Worth Watching

We start comparing Seven Samurai-inspired films with the very first, the Western classic Magnificent Seven. What does it copy and what new ideas does it introduce? Does it stand up to the original? Well it sure has an amazing cast with Yul Brynner, James Coburn, Steve McQueen, Robert Vaughn and more. And an amazing soundtrack by Elmer Bernstein which we guarantee you know even if you’ve never seen...

We started by looking at Rashomon and the films it inspired, and now we’re doing Kurosawa’s absolute masterpiece, Seven Samurai. We’re joined by friend of the podcast, Andrew Heaton, host of Alienating the Audience , to determine whether this classic holds up for a modern audience! (Hint: It does.) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to...

And now Guy presents one of his favorite films… Hoo boy, this one is dark! Can Bill Murray pull off being a complete dick without going over the top? Why is the hard as nails drink you under the table chick from Indiana Jones a saint who is helping poor people? Does this thing hold up? Only one way to find out! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or g...

One of Ron’s favorite films of all time, we have a great discussion about this classic film with one of the scariest bad guys of all time. Directed by immensely talented and famous actor Charles Laughton who put his heart and soul into his first directorial effort, the initial negative reception crushed him and he never directed another film, no doubt depriving us of much great work that could hav...

Ron’s brother was in town so we decided to let him choose the movie… Gladiator is a surprisingly historically accurate Roman romp directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe. We spend a lot of time delving into what was and wasn’t historically accurate, and how well they pulled off an early CGI film… Listen in and find out what we thought of my brother’s choice! This is a public episode. I...

We’ve covered two silly Hartnell outings (Carry On Sergeant and The Mouse that Roared), so what will we think of an officially serious and socially responsible film? It seemed appropriate to end Hartnell with the kind of “legitimate” film that he considered his legacy. We love ya, Hartnell. Sorry to see you go. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or g...

It’s the last William Hartnell episode, the introduction of a classic villain, and the first regeneration, which would allow the series to continue for decades. A true Doctor Who landmark, but is it Worth Watching? Only we can say! (Listen to the end to hear a short post-Who interview with Hartnell that you won’t find on the web!) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with ot...

No one ever remembers or talks about this early Doctor Who story. Is that because it’s actually bad, or just because it’s a lost story? Join us as we work to figure 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

While there are two more stories in the Hartnell era, in many ways this is the last true Hartnell story. It’s the final one where we have all the video and Hartnell is in fine form and plays a significant role throughout. Also a good very valid science fiction concept, coupled with dorky ham-fisted robots. Then there’s the truly awful way that Dodo is issued off the stage, perhaps the worst compan...

Ever feel a bit low in energy? Tired even after a full night’s sleep? Forget the C-Pap machine, Doctor Who has the real answer — aliens are draining your life energy! Listen in to see what we think of this lost story, and discover One Weird Trick for rejuvenating your life force! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, vis...

The first Doctor Who story that takes place in the United States, this is an amusing jumble of jokes, history, and a theme song that’s played over and over and may have led to multiple suicides. Listen in and decide if this one is 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

This is our shortest episode ever — is that a reflection on the story we’re talking about? We shall see! We answer questions like “Is this yellow face?” and “Is this really tedious and not worth watching?” It’s an almost completely missing story so the answers don’t matter too much, but check it out to see what you’re not missing! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with ot...

This episode is exactly what this podcast is about: Two best friends discussing a well-meaning treatise filled with great science fiction ideas, dorky aliens with silly suits, and, well, lots of stuff for us to both appreciate and make fun of. Also we discuss the impact of Spock’s death on us as kids, Mentos commercials, and whatever else comes up along the way. Check it out! This is a public epis...

An entirely missing story based on a true and very disturbing event. Listen to our coverage to understand exactly what happened, how the Dr always claims to never change history while actually changing it, and whether you should hate the Protestants or the Catholics! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit betterange...

There was absolutely nothing good about the first Doctor Who movie…but this one is definitely a step up! A couple of good special effects (such as a pretty amazing Dalek spaceship) and some plot improvements are definitely a help…but then there’s the weird disappearance of Barbara and Ian and juggling too many plot lines for a movie. Tune in to find out whether this is Worth Watching! This is a pu...

This is the first movie where Peter Cushing played Doctor Who. We love Peter Cushing. We absolutely hate this movie. The movie was made in response to the incredible reaction to the second Dr Who story, The Daleks. Listen as your hosts regularly collapse into gales of laughter and perhaps occasionally tears. Our pain is your pleasure. You’re welcome. This is a public episode. If you would like to...

Wow did we love Ghost Dog more than we expected! From independent director Jim Jarmusch and starring Forest Whitaker’s unexpected turn as Samurai, this is a beautiful and thoughtful precursor to The Sopranos and John Wick. But is it truly inspired by Rashomon? Listen in to find out! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes,...

Does this Ethan Hawke vehicle meet the definition of a Rashomon-inspired film? Is it okay to date yourself without consent? Does the future happen if you say screw it and take a nap instead? Answers to these questions along with a deep dive into the impact Robert Heinlein had on one of your hosts, a unique rendition of “Baby Jane”, discussion of the song “I’m My Own Grandpa” and more! This is a pu...

Denzel Washington, Meg Ryan, Lou Diamond Phillips, Scott Glenn and many more amazing actors, in an Edward Zwick production inspired by Rashomon. Nothing could go wrong! Nothing could go wrong, right? Substack 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 dive into this very Rashomon-inspired episode of the X-Files, considered by many to be one of the best TV episodes ever. We do a deep dive into the amazing Charles Nelson Reilly as we try to suss out what actually happened to two lovers on one very strange night... Twitter: @WorthWatching4 Facebook This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access...

What is truth? Who is Kaiser Soze? Is this a true Rashomon film? How many people can be canceled in one film? Only we know the truth! Twitter: @WorthWatching4 Facebook 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

And so we begin, watching a film where our task as a viewer is to serve as judge, jury, and possibly executioner at a trial where everyone seems to be lying to us. This was an incredibly important film that put Kurosawa and Japanese cinema on the map and created a new genre of story that has become embedded in world culture. Does it live up to the hype? And who is the killer? Join us to find out!...

For our next film season topic, we're going to watch an influential Akira Kurosawa film, and then the films inspired by that film to see how they compare. To help provide context for this journey, we're joined by Peter Tasker, author of On Kurosawa for a great conversation about Kurosawa, the Yakuza, the Samurai and how Kurosawa created the modern concept of Samurai, whether the director is still...

Our second reconstruction is one of the longer Doctor Who stories ever. This is our three episodes about this story consolidated into one podcast. This podcast endorses the Mavic Chen/Sarah Kingdom ticket for rulers of the universe! 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

Our first real Doctor Who reconstruction! Doctor Who does the Trojan Horse. We both really enjoyed this story: Well-written, clever and funny. You don't need to hunt down reconstructions in shady corners of the internet, we've done it for you, and you can experience the story along with some bad jokes and witty observations. After going through the story proper, we do a deep dive into the mytholog...