Optimism Vaccine

THIS WEEK: Cube (1997), Triangle (2009), Sphere (1998)

We're not naming names, but someone with a toddler's brain took too many edibles and thought it would be a great idea to talk about movies about shapes. Or at least movies with shapes in the name? When was the last time you thought about Dustin Hoffman's performance in Sphere? Yeah, we never had either. Anyway, SHAPE CAST.

Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Pompeii (2014), Hercules (2014), and Gods of Egypt (2016)

We've looked at genre classics and Italian knockoffs, but where does the sword and sandals genre stand today? We're not sure, but let's pretend contemporary means "ten years ago" and we'll tell you.

Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Ator The Fighting Eagle (1982), Ator 2: The Blade Master (1984), Alfonso Brescia's Iron Warrior (1987), Quest For The Mighty Sword (1990)

When you're looking for greatness (or maybe just a cheap Italian knockoff of the Conan series) look no further than Joe D'Amato's Ator series. A master class in the power of muscular men in loin cloths interacting with live animals and abysmal special effects.

Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Jason and the Argonauts (1963), The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973), and Clash of the Titans (1981)

Ray Harryhausen was the king of stop-motion animation, the inventor of countless special effect techniques like DYNAMATION, and the only man who can claim to have influenced Killer Instinct and Stephen Spielberg while paving the way for future innovators like Phil Tippet. He also made some damn good sword and sandals films.

Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Hercules in the Haunted World (1961), Hercules, Prisoner of Evil (1964), Hercules (1983)

Hercules is the buffest hunk in classical Roman mythology so it makes sense that the Italians made roughly one billion cheap movies about him. We chose three. The best three? It's difficult to say, but we were able to squeeze in Mario Bava, Ruggero Deodato, and Luigi Cozzi, which is an all-star lineup by our standards. One of the movies has Lou Ferrigno throwing a bear into space too—the universal sign of quality cinema.

Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Conan the Barbarian (1982), Conan the Destroyer (1984), Red Sonja (1985)

Like Christ before us, Optimism Vaccine is wandering the desert this month. Will we succumb to the temptations of the flesh? Almost certainly. Our journey begins with an able guide: Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Who Wants to Kill Jessie (1966), Happy End (1967), Tomorrow I'll Wake Up and Scald Myself with Tea (1977)

One film runs in reverse, one has a man who brings superheroes to life with his horny dreams, and a third has sort of sci-fi disco Hitler time travel thing going on. What do they all have in common? They're all Czech comedies in a Patreon-request episode (and they're damn good movies).

Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: The Witches of Eastwick (1987), The Witches of Breastwick (2005), Popatopolis (2009)

Jim Wynorski and George Miller have a lot in common when you really stop to think about it. Just a couple of guys making little movies about witches with a few stars in them. Although, only one of these filmmakers has worked with future president sex haver, Stormy Daniels. Tune in to find out which one!

Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Violent Cop (1989), Boiling Point (1990), A Scene at the Sea (1991)

We take a look at Takeshi Kitano's transition from TV funnyman to impromptu director to one of the greatest filmmakers of the 1990s.

Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon

THIS WEEK: Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985), Cobra (1986) and Tombstone (1993)

Depending on who you ask, George P. Cosmatos is either a master of blockbuster action and horror cinema or just a yes man for Sly Stallone. Only Optimism Vaccine knows the truth.

Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon