There’s a scene in “Pootie Tang” where a gorilla fatally mauls Pootie’s dad. It was unexpected, absurd and the ONLY funny scene in the entire flick. The fact that this movie even made it into theaters is a testament to how hot Chris Rock was in 2001. Rock’s collaborations with HBO (two stand-up specials and a comedy series) were solid gold and made him an icon. But for whatever reason, his brilliance didn’t translate into long-form storytelling. I see the […]
Ever since Buster Keaton gave us his revolutionary The General back in 1926, audiences and critics have afforded avant-garde comedies the confusion and hostile pity typically reserved for homeless street performers and the last five seasons of Two and a Half Men. When Wet Hot American Summer first appeared in the summer of 2001, it fared no better. A weak opening in less than thirty cities drew both tepid audience responses and polarizing critical reception (Roger Ebert was so famously disappointed […]
(In Austrian accent) Hear me now and believe me later… Saturday Night Live has been at the forefront of American comedy since it’s opening monologue on October 11th, 1975. The list of comedic actors that have graced the halls of Studio 8H inside 30 Rock is legendary. Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Dana Carvey, Phil Hartman, Adam Sandler, and Chris Farley are just a few of the numerous comedic talents that were able to use their […]
I’ve been saying for a long time that filmmakers love sports and war metaphors to describe the process of making a movie because they are applicable in so many different ways. Both involve a group of individuals brought together for a single purpose. They might be there for different reasons, but the goal is the same – to win, often at any cost. On the highest level, both involve campaigns – an MLB season has 162 games; America was in […]
It could have been a result of the cheap movie-theater pizza I was struggling to digest throughout the screening or a product of the ringing and raging in my psyche from two and a half hours of mind-numbing explosions and vroom-vrooms, but as I stumbled out of my seat and beyond the shellshock, I began to wonder if maybe the “seven” in Furious 7 is more than just a mere indication that this uber-machismo, adrenaline-fueled, NOS-guzzling dumpster fire is the […]
FOLLOW US: ITUNES TWITTER FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD Highlights from this section of BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA All-out gang warfare The introduction of The Three Storms Lo Pan’s first appearance The Porkchop Express left behind A mountain of exposition from Uncle Chu, Eddie, and Gracie Al Leong: Action Movie Icon Last time, we told you about Jeff Imada and this time we’ll take a special look at Al Leong, another legendary stuntman […]
FOLLOW US: ITUNES TWITTER FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD Highlights from this section of BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA Wang and Jack arrive at the airport for Miao Yin Meet Gracie Law Miao Yin kidnapped! Jack and Wang chase the Lords of Death back to Chinatown A Chinese standoff Jeff Imada: a Hollywood fairytale Even seasoned movie buffs and action movie aficionados might not be familiar with the name Jeff Imada, and certainly even fewer […]
FOLLOW US: ITUNES TWITTER FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD Highlights from this section of BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA Egg Shen exposition Jack Burton’s introduction Jack goes on a hot streak Wang runs up a debt The synergy of John Carpenter and Kurt Russell The history of Hollywood is filled with legendary director-star pairings. Sometimes the chemistry in these collaborations is so strong that the actor and director return to the well over and […]
FOLLOW US: ITUNES TWITTER FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD Highlights from PREDATOR 2 Part 1 Predator hunts gangsters in 1997 Los Angeles Danny Glover and company investigate gang massacre Gary Busey and his shadowy team of feds show up Predator kills Danny Glover’s partner Danny Glover begins to figure out the Predator Predator kills armed civilians and Bill Paxton on the subway. Part 2 The Predator spares pregnant Maria Conchita Alonso Gary Busey reveals […]
FOLLOW US: ITUNES TWITTER FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD Highlights from this section of PREDATOR Predator inspects Dutch The Predator unmasked Hand-to-hand battle Dutch’s trap works Predator’s last resort The last man standing Jean-Claude Van Damme – the original man in the suit It’s hard to imagine the Predator as anything other than the 7.5-foot, fishnet-clad behemoth that we know and love today, but it was not always so. When the original insect-like Predator […]
FOLLOW US: ITUNES TWITTER FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD Highlights from this section of PREDATOR Dutch and Predator prepare for battle Dutch gets primal The game of cat-and-mouse begins The two warriors each draw blood Dutch loses his camouflage Predator creature design and special effects The Predator is one of Hollywood’s most iconic movie monsters. Designed by the legendary Stan Winston, Predator now sits right alongside Freddy Krueger, Xenomorphs, or Jaws on the list […]
FOLLOW US: ITUNES TWITTER FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD Highlights from this section of PREDATOR Billy faces off with the Predator Predator finishes off Poncho “GET TO DA CHOPPAH!!!” Dutch discovers how to hide from the Predator Predator and Dutch prepare for battle “GET TO THE CHOPPA!!!” – A Quote for the Ages Arnold Schwarzenegger has had the honor of delivering more than his share of iconic movie lines during his mythical career. From “I’ll […]
FOLLOW US: ITUNES TWITTER FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD Highlights from this section of PREDATOR Dutch uses himself as bait Predator gets punked Mac goes off the deep end Dillon comes face-to-face with the Predator The Code of the Predator A lot of time in this week’s podcast is dedicated to discussing the Predator’s ethics. Much fan research and theorizing has been done on the subject, and the subsequent PREDATOR releases (films, books, video games, […]
FOLLOW US: ITUNES TWITTER FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD Highlights from this section of PREDATOR Predator nursing his wound Mac says goodbye to Blain “If it bleeds, we can kill it” The gang strips down and builds some Predator traps Self-administered first aid: the ultimate ‘tough guy’ move It’s a tried and true action movie trope: if you want to show how tough a character is, just have them give themself first aid. Whether it’s […]
FOLLOW US: ITUNES TWITTER FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD Highlights from this section of PREDATOR The group finds Hawkins’ remains, but can’t find Hawkins Predator takes out Blain The squad’s epic ammo dump No one can agree on who or what is out there They fortify their position; Mac says goodbye the Blain In Soviet Union, PREDATOR watches you This article and video from The New York Times describes how the proliferation of black market […]
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