Ozone Nightmare

Today on the 5: For one of our commentary films this week, Lando and I watched a 1987 action film titled No Retreat No Surrender 2. The movie is a "sorta sequel" featuring a pair of incredible martial artists, one being Cynthia Rothrock. Those two elements resulted in this being a bit it of a complicated review for me.

Today on the 5: For one of our commentary films this week, Lando and I watched a 1983 folk horror film titled Crying Blue Sky (or Eyes Of Fire, but don't watch that version). We weren't sure what to expect from this movie, but it ended up being one that we enjoyed and will stick with us for a while.

This week we're talking about steroids, engines, electromagnetic shielding, The Purple Ball. and Farscape. Show music by HeartBeatHero and OGRE. Support the show! Get up to 2 months free podcasting service with our Libsyn code OZONE

Today on the 5: I saw an article earlier over on Ars Technica that was warning people away from using AI tools like ChapGPT to pick stocks for them. I think these people are just afraid of technology, and I say people should do as much as they can with these tools!

Today on the 5: For one of our communal movie commentaries this week, the random movie wheel landed on 1987's Battle Royal High School. What we didn't know beforehand is this is an adaptation of a multi-volume manga of the same name trying to squeeze a lot of story into a OVA. It also has some delightfully bad dubbing, fantastic hand drawn animation and a story so far off the rails we honesatly never knew where it would go next!

Today on the 5: In the wake of the latest round of YouTube screwing over the creators who make it successful, a familiar yet utterly garbage justification came up again: the platform simply cannot handle moderation in any way but deeply flawed automation. It occurred to me that if this is true, it does not place Google's technical prowess in a particularly posiitive light.

Today on the 5: I came across a Soviet science fiction fantasy film from 1988 titled The Purple Ball, and I felt like it might be worth watching with Lando. It ended up being a very entertaining movie with some wild special effects and wildly imaginative storytelling. Best part, you can watch it for free right now! 

This week we're talking about The Shrouds, Steele Justice, Iron Angels 2 & 3, and Download: Devil Circuit. Show music by HeartBeatHero and OGRE. Support the show! Get up to 2 months free podcasting service with our Libsyn code OZONE

Today on the 5: One of our selections for a comminual movie this week was one neither of us had every heard of 1992's Download: Devil Circuit. For a movie about an amazingly horny monk chasing after an exotic dancer while battling an evil corporation, it's both extremely funny and suprisingly restrained! 

Today on the 5: Via an accident of me picking the wrong movie Lando watched Steele Justice, a Martin Kove Vietnam revenge action film from 1987. It ended up being a happy accident as we got a farily entertaining movie with a few noticeable flaws that left us wondering why Kove didn't have a higher profile career.

Today on the 5: While I was sick with COVID I decided to watch David Cronenberg's latest film, 2024's The Shrouds. The movie has seen a very mixed response, which is typical for Cronenberg. What sets this movie apart is how clear a way of working through his wife's death this film is, and that gives it a weight far different than any of his other work.

Today on the 5: For many years I avoided reading work by Hunter S. Thompson because I got the sense that the mythology of the man eclipsed the reality of his life. After seeing a video about his work that made a good argument as to why that might be a mistake, I tried reading a few of his books.

This week we're talking about the NRA defending trans gun rights, Matt Snedecor, Alien: Earth, and Beyond The Door III. Show music by HeartBeatHero and OGRE. Support the show! Get up to 2 months free podcasting service with our Libsyn code OZONE

Today on the 5: Don't panic from the title! I just need to take a short break from 5s because my voice is shot thanks to COVID.

Today on the 5: Lando and I have watched the first 4 episodes of 2025's Alien: Earth series. We were both skeptical that it would be much beyond another forgettable IP product, but that cynicism disappeared pretty quickly. This review covers the first half of the 8 episode season, and while there's no guarantee things won't go south this is a boldly original take on a nearly 50 year old franchise.

Today on the 5: In the past I've talked about my absolutely amazing Oakley Juliet X-Metal sunglesses, which are now well over 20 years old. While the frame itself is in remarkably great shape, the lenses are finally losing their original coatings. As Oakey no longer supplies spare parts or servicing for them, I tried out Revant lenses. After an ordering error on my part, Revant delivered some of the best customer service I'd had in quite a while. I felt like I needed to spotlight that since most of the time all you hear are complaints about companies. 

