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!

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!

After spending 25 years in development hell, the film adaptation of Orson Scott Card's bestselling sci-fi novel Ender's Game is finally in theaters! In this episode, Andrew and Monica give their general spoiler-free thoughts on the translation from page to screen. Monica hasn't read the book, but Andrew is a big fan--does that impact how they each responded to the film? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro 3:03 - General thoughts on Ender's Game 13:44 - 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!

Cormac McCarthy's work is always bleak and pessimistic, but that's not always a bad thing. Is The Counselor a subversive masterpiece or too distant to be effective? In the second part of their review, Andrew and Monica discuss everything from the depiction of women to whether or not there's political subtext. Is there anything special about how Ridley Scott presents violence? Is the Counselor a symbol of America? And does Andrew's response towards some of the dialogue reveal some unintentional racism? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro 2:46 - Malkina vs. Laura 6:40 - Archetypes, not characters 8:38 - Figuring out the narrative 11:15 - Themes and performances 14:25 - The depiction of Mexico and the drug war 16:16 - McCarthy's prose and whether Andrew is unintentionally racist 21:47 - The depiction of violence 23:25 - Political subtext? 28:00 - Reboot This! 32:15 - 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 Overdose is back with an extra bonus set of reviews! Monica and Andrew discuss a variety of films both old and new, and offer some recommendations for films that were released on DVD/Blu-Ray during the month of October. Plus, they also get into a small discussion about target demographics and how to treat a film aimed at a group to which you don’t belong. Titles discussed include: The Naked City, Baggage Claim, Instructions Not Included, Rush, The Canyons, Masters of Sex and a whole lot more! SHOW NOTES: 1:42 - Intro 3:23 - Naked City (buy it) 5:58 - Baggage Claim 12:45 - Instructions Not Included 17:05 - After Tiller 22:20 - Before Sunrise (watch it) 26:43 - The Canyons (buy it) 30:33 - The Rep (watch it) 34:50 - Rush 39:00 - Abuse of Weakness 41:50 - Masters of Sex 45:47 - DVD/Blu-Ray Recommendations 56:40 - 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!

The Counselor is the latest film directed by Ridley Scott, and the first theatrical screenplay written by Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Cormac McCarthy. It also boasts an ensemble cast including Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz and Javier Bardem. But is it worthy of all the talent involved? Tune in to hear Andrew and Monica give their spoiler-free thoughts. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro 2:54 - General thoughts on The Counselor 10:30 - 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 stops by to help Monica argue with Andrew about Kimberly Peirce's version of Carrie. Is the film really a total waste of time? How is Carrie different in this version? What are the main themes it's exploring this time? Are the supporting characters better drawn in this version or the original? Tune in to find out. NOTE: There's a lot of talk about the De Palma film, so beware of a few spoilers if you haven't seen it! SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro 4:06 - Comparisons to Let Me In 11:40 - On remakes in general 14:53 - Carrie as a character 35:48 - Margaret's rape, themes of blood and trauma 43:57 - Supporting characters and their development 1:01:12 - YouTube and Tommy's demise 1:04:09 - Tuxedos! 1:06:42 - 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!

There have now been three screen adaptations of Stephen King's debut novel, Carrie, most notably a 1976 version from director Brian De Palma. The latest one is directed by Kimberly Peirce and stars Chloe Grace Moretz in the role famously performed by Sissy Spacek. How does this version compare? Is it even fair to judge it in light of the De Palma movie? Andrew and Monica give their general thoughts. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro 1:47 - Listener feedback/question 4:57 - General thoughts on Carrie 13:15 - 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 are joined by special guest Kenji Fujishima from In Review Online to discuss how Captain Phillips depicts true events and the degree to which an artist should be judged for how a film touches on (or doesn't touch on) real-life issues. Is Paul Greengrass' approach an objective one? Is not taking the stand actually a stand itself? Does the film fully humanize all of its characters? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:00 - Intro and clip 4:05 - Kenji's thoughts on Captain Phillips 7:36 - Paul Greengrass' style and approach to real events 12:44 - Basic attempts to humanize the pirates 17:20 - Is it biased? 21:40 - The final scene 26:26 - 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 spoiler-free thoughts on Captain Phillips, the new film directed by Paul Greengrass that stars Tom Hanks as a commercial shipping boat captain whose vessel is hijacked. Does it do the real-life story justice? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro 2:46 - General thoughts on Captain Phillips 12:48 - 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!

