155 - Godzill-B (with Gareth Allen)

Guest: Gareth Allen

Films covered in this episode:

Godzilla (1998)
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Gareth: ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 54%

Godzilla (2014)
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Gareth: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 64%

Shin Godzilla
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Gareth: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 80%

Guest host: Gareth Allen

Our Godzilla mini-season continues with a look at the 1998 and 2014 American remakes of Gojira and the 2016 Toho film Shin Godzilla - all in the run-up to Godzilla: King of the Monsters.

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154 - Godzilla (with Gareth Allen)

Guest: Gareth Allen

Films covered in this episode:

Godzilla (1954)
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Gareth: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 77%

Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰
Gareth: n/s
Sol: n/s
Overall score: 60%

Godzilla Raids Again
Allen: n/s
Gareth: n/s
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 30%

Mothra vs. Godzilla
Allen: ✰ ✰ ½
Gareth: ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 44%

Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster
Allen: n/s
Gareth: n/s
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 30%

Invasion of Astro-Monster
Allen: n/s
Gareth: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 60%

Ebirah, Horror of the Deep
Allen: n/s
Gareth: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰
Overall score: 40%

Son of Godzilla
Allen: n/s
Gareth: n/s
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 30%

Destroy All Monsters
Allen: n/s
Howard: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 50%

All Monsters Attack
Allen: n/s
Gareth: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰
Overall score: 40%

Godzilla vs. Hedorah
Allen: n/s
Gareth: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 60%

Godzilla vs. Gigan
Allen: n/s
Howard: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 50%

Godzilla vs. Megalon
Allen: n/s
Gareth: n/s
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 30%

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla
Allen: n/s
Gareth: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰
Overall score: 40%

Terror of Mechagodzilla
Allen: n/s
Gareth: n/s
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 30%

The Return of Godzilla
Allen: ✰ ½
Gareth: ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 47%

Godzilla 1985
Allen: ✰ ✰
Gareth: n/s
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 35%

Godzilla vs. Biorante
Allen: n/s
Gareth: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰
Overall score: 40%

Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah
Allen: n/s
Gareth: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 50%

Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth
Allen: n/s
Gareth: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰
Overall score: 40%

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II
Allen: n/s
Gareth: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰
Overall score: 40%

Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla
Allen: n/s
Gareth: n/s
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 30%

Godzilla vs. Destroyah
Allen: n/s
Gareth: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 60%

Godzilla 2000
Allen: n/s
Gareth: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 50%

Godzilla vs. Megaguirus
Allen: n/s
Howard: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 60%

Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack
Allen: n/s
Gareth: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 50%

Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla
Allen: n/s
Gareth: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 60%

Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.
Allen: n/s
Gareth: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 50%

Godzilla: Final Wars
Allen: n/s
Gareth: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰
Overall score: 40%

A hulking behemoth of an episode, tackling the first 50 years of Godzilla movies. That's 28 films, plus two American re-edits. We'll be getting to the 1998 and 2014 remakes next week, too.

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153 - Aladdin (with Howard Jenkins)

Guest: Howard Jenkins

Films covered in this episode:

Aladdin (1992)
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Howard: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 84%

The Return of Jafar
Allen: ✰ ✰ ½
Howard: ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰
Overall score: 47%

Aladdin and the King of Thieves
Allen: ✰ ✰ ½
Howard: ✰ ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 57%

Disney have done that thing that they keep doing where they remake their old films. This time, they're messing around with Aladdin. Hear talk of the animation process, shifting political standards, Robin Williams and the introduction of an instant classic new Diminishing Returns comedy character...

