Discerning Geeks Portal

It took a little while for both guys to see it and then to record about it, but Preston & Todd finally review the new "Superman" movie. - Did the Geeks think this movie got the tone for Superman correct, especially when compared to the Superman interpretation in the DCEU? - Do the Geeks feel like Perry White & Jimmy Olsen know that Clark Kent is Superman, or is the hint in the movie only about them knowing Lois Lane has a thing with Superman, or is it left ambiguous either way? - Did the Geeks like the portrayals of Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, and all the support characters? - In what ways did Lois Lane remind Todd of women he's worked with before? - What were the Geeks' favorite things plus nitpicks about the scene where Lois interviews Clark on the record as Superman? - What possible connections was Todd able to make between Clark's abilities as a reporter, his relationship with Lois, and the possibility that Perry knew he's Superman? - Did Preston feel this movie's version of Lex Luthor was authentic to the comics, and what comparisons did Preston make between Lex and real-life people today? - What similar complaint about Lex Luthor in this movie did talk have about the villain in "Fantastic Four: First Steps"? - Did the Geeks like the Justice Gang? - What were the Geeks' favorite things & nitpicks about Krypto the dog? - Were Clark's parents portrayed as "too country" or "bumpkiny," or were they just right? - What did the Geeks feel about the twist with Clark's Kryptonian parents, and what comparisons did Preston make to Omniman from the "Invincible" comics & cartoon? - Was Jimmy Olsen successful as comic relief, or was his treatment of women problematic, or are both true simultaneously? - Does it seem like Eve Teschmacher is in another movie, and is it left too ambiguous whether she was smart all along or only smart when it really mattered? - Was the classic "Superman" theme used the right amount in this movie? - How important was it to the Geeks that this movie is bright & colorful? - How much of a prude is Todd for feeling like there's too much profanity in this movie? - Was this a good start to the DCU, and is James Gunn the right person to be leading the franchise? - And, what direction do the Geeks want the next DCU movies to go next?Listen now for the answers to these and other super questions as we fly high with "Superman."Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave comments on individual episodes via the Spotify and Goodpods apps. Our e-mail is discerninggeeks@gmail.com.Royalty-free music in this episode comes from Pixabay.com.

Preston & Todd review one of the most anticipated movies of the 2025 summer season, "Fantastic Four: First Steps."Was F4:FS a hit for dynamic duo of movie reviews? Did they both love it? Did one Geek like it more? Was Galactus done well? Did the Fantastic Four themselves have satisfying family chemistry? Were the visuals amazing? Listen now to find out.You can e-mail us at discerninggeeks@gmail.com. Please review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave reviews or comments on individual episodes via Spotify or the Goodpods app.Royalty-free music used in this episode came from Pixabay.com.

Todd & Preston conclude their mid-year review focusing on the following TV shows from the 2nd half of 2025. - 9-1-1  (ABC / Hulu) - Am I the A-Hole (Smosh YouTube Channel) - Andor  (Disney+) - Common Side Effects  (Cartoon Network - Adult Swim) - Daredevil: Born Again  (Disney+) - Doc  (Fox / Hulu) - Doctor Who  (Disney+) - Ghosts  (CBS / Paramount+) - Hacks  (HBO / Max) - Harper’s Island - High Potential  (ABC / Hulu) - Ironheart  (Disney+) - Paradise  (Hulu) - Pulse  (Netflix) - Sister Wives  (TLC / Hulu / Max) - Snowflake Mountain  (Netflix) - The Last Of Us  (HBO / Max) - The Pitt  (Max) - The Residence  (Netflix) - The Righteous Gemstones  (HBO / Max) - The Rookie  (ABC / Hulu) - WWEListen now to find out which 2025 shows (and a handful of older shows just now seen by one of the Geeks in 2025) were amazing, disappointing, or somewhere in between.Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also leave comments on the Spotify or GoodPods apps. Our e-mail is discerninggeeks@gmail.com.Intro & outro songs for this episode were created by AI at tad.ai.

Join Preston & Todd as they recap the first half of 2025. In Part 1 of this two-parter, they cover movies they've seen from January to June of 2025. Granted, they didn't see a lot of new 2025 movies, so some of their picks are older movies that they just saw for the first time this year.In this episode, the Geeks cover... - Captain America: Brave New World - Minecraft - Thunderbolts* - In a Violent Nature - Dark Match - Mister Majestic - In the Land of Saints and Sinners - Absolution - A Whisker Away - Zootopia - Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3Near the end, Preston gives a shout out to Ozzy Osborne upon the music star's final concert, and the Geeks talk about summer movies they were looking forward to. Full disclosure, this episode was recorded a while back, so it was just a few weeks before Ozzy Osborne passed away and before Preston and/or Todd actually got to see some of the summer movies they talked about here.Stay tuned for Part 2 of this discussion where the Geeks focus on TV shows from the first half of 2025. The episode after that will be a review of "Fantastic Four: First Steps," which Preston & Todd saw together. And, in that same episode, Todd will also have spoiler-free mini-reviews of "Superman" and "Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning."You can send us a message at discerninggeeks@gmail.com or leave a comment on individual episodes at Spotify or the GoodPods app. Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts.Royalty-free music used in this episode came from Pixabay.com.And, Todd tried something new with the intro & outro. Custom AI-generated jingles were created for free (trial points), at https://tad.ai/ai-music-generator.

In this trip back to the 1990s, the Geeks investigate two "Batman: The Animated Series" episodes, "Almost Got 'Im" and "Baby-Doll." These are two episodes chosen by Preston for Todd to sample. - "Almost Got 'Im" is an episode where a handful of Gotham City's biggest villains play poker & reminisce about times that they almost defeated Batman. What did the Geeks think about the villains' elaborate & questionable methods? - Where did the giant penny in the Batcave come from? - What big twists, from both episodes, did the Geeks refrain from completely revealing in their review? - Was a scene between Catwoman and Harley Quinn significant enough that the Bechdel Test would apply, and if so, did the scene pass or fail? - What did Todd think about Baby-Doll, the main villain in the 2nd episode reviewed? - What deeper meanings & social commentary did Preston appreciate and/or relate to, from the "Baby-Doll" episode? - How much, if at all, does Baby-Doll deserve some sympathy, despite her villainous actions? - Was Baby-Doll's plan smart...or not? - And, why did Preston choose these two particular episodes to review?Listen now for the answers to these and other vigilant questions as the Geeks investigate "Batman: The Animated Series."You can send us a message at discerninggeeks@gmail.com or leave a comment on episodes at podcast listening apps like Spotify and GoodPods. Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts.Royalty-free music used in this episode came from FreePD.com.

This week, the Geeks review the original 1987 cybernetic law enforcement movie, "Robocop." I'd buy that for a dollar...but, you get to listen for free. - This was one of the picks still remaining from our dearly departed Dave Teague. When asked why he might have chosen this movie for the list, one Geek had an immediate answer. What did he say? - What did the Geeks have to say early in the review about the lack of sexual content in the movie and the questionable depiction of police procedures (or lack thereof)? - Which four G-words were used to describe the tone of the movie? - What were the good & bad aspects of the #Robocop predecessor ED-209 -- including the visual effects & sounds effects used to bring it to life? - What issues did one Geek have with the misguided ED-209 demonstration and the apparent lack of proper testing before such a potentially lethal demo? - How many aspects of the first couple minutes of the movie did one Geek find very distracting? - How much did the Geeks like the Robocop armor, gun, and gadgets? - What are some of the differences between the 1987 original and the 2014 remake. - What did the Geeks feel this franchise asks about humanity and how much of a person's body and/or life experiences need to remain intact for the remnants to still be human? - Preston wondered how well (or not) Todd handled the violence & gore in the movie. Did Todd do okay with it? - How did one Geek find a way of comparing Robocop to westerns? - What nitpick did one Geek have regarding cleanliness vs. dirtiness of Old Detroit? - What did the Geeks feel about the Anne Lewis character, especially her loyalty and role as a sidekick. - How does this movie compare to a Harlan Ellison story, with enough similarities that Ellison sued? And, how did this lead to an obligatory JMS / #Babylon5 reference? - What did one listener have to say, via e-mail, about our political themed episode from November 2024? How many movies & TV shows featured in that episode clearly leaned left, might have leaned right, or seemed to be intentionally ambiguous? - In older feedback, via episode comments that Todd missed earlier, what did one listener have to say about our #Ghostbusters, #Shazam, and #WonderWoman episodes?Listen now to find out the answers to these and other arresting questions as we try to stay on the good side of..."Robocop."You can send an e-mail to discerninggeeks@gmail.com. You can leave a review or comment on individual episodes via the Spotify or GoodPods apps. Please review us wherever you listen to podcasts.Royalty-free music used in this episode came from Pixabay.com and FreePD.com.

Better late than never. Right? Maybe? This special time-capsule episode is a Todd & Preston's Drive-Time Chat from October 2024 that was held back, first to make room for other time-sensitive episodes...and then forgotten. But, it's finally here.Take a trip back in time to hear Preston & Todd discuss the following movies & TV shows... - "Transformers One" - "Borderlands" - "IF" - "Inside Out 2" - "Lord of Rings: Rings of Power" season 2 - "The Ark" season 2 - Preston's "Mystery Science Theater 3000" rewatch - Todd's binge of "Hacks" seasons 1 to 3 (and his current-time update on the recently completed season 4) - Preston's "King of the Hill" rewatch - "High Potential" season 1 - "Killer Cakes" - "9-1-1" season 8 - Preston's Wrestling Corner - "Sister Wives" (no, seriously) - Preston's "Psych" rewatchListen now to enjoy these topics and more.Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can add comments directly to specific episodes via Spotify and GoodPods.Royalty-free music used in this episode come from Pixabay.com and FreePD.com.

In this episode, we review "Real Genius" (1985), the 2nd feature film in the long career of Val Kilmer (b. 1959, d. 2025). Recorded on 22 June 2024, this is a "time capsule" episode. - Which Geek was the most excited about reviewing this movie? - Which Geek was the most...confounded(?)...by the movie? - Which science classes did the Geeks take in college? Which Geek(s) took only one science for general requirements, and which Geek(s) almost added a minor in a science? - Which Geek had to rent this movie twice? - Which hyperbolic phrase did one Geek resurrect to describe this movie? - What commentary did the Geeks have about higher education, 1980s history, 1980s technology, dumb people, smart people, the TV show "Big Bang Theory," social intelligence, political correctness, ethics, and holding the door open for other people? - Which character in the movie led to a discussion about possible autism in fictional characters vs. quirkiness or eccentricities written into character personalities? - Which Geek immediately dropped a philosophy class in college when the professor openly (and probably unethically & illegally) claimed that religious students would almost certainly fail the class? - And, how did discussion about this movie lead to mentions of "Animal House," "Revenge of the Nerd," and "PCU"?Listen now for the answers to these and other academic questions as we study..."Real Genius."E-Mail: discerninggeeks@gmail.comPlease rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. On Spotify and GoodPods apps, you grade and/or comment on individual episodes.Royalty-free music in this episode came from Pixabay.com and FreeMusicArchive.org.

We hope you enjoyed the "Thunderbolts*" review from episode #189. During that recording we also talked about summer movie trailers, classic episodes of this podcast, the 1980s horror-comedy "Killer Klowns From Outer Space," the Oscar-winning "Anora" (and what Todd thought about it; can you guess whether he liked it or not?), and more. The recording lasted over two hours, the post-review discussion was split off into this...its own separate episode.The five movie trailers we discussed were the following... - Predator: Badlands - Tron: Ares - Jurassic World Rebirth - Mission: Impossible -- The Final Reckoning - The Fantastic Four: First StepsWe talked about "Killer Klowns From Outer Space," for which Ryan Gosling is producing a remake. You can listen to our review of "Killer Klowns" in episode #020 or as part of #110.You can contact us via discerninggeeks@gmail.com, or you can leave a comment on individual episodes via the Spotify or GoodPods apps. Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts.Royalty-free music used in this episode came from Pixabay.com.

The Geeks have their first review from summer 2025, the new MCU movie, "Thunderbolts*." - How do the Geeks feel about the use of prevalence of guns in a Marvel movie? - What real-life politician did Preston relate to Julia Louis-Dreyfus's character in the movie? - Was this movie too drab, and how much could that be the fault of the projector in the theater where the Geeks saw the movie? - Did Preston correctly predict's Todd's rating? - In the Spoiler Zone, what did the Geeks think about the explanation for the asterisk in the name of the movie? - How does this team stack up against previous MCU teams, and is it acceptable and maybe intentional that this group is more in the misfit category? - Who did the Geeks speculate could be on an Avengers team in one of the upcoming movies? - What did the Geeks think about the villain of the movie? - How did Bucky show up suddenly during the desert chase scene? - And, what else did the Geeks talk about enough that it will have to continue in a separate post-review episode coming soon?Listen now for the answers to these and other booming questions as we weather the storm of..."Thunderbolts*."Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can comment directly on individual episodes via Spotify and the GoodPods app. And, you can e-mail us at discerninggeeks@gmail.com.Royalty-free music used in this episode came from Pixabay.com

We're back with a review of a classic movie, "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory." Sure, it's gotten another adaptation and a prequel, but this is the original 1971 version starring Gene Wilder. - Is Willy Wonka benevolent & eccentric or a psychotic child-murderer? Do the Geeks have an answer to the question, or is the movie successfully ambivalent on the matter? - What extreme impression did one of the Geeks get about one of the five golden ticket winners in the movie? - What did the Geeks think about the Oompa Loompas and the actors playing them? - Why does Grandpa Joe have a dedicated hate group against him online? - Did one of the Geeks have any favorite songs in the movie? - What are the different interpretations of what Snozzberries refer to? - Which American food company helped finance this film, why, and what product associated with the marketing...failed. - What's up with Hershey's chocolate? - Which Geek is convinced that four of the children in this movie were killed by the chocolate factory? - Does this movie have a good message in the end, or is it undercut by the mere possibility that Willy Wonka is a psychotic child murder? - Is the Golden Ticket contest rigged? Which Geek things so & why? - What mistake was one Geek making when remembering something about the setting of the movie? - What great things did one Geek have to say about Gene Wilder? - Which Geek was annoyed by the way Charlie Bucket's teacher was teaching fractions...badly? - What kind of candy-making trivia does one Geek convey? - Is the ending a good thing? Should we take the gift at face value? Or, if Willy Wonka is a child-killer, is he just trying to dump evidence? - And, what very different grades did the Geeks give this movie?Listen now for the answers to these and other sugary, flavorful, fizzy questions, as the Geeks present their Golden Tickets and hope to survive..."Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory."You can contact us at discerninggeeks@gmail.com. Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can give ratings or comments on individual episodes via the Spotify and Goodpods apps.Royalty-free music used in this episode came from Pixabay.com and FreePD.com.

The wait is over. It's time to reveal our top 8 picks! Preston & Todd complete the Favorite Female TV Characters countdown, highlighting standout women from space opera, fantasy, gritty dramas, comedies, animation, and more.The female characters in this episode include... - 3 military officers from sci-fi shows - 2 business owners from two very different kinds of shows - 2 housewives from two very different kinds of shows - 1 assassin - 1 bounty hunter - 1 cop - 1 diplomat - 1 lawyer - 1 government official - 1 time traveling doctor (but not The Doctor, with a capital D) - And, 1 villain.The shows they come from include... - 3 space operas - 3 very different fantasy shows (1 historical drama, 1 borderline-horror, 1 sword-&-sorcery) - 3 animated shows - 1 anthology drama - 1 dramedy - 1 lawyer show - And, 1 political drama.For just 15 characters spread out between two top 8 lists (Preston & Todd actually matched on one this time), that's a lot of variety.But, exactly which characters did they choose, from which shows, and in what order? And, which female TV characters got a mention, even if they weren't in the ranked lists? Listen now for the thrilling conclusion to the long overdue special topic, Favorite Female TV Characters.Between Parts 1 & 2, Preston & Todd ranked 39 female TV characters, and Todd listed a bunch of honorable mentions in post-show segments. But, we may have still missed some of your favorites. Do you have favorites of your own? Would you like us to follow up with a Part 3 to this topic? Let us know with an e-mail at discerninggeeks@gmail.com or in comments online via Facebook, BlueSky, Spotify, or the GoodPods app. And, if you like this topic or others from our 186 episodes (!?!), please leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts.Royalty-free music used in this episode came from Pixabay.com.

From brilliant scientists and fearless leaders to quirky oddballs and animated icons, television has given us some unforgettable female characters. In this episode, Preston & Todd kick off a two-part countdown of their all-time Favorite Female TV Characters, revealing ranks 20 through 09.Way back in episodes #037 & #039, the Geeks listed their Favorite Sci-Fi TV Characters.  Many of our favorite shows are dominated by male characters, so we realized that too many excellent female characters were missing from the conversation.  An episode dedicated to amazing fictional women has been on the list for years, and our randomizer finally landed on it.You’ll have to listen to know our exact picks, but here are a few stats from just this episode… - 7 characters from spaceship-based shows - 7 characters are doctors, scientists, mechanics, or androids - 5 characters from animated shows - 5 characters with a number, a day of the week, or the word “river” in their name - 3 from DC live action or animated shows - 3 from “The Munsters” and/or “The Addams Family” - 2 from “Firefly” - 2 from the “Stargate” franchise - 2 are Batman villains - 2 from time travel shows - 2 from police procedurals…And, that’s just the multiples, not including the one-offs.  Following the outro, Todd also lists over 20 of his honorable mentions.Who made the lists?  Were there are any commonalities between Todd’s & Preston’s lists?  Why were these fictional women so amazing?  Listen now to find out.And, with characters this great, who’s left for ranks 08 to 01?  For that, stay tuned for Part 2 coming soon.Who would make your list of strong, smart, funny, quirky, resourceful, and lovable female TV characters?  You can send us an e-mail at discerninggeeks@gmail.com or find us on Facebook or BlueSky.Royalty-free music used in this episode comes from Pixabay.com.

Continuing with the 2024 Year In Review, the Geeks list and rate their favorite TV seasons of 2024. There's also a little bit about music, wrestling, and books.The TV shows covered in this episode include:ABC / Hulu - 9-1-1  (seasons 7 & 8) - High Potential  (season 1) - The Rookie  (season 6)Amazon Prime - Batman: Caped Crusader  (season 1) - Fallout  (season 1) - Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power  (season 2 of 5 - really?!?!?)Apple TV+ - Monarch: Legacy of Monsters  (season 1)Disney+ - Agatha All Along  (season 1???) - Doctor Who  (season 14 a.k.a. “1”) - Star Wars: Skeleton Crew  (season 1???) - Star Wars: The Acolyte  (only season) - What If…?  (season 3 - final) - X-Men ‘97  (season 1)FX and/or FX on Hulu - Shogun  (season 1) - The Bear  (season 3)HBO and/or Max - Creature Commandos  (season 1) - Hacks  (season 3) - The Penguin  (season 1)Netflix - A Man On The Inside  (season 1) - The Diplomat  (season 2)Paramount+ - Star Trek: Discovery  (season 5 - final)Shudder - The Last Drive-In With Joe Bob Briggs  (season 6)Starz - Outlander  (season 7.5 of 8)Syfy - Resident Alien  (season 3; upcoming season 4 moving to USA Network) - The Ark  (season 2)The CW - Superman & Lois  (season 4 - final)TLC / Hulu / Max - Sister Wives  (season 19!?!?!)But, which ones were good, and which ones were disappointing? How many shows did both Todd & Preston watch? What were Todd's & Preston's top 2 or 3 favorite TV shows of the year, and was there any overlap? What did the Geeks have to say about music, wrestling, books, or any other entertainment in 2024?Listen now for the answers to these and other discerning and reminiscing questions, as the Geeks finish up their 2024 Year In Review.You can send us a message at discerninggeeks@gmail.com or a comment on Facebook, BlueSky, Spotify, or the Goodpods app. Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts.Royalty-free music used in this episode came from Pixabay.com.

Welcome to 2025, and thanks for returning to the Discerning Geeks Portal. In PART 1 of our two-part 2024 Year-In-Review, we take a look back at movies we've seen & even some movies we were only tempted to see & a few we were glad we did not see. Throughout the discussion, the following movies get at least a mention, if not a deeper dive... - Alien: Romulus - Atlas - Beetlejuice Beetlejuice - Borderlands - Challengers - Civil War - Deadpool & Wolverine - Dear Santa - Fly Me to the Moon - Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire - Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire - IF - Inside Out 2 - Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes - Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim - Madame Web - Megalopolis - Moana 2 - Oddity - Rare Exports - Transformers One - The Fall Guy - The Heretic - Twisters - Wicked - Will & Harper Which ones did Preston or Todd see? Which ones did they both see? Which ones did they like? Which ones did they skip? Which ones that Preston watched would have given Todd nightmares? Listen now for the answers to these and other cinematic questions as we look back at movies of 2024. Stay tuned for PART 2 where we review 2024 TV and other entertainment. You can e-mail us at discerninggeeks@gmail.com or join us on Bluesky. Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. Remember that you can rate individual episodes on Spotify and the Goodpods app, and you can leave comments per episode on Goodpods. Royalty-free music in this episode comes from Pixabay.com.

