KnockBack: The Retro and Nostalgia Podcast

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#199: Forks in the Road Dec 06, 2021

Show notes

Choice A or Choice B? We're met with this conundrum over and over again in life, and yet, there are certain choices that are far more consequential than others. This episode of KnockBack is dedicated to such forks in the road, where two or more options are presented, and whichever choice you make will resonate far beyond that point in time, perhaps for the rest of your life. From jobs and living situations to education and the start and stop of relationships, these are 10 moments from the lives of the Brothers Moriarty that -- if a different path was taken -- would have likely meant this very show wouldn't exist at all. How meta.

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#198: Kill Bill (Volume 2) Nov 29, 2021

Show notes

Everyone knows that Kill Bill was originally intended as one epic-length film, but Miramax ultimately convinced writer and director Quentin Tarantino to do things their way. The result is a second installment that's quite different from its first. Depending on how you look at things, of course, that may be a good thing. 2004's Kill Bill: Volume 2 is a far less violent, far more cerebral offering that exchanges swordplay for dialogue, but the same themes transcend both films and remain at their beating heart: Revenge, rage, and love. Indeed, the two parts fit together kind of like Yin and Yang, a perhaps not-all-that-inappropriate reference considering the film's deep Asian-inspired roots. Can you survive the Five Point Palm-Exploding Heart Technique? Unlikely. Thankfully, though, it's quite safe to hit play, sit back, and listen.

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#197: Kill Bill (Volume 1) Nov 22, 2021

Show notes

If the blood-fueled havoc of Kill Bill reminds us anything, it's that "revenge is never a straight line." Quentin Tarantino's 2003 flick -- his fourth written-and-directed film -- was originally intended to be one long, four hour-ish movie, but they wisely split it in two. Thus, in Volume 1, we're left to consume the first half of the story, all about a nameless Bride fueled by a mother's rage. Full of memorable characters and performances, exceptional cinematography, an epic soundtrack and score, and a full embrace of its nerdy and sometimes-obscure influences, Kill Bill: Volume 1 is a must-see movie for its wonderful style alone. So listen to the podcast, and let us know what you think. If you still feel raw about it, we'll be waiting.

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#196 | Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Nov 15, 2021

Show notes

The third entry in the Metal Gear Solid franchise is the first game to take us backwards in time. While the original two adventures took place slightly ahead of their release window, MGS3 takes place 40 years prior to its 2004 launch, and within is a captivating Cold War-slash-alternate history tale about the Soviet Union, some American (and other foreign) agents, and a vaunted, nuclear-armed super weapon that will change the face of warfare forever. Infused with memorable characters and dialogue, revamped combat, and a deeply geopolitical tale, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is considered by many fans of the series to be its best entry. Do the Moriarty Brothers agree? As usual, there's only one way to find out: Hit play.

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#195: Poltergeist Nov 08, 2021

Show notes

1982's Poltergeist is a fascinating film to examine. It's a Steven Spielberg horror production that also wasn't, a movie with what was essentially a 'shadow director,' allowing Spielberg to navigate around contractual issues with ET, which he (also) directed, and which came to theaters at nearly the same time. But production curiosities aside, Poltergeist is akin to the collision of two Spielberg pictures -- Jaws and The Goonies -- a sometimes dire and scary while at other times upbeat and even funny adventure about a house built on an old graveyard... and the consequences therein. Is the house clean? Well, not exactly. Yet, the TV beckons... and so does this episode of KnockBack.

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#194 | Battlestar Galactica (Season 3) Nov 01, 2021

Show notes

Our return to Battlestar Galactica brings us to what many consider the show's weakest season, and that's certainly a valid perspective. But the reality is that, while season three took some weird turns and bottlenecked the show with some frustrating one-offs that felt more procedural and drama, it's still full of emotional moments, excellent acting, and a continuation of a core plot that finds our fledgling band of human survivors still seeking Earth, fleeing from their Cylon pursuers who are always only a step behind. We've said many times: Battlestar Galactica is a science fiction show, but it's more than that. It's a show about philosophy, religion, and existentialism, and that all comes out in droves during this contentious season. So jump your ships into orbit and hit play. And don't pay any attention to that music you may be hearing in the background...

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#193: Ghostbusters Oct 25, 2021

Show notes

While it's true that we ain't afraid of no ghosts, it's also true that we're not very fond of them, either. They are, after all, undead apparitions that seem to play by their own set of rules, and, well, it's time that they were busted. Thus, we queued up 1984's classic comedy Ghostbusters to draw some inspiration. With lots of brilliant minds involved -- Ivan Reitman, Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, and others -- you'd think Ghostbusters would be a runaway hit. And for many audiences, it certainly was. But the Brothers Moriarty have a slightly different take: Primarily that Ghostbusters has all of the makings of something truly great, but doesn't fully take advantage of any of its components. Please don't try to trap us with your proton pack before you listen, though, for you may just find that you agree.

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#192: Fight Club Oct 18, 2021

Show notes

While it's true that the first rule of Fight Club is not to talk about Fight Club, we felt like a two hour podcast of silence wouldn't be very enticing. Thus, we're willing to break the sacred code to present to you a discussion all about David Fincher's 1999 film based upon Chuck Palahniuk's 1996 novel. The story revolves around an unnamed man played by Edward Norton who encounters a man named Tyler Durden, played by Brad Pitt. The result is an introspective, Generation X-infused movie that focuses a spotlight on the hopelessness deep inside all of us, one that comes out in fits of consumerism, despair, and even violence. It's that latter word that's the true focus of Fight Club, though: The battering life can deliver all of us.

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#191: Roommates Oct 11, 2021

Show notes

We, the Moriarty Brothers, are grown-ass men with houses, but that wasn't always the case. In our younger days, we -- like so many! -- lived in apartments, townhouses, and even entire homes with roommates, and such experiences are obviously rich for storytelling. So allow us to delve into our college years and early professional lives, and tell you about some of our living situations, from the mundane to the ridiculous... and regale you with tales of the amazing, lame, and otherwise unforgettable people we bunked with along the way.

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#190: Ninja Scroll Oct 04, 2021

Show notes

Way back when, anime made its way to western audiences primarily via three important films: Akira, Ghost in the Shell, and today's topic, Ninja Scroll. Released in Japan in the summer of 1993, Ninja Scroll quickly meandered west, where it garnered a substantial hardcore audience during the VHS era and into the DVD era. That's especially strange, since -- back in its native country -- Ninja Scroll wasn't much of a hit at all. That wasn't true outside of Japan's borders, however, where nearly 30 years later, it's still considered an all-time great and a seminal piece of Japanese culture. So let's jump into Feudal Japan and sort through a very video game-like plot about a couple of samurai slicing and dicing through eight foes with special powers.

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