We conclude the 12th Season the day after Christmas for a minisode on Luc Besson's SciFi Fantasy Trilogy: The Fifth Element, Lockout & Valerian.

Guests Oreo Brewer & Johnny Potoky bring up how these pre-STAR WARS comics and fantasy elements helped these film adaptations come to life in a post-mega blockbuster movie world.

Is FIFTH ELEMENT the most successful Bruce Willis film outside of his earlier '90s work (and is Korben Dallas his best role given how it allows him more comedic work while spoofing his DIE HARD ego)?

Are these movies perfect examples of paintings that can be reobserved and you find something new from them each time?

Is LOCKOUT still a damn fun time no matter which version you watch or did the Snake Plissken/Han Solo hero feel too derivative?

And should VALERIAN be given a better re-evaluation in this snobby internet world?

Come drive your flying car into space with us as we podcast across the galaxy!

MUSIC INTRO USED:

"Redrum" Immediate Music (from The Fifth Element Trailer)

On Christmas Day, you're getting more bullshit starring Bruce Willis for the holiday:

I briefly sum up Willis' final franchise that is both DIE HARD inspired and a rather forced homage/tribute on top of that.

Can you tell any of the 3 entries apart or do they all fade together?

Were any of them different in quality or was it all one overlong mess?

Plus, a brief spotlight on the indie director/producer duo (who also co-star in these films)!

FILMS DISCUSSED:

Detective Knight: Rogue, Redemption & Independence

SONGS USED:

"Delay Rock," "Cool Blast," "Groove Grove" and "Rock Hybrid" by Kevin Macleod.

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Summer Brooks & Ethan Weeks joke with the podcast crew for this minisode about Action-Mystery films by Bruce Willis/Shane Black/Joel Silver that could've easily been a DIE HARD sequel.

Why is THE LAST BOY SCOUT mainly a LETHAL WEAPON movie co-starring John McClane?

Why is THE COLOR OF NIGHT a Giallo Erotic Thriller Mystery with a brief McClane car chase?

Plus, we also get to joke about other roles he did that are mainly Willis still in MOONLIGHTING mode!

FILMS DISCUSSED:

The Last Boy Scout,

The Player (especially that end movie parody sequence!), Striking Distance,

Color of Night,

Mercury Rising,

Hostage (2005)

& 16 Blocks

Caomh McGillion briefly stops by to help Cam sum up Bruce Willis' 30 VOD & Limited Release Movies prior to his retirement.

Which initial ones were rather reasonable B-movies/unofficial DIE HARD sequels?

Which ones easily rivaled the most infamous Steven Seagal/Mel Gibson/John Travolta/Sylvester Stallone/Eric Roberts/Mickey Rourke movies of late?

How did the producer of NARC/LONE SURVIVOR/THE IRISHMAN orchestrate such a ponzi scheme with these bottom-of-the-barrel Action flicks?

Were any of the other ensemble comedies & mystery flicks surprisingly well-done despite only having Bruce in a brief part?

All that and a proper farewell to one of cinema's once popular stars!

MOVIES REVIEWED:

Set Up,

Catch .44,

Lay the Favorite,

The Cold Light of Day,

Fire with Fire,

The Prince,

Vice (2015),

Rock the Kasbah,

Extraction (2016),

Precious Cargo,

Marauders,

Once Upon a Time in Venice,

First Kill,

Acts of Violence,

Reprisal,

Air Strike,

Motherless Brooklyn,

10 Minutes Gone,

Trauma Center,

Survive the Night,

Hard Kill,

Breach,

Cosmic Sin,

Midnight in the Switchgrass,

Out of Death,

Survive the Game,

APEX,

Deadlock,

Fortress,

American Siege,

Gasoline Alley,

A Day to Die,

Fortress: Sniper's Eye,

Corrective Measures,

Vendetta (2022),

White Elephant,

Wrong Place,

Wire Room,

Paradise City

& Assassin (2023)

MUSIC USED:

"Torn Jeans Medium" by Apple Free-To-Use Music.

"Die Hard 1 & 3 Trailer Music" by John Erik Alexander.

