Coffee and Deathsticks

Everyone was talking about the latest Marvel hit Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings so, naturally, Kevin and Danny decided to talk about a franchise that hasn't had a decent entry since 1986. Why is the Alien series a franchise and what does the future hold for the world of xenomorphs, androids, and impossible basketball shots?

Danny and Kevin are mad as hell but probably won't do anything about it. In the wake of two trailers algorithmically designed to generate memes, the fellas discuss how nostalgia has been weaponized by corporations that want our money...and why it keeps working.

Danny and Kevin review The Suicide Squad (2021). Not to be confused with Suicide Squad (2016). Clearly, James Gunn did not take Sean Parker's advice when titling his film. SPOILERS. 

Danny and Kevin are pleasantly surprised by Loki and its promising look at Marvel's future...and are then immediately brought down to Earth by Black Widow (insert superhero landing pose).

Keeping with the anniversary theme from the last episode on Raiders of the Lost Ark , the guys look back at Independence Day on its 25th anniversary. The film is often considered a classic 90s era blockbuster, but does it stand the test of time? Danny and Kevin revisit the film, its significance in film history, and its surprisingly decent sequel, 2016's Independence Day: Resurgence. *Show note: a...

Raiders of the Lost Ark celebrated its 40th anniversary last Saturday, giving Danny and Kevin the opportunity to dote on one of their favorite films. This anniversary was not the only recent news for the franchise, as production on the fifth Indiana Jones film began earlier this month in England. Danny and Kevin express a reservation or two for this new project and speculate on the film's setting,...

Kevin and Danny sigh their way through another review of Zack Snyder and his "visionary" approach to filmmaking.

Danny and Kevin have finally made it through The Falcon and the Winter Soldier , the second live action Marvel miniseries released on Disney+ this year. The conversation focuses on some derivative elements of the show and the problems with Marvel tackling contemporary big issues in America today. WandaVision , the first Marvel/Disney+ release from earlier this year, is reviewed as well.

Even Danny and Kevin cannot escape the "May the Fourth be with you" phenomenon. Instead of celebrating Star Wars on this now heavily commercialized day, they discuss the general state of the franchise focusing on the recent Disney produced films, current and upcoming television series, and what the future holds for the galaxy far, far away.

Danny and Kevin continue their discussion on the television series they are currently watching. Shows discussed this week are The Last Kingdom (2015-Present) and Arrested Development (2003-2019). The Arrested Development conversation evolves into a general analysis of "revival" projects.

Danny and Kevin take a break from film this week to check-in on what television shows each is watching. All programs featured are no longer airing and were either made primarily in the 90s or are British productions. The series discussed are The Thick of It (2005-2012), Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994) , Sharpe (1993-2008), and The X-Files (1993-2018).

The event film for all of those aware of the #monsterverse is here: Godzilla vs. Kong . The latest hybrid theatrical/HBO Max release debuted last week and is performing well at the domestic, international, and home box offices. We review the film while discussing the problems with "versus" movies, the state of the MonsterVerse, and the Hollow Earth conspiracy theory. 

With the release of Godzilla vs. Kong on HBO Max this week, we look back at the first three entries of the so-called "MonsterVerse." Many moviegoers may not have even realized that there was a shared universe of monster movies prior to this newest release, but we sure did! We review Godzilla (2014), Kong: Skull Island (2017), and Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019). This episode includes spoiler...

It's finally here! The #releasethesnydercut movement succeeded last week with the release of the "definitive" edition of The Justice League. There was no plan to share this cut of the movie with the world, but the perfect storm of the pandemic, a new streaming service looking for marketable content, and a very loud community of fanboys willed Zack Snyder's Justice League into existence. Is it bett...

For the first time on Coffee and Deathsticks, we provide an unsolicited commentary track for the forgotten misfire, X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The only superhero movie to be released in 2009, this film sneaked in just after the start of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the release of Iron Man in 2008 and just before the start of the new generation of X-Men films with X-Men: First Class in 2011. I...

In this week's episode, we eulogize the X-Men franchise. With Disney's purchase of 20th Century Fox, the media empire will look to gradually integrate the mutants into the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe and will not continue with the series as it previously existed. After a 20 year roller coaster ride of hits and misses, the franchise went out with a whimper in the form of last summer's "The New...

Welcome to the Coffee and Deathsticks podcast! In our inaugural episode, we appropriately discuss directors who are early in their careers and a bit in over their heads. Are independent filmmakers given the keys to tentpole kingdoms without having enough of a track record of success? Do studios interfere with the vision of these young guns too much? Will there ever be a decent Fantastic Four movie...