Colin's Last Stand: Knockback

Marvel's vaunted Cinematic Universe had a more inauspicious start than many may remember, and in fact, the first two MCU films came to theaters mere months apart in 2008. A few weeks ago, we covered Iron Man, the first of those two movies, and so this week we're on to the Edward Norton-led and surprisingly contentious standalone Incredible Hulk film. Its contentiousness is surprising because this movie is actually quite good, though stories about turbulent production may have soured this picture's memory (not to mention some recasts). Nonetheless, we have much to discuss here, including the representation of the Hulk himself, the film's significant anti-war message, some pretty great performances from some very famous actors, and more. The ball's in your court, Mr. Green. Just hit play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wes Craven's 1984 film A Nightmare on Elm Street is one of the most beloved horror flicks ever made, a tale about a child murderer who dies, only to return to haunt the dreams of more could-be victims. Antagonist Freddy Kreuger, in particular, is iconic, but the question remains: Is this movie actually any good? Is it scary? Does it hold up? Or is it just a little too goofy and poorly-paced to be believed? We get deep into all of that, navigating with listener inquiries in hand, as always. Baseball bats and boogeymen? That's the least of our concerns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 2004, journalist Evan Wright released a book called Generation Kill, all about his time attached to a Marine regiment during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It was a hit, and the basis for a 2008 HBO series by the same name. As its name suggests, the US Marines 1st Recon Battalion is meant to... well... perform reconnaissance. But 'Chaos' and 'Godfather' saw them more suited for a blitzkrieg to Baghdad. The result is an extraordinary story of courage, insanity, and ruthlessness, and we're eager to talk about all seven episodes and all eight hours. Of course, while we go over our favorite characters, moments, and more, this conversation also delves into the Iraq War itself, what it was like living in a society that overwhelmingly supported the conflict, and the lessons we've hopefully learned for the future. So hit play and listen... but police that mustache first. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The summer is all fun and games, but 'back to school' always looms on the horizon. The further we get into the dog days, the closer we get to the next grade, and it's those weeks -- usually in August, but sometimes in July or stretching into September -- that are our focus during this episode. What was our routine? Were we excited to go clothes shopping? To get school supplies? To find out who our teachers are? Or did we dread returning to the classroom, and do everything we could to avoid the harsh reality of childhood education? People were usually one way or the other, and sometimes they vacillated between the two. As for us? Well... let's just say we really loved our Star Wars and GI Joe lunchboxes, and begin there. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is pretty much the biggest thing to ever hit cinemas, but it started innocently enough back in 2008 with Iron Man, the Jon Favreau-directed, Robert Downey Jr.-led superhero flick that's... well... pretty damn good, actually. Indeed, it only grossed half a billion dollars at the box office, pretty mild results for what would follow! The film may be missing a villain, but it comes packing a whole lot more: A complex, human, and deeply-flawed protagonist, a fun world, awesome technology, and lots of humor. Iron Man is a charming film that's more than a worthy watch, and we're thrilled to jump in as we begin our exploration of the MCU. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some people have the need for speed. Among them are the US Navy fighter pilots as portrayed in the 1986 Jerry Bruckheimer-led smash-hit Top Gun. The film stars a young Tom Cruise as Maverick, an ace pilot with a mysterious past and his own way of doing things. But really, this flick is a visual feast for the eyes if you're into fighter jets, dogfighting, and more. Is it corny and campy? Absolutely. Does it hold up today? Well, we'll leave that up to you. And yes, we'll even get into the theories about what the movie really means... although we're not so sure we agree. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 1986 Jim Henson classic film Labyrinth is about a whole lot more than David Bowie's impressive codpiece. And yes: That in and of itself is amazing. But nestled underneath its fantasy, puppetry, and music is a movie about childhood, about growing up and finding your way and letting go. Few movies resonate from childhood resonate more than Labyrinth for Colin in particular, who considers this one of his favorite all-time flicks. And, well... it really is as good now as it was then. Maybe even better. So let's go to the castle on the other side of the Goblin City, and find out what mysteries Jareth has in store for us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For many fans of BSG, the second season of the reimagined run is the best 20 episodes the franchise has to offer. It's here that -- according to Dagan -- the show goes from good to very good, and truly finds itself with its fusion of dark, deep, philosophical, and religious themes tied to the trappings of grounded sci-fi. The result is truly special: One part political thriller and another part horror flick, one part spiritual exercise and another part existential crisis. Battlestar Galactica is about as good as televised science fiction has ever been, and we're thrilled to talk about the second season and all that entails. Just remember: We want Razors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some 20 years removed from the release of Sam Raimi's Spider-Man, it's easy to get lost in the weeds. After all, we are absolutely inundated with superhero media today, particularly from Marvel, whether it's movies, TV shows, and even video games. But back in 2002, Spider-Man's 21st century film debut was both quaint and extraordinary. On one hand, it's wild to think about how important this particular movie is to the landscape that would come. On the other hand, it's fun to think about what may have happened if it wasn't made at all, and if it wasn't such a rousing success. So let's chat about Toby Maguire's Peter Parker, Kirsten Dunst's MJ, and the true star of the show: Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin. And no matter what you do, please don't cause the deaths of countless innocents in selfish battle again and again and again until we're both dead! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Memories are structured. There's a place, an event, and perhaps even other people. And then there's the true setting: The year, the era, the month, or indeed the season itself. It's that latter notion that we want to explore in this episode of KnockBack, because the four seasons themselves -- Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter -- are absolutely teeming with nostalgic remembrance begging to be uncovered. The turning of Spring and the end of school, the promise and freedom of Summer, the changes and back-to-normal of Fall, and the end of it all (with a promise of more to come) of Winter. We're excited to delve into the fuzzy and meaningful feelings tethered to each season, feelings that are probably more universally-felt than you'd initially think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Peter Jackson's epic film rendition of JRR Tolkein's equally-epic fantasy book series wraps up with 2003's Return of the King, a flick many (including us) consider to be the strongest of the three. As Middle-earth seeks balance and peace, the forces of evil remain very much in play. While Frodo and Sam make a beeline for Mount Doom, the Fellowship and their forces fight for survival. With amazing performances, a wonderful score, solid CG, and an amazing story (of course!), we're sad to see Tolkein's Trilogy off. But fear not, for all hasn't yet turned to vain ambition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 2006 stoner comedy Grandma's Boy is a classic for multiple reasons: It's a stoner romp with great characters, it's fun without being dramatically crude or inappropriate (with some notable exceptions, of course), and -- perhaps most understatedly -- it mercilessly lampoons the gaming industry. Since E3 2021 is now over, we thought we'd do a quick episode all about potentially our hobby's most famous comedy. Just be wary of whatever's in Sophie's tin. It may just turn you into a deer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the early aughts, a late '70s sci-fi show was reimagined for a whole new generation of viewers. It was called Battlestar Galactica, and -- unlike the original, cult-favorite run -- the reboot was a smash hit. It's simple enough to understand, in premise: Humanity creates robotic slaves who turn on them in a vicious war before disappearing for decades. But then, they come back and inflict a holocaust on their masters. BSG deals with more themes than we can even imagine: Fascism and terrorism, economics and philosophy, religion and death. There's so much to talk about, in fact, that we're doing four episodes on the show. This is the first. We hope you enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

During episode #167 of KnockBack, we spent nearly three hours gushing about Peter Jackson's 2001 rendition of The Lord of the Rings' first book, Fellowship of the Ring. Naturally, we couldn't merely stop there. The following year -- in 2002 -- the second of three Lord of the Rings movies came out. It's called The Two Towers, and this is the flick and book alike that many people consider the best in Tolkein's Trilogy. But does the film hold up, particularly with a heavy mix of special and practical effects? How about the performances and the story? We've much to discuss, of course. So join us as we delve back into Middle-earth, where things are just starting to heat up... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's all been leading to this! Our audience on Patreon voted to have us rework the new Star Wars Trilogy (Episodes VII, VIII, and IX), and... well... we got a little carried away and dedicated entire episodes to our visions on a film-by-film basis. Remember! You should listen to KnockBack Episodes #159 and #164 before jumping into this one, if you haven't done so already. You may be lost, otherwise... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's episode of KnockBack is a little different. Instead of covering a topic or some memories, we thought we'd talk a bit about our little retro and nostalgia podcast itself. How has the show grown and changed? How do we think we're doing? What topics do we think we covered best? Which do we think we could have done better with? What's the future hold? This is an episode for the thousands and thousands of hardcore KnockBack listeners, without which we couldn't do this show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As you know, we (The Brothers Moriarty) grew up on Long Island, nestled between the water and the woods. It's the latter that we thought we'd focus this particular episode on. We absolutely adore the woods. Playing, hiking, exploring. We basically lived amongst the trees as children! Thus, we thought it would be fun to regale you with some stories of our past being in the woods: Boy Scouts, mountain biking, BMXing, and running away from fictional foes. Discovering new things, using our imaginations, getting to know ourselves and others... and maybe catching some poison ivy, too. Are you an arborist like we are? Only one way to find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The important thing to remember about the 2001 film Training Day is the context in which it was filmed and released. The decade of the '90s were scattered with serious issues of police brutality, and the Los Angeles Police Department was at the center of the storm. Thus, Denzel Washington's and Ethan Hawke's foray into the Southern California underworld -- and the seriously crooked behavior by Washington and his cop colleagues -- can really be interpreted as something greater: A glimpse into a specific place and time where a story like this not only made a lot of sense, but was almost expected. The backdealing, the violence, the betrayal... it's all here in Training Day, one of the most tense movies perhaps ever made. And hey, just remember: Stay off of the rover. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Every so often, a game comes along that helps define a genre. When it comes to 2005's God of War -- which launched that year on PlayStation 2 courtesy of Santa Monica Studio -- one can't help but see how important it was (and still is) to so many of the 3D action games we play today. Inspired by Greek mythology, a cinematic approach, a glorified sense of gore and sex, and... well... some Capcom games, clearly, God of War remains one of the PlayStation brand's biggest touchstones all of these years (and consoles) later. So grab your Blades of Chaos, Kratos fans. It's about to get tragic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

South Park rages on even today, but it was during a more embryonic stage in the mega-franchise's history that we got its one and only film: Bigger, Longer & Uncut. Released to theaters in the summer of '99, South Park's movie foray is basically the length of three regular 'ol episodes, but produced differently. For instance, it's a musical, and a damn good one! And there's a whole lot of cursing, nudity, and more. But at its heart is exactly what makes South Park so popular even today, and certainly then: Irreverence, inappropriate humor, excellent comedic timing, and an appreciation for the destruction of Canada. And yes, we do indeed blame them. But we blame bad parents even more... and thankfully, so does this film. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices