Retro Ramble

Charlie and George have found themselves trapped in The Phantom Zone as they revisit the cult curiosity that is Supergirl! As we see a new take on the superhero currently in cinemas, the brothers look back at the first big-screen attempt, which, unsurprisingly, had a few production challenges along the way. An absent Superman, extensive rewrites, an eclectic cast and last-minute distributor issues...

Charlie and George mount up for a double (barrelled) bill of Young Guns and Young Guns 2: Blaze of Glory!    The brothers discuss how these films injected a heavy dose of brat-pack swagger into the classic Western genre. The hosts break down Emilio Estevez's wild performance as Billy the Kid, with solid support from Kiefer Sutherland and Lou Diamond Philips. There's also General Zod vs Carl Grisso...

In this episode Charlie and George find themselves in the brutal Hyborian Age to revisit Conan the Barbarian! But they're not alone in this mythic quest; they're joined by special guest Dr. Tomas Rawlings, who brings an extensive knowledge of Conan canon! These three brave pod-warriors explore the literary origins of Conan (arguably starting the fantasy genre as we now know it), the film's product...

Charlie and George are off to mid-90s Miami, getting hot and sweaty in the explosive and (not so) erotic action movie, The Specialist!   There's a lot to unpack - Stallone and Stone's desperate search for chemistry, James Wood's acting in overdrive, Rod Steiger offending all of Latin America with  that  accent and Eric Roberts' amazing wardrobe - just wow.    Oh, there's also John Barry on the sou...

Charlie & George are taking a stroll down the shadowy alleys of Dark City! They are looking back at the 1998 cult-classic sci-fi noir from The Crow's Alex Proyas. They look at the film's origins, influences, philosophical themes, plus it's similarities with The Matrix, which was released a year later. There's also alternative casting in Coulda Woulda Shoulda and some breathy Kiefer Sutherland impr...

How do you follow up a blockbuster like Top Gun? Simple, you get the same people involved and remake it, swapping out jets for race cars. What could go wrong? Turns out quite a bit.   Yes, that's right it's a Retro Ramble on 1990's summer blockbuster Days Of Thunder, reuniting star Tom Cruise, director Tony Scott and uber-producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer.    For such an event, Charlie a...

In this episode, Charlie and George are tackling another Christmas classic, this time slightly more modern than previous festive outings, they're talking about Elf! From the films challenging production with an untested star and director in Will Ferrell and Jon Faverau, a limited budget, legal issues and some nostalgic stop motion. As per usual, there's alternative casting in Coulda Woulda Shoulda...

In this episode, Charlie & George are hitting the streets of LA to revisit cult comedy TV show adaptation, Dragnet! They delve into the production of one of 1987's biggest hits, very much a passion project for writer and star Dan Ackroyd, co-starring a then-up-and-coming actor called Tom Hanks and directed by Bond alumni, Tom Mankiewicz. There's also chat around the legacy of Dragnet, some alterna...

It's time for another Halloween special! Charlie and George are heading to the dark side of Neptune in search of the Event Horizon!   They will delve into Paul W.S. Anderson's cult classic sci-fi horror film, exploring its production, the tight schedule involved, and some haunting deleted scenes.   They won't be alone on this adventure in terror, as they are excited to welcome special guest Chris...

In this episode, Charlie and George are rambling about retro 90s hit, Leon aka Leon: The Professional. Considering this was a film the boys have watched over the years again and again, gaining access to the fully uncut international version of the film has left them as traumatised as character Mathilda's neighbours! From scenes that should have probably remained on the cutting room floor, to the m...

It's down, down to wire, as Charlie and George are back in Bond territory, tackling 1987's The Living Daylights!  They discuss the debut of (the very underrated) Timothy Dalton and taking Bond back to his gritty roots. There are the typical Bond tropes to cover, including memorable action sequences, dastardly henchmen, and a synth-heavy John Barry score, amongst a very convoluted plot!  So set you...

In this episode, Charlie and George travel to Mexico for some stylish and sexy nineties gun play, it must mean Desperado! They delve into the films origins, as well as the career of writer/director/editor/ sometimes musician Robert Rodriguez. To get there, they need to discuss his ground breaking debut, El Mariachi and the third installment of the trilogy, Once Upon A Time in Mexico. Expect bad im...

Get ready for a deep dive into the classic film that redefined the summer blockbuster -   Jaws! Charlie and George celebrate the movie's 50th anniversary, reminiscing about its enduring impact whilst exploring its challenging production, iconic moments, characters and lasting legacy, from the problematic mechanical shark "Bruce" to John Williams' unforgettable score. Join them for a light-hearted...

In this episode, Charlie and George revisit Danny Boyle's intense 2002 horror classic,  28 Days Later!  They discuss everything from the iconic desolate London setting, production tricks,  the breakout performances from Cillian Murphy and Naomie Harris, the atmospheric score, and its role in shaping modern zombie horror.    Join us for a spoiler-filled discussion as we explore this groundbreaking...

In this episode, once again its time to pay tribute to another legend. Following the recent passing of Val Kilmer, George and Charlie take a moment to look back on their favourite films of an actor taken too soon. We will be covering Kilmer's uncanny performance as Jim Morrison in The Doors in our next patreon episode. Retro Ramble 2025

In this episode, to honour the late, great Gene Hackman, Charlie and George are taking a deep dive on Crimson Tide! There's a lot to discuss, it's a Tony Scott film (so expect slick, sweaty visuals), two of the greatest actors squaring off in a confined space and a booming Hans Zimmer soundtrack, paving the formula for future Simpson/Bruckheimer productions. As usual, there's some juicy behind-the...

A short special episode remembering the acting legend Gene Hackman, who we sadly lost a few weeks ago. Charlie and George discuss a variety of their favourite performances, from French Connection, Superman, Get Shorty, Royal Tenenbaums and The Conversation. Their next podcast episode will be a deep dive (pun intended) on Crimson Tide! Please like, review and share with like minded retro fans!   Di...

In this month's episode, Charlie and George are off to Oregon, to see if Number 5 really is alive.... That's right, they're revisiting 80's cult classic Short Circuit! All the usual topics are covered, from preproduction challenges,  suspicious spin offs to controversial casting (and that's not just Steve Guttenberg)!   Does Short Circuit still hold up? Where does it rank with other family favouri...

In this episode, it's Annual Arnie time, with Charlie and George delving into one of Schwarzenegger's biggest misfires - Last Action Hero! How can a film with the world's biggest star, a huge budget, a great concept, a successful director and the most expensive writers in Hollywood possibly fail?!   Was it ahead of its time? Is it underrated? Tune in to find out!    

To kick off 2025, Charlie & George are looking back on what they watched in 2024!   The brothers discuss what they loved, were mildly entertained by and what they felt were the turkeys of the year!     Films include Dune 2, Gladiator 2, Alien Romulus, The Fall Guy, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire and plenty of other nostalgia-bait!   TV highlights include; Terminator Zero, Blu...

It's that wonderful time of year again—Christmas! And what better way to celebrate than with a festive favourite film? This time, we're diving into a sequel to one of the biggest movies of the '80s: 1992's Batman Returns!  Charlie and George take a deep dive into the superhero sequel where everything is ramped up - the villains, production design, classic Tim Burton weirdness and well, horniness....

Charlie and George uncover a gateway to the other side of the universe, whisking themselves back to 1994 to revisit Stargate!   The film that launched a host of TV spin-offs, comics and games, the boys delve into its origins, casting and post-production struggles. Plus there's lots of chat about Kurt Russell's hair.   Enjoy and please share!        

It's another Halloween special and Charlie and George are talking all about Jason Voorhees in the tenth installment of the Friday The 13th series, Jason X! Also know as Jason in Space, or even Spason to some fans, it's a bonkers take on the horror icon that was a big success on good old DVD! One question, why is everyone dressed like they're off to a nightclub?! Enjoy, and please share! Retro Ramb...

In this month's episode, Charlie and George are back in 'Nam, to tackle the gloriously OTT sequel, Rambo: First Blood Part 2! They discuss early script ideas, alternative casting and the giant genre leap from the first movie! Don't forget, to survive war, you gotta become war!

In this episode, Charlie and George are back in Bond territory, as they celebrate 60 years of Goldfinger!  Tackling the third film in the series, this classic Connery caper established a lot of the Bond formula we know and love.    The brothers discuss behind the scenes trivia, casting, a brassy John Barry score and some of the most iconic moments in the Bond franchise!   Do you expect us to talk?...