The Filmlings

For as long as fairy tales have been recorded there has been a debate about whether or not they should be modified for children, so today Alex and Jonathan take up the negative side of the discussion with a look at three films with fairy tale elements that are not Disney's idea of kid-friendly: Beauty and the Beast (1946), Ugetsu (1957), Donkey Skin (1970). We discuss the history of fairy tales being told to children, how tone can compensate for unsavory elements of fairy tales without expurgating them, and where the boundaries of fairy tales and ghost stories touch.

Skip to:

• (14:47) – Beauty and the Beast
• (37:25) – Ugetsu
• (53:19) – Donkey Skin
• (1:12:34) – Overall
• (1:19:45) – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

• Shrek (2001)
• A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
• Maleficent (2014)

For more information, visit the blog: https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2023/09/23/not-for-kids/
Join us on Discord for ongoing film discussion: https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

When it comes to fairy tales on film, the elephant in the room has a name: Disney. So today Alex and Jonathan go through the history of fairy tale films as told by the Walt Disney Animation Studios, starting with the first feature length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), through the "Disney Renaissance" with Beauty and the Beast (1991), and up to the modern runaway hit Frozen (2013). We discuss Disney as a monolith in the modern fairy tale storytelling landscape, the evolution of animation techniques and technology over time, and how to effectively incorporate the element of eucatastrophe into storytelling.

Skip to:

• (20:55) – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
• (44:12) – Beauty and the Beast
• (1:07:52) – Frozen
• (1:39:04) – Overall
• (1:50:44) – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

• Beauty and the Beast (1946)
• Ugetsu (1956)
• Donkey Skin (1970)

For more information, visit the blog: https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2023/09/01/disney
Join us on Discord for ongoing film discussion: https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

To kick off our new series about fairy tales in cinema, Alex and Jonathan do a deep dive into three adaptations of the story of Pinocchio: Pinocchio (1940), Pinocchio (2019), and Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022). We discuss the history of fairy tales, the variations of focus in each of these adaptations, and how fantasy is perceived and experienced through a variety of cinematic media.

Skip to:

• (28:32) – Pinocchio (1940)
• (51:34) – Pinocchio (2019)
• (1:13:59) – Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
• (1:41:20) – Overall
• (1:49:54) – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Beauty and the Beast (1991)
• Frozen (2013)

For more information, visit the blog:
https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2023/7/28/pinocchio
Join us on Discord for ongoing film discussion:
https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

To wrap up our Westerns 101 series, Alex and Jonathan take a look at the current state of the western genre through Rango (2011), Slow West (2015), and Hell or High Water (2016). We talk about ways to take the tropes of an established genre and exaggerate them for comedic effect, how to take the setting of the west and present a story with modern sensibilities, and how the themes of the classic west can be transposed on the modern day.

Skip to:

• (11:40) – Rango
• (35:00) – Slow West
• (51:03) – Hell or High Water
• (1:11:52) – Overall
• (1:25:14) – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

After a break in June we'll be back in July with

• Pinocchio (1940)
• Pinocchio (2019)
• Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022)

For more information, visit the blog:
https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2023/05/24/modern-west
Join us on Discord for ongoing film discussion:
https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

A huge portion of the modern idea of what a western is can be traced back to an Italian director with an appreciation for samurai films, Sergio Leone. Today Alex and Jonathan look at his influence on the spaghetti western sub-genre with For a Few Dollars More (1965), Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), Duck, You Sucker! (1971). We discuss how Leone uses backstory and pacing to build tension, the specific tropes and identifiers of the spaghetti westerns, and the increasing scale of the themes that underlie the common elements. Skip to:

• (21:18) – For a Few Dollars More
• (47:21) – Once Upon a Time in the West
• (1:04:38) – Duck, You Sucker!
• (1:21:46) – Overall
• (1:40:48) – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

• Rango (2011)
• Slow West (2015)
• Hell or High Water (2016)

For more information, visit the blog: https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2023/04/26/leone
Join us on Discord for ongoing film discussion: https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

As we continue our journey through the history of the western genre, Alex and Jonathan take a detour to Japan to discuss an era of chanbara (samurai) films that bridge the gap from classic westerns to spaghetti westerns. We're talking about Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (1954), Sanjuro (1962), The Sword of Doom (1966). We discuss the parallels between chanbara and western films, the ways samurai have been mythologized in similar ways to old west gunslingers, and the construction and deconstruction of the ideals of that mythology.

Skip to:

• (10:01) – Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto
• (34:05) – Sanjuro
• (58:45) – The Sword of Doom
• (1:18:04) – Overall
• (1:26:40) – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions

• For a Few Dollars More (1965)
• Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
• Duck, You Sucker! (1971)

For more information, visit the blog:

⁠https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2023/03/01/ford⁠

Join us on Discord for ongoing film discussion:⁠

https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF⁠

When discussing the history of the Western genre, there is no escaping the name or work of John Ford, so today Alex and Jonathan dive in to three of Ford's landmark films: My Darling Clementine (1946), The Searchers (1956), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). We talk about the ways Western films elevate actual historical events to the level of mythology, the themes and tropes that are presented and deconstructed through Ford's films, and how Ford uses film to pull back the mythological curtain of his own early films in the genre.

Skip to:

• (12:47) – My Darling Clementine
• (44:36) – The Searchers
• (1:04:27) – The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
• (1:20:38) – Overall
• (1:30:56) – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

• Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (1954)
• Sanjuro (1962)
• The Sword of Doom (1966)

For more information, visit the blog:
https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2023/03/01/ford
Join us on Discord for ongoing film discussion:
https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

To kick off a new series of episodes that will give an overview of the history of the western genre, Alex and Jonathan start off by talking about three early western films from the pre-sound era: The Testing Block (1920), Sky High (1922), and The Iron Horse (1924). We discuss the development of both the themes and the action of the western genre, how the early westerns lacked many of the common tropes we expect in westerns today, and how John Ford set himself apart early as one of the great western directors.

Skip to:

• (19:34) – The Testing Block
• (44:30) – Sky High
• (58:36) – The Iron Horse
• (1:25:26) – Overall
• (1:36:17) – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

• My Darling Clementine (1946)
• The Searchers (1956)
• The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

For more information, visit the blog:
https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2023/02/01/silent-westerns

Join us on Discord for ongoing film discussion:
https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

For the winter wrap-up episode to close out the year, Alex and Jonathan talk about four films that focus on the ways that people have to survive in freezing and desperate situations: Touching the Void (2003), The Grey (2011), Everest (2015), and Arctic (2018). We discuss ways to tell a true story through documentary and historical reenactment, as well as how fictional survival stories can use theme to varying degrees.

Skip to:

• 9:32 – Touching the Void
• 27:52 – The Grey
• 39:29 – Everest
• 1:10:26 – Arctic
• 1:27:23 – Overall
• 1:34:07 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:
Stay tuned for Season 7!

For more information, visit the blog:
https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2022/12/21/icepod

Join us on Discord for ongoing film discussion:
https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

Find more info about the upcoming episode on The December Marquee:
https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2022/11/30/december-22/

Join us on Discord to keep up with the discussion throughout the month:
https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

From the very first photographs of motion, horses have been integrated with the cinema, so today Alex and Jonathan talk about different ways horses can be used to drive a story in The Black Stallion (1979), Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002), Seabiscuit (2003), and War Horse (2011). We discuss horses as both thematic metaphors and characterizations, what makes them so compelling to watch on film, and ultimately how horses reflect and amplify the virtues or vices of the human characters.

Skip to:

• 13:42 – The Black Stallion
• 31:56 – Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
• 50:12 – Seabiscuit (50:12)
• 1:10:39 – War Horse
• 1:29:27 – Overall
• 1:35:02 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

• Touching the Void (2003)
• The Grey (2011)
• Everest (2015)
• Arctic (2018)

For more information, visit the blog:
https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2022/11/23/horses

Join us on Discord for ongoing film discussion:
https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

Support the Show!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/thefilmlings
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thefilmlings

Find more info about the upcoming episode on The November Marquee.

Join us on Discord to keep up with the discussion throughout the month:
https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

To fill some time while Alex and Jonathan are on break, we're releasing a commentary track for Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) which was recorded in 2018. Going scene-by-scene through the extended edition of the film allows us to break down some of the details and nuances of the filmmaking techniques, as well as giving plenty of time for nerdy lore discussions and behind the scenes trivia.

Note: The silences in the audio have been condensed to make it play better as a podcast. If you want to download the actual commentary to listen in real time with the film, check out our Patreon.

Join us on Discord for ongoing film discussion: https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

Support the Show!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/thefilmlings
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thefilmlings

Taking a step behind the curtain of classic movie magic, today Alex and Jonathan discuss the techniques and creatures brought to the screen by VFX pioneer Ray Harryhausen in Mighty Joe Young (1949), The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958), Jason and the Argonauts (1963), and Clash of the Titans (1981). We discuss the evolution of the Dynamation and Dynarama processes, the ways that his techniques influenced the effects that ended up surpassing his own, and where Dynamation might still fit in the modern cinema landscape.

Skip to:

• 15:39 – Mighty Joe Young
• 37:01 – The 7th Voyage of Sinbad
• 51:43 – Jason and the Argonauts
• 1:01:02 – Clash of the Titans
• 1:15:21 – Overall
• 1:38:58 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

• Commentary track for The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

For more information, visit the blog:
https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2022/09/28/harryhausen

Join us on Discord for ongoing film discussion:
https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

Support the Show!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/thefilmlings
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thefilmlings

Find more info about the upcoming episode on The September Marquee.

Join us on Discord to keep up with the discussion throughout the month:
https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

We are all interested in the future, which is why in this episode Alex and Jonathan take a look at some prominent entries into the time travel sub-genre of science fiction, specifically: Time After Time (1979), Back to the Future (1985), Groundhog Day (1993), and Tenet (2020). We discuss the various mechanisms for implementing time travel into a plot, how the device does or doesn't influence the deeper levels of the story, and how treating the details of time travel too seriously or too loosely might detract from the overall effect of the story.

Skip to:

• 7:37 – Time After Time
• 25:21 – Back to the Future
• 45:38 – Groundhog Day
• 1:05:05 – Tenet
• 1:33:49 – Overall
• 1:49:45 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

• Mighty Joe Young (1949)
• The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958)
• Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
• Clash of the Titans (1981)

For more information, visit the blog:
https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2022/09/07/time-travel

Join us on Discord for ongoing film discussion:
https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

Support the Show!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/thefilmlings
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thefilmlings

Find more info about the upcoming episode on The August Marquee.

Join us on Discord to keep up with the discussion throughout the month:
https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

Another legend of Hollywood's Golden Age is the spotlight for this episode as Alex and Jonathan talk about some of the classic works of Otto Preminger: Laura (1944), Bonjour Tristesse (1958), Anatomy of a Murder (1959), and Bunny Lake is Missing (1965). We discuss how Preminger builds character driven narrative through visuals, his real and perceived image as a directorial tyrant, and how he stacks up against some of his contemporaries.

Skip to:

• 7:29 – Laura
• 24:43 – Bonjour Tristesse
• 43:54 – Anatomy of a Murder
• 59:02 – Bunny Lake is Missing
• 1:16:50 – Overall
• 1:24:59 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

• Time After Time (1979)
• Back to the Future (1985)
• Groundhog Day (1993)
• Tenet (2020)

For more information, visit the blog:
https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2022/07/27/preminger

Join us on Discord for ongoing film discussion:
https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

Support the Show!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/thefilmlings
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thefilmlings

Find more info about the upcoming episode on The July Marquee.

