New Podcast – Now Peaking Episode 41: There’s fire where you are going
Hosted by Arnie Carvalho, Jakob Conkling and Stuart Atkinson
Twenty-five years after Agent Cooper ate some damn fine cherry pie in Twin Peaks, WA, he again dined on the confection–this time in the company of Las Vegas casino owners. Can popping another cherry in his mouth restore his memory? Also this week in Twin Peaks Shelly finds her daughter out of control…and calls Becky’s father for help. Plus another (partial) decapitation, and a recounting of the Twin Peaks events at San Diego Comic-Con International, it’s all on this Now Peaking episode–so take a ‘Peak’!
This episode is for annual subscribers to the Now Playing archives. You can get Now Peaking episodes individually, or a Now Peaking season pass, at NowPeakingPodcast.com
You can also get this episode and every donation show we’ve done– plus a 12 month subscription for all new shows! Details can be found on our Podbean Subscription page.
Every dollar you donate goes to make this show the best it can be. Thank you for your support and we hope you enjoy the podcast!
On 10th Anniversary, ‘Now Playing’ Hosts Talk Milestones, Memorable Moments
Let’s jump back in time 10 years to summer 2007. Sam Raimi had just tanked the Spider-Man franchise, the Fast & Furious films had stalled with Tokyo Drift, and nobody knew if George Lucas would ever launch another Star Wars trilogy.
This was when Now Playing Podcast first went on the air. Back when we still believed Crystal Skull might be good and before they rebooted Freddy’s origin story to make it, just, icky.
Not only does 2017 mark Now Playing’s 10th anniversary, the upcoming War for the Planet of the Apes review marks its 700th episode. That’s a lot of movies (and also the occasional failed TV pilot or one of those superhero shows that played theatrically in Bulgaria or wherever).
To mark the occasion, the show’s hosts came together for a Q&A about their time behind the mics and what’s changed during the last 10 years.
Venganza Media Gazette: What do you remember thinking after you heard your voice for the first time on Now Playing?
Arnie: “Well our first episode was recorded in a car in the parking lot of a Toys r Us. So my thought was, ‘For being in a car that doesn’t sound TOO bad.’”
Marjorie: “I was used to hearing my voice on Star Wars Action News but I still thought I sounded under 13. And then you have the thoughts such as ‘I really sound like that?’ or ‘What if people find my voice irritating?’”
Stuart: “I like to be behind the scenes — directing, writing, evaluating other people’s art. It was pretty painful to step in front of a mic and even more awkward listening to myself on some of my early shows. I was grateful that there weren’t too many listeners back in 2008 and early 2009.”
Jakob: “I was no stranger to hearing my voice; I had sang in bands and had been podcasting on and off for a few years prior. But at the time a huge part of our listenership were horror fans, a genre I wasn’t very familiar with. So there was some anxiety with having my introduction with the SAW movies and having to speak about a genre I just didn’t have a lot of exposure to.”
Venganza Gazette: What’s changed about you as a host?
Jakob: “I watch a lot more movies and I discuss them a lot more — not just with my co-hosts, but with my family. We spend a lot of time discussing why a film does or doesn’t work.”
Marjorie: “I have a different view of movies now. I see so much more that goes into a movie. More than just ‘it was good.’ I also can’t ever ‘turn off’ reviewing. When I see movies I’m not reviewing, I tend to dissect them.”
Jakob: “My wife and I share what we consider great scenes with our girls, even if they may be too young for the entire movie. Is it crossing a line that we reenacted the ‘I drink your milkshake’ scene from THERE WILL BE BLOOD for our 10 and 6-year-old?”
Stuart: ”The biggest change for me is the zip code where I record. I’m no longer ‘Stuart In L.A.’ When I started Now Playing I always worried that things I said might come back to haunt me working in the Los Angeles entertainment industry. Now that I’ve stepped away from that scene, I sleep better at night.”
Arnie: “The differences are greater than the similarities, in my mind. What’s the same? A rotating cast of hosts and we devote one episode to one movie. What’s different? Everything else. Now Playing started as a show where we would record short, spoiler-free movie reviews.”
The first Now Playing Podcast episode, a review of Spider-Man 3 was released on May 4, 2007.
Stuart: “A long show in 2007 was 30 minutes. Now we go twice as long on an episode of Twin Peaks.”
Arnie: “They weren’t going to be edited at all, as editing takes five-to-10 times the length of a given show.”
Brock: “I do remember editing the first show I did with my wife – back then it was a two person review show, much like what Arnie and Marjorie do on Star Wars Action News.”
Arnie: “As I had Star Wars Action News already I didn’t feel I had the time to undertake more editing. So they would be instant reaction thoughts, recorded immediately upon leaving the theater, and published as-is [with] minimal editing, [and] we also were going to focus on new releases only. Now we go through the history of film, with spoiler-filled critiques that are very long, and very well edited by a great team including Heath and David.”
Jakob: “We just go so much more in depth now. But for me, personally, I approach the show with a different attitude. When I first came on, I had a MST3K mentality. I mean, I had to review a bunch of SAW films — not really my thing — so I thought, ‘How many jokes can I make?’ Now, while we still shoot for humor at times, I try focus on the filmmaking and storytelling so I can articulate how those contribute to a film, good or bad.”
Brock: “Today we are a well-oiled machine, even more comfortable sharing our opinions and talking with one another. The shows back then, and especially when we started the roundtable format, had the best we could do technically at the time, and now the production values are insanely great thanks to our equipment, sure, but mostly because of the countless hours Arnie puts in producing each and every episode. And also the incredible, tireless work of our talented editors who make us all sound so good.”
Marjorie: “We are all so much older and wiser! I think that we all found our rhythm with each other. I have a natural rapport with Arnie because we are married and therefore spend a lot of time together. But Stuart, Jakob and myself had to build that.”
The July 14, 2017 War for the Planet of the Apes review marks Now Playing Podcast’s 700th episode.
In addition to hitting the 700th episode milestone, several of the hosts are racking up big numbers behind the microphone. When the War for the Planet of the Apes review is released, Arnie will have hosted 676 Now Playing episodes, Stuart will have hosted 618, and Jakob will have hosted his 469th show.
Venganza Gazette: Do you have a favorite Now Playing episode?
Stuart: “INCEPTION was an early favorite of mine because I think it was such a turning point for the show. Now Playing proved in that podcast that we could do more than heckle. On top of really liking the movie, I was proud of the way we broke down all of Nolan’s multi-level storylines and daunting thematic readings in a very concise 73 minutes.”
Arnie: “I really am proud of PROMETHEUS. That was a film with disparate, and surprising, opinions from the hosts, and yet the conversation was always lively, and I think everyone made such great points. I re-listened to that show recently because of ALIEN: COVENANT and so it’s recent to my memory, but even before that it was a go-to for me to see three of the hosts bringing their A-game.”
