Mission Impossible Commentary

We can't help ourselves, so we're heading to hell for another stab at a Paul W.S. Anderson film. This time we're talking about Event Horizon from 1997, written by Philip Eisner, starring Laurence Fishburne og Sam Neill, along with Anderson regulars Jason Isaacs and Sean Pertwee. On this track we cover: The flawed story and what could have been The physics-defying techno babble Visual effects and designs We explain why we love the film unconditionally anyway And why, in the future, we're still going to need old-fashioned pens

Time to take a look at a little film about a family going slowly insane together: The Shining from 1980, directed by Stanley Kubrick, based on the book by Stephen King. Hated and revered, analyzed by many who shouldn't, but nevertheless the work of a master. Join us as we train the light on this controversial film to find out if it really shines all that brightly. On this track we cover: Kubrick's visuals and narrative style The production and Kubrick's work methods The novel vs. the film Shelley Duvall's teeth The insane conspiracy theories

Time to tackle an old.... classic? This is the original adaptation of Richard Matheson's novel I Am Legend. starring Vincent Price, as the last man on earth, battling hordes of bloodthirsty vampires. The movie is in public domain, and can be watched for free on YouTube. On this track we cover: The film vs. the original novel Later adaptations What could have been - unproduced screenplays Zombie / vampire / outbreak movies The realities of surviving in a post-apocalyptic world PS: David accidentally says the wrong running time. It's 1:26:44 (not 48).

In this bonus episode we talk about the old Mission: Impossible TV show, while we watch one of the classic episodes, "Recovery" - the last episode from season 2. The episode was directed by Robert Totten, and written by William Read Woodfield & Allan Balter. Please note that this is not a hardcore scene-specific track, just a bit of extra fun, so we can talk about some of the stuff we couldn't fit into the main track for Mission: Impossible (1996). On this track we cover: The style and structure The creation of the original show Favorite moments from the show The slow decline of the series And much more

Tom Cruise stars as Ethan Hunt in Brian De Palma's 1996 big screen adaptation of Mission: Impossible, the classic TV show, created by Bruce Geller. Our mission is: To investigate this fantastic action movie, with a critical eye, especially in terms of plot and connection to the original show. On this track we cover: The logic of the plot The movie franchise vs. the series The origin of the series Tom Cruise the movie star And much more

Angelina Jolie IS Lara Croft, but is Simon West's Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) the ultimate adaptation of the classic computer game? Join us and find out, as we pull apart this Hollywood blockbuster. On this track we cover: The problems with plot and writing Simon West's direction Angelina Jolie's.... talents. Comparisons to Indiana Jones and other adventure films The Illuminati

We're back in the 80's! This time we take a trip into a disturbing atomic nightmare with Dennis Quaid, Kate Capshaw, and Max von Sydow in Dreamscape (1984), directed by Joseph Rubens, and written by David Loughery. Featuring visual effects by Peter Kuran and makeup effects by Craig Reardon. On this track we cover: 80's effects on a budget The problematic production How movies deal with dreams and the paranormal Peter Kuran and his company The so-called Dream People of Malaysia

In space no one can hear you develop a bad screenplay, but on this track you can listen to us rip into one of 2012's most disappointing movies: Prometheus (2012). Directed by Sir Ridley Scottt, "written" by Jon Spaihts & Damon Lindelof. On this track we cover: The deeply flawed screenplay The complete lack of science and logic Connection to the franchise Crackpot internet theories And we offer changes to improve the script

Time to tackle one of the big masters, as we duck and cover for Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds (1963). Evan Hunter wrote the screenplay, Tippi Hendren and Rod Taylor play the leads - and the film offer fantastic contributions from effect wizard Albert Whitlock. The original short story Production stories Visual effects The Hitchock style and legacy The Tippi Hendren controvercy

This time we declare our love for one of the most iconic action movies from the 80's, Lethal Weapon (1987). The first entry in a franchise that would eventually degenerate into silly slapstick. Our man-crush Shane Black wrote the script - when he bare barely 20, for God's sake! - and Richard Donner directs Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in the leads. The Lethal Weapon franchise The brilliance of Shane Black The film vs. the script vs. deleted scenes Action movies of the 80's The careers of Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, and Richard Donner And Dennis thinks Danny Glover is a bloody thief