Half in the Bag Episode 51: Oblivion and The Lords of Salem

[@OneHippiesMusings]

Holy fucking shit... A decade later, and y'all nearly nailed Expendables 4 to a T!!! That's fantastic.

[@zebertmcfly7274]

Came to the comments to see if anyone else has noticed that throwaway line. It‘s amazing. They have a sixth sense when it comes to terrible studio decisions.

[@roryb.bellows8617]

I saw a Japanese man on a plane in the seat in front of me watch Oblivion about 6 times in a row.

[@lowlytarnished7672]

Rory B. Bellows why the fuck is this comment as funny as it is?

[@RyanCreatesThings]

good

[@miskatonic_alumni]

Clearly, he was suicidally depressed and chose to watch Oblivion six times in a row to prepare himself for seppuku.

[@gold190175]

They show porno movies on planes?

[@KitKat_293]

That’s just being a middle aged dad I think

[@ShadeWMD]

I wish, just once, I could have a conversation with someone where I could say, "What you have is a Baguul problem." Just once. It'll probably never happen, though. :(

[@crowkiller0668]

Shade Draws sounds like...what you have is a Baguul problem.

[@gh0s7sama]

Thanks to Chris Stuckman all I hear is "Baguul!" every time there is a jump scare. I'm 100% over them.

[@CegeRoles]

Go yell at your wife.

[@jinvid]

What they didn’t teach us in school is that Life itself is a Baguul Problem! Think about that for a second... I mean really imagine it.

[@NobodyCaresALot]

5 years later. I hope you've found /x/ on 4chong. If it were an inner city horror movie, Baguul would be the least of your problems. You'd be dealing with Madame Baguelle and she's a mean top bitch that works for Lucifer himself who stole your wife and daughter to sell them into Dante's human trafficking ring that tours through Hell. She's a mighty demon ho, fo sho. Would anybody watch this movie if I penned the screenplay? Obvious producer credits to Mike and Jay so when it sucks they'll go easy on the Satanic roadhouse rib eating scenes when Beelzebub asks the demon slayer how the rack tastes and in reply yells "awesome" and peaks the mic. I can handle criticism but I can't handle cruelty. Also, there would be a lot of n-words and weird sex shit thrown around the film. Tarantino's scripts got away with it, why can't mine?

[@craige.sawyerhorrorwriter3135]

Finally watched Oblivion 8 years later, and by today's standard of movies, it's better than most of what we are getting now.

[@hannibalb8276]

It's great and has an amazing soundtrack

[@seanmichael6579]

Totally agree. I honestly thought it was a good watch.

[@dr.faustus9024]

Yes

[@siskavard]

Same here! It completely flew under my radar when it came out but I just watched it recently. I really enjoyed it, a lot.

[@nathaneskin3572]

What a strange way to do an Elder Scrolls movie...

[@roach9397]

Yeah, it was horribly unfaithful to the source material. And why even start with Oblivion? They should have done Arena, Daggerfall, and Morrowind first.

[@BoeBins]

C0DA makes it canon.

[@GramLikesBread]

When I was playing Oblivion in 2017 every time I tried to look something up for that game I got this movie.

[@RepKyle95]

Yeah. No Wes Johnson, nobody asking if I've heard of the high elves, 0/10.

[@trtx84]

Who'd a thought nearly 5 years later we'd finally get the full scoop on Suburban Sasquatch. Truly the RedLetterMedia Cinematic Revuniverse has come full circle.

[@sus_tenants]

I would pay to see you guys discuss schlock horror with "Mr. Zombie" He of all people should appreciate how well received that would be.

[@JeanMarceaux]

Red Letter Media Talks: Rob Zombie, Eli Roth, and B-grade horror

[@dwbear7]

Why do I hear a ding every now and then when I watch these videos? Are you making Pizza rolls and not taking them out of the oven?

[@zacrast16]

Holy fuck! Mike predicted Megan Fox being in The Expendables lmao

[@BRUXXUS]

The standout part of Oblivion to me was the sound design. I still think it had really powerful and interesting sound design.

[@mikepaquette153]

Does Mike know there's an actor from Star Trek in House of 1,000 Corpses and The Devil's Rejects?

[@RAH-Andrew]

Tom Cruise does his best work when he’s a villain. Collateral, Interview with the Vampire, Tropic Thunder.

[@joshbaker1581]

I wonder why...

[@EvilPoet85]

Whenever I see a Tom Cruise movie I totally forget that his character has a name and just calls him Tom Cruise.

[@TheCoasterFoodie]

Except for Les Grossman I agree

[@Andrew-yl7lm]

Sam L Jackson is the worst for me. Every time I see him he totally breaks my immersion in the movie, loved him growing up but now I can't stand seeing him in stuff since I never see him in character anymore.

[@TheCoasterFoodie]

@@Andrew-yl7lm really? I thought he was fantastic in Django

[@brianschlicher59]

Tom Cruise is Tom Cruise in Tom Cruise sprints to victory. Coming soon to nowhere!

[@tastycookiechip]

@@Andrew-yl7lm You haven't seen enough Sam Jackson films then

[@seanhenry2921]

I hope "Suburban Sasquatch" makes it to "Best of the Worst" someday.

[@Robocopnik]

!

[@MasterKoala777]

The title is so funny! :) I'm looking this up.

[@jrlaps521]

Well you got your wish

[@seanhenry2921]

@@jrlaps521 True! Dreams do come true!

[@jrlaps521]

Sean Henry it’s probably the funniest episode of Best of the Worst imo, I’m so glad they reviewed it

[@CERTAIND00M]

You can explain the acting in every movie directed by Rob Zombie by simply reminding yourself that they're being directed by Rob Zombie.

[@IloveGorgeousGeorge]

Yeah he's like..."hot topic crazy". Like cringey teenager emo horror

[@CERTAIND00M]

@@IloveGorgeousGeorge Pretty much.

[@JozefLucifugeKorzeniowski]

He digs old horror tropes and has a talent for unique visuals. His music and album art is evidence of this. He's smart but he doesn't work on a deep metaphor level nor does he really like real occult history and knowledge since he doesn't ever really include any in his movies. I've dipped my toes into some of it and some of it is beyond horrible. Maybe that's why he doesn't want to touch it. I can't even describe the atrocity one medieval priest committed trying to open a portal to hell. It's too graphic for anyone. Search: Gilles de Rai if you're curious, he did similar.

[@johnsonpink6002]

He also has to put his wife in pretty much all his movies.

[@bobbyboonbb]

Thats a snow shovel and is improper for burying bodies.

[@gummipalle]

not in snow!

[@kysmatt4066]

Bunn Bunn and how would you know that

[@kyrridas1573]

based on nothing more than pictures and cardboard movie theatre ads, i thought lords of salem was a movie about skater punks...

[@johnt.campbell316]

Dude, I know... WTF?!

[@jackiefreeborn2563]

You’re thinking Lords of Dogtown.

[@jinvid]

I know right!!

[@IloveGorgeousGeorge]

Wait...it's not?

[@TheSuicidalGiraffe]

Same

[@afcjenkins]

its funny hearing what they said about Sci-fi now that Blade Runner 2049 had already come out

[@ashley_and_the_final_girls]

Moon was incredibly fresh. And Clint Mansell...perfection.

[@coldbirth]

Moon immediately came to mind when I realized part of the 'twist'. Good call, Jay.

[@buggedmechanics3918]

watched the making of oblivion it gave me a new appreciation for this film. This director is doing some cool stuff between this & Tron legacy.

[@jakelinder4148]

I would love to hear you guys talk about The Holy Mountain!

[@Dog-999i]

Another great video! I love watching these while high, it's amazing. It's really cool how Jay moves when I'm on ambien.

