709 Meridian

D and Andrew return to world of Cannon muscle man sword and sorcery with the 1987 debacle MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE. Listen as they discuss better movies, better projects for the cast, worse projects for the cast, which of the crew are very bad men, with a special eye towards MOTU87's place in the end of the first sequel chasing blockbuster era! Catch it! NOTE: the audio for this recording has s...

D and Andrew return to the DC Animated Universe, except this time they get to talk about one of the good ones... Bruce Greenwood as Batman, Doogie Howser as Dick Grayson, Jensen Ackles as Jason Todd and Hank Azaria as Ra's al Gh--wait, no, it's Jason Isaacs. The fellas probably don't get into that one but who knows, they get into the whole Death of Robin II, the Resurrection of Robin I...

D and Andrew board the Argo, the Pinto, or the Santa Maria and head back to ancient Greece for THE ADVENTURES OF HERCULES (AKA THE ADVENTURES OF HERCULES II AKA HERCULES II), which brings back Lou Ferrigno and the villain (and the villain's daughter) from the original, but none of the charm. It's an interesting example of how 80s schlock can go wrong. Doesn't make for a fun watch, but...

Unintentionally, D and Andrew return to the land of Cannon, albeit the Roman dubbed variety. But Lou Ferrigno shows up for the job and gets through the frankly FANTASTIC nonsense. It's a lot and it's kind of awesome. WATCH HULK FIGHT RADIO SHACK TINKERTOY!

You know... for a movie about Allan Quatermain's colonialist a** finding the lost white tribe of Africa... it's nowhere near as problematic as D and Andrew were expecting. It's not good, for sure, but it could be worse. Though they do realize something that isn't good (but also isn't worse). And the fellas aren't the only ones silly for showing up here... JAMES EARL JONES d...

Ever committed to the summer of duologies, D and Andrew watch KING SOLOMON'S MINES, the 1985 imperalist, colonizer Indiana Jones knock-off starring Richard Chamberlain and Sharon Stone. It's a lot. It's a lot to think about it being from 1985, too. As in yikes elements. Lots of yikes. But watching a Cannon film is always full of peril.

D and Andrew return to the complex and intricate world of THE MECHANIC, wherein Jason Statham is an assassin who kills people with intricate "make it look like an accident" techniques, except when he just Stathams them, and it has nothing to do with the first movie. It's a weird time. Jessica Alba's in it, Tommy Lee Jones makes another inglorious 709 appearance. Very weird stuff.

D and Andrew make the seemingly fine choice of the Stath and the Fost and the Suth and the... Gold? Whatever. But it should be an okay watch but instead... THE MECHANIC drags the fellas off topic as they explore various related tangents, only to snap back for the film's very 2011 elements. It's summer of duologies so obviously, though, perfect setup for a sequel.

It's back to Hyperborea for D and Andrew, this time with Mr. Basketball USA Wilt Chamberlain, Grace Jones, Mako again, Tracey Walter because the fellas must suffer, and then, of course, the just teenage girl love interest for Arnold. Yikes on bikes. But there are no bikes in Hyperborea, just distressingly cheap sets (and some unfortunate special effects). It's very 1984, in other words......

By Crom, D and Andrew will journey to furthest Hyperborea to slay the ice demons and feast upon the entrails of Pygmilion. Or some such. Join the fellas as they discuss Arnold, his first potential franchise, how great it is to have Mako around, how weird it is that there's cannibalism, how great Sandahl Bergman is, and also... welcome to the 2025 Summer of Dulogies, James Earl Jones!

It's back to Jolly Old England for D, Andrew, Sammy, and Peter when the fellas discover Peter Lawford's got a twin brother in this ONE. There aren't as many ladies, parties, or cars this time, but they find things to discuss. Including Sammy's utter downer of a subplot for most of the film, though he gets to sing about it thank goodness. Catch it!

D and Andrew hop into the banana yellow DeLorean and set the flux capcitor for Swinging London 1968 to go hang out with Salt (Sammy Davis Jr.) and Pepper (Peter Lawford). They're just some... drunken, high, horny club owners who run afoul of the buzzkill (read: frustrated) coppers and some international baddies. Little do the bad guys know... you can't get cooler than Sammy and Peter and w...

