Hops and Box Office Flops

Orca – Death Fish

Orca: The Killer Whale is an unabashed Jaws ripoff. In fact, as the story goes, Dino De Laurentiis—the producer of this film and many others of note—made one request: for the writers of the film to find the biggest and baddest creature in the ocean.
They did, but simply having an animal that could best a great white shark did not equate to an awesome time at the movies. For a film centering on a vengeful killer whale's journey to avenge the death of his mate and unborn calf, it's rather uneventful. It lacks any of the tension that defined its inspiration. This could be solely attributed to its slapdash handling of the kills, or its lackluster script.
But the fact is: Orca, in its quest to best the behemoth shark of Jaws, never bothered to carve out a reason for its own existence. Audiences agreed. Earning just $14.7 million at the box office, it made barely above 3% of Jaws' total receipts ($470.7 million). Jaws, obviously, was beloved, so that comparison may be slightly unfair. 
To put it in a more even perspective, Orca's returns were barely a tenth of the De Laurentiis-produced King Kong (roughly $90.2 million). That film came out just a year prior in 1976.
Money aside, the movie was a critical bomb, as well. With 31 reviews, it sits at 10% on Rotten Tomatoes. And, in all honesty, that's probably right where it belongs.
Yet, if you find yourself in need of a preposterous film about a killer whale who never forgets the face of those who've wronged him, this is about the only one you can find. So sit back, utilize your second row teeth to gnaw into a Shadow of Death Imperial Stout from Snafu Brewing, and gas up the boat! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Capt. Cash, Chumpzilla, and a special guest are following an asshole orca to the arctic for one last fight upon the seas!
This Week’s Segments:
Introduction/Plot Breakdown – What if we did Jaws, but with a killer whale? That is the question Dino De Laurentiis sought the answer to. We are all quite sure it is one nobody else needed. (00:00)
Lingering Questions and the Crusading Widower Challenge – After some final questions, Capt. Cash challenges us to identify the film starring each bereaved hero on a quest for vengeance. (42:40)
Recommendations – Next up: We trade the perils of the ocean for the horrors of the untapped areas of the African jungle with our third entry in the "When Animals Attack" series, Congo! (1:00:41)
And, as always, hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids—the haunting image of the rubber whale fetus and more—from this week’s episode!
You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, and iHeartRadio!

Con Air – Fly Hard

Con Air is the perfect example of mid- to late-90s action cinema. It's big, dumb, loud, boasts a script loaded with corny quips, and has a highly questionable sense of taste. Most important, though, it's a hell of a fun ride.
It's also part of the Nicolas Cage holy trinity of badass movies—The Rock, Face/Off, and this one—which were all mega hits, helping to cement his standing as the biggest star on the planet. His run from 1995 to 2000 is almost unparalleled. In 95, he won the Oscar for Best Actor. He then rattled off seven (nearly eight) $100+ million films in his next nine roles. The only outlier was the critically acclaimed and Thunderous Wizard approved Bringing Out the Dead.
Con Air; and, as mentioned above, it's great for all the right reasons and a few wrong ones, as well.
Its set pieces are devil may care master works of practical effects and a sheer disregard for their consequences. Casinos are plowed into by runaway planes; cars crash through air traffic control towers; and the villain, Cyrus "The Virus" played by John Malkovich, is put through literal hell just to die. At times, they are so manic that it's difficult to believe they were framed by the eye that brought us the timeless Rick Astley hit "Never Gonna Give You Up."
It doesn't hurt, either, that the cast is perhaps the best ever assembled for a movie of this nature. From Steve Buscemi as a mass murderer to John Cusack as a wise-cracking fed, almost every major role is played by a recognizable face.
The explosions and stars, coupled with Cage's just horrific Southern accent, are enough for you to ignore the elements that have not aged like the fine wine of the stunt work. Looking at you Johnny 23 (Danny Trejo).
So with that, it's time for the Jailbird to takeoff! So sit back, unshackle a Trejo's Cerveza from Lincoln Beer Company, and put the bunny back in the box! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Capt. Cash, and Chumpzilla are here to spoil Cyrus' barbecue!
This Week’s Segments:
Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Tough guys don't look at explosions, and Cameron Poe is no exception. (00:00)
Diamond Dog's Twisted Trivia – I challenge Capt. Cash and Chumpzilla to trivia solely about this action masterpiece. (1:07:39)
Recommendations – Next up: We return to the perils of the wild with our second entry in the "When Animals Attack" series, Orca: The Killer Whale! (1:24:36)
And, as always, hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids—Nicolas Cage's incredible box office run and more—from this week’s episode!
You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, and iHeartRadio!

Howard the Duck – Party Fowl

Howard the Duck is a mess. That's as simply as I can put it. And it was a high profile one for George Lucas, who shepherded it to the screen. What was originally envisioned as an animated project transitioned—becoming a live-action movie in service to a contractual obligation of Lucas'.
That term, as the pod has noted many times over, is a dreaded one. This duck wasn't roasted properly. Its script is not only unfunny—tragically so for a supposed comedy—it lacks an actual narrative; and it culminates in a third act as random as the appearance of an anthropomorphic duck on earth. Frankly, it's all wet.
Critics and audiences agreed. Howard the Duck left some serious egg on Lucas' face. It sits at 15% on Rotten Tomatoes with 48 reviews; and it grossed a paltry $38 million on a budget of $37 million. That is some puny-sized poultry.
It's failure also left Lucas' pockets bare. Worse, the poor director's (Willard Huyck) career flew south for the winter—an extended one. 
But, hey, Howard's trip to earth earned him a rocking credits song! And the disastrous film wasn't without some form of technical merit—even if that never came across onscreen.
So sit back, hook your space tentacle into a few Galaxy Drifter American IPAs from Pontoon Brewing Co., and play some righteous air guitar to the musical stylings of Cherry Bomb! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Capt. Cash, and Chumpzilla are priming the neutron disintegrator to blast the Dark Overlord back to the void of space!
This Week’s Segments:
Introduction/Plot Breakdown – We dive deep into Lucas' bizarre attempt to translate this Marvel character to the big screen. (00:00)
Our Overall Impressions – This is certainly a strange movie, but did any of it work? (48:35)
The Quacktastic Trivia Challenge and More Open-Ended Questions – Chumpzilla challenges us to trivia about the film, as well as the curious sex life of actual ducks. (1:13:15)
The Shit Movie Championship Showdown and Recommendations – This is not a good film. Is it bad enough to topple the pod's reigning champion, The Adventures of Pluto Nash, though? We debate. And next up: Prepare for some turbulence! We take to the skies one last time with Summer Rage with Nicolas Cage's bonus episode, Con Air! (1:34:33)
And, as always, hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids—how Howard's flop led to Pixar and more—from this week’s episode!
You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, and iHeartRadio!

Primal – Cage Exotic

Primal is emblematic of the current trajectory of the roller coaster career of Nicolas Cage. It's a low budget, limited release, born to be on late-night cable schlock fest that just happens to brandish some star power. Besides Cage—as big game hunter Frank Walsh—Famke Janssen, Kevin Durand, and Michael Imperioli also show up, hanging their heads in shame.
They are what make this thing at all watchable because when I say the budget was low, it's not an exaggeration. The white jaguar that adorns the poster is seldom seen. One would think that would be to the film's detriment, but its CGI commands it must be elusive.
Instead, Walsh's main foil is Richard Loffler (Durand)—a deadly government asset who promptly escapes and roams the ship with murderous impunity.
Their game of big cat and deranged mouse is the film in a nutshell. It's harmless, but it reeks of 90s sensibilities, as well. With a poor script, that even includes the required turn from an untrustworthy intelligence agent, there is little to enjoy outside of Cage and Durand's performances.
Durand relishes the role of the unhinged "winter soldier," and Cage—who literally appears to not give a shit—chews the scenery as a black market animal dealer who does not give a shit.
For that alone, it's worth a watch. So sit back, get your fangs into a Snow Paws Vanilla Milkshake Double IPA from Lead Dog Brewing Co., and stay away from those damn monkeys! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Capt. Cash, and Chumpzilla are feeding a prized jungle cat by luring a psychopath into our snare trap of doom!
This Week’s Segments:
Introduction/Plot Breakdown – B-movies' plots are generally lacking. That holds true here. (00:00)
The Official Summer Rage with Cage Quiz – For what was meant to be the final entry in our Nicolas Cage series, I developed a quiz dedicated to the bizarre stories about the man himself. (56:39)
Recommendations – And next up: We explore what happens "When Animals Attack," beginning with Howard the Duck! (1:22:25)
And, as always, hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids—the legend of Primal Rage and more—from this week’s episode!
You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, and iHeartRadio!

Drive Angry – Coming Like a Bat Out of Hell

Drive Angry is an ode to grindhouse cinema. A dead man (Nicolas Cage) breaks out of Hell to save the newborn child of his slain daughter — a child who has been kidnapped by a troupe of Satanists. Though a noble action, it's not allowed; thus, it prompts the Devil's "accountant" (William Fichtner) to pursue him.
Yep. That is the story. It's 100%, Grade A schlock. And its absurdity is bolstered by a legit attempt to incorporate 3-D thrills and bloody spills.
That's the fun of it. It came out at a time when distributors were attempting to reignite that schtick. Most films lazily cashed in on this premise, reprinting their films into 3-D without ever bothering to have a reason why. To its credit, Drive Angry really goes for it.
There are hands getting blown off, cars plowing toward the screen, and a gun fit to kill gods being unloaded directly at the viewer. It's loud, dumb, and somewhat fun. It's never meant to be anything more than that.
Unfortunately, that did not equate to viewers. On a budget of $50 million, it grossed roughly $40 million. It also received a chilly reception; it sits at 47% on Rotten Tomatoes with 122 reviews. The audience was less kind — 37%. Each of these is more than likely due to Drive Angry's sophomoric and often tasteless sense of humor.
But those numbers should not deter you from seeing it. It may not be prime Cage, but it is dealing death in all manner of gnarly 3-D ways Cage! So sit back, speed through a couple Battle Wagon Double IPAs from Service Brewing Co., and reload the God Killer! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Capt. Cash, and Chumpzilla are escaping the depths of Hell to take down a Satanic cult!
This Week’s Segments:
Introduction/Plot Breakdown – We put the pedal to the metal to assess this flaming car crash of a film. (00:00)
 Lingering Questions and the Like a Bat Out of Hell Trivia Challenge – Capt. Cash poses some final questions and then tests us to identify the character that escaped from the fire-filled pits of Hell to seek revenge. Bonus points were awarded if we could name the property they appeared in. (48:28)
Recommendations – Three-dimensional car combat is fun and all, but you'd probably prefer these recommendations. Next up on the final installment of Summer Rage with Nicolas Cage: Primal! (1:13:02)
And, as always, hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids—Fichtner's Buffalo fandom and more—from this week’s episode!
You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, and iHeartRadio!

Vampire's Kiss – Cage Uncaged

Vampire's Kiss is a window into the frayed psyche of a man losing his grip. Publishing executive Peter Loew is mentally melting down as he struggles to discover a meaningful relationship. This occurs amid the backdrop of the wild, relatively lawless streets of 1980s New York.
At its core, Vampire's Kiss is relevant social commentary about the disproportionate treatment women receive compared to men and the dangers of unchecked behaviors.
But it's also as interesting a case study as you can have on the method to an actor's madness. Nicolas Cage makes a lot of interesting choices in this film. Whether you agree with them, honestly, is up to you.
Because from the opening scene on, he's just going for it. The indefinable accent, the physicality, the faces—it is a tour de force of manic, unhinged behavior. It's Spinal Tap's amp eschewing 11 and heading straight to 12. And it is is just something that has to be seen.
Now, in saying that, I must also admit that the eccentricity of it does not make for a Hollywood blockbuster, nor does it equate to a sensible choice of roles for a rising star. But Cage is Cage; he's an original. And I'm not sure any other actor of his era could do what he does in this movie. It's that spastic.
So despite it flopping—it grossed $725,131 on a budget of $2 million—it's remembered more for unleashing the Cage we all know and love. Others involved with the project were not as fortunate. Both the director, Robert Bierman, and the writer, Joseph Minion, never quite recovered—a shame, as this movie did have important things to say.
In the end, though, it truly is all about Cage's performance. Love it or hate it, it's one for the ages. So sit back, bite into a Batsquatch Hazy IPA from Rogue, and enter the vapid decadence of 1980s New York! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Capt. Cash, and Chumpzilla, are harassing our co-workers to satiate our vampiric delirium!
This Week’s Segments:
Introduction/Plot Breakdown – In what is perhaps our most divisive film to date, we debate the merits of Cage's nutty turn as Peter Loew. (00:00)
The Vampire's Kiss Trivia Challenge – Chumpzilla challenges Capt. Cash and myself to trivia about this cult classic. (57:48)
Recommendations – Rather than eating a cockroach, why not watch one of these fine recommendations? Next up on Summer Rage with Nicolas Cage: Drive Angry! (1:24:17)
And, as always, hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids—Cage's desire to engage in mortal combat with an actual bat and more—from this week’s episode!
You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, and iHeartRadio!

