Def Rec

Def Rec: Why a cheesy 1987 flick has more heart than today’s blockbusters Should you watch Masters of the Universe ? And I’m not talking about the new 2026 film—I am talking about the 1987 version starring Dolph Lundgren. This question is mainly aimed at the newer generation of fans, not necessarily people of my generation. I grew up in a blend of Millennial and Gen X culture, so of course I’m going to be a fan of the’87 He-Man film adaptation. I was a kid, I had the He-Man toys, my nostalgia is in full force for the original He-Man live-action motion picture. But you know what? I have no interest in seeing the new Masters of the Universe . It would seem that this film targeted someone like me who would get memories and feel good about watching this latest incarnation, but it also seemed to be wanting to attract the younger folk because, of course, this is the modern take for the modern audience. My question before I get into my full recommendation is to the younger people: how much...

 Def Rec: Trilogy-Destroying Fourth Franchise Films (Rerelease) Originally published on 5/4/2026 Update: Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) achieved an oddly unique milestone and it wasn’t the staggering amount of box office cash. Peter Parker’s latest MCU adventure was going to be a surefire hit no matter what, so that wasn’t ever in question. The Webhead’s most recent blockbuster has earned loads of praise, press, and overall fan acclaim. It definitely got attention even if some moviegoers didn’t care for it. The superhero hype isn’t the special achievement that I’m talking about, though. This is the fourth live action Spidey flick . Tobey Maguire (in)famously only got three in his series. Andrew Garfield spun out only two films in his run. Love it or hate it, but Tom Holland finally got the Wall-Crawler to a quadrilogy. This isn’t even counting the ancillary appearances from all three actors portraying their specific roles in other tie-ins and crossovers. As monumentally popular ...

 Def Rec: JCVD Season Welcome to Splitsville: We’re nearing the end of summer but you still have time to watch hard-hitting (and roundhouse kicking) blockbusters starring none other than Jean-Claude Van Damme. But which of JCVD’s fiery action movies should you choose? I started the sweltering season with a mission to refamiliarize myself with the Muscles From Brussels. After weeks of chops, sweeps, punches, and headbutts, I can definitely recommend what Van Damage is right for you. I’m only in the first phase of my movie martial arts journey, so this sizzling selection is from the early era of the legendary actor’s career. Full disclosure: I did some time-hopping and revisited Timecop (1994) but mostly stayed within the blazing beginning of international superstar’s film streak. Now it’s time to split and run down the Van Damme movies I’ve screened so far. At the end, I’ll reveal which out of all of them I definitely recommend. Like JCVD’s ESL speaking lines, I’ll keep these as sh...