RandomChatter

RC #58: Get Your Qwikster Queue Ready

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 19:50:37 -0400

We're back! The RandomChatter podcast has returned—and it's better than ever!

This week Lou and Erik discuss the upcoming changes to the the Netflix service. What it might mean for users? What brought on this change? And of course our personal views on the matter.

Have an iPhone? Want to help us support the network? Then don't forget to pick up our RandomChatter Network iPhone app! Just search for "RandomChatter" in the app store! Or go to http://bit.ly/rcnapp

RC #55: The Relaunch!

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 10:43:29 -0400

We're back! The RandomChatter podcast has returned—and it's better than ever!

This week Nathan, Lou, and Erik tackle Google's new social network and the recent U.S. launch of the Spotify music service.

Have an iPhone? Want to help us support the network? Then don't forget to pick up our RandomChatter Network iPhone app! Just search for "RandomChatter" in the app store! Or go to http://bit.ly/rcnapp

RC #54: Fall TV Fiasco

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 21:50:43 -0400

Man, what's happened with the new television shows this fall? Many of the new shows are crap, but are there any worth watching? Join Erik, Nathan, and Lou to find out!

Have an iPhone? Want to help us support the network? Then don't forget to pick up our RandomChatter Network iPhone app! Just search for "RandomChatter" in the app store!

RC #53: Returning to Star Wars

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 20:47:39 -0400

A long time ago, on a podcast far, far away...

Yes, I know — the prequel trilogy let many of you down. The name "George Lucas" leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. You're living with the scars of your violated childhood and trying to move on. Well, we're not here to discuss the prequels.

But if you've given up on ALL Star Wars content, you may want to reconsider. There's plenty of good stuff out there — new stuff — that you might want to check out. Jay (RebelScum.com) joins Lou and Erik this week for a lengthy discussion of what's going on in the Expanded Universe, including The Clone Wars television show, the recent Legacy of the Force and Fate of the Jedi novel series, the comics, and more! Listen in and find out what's going on in the Star Wars universe!

Have an iPhone? Want to help us support the network? Then don't forget to pick up our RandomChatter Network iPhone app! Just search for "RandomChatter" in the app store!

RC #52: Guest Roundtable: LOST

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 19:26:47 -0400

Here is the much-anticipated, long-awaited LOST guest roundtable!

No, it's not a roundtable of lost guests, it's our roundtable on ABC's "LOST" featuring Jay (RebelScum.com), Bryan (TradeTalks), and Miranda (The Signal)! With the final DVD release and the epilogue "The New Man in Charge," we've brought Jay, Bryan, and Miranda in to discuss their thoughts on the finale, the epilogue, the storytelling in general, and what to watch in the future.

Lost fans, don't miss this episode!

Have an iPhone? Want to help us support the network? Then don't forget to pick up our RandomChatter Network iPhone app! Just search for "RandomChatter" in the app store!

RC #51: More Randomness

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:32:52 -0400

The last truly "random" show before we hit some themed episodes! Erik and Lou discuss taking gadgets on vacation, college, the No Ordinary Family preview, Persons Unknown, the new Lost DVD box set, the iTV, and more!

Have an iPhone? Want to help us support the network? Then don't forget to pick up our RandomChatter Network iPhone app! Just search for "RandomChatter" in the app store!

RC #50: The Anti-Episode

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 23:14:45 -0400

Most podcasts like to do something special for their 50th episode. They do a clip show. They invite special guests. They pick a special topic. They make it double-length. They pull out all the stops and make the episode truly epic.

Not us! No, we have FEWER hosts! And we have NO topics! And it's a SHORTER episode! So there!

Don't miss this train-wreck of an episode, or you'll regret it FOREVER!

Have an iPhone? Want to help us support the network? Then don't forget to pick up our RandomChatter Network iPhone app! Just search for "RandomChatter" in the app store!

RC #49: We Didn't Mean To... Honest.

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 19:57:02 -0400

This week, Andrew joins Erik, Nathan, and Joe. We briefly discuss Inception, we wonder how the Twilight stars are possibly worth $41 million each, discuss our CONTEST, talk about Steve Carrell leaving The Office, then somehow get roped into—dare I say it—a debate about Twilight versus True Blood. Fortunately, we then move on to some ComicCon news on the Marvel movies. Certainly one of our strangest episodes ever!

Have an iPhone? Want to help us support the network? Then don't forget to pick up our RandomChatter Network iPhone app! Just search for "RandomChatter" in the app store!

RC #48: Movie Showdown

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:14:50 -0400

Is Sean of the Dead better than Hot Fuzz? Is Pulp Fiction better than Raiders of the Lost Ark? What about Cars vs. Ratatouille? Join Nathan, Erik, Lou, and Andrew for the first of our Flickchart-inspired episodes!

Have an iPhone? Want to help us support the network? Then don't forget to pick up our RandomChatter Network iPhone app! Just search for "RandomChatter" in the app store!

RC #47: Hulu Plus... or minus?

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:26:01 -0400

We now have a semi-permanent line-up of hosts for RandomChatter! This week we welcome Nathan, best known for LostChatter and for his awesome website Flickchart.com!

Hulu has finally released their subscription service, Hulu Plus. But is it worth it? Are you willing to pay for a larger selection of shows if they still contain ads? Is Internet television becoming viable, or is it still too far off to "cut the cable"? Join us as we look at these issues in this week's RandomChatter!

Have an iPhone? Want to help us support the network? Then don't forget to pick up our RandomChatter Network iPhone app! Just search for "RandomChatter" in the app store!

RC #46: 2010 Movies = FAIL! (so far)

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 21:26:00 -0400

We're halfway through the year, and this has been one of the worst in recent history. Box Office numbers are way down, and with good reason. So what's going on? And can this year be saved? Andrew, Morgan, Lou, and Erik take a look at what 2010 has brought us so far and what to expect over the summer.

RC #45: Flashforward vs. V

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Wed, 12 May 2010 18:42:45 -0400

After a spoiler-free look at Iron Man 2, Erik and Andrew go head-to-head over whether Flashforward is better than V. Lou wisely points out the merits of each. However, it all goes downhill once Andrew brings up... well, we shouldn't even justify the show with a mention. Just check out the show!

RC #44: Karate Kid in 3D? Really?

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Sat, 01 May 2010 23:26:43 -0400

Do we really need to see the new Karate Kid in 3D? And the Sherlock Holmes sequel? Is 3D really worth all the hype? If not, what WOULD get us into the theater? Join Erik, Ned, Andrew, and Lou as they discuss this and more in this week's RandomChatter!

RC #43: Welcome Back!

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 01:41:37 -0400

WE'RE BACK! After a long hiatus, the RandomChatter podcast is back with a new format and new episodes! Each week we'll be discussing geek culture with various hosts from the RandomChatter podcast network.

This week, join Erik, Brian, Jeff, and Ned as they discuss podcasting in general, serialized television vs. episodic television, and more!

RC #42: Cutting the Cable

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:41:41 -0400

This week on RandomChatter:

Tired of the high prices of cable or satellite television? Wish you could just get all your content via the Internet? In this week's show, we take a look at how to "cut the cable" and get all your video content through other methods. What sources are available? How much bandwidth will you need? Should you get a media PC or just get devices to supplement what you already have? How do you get the content from the Net to your television? Check out this week's episode and find out!
Leave us voicemail at 866-574-5400, or email us at podcast@randomchatter.com.

RC #41: Aliens Among Us

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 01:41:44 -0400

This week on RandomChatter:

After a brief discussion of G.I. Joe, Avatar, and some other films, Erik, Andrew, Ned, and Ren take a spoiler-free look at District 9 and some past movies and shows about aliens living among us.

Leave us voicemail at 866-574-5400, or email us at podcast@randomchatter.com.

RC #40: Morgan, We Love You!

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 01:41:48 -0400

This week on RandomChatter:

Are we finally getting a Halo movie? Will Joss Whedon get full creative control over Dollhouse? Will the next season of 24 be its last? Is Redbox undermining the DVD market? Find out on this week's episode of RandomChatter!

Leave us voicemail at 866-574-5400, or email us at podcast@randomchatter.com.

RC #39: Looking Back at Comic Con

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 01:41:52 -0400

This week on RandomChatter:

Erik and Andrew look back at the movies and television covered at Comic Con, and Brian drops in for a few minutes.

