Open World Chat
Discussing all "genre" media and geek culture.
Episodes
106 episodes
Movies that don't know they're horror movies
Mark and John look at what makes a movie a horror movie (surprisingly complicated!) and apply that to movies that aren't generally considered to be horror. What movies pass the test of horror-that-doesn't-know-it's-horror?
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1:22:26
Science as the Bad Guy - When sci-fi hates science
There are mad scientists aplenty in science fiction, but somethimes - perhaps ironically - it's the science itself that science fiction is demonizing. Mark and John look at the science that sci-fi hates and wind through some examples that you a...
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1:21:19
"Look at Us Now: A Comic Book Movie" Filmmaker Vee Rodriguez on what comics mean to us
"Look at Us Now: A Comic Book Movie" Filmmaker Vee Rodriguez has a conversation with Mark and John about what comics mean to readers and how they've shaped us over the years. As per imdb: "Based on the poem by VRO, The Poet, LOOK AT US NOW: A C...
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1:17:28
Villains who make a good point
Baddies are a dime a dozen, but the really good ones are the ones that have a point and demand you listen. Mark and John discuss them (and go off on a couple tangents, but that happens...).
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1:05:27
TV themes! Mark and John Share Their Top 10s!
There are way too many TV themes to call Mark's list and John's lists definitive, but they've got some good ones (and just to make the point, there was no overlap between the lists). That adds up to 20 awesome things ranging from the 1960s to t...
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1:11:12
Movie and TV apocalypses - what makes a good one and some examples
Mark and John go apocalyptic. What's the difference between an apocalypse and a dystopia in TV and film? Do they have to be scary or can they be silly? Cute? Join us for a discussion of the big booms and why we love them.
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1:20:43
Genre Swapping! Movies that flip genre in mid-viewing
You ever watch a movie of a particular genre and have it flip genres right in front of you, leaving you wondering what the heck just happened? We have! And we talk about them for an hour! Some are on the bubble, while others make your head expl...
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1:25:47
Fascism in Sci-Fi
Mark and John break out what the heck fascism is and then find it in Sci-Fi. Who gets it right?
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1:22:55
Time Travel in Film and TV (and what a mess it is)
Mark and John look at examples of time travel across a broad range of movies, TV and other fiction to examine it's logic (or - more often - lack thereof) and it's use as a storytelling tool. Have a listen!
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1:05:53
Utopian fiction (and is anybody buying in?)
Mark and John start of with the grandaddy of all Utopias (that would be "Utopia") and segue into a discussion of our utopian fiction, or just fiction where utopia shows up, even if it's not the star. We may surprise you with some of our choices...
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1:08:02
Our Favorite Fight Scenes
Mark and John review and compare their favorite fight scenes and discuss what it is that makes a fight scene really stick with you (hint: it's not just choreography).
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1:25:52
Why does the Right hate Superman (the movie AND the character)?
With James Gunn's Superman still in theaters, Mark and John try to understand why the modern Right hates it so much - not just the movie, but the character. Why do they fixate on words like "refugee" in their anti-"woke" hysteria and why is Sup...
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1:07:42
20 Films to get you through the Trump Era
Mark and John go through a whopping and eclectic list of movies to help you deal with these dark times. They deliver catharsis, escape, inspiration, education and more. It's a long one for sure, but worth it.
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1:26:30
The Sounds of the Movies
Mark and John are joined by Reinhard Denke, co-founder of RNDM ORDR and founder of award-winning commercial sound-design studio firm Stimmüng to discuss sound in film; what's good, what's bad, and why it's so important.
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49:07
Jim Shooter: Superhero or Supervillain?
On the passing of legendary writer and former Marvel Editor-in-Chief, John and Mark discuss his complicated legacy in the 70s, 80s, and beyond. While his impact on comics is unquestionable, some of his decisions, both creatively and editorially...
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45:16
Identity in Sci Fi: Who Am I Really?
From the mindbending epiphany to the hero's journey, knowing or finding out who you really are (AI? Hero? Simulation?) has always been a big part of genre fiction and Mark and John touch on what could easily be the topic of its own ongoing podc...
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1:04:54
The best bits from film soundtracks
Mark and John share their personal favorite, if not the "best" per se, songs from film soundtracks and why. Lots of fun!!
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1:10:13
Cursed productions: figuratively and..... literally?
Mark and John go through the disappointingly large list of films consigned to production hell (and maybe a couple where - so they say - Satan himself joined the production team). Wanta know what the hell (haha) that might mean? Give a listen!
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1:04:10
The scariest moments in film and TV
Mark and John wander down the broad and deep history of horror in film and TV to pick out some of their favorite moments, from the more "objectively" scary, to the disturbing, to the crap that freaked us out as kids. I guarantee you we've come ...
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1:17:46
Hidden gems from legendary directors
In part 2 of our "directors" series, Mark and John look at great movies from legendary directors that have flown WAY under the radar, and should be viewed immediately!!
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52:12
The REAL masterpieces of legendary directors
Mark and John look at directors who are generally accepted as having a particular masterwork and explain why - no - a DIFFERENT movie is actually their masterpiece and why. Part 1 in our 2 part director series.
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55:13
The Democracy Episode! Policy, Cybersecurity and more!
Mark and John go full pundit and talk about the current state of elections and democracy in the US. Are our rights safe? Are our systems safe? What policies help us or hinder us? The answers, of course - complicated in the details, but maybe no...
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58:10
Christ figures in sci-fi and fantasy
When Jesus turns up in your favorite stories! Mark and John talk about the archetype of the "Christ Figure," and it turns out it pops up everywhere.
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44:39