Two Geeks and a GIT Classic Movie Reviews

In the second part of their "Atomic Future Warning" episode, the filmic trio of Geeks Buddy and Jeff, along with Geek-In-Training Chad, run and hide their way through 1984's nightmarish science-fiction epic "The Terminator." Written (partially) and directed by Hollywood legend James Cameron, and starring Michael Biehn and Linda Hamilton, this movie is most remembered as the breakout role for a young Arnold Schwarzenegger, before anyone really knew who he was. It's also a deeply scary film, featuring an adversary that it is next to impossible to stop, and destroying it is the only way to survive! At the end of the episode, the Geeks and GIT discuss how the new "Luke Cage" series on Netflix has influenced their choices for episodes 18 and 19!

This episode, Buddy, Chad, and Jeff look at the first of two "Atomic Future Warning" movies, by watching the original 1968 "Planet of the Apes!" Charleton Heston in one of his least-overacted roles, along with Roddy McDowell, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans, and Linda Harrison. This film was directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, and written by none other than Rod Serling (from "The Twilight Zone" and "Night Gallery"), based on a novel by Pierre Boulle (who also wrote "Bridge On the River Kwai")! It's a great sci-fi story, full of ethical questions that were contemporary in the late 60s and, strangely, are still issues we're grappling with today! Plus, with an amazing score by the one and only Jerry Goldsmith and award-winning make-up effects, this is the very essence of "an oldy but a goody!"

This episode, Buddy, Chad, and Jeff look at the first of two "Atomic Future Warning" movies, by watching the original 1968 "Planet of the Apes!" Charleton Heston in one of his least-overacted roles, along with Roddy McDowell, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans, and Linda Harrison. This film was directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, and written by none other than Rod Serling (from "The Twilight Zone" and "Night Gallery"), based on a novel by Pierre Boulle (who also wrote "Bridge On the River Kwai")! It's a great sci-fi story, full of ethical questions that were contemporary in the late 60s and, strangely, are still issues we're grappling with today! Plus, with an amazing score by the one and only Jerry Goldsmith and award-winning make-up effects, this is the very essence of "an oldy but a goody!"

In the second part of our tribute to actor and writer Gene Wilder, who passed away on August 26th, 2016, at the age of 83, Buddy, Jeff, and Chad look at his first big success as both a comedic actor and a writer with 1974's Young Frankenstein! Starring Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, Marty Feldman, Terry Garr, and Peter Boyle, with a cameo from Gene Hackman, this deliberately black-and white film pays tribute to the original three Frankenstein movies of the 1930s while also adeptly parodying the genre in a way not seen since! It's a masterpiece of imagining the Frankenstein scenario in the modern age, but replete with elements from the original films, including on-set equipment that was used in 1931 when the original Universal film was made! And finally, the filmic trio reveal the theme of the next pairing!

In the second part of our tribute to actor and writer Gene Wilder, who passed away on August 26th, 2016, at the age of 83, Buddy, Jeff, and Chad look at his first big success as both a comedic actor and a writer with 1974's Young Frankenstein! Starring Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, Marty Feldman, Terry Garr, and Peter Boyle, with a cameo from Gene Hackman, this deliberately black-and white film pays tribute to the original three Frankenstein movies of the 1930s while also adeptly parodying the genre in a way not seen since! It's a masterpiece of imagining the Frankenstein scenario in the modern age, but replete with elements from the original films, including on-set equipment that was used in 1931 when the original Universal film was made! And finally, the filmic trio reveal the theme of the next pairing!

We recently lost a true genius as both a comic and serious actor, as well as an amazing writer. Gene Wilder passed away on August 26th, 2016, at the age of 83. Fortunately for us all, he left behind an absolutely amazing body of work, including the western parody film that all other western parody films since have been compared to (and found lacking against), 1974's Blazing Saddles, starring Cleavon Little, Harvey Korman, Mel Brooks, Slim Pickens, Madeline Kahn, Alex Karras, David Huddleston, and John Hillerman. Although not the first choice for the role, it became a defining one for him and for audiences everywhere! Jeff, Buddy, and Chad explore his career, his life, and the role that introduced his comic talents to the world!

We recently lost a true genius as both a comic and serious actor, as well as an amazing writer. Gene Wilder passed away on August 26th, 2016, at the age of 83. Fortunately for us all, he left behind an absolutely amazing body of work, including the western parody film that all other western parody films since have been compared to (and found lacking against), 1974's Blazing Saddles, starring Cleavon Little, Harvey Korman, Mel Brooks, Slim Pickens, Madeline Kahn, Alex Karras, David Huddleston, and John Hillerman. Although not the first choice for the role, it became a defining one for him and for audiences everywhere! Jeff, Buddy, and Chad explore his career, his life, and the role that introduced his comic talents to the world!

Our first international film, we head to Japan for the world-wide phenomenon, 1998's Ringu (Ring). This film is an example of what modern horror can (and should) be, with a gripping story, amazing performances, and a twist ending the Shyamalan only wishes he could still pull off! Directed by Hideo Nakata, based on a novel by Koji Suzuki, and starring Nanako Matsushima, Niki Nakatani, Yuko Takeuchi, Hitomi Sato, and Yoichi Numata, this is a different kind of ghost story, one that casts a new light on why ghosts do what they do, and what outcomes the ghost most desires. Sometimes, it isn't what you think. When you watch the film, make sure you watch the subtitled version, so you don't miss out on the actor's vocal performances! This film is currently available on Amazon Prime. And don't miss the preview of episodes 14 and 15, a tribute to a great actor lost too soon!

Our first international film, we head to Japan for the world-wide phenomenon, 1998's Ringu (Ring). This film is an example of what modern horror can (and should) be, with a gripping story, amazing performances, and a twist ending the Shyamalan only wishes he could still pull off! Directed by Hideo Nakata, based on a novel by Koji Suzuki, and starring Nanako Matsushima, Niki Nakatani, Yuko Takeuchi, Hitomi Sato, and Yoichi Numata, this is a different kind of ghost story, one that casts a new light on why ghosts do what they do, and what outcomes the ghost most desires. Sometimes, it isn't what you think. When you watch the film, make sure you watch the subtitled version, so you don't miss out on the actor's vocal performances! This film is currently available on Amazon Prime. And don't miss the preview of episodes 14 and 15, a tribute to a great actor lost too soon!

Film geeks Jeff and Buddy force geek-in-training Chad to watch horror films, picked by horror aficionado Jeff, and he's going back 35 years for this one: 1981's Ghost Story. Directed by John Irvin, based on a novel by Peter Straub, and starring Fred Astaire, Melvyn Douglas, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., John Houseman, Craig Wasson, Patricia Neal, and Alice Krige, this is, as Buddy describes, partially a "dark old house" film, but at the same time it's also a supernatural revenge story. No gore, just suspense and a few truly noteworthy make-up effects, this is a great film to watch on a dark winter's eve, but be sure you're watching it with someone else! This film is currently evailable online at Amazon Prime.