Mike talks to James Chinlund who worked as the production designer on The Batman. He describes his job of creating the look of the Batmobile and designing the city of Gotham with new ground breaking technology. He also talks about working on The Avengers and the design of Stark Tower. Mike also talks to twins Charlie and Max Carver who play the two guards at the Iceberg Lounge. They share what it was like working with Robert Pattinson, how intimidating he was as Batman and filming their fight scenes together. In the movie review, Mike and Kelsey talk about the new Netflix comedy “Senior Year” and reflect on what type of kid they were in high school. And in the trailer park, we finally have the first look at the Avatar sequel coming this December.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, and welcome back to movie Mike's Movie Podcast. I
am your host Movie Mike a k A. Mike D.
And if you are a fan of the Batman or
really just superhero movies in general, I think you're really
gonna like this week's episode. Have a couple of interviews
coming up with the cast and the production designer on
the movie, so a lot of fun behind the scenes
inside on how that movie was made. In the movie review,
(00:21):
we're talking about Senior Year, which just came out on
Netflix starring Rebel Wilson. And in the Trailer Park we
finally got the first look at the Avatar sequel and
I'm a little bit more interested in this movie now.
So so many things to cover on this episode. I'm
glad that you're here. And if you're listening on Monday Special,
shout out to the Monday Morning Movie crew. You already
know what it is. Let's talk movies. In a world
(00:43):
where everyone and their mother has a podcast, one man
stands to infiltrate the ears of listeners like never before
in a movie podcast, a man with so much movie
knowledge piece basically like a walking AUDIMTV which Glide from
the Nashville Podcast Network movie, The Batman is in the
(01:08):
running to be my favorite movie of two. I love
the movie theater experience of this movie. Even rewatching it
back on HBO, Max I was surprised that I liked
it even more. So if you haven't done that yet,
I highly encourage it. And today I'm getting to talk
to some of the people who start in the movie
and also worked on the movie. But even if you
haven't seen the movie, I still think you'll enjoy these
(01:30):
conversations because it's a lot of cold, behind the scene
things that we don't always get to learn about. So
first up is my conversation with James Chinland. He is
the production designer of The Batman. He has been building
world in movies and TV shows for the last twenty
five years. Some of his credits include Requiem for a Dream,
which came out back in two thousand, The Avengers, The
(01:52):
Lion King, and most recently The Batman. And on this movie,
he was responsible for the look of the Batmobile. He
also worked on all of the set design and he
used this really cool technology to create the world of
Gotham to be something that the actors could actually interact with,
so they weren't just looking at a green screen the
whole time. We'll talk about all that. I also, of
(02:13):
course have to ask him about the Avengers. So here
we go, let's talk to James. How are you. I'm good, Mike,
how are you. I'm doing great. It's so awesome you
get to talk to you. I've you know, talked to
a lot of directors and actors on my podcast, but
it's the first time I've talked to a production designer,
and this is kind of the stuff that really excites me,
the behind the scenes of how you create a world,
(02:35):
especially with the movie like The Batman. So really excited
to get to talk to you. Me too, thanks Man.
So I obviously want to get into the creation of
the Batmobile and the feeling of Gotham. But when you
meet somebody for the first time, how do you describe
what you do? The quick one is, we're responsible for
everything you see in the film other than people and um,
(03:00):
what they're wearing, you know, I think you know. We're
responsible for um, the set, the location, UM, the props,
the vehicles, the all of the feelings, basically all the space,
the geography of the film, and that also entails like
a ton of um logistical stuff like working with the
(03:22):
cinematographer figuring out, you know, is there room for the camera,
how would this shot work? So it really the thing
I love most about my job is it touches all
departments that basically we're sort of like the the u
n for the film. We have to go around and
talk to each department and make sure their needs are
being met and simultaneously also deliver like a cohesive piece
(03:46):
of design for the movie. Um that is, you know,
in step and hopefully amplifying the narrative ambitions of the
the director. So starting with the Batmobile and the design
and the look of it, does it start with like
a sketch from Matt Reeves? Do you go back and
research like all the badmobiles that have been featured in
(04:06):
other movies, Like where did the content begin? Well? I
think in in our case, I think we were all
led by Matt's take on Bruce and the fact that
Bruce was a um, sort of a do it yourself
sort of guy who had like turned his back on
way in industries and sort of doing it all with
his own hands. So I think we knew that the
car needed to be something that you felt his hand
(04:30):
on and and hopefully as an audience member, you looked
at him said, you know, if I had the right
skill set, I could probably build that car in my garage.
That was sort of like what we were hoping for.
So the idea that maybe he would use pieces of
other cars and sort of kit bash them together, you know,
sort of just taking what he needed and and assembling it.
(04:50):
So we really wanted you to see the way it
was built, make sure that was a part of it.
And in terms of the access to that design, I
think you know, we were literally looking at fragments of
cars and different pieces and details that we that we liked,
and we sort of we knew the mission and what
we wanted it to do. And then we leaned into
(05:12):
some amazing illustrators UM into and and got their help
as we sort of started to hone it together into
into a cohesive hole. And the batmobile we see in
the movie is it a fully functional vehicle. That's what
we're most proud of. I mean we built four, the
team I should say, built four Batmobiles, one fully electric
(05:35):
um and then three combustion engine cars. And they perform
like crazy. I mean, all those stunts you see you're
actually seeing that car do it, you know, um and
um we're just no other batmobile in history has performed
the way our car did, you know. And the stunt
guys were so excited to get their hands on it,
(05:56):
you know, put it through its paces, and I think
it really shows in the chain. It's one of the
most visceral car chases I've ever experienced. And uh yeah,
I mean Dom Tuey, the special effects um coordinator and
his team just did an amazing job, um, you know,
bringing that kind of raw, visceral physicality to it. I
think that's one of the most pivotal parts of the
(06:18):
entire movie, that chase and got me the most high
whaile watching the movie and knowing that now that actually
happened and actually went down, just add so much more
to it. And I think a lot of that it's
from Robert Pattinson's performance. How much did he actually get
to drive the Batmobile before and how much did he
actually do during the filming of the movie. I mean,
he's in the car a lot, whether he's actually controlling
(06:41):
it or not. There was a there was a m
the guy's built a what's called a pod car, so
Rob's at the wheel, and then there's a stunt driver
like in a in a pod on the top on
the roof who's actually doing it. But you know, in
a way, I think that even speaks more to Rob's
bravery and intensity. Tobuy actually like driving in this car
(07:03):
while someone else is actually putting you through all that stuff.
So um, but he drove it a bit and um,
he certainly put it through his paces himself. So and
I think all of those things come through. I think
you feel that in the film. You feel the sort
of sweat and and um, burning rubber and rain and
(07:24):
all those things. I think it really comes through in
the final product. Did you get your driving at all?
I did? I did dream come true? That's amazing. Yeah,
I know, I know. I was so excited. So the
other thing about this movie that really just kind of
grabbed me is that I feel like it's the best
iteration of all the characters. But the character that I
feel sometimes people don't really talk about is the city
(07:47):
of Gotham itself. It has a present in this movie
that feels like like it did its own driving force.
And I think a lot of that is due to
the technology. You guys, use. I believe it's the led
volume screens. Yes, Like, how how did that tech work
to help the actors feel like they were more like
involved in the scene and in that environment aside from
(08:08):
just being behind like a green screen or a blue screen.
It's fairly obvious, like, um, the difference between you know, um,
staring at a piece of fabric and then looking out
into a you know, a city that's fully realized for
you with like wind blowing and helicopters flying by and traffic.
It was so exciting to be able to. Um. You know,
(08:32):
often as a designer will design something and then hope
that it comes together and post and we're at the
premiere and we sort of see it all come together.
But this was, you know the first time in my
career where I had actually been able to design something
and see it fully realized on camera during the shoot.
And um, Yeah, it was just so so exciting to
(08:54):
be able to bring all that together. Greg was obviously,
you know, really leaning in to the tools and making
sure that you know, the scene we shot sunset and
dusk and dawn, you know, taking advantage of those low
light opportunities, and I think the actors really felt it
you know, and I think it really came through in
their performance. You also worked on The Avengers, which you've
(09:17):
worked in DC and Marvel, and I believe you grew
up in New York City. I did, so getting to
design something like the Stark Tower, having growing up there
and you know, knowing exactly like what the city layout is.
How was that process of like, Okay, I'm gonna create
something that's not actually here, but make it feel like
(09:37):
it is in New York City. It's just like I
pinched myself at the dream dream come true of it all,
you know, Stark Tower. For me as a kid, I'd
always looked at the Panama Building, and Um, I feel
like what we did, whether we actually realized it or not,
is going to live forever in the history of New
York as a piece of architecture that will always be
(10:00):
at least a footnote to that building's history that people
will say, and it was used in Avengers and in
this way, and so I think, you know, I mean,
we're building architecture and worlds that live forever in people's imaginations,
you know. And so I think in the same token,
like going into Gotham and figuring out you know, like
(10:22):
I have this opportunity to carve out sort of a
new space for the fans of Batman to dream and
and and um. You know, it's as a designer, it's
it's the greatest gift to be able to touch people
in that way. And what is the next project you're
working on? I don't know. I'm just working on getting
through these interviews today. Um. Yeah, I don't know what's
(10:44):
coming next. Are you always just like designing and making
notes in your head of Like you go out in
public and maybe you see like a landscape or you
see like a skyline that speaks to you. Do you
always just keep like record of all those things? Take pictures? Yeah,
I mean I think that's that's that's um. That's a
designer's greatest resource, is you know, just um, the more
you design, the more you are able to see in
(11:07):
the world and details that you notice that maybe other
people might cruise through. I think, you know, we tried
to bring all that to the development of Gotham. You know,
I think there's so much, so many things you don't
see that are hidden in the shadows. But the team,
you know, the level of detail that we brought to
those sets. Every Square into the back lot and Riddler's apartment.
(11:28):
You know, I mean they we went so deep. Any
book you opened, you know, it was fully relevant to
his past. So I think, yeah, we try. As a designer,
you try and just you know, catalog the world and
and bring those feelings back to the film. It's a
great talking to you. James really appreciate it too, Thanks Mike,
Thank you. Up next, we'll talk to you Charlie and
(11:51):
Max Carver, who are twin brothers and they play these
two guards at the Iceberg Lounge. And here's just a
little bit of their scene and interaction with Robert Pattinson
as the Batman. Yeah, I want to see the penguin.
I don't know what you're talking about. POW's problem as
(12:12):
he wants to see the penguin. Penguin, Penguin, That's what
I tried to tell him. Get out of your freak, Dammy,
that little suit is gonna get all full of blood.
So I want to know what it's like to take
a beating from Robert Pattinson, what kind of work goes
into that. So here we go. Let's talk to Charlie
and Max carb How are you guys, How are you
(12:36):
great to talk to you guys today. I am such
a huge fan of your work and The Batman. I
think the movie is a masterpiece, and you guys play
the guards at the Iceberg Lounge, and I found that
your characters are the only ones really I get to
see Robert Pattinson as both the Batman and also as
Bruce Wayne. So what is this How is this energy
(12:57):
different when you see him in those two different roles.
It's It's funny. I remember reading the script and and
thinking of the traditional Bruce Wayne as I was reading it,
like this billionaire playboy out there doing all this stuff.
And I remember on the day when we're shooting the
moment where where Bruce comes up to the club, mapp
being like, no, he's no one's seen him. He's a recluse,
(13:19):
and and just being like what. It was such a
different interpretation, and I quite frankly I loved it of
of this wounded kid who's who's got so much trauma
um trying to find a way to to maybe overcome
that and not look at it. And what I thought
(13:39):
it was so special about this film is even when
when rob was had transformed into the Batman and his vengeance.
You can see in his eyes and every single scene
he's still carrying that pain from his childhood. And it's
what it's what makes this movie sing to me is
that there's a vulnerability to Batman that I don't remember
(13:59):
seeing an and and the contrast between the two energetically,
it's absolutely captured on film. But when when we'll start
with Bruce, when when Rob walks up and he's Bruce Wayne,
you know, it was this different kind of reclusive withdrawn
thing that was so interesting to respond to. And then
(14:20):
when when he came to the door as the Batman,
I mean we'd rehearsed stuff with the stunt team for
for weeks, you know, kind of preparing for some of
these bigger action sequences, and Rob was precise but so
ferocious compared to what we do. Even to be rehearsing
it was, I mean, you see it, he's just this
you know, kind of piston or what have you. Um
(14:40):
it was. It's it's really nice to see the final
product and to get to see that contrast on camera
because shooting it you definitely felt it. So what is
that rehearsal like Because in the movie, you both take
a punch to the face, Like, how does that end
up looking believable? Well, we we actually got punched in
the face, actually got played. I was gonna say that
would be amazing because it looks so real. Yeah. Yeah,
(15:02):
it's all about the snap. Quite frankly, you gotta sell it.
It's a snap and the sound and really not just
working on that rehearsal of those specific moves because they
might change on the day, but working with the stunt
team for weeks to do martial arts, to get those
movements right, to be ready to kind of do anything
because you might change your mind on the day about
(15:24):
what you want to shoot or how you want it
to read, and to just get this really enough confidence
to have a sense of connection while it's happening, because
it might be it'll change, you know. One take might
be like bah bah bah, another one might be really quick,
and it's just about being with what's in front of
you and having enough experience on your belt hopefully to
(15:45):
to just work with it um because it's it's kind
of almost like a really violent dance. But if Matt
Reeves came to you both and said I'm gonna need
you to take a punch to the face, for the
scene to make it look totally believable. What do you
always said? Yes, absolutely, so he's been analynced as coming
back for the sequel, Robert Pattinson's coming back. Will your
characters be returning? Oh? I wish I could answer that question,
(16:08):
but I'm under legal obligations to say nothing on the topic.
