On this week's episode of Shat the Movies, Gene and Big D dive into Steven Spielberg's epic 1987 coming-of-age war drama, Empire of the Sun. Commissioned by loyal listener Jeff S., this film takes us on a journey through World War II-era Shanghai.

Join us as we explore Spielberg’s masterful direction, the stunning cinematography, and Bale's standout performance in what many consider his breakout role. We’ll also discuss the historical significance of the film, its initial reception, and how it holds up decades later. Did Empire of the Sun earn its place as one of Spielberg’s most overlooked masterpieces, or does it fall short?

Episode Highlights:

• Christian Bale's career-launching role at just 12 years old.
• The historical context of Japan's occupation of Shanghai and how Spielberg brings it to life.
• The film’s unique narrative structure and how Spielberg sets the stage for his iconic storytelling.
• More of Big D's Tales from Blockbuster

Subscribe Now

• Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android
• Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple

Help Support the Podcast

• Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact
• Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support
• Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal
• Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo
• Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop
• Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

This week on "Shat the Movies," we’re diving into The First Power (1990)! Join us as we follow Lou Diamond Phillips’ cop on the hunt for a resurrected serial killer with a sinister supernatural ability.

We’ll unpack the film’s blend of horror, action, and thrills, exploring what makes it a unique ‘90s thriller. Whether you’re a fan or new to the film, tune in for a fun and spooky ride through this supernatural crime drama!

Plot Summary:
In the 1990 supernatural thriller The First Power, directed by Robert Resnikoff, Lou Diamond Phillips stars as Russell Logan, a tough Los Angeles detective who captures a notorious serial killer, Patrick Channing (Jeff Kober), known for his ritualistic murders. Channing, dubbed “The Pentagram Killer,” is sentenced to death and executed in the gas chamber. However, Logan soon learns that Channing’s death was only the beginning. The killer made a demonic pact granting him "the first power," a supernatural ability to return from the dead with the power of possession.

Logan teams up with psychic Tess Seaton (Tracy Griffith), whose disturbing visions had helped him capture Channing initially. Now, her psychic abilities reveal that Channing has come back from the grave, more dangerous than ever. Channing’s new power allows him to inhabit the bodies of others, making him an unpredictable and unstoppable force as he resumes his killing spree. Logan, a hardened skeptic, is forced to confront the reality of the supernatural as he battles against an evil far beyond his understanding.

As the possessed Channing terrorizes the city, Logan and Tess must race against time to stop him before he claims more victims. Their investigation leads them through dark alleys, abandoned buildings, and intense confrontations that test Logan’s resolve and Tess’s psychic abilities. The film’s blend of police procedural and supernatural horror keeps the tension high, leading to a climactic showdown between Logan and the malevolent, seemingly invincible Channing.

The First Power combines intense action, horror, and suspense, featuring a chilling performance from Jeff Kober and a gritty portrayal by Lou Diamond Phillips. Join our podcast review as we dive into this 90s thriller, exploring its unique premise, memorable scares, and whether it still delivers the chills today.

Subscribe Now

• Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android
• Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple

Help Support the Podcast

• Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact
• Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support
• Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal
• Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo
• Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop
• Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

Stressed about the biggest election of our lives? Shat The Movies will transport you back to a time when America was united against global terror and supermodels roamed the runways. Join us for the 2001 Ben Stiller comedy, "Zoolander."

Hot Sauce Steve won the Shat Fantasy Football League last season and chose "Zoolander" as his prize. This cameo comedy is a true time capsule—touching on disposable fashion, millennial celebrities and a few dated jokes.

On this episode, Gene explains why "Zoolander" should be viewed with subtitles. Big D makes the case for reviewing more movies from the 2000s. And Will Farrell proves why he's the funniest guy in every movie he graces.

Subscribe Now

• Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android
• Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple

Help Support the Podcast

• Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact
• Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support
• Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal
• Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo
• Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop
• Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

"Halloween" is the most-covered franchise in the Shat The Movies catalogue, and this Spooktacular season we're bringing you "Halloween 2," courtesy of listener Rob T.

So what if it this movie mostly takes place in the same small hospital? So what if Michael Myers' backstory essentially is rewritten? This sequel has more of what we loved about the original "Halloween": great boobs, quirky Haddonfield, bloody kills and an absolutely wild Dr. Loomis.

In this episode, Gene and Big D cover dental records, journalism, razor blades in candy, hot tubs, medical malpractice, forced sedation and getting shot in the eyeballs.

