Commando Prompt

*FULL STORY SPOILERS THROUGHOUT*Boy howdy are we ending our 80s action month with a bang. Today, the Commando Prompt boys are delighted to have Chris Broach (Braid, The Firebird Band, L'Spaerow, The Blakhiv, Life at Sea and SNST) on the show. The boys get to ask Chris all about his recording process, his new music (on Spotify now), and why Predator rules so gosh darn much. Cover art by Derek Riley This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit commandoprompt.substack.com

*FULL STORY SPOILERS THROUGHOUT*Welcome one and all to our ACTION MOVIES OF THE 80s theme! Today we're talkin' the seminal action film, Aliens, the perhaps divisive follow-up to the beloved Alien. Andy watched both movies back-to-back even though he didn't have to, Ethan's got a lot of thoughts about Bill Paxton's Private Hudson, and even more UFO talk! What a time to be alive!Cover art by Derek Riley This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit commandoprompt.substack.com

*FULL STORY SPOILERS THROUGHOUT*The boys are closing down their COLD FEAR month with 30 Days of Night, a movie that is definitely not as good as The Thing, but is still a fun watch. Vampires in Alaska? Why not! Also, Ethan talks about his time at Best Friend Forever Fest, Andy treated himself to sushi, and more UFO talk!Cover art by Derek RileyCheck out our Substack! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit commandoprompt.substack.com

*FULL STORY SPOILERS THROUGHOUT*Welcome to scary town, population Ethan and Andy! We're kicking off the scariest month of the year and our COLD FEAR theme with an absolute banger, 1982's The Thing. If you haven't seen this movie, stop reading this and go watch it. Seriously. Did you watch it? Good, now listen to our episode!Cover art by ⁠⁠Derek Riley This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit commandoprompt.substack.com

*FULL STORY SPOILERS THROUGHOUT* Welcome to scary town, population Ethan and Andy! We're kicking off the scariest month of the year and our COLD FEAR theme with an absolute banger, 1982's The Thing. If you haven't seen this movie, stop reading this and go watch it. Seriously. Did you watch it? Good, now listen to our episode! Cover art by ⁠⁠Derek Riley

*FULL STORY SPOILERS THROUGHOUT* IS THAT YOU, SANT-Y CLAUS???? Christmas in July? More like Christmas all year round, baby! That's right, Commies, we're headin' to Finland -- the land of reindeer! And also the home our movie today, Sisu! What a way to end our ARMY OF ONE theme. This is a movie about a guy that looks a lot like if Santa Claus was a navy seal and made a series of really bad choices and now he has to work his way back to the north pole. And if Santa Claus was really good at murdering Nazis with a pickaxe... you never know! Cover art by ⁠Derek Riley

*FULL STORY SPOILERS THROUGHOUT* We're back, baby! Ethan is fully rested, and Andy has a new catch phrase, so Santa's favorite helpers are ready to freakin' rip, and what a movie to make their return! Today we are discussing 1985's Commando, which was indirect influence to the name of this podcast! What a life! Cover art by Derek Riley

Welcome one and all to Watch What Happens Live! Wait, wrong show -- sorry, Andy Cohen. Let's try again. We're doing things a little bit differently at Commando Prompt Media Corp Inc TM. Yes, we're watching Sharknado, but it's not business as usual. Since this is a silly movie, we decided to not do our usual routine of dissecting and earnest discussion, but instead watch the movie live with all of you! It's like a DVD commentary, except instead of Ben Affleck telling you why the plot of Armageddon is ridiculous, it's Ethan, Andy, and special guest Laura Willard keeping you company and talking over a truly bizarre movie. The audio is rough, raw, and real, but we're excited to try this format out. If folks like it, we'll do it again!