Could you say anything whenever you found out you got
the role, like, just to each other? Was at it
pretty much just to each other. Certainly not to our
mom because he loves to keep a secret, and no
she doesn't. Certainly would have gotten out. Um. Yeah, we
kept it to ourselves at a certain point. We were
in London for so long that we kind of had
(16:30):
to acknowledge that we were filming something. But it was
fun to keep secret, uh, and then really fun to
have it be out in theaters and have you know,
lots of old friends be like, oh my god, well,
I appreciate the time and hopefully see you in the
next one. All right, thank you. So I always have
to ask what you're working on next, not that I
(16:50):
expect them to actually tell me, like, oh, well, I'm
working on the Batman too right now. And this is
the process we're in. I know they can't say that stuff,
but if I had to speculate from the interns they
gave in response to that, much like Matt Reeves is
back on as director, much like Robert Pattinson is coming back,
and how these movies have to be so secretive of
not letting anybody know what they're working on. I would
(17:13):
just speculate that not only are they coming back, but
they're already starting some pre production on this, or at
least getting the juices flowing, because even seeing interviews after
was Robert Pattinson like he knew he had that role
back when he was filming Tenant. And if they're already
making announcements about the director and the cast, I feel
like that's already in the works, but they just can't
say anything. So totally respect that, but hoping they do return,
(17:36):
because I would love to talk to him again, and
I would really just like to become friends with James
so that maybe someday I could also live out my
dream of driving the Batmobile. I'm gonna get into a
movie review now. Let's talk about Senior Year, which is
available on Netflix, and my wife Kelsey is joining me
(17:56):
for this review. How are you. I feel like this
was a little bit more of your style of movie,
would you agree? Yes. I watched the trailer like a
month ago and I was like, we've got to watch
so I don't even need to play the trailer here.
But it's about Rebel Wilson's character, who she is seventeen
years old at the beginning of the movie. Her life
in high school isn't going the way she wants, so
she sets out to become the most popular girl in school,
(18:19):
becomes the captain of the cheerleader team, gets the boyfriend
of her dreams, and thinks everything's gonna be great. And
then they're having like a pep rally, right, and they
throw her up in the air. She hits the ground
and wakes up twenty years later at thirty seven years old,
and then she tries to go back to high school
to achieve that dream of becoming prom queen. I thought
(18:42):
the premise was pretty good. I mean, it was nothing original.
It's kind of like seventeen Again with Matthew Perry sat Affron.
But I think anything Rebel Wilson does is pretty funny,
and it was funny to see the actress who played
her younger version of herself kind of like emulate her. Yeah,
Like at the beginning we were even like, wow, like
(19:02):
the younger her feels like she's trying to be like rebel.
Wills picked up on her mannerisms and just the way
she kind of just the comedic style in general also
kind of reminded me of like the Adam Project with
the kid who plays a younger Ryan Reynolds also kind
of acted and talked like him. But did you think
it was funny? It wasn't not funny. That's how I
(19:24):
feel about it. It It wasn't hilarious, and I thought it
was gonna be around here because it's rated. Are are? Yeah,
I guess it's more for the language. Early on, I
felt like it was kind of the same joke over
and over about like all the two thousands references and
her not getting you know, everything going on now. So
it wasn't like laugh out loud funny, but it was
(19:44):
pretty entertaining and it's kind of like a throwback to
a two thousands movie. But like you said, nothing super original. Yeah,
it kind of felt like in the genre of like
she's all that, Like it tried to be like an
early two thousand's common kind of I think. The thing
it did make me think about if you were to
go back to high school your senior year, what kind
(20:07):
of student were you? Because she was head of the
cheerleading team. She was like that most popular girl. If
you went back to high school as an adult, what
role would you be going back into extreme nerd? Yeah,
I was the president of the math club my senior year.
How does one become president of the math club? I
think I was the only one that ran looked great
on my resume. You would compete, now, we would. We
(20:31):
would take these like once a month like test after school,
but anything that you got right was like extra credit
towards your like actual math class. And I was in
calculus a year, so I was like, great, give me
any extra credit please. I have this reoccurring dream that
I'm always back in high school. I think I probably
have it like once every couple of months, and I
(20:52):
always go back. It's always the same dream of me
being there and never graduating and being credit short, so
I go back as an adult unchbox. Basically, I always
had this this thing going on. I don't know what
it means, but for me, I didn't look I never
got bullied in high school. I just didn't have any
friends in high school. I didn't have great friends until
(21:13):
second semester of my senior year, and one of them
i'm like still friends with to this day. Because one
of my best friends from freshman year moved our sophomore year.
And then I had another really good friend, but she
ran across country and I was always busy, so I
don't really have like a ton of friends. I was
pretty much a loser sam like not like a loser.
Like I had friends. I wasn't like the nerdy cool.
(21:36):
I feel like like I was a cool nerd. Maybe
I guess I was kind of a I don't think
I was a cool nerd though, I just had no friends.
I didn't talk, so no one talked to me. I
don't feel like anybody, at least in high school didn't
like me. They just I felt like I didn't exist.
And even the sole quote unquote friends I did have,
(21:56):
like I was in a in a band when I
was in high school with other you of seniors, and
even then they wouldn't really hang out with me, like
at school, like I ate lunch a lot, and I
think it was more early on in school where I
got bullied, and then I think I just kind of
recessed into like this, don't talk to anybody, don't mess
with anybody, because I didn't want to get bullied again.
(22:17):
But if I went back to high school, I guess
I would just be basically what I am now. Also
in this movie, it's kind of that contrast, which kind
of reminded me of twenty one Jump Street when they
go back to high school and they're like, oh, everything's
changed now, like high school students are nice and they
got rid of the prom queen prom king, so they
have to reinstate it did you even go to You
(22:40):
went to prom? Right? Is it? Would you have regretted it?
Looking back if you didn't go, I think I would
have regretted not spending that night with my friends. But
our problem is nothing special. I don't regret not going.
I mean, I don't think you missed anything. It didn't
seem fun to me, like I didn't want to go
hang out and not dance with anybody and kind of
(23:00):
being in the corner of the whole time. I don't
regret it at all. So would you recommend this movie
if somebody is into looking for a nice comedy. Overall,
I would recommend this movie if you just kind of
want something lighthearted. You don't really have to pay attention
in two. You're just wanting to turn the TV on
and sit down and probably scroll your phone. And the
(23:21):
soundtrack is good. It's well, it's all two thousand songs,
that's right. That I felt like that was the most
the thing I enjoyed the most of because I remember
they played saleav by Bewitch and I started bopping along
to that. The nerd and me did find the inconsistencies though,
because if she was in a coma in two thousand
and two, a lot of those songs they played that
(23:41):
you reference were like two thousand three is two thousand
four if you're being specific here. That that was my
great tea on the movie. But I thought it was entertaining.
I thought it was gonna be funnier. But I did
like the kind of nostalgia aspect of looking back at
the two thousand's that way, I just feel like the
movie I want to see is not like, here's all
(24:01):
these references that you remember. I just want like a
two thousands movie to be made in two kind of
like Turning Red, was it was just in the two thousand's.
It wasn't referencing everything. It was just kind of like
people living in that time. I think it's time for
that now. I kind of have more of a grasp
of what like pop culture was then fashion. I think
(24:22):
we all kind of look back at those songs and
can kind of put a place to where we were.
And also it brings us back to a good time.
So I think that's why some people would watch and
enjoy this movie. I mean, the fashion from the early
two thousands of six sixthical and it's coming back, so
we're just we're kind of reliving in early two thousands,
were at that marketing then if it's back together are back.
