Boston Science Fiction Marathon SF48

We're back for the 48th annual Boston Science Fiction Festival to cover the 'Thon, the 24-hour sci-fi marathon! For the first time in five years we're in person at the Somerville Theater in Massachusetts to record our in-the-moment observations (and exhaustion) on the thirteen films shown for the marathon, which include two Arnold Schwarzenegger action epics, first outings for two classic monsters, encounters with time-traveling doppelgangers, and friendly and unfriendly androids. Please note that due to the nature of this event and the circumstances of its recording, the audio quality is not up to our usual standards. We hope this doesn't detract too much from your enjoyment of this episode. Warning: Contains explicit language, mild spoilers, and an unexpected piano recital. 

Our theme song is "Nostalgia TV" by Edward Jonathan Blakeley through Lynne Publishing.

CinemaSpection is now part of the Fireside Alliance. Check out the many awesome shows available through the network here. 

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Interested in getting more from this episode? Check out supplemental material for this episode here.

What would you say to a future version of yourself if you ever met? What's your record for stauing awake for a movie marathon? Know any low-cost, high-quality small microphones you want to recommend? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

Metropolis

From the highest skyscrapers to the deepest catacombs, we're going high and low to examine Fritz Lang's highly influential silent science fiction epic Metropolis from 1927. Kyle Brunet joins us again as we discuss the film's metaphorical depiction of class warfare, compare the screenplay to the excesses of author Thea von Harbou's novel, and analyze the differences in the various versions of the movie. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and the beginnings of our pessimistic new show, Doomcast!!

Our theme song is "Nostalgia TV" by Edward Jonathan Blakeley through Lynne Publishing.

CinemaSpection is now part of the Fireside Alliance. Check out the many awesome shows available through the network here. 

Subscribe to our podcast here.

Listen to us on Stitcher here.

Interested in getting more from this episode? Check out supplemental material for this episode here.

Want to complain about your working conditions at your subterranean office? Do you prefer silent movies with or without music? Have any bionic appendages to boast of? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (Commentary)

It's been 40 years since the release of Steven Spielberg's heartwarming (and heart-glowing) blockbuster E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and we're celebrating with a full commentary track for the movie. Listen as we wax nostalgic about Star Wars toys and Atari games, note the film's parallels with other Spielberg productions such as Close Encounters and Poltergeist, and ponder why there are so many Raggedy Ann dolls in the Taylor household. Listen for our countdown to start your copy of the movie. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and some inarticulate crying.

Our theme song is "Nostalgia TV" by Edward Jonathan Blakeley through Lynne Publishing.

CinemaSpection is now part of the Fireside Alliance. Check out the many awesome shows available through the network here. 

Subscribe to our podcast here.

Listen to us on Stitcher here.

Interested in getting more from this episode? Check out supplemental material for this episode here.

Want to share your memories of E.T.-mania circa 1982? Is there a better film product placement than this movie's use of Reese' Pieces? Do you think the Atari 2600 E.T. game is the worst video game ever made? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

Invaders From Mars (1953)

Gee whiz!!! Noel Thingvall joins us once again as we burrow into the sand to face William Cameron Menzies' classic 1953 sci-fi chiller Invaders From Mars. Listen as we debate the effectiveness of the film's nightmarish final reveal, criticize Martian mutant couture, and re-examine Tobe Hooper's 1986 remake of the movie. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and an epic battle with a spider.

Our theme song is "Nostalgia TV" by Edward Jonathan Blakeley through Lynne Publishing.

CinemaSpection is now part of the Fireside Alliance. Check out the many awesome shows available through the network here. 

Subscribe to our podcast here.

Listen to us on Stitcher here.

Interested in getting more from this episode? Check out supplemental material for this episode here.

