For the seventh and final episode of the first season of REEL TALK, co-hosts John Galope and Ilker Yucel watch the 1987 action/sci-fi satire RoboCop.
Heralded after more than three decades for its dystopian vision of a violent future, the movie remains a provocative artifact of its era as response to the social and economic policies of the Reagan administration, as well as a commentary on the growing development and overreliance on technology; as such, RoboCop tackles issues of corporatism and corruption with specific examples of the privatization of both the police force and the criminal underworld. After the critical and commercial failure of 1985's Flesh and Blood, his first English-language film and his last with regular collaborate Rutger Hauer, director Paul Verhoeven and writers Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner also approach issues of personal identity and the triumph of the human spirit over technology, while also infusing no small amount of gory and violent excess to enhance the satire.
Starring Peter Weller as the titular character, Nancy Allen as his partner, Kurtwood Smith as the sadistic gang leader Clarence Boddicker, and Ronny Cox as the corporate villain, RoboCop is an inspired masterpiece of the genre; along with a magnificent score by the late Basil Poledouris, and award winning special effects, the film also won an Academy Award in 1987 for Best Sound Editing, and was the most nominated entry at the 15th Saturn Awards. The unrated director's cut - initially rated X for its extended violent content - was later released as part of The Criterion Collection on LaserDisc, and subsequently on DVD and is now as widely available as the original theatrical cut.
Recorded on February 7, 2021. We hope you enjoy it!

Episode 1-7 - RoboCop: Director's Cut (1987)

REEL TALK co-hosts John Galope and Ilker Yucel take on the arduous task of traversing the strange world of Krull as they watch this 1983 swashbuckling fantasy.
Considered by some now to be a cult film, this film presents a somewhat anomalous entry in sword and sorcery as a movie possessing of all the elements necessary for hit status, only to elude it by virtue of its shortcomings of a nonsensically generic plot, unaided by uneven special effects that range from excellent to abominable. Marred by an extensive and expensive production process, Krull proved to be a box office bomb, with critical assessments as divided today as they were upon the film's initial release.
Nevertheless, there are the worthwhile aspects of James Horner's boisterous and heroic score, some inspired set and creature designs, and an ensemble cast featuring Ken Marshall - in a role evocative of the great Errol Flynn - as the gallant Prince Colwyn, and Lysette Anthony as the Princess Lyssa; adding to the cast are early performances by Liam Neeson and Robbie Coltrane, noted character actor Alun Armstrong, as well as Freddie Jones and Francesca Annis.
Recorded on May 8, 2021. We hope you enjoy it!

Episode 2-3 - Krull (1983)

In the penultimate episode of the second season of REEL TALK, co-hosts John Galope and Ilker Yucel take their seats at the Round Table in the 1981 Arthurian classic Excalibur.
Produced, directed, and co-written by John Boorman, the movie is a retelling of the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, taking significant inspiration from Thomas Malory's 15th-century romance Le Morte d'Arthur, as well as snippets of imagery and sets envisioned for an abandoned attempt at adapting The Lord of the Rings. The film is notable for featuring stars of stage and screen like Nicol Williamson, Helen Mirren, Patrick Stewart, Cherie Lunghi, and Nigel Terry, as well as early performances by Liam Neeson, Gabriel Byrne, and Ciarán Hinds.
Although a financial success, Excalibur left critics divided, with almost universal praise heaped upon its visual splendor, while opinions on the dialogue and performances have been mixed. Among its many accolades, filmmaker Zack Snyder has cited it as his favorite movie, while cinematographer Alex Thomson earned an Academy Award nomination. Drama, romance, adventure, fantasy, and mythology collide in grand fashion in 1981's Excalibur.
Recorded on June 19, 2021. We hope you enjoy it!

