Star Trek Beyond

Commentary: Trek Stars 167: JLove is the Bomb /  by Mike Schindler

Abrams II, Part 2: The Suburbans.

Commentary: Trek Stars 167: JLove is the Bomb
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Running Time: 54 minutes 21 seconds

In 1999, J.J. Abrams produced his second feature film, The Suburbans. The movie, directed by Donal Lardner Ward, looks at a one-hit wonder from the 80s which is attempting to stage a comeback in the 90s. The cast features Ward, Abrams favorite Tony Guma (who co-wrote the script with Ward), up-and-coming star Will Ferrell, and 90s icon Jennifer Love Hewitt.

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John look at this lost film from Abrams' pre-Bad Robot career. We discuss the historical context of the film, Abrams' motivations for making it, and how slang has changed over the years.

Chapters

The Suburbans (00:01:55)
Abrams' Contribution (00:21:25)
Wrap-up (00:45:45)

Hosts

Mike Schindler and John Mills

Production

Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

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Commentary: Trek Stars 166: Maury the Mortician /  by Mike Schindler

Abrams II, Part 1: The Pallbearer.

Commentary: Trek Stars 166: Maury the Mortician
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Running Time: 48 minutes 14 seconds

As the trailer proudly states, Star Trek Beyond is produced by J.J. Abrams. We all know that Abrams directed the last two Star Trek films, and we all know that he is not directing this one. So what does it mean when we see that Abrams is producing the new movie?

We try to answer that question in this new series on Commentary: Trek Stars, where we will be looking at each of the films which Abrams produced for other filmmakers. In Part 1 of this series, John and Mike cover The Pallbearer, a film starring David Schwimmer and Gwyneth Paltrow which was directed by Cloverfield director Matt Reeves, and co-written by Reeves and Friday Night Lights creator Jason Katims.

We discuss the heavy influence of The Graduate on this film, its place in the history of Miramax, and the contribution of cinematographer Robert Elswit.

Chapters

The Pallbearer (00:06:35)
Miramax (00:20:55)
Wrap-up (00:37:27)

Hosts

John Mills and Mike Schindler

Production

Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

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Commentary: Trek Stars 165: We're Going to Soderbergh! /  by Mike Schindler

Doug Jung: Confidence.

Commentary: Trek Stars 165: We're Going to Soderbergh!
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Running Time: 46 minutes 9 seconds

Much has been made of Simon Pegg's contribution to the screenplay for Star Trek Beyond. So much so that people tend to forget that Pegg has a partner on the project, co-writer Doug Jung.

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John take a look at Jung's first movie, Confidence. We discuss the film's intricate structure, its similarity to other films from the time period, and what it tells us about Jung's contribution to Beyond. We also remember TOS writer George Clayton Johnson.

Chapters

Doug Jung (00:01:39)
Confidence (00:03:59)
Ocean's Twelve (00:19:33)
George Clayton Johnson (00:35:33)

Hosts

Mike Schindler and John Mills

Production

Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

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Commentary: Trek Stars 164: JJ is My Jam /  by Mike Schindler

Abrams, Part 5: Star Wars: Episode VII--The Force Awakens

Commentary: Trek Stars 164: JJ is My Jam
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Running Time: 1 hour 27 minutes 5 seconds

Many have criticized J.J. Abrams for turning Star Trek into Star Wars with his 2009 film.  But what happens when Abrams make a Star Wars movie for real?

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike add a postscript to their series on J.J. Abrams with a look at his latest directorial effort, Star Wars: Episode VII--The Force Awakens. We discuss the movie on the whole, Abrams' direction in particular, and the work of other Trek veterans on the crew. We also give our thoughts on the first trailer for Star Trek Beyond.

Chapters

The Force Awakens (00:01:12)
Crying in Movies (00:19:57)
Spoilers (00:48:29)
Trek Collaborators (01:04:51)
Wrap-up (01:17:31)

Hosts

John Mills and Mike Schindler

Production

Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

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Commentary: Trek Stars 163: Zom Rom Com /  by Mike Schindler

Pegg, Part 7: Recap.

Commentary: Trek Stars 163: Zom Rom Com
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Running Time: 1 hour 4 minutes 52 seconds

Over the course of the last decade, Simon Pegg has come to prove himself not only as a fine, but also as one of the best writers in the movie business.

This week on Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John take a look at each of the five films which Pegg has co-written, including Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Run Fatboy Run, Paul, and The World's End. We also discuss Bad Robot's restoration of Phantasm.

