Zombies, Swifties, and the Lost Bus: What's New in Geek Culture?
Kevin Schaeffer and Andy Walsh dive into the latest geeky goodness in this “What’s News” episode, kicking things off with a discussion about the gripping films "The Lost Bus" and "One Battle After Another." These flicks tackle intense themes, with "The Lost Bus" following a bus driver navigating a wildfire evacuation and "One Battle After Another" exploring the complexities of revolution and personal sacrifice. The duo then shifts gears to the animated series "Marvel Zombies," where they chat about the delightful chaos of heroes turned undead, and wrap things up with a chat about Taylor Swift’s latest album, "The Life of a Showgirl," which brings a lighter, more upbeat vibe amidst her often introspective discography. With loads of insightful commentary and a sprinkle of wit, this episode is a veritable treasure trove for fans of film, comics, and music alike.
Kevin Schaeffer and Andy Walsh dive into a whirlwind of geeky goodness, tackling the latest in pop culture and cinematic wonders. They kick things off by discussing the gripping film 'The Lost Bus,' a dramatic retelling of the 2018 California Camp Fire, where a bus driver must navigate a rapidly spreading wildfire to save a group of children. Kevin shares that the film is a potent mix of human resilience and the stark realities of climate-induced disasters. However, Andy raises eyebrows over the film's dramatic liberties, suggesting that while it captures the tension of the moment, it strays too far from the factual events, which could mislead audiences about the real heroes of such disasters. As they dissect the film's emotional weight and visual storytelling, listeners are left pondering the balance between dramatization and authenticity in cinematic narratives.
Shifting gears, the duo turns their attention to the animated series 'Marvel Zombies,' a spinoff from the popular 'What If?' series that brings back favorite characters in a post-apocalyptic zombie-filled world. Andy notes that the series is a fun exploration of the Marvel universe through a horror lens, filled with familiar settings and beloved characters facing off against their zombified counterparts. He points out the show’s R-rated edge, which adds a layer of thrill for mature audiences. Kevin reflects on how this series highlights the potential of the Marvel roster that remains underutilized in live-action films, calling for more animated adaptations that could capture the essence of these characters in their early stages.
Finally, the conversation veers into the world of music as they discuss Taylor Swift's latest album, 'The Life of a Showgirl.' Kevin admits that while this album may not top his list of favorites, it offers a refreshing, upbeat vibe that contrasts with some of her more poignant works. He highlights the celebration of Swift's current happiness and success, suggesting that this lighthearted tone is a welcome reprieve in today's tumultuous times. They also touch on the complex feelings Swift’s music evokes as she navigates her fame and personal life, noting how her evolution as an artist reflects broader themes of growth and self-discovery. The episode wraps up with an anticipation of upcoming projects in the geek culture realm, leaving fans eager for more discussions on their favorite topics in the weeks to come.
Takeaways:
- In this episode, Kevin and Andy dive into 'The Lost Bus', a gripping film about a bus driver navigating a wildfire, showcasing the challenges of heroism in dire situations.
- The discussion of 'One Battle After Another' reveals a rich narrative that intertwines themes of revenge and societal reflection, highlighting the film's unique storytelling approach.
- Listeners learn about the animated series 'Marvel Zombies', which expands on the beloved characters while introducing new ones, all within a horror-infused context that may appeal to fans of the genre.
- Taylor Swift's new album, 'The Life of a Showgirl', is explored, reflecting her evolution as an artist, and how her current happiness influences her music, offering a lighter tone compared to her earlier works.
- The hosts emphasize the importance of supporting original films and the theatrical experience, encouraging audiences to seek out unique storytelling beyond mainstream blockbusters.
- Kevin and Andy also touch on the upcoming projects in geek culture, expressing excitement for various movies and shows, showcasing the dynamic landscape of entertainment ahead.
.
You can leave a one-time gift, purchase some SG merch, or become a member on our website:
https://systematic-geekology-shop.fourthwall.com/
.
Don't miss any of our What's News episodes:
https://player.captivate.fm/collection/5abf15a7-d441-4638-8a4a-66ccf85e3343
.
Follow our Marvel playlist:
https://player.captivate.fm/collection/fb519d38-2d9b-4f82-b041-81b81613543c
.
Check out our other Movie Reviews:
https://player.captivate.fm/collection/6a01e00d-cfd7-4041-a7a4-1fd32c545050
.
Listen to all of Andy's episodes:
https://player.captivate.fm/collection/c86f7a67-357b-4324-bf95-e42cedb9932a
.
Check out other episodes with Kevin:
https://player.captivate.fm/collection/84fd7d06-cf1f-48e5-b358-09a01c5a6bc9
Mentioned in this episode:
Subscribe to our show on YouTube
You can get the video version of the show and lots of extra exclusives on our YouTube channel!
Get Your SG Merch now!
Check out the link to see all of our different t-shirts, backpacks, drinking glasses, pajamas, and more!
Anazao Podcast Network
Our show is part of the Anazao Podcast Network and you can find other great shows like ours by checking out the whole network with this link!
Join our Facebook group and Discord Server
Find our Facebook group, "Priests to the Geeks", then join our Discord server with this link to continue on the conversation with us!
Anazao Ministries Podcasts - AMP Network
Check out other shows like this on our podcast network! https://anazao-ministries.captivate.fm/
Systematic Geekology
Our show focuses around our favorite fandoms that we discuss from a Christian perspective. We do not try to put Jesus into all our favorite stories, but rather we try to ask the questions the IPs are asking, then addressing those questions from our perspective. We are not all ordained, but we are the Priests to the Geeks, in the sense that we try to serve as mediators between the cultures around our favorite fandoms and our faith communities.
Transcript
Foreign spooky season.
Speaker A:Everyone.
Speaker A:This is systematic ecology.
Speaker A:We are the priest of the geeks and we are here for another what's News episode where we talk about all the latest things in geek culture and we're going to be talking about some upcoming things for the rest of the year too.
Speaker A:So I am very excited to be here.
Speaker A:I am one of your geekologist, Kevin Schaefer and I am joined here with my fellow co host, the other kind of Marvel zombie, Andy Walsh.
Speaker A:Andy, how are you today?
Speaker B:I'm doing very well, Kevin, thanks.
Speaker B:How are you?
Speaker A:I'm doing well.
Speaker A:It's, you know, it's my favorite time of year.
Speaker A:I love the Halloween season.
Speaker A:I love all the movies coming out right now and then a lot to look forward to.
Speaker A:And we have a very I, I love the lineup for this tonight.
Speaker A:We've got, as you can see for the preview here if you're watching on YouTube where we just gonna be discussing couple new movies, a new Marvel animated series and because how could we not Taylor Swift's new album.
Speaker A:So we've got a lot to cover tonight in addition to what's coming up for the rest of the year in all things culture.
Speaker A:So I'm very excited.
Speaker A:If it's your first time here, thank you so much for being here.
Speaker A:We are glad to have you.
Speaker A:And you know, these are really fun episodes where we just kind of geek out, talk about what's new.
Speaker A:And yeah, we're really glad you're tuning in.
Speaker A:Whether you're live on YouTube or if you're listening to this later on one of our platforms.
Speaker A:Thank you so much.
Speaker A:And if you do like what you hear tonight, like what you see, please like subscribe, rate and review.
Speaker A:I know every podcast says that, but it really does help the show out a lot.
Speaker A:And we've also got some really cool new merchandise on our fourth wall store.
Speaker A:A link for that will be in the description so you can check that out.
Speaker A:And if you want to go the extra step, be extra awesome and be one of our Patreon subscribers, you could do that as well.
Speaker A:Support the show for just a few bucks a month.
Speaker A:I want to give a shout out to one of our Patreon supporters tonight, Aaron Hardy.
Speaker A:Aaron, thank you so much.
Speaker A:You are awesome.
