In this wildly free-roaming episode, Ben and Eugene discussd institutional failures in education, the assumption that everyone is motivated by greed, Disney’s Song of the South taken in a modern context, the notion that the child of two hillbillies could be educated not to be a hillbilly, is electing an idiotic TV personality to the US Presidency a good idea, dress Crocs, electrolytes, does this film punch up or punch down, is it anti-intellectual, anti-moron, or both and, most importantly, why on Earth are they discussing this film.

The film is Idiocracy and it’s what plants crave.

Next week: Buck Rogers in the 25th Century – Space Rockers

Simon and Eugene mark the 800th episode of Fusion Patrol where they discuss the classic 1931 Frankenstein, the extent of the impact of this film across other media, the differences between the film and the book, and whether the film or Mary Shelley are responsible for the perception of the mad scientist.

00:01:00 Anniversary Opening
00:02:29 Frankenstein’s Obsession
00:04:51 The Monster Escapes
00:06:47 First Impressions
00:10:51 Boris Karloff’s Performance
00:15:26 Film Versus Novel
00:18:52 The Beast’s Short Life
00:22:33 Morality and Responsibility
00:26:18 Script Differences
00:30:41 Deleted Dialogue
00:36:10 Body-Snatching Ethics
00:39:35 The Stage Play
00:43:00 Mad Scientist Trope
00:50:24 Never Alive
00:53:54 Why Not Start Small?
00:59:04 Waldman’s Dilemma
01:00:37 Mary Shelley Revisited
01:03:07 Science and Fear
01:08:35 Final Thoughts

Kenneth and Eugene look at Andrei Tarkovsky’s famous, and ponderously slow, 1972 film, Solaris. They discuss why 40 minutes of the film is set amongst wet greenery, Tarkovsky’s daddy issues, they ask “What the hell was the point of the horse?” and “Why did we sit through 10+ minutes of silent driving through Osaka?”

This cursed episode of Fusion Patrol was over four years in the making.

00:00:35 Introduction to Solaris
00:01:39 The Lost Recording
00:02:02 Revisiting Solaris
00:02:48 Watching at 1.5 Speed
00:03:42 Synopsis of Solaris
00:05:37 Part Two of the Film
00:07:58 The Nature of Guests
00:08:36 Dissecting the Film’s Themes
00:12:09 The Nature of Identity
00:12:26 Different Versions of Hari
00:18:25 Film Length and Pacing
00:21:03 Cultural Context
00:30:43 The Purpose of Characters
00:32:40 Understanding the Guests
00:34:34 Questions of Existence
00:39:10 The Climax of the Story
00:45:22 Communication with the Unknown
00:54:00 Tarkovsky’s Personal Influence
00:55:46 Visual and Aesthetic Choices
00:58:02 Final Thoughts on Solaris
01:11:21 Critique of Adaptations

Next week: Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Olympiad

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Ben and Eugene discuss Irwin Allen’s second attempt to get City Beneath the Sea going with this TV movie and seeming back door pilot. They discuss the survivability of an asteroid strike in the Pacific Ocean, Robert Wagner’s evil ‘tache, the fact that the unsuspecting people of Pacifica were always going to get saddled with the H128, and wonder if the US President’s name is Nelsonson.

00:00:34 Introduction to City Beneath the Sea
00:07:18 Erwin Allen’s Recycling Tactics
00:24:53 The H-128 Dilemma
00:28:08 Asteroid Impact and Its Consequences
00:29:50 The Science of Destruction
00:33:52 Matthews’ Desperate Decision
00:47:45 Behind the Scenes: Writers and Directors
01:03:07 Final Thoughts on City Beneath the Sea

Next Week: Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Twiki is Missing

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Kenneth and Eugene explore the 1955 classic “This Island Earth.” Their discussion highlights Cal’s research, mysterious technology, and ethical dilemmas posed by the Metalunans. They reflect on the film’s pacing, special effects, and its commentary on Cold War politics, examining how its themes resonate with contemporary issues. They also discuss the film’s charm and its legacy in sci-fi cinema.

Not a movie, but a follow-up to our discussion of the Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea feature, as we look at this television episode remake of the movie.

Ben and Eugene examine the moral dilemmas faced by Admiral Nelson and Dr. Weber as they propose differing solutions to a catastrophic scenario. The discussion highlights key themes of mind control, ethical responsibilities, and the implications of leadership during crises. We draw connections to the original film, contrasting its existential threat with the episode’s localized crisis.

Next Week: Buck Rogers in the 25th Century – Space Vampire

In this episode of Fusion Patrol, Ben and Eugene delve into the 1961 Irwin Allen film “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea,” starring Walter Pidgeon and Joan Fontaine. The discussion centers on the USOS Seaview and Admiral Nelson’s desperate mission to extinguish a catastrophic burning of the Van Allen Belt, which threatens all life on Earth.

They explore the film’s key themes, including the clash between reason and fanaticism, as well as character dynamics, particularly between Nelson and his crew. We also reflect on our personal experiences with the film, critique its scientific elements, and analyze the portrayal of authority during the Cold War.

Next Week: Buck Rogers in the 25th Century – Cruise Ship to the Stars

This week Simon and Eugene look at the last nugget of the Disney-BBC Doctor Who deal, the War Between the Land and the Sea where they discuss parallels between the modern UNIT and Torchwood, whether Kate Lethbridge-Stewart is the true heir to the Brigadier, and Eugene explains why the naming of Homo Aqua is as inappropriate as the naming of the Silurians.

This week Fusion Patrol looks at The Andromeda Strain as Ben and Eugene discuss hard science fiction tension built from plausible medical and military technology; human errors, prejudice, and design flaws that nearly trigger nuclear catastrophe; Nostalgic enthusiasm for long‑forgotten light pen computer interfaces; and a strangely prominent topless corpse and its clash with the film’s G‑rated reputation.

THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN

Release Date: March 12, 1971

Runtime: 131 minutes

Starring: Arthur Hill, David Wayne, James Olson, Kate Reid

Director: Robert Wise

Writer: Nelson Gidding

Synopsis: After a government satellite crashes in a small New Mexico town, nearly all residents die instantly from a mysterious extraterrestrial organism. An elite team of scientists is assembled in a secret underground facility to isolate the virus and determine why an elderly man and an infant were the only survivors. They must race against time and a nuclear self-destruct mechanism to neutralize the threat before it causes a global pandemic.

This week Fusion Patrol looks at the 1973 movie Soylent Green as John and Eugene discuss if starving people even care if Soylent Green is people, Charlton Heston’s most human performance in a dystopian film, women treated as apartment “furniture” in a collapsing society, and Edward G. Robinson’s final acting role as his own death scene