LAMBcast #31

What do you call six guys gathered around a microphone?

Wait, don't answer that. I made an exception and went beyond our normal (unwritten) 3-5 person rule when I got a message out of the blue from longtime veteran LAMBcaster Big Mike, who joined me, Nick, Jason, and newbies Kai and James for a jam-packed show. It was high time for another "What Have You Randomly Seen Lately?" show, so we run the gamut on everything from Predators to Dr. Giggles to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo to Pin and everything in between, I think. After the LLS and Trailer Talk-free Pixar eps, those segments make their triumphant return as well. Hell of a show if I do say so my damn self.

Just be prepared for a bit of raunch, a lot of swearing, and a lot of laughs.

As usual, the music, as provided royalty-free by Kevin MacLeod's Incompetech website, is the bomb. Big thanks to Kevin for providing this service.

Also, we're still on iTunes, and would still love a review, even if it's a bad one. Thanks for listening!

FYI: I started a dedicated Facebook page for the LAMBcast. I'll still post something here when a new episode is released, but if you're looking for a central place for commentary, suggestions, complaints, etc., go here (and LIKE it!).

And then...

LAMBcast #18

After a few weeks off, the LAMBcast has returned, with an enthusiastic discussion of the lone film that's been worthy of being enthusiastic about to hit theaters in recent weeks, Kick-Ass. Ob board was host Nick Jobe, along with Mike Mendez and Mr. Last LAMB Standing himself, Travis McCollum. Listen up as the gents dissect the Matthew Vaughn flick, briefly discuss some trailers, including the revolting Human Centipede (which Travis has had the misfortune of already seeing), as well as not one or two but three games of Last LAMB Standing.

As usual, the music, as provided royalty-free by Kevin MacLeod's Incompetech website, is the bomb. Big thanks to Kevin for providing this service.

You can find us on iTunes; just go to the Podcasts section and search for "LAMBcast." And hey - while you're on iTunes, why don't you go ahead and either rate the LAMBcast or write a review of it. Better yet, do both! It'll help us get noticed by the overlords at Apple and earn worldwide fame...or something like that.

And then...

LAMBcast #17

Back so soon? Yes, we LAMBcasters have been a busy group lately, haven't we?

We now present you with a "special" episode in which we count down some of our favorite foreign (language) films (our primary language being English...kind of). I think I can safely say that of all the LAMBcasts yet, this is the one you don't want to miss. On hand were a gang of fools, from Nick Jobe to Mike Mendez to Jason Soto to This Guy and myself. We laughed, we cried, we broadened our horizons. That's followed up by a couple games of Last LAMB Standing and some Trailer Talk, in which we discussed Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and the epic Weird Al biopic.

It should also be noted that this one's a bit bluer than usual, so use those headphones if there be kids around.

As usual, the music, as provided royalty-free by Kevin MacLeod's Incompetech website, is the bomb. Big thanks to Kevin for providing this service.

You can find us on iTunes; just go to the Podcasts section and search for "LAMBcast." And hey - while you're on iTunes, why don't you go ahead and either rate the LAMBcast or write a review of it. Better yet, do both! It'll help us get noticed by the overlords at Apple and earn worldwide fame...or something like that.

Oh, and Happy April Fool's Day.

And then...

LAMBcast #16

We take a detour from our normal single topic episode to discuss three tidbits of movie news/controversies, going from the Twilight saga to Tim Burton to Repo Men. On hand was me as host, as well as Nick Jobe, Mike Mendez and Travis McCollum. That's followed up by a couple games of Last LAMB Standing and some Trailer Talk.

As usual, the music, as provided royalty-free by Kevin MacLeod's Incompetech website, is the bomb. Big thanks to Kevin for providing this service.

You can find us on iTunes; just go to the Podcasts section and search for "LAMBcast." And hey - while you're on iTunes, who don't you go ahead and either rate the LAMBcast or write a review of it. Better yet, do both! It'll help us get noticed by the overlords at Apple and earn worldwide fame...or something like that.

