Double D's Definitive DVD Podcast - Audio Commentaries: Recent Episodes
David Bjerre and Dennis Rosenfeld
Audio commentaries in English, from the otherwise Danish Podcast Double D's Definitive DVD Podcast.
Read more about us at http://dobbeltd.dk/double_d.shtml
We can't help ourselves, so we're heading to hell for another stab at a Paul W.S. Anderson film. This time we're talking about Event Horizon from 1997, written by Philip Eisner, starring Laurence Fishburne og Sam Neill, along with Anderson regulars Jason Isaacs and Sean Pertwee.
On this track we cover: * The flawed story and what could have been * The physics-defying techno babble * Visual effects and designs * We explain why we love the film unconditionally anyway * And why, in the future, we're still going to need old-fashioned pens
Time to take a look at a little film about a family going slowly insane together: The Shining from 1980, directed by Stanley Kubrick, based on the book by Stephen King. Hated and revered, analyzed by many who shouldn't, but nevertheless the work of a master.
Join us as we train the light on this controversial film to find out if it really shines all that brightly.
On this track we cover: * Kubrick's visuals and narrative style * The production and Kubrick's work methods * The novel vs. the film * Shelley Duvall's teeth * The insane conspiracy theories
Time to tackle an old.... classic? This is the original adaptation of Richard Matheson's novel I Am Legend. starring Vincent Price, as the last man on earth, battling hordes of bloodthirsty vampires. The movie is in public domain, and can be watched for free on YouTube.
On this track we cover: * The film vs. the original novel * Later adaptations * What could have been - unproduced screenplays * Zombie / vampire / outbreak movies * The realities of surviving in a post-apocalyptic world
PS: David accidentally says the wrong running time. It's 1:26:44 (not 48).
In this bonus episode we talk about the old Mission: Impossible TV show, while we watch one of the classic episodes, "Recovery" - the last episode from season 2. The episode was directed by Robert Totten, and written by William Read Woodfield & Allan Balter.
Please note that this is not a hardcore scene-specific track, just a bit of extra fun, so we can talk about some of the stuff we couldn't fit into the main track for Mission: Impossible (1996).
On this track we cover: * The style and structure * The creation of the original show * Favorite moments from the show * The slow decline of the series * And much more
Tom Cruise stars as Ethan Hunt in Brian De Palma's 1996 big screen adaptation of Mission: Impossible, the classic TV show, created by Bruce Geller.
Our mission is: To investigate this fantastic action movie, with a critical eye, especially in terms of plot and connection to the original show.
On this track we cover: * The logic of the plot * The movie franchise vs. the series * The origin of the series * Tom Cruise the movie star * And much more
Angelina Jolie IS Lara Croft, but is Simon West's Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) the ultimate adaptation of the classic computer game? Join us and find out, as we pull apart this Hollywood blockbuster.
On this track we cover: * The problems with plot and writing * Simon West's direction * Angelina Jolie's.... talents. * Comparisons to Indiana Jones and other adventure films * The Illuminati
We're back in the 80's! This time we take a trip into a disturbing atomic nightmare with Dennis Quaid, Kate Capshaw, and Max von Sydow in Dreamscape (1984), directed by Joseph Rubens, and written by David Loughery.
Featuring visual effects by Peter Kuran and makeup effects by Craig Reardon.
On this track we cover: * 80's effects on a budget * The problematic production * How movies deal with dreams and the paranormal * Peter Kuran and his company * The so-called Dream People of Malaysia
In space no one can hear you develop a bad screenplay, but on this track you can listen to us rip into one of 2012's most disappointing movies: Prometheus (2012). Directed by Sir Ridley Scottt, "written" by Jon Spaihts & Damon Lindelof.
On this track we cover: * The deeply flawed screenplay * The complete lack of science and logic * Connection to the franchise * Crackpot internet theories * And we offer changes to improve the script
Time to tackle one of the big masters, as we duck and cover for Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds (1963). Evan Hunter wrote the screenplay, Tippi Hendren and Rod Taylor play the leads - and the film offer fantastic contributions from effect wizard Albert Whitlock.
- The original short story
- Production stories
- Visual effects
- The Hitchock style and legacy
- The Tippi Hendren controvercy
This time we declare our love for one of the most iconic action movies from the 80's, Lethal Weapon (1987). The first entry in a franchise that would eventually degenerate into silly slapstick.
Our man-crush Shane Black wrote the script - when he bare barely 20, for God's sake! - and Richard Donner directs Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in the leads.
- The Lethal Weapon franchise
- The brilliance of Shane Black
- The film vs. the script vs. deleted scenes
- Action movies of the 80's
- The careers of Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, and Richard Donner
- And Dennis thinks Danny Glover is a bloody thief
"Hang on!"
After a few comedy flops Sylvester Stallone's A-list status was hanging on his next project. Luckily Cliffhanger proved to be a fantastic return to form.
In this commentary we discuss this Renny Harlin directed movie, from 1993, written by John Long, Michael France, and Stallone himself. Co-starring John Lithgow, Michael Rooker, Janine Turner, and Rex Linn, and with stellar visual effects from Boss Film Studios.
- The demise of the classic action movie
- What happend to the old action stars?
- Visual effects on the cusp of the digital revolution
- The story of Carolco
- Mountain climbing films
"Whoever wins... We lose."
It's easy to imagine why Fox thought it was a good idea to combine their two big monster franchises, the Aliens and the Predators. It's a little more unclear, why anyone would think Paul W.S. Anderson was the guy who could pull it off.
In this new commentary we dive into the 2004 movie Alien vs. Predator. Written and directed by Anderson, starring Sanaa Lathan and Lance Henriksen.
- How this relates to the other films in the franchises
- The comic book influence
- The utter lack of logic and research
- Alternative possibilities for the story and the film
- And why Sebastian is the most wrongest character since like forever
- We also trash the Americans, the British, the Italians, and the Scots (sorry, group hug)
"Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?".
The Shadow from 1994 was the first big budget Hollywood attempt to make a film about the classic pulp anti-hero. Did they succeed? We investigate. The film was directed by Russell Mulcahy, written by David Koepp, based on the work of Walter B. Gibson, and produced by Martin Bregman.
On this track we cover:
- Creating a modern retro action adventure
- The origin of The Shadow
- The pulps and the radioplays
- Visual effects
- The utter implausibility of being able to cloud men's minds.
- And David talks about Alec Baldwin's hair
It's time to go into space, with another classic 80's movie, 2010: The Year We Make Contact. An attempt to follow in the footsteps of one of the greatest science fiction movies ever made. The movie is written, produced and directed by Peter Hyams, based on a novel by Arthur C. Clarke.
On this track we cover:
- The differences between the book and the film
- 2001 vs. 2010
- Visual effects
- The demise of Boss Film studios
- Design and the look of space
- And Dennis attempts to pronouce Sivasubramanian Chandrasegarampillai
On our third commentary track we venture into the 90's, with this classic monster B-movie, directed by Ron Underwood, written by S.S. Wilson, Brent Maddock and Ron Underwood, and executive produced by Gale Anne Hurd.
On this track we cover:
- The art of the B-movie
- Monster and miniature effects
- The sequels and the TV-series
- What's the deal with Melvin?
- And how to win at Rock-Paper-Scissors every time!
On our second audio commentary we tackle yet another classic movie from the 80's. Poltergeist from 1982, directed by Tobe Hooper, written by Steven Spielberg, Michael Grais & Mark Victor, and produced by Frank Marshall & Steven Spielberg.
On this track we cover:
- 80's movies
- Makeup and visual effects
- Controversy surrounding the director
- Controversy surrounding the script
- The Poltergeist curse
Welcome to our first attempt at doing an unofficial audio commentary in English. Our subject is the 1985 movie Young Sherlock Holmes, directed by Barry Levinson, written by Chris Columbus and produced by Steven Spielberg.
On this track we cover:
- The visual effects
- Steven Spielberg's involvement
- Our love of 80's movies
- CGI vs. doing things practically
- The creation of the Sherlock Holmes character
- And David reveals his dying words