Missing Real with Mike D'Arrigo

The original (and arguably, the best) "conclusion" to the Skywalker saga (lookin' at you, Episode IX!), 1983's near-perfect Star Wars episode VI (that's "6" to anyone unfamiliar with Roman numerals in this day and age) was a pretty satisfying wrap-up to the cliffhanger ending of The Empire Strikes Back.  After a 3 year wait, we finally got to see the fate of our heroes and were introduced to some new, dreaded characters to boo at (Jabba, The Emperor, Ewoks). While somewhat lacking in imagination (another Death Star?  Really?), and peddling in soft-core space porn (Slave Leia), Jedi ultimately delivered the goods and remains an essential part of our favorite space adventure franchise.  With or without "Yub Nub".  
Join me, and I will complete your training.  This podcast is a blast.  Or maybe...it's a trap!

Imagine a world where nobody lives beyond age 30.  There'd be no me, for one thing, so that world already sucks!  However, if you've somehow managed to live longer than that, you just might remember seeing this 1976 visionary sci-fi classic starring Michael York.  What?  Never heard of him?  Shame on you!  Just because he didn't play Iron Man or Thor doesn't make him irrelevant.  He did play Austin Powers' boss, though.  This movie, while kind of dated and futuristic at the same time, was quite a blast and lucky to have come out a year before Star Wars.  Now hurry up and see it.  Run, Runner!

So, here's the Thing.  Again!  Why?  Well, not only is it still my all-time favorite scary movie, it's also a favorite of my frequent guest Quan Ngo (who just might be my all-time favorite scary dude!)  I barely skimmed over this 1982 John Carpenter classic in one of my early episodes, along with its really-not-bad 2011 prequel, so here we take a deep dive into both movies, explore some interesting theories, crack a bunch of jokes, and who knows what else!  Now that we've broken the ice, time to dig up some fun while the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.  Listen carefully, 'cause this podcast is a monster! 

What? Another Alien episode already?  Couldn't it wait?  No.  Well, I couldn't.  Alien3 was not a commercial success, like its predecessors, and it was a major downer thanks to director David Fincher's bleak vision and proclivity for KILLING MAJOR CHARACTERS from the previous movie in his opening act!  Not unlike my proclivity for SPOILERS.  Ah, too late.  Well, if you saw the first two Alien flicks, this is still a ride worth taking.  Just don't expect a lot of aliens, or guns, or hair, and you'll love it.  So, if you want to hear all the fascinating behind-the-scenes revelations and have some laughs, crash land right here and I'll salvage what I can!

Definitely the best movie Arnold Schwarzenegger has ever done without playing a cyborg.  Just a regular guy, with a fake identity and a fake wife played by Sharon Stone.  In fact, it's hard to tell if any of it is real at all!  But who cares, Total Recall is a total blast!  Haven't seen it?  No problem!  Listen to this podcast and you'll have a fake memory that's even better than the real thing.  Or you'll be lobotomized.  See you at the party!  

If you believe there's such a thing as truth in advertising, this movie will put an end to any such delusions.  First of all, he's not from the future.  He's a caveman in a loincloth.  There's no time travel other than the time it takes for this crappy movie to be over.  AND...on the poster we see our hero Yor shouting up at these bright, shiny UFOs in the sky, like he's at some outdoor E.L.O. concert produced by Steven Spielberg.  Do we actually see these spaceships in the movie?  Of course not.  I bet the poster had a bigger budget than the film itself.  Oh, and I didn't even mention the theme song...an affront to the art of music and yet pretty darn catchy...what's the deal with this flick?  And a better question: why do I watch it so often and own it on blu-ray?  Maybe there are answers to be found within this podcast.  Even if there aren't, it's pretty hilarious and I even suckered my buddy Professor Dave Chan into watching it and engaging in conversation about it, knowing full well he's got much better things to do.  What a sport!  One thing's for sure: YOR gonna laugh when you hear this!

Here's the blockbuster movie that made James Cameron "King of the World!", even if these days the only world he seems to bother with is Pandora.  Winning 11 Oscars just does that to ya, I guess.  Admittedly, this is a pretty great film, although its biggest flaw is that everyone already knows the ending.  Boat sinks, Celine sings, it's terror across the board.  And speaking of boards, there was probably enough room on that slab of wood for Jack if only Rose would've scooted her butt over a little.  Ah, but the sweeping romance and spectacle can't be denied.  This is one of Cameron's finest works, even if there's not a Terminator or Alien Queen in sight.  At least there's Bill Paxton and some other fun folks in the cast.  I'm really excited to have a special guest to chat/debate with: Lisa Blake-Mitchell is on board for this voyage, so everyone grab your headphones and life jackets 'cause this Titanic podcast is about to set sail!  The dining room is proudly serving iceberg lettuce!  

Things get pretty hairy for David Naughton in this howlingly awesome 1981 werewolf movie.  Plenty of gore and dark humour (see how I spelt that so Englishly?) make this a true classic about a lycanthrope just tryin' to cope!  Now, come along and have a pint at The Slaughtered Lamb with me and this rather dodgy bloke Evan Lam ('es a good lad, actually) as we gnash our teeth and tear into this excellent horror/comedy.  It also happens to have no less than TWO Star Wars connections!  Just don't forget what happens when the moon is full.  What I wanna know is...what happens when the moon is empty???

For once, I'll present a movie that's actually got style and substance: a 1998 masterpiece of visionary science fiction called Dark City.  It was only the second feature by director Alex Proyas, and it's so good Roger Ebert hoisted his fussy thumb way up for it.  Considering that this legendary film critic basically crapped all over nearly every other movie I've featured on Missing Real, we must have ourselves a pretty respectable flick here!  Haven't seen it?  Well, maybe you have and your memories were just replaced by an injection while you were unconscious!  But this is truly an unforgettable movie that always feels fresh and intriguing with each repeat viewing.  There's so much going on, visually stunning and imaginative spirals of storyline in a Burton's Batman meets Matrix metropolis...aw, just trust Ebert's thumb!  If you don't agree this movie is incredible, there are other fingers we could offer up...  

The epic horror movie that hits you like a ton of Kubricks!  Jack Nicholson at his Jackiest!  Dizzying camerawork that can make you tricycle-sick.  Blood-gushing elevators that'll have you running for the stairs.  Twins (and not the kind you wanna get with.)  So many eerie experiences, and a legacy that endures over 40 years later.  I've seen this film enough times to have plenty of material for this funny, illuminating and hair-raising podcast.  Hopefully I didn't Overlook anything...