This week on Born to Watch, we're diving deep beneath the surface for our Crimson Tide (1995) Review, revisiting Tony Scott's tense 1995 submarine thriller starring two absolute acting heavyweights, Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington. It's a film packed with military drama, explosive confrontations, unforgettable performances, and enough pressure to make anyone glad they never enlisted in the Navy.

Whitey and Damo return to the captain's chair to break down one of Tony Scott's most underrated films, a movie that proves you don't need endless explosions to create edge-of-your-seat tension. When a US nuclear submarine receives an incomplete launch order during an international crisis, Captain Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman) and Executive Officer Ron Hunter (Denzel Washington) find themselves locked in a battle that could determine the fate of the entire world.

At its heart, Crimson Tide isn't really about submarines or nuclear weapons. It's about leadership.

Gene Hackman delivers one of the most intimidating performances of his legendary career as the old-school Captain Ramsey, a man who believes orders are meant to be followed without question. Opposite him is Denzel Washington, calm, measured, and incredibly composed as Hunter, the officer who believes thinking before acting might just save millions of lives.

The chemistry between these two acting giants drives every scene. Every conversation feels like a heavyweight boxing match where neither man wants to blink first. Whitey and Damo debate whose side they'd be on, whether Ramsey is a fearless wartime leader or simply an egotistical loose cannon, and whether Hunter's calm approach would really survive under the pressure of nuclear war.

Of course, this is Born to Watch, so things quickly drift into discussions about sweaty submarines, impossible flat-top haircuts, George Dzundza somehow fitting through submarine hatches, Tony Scott's signature directing style, Hans Zimmer's early military score, and why James Gandolfini was already becoming Hollywood's go-to bloke for playing absolute jerks before The Sopranos.

The boys also revisit Tony Scott's incredible filmography, comparing him to brother Ridley Scott, while reminiscing about classics including Top Gun, True Romance, The Last Boy Scout, Enemy of the State, Man on Fire, Deja Vu and more. Is Tony Scott one of the greatest blockbuster directors of the 1990s? The debate certainly gets underway.

As always, there's plenty of Born to Watch goodness along the way. Expect the IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes comparisons, the VHS synopsis, the 1995 Hit, Sleeper and Dud, plenty of movie trivia, questionable observations, and enough laughs to break the tension inside the USS Alabama.

The discussion also shines a light on the incredible supporting cast. Viggo Mortensen appears long before becoming Aragorn, James Gandolfini is perfectly cast as another intimidating authority figure, while early performances from Ryan Phillippe and Steve Zahn provide plenty of "I forgot they were in this!" moments.

The episode also explores whether Crimson Tide deserves its reputation as one of the greatest submarine films ever made. How does it compare to The Hunt for Red October? Is Gene Hackman's Captain Ramsey one of cinema's best military leaders or one of its most dangerous? Does Denzel Washington quietly deliver one of the finest performances of his career?

If you love intense thrillers, powerhouse acting performances, Tony Scott's kinetic filmmaking style, or simply enjoy hearing four mates argue passionately about movies while constantly getting distracted by completely unrelated topics, this episode is for you.

So grab your popcorn, secure the launch keys, and prepare to dive deep into one of the smartest action thrillers of the 1990s.

Have you seen Crimson Tide?
We'd love to know whose side you're on.
Was Captain Ramsey right to follow orders without hesitation, or did Hunter make the only decision that could save humanity?

Join the conversation across all our social channels and let us know your thoughts.
Don't forget to subscribe, leave us a review, and tell a movie-loving mate about Born to Watch. Your support helps us keep revisiting the films we all grew up with.

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This week on Born to Watch, the boys dive into a true cult classic with our Big Wednesday Movie Review, the coming-of-age surfing epic that has inspired generations of surfers while leaving plenty of movie fans wondering what all the fuss is about. Directed by the legendary John Milius, Big Wednesday isn't just about riding waves; it's about growing up, friendships, the passing of time, and the harsh reality that life eventually catches up with everyone.

Whitey, G-Man and Damo paddle out into one of the most personal films ever covered on the podcast, and the discussion quickly reveals a massive divide. For G-Man, this is sacred territory, a film that captures everything he loves about surfing culture and the changing seasons of life. For Whitey, it's a movie full of unanswered questions that leaves him searching for meaning between the swells. Somewhere in the middle sits Damo, appreciating both the spectacular surfing sequences and the emotional weight hidden beneath the surface.

The boys break down the journey of Matt, Jack and Leroy, three lifelong mates whose lives unfold across more than a decade as they chase waves, girls, parties, responsibility and eventually the mythical Big Wednesday itself. Is the famous swell simply a perfect wave, or is it a metaphor for life's biggest moments? G-Man comes armed with enough knowledge to teach a university course on the film, explaining the significance of each swell and how every chapter represents another stage of growing older.

Along the way, the conversation drifts into everything that makes Born to Watch what it is. Whitey questions why nobody seems capable of explaining anything in 1970s cinema, Damo reminisces about recording surfing competitions onto VHS tapes before the internet existed, and G-Man somehow turns an episode about surfing into a passionate defence of Jan-Michael Vincent's career.

