When It Was Cool Podcast

Karl and Tonya review the 2023 pro wrestling biopic The Iron Claw. This is a dramatized retelling of the tragic story of the Von Erich family which endured tragedy after tragedy including the young deaths of multiple brothers, a domineering father, and more. Karl and Tonya look at how the film did in communicating the horrific events of the Von Erich family and Karl takes a look at some of the real facts which the movie fictionalized. We both loved this movie so come and join us for an extensive look at The Iron Claw.

It's finally here, When It Was Cool looks back at the classic Hanna-Barbara space monster cartoon series The Herculoids! This cartoon series was a favorite of mine back when I was a kid and thanks to our wonderful Patreon member Andy I now have the complete series, so let's dive in! Wait a minute... basically every episode is exactly the same just swapping out robots for aliens here and there. Who cares?! There is a triceratops that shoots exploding rocks out of its horn, a laser beam shooting dragon, a giant rock ape, and two lumps of goop. And they kill people about every episode. The 1960's didn't care about your triggers. ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?

Larry Hama returns to the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic book series now being published at Skybound/Image for issue 301 or issue 1 of the new run. G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero issue 301 picks up directly where issue 300 ended and has a great new artist breathing new life into this old product. Duke, Roadblock, Will Bill, Cobra Commander, Serpentor, and others are prime players in this story arch and we finally start to sort out the convoluted Snake Eyes storyline with one less to worry about.

Karl, who is a huge fan of the rock band Rush, reviews Geddy Lee's new memoire My Effin' Life which dropped a couple of weeks ago. Geddy Lee's book takes a detailed look at the history of the band, his parent's incredible story as holocaust survivors, their musical variety over the course of their 40 plus year career, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Alex Lifeson's infamous speech, and the final days of Neil Peart. A fantastic and fun biography!

Recently, Karl and Tonya from When It Was Cool visited the gravesite of American music legend Johnny Cash. We recently had watched an amazing documentary about the life, faith, and career of Johnny Cash and this episode of the When It Was Cool Podcast takes a look at that documentary. From the highest of highs and incredible success to literally crawling into the depths of a cave and laying down to die, the Redemption of an American Icon is a fascinating documentary film.

Bullshido at it's finest! The 1976 post-Bruce Lee era Master of the Flying Guillotine is one of my favorite Kung-Fu movies. It is utterly ridiculous. Featuring a one armed Kung Fu master who is the target of an evil Kung Fu master. The evil Kung Fu matches shows up at an incredibly ridiculous Kung Fu tournament and starts killing every one armed person there! This movie features everything you love about wacky Kung Fu movies: bizarre tournament to the death, evil Kung Fu heels, traps, and more! Prepare to be destroyed! 

Tonya and Karl went to see the 2023 blockbuster movie Barbie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. Bringing the iconic Mattel toy property to a live action movie seemed like a challenge and this movie isn't really sure what it is. Part bizarre pink fantasy and part feminist manifesto the Barbie movie has still managed to strike a chord with a large audience catapulting it to becoming 2023's biggest hit so far. Tonya and Karl give you their thoughts on this strange, yet memorable film.

I'm all out of bubblegum. This 1988 John Carpenter cult classic starring Rowdy Roddy Piper is actually a pretty solid little movie. Join Karl from When It Was Cool as I look back on Roddy Piper's biggest film, the cult movie VHS era, and wonder if, in fact, any of you are aliens. Cause, I'd say there is cause to wonder. Also, I swear, the longest fight scene in history.

Karl and Tonya sit down to watch the second installment of Creed from the Rocky Universe of movies and we liked this one much better than Creed I. This one brought back Ivan Drago along with his son to face Adonis Creed but Rocky isn't having any of it. A LOT happens in this movie with Adonis Creed winning the World title, getting hammered by Viktor Drago, and then having to make the Rocky style comeback. Also, we get a very nebulous possible ending for Rocky Balboa! Stay tuned!

Karl and Tonya review the next installment in the Rocky Universe with a look at Creed I (2015) where we pick up Rocky's story by way of Apollo Creed's previously unknown son Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan). We find out how Creed had this secret son, his rough childhood, how he travels to Philadelphia to meet Rocky, and a tons of twists and turns. We also a revelation of a nearly 30 year old secret- who won the basement rubber match between Rocky and Apollo at the end of Rocky 3.

Karl and Tonya sit down to discuss the latest Toy Story movie which find our cast of toy characters on a road trip in an RV where they discover former toy companion Bo Peep, who now leaves as a free unowned toy. A new toy enters the story- Forky, who, of course, gets lost and needs rescued. This installment also introduces several new toy characters which we may see in future movies.

Karl and Tonya return with a review of 2010's Toy Story 3. In this adventure the toy's owner, Andy, goes off to college and a misunderstanding finds his toys not ending up in the attic as they were supposed to but instead- IN THE TRASH! It all works out of course and ultimately the toys end up with a new owner after much adventure. Join us to follow the exploits of Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Hamm, the Potato Heads, Rex, and the whole gang as we review Toy Story 3!

Karl and Tonya return for a review of the second Toy Story movie from Pixar / Disney where Woody (Tom Hanks) learns his origin story and meets his fellow toy property friends Jessie and Bullseye. A rescue mission is launched that takes us inside a toy store and a new Buzz Lightyear enters the scene. Another fun Toy Story movie!

Karl and Tonya sit down to review one of the all-time classic modern age Pixar / Disney Movies: Toy Story from 1995. We meet Woody and the gang for the first time and get the origin story of Buzz Lightyear. The Toy Story movies are a lot of fun and the first one is really excellent. It's hard to believe that this movie is now 28 years old! We will be reviewing all of the Toy Story movies in the coming weeks so hang on to infinity and beyond!

The final movie of the mainline Rocky movies (after this the Rocky universe transitions to the Creed movies) and this one is probably my favorite. Tonya also loves it.  Rocky finally gives his son a speech that essentially sums up the spirit of the all the Rocky movies. Yes, at 60 years of age, Rocky fights again but the result isn't important. This movie wraps up some long time threads and ends the series on an inspirational high note.

One of my favorite shows as a kid. Gil Gerrard stars as a United States astronaut on a deep space mission, however, a malfunction puts him into suspended animation and he returns to Earth... in the 25th century. But first, he meets some aliens (which people on Earth already know about in the 25th century.) Buck Rogers is a man out of time in a society that is now most ran by... wait for it... computers. Actually, a very fun show. Let's talk about it.

Tonya says it best, "Wouldn't it great if we could just ignore away parts of our life like they did with the whole Rocky 5 movie?" Yeah, this movie isn't as terrible as I remembered but it isn't great either. Rocky and Adrianne are back in the poor house thanks to some stupid shenanigans Paulie pulled while they were in Russia during Rocky IV. Also, Rocky it seems, got his brains beat out in that movie and they don't work no more, yo. Rocky ignores his son, who has somehow aged five years since Rocky went to Russian, fought Drago, and returned home. Instead, he's enamored by a new guy, Tommy Gunn (Tommy Morrison) but, wow, does that go wrong: Enter silly villain Duke. (No, not that Duke, another Duke just to confuse things further).

Karl introduces Tonya to Rocky 4. Is it East verses West or man against man? The Burning Heart of Rocky Balboa goes after the stoic Russian Ivan Drago to avenge Apollo Creed in this mid-1980s pop culture classic which also gave us "Living in America" by James Brown. It also gave us iconic training in the snow scenes, "If he dies, he dies", and not one but TWO hit Survivor songs. Go get 'em Rocky! Ugh, I feel good!

Our retro movie review today takes a look back at Rocky III from 1982, one of the most important pop culture movies of the decade. This movie introduces the world to Mr. T as Clubber Lang against Rocky Balbo (Sylvester Stallone) with an appearance by a pre-WWE champion Hulk Hogan. This movie gave us Eye of the Tiger by Survivor, Mr. T, the elements of the Rock and Wrestling movement that would launch the pro wrestling boom of the 1980s, and much more. A great movie with a lot of impact. I predict... pain.

It's the rematch of the century! World heavyweight champion Apollo Creed seeks to avenge his near defeat to Rocky Balbo. However, Adrian, Rocky's wife, does not want him to fight again fearing the loss of his eyesight and further injury. She's also pregnant with their child. Will Rocky fight Creed? Who will win the rematch? Join Karl as he reviews the fantastic sequel Rocky II (1979)! Getting Strong Now! Fighting Hard Now!