Just What is Apex Mountain: Rewatchables discussion thread

[Vandalman]

Here is the complete list of The Rewatchables episodes not hosted by Simmons (back to 2017):

Silver Linings Playbook (Chris Ryan, Andy Greenwald, and Zach Baron)
Pineapple Express (Craig Horlbeck, Danny Kelly, and Danny Heifetz)
Glengarry Glen Ross (Chris Ryan and Sean Fennessey)
Pitch Perfect (Juliet Litman, Jodi Walker, and Kate Halliwell)
Spider-Man (2002) (Van Lathan and Charles Holmes)
Trainspotting (Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald)
The Royal Tenenbaums (Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald)
Home Alone (Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, and Mina Kimes)
Toy Story (Sean Fennessey, Mallory Rubin, and Shea Serrano)
Easy A (Juliet Litman, Amanda Dobbins, and Shea Serrano)
While You Were Sleeping (Juliet Litman and Amanda Dobbins)
Edge of Tomorrow (Sean Fennessey and Chris Ryan)
Ocean’s 12 (Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, and Amanda Dobbins)
The Wolf of Wall Street (Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, and Ryen Russillo)
Skyfall (Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, and Amanda Dobbins)
The Holiday (Juliet Litman, Amanda Dobbins, and Kari Simmons)
Do The Right Thing (Sean Fennessey and Wesley Morris)
Inglourious Basterds (Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, and Mallory Rubin)
The Notebook (Juliet Litman, Amanda Dobbins, and Andrew Gruttadaro)
Mad Max: Fury Road (Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, Micah Peters, and Jason Concepcion)
Mission: Impossible (Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, and Jason Concepcion)
Jurassic Park 25th Anniversary (Sean Fennessey, David Shoemaker, and Bryan Curtis)
Ocean’s 11 (Chris Ryan, Juliet Litman, Sean Fennessey, and Amanda Dobbins)
The Princess Bride (Juliet Litman and David Shoemaker)
Michael Clayton (Chris Ryan, Justin Charity, and Lindsay Zoladz)
Inception' (Jason Concepcion, Mallory Rubin, Sean Fennessey, and Andrew Gruttadaro)
The Big Lebowski (Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, Jason Concepcion, and David Shoemaker)
10 Things I Hate About You (Juliet Litman, Amanda Dobbins, and Andrew Gruttadaro)
Zodiac (Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, and Andy Greenwald)
Friday (Donnie Kwak, Hannah Giorgis, and Justin Charity)
The Dark Knight (Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, and Jason Concepcion)
Clueless (Juliet Litman, Amanda Dobbins, and K. Austin Collins)
Titanic (Juliet Litman, Amanda Dobbins, and K. Austin Collins)
You’ve Got Mail (Juliet Litman and Amanda Dobbins)

 

[Remagellan]

Yes. Simmons can be annoying at times and we’ve litigated and re-litigated his strengths and weaknesses in the Simmons thread a million times, but with respect to this particular pod if he’s not driving or not in it at all it is just not as entertaining.

I’ve been listening and re-listening to some of the past episodes and there is one (can’t remember which movie) where it’s the regular crew but they let Ryan drive. It sucks. Part of that is because Bill can’t play the supporting role and ended up taking over at times, but IMO Ryan just wasn’t as good at keeping the flow going. I fucking love Chris Ryan, I think he’s a legitimately talented, insightful and hysterical guy, and a really, really good podcaster. But it didn’t work with him in the driver’s seat.

I don't know how old the one you referenced is, but Chris could improve as a host if given the chance. He used to be a spotty interviewer, but he's grown into being a much better one over the years.

Couple of notes on the current one: this might have been the worst Craig take on a movie since they let him do his end of pod reviews. And maybe it's me, but I felt old as none of them identified James Hampton as Trooper Dobbs from F-Troop.

 

[SidelineCameras]

The Princess Bride ep is begging for a redo. That one was rough. Shoemaker clearly didn’t do any prep and said several times he felt bad for forgetting things. Time to try that one again with Joanna Robinson and some other nerds.

 

[kfoss99]

I've never seen Breaking Away, I don't think I've even heard of it, but I'll listen to Simmons, Ryan, and Fennesey talk about anything.

