The Cinematica Animalia team breaks down the Ecology of the bugs and talks classic bug horror films. They explore why the bugs are probably not working together in any organized fashion and how a hungry hive would be unlikely to become the "greatest threat mankind has ever faced." 01:44- Australia Fire Discussion 06:48- Giant Bugs in Cinema Review 18:32- The Ecology of The Bugs 34:50- Versus Discussion 38:30- Correction
The Cinematica team discusses the physiology of the Arachnoids from the 1997 film Starship Troopers and Sam readily admits it is the best film he has every seen. Find out what some kids from Buenos Aires started the film trying to learn, what makes a Bug tick? Are you doing your part? 4:09- The History and Summary of Starship Troopers 10:35- Review of the Film 13:28- The Arachnoid Physiology 38:40- Veterinary PSA: Surrendering a Pet
We pit our Season 2 monsters up against each other to see who comes out on top. Who wins? Pikachu? Godzilla? Definitely not pikachu. 08:44 - Season 2's Weirdest Creature 17:55 - The Royal Rumble Thanks for listening in to our second season everyone. Sorry that the episode dates became a bit erratic towards the end. We'll be back later in the year with a fresh bunch of monsters to take on.
Adam and Sam go into detail about why a creature this size simply couldn't persist on the surface of the earth. Or even under it. Doesn't work. Only so many whales you can eat. 3:24 - Cinematic History of Godzilla 13:54 - The Ecology of Godzilla 42:16 - Godzilla vs. No-one
We look at King of the Monsters, Lord of the Chonk, 2014's One and Only Master of the Heft Godzilla. Dive daves into the atomic breath (probably smells real bad) and radiation diet of the OG of all charismatic megafauna. 01:41 - 2014 Godzilla Need-to-Know 07:08 - The Physiology of Godzilla 37:14 - Vet's PSA (Adopting Foreign Pets)
Adam and Dave look at the problems inherent in an alien race invading the earth. Honestly we'd be fine. I think. Still don't let Thanos anywhere near us though.
We look at the movement and attack mode of the vicious predatory rodent known commonly as a Pikachu. Cute and fuzzy? No. If you're shocking things you're eating them. 01:52 - The Physiology of Pikachu 27:30 - Vet's PSA (Neutering Your Pets)
Adam and Sam take a look at the nightmare-filled dangerworld that is whatever the hell planet Pokemon live on in Detective Pikachu. Honestly it's chaotic and deadly. 01:46 - Obligatory Sonic the Hedgehog Thoughts 04:35 - The World of Pokemon 41:14 - Riddick on the World of Pokemon
Post Avengers: Endgame, we dive back into the Marvel universe and examine the ecological ramifications of The Snap 2: The Unsnappening. How would the world react to a sudden dramatic increase in populations? Are the Avengers the bad guys? Does Thanos use Bayesian modelling? SPOILERS. Big time. Thanks to JV Chamary at Forbes for kicking this discussion off with his article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jvchamary/2019/05/07/avengers-endgame-biodiversity/#76b9ea65775b. And thanks to colleague Lara ...
Adam and I talk macroecology and that's pretty much it. How small would these dragons be? It's very anti-climactic. We'll do a supplemental later. Also SPOILERS. Though as we were a week behind, there's some stuff that is currently incorrect re: the current status of the GoT dragons. Spoilers. 04:02 - Everyone's Favourite Dragons 13:15 - The Ecology of the Dragons 40:13 - Balerion the Big Boi vs. The US Military
We get back into the swing of monster analysis with one of the best representations ever of dragons on the screen. From their evil eyes to that gorgeous sternum, Sam and Dave look at how a Dragon might fly, spit fire, and give your girl the wrong number. Supa Hot Fire also does 2 of those things. 2:02 - The Environmentalist Take on Notre Dame 4:45 - Need to Know: The GoT Dragons 13:18 - Physiology of a Dragon 37:51 - Vet's PSA (Don't Give Your Pets Your Medication)
We look at some of our least favourite movie science tropes. Can you use more than 10% of y... YES YOU CAN. NO PREDATORS DON'T ROAR BEFORE THEY ATTACK YOU. DON'T HAVE SEX WITH FISHMEN. GODDAMIT HOLLYWOOD. 03:23 - 10% of your brain? 08:36 - The 'perfect' organism 14:27 - Interspecies Relationships 22:39 - Animal Personality/Intelligence 32:05 - The search for Patient Zero 37:58 - Predator noise
In the first of a bunch of smaller side episodes (because it's Easter and we're on holidays), we look at the ecological ramifications of the notorious snap from 2018's Avengers: Infinity War. How would the planet fare if we took Thanos as having wiped out 50% of all species? probably not well, but damn it would be interesting.
