Confer Culture

Tim and Mike join me once again to continue ranking the MCU films. This week we start with 15 and get all the way to 9! What films do we have ranked where? How close are we with our rankings? Are there any surprises or disagreements? Tune into find out! Presented by Timotheories.

I'm back after taking a few weeks off to move and because of general laziness! Tim and Mike join me this week, as we begin the thankless task of ranking all 23 MCU films. It's an episode so big I had to split it into three parts! We start at the bottom at number 23 and work our way up. What films in the MCU do we hate so much (or in my case haven't seen) that we rank them at the bottom? You'll have to listen to find out. Presented by Timotheories.

This week I'm joined by David Majors of The Promenade Merchants Star Trek Podcast as we rank the Star Trek films! We start the podcast off talking about some of the Star Trek shows, as we agree that Deep Space 9 is the best, while we disagree a little on the quality of Voyager. Our lists are fairly close, but there are some differences, mainly in how we view the quality of the new films. What film do we consider the worst and which one do we consider the best? Tune in to find out! Presented by Timotheories. You can find David at The Promenade Merchants podcast, on Twitter @callmedjm, Sports Odds and Ends, and The Record Breakers Music podcast.

I'm joined by a special guest again, Wade Simmons (a filmmaker from Chicago), to share his thoughts about how different films are for different people. We talk about the film that made me come up with this topic, Black Panther, as well as other films that I'm not a huge fan of, but I'm not the target audience for, like Twilight. Wade talks about how he can get something out of almost any film, as he's constantly observing an learning the craft of filmmaking. We also talk about good and bad horror films, as one of the few films he couldn't get anything out of was Leprechaun 4: In Space! Presented by Timotheories. You can find Wade at Vimeo under wadefilmmaker777 (https://vimeo.com/wadefilmmaker777).

This week I'm joined by two special guests, The Gala Sisters (of The Gala Sisters YouTube channel), to talk about what happens when you don't like the things other people like. This episode ends up being a little different than many of my past episodes, as both my guests are asexual lesbians and I ask a lot of questions about what being asexual means, what  it was like growing up for them, and how it has affected their lives. It was an excellent education for me (and I hope to all of you as well) and we end things with a less serious, more fun example of things we like that other people don't seem to. You can find the Gala Sisters at their YouTube channel, The Gala Sisters on Facebook and Twitter, The Gala Fam on Instagram, on their podcast Gabbin' with the Gala Sisters, and at www.thegalasisters.com. Presented by Timotheories.

This week I'm joined by a very special guest star, Lillian Hernandez from the Wine Down With Lil podcast, to talk about the depiction of women in film. Has it gotten better over time? We address this question, as well as discuss some examples of where we think it has gotten better and other examples where it hasn't. We talk James Bond, Horror, Detective Noir, Action, classic films, and so much more! You can find Wine Down With Lil on all major podcast platforms and wine_down_with_lil on Instagram and Twitter. Presented by Timotheories.

Tim drops by to talk about two films by an up and coming director (Robert Eggers, not David as I incorrectly call him in this episode), The Witch and The Lighthouse. Tim talks about the reasons why he has so much love for The Witch, while I discuss why it didn't quite stick for me, including repeating the same point several times! I also talk about why I like The Lighthouse so much and why I think it's the superior film. Will Tim be able to convince me to give it another chance like Mike convinced me to give Hereditary a second viewing? Presented by Timotheories.

This week I'm joined by a very special guest, Jacob Godbey from the Ginger on Ginger podcast! This week we're talking about movies and TV shows that have gone on too long. Jacob has some great examples of sitcoms, while I set my sights on some science fiction, action, and horror franchises. We also give a few examples that seem to be able to avoid this problem and I give Jacob a Coles Notes (or Cliffs Notes for non Canadian listeners) version of the Halloween franchise. Look for the Ginger on Ginger podcast wherever quality podcasts are found (Spotify, Apple, Google Play, etc.). Presented by Timotheories.

This week Tim and I talk about the Amazon Prime animated show Invincible. We discuss the comic the show is based on, how it's different from other shows like The Boys (also on Amazon Prime), we gush over the stacked voice cast, Tim voices his love of the musical choices, we get into spoiler territory about what happens in season 1, and we give our overall thoughts on the first season. Presented by Timotheories.

Tim joins me this week to talk about the Cageaissance, or rather the resurgence of one Nicolas Cage. We talk about his early films, his most successful period of work (aka the 90s), his disappointing work in the 2000s, and we do a deep dive on three of his more recent films - Mom and Dad, Mandy, and Color Out of Space. Presented by Timotheories.

Mike drops by once again to talk about elitism in our hobbies and how to potentially over come them. Mike talks about Magic: The Gathering and Warhammer 40K and I talk about Start Trek, comics, and metal music. We recount some of our experiences, identify some issues we've witnessed, and how we can be allies for new people entering into our hobbies. Presented by Timotheories.

Mike drops by to talk about a show that has quickly become a favourite sitcom of ours, Brooklyn 99. We talk about the general premise of the show, the cast, why we think it's so funny, how well it incorporates diversity, and how well it mixes character growth while maintaining core characteristics. All that and Mike also shares a funny personal story that relates to the show. Presented by Timotheories.

Tim joins me once again to talk about another interesting TV show, Mad Men. We talk about the plot of the show, some of the stand out characters, some of the themes, and how it was a very deep look into an iconic point in American history, the 60s. Tim also refreshes my memory about a lot of what transpired, as he had just finished watching it while the last time I had seen it was during its original run. We even talk about the different interpretations of the ending. Presented by Timotheories.

Tim drops by once again to discuss our thoughts on how much content Disney owns and what they do with it. As you could probably guess by the title, we're generally against them owning the amount of properties they own, though we do acknowledge there are some positives to it. We talk extensively about Marvel, a little about Star Wars, but also quite a bit about the Fox properties they have acquired. We also detail our concerns about such things as Fox Searchlight and how the smaller movies they release fit into the giant Disney machine. All that and I profess my love for the delightfully weird Doom Patrol! Presented by Timotheories.

Tim drops by again this week to continue our discussion of our top 10 favourite board games of all time. Will there be any surprises? Will there be any crossover? Will I be able to guess Tim's number one? All the answers to these questions and more in part two! Presented by Timotheories.

Tim drops by this week to discuss our Top 10 Favourite Board Games of all time. Once again we got so invested in this topic that I had to split it into two episodes. I think we have some interesting and unconventional choices and even some crossover with our Top 10 Essential Board Game list. Stay tuned next week for part two! Presented by Timotheories.

Mike drops by this week to discuss our mutual love of It's always Sunny in Philadelphia. We talk about how Mike got me into the show, some of our favourite episodes, the cast, some recurring characters, why it's so great, why it's probably not for everyone, and basically just gushing about how great it is. Presented by Timotheories.

Tim once again drops by this week to discuss our top 10 essential board games to begin a collection with. We mostly kept it entry level and low complexity as that tends to be the starting point for most people, but we did throw in a few surprises here and there. We also talk a little bit about how we got into the hobby and what games we started with. All in an effort to spread the joy of board gaming! Presented by Timotheories.

Tim drops by this week to discuss his thoughts on Battlestar Galactica. He finished the show right around the time I posted my solo episode on it, but he had some very strong thoughts about the series that he wanted to talk about. We tried not tread over the same ground and actually had a good discussion about the board game based on the show that we both really enjoy. Also, I think he maybe liked the show a little more than I did, but you'll have to listen to find out for sure! Presented by Timotheories.

David drops by once again to continue our look back at the 2010s. This week we discuss our favourite films of the 2010s. Once again, we have some pretty different lists with a few surprises. Also, I sort of spoil my favourite Marvel films and David talks about his favourite version of Spider-Man, an opinion which I agree with. Presented by Timotheories.

I'm joined by a brand new guest this week, David Plamondon as we look back at film and TV from the 2010s. In part one this week we discuss our favourite TV shows. There is surprisingly little crossover and I think there might even be a few surprises on our lists. Stay tuned next week for part two where we discuss our favourite films. Presented by Timotheories.