I'd like them to review Tremors, War Games, and Office Space, but Simmons mentioned they're trying to find movies that fit the categories. I think comedies might be harder to review for the format. Tremors is sort of horror-comedy-campy. War Games might be too sci-fi and kiddie for Simmons' taste. That likely leaves out Goonies.

They must have reviewed Happy Gilmore, but I don't know if they've done any of the other Sandler or Farley 90's movies. They haven't even done Wayne's World.

 

[luckiestman]

Bill is so good on Breaking Away. The Bill, Chris, Sean pods are so good.

 

[luckiestman]

I've never seen Breaking Away

It’s worth watching.

 

[Spelunker]

It’s worth watching.

It's better than Longest Yard or BNB. I don't think those hold up all that well unless you had a childhood love of them.

 

[Eric1984]

I saw Breaking Away in the theater as a kid. Loved it. I'm pretty sure I re-watched it at some point, but not in the last 20 or 25 years. I can't decide if I should listen to the pod first and then re-watch or re-watch first and then listen to the pod. Probably the latter.

 

[luckiestman]

I saw Breaking Away in the theater as a kid. Loved it. I'm pretty sure I re-watched it at some point, but not in the last 20 or 25 years. I can't decide if I should listen to the pod first and then re-watch or re-watch first and then listen to the pod. Probably the latter.

I kind of lean the opposite way in similar situations. I like to look for some of the stuff they mention. This is different if I have never seen the movie .

 

[8slim]

It’s wild the number of movies they do on the pod that aren’t readily available as part of a streaming service subscription.

I listened to the War of the Roses episode last weekend, and it’s not available anywhere other than to rent or buy. Thankfully Slap Shot and Fast Times were on Tubi. But I couldn’t find the Running Man anywhere.

Sounds like the Ringer has a new partnership with YouTube. YT should license all of the movies done on The Rewatchables and have Bill promote their availability. YT sells ads in them. It’s a win win.

 

[Vandalman]

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons and Van Lathan take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em right up your ass after they rewatch the 1976 classic ‘The Bad News Bears,’ starring Walter Matthau, Tatum O’Neal, and Jackie Earle Haley.

 

[TheGazelle]

I've never seen Breaking Away, I don't think I've even heard of it, but I'll listen to Simmons, Ryan, and Fennesey talk about anything.

I'd like them to review Tremors, War Games, and Office Space, but Simmons mentioned they're trying to find movies that fit the categories. I think comedies might be harder to review for the format. Tremors is sort of horror-comedy-campy. War Games might be too sci-fi and kiddie for Simmons' taste. That likely leaves out Goonies.

They must have reviewed Happy Gilmore, but I don't know if they've done any of the other Sandler or Farley 90's movies. They haven't even done Wayne's World.

They've definitely done a few - Tommy Boy and Big Daddy come to mind, although I think the latter was on the Rewatchables 1999 feed.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

They've definitely done a few - Tommy Boy and Big Daddy come to mind, although I think the latter was on the Rewatchables 1999 feed.

Per the BNB pod, they're planning to dump all the episodes from Rewatchables 1999 on to the regular feed this summer (brand new ep Monday night, 1999 ep on Wednesday or Thursday night). So if they did it then and they haven't already put that episode out on the main feed, they will soon.

 

[Remagellan]

It’s wild the number of movies they do on the pod that aren’t readily available as part of a streaming service subscription.

I listened to the War of the Roses episode last weekend, and it’s not available anywhere other than to rent or buy. Thankfully Slap Shot and Fast Times were on Tubi. But I couldn’t find the Running Man anywhere.

Sounds like the Ringer has a new partnership with YouTube. YT should license all of the movies done on The Rewatchables and have Bill promote their availability. YT sells ads in them. It’s a win win.

i think I saw The Running Man on PlutoTV when I was watching a DS9 repeat this morning. And a friend found Breaking Away on something. (Maybe Daily Motion?). But I didn’t watch Breaking Away because I have that movie memorized at this point.

Edit—I should add that I too find it odd whenever they choose a movie that’s not available on a streamer. And they’ve done that a lot recently it seems.

 

[Vandalman]

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, Joe House, and Sean Fennessey join the Scuba Squad as they rewatch the 1999 hit comedy ‘Big Daddy’ starring Adam Sandler, Joey Lauren Adams, and Dylan and Cole Sprouse.

