Media Montage Podcast 128: Superman Returns (2006)

Superman returned in 2006's Superman Returns...but he didn't return for long. With the 10th anniversary of this Bryan Singer film Bruce and Larry decided to examine this odd entry in the canon of superhero films.  

Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, James Marsden, and Kevin Spacey star in this not-quite-a-sequel to the Richard Donner Superman films.  Superman has been gone for five years, and returns to a surprising new world. Heavily influenced by the earlier Superman films, this movie attempts to look back to the past, while trying to pave the way for a new series of films. This reboot attempt didn't lead to any new films, but instead we got Man of Steel in another reboot in 2013 and Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, which comes out today. 

Why did Superman Returns fail to return in another sequel? What works with this film? What doesn't? How much nostalgia is too much? Which actor would have been better in a marquis role?  All that and more in episode 128 of the Media Montage Podcast!

Our Comics:

Brain Teaser Comics

Earthman Prime on Deviant Art

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Media Montage Podcast 124: Big Stars, Early Roles

Oscar winners, Blockbuster Mega-stars, and respected film veterans all got their start somewhere. TV movies, commercials, soap operas, and schlock horror have all served as the proving grounds for some of Hollywood's biggest stars.  

This week Bruce and Larry take a look at the humble beginnings of the titans of the screen.  We look at some our our favorite early roles of today's biggest stars.  

Jack Black pitching video games? Brad Pitt and Julianne Moore slumming it in the soaps?  And who got lost in the storm tunnels when he became obsessed with Role Playing Games in an early role?

The answers to these questions and more in Episode 124 of the Media Montage Podcast.

Plus Larry learns about Reach by Martini Ranch with Bill Paxton, Lance Henrikson, Judge Reinhold, and Paul Reiser in a video directed by James Cameron:

Our Comics:

Brain Teaser Comics

Earthman Prime on Deviant Art

Twitter:

@otterdisaster

@larrykingundead

Media Montage 123: The Films of 1986

(Apologies for Bruce's audio quality in parts of this episode. A last minute Skype update was forced right before recording and some settings defaulted resulting in distorted audio.)

1986 was a great movie year! 30 years ago saw a year of fantastic films, it was a movie year that's gotten a lot of love at the Media Montage Podcast.

We've looked at The Boy Who Could Fly, From Beyond, Maximum Overdrive, Short Circuit and of course, Never Too Young to Die, from the heart of the Reagan era.

In this episode Bruce and Larry take a big-picture look at the films of 1986. Techno-paranoia, the Cold War, Australia and the Military Industrial Complex all had dedicated feature films in '86 as well as that lovable sociopath Ferris Bueller in episode 123 of the Media Montage Podcast!

Our Comics:

Brain Teaser Comics

Earthman Prime on Deviant Art

Twitter:
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@larrykingundead

Media Montage Podcast 122: 2015 Year in Review

Another year has come and gone and Bruce and Larry take a look back at 2015.

What films, television and comics did they enjoy most? Which blockbusters delivered and which disappointed? What hidden treasures did you miss last year? Which should be avoided?

Star Wars, Age of Ultron, Kingsmen and Mad Max get a visit at the cinema. They watched Ash, Scream Queens, Narcos, and lots of superheroes on TV. Take a look back at the media landscape of 2015 in episode 122 of the Media Montage Podcast!

Our Comics:

Brain Teaser Comics

Earthman Prime on Deviant Art

Twitter:
@otterdisaster
@larrykingundead

Media Montage Podcast 120: What If? Stories

What if the Nazis won WW2? What if the South won the Civil War? What if Spider-Man joined the Fantastic Four? What if? What if? What if?  Larry and Bruce take a look at the concept of 'What If?' stories, alternate histories, parallel universes and Elseworlds. 

They examine the fascination we have with considering a single changed event and all the ramifications inherent in such a change.  

They even posit a real world 'What If?' scenario: What if Marvel had compromised with or met the demands of the Image Comics founders. Would we even have the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Would we have Spawn? 

All that and more in Episode 120 of the Media Montage Podcast!

Our Comics:

Brain Teaser Comics

Earthman Prime on Deviant Art

Twitter:

@otterdisaster

@larrykingundead

Media Montage Podcast 118 - What's the Deal With Zombies?

What's the deal with zombies?

White Zombie, from 1932 is widely considered the first zombie film. Since then hundreds of zombie movies, tv shows and comics have come out with dozens of different takes on these popular monsters.  

From mind controlled slaves out of Voodoo legend to the living dead of George Romero, zombies are an important part of the pop culture landscape.  

