154 - Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) & Ex Machina (2014) →

Best of 2020 - #2 Terminator 2: Judgment Day

It’s Sentient Robot Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey perform the Turing test on a liquid-metal android assassin!

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!  

The Classic Film: Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
"A cyborg, identical to the one who failed to kill Sarah Connor, must now protect her teenage son, John Connor, from a more advanced and powerful cyborg” (IMDb.com). It's T2! You know we're going to gush.

The Modern Film: Ex Machina (2014)
“A young programmer is selected to participate in a ground-breaking experiment in synthetic intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a highly advanced humanoid A.I.” (IMDb.com). Much more contemplative than the action-packed Terminator 2, we actually had more to say (good and bad) about Ex Machina.

Audio Sources:
"The Beginning: Making Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace" produced by Lucasfilm Ltd.
"Ex Machina" produced by A24, et al.
"Get Down Saturday Night" written by Kevin McCord & Oliver Cheatham and performed by Oliver Cheatham
"Jurassic Park" produced by Universal Pictures & Amblin Entertainment
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Porkchop Sandwiches" produced by Fenslerfilm
"Princess Bride" produced by Act III Communications, et al.
"Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II" produced by Stoopid Monkey, et al.
"Silence of the Lambs" produced by Strong Heart/Demme Production & Orion Pictures
"Terminator 2: Judgment Day" produced by Carolco Pictures, et al.
"Tiffany on the Wild Side" (Unhappily Ever After S03E15) produced by Touchstone Television

109 - The Terminator (1984) & Morgan (2016) →

Best of 2019 - #7 The Terminator

Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1191101921525940224

It’s Manufactured Assassin Week on Pod Sematary! Chris gets pedantic about robot terminology (what else is new?) and Kelsey sings Burnin' in the Third Degree! Thanks to listener Harry for the recommendation!

The Classic Film: The Terminator (1984)
"A seemingly indestructible robot is sent from 2029 to 1984 to assassinate a young waitress, whose unborn son will lead humanity in a war against sentient machines, while a human soldier from the same war is sent to protect her at all costs” (IMDb.com). The first film in the Terminator franchise is probably the closest the series ever gets to straight-up slasher-horror. Don’t worry; we don’t bicker about the logic of time travel.

The Modern Film: Morgan (2016)
"A corporate risk-management consultant must decide whether or not to terminate an artificially created humanoid being.” (IMDb.com). Chris & Kelsey saw this movie when it came out and subsequently forgot everything about it beyond the premise. After they watch it again, this entirely passable flick (that doesn’t seem at all concerned with being anything beyond superficial) reinforces precisely why it doesn’t stick in your brain.

Audio Sources:
"Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton Respond to IGN Comments" via IGN @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1d_CtQOh54
"Arnold Schwarzenegger Breaks Down His Most Iconic Characters | GQ" via GQ @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srksXVEkfAs
"Beverly Hills Cop" produced by Paramount Pictures, et al.
“Morgan” produced by Scott Free Productions, et al.
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
“The Terminator” produced by Hemdale, et al.
"Terminator 2: Judgement Day" produced by Carolco Pictures, et al.
"Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" (Deleted Scene & Arnold Schwarzenegger Commentary) produced by C-2 Pictures, et al.

103 - Double Feature - Children of the Corn (1984 & 2009) →

CW: Child Abuse, Rape

Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1174456405132079104

It’s Child Cult Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey blaspheme against He Who Walks Behind the Rows this week, probably because they’re well past the age of favor.

The "Original": Children of the Corn (1984)
"A young couple is trapped in a remote town where a dangerous religious cult of children believe everyone over the age of 18 must be killed” (IMDb.com). This “original” adaptation of Stephen King’s short story takes quite a few liberties, but more often than not, these changes end up as beloved moments in 80s horror. But is it actually as scary and Chris and Kelsey remember?

The “Remake”: Children of the Corn (2009)
"While traveling, an unhappy married couple encounter a cult of murderous children who worship an entity called He Who Walks Behind the Rows” (IMDb.com). This version is much more faithful to the original story, much to its detriment. King’s overly hysterical dialogue doesn’t play so well when it doesn’t have the benefit of being broken up by his fascinating prose.

Plus! We discuss the original short story and the actual first adaptation: 1983 short film Disciples of the Crow!

Audio Sources:
"Cabin in the Woods” produced by Lionsgate, et al.
"Child's Play" (1988) produced by United Artists
"Children of the Corn" (1984) produced by Hal Roach Studios, et al.
"Children of the Corn" (2009) produced by Children of the Corn Productions & Planet Productions
"Disciples of the Crow” produced by Johnny Stevens & John Woodward
"The NeverEnding Story" produced by Constantin Film, et al.
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"The Wacky Molestation Adventure" (South Park S04E16) produced by Braniff