Jeff and Lisa are back with their thoughts on James Cameron's latest film Avatar, plus a look back at one of the finest science-fiction action thrillers ever made, 1986's Aliens. It's a discussion of 3D, technology, story, characters and how James Cameron constantly delivers the goods. Also Jeff and Lisa check out Paranormal Activity and District 9 (warning: both reviews come with spoilers 41:40-49:05). Plus Lisa likes Ratatouille but is amazed by the lack of female characters. Then Jeff gives thoughts on the Coen brothers' A Serious Man, Four Christmases and finally catches up with Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino. All this plus some Avatar nitpicks at the very end. http://www.filmednotstirred.com/

Two from director Spike Jonze. First, the highly anticipated adaptation of Maurice Sendak's Where The Wild Things Are. Then Jeff and Lisa revisit 1991's Being John Malkovich with its bizarre yet brilliant screenplay by Charlie Kaufman. Also Jeff has a fun, nostalgic night at the drive-in with Couple's Retreat and also checks out Michael Moore's Capitalism: A Love Story. Plus Lisa gives her thoughts on the Jonathan Demme documentary Jimmy Carter Man From Plains and also Elizabeth: The Golden Age. http://www.filmednotstirred.com/

A look at actresses-turned-directors. First up, Drew Barrymore's directorial debut Whip It, featuring great performances by Ellen Page, Marcia Gay Harden and Daniel Stern. Then a look back at Penny Marshall's 1988 Big, in which we all saw what actor Tom Hanks was capable of bringing to the table. Also Jeff digs Adam, finds Taking Woodstock mediocre, and has fun revisiting Die Hard and the genius of director John McTiernan. Plus Lisa enjoys Mrs Henderson Presents and State Of Play, finds Ghost Town enjoyable, and also really recommends Charlie Wilson's War. http://www.filmednotstirred.com

Are you going to bark all day little doggie, or are you going to download? It's Tarantino all the way, as Jeff and Lisa share their thoughts on Quentin's new WWII epic Inglourious Basterds, while also reveling in the genius of QT's debut film Reservoir Dogs. Plus Jeff lauds the originality of District 9, recommends the documentary It Might Get Loud, but thinks The Final Destination is way weak. Also Lisa checks out In Bruges and finally catches up with Watchmen. http://www.filmednotstirred.com

Take 2 parts memoir, 1 part Oscar-winning foreign film, shake well, serve. Here's two movies that will make you hungry. First up, Julie & Julia, starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams, adapted by Nora Ephron from the memoirs of Julie Powell and Julia Child. Then a look back at Babette's Feast, the scrumptious 1987 Danish film directed by Gabriel Axel. Plus Lisa checks out The Mothman Prophecies. Also more talk of Poltergeist. http://www.filmednotstirred.com

Two films about relationships with the break-up scene at the beginning of the movie. Do Jeff and Lisa luuurve (500) Days Of Summer as much as they luff Woody Allen's Annie Hall? Also Jeff and Lisa take in Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince, with spoilers for for Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire occurring at 34:58-35:43. Plus Lisa checks out The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, Live Free Or Die Hard and Eagle Eye. Also she starts diving into season two of Mad Men, plus a little bit of Weeds and Hung. http://www.filmednotstirred.com/

This week it's two movies about con artists. First up, The Brothers Bloom, writer-director Rian Johnson's follow-up to his first film, Brick. And then it's a look back at Stephen Frears' 1990 The Grifters with John Cusask, Anjelica Houston and Annette Bening. Also Jeff sees Drag Me To Hell and Up, which leads to a discussion about the lack of female leads in Pixar films. Plus Lisa watches True Blood, The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Invasion and also revisits Poltergeist and is struck this time by its excellent portrayal of a married couple by JoBeth Willams and Craig T. Nelson. Also Jeff checks out Michael Bay's Transformers, which is so bad it's not even worth mentioning in these show notes. http://www.filmednotstirred.com/

But how can a guy from the future become the father of someone in the present? Time travel paradox, the fun of 80s cinema and Schwarzenegger's ass dominate the discussion as Jeff and Lisa check out Terminator Salvation while taking a look back at James Cameron's original 1984 science-fiction classic. Also Jeff takes in The Notebook while Lisa watches P.S. I Love You. And will Lisa ever get last season's TV cleared from her DVR? http://www.filmednotstirred.com/

So much for the little training cruise. First a discussion of J.J. Abrams' reboot of Star Trek. Proceed at one quarter impulse power, as there are spoilers here occurring at 10:23-12:51 and 28:30-29:50. Plus a look back at arguably the best of the Star Trek films: The Wrath Of KHAAAN, directed by Nicholas Meyer (who interestingly, like J.J. Abrams, did not come on board the project as a fan of Star Trek). Also Jeff needs some booze in the office after a marathon of Mad Men episodes. Plus Lisa highly recommends Sunshine Cleaning. Also discussed: Tropic Thunder, Role Models, City Of Ember, Hamlet 2 and The Chronicles Of Riddick. Taker her out, Mr. Saavik. http://www.filmednotstirred.com/

Seduction! Intrigue! This time it's two romantic caper films. First up, writer-director Tony Gilroy takes on the world of corporate espionage in Duplicity with Julia Roberts and Clive Owen. Next up, Alfred Hitchcock's To Catch A Thief with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. Then Jeff talks more Dollhouse and more Joss Whedon with Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Also Lisa can't get through City Of God, watches Firestarter instead and discusses more Medium. All this while sound engineer Michael decides to burn a crate from India in the middle of the show. http://www.filmednotstirred.com

It's old school animation this week with the gorgeous stop-motion of Coraline and the beautiful hand-drawn vision of Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away. Both stories deal with little girls transported to strange magical other-worlds, so how does director Henry Selick's button-eyed world of Coraline compare to Miyazaki's bath-house in Spirited Away? Also discussed: WonderCon, Watchmen, 3:10 To Yuma, Dollhouse, the documentaries of Nick Broomfield, plus more animation with Don Bluth's Titan A.E.
http://www.filmednotstirred.com/

Jeff and Lisa break the new movie / older film format for their 3rd annual Oscar catch-up show because the stupidity of Awards Season politics dictates that most of the year's great films get dumped into theaters simultaneously. First up is Best Picture contender The Reader with Kate Winslett up for Best Actress. Next up, The Wrestler with Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei both with well-deserved Oscar nominations. Plus Jeff checks out Nick And Norah's Infinite Playlist and also enjoys Cherry Jones' performance as the president in 24. Also some last-minute Oscar predictions.
http://www.filmednotstirred.com/

Two films in which someone has to jump into a toilet. Or rather two films by Danny Boyle, in which the exhilarating, disturbing and twistedly humorous style of the director shines. Also Lisa watches the British series Coupling, Jeff takes in the carnage of My Bloody Valentine 3D, plus the return of Lost, Born Standing Up and a little talk about the Oscar nominations.
http://www.filmednotstirred.com/

It's the return of Kate and Leo. One of the most successful pairings of actors in history hits the screen again in Revolutionary Road. Jeff and Lisa actually disagree on this one, so tune in and hear... and if you're slightly more daring post some feedback on the website. Next up, a discussion of that other movie with Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, can't remember the name of it but it's about a ship. Also the return of 24, plus Lisa checks out the documentary Man On Wire. Make it count.
http://www.filmednotstirred.com/

Just follow the money. This week it's two films about Nixon and Watergate. Is Frost/Nixon Lisa's favorite film of 08? Does Jeff think Frank Langella is Oscar-bound? Then a look back at Alan J. Pakula's riveting All The President's Men (1976) with Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman portraying Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, the two Washington Post reporters who brought the scandal to light. Plus Jeff checks out Elf. Also Jeff and Lisa get some reading in with Watchmen and The Golden Compass.
http://www.filmednotstirred.com

It's Jeff and Lisa's first show about the body of work of an actor, so how fitting that it's Meryl Streep. First up is John Patrick Shanley's Doubt, adapted from his play, with Meryl (that's right folks, we call her Meryl) as the strict principal of a Catholic school. Then a look back at Mike Nichols' 1983 film Silkwood. Turns out Jeff had never seen it before and in true Lisa fashion she gives Jeff much grief over that fact. Also Lisa checks out The Dreamers and The Last Samurai, but is wowed by neither. Plus Jeff has a great time re-watching Love Actually over the Christmas break.
http://www.filmednotstirred.com/