Optimism Vaccine

THIS WEEK: Thunderbolt (1995), Mr. Nice Guy (1997) and Who Am I? (1998)

A generous benefactor demanded that we cover... Jackie Chan? What a chore.

It's certainly a fascinating slate, as the aging Hong Kong megastar begins to dial back the wild stunts and ramp up the brand identity in preparation for his inevitable move to Hollywood.

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THIS WEEK: My Son Hunter (2022)

Director Robert Davi (Rtas 'Vadum in Halo 2 and 3) and the conservative cinema vanguard have finally released the MAGA response to Adam McKay's liberal political comedies.

It's about time someone made a movie for Breitbart readers with a fetish for Gina Carano wearing an ill-fitting suit, don't you think?

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THIS WEEK: Les Biches AKA Bad Girls (1968), La Femme Infidèle AKA The Unfaithful Wife (1969), and Merci Pour Le Chocolat AKA Nightcap (2000)

If you're still sleeping on Chabrol, Shawn Glinis is back to tell you exactly what you're missing out on with three stone-cold classics from the underrated French New Wave master.

THIS WEEK: Tiger Claws (1991), Tiger Claws II (1996) and Tiger Claws III (2000)

Rothrock hitches her wagon to Beirut’s Steven Seagal in what must be the only DTV martial arts franchise to involve both an illicit arms deal with ancient China AND legally distinct spectral goons straight out of the Phantom Zone.

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THIS WEEK: Devil Fish AKA Monster Shark (1984), Deep Blood (1990), and Cruel Jaws (1995)

Our Patrons spoke and we listened. Still a little shocked they didn't vote to make Miros watch Hentai. Oh well. Nothing says SUMMER FUN like watching teens get eaten by sharks (or maybe a prehistoric shark-like fish with tentacles) in a trio of Italian Jaws knockoffs. Or, if you're Bruno Mattei you can't be bothered to film your own scenes of a mechanical shark trying to mangia some doofus so you just steal liberally from existing movie footage. Very cool, alpha move.

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THIS WEEK: China O'Brien (1990) and China O'Brien 2 (1990)

What happens when one of Hong Kong's hottest new action stars makes her triumphant return to America and teams up with the legendary director of Enter the Dragon? Shit, not much, actually. Join us for part two of our Cynthia Rothrock retrospective where the most dangerous woman alive gets to karate kick evil lumberjacks and liberate sex slaves in Utah.

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THIS WEEK: Yes, Madam! (1985) and Righting Wrongs (1986)

Ronda Rousey might call herself "the baddest woman on the planet" but we all know that can't be true as long as Cynthia Rothrock is still breathing. This week, we're exploring a pair of Hong Kong action classics from the five-time martial arts champion turned underappreciated action queen of 80s and 90s.

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THIS WEEK: Ravenous (1999), The Proposition (2005), Lawless (2012)

Nobody pulls off the "exhausted Australian in dire need of a bath" look quite like Guy Pearce. Maybe that's why when it comes to contemporary westerns he's been a go-to actor for decades. This week, we're watching three films starring our guy, Guy, and making an official statement on whether or not Ravenous is a lost classic or just something horror film nerds won't stop talking to you about.

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THIS WEEK: The Butcher/Le Boucher (1970), Just Before Nightfall/Juste Avant la Nuit (1971), and The Ceremony/La Cérémonie (1995)

Every once in a while we need Shawn Glinis to jump in and make our show classy again.

This week, we're dissecting three films from the underrated French New Wave master, Claude Chabrol. Over the course of six decades, Chabrol made nearly 60 films. While he was never afraid to branch out beyond genre fare, he often returned to Hitchcock-inspired thrillers which later inspired auteurs like Michael Haneke.

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THIS WEEK: Mad God (2021) and The Thief and the Cobbler (1993)

Colin Tanner drops in for a scintillating discussion on the minutiae of process. Is a creative work ever truly complete? Is Harvey Weinstein the enemy of all art? Is Aladdin actually terrible? All questions will be answered. Eventually.

Support Optimism Vaccine on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/optimismvaccine