The Nextlander Watchcast

Episoder

• 180: Apollo 11 (2019) 01.06.2026 2t 4min

  Nothing brings people together like a good old fashioned space mission, and for this week's Watchcast we've got a documentary about the goodest of old fashioned space missions, Apollo 11! Join us as we marvel not just at the unbelievable human achievement this story represents, but also the ludicrously high quality footage they managed to capture 50-plus years ago.CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 180: Apollo 11 (2019)(00:00:24) - Intro.(00:02:50) - Brad tells us why he picked Apollo 11, and we muse on how wild it is that this footage exists.(00:11:01) - On the achievement itself, and what it's meant to the world since.(00:22:51) - Some context for the previous Apollo missions.(00:32:20) - Once again talking about the ludicrous amount of high quality footage we have here.(00:38:30) - On the filmmaker, and how this movie came to be.(00:43:02) - Break!(00:43:28) - We're back, and Brad has a familial anecdote.(00:45:50) - Launch day.(00:59:27) - Once again, gotta give it up for the clarity of this footage.(01:05:41) - Off to the (space) races.(01:12:54) - Arrival at the Moon, and the descent.(01:25:12) - Two hours on the Moon.(01:30:03) - Rejoining with the ship, and heading home.(01:35:35) - The boys come home.(01:39:18) - What came after.(01:53:27) - Final thoughts (we did a cool thing, once).(01:58:01) - What's coming up on the Watchcast.(02:04:08) - Outro.
• 179: Harlan County, U.S.A. (1976) 25.05.2026 2t 12min

  This week's Watchcast takes us on a trip down to Harlan County, U.S.A. as we tackle Barbara Kopple's gripping (and Academy Award winning) documentary about the 1973 miners' strike against Duke Power.CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 179: Harlan County, U.S.A. (1976)(00:00:57) - Intro.(00:07:38) - Geography lessons with the Nextlander gang.(00:12:53) - On Bloody Harlan, and some discussion of the movie's structure.(00:20:41) - How this movie came to be.(00:37:02) - Break!(00:37:24) - We're back, and it's time to venture down to Kentucky.(00:42:01) - Our first glimpses at the life of the strikers.(00:51:34) - A personal retelling of Bloody Harlan, and the first encounter with the gun thugs.(00:58:05) - The women of the community become more directly involved.(01:05:24) - Open conflicts begin to errupt, and people are taken to jail.(01:10:37) - Heading to New York.(01:17:22) - The Farmington accident, and discussion of black lung.(01:23:26) - The Boyle/Yablonski affair.(01:32:02) - Tensions are boiling in Harlan.(01:41:13) - The road blockade and the warrant for Basil Collins.(01:46:58) - The killing of Lawrence Jones.(01:51:18) - The fight is never over.(02:01:24) - Final thoughts.(02:07:00) - Housekeeping for next week's doc: Apollo 11!(02:11:45) - Outro.
• 178: Class Action Park (2020) 18.05.2026 1t 56min

  We're filling out May's Watchcast schedule with a trio of documentaries that have been on our respective lists for a while now, and first up is Vinny's pick, Class Action Park! Join us as we recount our own memories of weirdo theme parks of yore, marvel at the brazen lawlessness of this whole operation, and wonder aloud if we aren't just living in Action Park all the time now.CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 178: Class Action Park (2020)(00:00:43) - Intro.(00:04:00) - Class Action Park is Vinny's pick this month, and here's why.(00:10:37) - How this podcast is going to go, generally, and our own personal experiences with local theme parks.(00:20:57) - How the hell was this allowed to go on for so long?(00:27:04) - Break!(00:27:32) - We're back, and it's time to talk about who made this movie, and who some of the folks speaking in it are.(00:32:11) - Kicking things off with who Gene Mulvihill was. and how he came to own this place. (00:36:26) - The Action Park complex, and the rides that didn't work out.(00:46:42) - Some of the rides that lasted the duration, and the Lord of the Flies situation going on here.(00:56:02) - The deadliest kayak experience this side of the Colorado.(00:57:31) - The wave pool deaths.(01:05:49) - Motorworld, and George Larsson's death on the Alpine Slide.(01:14:52) - How Gene Mulvihill dodged consequences.(01:24:05) - What became of Action Park, and what, if anything, is there to be learned from all this?(01:46:12) - Final thoughts.(01:53:26) - Our film for next week: Harlan County, USA!(01:56:18) - Outro.
• 177: Burn After Reading (2008) with Austin Walker 11.05.2026 2t 17min

