SciFi author Curtis C. Chen returns to cast the deciding vote on whether or not "John Carter" the film or Edgar Rice Burrough's A PRINCESS OF MARS is better. In episode 122, Luke, James, and Curtis dive into all the possible reasons behind one of Disney's biggest flops, and even suggest some ways the disaster may have been avoided. Listen to find out how to enter to win a signed copy of both of Curtis’s novels, WAYPOINT KANGAROO and KANGAROO TOO! Topics include: Beefcake issues, marketing mistak...
Jan 23, 2020•1 hr 28 min
SciFi author Curtis C. Chen joins the show to discuss Edgar Rice Burroughs' original "planetary romance,” A PRINCESS OF MARS. From its early pulp magazine origins to its sweeping influence on the SciFi of today, the story of John Carter is an important piece of literary history. In episode 121, Luke, James, and Curtis prove that there’s more to ERB than just Tarzan! And make sure to listen to find out how to enter to win a signed copy of both of Curtis’s novels, WAYPOINT KANGAROO and KANGAROO TO...
Jan 16, 2020•1 hr 12 min
Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? No! In episode 120, Luke & James take a look back at all the things they covered in 2019. Topics include: most surprising subject, top 5 most downloaded-in states, least favorite book, favorite book, top 5 most downloaded-in countries outside the U.S., least favorite movie, favorite movie, top 10 most downloaded episodes of 2019, and what projects they are looking forward to in 2020! Become a Patron & unlock exclusive content/...
Dec 30, 2019•1 hr 16 min
You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch. You really are a heel. You're as cuddly as a cactus, you're as charming as an eel. You're a bad banana with a greasy black peel. You're a monster. Your heart's an empty hole. Your brain is full of spiders, you've got garlic in your soul. I wouldn't touch you with a thirty-nine and a half foot pole! Topics: The fascinating life of Dr. Suess, the surprising inspiration for the Grinch, the Chuck Jones animation connection, Jim Carrey’s over-the-top performance, the fe...
Dec 19, 2019•1 hr 6 min
Strap in and shoot up, it’s time to turn and burn at high G! Prepare for season 4 of THE EXPANSE by returning to the book by James SA Corey that started it all, LEVIATHAN WAKES. In episode 118, author Jessie Kwak joins the show to help Luke & James close out their coverage of the modern space opera. Topics: who might make a better ‘ship’ for Naomi instead of Holden, the Amos pronunciation controversy, when to use a cliffhanger in a series, how being righteous can go wrong, speculation about ...
Dec 12, 2019•1 hr 20 min
Blood’s on the wall, beratnas, we gonna rise up! In episode 117, SciFi author Jessie Kwak joins Luke and James to discuss the final episodes of season one of THE EXPANSE. Join the entire crew again next week for the second half of LEVIATHAN WAKES by James SA Corey. Topics: Jessie’s connection to the series, what sets Chrisjen Avasarala apart as a character, the Holden pout, meaning behind belter tattoos, to ship or not to ship, Amos’s churn, Miller’s search for purpose, Anderson Dawes’s story ab...
Dec 05, 2019•1 hr 33 min
Activate your gravity boots, because it’s time spin up the first season of THE EXPANSE! Learn about the backstory behind how Jeff Bezos saved the show with Amazon, followed by an in-depth discussion about episodes 1-5. Last week, Luke & James read the first half of LEVIATHAN WAKE by James S. A. Corey, so in episode 116 they compare it to the adaptation! Topics: The Miller-Holden reversal, Amos & Naomi’s mystery connection, CGI on SyFy, the next Battlestar Galactica, Naren Shakar’s scient...
Nov 28, 2019•1 hr 25 min
The Expanse series by James S. A. Corey is the creation of co-authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, borne from developing a setting for a game, and now is an epic series spanning multiple novels and a massive TV series on Amazon about to premiere its 4th season! In episode 115, Luke & James get their first taste of life on the belt when they go back to where it all began with the first half of LEVIATHAN WAKES. Topics: Author connections to George RR Martin, the Noir-hardboiled-detective meet...
Nov 21, 2019•1 hr 3 min
Director Mike Flanagan takes on the immense challenge of making a film that is both a sequel to Stephen King’s 1977 classic novel THE SHINING and Stanley Kubrick’s iconic 1980 film of the same name with his movie, DOCTOR SLEEP. In episode 114, Luke & James discuss where the ambitious movie succeeds, and where it might miss the mark. Spoilers Begin: 36:49 Topics: what makes for a good sequel, the definition of “art house,” the value of callbacks & references, reaction to the recasting of ...
Nov 14, 2019•1 hr 35 min
Stephen King’s sequel to the Shining comes to its thrilling end this week on Ink to Film. In episode 113, Luke & James cover the plot of the second half of the book in advance of the new film’s release. Topics: NaNoWriMo while reading Stephen King, the meaning behind having the True Knot infected with measles, the potential genre differences in the novel, the variations in Jack Torrance’s character in each version, the metaphor of the steam-sucking monsters, and Luke's analysis of the novel ...
Nov 07, 2019•1 hr 6 min
Danny Torrance is all grown up in Stephen King’s sequel to the Shining and dealing with some harrowing demons of his own. In episode 112, Luke & James give their overall SPOILER-FREE reactions to the first half of the novel, before diving into the plot so far (chapters 1-9) in detail. SPOILERS BEGIN: 27:45 Topics: Road vampires, potential sequel problems, how new-era Stephen King compares to old SK, the scariest material in the book, dark fantasy vs. horror, Oscar the real world death-harbin...
Oct 31, 2019•1 hr 20 min
What if the American Dream came true? The iconic graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons explores this question, among others as challenging, but does Zack Snyder’s film handle the subject just as well? In episode 111, Luke & James explore the polarizing adaptation in an attempt to weigh the good against the bad, all while exploring the concept at the heart of the podcast: What makes for a great adaptation? Topics: the way familiarity with the comics changes the viewing experience, the ...
Oct 24, 2019•1 hr 25 min
In episode 110, SPOONBENDERS author and comic book writer Daryl Gregory joins the podcast to discuss Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon’s WATCHMEN--a graphic novel that influenced his work and is considered a masterpiece by many critics. Daryl chats with Luke & James about the comic that changed everything, and even shares the surprising inspiration for one of his characters! Topics: Daryl’s experience reading Watchmen during its original run, the power of repeated phrases and symbols, the deconstru...
Oct 17, 2019•1 hr 43 min
Alfonso Cuarón’s darker version of the world of Harry Potter was enormously important to the series going forward. He’s a talented filmmaker just starting to come into his own for this movie, but how does it hold up as an adaptation? Are there flaws to be found? Luke & James discuss in episode 109 of Ink to Film. Topics include: clever filmmaking techniques expertly employed by Cuarón, the artistic concept of “one for them and one for me,” the tale of two Dumbledores, the performance of Gary...
Oct 10, 2019•1 hr 37 min
Fall is here and it’s time to go back to school--Hogwarts to be exact! Grab your Firebolt racing broom and take to the skies for this exploration of J.K. Rowling’s third entry into her iconic young adult fantasy series in episode 108 of Ink to Film. Topics include: the injustice in the Wizarding World, the terror of the dementors, what makes Sirius Black’s story surprising, Snape’s longstanding jealousy, the Patronus explained, Hermoine’s potentially story-breaking Time-Turner, Lupin the loveabl...
Oct 03, 2019•1 hr 11 min
Sci-Fi author Mark Niemann-Ross re-joins the podcast for episode 107 to discuss Denis Villeneuve’s “Arrival” starring Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner. Storm Area 51 this week as the guys come face-to-whatever-that-thing-is with the heptapods. Listen to this episode to learn how to win a signed copy of Ted Chiang’s “Story of Your Life,” the story that the film was based on! Spoilers begin: 34:50 Topics: the appreciation for cinematography that Luke has gained, the strategy behind the design for the a...
Sep 26, 2019•1 hr 37 min
Sci-Fi author Mark Niemann-Ross joins the podcast for episode 106 to discuss Ted Chiang’s “Story of Your Life.” The conversation surrounding this story gets philosophical, scientific, abstract, and even bizarre at times. The tale is an unusual one that leads the group down some intriguing pathways in their analysis as they wrestle with concepts like the “variational principle” in physics and “Fermat’s Principle of Least Time.” Spoilers begin: 36:29 Questions Include: What makes this time-travel ...
Sep 19, 2019•1 hr 23 min
The Losers Club made a promise to go back when Pennywise returned, and so did Luke & James. Well, the time has come for their final visit to Derry, Maine. Episode 105 delves into the second Stephen King film by Andy Muschietti comparing both to the classic novel and the original miniseries. Spoilers begin: 36:29 Topics include: The IT supercut fans want, surprising cameos and Easter eggs, CGI magic, Bill Hader’s improvisation, Pennywise haunting Bill Skarsgård’s dreams, changes to Eddie and ...
Sep 12, 2019•1 hr 52 min
Return to Derry for the project that started it all this week with Tommy Lee Wallace’ 1990 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s It. With “It Chapter 2” on the horizon, Luke & James round-out their exposure to the material by watching and weighing in on the Tim Curry performance as Pennywise that people still rave about today. But does this bit of nostalgia hold up? Find out in episode 104. Topics include: Why IT chooses a clown for its form, the bizarre hurricane connection, the most stri...
Sep 04, 2019•59 min
Snow White is the ultimate throwback project, so Luke & James went all the way back to the source to read "Little Snow-White" collected by the Brother’s Grimm, then compare it to the animated Disney-classic that launched an empire! From the violent details of the old fairy-tale to the behind the scenes brilliance of Walt Disney’s revolutionary animation, episode 103 of Ink to Film is loaded with history. Questions include: What do fairy tales say about the times where they are written? Was S...
Aug 29, 2019•1 hr 7 min
Watch out for meteor showers! This week on episode 102, Luke & James are tackling Barry B. Longyear’s Enemy Mine and Wolfgang Petersen’s adaptation at the same time. From the story’s still-relevant allegories to the mainline of 80s Sci-Fi nostalgia, this cult-classic starring Dennis Quaid and Louis Gossett Jr. gives them plenty to discuss. Questions include: Was the film ahead of its time? When did PG-13 become an official rating? What does the various designs of aliens in Sci-Fi films mean?...
Aug 22, 2019•1 hr 8 min
Grab a flashlight and pull the covers over your head--it’s time for some scary stories! Luke & James read all three of Alvin Schwartz and Stephen Gammell’s classic collections for episode 101, including Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones. They also watched the documentary from 2019, as well as the Guillermo Del Toro and André Øvredal film. Movie Talk Begins: 39:01 Movie Spoilers Begin: 55:42 Topics in...
Aug 15, 2019•1 hr 22 min
Luke Elliott and James Bailey set out to answer the question once and for all: What is the greatest adaptation of all time? But first, they set the stage with discussions over upcoming adaptations they and the Ink-to-Film community are excited about, and even make some picks for books deserving adaptations of their own. Listeners and friends of the podcast alike chime in for this celebratory episode, including authors Fonda Lee, Wendy N. Wagner, J.L. Gribble, and Mike Arnzen, as well as podcasts...
Aug 08, 2019•1 hr 19 min
Jonathan Nolan’s short story “Memento Mori” formed the basis for his brother Christopher Nolan’s MEMENTO--a film that came out prior the story it was adapted from! Learn how that came to pass and more in this discussion of some of the early work of the iconic Nolan Brothers. The film stars Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Joe Pantoliano. Topics include: the neo-noir influence on the film, structure meets story, how memory informs identity, deliberately confusing an audience, what’s the truth ab...
Aug 01, 2019•1 hr 12 min
How does Stanley Kubrick’s Cold War satire hold up for a modern audience? Join Luke & James as they discuss all the behind the scenes stories, social themes, dark comedy, and brilliant acting of this legendary film adapted from the novel “Red Alert” by Peter George. Note: This episode is a Jukebox Hero commission funded by the generosity of Steven E. through Ink to Film’s Patreon. Visit Patreon.com/inktofilm to learn all about our SPECIAL OFFER lasting until August 11th and how to earn a fre...
Jul 25, 2019•1 hr 12 min
Did you know that “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb” was based on a novel by a former member of the British Royal Air Force? Before Stanley Kubrick’s classic film, Peter George (a. k. a. Peter Bryant) wrote a deadly serious thriller about escalating tensions brought to a boil when one man goes rogue in an attempt to start World War III. Originally published as Two Hours to Doom, the story of this novel and its relationship to Dr. Strangelove is worth a listen....
Jul 18, 2019•1 hr 4 min
Alfonso Cuarón’s apocalyptic masterpiece CHILDREN OF MEN is a modern classic starring Julianne Moore, Clive Owen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Charlie Hunnam, and Michael Caine. His adaptation of P. D. James’ novel of the same name differs significantly but stands on its own as breathtaking art and perhaps even rises above. Topics: The horrors of U.S. detention centers, the effect of the long take “oners”, the special rig necessary to get an iconic scene, the use of classic works of art hidden in the film,...
Jul 11, 2019•1 hr 35 min
Theo joins the dissident group called the "Five Fishes" and is on the run from the law with the fate of the world in the balance in the second half of THE CHILDREN OF MEN by P. D. James (a. k. a. Phyllis Dorothy James). Topics: Their reaction to all of the Christian symbols and references, an appearance by the famous dramatic principle of Chekov’s Gun, an absurd dance, “eugenics are bad”, the juxtaposition of the human with the divine, a reading from scripture and a stab at the meaning of the ti...
Jun 27, 2019•58 min
P. D. James (a. k. a. Phyllis Dorothy James) wrote her classic dystopian tale of a world dying a slow death in the 90s that led to an iconic film adaptation more than a decade later. In THE CHILDREN OF MEN, the reader follows Dr. Theodore “Theo” Faron as he navigates the new political and theological questions of a world without a future. Luke & James explore the questions raised by the first half of the novel. Spoilers begin: 34:15 Topics: the book’s style and prose, authoritarianism as a r...
Jun 21, 2019•1 hr 6 min
The four horsemen ride to start the Apocalypse and to meet the Antichrist (Adam Young) in the last 3 episodes of Neil Gaiman’s feel-good TV series about the end of the world. Join Luke & James as they discuss the second half of the show, before putting a bow on their coverage. Topics include: overall takeaways from the project, Michael Sheen & David Tennant's potential to pull off each other’s roles, the CGI used, Luke shares a “duh moment,” Anathema & Newt’s hook-up, the are they/ar...
Jun 13, 2019•1 hr 10 min