Brock: “I really liked what the guys did with RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. Sometimes with a really good movie, a classic, practically flawless movie the show can be a little harder for us panelists to do. You can’t tear it apart, and there aren’t always opportunities to make jokes because the jokes have been made for 30 years already. Everyone is so familiar with the movie itself and the behind the scenes information already and on top of that the listeners know going in it that the hosts are all going to give it a green arrow. The team embraced all these challenges and showed us why Now Playing is as good as it gets with review shows. The guys did a great job with the commentary, the trivia, and played off one another beautifully making an entertaining show that was structurally and technically proficient. So much so that I have enjoyed listening to that show multiple times over. A highlight for me is when Stuart brought up the CASABLANCA correlation; not many people get that aspect of RAIDERS and I’m glad he did and shared it with the audience.”
Jakob: “I’m really enjoying our current Now Peaking discussions for TWIN PEAKS: THE RETURN. What’s fascinating is we had the chance to do a whole David Lynch retrospective building up to this new series. With Lynch, as an auteur, there is so much of him in this return to Twin Peaks. It feels like a culmination of his entire aesthetic and viewpoint. Within the first two episodes we had brought up the influences of ERASERHEAD, BLUE VELVET, LOST HIGHWAY, MULHOLLAND DRIVE, and INLAND EMPIRE. I’m still not sold on this third season, but it has been insightful to discuss it in the context of Lynch’s complete works and not just the original run of the television show.”
Venganza Gazette: What’s the most positive feedback you’ve ever received from a listener?
Arnie: “I can’t begin to express how touched I am by some listeners’ messages to us. From troops stationed overseas who use our show to experience movies they can’t yet see to adults who say our show is like a conversation with friends, each message means so much.”
Marjorie: “There have been a few people who have written to us about how listening to Now Playing got them through a rough patch in their life. And I think it’s utterly amazing that, even remotely, I was able to help someone.”
Stuart: “I never thought three people riffing on movies had the potential to heal, but I have been incredibly moved by all the stories fans have shared over the years about how we helped them laugh away depression, death, and some real big life challenges.”
Arnie: “A handful of people have e-mailed with a very specific message and I’m humbled every time I read them. These are people who have been in bad situations: illness or accident, divorce, job loss, the death of someone close to them, or sometimes a combination of those. These are people who tell us they felt hopeless. One person said, ‘I felt like I would never be able to laugh again.’ A couple people mentioned contemplating suicide. These are deeply personal moments being shared via e-mail with us. Then their notes change tone and discuss how our show helped them through. We entertained them, in that one case we gave him the first laugh he’d had. We took their minds off their troubles and brought them a bit of happiness. That is my dream come true — to be able to entertain people and give them a few moments where they aren’t thinking about their day, their responsibilities, and their problems.”
Stuart: “I never expected to have such impact on anyone, and I’m incredibly humbled by that.”
Arnie: “It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I considered being a lawyer or a stockbroker. But in high school I realized the importance of entertainment in my life. I had my own dark days in my teen and early adult years. What got me through those times were video games, movies, television, books – entertainment. So starting in high school, and really for the rest of my life, my goal has been to entertain. I wanted to give people that escape the way Gene Roddenberry, George Lucas, Will Wright, and Stephen King helped me to escape. My path to finding podcasting as that vehicle was a winding one, but it was the outlet I found. And I can’t express how touched I am when I read what we do does provide that for some of our listeners. It fills me with purpose, and reminds me that we’re not just discussing the eighth in a bad series of direct-to-video sequels, we’re hopefully also entertaining and informing at the same time.”
Venganza Gazette: What’s the strangest feedback you’ve ever received from a listener?
Brock: “I was at a Comic Con, talking to the vendor on the other side of the table about an action figure or something, and this guy standing next to me exclaimed ‘Hey, you’re Brock! I recognize your voice!’ That was pretty cool to be picked out by my voice alone.”
Marjorie: “I had some weird messages from guys who liked my voice.”
Stuart: “It was pointed out very bluntly a few times on Facebook that I have a ‘squeaky voice’ when I get excited. Hey, I’m not going to say that’s untrue, but there’s only so much I can do about that until I finish going through puberty. How I wish I could hire Barry White to say all the things I’ve got to say!”
Brock: “There was this one [comment] we received years ago that accused me of trying to sound professional, putting on a radio voice when I talk or something. Arnie told Stuart and I about this thing one night when we were recording, and we all got a great laugh because this is how I talk! I wouldn’t have the patience or the discipline to put on a fake voice for hours on end, each and every time we do a recording session. I mean, I guess that is sort of a compliment, that my voice sounds that way, but the guy clearly didn’t have a clue about what he was talking about.”
Jakob: “One listener offered to pay for my dental work after he punched my teeth out because of my views on one film. I wonder if the police I had to involve became fans of Now Playing after I reported [him]?”
Arnie: “I need to be vague about this for privacy, but a listener wrote in and told me how, in 2012, he had a workplace encounter with Bradley Cooper [and] he ended up turning Cooper on to Now Playing, specifically our HOWARD THE DUCK show. The next day Cooper told him he laughed his ass off listening to that podcast. He said he downloaded some other shows, including our ROCKY reviews. That is totally surreal to think of the voice actor who performed in GUARDIANS has listened to our HOWARD THE DUCK review.”
Stuart: “We get a lot of positive feedback when we slam a problematic movie like HOWARD THE DUCK or HALLOWEEN III.”
Venganza Gazette: What’s the one film you’re still waiting to review?
Jakob: I’d love the work through Paul Thomas Anderson’s THE MASTER. It’s a film that I’ve done a complete 180° on since its theatrical release. Originally, I recognized the amazing acting but the story left me cold. I recently re-watched it with my wife, who is a huge Phillip Seymour Hoffman fan. As we worked our way through the film, she helped me realize what a heartbreaking romance it is in the midst of some heavy ideas about religion and post-war America. I would love to discuss such a dense piece of work.”
Stuart: “THE MANITOU! There is no crazier horror movie from the 1970s. It would be a perfect Easter Egg pairing with THE OMEN and ROSEMARY’S BABY franchises.”
Marjorie: “I would love to do a 70s disaster movie retrospective. There was a small heyday of disaster movies.”
Arnie: “DONNIE DARKO is a favorite film of mine that I think is so rich for analysis, even if the director did make it so obvious with various supplements and the director’s cut.
Brock: “BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID. It’s my favorite movie, and the first movie I say when people ask me for a film recommendation. Every time. Not enough people watch it anymore but they really should. It’s not a traditional western, but can be a hard sell to people who deeply dislike westerns. Perhaps we can bundle it THE STING and that sequel they made in 1979 with Tom Berenger. I have avoided watching that sequel but I’d watch it for Now Playing.”
Arnie: “I made a vow to never watch S DARKO, the cash-grab DONNIE sequel with hardly anyone from the original involved. If we reviewed DONNIE I’d probably have to watch S, and I really don’t want to taint my love of the original with a super-shitty sequel.”
Now Playing Podcast will release its War for the Planet of the Apes episode as part of its 2017 Spring Donation Drive. Supporters of the show can hear the review, along with all of the episodes in the Planet of the Apes series, at NowPlayingPodcast.com.
Resident Evil
In 1995 Paul W.S. Anderson scored a major hit with Mortal Kombat, a box office hit grossing more than double any other video game adaptations. In 2002 Capcom hoped Anderson could beat his own high score with Resident Evil. Based on the zombie survival-horror game, this movie brought the game’s iconography and added some martial arts action. The movie was a success and launched the longest-running video game movie franchise. But is this a movie you want to watch, or just play? Join Justin, Stuart, and Arnie to find out!
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/resident-evil-1482885351/
Beyond Re-Animator
Like one of Herbert West’s patients, the Re-Animator series often seems dead and lifeless, but then it springs back up ready for mayhem. Such is the case with Beyond Re-Animator, the third film in the series that was released 14 years after Bride of Re-Animator. Now only Jeffrey Combs and director Brian Yuzna remain to continue the story of West’s experiments…now in a prison and aided by a new novice assistant. Can this Sci-Fi Channel premiere capture the soul of the original, or is it just going through the motions? Thanks to a donation to Now Playing you could listen to find out!
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/beyond-re-animator/
Rogue One – A Star Wars Story
Fans of Star Wars comics, books, video games, and cartoons have long known the universe is ripe for adventures outside of the Skywalker family tree. But with Rogue One this type of story comes to the big screen for the first time. Detailing the group of rebels who steal the original Death Star plans, this film was seen as a creative risk by Lucasfilm. The result was one of the biggest opening weekends of all time; another super-successful Star Wars movie. But was it a story that needed to be told? Join the Now Playing Podcast hosts to find out!
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/rogue-one-a-star-wars-story-1482197621/
Bride of Re-Animator
Jeffrey Combs is back to raise the dead again in Bride of Re-Animator. His character Dr. Herbert West, along with several supporting characters, returned to Arkham for this body-bending sequel. Behind the scenes, however, things were shaken up as Brian Yuzna, who produced the original, replaces Stuart Gordon. Do our hosts say “I Do” to this sequel? Support our show by donating to find out!
Note: This podcast is not available for general download. The Re-Animator Movie Retrospective Series was made as a special “Thank you” for those Now Playing Supporters who donate between September 1 and December 31, 2016.
You can listen to a preview of this podcast now, and then visit our donation page to find out how to pledge and support Now Playing!
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/bride-of-re-animator-1481940300/
Children of Dune
The original Dune mini-series broke Sci-Fi channel records for viewing. Three years later they attempted to hit that same peak with the sequel Children of Dune. Combining the stories of two Frank Herbert novels, this three-part series brings back old characters and introduces new ones in the continuing story of House Atreides. Should you watch these Children? Listen to this episode of Now Playing to find out!
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/children-of-dune/
Re-Animator
In 1985 slasher films were the bread and butter of horror. That all changed with Re-Animator–a crazy, gory, wild zombie film that delivered splatter and humor in equal measure. Loosely based on the H.P. Lovecraft story “Herbert West: Re-Animator”, the film starred the then-unknown Jeffrey Combs as the titular scientist. The unrated film became a midnight movie staple, and an unlikely critical hit! So now if you support Now Playing you can join our hosts as they inject some Re-Agent into this franchise and see how the body holds up over 30 years later!
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/re-animator-1481332060/
Chopping Mall — Interviews with director Jim Wynorski and writer Steve Mitchell
In this holiday season you can head to your local Chopping Mall to pick up the new Blu-Ray release of this 1986 horror cult classic. A brand new transfer and lots of bonus features accompany this new release. Going even further, on this podcast Arnie Carvalho talks to Chopping Mall director Jim Wynorski and writer Steve Mitchell, dispelling internet rumors and finding out about the making of this film.
Dune (2000)
The Dune novels have built a universe full of history and lore. So many details and characters exit that it seemed even David Lynch had trouble squeezing Frank Herbert’s original novel into two hours, but could it work in six?
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/dune-2000/
From Beyond
After 1985’s Re-Animator was a critical and financial success the cast and crew reunited to adapt another Lovecraft story–From Beyond. But with Stuart Gordon and Brian Yuzna at the helm this film is a sticky, kinky, perverse horror that Lovecraft could never have imagined. What is this horror film about, and should you watch it? Go BEYOND and help support Now Playing with a donation and you can listen to find out!
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/from-beyond/
Dune (1984)
Frank Herbert’s novel Dune had a long path from the novel to film. After a series of false starts it finally hit theaters in 1984 directed by Oscar nominated director David Lynch. The director turned down Return of the Jedi for this other sci-fi epic. Yet while both are space fantasies on desert planets, Jedi was populated with muppets and Dune came with a pamphlet to help moviegoers unfurl the dense narrative. How much of this film is Herbert and how much is Lynch, and is this film the worm or the hook? Join the Now Playing podcast hosts to find out!
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/dune-1984-1480462884/
Trick Or Treat
Believe it or not, there was a time when heavy metal music was frightening! Politicians and religious figures banded together to save the youth from the satanic forces of rock. In the midst of such hysteria comes Trick or Treat in which playing an album backwards summons the demonic soul of a murderous rocker. Do cameos by Gene Simmons and Ozzy Osbourne make this a rockin’ good time? Donors who support our show can listen to find out!
Note: This podcast is not available for general download. The Horror Films of 1986 Movie Review Series was made as a special “Thank you” for those Now Playing Supporters who donate $25 or more to Now Playing between September 1 and December 31, 2016.
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/trick-or-treat-1480114886/
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
As the school year ended in 1986 John Hughes gave the world a film honoring playing hooky — Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. On the surface this is a fluffy comedy about three teens set loose in Chicago, but its themes and characters clicked with audiences and have endured for thirty years. Now, as Now Playing continues its look at the films of 1986, Arnie, Marjorie, and Justin skip school to give you this bonus movie review. Is this the best Day ever? Join them to find out!
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/ferris-buellers-day-off-1479964812/
The Elephant Man
I am not an animal! I am a human being! That quote from David Lynch’s The Elephant Man has become part of the American lexicon, quoted in literally hundreds of movies and television shows. But what of the film that created the quote? Lynch’s 1980 black and white biopic, his first commercial production, was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won many other statues. How does The Elephant Man hold up over 35 years later? Take the bag off your head, put in your earbuds, and join Arnie, Jakob, and Stuart to find out!
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/the-elephant-man/
Deadly Friend – Support Now Playing and get this bonus review!
By 1986 Wes Craven had been making horror films for more than a decade. After the instant success of his signature film A Nightmare on Elm Street he was able to write his own ticket for a follow-up film. Of all the scripts available to him, the movie he chose was Deadly Friend–a box office bomb and critical failure. How did this happen? And is this film’s bad reputation truly deserved? If you donate to help keep Now Playing on the air you can join Arnie, Stuart, Jakob, and BB to find out!
Plus we are giving away a DVD of Deadly Friend signed by star Kristy Swanson! No donation is needed to win. Head to our forums for details how to enter!
