Hermophobia #20: The Movies of 1994 – Part I

Allen and Mark discuss the films of 1994

discussed in this episode:

• The Top 20 films of 1994
• Comedies of 1994
• Sci-fi in 1994
• Action Movies of 1994

 

Coming Next:

The Movies of 1994 – Part II

 

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Hermophobia #19: The Movies of 1988 Part II

Mark and Allen continue and conclude their discussion of the films of 1988.

discussed in this episode:

• The stars of 1988
• The directors of 1988
• Horror Movies of 1988
• Dramas in 1988
• Siskel & Ebert's Top 10 of ‘88
• The Oscars
• Overlooked, Under-rated or Forgotten Films of 1988
• Over-rated and Best Forgotten Films of 1988
• Mark and Allen’s Top 5 of 1988 .

 

Coming Soon: 1994

 

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Hermophobia #18: The Movies of 1988 Part One

Oops! A week late! This is actually the second take of 1988, the first dumped for excess boringness! As Mark gets older, and Allen gets younger (?!?) they take time out to talk about the movies of 1988

discussed in this episode:

• The Top 10 Grossing films of 1988
• Comedies of 1988
• Sci-fi in 1988
• Action films of 1988

 

coming up next:

the movies of 1988 – part two!

 

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Hermophobia #17: The Movies of 1979 Part II

Mark and Allen continue their discussion of the films of 1979

discussed in this episode

• The stars of 1979
• The directors of 1979
• Horror Movies of 1979
• Dramas in 1979
• Odds & ends
• Siskel & Ebert's Top 10 of ‘79
• The Oscars
• Overlooked, Under-rated or Forgotten Films of 1979
• Over-rated and Best Forgotten Films of 1979
• Mark and Allen’s Top 5 of 1979

 

coming next: 1988

 

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Hermophobia #16: 1979 – Part I

Mark and Allen talk about the films of 1979!

discussed in this episode:

• The Top 20 Grossing Films of 1979
• The Comedies of 1979
• Sci-Fi in 1979
• Action Films of 1979

 

Next Week: 1979 – Part II

Coming Soon: 1988

 

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Hermophobia #15: Coming Soon: The Past!

Mark and Allen talk about the upcoming changes to Hermophobia!

 

Next Episode:

1979

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Hermophobia #14: A Baby Ate My Dingo!

This week Mark lies “in bed thinking about ‘Showgirls’” while Allen walks around in circles singing ooo-a-o!

 

  

discussed in this episode:

• Why netbooks will soon cost $99
• Downey Jr. Suits Up for Both 'The Avengers' and 'Iron Man 2'!
• Brits Playing American on TV
• Coming Soon: Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino
• Coming Soon: Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
• Where are the Music Videos on the Music Video Stations?
• Crowe To Play Werewolf In Ridley Scott Movie
• Paul Verhoeven Mini-Marathon: The 4th Man, Robocop, Showgirls
• Earworms: Little Boxes, Where Do The Boys Go
• DVD/ Movie Picks & November 4th New Releases

 

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Get Off My Lawn!

We will be talking about Gran Torino and Clint Eastwood’s phase in his career as an Oscar caliber director on Hermophobia #14. If you have any comments you would like included in this discussion, please post them now.

 

 

Also, what do you think of the new Underworld trailer? Or the franchise as a whole?

Hermophobia #13.5: TV Edition

***SPOILERS ABOUND*** 

Special Guest: Hayley!

 

 discussed this week:

• My Own Worst Enemy
  
• Boston Legal
  
• Life
  
• Heroes
  
• The Graham Norton Show
  
• Supernatural
  
• The Starter Wife
  
• Crusoe
  
• Eli Stone
  
• No Heroics
  
• Weeds: Seasons One & Two

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Hermophobia #13: You Can See Stuff!

This week Mark and Allen are joined by Allen’s HLP, Hayley!!!

 

discussed in this episode:

• Princeton publishes how-to guide for hacking Sequoia e-voting machines
• Australian Government Censorship 'Worse Than Iran'
  
• Price Change for Blu-ray of Lost - The Complete 4th Season
  
• 'Dexter' renewed for two more seasons; ABC wants more 'Private Practice'
  
• Smith Too Fat For Pal's Toilet
  
• A few Horror Favorites for Halloween
  
• October 28th DVD Releases
  
• Earworms
  
• DVD/Movie Picks:
  

  

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Angels in America

One of my loftier goal of things to do during my time off was to finally watch Angels in America.

I had heard a lot of great stuff about it, both in print and from friends that had watched it, and they all sang its praises. It has an amazing cast including Mary Louise Parker and Justin Kirk (both of Weeds), Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson and Jeffery Wright. It is directed by Mike Nichols (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Graduate, Closer) who is always a solid film maker, and even when he fails (Wolf), he does it interestingly.  The mini-series was written by Tony Kushner, adapted from his play Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes.

I have always thought that the mark of a really great movie (or in this case, mini-series) is that it remains with you long after you have viewed it. However, after watching Angels in America, what remains on my mind is “what did I miss?”

