We examine the films nominated for a coveted Oscar this year and mostly say WTF? Who nominated TOP GUN: MAVERICK and what the heck were they smoking? We talk enthusiastically about nominations for BRENDAN FRASIER, MICHELLE YEOH and KE HUY QUAN and many others. We also talk about the state of Politics here in our home country of CANADA and we compla…

In which our stalwart hosts review PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH, M3GAN, GLASS ONION and, of course RRR, probably the most insanely entertaining film of 2022! Hold on to your toques! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/balloonjuice/message

WE'RE BACK! For an amazing THIRD SEASON! In this episode we talk about all the stuff we're GOING to see but haven't because of a few technical SNAFU's. We talk about KILLER ROBOT DOLLS in Gerard Johnstone's M3GAN! And what episode of the show would be complete without dunking on MILLIE BOBBIE BROWN in ENOLA HOLMES 2. Plus we discuss the clown show …

BALLOON JUICE proudly presents its first QUESTIONNAIRE! These 15 questions were designed to dig deep into your soul and pull from the depths feelings and opinions that weren't meant to be reveled into the light of day! Questions about SANDWICHES! STAR WARS vs STAR TREK! VACATIONS! But also, questions about LOVE, FEAR, LOATHING and LEISURE TIME! Lis…

In which Cal and MD debate the merits of Christopher Walken as the Padishah Emperor in Denis Villaneuve's DUNE PART 2. We also name drom AVATAR, WILLOW, INDY 5 (and cringe a bit as we remember Shia LeBouf...shudder...) Bad CGI in the SHE-HULKI Trailer and the changes that have occurred in the Comic Book Industry. The art's just not what it used to …

In which we begin with a LAMENT FOR LOST CATS before we get down to serious business. THE BOYS: SEASON 3, we talk about the first three episode's of Amazon Prime's Superhero Series. TOP GUN: MAVERICK, Tom Cruise's latest Guy Porn movie proves too much for Calvin. THE ORVILLE: SEASON 3 has made it's move to hulu and become more serious and is gunnin…

In which CALVIN and MD talk about TERRIBLE MOVIES, many of which were perpetrated by MEL BROOKS. Cal talks about his profile at the UNFINISHED MAN website and recalls the time he got SHOT IN THE FACE and the resultant PTSD. We also examine the phenomena of PRONOUNS and MD breaks it all down for you. We also talk about making one's life more managea…

WE'RE BACK AGAIN with more insightful talk about the world! STRANGE NEW WORLDS, the best new Star Trek series in years! NATALIE PORTMAN'S GOT GUNS! We talk about THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER, Taika Waititi's upcoming Marvel flick. And, of course, we have to weigh in on the TRUCKER CONVOY, the JOHNNY DEPP and AMBER HEARD trial and all of its shenanigans! …

After a hiatus that has lasted for more than a year BALLON JUICE IS BACK! We begin by acknowledging the passing of comic book giants GEORGE PEREZ and NEAL ADAMS. We talk about MOON KNIGHT and DOCTOR STRANGE AND THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS. We examine the mess that is the DC CINEMATIC UNIVERSE and the unfortunate antics of Ezra Miller, star of the upc…

In a shorter, but no less jam-packed follow up to our last episode, Calvin and MD talk knowledgeably about ARTISAN SOAPS, the return to television of PUNKY BREWSTER and FRASIER before getting into our thoughts about Marvel's WANDAVISION and other Marvel products coming to theaters (maybe?) or DISNEY+. Calvin talks about how he will hate-watch the S…

After a two-month hiatus, WE'RE BACK! What? Did we go somewhere nice? Yeah, sure. We went to Cancun. NO! What do you think? We're Canadian. We endured the winter as all patriotic Canadians do! But spring is coming and we're talking about RUSH LIMBAUGH, Alex Jones, PINNOCHIO (and I plug a very good Canadian short film called WOODMAN made by a buddy …

Recorded before the recent attempt to overthrow the government, this is the episode where we review all the terrible things that happened in 2020. Ahh, how we long for such simpler times now, eh? For some reason we begin with a discussion about LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE. I don't know why. Along the way we namedrop JOHN SAXON, SEAN CONNERY, DIANNA…