*FULL STORY SPOILERS THROUGHOUT* **ALSO THERE ARE SOME STORY SPOILERS FOR THE NEW MOVIE LONG LEGS IN HERE THAT ETHAN DID HIS BEST TO BLEEP OUT BUT HE MIGHT HAVE MISSED SOME SO BEWARE** This movie freakin' rocks! Our baby boy, Andy, is back in the saddle, and both Ethan and Andy have a lot to say about Snowpiercer. The boys talk shop about how much capitalism sucks, how the tech industry is being torn asunder, class structure, and our dying planet. Strap the hell in, folks. Paste Interview with Chat Pile

*FULL STORY SPOILERS THROUGHOUT* Buckle up and burn one down because daddy Snake Plissken is comin' to town! We got a great episode today for you, folks. Ethan's son, Andy Hollinger, couldn't make it on to this episode because he's busy being cool as hell, but that's okay because Ethan's grandson, Andrew Weigel, is filling in. The boys are back in town and they got a whole heck of a lot to say about this absolute barn burner of a film.

*FULL STORY SPOILERS THROUGHOUT* We are here to ride the freakin' wave, folks, and here to help us do that is Cameron Kunzelman. Cameron is an academic, critic, and co-founder of podcasting network Ranged Touch. He also has a PhD! Our first doctor on the show! We get to talk to Cameron all about why he gave State of Decay 2 a 6.3 / 10, his thoughts on nu metal, and more. Oh, we also talk about 2015's The Wave... probably should've mentioned that at the top.

*FULL STORY SPOILERS THROUGHOUT* **ALSO IF TORNADOES ARE YOUR THING THIS EPISODE IS HOT AS HELL SO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS** Hooooooooooooooooo, daddddyyy!!! Do we got a show for you today our fellow Prompters (giving this name a try for our fanbase, does it work?). Do you find yourself gettin' hot and bothered when you turn on the weather station? When a strong breeze picks up, does a small quiver run through your body? Have you replaced candles and massage oils for air parcels and cold fronts? If you answered yes to all three (and why wouldn't you), then you're gonna love 1996's Twister, a movie that is ostensibly a disaster romp, but is stealthily the sexiest movie of the 90s. You're gonna need an ice pack for this one!

*FULL STORY SPOILERS THROUGHOUT AND AT SOME POINT ANDY SPOILS A PART OF THE MOVIE POSSESSOR BUT ETHAN FORGOT TO CHECK THE TIME CODE AND DOESN'T WANT TO DO IT NOW* The boys are back in town, baby! It feels quaint not to have a guest on this one, but that's okay because it gives our two hosts some time to reconnect and remember why they love each other, which is what the show is all about. This week, Andy and Ethan are talkin' 2018's turbo death metal epic, Mandy, a movie that is both visually striking and has some amazing music. Ethan is a little torn on whether or not he likes it, and Andy straight up loves the movie. Their first fight! You won't want to miss this! Intro Song: "The Welcoming" by 2 Mello off Atmospheric Horror Music, Vol 2 (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

*FULL STORY SPOILERS THROUGHOUT* Choo, choo! It's the podcast train barreling into the station to tell you that this is a very special episode! Today we are so lucky to have with us our #1 fan, Nobel prize winner, 4 time Olympic gold medal winner, holder of 5 doctorate degrees, Emi Freakin' Laufer, baby! She's here today to provide thoughtful insight on the hottest track stars, why beet juice is good (I guess?), and, of course, to talk about ARRIVAL. Make sure you get good seats on the podcast train because once we start goin', there's no lookin' back. Intro Song: "The Welcoming" by 2 Mello off Atmospheric Horror Music, Vol 2 (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Quick correction: we say in the podcast that the opening song in the movie is done by Jóhann Jóhannsson, but the song is actually Max Richter's "On the Nature of Daylight". Sorry about that!

*FULL STORY SPOILERS THROUGHOUT* Bob Nanna (Braid, Hey Mercedes, The City on Film, Lifted Bells) joins Andy and Ethan today to talk Tony Scott's extremely stylized and incredibly phosphorescent Man on Fire. We got to ask Bob all about his writing process, what it was like for Braid to come off hiatus in 2011, and how Best Friends Fest will be the greatest music festival of all time. Also, let us set the record straight once and for all: Bob Nanna, born and raised in Chicago, doesn't have hard opinions on deep dish or regular pizza. In his own words, he "just likes pizza". Inflammatory, we know, but we are here to report the facts. Intro Song: "The Welcoming" by 2 Mello off Atmospheric Horror Music, Vol 2 (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

