Colin's Last Stand: Knockback

Here in America -- and certainly in many other parts of the world -- swimming pools are a fundamental part of our summer tradition. Whether above-ground or inground, whether vinyl, fiberglass, or concrete, whether shared, community, or private, if you live in the USA and it's summertime, chances are you will readily encounter a pool. Perhaps you're a member of one, or even own your own. Since so many of us share this experience, we figured it'd be fun to talk about our pool memories from childhood. When did we learn how to swim, and what was it like growing up with a pool in our backyard? What games did we play and toys did we use? What's the protocol at public pools versus private ones, and what about the evolution of bathing suits? My friends, this podcast is the Marco to your Polo. Please enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Cameron's 1984 sci-fi/horror flick The Terminator isn't so much under appreciated as it is oft-overlooked. After all, this film's sequel is one of the most famous action and sci-fi movies of all-time, but its predecessor is something more stayed, grounded, and thrilling. Intertwining themes of nuclear war and time travel with a very recognizable 1980s Los Angeles and a handful of wonderful performances, The Terminator does a lot of heavy lifting, not only in catapulting forward a series that still exists to this day, but in proving what science fiction can accomplish outside of the tried-and-true themes of space travel and spaceships and space battles and... space, generally. And yes: Arnold is awesome. Of course he is! So let's get you up to speed on this classic flick, starting with what year it is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For many, the sixth season of Game of Thrones is when the show begins to decline. A lot of that unfortunately has to do with the subject matter itself: We are now beyond the boundaries of George RR Martin's books (at least as he's written and released them so far). With that structure gone, and with lots of holes to fill in, places to see and go, people to meet, and events to occur, the brisk pace of Game of Thrones' sixth season is perhaps its most glaring weakness. That's because within its 10 episodes is enough content for 20 or more, a compliment to yet another high-quality HBO offering that we simply want more of. It's still wonderful television, but it's sad to think about what could have been if it was given a more proper treatment, especially as we draw closer to what is widely considered a woefully weak finale. In the meantime, though, let us analyze and contemplate, as we're wont to do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

No, we've not Forgotten: Our audience voted for us to record an episode of KnockBack all about Linkin Park's seminal 2000 album Hybrid Theory, and needless to say, we're pleased to provide a Cure For the Itch. At a brisk 37 minutes a change, Hybrid Theory doesn't Runaway with fluff and filler. Instead, it stays With You, bringing you One Step Closer to the record's next great moment, one that always seems to be just around the corner. In the End, many consider Linkin Park's major label debut to be one of the most iconic raprock and nu-metal albums ever, a timely offering for a music industry Crawling towards a new era of downloads, YouTube videos, and single-obsessessions. In fact, Hybrid Theory is one of the final diamond-certified albums ever, a sign of the times. So let us talk about an album that brings raw energy and High Voltage to yearning, confused, and angst-ridden teens to this day. (While we always 'stretch our legs' with opening, non-topic-related conversation, we want to warn you that our introdu

The fifth season of Game of Thrones, which first aired on HBO in 2015, represents somewhat of a plateau for the critically-acclaimed show. While the first four seasons presented a steady progression in quality, intrigue, and execution, season five seems outright rushed, with too much content in too little time. It's still awesome for what it is, though, and that's perhaps where our biggest criticism becomes a blatant compliment: Because we want more, and we want it slower and more methodically, not quickly and haphazardly. Thus, George RR Martin's famous televised series descends into what becomes an increasingly controversial second half, one that's largely winged without source material, though we're not quite to that point yet. As we do in each episode, let's travel this fictional world and try to make sense of its many characters, locales, and arcs, and have some fun and enjoy some insight along the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At first blush, Sam Raimi wasn't a natural fit to direct a Spider-Man film, and yet his 2002 entry into the series did awesome at the box office and is much-beloved to this day. Two years later, he -- along with Tobey Mcguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, and others -- delivered Spider-Man 2, an even better film than the original that builds wonderfully on its themes, characters, and world. Spider-Man 2 also introduces an iconic villain in the form of Albert Molina's Dr. Octopus, who many Spidey fans were glad to see reemerge, at least in passing, in the MCU. Made for an exorbitant amount of money even then ($200 million) and earning an obscene amount of profit (some four times its cost), Spider-Man 2 is still one of the most beloved superhero films ever, even if it hails from an era when the genre wasn't so well-worn and readily-accepted. So join us as we gush over and celebrate Spider-Man 2, and remember: With great power comes great responsibility... fair or not. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit pod

We're halfway through George RR Martin's famous HBO fantasy series now, and some would argue that season four is the strongest Game of Thrones gets. That's high praise, of course -- the entire run (save maybe the end) is some of the best television ever produced -- but, whether you're a fan of the books or merely a lowly TV-watcher like we are, there's a whole lot to love. What's perhaps most interesting about this season (at least for us) is how different combinations of characters begin meeting, taking the wide-ranging tale into exciting new directions. As usual, it's hard to talk in too much detail here in the description without spoiling the show, but, uh... you may want to hire a food taster when you're done listening to us heap praise on one of our favorite programs ever. And we'll leave it there. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our slow-and-steady voyage through the Star Wars films continues unabated this week, as we move our focus to 2005's Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (as voted on by our listeners on Patreon). Capping off a tumultuous and ill-received prequel trilogy, Episode III is widely considered the strongest effort in that specific arc. But do we, The Brothers Moriarty, agree? Not particularly. Revenge of the Sith was when Lucas ran out of runway, and as a result, we're met with a rushed film that sets the seeds of some good ideas, but barely sticks around long enough to see any of them grow. Worse yet, it ignores much of what would have made this movie shine, adding too much to a concoction already drowning in watered-down ingredients. Before you execute Order 66, however, consider giving our chat a listen, and discover what a couple of lapsed, curmudgeonly Star Wars fans think about Anakin's ultimate turn to the Dark Side. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's no understatement to say that Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is perhaps the most singularly important game to ever come to a PlayStation platform, at least when taking into account the environment in which it launched. When it released in 2009, it did so at a vital time for the brand: PS3 Slim was out, its price was cut, and PlayStation had what seemed to be one last chance to best its rival and pull itself out of a dark three year period. Sony-owned Naughty Dog did a lot of the heavy lifting with the 2007 original, but Among Thieves realized the full potential of Uncharted, and is considered one of the best games of all-time to this very day. It's truly wonderful, and we are pleased to fulfill a listener vote and cover the game. So stay warm, friends. It's gonna get a little snowy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If the first two seasons of HBO's Game of Thrones didn't get your blood pumping, the third season -- which first aired in 2013 -- almost certainly will. With multiple kings (and a queen!) staking a claim and vying for power across the land, the stakes are ratcheting-up. One would-be monarch is equipped with a trio of dragons; another with more money than anyone could imagine; another with the power of fire magic, and so on. In the wake of each rest death and destruction, but it also brings us one step closer to resolution. From the Red Wedding to slave rebellions, and from the Brotherhood Without Banners to the situation North of the Wall, there is a whole lot to discuss, and there's little to waste. After all: Winter is still very much coming, and there are so many characters, arcs, and plot-points involved in this ever-darkening landscape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time for us to once again go back in time, not to celebrate and discuss a movie, video game, or TV show, but rather our own childhoods. Specifically: Our bedrooms growing up. These were our fortresses of solitude, places where we can regroup, study, be alone, and generally do whatever we want. Video games. Toys. TV. Computers. And, yes, schoolwork as well. Lots happened in our childhood bedrooms, which is why we're pleased to spend some two hours talking about our fondest and funniest memories of the places where we laid our heads to rest at night as children, and spent an awful lot of time in between, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While lots of viewers obviously love the first season of Game of Thrones, it's the second season -- which first aired on HBO in 2012 -- many consider the beginning of the series' long-running and well-earned golden era. There's action all over the map: In the far-north with rumblings of 'A King Beyond the Wall,' in Winterfell and the Iron Islands, which stir with and fall victim to the spirit of raiding, across the Narrow Sea in Essos, where we discover a desert city called Qarth, and certainly at King's Landing, which is set to be invaded at any moment. There's a lot more going on, too, which is how Game of Thrones rolls. It's dense with characters and plot. Thus, we do the best we can to not only make sense of it all, but touch on the characters, moments, and arcs that stood out to us most, from the relationship between Arya and Tywin and the drama between Jaime and Brienne to the Battle of Blackwater Bay and the reignition of a fiery old religion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/

While Toy Story wasn't the first 3D animated offering, it was certainly the film that proved the technique viable, desirable, and even preferable to the old ways of doing things. It also made a boatload of money, which never hurts. When it launched in theaters in late 1995, Toy Story left audiences enamored with its characters, blown-away by its visuals, and instantaneously hungry for more (it would take four years for more to arrive). At a brisk 80 minutes, Toy Story doesn't linger. Instead, it entertains relentlessly, packing amazing voice acting (Tom Hanks and Tim Allen!) and, at that point in time, the most sophisticated computer graphics the world had ever seen. Remember: This is a year -before- Super Mario 64 came out. It's really quite amazing, when you think about it. So -- as we're wont to do on this show -- we gush about Toy Story for well over two hours, get into its deep and winding history, what it means to animation and society alike, and the heavy influence it would play on entertainment, even

