Filmjitsu! The Podcast that wields films as deadly weapons

As it's the middle of summer, Mike, in his infinite wisdom, assigned Jay yet another winter-themed movie! Following his Hot Frosty antics, he uncorked Hot Dog... The Movie, a 1984 skis-and-skin "comedy" about a ragtag group of elite U.S. freestyle skiers going up against uptight Germans in some kind of world-class competition that apparently attracts the horniest people alive. Why Mike is obsessed with "hot" movies set in cold climates is beyond anyone's understanding, but the damage has been done, and Jay wades through snow boots and boobs to reveal whether he found this movie cool enough to turn off the AC this summer or if it just made the humidity that much more unbearable. After his review, the guys dig into their Bottom Five Clichés, unearthing a treasure trove of tropes so annoying they'd prefer never to see them in another movie while knowing full well they'll encounter them again the next time they hit play. Following that, they play another exciting round of cinematic mash-ups with Dueling Double Bills before Jay reveals what's in store for Mike on the next episode. Spoiler alert: it won't be another slice of cold cinema. As far as Jay is concerned, summer is the perfect time to serve up some scorching cinematic payback on Filmjitsu, the podcast that wields films like deadly weapons.

The fireworks may be over and the grill has gone cold, but Filmjitsu is still celebrating! This week, Jay and Mike recount their trip to the theater for the long-awaited return of Masters of the Universe. After a first trailer that inspired more dread than excitement, could a reported $200 million blockbuster based on an '80s toy line really succeed where the 1987 Dolph Lundgren adaptation stumbled and sent the franchise into cinematic hibernation for nearly four decades? The guys are joined by a special guest as THEY HAVE THE POWER during their full review. Then it's time for Bottom Five Tough Guys, celebrating cinema's most overrated hard cases: characters who puff out their chests, talk a big game, and somehow still leave you wondering if anyone was ever actually intimidated. From beloved classics to a few less-than-beloved oddities, the countdown might permanently alter how you see some familiar faces. After that, Jay and Mike step into the arena for another round of Dueling Double Bills, pairing films in unexpected ways before Mike reveals the next movie assignment destined to test Jay's cinematic endurance.So grab some leftovers, shake off that freedom-loving holiday hangover, and spend the last hour of your long weekend with Filmjitsu, the podcast that wields films like deadly weapons.

Since this episode lands on Father's Day, Jay decides to do something thematic for a change and assigns Mike one of the most acclaimed and divisive films of the 21st century: Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life. Is the film a profound meditation on fathers and sons, memory, grief, faith, and the very nature of existence? Or is it an overlong exercise in whispered narration, floating cameras, and cosmic self-importance? The guys tackle that question head-on and, perhaps unsurprisingly given the film's subject matter, find themselves wandering into some unexpectedly personal territory along the way. After the review, the guys count down their Bottom Five Creations, a collection of inventions, monsters, products, and catastrophically misguided acts of ingenuity that probably should have remained on the drawing board. Then it's time once again for Dueling Double Bills, where Mike and Jay attempt to pair randomly selected films into seat-filling double features and, as usual, discover that agreement is far less likely than argument. Finally, in a move that may qualify as self-harm under certain legal definitions, Mike and Jay announce an upcoming trip to the movie theater, where they'll willingly exchange approximately two mortgage payments for tickets, popcorn, and whatever fresh cinematic Hell awaits them on the big screen.

On this episode of Filmjitsu, Mike decides he'd like to "extend winter" a little longer by assigning Jay the Netflix holiday rom-com Hot Frosty. A calculated attempt to exploit Jay's well-documented affection for romantic comedies, this weird take on Frosty the Snowman stars Hallmark Channel royalty Lacey Chabert and a magically animated snowman blessed with abs that could cut glass. Is it a surprisingly heartfelt holiday romance, or just another disposable entry in the ever-expanding streaming content machine? The guys dig in during the main review and then afterward, Mike and Jay count down their Bottom Five Hotties, a collection of movie characters whose scorching appeal can't compensate for their terrible behavior or general awfulness. Then it's time once again for Dueling Double Bills, where the guys attempt to build the perfect companion features for wildly different movies and, as usual, wander into unexpected territory along the way. Finally, the eternal cycle of cinematic revenge continues when the next assignment is revealed. So crank up your air conditioning, grab a mug of hot cocoa and join the podcast that wields films like deadly weapons as they contend with more icy-hotness than Mike's used on his forever-ailing back.

This week on Filmjitsu, Mike is subjected to Bolero, the infamous 1984 erotic drama directed by John Derek and starring his wife, Bo Derek, in what may be the most lavishly photographed vanity project ever unleashed upon unsuspecting audiences.Was this a genuinely misguided attempt at prestige filmmaking, or simply expensive late-night cable fodder pretending to be profound? Mike and Jay attempt to separate the silk scarves from the sleaze during the main review. Afterward, inspired by one of cinema’s purest examples of exploitation masquerading as art, the guys count down their Bottom Five Sleazy Art Films. From self-important erotic dramas to beautifully-shot cinematic skin flicks desperate for legitimacy, these are the movies that mistake tasteful lighting and international locations for substance. Then it’s time once again for Dueling Double Bills, where Mike and Jay take tangentially related movies and create competing double features either fit for the art house or destined for the video store back room. Finally, the cycle of cinematic vengeance continues when Mike reveals what fresh madness Jay will be forced to endure on the next episode.