*FULL STORY SPOILERS THROUGHOUT* Evan Lescallette (sp?) joins the Commando Prompt crew to talk about the Marietta days, whether or not there will be a Marietta tour footage documentary one day, and to just generally keep the podcast on track. Evan also is here to shake things up by *spoiler alert* not enjoying the movie we forced him to watch! We don't know about you, but we didn't invite him on the pod to DISSENT. Enjoy the show! Intro Song: "The Welcoming" by 2 Mello off Atmospheric Horror Music, Vol 2 (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

*FULL STORY SPOILERS THROUGHOUT* I feel like I've started the intro to these descriptions the same way for the last 4 episodes, but here we go again -- hooooooooooooooo weeeeeeeeeeeee! Boy freakin' howdy is this episode a packed one. We have the wonderful Adrian Selkowitz on the pod today, and gosh, what a pleasure. Adrian is a cinematographer, producer, and director who has worked on a ton of cool stuff, including 2023's Hummingbirds, and it was such a joy to learn more about his career and the industry. And then we spend nearly two more hours talking about the perfect (I stand by it) Michael Clayton. Strap in. Check out Adrian's production company, ⁠Cowboy, Bear, Ninja! Intro Song: "The Welcoming" by 2 Mello off Atmospheric Horror Music, Vol 2 (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

*FULL STORY SPOILERS THROUGHOUT* Welcome to the Bruce Willis zone, a safe space where all of us do our very best Bruce Willis impressions. Listen, if you think about it hard enough, aren't we all just trying to emulate Bruce Willis? That's what our good boy, Joseph Gordon Levitt, is doing in 2012's Looper. This movie has some really cool sci-fi visuals and an extremely loose grasp on time travel. Author Megan E. O'Keefe joins us to talk about her books, this movie, and to answer the classic question: are we all Bruce Willis? Follow Megan: - Website - Twitter - Instagram Intro Song: "The Welcoming" by 2 Mello off Atmospheric Horror Music, Vol 2 (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

*FULL SPOILERS THROUGHOUT* Hooooooooooooooooooooo, boy, do we have another banger for you! Not only are we talking about the incredible Edge of Tomorrow, but we have author J.S. Dewes to help us talk through it (pronounced "Dew-ess", not "Dews" like how I pronounced it on the show and then couldn't figure out how to record over my mistake.... don't be like me. Jenny, if you're reading this, I'm sorry). Andy and I got to ask her a ton of questions all about her books, writing process, what it's like writing for video games, and so much more! Follow Jenny: - ⁠Website⁠ - ⁠Twitter⁠ - ⁠Instagram⁠ Intro Song: "The Welcoming" by 2 Mello off Atmospheric Horror Music, Vol 2 (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

*FULL STORY SPOILERS THROUGHOUT* The prodigal podcasting boy returns! We are so happy to have with us Johnny Gainer on this here podcast, and what a great episode for him to come on. Ad Astra is an extremely underrated movie that more people should watch, and it's a terrific movie to close down our A JOURNEY THROUGH SPACE month. Buckle up! Intro Song: "The Welcoming" by 2 Mello off Atmospheric Horror Music, Vol 2 (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

*FULL STORY SPOILERS THROUGHOUT* Hoooooo, baby, if this isn't another spectacular episode of Commando Prompt. This episode is even better because we have author Justin Lee Anderson with us to talk all about his fantastic Eidyn series and the wonderful Serenity. Strap in for a conversation about politics, Scottish lore, imposter syndrome, and why it's a god damn crime that *redacted* dies in this movie. Strap in! Follow Justin: - Website: https://justinleeanderson.com/ - Twitter: @authorjla - Instagram: @justinleeandersonauthor - Facebook: Justin Lee Anderson Intro Song: "The Welcoming" by 2 Mello off Atmospheric Horror Music, Vol 2 (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

I am not gonna even go through the effort of pointing out where spoilers are for this episode but I think it's at the 30 minute mark. It's 10 o'clock, I'm getting over COVID, just watch this incredible film. We are wrapping up our MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX month strong with perhaps the finest film we've ever talked about on this show, The Thin Red Line. We do our best to string together big words and big thoughts to fully describe how special and moving this movie is, but if you really want to understand, and you haven't watch it, then just watch it. Intro Song: "The Welcoming" by 2 Mello off Atmospheric Horror Music, Vol 2 (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

*Full story spoilers start around the 31:00 mark* WE'RE UNDER ATTACK IT'S THE BUGS I SWEAR TO GOD IT'S THE BUGS THE BUGS ARE BACK PLEASE HELP ME JOHNNY RICO EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE THE INFERIOR SOLDIER TO DIZZY. Welcome to 2024, or, as Andy likes to call it, the Year of the Bug. We got an infestation, folks, and there's only one way to fix it -- blind faith in the military and DOING YOUR PART. Join us as we discuss Starship Troopers, a very funny and, at times, very uncomfortable movie that completely kicks ass... mostly. Intro Song: "The Welcoming" by 2 Mello off Atmospheric Horror Music, Vol 2 (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

IT'S THE ANNUAL STOCKHOLDER MEETING, AIN'T NO MOVIE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS TIME AROUND. WE'RE PRETTY LOSE ON THIS ONE AND HAVE A BUNCH OF GUESTS AND THE AUDIO ISN'T GREAT TOWARDS THE END BUT IT'S CHRISTMAS SO WHO CARES. PLEASE LISTEN TO IT NOW. Intro Song: "The Welcoming" by 2 Mello off Atmospheric Horror Music, Vol 2 (⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out here!⁠⁠⁠⁠)

I honestly don't know when story spoilers start in this episode because if you haven't seen Die Hard, I don't know how to help you. FINALLY December is here! Santa's birthday is upon us, and we as loyal subjects are here to spread the ever important word of CHRISTMAS and DIE HARD. Join us as Andy and I talk through this classic and, more importantly, decide who we'd want to see casted if Die Hard ever gets the reboot treatment. Let's be real folks, it's only a matter of time. Intro Song: "The Welcoming" by 2 Mello off Atmospheric Horror Music, Vol 2 (⁠⁠⁠check it out here!⁠⁠⁠)

*Full story spoilers around the 34:00 mark* Rik Shellhammer is back, baby, and she is here to help us get through Kill Bill Vol. 2 and close out our REVENGE month! What a strange movie! I (Santa) am happy we are moving past Hollywood's most beloved edgelord, Quentin Tarantino, but hey, at least good discussion was had. Join us! Also, FREE PALASTINE! Intro Song: "The Welcoming" by 2 Mello off Atmospheric Horror Music, Vol 2 (⁠⁠check it out here!⁠⁠)

*Full story spoilers begin around the 1:11:18 mark* We are starting our revenge month out strong with 2003's, Kill Bill Vol. 1, or as Quentin Tarantino likes to refer to it, his fourth movie. Grievances we have with Tarantino aside (which we get into heavily), this is a solid action movie. And what makes it even better is that Rik Shellhammer joins us to talk all about it! If you miss this episode then I am going to throw you in jail! Intro Song: "The Welcoming" by 2 Mello off Atmospheric Horror Music, Vol 2 (⁠⁠check it out here!⁠⁠)

*Full story spoilers begin around the 1:17:00 mark* Hoo, daddy! Yes indeed! Today's episode is a regular hog fire, and not just because we are talkin' The Blair Witch Project, but because we have our very first guest! Andrew Weigel joins us today to talk about the new documentary he worked on, Kelce, why he loves James Gandolfini, and, maybe most importantly, refuse to apologize to me, Ethan, for making my job as podcast editor a living hell. What a guy! Intro Song: "The Welcoming" by 2 Mello off Atmospheric Horror Music, Vol 2 (⁠check it out here!⁠)

*STORY SPOILERS BEGIN AT 52:20* Content warning: brief mention of sexual assault/rape at 1:52:10 - 1:52:30 It's officially Halloween month, y'all, and Andy and I are THRIVING. Well, Andy is more than me right now because, surprise -- I'm sick! Strap in and enjoy this episode on 2007's propulsive, Rec, an absolute banger of a movie. If you haven't seen this movie, definitely watch it before listening to this because it's something that is so much fun going into without knowing what it's about. And then come back and listen to the rest of this episode! Intro Song: "The Welcoming" by 2 Mello off Atmospheric Horror Music, Vol 2 (check it out here!)

*FULL STORY SPOILERS THROUGHOUT* Well, here we are. We did it? Hoo boy. This one nearly broke us. I am happy it didn't, because our next theme is so good, but boy howdy -- this is a tough movie! It's fun (?) and interesting (??), but it sure has a lot of problems! Figure them out with us!

*FULL STORY SPOILERS THROUGHOUT* Unlike my GI tract, Commando Prompt is back on a regular schedule, baby (sorry about that joke)! Today we are talking 2016's 10 Cloverfield Lane, the not-quite-a-sequel-but-exists-in-the-same-universe to 2008's Cloverfield, or as Ethan likes to call it, Cloverfield Prime. Please make this universe make sense, JJ Abrams! We don't get it! Regardless, this movie is really good with three superb performances. Strap in and enjoy!

*FULL STORY SPOILERS THROUGHOUT* We're back, baby! Did you miss us? Please give a warm welcome to my new co-host, Andy Hollinger! To make our return special, we decided to make our first theme the Cloververse, J.J. Abrams' weird ass shared universe that doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but makes nerds like Andy and I salivate. We are starting off, of course, with 2008's Cloverfield. Strap in, and thanks for listening!

Ah, Armageddon. What is there to say about this classic 1998 film about a big rock spiraling towards Earth? Well, apparently a lot! We take a deep dive into this unhinged film to see what all Bruce Willis and the gang have to do to save the world. Whether it is the writing and dialogue of the fine oil workers turned astronauts, or, the odd father-daughter relationship development, Michael Bay surely does it again!

*FULL STORY SPOILERS THROUGHOUT* Today we are talking about 2010's surprisingly great, The Crazies! I surprisingly mostly because Johnny and I are still recovering from our Resident Evil episode. That was a lot for us. But we are back in ~good movie~ territory, and we're ready to build a home! Please join us as we close out our Zombie month!

*FULL SPOILERS THROUGHOUT* Lucky number 7, baby. Well, it sure doesn't feel lucky because hoo boy, this movie was a slog to get through. Our first RESIDENT STINKER of the pod. There will most likely be more, but geesh this movie was a bit rough. Interesting attempt at rebooting the Resident Evil film series, with good bones, but let's just hope that if they make a sequel they.... improve a lot. A lot.

*FULL SPOILERS THROUGHOUT EPISODE* Welcome one and all to Berlin! That's where we are going in today's episode as Johnny and I talk through 2017's very fun Atomic Blonde. And! We talk through our first sex scene! Beautiful stuff.

*FULL SPOILERS FOR BATTLE ROYALE THROUGHOUT* Seriously..... who do you have a crush on? Because, believe it or not, 2000's Battle Royale -- a movie that is ostensibly about 40+ 15 year-olds trapped on an island where they are forced to kill each other -- is mostly about crushes and who you like and if you're popular or not and whether or not you were on the basketball team. So, please, before you fire that pistol, please tell me if you like me. This movie..... is not like how either of us remembered. It's funny, it's weird, and it's at times very annoying. Strap in, my little elves, and enjoy the show.

Ho ho ho my sweet, Santa babies! Welcome to another episode of Commando Prompt, a podcast where I, Ethan, mess up the intro nearly every time! FULL STORY SPOILERS THROUGHOUT THIS EPISODE. This episode we are talkin' 2015's Sicaro, directed by Denis Villenueve (Arrival, Blade Runner 2049) and written by Taylor Sheridan (Hell or High Water, Wind River). This one is... a touch grim, and why wouldn't it be given the plot of the film. Johnny's got Thoughts and Ethan is here to help him digest his Thoughts. If you haven't seen this episode and just want to listen to the pod, you're doing the right thing!

Ho, ho, ho (this is my bit now, I am Santa, you're getting a Zune!), my sweet elves. Today we're talking 2011's Hanna. Strap in and buckle up (those are the same) because this movie was a real shocker. We toss around our English majors a whole heck of a lot in this episode, so I hope you like that sort of stuff. As usual, SPOILERS THROUGHOUT. I actually never wrote that into the description before, but I am going to start doing that now.

Y'all ever want to time travel? Y'all ever want to time travel and prevent a virus that kills 99.9% of the population? Well, so did Bruce Willis in 1995's seminal 12 Monkeys. This one is a doozy and I think you're gonna like it. Please like it.

On this episode the guys are talking about 2011's hayride of a film, The Raid.