[@albedoshader]

Are there roles where Tom Cruise doesn’t play a character whose name is Jack? If so, how many?

[@LabrnMystic]

Tropic Thunder: Les Grossman

[@iamthewalrus8677]

Mission Impossible: Ethan Hunt

[@jinvid]

Top Gun: Maverick

[@johnk.7523]

Collateral: Vincent

[@cayranm]

Jerry Maguire: Jack Maguire

[@VlericV]

saw Oblivion yesterday for the second time, love it

[@Regulith]

At least Oblivion got them to bring up Moon, I must have seen it before at some point in my life but it was so long ago that I barely remembered anything so I got to experience it all over again. Great film.

[@SaltandPepperFreak]

Yes. Moon is a great movie. Sam Rockwell was great in that. And Sam Rockwell was also pretty good.

[@dfailsthemost]

Man, I needed that Lords of Salem review. I really thought it would be nothing like what you described.

[@AniMerrill]

I don't know about Oblivion, but I really wanna fucking see Moon now.

[@sneurlax]

it is GREAT

[@misterwishart]

You should, it's really good

[@JamieMiller7]

So apparently I need to watch Invasion of the Bodysnatchers cause that scene scared the hell out of me.

[@Spikex1]

I love that you can see Jay starting to crack up when Mike first brings up Oblivion at the very beginning.

[@aaronwebb1548]

Jay breaks so hard as soon as Mike asks if he's seen Oblivion. I love it.

[@fearailer]

Loved Oblivion myself but still thought this review was excellent and the lads argue their points very well.

[@dahMusicDude]

Me and My pal follows RLM, and all I need to do make him laugh nowadays is to make the little Stoklasa "Oh...". I don't know how it can be so funny, but it certanly is.

[@TopcatsLair]

When you guys talked about atmosphere i was hmmming and nodding along with you. I like Zombie's films.

[@olepigeon]

11:00 Mike started to describe "The Island" and I thought maybe it was an alternate title for a bad movie called "Parts: The Clonus Horror, " which I saw on Mystery Science Theater 3000. But it's not. Michael Bay apparently just completely cloned (sorry) Parts: The Clonus Horror. According to Wikipedia, the screenwriter for Parts: The Clonus Horror, Bob Sullivan, sued DreamWorks pictures in 2006. DreamWorks settled with Bob for an undisclosed 7 figure sum.

[@Jeseabell]

I saw Lords of Salem because of you guys. Thanks cause I LOVED it.

[@cloudedjourney]

I totally agree with Jay when he talks about how he appreciates watching a movie made by people who seem like they care. It's nice to see when people make stuff with genuine inspiration. I wish more of the marvel movies were like that. Probably why I like youtube so much too!

[@en6853]

Don’t know how I haven’t seen this yet. 8 years later, here i am!

[@lonelybeetle]

9:13 That Expendables joke about Megan Fox was ahead of it’s time 😂

[@jasonmelton9755]

House of 1,000 Corpses has a variety of atmospheric directional changes. There's the gas station museum of oddities, the serial killer dark ride attraction, Otis' human sculptures, the zombie-like patients in the caves under the graveyard, and then the completely new monstrous creatures found in the characters of Captain Spaulding (Sorry, Groucho!), and Dr. Satan and his henchman. One of the best horror films ever made!

[@soanywayistartedblastin8463]

Did they predict medgan fox being in the new expendables ☠️

[@Terrribl3Fat3]

god your transitions from intro to review is hilarious.

[@theroboyouknow]

I made a drinking game out of every time I hear a faint bell ding in the background of this. I'm hammered!

[@muppetb.lansing8374]

You guys really are an effective team

[@highlandcommando]

these guys are national treasures

[@thechamberofchillz9705]

Glad these guys liked the lords of Salem!! Lots of reviewers hated it... But I saw it for what it is!! A really weird, creepy... But beautifully shot horror film!