Face/Off – Whee! What a Predicament!

Face/Off is bonkers. Plain and simple. It is two actors—in the relative prime of their careers—making the zaniest choices imaginable, and having a damn good time doing it.
For that reason—despite how dated its script and characters feel—it remains a tremendous watch. It's a literal game of actor's oneupmanship. Both Travolta and Cage, playing the same character, relish the freedom of Castor Troy. He has no rules; there are no shackles when they are in that space.
It also doesn't hurt that John Woo, the movie's director, knows how to cut an incredible action scene. And he does so in Face/Off with regularity.
Woo's style, like the acting, is over the top in all the right ways. There's no shortage of jumping, spinning, slow-motion doves, and explosions. Is any of it realistic? Not in the slightest. But it is a hallmark of why he became one of Asia's most celebrated action auteurs.
Thus, combining Woo's bullet ballet with Cage and Travolta's hammy performances was a stroke of cinematic genius. Critics and audiences agreed. A rarity for this show, Face/Off was a legitimate hit. It raked in $245.7 million on a budget of just $80 million; and it received glowing praise—92% on Rotten Tomatoes with 86 reviews.
That marriage, as insane and silly as it can come across, will never not be entertaining. So sit back, pour each of your personalities a Two Hearted IPA from Bell's Brewing, and strap on your magnetic super boots! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Capt. Cash, and Chumpzilla, are fighting our way through an absurd amount of indoor birds to take down a notorious criminal!
This Week’s Segments:
Introduction/Plot Breakdown – With little regard for human life or reloading, we dive head first into the anarchy of this film. (00:00)
Cage, Travolta, or Wizard, You Made that Shit Up –  I challenge Capt. Cash, Chumpzilla, and Mrs. McCheese to identify which one of these legendary actors starred in the referenced obscure b-movie. (1:12:41)
Recommendations – Hang in there, folks. And staying safe is easy with these recommendations. Next up on Summer Rage with Nicolas Cage: Vampire's Kiss! (1:19:40)
And, as always, hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids—Cage's weak stomach and more—from this week’s episode!
You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, and iHeartRadio!

