TRANSKRIP 🔗
lg: What's up, everybody? Welcome back to Punch Truck Nerd, the podcast. Where three friends, three Migos, three bambinos come together, talk about nerd shit. And what an episode we have this week. We are talking about Clayface, the latest movie from the DC universe from James Gunn and Matt Saffron. that's not his name. but we have it's a brand new movie, it's about a villain. can you believe it? But before we talk about that, let's introduce ourselves. My name is Luis Gonzalez, and with me is
ED: Ed Bull.
lg: And guys, I am back in the saddle again. It has been a minute since I've
ED: Woo we
lg: done the podcast. and sadly, Miguel isn't gonna make it. but it's okay because we are gonna still have a great episode with or without him. You know what I mean? Fuck him, you
ED: Yeah, fuck yeah
lg: know what I mean? Let's call on Steven or Eric. We don't need you anymore, Miguel. You're making this show too good without me. I'm kidding. okay, as I pull up this dog here, guys, welcome to the episode. It's been a while since I've come back here, so I'm gonna come in pretty hard with a lot of energy. I got a lot to say. I'm gonna be honest. I'm I'm pretty I'm pretty it's you almost were gonna miss this episode and I was gonna
ED: Yeah.
lg: feel bad about it. And then I was like, damn, what an episode to miss. And now Miguel's gonna miss it and what an episode he's gonna miss. He's not even gonna listen to this episode, to be honest. So you know what? Fuck him twice.
ED: I know I know. Now I'm a little bit scared too, because I know you were on defense of Clayface, so a little bit. I well
lg: was I? I forgot. I forgot what okay.
ED: you you you were asking about it and you were maybe just this weekend you were afraid it was gonna be bad, maybe.
lg: yes.
ED: you mentioned But yeah, no, I mean yes, lots to talk about, I'm excited. so let's do
lg: All right, well let's let's get into it. Clayface, you have here directed by James Watkins. it was written by Mike Flanagan, but I have to check the IMDB right now because is he
ED: It was co written by Hossein Amini.
lg: There it is. There it fucking is. There's the co written Husayn Amini. What has this guy done? He I bet he was a came in. I bet he was a gun for hire.
ED: Some random a he's been around for a while, I guess. Wings of the Dove, McMaffia, The Two Faces of January.
lg: Snowman, our kind of trader, forty seven Ronan. Mm.
ED: Drive.
lg: Dr Drive Okay.
ED: Where the Yeah, the the movie with the least amount of dialogue. So
lg: Wait, okay, this guy must have a hell of an interesting c a career because
ED: He has, yeah, it looks like it.
lg: what a what a movie, obviously. Gangs New York,
ED: Yeah.
lg: he was uncredited for this. Whatever, it doesn't matter. The fact that he wrote Drive on his own says something.
ED: So he's a yeah. He's a doctor. He's a script doctor, it seems. he comes in and fiddles
lg: Yes.
ED: with things, it looks like. But yeah.
lg: Ooh, he also did Obi-Wan Kenobi. See, I think this
Load full transcript
is so we'll get into it right now. Clayface with Tom Rice Harry's, Naomi Aki, Max Mengela, Eddie Marson, David Chenchik. Ed, let's get into it. Thoughts immediately. What did you think about Clayface?
ED: Let's get into it, man. I I think overall I enjoyed it. I I was looking I was looking forward to it. I I think more so and I think maybe this is the same for all of us. we were taken in by the whole Mike Flanagan of it all at first when it was first announced and it was one of those it's one of those projects that comes up and you're like I don't need another like villain spin-off where they're kind of the antihero or whatever, or they have like a redemption arc or something like that, like Sony has done and Marvel
lg: Mm.
ED: on occasion. DC has has done it and nobody really to much success. so I I was a little apprehensive about that, but Clayface is a character that I generally love. he's one of my favorite Batman villains and I think he's long I I feel like we've had the technology to bring him to the big screen for a while. So even if it is a solo venture, I'm glad they're finally like trying it out and seeing what
lg: Yeah.
ED: that would look like. and I think for the most part it's it's successful. I think one of my biggest hang ups about it I think is that it could have gone harder, I think it could have gone darker. I think it worked perfectly as a singular story that didn't try as far as I picked up, it didn't try to pick tie into anything else that's going on with DC right now. And I was grateful for that.
lg: Yeah. Yes.
ED: and whilst yes it is set in Gotham for the most part, but that's about as far as that goes, really. And it's really
lg: Yeah.
ED: just stays with this character. I thought there were some really good action beats. Like I said, I just feel like it could have gone darker, more maybe even more tragic. I don't know. But that and maybe that's just a different movie altogether, and those are my own expectations. But I do feel like it was gritty. I thought it was definitely gonna be gnarlier, as far as the body horror goes, and maybe that's just because I've seen some really fucked up movies lately. like I'm not
lg: I know. Says the man who's like, I'm not into horror. Now you've like you're a horror fiend.
ED: I'm into horror, but bodaho body horror has always been a thing with me. And Resident Evil, I told you guys, was like a tough one for me. And I just recently saw the Devils and there's some like pretty grim visuals in that movie. so if anything, like nothing could touch me when I c it came to this movie. I felt like I saw it all in the trailer. But yeah, overall I liked it. I like the characters. I I don't I think it's very surface level. There's not a whole lot of depth to it. but I think for one, like I I think they established the character very nicely. I think they've set it up to a point where if they did want to transfer him to a Batman movie, whether I mean, probably not Robert Pattinson's, but like, you know, they keep talking about another Batman coming into the D C. I I could see this character going forward,
lg: Yeah.
ED: I guess is what I'm saying. But again, if it remains just this one singular film, I like it. I think it it's more successful than most of those like villain spin offs that I've been that I've mentioned earlier. and I thought it was just kind of like a decent time at the theatre. But enough about
lg: There.
ED: me. What about you? This let me ask you, you because we know you've been like you've been backed up lately of trying to see movies. And I wonder if you came into this weekend thinking do I really want to see Clayface over over all of these other movies that I want to see? And
lg: Uh-huh.
ED: 'cause I'll tell you, I realized last night that Fjord, the can
lg: Yes, I know.
ED: movie, that's in theaters right now.
lg: I know.
ED: And right now in Houston it's only in like one theater. And I'm just like, my god, did I just like miss the boat on Fjord just so I could see Clayface?
lg: Yeah.
ED: That undoubtedly would be in Theaters longer. and I'll be lucky if Fjord does stay another week and maybe has a re-release closer to awards season.
lg: Mm.
ED: so I don't know, but like I've made that realization last night. I was like, Fuck, I should have just seen Fjord. anyway, sorry, I digress. But yeah, so my I guess my question was was like, was this really the first movie that you've been able to catch up on?
lg: This was this was the first movie. And and we for the people who d for the listeners at home haven't been able to keep track of my life. I've just been so busy. I haven't been able to watch movies. just
ED: Yeah. Nope.
lg: because I've been busy at work making movies. Just kidding, making making videos, but
ED: I mean you're yeah. You're making movie magic.
lg: I'm making movie magic and I'm having a good time with that. but I have not been able to see. Let's see if I can go down the list here. Prime Time, Digger, you can see everything. Wildwood, fucking Street Fighter. I do want to see that movie. We could add Fjord
ED: Yeah. yeah.
lg: to the mix. And there was another one in there, a seventh one that I can't think of. whatever. There's a lot. Is there is there more that I'm thinking
ED: That's a lot.
lg: of? Okay. That's movies to watch. Here it is. Digger, prime time. Clayface. You could see everything. Street Fire, Waldwood, Fjord. Okay. That's pretty much I nailed it, pretty much. Okay. I nailed it right away.
ED: Yeah. You you've been looking at that list every day for the last couple of weeks. Yeah.
lg: dude, I've been thinking about it. I've been thinking about it. And every time something comes up, I'm like, okay, I guess today's not the day. And
ED: Yeah, yeah.
lg: to be honest, I had to find a clever way to find this movie, let's just say, okay, just to watch it.
ED: Okay.
lg: I I actually was able to get Miguel's, I know Ed usually do this, but I got Miguel's take on the movie. He said, I really fucking
liked it. I thought it said all it needed to in a really tight hour 45 and never felt like too much exposition or world building. It wasn't as much body horror as I thought, but the effects were great. I love the final monster form he took. It looked the cartoon, but in a believable way. And the people saying this couldn't work in a Matt Rue's Batman, but he literally produced this one. I could totally see him in that world. It was my favorite DC movie so far from the new regime. Wow. Dude, I wish Miguel was here. And I'm glad you're here. Not to say that I'm I don't want you here, Ed, because I want you here.
ED: No, no, I understand.
lg: I want the whole group, you know? It's like I want
ED: Yeah.
lg: my appetizer, my meal, and my dessert.
ED: Yes.
lg: Always doing food analogies here. I'm gonna tell you this right now. So I played it, I watched it last night, and I'm gonna tell you this right now. I hated this movie. I did not
ED: You didn't like? man. Okay.
lg: like this movie. And I don't know if it's because I've been like, I have all these other movies I need to see, like you could see everything
ED: Yeah, yeah.
lg: and Digger and pro all these other movies. And it's I sit down and I watch it, and I'm just like, what the The fuck is this straightforward, on-the-nose dialogue-ass garbage movie where it's just
ED: Yeah.
lg: giving me everything surface value and it's just beat to beat to beat and a
ED: Uh-huh.
lg: very unlikable character. But bes let's let me talk about the character. Let's just talk about the execution of everything. How everything was just so on the nose. And I was just like, okay, I'm about to tap out of this movie right now because I
ED: Yeah.
lg: can't take how just on the nose everything is. And like I said.
ED: Yeah.
lg: I usually respect filmmaking. And I just feel like this. We were talking about the writer earlier, and he did drive. And Michael Flanagan, fantastic writer. I'm telling you that there's there was some production-producer like manhandling happening here because it's
ED: it felt neutered.
lg: it felt neutered 1000%. And it was like we people were just saying things just to get to the next fucking thing. And it wasn't even creative. And like they're just like Right from the beginning, where they're like massaging his face, and it's like, I get it, or he's eating spaghetti and as I get it, or it's like this one line, I'm trying to find this one line here, where he says, you got one of those faces. I don't know. It's just like when
ED: Yeah.
lg: you keep nailing it over the head over if you say it one time and everything is more subtle, then it's like, ooh, you get one clever line. But when I get nailed in the head over and over and over again, I
ED: Yeah.
lg: just felt like there was no nuance in this film. There were the dialogue. The d not not just the acting. I'm saying the acting direction was also on the nose. The pacing was on the nose. I thought it was basic ass choice. And maybe because I haven't
gone to the movies or seen film in a while, but I'm just like, I'm over here making choices for my own work. Yeah, I know. And this is the one. And
ED: This was the one that was gonna win you back.
lg: Sarah, I was almost gonna watch this with Sarah, and she was like, I can't watch it with me. I was like, okay. And you know what? Thank God I didn't, I didn't have her watch it. And
ED: Yeah.
lg: Not to poo-poo on the actors or the directors or whatever. I just feel like there was some things happening behind the scenes that they were that, like you said, neutered this thing, where it lost that
ED: Yeah.
lg: you could see, I'm telling you, you could see the uniqueness that was buried in this movie where I felt like it really clicked in for me design-wise. The design or the horror or the vignettes or the images and the framing of Clayface, the first thing that came out at me came out at me was when he gets cut in the face and they're cutting him. The two shots over the head and in the side. And I was like, that is well done. There's one of him in the tub where he's like laying there. That's well done. There are just
ED: Yeah. That's really cool. Yeah.
lg: I I I made a I did make a list of the things that I did like just to not because at first I was completely not even going watch it. But the still of his face with gauze all over him. And he's like looking out. It's in the trailer. It's like the first scene. that is
ED: Yeah.
lg: very good. The plain scene, the concept of it and what's going, the idea of it more than anything, I think is interesting. The choking of the friend, also interesting. Maybe I think some of the execution of and maybe it's the way that I watched it, but just the face swapping. Everything happened so quickly and bluntly that it didn't leave me wanting more to like, how about you just
ED: Yeah.
lg: slowly set it up for me or a cleverer way of doing the mutation, you know, just something about yeah.
ED: That's the th Yeah. I think that's one of my just so I can agree with you, it's just
lg: Please. No yeah.
ED: like the the the pace is rapid. It it moves along at
lg: Yes.
ED: breakneck speed. So it's introducing this character, his friend, the agents around him, all in quick succession.
lg: You gotta get it in without s there's no there's no breath. There's no moment to breathe. Yeah.
ED: There's no breath at all. It's like w it feels like within the first ten, fifteen minutes the the cutting is fucking happening.
lg: Mm-hmm.
ED: and so you're just like, wow, we're already here. This is crazy. and the yeah, so I I agree. I think because of that and it's one of those fine lines too, is like does a movie go over long and especially a movie like this that can be
lg: I know.
ED: that can outstay its welcome. especially with these spin offs, you're just like I you want precise character work, yes, but you you want a little like I was saying earlier, you want a bit more depth and a little bit more feeling, which I feel like is lacking. And I I think they have some interesting ideas which we'll get into, but sorry, I I keep walking in on you, but I I I ag I agree that it's like no, please.
lg: No, no, no, please, because I could just keep ranting the other direction.
ED: it's I I had a feeling this is how it was gonna go, so
lg: I didn't and I looked forward to this movie, Mike Flanagan. there are, there are I can see the intention and the idea of some
ED: Yeah. I think
lg: so many of you, I wonder who the real Matt Ha mate Matt Hagen is. That was a line that I wrote down, and I was like, that is something that we could explore that was not truly
ED: Yeah.
lg: explored.
ED: No, it hints at it and I think there are things that creep up throughout the movie where you you start to realise okay, like he he definitely has that dark past. He's not just like the modest well intentioned actor, you know, that he's introduced as, but I think like, you know, they have that the background of during the trial where he's trying to sue the guys who did this to him and they bring up h his like past of like assault and abuse
lg: Yes.
ED: or whatever and you that starts to creep in later on with his relationship with Naomiaki. And maybe I'm just giving it too much credit, but it's just there's this the this creeping sense that like he's kind of this obsessive love intro
lg: Yeah.
ED: he he he he's obsessive about the people that he's with. Like the from the the girl in the club who he just met and was like, Yeah, she is mine tonight, you know, that possessiveness
lg: Yeah.
ED: that transfers to Naomiaki later, who was just somebody who was helping him, but he took
lg: Yeah.
ED: it he took it further and made it
lg: Yeah.
ED: like an obsess an obsession. that that's where I was seeing like There there's more to this that we're just not seeing. We're not exploring it at all. And
lg: Mm-hmm. We're not exploring enough. I feel like people are peop people are afraid to do these villain stories somehow. I feel like it's like with Mandalorian when they were they were no, not Mandalorian, Boba Fett. They were like, Well, I remember re I saw the behind the scenes and they were just like, Well, we can't make him actually a bad guy. We can't really progress the story forward that way. And it's just like no one is making these steps. And it's just like they they were able to Do the whole Doc Ock thing for Spider-Man 2, where it's like, well, he's not the bad guy. Well, yes, he could be the bad guy, but it also
ED: Right.
lg: could be the AI mutated cells that
ED: Right.
lg: are acting within him that are telling him what to do, blah, blah, blah, blah,
ED: Right.
lg: blah, blah, blah. And I was like, okay, so there's always gonna be an out for this guy, which is creating a tragedy. I get it, but it's just it's so you're right. I think there are things in there that are interesting to explore that just
ED: By the end that's gone, right? They she destroys the nano spoilers by the way to our listeners,
sorry.
lg: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Spoilers, yeah.
ED: but she destroys the nano, like that was what the
lg: Mm-hmm.
ED: electric shock and whatever. She and that's what kind of melted him into so I feel like his journey to the villain is complete. I don't think there's any Yeah, I don't think
lg: He's embraced who he is. No AI. I don't know.
ED: yeah, exactly. I don't think he's a good one anymore. He's like full on com committing murder. But yeah.
lg: Yeah, I also just didn't like him in the beginning. I didn't think he was a likable character or someone who I thought was like
ED: interesting.
lg: I would want to hang my head on to where it's just like
ED: Right.
lg: I don't feel tragedy for this guy for some reason. I know felt the same way about I don't know if there was the same thing about obsession. Yeah, it didn't
ED: Well that shit happened so quickly too. I liked
lg: even have time to settle. And there was a scene where the guy was like, he lo he's like, hey, I need power of returning. It's like, okay. And then he's like, hey, my money's all gone. It's like, yeah, you're gonna have to leave your apartment. It's like, but why? Anyway, I gotta go. And then he hangs up and he's just like, And it's it's just like he accepts the fact that he's gonna lose his whole fucking life and apartment without fighting back or without doing anything. It's just like the way that the story just says we gotta keep moving forward is
ED: Right.
lg: crazy to me. yeah, like I I guess that it I think it's feels like it's a movie that's also trying to be like, we're not gonna be a blockbuster film. We're gonna be like a serious, like, you know, indie whatever. dark in introspective film. And then it's
ED: Yeah.
lg: like, but you are also not leaning. You're not even being brave enough to fully go that direction, let it breathe. I think the lack of
ED: Right.
lg: breath was the problem. And it's just like, if
ED: A hundred percent.
lg: you're gonna if you're gonna do that, then do that. If not, then be a fucking blockbuster and be a blockbuster. Cause don't don't be in the middle where it's just like
ED: Right. That's what I mean, yeah. I I think that was the biggest takeaway. I was just like it's it just spelled studio all over it. Which doesn't have it doesn't have to be a bad
lg: Yes, it's like we're gonna be cool studio.
