The Nextlander Watchcast

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33: Freejack (1992) Feb 27, 2023

Show notes

On this week's watchcast we tackle a very dumb movie that is near and dear to Alex's heart in the Emilio Estevez/Mick Jagger future thriller Freejack. Come marvel along with us at all the janky tech, the insane plotting, and the goofy-ass battle gear they deck Mick out in.

CHAPTERS:

(00:00:00) - NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate in versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:16) - Intro.
(00:03:06) - Alex's dark secret reason for picking this week's movie: Freejack.
(00:08:47) - Just what the hell is Freejack all about?
(00:11:25) - How Did This Get Ma--wait, that's a different podcast. How did Freejack come to be? Yes, there we go.
(00:15:59) - Talking about our star-studded cast.
(00:25:14) - Our director may have been one of the big issues here (though certainly not the only one).
(00:27:23) - Did Alex Furlong actually die? Does it matter?
(00:35:35) - Who's afraid of the big bad freejack?
(00:38:50) - The twist that ain't much of one.
(00:40:47) - Aging makeup? Who needs it?
(00:43:00) - Break!
(00:43:17) - Brad's here! Brad's a turncoat.
(00:46:48) - Julie doesn't buy that this is still Alex.
(00:49:32) - The dumb motorcycle chase, and the even dumber champagne truck chase.
(00:53:16) - Eagle Man!
(00:58:32) - Grand L. Bush's dorky little sword.
(01:00:18) - Trying to get Alex out of the city, the club scene, and an all-time nutshot.
(01:12:56) - Furlong and Vacendak milling around in a warehouse for what feels like 15 minutes.
(01:15:37) - Michelette reveals his dastardly plan.
(01:18:31) - The spiritual switchboard. What a concept!
(01:27:18) - The mind transfer.
(01:32:17) - Nibble my ear so we can end this movie.
(01:39:19) - Outro.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

32: Demolition Man (1993) Feb 20, 2023

Show notes

We're joined by Demolition Man superfan Tamoor Hussain as we introduce our man Bradley to Stallone and Snipes' '90s action classic, and do our best to try and finally settle the debate about what's up with the three seashells.

CHAPTERS:

(00:00:00) - NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate in versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:16) - Intro for our film, Demolition Man, and our guest, Tamoor Hussain!
(00:02:44) - What are our histories with this piece of magnificent cinema?
(00:09:10) - The history of the production.
(00:22:25) - Time to bungee jump into the film proper.
(00:32:48) - Frozen Stallone.
(00:36:04) - Welcome to 2032.
(00:41:00) - Simon says: eye trauma.
(00:48:58) - Break!
(00:50:09) - The thawing of John Spartan, and and the recurring gag of the cuss detector.
(00:53:54) - The three seashells.
(00:57:16) - Museum curation of the future could use some scrutiny. Also, Tam's special cut of the movie.
(01:02:07) - What's going on in the rest of the world? Also, let's talk about the franchise wars.
(01:04:42) - Back to the big meaty men slappin' meat.
(01:08:08) - Fine future dining, Dan Cortese, and Denis Leary.
(01:16:04) - A meeting of the evil minds, and VR sex.
(01:29:29) - Time to go down to where the scraps hang out.
(01:38:29) - 20th century muscle car vs. Future car, and the LA Convention Center as future architecture.
(01:43:19) - The final cryo-prison showdown.
(01:51:50) - The ending theme.
(01:53:11) - So what did we think? Does Demolition Man hold up?
(01:56:40) - Outro.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

31: Virtuosity (1995) Feb 13, 2023

Show notes

The theme for month of February is goofy '90s action/sci-fi, and we're kicking things off with quite possibly the goofiest entry of them all in 1995's cyber-killer-thriller Virtuosity!

CHAPTERS:

