KnockBack: The Retro and Nostalgia Podcast

There are a few holidays each year that attract near-ubiquitous participation -- think New Years Eve and the like -- but there's one such day that's especially strange: Halloween. The last day of each October is 24 hours dedicated to monsters, ghosts, and other scares... and lots of candy and peculiar costumes, too. As children, of course, Halloween takes on an extra-special dimension, but as we get older, so too does the holiday change around us. One minute you're shoving Reese's Pieces into your pillowcase; the next minute you're hunting down your neighbor's kids with eggs and shaving cream. Such is the case in western societies around the world as autumn begins to set in. So let's recollect our fondest memories of this bizarre holiday that's one part pagan, one part modern. Just make sure to check your apples for razor blades before you take a bite... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Divorce is a horrific experience for everyone involved. Spouses falling out of love is brutal, and children -- especially young kids -- end up as collateral damage. Such is the story of the 1979 film Kramer vs. Kramer, starring Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep as a couple on the outs, with a young son caught in the middle. Kramer vs. Kramer is a notable picture because, in 1980, it won the Academy Award for Best Picture... and Best Director... and Best Screenplay... and Dustin Hofmann won Best Actor... and Meryl Streep won Best Supporting Actress... and on and on. So it's a critically-acclaimed movie unlike many others. But it's also an important look into the world of divorce, especially from the point-of-view of a man who's assumed not to be able to love his child like his ex-wife could, that they couldn't form a special bond on their own... and also of a woman who makes a major mistake, tries to find herself, and realizes the error of her own ways. Kramer vs. Kramer is one of the great dramas of all-time, so why not put an episode of KnockBack all about it on the docket? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When you're a child (or even a teenager), your mind is malleable, like a piece of clay. This is where the nature versus nurture argument often comes into play, because it's really those around us, those who help mold and form us, that make us who we are. Once we're jettisoned into the world as an adult, it's those formidable encounters, relationships, and even instances of hero worship that truly stand the test of time. As such, we want to take the time today to talk about the people who inspired us as kids. Colin (that's me!) takes a sentimental tact; Dagan a more pop-culture one. Together, let's cobble together a list that explains everything. You'll see. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's something special about Spider-Man. Is it his New York roots? Possibly. His intelligence and diligence? Maybe. His sense of family, community, and justice? Certainly. But in the realm of comics, Spider-Man happens to be different characters at different times, something the Academy Award-winning 2018 animated film Into the Spider-Verse so successfully celebrates. By melding Peter Parker(s), Miles Morales, and even more obscure spin-offs like Spider-Ham, Into the Spider-Verse travels decades of Spidey fandom in two brisk hours. The results are so strong that many not only consider it the best Spider-Man movie ever, but possibly one of the best animated features of all-time. In many ways, we can't help but concur with the consensus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

By the time the '80s rolled around, the Cold War was just about over. The Soviet Union was slowly-but-surely crumbling, and the threat posed by Mutually Assured Destruction was waning by the year. That's what makes movies like 1984's American action classic Red Dawn so interesting. In its alternate history tale, the USSR expands its sphere of power through Central and South America, while NATO dissolves, the US becomes isolated, and its only allies are a downtrodden England and a nearly-annihilated China. The result, as it turns out, is World War III, and Red Dawn shows one rather peculiar theater of that conflict: A guerrilla campaign conducted by some high school students in rural Colorado. So stock up on supplies, raid your gun cabinet, and run for the hills, Wolverines: The communists are here, and a political reckoning is brewing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time to wrap up our three-episode run of Breaking Bad analysis with a deep dive into the beloved series' final season, as well as its surprise epilogue movie that came some six years later. The culmination of Walt's journey dominates Season 5, yet in El Camino, we finally get to see what happened with Jesse, too. There's much to discuss here: Madrigal, Todd, the Aryan Brotherhood, the fate of Hank and Gomez, and much, much more. But at the heart of it all lies Walt and Jesse, on a bullet train toward disaster. Obviously, we can't look away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The ethereal world of dreams has long fascinated humans (and our human-like ancestors) going back many millennia. In fact, when you really think about it, we kinda collectively take dreams for granted, as scholars and academics try to get to the bottom of why we (and seemingly all mammals, at the very least) dream while asleep. This episode of KnockBack isn't about the science, though. Instead, it's about experience. As kids, we all had dreams and nightmares that left indelible prints on us, and that's what we're going to discuss today. Really, though, we focus heavily on the nightmare aspect of dreaming, the uncontrollable horror that happens on the other side of closed eyes. So beware! The Tickley Monster approaches. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While Episode 130 of KnockBack was dedicated to the first two seasons of AMC's crime drama Breaking Bad, this episode of our podcast is in ode to the show's third and fourth seasons, when things really start to get hairy. In these seasons, we have The Cousins. A ratcheting up of the danger surrounding working with Gus and the Mexican cartels. The car wash. Tons of contextual flashbacks. A whole lot of Saul Goodman. Ted and the IRS (and his "Act of God"). Jesse's relapse. The return of Badger and Skinny Pete. Hank's near-murder and redemption. I mean... there's a ton to cover. And we take about three hours or so going over it all, with plenty of your inquiries interspersed. After all, we are the ones that Knock...Back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Christopher Nolan's Inception came to theaters a decade ago, it impressed moviegoers with a bizarre sci-fi story that -- in true Nolan fashion -- felt grounded and believable. In fact, it's one of the best-received films of 2010, an Academy Award-winning mind-melter all about entering people's dreams in order to acquire restricted, secretive, and sensitive information. But what if you could plant entire ideas in people's heads, too, setting in motion an unstoppable butterfly effect? As voted on by Colin's Last Stand's Patrons, this episode of KnockBack is all about this notable and unusual flick, the remarkable performances throughout it, and a story so complex that it sometimes borders on convoluted. So close your eyes and grab your totem. It's go-time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Breaking Bad is widely considered one of the greatest television dramas of the 21st century (and possibly ever). Released in the same era as Mad Men and The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad didn't only help put AMC back on the map as a respected TV channel, but gave us insight into an increasingly sinister world with a simple premise: A high school chemistry teacher and his burnout ex-student teaming up to cook meth. The story that unfolds is dramatic, sad, tragic, and ultimately irresistible to watch, and to do this topic extra justice -- one voted on by our Patrons -- we've decided to split our Breaking Bad coverage into three episodes. This is the first one, focusing on Seasons One and Two, the origins of Walt's and Jesse's partnership, Walt's battle with cancer, the beginnings of their fledgling criminal enterprise, and the ratcheting up of the personal stakes. So hit play: It's tight, tight, tight! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Whether in television, movies, books, or games, it's always hard to follow-up a smash-hit with a worthy sequel. But publisher 2K endeavored to do just that when it launched BioShock 2 in 2010, doing so -- mind you -- without the series' creative visionary Ken Levine, whose team was off working on what would become 2013's BioShock Infinite. The result was divisive at the time, though most people liked returning to Rapture and getting more of that wonderfully-realized world. But over time, it appears the game has become even more appreciated and adored, and for good reason: It's pretty damn good, even in the shadow of the vaunted BioShock. So let's take a trip back under the Atlantic Ocean, Subject Delta. There are more Little Sisters to protect, this time in a collectivist (instead of libertarian) nightmare. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For nearly five decades, Rodney Dangerfield was an American comedy legend. But it was in the 1980s that he rose to mainstream prominence not through his stand-up act as popularized on late-night TV in the '60s and '70s, but because of films like Caddyshack and Easy Money. Come 1986, however, Dangerfield would star in perhaps his strangest movie yet, a zany romp all about a wealthy businessman heading to college just so he can hang out with his son: Back to School. Like many '80s comedies, Back to School doesn't take itself all that seriously, which is perfect, because such loose parameters allow this flick to shine using Dangerfield's classic one-liners and zingers. Indeed, it's one of the most quotable films of the decade. It also happens to co-star some interesting and random actors, from a young Robert Downey Jr. to a typecast William Zabka to a nascent Sam Kinison. More than anything, though, it's a truly funny 90-something minute piece of nostalgia, and we couldn't help but dedicate an episode of KnockBack to it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Robert Eggers' 2015 debut film The Witch isn't exactly old, but its subject matter certainly is. Taking place in the early 1630s in New England -- a full 60 years before the Salem Witch Trials -- The Witch tells the story of a banished family