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'The Expendables 2': This Isn't the '80s I Remember

What made the best movies of the '80s the best movie of the '80s was how they balanced violence, humor, and sincerity in a single, enjoyable picture. Die Hard, Rocky III and IV, and Rambo II and III are prime examples.

Reviews

Sly x 3 = Winning, Yo! 'Stallone: 3-Film Collector's Set'

Movie combo packs can be bottom barrel dreck on double-sided discs or, well, they could be something like this: First Blood, Cop Land, and Lock Up.

Reviews

No Contract for Old Men: 5 'Old Folks' in Pop Culture That Are 5Xs Tougher Than You

It'd be a shame if the endless emphasis on youth results in a lack of "grown-up" concerns in pop culture. Here are five examples of the old kicking ass and refusing to give way to the young in mainstream pop culture.

Television

'Cop Land' Is Captivating Journey of Self-Realization and Corruption

Sylvester Stallone doesn't do dramas often. Cop Land proves that may be his biggest mistake.

Reviews

OMG - The 20 Worst Films of 2008

There's bad, and then there's 2008 level bad. You know this list is looking down into a deep dark bottomless pit of cinematic despair when Mike Myers' shameful Love Guru didn't even make the Top 20!

Film

Rambo: In All His Glory

Rambo is constantly portrayed as judge, jury, and executioner in the national and international spheres.

Film

Historian: Interview with Brian Garfield

"I think that, except for its ludicrous violence toward the end, the Death Sentence movie does depict its character's decline and the stupidity of vengeful vigilantism." Death Wish creator Brian Garfield talks to PopMatters about remakes, sequels, writing, and the meaning of vengeance.

Books

Rambo

That Rambo is by now too old to recover or start again only underlines the film's ultimate point: no one wins this time.

Reviews

Rocky Balboa (2006)

This may be the most truly independent and heartfelt piece of filmmaking released by a major studio last year.

Brian Holcomb

Reviews

Rocky Balboa (2006)

Rocky Balboa traces its own kind of full circle, linking art and populism, politics and dreams.

Reviews

Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003)

Fun as it is, demonstrates a little end-of-series fatigue.

Jesse Hassenger

Film

Pop Ten

The 20 Best Folk Albums of 2019

The 70 Best Albums of 2019

The 20 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2019

The Best Progressive Rock/Metal of 2019

The 15 Best Avant-Garde and Experimental Albums of 2019

The Best Jazz of 2019

The 20 Best Metal Albums of 2019

The 100 Greatest Alternative Singles of the '80s: Part 1: 100 - 81

The 25 Best Classic Progressive Rock Albums

The 10 Best Ambient Albums of 2019

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Mixed Media

Collapse Expand Mixed Media

PM Picks

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'The Expendables 2': This Isn't the '80s I Remember

What made the best movies of the '80s the best movie of the '80s was how they balanced violence, humor, and sincerity in a single, enjoyable picture. Die Hard, Rocky III and IV, and Rambo II and III are prime examples.

Sly x 3 = Winning, Yo! 'Stallone: 3-Film Collector's Set'

Movie combo packs can be bottom barrel dreck on double-sided discs or, well, they could be something like this: First Blood, Cop Land, and Lock Up.

No Contract for Old Men: 5 'Old Folks' in Pop Culture That Are 5Xs Tougher Than You

It'd be a shame if the endless emphasis on youth results in a lack of "grown-up" concerns in pop culture. Here are five examples of the old kicking ass and refusing to give way to the young in mainstream pop culture.

'Cop Land' Is Captivating Journey of Self-Realization and Corruption

Sylvester Stallone doesn't do dramas often. Cop Land proves that may be his biggest mistake.

OMG - The 20 Worst Films of 2008

There's bad, and then there's 2008 level bad. You know this list is looking down into a deep dark bottomless pit of cinematic despair when Mike Myers' shameful Love Guru didn't even make the Top 20!

Rambo: In All His Glory

Rambo is constantly portrayed as judge, jury, and executioner in the national and international spheres.

Historian: Interview with Brian Garfield

"I think that, except for its ludicrous violence toward the end, the Death Sentence movie does depict its character's decline and the stupidity of vengeful vigilantism." Death Wish creator Brian Garfield talks to PopMatters about remakes, sequels, writing, and the meaning of vengeance.

Rambo

That Rambo is by now too old to recover or start again only underlines the film's ultimate point: no one wins this time.

Rocky Balboa (2006)

This may be the most truly independent and heartfelt piece of filmmaking released by a major studio last year.

Rocky Balboa (2006)

Rocky Balboa traces its own kind of full circle, linking art and populism, politics and dreams.

Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003)

Fun as it is, demonstrates a little end-of-series fatigue.

Dustbowl Revival Embrace Their Nomadic Character via "Runaway" (premiere)

House's Flashmob Remixes Juliet Sikora's Monster Hit "Beat Dancer" (premiere)

Jon Regen Displays Live Chops via "Hole in My Heart" (premiere + interview)

The JAB Issue Their Mission Statement With "Riot" (premiere)

Randall Bramblett's "Vibrating Strings" Is About Staying Alive (premiere + interview)

Friend Within Brings Sunshine to the Dancefloor on "Space Jam" (premiere)

With "Santa Baby", Emergency Tiara Updates a Classic Just in Time for the Holidays (premiere)

Tyler Boone Dodges Cliches With "Jealousy" (premiere + interview)

The Pedaljets Celebrate Contentment With "Sleepy Girl" (premiere + interview)

What made the best movies of the '80s the best movie of the '80s was how they balanced violence, humor, and sincerity in a single, enjoyable picture. Die Hard, Rocky III and IV, and Rambo II and III are prime examples.

Forget Bourne. Barney Ross should be the most influential action hero of the aughts.

Movie combo packs can be bottom barrel dreck on double-sided discs or, well, they could be something like this: First Blood, Cop Land, and Lock Up.

It'd be a shame if the endless emphasis on youth results in a lack of "grown-up" concerns in pop culture. Here are five examples of the old kicking ass and refusing to give way to the young in mainstream pop culture.

Sylvester Stallone doesn't do dramas often. Cop Land proves that may be his biggest mistake.

There's bad, and then there's 2008 level bad. You know this list is looking down into a deep dark bottomless pit of cinematic despair when Mike Myers' shameful Love Guru didn't even make the Top 20!

Rambo is constantly portrayed as judge, jury, and executioner in the national and international spheres.

"I think that, except for its ludicrous violence toward the end, the Death Sentence movie does depict its character's decline and the stupidity of vengeful vigilantism." Death Wish creator Brian Garfield talks to PopMatters about remakes, sequels, writing, and the meaning of vengeance.

That Rambo is by now too old to recover or start again only underlines the film's ultimate point: no one wins this time.

This may be the most truly independent and heartfelt piece of filmmaking released by a major studio last year.

Rocky Balboa traces its own kind of full circle, linking art and populism, politics and dreams.

Fun as it is, demonstrates a little end-of-series fatigue.