The High Ground

For the end of the month we wrap up with the most famous and successful HALLOWEEN rip-off, Sean S. Cunningham's 1980 classic, FRIDAY THE 13TH. Look for a young Kevin Bacon inherit a real nasty pain in the neck and prepare for gore-galore from the master of special effects himself, the one and only Tom Savini. We ask that you either own the film on home video media or have a paid means of watching it. FRIDAY THE 13TH is available to stream on Now TV Cinema at the moment. Sync audio with the very beginning of the Paramount logo. Don't worry too much as we will tell you when to press play as soon as the podcast begins. Spoilers for various films.

For our next commentary we examine Wes Craven's highly original 1984 slasher that debuted one of horror's most iconic killers, and genuinely new concepts of terror. We ask that you either own the film on home video media or have a paid means of watching it. A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET is available to stream on NOW TV Cinema at the moment. Sync audio with the very beginning of the New Line logo. Don't worry too much as we will tell you when to press play as soon as the podcast begins. Spoilers for various films.

In the only sequel we look at this Halloween, we analyse and look at the most definitive of all zombie movies, and George A. Romero's finest work to date. For clarity, we will be commentating on the original 127 minute Theatrical Cut of the film. We ask that you either own the film on home video media or have a paid means of watching it. DAWN OF THE DEAD is available to stream on Amazon Prime at the moment. Sync audio with the very beginning of the film. Don't worry too much as we will tell you when to press play as soon as the podcast begins. Spoilers for various films.

Another holdover from last year's Covid disaster, we review the latest instalment in the franchise, and the successor to 2018's fantastic reboot. Spoilers for various films.

To kick off the first of our audio commentaries looking at the first of each famed horror franchise (bar one), we examine the big bad slasher daddy of them all: John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN; the OG stalk and slash classic. Without this film there is no sub-genre, it's that simple. We ask that you either own the film on home video media or have a paid means of watching it. HALLOWEEN is available to stream on Netflix at the moment. Sync audio with the very beginning of the film. Don't worry too much as we will tell you when to press play as soon as the podcast begins. Spoilers for various films.

To kick off Halloween (and because Stevie just finished the book) we look at the differences between the Stephen King source novel and the 1980 Stanley Kubrick horror classic. We discuss which differences work, which don't, and the background behind both versions. Spoilers for book and film.

So the wait is finally over, and James Bond has come back to the big screen! Find out our thoughts on Daniel Craig's last outing as the legendary agent. Spoilers.

We strike another one of the list as we approach the end of the Indy commentaries. In what is most likely considered the most beloved of the original trilogy, we give our thoughts on THE LAST CRUSADE. So grab the whip, fedora, grail diary and...your dad (?) as we have the last adventure of the original cast. Hopefully you like it, otherwise we should have mailed it to the Marksh brothersh. If you don't get that, you soon will once you imagine Sean Connery saying it. We ask that you either own the film on home video media or have a paid means of watching it. INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE is available to stream on Now TV Cinema at the moment. Sync audio with the very beginning of the Paramount logo. Don't worry too much as we will tell you when to press play as soon as the podcast begins. Spoilers for various films.

We haven't done one in a while, so we thought we'd bring back Franchise Wars with a recent flavour: the first two films of the MCU's Phase 4. Spoilers for various films.

In our continuation of the 40th anniversary of RAIDERS, we look at arguably the best intro of all the Indy films, and why it's so perfect in quickly showing the character of Indy himself so effectively. Spoilers for various films.

Okay, so in what starts as an In Defence of episode and ends up as a burning conviction of dislike, we examine the train wreck that is 2015's FANTASTIC FOUR (or 'FAN4STIC' as it stupidly likes to be called; seriously, how are you meant to say that? I have the same problem with SE7EN!) and see if it is the worst superhero flick of all time or if there is anything to like at all. Spoilers for various films.

My god what are we doing defending this, you ask? Well, actually there's more to like here than even we initially thought. Listen away to see why we've both put this film's IMDb score by one. Spoilers for various films.

To commemorate the passing of one of cinema's greatest auteurs, the great Richard Donner, we look at one of our favourite of his films, the still-amazing action buddy cop extravaganza that is LETHAL WEAPON. One of Hollywood's greatest directors, Donner is the pioneer of the superhero movie, the master of action and adventure, and a dab hand at horror too, and the best way to celebrate that is to dive into his back catalogue and have fun and realise the greatness of this one man. We ask that you either own the film on home video media or have a paid means of watching it. LETHAL WEAPON is available to stream on Now TV Cinema at the moment. Sync audio with the very beginning of the Warner Bros. logo. Don't worry too much as we will tell you when to press play as soon as the podcast begins. Spoilers for various films.

