248. Talking Commentaries: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)

Josh and Alex watch another movie and talk over it. This time, we're... celebrating..? 25 years of 'Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.' You can watch Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001,) too and suffer with us. Please... Or you can listen and laugh at our pain. *This is the recommended method Please remember to check out the 2 Blokes from Blighty podcast, join our Discord

This week, the fellas are joined by author D.L. Taylor to discuss their two YA Romantacy books: The Beasts We Bury and The Beasts We Raise Intro (0:00) How Alex met DL Taylor (2:27) DL Taylor, what'cha doin'? (5:32) How does DL read 7 different books at a time?! (6:57) *Spoilers for the IT novel (13:03) Are there plans for future installments of the Beasts books? (18:28) What are the lengths DL will go to immerse the fantasy world? (23:54) Alex has a bad friend (27:19) Does the author of the book get to have input on the audiobook narrator(s)? (38:26) What was the journey from pitch to publishing the book? (49:10) Josh get’s lawyer’d by a lawyer about Phoenix Wright (58:29) Was there a push to make the books more adult? (59:58) A crash course in the Sex Criminals comic (1:02:09)  What sequel plans came were pre-planned? (1:04:07) Do fantasy stories have to have British accents? (1:11)00) How does DL acknowledge tropes in her writing? (1:13:13) Goodbyes and social media plugs (1:22:17) Be sure to check out D.L.'s books using the links above. And please remember to join our Discord!

Possibly the most highly-anticipated movie of the year, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has hit screens this last weekend. It's time to see if this sequel elevates one of the safest movies in recent memories, or does it hold the line, while continuing to be a fan-servicey sugar high? Intro (0:00) Josh forgot his water bottle! (1:22) The real reason why Josh missed last week's episode (2:34) Mario & Luigi look weird without their gloves and hats (5:51) Sugar Coated Murder promo (7:24) A bad & unpaid plug for Riverside.FM (7:55) The Super Mario Galaxy Movie review *Full Spoilers (8:57) The good and the bad of the new voice cast (17:48) But is there a story? (22:37) How's Bowser in the movie? (29:03) What do we think the ripple effect of the very safe Mario movies will be? (43:50) Goodbyes and social media plugs (55:52) Check out Josh's appearance on I Have Some Notes where they punch up the Super Mario Bros Movie Please remember to check out the Sugar Coated Murder podcast, and don't forget to join our Discord

Josh got caught by a clever girl, so Alex interviews Chris and Dr K from Tales from the v01d and its companion podcast v01d Transmission. Read Tales from the Void comics Join the patreon:Tales from the Void Patreon Follow Chris Sagers Submit your idea to the Void Follow Aardnor Minis Where's Josh? (0:00) Intro (1:45) Chris, Dr. K, what'cha doin'? (3:37): Silent Hill, Pink Foam Brigade, teaching and more Inspirations and the anthology format (9:25) Constraints of small publishing (23:28) What is Dr. K's role as the editor? (30:22) Dr. K writes smut?! (48:48) Josh didn't edit this out, Alex ;) (54:08) Chris, what is the meaning of The Transcription?! (59:14) What's the plan for the remainder of 2026? (1:10:05) Goodbyes and social media plugs (1:16:02) Please remember to join our Discord!

Josh and Alex welcome Josh Wilson from the Super Familiar with the Wilsons podcast to help them review the first blockbuster of 2026; Project Hail Mary Intro (0:00) Super Familiar with the Wilsons promo (2:38) Josh Skaar disappointed Winthrop Wilson (3:32) Project Hail Mary non-spoiler thoughts (5:41) Spoiler review- and Josh rants about the book (10:19) Goodbyes and social media plugs (1:03:55) Please remember to check out the Super Familiar with the Wilsons podcast, and join our Discord!

The guys come together to answer the most important question; What'cha Doin'?  Intro (0:00) No On 15! All-Cast promo (3:04) Dispatch (4:56) FINAL FANTASY TACTICS - The Ivalice Chronicles (12:19) Darkhaven demo (19:44) Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/TMNT III (25:16) Starfleet Academy (33:11) Mel Brooks: The 99-Year-Old Man (39:27) Murtagh (book) (49:14) Frieren: Beyond Journey's End season 2 (51:38) Resident Evil Requiem (1:00:32) The Pitt season 2 & A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (1:10:55) Honorable Mention: Shrinking (1:28:15) Honorable Mention: Kumail Nanjiani 'Night Thoughts' (1:29:02) Goodbyes & social media plugs (1:31:24) You can find Josh’s appearance on I Have Some Notes here Please remember to check out the No On 15! All-cast, join our Discord

Is Pixar back? Let's check out their newest entry into their library; Hoppers  Intro (0:00) Hoppers non-spoiler review (2:15) Is Hoppers a Must-See or Pass? (24:54) Hoppers spoiler review (27:09) Has Pixar really been on a downswing? (45:32) Goodbyes and social media plugs (54:29) You can find Josh’s appearance on I Have Some Notes here Please remember to check out our Discord

Mat Groom returns to talk about Inferno Girl Red Book 2 (and spoilers,) as well as his other works, including Immortal Legend Batman, his history in the industry and more!  Intro (0:00) Mat Groom, what'cha doin'? (1:55) Mat's transition from podcaster to comic writer (5:49) How'd they get Christina Vee to be the voice of Inferno Girl Red? (13:49) Prepping for kids/all-ages programming in the household (15:50) Immortal Legend Batman (21:58) Inferno Girl Red Book 2 *spoilers ahead* (32:27) Why the bracelet/gauntlet for the "morpher?" (36:35) Crafting a good villain (43:40) Josh stumps Mat (48:49) Josh is media literate! (53:03) Compliments to the chefs (55:54) Teasing/paying off teases from other Massive-verse stories (58:33) Multimedia plans for IGR or other Massive-verse properties? (1:05:50) Goodbyes and social media plugs (1:11:33) Please remember to join our Discord!

Josh, Alex & the returning Justin (from the Movie Wire) review the results of their 2025 draft class and reload for the 2026 blockbuster season.  Intro (0:00) 2025 results & winner (9:49) 2026 draft order and rules (13:35) Round 1 (14:08) Round 2 (25:33) Round 3 (38:42) Round 4 (53:09) *Alex's supplemental pick (1:13:24) Draft recap (1:18:33) Goodbyes & social media plugs (1:19:41) Please remember to check out the Movie Wire podcast, and join our Discord!

Josh and Alex discuss their favorite and not-so-favorite things about Fallout season 2 Intro/weather/Olympic discussion (0:00) I Have Some Notes promo (5:01) Don't trust the USPS with your poutine delivery (5:33) Fallout season 2 discussion (7:49) Josh gripes for a looooooong time (11:40) Alex disagrees (16:52) Who the hell is Justin Theroux: the sequel (34:10) Alex stops paying attention (37:32) Fallout season 2; must-see or pass? (39:22) BIG-TIME SPOILERS (43:05) Social media plugs and goodbyes (1:10:51) Please remember to check out I Have Some Notes, join our Discord!