Speaker A:We really appreciate the support.
Speaker A:And with that, before we get into our main topics, we are going to do as always, our lightning round.
Speaker A:This is where we just talk about some other things we're geeking out on.
Speaker A:So Andy, what are your picks for tonight as far as what else you're watching, listening to, etc.
Speaker B:I'm going to abuse my opportunity here and shout out the X Men Age of Revelation, the big crossover event that started last week and goes into full swing today with three or four miniseries starting.
Speaker B:So I'm very excited about that.
Speaker B:It's just starting so I don't have a lot of thoughts other than I've been enjoying Jed McKay's writing on the adjective list X Men book so far and he seems to be kind of the, the main author of the, the main story and then every, everybody else is kind of doing their, their spin offs and shoot offs off that.
Speaker B:So I think the, the core story will be good.
Speaker B:I'm looking forward to that.
Speaker B:I don't know.
Speaker B:There are 17 different three issue minis that are going on concurrently with this which feels like an awful lot.
Speaker B:I saw that eye roll and I think that's appropriate and but yeah, I think, I think that means hopefully that there's something a little bit of something for everybody.
Speaker B:And yeah, I think the, the main story will be solid regardless.
Speaker B:So looking forward to that.
Speaker A:Well, for listeners and viewers out there, if you ever need an encyclopedic knowledge of X Men, Andy is your go to expert there and so if you want to know kind of like oh what you know, with all these big crossovers going on and you know, kind of where to start, what's a good jumping on point and you know, which characters you might be interested in.
Speaker A:Andy is your go to here.
Speaker A:So I, I love it but yeah, yeah, we got to do another comic book catch up soon.
Speaker A:We'll, we'll, we'll make that happen.
Speaker A:Yeah awesome.
Speaker A:Well on my end.
Speaker A:So I, I don't want to talk too much about Peacemaker because Christian and I did pretty in depth last time on what's News and we're going to be doing more on that because the season finale is this week.
Speaker A:But I'm still loving it.
Speaker A:If you checked out the last what's News episode, the theory that I shared which is not.
Speaker A:I don't credit that as my own.
Speaker A:That was a popular fan theory but it did come true in the most recent couple of episodes and so, but I really enjoyed just the storytelling throughout the season and I'm very excited finale.
Speaker A:So that's a big thing.
Speaker A:And then the other is a different from that but, but another HBO show.
Speaker A:So one of the, you know, great shows of all time that I'm only watching the first time.
Speaker A:Uh, but HBO's the Wire, which is, you know, critically hailed as one of the best shows, one of the best genre dramas of all time.
Speaker A:But it came out when I was 9 or 10, so needless to say, I was not watching the Wire and Sopranos at that age.
Speaker A:And so you know, some of the golden age of TV I am watching much later on.
Speaker A:So I know it's a, you know, 20 year old show, but I'm more than that and I'm, you know, just checking it out for the first time.
Speaker A:Only a few episodes in, but I, you know, I, I'm.
Speaker A:I'm very early on but I see how much, how intricate the storytelling is, how phenomenal performances are.
Speaker A:Andy, before we get live, we don't do a big discussion on this, but I'm just curious if that's one you ever watched.
Speaker B:You know that.
Speaker B:It's funny, I was living in Baltimore when it, when it came out, but I was living in Baltimore because I was going to graduate school.
Speaker B:So I had the income of a graduate student and that meant I didn't have hbo.
Speaker B:So sure, that is a hole in my golden age of TV awareness.
Speaker B:But I probably should get around to checking that out because like you say, it is one of the all time great.
Speaker A:Yeah, it's quite fantastic so far.
Speaker A:And that's the thing.
Speaker A:I.
Speaker A:We didn't have HBO growing up.
Speaker A:My parents weren't really into any of the HBO shows so I got it, you know, much later.
Speaker A:But, but yeah, so I, so one of mine very new.
Speaker A:The other mine is, you know, retro a little bit, but it's great.
Speaker A:So those are my lightning round picks and with that let's get on to the main topics for tonight.
Speaker B:So.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:Well Andy, I'm very excited to hear from you about this one.
Speaker A:I actually, I know very little about this movie other than I do know the director quite well and then I know the co screenwriter is a TV showrunner and I'm a little familiar with the cast there.
Speaker A:But tell me about this movie, the Lost Bus.
Speaker B:Yeah, so this is a film that had a limited theatrical release but is mainly an Apple TV plus jam.
Speaker B: n California in I want to say: Speaker B:The most deadly wildfire in California and destroyed the most number of buildings.
Speaker B:Basically the entire town of Paradise, California was lost due to the fire.
Speaker B:And that's where most if not all the fatality fatalities occurred as well.
Speaker B:There were also some other surrounding towns that had significant losses as well in terms of homes and things.
Speaker B:So just a very devastating fire and the the film follows the story of a bus driver who happened to be in the.
Speaker B:In the right place or the.
Speaker B:Or the wrong place at the right time, whenever you want to look at it, to pick up a school that.
Speaker B:Pick up kids from an elementary school that was being evacuated because it was closest to the edge of the advancing wildfire.
Speaker B:And they were.
Speaker B:He had to pick them up and he thought he was picking them up to take them to a different elementary school in the same town where their parents would pick them up.
Speaker B:But the fire was just spreading way faster than anybody anticipated.
Speaker B:And so by the time he got to that school, that school, at least as picked in the film, that school was on fire itself and was on its way to being a total loss, fortunately, that everybody had gotten out of there.
Speaker B:But then they.
Speaker B:So they had to continue on through the town to get to another town called Chico where everybody was being evacuated to.
Speaker A:From the.
Speaker B:From the entire town.
Speaker B:But it's called the Lost Bus because the fire has disrupted communications.
Speaker B:And so no one can tell him what's going on.
Speaker B:He can't get any information.
Speaker B:So he, he thought that they were just evacuating part of the town when he started off on the Strip.
Speaker B:And it's just kind of having to make it up from there, what to do once he realizes that that's not an option.
Speaker B:So that's, you know, so, yeah, so most of the film is, you know, Matthew McConney, the bus driver, and America Ferreira, an elementary school teacher, and 20 some odd kids on a school bus trying to find their way through this rapidly expanding wildfire to safety.
Speaker B:I apologize for the spoilers, but rest assured, it is not that kind of movie.
Speaker B:The 22 children or so do make it out alive, so you don't have to worry about that kind of tragedy.
Speaker B:But it is still an emotionally grueling film to watch just because of the tension and the drama.
Speaker B:It's very well made from the, you know, the craft of the visual and practical effects that went into creating the fire.
Speaker B:They did a lot of things, you know, they did a lot of just driving an actual bus around in actual, very safely done propane fires to create, to recreate the events.
Speaker B:The acting is well done, the directing, the cinematography and the screenwriting and all that is all very compelling.
Speaker B:My biggest issue with the film and was that I, you know, what I found compelling most about the story was he's constantly having to make these decisions.
Speaker B:Do I go down this road?
Speaker B:Do I go down that road?
Speaker B:Do I stay here and wait a little while and See if the fire passes in a different direction or do I move on because the fire is going to come here and I need to not be here.
Speaker B:There are several of those kinds of decisions that he has to make along the way.
Speaker B:And, you know, so.
Speaker B:And you know, very.
Speaker B:I think it captures, well, the uncertainty of having to make those kinds of decisions in that situation without complete information.
Speaker B:And so I thought, you know, okay, maybe at the end we'll get a little bit of, you know, if he had, if he had stayed here that, you know, this sort of happened, or if he'd gone this route, you know, everybody that went that route, you know, had other issues or whatever, but there was none of that.
Speaker B:Because it turns out that all of the, all of the drama inherent in that is entirely fictional.
Speaker B:There was a bus driver with the name of Matthew Conning's character.
Speaker B:There was a school bus full of children.
