George & Ryan watch and review Roger Corman's infamously unreleased Fantastic Four film from the early 90's as well as the documentary "Doomed".

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In this episode, George and Ryan dive into the last four films of Alfred Hitchcock’s career: Torn Curtain, Topaz, Frenzy, and Family Plot. From Cold War tension to grim London alleyways to offbeat psychics and kidnappers, we explore how the Master of Suspense closed out his career with a mix of political paranoia, brutal violence, and dark humor.

Was Hitchcock still pushing boundaries—or just chasing ghosts of past glories? We unpack the highs, lows, and overlooked gems in this strange final act.

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George & Ryan discuss four Roger Corman produced films directed by filmmakers who went on to do big things!
Martin Scorsese: Boxcar Bertha
Joe Dante: Piranha
Ron Howard: Grand Theft Auto
Francis Ford Coppola: Dementia 13

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Welcome to a new feature series! High and Low! On each installment Ryan and George will be discussing an actor or director. One great movie, one bad movie. Our inaugural featured player: The Great Tony Curtis! The Films: Some Like it Hot and The Manitou!

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In order to capitalize on the blockbuster success of Tim Burton's Batman every studio in town dusted off any pulp magazine or comic strip hero they could find. A litany of lush period pieces with beautiful dames, handsome heroes and dastardly villains were produced throughout the 90's- all failing to match the success of Caped Crusader. Films like the Rocketeer, The Shadow, The Phantom & Dick Tracy have often found themselves the butt of jokes, a misguided cycle of movies that misdiagnosed Batman's appeal. Were these films right to be maligned, forgotten or ignored? Tune in to find out!

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What transformed science fiction from niche fantasy serials into a dominant cultural force? The answer lies in the atomic anxieties of post-World War II America. The mushroom cloud hanging over our collective consciousness created fertile ground for stories about invasion, destruction, and otherworldly threats.

Diving into four quintessential films—The Day the Earth Stood Still, Forbidden Planet, War of the Worlds, and The Blob—we uncover how each reflected different facets of Cold War paranoia while establishing visual language and narrative conventions that would define the genre for decades. From authoritarian space messengers to monsters from the id, these films weren't just entertainment; they were processing cultural trauma through fantastical allegory.

The conversation reveals surprising insights about these classics. Did you know The Day the Earth Stood Still's seemingly progressive message masks a surprisingly fascistic ultimatum? Or that Forbidden Planet's groundbreaking visuals and electronic score directly shaped Star Trek's entire aesthetic universe? We explore how War of the Worlds brought H.G. Wells' Victorian invasion tale into contemporary America with spectacular effect, while The Blob captured teenage alienation by literally making adults the last to understand the threat.

What makes these films endure isn't just nostalgia—it's their perfect crystallization of human fears dressed in alien packaging. Whether reflecting right-wing anxieties about outside invasion or left-wing concerns about internal destruction, they created a template for using science fiction as cultural commentary that continues today.

Ready to rediscover these influential classics or experience them for the first time? Subscribe to our podcast for more deep dives into cinema's most fascinating genres and eras. Leave a review to help other film enthusiasts find our discussions!

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We saw it

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What a year 2024 has been for cinema! In this deep-dive episode, we unpack the most compelling, controversial, and conversation-worthy films that defined the year in movies.

We begin with "The Substance," examining how this body horror masterpiece transcends simple commentary on Hollywood's beauty standards to explore the psychology of self-destruction. Demi Moore's fearless performance deserves special recognition for tackling a character struggling with identity and aging in an industry that discards women past their prime.

Robert Eggers' "Nosferatu" sparked heated debate among horror aficionados. We discuss why changing Count Orlok's iconic appearance undermined the film's purpose and how it compares to other vampire classics like Coppola's "Dracula." Despite its visual beauty, did this remake justify its existence?

"A Complete Unknown" offers a refreshing take on music biopics by focusing on a pivotal moment in Bob Dylan's career rather than attempting to chronicle his entire life. Timothée Chalamet's transformation into the folk icon is nothing short of remarkable, capturing the artist's determination to evolve despite fierce resistance from the folk establishment.

Ridley Scott's "Gladiator 2" proves that epic historical spectacle still has tremendous power on the big screen. The Pedro Pascal/Paul Mescal colosseum battle delivers one of the year's most riveting sequences, while Denzel Washington's deliciously villainous performance steals every scene.

Clint Eastwood's "Juror #2" stands as a potential final masterpiece from the legendary director. Nicholas Holt delivers a career-best performance as a juror who realizes he may be responsible for the crime being tried – creating a morally complex thriller that asks profound questions about justice, family, and personal responsibility.

What films defined your 2024 cinematic experience? Which performances will you remember years from now? Listen to our passionate breakdown and then share your own favorites with us online!

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