  We close out our slate of Coens comedies with their 2008 spy thriller farce, Burn After Reading! And joining the crew as we unravel this sordid tale of idiot spycraft is none other than our friend and yours, Austin Walker!CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 177: Burn After Reading (2008)(00:00:16) - Intro.(00:01:02) - Our guest this week is Austin Walker, and our movie is Burn After Reading!(00:05:36) - On the movie's overall tone, it's cynicism, and how it treats its characters.(00:21:14) - How this movie came into the world.(00:29:03) - Break!(00:29:24) - We're back, and it's time to handle the most important political issue of our time: HR violations at the CIA.(00:36:38) - Katie, and the Pfarrers.(00:44:52) - Osborne's explosive memoirs (and exploding marriage).(00:51:32) - Linda arrives, and she wants some work done.(01:00:49) - The discovery of top secret shit.(01:07:22) - The master plan begins.(01:15:56) - We gotta get these two crazy kids together.(01:18:34) - The drop, and the Russians become involved.(01:24:40) - No one ever expects the adult novelty chair, and the fall of Osborne Cox.(01:31:36) - Things escalate, to say the least.(01:36:07) - JK Simmons is here to say what we're all thinking.(01:41:16) - Everyone and everything becomes unwound.(01:57:55) - What did we learn?(02:03:58) - Final thoughts.(02:09:21) - Housekeeping for the remaining May movies.(02:13:01) - Outro.
• 176: Raising Arizona (1987) 04.05.2026 1t 56min

  The third film in our Coens Comedy Classics lineup is an all-time favorite of Alex's, and a genuine screwball hall-of-famer if you don't mind such bold proclamations. We are, of course, talking about Raising Arizona, a movie chock full of yuks that still has a genuine heart that cannot be denied.CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 176: Raising Arizona (1987)(00:00:22) - Intro.(00:08:19) - Some initial impressions, and how Raising Arizona got made.(00:21:09) - On the subject of Randall "Tex" Cobb.(00:25:43) - A brief bit on Trey Wilson.(00:27:05) - On the movie's success and reception (and also a lengthy Siskel and Ebert bit).(00:33:11) - Break!(00:33:31) - We're back, and it's time for Hi and Ed's whirlwind romance.(00:43:32) - Taking your pick of the Arizona Quints.(00:52:42) - Our new nuclear family, and the Snoats brothers come calling.(01:01:47) - The demon biker first appears, and Nathan Jr. is discovered missing.(01:07:57) - The true horror of the nuclear family is revealed.(01:15:09) - One of the all-time great failed hold-ups in cinema.(01:18:04) - The bank robbery is pitched, and Junior's origins are discovered by unsavory types.(01:29:59) - Hi and Ed are nearly done, and the bank robbery pops off.(01:33:10) - All forces converge on Nathan Jr.(01:36:47) - Hi and Ed make things right, and a (potential) vision of the future.(01:44:05) - Final thoughts, and various other Cage musings.(01:53:42) - Our final Coens movie for this lineup: Burn After Reading!(01:55:47) - Outro.
• 175: The Hudsucker Proxy (1994) 27.04.2026 2t 4min

  Our journey through some of the wackier Coen Brothers capers continues this week as we take on The Hudsucker Proxy, a star-studded, over-the-top affair that is equal parts His Girl Friday and Roadrunner cartoon, and is every bit as ungainly as that description makes it sound.CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 175: The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)(00:00:20) - Intro.(00:01:28) - Our movie this week: The Hudsucker Proxy!(00:10:49) - How this movie got made, and discussion of its ill box office fortunes.(00:25:03) - Break!(00:25:26) - We're back, and it's time to tell the tale of Norville Barnes.(00:35:04) - Everything's going great at Hudsucker Industries, until it isn't.(00:40:04) - Let's hatch a stock scam.(00:44:22) - Mailroom mayhem, and the introduction of the Blue Letter.(00:57:17) - A perfect patsy is born, but one ace reporter smells a bunko scam.(01:05:20) - A fabricated meet-cute at the diner, and Amy becomes a Muncie gal.(01:10:20) - Taking a letter, and the fancy dress ball.(01:21:02) - The dawn of the extruded plastic dingus.(01:28:29) - The stock scam is in shambles, and Norville is tripping on his own dingus.(01:32:20) - Norville's dancing dreams, and the downfall.(01:42:25) - Long way down (one more thing).(01:54:14) - The epilogue, and our final thoughts.(02:02:13) - Our film for next week is a killer one: Raising Arizona!(02:03:48) - Outro.
• 174: O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) 20.04.2026 1t 52min

  After an unexpectedly long odyssey that delayed the Watchcast's scheduled arrival, we're finally back to our movie watching ways, and launching into our month of Coen Brothers comedies, starting with the duo's southern-fried take on one of the great Homeric works in O Brother, Where Art Thou?!CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 174: O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)(00:01:04) - Intro(00:02:53) - It took us longer than we expected to get back, but we're finally here. Now, on a totally unrelated subject, let's talk about The Odyssey.(00:09:17) - The music, and some chatter about our main cast.(00:16:46) - Some last production notes.(00:23:32) - What was our familiarity with this one prior to this watch?(00:27:01) - Break!(00:30:01) - The blind seer's prophecy, and a night on the farm.(00:40:41) - A genuine geographical oddity, and the dreamiest Baptism you ever did see.(00:43:43) - Meeting Tommy at the Crossroads, and singin' into a can.(00:54:19) - Money talk around the campfire, and the introduction of Babyface.(01:04:55) - The sirens, a toad, and Big Dan.(01:13:17) - Homer Stokes, the Wharvey gals, and the pater familias.(01:21:59) - Reuniting with Pete, and rescuing Tommy from the klan.(01:30:11) - Everything converges at the music hall.(01:37:34) - Babyface's fate, and one last challenge to overcome.(01:44:41) - The McGills reunited.(01:46:10) - Final thoughts.(01:49:45) - Next week's movie: The Hudsucker Proxy!(01:51:57) - Outro.
• 173: Stop Making Sense (1984) 24.03.2026 2t 1min

  It's our last Watchcast before we take a two week hiatus, so Alex wants to send us off on a high note, and to do so he has hand selected the 1984 Talking Heads concert extravaganza Stop Making Sense! Join us as we experience together the myriad pleasures of great music, cardiovascular exercise, and enormous suits.CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 173: Stop Making Sense (1984)(00:00:45) - Intro.(00:02:46) - Our personal histories with the Talking Heads, if we have them.(00:10:36) - Brad has a couple of questions.(00:14:38) - A little bit of history about the band.(00:33:45) - How the film came to be.(00:41:13) - The touring musicians who help make this show so dynamic.(00:48:37) - Break!(00:48:58) - We're back, and we're kicking things off with Psycho Killer.(00:54:52) - Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens.(01:02:33) - Jerry Harrison Found a Job.(01:04:49) - (Mostly) The full backing crew arrives for Slippery People.(01:06:19) - A song from the extended edition, Cities.(01:08:40) - Burning Down the House.(01:12:32) - The incredible performance of Life During Wartime.(01:17:54) - Making Flippy Floppy.(01:20:06) - Swampin' it up.(01:22:30) - What a Day That Was.(01:24:21) - This Must Be the Place (Naive Podcasters)(01:27:43) - This is not my beautiful Watchcast!(01:30:07) - Big Business / I Zimbra(01:32:40) - The Tom Tom Club takeover.(01:35:08) - BIG SUIT (also featuring Girlfriend Is Better).(01:39:30) - Take Me to the River.(01:43:42) - Closing out with Crosseyed and Painless.(01:46:57) - Final thoughts.(01:56:35) - Housekeeping for next month.(02:00:35) - Outro.
• 172: Annihilation (2018) 16.03.2026 2t 42min

  Brad has made his pick for the month, and he's decided to take a trip down south to Alex Garland's Annihilation, where a funny kind of Shimmer has got everyone all confused and refracted and dead. Join us as we discuss at length the phantasmagoric scenes that await our scientific adventurers, the human drama that plagues them both in and out of the zone, and just how how messed up that bear really is.CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 172: Annihilation (2018)(00:00:26) - Intro.(00:04:06) - Brad's pick is up this week, and he has chosen Annihilation!(00:08:50) - Talking about the book, Alex Garland, and how he set about adapting this story.(00:16:48) - On the production, and the trouble it ran into pre-release.(00:27:02) - The flashback.(00:38:23) - This is not my beautiful house. This is not my beautiful wife. How did I get here?(00:42:35) - Break!(00:42:54) - We're back, and it's time for our first look at the Shimmer.(00:53:28) - Meeting the squad.(00:59:34) - Time becomes immediately weird.(01:03:11) - The mutations start to become apparent.(01:15:33) - Video logs and environmental storytelling.(01:24:24) - Another flashback in a flashback, and the bear makes its first appearance.(01:33:44) - They find Cassie, then they find some tree people.(01:42:50) - Sometimes you eat the bear, sometimes the bear absorbs your consciousness at the moment of grim death.(01:52:28) - Josie becomes one with the field.(01:56:59) - That lighthouse is messed up.(02:07:51) - The titular line.(02:13:13) - Dancing with...myself?(02:26:20) - Are you you? Am I me?(02:30:59) - Final thoughts.(02:37:57) - Housekeeping for next week's movie: Stop Making Sense!(02:41:21) - Outro.
• 171: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023) 09.03.2026 2t 41min

  With our March schedule being on the shorter side, we've decided to once again each pick a movie we felt like watching, and first up is Vinny with Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Join our party as we adventure through this tongue-in-cheek spin on tabletop storytelling, tell our own tales of DnD adventures, and say the name Jarnathan every chance we get.CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 171: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)(00:00:13) - Intro, and immediately launching into our personal experiences with tabletop gaming.(00:13:41) - Initial thoughts about the movie.(00:19:14) - How this movie (finally) got made.(00:32:34) - The tonal tightrope this movie walks.(00:38:53) - Meeting our Bard and Barbarian in a frozen prison.(00:50:58) - Break!(00:51:19) - We're back, the gang is out of prison, and it's time to head to Neverwinter.(01:01:46) - Time to (re)form the party (and a sidebar about hidden effects shots).(01:14:37) - Scoping out the red wizard's security.(01:19:24) - The Helm of Solving This Specific Problem.(01:25:24) - Waking the dead.(01:29:12) - The most paladin paladin who ever paladin'd.(01:37:08) - To the Underdark.(01:49:19) - Attunement is a real pain in the ass.(01:57:03) - Doing some magical heisting.(02:04:22) - Surviving the games.(02:13:33) - A real life party might've made off with the treasure, but that's not a good movie ending.(02:23:23) - Saving Holga, and keeping the party together.(02:27:56) - Final thoughts.(02:34:51) - Housekeeping for the rest of this month's movies.(02:40:27) - Outro.
• 170: Sexy Beast (2000) 02.03.2026 1t 46min

  Alex's final pick for February is here, and for this week's Watchcast he's taking us to the Spanish coast to peek in on the idyllic life of retired thief Gal Dove in Jonathan Glazer's Sexy Beast, a movie that's got a whole lot of unusual style and flavor going on, even outside of Ben Kingsley's ferociously memorable central performance.CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 170: Sexy Beast (2000)(00:01:20) - Intro.(00:03:05) - Our final February film for 2026: Sexy Beast!(00:10:57) - How this movie got made.(00:20:58) - Our extremely British cast.(00:26:14) - Sweating, baking, boiling, things of that nature.(00:35:02) - Break!(00:35:26) - We're back, and so is Don Logan.(00:44:10) - The plan.(00:52:00) - Yes. No. Yes. No. Yes! Yes! Yes!(01:06:38) - Don leaves, and then doesn't.(01:14:04) - Onto the heist, but what of Don?(01:24:54) - These are the true heirs to the Wet Bandits moniker. (01:31:03) - Shooting off, are we?"(01:36:52) - Gal survives to suntan another day.(01:39:03) - Final thoughts.(01:44:12) - Housekeeping for next month and next week's movie.(01:45:48) - Outro.
• 169: Fargo (1996) 23.02.2026 2t 31min

  It's Fargo week on the Watchcast, and Alex is just gosh darned excited as all get out to talk about his favorite Coens classic. Join us as he takes Brad and Vinny through the frozen wasteland of the Northern Midwest to discuss the supposedly (but not actually) "true events" of the film, the darkness that runs under the surface of Minnesota Nice, and the spectacular array of accents on display.CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 169: Fargo (1996)(00:00:15) - Intro.(00:01:18) - What the boys knew about Fargo going in, and how Alex first saw it.(00:10:03) - Some broader Coens talk.(00:17:20) - Cast chat.(00:30:18) - Launching down a snowy highway into the movie proper.(00:46:52) - Wade and Jerry are not exactly aligned.(00:51:07) - Break!(00:51:27) - We're back, and it's time for a kidnapping.(01:06:37) - The plan is in motion, but it's about to hit its first homicidal snag.(01:11:48) - Marge is on the case.(01:19:24) - This is Jerry's deal.(01:25:32) - Marge meets some ladies.(01:27:00) - The Yanagita Affair, and a few other assorted scenes.(01:32:22) - Jerry's getting cut out of his own kidnapping, and Carl endures many indignities.(01:44:11) - The drop goes bad.(01:50:47) - Here are some guys talking, and Carl buries the money.(01:59:32) - Jerry flees the interview, Jean is dispatched, and Carl gets Gaear'd.(02:09:33) - Chipper Cop Finds Man in Wood Chipper.(02:15:46) - Jerry's undignified end, and one last moment with Marge and Norm.(02:23:27) - Final thoughts.(02:27:31) - Housekeeping for our final film of the month: Sexy Beast!(02:30:12) - Outro.
• 168: Thief (1981) 17.02.2026 2t 23min

  For this week's Watchcast Alex is returning to his previous profession as a Mannhunter, as he takes the crew through one of his favorite Michael Mann flicks, 1981's Thief. Join us as we pick apart the taxonomy of crooks and goofs populating Chicago's early '80s underworld, and marvel at all the exquisite detail that went into this movie's look and vibe.CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 168: Thief (1981)(00:00:27) - Intro.(00:04:09) - On Mann, his early days, and how this movie got made.(00:12:48) - Before we start talking about the movie, gotta talk about the soundtrack.(00:17:18) - The opening heist.(00:23:12) - What is this movie if not a showcase for profoundly Chicago-type guys?(00:31:46) - Break!(00:32:07) - We're back, and Frank wants his damn money(00:38:13) - Okla and Leo, from one father figure to an aspiring one.(00:51:36) - On the subject of these corrupt dirtbag cops.(00:55:20) - The original Michael Mann Diner Scene.(01:09:37) - The California job, and getting comfy in the suburbs.(01:13:29) - How many fingers am I holding up?(01:17:48) - Chaos in the adoption agency.(01:21:34) - Refusing to grease the wheels.(01:29:10) - Okla, we hardly knew ya, but now we have a baby, so it all evens out.(01:32:07) - Ditching those goofy cops.(01:40:01) - Finally, the big job.(01:52:05) - My money is in your pocket.(02:00:24) - Bye bye, Belush. Bye bye, old life.(02:09:41) - Going tactical in the Chicago suburbs.(02:15:39) - Final thoughts.(02:21:02) - Housekeeping for next week.(02:22:55) - Outro.
• 167: The Conversation (1974) 10.02.2026 2t 15min

  It's a new month and a new theme for the Watchcast, and this month Alex is foisting some of his all-time favorites on the rest of the cast, starting with Francis Ford Coppola's profoundly paranoid thriller, The Conversation! Join us as we uncover this deadly plot, marvel at Gene Hackman's performance, and swoon at just about the youngest Harrison Ford we ever did see.CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 167: The Conversation (1974)(00:00:40) - Intro.(00:01:56) - Beginning our conversation about The Conversation.(00:20:04) - Cast chat.(00:27:59) - The terrific and bewildering opening recording sequence.(00:42:09) - Break!(00:42:32) - We're back, and it's time to peek into Harry's home life.(00:54:10) - Harry gets his recording.(00:59:08) - A brief interlude with Teri Garr.(01:03:44) - Lookit baby Harrison Ford!(01:08:48) - Alienating Stan, and the last piece of the audio puzzle.(01:13:48) - Spycon '74.(01:23:22) - Never party with surveillance guys, for several reasons.(01:36:23) - Chastity is the only security you can rely on.(01:46:06) - Meeting the Director.(01:50:37) - Bugging the hotel.(01:55:21) - You ain't gonna win this one, Harry.(02:04:35) - Final thoughts.(02:11:59) - Next week's movie: Michael Mann's Thief!(02:15:14) - Outro.
• 166: Masters of the Universe (1987) 03.02.2026 2t 21min

  The final film in our slate of toy commercials turned cinema is arguably the roughest watch yet. Specifically, we all argue that maybe Masters of the Universe with Dolph Lundgren and a rubber Skeletor COULD have maybe been something watchable, if only every single creative choice were different, and better. Then you might have something!CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 166: Masters of the Universe (1987)(00:00:16) - Intro.(00:02:51) - Where did we land on He-Man as kids?(00:14:10) - On the toys themselves, and the delightful weirdos who made them. And a bit on Filmation.(00:21:14) - How in the world did this movie happen?(00:43:37) - Somehow, there was almost a direct sequel to this.(00:48:55) - Break!(00:49:18) - We're back, and this is way too grand an entrance for what we're about to see.(00:59:52) - This man, this is not my kind of He-Man.(01:04:11) - Skeletor has won, but thankfully there's exactly one man who can save us: a weird little inventor guy.(01:13:30) - We can go anywhere in the universe, we end up in 1980s Southern California.(01:22:54) - These things just happen, you know?(01:30:59) - Skeletor breaks it down, and things start getting real dumb on Earth.(01:45:35) - Courteney's leg gets zapped, He-Man's a slave, and that cop is still running around.(01:47:31) - Warping to Eternia for one last battle.(01:58:26) - Saying a long goodbye.(02:01:50) - Who cares about timeline integrity when you can wish your parents back to life?(02:06:18) - Final thoughts. You can probably guess what they are.(02:15:03) - Housekeeping for next month's movies.(02:20:03) - Outro.
• 165: G.I. Joe: The Movie (1987) 26.01.2026 2t 51min

  The process of tearing apart our consumerist childhoods is far from over, as the Watchcast crew digs this week into G.I. Joe: The Movie, another toy commercial in disguise that comes up with some of the most bonkers stuff this franchise ever saw, both for better and for worse.CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 165: G.I. Joe: The Movie (1987)(00:00:18) - Intro.(00:08:47) - A brief history of Government Issue Joe, and our personal fandoms.(00:26:37) - More on the tone of the show, and how that filtered into the movie.(00:30:56) - How this movie came to be, and why it never made it to theaters.(00:39:19) - Talking about our cast (and porno cartoons).(00:51:31) - Are the new grunts as good as the old timers?(00:56:51) - Break!(00:57:40) - We're back and we're already humming this musical number.(01:02:46) - People have had it with Cobra Commander.(01:12:15) - The B.E.T.--no, not that B.E.T.(01:17:16) - Stumbling into Cobra-la.(01:23:46) - Our cavalcade of new stars (toys).(01:40:30) - There's no way Cobra could break in here! And the lore dump to end all lore dumps.(01:57:05) - Falcon gets airdropped into unincorporated Slaughter territory.(02:02:35) - Roadblock and Cobra I Was Once a Commaaaaaannnder escape.(02:09:52) - A sneaking mission to Cobra Island, and it's time to send in the sandworms.(02:16:48) - He's gone into a coma!(02:24:34) - A big dumb battle to end this movie.(02:35:52) - Duke's okay! Somehow!(02:37:57) - Final thoughts.(02:46:46) - Housekeeping for next week's movie: Masters of the Universe!(02:51:31) - Outro.
• 164: Transformers: The Movie (1986) 20.01.2026 2t 44min

  The Watchcast is back for another year, and we're kicking off 2026 by laying waste to our plastic filled childhoods! The first entry in our trio of toy commercials disguised as films is one very near and dear to our youthful hearts in Transformers: The Movie, a film that simultaneously enthralled and traumatized an entire generation of budding robot enthusiasts, and tested the limits of how many popular characters you can kill off in the name of commerce.CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 164: Transformers: The Movie (1986(00:00:25) - Intro.(00:05:57) - Let's talk about our own histories with Transformers fandom.(00:14:45) - On the trauma of Transformer murder.(00:20:49) - How did Transformers (generally) come into existence? And some other miscellaneous bits.(00:31:55) - Onto the movie, and who is responsible for all this.(00:38:14) - Killing off the old toy line.(00:44:54) - What a (bizarre) cast! And soundtrack!(01:00:19) - Break!(01:00:50) - We're back, and real quick, let's chat about the version we watched.(01:03:22) - Kicking off your kids movie with an entire planet being devoured.(01:10:46) - Leaping into the year 2005, and everybody's got moonbases now.(01:15:59) - Say goodbye to several Autobots.(01:19:48) - Hot Rod, Kup, Arcee, and the rest!(01:29:00) - Optimus is here to save the--oh no.(01:35:47) - The scene that middle-aged nerds still describe to their therapists.(01:40:18) - Unicron, Galvatron, and various Cyclonuses.(01:51:43) - Eat it, Starscream.(01:54:09) - On Arcee, and how the party gets split.(02:00:12) - Are the Quintessons interesting? A debate.(02:08:33) - Are the Junkions interesting? No.(02:13:02) - Unicron goes ham, and Rodimus is born.(02:29:14) - Final thoughts.(02:40:31) - Teeing up for next week's movie: G.I. Joe: The Movie!(02:43:46) - Outro.
• 163: Gremlins (1984) 29.12.2025 2t 1min

  We've got one more Watchcast for you in 2025, and we're closing out a cursed year the only way we know how: with Gremlins. Join us as we take a trip back to a simpler time when zonked out suburbanites could shrug off the enormous implications of a lifeform like a mogwai in favor of taking cute photos and dumping water all over it.CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 163: Gremlins (1984)(00:00:15) - Intro.(00:05:23) - How we all experienced Gremlins back in the day.(00:09:20) - Some Gremlins 2 comparison chat, and the wild list of names involved in making this movie happen.(00:20:08) - Some production stories and voice cast chat.(00:28:54) - Our remaining cast.(00:42:04) - Break!(00:42:29) - We're back, and it's time to do some shopping in Chinatown.(00:49:54) - Welcome to backlot America.(00:58:12) - Bringing home a Mogwai.(01:02:26) - We told you not to get them wet! It's only been like five minutes!(01:07:28) - You can't even trust a science teacher in this day and age.(01:14:25) - Gross pods, and a number of check-ins with dad.(01:23:02) - We should all be so lucky to have a mother who can dual wield.(01:29:27) - Let's kill off all our minor townspeople right quick.(01:37:37) - Phoebe Cates, everyone. Let's give her a round of applause.(01:40:53) - Burning down the theater.(01:43:06) - Not an amazing finale, but definitely an amazing melting puppet skeleton.(01:46:45) - Once again, suburbanites cannot be trusted to handle unusual wildlife.(01:49:35) - Final thoughts.(01:54:59) - A teaser (not full schedule) for next month's movies.
• 162: Citizen Kane (1941) 22.12.2025 2t 12min

  We do a lot of goofy movies on this Watchcast, but now, at the behest of our own Vinny Caravella, it's time for us to tackle some Important Cinema! Vinny has chosen the one and only Citizen Kane for his movie this month, and it's time to put our film school pants on to decide once and for all if it's an over-hyped disappointment, or really as great as everyone says.CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 162: Citizen Kane (1941)(00:00:14) - Intro.(00:05:09) - Picking apart some of what makes Citizen Kane so dang important.(00:13:27) - The myriad parodies and loving tributes to Kane peppered throughout our childhood media.(00:15:45) - On Welles, and how the film came to be.(00:23:23) - Welles' various collaborators.(00:33:04) - The Hearst campaign to derail the movie.(00:42:06) - Break!(00:44:20) - We're back, and it's time to head on down to Xanadu.(00:52:26) - Love a good newsreel.(00:56:58) - A brief meeting with Kane's second wife, and then we dig into Kane's childhood.(01:05:57) - Yung Kane.(01:12:19) - Bernstein, and the salad days.(01:17:49) - Old Jed, and a marriage in a single breakfast table.(01:22:52) - Susan enters the picture.(01:25:52) - Will Kane's aspirations ever be knocked down? Yes!(01:37:54) - Kane Weds 'Singer', Kane Cans Critic!(01:43:05) - Susan spills the beans.(01:49:54) - A very bad picnic, and Kane turns his wife's room into a rage room.(01:57:11) - What's a Rosebud? Who cares! Take everything!(02:03:07) - Final thoughts.(02:10:05) - Housekeeping for next week's movie: Gremlins!(02:11:38) - Outro.
• 161: Escape from New York (1981) 16.12.2025 2t 4min

  The Watchcast is back for its final slate of movies in 2025, and this month we're picking whatever strikes our fancy. First up is Alex's pick, a palate cleanser for all the Escape from New York also-rans we've seen this year in the form of actual, honest-to-Snake Escape from New York! Join us as we dive deep into the movie that spawned an iconic character, dozens of rip-offs, and pretty much Hideo Kojima's whole deal.CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 161: Escape from New York (1981)(00:00:15) - Intro.(00:08:18) - How did John Carpenter realize his vision of crime-scorched hellscape New York(00:26:23) - The insane cultural shadow that this movie cast.(00:33:51) - Crime has risen 400%, so New York is a prison now. You don't need to know anything else.(00:41:55) - The President is crashing out.(00:46:40) - Break!(00:47:00) - We're back, and it's time for a quick failed rescue.(00:49:44) - Our first introduction to Snake Plissken.(00:59:55) - Gliding into the Big Apple.(01:03:28) - No matter how bad things get in New York, people will still make time for the theater.(01:07:47) - We've got C.H.U.D.S, and also Kurt Russell's (then) wife.(01:15:36) - Maggie and the Brain.(01:19:09) - Here comes The Duke of New York.(01:23:34) - This is a sneaking mission.(01:27:35) - The Duke wants his damn map, and Brain figures out where the glider is.(01:32:04) - That's Ox Baker's music!(01:39:37) - The mad dash to the World Trade Center, then to the bridge.(01:46:20) - An even madder dash over the wall.(01:48:25) - Snake ain't letting this slide.(01:54:28) - Final thoughts.(01:59:44) - Our remaining films for the month.(02:04:19) - Outro.