Nerd Critic

Dispatches from Inner Space (Jordan's Substack) - thedispatches.substack.com Growing Up vs Growing Old: A Battle Only a Superhero Can Win (CJ's book) - https://www.amazon.com/CJ-Lindsey/e/B0BBPSXDBL

Dispatches from Inner Space - thedispatches.substack.comGrowing Up vs Growing Old: A Battle Only a Superhero Can Win (CJ's book) - https://www.amazon.com/CJ-Lindsey/e/B0BBPSXDBL

The multiverse is a favorite trope in big studio blockbusters lately. We talk about two of them: "Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness," and "Everything Everywhere All at Once." Other than their very long titles, these movies couldn't be more different. And one of them is good. As always, you are encouraged to see both before listening.

It’s been more than a YEAR since our last episode. But we’re back. Not like we were before, when we were maniacally releasing two episodes every week, but we’re pretty sure nobody had time for all that noise anyway. In this episode, we accidentally talk about Turning Red for 15 minutes before pumping a whole lot of pent-up Nerd Critic love into the latest iteration of DC’s favorite brooding orphan.

This is it. This is goodbye. Maybe not forever, but definitely for now. If and when people start going back to the movies in actual theaters every week, we might try to resurrect the show. But if not, if this truly is "the end of all things," please know that we love you all very, very much. Nerd Critic has been one of our proudest achievements, a work of true and lasting passion, and we couldn't be more grateful for the relationship we built with you over the years (years!) No matter what happens, please remember to always, always, always... Love movies like a nerd, and respect them like a critic. ...aaand cut.

Normally we'd attach timecodes to everything, but that just sounds like a lot of work rn so.MoviesThat Thing You Do!Spies in DisguiseGet on up & 21 Bridges (RIP Chadwick Boseman)Spirited AwayZathuraLady BirdThe FarewellMidsommer/the social dilemma TVSnowpiercerInto the DarkI’ll Be Gone in the DarkWokeMiracle WorkersThe BoysRaised by WolvesTed Lasso Also, as promised, here's a link to Jordan's new newsletter: watchthisnext.substack.com Enjoy!

It's Palm Springs! Plus His Dark Material and Legion, both of which come with the Nerd Critic stamp of approval. Also, a short (and important) announcement at the end. Oh, and we spend the first 7 minutes of the episode talking about hard boiled eggs, just so you're aware. Questions/comments/hatemail? Send it all to ask[at]nerdcriticpodcast.com

2:36 - You invitation to the first ever Nerd Critic Movie Night! JOIN HERE - https://discord.gg/DY6UeV35:25 - Introducing our deep dive into Holes44:55 - Spoiler-free review of Project Power (on Netflix)46:32 - Jordan makes an rambling, impassioned recommendation to watch Waco (also on Netflix)51:25 - Q&A - Should Netflix move forward with another live-action remake of Avatar: The Last Airbender?55:10 - The new poll: https://bit.ly/3jYVS1t -- Go vote! Movie suggestions? Burning questions? Send them to:ask [at] nerdcriticpodcast.com

It's frankly astonishing that it's taken us this long to get around to covering Forrest Gump. And we can't even take credit! This is the movie YOU voted for, and so here we are. 6:48 - Our deep dive into Forrest Gump45:55 - Spoiler-free review of American Pickle47:48 - Jordan recommends Killing Eve50:40 - Q&A - Why doesn't my mother like movies of faith?55:10 - The new poll: https://bit.ly/3jYVS1t -- Go vote! Movie suggestions? Burning questions? Send them to:ask@nerdcriticpodcast.com

NOTES1:08 - Poll Results4:15 - The deep dive into Honey Boy36:53 - A spoiler-free review of The Old Guard40:18 - A spoiler-free review of Greyhound46:40 - Our short conversation about anime (and why we don't spend much time on it)51:25 - How to be part of the conversation LINKSThis week's poll - https://bit.ly/3jYVS1tShia LaBeouf YouTube musical number - https://youtu.be/o0u4M6vppCI Movie suggestions? Burning questions? Send them to:ask@nerdcriticpodcast.com

- Discussing the discussion of banter- The explanation of our break- Updates about what's new in our lives (a lot can change in a month -- mostly for CJ)- Our radical new plans for how Nerd Critic will become an ongoing conversation- Polls! Here's a link to the first: nerdcriticpodcast.com- A breakdown of what to expect from future episodes, and a promise to cut out the boring bits- A totally unnecessary freakout about a problem that was fixed shortly after we finished recording- CJ completely misses a FANTASTIC setup, then recovers...reasonably well(A helpful reminder to listen at 2X speed. It's so much better that way. Trust us.)Twitter: We're back, and we've got big plans. Want to know what they are? That's what listening is for.

Will this be the very LAST episode of Nerd Critic ever? (No.) In this episode, we talk ourselves out of covering the movie we planned to cover, and then decide to push pause until the theaters reopen. We're proud to have stubbornly (and stupidly) kept the show going for so long without the magic of the silver screen to sustain us, but it's time to take a break. And we'll be back as soon as Tenet hits the theaters, so keep your candle lit for that grand and glorious day. Also, feel free to keep in touch! For the duration of this overdue pause, we'll be collection recommendations for future Off the Shelf episodes, and any other questions or topics you'd like us to spend time talking about. Until next time, remember to keep loving movies like a nerd, and respecting them like a critic.

0:40 - Buddy Lindsey (CJ's big brother) introduces the movie4:25 - Above the line5:30 - The spoiler-free review (the challenge of spoilers in this movie)10:10 - Spoilers ahead16:00 - Jordan thinks he can fix this movie22:00 - Structural problems24:55 - Discussing the idea of empathy for self38:30 - Coming up next week: 7500 on Amazon

 1:00 - CJ apologizes for his echoey recording, and Jordan apologizes for bad audio last week. Neither of them realize no one cares.3:10 - The timing of this movie4:40 - Above the line (and LOTS of early nerding out over the cast)11:50 - A fantastic easter egg12:40 - The spoiler-free overview15:15 - Jordan burps, and doesn't edit it out18:50 - The movie plays out like a really cool history lesson20:00 - SPOILERS ahead (lots of stuff we loved)24:10 - Flashbacks, music, and vicarious experience28:50 - The point where we finally let go and get sucked into the vortex of Paul's story arc and Delroy Lindo's apocalyptic performance37:50 - Shoutout to The Bridge on the River Kwai40:30 - Time to bring in Black Panther43:00 - Getting the criticisms out of the way, and acknowledging the weaknesses in the fabric of the movie48:30 - The respect this film has for all of its characters, and all of the groups of people they represent56:00 - Next week: Predestination (available to rent) and 7500 (available on Amazon Prime)

2:50 - Does CJ's wife work too much?4:30 - James Montague / Andrew Patterson, a first-time writer and director8:00 - Spoiler-free review (you should go watch it!)14:00 - Spoilers ahead!17:20 - Jordan's favorite sequence, deconstructed23:30 - Incredible pacing, especially considering the way it used and relied on audio27:00 - How the story encourages close listening to characters who deserve to be heard29:00 - Shout out to The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), and lots of other sci-fi classics31:15 - Culture of the 1950's33:00 - Some honest criticisms39:00 - The difference between a loose end and an effective hanging question40:00 - The two people we hear the most from are the people who are often not listened to44:30 - Jordan does his best to make sure CJ doesn't get to say anything45:30 - Coming up next week: Uncut Gems and Da 5 Bloods, both available to see on Netflix

