Ramblin: An Amblin Podcast
62 episodes - English - Latest episode: 19 days ago - ★★★★★ - 4 ratingsLadies and Gentlemen, Extraterrestrials and Poltergeists, welcome to Ramblin: An Amblin Podcast.
In each episode, your hosts Andrew Gaudion and Joshua Glenn will guide you through the weird and wonderful films that fall under the Amblin Entertainment Banner, the production company founded by Steven Spielberg, Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy back in 1981.
With friends and special guests joining along the way, get ready for discussions, analysis and trivia around both some of the biggest movies of all-time, and some smaller little-seen curiosities. Hold onto your butts!
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Episodes
The Terminal (2004)
March 31, 2024 10:45 - 1 hour - 143 MBIt’s time to check in with Steven Spielberg’s 2004 comedy-drama THE TERMINAL, the second part in our Neapolitan Spielberg trilogy. The ‘vanilla’ section of the trio is a rare Amblin joint where we have quite different opinions on the movie, and to help us unpack our feelings is our guest; friend, musician and one half of the Ramblin-theme composing team Robert J. Hunter-Clayton. Together, we delve into the inspiration behind the Tom Hanks-starring tale, marvel at the scale of its production ...
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
March 17, 2024 18:22 - 1 hour - 142 MBWe kick off the first chapter in our self-coined ‘Neapolitan Spielberg trilogy’ with the strawberry of the trio, the beard’s 2002 con-man caper ‘CATCH ME IF YOU CAN’, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. To join us in tracking down the tale of putting the story of Frank William Abagnale Jnr to the screen is film historian and musical expert Miles Eady. Together, we discuss the long line of filmmakers who couldn’t quite get their clutches on the story, try out a Christopher Walken impres...
Men in Black II (2002)
February 11, 2024 11:45 - 1 hour - 162 MBWe’re back - in black - to get things rolling for Ramblin in 2024. We’re checking in with the MIB franchise, investigating the bad case of sequelitius that seems to have infected the Barry Sonnenfeld directed follow up to the 1997 sci-fi comedy classic. Both Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones return from Amblin past, and so does our guest -critic and broadcaster Rihanna Dillon. Together, we dig into the film's dragged out road to production, stressful shooting schedule and try to put our finger ...
Minority Report (2002)
December 24, 2023 12:00 - 2 hours - 138 MBThis Christmas, everybody runs - particularly everyone's favourite Hollywood cross country champ Tom Cruise. It is time to wave our hands in the hand and catch the red ball that is Steven Spielberg’s ‘MINORITY REPORT’ the sci-fi action-thriller based on the short story by Phillip K. Dick. To join us in unpacking this vision of the future is our pal and fifth-time guest Dan Kelly. We get into the project’s origins as a retooled Total Recall sequel, reflecting on the film’s themes of free wi...
Jurassic Park III (2001)
December 03, 2023 11:06 - 1 hour - 152 MBThis time it’s not just a walk in the park. The same could be said for the production of ‘JURASSIC PARK III’ - the third entry in the Jurassic franchise, directed by Joe Johnsotn. We get into its turbulent journey to the screen with returning guest David from Jurassic Collectables (@JurassicCollect), musing on the film that could have been, reminiscing about our first encounters with both the franchise and Johnston, as well as unpacking just what works and what doesn’t in the finished featu...
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
November 12, 2023 12:07 - 1 hour - 103 MBCirrus. Socrates. Particle. Decibel. Hurricane. Dolphin. Tulip. Ramblin. Listener. Ramblin. Now we’ve got that out of the way, it’s time to get serious about Papa Spielberg’s first offering of the new millennium: 2001’s moody, existentially shattering A.I. Artificial Intelligence. Beginning as a short story in the pages of Harper’s Bazaar in the early-‘70s, the film started out as a Kubrick project before gradually, over the years, forging a bridge between the two master filmmakers and ulti...
