This week the guys return to the topic of Zack Snyder, with their focus on his pre-DC action movies: 300 and Sucker Punch. What are the signs found in these that trace all the way towards the DCEU, and is our modern pop culture better or worse off?
You know he says “The battle for the mind of North America” because it’s a Canadian film, right? This week, we take a look at the highway collision of media criticism and online discourse, so spawning a term for a new age: “media literacy.” Maybe you’re seeing it a lot, too. … More What is Media Literacy?
The Netflix Cowboy Bebop Live Action series has premiered, and Donovan is BIG mad. But FIRST! The guys return to the topic of adapting popular franchises for wider audiences, discussing the dangers of nostalgia, the salvation of creativity, and the politics that go into bringing something into the modern day. *This episode discusses spoilers for … More What are the Needs of an Adaptation ROUND 2
Weary from the last few episodes, the guys this week discuss storytelling genres, specifically the utilization, diversification and depths of some of the more well-worn. Where do Sci-Fi, Westerns, Kaiju and Coming-of-Age go once the spectrum of stories have all been crossed?
Per Donovan’s demands, Harry joins him in watching 1989’s martial arts sports film “Best of the Best” starring Eric Roberts, James Earl Jones and Sally Kirkland…or does it? The guys discuss what ended up being a vehicle for Martial Arts Master Phillip Rhee, the dynamics and tension of Korean Americans fighting Koreans, acceptable storytelling losses … More Trojan Horse Representation? (Best of the Best Commentary)
*CONTENT WARNING* This episode discusses series and films involving Sexual Assault and Extreme Violence. Listener Discretion is Strongly Advised. As America seemingly turns a corner on racial justice, Hollywood is rounding the corner on racial representation, returning to the use of violence to put across the reality of oppression. But not all intentions affect equally. … More Agony and Ecstasy: Struggle Movies and Minority Representation in Media
This week the guys discuss their appreciation of sci-fi, how they come to recognize it, and its tendencies towards analogies and tragedy. Looking at four examples from television throughout the 20th Century, how has science fiction been reapplied throughout different genres of storytelling?
This week the guys discuss National Amnesia, Greed and the late 90s two-issue graphic novel “Uncle Sam” by Steve Darnall and Alex Ross.
Responding to a Video Essay by Al Jazeera, the guys welcome back Raphael Soohoo and bring in Jon M. Wilson to talk about the legacy, agony and ecstasy of the Superman mythos. Is Superman relevant, and is that a question that must be answered? How do the modern films contextualize the question?And what does all … More What Relevance Does Superman Have Today? (Guest Starring Raph Soohoo and Jon Wilson!)
Questions: We Don't Have Answers 