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Film & 40s

Film & 40s: Film & 40s: They Live

Abby and Jeff Bakalar put on the glasses for the first time as the Beast crew CONSUMES one of John Carpenter's greatest masterpieces.

An audio accompaniment to your movie viewing pleasure with your friends at Giant Bomb.

Aug. 25 2017

Posted by: Alex

Episode Notes:

This podcast is an audio supplement, meant to be played simultaneously with the film They Live. We are watching the film via a US DVD release. Streaming and rental options can be found here.

Our commentary begins at the film's 1 second mark. It's right where the Universal Pictures logo starts to fade up.

ALSO: There is a quick hiccup at the 01:28:10 mark of the file where the film briefly paused. I was unfortunately unable to edit around it, so you will likely need to resync at that point. Apologies for the inconvenience.

215 Comments

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deactivated-5c802d5244530

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Hellllll yeaaaaaaah I was looking for an excuse to get drunk!

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NickFoley

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Based on the tease that Alex posted on Twitter after their recording, I went ahead and watched They Live for the first time. It's on HBO Now (and regular HBO, and Go, I presume.) Because really, who listens to a commentary track for a movie they’ve never seen before? Well, I think this movie has good ideas, but very poor execution. It has a message of paranoid, anti-consumerism hidden under a slow, dragging film. The early bits of the movie aren't that intriguing with Roddy just walking around, failing to get a job. It's pretty lifeless during those bits. Better film making would have done wonders. Considering our current political climate and how things did go consumer wise since the end of the 80’s and beginning of the 90’s, this kind of story is prime for modern re-imagining. And although it was enjoyable seeing a younger Keith David, that fight scene is RIDICULOUS. It absolute nonsense for that fight to take that long, in that environment, for such a simple outcome. I really wish there are a better movie surrounding the concept.

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Epiphyte

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This should make for good watching while I wait out the hurricane

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GRIMREEFZ

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Cant wait! Also, F8 of the Furious plaz

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Tophat666

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FUCK YEAH!!!
Watching/listening to the shit of this on my next day off

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TacticalError

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I have no idea what sort of film this even is or where it came from, so this should be interesting.

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billmurray

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On the eve of a 3 day weekend? Thank you.

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deactivated-5b85a38d6c493

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@nickfoley: I watched the F&F movies and Battle Royale for the first time with the commentary. Those were movies that I would never watch on my own though while They Live has always been in my backlog.

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csl316

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Heck yeah, one of those movies I always wanted to see but never did!

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DweezilX

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Edited By DweezilX

I remember seeing this movie for the first time, must have been back in the early 90s on cable. What a mind blower! Good choice guys.

**EDIT** Fucking millennials not appreciating slow, 80s shit. This movie is awesome. :P

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GalacticPunt

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@nickfoley: I have my beloved Blu-ray of the film cued up right now on the first frame. I'd rather enjoy the commentary right now than take on your analysis point-by-point so I'll just say...

Your opinion is bad and you should feel bad.

Put on the glasses. ?

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armaan8014

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Edited By armaan8014

I have never watched this movie but I have it with me, and was planning to watch it soon. Guess I'll watch it now (vanilla) and then later listen to this podcast while I work!

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Catlicker

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I love this movie. It's bad and good, and bad, and good as well.

We need more Carpenter in our lives. When shall we watch 'The Thing'?

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Cavala

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The real question is, can an action movie convince Dan capitalism is bad?

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TanookiSuit

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Oh Hell Yes. Needed a good excuse to go back and re-watch this. I agree with @catlicker that more Carpenter would be great. Please do a F&40s of The Thing! I'm willing to bet several shines that Abby has never seen it.

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Marty20k

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Me and my friend were talking about this movie yesterday! cannot wait to see it for the first time!!

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forteexe21

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RIP Hotrod.

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KennyD6

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Dan and Alex get Big Trouble in Little China Film & 40s going

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Brake

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Film & 40s is now the number one thing informing my movie buying decisions.

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Wiseblood

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Edited By Wiseblood

Is the Blu-ray different than the DVD version they're watching? I mixed the commentary to the audio track on a rip I made and have the music at the beginning synced up to the music that was audible on the commentary, but having watched 5 minutes of it so far they're commentary seems way off. I just heard Vinny comment on some cops showing up a good few seconds after it actually happened.

EDIT: Nevermind. Must have made a mistake when I was syncing.

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HisHeroIsGone

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Edited By HisHeroIsGone

Any reason to drink heavily and watch They Live. Thank you GBeast!

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cheato

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This is high up on my list of movies to watch ASAP!

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UlquioKani

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The film is available as part of Amazon Prime (at least in the UK). I don't know if it is the right version though.

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alex

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@ulquiokani: Far as I know there's only one version of the movie. No director's cuts or anything, so what you have should work.

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cooltube96

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@alex: Thanks alex . I was worried i would get the wrong version like battle royale again.

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geirr

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It's time to watch They Live with the GBeast and drink some 40's -
but I'm all out of 40's..?

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vizard1301

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This was a great movie holy hell.

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GalacticPunt

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@alex: Indeed, there is no Extended or Director's Cut of They Live because John ? Carpenter ? made ? it ? perfect ? the ? first ? time ?

Just finished the commentary. Thanks duders. Now I don't trust Abby. Don't stand next to any big windows with her around.