Bruce and Larry explore the popularity of zombies. They explore different takes on the genre, and try to figure out why the shambling, mindless dead have become so popular in Episode 118 of the Media Montage Podcast!

Our Comics:

www.brainteasercomics.com

Earthman Prime on Deviant Art

Twitter:

@otterdisaster

@larrykingundead

Media Montage Podcast 114: Synchromystic Theory - Back to the Future, OMAC, and More

Synchronicity is defined as a meaningful coincidence. Synchromysticism is the theory that ties synchronicity with mysticism as it relates to art and media. Esoteric symbols and sequences in films often resonate with current events, seemingly predicting those events with foreknowledge.  

What's going on here? 

Do some artists have a knack for tapping into the collective unconscious, enabling them to imbue their art with messages and images from another time and place? 

This week Bruce and Larry explore a couple of specific instances of synchromystic theory.  We look at 9-11 sychronicities in the 1985 Robert Zemeckis film Back to the Future, as well as Jack Kirby's Gulf War 1 and 2 Predictions in the pages of OMAC and Kamandi.  

Follow us down the rabbit hole in Episode 117 of the Media Montage Podcast!

The Back to the Future Synchromystic Video discussed:

Predictive Programming: Ep 8 of MMP

The Secret Sun on Jack Kirby, OMAC, Kamandi and the Iraq Wars.

EarthmanPrime at Deviant Art
Brain Teaser Comics:  Brainteasercomics.com

Twitter
@larrykingundead
@otterdisaster

Media Montage Podcast 110: Grab Bag III - What We're Enjoying

This week Bruce and Larry once again reach into the Media Montage Grab Bag and talk about the comics and television they've been enjoying. 

Bruce likes a Comix Book and Larry copes with the Strain. 

Sharknado? Oh Hell No, says Larry. They both like Weapon Brown, Bruce talks The Brink, and Larry looks at All You Need is Kill a the manga adaptation of the book that became Live Die Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow. 

All that and more in episode 110 of the Media Montage Podcast!

Our Comics:

EarthmanPrime at Deviant Art

Brain Teaser Comics:  Brainteasercomics.com

Twitter

@larrykingundead

@otterdisaster

Media Montage Podcast 100: The Avengers: Age of Ultron, Plus looking back at 100 episodes

Bruce and Larry reach their milestone 100th episode! 

To celebrate they discuss the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe movie, the blockbuster Avengers: Age of Ultron.  

They disagreed heartily over the last Marvel film, Guardians of the Galaxy. Do they find any common ground with the latest super-hero spectacle?

They also take a look back at some of their favorite episodes over the last two years. All that and more in the landmark 100th episode of the Media Montage Podcast!

Our Comics:

EarthmanPrime at Deviant Art

Brain Teaser Comics:  Brainteasercomics.com

Twitter

@larrykingundead

@otterdisaster

Media Montage Podcast 84: Grab Bag 2

Bruce and Larry kick off the new year with a Grab Bag episode. 

We discuss the hype and story around the Interview. 

We catch up on movies over the holidays with brief discussions of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, American Hustle, and The Grand Budapest Hotel.  

All that plus TV talk about Archer, Bob's Burgers, Galavant and Agent Carter in episode 84 of the Media Montage Podcast!

Our Comics:

Magna Comica:  magnacomica.thecomicseries.com

Brain Teaser Comics:  Brainteasercomics.com

Twitter

@larrykingundead

@otterdisaster

Media Montage Podcast 83: 2014 Year in Review

2014 was another huge media year with big movies, big TV shows and more. Antonio Sanciolo stops by and shares his favorite items of the year with Bruce and Larry.

What did we love? What did we hate? Marvel Movies and DC TV Shows, Underground Comix,  reprint material, and more Guardians of the Galaxy talk.

What are we looking forward to in 2015? All that an more in episode 83 of the Media Montage Podcast!


Our Comics:
Magna Comica:  magnacomica.thecomicseries.com
Brain Teaser Comics:  Brainteasercomics.com

Twitter
@larrykingundead
@otterdisaster

Media Montage Podcast 66: Grab Bag - Turtles, Fables, Avatar & More

This week Bruce and Larry take a bit of a breather and discuss a veritable grab bag of media releases they’ve been enjoying. We have recommendations of what to enjoy and what to avoid. We talk expectations, disappointments and more. 

Larry recommends the Fables: A Wolf Among Us video game, The Weirding Willows and Lumberjanes comics.

Bruce recommends rewatching Avatar: The Last Airbender and the current season of The Legend of Korra, and yes, even the new Ninja Turtles movie.