(24:42):
I mean it's kind of two thousand two again. I mean, yeah,
EMO is as popular now. I feel like that it
was back then, which was weird going back to talking
about high school, it wasn't really cool to be in
the EMO. This is Mike's therapy session. Yes, I think
that's what I got made fun of the most, was
like wearing all black and people making fun of the
music I listened to. You did also have a chain
(25:03):
wallet from Hot Topic? Yes, okay, my embracelets and studded belts.
I'm not going to say I would have made fun
of you, but I can kind of see. But now
I feel like all that stuff is cool again, and
it's cool to be proud of liking that type of music.
Back then I didn't feel that. And also a lot
of those bands that people talk about now is being
(25:23):
like their favorites, like my Chemical Romance and Paramore. It's
just cool to like those bands now. It wasn't back then.
You got made fun of her liking that kind of music.
Can I tell the story about Paramore not being one
of your favorite band? Yeah? I have a here where
we do this podcast. I have a sign poster a
Paramore and they got announced for the A c L
(25:44):
lineup and the band I was most excited about was
not them? What Phoenix? And I came in your office
and I was like, I'm surprised you weren't more excited
for Paramore and you can go, well, I mean, Paramore
is not really one of my favorite bands. And I
just turned around. But let me tell you what else
he has on this wall. So it's a sign Simpson's script,
a signed Childish campaign, a letter, a signed Green Day drumhead, Drumhead,
(26:07):
and then Paramore, so all of your other favorite things,
so one would assume. And then also on that while
you have a flag like from one of your Lauren's
arms favorite bands, so one would assume that's like the
wall of favorites, although I'm not on there, so maybe
I shouldn't have assumed you're on the desk though, But
I pointed to it and I was like, then, what's
the signed poster for the story behind I do like Paramore,
(26:27):
I'm not super into all their albums. I'm kind of
a poser family because I only like basically their singles
in their hits. I don't think I could go to
a Paramore concert and enjoy the entire thing. But I
got that poster because they were in the radio station.
They did an interview on the pop station. I tried
to get a picture with them and they were like,
now they're in and out. I couldn't do it, but
(26:48):
here's a sign poster. So I also at one point
debated whether I even kept that thing or not, and
I think it's kind of cool put it up on
the wall. That is the origin on that poster. I
do realed this podcast. Sorry, it's all good. If Yeah,
if you're looking for something an easy watch with some popcorn,
little nostalgia worth it. Otherwise you could probably skip it.
(27:10):
But if you had to give it a rating, what
would you give three point two five out of five calculators,
I'd probably go three out of five Juicy gutur sweat
pants combo is what it was called, sweatsuits like juicy
across the butt. Yes, I would give it that, And
that is what we think about Senior Year. Now it's
(27:35):
time for the part of the podcast where I break
down a movie trailer of a film coming to you
very soon in theaters or streaming, in a segment we
call It's time to head down to movie. Mike and
I talked about it a couple of weeks ago when
it was revealed at cinemacom the first look at the
new Avatar movie, and I haven't been that excited about it.
(27:59):
I did rewatch Avatar in preparation for this. I don't
know what I'm getting prepared for this movie, but I
felt the need to and it was just sitting there
on Disney Plus, so I decided to watch it. And
I gotta say, now I'm a little bit more excited
for this movie. But before I get into all that,
here's just a little bit at the look of the
new Avatar trailer, which is called The Way of the Water,
(28:20):
and it's coming out on December sixte I don't know
one thing. Wherever we go, this family, it's our fortress.
So it's crazy to me that after thirteen years, it
still looks relatively the same. I don't know what I
(28:41):
was expecting, like them to create an entirely new world.
It still feels very much like Pandora, but the characters
look a little bit more crisp, and I feel like
the movie is starting to make a little bit more
sense now. And I think the reason I didn't love
Avatar as much as maybe everybody else did, or as
much as people hyped it up to be, is while
the visuals are amazing, I felt like the story was
(29:04):
a little bit boring. And even as I watched it
back on Disney Plus, I realized that I'm watching that movie.
It's undeniable, that it is a really great achievement in cinema,
and James Cameron knows how to create a blockbuster, and
that's what Avatar is. It's the highest grossing movie of
all time, at two point eight billion dollars and actually
(29:25):
beat out of injuries in game after it was re
released in theaters in China last year. So I feel
like it's just always going to be the highest grossing movie.
Do I think Avatar The Way of the Water will be?
Probably not, but it's still going to make a lot
of money. But after watching this trailer, I feel like
this movie will have the better story you don't have.
(29:46):
I just felt like there was nothing original about the
first movie of this outsider coming trying to be like
one of their own, and then the bad guys coming
and then like, oh, we didn't trust it the entire time,
Like that's what Avatar was. It was essentially Dances with
Wolves but with blue people. And I think when you
take away that spectacle of seeing Pandora for the first time,
(30:08):
you take away that three D. The only thing I
still really enjoy about that movie is the final battle
scene when it is the characters an Avatar and also
the real life humans, and that's just a really fun
fight scene. I felt like that was the best moment
of that movie. I could have fallen asleep about halfway through,
woken up at that and been fine. So that movie
is a boastful two hours and forty two minutes, and
(30:31):
there's still no official runtime on what the sequel will be,
but it's rumored to be around that same mark. Two
and a half hours to three hours is what we're
expecting here, and that's just what James Cameron does. I mean,
the Titanic is three hours in fourteen minutes, but I
don't think we really remember that. I remember the two
VHS tapes, but I just wonder if audiences will be
as excited to go back to the theaters thirteen years
(30:53):
later and sit down and watch this for three hours.
And I don't want to sound like a James Cameron
back sure, which is what I've been accused of before
on this podcast. I just feel like when it comes
to my favorite directors, I can always tell their work
by seeing their voice through the movie, whether it be
the editing technique, the casting, the storytelling, the writing, the dialogue.
(31:18):
To me, there's just something important about watching something and
knowing pretty quickly like who made this because of the style,
whether it be Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg,
Zack Snyder, like they all just have a distinct style.
When I watch to James Cameron movie, I don't really
feel that. I think his style is just making a
(31:39):
blockbuster that makes a lot of money, so I think
that's it. He's just in the business of stacking mountains
of cash. But again, that comes out this year on December,
and they shot Avatar two in and at the same
time they shot Avatar three, which is coming out in
and then Avatar four is coming to six and Abatar
(32:02):
five is scheduled to come out on December. So I
hope we are all ready for this this weeks edition.
And that's gonna wrap it up for another week of
the podcast. And before I hop out of here, what
I do every single week, let's give the listener shout out,
(32:23):
whether it be an email movie Mike d at gmail
dot com, a d M, a tweet, or a comment
over on the Facebook page. And that's where I'm going today.
Every single week you can find the podcast actually posted
there if you're somebody who happens to listen to podcast
on Facebook. At least for now, I know they're gonna
take it away pretty soon, but you can do that there.
And this is a comment on last week's episode from
(32:45):
Woody Boyd Wood, He writes, listening at four am kind
of late for me, but I finally remember to screenshot
me listening to this and decided to post it. Have
a swell Monday, so appreciate that. What do you here
is your shout out for being a very early or
late listener as you put it, Happy to have you
as a part of the Monday Morning Movie crew. And also,
(33:05):
if you enjoyed this week's interview, go over to my
Instagram or TikTok at Mike Destro, or you can find
the links in the description of this episode and leave
a comment let me know what you thought. Or if
you don't want to write any words, just leave some
lightning bolts the lightning bolt emoji. I'll go like all
those comments, have a great rest of your week. I'll
(33:25):
talk to you next time, but until then, go out
and watch good movies. Later
Hello, and welcome back to movie Mike's Movie Podcast. I
am your host Movie Mike a k A. Mike D.