Speaker B:But that's pretty much the start and the end of the reality of the story.
Speaker B:And I know that they always have to embellish these things and dramatize these things to make it a compelling movie.
Speaker B:But it's not just different, it's almost the opposite of what actually happened.
Speaker B:What actually happened is he picked up the school bus full of kids.
Speaker B:He continued to have contact, somewhat intermittent.
Speaker B:There were disruptions to communications, but he wasn't completely out of contact with the bus depot.
Speaker B:So he knew what was going on and where he needed to go.
Speaker B:And he followed the established evacuation route.
Speaker B:And anytime he tried to deviate from that, the law enforcement made sure that they stayed on the evacuation route because that was the safe and effective route to get people out of town.
Speaker B:And the movie is all about all of this, you know, going off of that established evacuation route and, you know, getting into all these, these dilemmas because of that, that then none of that happened.
Speaker B:And it was just kind of frustrating that it almost feels like a dangerous kind of story to tell by deviating from, from reality in that way, because it's implying that, you know, what you need to do is be this kind of cowboy loner, you know, make your own kind of gut decisions about what to do and you'll be good.
Speaker B:When the reality of it was no, we, we.
Speaker B:People have thought through these things and know what they're doing and you need to take into account, you know, awareness of the bigger picture and, you know, go through those kinds of things.
Speaker B:So, yeah, I was just, I was, I was very disappointed in that aspect of what I thought was a very well made movie and had the opportunity to, you know, get across a very good message about, you know, fire safety and about climate change and all these things and the heroism, you know, shout out to, you know, fireworkers, ems, you know, all the people that actually deal with these things.
Speaker B:You know, definitely, you know, just a heroic job, selfless job, nothing.
Speaker B:Don't want to take anything away from them.
Speaker B:And if anything, I felt like the movie could have done a better job of showing actual heroism of actual people.
Speaker B:Not that the bus driver was an actual person, but his actions were completely different.
Speaker B:And so, like, it undersells what he did and it undersells, you know, all the other jobs that other people were doing.
Speaker B:So, yeah, a very well made movie.
Speaker B:Just don't take away from it anything factual about the campfire, I would say, and you'll be in, you'll be in good shape.
Speaker A:There's 8, 20.
Speaker A:There's a podcast or YouTube channel I, I watch called Real History that breaks down historical dramas, historical movies, and breaks down all the, like, you know, ones that are completely fictional, others that, you know, takes creative liberties, like you said, to make it narratively compelling.
Speaker A:But it's, it's fascinating.
Speaker A:I would like.
Speaker A:This is, yeah, prime example of that where, yeah, you make a really good movie, but, you know, it does change the narrative completely.
Speaker A:What I'm curious about, so I know the director, Paul Greengrass from the Jason Bourne movies and then Captain Phillips with Tom Hanks.
Speaker A:So he's known for that very gritty, visceral, shaky camera work.
Speaker A:Like, does he do the shaky handheld kind of camera work here or is it a little more, is it different?
Speaker B:There is definitely some, some handheld.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:So we, we get.
Speaker B:There are times where they have to get off the bus and so following them, you know, off of the bus and into different situations.
Speaker B:You know, there is some, some of that kind of handheld camera.
Speaker B:I wouldn't say it's as intense as, as the Bourne movies or things like that, but yeah, it's definitely got that same kind of style.
Speaker B:And in fact, you know, so I was listening to an interview with him because I thought maybe he'd have more to say about like, why they made the choice, the story choices that they did.
Speaker B:Yeah, didn't really get into that.
Speaker B:It was more about the craft choices.
Speaker B:But apparently for quite a while he was intending to make this movie in a, in a volume type setup with the big LED screens and a bus in the middle on a gimbal or something like that.
Speaker B:And he thought that would be necessary for safety reasons and for other reasons and so he was developing the film in that direction and fairly shortly before filming started, decided to go in completely the opposite direction and go out into a lot.
Speaker B:I mean, they weren't on.
Speaker B:They weren't necessarily out in the wild, so to speak.
Speaker B:They were in a controlled setting, but still in a place where, you know, in a similar environment where the.
Speaker B:The actual events took place and, you know, creating real fires with gas.
Speaker B:And then he talked about how, you know, doing it with gas pipes makes it safe because there's nothing that.
Speaker B:There's no particle matter that escapes from those fires that can spark other places.
Speaker B:That's a big element of the film, is that these little sparks from a fire in one place are carried by very heavy winds, very long distances to start up additional spot fires that could expand.
Speaker B:And so that's part of why the fire moved so quickly and was so devastating.
Speaker B:Was just like it was constantly sort of leapfrogging ahead with these little sparks.
Speaker B:And so they didn't want to obviously start their own wildfire making the movie.
Speaker B:So they had to use these propane.
Speaker B:But if they use these propane fires, then they could do it safely.
Speaker B:And so once you realized that there were ways to do it without creating another disaster, you know, by just making the film, they went with that realistic route.
Speaker B:And he said, you know, that's more my style anyway.
Speaker B:I don't know really why I was going this other direction.
Speaker B:Yeah, it's definitely.
Speaker B:Yeah, it definitely feels like a Paula Greengrass film in that regard.
Speaker A:Well, and it's also an interesting combination here too.
Speaker A:The screenwriter is being Greengrass and then Brad Inglesby, who is the creator of Mayor of Easttown and Task, the new HBO miniseries that fits.
Speaker A:I mean, Ingles B has very dark, gritty dramas.
Speaker A:I think that lends itself to something that Greengrass would be attracted to.
Speaker A:I think this sounds much more optimistic in that regard.
Speaker A:Like, I think the Dask and Maravi's down are pretty depressing, but.
Speaker A:But, you know, this.
Speaker A:I. I think what sounds like a little more of a uplifting ending at the.
Speaker A:While still tense, you know, throughout the movie.
Speaker B:Yeah, I mean, you know, in terms of the.
Speaker B:The human element.
Speaker B:Yeah, it's certainly a very positive story about people making it through challenging times.
Speaker A:Yeah, I will definitely check this one out.
Speaker A:You know, and Apple, it's really interesting because I think they still are dominated by some really good TV series, but the movies they put out, some are duds, but, you know, they've started to attract more, you know, high profile filmmakers.
Speaker A:So, like, I saw Spike Lee 1.
Speaker A:Highest to lowest.
Speaker A:I actually got to see that in theaters and I thought that was excellent, you know, and then, you know, they worked with SC and you know, they're doing a lot of really interesting things.
Speaker A:So they don't put out a ton of movies, but when they do, it's really interesting to see what it is.
Speaker A:So, yeah, I.
Speaker A:This one is one I'll definitely check out.
Speaker A:Like, I had seen something about it, but I honestly didn't know much about it.
Speaker A:So I'm glad you gave me kind of content and I don't mind the.
Speaker A:I. I'm glad that's a spoiler.
Speaker A:I'm glad to have knowing that the, the, the kids make it out and it's a happy ending and you know.
Speaker B:And it is real life.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:That, you know, that, that part of it is.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Real.
Speaker B:So.
Speaker A:Darn.
Speaker B:But yeah, I think.
Speaker A:Excellent.
Speaker B:That's good if we want to move on.
Speaker A:Great pick.
Speaker A:Let's do it.
Speaker A:Awesome.
Speaker A:And so another movie for me now this is a movie with a capital M. Oh my gosh.
Speaker A:I just like it.
Speaker A:But Andy, have you seen this one yet?
Speaker B:I was hoping to, but I could not get three hours in my weekend this past weekend.
Speaker B:So maybe coming up I've got a holiday extra day.
Speaker A:Sure.
Speaker A:And I do understand that it's.
Speaker A:I mean, it's a three hour epic.
Speaker A:Like you do have to set us at the time for it.
Speaker A:I will say off the bat that it does not feel like it's run time.
Speaker A:It.
Speaker A:This feels more like, I would say about a two hour movie.
Speaker A:It flies by and it is so immersive.
Speaker A:I. I'm gonna refrain from giving really heavy spoilers.
Speaker A:I'll set up the context.
Speaker A:But I want as many people as possible to go to a theater and go see this because for all the complaints people say about like, oh, film is dead.
Speaker A:They never make original stuff anymore.
Speaker A:I.
Speaker A:That's a completely false statement.
Speaker A:The problem is there, I mean, there are, there are multiple problems there with, you know, there is the price of movies.
Speaker A:There's, you know, the studio system.
Speaker A:But the message is that if more audiences go out and see original films like this, it will send the message to studios to take more risks and let filmmakers do what they want.
Speaker A:So I'll go ahead and say that as my TED talk of the day, but.
Speaker A:But, yeah, but anyway, getting to the movie.
Speaker A:So one battle after another.
Speaker A:Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, one of the great autore filmmakers of our generation.
Speaker A:And this movie without getting heavy spoilers, is about ex revolutionaries who, 16 years after they've been disbanded, their main nemesis, played by Sean Penn, returns.
Speaker A:And the Leonardo DiCaprio plays one of the extra revolutionaries.
Speaker A:The mother of his daughter went missing a long time ago.
Speaker A:He's now been living incognito with his daughter.
Speaker A:And when his daughter gets thrown into the mix here and gets captured, he has to go back into the fold, team up with other former allies and, you know, go rescue his daughter.
Speaker A:Go on this part revenge part, you know, reigniting revolutionary storyline.
Speaker A:And at, you know, based on that description alone, it doesn't sound like, okay, what's, you know, the main appeal there.
Speaker A:It sounds kind of classic, like revenge, classic action movie.
Speaker A:It is so much more than that.
Speaker A:It is a big action epic.
Speaker A:It is also a very timely satire that holds a mirror to our society right now with political tensions with, you know, rampant white supremacy, both in just, you know, social scenarios and in government.
Speaker A:And it's not afraid to tackle those.
Speaker A:All of those themes and in particular, what this movie did for me, and this is one of its biggest references, is also inspired by a Thomas Pynchon novel from the 90s.
Speaker A:But one of its big influences that it directly references early on in the movie is a French film from, I think, the 60s called the Battle of Alers, which I saw in a film class in high school.
Speaker A:And it still left an impression on me.
Speaker A:Even just seeing it back then.
Speaker A:It was something where I feel like that was one of the films that, you know, film students watch that really blurs the line between good and evil.
Speaker A:There isn't this, like, definitive good guy, definitive bad guy.
Speaker A:There's a lot of gray areas.
Speaker A:And again, that was a heavy influence on this film and the way it draws inspiration from there in terms of, you know, crafting these characters, crafting a villain who is so despicable and just so iconic that you can't help but be immersed that you hate the guy that Sean Ben plays, but you're still transfixed by him in the same way you are.
Speaker A:Other great movie villains, like, I. I'm thinking, you know, like Daniel Day Lewis character in Gangs of New York, the Butcher Bill, the Butcher.
Speaker A:Ones like that, you know, that or pretty much anyone Ray finds place there.
Speaker A:But these.
Speaker A:These, you know, great iconic movie villains that are so despicable, so terrifying, but you are just.
Speaker A:You can't look away from.
Speaker A:It's that it has that kind of feel.
Speaker A:DiCaprio gives a great performance.
Speaker A:I think what really the, you know, in addition to DiCaprio and Pen and, you know, the heavy Editors like this Chase Infinity, who plays the daughter here.
Speaker A:And I think this is her first big movie role.
Speaker A:She really does amazing work here, carrying the heart and soul of the movie because she is this next generation character who grew up without her mother.
Speaker A:She knew.
Speaker A:She knows that her dad was the sex revolutionary, but.
Speaker A:But, you know, he's just kind of faded into suburban life now and has, you know, done his best, but has very much struggled to adapt to being a civilian.
Speaker A:And so she's kind of caught in this.
Speaker A:In the middle of all this, and.
Speaker A:But the way her character evolves and she kind of steps into the role that her parents laid out for her is fascinating to watch.
Speaker A:There's just so much to absorb in this movie.
Speaker A:I do want to see it again.
Speaker A:It is also.
Speaker A:Yeah, because it's three hours.
Speaker A:I've also.
Speaker A:I've only got to see it once.
Speaker A:I really want to go again this weekend because it.
Speaker A:This is the kind of movie that demands to be seen on the big screen.
Speaker A:It demands to be seen multiple times.
Speaker A:It's really hard to take it all in on one screening, but there is just.
Speaker A:I mean, yeah, I was laughing at points because it is.
Speaker A:It has.
Speaker A:Employs a very dark humor and very satirical lens.
Speaker A:But then I'm also, you know, riveted by the drama, the spectacle, the originality.
Speaker A:It's just.
Speaker A:This is just such a phenomenal film from start to finish.
Speaker A:Also, Benio del Toro gives one of the greatest performances here as a very different character than what, you know, he plays typically, very oddball characters you look at, even, like, the Last Jedi, like, his role there, he kind of steals the show here.
Speaker A:He does it as well, but with a more understated performance that we're not used from him.
Speaker A:And I thought that was fascinating.
Speaker A:So there's just, you know, the cast is impeccable.
Speaker A:The writing is superb.
Speaker A:The directing is just.
Speaker A:And the cinematography are just, I mean, I would say, close to flawless.
Speaker A:It's got a great soundtrack.
Speaker A:You know, I mean, I could go on and on about this movie, and again, I don't want to spoil things much because I really want people to go and see it.
Speaker A:But, Andy, what's that like?
Speaker A:What's kind of your background with Paul Thomas Anderson?
Speaker B:Good question.
Speaker B:I've definitely seen some of his films, but not all of them.
Speaker B:I would, you know, he's somebody who I'm kind of aware of and, you know, pay attention when.
Speaker B:When he's got a new film coming out.
Speaker B:But I wouldn't say he's quite made my list of if he's got a movie out, I have to go see it kind of thing.
Speaker B:And that's not, you know, that's not anything about the quality of the films, really.
Speaker B:Just I think some of them have.
Speaker B:Have clicked for me or the subjects have clicked and others haven't.
Speaker B:And so.
Speaker B:Yeah, but, you know, he's obviously very talented.
Speaker A:Sure.
Speaker A:And it's.
Speaker A:It.
Speaker A:I mean, I haven't even seen all of his albums either.
Speaker A:Like, I love.
Speaker A:I mean, There Will Be Blood is great.
Speaker A:The Master, I think, has phenomenal performances.
Speaker A:I love Licorice Pizza, Boogie Nights.
Speaker A:But, like, you know, I think one of the fascinating things for me about Anderson is that his subject matter, I really.
Speaker A:I never know what he's going to tackle next.
Speaker A:So, like, you know, licorice pizza for last film was this, you know, like kind of Southern or the California oddball relationship.
Speaker A:And mainly the story of this young woman kind of like finding herself.
Speaker A:And as it's kind of idyllic tone to it, then he does, you know, the Master, which is, you know, Philip Seymour Hoffman's character there is.
Speaker A:While he's not named after the founder of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard, he's, you know, a stand in for that.
Speaker A:It examines, you know, cult ideologies.
Speaker A:And then this, again, is a big action war epic and a satire.
Speaker A:So while there are similar themes and kind of stylistic choices in all his films, and he does work with a lot of the same actors, I really love that his subject matter is kind of all over the place, and I never know what he's going to do next.
Speaker A:There's a lot of originality there.
Speaker A: s, early: Speaker A:But there is a lot of truth in that because like I said earlier, studios are not.
Speaker A:Are very reluctant to greenlight anything that is not a big IP or it's not a safe bet and that, you know, will turn a profit.
Speaker A:And I, you know, right now, we, again, we need audiences to go out and support original 130 million films like this.
Speaker A:You know, they did it.
Speaker A:We did it for Barbie and Oppenheimer.
Speaker A:We can do it for this.
Speaker A:And as someone who goes to movies all the time.
Speaker A:There are still plenty of original films being made, but they need support at the theatrical level.
Speaker A:So if you can get to a theater, if you can go see this, please, I urge you, do not wait for streaming.
Speaker A:Yeah, I mean I, I still need to see it again to really absorb it and I'm sure I'll have more takeaways.
Speaker A:But as it stands, I think it's just a phenomenally made, wonderfully acted film from start to finish.
Speaker A:It is wildly entertaining and very provocative in terms of again, how it holds a society.
Speaker A:It holds a mirror to society, society today and has so many themes and talking points that you can't help but really break it down.
Speaker A:And I ran into, even I ran into my creative writing professor from college on the way out of this movie and we were talking about it and you know, it was, it's just that kind of movie that really evokes discussion because sometimes, you know, you see a movie and it's like, okay, you know, that was, you know, passing entertainment.
Speaker A:This is the kind of film that really sticks with you in your mind and really moves you.
Speaker A:So I cannot recommend it enough.
Speaker A:I, I would love to discuss it more in depth with other hosts because I think there is a lot of here that could be tackled from a sociopolitical lens, from a spiritual lens.
Speaker A:There's just a lot to dissect here.
Speaker A:So go see one battle after another.
Speaker A:I, you know, I, I, I can't guarantee it, but I think you will not be deceived.
Speaker A:Disappointed.
Speaker A:Excellent.
Speaker A:So there is my, yeah, that's a good movie discussion here.
Speaker A:Andy, what is our next topic here?
Speaker B:Yeah, so, you know, I think in the category of passing entertainment goes the Marvel Zombies animated series.
Speaker B:You know, and that's not a slight on the, you know, the quality or uh, what might get out of it.
Speaker B:But I, I don't think it's going to go down with quite the same critical reputation as Paul Thomas Anderson film.
Speaker B:Yeah, so this is the latest from Marvel from the MCU kind of expanding their animation offerings.
Speaker B:It is very much a follow up to the what if Season 1 episode in the zombie world.
Speaker B:And so this is the same universe.
Speaker B:So if you haven't watched that episode of what if, definitely go back and watch that because this is a four episode show and that's essentially episode zero of this series.
Speaker B:But yeah, it follows several of our favorites from that first episode.
Speaker B:The non zombified heroes from the first episode are back and then introduces some more, more recent favorites who are also still not zombified in this world.
Speaker B:And, you know, explorers, you know, goes.
Speaker B:Takes them on a story of, you know, that's sort of a tour of the world.
Speaker B:And so you see different corners of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as they are zombified.
Speaker B:We open in the same part of Lower Manhattan where the Battle of New York happens in the first Avengers film.
Speaker B:There's some very recognized.
Speaker B:You know, you are familiar with that story.
Speaker B:The.
Speaker B:The architecture, the geography will be familiar there.
Speaker B:It also features heavily in the Lego Avengers video game.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:So I just.
Speaker B:I feel like I've gotten very familiar with that part of Manhattan just from those games.
Speaker B:I have also been to that part of Manhattan, but I've not spent as much time there in real life as I have in those different properties.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:So we go there.
Speaker B:We go to New Asgard in.
Speaker B:Is it Norway.
Speaker B:We go to the Raft, and they do something interesting with the raft prison.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:So, you know, it's kind of a tour of MCU places old and new with MCU favorites old and new.
Speaker B:So in addition to the trio of Spider man, the floating head of Ant man, and.
Speaker B:Oh, goodness.
Speaker B:Who is the third person from that first episode?
Speaker A:Why is it like.
Speaker A:I know.
Speaker A:Well, Wanda is, like, the leader, but Wanda is the.
Speaker B:Is the.
Speaker B:Becomes the zombified villain, and so she's the main antagonist.
Speaker B:Apologies for blanking on.
Speaker B:Let me see what the cast list is helping me remember.
Speaker B:But.
Speaker B:No, but anyway, so that trio from the first episode from what if is joined by, as you can probably guess from the cast.
Speaker B:Here we've got the first episode of Marvel Zombies focuses on Iman Vellani's Ms. Marvel, Hailee Steinfeld, Hawkeye, and Dominic Thorne's Riri Williams.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:So they.
Speaker B:They're another trio that are traveling together, and they stumble upon a, you know, what do they call it in the Spider Verse movies?
Speaker B:A thingy.
Speaker B:No, not a thingy.
Speaker B:Anyway, you know, a McGuffin.
Speaker A:I. I watched it, and I'm still like, I know it.
Speaker A:We could just say McGuffin at this point.
Speaker A:They.
Speaker A:They can come up with all the, like, terms they want.
Speaker A:We're not going to remember them all.
Speaker B:Yeah, but you know, a dude at a gizmo that they believe will contact the Nova Corps and summon the Nova Corps to help them cure the Earth of the zombie infection.
Speaker B:And so that sets them on this story.
Speaker B:But the problem is that the Earth has been covered in an energy shield of sorts that is preventing transmissions from getting out.
Speaker B:And there was an event in Wakanda they call it.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:And that has caused the Earth to sort of be cut off from communication with the rest of the galaxy.
Speaker B:So they have to find a spaceship and get into space to summon the Nova Corps.
Speaker B:And I think that's probably all the plot we'll get into here.
Speaker B:There's obviously more that.
Speaker B:More than that going on, as you might imagine.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:But a lot of it is just, you know, the thrills of seeing your favorites either, you know, in a new setting or seeing your favorites as zombies.
Speaker B:Seeing, you know, various zombie kills and all that kind of stuff that comes with a zombie story.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:Yeah, I mean, you know, if you, if you're into these characters and into this world, you know, and you can tolerate that level of gore and, you know, this is very much an R rated or the equivalent thereof, you know, kind of zombie story in animations, but still fairly intense.
Speaker B:They do not shy away from the kinds of things that happen to zombies and that zombies do to other people in other kinds of zombie stories.
Speaker B:You know, if you like these, these actors, you know, it's a lot of fun.
Speaker B:I think that the thing that it highlighted for me, though, is just, you know, how many great characters are kind of sitting on the shelf of the MCU and we should really see more of.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:Simu Liu, Shang Chi, you know, debuted in an excellent film and we've now seen, you know, we've now seen him twice and Hillary Steinfeld twice, Hawkeye in.
Speaker B:In these animated shows because they both had a what if episode and some of these other characters that, you know, have been between what if and this, you know, we're seeing them on the, on the small screen in animated form, but you've got some very charismatic popular actors and characters that really should be.
Speaker B:We should have had more, more films or something with some of these characters by now.
Speaker B:And I know that there are a lot of reasons that nobody chose why that's happening, right?
Speaker B:The, the strikes and the, the pandemic and all that, like, this isn't all entirely just that they made bad decisions.
Speaker B:It's also bad or unfortunate things happen to them and around them as well.
Speaker B:But, yeah, I think if they can find a way to keep folks around and get some of these folks into some more shows and movies, they have quite a lineup that is underutilized, let's say, thus far.
Speaker B:And so it's got me excited.
Speaker B:If they can do something good with them with Avengers, Doomsday and Secret wars, that would be great.
Speaker B:Please, please, please.
Speaker B:When Destin, Daniel Cretton is done with Spider man, brand new day.
Speaker B:Please make Shang Chi 2.
Speaker B:Even though I'm sure they will want him back for Spider Man.
Speaker B:Whatever day.
Speaker B:One more day.
Speaker B:Rainy day.
Speaker B:Oh, there you go.
Speaker B:Spider man rainy day.