ED: thing. Right. It doesn't have to be a bad thing. But it's just like take make the most out of that. Like if you're gonna lure p people into something that is like horror based, like and a dark character in a world where you're allowed to be dark in the
lg: Yes.
ED: world of Batman, that's okay. It's like if you I the one comparison I can give to it is Joker. I'm not saying this movie is like Joker, but I'm saying how to however you l view Joker, at least they took some swings and
lg: Yes.
ED: kind of made it its own separate thing which this does. Like I said, it's it's singular in its sense that it's not trying to connect to anything else and
we're just focused on this character. But at least we got into the fucking trauma and day to day ordeals of Arthur Fleck. Yeah. You sit with it. And
lg: You sit with it. You know what I mean? It's you s yes. You sit
ED: that and if anything that fucking movie just lingers on all of those kind of moments. So you're
lg: Yeah.
ED: seeing this man kind of like unravel gradually more and more. Whereas this one it was just like bam bam bam. and like before you knew it, his transformations had completely I I they were just so quick, I guess. like snapshot. Like and I I get that worked
lg: Yes. It felt like a this a weird effect, like there wasn't
ED: Yeah.
lg: any like tactical way of I don't know, I felt like there
ED: Oozin
lg: yeah, I don't know. I feel like it just felt like trans like in editing you put like a little dissolve transition. It's like a little dissolve transition, transition, you know.
ED: Right. But they skipped that and kept it together. And to an ex and this might very you might have a different opinion on this, like leading up to the the final club scene.
lg: Mm-hmm.
ED: Like it works for that with what they're trying to do in that scene where he's like getting mixed in with the the the group of people there. Because he's switching
lg: Yeah.
ED: characters in and out. And that works for that scene. Yeah.
lg: Like it when it's disorienting where you you don't you won't you don't wanna reveal the cards too fast where it's like, whoa, he's changing, but you don't really wanna see it. You wanna see it from the back or behind. You want you wanna be wanting to see it, The and so to have that where he's like going through the crowd. Yeah, until it finally happens,
ED: Yeah. Right. you'd be afraid to see it almost. And there was some Yeah. And there were some moments where I thought the effects that they were using of
lg: Ya yes. I think the design moments
ED: Yeah.
lg: someone who designed it did a good job. Yeah. Sorry, go ahead.
ED: I think yes, I think what is like creeping out of this movie is that there is like an affection for the character of Clayface. And like I already said, I love this character. but yeah, the I think the overall story and the execution of it is studio based. Like completely
lg: Yeah.
ED: just like checkoff list, kinda like let's keep it moving. yeah, the the least threatening product that they could put out there. You know what I mean? Right.
lg: Yes, the least threatening product, yeah.
ED: If it if we put this out there it will be mildly successful. It will get will bring our money back. It won't offend any hardcore fans and it
lg: Yes. But we also are gonna lean into some top like they're gonna like, well, we did some, some, some rated our stuff. We showed a boob. You know what I mean? We cut we cut we cut a
ED: Yeah.
lg: mouth, you know? I will s I will give it to that ending though, when they like they did set up the whole like blood going back to him, and then at the end when he
ED: yeah.
lg: drips the blood on he kind of echoes that thing. Yeah, and
ED: Recreates his yeah.
lg: it's like I feel like The way the same way in Ant-Man, where you saw Edgar Wright's footprint or DNA and some of
ED: Yes.
lg: the briefcase scene, or maybe like the last climax scene and the like the train sequence, the mini train sequence. You know, I feel like that's a very like cheeky Edgar Wright kind of set piece where, you know, this
ED: A hundred percent, yeah.
lg: could be a situation where it's like a very flannagan-esque where it's like the blood's dripping all over him and then it pulls through his skin back to his. I was like
ED: Right.
lg: that. It's that is a coolish. idea, you know what I mean? And
ED: Right.
lg: I feel like there is some cool concept about possession and who am I and who I need to become to make it in this industry and what is the real me. And you know, I think way more way more like introspective thoughts could have could have been had. But there was like you said, there was no breath. There was no moment for that to happen because we had to move and keep it safe.
ED: Yeah. His relationship yeah, his relationship with his friend I felt like was supposed to hit harder whenever
lg: Yeah.
ED: he found out he portrayed him and stuff like that. And ultimately it was kind of a cool day. It reminds me
lg: Kinda cool death. Also, yeah. Yeah.
ED: of when Commodus kills his father in Gladiator,
lg: Mm. Yeah.
ED: where he suffocates him. And I
lg: Mm-hmm.
ED: just you know, I was like I think there's something that could have been so much more really just packed a punch there because he was one of his few allies and friends in
lg: Yeah.
ED: this whole whole ordeal and finding out that he betrayed him all along, you know, there could have been more emphasis on that, but there he up until a point, he's just kind of like the goofy friend who comes in and out in a way, you know what I mean?
lg: Yeah. I thought that they were in a relationship at first, to be honest. I thought
ED: I mean
lg: they were until we got to, the him with someone else. And I like, so he's bisexual. but no, it's
ED: That's part of part of the illusion of Clayface. But yeah, I
lg: Yeah. I
ED: just felt like th that moment I I will say I did enjoy the relationship between
lg: Naomi and
ED: or him and Naomiaki and I feel like that's more so credit to just Naomiaki and
lg: Naomi. Yeah.
ED: I keep I keep saying him but his name is sorry. Tom Rice Harry's. I like I like Tom Rice Harry's. I I've I mean I I say that haven't
lg: Was he in Game of Thrones or something or
ED: no I haven't seen him in anything else
lg: Okay.
ED: as far as that I'm aware of. I liked him in this but I like w I we've been saying is I think there was potential for more with Yeah, exactly.
lg: I think it was the direction that was given to him. that's why I don't want to put it on the actors because it's like it's w hey, we need to go faster. Hey, we need to move on. Hey, don't linger, you know? That's yeah,
yeah, yeah.
ED: Yeah, it's like that's a good take. Yeah, yeah, yeah. he was in the gentleman apparently, but I don't remember his character in there. but
lg: But Naomi Aki, and then also what's his name? Eddie Marson is in this movie. I I really liked him a lot. Cause you know why? Cause he took
ED: Max Mangela. Mangella. and Eddie Marzan. Man, I love Eddie Marzan. Yeah. He's great.
lg: a moment to like think. You could you could see his thoughts. Do you know what I'm saying? Like he'll say something
ED: Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
lg: but mean something else. And it's like, dude,
ED: Right.
lg: this guy's a fucking baller. I love him. Yeah.
ED: Man, I have been saying, at least to myself for years, but I love Eddie Marzan, but he could def I like he would definitely be my go to choice for a main DC villain.
lg: Yeah.
ED: he like the Mad Hatter or the Penguin or like
lg: Ugh Ugh.
ED: he is such a good character actor and he's
lg: Yeah.
ED: been in so many different things too. Like he has he has great range. So yes, I was glad to see him in something like this, but at the same time, like he's just not that kind he's not that kind of actor who would get just like the lead in something like this. But he he
lg: It's a shame 'cause he does like he is talented. You know what I mean? Yeah.
ED: He's so talented. Yeah, absolutely. most of his cast is British. I reali 'cause obviously
lg: That's true.
ED: Max Mengela was a revelation to me, that he was director Anthony Mangela's son.
lg: Mm-hmm.
ED: Anthony Mangela Mangela is dead, but he directed movies like The English Patient, Cold Mountain, The Talented Mr. Ripley. like he was a big director in the nineties and early two thousands. So
lg: Yeah.
ED: I d never made that connection and I guess Max has mostly been in American roles as far as I'm aware. everything
lg: Yeah, he
ED: I can think of, he's like yeah, he's just the almost douchey friend. I liked it. I liked him
lg: Mm-hmm.
ED: a lot in this actually. I thought he was pretty good.
lg: I did too. I knew him from the Handmaid's Tale. he was he was in that's the only thing that I've seen him in, so
ED: That's right, the Handsmaid Tale. no, you've seen him of the stuff. He was Hang on.
lg: Yeah. He was in I never saw Horns. He was in the social network.
ED: Social network, yeah.
lg: the Ides of March.
ED: Nights of March, yep. I just rewatched that actually. Babylon, he was in Bob Babylon. Yeah. Yeah.
lg: The talented Mr. Ripley. he was in Babylon. Who is he? he's like a producer or something.
ED: Syriana. Apparently it was
lg: Well, yeah, he
ED: in the talented Mr. Opli, I don't remember in in that, but
lg: The internship spiral.
ED: Classic Mr Ripley is stop. Stop. Stop.
lg: anyway, I don't know. I feel like like I said,
ED: Anyway, we digress.
lg: like as a movie that it's like I have all these other movies I could watch and I end up watching this one.
ED: I know I'm so sorry, I feel bad. 'cause I I also texted from our audience, I texted Louise saying, if
you're wondering, most most of the feedback has been positive about this film, so
lg: Yeah.
ED: no worries. give it a watch. I I I mean, I don't know, 'cause you would you make you make your yeah, yeah. And you make your food
lg: We should've I we we we needed to talk about it regardless. we had we had to see it.
ED: compar you know And here's to all your food analogies, and I know I've been a dick about it in the past, but this was this was
lg: Ha ha ha.
ED: like a fast food cheeseburger for me, you know what I mean? This was like like I was I was entertained, like
lg: Right. Okay, yes. Fair. This is this is your Wendy's.
ED: could I have had something more nutritious, more hearty? Yes,
lg: Yeah.
ED: absolutely. this was bad for me, you know,
lg: Yeah.
ED: but and I'll regret it in the morning. But no, I yeah, I but I I was getting an inkling like I don't know if Luis will like this one. After all. So I apologise for that.
lg: No, it's fine. It's fine. I
ED: That's a bummer.
lg: and it's fine. It's gonna be okay.
ED: Ha.
lg: I did you know what? I was thinking and it's like, let's give this guy more work. He's just everywhere now. It's like, can you think of anyone else, Luis? I'm just like the internet with fan casting. But I do think that in a world where Batman wasn't occupied by Robert Pattinson, I think do think that Robert Pattinson could have killed as Clayface in this role for some reason.
ED: Mm-hmm.
lg: And maybe it's because I've watched all the Twilight movies recently because of Miguel, because Miguel told me to of the bet.
ED: Because of Miguel, yeah.
lg: That's the only reason why I watched him. no,
ED: Yeah.
lg: but b you know, outside of that obviously like it's not you know, seeing his career
ED: there there's a lot of movies I've been watching lately where I'm thinking like yeah Robert Pattinson could kill at this.
lg: Yeah.
ED: so truth be told, there was like I'm gonna blank on it so I won't try and recall it, but z somebody was saying in an interview how like Robert Pattinson could play a certain role and I'm just like, Well yeah, of course he could, but he's already playing this role.
lg: Yeah.
ED: if the conversation like yeah, if he wasn't Batman and all of this other stuff, like people were saying like he would actually be a really great James Bond. But I don't know.
lg: Interesting. I I don't know if I'm like I I like I said I'm bringing up Pattinson as I I think he would do a really good job with this. But I think there are roles that he's done where I'm just like I I I haven't been like spilling over him like everyone else maybe has, but like I respect him for sure in what he does. But yeah. Man, I
ED: He's good at what he does. Yeah. for sure.
lg: okay, I do want to get into another topic here that I feel
ED: okay.
lg: like I'm just kind of excited to get into. unless you have something else to more say about Clayface, just because you are setting me up on something right now that I want to dive into. Okay. Clayface, it's gonna be
ED: no, let's go let's go with it let's go with your instincts.
lg: out. you're talking about James Bond, you're talking about who could play this character. And you know, I think life sometimes throws at you opportunities where you sit there and you're like, I have nothing else to do. And I think it's time for me to watch what I've been meaning to watch. And I finally started watching Slow Horses. And I'm now on season three, epis
ED: yes.
lg: I just finished season three, episode one of Slow Horses. Yeah, yeah. That's what it
ED: S H, okay. I was like, was he okay. Awesome.
lg: was. SH Slow Horses. Slat House. And
ED: Yes.
lg: man, Jack Louden, yep. I love him. I think he would be a great bond. And I would love to hear your thoughts. I mean, don't know. I feel like he's like a young, fresh kind of like care can do
ED: Yeah. And I I think like next to Slow Horses, I think it maybe almost seems like the obvious choice, but back in the day Pissed Brosnan was the obvious choice. Like people had him locked down as Bond for years before he even became Bond. it's just like contract shit 'cause he was doing Remington Steel and shit.
lg: Uh-huh.
ED: but yeah, no, I I would have no issues whatsoever if it did be if it did end up being Jag Louden. Do I think personally there are more exciting options that are probably not even gonna come to fruition? Yes. Yes I
lg: Yeah.
ED: do. Josh O'Connor. Jack O'Connell. Joe Josh O'Connor,
lg: I know I know it about Josh O'Connor, yeah.
ED: Jack O'Connell, I think would be more interesting. But yeah, I mean Jack Louden, he's just about to become he's just about to play Mr. Darcy in the upcoming Netflix Pride and Prejudice. So he's got he Yeah, yeah.
lg: He is? Okay.
ED: S so he's got all of the, brooding spy kind of charisma. And he's very attractive. He's got a bit of levity, yeah.
lg: He's got a little bit of levity. He's got levity. He's got charisma. He's got it. I feel like he's got good guy levity. we're bringing Bond into this lighter side where we had Daniel Craig a little bit of a darker side. And then we had
ED: Yeah.
lg: Pierce Brosnan more of this, fun, I feel like this is
ED: A little bit more fun. Yeah.
lg: the this is the balance that Amazon wants to get of like he's fun, but he's not sexist, but he's also charismatic, but he's also,
ED: But he Right, he could be yeah, and you know, paired with Danny Vilno, who knows what that could unlock, you know.
lg: He I feel like he could shape him. I Jack O'Connell, great actor. I feel like he could become off a little dark. You know what I mean? Maybe it's because I've only seen him in dark roles, but it's like
ED: Yeah, I could be like a yeah. Jack O'Connell would be like a follow up to Daniel Craig if they were sticking to that tone. And I'd be over that, yeah. Yeah.
lg: Yeah, I'm gonna fucking kill you. it's scary. you're a scary bond.
ED: I I don't need a f yeah, he w he would look like he would kill you in a second. but
lg: Scary.
ED: I I agree, like I think Bond has lost a bit of its fun
lg: huh.
ED: touch, like and it desperately needed that, especially by the end of Daniel Craig era. which I struggle to go back to these days. I have some great great movies in his era, but some also real stinkers that really pissed me the fuck off as a Bond fan. As a Bond
lg: Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
ED: fan, you know. And so yeah, I I agree. Jack O'Connor would probably be a bit more along those lines. Josh O'Connor I think could bring a bit of that that retro swagger. I but
lg: Yes.
ED: I think Jack Louden's capable of that too.
lg: Yeah. And he's a he's a redhead,
ED: So
lg: so we change it up a little bit, right? Isn't he
ED: Right. We've had blondes, we've had brunettes, Bring on a bring on a redhead.
lg: I don't know. It's really got me back into the excitement of the MI5. I'm like, man, this fucking rocks. I just I don't know. I just I'm having a great time with all the
ED: Yeah.
lg: characters. I think it's great casting. I think it's interesting. I I almost wasn't gonna like season two because I was like, this is sleeper agent. we've seen this before. And season one was so clever in
ED: man.
lg: the whole who's doing this? it's actually this thing, which I I mean, I know everything is kind of like. a little bit of trope at times, but the way they execute it was interesting. And then by the end of season two I was like, no, I liked it. I I'm into it. And so, and now here my season three.
ED: Yeah. I will say that just buckle up because that is kind of how it goes season by season. But at least at least it's consistent.
lg: Okay. But the characters are enjoyable.
ED: At least it's yes, exactly. It's the characters that make it fun. And
lg: Yeah.
ED: there there is like a little bit of edge to it and as you go along you'll see like there are more you know, characters come and go. this
lg: Yes, that's what I'm getting.
ED: this last This last season I would say might be my least favorite so far.
lg: Okay, because I hear what's his name? The guy who showrunned it, Will Smith, not the slapper, but the writer, he left the show and someone else is now showrunning it. It's the same thing that happened when he did Veeep. He was showrunning Veep. And then
ED: Mm-hmm.
lg: when he left, the show kind of like the whole chemistry ch yeah, it changed. It wasn't as kind of, I don't know, it became more slapsticky. And so a little more on the nosy. And so I don't know if I was
ED: Yeah. Interesting.
lg: curious to ask you about your take on this new season because it was the one where he departed. I think so, yeah. I mean I can I can confirm right now, but it
ED: Well spoilers. There you go. Yeah, I it was the one he left, you you're saying? Yeah. There there was some there were some just annoying elements to it that just kept reoccurring but was just this is frustrating, like we're going in circles and I
lg: Mm.
ED: know the show is smarter than this. but you know, like you were saying, it's like
the characters are what make it fun, but yeah, this it was definitely the weakest season so far. I still enjoyed it. Yeah.
lg: Damn. It was 'cause it was season six, right? Yeah, it says he leaves after season five.
ED: Well that's a bummer. There are some there are still some like
lg: Ha ha ha.
ED: great moments, but I don't think it I don't think it meets like what's come previously, I'll say that.
lg: Right.
ED: So hey, you could just like watch it up to five and stop it there.
lg: You know what? But the thing is, is I know. Well, it's like it happened with Veep, it happened with community. Well, community was different because it's changed back to hands, but like I get I will be fed it so much that by the time it happens, it's like, it's fine. I've I've been I'm I've already been on here on this ride for years or for seasons.
ED: Yeah.
lg: It's fine. I I I
ED: Yeah.
lg: you because of all the great work you've done, I can keep up with this, even though I know
ED: Yeah.
lg: oof, this is not what it was.
ED: Well and this may have had an effect on it too, but like this was the first season where I was like I started it as it started and then I was watching it week by week. And
lg: You were binging it, yeah.
ED: previously I was binging it and that was a lot more fun. And so towards like halfway through it I was just like, All right, I'm gonna stop watching until they're all out and then
lg: Yeah.
ED: finish it. And that that's what I ended up doing, but like I Yeah, I guess it it's one of those shows that I would prefer to just like watch whenever I'm ready. And
lg: Yeah.
ED: just like watch back to back if necessary. But i it is a great show and like Jackson Lamb is like such a fun character. Like one of my favorite moments since you finished season one, right?
lg: Yeah. Yeah yeah.
ED: Is when Jack Louden's river he comes in Jackson Lamb and some of the other guys are there and there's like a dead body on the ground and the fur and River shows up late and he's like, did you check for his like his wallet or something? And then like Jackson Lamb just looks up to him and he's just like, Well thank fuck you're here. We wouldn't have thought of that. Like it was so the Gary Oldman's deliveries on
lg: Yeah.
ED: some of this is so great. And there was a while where I was just like, Gary Oldman's just Jackson Lamb now. He just like he's
lg: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
ED: p kind of like he he's yeah, maybe, yeah,
lg: Has he always been Jackson Lamb from the beginning?
ED: like he's just kind of like put on the extra pounds and he d he looks like he doesn't wash his hair ever. I'm just like he's I think w he we might just be looking at Jackson Lamb for the rest of his career. But yeah.
lg: Yeah. This is like what's his name from Shameless? what he you know, he was a drunk the whole time too, so he just looked
ED: The Yeah,
lg: like a in horrible shape all the time. Yeah. Yes, yeah. No, and then there's this
ED: Yeah. Like you could smell him through the screen,
basically. Yeah.
lg: novel. I'm looking at the novels here, it's like there's a bunch of them. yeah,
ED: Slow h what slow horses?
lg: it's like let's see, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine. Not the ninth one came out in 2025. And then there's five novellas and companion collections and three standalone universe novels. Again, this could all be wrong because it's AI telling me. And you know, AI is stupid as hell.
ED: Who wrote it?
lg: British author Mike Heron. twenty ten, twenty thirty. I feel like but I'm I'm also like, when you're writing that much, I mean that is t like how can you keep up the good juice for that long?
ED: Well sometimes people are just like on a fucking roll. some of these cac w who's that other character? The the American one. Jack Reach No. Jack
lg: Tom Clancy or all that stuff?
ED: Yeah, Tom Clancy, like the Jack Ryan. The Jack Ryan novels. Aren't there a million Yeah. Jack Reacher, Jack Ryan, Jackson Lamb.
lg: Jack Ryan. See that's what I'm saying? Fucking Jack, Jack, Jack. It's like who Jack Reacher, Jack Ryan. Yeah. Yeah. That's okay. He's a Jackson. yeah, that's a Tom Clancy. Yeah, I well, Tom Clantz. It's like I don't think that I don't know. I don't feel like I feel like Tom Clancy just also pumps it out. I I don't think that all of his stuff is I haven't read any of it, but
ED: Or l right. Or S Stephen King.
lg: Right.
ED: Guy has a million books and I mean, maybe a fraction of are actually good. Yeah. Something's gotta stick. Yeah.
lg: Maybe you write so many of them that it's like the ratio. Yeah. But it is it does get me in a place where I'm like, hmm, maybe I want to read these books. Cause it's just it's so
ED: Okay.
lg: fun that you want to keep living in that world. And it's
ED: In that world.
lg: not and it's not like when I started watching it, I was just like I was like, All right, impress me. and and I think it just it's just like kind of a slow kettle, like I just started
ED: Yeah.
lg: to like these characters and Or not like
ED: Yeah.
lg: them like Ho or whatever, he's a despicable IT guy. And then
ED: Yeah.
lg: I thought was it not Emma Darcy, what's her name? The other one from Game of Thrones.
ED: Olivia Cook.
lg: I thought she was like, damn, she's gonna be in this show for a bit. And I was still waiting for her. Well, spoiler alert, but
ED: Ha ha ha.
lg: yeah, I you know, I was just waiting for her to like kind of return and and just like
ED: Well then maybe you love season six.
lg: All right. okay. I mean, I know. I guess I shouldn't have said that because it's all very un you know, I will say this is that what it does, I mean, I'm only like halfway through, but it leaves a lot of things open-ended. Where not in like in a bad way, but it's like, we're only looking at this small corner of the story. And there are there is a spine that's attached to different
ED: Yeah.
lg: things, like with the biggest thing I'm noticing is the whole standish. her connection with Jackson with with
Lam and the person that whatever or whatever. Like it seems like that action a lot of people were affected by it or or whatever. Yes.
ED: Right. And Rivers Grand Grandad and or yeah. yeah. Yes. the I think there are those running threads that remain open ended. this one this last one kinda ends on a bit of a cliffhanger too. But yeah, you're right. They they never like wrap up the characters in a small bow unless said character is dead by the end of
lg: Yeah.
ED: the sc but that that's about as much closure as you get.
lg: Did you get a recap for next season on Slow Horses for your Okay. 'Cause they did that with season one. Yeah, I was like, God damn, already they're we're already to promote it. I don't know if they did that for
ED: Yeah, yeah, yeah. On s for season seven, I guess. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. yeah, no, they they did for season six too. So I imagine yeah, they r they are filming the next season right as they're releasing the current season. That makes sense. Hence why Gary
lg: Wow. That's a good gig for Gary Oldman.
ED: Oldman is just Jackson Lamb. No. That's his persona. But
lg: That's amazing.
ED: Yeah. Well I'm glad you I'm glad you're enjoying it. That's cool. All right. Well so we we jumped
lg: anyway, so yeah, I I'm happy I I'm on. Yeah. No, it's fun. Like I said, British yeah.
ED: what you're into. So how do you want to go from here, Captain? I'll take I'll take
lg: We did. I don't know I guess.
ED: I'll take it wherever we go.
lg: let's see. What do we what do we got here? It Yeah, I mean, I guess I saw
ED: the news is kinda bullshit. I just threw in some stuff.
lg: what let's see, you saw let's talk about Wildwood. You watched Wildwood, I'd love to hear about it.
ED: Let's talk about wood Wildwood. Can I say the let's see. I've seen I I've Clay Clayface aside, I feel like from Digger to Wildwood, I've seen some of the best movies of the year. that was a great run.
lg: Uh-huh. Amazing. Okay, great. I'm glad that I caught the one.
ED: but yeah, I so that's literally just one other movie in between, which is now you c you could see everything.
lg: that's the one I know. Ugh Mamma mia.
ED: but hey, that one's making money at least, so you'll be able to see it. You have time to see it. But yes, Wildwood. So we went to go see this on a Saturday. had good seats. I can't say I'm like a huge liker fan. I'm more of
lg: Right.