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/deadly-friend-support-now-playing-and-get-this-bonus-review/
Eraserhead
David Lynch is a popular director of such films as The Elephant Man, Dune, Wild at Heart and Mulholland Drive. And he became a household name with his 1990 TV Series Twin Peaks where “Who killed Laura Palmer?” was the new decade’s “Who shot JR?”. But before all those films came Eraserhead – Lynch’s surreal feature debut. It has become a midnight-movie cult hit and its meaning has been debated for decades. Now you can join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob as they give their analysis and review!
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/eraserhead-1479243546/
The Fly II
David Cronenberg is a hard act to follow. He is a cult filmmaker with an undeniably unique visual style. So without the director returning to the franchise, it’s unlikely 1989’s The Fly II will match the vision of the original, so new director Chris Walas doesn’t even try. Instead The Fly II is a more classic horror-revenge film, with Eric Soltz as the son of Seth Brundle, fly DNA in his veins. Does this film succeed as a splatter flick? If you support the show Now Playing puts out week after week you can now hear this review, and every review in The Fly Retrospective Series!
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/the-fly-ii/
Doctor Strange
Fourteen movies into the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes the Strangest movie yet – Doctor Strange. This film eschews all the other movies’ science fiction basis to bring that magic feeling to the franchise. Can lauded actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, and Tilda Swinton cast their spell on our reviewers? Listen now to find out!
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/doctor-strange-1478644243/
The Fly (1986)
It’s rare for a remake to eclipse the original’s popularity. However, David Cronenberg’s reimagining of The Fly has done that. When people think of The Fly they are more likely to think of Jeff Goldblum, his skin mottled, his fingernails and teeth falling out, than they are Vincent Price and the man-bug screaming “Help me! Help me!”. Now The Fly remake turns 30. Do its Academy Award winning monster makeup and memorable body horror hold up? If you support our show you can join Arnie, Jakob, and Stuart to find out!
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/the-fly-1986/
Rob Zombie’s 31
After swearing he was done with horror movies, director Rob Zombie scared up some crowd-funded money to make a tale of Halloween murder– 31. Featuring a group of carnies trapped by psychotic clowns, the film is a throwback to Zombie’s earliest films. But is retro horror what we need, or is it just too much clowning around? Join the Now Playing hosts as they treat your trick with this special Halloween movie review!
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/rob-zombies-31-1477947154/
Sinister 2
It took three years for Blumhouse to scare up a sequel to Sinister. Original creator Scott Derrickson had moved on to make Dr. Strange, but he returned to co-write and produce this follow-up. But can a story of a demon shaming Deputy So & So live up to the suspense of the original? Justin, Stuart, and Arnie are here to fill your trick or treat bag with this bonus podcast! So listen to find out!
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/sinister-2/
Vamp – A Podcast Preview
In a time where vampire films were plentiful, including The Lost Boys, Fright Night, and many more, Vamp stood alone. With its striking visual style, a focus on humor over horror, and ads heavily promoting star Grace Jones, this sexy, violent gory comedy was unique. Now Stuart, Arnie, and Jakob bite into Vamp. Donate to Now Playing and you can join them and hear this review!
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/vamp-a-podcast-preview/
Pet Sematary Two
The Pet Sematary series returned from the grave in 1992. The three years in the ground (or the video stores) did it no favors as the return looked little like the ‘89 original. Gone was the entire cast, replaced by new star Edward Furlong — fresh off his success of Terminator 2. Can returning director Mary Lambert reanimate this franchise, or does this sequel smell of rot and death? Dig up this show to find out!
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/pet-sematary-two/
Sinister
One of the most acclaimed horror films of this decade was Sinister. On the surface this Blumhouse production seems little different than many haunted house films like Paranormal Activity and Insidious. But Sinister hit a note with fans, and its success and style set director Scott Derrickson on the path to direct Marvel’s Doctor Strange. Is this another false scare, or is there something truly Sinister here? Listen to find out!
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/sinister/
April Fool’s Day
After Friday the 13th, Halloween, Black Christmas, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, New Year’s Evil, Silent Night Deadly Night, and so many more calendar themed slashers comes…April Fool’s Day! On this Spring weekend a group of preppies visit their friend on her private island. Soon the pranks end when their bodies turn up one by one. But is this one Fool worth following? Donate to keep Now Playing on the air and you can join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob to find out!
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/april-fools-day-1477066124/
Pet Sematary
In 1983 King published Pet Sematary – the book he dubbed to scary to print, with a title too difficult to spell. The book was a smash success. Six years later the film adaptation was released. Can it possibly be as frightening as the source novel? Join
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/pet-sematary
Chopping Mall – A Podcast Preview
In the ’80s every teen wanted to hang out at the mall, often getting into trouble. But when a group of employees decide to party in the mall after hours they find themselves in more trouble than they ever imagined–on the run from homicidal security robots! It’s a concept that could cause your head to explode. But should you shop in the Chopping Mall? Help Now Playing by donating to support our show and you can find out! And Have A Nice Day! Note: This podcast is not available for general download. The Horror Films of 1986 Movie Review Series was made as a special “Thank you” for those Now Playing Supporters who donate $25 or more to Now Playing between September 1 and December 31, 2016.
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/chopping-mall-a-podcast-preview
Christine
By 1983 Stephen King had been christened the “King of Horror”, his every book a bestseller, and his three films hits. John Carpenter was an acclaimed horror director who created the modern slasher with Halloween. When these two masters of terror joined forces to make 1983’s Christine, could the results be anything but frightful fun? Join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob as they review the carnage to find out!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/christine
House
The movie House may be more remembered for its art — a ghoulish
hand reaching for a doorbell — than for its plot. But if you opened
that door you find a haunted house tale of a Vietnam vet trying to cope
with his missing son. How do the Now Playing hosts appraise this House and its cast of familiar small-screen stars? If you donate to Now Playing you can come on in and find out!
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/house-1477067406/
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie
From the minds of Stephen King and George Romero comes Tales from the Darkside: The Movie…a horror anthology like no other. Well, scratch that, it’s like several others–including Romero’s own Creepshow! In fact, the King story in this film was written by Romero for Creepshow 2, but now it’s joined by two other stories of monsters and murder. Are these Tales the best Creepshow sequel of all? Join us to find out…but only if you promise to never tell!n
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/tales-from-the-darkside-the-movie
Venganza Q&A: Why 1986 was a huge year for Now Playing Podcast
The Now Playing Podcast Fall Donation series runs through December 31, 2016.
Now Playing Podcast has a thing for 1986. The proof is in the archives. If you count nine of the films on tap for this fall’s donation drive, you’ll find the hosts have reviewed at least two-dozen pictures that are celebrating their 30th anniversary. That includes Howard the Duck, Aliens, The Golden Child, Transformers: The Movie, – man, 1986 was the best year. If Now Playing Podcast ever reviews Solarbabies I’ll die happy.
In a Venganza Media Gazette Q&A, hosts Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob talk about that year in movies, and why it’s one for the ages.
Venganza Gazette: What do you remember about 1986 and that huge summer at the movies?
Jakob: By 1986 I was just old enough to start to really understand that some movies were good and some were bad. I remember begging my parents to take me to Howard the Duck. This was the first time I remember feeling hyped for a film — it was from George “Star Wars” Lucas — and then coming out of the theater thinking, “What’s this strange new feeling? I’m disappointed with that film. Movies can be bad?” Now I can see the man behind the curtain as opposed to being at a point filled with all the emotions and memories that come from discovery.
Arnie: It was the year I started to go to the movies every week of my summer vacation, and often more than once. I was 11 years old and starting to read behind-the-scenes articles and magazines, novelizations and source material. If you read my 40-Year-Old Critic review series on the Gazette you know movies were always in my blood, but in 1986 they also became the air I breathed. So we have a perfect storm–the studios producing big franchise films, and me being very nostalgic of that period having seen so many of these with friends and family.
Stuart: I had seen half of those [donation drive] movies as a child the year they were released and had a strong sense of nostalgia reflecting on them – remembering the theater I went to, my thoughts as a kid. Every decade has its own flavor, and the 80s was certainly an era that excelled at producing franchise ready summer entertainment that put big special effects and youth centric storylines at the forefront of moviemaking. For me 1986 was the greatest concentration of that type of film.
Arnie: If you look at the [1986] calendar, from May 9 to August 22, almost every week had a big blockbuster or franchise film release. Short Circuit, Top Gun, Poltergeist II, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Invaders from Mars, Karate Kid II, Psycho III, Aliens, Nothing in Common, Friday the 13th Part 6, and even Maximum Overdrive – Stephen King himself being a movie franchise.
Stuart: Everyone seemed to be chasing after the Spielberg aesthetic and box office.
Venganza Gazette: Can you compare it to another year or era in film?
Stuart: The 1990s was a return to that 70s emphasis on director driven stories and provocative visions. But the millennium has definitely brought us back to a 80s blockbuster mentality. I think 2012 was just as big a year for Now Playing as 1986 because we saw new installments to big long franchises like Marvel, Batman, Alien, not to mention the kickoff to new series like Hobbit and Hunger Games.
Venganza Gazette: What did you think about going back 30 years for the 2016 donation drives?
Stuart: to have the opportunity to go back and see the influential films of my youth is a great way of charting my own personal growth, as well as the evolution of genre films. I’ve reached an age where my childhood feels like a very distant memory.
Jakob: Especially the sci-fi series. I think many of our listeners had similar feelings — why else would they be so excited to listen to us talk about Space Camp? The horror series is a little different because I was too young and my parents would never allow me to see these films when they were released. But there is still that nostalgia – that era with the VHS box art. I remember looking at House and April Fools Day and just thinking they must be the scariest movies ever!
Stuart: Even the turkeys and one-off curiosities not deemed box office successes are fun to go back to because they all reinforce the virtues and values of the era’s film movement.
Jakob: I guess I’ll find out if these films can live up to their great poster art.
Venganza Gazette: Any chance of a sci-fi or horror of 1987 series coming?
Stuart: I don’t know that I hold every summer in such high regard as the one from 1986. I don’t think we’re looking to do this every year. No “Sci-Fi of Summer 1987.”
Venganza Gazette: Do you think it’s important for younger filmgoers to go back and see films released before they were born – and not just the classics?
Arnie: Important isn’t a word I would use. I don’t spend my time seeking out obscure films from the 1920s through the 1960s – it’s the classics that are important to see.
Jakob: I think anyone who cares about film as an art form and an ongoing story – both from a technical viewpoint and humanities – will want to search out films from any era. The concept of “canon” or “classics” are useful as starting points. But the “losers” can be just as interesting as the winners of film history.
Arnie: There is a lot of fun to be had in films 20, 30, and 40 years old, sometimes because the movies are great, and sometimes because they’re now so out of date or fantastically awful. God knows not every film we’re covering is one that deserves preservation in the Library of Congress’ vaults. I’d simply hope that younger film enthusiasts are open to older films.
Stuart: It’s often been lamented that there is nothing new under the sun, and all ideas have been done before. But I see that as the reason why someone would bother to look at old films. I find it fascinating to see how previous generations of filmmakers tackled the same genres and storylines.
Arnie: I have found some great enjoyment in films before my time, many of which I was initially resistant to see – The Maltese Falcon and Curse of the Fly for example.
Jakob: Stuart’s excitement for director Samuel Fuller convinced me watch his movies from the 1950s and 60s. Many of these old, B-movies by Fuller are so brazen in their politics and viewpoint that it is hard to forget them.
Stuart: While some film grammar from certain eras may seem obtuse and off putting to modern audiences, I’ve found that almost every decade excelled at at least one kind of art form (be it musicals, romantic comedies, or Westerns). Going back to the ’80s is about watching a generation hit its stride with horror and science fiction.
Jakob: If someone’s top 10 is a list of blockbusters from the last five years, they’re probably pretty boring. Don’t be boring. Don’t let someone else define your classics, greats, and canon.
The Now Playing Podcast 2016 Fall Donation Series runs through December 31, 2016 and features three retrospectives: The Fly, Horror Movies of 1986, and the Re-Animator series.
Cover art to Now Playing Podcast’s “Horror of 1986” retrospective series
The Hitcher (1986)
In The Hitcher C. Thomas Howell is a young man driving cross
country. To stay awake he picks up a hitchhiker on the freeway…and
it’s a mistake he may not live to regret. But should you pick up The Hitcher for
a good scare, or keep on driving by? Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob let you
know in this first review of the “Horror Films of 1986″ Review Series! Donate to Now Playing today and you can hear this, and all eight horror movie reviews!
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/the-hitcher-1986/
Creepshow 3
Nearly 20 years after the last Creepshow left theaters a third installment creeped onto video shelves. Five more tales of terror await, but now they are all intertwined with crossover characters and a twisting timeline. Does this add enjoyment to the final Creepshow? Grab a hot dong and join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob to find out!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/creepshow-3
Curse of the Fly
In 1965 20th Century Fox released a third (and final) sequel to the original The Fly. A radical departure from the previous films, Curse of the Fly had no Vincent Price and no fly! So what makes this film something that a Now Playing host chose as an Underrated Movies We Recommend? Support Now Playing today to find out!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/curse-of-the-fly
Blair Witch
The studio made it in secret. No one knew that Adam Wingard’s new horror film The Woods was actually the third installment of the Blair Witch film series. This one goes back to the original 1999 film in both universe and style. Watch the found footage as James Donahue, brother of the original film’s Heather, leads a new crew into Burkittsville to try and uncover the age old mystery. Is this a great return to form? Head into the woods with Jakob, Arnie, and Stuart to find out!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/blair-witch
Return of the Fly
Less than a year after audiences were terrified by The Fly came its fast-tracked sequel. The plot is the same, but the cast is almost entirely different–only Vincent Price returned from the first film. But should we celebrate The Return of the Fly? Support Now Playing with a donation of $10 or more before December 31, 2016 and you can join Jakob, Stuart, and Arnie to find out!
Note: This podcast is not available for general download. The Fly Movie Retrospective Series was made as a special “Thank you” for those Now Playing Supporters who donate between September 1 and December 31, 2016.