 

[Spelunker]

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, Joe House, and Sean Fennessey join the Scuba Squad as they rewatch the 1999 hit comedy ‘Big Daddy’ starring Adam Sandler, Joey Lauren Adams, and Dylan and Cole Sprouse.

I assume anyone in this thread knows this, but just in case you're not up to date they're burning off the rest of the 99 feed, so they'll be going 2 a week this summer until they're through them.

 

[Ralphwiggum]

Van Lathan is fucking hysterical. In the Twister pod him talking about the one black guy who was there “just in case the cops came for them” and then the discussion of Twister being the whitest movie ever completely with “white” alternate titles is the hardest I’ve laughed in a long time.

 

[shlincoln]

Bill had a couple of shots before recording the True Lies pod. Unhinged performance from him, and that is not a criticism.

 

[Bozo Texino]

Bill had a couple of shots before recording the True Lies pod. Unhinged performance from him, and that is not a criticism.

Agreed. Fantastic episode.

I'm THRILLED they took time to address the "ass like a ten-year-old boy!" line. Because I was thirteen when that movie came out, and that line was... Yeah.

 

[Spelunker]

Oh shit: Pulp Fiction is finally here. Part 1, at least.

 

[Vandalman]

Oh shit: Pulp Fiction is finally here. Part 1, at least.

Now Part 2 is here.

 

[kenneycb]

5 hours of Pulp Fiction talk. Kinda feel like this may actually be the last year.

 

[kfoss99]

If this is it, it was a hell of a run.

 

[onthereg527]

Why would they stop though? It does very well seemingly.

 

[Remagellan]

Why would they stop though? It does very well seemingly.

They apparently took that mentality when it came to talking about Pulp Fiction. (Which I totally understand.)

 

[trotsplits]

It was a good concept and an enjoyable run, but I'm ok if they stop. I'm skipping episodes more frequently. Because reasons:

-I don't particularly appreciate hearing Mallory Rubin's sex schtick during her appearances.
-I'm not too fond of BS without Fennessey/Ryan.
-Chris Ryan's *impressions* are wearing thin - he's just yelling.
-BS predictably associates nearly every bad idea in the 80's with "how much coke were they doing anyway?"
-BS is making obscure NBA comparisons at every turn.

Maybe the pod became too familiar and the problem is me, but I could deal with a similar concept hosted by Chris Ryan (without Andy Greenberg).

 

[CantKeepmedown]

I could see BS stepping away but I imagine the pod is still quite profitable. Let Chris and Sean take over and add in a 3rd rotating chair. I still enjoy BS when he does them and it may take some time for one of the others to step into the facilitator role, but they can do it.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

I think the running joke for a long time has been that they were saving Pulp for the end of the podcast run, and they certainly made mention of that a couple times. I don't think that now that they've actually done it means they're pulling the plug. Not when every episode still seems to have at least one "why haven't we done this movie yet?" riff.

I know there are a ton more movies they could be doing simply by not having BS on every single episode. They've already done it in the past. No reason they can't start doing that again.

 

[Remagellan]

More and more it seems Chris and Sean go into annoyed silent mode whenever Bill breaks out a lame NBA comparison.

I enjoyed the lengthy Pulp pod, but I have two nitpicks about the Cruise/Hanks segment:

Spoiler

Bill argued that Cruise could only play Butch, because he couldn't convincingly play a hit man. How could both Chris and Sean let this pass without mentioning Collateral, a movie adored by all three of them in which Cruise not only plays a hit man, but one named VINCENT? And they all mention that Hanks couldn't play Vincent, but that's the sort of role he should have tried at some point. Well, he did try that sort of role, in Road to Perdition, to mixed reviews.

 

[luckiestman]

More and more it seems Chris and Sean go into annoyed silent mode whenever Bill breaks out a lame NBA comparison.

I enjoyed the lengthy Pulp pod, but I have two nitpicks about the Cruise/Hanks segment:

Spoiler

Bill argued that Cruise could only play Butch, because he couldn't convincingly play a hit man. How could both Chris and Sean let this pass without mentioning Collateral, a movie adored by all three of them in which Cruise not only plays a hit man, but one named VINCENT? And they all mention that Hanks couldn't play Vincent, but that's the sort of role he should have tried at some point. Well, he did try that sort of role, in Road to Perdition, to mixed reviews.

