Here are two movies about doing something to change the world. One does it in fairy tale format, while the other is much more a drama. Both, however, have something to say on the desire to make a change, even if they're not quite sure from where that desire may emanate, or the resulting ramifications.
Scream Factory has released a great new boxed set of "The Fly" movies. All five of them are included and, as often happens with sci-fi works, they are ruminations on mankind's trouble with technology. Just for fun--and the sheer terror of it--we equate them a little with social media today.
Iver William Jallah has now had a screenplay turned into a movie. That movie, "Grand Isle" comes out this Friday and stars Nicolas Cage and Kelsey Grammer.
What exactly is it like to get a movie made -- what compromises took place and what was it like to be on set? Jallah tells us all.
Sometimes it takes a movie to remind us that which we already know. If we as a people are to hold the moral high ground, we have to act like we deserve it. That means being able to listen to people even if we don't like the message being delivered. Yes, "Official Secrets" may take place in England, but the story has lots of relevance for us in the States today.
What does it mean to be an adventurer and why is it that such films resonate year after year? After two weeks off, the "Lass is More" podcast returns with a new episode contemplating the great adventure that is life and why "x" may sometimes mark the spot.
This week we're talking about the movie "Badland," a new western film out this Friday. It has all the elements you'd expect from a western, but maybe not all in the best order, or examined in the right fashion. So, is ticking the box for all the various tropes enough to make a good movie or is something more required?
There is nothing inherently wrong with Disney remaking every single animated film they've ever done as something closer to live action. What is wrong is their not being a new take on the movie except for "well, it's closer to live action now."
We compare and contrast 2019's "The Lion King" with the completely wonderful "Galaxy Quest" on today's podcast.
There are some movies which clearly wish to be thought of as "Important." There are other movies that just want the audience to enjoy themselves. This week, we're looking at two of the latter as "Crawl" and "Night Hunter" have arrived on Blu-ray. Neither is likely to win any sort of award, but they both pull you in and don't let go until the credits roll.
Sam Mendes, Dean-Charles Chapman, George MacKay, and Roger Deakins were at New York Comic-Con this year to talk about their upcoming World War I movie, "1917." We got the chance to talk to the four men about the process of preparing for and filming this movie meant to look like a single shot.
And, because this movie comes out on Christmas and we talked to these people at NYCC, we also throw in a good word for "Anna and the Apocalypse" which is newly out on DVD.
The brilliant comedy "Mean Girls" has a new 15th anniversary edition out and that is as good a reason as any to talk about what makes the film so successful even now, a decade and a half after its original release. So, that's exactly what we do in this week's episode.
Whatever issues the movie may have, whatever problems appear along the way, the new live-action "Aladdin" from Disney has one huge thing going for it, and that's Will Smith as the Genie. Smith takes on the role voiced so wonderfully by Robin Williams and creates something tremendous.
This week's podcast ruminates on Smith's decision and the results.
At one point during his NASCAR racing career, Michael Waltrip was 0-462. He did get that first win and did so in one of the biggest races of the year, but that same race saw the fatal crash of his boss/friend/mentor, Dale Earnhardt. It was a great and terrible day for Waltrip and his story has now been turned into the documentary, "Blink of an Eye."
Waltrip talks about the movie, the book it's based on, and the events as he visits the podcast today.
Francis Ford Coppola has given us another cut, allegedly a "Final Cut" of "Apocalypse Now." The film is currently out in 4K in a fantastic six disc set with both the original cut and the "Redux" one as well.
On today's podcast we look at this effort to tweak films and our changing perception of the practice.
What is it to tell your story? What is it to lie when you tell your own story or to make a new lie based upon an old truth? On this week's podcast we examine truths that come from lies, lies that come from truths, and just why either might matter.
"Rocketman" and "The Banana Splits Movie" may not look like they have anything in common, but nothing could be further from the truth.
A remake of "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" (itself a remake), 2019's "The Hustle" puts Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson front and center as con-women out for a big score and the humiliation of each other.
It may have a solid pedigree, but it isn't a good movie and on today's podcast we're going to talk about how maybe that's not so bad.
"Avengers: Endgame" is now out on Blu-ray. We're not convinced it's a great movie, but it certainly is a great deal of fun and we all love it. There is an audacity to the film. This is a movie that wraps up a story that has played out over nearly two dozen films and does it with an incredible sense of nostalgia. It is weird and wild and wonderful and thoroughly enjoyable... but maybe not a great movie.
In the our last episode, Josh talked about how he had seen one "Saw" movie and would inevitably watch more. In this sequel, Josh announces that he's seen all eight via the wonder of binge-watching. Now he's here to talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly of that process.
We live in a world that moves exceptionally fast. This often causes us to miss the most fascinating things; to just accept that which is miraculous... or at least super complicated. This week we're talking a little bit about process and just how it is truly an amazing thing to think about.
The year 2019 has seen new versions of both "Dumbo" and "Pet Sematary." Both films are now out on 4K & Blu-ray, but the similarities don't stop there. Both of these movies put kids and animals in harm's way to evoke an emotional response from the audience. It is within each film's reason for evoking this response that they are different, and that's what we're talking about today.
It is often said that there are two sides two every story, but those two sides aren't always apparent. Up on today's podcast is writer-director Toby Wosskow, a man who has made a short film about rhino poaching and how it may currently be beneficial to some.
Where did he learn about the issues surrounding rhino poaching and how did he get this movie made? Wosskow is here to tell us.
Official blurb about the film: The short film, written and directed by Toby Wosskow, from Executive Producer Sir Richard Branson, was an international co-production between US companies Broad River Productions, Whirlow Park Pictures and Frame 48, alongside South Africa’s The Televisionaries and YKMD Productions.
With "Captain Marvel," the MCU finally put a woman front and center on the big screen. By no means the worst movie in the franchise, it is also not the best. But, does the film offer a look at this new hero who might just become the new face of the MCU and the greatest character they've put on screen?
For this film, director Richard Miron follows Kathy Murphy for five years. Over the course of that time he captures the explosion of the bird population at her house... the birds she keeps and takes care of. He follows the massive issues that causes in her life. He offers looks at things one can't imagine he knew was coming when he started. It is, in a word, incredible.
With season two and three on the way, Amazon's version of Tom Clancy's analyst turned super spy, Jack Ryan, is finally available on Blu-ray. The series stars John Krasinski in the title role, but is the man from "The Office" and "A Quiet Place" the Jack Ryan we have all come to know and sometimes love. And, moreover, does it matter?
With "John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum" sitting atop the box office, this week's podcast takes a look at just what has made the film franchise so successful. Could it be that John Wick is just a super-violent James Bond? Could it be the blood? Could it just be Keanu?
Rather than following our usual "let's see what Josh is obsessing about movie-wise this week" format, today's episode features an entirely different obsession from our host -- his love of hot water for showers and dismay when he doesn't have any such water. Is he able to tie this back into movies? Of course he is.
Please listen, enjoy, and forgive this week's digression.