Movies That Matter

Louisa May Alcott's original novel Little Women has been adapted for the screen many times over the years. The 1949 film adaptation, directed by Mervyn LeRoy starring June Allyson, Peter Lawford, and Elizabeth Taylor, holds the most significance to Joy Hosford, a local education writer and film enthusiast.  Joy joins Chris for an in-depth discussion on all things Little Women , from her perso...

Micheal Carney's 2013 comedy-drama-musical starring Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo might not be well-known to a lot of our viewers, but it's a film that undoubtedly matters. James Hurley, a longtime student volunteer at Burlington Cable Access TV, host of the series James' House of Rock, corresponding podcast James' House of Rock: Backstage, multimedia producer and young filmmaker currently stud...

The character of Spider-Man has had many iterations across media, not just in film, but in tv, video games, and comic books. Spider-Man, wether he be Peter Parker or Miles Morales, has made a major impact on audiences, through what he does and what he stands for. This impact reached new heights in 2018 with the animated Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse from Sony Pictures Animation, directed by Bo...

Mary Poppins is considered by many as Walt Disney's crowning achievement. The heartwarming family film is pure movie magic with its charming cast, wonderful musical numbers, and dozens of groundbreaking visual effects. Many have come to hold this Disney classic in high regard, much like our guest for this installment, Stephanie Azzarello. Stephanie is a fellow Quinnipiac University alum like Chris...

Bueller? Bueller?? The 1986 John Hughes film, starring Matthew Broderick, has become a cult classic. It's not just a wonderful coming-of-age story with an important message, it's a quintissential feel-good film. Chris is joined by Mike Espejo, fellow Burlington native and host of The Pod Where It Happens , which is also produced at Burlington Cable Access TV (Crossover episode!!). Mike and Chris d...

Liz Gillespie returns to the podcast in this special-length, holiday edition of Movies That Matter. Several Christmas specials, both from film and television, have stood the test of time and become part of our annual holidays traditions. They've become constants for us, and are ingrained into the DNA of the holiday season. Liz and Chris share and discuss many Christmas specials that hold value to...

Beauty & The Beast, Walt Disney Pictures' 30th Animated Feature Film, was released on November 22nd 1991 to near universal critical and commercial acclaim. It was a massive achievement for both film and animation, and made history as the first animated film to ever be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. In honor of the film's thirtieth anniversary, Chris takes an episode to himse...

Gremlins. The delightfully charming, dark comedy-fantasy film from 1984 and directed by Joe Dante'. Is it a Christmas film? A Halloween film? Either way it's a long-standing tradition for guest Flynn Reardon, a member of the Shawsheen Valley Technical High School Class of 2020 and active student volunteer at Burlington Cable Access TV. Flynn and Chris discuss the highlights and endearing qualities...

Jurassic Park, the 1993 sci-fi/action film from Stephen Spielberg raises the question "What if dinosaurs still roamed the Earth?". A timeless "what-if" scenario that has allowed audiences to connect with the film for twenty-eight years. Chris is joined by Nick Priest, a lifelong Burlington MA resident, member of the BHS Class of 2003 and Burlington Select Board. In this episode, Nick and Chri...

Back to the Future , the 1985 sci-fi/fantasy/family adventure from Director Robert Zemeckis and starring Micheal J.Fox and Christopher Lloyd, is a very popular film and widely considered a classic. But why is it considered a classic? Why has Back to The Future stood the test of time (Pun intended)? Chris is joined by fellow Quinnipiac University alum and film-buff Nick Giglio to discuss the underr...

Big Hero 6 , the 2014 animated film from Walt Disney Pictures certainly has its following. It was the winner of Best Animated Feature at the 87th Oscars, and was the highest grossing animated film of the year. Its lovable robot character Baymax has become one of Disney's most popular characters in recent years, and it also had the daunting task of being released after a little film called Frozen.....

Welcome to "Movies That Matter" hosted by Chris Flaherty. On Movies That Matter, our personal connections to films mean more than the number of Academy Awards or Box-Office returns. Join Chris and his guests as they discuss films old and new, and share the impacts they’ve had on us not just as audience members, but as human beings.