Ink to Film

BONUS RELEASE this week as the guys log back in to the Oasis for level 2 of their coverage of Ernest Cline's "Ready Player One" (AKA part 2/3 of the book). They hop right into their spoiler-coverage this time with a deep dive into all the geeky gamer hijinks that happen in this middle section. Spoiler topics include: the upgrade in Wade's haptic gear, the reference Luke knew was coming and has bee...

Join the guys as they login to the Oasis with Ernest Cline's Sci-Fi holy grail of geekdom with their coverage of level 1 of "Ready Player One" (AKA part 1 of the book). They begin their journey with a SPOILER-FREE section covering some background about the author and their general thoughts about the material so far including how it was different than expected. SPOILER-FREE section ends: 45:58 Spoi...

Special guest J.L. Gribble joins Luke & James to discuss Ava DuVernay's 2018 film adaptation of "A Wrinkle in Time" starring Oprah Winfry, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Zach Galifianakis and more. Guest J.L. writes the Steel Empires series, so she knows all about YA fantasy and brings that insight to the conversation. The episode begins with a spoiler-free section covering notes about the filmm...

Join Luke & James as they take a wholesome trip across the universe with Madeleine L'Engle's 1962 novel, "A Wrinkle in Time," before they see the new film by Ava DuVernay starring Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, and more. They begin with only general thoughts about the novel, some of the science the book deals with, and the difficulties the author had with finding a publisher. SPOI...

Writer Remy Nakamura joins Luke and James to discuss Annihilation, the 2018 mind-blowing film by Alex Garland starring Natalie Portman and Oscar Isaac based on the novel by Jeff Vandermeer. Whether you're wondering if the movie is worth checking out or trying to wrap your head around what you just saw, this is the episode you've been looking for! We begin with only general discussion about the mov...

The guys have delved too deep into Jeff Vandermeer's "Annihilation" and have come out different. Changed. New. In this episode, they finish out the novel discussing parts 4 and 5. Once again, they begin with a SPOILER-FREE section safe for the uninfected. SPOILER-FREE section ends: 13:55  Spoiler topics include: The underlying nature and message of the novel, theories about the tower, Area X, the...

This week the guys delve into Jeff Vandermeer's incredible weird sci-fi novel, "Annihilation," by discussing parts 1, 2, and ending with part 3. They kick things off with a SPOILER-FREE section covering some background about the author and their general thoughts about the novel so far. SPOILER-FREE section ends: 15:11 Spoiler topics include: The language and style of the novel, the reliability of...

Netflix's cyberpunk far-future series was an overall success, with a few sticking points holding it back from greatness. Luke & James read the source material by Richard K. Morgan and bring that perspective into their view of the show in this episode. They kick things off with a SPOILER-FREE section filled with their general thoughts on the quality of the season, give some background on the produc...

The guys have finished the second half of Richard K. Morgan's 2002 post-cyberpunk novel, "Altered Carbon" and enjoyed the entire wild ride. In part two of their coverage of the book, they begin again with a hefty SPOILER-FREE section where they only talk about the book in general terms, discuss the high levels of adult content in the story and what Morgan might be trying to accomplish with them, r...

Before the release of the brand-new Netflix series, the guys go back to the source with Richard K. Morgan's 2002 postcyberpunk novel, "Altered Carbon." In part one of their coverage they try something a little different by beginning with a robust NON-SPOILER section for anyone curious about the novel but wanting to stay unspoiled for the series. They begin by talking about the author's bio and car...

Writer and filmmaker Kourtnea Hogan returns for the disastrous Rawhead Rex film adaptation by George Pavlou based on the short story by Clive Barker. Honestly, watching this film is NOT recommended. Even so, Luke, James, and Kourtnea get a kick out of rehashing it in all its B-movie glory! Topics include as they try to understand where it all went wrong: the stiff acting, all the things that make...

Writer and filmmaker Kourtnea Hogan joins Luke and James this week to discuss Clive Barker's 1984 short story, "Rawhead Rex," from his legendary "Books of Blood." This EXTREME-CONTENT filled episode's topics include: Clive Barker's traumatic childhood experience, the many ways that Rawhead is a story about masculinity vs. femininity, something Luke dubs the "Clive Barker Detail," all the phallic s...