Chapters

Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and Run Fatboy Run (00:01:10)
Paul and The World's End (00:14:10)
Conclusion (00:33:12)
Wrap-up (00:48:24)

Hosts

Mike Schindler and John Mills

Production

Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

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Commentary: Trek Stars 162: Twitter Dark Thirty /  by Mike Schindler

Pegg, Part 6: The World's End

Commentary: Trek Stars 162: Twitter Dark Thirty
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Running Time: 43 minutes 4 seconds

Six years after the release of Hot Fuzz, Simon Pegg finally reteamed with Edgar Wright on the screenplay for the final film in the Cornetto Trilogy, The World's End.

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike take a look at the film, which is last script to be penned by Pegg prior to the release of Star Trek Beyond. We discuss how Pegg has grown as both a writer and an actor, how this film fits in with the other two films in the Cornetto Trilogy, and how the Cubs haven't won a World Series in 107 years.

Chapters

The World's End (00:00:48)
The Coda (00:14:54)
Wrap-up (00:30:47)

Hosts

John Mills and Mike Schindler

Production

Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

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Commentary: Trek Stars 161: Alums Are My Aspect Ratios /  by Mike Schindler

Pegg, Part 5: Paul.

Commentary: Trek Stars 161: Alums Are My Aspect Ratios
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Running Time: 47 minutes 13 seconds

In 2011, Simon Pegg teamed with his on-screen partner, Nick Frost, to write his fourth screenplay, Paul. The film, directed by Greg Mottola, stars Pegg and Frost as two British sci-fi geeks who take a road trip across America to visit UFO hotspots. Along the way, they meet Paul, an alien played by Seth Rogen, who is on the run from government agents.

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John take a look Paul. We discuss why the humor did or did not work for us, whether or not the character of Paul is likable, and how well Pegg fares without Edgar Wright.

Chapters

Paul (00:00:44)
Worlds Collide (00:14:52)
Wrap-up (00:35:26)

Hosts

Mike Schindler and John Mills

Production

Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

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Commentary: Trek Stars 160: Only Half a Pegg /  by Mike Schindler

Pegg, Part 4: Run Fatboy Run.

Commentary: Trek Stars 160: Only Half a Pegg
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Running Time: 56 minutes 33 seconds

After the success of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, Simon Pegg became a sought-after commodity for both his acting and writing. David Schwimmer's Run Fatboy Run featured both of those talents.

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike take a look at Pegg's third screenplay, which was co-written with Michael Ian Black. We discuss how accurately the film portrays a marathon, the changes that Pegg made to Black's original script, and why it's ultimately not very good.

Chapters

Run Fatboy Run (00:00:43)
John's Marathon (00:19:19)
Wrap-up (00:41:38)

Hosts

John Mills and Mike Schindler

Production

Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

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Commentary: Trek Stars 159: Scraping at the Door /  by Mike Schindler

Pegg, Part 3: Hot Fuzz.

Commentary: Trek Stars 159: Scraping at the Door
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Running Time: 39 minutes 56 seconds

In 2007, Simon Pegg re-teamed with Edgar Wright to create the second film in the Cornetto Trilogy, Hot Fuzz. Much like its predecessor Shaun of the Dead is to Zombie movies, Hot Fuzz is an homage to Cop movies, in all their forms.

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John look at Pegg's second screenplay, which he co-wrote with Wright. We discuss how the film compares to Shaun of the Dead, how it utilizes sub genres, and how it was promoted with Hot Fuzztivals. We also debate the merits of Nicolas Cage movies.

Chapters

Hot Fuzz (00:00:45)
Sub Genres (00:19:03)
Wrap-up (00:30:44)

Hosts

Mike Schindler and John Mills

Production

Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

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Commentary: Trek Stars 158: Hey, Siri! /  by Mike Schindler

Pegg, Part 2: Shaun of the Dead.

Commentary: Trek Stars 158: Hey, Siri!
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Running Time: 52 minutes 25 seconds

In 2004, the movie world was formally introduced to Simon Pegg. Not only did star as the title character in Edgar Wright's beloved film, Shaun of the Dead, he also co-wrote the screenplay.

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike examine the first picture in the Cornetto Trilogy, and Pegg's career. We remember our first impressions of Pegg, discuss what we think about the film today, and try to determine why Pegg has become a geek icon.

Chapters

Shaun of the Dead (00:00:48)
Impressions Today (00:23:06)
Wrap-up (00:38:31)

Hosts

John Mills and Mike Schindler

Production

Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

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