Michael May's Blog, page 81

Fourth Chair Army Invasion | Convince Me!

So, I've got a new podcast project. I know, I know, but it'll only be a few times a year and not much trouble to fit into the schedule. What's going on is the Nerd Lunch fellas are cutting back to two, actual Nerd Lunch episodes a month. The other two weeks are filled with spinoff shows, Down the Rabbit Hole and The Chap Report, so I floated them the idea of letting their Fourth Chair Army (of which I'm pleased to be a member) take over the show anytime there's a fifth Tuesday in the month. They went for it and Fourth Chair Army Invasion is a thing.

For the first episode I asked Liz Twachtman, Mike Westfall, and Evan Hanson (all of us appearing in the collage above with Nerd Lunch's Carlin Trammel) to join me in something I called "Convince Me." Each of us introduced another panelist to something they’ve never tried before to see if we could convince each other about the worth of The Americans, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Attack the Block, and Meet the Robinsons.

Hellbent for Letterbox | True Grit (2010)

Pax and I talk about the Coen Brothers' re-adaptation of Charles Portis' novel. We also get in some discussion on the 1969 John Wayne version as well as Charlton Comics' Billy the Kid.

Greystoked | Tarzan's Secret Treasure (1941)

Noel and I are joined again by Evie ( I Hate/Love Remakes ) to discuss the penultimate MGM Tarzan film, guest-starring Reginald Owen, Barry Fitzgerald, and Tom Conway's sinister mustache.

Thundarr Road | Stalker from the Stars

David, Noel, and I try to figure out just where Thundarr, Ariel, and Ookla have traveled to in "Stalker from the Stars." With only a couple of clues to guide us, Noel and I came up with different answers, so we talk that through before getting to the business of an ice cavern amusement park, a deadly alien, and a very sick Mok.

Hellbent for Letterbox | Stagecoach (1939)

Pax and I finally visit the John Ford/John Wayne classic, also starring Claire Trevor, John Carradine, Thomas Mitchell, Tim Holt, Tom Tyler, and (uh oh?) Andy Devine.

Also: Pony Express mail and quick reviews of McLintock! (1963) and The Great Missouri Raid (1951).

Interview in Dark Worlds Quarterly

If you're like me, you enjoy the guest posts here where GW Thomas writes about pulp magazines and Golden Age comics. And you've probably also noticed at the bottom of those articles where his bio says that he's the editor of Dark Worlds magazine.

Well, worlds have collided and GW was kind enough to invite me to participate in an interview for the latest issue, now online. It's a special kaiju and comics issue and I got to chat about Kill All Monsters, this blog, and just influences and stuff I love in general. The rest of the issue is cool, too, with articles about Reptilicus, Kamandi, and much much more. Please go check it out.

Mystery Movie Night | Barbarella (1968), Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986), and Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003)

Mystery Movie Night celebrates its 25th episode with a discussion of angels, authority figures, and Albuquerque. After a brand new, custom-made theme song (written and performed by my brother Matt May), Erik leads the gang through wacky space opera, high school hijinks, and cartoon superspies. Are these movies any good? What's the secret that connects them? Tune in and find out!

00:02:55 - Review of Barbarella

00:23:55 - Review of Ferris Bueller's Day Off

00:55:22 - Review of Looney Tunes: Back in Action

01:23:23 - Guessing the Connection

'Casting Off | Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

An epic start to an epic movie series deserves an epic panel to talk about it. On the latest 'Casting Off, David and I are joined by Ron Marz, Liz Twachtman, and Mike Westfall to spring a man from jail, commandeer a ship of the fleet, and sail with a buccaneer crew out of Tortuga. We're completely obsessed with the treasure that is this movie.

Thundarr Road | Interview with Thundarr writer Buzz Dixon, Part 2

We'll be back on the Road soon with the next recap, but until then, enjoy the second part of our interview with writer Buzz Dixon. Noel talks with Buzz about life after Thundarr with special focus on GI Joe. It's another great conversation with great, new stories that you won't want to miss.

Hellbent for Letterbox | Red Sun (1971)

On this episode of Hellbent, Pax and I discuss Terence Young's East-meets-Western starring Charles Bronson, Toshiro Mifune, and Ursula Andress.

We also have short talks about some things with long titles: Anton Treuer's book Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask and Chuck Connors in Kill Them All and Come Back Alone.