ED: a oddman. I actually I I I like stop motion animation. I know it kinda rubs people a certain way. I don't know what
lg: Miguel.
ED: Miguel, and I know there are others, but it's just some people just don't like it, I guess. you guys might remember like I loved Pinocchio, Guilma del Toro's
lg: Yeah.
ED: Pinocchio and stuff like that. But Leica I it's been hit and miss with me. I think I've seen like maybe three of their films. And I guess maybe because it's always been like that their movies are like lean towards the weird sometimes. Tim Burtonesque. Coraline I'm really
lg: Yes, yeah.
ED: speaking of. kind of that one in particular was very like Tim Burtonesque, but it just like d like The Nightmare Before Christmas. Like I appreciate that
lg: Mm-hmm.
ED: movie, but I wouldn't say it's like one of my favorites ever. But anyway, I digress. This one I
lg: No, no, no, I'm listening, yeah.
ED: I just like the buzz about it and just like the scope that I was getting from the trailers like looked Awesome and I wanted to try it out. And I I I think I mentioned that like the the dynamic between the older sister and the baby brother reminded me of my kids, so I was like locked in. And sure enough, yeah, it this I think most of this movie I was just like my jaw was open from the sheer scope of it. just like knowing that what I was looking at was handcrafted like sets, decorations, designs, like characters, all of it. just the the animation of it all was just spectacular. Like from the beginning to the end.
lg: Mm-hmm.
ED: And I I was just like in awe of it a good chunk of the way. I feel like There are some things that people are nitpicking about as far as story and character being a little bit one dimensional. But I just I I was so blown away visually by it. And I was really swept away with the story of it too. I think the it's a it's fairly straightforward. She's they live in Portland, Oregon. And you get to see what you feel like is all of Portland. You know, get to see the entire
lg: Wow.
ED: town. And there there's a brilliant like little opening of them riding through the town, but then there's like a little chase going through town again whenever the this murder of crows steals her brother. And then it goes into this mystical world that like dwells within the forest next to Portland. And there's like this whole yeah, there there's like multiple societies and they're kinda gearing up for war basically. There's one woman who
lg: Is this a post apocalyptic or pre like what it what what is it? It's just in a another univer what
ED: In the fantasy world? No, it's it is just like a fantasy alternate world that just lives within the forest, I guess.
lg: I love it. Okay.
ED: And yeah, they they don't they don't go into too much about how it's there, it's just there. And I appreciate that. I think it just it creates
lg: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. I appreciate that too.
ED: its own law and it it just accepts it without trying to muddy the waters by over explaining it or trying to set up all of these things. It just is what it is, and I think it's easy enough to keep up with it. there and they give you there are some like things that are told through flashback and you know, some things that are revealed later on as you go along. but I think for the most part all of that works and it I I was just yeah. I was just blown away by it. I I thought it did such a good job. The the animation really is just stunning. All the characters are so unique. there are multiple little action s sequences throughout.
lg: Hmm.
ED: not just in one location, it goes through so many different locations.
And I guess the hardest thing about it maybe is that it whilst it is kind of a appears like a kid's movie, it is not an easy kids movie. I think like
lg: Right, you did say this.
ED: Lily struggled with it a little bit at times because it's very dark at times. The this movie and mild spoilers, but you know, it's kind of just fair warning, but this movie basically opens with a kid committing suicide. and there there's more to that, but the That that's what you take away from it at first. It's and it's it it does yeah, it's pretty grim, it's dark. And you're just like, boy.
lg: I bet it's depressing as hell when it happens. quiet like rainy, quiet, yeah.
ED: And then it cuts to like pleasant current day Portland and it's fun and hilarious. but yeah, so it is grizzly and characters do die, like characters that you like. It's not just like bad guys and stuff like that, or offhanded characters, like characters that you come to like and enjoy. are in peril and they
lg: Yeah.
ED: actually die. This isn't like a Disney like all dreams come true at the end. It's like it's gritty. there is a full on battle in the climax and
lg: This is crazy. I don't even know what this movie's about. there's there's this battles and fantasy. I don't even I don't even know if I wanna know. I feel like yeah yeah yeah, because it's
ED: So so basically yeah okay, fair enough. I it explains itself very well. It doesn't get too convoluted. I think maybe they are a little loosey goosey with some technicalities about the powers of the main girl Prue, who follows her brother into the realm 'cause he's kidnapped by the this lady in the poster.
lg: huh.
ED: And she she's it it was her kid who commits suicide at the beginning. And so the basically the thing is is like she's trying to bring back her son. That's the conflict
lg: Got it.
ED: there. but she's like kind of going to any cost to do it. And th yeah. But she w
lg: Doing right, hocus pocus type shit where they're trying to st yeah.
ED: she and the but there are like multiple other like facets going on inside the world of Wildwood or whatever you want to call and they're all kind of like coming together to fight her, basically. And she's like collected an army of coyotes.
lg: Mm.
ED: but like yeah, it's like nature versus nurture basically,
lg: Nurture.
ED: yeah. and it's got like a great voice cast. I won't go too much further into detail because I and I'll just be rambling. Yeah,
lg: That's enough. Yeah, I feel like that's pretty good.
ED: but like there there's so many I said, there's just so many great moments, but throughout it all I was just sitting there and wonder at just like the beauty of it all. It was just like I like I thought Pinocchio was a pretty broad scope. Like they that had some really exciting action sequences and sets and stuff like that. I think this just takes it to the next level. Because it is so vast. There's such a big world that they're covering and they just don't hold back either, which I really appreciated. It's challenging in that sense. It doesn't get too weird. Like I said, I think you you're able to keep up with it. And if you don't go digging into like the ins and outs of every little thing that does happen, I
lg: Yeah.
ED: think it works really well. I and I think it dil it delivers and executes it to such an extent where it doesn't matter. You're just there for the ride, basically. and yeah, I I just thought it was excellent and it instantly became one of my favorite movies of the year. and I would love to see
lg: Wow, okay. All right.
ED: it again. like I said, it was challenging for Lily and we had a good talk about it after. but so, you know, parents be warned, i it's l it's not just like a fairy tale.
lg: Here you go. Here you go. vamp a little bit. I have to open the door real quick, but just a little bit more about whatever. I don't know.
ED: Okay. Yeah. So it's but yeah, it's in theatre, so definitely go see it on the big screen because the the depth of detail and locations and characters and all of that are just so brilliantly displayed on the screen. It is like a long film to as far as kids' movies go, it's like two hours and twenty minutes. So it's a stretch, but it keeps moving. There was rarely a dull moment where I wasn't like locked into what was happening on screen. So yeah, that's raps or I it did okay, but it could do a lot better. I hope people start to see it more. I know like there was something I read online where people like families had like left the movie because it got so h dark, you know. So
lg: I yeah, I know I I I texted Eric, I was like, What did you think of it? What did you and Kobe think of it? He said, There were a few times where I thought it was too much for him, literal blank, but he said he really liked it and that he wasn't scared at all. Overall, amazing movie though. So l l yeah.
ED: Cool. I've been meaning to text him about it, but I wanted to get it out of here first. But yeah, I I I think it i it is amazing and it'll be interesting to see. Like I'd I'd love I wanted to do well in the theatres. I but
lg: Yeah.
ED: this is the kind of animation where I'm like, this could this should be nominated for like best picture and stuff like that. But there's so much that has gone into this, I think, that demands that kind of recognition.
lg: Right.
ED: And it's got a great voice cast too.
lg: I I don't even know who who it
ED: Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblee, Aquafina, Carrie Mulligan, Jake Johnson, Mahershla
lg: wow.
ED: Lee, Angela Bassett, Tom Waits, Charlie Day.
lg: I think it's cr I I think it's crazy that Coraline is their really their first one. I mean here. Coraline,
ED: Yeah.
lg: Paranorman, the Box Trolls, Kubo and the Two Strings, Missing Link, which I didn't see, and then Wildwood.
ED: I saw I saw Paranorman once a long time ago. I just remember not liking it. but Box Trolls is one that I've started but haven't finished and wouldn't mind going
lg: It yeah.
ED: back to. Yeah, it
just but this one really I don't know if it was just like the subject and how they was telling it, but yeah. It it just it doesn't hold back. It's a just utterly thrilling animated film and it's a craft that deserves to be you know, celebrated and enjoyed on the big screen. So I would implore people to go see that.
lg: the guy you know who's like running Leica?
ED: Steve Knight, right? Travis Knight.
lg: St Travis Knight.
ED: Travis Knight. And he directed Masters of the Universe and Bumblebee.
lg: Right. And then he also directed Koo and the Two Strings and he directed this
ED: Yes.
lg: movie. And his dad is Phil Knight, who is the owner or yes. He's he wait, what does he do with he is the owner, he's the founder. the founder of Nike.