Maurice Sendak's beloved children's picture book left an indelible mark on generations of kids, and Luke and James are among them. They begin this combo book/film episode by discussing their relationship with the original material, then talk about the text itself, drawing out new meaning from their now adult perspectives. Next, they move on to Spike Jonze's documentary called "Tell Them Anything Y...

Happy New Year! Luke and James sat down together in Florida to take one last look back at all the projects they did in 2017. This episode doesn't focus on one specific title exclusively, but instead touches on all of their previous projects. Missed feedback is addressed, then they answer questions from listeners. 2017 Project List: IT (film/novel), Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Blade Runner...

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! 'Tis the season to watch Die Hard and the guys have a lot to say about John McTiernan's 1988 action classic, especially now that they've read the source material. Topics include: details about the director's legal troubles, the potential gender and racial issues in the movie, the characterization of the terrorists, and Alan Rickman's iconic performance. Luke rai...

The guys finish out the second half of book that inspired Die Hard, Roderick Thorp's 1979 novel, Nothing Lasts Forever. Just how different is it? Well, dramatically different, in some ways, and Luke and James weigh the changes that the movie made compared to the source material. Topics include: Joe's growing numbness toward killing, the relationship between Joe and Al, old men being grumpy about t...

Episode Description: "Did you know that Die Hard was based off a novel? For the first of their holiday episodes, Luke and James have a blast going back to the source with the first half (chapters 1-9) of Roderick Thorp's "Nothing Lasts Forever" and discovering all its similarities and differences. They kick it off by debating Die Hard's qualifications as a "Christmas film" and explore the author's...

Hayao Miyazaki is a living legend, and James and Luke have a lot to say about his 2004 anime classic, Howl's Moving Castle. They have read Diana Wynne Jones's source material discuss the film in comparison. They lay out Miyazaki's filmography and make some recommendations, then get into the anti-war themes he brings to this movie. Next, they discuss the voice acting performances of the English dub...

In the second half of their coverage of Diana Wynne Jones' novel Howl's Moving Castle, Luke and James go through the door, black blob down, and find out that what lies on the other side is startlingly familiar… Luke gets a little academic about types of fantasy, Sophie learns a lot about herself and her powers, then Luke makes a Mario reference. Next, they discuss whether or not this story is all...

In a dramatic genre shift, Luke and James delve into their first fantasy project with the young adult novel, Howl's Moving Castle, which was later adapted into the famous anime film by Hayao Miyazaki. To keep with the more wholesome tone, Luke and James are going to try to keep things as family friendly as they can. In this episode, they cover the first half of the novel (chapters 1-10). Highlight...

The 2nd half of James and Luke's conversation with their special guest-host, 4x Bram Stoker Award winning writer Mike Arnzen, all about John Carpenter's 1982 sci-fi horror classic, The Thing. Topics include: Trying to track the disease vectors in the film, debating at what point Blair turns, theories about who could've destroyed the blood, just how the CPR arm-biting scene was able to be so shocki...

Award-winning horror writer Mike Arnzen joins Luke and James as Ink to Film's first special-guest-host to discuss John Carpenter's 1982 sci-fi horror classic, The Thing. In part one of their conversation they touch what the film might say about masculinity in the 80s, the incredible practical effects on display and what modern movie-makers might learn from them, the unreal dog acting, the underlyi...

John W. Campbell's legendary novella inspired several films, most notably, John Carpenter's "The Thing" (1982). Join Luke and James as they go all the way back to the 30s to explore the source material. They begin by talking about the man behind the monster, John Campbell, and touch on his legacy in the Sci-Fi world. In their book coverage, they get into paranoia at the heart of this story how it...

The guys watched Denis Villeneuve's Blade Runner 2049 & have A LOT to say about it. Come along as Luke and James not only highlight all the things that made the film incredible, but try and get to the bottom of what the entire Blade Runner franchise is about as their coverage concludes. Non-spoiler topics include: Oscar chances, the lasting appeal of the film, standout performances, & who we would...

James is loving that they get to talk about one of his favorite films, Blade Runner (1982) directed by Ridley Scott! Come along as he and Luke get explore the Sci-Fi classic in its entirety with the ultimate recap before the new movie comes out. Highlights include: the symbolism of eyes and pyramids, all the surprising changes and similarities to the PKD novel, the meaning of the iconic "tears in...