Dave and I look at some of our favourite and least favourite movie scientists. Includes rants about lab coats, self testing and Spiderman. 2:12 - Robert Neville (I Am Legend) 8:32 - Curt Connors (The Amazing Spiderman) 19:38 - Poison Ivy (Batman & Robin) 26:28 - Rhonda LeBeck (Tremors) 30:36 - Victor Frankenstein 34:18 - Ira Kane (Evolution)
In week two of our time on 2017's The Ritual, we stumble through a large confusing forest riddled with large spinous processes and patches of burnt skin. Should you hang a corpse up in your front garden? Probably not. Not good for the soil. 00:28 - SciComm & the Insect Apolcalypse 07:16 - The Norse Gods in Cinema 15:04 - Ecology of the Forest God 43:43 - The Forest God v. Beowulf
Our first foray into true horror brings us face to something with the weirdest moose you ever did see. Just... goddamn. 05:45 - The Ritual 15:27 - Physiology of a Forest God 43:21 - Vet's PSA (Bone Fractures)
We return to the Block to examine the ecology of the Big Gorilla Wolf Motherfuckers. Sexual ecology has never been more furry. Or glow-in-the-dark. Actually sexual ecology can get pretty furry. Also we have two fights this week. 3:05 - The Chimera in Cinema 11:41 - Ecology of a BGWM 38:38 - BGWMs vs. Liam Neeson from The Grey
We look at the aliens from 2011's cult classic Attack the Block. How can teeth glow in the dark? I've already forgotten. Dave reminds us all about how terrible his British accent is. Trust, bruv. 04:16 - Attack the Block 09:29 - Physiology of a Big Gorilla Wolf Motherfucker 32:31 - Vet's PSA (Fractures in Pets)
This week we recruit Sam's colleague and friend Endre Ofstad to create his very own movie monster. Dave and Adam then ruthlessly pick it apart and create a movie for it. 02:59 - Ontogenesis of the Tree Wolf 21:38 - Monster Analysis 50:42 - Making the Movie
Adam regales us with one of the weirdest stories I've ever heard, and in case you were wondering, yes we do talk about how mermaids have sex. Jesus. Also there's some cool ecology. 05:19 - Mermaids in Cinema 16:35 - Ecology of the Mermaids 33:25 - Mermaid Copulation (you were warned) 38:07 - The Mermaids vs. Jaws
Under the sea, Under the sea, Hair doesn't matter, You must be fatter, Take it from meeeeee, Hands don't really help to swim, If you can't breathe air life's looking grim, Better have thick skin, Else it's shit you're in, Under the sea. 04:24 - The Little Mermaid aka. OH THE HUMANITY(Hans Christian Andersen version) 14:12 - The Physiology of a Merperson (Merson?) 39:18 - Vet's PSA (Specialists)
In our second week on the dragons of Dreamworks' How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, we have a flamin' good time discovering why those dragons are WAY too wacky, exactly how much intraspecies predation goes on in Berk and why you should really make up your mind about domestication. 03:49 - Vikings in Cinema 10:57 - Ecology of the Dragons 29:17 - Toothless vs. the Furious Five
In this week's exploration of the dragons from the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, we look at why two heads are not better than one, why lighting yourself on fire as a defense mechanism is probably counterproductive and discover that Toothless is quite frankly disgusting. 3:06 - Movie Thoughts 11:19 - The Physiology of Toothless 24:13 - Zipplebacks, Hotburples and Nadders 36:32 - Weekly PSA (Exotic Pets)
We look at the world of Atlantis from 2018's Aquaman. Why would you domesticate a whale? Can a turtle grow to the size of a Great White Shark? Can an octopus play the drums? Spoiler alert: probably not. 5:48 - The History of Aquaman 10:33 - The Ecology of Atlantis 38:43 - The Karathen vs. Gypsy Danger (Pacific Rim)
To kick off season 2, we look at the physiology of some of the creatures of 2018's Aquaman. Why should you never take a seahorse into battle? What was Julie Andrews eating down there? Is Dave a real vet? Let's find out. Tune in next week to hear about the ecology of Atlantis and its surroundings. 04:50 - Movie Thoughts 08:33 - The Physiology of the Karathen 31:31 - Seahorses r dum 37:14 - The Vet's PSA
For our Season 1 finale, we take every winner of our end-of-episode showdown and pit them in a line-up to see who the ultimate monster is. Tune in on Thursday when Season 2 kicks off with a new and improved format!
We kick down the kitchen door and go to bloody war with the Mogwai, from 1984's Christmas classic Gremlins. Dave gives China tips for invasion, Sam says the word 'tarsier' too fucking much and Adam can't resist showing off how much Mandarin he doesn't know. 5:52 - History of the Gremlins 18:02 - Movie Any Good? 21:40 - Physiology of a Mogwai 44:11 - Ecology of a Mogwai 1:02:32 - The Gremlins vs. Gollum
We bash down the doors of the TARDIS and ruthlessly mock the Doctor's rogue's gallery. We discover that Dave loves Peter Capaldi, Sam reveals a strange fetish and Adam tries to justify the moon being an egg. 6:30 - What is the Doctor? 11:44 - The Vashta Nerada (Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead) 19:34 - The Alien Stingrays (Planet of the Dead) 30:34 - The Flood (Waters of Mars) 41:40 - The Krafayis (Vincent and the Doctor) 50:49 - Moon Egg F***er (Kill the Moon) 1:01:00 - Swimmy Long Boi...
We submerge ourselves into the murky depths of what is clearly a backyard pool and meet... yet another man in a suit. This week is all about the Gillman from 1712's The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Dave and Adam both need more bloody caffeine. 4:29 - Movie History 14:23 - Physiology of the Gillman 37:51 - Ecology of the Gillman 1:01:56 - The Gillman vs. Richard Strickland from The Shape of Water
We get stuck into the trolls from 2011's cult classic Troll Hunter. Dave decides that the real monsters are the people, Dave accuses all vets of drug use, and Dave just loses his goddamn mind. This one's pretty Dave heavy. He deserves it. 5:31 - Movie History 17:27 - Movie Any Good? 19:11 - Physiology of the Trolls 51:34 - Ecology of the Trolls 1:12:55 - The Troll Hunter vs. Bear Grylls