This week we're talking about The Long Earth, Wallender, Alien: Earth, N[eon], At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul and Witch From Nepal. Show music by HeartBeatHero and OGRE. Support the show! Get up to 2 months free podcasting service with our Libsyn code OZONE

Today on the 5: The latest spin of the movie wheel landed on Witch From Nepal, an early Chow Yun-Fat vehicle that is loaded with magic, mysticism, and some questionable morality. While the movie has some good moments and is generally enjoyable, it has the bad luck of following the far superior The Boxer's Omen in our viewing history. 

Today on the 5: This week Lando and I watched a pair of shgortr films fore one ofd ourc eommntary videos. We followed 1988's Dragon's Heaven with something much more dreamy and atmospheric, 2002's N[eon]. A short movie from illustrator Dave McKean, this one leaves a lot for you decide on once it ends.

Today on the 5: This week Lando and I did something a little different. Instead of a commentary on one film, we did one on a pair of short films! First up, 1988's Dragon's Heaven, a wonderful animated film that blends giant mechs with Mœbius in a story that gets straight to the point.

Tonight I'm joined again by professor and musician Doug Bielmeier for another Late Night Series Review! In this episode, we're continuing our analysis of the incredible 2020 limited series DEVS by Alex Garland. In this video, we're talking about parts 5 and 6! YouTube Censored Version Join our Patreon to watch the uncut version! Show music by OGRE. Support the show!

This week we're talking about Jhostynxon Garcia, Superman, The Clones, Mystere, and Dead Or Alive Final. Show music by HeartBeatHero and OGRE. Support the show! Get up to 2 months free podcasting service with our Libsyn code OZONE

Today on the 5: In the last few days there has been a lot of attention news and discussion over an "experiment" YouTube has been running on their Shorts segment of the platform. When this alteration to user videos started getting a lot of response, an explanation was issued. I think it might have made things worse.

Today on the 5: While talking to Lando about my experience watching Superman (2025), he questioned whether I have an inherent bias against things that are popular. I thought about that for a while, and in the end I don't think it's simple popularity that makes me wary.

Today on the 5: I've been looking forward to watching the newest iteration of Superman from James Gunn, 2025's Superman. After the depressing and fundamentally flawed version of the character that Zack Snyder delivered, the concept of a hopeful superhero was exactly what I needed. It's a shame I couldn't make it more than 30 minutes into the movie.  

Today on the 5: For one of our communal movie selections this week, Lando and I watched 1973's The Clones. The film has a lot of elements and themes that are highly tied to the time it was made, but it also functions in a way that keeps you interested despite the flaws. 

This week we're talking about Wednesday, Death Stranding 2, Ex Machina, Class Of 1999, Iron Angels, and Demons. Show music by HeartBeatHero and OGRE. Support the show! Get up to 2 months free podcasting service with our Libsyn code OZONE

Today on the 5: Recently one of the former execs for Playstation made some comments about video game pricing that got some predictably angry responses. Read the article yourself, but the general opinion of this person was that prices have been too low for too long because of how expensive games are to make. Let's examine that argument shall we?

Today on the 5: If you've heard me talk about Gradius before, you probably knew I was punching the "Buy" button for Gradius Origins hard enough to break my controller. I've been playing the games since the collection released, and if you've been considering picking this title up, you should!

Today on the 5: You may have heard that OpenAI rolled out their new ChaptGPT 5 product in a weirdly creepy "fireside chat". During the announcement, they featureed a cancer survivor talkimng abnout hwo the tool hlped her deal with a cryptic diahnosis. 

Today on the 5: Lando is not generally much of a horror fan, so it was a bit of a risk picking 1985's Demons for our communal film series. I had a hunch it was going to be on the less horrific end of things as a mid 80s Italian film, and luckily I was right AND it pleansantly surprised both of us!

This week we're talking about Space-Mullet, Jurassic World: Rebirth, This Is How You Lose The Time War, and Action U.S.A.. Show music by HeartBeatHero and OGRE. Support the show! Get up to 2 months free podcasting service with our Libsyn code OZONE

Today on the 5: Lando and I talked about our time playing FBC Firebreak, a game we were both looking forward to but ended up burning out on pretty quickly. Turns out we weren't alone, but I actually agree with the publisher that despite the problems the core game is worth trying to save.

