Ep 06-38: War of the Worlds (2005)

WAR OF THE WORLDS (2005)—As extraterrestrial invaders unleash their devastating tripods on Earth, a father (Tom Cruise) must protect his children and navigate the chaos. With groundbreaking visual effects and relentless tension, Spielberg crafts a harrowing tale of survival against overwhelming odds.

Join us as we journey into the heart of the invasion, dissecting Spielberg’s compromised direction and the film’s uneven narrative. From its pulse-pounding action sequences to its attempt at poignant explorations of human nature in times of crisis, War of the Worlds is a flawed film. Listen as Johnny Has the Keys contemplates why this reimagining of the 1953 classic does not work.

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Ep. 06-29: Duel (1971)

DUEL (1971)—David Mann is on a road trip and unwittingly provokes the wrath of a menacing tanker truck driver in the California desert. Soon, he finds himself in a tense cat-and-mouse chase, with the tanker relentlessly pursuing him through the isolated desert landscape. When the pursuit escalates to deadly levels, Mann must summon his inner warrior and turn the tables on his tormentor.

We’re back in the world of Steven Spielberg (David’s favorite director and the one we’ve covered most)! Duel (1971) is notable for many things. Not only was it Spielberg’s first film, but it was based on the short story by Richard Matheson (one of our most covered writers). Join us, as we discuss why this film still works and how it catapulted Spielberg into a career still going strong 5 decades later. Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys races for survival against a faceless menace in hot pursuit, recklessly reeling on a lonesome desert highway.

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Ep. 06-01 Jurassic Park (1993)

Paleontologists Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) along with mathematician Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) are among a select group chosen to tour an island theme park populated by dinosaurs created from prehistoric DNA. While the park’s mastermind, billionaire John Hammond (Richard Attenborough), assures everyone that the facility is safe, they find out otherwise when various predators break free and go on the hunt.

We’re starting the season with a massive blockbuster from David’s favorite Mr. Spielberg himself. Jurassic Park (1993) is a landmark film for multiple reasons, but mostly it’s known as the project where CGI had finally reached the capability of lifelike special effects, thus producing dinosaurs that scared the crap out of literally millions of moviegoers. Join us as we discuss the history of the film, as well as all the major components that came together to make it one of America’s all-time classic films. Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys takes you to the most unique amusement park ever, where extinct creatures roam the earth again. It’s all safe. We promise. What could go wrong?

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Ep. 04-12: Ready Player One (2018)

In 2045, the earth is in chaos and collapse, but people find salvation in the OASIS: an expansive virtual reality universe created by eccentric James Halliday. When Halliday dies, he wills his immense fortune to the first person to discover a digital Easter egg that’s hidden somewhere in the OASIS. Wade Watts joins the contest and becomes an unlikely hero in a reality-bending treasure hunt through a fantastical world of mystery, discovery, and danger.

Episode 12 Ready Player One

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Note: Ready Player One references an insane amount of pop culture. Therefore, any keys below are more thematic to the film itself, as opposed to an infinite list of cute cameos!