Subscribe Now

• Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android
• Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple

Help Support the Podcast

• Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact
• Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support
• Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal
• Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo
• Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop
• Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

Shat The Movies historically has been less than kind to Stephen King. So this years Spooktacular commissioner, Rob T, challenged us to rewind to the Master of Horror's first work: "Carrie."

Aside from its massive pop-culture impact, this 1976 hit showcased Sissy Spacek's incredible acting skill and Brian De Palma's directorial prowess.

"Carrie" also introduced the Shat Crew to Googly-Eyed Jesus, exercise detention and shockingly effective use of slow-motion while leading us to ask whether the movie poster gave away too much.

Is Stephen King the Hoobastank of authors? How clearly can a person speak while blowing John Travolta? And which utensils are appropriate for killing your mom? We tackle these questions and more, just in time for Halloween.

Subscribe Now

• Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android
• Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple

Help Support the Podcast

• Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact
• Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support
• Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal
• Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo
• Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop
• Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

Just what does it take to be among Entertainment Weekly's "50 Best High School Movies?" According to "Just One of The Guys," a film needs to be horny, depict decent journalism and have a jaw-dropping fight scene. Bonus points for cross-dressing.

This 1985 adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" shocked Dick Ebert with its depictions of a boys locker room, delighted Gene Lyons with its outlandish characters and ventured dangerously close to cringe with a surprise James Brown reference.

Subscribe Now

• Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android
• Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple

Help Support the Podcast

• Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact
• Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support
• Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal
• Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo
• Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop
• Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

This week on "Shat the Movies," we’re sprinting into the energetic world of Run Lola Run (1998)! Join us as we follow the heart-pounding journey of Lola, played by Franka Potente, as she races against time to save her boyfriend in a series of electrifying scenarios.

We’ll explore the film’s innovative storytelling, stunning visuals, and the pulse-pounding soundtrack that keep you on the edge of your seat. From the high-stakes decisions to the alternate realities, this film redefines the action genre in a unique way. Whether you’re revisiting this stylish classic or experiencing it for the first time, get ready for a fast-paced discussion that highlights the thrill of running against the clock!

Plot Summary: In the 1998 German thriller Run Lola Run, directed by Tom Tykwer, Franka Potente stars as Lola, a young woman who embarks on a heart-pounding race against time to save her boyfriend, Manni (Moritz Bleibtreu). Manni, a low-level criminal, loses 100,000 Deutsche Marks in a botched money drop for his gangster boss. With only 20 minutes to find the money and prevent Manni from committing a desperate robbery, Lola is thrown into a frantic quest through the streets of Berlin.

The film's narrative structure is one of its most unique features, unfolding in three different versions of the same story. Each version explores how small changes in Lola’s actions and timing lead to drastically different outcomes. Whether by chance encounters, split-second decisions, or twists of fate, each run has profound consequences, shaping the lives of Lola, Manni, and the people they encounter.

The film masterfully blends live-action sequences with animated inserts, set to an energetic techno soundtrack that drives the relentless pace. Tykwer's innovative use of time loops and alternative storylines keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, turning what could have been a simple rescue mission into a philosophical exploration of fate, chance, and the power of individual decisions.

As Lola sprints through the city, encountering obstacles and allies, Run Lola Run keeps audiences captivated with its kinetic energy, visual style, and themes of love, loyalty, and determination. The film's fast-paced, high-stakes action, combined with its unconventional storytelling, has made it a cult favorite.

Join our podcast review as we dive into this adrenaline-fueled thriller, discussing its groundbreaking narrative structure, stunning visuals, and whether its pulse-pounding excitement still resonates with modern audiences.

Subscribe Now

• Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android
• Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple

Help Support the Podcast

• Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact
• Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support
• Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal
• Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo
• Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop
• Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

Celebrate Gene! When listener Mike T. heard Shat The Movies desperately wanted to cover "Withnail and I," he stepped up with the funds to make it happen.

On its surface, "Withnail and I" is a simple movie about two out-of-work actors navigating the bleak landscape of 1960s England. Big D didn't realize it was the 1960s; he just thought England looks like that.

But this cult classic inspired millions—including Gene Lyons—with its sharp wit, unforgettable quotes and rich character study.

In this episode, the Shat Crew dissects the film’s themes of friendship, disillusionment and the struggle for identity, all while celebrating the iconic performances of Richard E. Grant and Paul McGann.

Subscribe Now

• Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android
• Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple

Help Support the Podcast

• Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact
• Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support
• Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal
• Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo
• Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop
• Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite