Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Episode 68 - Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law (2000)

Anthony is dancing the deathy dance of deadly lifey death and also sick, so it's down to just Andrew and Ainsley to tackle the early 2000s Adult Swim series, Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law!

Can we tell jokes about race without being racist? What does making a superhero a lawyer say about forcing mature themes into kids stories for an aging audience? Did you get that thing I sencha?

Where the heck is Michael Keaton in this? Whatever. Get ready to have jokes mercilessly ruined as we pick them apart to try and piece together the descent of the modern superhero from mighty adventurer to workaday schlub! 

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Episode 67 - Hero (2002)

We (finally) get to Ainsley's Christmas wish with the gorgeous, epic masterpiece of wuxia cinema 2002's Hero, from director Zhang Yimou.

How different are cultural definitions of heroism (and superheroism) between the US and China?Has any superhero movie in the last two decades come close to this in a subtle exploration of what it means to be a hero? How much does this movie's ideas about heroism blatantly rip off Spock?

This episode includes shoutouts to the music of Rasa, Matthew Polly's American Shaolin, and the short film Deadhearts, so your media needs for the next week are basically filled.