Six Degrees Of Schwarzenegger

“Time for the medicine!” In Episode 8 of our dissection of BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA, we’re talking black blood of the earth, eyeball monsters, mystery fish, the logistics of building an evil lair, and Jack’s total disregard for Chinese art. This episode covers 1:07:40 - 1:17:30, the burning blade ceremony, the good guys trek through the Bog of Dead Trees to infiltrate Lo Pan’s lair, the wedding begins, and Jack and Wang get real patriotic.

In Episode 7 of our BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA breakdown, Mike and Kevin discuss Jack’s “Han Solo” style, Wang’s prowess vs Jack’s ineptitude, Lo Pan’s lax security, pervy Lo Pan, Egg Shin - amateur alchemist, how late is too late to introduce monsters into a movie? This episode covers 00:57:15 - 01:07:39, Jack and Wang rescue the women, Gracie is captured by a monster, Lo Pan plans his wedding, and the good guys regroup and go underground.

In Episode 6 of our deconstruction of 1986’s BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA, we once again welcome guest Mike Cook (twitter: @mleecook). Listen as we get into Thunder’s super breath, wheelchair physics, Lo Pan’s style (and thirst), and we answer the age-old question “how do all these vampires know karate?” This episode covers 00:47:40 - 00:57:14, Wang, Jack and Eddie bust loose, Lo Pan’s transformation, Wang shows his skill and Jack’s first kill, the guys free Gracie, Margo, and the other slave girls.

In Episode 5 of our breakdown of BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA, we’re joined by special guest Mike Cook (twitter: @mleecook). Listen as we discuss the movie’s eastern and western influences, the interior design of Lo Pan’s lair, Chinese hells, the amazing James Hong, and WTF were those orange balls Rain was hitting Jack with? This episode covers 00:37:40 - 00:47:39, Jack and Wang get captured, Lo Pan lays out his evil plan, Gracie, Margo and Eddie attempt a rescue and get captured themselves, and oodles of exposition.

In Episode 4 of our breakdown of BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA, we discuss Eddie’s style, pink Cadillacs, the upside of secret doors, the finer points of whorehouse infiltration, and does a sidekick realize he’s a sidekick? This episode covers 00:28:09 - 00:37:39, Jack goes undercover, meeting Margo, “Henry Swanson” stirs the pot, the Three Storms take Miao Yin, Jack and Wang infiltrate the Wing Kong Exchange and get trapped in an elevator.

In the 3rd installment of our BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA breakdown, Kevin and Mike discuss gonzo violence, the awesomeness of The Three Storms, Jack Burton’s iconic costume, does puddle water cure blindness, and is it poor form to stab someone in the d*ck? This episode covers 00:18:51 - 00:28:08, all out gang warfare, the introduction of The Three Storms, Lo Pan’s first appearance, the Porkchop Express left behind, and a mountain of exposition from Uncle Chu, Eddie, and Gracie.

In Episode 2 of our breakdown of BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA, we’re going to tell you all about Suzee Pai’s Penthouse origins, the amazing Jeff Imada, Al Leong - classic 80s movie bad guy, that one Lords of Death dude’s sunglasses, and where do you park a big rig at the airport? This episode covers 00:09:57 - 00:18:50, Wang and Jack arriving at the airport, Gracie Law’s introduction, Miao Yin getting kidnapped, Jack and Wang chasing the Lords of Death, and a Chinese standoff.

Mike and Kevin dig into the 1986 movie BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA, directed by John Carpenter and starring Kurt Russell. In Episode 1 we talk about the movie’s origins as a western, Jack’s words of wisdom, Jack’s swagger versus his ineptitude, Wang’s gambling problem, and Jackie Chan’s role in Carpenter’s original vision. This episode covers 00:00:01 - 00:09:56, Egg Shin exposition, Jack Burton’s introduction, Jack goes on a hot streak, Wang runs up a debt.

In the 2nd half of our bonus episode on PREDATOR 2, we discuss Maria Conchita Alonso’s mystery baby, Gary Busey doing Gary Busey things, a heavy dose of movie tropes, Danny Glover making light work of the Predator, and the movie’s big redeeming aspect. This episode covers 00:58:13 - 01:47:56, the Predator spares pregnant Maria Conchita Alonso, Gary Busey reveals his real motives, Predator lays waste to Busey’s team, Danny Glover gets the drop on the Predator, Danny Glover “disarms” the Predator, inside the Predator spacecraft, and a champion is crowned.

In the 1st half of a special bonus episode breaking down PREDATOR’s 1990 follow-up PREDATOR 2, Mike and Kevin debate “B.O. and BBQ,” Bill Paxton (RIP) doing Bill Paxton things, Danny Glover going full loose cannon, and why did the filmmakers even bother to set the sequel in the near future? This episode covers 00:00:00 - 00:58:12, Predator hunts gangsters in 1997 Los Angeles, Danny Glover and company investigate gang massacre, Gary Busey and his shadowy team of feds show up, Predator kills Danny Glover’s partner, Danny Glover begins to figure out the Predator, Predator kills armed civilians and Bill Paxton on the subway.

In the 10th and final episode of our PREDATOR breakdown, Kevin and Mike talk about Predator’s questionable ethics, James Cameron’s unlikely influence on the film, Predator’s fascination with Dutch, Kevin Peter Hall gets a cameo, and Jean-Claude Van Damme’s (rumored) bizarre on-set antics. This episode covers 01:33:59 - 01:43:50, Predator inspects Dutch, the Predator unmasked, hand-to-hand battle, Dutch’s trap works, Predator’s last resort, and the last man standing.

In Episode 9 of our PREDATOR deconstruction, we’re diving deep on the art of applying a mud mask, Dutch’s Tarzan aspirations, Predator’s glitchy technology, a brand new use for KY Jelly, how snorkeling just might save you from a Predator, and did PREDATOR secretly inspire HOME ALONE? This episode covers 1:24:31 - 1:33:58, Dutch and Predator prepare for battle, Dutch starts a forest fire, the game of cat-and-mouse begins, the two warriors each draw blood, and Dutch loses his camouflage.

“GET TO DA CHOPPAH!!!” In Episode 8 of our dissection of PREDATOR, we’re joined again by our guest Sam Krumov to discuss body doubles, machetes, Predator’s weaponry, Anna’s fate, Dutch flipping the script, the Predator’s favorite skull, and who exactly is the “predator” after all? This episode covers 01:14:09 - 01:24:30, Billy going mano a mano with the Predator, Predator killing Poncho, Dutch telling Anna to “GET TO DA CHOPPAH!!!,” Dutch learning how to be invisible, and Predator and Dutch preparing for battle.

In Episode 7 of our PREDATOR breakdown, Mike and Kevin are joined once again by special guest Jonny Velasquez. Listen to us talk about Jonny’s Predator student films, nervous ticks, Predator’s questionable scream, Mac and Dillon’s strange bond, the Ten Predator Commandments, and just what are the lyrics to “Long Tall Sally” anyway? (HINT: it’s got nothing to do with the Chinese) This episode covers 01:03:16 - 01:14:08, Dutch using himself as bait, Predator nearly trapped, Poncho eating it, Mac fully losing his mind, and Dillon coming face to face with Predator.

In Episode 6 of our deconstruction of 1987’s PREDATOR, we get into the Predator’s fashion (spoiler alert: FISHNETS!), self-administered first aid, alien foreshadowing, wild boars, the best line in the movie, booby traps, and big sweaty muscles. This episode covers 00:53:09 - 01:03:15, Predator nursing his wound, Mac mourning Blain, the wild boar crashing camp, the truth about the Predator, and the crew building boobytraps.

In Episode 5 of our breakdown of PREDATOR, we’re joined by special guest and PREDATOR fanatic Sam Krumov. Listen as we discuss Soviet Bulgaria, the strongest man in the world, Arnold’s acting chops, snake wranglers, and plasma cannons. This episode covers 00:42:16 - 00:53:08, the group searching for Hawkins, the death of Blain, the squad doing a little deforestation, and Mac bidding Blain farewell.

In Episode 4 of our breakdown of PREDATOR, special guest star and PREDATOR superfan Jonny Velasquez joins us as we discuss the convergence of baby oil, turkey calls, “broke dick dogs,” and the relationship between PREDATOR, Jaws, and Alfred Hitchcock. And who better represents the alpha dog: Schwarzenegger or Predator? This episode covers 00:30:35 - 00:42:15, the squad plus Anna leaving the palapa, Mac saving Dillon from a scorpion, Predator closing in, and the death of Hawkins.

In the 3rd installment of our PREDATOR breakdown, Kevin and Mike discuss Sven-Ole Thorsen, deer ticks, where the hell is Poncho?, cartoon violence, and the age old question “when is it ok to smash a woman in the face with the butt of your gun?” This episode covers 00:20:21 - 00:30:34, Dutch and company finding the guerilla base, the palapa battle, and Dutch and Dillon face off over Dillon’s true motivations.

In Episode 2 of our breakdown of PREDATOR, we’re going to tell you more than you ever thought you wanted to hear about grappling hooks, bird kicking, and sucking water out of vines. And is it racist to make the Native American character the tracker? This episode covers 00:10:25 - 00:20:20, the squad finding the downed helicopter, a grisly discovery, the introduction of the movie’s most famous gun, and the first Predator POV.

Mike and Kevin take on the 1987 movie PREDATOR, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and directed by John McTiernan. In Episode 1 we talk about arm wrestling (how could we not?), mysterious spacecrafts, tracksuits, sexual tyrannosauruses, and Little Richard, among other things. Oh, and exactly what genre is Predator anyway? This episode covers 00:00:01 - 00:10:24.