Why Benicio Del Toro's Star Wars Character Isn't the Worst

Julian Meush December 22, 2017

There appears to be one constant among those who’ve seen The Last Jedi. Whether you liked it or not people seem to agree that Benicio Del Toro’s character is terrible. Playing a character named DJ he doesn't have a huge role in the film, but with so much hate being thrown his way I wanted to offer him up some defense.

Does Disney Buying Fox Hurt The X-Men Franchise?

Julian Meush November 9, 2017

With the news that Disney could possibly buy 21st Century Fox a lot of the surrounding talk has been about what would happen with Fox's Marvel properties, specifically The X-Men. People get excited at the prospect of seeing Wolverine and the gang join up with The Avengers in the MCU but is it really a good idea?

Why We Should Be Worried About Justice League

Julian Meush November 1, 2017

Justice League is just around the corner and DC's massive superhero team-up will undoubtedly do just fine at the box office. The real question is whether it will actually be any good? It's too early to know for sure but there are definitely some signs and symptoms that might be pointing to another critical disappointment for DC and Warner Bros.

The Recipe to a Horror Fan

Julian Meush October 25, 2017

Tis' the season for spooks and scares. So with freights on my mind I put some thought (and some actual research) into why certain people are more inclined to enjoy horror movies. Personally, they scare the pants off of me, but what is it about those weirdos who love em?

Unsurprising - Blade Runner 2049 Flops at the Box Office

Julian Meush October 12, 2017

The latest sci-fi blockbuster failed to impress at the box office this past weekend. This news shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone though. It's a phrase becoming far too common these days. So what caused Blade Runner 2049, a well made and well reviewed movie, to fail financially? The signs were staring us right in the face.

2017 So Far: Movies

Julian Meush July 3, 2017

With 2017 already half over it's time to look back on some of the movies that have graced the silver screen since January 1. Let's be honest, the first half of the year hasn't been great for film but the stuff that was good, was really good. I highlight the best of the best (and one of the worst) in my top 3 standout films of 2017 so far.

Apr 25, 2026

Episode 205 - CinemaCon 2026 + News Roundup

It's been a minute since Matt and Julian sat down to cover the latest in film and TV news. Some might say it's been dearly missed. Well wait no more folks because this week it's all news and nothing but the news so help me god! If the last few weeks (months?) of stories weren't enough, CinemaCon 2026 also just concluded which had it's own news deluge. The guys unpack it all (well most of it anyway)! Of utmost priority is the news of Michael B Jordan and Austin Butler's reboot of 'Miami Vice', which is close to Matt's heart. Plus 'Spaceballs 2' gets a title and release date, trailers for 'Dune 3', 'Clayface' and 'Street Fighter' all surprise (in a good way), and a new 'Lord of the Rings' movie is announced (and you won't guess who's writing it!). Plus, a 'Game of Thrones' movie, more 'Transformers' and is 'Avatar' over? All this and so much more on this week's Tower of Babble Podcast!

Apr 23, 2026

SSSW - Maul: Shadow Lord - Chapter 5 & 6

We’ve reached the halfway point of the season and with it comes a tonal shift back to the roots of Star Wars animation - 'The Clone Wars'. With the arrival of the Empire, the focus shifts away from Maul and his dealings and toward the pair of Jedi as they are now in the crosshairs. The noire tone takes a back seat, next to Maul, as things become more pulpy, mixed with an impending doom that is reminiscent of the final season of 'The Clone Wars'. The set-piece action sequences get an injection of scale and danger, which is exciting, and some of the early seeding of characters like Rylee start to pay off. While maybe a bit different from the previous 4 episodes, the quality and the stakes remain high (well... for every character except Maul I suppose). Join Julian and Rachel as the unpack it all in excruciating detail.

Apr 15, 2026

SSSW - Maul: Shadow Lord - Chapter 3 & 4

Now that the premiere is out of the way, the team at Lucasfilm Animation can focus on driving the story forward with authority. The pacing is much improved this week as time feel more evenly dispersed across the characters. There's a greater concentration on characters who can wield a lightsaber and it's appreciated. No shade to the crime syndicate storyline, but we've kind of seen all that already (it was quite literally a 'Clone Wars' arc). The action remains strong while taking another step forward with lightsaber duels joining the mix. Plus, the fast cutting from last week seems to have been dialed back, which is appreciated as it provides more clarity in action scenes. For example, Devon's engagements with Maul are gripping, and with the additional time provided to Master Daki, the stakes feel ratcheted up. Kevin Kinner's music remains a highlight, the illusions to the Anakin vs Obi-Wan Mustafar theme was a particular highlight. In general, there is still room for more character growth, especially with characters not named Maul, who really can't/won't change - but happy to proven wrong! This show feels like it's in full swing already, which is good because next week things look to be really heating up as we hit the half way mark. Julian and Rachel unpack it all!

Apr 9, 2026

SSSW - Maul: Shadow Lord - Chapter 1 & 2

It's been some time since we've been able to sink our pointy teeth into a meaty Star Wars animated project. Since the finale of 'The Bad Batch' all the way back in May of 2024, all we've had to tie us over were anthology installments of varying quality. Praise the Force, that wait is finally over with the release of 'Maul: Shadow Lord', the latest full length series from Lucasfilm Animation. The series marks another technical leap forward for the animation studio, taking their patented visual style and adding another layer of detail and artistry that jumps off the screen. The story follows the titular, Maul shortly after the fall of the Republic and the rise of the Empire, he's looking for revenge and the series wastes no time dropping us right into the thick of things (3 car/speeder chases in 40 mins is impressive). And while we know much of Maul's criminal dealings (and most of the rest of his life actually), the introduction of a new Padawan into the mix, another apprentice-to-be for Maul, adds a layer of intrigue to an otherwise underworld focused story. Join Julian and Rachel as they unpack Chapter 1: "The Dark Revenge" and Chapter 2: "Sinister Schemes", in intricate detail.