Worth Watching

Andrew Heaton joins us to discuss the amazing amount of inspiration Hidden Fortress provided for Star Wars, as well as going over the film itself. Without this film, Star Wars would have been something completely different! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit betterangels1.substack.com

This and the previous story, Enemy of the World, were rediscovered 40 years after they’d been lost. This is a story that follows up on recent The Abominable Snowmen, but takes place 30 years later. We loved Enemy of the World, how will this one stand up? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit betterangels1.substack....

Lost for over 40 years, found a decade ago in war-torn Nigeria…what can I say, we both love this story! It’s now an official Worth Watching favorite. Listen in to find out why! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit betterangels1.substack.com

The definition of a “base under siege” story, this one introduces the enduring enemy The Ice Warriors (technically should be known as “The Martians”!). Does it hold up for a modern audience? We shall see! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit betterangels1.substack.com

Yet another lost Troughton story revived with surprisingly good animation. How well does six episodes of Yetis and Tibetan monks chasing each other around hold up for a modern audience? We shall see! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit betterangels1.substack.com

Finally, a fully live-action Troughton story! Does this classic Cybermen story hold up today? How did fascination with Egyptian tombs influence this story? Why do Doctor Who villains never learn that you can’t make a deal with the devil? Find out all this and more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit betterangels...

High Noon influenced Outland, so we decided to go back and watch it in this context. We discuss the controversies, the qualities of the filmmaking, how it contrasts with Outland, and how to hold a gun so you can actually hit something! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit betterangels1.substack.com

Inspired by High Noon, with a stellar cast (Sean Connery! Peter Boyle!), coming on the heels of 2001 and Star Wars and directed by the guy who did a fine job on Capricorn One, how does this space western hold up? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit betterangels1.substack.com

With the third Halloween movie, John Carpenter — a favorite director of the podcast — wanted to take the franchise in a different direction, in which every year a new entry would be released that told a stand-alone story rather than just repeating the Michael Meyers thing. Turned out the public wasn’t interested in Halloween without Michael, so the film wasn’t a success. But as always happens with...

Ron contends this movie has the most perfect 25 minute opening of any movie ever. Prove him wrong. Also, Harrison Ford with a beard. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit betterangels1.substack.com

At the end of a season of Doctor Who, we like to celebrate the actor by watching one of his non-Doctor films. In this case we’re watching Jason and the Argonauts, a Ray Harryhausen stop motion film that has had an incredible impact on one of your hosts, actually changing his life. To see what that’s about, listen in! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscriber...

Wow, we were surprised by this one—the last story of Troughton’s first season, and seemingly the last Dalek story ever—is packed full of surprises, Daleks high on acid, and for once a pretty compelling Dalek plot to force the Doctor to mess with all of human history. Check it out! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, vi...

An intriguing mystery filmed at Gatwick airport, this is Ben & Polly’s swan song…does it live up to the promise? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit betterangels1.substack.com

One of the weirder stories ever, managing to combine 1984 and Brave New World with giant intelligent crabs, this story surprised and delighted us. Check it out! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit betterangels1.substack.com

We both came into this discussion with our own conclusion, and each of us changed our mind a bit by the end. We make a lot of fun of parts of this story, but ultimately we found a number of things to like, and we had really enjoyed our discussion. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit betterangels1.substack.com

Is this half-missing story the big one that got away? Was a 1960s children’s show ready to compete with the effects of Avatar? We give you all the answers! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit betterangels1.substack.com

This totally lost story introduces one of the most important companions in the history of Doctor Who…does that mean you should watch it? Or is it really just best to listen to this podcast? Once you’ve listened you’ll know the answer, and it will be too late to change your mind! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visi...

We were pleasantly surprised by this Dalek story, which introduces Patrick Troughton as the Doctor and is one of the more interesting Dalek stories so far. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit betterangels1.substack.com

We use this small appearance in a forgotten but clever British TV show to get our first sense of Patrick Troughton, our next Doctor. Along with a discussion of his life and career and our trademark digressions! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit betterangels1.substack.com

Both of us last saw this as kids in the theatre when it first released. Neither of us knew what to expect now…so we were surprised and delighted to find a tightly plotted thriller with some great action sequences. Worth Watching! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit betterangels1.substack.com

The first “aliens are taking over our bodies” film, and one of the childhood classics for Ron. It’s new to Guy, let’s see whether it’s still Worth Watching! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit betterangels1.substack.com

For our last entry of things inspired by Seven Samurai, we turn to the animated series The Clone Wars (S2E17) for an amazingly faithful rendition of the story. Somehow in 20 minutes they manage to fit in probably more of the original story than anything else we’ve covered! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bett...

A Bug’s Life, Pixar’s second film, is a faithful retelling of Seven Samurai with some amusing original twists, with a dollop of Three Amigos. Come for the discussion of the film, stay for Ron’s extended discussion of what it was like to work with Steve Jobs and Pixar back in the day! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes,...

One of Guy’s favorite films — we explore this rather clever and delightful take on Seven Samurai, by director John Landis and the all-star cast of Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Chevy Chase. There’s not much to say but “Did you see the little balls?” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit betterangels1.substack.com

In response to Star Wars, legendary cheap-ass creator of ultra-low budget films Roger Corman put together this film, using the Seven Samurai template. We went in skeptical and were pleasantly surprised — John Boy, George Peppard, Robert Vaughn (of Magnificent Seven!), surprisingly good special effects! Does it overshadow Seven Samurai? Only one way to find out! This is a public episode. If you wou...