Sure Look, Sure Listen

In yet another exhumed episode, we (Mick and Ben) deep dive into the 1987 cult classic 'The Witches of Eastwick,' discussing its themes of female empowerment, feminist symbols, and standout performances by Michelle Pfeiffer, Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Jack Nicholson. George Miller's unique directorial style is compared to his work on the Mad Max series, emphasising his ability to create suspense and memorable characters.The hosts also examine the Venus of Willendorf symbol, comparing the film adaptation to John Updike's original novel, and discussing important scenes that highlight the witches' journey of power discovery and their relationship with Daryl Van Horne.Meanwhile, a critical review of the latest Venom movie 'Venom: The Last Dance' highlights its flawed plot and disappointing execution. The episode also reviews the new 'Absolute Wonder Woman' comic set in a reimagined universe created by none other than Darkseid, and discusses a gritty reinterpretation of Wonder Woman's origin from Kelly Thompson and Hayden ShermanTrailers for 'Interior Chinatown' and 'Severance' Season 2 are reviewed, discussing Asian American representation and upcoming TV series highlights.00:00 Welcome to Sure Look, Sure Listen!00:33 Spooky Season Finale02:08 Exhumed: Witches of Eastwick11:20 Veronica Cartwrights Tour De Force Performance13:57 One of the worst on screen deaths in movie history?18:15 Cher's sculptures and the Venus De Willendorf20:26 John Updike's Novel24:50 Power Dynamics 35:59 Jack Nicholson's Devilish Performance41:05 The Homunculus Finale41:20 Jack Nicholson's Ice Cream Adventure41:42 Practical Effects and Cherry Curse42:34 George Miller's Direction43:00 Mixed Feelings About the Film45:02 Venom: The Last Dance Review57:41 Absolute Wonder Woman #1 Review01:09:52 Interior Chinatown Trailer Discussion01:15:38 Severance Season 2 Teaser01:16:15 Podcast Wrap-Up and Future PlansGive us a follow, or get in touch!:Hop Up On That Discord Baby!Watch Us On YoutubeTiktokInstagramGmailSubstackLeave us a review on SpotifyJoin the Collecting Issues DiscordListen to Collecting Issues

In this rug pull filled episode, hosts Mick and Ben take a trip into the fifth dimension and look into the timeless appeal and cultural significance of 'The Twilight Zone,' covering quintessential episodes and their various adaptations. They explore themes such as Cold War paranoia, societal fears, and the series' continued relevance. Episodes discussed are 'The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street,' 'Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?,' 'Nightmare at 20,000 Feet,' and reflections on Rod Serling's legacy. The hosts also touch on modern interpretations and parodies, including those by 'The Simpsons,' and the influence of 'The Twilight Zone' on other pop culture mediums such as 'The X-Files' and 'Gravity Falls.' Additionally, they provide insights into the intricacies of suspense and horror in various eras of television, and they share personal anecdotes while encouraging listener engagement through reviews and social media platforms.[00:00] Welcome to Sure Look, Sure Listen[01:38] The Twilight Zone: A Classic[01:58] Support Us: Reviews and Ratings[05:58] Twilight Zone's Influence and Theme Music[06:41] Rod Serling and The Twilight Zone Legacy[09:27] The Quintessential Twilight Zone Episodes[12:27] The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street[23:03] Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?[29:53] Discussing the X-Files and Twilight Zone Parallels[31:01] Rod Serling's Legacy and Influence[33:40] The Hitchhiker: A Creeping Dread[39:08] Nightmare at 20,000 Feet: A Classic Episode[47:37] To Serve Man: A Linguistic Twist[55:27] Concluding Thoughts and AnnouncementsGive us a follow, or get in touch!:Hop Up On That Discord Baby!TiktokInstagramGmailSubstackLeave us a review on SpotifyJoin the Collecting Issues DiscordListen to Collecting Issues

