Please Like What I Like

A low-prep "bonus" follow-up to our Pacific Rim episode! This is focused on Godzilla movies. A lot of it is pretty general, though there are some spoilers.https://letterboxd.com/film/godzilla-minus-one/https://letterboxd.com/film/shin-godzilla/https://letterboxd.com/film/godzilla/https://letterboxd.com/film/godzilla-raids-again/I had planned to get this out for Xmas (hence the hat, despite the episode having no holiday connection otherwise) but no such luck. Sorry about that. You'll notice there's a lot of re-recorded bits on my end (Michael), which should give an idea as to how a "lower effort" "bonus" episode ended up taking just as long as anything else... Hopefully our Out of the Past episode shouldn't take as long to edit, but I'm just one old man with a pair of scissors and a roll of scotch tape.Here is the Hedorah fan made short I mentioned, though I want to warn that I had remembered it being more substantial than it is. It's a decently moody setup for the original Godzilla v. Hedorah film, though. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While it's unlikely to fit in well with your Halloween movie marathon, we do technically have a monster movie recommendation here… kaiju are a type of monster, after all… Anyway, you're very likely to be familiar with Pacific Rim already, and it doesn't seem like the sort of fare we usually feature, but it's a favorite of ours, and we had as much to say about it as we do about most movies we've talked about on PLWIL, so, please indulge us a bit here. There's also some fun tangents about Tolkien, Gainax, anime clichés, etc… Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/film/pacific-rim/IMDB: https://m.imdb.com/title/tt1663662/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1If you're a Pacific Rim fan who's just stumbled across our podcast, then welcome! Please don't be scared off by the artsy fantasy selections we often make: if you liked this episode, you might find more to enjoy! I usually recommend Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown as a great entry point, since it's a fun movie and discussion, but if you love this movie, then Dragon Inn or Dead Leaves would likely be up your alley, as might our next one…Right! The next one… We're considering whipping up a quick bonus episode revolving around a certain related film that we mentioned in this one, but the next actual episode will be on the noir classic, Jacques Tourneur's 1947 film, Out of the Past. I don't see it listed as currently streaming in the US, unfortunately, though it seems to be available on Japanese Amazon Prime if you want to try that, and there are some… unofficial… uploads of it here and there if you take a quick look around, not that you heard it from me. Personally, I don't see why seventy year old films shouldn't be public domain yet, myself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe introduces Michael to a very unique and interesting little gem that I'm having a very difficult time summarizing without spoiling... it's about a guy whose life falls apart under a Nazi occupation, but aside from that, you should just watch it, especially if you like suspense movies. It's on Criterion. Hey, sorry about the wait on this one. It's just us two making these and sometimes real life gets in the way of editing them.https://letterboxd.com/film/mr-klein/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074916/Next one is Pacific Rim and I'm very excited. Giant robots, baby! You can watch it on Netflix in the US or HBO Max in most Spanish speaking countries. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back after some setbacks, with an episode about our earliest movie yet, 1936's Mister Thank You, written and directed by Hiroshi Shimizu, a popular silent film director who was an inspiration to such masters as Ozu and Mizoguchi but never got much recognition in the West. This might be his first talkie and it came out during a turbulent time in Japanese history, so it is as interesting as a historical artifact as it is as a work of art in itself. Like Tape, this is a very minimalist project in scope, taking place almost entirely within one bus trip (we don't bring Stagecoach up in the discussion but I now realize they are conceptually related in this way), so if you've been keeping up, your enjoyment of Tape will likely indicate whether you will dig this or not. It's on Criterion Channel and also its currently free to stream on Plex at the moment I upload the episode.I should give you a heads up that we had some issues with Joe's audio on this recording and it may be difficult to make out what he is saying sometimes.Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/film/mr-thank-you/IMDB: https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0027307/?ref_=ext_shr_lnkNext one will be on Mister Klein, so it's a Mister Mister double feature. Directed by Joseph Losey during his time working in France. The film is in French and set there during the Nazi occupation. Right now, as far as I know, the only place you can stream it legally is the Criterion Channel. Hopefully the next one doesn't take as long to edit as this one did. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Suddenly, Joe waltzes into town dragging a spaghetti Western behind him, causing Michael to raise an eyebrow. What could this Western contain within its runtime, and what would those contents mean for our little ramshackle whorehouse of a podcast? Django 1966 (not Unchained, or Sukiyaki) is available to stream in numerous places on the web right now if you haven't seen it yet (please watch it before listening to our spoilerific episode) such as pluto.tv, Plex, Peacock, Arrow and Darkroom. Enjoy!IMDB: https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0060315/Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/1Vr0Next up after this one is the oldest movie we've covered yet: An early Japanese talkie from 1936 called Mister Thank You (or Arigato-san), directed by Hiroshi Shimizu and available on Plex and Criterion Channel. It's about a bus ride, sort of continuing the minimalistic storytelling Michael brought up with Tape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a bit of an experiment. Michael and Joe talk about holiday horror flicks, in a loose, less-prepared manner, with much less editing than our usual episodes - meaning, a lot of "uhhh" and such