Join us on Discord to keep up with the discussion throughout the month:
https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

Sit back and enjoy the ride as Alex and Jonathan talk through the road-trip style films of Abbas Kiarostami in Where Is the Friend's House? (1987), And Life Goes On (1992), Through the Olive Trees (1994), and Taste of Cherry (1997). We discuss the way Kiarostami blends truth and fiction, how he uses long takes to provoke deeper thought from the audience, and the detailed attention he pays to the way people interact with their environment and each other.

Skip to:

• 7:56 – Where Is the Friend's House?
• 24:33 – And Life Goes On
• 42:19– Through the Olive Trees
• 55:24 – Taste of Cherry
• 1:15:53 – Overall
• 1:31:54 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

• Laura (1944)
• Bonjour Tristesse (1958)
• Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
• Bunny Lake is Missing (1965)

For more information, visit the blog:
https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2022/06/29/kiarostami

Join us on Discord for ongoing film discussion:
https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

Support the Show!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/thefilmlings
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thefilmlings

Find more info about the upcoming episode on The June Marquee.

Join us on Discord to keep up with the discussion throughout the month:
https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

This month Alex and Jonathan fly to a mythical Nordic world and discuss the recent animated trilogy How to Train Your Dragon (2010), How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014), and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019). We discuss a brief history of dragons, ways to incorporate high stakes and family into children's movies, and adapting a sprawling fantasy world from book to screen.

Skip to:

• 16:28 – How to Train Your Dragon
• 38:56 – How to Train Your Dragon 2
• 51:36 – How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
• 1:01:44 – Overall
• 1:10:32 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

• Where Is the Friend's House? (1987)
• And Life Goes On (1992)
• Through the Olive Trees (1994)
• Taste of Cherry (1997)

For more information, visit the blog:
https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2022/06/01/httyd

Join us on Discord for ongoing film discussion:
https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

Support the Show!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/thefilmlings
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thefilmlings

Find more info about the upcoming episode on The May Marquee.

Join us on Discord to keep up with the discussion throughout the month:
https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

When it comes to acting, few names loom as large in the recent history of stage or screen as that of Laurence Olivier. Alex and Jonathan discuss his contributions to the film medium through his roles in Wuthering Heights (1939), Rebecca (1940), Richard III (1955), and Marathon Man (1976). We talk about his growth as a performer, his interactions with leading directors from various periods of film history as well as his own merits as a director, and his impact on the acting profession for anyone following in his footsteps.

Skip to:

• 19:53 – Wuthering Heights
• 35:44 – Rebecca
• 52:40 – Richard III
• 1:12:39 – Marathon Man
• 1:26:24 – Overall
• 1:34:11 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

• How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
• How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
• How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)

For more information, visit the blog:
https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2022/04/27/olivier

Join us on Discord for ongoing film discussion:
https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

Support the Show!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/thefilmlings
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thefilmlings

Find more info about the upcoming episode on The April Marquee.

Join us on Discord to keep up with the discussion throughout the month:
https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

The epic drama and action of director John Woo carries us away this month as Alex and Jonathan talk about The Killer (1989), Hard Boiled (1992), Face/Off (1997), and Red Cliff (2008). We talk about his pioneering of the "Honorable Bloodshed" genre, his distinct stylistic and thematic trademarks, and his continuing legacy on many modern directors and content creators.

Skip to:

• 8:22 – The Killer
• 23:18 – Hard Boiled
• 33:49 – Face/Off
• 50:35 – Red Cliff
• 1:12:44 – Overall
• 1:22:46 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

• Wuthering Heights (1939)
• Rebecca (1940)
• Richard III (1955)
• Marathon Man (1976)

For more information, visit the blog:
https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2022/03/23/woo

Join us on Discord for ongoing film discussion:
https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

Support the Show!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/thefilmlings
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thefilmlings

Find more info about the upcoming episode on The March Marquee.

Join us on Discord to keep up with the discussion throughout the month:
https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

Watch your back because in this episode Alex and Jonathan, talk about the history of American gangster films through four classic and contemporary tales within the genre: Scarface (1932), Angels with Dirty Faces (1938), Scarface (1983), and Goodfellas (1990). We discuss the origins of gangster stories being pulled from the contemporary headlines, how the genre was affected by the strict regulations under the production code, and the resurgence of the genre through the American New Wave.

Skip to:

• 11:39 – Scarface (1932)
• 41:40 – Angels with Dirty Faces
• 1:00:18 – Scarface (1983)
• 1:19:09 – Goodfellas
• 1:37:44 – Overall
• 1:49:41 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

• The Killer (1989)
• Hard Boiled (1992)
• Face/Off (1997)
• Red Cliff (2008)

For more information, visit the blog:
https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2022/02/23/gangsters

Join us on Discord for ongoing film discussion:
https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

Support the Show!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/thefilmlings
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thefilmlings

Find more info about the upcoming episode on The February Marquee.

Join us on Discord to keep up with the discussion throughout the month:
https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

Kicking off season 6 of the podcast, Alex and Jonathan take a look at the films and careers of two oft-paired star performers: Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. We look at their films The Gay Divorcee (1934), Shall We Dance (1937), and The Barkleys of Broadway (1949), and discuss the history of each performer, the mesmerizing quality of watching performance talent on film, and the evolving taste and interests of audiences over time.

Skip to:

• 16:04 – The Gay Divorcee
• 41:42 – Shall We Dance
• 57:23 – The Barkleys of Broadway
• 1:17:43 – Overall
• 1:44:48 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

• Scarface (1932)
• Angels with Dirty Faces (1938)
• Scarface (1983)
• Goodfellas (1990)

For more information, visit the blog:
https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2022/01/26/rogers-astaire

Join us on Discord for ongoing film discussion:
https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

Support the Show!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/thefilmlings
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thefilmlings

Find more info about the upcoming episode on The January Marquee.

Join us on Discord to keep up with the discussion throughout the month:
https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

To wrap up Season 5, of the podcast Alex and Jonathan talk about another one of the hard-working directors of Hollywood's Golden Age, William Wyler. We're looking at four of his post-war films, The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), Roman Holiday (1953), Ben-Hur (1959), and The Collector (1965) and discussing how Wyler's war experience helped him craft intimate drama involving veterans, his iconic deep-focus visual style, and the extensive range of genres he was able to work in.

Skip to:

• 17:57 – The Best Years of Our Lives
• 50:06 – Roman Holiday
• 1:05:28 – Ben-Hur
• 1:21:12 – The Collector
• 1:34:09 – Overall
• 1:37:34 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

• The Gay Divorcee (1934)
• Shall We Dance (1937)
• The Barkleys of Broadway (1949)

For more information, visit the blog:
https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2021/12/22/wyler/

Support the Show!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/thefilmlings
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thefilmlings

Today Alex and Jonathan ask "How did Billy do it?" as we dive into the work and career of Golden Age director Billy Wilder through his films Sunset Boulevard (1950), Stalag 17 (1953), Sabrina (1954), and The Apartment (1960). We discuss the way Wilder turns a mirror back on Hollywood, the influence Ernst Lubitsch and early Hollywood had on his filmmaking, and his constant pushing of the envelope against the censors of the time.

Skip to:

• 13:21 – Sunset Boulevard
• 40:04 – Stalag 17
• 54:45 – Sabrina
• 1:06:58 – The Apartment
• 1:24:55 – Overall
• 1:35:53 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

• The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
• Roman Holiday (1953)
• Ben-Hur (1959)
• The Collector (1965)

Join us for ongoing film discussions on Discord: https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

Support the Show!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/thefilmlings
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thefilmlings

One of the masters of world cinema, Japanese director Masaki Kobayashi, is the focus of today's episode as Alex and Jonathan talk through his epic trilogy The Human Condition I: No Greater Love (1959), The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity (1959), and The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer (1961), as well as his stylistic ghost story anthology Kwaidan (1964). We discuss the cultural implications of making The Human Condition, the trajectory of Kobayashi's career, and his use of tradition and style in Kwaidan.