Today on the 5: A debate came up at work earlier in the week that eventually wandered into one of my favorite pet peeves, use of the word "free". Welcome back gang! Let's once again review why that word is basically meaningless!

Today on the 5: If you follow Digital Foundry, you likely know that they recently went fully independent. As a long time supporter of the group, I can't wait to see what they do now that they can truly steer their own ship! 

Today on the 5: As part of the book club that TWiT.tv does for Club members, I just read This Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. The book started off as one thing and ends up as something very different, which can be narratively risky and technically difficult. When a book does it as well as this one does, through, you end up with something really entertaining andf memorable.

This week we're talking about Distance, Verotika, Samurai Cop, and The Boxer's Omen. Show music by HeartBeatHero and OGRE. Support the show! Get up to 2 months free podcasting service with our Libsyn code OZONE

Today on the 5: As you listen to the endless and inevitable discussions about AI, you will likely hear about the "next frontier" of AGI. It seems like everyone in the sector is chasing that breakthrough, but when it comes to the morality of what that might mean the conversations seem to dodge an important question.

Today on the 5: I've heard good things about 1983's The Boxer's Omen for a long time now, and I figured why not make my first viewing a shared experience with Lando! It was pretty clear early on that we were going to have a good time with this one, but we were completely unprepared by how far this movie goes into surreal and sometimes disgusting places. 

Today on the 5: If you look at almost any "so bad it's good" movie list, you'll likely see 1991's Samurai Cop on it. This movie was famously made by a foreign director who was clearly a fan of cop movies like Lethal Weapon, but had no real idea how to rip it off properly. The result is a often comically inept series of action movie tropes hat occur without logic of continuity.

Tonight I'm joined again by professor and musician Doug Bielmeier for another Late Night Series Review! In this episode, we're continuing our analysis of the incredible 2020 limited series DEVS by Alex Garland. In this video, we're talking about parts 3 and 4! YouTube Censored Version Join our Patreon to watch the uncut version! Show music by OGRE. Support the show!

This week we're talking about Murderbot, Murder By Phone, and Frankenhooker. Show music by HeartBeatHero and OGRE. Support the show! Get up to 2 months free podcasting service with our Libsyn code OZONE

Today on the 5: I was completely blindsided by the announcement that there is a new Hellrasier game coming. Once I finished the red band trailer for the game, I was genuinely amazed someone hadn't tried this type of game before now.

Today on the 5: Last week I heard a discussion on a technology podcast that eventually covered using AI to teach students about great works by individuals like William Shakespeare. The future these folks were outling made me viscerally angry as it would essentially annihilate the value of art is service to convenience. 

Today on the 5: The old adage "Don't judge a book by the cover" has persisted over time because it's so often true. That bit of wisdom should absolutely apply to 1990's Frankenhooker, a movie that works far better than the title and synopsis would suggest!

Today on the 5: I came across a movie that was generally regarded as a well made thriller that has been all but forgotten, 1982's Murder By Phone. Sadly, there isn't a pristine HD version of this anywhere, but it's still good enough that you should try to watch it in whatever form you can!

This week we're talking about Judge Dredd, How To Train Your Dragon (2025), Beyond The Door III, and Hack-O-Lantern. Show music by HeartBeatHero and OGRE. Support the show! Get up to 2 months free podcasting service with our Libsyn code OZONE

Today on the 5: I saw a pop-up the other day and then came across a news post from DuckDuckGo about their decision to allow users of the their browser to filter out AI images from search results. I think this is a fantastic move from a company that is not inherently anti-AI but also seems to be trying to respect user choice.

Today on the 5: For our communal movie review this week, Lando and I watched a movie B movie fans will likely have heard of, 1988's Hack-O-Lantern. The movie often gets lumped into "laugh at how bad it is" territory, but the most remarkable thing about it is how lame it makes Satanism look!

Today on the 5: For years I've seen lists with Beyond The Door III as a must-see film of the horror boom of the '80s, so I knew eventually I'd watch it. I finally did this weekend, and it went far past any expectations I might have had. This is truly a WILD movie!

Today on the 5: One thing that people who are skeptical about AI often point to is the lack of genuinely beneficial applications of the technology. The marketing and hype often centers on the least worthwhile aspects of what these tools can do. You can imagine my shock at seeing it put to a truly GOOD use recently!