Geekfest Rants

Episode 40 - 1982 - Part 1

1982 will always be remembered as the year of E.T., but it was also the year that more sci-fi/fantasy classics were released than any other. Most were crushed by the E.T. juggernaut, but rose from the ashes years later and are now considered classics. Join Carlos and Steve V. for Part 1 of our 1982 special as they discuss that special year in geek history!

Episode 40 - 1982 - Part 1

(To download as an MP3, right click on the above bar and save to desktop)

Anyone wishing to suggest show topics or participate on any future shows, please leave us a comment below or e-mail us at [email protected].

In Defense of Superman IV - by Steve Vivona

In Defense Of..

I must admit that while I consider myself a cinephile, I enjoy watching a lot of crap. I believe it’s possible to be entertained by certain films (not all) that are objectively bad. Many fall under the “so bad they’re good” category, others are well-intentioned misfires, and still more contain one or two bright spots that enable me to revisit them multiple times. And then there are the films so unfairly maligned, I must take up their cause. In this occasional series we’ll discuss efforts that fall under all these categories.

Why I am doing this? Why not? It’s easy to sing the praises of Spielberg or Kubrick, and quite frankly, people much more articulate than me have already done so countless times. I like to think of myself as crossing all kinds of cinematic boundaries – I’m a sci-fi geek, action junkie and an art house aficionado. I love schlock horror, blacxploitation and light British comedy. And I like a lot of crap that many of my friends probably consider indefensible.

So here goes. Feel free to hurl your bile and venom my way. If I can raise your blood pressure a few levels I’ve succeeded. If you get really bent, just chill. They’re only movies.

Superman IV

Green Lantern – Zeke The Freak Movie Review - by Zeke "The Freak" Springer

Forget what you heard about the new movie, Green Lantern. You’ve heard comments like, “horrible, the worst and sub par”. Well put those overreactions behind you for now. Haters are gonna hate!

Green Lantern is the story of a private sector jet plane test pilot named Hal Jordan (played with his usual snark by Ryan Reynolds) who finds a wounded alien named Abin Sur (Temuera Morrison). Abin Sur bestows upon Hal his powerful ring and lantern. The ring, when charged by the lantern, allows Hal to become the Green Lantern. Chosen for both his strong will and fearlessness, Hal is able to use the ring’s energy to create hard light constructs of almost anything he can imagine. Soon he is whisked away from Earth to the far off planet of Oa, the home of the Green Lantern Corps, and indoctrinated into a fellowship of space cops. The myriad of wild and wacky alien races shown going about their duty, though brief in the film, is one of the highlights and believe it or not there are several.

FOR THE REST OF THIS REVIEW CLICK HERE   http://zekethefreak.tumblr.com/post/6795567139/green-lantern-zeke-the-freak-movie-review

 

Episode 39 - Dim Sum and a Movie - Hard Boiled

 

When Carlos and James dine out for Dim Sum it gets them talking about one of the finest Hong Kong action films ever made - Hard Boiled, directed by the incredible John Woo and starring his favorite leading man, Chow Yun-Fat!

 Episode 39 - Dim Sum and a Movie - Hard Boiled
 (To download as an MP3, right click on the above bar and save to desktop)

Anyone wishing to suggest show topics or participate on any future shows, please leave us a comment below or e-mail us at [email protected]. 

The Super 8 Generation - by Steve Vivona

The arrival of Super 8 (which I have yet to see) got me thinking about the “Golden Years,” that period of time in my life from approximately 1977-1985 (ish) when the most influential films of my generation were released. Those films represent not only wonderful entertainment that I revisit constantly, but they helped me form bonds with people who became enduring and lifelong friends – both when these films were released, and later when I met like-minded individuals who were nourished by them as I was.

None of us ended up working at the Ranch or at ILM, but many of my friends can trace their chosen profession back to their love of these films. The list will vary from person to person, but for me it includes the original Star Wars trilogy, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Superman I and II, Star Trek II and III, Ghostbusters, Close Encounters, Alien, E.T., Gremlins, Back to the Future and to a lesser degree, 2010, Tron and Blade Runner. Why is Jaws not on the list? It definitely merits inclusion, but it came out in 1975, and I was too young to appreciate it.

These films are my heavy hitters ­– the ones that, when they were released on VHS, I watched every day, and the ones I make a point of watching at least once a year now (not as easy as it sounds).  

These films spoke to anyone whose imagination was predisposed to fantasy, adventure or science fiction. They were not disposable entertainment. They captured our imaginations – they made us want to unlock the secrets behind their production (in an era that predated the Internet and the “special edition” that was no small feat. God bless you, Starlog!)

 

X-Men: First Class – A Freak’s Review by Zeke "The Freak" Springer

I went to see X-MEN: FIRST CLASS on Saturday afternoon with my lovely wife. As the end credits rolled a sense of real satisfaction from watching an incredibly solid film washed over me. I liked the movie a ton but would my wife feel the same? She hasn’t read many comics and doesn’t follow the exploits of most superheroes. In other words, she represents the general audience when it comes to superhero fare.

The film was able to garner high praise from her with the epic statement, “If you see the guy in our building who sells bootleg DVDs and if he’s got X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, buy it. I want to see it again.”

Now kiddies, I by no means condone or comply with the purchasing of pirated videos. I categorically do not! But if that is your cup of tea who am I to judge. But the fact that my wife a non-comicbook fan was totally enthralled and entertained by this film is no small feat. I know I annoy the hell out of her with my fanboy rants and ravings, but she tolerates it because she loves me. Awwwwwww! But I digress.

FOR THE REST OF THIS REVIEW CLICK HERE  http://zekethefreak.tumblr.com/post/6277766715/xmen-first-class

 

Episode 38 - Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan: Director's Edition, Geek Commentary

Join the GFR team for our second Star Trek podcast featuring our Trek experts Brian and Steve V., who are joined as always by moderator Carlos Perrone. Today the boys tackle Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, generally considered the finest of the TOS-era films. Instructions for syncing up your dvd's are featured at the top of the podcast. Please note we'll be discussing the Director's Edition of Trek II! 

Episode 38 - Star Trek II - The Wrath Of Khan - Director's Edition - Geek Commentary

 (To download as an MP3, right click on the above bar and save to desktop)

  
 Anyone wishing to suggest show topics or participate on any future shows, please leave us a comment below or e-mail us at [email protected].