It's not a new genre this week but a couple of new species that Alex and Jonathan take a look at with three alien films: The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Arrival (2016). We talk about how good science fiction comments on humanity in every era, the difference between science fiction and science fantasy, and how science fiction can use VFX without focusing on VFX.

Skip to:

10:33 – The Day the Earth Stood Still

32:20 – E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

1:02:06 – Arrival

1:26:29 – Overall

1:35:31 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

Grey Gardens (1975)

The Thin Blue Line (1988)

Grizzly Man (2005)

For more information, visit the blog:

thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2017/11/21/amiable-aliens

Friend of the podcast, Hayden Chauffe, returns to talk with Alex and Jonathan about the feature film works of one of his biggest influences, Jim Henson: The Great Muppet Caper (1981), The Dark Crystal (1982), Labyrinth (1986). We talk about the history of Henson's puppet work, building fantasy worlds in miniature, and the modern use of muppets and creatures in entertainment.

Skip to:

25:25 – The Great Muppet Caper

50:28 – The Dark Crystal

1:14:42 – Labyrinth

1:32:24 – Overall

1:46:33 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) – Available on Netflix

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) – Available on Netflix

Arrival (2016)

For more information, visit the blog:

thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2017/11/14/happy-henson

Alex and Jonathan make the first of many rounds into the colorful and exciting world of Bollywood cinema with Sholay (1975), Asoka (2001), and Dangal (2016). We talk about how India takes the western genre to new heights, keeping historical epics on-target, and the skills and shapes actors can adopt to make a film more believable.

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4:37 – Sholay

24:54 – Asoka

43:52 – Dangal

1:16:32 – Overall

1:25:03 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

The Great Muppet Caper (1981)

The Dark Crystal (1982)

Labyrinth (1986)

For more information, visit the blog:

thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2017/11/07/the-bollywood-beat

It's the spookiest time of the year, and this week Alex and Jonathan invite special guest Emily Geringer to discuss three hallmark horror films from Japan and Korea: Audition (1999), Ju-on: The Grudge (2002), and A Tale of Two Sisters (2003). We discuss manipulating time to build mystery and suspense, how a compelling story can transcend recycled cinematic elements, and the universality of horror.

Skip to:

5:20 – Audition

31:12 – Ju-on: The Grudge

51:45 – A Tale of Two Sisters

1:19:38 – Overall

1:34:22 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

Sholay (1975)

Asoka (2001) – Available on Netflix

Dangal (2016) – Available on Netflix

For more information, visit the blog:

thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2017/10/31/eastern-eeriness

As Halloween approaches, Alex and Jonathan return to the shadowy films of German Expressionism with Fritz Lang's Destiny (1921), M (1931), and The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1933). We talk about the influence of German fairy tales on German Expressionism, the introduction of sound in Lang's films, and how Lang crafts social commentary over his career.

Skip to:

5:23 – Destiny

21:45 – M

43:14 – The Testament of Dr. Mabuse

1:03:51 – Overall

1:16:46 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

Audition (1999)

Ju-on: The Grudge (2002)

A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)

For more information, visit the blog:

thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2017/10/24/legendary-lang

Alex and Jonathan return to some childhood favorite films with the Jason Bourne trilogy, specifically The Bourne Identity (2002), The Bourne Supremacy (2004), and The Bourne Ultimatum (2007). We discuss subjective storytelling through cinematography, two directors creating a cohesive story over three films, and how a realistic spy series contrasts with other popular action franchises.

Skip to:

3:28 – The Bourne Identity

23:16 – The Bourne Supremacy

45:07 – The Bourne Ultimatum

1:01:04 – Overall

1:17:01 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

Destiny (1921)

M (1931)

The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1933)

For more information, visit the blog:

thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2017/10/17/bourne-beat-by-beat

In the first episode to circle back to the World Tour series, Alex and Jonathan give a closer look to the work of legendary Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky with the films Ivan's Childhood (1962), Solaris (1972), The Mirror (1975). We discuss how Tarkovsky uses textured images and sound to make his worlds feel true to life, approaching filmmaking with a poetic mindset, and creating evocative images that aren't meant to be symbolic.

Skip to:

6:39 – Ivan's Childhood

22:25 – Solaris

47:54 – The Mirror

1:04:02 – Overall

1:13:33 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

The Bourne Identity (2002)

The Bourne Supremacy (2004)

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

For more information, visit the blog:

thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2017/10/10/trancing-tarkovsky

Follow us into a meticulous and colorful maze of cinema this week as we talk about the unique works of Stanley Kubrick: Dr. Strangelove or: How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1965), The Shining (1980). We discuss Kubrick's demanding directing style, his various approaches to story adaptations, and atmospheric versus plot-centric films.

Skip to:

5:39 – Dr. Strangelove

31:07 – 2001: A Space Odyssey

50:30 – The Shining

1:22:29 – Overall

1:33:41 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

Ivan's Childhood (1962) – Available on YouTube

Solaris (1972) – Available on YouTube

The Mirror (1975)

For more information, visit the blog:

thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2017/10/03/kinaesthetic-kubrick/

Charlie Chaplin won our most recent Twitter poll about the silent film stars of Hollywood, so Alex and Jonathan take a look at three of the Tramp's most iconic appearances: The Gold Rush (1925 & 1942), Modern Times (1936), and The Great Dictator (1940). We talk about the universality of physical comedy, Chaplin's technical innovations, and how he adapted into the sound era of film.

Skip to:

5:56 - The Gold Rush

35:46 - Modern Times

1:03:05 - The Great Dictator

1:18:41 - Overall

1:33:47 - Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

The Shining (1980)

For more information, visit the blog:

thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2017/09/26/charming-chaplin

Words, words, words.

–Hamlet (Act II, Scene II)

Some of the most famous words in history are the basis of the films Alex and Jonathan are looking at today as we get into Kenneth Branagh's adaptations of William Shakespeare's Henry V (1989), Much Ado About Nothing (1993), and Hamlet (1996). We talk about directing from an acting background, adapting stage material to the big screen, and how Branagh uses cinematic rhetoric to make Shakespeare accessible to modern audiences without updating the text.

Skip to:

4:02 - Henry V

28:03 - Much Ado About Nothing

49:42 - Hamlet

1:11:03 - Overall

1:20:24 - Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

The Gold Rush (1925 & 1942)

Modern Times (1936)

The Great Dictator (1940)

For more information, visit the blog:

thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2017/09/19/branagh-and-the-bard