National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

We're spending this Christmas with the Griswolds and enduring squirrels, explosive sewer gas, and other yuletide dangers with a discussion of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation from 1989. Listen as we examine the film's depiction of holiday nostalgia and obsession, praise the underappreciated comic genius of Beverly D'Angelo, and debate the proper amount of Cousin Eddie a film should contain. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and a disturbing reimagining of King Kong.

Our theme song is "Nostalgia TV" by Edward Jonathan Blakeley through Lynne Publishing.

CinemaSpection is now part of the Fireside Alliance. Check out the many awesome shows available through the network here. 

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Interested in getting more from this episode? Check out supplemental material for this episode here.

Do you go overboard with your holiday decorations? Want to get sentimental about the old Warner Brothers backlot? How would you react to a squirrel or bat in your home? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - Supplement

While we try to cover as much as we can in our episodes, there's always more to see, hear, and read about a movie that can enhance your viewing experience. If you enjoyed our episode on National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, here's a few extra bits you might find interesting...

The Man With the Golden Gun - Supplement

While we try to cover as much as we can in our episodes, there's always more to see, hear, and read about a movie that can enhance your viewing experience. If you enjoyed our episode on The Man With the Golden Gun, here's a few extra bits you might find interesting...

The Man With The Golden Gun

Bob Chipman joins us again for our latest 'woke brawl' with 007 and this time we're setting our sights on The Man With the Golden Gun from 1974. Listen as we praise the suave menace of Christopher Lee, pine for the lost Alice Cooper theme song we might have had, and encounter that most rare of circumstances: a James Bond film Agatha enjoyed!! Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and intrusive slide whistles.

Our theme song is "Nostalgia TV" by Edward Jonathan Blakeley through Lynne Publishing.

CinemaSpection is now part of the Fireside Alliance. Check out the many awesome shows available through the network here. 

Subscribe to our podcast here.

Interested in getting more from this episode? Check out supplemental material for this episode here.

Slide whistles on car stunts; yay or nay? Is a golden gun a practical weapon for close-range duelling? How many lead Bond girls is too many for one of these movies? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari - Supplement

While we try to cover as much as we can in our episodes, there's always more to see, hear, and read about a movie that can enhance your viewing experience. If you enjoyed our episode on The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, here's a few extra bits you might find interesting...

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

To truly appreciate this episode, you must become Caligari! We're going back to the origins of horror as we delve into the madness of Robert Wiene's 1920 thriller Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari AKA The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari! Listen as we discuss the disputed origins of the film's story and style, Agatha attempts to explain the nuances of the Expressionism movement that provided the film's unorthodox visual style, and Tim accuses the main character of murder. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and a lot of handy strait-jackets.

Our theme song is "Nostalgia TV" by Edward Jonathan Blakeley through Lynne Publishing.

CinemaSpection is now part of the Fireside Alliance. Check out the many awesome shows available through the network here. 

Subscribe to our podcast here.

Interested in getting more from this episode? Check out supplemental material for this episode here.

Have trouble sleeping... or waking up? What level of reality do you interpret the film as inhabiting? Want to debate whether a piece of art qualifies as expressionist? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

Blue Thunder

We're back and we're bringing the Thunder as we welcome Gabe Ciociola to the show on an orientation flight and we use our sophisticated surveillance technology to record a conversation on the 1983 technothriller Blue Thunder. Listen as we discuss the film's themes of police militarization and misuse of technology, gush over the movie's amazing aerial stunts and action scenes, and chart how the original spec screenplay was dramatically changed for the finished film. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and a Christmas present controversy.

Our theme song is "Nostalgia TV" by Edward Jonathan Blakeley through Lynne Publishing.

CinemaSpection is now part of the Fireside Alliance. Check out the many awesome shows available through the network here. 

Subscribe to our podcast here.

Listen to us on Stitcher here.

Interested in getting more from this episode? Check out supplemental material for this episode here.

Do you think Whisper Mode could really let a helicopter sneak up on people? Did this movie instill an obsession with helicopters in you? Is Malcolm McDowell a dedicated actor or what? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

Blue Thunder - Supplement

While we try to cover as much as we can in our episodes, there's always more to see, hear, and read about a movie that can enhance your viewing experience. If you enjoyed our episode on Blue Thunder, here's a few extra bits you might find interesting...

First Run - Sweet Relief

In this quick First Run review, Tim takes on the newest and creepiest internet challenge to review Sweet Relief, the second film from Nick Verdi, director of Cockazoid.

Check out The Barrens Hideout Podcast, who held the screening of the film discussed in this episode and recorded a Q&A with the filmmakers: https://linktr.ee/TheBarrenshideout

Our theme song is "Nostalgia TV" by Edward Jonathan Blakeley through Lynne Publishing.

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Whether you agree or disagree, if you have an opinion on this movie, leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

Salem Horror Fest 2023 - Weekend 2

 

In this special episode, Tim wraps up his coverage Salem Horror Fest 6 by discussing some of the various events, short films, and features he saw including: 

• Dead End
• T Blockers
• The House Sitters
• Saint Drogo
• The Blair Witch Project
• The Hitcher
• The Weird Kidz
• Follow Her
• Guys at Parties Like It
• Bliss of Evil
• Swallowed
• Fright Night Part 2
• HeBGB TV
• Maya
• Pou
• The Forest Hills

Check out Salem Horror Fest at www.salemhorror.com

Salem Horror Fest art by David Dembowski.

Our theme song is "Nostalgia TV" by Edward Jonathan Blakeley through Lynne Publishing.

CinemaSpection is now part of the Fireside Alliance. Check out the many awesome shows available through the network here. 

Subscribe to our podcast here.

Listen to us on Stitcher here.

Did you attend Salem Horror Fest this year? Prefer to go into a movie completely cold? Have any fond memories of chatting about horror movies with filmmakers? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

Salem Horror Fest 2023 - Weekend 1

In this special episode, Salem Horror Fest is back! Listen as Tim discusses some of the various events, short films, and features presented at SHF 6 including: 

• Candyman
• Witch Hunt
• Satan Wants You
• Demon Box
• Wolves
• John Carpenter's The Fog
• The Blood on Satan's Claw
• No More Time
• The Ones You Didn't Burn
• Pendulum
• Stag
• Bury the Bride
• Demons

Check out Salem Horror Fest at www.salemhorror.com

Salem Horror Fest art by David Dembowski.

Our theme song is "Nostalgia TV" by Edward Jonathan Blakeley through Lynne Publishing.

CinemaSpection is now part of the Fireside Alliance. Check out the many awesome shows available through the network here. 

Subscribe to our podcast here.

Listen to us on Stitcher here.

Are you attending Salem Horror Fest this year? Do you enjoy the folk horror subgenre? Have you attended a bachelorette party that went horribly wrong? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

Outtake: The Adventures of Charters & Caldicott

As part of his research for our recent episode on Alfred Hitchcock's The Lady Vanishes, guest Noel Thingvall did a deep dive into the cinematic career of actors Naunton Wayne and Basil Radford, who steal the movie as the very British comic relief characters Charters and Caldicott. While this particular tangent went a bit too long to be included in the episode, we've decided to present it complete here. Listen as Noel discusses their onscreen partnership through the 30s and 40s where they reprised their roles, and played variations on them, in a series of films. It may not be cricket, but it's a fascinating journey.

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The Lady Vanishes - Supplement

While we try to cover as much as we can in our episodes, there's always more to see, hear, and read about a movie that can enhance your viewing experience. If you enjoyed our episode on The Lady Vanishes, here's a few extra bits you might find interesting...

The Lady Vanishes

All aboard as Noel Thingvall returns to the show for a train ride into international intrigue courtesy of the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, and his comedic thriller The Lady Vanishes. Listen as we discuss the movie's wild tonal switches, the film's portrait of pre-World War II British politics, and the charm of scene-stealing supporting characters Charters and Caldicott. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and longing for Karloff / Lugosi road comedies.

Our theme song is "Nostalgia TV" by Edward Jonathan Blakeley through Lynne Publishing.

CinemaSpection is now part of the Fireside Alliance. Check out the many awesome shows available through the network here. 

Subscribe to our podcast here.

Listen to us on Stitcher here.

Interested in getting more from this episode? Check out supplemental material for this episode here.

How long can you remember a tune when bullets are flying? Do you have a preferred brand of tea you drink while dodging spies?  Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

Boston Science Fiction Marathon SF48 - Supplement

 While we try to cover as much as we can in our episodes, there's always more to see, hear, and read about a movie that can enhance your viewing experience. If you enjoyed our episode on the Boston Science Fiction Marathon SF 48, here's a few extra bits you might find interesting...

Boston Science Fiction Marathon SF48

We're back for the 48th annual Boston Science Fiction Festival to cover the 'Thon, the 24-hour sci-fi marathon! For the first time in five years we're in person at the Somerville Theater in Massachusetts to record our in-the-moment observations (and exhaustion) on the thirteen films shown for the marathon, which include two Arnold Schwarzenegger action epics, first outings for two classic monsters, encounters with time-traveling doppelgangers, and friendly and unfriendly androids. Please note that due to the nature of this event and the circumstances of its recording, the audio quality is not up to our usual standards. We hope this doesn't detract too much from your enjoyment of this episode. Warning: Contains explicit language, mild spoilers, and an unexpected piano recital. 

Our theme song is "Nostalgia TV" by Edward Jonathan Blakeley through Lynne Publishing.

CinemaSpection is now part of the Fireside Alliance. Check out the many awesome shows available through the network here. 

Subscribe to our podcast here.

Listen to us on Stitcher here.

Interested in getting more from this episode? Check out supplemental material for this episode here.

What would you say to a future version of yourself if you ever met? What's your record for stauing awake for a movie marathon? Know any low-cost, high-quality small microphones you want to recommend? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

The Best of 2022 - Supplement

While we try to cover as much as we can in our episodes, there's always more to see, hear, and read about a movie that can enhance your viewing experience. If you enjoyed our episode on The Best Movies of 2022, here's a few extra bits you might find interesting...

The Best of 2022

 

We're back to run down our list of the best movies released during 2022. Listen in as we discuss how the accessibility of movies led us toward some off-beat films, the surge of great horror movies this year, and the value of rewatchability. Our favorite flicks include desperate quests for fame, risk-taking animated films, harrowing looks at the culinary world, and forays into strange performance art. Warning: Contains explicit language, mild spoilers, and praise for the great James Hong.

Our theme song is "Nostalgia TV" by Edward Jonathan Blakeley through Lynne Publishing.

CinemaSpection is now part of the Fireside Alliance. Check out the many awesome shows available through the network here. 

Subscribe to our podcast here.

Listen to us on Stitcher here.

Interested in getting more from this episode? Check out supplemental material for this episode here.

Any films you think we should have included in our lists? Would you want to work in a kitchen after seeing some of this year's movies? What criteria do you use to determine your favorite movies? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.