The Flix 66 Podcast
By APU Cinematic Arts
The Flix 66 PodcastApr 19, 2018
Episode 40 “How the COVID Stole Flix-mas”
On the third season finale of Flix 66, Azusa Pacific University professors Ryan Izay and Dr. Thomas Parham are joined by student reviewer Aaron Linneman and alumni critic Ryan Barnes to discuss COVID-19's impact on film and television.
Topics include:
• The smackdown AMC & Regal plan to give Universal Pictures because of video-on-demand
• Upcoming Netflix projects from APU Cinema friends Sheryl J. Anderson (Sweet Magnolias) and Heather Jeng Bladt (Social Distance)
• Disney+ big plans for May the Fourth (be with you) and updates on other tentpole franchises
• Our recommendations for binge viewing
Episode 39 "The Passion of the Podcast"
On a special Good Friday edition of Flix 66, Azusa Pacific University professors Ryan Izay and Dr. Thomas Parham are joined by special guest Dr. Zachary Cheney to discuss:
• Favorite Jesus films
• Favorite Faith-Based films (made by/or for people of faith)
• Favorite films with Spiritual Themes (not made by/or for people of faith)
Episode 38 “Coronavirus vs. Hollywood… and the World”
On Flix 66 Episode 38, "Coronavirus vs. Hollywood… and the World," Azusa Pacific University professors Ryan Izay and Dr. Thomas Parham are joined by student reviewer Aaron Linnemann to discuss the major film releases studios have rescheduled because of COVID-19, as well two TV shows that will end without airing proper series finales. The "review crew" also reveals the movies and shows they've been watching while sidelined the past few weeks.
Episode 37 Social Distancing Special
On Flix 66 Episode 37, "Social Distancing Special," Azusa Pacific University professors Ryan Izay and Dr. Thomas Parham are joined by student reviewer Aaron Linneman to discuss effects of the COVID-19 crisis on the entertainment industry. They also suggest television series to binge and films to watch while you maintain a safe, social distance to avoid spreading the coronavirus.
Episode 36 "2010s: The Decade in Review"
On Flix 66 Episode 36, "2010s: The Decade in Review," Azusa Pacific University professors Ryan Izay and Dr. Thomas Parham are joined by special guest Dr. Zach Cheney to discuss our favorites from 2010-2019.
• Our Top 10 Films
• Our Top 10 Television Series
Episode 35 “Why’d the Birds Lay an Egg?”
On Flix 66 Episode 35, "Why’d the Birds Lay an Egg?" Azusa Pacific University professor Dr. Thomas Parham and student critic Aaron Linneman discuss:
• Box-Office Report: Sonic the Hedgehog races to a record opening for a videogame-based film while Birds of Prey loses altitude
• The latest TV and film news, including the Disney+ plans to reboot The Mighty Ducks, the Oscar-winning filmmaker that Showtime is pairing with Jude Law for a new miniseries, and the actors cast as Elvis Presley’s parents for Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming biopic
• Feature Stories:
◊ 2019 Oscar Winners: Surprises and Snubs
◊ Birds of Prey Lays an Egg - What happened?
Rotten Tomatoes critical aggregate 80% - audience score 81% - $33 million opening, far below expectations
Episode 34 "A Conversation with Ricky Staub"
Ricky Staub graduated from Azusa Pacific University in May 2006 with a B.A. in Theater Arts. His student film "Jaded"--which he wrote and starred in--won the 2006 Reel Spirituality/Los Angeles Film Studies Center Film Award, the 2007 Imago Award, and was a semi-finalist for the 2006 Angelus Awards.
After graduation, Ricky's production credits included The Last Airbender, Devil, and Snow White and the Huntsman before a series of divine appointments led him to co-found Neighborhood Film Company and Working Film Establishment, both based in Philadelphia, PA. He received the Gold Young Director award at the 64th Cannes Lion International Festival of Creativity for his short film "The Cage," a story set in Philly about youth, violence, and basketball.
Ricky is currently overseeing post-production on Concrete Cowboys, his directorial debut, which he adapted from the book Ghetto Cowboy with his longtime writing partner Dan Walser, who is also one of the film's producers. It stars Idris Elba (Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, Luther), Jharrel Jerome (2006 Emmy Award winner for When They See Us), Lorraine Toussaint (Orange Is the New Black), Method Man (The Deuce), and Caleb McLaughlin (Stranger Things).
Episode 33 "2020 Oscar Preview Special"
On Flix 66 Episode 33, Azusa Pacific University professors Ryan Izay and Dr. Thomas Parham are joined by student critic Aaron Linneman to discuss:
• Box-Office Forecast: Bad Boys for Life will continue its reign Super Bowl weekend, but Birds of Prey--which has good buzz from preview audiences--will dethrone the boys Oscar weekend
• The latest TV and film news, including Sir Patrick Stewart's surprise for Whoopi Goldberg, the actor cast as Queen Elizabeth II for The Crown's fifth and final season, and the next Disney animated classic slated for a live-action remake
• Feature Story: Handicapping the Oscars
- Our takes on "Should Win / Will Win" for the major categories
- We rank and discuss the nine Best Picture nominees
Episode 32 "2020 Oscar Nominations: Snubs and Surprises"
On Flix 66 Episode 32, Azusa Pacific University professors Ryan Izay and Dr. Thomas Parham are joined by student critic Aaron Linneman to discuss:
• Weekend box-office preview -- Bad Boys for Life and Dolittle
• The latest TV and film news, including the hot HBO series that won't have a second season, details about NBCUniversal's Peacock streaming service, and the classic World War II film that 's getting a modern remake from Warner Bros.
• Feature Stories: 2020 Oscar Nomination Snubs and Surprises, plus overlooked gems from 2019
Episode 31 Star Wars Non-Holiday Special
• Our individual rankings for the 10 Star Wars films
• We discuss the TV series from Ewoks cartoons and live-action telefilms to Clone Wars and its successors to The Mandalorian, featuring everyone's favorite... Baby Yoda (doo doo doo doo doo doo)
• Expectations for Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker, opening on December 20, 2019
Episode 30 Hollywood vs. History
Episode 29 "The Wonderful World of Disney+"
Episode 28 AppleTV+ or Minus?
This week on Flix 66, Azusa Pacific University professors Ryan Izay and Dr. Thomas Parham are joined by student critic Aaron Linnemann to discuss:
• Weekend Box Office Recap
• TV & Film News, including the new, fall drama CBS has renewed for season two, HBO Max's launch date and price point, and the Academy Award winner who will play Elizabeth Taylor in an upcoming biopic.
• Feature Stories:
◊ AppleTV+ launched today. Is it worth checking out?
◊ "Who Watches the Watchmen?" We do!
Episode 28 "AppleTV+ or Minus?"
Episode 27 "Soul of the Dark Knight"
Episode 26 The Joker's Wild
Episode 25 Field of Streams
Episode 24 "Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Mouse?"
• Labor Day Weekend Box Office
• News from D23 Expo, as well as TV and Film Updates
• Feature Stories:
◊ Lessons Learned from Summer 2019
◊ Is The Walt Disney Company Too Big?
◊ Universal's Cancellation of The Hunt
Episode 23 Superhero Special
• The top grossing superhero films
• Critics' favorite superhero films
• Our picks in the following categories:
◊ Top 5 Favoritess
◊ Worst Superhero Film
◊ Pleasant Surprise
◊ Guilty Pleasure
• Plus, upcoming releases from Marvel Studios, Fox, and Warner Bros.
Episode 22 An Appeal to Peele
Episode 21 "An Apple+ a Day..."
Episode 20 Hollywood Grudge Matches
• Round One: Captain Marvel v. Internet Trolls
• Round Two: Moviepass v. AMC Stubs A-List
• Round Three (Feature Story): Steven Spielberg v. Netflix
Ding, ding, ding!
Episode 19 Oscar Picks and Predictions
Episode 18 "Hidden Gems of 2018"
Episode 17 2018 Oscar Noms: The Good, the Bad, and the "What the What?"
Episode 16 Winter 2019 Premiere & Awards Season Preview
Episode 15 "It's a Wonderful Podcast"
• Box Office Report, including Ralph Breaks the Internet, The Grinch, Creed II, and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
• News, including...
◊ Female-led films outgrossed male peers from 2015-2017
◊ Kevin Hart is not hosting the Oscars
◊ Number of streaming services surpassed broadcast networks and basic cable
• Feature Story: Favorite Christmas Films and TV Specials
Episode 14 "I.P. or Not I.P.? That Is the Question"
• Thanksgiving Box Office Report, including Ralph Breaks the Internet and Creed II
• News, including Amazon's plans, Apple's partnership with A24, and Sony's Spider-Verse
• Feature Story: Studio Tentpoles vs. Indie Cinema
◊ A24 films won five honors at the Gotham Awards
◊ Thanksgiving box office was dominated by moves based on Intellectual Properties (IPs)
◊ Are studio tentpoles crowding out hidden, indie gems?
Episode 13 "It's a Black (Film) Thing"
• Box Office Report, including "How The Grinch Stole the Weekend"
• News, including Stan Lee's passing, the forthcoming Disney+ streaming service, and Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
• Feature Story: "2018 Urban Cinema"
◊ The Hate U Give
◊ Blindspotting
◊ Sorry to Bother You
◊ BlackKklansman
Episode 12 "Do You Like Scary Movies?"
• Weekend Box Office, including the Halloween sequel that scared up big bucks
• Fall TV Renewals and The Conners return without their matriarch
• News, including Ryan Coogler returns to Wakanda, Warner Bros. pushes Wonder Woman 2 to 2020, Steve Carell joins Apple's TV drama, and LeBron James to produce Friday the 13th reboot
• Feature Story: "The Horror! The Horror!"
◊ Variety's list of top 20 horror flicks from the last 20 years
◊ Our preferences in horror films
Episode 11 "Gimme That Prime-Time Religion"
• Weekend Box Office, including the virtues of A Star Is Born and the vices of Venom
• Fall TV Hits, Revivals, and Returns
• News, including the new Doctor Who, Disney's streaming service plans, and James Gunn's potential "killer" gig
• Feature Story: Religion on Television
◊ NBC's Manifest
◊ CBS' God Friended Me
◊ CBS' Young Sheldon #203 "A Crisis of Faith and Octopus Aliens"
Episode 10 Summer 2018 Movie Wrap-Up & Fall TV Preview
• Weekend Box Office
• Emmy Award Highlights
◊ Ethnic Diversity
◊ Portrayals of Women
• Summer 2018 Round-Up
◊ Hits
◊ Misses
◊ Personal Favorites
• Fall TV Review
Episode 9 Marvel Cinematic Universe Special
• The MCU So Far...
◊ Box Office
◊ Reviews
◊ Our Personal Top Five Lists
◊ In Defense of Ant-Man
• Criticism
◊ Ethnic Diversity
◊ Portrayals of Women
• The Television Series
◊ ABC's Agents of SHIELD and Agent Carter
◊ Netflix's Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Defenders, The Punisher
• Our Hopes (and Fears) for Avengers: Infinity War
Episode 8 Revivals and Reboots Galore
• Movie News
◊ Rampage won the weekend; the Rock is on a roll!
◊ A Quiet Place continues to scare audiences and only dropped 33% since its opening
◊ Warner Bros. assigns directors to a pair of DC Extended Universe films
• Television Update
◊ Netflix added 7.4 million new subscribers in Q1
◊ HBO's Here and Now season one ends, and Westworld season two premieres Sunday
◊ Farewell, Olivia Pope and Associates; Shonda Rhimes' Scandal draws to a close
• Feature Story – Revivals and Reboots
◊ Netflix started the trend with Arrested Development and Fuller House
◊ Don't forget non-narrative revivals of Joel McHale, Bill Nye, and Queer Eye
◊ Broadcast networks have succeeded with Will and Grace and Roseanne, with more to come
Episode 7 The Hunger Video Games
• Box Office Report
◊ Ready Player One topped the charts Easter weekend
◊ Black Panther continues to shatter records
◊ Faith-based films I Can Only Imagine and Paul, Apostle of Christ make a strong showing
• Television Update
◊ ABC's Roseanne revival scores big ratings
◊ Review of NBC's Jesus Christ Superstar Live
◊ Preview of Netflix's Lost in Space revival
• Ready Player One
◊ Is Steven Spielberg still relevant?
◊ Is RP1 a good adaptation?
◊ Is RP1 a good movie?
Episode 6 A Spring-kle in Time
• Black Panther's continued box office dominance and the surprise success of I Can Only Imagine
• NBC's Emmy-winning drama This Is Us and the pay disparity scandal with Netflix's The Crown
• 90th Academy Awards post-mortem
• The great Wrinkle in Time debate
◊ Is the film a good adaptation?
◊ Is the book “Christian”?
◊ Did stunt casting ruin the movie?
Episode 5 Our 2018 Oscar Picks
• Black Panther's dominance of the box office
• Netflix's $8 billion original programming strategy
• HBO's upcoming adaptation of Fahrenheit 451 with Michael B. Jordan and Michael Shannon
• 2018 Oscar Predictions
Adapted Screenplay - Original Screenplay - Supporting Actress - Supporting Actor - Lead Actress - Lead Actor - Director - Best Picture
Episode 4 Black Panther Special
• Breaking Box Office Records
• Critical and Audience Response
• Cultural Impact
Episode 3 Valentine's Special
• Box Office Roundup
• Romantic Films
◊ The Fifty Shades Phenomenon
◊ Portrayals of Romance in the Age of #metoo
◊ Our Favorite Romantic Films
• Television Highlights
Episode 2 An Insider's Look at the Motion Picture Academy
• An Insider's View of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with special guest Tony Bancroft
• 90th Annual Academy Awards Nominations Surprises and Snubs
• Box Office Roundup
• Television Highlights
Series Premiere! 2017 Year in Review
• The #MeToo movement with guest Laurie Leinonen
• 2017: The Year in Review with Nate, Ryan, and Thom noting Treasures, Travesties, and Trends
• The Great Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi Debate
• The State of Superhero Cinema