Episode 2-4 - Excalibur (1981)

Concluding the Swords & Sorcery season of REEL TALK, co-hosts Ilker Yucel and John Galope take one more journey to the Hyborian Age in the 1982 epic Conan: The Barbarian.
Adapted from the literary works of Robert E. Howard and drawing upon the imagery of Frank Frazetta, this movie was written initially by fledgling screenwriter Oliver Stone, conceived by him as the beginning of an ongoing cinematic franchise before director John Milius took things in a far grander and more operatic direction that resulted in a true tale of high adventure. Drawing upon elements of both Conan and Howard's Kull mythos, the movie follows the origins of the Cimmerian, witnessing the slaughter of his family and his village and growing up to become a pit fighter, a hunted thief, a feared warrior, and finally the hero who confronts the evil sorceror Thulsa Doom and his wicked snake cult.
Having conquered the world of bodybuilding, the film marked the arrival of Arnold Schwarzenegger as a nigh unstoppable force, becoming the Hollywood action star for the '80s. Joining him are champion surfer Gerry Lopez and dancer Sandahl Bergman, as well as acclaimed thespians like Max von Sydow, Mako, and James Earl Jones as the villainous Thulsa Doom. With a majestic score by Basil Poledouris and inspired visuals by Milius and cinematographer Duke Callaghan, Conan: The Barbarian was maligned by critics for its violence and a perceived grandiosity that did little to dissuade audiences from making the film one of the smash hits of 1982.
Recorded on January 23, 2022. We hope you enjoy it!

Episode 2-5 - Conan: The Barbarian (1982)

As we approach the debut of the third season of REEL TALK, co-hosts John Galope and Ilker Yucel indulge in the spooky season as they discuss all things Halloween. From the classic Halloween specials of decades past to the rampant commercialization of all things haunt-worthy, and even with a few occasional asides about favorites in the horror genre, Halloween '22 offers a chance for a light-hearted but still insightful glimpse into our co-hosts' gothic and ghostly predilections.
Recorded on October 7, 2022. We hope you enjoy it!

Episode 0-2 - Halloween '22 Special

At long last, the third season of REEL TALK begins, with co-hosts John Galope and Ilker Yucel now presenting a new format for the show and discussing a variety of topics related to cinema and why we love it.
As children of the '80s, we grew up during the rise of the multiplex movie theaters and the advent of home video; rentals and matinees were king, and we had opportunities to indulge in our nerdy cinematic viewing impulses. In this discussion episode, we share our experiences and our observations on the halcyon days before the nigh limitless possibilities of streaming services and downloads have now afforded us. It was a different time, folks... and it will never come again... or will it? Well... listen and we'll let you know what we think.
Not to worry, for REEL TALK will continue to feature full-length commentaries, as well as discussions on a broader range of more specific topics like '90s cyberpunk, the rise and fall of the erotic thriller, the evolution of horror, screwball comedies, the golden age of porn, franchises, sequels and prequels, remakes, reboots, and whatever the heck else we can come up with. Oh, and we'll also soon be including shoutouts to other Podcasts that we enjoy. It's going to be a fun ride!
Recorded on February 21, 2021. We hope you enjoy it!

Episode 3-1 - Discussion: Cinema, Movie Theaters, Home Video, Streaming, and More...

For this first commentary under the new show format, REEL TALK co-hosts John Galope and Ilker Yucel  chose the 2008 film by Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn, Bronson.
One of the more unique movies of the last two decades, this semi-biographic dramatic comedy - or would that be a comedic drama? - served as a vehicle for then burgeoning star actor Tom Hardy, testing the mental and physical limits of his skills as an actor. Based on the life of Michael Peterson (a.k.a. Charlie Bronson), the story is told in a grand theatrical fashion, recounting key events and the inner thoughts of the man who would become known as Britain's most violent prisoner. From rebellious youth to petty criminal, bare-knuckle boxer to outsider artist, the film presents a loose interpretation of the man's life and emotional turmoil, offering little-to-no-insights, but a high degree of entertainment.
Recorded on February 21, 2022. We hope you enjoy it!
This episode also introduces the Podcast Shoutouts, which will be a regular feature in REEL TALK from here on out. Our first shoutout goes to Void Signal, hosted by Brian H. McLelland. http://voidsignal.net.

Episode 3-2 - Commentary: Bronson (2008)

The '90s was a strange and fertile time for sci-fi, particularly the subgenre now adoringly referred to as cyberpunk, and so REEL TALK co-hosts John Galope and Ilker Yucel revisit their teenage years with a discussion about this very special time and style.
Wrought with themes of corporate and industrial espionage, the proliferation of technology, the commodification of youth culture, and surfing through the digital realms of cyberspace, '90s cyberpunk was as wonderous in its depictions of an interconnected future as it was campy and trashy in its dystopian implications. Throw in some great soundtracks, odd fashions, and a fascination with anime and Japanese/far Eastern culture, and you have such gems of synthetic audiovisual overload as Hackers, Johnny Mnemonic, Strange Days, The Lawnmower Man, William Shatner's TekWar series, Circuitry Man, Nemesis, and more.
Recorded on March 5, 2022. We hope you enjoy it!

