2001's Enemy at the Gates

This week on Off the Shelf with Phil and Dave, we revisit Enemy at the Gates (2001), the World War II thriller starring Jude Law, Ed Harris, Rachel Weisz, and Joseph Fiennes. Set during the Battle of Stalingrad, the film follows a deadly sniper rivalry between Soviet and German marksmen. We discuss the intense battle sequences, standout performances, historical accuracy, and whether the unnecessary love triangle distracts from the action. Plus, questionable storytelling choices, sniper tactics, and plenty of laughs as Dave revisits an old DVD favourite while Phil watches for the first time. Does this war movie still hold up?

Michael Caine takes justice into his own hands in Harry Brown (2009), a gritty British crime thriller about an elderly ex-Marine seeking revenge after his best friend's murder. This week on Off the Shelf with Phil and Dave, the guys revisit Daniel Barber's vigilante drama, also starring Emily Mortimer. From London's violent streets and disturbing characters to questions of morality, revenge, and whether justice justifies murder, there's plenty to debate. Dave once had high hopes for this film, but does it hold up years later? Join Phil and Dave for laughs, disagreements, and an honest look at this dark British revenge thriller.

Jason Voorhees is back from the dead, and Phil and Dave are back for more punishment! This week on Off the Shelf, we revisit Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986). Phil considers it one of the franchise's strongest entries, while Dave isn't quite convinced. From Tommy Jarvis accidentally resurrecting Jason to outrageous kills, supernatural twists, and a surprising dose of comedy, the guys debate whether director Tom McLoughlin breathed new life into the slasher series. Is this a triumphant return to Camp Crystal Lake or another unnecessary sequel?

Jason Voorhees is dead… or is he? This week on Off the Shelf with Phil and Dave, we're revisiting one of horror's most controversial sequels, Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning (1985). Phil and Dave each share their favorite kill and character while also touching on Tommy Jarvis, the infamous Jason twist, memorable moments, and whether this sequel deserves its reputation as one of the franchise's weakest entries. Is it an underrated 80s horror movie or a new beginning nobody asked for? Join us for laughs, disagreements, and plenty of spoilers!

Three cops. Three very different paths. One gritty crime drama. But does Brooklyn's Finest deliver on the strength of its impressive cast?This week on Off the Shelf with Phil and Dave, we're reviewing Brooklyn's Finest (2009), director Antoine Fuqua's crime thriller starring Richard Gere, Ethan Hawke, Don Cheadle, and Wesley Snipes.Dave finally pulls a movie off his shelf that he's owned since the closing days of the video store where he and Phil once worked. With neither host having seen it before, does this overlooked police drama deserve a permanent place in the collection?We break down the film's three intersecting storylines: Eddie, a disillusioned cop approaching retirement; Sal, a desperate detective willing to cross moral boundaries for his family; and Tango, an undercover officer torn between his badge and his loyalty to a longtime friend.Along the way, we discuss Ethan Hawke's intense performance, Richard Gere's troubled character, and why Don Cheadle and Wesley Snipes bring some much-needed life to the film. We also examine the movie's gritty atmosphere, realistic violence, cinematography, questionable character decisions, and whether its ambitious three-story structure ultimately works.Is Brooklyn's Finest an underrated crime thriller in the tradition of Training Day, or a missed opportunity with a terrific cast?Join Phil and Dave for another honest, entertaining movie discussion as we decide whether Brooklyn's Finest deserves to stay on the shelf.

Let’s do the Time Warp again! This week on Off the Shelf with Phil and Dave, Phil brings one of his longtime favourites off the shelf: 1975’s The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Dave is watching the cult classic for the very first time, and it’s safe to say he wasn’t quite sure what he was getting into.Phil and Dave break down the movie, its unforgettable music, bizarre characters and wonderfully strange energy, from “Science Fiction/Double Feature” and “Dammit Janet” to the iconic “Time Warp.” They also dig into Tim Curry’s show-stealing performance as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick as Janet and Brad, and how a movie that struggled to find an audience in 1975 grew into one of cinema’s most enduring cult classics.After 50 years of midnight screenings, audience participation and generations of devoted fans, does The Rocky Horror Picture Show still hold up? And more importantly, can Phil finally get Dave to give a musical his seal of approval?It’s strange, funny, provocative and unlike just about anything else we’ve pulled off the shelf. Don’t dream it — listen to it.

Tom Cruise is back as Ethan Hunt, but Mission: Impossible 2 is a very different mission. Phil and Dave revisit John Woo’s action-heavy 2000 sequel to discuss the slow motion, motorcycles, over-the-top stunts, Thandiwe Newton and Dougray Scott, and whether this actually feels like a Mission: Impossible movie. Does Woo’s signature style give the franchise a shot of adrenaline, or bury it beneath all the spectacle? Plus, plenty of kicking, questionable IMF hiring practices, and more doves than any spy movie probably needs.

Phil and Dave take on 1990’s Arachnophobia, the creepy-crawly horror-comedy starring Jeff Daniels and John Goodman. Does Frank Marshall’s blend of laughs, scares and killer spiders still hold up more than 35 years later? From the film’s practical effects and surprisingly effective tension to Goodman’s scene-stealing exterminator and Daniels’ terrified performance, the guys break down what makes Arachnophobia such a unique ’90s movie. Plus: childhood fears, unwanted encounters with bugs, familiar faces from Seinfeld, MacGyver and Star Trek, and whether this one deserves a permanent spot on the shelf.

This week on Off the Shelf with Phil and Dave, we’re doing our part and revisiting Paul Verhoeven’s 1997 sci-fi cult classic Starship Troopers. After years of requests, Dave finally gives the movie a proper watch, while Phil returns to the bug-infested battlefield for the first time in nearly 30 years.Would you like to know more?We dig into Casper Van Dien’s Johnny Rico, Denise Richards, Dina Meyer, Neil Patrick Harris and the always-welcome Michael Ironside, while debating the intentionally cheesy performances, massive bug battles, impressive practical effects and CGI, excessive gore and relentless military propaganda. But underneath all the carnage, how well does Verhoeven’s satire of fascism, patriotism, violence and manufactured information hold up today?Dave is surprisingly hooked—at least for a while—while Phil discovers that talking about Starship Troopers might actually be more enjoyable than watching it..Starship Troopers (1997) | Paul Verhoeven | Casper Van Dien | Denise Richards | Neil Patrick Harris | Sci-Fi Movie Review | 90s Movies | Cult Classic | Movie Podcast

This week on Off the Shelf with Phil and Dave, we head back to 1998 for Wes Anderson’s Rushmore. Phil has loved it for years, but can Jason Schwartzman’s endlessly ambitious—and occasionally insufferable—Max Fischer win Dave over?We dig into Schwartzman’s unforgettable debut, Bill Murray’s surprisingly sad and layered Herman Blume, Olivia Williams as Rosemary Cross, and the soundtrack that first made Phil fall in love with the movie. Along the way, we debate Max’s questionable decisions, the escalating war between Max and Blume, Wes Anderson’s distinctive style, and how Rushmore manages to be funny, strange and genuinely melancholy at the same time.Dave’s first viewing was a little touch-and-go—but a second watch changed things considerably. Is Rushmore worthy of a permanent spot on the shelf?Rushmore (1998) | Wes Anderson | Jason Schwartzman | Bill Murray | Olivia Williams | Movie Review | Film Discussion | 90s Movies