Matinee Manatees

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Waterworld (1995) Jul 09, 2021

Show notes

This month we're watching another collaboration by the Kevins Reynolds and Costner with 1995's Waterworld! Also featuring the triumphant return of Dennis Hopper and the podcast's first appearance of Jeanne Tripplehorn and Tina Majorino. The most expensive movie ever made at the time of its release, Waterworld was widely considered a flop but actually did make its budget back eventually, and poses many thought provoking questions, such as: Is there weather in the future? Can we breathe through fish? Why is pee easier to purify than salt water? How are cigarettes made? What makes a man a fish? Where does water come from? What is water? And so on! Sam sets out to design two new video games, Ben says "piss" about a hundred times, both accidentally reveal how little they know about sailing, and a generally good time is had by all. Float along with us?

Highlander (1986) May 26, 2021

Show notes

HEEEEERE WE ARE! It's one of the 80's most notorious cult classics and every mall samurai's fever dream, 1986's Highlander, which made no money but somehow spawned half a dozen sequels and four TV series! Directed by our old friend Russell Mulcahy and starring Matinee Manatee alumni Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, and Clancy Brown, along with newcomer Roxanne Hart, Highlander is just self-aware enough to make for some pretty spectacular schlock. It's got everything you could want! Queen! Swords! Very white sneakers! 80's lightning! Bad age makeup! And, an immortal elk? Sam shares wrestling facts, Ben rants about streaming services, both vow to watch the followups which probably neither of them do. Come float along and be bemused with us at this bizarre artifact of a more creative and, arguably, less demanding time.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) Apr 01, 2021

Show notes

You've definitely heard of this one! The manatees are back to crushing on Bob Hoskins with 1988's Who Framed Roger Rabbit, directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Bob Hoskins, Charles Fleischer, Christopher Lloyd, and Joanna Cassidy. Made in the era before CGI, Who Framed Roger Rabbit presents probably the most impressive precedent of pretending between actual actors and animated art anywhere at the age it appeared! (And, arguably, after!) I tried to have some fun with alliteration there but I'm not sure it worked. Includes wrestling trivia from Sam, failed novel settings from Ben, and a bit of history about Los Angeles' public transit system for your perusal. Float along with us as we gush over Bob, noir, and cartoons in general, and try not to let Judge Doom give you any nightmares.

Street Fighter (1994) Feb 28, 2021

Show notes

Good morning Shadaloo! This month we're returning to our roots and sitting through the notorious video-game-to-movie-adaptation Street Fighter, from 1994! Directed by by Steven de Souza and starring Jean Claude Van Damme, Raul Julia, and about a dozen others, Street Fighter is remembered mostly for being a flop and also for being Julia's final performance, and oh, you guys, it is a magnificent performance. Float along with the manatees while they discuss streets, fighting, and the lack of both in this weird G.I. Joe lookin' movie based on a fighting game that it has almost nothing to do with. Have a watch, have a listen, have a nice nap!

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003) Jan 29, 2021

Show notes

We're back after the holidays with a super-sized three-manatee episode! This month, in honor of the late great Sean Connery, the manatees are re-watching his last movie, 2003's The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen! Directed by Stephen Norrington. It's not great, but does it deserve as bad a reputation as it has? Float along with us and find out!

Batman Returns (1992) Nov 28, 2020

Show notes

Season's Greetings, Batmanatees! Anthony is triumphant. Sam finally gives in and watches our favorite Christmas movie, Tim Burton's Batman Returns, starring Michael Keaton, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Danny DeVito. Simultaneously, Anthony usurps Ben's place as co-host of the podcast. Everything is falling into place. The manatees beef with Roger Ebert, plot to bring back Ben as a Catwomantee, and y'all already know who Christoper Walken's Max Shreck reminds us of. Happy Holidays! Come for a float?

Exorcist 2: The Heretic (1977) Oct 28, 2020

Show notes

For this year's Scarytober the manatees are watching one of the most notorious sequels to a horror movie in cinematic history: 1977's Exorcist II: The Heretic! Directed by John Boorman and starring Linda Blair, Richard Burton, and Louise Fletcher, Exorcist 2 takes the franchise in a different direction, replacing demons with grasshoppers, exorcists with investigative journalists, and ritual exorcism with punching. The manatees are dumbfounded. Float along with us?

The Princess Bride (1987) Sep 30, 2020

Show notes

It's a listener request month! Luckily our patrons have very good taste and have chosen 1987's The Princess Bride, written by William Goldman, directed by Rob Reiner and starring Robin Wright, Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, and Andre the Giant! This one's an old favorite, so we went an extra step and actually read a whole book about the making of this movie, and guys? It's just a really fun hang. Float along with us, learn about a classic, and please don't forget to vote.

Starship Troopers (1997) Aug 26, 2020

Show notes

We're checking out Paul Verhoeven's famous 1997 satire Starship Troopers! Starring Casper Van Dien (the puppet from Team America), Denise Richards (Tammy from Tammy and the T-Rex), and Dina Meyer (cool lady from Dragonheart), Starship Troopers flopped at the time, but we're convinced a lot of it got missed by audiences. The manatees discuss propaganda reels, the problem with netflix, bugs and power armor in starcraft and warhammer 40k, and the difference between space fiddles and space violins.

Point Break (1991) Jul 01, 2020

Show notes

Do you guys remember Point Break? Directed by Kathryn Bigelow and starring Keanu Reeves, Patrick Swayze, and Lori Petty, Point Break is an oft-misremembered classic and directly responsible for one of the top-grossing movie franchises still active right now. (You'll know which one as soon as you see it.) Ben tries his flippers at puns, Tony proposes a script edit that would fix the entire third act, everybody has a pretty okay time.

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