The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000)
October 15, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 145 MBBright light city is gonna set my soul on fire. But will The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas have the same incendiary effect? We’re back in the podcastin’ business and back in Bedrock for Brian Levant’s prequel, swapping out the original crew for newer, younger, improved(?) models to see how Fred, Barney, Wilma and Betty all got together in the first place - with a little help from The Great Gazoo (may God have mercy on us all). To take the trip to Rock Vegas, we have cordially invited back ...
The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas
October 15, 2023 10:30 - 1 hour - 145 MBBright light city is gonna set my soul on fire. But will The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas have the same incendiary effect? We’re back in the podcastin’ business and back in Bedrock for Brian Levant’s prequel, swapping out the original crew for newer, younger, improved(?) models to see how Fred, Barney, Wilma and Betty all got together in the first place - with a little help from The Great Gazoo (may God have mercy on us all). To take the trip to Rock Vegas, we have cordially invited back ...
Review of the 90s (Part II)
August 06, 2023 11:00 - 2 hours - 170 MBLike any good blockbuster these days, we split our 90s review in two and have now come to the final chapter of Amblin’s most prolific decade. Strap in as we gun it to 88 to cover such great topics as our biggest cry, the worst film of decade, best dog, favourite performance and of course, reveal the listener’s top five Amblin movies of the 90s. We also invite returning guest Emily Tatham to test our 90s knowledge to suitably zany results. Let’s get this intergalactic kegger off the ground - ...
Review of the 90s (Part I)
July 30, 2023 12:40 - 1 hour - 86.4 MBGet ready for the first instalment in our two-part 90s review lollapalooza. We at Ramblin wanted to give the 90s the send off it deserved, and boy did we ramble. So much so that there’s just too much good stuff to pack into one episode - so let’s spread the joy and celebrate the most prolific decade of Amblin’s history so far in two epic parts, with categories both old and new, from best score, to best surprise, and the most 90s of the 90s. So, hold onto your butts and enjoy part one, and ma...
In Dreams (1999)
July 09, 2023 10:30 - 1 hour - 120 MBIt’s time for us to close the book (well, almost) on the 1990s, the most fruitful span of time for Amblin so far. That the film that sees us do this is Neil Jordan’s deeply bizarre supernatural psychological thriller IN DREAMS feels wholly appropriate for such a far-reaching, uneven and frequently unwieldy decade. Together we figuratively go bobbing for apples in an attempt to make sense of this tangled mess of a movie, wading through the giallo-esque narrative, the questionable performances...
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
June 25, 2023 09:36 - 2 hours - 192 MBPapa Spielberg returns with his blistering take on the WWII drama, 1998’s SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, so we enlist the help of Mike West (@Mike333West) to wade through this deeply influential, almost-Best Picture-winning movie. Together we talk about the revolutionary portrayal of the D-Day landings, the contributions of the extensive cast and the reactions of veterans themselves. We also wade into some of the film’s more complicated elements, such as its relationship to jingoism, the impossibility...
The Mask of Zorro (1998)
June 04, 2023 11:09 - 2 hours - 183 MBIt’s time to enter the lair of the fox, as we welcome back guest and Ramblin artist Emily Tatham to discuss Martin Campbell’s THE MASK OF ZORRO. We get unapologetically lustful over what is one of the last great sexy blockbusters of recent memory, diving into the history of Zorro on screen, the sizzling star power of Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, and feeling absolutely whipped by Anthony Hopkins silver locks. So, don your masks and whistle for your noble steed as we become as on...
Small Soldiers (1998)
May 22, 2023 15:30 - 1 hour - 135 MBBig Action! Big Podcast! Small Soldiers! The Ramblin boys draw up battle plans to face Joe Dante’s final - at least for now - Amblin joint, the 1998 action-adventure SMALL SOLDIERS. We assemble an elite unit made up of returning guests Rhys Edwards and Dan Kelly to assist in taking down the Commando Elite and aiding the peaceful Gorgonites, as we cover the film’s production history, Burger King tie-ins, its anti-military industrial complex sentiments and the uncanny similarities to Avatar. C...
Men in Black (1997)
May 07, 2023 10:30 - 2 hours - 197 MBNo, that’s not swamp gas from a weather balloon trapped in a thermal pocket and reflecting the light from Venus—it’s Ramblin’s episode on Barry Sonnenfeld’s 1997 masterpiece MEN IN BLACK! To join us in dissecting this perfect blockbuster (as though it were an expired Arquillian ambassador) is self-professed ‘Queen of the Dead’ Anna Bogustkaya, critic/broadcaster extraordinaire and host of The Final Girls, Successionistas and Dead By Dawn podcasts. Together we work through that Smith and Jone...
The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
April 23, 2023 11:22 - 1 hour - 110 MBWe welcome you back once more to the Jurassic Park franchise as we make the journey to the dark and brooding shores of Isla Sorna for our episode on the 1997 sequel THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK, once again directed by Steven Spielberg with a script by David Koepp, based on the novel by Michael Crichton. Similarly, as The Lost World brings back Ian Malcolm for the ride, we also welcome the return of a surviving guest from the first Jurassic Park incident, as Jurassic Outpost founder Jack D...
The Trigger Effect (1996)
April 09, 2023 10:45 - 1 hour - 143 MBYou're travelling through another dimension - a dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land of imagination. Next stop, Ramblin! That’s right, it’s time to step through that scary door into the twilight zone of 1996 thriller THE TRIGGER EFFECT, screenwriter David Koepp’s feature directorial debut and an altogether overlooked entry in the Amblin canon. Joining Andy and Josh on their journey is newly-minted three-timer Dan Kelly (@DeekingAround), self-pr...
Twister (1996)
March 26, 2023 10:50 - 1 hour - 159 MBWell shake it up, baby, now! Twist and shout! Yes, that’s right, it’s time to hunker down and strap yourself to a pipe as the Ramblin team go chasing that fabled F5 by tackling Jan de Bont’s wacky 1996 disaster-ish thriller-ish, TWISTER. The boys are joined by fellow tornado enthusiast Charlotte Bailey, and together they delve into the bonkers production history, the chills and spills of repurposed CGI zebras and the film’s enduring legacy amongst extreme weather freaks. So grab your DOROTHY...
Balto (1995)
March 12, 2023 11:45 - 1 hour - 118 MBThe bell has finally rung on Amblimation, as we reach the third and final film produced by the short-lived animation wing of Amblin Entertainment. It has been a rocky road for Spielberg’s attempt at tackling the animation market, but it tries to cut fresh tracks in the snow with the based-on-fact adventure BALTO, directed by Simon Wells and featuring the voice talents of Kevin Bacon, Bridget Fonda, Bob Hoskins and Phil Collins (no songs though). We head out on the trial of the movie, taking ...
How to Make an American Quilt (1995)
February 26, 2023 11:21 - 1 hour - 143 MBYoung lovers seek perfection. Old lovers learn the art of sewing shreds together and of seeing beauty in a multiplicity of podcast ramblings. In this Ramblin episode, we thread together the connecting stories of Jocelyn Moorhouse’s HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT, the 1995 adaptation of Whitney Otto’s novel, described by Amazon as a ‘gentle comedy’ We’ll determine just how gentle it is as we welcome our guest - critic and broadcaster Rihanna Dillon - to become a part of the Ramblin patchwork. ...
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995)
February 12, 2023 11:50 - 1 hour - 144 MBNo one say anything frivolous for the next few moments. We are having a significant experience! The Ramblin gang are back on the road of Amblin Entertainment. This time, we’re hitching a ride in a 1967 Cadillac Deville with drag queens Vida Boheme (Patrick Swayze), Noxeema Jackson (Wesley Snipes) and Chi Chi Rodriguez (John Leguizamo) as we discuss Beeban Kidron’s comedy TO WONG FOO, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING! JULIE NEWMAR. To tackle the longest title - in terms of letters that is - so far, we i...
