Episode 11: Comics, Zombies, and Other Activities

In this, the eleventh Here Comes Two Podcast, we discuss some of the issue #2s from DC’s relaunch that we didn’t talk about last time, as well as some other comics. Then we talk about the new movie Martha Marcy May Marlene. Then it’s time for zombies, as we converse about The Walking Dead and its essential talk show companion. And we finish it off with a discussion of the Paranormal Activity series. (NOTE: We openly spoil the first one and more vaguely spoil the second one, but when we talk about the third one we only have mild spoilers for it or either of the preceding films, so you can skip to there if you want.)

Here’s a breakdown of the discussion:

0:00-1:20 – Introduction
Comics: DCNU #2s
1:20-4:24 – Aquaman
4:24-8:47 – Batman
8:47-9:38 – Blackhawks
9:38-13:39 – I, Vampire
13:39-15:20 – Nightwing
15:20-17:38 – Supergirl
17:38-18:45 – Voodoo
18:45-22:36 – Wonder Woman
Comics: Other
22:36-24:29 – Penguin: Pain and Prejudice
24:29-25:35 – Ultimate Comics Spider Man
25:35-27:09 – Incredible Hulk
27:09-29:51 – Echoes
29:51-35:57 – The Death Ray
Letters: M
35:57-40:34 – Martha Marcy May Marlene
Zombies: Aaron Sorkin (Walk & Talk)
40:34-56:03 – The Walking Dead
56:03-1:04:54 – Talking Dead
Films: Paranormal Activity
1:04:54-1:13:44 – Paranormal Activity
1:13:44-1:18:31 – Paranormal Activity 2
1:18:31-1:39:14 – Paranormal Activity 3

Here Comes Two – Podcast #11

Give it a listen! And look for us on iTunes.

Episode 10: The New DC 52

It’s been over a year since the last episode, but today sees the dawning of a new, rebooted Here Comes Two podcast. Robbie and I have parted ways in a bitter stream of tears and fists, so I come with two brand new co-hosts in the form of Scott Douglass and Calvin Holt. And what better way to relaunch the podcast than with a discussion of another, arguably higher-profile relaunch: the 52 new #1 issues that DC Comics released in September.

(NOTE: While we initially had planned to discuss the new 52 and then the Breaking Bad season four finale, it became clear that continuing the discussion past the 52 would make the podcast far too long. So please ignore it in the beginning when we say we’re going to talk about Breaking Bad later. We no longer intend to have that discussion, sadly.)

(SECOND NOTE: It turns out we were wrong about Action Comics being the only $3.99 title – All-Star Western and Justice League command the same price tag. Yay for not researching beforehand!)

Here’s a breakdown of the discussion:

0:00-2:29 – Introduction
2:29-11:55 – Action Comics
11:55-14:33 – Animal Man
14:33-17:11 – Aquaman
17:11-21:45 – Batman
21:45-27:17 – Batman and Robin
27:17-34:41 – Batwoman
34:41-36:48 – Blackhawks
36:48-41:27 – Demon Knights
41:27-46:57 – The Flash
46:57-54:20 – Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E.
54:20-58:07 – Grifter
58:07-1:03:07 – I, Vampire
1:03:07-1:05:37 – Supergirl
1:05:37-1:08:44 – Swamp Thing
1:08:44-1:12:11 – Voodoo
1:12:11-1:15:33 – Wonder Woman
1:15:33-1:19:43 – Wrap up

Here Comes Two – Podcast #10

Give it a listen! And look for us on iTunes.

Zach Sees Every Movie: The Zach Sees Every Movie Awards

This is the final post of the Zach Sees Every Movie project. Previously this week, I reflected on the experience as a whole. On Wednesday, I posted a handful of finished reviews I had sitting on my computer. And in this climactic post, I host the Zach Sees Every Movie Awards. Here we go…

Zach Sees Every Movie: Don’t you forget about me (sorry)

This is the second of three posts meant to conclude the Zach Sees Every Movie project. Previously, I reflected on the experience as a whole. On Friday, I’ll host the Zach Sees Every Movie Awards. But now, I dust off a handful of reviews that were finished but never saw the light of day. Enjoy.

Zach Sees Every Movie: On Seeing Every Movie

This is the first of threes posts meant to conclude the Zach Sees Every Movie project. This one will focus on assessing the entire project in retrospect. The one on Wednesday will collect a handful of reviews I never published. Finally, Friday’s post will be the Zach Sees Every Movie Awards, in which titles like “Best Bad Movie” and “Best Director Who Made Movies that I Liked that You Probably Assumed Were Terrible” will be given to the most deserving recipients. Stay tuned.

Zach Sees Every Movie: Podcast #2

Hey guys. So you remember when I did one of these back in November? Maybe you do. Well, here’s another one. It’s just me talking about movies I’ve seen recently. Also, it’s a little bit weird at times. And it has a brand new theme song!

0:00-2:23 – Introduction
2:23-7:36 – Yogi Bear (F) and other stuff
7:36-10:21 – The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader (C+)
10:21-15:11 – The King’s Speech (B)
15:11-19:01 – Sanctum (C)
19:01-22:30 – Blue Valentine (B+)
22:30-23:44 – The Way Back (B)
23:44-25:38 – The Green Hornet (B)
25:38-27:06 – The Mechanic (C)
27:06-31:18 – Just Go with It (C+)
31:18-32:25 – The Company Men (C-)
32:25-35:38 – I Am Number Four (D+)
35:38-40:56 – Paul (B+)
40:56-44:41 – Exit notes

Zach Sees Every Movie – Podcast #2

Also, we’re on iTunes.

Zach Sees Every Movie: I saw these a long time ago…

So I clearly fell behind on writing these reviews last year. It just got difficult. Whatever. And given how few reviews I published in the last couple months of 2010 (uh, zero) and how embarrassed I was by that, you’d think I might have bothered to post some of the reviews that I actually had finished. Apparently not. So here are four reviews that I wrote months ago but never published. On the bright side, these movies are starting to trickle out onto DVD and OnDemand, so these reviews are probably more relevant now than they would have been in December. Anyway, enjoy!

The Top 15 Albums of 2010

Well, this is a bit later than I’d have liked, but I wound up writing way more than expected about each entry. Still, I hope you remain somewhat interested in reflecting on this past year in music, because this took a long, long time to put together. If you’ll recall, in my top songs list I mentioned that there’s no crossover between that list and this one. This holds true, but I stress that the rule only impacted the songs list, not the albums list. There is one bit of crossover though, where an album here is by an artist I gave props to on the songs list, for a song from a different 2010 release of theirs. Although this isn’t necessarily restricted by that rule, I still likely would have avoided it if that album wasn’t so stylistically different from this one.

The Top 25 Songs of 2010

As the title indicates, these are my top twenty-five songs of 2010.  This list had just two major rules: no artist can be on it twice, and no crossover between it and the top fifteen albums list I’ll be writing later in the month (update: now posted).  That is, any song on an album from that list was disqualified from this list.  Otherwise it would become cluttered, and I’d wind up writing way too much about Robyn and Janelle Monáe while completely ignoring bands like School of Seven Bells or Cults.  Doing it this way lets me spread the accolades around.  As for this list specifically, I decided from the outset that I wasn’t going to write something for all of these songs, just the ones where I felt like I had something to say (can anyone say something new about “Fuck You” at this point?), which is why a small number of these are left blank.  At the end of the list is a ten-song Honorable Mention, listed in alphabetical order.

And here’s the obvious disclaimer that this list is more or less arbitrary.  Other than my number one choice, which I’m pretty settled on, not a single one of these songs is in the same spot it was when I first threw together a rough list, and items were moved around as recently as Saturday.  That is to say, I will smack the shit out of anyone who argues with me about how “Go Outside” is better than “Bloodbuzz Ohio,” because they clearly put more value in the rankings of this list than I do.  So, without further ado…

Zach Sees Every Movie: Podcast #1

So it’s come to this…  Swamped with homework and regular work and essays about Grey’s Anatomy, I haven’t had much time to write about the many movies I’ve been seeing recently.  So, to save some time, I recorded the first of probably many podcasts in which I share my opinion of some films I’m not going to write about.  Hopefully there will be a regular Here Comes Two podcast at some point in the future, in which I will talk back-and-forth with another human being, but until then, enjoy.

0:00-2:40 – Takers (C+)
2:40-5:48 – Case 39 (B+)
5:48-8:11 – Devil (C)
8:11-8:28 – It’s Kind of a Funny Story (C+)
8:28-12:21 – Hereafter (B-)
12:21-14:18 – Easy A (A-)
14:18- 15:03 – Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (C-)
15:03-17:50 – You Again (D-) (a.k.a. Zach Rants About Kristen Bell’s Career)
17:50-20:26 – Waiting for Superman (B-)
20:26-22:10 – You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (B)
22:10-23:52 – My Soul to Take (D+)
23:52-25:53 – The Town (B)

Zach Sees Every Movie – Podcast #1

Also, it’s on iTunes.  But you already knew that, didn’t you?