Apex Mountain · 1:08:49
Predator among Arnold movies
Predator was distinguished as the apex of Arnold’s films, while Terminator 2 remained his personal apex.
Chris Ryan: Carl Weathers was assessed separately as an apex case.
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23:18
38:24
53:46
58:11
59:19
59:39
1:08:49
1:21:50
1:29:22
1:31:02
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Dion Waiters Award
Carl Weathers
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“That Guy” Award
R. G. Armstrong
What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie? · 1:29:22
Old Painless
Chris Ryan: Old Painless was the first choice.
Cast
Selected cast credits · Film reference
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Alan "Dutch" Schaefer
Carl Weathers
Al Dillon
Elpidia Carrillo
Anna Gonsalves
Bill Duke
Mac Eliot
Jesse Ventura
Blain Cooper
Sonny Landham
Billy Sole
Richard Chaves
Jorge "Poncho" Ramirez
R. G. Armstrong
General Homer Phillips
Shane Black
Rick Hawkins
Kevin Peter Hall
the Predator
Everything from the episode
In the order the hosts got to it. Open a row for the discussion.
23:18
Most Rewatchable Scene
No consensus: jungle gunfire; Dutch–Predator finale; the slasher section
No consensus: jungle gunfire; Dutch–Predator finale; the slasher section
In the discussion (12)
Approx. transcript time · 00:23:18Read transcript
- Dutch and Dillon’s arm-wrestling greeting was nominated. — Chris Ryan
- The discovery of the skinned bodies was nominated. — Chris Ryan
- The compound rescue was nominated.
- Billy sensing that something is wrong in the jungle was nominated. — Chris Ryan
- Blaine’s death was nominated. — Chris Ryan
- Mac’s grief response after Blaine dies was nominated.
- The team’s indiscriminate sustained gunfire into the jungle was nominated.
- Dutch discovering that mud hides him from the Predator was nominated. — Chris Ryan
- The helicopter-arrival wardrobe breakdown was introduced as a “Zapruder scene.”
- The slasher-style sequence where the team is hunted one by one was nominated.
- Dutch’s final one-on-one trap sequence against the Predator was nominated.
- One host chose the jungle firing; another chose Dutch versus Predator; another chose the slasher section.
38:24
What’s Aged the Best?
Arnold’s iconography and battle cry, Old Painless, one-liners, production mythology, Sunny Landham, Jesse Ventura, Po...
Arnold’s iconography and battle cry, Old Painless, one-liners, production mythology, Sunny Landham, Jesse Ventura, Poncho, the creature fix, structure, score, and heat vision
In the discussion (16)
Approx. transcript time · 00:38:24Read transcript
- Arnold’s first cigar shot remains effective action-star iconography.
- Dutch’s battle cry remains effective. — Chris Ryan
- Old Painless remains an iconic action-movie weapon. — Chris Ryan
- The movie’s compact one-liners remain effective. — Chris Ryan
- Arnold plays the escalating threat with unusual seriousness. — Chris Ryan
- The cold, wet jungle shoot became durable production mythology. — Chris Ryan
- Van Damme’s firing from the original creature role became durable production mythology. — Chris Ryan
- The cast’s dawn workouts and physical competition became durable production mythology. — Chris Ryan
- The reshot final third created a cleaner creature confrontation.
- Sunny Landham was praised as a uniquely authentic and unpredictable screen presence.
- Jesse Ventura’s wrestling persona translated into an unusually memorable supporting action role. — Chris Ryan
- Poncho’s reactions and supporting presence were praised.
- Stan Winston’s replacement creature design was treated as essential to the film’s success. — Chris Ryan
- The shift from ensemble combat movie to slasher and then one-on-one duel was praised.
- Alan Silvestri’s score was praised. — Kyle Brandt
- The thermal-vision effect was praised as both legible and durable.
53:46
What’s Aged the Worst?
Mud-disguise continuity, Anna’s thinly explained role, contrived cleavage, and Predator 2
Mud-disguise continuity, Anna’s thinly explained role, contrived cleavage, and Predator 2
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 00:53:46Read transcript
- The amount of mud covering Arnold changes implausibly between shots. — Chris Ryan
- Anna’s political or guerrilla role is never clearly explained. — Chris Ryan
- Anna’s survival function never fully coheres, though her fear exposition was defended.
- Her costume loses buttons without story justification. — Chris Ryan
58:11
The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award
R. G. Armstrong
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:58:11Read transcript
- Armstrong’s long character-actor résumé and weathered face made him the quintessential choice. — Chris Ryan
- Richard Chaves and Elpidia Carrillo were alternatives. — Chris Ryan
59:19
The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award
Bill Duke won for Mac’s grief-fueled “I’m gonna have me some fun” turn.
Bill Duke won for Mac’s grief-fueled “I’m gonna have me some fun” turn.
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:59:19Read transcript
- Duke’s escalation after Blaine’s death was the decisive example. — Chris Ryan
59:39
The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance
Carl Weathers
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 00:59:39Read transcript
- Carl Weathers was praised for playing an unfamiliar compromised, physically vulnerable version of his Apollo persona.
- Sunny Landham was the passionate early pick.
- Jesse Ventura fit the classic low-minute heat-check definition.
- The group’s final spoken choice was Carl Weathers.
1:08:49
Apex Mountain
Predator among Arnold movies; Alabama ticks; smiling character-credit sequences
Predator among Arnold movies; Alabama ticks; smiling character-credit sequences
In the discussion (11)
Approx. transcript time · 01:08:49Read transcript
- Predator was distinguished as the apex of Arnold’s films, while Terminator 2 remained his personal apex.
- Carl Weathers was assessed separately as an apex case. — Chris Ryan
- Jesse Ventura was assessed as an apex case for his movie career.
- Sunny Landham was assessed as an apex case.
- Helicopter insertions were assessed as an apex action-movie device. — Chris Ryan
- Aliens in jungles were assessed as an apex premise. — Chris Ryan
- Body butter on action stars was assessed as an apex styling choice. — Chris Ryan
- Rocky IV beat Predator for Carl Weathers’s apex death scene. — Chris Ryan
- Alabama ticks were jokingly declared an apex.
- Billy’s final stand and Bruce Willis in Armageddon were compared as self-sacrifice peaks.
- The smiling character-credit sequence was celebrated as an apex closing-credit device.
1:21:50
Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake
No ten-episode remake
No ten-episode remake
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:21:50Read transcript
- The panel did not want the simple premise expanded into a series. — Chris Ryan
1:29:22
What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie?
Old Painless; Mac’s razor or flask; the Predator mask
Old Painless; Mac’s razor or flask; the Predator mask
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:29:22Read transcript
- Old Painless was the first choice. — Chris Ryan
- Mac’s razor and flask were personal alternatives.
- The Predator mask was argued as the obvious iconic object.
1:31:02
Who Won the Movie?
The panel split between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bill Duke/Mac.
The panel split between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bill Duke/Mac.
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:31:02Read transcript