Second Cut

It doesn't always appear on lists for "Christmas Classics," but Richard Donner's Scrooged is undoubtedly a holiday film with mixed reception. Was Bill Murray the right choice to play a Scrooge analogue? How does it compare to other adaptations of "A Christmas Carol?" And how many of those adaptations has Sam watched in recent weeks? Find out all this and more in our special holiday episode!

Sources:

Screen Rant - Bill Murray vs. Richard Donner: Scrooged Movie Controversy Explained

The Film Magazine:

Little Women Is the Ultimate Christmas Film, Actually by Rehana Nurmahi

A Christmas Carol Films Ranked by Sam Sewell-Peterson

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Music:

Awakening (Instrumental) by Wataboi https://soundcloud.com/wataboi

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Music promoted by FDL Music https://youtu.be/X2oQNUOmk2k

The Phantom Menace was controversial upon its release. After years of build up, adult Star Wars fans felt let down, while younger audiences were raised on it as a vital work in the Skywalker Saga. Opinions have changed over the years, and Jacob and Sam look back on their experiences with it in addition to re-evaluating it through various critical lenses.

Sources:

IndieWire - Read Eli Roth’s Unearthed, Scathing 1999 Review Of ‘Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace’

The Film Magazine:

Why I Actually Like ‘The Phantom Menace’ by Katie Doyle

Modern Problems Require Modern Solutions: Expectations of Star Wars Lore in the 21st Century by Jacob Davis

12 Lightsaber Designs Star Wars Should Employ by Jacob Davis

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Music:

Awakening (Instrumental) by Wataboi https://soundcloud.com/wataboi

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0

Music promoted by FDL Music https://youtu.be/X2oQNUOmk2k

Sam ruins yet another childhood favorite for himself as he and Jacob examine Hook, one of Steven Spielberg's worst-received films. Is Robin Williams the lone bright spot of the film? Is the Neverlandscape experiencing climate change? Does anyone care about Rufio? Are any of these hooks for our episode grabbing you?

Sources:

RogerEbert.com - Hook movie review and film summary (1991)

The Film Magazine:

Ridley Scott Films Ranked by Sam Sewell-Peterson

The Power of the Dog (2021) LFF Review by Leoni Horton

Music:

Awakening (Instrumental) by Wataboi https://soundcloud.com/wataboi

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0

Music promoted by FDL Music https://youtu.be/X2oQNUOmk2k

Patrick Swayze is Dalton - the toughest bouncer cooler/philosopher in 1980s America. Watch as he fights his way through bad guys, a poorer story, and even worse editing. Jacob and Sam really dig into Road House to see if this 80's cult classic is worth its fan's praise.

Sources:

80s Kids - 20 Things You Might Not Have Realised About The 1989 Film Road House

The Oklahoman - Don't Take Film Too Seriously, "Road House' Star Elliott Says

Yahoo - Kyle Rittenhouse Prosecutor Uses ‘Road House’ Image in Closing Arguments

The Film Magazine:

10 Excellent Non-Christmas Films Set at Christmas by Louis B. Scheuer

House of Gucci (2021) Review by Sam Sewell-Peterson

Music:

Awakening (Instrumental) by Wataboi https://soundcloud.com/wataboi

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0

Music promoted by FDL Music https://youtu.be/X2oQNUOmk2k

The Black Cauldron, a childhood favorite of Sam's, comes from the strange era of 1980's Disney. Terrible production problems and changes in corporate leadership lead to numerous issues for the film. What does Sam think of it now, and does the film deserve to be seen as a misunderstood classic?

Sources:

Slate - The Black Cauldron: Is the movie that almost killed Disney animation really that bad?

YouTube - The Black Cauldron - Disney's Halloween Masterpiece 

The Film Magazine:

Disney Renaissance Movies Ranked by Sam Sewell-Peterson

‘Beauty and the Beast’ at 30 – Review by Sam Sewell-Peterson

Music:

Awakening (Instrumental) by Wataboi https://soundcloud.com/wataboi

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0

Music promoted by FDL Music https://youtu.be/X2oQNUOmk2k

Siskel and Ebert declared Ishtar the worst film of 1987, but others believe the film is a classic. It's an action comedy alluding to the Road To... films of Hollywood's Golden Age, featuring two stars of the Auteur Renaissance. Where do Jacob and Sam's opinions lie on this controversial work?

Sources:

Quora Post

Vanity Fair - MADNESS IN MOROCCO: THE ROAD TO ISHTAR

The New Yorker - Elaine May Talks About “Ishtar”

The Guardian - Hear me out: why Ishtar isn’t a bad movie

The Film Magazine:

Petite Maman (2021) Review by Joseph Wade

The French Dispatch (2021) Review by Christopher Connor

Music:

Awakening (Instrumental) by Wataboi https://soundcloud.com/wataboi

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0

Music promoted by FDL Music https://youtu.be/X2oQNUOmk2k

Turns out there are more movies than just horror! Jacob and Kieran cover Takashi Miike's unique take on the (unofficial) Django anthology. Hear about the cool cowboy samurais, the Spaghetti Western homages, and Quentin Tarantino's interesting role in this Sukiyaki Western!

Sources:

Japan Times - 'Sukiyaki Western Django' Review (Web Archive)

Wikipedia - All Django Film Appearances

Reuters - Tarantino plays Eastwood-esque in "Sukiyaki Western"

The Spaghetti Western Database

10 Great Australian Horror Films by Sam Sewell-Peterson

Last Night in Soho Review by Christopher Connor

Music:

Awakening (Instrumental) by Wataboi https://soundcloud.com/wataboi

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0

Music promoted by FDL Music https://youtu.be/X2oQNUOmk2k

For the last Halloween horror episode, Jacob and Kieran discuss Event Horizon, a haunted house movie in space. Kieran loves this film, but will it hold up to his critical scrutiny? Plus learn the exciting backstory of this film's troubled production!

Sources

Looper - The Untold Truth Of Event Horizon

Ranker - The Production Of 'Event Horizon' Was Its Own Level Of Hell

Music:

Awakening (Instrumental) by Wataboi https://soundcloud.com/wataboi

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0

Music promoted by FDL Music https://youtu.be/X2oQNUOmk2k

Choosing a horror film on Netflix is always a gamble, but Jacob and Sam give 2021's Blood Red Sky a fair shake. It isn't the best vampire film you'll see, but is it at least interesting? How does it compare to other vampire movies? And what's the deal with airline food?

Purge Movies Ranked by Jacob Davis

Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movies Ranked by Luke Hinton

Music:

Awakening (Instrumental) by Wataboi https://soundcloud.com/wataboi

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0

Music promoted by FDL Music https://youtu.be/X2oQNUOmk2k

Kieran makes his return for an episode on Jennifer's Body, the 2009 horror-comedy starring Amanda Seyfried and Megan Fox. It's a well-made film, but is there a discernable message? How is Megan Fox's performance? Should you just watch Ginger Snaps instead?

The Horror Collective’s 30 Day Lockdown Challenge Jennifer's Body Review by Kieran Judge

Evil Dead Movies Ranked by Mark Carnochan

Music:

Awakening (Instrumental) by Wataboi https://soundcloud.com/wataboi

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0

Music promoted by FDL Music https://youtu.be/X2oQNUOmk2k