Andrew has read The Hunger Games. Frank has not. How did that impact their reaction to the film? Does it live up to the spirit of the book? Are our hosts Team Peeta or Team Gale? And why can't Gary Ross use a damn tripod, anyway? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip

2:47 - Comparisons with the book; betraying the book's view of violence in the media?

8:45 - Peeta, Rue and rebellion

12:09 - Healthy eating, unexplained motivations

20:45 - Produced with a franchise in mind

22:36 - Gale and Peeta's dye job

25:22 - Giant dogs, the PG-13 rating, protecting loved ones

30:00 - Reboot This!

39:30 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Andrew and Frank tackle the film adaptation of the bestselling young adult novel The Hunger Games. Twenty-four tributes. One fight to the death. Are the odds in its favor? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip

5:14 - General thoughts

16:28 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

Andrew and Frank have gotten old. In this episode, they discuss why Project X is irresponsible filmmaking at its worst, and how it sets Western culture back a few decades. At what point should consequences matter? How obligated are the filmmakers to promote healthy values? And when will you get off Andrew and Frank's lawn?

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip

2:24 - Ethically unsettling compared to other "party movies"

11:35 - "Real" events with no real consequences, what we see vs. what we don't see

16:00 - A single change that could have made it a brilliant film

21:00 - In the shadow of Occupy

24:10 - Offensive, backwards humor

20:55 - Unique imagery, or just standard superhero visuals?

25:22 - Disliking a film for its messages

29:06 - The quest for sex

30:35 - Fantasy masked as reality, supermodel teens

34:35 - Reboot This!

43:16 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

Andrew and Frank give their general impression of the Todd Phillips-produced Project X. Is this party a winner, or just plain lame? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip

4:55 - General thoughts

14:54 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

Andrew and Frank analyze what does and doesn't work about Wanderlust. What's up with all the free love stuff? What is the film trying to say modern Western civilization? And just how much penis flashing is too much penis flashing? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip

5:38 - Free love confusion

10:45 - Comparing Paul Rudd's character with his brother

11:49 - Paul Rudd's improvisation

12:32 - Supporting characters

17:25 - The use of nudity for comedy

20:19 - Ken Marino's character; working for a jerk isn't so bad

22:15 - No clear message

29:43 - Reboot This!

34:39 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Andrew and Frank give their general impression of the David Wain-directed comedy Wanderlust. Is this comedy about a disgruntled New York couple going to live in a commune worth your time? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip

4:35 - General thoughts

13:33 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

In this special bonus post-Oscars episode of Cinema Fix, Andrew calls up three special guests to talk about the 84th Academy Awards. First up, Jett Loe from The Film Talk explores demographics and how the Academy is a reflection of larger industry trends. Then, Bad Fever director Dustin Guy Defa gives the perspective of a low-budget independent filmmaker on how much these fancy shmancy awards really matter. And finally, author and pop culture expert Robert J. Thompson comes on to talk about the Oscars' place in history and the growing artistic merits of television.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro

5:57 - Interview with Jett Loe

26:31 - Interview with Dustin Guy Defa

9:42 - Interview with Robert J. Thompson

43:05 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

Andrew might have to give up his critic card. Critics everywhere are calling Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance a worthless piece of garbage, but is it as bad as that? Tune in as Andrew defends the film (or at least, the filmmakers) and points out signs of creativity. Plus, our hosts unveil a new show segment.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip

5:57 - Frank's favorite scene

7:48 - So bad it's good?

9:42 - Elements of the Neveldine/Taylor style; peeing fire and Twinkies

16:22 - A callback to the Wicker Man remake?

19:09 - The Blackout makeup design

20:55 - Unique imagery, or just standard superhero visuals?

22:38 - Disregarding the backstory of the first film; plot inconsistencies

29:52 - Blackout's love life, the action sequences

35:29 - Reboot This!

43:05 - Show close

45:41 - More Ghost Rider sequel ideas

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

Frank and Andrew tackle the sequel to Ghost Rider. Do Crank filmmakers Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor inject any life into the proceedings at all? Is Nicolas Cage just as crazy as we've come to expect? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

3:35 - Intro and clip

4:54 - General thoughts

14:54 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

Just how much is there to say about a mediocre spy action flick? Quite a bit, it turns out. Tune in as Andrew and Frank discuss what the filmmakers might have been aiming for (or not). What is the film's primary message? Is its cynical refreshing or just depressing? Is the protagonist in danger of losing his soul?

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip

3:09 - Institutions as inherently corrupt

8:53 - The second safe house, the government pawn

12:37 - Action scene flaws, logic gaps and supermen

16:09 - The protagonist's character arc; is he becoming corrupted or not?

24:56 - The romance; what does it reveal about his character?

31:51 - The relationship with Tobin Frost, the ending

39:00 - Plot holes

40:30 - The death of a (sort of) key character

42:46 - Lots of punching and gratuitous corpse shooting

44:35 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!