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It's the title bout that you've been waiting for (since 1963). One is a giant killer man-eating gorilla with a heart of gold. One is a radioactive gila monster that is driven by unstoppable instinct. This is Godzilla vs. Kong. This is Lizard vs. Monke. Kong has been living larger, older, and grayer in captivity since 'Nam, and is held by the Kaiju study team Monarch. Kong wants out. Meanwhile Godzilla has come ashore in Florida and has shed his previously benevolent character developments. Millie Bobby Brown (booster for Godzilla) teams with her friend Josh and undercover conspiracy theory podcaster Bernie Hays, to find out why Godzilla has a case of the Mondays. A scientist, played by Alexander Skarsgård, must take Kong into the entrance of the fabled hollow earth, to find Kong's origins, and a source of energy that could tip the SCALES (pause for emphasis) out of Godzilla's favor and into humanity's. Brewing underneath is a millenia-old war between titans, a mortal rivalry between ancient Kings Kong and ancient Gods Zilla. A rivalry that these two scions just can't help but reignite.

The big news around the movie sphere is probably the release of the sought after, one time fabled, now real, Snyder Cut of WB's JUSTICE LEAGUE film, on HBOMax. Matt and Trevor are still digesting "The Snyder Cut," but they recorded this episode for you to release in the meantime. While y'all are talking about Justice League, we're spotlighting a movie that people SHOULD be talking about more. Hailed by critics and panned by segments of the fan base, Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn is a four-color, nose-crunching, leg-breaking brawler with a ridiculous sense of humor and an unreliable narrator. Is the movie all that bad? Is it all that good? Are the criticisms of the movie legitimate complaints about quality, or could they have been fixed with better marketing? Matt and Trevor follow Harley as she goes "Lemonade-ing" post break-up with Joker, and into a movie that proves that one of the most popular characters in the DC pantheon is NOBODY'S sidekick. Starring Margot Robbie, Rosie Perez, Jurnee Smollett, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ella Jay Bosco, and Ewan McGregor; the boys in the conceptual Nighthawks Cafe make the case for this hefty-titled chapter of DC's journey on the big screen.

On the back of our discussion of Citizen Kane comes the discussion of a movie made nearly 80 years after Citizen Kane, about the making of Citizen Kane. Mank is the 2020 offering from director David Fincher, exploring the troubled and complex person that was Herman J. Mankiewicz. A man who would be the writer of a movie that man consider the best American film ever made. Mankiewicz must contend with William Randolph Hearst, Marion Davies, Orson Welles, and Louis B. Mayer on his journey to not only write the script while bedridden, but to advocate for his own credit on the film. An all star cast features Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, Lily Collins, Tuppence Middleton, and Charles Dance. Not for the uninitiated, Mank calls back to the movie that inspired it on a level that should remind listeners to give Citizen Kane a rewatch before digging into Mank. Joining Matt and Trevor in the Nighthawks Diner is Guest Co-Host Cameron Maris, who also is the Nighthawks Podcast Oscar Czar, and member of the Nighthawks House Band: Middle Class Joe. Middle Class Joe on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MiddleClassJoeMusic/ Middle Class Joe on Band Camp: https://middleclassjoe.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-end-you-will-lose

God and devil Sinner and Saint Communist and fascist Charles Foster Kane is many things to many people. And the world got to know him in 1941 when the Freshman film of Orson Welles hit a limited number of screens, but still managed to snag multiple Oscar nominations and one win. Citizen Kane is the portrait of a man, as painted by the people who knew him. Shown out of order and through hazy recollection. Equal parts American success story and American tragedy, the film is often considered among the best ever to come from the United States. With multiple battles brewing behind the scenes and more Hollywood folklore than you can shake an Academy Award at, the Nighthawks bring Oscar Czar Cameron Maris in to discuss the legendary Citizen Kane.