Speaker B:That's a crossover of Spider man and the Tom Holland Rihanna umbrella video.
Speaker A:There you go.
Speaker B:There's a billion dollar idea.
Speaker B:Marvel, Sony.
Speaker B:You're welcome.
Speaker A:They're pitched right here.
Speaker A:Hey, Spider Man.
Speaker A:Die another day.
Speaker B:There you go.
Speaker B:Tom Holland can just transition from playing Peter Parker to James Bond.
Speaker B:There you go.
Speaker A:There you go.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:I mean, yeah, there's the rights issues with Disney and Amazon, but who cares?
Speaker B:We're just, we're just throwing away the billion dollars right here.
Speaker A:Yeah, let's do it.
Speaker A:But yeah, no, I similar.
Speaker A:I mean, I've only watched the first episode of this so far, but wow.
Speaker A:I, you know, I couldn't help but, you know, think while I was watching similar thoughts as you is like, I really wish we had seen these characters more and I actually think they would have been better to have a lot of these characters introduced.
Speaker A:Maybe an animated format first.
Speaker A:Like, I like watching that first episode because I love Ms. Marvel like the character and particularly the Gio Willow Wilson comics.
Speaker A:And I just think it would have been so much better if they had introduced that character in an animated series that could have really captured the tone and aesthetic of those comics, then introduced her on live action form with the same actor Imani in, you know, the Marvels or whatever kind of Captain Marvel sequel that just would have, you know, been really cool.
Speaker A:I there.
Speaker A:I feel like they are missing an opportunity here by not exploring animation more because, you know, it a.
Speaker A:It cuts down on budget.
Speaker A:There's the practicality of it, but also it's just a really good medium for storytelling and they can do a lot more there on tv.
Speaker A:So I kind of wish they had put more resources toward the animation beyond just what if and this and done some of those live action shows that didn't as well and done them in animated form.
Speaker A:But yeah, that aside, just looking at the pilot and again, I know I haven't watched the rest of it, but.
Speaker A:But yeah, it's.
Speaker A:I mean, it's entertaining.
Speaker A:It is fun to see these characters.
Speaker A:I'm a big zombie guy and I love horror.
Speaker A:I don't think from that first episode it was like particularly leaned into it as much.
Speaker A:I mean, you know, again, I haven't seen the rest, so it might delve into that a lot more.
Speaker A:But it was, you know, it's still perfectly entertaining.
Speaker A:Again, it's Just, it's hard to, like, not think about the wider MCU right now when I'm watching anything in this universe, because there is just so much you.
Speaker A:It's so convoluted right now.
Speaker A:And, you know, characters are kind of all over the place.
Speaker A:And, you know, these.
Speaker A:I like you.
Speaker A:I loved the first Shangi movie.
Speaker A:I've been hammering for a sequel as well.
Speaker A:And, you know, I hope they can also do more with characters like him and Ms. Marvel and Ironheart.
Speaker A:All of these, you know, depending on how Doomsday and Secret wars go, we will see.
Speaker A:But.
Speaker A:But, yeah, but.
Speaker A:But, yeah, I mean, this is a very enjoyable show on its own.
Speaker A:Like, I. I remember doing a book club with the original Marvel Zombies comic years ago at Comic Shop, and I actually was not a fan of it.
Speaker A:Even though I like Robert Kirkman and I love Walking Dead, mainly the comics.
Speaker A:The show is a little bit all over the place.
Speaker A:But.
Speaker A:But, you know, like, I.
Speaker A:It was a great premise.
Speaker A:I don't think that was executed that well.
Speaker A:I'm glad that with the what if episode and this show, they took a very different storyline there and kind of made it their own, which I like.
Speaker A:But, yeah, I mean, I think the animation's solid.
Speaker A:Oh, the other thing is that, you know, this is another thing of, like, this just makes you really.
Speaker A:It made me very just, like, sad about the overall state of the mcu.
Speaker A:They have Blade in this, and it just reminded me that we're probably never getting the MCU Blade movie because that has been stuck in development hell for years at this point.
Speaker A:So that's just.
Speaker A:It's another thing.
Speaker A:It's like, I'm trying to watch these independently, but it's hard not to think about the wider universe and all the problems going on there.
Speaker A:But this series, you know, if you want just some good, you know, zombie horror, superhero entertainment, I think it scratches an itch there and it has some fun characters.
Speaker A:These are all characters that I really enjoy, and it puts them in fun interactions, each other.
Speaker A:So, yeah, I mean, I'll probably.
Speaker A:I will probably check out the rest of it, but it's also not like, oh, my gosh, I have to watch this.
Speaker A:It's high on my list.
Speaker A:Feels, you know, kind of like you said, passive entertainment.
Speaker B:Yep.
Speaker B:And also, if they.
Speaker B:If they don't make that young Avengers film they promised us at the end of the Marvels.
Speaker B:Yeah, I will be so sad because.
Speaker A:I mean, the chemistry between them here is flawless.
Speaker A:Like, that.
Speaker A:All the ingredients there, I just.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:They're missing so Many opportunities.
Speaker A:I, I don't know.
Speaker A:We'll see what happens.
Speaker A:But I mean, I know you know, Secret wars is supposed to do sort of a soft reboot and I agree that they need to scale back.
Speaker A:I, I, I like James Gunn's approach in D.C. that he's not green lighting a project until he's happy with the script.
Speaker A:I, that's a really good approach I think but, but nonetheless they need to, you know, build on some of the promises that they've laid out in, you know, all these are characters we haven't seen in forever.
Speaker A:And yeah, just like don't sit on these for too long, you know.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:And especially, you know, I especially think of Simu Liu.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:They made him an action hero star and then like there's only so many years of a man's life that he can do that or, or a woman.
Speaker B:Right, right.
Speaker B:So don't.
Speaker B:And, and yes, I know Liam Easton, we, but right.
Speaker B:He, not everybody wants to be doing those kinds of films till they're 80 and so I think it's, it's a real shame that you know, this is seven years of, of his kind of peak career for that kind of thing that have, have gone unused.
Speaker B:So anyway, I'll get off my I.
Speaker A:Oh I agree 100 and yeah, not everyone can be a Liam Neeson or Tom Cruise like, you know, like and, and again, the first song, she was so good.
Speaker A:It was so well directed.
Speaker A:It left me wanting more.
Speaker A:I was just like get this spawn a trilogy.
Speaker A:And yeah, they have not followed up on that so we'll see.
Speaker A:But get on it Marvel we can.
Speaker A:These are the things you want.
Speaker B:But by contrast, somebody who knows how to strike while the iron is hot.
Speaker A:Someone who does not slow down.
Speaker A:I will say.
Speaker A:So yeah, for those of you who don't know systematicology, like I am kind of the right.
Speaker A:I get the resident Swifty here.
Speaker A:Well, I don't know, there may be other hosts but I'll have to see that we have any other McFans.
Speaker A:But, but yeah, I mean and I was, I will say I became a Swifty more in what kind of really kind of lured me and I guess you could say is when she was on SNL a few years ago and did the 10 minute version of All Too well, I was mesmerized there.
Speaker A:I mean I, I grew up, you know, like, I mean I'd hear on the radio obviously, you know, rising cultural phenomenon throughout my lifetime.
Speaker A:But I, you know, I was not there's a tater by any means.
Speaker A:I Just, you know, I hadn't really gotten into that particular fandom, but that was what lured me in.
Speaker A:And from that point on I, you know, went all in and I, you know, I've not, I didn't get to see the ERAS tour live, unfortunately.
Speaker A:I tried to get tickets, but I did go see the movie in theaters and I went to the, with the new album the Life of a Showgirl.
Speaker A:I went to the movie release party for the album this weekend at Alamo.
Speaker A:So that was a lot of fun.
Speaker A:But yeah, that's, I mean, so this is obviously album the Life of a Showgirl.
