In this second part that began in Dead Reckoning, let's jaw about Tom Cruise's eighth turn as master spy Ethan Hunt, in Mission: Impossible—Final Reckoning. If this is the finale to a franchise whose first installment released way back in 1996, how did Cruise and director / writer Christopher McQuarrie do? Is it the sendoff we all wanted? Is it scr…

Spotlighting Nicolas Cage! Con Air, Snake Eyes, Gone in 60 Seconds—he was on fire in the '90s, bringing his potent essence to a variety of roles in a variety of genres. Action, thrillers, or stunt spectaculars, it's all more interesting once Cage Rage gets involved. Guests: Andrew & Jon.By H.F. Chessman

Sequels are a tricky thing. Should it be like the last one but bigger, or take a left turn that'll send the story into new territory? Or is it more nuanced than that? Will the audience care more about specific plot or character choices than the overall tone? Let's do a few dark horse sequels—Alien 3 and Quantum of Solace—that don't get nearly enoug…

We conclude our look at remakes via the Invasion of the Body Snatchers franchise with Body Snatchers (1993). After the sleepy town in the original 1956 film, and the memorable '70s Donald Sutherland iteration set in San Francisco, how could the '90s version possibly compete? Why, by setting it at a military base, of course! (Part 2 of 2) Guest: And…

Remakes and reboots have become a tired way of extending the life of a film franchise. Before every year seemed to be nothing but rehashes of the same, uninspired concepts, let's examine older remakes that were closer to a fresher, reinvigorating proposition; Invasion of the Body Snatchers from 1956 and its first remake from 1978. (Part 1 of 2.) Gu…

Spotlighting Ingrid Bergman, the Swedish-American star of the black and white era. What made her so great? What were actresses all about in the Golden Age of Hollywood? Notorious. The Bells of St. Mary's. Intermezzo—the 1939 American remake where Bergman reprised her role from the original—she was so valuable! Let's see how romances were different …

The '90s were a hodge-podge of genres we don't see much of anymore, including stop motion kids' movies. Tim Burton and Henry Selick collaborated on two such films—The Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach—we'll take a look at what made them special. Guests: Sarah & Stacey.By H.F. Chessman

Star Trek has plenty of non-humans that put a mirror up for us to examine ourselves, and one of the most notable of them is Lieutenant Commander Data. Let's watch episodes from the third and fourth seasons of The Next Generation to see what makes him a top tier crewman, what actor Brent Spiner brought, and if Data could sustain “A” stories or if he…

What subgenre of films can leverage a single set as well as legal dramas do courtrooms? Presumed Innocent (1990), 12 Angry Men (1957), My Cousin Vinny: The lawyers are warriors on the battlefield that is the law, the judge banging their gavel like an instrument of God. Sometimes the prosecution are the good guys, sometimes it's the defendant, but t…

Epic films, also known as long f**king movies! But when they're done well, you'll see three hours flew right by in A Bridge Too Far and The English Patient. Considering the modern age is rife with films over two hours long that have no business being so, let's look back on a few that felt like they used that extra runtime well. Guest: Jon.…

Teary episodes of television! Do you want to feel sad watching a show? Need to get some emotions out? Well perhaps the following melodrama will do: Little House on the Prairie, Homicide: Life on the Street, and Lost. The Host exposes the guests to episodes from these different programs, and we'll see what—if any—emotional response was elicited. Gue…

Ever been leery of watching a drama because you were worried it was going to have a totally depressing ending? It's nice to achieve those highs and lows, but ultimately, end on a positive note. Lars and the Real Girl. Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot. Actually, don't worry—these movies won't leave you wanting to cut yourself. Hooray! Guest: An…

Captain Kirk is an iconic part of the Star Trek franchise. Let's check out some episodes from the first season of the 1966 season and look at what makes him cool, what Shatner brought to the role, and whether or not people's perception of Kirk matches how he was actually portrayed in the original series. Guest: Jon.…

Every decade has its particular flavor of longstanding genres. What counted for vampire movies in the '30s would evolve and adapt as successive generations put their spin on it; sit back with us and get into Fright Night and The Lost Boys. What were vampires in the '80s? Sexy, cool, and chock full of MTV pizzazz! Guest: Sarah.…

High school drama is exacerbated by the anxiety of youth and coming into one's own. Stories about being an outcast or winning a popularity contest—trivial in the grand scheme of life—are matters of life and death when seen through the eyes of a student. Heathers, The Chocolate War, and Election highlight the drama and absurdity of high school life.…

Comparing the many film versions of the Tom Clancy borne protagonist Jack Ryan: The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, The Sum of All Fears, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck, and Chris Pine have all portrayed the CIA analyst on the big screen. Who's the best? Who's the worst? Let's conduct our own analysis and g…

A spotlight on Michael Keaton. He's known as Tim Burton's Caped Crusader and Beetlejuice, but how about his more character driven roles? From Clean and Sober to Birdman to The Founder, let's look at roles that show he's a lot more than a guy who's worn the bat cowl. Guest: Jon.By H.F. Chessman

In this bonus episode, we discuss Dustin Hoffman and Laurence Olivier in Marathon Man (1976). Originally recorded for '70s New York Sleaze, it ultimately did not fit that episode's theme, so it went into the vault until now. Enjoy! Guest: Andrew.By H.F. Chessman

To mark the end of Christopher Eccleston's run as the Ninth Doctor, we'll check out the Fifth Doctor's finale as well. What was different about that regeneration? And how good was the Ninth Doctor's tenure looking back decades later? Co-host: Jon.By H.F. Chessman

Captain Jack! Whoo! Did he come in at the right time, or should this shot in the arm have come sooner? And a fart-loving villain returns that even Captain Jack would have trouble flirting with. Co-host: Jon.By H.F. Chessman

Is this the dramatic peak of the series (sans the finale)? Highlighting the Doctor's demons. Getting into Rose's painful family history. Tons of...fun? There's a trash companion that gets "open head" surgery. What else would you call it?! Co-host: Jon.By H.F. Chessman

How well does the third Doctor Who (2005) episode carry the momentum of the previous installments? And is the subsequent two-parter a sophomore slump? Possibly even the lowest point of the Ninth Doctor's onscreen stories?! Makes one say, "Doctor, who thought this was a good idea?" Co-Host: Jon.By H.F. Chessman

Before we jump into Christopher Eccleston's single season as the Doctor, let's examine the very first episode from 1963. How much DNA does the Revival's Ninth Doctor introduction—more than forty years later—share with the First Doctor's? And how well do the initial episodes of Eccleston's run re-establish the Doctor Who (2005) franchise? Co-Host: J…

We'll help newcomers to the James Bond films pick an entry point that's right for them. Looking for a middle-of-the-road example? Tomorrow Never Dies. A solid espionage story? From Russia With Love. Want a Bond that's likable and less sexist? Go with The Living Daylights. We got you covered, new 007 viewer! Guests: Max & Andrew. This special remast…

Sitcoms hit their zenith in the '90s. It was peak comedy with many of the biggest network shows providing weekly yucks. Reigning supreme was NBC with a laundry list of memorable offerings. We look back on the Peacock Decade through Frasier, Wings, and NewsRadio, shows that made us laugh--and occasionally--made us feel. Guests: Andrew & Jon.…

“Politically correct” has had different standards throughout the decades, and plenty of movies made in previous years wouldn't be considered today for wide release. But what do you do when modern politics has seeped too far into entertainment, or you simply want another perspective? Try Soul Man and PCU on for size, featuring two post-secondary edu…

He's possibly the last movie star and has produced / starred in one of the greatest action film series of the last three decades: Tom Cruise! But go back far enough, those action roles are replaced by dramatic turns. Let's delve into the Last Movie Star's oeuvre by comparing an earlier role to a later offering, Born on the Fourth of July to Mission…

A special guest returns to discuss his time in the U.S. Army, part of which was spent in South Korea. That experience will come into play as we get knee-deep into gochujang--or kimchi, if you need to insert a more identifiable food item--with Microhabitat (2017), our serving of a Korean cinema recommendation. Guest: The Dad.…

Relationships can be messy, dysfunctional, and far more complicated than lovey-dovey Hollywood romance flicks will show. What better way can we get out of that often times disingenuous portrayal than to go across the oceans on either side of the U.S.? Through French, Hong Kong, and Italian lenses—I Love You, I Don't, In The Mood for Love, and The N…

Feel like some urban decay? Crime? Plop down with us and travel back in time to New York City in the '70s. Sleazy? Depressing? Or just incredibly atmospheric? With Saturday Night Fever and Cruising representing two totally different genres, we'll see how much of a boost the disco era Big Apple setting provided. Guest: Andrew.…

Mind screw movies keep viewers off guard and constantly wondering. Fake reality plots involving protagonists searching for what's “real” are particularly effective at this. Let's scrutinize the hidden seams in Dark City, The Matrix, and The Thirteenth Floor—who knows what broader existential questions we'll find! Guest: Jon.…

Spotlighting Jean-Claude Van Damme! Is the Muscles From Brussels a second-rate Austrian Oak? Is he not as sly as Stallone? Or is JCVD an underappreciated action star that was stuck between those other guys as they sucked all the air out of the room? Via Double Impact, Hard Target, and Sudden Death, we poke fun at the splits, dissect the career, and…

The Atomic Age was ushered in with an unfortunate bang in World War II and continued into the Cold War with Soviet Russia and the United States at the forefront. Using Five, Godzilla (1954), and On the Beach as time capsules, let us delve into the anxiety of the postwar era when nuclear weapons presented a new threat to the world. Guest: Jon.…

