Watch This With Rick Ramos

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#501 - Devils, Pimps, & Professional Wrestling - WatchThis W/RickRamos Jul 08, 2024

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More to Say: A Continuing Reminiscence on 500 Episodes

Take a listen as Ibrahim & I continue to look back on the decade of episodes we have done. This continues to be a great time for two old friends and our look back at the show, why we do it, how it still excites us, and what it has meant to us as a whole. Take a listen . . . We don't think you'll be dissapointed. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many Continued Thanks.

For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

#500 - 10 Years, 500 Rants - WatchThis W/RickRamos Jul 02, 2024

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Because It's In 'Em And It's Got To Come Out: Reminiscing on 500 Episodes

A whole lot of what we do is the thrill of (hopefully, thoughtful/intelligent) conversation. WatchThis W/RickRamos has afforded your two hosts the opportunity to maintain, grow, and strengthen our friendship. The fact that there exists an audience interested in where these ideas, thoughts, and opinions are platformed only emboldens our belief that criticism and conversation can be a welcomed and fascinating artform. We thank you for your nearly decade-long dedication to this show. We put a great deal of heart and soul into each episode. Take a listen as we go back to reminisce on our favorite episodes, the origins of the show, and the development into a platform for intelligent conversation. Many Thanks - We can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com

#499 - Jurassic Park - WatchThis W/RickRamos Jun 25, 2024

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Nature Finds a Way: Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park

This week Ibrahim & I close out the month with a fan favorite, a ground-breaking special effects extravaganza, the emergence of a new cinematic tool, and a hint at the cinematic world to come. This week we close out our look at blockbusters bookending Steven Spielberg's 1975 Jaws with his 1993 look at Jaws on land - Jurassic Park. This was a fun time looking back on a classic and examining how it changed the face of filmmaking. There's a whole lot to cover here - Mr. Chavez's fascination with the film, its role in Spielberg's filmography, the relationship to Jaws, and the ushering in of CGI as a mainstay of filmmaking. We discuss all of this as well as the performances of Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Sir Richard Attenborough, Wayne Kramer, Samuel L. Jackson, and - of course - Jeff Goldblum. It's a fun talk. Take a listen. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com.

#498 - Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga - WatchThis W/RickRamos Jun 20, 2024

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Lady War Rig: George Miller's Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

This week we focus on a soon to be classic prequel to - arguably - the best action film of the 21st Century . . . the continuing George Miller saga - Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Featuring an incredible Ana Taylor-Joy, taking over the Imperator Furiosa role originated by Charlize Theron in Miller's 2015 Mad Max: Fury Road, Taylor-Joy (and as the much younger Furiosa, Alyla Browne) and Chris Hemsworth as the Warlord Leader Dementus. This is a truly incredible cinematic feat that has been pulled off by the 79 year old Australian filmmaker. Little can be said in this description and all should be left to listening to the episode. Take a listen to one of the best times that Mr. Chavez and I have had doing WatchThis W/RickRamos. Thanks for the continued love and supprot. We can still be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com.

#497 - Die Hard - WatchThis W/RickRamos Jun 13, 2024

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Yippee-Ki-Yay, M*#^%$F@!^!#: John McTiernan's Die Hard

This week a 1980s Action Classic . . . John McTiernan's Die Hard (1988). A huge gamble for 20th Century Fox in the late 1980s, Die Hard remains the standard for "everyman" action films. Before the character would become a superhero, impervious to any and all pain, John McClane was a New York cop, visiting Los Angeles, and struggling to keep his ego, anger, and jealousy in check in a Christmas Eve attempt to win back his estranged wife. We all know the story . . . Terrorists (?) take over Nakatomi Plaza and all that stands between their nefarious plans, freedom and (spoiler alert) $650 million is John McClane. What could have been an obvious and forgettable action film chooses to go against the grain and - thus - creates the archetype for the "everyman" hero. There are moments throughout McTiernan's film that would set the template and move away from the indestructible and introduce a relatable and vulnerable hero.

With a great supporting cast including: Bonnie Bedelia (Holly Gennaro McClane), Reginald VelJohnson (Sgt. Al Powell), Alexander Godunov (Karl), William Atherton (Thornburg), and in a star-making turn, Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber. This is a great action relic and one that we were thrilled to re-visit. Take a listen and remember a great time. Thanks for the continued love and support. You can reach us at gondoramos@yahoo.com

#496 - Face/Off - WatchThis W/RickRamos Jun 03, 2024

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Like Looking in the Mirror, Only Not: John Woo's Face/Off

This week Mr. Chavez and I continue our look at blockbusters with this 1997 John Woo Classic of stylized violence, ridiculous plotting, and unbridled overacting . . . we are - of course - talking about Woo's Face/Off. There's no way to really get into how utterly ridiculous this film is for an episode synopsis, but I will say that it was a fun utterly moronic ride into the past. John Travolta (riding the waves of Pulp Fiction that would carry him through to the end of the century) and Nicolas Cage unrestrained and without any sense of shame . . . Cage at His Most Cagiest.

Through all of the fun, Ibrahim and I also discuss Woo's foray into Hollywood filmmaking and the troubles he would find translating his sense of heroic honor to a culture that would find it campy (essentially why do none of Woo's signature cinematic touches work in Face/Off, but are so incredible and beautifully realized in such masterpieces as The Killer, Hard-Boiled, and Bullet in the Head?). Join us as we devote more discussion than this film deserves and still recognize it as a great fun time at a bad movie. Let us know what you think - gondoramos@yahoo.com

#495 - Jaws - WatchThis W/RickRamos May 29, 2024

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Like a Doll's Eyes: Steven Spielberg's JAWS

This week, a classic . . . in 1975 Steven Spielberg changed the face of cinema with his adaptation of Peter Benchley's 1974 novel Jaws. The story of a man-eating shark terrorizing a small island community, Jaws would usher in a new era of moviegoing. There's little that should be written in this episode synopsis; the history and legacy of Spielberg's film is well known. But conversation is always a good time, and we would love for you to join us as we break down this classic. From casting (Schreider/Dreyfuss/Shaw), shotting on the ocean, a mechanical shark - constantly breaking down, and that iconic Indianapolis speech, we cover the impact and our love for this masterpiece. Take a listen and let us know what you think at gondoramos@yahoo.com

#494 - Con Air - WatchThis W/RickRamos May 23, 2024

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Make a Move and the Bunny Gets It: Simon West's Con Air

This week Mr. Chavez & I celebrate bad cinema with a look at the 1997 Simon West Action/Comedy/Prison/B-Movie Character Actor Extravaganza Con Air. Based on a real-life judicial system prison transport program, Con Air is an embarassing and exaggerated look at 1990s Hollywood Action Cinema. Featuring a slew of character actors (M.C. Gainey - Swamp Thing, Danny Trejo - Johnny 23, Mykelti Williamson - Baby-O), a future star (Dave Chappelle - Pinball Parker), and respected stars slumming: (Ving Rhames - Diamond Dog, John Cusack - U.S. Marshall Vince Larkin, Steve Buscemi - Garland The Marietta Mangler Greene, John Malkovich - Cyrus the Virus, and - rounding it all out with a ridiculous mullet and equally embarassing Alabama accent, Nicolas Cage - Cameron Poe). An incredible production of 90s excess, pyrotechnics, and ridiculousness - Con Air is the definition of a film that is so bad in so many ways that it becomes endearing. This is a fun conversation where we defend our low-brow enjoyment of pointless and simplistic entertainment. Let us know what you think. As always we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many Thanks.

#493 - The Rock - WatchThis W/RickRamos May 15, 2024

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Obvious Action, Patriotic Porn: Michael Bay's The Rock

This week Mr. Chavez & I dive into the world of 1990s Big Budget, Over-Hyped & Underwritten, Garbage Cinema with one of the best that would come out of the Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Machine, Michael Bay's 1996 opus The RockFeaturing Nicholas Cage (in the first of a series of big-budgeted, ridiculous films), Sir Sean Connery, David Morse, and Ed Harris (in a performance out of touch with this particular film), along with a who's who of 90s character actors inclluding: John Spencer, Phillip Baker Hall, Claire Forlani, Bokeem Woodbine, Tony Todd, Michael Biehn, and William Forsyth. This is absolutely the definition of "so bad it's good" with Michael Bay leading his cast into battle, while building on a Bruckheimer aesthetic that would overwhelm every following Bruckheimer release. It's a fun talk. Take a listen and judge for yourself. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com.

#492 - It's a Wonderful Life - WatchThis W/RickRamos May 08, 2024

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The Bailey Effect: Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life

This week Ibrahim & I re-watch a classic (Thank You - Anonymous Donor, Someone), Frank Capra's 1946 Jimmy Stewart/Donna Reed Classic It's a Wonderful Life. Few films have captured the public's hearts and imaginations like Capra's look at the life of Bedford Falls' George Bailey - A man with big dreams hobbled by the responsibilties and challenges of life. A kind of Christmas Carol re-telling from the Bob Cratchett point of view, Capra's look at pre-war thru World War II Small Town America, is a film that has been honored, cribbed from, parodied, and beloved by American audiences and audiences throughout the world. A financial failure upon it's 1946 theatrical release, Wonderful Life was re-discovered in the late 1970s when it's copyright expired and it was gobbled up by UHF and other public television stations, airing nearly round the clock during the holiday season. A paint-by-numbers story of goodness and American values, Capra's "little story" of one man's life and the effects it has had throughout his community is magical, touching, and - ultimately - inspiring.

Thank you for your continued support. As always we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com.

For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a donation at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

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