I'm joined once again by Tim and Mike for part two of ranking the Star Wars Films. In part two we count down our top five favourites. While I think everyone can guess our consensus number one choice, some of the other entries might surprise you. Also, Mike gets super mad at me for how high I rank The Last Jedi and at the end we give a bit of a sneak preview about ranking the MCU films. Presented by Timotheories.

Tim and Mike both join me this week for a special episode, part one of ranking the Star Wars films. We start at the bottom, with the ones we dislike the most and work our way up. We disagree about several films and where they sit in our rankings, but we all pretty much agree that Rise of Skywalker was bad. Also, Mike once again bashes The Last Jedi as I try to defend it. Stay tuned next week for part two! Presented by Timotheories.

Mike drops by again this week to talk about Asian Cinema. I list some of the Asian movies I've seen (a number of which I saw over the break) and we do a deep dive on Train to Busan, 13 Assassins, and Audition. I also do a very quick synopsis of the first 30 minutes of One Cut of the Dead, we quickly talk about how harsh Ichi the Killer is, and I briefly mention how Mike has yet to steer me wrong with recommendations for film and TV. Presented by Timotheories.

I'm back for another solo episode this week as I talk about a well known science fiction TV show, Battlestar Galctica. Listen to my rants about certain characters, the heavy handed way the religious aspect is handled, some interesting tidbits about the show, the final episode, and my overall feelings about it...and wow, do I have some feelings! Presented by Timotheories.

Mike drops by once again to discuss the amazing Korean film I Saw the Devil. We go through the synopsis of the film, talk about an Easter egg or two, give our reactions to some of the more intense moments, and get sidetracked into a discussion about Asian cinema in general. Plus I manage to plug a few future podcast topics! Presented by Timotheories.

Mike drops by again this week to talk about revisiting old content. Join us as we discuss what our favourite content is to revisit, why we keep revisiting said content, and even when we might do so. Also, stay at the end for a little rant about Netflix original content! Presented by Timotheories.

Mike drops by again this week to talk about JoJo's Bizarre Adventure episodes 3 and 4. What did we think of them? Do we see vampire Dio? Is JoJo still kinda dumb? The answers to these questions and amazing dad joke await in this week's podcast! Presented by Timotheories.

Mike joins me this week to discuss sequels, specifically good ones. We talk about what makes a sequel good, where some sequels have gone awry, and of course some of our favourite sequels and what makes them great! Presented by Timotheories.

Join me for another solo episode this week as I talk about an underappreciated subgenre of horror, the monster movie. I talk about some good examples of monster movies, some qualities that I think makes a good monster movie, and do a deep dive on four of my favourite examples of the subgenre. Presented by Timotheories.

This week I take a look at my favourite horror franchise of all time, Friday The 13th. That's right, I watch all twelve so you don't have to! Yes, there are twelve, as I'm counting Freddy vs Jason because it's my podcast and I can do what I want. Join me for a trip down horror memory lane as I talk about some of the interesting Easter eggs, some behind the scenes tidbits, how I rank them all, what I think of the 2019 remake, and my very strong feelings about the first film from 1980 that started it all. Presented by Timotheories.

Mike joins me this week as we talk about my first impression of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, a show that Mike has been asking me to watch for some time now. We talk about the style of the show, the basic premise, the music, the references I missed, and the thoughts I had while watching it! Presented by Timotheories.

Tim drops by again this week to talk about objective quality vs subjective quality in art. We discuss our definitions of both terms, how they fit into art, how they relate to criticism, other areas where the ideologies collide, and so much more! Presented by Timotheories.

Tim drops by this week to discuss one of our favourite movies of 2019, Knives Out. We touch a bit on Rian Johnson's previous work, discuss various interesting tidbits and easter eggs from the film, marvel at the the amazing cast, as well as discuss spoilers. Presented by Timotheories.

Mike is back again this week to talk about characters we love to hate. The most wretched, scummy, horrible, sadistic characters we love to despise and, in some cases, cheered for their ultimate demise. Join us again as we reign fire down on these truly despicable individuals! Presented by Timotheories.

Mike is back this week to talk about TV shows and film that started out well, but ended so horribly. Apparently a lot of superhero films fall under this category, who knew? We also extol the virtues of quitting a show or franchise when you can see it going off the rails. Join us as we bring the fire this week! Presented by Timotheories.

