Reading Between the Reels: Film analysis with snark and heart

Big Trouble in Little China is a 1986 action-comedy directed by John Carpenter and starring Kurt Russell. Although it was a box office bomb upon its release, the movie has since become a beloved and enduring cult classic. In this episode we take a look back at the film’s unique blend of martial arts action, humor, and over-the-top characters. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please he...

For this episode, we share our top five most anticipated movies scheduled for this upcoming 2023-2024 school year. Many of these films may see their release dates shifted due to the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, but we’re excited for them just the same.  ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a review on your favorite podcast catcher.    Vis...

For our first show coming out of summer break, we take a look back at the movies released during summer 2023. We discuss our favorite new releases, debate which films were good, and share the shows and movies we caught up on. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a review on your favorite podcast catcher.    Visit our TeePublic store for t-shirt...

This episode features our friends Bryan Young (“Full of Sith”) and Ross Hollebon (“Fantha Tracks,” “Album Cockpit Podcast”) speaking to our students in a special Star Wars discussion. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a review on your favorite podcast catcher.    Visit our TeePublic store for t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and more!   If you would...

This episode features our friends Aaron Harris (“Star Wars Reactions”) and Thomas Riddle (“Imagineering Education,” “Star Wars in the Classroom,” “Adventures in Learning with Indiana Jones”) speaking to our students in a special Star Wars discussion. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a review on your favorite podcast catcher.    Visit our Te...

This episode features our friends Dennis Keithly (“Podcast Stardust”) and Din (“F-105”) speaking to our students in a special Star Wars discussion. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a review on your favorite podcast catcher.  Visit our TeePublic store for t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and more!   If you would like to connect with us, you can find...

This episode features our friends Anthony King (“Force Ghost Conversations”) and Jeff McGee (“Marvin Dog Media,” “Star Wars Splash Page”) speaking to our students in a special Star Wars discussion.   ---Put in page break-- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a review on your favorite podcast catcher.    Visit our TeePublic store for t-shirts, hoodies, mugs...

Zack Snyder's Justice League is the definitive version of the film that restores Snyder's original vision and showcases the director’s signature dark and visually stunning style. A triumph for fans who campaigned for its existence, the movie offers a more cohesive and satisfying experience than the theatrical cut–featuring epic action sequences, intricate world-building, and enhanced character dev...

Transformers is a 2007 sci-fi action film directed by Michael Bay and based on the popular toy and cartoon franchise. With the latest entry in the live-action series, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, debuting this summer, we deconstruct the original movie and discuss the stunning visual effects, humor, romance, and memorable soundtrack. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us...

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a 2018 animated superhero movie that tells the story of Miles Morales and features a unique animation style that combines comic book art and computer-generated animation, resulting in a stunning and visually inventive experience. With its sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse hitting theaters this summer, we look back at the critically acclaimed original f...

Guardians of the Galaxy is the 10th entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and a winning blend of humor, action, and heart. With Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 hitting theaters, author Adam Bray (Marvel Encyclopedia, Marvel Studios Visual Dictionary, Ultimate Marvel) joins us to break down the original film’s stunning visuals, memorable characters, engaging story, and “awesome” soundtrack. ----mor...

Back to the Future is a 1985 movie that combines science fiction, comedy, and adventure to create a thrilling and heartwarming classic. For this episode, Ian Doescher (author of the William Shakespeare’s Star Wars series and Get Thee Back to the Future) joins us to discuss the film's inventive premise, memorable soundtrack, iconic imagery, and pitch-perfect performances from Michael J. Fox and Chr...

Field of Dreams is a 1989 American fantasy-drama film that explores themes of family, redemption, and the power of following one's dreams. With the 2023 MLB season just getting underway, Ross Hollebon ("Fantha Tracks," “Album Cockpit Podcast”) joins us to discuss this baseball movie’s great performances, stunning cinematography, and memorable score. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Pl...

John Wick is one of the most successful and beloved action movies in recent years. With its use of highly-choreographed long single takes that blend gunplay with hand-to-hand combat, the film redefined the genre and launched a franchise that continues with John Wick: Chapter 4. In this episode, we dissect the original film’s thrilling action sequences, intricate world-building, and a standout perf...

Shazam! is the 7th entry in the DCEU and a movie that blends the superhero genre with family drama and 1980s style horror. With its sequel Shazam! Fury Of The Gods on the horizon, we look back at the original film and discuss why it received critical acclaim. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a review on your favorite podcast catcher.    Vis...

Creed is the 7th installment in the Rocky series and serves as a sequel, a reboot, and something of a remake of the original movie. With Creed 3 hitting theaters next week, we break down the 2015 film and discuss whether or not it works on its own merits.  ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a review on your favorite podcast catcher.    Visit...

Ant-Man is the 12th entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and humorously blends family drama with the heist genre. With Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania on the horizon, we deconstruct the first film in the series. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a review on your favorite podcast catcher.    Visit our TeePublic store for t-shirts, hoodies...

#StarWarsPodcastDay is a celebration of the anniversary of "Jedi Talk," the very first Star Wars related podcast which premiered back on February 7, 1999. For this year, we go back into the archives for one of our first deconstructions. In this episode, we revisit an early episode of “Coruscant Community College” in which we break down Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace. ----more---- Thank yo...

After several weeks of speculation, the next slate of DC movies and shows was revealed this week by James Gunn and Peter Safran. And we have thoughts. In this mini-sized bonus episode, we share our first impressions of the future of the DCU. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a review on your favorite podcast catcher.    Visit our TeePublic s...

Superman: The Movie was the first modern comic book movie and remains the gold standard for superhero films in the eyes of many. With DC films now being overhauled by Peter Safran and James Gunn, Dan Zehr (“Coffee with Kenobi”) returns to help break down the film that started it all. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a review on your favorit...

For our first show of 2023, we take a break from film deconstructions to discuss our Top Ten Movie Sequels, talk about some exciting changes for the new year, and announce the winner of our first giveaway: a 4K digital copy of Avengers: Age of Ultron. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a review on your favorite podcast catcher.    Visit our T...

Knives Out is a unique take on the “Whodunit” genre written and directed by Rian Johnson that features an all-star ensemble cast led by Daniel Craig. With its sequel Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery now available on Netflix, we deconstruct the first film’s plot and find meaning in its cinematic aspects. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a r...

Avatar is the highest grossing movie of all time and a quintessential example of Joseph Campbell's monomyth. With its first sequel Avatar: The Way of Water finally hitting theaters, we re-examine the original film’s breathtaking visuals, sound design, performances, and themes. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a review on your favorite podca...

Willow is a 1988 fantasy movie from George Lucas and Ron Howard that blends familiar mythological tropes with modern filmmaking–including groundbreaking special effects. With a sequel in the form of a Disney+ series just released, Anthony King ("Force Ghost Conversations") returns to help deconstruct the original film. ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by...

The Lego Batman Movie serves as both a spoof and a love letter to the DC comics character as it incorporates and embraces virtually all incarnations of the Dark Knight. In this episode, Callista Dickinson joins us to break down the film’s themes, visuals, music, and performances.  ----more---- Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a review on your favorite p...