Cinema Fix

Andrew and Monica have a lot to say about Star Trek Into Darkness. In what may be their longest discussion of a single film ever, they talk everything from character arcs to political subtext. What's up with the super-blood? Does the film's race-bending really matter that much? Is the depiction of Carol Marcus sexist and offensive? Are all the references to a previous Trek film really necessary? And just wait until you hear Andrew's epic pitch for the plot of the sequel!

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip

4:07 - Khan's exposition dump

12:00 - Remaking Wrath of Khan

20:08 - Superblood shortage?

22:20 - Spock's arc, Uhura and other supporting characters

30:35 - Alice Eve and why a two-second shot is a huge problem

46:30 - The problematic racebending of Khan

49:45 - The political subtext about the War on Terror

1:05:31 - The opening scene and the Prime Directive

1:14:42 - Action direction and lens flares

1:20:15 - Reboot This!

1:34:50 - Show close

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

Beam us up! In this episode, Andrew and Monica give their spoiler-free thoughts on the newest installment of the re-imagined Star Trek series, Star Trek Into Darkness. Does J.J. Abrams' sequel live up to the highly-praised 2009 reboot? After all the secrecy, does the villain pay off? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip

3:58 - General thoughts

18:01 - Show close

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

Hey there, old sport! After an unexpected week-long hiatus, Andrew and Monica are back with a review of Baz Luhrmann's adaptation of The Great Gatsby. This episode isn't split into two parts--there's a brief spoiler-free chat followed by the usual in-depth analysis. Does the film do the novel justice? What's up with the framing device? Is the use of modern music on the soundtrack justified? Tune in to find out. Plus, in Reboot This!, Andrew and Monica do the unthinkable and pitch a sequel to what many people consider the greatest American novel of all time.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip

4:01 - Spoiler-free review

11:15 - Nick and the framing device; is he gay?

16:55 - Luhrmann's visual style

18:15 - Lack of subtlety with symbols

21:21 - The love triangle

24:36 - Gatsby's criminal activities, the ending

29:31 - Dancing, music

34:52 - Fetishization of black culture

37:05 - Reboot This!

43:50 - Show close

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

You wouldn't like Andrew when he's angry. He really hated Iron Man 3. In this episode, he rants for nearly an hour about everything wrong with the film, while Monica occasionally chimes in to provide perspective. Are the villains compelling? What are the driving themes of the film? Is Pepper developed in a compelling way? Tune in for some passionate thoughts on all these issues and many, many more. And be sure to stick around to hear what ideas they pitch for a remake and a sequel in Reboot This!

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip

3:03 - The Mandarin, shifts in tone

11:22 - The leap from regeneration to burning stuff

13:55 - Comparing Iron Man film villains

16:00 - What's up with the equation? What does The Mandarin want with Stark?

18:40 - What does Happy witness?

21:15 - Driving themes (or lack thereof)

25:23 - Differences in suits, trying to keep track of them

31:15 - He's cured! Somehow...

33:40 - Ruining Pepper Potts

43:38 - The post-credits scene

45:42 - Where is Justin Hammer?

49:32 - Reboot This!

56:48 - Show close

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

Summer blockbuster season is officially here! In this episode, Andrew and Monica give their general spoiler-free thoughts on the latest Marvel superhero movie, Iron Man 3. Robert Downey Jr. is back as Tony Stark, who this time finds himself dealing with anxiety attacks and an intimidating new villain known as The Mandarin. After a disappointing second outing, does this recapture the magic of the original? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip

3:47 - General thoughts

14:02 - Show close

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

Oh, Michael Bay. When will you learn? In their breakdown of Pain & Gain, Andrew and Monica discuss just how the filmmaker's worst tendencies weaken a strong idea. Why is The Rock's character the only multi-dimensional one? Why does Michael Bay seem to hate so many people? Does the racism, sexism and homophobia actually work as satire in this situation? Is there a way this script could have been salvaged? Tune in to find out. Plus, asteroids and bodybuilding collide in this week's edition of Reboot This!

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip

3:16 - Things we like

4:16 - The ending vs. the rest of the movie

8:13 - Unexplored ideas, obsession with stereotypes

14:13 - The Christianity of The Rock's character, fat shaming

21:36 - Ed Harris as stock detective

24:21 - The filmmaking aesthetic, looking back at Bay's filmography

33:08 - Reboot This!

37:18 - Show close

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

There are no Transformers to be found in the latest Michael Bay film, unless we're counting Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Is Pain & Gain a return to form for the action auteur, or just another in a long list of disappointments? In this episode, Andrew and Monica give their spoiler-free thoughts.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip

3:00 - General thoughts

12:02 - Show close

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

In this episode, Andrew and Monica figure out where Oblivion went right and where it went wrong. How much do great visuals make up for occasional logic gaps? Is there some sort of political or religious allegory lurking beneath the surface? And what's going on with that ending, anyway? Tune in to find out. Plus, they figure out what a sequel might look like as an existentialist meditative drama in Reboot This!

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip

2:57 - Tom Cruise! Lots of Tom Cruise!

7:27 - The Jack/Victoria dynamic

9:55 - Olga Kurylenko and space pregnancy

16:33 - Plot holes and vague characterization

18:15 - Political subtext?

20:54 - A surprising yet also puzzling ending

26:04 - Religious stuff, Tet as God

30:01 - Great production design

32:52 - Reboot This!

37:56 - Show close

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

It's not every day we see an original big-budget sci-fi movie turn up in theaters. In this episode, Andrew and Monica give their spoiler-free thoughts on Oblivion, the new Tom Cruise vehicle set in a post-apocalyptic future. Is this a step in the right direction? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip

4:13 - General thoughts

13:39 - Show close

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

Let the disagreement begin! Andrew and Fox have wildly differing opinions on 42, so it's up to Monica to find middle ground. How much does historical accuracy matter? Is Harrison Ford's performance Oscar-worthy? To what extent are broad characterizations okay? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip

3:29 - Educational about Robinson?

7:05 - Great supporting performances

9:47 - Impact on individuals

12:20 - Broad characterizations

19:20 - Pacing and structure, goal (or lack thereof)

21:09 - Safe vs. challenging storytelling

24:08 - Is Ford Oscar-worthy?

31:10 - Over-sentimentality

34:56 - Directing the sports scenes

36:42 - Favorite sports movies

39:03 - The character of Wendell Smith

42:52 - Reboot This!

47:36 - Show close

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