Film History on Videotape Podcast

Film History on Videotape Podcast / Christmas Movies / Review #158 / Batman Returns Christmastime is here.  Tired of the same ol Rudolph and Frosty movies?   Then check out Batman Returns... an unabashed Christmasesque movie if there ever was one.  This sequel to the massively popular 1989 film features new villains, new gadgets, and surprisingly less Batman that alot of the movies.   This dark action comedy took some viewers off balance when it was released in the summer of 1992 for its darker tone, grotesque imagery, and sexual innuendos, which were all amped up for the sequel.  How long has it been since you have seen it?  Check out Batman Returns for Christmas on Film History on Videotape! Download this episode (right click and save)

Film History on Videotape Podcast / What Is Up? / December 2013 What Is Up December?  This is the last month of 2013 and we take the opportunity to go over last month's De Palma retrospective as well as news on whats in store for December.  Max saw Scarface... Danny saw 12 Years a Slave.  We chew the fat over what is coming out as well as just rant about whatever is on our minds.  We talk about the uncertain future of the Fast/Furious franchise (not really) and Danny compares Happy Gilmore to Billy Madison with unsurprising results. Hold on to your hats because Film History on Videotape is coming at you Xmas Style!   Enjoy! Download this episode (right click and save)

Film History on Videotape Podcast / Brian De Palma Month / Review #157 / Snake Eyes Believe everything except your eyes.  What a tag line.  In 1998 Brian De Palma co wrote and directed Snake Eyes, a conspiracy thriller starring Nic Cage and Gary Sinise among others.  At the time of its release it was a flop at the box office and didnt exactly garner De Palma with the accolades and praise like some of his previous films had brought him.  His signature style and tone is all over the thing, and with Oscar caliber actors on screen what went wrong?  We go back and review this misunderstood movie as the last part of our month of all things Brian De Palma. Enjoy! Download this episode (right click and save)

Film History on Videotape Podcast / Brian De Palma Month / Review #156 / Carlito's Way In the early 90's Brian De Palma made a return to the genre he loves; The sprawling crime thriller.  He re teamed up with Al Pacino to direct Carlito's Way co- starring Penelope Ann Miller, Viggo Mortenson, and Sean Penn in one of the best performances of his career up to that point.  When a convicted drug kingpin and legend gets released from prison early, it takes all his strength and will to stay clean and off the streets.  I believe there is another movie with Pacino where he says something about getting "pulled back in", which is kind of what happens.  Does this movie hold up after 20 years or does it fail to impress after all this time? Download this episode (right click and save)

Film History on Videotape Podcast / Brian De Palma Month / Review #155 / The Bonfire Of The Vanities Is there any way to start off a decade better than by completely botching a film adaptation of a popular novel?  Film History on Videotape brings you another review in our series of Brian De Palma films , this time The Bonfire of the Vanities from 1990.   A tale of greed, lust and well uhhh vanity in 1980's NYC, this epic undertaking of movie making was panned as badly cast and badly directed upon its release. Is it that terrible?  What do a couple of 90's kids make of all of this?   Check it out! Download this episode (right click and save)

Film History on Videotape Podcast / Brian De Palma Month / Review #154 / Dressed To Kill Know what sounds good?  A clunkily paced suspense murder thriller with tons and TONS of nudity and sex.  Oh and Michael Caine too. When Dressed to Kill was released in 1980, it pushed the boundaries of what was tasteful in major studio pictures.   When a bored housewife turns up dead after an afternoon tryst with a stranger, an investigation ensues involving her son, her psychiatrist, and a hooker who witnessed the killing.  Alot can be said about this movie.  Its as equally entertaining as it is trashy and a little dirty.   With tips of the hat to Hitchcock and Antonioni, De Palma's style is all over this and its really something to behold.  Check it out! Download this episode (right click and save)

Film History on Videotape Podcast / Brian De Palma Films / Review #152 / Obsession "Imagine the most terrifying dream you've ever had" was the tagline for the next entry in our month of De Palma movies.  Released in 1976, Obsession is the story of a man in love.  Cliff Robertson is that man.  A wealthy family man who loses it all only to discover that he might be able to get it all back again.  Or can he? This creepy and fantastically shot thriller also stars Geneviève Bujold and John Lithgow in a very early performance of his career.  This review is full of SPOILERS so if you haven't seen it, SEE IT and check out Film History on Videotape's review of Brian De Palma's Obsession. Download this episode (right click and save)

