Over the past few years I've started listening to a lot of Podcasts. I always liked listening to the radio although I didn't always find the broadcast shows to be very exciting. Podcasts are homemade radio shows that you can download and listen to at a time that suits you. They also often cover more offbeat or esoteric subjects that appeal to me.
Mostly I listen to real life mystery podcasts, American political podcasts (mainly ones about Trump), Twin Peaks related podcasts and comic book podcasts. And the Private Eye podcasts.
One of the first mystery style I started to listen to was Thinking Sideways - in this podcast three presenters take turns to present a mystery every week and discuss various theories on what went on. The first episode that I listened to was on the 'Glasgow effect'.
Another slightly more fantastical podcast that I enjoy is Astonishing Legends - this podcast goes into strange tales in a great degree of detail. They exude an X-Files type vibe and they are often rather credulous but the production values are good and I enjoy the shows.
From a comic book point of view Fatman on Batman produced by Clerks director Kevin Smith as part of his Smodcast empire is a good starting point (if you like Batman). The early episodes in the archive are great, often focusing on individual comic book writers or artists and Batman related stuff. More recently the podcast has developed into a general forum for discussion of sic-fi, superheroes and anything Smith wants to talk about.
The Stuff You Should Know network has several good podcasts including Stuff They Don't Want You To Know and Stuff to Blow Your Mind (both of which have a sort of counterculture vibe) as well as the more mainstream, flagship Stuff You Should Know series. All of these are fairly interesting.
In terms of Trump bashing Trumpcast is fairly funny and a good place to start. The Pod Save America team have more White House connections and often have serious guests on to interview although they are often pretty funny too.
No Such Thing As A Fish was one of the first podcasts I listened to, a spin off from the BBC QI series, where strange facts are discussed in an amusing manner every week. It's good for a smile every now and again.
There are many more podcasts to check out - a few more are below
Page 94 - The Private Eye Podcast
The 2000AD Progcast - some great 2000AD chat
The Politico Nerdcast
A Twin Peaks Podcast
Enjoy
Showing posts with label kevin smith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kevin smith. Show all posts
Friday, September 22, 2017
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Zack and Miri make a porno
The new film by Kevin Smith has a title that might scare casual viewers. In some ways that might be a good thing if it keeps the modern Mary Whitehouse brigade out of the cinema but the title is a bit misleading. Zack and Miri make a porno is a modern love story.
The story is about a pair of lifelong friends who are down on their luck. They live together as friends and they are struggling financially. Up to their eyes in debt, without heat or water, they decide to make a pornographic film to earn money.
It sounds like one of those shitty gross-out teen comedy films but the direction of Kevin Smith makes it more than that. There are disgusting moments. Chocolate frosting will never be the same again. However, the heart of the film is tender.
Seth Rogan is great as usual. This is his best film for a while. Elizabeth Banks is much better than she was as Laura Bush in W where she was almost underacting. Jason Mewes is Jay without Silent Bob.
I hope this film makes a lot of money. It's the most enjoyable Kevin Smith film that I've seen for a while. Much better than Clerks 2. Go and see it or wait for the DVD so you can pause bits.
check out
www.zackandmiri.com
www.viewaskew.com
The story is about a pair of lifelong friends who are down on their luck. They live together as friends and they are struggling financially. Up to their eyes in debt, without heat or water, they decide to make a pornographic film to earn money.
It sounds like one of those shitty gross-out teen comedy films but the direction of Kevin Smith makes it more than that. There are disgusting moments. Chocolate frosting will never be the same again. However, the heart of the film is tender.
Seth Rogan is great as usual. This is his best film for a while. Elizabeth Banks is much better than she was as Laura Bush in W where she was almost underacting. Jason Mewes is Jay without Silent Bob.
I hope this film makes a lot of money. It's the most enjoyable Kevin Smith film that I've seen for a while. Much better than Clerks 2. Go and see it or wait for the DVD so you can pause bits.
check out
www.zackandmiri.com
www.viewaskew.com
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Film review - Clerks II
Clerks II probably only appeals to a select audience. How many people have seen the original Clerks? It's a cult movie for a niche market, the Kevin Smith fan. Luckily, I am a Kevin Smith nerd.
This film was never going to set the box office on fire. There was a reasonable audience in the cinema tonight but a lot of them didn't seem to expect the film that they got. Several people walked out. I'm not sure if they were offended or bored. I don't really care cos I liked it.
The story revolves around Randall and Dante, two 30-something losers who have been in McJobs for several years too long. Dante is about to escape to a new life with a new wife. Or is he getting cold feet?
And then there was this donkey.....
Jay and Silent Bob are back although their antics are tame this time. They really need to work a bit harder to offend me. The film is probably about average for Kevin Smith which is good for anyone else. I laughed. At one point I laughed so hard I thought I might hurt myself. I have a sick sense of humour so this film was good for me. You might not like it if you have 'strong moral values'.
Good, but not his best.
Funkee
This film was never going to set the box office on fire. There was a reasonable audience in the cinema tonight but a lot of them didn't seem to expect the film that they got. Several people walked out. I'm not sure if they were offended or bored. I don't really care cos I liked it.
The story revolves around Randall and Dante, two 30-something losers who have been in McJobs for several years too long. Dante is about to escape to a new life with a new wife. Or is he getting cold feet?
And then there was this donkey.....
Jay and Silent Bob are back although their antics are tame this time. They really need to work a bit harder to offend me. The film is probably about average for Kevin Smith which is good for anyone else. I laughed. At one point I laughed so hard I thought I might hurt myself. I have a sick sense of humour so this film was good for me. You might not like it if you have 'strong moral values'.
Good, but not his best.
Funkee
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Kevin Smith - why he is cool
Kevin Smith is a hero of mine. I first became aware of him and his work when I was at Glasgow Uni in the mid 1990s. I've always been a media junkie and I was aware of the hype surrounding Clerks on its release in 1994. I can't actually remember the first time that I saw that film but Eddie, one of my hipster nerd pals was a massive fan and he had good taste.
The early films by Kevin Smith appealed because of the pop culture references to comic books and films like Star Wars. The main characters are stoner losers like people I knew. Their lives were not perfect (like everyone). They were bored a lot of the time. Perfect student films.
The other purile star attraction of the films is Jay (and Silent Bob). Jay is a monster. The overgrown adolescent who is 'all about the pussy' and smoking dope. He talks shite like a 14 year old boy and appears to have a similar sex drive. He constantly derides his straight man/partner in crime Silent Bob (played by Smith).
As well as the usual dick/fart jokes his films have tackled serious topics. Chasing Amy is about relationships and sexuality. Dogma is about organised religion and corruption in the catholic church (Smith is a committed catholic and allegedly picketted his own film).
Smith is an actor too. He appears as a recurring character (silent bob) in most of his films and had also had roles in Scary Movie 3 and Daredevil.
Smith also writes comic books. He's actually good at it. He has written several books based on his own films as well as classic characters like Daredevil and Green Arrow. He also writes a blog on his own site www..viewaskew.com and at www.myspace.com/therealkevinsmith . The blog on myspace is particularly good with recent entries including 'On the Perils of Strip Clubs' and serials discussing his relationship with Jason Mewes (Jay) and his wife proving to be enjoyable. He also does stand-up comedy/lectures which are entertaining. The DVD 'an audience with Kevin Smith' captures one of these shows and is worth a watch.
Smith has also helped other indie film makers. His biggest success was as producer of oscar winner 'good will hunting' for mates ben affleck and matt damon. Clerks was also made into a cartoon series.
I realise this has been a gushing load of sycophantic bullshit but I do enjoy the mans work. I don't think it's high art but it's entertaining and it makes me laugh. It is good to see the underdog succed and Smith seems to have done that. Clerks II comes out this year and I can't wait to see it.
Newcomers - try Chasing Amy if you are mature. Try Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back iff you are emotionally crippled.
Phunky
The early films by Kevin Smith appealed because of the pop culture references to comic books and films like Star Wars. The main characters are stoner losers like people I knew. Their lives were not perfect (like everyone). They were bored a lot of the time. Perfect student films.
The other purile star attraction of the films is Jay (and Silent Bob). Jay is a monster. The overgrown adolescent who is 'all about the pussy' and smoking dope. He talks shite like a 14 year old boy and appears to have a similar sex drive. He constantly derides his straight man/partner in crime Silent Bob (played by Smith).
As well as the usual dick/fart jokes his films have tackled serious topics. Chasing Amy is about relationships and sexuality. Dogma is about organised religion and corruption in the catholic church (Smith is a committed catholic and allegedly picketted his own film).
Smith is an actor too. He appears as a recurring character (silent bob) in most of his films and had also had roles in Scary Movie 3 and Daredevil.
Smith also writes comic books. He's actually good at it. He has written several books based on his own films as well as classic characters like Daredevil and Green Arrow. He also writes a blog on his own site www..viewaskew.com and at www.myspace.com/therealkevinsmith . The blog on myspace is particularly good with recent entries including 'On the Perils of Strip Clubs' and serials discussing his relationship with Jason Mewes (Jay) and his wife proving to be enjoyable. He also does stand-up comedy/lectures which are entertaining. The DVD 'an audience with Kevin Smith' captures one of these shows and is worth a watch.
Smith has also helped other indie film makers. His biggest success was as producer of oscar winner 'good will hunting' for mates ben affleck and matt damon. Clerks was also made into a cartoon series.
I realise this has been a gushing load of sycophantic bullshit but I do enjoy the mans work. I don't think it's high art but it's entertaining and it makes me laugh. It is good to see the underdog succed and Smith seems to have done that. Clerks II comes out this year and I can't wait to see it.
Newcomers - try Chasing Amy if you are mature. Try Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back iff you are emotionally crippled.
Phunky
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
