Abrams, Part 5: Star Wars: Episode VII--The Force Awakens

Running Time: 1 hour 27 minutes 5 seconds

Many have criticized J.J. Abrams for turning Star Trek into Star Wars with his 2009 film.  But what happens when Abrams make a Star Wars movie for real?

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike add a postscript to their series on J.J. Abrams with a look at his latest directorial effort, Star Wars: Episode VII--The Force Awakens. We discuss the movie on the whole, Abrams' direction in particular, and the work of other Trek veterans on the crew. We also give our thoughts on the first trailer for Star Trek Beyond.

Chapters

The Force Awakens (00:01:12)

Crying in Movies (00:19:57)

Spoilers (00:48:29)

Trek Collaborators (01:04:51)

Wrap-up (01:17:31)

Hosts

John Mills and Mike Schindler

Production

Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

Pegg, Part 7: Recap.

Running Time: 1 hour 4 minutes 52 seconds

Over the course of the last decade, Simon Pegg has come to prove himself not only as a fine, but also as one of the best writers in the movie business. 

This week on Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John take a look at each of the five films which Pegg has co-written, including Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Run Fatboy Run, Paul, and The World's End. We also discuss Bad Robot's restoration of Phantasm.

Chapters

Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and Run Fatboy Run (00:01:10)

Paul and The World's End (00:14:10)

Conclusion (00:33:12)

Wrap-up (00:48:24)

Hosts

Mike Schindler and John Mills

Production

Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

Pegg, Part 6: The World's End

Running Time: 43 minutes 4 seconds

Six years after the release of Hot Fuzz, Simon Pegg finally reteamed with Edgar Wright on the screenplay for the final film in the Cornetto Trilogy, The World's End.

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike take a look at the film, which is last script to be penned by Pegg prior to the release of Star Trek Beyond. We discuss how Pegg has grown as both a writer and an actor, how this film fits in with the other two films in the Cornetto Trilogy, and how the Cubs haven't won a World Series in 107 years.

Chapters
The World's End (00:00:48)
The Coda (00:14:54)
Wrap-up (00:30:47)

Hosts
John Mills and Mike Schindler

Production
Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

Pegg, Part 5: Paul.

Running Time: 47 minutes 13 seconds

In 2011, Simon Pegg teamed with his on-screen partner, Nick Frost, to write his fourth screenplay, Paul. The film, directed by Greg Mottola, stars Pegg and Frost as two British sci-fi geeks who take a road trip across America to visit UFO hotspots. Along the way, they meet Paul, an alien played by Seth Rogen, who is on the run from government agents.

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John take a look Paul. We discuss why the humor did or did not work for us, whether or not the character of Paul is likable, and how well Pegg fares without Edgar Wright.

Chapters
Paul (00:00:44)
Worlds Collide (00:14:52)
Wrap-up (00:35:26)

Hosts
Mike Schindler and John Mills

Production
Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

Editor and Producer
Mike Schindler

Executive Producers
Charlynn Schmiedt, Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, and C Bryan Jones