Once again, we have a request from a loyal listener. We couldn't have been more excited to talk about this exceptionally entertaining and popular movie. It's actually a little embarrassing that we haven't covered it up to this point. Is this podcast called NERD Critic? Whatever. 0:55 - Rachel Reyes explains why she requested Star Trek6:10 - The meta-data (above the line)9:20 - Baby Thor!9:50 - A very, very brief primer on Star Trek, including CJ and Jordan's (unimpressive) history of Star Trek fandom14:00 - The reason Star Trek was "rebooted"15:00 - Spoilers ahead! (but...come on, it was 11 years ago)18:40 - "This is the Star Trek movie I've always wanted to see" -Jordan20:10 - A shoutout for Megaplex in Jordan Commons22:40 - Things that JJ Abrams is good at: cold opens, first acts, casting, dialog, pacing (his superpower)31:20 - Specific example of great pacing (breaking down a sequence)35:10 - Talking about the characters, the central relationship, and Spock, specifically46:40 - Nero, the other extreme -- K

This is one of those movies that people tend to sleep on, which is unfortunate, because it is not only exceptionally well-crafted, it's also VERY entertaining. We're covering it because it's a Netflix original, and the theaters are still closed. So go stream this and then come listen to us talk about it. 1:00 - Jordan gags on his name 4:27 - Above the line 7:11 - Spoiler free review 11:05 - Spoilers ahead (although, this movie isn't terribly vulnerable to spoilers, so...maybe don't worry about it) 12:50 - How to use flashbacks 16:20 - Biblical imagery and other stylistic choice 21:30 - The planting of thematic flags 24:40 - Liberalism and conservatism, in conversation with each other 30:30 - Relevance to current events -- the value and necessity of truly listening 34:50 - A method of deep listening, and the way to make actual progress 39:20 - Next week: Star Trek (2009) and The Vast of Night

This is a great movie, and this was a really fun episode, but Jordan would like to make the following important note about the recording: Apologies for the low battery fire alarm beeping in the background of this WHOLE episode. I mean what was I supposed to do? Stop recording and go replace the batteries? Instead of just continuing forward and hoping that the mic wouldn't pick it up? Well I was wrong and you can definitely hear it. The whole time. In addition the crying toddlers. Do me a favor? Blame it on COVID-19, the perfect scapegoat of our times. Notes: 1:08 - Ayaka Yagi introduces her movie request for this week 3:55 - CJ and Jordan give context for watching and rewatching The Edge of Seventeen 5:35 - Above the line, and Kelly Fremon Craig's career 10:15 - Spoiler free review 11:20 - The justification for the R-rating 13:00 - Spoiling and nerding 15:30 - The dynamic between Nadine and Mr. Bruner 19:30 - A discussion of the various dynamics in Nadine's family, and Nadine's character flaws (and her ar

The Lovebirds wastes its two best assets, Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani, by letting the entire burden of comedy rest on their shoulders. We were both looking forward to this movie a lot, and it turned out to be quite the disappointment. If you're interested, watch the first act, then shut it down and check out some of the other movies we talked about in this episode. 4:00 - Discussing the names above the line 6:15 - Our spoiler-free review 8:42 - Jordan's theory about how this movie got made 11:37 - Spoiling and a little bit of nerding 19:20 - Our critical criticisms 26:20 - The deconstruction of a representative scene 33:30 - Next week: The Edge of Seventeen and The Two Popes, both on Netflix Movies to watch that are better: - The Big Sick - Date Night - Game Night - Neighbors and Neighbors 2

Avengers: Infinity War - TWO YEARS LATER Remember that moment in Endgame where they killed Thanos and then there was a title card that was all like, "FIVE YEARS LATER," and we were all like "WHOAH." This episode is kind of like that, but way, way less epic. OK, for real, we started Nerd Critic just over two years ago, right around the time that Infinity War came out (and partly because of it), so that should give you some idea of the importance of this film in Nerd Critic's history. We felt it was a good time to revisit not only the film itself (TWO YEARS LATER), but also our very first episode. Are we any better? Worse? Exactly the disappointing same? See for yourself. 2:00 - Our thoughts about our first episode, after registering 3:30 - A reminder to listen to this show at 2X speed, and why 6:20 - Nerd Critic tropes (making up words, underestimating the runtime of our episodes, man-crushes, and Jordan's rants) 9:30 - Revisiting the points we made about Infinity War 10:00 - Do comic book deaths matter? (A