152 - Pokemon (with Calvin Dyson)

April 30, 2019 by Sol Harris in 2019

Guest: Calvin Dyson

Films covered in this episode:

Pokemon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back
Allen: ✰ ✰
Calvin: ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 37%

Pokemon: The Movie 2000
Allen: n/s
Calvin: ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰
Overall score: 35%

Pokemon 3: The Movie
Allen: n/s
Calvin: ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 40%

Pokemon: Mewtwo Returns
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 30%

Pokemon 4Ever: Celebi - Voice of the Forest
Allen: n/s
Calvin: ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 30%

Pokemon Heroes: Latios and Latias
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰
Overall score: 20%

Pokemon: Jirachi - Wish Maker
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 30%

Pokemon: Destiny Deoxys
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 30%

Lucario and the Mystery of Mew
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 30%

Pokemon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰
Overall score: 20%

Pokemon: The Rise of Darkrai
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 30%

Pokemon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 30%

Pokemon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰
Overall score: 20%

Pokemon: Zoroark - Master of Illusions
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 30%

Pokemon: White - Victini and Zekrom
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰
Overall score: 20%

Pokemon: Black - Victini and Reshiram
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ½
Overall score: 10%

Pokemon: Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰
Overall score: 40%

Pokemon: Genesect and the Legend Awakened
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 30%

Pokemon: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰
Overall score: 20%

Pokemon: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰
Overall score: 40%

Pokemon: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰
Overall score: 20%

Diminishing Returns go back to the video game well for a discussion of the Pokemon franchise in the run-up to Detective Pikachu. For those not in the know, Calvin is almost as into Pokemon as he's into James Bond.

Check out our Patreon here!

Listen on:
iTunes
Android
SoundCloud
Stitcher
PlayerFM

151 - Avengers: Infinity War (with Howard Jenkins)

April 21, 2019 by Sol Harris in 2019

Guest: Howard Jenkins

Films covered in this episode:

Avengers: Infinity War
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Calvin: ✰ ✰ ✰
Howard: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 83%

It had to be done. With the upcoming release of Avengers: Endgame, the biggest cinematic event since Infinity War, Diminishing Returns take a look at the state of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And this time, Sol's enlisted a ringer.

Check out our Patreon here!

Listen on:
iTunes
Android
SoundCloud
Stitcher
PlayerFM

150 - Easter Special: Left Behind (with Calvin Dyson)

April 16, 2019 by Sol Harris in 2019

Guest: Calvin Dyson

Films covered in this episode:

Left Behind: The Movie (2000)
Allen: n/s
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ½
Overall score: 10%

Left Behind (2014)
Allen: ✰ ✰
Calvin: ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 34%

Diminishing Returns go back to the meaty well of Christianity to celebrate Easter 2019. Last time, it was God's Not Dead. This time, it's Left Behind.

Check out our Patreon here!

Listen on:
iTunes
Android
SoundCloud
Stitcher
PlayerFM

149 - Hellboy (with Scott Chambers)

April 08, 2019 by Sol Harris in 2019

Guest: Scott Chambers

Films covered in this episode:

Hellboy (2004)
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Scott: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 70%

Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Allen: ✰ ✰ ½
Scott: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 67%

We've done a surprising amount of Guillermo Del Toro's work on the podcast at this point - or, at least we have, now, as we add another two of his films to our list: Hellboy and Hellboy II: The Golden Army. Why? Because they're doing another Hellboy movie, aren't they? Yes - and guest host Scott was there, on set!

Check out our Patreon here!

Listen on:
iTunes
Android
SoundCloud
Stitcher
PlayerFM

148 - Pet Sematary

April 01, 2019 by Sol Harris in 2019

Films covered in this episode:

Pet Sematary (1989)
Allen: ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 60%

Pet Sematary II
Allen: ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 60%

We don't want to be buried in a pet cemetery, but we'll cover the Pet Sematary movies in the run-up to the new adaptation of Stephen King's book. Sure!

Check out our Patreon here!

