I'm Thinking of Spoiling Things

Stephen is back to reclaim his spot as co-host and he's got a lot of movies to talk about this week. It's a lengthy Grab Bag of Recent Releases as Stephen and Vaughn discuss all the latest they've been catching up on, including the latest Jane Austen adaptation Persuasion and Claire Denis' Both Sides of the Blade. Then, it's the latest from blockbuster giants The Russo Brothers, The Gray Man, Netflix's newest chaotic action comic adaptation. Can it live up to the expectations set by their endeavors in billion dollar franchises, or is it just a hollow flop of empty action and flat performances? Find out the answers to that and more, including answers to your many burning questions and recommendations from the guys.

Timestamps:

Grab Bag of Recent Releases (The Black Phone, Lightyear, Persuasion, Happening, Both Sides of the Blade, Fast and Feel Love) | 3:00

The Russo Brothers | 27:30

The Gray Man | 30:30

Listener Mail | 56:00

Recommendations | 1:34:30

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at [email protected].

This week, Vaughn and special guest Calvin tackle the MCU's latest, Taika Waititi's Thor: Love and Thunder. After the great success of his previous Thor: Ragnarok, expectations were high going in to Waititi's neon drenched stylized 80s sci-fi adventure. Before jumping into The God of Thunder's latest adventure they discuss some assorted recent releases including Sara Dosa's Fire of Love and Pixar's Lightyear, and later answer some listener mail and offer some recommendations from recent watches (including some new unprecedented territory). Between ranking daddies and designing a Thor film for this week's missing Stephen to direct, it's a busy week with plenty of chaos. Join the fun!

Timestamps:

Grab Bag of Recent Releases (Lightyear, Fire of Love, Acid Test) | 1:40

The MCU, Taika Waititi, and Thor: Love and Thunder | 27:30

Listener Mail | 1:11:00

Recommendations | 1:51:00

The godfather of body horror is back with his latest, Crimes of the Future, and Stephen and Vaughn are here to talk everything Cronenberg. Listen this week as they break down a collection of recent releases, discuss their experiences with David Cronenberg's body of work, and dive deep into his chaotically beautiful new film. In this week's listener mail they discuss the most evocative and powerful body horror, their favorites of the genre, and more.

Timestamps:

Grab Bag of Recent Releases (After Yang, Ambulance, Cha Cha Real Smooth, Flux Gourmet) | 1:40

David Cronenberg | 32:30

Crimes of the Future | 39:00

Listener Mail | 57:30

Recommendations | 1:34:00

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at [email protected].

Ride into the danger zone this week as Stephen and Vaughn take to the skies for Joseph Kosinski's Top Gun: Maverick. 36 years after Tony Scott's classic airborne hangout movie, Lieutenant Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell is called back to Top Gun for a high stakes mission. Find out where the guys land with their thoughts on this year's biggest legacy sequel - what works, what doesn't, and whether the big screen experience is enough to outweigh some of its shakier aspects. They also discuss a few recent releases in a new segment, offer some recommendations, and open listener mail to find a big mistake and our first fanart. It's a great show, join us!

Timestamps:

Grab Bag of Recent Releases (The Secrets of Dumbledore, RRR, MEN) | 1:30

Top Gun (1986) and Tony Scott | 14:00

Top Gun: Maverick | 19:20

Listener Mail | 47:50

Recommendations | 59:40

This week on the show, Stephen and Vaughn are joined by Jack of STACKS fame, our resident kung fu expert, ready to spoil and discuss Daniels' Everything Everywhere All At Once. One of the year's most acclaimed and wonderful films, it's a celebratory episode of nothing but love for the achievement of cinematic excess, and we're here to share our appreciation for everything from its delightful pastiche of In The Mood For Love (2000) to its absurdist journey through the multiverse of raccoon-centric Ratatouille (2007). We also discuss the film's connections to Jackie Chan and its mesmerizing rejection of the nihilism that often feels so welcoming before talking a few other recent releases we've watched recently, as well as offering some recommendations from our recent watches.

• Timestamps:
• Daniels, Swiss Army Man, and Everything Everywhere All At Once | 0:00
• Other New Releases: Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, Dark Glasses, Vortex, Magic Spot | 38:10
• Recommendations | 1:00:00

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at [email protected].

This week on the show, Stephen and Vaughn return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this time to break down and discuss Sam Raimi's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. First, it's a journey through recent experiences with the MCU as well as a brief conversation about Doctor Strange's first cinematic outing before going in depth on his latest adventure. From the film's ties to the WandaVision mini-series, its multiversal implications, its abundant cameos and references, all the way to its dip into the realm of the horror genre, the guys ask if any of it is worth it before answering a litany of listener mail and doling out some more recommendations from their recent watches. Join us, no matter what universe you're visiting from!

• Timestamps:
• Doctor Strange (2016), The MCU, Sam Raimi | 1:00
• Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness | 15:30
• Listener Mail | 54:30
• Pluriebus' review: The Batman
• Recommendations | 1:47:20

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at [email protected].

Stephen and Vaughn are ready to share their strong opinions on Sonic the Hedgehog – the character, the franchise, and his latest cinematic outing Sonic the Hedgehog 2. The guys dive deep on the extensive history of the series of games and discuss their favorite video game to screen adaptations before hopping on Tails’ biplane down to the Hawaiian beach resort where the film is tackled at length. Stick around for the continuation of our listener mail segment and hear a couple of the latest recommendations of what’s worth seeking out this week on the show.

• Timestamps:
• The Sonic Franchise | 3:15
• Video Game Movies | 18:30
• Sonic The Hedgehog 2 Discussion | 32:00
• Listener Mail | 46:00
• Recommendations | 1:03:00

Have a question, a comment, or just want to say hello? Send us a message at [email protected].

This week, the guys embark on their longest journey yet in their attempt to discuss Robert Eggers' viking epic The Northman. From George Miller's Babe: Pig in the City to Shane Meadows' Dead Man's Shoes, we tie it all together through a myriad of discussions, including our experiences with Eggers as a director, our thoughts on retreading familiar stories, and an extensive listener mail segment. From the first to the last minute of Amleth's atmospheric and mythical adventure through the sprawling Nordic landscapes, we cover it all, and jump into discussions about up and coming directors, our latest film recommendations, and more. If you'd like to be a part of the conversation, drop us a line at [email protected] - we'd love to hear your thoughts on anything and everything podcast or cinema related. Rest assured, your voice will be heard.

This week on the show, it's Pixar's latest and delightfully pastel endeavor Turning Red, and Stephen and Vaughn are here to discuss it all in depth while also doing some all important work on adding a bit of structure to the show moving forward. Not to be forgotten, before anything else it's time to discuss the results of the Oscars Special, where we'll reveal who lost the bet and had to suffer through a miserable cinematic experience. After debating the many merits and few missteps of Domee Shi's lovely coming of age adventure, it's time for a new segment - listener mail. We asked our wonderful community to send in their burning questions, their thoughts on the film, and anything else they had to say, and you all delivered. If you'd like to be a part of a future episode, send us your questions, whether it just be something you want the guys to answer, or thoughts on our upcoming coverage, Sonic The Hedgehog 2 or After Yang. Send it all over to [email protected] and be heard! Finally, each of us submit a recommendation of something we've watched and loved recently. Join us, won't you?

This week on the show, things get dark and gloomy as Stephen and Vaughn find themselves with opposing thoughts on Matt Reeves' The Batman. A tense battle will ensue, but before that, they dive into their history with the character of Batman and his many appearances in cinema, including the genius of Tim Burton's rocket penguins in Batman Returns (1992) and both of their recent reevaluations of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight (2008). In the main event, it's the caped crusader's latest epic, a sprawling journey through the streets of Gotham as he races to catch The Riddler. Is it a pitch perfect incarnation of the character that cleverly deconstructs his place as a masked vigilante, or is it a dreadful disaster with no personality and a deluge of glaring plot holes? Maybe it's both, depending on who you ask.