left in. Please let us know if this episode is hard to listen to for this latter reason. Also, this episode doesn't go into much detail about any one specific movie, and we've tried to avoid spoilers, so this time, there's no preparatory homework: you don't need to have seen the films beforehand to understand our conversation!Oh, and here is that Japanese Christmas song I mentioned at the end:  https://youtu.be/_PaRHTRTrF4?si=JRhq9iXAPtql5a1zThe next regular episode is still Django... sorry for the delay, shouldn't be much longer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CW: we bring up SA in this one, as does the movie, but nobody goes into much detail in our talk and the movie doesn't show anything like that. Michael shares his favorite "just people talking in a room" movie. It's not My Dinner with Andre, though that's a good one; no, we are discussing Tape, a 2001 Richard Linklater project. We also go on a lot of tangents.IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/t...​ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com...​As of this upload, Tape is streaming on IFC and AMC+, but as we bring up in the episode, there is still a perfectly acceptable but almost definitely illegitimate (so far as copyright is concerned) upload on Youtube.Next episode we're talking about the spaghetti Western, Django (not Unchained, but the 1966 one). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe introduces Michael to a fantastic storybook version of old Japan to tell story about a gentle and caring grandmother who enlists her loving, devoted son's help in ritualistically ending her own life. Please watch the movie first (it is streaming on Criterion channel), then join us for a lengthy discussion that really goes in some wild directions! This is in regards to the 1958 original, so that is the one to watch... we do talk a little bit about the 1983 remake (I have included a quick warning when we get to it for those who want to avoid spoilers regarding the remake), but I would say onlt the '58 one is required viewing to understand the podcast discussion.IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051980/Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/film/the-balla...By the way, I have since watched a few more films by the same director, Keisuke Kinoshita, which were also on Criterion Channel: A Legend, Or Was It, and Wedding Ring. I liked both, or actually, I liked A Legend, which was intentionally old-timey like this movie, but a little stiff and simple in ways that left me wanting something a little more fleshed out, and not as imaginative and colorful (literally, most of the film is in black and white); Wedding Ring, though, I really loved: it's a completely different mode for him, and stars Kinuyo Tanaka and Toshiro Mifune (titans of classic Japanese cinema) in a decidedly non-traditional melodramatic romance. If that sounds good to you, and you finish Narayama wanting more from this director, I strongly recommend Wedding Ring.Anyway, next up is going to be Rick Linklater's 2001 low-budget and minimalistic film Tape. It can be watched here on YouTube, as well as AMC+ and IFC's streaming site (I'm not familiar with this one, like I know the TV station but was unaware they had a streaming platform, but they have the movie). If the idea of an entire movie just being three people talking in one room is intriguing rather than boring for you, then this was made for you (I swear it isn't a dull movie, I love Tape, that's why I picked it). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CW: While we don't dwell on the subject in our discussion, the film itself deals a bit with the topic of suicidal thoughts, and honestly handles them lightly, jokingly, which I could see bothering or upsetting someone if they held related trauma. Use your best discretion; there's nothing wrong with skipping episodes with our show.We hope you aren't mad as hell that this episode took a while to edit, and that you're still planning to take it. This is Michael's pick: we're talking about the 1976 classic people-talking-in-rooms movie, Network! This conversation goes places. The movie stays in New York, but it still gets pretty deep and entertaining. If you haven't seen it yet or recently, it wasn't streaming when we recorded, but now it seems to be available on HBO Max.https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074958/...​https://letterboxd.com/film/network/​By the way, I (Michael) have since seen Broadcast News, and while both films involve questioning how the news works and both films have a love affair that starts and ends within the scope of the narrative, they are pretty different films when you get down to it, with BN being a lot more focused on the individual characters' lives and personalities while Network seems concerned more with industries, collectives, and people in the broadest sense. It is still a good movie and worth watching, but for me personally, Network is much more interesting an artifact.Next time, we're doing a Japanese classic, the Ballad of Narayama, which is on Criterion Channel. Make sure to watch the older version, not the remake. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe's pick this time is the landmark 1967 Wuxia action classic Dragon Inn! To be clear, this is the original, not the 90's remake, nor Goodbye Dragon Inn, though we do mention those. No, the focus here is King Hu's 60s one! You can stream it on the Criterion Channel if you have a subscription, and it's available to rent in many places. Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/film/dragon-inn/IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060635/?ref_=ttmi_ttI hope you got your fill of high octane action in this and last episode's movies, because next episode we are headed for a very talky 70's Lumet film, Network! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We haven't given up, though we have been slowed down a bit by real life. This one ended up a little short, but this time the subject is a fun and unique anime movie that I hope you enjoy.IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0439533/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/film/dead-leaves/As of now, Dead Leaves is still available to stream for free on Tubi in the USA and Run:Time TV in some countries.Here's a link to the CC Lemon commercial with designs by ImaiToonz that I mentioned in the episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfYTSXFTAt4Next episode we cover the original Dragon Inn, the 1967 Chinese Wuxia classic directed by King Hu, so get out your springboard and practice catching arrows in midair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apologies for the wait, and also for the subpar audio quality in much of this episode. Despite these handicaps, I still think it's an enjoyable one, and the movie is really worth your time, Check it out and then listen to us talk about the movie and Almodovar in general, get Joe's gazpacho recipe, hear Michael imitate classic crooners, and other fun tangents!IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095675/?ref_=fn_al_tt_7letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/film/women-on-the-verge-of-a-nervous-breakdown/As of this upload, WotVoaNB is NOT free to stream in the USA. There are cheap rental options and discs on ebay, BUT if you live in Mexico or can use a VPN to make your service provider believe you live in Mexico, then it is included with Netflix and Amazon Prime.Next episode we cover the relatively niche aughts Japanese anime film Dead Leaves, which is available on Tubi and the dvd pretty common on ebay as well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael's pick. Our shortest episode, and the most likely candidate to ever become a "lost episode" since we don't shy away from discussing what we've gleaned through cultural osmosis about Allen's legal troubles, and the shadow it casts on his past work. We don't get too specific about the allegations, but if you don't want to hear about them at all, or if you would rather have nothing to do with the director's filmography because of them, then you will want to skip episode 5 and meet up with us again in a couple weeks for episode 6, on Almodovar's Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, which is a very fun movie and probably still my favorite of Joe's picks so far.As of my writing this, Manhattan is still available to stream for free on Tubi.IMDB: https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0079522/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/film/manhattan/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe's pick, a real cult classic horror movie! If scary imagery and paranoia will keep you up at night, you may want to sit this one out. Otherwise, it's on plex, fubo, fright night, screambox. and kanopy. Directed by Brian Yuzna with effects work by artist Screaming Mad George and his team.IMDB: https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0098354/?ref_=m_ttmi_ttletterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/film/society/Next episode will be on Woody Allen's Manhattan, which I could also see being one many listeners may want to skip, but trust me, there;s a really good movie coming up after that (I like both Society and Manhattan, btw, not claiming those aren't good movies, just that those who sit out eps 4 and 5 may want to check back in for ep 6 because it's one of my faborites of Joe's picks so far). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike's pick and one of his all-time favorites. Some audio was rerecorded but otherwise, this came out pretty nice. As always, please watch the film before you listen to us talk about it in the episode: Tampopo is available to stream on the Criterion Channel and Max.Tampopo (1985), dir: Juzo Itami.imdb:www.imdb.com/title/tt0092048/?r…t_8_nm_0_q_tampopoletterboxd:letterboxd.com/film/tampopo/ CW: some animals were harmed in the making of Tampopo (we mentioned this at the end of the previous episode, but I figure not everyone interested in Tampopo necessarily wanted to watch Claire's Knee, so I am bringing the same thing up here): although it was slaughter for meat and one could argue that technically happens behind the scenes of many films, in Tampopo it happens on screen, with one particular instance Joe and I found a little shocking despite only taking up a second of the runtime. Sorry for going on and on about such a small part of the film - this is a very upbeat movie, and most viewers will no doubt love it like I do - it's not like we are watching a depressing peta psa or anything. I just don't want to ruin anyone's good time so I'm being cautious but I feel like my inability to be concise is turning it into a whole thing. Help me, somebody! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe's pick: Claire's Knee, 1970, dir: Eric RohmerIMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0065772/?r…_q_claire%27s%2520letterboxd: letterboxd.com/film/claires-knee/One of Eric Rohmer's Six Moral Tales: you don't need to see the other five to enjoy this one, but you do need to watch the movie before you will understand what we are on about in this episode! It is available to stream on Criterion Channel. This episode turned out to be a good conversation. We do this quick segment regarding last episode's movie at the beginning (The Princess and the Frog), but that will not become a recurring motif in the future: rather, from Episode 3 forward, we strive to keep each episode self-contained so that listeners can skip around as they wish! If you would like to skip to the Claire's Knee discussion, it picks up directly after the jingle, about two and a half minutes in.Episode 003 (on the Japanese celebration of all things cooking and eating, Juzo Itami's 1985 magnum opus Tampopo) should be up around New Year's Day. That movie is also available to stream on Criterion Channel, as well as "max," which may or may not be the same thing as HBO-Max? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PLWIL is a movie podcast. It's our first time so please be gentle. We're starting with one you likely have heard of; maybe you have even watched it before. Spoilers for The Princess and the Frog abound, so if you have not seen it, please save this episode under "Watch Later" until you have seen it. The movie is very likely to still be streaming on Disney+.I added the full recording of the theme song at the very end, after we talk about the next episode, which will be on Claire's Knee (1970).Michael's pick: The Princess and the Frog, 2009, dir: John Musker and Ron ClementsIMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780521letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/film/the-princess-and-the-frog/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.