You can listen to a preview of this podcast now, and then visit our donation page to find out how to pledge and support Now Playing!
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/return-of-the-fly/
Oh Yeah, Now Playing Podcast Reviewed ‘Ferris Bueller’s’ 30th Anniversary Soundtrack
In the pre-Napster days, there was nothing more frustrating than having to scour every record store in a 40-mile radius to find that rare song that for some inexplicable reason had been left off the soundtrack to a hugely popular movie. (Do you have any idea how many years it took me to find Dramarama’s “Anything, Anything” because my worn out, taped-off-WGN copy of A Nightmare on Elm Street 4 shrunk the end credits to the point where I couldn’t read the name of the band? Yes, I’m still mad about this Chrysalis.)
Front cover art
Fans of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off know that pain. They’ve known it for 30 years as they desperately tried to recreate the film’s greatest moments but came up short where it really counted. Sure, it’s easy to get “Day Bow Bow” and “Twist and Shout” on your playlist, but good luck getting your hands on “Beat City.” How are you supposed to make that traffic-free morning commute into Chicago without The Flowerpot Men riding shotgun?
At long last, the search for scratchy bootlegs has come to an end. Specialty label La-La Land Records has come to the rescue (again) with the first official release of the Ferris Bueller’s Day Off soundtrack. Since 2009, producers Dan Goldwasser and Neil Bulk have been working to collect the rights to nearly all of the film’s music, and the result is a 35-track collection that includes the aforementioned Beat City (and seven other singles), composer Ira Newborn’s original score, and even the marching band overlay of Twist and Shout.
In an interview with Now Playing Podcast, Goldwasser and Bulk discussed the “daunting” task of assembling the soundtrack, why the project took seven years to realize, and why not all of the film’s music could be included.
So join Arnie, Marjorie, and Justin as they discuss the music of Ferris, and Arnie talks to Goldwasser and Bulk as well as an interview with, and performance by, the group Blue Room!
The release of the Ferris Bueller soundtrack comes during an unofficial “Celebration of ‘86” at Now Playing Podcast. The show’s bi-annual donation drives have featured “Sci-fi Summer of ‘86” and “Horror of ‘86” retrospectives, respectively, as well as a surprise July review of that year’s Short Circuit. Listeners can also expect Now Playing’s Ferris Bueller’s Day Off review before the end of September.
Insert page for 30th anniversary “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” soundtrack
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – 30th Anniversary Soundtrack
When you think of Ferris Bueller what comes to mind? Is it “Oh Yeah”? Or perhaps the Star Wars theme playing while Cameron’s Ferrari shot above the city streets. And the iconic parade scene with Ferris lip syncing The Beatles’ “Twist and Shout”. But for all the important music moments in the film, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off never had a soundtrack…until now. And to talk about it are Arnie, Marjorie, and Justin along with some guests. Join them for some music, some information, and a review of this new Ferris Bueller’s Day Off CD.
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/ferris-buellers-day-off-30th-anniversary-soundtrack/
Creepshow 2
Five years after Stephen King and George Romero revived the horror anthology with Creepshow, New World Pictures released the sequel. The poster looked the same, but there was a new director, Romero was now only writing, and King had a “Story By” credit. With just three tales of terror, versus the original’s five, is the humor as sharp and the horror as scary? Get your ticket and join Jakob, Stuart, and Arnie to find out!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/creepshow-2
The Fly (1958) – A Podcast Preview
From the pages of Playboy magazine sprung a horror classic–The Fly! In 1958 this sci-fi fright film scared audience members while also scaring up big money for the studio, all while setting Vincent Price on the path to his career as a horror icon. Its ending has become a cultural reference everyone gets. But now, almost 60 years later, can you still be afraid of…The Fly? If you want to find out…help us! Help us! Donate to keep Now Playing running and hear reviews of all the Fly films!Note: This podcast is not available for general download. The Fly Movie Retrospective Series was made as a special “Thank you” for those Now Playing Supporters who donate between September 1 and December 31, 2016.
You can listen to a preview of this podcast now, and then visit our donation page to find out how to pledge and support Now Playing!
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/the-fly-1958-a-podcast-preview/
Creepshow
Stephen King was a master of written horror, and George Romero a master of cinematic scares. And in 1982 those two combined forces to bring you Creepshow — five tales of terror, written by King and directed by Romero. Were two kings of horror better than one? Join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob as they creep up on you with this review!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/creepshow
Stand by Me
They didn’t market Stand by Me as a Stephen King film. In 1986 a period piece drama didn’t fit with King’s history of films, including axe murderers, ghosts, zombies, vampires, and killer semis. Few would have thought this 50’s coming-of-age nostalgia piece was from King’s short story “The Body.” Yet the movie was a smash hit, nominated for Golden Globe and Academy Awards. How does this movie hold up thirty years later, playing to people other than Baby Boomers? Stand by Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob to find out!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/stand-by-me
Apt Pupil
A Nazi in hiding is uncovered by a suburban boy, and the result is blackmail and bloodshed. That is the story of Apt Pupil, Bryan Singer’s directorial follow-up to his breakthrough The Usual Suspects. Is Kurt Dussander’s secret past a mystery on par with Keyser Söze? Join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob to find out!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/apt-pupil
The Shawshank Redemption
The Shawshank Redemption has been voted the #1 movie of all time by IMDB.com users. It was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actor for star Morgan Freeman. It has played endlessly on TNT. And yet, upon its release, the film flopped in theaters. Is history right? Is this the best movie of all time, underappreciated when it first came out? Join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob to find out!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/the-shawshank-redemption
Hear Venganza Media Podcasts on TuneIn
Venganza Media podcasts Star Wars Action News and Now Playing Podcast are now available on streaming audio service TuneIn, giving listeners the option to hear new and past episodes through an expanding list of platforms, including smart TV’s, gaming consoles, vehicles, and devices such as the Amazon Echo and Roku set-top box.
Users with a free or premium account can download the TuneIn Radio app to access the shows, which can be saved for quick access under the “favorites” setting.
By adding its shows to the TuneIn library, Venganza Media joins a list of content providers that includes The Nerdist, CNN, and Major League Baseball.
San Francisco-based TuneIn launched in 2002 as RadioTime and now offers users access to more than 100,000 radio stations, along with millions of audiobooks, podcasts, and on-demand programs.