Speaker A:A lot has happened, you know, over the years with her career and this is, you know, a different tone because, you know, the, the cliche around Taylor Swift is like for a long time was like, oh, she just, you know, writes breakout out breakup albums and all that.
Speaker A:And you know, that, that I think is a very like surface level thing to say.
Speaker A:But nonetheless, there are a lot of her music For a Long Time was based on, you know, evolving relationships and you know, her growing feelings and, and just, you know, the rise to fame.
Speaker A:This one, it comes at a time where she's very happy and you know, she's recently engaged.
Speaker A:She's at the top of her superstardom level.
Speaker A:She's one of the most famous rich people.
Speaker A:Rich people on earth.
Speaker A:And you wonder how does that level of fame and fortune inform an artist's work?
Speaker A:And I will go and say, I mean, is this, you know, my favorite album I heard?
Speaker A:No.
Speaker A:Do I think it's terrible?
Speaker A:No, I think it's looking at it objectively as, as a fan, but as someone who can still, you know, evaluate work on its own.
Speaker A:I think it is a. I, I was texting a friend about it and I feel like this came at the right time because yes, it is a more happy, feelgood album and it's not going to have the same, you know, lyrical, hard hitting, kind of mastery as something like folklore, evermore tortured poet society.
Speaker A:But it does have that kind of feel good essence to it.
Speaker A:And for me at least I needed something feel good and happy and light hearted.
Speaker A:So I was happy to play this on Friday.
Speaker A:I had a good time listening to it.
Speaker A:I had a fun time at the movie.
Speaker A:You know, the movie was really just a compilation of lyric videos with intros by her.
Speaker A:And then it showed the music video for the Fate of Ailia, which is the first track on this album.
Speaker A:And then it gave some behind the scenes into that.
Speaker A:So it's, it's more like a Kind of a celebration and she put it in theaters because she can.
Speaker A:Because she's.
Speaker A:But.
Speaker A:But it was a fun time.
Speaker A:Yeah, but that's kind of was my reaction to this album.
Speaker A:I mean there are a couple songs I really like.
Speaker A:There are others that are, eh.
Speaker A:It's not that good.
Speaker A:But as a whole it's an album that is very happy.
Speaker A:It's very.
Speaker A:You know, to an extent I think that when you do get that rich and that famous.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:It's going to potentially have a negative impact on your work because at a certain point it's like you.
Speaker A:It's hard to relate to common people at all because you're on a whole nother stratosphere of.
Speaker A:Of fame and fortune.
Speaker A:So it's.
Speaker A:There's gonna be a difference in the songwriting here compared to her earlier works that are about just growing up in relationships and you know, trying to wrestle with different emotions.
Speaker A:And you know, there's still the songs like Elizabeth Taylor and the Fate of Ophelia draw from her long time interest in English and mythology and literature.
Speaker A:So that the Very imbued in there.
Speaker A:But some of the others kind of, you know, kind of fall flat and I mean I'm not even getting through it on here.
Speaker A:But the.
Speaker A:There is always.
Speaker A:There has already been a myriad of jokes about the song Wood on here, which is pretty obvious about Travis Kelsey here and has very sexual undertones to it.
Speaker A:Um, I did quite a laugh at a lot of the memes there, but.
Speaker A:Yeah, so I mean I, I give this idea, you know, my, my Taylor Swift favorite.
Speaker A: orite Taylor Swift albums are: Speaker A:I think all of those have different feels to them.
Speaker A:They have really standout songs.
Speaker A:And yeah, there's a good fusion of kind of pop and.
Speaker A:And then you know, Evermore and Folklore are very folk and I have such strong lyricism.
Speaker A:This is, you know, definitely not one of her all time best.
Speaker A:But again, I think it's a perfectly nice feel good album and I needed something like that.
Speaker A:With everything going on in the world right now, it was pleasant to get a nice happy feel good album.
Speaker A:So those were kind of my thoughts.
Speaker A:Like Andy, I don't know, are you into Taylor Swift at all or do you have like as your family?
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:So I've given Taylor Swift a lot of my money, but that is mainly to buy tickets to concerts for my daughter and my wife.
Speaker B:So yes, I, I am certainly not a stranger to the larger Taylor Swift phenomenon.
Speaker B:I've, you know, listened to most if not all of her music including this album.
Speaker B:You know, I gave it a once through because I, you know, I want to be able to talk to my daughter and my wife about these things that are important to them.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:You know, I think I, for my own personal listening, enjoy Taylor Swift in her more pop mode.
Speaker B:Something like Midnight or Lover or something like that.
Speaker B:But it's also not something I put.
Speaker B:Taylor Swift music is not something I generally put on for my own listening.
Speaker B:Anyway.
Speaker B:I have a lot of respect for her as a musician, as an entertainer, as somebody who is taking control of her own destiny.
Speaker B:So I have no quarrels with any of that.
Speaker B:And it's not a comment on the quality of it and the other things just sort of not.
Speaker B:It's obviously not for me.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:I am not the kind of person that she's thinking about when she's writing that they're writing these songs and that is a.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:I'm glad that they are more meaningful to other people.
Speaker B:And yeah, my only other thought reaction to this album was that I do not envy my sister who, you know, my, my daughter is now 18 or almost 19 all the way to college.
Speaker B:She can make her own decisions about these kinds of things.
Speaker B:But my sister, my niece is very much in that tween stage of life and so navigating something like the Songwood and whether we get to listen to her or not and what it's talking about, I do not enjoy those conversations for my sister, but I'm happy to not have to deal with that myself at this stage in my relationship with my own kids.
Speaker A:I was texting my sister about that because my niece is 8 and she's been listening to it for years because like my sister plays in the radio and everything.
Speaker A:So I mean, she knows a lot of the classics like you know, Love Story and Take it off and I mean, she knows a lot at this point.
Speaker A:But I was thinking about that.
Speaker A:I was like, oh, are you going to let her listen to this album?
Speaker A:You know, I can only imagine the questions that would come up there.
Speaker A:But, but I got.
Speaker A:But also on that note too, I, you know, similar to what I was saying earlier about Paul Thomas Anderson and how the subject matter ranges here, I'm not saying there's what there's not similar themes and subject matter, but I will say in terms of audience and how some song can be super mainstream, super appropriate for any age really, and great for young and older listeners alike, she can also do stuff that is very mature and that is intended for an older audience.
Speaker A:That's okay.
Speaker A:And because she has such a massive music.
Speaker A:I'm talking, like on the word but, like, because I was about to say filmography, but.
Speaker A:But massive library of songs and albums there.
Speaker A: r kids listen to fearless and: Speaker A:And then, you know, when they get older, they can listen to.
Speaker A:To Tortured Poet, Society and life of a showgirl.
Speaker A:So that there is that it's okay that I think an artist can evolve and can kind of grow with their audience and still have plenty to offer younger and older audiences alike.
Speaker A:But yeah, sounds good.
Speaker A:Very cool.
Speaker A:So that is my thoughts there.
Speaker A:But, yeah, I love how this episode is.
Speaker A:I know for this, I feel like this episode of what's News, we really got to talk to multiple audiences here, multiple fandoms, because a lot of times it's like, oh, we're going to talk about the latest comic book material.
Speaker A:And that's pretty much it.
Speaker A:We've got a.
Speaker A:We cover a lot of material here.
Speaker A:And Andy, before we go, let's also look to the rest of the year because there is some exciting movies, TV shows, other phantom items coming up.
Speaker A:So, Andy, what if there's like a few projects here that it's.
Speaker A: We're in October of: Speaker A:Got a little bit left of the year.
Speaker A:What are you most looking forward to?
Speaker A:Rest of the year.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:So real quickly, unlike Paul Thomas Anderson, both Edgar Wright and Ryan Johnson are on my list of if they've got a movie, I'm gonna see it.
Speaker B:So I am very excited for Running man and Wake Up Dead Man.
Speaker B:You know, I even.
Speaker B:I wasn't sure about last night in Soho, like, going into it, and I was really impressed with that film.
Speaker B:So even though, like, the Running man, the story hasn't grabbed me in the past, I'm very excited to see what Edgar Wright does with that, partly because of his work on Shang Chi and partly because I'm curious about the tone and the story.
Speaker B:I am excited for the Wonder man show that Destin Daniel Cretton has been overseeing.
Speaker B:And our family has.
Speaker B:They are, you know, silly and goofy, but our family has really gotten into the now you see me films.
Speaker B:So I'm looking forward.
Speaker B:I'm hoping that it will still be in theaters and both my kids get back from college so that we can go as a family to see that.
Speaker B:To see the latest and appropriately named now you See Me, now you Don't.
Speaker A:I love it.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Same as you.
Speaker A:Rian Johnson, Edgar Wright, two of My favorite filmmakers I very excited for.
Speaker A:I, I got to see the.
Speaker A:I've seen both Knives out movies in theaters because the last one they also did once Netflix bought it, you know, they did the limited theatrical release.
Speaker A:I'm definitely going to do that again for Wake Up Dead Man Running Man.
Speaker A:I'm there opening night.
Speaker A:You know, I, I love actor, right.
Speaker A:He's one of my all time favorite directors.
Speaker A:Easily the top two I'm most excited for though I, unsurprisingly, if you've, if, if this is your first time listening, then you know, you'll learn this about me.
Speaker A:If you've listened to this show at all, you will know that Wicked and Stranger Things, the final season are the biggest you.
Speaker A:I, I got my tickets for Wicked today.
Speaker A:Stranger Things Season 5, the final season.
Speaker A:I, I've been there since day one.
Speaker A:I've been rewatching the whole series again in anticipation.
Speaker A:So I could not be more excited for both of those projects.
Speaker A:And yeah, Wonder Man, I'm very interested now.
Speaker A:I did not know that that Justin Daniel Crepton is overseeing it.
Speaker A:That's really exciting to me.
Speaker A:I really know nothing about that character.
Speaker A:But that just, it skyrocketed my excitement level.
Speaker A:So that is really good to know.
Speaker A:And then yeah, I mean, Avatar, I mean, I'll see it.
Speaker A:It's one of those like, you know, I, I remember when the first one came out, it was mesmerizing, especially from a visual lens.
Speaker A:And you know, the last movie felt like very visual spectacle as well.
Speaker A:I can't say I really have high expectations for the narrative.
Speaker A:But yeah, I mean, I'll go see it.
Speaker A:But, but definitely Stranger Things, Wicked are the biggest excitement levels to me.
Speaker A:And Tron, I would be more excited for it if Jared Leto wasn't in it.
Speaker A:I'll leave it at that.
Speaker B:I hear you.
Speaker A:So, yeah, but some good stuff coming out.
Speaker A:I'm really excited.
Speaker A:I think, you know, we'll sell plenty more to talk about before the year ends.
Speaker A:And a lot of big spectacle movies and shows and smaller stuff as well.
Speaker A:And again it's Halloween season, so it's my favorite time of year.
Speaker A:Very excited for all the horror stuff.
Speaker A:Oh, that's the other thing.
Speaker A:Welcome to Dairy is coming out at the end of this month.
Speaker A:That's it.
Speaker A:Equal series that I'm really hoping will be good.
Speaker A:Awesome.
Speaker A:Well, Andy, this has been fantastic.
Speaker A:And before we go, do you have a recommendation either from anything we've talked about tonight or something else you want to give a shout out to?
Speaker B:Yeah, it's a Good question.
Speaker B:Because I, you know, I have mixed feelings about both of the things that I talked about as, as I think was obvious.
Speaker B:I'm tempted to just sight unseen recommend one bet after another based on your raves.
Speaker B:And you know, I am excited to see it.
Speaker B:Just haven't gotten the chance yet.
Speaker B:So maybe I'll, I'll, I suspect to join you in, in picking that one.
Speaker A:I will.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:That is definitely my, my pick.
Speaker A:I mean, unsurprisingly, after my ray review.
Speaker A:But also, you know, if you've not seen any other Paul Thomas Anderson films, like, go check out some, either, you know, rant them or.
Speaker A:I'm always a big fan of physical media, so, you know, if you want to go out and get some Blu Rays.
Speaker A:But yeah, I like actually if I want to recommend one in particular.
Speaker A:Been a while since I've seen it, but Punch Drunk Love is a phenomenal one.
Speaker A:Like, I mean this was long before Uncut Gems.
Speaker A:I, I think Adam Sandler has always been a great actor.
Speaker A:He's just like, he can do amazing things.
Speaker A:And I mean, I love his 90s comedies, but as far as showing what he can really do as a performer, he can do amazing things when he's paired with the right script and the right director.
Speaker A:And that's a perfect example of that.
Speaker B:Yep, it's a little off our beam track, but while we're making a plug for going to see movies in the theater, I will also make a plug to go see theater in the theater.
Speaker B:It won't be available to everyone obviously, but I went with my wife to see Noises off in Pittsburgh here on the stage.
Speaker B:It is a farce play.
Speaker B:Lots of in and out of doors, lots of goofy physical comedy and just had a really great time.
Speaker B:An excellent performance.
Speaker B:A lot of goes into just the timing of a show like that, getting all the different movements and cues and everything right.
Speaker B:So, yeah, shout out to the cast of Pittsburgh Public Theater's performance of Noises off.
Speaker B:And you probably can't go see it, but there's probably some other live theater near you that you can go see.
Speaker B:So look into that as well.
Speaker B:And if you want something geeky, I was about to say Keanu Reeves and Alex Winters will be on the stage in New York in Waiting for Godot.
Speaker B:If you need a geek book to.
Speaker A:Your theater outing, I, I would love to get to New York to see that one.
Speaker A:It's.
Speaker A:It's like that.
Speaker A:And then the, the, the one I really want to see is the Stranger Thing, the First Shadow.
Speaker A:But like, I, that's one.
Speaker A:I. I am.
Speaker A:I mean, I've been in New York a couple times.
Speaker A:I love it.
Speaker A:But next time I make it out there, that will be.
Speaker A:That's on my list.
Speaker A:But.
Speaker A:Yeah, but definitely.
Speaker A:I mean, but live theater 100 into our site.
Speaker A:I have a theater background and you know, when this does not have to be exclusive to Broadway, go see shows in your community.
Speaker A:Support live theater.
Speaker A:Absolutely.
Speaker A:Awesome.
Speaker A:Well, Andy, this has been fantastic.
Speaker A:I love how many.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Again, not many things we covered tonight, we, we tackled a lot of different fandoms and this was a ton of fun.
Speaker A:So thank you so much for joining me tonight.
Speaker B:Yeah, I enjoyed it.
Speaker B:Thanks for having this chat with me.
Speaker A:Absolutely.
Speaker A:And again, for our listeners out there, viewers, if you're on YouTube, please like this we if we get 50 likes on any one of our videos, our very own Will Rose.
Speaker A:Will he.
Speaker B:He'll do.
Speaker A:He'll do something.
Speaker A:We keep changing what his promise will be.
Speaker A:It's been everything from frolicking through a field of flowers to maybe he'll show off his Halloween costume.
Speaker A:I don't know.
Speaker A:We'll do something fun.
Speaker A:But please hit that like button really helps.
Speaker A:And wherever you are on listening to this, you know, any kind of support really helps the show.
Speaker A:And again, you can check out our merchandise.
Speaker A:You can connect with us on social media.
Speaker A:We really appreciate your support.
Speaker A:And just remember, we are all chosen people.
Speaker A:A beat them of peace.
Speaker A:Take care, everyone.
