Verging on Greatness

Episode 64: Die Hard

December 24, 2023 20:00 - 1 hour - 172 MB

So, we've finally bowed to all that pressure. We've sold out for Christmas and we've done what is arguably the most famous Christmas movie of all time. Die Hard. Also Mike drops a bombshell. This episode has it all. Drama, John McClane, Christmas carols, MP5's...THE WORKS! Please enjoy this very special episode.

Episode 63: Scooby-Doo (2002)

October 31, 2023 00:00 - 1 hour - 138 MB

Oh the early 'aughts' what can't you supply?! Scooby-Doo is here to scare you. Join Craig and special guest co-host Amy, THE WIFE in this not at all hastily thrown together podcast. Mike will be back next time. Enjoy!

Episode 62: Disclosure (1994)

October 08, 2023 19:00 - 1 hour - 144 MB

So it's the early 90's and you're a Movie Producer and you've got the rights to a tech thriller with a odd sexual harassment angle written by the guy who did Jurassic Park. So you cast arguably the hottest actress working at that moment in time and Michael Douglas hot of the heels of the biggest and sweatiest erotic thriller of all time, Basic Instinct. Slam dunk right? this film will tick all the box and everyone will watch it for the right reasons right? Did we get a sexy marketing campaign...

Episode 61: TimeCop (1994)

July 30, 2023 00:00 - 1 hour - 155 MB

Do you like time? How about cops? Cause, boy. Do I have the movie for you. This JCVD led action Sci-Fi was a bit of a block buster in its day but how does it stand up today? Is it worth its Cult Movie status? How many splits does JCVD do? Is Ron Silver possibly the sexiest man of all time? The answers to these questions and many others are all covered by Craig and Mike. So lean back, tune in and relax. We got this.

Episode 60: American Hustle (2013)

July 02, 2023 00:00 - 1 hour - 141 MB

So to answer your most pressing question up top, this film is in no way related to the British TV series that shares some of its namesake. Just in case you were confused and were wondering how these two things were related. That said, they are both meant to be about loveable rouges extracting some measure of justice out of greedy people. Right? Well Mike and Craig dive deep. You're welcome.

Episode 59: Empire Records (1995)

May 15, 2023 14:43 - 1 hour - 156 MB

So it's the 90's and you've got a movie idea that circles around late teen Gen X'ers working in a record store with their stand in father figure who is still young enough to be relevant, boss. You've got a message you want to spread about being authentic and staying true to yourself. So what do you do? Do you go down the Clerks route and create a meta textural slice of life film big on realism with everyday characters that features very heavy commentary on pop culture that helps define the ge...

Episode 58.5: Oscars 2023 MiniPod!

March 11, 2023 20:00 - 45 minutes - 105 MB

How is it the Oscars 2023 already? Have you seen all the Best Picture nominees? You haven't well that's alright 50% of the hosts of this podcast haven't either. But Craig has and he's here to tell you what's what! You're welcome.

Episode 58: Argo (2012)

March 05, 2023 20:00 - 53 minutes - 123 MB

Well, this best picture winner from 2013 might not need any introduction as it was a big hit and well, it took home Best Picture at the Oscars. So we'll forgive you if you think "Isn't this a little good for you guys"? And you're right! This film is super solid. But has it stood the test of time. Does it still hold the public collective eye? What else that year might have aged better? If you're thinking that, well then you're in the right place. Craig and Mike talk Argo, the state of New Zeal...

Episode 57.5: Best of 2022 MiniPod!

December 30, 2022 00:00 - 59 minutes - 136 MB

So 2022 is coming to a close and there was a lot to see. What did Craig and Mike spend the time to watch? What did they enjoy? Find out right here.

Episode 57: The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

December 19, 2022 20:00 - 49 minutes - 112 MB

Happy Holidays Y'all! Mike and Craig are back once again with a seasonally appropriate Christmas movie. This time it's got all the ingredients. Classic Christmas story, Check. Classic actor, check. Classic Sock puppets, check, check and check! So grab your eggnog, stoke up the fire and hunker down cause Mike and Craig are about to get all Dickensian on you for the Yule time season.

