John McClane is back for Christmas to bag even more bad guys in “Die Hard 2: Die Harder,” but how does it compare to the novel it’s based on, "58 Minutes?" In episode 253, Luke & James talk about 90s Bruce Willis, how many one-liners is too many one-liners, the Die-Hard-villain misdirect, way too many grenades, and how the Mythbusters tested lighting a stream of jet fuel on a runway to blow up a plane. They finish by casting their votes on which is better: the book or the movie! Ink to Film ...
Dec 22, 2022•1 hr 17 min
Die Hard 2 was also based on a novel! 58 Minutes by Walter Wager, to be precise. In episode 252, Luke & James discuss differences in a protagonist, the challenge of writing politically motivated villains, how to bore a thriller reader, the author's self-insert debate, and wonder about the existence of left-leaning military thrillers. Join them next week when they watch the movie starring Bruce Willis! Ink to Film Buy 58 Minutes or any of the other source material books or guest novels at Ink...
Dec 15, 2022•1 hr 3 min
Brad Pitt and Edward Norton anchor this memorable adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk’s novel that helped propel director David Fincher’s career to new heights. In episode 251, Luke & James revel in the craftsmanship, watch Tyler Durden get meta, talk film reels and “cigarette burns,” and finally cast their vote on which was better: the book or the movie! Ink to Film Buy Fight Club or any of the other source material books or guest novels at Ink to Film's bookshop: www.bookshop.org/shop/inktofilm ...
Dec 08, 2022•1 hr 30 min
Chuck Palahniuk’s debut novel launched him into literary superstardom, but how do its ideas about consumerism and masculinity hold up? In their 250th episode, Luke & James destroy something beautiful, debate transgressional fiction, relive teenage boxing matches, wonder what it even means to be a man in modern society, and explore whether Tyler Durden has a worldview worth emulating. Join them next week when they discuss David Fincher’s adaptation starring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton! Ink to...
Dec 01, 2022•1 hr 22 min
Kenneth Branagh stars in and directs this new version of the Agatha Christie story Luke & James covered in the past, but how does it hold up compared to the 1974 version? Are they excited for another adaptation in this franchise? All aboard! Ink to Film Vote on Quarterly Project #4! https://www.patreon.com/posts/74988249?utm_campaign=postshare_creator Buy any of the source material books or guest novels at Ink to Film's bookshop: www.bookshop.org/shop/inktofilm Ink to Film's Twitter , Facebo...
Nov 24, 2022•33 min
Neil Berger’s adaptation of Steven Millhauser’s short story “Eisenheim the Illusionist” introduced a romantic plot to a story about magical deception, but does it deliver? In episode 249, Luke & James discuss an overlooked film from the aughts, Edward Norton’s performance as Eisenheim, an extremely elaborate plot, and the nature of ambiguous magic in movies about stage magic. Then they vote on which was better: the short story or the movie! Movie discussion: Ink to Film Buy any of the source...
Nov 17, 2022•1 hr 9 min
H. P. Lovecraft’s work is famously tricky to adapt, but that hasn’t stopped many from trying over the years. In episode 248, Luke & James discuss the pair of Lovecraft adaptations that appear in Guillermo Del Toro’s anthology series, “Pickman’s Model” and “Dreams in the Witch House,” directed by Keith Thomas and Catherine Hardwicke respectively. How well did they handle the (in)famous author’s material? Then Luke & James end their coverage casting their votes on which was better: story o...
Nov 10, 2022•1 hr 2 min
Guillermo Del Toro has opened his cabinet of horrors on Netflix and it’s delivering thrills, gore, and grotesqueries to the masses. In episode 247, Luke & James discuss the first three adaptations in the series from directors Vincenzo Natali, David Prior, and Ana Lily Amirpour, which cover adaptations of “The Graveyard Rats” by Henry Kuttner, “The Autopsy” by Michael Shea, and “Some Other Animal’s Meat” by Emily Carroll respectively. Join them next week as they review the pair of HP Lovecraf...
Nov 03, 2022•1 hr 14 min
Guillermo Del Toro is one of the hottest names in horror cinema today, and he’s chosen multiple short stories to adapt for his brand new Netflix anthology series dropping for Halloween 2022. In episode 246, Luke & James move through all of the source stories back to back, touching on each in order of their episode’s corresponding release in the series. Join them next week as they review the adaptation episodes from the show! Story Timecodes: “The Graveyard Rats” by Henry Kuttner: 9:04 “The A...
Oct 27, 2022•1 hr 19 min
Is this sequel to William Friedkin's The Exorcist (1973) worth watching today? Are you fascinated enough with Pazuzu to see what more he could put Regan through? In this former Patreon-exclusive episode, Luke and James tackle John Boorman's 1977 commercial and critical disaster, often called "one of the worst films ever made." Ink to Film Buy any of the source material books or guest novels at Ink to Film's bookshop: www.bookshop.org/shop/inktofilm Ink to Film's Twitter , Facebook , Instagram (@...
Oct 20, 2022•43 min
Luke is mad about this one, folks, calling it “one of the worst adaptations” they have ever covered. Laura from the “Why the Book Wins” podcast and YouTube channel joins the show to talk about this movie she’d never seen in this final installment of Peter Jackson’s overstuffed Hobbit trilogy adapting the book by J.R.R. Tolkien. In episode 245, Luke, James, and Laura wonder why Tauriel doesn’t seem to care about anything but Kili, judge the value of more Lord of the Rings references, learn the tr...
Oct 13, 2022•1 hr 37 min
Author, folklorist, and the executive director of Willamette Writers Kate Ristau joins the show to talk all things dragons for this installment of The Hobbit! In episode 244 Luke, James, and Kate ride barrels together for far too long, spot a Peter Jackson cameo, wonder about elven physics, geek out about big scaley wyrms, and try to see things with childlike wonder, despite it all. Join them next week for the finale, with "The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies!" Kate Ristau Website http://kater...
Oct 06, 2022•1 hr 40 min
The “Watch. Review. Repeat.” podcast joins the show to see what gems might still be mined from Peter Jackson’s first film in his Hobbit trilogy. In episode 243, Luke, James, Colton, and Andrew make the comparison to the Star Wars Prequels, admire the waterfalls of Rivendell, get sh*tty with Radagast the Brown, come face to horrible face with the Goblin King, question the glowing of elvish blades, and revel in the poetry of riddles traded in the dark with Andy Serkis. Join them next week for "The...
Sep 30, 2022•1 hr 58 min
Happy Hobbit Day! Let’s explore what makes JRR Tolkien’s original children’s novel so iconic to this day. In episode 242, Luke & James return to Hobbiton and Middle Earth for one more journey that starts with the written word, but will cover all three of Peter Jackson’s films. Topics include the greatest fantasy song of all time, what Father Christmas might have in common with Gandalf, a philology professor’s single line, the changes made to the "Riddles in the Dark" chapter, a raven with an...
Sep 22, 2022•1 hr 31 min
Filmmaker Kogonada adapts a heady sci-fi story written by Alexander Weinstein into a thoughtful, melancholic piece about the nature of existence, artificial intelligence, and the ethics of personhood. In episode 241, Luke & James consider the “Chinese Room thought experiment,” debate Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics, the power of immigrants being able to name themselves, the opening credit dance, depression in a relative utopia, Colin Farrell's lack of emotion, the difference between written ...
Sep 15, 2022•1 hr 40 min
David Lynch's 1984 adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel Dune didn’t wow critics, but how does it stand up today? Join us to hear our thoughts on this wacky but ultimately enjoyable version of Arrakis, which also includes a cast of familiar faces for the pod in this former Patreon-exclusive! Ink to Film Buy Dune or any of the other source materials at Ink to Film's bookshop: www.bookshop.org/shop/inktofilm Ink to Film's Twitter , Facebook , Instagram (@inktofilm) Home Base: inktofilm.com Luke Elli...
Sep 08, 2022•51 min
Filmmaker Tomas Alfredson delivered a smart, evocative, and faithful adaptation of the source novel by working closely with author John Ajvide Lindvist to skillfully shift mediums from the written to the visual. In episode 240, Luke & James pour themselves a tall glass of milk and sit in the corner to discuss a loss of innocence, an inescapable cold, and legacies of violence. They end by casting their votes on which version is better: the book or the movie! Ink to Film Buy Let the Right One ...
Sep 01, 2022•1 hr 36 min
Author John Ajvide Lindqvist takes vampire mythology and reinvents it by setting his tale in 1980s Stockholm, aging down the characters to inappropriate levels, and leaning heavily on a Stephen King influence. In episode 239, Luke & James discuss one of the darkest novels they’ve ever covered on the podcast, the role of extreme topics in horror, empathy for the devil, and just what kinds of horrors love can make a person justify. Join them next week when they discuss Tomas Alfredson’s 2008 a...
Aug 26, 2022•1 hr 16 min
Tear down the walls between your dreams and venture into a vortex of an episode combining ten comic book issues and the final episodes of the Netflix adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s THE SANDMAN. In episode 238 Luke & James weigh the decisions made by Allen Heinberg and the tv writers on how to best end a season of television, the nudity of a dream vortex, a choice with Despair, what truly makes Death’s performance so excellent, a perfectly cast Stephen Fry, and a real life surprise? They finish ...
Aug 18, 2022•1 hr 35 min
One of Neil Gaiman’s most iconic works has finally come to Netflix as a TV series, but the path it took to wind up there was long and bumpy. In episode 237, Luke & James react to the first five episodes of Allen Heinberg’s adaptation, wonder what it means for something to be “unfilmable” these days, give props to Tom Sturridge’s portrayal of an eternal godlike being, react to the amazing David Thewlis bringing an unassuming side to the demented Doctor Destiny, and raise some potential concer...
Aug 11, 2022•1 hr 38 min
In the 1980s Neil Gaiman took a character originally created by Jack Kirby and completely reimagined him, in the process making a goth icon that would propel Gaiman into literary super stardom. In episode 236, Luke & James read through the first ten issues and reflect on what made them so different, geek out about the inventive style, debate author self-inserts, and explore the origins of Death herself. Ink to Film Become a Patron for hours of exclusive content & more: www.patreon.com/in...
Aug 05, 2022•1 hr 29 min
Joe Hill is more than just the son of horror icon Stephen King, and Scott Derrickson’s adaptation of his short story helps showcase what makes him a powerhouse in his own right. In episode 235, Luke & James talk about how authors can approach writing taboos, what they might risk, exploring childhood trauma, Ethan Hawke’s standout performance, catharsis through horror, and using True Crime as an inspiration. They end by casting their votes for what version is better: the short story or the mo...
Jul 28, 2022•1 hr 25 min
Author Rachael K. Jones rejoins to discuss James Whale’s incredibly influential adaptation of Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN. In episode 234, Luke, James, and Rachael discuss what’s in a name, the physical toll that Boris Karloff endured to play the monster, an innovation in camera motion, a real human skeleton, an adaptation of an adaptation, the Rock band KISS’s surprising connection, Stephen King & George R.R. Martin’s Universal Monster references, and a Tim Burton homage that makes a lot mo...
Jul 21, 2022•1 hr 35 min
Author Rachael K. Jones joins to discuss one of the foundational works for all science fiction and horror, Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN. In episode 233, Luke, James, and Rachael discuss hand washing and cadaver dissection, a psycho-sexually fraught writer’s retreat, wrapping Percy Shelley’s heart in silk, and the unending angst contest between Victor and the Creature. Join them all next week when Rachael returns to discuss the iconic Boris Karloff led film adaptation! Rachael K. Jones Twitter htt...
Jul 14, 2022•1 hr 30 min
Before John Carpenter's iconic adaptation of the novella "Who Goes There?'', another director brought the story to life and inspired a generation of filmmakers. But was it directed by Christian Nyby or was it actually Howard Hawks? How does the 50s classic hold up to a modern viewing? This episode was formerly a Patreon-exclusive! Become a Patron for hours of exclusive content & more: www.patreon.com/inktofilm Ink to Film's Twitter , Facebook , Instagram (@inktofilm) Home Base: inktofilm.com...
Jul 07, 2022•42 min
Should we still celebrate THE LORD OF THE RINGS? Michael Moorcock once penned an infamous and scathing takedown of JRR Tolkien’s LOTR series, but is it convincing today? Luke & James react to his argument about the inherent Toryism and “corrupted Romance” of Tolkien’s writing, as well as that of C.S. Lewis and Richard Adams. This episode is an example of the kind of experimental things we put out on Patreon! Become a Patron for hours of exclusive content & more: www.patreon.com/inktofilm...
Jun 30, 2022•51 min
George Saunders’s short story, “Escape from Spiderhead," was a tragicomic success worthy of The New Yorker , but did it successfully make the leap to film? In episode 232, Luke & James discuss director Joseph Kasinskis’s big month, George Saunders's literary lineage, why we all have a little Chris Hemsworth in our brains, and finally cast their vote on which was better: the book or the movie! Ink to Film Become a Patron for hours of exclusive content & more: www.patreon.com/inktofilm Buy...
Jun 23, 2022•1 hr 24 min
Author & translator Simone Heller rejoins the show to compare the Rankin/Bass adaptation of Peter S. Beagle’s fantasy classic. In episode 231, Luke, James, & Simone discuss the German love for the movie’s soundtrack, Schmendrick as an author stand-in, a realm-walking butterfly, and how embracing mortality can unlock artistic expression. They finish by casting their votes on which is the better version: the book or the movie! Simone Heller Twitter: https://twitter.com/HerLizardness Websit...
Jun 16, 2022•1 hr 16 min
Author and Translator Simone Heller joins to discuss one of her all-time favorite novels and a classic of fantasy, THE LAST UNICORN by Peter S. Beagle. In episode 230, Luke, James, and Simone discuss the concept of thinning magic, what it means to be trapped in a fairytale, the wisdom of a forgetful butterfly, and why a pure mythical beast can never love a hero. And join them next week when Simone returns to discuss the Rankin/Bass 1982 adaptation! Simone Heller Twitter: https://twitter.com/HerL...
Jun 09, 2022•1 hr 26 min
Arthur C. Clarke was already one of the most famous SciFi writers of all time before collaborating with Stanley Kubrick on 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, so how did he feel about the release of the film just beating his novel by a few months and ultimately overshadowing it? In episode 229, Luke & James discuss a potentially tarnished legacy, a unique form of collaboration, a difference of tone, and how changes to HAL 9000 alters the themes of the story. At the end they cast their votes on which was ...
Jun 02, 2022•1 hr 23 min