Join Mick and Ben as they wade into the horror delights of 'Spookoween' by examining a selection of captivating horror shorts like 'Portrait of God' and 'Jack Stauber's Opal'. The discussion takes a look at why the short film format might be the most suited to horror and how 90's television horror anthologies like Are You Afraid of the Dark and Goosebumps primed us to crave short form horror. From there, the conversation shifts to the poor box office performance of 'Joker: Foile a Deux' and scrutinises possible reasons behind its poor receptionOur Cursed Shorts Playlist![00:00] Welcome to Sure Look Sure Listen and Give us Reviews[03:23] Horror Shorts from the Internet[06:24] The Importance of Ambiguity in Horror[12:29] Classic Horror Anthologies[14:51] Exploring Cursed Shorts[16:54] Portrait of God and cursed Media[24:35] Strangers and hell being other people[30:35] Jack Stauber's Opal and the horrors of reality[40:51] Ellie's realisation and Ambiguity[42:43]Review of 'The Chair'[47:50] Horror Short 'Lights Out'[51:34] Make Me A Sandwich: A Dark Comedy[55:31] Animated Horror: Dead Horse[58:50] Pooka Irish Folklore and Bosco[01:02:52] Hollywood's Struggle with Sequels and Fandom[01:15:53] Wrap-Up and Next Week's PreviewPonysmasher on the Importance of Sound Design in HorrorHannibal's Nightmare MachineGive us a follow, or get in touch!:Hop Up On That Discord Baby!TiktokInstagramGmailSubstackLeave us a review on SpotifyJoin the Collecting Issues DiscordListen to Collecting Issues

Tune in to a lively episode of Sure Look, Sure Listen as Mick and Ben return from a break to dive into an engaging discussion brimming with pop culture updates and humour. The main focus of this week's episode is an analytical yet entertaining breakdown of the 1982 film 'Conan the Barbarian', sprinkled with anecdotes and historical tidbits. It answers important questions like how much baby oil was used on set? What was Schwarzenegger's waxing budget? Following that, catch their insights on trending TV series 'Agatha All Along', upcoming movie trailers like 'Ballerina', 'Sinners' and 'Mickey 17'.[00:00] Welcome Back to Shalouk: The Podcast Returns[00:28] Medical Mishaps and Pop Culture Catch-Up[01:23] Trailer Talk: Upcoming Films and TV Shows[02:46] Listener Reviews and Social Media Shoutouts[07:25] Conan the Barbarian: A Deep Dive[36:27] Character Development in Conan[36:55] Max von Sydow's Impactful Performance[43:10] Humor and Memorable Scenes[45:21] Conan's Influence and Legacy[46:01] Marvel's Agatha: A Fresh Take[54:29] Ballerina: A John Wick Spin-off[58:42] Mickey 17: A Sci-Fi Adventure[01:03:52] Sinners: A New Horror Thriller[01:07:39] Wrapping Up and Future EpisodesGive us a follow, or get in touch!:Hop Up On That Discord Baby!TiktokInstagramGmailSubstackLeave us a review on SpotifyJoin the Collecting Issues Discord

The Quintessential BuffyJoin Mick and Ben in this hilarious and insightful episode where they delve into the quintessential Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes, trying to pick out what made the show such a fan favourite with a lasting impact that no one may have expected from it's early days. Plus they review the Beetlejuice sequel, and discuss the latest Minecraft movie and Alien: Earth teaser.[00:00] Houskeeping[00:24] Vampire Talk and Beetlejuice[00:53] Quintessential Podcast Format[02:22] Listener Engagement and Support[03:48] Substack[06:34] Buffy the Vampire Slayer Discussion[07:58] Buffy as a Formative TV Show]10:22] Buffy’s Impact on Television[15:11] Quintessential Buffy Episodes[15:48] Prophecy Girl: Season 1 Finale[27:10] Becoming, Part 2: Season 2 Finale[36:51] Hush: Season 4, Episode 10[40:36] Buffy Speak and Whedon's Dialogue[43:40] The Unique Villain: The Gentleman[44:39] The Evolution of Villains in Buffy[45:30] The Body: A Study on Grief and Loss[46:26] Joyce Summers: The worst mother in TV History?[52:09] Buffy's Deal with Death[53:58] Listener Picks and Honourable Mentions[55:43] Buffy Rewatch Podcast: Up The Buff[57:44] Discord and Community Engagement[59:22] Beetlejuice Sequel Review[01:09:45] Minecraft Movie Trailer Reaction[01:13:51] Alien Earth Teaser Reaction[01:14:43] Outro and Next Quintessential SeriesGive us a follow, or get in touch!:Hop Up On That Discord Baby!TiktokInstagramGmailSubstackLeave us a review on Spotify

On this episode of Sure Look, Sure Listen, we take a look at the dodgy world of Irish coding your villains and characters in Fantasy settings, starting with the booming popularity of Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses, or as Ben calls it; fairy smut. We take a look at the problematic way in which the author bases her fictional worlds of Hybern and Prythian on real Irish and British History and Geography. This in itself isn't bad but the framing of Irish coded characters as savage and ruddy feels like a clear call back to the grim old days of rampant Hibernophobia, Paddywhackery and Stage Irishness.This leads into a discussion of a few dodgy representations of Irishness in Fantasy settings, including the Harfoots in Rings of Power and Mad Sweeney in American Gods.Following that, Mick reviews the inexplicably real Rings of Power season 2 and gives a masterclass in rolling your R's. We also take a look at Halle Berry's latest horror flick, where a rope is the main character in Never Let Go. Finally, we wrap up with a look at Sonic 3's trailer, and do a quick deep dive into Doctor Robotnik's rocky coming to America.[00:00] Introduction and Podcast Banter[01:56] Give us a Review[04:20] Collecting Issues: Comic Book Club Announcement[06:33] Substack Announcement[08:08] Discussion on Fairy Smut and Irish Representation[10:34] Critique of Sarah J. Maas's Depictions[30:23] Historical Context and Hibernophobia[32:37] Stage Irishness and Cultural Stereotypes[37:30] Mad Sweeney's Expanded Role in American Gods[38:56] Irishness of Gods in American Gods[41:25] H.P. Lovecraft's Racism Towards the Irish[49:26] Rings of Power: A Critique01:01:53 Never Let Go: A New Horror Concept[01:05:23] Sonic 3: The Unexpected Success[01:12:49] Wrapping Up Give us a follow, or get in touch!:Hop Up On That Discord Baby!TiktokInstagramGmail

n this episode of Sure Look, Sure Listen the hosts dive into a nostalgic review of the 1998 action horror film 'Blade', exploring its impact on vampire media and its place in 90s pop culture. They shift gears to discuss the riveting second season of AMC's 'Interview with the Vampire', noting its skilful use of unreliable narration and rich period details. The episode rounds out with a look at new and upcoming trailers, including 'Y2K', 'Secret Levels', and the worlds quickest trailer reaction to 'The War of the Rohirrim', promising lots of exciting content for fans of various genres.[00:00] Welcome to Sure Look, Sure Listen[00:25] Pop Culture Catchphrases and Trailers[01:56] Classic Episode: Exhuming Blade (1998)[02:28] Listener Engagement and Reviews[04:13] Blade: Cast and Characters[09:33] Blade's Cinematic Impact and Aesthetic[24:36] Plot Breakdown and MacGuffins[37:15] Gen X Vampires and Horror Elements[38:19] Memorable Scenes and Characters[40:29] Martial Arts and Practical Effects[42:48] Pearl the Data Vampire[44:02] Plot Holes and Gen X Coolness[52:17] Buddhism and Blade's Inspirations[54:46] Interview with the Vampire Series[01:02:23] Y2K Horror and Nostalgia[01:06:51] Secret Levels and Space Marines[01:09:32] Wrapping Up and Next Week's TeaserGive us a follow, or get in touch!:Hop Up On That Discord Baby!TiktokInstagramGmail

Alien Romulus, Bubblegum Dystopias, and More!Join hosts Mick and Ben on this week's episode of the 'Sure Look, Sure Listen' podcast as they explore the concept of 'Bubblegum Dystopia' and its origins. Bubblegum Dystopia refers to a society that is polished and pleasing on the outside but has dark, insidious undertones. Examples discussed include films like 'Blade Runner,' the novel 'Brave New World,' and the modern TV series 'WandaVision.' The hosts also touch on real-life embodiments of this concept, such as Disneyland. Then they review the newly released 'Alien Romulus,' and discuss 'Rebel Moon - the Extended Cut.' Then we're all shocked to discover that Kraven is somehow still a thing.[00:00] Please Review Us[02:01] Exploring Bubblegum Dystopia[03:26] The Victorian Era: Whimsy and Reality[04:21] Terry Gilliam's Zero Theorem[11:15] Disneyland: A Real-Life Bubblegum Dystopia?[15:02] Blade Runner and Bubblegum Dystopia[19:07] Brave New World: The Original Bubblegum Dystopia[26:44] The Truman Show: A Modern Bubblegum Dystopia[32:50] WandaVision: A Supernatural Bubblegum Dystopia[35:30] Barbie: A Bubblegum Dystopia in Pastel[38:40] Alien Romulus: First Impressions[38:54] Spoiler-Free Review[39:37] Classic Filmmaking Techniques[41:33] Space Mystery Genre[44:37 ]Act Breakdown and Analysis[45:51] Practical Effects and Lighting[47:15] Character Decisions and Plot Twists[51:13] Full Spoilers Review of Alien Romulus[59:57] Posthumous Cameos and Ethical Questions[01:02:52] Rebel Moon Director's Cut Review[01:08:43] Craven the Hunter Trailer ReactionGive us a follow, or get in touch!:Hop Up On That Discord Baby!TiktokInstagramGmail