Lethal Weapon 4 – Guilty of Sequelitis

On this special edition of the show, we welcomed J-Man and Boss Ross from *The Double Turn podcast for a no holds barred look at Lethal Weapon 4.
Lethal Weapon 4 is the finale to a beloved action franchise that began over a decade earlier. What started with Danny Glover's Roger Murtaugh opining that he was "too old for this shit" ended—well—with both he and his partner in fact being too old for it.
This is not a terrible movie, but it does embody many of the problematic elements that plague sequels, especially ones belonging to series that have grown too long in the tooth. It's overstuffed—heavy on sub-plots and inconsequential scenes—and lacks the narrative punch that defined the first two entries.
That is more than likely due to its script issues and truncated production schedule. Lethal Weapon 4 was shot, cut and distributed to theaters in just six months. For an action film of this scale, that is unheard of. This rushed production was made even more difficult by constant tinkering to the script. 
The film's lead writer, Channing Gibson, claimed he did more rewrites for this than any other project he ever worked on. From the sound of it, it was messy.
It is also far more expensive than its predecessors. Lethal Weapon 4's bloated plot led to an equally bloated budget. It cost roughly $140 million to produce, more than the first three combined. That fact, coupled with it receiving the worst reviews of the series (just 53% on Rotten Tomatoes with a Metacritic of 37), made it an interesting case study.
Despite all of this, and as I noted earlier, this is not that bad of a movie. It has a few incredible set pieces—in particular, a high-speed chase down a crowded Los Angeles freeway. Better yet, it was the American coming out party for martial arts icon Jet Li. His turn as Wah Sing Ku is worth the price of admission on its own. 
So sit back, sip a couple Civilized Brut IPAs from Founder's Brewing Co., and enjoy the stylings of cinema's oddest comedy duo (Chris Rock and Joe Pesci)! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Capt. Cash, and Chumpzilla, are fighting off Father Time, as well as the Chinese Triad!
This Week’s Segments:
Introduction/Plot Breakdown – To kickstart this podcast Royal Rumble, we break down what is arguably the low point of the Lethal Weapon series—covering its myriad of issues, the best action scene of the film, where it ranks in the franchise, and more. (00:00)
Reunited and It Feels So Good – The guys from The Double Turn take on Chumpzilla and Capt. Cash in a "Tornado Tag" trivia challenge. The rules are simple: They must identify an unnamed film and which Lethal Weapon co-stars appeared in it. Who will be crowned king of the podcast ring? (1:12:14)
Recommendations – Plenty of awesome recommendations are shared this week. And next up: We welcome back the incomparable Mayor McCheese for a pod of epic, face-swapping proportions. It's Face/Off! (1:26:15)
And, as always, hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids—the potential for a Lethal Weapon 5 and more—from this week’s episode!
You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, and TuneIn!
*The Double Turn is a podcast centered on pro wrestling. These guys know their stuff and have an incredible passion for the business. If you are at all of fan of WWE, AEW, etc., give them a listen. Their show is available on most podcast providers.

The Ghost and the Darkness – Oh, Here They Come...They're Man-Eaters

The Ghost and the Darkness is an account of the Tsavo man-eaters—a pair of lions who terrorized a Kenyan-Ugandan railway construction camp from March to December of 1898. The history of the British presence in that region is complicated; and it is one, we will not touch on here. The movie barely does either.
Despite that, its issues lie elsewhere. From poor Irish accents to Michael Douglas hamming it up as big-game hunter Charles Remington, The Ghost and the Darkness doesn't quite know what it wants to be. Is it a historical drama? An animal attack-infused thriller? Or, more simply, some sort of bizarre piece of Michael Douglas performance art that is meant to boggle the mind?
Point of fact, it's all three. Those elements don't necessarily mesh well together. It's a shame, really, because this historical tale of killer cats run amok seems ripe for big screen adaptation. And there are things here that do work well. It's wonderfully shot, used real-life lions, and does a more than adequate job of transporting you to 1890s Africa.
At the end of the day, unfortunately, the 30 minutes of Douglas mugging for the lens kill the picture—just as John Henry Patterson (Val Kilmer) did his feline foes.
But that absurd turn is also why you need to see it. So sit back, tap a couple of Fear. Movie. Lions Double IPAs from Stone Brewing Co., and try your best to avoid the malaria slaughter hospital! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Capt. Cash, and Chumpzilla, are torching the brush to lure out the fearsome beasts.
This Week’s Segments:
Introduction/Plot Breakdown – How do you effectively romanticize colonialism? Well, you attempt to make "Jaws with paws." (00:00)
Lingering Questions and the Reality Wasn't Real Enough Challenge – After fielding a few more questions from Capt. Cash, he challenges us to identify which elements of historical dramas were embellished to make the movie seem more realistic. (48:01)
Recommendations – A couple of Kilmer-centric recommendations are joined by an animated favorite. And next up: It's a podcast Royal Rumble! The boys from The Double Turn join us to break down Lethal Weapon 4! (1:21:58)
And, as always, hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids—the true story behind the lions and more—from this week’s episode!
You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, and TuneIn!