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:Summer Brooks (The Babylon Project),  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*Much like ROCKY V, there are surprisingly some fans of RAMBO 5 (and it's not the same person, trust me)*Is this still the rare franchise that balanced out low-brow sounding premises with psychological thrills and tactical suspense?*And a brief overview on the post-Vietnam dramas that preceded it.   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?    

We finish what we started last Christmas season: discussing some deep dives in the Hanna-Barbera cartoon catalogue.   Which installments didn't get much replay?   And which ones should totally be hunted down and viewed by all generations who desire quality cartoon time with the family?   Laugh, run and talk with us as we're on fire here talking about pure nostalgia for all age groups!

We got to keep in the Christmas spirit by mentioning more atypical ways to celebrate the holiday so I bring up the six season-appropriate episodes of THE WEST WING.   Which episode is not a good stand-alone episode?   Which episode has the holiday featured but barely spends much time on making use of that setting?   And which ones are just plain good television in general?     SONGS USED: "The Oval Office To Main Title ," "Walking the West Wing" and "Ways and Means" music tracks by W.G. Snuffy Walden (from the official soundtrack)    

We decided to do a wonderful showcase + tribute to the legacy of TV host Mister Rogers.   TALKING POINTS INCLUDE: *Mike, Gil & I all get to discuss the documentary and Tom Hanks biopic on the subject matter *James also talks about how his dad worked at a Sears & Roebuck company that was a sponsor for the show back in the day*Does Keith David get any fanmail from being on this show?*We also discuss the many network & cable TV channel's programs for different Captain Kangeroo type material at this time*Other educational programs with a similar format*One of us got really emotional mid-recording while doing this detailed tribute to a selfless icon who wanted to truly help those around him*A clip from Fred Rogers' 1997 Acceptance Speech at the 24th Daytime Emmys Awards is featured*How Mr. Rogers encouraged America to overcome the 9/11 tragedy*We talk about many of the ways that dealing with unwanted dreams, peers' alcoholism and anger can be solved by many of the lessons that Mr. Rogers sponsored*And we also mention the SCTV, National Lampoon Radio Hour, Clerks Comic Book, Celebrity Death Match & Ultimate Showdown parodies of this amazing icon!    

Guest what awesome sitcom parodies DIE HARD and other Christmas/Action movies? Matt Pritchett joins me to discuss the four key episodes from COMMUNITY that parody '80s blockbuster movies   What are some other neat running gags, holiday specials and surprise humor that doesn't get enough love?   Who is the deadliest with their paintball skills??   And when are we finally getting that movie reunion???   Follow Matt (Communites on Twitter) : ⁠https://x.com/communiess⁠      

In our first ever Comedy Roast special, we decided to unleash it during the holiday season for a winter-filled franchise known as HBO's GAME OF THRONES:   Like any roast, we get to the nitty and gritty about why it created a divisive fanbase, the lack of proper plot outlines & end with some compliments.     ROASTERS: Gil Palmer, James Bruno, Tom Lindaman & Cam Sully   GUESTS: Oreo Brewer & Josh Hansen   INTRO: I've Been Meaning to Watch That's Manika Dulcio     SONGS INTRO: "Game of Thrones Dead Character Medley (Parody)" by The Warp Zone     

It's time for another annual special to two of our favorite Christmas time movies of all time: GREMLINS 1 & 2.   What is the most cynical line of dialogue by far?   Despite the first film being rather violent, isn't it surprisingly how low the body count actually is?   What other funny easter eggs on corporations, Hollywood & celebrity personas will you find in the sequel?   All that while avoiding getting anything wet!     OUR GUESTS INCLUDE:  John Paul Dozier & Charlie Hildebrand (Action Movie Saturday on Twitter)

A look at the cancelled then later rescued cable TV epic SNOWPIERCER occurs in this minisode:   *What solid casting does this edgy mature audience-minded show contain?   *What does this do with the premise that is way more captivating than the movie version?   *And what does it offer apart from other apocalyptic genre offerings?         SONGS USED: "Delay Rock" and "Exit the Premises" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Boomer (from Podcast in the Woods) joins me to summarize Bret Easton Ellis' satirical look at terrible human beings disguised as established elites.    How much more graphic is the book version of AMERICAN PSYCHO and what are some surprising trivia about how it got greenlit?   What sequence of events actually did happen and which ones were in Patrick Bateman's demented mind?   Why was RULES OF ATTRACTION appropriate subject matter for Quentin Tarantino's partner-in-crime Roger Avery?   All that and other books by Ellis that could possibly be adapted in the future with the right satirical filmmaker!    

YT Comedian/Podcaster Hoff Matthews joins me to sum up our favorite moments about the so-bad-it's-good slasher dark comedy franchise SILENT NIGHT DEADLY NIGHT.   Which installment would be so much better if it loosened up on the disturbing backstory?   Is the first sequel still one of the best quotable bad movies of all time?   Are director Brian Yuzna's later entries honestly the best?   All this and theories on if it inspired other OTT comedies!       FOLLOW HOFF MATTHEWS HERE: https://hoffmatthews.com/     MUSIC USED: SNDS 2 OST Soundtrack by Perry Botkin      

It's time for more unofficial Christmas/Winter set movies and more for this holiday season so get ready as we go into overdrive in delivering more whacky entertainment for your earbuds:   I decided it was time to revisit the Christmas backdrop set other adaptations of THE BOURNE IDENTITY.   In this minisode, you get a look at the original '80s mini-series event as well as the criminally underrated fighting game THE BOURNE CONSPIRACY which combines elements of the books and the movies!     MUSIC USED: "Delay Rock," "Leopard Print Elevator" and "Double O" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/     Other Free-To-Use Music by Soundscrate.