We also briefly tackle:

• Wes Anderson movies 
• What makes us leave comic book titles 
• The ‘slow burn’ in long form stories, and when there is and is not an ultimate payoff to that burn
• How lowering expectations can make for a better movie going experience
• …and some of the things we have planned going in to year two of the Media Montage Podcast!

Our Comics:

Magna Comica:  magnacomica.thecomicseries.com

Brain Teaser Comics:  Brainteasercomics.com

Twitter

@larrykingundead

@otterdisaster

Media Montage Podcast 61: Miami Connection (1987)

Miami Connection, the 1987 Tai Kwon Do action film set in Orlando is the topic of conversation this week. This film has emerged in the last few years as a new cult favorite, and Bruce and Larry explore what all the fuss is about. Directed by Richard Park (aka Woo-sang Park) the film stars Y.K. Kim as Mark, Vincent Hirsch, Joseph Diamond and Kathy Collier.  Cocaine ninjas,  Rock N Roll Martial Arts bands, Korean War babies and more in Episode 61 of the Media Montage Podcast!

Drafthouse Films Official Miami Connection Site

Drafthouse Films Site

Our Comics:

Magna Comica:  magnacomica.thecomicseries.com

Brain Teaser Comics:  Brainteasercomics.com

Twitter

@larrykingundead

@otterdisaster

Media Montage Podcast 60: Summer Blockbusters

This week Larry and Bruce take a look at Summer Blockbusters. 

We talk about our favorites, the hits, the misses, and the outright failures! 

Explosions! Car Chases! Alien Invasions! All that and Batman, in Episode 60 of the Media Montage Podcast!

Our Comics:

Magna Comica:  magnacomica.thecomicseries.com

Brain Teaser Comics:  Brainteasercomics.com

Twitter

@larrykingundead

@otterdisaster

Media Montage Podcast 58: Tank Girl - The Movie (1995) and the Comics That Inspired It.

A listener request!  This week Bruce and Larry take a look at the 1995 cult film ‘Tank Girl’ and the comics by Alan Martin and Jamie Hewlitt that inspired it. We compare and contrast the comics and film. Does Lori Petty make a good Tank Girl? Does the energy and anarchy of the comics translate to film? Find out in episode 58 of the Media Montage Podcast!

Our Comics:
Magna Comica:  magnacomica.thecomicseries.com
Brain Teaser Comics:  Brainteasercomics.com

Twitter
@larrykingundead
@otterdisaster

Media Montage Podcast 53: X-Men Days of Future Past - The Comics

We begin our 3 week exploration of the seminal Days of Future Past storyline from Uncanny X-Men 141 and 142, soon to be adapted into the fifth X-Men film. This week Bruce and Larry look at the original comic story, and its impact on the X-Men comics that followed.  The iconic John Byrne art, and Chris Claremont writing are explored, as well as a passionate appreciation of lettering and inking from Bruce! Days of Future Past-The Comics on episode 53 of the Media Montage Podcast!

Our Comics:
Magna Comica:  magnacomica.thecomicseries.com
Brain Teaser Comics:  Brainteasercomics.com

Twitter
@larrykingundead
@otterdisaster

COMING SOON... It's The End Of The World

Whether it be Nuclear Holocaust, Alien Invasion, Viral Outbreak, or bunch of pissed off birds, it seems humanity is obsessed with it's destruction, and the aftermath there of. Bruce and Larry will discuss it all, well, as much as time allows.

The following are some examples from pop culture.

More after the jump...

Media Montage Podcast 41: Robocop(s) 2014 vs 1987

Bruce and Larry discuss the 2014 remake of Robocop, as well as the 1987 original.

Does the satire, humor and violence or the original find its way into the new version?
Does the new version offer anything new?
We compare, contrast, and discuss robots, cyborgs and society in two films separated by 27 years.

Our Comics:
Magna Comica: magnacomica.thecomicseries.com 
Brain Teaser Comics: Brainteasercomics.com

 Twitter
@larrykingundead
@otterdisaster

Media Montage 35: Adaptations

In this episode Bruce and Larry look at adaptation of stories from one medium to another. How do various adaptations stack up? What works best? Comics to film, film to TV, books to film, comics to video games or something else? Batman, Watchmen, M*A*S*H, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer all originated in one medium and moved into another.

Email: mediamontagepodcast@gmail.com

Twitter
@larrykingundead
@otterdisaster

Media Montage 34: 2013 Year in Review

In this episode Bruce and Larry reflect on 2013 movies, TV, Comics and life and we look ahead to 2014. What were your favorites from this year? Share in the comments below, or let us know on Twitter.

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