Out Of Sync Podcast

The Motion Picture Association of America’s guidelines for film ratings are not as rigid and inflexible as one may be led to believe. Peter’s Jackson’s first foray into Hollywood, 1996’s The Frighteners, was slapped with an R rating despite Jackson’s best attempts to deliver a crowd pleasing PG-13. Compared to either his earlier efforts (which would definitely warrant at least an R had they been rated) or his later efforts (the Lord of the Rings trilogy or King Kong are often more terrifying than the Scooby-Doo antics of The Frighteners), the MPAA’s decision makes no sense. Only one explanation holds water: the MPAA was as drunk as we were when watching it!

It’s two of the greatest action movies of all time from the director of Babe and Happy Feet in this special two-for-one episode. Special guest Nick joins Steve and Jon as they strap in to the last of the V8 Interceptors filled up with guzzeline and head Down Under. Is Mel Gibson still watchable, and why are two-thirds of the people on this episode horribly disappointed by boomerangs?

It was sold to the studio as the Hitchcock movie to end all Hitchcock movies. And it gave us one of the most iconic man being chased by airplane scenes in film history. It also ends with the least subtle innuendo the film makers could have possibly thought up. Jon lets loose his inner Man Man, while Steve kicks back with a local brew, and Cary Grant dodges criminals and government conspiracies in 1959’s ‘North by Northwest’….. (side note: the film really should be called Northwest by North, if it wanted to properly refer to the compass direction)

Hoop Dreams is often praised as the greatest documentary on basketball ever created, but the criminally underrated gem from 1996, Space Jam, tells a story just as captivating. Perhaps it isn’t as respected because it’s often overshadowed by it’s artistically superior sequel, but the reasons don’t matter to the bottom line. Out of Sync’s first animated(ish) movie brings out the inner child in both Steve and Jon while their outer adults get drunk.

James Cameron has made a lot of successful moves, including a few of the highest grossing blockbusters of all time, but his most perfect film may be one of his earliest. The Terminator (1984) is a tight sci-fi thriller that, despite a small budget, has managed to age amazingly well. Dave joins the festivities for his second film to prominently feature an iguana, keeping his streak alive!

Can a comedic genre mashup exist as both a parody of its genres and a pure example of them? Shaun of the Dead (2004) and the other films of the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy lay out the best possible case for a strong yes. Hilarious, touching, and scary at different times Shaun of the Dead is a master class of story structure. Jon makes a drink he hates while Steve drinks an art project.

Who is a better babysitter: a fantasy obsessed fourteen year old girl or an evil monarch lording over a kingdom of death traps? Labyrinth (1986) seems to imply the latter, with Jim Henson and David Bowie combining their powers in this cult classic. Steve and Jon dredge up emotional trauma while special guest Phil attempts to make a star out of a supporting character.

When you think of Classic Hollywood Westerns two names should come to mind: John Wayne and John Ford. The Searchers (1956) may be the ultimate combination of these two superpowers, a gorgeous epic spanning years in the American West. Its sprawling timeline and cast list challenges our duo’s alcohol challenged memory, forcing them to actually look something up before the podcast ends. Steve sips a beer by the fire while Jon does his best to convince everyone that champagne cocktail is an appropriately rugged drink for the Duke.

With all due respect to ‘Journey 2: The Mysterious Island’, John Carpenter’s ‘They live’ (1998) may be the best film you will ever see starting a WW(E/F) superstar. It’s a film with a lot to say, and one that spawned a museum’s worth of popular culture. So wake up, put on your bootleg Ray-Bans, and don’t forget the bubble gum: we’re watching the movie that inspired the cripple fight on this episode of Out of Sync.

We are not going to sit here and tell you that Sam Rami’s pre Spider-man films will one day be in the Library of Congress, or that they have the most amazing special effects, or have shakespearean thought provoking dialogue, but damn if they are not some of the most fun you can have re-watching 90’s films. Fans of Rami and his Oldsmobile will immediately recall how much they love the Evil Dead films, but we wanted to bring you an often forgotten gem. Jon brushed up on his Irish accent and swallowed some gravel so that we may better bring you Darkman.