186: Comic Con Trailer roundup and STAR TREK BEYOND disagreement

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As the mercury rises and the pages fall off the calendar, the We Like Movies podcast keeps fighting the good fight and trekking (get it?), ever vigilantly, back to the multiplex to screen product and proffer opinion. On this week's episode we talk San Diego Comic Con, break down all of the new trailers, muse about the recent, encouraging onslaught of  western genre exercises (who knew? It's coming back!), and even carve out 25 minutes to disagree about the newest installment of the rebooted STAR TREk series. We've been disagreeing more and more these days... This might be the beginning of an exciting trend....

185: The Contentious GHOSTBUSTERS Dissection

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After an extended, mid-summer hiatus we return to you now with one of the most terse, impassioned, argumentative conversations we've ever recorded. The pod starts off with a lot of good-natured catch-up before descending into a full-on rift regarding Paul Feig's GHOSTBUSTERS reboot.
We back, we're heated, we're answering your call for a podcast with teeth.

184: The CLIFF MARTINEZ Countdown

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Oscar's been out of town but Matt was itching to create some content so he rolled up his sleeves and got busy with a mellow and self-indulgent stroll through the career and creative resume of the master of cinematic ambience- Mr. Cliff Martinez.
In honor of his newest masterpiece, the soundtrack for THE NEON DEMON, Matt has cobbled together a countdown of Martinez's finest film forays. It's gonna get synthey up in here. And how.

182: The 2016 Fantasy Film Draft and the attempted defense of X-MEN: APOCALYPSE

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There have been high peaks and deep artistic valleys over the 9 films in 16 years covered by the X-MEN franchise. The newest entry "APOCALYPSE" sits smack dab at sea level which makes it a fertile topic for dissection and disagreement. Listen in as we break it all the way down to the brassiest of tacks.
We also discuss the none too subtle schadenfreude stance taken by certain tabloid click-baters in the way they report the "news" of successful film franchises and we even find time to reflect on the the most recent draft of the "Fantasy Film League".
We might just be getting the hang of this "coming in around an hour" thing, 175 episodes in. 

181: NEIGHBORS 2, THE NICE GUYS, and The Shane Black Sensation

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We're getting back to basics with a thrift, semi-contentious conversation about the two films that opened last weekend but failed to top THE ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE at the box office: The little-loved sequel NEIGHBORS 2: SORORITY RISING and Shane Black's winking, period, neo-noir THE NICE GUYS.
We manage to wrap it up in under an hour- spoiler alert.

180: AFI #95 - THE LAST PICTURE SHOW

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It’s AFI time again and this week we’re chattin’ about Peter Bogdanovich’s beloved coming-of-age downer THE LAST PICTURE SHOW. It took us 5 films to get to a place of quasi-disagreement but there is more sparring than usual in this episode. Things get a little heated? Guess you’ll have to listen in to find out.

179: CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR and the unstoppable Marvel freight train

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The summer of 2016 threatens to peak early as the 13th installment into the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes roaring into multiplexes on a wave of critical acclaim and financial expectation. 
Join us for a gush-fest tempered by moments of constructive nit-pickery .

***Spoilers abound!

178: AFI #96 - DO THE RIGHT THING

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Next up on our AFI countdown is Spike Lee's seminal work, DO THE RIGHT THING. It's no secret that Oscar and I are big fans of this universally acclaimed film. But we do our best during the conversation to put the film into a historical context as opposed to a social one. It has always been a film to inspire controversy and conversation and we touch on both while also giving due credit to the exceptional ensemble cast, many of whom are doing career-best work here.

"I got it. I'm gone."

176: AFI #97 - BLADE RUNNER

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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?

171: AFI #99 - TOY STORY

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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...

170: AFI #100 - BEN-HUR

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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. 

169: AFI Top 100 Challenge - Mission Statement

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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! 

167: Top 10 of 2015 Lists (plus THE REVENANT, ANOMALISA, and the Golden Globes)

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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.

Media Management: Matt’s 2015 Theatrical Watchlist

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For 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:

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166: THE HATEFUL EIGHT[ful] Podcast

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It's a new year.
That means new challenges, new opportunities, and new podcasts.
In this case we present a new podcast about a new Tarantino film.

Not all Tarantino films are created equal. But the one thing they all have in common is they inspire conversation. THE HATEFUL EIGHT is no exception. But before we discuss Tarantino's new western epic we get caught up on THE FORCE AWAKENS backlash talk and Oscar's reactions to CAROL and THE BIG SHORT.

2016 is gonna be a good one for WLM. We're so happy to have you with us.

165: Our 5 Year Anniversary and THE FORCE AWAKENS Celebration

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It's here. It's time. It's happening.

What wonderfully serendipitous timing that our discussion about the newest entry in the Star Wars saga coincides with the 5 year anniversary of this blog.

Join us for a spoiler-heavy celebration of THE FORCE AWAKENS and marvel with us at how quickly 5 years and 165 episodes can fly by.

Here's to many hundreds more.

164: STAR WARS Antiquity

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As we all brace for the end of a decade-long Star Wars fast and properly fortify our emotions (lest we be blindsided they way we all were during the infamous Summer Of '99) it's important that we take stock of the 6 episodes that have led us, for better or for worse, to THE FORCE AWAKENS.

On this week's episode we basically get all of our collective Star Wars baggage out on the table, purge our respective resentments, and look forward to a potential salvation in the form of J.J.'s upcoming opus.

"That boy way our last hope" Kenobi once said (presumably referencing George Lucas).

"No, there is another" Yoda demurred (obviously referring to a certain bespectacled franchise savior).

In less than 48 hours we'll know how this all shakes out...