Matthew Essary
@wheelscritic.bsky.social
“Just a guy who likes movies” - Writer/Sometimes Editor/Podcaster/Gif Maker. Licensed counselor. Pretty much always tired.
Press contact: WheelsCritic@gmail.com
Portfolio: https://muckrack.com/wheelscritic/portfolio
Press contact: WheelsCritic@gmail.com
Portfolio: https://muckrack.com/wheelscritic/portfolio
Pinned
Collateral made Tom Cruise into a slasher movie villain
Michael Mann’s gritty L.A. thriller inches close to the horror genre
www.polygon.com
Thank you for all the new follows! I appreciate the love as I attempt to rebuild after fleeing the sinking u-boat that is Twitter. For anyone who doesn’t know me, I’m going to share a few of my favorite pieces of work. First, one on the horror themes of “Collateral” www.polygon.com/23006361/col...
This makes me think of a conversation starter for my HK movie-loving compatriots—which “stunt gone wrong that was left in” is worse? This one from Tiger on the Beat 2 or the end explosion stunt in Devil Hunters? I struggle to even watch the one from DH. (So if you want to see it, Google it yourself)
When the stunt goes wrong but they keep it in the movie anyway.
Tiger on the Beat 2 (1990) dir. Chia-Liang Liu
Tiger on the Beat 2 (1990) dir. Chia-Liang Liu
November 21, 2025 at 10:27 AM
This makes me think of a conversation starter for my HK movie-loving compatriots—which “stunt gone wrong that was left in” is worse? This one from Tiger on the Beat 2 or the end explosion stunt in Devil Hunters? I struggle to even watch the one from DH. (So if you want to see it, Google it yourself)
Reposted by Matthew Essary
I hate having to make a post like this every few months but this person is a deranged incel stalker who made direct threats against my physical safety some years ago and has it out for me and a friend because we didn’t remember talking to him on Tumblr over ten years ago. Please block accordingly.
November 20, 2025 at 7:30 PM
I hate having to make a post like this every few months but this person is a deranged incel stalker who made direct threats against my physical safety some years ago and has it out for me and a friend because we didn’t remember talking to him on Tumblr over ten years ago. Please block accordingly.
Reposted by Matthew Essary
The "Golgo 13" anime (from 1971) will be released on Blu-ray in Japan.
This series was considered lost until the masters were found two years ago.
natalie.mu/comic/news/6...
This series was considered lost until the masters were found two years ago.
natalie.mu/comic/news/6...
November 20, 2025 at 3:16 PM
The "Golgo 13" anime (from 1971) will be released on Blu-ray in Japan.
This series was considered lost until the masters were found two years ago.
natalie.mu/comic/news/6...
This series was considered lost until the masters were found two years ago.
natalie.mu/comic/news/6...
Every company looking at Shout Factory’s English subtitles for Chinese films and being like, “Naw. We can do better than this” is very funny to me.
Theatrical Trailer
Image Gallery
Audio: Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio Dual Mono + English DTS-HD Master Audio Dual Mono
Aspect Ratio 1.85:1
Optional English Subtitles from a NEW translation
Hardcover Booklet
Image Gallery
Audio: Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio Dual Mono + English DTS-HD Master Audio Dual Mono
Aspect Ratio 1.85:1
Optional English Subtitles from a NEW translation
Hardcover Booklet
November 20, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Every company looking at Shout Factory’s English subtitles for Chinese films and being like, “Naw. We can do better than this” is very funny to me.
If you don’t have these Jackie Chan films already, this is an *insane* deal. These are some of his very best films (plus “The Protector).
***DEAL***
#JackieChan Collection Volume 2 from #ShoutStudios is down to $48.49 on Amazon:
https://amzn.to/4oZ2f6c
#BluRay #Ad #PhysicalMedia #BluRays #BoutiqueBluRay #CultMovies #DiscConnected
#JackieChan Collection Volume 2 from #ShoutStudios is down to $48.49 on Amazon:
https://amzn.to/4oZ2f6c
#BluRay #Ad #PhysicalMedia #BluRays #BoutiqueBluRay #CultMovies #DiscConnected
Amazon.com: The Jackie Chan Collection, Vol. 2 (1983 - 1993) [Blu-ray] : Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan, Alan Tam, Danny Aiello, Joey Wong, Yuen Biao, Richard Ng, Rosamund Kwan, Richard Norton, Ken Lo, Gary Daniels: Movies & TV
Amazon.com: The Jackie Chan Collection, Vol. 2 (1983 - 1993) [Blu-ray] : Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan, Alan Tam, Danny Aiello, Joey Wong, Yuen Biao, Richard Ng, Rosamund Kwan, Richard Norton, Ken Lo, Gary Daniels: Movies & TV
amzn.to
November 20, 2025 at 3:30 PM
If you don’t have these Jackie Chan films already, this is an *insane* deal. These are some of his very best films (plus “The Protector).
What a hero. (I’m serious. This guy is fucking rad.)
I’m howling.
November 20, 2025 at 3:17 PM
What a hero. (I’m serious. This guy is fucking rad.)
Reposted by Matthew Essary
Good morning chat, you know what day it is.
November 20, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Good morning chat, you know what day it is.
Hmm.
In other news, if you follow Lorenz Hideyoshi on Instagram, you'll find he posted a reel comparing fight choreo he did for a Star Wars fan film in 2019 to a sequence used in a 2023 episode of Star Wars: Visions. In sum, it's reasonable to believe that Disney, allegedly, stole his work. What say you?
November 20, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Hmm.
Reposted by Matthew Essary
Logan Paul is a fantastic wrestler if you don’t know a fucking thing about wrestling
November 18, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Logan Paul is a fantastic wrestler if you don’t know a fucking thing about wrestling
Reposted by Matthew Essary
and finally, here's my short essay on the insanely underrated Bringing Out the Dead www.patreon.com/posts/bringi...
November 18, 2024 at 4:17 AM
and finally, here's my short essay on the insanely underrated Bringing Out the Dead www.patreon.com/posts/bringi...
Somehow, I had never seen this before and now that I have— my life is better for it.
November 17, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Somehow, I had never seen this before and now that I have— my life is better for it.
Anyone quote tweeting that IGN Pennywise/Running Man article is literally doing what the creator of that piece wanted you to do. It’s such a clear case of rage-baiting for clicks. All the jokey dunking is accomplishing is ensuring more articles like it in the future.
a group of cartoon characters are watching a man play a keyboard
ALT: a group of cartoon characters are watching a man play a keyboard
media.tenor.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Anyone quote tweeting that IGN Pennywise/Running Man article is literally doing what the creator of that piece wanted you to do. It’s such a clear case of rage-baiting for clicks. All the jokey dunking is accomplishing is ensuring more articles like it in the future.
Reposted by Matthew Essary
Disability is not a 'brave struggle' or 'courage in the face of adversity.' Disability is an art. It's an ingenious way to live.
Disability is a portal, a way of focusing our gaze and sharpening our lens on the intricacies of our humanity.
- Alice Wong
Disability is a portal, a way of focusing our gaze and sharpening our lens on the intricacies of our humanity.
- Alice Wong
November 15, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Disability is not a 'brave struggle' or 'courage in the face of adversity.' Disability is an art. It's an ingenious way to live.
Disability is a portal, a way of focusing our gaze and sharpening our lens on the intricacies of our humanity.
- Alice Wong
Disability is a portal, a way of focusing our gaze and sharpening our lens on the intricacies of our humanity.
- Alice Wong
Reposted by Matthew Essary
VARANASI Teaser Announces Latest Epic From ‘RRR’ Director
Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Prithviraj Sukumaran star in the brand new epic coming in 2027
Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Prithviraj Sukumaran star in the brand new epic coming in 2027
VARANASI Teaser Announces Latest Epic From ‘RRR’ Director
Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Prithviraj Sukumaran star in the brand new epic coming in 2027
filmcombatsyndicate.com
November 15, 2025 at 5:04 PM
VARANASI Teaser Announces Latest Epic From ‘RRR’ Director
Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Prithviraj Sukumaran star in the brand new epic coming in 2027
Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Prithviraj Sukumaran star in the brand new epic coming in 2027
This translates to “tailor-made for me!” Got this queued up for a couple watches this weekend. I’ve been begging for years for someone to get Daniel Bernhardt back into a lead role and it’s finally here. And hey look, BSky’s favorite exiled son, Patton Oswalt is along for the ride. Can’t wait!
Ever wonder what Conan directed by Sam Raimi would look like? Especially if it featured amazing practical effects and starred one of the foremost ass-kickers in the business? Then Steven Kostanski made just the flick for you. This thing was engineered in a lab for me to love it. Fucking fantastic!
November 15, 2025 at 5:29 AM
This translates to “tailor-made for me!” Got this queued up for a couple watches this weekend. I’ve been begging for years for someone to get Daniel Bernhardt back into a lead role and it’s finally here. And hey look, BSky’s favorite exiled son, Patton Oswalt is along for the ride. Can’t wait!
Reposted by Matthew Essary
To coincide with the re-release of City On Fire, Sight & Sound asked me to pick 10 great Hong Kong action films of the 1980s. Here's what I came up with:
www.bfi.org.uk/news/10-grea...
www.bfi.org.uk/news/10-grea...
10 great Hong Kong action films of the 1980s
From gravity-defying stunts to bullet-sprayed showdowns – as Ringo Lam’s blazing City on Fire returns in a new restoration, we remember the heyday of Hong Kong action movies.
www.bfi.org.uk
November 14, 2025 at 3:16 PM
To coincide with the re-release of City On Fire, Sight & Sound asked me to pick 10 great Hong Kong action films of the 1980s. Here's what I came up with:
www.bfi.org.uk/news/10-grea...
www.bfi.org.uk/news/10-grea...
The fandom has been injesting too much Pornhub. Do Predators even use washing machines?
Folks shipping Dek and Thia.
Dek and his brother.
Thia and her sister.
Found family dynamics.
And folks being hipsters and saying that Scar/Lex from AVP is the first real Predator ship. (and they are right and AVP is good).
Dek and his brother.
Thia and her sister.
Found family dynamics.
And folks being hipsters and saying that Scar/Lex from AVP is the first real Predator ship. (and they are right and AVP is good).
November 14, 2025 at 3:08 PM
The fandom has been injesting too much Pornhub. Do Predators even use washing machines?
IMDB scores mean even less than Rotten Tomatoes scores. So, what I’m saying is they have no value whatsoever.
November 14, 2025 at 3:02 PM
IMDB scores mean even less than Rotten Tomatoes scores. So, what I’m saying is they have no value whatsoever.
“Midsommar” (2019, dir Ari Aster)
November 13, 2025 at 3:16 PM
“Midsommar” (2019, dir Ari Aster)
Reposted by Matthew Essary
Daniel Bernhardt has been a huge presence in action cinema for over 30 plus years. No matter if he’s leading man or a supporting role he elevates anything he’s in. Here’s Bernhardt vs Stahelski from Bloodsport 2 for your viewing pleasure!
November 12, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Daniel Bernhardt has been a huge presence in action cinema for over 30 plus years. No matter if he’s leading man or a supporting role he elevates anything he’s in. Here’s Bernhardt vs Stahelski from Bloodsport 2 for your viewing pleasure!
Reposted by Matthew Essary
That time on Arsenio when we learned Nicolas Cage’s origin story.
November 12, 2025 at 4:18 AM
That time on Arsenio when we learned Nicolas Cage’s origin story.
Thinking about this Predator 2 poster I got on my 11th birthday, from a friend, and wishing I still had it. These were sold in places like Walmart back then, displayed next to New Kids on The Block and Lamborghini posters in those big, plastic “flip book”endcap displays. We were once kings…
November 11, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Thinking about this Predator 2 poster I got on my 11th birthday, from a friend, and wishing I still had it. These were sold in places like Walmart back then, displayed next to New Kids on The Block and Lamborghini posters in those big, plastic “flip book”endcap displays. We were once kings…
Reposted by Matthew Essary
Let’s also not forget that Nakadai was the first guy who got to gush an absolute geyser of blood in a samurai movie, a happy accident that became a trope.
(this short interview with Nakadai is delightful)
(this short interview with Nakadai is delightful)
November 11, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Let’s also not forget that Nakadai was the first guy who got to gush an absolute geyser of blood in a samurai movie, a happy accident that became a trope.
(this short interview with Nakadai is delightful)
(this short interview with Nakadai is delightful)