Do you think humanity is just reality TV for extra-terrestrials? Want to share your recurring nightmare of large awkward green men with us? Do you kill household spiders or spare their lives? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

This Island Earth

Clear your interociter screens as Noel Thingvall joins us again to discuss the pulpy sci-fi thriller This Island Earth from 1955. Listen as we examine the changing politics in the adaptation of the story from its source novel, comment how on how the film's reputation was changed by Mystery Science Theater 3000, and detail the impressive filmography of Orangey the Cat. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and confusion over the pronunciation of Faith Domergue's name.

Our theme song is "Nostalgia TV" by Edward Jonathan Blakeley through Lynne Publishing.

CinemaSpection is now part of the Fireside Alliance. Check out the many awesome shows available through the network here. 

Subscribe to our podcast here.

Listen to us on Stitcher here.

Interested in getting more from this episode? Check out supplemental material for this episode here.

Are you interested in biopics about animal actors? Do you know where we can find an instruction manual for an interociter? Have an opinion on the effectiveness of the creature puppet from The Giant Claw? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

Boston Science Fiction Marathon SF47

It's our 4th annual all-nighter with the Boston Science Fiction Marathon as we endure SF47's onslaught of a dozen sci-fi flicks in 24 hours. We're loaded up on coffee and Moxie as we face ecological disasters, anti-scientific attitudes, cinematic pandemics, thought-provoking explorations of the universe, and a nonsensical Star Wars rip-off. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and a deus ex monkey-na.

Our theme song is "Nostalgia TV" by Edward Jonathan Blakeley through Lynne Publishing.

CinemaSpection is now part of the Fireside Alliance. Check out the many awesome shows available through the network here. 

Subscribe to our podcast here.

Listen to us on Stitcher here.

Interested in getting more from this episode? Check out supplemental material for this episode here.

Do you find it a bit too real to watch contagion-themed movies? Want to speculate on what a quality Isaac Asimov Robots TV series could be like? Richard Donner or Richard Lester, who made the better Supeman sequel? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

The Black Hole

 

Chris Chipman joins us as we voyage into the dark years of Disney and come out the other side to discuss the 1979 science fiction/disaster film The Black Hole. Listen as we comment on how the movie merges the technology of contemporary science fiction flicks with the somber style and pace of older features, explore the strange religious and philosophical elements of the film's story, and imagine what would happen if Ripley were trapped aboard the Cygnus. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and Ernest Borgnine action figures.

Our theme song is "Nostalgia TV" by Edward Jonathan Blakeley through Lynne Publishing.

CinemaSpection is now part of the Fireside Alliance. Check out the many awesome shows available through the network here. 

Subscribe to our podcast here.

Listen to us on Stitcher here.

Interested in getting more from this episode? Check out supplemental material for this episode here.

What do you think lies at the center of a black hole? Want to complain about this movie's scientific accuracy? Do you prefer your robots cutesy or satanic? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

Mars Attacks!

Dark is the suede that mows like a podcast as we take a look back at Tim Burton's underappreciated 1996 alien invasion spoof Mars Attacks! Listen as we discuss the 1950s sci-fi films that inspired this anarchic comedy, analyze the box office disparity between this film and Independence Day, and speculate on whether the Martian invasion fleet is actually a badly-behaved school trip. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and donut symbolism.

Our theme song is "Nostalgia TV" by Edward Jonathan Blakeley through Lynne Publishing.

CinemaSpection is now part of the Fireside Alliance. Check out the many awesome shows available through the network here. 

Subscribe to our podcast here.

Listen to us on Stitcher here.

Interested in getting more from this episode? Check out supplemental material for this episode here.

Do you think two roles was one too many for Jack Nicholson? Want to discuss whether Martians have telepathic potential? ACK ACK ACK ACK ACK ACK? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

Pacific Rim

 

In our latest episode, we welcome Paresh Maharaj from the Busted Limes podcast as we cancel the apocalypse to talk about Guillermo del Toro's giant monster epic Pacific Rim. Listen as we discuss Guillermo del Toro's sophisticated visual style, comment on proper theme music for donning cosplay, and debate whether Mako Mori passes her own test. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and scientifically inaccurate brains.

Our theme song is "Nostalgia TV" by Edward Jonathan Blakeley through Lynne Publishing.

CinemaSpection is now part of the Fireside Alliance. Check out the many awesome shows available through the network here. 

Subscribe to our podcast here.

Listen to us on Stitcher here.

Interested in getting more from this episode? Check out supplemental material for this episode here.

What qualities do you think make for drift-compatibility? Do you have a preferred Jaeger team? Want to ask for help finding a missing shoe after a kaiju attack? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

This summer marks the 30th anniversary of James Cameron's blockbuster sequel Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Kyle Brunet joins us again to discuss this epic sci-fi action epic. Listen as we examine how parallels between this film and the original reflect the time paradox at the heart of the story, marvel over Linda Hamilton's amazing transformation as hardened heroine Sarah Connor, and comment on the influence of the movie's groundbreaking digital effects. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, but no clunky futuristic epilogues.

Our theme song is "Nostalgia TV" by Edward Jonathan Blakeley through Lynne Publishing.

CinemaSpection is now part of the Fireside Alliance. Check out the many awesome shows available through the network here. 

Subscribe to our podcast here.

Listen to us on Stitcher here.

Interested in getting more from this episode? Check out supplemental material for this episode here.

What's your favorite film in the Terminator franchise? Have any exercise tips on getting into shape for the apocalypse? How do you think cyborg circulatory systems work? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)

 

We're going back to 1951 and another formative film of classic science fiction as we discuss Robert Wise's The Day the Earth Stood Still. Listen as we explore the film's political messages and religious subtext, praise Gort as one of science fiction's mightiest robots, and propose the existence of a cinematic universe built around bit player Roy Engel. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and nucular.... um... nuclear proliferation.

Our theme song is "Nostalgia TV" by Edward Jonathan Blakeley through Lynne Publishing. 

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Interested in getting more from this episode? Check out supplemental material for this episode here.

Just what does 'Klaatu Barada Nikto' actually mean? Having issues with your electrical devices shutting off? Where do you think Bobby went for the second half of this movie? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

The Man From Planet X

 

We're taking a trip back to the foggy moors of Scotland to meet up with a groundbreaking but not often celebrated figure in the history of science fiction: It's The Man From Planet X! Listen as we discuss how this idiosyncratic alien invasion flick from 1951 set the template for outer space menaces for decades to come, marvel over director Edgar G. Ulmer's resourcefulness in the face of a tiny budget, and explore how the film reflects cold war paranoia and the national fascination with flying saucers. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and boogey doings.

Our theme song is "Nostalgia TV" by Edward Jonathan Blakeley through Lynne Publishing. 

Subscribe to our podcast here.

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Interested in getting more from this episode? Check out supplemental material for this episode here.

Have any nostalgic anecdotes about encountering this strange film on TV? Have a theory as to what odious crime Dr. Mears committed in the past? Do you think the title visitor is a friend or foe? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

Boston Science Fiction Marathon SF46 - Supplement

While we try to cover as much as we can in our episodes, there's always more to see, hear, and read about a movie that can enhance your viewing experience. If you enjoyed our episode on the Boston Science Fiction Marathon, here's a few extra bits you might find interesting...

Boston Science Fiction Marathon SF46

It's another nerve-shredding 24 hours of movie-watching for us as we yet again battle fatigue to record our experiences of the 46th installment of the Boston Science Fiction Marathon. Due to the quarantine, everyone will be viewing from home this year, but the 'Thon lives on. Join us as we witness gooey alien-human mating, evaluate the effectiveness of various alien-hunting squads, and debate movie marathon scheduling. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and gin goblins.

Our theme song is "Nostalgia TV" by Edward Jonathan Blakeley through Lynne Publishing. 

