Billy Jack (Welcome To The Basement)

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For our 50th episode we threw it open to the audience to choose the film, and one of them threw back Billy Jack. The story of an ass-kicking peacekeeper and the hippie Freedom School that he protects.
In Seen It, we discuss fear, meanness and killing.
All film footage is used in accordance with fair use and US copyright law. All music in the show is used with full permission of the composer.
Thanks for all the great comments. Keep em coming! If you watch one of the movies we discuss, let us know what you thought of it.
Welcome To The Basement" is a show about watching, discussing and having fun with movies. Matt choses the movie and Craig doesn't know what it is until the cameras start rolling, so none of the discussion or riffing is planned ahead of time.
Movie announced on facebook before every new episode. Get the movie and follow along. We do discuss the entire movie, including the ending, so if you want to avoid spoilers, watch the movie first.

[@lutze5086]

you two are so fucking great, thank you so much for this beautiful show

[@UberNeuman]

The original title of "Billy Jack" was "Let's Go To The Hospital." Love Welcome To The Basement! Looking forward to many more episodes.

[@EyeofValor]

Subtitle: "Hippies are idiots." maybe?

[@eclatshwartzbaumcybertune2063]

This song is now in my head!!!

[@MegaTomAwesome]

Thank you so much for picking this! You guys rule!

[@GMoneyChuck89]

Oh my god, I would love to see them watch The Fall. What a beautiful movie.

[@CTN71]

Surprised u guys mentioned That 70s Show! That's probably my favorite tv show of all time.

[@Luckyfoxoval78]

Holy hell, I just found out this movie was filmed in Prescott, Arizona! I live there!

[@Kinetikai]

Boffo episode! Have you fellas seen "The Plague Dogs?" It's a very dark animated feature, made by the same team that did "Watership Down." Not the most uplifting film, but has one of the best bittersweet endings I've ever seen from an animated movie. Also, I love how all the animal characters feel real, and not overly anthropomorphized -- a rare sight in a cartoon film.

[@bradenwilson8198]

I love the little Ernesto thing you do at the end of eve episodes, this one almost resulted in grizzly death by hilarious cat.

[@KaptainSpaulding]

So now I know why the sequel to this was Billy Jack Goes To Washington. Actually I thought the first Billy Jack movie, Born Losers was a much better story. Nothing like kicking some motorcycle gang ass.... Great show guys!

[@SirGeeeO]

The story of film is amazing...my "movies to see" list tripled in length

[@rakhyvel]

BlameSociety Have you seen Revenge of the Ninja from 1983? I had it taped together with the original Robocop by my mom and watched it all the time when I was sick as a little boy. One of those, in my opinion, classic action movies that really sparked my interest in ninjas and martial arts and gore. If you haven't watched it you should of course watch it uncensored, I watch it at least one time every year! :D

[@rayhs1984]

I looked up the song, for unknown reason there is a cover of "one tin soldier" by Luanne from King of the Hill and it is on KZbin. It is pretty much the best thing ever.

[@Boomstick88]

Fun fact. The band you mentioned Coven, were the first to use the "devil horns" you see in metal today. It's a shame they never became famous though back then a band that actually practiced the "dark arts" couldn't really.

[@Boomstick88]

He made the devil horns popular, but he wasn't the first. Look on Coven's album inner sleeve. Devil Horns

[@DeeManDrawsIsTheBest]

***** Yeah, Dio is the Edison of devil horns. Except Dio was actually awesome besides that. Edison was just an ass.

[@UnagiTempura]

Mark Five incorrect actually. coven was doing it since 1968. dio didnt start until 1979, when he joined black sabbath.

[@Qermaq]

We see Tona finally! She's quite pretty, Matt, besides clearly talented. Good on you.

[@TheBallpark25]

Wow. 50 episodes!? It has been a blast. Keep it up. Thank you, both!

[@ForTh3Wolf]

Hey guys, I really appreciate all the work you put into these videos. Even if I dont have to watch these movies myself, hearing your opinions and funny commentary makes it feel like I've watched it myself.

[@ForTh3Wolf]

and congrats on 50 episodes!

[@JesepiAntone]

Another triumph. I'll keep watching if you keep uploading. Thanks again guys.

[@TofranBohk]

People in Boston don't say Bahston. People in Connecticut say Bahston.

[@danielbartholomew7650]

I always look forward to these video ,thank you for the great show

[@MahlenMorris]

The American Movie reference (Coven) reminds me why I enjoy this show so much. I have to say, when you announced the premise for this whole series, I really had some doubts, but it has worked out amazingly well. Thanks to the whole team for their efforts over the past fifty episodes.