And then...

LAMBcast #10

As previously mentioned, the last time we recorded a LAMBcast, it was meant to cover Avatar followed by our best of 2009, plus all of the usual goodies. Well, we just couldn't contain ourselves, and despite the bladder-straining time it took to record the whole thing, we soldiered on for nearly three total hours (pre- and post-recording). So we did what needed to be done: split the ginormous episode in two.

In this episode (part two), we unleash our personal Top 10s on the world in a round robin fashion. Be sure to stick around after the show ends for an ultimatum for Nick that will have him second-guessing his decision for years to come (note: that might be an exaggeration). This episode was hosted by Mike Mendez of Big Mike's Movie Blog.

Mike was joined by fellow LAMBs:

* Tom Clift of Plus Trailers,

* Nick Jobe of Random Ramblings of a Demented Doorknob,

* Travis McCollum of The Movie Encyclopedia,

* and me.


As usual, the music, as provided royalty-free by Kevin MacLeod's Incompetech website, is the bomb. Big thanks to Kevin for providing this service.

You can listen by playing it in the widget in the left sidebar; if you'd like to add it to your site (you would), click the "Add to my page" link. Also, you can find us on iTunes; just go to the Podcasts section and search for "LAMBcast." And hey - while you're on iTunes, who don't you go ahead and either rate the LAMBcast or write a review of it. Better yet, do both! It'll help us get noticed by the overlords at Apple and earn worldwide fame...or something like that.

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, we'd love to hear them.

And then...

LAMBcast #9

For the latest edition of the LAMBcast, we had hoped to talk about a little film called Avatar, followed by our lists of the Best of '09, but it was just too much to handle for one podcast. So we did what needed to be done: split the ginormous episode in two.

In this episode (part one), we strap in and dissect James Cameron's blockbuster, along with a game of Last Man Standing and the longest edition of Trailer Talk ever to be unleashed. Stay tuned in the coming days for part two, where we rattle off each of our ten best for last year, along with an ultimatum for Nick that will have him second-guessing his decision for years to come (note: that might be an exaggeration). Both episodes are hosted by Mike Mendez of Big Mike's Movie Blog.

For these episodes, Mike was joined by fellow LAMBs:

* Tom Clift of Plus Trailers,

* Nick Jobe of Random Ramblings of a Demented Doorknob,

* Travis McCollum of The Movie Encyclopedia,

* and me.

Trailers discussed (there are too many to embed each one; instead, I give you links):

The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Death at a Funeral
The Karate Kid
Cop Out
Hot Tub Time Machine
Knight and Day
Date Night
Valentine's Day
Inception
The Bounty Hunter
Repo Men
Kick-Ass (red band)

As usual, the music, as provided royalty-free by Kevin MacLeod's Incompetech website, is the bomb. Big thanks to Kevin for providing this service.

You can listen by playing it in the widget in the left sidebar; if you'd like to add it to your site (you would), click the "Add to my page" link. Also, you can find us on iTunes; just go to the Podcasts section and search for "LAMBcast." And hey - while you're on iTunes, who don't you go ahead and either rate the LAMBcast or write a review of it. Better yet, do both! It'll help us get noticed by the overlords at Apple and earn worldwide fame...or something like that.

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, we'd love to hear them.

And then...

LAMBcast #5

The LAMBcast is back in its full form, and back with a full slate of five hosts. The featured discussion this time out is none other than the supposed "last great movie star," Mr. George Clooney, who (in case you've been living under a rock in a cave) might have three films out at your local theater next month when Up in the Air opens, joining The Men Who Stare at Goats and his vocal contribution to The Fantastic Mr. Fox. We dissect his career, from The Facts of Life to Batman & Robin and everything in between. Also on tap: some Trailer Talk and a game of Last Man Person Standing.

In it, I was joined by fellow LAMBs:

* Tom Clift of Plus Trailers
* Nick Jobe of Random Ramblings of a Demented Doorknob,
* Mike Mendez of Big Mike's Movie Blog, and
* Alex Kittle of Film Forager.

Trailers discussed:









As usual, the music, as provided royalty-free by Kevin MacLeod's Incompetech website, is the bomb. Big thanks to Kevin for providing this service.

You can listen by playing it in the widget in the sidebar; if you'd like to add it to your site (you would), click the "Add to my page" link. Also, you can find us on iTunes; just go to the Podcasts section and search for "LAMBcast."

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, we'd love to hear them.

And then...

LAMBcast #3

Zombies invaded the third edition of the LAMBcast. Also on tap was a little Last Man Standing, some Trailer Talk and more.

In it, I was joined by four of your fellow LAMBs:

* Tom Clift of Plus Trailers,
* Mike Mendez of Big Mike's Movie Blog,
* Nick Jobe of Random Ramblings of a Demented Doorknob, and
* Jason Soto of Invasion of the B Movies.

I hope you'll join us, either as a listener or, if you're interested (and a LAMB), as a fellow podcaster. For more information on the LAMBcast, check out the topic at the LAMB Forums (must be a member of the LAMB to join).

Here's a sampling of what we learned this time out:

* I still can't say "Random Ramblings of a Demented Doorknob" without slipping up - though I got through it once this time.

* When it comes to intelligent, intellectual debate, Nick is king.

* Mike shamed himself further amongst the geek squad by virtue of having seen neither 28 Days/Weeks Later..., yet acquitted himself later, as usual.

* As usual, the music, as provided royalty-free by Kevin MacLeod's Incompetech website, is the bomb. Big thanks to Kevin for providing this service.

Additional sites mentioned during the podcast:

* Matte Havoc

You can listen by playing it in the widget in the left sidebar; if you'd like to add it to your site (you would), click the "Add to my page" link. Also, you can find us on iTunes; just go to the Podcasts section and search for "LAMBcast."

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, we'd love to hear them.

And then...

LAMBcast #2

You didn't even know you were ready for the second edition of the LAMBcast, but guess what? You totally were.

In it, I was joined by four of my fellow LAMBs:

* Tom Clift of Plus Trailers,
* Mike Mendez of Big Mike's Movie Blog,
* Paul Rodgers of Careful with that Blog, Eugene, and
* Nick Jobe of Random Ramblings of a Demented Doorknob.

With five people in on the podcast this time, it's a bit longer than the premier episode, clocking in at around 50 minutes.

I hope you'll join us, either as a listener or, if you're interested (and a LAMB), as a fellow podcaster. For more information on the LAMBcast, check out the topic at the LAMB Forums (must be a member of the LAMB to join).

Here's a sampling of what we learned this time out:

* I can't say "Random Ramblings of a Demented Doorknob" without slipping up.

* Tom's shiny new microphone works great, but now Paul needs one.

* Mike is the only one that can claim to be a true film buff...yet he's not seen a single Nightmare on Elm Street.

* As usual, the music, as provided royalty-free by Kevin MacLeod's Incompetech website, is the bomb. Big thanks to Kevin for providing this service.

Additional sites mentioned during the podcast:

* Kano's Kogitation
* His Gal Friday
* Stale Popcorn
* Review in Haiku

You can listen by playing it in the widget in the sidebar; if you'd like to add it to your site (you would), click the "Add to my page" link. Also, you can find us on iTunes; just go to the Podcasts section and search for "LAMBcast."

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, we'd love to hear them.

And then...

The LAMBcast has landed!

After weeks and months of discussion and preparation and schedule-fitting, the LAMB is proud to present its inaugural podcast, the creatively titled LAMBcast.

