The Jason Bourne series is one of those things that had a mostly bad influence on lots of other movies and mostly was a good example of how a series of films could suffer from diminishing returns as it kept going. But I will always have a deep fondness for this series overall and for a few of the films in particular. It was one of the best showcases for Matt Damon as a star.
Jerome and Brian only wish they had as shocking of an ending as the Harrison Ford movie they’re discussing this week. It’s Presumed Innocent, and what a supporting cast. Find out whether Harrison Ford’s hair is maybe just a little too short and whether this turned out to be a miscast or not.
Continue reading Pantheon Plus – Harrison Ford Month: Presumed Innocent
In which we discuss the seeming improbability of Michael Bay agreeing to helm this franchise, everything revolving around a horny teenager, characters arriving in pairs, deploying Megatron so late and Matt’s potentially controversial take on the best handling of a Transformer in a Michael Bay movie.
Continue reading More (And Less!) Than Meets the Eye – Episode 1: Transformers (2007)
Jerome and Brian continue their look at Harrison Ford and discuss a movie Harrison Ford probably should have won an Oscar, the 1986 movie version of The Mosquito Coast, not to be confused with the Apple series. They also discuss the greatness of River Phoenix and the advantages of bringing ice to the jungle.
Continue reading Pantheon Plus – Harrison Ford Month: The Mosquito Coast
Warren Beatty is one of the most fascinating stars in the history of Hollywood. I have found him to be as compelling as any major movie star that has ever existed and always grateful to get opportunities to explore him deeper and see new layers to his work in front of and behind the camera.
This 2022 interview response by Beatty was so illuminating for understanding the conflict and tension in all Beatty movies. Beatty is the ultimate narcissist who desperately wants to conceal his own narcissism. He is embarrassed by how essential narcissism is to being a genuine Hollywood star. Everything Beatty touches becomes worth examining because of this dynamic especially when he is firmly the actual director of his movies. And it has led to some truly great works of art.
But first. His one unforgivably bad film.
In this introductory mini-episode, Ben & Matt talk through their mission statement for the podcast as well as their history with the Transformers franchise.
If you’d like to watch and read along with us then you need to watch Transformers (2007) before the next episode, and read More Than Meets the Eye Issues 1-8 before Episode 2.
Continue reading More (And Less!) Than Meets the Eye – Episode 0: Introductions
Jerome and Brian begin their month long look at Harrison Ford with the only film he was nominated for an Oscar, Witness.
Find out what makes this an almost underrated movie and why we probably should talk more about Peter Weir. They describe the greatness of both the world building first act and climaxing in the third act.
Continue reading Pantheon Plus – Harrison Ford Month: Witness
Brian and Jerome have wrapped on the Ip Man series, and what better way to end the month than with a special bonus “Easter” episode. We celebrate Michelle Yeoh’s Oscar win by briefly taking a look at two of her sequels, “Royal Warriors” and “Heroic Trio 2: Executioners“. One is really good. One is not. It’s a fun way to end “Punchy Kicky (Ip) Man” month.
Continue reading Pantheon Plus – Punchy Kicky (Wo)Man: Michelle Yeoh Bonus Episode
xXx has taken an unlikely path towards franchisedom. Or maybe it would be more accurate to say that the franchise ended up in a radically different location than planned.
The series started in a downswing period for the James Bond franchise, and it seemed like someone wondered, “What if we made an American James Bond and combined him with the X-Games?” and then boom: new franchise.
They even found the perfect lead: Vin Diesel, fresh off the first Fast and Furious film. The only problem was, much like the sequel to Fast and Furious, Diesel refused to make it over script issues that they would not change on his behalf. Again like the Fast franchise, the studio eventually came back to Diesel when they knew it was better off with him and gave him much power over what happens on screen.
As a result, we have an endlessly uneven but sincerely fascinating in-progress franchise centered around one of the handful of new Hollywood stars from the 21st century.
It’s the last week of Punchy Kicky (Ip) Man Month and suffice to say, Jerome and Brian are feeling a little burned out on Ip Man.
Ip Man is now dealing with a cancer diagnosis while traveling to San Francisco to find a school for his son. He deals with racism and prejudice while kicking ass when he needs to. It’s the last film in the franchise and now Bruce Lee has become involved with the storyline as well. Is there a lot going on? Yes. Do plotlines get left behind once again? Yes. But the one shining light in this film is the performance by Scott Adkins, no fat suit needed.
Continue reading Pantheon Plus – Punchy Kicky (Ip) Man: Episode 4
The Reel World 