Episode 56: Ender's Game

December 05, 2022 00:00 - 1 hour - 181 MB

What do you get when you mix equal parts Lord of the Flies with Star Trek and just kinda shake them all up? You get Ender's Game. A film adaptation of a wildly successful book that kick started an entire book franchise thats run for the better part of nearly 40 years and doesn't show any signs of stopping. Does it work as a film? Is it worth your time? Can you impress people at the super market by telling them you've seen it? Well. Craig and Mike watched it and you can hear their thoughts rig...

Episode 55: Halloween Double Feature! Featuring Nightmare on Elm Street 1 and 2

October 30, 2022 20:00 - 56 minutes - 129 MB

What do you get when you have a film director who is desperate to make "Serious movies" but they are pigeonholed as a genre film maker. Well. You get Wes Craven redefining the genre and building New Line Cinema as a result. Craig and Mike delve into the first two Nightmare on Elm Street movies. HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Extra special and creepy organ music provided by Steve Oxen. You can check out their music at https://www.fesliyanstudios.com

Episode 54: Lightyear (2022)

September 25, 2022 19:00 - 49 minutes - 113 MB

There are so many layers of inception with lightyear it hurts me trying to figure it out. Lightyear is the movie, that the Buzz Lightyear action figure is based on in Toy Story which sold a lot of real world action figures which will now have NEW action figures to buy based on the 'real' buzz...ARE YOU FOLLOWING ALONG? Mike and Craig ponder the big questions in their dive on Lightyear. Enjoy.

Episode 53: Last Action Hero (1993)

September 04, 2022 20:26 - 1 hour - 161 MB

What do you get when you take the biggest star in the world who is hot of one of the biggest movies of all time and re-pair them with one of the best action directors of all time and put them both to work on a meta, self aware movie? Well in a different time you'd get something like Deadpool, but in 1993 you got THE LAST ACTION HERO. Craig and Mike deep dive this odd film from 1993. So buckle up, light the fires and hold on. It's time to take out the trash.

Episode 52: Galaxy Quest (1999)

July 17, 2022 18:59 - 1 hour - 141 MB

Question? What starts as a spoof but ends as a heartfelt love letter. It's Galaxy Quest! Okay, so this movie is straight up FANTASTIC. Sometimes Craig and Mike just want to watch something they love. Because if you aren't watching movies because you love them, why are you watching movies at all? We can't be friends. Get on our level...ENJOY THE EPISODE!

Episode 51: Office Space (1999)

May 08, 2022 19:00 - 1 hour - 170 MB

So it's the 90's. There's a saxophone playing President in the Whitehouse and currently no one is actively engaging in war. So what do you make movies about? Dinosaurs and remakes of old TV shows apparently. Or you could make a movie that was well a head of it's time and it is still being Meme'd today. I mean, if you are Mike Judge that's what you'd do. In this episode Craig and Mike dive deep on this cult classic and ponder how good does it feels to be a gangster?

Episode 50.5: Oscars 2022 MiniPod!

March 25, 2022 20:00 - 44 minutes - 103 MB

It's that time of year love it or hate it, OSCAR SEASON! Yes folks. Craig has watched all 10 Best Picture nominees and he did it for you! Yes you, on the left. Did you watch all 10? We're pretty sure everyone voting hasn't.

Episode 50: Gladiator (2000)

March 21, 2022 20:50 - 1 hour - 138 MB

So it's early in the year 2000. Ridley Scott doesn't know it yet but he is about to do for 'sand and sandal' flicks what he did for Sci-Fi nearly 2 decades earlier with Bladerunner. In the process you also manage to churn out the Best Picture and Best Actor Oscars for the year 2000. Does it stand up? Did it deserve its wins? Is Russell Crowe Kiwi or Aussie? Well Craig and Mike are about unleash all sorts of hell trying to answer the big questions.

Episode 49: Love Birds (2011)

February 20, 2022 20:30 - 1 hour - 145 MB

So it's taken a hot minute but we've finally done a NZ film for the podcast. It was originally meant to be for Valentines day however two years in Craig decided it was a good time to get CoVID and that push back the dates a little. Regardless, here we are. Please sit back and enjoy.

Episode 48: Demolition Man (1993)

January 30, 2022 21:12 - 1 hour - 152 MB

So, you really liked the classic sci-fi, dystopian novel "A Brave New World" but the studio says, you can't make an arthouse movie unless you have a car chase and some rippling biceps. What's a resourceful screen writer to do? Well, you make The Demolition Man as a compromise and we're all the richer for it. Please, sit back, grab your three seashells and turn up your commercial jingles, it's time for Craig and Mike to get "joy joy feelings" about this modern classic. Be Well!

Episode 47.5: Best of 2021 MiniPod!

January 09, 2022 20:00 - 43 minutes - 100 MB

Well Craig and Mike have lived through another year of the Pandemic and well, they watched some stuff. In this MiniPod Craig and Mike discuss films and shows they have seen new to them in 2021.

Episode 47: Jingle All The Way (1996)

January 01, 2022 20:00 - 1 hour - 150 MB

It's 1996, Tickle Me Elmos are basically their own trading commodity and you last couple of movies have been so big, they could petition the UN to be recognized as independent countries, what do you do? You star in a tailor made holiday themed action comedy romp and cold clock a reindeer of course! Mike and Craig decide to delve into the Christmas themed Jingle All the Way! PS We are bit late because Craig managed to get sick and basically couldn't talk for 2 weeks. Just in case you were wo...

Episiode 46: Downsizing (2017)

December 05, 2021 00:00 - 58 minutes - 134 MB

Have you ever felt small? Do you ever feel like you don't know your place in the world? Have you ever felt pushed around by powerful forces in the universe that you don't comprehend? You do? You have a LOT in common with this movie then.

Episode 45: Halloween Double Feature! Featuring The Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956 and 1978!)

October 31, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 162 MB

Hello all you ghouls and ghosts! Happy Halloween! We're doing something a little different for you this time. We are doing a double feature of the original and the remake. For no other reason than it meant we didn't have to think of another film for the double feature. Two films, one made at the height of the Red fear the other at the height of what ever there was a fear of in the late 70's. Side burn trimmers maybe? In any regard. Please enjoy and remember, they get you when your sleeping.

Episode 44: The Greatest Showman (2017)

October 10, 2021 21:41 - 1 hour - 169 MB

Insanely talented cast: Check Insanely catchy songs: Check Insanely competent film making: Check Wildly troubling true life figure with a white saviour motif, vivid ableist overtones and stunning disregard for historical accuracy: CHECK, CHECK CHECK AND CHECK! Craig and Mike dive deep on a genre of film they are both very unqualified to have an opinion about, the Musical: The Greatest Showman.

Episode 43.5: The Never Ending Story (1984) Minipod!

September 12, 2021 00:00 - 33 minutes - 76.7 MB

Craig and Mike have been busy watching movies and surviving in various COVID pandemic lock downs and their ability to actually record a pod cast has been limited. What could be more important than recording a podcast for you you all? Nothing right? So they quickly recorded this podcast about this children's movie classic. Where they straight up merc a horse. Why they kill that horse you might ask yourself? Well...because its the 80's and you need to toughen up kids any way you can I guess.

Episode 43: Trainspotting 2 (2017)

July 25, 2021 18:30 - 1 hour - 179 MB

So, it's 2017 you're Danny Boyle and you're super successful and you want to film that made you an internationally renewed film maker. A sequel/follow up to one of the most influential movies of the 90s! You've got all the original cast all of whom who have gone on to their own success and the writer. Heck, even the original book author as written a follow-up. So what do you do? You make Trainspotting 2! Craig and Mike dive deep and they don't use the most disgusting toilet in Scotland to d...

Episode 42: Robocop (1987)

May 30, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 209 MB

Do you like action movies? Do you like films with ultra violence? Do you also like movies with razor sharp commentary about the Regan era America that is seemingly as relevant (if not even more so) today than it was over 30 years ago? You Do? Well, I'd by that for a dollar. Craig and Mike go full RoboPod in this host requested special episode. Special because it's long. Mike is sorry, Craig is not sorry.

Episode 41: Witness (1985)

May 16, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 147 MB

So, it's the 80's. You're Harrison Ford and you are just about the biggest movie star on the planet thanks to the hugely successful Star Wars and Indiana Jones film franchises. Not to mention a little known cult film called Blade Runner. And you're thinking to yourself "I need to break out of this sci-fi fantasy action hero star mold made of money I have found myself in. What to do, what to do"? You star as a big city cop who has to go under cover with the Amish directed by an import Austral...

Episode 40: The Crow (1994)

March 28, 2021 19:00 - 1 hour - 60.5 MB

It's possible that no other movie more perfectly encapsulates the 90's than this movie. Nor were there many 90's movies more influential that this. Its tragic story of death and revenge mirrored off screen by the tragic on set death of it's star Brandon Lee. Does this movie hold up to scrutiny when you strip that tragedy back? Are all black outfits wrapped in electrical tape making a comeback? Will guys hoping to look cool stop dressing up as Eric Draven for Halloween? Do Mike and Craig thin...

Episode 39: How Green Was My Valley (1941)

March 07, 2021 20:00 - 1 hour - 171 MB

So, it's 1941. War has kicked off in Europe. It's Friday night and you're going to the movies. You could go to Citizen Kane by that upstart Orson Wells. Or you could go to the John Ford movie. What to see, WHAT to see. Craig and Mike delve into this Oscar winning classic from 1941. It was a different time with different values. Enjoy!

Episode 38: Clue (1985)

February 02, 2021 00:00 - 56 minutes - 129 MB

Welcome to 2021 everyone! Here's hoping 2021 isn't the complete dumpster fire with nothing but pineapple topping pizza that was 2020. So did you think Hollywood had officially struck rock bottom when they turned out the board game based Battleship in 2012? Despite it being a bit of guilty pleasure for one of the hosts, sound off in the comment section with your guess as to which one. Hollywood had actually tried the board game to bored audience ruse nearly 30 years earlier to similar results....

Episode 37: Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

December 24, 2020 00:00 - 1 hour - 184 MB

So 2020 is coming to a close and what would the perfect Christmas film for 2020 be? Eyes Wide Shut is the perfect cap off for an undisputed terrible year. EWS (As fans call it)is the most bonkers Christmas film ever made by one of the most influential film makers of all time. Is it Christmas in the film? Sure but is it a good time? Christmas Craig and Merry Mike discuss.

Episode 36: Outland (1981)

November 29, 2020 00:00 - 1 hour - 156 MB

When you absolutely positively want a mash up of Highnoon and the French Connection with some sweet, sweet post Bond Sean Connery accept nothing other than this masterpiece(?) from 1981. This week Craig and Mike unpack Outland!

Episode 35: Halloween Double Feature! Featuring Arachnophobia (1989)and Dreamcatcher (2003)

October 31, 2020 00:00 - 1 hour - 198 MB

It's 2020 and although real life is pretty scary at the moment, at least it doesn't have ass blasting murderous worms and spiders as big as dish plates that'll kill you dead. Yet. I mean there's a whole 3 months left in 2020, so who knows?! So while you still can, sit back, relax, don't check under that pillow that just moved, ignore the wild life running past your window covered in blood and book in to get your eyebrows threaded and enjoy Craig and Mike's take on these two season appropria...

Episode 35: Halloween Double Feature! Featuring Arachnophobia (1989)and Dreamcatcher (2003

October 31, 2020 00:00 - 1 hour - 198 MB

It's 2020 and although real life is pretty scary at the moment, at least it doesn't have ass blasting murderous worms and spiders as big as dish plates that'll kill you dead. Yet. I mean there's a whole 3 months left in 2020, so who knows?! So while you still can, sit back, relax, don't check under that pillow that just moved, ignore the wild life running past your window covered in blood and book in to get your eyebrows threaded and enjoy Craig and Mike's take on these two season appropria...

Episode 34: Heathers (1989)

October 11, 2020 00:00 - 1 hour - 177 MB

Do you like murderous teenage girl cliques that have an awful lot to say about the state of affairs in American HIghschools in the 80's? Have you meet my friend Heathers? I think you'll get a long. Craig and Mike dive deep on this 1989 satirical film and come out wondering was it Very or not?