With the movie houses shut down due to Covid and the recent announcement that Warner Brothers is teaming up with HBO Max for same day streaming releases of all their upcoming films, we speculate about what's going to happen to the movie houses. Is going to the movies a passé concept? Are the movies dead? What will happen to the existing movie theat…

In which Calvin relays the tale of his PANIC ATTACK AT THE SAFEWAY! We talk PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS and the anticipation of the vaccines. Mysterious monoliths popping up all over the world, KRAMPUS and his ilk, plus Rudy Giuliani's star witness, MELISSA CARONE. She's peach, with her Renée Zellweger hair and her second best glasses. Why are you still …

What? Another episode? Holy Crap! I'm as surprised as you are! Smoking, drinking and other bad habits. Calvin tells about a recent trip to a local establishment selling refined and perfectly legal, combustible recreational, all natural relaxation products (snicker). Mike prefers a drink but Calvin is a sloppy drunk. Life, cats, the internet, the wo…

But first, Calvin gives a mixed but enthusiastic review of THE SECRET SOCIETY OF SECOND BORN ROYALS and marvels over Miles Morales' cat from the SPIDER MAN video game. The swedes are not amused by DONALD DUCK and his flagrant disregard for pants. We mark the passing of music Legend Johnny Nash who sang the theme song for THE MIGHTY HURCULES, a Cana…

As we shiver in anticipation of the dreaded SECOND WAVE Cal and MD discuss the important things like HILLBILLY TERRORISTS, ROBOT DOGS, KILLER AI, CHADWICK BOSEMAN, NAMOR, Michael Jai White and why black actors could be big box office draws but aren't allowed to be, America's Dick, Trump's America, The Proud Boys hashtag gets corrupted by George Tak…

DEADLY SHARKS! PANT STEALING BISON! Trump committing election fraud by destroying the post office and it's being carried out in broad daylight! A REAL GIANT ROBOT in Yokohama, Japan! CAPTAIN FUNKATEER FUNK SWAGGER'S third big album drop on a dental theme! All that plus THE NEW MUTANTS! Okay, yeah, this one was late. I should have uploaded it last w…

But that won't stop us from talking about THE UNBRELLA ACADEMY Season 2, STARGIRL or DOOM PATROL. We remember 1984's STREETS OF FIRE and MD bemoans the computer repairs that set him back, Cal bemoans ordering things online and recounts his recent ELLEN DEGENERIS kerfuffle. The we talk about fine art and FORTUNINO MATANA and RENE MAGRITTE, cuz we're…

Calvin tells M.D. some stories from his youth in Shiloh, Manitoba. The Summer of '79 was a magical year for young Calvin and the things he got up to will make your blood curdle! STEALING A BIG MAC FROM A BABY! HOPPING A TRAIN TO WINNIPEG! Also going through some old photographs leads Calvin to discover a secret about his family. We also weigh in on…

In which our heroes, Cal and MD, talk about their cats, MD complains about the recent renovations to his house. Then we dig in and talk about what's going on in the world: GEORGE FLOYD and the police, DAVE CHAPELLE and his powerful special on Youtube, ANTIFA, Confederate statues, KATHERINE JOHNSON, BASS REEVES, WATCHMEN. We talk about our white pri…

In which our heroes, Cal and M.D., reflect on how Luke Skywalker is just some radicalized Jedi kid from a desert shithole planet. That leads us to a discussion of DUNE which leads us to MOBY DICK and via Bill Sienkiewicz, to THE NEW MUTANTS, LEGION and a discussion of comic books as pop culture. Calvin recalls his days as a high school superstar be…

WE'RE BACK AND WE'RE RE-BRANDED, BITCHES! BALLOON JUICE #1, in which our heroes, Calvin and M.D., have to deal with another film starring Millie Bobbie Brown! ENOLA HOLMES is a Netflix film coming in September. Did you know David Lee Roth is now a paramedic? It's true! Cal and M.D. Talk about the Snyder Cut and explain why there is no SNYDER CUT of…

From their quarantine bunkers, Cal and MD are joined by Nick Ward from New Zealand. We share lockdown stories, we talk about the recently released images from Denis Villeneuve's DUNE, we each recount embarrassing encounters with famous people and engage in general merriment. Along the way we talk about the iconic Canadian TV series THE BEACHCOMBERS…

In this episode Cal and MD talk about many topics including Dennis Villenuve's Dune, Moebius, Cosplay Girls, Billie Eilish (and the amazing reality that a Grammy winning album can be produced in your bedroom), A REALLY GREAT IDEA FOR THE CAVE OF COOL'S FIRST INDIE FEATURE, Disney Remakes (with an emphasis on MULAN) and ONE REALLY AMAZING THERMOS! -…

Back again and we talk Irwin Allen, VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA and other old network television shows. Remember CLIFFHANGERS? We do! We talk about SURVIVOR, Calvin's time in Iqaluit, Harry and Megan moving to Canada, and, of course, SUPER HEROES! We've got your amazing geeky conversation all right here! --- Send in a voice message: https://pod…

After a perfect storm of a computer SNAFU left Calvin unable to reach out to the rest of the world WE ARE BACK! And we have a lot to talk about! Aside from Calvin's computer problems we cover the Facebook cat group and Calvin's Cat captions, cosplay girls, 90 DAY FIANCEE, the 1973 version of THE THREE MUSKETEERS, Live action remakes of Japanese Ani…

WATCHMEN! HBO's limited series based on Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons graphic novel masterpiece gets an review! Listen as Cal and M.D. give their thoughts and wax enthusiastically about this landmark television series. A slightly spoilery review which covers the entire series and celebrates Damon Lindeloff's redemption as a creator of quality televis…

QUID PRO NO! Calvin delivers a personal message and an appeal to all of his listeners in the Ukraine! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/balloonjuice/message

Cal and MD talk Christmas! EMMETT OTTER'S JUG BAND CHRISTMAS, EVEL KNEIVEL STUNT CYCLE, and, of course, KRAMPUS! Everything Christmas in one compact Cave of Cool Package! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/balloonjuice/message

SEASON 2 opens with a bang as we cover the firing of Don Cherry, The box office bomb that was CHARLIE'S ANGELS and TERMINATOR: DARK FATE. We talk HBO's WATCHMEN and Disney Plus' THE MANDALORIAN! We're back, Bitches! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/balloonjuice/message…

We talk about the recent sad passing of two of our Rock & Roll heroes. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/balloonjuice/message

Cal talks about Leslie Jones leaving Saturday Night live and what a tragedy that is for him personally --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/balloonjuice/message

Cal and MD talk about Amazon Prime's insane TV show THE BOYS. Cal reviews the DC Comics TV Series PENNYWORTH. Cal tells the story of SIR NICHOLAS WINTON who saved children during the Second World War, snatching them out from under the noses of the Nazis. We talk Canadian politics, JAGMEET SINGH and his video addressing Quebec's Bill C21, and our ho…

What is CALVIN'S CANADIAN CAVE OF COOL? We tell you where to find it and why you should visit! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/balloonjuice/message

KRISTEN STEWART wants into the MCU. Calvin explains why this is a bad idea. EDMONTON EXPO is this weekend and Calvin will be there! Represent! Calvin also tells the story of nearly being killed by a family of DRUNK DEER. We also talk about what it's like to live in small-town Canada surrounded by deer hunters. It's a chilling tale of horror and not…

From way back in August this episode features Calvin's review of HOBBES & SHAW, Calvin is convinced he has transitioned to an alternate universe, one that didn't have crazy far right politics and yet another mass shooting. Calvin and M.D. try to figure it all out. Party politics, tribalism and an ABC After School special called THE WAVE. Calvin rem…

The MCU is moving into Phase 4. We talk about what it all means, what we think will happen and what we hope will happen. Calvin also goes on at length about MILLIE BOBBIE BROWN's lack of acting chops. And along the way we visit a Farmer's Market in Red Deer. Alberta. It's all fun and games until someone casts Millie Bobbie Brown! --- Send in a voic…