of devout Puritans who go into the Massachusetts woods to live alone. And... well... you may be able to guess what happens next. Written entirely in period English and lit only by natural light and candles, The Witch may be one of the most thoroughly colonial movies ever made. It also happens to be a masterpiece of pacing, tension, and acting. So let's delve into this spectacular and spooky period piece, as a tight-knit religious family slowly comes undone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ignorance is bliss, or so the saying goes. But when we're kids, ignorance is also a way of life. In our tiny worlds, everything was magnified or understated: The glorious ups, our mundane everyday lives, and especially the seemingly-tragic downs. Little did we know then what we would learn later: That a lot of what we cared so deeply about didn't matter very much, that the stuff we should have paid more attention to we barely worried about, and that many of the people we looked to for guidance were flying blind, too. So instead of focusing on a movie, video game, TV show (or the like) this week, we thought we'd take the time to hone-in on the wisdom and knowledge we didn't even know existed as kids but take for granted as adults, and how a little tweak here or there in our past could have taken us in entirely different directions. If only we knew better. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We recently lost American filmmaker Joel Schumacher to cancer at the age of 80. With a diverse filmography dating back to the '70s and running through to just a few years ago, it's hard to put Schumacher in a box, but it seems a lot of people wanted to memorialize him by focusing on his two maligned Batman movies instead of the great work he did. To pay him tribute, we decided to go back to his 1985 Brat Pack film St. Elmo's Fire, which he wrote and directed, and which still holds a place with '80s movie fans everywhere. So let's head to Washington DC and catch up with seven recent graduates of Georgetown University, young 20-somethings who are having a difficult time transitioning to adulthood, and an even more difficult time understanding how the dynamics between them have changed after college. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Mass Effect launched on Xbox 360 in 2007, it promised to be not only one of the most ambitious RPGs of all time, but the entry point to one of the most ambitious gaming trilogies ever. Designed as three games from the get-go, the original Mass Effect propelled Commander Shepard and his team into the galactic intrigue that would engulf the games-long story, but it also ended up doing something even crazier: Allowing subsequent iterations to read your previous games' saves, essentially crafting an agency-driven IP that still hasn't been replicated with any equivalent success. But this episode of KnockBack is dedicated to the very first game -- Mass Effect itself -- BioWare's influential and memorable foray into the world of third-person shooter RPGs. So hone your biotics, gather your Element Zero, and jump through the nearest Mass Relay. We'll see you on the other side. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Writer and director Quentin Tarantino has long been a divisive and controversial filmmaker, primarily because of his seeming, unapologetic glorification of gore. But something deeper typically rests beneath his portrayal of human brutality. This is perhaps most true in his 2012 picture Django Unchained, a movie that takes place in the Southern United States on the brink of the Civil War. And while it's not a piece of history per se, it dedicates a lot of time delving into much of what made that Confederacy Eve era tick: Slavery, greed, and inhumanity. With multiple Oscar-worthy performances -- including from Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, and Christoph Waltz -- a riveting story, and a redemptive arc, it could easily be argued that Django Unchained is Tarantino's strongest work. Whether you agree with that proclamation or not, however, there's no denying that it's given us a lot to talk about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There are times when an older movie feels like it could have been made yesterday. 1989's Do the Right Thing -- one of Spike Lee's very first films -- is just such an offering. Based in the racially-mixed Bed-Stuy neighborhood of Brooklyn during one hot summer day and night, Do the Right Thing is ostensibly about a group of black people (children, teens, and adults) and their daily experiences, particularly through the lens of a white-owned pizzeria that sticks out like a sore thumb in an era of simmering racial tensions. But underneath the surface, this Spike Lee Joint is about so much more than just that. It's about police brutality, gentrification, crime, differing generational views, work and joblessness, and on and on. Yes, this movie was made in '89... but for better or for worse, it feels like it could have been crafted specifically for right this very minute. So let's talk about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've been recording KnockBack week-in and week-out for more than two years, and while we tell lots of stories about our time with video games, TV shows, movies, toys, and much more, we also include