The Incomparable Mothership

After years of Monty telling us we should watch it, we’ve given in. It’s time to discuss 1981 South African karate movie “Kill and Kill Again,” a film featuring many middle-aged men kicking people, as well as a James Bond-style plot about a madman who wants to take over the world via an unusual application of potatoes. We cover strange ties to “CSI: Miami” and “The A-Team,” introduce you to the wonders of Hot Dog and his bag of tricks, weigh the movie’s knowing sexism against its unflinching racism, and contemplate Villanous Operations and how they are named. Also, Jason has a tight five about t-shirts. "Kill and Kill Again" Jason Snell with Monty Ashley, Steve Lutz, Annette Wierstra, Moisés Chiullán and Tony Sindelar Referenced Works Kill and Kill Again Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

In space, all warriors are cold warriors! An ecological disaster leads to the breakup of an enemy empire, but in “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country” it’s the Klingon moon Praxis subbing in for the Soviet power station Chernobyl. Kirk and company struggle with their animosity toward the Klingons, but we are more concerned with what graduate school Gorkon’s daughter went to, the Klingon guard who carries a box, the one Klingon who laughed at McCoy’s joke, the importance of gaseous anomalies to Federation politics, and the lack of respect given to the Enterprise court reporter. Discussing this movie must’ve been our lifelong ambition. "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country" Jason Snell with Erika Ensign, Steven Schapansky, David J. Loehr, Dan Moren and John Moltz Referenced Works Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country Star Trek (franchise) Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

Six episodes ago, Jason made Phil mad by suggesting that “Chariots of Fire” and “Amadeus” might not be worthy of their Academy Awards for Best Picture. This episode is Phil’s revenge, as we watch two acclaimed early-80s films and see how well they hold up. They’re both period pieces, but one is set to the electronic sounds of Vangelis and the other to the classical masterpieces of Mozart. Running in slow motion has never looked better, and there’s never been more braying laughter in a film! "Chariots of Fire" and "Amadeus" Jason Snell with Monty Ashley, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr Referenced Works Chariots of Fire Amadeus Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

Shakespeare Club returns! “The Taming of the Shrew” is a Shakespeare play that’s crying out to be adapted for modern audiences, which is why it keeps being adapted—with varying degrees of success. We discuss the play, the unpleasant Franco Zeffirelli 1967 film starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, the film and TV versions of Cole Porter’s “Kiss Me, Kate,” the teen rom-com “10 Things I Hate About You,” and even the 1980s TV adaptation on “Moonlighting,” which might be the best of the bunch? What we’re saying, Shakespeare, is that we’ve got some notes. Shakespeare Club: "Taming of the Shrew" Jason Snell with Philip Michaels, Shelly Brisbin, Moisés Chiullán and David J. Loehr Referenced Works Shakespeare Taming of the Shrew Kiss Me Kate 10 Things I Hate About You [Amazon] Show Notes & Links Moonlighting: "Atomic Shakespeare" "Kiss Me Kate" (Hallmark Hall of Fame) Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

It’s a classic sitcom! It’s a Marvel movie! It’s both! It’s the first Disney+ MCU show, “WandaVision.” And it managed to be a walk through television history while simultaneously being an exploration of the stages of grief. Plus, an android in a turtleneck! We break it all down, from where Wanda and Vision go from here to what Monica Rambeau, Darcy Lewis, and Jimmy Woo should be doing next. Tune in, won’t you? "WandaVision" season wrap-up Jason Snell with Kelly Guimont, Dan Moren, Chip Sudderth and Nathan Alderman Referenced Works WandaVision Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

Is this the end of Miyazaki Club? Probably not, but we’ve reached the end of our survey of all the feature films he’s directed with “Porco Rosso,” the story of a pig man, the airplane he loves, the woman he doesn’t feel worthy to love, and the seaplane pirates who terrorize the Adriatic after World War I. There are lots of clouds and planes and boats, as you might expect. "Porco Rosso" Jason Snell with Jean MacDonald, Moisés Chiullán, Steve Lutz and John Siracusa Referenced Works Hayao Miyazaki Porco Rosso Studio Ghibli Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

The sixth season of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” features dark and unpleasant themes, a painful magic-as-heroin allegory, and creative decisions that manage to be cruel to both the show’s characters and its audience. But there’s also a musical! "Buffy" season 6 Jason Snell with Steve Lutz, Quinn Rose, Aleen Simms and Jean MacDonald Referenced Works Buffy the Vampire Slayer [Amazon] Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

We discuss the latest season of Amazon’s “The Expanse,” which separates its main characters for storylines all across the solar system. How well does that approach work? How do Amos and Peaches differ? Why should Alex never be a detective? And do we hate Marco Inaros the appropriate amount? "The Expanse" season 5 Jason Snell with Dan Moren, Aleen Simms, Chip Sudderth, Jen Burt and Will Wagner Referenced Works The Expanse (TV series) Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

We’re using our powers over space and time to capriciously right wrongs throughout movie history. That’s right, it’s the Bad Best Picture Draft, in which our panelists will select a Best Picture Oscar winner, take its statuette away, and hand it to a more deserving winner. Bad Best Pictures Draft Jason Snell with Moisés Chiullán, Lisa Schmeiser, David J. Loehr, Shelly Brisbin, Steven Schapansky, Philip Michaels, Monty Ashley and Brian Hamilton Show Notes & Links Moises: 1939 - “Gone with the Wind” / “The Wizard of Oz” Monty: 1988 - “Rain Man” / “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” Shelly: 1958 - “Gigi” / “The Defiant Ones” David: 1994 - “Forrest Gump” / “Pulp Fiction” Lisa: 1968 - “Oliver” / “2001: A Space Odyssey” or “The Lion in Winter” Steven: 1975 - “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” / “Dog Day Afternoon” Brian: 2010 - “The King’s Speech” / “The Social Network” Phil: 1952 - “The Greatest Show on Earth” / “Singin in the Rain” Jason: 2000 - “Gladiator” / “Erin Brockovich” Moises: 1977 - “Annie Hall” / “Star Wars” Monty: 2003 - “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” / “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” Shelly: 1944 - “Going My Way” / “Double Indemnity” David: 1976 - “Rocky” / “Network”-“All the President’s Men” (tie) Lisa: 1999 - “American Beauty” / “The Matrix” Steven: 2002 - “Chicago” / “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” Brian: 2017 - “The Shape of Water” / “Get Out” Phil: 1997 - “Titanic” / “L.A. Confidential” Jason: 1981 - “Chariots of Fire” / “Raiders of the Lost Ark” Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

Miyazaki Club gets weird with “Ponyo,” a story of a fish who gets the taste of human blood, lives in a bucket, can cure all diseases with a lick, and just wants to be human. Also there’s a plot for the sea to sweep away humanity, and the Moon comes perilously close to Earth. But cute! "Ponyo" Jason Snell with John Siracusa, Steve Lutz, Aleen Simms and Jean MacDonald Referenced Works Hayao Miyazaki Ponyo Studio Ghibli Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.