BIRD PROTOCOL

Ayo! We’re still easing into Spooky Season with another horror-adjacent pick that’s fun, stylish, and visually appealing. This week, we’re talking about Guillermo del Toro’s “Hellboy” films!

First, though, Otis shares a story about seeing karma unfold in real time and we discuss the lack of consideration people have in public these days. Then, we have some thoughts about what we’ve been watching lately. Otis saw “Megalopolis” and “The Substance” and has some questions. Mostly… what was Francis Ford Coppola smoking? Can we get some? Is this a masterpiece or a hunk of trash? Otis also might have CTE… but was it the movie, the slap, or both? Plus, PALMREADER watched “Lost In Translation” and “Dredd” again and still loves them both dearly.

Then it’s time to talk “Hellboy” and “Hellboy 2: The Golden Army”, both written and directed by our guy Guillermo del Toro. Admittedly, we don’t spend too much time on 2004’s “Hellboy” because we both feel it is the weaker of the two films. It suffers from all the issues that plagued mid-2000s superhero movies and, although it is stylishly done and features a great cast, it is confined to a movie with flat antagonists, recycled tropes, the weight of introducing a character and world to a wider audience, and too many storylines. Also, we don’t care for Myers. With that being said, "Hellboy" is still fun and there are glimmers of awesomeness that can't be ignored. Ron Perlman as Hellboy is fantastic and the rest of the cast seems to be having a lot of fun. John Hurt as Professor Broom and Selma Blair as Liz are great and Doug Jones/David Hyde Pierce as Abe Sapien rules.

Ultimately, it’s 2008’s “The Golden Army” that we wanted to talk about. It’s a prime example of why “letting them cook” can be so damn rewarding. It’s a shame that we’ll probably never get a third sequel and conclusion of the trilogy and we discuss at length why that might be the case. This movie takes everything about the first and does it better. After GDT’s success with “Pan’s Labyrinth”, he was given more creative control and allowed to let his inner dark fantasy freak out. It’s visually impressive, fun, charming, less bogged down by issues than the first, has better and more interesting antagonists, and is filled with great world-building, lore, and special effects. Plus, welcome additions to the story like the ectoplasmic Johann Krauss and more character moments filled with humour and charm. It’s a lot of fun… even if you have to turn your brain off! And that angel of death? Hell yeah.

We end things with a chat about the "Hellboy" franchise, why it’s so hard to adapt the comics to film, the upcoming “Hellboy: The Crooked Man” and the failed “Hellboy” reboot, and some more GDT talk. We also share some stuff we’ve been listening to and ramble a bit (as usual).

We’ll be back next week with the official start of Spooky Season!

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What’s good, homies?! Welcome to another episode of BIRD PROTOCOL! This week, we share our thoughts about “Alien: Romulus” and list some of our favourite movie monsters… but first, we talk about some of the biggest monsters of all: Landlords! Otis has some upsetting news about his apartment complex which leads into a general discussion about the cost of living, people being greedy, capitalism, the importance of voting, and the lack of basic understanding about politics and economics. Truly horrifying stuff!

Then, it’s time to talk about our favourite alien freaks… the Xenomorphs! Earlier this weekend, we went to see Fede Álvarez’s “Alien: Romulus” together, and guess what? We both liked it! Starring Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu, this sequel sits chronologically between "Alien" and "Aliens" and features some of the cinematic DNA of both. "Romulus" doesn’t reinvent the wheel and that’s ok by us. It's still an extremely well-done horror film that was super fun to watch. Álvarez adds enough new ideas (including a freaky new Alien offspring), pays attention to detail, shows his technical filmmaking prowess, and pays enough attention to the wider franchise lore that it works. We cover everything that we liked about the film including the creative direction, set design, action and horror sequences, and pacing which all work to make this a great watch. We also talk about Spaeny’s awesome performance as Rain, Jonsson’s nuanced physical performance as Andy, the use of Facehuggers, the ending, the attention to detail, the gore and violence, and other dope stuff. We also unpack some of the film’s flaws and shortcomings and explore some of the critiques we’ve been hearing about the movie. Ultimately, we decided that it still rips and you should see it!