mentions of some very important people: Our childhood friends. These folks aren't just random characters from our past; they're people who helped shape who we were then, and still are today. To celebrate some of the individuals most important to us in our youth, we thought we'd dedicate an episode of KnockBack specifically to them, telling tales of how we met, the times we spent together, and how they molded us. Dedicated listeners of the show have definitely heard these names before, but never in this much detail and with this much love. As always, we hope you enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nintendo is undoubtedly best-known for its long-running, ubiquitous franchises: Mario, Zelda, and the like. But sprinkled in the mega-selling mixture are games that sold far less, but have earned their own level of reverence. EarthBound -- launched in 1994 in Japan and 1995 in the US -- is one such adventure. Known as Mother 2 in Japan (the original Mother was a Famicom game that didn't see western release for more than two decades), EarthBound is a truly peculiar, truly charming title, one that pits four children against a dangerous, world-consuming foe. It's a JRPG based heavily on conventions introduced by Dragon Quest, but its quirky style, colorful graphics, and humorous dialogue are all its own. It also didn't sell very well, either in Japan or outside of it, and has many divisive features. So let's chat about all of it -- the whole tapestry that makes EarthBound... well... EarthBound... -- and sort out whether Ness' journey has earned its place in the annals of gaming history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did Disney's Star Wars trilogy end with a loud bang or a resounding thud? It depends on who you ask, of course. But just late last year (in 2019), the new galactic journey that began with Episode VII ended with Episode IX, and the results were about as divisive as you'd probably imagine. Mired by rewrites, production problems, roving directors, and the death of an iconic actor, The Rise of Skywalker tried to undo many of the problems introduced by Rian Johnson's Episode VIII, but whether or not it even remotely succeeded is a matter of endless debate. So let's talk about the conclusion of Rey's journey, chat about Finn, Poe, Kylo Ren, and all of the other characters, worlds, and pieces of lore... and maybe spend approximately half of this episode talking about Babu Frik, too, because... well... he deserves all the attention he can get. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you know the definition of insanity? After playing 2012's Far Cry 3, you just might. While this open world FPS series began inauspiciously enough under the direction of none other than Crytek, it's when Ubisoft brought the shooter franchise in-house that it truly began to shine. And it perhaps shines brightest with its third core entry, one that takes place on the fictional Rook Islands in the Pacific Ocean, pits rich kids against drug-and-slave-trading thugs, and challenges players to find meaning in all of the gratuitous and endless violence surrounding them. Far Cry 3 is a high water mark in open world design, gunplay, and narrative -- with awesome in-game systems and some fascinating characters to boot -- and it absolutely demands an episode of KnockBack. So grab your rucksack, islander. There are psychopaths about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For Americans, the year 1776 is sacred. It isn't the year the American Revolution started (that's 1775), nor is it the year it ended in victory (that's 1783). Instead, '76 represents the year the US declared its independence from England, changing the course of domestic and global history alike forever. The 2000 film The Patriot -- starring Mel Gibson and the late, great Heath Ledger -- is one of the few flicks that actually delves into the War For Independence in any substantive way, and while it's an action flick first, and while it takes sometimes great liberties (pardon the pun) with history, it's still a fun, enjoyable movie that The Brothers Moriarty happen to cherish. So aim small, miss small... and enjoy the podcast while you do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's episode of KnockBack is a special one, not only because of its subject matter -- the 1982 Steven Spielberg smash-hit film E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial -- but because our guest host this week is none other than Dagan's wife, Helene. E.T. was, is, and will likely always be one of the most seminal movies ever created, and it's because it has what so many other pictures all-too-often lack: Heart and imagination. There's a good reason why, for more than a decade after it launched, it was the highest-grossing film in the history of the industry, and why -- nearly 40 years later -- it remains a seminal piece of Americana. So sit back, hit play, and don't phone home. At least, not until you hear what we have to say. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Powerpuff Girls might seem like an unassuming piece of animation... yet it's anything but. Nestled within the soul of Cartoon Network's hit show is a surprising amount of depth, an amalgamation of influences ranging from anime to gaming to old superhero TV shows. The result is one of the most charming cartoons of the last 30 years. The adventures of Blossom, Buttercup, and Bubbles -- three five year old girls, mind you -- are equal parts hilarious and clever, with a cast of memorable villains and side characters that round out the entire product. In the late '90s and early aughts, The Powerpuff Girls were everywhere. For the next few hours, allow them to barrage your ears like they barrage HIM. You'll be glad you did. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Comedian and actor Mike Myers has always been a bit of an enigma. The hilarious Canadian made his bones on Saturday Night Live and drew international acclaim for his Wayne's World skits and films, but it was 1997's James Bond spoof Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery that might be his most famous and most beloved work. Playing both the movie's protagonist (the titular Austin Powers) and antagonist (the amazing Dr. Evil), Myers put in work. After all, he devised all the characters, the story, and even wrote the screenplay. More than two decades (and two sequels) later, does his original '90s-era classic still retain the respect we once held for it? Or should it be fed to sharks with friggin' laser beams attached to their heads? Well, listen to the podcast and find out. Because you're the boss around here... and you need the info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We live in a golden age of television, but even some of the best series stick around too long. Unlike many of its contemporaries, though, HBO has a good habit of identifying ideas that don't need to linger, and while True Detective has three seasons, they're all detached from one another. The first season -- running eight episodes back in early 2014 -- is widely considered one of the best miniseries ever created, with exceptional performances, amazing writing, and a setting so thoroughly realized, it's as if it's the main character. So let's delve into the story of detectives Rust Cohle and Marty Hart, the brutal and sadistic murders they uncover in the Louisiana Bayou, and their 17-year long saga to find the truth of these crimes... and the reality of their relationship with one another. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The ocean is a mysterious and even scary place, but in Disney's 1989 classic animated film The Little Mermaid, it's pretty damn awesome. That's what makes protagonist Ariel's insistence on leaving her home waters for the world above so confounding... that is until she falls in love and finds the perfect excuse to live her dream. The Little Mermaid was the first film in the so-called Disney Renaissance of the '80s and '90s, and it still holds up wonderfully these few decades later. So let's examine Ariel's story, the history behind it, and the gorgeous animation that may just convince you to remain Under the Sea, even if you like your oxygen in gaseous form. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Few modern filmmakers are more popular, beloved, controversial, and even reviled than Quentin Tarantino. When he got his start in the early '90s with the cult classic Reservoir Dogs, no one could have predicted his meteoric rise in the American and global movie industries, but it's his 2009 flick Inglourious Basterds that's perhaps his most popular offering. Inglourious Basterds tells an alternate history tale in Nazi-occupied France during World War II, and it melds an intriguing story, wonderful acting, and Tarantino's trademark violence, humor, and clever writing into something truly memorable. We release a new episode of KnockBack week-in and week-out, but you know what, audience? This might just be our masterpiece. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, Rocksteady is one of the most famous game developers on the planet, but back in 2009, they were basically unknown. With only one obscure PS2 game under their belt, the British team was met with an enticing challenge: Make a good Batman title. Turns out, such a task is easier said than done, but Rocksteady rose to the occasion. 2009's Batman: Arkham Asylum is one of the very best licensed games ever created, an ode not only to the Dark Knight, but to 3D exploration and kinetic fisticuffs, too. Packing exceptional vocal performances, tons of unlockables and secrets, and the perfect playtime in an era of too-long adventures, Arkham Asylum more than deserves its own episode of KnockBack. You asked for this one, CLS Patrons, and we're all too happy to oblige. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's true: We would have never chosen to do this topic on our own. But when our beloved audience voted on Patreon to hear this discussion, we simply had to oblige. In 1992, the Moriarty Brothers' parents split. In the wake of that event, our lives were reshaped forever. This isn't an uplifting episode of KnockBack by any stretch of the imagination, but it's most certainly a candid and honest one, one about loss, pain, choice, and consequences. We are who we are, in part, because of this traumatic event, one that occurred when we were 18 and 7. Two wildly different ages packing two radically different perspectives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The so-called run-and-gunner Cuphead is hands down one of the most beautiful video games ever created. Crafted in the spirit of the rubber hose cartoon stylings of the 1920s and 1930s, Cuphead is a rarity in the modern industry: It's drawn and animated by hand, and it's brutally (and we mean brutally) difficult. It's also charming, artfully designed, funny, and full of lush detail that truly showcases the sheer amount of work and energy that went into making it. Thus, we simply had to dedicate an episode of KnockBack to Studio MDHR's masterpiece, and we hope you enjoy it. Without further ado: Here's a real high-class bout! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

