Special Features 021: Considering the Themes of Batman Begins (2005)

Episode 200

Welcome to Movie Podcast Network’s Special Features Episode 021: Considering the Themes of Batman Begins (2005). This episode is sponsored by Considering the Cinema, hosted by Jason Pyles, with special guest William Rowan Jr. of the Movie Moments Podcast and The Sci-Fi Podcast. This episode is Part 1 of 3. We will also release episodes during October and November in which we will consider the themes of The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012). Continue reading

Considering the Cinema Ep. 003: Ephraim Katz and The Film Encyclopedia

The Film Encyclopedia

Movie Podcast Network presents… Considering the Cinema — A Podcast About Movies and Film Criticism by Jason Pyles. My topic for this episode is “Ephraim Katz and The Film Encyclopedia.”

It might sound funny, but if you really want to learn about the movies, there are a few books that are required reading — or at least — required reference materials for the bookshelves of your film library.

For instance, right off the top of your head, you might think about Andre Bazin’s “What Is Cinema?”; or Agee on Film; Andrew Sarris’s “The American Cinema”; Bordwell and Thompson’s “Film Art” (That book truly is essential); Giannetti’s “Understanding Movies” (or maybe “Flashback,” Giannetti’s “Brief History of Film”); and of course there’s Roger Ebert’s “Book of Film,” which Ebert subtitled “the finest writing from a century of film.” For that one, he was the editor who compiled a bunch of interesting film writing from the past century. Continue reading

Considering the Cinema Ep. 002: A Very Scary Guy (Who Sleeps With the Fishes)

A Very Scary Guy

Leave the gun. Take the cannoli. Movie Podcast Network presents… Considering the Cinema — A Podcast About Movies and Film Criticism by Jason Pyles. My topic for this episode is “A Very Scary Guy (Who Sleeps With the Fishes).”

In 1972, Francis Ford Coppola directed “The Godfather” and co-wrote the screenplay, along with the author of its original source material, Mario Puzo. Many people regard this film as a masterpiece and one of the greatest films ever made. I feel the same way. “The Godfather” also won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Continue reading

Considering the Cinema Ep. 001: The Sympathetic Antagonist

The Sympathetic Antagonist

Movie Podcast Network presents… Considering the Cinema — A Podcast About Movies and Film Criticism. I’m your host, Jason Pyles, podcasting from Salt Lake City. This is a free, short-form solocast for cinephiles and anyone with an interest in movie news, film theory, movie trivia, cinema history and film criticism. My topic for this episode is The Sympathetic Antagonist.

So, my objective for today is not to delve into the finer points and distinctions between a film’s protagonist and the antagonist. But just for the purposes of this episode, let’s just assume that an antagonist, generically speaking, is the character who is actively opposing or trying the hedge up the way of the protagonist in his or her pursuit of a goal. In other words, the person who is trying to stop our protagonist. Continue reading