(00:00:00) - NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate in versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:27) - Intro.
(00:03:13) - Our first goofy '90s action/sci-fi "classic" is: Virtuosity!
(00:07:01) - A little bit of background on how this thing got made, and the very '90s soundtrack.
(00:13:43) - Some notes on the cast.
(00:16:47) - Let's get into just what the hell is going on in this movie, and the opening in VR.
(00:22:00) - And heeeeeeereeeeee coooooooomes the exposition! Plus some talk about Russell Crowe.
(00:31:47) - What in the heck is up with this prison scene. WHY DOES HE HAVE A ROBOT ARM.
(00:34:51) - Sid's arrival into the real world.
(00:46:01) - Break!
(00:46:20) - Sid's on the loose! Parker's huntin' him! Madison's here too.
(00:51:03) - What's up with this Grimes character?
(00:54:07) - The club scene. The car chase. CINEMA.
(00:58:54) - Boy the UFC sure was different in 1995.
(01:04:31) - Parker plays a little Hogan's Alley in a subway station, and we learn more about Sid's motivations.
(01:13:22) - Chekov's kidnapping victim.
(01:15:24) - DEATH TV.
(01:19:01) - The final (real world) fight.
(01:22:05) - The final (virtual reality) fight.
(01:27:45) - The one thing this movie definitely needed was a second, considerably worse ending.
(01:33:54) - Our final thoughts, such as they are. And Roger Ebert's thoughts as a bonus.
(01:44:31) - Outro.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

30: Star Trek: The Alternative Factor, The City on the Edge of Forever, and Operation -- Annihilate! Feb 06, 2023

Show notes

We've come to the conclusion of Star Trek's first season, and we're closing things out with a triple-header of The Alternative Factor, The City on the Edge of Forever, and Operation -- Annihilate!

CHAPTERS:

(00:00:00) - NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate in versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:14) - Intro.
(00:03:07) - We've got a triple-header for our finale, kicking things off with The Alternative Factor.
(00:08:26) - Some background on the episode.
(00:10:16) - They kinda do Lazarus dirty, and the episode kinda tips its hand early.
(00:15:31) - There are like two things that happen in this episode and they happen over and over again.
(00:21:31) - Getting into the nitty-gritty of what this episode is going for.
(00:27:11) - Clearing up exactly what is going down in this final conflict.
(00:33:39) - Break!
(00:34:06) - We're back with our big time banger for the week, The City on the Edge of Forever!
(00:36:13) - Getting into the history of the episode and its many, many rewrites.
(00:43:28) - Surfing on the timewaves and McCoy wipes out.
(00:49:44) - Say hello to the talking time portal.
(00:58:10) - Welcome to the depressing '30s!
(01:02:26) - The sheer incandescence of Joan Collins.
(01:06:57) - Spock's perpetual irritation with 20th century tech.
(01:09:30) - Edith's mission (heh) statement.
(01:12:48) - Edith Keeler must live or die! One of the two! (Also Brad had a thing he forgot about the last episode.)
(01:20:42) - OK, Edith Keeler definitely needs to die.
(01:27:15) - It all comes together fast at the end.
(01:33:10) - Final thoughts on the episode.
(01:37:04) - Break! Again!
(01:37:45) - We're back, and it's time to close things out with Operation -- Annihilate!
(01:43:00) - Everybody's actin' real weird down on this planet. It's because of the puke parasites.
(01:46:27) - Spock gets got. And Kirk's sister-in-law ain't doin' so hot.
(01:53:30) - Parasites too strong, and the nature of these things is wild.
(01:59:35) - Arriving at a solution through sheer force of Kirk brain.
(02:06:43) - The SENSELESS blinding of Spock.
(02:14:53) - Final thoughts on our experience with the first season of Star Trek.
(02:21:44) - Talking about our future Watchcast schedule. And Brad's SHOCKING ADMISSION.
(02:31:00) - Outro.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

29: Captain America (1990) Jan 30, 2023

Show notes

We've seen the high water mark for pre-MCU Marvel filmmaking, so now it's time to jump into the low tide waters with the 1990 adaptation of Captain America. Finally, a movie worse than Predator 2!

CHAPTERS:

(00:00:00) - NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate in versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:16) - Intro.
(00:02:17) - Kicking things off with a deep sigh for Captain America and the low-budget works of Albert Pyun.
(00:07:16) - The convoluted history of this movie's production, and some bonus Cannon Group history.
(00:16:11) - Our star studded cast.
(00:19:08) - The movie's weird delayed release.
(00:20:49) - Where do we even begin? How about with how close this movie hews (or doesn't) to the source material?
(00:27:48) - What kind of bad is this movie? The fun kind? The interminable kind?
(00:29:20) - Our intro to Steve Rogers and Italian Red Skull.
(00:33:26) - The creation of Captain America.
(00:37:44) - It's (not) time for a training montage! No time! Gotta go punch Red Skull!
(00:41:20) - Punching Red Skull did not go according to plan.
(00:49:23) - Break!
(00:49:42) - We're back, and it's time to unfreeze Captain America. But first, some evil guys at a nice table.
(00:58:32) - One of Cap's lesser known powers: faking car sickness.
(01:02:48) - Cap's home. Sort of.
(01:05:36) - The president has been kidnapped! Is Cap a bad enough dude to rescue him?
(01:07:19) - Cap finds the old lab, and has a TERRIBLE fight.
(01:09:53) - Ah, Italia (Yugoslavia).
(01:15:13) - You will not believe how they discover Red Skull's identity.
(01:17:47) - Everyone's kidnapped. Time for Cap to (finally) do something heroic.
(01:23:15) - This final action sequence. Gee whiz.
(01:33:56) - Our final thoughts on the film, and where this one ranks. See if you can guess!
(01:41:00) - Outro.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

