdown between control and endurance, precision and sacrifice, speed and survival.We break down Brad Pitt’s return-to-form performance in F1, a film obsessed with systems, sponsors, and mastering chaos at 200 miles per hour. Then we cross continents with Gerard Butler in Greenland: Migration, where survival isn’t about winning anymore, it’s about lasting long enough to matter.From jaw-dropping racing sequences to bleak post-apocalyptic journeys, we dig into what works, what falters, and which film actually earns its hope.

Pandora is burning.In this episode of the Cinema Goodness Podcast, we dive deep into Avatar: Fire and Ash, James Cameron’s bold, darker third chapter in the Avatar saga. Set after The Way of Water, this film trades ocean blues for volcanic reds as grief, rage, and moral ambiguity reshape Pandora forever.We break down the rise of the Ash People, Varang’s terrifying alliance with the RDA, Spider’s shocking transformation, and Kiri’s evolving connection to Eywa. Plus, we unpack the film’s massive final battle at the Cove of Ancestors and debate what this means for Avatar 4 and Avatar 5.And for the first time ever, we introduce the Cinema Goodness Hall of Fame, inducting the most iconic, emotional, and punchable moments from Fire and Ash.🔥 MVPs🔥 Best Character Arcs🔥 Most Iconic Finale Moment🔥 Franchise-Defining Legacy ShiftsIs Fire and Ash the bold evolution Avatar needed, or is it retreading familiar ground? Hit play, grab some popcorn, and let’s get into this cinema goodness.

After ten years, one basement, and countless trips to the Upside Down, Stranger Things has officially ended.

In this episode of the Cinema Goodness Podcast, we break down the Series Finale, “Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up,” a two-hour cinematic event that delivers a massive final battle, a bold sacrifice, and an ending that refuses to give us clean closure.

We dive deep into:

• The truth about Vecna and the Mind Flayer

• Will Byers’ long-awaited payoff

• Joyce Byers delivering the most unexpected kill in the series

• Eleven’s controversial sacrifice and final goodbye

• The 18-month epilogue and where every character ends up

• The ambiguous final moments that sparked instant debate

Was this the emotional sendoff fans wanted?

Did Stranger Things play it safe… or play it smart?

And did the show end the story — or end our childhood?

We also talk reception, backlash, and what this finale means for the legacy of one of the most important genre shows of the last decade.

Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 is here—and it might be the most divisive stretch in the show’s history. In this episode of the Cinema Goodness Podcast, we break down Episodes 5–7 ahead of the series finale, unpacking massive lore reveals, emotional turning points, and a cliffhanger that left the fandom reeling.We dive into the shocking truth about the Upside Down as a scientific wormhole, Vecna’s horrifying plan involving kidnapped children, and the revelation that Eleven’s powers trace back to Henry Creel himself. From Will Byers’ emotional coming out and Max’s long-awaited awakening, to Nancy and Jonathan’s devastating “un-proposal” and Eleven’s potential final sacrifice, Volume 2 delivers huge ideas—even if the execution sparked backlash.We also tackle the controversy: review bombing, pacing complaints, lore inconsistencies, and why Episode 7 became the lowest-rated episode in Stranger Things history. Is Volume 2 a necessary bridge… or a misstep before the finale?Grab your Eggos. The end is almost here.

Cinema Goodness Podcast is back with a stacked episode! 🚀We dive into:🎬 Trailer Reactions – Homelander’s meltdown in The Boys S5, Supergirl shining with cosmic hero vibes, and the first hints of Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2.💥 Movie News – Netflix throws down $82.7B to acquire Warner Bros, HBO, and DC classics… but Paramount isn’t taking it lying down. Guilds, theater owners, and politicians weigh in on this mega-merger.🧟 Movie Review – Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein: a gothic, emotional, visually stunning take on Mary Shelley’s classic. Who survives, who forgives, and who just wants a hug?Join us for trailers, corporate chaos, bending finals week, and one extremely emotional undead guy. 🎧

Welcome back to the Cinema Goodness Podcast — where Hawkins is somehow even worse than last season, which feels scientifically impossible.

In this episode, we’re diving into Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 with our full Episodes 1–4 recap and analysis! Hawkins is now a quarantined military zone, the Upside Down is crawling with Demogorgons, and Vecna returns, abducting kids as the sinister “Mr. Whatsit.” Eleven and Hopper team up in the Upside Down, Will Byers finally awakens his full psychic powers, and the gang uncovers the military’s secret base and Vecna’s terrifying plan to collect 12 children for his army.

We break down all the key moments, callbacks to Seasons 1–4, 80s pop culture references, D&D lore, and hidden Easter eggs, plus highlight the most metal, emotional, and shocking moments. If you love Hawkins, horror, and epic TV breakdowns, this episode of the Cinema Goodness Podcast is a must-watch!

The Vengeance of Vecna! Season 4 brings in a powerful villainof unknown origin. The crew is split across the globe from California, to Kamchatka, Russia to Hawkins but they all set out to fight the evil again. Lives will be forever changed, sacrifices will be made, but someone has to save theworld, again. Check out the Season 4 recap!

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