Friday, 17 September 2021
The second film in our pairing celebrating the movie serials of old moves ahead 7 years to another episodic hero, the legendary Zorro! Directed by Martin Campbell, "The Mask of Zorro" (1998) tells the story of the original Zorro, Don Diego de la Vega (Anthony Hopkins), and his capture and the kidnapping of his infant daughter. Flash forward 20 years and we meet the infamous Murrieta Brothers, Joaquin (Victor Rivers) and Alejandro (Antonio Banderas), wanted outlaws who are... different than they seem at first. After a run-in with the remorseless Captain Harrison Love (Matt Letscher) who is working for the original Zorro's nemesis, Don Rafael Montero (Stuart Wilson), fate intervenes and connects Diego and Alejandro, and the former agrees to tutor the latter and help him become the new Zorro! Plus, with Montero's return comes the return of Elena Montero (Catherine Zeta-Jones), actually Elana de la Vega, and, as they say, the plot thickens! Plus, because, according to Jeff's calendar, Halloween season starts September 1st, find out what two classic horror films will be featured in the next episode!
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Back in the day, audiences were treated to episodes of movie serials before the main feature when going to the picture shows. This pairing celebrates those old serials, the ones that inspired George Lucas and Stephen Spielberg. This week, it's the film based on the serial-turned-comic book "The Rocketeer" from 1991! Originally called "The Rocket Man" as a serial, this film tells the story of racing pilot Cliff Secord (Billy Campbell)and his chief mechanic Peevy Peabody (Alan Arkin) who find a strange rocket-pack stowed in their hanger. When an old friend tries to fly Cliff's "clown act" and gets in trouble, Cliff dons the rocket back and blasts into the sky to save him, the first sighting of "The Rocketeer!" But add in the FBI, the mafia, and the Nazis, and the story just gets stranger from there! Co-starring the lovely Jennifer Connelly, Timothy Daltin, Paul Sorvino, Terry O'Quinn, Eddie Jones, William Sanderson, and Margo Martindale, this is a fantastic love-letter to the cinematic episodes of the 1930s! Plus, it's James Horner's first film score, and the movie that got Joe Johnston the job directing the first Captain America film for the MCU!
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The second film in our Paul Verhoeven pairing is one that fully displays the satirical nature of this director's work, much more so than the first film we reviewed. Moving ahead a decade, we find ourselves a couple hundred years in the future, and the world now lives under a single government. Unfortunately, it is a fascist government, one that lies to its citizens and seduces its young people into throwing their lives away in Military Service, all so they can become "Citizens" and earn the right to vote. This story follows high school graduates Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien), Carmen Ibanez (Denise Richards), Isabel "Dizzy" Flores (Dina Meyer) and Carl Jenkins (Neil Patrick Harris) as they all decide to join the Federation Military and enlist in the war against the "Bugs," an alien species intent on protecting their territory after a group of Mormons decide to settle on one of their planets unasked. The true genius of Verhoeven's vision is on clear display in this film, and its depiction of the inherent violence and selfishness of humanity hits uncomfortably close to home! Plus, the trio reveal which "Movie Serials-turned-Films" they're focusing on for the next pairing!
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We're focusing on Dutch director Paul Verhoeven for the next two films, starting with his first U.S. blockbuster, 1987's "Robocop." Verhoeven, and writers Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner, took what was basically a rip-off of the movie "Terminator" and turned it into a satire of corporate America. Alex Murphy (Peter Weller) is a cop in future Detroit. He's just been transferred to a precinct deep in the crime-ridden "Old Detroit," and assigned as partner to Officer Lewis (Nancy Allen). On their first day out, Murphy is essentially killed, only to re-awaken in a laboratory of sorts. It turns out that OCP, the company who has privatized the police force, has plans for what's left of Murphy. Through a lengthy transformation, they replace much of his body with robotic and computer components and turn him into the one-man police force equivalent known as Robocop. But is Murphy really gone, or is he still in there somewhere? And can be bring down both the criminals who did this to him and the evil corporation that turned him into his metallic self?
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copyrighted, Two Geeks And a G.I.T., BY-NC-ND, 2016
"Just discovered. What a great movie podcast. I especially love the range of films covered. I discovered it by searching for a podcast episode talking about UHF of all movies. Any podcast that can cover comedies such as UHF, Summer School, and Spaceballs and then can just as well inform and entertain on films like City Lights, Stagecoach, and 12 Angry Men is a winner in my book. I still have many of your episodes to discover. Well done." -Mike C.
"Had a listen, great episode guys. I am glad you like [1408] and picked it to cover as it doesnt really get talked about all that much in the sense of a must see Stephen King movie like The Shinning, Shawshank, Stand By Me etc
Without saying too much the window scene is also the one that got me good too, I love horror movies and while my wife hides behind her pillow or hits the roof with jump scares I seem motionless to most (The Ring and Jacob's Ladder aside), however this scene, first gave me shivers when he saw what he did followed instantly by a near heartache jump scare haha" -Bruce H.
(Regarding the review of "The Shining") "Perfect" -Alton S.
"Love your guys’ work! I was wondering if you guys would do a review on American Psycho. I loved reading into the movie after watching it and I would love to hear what you guys have to say about it. Keep up the good cast!" -Joseph N.
"Hi, I have been working through loads of classic films. Love the podcast. Would love to hear 12 Angry Men episode (my new fave classic film). Thanks" -Tom B.
"Buddy does NOT talk too much. But Chad does! Just kidding - great show as always!" -Tim J.
"Hey 3 x G's!
Love your podcast! And since you ask for suggestions about movies to be put on the show, I have to give my two cents, about some movies that I love, and would love hear your views on:
Thanks for all the reviews! 🙂" -Frederik T.
"Hi guys, love the podcast. Have you thought about doing a podcast on PTA’s ‘Boogie Nights’. Maybe ‘There Will Be Blood’ too. Would love to hear your thoughts. Keep up the good work." -Steve M.