Calvin reviews X:MEN: DARK PHOENIX and we compare and contrast the various adaptations of X-Men's Dark Phoenix Saga. Plus why the universe is better with Keanu Reeves in it. From BILL & TED and HAMLET to THE MATRIX and JOHN WICK, we review Keanu Reeve's career and where he could fit into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and how he could probably save …

SHOT TO THE FACE! In which our hero, Cal, tells the harrowing story of violence in RED DEER involving car chases, gunplay and frightened children in peril! Calvin also tells the story of how he found a dead body while drunk on a boat. All this plus the usual shenanigans! If you only listen to one podcast THIS IS THE ONE! --- Send in a voice message…

FANBOYS BE TRIPPIN'! In which our heroes, Cal and M.D., talk about all the things that are driving fanboys crazy from the Ruby Rose BATWOMAN trailer to the final episodes of GAME OF THRONES (The bells! WHO RANG THE GODDAMNED BELLS!). The fanboy's pain is delicious to Cal and their howls of outrage make for one great podcast! We also talk about cats…

We've waited long enough! Our heroes, Cal and MD, review Avengers: Endgame! This episode is full of spoilers and, of course, our usual keen insights and the usual mirth, mayhem and hilarity! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/balloonjuice/message

In which Calvin tells the story of his mother and the stolen soup and how he was the first to introduce Harry Potter to Red Deer school students. We dissect the trailers for THE LAST JEDI and THE JOKER, and how everyone knows STAR WARS. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/balloonjuice/message…

In which our heroes, Cal and MD, drive a stripped down version of the podcast in order to give a shout out to our biggest fans, conduct a post mortem on the Notre Dame fire and the earthquakes in Red Deer AND in Salmon Arm, and we tell the world why Ketchup Chips are the quintessential Canadian potato chip. --- Send in a voice message: https://podc…

In which our heroes, Cal and MD, talk Japanese cinema, the live-action version of Alita: Battle Angel and Cal tells the story of how he met Jim Shooter in an airport on the way to Iqaluit and how years earlier his obsessive desire to purchase a Big Jim action figure led Cal to an encounter with Canadian Music legend Tommy Hunter. --- Send in a voic…

THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY! Cal and M.D. talk about the Netflix series as well as the original comic book by GERARD WAY and GABRIEL BA. Side trips along the way include CARLY RAE JEPSEN, JASON MOMOA SHAVING HIS BEARD, the trailer for HOBBES AND SHAW, THE EXPANSE, THE AVENGERS, TOM CRUISE, and the usual CAVE OF COOL shenanigans. Recorded on location in th…

WOMEN IN SPACE!!! (or not) NASA botches a potentially historic all-female spacewalk and Calvin is incensed! The JUSSIE SMOLLETT affair and the disturbing parallels to the TRUMP presidency. AOC the REAL Time Magazine Person of the Year, NEW ZEALAND's response to the shooting tragedy and the "LIVE ACTION" remake of Disney's DUMBO and why Disney think…

THE SWEET! Episode 15, in which our heroes, Cal & MD reminisce about their younger days and their love for the British rock band THE SWEET! They also give their take on the talk about MICHAEL B. JORDAN being considered for SUPERMAN, the plan to bring STARSHIP TROOPERS back to television and the crazy idea to remake LOST! This Week from the Cave of …

Episode 14 in which our heroes, Cal and MD, discuss the recent spate of BLACKFACE scandals and other stupidities of the internet age including people who believe the earth is flat or that germs don't exist. We pay tribute to the OPPORTUNITY ROVER whose battery died on Mars and express our fears about KILLER ROBOTS. We talk more about casting for De…

Episode 13 in which our heroes, Cal and MD, talk about KENDALL JENNER and how she is not as popular as a picture of an egg. MD talks about the DC NETWORK'S TITANS series, JOHN WICK PART THREE, and Cal outlines why he will not be watching AVATAR 2 & 3 and why JAMES CAMERON is not so hot as everyone thinks. Cal and MD also talk at length about DUNE, …