RC #38: Virtuality, Caprica, and Ron Moore

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:41:55 -0400

This week on RandomChatter:

Did you miss FOX's latest premature cancellation, Virtuality? Ron Moore (Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek) created a great new series, and true to form, FOX shot it down before it ever had a chance to get off the ground. You can still check it out on Hulu, and Erik & Andrew discuss why you should. They then talk about Ron Moore's other upcoming series, the Battlestar Galactica prequel Caprica. They wrap up with a quick update on Andrew's trip to China and the radical differences in the box office over there.

RC #37: The IMAX Experience...?

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 01:41:58 -0400

This week we start out with some nice, peaceful good news, such as which television series are getting renewed. Dollhouse will be back! Woohoo! (Note: Terminator: TSCC has been canceled, but we recorded this weeks ago, before it was announced.)

Then we get into some... well, not-so-peaceful discussion. See, they're releasing more and more films in IMAX, and there seem to be more IMAX theaters popping up everywhere, especially in the AMC and Regal theater chains. However, the screens aren't any bigger than normal screens.

Erik takes one side of the debate. Ned takes the other. The gloves come off, and Andrew has to drop by to settle the argument. Check it out!

Show Notes:

Weekly Recap

Erik: Finished Ender in Exile

Ned: Possible big announcement next week

News

Dollhouse gets renewed, though for only 13 episodes and a smaller budget

Scrubs is coming back, though without Zach Braff

Castle is getting renewed; Nathan Fillion's bad luck

Bones is getting renewed too.

Chuck is back for fewer episodes and a smaller budget.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles is canceled (we'd recorded this show before it was announced).

Burn Notice and Leverage are coming back this summer.

Feature: Is the IMAX Experience Really IMAX?

People are angry, and they want their extra $5 back.

IMAX explains what IMAX is — it's not the screen size, it's the technical specs and theater design.

Using the THX certification as an example.

Shout out to Beegs: Hey man, if you're out there, we miss you!

Description of the differences between IMAX and normal 35mm prints & systems

Is IMAX being shady?

IMAX has built a reputation and brand around the massive screen, regardless of the tech specs.

They're taking advantage of their brand to get people into the theaters, and they're knowingly being deceptive, even if they're not legally telling untruths.

Flat-out, it's cheating.

They should have been upfront by branding this "product" differently. But by calling it the "IMAX Experience," it directly implies something it's not.

Counterpoints:

Due to theater redesign, the viewer's field-of-vision is filled, so the screen size is moot. Field-of-vision is the important thing.

...but does that still hold true from the back of the theater?

IMAX has never bothered to explain "it's more than the screen" in the past. Doing it now is a cop-out.

Regardless, it all boils down to this — IMAX made very bad choices in how they've presented this, and it's going to hurt their branding.

Ned's Rant: How not to be stupid when posting blog comments.

RC #36: Unforgivable Cancellations

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Sat, 16 May 2009 01:42:01 -0400

When you think of shows that were canceled before their prime, some obvious mentions come up, such as Firefly and Arrested Development. But what other unforgivable sins have the networks committed?

Show Notes:

Shows that were canceled too soon:

Farscape
The Invisible Man
NYPD Blue (minor mention)
Touching Evil
Freaks & Geeks
Undeclared
Crusade
Babylon 5
The 4400
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Brisco County Junior

Shows that should have been canceled sooner:

X-Files
The A-Team
Knight Rider
Full House
The Cosby Show
Heroes
Twin Peaks

Shows that might be getting canceled:

Life (confirmed: canceled)
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Dollhouse (confirmed since recording: renewed)
Tangent: Looking at other shows' beginnings and endings
- Scrubs (confirmed since recording: renewed)
- The Office
- Firefly
- Jeremiah

Ned's Rant: American Idol judges fawning over a cookie-cutter performer

RC #35: Pushing Buttons

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 01:42:05 -0400
Brian gets his buttons pushed, and then later in the episode he pushes back at Erik. Ned, in the meantime, just sits in the background instigating both sides. Ned: 1. Brian: 0. Erik: 0.

After discussing some television, including the now-infamous "missing" Dollhouse episode, the three of us talk about some of the recent movie rewrites resulting from scripts being leaked online. Are the writers/studios handling the issue appropriately, or are they being arrogant buttheads?

And finally, in Ned's rant this week, we discuss 10-year-olds' support of homosexuals coming out.

We look forward to your comments upon this episode. :)

RC #34: Turgid!

