Category: Shows

Join the gang as they discuss the 2014 film Guardians of the Galaxy.

• Directed by James Gunn
• Written by James Gunn, Nicole Perlman
• Starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, Benicio Del Toro, Peter Serafinowicz

Guardians of the Galaxy is the latest Marvel offering and a departure from their typical symphony of explosions that happen while superheroes walk away from them slowly in slow motion. In Guardians, director James Gunn—a St. Louis native—takes on a third tier comic book franchise with almost entirely new characters and takes a stab at doing a Marvel movie like one has never been done before. The results are epic: critically acclaimed, financially successful, and a well-rounded movie that can be enjoyed as an action adventure, a comedy, or both. Packed with stars and with perfect casting of Chris Pratt as the lead, Guardians tells the story of an unlikely band of characters, brought together to keep a powerful orb out of the hands of evil. You know, typical comic book stuff.

Worth noting:

• Gencon wrap-up: apparently, that guy didn’t actually die.
• Donate to Sausagefest! Lots of perks available, including some lovely movie posters (donated by Jolie who is in Seattle but still takes the time to write hilarious and awesome show notes for you… you’re welcome.)
• Bold opinions: David says it’s the best of the Marvel movies, hands down. It’s well loved all around.
• Also, Darrell is Groot. Because Groot.
• Highly accessible!
• Rocket is awesome even without a back story!
• This movie felt effortless and didn’t take itself too seriously which is why the story flowed so well and why it was better than other comic book movies.
• Also a big thumbs up to the soundtrack packed with cheesy rock goodness.

Featured in this episode:

• Tony
• Darrell
• David

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Join the gang as they discuss the 2013 film Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.

• Directed by Tom Tykwer
• Written by Andrew Birkin, Bernd Eichinger, Tom Tykwer
• Starring Ben Whishaw, Dustin Hoffman, Alan Rickman

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer is the highly stylized murder story from Tom Tykwer, German director who broke into international prominence with Run Lola Run and most recently co-directed Cloud Atlas. It’s slow, historical, and is a movie primarily about odor which is a trifecta of problems not dealt with by other movies. On this, we can give it credit for originality. On accounts of quality or watchability, reviews were mixed. Perfume tells the story of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, an 18th century man born into poverty in Paris who learns he has an amazing sense of smell. Strange things happen but, eventually, he starts killing people. A lof of people. That’s where it gets weird.

Worth noting:

• Life finds a way. Dr. Malcolm was right, dammit. People bang in subzero temperatures.
• Jolie likes this movie because the ending pays off hardcore.
• Tony disagrees for some reason and has some crackpot theory that it’s a fairy tale. You know, where a lot of people get murdered.
• Find out, if you want to, what all the head butting talk is all about.
• “I’m pooping and I have no escape route.” The wasp is coming for you.
• If you’re not slutty for George Clooney, you’re slutty for Cheech Marin.
• I’m a dragon.
• Jolie talks all about the big move to Seattle.
• If you don’t like the show notes, blame the ghost of Kurt Cobain.

Featured in this episode:

• Tony
• Darrell
• Jolie
• David

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Join the gang as they discuss the 2013 film Don Jon.

• Directed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt
• Written by Joseph Gordon-Levitt
• Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore, Tony Danza, Brie Larson

Don Jon is Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s directorial debut and he also wrote the script. The kid sure has grown up since he keeps showing up in good movies, so much so I only sometimes think about Tommy Solomon from Third Rock from the Sun. He’s been crushing as an actor (Inception, Lincoln, The Dark Knight Rises, Looper), but this one sits more squarely on him as creator. He did well: good movie, surprisingly more depth than we expected, and interesting character developments. JGL plays Jon, a Jersey-fied gym rat with a porn addiction. Then he meets Barbara and he thinks things are really turning around. Then it gets complicated, as it always does.

Worth noting:

• Don Jon surprised us by bringing up interesting questions and being much deeper than we anticipated. Surprisingly, it got straight male relationships right. It also has some interesting things to say about the idea of perfection, how adult relationships work, honesty, and all topics widely relatable.
• Watch for the curtains scene. We had a lot to say about it.
• The difference between porn for men and porn for women.
• Tony Danza: the man’s still got it.
• Why New Jersey? Could this movie be set anywhere else?
• Also, Julianne Moore: what an actress.
• Bechdel test and women in movies. Again. Ladies are important, too.
• Google “age of consent.” Trust us. You won’t be disappointed.
• Stop making up dumb elemental materials. Just don’t.

Featured in this episode:

• Tony
• Darrell
• Jolie
• Sam

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Join the gang as they discuss the 1957 film Attack of the Crab Monsters.

• Directed by Roger Corman
• Written by Charles B. Griffith
• Starring Richard Garland, Pamela Duncan, Russell Johnson

Attack of the Crab Monsters is the responsibility of Roger Corman, B movie producer extraordinaire and king of the paper mache monsters. This short 62 minute gem was made to be part of a double feature for the drive-in movie crowd and it’s obvious all expenses were spared. The story begins with a group of scientists traveling to a remote island which just happens to be populated with a mutated, giant crab monster. Just one, despite the title telling us otherwise. From there, details and plot are, shall we say thin, but ultimately we find that a few make it out to tell the tale of the crab monster with trash bags for eyelids. Still, a B movie can be a lot of fun which is why we didn’t criticize this movie nearly as much as, say Gigli.

Worth noting:

• Welcome back David! You were… missed???
• Tony’s walking and avoiding beef. David is doing none of those things.
• The story was weird but it was short. It got weird in the middle, too. These factors may appeal to you.
• Your weekly pop culture roundup: Ninja Warrior, Naked and Afraid, HBO Go is like a stalker ex-girlfriend now, The Wire as the Best Show Ever on Television, Oz, Game of Thrones.
• Stump stuff. Don’t ask.
• Let’s talk about the worst movies you’ve seen.
• Clone Wars TV show, lens flares, and Schrödinger’s Lightsaber.
• In which we crush the dreams of small children just watching How to Train Your Dragon II.
• What happens when crabs make well-reasoned arguments.

Featured in this episode:

• Tony
• Darrell
• Jolie
• David

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