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. 

Subscribe to our podcast here.

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.

Black Christmas

Before everyone goes on holiday break, we're inviting film critic Jessica Scott onto the show to help us answer some disturbing phone calls and celebrate the yuletide season with Bob Clark's superior slasher film Black Christmas from 1974. Listen as we discuss the effectiveness of the film's restraint and ambiguity, explore the story's themes of patriarchy and found families, and explain why Barb may be the best slasher movie character of all time. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and symbolic sweaters and fur coats.

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 have any ideas on Billy's true identity? What's your take on the film's various remakes? What we really need to know is... what have you done with the baby? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

Scrooged

 

We're revisiting Charles Dickens' immortal classic as warped through the comic sensibilities of Bill Murray as we watch Richard Donner's 1988 Christmas hit Scrooged. Listen as we discuss Murray's manic take on the miserly main character, consider the implications of updating A Christmas Carol to the Reagan years, and swoon over Carol Kane's adorably violent performance as the Ghost of Christmas Past. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and chronologically-disordered viewings of Iron Man 2.

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 would you secure antlers onto a dormouse? Want to regale us with fond childhood memories that are actually bits of old television shows? Know where we can get our own copy of Picasso's Woman with an Artichoke? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

Santa Claus: The Movie

What to our wandering eyes should appear? Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it a weird attempt at a Christmas franchise? We're trying to stay off the naughty list as we watch the 1985 yuletide family film Santa Claus: The Movie! Listen as we discuss how the film serves as a superhero origin story for Kris Kringle, explore the film's confused portrait of Christmas commercialism and capitalism, and decry the fat-shaming of Santa. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and bad Bane impersonations.

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

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 do you want from Santa this year? Have any horror stories of dangerous toys you got for Christmas? Know where we can score some magic reindeer cocaine? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

Episode 95: A Christmas Story

Polly returns to the podcast to discuss another yuletide classic as we watch that holiday favorite, A Christmas Story. Listen as we praise author Jean Shepherd's skill at capturing childhood nostalgia, reminisce about favorite presents from childhood, and discuss our misadventures sticking our tongues on things. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and a major award.



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 have a cherished Christmas present? Were you disillusioned by breakfast cereal promotions as a child? Do you think 24 hours of one movie is excessive? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

Episode 81: Gremlins

It's the holidays again and we're joined by Shana to talk about one of the most iconic films of the 1980s, Joe Dante's yuletide creature feature Gremlins. Listen in as we discuss the film's controversial mix of humor and horror, speculate on the origins of the mogwai, and comment on criticism regarding the movie's racial politics. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and three rules you'll have to follow.



Subscribe to our podcast here.

Listen to us on Stitcher here.

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

What's the most traumatic Christmas present you've ever received? Do you think Gizmo is a space alien? Know a good trick to getting green blood stains off linoleum? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

Episode 61: It's a Wonderful Life

We're wrapping up the year with a trip to scenic Bedford Falls as Bob 'Moviebob' Chipman joins us for a discussion of Frank Capra's enduring Christmas classic, It's a Wonderful Life. Listen in as we explore angelically-induced alternate realities, unhealthy courtships, and one podcaster's vendetta against little Zuzu. Warning: Contains explicit language and spoilers. Hot dog!



Subscribe to our podcast here.

Listen to us on Stitcher here.

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

Think you can lasso the moon for us? Do you have strong feelings regarding the ethics of colorization? Want to know the going rate for a shack in Pottersville? Leave a comment below and keep the conversation going.

Episode 47: A Christmas Carol (1951)

It's time to visit Christmas past, present, and future with Corinne, Polly, and Tim as they watch the 1951 version of A Christmas Carol starring the incomparable Alastair Sim. The discussion includes a proposed duel to the death over whether Sim is the best cinematic Scrooge ever, speculation that Marley's ghost is trolling Ebenezer from beyond the grave, and the accidental slander of charities. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and a recipe for gin punch.



Subscribe to our podcast here.

Listen to us on Stitcher here.

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

Do you skewer small babies while in your cups? Want to hear the pudding singing in the copper? Did Tim actually say people should 'lick' the Facebook page? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

Episode 28: Edward Scissorhands

As the year ends, we have one last holiday gift to unwrap. Corinne and Tim come down from their high castle to talk about Tim Burton's fairy tale Edward Scissorhands from 1990. We'll discuss Burton's forays into magical realism, how the film illustrates the relationship between the artist and mainstream society, and the viability of a cookie-based economy. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and lots of sniffly noises (I had a cold. Sorry.)



Subscribe to our podcast here.

Listen to us on Stitcher here.

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

Want to brag about your new haircut? Do you think Peg deserved to be the female lead? Care to speculate on whether Edward would have flourished in Midian?  Leave a comment and keep the discussion going.

Episode 10: Die Hard

Now we have an episode... ho.. ho... ho...

It's Christmas Eve in L.A. and Corinne, Chris, Sarah, and Tim discuss the most exciting office Christmas party ever by watching that explosive yuletide classic Die Hard. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, sugar-enriched flour, partially-hydrogenated vegetable oil, polysorbate 60, and yellow dye No. 5.



Subscribe to our podcast here.

Listen to us on Stitcher here.

Want to debate which candy bar makes for the best pre-shoot-out snack? Have a theory utilizing theoretical physics to explain how you fit an ambulance into a cargo truck? Are you alone, tired, and haven't heard diddly-squat about the things you feel we should have discussed? Leave a comment below and keep the discussion going.