Subscribe to our podcast here.

Listen to us on Stitcher here.

Interested in getting more from this episode? Check out supplemental material for this episode here.

Would you risk sex with an alien? Which version of The Thing do you prefer? Where do arrogant movie scientists get together to go for a beer? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

Episode 103: The Running Man

We're gunning for the big cash and prizes as we try to keep pace with Arnold Schwarzenegger by watching another of his 1980s sci-fi flicks, The Running Man. Listen as we examine how the film was transformed from Stephen King's grim novella into a Schwarzenegger action vehicle, uncover the stinging satire hidden beneath the movie's colorful blockbuster surface, and contemplate how the film makes its viewers complicit in the dystopian system it depicts. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and a chance to win the home version of America's favorite game show.

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Interested in getting more from this episode? Check out supplemental material for this episode here.

Do you have a favorite game show? How fast can you run from opera-singing, lightning-wielding weirdos? Can you tell us what ICS stands for? Leave a message and keep the conversation going.

Episode 102: Pitch Black

We're using our enhanced vision to take a good look at the 2000 sci-fi monster flick Pitch Black. Listen as we examine the film's revamping of a classic western plotline, navigate the dramatic pitfalls of "cool" characters, discuss the career trajectories of lead actors Radha Mitchell and Vin Diesel, and speculate on the life cycle of the movie's photosensitive creatures. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and raspy mumbling.

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Are you interested in future adventures for Richard Riddick? How many menthol Kools would you trade for night vision? What troublesome actor do you think the studio wanted to cast as Riddick? Leave a message and keep the conversation going.

Episode 99: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

In this episode we face nurse sharks, a relatively large squid, and Kirk Douglas' bare chest as we take a cruise with Disney's live-action classic adventure 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Along the way, Tim discusses Walt Disney's quest for revenge over the loss of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit while Corinne reminisces about Disney World's clunky Nautilus ride. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and bad James Mason impersonations.

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Interested in getting more from this episode? Check out supplemental material for this episode here.

Do you sympathize with Nemo's war against that hated nation? At what size would you consider a squid to be giant? Got a whale of a tale to tell us, lads? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

Boston Science Fiction Marathon SF45 - Supplement

While we try to cover as much as we can in our episodes, there's always more to see, hear, and read about a movie that can enhance your viewing experience. If you enjoyed our episode on the Boston Science Fiction Marathon, here's a few extra bits you might find interesting...

Episode 97: Boston Science Fiction Marathon SF45

Once again we're staying up all night as we keep pace with the big closing event of the annual Boston Science Fiction Film Festival, the brain-melting 24-hour Sci-Fi Marathon! During this year's stellar movie line-up, we'll expose unsafe experimental practices, explore the role of giant animals in food supply research, and go on the run with super-powered families. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and pop culture-inspired coffee maker naming conventions.



Subscribe to our podcast here.

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Interested in getting more from this episode? Check out supplemental material for this episode here.

What would you serve with Soylent Green? How do you think science should deal with global food shortages? What's the best kind of movie to close out a looooong movie marathon? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

Episode 93: The Terminator

The debates around James Cameron's debut film had waged for decades, but the ultimate discussion would not be conducted in the future. It would be held here, in this episode... tonight. Kyle returns to the show as we take aim at the original 1984 classic, The Terminator. Listen as we ponder the circular logic of time travel paradoxes, consider how modern abuses of artificial intelligence may lead to humanity's eventual downfall, and speculate about what to expect from Terminator: Dark Fate (we recorded this episode back in August before the film opened). Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and robots in meat suits.



Subscribe to our podcast here.

Listen to us on Stitcher here.

Interested in getting more from this episode? Check out supplemental material for this episode here.

Can you follow the labyrinthine logic required to navigate the complexities of time travel? Do you have your own classification system regarding what separates a robot from a cyborg? Do you think Kyle Reese is a creepy time-travelling fanboy? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.