[@CassieVulpine]

I'm going to suggest David Lynch's Dune until it's either watched or mentioned in the Seen It segment. So...you guys should totally do David Lynch's Dune!

[@NerdStoryteller]

Congrats on 50 episodes! Thanks for everything, I really enjoy this show. It brings out the movie geek in me.

[@MrPoffersher]

You guys are awesome. Fifty more episodes!!!

[@imyouandurme]

I sat down to watch Billy Jack after hearing about it shortly after Tom Laughlin's death. As much as I dig the premise, I just couldn't get through it. The songs. The songs.

[@brute2171]

I was hoping to hear a mention about the early appearance of Howard Hessman, from WKRP.

[@TravisBierwagen]

My favorite Meadows/Mean Girls moment is the line about his nephew "Anfernee"... I laugh my ass off every time I hear that.

[@AoishT]

I watched this episode after seeing Matt dressed up as Billy Jack during the October Episodes and I can say with certainty that I was not disappointed. On a side note I love the Marvin Gaye album in the background; What's Going On is an amazing album and after seeing this episode I re-listened to it.

[@RevengeCreatureDelux]

CONGRATS ON THE BIG 5-0 GUYS!! I LOVE your show - just found it last weekend, and powered thru all the eps so I'm all caught up - thanks for all you do for my entertainment/education!

[@ClaroQueQuiza]

Great show! Tona, thank you for your hard work and for putting up with these guys! You look absolutely lovely!

[@mechaweeg]

The thing about Mark Cousins' accent is that he sounds like he's trying to simultaneously answer and ask a question with every sentence. I totally agree that by the end of the documentary, you start to miss it! He lives in the same town as me so if I ever meet him, I'll pass on your regards.

[@TheRealBackRow]

Have you seen Mud? I just watched it last night, and it's a fantastic film. One of the foundation blocks of the McConaughssance, and starring Welcome to the Basement hall-of-famer Michael Shannon.

[@SusanMiles]

excellent episode, happy 50th! :D

[@DeathBlackWish]

I watched this movie with my grandpa. It's rated PG for some reason even though it has a rape scene and almost shows full frontal. My grandpa was really surprised and even apologized to me for it, even thought I kinda liked it.

[@anitaharris9095]

You asked where Bernard got the flour. At the beginning of the scene Bernard says bring me a big bag of that flour over there. I believe that I was either 7 or 8 when I first saw it. I didn't remember much about the movie when I saw it at that age, all I remember is thinking that my brother-in-law was great. He took the family members that wanted to go to the movie when him and paid. He bought us soda and treats. He even bought me a second soda after I accidentally spilled the first one down his boot. I did watch it again when I was around 15. It's almost impossible to find to watch anymore or I would watch it over and over.

[@Jamick98Geass]

I'm here to re-watch this episode after the Billy Jack record opened in unboxing in 2019. One Tin Soldier, baby. Life is one big shit-brick.

[@zilveren]

Omg, hope you do end up watching the fall. It was the one i suggested and still one of the most beautiful heartwrenching pieces I've seen. Love to hear your take, even if you disagree. :)

[@M4Z1N]

YAY! I always look forward to these :D you guys are awesome

[@nointro]

Thanks a lot guy! As always, you've done a fantastic job! Please keep it up!!!

[@doitsuxitaly]

Speaking of Ponyboy, have you guys watched "The Outsiders"? It was my favorite movie, based on my favorite book back in middle school, and features a young Matt Damon!

[@mr.coolmug3181]

Happy 50th Matt and Greg! I look forward to your next series? episode? Keep up the great work guys! :)

[@terryburns184]

Interestingly Coven predated Black Sabbath with the use of the Devil finger horn symbol on their First Album cover.

[@andgalactus1]

I was gonna suggest one but a lot of my favorites have been covered in various scene-its.

[@evanlouie3627]

You guys should review Hunt for Red October, one of my favorite movies!

[@mikecronis]

Have we considered the 1968 film, Skidoo? If you like Batman villains and LSD trips, you're in luck! Oh, and 10,000 points for watching Firefly!

[@ChordToNowhere]

Man, I wish I could visit that alternate Firefly universe, too.... *sigh* PS - congrats on 50. Love the show and keep up the great work.

[@TheMattwolf]

How about The Horseman? It's an extremely draining revenge movie that doesn't hold back on either the blood or grit.

[@mccurrycreations]

Happy 50th, guys!!!

[@Fubsy555]

I love The Fall!! It's in my top 5 favorite movies.

[@OnemoreAddictinggame]

MY dad made the whole family watch this movie and it was the worst thing we ever saw. He kept wanting us to watch Billy Jack 2 but we all said no. Now that he died.....I might watch it.

[@nachofantastico]

Kiitos to yourselves, fellas! what a great show you have got here :) hopefully you'll make these episodes as long as financially possible ;D regards from a Finnish fan

[@RonaldStrigel]

I love the show. Thank you and happy 50th! Watch Flesh & Blood!

[@joebyrneguitar]

Sitting here with a can of Pils larger in my University digs getting wasted watching your show. I'm usually a straight forward guy but since i messed it up with the first girl i've ever really fallen for last month i've just been miserable all the time, maybe in the future i can try and again. However this show is great as always, even when i'm depressed - i was wondering, for depressed long time watcher (seriously i started watching chad vader during its first season back 2007/ just before episode 6 came out) if you could discuss the movie grease. Always hated it till now, have i just become soppy because of love?

[@undead2live]

Luv the outsiders reference...you guys need to do this once a week

[@roverandom93]

I literally just re-watched firefly for the same reasons. Finished two days ago. Watched Serenity today. Me and Matt, we're clearly in sync

[@MagnaRyuuDesigns]

Billy Jack is one of those movies that's in my top ten of go to movies. I watched this "heavy" movie back in the 80s when i was 5 or 6. That's right, I was way way way too young to watch this movie. same probably could be said for Robocop and Platoon as well.

[@Dannyp1945]

Hey guys loving the show since doing a film elective at uni and your show has been feeding my growing addiction for film. Maybe one week for Seen It you could do a list of films you have seen that you think everyone must see, particularly for people just getting into this motion picture hubbub, cheers from Australia.

[@surly666]

Surprised you didn't mention that the tight-pantsed improv coach from the Freedom School is none other than Howard Hesseman, aka Dr. Johnny Fever from WKRP in Cincinnati, playing a role that Dr. Johnny Fever would ridicule the hell out of, had he seen this movie.

[@kippeers]

I dont know when I saw this or how. But so many things were familiar I know I must have seen it!

[@RMilvae]

Greatest movie of all time!

[@spr35441]

Is Matt's shirt soaking wet or made from rubber?

[@blamesocietyfilms]

Shiny

[@happygametimefunshow]

BlameSociety both

[@rayhull5150]

BlameSociety The only thing missing is.....jazz hands!

[@Zylork0122]

Have you seen The Bag Man? I recently saw it and wasn't disappointed like the ratings all over the internet have been suggesting, AKA, terrible. It was a director's first, of course it would be bad, or good. But this one was good.

[@ogami72]

Excellent as always....I would love to see the list of the films you considered, jusy to see if my suggestions were anywhere on it.

[@jojogarcia742]

CONGRATS !!!

[@TheRealBackRow]

You guys should definitely do a Bob Hoskins movie for the next episode, as a tribute to the late acting legend. Maybe The Long Good Friday, if you haven't seen it? It was Hoskins' big breakout role, and a terrific Brit-gangster film.

[@danzigrulze5211]

I would prefer to see more Welcome to the Basement then anything else. There are so many directors, genres, and writers movies that need to be seen, hell the only complaint is that they haven't done any Akira Kurosawa films, which is my favorite director and many Japanese period films are so great from many other directors influenced by Kurosawa's films.

[@charlesmcguffy]

I would like to suggest Nil By Mouth. One of my favourite films that very few people talk about. It was written by Gary Oldman and stars Ray Winstone

[@PrncfPrsa]

You should watch Tim Burton's 9. It is a very meaningful story set in a post apocalyptic alternate world at the end of ww1. All the characters are colorful and the scenery is very eye popping. The plot is also well rounded and very firm and not too linear.

[@undead2live]

Wow...didn't think that your song had a chance, but you guys pulled it off.

[@ZachAbercrombie93]

I am a huge fan of the show. I was wondering if you both had seen "The Sound of Noise"? It's an amazing movie about percussionists who create a show that terrorizes and amazes their city. You both should watch it when you have the chance.

[@aestevalis0]

That's a fancy shirt you got there, Matt.

[@NinjaVampireCyborg]

You guys should watch Police Story. Very interesting movie that takes a real tone shift at the last 20-30 mins of the movie. I'd love to hear you talk about it

[@monsieurboddy]

Third time's the charm, I hope: I'm going to recommend Last Night by Canadian filmmaker Don McKellar, which is about a group of disparate people celebrating a unique day in history. It's beautiful and strange and unexpected. Watch it, or tell me that you've seen it, but by crumb, I demand satisfaction! *glove slap*

[@CChrisL]

You should watch the next sequel to Billy Jack. It moves along at a better pace and it's more intense and maybe more meaningful to watch. At least it was when I saw it in the theater over 35 years ago. lol

[@ace5762]

I'd like to suggest a relatively new movie- 'Into the White', directed by Petter Næss. The film is based on a true story that occurred during the second world war and is almost entirely shot in one location, with a very tense situation between German and British pilots who shot each other down over the mountains in Norway. Unsettling, joyous and heartbreaking in a short time span.