The Bridges of Madison County (1995)
December 26, 2022 11:30 - 1 hour - 104 MBHappy Boxing Day to all the fellow Ramblers out there! In this festive tryst with an Amblin outlier, the boys head Iowa-ward with production manager extraordinaire and host of CineMortuary podcast Rob Yeomans (@dancinghenry) to document the storied BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY. En route they talk about the historical perception of Clint Eastwood, swoon over his gorgeous central romance with Meryl Streep and get stuck into the heady themes of desire, duty and dashed dreams. Grab yourself a lefto...
Casper (1995)
December 11, 2022 11:30 - 2 hours - 178 MBThings are getting benevolently spooky here at Amblin Manor, as the Ramblin boys welcome back returning guest Michael Perry to discuss Brad Silberling’s family comedy ‘CASPER’ released in the summer of 1995. The make-shift ghostly trio get cosy and warm with their nostalgia as they recount their tales of meeting the friendly ghost for the first time, address the film’s ‘my first existentialism’ themes, its surprising emotional heft, its Harvey comics origins and praise the ever brilliant and...
Little Giants (1994)
November 24, 2022 11:45 - 1 hour - 142 MBHut hut! It’s time for some football! Pee Wee football that is as we take to the field to discuss the 1994 sports family comedy ‘LITTLE GIANTS’, directed by Duwayne Dunham and starring Rick Moranis and Ed O’Neal as bickering brothers with rival Pee Wee football teams. Seeing as Andy and Josh's knowledge of NFL and American football is somewhat limited, the Ramblin boys call in assistant coach Rhys Edwards for their discussion to make a play that can rival the Annexation of Puerto Rico. Join ...
The Little Rascals (1994)
November 13, 2022 13:52 - 1 hour - 109 MBGood day, Ramblin fans, can we get an azooga!? We welcome you to the clubhouse as we assemble a group of little rascals to aptly chat about all things THE LITTLE RASCALS, the 1994 Penelope Spheeris-directed adaptation of the classic Hal Roach ‘Our Gang’ short films from the early era of Hollywood. In our clubhouse we welcome back returning guests Jack Buckley and Seb Jones and let chaos reign as our chat gets as unwieldy as the film itself. And how! To find out which Little Rascals you are ...
The Flintstones (1994)
October 23, 2022 09:15 - 1 hour - 146 MBYabba Dabba Doo! We’re back and this time we’re heading to the town of Bedrock through the courtesy of our two pairs of feet to meet The Flintstones. This 1994 adaptation of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon from the 1960s was much maligned by critics at the time of its release, but is the Brian Levant directed movie starring John Goodman and Rick Moranis really all that bad? To help us take apart the comically large rack of ribs that is this movie, we’re joined by podcaster co-host of W-Rated, Clar...
Schindler's List (1993)
September 25, 2022 10:50 - 1 hour - 140 MBWe finally arrive at one of the most crucial films in both Spielberg’s and Amblin’s filmographies, 1993’s Best Picture-winning SCHINDLER’S LIST. To help us in our examination of the film’s portrayal of the Holocaust, Jewish life and Oskar Schindler, we’re very lucky to be joined by Chief Executive of UK Jewish Film, Michael Etherton. Together we break down the film’s aesthetic choices, Spielberg’s motivations behind tackling this subject matter at this particular time and the ethics of tryin...
A Dangerous Woman (1993)
August 07, 2022 10:45 - 1 hour - 83.3 MBAfter a brief hiatus, the Ramblin boys are back, baby, with an episode on a film that was so hard to track down that we almost had to do the unthinkable and skip it. Yes, that’s right, we’re talking A DANGEROUS WOMAN, Stephen Gyllenhaal’s 1993 melodrama starring Debra Winger, Barbara Hershey and Gabriel Byrne. It’s a film that comes the closest to not actually existing out of any we’ve covered yet, but still provides plenty of fertile ground for discussion. Join us as we work through such qu...