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 01:42:08 -0400
Today's episode is brought to you by the word "Turgid."

We're running without show prep this week, so Ned and Erik ramble on about unemployment, the infamous "Fox Wolverine Review Firing," piracy, and other topics.

RC #33: SEX!

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 01:42:12 -0400
SEX! That's right, this week's RandomChatter episode is all about sex. Sex in film, rather. There seems to be no more controversial topic in film than sex. Why is it the MPAA is stricter on sex than on violence? Why is it female nudity is okay but male nudity isn't? Why is there such a double-standard for homosexuality in film?

[This week's show is technically "safe for work," as there's nothing particularly explicit, but we do discuss a lot of mature themes (and we discuss them maturely), so if you're at work, school, or in public, you may want to use headphones this week.]

RC #32: BSG Finale; Did Watchmen kill comic films?

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 01:42:15 -0400
While many of us loved Watchmen, it didn't do all that great at the box office. Sure, it was R-rated, non-mainstream, and very long. Still, a 67% drop-off in its second week isn't exactly anything to brag about. Warner Bros. has already stated they won't do any more R-rated superhero films, nor any R-rated tentpole blockbusters. Will other studios follow suit? Did Watchmen do more harm than good?

One of the biggest sci-fi television shows in recent years has finally come to a close. While it had its ups and downs, Battlestar Galactica was a powerful show on many levels. Did its finale do the show justice? Nathan (LostChatter) and Morgan (MovieChatter) join Erik and Andrew this week to discuss the finale. And, surprisingly, Ned sticks around to decide whether to continue catching up with the show, basing his final decision on our finale discussion. And don't worry, we provide plenty of warnings before we start spoiling anything.

RC #31: Watchmen Discussion

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:42:19 -0400
Less a full-blown review and more a general discussion, Nathan and Joe from LostChatter join Erik and Ned to take a look at Watchmen.

RC #30: Box Office Economy

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 01:42:23 -0400
The studios have been feeding us excuses for a long time now about how we can't get new ideas in Hollywood because they need the "sure thing" of known licenses/franchises, remakes, and sequels. However, we've had record-breaking months at the box-office recently. January was the eighth best month in modern film history. And that's January — a month normally seen as a dud. February is also doing well. March is going to do very well.

So can we please have some fresh ideas now? Can studios please start taking some risks? And for crying out loud, can we finally start having major releases sometime other than the summer or holiday weekends?

A few quick notes...
No, I've never been stood up for a date and sat at home on my computer instead. Just thought I'd clear that up. Let the joking commence.

Yes, I knew what was going on with the Jawa on Facebook. I was just trying to be difficult.

The thing about Judd Apatow producing Ghostbusters 3 has been debunked since the time of this recording (read more here).

We had to use Andrew's Skype feed, so the audio quality's a little less than usual. Sorry.

RC #29: Ned's Lack of Cybernetic Implants

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 01:42:28 -0400
Just a quick mini-episode this time, as Ned and Tony rant about Baby Boomers and the responsibility they bear for Ned's lack of cybernetic implants.

RC #28: Ned's TP Plea

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 01:42:32 -0400
Guess what -- you like commercials! No really, you do. Trust us. Rather, trust a recent study that shows people enjoy their television viewing experience more when commercials are included. Of course, wait until you hear how the study was conducted...

We also talk about Dollhouse, whether or not Joaquin Phoenix is pulling our leg, and... well, I'll leave Ned's weekly rant as a surprise this time.

RC_027: Oscar Nods, 2009 Movie Preview

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 01:42:35 -0400
Got another long one for you this time, but we're not splitting it up. No, once Ned and Morgan get on a roll, there's nothing we can do to stop it, no matter how hard Andrew or I may try.

The Oscar nominations were especially bad this time around. Way too many people got snubbed, and I'm still not entirely sure several of the nominees deserved their noms. Still, it is what it is.

Fortunately, we've got lots of great movies to look forward to in 2009! Or do we? Find out in our 2009 Movie Preview episode!

RC_026: Romantic Comedies Will Ruin You!

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:42:40 -0400
That's right, research shows that romantic comedies can be hazardous to your love life! And Fox can be hazardous to Watchmen fans, even though it looks like Fox may be right and WB may be wrong. Join Erik, Ren, and our newest host, Ned, in our first RandomChatter of 2009!