Another foreign film dive: West German cinema! The insightful guest—an Army veteran who was actually stationed in the Federal Republic of Germany at the same time the film, Lola (1981), was being made—recounts his time overseas and his impressions of the people and politics of the region. Guest: The Dad!…

How well do '90s animated kid's shows hold up? Were they much smarter than comedy cartoons aimed at kids today? We'll try to keep one eye free of the nostalgia glasses and see what—if anything—has changed in over two decades as we revisit Recess, Hey Arnold!, The Ren & Stimpy Show, and Johnny Bravo. How subversive were these shows really? Today's g…

More Westerns! We had an okay time watching '90s Westerns, so how about a couple even older examples of the genre to help us decide if it's for us or not? Between The Kentuckian and Shoot the Sun Down, we're bound to figure out what's behind this enduring genre. Guest: Max.By H.F. Chessman

A bunch of snot-nosed brats at a summer camp? The horror! Add a killer into the mix and you got something special. And it takes place in the '80s? Then we must be talking about Sleepaway Camp and The Burning! Will the Host—who notoriously is not a horror fanatic—have a good time watching slasher flicks? Maybe... Guests: Sarah & Stacey.…

Action flicks can be measured by the speed of bullets, fists, and feet. But how about cars? Spectacular, supersonic car chases on busy metro streets may be unreasonable, but not when they're on a track. Racecars are meant to zoom and increase the adrenaline with every gear shift. Between Le Mans and Rush, we celebrate the cars and the drivers. Gues…

To usher in Season Four, the Host waxes commentary on obsolete home media: LaserDisc! Does he have some good points, or is he full of crap? If talking about a dead format isn't appealing, there are also short reviews on Nell and Philadelphia—both '90s dramas and, coincidentally, feature courtroom scenes (though Nell spends very little time before a…

A review within a few weeks of a film coming out?! Yup, that's how much the Host loves the Mission: Impossible franchise. In this episode, we do a minor spoiler discussion of Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, Part One. Hopefully, if you were on the fence, this'll convince you to see it before it leaves theaters. Keep an eye out for a spoiler fi…

Possibly the last word on the subject of musicals on TSC, let's make Stacey—an everyman who shrugs at musicals—go through a song and dance number filled aneurysm with Singin' in the Rain and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. One's old. One's new. Which movie did he like more? (The answer may surprise you!) Guests: Andrea, Jon & Stacey…

For some, musicals are the bee's knees and honey for the ears. For others, every time people break into song is not a moment to be celebrated. Are there musicals that can bust through the barriers of anti-musical audiences? Let's find out as Pat—an everyman who's apathetic toward musicals—gets pummeled by La La Land and Viva Las Vegas! Guests: Andr…

Every decade of cinema is known for particular highlights. In the '90s, one was kids' movies—the perfect blend of humor, heart, and danger. Flicks like Home Alone and Jumanji couldn't have come out in present day, so let's look back on what was special and perhaps incompatible with modern sensibilities. Guest: Stacey.…

Celebrating paternity! Whether you have a great father, wish you did, or wish you were, there are flicks that give that warm, male parental figure feeling. Do Kramer vs. Kramer and Mrs. Doubtfire count? Perhaps! From comedy to drama, let's enjoy some films centered around dads. Guest: Max.By H.F. Chessman

Martial arts and tournament fighting go hand in hand—or foot in ass! While never a mainstream subgenre of American action films, it's a setup that remains classic and a great fallback premise for low budget flicks that want to save on location shooting. Where does 99% of fighting take place in Enter the Dragon, Bloodsport, and Sidekicks? Why, in a …

Westerns may have peaked in the '50s, but the genre has never completely trotted off the big screen. With Tombstone and The Quick and the Dead, not only do we consider Westerns of the '90s, but also what is crucial to the genre and makes it worthwhile no matter the decade. Guests: Max & Stacey.By H.F. Chessman

Films can have many different versions: Some are made in the editing room before the premiere, while others are born during the home market phase to squeeze a few more disc and streaming sales. They really can be hit or miss as to whether they are better than the originals. However, the director's cut of Legend and Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago are new…

The Host spends this episode chastising his guest for not digging the first episode of Dead Like Me (2003-2004). Listen along, watch the show for yourself, and hopefully you'll enjoy it more than he did! Also, there's a funny yarn about an encounter with the show's creator Bryan Fuller. Guest: Stacey.…

Movies are mostly entertainment, but some can help us understand the past a little better. Never heard of feudal Japan? Watch Yojimbo! Want to see how dangerous escaping East Germany was when it was behind the Iron Curtain? Then Balloon is for you. Both are a taste of history with more pop than a documentary. Guests: Jon & Max.…

There are dozens of Bond flicks. If you're uninitiated and know you'll never want to watch all of the movies, does that mean you should ignore 007 completely? Heck no! There are plenty of mini arcs that can pare down the franchise into the essence of James Bond. Here are three truncated collections to enjoy. Guests: Jon & Andrew.…