We're back to our old AFI Top 100 Challenge tricks with a lengthy discussion about a science fiction masterpiece as misunderstood as it is influential.
There will be:
-Navel gazing
-Robot alcoholism
-Cyberpunk signifiers
-Industrial fans (not to be confused with fans of industry)
-Frank Lloyd Wright fetishism
It's too bad this podcast won't last. But then again, what does?
WLM's newest feature, The AFI Top 100 Challenge presses on and this week we discuss the 20 year old animated classic, buddy comedy TOY STORY which takes the number 99 spot on the countdown.
There will be:
-Insult comics
-FULL METAL JACKET references
-Randy Newman singing about stuff he sees
-Tom Hanks throat-acting
-Jim Varney
To infinity and beyond, am I right?
I'll see myself out...
The AFI Top 100 Challenge is off to a rousing start with William Wyler's 4 hour monstrosity BEN-HUR.
To say this is an epic of biblical proportions would be an obtuse observation. But that doesn't make it not true.
There will be:
-Crucifixions
-Leper colonies
-Miracles
-Feats of strength
-Falling rooftop shingles
-and that chariot race...
I couldn't imagine a better film to start us off. It's gonna be a fun ride.
Nearly 4 years ago we conceived of a new feature of the We Like Movies blog: A 100-installment challenge dedicated to the American Film Institute's controversial "best" list. But the challenge proved to be too much for our fledgling website and the feature was abandoned after only 4 films.
But tonight, re-born and inspired by our recent WLM facelift, we submit to you the introduction to the definitive attempt at the AFI Top 100 Challenge! Our "spinoff" series begins here with an explanation of our intent and a delivery of the mission statement.
Join us as we journey from BEN-HUR to CITIZEN KANE and every film in between.
Viva la cinema!
It's official. Oscar and I have finalized our Top 10 of 2015 lists and we defend them to one another over the course of a two and a half hour conversation that represents the longest sustained podcast we've ever recorded.
Fasten your seatbelts. It's gonna be a bumpy night...
No, but seriously... it's a great episode and we sound off about THE REVENANT and ANOMALISA as well... Strap in and get comfortable. This is what it's all about.
Up until a few days ago I was feeling very bemused regarding 2015's cinematic output. All of the films my friends and colleagues were swooning over last year (THE REVENANT, ANOMALISA, THE BIG SHORT, SPOTLIGHT, CAROL, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, et. al.) had failed to resonate with me. It's not that I'm a non-conformist. I just can't force myself to champion a film that pivots on 2 hours of driving in 1 direction before a decision is made to backtrack over ground and into the mouth of the monster we were trying so hard to evade. But enough about SPOTLIGHT. That's a conversation for a different day.
Read MoreFor the second year in a row, from January 1st to December 31st I had EXACTLY 80 theatrical motion picture screening experiences. What's the significance of that number? Does it hold some kind of religious significance? Should I consult a Mayan calendar?
Well, 80, it's been fun. But I've outgrown you. I've got my sights set on triple digit numbers in 2016...
But, for now, here's every film I saw in the theater in 2015:
Read MoreThe "Autumn of Bond" comes to an end ends and so begins the " Winter of Our Bond Discontent".
Join us for a terse conversation about the cruel realities that too often pair with expectation and somberly speculate with us about "what might have been".
We spent 10 episodes discussing 007 and his exploits. Now it's time to put a moratorium on the subject matter for a while and let the man rest, reassess his legacy, and what we can all learn from his SPECTRE misfire.
This should have been a victory lap. Instead it's a wake up call. Let's get into it...
We made it, folks.
Some said it couldn't be done. Some said it shouldn't be done.
But through vigilance, dedication, and sheer stubborn, geektastic force of will we made it through screenings and discussions of all 23 films in the current 007 canon.
Join us for our last episode where we discuss the 2 greatest films in the series, talk about a few specialty categories we've devised to help wrap up our epic countdown, and even get a little melancholy about what a long, strange trip this challenge has been.
It's a long one. But these 2 films deserve an epic discussion.
Thanks for riding this out with us, dear listeners. Needless to say, it's been quite the Bonding experience.
2. FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
1. CASINO ROYALE
This is a big one, folks.
With only 5 films to discuss before our SPECTRE review we decided to invite friend of the podcast, Bond aficionado, and all around raconteur Daniel Kelly to join us for this week's epic, 100 minute episode. Dan was particularly eloquent during our 45 minute dissection of the series' "quintessential installment". Our reactions might surprise you.
All good things must end. And, unfortunately this amazing journey will, in less than a week. Let's make the most of the time we have left, fellow Bondees.
5. ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE
4. THE SPY WHO LOVED ME
3. GOLDFINGER
It's all happening.
Home stretch, folks.
Home-stretch.
8. GOLDENEYE
7. SKYFALL
6. FOR YOUR EYES ONLY
Bond marches on. We're in the home stretch, folks.
3 more episodes before SPECTRE! But first:
11. THUNDERBALL
10. LIVE AND LET DIE
9. YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE
Here we are at the halfway point of our epic James Bond Countdown and on this week's episode we will discuss the following films as we work our way toward the best of the best (at least according to Matt):
14. THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS
13. DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
12. OCTOPUSSY
5 episodes to go (including our opening weekend review of SPECTRE) and if you're not craving a martini yet you simply haven't been listening.
In the interest of time (we're now less than a month away from the US premiere of SPECTRE!) we'll be tripling up on Bond films for the next few episodes. And you know what that means: More Bondy goodness. This week it's all about:
17. THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH
16. THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN
15. DR. NO
A torrent of Bond triple headers starts.... NOW!
The countdown continues with the last of the truly "bad ones".
The next 17 films are all defensible (to varying degrees). But the 2 we discuss this week- yikes. ROUGH.
19. TOMORROW NEVER DIES
18. QUANTUM OF SOLACE
The Bond countdown continues, whether you like it or not..
21. MOONRAKER
20. LICENSE TO KILL
We love you. We Love Bond. It's a WLM love-fest.
This week's episode introduces a new, ongoing segment to the We Like Movies canon of content: "The 007 Countdown".
Starting today we will be counting down the 23 films in the James Bond franchise from worst to best (according to Matt's tightly curated ranking) leading up to our eventual discussion of Bond 24, SPECTRE in November. Want to know which 2 Bond films Matt considers the worst of the worst? You'll have to give this episode a listen.
Cast, POD Cast.
Top 10 time, friends.
The opinion dam is about to break.
Don't act like you're not excited.
Here we are again. Late as usual. But with a much more comprehensive list than I could have mustered by the 31st of December. Trust me. 3 of the films on the list I only finally got a chance to see in the last week and the list is better for it.
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