RC_2008: Happy Holidays!

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 01:42:43 -0400
We've pretty much gotten to the point where none of the hosts' schedules are compatible with each other's due to various holiday commitments, so we're signing off until the end of the year. But I've recorded a very short holiday message I'd like everyone to listen to. I'm putting it in all four feeds to make sure everyone gets it, but it's the same file, so you only need to listen to it once.

Please check out our brief holiday episode. Thanks for listening, and stay tuned for great things ahead in 2009. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

RC_025: Comedies (and Erik's 2001 Rant)

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 01:42:46 -0400
Given the state of the world these days, we figured now's the perfect time to recommend some good comedies. Ren, Morgan, Andrew, and Erik pick several comedies ranging from 80's to now, from slapstick to witty, and from crude to clean.

And if you act now, we'll even throw in a bonus rant! Yes, Erik has finally seen the overrated atrocity that is 2001: A Space Odyssey. He swears he'll never complain about pacing in a film again (though we all know that's not true). His is a story of tragedy and pain, but those around him find it highly entertaining.

RC_024: Minutegate

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:42:50 -0400
Is it fair to review a film of which you've only seen eight minutes? That's exactly what Roger Ebert did. For only the second time in his long career, he's walked out of a movie. He then wrote a review in which, at the end, he reveals he was only reviewing the first eight minutes of the film. This has now apparently been dubbed "Minutegate."

Was it ethical? Was it fair? That's what we're going to discuss in this week's show, hosted by Erik, Andrew, and special guest Morgan (from The (Hide and) Seeker). Speaking of fair, we'll also be discussing Terrance Stamp's removal from Iron Man 2, to be replaced by Don Cheadle.

(please forgive the audio quality; the local recording on Andrew & Morgan's side was having problems, and we ended up using the Skype feed)

RC_023: Top Five Horror Films

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 01:42:53 -0400
Horror can be a difficult genre to define. For some, it means blood and guts. For others, it means psychological terror. For the Apple iTunes store, it apparently means films like Hard Candy (great movie, but not what I'd call "horror").

For the purposes of this show, we're defining "horror" as... well, basically whatever we want. We're including slasher films, thrillers, creepy films... Basically anything we'd want to watch on Halloween late at night with the lights out. You know... after those darn kids stop interrupting you every five minutes with the doorbell.

So check out Andrew, Erik, and Ren's top five favorite horror films!

RC_022: Fall TV Review

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 01:42:57 -0400
Been wondering what shows are worth keeping up with? Then check out our Fall Television Review (and preview, in some cases), featuring our very special guest host, Miranda from the Firefly Talk, The Signal, and The 9th podcasts!

(Note: This was recorded last weekend, but we decided to spread the shows out a bit, since last week's episode was released late)

Show Notes:

Guest Host: Miranda from the Firefly Talk, The Signal, and The 9th podcasts.

Felicia Day mystery solved... or is it?

Do Not Disturb -- canceled already? (EDIT: I know it was Jerry O'Connell and not Jason Bateman.. I don't know what I was thinking.)

Knight Rider premiere ratings down from February's pilot movie, even though the premiere was infinitely better

Hole in the Wall (worst game show ever?)

Fringe

(tangent: Brian doesn't watch TV unless it's online)

Sons of Anarchy

Primeval

(tangent: Conventions)

Sanctuary

My Own Worst Enemy

Heroes

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

The Office

Chuck

Bones (warning: season 3 finale spoiler)

Dollhouse (warning: Serenity spoiler and Buffy Season 6 spoiler)

(tangent: more Firefly/Serenity content on the horizon?>

(tangent: Dr. Horrible)

(tangent: Kentucky)

Dollhouse (for real this time)

(tangent: Fox canceling shows; Dark Angel)

Battlestar Galactica, Lost, Scrubs

24

Reaper

RC_021: We Want Adaptations!

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 01:43:01 -0400
Sorry for the delay. We've had some medical issues going on (listen to the show for more info), so we had to take a week off.

But we're back, and we want adaptations! Well, we want some adaptations. In this week's show, Brian, Andrew and Erik look at existing material (books, comics, games, etc.) that we'd like to see in film or television.

RC_020: Why Watch the Watchmen?