Suicide Squad
Earlier this year DC brought Batman back to the big screen in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Now it’s time for his nemesis to get the spotlight. Suicide Squad stars villains like Joker, Harley Quinn, Deadshot, and Enchantress — a group of bad people who may be able to do some good. The characters are the worst of the worst…but is the film also the worst? Join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob to find out!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/suicide-squad
Jason Bourne
It’s been nine years since Matt Damon last played Jason Bourne. But now he is back, ready to uncover new secrets about Treadstone and what turned David Webb into Jason Bourne. Do Greengrass and Damon still have the spark that made those original films so memorable, or should they have not Borne out another sequel? Join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob in this podcast movie review to find out!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/jason-bourne
Star Trek Beyond
On Thursday, September 8, 1966, Star Trek beamed into people’s homes for the first time. Since then, Star Trek has become a cultural phenomenon spanning 725 television episodes across six series, and 12 movies. But now it is time for Star Trek to go Beyond. Is there still power in those warp coils on the Enterprise’s 13th voyage in theaters? Join Arnie, Stuart, and Brock to find out!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/star-trek-beyond
The Last Starfighter
A long time ago, in a trailer park far, far away… a teen named Alex beat the high score on the Starfighter arcade. But it wasn’t just a game–it was a proving grounds for fighters to join an intergalactic war. Is Alex the Luke Skywalker for the ’80s? And how does this film’s once-groundbreaking CGI hold up over 30 years later? Join Arnie, Marjorie, and Justin to find out!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/the-last-starfighter
Ghostbusters (2016)
It’s been almost 30 years since the Ghostbusters took control, and despite repeated attempts the closest we got to a Ghostbusters 3 was the 2009 Atari video game. But finally we have an all new Ghostbusters — a total reboot that shows the original formation of three scientists to stop poltergeists from plaguing New York City. The film was politicized and mired in controversy almost from the moment it was released, but when you get past all that–is the movie good? Supporters of Now Playing can join Stuart, Jakob, and Arnie to find out!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/ghostbusters-2016
The Bourne Legacy
The Bourne Ultimatum proved its box office dominance, and director Paul Greengrass and star Matt Damon were ready leave Jason Bourne behind. But Universal Pictures wasn’t going to let that stop their blockbuster franchise, so enter The Bourne Legacy! Jeremy Renner stars as Aaron Cross – another covert super soldier from the same CIA operations as Bourne. Rather than risk exposure, the CIA has chosen to kill all their agents and start over. Can Cross survive this extinction protocol? And can the franchise survive without its signature star and character? Join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob now to find out!
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/the-bourne-legacy-1477021823/
The Bourne Ultimatum
Three years after Bourne was supreme at the box office, star Matt Damon reteamed with director Paul Greengrass for the series’ third installment – The Bourne Ultimatum. This film promises to reveal the final secrets about the secret agent’s past, and gives co-star Julia Stiles something to do. Did this original Bourne trilogy end on a high note? Join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob to find out!
Arnie C: http://podcast.nowplayingpodcast.com/e/the-bourne-ultimatum/
Ghostbusters 2
It took five years, but the Ghostbusters were back! Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson strapped the proton packs on once more, rejoined by co-stars Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis, and Annie Potts. The crew is the same, and a lot of the story beats are the same, but Ghostbusters 2 has a far worse reputation than the original. Is this deserved, or should the naysayers be soaked in happy slime? Donate to Now Playing Podcast before July 31, 2016 and you can listen to find out!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/ghostbusters-2
Ghostbusters (1984) – A Podcast Preview
You know the song. You know the cartoon. You know the film — Ghostbusters! This 1984 horror-comedy from the makers of Caddyshack and Meatballs defied all expectations. Not only did this film break box-office records, it has become a cultural touchstone. For over 30 years it seems everyone loves this film. But critically, how does it hold up after so many imitators have aped the formula? Help keep Now Playing going strong–make a Platinum donation and hear the entire trilogy of Ghostbusters movie reviews! Note: This podcast is not available for general download. The Ghostbusters Retrospective Series was made as a special “Thank you” for those Now Playing Supporters who donate between April 1 and July 31, 2016. You can listen to a preview of this podcast now, and then visit our donation page to find out how to pledge and support Now Playing!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/ghostbusters-1984-a-podcast-preview
Short Circuit 2
Just two short years after Short Circuit electrified audiences Johnny 5 returned in Short Circuit 2. This time Johnny is in the big city and realizing what it means to be human…or in his case, not human. The film was supposed to be full of heart, laughs, and special effects. But Johnny’s wires got crossed and no connection was made with audiences. With this film Johnny 5’s cinematic life ended, but did he deserve his fate? Join Justin Five, Stuart, and Arnie to find out!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/short-circuit-2
The Bourne Supremacy
Universal had little confidence in making The Bourne Identity, but after its huge success they fast-tracked the sequel: The Bourne Supremacy. This follow-up teamed Damon with Paul Greengrass, who would continue to guide the Bourne films through this summer’s new Jason Bourne. Is this film truly supreme, or did the franchise lose its identity? Join Stuart, Arnie, and Jakob to find out!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/the-bourne-supremacy
Independence Day: Resurgence – A Podcast Preview
This weekend the United States celebrates Independence Day, and director Roland Emmerich and producer Dean Devlin are here to show us some fireworks with Independence Day: Resurgence! With returning stars Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Judd Hirsch, Vivica A. Fox, and Brent Spiner, should you spend his holiday in theaters? Donors who support Now Playing Podcast can listen and find out!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/independence-day-resurgence-a-podcast-preview
Short Circuit
Robocop. R2-D2. HAL 9000. The T-1000. Johnny 5.
Listen to find out!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/short-circuit
The Bourne Identity (2002)
In 2002 a new action franchise was Bourne. Starring Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, The Bourne Identity modernized and heavily revised Robert Ludlum’s original novel. Despite a modest budget, the film connected with critics and audience members alike. With the upcoming sequel Jason Bourne in theaters this July, it’s time to check Bourne’s original Identity. Does the film hold up 14 years later? Join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob to find out!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/the-bourne-identity-2002
Independence Day Preview – Help Celebrate Independent Podcasting!