A major plot point is that you have to believe that Vincent and Mia would want to get intimate. Tom Hanks has the least sexual aura of any leading man in the history of film which is odd because his son Chet oozes machismo (this word choice is a joke for you non WWE fans).

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

More and more it seems Chris and Sean go into annoyed silent mode whenever Bill breaks out a lame NBA comparison.

I cringed when Bill used the expression "try outs" for Laurence Fishburne's and Samuel L. Jackson's auditions.

 

[kfoss99]

Simmons' view of the world can be pretty myopic. He said, something like, before Pulp Fiction people didn't take deep dives into all the details of movies and I said to myself, "Dude, Trekkies had already existed for decades." It's more like, before Pulp Fiction you didn't take a deep dive into a particular movie. He's done that a lot throughout his career, trying to make his personal universal.

Anyhow, I loved the two-parter and The Rewatchables; It wouldn't be so fun if Simmons was more academic. There are other podcasts for that.

 

[TaiwanManny]

I think the running joke for a long time has been that they were saving Pulp for the end of the podcast run, and they certainly made mention of that a couple times. I don't think that now that they've actually done it means they're pulling the plug. Not when every episode still seems to have at least one "why haven't we done this movie yet?" riff.

I know there are a ton more movies they could be doing simply by not having BS on every single episode. They've already done it in the past. No reason they can't start doing that again.

If this was the last Rewatchables, it was a fitting way to go out. I loved Pulp and remember hearing the Cannes buzz and waiting to see it then being in awe once it finally came out over here. I still enjoy this podcast and hope it continues.

 

[johnmd20]

If this was the last Rewatchables, it was a fitting way to go out. I loved Pulp and remember hearing the Cannes buzz and waiting to see it then being in awe once it finally came out over here. I still enjoy this podcast and hope it continues.

They aren't going to stop this podcast. 0% chance.

This wasn't the last one and it's not close to being the last one.

 

[Remagellan]

They aren't going to stop this podcast. 0% chance.

This wasn't the last one and it's not close to being the last one.

The only thing that made me nervous about this---there was a story in the NY Post last week that stated that Simmons' contract with Spotify was up and he might be looking to move on because he's bristling at their interference with The Ringer. A friend of mine speculated that he might be angling to pull another "Grantland", but I won't believe that until it happens. But that story appearing a day after they posted the second part of a pod they said they were saving for the last one did make me go, "Hmmm."

 

[johnmd20]

The only thing that made me nervous about this---there was a story in the NY Post last week that stated that Simmons' contract with Spotify was up and he might be looking to move on because he's bristling at their interference with The Ringer. A friend of mine speculated that he might be angling to pull another "Grantland", but I won't believe that until it happens. But that story appearing a day after they posted the second part of a pod they said they were saving for the last one did make me go, "Hmmm."

That is probably just contract negotiations.

But even if Simmons leaves the Ringer, The Rewatchables will continue.(and get better)

The Rewatchables is a very popular and successful pod. Plus there are plenty of movies to do, so it kind off records itself. It's not going away, even if Simmons does. But I can't see Simmons getting money to start his own site. The market is too saturated.

 

[bankshot1]

I listened to both part of the Pulp pod in between rain and thunder lightening yesterday and enjoyed it, as I have most of the RW episodes. I shouted to no one in earshot, "its the fucking briefcase" when the boys settled on the watch as the most iconic prop from the film. Then laughed when that dawned on them as well or had heard me.

If that was it for the series, its going to be missed in bankshot's rotation.

Quick question, did they ever do "Almost Famous"?

 

[Vandalman]

I listened to both part of the Pulp pod in between rain and thunder lightening yesterday and enjoyed it, as I have most of the RW episodes. I shouted to no one in earshot, "its the fucking briefcase" when the boys settled on the watch as the most iconic prop from the film. Then laughed when that dawned on them as well or had heard me.

If that was it for the series, its going to be missed in bankshot's rotation.

Quick question, did they ever do "Almost Famous"?

Not yet.

 

[8slim]

Do people really think this show would just end, unceremoniously, without comment or fanfare? That Simmons, Ryan and Fennessy wouldn't do an epic, highly promoted, 11 hour re-re-re-re-Heat with a cavalcade of guest appearances?

Geez, guys.