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 01:43:03 -0400
This week on RandomChatter:

Week in Review:

Dedication to Don LaFontaine

Drew Struzan is retiring

Andrew's new movie, The (Hide and) Seeker

NOT all press is good press (Erik's rant about the Seinfeld/Microsoft commercial)

Andrew's quick review of Bangkok Dangerous

Does Felicia Day listen to our show?

News:

NBC won't let Scrubs guest actors appear on ABC's Scrubs series finale

Ghostbusters 3 finally moving forward

Hulu airs NBC shows a week before they air

Feature: Can Watchmen be a good movie?

Plug for Trade Talks, a great graphic novel review site.

Is the graphic novel really that good?

Would it be that difficult to adapt?

What is it that would compel people to wach this?

Can they fit everything into a single film? What will they cut?

Can Zack Snyder (300) pull it off?

What's up with the lawsuit?

RC_019: What's Wrong with Foreign Films?

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 01:43:10 -0400
It's just Andrew and Erik this time around, as we look at why foreign films are often overlooked in the U.S. But first, we look at the possible return of The Muppet Show!

Films mentioned in this episode, including IMDB and Netflix links:

Kung Pow, Enter the Fist* (IMDB) (Netflix)

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (IMDB) (Netflix)

Pan's Labyrinth (IMDB) (Netflix)

The Experiment (IMDB) (Netflix)

Oldboy (IMDB) (Netflix)

Amelie (IMDB) (Netflix)

A Very Long Engagement (IMDB) (Netflix)

Supercop (IMDB) (Netflix)

Rumble in the Bronx (IMDB) (Netflix)

Black Mask (IMDB) (Netflix)

Legend of the Drunken Master (IMDB)

Flash Point (IMDB) (Netflix)

Kill Zone (a.k.a. "SPL") (IMDB) (Kill Zone)

CJ7 (IMDB) (Netflix)

Kung Fu Hustle (IMDB) (Netflix

Shaolin Soccer (IMDB) (Netflix)

Downfall (IMDB) (Netflix)

*this is not a foreign film

RC_018: Not Your Average Vader

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 01:43:07 -0400
Andrew finally got to see Clone Wars (poor guy!), so we discuss that a bit, then Brian explains how the Darth Vader from Empire Strikes Back wasn't really the vision Lucas had for Vader at all. Then, after some quick news, we address the rumors about iTunes getting a subscription model for music and whether that would actually be a good thing.

Show Notes:

Andrew's thoughts on Clone Wars

Empire's Vader was an anomaly (and all the Ewoks are dead!)

Superman Reboots

Fox sues WB over Watchmen, seeks injunction preventing release

Wheel of Time coming to the big screen

Would you pay a subscription fee for unlimited music?

RC_017: Star Wars vs. Star Wars

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 01:43:14 -0400
With the release of Clone Wars this past weekend, I figured this would be the last time Star Wars would be relevant for a long time. And who doesn't love talking about Star Wars? So this week I'm joined by Andrew, Brian, and Nathan (from Flickchart.com) as we pit the Prequel and Classic trilogies against each other, and we look at other directors and ask "what if someone else had done the Prequels?"

Show Notes:

Listener Question: Do I watch movies too passively?

How was Clone Wars?

Were the Prequels really that bad?

Comparing the Prequels to the Classic trilogy

Prequels needed new characters we could care about

Watching the Classic Trilogy "now" versus "then": Vader's weak

Story in Prequels wasn't evenly distributed across the three films

Simple ending change to Episode III would have held plot twists to Classic Trilogy for future generations

What if someone else had done the Prequels? Speilberg, Whedon, Fincher, Snyder, Smith, etc.

Why the Classic Trilogy works: We're following the underdogs.

RC_016: ComicCon Coverage

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 01:43:18 -0400
Special thanks to Joe from Trailer Trash Talk for joining us!

This week on RandomChatter:

Brian sees Dark Knight... and doesn't understand what all the fuss is about

Erik sees Bruce & Lloyd: Out of Control and The Fountain

Dark Knight breaks more records

X-Files opens in fourth, loses to second week of Abba musical (ouch!)

Zack and Miri Make a Porno (not safe for work!)

Rocky Horror Picture Show getting a remake

RoboAronofsky! Woohoo!

Joss Whedon's "Dollhouse" gets a new pilot

Any chance of a Dr. Horrible series?