Yeah, what can we say about 2020 that isn't echoing off the walls of every living room in the United States right now? The best we can offer is some recommendations of new and upcoming films that we caught during our year in quarantine. Featured in this episode: Bill and Ted Face the Music The Invisible Man The Stylist The Vice Guide to Bigfoot The Mandalorian: Season 2 After Midnight Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn The Haunted Swordsman And Many More!

There are ways in which mogwai and gremlins are like The Nighthawks, and ways in which they are unalike. For example: “Keep them out of bright light, especially sunlight. It will kill them.” This applies to both Nighthawks and the mogwai/gremlin population. “Don’t feed them after midnight.” This applies to mogwai, but not to Nighthawks. The Nighthawks actually prefer you DO feed them, regardless of the time of day. For this year’s Holiday Special, Matt and Trevor have tapped the 1984 Joe Dante Action Horror Comedy GREMLINS. A film about adorable creatures that turn into horrible monsters, and the people who are kind of horrible, and keep being horrible, but they get a stern talking to from an independent business owner. Considered a Christmas classic by the 21st century zeitgeist, the film seems to hold up as an alternative to the 40 new holiday offerings from Hallmark this year. I’m not kidding, Hallmark made 40 holiday films. This year. Dark and frightening by turns but this PG, should have been PG-13 slab of rib-tickling nightmare fuel has become a crossover for adults and youngsters alike, prompting a sequel and an upcoming animated television prequel.

Feeling that itch for more in the vein of Star Wars: The Mandalorian? Look no further, allow us to present: Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance. A Japanese film from 1972 that kicked off a six movie franchise, and was the first screen adaptation of the Lone Wolf and Cub manga by writer Kazuo Koike and artist Goseki Kojima. Matt and Trevor watched Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance as a way to kick off our discussion about the grander Lone Wolf and Cub phenomenon. Joining them in the Nighthawks conceptual diner is the guys' favorite Asian cinema guru. Marc Walkow has worn many hats in his life including festival programmer, film distributor, defacto translator, producer, and lawyer. During his time working professionally in film, Marc produced some of the special feature content for the Criterion Collection's Lone Wolf and Cub boxed set. Marc gives Nighthawks listeners the inside scoop on the Lone Wolf and Cub series, the grander cultural touchstone that is the Kazuo Koike manga, director Kenji Misumi, producer Shintarô Katsu, and actor Tomisaburo Wakayama.

The Nighthawks have brought you space vampires and space demons in 2020, but what is space the most famous for? It is the dwelling of the ALIEN. The seminal outer space horror movie from 1979 is the movie that launched, not only its own franchises, but launched several imitators and franchises throughout the last 40 years. Sigourney Weaver is Lt. Ellen Ripley, a smart and tough space trucker running a mission with her coworkers, presented by Tom Skerritt, Yaphet Kotto, Harry Dean Stanton, Ian Holm, and Veronica Cartwright. What happens when the creature from beyond the stars is also a creature beyond human comprehension? Directed by Ridley Scott, ALIEN is a film that brings together stellar design, superb performances, acute technical prowess, and mastery of horror that is often strived for but never quite met. For the Mother of All Modern Space Horror, the Nighthawks bring in the Black Pope of Genre Film, Mark Ball, an action figure photographer, a stop-motion animator, podcaster, and horror movie super-fan. Ridley Scott pulled out all the stops for ALIEN, and the Nighthawks Podcast is pulling out all the stops for this episode.

Off we go, in the the black empty void of space. Trevor and Matt's second foray into 2020's MONSTOBERFEST IN SPACE takes them to the outer rim of the Solar System, and in orbit around Neptune. Elite space explorers and a radical scientist team up to investigate the derelict spaceship, Event Horizon, which has been missing for seven years. The faster-than-light vehicle has successfully managed to fold space, but while traversing dimensions, it seems to have brought something back. Folks. These aren't aliens. Event Horizon was directed by Paul W.S. Anderson and stars Sam Neill, Laurence Fishburne, Kathleen Quinlan, Jason Isaacs, Richard T. Jones, and Sean Pertwee. Trevor hadn't seen this movie in 23 years, and didn't care for it the first time around. Have two-plus decades managed to change his mind?

