Two Geeks and a GIT Classic Movie Reviews

The second film in our salute to early CGI moves ahead two years, and light-years ahead for the technology, which was being developed as it was being used to create the special effects for 1984's "The Last Starfighter!" Directed by Nick Castle, the story follow Alex Rogan (Lance Guest), a young man trying to break out of his trailer-park maintenance-man existence and head to college far away. His mother, Jane (Barbara Bosson), his little brother Louis (Chris Hebert), and his girlfriend Maggie (Catherine Mary Stewart) all support his goals, but his only escape at the moment is playing a video game outside the park's general store. When he breaks the record on the machine, something that quickly becomes an event for the population of the park, it signals a different kind of graduation for Alex, as shortly thereafter, a strange man calling himself Centauri (Robert Preston) takes Alex on a wild ride to another planet where he's presented as a qualified "starfighter!" After intially balking, Alex eventually winds up back in outer space as the last hope for the planet Rylos, and indeed the entire galaxy! Also starring Dan O'Herlihy, Dan Mason, Normon Snow, and Vernon Washington! Plus, the trio unveil which two 1930's classics make up the next pairing!

Our first pairing of 2023 is dedicated to the very early days of CGI, a.k.a. Computer-Generated Imagery, and its use in science fiction! And, wouldn't you know, Disney was at the forefront of utilizing the developing technology! Directed by Steven Lisberger, 1982's "Tron" tells the story of hot-shot computer programmer Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), former employee of ENCOM - an American multi-national software and hardware company - who is trying to find proof that ENCOM's current Executive Vice-President, Ed Dillinger (David Warner) stole his ideas for several popular video games and presented them as his own, thus cementing his current position. Flynn breaks into ENCOM with the help of his former girlfriend Lora (Cindy Morgan) and her current boyfriend Alan (Bruce Boxleitner). Alan has created a program called "TRON" that will help restore freedom to ENCOM's computer system, but needs Flynn to get it the access it needs to do so. From a terminal inside ENCOM's laser-digitization lab, Flynn comes up against the Master Control Program, guardian of the entire ENCOM system, and the MCP uses the laser to digitize Flynn and transfer him into the computer system! From there, it's a wild ride as Flynn tries to learn how things work on the other side of the screen, and what being a "User" really means! The film also stars Bernard Hughes, Dan Shor, and Peter Jurasic (of "Babylon 5" fame)!

Wrapping up our first actress-based pairing for Jodie Foster, we move to 2002 and a very different film from last week's! Directed by David Fincher, 2002's "Panic Room" finds Jodie Foster in the role of Meg Altman, a newly-divorced mother trying to figure out how to reclaim her life. She and her daughter Sarah (a very young Kristen Stewart) decide to purchase a massive brownstone home in New York, the former residence of an eccentric and wealthy gentleman. During the walkthrough, Meg notices that one room's dimensions seem off and, sure enough, it's revealed that there is a panic room built into the master bedroom, complete with its own phone line, monitors attached to cameras throughout the building, and supplies to allow one to remain mostly comfortable for days. After moving in, during their first night in their new home, her domicile is invaded by a trio of burglars (Forest Whitaker, Dwight Yoakam, and Jared Leto) whose intentions aren't clear, except that they're looking for something they believe to be in the building. This sets the scene for a very self-contained, tense, and surprising drama that plays out solely within the brownstone, with several interesting twists and turns at the story plays out! The film also features Patrick Bauchau, Ann Magnuson, and Paul Schulze. Plus, the trio reveal which two early CGI-infused science fiction films will make up their first full pairing of 2023!

As we head into the new year, we fulfill a request from the spouse of one of the hosts and focus on a pairing based around an actress. Both of the movies in this pairing star Academy Award-winner Jodie Foster! First up, it's the Robert Zemeckis-led, Carl Sagan-written story of first contact with an alien race, as told from a very straight scientific point-of-view, in 1997's "Contact!" The film stars Foster as Eleanor Arroway, a scientist working with S.E.T.I. (the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) trying to find out if we're alone in the universe. After many struggles with other scientists who believe such work is a waste of time and resources, one night she hears something that can't be explained as a naturally-occuring phenomenon. This leads her to many additional discoveries, and she becomes part of the contest to be the person chosen to represent the Earth in the planet's initial contact with another life form! The film presents the discovery, and the various reactions to said discovery, in a very realistic and scientifically-accurate way, giving it a gravitas not found in other such stories. The film also stars Matthew McConaughey, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Jena Malone, David Morse, James Woods, and features cameos from several actual news broadcasters and interviewers!

Happy Holidays! The second of our "Christmas-Adjacent" films moves us into the 21st century for an all-star team-up! Directed by Shane Black, 2005's "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang" tells the the story of small-time criminal Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.) who, when fleeing from the police after a botched burglary, runs into an audition for a Hollywood film. Cut to Los Angeles, Harry has been flown out by agent Darby Shaw (Larry Miller) to audition for a detective film. At an L.A. party, he meets power-broker Harlan Dexter (Corbin Bernsen) and local private detective "Gay Perry" (Val Kilmer). He also stumbles on his childhood crush, Harmony Lane (Michelle Monaghan), and they together stumble onto a murder mystery that gets everyone involved injured, chased, and threatened! Only Harry's love for Harmony and his sheer stubbornness allows them to survive the convoluted and nigh-unbelievable story! Plus, the trio discuss which two Jodie Foster films they're reviewing for their next pairing (one suggested by Chad's wife)!

Happy Holidays! This year, for the December festivities, we're focusing on two films we call "Christmas-Adjacent," meaning that, while they're not technically "christmas movies," they are movies that take place around Christmas. First up is a favorite of Geek Jeff's wife, 1996's "The Long Kiss Goodnight!" Directed by Renny Harlin, and written by the director of the 2nd film in the pairing, Shane Black, the film follows suburban mom Samantha Caine (Geena Davis) who, some eight years before, "woke up" with no memory of her past and slowly built a new life for herself with her daughter Caitlin (Yvonne Zima) and her boyfriend Hal (Tom Amandes). One of the private detective she had hired in the past to try to find her original identity, Mitch Hennessey (Samuel L. Jackson) turns up some new information and the two set off on a bizarre trip where, along the way, Samantha remembers her old identity: An assassin named Charlie Baltimore, who worked for the U.S. Government, and said government isn't happy she's resurfaced! This is the film Samuel L. Jackson claims as his favorite of all the movies he's done in his career, and it's a great story that features a truly badass female protagonist! Also starring Brian Cox, Craig Bierko, Patrick Malahide, and David Morse.

The second film in our pairing based on the works of Alan Moore moves ahead, in real-life, four years, but moves back, in the film, to the 1980s of an alternate history of the United States of America. In this version, masked crusaders have been a part of American life since the middle of the 20th century, and inevitably some of the heroes band together to form a group known as "The Watchmen." The film follows the members of the second version of the team, after the U.S. Government has passed the Keane Act, which outlawed masked superheroes. Directed by Zack Snyder, the film introduced us to Rorschach (Jackie Earl Haley), a sociopathic crusader who sees the world in black and white who, after the death of Edward Blake (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), who the public knew as The Comedian, come to believe that there is a plot afoot to kill "masks," and he goes to warn all of his former teammates. He first visits his former partner Dan Dreiberg (Patrick Wilson) who fought crime as the second Night Owl, then traveling to a government facility to warn Laurie Jupiter (Malin Akerman) who had been known as Ms. Jupiter, and her significant other Dr. Manhattan (Billy Crudup). Dan goes to visit Adrian Veidt (Matthew Goode) who is the sole member of the Watchmen to reveal his true identity to the public instead of staying behind the persona of Ozymandias, and pass along Rorschach's warning. As the story unfolds, we see the truth of a world with heroes, how they quickly become hated, jaded, and corrupted, and how their mindsets quickly become altered when compared to what would be considered "normal" in the modern world. Also starring Matt Frewer, Stephen McHattie, Laura Mennell, Rob LaBelle, and Robert Wisden. Plus, the trio reveal which two "Christmas-Adjacent" films make up this year's holiday pairing!

This short episode focuses solely on the ending to 2009's "Watchmen" film, and the ending of the graphic novel, and discusses the difference between the two, and the geeks and git disagree on whether the cinematic ending works or not versus the print ending!

This pairing is dedicated to the work of Eisner, Jack Kirby, and Hugo Award-winning author Alan Moore. First up, the film Jeff states is his favorite from all of film, a story of a dystopian future that seemed to question not one, but two modern U.S. presidents, 2005's "V for Vendetta!" Directed by James McTeigue and adapted for the screen by Lilly and Lana Wachowski, the film follows young TV production assistant Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman) who is rescued from an alley attack by a masked vigilante called "V" (Hugo Weaving). V then takes Evey along to witness an act of civic destruction as he destroys the central criminal court of England and Wales, making her a part of his plot. The High Chancellor, Adam Sutler (the late, great John Hurt) tasks his inner council, including secret police head Mr. Creedy (Tim Pigott-Smith) and London Police Inspector Finch (Stephen Rea) with tracking down and capturing the terrorist. After an attack on the British Television Network (BTN) studios Evey works at, and after she assist him in escaping from the police, V takes her to his home and tells her she must remain there with him until his plot is concluded a year from then. Thus begins V's revenge on the fascist government that has taken control of England, Evey's quest for freedom, and Finch's realization of the truth behind the government's propaganda in a story that, while based on Moore's graphic novel, transforms the story into more of a political thriller than an anarchy vs. fascism narrative. Also starring Rupert Graves, Stephen Fry, Roger Allam, Ben Miles, Sinead Cusack, and Natasha Wightman.

Our second film for Thanksgiving, and our salute to New York City, looks at life immediately post-9/11, and how 24 hours can change a person's life. Director Spike Lee and writer David Benioff (of "Game of Thrones" fame) spin the tale of Monty Brogan (Edward Norton), a drug dealer whose life is turned upside down after he's betrayed to the DEA. The film spans the final 24 hours in Monty's life before he begins a seven-year prison sentence. His girlfriend Naturelle (Rosario Dawson), along with his two best friends Frank (Barry Pepper) and Jacob (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) are going with him to a party thrown by his boss, Uncle Nikolai (Levani). During these last 24 hours, all four of the friends find themselves questioning their paths, doing things they never saw themselves doing, and ultimately preparing for the separation from Monty they all know is inevitable. Also starring Anna Paquin, Brian Cox, and Tony Siragusa. Plus, the trio unveil their next pairing of amazing films which the author of the source material despises!