28: Star Trek: The Devil in the Dark and Errand of Mercy Jan 23, 2023

Show notes

We're winding our way toward the conclusion of Star Trek's first season, and this week we're getting our first visit from some brand new lifeforms in The Devil in the Dark and Errand of Mercy!

CHAPTERS:

(00:00:00) - NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate in versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:32) - Intro.
(00:03:05) - Kicking things off with The Devil in the Dark.
(00:06:54) - Some musings on the galactic economics of this era of Star Trek, and Kirk's role.
(00:11:46) - Production background on the episode.
(00:16:56) - Poor Schmitter. Well, no time to grieve, there's mining to be done!
(00:21:49) - A new kind of life? Preposterous!
(00:28:44) - As if things weren't dire enough, we also have a missing reactor part to find.
(00:31:52) - The boys run afoul of the creature.
(00:34:34) - Time to plug in our Vulcan to fix this situation.
(00:40:55) - The miners don't care about the creature, they want vengeance!
(00:44:53) - There's no number of murders that can't be forgiven when mutual profit is assured.
(00:48:36) - Break!
(00:49:03) - We're back, and it's time for some Klingons!
(00:59:40) - Some additional production notes.
(01:03:32) - Is there such a thing as radical pacifism? Because this planet is that.
(01:10:41) - Look, Kirk's being kind of a dick about all this, but the Organians aren't exactly helping.
(01:19:28) - 12 Hours until minds will be ripped.
(01:23:53) - The Organians are revealed, and it's real stupid.
(01:33:35) - Final thoughts on the episode.
(01:36:28) - Outro (and Vinny's episode killing joke).

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

27: Blade (1998) Jan 16, 2023

Show notes

For our January Watchcast movies we've chosen to highlight the highs and lows of pre-MCU Marvel movies, and we're kicking things off with the highest of highs in the kick-ass 1998 adaptation of Blade!

CHAPTERS:

(00:00:00) - NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate in versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:19) - Intro.
(00:03:17) - Blade's our movie, but how much familiarity with other Marvel movies of the time, and the character itself?
(00:11:57) - Getting more into the production of the film and the folks who made it.
(00:22:40) - Launching into the movie, and the legendary blood rave.
(00:30:54) - A moment of praise for the great Donal Logue.
(00:33:56) - Our introduction to N'Bushe Wright's Karen.
(00:38:28) - Whistler!
(00:44:17) - The vampiric council, led by the hall-of-fame weird actor Udo Kier.
(00:51:10) - Break!
(00:51:25) - We're back, and it's time to use Karen as bait.
(00:57:11) - The trap is set, and it's time to visit Pearl. Plus: fun soundtrack facts!
(01:05:00) - Brad has some opinions about the Vampire Bible.
(01:09:40) - Whistler Kool-Aid Man-ing his way into the scene.
(01:14:15) - Time for Frost to put his (very stupid) plan into action.
(01:23:10) - RIP Whistler (or, well, until Blade II).
(01:27:41) - The big reveal!
(01:31:15) - Welcome to our big vampire temple that just happens to be in this American city.
(01:42:23) - Talking about the final conflict and some the alternate versions they cut.
(01:50:08) - And that's Blade!
(01:57:31) - Outro.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

26: Star Trek: A Taste of Armageddon and This Side of Paradise Jan 09, 2023

Show notes

The Nextlander crew has returned from their break anxious to attack the final episodes of Star Trek's first season, kicking off with A Taste of Armageddon and This Side of Paradise!