"Cool Rock," "Exhilarate," "Hitman," "Hot Rock," "Delay Rock" and "Rock Hybrid" by Kevin MacLeod.

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

ADDITIONAL MUSIC by Soundscrate.

It's yet another DIE HARD themed Christmas Week to conclude the podcasting year:

Various guests return to cite irrefutable proof that DIE HARD (and even the 2nd & 5th sequel) are Christmas/Winter themed movies while playing the Christmas related music & dialogue from the film itself!

GUESTS INCLUDE:

Jasen Bach, Oliver Rockside, Summer Brooks, Ethan Weeks, Ken Bates, Cliff Stevenson & A-aron Landerville

MUSIC PLAYED:

"Christmas in Hollis" by Run-D.M.C.

"Let It Snow" by Vaughn Monroe

"Fuck Christmas" by Eric Idle

The week concludes with a retrospect on our favorite moments in the LETHAL WEAPON films.

Which movies started the "cut the red or blue wire" trope?

How much improvised comedy were in these films?

Are these the films that made Mel Gibson go crazy (or was it always unavoidable)?

All that and more summaries of physical comedy at its late '80s best!

GUESTS:

Jasen Bach, Oliver Rockside, Summer Brooks & Ethan Weeks

SONGS USED:

"Lethal Weapon" by Ice-T

"Lethal Weapon Trailer Music" by John Eric Alexander

"Perspectives Medium" by Apple free-to-use music

Every good (or bad) movie needs an awesome villain and producer Joel Silver ensured that was the case with most of his movies.

We mention all kinds of antagonists rom Lethal Weapon & 48 Hrs. 

To The Warriors, Executive Decision & Die Hard

To Demolition Man, Streets of Fire, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, The Losers & Ricochet

To The Last Boy Scout, Ninja Assassin, Demon Knight, Predator & Road House.

How many actors keep being reused in all of his movies?

P.S. Al Leong is still a national treasure!

CHECK OUT OUR STELLAR GUESTS:

Film Blogger Ethan Weeks,

Oliver Rockside & Jasen Bach (In Your Earholes)

SONG/AUDIO INTRO:

New York Film Academy 2016 interview with Joel Silver

"Captured" by James Horner (from the Commando OST)

Another all-star crew assembles for the rest of this month to highlight the beloved Action Comedies brought to life by antsy producer Joel Silver & witty screenwriter Shane Black.

What fictional movie producer characters are clearly inspired by Joel Silver's colorful antics?

Why did Shane Black make the best kind of cynical comedy & holiday movie mayhem mash-ups for the longest time?

All that and more uncanny film history!

GUESTS INCLUDE:

Jasen Bach,

Oliver Rockside,

Summer Brooks

&

Ethan Weeks

Featuring a Cameo

by Culture Shocked's Mike Craig & Corey Baker!

OPENING AUDIO CLIP:

John C. Tibbetts Interviews: Stuart Baird and Joel Silver promoting Executive Decision (1996)

The infamous Stallone franchise rankings continue this holiday season because, yes, the original RAMBO is set at Christmas!

Oreo, Cliff & Josh return to share their amusing rankings on everyone's favorite Green Beret led franchise.

TALKING POINTS INCLUDE:

*We also give out exploding arrows & "Fuck 'Ems" as our measure of rating the films

SONG INTRO:

"Preparations" by Jerry Goldsmith (from Rambo II)

Prepare for another week of blockbuster '80s movies set at Christmas time:

Cliff Stevenson, Josh Hansen & Oreo Brewer return to help us sort and rank the ROCKY and CREED movie franchise.

TALKING POINTS INCLUDE:

*Should Rocky blame that toy robot of his for all the bad luck he endures?

*We also talk about how Philadelphia is just as vital a character & the inspiring music used in the saga

*What if Rocky & Rambo were the same character...?

*Why wasn't Carl Weathers in more franchises?

*Are the Creed films one of the few spin-offs/sequels that become their own format while also properly updating a beloved franchise?

*How many other great actors from HBO's The Wire appear in the Creed films?