 

[luckiestman]

But even if Simmons leaves the Ringer, The Rewatchables will continue.(and get better)

Time to reset to zero the “Days until Johnny takes a potshot at the GOAT Podcaster”.

 

[8slim]

That is probably just contract negotiations.

But even if Simmons leaves the Ringer, The Rewatchables will continue.(and get better)

The Rewatchables is a very popular and successful pod. Plus there are plenty of movies to do, so it kind off records itself. It's not going away, even if Simmons does. But I can't see Simmons getting money to start his own site. The market is too saturated.

Your disdain aside, people would be tripping over each other to throw gobs of money at Simmons if he left Spotify. The market is definitely saturated with boring podcasts that nobody listens to, I’ll give you that. Has nothing to do with Simmons though, who has millions of people listening to his very entertaining podcasts.

 

[RyanBros14]

Usually I throw on this podcast before going to sleep. I haven’t been a Simmons fan since high school but thanks to The Rewatchables I’ve been brought back around….. a bit.

The Dodgeball episode brought to us by three randos so far is like watching this season of Bar Rescue. Bill Simmons, to me, is the heart of this podcast, like Jon Taffer is to Bar Rescue. It’s not the same. If they’re not there, don’t bother.. I’d rather them not release an episode. Bill’s voice is grating to me and I still prefer episodes he hosts. Hope last week wasn’t the end.

 

[Spelunker]

It's a pretty funny troll of the overly literal "does this mean the pod is over??!?" crowd, and Craig is far from a Rewatchables rando at this point (plus the three of them together host the fantasy football pod).

That said while I prefer the main casts, Bill is the least of it to me. His main value prop for me is the dumb things he says that CR and Sean, or Van, can make fun of. He's generally the Roethlisberger of the chat.

 

[Van Everyman]

Didn’t they actually discuss this at the end of Pulp 2? And Bill said he had to go think about it? Or did I misunderstand?

 

[bankshot1]

IMO Simmons preps very hard for the movies and throws a lot of stuff out there for his more scholarly colleagues to ponder and play with. He's also the boss so he can take chances other might be hesitant to. I think he's a pretty good facilitator.

 

[luckiestman]

IMO Simmons preps very hard for the movies and throws a lot of stuff out there for his more scholarly colleagues to ponder and play with. He's also the boss so he can take chances other might be hesitant to. I think he's a pretty good facilitator.

I agree and I’d go further than that. People are better with Bill than they are otherwise (not interviews, Bill is really bad at interviews). Chris and Sean are the best versions of themselves with Bill.

edit: even Sal. Sal is pretty funny on his own show. Bill and Sal could do a Mike and the Mad Dog style show and I would listen every day.

 

[ManicCompression]

Usually I throw on this podcast before going to sleep. I haven’t been a Simmons fan since high school but thanks to The Rewatchables I’ve been brought back around….. a bit.

The Dodgeball episode brought to us by three randos so far is like watching this season of Bar Rescue. Bill Simmons, to me, is the heart of this podcast, like Jon Taffer is to Bar Rescue. It’s not the same. If they’re not there, don’t bother.. I’d rather them not release an episode. Bill’s voice is grating to me and I still prefer episodes he hosts. Hope last week wasn’t the end.

These three "randos" have one of the best podcasts on the Ringer and they have great chemistry as a group. You should give it a try before you slam it. I'd rather these three do a rewatch of these 2000s comedies than Bill/Sean/Chris... especially because, as they talk about on the episode, Bill doesn't really like Dodgeball.

 

[8slim]

Didn’t they actually discuss this at the end of Pulp 2? And Bill said he had to go think about it? Or did I misunderstand?

They were joking.

I listened to parts 1 and 2 over the past day and it was phenomenal.

 

[Van Everyman]

But it seemed rooted in some real discussion they’ve had. That said, Sean in particular seemed to think they had more queued up.

Regardless I think they’re firing on all cylinders right now. Too much so to pack it in.

 

[CantKeepmedown]

These three "randos" have one of the best podcasts on the Ringer and they have great chemistry as a group. You should give it a try before you slam it. I'd rather these three do a rewatch of these 2000s comedies than Bill/Sean/Chris... especially because, as they talk about on the episode, Bill doesn't really like Dodgeball.

Yeah, I know they did Pineapple Express at one point and it was very enjoyable. Looking forward to this one