Watch This With Rick Ramos

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#582 - Ran - WatchThis W/RickRamos Jan 06, 2026

Show notes

Akira Kurosawa's Ran

Happy New Year WatchThis Fans. Depending on Your Perspective, 2025 was a horrible year or the beginning of a grand awakening, returning America to its rightful place as Leader and Benefactor of the Unwashed Ignorant Masses. There are many ideas of what 2026 can and will be. We here at WatchThis W/RickRamos believe that Akira Kurosawa's 1985 masterpiece, Ran, is a film that offers powerful warnings on the dangers of conflict, paranoia, greed, but most importantly, pride. Adapted from Japanese history and Shakespeare's King Lear, Kurosawa explores the fragilty of government . . . royalty . . . leadership, as pride disintegrates the perspective of leadership. One of the greatest films in the History of Cinema, Mr. Chavez & I are thrilled to be opening 2026 with Akira Kurosawa's Late Period Masterpiece. Take a listen and let us know what you think. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Our 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.

#581 - New Year's Noir - WatchThis W/RickRamos Dec 28, 2025

Show notes

Robert Wise's Odds Against Tomorrow & James Foley's After Dark My Sweet

This week Rick Ramos flies solo for a new episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos and the last new episode of 2025. After a heartfelt look at the past year, dreams, the job, and making sense of the art, we look at two Noirs that have been criminally overlooked: Robert Wise's 1959 Classic Odds Against Tomorrow and James Foley's After Dark My Sweet (1990). The episode is a deep dive into the power of Noir; how and why it continues to appeal to audiences and a continuing attempt to understand what "constitutes" Noir. One Man talking into the Darkness. Take a listen and let us know how you feel. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Our Continue Thanks.

#580 - Black Dynamite - WatchThis W/RickRamos Dec 15, 2025

Show notes

Scott Sanders's Black Dynamite

We're finishing out the month of December - two more weeks left in 2025 - and having a great time exploring the world of Cult Cinema and Midnight Movies. This week we take a look at one of the best comedies of the 21st Century . . . a film that should have been exactly the definition of Midnight/Cult Movie. In 2009 Director Scott Sanders and Writer/Star Michael Jai White would unlease Black Dynamite on the moviegoing public. A Spoof/Parody/Love Letter to the "Blaxploitation" films of the 1970s, Black Dynamite was sadly ignored by the majority of moviegoers, however would find an eager and dedicated audience remembering the power of Fred "The Hammer" Williamson, Jim Kelly, Isaac Hayes, and the brilliance of Richard Roundtree and Jim Brown. Willie Dynamite, Three the Hard Way, Black Caesar, Truck Turner, Shaft, Foxy Brown, and Slaughter - all cited and paid tribute to. Take a listen and let us know what you think of this trip through the History of Blaxploitation, the actors, directors, stories, and racism of the time. It's a fun talk . . . We hope you enjoy it. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.

#579 - The Holy Mountain - WatchThis W/RickRamos Dec 09, 2025

Show notes

Alejandro Jodorowsky's The Holy Mountain

This week we continue our love for Midnight and Cult Movies. For this episode we return to the great Chilean-French filmmaker, Alejandro Jodorowsky. A Visionary Artist and Poet of the Cinema, Jodorowsky has created some of the most beautiful and challenging images and concepts ever conceived. Problematic, Polarizing, Poetic, and Personal, Jodorowsky's films exist as islands of beauty in a world of Cinema too often overwhelmed by commerce - established, continuinuing, and obvious proven projects, as well as "safe" childrens' fair. Jodorowsky digs deep into the humanity, history, and struggles of the species. The Holy Mountain is a powerful film that is not easily digested or - even - understood, but the poetry of the images in this film continue to haunt audiences since its release over a half century ago. Take a listen and make the decision if you wanto to make the dive into this beautiful and rewarding film. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.

#578 - Office Space - WatchThis W/RickRamos Dec 02, 2025

Show notes

Mike Judge's Office Space

Recorded some time ago, we've been holding onto this episode until the right time. As we move into our second month of Midnight & Cult Movies it is clear that Director Mike Judge (creator of Beavis & Butthead, Idiocracy, and King of the Hill) is a director whose filmography is almost entirely cult films and television shows. In 1999 he was approached by 20th Century Fox to adapt his short films (based on the Milton character first seen on Saturday Night Live and Mtv's Liquid Televison) into a theatrical film. There is no real undestanding of what 20th Century Fox expected. Judge's film would dive deep into the soul-sucking, emotionally paralyzing world of daily office work. A film that was never backed by its studio, Office Space would go onto find popularity on cable television and the dvd market. This is a wonderful film that plays to the pain and suffering of the 40 hour work week, idiot bosses, crazed and delusional co-workers, and ultimately fulfillment. Take a listen as we celebrate Mike Judge and this studio-trashed film that - somehow - found an audience and rose Phoenix-like. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.

#577 - Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? - WatchThis W/RickRamos Nov 24, 2025

Show notes

Robert Aldrich's Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?

Not a "Midnight Movie" but certainly one of the great Cult Classics, 1962s Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? was an audience's dream pairing. The coming together of Oscar winners Bette Davis and Joan Crawford - two of the greatest stars the medium has known - created a film that has captivated film lovers for decades. The story of two sisters - volatile, abusive, and mutually destructive - has become a love/hate letter to the entertainment industry as well as continuing fuel to the bitterness surrounding its two stars. On this episode, Mr. Chavez & I dig through the film's creative history, the relationship between Davis and Crawford, and our own interpretations of the movie and its lasting impact in the culture. Take a listen and let us know what you think. As always we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many, Many Thanks.

#576 - Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! - WatchThis W/RickRamos Nov 17, 2025

Show notes

Russ Meyer's Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!

If you allow it to do so, Cinema will take you to strange, hypnotic, and brilliant places. For close to forty years I have known about Russ Meyer's Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965) and have assiduously avoided it. Cinematic Snobbery stopped this podcaster from one of the strangest and - seemingly - sexist and self-indulgent exercises in moviemaking. I could not have been more mistaken. The verdict on Russ Meyer as a filmmaker is stil to be determined by this podcast, however we can be sure that this film contains one of the greatest performances ever captured on celluloid. Tura Satana is simply incredible. The leader of a three girl gang of violent, porsche-racing, hedonistic go-go dancers on a desert adventure of murder, kidnapping, seduction, and robbery, Satana is a force of nature that is unlike anything else ever captured in the movies. This week we discuss this classic film, our opinions and theories regarding Russ Meyer, sexploitation, and the brilliance of Tura Satana. This is a fun talk. We hope you enjoy it. We can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many, Many Thanks.

#575 - Eraserhead - WatchThis W/RickRamos Nov 10, 2025

Show notes

David Lynch's Eraserhead

This week we continue our look into Midnight/Cult Movies. One of the earliest films to find an audience (and build its directors career) was 1977s Eraserhead. A film that baffles description, this weeks episode takes the angle of describing the "feelings" and memories that have followed our initial viewings of this brilliant debut film. Brilliant Black & White cinematography by Frederick Elmes and Herbert Caldwell, hypnotic performances from Jack Nance, Charlotte Stewart, Judith Anna Roberts, as well as a disturbing supporting cast that simply feels right. Take a listen to see if Lynch's debut film has affected you in a way that it has affected us. We'd love to hear from you. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many, Many Thanks.

#574 - The Rocky Horror Picture Show - WatchThis W/RickRamos Nov 03, 2025

Show notes

Jim Sharman's The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Cinema is art, Viewing Cinema is an artistic experience. We sit in the theater and drift into the beauty of a story that either entertains, explains, or enlightens. Sometimes all of these and even more. In 1975 20th Century Fox would distribute a film that would fail miserably with mainstream audiences, but would survive box office death and be reborn on the Midnight Movie Circuit. The Rocky Horror Picture Show has played non-stop since it began midnight screenings in 1976. With a rabid fanbase that acts out scenes, musical numbers, and improvised attacks on the action, the film has become a cinematic cultural experience . . . But, what is it, and is it actually a good movie? This week Mr. Chavez & I return to our shared experience with a NuArt screening, his return to the theatre, and my home viewing, alone in a dark room without any of the supporting distractions. This week we discuss Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, and - a legendary - Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Take a listen as we dive into a month of Cult Films & Midnight Movies. It's going to be a good time. Reach Out: gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.

#573 - Near Dark - WatchThis W/RickRamos Nov 01, 2025

Show notes

Kathryn Bigelow's Near Dark

This year Halloween fell on a weekend . . .

We've come to the end of the Halloween season. Two months of Vampire movies finds us ending on a cult favorite from the 1980s. In 1987 Kathryn Bigelow would direct her first solo-outing by re-imagining the Vampire film as a Neo-Western centered around a young couple and the family of vampires that haunt and terrorize a modern Southwest. Featuring Adrian Pasdar as Caleb Colton, a young man bitten and "turned" by the seductive Mae and his "adoption" into a troubling imagining on the traveling "nuclear family" including Bill Paxton, Jenette Goldstein, and Lance Henriksen. The film certainly has its problems however it is an assured and impressive debut directorial feature for Bigelow and captivating performances from her Vampire Family. Take a listen and let us know what you think - Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggesetions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.

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