OVERHATED
Episode #88: Hawk the Slayer (1980)
Back in the late 1970s and early '80s you couldn't swing a sword without hitting a few high fantasy films. The studios had their pricey efforts like Dragonslayer, Legend, and Labyrinth, and the indie world had tons of cheaper releases like Ator the Fighting Eagle, Deathstalker, The Beastmaster, and the British cult classic known simply as Hawk the Slayer. Big thanks to author and screenwriter Gary Whitta (@garywhitta) for suggesting this movie.
Episode #87: Dead Silence (2007)
As a director, we can thank James Wan for the massively popular horror franchises called Saw, Insidious, and The Conjuring. But he's also had one of two stumbles at the box office. Case in point: Dead Silence! Big thanks to Alexandra Burwood (@obsessafilma) for suggesting this movie.
Episode #86: Cocktail (1988)
If it was Risky Business and Top Gun that launched Tom Cruise into the Hollywood stratosphere, then it was Cocktail that cemented a rule that would last another 20+ years, and that rule is this: Tom Cruise owns Hollywood. For this episode I'm joined by Cocktail fan Nick Larue (@filmsnobbery)! Join us on a brief trip back to 1988, when clothes were awful and neon was prevalent.
Episode #85: The Predator (2018)
I'm joined by my old friend Eric D. Snider (that's @ericDsnider) to discuss Predator Part 4 and this might just be the silliest episode of Overhated, ever. Got another episode on the way tonight to make up for this madness.
Episode #84: Suicide Squad (2016)
It's easy to forget this movie even happened, given how massive popular the "do-over" movie turned out to be, but in this episode I'm joined by one Patrick Bartlett (@alleywaykrew), and he may just be the biggest fan this film has ever had.
Episode #83: Jane Got a Gun (2016)
Joe Leydon has been a film critic since before the internet existed, so I was very pleased to get him on Overhated. In this episode we sit down to discuss one of his favorite topics: the western. More specifically, a dropped and forgotten western from 2016 that might be worth a second look.
Episode #82: Fantastic Four (2015)
They have yet to join the MCU in an official capacity, but the Fantastic Four has already received four movie adaptations! One you've probably never seen, two you've probably forgotten about, and the infamous 2015 version that everyone seems to hate. Except for one man: my guest John @Gholson: writer, artist, actor, and comic book mega-nerd.
Episode #81: The New Mutants (2020)
After numerous unexpected delays, this afterthought of an X-Men entry hit theaters and was then quickly forgotten -- but is it actually a bad movie? I'm joined by my old friend Rob Dean (@neuroticmonkey), a comic book & horror nerd who's happy to go to bat for the young mutants.
Episode #80: Robocop 2 (1990)
This insane sequel upped the violence, the satire, and the nastiness to a dizzying degree, and it still holds up as one of the darkest, strangest Hollywood sequels ever made. Listen in as I discuss the movie with comic book editor Andy Khouri (@andykhouri), who of course has some insights on Robocop 2 screenwriter Frank Miller.
Episode #79: Gamer (2009)
Critics hated it, audiences mostly ignored it, but if 2009's Gamer were to become a cult film, the support would start right about now. And my friend Shana (@geekgirldiva) would be the cult president.
Episode #78: Never Say Never Again (1983)
You'll learn more about this "asterisked" James Bond movie in 35 minutes than you'll ever need, thanks mostly to my frequently returning guest Brian Salisbury (@briguysalisbury), of the infamous Junkfood Cinema podcast.
Episode #77: Dragonslayer (1981)
This medieval adventure tale was meant to be a family film, to a degree, but things didn't really work out that way -- mainly because the movie, to its credit, is a lot darker than one would normally expect from the Disney brand. But enough typing. Listen in as I discuss Dragonslayer with Mr. Vincenzo Natali (@Vincenzo_Natali), a filmmaker you'll know if you've seen high-end genre films like Cube, Splice, or In the Tall Grass (or TV series like Hannibal, The Strain, or Westworld).
Episode #76: Newsies (1992)
This Disney musical vanished from theaters real quick back in 1992, but it managed to do three things: it helped kick-start the career of Christian Bale, it grew a very strong following of fans over the course of 20 years, and then it inspired a huge Broadway hit. So it's a fun story. Big thanks to my friend Laura Fawcett (@roguefour) for sitting in on this one.
Episode #75: Ishtar (1987)
I've been saving this infamous box office disaster for a fitting guest, and suffice to say that I found one in author / film critic / fellow Philadelphian Carrie Rickey (@carrierickey). I suspected she'd have some great insights on this movie, and she did not disappoint. Big thanks to Carrie, as well as all listeners, patrons, and pals.
Episode #74: The Great White Hype (1996)
The phrase "The Great White Hope" has been used in professional boxing for decades, so that's where the movie's title comes from. But how well does the satire hold up in this semi-forgotten ensemble comedy from the mid-1990s? Join me and my pal J.C. DeLeon (@jcdeleon1) to find out. Also check out his sports movie podcast: Love & Game Film.
Episode #73: Get Carter (2000)
Heading back to remake country! We do spend a lot of time there, come to think of it. Big thanks to Jason Krawczyk (@every1question) for picking a flick with a strong ensemble. That does help a lot. Be sure to check out Jason's movie He Never Died (from 2015) as soon as possible, especially if you love Henry Rollins.
Episode #72: Who's That Girl (1987)
The year was 1987. Madonna was unstoppable. Unless you count movies.
Big thanks to my pal Laurel Vail (@laurelvail) for returning! And thanks to all listeners, patrons, supporters, and their pets.
Episode #71: The Wicker Man (2006)
Regardless of if you're a Nicolas Cage fanatic, a horror nut, or a movie enthusiast in general, odds are you've seen at least some of this certifiably insane remake of a true genre classic. Memes, gifs, and random scenes from this flick still show up on social media with amusing frequency, so let's ask the question: is it really that bad? For this discussion I'm joined by world-class film critic Christy Lemire (@christylemire).
Episode #70: Masters of the Universe (1987)
Gen X action figure icon He-Man got his own live-action movie in 1987... and it did not go well. But enough blather from me. My guest for this super-sized episode is The Flop House's Elliott Kalan (@elliottkalan), and we get into all sorts of nerdly discussions and digressions. Thanks to all listeners, patrons, guests, and general well-wishers.
Episode #69: Charlie's Angels (2019)
This third adaptation of the iconic '70s TV series hit theaters in late 2019 and quickly vanished without a trace, and it sure didn't seem like film critics or movie nuts gave it half a chance. Fortunately, we have astute film critics like Alonso Duralde (@aduralde), who are more than happy to come to the movie's defense.