We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story (1993)
June 26, 2022 11:47 - 1 hour - 130 MBIt’s time to chow down on some brian grain and get weird with it in our episode on the second film from Amblin’s animation house - Amblimation - the other 1993 dinosaur movie WE”RE BACK! A DINOSAUR’S STORY. With a script by JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO’s John Patrick Shanley and multiple hands on the wheel, the final product needs to be seen to be believed, as our makeshift herd will attest. Join us as we welcome new guest, friend and fellow Warwick grad Lucy Ogilvie, and welcome back returning gu...
Jurassic Park (1993)
June 12, 2022 10:26 - 2 hours - 228 MBIt is time for the episode that has been 65 million years in the making. That’s right folks, let us at Ramblin welcome you to JURASSIC PARK - the 1993 mega-blockbuster directed by Steven Spielberg that became the highest-grossing movie of all-time. To excavate the mines of this cinematic milestone, we invite Jurassic expert Jack De La Mare - founder of the site Jurassic Outpost - to share his expertise, while being mindful of anything in mirrors that may be closer than they appear. It’s a su...
A Far Off Place (1993)
May 22, 2022 10:45 - 1 hour - 102 MBIt is 1993, the start of a big year for Amblin Entertainment. But on our way to JURASSIC PARK, we got a bit lost and ended up in A FAR OFF PLACE - the directorial debut of ALWAYS cinematographer Mikael Salomon and one of the earliest roles for future Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon. Released by Walt Disney Pictures, the coming of age adventure drama has fallen into obscurity, forgotten by most including, seemingly, Disney themselves. We dig into why that might be, all the while reflecting on ...
Noises Off (1992)
April 24, 2022 10:30 - 1 hour - 138 MBOn we blindly stumble, as the Ramblin gang tackles Peter Bogdanovich’s 1992 adaptation of classic farce NOISES OFF. For this episode we’re joined by our resident expert on the matter (she’s seen it three times in the theatre!) Emily Tatham, who helps bring the requisite amount of chaos to a discussion of a movie about a play that goes horribly wrong. Together we take a journey through Bogdanovich’s tumultuous career, pitch our own Roger Corman pictures, practise our Michael Caine impressions...
Hook (1991)
April 10, 2022 10:45 - 1 hour - 148 MB‘Have to fly, have to fight, have to crow, have to save Maggie, have to save Jack… Hook is back.’ It’s time to take flight with Ramblin once more as we head for the second star on the right and straight on till morning to discuss Steven Spielberg’s take on the Peter Pan legend - 1991’s ‘HOOK’, starring Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman and Julia Roberts - which asks the question, what if Peter Pan grew up? It would be bad form not to have a guest join the Jolly Ramblin crew for such a voyag...
An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991)
March 27, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 106 MBHowdy pardners, we’re back. Sorry for the hiatus, one of your fine feathered hosts got struck down with dreaded ‘rona. Don’t sweat it though Ramblin’ fans, as we’re back on the saddle to continue our epic journey through the valley of Amblin Entertainment. That’s right we’re back in the Old West, this time with an animated mouse, with our look at sequel ‘An American Tail: Fievel Goes West’. We’re joined by our old pal - film journalist Barry Levitt (@blevitt93) - to chart our travels on to ...
Cape Fear (1991)
February 27, 2022 11:00 - 2 hours - 153 MBWe sail the ocean blue / And our saucy ship's a beauty / We are sober men and true / And attentive to our duty… This week, our duty takes us not to the H.M.S. Pinafore but on Martin Scorsese’s impressionistic river ride into the dark underside of America. That’s right, we’re talking 1991’s CAPE FEAR! Along for the ride is multi-hyphenate film journalist Hanna Flint (@HannaFlint), who helps us unpack its strange production history, its relationship to the noirish original, and how Marty warpe...
