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.

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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