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This seems like an excellent week to mention that Penelope Spheeris' documentary about this period, "The Decline of Western Civilization", was on TCM recently and at least here in Canada is still available on demand. My memory of these years is hazy and I was too young to be a proper punk (I was 12 in 1980) but The Runaways definitely had an impact, especially on their female peers and other bands trying to make the same scene and trying to be more than a novelty act. You can't underestimate the impact that punk compilations and even mix tapes had on the fans and musicians who circulated them. You can draw a straight line from bands like The Runaways to bands like Hole or Bikini Kill. I do remember that when Joan Jett went solo and had big boring hits like "I Love Rock n' Roll", there was a lot of sellout-grumbling. Lita Ford was clearly happier pushing hair metal. I did see this biopic when it came out at a fancy theatre in Toronto and I mainly remember being impressed with K-Stew and realizing "oh, she's actually a very good actor."

Yea, for real. And she's had a really interesting life too... became a successful lawyer and a Jeopardy champion! But one side angle of that is how they handled her in this. They cast Alia Shawkat who is great, but did she even have any lines? Did she one word? But on the other hand, Fox wasn't even allowed to play on their first album, which this film covers. They ending up using, if I recall right, Blondie's bassist. So in a way, she was somewhat expandable in this story.

Who's that bassist? Where is "Robin"? I'm going to have to call shenanigans on this clip. Legit though, the reason "Robin" is likely in the movie is all kinds of upsetting.

Yea I think "Cherry Bomb" was pretty massive, but there's a few other hits. I'm not familiar with their music, beyond their first album. Which I think is amazing. The guitar playing by Jett and Ford is pretty impressive. From what I learned about the group, it seems that in some ways the most interesting story could have been Currie's twin sister. She apparently was left out of the band because Fowley didn't want twins in it. She did end up making some music on her own (and even as a duo with Cherie). There's a lot of other drama and controversy between band members and Fowley that didn't get portrayed too. I was watching some live clips of the band after I watched the movie and the movie did nail the band in a lot of the details. That sexy lingerie costume Cherie got and Jett was like 'that's too much'... that was real!

"Hit" is extremely debatable in the US. Cherry Bomb was their highest charting song but didn't get into the top 100 in the US. Having a hit doesn't necessarily make you a big deal just as not having a hit means you're nothing. Loads of bands are technically one hit wonders like Jimi Hendrix or The Grateful Dead. Loads of influential bands had no hits like Velvet Underground or Nick Drake or Big Star. My perception of The Runaways is they were basically not a thing at all in the US unless you were really into their scene. I'm not especially into punk but I don't even recall hearing people list them as an influence. Joan Jett (and the Blackhearts) for sure as a touchstone. I'm sure Runaways fans exist, but I don't really hear about them.

Overall, I thought the movie was fine. I kind of want to get more Runaways records, especially the ones after Currie left. I didn’t realize that they released two more albums with Jett fronting the group. Not that this is portrayed in the movie, of course. That’s pure Wikipedia right there Most of all, I was impressed with KStew’s physicality. She really captured Jett’s body language.

I think it depends on what you call “hits.” They have other well-known(ish) songs, but I’d say “Cherry Bomb” was their big one.

How to Become a Chainsaw Artist: The Cheri Curry Story We watched:

Lita Ford gets pretty short shrift too. Her whole character is “fight a couple of times with Jett.”

And before Fuchs, their bassist was Micki Steele, later of The Bangles. What was weird though is the moment Shannon was flipping through the band bios and he’s like “Robin Robinson, bass, smart as Hell” or whatever he says. Why even draw attention to it? I just thought it was funny. It was like telling the origins of the Beatles, omitting Pete Best, and replacing him with Rango Orbb.

I legit didn't even recognize Alia Shawkat in this. Now that you mention it I don't think she does have a single speaking line. Maybe when they're in the pool she does some shouting but that's about it.

I'll stay out for now. I'm still working my way through it. Had to take it in parts. One question I will ask. Did The Runaways have more than one hit? All the posters I've seen focus on Cherry Bomb.

I get it. I remember around Hard Ticket to Hawaii time, I wasn't overly fond of the pics. However, Paul has said in one of the minis that they kind of go through phases. If they do too many big budget movies, Cannon movies, dramas, ninja movies, etc. people complain. In other words, no matter what they pick, they can't please everyone all the time. And if that's the case, then they might as well just pick movies that they feel like doing -- which I think is ultimately great for everyone. I honestly don't think there's anything more to it than that. I'm pretty much a HDTGM completionist, and I try to keep current with them as much as possible, but I have also gotten to the point where if I'm not super excited about the movie pick, I don't jump through hoops to make sure I watch it before the episode drops. Like, I don't blame you if you're disappointed with their picks, but I promise it won't be long until they are back to doing something you are into.

