Join the Four Takes movie podcast team this week as they delve into the cinematic perfection that is the 1987 classic, The Princess Bride!

Before riding into the magical land of Florin, our intrepid film enthusiasts catch up on their week in film and TV. Martin revisits the solid actioner Nobody and its sequel, where Bob Odenkirk nearly met his maker, pondering the universal desire to exact justice on annoying bus passengers, all without having to wear hockey pads (or pants!).

The team discuss enjoying Apple TV's notoriously high-quality offerings like the sprawling sci-fi The Foundation, co-starring Jared Harris, an Isaac Asimov adaptation where each episode cost a mere £4 million, dwarfing other fantasy shows. The workplace comedy Mythic Quest, and beloved hits like Ted Lasso, Shrinking (featuring Harrison Ford!), and Silo are also discussed. David and Adam also extol the virtues of Halt and Catch Fire, calling it one of the best TV shows they've ever seen, which chronicles the tumultuous birth of the IT industry in the late '70s and early '80s, full of ambition and people screwing each other over to become rich and powerful.

Finally, it is time for a deep dive into The Princess Bride, a film so utterly perfect it has been enshrined in the BFI archive as a significant film. Discover how this cinematic gem, based on William Goldman's novel, is essentially a grandfather (played by the iconic Peter Falk, or as they call him, Columbo!) reading a story to his sick grandson (Fred Savage, in his debut role). The discussion uncovers the somewhat problematic, but humorous, origins of Buttercup and Wesley's relationship, where the famous phrase "as you wish" secretly meant, "I love you".

The team revels in the glorious absurdity of character names like Prince Humperdinck, and the villainous trio of Vizzini, Fezzik (the real-life giant Andre the Giant, no less!), and everyone's favourite, Inigo Montoya. Vizzini is quickly branded the worst boss ever with a nasally voice that sounds suspiciously like the insurance boss from The Incredibles, constantly threatening jobs and berating his gang. Relive the legendary sword fight between Wesley and Inigo, regarded as the greatest sword fight in all of cinema history, so meticulously rehearsed y the actors that it caused problems!

Who could forget the iconic Battle of Wits involving iocaine powder, all while Buttercup just sits there chilling her beans waiting for someone to die! The team also celebrates the incredibly satisfying payoff of Inigo Montoya's revenge against the six-fingered man, fuelled by Mandy Patinkin's real-life grief over his father, leading to one cinema's most unforgettable moments. Ultimately, the pervasive theme of love binds everyone, even finding a peculiar friendship between Humperdinck and the six-fingered man in the pit of despair.

The Team look forward to their next cinematic adventure which will take them out of this world, via an IMAX screen (just don't ask about sharing popcorn!). Tune in for a perfect episode about a perfect movie!

Welcome to the Four Takes Movie Podcast, where we plunge into Jaws for its 50th anniversary! Brace yourselves for an deep dive as we ponder if sharks are just squishy sacks of goodness made entirely of cartilage.

Get ready to meet Colin, our special guest shark expert, whose qualifications include watching every Shark Week episode and owning magnificent shark slippers.

Join us as we navigate the terrifying revelation that some sharks can live for a jaw-dropping 400 years and possess thousands of teeth (in their lifetime). But before the shark talk bites, we take a detour into 2001: Space Odyssey, where Martin was so bewildered by a Directorial choice made him think that his TV was broken.

Then it is back to Jaws, a film so timeless, you might just think it was shot yesterday (apart from the fashion, of course). The team dissect its surprising goriness and the sheer real-life terror it unleashed, making people scared of all water, not just where sharks lurk.

Discover the hilarious truth about how the iconic Jaws poster features the wrong type of shark because the artist had never actually laid eyes on one! We celebrate the legendary Mrs. Kintner slap, which apparently required 17 takes, and question Steven Spielberg's peculiar choice to include a 007 Louisiana license plate, seemingly as a cheeky dig at the James Bond franchise.

Learn how the perpetually broken mechanical shark ironically made the film infinitely better by forcing Spielberg to play on our imaginations.

We also celebrate how Jaws, perhaps unintentionally, became a driving force behind the shark conservation movement. It is a gripping, insightful, and utterly unhinged discussion that proves why some films, like Jaws, just stick with you.

Get ready for a double dose of laughs and head-scratching as the Four Takes Movie Podcast dives into the 1991 Jean-Claude Van Damme classic, Double Impact! Join Martin, David, Luke, and Adam as they discuss a film that Martin might even debate was a movie.

In this episode, you'll discover the truly wild plot about twins orphaned when triads kill their family over a hole in the ground (aka a tunnel). Raised separately, they reunite with matching French accents and embark on a vengeance-fueled killing rampage to reclaim their birthright, despite having no legal right to it.

The team show continuous amusement over the film's poor writing, editing, and continuity, noting instances where blood packs go off before characters are shot, stage sets are visible through doors, and characters mysteriously switching guns mid-gunfire. Keep an eye out for that Acme tunnel painting at the beginning!.

Appreciation for Jean-Claude Van Damme's dual role as Pretty Boy Chad and Bad Boy Alex, which they agree is the best part of the film.

A bewildered discussion about an imaginary sex scene that went on for a long time and was totally unnecessary but led to an extremely well edited fight between the two Van Dammes. Plus, witness Alex's superhuman ability to drink three-quarters of a whiskey bottle and blow it out his nose, only to be fine the next day!

The overall sentiment that despite being a poor film and daft, it's fun and enjoyable if you've got an hour and 50 minutes to spare. Though David might suggest cleaning the oven instead!

Tune in for insights on practical effects (including a real live frog being chopped... and sliced on screen), the film's modest $15 million budget compared to Terminator 2's $100 million, and the amusing sight of real people in Hong Kong watching the filming rather than acting as extras.

Get ready, film fans (and listeners in Reykjavik!), for the latest episode of the Four Takes Movie Podcast with Martin, Luke, David, and Adam! This time, we're strapping in for a deep dive into Stanley Kubrick's wild 1964 masterpiece, Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.

Get ready for a chat that explores whether it's a "proper masterpiece" or just an "important film" that isn't the "greatest of entertainment pieces". The hosts dive deep into the film's core message: nuclear war is utterly ridiculous.

Prepare for tangents on the feasibility of a mad general triggering armageddon, the surprising truth (or lack thereof) about the war room and a deep dive into the mysterious operations of the British nuclear submarines, including the Prime Minister's secret letter.

You'll hear discussions ranging from fluoride in the water and conspiracy theories to the possibility that the entire film is "all about impotence". They marvel at Peter Sellers' incredible multiple performances and ponder whether a guy riding a nuclear bomb really lands the ending.

They also touch on Kubrick's legendary research, compare Strangelove to other war films and even action flicks, and debate whether the film's pace is "too slow".

Tune in for insights, laughs, accidental falls caught on film, Russian ambassadors corpsing, and find out what less "smutty" action movies featuring Van Damme they plan to watch next.

Join the four takes team for analysis, laughs, and perhaps a touch of existential dread!

This week on the "Four Takes Podcast," Martin, David, Adam, and Luke kick things off with a brief look at the upcoming 2025 film, "Warfare." Following this quick detour, the conversation shifts to a beloved classic: "The Goonies."

The team shares their thoughts and memories of the iconic adventure film, and as always give their four takes on this cinematic cultural touchstone. In a somewhat unexpected turn, they also delve into a discussion about the evolution and impact of special effects in contemporary cinema.

The icy winds of Antarctica chill the Four Takes team as they delve into Horror Film granddaddy John Carpenter's masterful paranoia-fest, "The Thing" (1982)! Fresh from a last minute viewing, the quartet – Martin, Adam, Luke and re-joining the team after last week's "gastrointestinal incident"; David, brings his unique perspective to the table. Was he more scared of the Thing or his own bathroom?

Adam, while generally averse to the horror genre, acknowledges the truly horrendous nature of the film and particularly praises the ground breaking special effects crafted by Rob Bottin. The hosts discuss the film's influence, noting similarities and inspiration drawn by other works such as Quentin Tarantino's films like The Hateful Eight and Reservoir Dogs, the X-Files episode "Ice", and the Red Dwarf episode "Polymorph", all sharing themes of isolation and mistrust in the face of a dangerous, unknown entity. The discussion touches upon the source material, including a 1938 novel and a 1950s movie that preceded it.

The podcast examines various aspects of The Thing, highlighting its direction by the acclaimed John Carpenter, known for his earlier success with Halloween. They delve into the film's visceral impact on audiences in 1982. A key point of discussion is the deliberate lack of significant character development, with characters often serving primarily to advance the plot and heighten the pervasive sense of paranoia among the isolated group. Memorable and shocking scenes are recalled, notably the infamous couch scene. The hosts also touch upon the film's ambiguous ending and the various interpretations it has generated. The conversation extends to the computer game adaptation of The Thing released in the early 2000s, as well as the 2011 prequel that details the events at the Norwegian camp. The use of practical effects in the original film is contrasted with the CGI that was overlaid on practical effects in the prequel.

The nature of the alien creature is also considered, with discussions about its possible origins involving an alien spaceship crash-landing on Earth long before the events of the film. Finally, the hosts briefly mention their next episode will focus on the 80s comedy movie, The Goonies. This episode provides a comprehensive look at The Thing, offering insights into its enduring popularity and influence within the science fiction horror genre.

Welcome to... (dramatic pause, followed by the sound of a kazoo) ... The inaugural "Four Takes Movie Podcast." where four life-long friends and amateur film enthusiasts (they emphasize they are not experts) embark on a mission to dissect the cinematic masterpiece that is 1999's "The Matrix."

Through this series of podcasts, they will discuss films they love, hate, or feel indifferent about in a light-hearted, humorous, and sometimes insightful manner. So, listeners are invited to tune in to "Four Takes Movie Podcast," where it is proven that even a movie about bending reality can't be as bizarre as their conversations. So subscribe and come along for the ride!

The team begin by sharing their first impressions of seeing The Matrix in the cinema in 1999, noting that it was released the same year as Star Wars: The Phantom Menace . Despite not having significant initial hype, it became a sleeper hit, supported by a considerable $70 million budget for the time . They discuss the directors, the Wachowskis (initially known as the Wachowski Brothers), and how their earlier movie Bound, starring Jennifer Tilly and the actor who played Cipher, helped them secure the opportunity to direct The Matrix .

The conversation delves into their life-changing reactions to their first viewing of The Matrix, particularly the ground breaking bullet time visual effects . They explore various themes present in the movie, ranging from interpretations of religion and theology to mythology and philosophy. The hosts touch upon the idea of a Messiah figure within the narrative. There is a general consensus that the first movie was the best, with the subsequent sequels not reaching the same level of impact.

The casting is praised, with particular attention paid to Keanu Reeves' portrayal of Neo as a relatable everyman. The podcast mentions that actors such as Will Smith and Leonardo DiCaprio were also considered for the role. The character of Morpheus, played by Laurence Fishburne, is discussed in terms of his authority and role as a mentor. His name is noted to derive from ancient Greek mythology, where Morpheus is the god of dreams, fitting the nature of the Matrix. It is also mentioned that Fishburne was advised to base his performance on a character from Neil Gaiman's Sandman.

An interesting point is raised about the initial concept for the character Switch to present as male in the real world and female in the Matrix, reflecting themes of gender identity that the Wachowskis later explored in projects like Sense8 and Cloud Atlas . The iconic red pill and blue pill scene is also briefly mentioned.

The hosts touch upon technical aspects, including Neo's Microsoft ergonomic keyboard, and a surprising fact that the Matrix code was allegedly based on a sushi menu . They fondly recall the extensive DVD extras that accompanied The Matrix, such as the documentary The Matrix Revisited . Anecdotes about injuries on set and Keanu Reeves' generosity towards the crew are shared.

Towards the end of the movie discussion, each host shares their favourite movie moments and least favourite movie moments from The Matrix, offering personal insights into the film's impact. The discussion briefly touches on the body horror element of the bug removal scene. The episode concludes with a recommendation to watch The Matrix, highlighting its status as a fantastic film.