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Have we discussed that her name is literally Star Star? Stella is the Latin for star. Random fact about me : I have a tattoo on my wrist that says Stella Fulgens which means Star Bright.

We should introduce her to “Manos: The Hands Of Fate.”

Amy mentioned that the Joker isn't funny, but honestly, I thought that "nobody's laughing now" was a pretty good joke, even if it lacked delivery. That made me question De Niro's reaction, since I would think most comedians would feel a little sympathy for a guy who had a decent idea for a joke and needs more reps on stage to work it out. The choice to make De Niro's character unnecessarily callous in that moment is another example of the script spelling something out in black and white when it could have been more gray. (And this reminds me of the thing that infuriates me most about the script: why was there video of Fleck's performance at all? In 1981, none of the audience members are going to be bootlegging open mic night with their huge 1981 camcorders. So are we to believe the club takes video of all their open mic nights? For what purpose? Just in case someone bombs so bad, they can send the tape to late night shows? That seems like an incredible waste of tape. I needed an explanation for this, because it felt like lazy writing by someone who wanted to ret-con a typical 21st century occurrence into a point in history where it didn't belong.)

And now on your other wrist...

(Some SPOILERS in here if you haven't seen Joker.) Also, what kind of network talk show in the 1980s would want to show low-quality footage of some unknown amateur comedian? Would they really consider that worthy of an on-air bit? Not to mention that such talk shows aren't generally broadcast live, so Arthur's on-set stunt probably wouldn't have actually made it to air. My other big question is about the backstory with his mom. The asylum has all kinds of records about his mother's mental issues, making stuff up, abusing him, etc. Why does this all seem like news to him? He doesn't remember any of it? Seems like if she was allowed to keep custody of Arthur there would have been a parade of social workers coming to their apartment.

Early Letterman could maybe fit this bill but certainly not to the extreme of Joker. He definitely invited regular nobodies on air and made fun of them with Stupid Human Tricks. SPOILERS FOR JOKER Besides stuff others have said, this was my biggest issue with this movie while I watched it was linking it to Batman. As a movie about an abused, mentally ill man, it's good enough. Every time Bruce Wayne came up, it was laughable. When they showed the origin story for Bruce was the most groan inducing thing I've seen in a while. If this wasn't a super villain origin story, it's just an insulting look at abuse and mental illness.

She sells seashells down by the sea? Sure...

What is a butt, if not a farts volcano?

10/17 The Godfather 10/24 The Godfather Part II 10/31 The Grapes Of Wrath 11/7 Forrest Gump

I listen to Marc Maron's podcast, and on it he made some non-specific references to having filmed two larger scenes, but one of them got cut out, and when the director told him why it was because they wanted to keep everything focused on the main character. (I guess the other scene was him and De Niro alone.) The problem is that without that there isn't much context to what Arthur is doing, who he really is, etc. That's why the scenes with Albert Brooks and Cybill Shepherd in Taxi Driver are important, they give you a sense of what "normal" people think about Travis. I guess presenting the whole thing from Arthur's demented perspective means there is a strong emotional impact to many of the scenes, but thematically and intellectually it's left wanting. The individual scenes don't cohere into a solid narrative.

Both those points go to what I was saying in the other thread. It's like they just had to make him abused, had to make him a failed comic. And screw it if it doesn't make sense or quite fit. And those choices just aren't very creative or shocking or even arguably appropriate in turning a person evil. I really wish they had made this gritty, real movie, but he still somehow fell into a giant vat of acid and came out insane.

My dad butt dialed me and left me a message. It was a fart.

I know this is kinda repeating something I said earlier but I do think the "we're not slaves" line from Stella Star is one of the funniest lines in the movie. Yes, Stella, you kinda are. See you committed multiple crimes and were found guilty by a court of Krangs. As a result you were sentenced to life in a hard labour penal colony. This is the good news bad news situation. Assuming Space prison has similar laws to the United States, once you are a prisoner you are now a ward of the state. This means they can not work you to death. They have to provide food and care for you. If the radiation does burn your skin off like you complain about they have to treat that. Unfortunately they are allowed to subject you to penal labour which as a form of unfree labour does make it "slave labour." You have the right to complain and register complaints but that doesn't mean they have to listen you. However this is your punishment for committing crimes and breaking the law and as a result they are allowed to force you to work for 12 hours. However, if Space law is more like say North Korean law then you probably aren't afforded those rights and as a prisoner in a penal labour camp. In that case, yes you are a slave and they can do what they like with you. I'm sorry if you thought "hard" labour meant just a little light lifting.

Long time listener and first time caller (or words to that effect). This piece of shit is right up my alley. Cheesy scifi knockoffs are the best. I actually watched this horror show on television when I was a child and I remember thinking it was pretty good. Children are stupid. Although you covered the (movie?) pretty well, there are some amazing behind the scenes facts I just had to share. You can really dive into a rabbit hole researching this one. There is a reason you sensed such amazing chemistry from Stella and Elle is because Caroline Munroe (who played Stella Star) actually was in a relationship with Judd Hamilton (who played Elle). They recorded albums together and even got married. The real story her though is our good pal Akton (played by Marjoe Gunter). Marjoe was born to a fanatical, Pentecostal couple and was raised from birth to be an evangelist. He was publicized as the world's youngest preacher and even presided over a wedding at the age of 4. By his 20's he had become dissolutioned and decided to participate in a documentary which would expose the hypocrisy and deception of religion. The documentary is called "Marjoe" (his name is a combination of Mary and Joseph). You should really watch it. Hard to describe just how crazy it is. This also explains his mysterious persona and those hypnotic eyes. Any of his movies are well worth the hdtgm treatment. Lastly, the amazon queen was played by Nadia Cassini who actually was an Italian adult film star. No wonder it gave you that feeling.

I instinctively tried to like this post like an idiot.

You know how movies like "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly" were called "Spaghetti Westerns", because they were made in Italy. Does this make Starcrash a Spaghetti Sci-Fi, or does it have a different name, like Sci-Fi Bolognese, or SPACE-ghetti?

Max Beasley ! Just what the show needed another young, white hipster's opinion !

FWIW, here's what Engineer Brett posted on the Earwolf subreddit: