On this week's Watchcast Star Trek gets proper goofy as we tackle the distinctly Halloween-flavored episode, Catspaw, as well as the return of swarthy space scumbag Harry Mudd in I, Mudd! CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 141: Star Trek: Catspaw and I, Mudd. (00:00:14) - Intro. (00:02:13) - Leading things off with the first of our two very silly episodes today, Catspaw! (00:06:36) - Before we talk too much about the ending, let's talk about who made Catspaw. (00:13:08) - Be...
Jun 30, 2025•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 141
This Wagon Train to the Stars keeps rolling right along as we continue our way through Star Trek season 2, and this week we've got two episodes on fairly different ends of the quality spectrum in The Apple, and The Doomsday Machine. CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 140: Star Trek: The Apple and The Doomsday Machine (00:00:14) - Intro. (00:02:37) - Let's kick things off by reckoning with The Apple. (00:08:31) - Who is responsible for this? (00:12:32) - Our guest stars this ...
Jun 24, 2025•1 hr 52 min•Ep. 140
Star Trek Summer is officially under way, and this week we've got a pair of bona fide classics. First up we've got a rogue AI with a distaste for the chaos of organic life in The Changeling, then the crew has to tackle the sexy evil alternate universe of Mirror, Mirror. CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 139: Star Trek: The Changeling and Mirror, Mirror (00:00:34) - Intro. (00:04:29) - Kicking things off with The Changeling, and Vinny has some immediate questions. (00:11:35)...
Jun 16, 2025•1 hr 54 min•Ep. 139
Star Trek Summer is finally here! That's right folks after literal years of demanding it, we've returned to the bridge of the Enterprise to rejoin Kirk, Spock, and the gang as they swing their way through space. Join us as we spar with ancient gods and get terminally horny in Amok Time, and Who Mourns for Adonais! CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 138: Star Trek: Amok Time and Who Mourns for Adonais? (00:00:24) - Intro. (00:01:52) - FINALLY, the Watchcast has returned to Tr...
Jun 09, 2025•1 hr 55 min•Ep. 138
For our final music movie for the month of May, we visit with our good bud Tom Hanks as he takes us through the whirlwind music industry adventure of The Wonders, and at the end of today's episode, Alex finally unveils his giant ordered list of every movie we've done on the Watchcast so far. CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 137: That Thing You Do! (1996) (00:00:08) - Intro. (00:05:44) - We watched the extended cut. Here's why we did that. (00:09:04) - How did Hanks get ins...
Jun 02, 2025•1 hr 56 min•Ep. 137
On this week's Watchcast we dive into the wild and wonderful musical world of Frank, a movie about a peculiar band and the even more peculiar man at the center of it. CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 136: Frank (2014) (00:00:36) - Intro. (00:03:01) - Our first impressions of this week's movie, Frank! (00:08:07) - The Frank Sidebottom connection. (00:15:20) - What this movie gets right about band dynamics and chemistry. (00:25:30) - Some cast chat, and our introduction to J...
May 26, 2025•1 hr 50 min•Ep. 136
CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 135: Metallica: Some Kind of Monster (2004) (00:00:13) - Intro. (00:08:35) - Our histories with Metallica. (00:19:18) - Is Lars Ulrich a good drummer? The answer may surprise you! But probably not. (00:21:09) - Where is Metallica at before this whole thing kicks off? (Also, an aside about Guitar Hero stems.) (00:30:48) - For Whom the Phil Towles. (00:34:19) - How did the idea of this documentary first bubble up? (00:44:20) - Break! (00:44:5...
May 19, 2025•2 hr 20 min•Ep. 135
It's a new month for the Watchcast, and with that comes a new theme of music movies! And kicking things off is the 2021 ?uestlove film Summer of Soul, a doc that unearths a treasure trove of musical performances from the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 134: Summer of Soul (...or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021) (00:00:38) - Intro. (00:02:32) - The times in which this festival takes place. (00:07:05) - We love a documentary...
May 12, 2025•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 134
We close out April on the Watchcast with the weirdest documentary of the slate, notorious street artist Banksy's examination of himself, the scene he stood at the vanguard of, and his (perhaps) unwitting hand in the commercialization of the movement, Exit Through the Gift Shop. CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 133: Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010) (00:00:17) - Intro. (00:00:53) - Alright, let's just get into it. Is any of this shit real? (00:14:32) - It's time to uncover ...
May 05, 2025•1 hr 56 min•Ep. 133
On this week's Watchcast Brad's documentary pick is up to bat, and he's selected Jurassic Punk, a movie that both chronicles the early days of computer generated special effects at ILM, and serves as a character study of the embittered genius that is Steve 'Spaz' Williams. CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 132: Jurassic Punk (2022) (00:00:30) - Intro. (00:15:55) - The central figure of this week's doc: Steve 'Spaz' Williams. (00:22:44) - Diving headlong into The Abyss. (00:...
Apr 28, 2025•1 hr 51 min•Ep. 132
It's time to kick off our month of documentaries, and leading us off is one of Alex's favorite slice of life stories in cinema, American Movie! Join us as we talk through Mark and his motley film crew's attempt at making the next great American horror short film, and then review the aforementioned short film as well. That's right, a double feature (technically)! CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 131: American Movie (1999) and Coven (1997) (00:00:27) - Intro. (00:01:12) - Ou...
Apr 21, 2025•1 hr 45 min•Ep. 131
We round out our month of weird dystopian cities with the darkest dystopian city of them all: the one literally called Dark City. Join us as we try to find the way to Shell Beach, and along the way finally answer the question of what makes a man: his memory, or his power level. CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 130: Dark City (1998) (00:00:25) - Intro. (00:01:10) - Getting into our histories (or non-histories) with our movie this week: Dark City! (00:07:54) - What is a man?...
Mar 31, 2025•2 hr 42 min•Ep. 130
Ahhh, the French cinema! It's known for its excellence, and on this week's Watchcast that proves undeniably true as we check out Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro's science fantasy classic, The City of Lost Children . CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 129: The City of Lost Children (1995) (00:00:39) - Intro. (00:02:44) - We head to France for our film this week, The City of Lost Children! (00:06:35) - Alex shouts out the person who first showed him this movie, and some scatt...
Mar 24, 2025•1 hr 58 min•Ep. 129
It's time to take a trip back in time to the crime-scorched hellscape of NYC circa 1979 in Walter Hill's The Warriors! Join us as we bop from the Bronx to Coney Island, taking on the many gangs of clowns and theater kids that run these New York City streets. CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 128: The Warriors (1979) (00:00:55) - Intro. (00:04:08) - Trying to dial into the tone of this movie, and how it compares to the source material. (00:09:39) - Digging into the nature of...
Mar 17, 2025•2 hr 2 min•Ep. 128
We're kicking off our month of Weird-Ass Dystopian Cities with Terry Gilliam's classic satirical nightmare, Brazil! Join us as we pick apart this strange world of failing systems and bureaucratic ass-covering that holds absolutely no similarity to the real world in which we live. Heh. Heh. CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 127: Brazil (1985) (00:00:11) - Intro. (00:01:47) - Our movie this week: Terry Gilliam's Brazil! But which version?!? (00:06:11) - A cinematic Rosetta St...
Mar 10, 2025•2 hr 10 min•Ep. 127
We're closing out February with our second Best Picture winner in a row, this time jetting off to South Korea for Bong Joon-ho's Parasite. How does it hold up a few years removed from its hype? Very well, it turns out! CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 126: Parasite (2019) (00:00:24) - Intro. (00:01:28) - Our film this week is Bong Joon-ho's Parasite! (00:10:12) - A brief note about the (probably) lower number of clips in this episode. (00:11:22) - Getting into the producti...
Mar 03, 2025•2 hr 14 min•Ep. 126
This week on the Watchcast The Sting is the thing! Join us as we time warp all the way back to the depressed '30s and delight in the con-artistry of certified grifter hunks Robert Redford and Paul Newman. CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 125: The Sting (1973) (00:00:58) - Intro. (00:03:50) - Our delightful romp of a movie this week: The Sting! (00:11:14) - Brad has somehow never seen another Paul Newman movie. (00:13:13) - Getting into the production history. (00:19:06) - ...
Feb 24, 2025•2 hr 5 min•Ep. 125
Self-described Boiler Room expert Jeff Bakalar joins us to pick apart this turn of the millennium stock scam thriller, and while not every part of it holds up to our memories, it does manage to seize on one important truth: men will always find reasons to underfurnish their living spaces. CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 124: Boiler Room (2000) (00:00:17) - Intro. (00:01:18) - Our movie is Boiler Room, and we've got a tri-state bro expert with us: Jeff Bakalar! (00:12:46) ...
Feb 17, 2025•2 hr 2 min•Ep. 124
It may be a new month and a new theme, but the Watchcast ain't quite done with Jude Law yet. Join us as we dive into the twisted world of The Talented Mr. Ripley, and marvel at the gorgeous sights, the excellent performances, and the unbelievable abs on display. CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 123: The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) (00:00:37) - Intro. (00:04:55) - Some notes on the Highsmith novels, and praise for Matt Damon and the screenplay. (00:12:06) - Getting into the ...
Feb 10, 2025•2 hr 38 min•Ep. 123
We put Andrew Niccol's dystopian sci-fi murder mystery Gattaca through its paces, and come out the other side feeling like maybe this whole genetic perfection thing ain't all it's cracked up to be. CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 122: Gattaca (1997 (00:00:27) - Intro. (00:01:43) - Closing out the month in style, with Gattaca! (00:04:44) - Production talk, and some of our topline feelings on the movie. (00:18:25) - What a handsome cast. (00:23:06) - Last production notes. ...
Feb 03, 2025•2 hr 16 min•Ep. 122
A.I. Artificial Intelligence is every bit the overlong and fractured feeling movie we remember from 24 years ago, but even with some of those negative feelings re-confirmed, we find plenty to discuss, dissect, and even appreciate about Spielberg's tribute to his friend Stanley. CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 121: A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) (00:01:26) - Intro. (00:02:50) - Our histories with this extremely divisive film. (00:08:36) - The chunkiness of the movie's...
Jan 27, 2025•3 hr 6 min•Ep. 121
On this week's Watchcast we slice open and dig around inside Repo Men, a sci-fi thriller that borders on competence at times, and never fails to find a way to disgust. CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 120: Repo Men (2010) (00:00:15) - Intro. (00:01:38) - Less than two minutes in and we're already wishing Cronenberg made this instead. (00:05:00) - Why does this movie, of all movies, loom so large in Vinny's memory? (00:10:56) - Some cast talk, and getting into the productio...
Jan 20, 2025•1 hr 53 min•Ep. 120
Buckle your seatbelts, and secure your airpods, as the Watchcast kicks off its month of Jude Law-flavored sci-fi with the rip-roaring (and entirely blue-screened) adventure of Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow! CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 119: Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004) (00:00:48) - Intro. (00:03:00) - Some words about our reason for the season: Jude Law (00:05:00) - And some words on his co-star here, Gwyneth Paltrow. (00:06:21) - Sky Captain wa...
Jan 13, 2025•1 hr 52 min•Ep. 119
We're closing out 2024 for the Watchcast the only way we know how: with the most depressing movie we can fit into a theme. And this year it's with David Cronenberg's captivating Eastern Promises, featuring Viggo Mortensen like you've never seen him before. CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 118: Eastern Promises (2007) (00:00:35) - Intro. (00:01:42) - Viggo appreciation right out of the gate. (00:03:23) - Our last movie of 2024: David Cronenberg's Eastern Promises! (00:07:20...
Dec 30, 2024•1 hr 50 min•Ep. 118
Midway through our December to Dismember, we've got Shane Black's bank-breaking screenplay The Long Kiss Goodnight, a chance for America's Sweetheart Geena Davis to maybe redeem herself after Cutthroat Island. CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 117: The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) (00:00:18) - Intro. (00:01:33) - Does Geena Davis get her redemption arc with this one (00:04:46) - Did the box office suffer from the stank of Cutthroat Island (00:05:57) - Some Shane Black talk. (...
Dec 23, 2024•1 hr 59 min•Ep. 117
The Watchcast returns from its slumber for a trio of vaguely Christmas-related, and not-so-vaguely violence-related films, and we're kicking things off with Tim Burton's other Batflick, Batman Returns! CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 116: Batman Returns (1992) (00:00:19) - Intro. (00:03:42) - Our topline feelings on this week's movie: Batman Returns! (00:16:56) - Getting into the production history. (00:33:49) - Some cast talk, including who COULD have played some of thes...
Dec 16, 2024•2 hr 25 min•Ep. 116
We close out our November the only way we know how: with a bad movie. A bad Final Fantasy movie no less, in Spirits Within. Join us as we pick apart this troubled and expensive production, our own histories with Final Fantasy, and just what it is that happens to your soul when one of those phantom things eats it. CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 115: Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001) (00:00:51) - Intro. (00:03:46) - The brief, expensive, and unremarkable life of Squ...
Nov 25, 2024•1 hr 57 min•Ep. 115
We continue to dive ever deeper into the world of big budget failures with Waterworld, a sea-faring post-apocalyptic adventure so middle-of-the-road that only its astronomical budget could possibly be the source of its lasting cultural impact. CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 114: Waterworld (1995) (00:00:21) - Intro. (00:02:10) - Our movie is Waterworld, let's get right into the budget talk. (00:03:40) - The Costner factor. (00:10:32) - Getting into the ridiculous product...
Nov 18, 2024•1 hr 52 min•Ep. 114
It's time again for our now-annual Turkey Month, and we're kicking off a November's worth of big budget turkeys with Cutthroat Island, the pirate movie that plundered Carolco of their last remaining doubloons, and sent Geena Davis' career as a swashbuckler off the side of a boat. CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 113: Cutthroat Island (1995) (00:00:18) - Intro. (00:02:08) - Our first turkey for November: Cutthroat Island! (00:07:37) - The Renny Harlin factor, and the initia...
Nov 11, 2024•1 hr 52 min•Ep. 113
We close out our October of terror with the ghastliest, most chill-inducing horror anthology of all: The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror! Talking Simpsons' Henry Gilbert joins us as we rank our favorite Simpsons Halloween shorts from the golden age of the show. CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 112: The Best of The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror (00:00:28) - Intro. (00:01:07) - For this week's Simpsons themed nonsense, we turn to Talking Simpsons' Henry Gilbert! (00:03:00) - O...
Nov 04, 2024•2 hr 41 min•Ep. 112