Don joins me again this week to discuss the power of music. We discuss how it can transport people to a different time and place, how it can bring people together from all walks of life, and how it can be a catharsis for many people. We even extol the value of pop music! Come for the potential of deep conversation and stay for the music to food analogy and the defense of Nickelback. Presented by Timotheories. You can find Don Bartlett at @donjbartlett on Instagram, donjbartlett on YouTube, and donjbartlett on Soundcloud.

Join me on a solo episode this week as I discuss some of my Guilty Pleasures. From Pro Wrestling to video games and a few other categories in between. What do I even consider a guilty pleasure? Also, a very straightforward reason why there was no episode last week. Presented by Timotheories.

Join Tim and I this week as we talk about collecting vs hoarding. How do we define them? Where do we draw the line and what are some things we can do to avoid becoming a hoarder? At what point should we start thinning our collection? All this and more! Presented by Timotheories.

Join me on a solo episode this week as I discuss one of my other passions, sports! Specifically, how sports translates well into fandom, how it evokes passion from a multitude of people, how it brings people together, and how it compares to other forms of nerd culture. Plus, I list a number of my favourite sports films! Presented by Timotheories.

Join Tim and I this week as we talk about Star Wars again! In all seriousness, we talk about the positives and the negatives of The Jedi. Geek out with us as we discuss current canon, legends, the entire movie saga, TV shows (including Rebels and Clone Wars), and the theory that the Jedi really should have seen Anakin's turn coming! Presented by Timotheories.

I'm back for a solo episode this week as I talk about, in my opinion,  one of the best dramas ever, The Americans. Join me as I discuss why I love it so much, what other shows I compare it to in terms of quality, what my favourite episode is and why, and a spoiler filled discussion about the final episode of the series. Presented by Timotheories.

Tim is back to discuss how popularity impacts quality for us. How do we think popularity impacts art? How has it impacted our tastes over the years? Do people like something because it's popular or do they push back against it for that very reason? We also delve into how popularity can be both a good and bad thing with regard to art. Presented by Timotheories.

I'm joined this week by a very special guest, Don Bartlett. Don is a local musician who is also very passionate about film and brings his very insightful knowledge to the topic of film score. Don and I talk about some of our favourite scores, why score is important, some of the best composers in our opinion, how scores seem to be less iconic than in years gone by, and so much more! Presented by Timotheories. You can find Don Bartlett at @donjbartlett on Instagram, donjbartlett on YouTube, and donjbartlett on Soundcloud.

I'm back for another solo episode this week as I discuss my favourite music genre, metal! I list a whole bunch of bands I currently listen to, talk about how I got into the genre, list my top 5 bands and top 5 songs, and I even talk about the always controversial topic of inclusion. Presented by Timotheories.

Tim joins me again this week to discuss whether being a critic enhances or ruins art for us. We talk about what being a critic means to us, its role in relation to art, and how to be critical without potentially ruining the experience for other people. Also, Tim and I take a trip down memory lane reminiscing about a time where I did that very thing. All that and more! Presented by Timotheories.

Mike joins me this week to talk about some of our recommendations for binge watching in the age of social distancing and quarantining. I try to find something for everyone, while Mike tries to champion some less well known content, and also Tiger King. Come for my giant list and stay for Mike's outside the box suggestions! Presented by Timotheories.

I'm back with another solo episode this week as I talk about my favourite science fiction show of all time, Babylon 5! Join me as I discuss why I love it so much, how it was groundbreaking back in the 90's, the main plot points of the show, the comparisons to Deep Space 9, and so much more! Presented by Timotheories.

Tim is back this week to discuss the concept of whether or not people want new ideas and/or content. In the age of superhero movies, big action blockbusters, and reality TV, do people want what's comfortable or are they willing to seek out things that take risks outside their comfort zone? We also discuss some of Tim's challenges with this very topic from his unique artistic perspective. Presented by Timotheories.

This week Mike and I discuss a topic inspired by what's happening in the world right now, as we talk about some recommendations for good isolation movies, We discuss some of our favourites and even throw in a few that we think have flown under the radar. Presented by Timotheories.