[@sammartin8458]

"what you have is a bughuul problem"

[@RArecordingsRickValcon]

loved the soundtrack from M83

[@realblackmist]

Moon is fantastic- I love that movie.

[@cloudparter]

Came for the Oblivion review. Stayed for the Lords of Salem review.

[@johnnyzen4282]

Oblivion wasn't great but the Drones are so fucking badass. The sound design for them was awesome and they were intimidating as hell.

[@aedof]

That ending bit was one of the funniest you've ever done.

[@Bit2brain]

Can remember watching Zombie directed music videos back in the mid-90s and saying that I’d love to see what movies he directed would look like. Those 4 minute videos are now 2 hour films. But that isn’t always a bad thing. At least he has a very unique style. Just wish he had a good screenwriter.

[@luiginastro8831]

The screenwriter is usually himself. That's where everything goes downhill.

[@jellyneck7978]

"There's a fine line between stupid and clever." I've been riding that line all my life.

[@TheTGOAC]

I ride that line all the time but regularly fall off my bike and get back up

[@DonYurik]

0:38 Jay is trying so hard not to laugh

[@kennerguy66]

So The Island is exactly like Parts: The Clonus Horror? Oh I just looked it up and they had to pay the Clonus guy an undisclosed 7 figure sum so he'd drop a lawsuit. Hahaha

[@kato1kalin]

Also there was a lawsuit against dreamworks for "the island" which is exactly like clonus.

[@SkigBiggler]

I knew I had watched a movie on riff tracks that was the same concept. Couldn’t remember the name though

[@murderedbypirates3591]

I like Oblivion. It’s good to fall asleep to, but if I manage to stay awake, it’s a cool sci-fi movie.

[@davidcutts9079]

You guys are great! Gotta try this rice dish! Thanks for inviting us into your kitchen! Shout out to your Abuela!

[@genevievexx]

Mike you are so right about women in cinema. I'm happy you took the time to raise awareness on this issue ! Great analysis, as always guys

[@dominichowell6896]

My favorite Rob Zombie movie. One I like to put on when I'm sleepy. The atmosphere really is the best and the tone never lets up.

[@markshulusky6680]

Totally right. It's like Argento, or even a coherent Fulci.

[@dominichowell6896]

@@markshulusky6680 it has a crude hint of Kubrick too . I'm proud of rob with this one. Very under rated

[@andrewhickinbottom1051]

"The ghostening" hahahaha

[@danr6220]

Weird how Jay and Mike can't enjoy Tom Cruise's characters in movies. He's really solid in Interview with the Vampire, Collateral, Jerry Maguire and Magnolia.

[@billywdr]

Oblivion had the of the best one-liners "FUCK YOU SALLY!"

[@godofspacetime333]

The problem with Oblivion is that it doesn’t say anything. A great science fiction movie, or any piece of art in general, should say something beyond its premise. Moon has themes of corporatism and turning people into clones and slaves to serve that system, Robocop is satire about consumerism and law enforcement and how they work together to turn people into robots to perpetuate themselves, etc. Oblivion is just about aliens invading and humans defeating them and that’s it; you don’t go home thinking about any bigger questions. It’s really well made and nice to look at, but in the end it’s just a couple hours of escapism. There are of course exceptions, and style over substance can become great, but this ain’t that.

[@theblargh151]

Well said.

[@EvanBlax]

It's been a while since I saw Oblivion in the theatre, but I seem to remember it having at least one idea. The supposition that any of the Tom Cruise clones could be the husband for the character's real wife. I might have been reading into it waaaaay too much, but that's a somewhat challenging idea to an audience that cares about the ethics of cloning. Now, I don't remember if the movie gave any kind of commentary on this besides presenting it, but that detail has stuck with me these 9 years later. I actually only came back to this video cause I know they're probably not going to cover Top Gun: Maverick and I figured their HitB of Oblivion would basically be the same review.

[@greaterfaydark9428]

I'm definitely going to check out Lords of Salem now.

