Proletarian Contrarian

T (@ tgracchus1848) of the Machete y Mate podcast joins Lewis and Nick on a journey to the ancient world of 2010. Myspace was banished to Hades, having fallen in combat to Facebook; Obama's first term on Mount Olympus was in full swing; and the meme "Release the Kraken" was released on an unsuspecting internet. "Clash of the Titans" (2010), and its Impact font meme, reigned. A lesser film than its source, the remake remains forgettable, yet fun.

Machete y Mate Podcast: https://anchor.fm/machete-y-mate

Machete y Mate Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/macheteymate

Machete y Mate Twitter: https://twitter.com/macheteymate

Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con

Music-

"when the struggle itself becomes identified with a series of defeats" by 红山郡 (hongshanjun.bandcamp.com/album/-)

"Release the Kraken" by Ramin Djawadi

Mama mia, paisans! Pro/Con video game correspondent Hailey is back to review another misbegotten video game adaptation: "Super Mario Bros." (1993). Joining Lewis and Nick, the trio dive deep into the first live-action video game film. Bob Hoskins, Dennis Hopper, and Leguizamo The God are all in top form here, but a wonky dystopian fantasy tale that's one part Blade Runner and one part Land of the Lost does not a Mario movie make.

Hailey's music: www.little-thief.bandcamp.com

Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con

Music-

"when the struggle itself becomes identified with a series of defeats" by 红山郡 (hongshanjun.bandcamp.com/album/-)

"Koopa, the Party Poopa" performed by Richard Edson and Fisher Stevens

"Ground Theme" by Koji Kondo

"Super Mario 64 Main Theme" by Koji Kondo

Guest month is truly in swing now as Lewis and Nick welcome Pro/Con's sports correspondent Jose (@ Guy42Mao) back onto the pod. Jose's pick "Escape to Victory" (1981) is a truly strange beast: a WWII period piece sports/war drama from John Huston. Solid direction, impressive production, and a memorably offbeat story can't offset a lackluster, meandering script. Pelé does some cool kicks, though.

Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con

Music-

"when the struggle itself becomes identified with a series of defeats" by 红山郡 (hongshanjun.bandcamp.com/album/-)

"Escape to Victory" theatrical release trailer

At last, it's here--after having put it off for so long, Nick tactically engages with the Zack Snyder opus "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" (2016). Lewis and special guest Cooper of the Machinic Unconscious Happy Hour podcast, veterans of the Batman v Superman institution, induct Nick into this unholy order of a movie that isn't actually that bad. Remove Eisenberg Luthor and Doomsday in the final act, and you have a halfway-decent superhero flick! Something more substantial than 90% of the MCU, at any rate.

Cooper's Links:

https://soundcloud.com/podcast-co-coopercherry

https://www.patreon.com/muhh

https://twitter.com/unconscioushh

Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con

Music-

"when the struggle itself becomes identified with a series of defeats" by 红山郡 (hongshanjun.bandcamp.com/album/-)

"Batman Theme" by Neal Hefti

Pro/Con's Carpenter Month ends with a bang! If only abolishing the police were so easy. Lewis and Nick watched the remake of "Assault on Precinct 13" (2005), a choppy, uneven adaptation of the 1976 original. A few memorable performances (namely Laurence FIsburne, Drea de Matteo, and John Leguizamo) can't salvage this mess. At least Leguizamo gets to kill a cop with a katana.

Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con

Music-

"when the struggle itself becomes identified with a series of defeats" by 红山郡 (hongshanjun.bandcamp.com/album/-)

"Assault On Precinct 13 (Main Title)" by John Carpenter and Alan Howarth

"Generique Assault" by KRS-One

Another Carpenter flick in the bag. Lewis and Nick plowed through "Village of the Damned" (1995), a striking film which makes a strong case against ever having children. This odd entry comes late in Carpenter's oeuvre, and has a few notably weird aspects: Christopher Reeve's final pre-accident appearance, a sizable flock of competent children actors, and Mark Hamill. This quirky flick is worth checking out, particularly given that it's a tight 98 minutes.

Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con

Music-

"when the struggle itself becomes identified with a series of defeats" by 红山郡 (hongshanjun.bandcamp.com/album/-)

"March of the Children" by John Carpenter and Dave Davies

Carpenter Month hits its first true speed bump, which goes by the name of "Black Moon Rising" (1986). Only tangentially related to Carpenter himself (who received a story credit), this awkward heist film has a smattering of clever sequences, but never really coheres into a solid story. With this in mind, listen along as Nick attempts to regale Lewis with anecdotes from his teenage years when he would climb on top of local arcade buildings for the thrill of it.

Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con

Music-

"when the struggle itself becomes identified with a series of defeats" by 红山郡 (hongshanjun.bandcamp.com/album/-)

"Bad Moon Rising" by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Pro/Con's quarantine hive mind has retconned August into John Carpenter Month! This week we review the underrated "Halloween III: Season of the Witch" (1982). A bizarre plot, a catchy jingle, and a pitch-perfect tone officially makes III the second-best Halloween film of the franchise. What makes III a true Pro/Con classic, however, is its nuanced metatextuality and relevant themes (namely, anti-capitalism, anti-natalism and racism against the Irish) that kept Lewis and Nick engaged throughout.

Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con

Music-

"when the struggle itself becomes identified with a series of defeats" by 红山郡 (hongshanjun.bandcamp.com/album/-)

"Halloween Montage" by John Carpenter, Alan Howarth and Tommy Lee Wallace

The Master of Horror John Carpenter makes his Pro/Con debut! Unfortunately, it's pretty horrible. Lewis consoles Nick as he agonizes over the first Carpenter film he doesn't love, "Ghosts of Mars" (2001). Horny Jason Statham and a particularly campy Ice Cube, along with a couple of old school shootouts, make this film semi-watchable. Otherwise, for Carpenter completists only.

Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con

Music-

"when the struggle itself becomes identified with a series of defeats" by 红山郡 (hongshanjun.bandcamp.com/album/-)

"Fight Train" by Robin Finck, John Carpenter and Anthrax

Lewis and Nick lindy hop back in time to the year 1941 as they recap Steven Spielberg's..."1941" (1979). This flick from Spielberg's early era sits at an odd moment in his career, and remains his only straight-up comedy. With a huge star-studded cast, show-stopping dance numbers, impressive special effects, and some genuinely hilarious bits, "1941" remains worth revisiting for the sheer spectacle alone.

Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/pro_con

Music-

"when the struggle itself becomes identified with a series of defeats" by 红山郡 (hongshanjun.bandcamp.com/album/-)

"In the Mood" by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra