Episode 321 - Over the Top
Welcome back to Not A Bomb, the podcast where we resurrect cinema’s most infamous box office disasters and ask the burning question: is it a bomb? This week, Troy and Brad put on their finest sleeveless denim, grease up their elbows, and enter the wonderful world of competitive arm wrestling with Sylvester Stallone's 1987 classic, Over the Top. And for this very special episode, the guys are joined by first-time guest, Katie from the Retromade Podcast!
Over the Top is the story of Lincoln Hawk, a down-on-his-luck truck driver and professional arm wrestler who is trying to reconnect with his estranged son while traveling across the country toward the World Armwrestling Championship. It's a movie about fathers and sons, second chances, truck driving, arm wrestling, and the important lesson that apparently all you need to turn your life around is a strategically placed hat and approximately eight ounces of baby oil.
Troy, Brad, and Katie dig into the gloriously ridiculous premise, the surprisingly heartfelt father-son story, and Stallone's unique ability to make absolutely everything look like a life-or-death struggle. In Over the Top, a truck isn't just a truck. It's freedom. An arm wrestle isn't just an arm wrestle. It's destiny. And flipping your baseball cap backward isn't just a fashion choice. It's apparently a legally binding declaration that you are about to become the greatest arm wrestler who has ever lived.
Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs!
Check out the trailer for The 80s: A Motion Picture Special
Cinova - The future of Movie and TV
We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
Guest: Kaite
Welcome back to Not A Bomb, the podcast where we resurrect cinema’s most infamous box office disasters and ask the burning question: is it a bomb? This week, Troy and Brad put on their finest sleeveless denim, grease up their elbows, and enter the wonderful world of competitive arm wrestling with Sylvester Stallone's 1987 classic, Over the Top. And for this very special episode, the guys are joined by first-time guest, Katie from the Retromade Podcast!
Over the Top is the story of Lincoln Hawk, a down-on-his-luck truck driver and professional arm wrestler who is trying to reconnect with his estranged son while traveling across the country toward the World Armwrestling Championship. It's a movie about fathers and sons, second chances, truck driving, arm wrestling, and the important lesson that apparently all you need to turn your life around is a strategically placed hat and approximately eight ounces of baby oil.
Troy, Brad, and Katie dig into the gloriously ridiculous premise, the surprisingly heartfelt father-son story, and Stallone's unique ability to make absolutely everything look like a life-or-death struggle. In Over the Top, a truck isn't just a truck. It's freedom. An arm wrestle isn't just an arm wrestle. It's destiny. And flipping your baseball cap backward isn't just a fashion choice. It's apparently a legally binding declaration that you are about to become the greatest arm wrestler who has ever lived.
Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs!
Check out the trailer for The 80s: A Motion Picture Special
Cinova - The future of Movie and TV
We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
Guest: Kaite
Episode 313 - 1941
Welcome back to Not A Bomb! — the podcast where we resurrect cinema's most infamous box office disasters and ask the burning question: is it a bomb?
This week, the guys march into the chaos of Steven Spielberg's 1979 war comedy 1941. Fresh off the unprecedented successes of Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Spielberg was handed the ultimate Hollywood blank check to make whatever he wanted. The result was an enormous, effects-driven comedy about panic erupting across Southern California in the days following Pearl Harbor. While 1941 wasn't a full-blown box office bomb, it fell well short of the massive expectations surrounding Spielberg's first comedy, becoming one of the earliest examples of how even Hollywood's hottest director wasn't immune to a stumble.
But was the film unfairly judged, or is 1941 simply too loud, too chaotic, and too overstuffed for its own good? Troy and Brad break down the film's incredible cast, jaw-dropping practical effects, and the fascinating production that saw Spielberg pushing his filmmaking ambitions to new heights. The hosts also discuss how the film's reputation has evolved over the decades, why it has developed a passionate cult following, and how its perceived failure may have helped shape Spielberg's remarkable run of classics that followed.
Sound the air raid sirens, keep an eye on the Ferris wheel, and join Not A Bomb as they revisit one of Hollywood's most fascinating near-misses, proving that sometimes even a box office disappointment can become an unforgettable piece of blockbuster history.
Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs!
We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
Welcome back to Not A Bomb! — the podcast where we resurrect cinema's most infamous box office disasters and ask the burning question: is it a bomb?
This week, the guys march into the chaos of Steven Spielberg's 1979 war comedy 1941. Fresh off the unprecedented successes of Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Spielberg was handed the ultimate Hollywood blank check to make whatever he wanted. The result was an enormous, effects-driven comedy about panic erupting across Southern California in the days following Pearl Harbor. While 1941 wasn't a full-blown box office bomb, it fell well short of the massive expectations surrounding Spielberg's first comedy, becoming one of the earliest examples of how even Hollywood's hottest director wasn't immune to a stumble.
But was the film unfairly judged, or is 1941 simply too loud, too chaotic, and too overstuffed for its own good? Troy and Brad break down the film's incredible cast, jaw-dropping practical effects, and the fascinating production that saw Spielberg pushing his filmmaking ambitions to new heights. The hosts also discuss how the film's reputation has evolved over the decades, why it has developed a passionate cult following, and how its perceived failure may have helped shape Spielberg's remarkable run of classics that followed.
Sound the air raid sirens, keep an eye on the Ferris wheel, and join Not A Bomb as they revisit one of Hollywood's most fascinating near-misses, proving that sometimes even a box office disappointment can become an unforgettable piece of blockbuster history.
Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs!
We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
Episode 308 - Jujutsu Kaisen 0
For this installment of Not A Bomb’s “Ani-MAY-e” celebration, the hosts dive into Jujutsu Kaisen 0, the explosive prequel to the massively popular Jujutsu Kaisen. Centered on the tragic story of Yuta Okkotsu, the film introduces audiences to a world where cursed spirits, powerful sorcerers, and overwhelming grief collide in spectacular fashion. What begins as a supernatural tale about loss and isolation quickly transforms into a high-energy action epic filled with brutal battles, emotional revelations, and enough cursed energy to level entire city blocks.
The hosts break down how the film functions both as an entry point for newcomers and as expanded lore for longtime fans of the series. Does this prequel do a good job at bringing in new fans, or is the parade of random new characters distracting? Troy and Brad discuss whether the film successfully balances world-building with emotional storytelling, or if the barrage of terminology, powers, and side characters risks overwhelming audiences unfamiliar with the anime.
There’s also plenty of appreciation for the film’s jaw-dropping fight sequences, with the hosts praising the fluid animation, intense choreography, and massive scale of the action. From one-on-one duels to full-scale supernatural chaos, the conversation highlights how the film uses animation to create battles that feel fast, weighty, and emotionally charged all at once. The hosts also examine the relationship between Yuta and Rika, exploring how the film blends themes of love, trauma, guilt, and personal growth beneath all the explosive spectacle.
Want to support the show? Check out the Not A Bomb TeePublic store for merch, featuring designs by Ted Blair.
We’d love to hear from you—send your feedback, suggestions, or film recommendations to NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. If you enjoy the show, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Cast: Brad, Troy
For this installment of Not A Bomb’s “Ani-MAY-e” celebration, the hosts dive into Jujutsu Kaisen 0, the explosive prequel to the massively popular Jujutsu Kaisen. Centered on the tragic story of Yuta Okkotsu, the film introduces audiences to a world where cursed spirits, powerful sorcerers, and overwhelming grief collide in spectacular fashion. What begins as a supernatural tale about loss and isolation quickly transforms into a high-energy action epic filled with brutal battles, emotional revelations, and enough cursed energy to level entire city blocks.
The hosts break down how the film functions both as an entry point for newcomers and as expanded lore for longtime fans of the series. Does this prequel do a good job at bringing in new fans, or is the parade of random new characters distracting? Troy and Brad discuss whether the film successfully balances world-building with emotional storytelling, or if the barrage of terminology, powers, and side characters risks overwhelming audiences unfamiliar with the anime.
There’s also plenty of appreciation for the film’s jaw-dropping fight sequences, with the hosts praising the fluid animation, intense choreography, and massive scale of the action. From one-on-one duels to full-scale supernatural chaos, the conversation highlights how the film uses animation to create battles that feel fast, weighty, and emotionally charged all at once. The hosts also examine the relationship between Yuta and Rika, exploring how the film blends themes of love, trauma, guilt, and personal growth beneath all the explosive spectacle.
Want to support the show? Check out the Not A Bomb TeePublic store for merch, featuring designs by Ted Blair.
We’d love to hear from you—send your feedback, suggestions, or film recommendations to NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. If you enjoy the show, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Cast: Brad, Troy