[@frederickluebker1240]

You guys should do "Possession" a 1981 french horror film with Sam Neill. It's got a couple cutting each other with an electric carving knife, a crazy drunken German biker and even some monster-on-human lovin'. It's probably the most uncomfortable movie watching experiences ever, even in scenes where nothing strange at all is happening. You won't be able to relax or look away.

[@OneUponADime]

Apparently Billy Jack is the second movie of 4, and each one is more cracked out then the last.

[@bigmac51290]

It's a good thing he didn't say "peckers and lips" at 16:35. lol

[@pianoface]

Dear Matt, we all wish there was more Firefly ❤

[@OneUponADime]

Congrats, guys :)

[@Noyjeetut]

You've dun goofed. Should have watched Born Losers first, the 1st Billy Jack movie.

[@SeeeSaa]

Have you seen Blue is the warmest color??just wanna know if its good??

[@emilyeisenheim2630]

Suck it Coven! loved it XD

[@TheOmega10101]

Watch "Dante's Inferno: An Animated Epic" !

[@NinjaVampireCyborg]

I just watched Fearless starring Jet Li and I really, really enjoyed it. You guys should definately check it out if you haven't already

[@TheMattwolf]

Unleashed is also pretty good. Its got a rare Bob Hoskins villain role, and one of the best close quarters fight scenes I've ever watched.

[@horrorscope07]

8:22 Face to foot style is mighty popular.

[@panzercreed3857]

17:35 And low a new meme was born.

[@Aramis419]

"Shitbricks"? Did someone watch too many of Jim Lahey's shittisms?

[@blamesocietyfilms]

I am the liquor

[@tarransanders21]

BlameSociety Atta' boy!

[@Aramis419]

"Wanna help me win a contest, little elf?" *stumbles and falls* "It all starts with a little drinky-poo."

[@erniemiller1953]

Have you seen "Born Losers"...the movie before that introduces Billy jack?

[@raez5714]

If I could live in an alternate universe, I would live in the one where Craig and I are married. Also, you guys should watch the TERRIBLE animated movie Food Fight. Its a huge talent bomb and WOW did it bomb big time.

[@meatshield_]

why did the police officers arrest Billy? He was practicing self defense, and hurt not a single person that didn't attempt to kill him.

[@WilAdams]

Billy Jack was just a version of (or was ripped off by or simply ripped off) Bruce Lee's Fist of Fury. Check it out. Just missing the 'One Tin Soldier' Song.

[@Stainless1369]

You should watch Ricky-oh, the story of Ricky, by far the dumbest movie I ever saw, but that makes it incredibly funny.

[@Viciousswarm88]

You guy should watch the mockumentary this is spinal tap. It always makes me laugh and you should watch it as a follow-up to decline of western civilization 2.

[@Robert-yk3wp]

Neither one of you was born at time this came out. I was. Reflects our mood then, Nam, civil rights etc. It's OK be funny but understand not everything same now

[@TheSwamper]

Firefly is amazing, and Joss Whedon really had to fight to get the movie made. It's truly a shame it never got a second season. Perhaps the fact that the episodes were shown in a poor time slot and out of order contributed to that.

[@Spottedfeather]

Why not give us more Dr. Moley. It's been far too long since we've had any Moley.

[@proteanacumen7018]

Have you seen "The Master" (2012)? www.imdb.com/title/tt1560747/?ref_=nv_sr_1 Joaquin Phoenix as a ww2 veteran trying to find his place in society and meeting a "master" (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who bond in their quest to experience and learn about life. Brilliant performances by Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams.

[@gabrielapetrie]

Excellent fucking choice, guys, but thanks for finally watching a show I've recommended to you before and not mentioning that I recommended it to you. But. It's probably not your faults. This stupid google+ shit I've deleted it and respawned it so many times, basically my entire comment history is long-gone. Yeah. Billy Jack! Good film, don't watch it stoned in a drug house full of weird, methed-out hippies. Especially not real, actual hippies who were IN high school when this movie was in theaters. They will MAKE IT into a psychedelic experience for you just by being there, in the room, smoking pot, or meth, whatever, and just being hippies.

[@Mistoffelees11]

How do we know our donations will be talked about? I donated a few weeks ago and had a very special message I need asked by may 16th