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ahifi

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Jeez... That homeless guy, when talking about the epidemic, explains it as people afraid to face the future - and that it happens at the end of every century. 11 years after this movie, 'Y2K' was a thing. Terrific observation from Carpenter.

Saw this on TV when I was a kid during the mid-90s on a hotel TV somewhere. It terrified me.

Watched it a decade ago, loved it.

Watching it now, I can see how stupid it can be.

But I feel the message is still good and as relevant today. The mass working class at the time of this movie has slowly eroded, replaced with a younger, less politicised, more distracted and slightly richer aspirational class.

You can easily spot which of our hosts fit in with this package. ;)

No Caption Provided

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SteveVice

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Man! I miss when this was a Dan and Drew thing.

This could have been so fun if this was Alex, Dan and Vinny.
Abby screaming over everyone at the end is the most annoying thing in recorded history

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Zatoichi

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@wiseblood: I might be completely wrong on this, but I believe US NTSC DVDs run at 23.97fps, while blu-rays worldwide playback at the original film 24fps. When playing back NTSC DVDs many TVs display them at the TV NTSC standard of 30fps, (PAL TVs at 25fps just to be awkward). Many newer sets have a 24fps setting specifically to avoid this weirdness but it often only kicks in for blu-rays. This is all hazily remembered from days of ripping dvds (completely legally I assure you.)

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Draugen

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Man, this is like the bottom of the barrel when it comes to Carpenter. He's great, but this movie is awful.

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deactivated-647f76b346730

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Seeing comments that Drunk/Interrupting Abby may make a return. I will sit this one out. To those who enjoy it, more power to you :) Have a great week!

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HiCZoK

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Yes! I love this movie

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ahifi

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Edited By ahifi

@stevevice said:

Man! I miss when this was a Dan and Drew thing.

This could have been so fun if this was Alex, Dan and Vinny.

Abby screaming over everyone at the end is the most annoying thing in recorded history

TL;DR: Abby Screams =

No Caption Provided

I don't like when we're being so critical of the staff, especially the new staff, but Abby's scream during Exquisite Corps #1 made my tinnitus really bad for the rest of that day.

Like, a Giant Bomb video detrimentally affected my day...

It nearly happened again on one of the Sunshine videos, but I was more prepared for it that time. It doesn't feel good being on edge while trying to enjoy the content.

It takes less than a second to move away from the microphone and let out a scream. I still hear it, I still know it's there, but my ears don't need to be victim to it...

Anyway, rant over. ARRRRRGGGHHHHHH!

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hassun

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@draugen: This is actually the first time I've seen someone who likes Carpenter a lot really hate They Live. Which are the one you like best?

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BrunoTheThird

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Edited By BrunoTheThird

Saying a movie is too slow is one of the things a lot of movie watchers point out as a flaw rather than a style or choice which niggles me when said repeatedly. If you don't like it that's cool, I just enjoy it when people explain in a quick way why they don't instead of screaming and wah-ing. We're all different, though; I rip every Bond movie to shreds (minus the amazing music).

I thought it was a breath of fresh air for a movie of that era to takes its time and soak in the atmosphere a bit instead of going for the quick action formula. I think the fight scene could've been edited better for the pace's sake, though -- definitely -- but it's always fun to see.

King of the B-movies for me!

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Larsa

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Edited By Larsa

Has Dan ever finished a movie without being confused as hell lmao.

and Abby complaining about every scene being too long is truly embracing the millennial.

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Draugen

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@hassun: I love The Thing. I watch it at least once a year, and I've never grown tired of it. Escape from New York is great. Big Trouble in Little China (hoo boy) seen with modern eyes is a bit problematic, but I still love it. I also have a spot in my heart for Starman.

Oh, and even though the movie is terrible, the ending to Escape from LA is one of my favorite Carpenter scenes.

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hassun

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@draugen: Interesting, what do you dislike so much about They Live?

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AndrewJPlant

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I feel like the time is ripe for a They Live sequel about open revolution against the ruling class. They Live 2: They Bleed

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zinkn

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Abby please dont drink anymore..

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Draugen

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@hassun: It meanders like crazy, it's shot in like 3 locations, a ton of scenes make absolutely no sense, and (whisper it) Roddy Piper is not an actor.

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Dunchad

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I hadn't seen They Live before - it was pretty meh. Enjoyed their reactions to the movie more than the actual movie.

I love watching movies with my GBeast buddies. More of this feature!

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ahifi

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I feel like the time is ripe for a They Live sequel about open revolution against the ruling class. They Live 2: They Bleed

Yes, but a slight alteration, if I may? They Live 2 Bleed.

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Lord_Punch

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This commentary was so much fun!

Since Alex brought it up, they should totally watch IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS. One of Carpenter's more underrated films. Maybe a Halloween Film & 40's?

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KaiserRoll

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Abbey was kinda insufferable complaining about how scenes took too long. Just have patience, jesus christ.

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Jeeboz

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@ahifi: I'm a millennial and I think this movie is dope and scarily prescient, sorry about Dan and Abby's loud ignorance. Lots of people my age love Carpenter

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glots

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@jeeboz said:

@ahifi: I'm a millennial and I think this movie is dope and scarily prescient, sorry about Dan and Abby's loud ignorance. Lots of people my age love Carpenter

I'm pretty sure that Dan said multiple times how he likes this movie and is a fan of Carpenter's movies in general?

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dethfish

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Edited By dethfish

Abby and Jeff can't appreciate art.

and the movie might make more sense if you weren't drunk and talking over the few plot points