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Feb 15 2016
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One episode later than promised, we watch the 1925/1929 version of The Phantom of the Opera! Why do we list two dates? You’ll have to listen to the podcast to find out! Not only do we discuss this fine silent film, Tim also spends a not insignificant amount of time ranting about the 2004 musical. If you happened to like the 2004 musical, you may want to skip past that part of the podcast because he will destroy your dreams. Aside from Tim’s epic hatred of the musical, we do talk about some of the color processing involved in the film, Lon Chaney’s makeup, and a lot of other things that involve the film we actually watched.
Our next film will be La Belle et la Bette!
The Phantom of the Opera (1925) | |
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Rating: 7.5/10 (20,023 votes) Director: Rupert Julian, Lon Chaney, Ernst Laemmle Writer: Gaston Leroux, Walter Anthony, Elliott J. Clawson Stars: Lon Chaney, Mary Philbin, Norman Kerry Runtime: 93 min Rated: Passed Genre: Horror Released: 15 Nov 1925 |
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Plot: A mad, disfigured composer seeks love with a lovely young opera singer. |
Feb 01 2016
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Those of you who listened to our last episode may have noticed we said this episode would be about The Phantom of the Opera. Surprise! With The Hateful Eight leaving theaters soon, we decided we should shuffle off to the movie theater and check out Quentin Tarantino’s latest offering. Melissa actually saw the film in 70mm glory while Tim and Jena got to see the digital print from the front row. We’ll talk about the film and a lot of the social implications contained in the film. Somehow, we fail to talk about the score. But it was really good.
Our next movie will, for totally sure, be The Phantom of the Opera!
The Hateful Eight (2015) | |
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Rating: 7.8/10 (659,799 votes) Director: Quentin Tarantino Writer: Quentin Tarantino Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh Runtime: 168 min Rated: R Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery Released: 30 Dec 2015 |
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Plot: In the dead of a Wyoming winter, a bounty hunter and his prisoner find shelter in a cabin currently inhabited by a collection of nefarious characters. |
Jan 16 2016
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We’ve been circling this one for a while. Having watched Ed Wood, Plan 9 From Outer Space, and Horror of Dracula, it is finally time to look at the role that both defined and trapped Bela Lugosi: Dracula. Our first Universal horror film and one of the best known, we took a look at this classic retelling of Bram Stoker’s novel. After watching the movie, we talked about the careers of many of the actors, the legacy of Universal horror films and – as always – a bunch of other stuff.
Up next, we stick with classic horror and watch The Phantom of the Opera!
Dracula (1931) | |
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Rating: 7.4/10 (58,455 votes) Director: Tod Browning, Karl Freund Writer: Bram Stoker, Hamilton Deane, John L. Balderston Stars: Bela Lugosi, Helen Chandler, David Manners Runtime: 75 min Rated: Passed Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Horror Released: 14 Feb 1931 |
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Plot: Transylvanian vampire Count Dracula bends a naive real estate agent to his will, then takes up residence at a London estate where he sleeps in his coffin by day and searches for potential victims by night. |
Jan 07 2016
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For this episode, we take a look at one of the most famous films out of the Hammer Horror studio – Horror of Dracula! We decided to watch the movie because Sir Christopher Lee was in Hugo and this film is one of his breakout roles. We explore his career as well as that of Peter Cushing. For some reason, we spend a long time talking about The Hound of the Baskervilles.
Our next film is, somewhat predictably, Dracula!
Horror of Dracula (1958) | |
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Rating: 7.2/10 (27,881 votes) Director: Terence Fisher Writer: Jimmy Sangster, Bram Stoker Stars: Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Michael Gough Runtime: 82 min Rated: Not Rated Genre: Drama, Horror Released: 16 Jun 1958 |
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Plot: When Jonathan Harker rouses the ire of Count Dracula for accepting a job at the vampire's castle under false pretenses, his friend Dr. Van Helsing pursues the predatory villain. |
Dec 21 2015
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Note: We apologize for the late posting of this episode. This episode, we return to the works of director Martin Scorsese to watch the film Hugo. Jena was unable to join us so we appointed stunt Jena Sean O’Laughlin to watch the film with us. Hugo is notable for being a film almost completely unlike any other film by Martin Scorsese. It starts out as a children’s movie and morphs into a love letter about film preservation. It is also visually amazing. We dissect all of this in our conversation after watching the film.
A few things to watch if you have the time:
This video showing a breakdown of the final shot in the film.
A full length, color version of George Melies’ Le Voyage Dans la Lune.
Our next episode will be about Horror of Dracula!
