Category Archives: Film

Veronica Mars

AKOP-VeronicaMars

This week, we catch up with a friend from a long time ago, Veronica Mars! After being cancelled, the series returns with a feature film that Earl and Andrew checked out in theatres. As big fans of the show, they talk about Kickstarter, the FBI pilot, the love triangle, and all the cameos. They also end up talking about their terrible theatre experience, and other movies that spun off from television. Did they enjoy their two-hour return visit to Neptune? The answer may surprise you, so check out the episode! (Spoiler talk half-way through.)

Guests:
Andrew Lawrence – “Not even Timeplay could make this better”

Supplementary notes:
The Greatest Event in Television History – Bosom Buddies
Failed FBI Pilot
“I expect nothing and I’m still let down”

Audio notes: (59min. runtime)
00:50 – Intro to series, theatre experience, Tommy Texter & Suzie Seatkicker, and noises
10:25 – The movie, Kickstarter, appealing to non-fans, and the audience
17:25 – The FBI, cameos, our favourite episode, the Kanes, and being a cold hard bitch
27:45 – (Spoilers start here.) The love triangle & Leo, Logan’s whole deal, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Krysten Ritter
36:40 – Our movie ideas, the death, cast hierarchy & Weevil, and Neptune conspiracies
42:10 – What if the story was another season, OG supporting cast, and Veronica Mars in the future
51:45 – Last thoughts, “I expect nothing…”, and movies that developed from TV shows

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The Grand Budapest Hotel

AKOP-GrandBudapest2

This episode we check in at The Grand Budapest Hotel! Earl and Patrick discuss Wes Anderson’s latest film, compare it with the rest of his works, take a crack at the Great Artist Theory, and speculate on the future for the director. As well, not only do they screw up actors’ names, but even the accuracy of a person’s existence. They also manage to bring up Martin Scorsese, Bob Dylan, and True Detective to the mix. (Some spoilers for this episode.)

Guests:
Patrick Barfoot (@patrickbarfoot) – Editor and Director, patrickbarfoot.com

Supplementary notes:
Wes Anderson // Centered and // From Above
WES
The Midnight Coterie of Sinister Intruders
Martin Scorsese on Wes Anderson – Esquire Magazine
Martin Scorsese’s Open Letter on Future of Film

Audio notes: (57min. runtime)
00:40 – Pre-show talk
05:15 – Post-show, and the story-in-a-story framing device
13:20 – Expectations, pushing boundaries, style, scope, characters, and comparing Wes’ films
24:00 – Recurring motifs & themes, typography, scale models, and colour palette
33:05 – The Great Artist Theory, Picasso, Bob Dylan, Martin Scorsese, and redefining oneself
43:00 – The need to stumble, unique visual directorial styles, and the future for Wes Anderson
53:25 – Comparing with Bob Dylan, and I’m Not There vs. Inside Llewyn Davis

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Oscars 2014

AKOP-oscars2014

This week, we take a look at the nominees for the Oscars 2014! Earl brings back Patrick Barfoot, who brings in new guest Shawn Lotte to the show, to talk about the Academy Awards, hash out their thoughts on the choices and offer up some alternate nominations. They also end up discussing the Jonah Hill conundrum, and completely go off the rails when they start power rankings on the actor and actress categories. Before the awards show, why not check out our pre-show episode! (No major spoilers here.)

Guests:
Patrick Barfoot (@patrickbarfoot) – Editor and Director, patrickbarfoot.com
Shawn Lotte – “Hello, Google”

Supplementary notes:
2014 Oscar Nominees
How To Pronounce Chiwetel Ejiofor
Most Americans have yet to watch any best-picture Oscar nominee: poll

Audio notes: (1hr. 9min. runtime)
0:01:35 – Documentaries: Stories We Tell, The Act of Killing, and Crystal Lake Chronicles
0:08:10 – Makeup & Costuming: Jackass presents Bad Grandpa, Evil Dead, The Hobbit, and American Hustle
0:13:35 – Cinematography: Hoyte van Hoytema, Emmanuel Lubezki, and Roger Deakins
0:18:15 – Best Picture: 12 Years a Slave, and Gravity
0:24:05 – Alternate Best Pictures: Out of the Furnace, Side Effects, Pacific Rim, and returning to Gravity
0:33:55 – The Jonah Hill conundrum, Vince Vaughn, and Leonardo DiCaprio
0:39:25 – Best Actor: Bradley Cooper, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Nicolas Cage
0:49:35 – Power Rankings: Cate Blanchett, Sandra Bullock, Michael Fassbender, and Jared Leto
0:58:00 – Animated films, who’s watching the awards this year, hosting, and Pixar
1:01:10 – Best Directors: Steve McQueen, Alfonso Cuarón, David O. Russell, and Martin Scorsese
1:04:00 – Google, and more than 60% of Americans have not seen the nominees

Theme: Coconut Robot2 (James Pants) / CC BY 3.0
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The LEGO Movie

AKOP-lego

Today we’re talking about The LEGO Movie! Andrew returns to chat with Earl about the animated film, dish out their impressions, and talk about their own experiences with the long-running toy franchise. They also bring up terrible LEGO sets, collecting, the “believing in yourself” epidemic, and seeing knock-off brands’ commercials before the screening. (Some noted spoilers.)

Guests:
Andrew Lawrence – “Everything is Lawesome”

Supplementary notes:
Clone High Opening
‘Lego Movie’ Production B Roll
You Can Do Anything: Must Every Kids’ Movie Reinforce the Cult of Self-Esteem?
The LEGO® Story
​The 16 Most Awful Lego Sets Ever Assembled

Audio notes: (1hr. 1min. runtime)
0:00:50 – Initial thoughts, experiences with LEGO, and the movie
0:15:15 – Animation, orange chainsaw & laser pieces, “believing in yourself”, and licensing
0:27:00 – (Spoilers here.) Differing views on LEGO building, custom sets, and being creative
0:35:50 – Attention to detail, The LEGO Story, and classifying it as a kids’ movie
0:47:05 – General LEGO talk, Modulars, awful LEGO sets, knock-offs, and disappointments

Theme: Coconut Robot2 (James Pants) / CC BY 3.0
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Final Fantasy

AKOP-FF

This week we’re talking about the Final Fantasy series! With FFXIV in full swing, and Lightning Returns now released, Earl brings in Brent and Tony to talk about the long-running game series, with Stephen jumping on-board a little later. They talk about Tony’s involvement with the Official Strategy Guide, Brent’s impression of the updated MMO, among a ton of other things. They also end up talking about the ridiculous names for titles, and offer Square-Enix some spin-off game ideas. (Very light spoilers, or some so old they don’t matter anymore.)

Guests:
Brent Peckham – “Brently Default”
Tony Gao – “Unredacted: Gao’s Fortune”
Stephen Hanek – “The Late of Us”

Supplementary notes:
Lightning Returns: Complete Official Strategy Guide
Unsong Story – Kickstarter

Audio notes: (1hr. 10min. runtime)
0:00:55 – The FFXIII-3 strategy guide, what’s interesting about the series, and FFXIV
0:08:45 – FFXIII’s story, lead designers & ideologies, Stephen appears, and FF’s problems
0:20:35 – Battle system, FFXV & Kingdom Hearts, and nomenclature
0:27:50 – Unsung Story, Bravely Default, spin-offs, and solving franchise issues
0:36:10 – FFXIII, how Tony worked on the guide, and story vs. gameplay
0:44:10 – Mystic Quest, completionists, FFT, Fire Emblem, and Valkyria Chronicles
0:54:25 – FF13 trilogy, time travel, Crazy Chocobo, FF10, and villains
0:59:35 – Franchise’s future, lack of identity, and going mobile
1:02:40 – Series’ successors, MMOs, F2Ps, RPG issues, and money

Theme: Coconut Robot2 (James Pants) / CC BY 3.0
Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes!
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