Open World Chat

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.

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, may not have been so noble. We have a no-holds-barred conversation about this well-loved and well-hated leader.... genius or jerk (or both)?

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 podcast all by itself. Amazingly we don't mention The Matrix. Oh well. The Matrix too.

Mark and John share their personal favorite, if not the "best" per se, songs from film soundtracks and why. Lots of fun!! 

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!

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 up with some you haven't seen (as well as plenty you have, no doubt).

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!!

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.

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 not so much at the end of the day. Join in for a break from our usual fare.

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.

The war on DEI is hitting companies like Disney and Warner Brothers and they've have already begun to alter their policies in response. Will this backlash affect our favorite movies, books, and comics?

It's the flip side of last time - this time Mark and John go through a bunch of movies that should never be remade, as well as several that should never have been remade (and the trainwrecks that came of it).

Mark and John throw out some ideas of movies that scream to be remade (in some cases remade again), while also reviewing some remakes that have been made and made well.

Mark and John look at so-dubbed "franchise fatigue" and its cousins superhero fatigue, sequel fatigue, and throw in some multiverse fatigue. We discuss what genre franchises are doing better than others, and why.

One episode after talking about dumb sci-fi, we return to talk about excellent sci fi and fantasy that doesn't get enough love, be it from critics, fanboys, general audiences, or just due to the fog of the passage of time.

Dumb sci fi. The title says it all. Not just bad, not just ill-considered. Dumb. Come on, see if we mention your favorite book or movie We dare ya.

It's the AI era! You want to know how bad it can get? Check out the list of most evil artificial intelligences. Come on and tell us what (who?) we missed, even if some of them are a little obvious (we're looking at you Stanley Kubrick).

Mark and John get on drugs for an episode that looks at the different way drugs, drug culture, and addiction in general are treated in science fiction over the decades, and there turns out to be quite a bit to talk about. Come on in and get your OWC fix!

Love. Exciting and new. etc. Come on aboard as we look back at love and romance in sci-fi over the decades, along with how it reflects society. Do we mention your favorite couple? (probably not since we forgot Han and Leia... oops). But that's okay. It's still super cool. From Flash Gordon and Dale to Willow and Tara, we've got it all (or at least all that could fit into 40 minutes)...

Dr. Leigh McKagen comes back - willingly, even - where we discuss the often disappointing but always interesting topic of the imperial nature of Star Trek and the Federation! Join us for a little Trek tough love.

John and Mark tell you how it is as they go down their list of the 18 most influential sci-fi movies. Give a listen and nod your head, roll your eyes, or scowl at the picks and the reasons why.

Mark and John examine stories in sci-fi and comics that are simply retellings of classical mythological stories. Turns out they're everywhere.

What is the nature of power and military strategy in Star Trek's Federation? Our own Mark Card examines this question. John just kind of goes "mm-hmm" a lot.

We always hear about those paranoid 70s political thrillers, but a similar phenomenon was happening in the sci fi of the era - and it set the pace for many of the sci fi movies to come. Come on in and join us for a heaping helping of Soylent Green and more...

I don't know that it's an eternal one, but courtesy of Joss Whedon and Angel it is a debate - one that Mark and John bisect, trisect, and just all around sect. It turns out, as you might expect, to be a complicated question.