Episode 398: Bloodsport

In this third of our final five episodes, we are still in the 80s and talking about a type of sports film, this time one that revolves around a secret underworld martial arts tournament. For one of us this holds pretty strong significance, for the other it’s just Mortal Kombat without magic. We discuss!

* Note – full spoilers in effect for entire episode *

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Episode 397: Major League

In this second of our final five episodes, we stay in the 80s and locked into the sports world to revisit a baseball comedy classic, just as the college baseball season is getting started and with MLB in Spring Training.

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Episode 396: Rad

In this first of our final five episodes, we go back to the 80s to celebrate a mutually beloved film all about the joys of BMX bike riding and small town life. It’s time to go balls out.

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Episode 395: Vertical Limit

Despite an avalanche worth of cliches, the over-the-top nitroglycerin-fueled action and a dramatic rescue attempt premise allow for a big, fun movie experience set on the gorgeous but dangerous snowy peaks of Pakistan.

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Episode 394: Cliffhanger

Big alpine action with megastar Sylvester Stallone taking on dual thieving villains in a treacherous mountain setting makes this a defining 90s movie thriller, full of quotable one-liners and memorable set pieces and kills.

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Episode 393: The Iron Claw

Sean Durkin’s melodramatic biopic definitely pulls some punches when it comes to the tragedy of the Von Erich family, but still manages to balance emotion and fact in a strongly impactful way. In-ring choreography feels authentic and respectful of professional wrestling while remaining entertaining, and both heartbreaking and enraging performances bring this painful story to life.

* Note – full spoilers in effect for entire episode *

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Episode 392: The Boy and the Heron

Hayao Miyazaki returns, 10 years after his semi-autobiographical previous final feature which led him into a lengthy hiatus. In what many believed would now be Miyazaki’s new final film before retirement, the legendary animation director tackles blending the real life grief of a boy who loses his mother in World War II with a fantastical story about an artistic creator passing the torch. While ripe with stunning animation, a beautiful score, and pockets of creative and amusing fantasy elements, the story lacks cohesion and left us emotionally disconnected.

* Note – full spoilers in effect for entire episode *

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Episode 391: Suzume

While full of the stunning visual style that we love about Makoto Shinkai’s work, the director’s attempt at blending Miyazaki-like fantasy and his typical themes of young romance and time travel don’t quite coalesce. We appreciate the exploration of national grief over natural disasters and enjoy elements of the road trip journey Suzume goes on, but as a whole this left us wanting more and not wowed as we have been with many of his previous films.

* Note – full spoilers in effect for entire episode *

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Episode 390: Gran Turismo

For our conversation this week about Sony’s newest (and perhaps boldest) film adaptation of the beloved simulation racing video game series, we called in our friends Logan and Micah from The Reformed Gamers Podcast. Neill Blomkamp’s film incorporates many of the tropes we are familiar with in sports dramas while balancing reverence for the exciting video game that spawned this incredible story and still managing to succeed at pulling the right heart strings.

* Note – full spoilers in effect for entire episode *

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Episode 389: The Holdovers

This analog tale with a snappy script and grounded characters provides the warm hug that its audience needs, reminding us that a makeshift family can give a person what they need in the absence of a real one. A perfectly timed Christmas release that we’ll be enjoying and being refreshed by for years to come.

* Note – full spoilers in effect for entire episode *

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