Cinema Fix

I am Groot! As is the custom whenever a new superhero movie is released, Rod Morrow joins Andrew and Monica to debate its merits. Guardians of the Galaxy introduces audience to a whole new side of the Marvel universe. One thing's for certain -- it does have a lot of comic relief and personality. But is that enough to make it a good movie? The gang debates everything from the villains to the characterization to Marvel's overall plan. Is Thanos a compelling threat yet? What's up with Gamora's motivations? How is the movie clearly aimed towards people who are already familiar with the Marvel universe? And why, oh why, is Howard the Duck here? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro
3:55 - Rod's thoughts on Guardians of the Galaxy
12:38 - Poorly-drawn characters?
21:20 - Ronan and Marvel's choice of villains
26:35 - Lack of world-building (unless you're a comic fan)
33:20 - A good movie, or empty personality?
41:55 - Whether Marvel films are defined by mere anticipation
47:05 - The direction and visual style
49:54 - Do we even need Phase 2?
1:02:46 - Other random thoughts
1:16:44 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Andrew and Monica return with spoiler-free thoughts on three of late summer's cinematic offerings. First, they discuss the new film from director John Michael McDonagh, Calvary, which stars Brendan Gleeson as an Irish priest. They then turn their attention to Luc Besson's Lucy and figure out what percentage of your brain should be turned off to enjoy it. And finally, they give some quick thoughts on Marvel's latest superhero installment, Guardians of the Galaxy. Is this movie that will change Andrew's mind about Phase 2, or is it just more of the same? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro
2:10 - General thoughts on Calvary
7:50 - General thoughts on Lucy
12:45 - General thoughts on Guardians of the Galaxy
19:50 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Special guest Charlie Nash stopped by for the second part of our Cinema Fix episode on Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and the resulting discussion was pretty bananas. As great as the visual effects are, is performance capture technology ever going to feel timeless? Is the film's bleak tone an appropriate one given the ridiculous nature of the property? How does Matt Reeves' direction elevate poor writing? And what is it trying to say about the nature of violence, and do the climactic moments undermine the intended message? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro
3:05 - Charlie's general thoughts
5:52 - Performance capture technology -- how good is it?
20:06 - Characterization (or lack thereof)
23:32 - The opening scene, apes on horseback
26:53 - The gun control message and tone of the violence
30:06 - Koba and Blue Eyes
37:09 - A hypocritical view of violence?
53:06 - Andrew nitpicks a human reaction
58:49 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Andrew and Monica discuss Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, the second film in the reboot of the popular franchise. Taking place a decade after the events of Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the film follows Caesar and his civilization of super apes when an encounter with humanity's last survivors leads them down the path to war. Does Matt Reeves' direction make it a film worth seeing? What makes a great summer movie, anyway? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro
3:17 - General thoughts on The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
12:23 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Cinema Fix is back! In this episode, Andrew and Monica return after a months-long hiatus to give some quick thoughts on some of the hottest films of the summer. First, Monica gives the lowdown on Maleficent while Andrew reveals his take on Edge of Tomorrow. Then they both discuss X-Men: Days of Future Past, Neighbors, 22 Jump Street, Snowpiercer, and a few more multiplex offerings. Which should you see right away? Which should you avoid? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro
3:15 - Maleficent
6:20 - Edge of Tomorrow
10:48 - X-Men: Days of Future Past
17:58 - Neighbors
22:07 - 22 Jump Street
34:38 - Other movies
37:34 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Andrew has an update on what's going on at Film Geek Radio this summer.

Just in time for Oscar night, it's the first part of Cinema Fix's look back at the best and worst movies of 2013! In this part, Andrew and Monica count down their Top 10 films of the year, plus some honorable mentions. What made 2013 such a good year for movies? What gems have people overlooked? And is Blue is the Warmest Color really all that great? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro
3:04 - Honorable Mentions
7:10 - Top 10 of 2013
54:38 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

It's been a month since the last Cinema Fix episode, but don't worry! Andrew and Monica are back with a vengeance to discuss over a dozen movies that were released over the holidays. They talk everything from potential Oscar winners to movies that January forgot: Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, Her, American Hustle, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Saving Mr. Banks, 47 Ronin, Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones, Inside Llewyn Davis, August: Osage County, The Legend of Hercules, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit and The Wolf of Wall Street.  What's worth seeing? What should you avoid? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro
2:55 - Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
6:16 - Her
9:35 - American Hustle
15:40 - The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
18:50 - Saving Mr. Banks
23:50 - 47 Ronin
28:04 - Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones
32:40 - Lone Survivor
36:23 - Inside Llewyn Davis
41:28 - August: Osage County
45:35 - The Legend of Hercules
50:42 - Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
56:40 - The Wolf of Wall Street
1:07:27 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Wake up and smell the desolation! In this episode, Andrew and Monica discuss how The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug functions as a standalone film, particularly when compared to the previous movies. Are the additional subplots worthwhile? What’s up with the Ring and the Arkenstone? And how do the Hobbit films differ from the Lord of the Rings movies on a visual level? Tune in for all that and more!

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro
4:00 - Smaug!
6:45 - Tauriel and additional conflict
11:24 - Ending on a cliffhanger, multiple story arcs
13:25 - The Ring and the Arkenstone
20:45 - The look of the Hobbit films
29:04 - How the movie works on its own
34:03 - Gimli gets a shoutout
35:16 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Andrew and Monica both had mixed feelings about the first installment in the Hobbit film series, and they also agree about the second installment. Is it an improvement over its predecessor? Does the new material not taken from the source material feel relevant? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro
2:58 - General thoughts on The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
12:37 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

In this special bonus episode, Andrew and Monica have a casual interview with author, activist and film critic Gareth Higgins about life, movies and his new book, Cinematic States. In the book, Higgins examines American cultural myths through the lens of its movies, going state-by-state throughout the U.S. and exploring what films set in those states reveal.  They discuss the process of writing the book, the state of film criticism, the inherent morality of art, the need for non-violent forms of conversation, why The Lone Ranger is the best film of the year, and a lot more!