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152 - Pokemon (with Calvin Dyson)

Guest: Calvin Dyson

Films covered in this episode:

Pokemon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back
Allen: ✰ ✰
Calvin: ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 37%

Pokemon: The Movie 2000
Allen: n/s
Calvin: ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰
Overall score: 35%

Pokemon 3: The Movie
Allen: n/s
Calvin: ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 40%

Pokemon: Mewtwo Returns
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 30%

Pokemon 4Ever: Celebi - Voice of the Forest
Allen: n/s
Calvin: ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 30%

Pokemon Heroes: Latios and Latias
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰
Overall score: 20%

Pokemon: Jirachi - Wish Maker
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 30%

Pokemon: Destiny Deoxys
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 30%

Lucario and the Mystery of Mew
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 30%

Pokemon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰
Overall score: 20%

Pokemon: The Rise of Darkrai
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 30%

Pokemon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 30%

Pokemon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰
Overall score: 20%

Pokemon: Zoroark - Master of Illusions
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 30%

Pokemon: White - Victini and Zekrom
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰
Overall score: 20%

Pokemon: Black - Victini and Reshiram
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ½
Overall score: 10%

Pokemon: Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰
Overall score: 40%

Pokemon: Genesect and the Legend Awakened
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 30%

Pokemon: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰
Overall score: 20%

Pokemon: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰
Overall score: 40%

Pokemon: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰
Overall score: 20%

Diminishing Returns go back to the video game well for a discussion of the Pokemon franchise in the run-up to Detective Pikachu. For those not in the know, Calvin is almost as into Pokemon as he's into James Bond.

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151 - Avengers: Infinity War (with Howard Jenkins)

Guest: Howard Jenkins

Films covered in this episode:

Avengers: Infinity War
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Calvin: ✰ ✰ ✰
Howard: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 83%

It had to be done. With the upcoming release of Avengers: Endgame, the biggest cinematic event since Infinity War, Diminishing Returns take a look at the state of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And this time, Sol's enlisted a ringer.

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150 - Easter Special: Left Behind (with Calvin Dyson)

Guest: Calvin Dyson

Films covered in this episode:

Left Behind: The Movie (2000)
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ½
Overall score: 10%

Left Behind (2014)
Allen: ✰ ✰
Calvin: ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 34%

Diminishing Returns go back to the meaty well of Christianity to celebrate Easter 2019. Last time, it was God's Not Dead. This time, it's Left Behind.

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149 - Hellboy (with Scott Chambers)

Guest: Scott Chambers

Films covered in this episode:

Hellboy (2004)
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Scott: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 70%

Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Allen: ✰ ✰ ½
Scott: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 67%

We've done a surprising amount of Guillermo Del Toro's work on the podcast at this point - or, at least we have, now, as we add another two of his films to our list: Hellboy and Hellboy II: The Golden Army. Why? Because they're doing another Hellboy movie, aren't they? Yes - and guest host Scott was there, on set!

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148 - Pet Sematary

Films covered in this episode:

Pet Sematary (1989)
Allen: ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 60%

Pet Sematary II
Allen: ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 60%

We don't want to be buried in a pet cemetery, but we'll cover the Pet Sematary movies in the run-up to the new adaptation of Stephen King's book. Sure!

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147 - Dumbo (with Calvin Dyson)

Guest: Calvin Dyson

Films covered in this episode

Dumbo
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Calvin: ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 67%

This week has everything from deep explorations of race politics, dubious accusations of animal cruelty against Thomas Edison, a quiz game and, of course, discussion of Dumbo... Disney's beloved classic film and the upcoming Tim Burton remake.

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145 - For Your Eyes Only (with Calvin Dyson)

Guest: Calvin Dyson

Films covered in this episode:

For Your Eyes Only
Allen: ✰ ✰ ½
Calvin: ✰ ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰ ✰
Overall score: 50%

For your ears only (not really, it's for anyone who wants to listen, sorry)... but that shouldn't matter because it's Diminishing Returns returning to James Bond once more.

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144 - The Incredible Hulk

Films covered in this episode:

The Incredible Hulk Returns
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰
Sol: n/s
Overall score: 60%

Hulk
Allen: ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰
Overall score: 45%

The Incredible Hulk
Allen: ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 65%

With yet another entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe upon us in the form of Captain Marvel, here's a look back to the second film in the franchise: The Incredible Hulk.

We also take a look at the 1978 TV series, its spin-off movies and Ang Lee's 2003 Hulk.

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143 - All Diminishing, All Returns (with Calvin Dyson)

Guest: Calvin Dyson

Here, for you, are a selection of never-heard-before (and very old) clips from Allen's cutting-room floor. Hear cut discussion from episodes like Psycho, Alien and others, as well as the story about when Sol and Allen were going to get a pet chimp when they lived together and yet more cut material from that huge quiz episode we did to celebrate our episode-count turning 100.

