2007 / 112 Minutes / PG-13
Reviewed by Dale J. Nauertz

Sometimes it’s hard to divorce the content of a movie from the experience of actually seeing it, but I shall try nonetheless. I must say, without hyperbole, that seeing “Beowulf” on an IMAX screen and in 3-D was flat-out one of the best cinematic experiences of my entire life. Considering how many movies I’ve actually seen, I think you can understand what bold praise that is. The 3-D presentation of this movie is nothing short of awesome and, if you have any inkling toward seeing this movie, you simply owe it to yourself to see it in 3-D and on the biggest possible screen. That being said, the question remains: is “Beowulf” a good movie?

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1980 / 219 Minutes / R
Reviewed by Dale J. Nauertz

If you’re wondering how the experimental, edgy films of the Seventies could give way to the commercial, adolescent-friendly, cuddly films of the Eighties, you really need look no further than “Heaven’s Gate”. “Heaven’s Gate” is the film that took independent-minded, edgy, adult cinematic fare to its ultimate, expensive conclusion. If that sounds like a good thing, well, it is…kinda.

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Well you have spoken and we have heard your call. This podcast is entirely comprised of listener suggested topics, since you have all proven to be much wiser than us with your suggestions.

For the meaty part of the show we delve into the relevance of animated films and discuss the ones we like and the ones we feel are overrated, or just plain lame. Also, why do we keep hearing more and more about foreign films? Are they just that good, or do people want to be cultured, or do Hollywood movies suck so bad that people have to look elsewhere? As always, we discuss in our own special way. Then to finish things off we discuss the directors of today who will be the titans of tomorrow. Essentially who will be the Kubricks, Spielbergs, and De Palmas decades from now? You may just be surprised by some of our choices and the directions the conversation manages to go in.

Then there’s the usual early podcast rambling in which we discuss nude fight scenes, Owen Wilson, and creative ways to die in a Western amongst other things including a short discussion of Shoot ‘em Up to tide you over until the meat of the show arrives.

Enjoy and discuss!

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by Dale J. Nauertz

In years past, I’ve used all sorts of gimmicks (well, okay, one gimmick involving color-coordinating and Homeland Security) to denote films I’m actually interested in seeing between Labor Day and New Years. This time, I’m just going to mention the films I want to see. I’ll number the ten I’m most interested in watching and then mention a few I wouldn’t have to be dragged to. But this year I’m not going to bother listing every movie that’s coming down the pike. Screw that. Life is too short for me to tell you why you shouldn’t give a shit about “Saw IV” or “Alvin and the Chipmunks”. You should already know.

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1980 / 111 Minutes / R
Reviewed by Dale J. Nauertz

Much like “The Exorcist” and “Jaws”, “National Lampoon’s Animal House” was a box-office juggernaut whose appeal was so simple that it inspired a platoon of lame knock-offs. Hollywood producers and execs, eager to exploit any success, decided that the public wanted demons and ravenous fish, and made boatloads of movies that cheapened the originals by pandering to their audience’s most basic interests and ripping off as many elements of the successful films as possible. With “Animal House”, those same producers seemed to decide that all it took to make a hit comedy were tits and men without scruples. A plethora of soulless, hollow, T&A-filled dreck like “Porky’s” (that movie sucks, I don’t care what anyone says), “Private School” and “Screwballs” followed. Miraculously, despite all these horrible knock-offs, “Animal House” has retained its sterling reputation and is a movie that is still beloved, admired, referenced and quoted to death to this very day.

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2007 / 86 Minutes / R
Reviewed by Dale J. Nauertz

As soon as I heard there was a movie coming out called “Shoot ‘Em Up”, I was intrigued. When I learned that it starred Clive Owen, the modern king of bad-assery after “Sin City”, I became more excited. When I discovered that Clive was going up against a villain played by Paul Giamatti, an actor who is never ever boring, my excitement grew. When I saw the trailer, full of car chases, explosions and plenty of bullets flying around, I put it on my must-see list. Then I promptly forgot all about its existence…until I saw an ad for it and learned that it would be released this past weekend. (A violent, fun-filled action movie AND a western released on the same weekend…the movie gods have officially smiled down on me.) I was unable to see it this weekend (you try dragging your fiancee to a film entitled “Shoot ‘Em Up”) but I DID get in there as soon as I was able.

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1980 / 111 Minutes / PG
Reviewed by Dale J. Nauertz

If you absolutely, positively have to watch a big-budget sci-fi movie made specifically to capitalize on the surprise success of “Star Wars”, watch “Flash Gordon”. Truly, accept no substitutes.

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1997/ 129 Minutes / R
Reviewed by Dale J. Nauertz

I’m thinking about doing a series of articles on films that actually deliver the popcorn movie goods, without going back to the usual suspects and legitimate classics (i.e. “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, “Star Wars”, “Jaws”, etc.). Now, before you all get too excited, you must realize that I am probably too lazy to stick with such a thing, and I may have trouble thinking of enough movies that fit the requirements I would impose on such a subject. For one thing, the movie has to have plenty of explosions. Secondly, it needs to have characters that you actually care about. Third, it has to have something that clearly distinguishes itself from all the other blockbuster and wannabe blockbuster dreck. And, of course, it must be fun.

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2007 / 144 Minutes / PG-13
Reviewed by Jason Jones

Well here we are. Another summer and another blatant attempt by Hollywood to tap into our collective nostalgia for a childhood long since past in order to make a quick buck (or a few hundred million of them anyway). Usually I don’t particularly care as it is typically something I could give less than a crap about like Dukes of Hazzard or The Cat in the Hat that finds itself being taken advantage of by the mad Hollywood marketing machine.

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Well we’re back again with what seems to have become our monthly podcast as of late.

This time we openly wonder what movies we’ll be seeing a couple of summers from now. Will Hollywood get sequeled out? Or will we be seeing part 4 or 5 or whatever of (insert franchise here) in the summers to come? Also, the AFI published another Top 100 list and like any good film geeks we take it to task on some of its selections and omissions. Some of them glaring (I forgot to mention it in the podcast, but how the hell could they overlook Ed Wood to say the least?!?

There is also the usual news and other pre-topic banter. Some of it involving Tom Cruise’s new film Valkyrie, whether or not Transformers will be the surprise hit of the Summer, and speculation on the likelihood of Lindsay Lohan making it through her twenty-first birthday unscathed.

So enjoy and we’ll catch you next time.

Please Note that the Podcast is at a new feed location these days. The new link can be found below.

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3).
[RSS] Add the A Fistful of Reviews Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically (MP3).
[MP3] Download the show in MP3 format.