Hugo (2011) | |
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Rating: 7.5/10 (335,777 votes) Director: Martin Scorsese Writer: John Logan, Brian Selznick Stars: Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz, Christopher Lee Runtime: 126 min Rated: PG Genre: Adventure, Drama, Family Released: 23 Nov 2011 |
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Plot: In 1931 Paris, an orphan living in the walls of a train station gets wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father and an automaton. |
Dec 01 2015
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We’ve been watching a lot of recent movies lately so for this episode, we slid all the way back to the silent film era and comedy legend Harold Lloyd! Lloyd is the third of the great solo silent comedians. We’ve already taken a look at Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin and, like most people, we’ve passed over Lloyd until now. Safety Last is his best known work. The film is engaging and, notably, Tim’s eleven-year-old son was completely enthralled by the film when we watched it. Even though it involves a set piece with a clock, this is a movie that is truly timeless.
Our next movie will be Hugo!
Safety Last! (1923) | |
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Rating: 8.1/10 (22,836 votes) Director: Fred C. Newmeyer, Sam Taylor Writer: Hal Roach, Sam Taylor, Tim Whelan Stars: Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis, Bill Strother Runtime: 74 min Rated: Not Rated Genre: Action, Comedy, Thriller Released: 01 Apr 1923 |
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Plot: A boy leaves his small country town and heads to the big city to get a job. As soon as he makes it big his sweetheart will join him and marry him. His enthusiasm to get ahead leads to some interesting adventures. |
Nov 16 2015
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In part two of our exploration of movies about Baseball, we watched Bull Durham. Pat Wick acts as our stunt Jena but it is Melissa who has never seen the film. The film is one of the more quotable ones we’ve watched and is actually about baseball. At least it is a little bit like baseball. Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, and Kevin Costner star in this film that is as good as people have told you.
Our next movie will be Safety Last!
Bull Durham (1988) | |
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Rating: 7.0/10 (59,159 votes) Director: Ron Shelton Writer: Ron Shelton Stars: Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins Runtime: 108 min Rated: R Genre: Comedy, Romance, Sport Released: 15 Jun 1988 |
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Plot: A fan who has an affair with one minor-league baseball player each season meets an up-and-coming pitcher and the experienced catcher assigned to him. |
Nov 01 2015
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With this episode, we embark on a two episode exploration of baseball movies. Moneyball stars Brad Pitt and it takes a look at the evolution of the way modern baseball teams are assembled. Like most baseball movies, this movie isn’t about the game so much as it is about the people who make a living within the game. This the second movie in a row that Melissa hasn’t seen. If we can find about three more, that will probably encompass cover every movie she’s never seen!
Our next movie is another movie Melissa hasn’t seen! We’ll be watching Bull Durham!
Moneyball (2011) | |
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Rating: 7.6/10 (464,559 votes) Director: Bennett Miller Writer: Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin, Stan Chervin Stars: Brad Pitt, Robin Wright, Jonah Hill Runtime: 133 min Rated: PG-13 Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport Released: 23 Sep 2011 |
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Plot: Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane's successful attempt to assemble a baseball team on a lean budget by employing computer-generated analysis to acquire new players. |
Oct 15 2015
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Having watched Akira Kurosawa and Sergio Leone tackle the same story, this episode considers John Broderick’s take on the same material. We know what you’re thinking: who is John Broderick? Exactly. Frequent guest Kelvin Hatle joins us for a sword and sandal retelling of Yojimbo that is, in almost every conceivable way, a complete disaster. The Warrior and the Sorceress takes elements we have grown familiar with and inserts bad fight choreography, gratuitous nudity, and a bizarre puppet lizard. You have not lived until you’ve seen this film and you will never forget it once you do.
We will save you, dear listeners, from watching Last Man Standing. Our next movie will be Moneyball!
The Warrior and the Sorceress (1984) | |
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Rating: 4.2/10 (2,478 votes) Director: John C. Broderick Writer: John C. Broderick, William Stout, Ryûzô Kikushima Stars: David Carradine, Luke Askew, María Socas Runtime: 81 min Rated: R Genre: Adventure, Fantasy Released: 07 Sep 1984 |
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Plot: A fearsome swordsman, Kain, crosses the barren wastelands and comes upon a town where two arch enemies fight incessantly for control of the town's only well. |
Oct 01 2015
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Having just watched Yojimbo, it is time for us to watch the same movie made by another director. The style of Sergio Leone is vastly different from that of Akira Kurosawa but he brings his own flair to the story of one man trying to clean out a crooked town in A Fistful of Dollars! Instead of Toshiro Mifune, our protagonist is played by Clint Eastwood. We compare and contrast the directors and actors who brought this story to life twice.
For our next episode, we are going to watch the same story again! This time, the results are not quite so impressive. We’ll be watching The Warrior and the Sorceress!
A Fistful of Dollars (1964) | |
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Rating: 7.9/10 (231,106 votes) Director: Sergio Leone Writer: Adriano Bolzoni, Mark Lowell, Víctor Andrés Catena Stars: Clint Eastwood, Gian Maria Volontè, Marianne Koch Runtime: 99 min Rated: R Genre: Action, Drama, Western Released: 18 Jan 1967 |
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Plot: A wandering gunfighter plays two rival families against each other in a town torn apart by greed, pride, and revenge. |
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