MFV #213 – The worst job in the world Explicit

This fortnight, Nick and Alastair confront the hideous present-future in Civil War, then retreat into a cosy fantastical past with Renegade Nell.

But first, Alastair’s watching a fresh new scifi show in The Three Body Problem, while Nick’s finally watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine season 8 from a couple of years ago.

And then they wade into the crushing hellscape of Civil War (18:10) to try and work out what it’s saying and whether we should all be scared.

Lastly, the whimsical fantasy of Renegade Nell (34:48) leaves Nick to reminisce about his good old days as a TV reviewer. Hopefully at some point he’ll remember to review the show.

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MFV #212 – EBV (Extreme Bloody Violence) Explicit

Nick and Alastair make a mockery of their podcast name this fortnight, tackling two releases where the violence is definitely not moderate – Invincible season 2 and Monkey Man.

But first, Nick’s read the recent Daredevil run by Chip Zdarsky and Marco Chechetto (artist of Ultimate Spider-Man from last episode), while Alastair’s watched under-the-radar crime series Culprits.

And then it’s up and into the bloody skies with Invincible season 2 (15:03) which emerged as a surprise hit when they last covered it. Can this gory animated superhero show repeat the trick with expectations in place?

Lastly, it’s Monkey Man (34:15), the new revenge-action movie written by, directed by and starring Dev Patel, as he gives whole armies of dudes a damn good smacking. Be aware – Nick does launch an excessive ending spoiler at one point.

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MFV #211 – A void in Walthamstow Explicit

The podcast is firmly back on Nick’s superhero territory this fortnight, with the second season of power-based sitcom Extraordinary and the first two issues of the new Ultimate Spider-Man series from Marvel Comics.

But first, Alastair’s sticking to his credible guns with new Spielberg war drama Masters of the Air, while Nick’s been stabbing and snotting in Dead Cells.

After which, it’s time to experience the life of a tryhard London waster in Extraordinary season 2 ( 20:40). Will there be a happily-ever-after for Jen and Jizzlord?

And lastly, for the second time in the history of this podcast, it’s time to read the opening issues of Ultimate Spider-Man (36:02), but this time Peter Parker is a middle-aged man suffering from a vague malaise. The media seems particularly relatable this episode.

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MFV #210 – The Golden Honk of the Sandworm Explicit

A big fortnight for Alastair, with his annual Oscar-predictions audio extravaganza and the new Dune movie, plus bonus piracy with the return of Our Flag Means Death.

Oh, and Nick’s also seen 2023 Netflix sensation Beef, far too late to include it in his Top Ten TV list.

But most importantly, it’s time to return to Arrakis with Dune: Part 2 (16:11, harder spoilers from 25:24). Can anything live up to that first one?

And it’s a similar question for cult favourite pirate romcom Our Flag Means Death season 2 (36:52, ending spoilers from 43:34) as they return to follow up their acclaimed first season and… quickly get cancelled. Dammit.

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MFV #209 – 80s Magic Mike Explicit

Some seasonal February dark moments of the soul this fortnight, as Nick and Alastair tackle The Iron Claw and the new Mr & Mrs Smith show.

But first, Alastair’s seen new Netflix housing-scifi movie The Kitchen, while Nick’s reading the new Poison Ivy series from DC Comics.

And then the boys climb into the ring to tackle The Iron Claw (12:19), a movie which brings us all the bottomless sadness of real wrestling.

Lastly, less miserable but still not… total joy, it’s the Mr & Mrs Smith (26:37) show on Amazon Prime!

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MFV #208 – Teenage Milked Ninja Turtles Explicit

This fortnight, Nick and Alastair cover two different ends of the movie spectrum – thoughtful current Oscar-contender American Fiction and last year’s loud, slimy family adventure Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

But first, to make up for covering a not-so-current film, Nick’s watched zeitgeisty reality show sensation The Traitors, while Alastair catches up with former podcast subject Disenchantment.

After all that, they get into serious literary criticism with American Fiction (15:40), in which Jeffrey Wright struggles to maintain his self-respect.

And last of all, it’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (29:38), the critically acclaimed cool-looking action movie featuring some rad dudes hanging out in the sewer. But is this fun kids’ film radical in other ways too?

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MFV #207 – True Confessions of a Serious Film Critic Explicit

This fortnight, Nick and Alastair go hard into 2024 with Oscar-nominated movie Poor Things and new Marvel series Echo.

But first, Alastair continues his annual Oscar marathon with Anatomy of a Fall, while Nick’s left the house for once to… see a theatrical spin-off of a Netflix show. Yes, it’s the Stranger Things prequel play The First Shadow.

And then they get into the shameless weirdness of Poor Things (14:07), in which Emma Stone makes a truly hilarious play for awards.

Last of all, time to watch Echo (28:06), the latest Marvel show spinning off from Hawkeye and Daredevil, and also serving as a prequel to… Daredevil again.

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MFV #206 – Let’s quack on Explicit

As ever, Nick and Alastair spend the first episode of a new year mopping up the leftovers from the end of the last one, with What If… season 2 and Slow Horses season 3.

But first, Nick updates us on his big Christmas comics reading project, blasting through the whole of Deadly Class, while Alastair’s hit the cinema to see The Boy & The Heron.

Then they strap themselves down and hurl themselves into the multiverse once more to cover the latest episodes of What If… (12:49), including the traditional top 3 episodes from each of them.

And lastly, it’s already ranked highly in Nick’s TV chart, but time to really dig into the dirty secrets of Slow Horses season 3 (31:17).

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MFV #205 – What’s Earthworm Jim up to? Explicit

The New Year has begun! Which means it’s time for Moderate Fantasy Violence to talk about the previous one, as Nick and Alastair assemble once again to talk 2023.

But first… well, more 2023, but in a specific way, as Alastair’s seen Paradise and Nick’s watched The Diplomat.

And then we get into the main course – a quick overview chat and then a top five countdown of their favourites in the fields of both movies (9:47) and TV (35:47).

Who will be #1? Is it Barbie, or is that image a cunning decoy to throw you off the scent?

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2023: A year in film

Oppenheimer Cillian Murphy

I was very pleased that one of the biggest cultural events of 2023 was the world’s most unlikely cinematic showdown. Christopher Nolan’s dark biopic of J. Robert Oppenheimer, head of the Manhattan Project and creator of the atomic bomb – if the device could be said to have a single father – faced off against Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, based on the hugely successful toy franchise. Both released on the same day, it seemed as if everyone was gripped by Barbenheimer fever; for example my local independent cinema sold cocktails themed around the two films.

This largely internet banter-based event, which was heavily memed, showed that cinema can still lead our cultural conversation and helped make both films a huge success; both being critical hits and drawing some of the biggest audiences this year. There is still an appetite in the twenty-first century for everyone to be brought together by films, so long as the filmmakers can capture the audience’s imagination.

Sadly, this year’s comic book inspired superhero films didn’t capture audiences’ attention as much as these other two Hollywood blockbusters. James Gunn returned to helm a third Guardians of the Galaxy film, which was funny, spectacular and moving. It rounded out the series on a high by making the unusual choice to focus on Rocket Raccoon’s back story.

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