Skip to:

• 11:38 – The Human Condition I: No Greater Love
• 38:54 – The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity
• 53:07 – The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer
• 1:10:02 – Kwaidan
• 1:28:40 – Overall
• 1:33:55 – Coming Attractions

• Sunset Boulevard (1950)
• Stalag 17 (1953)
• Sabrina (1954)
• The Apartment (1960)

For more information, visit the blog:
https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2021/10/27/kobayashi/

Support the Show!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/thefilmlings
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thefilmlings

From skateboard videos to high-budget science-fiction drama, today Alex and Jonathan track the career of Spike Jonze through his feature films Being John Malkovich (1999), Adaptation. (2002), Where the Wild Things Are (2009), and Her (2013). We talk about the building of themes and structure in meta filmmaking, what makes interesting protagonists, and the variety of projects and opportunities that Jonze contributes to.

Skip to:

• 12:25 – Being John Malkovich
• 28:58 – Adaptation.
• 39:56 – Where the Wild Things Are
• 1:00:03 – Her
• 1:23:21 – Overall
• 1:30:52 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

• The Human Condition I: No Greater Love (1959)
• The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity (1959)
• The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer (1961)
• Kwaidan (1964)

For more information, visit the blog:
https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2021/09/29/jonze/

Support the Show!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/thefilmlings
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thefilmlings

The combined creative talents of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller is one of the biggest forces in the animation industry at the moment, so today Alex and Jonathan take a look at four films they have had a hand in bringing to the big screen: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009), 21 Jump Street (2012), The Lego Movie (2014), and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018). We discuss how Lord and Miller use their knowledge of popular story tropes to create comedy, what makes comedy age well or not, and what's in store for the duo in the future.

Skip to:

• 6:55 – Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
• 29:20 – 21 Jump Street
• 44:05 – The Lego Movie
• 1:01:47 – Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
• 1:28:29 – Overall
• 1:45:47 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

• Being John Malkovich (1999)
• Adaptation. (2002)
• Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
• Her (2013)

For more information, visit the blog:
https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2021/09/01/lord-and-miller/

Support the Show!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/thefilmlings
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thefilmlings

One of the greatest physical performers of recent filmmaking, Jackie Chan is the focus of today's discussion as Alex and Jonathan look at Drunken Master (1978), Police Story (1985), Police Story 3: Supercop (1992), and The Foreigner (2017). We talk about Jackie Chan's journey finding his on-screen persona in the wake of Bruce Lee, the innovation and dedication that he put into his craft of acting and stunt performance, and the legacy he leaves on cinema even as his career isn't quite over.

Skip to:

• 16:01 – Drunken Master
• 31:29 – Police Story
• 48:54 – Police Story 3: Supercop
• 59:24 – The Foreigner
• 1:11:02 – Overall
• 1:17:27 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

• Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009)
• 21 Jump Street (2012)
• The Lego Movie (2014)
• Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

For more information, visit the blog:
https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2021/07/28/jackie

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Alex and Jonathan take to the open seas today and follow the films and life of French explorer and documentarian Jacques Cousteau. We're talking about his documentaries The Silent World (1956), World Without Sun (1964), Voyage to the Edge of the World (1976), and the more recent biopic of his life The Odyssey (2016). We discuss the early foibles of Cousteau's adventures, the trail he blazed for modern conservationism, and his lasting impact on modern science-focused  entertainment.

Skip to:

• 17:10 – The Silent World
• 30:58 – World Without Sun
• 43:20 – Voyage to the Edge of the World
• 55:20 – The Odyssey
• 1:08:27 – Overall
• 1:17:23 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

• Drunken Master (1978)
• Police Story (1985)
• Police Story 3: Supercop (1992)
• The Foreigner (1978)

For more information, visit the blog:
https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2021/06/30/cousteau/

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Patreon: https://patreon.com/thefilmlings
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thefilmlings

Highlighting one of the most innovative animation studios producing content today, Alex and Jonathan look at the four feature films produced by Irish studio Cartoon Saloon: The Secret of Kells (2009), Song of the Sea (2014), The Breadwinner (2017), and Wolfwalkers (2020). We discuss the unique art style, the various cultural influences, and the ongoing work and legacy of Cartoon Saloon.

Skip to:

• 5:23 – The Secret of Kells
• 24:23 – Song of the Sea
• 37:24 – The Breadwinner
• 52:17 – Wolfwalkers
• 1:07:33 – Overall
• 1:23:39 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

• The Silent World (1956)
• World Without Sun (1964)
• Voyage to the Edge of the World (1976)
• The Odyssey (2016)

For more information, visit the blog:
https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2021/06/02/cartoon-saloon

Support the Show!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/thefilmlings
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thefilmlings

Travelling back to the Golden Age, Alex and Jonathan take a look at one of the early masters of the budding film medium, Ernst Lubitsch, through his films Ninotchka (1939), The Shop Around the Corner (1940), To Be or Not to Be (1942), and Heaven Can Wait (1943). We discuss Lubitsch's history as a German immigrant before WWII, the way he made films dealing with controversial subject matter during the Production Code, and the lasting influence of the Lubitsch Touch.

Skip to:

13:55 – Ninotchka
33:26 – The Shop Around the Corner
52:39 – To Be or Not to Be
1:06:45 – Heaven Can Wait
1:26:28 – Overall
1:43:41 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

• The Secret of Kells (2009)
• Song of the Sea (2014)
• The Breadwinner (2017)
• Wolfwalkers (2020)

For more information, visit the blog:
https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2021/04/28/lubitsch/

Join our weekly movie parties on Discord: https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

Support the Show!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/thefilmlings
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thefilmlings

We all know those movies that are so bad you just have to watch them, and today Alex and Jonathan are talking through the history of these terribly good films with Plan 9 From Outer Space (1957), Birdemic: Shock and Terror (2010), Sharknado (2013), and The VelociPastor (2018). We discuss the role intention plays in the final product of art, different approaches to a limitation of resources, and what draws us to bad movies in the first place.

Skip to:

• 11:22 – Plan 9 From Outer Space
• 31:03 – Birdemic
• 46:35 – Sharknado
• 1:06:29 – The VelociPastor
• 1:30:50 – Overall
• 1:40:17 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions

• Ninotchka (1939)
• The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
• To Be or Not to Be (1942)
• Heaven Can Wait (1943)

For more information, visit the blog: https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2021/03/31/sobaditsgood

Join our weekly movie parties on Discord: https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

Support the Show!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/thefilmlings
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thefilmlings

For the first episode of season 5, Alex and Jonathan take a look at the many and on-going adaptations of the works of Jane Austen. The specific adaptations we'll be talking about are Sense and Sensibility (1995), Northanger Abbey (2007), Love & Friendship (2016), and Emma. (2020). We discuss the changing style of period pieces, adapting the novel format to film, and the lasting impact of Jane Austen's characters and stories on literature and film.

Skip to:

• 16:45 – Sense and Sensibility
• 37:56 – Northanger Abbey
• 46:49 – Love & Friendship
• 1:03:35 – Emma.
• 1:29:43 – Overall
• 1:37:01 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

• Plan 9 From Outer Space (1957)
• Birdemic: Shock and Terror (2010)
• Sharknado (2013)
• The VelociPastor (2018)

For more information, visit the blog: https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2021/03/03/austen

Join our weekly movie parties on Discord: https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

Support the Show!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/thefilmlings
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thefilmlings