ED: What?
lg: Yeah. So Phil Knight's son, Travis Knight is a director and his dad uses Nike money to fund Leica and everything that he does.
ED: well, Nepo baby. I took it all back.
lg: So yeah, so
ED: Wow, that's crazy.
lg: there you go. And yeah, I I I well the only reason I I knew that is because I shout out to these guys. I I was listening to this pot or there's always clips from different podcasts and things like that. And this is what he said. I'm trying out new technology here too. See if this works. You know the Leica story? Leica loses money on every movie they make. They lose a lot of money on every movie they make. They lose like eighty million dollars or something. Yeah. Like they lose a shit ton of money. So, how is the studio still around if they're losing money on every movie? the head of Leica Studios is Travis Knight. Travis Knight, you would know he directed Masters of the Universe or he also directed Bumblebee. but he's the head of Leica Studios. He's made all the Leica movies. Some
ED: Huh.
lg: of them. His father is Phil Knight, founder and CEO of a little company in Oregon you may know as Nike. Oregon, too. Look at that. Nike Wildwood facilitates
ED: There you go.
lg: Phil Knight's son's passion project. Good passion project. Shout out Nike. It's a big reason why I'm such a Nike guy. I I'm wearing anyway. So there I was like, wow, that's crazy. Yeah.
ED: that's kinda cool. That's kinda cool. like I appreciate that despite I I mean I know that they haven't been like the biggest money makers for sure. So I and I was wondering to myself, is like, man, how do they keep going? Because it is a time consuming endeavor to
lg: Yeah.
ED: make a and like this one in particular, I think the budget was like a hundred mil at least. and it's been
lg: I can't e this is the most like you you the you can't do pickups. That's what I'm saying. Exactly.
ED: And it's been in the works for five years. Yeah.
lg: Like you can't like you you made it, you commit to the script, you you're doing the claymation, it's like there's no going back sometimes, you know, it's it's tough.
ED: Yeah. And they're they're advancing the technology, of course. some of these things are so seem so effortless compared to like stop motion twenty, thirty years ago. so I mean it's incredible. And obviously they use like certain CGI elements where necessary, but it's very subtle, very minute to where the the stop motion is what's the focus. But yeah, man, and you could tell too, the the amount of love and attention that went into the Portland set pieces,
lg: Mm.
ED: like I I was like, I wanna live there, it looks great. What a charming fucking city. so yeah, I I was that's that's interesting. I had no idea about that. I'll start wearing Nike from now on.
lg: Well, there you go. So no. yeah, so Wildwood, definitely one. Obviously, check that out. Movie that I I guess we can I can say that I checked out. I'm trying to get the picture up here. it was in theaters for a little yes, Hope. Exactly. it was a movie called Hope. I think it came out in some film festival. What was it? Was it do you do you
ED: Can, I think.
lg: Can. Okay, thank you. I was about to make a fool of myself and say Tiff. no, it's Ken.
ED: I'm fairly certain. Yeah. Tiff.
lg: and I think after they premiered there, then they had like a release and it's a Korean film. and I saw it in front of what was it? I think Resident Evil. They showed a trailer for this No, no, I went and saw Akira with Eric, which is the
ED: yeah.
lg: fa you the The famous anime movie based off of the manga and things like that. and
ED: Yeah, yeah.
lg: they had, and so of course, it was like, well, you're gonna see Akira. Maybe you'll like this Korean director who did this movie
ED: Yeah.
lg: with the Korean cast. But no, it's it's called a hope. And I watched it finally. I think it's like two hours and fifty minutes. and just
ED: Yeah, I heard it was long.
lg: yeah, no, it was long. I saw the trailer and I thought I thought I was like, this is cool. I think it'll be a spectacle to watch, kind of like this. Mystery monster Cloverfield type of vibe where you don't really know what this monster is taking over town.
ED: Yeah.
lg: and I will say it I had a fun ride with it. I think it it feels like two different movies kind of put together, not
ED: Yeah.
lg: not wanting to spoil too much, but I think there is some fun design elements that happen to it and there is somebody in this
ED: Did you buy into that? Like the the way that it separates? 'Cause I I've heard about that shift and then and it's off putting to
lg: I I you have. Yeah, yeah, yeah. and typically I I'm somebody
ED: some I I don't know the details, so spare on that, but like I know it's kind of like it's been hit
lg: It's like a different movie.
ED: and miss. It's been hit and miss with people because of it.
lg: It's so funny. I've been trying to s I've been trying to like come to terms with this and be like, what did I think about it? Because it does
ED: Yeah.
lg: feel like two different movies at some at a point. And I think on paper, I like the concept of something where it's like we start here, we go there, and then we end up over here. Where it's just like a true journey of like
we're changing. Not just the story or the goal or the plot line, but even the genre or the direction or the feeling. I think that's something about that to me is always fun and cool. and so when there is a switch up, I do appreciate at least the attempt for that.
ED: Yeah.
lg: but whether it worked for me or not, I'm not sure. I don't know if it's just like, I liked the first half of the movie or I like the second half. You know, I don't know if it worked together. And then by the end of the movie, I will say. It does feel like it does so much work at the beginning on being mysterious that it feels like it falls under that weight of, all right, time to lore dump, all at once.
ED: Yeah.
lg: but before you get there, you do get, you know, like I think he has a direction and an eye for action sequences. And I think he uses the wide angle lens a lot. And maybe it's like it's his style and to his benefit. But there is it's like there's 20 minutes of just this chase action sequence that's happening. and I'm not saying that that's you can take that however you want, but I was there still sitting there and enjoying it and be like, yeah, I'll I'm gonna I'm gonna eat this up. Like I'm I'm eating it up and it's fun and we're doing something new and I always like entering into a sphere where like I don't know what's happening next. And that's why maybe like When I watched Backrooms, I liked it so much because I was like, I don't know what's gonna happen now. And that's just something that's so difficult to come across in movies sometimes where it feels like you know, well, this will happen, then this will happen, this will happen. And so this
ED: Right.
lg: whole movie kind of hangs its hat on the idea of like, who are these, you know, intruders? What do they look like? What do they want? What do they like? Why are they here? A lot of questions and a lot of destruction. And so I just think also and also it's like new voices, new talent. Like why, you know,
ED: Right.
lg: I think there is just some intrigue. And I g I think it gives me like leeway to be more I don't know, less critical and more understanding in in a way where it's like, no, let me let me hear you speak a little bit. Let me give room to before I say anything, because I feel like I need you to speak your voice out before I can even say anything. unlike where it's where we we always talk about Ridley Scott, where obviously he's had years and years and years of movies where we can
ED: Yeah.
lg: comfortably say certain things, but I don't know. Yeah, I guess it's like new thing. It play it tries something different. I don't know if it lands, but it's entertaining. And I thought it was kind of fun. It was long, but it is a ride and also. A little comedic at moments too. So yeah.
ED: Yeah. Unlike any something that you may have seen before, so that's always a fun experience, right?
lg: Yeah, I think that's really I think that's really what it is. And there's some there's one actor I was like, is that fucking what's his name? And then the credits were all I was holy shit, that was him. And then
ED: Okay.
lg: another actor, I was like, wait, she's in this too. And so
ED: Huh.
lg: by the end of it, I was just like, I could tell by your eyes that's you, So anyway, I don't I don't want I don't want to spoil it just in case you might you might see it, yeah.
ED: Yeah. See No, don't I so I yeah, I know next to nothing about this.
lg: That's great.
ED: I I don't think I ever saw a trailer for it. And when it was out I think I was curious about it. Yeah, no, honestly.
lg: Is that for a weekend? Yeah.
ED: And but it was at such like show times that I was like That's too late. It's gonna be too late. It's too it's three hours, nearly three hours long. So and it every showtime was eight, nine PM. I was like, I can't do that.
lg: Yeah, I know.
ED: and it's harder 'cause I I want to be able to give these movies my attention, whether I end up liking them or not. I wanna give them a fair shake or whatever. So yeah, I it just it didn't work. So hopefully I hopefully I get to watch it later on.
lg: Hopefully. Listen, I you you watch six of my movies and I watched if I was able to sneak one behind your back, that's all I can ask for, To get to get so that I can be the one. Yeah. I can bring something new here. that's all I got.
ED: Okay. Yeah, I'll I'll and something else to talking about. Exactly, exactly. Sneaky sneaky. Alright, well look, let's wrap it up with this little conversation about ranch and
lg: Okay.