In this episode, Andrew and Monica analyze the different themes running through Gravity. There's a lot of religious symbolism and rebirth imagery. Does that fit with the primary arc? Is it a movie about hope or coming to terms with death? Is there such a thing as too intense? Tune in to find out. Plus, they pitch some pretty artsy ideas for a sequel in Reboot This! SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro 2:20 - Too intense? Not knowing how it will end 5:50 - The primary character arc 9:29 - Themes of rebirth and evolution 13:26 - All alone 15:54 - The guy on the radio 19:38 - Regaining confidence, really intense moments 25:25 - Reboot This! 30:32 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

It's been seven years since Alfonso Cuarón's last film, Children of Men. His new film Gravity follows two astronauts (Sandra Bullock and George Clooney) who find themselves floating in space after a debris storm cuts off their communications and destroys their shuttle. Is it another masterpiece? In this episode, Andrew and Monica give their spoiler-free thoughts. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro 3:50 - General thoughts on Gravity 13:07 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

Prisoners clearly wants to be viewed as a "serious" movie with "serious" performances in order to attract awards attention, but Andrew and Monica aren’t sure it’s deserving of that recognition. In fact, they aren’t really sure they can explain the convoluted plot of the film. In this episode, they break it down and try to figure out the multiples layers on which it’s attempting to function. Is there any political subtext commenting on post-9/11 America? Does the Bob Taylor subplot make any sense at all? And what’s up with all the religious imagery? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro 3:35 - A broadly-painted answer to complex questions 8:36 - Torturing Paul Dano; political subtext? 13:31 - Trying to make sense of the plot 19:42 - The truth about Paul Dano 23:23 - Other random stuff 28:24 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

If there's one thing you should never do, it's kidnap the daughter of Wolverine. In this episode, Andrew and Monica give their spoiler-free thoughts on Prisoners, the new drama from director Denis Villeneuve starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal. This has the look and feel of a prestigious award-worthy drama, but does its quality extend beyond the surface? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro 3:49 - General thoughts on Prisoners 10:58 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

If you thought the third act of the first Insidious was too over-the-top, you might not be ready for Chapter 2. In this episode, Andrew and Monica try to figure out just what exactly is going on. How does Josh’s possession work? Is The Further a time machine, an Inception-style dream machine, or a bit of both? What’s up with all the gender identity issues and ghost psychology? Tune in to find out. Plus, Reboot This! SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro 2:30 - What’s going on with Josh, exactly? 7:22 - Figuring out how The Further works 11:36 - Why haunt Josh? 14:04 - Interacting with ghost psychology 16:53 - Too many unanswered questions 19:50 - The climactic scene 22:17 - Teasing Insidious 3 at the end 27:29 - Is it aware of its own campiness? 29:01 - Reboot This! 33:42 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

James Wan has already released one critically-acclaimed horror film this year in The Conjuring. Now, he's back with the sequel to his 2010 film Insidious. Josh Lambert (Patrick Wilson) isn't acting the same since he returned from The Further--has something evil come back with him? Tune in to hear Andrew and Monica give their general, spoiler-free thoughts. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro 1:46 - Brief thoughts on Riddick 3:10 - General thoughts on Insidious: Chapter 2 11:46 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

Just when you thought Film Geek Radio couldn't get any cooler... we did. This is the first of a monthly series of bonus episodes of Cinema Fix! Are you a true movie addict looking for recommendations on what to check out and what to avoid? Don't worry: Andrew and Monica OD'd on movies so you don't have to. In Cinema Fix Overdose episodes, they'll discuss other movies they've seen over the past 30 days, plus provide some DVD recommendations for the upcoming month. This month, they discuss Face/Off, Day For Night, Mud, The Invader, I Declare War, Purple Rain and more! SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro 5:00 - Face/Off (watch it) 9:50 - No (watch it) 15:25 - Day For Night (watch it) 17:30 - I Declare War 21:46 - Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (watch it) 31:40 - Drug War 34:09 - Devdas (watch it) 36:18 - Mud (watch it) 40:45 - Purple Rain (watch it) 45:00 - The Invader 48:35 - DVD/Blu-Ray Recommendations 1:00:19 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

Ethan Hawke and Selena Gomez star in Getaway, which follows Brent Magna, an ex-racer who is forced to follow the instructions of a mysterious stranger when his wife is kidnapped.  He races through the streets of Bulgaria, destroying everything in sight, but is this movie as fun as it sounds? Tune in to hear Andrew and Monica give their spoiler-free thoughts. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro and clip 2:15 - Wait, that's not Jon Voight's voice? 4:35 - A Cabin in the Woods-style genre critique? 7:30 - The one shot that has everyone talking 10:13 - Making the viewer complicit; is this some Michael Haneke-style commentary? 17:05 - Selena's story is stupid 20:20 - Ridiculous action and plot stuff 24:20 - The silly ending 28:46 - Reboot This! 35:31 - Show close Correction: In this episode, Andrew and Monica mistakenly refer to the directors of 21 Jump Street as "Lord and Phillips." They should have said "Lord and Miller." DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

Ethan Hawke and Selena Gomez star in Getaway, which follows Brent Magna, an ex-racer who is forced to follow the instructions of a mysterious stranger when his wife is kidnapped.  He races through the streets of Bulgaria, destroying everything in sight, but is this movie as fun as it sounds? Tune in to hear Andrew and Monica give their spoiler-free thoughts. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro and clip 3:18 - General thoughts on Getaway 11:46 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

You know it's gonna be a good episode when Monica starts dusting off her sociology textbooks. In Part 2 of their discussion on You're Next and The World's End, she and Andrew dive into all the various layers of subtext that exist beneath both films. Is You're Next a critique of the political left? Are Adam Wingard and his filmmaking buddies trying to make a statement about the state of the industry? Is The World's End a critique of Hollywood remake culture? How does it critique free-market capitalism while also celebrating individualism, and how does that get a bit messy when dealing with the topic of alcoholism? Grab a beer, make sure no masked killers are around, and tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro 2:15 - Good kills in You're Next 3:40 - Thoughts on the Final Girl 6:15 - Tone and family dynamics 12:46 - A cast of filmmakers 15:08 - The ending, possible political subtext 21:56 - Weird sex stuff 27:36 - The World's End intro and clip 29:25 - Gary King as symbolic of Hollywood 31:31 - A critique of corporate capitalism, Durkheimian anomie 35:48 - Interpreting the ending 45:06 - Questioning authority in the Cornetto Trilogy 47:46 - The aliens and other miscellaneous things 52:38 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

Andrew and Monica are doing something new this week--they're giving you two movie discussions instead of one! In this episode, they give their general thoughts on the home invasion horror film You're Next before moving on to the new comedy from Edgar Wright, The World's End. Which of these films is worth your time to see? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro and clip 3:08 - General thoughts on You're Next 12:00 - General thoughts on The World's End 22:58 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

Film critic Simon Abrams from RogerEbert.com joins Andrew and Monica to discuss the original Kick-Ass comics and how the film adaptations compare. Does Millar succeed in making a satirical point? Is the film version of Kick-Ass 2 an improvement in any way? What's up with the class warfare allegory? And is Hit Girl an example of a strong female character? Tune in as they try to find the answers to all these questions and much more. Plus, you'll definitely want to hear what Simon pitches for a prequel in Reboot This! SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro and clip 4:44 - Simon's overall thoughts on the film and comic 12:58 - Hit Girl trying to be popular 21:30 - Allegory for class warfare 29:50 - Cutting things for the big screen; too safe? 33:40 - Use of music during action to make a point... or not 38:05 - Comparisons with the satire of the first film 42:17 - Differences with the comic: Chris' uncle, Kick-Ass' girlfriend 46:24 - Hit Girl and depictions of "strong" women 53:43 - Reboot This! 57:56 - Comic book recommendations and show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Andrew and Monica give their general thoughts on the sequel to the adaptation of the comic book Kick-Ass, which followed a normal high school student who decides to become a superhero. Is Kick-Ass 2 an effective follow-up? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro and clip 13:47 - General thoughts 12:28 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

Neill Blomkamp's follow-up to the critically-acclaimed District 9 stars Matt Damon as a working man in the future who decides to take on the wealthiest members of society who live in a space station high above Earth. Does Sharlto Copley make a good villain? Just how exactly does this futuristic government work? And is Matt Damon a hippo or a meerkat? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro and clip 4:09 - General thoughts 11:22 - The character of Kruger 23:45 - Jodie Foster and her plan for a coup 29:14 - How it handles allegory 37:08 - Which animal is Matt Damon? 41:22 - Reboot This! 42:44 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

Andrew and Monica discuss the racial politics of Hollywood and how an interesting script can sometimes get lost in the execution in their spoiler-filled analysis of 2 Guns. What's up with Paula Patton's character and her decision to do nudity? How is the relationship her character has with Denzel's one of the more tragic in recent memory? And is the movie's depiction of Mexicans offensive or just a symptom or a larger institutional problem?  Tune in to find out. Plus, Hollywood would be wise to take note of their ideas for a sequel in Reboot This! SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro and clip 2:37 - Awful title 3:48 - Paula Patton, nudity and female characters 8:56 - Denzel's tragic relationship history 11:18 - How the ending betrays its anti-institution themes 15:50 - Supporting actors that chew the scenery 19:49 - The chicken scene 21:43 - Racist against Mexicans? 29:13 - Reboot This! 33:48 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!