The Screen Companion

The second James Bond film ever, From Russia with Love is the gold standard for the entries in the 007 series that leaned into the espionage over the larger than life villains with their volcano lairs. As a significant portion of the picture is set in Istanbul, we feature a guest who's lived in Turkey twice—once in the '60s and again in the '80s—to share some memories of the region. Guest: The Dad.

Out of all the tropes that pop up in family / kids movies, what's up with the wacky scientist? And do they engender the same respect as other mentor characters like wizards or martial arts masters? In Part 2, we ruminate on Back to the Future, Part II (1989). Stick around until the final segment when the panelists try their hand at a mash-up that incorporates story elements from BttF, Flubber, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. What wild new movies will we come up with?! Guests: Mitch & Jon.

Out of all the tropes that pop up in family / kids movies, what's up with the wacky scientist? And do they engender the same respect as other mentor characters like wizards or martial arts masters? In Part 1, we examine Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and Flubber. Let's break down the science behind these eccentric plot devices, both in narrative terms and how they affect viewers. Guests: Mitch & Jon.

What do you get when you mix science fiction with action? Is it the best of both, or the best of neither? Do sci-fi action films feel more like action movies with sci-fi elements, or the reverse? And what's the right ratio between the two? Can they be smart and feature explosions? Judge Dredd, The Fifth Element, and The One. So many questions and no guarantees for answers. Guests: Andrew, Jon & Pat.