Arachnophobia (1990)
February 13, 2022 10:19 - 1 hour - 130 MBEight-legs, two fangs and an attitude. In this episode, we take you on a journey from the deep jungles of Venezuela to Canaima, California, as we follow the adventures of Big Bob, a lovable previously unknown species of spider who has plans to make it big in the USA. On his way he finds love and starts a family, but quickly becomes the target of a community resistant to change and new ideas. Can Big Bob make them see that just because something’s different, doesn’t mean it’s bad? Join us a...
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
January 30, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 168 MBAfter an extended Christmas break, Ramblin is back, baby! This time we’re joined by Ollie Guthrie (@OGEpisodes), graduate of the Institute of Gremlins 2 Studies, to delve into Joe Dante’s jekakqzzzzz&”&##%* Your usual episode description writer has been temporarily indisposed as, in my esteemable opinion, ‘Gremlins 2: The New Batch’ requires a level of nuance only attainable by, say, having emerged from a gooey green cocoon. This picture is many things: a furious cry against the machination...
Back to the Future Part III (1990)
December 19, 2021 11:00 - 2 hours - 184 MBRamblin heads to Hill Valley for one last time as we round out Robert Zemeckis’ 'Back to the Future’ trilogy with this goofy little Old West delight. Fellow Warwick grad Robin Kerrison (@robinjames_) joins us on the proverbial locomotive, and together we ponder how adorable Doc and Clara are, how thrilling that steam train climax is, and how Jules and Verne are somewhat… unsettling. So don your ponchos, get your frisbees ready and pop on some ZZ Top – it’s time to say goodbye to our favourit...
Joe Versus the Volcano (1990)
December 05, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 138 MBIt’s time to jump into the fiery crater that is the 1990s, and our first step of the journey takes us to the Big Wu and beyond with John Patrick Shanley’s existential mid-life crisis rom-com ‘Joe Versus the Volcano’. The first in the unofficial Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan ‘meet cute’ trilogy, Joe is a stranger film than its appearance may lead you to believe. We won’t be making our voyage to Waponi Woo alone, as we are joined by BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra film critic Ali Plumb for our discussion. So, pack...
Review of the 80s
November 21, 2021 11:00 - 2 hours - 220 MBWhoa, this is heavy - we’re already done and dusted with the 1980s, the decade responsible for some of Amblin’s greatest movies - as this review more than goes to show. So, before we hit the wilderness of the 90s, join us for a look back over the decade that was, as we reveal a number of categories that allow us to ramble once again about some of our favourite aspects of the journey so far. We explore characters, actors, music and dogs before culminating in our individual top fives, as well ...
Always (1989)
November 07, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 116 MBIs that smoke in your eyes or are you just that happy to hear us? Climb aboard as we take off in our podcasting cockpit once again to fly over the rich canopy of Amblin Entertainment. In this episode, our attention turns to Steven Spielberg’s ‘Always’ from 1989, the last 80’s Amblin movie. Strap in as we battle the flames of this romantic drama, itself a remake of 1943’s ‘A Guy Named Joe’, trying our darndest to evaluate just why this isn’t one of Spielberg’s more widely discussed ventures. ...
Back to the Future Part II (1989)
October 24, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 134 MBYou have to come back with us! Where, you ask? Back to ‘Back to the Future... Part II'! That’s right, gang, it’s time to load up Mr Fusion and set the time circuits to 1989 as the Ramblin boys return from their hiatus to talk about Robert Zemeckis’ looney sci-fi sequel. Returning guest Dan Kelly (@DeekingAround on Twitter) is also along for the ride, which covers such storied ground as the disappearance of Crispin Glover, the mistreatment of Jennifer, the under-rated talents of Thomas F. Wil...
Dad (1989)
August 29, 2021 09:59 - 1 hour - 98.1 MBAllow us to introduce you to ‘Dad’, the Amblin movie that very few seem to know exists. Despite starring Hollywood legend Jack Lemmon, ‘Cheers’ star Ted Danson and a young Ethan Hawke hot on the heels of ‘Dead Poets Society’, this multi-generational comedy-drama is a film that has very little cultural footprint (and a sparse IMDB trivia page). We take a look at how it came to be and offer our thoughts as to why this is one film in the Amblin canon that seems to have drifted into relative obs...