Listen on:
iTunes
Android
SoundCloud
Stitcher
PlayerFM

147 - Dumbo (with Calvin Dyson)

March 26, 2019 by Sol Harris in 2019

Guest: Calvin Dyson

Films covered in this episode

Dumbo
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Calvin: ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 67%

This week has everything from deep explorations of race politics, dubious accusations of animal cruelty against Thomas Edison, a quiz game and, of course, discussion of Dumbo... Disney's beloved classic film and the upcoming Tim Burton remake.

Check out our Patreon here!

Listen on:
iTunes
Android
SoundCloud
Stitcher
PlayerFM

146 - The Truman Show (with Judey Bignell)

March 18, 2019 by Sol Harris in 2019

Guest: Judey Bignell

Films covered in this episode:

The Truman Show
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Judey: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 87%

This week, we turn to beloved classic Jim Carrey vehicle The Truman Show.

Check out our Patreon here!

Listen on:
iTunes
Android
SoundCloud
Stitcher
PlayerFM

145 - For Your Eyes Only (with Calvin Dyson)

March 10, 2019 by Sol Harris in 2019

Guest: Calvin Dyson

Films covered in this episode:

For Your Eyes Only
Allen: ✰ ✰ ½
Calvin: ✰ ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰ ✰
Overall score: 50%

For your ears only (not really, it's for anyone who wants to listen, sorry)... but that shouldn't matter because it's Diminishing Returns returning to James Bond once more.

Check out our Patreon here!

Listen on:
iTunes
Android
SoundCloud
Stitcher
PlayerFM

144 - The Incredible Hulk

March 04, 2019 by Sol Harris in 2019

Films covered in this episode:

The Incredible Hulk Returns
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰
Sol: n/s
Overall score: 60%

Hulk
Allen: ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰
Overall score: 45%

The Incredible Hulk
Allen: ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 65%

With yet another entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe upon us in the form of Captain Marvel, here's a look back to the second film in the franchise: The Incredible Hulk.

We also take a look at the 1978 TV series, its spin-off movies and Ang Lee's 2003 Hulk.

Check out our Patreon here!

Listen on:
iTunes
Android
SoundCloud
Stitcher
PlayerFM

143 - All Diminishing, All Returns (with Calvin Dyson)

February 27, 2019 by Sol Harris in 2019

Guest: Calvin Dyson

Here, for you, are a selection of never-heard-before (and very old) clips from Allen's cutting-room floor. Hear cut discussion from episodes like Psycho, Alien and others, as well as the story about when Sol and Allen were going to get a pet chimp when they lived together and yet more cut material from that huge quiz episode we did to celebrate our episode-count turning 100.

142 - Oscars 2019 (with Calvin Dyson)

February 18, 2019 by Sol Harris in 2019

Guest: Calvin Dyson

Films covered in this episode:

Black Panther
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰
Calvin: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 70%

BlacKkKlansman
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰
Calvin: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 70%

Bohemian Rhapsody
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 55%

The Favourite
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 70%

Green Book
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 80%

Roma
Allen: ✰ ✰ ½
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 50%

A Star is Born
Allen: ✰ ✰
Calvin: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 64%

Vice
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 80%

and also…

Mary Queen of Scots
Allen: ✰ ✰
Cakvin: n/s
Sol: n/s
Overall score: 40%

The Big Short
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 80%

It's the third annual Oscars blowout at Diminishing Returns, taking aim at all of this year's Best Picture nominees:
Black Panther
BlacKkKlansman
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite
Green Book
Roma
A Star is Born
Vice
...and a few other films that sneak into the discussion along the way.

Check out our Patreon here!

Listen on:
iTunes
Android
SoundCloud
Stitcher
PlayerFM

141 - Fifty Shades Freed (with Calvin Dyson)

February 11, 2019 by Sol Harris in 2019

Guest: Calvin Dyson

Films covered in this episode:

Fifty Shades Freed
Allen: ✰ ½
Calvin: ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 30%

The Diminishing Returns' annual Valentine's Day special sees out the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy with a look at Fifty Shades Freed. As ever, it's more of an excuse to talk about sex than a real celebration of (very bad) cinema.

