Coming to America (1988)

If you've ever wondered how Jean-Claude Van Damme became an international action star, there's one '80s movie you need to see: "Bloodsport." This episode, commissioned by listener Adam from Texas, calls on Gene Lyons' deep martial arts expertise, Ash's opinions on muscle men and Big D's childhood dream of climbing with ninja claws. Along the way, the Shat Crew also discusses the efficacy of fighting monkey style, the utility of eight-minute cinematic flashbacks, training vs. torture, how a referee fits into a full-contact tournament, journalistic integrity in the face of sexy splits, what the Army does when an officer goes AWOL and what the hell Forest Whitaker was doing in this movie. SUBSCRIBE Android: https://shatpod.com/android Apple: https://shatpod.com/apple All: https://shatpod.com/subscribe CONTACT Email: hosts@shatpod.com Website: https://shatpod.com/movies Leave a Voicemail: Web: https://shatpod.com/voicemail Leave a Voicemail: Call: (914) 719-7428 SUPPORT THE PODCAST Donate or Commission: https://shatpod.com/support Shop Merchandise: https://shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

7 Feb 20231h 1min

When Hot Sauce Steve won the Shat Fantasy Basketball title, he decided to give back to the Shat community by commissioning the long-overdue '80s werewolf basketball comedy "Teen Wolf." Riding hot on the coattails of "Back to The Future," this low-budget comedy timed its release just right, seizing on Michael J. Fox's superstar status (and the fact Scott Howard is basically Marty McFly). Join Dick Ebert and Gene Lyons as they discuss whether Harold was a responsible dad, whether scoring beer is as hard as the movies make it look and whether Scott's transformation into The Wolf still holds up.  The boys also tackle the ins and outs of wolf sex, question if being a girl's one-and-done is really all that bad and propose streaming services should now offer a soundtrack-swap option. SUBSCRIBE Android: https://shatpod.com/android Apple: https://shatpod.com/apple All: https://shatpod.com/subscribe CONTACT Email: hosts@shatpod.com Website: https://shatpod.com/movies Leave a Voicemail: Web: https://shatpod.com/voicemail Leave a Voicemail: Call: (914) 719-7428 SUPPORT THE PODCAST Donate or Commission: https://shatpod.com/support Shop Merchandise: https://shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

2 Feb 20231h 2min

When listener Ryley moved out of her parents' house for the first time and needed a comfort movie, "Mortal Kombat: Annihilation" was there. We humbly offer this Shat The Movies review to the elder gods in hopes we all someday discover our inner animalities. From terrible CGI to imbalanced audio, this sequel to 1995's "Mortal Kombat" proved you can't just swap out the cast, throw in a whole bunch of new characters, rip off Sub-Zero's mask and expect video game fans to accept it. You also can't make Raiden mumble mumbo jumbo while dressed as a suburban dad or kill off Johnny Cage in the first five minutes without clarifying he's actually dead. Even Mortal Kombat's legendary soundtrack sagged under the weight of Jax's "urban" dialog and Barraka's rubber blades. And just when we thought we'd seen the worst, the dragon fight everyone had forgotten became the final battle nobody could unsee. SUBSCRIBE Android: https://shatpod.com/android Apple: https://shatpod.com/apple All: https://shatpod.com/subscribe CONTACT Email: hosts@shatpod.com Website: https://shatpod.com/movies Leave a Voicemail: Web: https://shatpod.com/voicemail Leave a Voicemail: Call: (914) 719-7428 SUPPORT THE PODCAST Donate or Commission: https://shatpod.com/support Shop Merchandise: https://shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

28 Jan 202356min

We have only ourselves to blame for this one. Well, actually, it's pretty much all Big D's fault: Shat The Movies finally found the courage (and the commissioner) to tackle the 1980 space opera "Flash Gordon." Whether you thought this horny Dino De Laurentiis fantasy was a terrific comic book adaptation or just a crappy "Star Wars" ripoff, it's certainly a film that's instantly recognizable through sight or sound. That Queen anthem, those wild colors and costumes: This is a movie best enjoyed on hallucinogens ... pantless. Gene found a new personal hero in Topol, the Hebrew Harrison Ford. Dick appreciated the female empowerment. And Ash asked, "How many times can Flash Gordon die?" In this episode, the Shat Crew also covered Max von Sydow in yellow face, faulty rocket designs, Chekov's pitot-static tube, psychological scarring from the "Wood Beast" and the tragic tale of a trilogy that died in the cradle. SUBSCRIBE Android: https://shatpod.com/android Apple: https://shatpod.com/apple All: https://shatpod.com/subscribe CONTACT Email: hosts@shatpod.com Website: https://shatpod.com/movies Leave a Voicemail: Web: https://shatpod.com/voicemail Leave a Voicemail: Call: (914) 719-7428 SUPPORT THE PODCAST Donate or Commission: https://shatpod.com/support Shop Merchandise: https://shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

26 Jan 20231h 11min

Dick and Gene agree "Back to School" is Rodney Dangerfield's best movie, but does it deserve mention among the greatest '80s comedies? Not if you ask Ash. This 1986 college classic, commissioned by a listener who himself is going back to school, reminded the Shat Crew that Dangerfield has crazy eyes, Robert Downey Jr. was an adorable little scamp, and Big D is oblivious to racism in film. In this episode, we pay homage to Burt Young, learn how to tell if your child is lying, debate appropriate classroom behavior, discover a new kind of jock bully and ask the crucial question: "Where did all the college bars go?" SUBSCRIBE Android: https://shatpod.com/android Apple: https://shatpod.com/apple All: https://shatpod.com/subscribe CONTACT Email: hosts@shatpod.com Website: https://shatpod.com/movies Leave a Voicemail: Web: https://shatpod.com/voicemail Leave a Voicemail: Call: (914) 719-7428 SUPPORT THE PODCAST Donate or Commission: https://shatpod.com/support Shop Merchandise: https://shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

18 Jan 20231h 2min

Was "Judgment Night" just "The Hangover" for the '90s? Was it just "Adventures in Babysitting" but for bros? Or was this 1993 urban thriller a truly experimental film with a pioneering rap-rock soundtrack to match? Loading up a cast with Emilio Estevez, Cuba Gooding Jr., Dennis Leary, Jeremy Piven, Stephen Dorff and Everlast (yes, that guy from House of Pain) seems like a safe way to score a box-office hit, but believe us when we say this movie brought out the weirdest parts of their acting abilities.  If you've ever wished your dude friends didn't get married, Waze had never been invented and Chicago's South Side never got gentrified, "Judgment Night" is the movie for you. If you're the type of person who can't keep quiet while being hunted by killers, this movie will make you feel understood. If you're a fan of beautiful hair, slasher movies and bringing a belt to a gunfight, you're in luck. Just don't forget your cowboy boots and fishbowl RV. SUBSCRIBE Android: https://shatpod.com/android Apple: https://shatpod.com/apple All: https://shatpod.com/subscribe CONTACT Email: hosts@shatpod.com Website: https://shatpod.com/movies Leave a Voicemail: Web: https://shatpod.com/voicemail Leave a Voicemail: Call: (914) 719-7428 SUPPORT THE PODCAST Donate or Commission: https://shatpod.com/support Shop Merchandise: https://shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

12 Jan 20231h 4min

How do you ruin a 1981 comedy featuring the talents of Dennis Quaid, Jack Gilford and Shelley Long? Make it about cavemen, and give Ringo the Starr role. Gene Lyons downed an entire six pack while recording this one, so buckle up. "Caveman" was somehow too childish to be a movie for adults and too adult to be a movie for kids. It had claymation dinosaurs but also a rape scene. It was timid in its surprise lack of surprise boobs yet startlingly evolved on topics of homosexuality and race.  And, of course, this slapstick comedy commissioned by listener Kelly B. generated some unexpected rants including Big D's disappointment in the closed captioning, Gene's understanding of Jane Goodall, genetic diversity among prehistoric peoples of Southern California and Roger Roeper's indictment of Allied Forces in "Saving Private Ryan." SUBSCRIBE Android: https://shatpod.com/android Apple: https://shatpod.com/apple All: https://shatpod.com/subscribe CONTACT Email: hosts@shatpod.com Website: https://shatpod.com/movies Leave a Voicemail: Web: https://shatpod.com/voicemail Leave a Voicemail: Call: (914) 719-7428 SUPPORT THE PODCAST Donate or Commission: https://shatpod.com/support Shop Merchandise: https://shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

7 Jan 202359min

When Big D and Roger came up with the idea for "Shat The Movies," they knew they wanted to start with all the films that defined the '80s and '90s. Movies like "Big," "Pretty Woman" and, of course, "The Ice Pirates." It took six years, but finally Pirates' ship has come in. In this episode, Gene notes how "The Ice Pirates" really forgot it was set in space. Dick applauds the movie for being consistent in its crappiness, and Ash critiques Anjelica Huston's swordfighting prowess. The Shat Crew also discusses castration via conveyor belt, the film's dramatic undertones and Big D's theory that "The Ice Pirates" inspired the Burning Man festival.  Cheers to Shat Fantasy Football champ Hot Sauce Steve for the gifted commission. You made one little Shat host's dream come true. SUBSCRIBE Android: https://shatpod.com/android Apple: https://shatpod.com/apple All: https://shatpod.com/subscribe CONTACT Email: hosts@shatpod.com Website: https://shatpod.com/movies Leave a Voicemail: Web: https://shatpod.com/voicemail Leave a Voicemail: Call: (914) 719-7428 SUPPORT THE PODCAST Donate or Commission: https://shatpod.com/support Shop Merchandise: https://shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

4 Jan 20231h 5min