Episode 14: After Earth (2013)

We finally arrive at After Earth (2013) the would-be summer blockbuster created by Will Smith as a star vehicle for his son Jaden Smith, also... it was directed by M. Night Shyamalan. We try to figure out what "ghosting" is, talk about the weird but not too weird animals that populate future earth, and wonder if this is Shyamalan's least creative film. Tangents include: praise for Robocop, a minor rant against Netflix and Bright, and heaps of praise for Tom Cruise. This month's Shyamalan scotch was: Shackleton Blended Scotch. 

Episode 13: The Last Airbender (2010)

Just in time for Christmas we watch the big budget box office flop, The Last Airbender. Shyamalan’s attempt at a studio franchise did not go well. The movie was universally panned, earned Golden Razzie awards, and made many appearances on “worst of the year” lists. It probably didn’t help that this big studio movie was a watered down version of a much loved animated series. We ponder the state of Shyamalan’s career, try to figure out the intricacies of the Airbender universe, and are perplexed by James Newton Howard’s least memorable score. This episode’s Shyamalan scotches were: Macallan 18 Year Single Malt Scotch and Chivas Regal 12 Blended Scotch.

Episode 9: Lady in the Water (2006)

After a longer than usual break we return to review Shyamalan’s bedtime story/fantasy Lady in the Water (2006), which was not received well by critics or audiences and became Shyamalan’s first major studio film to lose money at the box office. We touch on the book chronicling the making of the movie, The Man Who Heard Voices by Michael Bamberger, and we also discuss Shyamalan’s American Express commercial made around the same time as Lady in the Water. Tangents include: stories about Roger Ebert, the 80’s comedy My Date With an Angel, and the films of Frank Capra. This month’s Shyamalan scotch was: Monkey Shoulder.