We continue our year long celebration of the 40th anniversary of RAIDERS with the next commentary in the series. Long thought to be the darkest, weakest entry in the series, we offer our thoughts and opinions on Indy's 1984 outing. So grab the popcorn and let's take on the Thugees together and recover those pesky Shankara stones! We ask that you either own the film on home video media or have a paid means of watching it. INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM is available to stream on Now TV Cinema at the moment. Sync audio with the very beginning of the Paramount logo. Don't worry too much as we will tell you when to press play as soon as the podcast begins. Spoilers for various films.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of arguably the greatest action-adventure film of all time, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, we provide-as promised-the first of our four audio commentaries for the series, in our ongoing, year-long celebration of all-things Indiana Jones. So grab your whip, fedora, revolver and maps and let's get raiding! We ask that you either own the film on home video media or have a paid means of watching it. INDIANA JONES AND THE RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK is available to stream on Now TV Cinema at the moment. Sync audio with the very beginning of the Paramount logo. Don't worry too much as we will tell you when to press play as soon as the podcast begins. Spoilers for various films.

In today's special episode we consider one burning question that has obsessed millions since 1980: why is Boba Fett so goddamn cool? We consider this very conundrum right here on The High Ground. Spoilers for various films.

Today we try something different: we take a look at 1993's action-sci-fi romp, DEMOLITION MAN, starring the inimitable Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes (before the tax evasion). Is there a deeper look at society going on in this seemingly shallow actioner? Indeed it seems much of what comes to pass in DEMOLITION MAN's future state of San Angeles is coming true now. I mean, being fined one credit for a breach of the Verbal Moralities Act just sounds like the PC Brigade got in power, doesn't it? Spoilers. Note: We encountered a technical difficulty half way through recording, hence the Part 1 and 2.

Today we try something different: we take a look at 1993's action-sci-fi romp, DEMOLITION MAN, starring the inimitable Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes (before the tax evasion). Is there a deeper look at society going on in this seemingly shallow actioner? Indeed it seems much of what comes to pass in DEMOLITION MAN's future state of San Angeles is coming true now. I mean, being fined one credit for a breach of the Verbal Moralities Act just sounds like the PC Brigade got in power, doesn't it? Spoilers. Note: We encountered a technical difficulty half way through recording, hence the Part 1 and 2.

For the last of our double bill we look at what is definitely counted as one of the worst sequels of all time; but is it really THAT bad? Is there more going on underneath the crummy surface? Is it a clever analysis of the divide between rich and poor? The epidemic of mass evictions and homelessness that plagued the US in the early 90s? Is it a spry little look into the role law enforcement plays in social matters, and the synergy between man and machine? Then again, it may just be, to quote Jeff Goldblum, "one big pile of s**t". Spoilers for various films.

In a double bill of In Defence Of..., we look at what could be considered the worst video game movie: 1994's STREET FIGHTER. Starring a Belgian guy as an American, and Australian as a Brit, a Native American as a Thai, and Gomez Adams as the bad guy. Actually, that sounds kind of awesome! Join us for our look at probably the best bad (good?) movie in years. Spoilers for various films.

As a continuation of our celebration of the 40th anniversary of Indiana Jones we look at the first 12 minutes of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, and deconstruct why it works so well as an introduction to one of cinema's most iconic characters. Spoilers for various films.

In the concluding part of our look at the Pre-MCU output of Marvel films, we cover the last seven years leading up to the release of IRON-MAN, and the birth of the modern Marvel Studios. Spoilers for various films.

In this special two-parter, we take a look at the Pre-MCU Marvel output of movies starting with 1989's THE PUNISHER and concluding with what is generally considered to be the seed of the current super-successful Marvel Studios, 1998's BLADE. Spoilers for various films.

We open up our first regular series again by rebooting In Under 10 Minutes, with a discussion of the MCU, no less. Look on the bright side: we haven't rebooted nearly as much as Hollywood! Spoilers for various films.

As Stevie finishes TV's greatest phenomenon, we delve into the much-maligned season 8, and the even-more-maligned finale and consider if it is as bad as everyone claims. Spoilers.

We discuss Stevie's first impressions of seasons 5, 6, and 7 and his opinions of the series so far. Spoilers.

DESTROY SUPERMAN! OK, we know what you're all thinking, right? How in the holy hell can there be any defence of this?! Well, despite its eternal suckage (and it does suck), 1987's fourth and final instalment in the Salkind Superman universe is entirely and utterly enjoyable and a pleasure to behold. You'll never spend a better 90 minutes with a bad film than this. Oh yeah, and doesn't Metropolis look suspiciously like a town in Buckinghamshire? Weird, no? Spoilers for various films.

The Snyder Cut is finally here! We weigh in with our opinions on whether it has succeeded or not, and how it changes the DCEU. Spoilers.

It's a subject we've toyed with and mentioned so many times, we felt it right to dedicate an entire episode to discussing remakes and reboots. Spoilers for various films.

In today's instalment we take a look at the universally panned remake of Wes Craven's 1984 classic, and we've got to be honest: this was a hard one to defend! Spoilers for various films.

In today's episode, we weigh in with our opinions on Marvel's latest TV series, what it means, and how it fits into the MCU as a whole. Spoilers.

In today's episode we look at Kevin Smith's arguably best work, the 1995 entry in the View Askewniverse: MALLRATS. We consider the strengths of the film as well as its effect on the wider fan culture, both of the time, and now. So head to the local mall, grab some chocolate pretzels, buy some comics and enjoy the snappiest dialogue this side of the 1990s! Spoilers.

Continuing our celebration of the 40th anniversary of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, we take a look at the unforgettable dames that Indy has come across throughout the franchise and who our favourite is. Spoilers for various films.

For Stevie's next adventure across the blood-strewn, dragon-laden, incestuous battlegrounds of Westeros, we go over his opinions on seasons 3 and 4 and the various mad happenings they entail. You know, like don't ever go to any weddings or name your sword or get your head crushed... Spoilers.

In the next instalment in our ongoing Quentin Tarantino retrospective, we look at perhaps the weirdest of his output, the 2007 grindhouse-inspired entry, complete with pretty ladies, fast cars, and said ladies murdered by maniac in said cars, played by Kurt Russell. Sound awesome? Let's find out. Spoilers for various films.

In the next instalment of our new series, we look at the box-office failure that is 2015's underrated entry in the Terminator franchise, TERMINATOR: GENISYS. We consider if it really warranted the hate it got, and ponder what might have been if it had succeeded. Spoilers for various films.

In Part 2 we focus on the cobbled-together mess that was GAME OF DEATH, as well as the legacy and impact of Bruce after his death, and his influence on filmmakers and fans today. Spoilers for various films.

In time for Chinese New Year, we take a look at arguably the greatest martial arts practitioner of all time: Mr Bruce Lee. We look at each of his films and analyse how and why his work and life has impacted so many. Spoilers for various films.

Finally Stevie has decided to watch the greatest TV phenomenon in the last decade (yes, it still is!). He gives his opinion on the first two seasons. Spoilers.

In today's episode we analyse Ridley Scott's 2015 belter, THE MARTIAN, a film that flew under the radar before its release, and sounded strange in concept: a straight-laced comedic sci-fi survival film? How could that work? Well, work it did, my friends, and here is our look into why it may be Ridley Scott's best film in a long time. Spoilers.

In the first of a new series, we take a film that has widely been panned by either audiences or critics (or both!) and try and see it from a non-biased perspective; seeing if there are any hidden glimpses of greatness within, or if it is just the turkey everyone says it is. In the inaugural episode we look at 2011's GREEN LANTERN, a film deemed so bad that Ryan Reynolds even mocks it himself in the DEADPOOL films. Is it really as awful as everyone remembers, though? Let's find out...and hope we don't regret it! Spoilers for various films.

In today's Indy special, we dissect the best exposition scene in the history of cinema: the chalkboard scene, in which Indy, Marcus, and the two Army intelligence guys fill us in on the backstory of the Ark, the villains, and the consequences of failure. Spoilers.

Today we look at the huge legacy left behind by Christopher Nolan's critically acclaimed superhero epic, THE DARK KNIGHT. But was it really the greatest thing ever (we didn't say that, everyone else did at the time!)? Or was it over-hyped? Was the same year's IRON MAN the more influential superhero film? Either way it is a film that continues to amaze, entertain, frustrate, and influence to this day, and we look at the reasons why. Spoilers.

In today's special leading up to this year's 40th anniversary of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK we look at the sequels of the franchise. Well, one of them is technically a prequel. You know what we mean! Spoilers.

We pay tribute to Pierce Brosnan's first outing as James Bond as GOLDENEYE reaches its 25 years on the big screen. We look at the stand-out scenes, the great direction by Martin Campbell-who would go on to re-invent Ian Fleming's superspy not just in this film but again 11 years later in CASINO ROYALE-and our fondest memories of first watching the film. Spoilers for various films.

So we're going to try something a little different here: this year represents the 40th anniversary of the debut of one Henry Jones, Jr-Indiana Jones, as I'm sure he prefers (he has a lot of fond memories of that dog!)-and so every week leading up to the actual anniversary in July, we will be doing special episodes on the topic of Indy. To kick off, we look at the first memories we have of watching an Indy movie (not an Indie movie; that's a different podcast in itself!). Spoilers.

We wrap up Mando Watch with the final episode of Season 2, The Rescue. We give our thoughts on this season as a whole, as well as this episode...and THAT ending! Spoilers.

It's nearly over, folks! Join us for the penultimate episode of this season's Mando Watch, in which Bill Burr returns, the ladies kick ass, and...no Grogu? What is this sorcery? Spoilers.

Before we wrap up Mando Watch for this season, we pay tribute to the OG Boba Fett himself, Mr Jeremy Bulloch, who sadly passed away just as the final episode was streamed. There is no cooler bounty hunter than this guy, so strap into Slave I, don the armour, put Captain Solo in the cargo hold, and remember: no disintegrations! Goodbye Jeremy, you will be missed. Spoilers for various films.

Okay, so this isn't technically a traditional Franchise Wars episode, but hey, we all like change right? In today's instalment we take a look at and discuss the differences between the original 1992 Theatrical Cut and the 2003 Assembly Cut of ALIEN 3, included in the still-perfect Alien Quadrilogy boxset. We look at the film in general as well as give our opinions on which cut we prefer. Spoilers for various films.

Mando watch continues! This week's episode cannot be put into words. That is all we will say. Is the suspense killing you all? Watch the episode and listen to our review and you'll understand why. Spoilers.