School of Movies

Prometheus / Alien Covenant

[Digital Gonzo 2012]

33 years after the original film, the director that started off the series returns to the same universe to start a new one. Ridley Scott’s PROMETHEUS is arguably the most anticipated prequel to be released since The Phantom Menace, but is that word even an apt description of this film, considering what happens and what doesn’t? You could make a case that it serves as a remake as well. What’s certain is that after only a few days of release and before it’s even out in the USA, this film has caused a storm of negative and lukewarm responses, and a backlash of equally vociferous defense. 

This time there is opposition and a clash of opinion as we set out to get a balanced yet impassioned view on the movie. Spoilers abound from the start so be sure to watch it before listening. (1h 38m: Timecode 0.02)

Super Special Extended Edition: This version of the podcast now includes my final analysis at the end (around the 1.44 mark), answering many of the questions raised by the film by examining the original script by John Spaihts. This is available to view on YouTube with a ton of visual aid by searching for “Digital Gonzo: Prometheus Final Analysis” (7m: Timecode 1.39)

PLUS: The previously Patreon-exclusive Quick Review of Alien Covenant (1h 07m: Timecode 1.46).

Guests:

Sharon Shaw of School of Movies

Joshua Garrity of Cane and Rinse

Matt Ramsey of GamerDork

James Perkins of The Digital Fix

Alien vs Predator & AVP:R

[Digital Gonzo 2012]

0m: Director of two of the Resident Evil movies and producer of the rest, Paul WS Anderson helmed the first PG-13 foray for these licenses, combining them into one family-friendly Jurassic Park-style romp. If you’ve not seen it the plot could be adequately described on the back of a matchbox or indeed with crude, crayon diagrams. Humans go somewhere they shouldn’t, looking for stuff. They find ALIENS and then PREDATORs show up. The humans go squish and the creatures fight. It’s a right palava.

Josh Garrity of Cane and Rinse, Leah Haydu of GamerDork, Sharon Shaw of Gonzo Planet, James Perkins of Geek Wad and Matt Ramsey of DorkTunes are now joined by Neil Taylor of GameBurst as I bring this intrepid group of explorers closer to the ignoble end of one franchise that only ever needed to be two movies and another that maybe didn’t even need that many. Find out what happened thousands of years ago, hear the deep-sea sequel idea conceived and marvel at the inappropriate attempted vocal characterization of the PREDATORS.

53m: This was the last ALIEN film produced leaving the once acclaimed series in the gutter of creature features filled with and made by talentless nobodies. The lack of gore in the Paul WS Anderson original caused the pendulum to swing back violently, the result being that this film is ONLY about the blood and guts. Its dingy, nasty, grotty, witless, artless garbage, unfit for the term “film” and the seven assembled reviewers get their critical teeth in with savage acuity.

The PREDATOR series fared better after this as the 2010 film PREDATORS was deliberately set apart from these crossovers and pitched itself as a follow-up to the 1987 original. As the spiritual equivalent of Cameron’s ALIENS it gave hope for continuation of that series. With Scott’s plans for the PROMETHEUS story skewing further away from the Alien franchise it could be a while before we see them emerge, dripping from the shadows once again.

Guests:

Sharon Shaw of School of Movies

Leah Haydu of Some Other Castle

Joshua Garrity of Cane and Rinse

Matt Ramsey of GamerDork

James Perkins of The Digital Fix

Predator 2 & Predators

[Digital Gonzo 2011]

0m: For the second part of our Predator specials we cover the 1990 film; Predator 2, this time starring too-old-for-this-shit Danny Glover. This one is directed by Stephen Hopkins who went on to helm The Ghost and the Darkness and Lost in Space. Once again the whole show is underscored by the music of Alan Silvestri. Unlike last week, opinion is somewhat more divided on the subject of this one and its follow-up. Neil and I have opposing favourites and a somewhat scornful reaction to the other for different reasons. 

28m: For the third and concluding part of our Predator specials we cover the long-awaited third movie, released two decades after the second in 2010; Predators. Find out what we feel about the expanding worlds of this alien hunter and ultimately how they could take the series in new and exciting directions in the future.

Guests:

Neil Taylor of GameBurst

Matt Ramsey of GamerDork

Die Hard With a Vengeance & Live Free or Die Hard

[Digital Gonzo 2010]

0m: The third Die Hard movie gets the Gonzo treatment. This time John McTiernan returns to bring the series back to greatness. We discuss how in many ways this is the equal of the original.

55m: This time almost everyone from the original three is absent save for Bruce Willis himself and we struggle to locate our interest in what is otherwise a functional, but unrelated action flick.

We’re aided by some sterling musical accompaniment and at the end we bring in the big guns with Doctor Mark Kermode’s views on this particular waste of a sequel. There are also rants about the focus-grouped nature of this production, the PG-13 certificate, the subsequent lack of bite onscreen and why Willis needs to see a wigmaker and a vest-supplier.

