Eye of the Duck: A Film Podcast

We cannot believe it. It’s been five years!! And we still haven’t done a series on Star Wars?! This week we are celebrating our five year anniversary the only way we know how… by talking about MOVIES, baby! We’re running down our top 10 films of 2025, reminiscing about this little pandemic project that became a half-decade tradition, and looking ahead to the 2026 year in cinema! Thank you from the entire EOTD crew for supporting us for all these years. Next week we’re kicking off our next miniseries with OCEAN’S ELEVEN (2001). Join the conversation on our Discord at https://discord.com/invite/RssDc3brsx and get more Eye of the Duck on our Patreon show, After Hours https://www.patreon.com/EyeoftheDuckPod Credits: Eye of the Duck is created, hosted, and produced by Dom Nero and Adam Volerich. This episode was edited by Michael Gaspari. This episode was researched by Parth Marathe. Our logo was designed by Francesca Volerich. You can purchase her work at francescavolerich.com/shop The "Adam's Blu-Ray Corner" theme was produced by Chase Sterling. Assistant programming and digital production by Nik Long. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Letterboxd or join the conversation at Eye of the Discord. Learn more at eyeoftheduckpod.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week we say a fond farewell to Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. We wish it hadn’t happened in our time… just kidding. We’re so lucky to be alive when it did! On this epic conclusion to One Scene to Rule Them All, we’re tying off loose threads, answering listener questions, sharing some thoughts on WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM, and announcing our next miniseries! Next week, it’s our long-awaited Eye of 2025 year-in-review. And a celebration of five years of podcasting! Join the conversation on our Discord at https://discord.com/invite/RssDc3brsx and get more Eye of the Duck on our Patreon show, After Hours https://www.patreon.com/EyeoftheDuckPod You can find Sean Astin's short film "The Long and Short of It" here, and his introduction here. Credits: Eye of the Duck is created, hosted, and produced by Dom Nero and Adam Volerich. This episode was edited by Michael Gaspari. This episode was researched by Parth Marathe. Our logo was designed by Francesca Volerich. You can purchase her work at francescavolerich.com/shop The "Adam's Blu-Ray Corner" theme was produced by Chase Sterling. Assistant programming and digital production by Nik Long. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Letterboxd or join the conversation at Eye of the Discord. Learn more at eyeoftheduckpod.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Municipalities, start your engines!! Or… get ready to eat each other? We’re finishing off our Rings series today with the final (?) major live action narrative production from Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and the whole WETA gang. It may not be Tolkien-related, but hey, Hugo Weaving wields a blade in it! It’s tragic that the film didn’t start a new era for Jackson, and we’re sorting through its disastrous box office fallout this week along with some predictions for what the future has in store for WETA. Next week, we close the book on Tolkien once and for all with our series finale (including some thoughts on WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM) and an announcement for what comes next! Join the conversation on our Discord at https://discord.com/invite/RssDc3brsx and get more Eye of the Duck on our Patreon show, After Hours https://www.patreon.com/EyeoftheDuckPod References: Cinefex #163 Production History Richard Armitage Turns Down the Engine Mortal Engines Production Notes Christian Rivers & Peter Jackson Reddit AMA The Film Pie Christian Rivers Interview The Hollywood Reporter JunkieXL Interview The Hollywood Reporter Peter Jackson Interview Peter Jackson on Loss of Andrew Lesnie Credits: Eye of the Duck is created, hosted, and produced by Dom Nero and Adam Volerich. This episode was edited by Michael Gaspari. This episode was researched by Parth Marathe. Our logo was designed by Francesca Volerich. You can purchase her work at francescavolerich.com/shop The "Adam's Blu-Ray Corner" theme was produced by Chase Sterling. Assistant programming and digital production by Nik Long. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Letterboxd or join the conversation at Eye of the Discord. Learn more at eyeoftheduckpod.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Okay, Hobbitses, it’s our last journey through Middle Earth! And Bilbo’s first! Dom’s back, and so is Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, Fran Walsh, Ian McKellan, Andy Serkis, Elijah Wood, and… Radagast the Brown?! Although this is our only episode on the Hobbit trilogy, we’re not just covering UNEXPECTED JOURNEY this week. Listen in for some cross examination of the two (troubling) sequels, the many fan edits (especially the one from Maple Films), and Guillermo Del Toro’s greatest unmade production. A very special thanks from Dom to all the listeners who reached out with support during his absence. And thanks to Stephen Hilger for pinch hitting! Next week, it’s Jackson’s final (?) narrative film, MORTAL ENGINES (2018) from director Christian Rivers. Join the conversation on our Discord at https://discord.com/invite/RssDc3brsx and get more Eye of the Duck on our Patreon show, After Hours https://www.patreon.com/EyeoftheDuckPod References: Special Features The Journey Back to Middle-Earth Riddles in the Dark - Gollum’s Cave An Unexpected Party - Bag End A Short Rest - Rivendell & London The Battle of Moria Edge of the Wilderland Durin’s Folk: Creating the Dwarves The People and Denizens of Middle-Earth Realms of the Third Age - Hobbiton Realms of the Third Age - Goblin Town The Songs of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Mr. Baggins: The 14th Member The Epic of Scene 88 Home is Behind, The World Ahead Maverick Movies: New Line Cinema and the Transformation of American Film by Daniel Herbert Cinefex #132 Production History Peter Jackson/Guillermo Del Toro Party Chat Legal Issues Settled for The Hobbit Comingsoon.net Guillermo del Toro Interview Lord of the Rings Writing Team Onboard TheOneRing.net Guillermo del Toro Interview Philipa Boyens on Guillermo del Toro’s Hobbit Guillermo del Toro Officially Leaves The Hobbit Peter Jackson Wings The Hobbit Guillermo del Toro Gets Haunted The Hobbit Destroys New Zealand Film Industry Lindsay Ellis The Hobbit: The Desolation of Warners (3/2) Video A New Hobbit Film is Born Guillermo del Toro’s Version of Bilbo Moviedrone Howard Shore Interview MGM Financial Troubles Imperil The Hobbit A Message From Guillermo Credits: Eye of the Duck is created, hosted, and produced by Dom Nero and Adam Volerich. This episode was edited by Michael Gaspari. This episode was researched by Parth Marathe. Our logo was designed by Francesca Volerich. You can purchase her work at francescavolerich.com/shop The "Adam's Blu-Ray Corner" theme was produced by Chase Sterling. Assistant programming and digital production by Nik Long. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Letterboxd or join the conversation at Eye of the Discord. Learn more at eyeoftheduckpod.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This steampunk fantasy world has everything: dæmons, talking polar bears, Daniel Craig with a snow leopard, and Nicole Kidman in her villain era! Attempting to replicate the success of THE LORD OF THE RINGS, New Line Cinema tries to kick off a new trilogy by adapting Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass, but it… doesn’t quite work out. Our favorite JRPG expert Stephen Hilger returns to help us figure out why! Next week: DOM IS BACK!!! Our king returns just in time for us to talk THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY! Join the conversation on our Discord at https://discord.com/invite/RssDc3brsx and get more Eye of the Duck on our Patreon show, After Hours https://www.patreon.com/EyeoftheDuckPod References: Special Features Production Design: The Emotional Fabric of a Parallel World Armoured Bears: The Panserbjørne of Svalbard Music The Adaptation of Writer/Director Chris Weitz Finding Lyra Belacqua: Introducing Dakota Blue Richards The Alethiometer: Creating the Truth Measure Maverick Movies: New Line Cinema and the Transformation of American Film by Daniel Herbert The Golden Compass: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion by Brian Sibley Cinefex #112 Production History StarLog #362 Production History The Golden Compass Production Notes Fate of New Line Cinema Rests on The Golden Compass Newsweek Production History The Wrap Chris Weitz Interview Variety Chris Weitz Interview Wired Production History The Atlantic Production History The New York Times Production History Slate Philip Pullman Interview Credits: Eye of the Duck is created, hosted, and produced by Dom Nero and Adam Volerich. This episode was edited by Michael Gaspari. This episode was researched by Parth Marathe. Our logo was designed by Francesca Volerich. You can purchase her work at francescavolerich.com/shop The "Adam's Blu-Ray Corner" theme was produced by Chase Sterling. Assistant programming and digital production by Nik Long. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Letterboxd or join the conversation at Eye of the Discord. Learn more at eyeoftheduckpod.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Come for the breezy fantasy, stay for Robert De Niro actively trying to speed run himself out of the movie – it's STARDUST! Our very own Sky Pirate, Stephen Hilger, returns to help us drag Claire Danes across the land so that we can finally prove ourselves to Sienna Miller. Ya know, normal fantasy stuff! Next week New Line Cinema tries to jump start another fantasy trilogy adaptation with THE GOLDEN COMPASS. Join the conversation on our Discord at https://discord.com/invite/RssDc3brsx and get more Eye of the Duck on our Patreon show, After Hours https://www.patreon.com/EyeoftheDuckPod References: Special Features What Do Stars Do? They Shine – The Casting Process A Quest of Enormous Importance Stardust: The Visual Companion by Stephen Jones Cinefex #111 Production History Den of Geek Jon Harris Interview Matthew Vaughn on Stardust Sequel Ain’t It Cool News Neil Gaiman Interview Los Angeles Times Neil Gaiman Interview Sarah Michelle Gellar Turns Down Role Ilan Eshkeri's Stardust: A Film Score Guide by Ian Sapiro Credits: Eye of the Duck is created, hosted, and produced by Dom Nero and Adam Volerich. This episode was edited by Michael Gaspari. This episode was researched by Parth Marathe. Our logo was designed by Francesca Volerich. You can purchase her work at francescavolerich.com/shop The "Adam's Blu-Ray Corner" theme was produced by Chase Sterling. Assistant programming and digital production by Nik Long. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Letterboxd or join the conversation at Eye of the Discord. Learn more at eyeoftheduckpod.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This Labyrinth has everything: a dude with eyeballs in his hands, a sassy faun, a big ass toad, and bugs that are also fairies! This week our guest host, good friend, and Joe Dirt expert Stephen Hilger helps us get lost in dark heart of Guillermo del Toro's PAN'S LABYRINTH.Next week it’s Matthew Vaughn’s first foray into blockbuster filmmaking with STARDUST! Join the conversation on our Discord at https://discord.com/invite/RssDc3brsx and get more Eye of the Duck on our Patreon show, After Hours https://www.patreon.com/EyeoftheDuckPodReferences:Special Featuresdel Toro and FunkeThe Power of MythPan and the FairiesThe Color and the ShapeThe Melody Echoes the Fairy TaleDoug JonesGuillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth: Inside the Creation of a Modern Fairy Tale by Mark Cotta Vaz and Nick NunziataCinefex #109 Production HistoryAmerican Cinematographer Production HistoryThe Hollywood Reporter 15th Anniversary Academy Q&AGuillermo Del Toro Writes His Own SubtitlesCredits:Eye of the Duck is created, hosted, and produced by Dom Nero and Adam Volerich.This episode was edited by Michael Gaspari.This episode was researched by Parth Marathe.Our logo was designed by Francesca Volerich. You can purchase her work at francescavolerich.com/shopThe "Adam's Blu-Ray Corner" theme was produced by Chase Sterling.Assistant programming and digital production by Nik Long.Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Letterboxd or join the conversation at Eye of the Discord.Learn more at eyeoftheduckpod.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today we're taking a moment to share a brief but important update with you.Join the conversation on our Discord at https://discord.com/invite/RssDc3brsx and get more Eye of the Duck on our Patreon show, After Hours https://www.patreon.com/EyeoftheDuckPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.