ED: I don't want to call it quits. Ranch!
lg: Ranch. All right. So yeah, yeah. I so this is not has nothing to do with movies, has to do with the food, ranch. I find myself, Ed, to
ED: The yeah.
lg: always love the ranch. Hold on, let me transition out of this. I don't know. how do I go here? Okay. I always find myself loving the ranch at at restaurants. Okay. You know, I'm
ED: Yes. But you hate it in the bottle.
lg: But I hate it in the bottle and I try to get it from the grocery store and it just does not taste the same. It is flat. I don't have that zesty zing that I want. I'm talking about ranch from Outback. I'm talking about ranch I get from Buffalo Wild Wings. You know what I mean? These type of ranches deliver for me where where I get like I go to Amazon today and trying to look for ranch, and it's like the number one pick is Hidden Valley Ranch. And I'm like, that shit is not good. Like, that is there's no no zing, no flavor, no zest that I
ED: Yeah.
lg: need. And 'cause I I I just need I and I I don't want to buy any because but I need some. So I don't know what to do. So
ED: Yeah. A hundred percent.
lg: I came to you and I was like, Ed, I I know you gotta know something about ranch. Like what ranch can
ED: Yeah.
lg: I get?
ED: I so I I'm I'm a stickler when it comes to ranch too. Like I appreciate it, but it's not a dressing I always go out for. Sarah loves it and she keeps a bottle of it regularly. Her and Lily her and Lily like it.
lg:
I get it.
ED: I but she she just gets like whatever, you know, might just be there. And what I've come to find after trying different brands because I'm I there was a point where I was just like there's gotta be one where I'm like yes that tastes
lg: Yes.
ED: as good as I'm picturing in my mind and it's it's because of like restaurants that. I you remember 59 Diner in Houston? They had really good ranch
lg: Yes, yes. Yes.
ED: randomly enough and so yeah I and I feel like there's something about like all of the bottled Branches that just make them one taste the same, but there's like this gluiness, this kind of like may mayonnaise forward taste to it
lg: Yeah.
ED: that overcomes the whole flavor that I'm trying to get out of it and the enjoyment of
lg: Yeah.
ED: it. So I'm you know, if we're just dipping shitty pizza crust in it, whatever, fine. But it's
lg: I I need yeah.
ED: I don't enjoy it. But where I've found the most success personally. is what I told you earlier is
lg: Mm-hmm.
ED: you can get and definitely Hidden Valley has their own but I I know you can get there are other ones too. And I'm sure if you looked online you can just like look up like a homemade recipe of the all the seasoning and herbs that you need to make a ranch dressing. But I've found it the best tasting version is getting sour cream
lg: Mm-hmm.
ED: And getting one of those dry packets and mixing it yourself because the freshness of the sour cream really gives it that zing that you were talking about. And then you have
lg: Yes, I think that's what it is.
ED: that all that ranch flavour too, but the it's the sour cream that gives it that warmth. And
lg: I know nothing about ranch. I I know that I love it and it feels like magic to me. So it's just
ED: Yeah, yeah.
lg: like is sour cream in ranch? Is what you're telling me? Organically?
ED: I that's that's about as much l looking into as I I I think sour cream is just what they tell you to mix it with. You
lg: Okay.
ED: can use mayonnaise, I wouldn't recommend it.
lg: Mm-mm.
ED: 'cause you would get exactly what you're getting in the bottles.
lg: Okay, yeah, ranch ranch dressing and dip are frequently made with a sour cream base. Many homemade recipes and restaurant style preparations combine sour cream, mayonnaise, and buttermilk. But I think you're right about this. Just getting the sour cream and mixing it with that. I'm gonna try that. I know it feels like any kind of
ED: I yeah.
lg: of that packet will be fine because the sour cream is
ED: Yeah.
lg: doing more of the heavy lifting.
ED: I think so. I think it really brightens it up and gives it that freshness. And I mean you mentioned the buttercream. I haven't tried it with the buttercream, but that's so like to me, that sounds like ooh, that sounds like an extra layer of depth that I would like to it, you know. So and you can juice it up from there, you know.
lg: Yeah.
ED: I think that's the way to go. So next time you are at the store. I think sour cream and you can
get so sour cream is pretty cheap. And
lg: Yeah.
ED: I think overall that combination is gonna amount to a bottle that would last however long. But
lg: Ugh I know you fight I fight for these little packets, they come in little
ED: Yeah.
lg: little things, and it's just like I use every single swab of ranch on my fries and then
ED: Yeah.
lg: it's like I and like I'm not eating ranch all the time like I used to, but whenever there comes a situation where I have a pizza or a wing or a fry or whatever, it's just like, man, just to have I just wanna dip it in that. Just to have some sort of like
ED: You just wanna dip it. Right. Now how how lovely would that be to just have a tub? W where you could just crack it open endless. Yeah.
lg: Endless. my God. I feel so decadent. Just like that robot in Futurama that's like all made out of gold and just like rubs himself. Yes. That's what I want to be in.
ED: Yes. Yeah. a hundred percent. you and Sarah both. Sarah loves her ranch.
lg: No. I ended up using just sriracha as my substitute because I wanted still that creamy, zing to it.
ED: Yeah, yeah.
lg: but just I just needed a zing cream. A zingy cream. I d I have been trying to dabble with Japanese mayo too, but that's yes. I know. And I have to find
ED: Japanese mayo is delicious, but it's very expensive. so
lg: like if I'm gonna get it, it's like, okay, I am gonna use it this week on something. Like
ED: bit of it like umami. man. What did we use it for? We used it for like tuna salad and stuff like that and that was that really added like an extra depth to it. We
lg: Yeah.
ED: make tuna salad in this house a lot, but yeah, I like a bit of Japanese mayo.
lg: What kind of t what kind of yeah, I like I used man, tuna salads. What kind of tuna do you use? Basic ass tuna. But it's the mixins. The mixins.
ED: Basic acidina. But I I don't know if this is just like a me thing, but I I put in like I put it like I make it into a salad basically. Like I'll do grated carrot, chopped celery, red onion or green onion, roasted red peppers if I have it. sesame oil really gives it like an extra layer of flavor.
lg: Level. Yeah.
ED: you know me, I like to put corn and stuff so I put corn in my I put corn in my salad.
lg: Yeah.
ED: but like it's a full on salad and my kids eat it up so I
lg: That's great.
ED: haven't had yeah. I mean if that's the one way I can get to eat it but yeah, no I I put all kinds of shit into my tuna salad. and obviously a boiled egg, chopped boiled egg if I can extra.
lg: Not bad. Yeah. You s you've you've pre boiled your eggs though, so you don't have to be boiling them on top, right? Yeah.
ED: Cor correct, yes. Preferably. Preferably. If I planned in advance. But yeah.
lg: well, next week I feel like it is a slower week compared to the fast paced breakneck weekends it's been with just mov two movies after two movies after two movies. and then after that it's gonna be got then after that it's a triforce of movies. so on what's it called? Not this Friday when this episode's release, nothing is it's like a pretty slow weekend.
ED: Yeah, well I've got plenty to catch up on. I'm trying to catch Labola Negra 'cause
lg: right, right, right.
ED: it's right in a very limited window right now.
lg: The bolo Negro, we can do that. And then after that on the sixth
ED: Miguel
lg: of November, we have Godzilla Minus Zero. We have Wild Horse Nine. I know.
ED: I already got my ticket. Woo That's the same weekend?
lg: Yes. And then on the side, my own little like movie of I play Roggy, which I would love to see. But
ED: I play rookie, you're right.
lg: out of all the I mean honestly, out of all the three, I would see Godzilla Minus Zero would be first and the whatever comes next comes next. But It's tough. That's a tough three weekend. Godzilla
ED: That is a tough one.
lg: ro Godzilla plays nine. Godzilla I
ED: Okay.
lg: I Godzilla n I Godzilla nine. Godzilla minus nine.
ED: So I haven't got my tickets Godzilla until the Mondays, so that might give me some wiggle room to go see it one of those prior to that. But for me it would be Wild Horse Nine. We've already had this conversation, but yeah, I do want to see Wild Horse Nine. Yeah. Exactly.
lg: I'm gonna just have to start doing some. No, we have. No, we have. You know what? It's okay because we get to round it out with different takes and different tastes. Thank guys so much for listening. What an episode, as Miguel would say. Tune in next week where we'll talk about who
ED: Ha ha ha.
lg: knows what. but until then, it's been me, Luis Gonzalez. And with me has been.
ED: Ed Bull.
lg: And until next time, Later Gators.
ED: Later gators.