Film History on Videotape / Brian De Palma Month / Review #152 / Blowout / 1981 Have you ever discovered something so terrible and controversial that nobody believed you when you tried to tell them about it?   Film History on Videotape brings you the review for Blow Out starring Nancy Allen and John Travolta.   When a sound engineer captures a political assassination on tape he becomes the center of a diabolical cover up that could go as far up as the President of the United States. Brian De Palma masterfully directs this thrilling suspense movie that bombed at the box office back in 1981.  Enjoy! Download this episode (right click and save)

What Is Up?   Its the month of November.  The holidays are coming up and we use this opportunity to go over what we did in October and how our Stephen King month turned out, as well as discuss several other movies we watched for the Halloween season. Haunted Houses, homicidal doctors, the medieval undead. All kinds of stuff.  We talk about about Wes Anderson a bit and talk about our series for November as well.  Check out our monthly gab fest with What Is Up? on Film History on Videotape. Download this episode (right click and save)

 Film History on Videotape Podcast / Stephen King in Film / Review #151 / Carrie  Well it was a good month of unspeakable horror.  Film History on Videotape closes out our Halloween month of Stephen King film adaptations with the one that started it all.  Carrie from 1976 was directed by a then young and up and coming director named Brian De Palma.  It helped start a lot of the actors start up their Hollywood careers with varying degrees of success.  More importantly though it brought the name of Stephen King to movie houses everywhere.  If you haven't seen it then get on it (and skip that remake will ya?)   Keep the horror alive in October with Carrie.   Download this episode (right click and save)

Film History on Videotape / Stephen King is Film / Review #150 / Cujo What's scarier than a cat that's come back from the dead?   Cujo thats what. Film History on Videotape reviews Cujo from 1983 starring Dee Wallace and that kid from Who's the Boss.   When a beloved local St. Bernard contracts rabies from a bat, its only a matter of time before the sweet buddy becomes a homicidal maniac on 4 legs.  This was one of three Stephen King film adaptations to be released in 1983.  How does Cujo compare to the rest of them?   Oh don't be scared check it out!   Download this episode (right click and save)

Film History on Videotape /  Stephen King in Film / Review #149 / Christine Have you ever known a car to be haunted?  Sounds like a silly premise for a movie.   Film History on Videotape brings you our review for Christine from 1983 directed by John Carpenter.  When a teenage dork buys an old car to fix up he gets a little more than he bargained for, and so do the bullys at his school.  Masterfully made with fantastic special effects, Christine was a bit of a surprise for Max and Danny.  Check it out! Download this episode (right click and save)  

Film History on Videotape Podcast / Stephen King in Film / Review #148 / The Mist There is something... in the mist.   Film History on Videotape brings you the review for the 2007 film The Mist based on Stephen King's short story of the same name.  When a small town becomes covered in a strange fog some of the residents get holed up in the local grocery store and find themselves under attack, from mysterious creatures and themselves.  Directed and written for the screen by Frank Darabont and starring Tom Jane, this thriller received good reviews six years ago.  Does it hold up now?   Listen in to find out! Download this episode (right click and save)

Film History on Videotape Podcast / Stephen King in Film / Review #147 / Graveyard Shift The year was 1990.  The book and movie business has been littered with Stephen King's name for well over a decade.  How does Graveyard Shift hold up to the rest of them?   Film History on Videotape continues its journey through the cinematic adaptations of Mr. King's work with Graveyard Shift, a small town movie about a textile mill and some rats and a cemetery and a mine shaft and Brad Dourif.  Big scares or Big Shit?  A lost horror gem or a sad example of the genre?  So many questions. Check it out! Download this episode (right click and save)

Film History on Videotape / Stephen King in Film / Review #146 / Cat's Eye Whats better than a horror story?  How about three?   1985 had a lot of memorable films but it seems like this little movie has fallen through the cracks since then.  Stephen King's Ca'ts Eye is an anthology horror suspense flick starring James Woods, The guy from Airplane and a young Drew Barrymore.  Each story uses a tabby cat as a means to frame the stories together, with the last story being told with the cat as the protagonist.  Lovers of cats and the movie Creepshow should applaud. Film History on Videotape brings you Cat's Eye! Download this episode (right click and save)