The Screen Companion

Sequels are a tricky thing. Should it be like the last one but bigger, or take a left turn that'll send the story into new territory? Or is it more nuanced than that? Will the audience care more about specific plot or character choices than the overall tone? Let's do a few dark horse sequels—Alien 3 and Quantum of Solace—that don't get nearly enough love in their franchises. Guest: Jon.

We conclude our look at remakes via the Invasion of the Body Snatchers franchise with Body Snatchers (1993). After the sleepy town in the original 1956 film, and the memorable '70s Donald Sutherland iteration set in San Francisco, how could the '90s version possibly compete? Why, by setting it at a military base, of course! (Part 2 of 2) Guest: Andrew.

Remakes and reboots have become a tired way of extending the life of a film franchise. Before every year seemed to be nothing but rehashes of the same, uninspired concepts, let's examine older remakes that were closer to a fresher, reinvigorating proposition; Invasion of the Body Snatchers from 1956 and its first remake from 1978. (Part 1 of 2.) Guest: Andrew.

Spotlighting Ingrid Bergman, the Swedish-American star of the black and white era. What made her so great? What were actresses all about in the Golden Age of Hollywood? Notorious. The Bells of St. Mary's. Intermezzo—the 1939 American remake where Bergman reprised her role from the original—she was so valuable! Let's see how romances were different back then, and how charmingly strong women like Be...

The '90s were a hodge-podge of genres we don't see much of anymore, including stop motion kids' movies. Tim Burton and Henry Selick collaborated on two such films—The Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach—we'll take a look at what made them special. Guests: Sarah & Stacey.

Star Trek has plenty of non-humans that put a mirror up for us to examine ourselves, and one of the most notable of them is Lieutenant Commander Data. Let's watch episodes from the third and fourth seasons of The Next Generation to see what makes him a top tier crewman, what actor Brent Spiner brought, and if Data could sustain “A” stories or if he was best used in a supporting role. Guest: Jon.

What subgenre of films can leverage a single set as well as legal dramas do courtrooms? Presumed Innocent (1990), 12 Angry Men (1957), My Cousin Vinny: The lawyers are warriors on the battlefield that is the law, the judge banging their gavel like an instrument of God. Sometimes the prosecution are the good guys, sometimes it's the defendant, but the stakes are always high. Guests: Andrew & Pa...

Epic films, also known as long f**king movies! But when they're done well, you'll see three hours flew right by in A Bridge Too Far and The English Patient. Considering the modern age is rife with films over two hours long that have no business being so, let's look back on a few that felt like they used that extra runtime well. Guest: Jon.

Teary episodes of television! Do you want to feel sad watching a show? Need to get some emotions out? Well perhaps the following melodrama will do: Little House on the Prairie, Homicide: Life on the Street, and Lost. The Host exposes the guests to episodes from these different programs, and we'll see what—if any—emotional response was elicited. Guests: Max & Jon.

Ever been leery of watching a drama because you were worried it was going to have a totally depressing ending? It's nice to achieve those highs and lows, but ultimately, end on a positive note. Lars and the Real Girl. Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot. Actually, don't worry—these movies won't leave you wanting to cut yourself. Hooray! Guest: Andrew.

Captain Kirk is an iconic part of the Star Trek franchise. Let's check out some episodes from the first season of the 1966 season and look at what makes him cool, what Shatner brought to the role, and whether or not people's perception of Kirk matches how he was actually portrayed in the original series. Guest: Jon.

Every decade has its particular flavor of longstanding genres. What counted for vampire movies in the '30s would evolve and adapt as successive generations put their spin on it; sit back with us and get into Fright Night and The Lost Boys. What were vampires in the '80s? Sexy, cool, and chock full of MTV pizzazz! Guest: Sarah.

High school drama is exacerbated by the anxiety of youth and coming into one's own. Stories about being an outcast or winning a popularity contest—trivial in the grand scheme of life—are matters of life and death when seen through the eyes of a student. Heathers, The Chocolate War, and Election highlight the drama and absurdity of high school life. Guest: Jon.

Comparing the many film versions of the Tom Clancy borne protagonist Jack Ryan: The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, The Sum of All Fears, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck, and Chris Pine have all portrayed the CIA analyst on the big screen. Who's the best? Who's the worst? Let's conduct our own analysis and get to the bottom of it! Guests: Andrew & Pat.

A spotlight on Michael Keaton. He's known as Tim Burton's Caped Crusader and Beetlejuice, but how about his more character driven roles? From Clean and Sober to Birdman to The Founder, let's look at roles that show he's a lot more than a guy who's worn the bat cowl. Guest: Jon.

In this bonus episode, we discuss Dustin Hoffman and Laurence Olivier in Marathon Man (1976). Originally recorded for '70s New York Sleaze, it ultimately did not fit that episode's theme, so it went into the vault until now. Enjoy! Guest: Andrew.

To mark the end of Christopher Eccleston's run as the Ninth Doctor, we'll check out the Fifth Doctor's finale as well. What was different about that regeneration? And how good was the Ninth Doctor's tenure looking back decades later? Co-host: Jon.

Captain Jack! Whoo! Did he come in at the right time, or should this shot in the arm have come sooner? And a fart-loving villain returns that even Captain Jack would have trouble flirting with. Co-host: Jon.

Is this the dramatic peak of the series (sans the finale)? Highlighting the Doctor's demons. Getting into Rose's painful family history. Tons of...fun? There's a trash companion that gets "open head" surgery. What else would you call it?! Co-host: Jon.

How well does the third Doctor Who (2005) episode carry the momentum of the previous installments? And is the subsequent two-parter a sophomore slump? Possibly even the lowest point of the Ninth Doctor's onscreen stories?! Makes one say, "Doctor, who thought this was a good idea?" Co-Host: Jon.

Before we jump into Christopher Eccleston's single season as the Doctor, let's examine the very first episode from 1963. How much DNA does the Revival's Ninth Doctor introduction—more than forty years later—share with the First Doctor's? And how well do the initial episodes of Eccleston's run re-establish the Doctor Who (2005) franchise? Co-Host: Jon.

We'll help newcomers to the James Bond films pick an entry point that's right for them. Looking for a middle-of-the-road example? Tomorrow Never Dies. A solid espionage story? From Russia With Love. Want a Bond that's likable and less sexist? Go with The Living Daylights. We got you covered, new 007 viewer! Guests: Max & Andrew. This special remastered cut of the very first episode of TSC incl...

Sitcoms hit their zenith in the '90s. It was peak comedy with many of the biggest network shows providing weekly yucks. Reigning supreme was NBC with a laundry list of memorable offerings. We look back on the Peacock Decade through Frasier, Wings, and NewsRadio, shows that made us laugh--and occasionally--made us feel. Guests: Andrew & Jon.

“Politically correct” has had different standards throughout the decades, and plenty of movies made in previous years wouldn't be considered today for wide release. But what do you do when modern politics has seeped too far into entertainment, or you simply want another perspective? Try Soul Man and PCU on for size, featuring two post-secondary education institutions grappling with student politic...

He's possibly the last movie star and has produced / starred in one of the greatest action film series of the last three decades: Tom Cruise! But go back far enough, those action roles are replaced by dramatic turns. Let's delve into the Last Movie Star's oeuvre by comparing an earlier role to a later offering, Born on the Fourth of July to Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, Part One. Is Cruise...