Guests:

Neil Taylor of GameBurst

Matt Ramsey of GamerDork

Die Hard & Die Hard 2: Die Harder

0m: In this first show, we discuss the Nakatomi incident, John and Holly’s relationship and Hans’ status as one of the greatest movie villains of all time. We also look at how immensely influential Die Hard has been both for action-thrillers and the portrayal of cinematic heroes.

52m: The 1990 sequel to Die Hard. You know the drill; airport in trouble, terrorists, gunfights. Experience firsthand what happens when the Gonzo format encounters a movie that’s actually just pretty mediocre. Tangents galore! Other movies, what made them good, anything to save us from traipsing through the minutia of this by-the-numbers late 80’s action movie.

There’s also some hilarious dubbing work from the TV edits.

Guests:

Neil Taylor of GameBurst.

Mike Philips from The Fanboys Lunchcast,

Matthew Ramsey of GamerDork

Return of the Jedi [Ultimate Edition]

[School of Movies 2017]

We round off our Orij Trij redux episodes with the most divisive of Star Wars movies until Revenge of the Sith came along, then The Force Awakens, then The Last Jedi, look Star Wars makes a lot of people happy and a lot of people very mad! 

This one had more cut out then the other two, partly because so much had already been said about the massive influence upon cinema, the craft of making them and the overall story and character arcs, and ultimately this movie is a two hour framing device for Luke and his Father to have a long chat with lightsabers. 

I pulled out all the stops to boil this down to only everything important and entertaining about ROTJ, and it ended up, a show to be proud of.

Guests:

Neil Taylor of TheKidDogg 

James Batchelor of the Bond and Beyond Podcast

Voice Actor Alex Eding

Chris Brown of The Married Gamers 

The Empire Strikes Back [Ultimate Edition]

[School of Movies 2017]

The special re-edited and polished up special edition of our original 2010 podcast on what a hell of a lot of people consider to be the greatest Star Wars movie ever filmed. 

As with the Episode IV show the original footage was mixed with the best sections best bits of our 2015 blu ray commentary, blended with the music of John Williams. 

We look at how and why this 1980 science-fantasy classic is still as dark, bright and fresh today as it was nearly four decades ago, how many new aspects were introduced (because that's how expanding mythology works!) and how Star Wars would not still be the phenomenon it was, without it. 

Guests:

Neil Taylor of TheKidDogg 

James Batchelor of the Bond and Beyond Podcast

Voice Actor Alex Eding

Mike Phillips of The Fanboys Lunchcast. 

Star Wars [Ultimate Edition]

[School of Movies 2017]

This is a special re-edited and polished up special edition of our original 2010 podcast on the 1977 movie that started it all. 

Mixed with the best sections of that show are the best bits of our 2015 blu ray commentary, all bound together with the glorious score from John Williams. 

You can still listen to the earliest version, it's available for all on the School of Movies Archive podcast feed, but this one is way better and has 55% less jibber jabber. 

Guests:

Neil Taylor of TheKidDogg 

James Batchelor of the Bond and Beyond 

Voice Actor Alex Eding

Legends of Zelda

[Digital Cowboys 2010]

Maybe the best of the Digital Cowboys episodes. This is all about Zelda through the years, covering every game and it comprises extracts from many, many interviews with podcasters and the DC community.

What comes across is a very special game series. There is a justified reason why Nintendo releases these games in gold boxes and treats the moment as a major event. It's difficult in fact to imagine many others being recounted with such fondness and with such importance. The frustration is also there; the bad design decisions and the repetitive formula, amid hopes for the future, all underscored by 25 years of incredible music.

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed towards this show, without your submitted rich experiences, it wouldn't have been a fraction as good.

Originally published July 16th 2010.

Guests:

Dan Ilson - Everything is Better with Beer & Gonzo Planet
Adam Capone - Joypod
Leon Cox - Cane and Rinse & GamerDork
Dits Symeou - The Gamerscene & Gonzo Planet
Alex Shaw - Digital Cowboys, Digital Gonzo & Gonzo Planet
Luke Carson - Digital Cowboys community
Mik Phillips - The Fanboys Lunchcast & Gonzo Planet
Ryan Astley - Gonzo Planet
Michelle Smith - Pink & Deadly
Paul Shotton - Digital Cowboys
Tony Atkins - Cane and Rinse & Digital Cowboys
James Batchelor - GameBurst, The WiiDS podcast & Gonzo Planet
Leah Haydu - GamerDork, Some Other Castle & Gonzo Planet
David Turner - Joypod
Roy Fortitude - Digital Cowboys community cast
Chris O'Regan - Superhappyfuntimeshow
Josh Garrity - Cane & Rinse, Digital Cowboys Community cast & Gonzo Planet
Edie Sellers - Gamehounds
Daniel Floyd - Extra Credits