Speaking of Jan-Michael Vincent, the boys explore what should have been one of Hollywood's biggest success stories. Blessed with movie star looks and undeniable charisma, Vincent seemed destined to become one of the industry's leading men before a series of personal struggles derailed his career. They also examine the careers of William Katt, Gary Busey, Lea Purcell and the incredible creative team behind the film, including legendary director John Milius and composer Basil Poledouris.

As always, the regular segments are packed with laughs. The team looks back at 1978, discussing classics including The Deer Hunter, Grease, Superman, Animal House and Every Which Way But Loose. The Snorb's Report uncovers another unforgettable scene from Animal House, while Hit, Sleeper, Dud delivers recommendations ranging from Midnight Express and The Wild Geese through to the gloriously ridiculous disaster movie The Swarm.

Of course, no Born to Watch episode would be complete without random tangents. There are discussions about beach culture, lending surfboards to complete strangers, teenage house parties, Bear's outrageous life choices, surfing legends, Airwolf, The Greatest American Hero, Star Wars auditions, Gary Busey's teeth, and whether anyone has ever actually met an old surfer who correctly predicted the mythical "Big Wednesday".

Whether you grew up quoting Matt Johnson, dreamed of chasing perfect waves, or you've never understood surfing culture at all, this episode celebrates a film that means something different to everyone who watches it. Some see an unforgettable surfing movie. Others see one of the greatest coming-of-age stories ever made. Whitey still isn't entirely sure what he watched.

So grab a beer, wax the board, paddle out with the boys, and join us as we revisit one of cinema's most beloved cult classics. The waves are building, the friendships are tested, and eventually, Big Wednesday arrives.

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave us a review, and share Born to Watch with your mates. Every new listener helps us keep celebrating the movies we all grew up loving, one classic at a time.

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This week on Born to Watch, it's time for our Air Force One Movie Review, the movie review podcast where we don't take the movies or ourselves too seriously. Whitey, G-Man, and Will the Worky climb aboard one of the most patriotic action films ever made, as Harrison Ford swaps his whip and fedora for the Oval Office and proves that sometimes the President really can save the day.

Released in 1997 and directed by Wolfgang Petersen, Air Force One became one of the biggest blockbusters of the year, delivering a simple but irresistible premise. Terrorists hijack the President's plane, take his family hostage and quickly discover they've picked a fight with a Commander-in-Chief who just happens to be a Medal of Honour recipient.

The boys dive into whether this 90s action favourite still holds up almost three decades later, or whether nostalgia is doing most of the heavy lifting.

Harrison Ford once again proves why he remains one of Hollywood's greatest accidental heroes. Whether he's Han Solo, Indiana Jones, Dr Richard Kimble or President James Marshall, Ford has a knack for making ordinary people believe they can survive extraordinary situations. The team discusses why his grounded style works so well and why he's able to elevate even the most over-the-top action movies.

Of course, no discussion of Air Force One would be complete without Gary Oldman. His performance as terrorist Ivan Korshunov is as intense as ever, even if the boys question whether one of cinema's greatest actors deserved a stronger script. Along the way, they celebrate Oldman's incredible career, from Leon and True Romance through to The Dark Knight, Darkest Hour and beyond.

As always, the movie quickly becomes secondary to the ridiculous questions that only Born to Watch can ask.

• Just how many parachutes does Air Force One actually carry?
• Why is everyone smiling after jumping out of a plane somewhere over Kazakhstan?
• Does a 1997 satellite phone really keep working at 20,000 feet?
• Why is there an endless supply of drinks hidden in the cargo hold?
• And how exactly does one MiG fighter somehow survive an entire squadron attack just so the movie can have one more action sequence?

The crew also takes aim at some wonderfully cheesy taglines, debates whether this is one of cinema's greatest presidential action thrillers, and wonders if Australians will ever truly understand America's obsession with the presidency.

Elsewhere, G-Man delivers another outstanding Ordinary People segment, covering Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman, Glenn Close and a cast full of "that guy" character actors you've seen in dozens of movies. There's also a look back at the massive year that was 1997, including Titanic, Men in Black, The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Good Will Hunting.

Hit, Sleeper or Dud returns with another trio of recommendations, including Wesley Snipes' underrated Murder at 1600, the Spanish original that inspired Vanilla Sky, and one of the greatest movie titles ever discovered in the Dud category.

As always, expect plenty of laughs, terrible impressions, completely unnecessary tangents, and more than a few moments where the logic of Hollywood action films is left hanging out the side of the aircraft.

So buckle up, secure your tray table, prepare for decompression, and remember one thing...

Get off my podcast!

If you enjoy what we do, we'd love your support.
Subscribe wherever you listen, leave us a five-star review, share the episode with your mates, and follow Born to Watch across social media. Every listen helps us keep celebrating the movies we all grew up with, one ridiculous review at a time.

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