When it comes to HBO's mega-hit Game of Thrones -- arguably the single most famous offering in the four decade-long history of cable television -- there's so much to say. Like, tons. Infinite amounts, even. So, we've decided to tackle Game of Thrones here on KnockBack with an episode dedicated to each season, in an attempt to do some justice to something so grand. The first 10 episodes set George RR Martin's epic story (derived from his novel series A Song of Fire and Ice) into motion. We meet the Lannisters, Starks, and others who are all vying for a single throne, would-be rulers of great kingdoms steeped in history, tradition, and conflict. Game of Thrones is considered one of the best television shows ever for a reason: Because it really, truly is. It's a show that embodies the notion of "exceptional." And we're happy to celebrate it with a robust chat about the characters, settings, and story arcs that make season one hum. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While Ghost in the Shell began its life as a manga in the late '80s, the 1995 animated feature film that interpreted its story is what most people are familiar with. Created by renowned artist and writer Masamune Shirow and brought to the big screen by Mamoru Oshii, Ghost in the Shell deals with surprisingly heady subject matter: Science, politics, philosophy, and morality, amongst many other themes. The future world of cyborgs and humans envisioned in this work isn't too far off the mark, either, particularly when compared to other works of cyberpunk that are much more fanciful and overtly fictional in their approach. Overall, this is perhaps what makes Ghost in the Shell so notable to so many. It feels alive and true-to-form. And it's certainly worth a deep dive right here on KnockBack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's no exaggeration to say that 2007's Uncharted: Drake's Fortune launched at the perfect time. Naughty Dog's Indiana Jones-and-Tomb Raider-inspired adventure was released exclusively on PlayStation 3 when the console was in dire straits, getting beaten badly on the market by both Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii. In fact, that era may be the lowest point ever for the entire brand. But, for the first time for many PS3 players and would-be owners, Uncharted gave them something to be truly excited about, something to point at and justify their expensive console purchase. There's no denying that Drake's Fortune is one of PlayStation's most important offerings ever, and we're glad to dedicate a couple of hours to get into all the many reasons why this wonderful game still holds up all these years later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We love John Hughes here on KnockBack. The (sadly deceased) American filmmaker and writer is perhaps best-known for his work on the likes of Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller, and Home Alone. But before he got to any of those films -- and the rest of his legion of '80s masterpieces -- he undertook Sixteen Candles, which also happens to be his directorial debut after a series of writing gigs, including with National Lampoons. Starring Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall, two staples of his actor stable, Sixteen Candles is a surreal, funny, and emotional movie about a 16-year old girl whose family forgets her big day... and all that happens thereafter. However, there's a lot of weird stuff in this film, too: Implied sexual assault, casual racism, and more. All told, just where does Sixteen Candles fit in the Hughes Pantheon? Good and bad alike: Let's discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode of KnockBack is for all you pretty young things out there. In late-1982, Michael Jackson -- already world-renowned both with his family band The Jackson 5 and via his solo vehicles -- released his most seminal work, the three-times Diamond certified record Thriller. While its title track may be what's most remembered these days, it's interesting to look back to the early-'80s, when Thriller (the song) was released sixth (!) when it comes to singles. From Billie Jean and Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' to Beat It and Human Nature, Thriller provides banger after banger, a fusion of pop sensibilities with a rock-and-roll backbone. Yes: Michael Jackson is today a controversial figure, even reviled in some corners. But we wanted to look at this album through a historically relevant lens, and examine the music for music's sake. We hope you enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The culmination of Sci-Fi's reimagined Battlestar Galactica series is exceptional. Airing between 2008 and 2009 and interrupted by the Writer's Strike, its final season may be one of the greatest runs of programming in television history. Religious, spiritual, scientific, and above all else human, BSG wraps up with a satisfying conclusion that forces us to confront difficult questions about our heroes, villains, and perhaps most of all about ourselves. Humanity versus Cylon is a distraction. It's all about sentience. Choice. And breaking the cycle that, if anything, provides nothing but predictable outcomes. And that, in and of itself, may be unchangeable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wes Anderson's filmography is pocked with remarkable films, and 1998's Rushmore is undoubtedly one of them. Starring Jason Schwartzman and Bill Murray, Rushmore is -- in our estimation -- a movie all about dealing with pain: The pain of growing up, the pain of loss, the pain of emptiness. But, in traditional Anderson form, Rushmore's melancholy is accompanied by copious wit and humor that balances everything out, delivering something perhaps far greater than the sum of its individual parts. So take dead aim at the rich boys, friends. But not before you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices