Tag: Movies

So to start us off – this whole discussion spawned off of our recent ‘Franchises That Should Have Stopped‘ episode. Apparently, I touched a livewire with some controversy that I had never stumbled upon. Surprising, given I love a bad movie and I love a weird story… the tale of Joe Dante and Gremlins 2 had passed me by.

I appreciate some of our listeners telling me how wrong I was about how Gremlins 2 being bad.  They explain that it is, in fact, kind of brilliant if you understand what’s going on.  I went and read the tweet thread on it (with a big shoutout to Professor Murder and Kess) as well as watched some interviews with Director Joe Dante, and fell into the rabbithole that is Gremlins 2.

The short version – Warner Brothers didn’t expect Gremlins to be a hit, but it was. They wanted a sequel, but Joe Dante, director of the first one, didn’t want to make it. They kept throwing money at him until he relented, and in turn, used the budget to make a commentary as to why Gremlins didn’t need a sequel.  Dammit… that’s good.  He went in with making a movie that embodies the absurdity of commercialism culture, sequels, lampoons Ted Turner and Trump, the bad reviews that Gremlins received, and the disregard of classic cinema.  So, let me state, right here and now, that as an adult looking at the call and response of an artist making fools of the studio with their own money…

BUT!

When lil’ me was 10 years old with my Gizmo toy and perfect impression of Stripe going ‘DEEAGLE DEAGLE DEAGLE’ who saw the original film at the drive-in, watched Gremlins 2 and read the novelization (which does not feature Hulk Hogan, but a cut-in by Brain Gremlin which may have been my first real exploration into meta-text) — I was confused. The movie I got felt so much closer to Critters or Killer Klowns than it did the perfect scary Christmas movie about a terrorized small town that was the original. As an adult, I don’t even know what I could have received that would have sated my Gremlins love. Ghostbusters 2 was good, but not great. Honey I Blew Up The Kids… meh.

What could G2 been that would have held any candle to the original?

I have to accept that maybe the correct answer is that the only movie that deserved to follow Gremlins, was the Gremlins 2 we got – and knowing the whole of the tale makes 40-something ol’ me appreciate its balls a lot more. Amusingly enough, I stand by that the original movie didn’t need a sequel, and the man who made that sequel apparently agreed with that idea so much… he made this particular sequel.

If you would like to fall into this rabbit hole – here are a couple of the places I did research:
Gremlins 2 Q&A w/ Joe Dante
The Institute of Gremlins 2 Studies

Some movies build a universe that expands the lore and mythos, that delves deep into other characters and builds new ways to love what you already loved.  They are treasures that feel like each moment is a part of a greater whole.

Some movies need to make rent so they sell themselves to whatever bidder happens to have a coupon for a McRib Value Meal.

Today, the Somethings are talking about the latter of those two – movies that went one strong, maybe two strong, but somewhere down the line you can find a copy of their 4th outting stuck to the bottom of the DVD Value Pack box at RiteAid.  Or they’re loved and we’re monsters and you’ll have to tweet us to tell us why.

So let’s get this year started right!

Ok, here we go!

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Hey Somethings, PCR here!

So, this week’s blog, I wanted to talk about some actors I’m… well.. just not fond of.  I’m not talking “Oh, I didn’t like so-and-so in this role…” or “I thought they’re portrayal of blahblahblah was…”  No, I’m talking about a level of “I couldn’t care less” that sometimes makes it difficult to watch things they’re in.

Anthony Mackie – Is he Captain America?  Yes.  Will I go see the new Cap movie in the theaters when it comes out?  Most likely not.  It’s convoluted.. it’s not because I don’t want him in the role.. as a comic book fan it 100% makes sense.  It’s also a huge point of diversity which is also awesome…. I  just don’t like him as an actor.  It’s not that I find him “bad”, I just don’t find him compelling.  I was able to make it through his previous MCU movies because his screen time was tempered by his castmate’s screen time.  I was “meh” on Falcon and the Winter Soldier (mostly due to having to watch him more).  His episode of Black Mirror was intriguing, but to me, still middling… and I couldn’t even finish the first episode of S2 of Altered Carbon when I saw him in it.  He just doesn’t grab my attention.

Aaron Paul – Now, to be fair, I haven’t seen him in much that WASN’T Breaking Bad.  Yes, the show was amazing, but any time Jesse was on the screen, I just sighed and sucked it up because I knew he HAD to be.  El Camino?  It was… how do I say…   “boring”.  I recently started binging Westworld (more on that in an upcoming episode).  Seasons 1 and 2 were phenomenal… Season 3 had… issues.. and… Aaron Paul.  As soon as I saw him on my screen I thought “Well fuck… he’s going to end up being integral and we’re going to see a lot of him aren’t we…”  I wasn’t wrong.  I haven’t started S4 yet, but, I’m hoping Caleb ends up getting the “Teddy” treatment before too long.

Joan Cusack – Ok look, I don’t have an answer for “Why?” on this one.  I just can’t stand seeing her on my screen.  I couldn’t watch the American version of Shameless thanks to her.  I was mildly interested in A Series of Unfortunate Events until she showed up on my screen and I turned it off and never went back.  I’ve only seen 2 movies she’s ever been in, and they were long enough ago that I don’t think I even knew who she was at the time.  I’m sure she’s a great person, but she can be a great person and not be on my TV ever too.

What about YOU?  Do YOU have someone who.. you just can’t stand to watch?  Let us know!

ALSO

Do you like Star Wars?  Do you like Audio Dramas?  Well how about a Star Wars Audio Drama?!

Author Crystal Storm has been doing just that!  Check out “Legacy : A Star Wars Audio Drama”!

The Anniversary Strikes… THE WHEEL with a list of 9 oriented topics, we spin the wheel, make the deal… annnnnnnd – BAD MOVIE DRAFT!

That’s right – Hatton and Podcast Rob are picking the best of the worst and letting you decide precisely who wins.  What was the worst? What was the best? Does one being better make it the loser? Did you like any of this dreck? How do you decide?

Head over to our TWITTER page and vote in the pinned poll!

Well, you’ll find out the rules, how to play, and the obvious winner by listening to this episode of…. THE WHEEL: BAD MOVIE DRAFT

Ok, here we ..god I’ve seen so many of these..

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With 9 movies on the books, the Fast & the Furious Franchise, fun to say five times fast, seemed like the perfect spot for us to flex our Year 9 Anniversary muscles and go back behind the wheel to breakdown all of the hard turns the series have made.  How much is a drag? How much does the series drift off course? These are car puns.

Have you tire’d of these yet? Fine. I get it.

So – join the Somethings as they take nine movies and put them into a ranking… what sits atop the mountain? Only one way to find out – on Something in Review: Fast Ranked!

A minor note – we mention a couple of graphics Rob and I did years ago, when discussing Fast 7, the Seven Deadly Cars… here’s some examples:

Ok, here we go… but for family.

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What happens when you give Michael Bay a ton of money, a Dutch movie about a hostage situation, and tell him to go to town?

You get this hodgepodge of big action, big explosions, big cameras, and a plot that drives by at the speed of a man who just robbed a bank.

Does it work? Is Michael Bay finding his footings as an artist? There’s only one way to know on Something In Review: Ambulance!

Ok, here we vroom!

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The first moments of a movie or TV show sets the stage for what’s to come… is it a tense moment to moment thriller? Is it confusing, where the plot reveals itself slowly? Is it a podcast that introduces itself the same way to you each week for the last 9 years?

Whatever the case may be – the first few moments of a show or movie may be the thing that keeps you glued to your seat… so join the Somethings as we discuss our favorites.

Did yours make the cut? Only one way to find out.

Okay, here we start!

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Happy Friday Somethings!

So, I’m 3 episodes in to Obi-Wan and… it’s…  shrugs.. Ok… I guess.

Mind you, I do not consume all things Star Wars.  Never saw Rebels or Clone Wars if only because I never checked them out… not because of some “anti show animosity”.  Mando was great, BoBF was… okish, but Obi-Wan I wanted to enjoy more.

Are there cool aspects of it?  Sure.  Are there mind-numbingly dumb things that happen for the sake of moving along the store in a 6 episode show?  Yes.  SHOULD it be 6 episodes?  Can’t give a full answer yet till it’s over, but I DO hate how these shows have become exposition to movies and nothing else.  D+ “Shows” went from 9 episodes (still short) to 6 and personally, I feel like they’re doing their fans a disservice… but that’s a conversation for another day.

What I *don’t* enjoy.. is that the Star Wars universe is SO VAST.. they literally could tell any story they want and set it in the SW universe, and it could be awesome and make that already rich universe grow even more.. instead, we keep having stories set around the main players we’ve already seen for years.  The latest SW trilogy took a half step in that direction, but rather hamfistedly in my opinion, and… to be fair.. the toxicness and entitlement of some of their fans (not that only SW suffers from this… EVERY fandom has it’s toxic side) makes it hard to strike out in new directions.

I’m hoping the last 3 episodes turn the show around for me, but if it doesn’t shrug oh well….

Want to hear some original Star Wars stuff?  Go check out our friend Crystal Storm’s audio drama “Legacy” in your podcatcher of choice!

– PCR

On May 19that 9am, Livestream For The Cure kicked off with a goal to raise $20,000 for The Cancer Research Institute.

On May 20th, two behemoths met in the ring and duked out for supremacy. Who won? Who’s next?  You decide.

That’s right – with Rob as Quizmaster, Somethingcast’s Hatton took on the Maestro of Livestream for the Cure, Nicholas Haskins in movie quote trivia.

If you missed the stream, we thought you would enjoy hearing what happens as these two people play a brutal game of cinema chess … but before you think you know what’s going to happen, ask yourself – what if they weren’t facing each other?

Are you ready for this battle of wits? Well, at least you are…  but before we get the episode started, while this year’s goal was reached, the final tally hasn’t been taken yet. There is still time to bring the number even higher, and remember, all of the money goes to the Cancer Research Institute.  Click here to donate.

Ok, here we quote!

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We are the terror that flaps in the night… we are the podcast you listen to when you already caught up with RadioLab – we’re… the SOMETHINGSOMETHING DUC—CAST!

This week, we are going to Gotham with the newest installment in the neverending saga of one man’s fight against eye make-up.

How did Pattinson do as the man known as the Bat? How did he do as the Wayne? Did he sparkle in either role? What about the Riddler? The Catwoman? Egghead? Xyzzaz? The Condiment King?

Find out on this week’s Something in Review: The Batman!

Also – please be sure to tune in this Friday @9pm to support the Somethings as we get to be a part of Livestream For The Cure – Donations are open.

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