413. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (Extended Cut) — Torture Cinema #111
https://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/sand-f-episode-413-batmanv-superman/SandF_Episode_413_BatmanvSuperman.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSConfused plots, red capes, and superpeople juice, oh my! Shaun Duke and Jen Zink do the unthinkable: bring on Tonia Ransom to talk about one of our “banned films,” which our patrons selected! Together, these fine young heroes try to make sense of Snyder’s vision, what’s wrong with DC’s heroes, the nature of superhero feefees, and so much more! Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode!
Episode 15. High Noon (1952): Masculine Heroes, the Old West, American “Values,” and Late Oscars
http://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/TotallyPretentiousEpisode015HighNoon/TotallyPretentiousEpisode015–HighNoon.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSWhat do you get when you make a film that even John Wayne hated? The classic man-on-his-own Western, High Noon (1952; dir. Fred Zinnemann). This episode, David and Shaun discuss the history of High Noon, it’s treatment of classic Western tropes, its representations of masculinity and religion, and much more! Plus, we have some very late thoughts about the Oscars! Enjoy!
Episode 7. Jurassic Park (1993) and Jurassic World (2015): Blockbuster Spectacle and Reconstituting the Family
http://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/TotallyPretentiousEpisode007JurassicParkAndJurassicWorld/TotallyPretentiousEpisode007–JurassicParkAndJurassicWorld.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSBlockbuster Spectable and Reconstituting the Family! We take our first stab at a blockbuster hit — the incredibly influential Jurassic Park (1993). We discuss the film’s visual effects and influence, its treatment of corporations and family, and the film’s legacy. Plus, we spend a considerable amount of time discussing Jurassic World (2015) and its place within the franchise. We’re also still working on our Subscriber Drive so we can add a second regular episode to the show. Enjoy!
Retro Nostalgia: Mortal Kombat (1995; dir. Paul W.S. Anderson) and Ruining Your Childhood
I’ve just re-watched Mortal Kombat, the less-than-stellar 1995 video game adaptation directed by Paul W.S. Anderson. The same director who would two years later direct a far better film, Event Horizon (2007), which has the unfortunate reputation of being a movie most people hate. Why did I watch Mortal Kombat…again? Two reasons. First, I needed something to write about for this column, and it just seemed fitting that a 20-year-old film from my childhood happened to be streaming on Netflix. Second, I wanted to re-experience something from my childhood to see how well it would hold up. An experiment, if you will. And while other films from the 90s (and 80s) have not so much held up as become interesting in other ways as a result of age, Mortal Kombat is one of those gems that, frankly, has always been ridiculous. I just couldn’t see it when I was 11.
Around the World: Ms. 45 (1981; dir. Abel Ferrara); Trauma, Gender Violence, and Revenge Fantasies
(Trigger warning: this review involves discussion of sexual assault, trauma, and gender violence.) Two years after the release of his gritty and noisy murder-fest, The Driller Killer (1979), Abel Ferrara returned to the director’s helm with Ms. 45 (1981), a revenge “fantasy” film. Though Ms. 45 still demonstrates some of that rawness present in Ferrara’s first feature film production, it is by far a smoother film, making excellent use of its mostly unknown and untested cast, especially Zoë Lund, the protagonist from which the title, Ms. 45, gets its name. Of Ferrara’s early films, Ms. 45 is certainly the most compelling, if not because it is a tighter, thematically expedient production, then because of its somewhat brutal (and uncompromising) exposure of the sexist underbelly of NYC — a common theme, it seems, in Ferrara’s work.
Next Month’s Film (and Where to Watch It): Jurassic Park (1993)
In our recent episode on The Swimmer (1968), we announced that to honor the upcoming release of Jurassic World (2015), our next movie would be Jurassic Park (1993)! Since this film is pretty darn popular, it will be airing on a number of TV and Cable stations over the next few weeks; it is also available in various digital formats! We also really want to hear from you, the listener. If you’ve got a comment or question that you’d like us to discuss at the end of the month, send an email to totallypretentious[at]gmail[dot]com or use our handy contact page! Here’s how you can watch it!
