Episode 194: It's computer espionage this pairing, along with two films written by the team of Lawrence Lasker and Walter F. Parkes! We begin with a film that was a major hit and introduced the world to a very young Matthew Broderick, 1983's "WarGames," directed by John Badham. The story follows David (Broderick), a young computer hacker, who inadvertently finds his way into the NORAD mainframe while looking for some new games, but also to impress Jennifer (Ally Sheedy). Unfortunately, the game he starts also begins a real build-up to nuclear armageddon, which Systems Operator Mr. McKittrick (Dabney Coleman) and General Beringer (Barry Corbin) must deal with! After discovering David and Jennifer's part in starting up the war game, the military take them into custody, then loses them as they head out to find the original programmer of the computer, Professor Falken (John Wood). Although over 35 years old, this film still holds up today and is a fun, exciting thrill ride through to the very end!
Episode 192: The second film in our pairing of blockbuster Steven Spielberg films comes from 1993 and features several ground-breaking technical aspects that heralded a new generation of film! Jurassic Park was the first movie of its generation to really demonstrate the full and awesome power of computer-generated images as it tells the story of an eccentric entrepreneur Mr. Hammond (played by director Richard Attenborough) who brings a trio of experts (Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum) to an island off the coast of Costa Rica. On the island, Hammond reveals that he has funded the cloning of dinosaurs from DNA discovered in an ancient mosquito encased in amber, and created a theme park around his creations. Add to that a cranky computer programmer (Wayne Knight), an overworked project manager (Samuel L. Jackson), a dinosaur-hating head of security (Bob Peck), and Hammond's grandchildren Tim (Joseph Mazzello) and Lex (Ariana Richards) and the cast is assembled. When, as you might expect, things don't go quite as planned, the 2nd hour of the film becomes a thrill-ride like none other! Pair that with the majestic score by John Williams, and you have a cinematic treat for anyone who's ever wondered about dinosaurs! Plus, the trio reveal which two computer-espionage films will make up their next pairing!
This pairing focuses on the work of one of the greatest directors of our generation, someone whose track record is outstanding and unique. It's films by Steven Spielberg, and we're starting with the movie guaranteed to make you cry, even just a little bit, 1982's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial! The film stars Dee Wallace, Henry Thomas, Peter Coyote, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore, and features two first cinematic appearances from C. Thomas Howell and Erica Eleniak! The story shows us what happens when an alien spacecraft is forced to leave one of its crew behind, and that creature gets adopted by a young boy, his older brother, and their younger sister. The bond that forms between the alien and the young boy is both wonderful and terrible, and things get rather tense once the government finds out the alien is here, but it's a Spielberg film, so you know things will work out for the best in the end, although not necessarily the happiest for all involved. This is a genuine classic and something everyone should see!
Episode 191: The second film in our Tim Curry pairing features a first for Walt Disney films, and does it with a star-studded cast in 1993's "The Three Musketeers!" One of many versions of the Alexandre Dumas tale, this one has a flair to it that most other attempts lack! The film follows the evil Cardinel Richelieu (Curry) who is attempting to overthrow the King of France. Backed by his faithful assistant Rochefort (played by the always-fascinating Michael Wincott), they disband the Musketeers on the King's orders and send three of them into rebellion: Aramis (Charlie Sheen), Athos (Kiefer Sutherland), and Porthos (Oliver Platt). At this point, a young swordsman named D'Artagnan (Chris O'Donnell) is headed to Paris to join the Musketeers. Along the way he meets the queen (Gabriel Anwar) and her handmaiden Constance (Julie Delpy) before discovering that the Musketeers are no more. After running afoul of the three, D'Artagnan ends up joining forces with them and they ride out to stop the Countess D'Winter (Rebecca De Mornay) who's helping Richelieu with his plot. Tim Curry's performance in this film is riveting and sinister, a perfect counter to Oliver Platt's swashbuckling Porthos! And the trio reveal which blockbusters from a certain director they'll be reviewing for the next pairing!!
Episode 190: For this pairing we're celebrating the work of an under-appreciated genius known as Tim Curry. We begin with the film that was ahead of its time (it didn't "pop" until the VHS generation found it, and now it's a cult classic), 1985's "Clue!" Directed by Jonathan Lynn and written by Lynn and John Landis himself, the film (based on the board game of the same name) introduces us to Wadsworth (Curry) a butler hosting a unique dinner party. The guests are Mrs. Peacock (Eileen Brennan), Mrs. White (Madeline Kahn), Professor Plum (Christopher Lloyd), Mr. Green (Michael McKean), Colonel Mustard (Martin Mull), and Miss Scarlet (Lesley Ann Warren). It's a murder mystery unlike any other, and that's part of the reason it didn't quite catch on until it came out for home video viewing, but has since become an eminently-quotable cult classic!
Episode 194: It's computer espionage this pairing, along with two films written by the team of Lawrence Lasker and Walter F. Parkes! We begin with a film that was a major hit and introduced the world to a very young Matthew Broderick, 1983's "WarGames," directed by John Badham. The story follows David (Broderick), a young computer hacker, who inadvertently finds his way into the NORAD mainframe while looking for some new games, but also to impress Jennifer (Ally Sheedy). Unfortunately, the game he starts also begins a real build-up to nuclear armageddon, which Systems Operator Mr. McKittrick (Dabney Coleman) and General Beringer (Barry Corbin) must deal with! After discovering David and Jennifer's part in starting up the war game, the military take them into custody, then loses them as they head out to find the original programmer of the computer, Professor Falken (John Wood). Although over 35 years old, this film still holds up today and is a fun, exciting thrill ride through to the very end! 
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