Episode 3-3 - Discussion: '90s Cyberpunk

Just in case you thought that REEL TALK was without some semblance of culture or sophistication, this episode sees co-hosts John Galope and Ilker Yucel discussing the 1984 historical drama Amadeus, directed by Miloš Forman and written by Peter Shaffer, adapted from his own stageplay of the same name.
Far from an historically accurate account of the renowned classical composer, the film instead offers an entertaining exploration of the myths and rumors surrounding his music and his life, blurring the lines between fact and fiction. A grand spectacle of a motion picture in which music and visuals merge into a stunning display, driven by the propulsive direction of Forman, the fantastic ensemble cast led by F. Murray Abraham as Antonio Salieri and Tom Hulce as the titular composer, choreography by the legendary Twyla Tharp, and of course, the majestic score featuring some of the best known compositions by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, conducted by the great Neville Mariner. After nearly four decades, it is still widely regarded as one of the greatest movies ever made, sweeping the 1984 Academy Awards with eight wins, including Best Picture, Director, Actor, Screenplay, Costume Design, and Sound.
Recorded on June 11, 2022. We hope you enjoy it!

Special thanks to David Clark for his friendship and assistance.

Episode 3-4 - Discussion: Amadeus

REEL TALK has now done a complete 180-turn from sophistication to outright smut as co-hosts John Galope and Ilker Yucel discuss the genre known as the erotic thriller. From the tropes and formulas that defined a generation to the now widespread availability of any kind of content imaginable, the erotic thriller is a genre that seems to have disappeared in recent decades, and our dirty-minded co-hosts are all to happy to hearken back to the halcyon days of their youth - to a time when we watched from the stairwells so as not to get caught by parents, when the pause and rewind buttons on our VCR remotes would get worn out for those precious few seconds of forbidden imagery, when murder mysteries and romantic dramas weren't complete without gratuitous portions of nudity and suggestive dialogue that left you entertained by your own embarrassment. All of this and more as we discuss the rise and fall of the erotic thriller.
This episode marks the return of REEL TALK after a long period of inactivity; we will be riding out the remainder of the third season and the upcoming fourth season, with plenty of new episodes on the way!
Recorded on May 8, 2022. We hope you enjoy it!

Episode 3-5 - Discussion: The Rise and Fall of the Erotic Thriller

As you can probably tell by now, REEL TALK co-hosts John Galope and Ilker Yucel love to talk about movies, television, motion pictures, media, and all manner of topics related to their love of cinema.
With this sixth episode of the third season, we touch on a variety of random topics - from the excessive length of modern movies, the resurgence of anthology series, the entertainment factor of badly executed features, the strange allure of Quentin Tarantino movies among older audiences, Henry Rollins' dubious acting abilities, Studio Ghibli, oversexed 11-year-olds on cocaine... wait, what? Well, you'll just have to listen to find out.
This is the penultimate episode of our third season, with the finale to feature another full-on commentary, one of gargantuan properties... but again, you'll just have to listen. We're thrilled to soon be starting our fourth season, so stay tuned!
Recorded on August 19, 2022. We hope you enjoy it!

Episode 3-6 - Discussion: Potpourri & General WTF***ery (Random Topics)

From friends and film buffs Ilker Yucel and John Galope, welcome to our cinematic commentary series - REEL TALK - in which we share our thoughts, opinions, and other bits of trivia about movies that we love and enjoy. This is not meant to be taken as a comprehensive overview of any of the movies featured; this is purely for entertainment and the enjoyment of ourselves and, hopefully, those of you listening.
As our audio commentaries do not feature any audio or video from the movies so as to prevent any sort of copyright issues, each episode begins with a countdown where you can, on the count of zero, press play on your DVD, Blu-Ray player, or your streaming service of choice - that way, the commentary will hopefully match up with the progression of the movie.
We hope you enjoy it!

REEL TALK

Popular tracks