CHAPTERS:

(00:00:00) - NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate in versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:14) - Intro.
(00:03:42) - Now that the housekeeping is out of the way, onto this week's Star Trek!
(00:06:27) - A little bit of history of A Taste of Armageddon.
(00:11:42) - This feels like some Star Trek-ass Star Trek. Also, some chat about how aliens sure do just kinda look like humans.
(00:15:41) - These aliens are doing war weird.
(00:26:56) - Turns out the Enterprise is a casualty of war. Whoops!
(00:33:49) - Kirk, Spock, and the gang might be trapped on the planet, but that's no reason they can't play dress up and explode some stuff!
(00:44:24) - Time to show this alien culture that their way of living sucks.
(00:49:27) - Break!
(00:49:48) - We're back, and it's time to check out This Side of Paradise.
(00:54:09) - Some background on the episode.
(01:00:39) - So what IS the deal on this planet?
(01:09:02) - This is the chillest mutiny in human military history.
(01:11:57) - Oh no, Kirk has become happy.
(01:15:38) - Oh good, Kirk has become angry.
(01:23:29) - *extremely Cher voice* SNAP OUT OF IT!
(01:30:19) - Outro.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

25: Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) Dec 26, 2022

Show notes

Our first season of the Watchcast is nearly at an end, but we're closing things out with a certifiable banger in Francis Ford Coppola's erotic vampiric fever dream, Bram Stoker's Dracula!

CHAPTERS:

(00:00:00) - NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate in versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:15) - Intro.
(00:01:54) - We're closing out the first season of the Watchcast with a Decembula to Remembula in Bram Stoker's Dracula!
(00:05:43) - Getting into the history of how this movie came to be.
(00:15:31) - Some of the more troubled aspects of the production, and some very unfortunate accents.
(00:23:41) - Talking about Oldman's performance and some of the other stand-outs.
(00:30:22) - OK, let's get into the actual movie.
(00:36:23) - Now that we have a Dracula, it's time to meet the rest of the cast. Plus, more fawning over the visuals.
(00:43:09) - Our first look at old-ass Drac, a truly iconic vision of this character.
(00:51:49) - Break!
(00:52:09) - We're back, and Brad has a nagging question.
(00:54:00) - Getting to know Mina and Lucy.
(00:56:50) - Dracula's wacky boat ride, and some quality time with Renfield.
(01:00:54) - Lucy has chosen her suitor, but Drac has some other plans. Also, a vampire orgy!
(01:08:25) - Lucy's down with the sickness, and only Van Helsing can help.
(01:11:48) - Mina and her Prince. Also, Lucy's undead.
(01:20:16) - Drac mad! Drac horny! Drac conflicted!
(01:32:41) - Drac has been revealed, and it's a mad dash to Transylvania!
(01:42:01) - "Our work is finished here. Hers has just begun."
(01:50:05) - Hell of a movie, if we do say so ourselves.
(01:56:19) - Outro.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

24: Star Trek: The Return of the Archons and Space Seed Dec 19, 2022

Show notes

We've only got one Star Trek episode this month, but folks, it is a doozy! First up is another classic Hollywood backlot episode in The Return of the Archons, and then Ricardo Montalbán makes his terrifying debut as Khan Noonien Singh in Space Seed!

CHAPTERS:

(00:00:00) - NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate in versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:14) - Intro.
(00:02:10) - Khan will have to wait, as our first episode is The Return of the Archons!
(00:03:49) - The set-up for the episode.
(00:06:41) - Getting into the production history and cast.
(00:10:09) - Is this a human planet? Are there aliens here? What's going on?
(00:12:12) - A festival! How lovely, what do you d--Oh, oh no.
(00:15:28) - Still trying to make sense of the lore here.
(00:19:29) - Whatever these people are, they do not like interlopers.
(00:24:31) - It's absorbin' time, baby.
(00:29:13) - What exactly are these rebels even doing? What is their plan?
(00:32:38) - Finally, the big reveal.
(00:41:19) - Discussing the nature of Landru, and of people.
(00:48:06) - Break!
(00:48:30) - Khan Noonien Singh has entered the Trek-verse.
(00:52:10) - The set-up for Space Seed, and the Eugenics Wars.
(00:57:27) - Some production history of the episode.
(01:05:30) - Vinny's shameful admission.
(01:10:13) - We keep getting distracted talking about Khan. Let's get into what actually happens in the episode.
(01:19:58) - Sure he's a dictator, but he sure did make the trains run on time!
(01:23:21) - Everyone's on to Khan.
(01:27:30) - Khan's plan goes into action.
(01:33:06) - Kirk, buddy, what are you doing here?!?
(01:40:24) - Final thoughts on Space Seed and villains in the Trek-verse.
(01:45:59) - Outro.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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