In it, I was joined by two of your fellow LAMBs, the man from Down Under, Tom Clift of Plus Trailers, and Mike Mendez of Big Mike's Movie Blog. It was, as discussed, a raw and somewhat experimental affair, as none of us had ever previously participated or produced a podcast. So yes, there are plenty of "uhs" and "umms" and a handful of awkward silences, but that's what happens when you throw three people (from around the world) who've never spoken into a live arena.

Clocking in at around 34 minutes, it's a bit longer than what I'd originally planned, but I think it's a pretty tight, good listen - it was perfect for my drive to work this morning, anyway! All in all, though, I'm proud of what we've come up with and am positive that it's only going to get better from here. I hope you'll join us, either as a listener or, if you're interested (and a LAMB), as a fellow podcaster.

Here's a sampling of what we learned this time out:

* Big Mike is in love with the sound of his own voice. ;)

* Tom is in need of a microphone (which I believe he's already purchased since this was recorded).

* I was more nervous/unprepared than I thought I would be, a result of a last-minute drive-and-dash to purchase my own headset/mic prior to recording.

* I didn't do as good of a job as I had thought in synching up the audio tracks, as evidenced in a slight echo audible in certain spots.

* The music, as provided royalty-free by Kevin MacLeod's Incompetech website, is the bomb. Big thanks to Kevin for providing this service.

* Somehow, I was the biggest Trekkie in the room.


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Additional sites mentioned during the podcast:

* Phil's Movie Blog
* Not all Texans ride horses to school
* when is evil cool?
* Random Picture Day

A smaller version of the above widget has been added to the sidebar; if you'd like to add it to your site (you would like to!), feel free. We're not yet listed on iTunes, but I've submitted the feed and it ought to be added in the next few days. I'll keep you posted.

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, we'd love to hear them. I'd like to send big, big thanks out to Mike and Tom for participating, and additional thanks to the folks at Punch Drunk Critics, Movie Zeal, and Subject: Cinema for giving me advice and/or inspiration and/or tech ideas (directly or indirectly) along the way with their podcasts.

And then...

Batman 1989-1997: The Aftermath

[Note: this post is a part of the Batman Blog-a-thon at Big Mike's Movie Blog.]

Any way you slice it, the Batman film series of the late 20th century (not to be confused with Batman: The Movie, released 1966) was a bona fida blockbuster series. From the 250 million dollar success of the original (the 38th highest grossing film of all-time, adjusted) to the reviled fourth installment, which still garnered more than 100 million dollars domestically, the franchise saw a number of stars swing through its revolving doors, offering short- and long-term career boosts for many of those along the way - at least at the time of release.

But what has happened to that collection of stars in the years since? Have their careers blossomed or tanked? Let's have a quick look at some career highlights (or lowlights) and make the call...

Michael Keaton
Pre-Batman career: starring roles in Mr. Mom and Beetlejuice and...not a whole lot else.
Post-Batman career: starring roles in Multiplicity and White Noise. Co-starring roles in Jackie Brown and Out of Sight.
Verdict: Surprisingly...



Jack Nicholson
Pre-Batman career: Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, Chinatown, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Shining, etc., etc.
Post-Batman career: The Two Jakes, Wolf, A Few Good Men, As Good as It Gets.
Verdict: Not even close.



Kim Basinger
Pre-Batman career: 9 1/2 Weeks, My Stepmother is an Alien, Blind Date
Post-Batman career: Cool World, Final Analysis, Wayne's World 2, L.A. Confidential
Verdict: Kind of a wash.



Robert Wuhl
Pre-Batman career: Good Morning, Vietnam, Bull Durham
Post-Batman career: Blaze, The Bodyguard, Arli$$
Verdict: Ugh. Arli$$ by itself sealed the deal.



Danny DeVito
Pre-Batman career: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Taxi, Romancing the Stone, Throw Momma From the Train, The War of the Roses
Post-Batman career: Junior, Get Shorty, Man on the Moon, Big Fish, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Verdict: Some quality later, for sure, but...



Christopher Walken
Pre-Batman career: Annie Hall, The Deer Hunter, Biloxi Blues, King of New York
Post-Batman career: True Romance, Pulp Fiction, Catch Me if You Can, a mixed bag of other hits and misses and...Kangaroo Jack.
Verdict: Quality beats quantity, regardless of some of the classics that came after.



Michelle Pfeiffer
Pre-Batman career: Grease 2, Scarface, Married to the Mob, Dangerous Liasons
Post-Batman career: The Age of Innocence, Wolf, I Am Sam, What Lies Beneath
Verdict: Grease 2 almost kills it, but still...



Tim Burton
Pre-Batman career: Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Edward Scissorhands (in between), Beetlejuice
Post-Batman career: Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Planet of the Apes, Big Fish, Sweeney Todd
Verdict: Too close to call.



Val Kilmer
Pre-Batman career: Top Secret!, Real Genius, Top Gun, Willow, The Doors, Thunderheart, True Romance, Tombstone
Post-Batman career: Heat and a bunch of forgettable things
Verdict: Haha. Sorry, Val - I love ya, but this was a landslide.



Nicole Kidman
Pre-Batman career: Dead Calm, Days of Thunder, Billy Bathgate, Far and Away, To Die For
Post-Batman career: The Portrait of a Lady, Eyes Wide Shut, Moulin Rouge, The Hours, Dogville (we'll ignore the last 5 years or so)
Verdict: Tom Cruise weeps.



Tommy Lee Jones
Pre-Batman career: Coal Miner's Daughter, Lonesome Dove, JFK, Under Siege, The Fugitive, The Client, Natural Born Killers, Cobb
Post-Batman career: Volcano, Men in Black (x 2), Double Jeopardy, No Country for Old Men
Verdict: Certainly back on the upswing after a few lean years, but...



Jim Carrey
Pre-Batman career: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, In Living Color, The Mask, Dumb and Dumber
Post-Batman career: Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, The Cable Guy, Liar Liar, Man on the Moon, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Bruce Almighty
Verdict: It'd be a no-brainer without Eternal Sunshine.



George Clooney
Pre-Batman career: ER, One Fine Day, From Dusk Till Dawn, The Facts of Life, Roseanne
Post-Batman career: Out of Sight, Three Kings, O Brother Where Art Thou?, The Perfect Storm, Ocean's (x 3), etc., etc.
Verdict: All hail King George.



Chris O'Donnell
Pre-Batman career: Fried Green Tomatoes, School Ties, Scent of a Woman, Circle of Friends
Post-Batman career: The Bachelor, Kinsey, and a whole bunch of TV
Verdict: You're out of order, son!



Uma Thurman
Pre-Batman career: The Adventures of Baron Von Munchausen, Dangerous Liaisons, Henry & June, Jennifer Eight, Pulp Fiction, Beautiful Girls
Post-Batman career: Gattaca, Sweet & Lowdown, Kill Bill (x 2), Be Cool
Verdict: Too close to call



Arnold Schwarzenegger
Pre-Batman career: Just about everything
Post-Batman career: Just about nothing
Verdict: He probably won't be back.



Joel Schumacher
Pre-Batman career: St. Elmo's Fire, The Lost Boys, Flatliners, Falling Down, The Client
Post-Batman career: 8MM, Flawless, Tigerland, Bad Company, Phone Booth, The Number 23
Verdict: He didn't just hit a wall, he went right through it.



So, what's the overall verdict?

It's safe to say that Batman was a career killer, for the most part, with 11 people seeing their careers take a downturn, three going up, and three with no real impact. Will this new Batman series have a similar effect? Will Chris Nolan be directing action pics with Kevin Federline and Cuba Gooding, Jr. within five years? Will Christian Bale be on his way to Oscar nominations or the discount bin? Only the Shadow knows.

Damn, mixed metaphors or something.

And then...