After that, we casually discuss some of our favourite movie monsters to begin the ascent into Spooky Season. We’re not saying these are objectively the best... that's another conversation altogether. Instead, we share some of our favourites and why we think they are dope. There are some creatures mentioned that you will likely be able to guess in advance and others that might surprise you. What are your favourites? Did we miss any? Let us know!

Otis is in a comedy competition! Come out and support your boy! Get your tickets here:

⁠https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/londons-next-best-comic-search-qualifying-events-sorry-comedy-festival-tickets-986193801207?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl⁠

PALMREADER wrote something fun! Read “Alien: Outer Rim - Part One” here:

⁠https://www.tumblr.com/codexcurses⁠

We’ll be back next week!

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Ayo! It’s time for PALMREADER’s (belated) birthday episode! This week, we are covering David Ayer’s excellent 2014 war film “Fury” starring Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Herman, Jon Bernthal, Michael Peña, and a selection of real WWII tanks. Originally recorded on PALMREADER’s birthday, we chose to start things off with some serious positivity by sharing some love for one another and looking back on a crazy year of growth for both of us. We muse on the process of making positives out of negatives and overcoming the challenges that forced us to grow this past year. This prompts PALMREADER to share a personal motto about going through tough times and Otis to share the importance of finding time to do the things you love and enjoying life. For him, this includes things like watching “Boogie Nights” and making sure you’re present in people’s lives. This leads to a conversation about the importance of not "phoning it in" when it comes to any relationship. We also discuss our weekend, breakdancing at weddings, an impromptu reunion, telling your people that you love them, and more.

Then it’s time to talk about what is arguably Ayer’s best film and one of PALMREADER’s favourite war films, "Fury". Set in the final days of World War II, “Fury” is a wartime road movie that focuses on a team of soldiers in an M4 Sherman tank as they travel deeper into Germany and are forced to make a heroic final stand against a battalion of German SS soldiers. It’s equal parts gritty, dark, violent, beautiful, human, and complex. Written and directed with full creative control from David Ayer, this brutal film features stunning cinematography, incredible tank-based action, historical accuracy, and inspired performances from the entire cast. It’s a marvel. We break down the filmmaking choices made by Ayer in both direction and storytelling and detail the months-long training camp that he put the cast through to prepare them for this movie. It’s a little insane and probably wouldn’t be allowed to happen today. Nonetheless, it worked. There is a palpable feeling of realism, tension, and camaraderie amongst the cast that makes the film that much more powerful. We discuss some of our favourite scenes, the powerful moments, the excellent action sequences, and all the stuff we love about this movie. It’s insanely rewatchable. Plus, there are tank battles with tracer rounds. So sick.

Later, we take some time to discuss David Ayer as a writer-director and unpack his filmography. We look at the moments of excellence in his career like “Fury”, “End Of Watch”, “Training Day”, and “The Fast And The Furious”. We also discuss his failures and shortcomings which leads to a discussion of the studio system and what happened to the ill-fated “Suicide Squad”. Plus, PALMREADER’s secret love for “Bright” and the post-“Suicide Squad” hangover that he theorizes influenced the film's reception. We close things out with a few announcements of stuff we’ve got going on including…

Otis is in a comedy competition! Come out and support your boy! Get your tickets here:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/londons-next-best-comic-search-qualifying-events-sorry-comedy-festival-tickets-986193801207?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

PALMREADER wrote something fun! Read “Alien: Outer Rim - Part One” here:

https://www.tumblr.com/codexcurses

We’ll be back next week!

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Instagram: @palmreadr @otismorrisdude

Alright, we’re back with another Lazy Bird to update you on all the happenings in our lives. We’ve had a hell of a couple of weeks filled with travel, concerts, and generally positive experiences! As usual, we rant and ramble our way through stories, reviews, and the labyrinth of our minds to bring you some takes, laughs, and general tomfoolery. So, tap in with us as we share some tales from the VIP section!

This week, we focus on some personal stories from the past little while involving some of our favourite bands. We both went to see Blink-182 and Alexisonfire in Toronto and had a fantastic (and somewhat emotional) time. We share some stories from the show and discuss the performances of two of our favourite bands. Otis also recounts his experience at NOFX’s Punk In Drublic music festival in Toronto during a weekend of scary weather. PALMREADER had to go to a funeral and woke the next day to a Tornado warning over breakfast. Plus, what we’ve been listening to and watching… an abridged list though because it’s a very music-heavy Lazy Bird episode for your headtops!

