EVEN MORE EYES On the Screen: A Cinema Podcast

In this SPOILER-FILLED review episode, Imo and James go down into Marvel's first release of the year: 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania' (2023), directed by Peyton Reed and starring Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lily, Kathryn Newton, Jonathan Majors, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Douglas, Katy O'Brian, David Dastmalchian, William Jackson Harper and Bill Murray. Is this latest addition to the MCU descending into new depths thematically while expanding the exciting scope of the franchise's fifth phase, or can it go no lower in unceasing mediocrity? The two critics discuss some fundamentals in the physics of the Marvel world building, plus offer side-notes on the film's morality, and whether this all fits in with the adjunct series 'Loki' (or, is that necessary viewing now...?) Does 'Quantumania' conquer expectations or gnaw at the audience's enthusiasm? 

After a brief start-of-year hiatus, James and Imo are back to celebrate the podcast's 2nd anniversary with long-time fan Alan.  In this special year-in-review round-up on 2022's top films, they discuss the best, the worst and the honourable mentions from the last 12 months. Finally, they discuss their favourite (and least favourite) podcast episodes.  Films mentioned: 'Avatar: The Way of Water'  'The Banshees of Inisherin'  'The Batman'  'Benediction'  'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever'  'Boiling Point' 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' 'Flee' 'Hit the Road' 'Jurassic World: Dominion' 'The Menu' 'Morbius' 'Nope' 'Puss in Boots: The Last Wish'  'Return to Dust' 'See How They Run' 'Tár' 'Thor: Love and Thunder' Click on the links above for trailers.  For full podcast review episodes check out: 'Avatar: The Way of Water', 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever', 'Everything Everywhere All At Once', 'Jurassic World: Dominion', 'Morbius', 'Nope' and 'Thor: Love and Thunder'.  Thank you once again to all our listeners and supporters! There's much more to come in 2023! See you at the movies! 

Deck the halls with boughs of holly! 'Tis the season to be watching 'The Muppet Christmas Carol' (1992), of course, and the 'Even More Eyes' are no exception.  Like a certain three ghosts, Imo, James and returning guest (and Muppet fanatic) Josh, will take you through their past remembrances and present revelations on this beloved thirty-year old Christmas classic.  Is the spirit of Charles Dickens' famous novel still there amid the puppetry? Is this Michael Caine's finest performance? Does it surpass 'Muppet Treasure Island' (1996)? And how might the sentiments, songs and social critique resonate today in Tory Britain?  The trio will reveal all- and much more- after their recent trip to the Sing-A-Long performance at the Prince Charles Cinema in London's Leceister Square.  Happy holidays and thanks to all our listeners!! We'll be back in the New Year!  And as Tiny Tim observed, 'God Bless Us, Everyone' *cough* *splutter* *cue tears*   

In this SPOILER-FILLED review of this festive season's biggest blockbuster, James and Imo dive into the long-awaited sequel to James Cameron's 2009 immersive sci-fi epic- 'Avatar: The Way of Water' (2022), starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Cliff Curtis, Kate Winslet, Jack Champion, CCH Pounder, Britain Dalton, Bailey Bass, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Filip Geljo, and Edie Falco.  After thirteen years, what do our critics find on the return to Pandora? Do they think the next stepping stone in Cameron's space saga is awash in visually stunning vistas, compelling characterisation and heady themes, or is it simply treading water with derivative ideas and mundane SFX?  So, take a wade in the water with us...or, if you're a Na'vi, plug your organic USB tail into our hive mind. We don't discriminate. 

Imo and James' brief exploration of Black representation in sci-fi comes to an end with director Stefon Bristol's 'See You Yesterday' (2019), a twisty teen time-travel thriller starring Eden Duncan-Smith, Danté Crichlow, Stro, Johnathan Nieves, Marsha Stephanie Blake, and Michael J. Fox.  The two critics discuss the conceits, concerns and controversial ending of Bristol's movie. What does 'See You Yesterday' have to say about the past and the future of Black representation in science-fiction, specifically those movies set in the United States?  Is this movie a leap forward or does it stay stuck in time?

Continuing their exploration of Black representation in sci-fi, James and Imo return to 2011's gritty-witty modern classic 'Attack the Block', written and directed by Joe Cornish, and starring John Boyega, Alex Esmail, Franz Drameh, Leeon Jones, Jodie Whittaker and Nick Frost.  Noticing the film's deliberate decision to eschew extra-terrestrials' preference for landing in one of Earth's capital city centers, the two critics examine what happens when 'first contact' happens on a South London council estate.  They discuss the movie's depictions of race and class in the inner-city, especially in the turbulent context of 21st Century British politics. Does Cornish's social satire land, or is it now just triggering? 

Inspired by the recent release of 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' (2022), Imo and James decide to explore Black representation in the science-fiction/super-hero fantasy genre (specifically, sci-fi movies that centre Black protagonists/characters).  The first curated film of the season is 'Project Power' (2020), starring Jamie Foxx, Dominique Fishback and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman.  Picking up on this theme, the critics discuss how Joost and Schulman's sci-fi thriller deal with the US healthcare system, Hurricane Katrina, and the Tuskegee Experiment all within a compact feature film that also has equal measures of style, bombast and heart.  Is the movie an unappreciated power-punch or just dealing in stereotypes? 

In this SPOILER-FILLED (no, seriously) review episode of 'Even More Eyes', Imo, James and recurring feature Fav return to Wakanda in director Ryan Coogler's highly anticipated sequel: 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' (2022), starring Letitia Wright, Danai Gurira, Dominique Thorne, Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Tenoch Huerta Mejía, Mabel Cadena, Michaela Coel, Martin Freeman, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Angela Bassett.  Is this a fierce and worthy follow-up to 2018's box office smash 'Black Panther'? The critics sink their claws deep when discussing the movie's depictions of grief, geopolitics and Afrofuturism, while reflecting on the loss of leading man Chadwick Boseman (1976-2020). Marvel Film of the Year, or just a footnote in the seemingly forever saga of the MCU? 

Celebrating 'All Hallow's Eve', the nostalgia-haunted James and Imo bring you the final episode of 'Spoooooky Season' (or, perhaps more accurately 'Gay Christmas').  They discard any pretence at watching the horrific or terrifying by opting for the pure cringy-camp of Tim Burton's 'Beetlejuice' (1988).  For one of our bone-chilled critics, this is their first time opening the lid on this surreal nightmare of a movie. For the other, it's been kept under their subconscious for a long time. Do they think it's an unhinged delight or just plain unhinged? Alongside discussing Michael Keaton's unrecognisable, grotesque performance, they also discuss the shadows the film casts on Burton's oeuvre.  So, check out whether they think this last film of the season is a cinematic treat or trick! 

It's a family reunion for this second episode of 'The Spooky Season'...and you can't get more family-oriented than America's favourite macabre tribe: 'The Addams Family' (1991)-click-click!  Our gruesome twosome, James and Imo, churn up their grave remembrances of the 90's live-action classic. Not only that, for this Halloween Special, they compare it to the recent animated release from 2019.  What's changed for the Addams in this reunion? Are they still as mysterious, kooky, creepy and spooky or have they become too sweet, petite and neat in their computer-generated forms?  Join Imo and James for a visit to the Addams Family- they're altogether ooky! (the family...not the podcasters) By eerie coincidence, the critics also discuss the new Netflix series focusing on the dead(ly)-panned Wednesday Addams! But, before that arrived later next month, check out 'The Adult Wednesday Addams' mentioned in this week's episode: itsmelissahunter.com/media