What happens when one of the most influential filmmakers of all time adapts the works of the greatest playwright in human history? You get KUROSAWA'S SHAKESPEARE TRILOGY! Logan and Andy brush up on their Japanese and summon what remains of their high school Shakespeare knowledge in order to talk about Akira Kurosawa's three adaptations of William Shakespeare's plays. With help from local Kurosawa aficionado Matt Hurt (of The Obsessive Viewer), the boys tackle 1957's Throne of Blood, 1960's The Bad Sleep Well, and 1985's Ran. How does Kurosawa adapt Shakespeare's work into Japanese settings across three different decades? Does one stand out as the strongest or truest adaptation of the play? Wait, where did Toshiro Mifune go?! Find out in this epic (and possibly our longest) new episode of ODD TRILOGIES!

Intro music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3736-fanfare-for-space

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

On Thursday afternoon, Nov. 14, IFJA members were invited to a preview tour of the new Alamo Drafthouse Cinema location opening up in Indianapolis on Nov. 18. Ron Howard's 2013 film Rush was also screened to highlight the location's heavily racing-themed decor, which honors Indy's motorsports history. In this inaugural episode of Odd Thoughts, Andy discusses his feelings about the new theater and its distinct offerings.

Logan & Andy return to one of their favorite franchises to discuss their thoughts on its latest release, Netflix's 6-episode Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance. Non-spoiler thoughts up front, with spoilers following.

Wait? Did you hear that? Is someone...following you? Why of course! It's just Logan and Andy here to talk about PAKULA'S PARANOIA TRILOGY, a trio of films from critically-acclaimed director Alan J. Pakula that cover various versions of paranoia. With a pencil and a notepad on them, the boys discuss 1971's Klute, 1974's The Parallax View, and 1976's All the President's Men. How does each film handle the topic of paranoia? Do the stakes increase with each film? Wait...is that man's name REALLY Klute? Find out on this suspicious new episode of ODD TRILOGIES! 

Intro music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3736-fanfare-for-space

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Wait...is that a full moon? Well then it's time for a new spooky trilogy! Logan and Andy fight the urge to transform as they tackle THE ODD WOLFMAN TRILOGY. The boys discuss three different takes on the classic movie monster: 1941's The Wolf Man, 1994's Wolf, and 2010's The Wolfman. How does each version fare years later? Does the Wolf Man get scarier with each iteration? Is that James Spader?!?! Find out on this howling new episode of ODD TRILOGIES!

Intro music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3736-fanfare-for-space

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

What if there was more to 2019's Joker than just Joaquin Phoenix, clown makeup, and dancing down the stairs? In honor of the film's highly anticipated sequel Joker: Folie à Deux, Logan and Andy take society head-on as they discuss the three films that feel integral to the Oscar-winning film's creation: 1928's The Man Who Laughs, 1976's Taxi Driver, and 1982's The King of Comedy. That's right, folks: the boys are putting together their own JOKER STARTER PACK.

How does a silent film nearly a century old apply to Joker? Are there similarities between Joaquin Phoenix's Arthur Fleck and Robert de Niro's Travis Bickle/Rupert Pupkin? Is calling Joker the "Taxi Driver for babies" a harsh comparison? Find out on this new episode of ODD TRILOGIES!

Intro music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3736-fanfare-for-space

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Andy gives his spoiler-free first impressions of The Wild Robot, directed by Chris Sanders and starring Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, Bill Nighy, Stephanie Hsu, and Mark Hamill. It’s his favorite animated of the film so far, so tune in to find out why!

DISCLAIMER: Andy had to record this in his car, so the audio is… not the highest quality! But it is listenable.

After crawling out from the depths of the Alien franchise, Logan and Andy set out to cover the rising career of writer-director Jeremy Saulnier. It's time for THE RISE OF SAULNIER! The duo tackle the first three films in the director's filmography: 2007's Murder Party, 2013's Blue Ruin, and 2016's Green Room. How does Saulnier develop as a director? Does each film tackle a different genre? Why do we love Macon Blair so much? Find out on this subversive new episode of ODD TRILOGIES!

Intro music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3736-fanfare-for-space

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Fifteen years after Alien: Resurrection, the Alien franchise enters a new era as directors Ridley Scott and Fede Álvarez try their best to reignite interest into the classic horror franchise. What do you call a prequel/interquel that is basically trying to reboot a franchise? Well we like to call them...rebootquels! It's time to talk about THE ALIEN REBOOTQUELS.

Logan and Andy head back into space to discuss the trilogy that covers the last twelve years of Alien cinema: 2012's Prometheus, 2017's Alien: Covenant, and 2024's Alien: Romulus. How does Scott's return to the franchise differ from his iconic 1979 film? What makes Covenant a "soft reboot" even though it's heavily tied to Prometheus? How will the man behind Don't Breathe and the Evil Dead remake bring his style to this complicated franchise? Find out on this new episode of ODD TRILOGIES!

Intro music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3736-fanfare-for-space

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In space, no one can hear you scream...AGAIN?!? Let's find out! Logan and Andy grab pulse rifles, flashlights, and some common sense as they join Ellen Ripley to take on THE ALIEN SEQUELS in honor of the release of Alien: Romulus. The duo head to LV-426 to discuss the films made to turn 1979's Alien into a franchise: 1986's Aliens, 1992's Alien 3, and 1997's Alien: Resurrection. Does the iconic 80's sequel still hold up? Is there anything redeemable in Alien 3? Wait, Alien: Resurrection was written by WHO? Find out on this new episode of ODD TRILOGIES!

Intro music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3736-fanfare-for-space

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/