Considering that this franchise goes all the way back to 1068, the latest installment, "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes," still remains an interesting sci fi exercise in a near-future world in which the apes are civilized and the humans are, well, rather primitive. In this podcast episode, HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano discuss a movie that will satisfy its fans in both technical and thematic regards. Marie and Mike also discuss "The Fall Guy," which they agree squanders its interesting premise about stunt workers in the film industry. Although there is some worthwhile footage of behind-the-scenes action, too much of this movie is given over to an unconvincing melodramatic storyline. Not even Ryan Gosling can save it from falling down.

Set in the near future, "Civil War" is about a messy conflict in a deeply divided United States. Sound familiar? In this podcast episode, HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano agree that the film does not fully realize the political potential of its premise, and yet fully realizes the visceral power of accompanying several photojournalists who take a risky road trip from New York to Washington. Strong performances by Kirsten Dunst and Callee Spaeny make us care about a story that does not always hold up to analysis. Marie and Mike also discuss a very different film, "Wicked Little Letters," about a small English village just after World War I. Its colorful characters are mystified by a series of anonymous letters rife with a lot of naughty words. Viewers may find that the salty language wears thin and also may figure out the central mystery long before the characters do, but it's an enjoyable film in large part because of the engaging performances by the likes of Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley and Timothy Spall.

In 1938 a British stockbroker, Nicholas Winton, organized the rescue of 669 children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia and these children were sent to safety in Great Britain. This true story is the basis for "One Life," which HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano discuss in this Podcast episode. Anthony Hopkins is terrific as the elderly Winton in 1987 thinking back on his life; Johnny Flynn plays Winton in 1938. Although the bureaucratic details of the mission admittedly make for less than compelling cinema, the final scenes in the film are emotionally powerful. Marie and Mike also discuss a very different film, the film noir-influenced "Love Lies Bleeding," starring Kristen Stewart and Katy O'Brian as a couple who get into a whole heap of trouble in New Mexico in 1989. Although Marie and Mike are not always in agreement about this film, they agree that "Love Lies Bleeding" is never boring.