"Custom cars, kissing in the rain, neon, trains in the night, high-speed pursuit, rumbles, rock stars, motorcycles, jokes in tough situations, leather jackets and questions of honor." These were the elements director Walter Hill (The Warriors, 48 Hrs.) said he wanted to include in Streets of Fire, a "Rock'n'Roll Fable" which he saw as a tribute to everything he loved about movies in his youth. But did this mixture of so many influences result in a pretentious, style-over-substance mess, or an ambitious, cutting-edge, modern action classic? We'll be the judges of that, in the latest installment of our "Fall Back to the 80s" mini-series!

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In the second edition of our "spin-off" series focusing on franchises that actually succeeded, we're sticking with the "Fall Back to the 80s" theme to take a look at a series that might not have started in the 80s, but nevertheless is often associated with the decade thanks to two of its most bombastic entries. So what is it about the saga of Rocky Balboa that speaks to audiences so much? Why do these films transcend the mere "sports movie" label? Are the Creed movies a worthy successor to the original series? Is Rocky V really that bad? And what the heck is going on with Sylvester Stallone lately regarding that potential Drago spin-off? We discuss all this and more.

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It's own lead actors didn't understand the script. The studio had no idea how to market it. And many critics of the time were utterly baffled by it. And yet, over the years, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension has still attracted a devoted cult following. Is this wild tale of a rock'n'roll scientist battling interdimensional aliens actually a misguided failure, or a misunderstood masterpiece? We're here to discuss that very question, in the latest installment of our "Fall Back to the '80s" mini-series. Give a listen, and always remember...wherever you go, there you are.

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Join us as we "Fall Back to the 80s" (yeah, we know we're starting in the summer...what of it??), a special three-month event dedicated to some of the most infamous failed franchise starters of the 80s. First up, Dino De Laurentis' cult-classic adaptation of a beloved sci-fi character, Flash Gordon. Not only was this movie clearly made to cash in on the Star Wars-mania of the time, but it even has another fascinating connection to George Lucas. But, needless to say, the movie did not fare as well as Star Wars...could the gamble of hiring an untested newcomer in the titular role have something to do with it? Does it effectively tow the line between "camp" and genuine drama? And just how damn catchy is that Queen theme song, anyway? All this discussed, and more!

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A bestselling book series about a tough-talking female detective, adapted into a feature starring one of the most successful actresses of the previous decade. It sounds like a can't-miss proposition. And yet 1991's V.I. Warshawski failed to connect with audiences, denying star Kathleen Turner her own crime-thriller franchise. So what happened? Was the hard-boiled style simply out of style? Was the mix of comedy and drama too tough for viewers to take? Or was it just that damn title? Like Warshawski herself, we investigate whether this movie is better than its reception at the time deserved, or if its somewhat forgotten status today is warranted. But be forewarned...even we're a little confused about this one.

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The "Summer Surprise" series continues, with this look at the adaptation of the first book in Alexandra Bracken's popular YA dystopian sci-fi series. A world where the only surviving children of a mysterious plague all end up with superpowers, and are thus targeted for extermination, or worse, by the government - it should have been a perfect match-up of the successful YA and Superhero genres. So what happened? Was it simply too late in the YA movie cycle, or were there larger problems at play?

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In the second installment of our second annual "Summer Surprise," we're looking at the final feature film of a legendary comedy director. Not only that, but it was another entry in a mega-successful, beloved franchise from that very same director. So why didn't this attempt to restart the series after a long break catch on with audiences? Well, there are many answers to that (and we discuss many of them here), but let's just go ahead and say the transition from Peter Sellers to Roberto Benigni was probably always destined to be a tough sell to audiences. But is there anything here for fans of the previous Pink Panther films to enjoy? Listen on and find out.

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It's the first instalment of the second annual "Summer Surprise," where we're letting an online randomizer choose our next watches. First up, a very recent attempt to relaunch a once mega-successful summer sci-fi/comedy blockbuster series...without the original stars or director. But is the addition of two MCU actors (Chris Hemsworth & Tessa Thompson) fresh off the success of another humorous box-office hit (Thor: Ragnarok) enough to nevertheless revive this franchise? Well...no. The real question is...why? What went wrong? And why has one of the most beloved blockbuster hits of the 90s had such a hard time with sequels, in general? All this and more is discussed, as we tackle 2019's Men in Black: International.

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In part two of "May the Farce be with You," we're looking at 2015's attempt to reboot a beloved comedy franchise...but this time with a new leading man, new attitude, and without a signature part of the original title. What makes for an effective "legacy sequel?" Is Ed Helms as strong a lead as Chevy Chase?  And just how mean-spirited is too mean-spirited, when it comes to comedy? All this and more is discussed, as we look at "NOT National Lampoon's" Vacation.

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Our "May the Farce be with You" event kicks off with a look at 2015's Mortdecai, the movie that seeks to answer the eternal question - just how many jokes can one film make about a single mustache? While star Johnny Depp had enjoyed an impressive, long-time-coming reign as one of Hollywood's biggest stars during the first decade of the 2000's, his career was clearly floundering by the time he strapped on Mortdecai's signature handlebar mustache...and the resultant critical and box-office reaction certainly didn't help matters. But could this adaptation of the cult series of British novels about an adventurous, aristocratic art dealer really be as bad as its reputation suggests?

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