What are your rules for needing a sequel?

This past weekend, another crop of sequels hit theaters with Maleficent 2 and Zombieland: Double Tap. One movie fans have clamored for a sequel for the past decade, and the other had crickets chirping when you mentioned another chapter. So what determines when a sequel should get made? Is it always just success? Shouldn't there be more to it?

On this week's episode of The Hollywood Outsider, we debate when a sequel SHOULD be made. And in following the spirit of Zombieland, we're going to handle this via our own collection of rules, this time those rules that are necessary to green-lighting a proper sequel.

Also this week: news roundup, another round of Movie Innuendo, reviews of HBO's Watchmen and Zombieland: Double Tap, and much more.

Discussed on this episode

Direct download: HO372_Rules_to_making_a_sequel.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:49am PDT
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What is the scariest movie in history?

Every Halloween, fans around the world debate the scariest moments and characters in entertainment. Those scenes that leave fans terrified of a finger-knifed murderer haunting their dreams or a masked boogeyman terrorizing their neighborhood. We each have our own life experiences which feed our fears, but what singular movie is truly the greatest of them all?

On this week's episode of The Hollywood Outsider, we return to one of our favorite segments as we decide, once-and-for-all, what the is the BEST! Could it be The Exorcist, or possibly Poltergeist? Could A Nightmare on Elm Street out-slash The Blair Witch Project? Is Paranormal Activity more ghastly (and ghostly) than The Ring? Do exploding stomachs out-scare the horrific haunting that takes place in The Conjuring? Find out the winner with our Scariest Movie Battle Royale!

Also this week: a news roundup, reviews of Gemini Man and El Camino, and much more.

Discussed on this episode

Direct download: HO371_Scariest_Movie_Battle_Royale.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:16am PDT
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What popular character do you wish there was an alternative take on?

With JOKER taking over theaters worldwide, we decided this was a prime time to debate whether or not it is ever acceptable to deviate from the source material and offer an alternative take on a popular character. Many people find this to be sacrilege, to even consider changing the motives or backstory of a firmly established character. But what if someone has a brilliant idea? Should they be hindered from realizing their vision simply because we're reluctant to change?

After our normal show, we dive into the film itself, JOKER. For months, media outlets have been speculating and predicting various outcomes of the release to this Joaquin Phoenix starring take on the Clown Prince of Crime. No Batman, only Joker. Does it live up to the hype? Is this a direction we could use more of? We discuss the film in its entirety with our JOKER spoilercast.

Also this week: a news roundup, John offers up a movie everyone seems to hate yet he loves with his "HOT TAKE", and more.

Discussed on this episode

Direct download: HO370_Alternative_Takes_and_JOKER.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:59am PDT
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Was 1999 the greatest year in movies?

Two decades ago, an absolutely hella fly year in entertainment took hold in 1999. Classics like The Matrix, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, The Sixth Sense, The Mummy, The Blair Witch Project, and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me hit theaters. Not to be outdone, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, Angel, ER, Friends, Touched By An Angel, and Law and Order: Special Victims Unit took over our television sets. It was a prime time for entertainment.

Much has changed since then, but what is even more interesting is how much remains the same. For this special episode, we’re not only going to look back at the year in film and television – complete with commercials and Breaking News segments direct from the year itself – we are going to settle the longstanding debate on if 1999 truly IS the greatest year in movie history! With the magic of technology and time travel, we hope you enjoy yet another in our annual series of Hollywood Outsider Time Capsule podcasts.

Welcome back to 1999!

Discussed on this episode

  • (0:00 – 37:48) Opening | 1999 Related Movie and TV Discussion
  • (37:49 – 46:43) What's This Movie | In Memoriam | The Top 10 of 1999 in Film and TV
  • (46:44 – 1:30:40) From The Outside In: 1999 - A Year In Movies And Television
  • (1:30:41 – 1:41:51) 1999 Sing-Out | Closing
  • Listen to our previous Time Capsule episodes for 1987, 1988, and 1997
  • Email topic suggestions or episode reactions to feedback@thehollywoodoutsider.com
  • Please support The Hollywood Outsider and gain immediate access to bonus content, including Patreon exclusive podcast content, by visiting Patreon.com/ TheHollywoodOutsider
  • Be sure to join our Facebook Group
  • Join our Fantasy Movie League! Find our league, then use the password ‘buypopcorn’
  • Do your shopping via our Amazon Link!
Direct download: HO369_1999_Year_in_Movies_and_TV.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:48am PDT
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What life skills have you learned from movies and television?

The Karate Kid inspired millions to stand up to their bullies. You know what else it did? It taught people useful tools like waxing on, waxing off, and using chopsticks. Countless movies and TV shows have taught us so much over the years that it might be inconceivable to identify any one specific lesson we learned. But we're going to try anyway.

On this week's episode of The Hollywood Outsider, original host Brian Williams returns to debate the crucial life lessons we've learned from years of watching movies and TV shows. From our childhoods to the ever present, from social to dating to survival skills, it's all on tap for a very fun discussion on the parents that lived inside our screens.

Also this week: a news roundup, we discuss the emergence of Downton Abbey, and fan favorite "Sylvester Stallone" drops by to discuss and review Rambo: Last Blood with Aaron personally.

Discussed on this episode

Direct download: HO368_Life_Skills_Rambo_Downton_Abbey.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:01am PDT
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On this special episode, Tony Moran - the Michael Myers in John Carpenter's Halloween - stopped by to discuss working on that film, its legacy, and even clears up the confusion with Nick Castle's Shape. It's an interview any fan of Halloween will love!

 

Direct download: Interview_Halloween_Tony_Moran.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:30am PDT
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Want to know what new TV shows to watch this Fall?

It's time for our Fall TV preview 2019, including our most anticipated new and returning shows on the Fall television schedule. TV has evolved so much, and there are so many options, it becomes overwhelming every year to know what we should be spending our time on. Therefore we rolled up our sleeves, jumped in the water, and pulled out some of the best – and worst – that television has to offer. The Morning Show, The Mandalorian, Evil, Watchmen, His Dark Materials, The Witcher, and so many more shows are discussed and dissected on our annual plunge into the biggest season for television.

Also this week: MoviePass says goodbye, reviews of Hustlers and Unbelievable, a game of What Would've Happened, and much more.

Discussed on this episode

Direct download: HO367_Fall_TV_2019.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:01am PDT
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Have movies ever forced you to face your fears?

What are you afraid of? Slashers in the woods? Bees? Spiders? Clowns? Do you willingly seek out movies or TV shows that showcase these fears, or avoid them like a Ritchie dodges Paul Bunyan? On this week's From The Outside In topic, we spin off of IT into a discussion on when movies forced us to throw away childish things and face our own innate fears head on, for better or worse. And why it is that movies can sometimes help with this trauma.

Also this week, twenty-seven years after their first encounter with the terrifying Pennywise, the Losers Club have grown up and moved away, forgetting everything that happened the first time around. When they each receive a phone call from Mike saying Pennywise is back in Derry, they all reunite to confront their fears and destroy Pennywise once and for all. After our normal show, Wayne Henderson from Castle Rock Zone (and our IT Remake This Movie RIGHT episode) joins Aaron and Amanda to drop down into the sewers and discuss the conclusion to Stephen King's magnum opus, IT: Chapter Two.

Also this week: a news roundup, Face/Off gets a reboot and we offer our favorite duos, and our spoiler-free reviews of Freaks.

Discussed on this episode

Direct download: HO366_Facing_Movie_Fears_and_IT_Chapter_2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:45pm PDT
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As we take the week off, here are three of our most popular topics from earlier this year: Television's most unappreciated supporting characters, our Stephen King Movie Battle Royale, and TV crossovers we need. 

First up, from Episode 351: We discuss the most unappreciated supporting characters on television, as well as what unappreciated even means to us. From shows like Fringe, Sons of Anarchy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and many others, we debate why we love these respective characters and the actors who portray them, as well as why we think audiences never quite appreciated them.

Next, we head to Episode 347: We take a look at the movie adaptations of arguably the greatest horror author in history, Stephen King. For several decades now, both readers and audiences have been terrified by the works of Stephen King, in all forms of entertainment. As with anything, not all of his adaptations click, and occasionally the results are scarier than the source material. But those that do, have become classic films that have horrified generations. Because we love King, we left it to our listeners to decide the final eight films with which we’d handle our latest Movie Battle Royale, and the nominees are all great in their own way: Pet Sematary, The Mist, Misery, Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, Stand By Me, IT (2017), The Shining. But which of them is the greatest Stephen King adaptation of them all? Find out on our Movie Battle Royale!

Finally, we head to Episode 346: We take a look at that weirdly connective phenomena which is known as the “TV crossover”. Networks have utilized these for years as examples as to how to sell their television shows to people who might not be watching them: Mulder and Scully went to COPS, Angela Lansbury headed to Magnum P.I., and the CW combines an entire DC universe once a year. These events can often be nothing more than publicity stunts, but often times they create something beautiful. And we’re going to throw our two cents in the mix, crossing over TV shows to create several brand new properties! Oh, we have some ideas.

Direct download: Best_of_HO_2019_Vol_2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:30am PDT
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What were your favorite moments in entertainment from this past summer?

A summer full of movies and TV shows are in the bag, so how was it? Many people have complained that this season has been overrun by sequels and franchise films, was it really that bad though? Or are moviegoers suffering from too much awesome? We’re about to find out as we break down the best (and worst) this season had to offer with our 2019 Summer Entertainment Awards!

We debate the summer of 2019 at length – where it stood, what was lacking, what caught our eye on television, and even our own favorite summer film or television experiences. Avengers: Endgame, Hobbs and Shaw, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Annabelle Comes Home, The Boys, Stranger Things, and much more are discussed on this annual special episode.

Discussed on this episode of The Hollywood Outsider Movie and TV Podcast:

  • Where does this summer end up, overall or vs last year
  • Best and worst summer movie experiences
  • Is summer still the biggest season for movies?
  • Summer TV standouts

HO Award Categories
Most Memorable Scene of the Summer
Best Overall Line
Best Summer Viewing Experience (home or theater)
Worst Summer Viewing Experience (home or theater)
The Head-Slam-Against-A-Wall scene (worst or most nonsensical)
Best Action or Stunt Sequence
Best Use of CGI / Special Effects
The Darwin Award | Most Idiotic or Annoying Character
Best Supporting Character
Biggest Badass
Most Engaging Actor of the Summer
Most Disappointing Property
Most Original Premise
Box Office Top 10
Top 5 Summer Properties
Listener Top 10

Direct download: HO365_2019_Summer_Entertainment_Awards.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:36pm PDT
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