Watch This With Rick Ramos

Latest Episodes:

#311 - 9 1/2 Weeks & Fifty Shades of Grey - WatchThis W/RickRamos Feb 15, 2021

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The Violence of Love: Psychological & Physical Abuse in Adrian Lyne's 9 1/2 Weeks and Sam Taylor-Johnson's Fifty Shades of Grey

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I continue our look at sex, love, relationships, and emotional struggle. This week's episode focuses on Adrian Lyne's 1986 9 1/2 Weeks as well as Sam Taylor-Johnson's Fifty Shades of Grey from 2015. Two films that beg for re-writes and re-imaginings. This is one of the few times when the films are lackluster, but the talk is still fun and grabs a hold of you. Take a listen and let us know what you think. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Continued Thanks.

#310 - Last Tango in Paris/In the Realm of the Senses - WatchThis W/RickRamos Feb 08, 2021

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Portraits of Passion & Pain - Bernardo Bertolucci's Last Tango in Paris & Nagisa Oshima's In the Realm of the Senses

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I continue to discuss Romance, Passion, Infatuation, and Sex with a look at two of the most controversial films ever made, Bernardo Bertolucci's 1972 Marlon Brando & Maria Schneider exploration of sex, yearning, desire, and deep sadness, Last Tango in Paris. We pair this exceptional film with an even more brazen exploration of sexual relations, Nagisa Oshima's 1976 classic In the Realm of the Senses. This is a film that neither Ibrahim nor I had seen before. We are thrilled to be talking about it for this episode. The less written, the better.

Take a listen and hear a thoughtful discussion. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Thanks for the continued love and support.

#309 - The Unbearable Lightness of Being - WatchThis W/RickRamos Feb 01, 2021

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In the Kingdom of Kitsch - Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I begin the month of February with our first in a series of Romance movies. We start with Philip Kaufman's adaptation of author Milan Kundera's classic novel of romance and political upheaval in 1960's Prague, The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988). This is my first viewing and Ibrahim's third. There are always surprises with a new film. This week's episode helps us see those possibilities. With a cast including Daniel Day-Lewis, Juliette Binoche, & Lena Olin, this was a great experience and we're thrilled to be talking it for all of you great listeners.

Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Thanks!

#308 - John Carpenter's THEY LIVE - WatchThis W/RickRamos Jan 25, 2021

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All Out of Bubblegum - John Carpenter Rings The Alarm - 1988's They Live

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos Mr. Chavez & I sit down to talk one of the great B-Movie, Sci-Fi Classics, John Carpenter's They Live (1988). Science Fiction has traditionally been a genre that comments on the current state of society and culture. Carpenter's depiction of an alien invasion and the subsequent enslavement of the human race, is one of the greatest criticisms of 1980s Reagan Era Economics and the rise of Yuppie culture. With a surprisingly accomplished performance from Wrestling Icon "Rowdy" Roddy Piper as John Nada - an "Everyman" of the Working Poor - and a great supporting performance from Keith David, this is an exceptional film that warned us of the dangers of the destruction of the Middle Class. Take a listen as we - once again - draw comparisons between art, culture, and the ugliness of politics. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks!

#307 - Kurosawa Influences: A Bug's LIfe & Remakes - WatchThis W/RickRamos Jan 18, 2021

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The Many Children of Akira Kurosawa: Sturges & Fuqua's The Magnificent Seven & Pixar's A Bug's Life

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I continue discussing Akira Kurosawa's 1954 masterpiece Shichinin no samurai (Seven Samurai) with a look at the numerous films this film has directly and indirectly influenced. From Marvel's The Avengers (from 2008 on) thru John Landis' Three Amigos (1986), Sylvester Stallone's The Expendables series (2010/2012/2014), and Robert Aldrich's The Dirty Dozen (1967). For this episode we focus on John Sturges' 1960 American remake The Magnificent Seven, starring Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Eli Wallach, and Charles Bronson and Antoine Fuqua's The Magnificent Seven (2016) featuring Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Vincent D'Onofrio, and Ethan Hawke. Two good re-imaginings of a cinema classic, but the big discussion is devoted to the magic of computer animation and Pixar's 1998 overlooked classic, A Bug's Life. Sit back & Take a listen. We had a good time with this episode. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks.

#306 - Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai - WatchThis W/RickRamos Jan 12, 2021

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"Once More, We Survive." - Akira Kurosawa's Shichinin no samurai - Seven Samurai

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I sit down to discuss what is arguably the greatest film in the history of cinema - Akira Kurosawa's 1954 jidaigeki (Japanese period drama) masterpiece, Seven Samurai. Featuring star-making performances by frequent Kurosawa collaborators, Takashi Shimura (as the Samurai leader, Kambei) and Japan's greatest star, Toshiro Mifune (as Kikuchiyo, the samurai eager for adventure and the chance to prove himself). It also has what may be the first depiction of building a team - a movie trope that would continue for decades in remakes (The Magnificent Seven) and adaptations (Pixar's A Bug's Life) and inspirations (The Ocean's Films, The Blues Brothers, etc.). We cannot hide our enthusiasm. Our love for this film is palpable. We hope you join us in our look at this incredible film.

Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Our Love & Thanks for Your Continued Support.

#305 - Stanley Kubrick's 2001 A Space Odyssey - WatchThis W/RickRamos Jan 04, 2021

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"I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that."

Stanley Kubrick's - 2001 A Space Odyssey

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Mr. Chavez & I sit down to discuss a Sci-Fi Masterpiece, Stanley Kubrick's 2001 A Space Odyssey. A classic doesn't need a whole lot of explaining. Some may argue that everything that can be said about this film has already been said . . . well, the two of us disagree. Take a listen as we go a bit deeper and discover even greater nuances that this film has to offer. It's a fun conversation. Take a listen . . . it's always a good time.

Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks.

#304 - The Thing (1951& 1982) - WatchThis W/RickRamos Dec 28, 2020

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"I don't know who to trust."

Trust as a Hard Thing to Come By: Christian Nyby and Howard Hawks' The Thing from Another World (1951) and John Carpenter's The Thing (1982)

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I close out 2020 with a look at the apocalypse . . . The Howard Hawks' Classic The Thing from Another World (1951) & The John Carpenter masterpiece The Thing. You're probably already familiar with both of these films, but it's always fun listening to fans gush over an exceptional work. Take a listen and let us know what you think. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Our Continued Thanks.

#303 - Andrei Tarkovsky's STALKER - WatchThis W/RickRamos Dec 21, 2020

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One of God's Fools - The Zone in Andrei Tarkovsky's Stalker

On this week's episode of WatchThis W//RickRamos, Ibrahim & I sit down to discuss one of the great achievements of Cinema, Andrei Tarkovsky's Stalker. This late-70's era Russian existential masterpiece has rightfully been recognized as one of the most important films of Russian Cinema and an amazing examination of philosophical and psychological themes. There's little more that can be said in this introduction. We hope that you listen and discover this intelligent and challenging film for yourself. Take a listen and let us know what you think. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Our Continued Thanks & Appreciation.

#302 - Sam Fuller - WatchThis W/RickRamos Dec 14, 2020

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Madman With a Typewriter - The World of Sam Fuller: Shock Corridor (1963) & The Naked Kiss (1964)

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, I introduce Mr. Chavez to one of the great "B-Movie" directors in all of cinema . . . Sam Fuller. From humble beginnings through his years as a copy-boy, newspaper reporter, screenwriter, novelist, infantryman, and - finally - director, Fuller is one of the very few artists of the 20th Century who can honestly claim authenticity in his storytelling. Through Noir, War, Social Commentary, Thrillers, and Westerns, Fuller remains an impressive figure in The History of Cinema. This week, Ibrahim & I are thrilled to discuss and shine a light on a director you owe it to yourself to explore.

Take a listen and let us know what you think. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Our Thanks for Your Continued Love & Support.

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