Check out our Patreon here!

Listen on:
iTunes
Android
SoundCloud
Stitcher
PlayerFM

140 - Kevin Smith Season III (with Scott Chambers)

February 04, 2019 by Sol Harris in 2019

Guest: Scott Chambers

Films covered in this episode:

Red State
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Scott: ✰ ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 64%

Jay and Silent Bob’s Super Groovy Cartoon Movie
Allen: ✰ ✰
Scott: n/s
Sol: ✰
Overall score: 30%

Tusk
Allen: ✰ ✰ ½
Scott: ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 50%

Yoga Hosers
Allen: ✰ ½
Scott: ½
Sol: ✰ ½
Overall score: 24%

Much like the latter end of Kevin Smith's career, Kevin Smith Season trundles along to a whimpering finale with a look at Red State, Tusk, Jay and Silent Bob's Super Groovy Cartoon Movie, Yoga Hosers and the many, many Kevin Smith projects that have been announced and will probably never happen.

Check out our Patreon here!

Listen on:
iTunes
Android
SoundCloud
Stitcher
PlayerFM

139 - Kevin Smith Season II

January 27, 2019 by Sol Harris in 2019

Films covered in this episode:

Jersey Girl
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 65%

Clerks II
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 75%

Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 70%

Cop Out
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰
Overall score: 40%

Kevin Smith continues with a look at the awkward Hollywood years...

Check out our Patreon here!

Listen on:
iTunes
Android
SoundCloud
Stitcher
PlayerFM

138 - We Need to Talk About Kevin (Smith): Kevin Smith Season (with Paul Brear)

January 20, 2019 by Sol Harris in 2019

Guest: Paul Brear

Films covered in this episode:

Clerks
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Brear: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 80%

Mallrats
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Brear: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 74%

Chasing Amy
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Brear: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 77%

Dogma
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Brear: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 77%

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Brear: ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 64%

How do you follow up a season of episodes looking at a filmmaker as innovative and revered as Quentin Tarantino? By not even trying and just looking at the works of Kevin Smith, instead. In this, part 1 of Kevin Smith season, Diminishing Returns is joined by friend-of-the-show Paul Brear to discuss Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

Listen on:
iTunes
Android
SoundCloud
Stitcher
PlayerFM

137 - Split (with Calvin Dyson)

January 14, 2019 by Sol Harris in 2019

Guest: Calvin Dyson

Films covered in this episode:

Split
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰
Calvin: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 74%

The twist is that M. Night Shyamalan Season wasn't over - that's right, we return to the infamous writer/director's work with a look at Split in anticipation of the upcoming film Glass. For obvious reasons, we take another big look at Unbreakable, too.

Also, spoiler alert for Split and some other past M. Night movies.

Listen on:
iTunes
Android
SoundCloud
Stitcher
PlayerFM

136 - Laurel & Hardy and Way Out West (with Calvin Dyson)

January 11, 2019 by Sol Harris in 2019

Guest: Calvin Dyson

Films covered in this episode:

One Good Turn
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰
Calvin: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 64%

Thicker than Water
Allen: ✰ ✰ ½
Calvin: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 64%

Way Out West
Allen: ✰ ✰
Calvin: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰
Overall score: 60%

Stan and Ollie
Allen: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Calvin: n/s
Sol: ✰ ✰ ✰ ½
Overall score: 75%

In anticipation of upcoming John C. Reilly and Steve Coogan awards grab, Stan and Ollie, Diminishing Returns indulge Calvin's love of Laurel & Hardy by looking at their careers, a couple of their shorts and their best known feature: Way Out West. Did I say in anticipation of Stan and Ollie? That's not quite accurate because Sol's already seen it. So that film gets reviewed as well.

Listen on:
iTunes
Android
SoundCloud