The Land Before Time (1988)
August 15, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 132 MBOnce upon this same earth, beneath this same sun, in the winter of 1988, Amblin Entertainment released ‘The Land Before Time’, and kids have been emotionally traumatised ever since. Don Bluth’s second and final Amblin movie sees a group of young dinosaurs making an incredible journey to find the Great Valley, all within 59 minutes. We put together our own herd by inviting our two friends, Nicole Davis and Michael Perry to make the pilgrimage across Bluth’s prehistoric landscape with us. Alon...
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
August 01, 2021 11:39 - 2 hours - 162 MBHollywood, 1988. Director Robert Zemeckis, along with producer Stephen Spielberg, somehow convinces Disney to bankroll a live-action/animation hybrid containing a plethora of characters from rival studios, lurid film noir plotting and the libido of a teenage boy. How did he do it? What was its effect on blockbuster cinema? And who did set-up that little cartoon leporid? All of this and more will be explored in this episode, as the Ramblin boys - joined by Anton film executive Jack Buckley - ...
*batteries not included (1987)
July 18, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 94.5 MBThere’s something strange going on in a rundown apartment block on New York’s lower east side. To check it out, we’ve invited our guest, writer and friend Steph Brandhuber (@StephBranded) to see what’s what. We discover some Amazing Stories within concerning a deeply lovable elderly couple, a wannabe artist with a milky beard who grinds everyone’s gears, and of course some incredible 'Fix It' flying machines. All this and more in our adventure through Matthew Robbin’s ‘*batteries not include...
Empire of the Sun (1987)
July 04, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 110 MBAfter a brief hiatus, we take flight once again with the next film in the Amblin Entertainment timeline, Steven Spielberg’s 1987 adaptation of JG Ballard’s novel, ‘Empire of the Sun’. Starring a young Christian Bale in a tale that offers a unique perspective of World War Two, we dive into the underrated Spielberg war epic, admiring its use of imagery and exploring its relationship with its source material to deliver a story about makeshifts community and a loss of innocence against the grand...
Innerspace (1987)
June 13, 2021 09:02 - 1 hour - 103 MBStrap in and get ready for a podcast of incredible proportions. Martin White (@TheMovieNerdSB) joins us as we miniaturise and intravenously enter the world of Joe Dante’s overlooked 1987 classic ‘Innerspace’. Follow us as we latch onto the optic nerve and look at the film’s glorious Looney Tunes excesses, explore the rich subgenre of shrinking movies and discuss how much of a snack Dennis Quaid was in the mid-’80s. How does it sound? Sounds good. The Ramblin machine, zero defects. Follow th...
Harry and the Hendersons (1987)
May 30, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 107 MBBigfoot is real, and he loves TV! Head into the woods with the Ramblin Boys as they welcome Petros from the Caged In and Coppola Connections (@cagedinpod) podcasts to discuss William Dear’s bigfoot family comedy, ‘Harry and the Hendersons’, produced by Amblin Entertainment in 1987. Listen as they gawk over great Rick Baker effects, be puzzled by a Purge-esque narrative detour, and consider the shadow of a three-foot ET that weighs heavy over the proceedings. The gang also put Harry’s seeming...
An American Tail (1986)
May 16, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 104 MBHop aboard a ship across the Atlantic, as we make the journey to ‘An American Tail’, the first animated movie from Amblin, released back in 1986. Friend and fellow podcaster Barry Levitt (@blevitt93) joins Andy and Josh to unpack the rollercoaster career of the film’s director Don Bluth, before sharing their thoughts on the beautiful animation, the strange details of mice society and pray that nothing happens to their sweet boy, Fievel Mousekewitz. We also ask the question: what’s Don Bluth ...