And if you are a fan of the Batman or
really just superhero movies in general, I think you're really
gonna like this week's episode. Have a couple of interviews
coming up with the cast and the production designer on
the movie, so a lot of fun behind the scenes
inside on how that movie was made. In the movie review,
(00:21):
we're talking about Senior Year, which just came out on
Netflix starring Rebel Wilson. And in the Trailer Park we
finally got the first look at the Avatar sequel and
I'm a little bit more interested in this movie now.
So so many things to cover on this episode. I'm
glad that you're here. And if you're listening on Monday Special,
shout out to the Monday Morning Movie crew. You already
know what it is. Let's talk movies. In a world
(00:43):
where everyone and their mother has a podcast, one man
stands to infiltrate the ears of listeners like never before
in a movie podcast, a man with so much movie
knowledge piece basically like a walking AUDIMTV which Glide from
the Nashville Podcast Network movie, The Batman is in the
(01:08):
running to be my favorite movie of two. I love
the movie theater experience of this movie. Even rewatching it
back on HBO, Max I was surprised that I liked
it even more. So if you haven't done that yet,
I highly encourage it. And today I'm getting to talk
to some of the people who start in the movie
and also worked on the movie. But even if you
haven't seen the movie, I still think you'll enjoy these
(01:30):
conversations because it's a lot of cold, behind the scene
things that we don't always get to learn about. So
first up is my conversation with James Chinland. He is
the production designer of The Batman. He has been building
world in movies and TV shows for the last twenty
five years. Some of his credits include Requiem for a Dream,
which came out back in two thousand, The Avengers, The
(01:52):
Lion King, and most recently The Batman. And on this movie,
he was responsible for the look of the Batmobile. He
also worked on all of the set design and he
used this really cool technology to create the world of
Gotham to be something that the actors could actually interact with,
so they weren't just looking at a green screen the
whole time. We'll talk about all that. I also, of
(02:13):
course have to ask him about the Avengers. So here
we go, let's talk to James. How are you. I'm good, Mike,
how are you. I'm doing great. It's so awesome you
get to talk to you. I've you know, talked to
a lot of directors and actors on my podcast, but
it's the first time I've talked to a production designer,
and this is kind of the stuff that really excites me,
the behind the scenes of how you create a world,
(02:35):
especially with the movie like The Batman. So really excited
to get to talk to you. Me too, thanks Man.
So I obviously want to get into the creation of
the Batmobile and the feeling of Gotham. But when you
meet somebody for the first time, how do you describe
what you do? The quick one is, we're responsible for
everything you see in the film other than people and um,
(03:00):
what they're wearing, you know, I think you know. We're
responsible for um, the set, the location, UM, the props,
the vehicles, the all of the feelings, basically all the space,
the geography of the film, and that also entails like
a ton of um logistical stuff like working with the
(03:22):
cinematographer figuring out, you know, is there room for the camera,
how would this shot work? So it really the thing
I love most about my job is it touches all
departments that basically we're sort of like the the u
n for the film. We have to go around and
talk to each department and make sure their needs are
being met and simultaneously also deliver like a cohesive piece
(03:46):
of design for the movie. Um that is, you know,
in step and hopefully amplifying the narrative ambitions of the
the director. So starting with the Batmobile and the design
and the look of it, does it start with like
a sketch from Matt Reeves? Do you go back and
research like all the badmobiles that have been featured in
(04:06):
other movies, Like where did the content begin? Well? I
think in in our case, I think we were all
led by Matt's take on Bruce and the fact that
Bruce was a um, sort of a do it yourself
sort of guy who had like turned his back on
way in industries and sort of doing it all with
his own hands. So I think we knew that the
car needed to be something that you felt his hand
(04:30):
on and and hopefully as an audience member, you looked
at him said, you know, if I had the right
skill set, I could probably build that car in my garage.
That was sort of like what we were hoping for.
So the idea that maybe he would use pieces of
other cars and sort of kit bash them together, you know,
sort of just taking what he needed and and assembling it.
(04:50):
So we really wanted you to see the way it
was built, make sure that was a part of it.
And in terms of the access to that design, I
think you know, we were literally looking at fragments of
cars and different pieces and details that we that we liked,
and we sort of we knew the mission and what
we wanted it to do. And then we leaned into
(05:12):
some amazing illustrators UM into and and got their help
as we sort of started to hone it together into
into a cohesive hole. And the batmobile we see in
the movie is it a fully functional vehicle. That's what
we're most proud of. I mean we built four, the
team I should say, built four Batmobiles, one fully electric
(05:35):
um and then three combustion engine cars. And they perform
like crazy. I mean, all those stunts you see you're
actually seeing that car do it, you know, um and
um we're just no other batmobile in history has performed
the way our car did, you know. And the stunt
guys were so excited to get their hands on it,
(05:56):
you know, put it through its paces, and I think
it really shows in the chain. It's one of the
most visceral car chases I've ever experienced. And uh yeah,
I mean Dom Tuey, the special effects um coordinator and
his team just did an amazing job, um, you know,
bringing that kind of raw, visceral physicality to it. I
think that's one of the most pivotal parts of the
(06:18):
entire movie, that chase and got me the most high
whaile watching the movie and knowing that now that actually
happened and actually went down, just add so much more
to it. And I think a lot of that it's
from Robert Pattinson's performance. How much did he actually get
to drive the Batmobile before and how much did he
actually do during the filming of the movie. I mean,
he's in the car a lot, whether he's actually controlling
(06:41):
it or not. There was a there was a m
the guy's built a what's called a pod car, so
Rob's at the wheel, and then there's a stunt driver
like in a in a pod on the top on
the roof who's actually doing it. But you know, in
a way, I think that even speaks more to Rob's
bravery and intensity. Tobuy actually like driving in this car
(07:03):
while someone else is actually putting you through all that stuff.
So um, but he drove it a bit and um,
he certainly put it through his paces himself. So and
I think all of those things come through. I think
you feel that in the film. You feel the sort
of sweat and and um, burning rubber and rain and
(07:24):
all those things. I think it really comes through in
the final product. Did you get your driving at all?
I did? I did dream come true? That's amazing. Yeah,
I know, I know. I was so excited. So the
other thing about this movie that really just kind of
grabbed me is that I feel like it's the best
iteration of all the characters. But the character that I
feel sometimes people don't really talk about is the city
(07:47):
of Gotham itself. It has a present in this movie
that feels like like it did its own driving force.
And I think a lot of that is due to
the technology. You guys, use. I believe it's the led
volume screens. Yes, Like, how how did that tech work
to help the actors feel like they were more like
involved in the scene and in that environment aside from
(08:08):
just being behind like a green screen or a blue screen.
It's fairly obvious, like, um, the difference between you know, um,
staring at a piece of fabric and then looking out
into a you know, a city that's fully realized for
you with like wind blowing and helicopters flying by and traffic.
