Midnight Movie Cowboys

Berserk

 

John and Hunter once again tread into weeb territory as we discuss Berserk. The movie we're specifically discussing is Berserk: The Golden Age Arc I - The Egg of the King on Netflix, but we discuss all things relating to Berserk manga and anime to commemorate the sudden passing of Berserk creator, Kentaro Miura. We also discuss the dark fantasy influences surrounding the series, and we also get on a BIG tangent making fun of Michael Medved. How does that happen? Listen and find out. 

Communion

 

This week, John, Eric, and Hunter look at Communion from 1989, the first movie where Christopher Walken plays Christopher Walken. Based on Whitley Strieber's account of his own alien abduction, the film is a wild slab of weird, with Walken indulging what would become his meme persona. Blast some Fatboy Slim, pin up that "I want to believe" poster, and tune in.

Home Alone Rip-Offs!

 

In this episode, Hunter and Eric explore the lost films that chased the success of Home Alone straight into cultural oblivion. We talk about many-a-movie that was viewed many times by many a member of the millennial generation, yet these movies were rarely discussed...even back then! We go through quite a few, from Dennis the Menace, to Blank Check, even to direct-to-video Band brothers junk like Remote! Are there any we forgot? Let us know!

King Kong 1976

The King of Skull Island is back, as we re-assess the famous (or infamous?) King Kong from 1976! Is it good? Bad? Under-appreciated? Misunderstood like our eponymous ape? Find out how its aged as we revisit this movie in time for the Shout Factory re-release.

Stick

 

Burt Reynolds stars and directs in this Elmore Leonard adaptation, Stick. Hunter, John, and Eric talk about the movie, but we mostly talk about Burt himself, from his rise and fall as a movie star, the various phases of his career, his directing credits, why he never got a big directing career like his pal Clint Eastwood, and more. 

Tarzan and the Valley of Gold

 

This week, John, Hunter, and Eric take a look at Tarzan and the Valley of Gold, the 1966 film starring Mike Henry. Being a Tarzan episode, we can't help but talk about the character, the books, the various Tarzans, and more.

Dick Tracy

John, Hunter, and Eric dive into Warren Beatty's colorful comic book pop culture event, Dick Tracy. Tangents are had about newspaper comic strips, the innovative-yet-awful Dick Tracy NES video game, the forties movies, the serials, millennial hipster humor surrounding Garfield, and Beatty's strange career as the King of Hollywood. 

Spawn

 

Zolly Becker joins John and Hunter to discuss Mark A.Z. Dippé's 1997 adaptation of Todd MacFarlane's seminal nineties edgelord comic, Spawn. We talk about the film's weird legacy, comics in the nineties, comics today, the Toddfather, Image comics, toys, and why Michael Jai White never became a real movie star. 

 

Stu's Views Episode 07: Christine

 

Hey all, Stu here. So, here is the third in the 3 episodes I promised to get to you with in a week... I fell a few days over time - oh well.

Anyway, to make up for that, the view for this time around, is the fascinating, but utterly tragic tale, of real life of 1970's News presenter / Journalist 'Christine Chubbuck'.

On this one, I discuss the events leading up to the finale in Chubbucks life, and of course, I discuss the film that centres on her. It's an interesting watch, led by the powerhouse performance of Rebecca Hall as Christine Chubbuck.

Sit back, listen on, and learn about this fascinating, but tragic woman.

See ya next episode (I'll be back on the MMC soon too)

Stu

The Dead Pool

Not the Ryan Reynolds thing, but Clint Eastwood's final outing as "Dirty" Harry Callahan. After many years, we finally have covered every entry in the series. Is the final one any good? A worthy send-off for Callahan? Eric Zaldivar joins John and Hunter to find out. 

Stu's Views Episode 06: Rob Halford - Confess

 

Hey all, Stu here, as promised I'm back with a new view, hot on the heels of the previous one (Studio 54).

On this one, I take a different direction and do a book review... well an audiobook review.

I recently read (listened to) Rob Halfords' excellent autobiography CONFESS, and wanted to share my thoughts on it. Even if you are not a Judas Priest or Metal fan, this book is a must read. For more thoughts on it, listen on. 

I'll be back in a another couple of days with another view, on a film that I am yet to see, but am very curious about. Whether I like it or not, you'll hear about it.

 

Back soon

Stu

Stu's Views Episode 05: Studio 54

 

Hey all, Stu here, yes I'm still alive, all will be explained in the opening few minutes of this view. This time around, I look at the fabulous documentary STUDIO 54. The glitz, the glamour, the dancing, the drugs, the fall from grace, this doco has it all. A big thanks to the Nes (Anthony Nesbitt) for being so kind to send me this, thanks mate. And to the rest of you, enjoy. New view hot on the heels of this one.

Stu

Wall Street

Economist Levi Russell joins John and Hunter to discuss Oliver Stone's Wall Street! We talk about how the once-dominant film in the financial world has disappeared from the culture, we explore the reasons for that, issues of morality in finance and economics, and Stone's eclectic career. 

The Magnificent Seven

Our Western correspondent Eric Zaldivar joins John and Hunter once again to discuss The Magnificent Seven, John Sturges' 1960 Hollywood western remake of Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai. The film's origins, the stars, the ego clashes, the sequels, and more are raised during the conversation. 

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

 

John and Hunter are joined by Eric Zaldivar to talk about the much-maligned Shatner-helmed Star Trek film, Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. Is the hate for this movie deserved? Are other Trek movies worse? Does Shatner truly love the mountain? Does Kirk need his pain? All this and more shall be answered.

Zack Snyder's Justice League

 

The Snyder Cut has finally arrived! Zolly Becker joins John and Hunter to discuss the long awaited true version of Zack Snyder's Justice League. We talk about the version Joss Whedon assembled in 2017, the radical differences between the two, and what this monumental movie means for film culture. 

Something to note, we recorded this the day before the interview dropped with WarnerMedia's Ann Sarnoff, where she eagerly announced that this was the end of the road for Snyder's "trilogy," undermining the success they had with a movie dominating the film conversation and eclipsing the competition. This is something we might cover on a future show as things develop.

Monster Hunter

 

John and Hunter are joined by Dangerous People director and show-favorite, Garo Nigoghossian, to discuss Paul W.S. Anderson's latest Capcom-based vidya game movie, Monster Hunter. We talk about Milla Jovovich, Tony Jaa, why Paul W.S. Anderson is the best Paul Anderson, and why it didn't matter that his Mortal Kombat movie wasn't rated R.

Lupin III: The First

 

John and Hunter sit back and enjoy the return of Monkey Punch's goofy-yet-debonaire thief, Lupin III, to the silver screen in Lupin III: The First. We talk about the comics, the cartoons, the various, checkered attempts to bring it to the United States, and we give our opinion on the dashing thief's return.

 

Stu's Views Episode 04: The El Duce Tapes

Hey gang, Stu here, back with another Stu's views. This time around, I'm going back to the wretched world of The Mentors, with the newly released, but extremely glum documentary on Eldon Hoke AKA El Duce - The El Duce Tapes.

This doco is one you have to see to believe. Once you have heard this, go seek it out, and then listen to our other episode the MMC did a few years back, you can listen to it at the link below.

See you next episode

Stu

The MMC's mega Mentors marathon episode

Mallrats

 

John and Hunter are joined by Eric Zaldivar and the infamous Garo Nigoghossian to revisit Kevin Smith's Mallrats. We discuss the movie in how it fits in with Kevin Smith's larger career ups and downs, how our feelings about his work have changed over the years.

Stu's Views Episode 03: Friday the 13th Part 3 in 3-D

Hey gang, Stu here, back with another (overdue) episode of Stu's Views. This time, I return to the well (or should that be lake) and look at Friday the 13th Part 3 in 3-D, but I am not reviewing the film, instead I am reviewing the 3-D experience of it, from the disc in the Deluxe Edition box set.

This will be the last Friday the 13th episode i will do, nothing more needs to be said, and I want to move on to other things to share my view on.

Enjoy

Stu

Hang 'em High

 

Eric Zaldivar joins John and Hunter to take a look at Clint Eastwood's first Hollywood western after his run of spaghetti westerns with Sergio Leone, Hang 'em High, directed by Ted Post. In this episode, Clint romances Betty and Veronica while listening to jazz in the Carmel, CA woods, and we come to some tough realizations about Clint's American westerns that might be a bit unpopular. Listen to find out!

Phil Spector

 

John and Hunter are once again joined by Eric Zaldivar to discuss David Mamet's 2012 HBO movie about the trial of Phil Spector, which goes by the title of its subject. Pacino plays Spector and his collection of wigs. Tangents about music are had.

Stu's Views Episode 02: Friday the 13th Deluxe Edition Box Set

 

Hey gang, back with another episode of Stu's Views, on this one I look at the wonder that is the Friday the 13th Deluxe Edition Blu Ray Box Set. This isn't a review of the films, as much it is a rundown of all the things in the box, and if it is worth it's hefty price point.

Anyway, I'll be back with another episode in a couple of days. Life prevented me from getting this one done earlier - it happens.

Enjoy

Stu

Hercules in the Haunted World

This week, John and Hunter dive into the world of surreal Italian peplum films as they examine Mario Bava's hallucinogenic Hercules in the Haunted World, also known by many other titles, including Hercules at the Center of the Earth. The film stars Reg Park, a guy who played the title role a handful of times, and Christopher Lee, who is no stranger to fantasy and horror films, as well as a group of Italian genre mainstays. 

Topics include Bava's marvellous career, the various versions of this movies, the peplum genre and how it relates to other Italian genre booms and the country's cinema overall, Steve Reeves, and bodybuilders.

Listen in, and check out the supplemental videos below!

 

Hercules in the Haunted World on YouTube

 

 

Hercules starring Steve Reeves

 

Big Jake

 

John and Hunter are joined once again by western expert and all around bad hombre, Eric Zaldivar. This week, we delve into John Wayne's Big Jake, a western that comes late in the Duke's career, and co-stars more than a few frequent collaborators. 

Items discussed include the Duke's penchant for removing commies, Vulture's not-so-good list of the greatest westerns ever made, and Eric talks about his experiences working with the Duke's Big Jake co-star, Chris Mitchum, son of Hollywood legend Robert Mitchum! Don't miss this one!

Here is a link to the article Eric references about Chris Mitchum's falling out with Duke: https://jeremylr.medium.com/john-wayne-built-my-career-durango-prop-guys-and-pistoleros-with-chris-mitchum-afa7d6077ffe

 

Here is footage of the premiere of Big Jake at Knott's Berry Farm:

 

Big Jake trailer:

Stu's Views Episode 01: Destruction - Mad Butcher E.P

 

Hey all, Stu here. So, over the next 2 months or so, I'm gonna be out of action on the regular MMC episodes, due to works happening in my house. However, of a nighttime, I'll be free to record, so I'll be doing a little side solo project called Stu's Views.

 

I'll be looking at anything and everything - films, music, books etc. and if the mood strikes me, I'll record a mini episode on my thoughts on it. Now, I am not leaving the MMC, I am just purely unavailable for the near future to do any, but I will be doing these.

First episode I decided to talk about the 1987 Destruction E.P Mad Butcher. 

Dig in

Stu

Broke: Lethal Weapon, Woke: Above the Law

 

John and Hunter re-examine two old favorites, Richard Donner's buddy cop film Lethal Weapon, and Andrew Davis' Steven Seagal vehicle, Above the Law. How do they hold up?

 

Well, the title should be an indicator.

 

Join us as we re-evaluate two similar eighties action flicks with similar plots, and how our opinions on them have changed in the years since.

All the King's Men

 

John and Hunter ring in the new year with Robert Rossen's All the King's Men, an adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Robert Penn Warren. Steve Zaillian's notorious 2006 remake is also discussed, as well as the history behind the inspiration for the story, Louisiana Governor Huey P. Long. And of course, we can't help but tie it all in to recent events.

 

A note about this episode: We had some trouble getting going with recording, and during our technical issues, Hunter's audio settings were reset, so the audio on this episode is not up to our usual standards. We apologize to your ears for the inconvenience!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rock Month: Killing Joke [Part 1]

 

Ok, after an almighty long wait since the last episode, and an eternity since Rock Month from last year (it basically got shelved indefinitely), we decided to give you just ONE Rock Month episode this year, well, one band split over 2 episodes.

On this one Stu and Hunter are joined by friend of the show, and Metalocalypse look-a-like Daniel Kiestler.

We discuss the 2013 Killing Joke documentary - The Death and Resurrection Show, and the insanity of KJ frontman Jaz Coleman. We also discuss, the huge, but widely unheralded, impact of Killing Joke's music.... more to come on that one when we do Part 2 of this very special Rock Month episode.

P.S - for those of you who are excited to see RM return, savour it, this WILL be the last one we ever do. RM was fun for the 6-7 years we did it, but we've done all we could with it. We'll still discuss music on the show, heck we may even do the odd episode dedicated to a band or artists new release, or rock documentary, but in terms of Rock Month... it's dead. Sorry fam.

Enjoy