Nerd Critic: Recent Episodes
Reel Contender Storytelling
Yes, friends, this is the end.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nerdcritic.substack.com
Listen Now If Barbenheimer spawned its very own movie-baby…it wouldn’t look anything like this.
CJ kicks us off with a story about a bunch of cops and a helicopter outside his apartment. Eventually, we get around to talking Guardians 3.
The basic structure of Dungeons & Dragons lends itself perfectly to film adaptation. Why did it take so long to do this successfully? Probably because the first people who tried it all the way back in the year 2000 shat the bed, inspiring risk-averse studios to avoid the IP for 20 years.
Hallelujah! The curse is broken!
Possibly you thought we had forgotten. Possibly you thought we were above yet another episode about Keanu Reeve’s insanely charismatic serial killer character.
Well you were wrong.
We loved this movie. Yeah, sure, the whole thing is still deeply silly, but what do you want? This thing knows what it is and so do you. We’re here for the ballet of violence, and we are rewarded with a beauty of craft and choreography unmatched.
Come nerd out with us, ya dumb critics.
Along a different timeline, this episode would have gone out at the very end of last year, or the very beginning of this one. Then maybe one timeline over from that, and still relevant, it would have come out right around the Oscars. Instead, thanks to a technological (read: human) failure, it's coming out now.
Dispatches from Inner Space (Jordan's Substack) - thedispatches.substack.com
Growing Up vs Growing Old: A Battle Only a Superhero Can Win (CJ's book) - https://www.amazon.com/CJ-Lindsey/e/B0BBPSXDBL
Nerd Critic covers the two best films in this aging franchise -- the first, and the (probably not) last. Why? Because they're good! Also, to grind some of the rust off before we tackle Wakanda Forever next week.
The multiverse is a favorite trope in big studio blockbusters lately. We talk about two of them: "Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness," and "Everything Everywhere All at Once." Other than their very long titles, these movies couldn't be more different. And one of them is good. As always, you are encouraged to see both before listening.
It’s been more than a YEAR since our last episode. But we’re back. Not like we were before, when we were maniacally releasing two episodes every week, but we’re pretty sure nobody had time for all that noise anyway. In this episode, we accidentally talk about Turning Red for 15 minutes before pumping a whole lot of pent-up Nerd Critic love into the latest iteration of DC’s favorite brooding orphan.
This is it. This is goodbye. Maybe not forever, but definitely for now. If and when people start going back to the movies in actual theaters every week, we might try to resurrect the show.
But if not, if this truly is "the end of all things," please know that we love you all very, very much. Nerd Critic has been one of our proudest achievements, a work of true and lasting passion, and we couldn't be more grateful for the relationship we built with you over the years (years!)
No matter what happens, please remember to always, always, always...
Love movies like a nerd, and respect them like a critic.
...aaand cut.
Normally we'd attach timecodes to everything, but that just sounds like a lot of work rn so.
Movies
That Thing You Do!
Spies in Disguise
Get on up & 21 Bridges (RIP Chadwick Boseman)
Spirited Away
Zathura
Lady Bird
The Farewell
Midsommer
/the social dilemma
TV
Snowpiercer
Into the Dark
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark
Woke
Miracle Workers
The Boys
Raised by Wolves
Ted Lasso
Also, as promised, here's a link to Jordan's new newsletter: watchthisnext.substack.com
Enjoy!
It's Palm Springs! Plus His Dark Material and Legion, both of which come with the Nerd Critic stamp of approval. Also, a short (and important) announcement at the end. Oh, and we spend the first 7 minutes of the episode talking about hard boiled eggs, just so you're aware.
Questions/comments/hatemail? Send it all to ask[at]nerdcriticpodcast.com
2:36 - You invitation to the first ever Nerd Critic Movie Night! JOIN HERE - https://discord.gg/DY6UeV3
5:25 - Introducing our deep dive into Holes
44:55 - Spoiler-free review of Project Power (on Netflix)
46:32 - Jordan makes an rambling, impassioned recommendation to watch Waco (also on Netflix)
51:25 - Q&A - Should Netflix move forward with another live-action remake of Avatar: The Last Airbender?
55:10 - The new poll: https://bit.ly/3jYVS1t -- Go vote!
Movie suggestions? Burning questions? Send them to:
ask [at] nerdcriticpodcast.com
It's frankly astonishing that it's taken us this long to get around to covering Forrest Gump. And we can't even take credit! This is the movie YOU voted for, and so here we are.
6:48 - Our deep dive into Forrest Gump
45:55 - Spoiler-free review of American Pickle
47:48 - Jordan recommends Killing Eve
50:40 - Q&A - Why doesn't my mother like movies of faith?
55:10 - The new poll: https://bit.ly/3jYVS1t -- Go vote!
Movie suggestions? Burning questions? Send them to:
ask@nerdcriticpodcast.com
NOTES
1:08 - Poll Results
4:15 - The deep dive into Honey Boy
36:53 - A spoiler-free review of The Old Guard
40:18 - A spoiler-free review of Greyhound
46:40 - Our short conversation about anime (and why we don't spend much time on it)
51:25 - How to be part of the conversation
LINKS
This week's poll - https://bit.ly/3jYVS1t
Shia LaBeouf YouTube musical number - https://youtu.be/o0u4M6vppCI
Movie suggestions? Burning questions? Send them to:
ask@nerdcriticpodcast.com
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Discussing the discussion of banter
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The explanation of our break
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Updates about what's new in our lives (a lot can change in a month -- mostly for CJ)
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Our radical new plans for how Nerd Critic will become an ongoing conversation
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Polls! Here's a link to the first: nerdcriticpodcast.com
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A breakdown of what to expect from future episodes, and a promise to cut out the boring bits
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A totally unnecessary freakout about a problem that was fixed shortly after we finished recording
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CJ completely misses a FANTASTIC setup, then recovers...reasonably well
(A helpful reminder to listen at 2X speed. It's so much better that way. Trust us.)
Twitter: We're back, and we've got big plans. Want to know what they are? That's what listening is for.
This astoundingly effective directorial debut is a love letter to the radio dramas of yore. We loved it. More, please. In a time when our cinema experiences are totally relegated to streaming content, it's a real treat to sit down in front of something like this.
Will this be the very LAST episode of Nerd Critic ever? (No.) In this episode, we talk ourselves out of covering the movie we planned to cover, and then decide to push pause until the theaters reopen. We're proud to have stubbornly (and stupidly) kept the show going for so long without the magic of the silver screen to sustain us, but it's time to take a break. And we'll be back as soon as Tenet hits the theaters, so keep your candle lit for that grand and glorious day. Also, feel free to keep in touch! For the duration of this overdue pause, we'll be collection recommendations for future Off the Shelf episodes, and any other questions or topics you'd like us to spend time talking about.
Until next time, remember to keep loving movies like a nerd, and respecting them like a critic.
0:40 - Buddy Lindsey (CJ's big brother) introduces the movie
4:25 - Above the line
5:30 - The spoiler-free review (the challenge of spoilers in this movie)
10:10 - Spoilers ahead
16:00 - Jordan thinks he can fix this movie
22:00 - Structural problems
24:55 - Discussing the idea of empathy for self
38:30 - Coming up next week: 7500 on Amazon
1:00 - CJ apologizes for his echoey recording, and Jordan apologizes for bad audio last week. Neither of them realize no one cares.
3:10 - The timing of this movie
4:40 - Above the line (and LOTS of early nerding out over the cast)
11:50 - A fantastic easter egg
12:40 - The spoiler-free overview
15:15 - Jordan burps, and doesn't edit it out
18:50 - The movie plays out like a really cool history lesson
20:00 - SPOILERS ahead (lots of stuff we loved)
24:10 - Flashbacks, music, and vicarious experience
28:50 - The point where we finally let go and get sucked into the vortex of Paul's story arc and Delroy Lindo's apocalyptic performance
37:50 - Shoutout to The Bridge on the River Kwai
40:30 - Time to bring in Black Panther
43:00 - Getting the criticisms out of the way, and acknowledging the weaknesses in the fabric of the movie
48:30 - The respect this film has for all of its characters, and all of the groups of people they represent
56:00 - Next week: Predestination (available to rent) and 7500 (available on Amazon Prime)
2:50 - Does CJ's wife work too much?
4:30 - James Montague / Andrew Patterson, a first-time writer and director
8:00 - Spoiler-free review (you should go watch it!)
14:00 - Spoilers ahead!
17:20 - Jordan's favorite sequence, deconstructed
23:30 - Incredible pacing, especially considering the way it used and relied on audio
27:00 - How the story encourages close listening to characters who deserve to be heard
29:00 - Shout out to The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), and lots of other sci-fi classics
31:15 - Culture of the 1950's
33:00 - Some honest criticisms
39:00 - The difference between a loose end and an effective hanging question
40:00 - The two people we hear the most from are the people who are often not listened to
44:30 - Jordan does his best to make sure CJ doesn't get to say anything
45:30 - Coming up next week: Uncut Gems and Da 5 Bloods, both available to see on Netflix
Once again, we have a request from a loyal listener. We couldn't have been more excited to talk about this exceptionally entertaining and popular movie. It's actually a little embarrassing that we haven't covered it up to this point. Is this podcast called NERD Critic? Whatever.
0:55 - Rachel Reyes explains why she requested Star Trek
6:10 - The meta-data (above the line)
9:20 - Baby Thor!
9:50 - A very, very brief primer on Star Trek, including CJ and Jordan's (unimpressive) history of Star Trek fandom
14:00 - The reason Star Trek was "rebooted"
15:00 - Spoilers ahead! (but...come on, it was 11 years ago)
18:40 - "This is the Star Trek movie I've always wanted to see" -Jordan
20:10 - A shoutout for Megaplex in Jordan Commons
22:40 - Things that JJ Abrams is good at: cold opens, first acts, casting, dialog, pacing (his superpower)
31:20 - Specific example of great pacing (breaking down a sequence)
35:10 - Talking about the characters, the central relationship, and Spock, specifically
46:40 - Nero, the other extreme -- Kirk sans Spock
49:40 - Wrapping it up
51:00 - Coming up next week: The Vast of Night
This is one of those movies that people tend to sleep on, which is unfortunate, because it is not only exceptionally well-crafted, it's also VERY entertaining. We're covering it because it's a Netflix original, and the theaters are still closed. So go stream this and then come listen to us talk about it.
1:00 - Jordan gags on his name 4:27 - Above the line 7:11 - Spoiler free review 11:05 - Spoilers ahead (although, this movie isn't terribly vulnerable to spoilers, so...maybe don't worry about it) 12:50 - How to use flashbacks 16:20 - Biblical imagery and other stylistic choice 21:30 - The planting of thematic flags 24:40 - Liberalism and conservatism, in conversation with each other 30:30 - Relevance to current events -- the value and necessity of truly listening 34:50 - A method of deep listening, and the way to make actual progress 39:20 - Next week: Star Trek (2009) and The Vast of Night
This is a great movie, and this was a really fun episode, but Jordan would like to make the following important note about the recording:
Apologies for the low battery fire alarm beeping in the background of this WHOLE episode. I mean what was I supposed to do? Stop recording and go replace the batteries? Instead of just continuing forward and hoping that the mic wouldn't pick it up? Well I was wrong and you can definitely hear it. The whole time. In addition the crying toddlers. Do me a favor? Blame it on COVID-19, the perfect scapegoat of our times.
Notes:
1:08 - Ayaka Yagi introduces her movie request for this week 3:55 - CJ and Jordan give context for watching and rewatching The Edge of Seventeen 5:35 - Above the line, and Kelly Fremon Craig's career 10:15 - Spoiler free review 11:20 - The justification for the R-rating 13:00 - Spoiling and nerding 15:30 - The dynamic between Nadine and Mr. Bruner 19:30 - A discussion of the various dynamics in Nadine's family, and Nadine's character flaws (and her arc) 24:55 - Nadine and Krista as best friends and foils 30:50 - Nadine & Erwin, plus Nick 37:30 - The sophistication of the plot construction 41:20 - What Nadine's father taught her, and what she needs to learn, as a teenager 44:30 - Nadine's relationship with herself 49:00 - Send your audio requests! And what's coming up next 50:20 - CJ and Jordan struggle with a bad connection RIGHT before the end.
The Lovebirds wastes its two best assets, Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani, by letting the entire burden of comedy rest on their shoulders. We were both looking forward to this movie a lot, and it turned out to be quite the disappointment. If you're interested, watch the first act, then shut it down and check out some of the other movies we talked about in this episode.
4:00 - Discussing the names above the line 6:15 - Our spoiler-free review 8:42 - Jordan's theory about how this movie got made 11:37 - Spoiling and a little bit of nerding 19:20 - Our critical criticisms 26:20 - The deconstruction of a representative scene 33:30 - Next week: The Edge of Seventeen and The Two Popes, both on Netflix
Movies to watch that are better: - The Big Sick - Date Night - Game Night - Neighbors and Neighbors 2
Avengers: Infinity War - TWO YEARS LATER
Remember that moment in Endgame where they killed Thanos and then there was a title card that was all like, "FIVE YEARS LATER," and we were all like "WHOAH." This episode is kind of like that, but way, way less epic.
OK, for real, we started Nerd Critic just over two years ago, right around the time that Infinity War came out (and partly because of it), so that should give you some idea of the importance of this film in Nerd Critic's history. We felt it was a good time to revisit not only the film itself (TWO YEARS LATER), but also our very first episode. Are we any better? Worse? Exactly the disappointing same? See for yourself.
2:00 - Our thoughts about our first episode, after registering 3:30 - A reminder to listen to this show at 2X speed, and why 6:20 - Nerd Critic tropes (making up words, underestimating the runtime of our episodes, man-crushes, and Jordan's rants) 9:30 - Revisiting the points we made about Infinity War 10:00 - Do comic book deaths matter? (And the vicarious fantasies that comic book movies offer.) 16:20 - Will there be a full resolution in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? 18:40 - Can Chris Hemsworth be a leading man? (See: Extraction on Netflix) 21:00 - Love for Chris Evans was well established from day one 22:00 - Does the relationship between Tony Stark and Pepper Potts work? (CJ wins an argument.) 25:00 - Do we like Nebula? A question which leads to a much larger point about the derivative dynamic between Nebula and Gamora 31:00 - OK...we need to talk about time travel (buckle up) 34:00 - Endgame was incredibly sophisticated and successful fan service 39:00 - Two big final points: 1. Pretty good stakes in Infinity War, not so much in Endgame; 2. Thanos' big chance to be meaningful was spent in Infinity War, but it was a miss 44:00 - We get back to arguing about Thanos -- the difference between UNDERSTANDING character motivation and FEELING it. (Spoiler: Jordan wins.) 48:00 - Things that we got wrong (predictions about Endgame) 52:00 - Coming up next (this part is a mess)
Stargirl misses the point of itself
While Julia Hart brought a lovely, grounded aesthetic to the cinematic language, the story, the writing, and much of the acting was quite a disappointment. But hey! We found plenty of things to talk and rant about (as always). Enjoy!
3:00 - Jordan talks about having read the book many years ago 6:50 - Above the line, and some enthusiasm for Julia Hart, and Stargirl being played by actual, successful singer/songwriter Grace VanderWaal 14:20 - The spoiler free review (it's a reach to get to "fine") 19:40 - CJ did the notes! 21:10 - SPOILERS! (Although you shouldn't care.) 27:10 - Jordan basically just steamrolls into criticisms on the back of a compliment CJ tried to give this movie 30:10 - Jordan gets into his MAIN criticism, promises to be brief, and then rants for about 10 minutes on why the movie was an unsuccessful adaptation of the book 40:00 - CJ apologizes for agreeing, then explains the disconnect of stakes that don't feel real 51:00 - Booksmart is a much, much better representation of modern high school, so...go watch that! 52:00 - Next week, we're revisiting 53:00 - Leave a review!
We devoted fully two thirds of this episode to breathless admiration of what may be the best-written show in recent history. Can you guess which platform it's NOT on? While it was fun to pillory Jeffrey Katzenberg's exorbitantly expensive and stupidly-named pet project, it was way more fun to talk about HBO's second, and somehow even more amazing season of Succession.
We've been wanting to do this movie for so long. Was it worth the wait? Well, you'll have to listen to find out, won't you? We're so good at sales.
Notes:
2:00 - On not being alone in front of a computer
4:26 - Above the line
8:10 - Spoiler free review
15:27 - Nerding out with spoilers!
24:40 - Leveling some criticism (stay in the balloon!)
44:00 - What are we talking about next week? Stargirl on Disney+ (and other stuff coming up)
46:00 - A special request: Send us an audio file of you explaining a movie recommendation, and we'll cover it. AND you'll be on the episode, making your case!
Other movies referenced:
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Theory of Everything (the other Felicity Jones & Eddie Redmayne movie)
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Lifeboat
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Gravity
Extraction and our 2nd Birthversary
In this latest Netflix original movie, Chris Hemsworth is a sad god of thunder. While there were serious thematic issues to unpack (and condemn), it was, nonetheless, far better couch fair than we had any right to expect. Plus: a promo for another show! And: a Nerd Critic Birthversary treat!
02:00 - Your Brain on Facts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1347915211
03:40 - Our conversation about Extraction begins
05:20 - Above the line (and particular mention of director Sam Hargrave, an accomplished stunt coordinator)
07:40 - Total failure at name pronunciation
10:10 - Spoiler free review
17:15 - Spoilers ahead! (And lots of nerding out.)
30:20 - Thoughts on a rake
33:40 - Some criticisms and thematic explorations, including thoughts on the purposes and execution of violence in movies -- "there's no such thing as free mayhem"
42:55 - A story made crappier by cynical Hollywood business calculations
47:45 - Next week: Aeronauts!
48:30 - Our 2nd Birthversary promises
51:20 - A fan-made supercut? YES.
Hey guys, Jordan here. So, as I was compiling all these timecode-stamped notes, I made an important discovery: we are a lot more fun to listen to at 2X speed. Maybe you already knew that. Well, if you didn't before, now you do.
The Perks of After Life
This is the last week or our experimental format, so we figured we'd earned some title gore. If you're still confused, read on! Oh, and for those of you who make it through the first few minutes of this episode, we'll just leave this right here: https://youtu.be/Juzy2YVQgw8
0:02:42 - Announcement! ...no more TV :( 0:06:00 - Talking about the Universal/AMC/Regal drama 0:11:45 - The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Netflix) 0:39:40 - After Life (Netflix) 0:57:00 - Coming next week...
We devoted fully two thirds of this episode to breathless admiration of what may be the best-written show in recent history. Can you guess which platform it's NOT on? While it was fun to pillory Jeffrey Katzenberg's exorbitantly expensive and stupidly-named pet project, it was way more fun to talk about HBO's second, and somehow even more amazing season of Succession.
We devoted fully two thirds of this episode to breathless admiration of what may be the best-written show in recent history. Can you guess which platform it's NOT on? While it was fun to pillory Jeffrey Katzenberg's exorbitantly expensive and stupidly-named pet project, it was way more fun to talk about HBO's second, and somehow even more amazing season of Succession.
The Atlantic's review of Quibi: https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/04/quibi-vast-wasteland/609796/
0:04:22 - New Recommendations 0:08:00 - Quibi 0:21:04 - The Most Dangerous Game 0:32:54 - Succession Season 2
CJ'S FAVORITE MOVIE. And one of Jordan's favorite TV shows. Yes, it seems like he has a lot of those, but can you blame him? It's PEAK TV, people! Anyway, the point is that CJ only has ONE favorite movie, and it's a dang good one. Watch, listen, love. How's that for a tagline? Yeah okay we'll keep trying.
0:05:45 - New recommendations 0:10:02 - Succession Season 1 0:49:04 - Sing Street
Our conversation about Clue leads us into a surprisingly painstaking exploration of modern comedies, and Atlanta reminds us, once again, of Donald Glover's unrelenting creative genius. It was a good week for streaming. Here's to another.
0:04:52 - Recommendations
0:11:35 - Clue
0:36:43 - Atlanta
1:14:00 - Wrapping Up
Dixon Gaines article about Clue
Dawes "5 miles away"
If our show had always been about TV, we would have covered The Office long ago. In this time of loneliness and desperation, a great American sitcom (based on an obscure British sitcom) seems like the perfect medicine. PLUS! A crowd-pleasing streamable movie, and one of Jordan's favorite series on Netflix.
0:05:18 - New recommendations 0:13:48 - Fighting with My Family 0:30:00 - The End of the F***ing World 0:55:09 - The Office 1:27:18 - Closing Remarks
It turns out a person can't reasonably plow through 60 episodes of an hourlong drama in a week. This is a learning experience for all of us, OK? You can trust that this week, our streaming assignment for you will be much more manageable. In the meantime, enjoy our best efforts to cover what we saw. And please feel free to skip around using the following table of contents:
00:04:50 - New recommendations! 00:09:07 - "About Time" 00:22:39 - "Community" 00:31:00 - "Breaking Bad" 01:09:55 - Why you should watch "Better Call Saul" 01:16:13 - Closing Remarks
This week, we bring you a long-awaited conversation about a much-ballyhooed TV show. But wait! There's more! Due to the massive disruption in the world of movies and theaters, we are CHANGING THE FORMAT OF OUR SHOW. Until movie theaters reopen, Nerd Critic will now be your best binge-watching companion. Take a listen to this week's special episode to get all the juicy (but still sanitary) details.
0:12:00 - Recommendations
0:18:30 - The Mandalorian
0:30:40 - Bojack Horseman
0:50:10 - Stranger Things
1:01:15 - The Big Sick
1:06:15 - "Challenging" movies
1:21:30 - Closing remarks
This movie came out nine years ago, and boy does it hold us, especially considering certain current anxieties. We start this one off with a PSA about COVID-19, and then give the full Nerd Critic treatment to one of the best disaster movies ever made.
Taika Waititi isn't the first filmmaker to find a way to explore the horrors of Nazi-Germany with the tools of comedy, but he does a fine job of it. And at the heart of the farce is a sincere and grounded story buoyed by pitch perfect performances across the board. We love this movie, and so should you. It's about time we talk about it.
This is the horror movie we've been waiting for, never relying on jump scares or gore, and keeping us on the edge of our seats right up to an exquisitely satisfying conclusion. Even more, it cuts deep into the thematic marrow of domestic abuse and its consequences. See it. And then come join us for a conversation.
Right along with Jordan, who often watches it as a joyful birthday tradition. If you've been hankering for a pure nerd-out episode, this one's for you. We also manage to dig into why this movie works so well despite its insistent lack of depth or narrative resonance.
Everybody loves Mr. Harrison Ford, but not everyone will love the entirely computer generated dog. That's OK! There are some real things to love about this movie, and it is, if nothing else, a fascinating study of the cross-section between live action and animation. In other words, it could have been worse. Oh, friends, it could have been so much worse.
We don't always have guests on our show, but when we do, we get real good ones. Like Davey Morrison! Jordan and CJ were tough sells, but with his humble wisdom, he managed to convince us both of its merits. Jordan reluctantly concedes that Scorsese's a pretty good filmmaker.
We've heard over and over again that you guys love to hear us fight, and we got pretty heated this time. CJ tried to make the case that criticisms against this kind of movie are unfair. You can pretty well imagine how Jordan responded. But you don't need to! You can listen! So do that.
We went live again, and dare we say we improved a bit? You'll have to be the judge. Regardless, we had a great time with some of our bestest fans, and now you can listen to the whole thing without having to see our dumb faces. Podcasting!
It may not be the best of the recent DC offerings, but it's certainly, CERTAINLY not the worst. In this episode, we find plenty to nerd out about, and then wonder a while about why we didn't walk away more satisfied.
A mopey story of revenge with a dreary setup and a confusing and unsatisfying conclusion. So maybe don't worry too much about spoilers this time around, and join us for a sincere conversation about what went wrong, and what we wish had gone right with this sleepy January offering.
Join us tomorrow (2/4) at 8pm PST for our first live episode EVER!
Here are the live stream links!
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nerdcritic/posts/471761546826918 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHUBbmLwPL32MpAV07OeyAg/live
A chillingly effective illustration of socio-economic reality, this might be one of the most important works of nihilism we've ever seen. But boy does the dark comedy help that bitter pill go down.
Without the speed-ramping (which he seems to have shelved after the embarrassing misfire that was Aladdin), all we're left with is witty dialogue, clever framing devices, his obsession with the world of crime and criminals, and an increasingly inevitable comparison...
Yes, she should have been nominated for Best Director. We'll talk all about it during our Oscars episode(s). But for now, can we please just lose our minds over how exquisite this adaptation is?
This movie had NO RIGHT to be this good, but who are we to argue with all the joy? This was the Bad Boys movie we always wanted, the one Michael Bay probably thought he was making back in the 90s.
It will make you cry unless you are dead. That should have been the logline for Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. CJ and Jordan are full grown men who are also very much not dead. You do the math.
It's not much of a spoiler to tell you that NINE Oscar-nominated 1917 made it onto both CJ and Jordan's Top 10 of 2019. Yes, it was that good, and this was a fun episode to make. Not least because we had the privilege of attending a Q&A with Krysty Wilson-Cairns, who gave us a lot more fuel to burn in our lively discussion.
This week’s Off the Shelf episode covers one of the most significant movies to come out in 2019 that stars both Jack Black and Dwayne Johnson, AND is still in theaters. OK, the truth is we failed to publish it last month and would have felt bad if we never published it at all, so here you go.
Everyone else is doing it so we figured we might as well do it too. Here are our Top 10 movies of 2019! CJ and Jordan each made their own lists, and boy does it show -- especially at the end. Yes, that's us bating you to listen to the whole thing.
Jordan went and crashed The Next Reel again for THEIR episode about The Rise of Skywalker, except THIS time, they gave us their whole episode to put here! On our very own feed! Enjoy.
This week marks the end of a saga that began more than 40 years ago, and influenced not only countless other movies, but also the very fabric of culture itself. The Rise of Skywalker turned out to be nearly as divisive as The Last Jedi, but for nearly opposite reasons. We need to talk about it.
We’ve been talking about doing an episode on The Last Jedi pretty much since we started this podcast. So now, after 18 months of hype, it’s finally here. And by “it,” we mostly mean a whole lot of Jordan mounting an impassioned defense of the movie against its many haters. Meanwhile, CJ continues to be strongly OK with the entire Star Wars franchise.
Our week of Star Wars has begun! We’re kicking it off with The Force Awakens, and guys -- it was even more fun than we thought it would be. This is going to be a good week.
Ford v Ferrari is a movie that looks and feels like it was build by Ford in 1967. Is it the most thematically significant or narratively satisfying movie you’ll see this year? No. But it sure is a good time!
Every week, we bring you a deep dive into the biggest box office winners. But are they also the best films every weekend? Don't answer that. It's rhetorical. For our Off the Shelf episode this week, we wanted to share some of our favorites of 2019 that didn't win any weekends.
While there’s a special pleasure in being surprised by how good a movie is, having our high expectations met is such a relief. Especially after a string of disappointments a in recent months. Thank you, Rian Johnson, for bringing it. As always.
Good Will Hunting came out in 1997, but it's still one of the most quoted movies ever. It was also the suggestion of CJ's dad, who joins us for this Thanksgiving-spirited episode. Come geek out with us about Matt Damon and impossibly good writing.
Frozen II marks the next installment in a commandingly successful franchise, but it deserves a fair and balanced review, independent of that blinding context. Listen, it's really hard to write a description for an episode about this kind of movie. You try.
Rian Johnson is four and oh so far, and we don’t expect Knives Out to be his first miss. Join us for some fanboy coverage of this profoundly talented filmmaker’s enviable career. If you don’t love him as much as we do by the end of the episode, or you owe us twenty dollars.
By now it is clear that Charlie's Angels did NOT win the weekend. Why? Well, we have some ideas. Also, we found ourselves deep in the rabbit hole of why so many movies are just plain OK these days, and some of crucial differences between mediocrity and greatness in storytelling.
Another historic moment for Nerd Critic -- a re-release! Don’t worry, there’s plenty of spankin’ new content in here, too, but we wanted to revisit our old conversation to help ourselves (and you, dear listener) prepare for Disney’s next billion dollar princess powerhouse.
Once again, CJ and Jordan come to blows. But this time, we had a guest to feel embarrassed in front of. Sides were taken. Feelings were hurt. In spite of it all, Doctor Sleep was a fascinating study, and it was hard to stop talking when we ran out of time.
If you've spent any time in the last four years NOT being impressed by Mad Max: Fury Road, then SHAME ON YOU. But don't worry, we'll help you get right again. Join us as we nerd out about what is probably the best action movie of the decade.
Terminator: Dark Fate may not have been relevant enough to dominate the box office this year (witness Jordan's sadface), but it certainly inspires a range of fascinating topics for discussion. Join us as we run straight into the warm embrace of living tissue over metal endoskeleton, which turns out to be a not-bad metaphor for this movie.
In preparation for Doctor Sleep, we tackled its predecessor, one of the most important horror movies of all time. Join us for a conversation about how and why The Shining is still considered by many to be the scariest movie they've ever seen.
Black and Blue is a lot like Rudy, who wasn't real good at football, but had so much heart you couldn't help but love him. This movie doesn't deliver a lot of thrills or suspense, but boy does it have heart. In this episode, we dig into why we enjoyed this film so much, and why we think you should, too, despite its obvious weaknesses.
Have you ever wanted to completely understand all the Terminator movies? Have you ever wondered how many there even are, and whether there might be a TV show, too? Probably not, but we'll answer all those questions anyway! Consider this episode your complete guide to this famous and troubled franchise. We promise to prepare you to have the best experience possible at the upcoming Terminator: Dark Fate.
CJ and Jordan once again find themselves at odds over the Zombieland sequel. Though they both put up an impressive fight, Jordan reigned it in, because he ALREADY shared ALL of his thoughts on another show called The Next Reel. Go check it out!
https://thenextreel.com/film-board/zombieland-double-tap/
Is it a zombie movie? Is it an action movie? A comedy? A romance? A bromance? Yes! Jordan's seen it six times, and CJ just saw it for the first time, but they both agree, Zombieland is the best buddy zom-rom-com ever made.
We can love Will Smith all we want, but Gemini Man was NOT good. We wish it was. But you definitely shouldn’t wait to see it before listening to this episode. Because it’ll be more fun than the movie itself. We’re not being negative, we promise...just honest.
A month-long competition comes down to this moment: CJ fighting for his life with a challenger who is deeply gifted in Nerd knowledge. Will CJ keep his title? Or will Nerd Critic crown a new Resident Nerd? You’ll have to listen to find out.
If you want to know how to make CJ and Jordan nerd out in a big way, start talking about Will Smith. This was such a fun episode. BONUS -- we were able to arrive at some very insightful (read: baseless) conclusions about his career since 2008. Talking about the Fresh Prince turned out to be the perfect way to kick off the next 100 episodes of Nerd Critic.
We did it, everybody. One HUNDRED. And what an episode this turned out to be. By popular demand, we invited the venerable Dixon Gaines back to be our guest for this seminal occasion, and he and Jordan fought mightily for CJ's soul. In the end, CJ opted for shared custody and a happily-ever-after. Which, after spending so much time with Joker, was desperately appreciated.
Abominable didn't do terribly well at the box office, and we have some theories as to why. Join us for a thoughtful conversation about how good stories do and don't get developed, and enjoy a behind-the-scenes anecdote about CJ and Jordan's first conversation about this movie, before either of them had seen it yet.
Filmspotting, the definitive cinephile podcast, once ran a poll that asked the question: "What is the best comic book movie adaptation of all time?" The options were A) The Dark Knight, and B) Any other movie. This just about sums up the significance of this film, and we could not be more excited to do a deep dive into an inarguably significant entry into the catalogue of great American movies. And if you're looking for some great pre-game conversation about Joker, you could do a lot worse than this episode.
We need to talk about Rambo. Like, all of it. First we should give Sly credit for helping to launch an impressive number of giant franchises. Back in 1982, First Blood was a gritty, political action thriller with a surprising amount of heart, but it's getting harder to ignore the way a movie like Last Blood feels in 2019.
Special thanks to Aaron Woodall for lending his insights and support as we unpacked this swollen American institution.
Mormon and the Methhead - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-and-the-meth-head/id1357356830
We know you love to hear us fight, so we brought our knives to this episode. CJ came out swinging with words like "pretentious" and "stop yelling." Jordan mounted a grand defense supported almost entirely by a wildly oversimplified explanation of the movie's primary flaw. But, at the end of the day, we agreed that we both love space movies. And this is a pretty good space movie.
We're back with another Christopher Nolan movie. A lot of people jumped on the plot-hole-central bandwagon back when it came out. But we think that may be an oversimplified explanation of what was wrong with this movie, and also an unfair dismissal of all the things that were so great about it. Jump on in, the conversation's fine!
Do you like horror movies? Before you answer that, you should know that CJ didn't think he did until he saw Haunt. We loved this movie, and we think you will, too. That is, if you can stay open minded about disturbing images and inventive slasher gore. If you're still unconvinced, listen to the first part of this episode and see if we can change your mind.
Fight Club made one of the biggest cultural splashes of any movie in the past thirty years. In this episode, we talk about why, and explore whether this late 90s phenomenon holds up under the scrutiny of 2019 sensibilities. Plus, Brad Pitt.
We looked forward to this for a long time, and we were not disappointed. OK, maybe IT Chapter Two was a little disappointing, but Scott Beck and Bryan Woods were truly excellent guests -- everything we could have hoped for and more. Not only did we unpack IT Chapter Two in a way that left us all feeling a bit wiser, we also got to geek out about how much we loved Haunt (their new movie out TODAY -- go see it!), and revisit some of the salient themes from A Quiet Place. Man, what a great episode. (Can you hear our satisfied sigh from all the way over there?)
As the highest-grossing horror movie of all time, and with a hotly anticipated sequel clown-dancing its way into theaters, this was a movie we knew we had to cover. CJ even managed to watch it AND survive. Listen as your favorite Nerd Critic duo slather appreciation on and uncover a host of surprising profundities in this wildly popular Stephen King adaptation. Also, look forward to Friday, when we'll unpack and dig into the sequel, IT Chapter Two, with "A Quiet Place" writers Bryan Woods and Scott Beck.
If you haven't seen this movie, see if the first part of this episode can't convince you. It's way better and way more fun than anyone had a right to expect. If you HAVE seen it, join us for a conversation about gore as slapstick and the problem of old money. Plus, listen for a pretty sweet announcement. We're excited, and you should be, too.
You may or may not have heard of Blumhouse Productions, but you've heard of Blumhouse Productions' productions. Today, we talk about the unique strategy the company has used to become so successful, and we're also FINALLY talking about one of their most beloved films: Get Out, Jordan Peele's writer-directorial debut and masterwork. And if one of your Nerd Critic hosts starts claiming to have been named after Mr. Peele, please just humor him.
You know what? Sure. It's been a slow summer. But guess what else! We liked this movie. It was fun. It had good action. And while it may not have delivered the kinds of complex moral exploration we've come to expect from this franchise (...ahem), it sure did inspire a rich and thoughtful conversation between your favorite Nerd and Critic. Enjoy.
Fooled ya! OK here's the story. We WERE going to talk about 300 (in honor of Gerard Butler's somewhat abortive career), but then we came to our senses and pivoted. HARD. Today, we finally, finally talked about one of the movies that has had the greatest impact not only on CJ and Jordan, but on nearly everyone. And we could swear that time slowed down the deeper we dove into this Christopher Nolan classic. Or maybe it sped up? Either way, come enjoy this shared dream with us.
Regardless of anything, Cate Blanchett is wonderful. Join us in our appreciation. Also, come explore the absence of a question mark in the title of this movie. On Nerd Critic, we always address the most urgent issues and deliver the most meaningful insights.
According to IMDb, The Shawshank Redemption is the best (or at least most popular) movie ever, and that will probably never change. How did that happen? We have some ideas. But also, we have some very positive thoughts about the movie itself. Because, while it might not be the best movie in whole past and future history of movies, it certainly is a damn good one.
If you don't show up for the IP (seriously, who has even heard of this?), come for the cast. Does this movie portend adaptations of other Vertigo titles? If you didn't understand that last sentence at all, well I guess you'll just have to listen to the episode, won't you.
Did you know CJ has seen ALL EIGHT of the Fast and Furious movies MULTIPLE TIMES? Jordan certainly didn’t. But it’s a good thing, because it turns out there’s no one better qualified to nerd out about these movies. Join us for an earnest (if belated) conversation about this singular, cacophonous franchise.
Hobbs and Shaw was perhaps exactly what everyone was expecting. Whether that’s a good or bad thing is in the eye of the (literal) beholder. We were actually amazed at how much there was to talk about. (Plus: some neat announcements!)
Featuring actual women! It's taken Nerd Critic a long time to cover Wonder Woman in an Off the Shelf episode, and it's partly because they were waiting for the right guests to come along. Cassidy Davis and Mallory Fuccella did not disappoint, and are, as expected, charming, hilarious, and insightful. You don't want to miss this episode.
Support our amazing guests by checking out ADULTING!
http://adultingwebseries.com/episodes/
If you haven't seen this movie yet -- and the box office numbers suggest that possibility -- you should. In today's episode, CJ and Jordan both discover that Quentin Tarantino's latest film is also their favorite of his. And, as we all know, the Nerd Critic consensus is the only one that really matters.
This week is the BIG WEEK. We haave officially launched Nerd Critic (to the) Max! Listen to the episode to understand the name.
All the things you need to know will always be in our weekly newsletter… Get on it!
You can also join other Nerds & Critics in lively topical conversations every day on Facebook and Instagram.
Shownotes:
This week is the BIG WEEK. We haave officially launched Nerd Critic (to the) Max! Listen to the episode to understand the name.
All the things you need to know will always be in our weekly newsletter… Get on it!
You can also join other Nerds & Critics in lively topical conversations every day on Facebook and Instagram.
Jon Favreau has worn every hat -- he's an accomplished writer, director, and actor, with enough talent for all three that he could have made a career out of any of them, and that's what makes him an outstanding producer. So far, it's as an ongoing producer in the MCU that he's had perhaps the greatest impact, but even bigger things are in store. It should come as no great surprise that we are huge, HUGE fans of Mr. Favreau. With The Lion King right around the corner, we decided this was the perfect opportunity to dedicate an Off The Shelf episode to him and his work.
Most of the time we cover BIG movies. Sometimes we cover movies that are embiggened by their quality. And then, sometimes, we do a deep dive into movies like Stuber. Here's the thing: it's better than you'd expect. Not great, but not terrible. And for a buddy comedy, you could do a whole lot worse. PLUS: some surprisingly relevant and well-handled thematic aspirations. Come get Stuber with us.
This is one of the most beloved sub-franchises in the MCU, which is why we couldn't be more excited to get reeeeeaaal salty. Don't worry, no hate, just a lot of strong opinions and some bold and incorrigible griping, underneath of which is that strong foundation of nerd love that keeps us grounded.
Shownotes:
- Hey, about that weekly newsletter… Get on it!
- You can also join other Nerds & Critics in lively topical conversations every day on Facebook and Instagram.
You knew we were going to dive deep into the latest Peter Parker adventure. You DIDN'T know we would be featuring our very first Nerd Critic guest! After eight years of writing with the team behind Conan, and now as the associate editor at DC Universe, Dixon Gaines ( @dixontrotter ) might be the funniest nerd and the nerdiest comedian you’ve ever met. If you don't have as much fun listening to him as we did, then you're probably dead inside.
Shownotes:
- Want to follow Dixon Gaines on IG? Here you go!
- Guess what we still have a weekly newsletter. Get on it!
- You can also join other Nerds & Critics in lively topical conversations every day on Facebook and Instagram.
The best drumming movie ever (and there are a surprising number of drumming movies), the best JK Simmons performance ever, the most outrageous and challenging depiction of a teacher/student relationship ever. Forgive our hyperbole, but we LOVE THIS MOVIE. It’s hard to stay calm about it.
Shownotes:
- Are you on the newsletter mailing list yet? No? Get on it!
- You can also join other Nerds & Critics in lively topical conversations every day on Facebook and Instagram.
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All my troubles seemed so far away
Now it looks as though they're here to stay
Oh, I believe in yesterday
Maybe you love The Beatles. Maybe you love Danny Boyle. Maybe you love Lily James (seriously though, you have to love Lily James). Wherever your affections lay, listen up, we’ve got lots to say.
Shownotes:
- Our weekly email newsletter is up and running like a champion. Get on it!
- You can also join other Nerds & Critics in lively topical conversations every day on Facebook and Instagram.
```
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Is Slumdog Millionaire Danny Boyle’s best film? More importantly, is CJ a damned fascist for not having seen it until LAST WEEKEND? We address these questions and more in this week’s Off the Shelf episode!
Shownotes:
- There’s super Nerd Critical extras in our weekly newsletter so... get on it!
- Great stuff is always (or at least frequently) happening on Facebook and Instagram. If you’re into that sort of thing.
```
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What’s better than three talking-toys movies? FOUR TALKING TOYS MOVIES!! The long drought of disappointing movies has ended, and we are practically drowning in our love for this franchise. BEHOLD THE GLORY OF PIXAR. LONG LIVE PIXAR.
Shownotes:
- Do you love weekly emails more than your own mother? Well good news we’ve got one. Get on it!
- You can also join other Nerds & Critics in lively topical conversations every day on Facebook and Instagram.
```
This week, we had no choice but to pull Toy Story off the shelf to see if it still blows our minds. (Spoiler: it does.) Listen to us breathlessly number all the reasons Toy Story deserves to be considered one of the best animated movies EVER. Also, some starry-eyed hope (and a teeny little bit of anxiety) about the 4th installment 24 years later.
```
Shownotes:
- You really should read the Wikipedia article on Toy Story. It’s super interesting.
- We’ll be covering Toy Story 4 this coming Friday.
-
We’re live on Himalaya! If you missed last week’s BIG ANNOUNCEMENT, here are the main points:
- You can find pretty much every podcast ever on the Himalaya app.
- It’s also sort of like Patreon, but just for podcasts -- in other words, you can do a bunch of special stuff for “premium members” (aka, people who are willing to support the podcast with a couple bucks every month). We’re DEFINITELY going to do that, but we’ll fill you in on all the details later.
- For now, if you have ANY interest in improving your podcast-listening experience, we super encourage you to try listening to Nerd Critic on Himalaya.
- If you aren’t interested, no worries, Nerd Critic will always be available everywhere, for free.
- Our weekly email newsletter is up and running like a champion. Get on it!
- You can also join other Nerds & Critics in lively topical conversations every day on Facebook and Instagram.
```
Did Men in Black International measure up to the original classic? Of course not! How could it? But there’s plenty to talk about anyway.
```
Shownotes:
- A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Nerd Critic is now on Himalaya!
Himalay is one of the cool and crazy things happening in the world of podcasting right now.
We know that you guys are listening to Nerd Critic on all kinds of platforms, like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Last FM, and probably at least a dozen others. Himalaya is looking to become the best of all of them.
Here are some other things you should know:
+ You can find pretty much every podcast ever on the app.
+ It’s also sort of like Patreon, but just for podcasts -- in other words, you can do a bunch of special stuff for “premium members” (aka, people who are willing to support the podcast with a couple bucks every month). We’re DEFINITELY going to do that, but we’ll fill you in on all the details later.
+ For now, if you have ANY interest in improving your podcast-listening experience, we super encourage you to try listening to Nerd Critic on Himalaya.
+ If you aren’t interested, no worries, Nerd Critic will always be available everywhere, for free.
- There’s super Nerd Critical extras in our weekly newsletter so... get on it!
- Great stuff is always (or at least frequently) happening on Facebook and Instagram. If you’re into that sort of thing.
Here comes the Men In Black!!! Any movie with Will Smith at his prime is
worth talking about. Especially when that movie is as good as this one.
It’s time for the talk. About Dark Phoenix. Hey, it’s not that bad! Okay,
it’s pretty bad, but here’s a silver lining: you don’t need to worry about
seeing it before diving into our episode about it. We promise it’ll be even
more fun than actually watching the movie. (Not that the bar was terribly
high…)
There are a lot of X-Men movies. In this episode, Jordan and CJ discuss
their favorite of the franchise and arguably the best one yet.
The lizard, the myth, the legend - Godzilla is back! CJ and Jordan discuss
the fun they have watching giant monsters fight and the boredom they feel
watching humans try to carry a story.
Unfortunately, Robin Williams was NOT part of our discuss for Aladdin
(2019). So, in honor of the man himself, we discuss the ever polarizing
Steven Spielberg 90's film.
In this world of unnecessary remakes and reboots, CJ and Jordan talk about
the live-action remake of the Disney classic, Aladdin.
Nerd hate - when passionate people feel a sense of entitlement and
ownership over something they have nothing to do with and decide to channel
that feeling through hating and hurtful words and actions. Not ok.
CJ and Jordan discuss the third chapter in this booming franchise. It's
violent, it's mysterious, and a whole lot of fun!
Head shots, face punches, and a beautiful violent dance - just some of the
words CJ and Jordan use to describe The Boogyman.
Got to watch them all! Jordan and CJ discuss the cuteness, problems, and
strengths of the live action film adaptation of our animated-video-game
classic!
In honor of the badass mothers everywhere, we discuss the action of Sarah
Connor and her son destined for greatness.
SPOILERS FOR AVENGERS: ENDGAME!! It's been a full year of Nerd Critic and
we celebrate with some cake and talking about Iron Man!
With Avengers: Endgame having just hit the big screen, CJ and Jordan rank
all the MCU movies from worst to best.
Jordan and CJ discuss “Missing Link”, the latest from the stop motion
animation studio, Laika.
Chris(topher?) Nolan is a genius, no question. Jonathan Nolan can write...
like... really well. But is this their best movie yet?
Watching this movie was Hell. But in a good way? You'll have to listen to
CJ and Jordan talk about their experience when watching the new (and
improved?) Hellboy.
As requested, Jordan and CJ discuss the unpopular opinion that Frozen is
actually a bad movie.
One of CJ's favorite movies with a raw and personal story told in the
landscape of the UFC. An interesting combo that shouldn't work, but does.
CJ and Jordan discuss 2011's Warrior.
Another live-action remake of a beloved animated classic. The only problem.
- this one isn't very good. Jordan might even say terrible.
Disney has had is ups and its... well... ups... it's had ups. CJ and Jordan
talk about some of the things they like about Disney and potentially some
of the stuff that doesn't seem to be going in the right direction.
Jordan and CJ go back in time to talk about the movie that came out in the
past and goes back to the past just to have to get Back to the Future.
Participant Media is at it again with a science fiction thriller. CJ and
Jordan discuss the subnarritives and elements of this movie that worked and
fell short.
In anticipation for the 2019 reboot, CJ and Jordan discuss the Hellboy
movies as requested by one of our loyal listeners.
Marvel finally did it! The rocked our world with a female super hero lead!
Jordan and CJ talk about the latest in the MCU and what it did right vs the
things it could have done better.
Participant Media was CJ's inspiration and has made some of the most
socially relevant movies in recent memory. Listen and CJ and Jordan discuss
what is special about Participant Media!
This weeks conversation centers around the three Oscar winning "Roma". A
masterpiece that might not be for everyone.
Toothless and Hiccup are back and so are CJ and Jordan! The Hidden World had some not-so-hidden problems but still took you away on an adventure! Here are how CJ and Jordan feel the movie succeeded and struggled.
The Academy Awards are over and there is so much to talk about!!! Jordan
and CJ talk about the good and the bad of 2019's Oscars.
ALITA & HDD2U - SHOW NOTES
Nerd Critic covers TWO WHOLE MOVIES in this episode: Alita: Battle Angel, and Happy Death Day 2U. It was very probably a mistake to tackle so much in less than an hour, but these heroic hosts’ courage knows no bounds. Are James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez an unstoppable filmmaking duo? Can the second installment in a clever genre-bender prove it deserves to exist beyond the cynical profit-mongering of the studio that greenlit it? You’ll hear the True Answers to these questions and more in this slightly-too-long episode.
Expect the following:
- CJ shows up to work, even when he’s sick
- Jordan drones on WAY too long about Happy Death Day 2U, because CJ didn’t see it, and Jordan’s no good on his own.
- Coverage of Alita starts at about 16 minutes, so feel free to jump ahead
- A thorough breakdown of how the characters are built in this movie
- We recast a scene between Alita and Hugo with Superman and Lois Lane. This is probably the best part of the episode. It starts at about 38 minutes.
- The ways in which Alita was written to be the first of more movies
- Jordan leans in for special note to James Cameron
Next week, the Oscars Post-show! Plus, How to Train Your Dragon 3. AND PLUS, a special announcement. FINALLY PLUS, the WINNER of the Oscars Contest will be announced! Will next week b the most exciting week of the year so far? No question.
Links:
The Oscar Predictions Contest is open until
This Episode on iTunes
This Episode’s Permalink
Nerd Critic Group
Reel Contender Facebook page
Our podcast on iTunes (for the review-love)
ALITA & HDD2U - SHOW NOTES
Nerd Critic covers TWO WHOLE MOVIES in this episode: Alita: Battle Angel, and Happy Death Day 2U. It was very probably a mistake to tackle so much in less than an hour, but these heroic hosts’ courage knows no bounds. Are James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez an unstoppable filmmaking duo? Can the second installment in a clever genre-bender prove it deserves to exist beyond the cynical profit-mongering of the studio that greenlit it? You’ll hear the True Answers to these questions and more in this slightly-too-long episode.
Expect the following:
CJ shows up to work, even when he’s sick
Jordan drones on WAY too long about Happy Death Day 2U, because CJ didn’t see it, and Jordan’s no good on his own.
Coverage of Alita starts at about 16 minutes, so feel free to jump ahead
A thorough breakdown of how the characters are built in this movie
We recast a scene between Alita and Hugo with Superman and Lois Lane. This is probably the best part of the episode. It starts at about 38 minutes.
The ways in which Alita was written to be the first of more movies
Jordan leans in for special note to James Cameron
Next week, the Oscars Post-show! Plus, How to Train Your Dragon 3. AND PLUS, a special announcement. FINALLY PLUS, the WINNER of the Oscars Contest will be announced! Will next week b the most exciting week of the year so far? No question.
Links:
The Oscar Predictions Contest is open until
This Episode on iTunes
This Episode’s Permalink
Nerd Critic Group
Reel Contender Facebook page
Our podcast on iTunes (for the review-love)
THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART - SHOW NOTES
It’s finally here! Nerd Critic goes ape$%!# on the latest installment in the Lego cinematic empire. Though he doesn’t admit it in the show, Jordan has been an obsessive fan of Legos for his whole life, and though HE doesn’t admit it in the show, CJ never played with Legos at all. Because he is an alien from a sadder and less fun universe. Can this loud and crazy sequel carry the joy of Legos into the heart of a benighted soul? Can it satisfy the inner-child yearnings of all the regular people in the world? Find out in this very episode!
Expect the following:
- The expectations set by The Lego Movie in 2014
- How many Lego movies ARE there? We talk a little bit about all of them.
- Phil Lord & Chris Miller -- how they have influenced this franchise
- The three “writers” of any movie
- A lot of things we LOVED, including how awesome Legos are as a canvas for storytelling
- An exploration of the various and very ambitious themes
- We unpack the unique narrative posture of this film
- The plot -- successes and pitfalls
- Time travel -- neat trick or total disaster?
- Some small changes that might have made a big difference in a very busy plot
- How comedy works (and doesn’t) in the latest installment
- A shoutout to Animal Logic, the wizards behind the animation style
- Why this movie wasn’t as successful at the box office as the studio had predicted
- The best way forward -- where do Lego movies go from here?
- CJ’s full name!
Tune in next week to hear our incredibly insightful discussion of TWO movies:
Alita: Battle Angel & Happy Death Day 2 U
Links:
The Oscar Predictions Contest is still open!
This Episode on iTunes
This Episode’s Permalink
Nerd Critic Group
Reel Contender Facebook page
Our podcast on iTunes (for the review-love)
THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART - SHOW NOTES
It’s finally here! Nerd Critic goes ape$%!# on the latest installment in the Lego cinematic empire. Though he doesn’t admit it in the show, Jordan has been an obsessive fan of Legos for his whole life, and though HE doesn’t admit it in the show, CJ never played with Legos at all. Because he is an alien from a sadder and less fun universe. Can this loud and crazy sequel carry the joy of Legos into the heart of a benighted soul? Can it satisfy the inner-child yearnings of all the regular people in the world? Find out in this very episode!
Expect the following:
The expectations set by The Lego Movie in 2014
How many Lego movies ARE there? We talk a little bit about all of them.
Phil Lord & Chris Miller -- how they have influenced this franchise
The three “writers” of any movie
A lot of things we LOVED, including how awesome Legos are as a canvas for storytelling
An exploration of the various and very ambitious themes
We unpack the unique narrative posture of this film
The plot -- successes and pitfalls
Time travel -- neat trick or total disaster?
Some small changes that might have made a big difference in a very busy plot
How comedy works (and doesn’t) in the latest installment
A shoutout to Animal Logic, the wizards behind the animation style
Why this movie wasn’t as successful at the box office as the studio had predicted
The best way forward -- where do Lego movies go from here?
CJ’s full name!
Tune in next week to hear our incredibly insightful discussion of TWO movies:
Alita: Battle Angel & Happy Death Day 2 U
Links:
The Oscar Predictions Contest is still open!
Nerd Critic Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/230633404336002/
Reel Contender Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/thereelcontender/
Our podcast on iTunes (for the review-love): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/nerd-critic/id1387225385
If you want to be FULLY prepared for the 2019 Oscars...well, you a lot worse than jump into this episode of Nerd Critic. CJ and Jordan have lots to say about the history and relevance of the Oscars, and what an Academy Award is actually worth. Join us as we geek out about some of the nominations, and whine about the movies that were passed over. If you thought Nerd Critic wasn’t going to deep dive the Oscars, you were SO WRONG.
Expect the following:
- A discussion of the history and relevance of the Oscars (and The Academy)
- Controversies!
- The nominations we’re most excited about
- The nominations we wish would have happened
- Two categories that should DEFINITELY exist, but don’t
- An introduction of the official Nerd Critic Oscar Predictions Contest!
Tune in next week to hear us go all Nerd Critic on Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
Links:
The Oscar Predictions Contest!
This Episode on iTunes
This Episode’s Permalink
Nerd Critic Top Ten of 2018
Nerd Critic Group
Reel Contender Facebook page
Our podcast on iTunes (for the review-love)
If you want to be FULLY prepared for the 2019 Oscars...well, you a lot worse than jump into this episode of Nerd Critic. CJ and Jordan have lots to say about the history and relevance of the Oscars, and what an Academy Award is actually worth. Join us as we geek out about some of the nominations, and whine about the movies that were passed over. If you thought Nerd Critic wasn’t going to deep dive the Oscars, you were SO WRONG.
Expect the following:
A discussion of the history and relevance of the Oscars (and The Academy)
Controversies!
The nominations we’re most excited about
The nominations we wish would have happened
Two categories that should DEFINITELY exist, but don’t
An introduction of the official Nerd Critic Oscar Predictions Contest!
Tune in next week to hear us go all Nerd Critic on Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
Links:
The Oscar Predictions Contest!
This Episode on iTunes
This Episode’s Permalink
Nerd Critic Top Ten of 2018
Nerd Critic Group
Reel Contender Facebook page
Our podcast on iTunes (for the review-love)
Today, Nerd Critic discusses the WB/DCEU behemoth AQUAMAN. You want in-depth observations about the exquisite bro-ness of Jason Momoa? Oh, you’ll get it. You want a cogent and insightful overview of the character’s history, and how he fits into the DC comic universe? You’ll get that too. How about a manic, breathless rant about the movie’s explosive, operatic climax? Buckle up.
The anatomy of Episode 32 - Aquaman:
2:20 - Some context for today’s movie
8:44 - A discussion about the folks above the line
13:40 - Some nerding out
21:30 - Some criticisms
26:46 - Jordan shouts about the ending
32:40 - CJ has some ideas for improvement
38:10 - What’s next for the franchise?
41:30 - Sweet, sweet business
45:25 - Jordan and CJ read one of their glowing reviews
Tune in next week for Nerd Critic Gets All the Oscars - Part 1
Links:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/aquaman/id1387225385?i=1000428895242&mt=2
DC Episode: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dc/id1387225385?i=1000419492991&mt=2
Nerd Critic Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/230633404336002/
Reel Contender Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/thereelcontender/
Our podcast on iTunes (for the review-love): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/nerd-critic/id1387225385
Today, Nerd Critic discusses the WB/DCEU behemoth AQUAMAN. You want in-depth observations about the exquisite bro-ness of Jason Momoa? Oh, you’ll get it. You want a cogent and insightful overview of the character’s history, and how he fits into the DC comic universe? You’ll get that too. How about a manic, breathless rant about the movie’s explosive, operatic climax? Buckle up.
The anatomy of Episode 32 - Aquaman:
2:20 - Some context for today’s movie
8:44 - A discussion about the folks above the line
13:40 - Some nerding out
21:30 - Some criticisms
26:46 - Jordan shouts about the ending
32:40 - CJ has some ideas for improvement
38:10 - What’s next for the franchise?
41:30 - Sweet, sweet business
45:25 - Jordan and CJ read one of their glowing reviews
Tune in next week for Nerd Critic Gets All the Oscars - Part 1
Links: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/aquaman/id1387225385?i=1000428895242&mt=2
http://reelcontender.com/nerd-critic/2019/1/31/aquaman
DC Episode: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dc/id1387225385?i=1000419492991&mt=2
Nerd Critic Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/230633404336002/
Reel Contender Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/thereelcontender/
Our podcast on iTunes (for the review-love): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/nerd-critic/id1387225385
Transformers has gained new life! Jordan and CJ discuss the strength of the
latest robot action flick!
If you’re expecting a simple top ten list, go elsewhere. We’ve got a LOT of movies to talk about from 2018, and we race through a lot of material real quick. Make sure you carb up and hydrate before jumping in.
(SPOILERS BELOW!!!)
CJ’s Top Ten
- Green Book
- Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
- Searching
- A Star is Born
- Infinity War
- Mission impossible Fallout
- A Quiet Place
- A Star is Born
- Isle of Dogs
- Creed II
Jordan’s Top “Ten”
- First Man
- Searching
- Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
- American Animals
- A Star is Born
- Can You Ever Forgive Me?
- Widows
- Game Night
- A Star is Born
- A Quiet Place
- Isle of Dogs
CJ’s Honorable Mentions
- Paddington 2
- First Man
- Incredibles 2
Jordan’s Honorable Mentions
- The Favourite
- Mission impossible Fallout
- Annihilation
- Sicario: Day of the Soldado
- Sorry to Bother You
- Halloween
- Paddington 2
- Deadpool 2
Jordan’s
Good-Movies-That-Didn’t-Make-The-Cut-Because-2018-Was-A-Great-Year-For-Movies
List:
- Avengers: Infinity War
- The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
- Beautiful Boy
- Bohemian Rhapsody
- Bumblebee
- Crazy Rich Asians
- The Death of Stalin
- Hostiles
- The Mule
- Won't You Be My Neighbor
- Vice
Links:
This Episode on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/top-ten-movies-of-2018/id1387225385?i=1000427418953&mt=2
This Episode’s web page: http://reelcontender.com/nerd-critic/2019/1/10/top-ten-movies-of-2018
Nerd Critic Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/230633404336002/
Reel Contender Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/thereelcontender/
Our podcast on iTunes (for the review-love): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/nerd-critic/id1387225385
If you’re expecting a simple top ten list, go elsewhere. We’ve got a LOT of movies to talk about from 2018, and we race through a lot of material real quick. Make sure you carb up and hydrate before jumping in.
(SPOILERS BELOW!!!)
CJ’s Top Ten
Green Book
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Searching
A Star is Born
Infinity War
Mission impossible Fallout
A Quiet Place
A Star is Born
Isle of Dogs
Creed II
Jordan’s Top “Ten”
First Man
Searching
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
American Animals
A Star is Born
Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Widows
Game Night
A Star is Born
A Quiet Place
Isle of Dogs
CJ’s Honorable Mentions
Paddington 2
First Man
Incredibles 2
Jordan’s Honorable Mentions
The Favourite
Mission impossible Fallout
Annihilation
Sicario: Day of the Soldado
Sorry to Bother You
Halloween
Paddington 2
Deadpool 2
Jordan’s
Good-Movies-That-Didn’t-Make-The-Cut-Because-2018-Was-A-Great-Year-For-Movies
List:
Avengers: Infinity War
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Beautiful Boy
Bohemian Rhapsody
Bumblebee
Crazy Rich Asians
The Death of Stalin
Hostiles
The Mule
Won't You Be My Neighbor
Vice
Links:
This Episode on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/top-ten-movies-of-2018/id1387225385?i=1000427418953&mt=2
This Episode’s web page: http://reelcontender.com/nerd-critic/2019/1/10/top-ten-movies-of-2018
Nerd Critic Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/230633404336002/
Reel Contender Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/thereelcontender/
Our podcast on iTunes (for the review-love): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/nerd-critic/id1387225385
One of the best movies of the year has come in the form of an animated
superhero movie more unique than anyone expected.
Spiderman does what a spider can. John does whatever he F*$%#@% needs to.
Jordan and CJ talk about Spiderman in anticipation of Spiderman: Into the
Spiderverse and Die Hard because Christmas is around the corner!
'Tis the season to talk about Christmas movies with CJ and Jordan. More
than a must-watch list, the nerd and the critic consider the modern day
Christmas movie and what's potentially wrong with it.
The Wizarding World has been expanded even further! In this episode CJ and
Jordan talk about what works and what doesn't in our latest trip to
Hogwarts.
We lost a pop culture icon and a creator of the Marvel Universe we love so
much. CJ and Jordan honor his name by talking about the legacy Stan Lee
left behind.
Jordan and CJ discuss the brilliance of Queen and the impact of the new
Freddie Mercury bio film - Bohemian Rhapsody
Jordan and CJ discuss the remake of a remake of a remake - A Star Is Born
staring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga.
The La La Land director is back! CJ and Jordan talk about the potentially
Oscar winning First Man
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Jordan and CJ gave each other assignments last week. Now is when they
discuss what they have watched. Not everyone was happy with their
experience.
Entertaining, romantic, and important. In this episode, CJ and Jordan
discuss what Crazy Rich Asians did well and why it's important.
A superhero movie and a social relevant conversation piece. In this episode
CJ and Jordan talk about some of the lessons learned from the big box
office hit.
A smaller movie that deserves larger attention. We discuss the brilliance
of American Animals and the potential destruction of MoviePass.
Ethan Hunt never disappoints and his latest adventure is no exception. In
this episode CJ and Jordan talk about MI6.
Jordan and CJ go through their personal top ten favorite movies with a
brief explanation as to why.
Another episode we recording several weeks ago, but here it is! We discuss
the brilliance of the best picture nominated drama!
We recorded this several weeks ago and didnt post this... for no reason.
But better late than never! Here you go!
14 years in the making... the movie... not this episode. We talk about the
sequel to a Pixar favorite and if it can keep up.
The Incredibles is a perfect example of the brilliance of Pixar. So much so… we might have a hard time staying on topic… Whether it’s all of Pixar or specifically The Incredibles, there is some “incredible” filmmaking to discuss.
After talking about Star Wars we dive into the new adventure flick
featuring he who shot first.
Star Wars is…well, it’s a big conversation. We’re gonna have that conversation. Oh, we’re gonna have the hell out of it. Because like it or not, Star Wars is maybe the most important franchise in American history. Plus, Jordan loves it so much he makes it awkward.
Notes:
- Join other Nerds & Critics in lively topical conversations every day on Facebook and Instagram.
- We’ve got a weekly newsletter with all the good stuff. Get on it!
The sequel has arrived, and it is called Deadpool 2. Because of course it is. Let’s dive deep, y’all.
Notes:
- Join other Nerds & Critics in lively topical conversations every day on Facebook and Instagram.
- We’ve got a weekly newsletter with all the good stuff. Get on it!
With Deadpool 2 right around the corner, we decided to set the stage with a deep dive into the first movie about the Merc with the Mouth.
Notes:
- Join other Nerds & Critics in lively topical conversations every day on Facebook and Instagram.
- We’ve got a weekly newsletter with all the good stuff. Get on it!
Nerd Critic’s very first episode! Hurray! We decided the best way to kick off our show would be to talk about the biggest comic book movie in history. We’ve got all kinds of nerd love and critical thoughts.
Notes:
- Join other Nerds & Critics in lively topical conversations every day on Facebook and Instagram.
- We’ve got a weekly newsletter with all the good stuff. Get on it!