Sadly, it didn't occur to the fellas to do this one as a full-on gag about Black Adam and Frank Castle teaming up to find out what Susan Sarandon did to Ted Kord. Instead, D and Andrew have to stay awake through a very strange, very boring "thriller" about the Rock having to snitch to save his dorky son. It's about why mandatory minimums and snitching is unfair but also then enco...

D and Andrew continue the ROCK season, but little did the fellas realize Maggie Grace would be appearing on the pod again... and they sure didn't expect her NOT TO BE THE WORST PERFORMANCE IN THE MOVIE. Good grief. Tune in as they discuss better action movies, better movies from the director, better this, better that, and how it's basically just a Terminator movie.

There are 3 or so hostages on the 130th floor and only THE ROCK can save them! Not satisfied stiffing former FBI Strike Force Commando Dwayne Johnson, his new employers are out to kill his family. And THE ROCK will climb a SKYSCRAPER to make sure that doesn't happen. Join D and Andrew as they talk about much better movies, solid Rock acting, Neve Campbell not being in enough, and so on.

D and Andrew track down some rolls of quarters so they can destroy Moline, IL with some giant monsters. Oh, and the Rock comes along. Join as the fellas discuss action, CGI, whether or not Jack Quaid's a little much at times, and why the heck didn't Naomie Harris ever hit.

The time: 1996. The place: The Pacific Northwest of New Zealand. The final entry in this season's Michael J. Fox theme... THE FRIGHTENERS. Listen as the fellas enjoy the film, appreciating the harmony of Fox and Jackson, talking about Jeffrey Combs playing Jim Carrey playing Jeffrey Combs, all of it. It's a delight.

D and Andrew take the executive elevator straight up to the running track on the roof to air out, get their pages, head to page 1987, for Michael J. Fox as a young yuppie on his way up. Listen as they discuss young love, sexy older people, movie business logic, and what happens when your concept soundtrack flops.

D and Andrew make the questionable journey South with Michael J. Fox. He's on his way to California to be a plastic surgeon, hopefully he won't run afoul of some lovable yokels, have an adventure, find true love, and so on. While a hit at the time, the fellas find it hard to imagine it being that much of a wow. There's a squash subplot, for goodness sake. (Not the game, either).

D and Andrew head out for some frog dogs then settle in for Michael J. Fox and James Woods's buddy cop picture, THE HARD WAY, discussing such things as urban action sequences, stunts, NYC shooting, Stephen Lang overacting, and much more!

D and Andrew hop in the Studebaker and head to the Big Apple to hang out at Club Sugar Ray for Eddie Murphy's (to date) only directing gig, in which he assembles an Avengers-sized ensemble of Black comedians (and Jasmine Guy), for a cross between THE STING and MILLER'S CROSSING. Only with more pinkie toes getting shot off. And Richard Pryor getting to do a gentle, paternal performance, whi...

It's a very special "in memoriam" episode of 709 MERIDIAN as D and Andrew go through Val Kilmer's filmography to create a tier list. Listen as they discuss Kilmer's career highlights, lows, and steadies.

The boys--including director Walter Hill--are back in town and D and Andrew can't help but wonder... why? Why do milquetoast 48 HRS. sequel as a comeback picture? Listen as the fellas discuss all the possible improvements to the picture, but also what they could be watching instead. At least it's short.

D and Andrew head to Nepal(?) in Eddie Murphy's attempt to... do an INDIANA JONES-type adventure only in the modern day and not really very adventerous? With a lot of magic? Like a lot of magic. And a bad(!!!) Victor Wong?!?! Say it isn't so!

A new season begins as D and Andrew take the Elm Street bus across oceans to Kuwait 1984, where Eddie Murphy has been suckered into an extended cameo in a terrible Dudley Moore movie. Listen as the hosts wonder... why. Over and over, they wonder why. Why did anyone think this movie--in any incarnation--was a good idea...