This just in! Lucas doing all Star Wars films in 3D! (and by "just in", I mean it was announced in 2005)

There's a new Star Wars movie this year (click here for footage), and nobody cares (props to Wes from Trailer Trash Talk)

TR2N footage actually looks good, despite the bad-quality clip

Wolverine footage

Lost: Cool stuff, but nothing profound or as good as last year

Heroes: Will season three make the show good again?

DVD Picks: Six Degrees of Separation (Andrew), Regenesis (Brian), 21, Equilibrium, Gattaca (Joe, Joe, & Joe), Veronica Mars (Erik)

RC_015: More Horrible, Please!

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:43:22 -0400
This week on RandomChatter:

Personal Recap: Brian didn't see Dark Knight; Ren & Erik get new Apple stuff; Erik walks a mile for Dark Knight parking

Camping Out for Tickets: R.I.P.

RandomChatter updates: iPhone skin, Blogging, Forums

Dark Knight breaking records

Insane eBay prices for Dark Knight in IMAX ($100+)

This just in! No new news on non-strike!

JMS: "No more B5 content unless it's a feature film."

Trailer: Spirit

Trailer: Watchmen

Trailer: Twilight

Trailer: 24: Exile

Trailer: Outlander

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog! Go get it! (Check out The Guild too!)

Josh Brolin and crew of "W" arrested at bar

"Lost" news this week

"Wicked" being made as feature film

Joel Silver + Wachowskis + Keanu Reeves = Plastic-Man!

DVD Picks: Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (Brian & Andrew), The Bank Job (Ren), and Dark City (Erik) [Update: Dark City director's cut due in late July]

RC_014: Pi in the Sky

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 01:43:26 -0400
More "non-news" about the possible actors' strike. Warner Brothers talks to D.C. about future superhero flicks. Robert Downey Jr. moves to Baker Street. In-flight movies get left at the gate. Robocop might be getting a very interesting director. A certain Pet Detective spawns an offspring. Andrew tries to convince Erik that "Pi" isn't the worst movie in cinematic history. All this and more!

RC_013: The Non-Strike

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 01:43:30 -0400
Are we in a de facto strike, regardless of whether SAG votes for it? That's how it's being reported. We talk about this, plus Christian Bale dissing Robin, Netflix bringing back its profiles, and some Sherlock Holmes casting news that must have the good Sir Arthur Conan Doyle rolling in his grace. We also introduce our new "DVD Pick of the Week" segment.

RC_012: FlickChart

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:43:34 -0400
If Titanic is five stars, E.T. is five stars, and Braveheart is five stars, which is the best film? FlickChart helps solve that issue by giving you two movies at a time to choose from, then compiling an overall ranking based on your selections. But that's just the start. Site creators Jeremy and Nathan join us to discuss what the site is, why they created it, and where it's going in the future.

RC_011: Welcome Back

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:43:38 -0400
We're back! We're caught up with MovieChatter, and now the RandomChatter shows are back too. In this episode, Ren & Erik talk briefly about the honeymoon, and then they and Andrew go over news from the last few weeks, including yet more remake announcements!

RC_010: Leave My 80's Alone!

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Thu, 15 May 2008 01:43:41 -0400
Hollywood has been remaking everything under the sun recently. So this week we look at the few things they haven't touched yet, focusing specifically on 80's movies. Do we really want a Goonies sequel? What about a Fletch remake? Should everything be left alone, or are there films that are okay to work on further?

RC_009: Attack of the Remakes

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 01:43:46 -0400
When Hollywood says they're so desperate for content that they're remaking the likes of Short Circuit and Adventures in Babysitting, that's really scraping the bottom of the barrel. This week we look at past remakes, at what makes a good remake, and at the flood of remakes to come.

RC_008: Talkin' Trailers

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 01:43:49 -0400
As you've noticed, it's that time of year again for the flood of summer movie trailers. But can you really judge a book by its cover -- or in this case, a movie by its trailer? To find out, we've invited Joe (http://trailertrashtalk.com) back to the show. Do trailers show all the good parts of the movie? Do they spoil too much? Do they mislead you? Let's talk trailers!

RC_007: Second Skin

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:43:53 -0400
This week we've got guest host Eric Fullerton joining us as we talk about how online gaming affects our "real" lives, as inspired by the documentary Second Skin, which just debuted at SXSW.

RC_006: Summer Movie Preview

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 01:43:57 -0400
In this week's show, Brian and I wade through the sludge of recently-announced remakes and sequels, and we finally get to our Summer Movie Preview! Technically we cover both the spring and the summer, but let's not nit-pick. There are a lot of (hopefully) great movies coming out this year, even aside from the obvious choices such as The Dark Knight and Iron Man. We're bringing you a quick run-down of what to expect.

RC_005: A Cage Full of Tangents

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 01:44:00 -0400
This is why you don't podcast at 2 a.m. Of course, maybe that actually helped the show! We've got all four hosts on this week's news show, and boy do they ramble on. They blathered for long enough that we had to push the Summer Movie Preview segment to next week's show (none of this rambling was my fault, of course).

RC_004: And the award goes to... who cares?

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 01:44:04 -0400
That's right, it's Oscar time. This week, after looking at a handful of news items (Deadpool!), we discuss the Oscars. No, we're not going to recap the Oscars. Instead, we're mainly going to complain about Cameron Diaz, talk about how grateful we are that Sean Penn was nowhere to be seen, and be bitter that Golden Compass allegedly had better effects than Transformers.

RC_003: Jumper

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 01:44:07 -0400
It's Anakin Skywalker versus Mace Windu in one last, final, knock-out brawl!

Final, that is, until the inevitable sequel they set up in the film. Oh, and there's not really any knock-out. Or even a brawl, really.

I dare say our review of the movie was more interesting than the movie itself. If nothing else, it was more fun to record than it was to see the movie. But before we get to that, there's news to cover. After all, now that the writer's strike is over, we need to know when our favorite shows are coming back!

RC_002: Spoiler-Free, for Wes

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 01:44:12 -0400
We've been "under construction" a bit here, so it's been a few weeks since we've had a show posted. However, we're back on track now, with a new website we'll be tweaking out over the next week, and two new shows to post.

First up, we recap the entertainment news from the past week. Err... last week, in this case, but it's all still relevant. And as a favor to Wes, one of our fellow podcasters over at the Control Point podcast, we've gone spoiler-free for this episode!

Show Notes:

00:16 - I swear it's Brian's fault...

00:42 - Box Office Results

03:54 - Status of Ledger's projects

07:47 - Freddy's Back!

11:22 - New Star Wars theatrical release...?

13:54 - Arrested Development theatrical release...?

14:55 - Teaser for the new M. Night Shyamalamadingdong film, The Happening

17:11 - Go watch the trailer for Hancock

18:03 - Peter Jackson doing The Hobbit... but so is Del Toro.

19:53 - Recap of G.I. Joe casting

24:25 - MPAA: "Oops, we're stupid."

32:03 - More on the writer's strike

38:38 - Tangents: Hulu, MyVu, Apple TV, video iPods

42:34 - Studios producing fewer pilots in future, regardless of strike

RC_001: Cloverfield

podcast@randomchatter.com (RandomChatter) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 01:44:16 -0400
Technically, this review contains spoilers. However, they're so minor I seriously doubt they'd affect anyone's enjoyment of this movie. Especially not to people like Jeff, who's more concerned about the fact that the movie didn't explain anything about the monster. Or to people like Ren, who felt the monster was merely a victim and misunderstood. For normal people like Brian and I, the movie was great.

Show Notes

* 00:15 - Brian skips his usual obnoxious intro
* 00:20 - We're back!
* 02:02 - "If you haven't seen the movie yet.... don't?"
* 09:30 - Spoilers start here, but there's not much to spoil
* 14:07 - Comparisons to The Blair Witch Project
* 18:19 - Comparisons to 9/11
* 21:29 - Was J.J. Abrams trying to say anything with this film?
* 23:50 - Comments on the actors and characters
* 28:15 - Pacing problems permeating the prologue
* 33:46 - Jeff is "very much a closure-guy," just so you know.
* 36:51 - Brian's Final Thoughts: Jeff is also entitled to be as wrong as he is.
* 39:09 - Ren's Final Thoughts: The monster was cheated.
* 45:17 - Jeff's Final Thoughts: Jeff's not a film critic. Moving along...
* 48:08 - Erik's Final Thoughts: It's not a monster movie. It's a survival movie.