Content advisory: This film discusses the 1985 film named Lifeforce, not the 1986 video game Life Force (aka Salamander). Given the nature of the internet we felt it best to disclaim in advance. The horror comes from beyond the stars for MONSTOBERFEST IN SPACE, the celebration of horror movies that have a basis in the cosmos. During an Earth passby of Halley's Comet, daring British space exploration team makes a shocking discovery: a derelict alien spacecraft, with three naked humans in glass coffins. When the glass coffins are brought on board, there is a disaster in space, causing the deaths of all the British space explorers, save one American Colonel. Seemingly unharmed, the glass coffins are brought to earth where they are opened, and the psychic space vampires inside wreck havoc on London and the surrounding countryside. Notorious for containing a LOT of Mathilda May, Lifeforce also stars Steve Railsback, Peter Firth, Frank Finlay, and Sir Patrick Stewart. The naked space vampire movie that the guys thought they remembered, is not the one they caught on display. Overshadowed by a lot of nudity, Lifeforce shares a great deal of DNA with Dracula, Night of the Living Dead, and Alien. And we don't just mean Dan O'Bannon, either. Whom we will discuss very, very soon. Just not right now. Gotta leave some pod fodder for the rest of MONSTOBERFEST IN SPACE!

Gather ye 'round, children, and we'll weave ye' a tale. From the Highlands of Scotland where the breeze kisses the heather, and Liam Neeson kisses Jessica Lange under an upright boulder. Matt and Trevor order off menu for a steaming plate of haggis to discuss Rob Roy, the other Scottish period film from 1995, and one that contains 100% less Mel Gibson than the alternative. Rob Roy McGregor, a Scottish chief would live to become an outlaw, before entering legend as a folk hero. His true story is loosely adapted for the screen, with an all-star cast including Neeson, Lange, Brian Cox, Tim Roth, John Hurt, Eric Stoltz, and Andrew Keir. Solid performances, dynamic swashing of buckles, and expert sword play bring the world of 18th century Scotland to life, in what amounts to a crime/fugitive thriller by today's standards. Also, Rob Roy is very in love with his wife. They don't want you to forget that. Love, honor, revenge, pride, politics, and crime are all on display amid the breathtaking scenery of the Scottish Highlands.

"An unexamined life is not worth living." -Socrates "The best place to be is here. The best time to be is now." -Wyld Stallyns "Bake 40 to 45 minutes or just until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan. Cool completely in pan on cooling rack." -Betty Crocker Wisdom comes in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes it's from history's greatest philosophers pondering life and death. Sometimes it's a 30-year-old slacker film franchise pondering time and space. Sometimes it's a trusted brand in consumer baking telling you how to cook brownies. In any case something nice and special happened, if only of the most brief and frivolous moment, and the Nighthawks would like to share that with you. But first, it's time to make good on an episode we've long teased. What you have on your device in front of you is the Bill and Ted Trilogy episode of the Nighthawks Podcast. We have a spoiler-filled discussion of the first two nearly-30-year-old films in the franchise, which introduced a generation of Gen X and Elder Millennials to Bill S. Preston Esq. and Ted "Theodore" Logan: BILL AND TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE BILL AND TED'S BOGUS JOURNEY Then we have a brief spoiler-free discussion to talk about our very positive reaction to the new 2020 film: BILL AND TED FACE THE MUSIC Maybe the Bill and Ted Franchise, featuring the fantastically talented Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter will never be considered "indispensable Art," but it is something that we think a lot of folks need right now. Be Excellent to Each Other, And Party On, Dudes...

Ol' Matt and Trevor Did Dare to Endeavor To watch a film by Frank Marshall Along Came Some Spiders And they were venomous biters To this Amblin Thrillomedy we're partial It's the late Frank Marshall's directorial debut: Arachnophobia. Produced by Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, the movie was branded as (god only knows why) a "Thrillomedy," seeking to give wide audiences a movie that would scare them silly. Starring Jeff Daniels, John Goodman, and Julian Sands; Arachnophobia is the PG-13 killer spider thriller that gave the heebie jeebies to younger versions of Matt and Trevor. On the film's 30th anniversary, does it hold up? Or is it a desiccated and dried up husk?

This Episode of the Nighthawks Podcast is not censored for profanity or content. Listener discretion is advised. Nighthawks Diner special Guest Host Terry Fleming drops in to talk to Matt about a movie they've been familiar with since they were young. Trevor, on the other hand, is watching this John Singleton 1991 classic for the first time. Today the Nighthawks Diner is abuzz with discussion of Boyz n the Hood, the Freshman film for the late John Singleton, who would have a long and impressive career before his death. Meanwhile Boyz n the Hood also offers us babyfaced performances from Cuba Gooding Jr., Ice Cube, Regina King, Angela Bassett, Lawrence Fishburne and a cavalcade of others. What was John Singleton saying in 1991? What does the movie say about the modern day? Are we listening yet? Special thanks to our guest, Terry Fleming: https://www.instagram.com/terryfphotos/ https://www.facebook.com/unfilteredbachelor/ Resources for addressing and understanding the current BLM movement in the United States are available below. A version of this list also ran with the show notes of our previous episode, but the astute listener will note the addition of a link to watch the National Geographic Documentary LA 92 (which is discussed in this episode) for free. One Of US Net’s Live From the End of the World webcast that specifically discusses the Black Lives Matter movement, and what allies need to know and how to help. The webcast was facilitated by Chris Cox at One of Us, and featured an all black panel. https://oneofus.net/2020/06/one-of-us-show-live-from-the-end-of-the-world-ep-11/ Panelists include: Joshua Dylan Hunter: The Reel Pineapple - https://www.facebook.com/thereelpineapple Michael Van Slyke: Archangel Arts - https://www.facebook.com/pg/archangelarts/community/ Gene Seliasse - Is a critic, screenwriter, comic writer, friend of the podcast. His comic anthologies include Puerto Rico Strong, Kayfabe Anthology Vol 3, and Elsewhere. Gene is also the writer of Peter Pan and the Land of Forever, a Modern twist on the classic Peter Pan story, an upcoming film from Dream Teller Animation Studios. https://thescrumsports.com/author/geneselassie/ https://www.dreamtellerstudio.com/feature-films/ https://www.comixology.com/Elsewhere/digital-comic/ https://www.lionforge.com/puerto-rico-strong/ Books: The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander https://newjimcrow.com/about/buy So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo https://www.sealpress.com/titles/ijeoma-oluo/so-you-want-to-talk-about-race/9781580056779/ How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi https://www.ibramxkendi.com/how-to-be-an-antiracist-1 Movies: LA 92 (National Geographic doc about the Rodney King Riots as discussed in episode 104): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaotkHlHJwo 13th (Netflix Documentary) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krfcq5pF8u8 Selma https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Abkka8Vf2_M Just Mercy https://www.justmercyfilm.com/ Monsters and Men https://www.vudu.com/content/movies/details/Monsters-and-Men/1042022 Horror Noire A History of Black Horror (as briefly discussed in Ep 104) https://www.shudder.com/movies/watch/horror-noire-a-history-of-black-horror/4548652 STOP (short film) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5S2F1TLSvs

It's one of those magical times when the late Tony Scott crossed paths with the legendary Denzel Washington. Believe it or not, Trevor watched this movie for the FIRST time, specifically for this episode. Would the kidnapping revenge thriller hold up to nearly 25 years of build up? Matt saw this in a timely manner and has been a fan. No question about it, Matt thinks the movie works. Links from the intro: One Of US Net’s Live From the End of the World webcast that specifically discusses the Black Lives Matter movement, and what allies need to know and how to help. The webcast was facilitated by Chris Cox at One of Us, and featured an all black panel. https://oneofus.net/2020/06/one-of-us-show-live-from-the-end-of-the-world-ep-11/ Panelists include: Joshua Dylan Hunter: The Reel Pineapple - https://www.facebook.com/thereelpineapple Michael Van Slyke: Archangel Arts - https://www.facebook.com/pg/archangelarts/community/ Gene Seliasse - Is a critic, screen writer, comic writer, friend of the podcast. His comic anthologies include Puerto Rico Strong, Kayfabe Anthology Vol 3, and Elsewhere. Gene is also the writer of Peter Pan and the Land of Forever, a Modern twist on the classic Peter Pan story, an upcoming film from Dream Teller Animation Studios. https://thescrumsports.com/author/geneselassie/ https://www.dreamtellerstudio.com/feature-films/ https://www.comixology.com/Elsewhere/digital-comic/ https://www.lionforge.com/puerto-rico-strong/ Books: The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander https://newjimcrow.com/about/buy So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo https://www.sealpress.com/titles/ijeoma-oluo/so-you-want-to-talk-about-race/9781580056779/ How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi https://www.ibramxkendi.com/how-to-be-an-antiracist-1 Movies: 13th (Netflix Documentary) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krfcq5pF8u8 Selma https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Abkka8Vf2_M Just Mercy https://www.justmercyfilm.com/ Monsters and Men https://www.vudu.com/content/movies/details/Monsters-and-Men/1042022 Horror Noire A History of Black Horror https://www.shudder.com/movies/watch/horror-noire-a-history-of-black-horror/4548652 STOP (short film) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5S2F1TLSvs

Good evening to the denizens of the Nighthawks diner. We are pleased to report that as the world finds itself in a nightmare absurdist dystopia of COVID-19, the streets around the conceptual Nighthawks diner are a little safer from crime. Actress, producer, comedian, stunt performer, and all-around-entertainment-engine Katie Mae Peters pulls up a seat in the diner booth with Matt and Trevor to talk about her feature role in The Bee, a short film that was released online at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. We talk with Katie about her wild and crazy journey in and around the film industry. A journey that would find her as a director of a live multi-camera television show in high school, a zombie on The Walking Dead, a coach for Team USA Roller Derby, a genuine Texas filmmaker, and a stunt performer in Los Angeles. The journey also finds Katie Mae starring as the title character in the short that is the basis of this week's show. Take 14 minutes and enjoy... Important Links: Watch The Bee here: https://bit.ly/2ZaehQN The Bee on Instagram: https://bit.ly/3bDKxOT Katie Mae Peters on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2WHgXUJ

It's that time of year, and with the calendar coincidence, we couldn't turn down another pass at a 4/20 marijuana-themed episode. This year is 2020 so 4/20 gets two extra 20s, and we're assured that means we get to consume more marijuana than normal 4/20, and we get to celebrate longer because all month is 4/20. The mysteries of this holiday are many, and we're getting to the age where we don't understand. What we do understand are raunchy pod comedies from the early millennium. We also need to apologize for a lot of comedy from the early millennium. There's a lot of gay panic in Harold & Kumar's franchise. Something that we weren't sensitive to back then but is a call for introspection this time. Speaking of introspection, it's not all insensitive humor. The poop and fart jokes still land as poop and fart jokes, and the movie offers us a refreshing look at functional stoners, as well as non-white protagonists. Issues of race and xenophobia are touched on. So are early millennium hangups on plural sexuality. Take a walk down memory lane, and decide for yourself: Does Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle hold up?

It’s a simple question. What do movies mean to you? It’s the answers that aren’t always so simple. For this episode we asked this question of fourteen guests, and their answers are as varied as they are. Big thanks to these folks for making this special episode extra special. Mark Ball (Podcaster- Doing the Nasty, Action Figure Photographer; Chris Bucheit (Chef, Musician- Middle Class Joe); Susan Burke (Comedian, actor, director, writer- Southbound, Stan Against Evil); C. Robert Cargill (Novelist, podcaster, writer- Marvel’s Doctor Strange, Sinister); Rebecca Frost (Podcaster, critic); Steven DeGennaro (Podcaster, writer, director- Found Footage 3D, Stop); Lucas Lee Graham (Producer, director, cinematographer- Escape from Tomorrow) Cameron Maris (Oscar Czar, musician- Middle Class Joe) Matt Peters (Comedian, actor- Orange is the New Black, Weeds) Maxim Pozderic (Video clerk, live trivia game show host) Charity O’Haodagain (Podcaster, previous Nighthawks guest) Scott Schalchlin (State of Texas, previous Nighthawks guest) Nicholas Don Smith (Comedian, host- Dungeons and Comedy) Kristal Starr (Comedian) Special guest appearance by Cadence (Small child) FEATURING AN ALL-NEW SINGLE BY NIGHTHAWKS HOUSE BAND: MIDDLE CLASS JOE Editorial Note: After the interviews were conducted for this podcast, but before production was complete, one of our guests suffered some very unfortunate news. Because of the economic impacts of COVID-19, Vulcan Video; Austin, Texas video store; will shutter completely. We have spoken with Max since then, and he is in good spirits but very sorry about the closure. From all of us at the Nighthawks’ conceptual diner to all of our loved ones at Vulcan Video: Our love to you.

It was bound to happen sooner or later and a collision of streaming coincidence allowed us to get this done in our first hundred episodes. Matt is an old aficionado of the Robert B. Parker Spenser novels, a fan of the television series Spenser: For Hire, and he has strong opinions about the made-for-TV Spenser movies from the 90s and early aughts. He’s going into the 2020 Netflix offering, Spenser Confidential, with a keenly hewn fandom and a careful critical mind. Trevor hadn’t consumed ANY Spenser properties when he finally sat down and socially distanced himself with Spenser Confidential. But after watching the new film with Mark Wahlberg, Winston Duke, and Iliza Shlesinger Trevor did his homework and read some Robert B. Parker to beef up for the episode. The streaming gods did also smile upon Matt and Trevor, bestowing them with an unexpected and very welcome gift- three seasons of Spenser: For Hire on ImdbTV, a free-with-commercials service. So in this episode the guys talk about Robert B. Parker’s work, Spenser: For Hire the series, and the dessert is a no-spoiler discussion of the latest R-Rated action comedy that debuted on the Netflix charts and still is hanging in there several weeks later. Folks, a take on Parker’s Spenser is one we really wanted to do. It was intended mostly to be a larf, and something to check off the Nighthawks’ bucket list. But in these times, when we’re stuck inside and have nothing better but to watch a movie, the Nighthawks would like to encourage you to reach out and try something new. Maybe one of the Spenser properties is for you. Maybe they aren’t. We recorded this episode with you folks in mind, hoping to give you the context needed to decide if a few seasons of Robert Urich and Avery Brooks are worth your time (I mean…how could that not be worth your time?) Maybe a few hours watching Alan Arkin be a crotchety fart is in your wheelhouse (again, whose wheelhouse is that NOT in?) Hunker down. Stay healthy. We are always with you in the Nighthawks Diner. In the meantime… episode 100 is fast approaching, and the recent coronavirus caused COVID-19 global pandemic has put a hitch in how we were planning to handle the content of that episode. With that being said we’ve resumed appropriately distant production, and hope to bring you a really special 100th episode very soon.

Welcome to the 80s! Tortoiseshell glasses, with smoky lenses, Texas tech impresarios and Silicon Valley Dudes programing the latest hit video games. As technology began to explode into the American home, the world struggled with how to interpret this new way of life. Inevitably the artistic medium of our times saw a pretty incredible attempt to imagine the world from within technology itself. This is Disney's TRON, a 1985 science fiction film starring Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, and David Warner. The movie would become and infamous flop, and a bold new bar in the world of technology and animation. A harbinger of things to come, not only narratively, but in the film industry; love it or hate it, TRON has grist for the Nighthawks' Diner conversation. Pull up a seat and join us.