In 1996 Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin blew up the Earth, and the box office, with their Independence Day. The movie became a ’90s icon and launched Will Smith’s acting career into orbit. Now, 20 years later, Independence Day returned to theaters as part of a double feature with its new sequel Resurgence. How well did this original movie age? You can join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob to find out if you donate and help celebrate our independent podcast!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/independence-day-preview-help-celebrate-independent-podcasting
The Bourne Identity (1988)
Jason Bourne has existed in Robert Ludlum novels for over 35 years. For mainstream audiences, however, he came to life when Matt Damon starred as the amnesiac secret agent in 2002. That action-packed rendition now defines the character, and has totally overshadowed Bourne’s first portrayal — in a 1988 ABC miniseries. The story was much closer to Ludlum’s original novel than the later films, but can Richard Chamberlain match Damon’s performance? To find out, join Arnie, Jakob, and Stuart as this new retrospective series is Bourne! And come back each week until we review the new Jason Bourne film in theaters!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/the-bourne-identity-1988
Night of the Creeps – A podcast skit and preview
Horror comedies have a long history with movies like An American Werewolf in London and Attack of the Killer Tomatoes. But in the heyday may be the mid-80s which entertained with films like Return of the Living Dead, House, and the film we’re reviewing today: Night of the Creeps. A combination alien infestation/ax murderer/zombie film, many tropes are played with to make audiences laugh and scream. The film died in the box office but rose like a zombie on VHS (when director Dekker was better known for his follow-up horror comedy The Monster Squad). Join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob for this bonus review to find out why Night of the Creeps is a film worth digging up!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/night-of-the-creeps-a-podcast-skit-and-preview
The Conjuring 2
After three years and one Fast and Furious film, James Wan is back with a sequel to The Conjuring. The original horror film scared up lots of dough for Universal, so now the series returns with Ed and Lorraine Warren investigating another real life haunting — The Enfield Poltergeist. How “true to life” is this story, and does it up the suspense from the original? Join us to find out!t
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/the-conjuring-2
Big Trouble in Little China
In 1986 director John Carpenter was known as a “Master of Horror” thanks to his films Christine, The Fog, The Thing, and of course Halloween. So, even with sci-fi drama Starman in 1984, no one could expect his fourth team-up with star Kurt Russel would be kung fu comedy Big Trouble in Little China. The film eschewed the typical action hero tropes and failed to connect with American audiences. Like many of Carpenter’s other films, Big Trouble became a cult classic, its popularity growing year after year. So what is it — big flop or deserved cult classic? Donate and help keep Now Playing operating and you can join Stuart, Jakob, and Arnie to find out!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/big-trouble-in-little-china
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
In this sequel to 2014’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Donatello, Leonardo, Raphael, and Michelangelo are back again to save New York from Shredder. But while this film has the same look and some returning stars, there’s a new vibe throwing back to the original cartoon series — including fan-loved baddies Krang, Bebop, and Rocksteady. With Arrow star Stephen Amell joining the cast as human vigilante Casey Jones, are these turtles worth shelling out for? Join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob for their review to find out!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-out-of-the-shadows
Labyrinth – A Musical Podcast Preview
While making The Empire Strikes Back George Lucas asked Jim Henson to help create new character Yoda. Henson was busy working on his own Muppet Movie, but the two did end up collaborating six years later with Labyrinth! This fantasy film tells the tale of a girl trying to rescue her baby brother from the evil Goblin King. With Lucas helping craft the fantasy world, Henson directing, and Bowie singing, it seemed a surefire hit…and wasn’t. Donate today and you can join the Now Playing hosts on their quest through the maze of Labyrinth’s plot and characters as they review this ’86 cult classic!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/labyrinth-a-musical-podcast-preview
X-Men: Apocalypse
Director Bryan Singer is back to take the X-Men to the ’80s for a totally tubular fight against Apocalypse! The film debuts the fan-favorite mutant villain on film. It also features the return of classic movie X-Men Cyclops, Jean Gray, and Nightcrawler. Is the result boss or bunk? Join Arnie, Jakob, and Stuart to find out!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/x-men-apocalypse
Space Camp
They were never meant to go to space, but they weren’t given a choice. Five teens and an unproven astronaut find themselves alone, with no communications and little hope of returning home. But don’t count them out yet as these kids went to Space Camp! Did they learn what they needed to save themselves? And does this movie achieve liftoff, or crash on the launchpad?
Now Playing Podcast needs your help to keep operating! If you donate and support our show, you can join Stuart, Arnie, and Jakob to find out. Listen to the preview now, and then find out all the details about our donation drive.
Note: This podcast is not available for general download. The Sci-Fi Summer of 1986 Review Series was made as a special “Thank you” for those Now Playing Supporters who donate between April 1 and July 31, 2016.
You can listen to a preview of this podcast now, and then visit our donation page to find out how to pledge and support Now Playing!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/space-camp
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
The original Hellboy film didn’t set the box office on fire. But like a necromancer, director and writer Guillermo del Toro brought the demonic comic hero back on screens in 2008. With the original cast back plus new antagonists both in and out of the BPRD, does Hellboy II: The Golden Army turn up the heat? Join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob to find out!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/hellboy-ii-the-golden-army
Invaders from Mars – A Podcast Preview
In 1986 the director of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Poltergeist teamed up with the screenwriter of Alien and Return of the Living Dead to make a…children’s sci-fi film! That project was Invaders from Mars, a remake of the ’50s red scare movie of th
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/invaders-from-mars-a-podcast-preview
Hellboy
Dark Horse Comics was once best known for its series based on popular movie properties like Star Wars, Predator, and Alien. That reputation slowly changed as the publisher’s original characters gained prominence, with the most popular becoming Mike Mignola’s demonic creation Hellboy! In 2004 that comic was adapted to film by fantastical visionary Guillermo del Toro. Now join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob as they go to hell and back, reviewing the original Hellboy!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/hellboy
Critters – A Podcast Preview
First came Ghoulies. Then came Gremlins. Then Troll. But can any of them stand up to Critters–the omnivorous killer space poofs? These alien fugitives landed in Kansas, and began to eat their way through the midwest. Can these varmints be stopped? And did they make this 1986 horror sci-fi comedy deserve three sequels? Arnie, Jakob, and Stuart review this film, and give an overview of all four Critters films in this podcast. Donate to help keep Now Playing on the air, and you can join them in the fun!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/critters-a-podcast-preview
Captain America: Civil War
Is this movie Captain America 3 or Avengers 3? Cap is back and he’s brought the whole team. Iron Man, Ant-Man, Black Widow, Vision, Scarlet Witch, and half a dozen other costumed heroes appear–to fight! At issue is the UN wanting to control The Avengers
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/captain-america-civil-war
Men in Black 3 – A Podcast Preview
After Men in Black II it seems audiences had been neuralized, the film franchise mostly forgotten. Indeed, Will Smith took a four year hiatus, while Barry Sonnenfeld only directed the Robin Williams vehicle RV. But in 2012, ten years after the previous mo
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/men-in-black-3-a-podcast-preview
The Running man
No one was interested in making movies based on the writings of
Richard Bachman. His novels Rage, The Long Walk, Roadwork,
and The Running Man were modest sellers that often had
only one printing. More, they were dark and rough novels King wrote
in his early years. That changed in 1985 when Bachman was exposed
as a pen name for Stephen King. Just two years later Arnold
Schwarzenegger was The Running Man–a very loose
adaptation of the ’82 Bachman novel. The film is now a cult hit,
fondly remembered by Generation X, but is it any good? Listen now
to find out!
Arnie C: http://nowplayingpodcast.libsyn.com/the-running-man
Soundtracks on Vinyl: The Hateful Eight
One of the draws to collect vinyl releases of movie scores and soundtracks is the large artwork for the film that accompanies it. These entries will review the vinyl record release of a film score/soundtrack from the music to the artwork, as well as the film…
The Movie
The Hateful Eight is a western about a bounty hunter played by Kurt Russell en route to deliver a wanted fugitive played by Jennifer Jason Leigh to the law when they take refuge in a log cabin during a snowstorm in Wyoming. The two are joined by six other strangers looking for sanctuary from the blizzard. But as the night proceeds, it becomes clear that some of the strangers have secretly planted themselves there to free the female criminal. A tense standoff proceeds as identities are discovered and the body count rises.
A big deal was made over the Ultra Panavision 70 ultra-widescreen format director Quentin Tarantino used to film The Hateful Eight. No small part of that hype was due to Tarantino himself doing a very limited 70mm roadshow screening of the film with extra footage. However, the film underperformed at $55-million (U.S. box office) after his previous two films, Django Unchained and Inglourious Basterds, brought in over $100-million each domestically.
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