On Rotten Tomatoes it has garnered a very respectable 82%, and the IMDB user rating is 8.3 Stars, very high for an IMDB rating.  While I didn’t hate Angels in America, I certainly didn’t love it as it seems so many others have. With a 6 hour running time, I was expecting much more – not that I wanted some huge sweeping epic saga, it was that I was expecting something more intricate and meaty that I would be immersed into and leave me pondering its rich prose and web of themes and sub themes.

  

Instead what I got were a few interesting characters, a couple of  interesting (though not especially original) ideas, and of course, several excellent performances.

So after watching the 6 hour stage-to-screen translation, and spending nearly two weeks reflecting… what could have eluded me? I have to think there was more to it than sickness, despair and the idea that god has abandoned us. I really want to believe there was more. Surely I am not so thick that I am unable to get it? Am I? Perhaps the deep themes are hiding like Waldo. Perhaps if I unfocused my eyes, I will see the 3D themes immerge.I have wanted to cheat, start reading some reviews and articles that may be out there to help me understand what makes this so “important” and beloved. I keep thinking that if I do though, I will only start seeing what has been pointed out.  and then I am just squinting at the Emperor's New Clothes.

-Allen

Hermophobia #12.5: TV Edition

***SPOILERS ABOUND***

 

discussed in this episode:

• Valentine
• Desperate Housewives
• Dexter
• Family Guy
• Little Britain USA
• True Blood
• Boston Legal
• Chuck
• Heroes
• Life
• Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles
• The Big Bang Theory
• Worst Week
• My Own Worst Enemy
• Samantha Who?
• Eli Stone
• The Mentalist
• Bones
• Gary Unmarried
• Project Runway
• Pushing Daises
• The New Adventures of Old Christine
• Til Death
• Eleventh Hour
• Kath & Kim

  My Name is Earl Life On Mars Supernatural The Office Ugly Betty The Graham Norton Show

  No Heroics The Starter Wife Real Tine with Bill Maher Sanctuary Stargate: Atlantis Crusoe

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Hermophobia #12: Cockflavored?!?

They were MIA for a week! Mark is back from his expensive holiday while Allen weawwanges the wiving woom!

discussed in this episode:

• Apple news? really?
• IMDB turns 18!
• Hard times ahead for fancy electronics like big TVs
• Warner Bros. offers the 'truth' about Blu-ray
• Johnny Depp's Pirate bounty
• Box office VS DVD sales

Earworms

DVD/Movie Picks:

  

 Anchor Bay

 

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Hermophobia #11.5: TV Edition

***SPOILERS ABOUND***

discussed in this episode

• True Blood
• Dexter
• Desperate Housewives
• Chuck
• Life
• Boston Legal
• Heroes
• Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles
• Big Bang Theory
• Fringe
• The Mentalist
• Pushing Daisies
• Bones
• Gary Unmarried
• Knight Rider
• The New Adventures of Old Christine
• My Name is Earl
• Supernatural
• Survivor
• Ugly Betty
• Sanctuary
• Real Time With Bill Maher

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Hermophobia #11: I’m Barren!

Mark struggles with a cold as Allen sloths away week one of his vacation.

    

discussed in this episode

• Sex & The City Update
• Gary Shandling on Real Time
• On-Set Near-Misses and Accidents
• Iron Man BD-Live Confuses Consumers
• OJ Faces Possible Life in Prison
• Blade Runner Sequel Being Written
• Discomfort with On-Screen Nudity
• CBS Does Take Heat for Runaway Penis on Survivor
• 2-Piece Concept Phone
• Android G1
• Earworms
• DVD/Movie Picks:

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Hermophobia #10.5: TV Edition

Mark & Allen talk about the TV shows they are watching.

 

***SPOILERS ABOUND***

discussed in this episode

• Boston Legal
• Heroes
• Big Bang Theory
• The Mentalist
• Eureka
• Fringe
• Gary Unmarried
• The New Adventures of Old Christine
• Knight Rider
• Bones
• Project Runway
• Til Death
• My Name is Earl
• Ugly Betty
• The Office
• Survivor
• Kitchen Nightmares
• Supernatural
• Real Time with Bill Maher
• Stargate: Atlantis

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Hermophobia 10: R.I.A. eh?

Allen slides into a 2 week time off, while Mark awaits his medal for chopping wood… he’s gonna be waiting a long long time!

 

discussed in this episode:

• Sex and the City: Who buys the single disc edition? + Unwanted advertising!
• Paul Newman (1925-2008)
• RIAA decision overturned
• Kevin Smith VS Air Canada
• DVD/Movie Picks

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Hermophobia #9: It’s Fantastic!

Allen looks for a 12 step RSS program and abuses the word “Fantastic,” while Mark invests in a road to his outhouse!

discussed in this episode:

• Best Buy buys Napster
• HD prices to fall?
  
• Warner on Digital Downloads
  
• More on DVD Profiler
  
• Earworms
  
• Remake Watch: Conan
  
• DVD Movie Picks

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Hermophobia #8: Now With Less Rat Hair!

After a seemingly endless week Allen and Mark take time out to talk film and tech… and the scary side of generic products!   

discussed in this episode:

• The Thing Prequel
• Ghostbusters 3
• Blockbroken!
• DRM Ecosystem
• Earworms
• I-Phone is Tracking You
• Canadian DMCA
• Nightbreed

DVD/Movie Picks:

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