Other topics discussed in this episode include dudes hanging out and playing Mario Kart, feeling old because the university students are back and they look like children, not one but TWO insanely drunk dudes who made us laugh, niche comedy, a stranger in a car sharing a tender moment with a kitten, the Boys are going to a wedding, “Summertime Butch”, new Larry June, the upcoming Better Lovers album, Fontaines D.C.’s new album “Romance”, Gordo’s “DIAMANTE”, Guilt Trip, the new animated Batman show on Amazon, and more. Also, Otis is going to be in a comedy competition and PALMREADER is working on new music and other exciting creative endeavours yet to be announced. Plus, PALMREADER has a birthday coming up!

We’ll be back next week for PALMREADER’s birthday pick!

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Your favourite Bird Boys are back with another themed episode on some of our most beloved summer blockbusters. Originally conceived as a Top 5 episode, this episode evolved quickly into each of us sharing five movies that we love and/or movies that we feel exemplify the idea of a summer blockbuster. This is not an objective best-of list. We are painfully aware that there are some major films that we missed out on… mostly because there are just SO many. Instead, we revisit some movies that stuck with us from childhood, some revered classics, some modern reinventions, and more. This episode made us both want to watch some of the movies that we listed so you know it’s good. Grab some popcorn and tap in.

We kick things off with a brief update on what we’ve been doing and share our thoughts about Lee Isaac Chung’s “Twisters”. Spoiler alert… We both loved it. We also talk about the Glen Powell of it all, sequels and reboots done right, our hopes for “Alien: Romulus”, and more. Then, it’s time to share our summer blockbuster picks including “The Rock”, “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me”, “T2: Judgement Day”, “The Dark Knight”,  “Raiders Of The Lost Ark”, “Jurassic Park”, “Men In Black”, and many more. We’ve got a lot to discuss. As we share our picks, we talk about our experience with each film, give our reasons for why we picked them, share what we love about them, and unpack what makes them a summer blockbuster. For this pod, a blockbuster is typically a popular and financially successful feature film, often a genre film, that performs well (regardless of quality) and often leads to extensive merchandising and franchising opportunities. Usually, these films, for better or worse, have a major impact on cinema, film production/release practices, and garner a certain amount of cultural and cinematic cache. Furthermore, a summer blockbuster is a highly anticipated, big-budget, tent-pole film released in May, June, July, or August.

We also discuss some films that didn’t make our list but could easily have been included, some directors that are known for their blockbuster filmmaking like Big Jim and Spielberg, Disney and Marvel movies, and the power and impact of marketing when it comes to this type of movie. Sometimes blockbuster movies aren’t even that objectively good yet, somehow, they seem unavoidable in everyday life. From merchandising to trailers to interviews to magazine articles… sometimes feel like they are EVERYWHERE which plays a huge role in the reception and box office performance. So, what did you think of our list? What would you add? What blockbuster films do you remember from your childhood? Let us know and always remember to…

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What’s good, homies? Every few months, we release a themed playlist filled with bangers for everyone to enjoy. Since it is summer and the sun is shining, we’ve selected 16 certified rap heaters from the late 90s through the aughts to keep the vibes going, pump up the volume, and get you feeling right. Let the Bird Boys keep the speakers knocking at your next summer pool party or backyard kickback.

Now, these are NOT what we consider the best rap songs of that era (though some could definitely be in the conversation), nor did we try to cover everything because that would be a long playlist and even longer episode. So, just so we’re clear - we curated a selection of songs that we love from that era because we felt like they would hit just right. No qualitative judgement here. We know we could have added twenty more. Nonetheless, we think we did a pretty bang-up job. So, press play and lean back, lean back, lean back, lean back.

In this episode, we break down our selections by giving some context for each of the artists and tracks, explaining why we picked each song. and discussing where they intersect in the history of rap and their legacy. When you press play on the playlist, you’ll hear some expected and unexpected tracks from artists like Lil Wayne, Jay Z, Eminem, 50 Cent, Ludacris, Nelly, Dr. Dre and Snoop, Clipse, Three Six Mafia, T.I., Cam’ron, Too $hort, and many more. We tried to cover all sides of the map from west to east to south and everything in between. Plus, we made sure to include some of our honourable mentions and the tracks that didn’t make the cut for those who want to hear more. We know there are some omissions and that this list could be made a hundred different ways so, once you’ve listened to our version, add your favourites to it and send us YOUR version.

We sincerely hope you enjoy this episode and the accompanying playlist. Let us know how it sounds at your next kickback. We’ll be back in two weeks.

Listen to the playlist on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1GykbKzCPMKtxnUeFkCgJz?si=dade9bb11de14d7b

Listen to the playlist on Apple Music:

https://music.apple.com/ca/playlist/bird-protocols-hip-hop-pool-party/pl.u-jV89bWWsq5lVmZ

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Your favourite Bird Boys are coming in hot with another Lazy Bird episode to update you on everything going on in our lives and everything we’ve been listening to, watching, and playing. In this episode, we talk about driving in the post-apocalyptic wasteland, a MAJOR piece of news that dropped and stopped the presses, how our life is getting better (slowly), complex systems of reality and human-caused issues, the internet conspiracy mill, and way more.

We also talk about director Richard Linklater and his amazing movie “Boyhood” (which celebrated its tenth anniversary this year), an insane Italian horror film called “Blood Delirium”,  “The Gentlemen” TV show and Guy Ritchie movies, “The Bear” season 3, “Band Of Brothers”, “Smiling Friends”, and more. Plus, we’re stoked for “Alien: Romulus” after the new trailer and all the recent promotional material has only heightened our excitement. Speaking of being excited... “Gladiator 2” is coming. We weigh in on the new trailer and the poor music choices made therein. In the realm of gaming, there have been a bunch of updates to No Man’s Sky including a full overhaul of planets… and PALMREADER is getting ready to dive back into it. 

Later in the episode, we talk about some music releases that we've been enjoying. Our buddy STEVEDAVE put out an album called “Infinite Jest” and we like it a lot. Also, a little-known rapper named Eminem put out an album… but is it good? We’re not sure if we can call it a masterpiece but it’s better than some of his other recent releases. We ARE sure that people don’t understand concept albums or Eminem anymore. Will that influence how this new album lands? Only time will tell. Plus, PALMREADER loves the new $uicideboy$ album “New World Depression”, Otis has been getting into Koyo and the newest songs from Four Year Strong, and there’s a bunch more ranting and raving for you to enjoy. Join us for a lazy trip down the winding rivers of our minds.

We’ll be back next week with another playlist episode!

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It’s time to revisit the final film of the first “Planet Of The Apes” reboot trilogy this week on BIRD PROTOCOL! You already know we had to give it up for our boy Caesar one last time. Directed once again by Matt Reeves, “War For The Planet Of The Apes” is the last chapter of Caesar’s story and one hell of a movie. Starring Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, Amiah Miller, Steve Zahn, and more, this movie shifts focus almost completely on the apes as their defensive war comes to a close, revenge is in the air, and the apes seek a new home. Talk about a satisfying conclusion to an excellent story.

As with “Dawn”, this movie is pitch-perfect. It is a superb finale. The CGI and motion capture work is immaculate, the cast (especially Serkis and Zahn) gives an outstanding performance, the story and world-building are excellent, the themes are deep and complex, the action is awesome, and the emotional payoff is delivered perfectly. What more could you want in a sci-fi film? It truly is a modern classic of the genre and an example of a blockbuster done exceptionally right. The whole series is. It is a travesty that this movie wasn’t recognized by the Academy for more than the SFX.

We spend most of this episode unpacking why this movie rips and sharing everything we love about it. We also talk about the critical response to the film, some of the themes and ideas behind the film, which films influenced the making of “War”, Caesar’s journey and ultimate end, and what ties this film (both good and bad) to the first episode we did on “Kingdom”. We shine a light on Steve Zahn’s excellent performance as Bad Ape, discuss Nova and The Colonel being examples of the right way to use a human to further the apes’ story, marvel at Serkis’ swan song as Caesar and how they showed the weight of his journey both visually and in the writing, break down some of the various action set pieces, ponder the skill it takes to make someone cry for imaginary apes, and more. Is this the best in the trilogy? Probably. We eventually rank the films and share our reasoning. We love this movie. We love apes. Apes together strong.

We’ll be back next week with either some music or some recommendations.

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The Bird Boys are back at the dawn of a new age… it’s time to continue the saga of Caesar and his apes with Matt Reeves’ 2014 epic simian sci-fi action film “Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes”. Starring Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Toby Kebbell, and Kodi Smit-McPhee, this is a superb genre movie hidden within a summer blockbuster that shows striking depth and skill, delivers huge action, and explores some deep questions about humanity and power. It elevates the franchise in new, thoughtful, and exciting ways much like any of the other truly great sequels. What we’re trying to say is that this one goes so hard and if you haven’t seen it… what are you doing??

In this episode, we talk all about “Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes” and the many things this movie does right. Hint: It’s pretty much everything. The performances are pitch-perfect, the themes and ideas are deep but not pretentious, the world-building is fantastic, the action and choreography are excellent, and the pivot toward making the apes the main focus of the franchise is truly inspired. Andy Serkis is a revelation and should have been nominated for an Oscar for his performance as Caesar. For real. The apes (and other animals) are even more impressive thanks to the work done by Weta Digital and the integration of CGI with practical sets delivers an immediacy that feels real. You’ll forget that these apes don’t exist. On top of that, the human side of the story is told incredibly well and filled with equally awesome performances. Nothing is lacking in this movie. The writing is great, the action set pieces are fantastic, and with this film, Matt Reeves solidified himself as one of them ones.

Later, we chat about the themes and duality within “Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes”, the impressive CGI and motion capture tech, Andy Serkis being awesome, what we consider a good genre film, apes with guns, the positive critical response to the film, Matt Reeves, ape politics and Koba’s Shakespearian sabotage, and a whole lot more. We also share the film's plot, discuss our favourite scenes, talk about how excellent Koba is as a villain, discuss finding the right ratio of CGI and practical effects/sets in movies, and praise the development of the ape society. Plus, Otis talks about getting a haircut and the boys discuss aging gracefully, announce that “Weird Boy Summer” is here, share our review of the new album “I Want To Disappear” from The Story So Far, talk “Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire” being silly as hell, and more.

We’ll return next week with “War For The Planet Of The Apes” to finish the trilogy.

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What’s good, homies?! “Apes Month” is in full swing and we’re finally hitting the first installment of Caesar's story with 2011’s “Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes”. Directed by Rupert Wyatt and written by the writing team of Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, the film stars James Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, Brian Cox, Tom Felton, Andy Serkis, and more. What can we say? The performances are great, the action is dope, and the emotions are real. Who doesn't love a further anthropomorphized baby chimpanzee? Apes together strong. That's what's up. Although this film might be at the bottom of our Planet Of The Apes reboot list… it still slaps. Very hard. “Rise” is a smart, well-made, genre-pushing summer blockbuster that was loved by critics and filmgoers alike. The CGI and motion capture from Weta Digital is insane and only gets better from here, Andy Serkis shines as Caesar, and the shift from human-focused films to ape-centric storytelling is inspired. Plus, it lays the foundation and themes for Caesar’s journey and the rest of the franchise in surprisingly smart ways.

In this episode, we talk about our first experience with the reboot franchise, what we love about this movie, how even with it being (possibly) the weakest of the “Apes” films it still goes so incredibly hard, smart blockbusters, our favourite apes (shout out Maurice), Weta’s insane motion capture tech and the innovations used in this film, Caesar as a character and his “I’m him” moment in the ape prison, and more. We also break down some of our favourite scenes and sequences, discuss the critical response to the film, and quickly go through the story in preparation for next week’s episode. We praise Andy Serkis as Caesar and the performances of the human characters (especially our dude John Lithgow, who was playing the hell out of that piano). Plus, the writing and storytelling! Oh, man! This film does an immaculate job setting up everything to come within the franchise and we unpack how.

Later in the episode, we share some film trivia including who was originally up for the role of Will, imagine what it would be like to hear our pets speaking English, talk about some of the incredibly dope ape action moments (specifically the bridge sequences), discuss some of the plot holes in the film, praise the CGI apes, and share how we both are very scared of Koba (with good reason… the dude sucks). Plus, some other ranting and raving. It’s an ape world and we’re just living in it! Next week, we continue the trilogy with the incredible “Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes” from Matt Reeves. Caesar is back! Apes with guns! Gary Oldman! It’s truly lit.

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