[@Rfp601]

Saw Oblivion when I was twelve before I’d seen most of the films that influenced it, so I have fond memories

[@HarrisSounds]

"I just buried the body of the guy YOU murdered, and you're complaining about a little dirt? Can't you show a little gratitude?" "Have you seen oblivion? The new film starring Tom Cruise?" Possibly the best move review intro ever.

[@KatalistProductionsKozzySasha]

Keep up the great videos, I really liked Lords of Salem, despite all the hate it got. The atmosphere was good, the cinematography good and I thought the acting was good enough. Better than alot of the crappy horror movies hollywood puts out these days. Liked It Follows to!

[@randomsamno9]

Some guy who made Tron 2 has got to be one of the greatest up and coming directors at the moment.

[@scarikarri7452]

Funny reading this after Top Gun 2

[@Biggiiful]

12:27 "Not cerebral sci-fi, which they won't make in a theater anymore." And then we were finally blessed with Blade Runner 2049.

[@dreimar1796]

Mike and Jay discussion abot Lords of Salem make me feel i want to see what sey are going to say about "13 "... i could just scroll up the HitB playlist ofcourse... but then i'm gonna spolis the PLOT!! GRRR tought decision :\ PS: YES " Invasion of the Body Snatchers " haunted my childood dreams.

[@SoWhereWeEating]

The 10-20 minutes that the 3 modern witches got near the end of the movie carried it. Those were the best parts. Them sitting on the damn stairway was tense.

[@Cupcub71]

Mike: They'll never make slow, cerebral sci fi anymore. Ad Astra: Hold my beer.

[@mandjtravel6579]

I always picture 'Bryan' when I see Tom Cruise. What an underrated actor. He was a master in Mission Impossible 8.

[@Agent_Sparkle]

Yeah the MI series is incredible because of him.

[@paulleach225]

This is 7 years old, but I get your reference. Don't forget the cameo by Ted Danson!

[@judemagann9146]

Clive Warren?

[@kurtkaufman3090]

Although I agree this one is better then most of his, Rob Zombie needs to listen to that one song he wrote before he decides to make another movie . I think it goes something like "More bad movie than good moooovie".

[@korboismywaifu]

Well I liked Oblivion, yes they took a lot from other movies, but IT WAS ENTERTAINING. Which is what I am looking for when I watch a sci-fi flick. Nothing spectacular but still a good time sink.

[@AaronAaron247]

I'm glad Ex Machina proved them wrong on the slow cerebral sci fi

[@tinyturnip7676]

That's an exception...and that sort of story has been done before. Still a good movie though.

[@realnigga19]

not released in theaters

[@AaronAaron247]

RealNigga19 I saw it in a theater

[@captainzappa696]

I think they're probably talking about big studio movies, not independent ones like Ex Machina

[@rememberamnesia1995]

And now Annihilation.. only one director makes interesting films anymore it seems..

[@RyanDepauloDegenerateGambler]

Shout outs to moon its my second favorite movie of all time!

[@Horrorfreak106]

You guys have really great opinions on movies! For once I found a movie reviewer that really has a good taste in movies IMO

[@GatorDunnAZ]

This title makes me want RLM to do something about Lord of Illusions. It was a weird mid-90s horror movie that I feel like nobody else saw or talks about.

[@Terf1988]

I loved the ending to that movie

[@HeySchmoo]

Maybe we’ll get a big Clive Barker re:view! Lord of Illusions, Nightbreed, and Hellraiser.

[@10BUCK2]

Lord of Illusions is one of my favs, too! I love the atmosphere in the opening with the cult. So unsettling.

[@CosmicUndeadElf]

Rob Zombie is a good director but really needs help with his scripts, he specializes in creating obnoxious, annoying characters and that's not what I really look for in a movie.

[@CosmicUndeadElf]

Spring Stranger I haven't seen Lords of Salem, but if it's anything like his Halloween movies I will pass.

