Sunday, December 12, 2021

Home Alone (1990)

Happy holidays everybody!

To get in the mood for the season, we're revisiting the famous 1990 Christmas movie Home Alone, directed by Chris Columbus and starring Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, and Daniel Stern. The classic story of a child being able to do whatever he wants in his house and a rich family shocked that they can't buy their way out of problems, it kind of starts as like an abandoned-building Dawn of the Dead for kids, then in the last half hour turns into more of a Straw Dogs... for kids. It's definitely a movie for kids, and perhaps it loses something if viewed too hard by adults, but the nostalgia is strong with this one. Maybe it's also a Moby Dick for robbers? The Odyssey for moms? Are we reaching too hard? Probably. Sam talks music composition, Ben compulsively compares it to other movies, both notice a few more holes than they'd hoped, but overall it's a pretty chill time. Float along with us?

Thursday, November 25, 2021

The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)

New episode is up!

Happy turkey day everybody! In celebration, we went back to one of our favorite movies about kind of sort of birds, and then watched the sequel instead: 1997's The Lost World (Jurassic Park 2) directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Jeff Goldblum and Julianne Moore! The Lost World got a lot of flack for not being as good as the first Jurassic Park, but if not for having to fill those giant puddle-rippling shoes, is it really that bad? Come find out with us! Is Julianne Moore a dinosaur agent? Should Jeff Goldblum play James Bond? Are T-Rexes telekinetic? Why are we talking about David Duchovny so much? We get right to the bottom of it. Eventually. Sort of.

Monday, October 18, 2021

28 Days Later (2002)

Happy Scarytober everybody! This month the manatees checked out 28 Days Later, directed by Danny Boyle and starring Cillian Murphy and Naomie Harris! This one was a patreon poll, and honestly we're pretty glad it turned out the way it did. The movie that arguably kicked off the zombie resurgence of the early 2000s, 28 Days Later isn't actually a zombie movie according to its creators, but it's close enough that it gets lumped in with them quite a bit. Is that fair? Float along with the manatees as they wrestle with this question for about two seconds, then spend a lot longer ranting about zombie survival plans, pandemics, proper coma patient dressing etiquette, and revealing that they know almost nothing about European geography. If there were a rage vaccine, would people even take it? What's the difference between an apartment and a flat? How would The Mariner deal with running out of water? Listen for the answers to all these questions and more!

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Jason And The Argonauts (1963)

Tom Hanks once said that Jason And The Argonauts was the greatest film ever made. But was he right? I mean, yeah, probably. Directed by Don Chaffey, starring Todd Armstrong and Honor Blackman, and featuring an original score by the fantastic Bernard Herrmann, Jason And The Argonauts is perhaps better known as a showcase of the legendary Ray Harryhausen's visual effects, but even aside from those it's got a pace and a feel that's worth catching. Also, it's free on the web archives, so that's a plus! Float along with the manatees as they gush over mid-century claymation, discuss responsible provisioning plans, and demonstrate a consistent and profound lack of Greek myth expertise. This is a fun one!

Thursday, July 8, 2021

Waterworld (1995)

New episode is up!

This month we're watching another collaboration by the Kevins Reynolds and Costner with 1995's Waterworld! Also featuring the triumphant return of Dennis Hopper and the podcast's first appearance of Jeanne Tripplehorn and Tina Majorino. The most expensive movie ever made at the time of its release, Waterworld was widely considered a flop but actually did make its budget back eventually, and poses many thought provoking questions, such as: Is there weather in the future? Can we breathe through fish? Why is pee easier to purify than salt water? How are cigarettes made? What makes a man a fish? Where does water come from? What is water? And so on! Sam sets out to design two new video games, Ben says "piss" about a hundred times, both accidentally reveal how little they know about sailing, and a generally good time is had by all. Float along with us?

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

Highlander (1986)

New episode is up! HEEEEERE WE ARE! It's one of the 80's most notorious cult classics and every mall samurai's fever dream, 1986's Highlander, which made no money but somehow spawned half a dozen sequels and four TV series! Directed by our old friend Russell Mulcahy and starring Matinee Manatee alumni Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, and Clancy Brown, along with newcomer Roxanne Hart, Highlander is just self-aware enough to make for some pretty spectacular schlock. It's got everything you could want! Queen! Swords! Very white sneakers! 80's lightning! Bad age makeup! And, an immortal elk? Sam shares wrestling facts, Ben rants about streaming services, both vow to watch the followups which probably neither of them do. Come float along and be bemused with us at this bizarre artifact of a more creative and, arguably, less demanding time.

Thursday, April 1, 2021

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

New episode is up!

You've definitely heard of this one! The manatees are back to crushing on Bob Hoskins with 1988's Who Framed Roger Rabbit, directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Bob Hoskins, Charles Fleischer, Christopher Lloyd, and Joanna Cassidy. Made in the era before CGI, Who Framed Roger Rabbit presents probably the most impressive precedent of pretending between actual actors and animated art anywhere at the age it appeared! (And, arguably, after!) I tried to have some fun with alliteration there but I'm not sure it worked. Includes wrestling trivia from Sam, failed novel settings from Ben, and a bit of history about Los Angeles' public transit system for your perusal. Float along with us as we gush over Bob, noir, and cartoons in general, and try not to let Judge Doom give you any nightmares.

Saturday, February 27, 2021

Street Fighter (2004)

New episode is up! New hosting service, too. It's much more convenient on our end, but tell us how it's working for you?

Good morning Shadaloo! This month we're returning to our roots and sitting through the notorious video-game-to-movie-adaptation Street Fighter, from 1994! Directed by by Steven de Souza and starring Jean Claude Van Damme, Raul Julia, and about a dozen others, Street Fighter is remembered mostly for being a flop and also for being Julia's final performance, and oh, you guys, it is a magnificent performance. Float along with the manatees while they discuss streets, fighting, and the lack of both in this weird G.I. Joe lookin' movie based on a fighting game that it has almost nothing to do with. Have a watch, have a listen, have a nice nap!

Thursday, January 28, 2021

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)

We're back after the holidays with a super-sized three-manatee episode!  This month, in honor of the late great Sean Connery, the manatees are re-watching his last movie, 2003's The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen!  Directed by Stephen Norrington.  It's not great, but does it deserve as bad a reputation as it has?  Float along with us and find out!