It was so exciting to be able to. Um. You know,
(08:32):
often as a designer will design something and then hope
that it comes together and post and we're at the
premiere and we sort of see it all come together.
But this was, you know the first time in my
career where I had actually been able to design something
and see it fully realized on camera during the shoot.
And um, Yeah, it was just so so exciting to
(08:54):
be able to bring all that together. Greg was obviously,
you know, really leaning in to the tools and making
sure that you know, the scene we shot sunset and
dusk and dawn, you know, taking advantage of those low
light opportunities, and I think the actors really felt it
you know, and I think it really came through in
their performance. You also worked on The Avengers, which you've
(09:17):
worked in DC and Marvel, and I believe you grew
up in New York City. I did, so getting to
design something like the Stark Tower, having growing up there
and you know, knowing exactly like what the city layout is.
How was that process of like, Okay, I'm gonna create
something that's not actually here, but make it feel like
(09:37):
it is in New York City. It's just like I
pinched myself at the dream dream come true of it all,
you know, Stark Tower. For me as a kid, I'd
always looked at the Panama Building, and Um, I feel
like what we did, whether we actually realized it or not,
is going to live forever in the history of New
York as a piece of architecture that will always be
(10:00):
at least a footnote to that building's history that people
will say, and it was used in Avengers and in
this way, and so I think, you know, I mean,
we're building architecture and worlds that live forever in people's imaginations,
you know. And so I think in the same token,
like going into Gotham and figuring out you know, like
(10:22):
I have this opportunity to carve out sort of a
new space for the fans of Batman to dream and
and and um. You know, it's as a designer, it's
it's the greatest gift to be able to touch people
in that way. And what is the next project you're
working on? I don't know. I'm just working on getting
through these interviews today. Um. Yeah, I don't know what's
(10:44):
coming next. Are you always just like designing and making
notes in your head of Like you go out in
public and maybe you see like a landscape or you
see like a skyline that speaks to you. Do you
always just keep like record of all those things? Take pictures? Yeah,
I mean I think that's that's that's um. That's a
designer's greatest resource, is you know, just um, the more
you design, the more you are able to see in
(11:07):
the world and details that you notice that maybe other
people might cruise through. I think, you know, we tried
to bring all that to the development of Gotham. You know,
I think there's so much, so many things you don't
see that are hidden in the shadows. But the team,
you know, the level of detail that we brought to
those sets. Every Square into the back lot and Riddler's apartment.
(11:28):
You know, I mean they we went so deep. Any
book you opened, you know, it was fully relevant to
his past. So I think, yeah, we try. As a designer,
you try and just you know, catalog the world and
and bring those feelings back to the film. It's a
great talking to you. James really appreciate it too, Thanks Mike,
Thank you. Up next, we'll talk to you Charlie and
(11:51):
Max Carver, who are twin brothers and they play these
two guards at the Iceberg Lounge. And here's just a
little bit of their scene and interaction with Robert Pattinson
as the Batman. Yeah, I want to see the penguin.
I don't know what you're talking about. POW's problem as
(12:12):
he wants to see the penguin. Penguin, Penguin, That's what
I tried to tell him. Get out of your freak, Dammy,
that little suit is gonna get all full of blood.
So I want to know what it's like to take
a beating from Robert Pattinson, what kind of work goes
into that. So here we go. Let's talk to Charlie
and Max carb How are you guys, How are you
(12:36):
great to talk to you guys today. I am such
a huge fan of your work and The Batman. I
think the movie is a masterpiece, and you guys play
the guards at the Iceberg Lounge, and I found that
your characters are the only ones really I get to
see Robert Pattinson as both the Batman and also as
Bruce Wayne. So what is this How is this energy
(12:57):
different when you see him in those two different roles.
It's It's funny. I remember reading the script and and
thinking of the traditional Bruce Wayne as I was reading it,
like this billionaire playboy out there doing all this stuff.
And I remember on the day when we're shooting the
moment where where Bruce comes up to the club, mapp
being like, no, he's no one's seen him. He's a recluse,
(13:19):
and and just being like what. It was such a
different interpretation, and I quite frankly I loved it of
of this wounded kid who's who's got so much trauma
um trying to find a way to to maybe overcome
that and not look at it. And what I thought
(13:39):
it was so special about this film is even when
when rob was had transformed into the Batman and his vengeance.
You can see in his eyes and every single scene
he's still carrying that pain from his childhood. And it's
what it's what makes this movie sing to me is
that there's a vulnerability to Batman that I don't remember
(13:59):
seeing an and and the contrast between the two energetically,
it's absolutely captured on film. But when when we'll start
with Bruce, when when Rob walks up and he's Bruce Wayne,
you know, it was this different kind of reclusive withdrawn
thing that was so interesting to respond to. And then
(14:20):
when when he came to the door as the Batman,
I mean we'd rehearsed stuff with the stunt team for
for weeks, you know, kind of preparing for some of
these bigger action sequences, and Rob was precise but so
ferocious compared to what we do. Even to be rehearsing
it was, I mean, you see it, he's just this
you know, kind of piston or what have you. Um
(14:40):
it was. It's it's really nice to see the final
product and to get to see that contrast on camera
because shooting it you definitely felt it. So what is
that rehearsal like Because in the movie, you both take
a punch to the face, Like, how does that end
up looking believable? Well, we we actually got punched in
the face, actually got played. I was gonna say that
would be amazing because it looks so real. Yeah. Yeah,
(15:02):
it's all about the snap. Quite frankly, you gotta sell it.
It's a snap and the sound and really not just
working on that rehearsal of those specific moves because they
might change on the day, but working with the stunt
team for weeks to do martial arts, to get those
movements right, to be ready to kind of do anything
because you might change your mind on the day about
(15:24):
what you want to shoot or how you want it
to read, and to just get this really enough confidence
to have a sense of connection while it's happening, because
it might be it'll change, you know. One take might
be like bah bah bah, another one might be really quick,
and it's just about being with what's in front of
you and having enough experience on your belt hopefully to
(15:45):
to just work with it um because it's it's kind
of almost like a really violent dance. But if Matt
Reeves came to you both and said I'm gonna need
you to take a punch to the face, for the
scene to make it look totally believable. What do you
always said? Yes, absolutely, so he's been analynced as coming
back for the sequel, Robert Pattinson's coming back. Will your
characters be returning? Oh? I wish I could answer that question,
(16:08):
but I'm under legal obligations to say nothing on the topic.
Could you say anything whenever you found out you got
the role, like, just to each other? Was at it
pretty much just to each other. Certainly not to our
mom because he loves to keep a secret, and no
she doesn't. Certainly would have gotten out. Um. Yeah, we
kept it to ourselves at a certain point. We were
in London for so long that we kind of had
(16:30):
to acknowledge that we were filming something. But it was
fun to keep secret, uh, and then really fun to
have it be out in theaters and have you know,
lots of old friends be like, oh my god, well,
I appreciate the time and hopefully see you in the
next one. All right, thank you. So I always have
to ask what you're working on next, not that I
(16:50):
expect them to actually tell me, like, oh, well, I'm
working on the Batman too right now. And this is
the process we're in. I know they can't say that stuff,
but if I had to speculate from the interns they
gave in response to that, much like Matt Reeves is
back on as director, much like Robert Pattinson is coming back,
and how these movies have to be so secretive of
not letting anybody know what they're working on. I would
(17:13):
just speculate that not only are they coming back, but
they're already starting some pre production on this, or at
least getting the juices flowing, because even seeing interviews after
was Robert Pattinson like he knew he had that role
back when he was filming Tenant. And if they're already
making announcements about the director and the cast, I feel
like that's already in the works, but they just can't
say anything. So totally respect that, but hoping they do return,
(17:36):
because I would love to talk to him again, and
I would really just like to become friends with James
so that maybe someday I could also live out my
dream of driving the Batmobile. I'm gonna get into a
movie review now. Let's talk about Senior Year, which is
available on Netflix, and my wife Kelsey is joining me
(17:56):
for this review. How are you. I feel like this
was a little bit more of your style of movie,
would you agree? Yes. I watched the trailer like a
month ago and I was like, we've got to watch
so I don't even need to play the trailer here.
But it's about Rebel Wilson's character, who she is seventeen
years old at the beginning of the movie. Her life
in high school isn't going the way she wants, so
she sets out to become the most popular girl in school,
(18:19):
becomes the captain of the cheerleader team, gets the boyfriend
of her dreams, and thinks everything's gonna be great. And
then they're having like a pep rally, right, and they
throw her up in the air. She hits the ground
and wakes up twenty years later at thirty seven years old,
and then she tries to go back to high school
to achieve that dream of becoming prom queen. I thought
(18:42):
the premise was pretty good. I mean, it was nothing original.
It's kind of like seventeen Again with Matthew Perry sat Affron.
But I think anything Rebel Wilson does is pretty funny,
and it was funny to see the actress who played
her younger version of herself kind of like emulate her. Yeah,
Like at the beginning we were even like, wow, like
(19:02):
the younger her feels like she's trying to be like rebel.
Wills picked up on her mannerisms and just the way
she kind of just the comedic style in general also
kind of reminded me of like the Adam Project with
the kid who plays a younger Ryan Reynolds also kind
of acted and talked like him. But did you think
it was funny? It wasn't not funny. That's how I
(19:24):
feel about it. It It wasn't hilarious, and I thought it
was gonna be around here because it's rated. Are are? Yeah,
I guess it's more for the language. Early on, I
felt like it was kind of the same joke over
and over about like all the two thousands references and
her not getting you know, everything going on now. So
it wasn't like laugh out loud funny, but it was
(19:44):
pretty entertaining and it's kind of like a throwback to
a two thousands movie. But like you said, nothing super original. Yeah,
it kind of felt like in the genre of like
she's all that, Like it tried to be like an
early two thousand's common kind of I think. The thing
it did make me think about if you were to
go back to high school your senior year, what kind
(20:07):
of student were you? Because she was head of the
cheerleading team. She was like that most popular girl. If
you went back to high school as an adult, what
role would you be going back into extreme nerd? Yeah,
I was the president of the math club my senior year.
How does one become president of the math club? I
think I was the only one that ran looked great
on my resume. You would compete, now, we would. We
(20:31):
would take these like once a month like test after school,
but anything that you got right was like extra credit
towards your like actual math class. And I was in
calculus a year, so I was like, great, give me
any extra credit please. I have this reoccurring dream that
I'm always back in high school. I think I probably
have it like once every couple of months, and I
(20:52):
always go back. It's always the same dream of me
being there and never graduating and being credit short, so
I go back as an adult unchbox. Basically, I always
had this this thing going on. I don't know what
it means, but for me, I didn't look I never
got bullied in high school. I just didn't have any
friends in high school. I didn't have great friends until
(21:13):
second semester of my senior year, and one of them
i'm like still friends with to this day. Because one
of my best friends from freshman year moved our sophomore year.
And then I had another really good friend, but she
ran across country and I was always busy, so I
don't really have like a ton of friends. I was
pretty much a loser sam like not like a loser.
Like I had friends. I wasn't like the nerdy cool.
(21:36):
I feel like like I was a cool nerd. Maybe
I guess I was kind of a I don't think
I was a cool nerd though, I just had no friends.
I didn't talk, so no one talked to me. I
don't feel like anybody, at least in high school didn't
like me. They just I felt like I didn't exist.
And even the sole quote unquote friends I did have,
(21:56):
like I was in a in a band when I
was in high school with other you of seniors, and
even then they wouldn't really hang out with me, like
at school, like I ate lunch a lot, and I
think it was more early on in school where I
got bullied, and then I think I just kind of
recessed into like this, don't talk to anybody, don't mess
with anybody, because I didn't want to get bullied again.
(22:17):
But if I went back to high school, I guess
I would just be basically what I am now. Also
in this movie, it's kind of that contrast, which kind
of reminded me of twenty one Jump Street when they
go back to high school and they're like, oh, everything's
changed now, like high school students are nice and they
got rid of the prom queen prom king, so they
have to reinstate it did you even go to You
(22:40):
went to prom? Right? Is it? Would you have regretted it?
Looking back if you didn't go, I think I would
have regretted not spending that night with my friends. But
our problem is nothing special. I don't regret not going.
I mean, I don't think you missed anything. It didn't
seem fun to me, like I didn't want to go
hang out and not dance with anybody and kind of
(23:00):
being in the corner of the whole time. I don't
regret it at all. So would you recommend this movie
if somebody is into looking for a nice comedy. Overall,
I would recommend this movie if you just kind of
want something lighthearted. You don't really have to pay attention
in two. You're just wanting to turn the TV on
and sit down and probably scroll your phone. And the
(23:21):
soundtrack is good. It's well, it's all two thousand songs,
that's right. That I felt like that was the most
the thing I enjoyed the most of because I remember
they played saleav by Bewitch and I started bopping along
to that. The nerd and me did find the inconsistencies though,
because if she was in a coma in two thousand
and two, a lot of those songs they played that
(23:41):
you reference were like two thousand three is two thousand
four if you're being specific here. That that was my
great tea on the movie. But I thought it was entertaining.
I thought it was gonna be funnier. But I did
like the kind of nostalgia aspect of looking back at
the two thousand's that way, I just feel like the
movie I want to see is not like, here's all
(24:01):
these references that you remember. I just want like a
two thousands movie to be made in two kind of
like Turning Red, was it was just in the two thousand's.
It wasn't referencing everything. It was just kind of like
people living in that time. I think it's time for
that now. I kind of have more of a grasp
of what like pop culture was then fashion. I think
(24:22):
we all kind of look back at those songs and
can kind of put a place to where we were.
And also it brings us back to a good time.
So I think that's why some people would watch and
enjoy this movie. I mean, the fashion from the early
two thousands of six sixthical and it's coming back, so
we're just we're kind of reliving in early two thousands,
were at that marketing then if it's back together are back.
(24:42):
I mean it's kind of two thousand two again. I mean, yeah,
EMO is as popular now. I feel like that it
was back then, which was weird going back to talking
about high school, it wasn't really cool to be in
the EMO. This is Mike's therapy session. Yes, I think
that's what I got made fun of the most, was
like wearing all black and people making fun of the
music I listened to. You did also have a chain
(25:03):
wallet from Hot Topic? Yes, okay, my embracelets and studded belts.
I'm not going to say I would have made fun
of you, but I can kind of see. But now
I feel like all that stuff is cool again, and
it's cool to be proud of liking that type of music.
Back then I didn't feel that. And also a lot
of those bands that people talk about now is being
(25:23):
like their favorites, like my Chemical Romance and Paramore. It's
just cool to like those bands now. It wasn't back then.
You got made fun of her liking that kind of music.
Can I tell the story about Paramore not being one
of your favorite band? Yeah? I have a here where
we do this podcast. I have a sign poster a
Paramore and they got announced for the A c L
(25:44):
lineup and the band I was most excited about was
not them? What Phoenix? And I came in your office
and I was like, I'm surprised you weren't more excited
for Paramore and you can go, well, I mean, Paramore
is not really one of my favorite bands. And I
just turned around. But let me tell you what else
he has on this wall. So it's a sign Simpson's script,
a signed Childish campaign, a letter, a signed Green Day drumhead, Drumhead,
(26:07):
and then Paramore, so all of your other favorite things,
so one would assume. And then also on that while
you have a flag like from one of your Lauren's
arms favorite bands, so one would assume that's like the
wall of favorites, although I'm not on there, so maybe
I shouldn't have assumed you're on the desk though, But
I pointed to it and I was like, then, what's
the signed poster for the story behind I do like Paramore,
(26:27):
I'm not super into all their albums. I'm kind of
a poser family because I only like basically their singles
in their hits. I don't think I could go to
a Paramore concert and enjoy the entire thing. But I
got that poster because they were in the radio station.
They did an interview on the pop station. I tried
to get a picture with them and they were like,
now they're in and out. I couldn't do it, but
(26:48):
here's a sign poster. So I also at one point
debated whether I even kept that thing or not, and
I think it's kind of cool put it up on
the wall. That is the origin on that poster. I
do realed this podcast. Sorry, it's all good. If Yeah,
if you're looking for something an easy watch with some popcorn,
little nostalgia worth it. Otherwise you could probably skip it.
(27:10):
But if you had to give it a rating, what
would you give three point two five out of five calculators,
I'd probably go three out of five Juicy gutur sweat
pants combo is what it was called, sweatsuits like juicy
across the butt. Yes, I would give it that, And
that is what we think about Senior Year. Now it's
(27:35):
time for the part of the podcast where I break
down a movie trailer of a film coming to you
very soon in theaters or streaming, in a segment we
call It's time to head down to movie. Mike and
I talked about it a couple of weeks ago when
it was revealed at cinemacom the first look at the
new Avatar movie, and I haven't been that excited about it.
(27:59):
I did rewatch Avatar in preparation for this. I don't
know what I'm getting prepared for this movie, but I
felt the need to and it was just sitting there
on Disney Plus, so I decided to watch it. And
I gotta say, now I'm a little bit more excited
for this movie. But before I get into all that,
here's just a little bit at the look of the
new Avatar trailer, which is called The Way of the Water,
(28:20):
and it's coming out on December sixte I don't know
one thing. Wherever we go, this family, it's our fortress.
So it's crazy to me that after thirteen years, it
still looks relatively the same. I don't know what I
(28:41):
was expecting, like them to create an entirely new world.
It still feels very much like Pandora, but the characters
look a little bit more crisp, and I feel like
the movie is starting to make a little bit more
sense now. And I think the reason I didn't love
Avatar as much as maybe everybody else did, or as
much as people hyped it up to be, is while
the visuals are amazing, I felt like the story was
(29:04):
a little bit boring. And even as I watched it
back on Disney Plus, I realized that I'm watching that movie.
It's undeniable, that it is a really great achievement in cinema,
and James Cameron knows how to create a blockbuster, and
that's what Avatar is. It's the highest grossing movie of
all time, at two point eight billion dollars and actually
(29:25):
beat out of injuries in game after it was re
released in theaters in China last year. So I feel
like it's just always going to be the highest grossing movie.
Do I think Avatar The Way of the Water will be?
Probably not, but it's still going to make a lot
of money. But after watching this trailer, I feel like
this movie will have the better story you don't have.
(29:46):
I just felt like there was nothing original about the
first movie of this outsider coming trying to be like
one of their own, and then the bad guys coming
and then like, oh, we didn't trust it the entire time,
Like that's what Avatar was. It was essentially Dances with
Wolves but with blue people. And I think when you
take away that spectacle of seeing Pandora for the first time,
(30:08):
you take away that three D. The only thing I
still really enjoy about that movie is the final battle
scene when it is the characters an Avatar and also
the real life humans, and that's just a really fun
fight scene. I felt like that was the best moment
of that movie. I could have fallen asleep about halfway through,
woken up at that and been fine. So that movie
is a boastful two hours and forty two minutes, and
(30:31):
there's still no official runtime on what the sequel will be,
but it's rumored to be around that same mark. Two
and a half hours to three hours is what we're
expecting here, and that's just what James Cameron does. I mean,
the Titanic is three hours in fourteen minutes, but I
don't think we really remember that. I remember the two
VHS tapes, but I just wonder if audiences will be
as excited to go back to the theaters thirteen years
(30:53):
later and sit down and watch this for three hours.
And I don't want to sound like a James Cameron
back sure, which is what I've been accused of before
on this podcast. I just feel like when it comes
to my favorite directors, I can always tell their work
by seeing their voice through the movie, whether it be
the editing technique, the casting, the storytelling, the writing, the dialogue.
(31:18):
To me, there's just something important about watching something and
knowing pretty quickly like who made this because of the style,
whether it be Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg,
Zack Snyder, like they all just have a distinct style.
When I watch to James Cameron movie, I don't really
feel that. I think his style is just making a
(31:39):
blockbuster that makes a lot of money, so I think
that's it. He's just in the business of stacking mountains
of cash. But again, that comes out this year on December,
and they shot Avatar two in and at the same
time they shot Avatar three, which is coming out in
and then Avatar four is coming to six and Abatar
(32:02):
five is scheduled to come out on December. So I
hope we are all ready for this this weeks edition.
And that's gonna wrap it up for another week of
the podcast. And before I hop out of here, what
I do every single week, let's give the listener shout out,
(32:23):
whether it be an email movie Mike d at gmail
dot com, a d M, a tweet, or a comment
over on the Facebook page. And that's where I'm going today.
Every single week you can find the podcast actually posted
there if you're somebody who happens to listen to podcast
on Facebook. At least for now, I know they're gonna
take it away pretty soon, but you can do that there.
And this is a comment on last week's episode from
(32:45):
Woody Boyd Wood, He writes, listening at four am kind
of late for me, but I finally remember to screenshot
me listening to this and decided to post it. Have
a swell Monday, so appreciate that. What do you here
is your shout out for being a very early or
late listener as you put it, Happy to have you
as a part of the Monday Morning Movie crew. And also,
(33:05):
if you enjoyed this week's interview, go over to my
Instagram or TikTok at Mike Destro, or you can find
the links in the description of this episode and leave
a comment let me know what you thought. Or if
you don't want to write any words, just leave some
lightning bolts the lightning bolt emoji. I'll go like all
those comments, have a great rest of your week. I'll
(33:25):
talk to you next time, but until then, go out
and watch good movies. Later
Host
Mike D
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