No matter who you are (unless you were born on February 29th!), your birthday rolls around once a year, every year, without fail. That's how calendars work, after all. What you do with that most sacred of days is, of course, entirely up to you and yours, but in our younger years, birthdays tended to mean a whole lot. There were presents, cake, family, friends, and a ton of attention. (Possibly too much attention.) And so we thought we'd spend an entire episode of KnockBack reminiscing about all things birthday-related from the days of yore, from the parties, to the gifts, to the rituals, and of course the cursed Happy Birthday song, arguably the worst piece of music ever written. So put on your party hats, grab a fork or spoon (for your dessert, doofus!), and gather 'round so we can blow out these damn candles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The infamous Prequel Trilogy of Star Wars films left a bad taste in many enthusiasts' mouths, particularly those who have been fans of the space opera franchise going back to the '70s and '80s. That's why it was so amazingly exciting when -- in 2015 -- Star Wars appeared primed to return to form with a JJ Abrams-led movie that had the entire galaxy eager to see what happens next. The result was something safe, but solid, with a returning cast of familiar faces joined by a new generation of rebels, imperials, pilots, scoundrels, and would-be Jedi. Join us for a discussion (nearly twice as long as the movie itself!) about the ins and outs of the plot, characters, worlds, and more than make The Force Awakens tick... and why it's perhaps the greatest shame of all that such a promising start to something new was quickly squandered only a couple of short years later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Brothers Moriarty ended up with pretty awesome jobs, one of us in the gaming industry, the other in animation. But it's also true that, in our younger years, we aspired to some other professions. We ultimately found our way towards what makes us happy, but there were deviations along the way, and this week's episode of KnockBack is dedicated to the what-ifs that could have had us doing something totally different with our lives. Colin was nearly a historian; Dagan thought about law enforcement. Colin wanted to go to the stars; Dagan wanted to skate firmly on the ground. Let's chat about what we wanted to be when we grew up, and hear from the audience on the subject, too. Shall we? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New York City has long been one of the world's most important and renown cities... it just wasn't a very nice place to be for a few decades in between World War II and the 21st century. The seminal 1979 picture The Warriors captures NYC's decay and despair through a unique lens of youth and camp, and it does so with great visual flair, solid acting, and a surprising story that actually asks an interesting question: Could street gangs take America's most populated metropolis over if they put aside their differences and fought the law as a single unified army? Based on an obscure mid-'60s novel, The Warriors is a must-see film about betrayal and survival, and we're thrilled to talk about it. So come out and play for a few hours, won't you? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With thousands upon thousands (upon thousands!) of video games released since the 1970s, it's easy for some (well... many) to fall through the cracks. Very few are seminal titles that helped to define their era, genre, or hardware. Yet, 1997's Final Fantasy VII is undoubtedly one of the most important games ever released. It brought JRPGs from niche to mainstream, put Squaresoft on the map for millions of new customers around the world, helped solidify the original PlayStation's place in a competitive and changing market, and spawned a globally-viable franchise that only saw limited western releases in the years prior. Beyond that, though, Final Fantasy VII is deep. Like, really deep. It's a story about eco-terrorism, environmentalism, capitalism-run-amok, power, fear, and more. It also has a wonderful cast of characters -- from the evolving Cloud to the dangerous Sephiroth -- buttressed by what was at the time world-class 3D graphics and a still-amazing soundtrack. There's so much to say, really, and while we can't say it all, we can certainly say something. And that's what this episode of KnockBack is all about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

They say that nothing's better than mom's home cooking (and in the Moriarty's case, that's very true). But when we're young, we seem to have an insatiable appetite for fast food. McDonald's. Burger King. Taco Bell. Whatever junk we could shove in our fat faces, we wanted. And the worst thing that could happen is hearing our parents say, "but we have food at home!" What a deathblow that was. A deathblow, indeed! So let's fondly remember the days of Happy Meals, paper crowns, ball pits, and burger patties with so much salt in them that you could have mistaken them for cured meats from Magellan's trip around the world. For as much as we loved a meal at the table with our family, we loved McDonald's inevitably crack-doused fries even more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 1999 sci-fi film The Matrix was released at an interesting inflection point in the history of nerd culture. It launched at a time when -- with the help of Star Wars' resurgence, the soon-to-be-released Lord of the Rings movies, and others -- dorkiness went mainstream, and The Matrix might have been the straw that broke the camel's back, in this regard. The story of Neo, Morpheus, and Trinity, and their battle to break out from a computer simulation and into a horrifying reality, is considered a genre classic, and with good reason. More than two decades later, it holds up shockingly well, with deep philosophical, technological, and even religious messaging that seems to uncannily predict at least one permutation of our actual future. So let's chat about The Wachowski Brothers' (now Sisters') stylish tour de force, and maybe learn some kung-fu along the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It seems like only yesterday that we launched our retro and nostalgia podcast KnockBack, and yet it's been nearly two years since our maiden voyage. A hundred weeks on, we've naturally arrived at our 100th episode, and to celebrate, we thought we'd talk about our greatest shared love: Video games. More specifically, we thought we'd talk about 100 games we absolutely adore, 100 games any aficionado of the medium should check out. Enjoy our longest episode of KnockBack to date (four hours!), and thank you so much for supporting our show, and making it the hit it has become. As usual, we simply couldn't do it without you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 2017, EA shuttered its fully-owned studio Visceral, which bummed a lot of people out, since they were developing a Star Wars game. But back in 2008, before they were called Visceral -- when the team was known by the more quaint moniker EA Redwood Shores -- the talented NorCal developer launched Dead Space, one of the most beloved survival horror adventures ever created. Taking place in the 26th century and loaded with a mixture of sci-fi and religion, Dead Space tells the tale of Isaac Clarke, a mechanic who finds himself in a harrowing situation light years from home and without any sort of practical arsenal. So let's chat about the USG Ishimura, the planet known as Aegis VII, and a mysterious artifact known as the Red Marker. For it's that artifact that transforms humans into Necromorphs, and turns everything on its head, zero gravity be damned. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nothing pleases grandma and grandpa more than spoiling their grandchildren. Indeed, it's the key rule of Grandparenting (made up word!). The most blessed among us get four of these mystical beings from which to learn from, be fed by, and circumvent the rules with, and the rest of us make do with perhaps one, two, or three. For the sometimes lengthy and other times brief periods we're lucky enough to be with these people -- the parents of our parents, the patriarchs and matriarchs of our brood, the seers of previous years long since gone -- we're indelibly molded by them, sometimes for the worse, but usually for the better. So let's dedicate an episode of KnockBack to the mighty grandmas and grandpas that helped make us who we are today, and all of the poignant, important, and hysterical moments that come along with remembering them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1897, a most unusual British novel was written by an at-the-time unknown author named Bram Stoker. It was simply called Dracula, and for most western readers, it was their introduction into the centuries-long mythology, mysticism, and straight-up horror stories coming from Eastern Europe and surrounding environs, tales of men and women who would feast on the blood of others, and who may even be immortal. Stoker's novel isn't only important in the history of western fiction, but especially vital in the development of nerd culture, video games, and more. Even if you've not read it (and you should!), understanding just how much hails from this book is important for any dork. So press play freely, and of your own will, and away to the Carpathians we'll go... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John Carpenter hit a bit of a home run with The Thing back in 1982, though contemporary critics didn't give him or his movie any shine. In fact, his film's reception was so bleak that it kinda-sorta destroyed Carpenter's career... at least for a while. But hindsight is 20/20, as they say, and with nearly four decades to marinate on it, many people have come around to The Thing's seminal place in horror and sci-fi history. Its hopeless tale of a stranded Antarctic research base grappling with something from quite literally out-of-this-world is only bested by its amazing practical effects, which are considered some of the goriest ever seen in a major motion picture into the '80s. So gas-up your chopper, strap-in, and get ready. Those wily Norwegians really screwed up, and now we're all gonna pay the price. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For many of us, going to church (or temple, or mosque, or whatever) was a part of childhood. And while some of us got something useful out of our often-weekly visits, the most lingering memories tend to revolve around everything but what we were actually supposed to be there for. The parental bribery. The coercion. The distractions. Time moving so slowly that it's as if you're stuck in one of those futuristic computers in the Black Mirror episode White Christmas. Join us, if you will, for a very festive (and we use that term lightly) KnockBack adventure, as we regale you with religious stories of our youth... and hear plenty of yours, too. (Can you guys please stop having sex on hallowed ground? Thanks.) Please don't judge us too harshly, God! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For thousands of years, humans have been smoking, eating, and enjoying the fruits (well, buds) of the marijuana plant, also known as cannabis. Once associated with deviant behavior and long mislabeled as a gateway drug, marijuana -- like virtually any other substance, legal or illegal -- has different effects on different people, and while certainly not a positive for some, many others the world 'round enjoy smoking a joint, blunt, bowl, or bong. Some among us even prefer it over alcohol and other common libations. Fresh off of the late 20th century's War on Drugs, grass has found greater and greater acceptance (and even outright legality) in parts of US, all of Canada, and elsewhere, and a majority of people (particularly in western countries) have at least one experience with The Devil's Weed. So let's talk about it from two perspectives: The occasional dabbler (Dagan) and the chronic user (Colin), the ups and downs it provides, and the funny and memorable stories that accompany its use, acquisition, and more. Only then can we answer the age-old question: Who's got the herb? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pawnee, Indiana doesn't actually exist, but after watching Parks & Rec on NBC, many of us wish that it did. That's because Pawnee is full of some of the most hilarious, charming, and ridiculous characters in modern TV history, and their antics offered more accessible and often kind-hearted takes when compared to its far more vulgar and out-of-control sister show The Office. What resulted is something truly memorable, a series full of both character and characters. So let's talk about the sometimes hard-working and often incompetent Pawnee government, all that surrounds it, and have a few laughs along the way. Just don't get Jammed in the process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In what will undoubtedly be an ongoing, years-and-episodes-long saga, we've decided to talk about some of our very favorite songs, a nice complement to Episodes 39 and 56 of KnockBack, which were all about our most beloved albums and concert experiences. Narrowing songs down is a lot harder, of course, but we did our absolute best, coming up with two lists of 10 tracks each that best represent our tastes, our stories, and our respective life journeys. And, to make it as awkward as possible, we introduce all 20 songs by trying to sing parts of them in order to see if the other person can guess what it is. So listen, laugh, and cringe as we regale you with the songs that we just can't shake (and wouldn't want to if we could). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The original PlayStation completely dominated its generation. So did PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 4. PlayStation 3, on the other hand, fought tooth-and-nail for every single unit its pushed, and its particular battle -- waged against Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii -- ended up being Sony's most perilous corporate period in decades. In fact, PlayStation 3 ended up costing Sony nearly $2 billion in its first year on the market alone. Yet, through its horrendous start, bad PR, and staunch competition, PS3 ended up becoming the fifth best-selling home video game console of all-time, and at nearly 90 million sold, it ultimately ended up surpassing its arch-nemesis Xbox 360 in total sales. So let's take some time to celebrate Sony's little engine-that-could, from an era that could have easily spelled doom for the PlayStation brand completely, yet didn't. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In middle school and high school, the house party -- or your local equivalent -- was a rite of passage. It's when you got away from the doldrums of secondary academia, socialized with your peers away from the prying ears and curious eyes of teachers and parents, and perhaps even indulged in some age-inappropriate pastimes. Indeed, it's all a tale as old as growing up itself. Today's episode of KnockBack is dedicated to cracking open the now-dusty party time memories of our youth, the good and bad, the funny and harrowing, the hilarious and cringey. From the mid-'80s through the early-aughts: Let's party, dude. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices