Dragonslayer

Chris Chipman joins us again as we journey to a long lost age of monsters and movie magic and do battle with 1981's Dragonslayer. Listen as we marvel over the film's incredible animatronic and go-motion effects, examine how the film's portrayal of religion and authority reflects post-Vietnam cynicism, and discuss the movie's place among other 1980s fantasy films. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and a crazy, murdering nutbar.

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

Subscribe to our podcast here.

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

Do you have a favorite 1980s fantasy movie? What creature do you think takes the title as cinema's all-time greatest dragon? Do you know how to transmute lead into gold? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

Labyrinth

In our latest episode, Ellie joins us again as we get lost in the twists and turns of a childhood favorite while discussing Jim Henson's fantasy fable Labyrinth. We'll compare the movie to Henson's previous fantasy epic The Dark Crystal, examine the film as a metaphor for the transition to womanhood, and ponder what a Bog of Eternal Stench would smell like. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and a discussion of the cinematic impact of David Bowie's package.

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.

Are you skilled at juggling crystal orbs? Have a favorite David Bowie song you'd like to extol? Know a quick shortcut through the labyrinth? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

Time Bandits

This episode we're taking a wild, cross-century trip to meet the legends of time as we go on a heist with Terry Gilliam's Time Bandits from 1981. Along the way we'll explore Gilliam's themes of imagination and materialism, praise the underappreciated comedic abilities of David Warner, and identify with the problems of married ogres. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and THE PROBLEM!!! We must have fruit!!

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.

Which notable person from history would you choose to rob from? Do you have a plan for redistributing wealth without punching people in the face? Why do we have to have Evil anyway? Leave a comment and keep the conversation going.

Episode 73: The Little Mermaid

Chris and Sarah join us again to explore the watery depths of the Disney animated classic The Little Mermaid. We discuss the film's mixed messages regarding women's autonomy and body image, speculate on the Lovecraftian origins of merfolk, and discuss the movie's role in bringing about Disney's second golden age of animated films. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and some disturbingly phallic castle architecture.

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.

Have you ever seen a mermaid? Spot any other Disney cameos you'd like to point out? Have a great recipe for cooking les poisson? 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 37: The Beastmaster

So the idea was that Corinne, Tim, and walking non-sequitur Jay would sit down to talk about the 1982 fantasy cult classic The Beastmaster. But much like the film in question, the discussion goes spectacularly off the rails. As such, the giggle-afflicted conversation meanders around subjects such as the explosive potential of John Amos, whether being a man born of cow leads to sexual confusion, and what animal would be best to forge a psychic link with. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and udders.



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 have an animal you prefer to link with? Care to pontificate about Dar's sweet abs? Want to complain about how many of the characters' names we got wrong? Leave a comment and keep the discussion going.

Episode 36: Captain America: Civil War

It's time to pick a side as Corinne and Tim leap into the fray with the newest Marvel movie, Captain America: Civil War. We debate the ethical positions of Team Cap and Team Iron Man, comment on the romantic tension between Captain America and the Winter Soldier, and impatiently await the inevitable Black Widow and Black Panther films to come. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and BUCKY!!!



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 think the podcast needs international oversight? Would you prefer that Cap leave future generations of the Carter family alone? Is there a Marvel hero that hasn't hit the screen you think deserves an origin movie? Leave a comment and keep the discussion going.

Episode 32: Superman: The Movie

After nearly forty years, Ellie and Tim still believe a man can fly as they talk about the Man of Steel's first feature film outing, Superman: The Movie from 1978. We discuss the value of Superman as an symbol of optimism and decency in a cynical age, comment on the perceived religious metaphors in the Superman mythos, and Ellie describes their childhood encounter with the man himself, Christopher Reeve. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, truth, justice, and the American way.



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 discuss your favorite cinematic Superman? Can you read our minds? Are you interested in purchasing some beachfront property on Lex Luthor's new west coast? Leave a comment and keep the discussion 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 24: Something Wicked This Way Comes

Ellie, Corinne, and Tim get lost in the magic mirror maze and reflect on Jack Clayton’s adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s spooky fantasy Something Wicked This Way Comes from 1983. We’ll discuss the film’s turbulent production and reshoots, its themes of age and regret, and whether Mr. Dark is in fact the mirror universe version of Willy Wonka. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and gruesome book abuse.

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 have a secret wish you’d like to share? Have any recommendations about where we can find a good deal on lightning rods? Have you heard legends of the Autumn People? Leave a comment and keep the discussion going. 

Episode 12: Krull

This it was given us to know: that Corinne, a girl of not-so-ancient-name, and Tim, the not-quite-old one, would choose a movie to podcast about. It's each to their fate as we delve into the cheesy majesty of Krull from 1983. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and speculative interpretation of ambiguous prophecies.



Subscribe to our podcast here.

Listen to us on Stitcher here.

Do you think Princess Lyssa should have chosen you as her king or queen? Got tips for glaive-handling without slicing off your fingers? Annoyed that Liam Neeson didn't get to exercise his particular set of skills? Leave a comment below and keep the discussion going.

Episode 9: Big Trouble in Little China

Everybody relax, we're here. Corinne, Chris, Sarah, and Tim crawl their way out of the Hell of Being Skinned Alive to discuss John Carpenter's 1986 cult classic Big Trouble in Little China. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers, and a six-demon bag.



Subscribe to our podcast here.

Listen to us on Stitcher here.

Want to report a missing truck and don't want to hear 'act of God'? Have any advice on what to do if one's mind and body are going north and south? Feel we left something out and failed to shake the pillars of heaven? Leave a comment below and keep the discussion going.

Episode 5: John Carter (of Mars)

Yes, Virginia, there is a Dotar Sojat. Ellie and Tim choose to fight for Helium by taking a look at John Carter, the 2012 adaptation of Edgar Rice Burrough's Barsoom novels. Warning: Contains explicit language, spoilers (both film and book), and much wistful grumbling about lost sequels.



Subscribe to our podcast on itunes here.

Listen to us on Stitcher here.

If you have strong feelings about John Carter (and it seems like most do), leave a comment and keep the discussion going.

Movie In-Jokes: Hellboy

One of the fun games when watching movies is to spot references, secret messages and gags that filmmakers, film crews and actors can slip into movies to pay tribute to films they love, have a bit of fun with their previous work, or give the cinematic equivalent of a shout-out. Here's a spotter's guide to these inside jokes.

This in-joke comes from the imaginative cinematic universe of Guillermo del Toro and suggests that the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense from Hellboy has been busier than we thought.

Double Feature Review - The Conjuring / R.I.P.D. (2013)

Ray Harryhausen 1920 - 2013

Review - Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)

Review - Jack the Giant Slayer (2013)