[@CosmicUndeadElf]

Spring Stranger Thanks!

[@cleobinx]

H K I think the point was that his scripts suck and he isn’t a good writer, it’s something almost everyone complains about with his movies. I would like to see him direct or movie he himself did not write or have anything to do with writing

[@Prof_Tickles92]

Plus there’s quite a bit of ego in them too. He always puts a character who looks like him in his movies. Even the deleted scene of Halloween has Michael unmasked and looking like Zombie. He always has these characters be the badasses, etc.

[@AuDHDarling]

@@Prof_Tickles92 , this is making me think about all the implications of directing his wife, cast as the lead in his film, to flirt with the love interest character, cast as an actor who looks like a younger version of himself...

[@zedek_]

Thanks, I'll keep watching it here.

[@nunchucks007]

I agree with the Tom Cruise thing, except for one movie: Tropic Thunder. He is awesome in that movie.

[@ShiftsFilms]

your comments regarding women in the industry / shelf life seem incredibly pertinent now

[@brokenfingers9607]

"That's what I love about these female leads, man...I get older, they stay the same age." - Tom Cruise, probably

[@GigaEnigma]

I agree with Mike, I enjoyed the first act of the Rob Zombie Halloween movie. I did think it was weird when Michael Meyers kills his bully in the woods by unleashing a fart so hard it caused a shockwave

[@ChadTheCreator]

I actually sorta' liked Oblivion...

[@RyanCreatesThings]

They did too.

[@Yusuke_Denton]

I sorta liked it too!

[@IloveGorgeousGeorge]

I did too, until I saw Moon in 2019 and realized how much of Oblivion was lifted from Moon. Not to say that it's a direct ripoff, but it sure borrowed a lot of stuff.

[@spethmanjones2997]

Brad Knapp you don’t have to enjoy something less because it’s similar to something else. After all, there are only seven stories...

[@ChookaaFindlebean]

I would say tom cruise can be a good actor. Rain man, eyes wide shut, magnolia, collateral

[@distractiblejeff1285]

I'm a little sad that Collateral didn't make more of a splash. Its so good.

[@dirkjewitt5037]

Rob Zombie has an eye for shots. He just needs to meet a good writer. Someone to ground him a little.

[@nenenomusic]

"We will never see a good cerebral sci-Fi again" They were right and wrong

[@notgonnapay]

Someone actually acknowledges how unique of a film Lords of Salem is.

[@standup109]

I feel for you Jay, I buried my gran with a snow shovel as well last week.

[@lefrancestokes4697]

Rob takes all the best things about B movies and shoves it in your face. He's good at imagery and mind fucking as u guys mentioned.

[@marcespinoza6068]

Love the awkward photo of Mike with Ken Foree on the bulletin board.

[@maxnobel2044]

Risky Business is one of the greatest films of all time.

[@CrownJules84]

I think Mike and Jay would love Berberian Sound Studio. Hope they review it!

[@absolutelydefensible3635]

Mike was prescient about the Megan Fox Expendables thing.

[@chadjones1266]

You mention Megan Fox in Expendables 8. She was in 4!

[@williamodonnell1469]

" Reminiscent of the Shining"... it was a straight up homage, the way the days of the week are framed, the descent into alcoholism, the theme of a "moon room"- the weird hallway stuff, the out of place oral sex... and the ending - in the shining the maze is established as not being physically real a few times - So a departure into some kind of supernatural area- same as she departs front the "real world" Very interesting choice to pretty much do the Metal cover of the Shining and not openly explain that intention.

[@ddcgod]

agreed, Tom is one of my favorite actors. I see where they are going with there "tom is just tom" talk, but to me, that just makes him fantastic, he never lets you down. you know going in that this movies, regardless if everybody else sucks, or there is a crappy story, tom will still steal the show. In regards to Collateral, I also think he outshone his counterpart Foxx, to me Jamie Foxx is a one note guy, although he is a great actor, and much better with drama, you always get the same..