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Gareth Higgins is an author, speaker, non-profit director, and festival curator. His latest book, Cinematic States, explores American myths through films set in each of the 50 states. He is also a co-host of the podcast The Film Talk, the best film podcast not on Film Geek Radio.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro
3:34 - A conversation with Gareth Higgins
44:40 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Special guest Gareth Higgins, the author of Cinematic States, joins Andrew and Monica to discuss what makes Dallas Buyers Club so much better than it could have been. In what ways is the film restrained? How is it different from films that aim to elicit a cathartic emotional response? What single type of shot reveals that the director knows what he's doing?

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro
6:16 - Gareth's overall thoughts on Dallas Buyers Club
8:43 - Staying restrained, avoiding cathartic tears
15:42 - How to tell when a director knows what he's doing
21:10 - Real, gradual change
27:23 - The value of award ceremonies
34:53 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Andrew and Monica give some general thoughts on Dallas Buyers Club. The film stars Matthew McConaughey as Ron Woodroof, a man diagnosed with AIDS who decides to fight FDA regulations and smuggle illegal medications into the country. Does it deserve all the acclaim? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro
3:21 - General thoughts on Dallas Buyers Club
9:51 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Are the odds in Catching Fire's favor? In this episode, Andrew and Monica discuss the difficulties of adapting a series like the Hunger Games books to the big screen, and how the film industry by its nature ends up undermining the themes of the film. Is Katniss a good feminist figure? Does the film effectively convey the book's critique of the media? Do these films practice what they preach, or are they just another example of Capitol-esque propaganda? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip
2:28 - Katniss as a feminist figure
9:40 - Media critique, performances
13:35 - The ending (or lack thereof)
18:02 - Action direction, playing it safe
23:14 - Creative liberties and the adaptation process
28:50 - No feeling of danger
34:37 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Andrew and Monica give their general thoughts on the second installment of the Hunger Games film adaptations. Does Catching Fire improve upon the first film in any ways? Does it live up to the book? Tune to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro
1:55 - Feedback on 12 Years A Slave
6:20 - General thoughts on The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
14:48 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

It's time for another spoiler-filled talk about a slavery movie, so you know what that means... Craig Lindsey! Craig returns to Cinema Fix to discuss whether 12 Years A Slave is worth the hype. Is it an "important" film? Is McQueen's style too distancing? Does he make suffering too photogenic? Why aren't there more movies about the hierarchy among slaves? Are any of the slave masters "good" or are they all evil? Tune in to find out. Plus, a tangent about twerking.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip
6:48 - Craig's general thoughts on 12 Years A Slave, whether it's "important"
12:54 - The appropriate distance from the subject?
19:40 - Racism as institutional and systemic
24:43 - Is William Ford good or bad?
32:49 - The depiction of religion
37:08 - Is there a "proper" way to depict slavery, aesthetically?
54:00 - Alfre Woodard and slave hierarchy; also, twerking
1:06:18 - How it will be remembered
1:10:52 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Sometimes it's hard to figure out the context in which to critique a film that's deemed "important" for whatever reason, but Andrew and Monica do their best. Is Steve McQueen's 12 Years A Slave the great film about slavery we need? Is that even a fair question? Tune in to hear their general thoughts on the film.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro
3:00 - General thoughts on 12 Years A Slave
14:48 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

For the second part of their Thor: The Dark World review, Andrew and Monica are joined by Rod Morrow to discuss Marvel mythology and whether the film competently expands it. If you thought their Man of Steel discussion got heated, you haven't seen anything yet. Andrew gets snarky, Rod bites back, and Monica just tries to stay out of it. Are the Dark Elves' motives and background adequately explained? Does the Aether makes sense? Has Loki been completely watered-down as a character? Does Thor have an arc, and if so, what is it? Tune to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro
3:19 - Rod's general thoughts on Thor: The Dark World
9:43 - Why is Chris O'Dowd in this movie?
11:53 - The Dark Elves; what is the darkness?
19:30 - The Aether vs. the Tesseract
24:22 - Whether the Aether has a will of its own
32:00 - The Kursed and other questions
37:50 - How characters change
44:53 - Loki and whether he's a fully-formed character
1:02:41 - Unpacking the "twist" at the end
1:07:17 - Humor, the third act
1:19:23 - No political allegory; Thor's arc (or lack thereof)
1:33:12 - Picking and choosing what to complain about
1:42:43 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

The latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is here! Is Thor: The Dark World a fun superhero romp that builds on the mythology, or just a confusing mess of ideas and plot devices? In this episode, Andrew and Monica give their spoiler-free thoughts on the film. Also: Monica really hates Dutch angles, apparently.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro
3:25 - General thoughts on Thor: The Dark World
15:00 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Andrew and Monica discuss the weighty events of Ender's Game and how well they're communicated in the film. What stuff from the book didn't make the cut? Are the Battle Room sequences effectively portrayed? Does the movie do a good job of getting inside Ender's head? How is Ender different in the film, and is it a good change? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro
2:54 - Lack of weight, unclear passage of time
7:16 - The Mind Game, Ender's psychology, the ending
19:20 - Speaking for the dead
22:05 - Bonzo and the other bullies
29:55 - The Battle Room sequences
34:21 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!