Verging on Greatness: Heathers (1989)

October 11, 2020 00:00 - 1 hour - 177 MB

Do you like murderous teenage girl cliques that have an awful lot to say about the state of affairs in American HIghschools in the 80's? Have you meet my friend Heathers? I think you'll get a long. Craig and Mike dive deep on this 1989 satirical film and come out wondering was it Very or not?

Episode 33: The Bodyguard(1992)

September 13, 2020 20:00 - 1 hour - 172 MB

It was one of the biggest film of 1992. It still holds the crown as the best selling movie soundtracks of all time. That's not to mention it is one of the best selling albums of all time. You know the single this movie produced , you've probably attended at least one wedding were someone drunkenly belted out a rendition of this song. It's Whitney Houston's film debut and it is absolute peak Kevin Costner. So there will be absolute loads for Craig and Mike to unpack. It is the Bodyguard.

Episode 32: Panic Room (2002)

August 16, 2020 20:30 - 1 hour - 162 MB

Do you really like that late 90's thriller? Do you wish it had been fad that never went away? Well...It didn't really. It just went streaming and movie the week. But this, this is arguably its ultimate form. Jodie Foster headlines this all star cast including Forest Witaker, the criminally under used Dwight Yoakham, a pre-Twilight fame Kirsten Stewart and immune to ravages of time, Jarred I'm a vampire Leto. Enjoy!

Episode 30.5: 30th Episode special Minipod!

July 01, 2020 00:00 - 31 minutes - 72.9 MB

That's 30 episodes people! 30 mostly full episodes! We've made it. Do we get a prize now? Please join Mike and Craig as they talk about the podcast and the shows they have done to date.

Episode 31: Sunshine (2007)The Twice Lost Episode!

June 28, 2020 21:25 - 53 minutes - 123 MB

The barely famous lost episode! Back in mid 2018 Craig and Mike recorded a series of podcasts in where they more or less learned how to record and edit podcasts. These really early episodes were recorded with a tin can microphone on to a 80's era boombox. Don't kid yourselves folks, They didn't sound that great. By the time they released their first podcast they realized some of their early efforts, weren't very good. So they set about re-recording them. In fact some episodes were re-recorded...

Episode 30: Ghostbusters - Answer the Call (2016)

May 31, 2020 20:00 - 1 hour - 175 MB

So 2016, what a year. Brexit happened. We lost lost Prince, David Bowie, George Michael, Carrie Fisher and Mohammed Ali! At the cinema we had a bunch of super hero films and movie that encapsulates it all Ghostbusters 2016! AND NOTHING ELSE HAPPENED! Mike and Craig decide for better or worse to take on Ghostbusters 2016 for their 30th podcast. Enjoy and sound off in the comments. Or on social media. Which I am told is a thing.

Episode 29: Contagion (2011)Lockdown special double feature part 2 of 2.

May 03, 2020 00:00 - 1 hour - 114 MB

Hi Y'All. Once again let's address the serious stuff up front. We're all likely going through some form of lock down right now. Social distancing is one of our most effective ways of dealing with the CoVID19 global pandemic. When we posted the last episode there were some 2.1 million officially reported cases worldwide now there's 3.5 million and hundreds of thousands tragically dead and it is sadly not over yet The impact of CoVID19 on our daily lives will be felt for generations to come. S...

Episode 28: Outbreak (1995)Lockdown special double feature part 1 of 2.

April 19, 2020 00:00 - 1 hour - 112 MB

Hi Y'All. Lets address the serious stuff up front. We're all likely going through some form of lock down right now. Social distancing is one of our most effective ways of dealing with the CoVID19 global pandemic. With at posting this episode some 2.1 million officially reported cases and a tragic number of dead worldwide and its only just starting to slowdown in some regions. The impact of CoVID 19 on our daily lives will be felt for generations to come. With some of you either being affecte...

Episode 27: Never Say Never Again (1983)

March 29, 2020 20:30 - 1 hour - 120 MB

Right at the top Craig and Mike recorded this episode at the beginning of March and sharp listeners might be able to hear Craig coughing in the back ground, He was sick a few weeks before recording. Obviously the world has changed dramatically since then. With many people losing their lives and livelihoods to COVID-19 Pandemic. Mike and Craig record separately, on opposite sides of the planet and they edit the tracks together in post so they'd just like to advise they ABSOLUTELY practiced goo...

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