I hate being negative because I am grateful for all the wonderful hours of hilarious content that HDTGM gives me. And if I am the only one that feels this way, I will shut up about it, but...is anyone else bored and/or annoyed by the number of low-budget, no name movies that the show has been covering lately? To me, I get much greater satisfaction watching and mocking big budget movies that bomb hard. This is not to say that Paul, June and Jason can’t make a funny episode out of these straight to dvd movies, but I also want to look forward to watching the movie itself in the week prior and the choices lately have been underwhelming to say the least. At least Paul somewhat acknowledged this week that VelociPastor was a bad choice because you can’t really dissect a movie that tries to be in on the joke. Like I said, I may be alone in this, but I just wanted to express my frustration.

Talking B-Ball, addressing a controversy with the director of VelociPastor, and more on this week’s mini episode! Paul offers up advice on the Help Line, goes through Corrections and Omissions for The VelociPastor, and shares a deleted scene from the 2:22 episode. Plus, we announce our next movie! Subscribe to Unspooled with Paul Scheer and Amy Nicholson here: http://www.earwolf.com/show/unspooled/ Check out The Jane Club over at www.janeclub.com Check out new HDTGM merch over at https://www.teepubli…wdidthisgetmade Where to Find Jason, June & Paul: @PaulScheer on Instagram & Twitter @Junediane on IG and @MsJuneDiane on Twitter Jason is Not on Twitter

I was looking at the movies I've watched with Stewart in it on Letterboxd, and putting aside the Twilights and the one super dumb blockbuster thing (Underwater), I've seen 5 of her artier movies and I rated them all 3.5. That is, I liked them all, but nothing super blew me away. Rarely was that her fault, either. But I take it as she's out there making really good stuff if you know where to look!

Oh, there's also a documentary about them, which looks pretty solid. I think I might watch it soon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgeplay:_A_Film_About_the_Runaways it's here on youtube

Yea, though "Cherry Bomb" was a pretty big hit in Japan. I'm not sure the movie made that as clear as it could have. They became influential later, probably when Jett became more famous (and even Ford and the others). Now they're recognized as an influential female band, I think. Maybe less in the punk realm though and more towards rock or even metal (i.e. Ford). Actually maybe 'influential' is the wrong word, not sure they changed much really, but they were a pioneering group. I was stunned by this number as I was listening to their music the other day. On Spotify, "Cherry Bomb" has over 88 million plays. Their second highest song is at 2 million (my favorite of theirs "You Drive Me Wild"). So yea they're definitely a one-hit wonder type of group.

Thats the best part of their foreplay, they go to incredible lengths to involve an innocent homeless man in their sex games. Also it's more than a little terrifying that this is how Breen views as some fun roleplay that couples might get into. Or is it like a metaphor for how that even though they were married they never really knew each other because in the end she was a double agent for Cuzzx?

It’s a metaphor. It’s just too bad that Gene Simmons was so miscast.

I tried to watch the movie. I really don't understand what Tom Selleck and androids have to do with Joan Jett.

My understanding is this movie was based on a fake trailer the director did (similar to the fake trailers in Grind House). I think that probably is perfect for this premise. Five minutes or less because it's really just the portmanteau to skate by on. The director has done a couple other movies I've never heard of, then this. So, I kind of wonder if he either has no other ideas or if the velocipastor trailer got his biggest reaction and this was his best shot at making a name for himself. I wondered about this as well. I watched this on my phone while working. So, I figured maybe I missed the scratches on the film but I didn't notice any. Robert Rodriguez claims he purposefully scratched the film for Planet Terror from Grind House. Velocipastor's first movie was a fake trailer that he expanded to a full length movie and claims he destroyed the film. So, I think this guy is just a huge fan of Grind House or Robert Rodriguez.

Sequel idea; Philoso-Raptor vs Veloci-Pastor. Logic vs faith. Whoever wins...we win, cause dinosaurs! Also no excuse for a crummy velociraptor costume, youtube prank videos have been doing them for years (the "cheat" to making even a cheap dino costume look better is the tail, its just about getting the tail waving in the air). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmxQSwwTRqU&t=36s&ab_channel=ramenturtle

Please please please bring Norm MacDonald in to be Conan’s friend!

Also, it's one of the few movies where the hero makes a child an orphan. Granted an awful child, but still.