 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Watch the trailer!
The second film in our salute to early CGI moves ahead two years, and light-years ahead for the technology, which was being developed as it was being used to create the special effects for 1984's "The Last Starfighter!" Directed by Nick Castle, the story follow Alex Rogan (Lance Guest), a young man trying to break out of his trailer-park maintenance-man existence and head to college far away. His mother, Jane (Barbara Bosson), his little brother Louis (Chris Hebert), and his girlfriend Maggie (Catherine Mary Stewart) all support his goals, but his only escape at the moment is playing a video game outside the park's general store. When he breaks the record on the machine, something that quickly becomes an event for the population of the park, it signals a different kind of graduation for Alex, as shortly thereafter, a strange man calling himself Centauri (Robert Preston) takes Alex on a wild ride to another planet where he's presented as a qualified "starfighter!" After intially balking, Alex eventually winds up back in outer space as the last hope for the planet Rylos, and indeed the entire galaxy! Also starring Dan O'Herlihy, Dan Mason, Normon Snow, and Vernon Washington! Plus, the trio unveil which two 1930's classics make up the next pairing!
| Find us on Facebook! |
Follow us on Instagram! |
 Support us on Patreon! |
Watch the trailer!
Our first pairing of 2023 is dedicated to the very early days of CGI, a.k.a. Computer-Generated Imagery, and its use in science fiction! And, wouldn't you know, Disney was at the forefront of utilizing the developing technology! Directed by Steven Lisberger, 1982's "Tron" tells the story of hot-shot computer programmer Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), former employee of ENCOM - an American multi-national software and hardware company - who is trying to find proof that ENCOM's current Executive Vice-President, Ed Dillinger (David Warner) stole his ideas for several popular video games and presented them as his own, thus cementing his current position. Flynn breaks into ENCOM with the help of his former girlfriend Lora (Cindy Morgan) and her current boyfriend Alan (Bruce Boxleitner). Alan has created a program called "TRON" that will help restore freedom to ENCOM's computer system, but needs Flynn to get it the access it needs to do so. From a terminal inside ENCOM's laser-digitization lab, Flynn comes up against the Master Control Program, guardian of the entire ENCOM system, and the MCP uses the laser to digitize Flynn and transfer him into the computer system! From there, it's a wild ride as Flynn tries to learn how things work on the other side of the screen, and what being a "User" really means! The film also stars Bernard Hughes, Dan Shor, and Peter Jurasic (of "Babylon 5" fame)!
| Find us on Facebook! |
Follow us on Instagram! |
Support us on Patreon! |
Watch the trailer!
Wrapping up our first actress-based pairing for Jodie Foster, we move to 2002 and a very different film from last week's! Directed by David Fincher, 2002's "Panic Room" finds Jodie Foster in the role of Meg Altman, a newly-divorced mother trying to figure out how to reclaim her life. She and her daughter Sarah (a very young Kristen Stewart) decide to purchase a massive brownstone home in New York, the former residence of an eccentric and wealthy gentleman. During the walkthrough, Meg notices that one room's dimensions seem off and, sure enough, it's revealed that there is a panic room built into the master bedroom, complete with its own phone line, monitors attached to cameras throughout the building, and supplies to allow one to remain mostly comfortable for days. After moving in, during their first night in their new home, her domicile is invaded by a trio of burglars (Forest Whitaker, Dwight Yoakam, and Jared Leto) whose intentions aren't clear, except that they're looking for something they believe to be in the building. This sets the scene for a very self-contained, tense, and surprising drama that plays out solely within the brownstone, with several interesting twists and turns at the story plays out! The film also features Patrick Bauchau, Ann Magnuson, and Paul Schulze. Plus, the trio reveal which two early CGI-infused science fiction films will make up their first full pairing of 2023!
| Find us on Facebook! |
Follow us on Instagram! |
Support us on Patreon! |
Watch the trailer!
As we head into the new year, we fulfill a request from the spouse of one of the hosts and focus on a pairing based around an actress. Both of the movies in this pairing star Academy Award-winner Jodie Foster! First up, it's the Robert Zemeckis-led, Carl Sagan-written story of first contact with an alien race, as told from a very straight scientific point-of-view, in 1997's "Contact!" The film stars Foster as Eleanor Arroway, a scientist working with S.E.T.I. (the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) trying to find out if we're alone in the universe. After many struggles with other scientists who believe such work is a waste of time and resources, one night she hears something that can't be explained as a naturally-occuring phenomenon. This leads her to many additional discoveries, and she becomes part of the contest to be the person chosen to represent the Earth in the planet's initial contact with another life form! The film presents the discovery, and the various reactions to said discovery, in a very realistic and scientifically-accurate way, giving it a gravitas not found in other such stories. The film also stars Matthew McConaughey, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Jena Malone, David Morse, James Woods, and features cameos from several actual news broadcasters and interviewers!
| Find us on Facebook! |
Follow us on Instagram! |
Support us on Patreon! |
Watch the trailer!
Happy Holidays! The second of our "Christmas-Adjacent" films moves us into the 21st century for an all-star team-up! Directed by Shane Black, 2005's "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang" tells the the story of small-time criminal Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.) who, when fleeing from the police after a botched burglary, runs into an audition for a Hollywood film. Cut to Los Angeles, Harry has been flown out by agent Darby Shaw (Larry Miller) to audition for a detective film. At an L.A. party, he meets power-broker Harlan Dexter (Corbin Bernsen) and local private detective "Gay Perry" (Val Kilmer). He also stumbles on his childhood crush, Harmony Lane (Michelle Monaghan), and they together stumble onto a murder mystery that gets everyone involved injured, chased, and threatened! Only Harry's love for Harmony and his sheer stubbornness allows them to survive the convoluted and nigh-unbelievable story! Plus, the trio discuss which two Jodie Foster films they're reviewing for their next pairing (one suggested by Chad's wife)!
| Find us on Facebook! |
Follow us on Instagram! |
Support us on Patreon! |