Saturday, August 6, 2022

Larcenist Odyssey

     This week unauthorized visitors to vaults and spring formals. 

     Frank has set up his life as he wanted it, a pair of successful businesses to front for his more lucrative jewel theft enterprise, and has finally decided to take the next step in his life by starting a family in a relationship that is open and honest about his life. Tragically, at the same time, his long term associate and fence is killed for skimming off the top by a Chicago Outfit boss. Not wanting to let an asset of Frank's value get away, he is approached by the boss with a deal he just can't pass up. Michael Mann's feature debut with a career defining performance from James Caan, Thief.
     A guitar shaped spaceship sails majestically through the heavens as its crew search for the source of the sounds that give their lives meaning... rock and roll music. Finally having pinpointed Earth, the crew and their robot 1359, visit the little town of Speelburgh and meet singer Dee Dee. Dee Dee catches the eye of the alien commander but, tragically, she's the girl of local Rock band leader, Frankie. Toss everything you might find channel surfing through late night 80s TV and you have... Voyage of the Rock Aliens.
     All that and Tyler gets lost in New Raccoon City, Dave feels under the weather, and Kevin observes the totality of the multiverse. Join us, won't you?
    Episode 269- Larcenist Odyssey

Saturday, July 30, 2022

Seamy Reman

   This week two films about master negotiators. 

     Small time con, Eddie, can sell anything to anyone. He dreams of one day opening his own store and sees it as his way out from under the ever more controlling grip of local crime boss, John Power. Unfortunately, right when it seems things might go Eddie's way for once, things take a turn toward the horrible as Power's nephew (and Eddie's partner) absconds with Power's young bride and a lockbox full of cash. Is there a light at the end of this tunnel or is there only death waiting Trojan Eddie?
     The tenth film overall in the franchise. The fourth and final film with the Next Gen crew. The Enterprise-E is forced to deal with a coup within the Romulan Star Empire when a coup leaves Shinzon, an imperfect clone of the Enterprise's own captain Jean-Luc Picard, as Praetor. A box office disappointment, it led Paramount to declare "franchise fatigue" and put the franchise in a box on a low shelf for a few years. Fantastic ship effects and the always wonderful Patrick Stewart just weren't enough to save Star Trek: Nemesis.
    Join us, won't you?
Episode 268- Seamy Reman

Saturday, July 23, 2022

Sliding Down That Hill

    This week Dave, Tyler, Kevin and Anna get into some deeper things. From season 4's potential unintended effects on the coming D&D movie to the racism inherent in the system to mandatory Metallica lawsuit jokes.

     Join us, won't you?
     Episode 267- Sliding Down That Hill: Stranger Things Season 4 pt 2

Saturday, July 16, 2022

At Your Vecna Call

    Kevin, Tyler, and Dave are joined by Anna to talk about Stranger Things season 4. Fingers on the pulse... if the pulse was in a totally different spot on the corpse of pop culture.

     Part 1 of 2! This week our general impressions, next week digging a little deeper.

     Join us, won't you?
Episode 266- At Your Vecna Call: Stranger Things Season 4 part 1

Saturday, July 9, 2022

Beach Inflatables

     This week two people look for meaning and purpose in vastly different ways.

     Nozomi lives with middle age waiter Hideo. Hideo bathes her, dresses her, has long heart felt conversations, takes her for walks in a wheelchair, and makes passionate love to her. Nozomi is a cheap blow up sex doll. One day she finds a heart and comes to life. Hirokazu Kore-eda's bittersweet meditation on the intricacies of relationships and the loneliness of existence, Air Doll.
     Moondog is a plagiaristic poet who hasn't published anything in a long time. His life is an endless hedonistic cruise around Miami and the Florida Keys, paid for by his incredibly rich wife's money. Until one night it all comes to an abrupt stop after an accident leaves him cut off until he finally finishes his book and in court ordered rehab. A love or loath comedy with a strong cast and single character laser focus, Harmony Korine's The Beach Bum.
     All that and hey look we are finally on Spotify. Join us, won't you?

Episode 265- Beach Inflatables

Saturday, July 2, 2022

The Crystal Blaze

    This week- the music of life and reality (television).

     One of media's more elusive creatures... a musical sequel. Brad and Janet Majors' live a normal life of quiet desperation in their town of Denton, USA. Much to the citizen's enjoyment, Denton has been encased by Farley Flavors and his DTV broadcast network. Everyone in town is either cast, crew, or studio audience for DTV programming. When Bard and Janet are called to participate in a game show, their lives take a turn. Will Janet find that she has always only desired fame? Will Brad ever come to terms with his trauma based emotional blockage? Or will they both be receiving the high ratings with Shock Treatment?
     A biopic about country music artist Blaze Foley. Scenes of his life are cut between recording his final performance and two of his friends being interviewed. Directed by Ethan Hawke and co-written by Foley's real life muse Sybil Rosen, Blaze.
     All that and Kevin enters a blissful hyper reality, Tyler themes it up, and Dave sees some docs. Join us, won't you?

Saturday, June 25, 2022

We've Got Wyrms

     This week a trio of movies with dragons. 

     When Babydoll is committed by her stepfather, placed on the quick lobotomy list by an evil orderly... and... she gets part of her brain removed which sends her into a dual layered fantasy world where she images herself plotting her way to freedom from sex slavery and fighting a guerilla war against male oppression. Full of director Zack Snyder's usual flourishes and video game level styled fights... if you question its messaging and intent you will feel a Sucker Punch.
     A knight of "The Old Code" spends years training and teaching Prince Einon in the hopes he will be a better king than his tyrannical father. When suppressing a rebellion, the king is killed but Einon is accidentally grievously wounded. Desperate, his mother and the knight take the prince to a dragon who makes a pact and saves the prince's life. Soon, Einon shows himself to be worse than his father and the knight vows to make the dragon pay for corrupting the prince. Eventually the last knight and the last dragon will face off and see what makes a Dragonheart.
     Urland is being terrorized by Vermithrax Pejorative, a 400-year old dragon. In order to appease the creature, the king has been running a lottery to choose a sacrificial virgin twice a year. Valerian, a youth from a small town, leads a group to plead their case to Ulrich, the last sorcerer. Soon politics, religion, and the end of the time of magic will collide as someone who should never be a hero, Ulrich's apprentice Galen, has the responsibility for all dropped on him. Will he fold under the weight or rise to be the Dragonslayer?
   All that and Dave gets some TV time, Kevin tries many flavors, and Tyler finds that when he gets angry he transforms into a large green force of destruction. Join us, won't you?

Episode 263- We've Got Wyrms