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142 - Oscars 2019 (with Calvin Dyson)

Guest: Calvin Dyson

Films covered in this episode:

Black Panther
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰
Calvin: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 70%

BlacKkKlansman
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰
Calvin: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 70%

Bohemian Rhapsody
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 55%

The Favourite
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 70%

Green Book
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 80%

Roma
Allen: ✰ ✰ ½
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 50%

A Star is Born
Allen: ✰ ✰
Calvin: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 64%

Vice
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 80%

and also…

Mary Queen of Scots
Allen: ✰ ✰
Cakvin: n/s
Sol: n/s
Overall score: 40%

The Big Short
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 80%

It's the third annual Oscars blowout at Diminishing Returns, taking aim at all of this year's Best Picture nominees:
Black Panther
BlacKkKlansman
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite
Green Book
Roma
A Star is Born
Vice

...and a few other films that sneak into the discussion along the way.

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141 - Fifty Shades Freed (with Calvin Dyson)

Guest: Calvin Dyson

Films covered in this episode:

Fifty Shades Freed
Allen: ✰ ½
Calvin: ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 30%

The Diminishing Returns' annual Valentine's Day special sees out the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy with a look at Fifty Shades Freed. As ever, it's more of an excuse to talk about sex than a real celebration of (very bad) cinema.

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140 - Kevin Smith Season III (with Scott Chambers)

Guest: Scott Chambers

Films covered in this episode:

Red State
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Scott: ✰ ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 64%

Jay and Silent Bob’s Super Groovy Cartoon Movie
Allen: ✰ ✰
Scott: n/s
Sol: ✰
Overall score: 30%

Tusk
Allen: ✰ ✰ ½
Scott: ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 50%

Yoga Hosers
Allen: ✰ ½
Scott: ½
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 24%

Much like the latter end of Kevin Smith's career, Kevin Smith Season trundles along to a whimpering finale with a look at Red State, Tusk, Jay and Silent Bob's Super Groovy Cartoon Movie, Yoga Hosers and the many, many Kevin Smith projects that have been announced and will probably never happen.

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139 - Kevin Smith Season II

Films covered in this episode:

Jersey Girl
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 65%

Clerks II
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 75%

Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 70%

Cop Out
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰
Overall score: 40%

Kevin Smith continues with a look at the awkward Hollywood years...

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138 - We Need to Talk About Kevin (Smith): Kevin Smith Season (with Paul Brear)

Guest: Paul Brear

Films covered in this episode:

Clerks
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Brear: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 80%

Mallrats
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Brear: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 74%

Chasing Amy
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Brear: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 77%

Dogma
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Brear: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 77%

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Brear: ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 64%

How do you follow up a season of episodes looking at a filmmaker as innovative and revered as Quentin Tarantino? By not even trying and just looking at the works of Kevin Smith, instead. In this, part 1 of Kevin Smith season, Diminishing Returns is joined by friend-of-the-show Paul Brear to discuss Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

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137 - Split (with Calvin Dyson)

Guest: Calvin Dyson

Films covered in this episode:

Split
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰
Calvin: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 74%

The twist is that M. Night Shyamalan Season wasn't over - that's right, we return to the infamous writer/director's work with a look at Split in anticipation of the upcoming film Glass. For obvious reasons, we take another big look at Unbreakable, too.

Also, spoiler alert for Split and some other past M. Night movies.

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136 - Laurel & Hardy and Way Out West (with Calvin Dyson)

Guest: Calvin Dyson

Films covered in this episode:

One Good Turn
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰
Calvin: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 64%

Thicker than Water
Allen: ✰ ✰ ½
Calvin: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 64%

Way Out West
Allen: ✰ ✰
Calvin: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 60%

Stan and Ollie
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 75%

In anticipation of upcoming John C. Reilly and Steve Coogan awards grab, Stan and Ollie, Diminishing Returns indulge Calvin's love of Laurel & Hardy by looking at their careers, a couple of their shorts and their best known feature: Way Out West. Did I say in anticipation of Stan and Ollie? That's not quite accurate because Sol's already seen it. So that film gets reviewed as well.

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