Finishing off the holiday season, we review the Christmas episodes of the TV show "Grimm": 3.08 "Twelve Days of Krampus" and 4.07 "The Grimm That Stole Christmas." Technically, we also briefly mention 1.07 "Let Your Hair Down," but that episode would barely be about Christmas at all if not for one single scene. - This episode starts with a tangent about the TV show "Farscape." What did the Geeks think about that show? - And, even after starting to talk about "Grimm," how did Todd work in his obligatory "Babylon 5" reference? - What extra lore was Preston able to provide about the Krampus mythology? - In the Krampus episode, what were the good & bad things about Monroe's obsession with over-the-top Christmas decorating & Rosalee's hesitation to celebrate Christmas? - What observation did both Geeks make about the holiday content vs. serial storytelling content in both these episodes? - What stats did Todd & Joanna provide to prove that "Grimm" had an expansive & impressive mythology, built gradually over six seasons? - What were some of the similarities & differences between season 3 & season 4 Christmas episodes? - How did the Geeks work in a science lesson, complete with a "Mr. Wizard's World" reference? - What head-canon did Preston help create to reconcile Todd's nitpick about the Kallikantzaroi behavior at the very beginning of the episode vs. the rest of the episode? - What great things did the Geeks have to say about actress Elizabeth "Bitsie" Tulloch from "Grimm" and "Superman & Lois" vs. their issues with the direction of her "Grimm" character later in the series (left vague; no spoilers)? What did Bitsie say on Bluesky in response to Todd's comment about the "Superman & Lois" series finale? - What culinary knowledge did Preston impart about making fruitcake properly -- despite the fact that we all know there's only one fruitcake in the world, and it just gets passed around from one person to another? - Are these episodes truly Christmas episodes, or just episodes happening to take place at Christmas? - And, can you tell the Geeks love the power couple of Monroe & Rosalee? Listen now for the answers to these and other dark fairy tale questions as the Geeks investigate..."Grimm" Christmas episodes. You can contact us at discerninggeeks@gmail.com or on Facebook, X, or Bluesky. Please rate or review us. You can rate individual episodes on Goodpods, and you can leave comments on individual episodes on Goodpods & Spotify. The Discerning Geeks Portal Podcast wishes you a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season, a very Merry Christmas, and a joyful & prosperous New Year. Royalty-free music used in the episode was obtained via Pixabay.com.

The movie doesn't have a sequel, but now the review does. We revisit the holiday classic, "The Muppet Christmas Carol." This time, Todd re-evaluates the movie with Preston, who wasn't with us the first time around, in episode #028 (check out that episode for the first version). - What examples did the Geeks have of Muppets being comforting, diplomatic, the theme of the best ride at Disney World, great music video makers, and being made for adults as much as for kids? - While still on tangents before diving into this movie, what did the guys think of the 2011 movie and 2015 TV show, both insufficiently titled "The Muppets"? - What did the guys think about the performance choices of Michael Caine ("My Cocaine") as Ebenezer Scrooge? - Did Todd have any nitpicks this time around? If not, is that the first time ever and possibly a sign of the apocalypse? - What were some of Preston's favorite parts? - While talking about Scrooge as a rich person, what calculation did Todd make about a billionaire's salary per minute (not per hour)? Is it ethical to be a billionaire? And, how did this lead to a joke-not-a-joke about Batman? - Do the Geeks think the ghosts haunting Scrooge were real or just a dream or hallucination? - What did the Geeks think about each individual song in the movie, and what were their favorite quotes? Listen now for the answers to these and other melodic questions as the Geeks sing the praises of..."The Muppet Christmas Carol." You can contact us by e-mail at discerninggeeks@gmail.com or by Facebook, X, and Bluesky. Please rate or review us. On the Goodpods app you can rate individual episodes, and you can leave comments on episodes at Spotify and on Goodpods. Please check out our previous Christmas-themed episodes. You can hear the full list at the 1:16:47 mark. There's still one more coming in 2024 before/by Christmas. The Discerning Geeks wishes everyone a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season. Royalty-free music used in this episode was obtained via Pixabay.com.

Merry Christmas! Next up in our Christmas movie reviews is "The Nightmare Before Christmas." - If the various holidays (each represented by a tree in this movie) each got their own movie and eventually crossed over to form the "Nightmare Before Holiday" Cinematic Universe, which holiday (or maybe day of the week) would be the antagonist? - Does this movie contain any deeper meanings, and what could those be? - How well developed (or not) is the relationship between Jack and Sally? What are the different theories online about Jack's emotions & motivations? - How is Danny Elfman's band, Oingo Boingo, relevant to this movie, and did Todd really have to add a boing sound effect every time Oingo Boingo is mentioned? - What information did Preston have about the re-release of this movie with a modern rock & heavy metal soundtrack? - What were the opinions about the songs in the movie? - What were the good & bad things about the antagonist, Oogie Boogie? - How well did the visual techniques in this 33-year-old movie hold up to today, and was any appreciation for the techniques distinct from opinions about the visual style? - How much trouble did Todd have giving this movie a score, and what were the mixed emotions involved? - And, as we've been asking with all our Christmas reviews this year (and some from previous years), is this truly a Christmas movie...or not? Listen now for the answers to these and other haunting questions as we contemplate..."The Nightmare Before Christmas." You can contact us at discerninggeeks@gmail.com. We are on Bluesky and Facebook, and we'd love for you to rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. On the Goodpods app, you can rate individuals episodes, and you can leave comments on individual episodes on both Spotify and Goodpods. Royalty-free music used in this episode comes from Pixabay.com.

Merry Christmas, and welcome to the last minute marathon of Christmas-related movie reviews for 2024. First up, we review "Iron Man 3." We reviewed "Iron Man" and "Iron Man 2" in episodes #011 & #099. This makes the 3rd trilogy that we've completed, having reviewed the "Back to the Future" trilogy in episodes #058, #065, and #088, and "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy in a two-parter, episodes #066 & #067. - Are the Geeks caught up on their vaccines, and how it that relevant? - What memories did the Geeks have about their times seeing "Iron Man 3" in the theater? - That did the Geeks think about the topic of Tony Stark being Iron Man, even without the armored suits? - What aspect of this movie was Todd probably too prudish about? - What did the Geeks think about the various armored suits, House Party Protocol, and Clean Slate Protocol? - Todd once heard a podcast where the hosts disliked the portrayal of Tony Stark's anxiety/PTSD in this movie. Did Todd or Preston agree or disagree? - How much did the Geeks like the pre-teen character, Harley Keener? - What quotes did the Geeks like in this movie, and what kind of trivia did they have to share? - Is this truly a Christmas movie, or is it just coincidence that it is set at Christmas? - The "twist" with the Mandarin is divisive. What did the Geeks think about it? - This whole movie can be divisive. How kind (or not) were the Geeks in their final ratings & rankings? - And, as a final tangent, how highly did Todd praise the final season & especially the very final episode of "Superman & Lois"? Listen now for the answers to these & other robotic questions as we suit up for..."Iron Man 3." You can send us a message at discerninggeeks@gmail.com. Check us out on Bluesky & Facebook (maybe X), and please give us a rating or review wherever you listen to podcasts. Remember, you can leave comments for individual episodes on Spotify and both 5-star ratings & comments on episodes via the Goodpods app. Merry Christmas, and stay tuned for...hopefully...three more Christmas-themed episodes coming soon (because time is running out). Royalty-free music in this episode comes from various artists at Pixabay.com.

We return to "The Simpsons," one of Preston's favorite shows, to review the "Treehouse of Horror" specials 05 to 08. Check out episodes #168 & #169 of our podcast for our two-part review of "Treehouse of Horror" 01 to 04. In this batch The stories, spoofs, and themes covered in these four episodes include:  "The Shining," time travel, cannibalism, giants, "Nightmare on Elm Street," "The Thing," microscopic societies, alien bodysnatchers, nuclear holocaust, "The Fly," Salem Witchcraft Trials, and alternate dimensions where everything is 1990s CGI. What did the Geeks think about the 12 stories across these four episodes? Which ones did they agree and disagree on. How much trivia did Preston have about the conceptualization and production of these episodes? Listen now to find out the answers to these and other horrifying questions, as the Geeks climb the ladder to the 5th through 8th levels of...The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror. You can contact us at discerninggeeks@gmail.com Public domain music included in this episode come from Pixabay.com.