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#552 - The Conformist - WatchThis W/RickRamos Jun 18, 2025

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Kill Along to Get Along: Bernardo Bertolucci's The Conformist

Does Life Imitate Art or Does Art Predict and Comment on Life?

Regardless of Bernardo Bertolucci's reputation - admitted questionable actions in the realization of art - the Italian filmmaker is regarded as one of the great Auteurs of Cinema. Films from 1900 (1976) thru the Oscar-winning The Last Emperor (1987), and the controversial (artistically and production-wise) Last Tango in Paris (1972), have explored the human eperience through Sexuality, Social Taboos, Class Conflict, and - in his directorial debut 1970s The Conformist, Politics. Lensed by the great Italian cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, The Conformist may have some of the most beautiful images ever captured in Cinema while telling a story of Political Ideology, Conformity, and the rise of Fascism. Questions rise in this 1970 film that have surprisingly presented themselves again over fifty years later. This is a difficult film in viewing, however it is incredibly important in what it has to say and how it says it. Take a listen and let us know what you think. Agree or Disagree, the Point is the Conversation. Let us know what you think - gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks.

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#551 - The Trial - WatchThis W/RickRamos Jun 12, 2025

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Citizen Accused: Orson Welle's Film of Franz Kafka's The Trial

Few authors can lay claim to creating a genre, however it could be argued that Franz Kafka did just that with stories like The Metamorphosis, In the Penal Colony, and this week's cinematic adaptation, The Trial. The term Kafkaesque , instantly builds a sense of excitement, confusion, and paranoia in readers - many whom are only familiar with the term and not necessarily the author. This week we look at Orson Welle's 1962 adaptation of Kafka's 1925 classic, The Trial. Set (15 minutes?) in the future, Welle's beautifully realizes the confusion and terror that has made Kafka's unfinished original work a classic. It's a thrill for Mr. Chavez & I to sit down and dive into a bold and daring exploration of a famed and cherished writer, by one of the great masters of the cinema. Take a listen and ask yourself how much you see of Kafka and Welles' visions in today's troubling world. Thanks for listening. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many, Many Thanks.

#550 - Princess Mononoke - WatchThis W/RickRamos Jun 03, 2025

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Forest vs Iron Town: Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke

This week Mr. Chavez & I continue our exploration of Japanese anime with a look at 1997s beautiful and breathtaking Princess Mononoke. Mr. Chavez & I are both very new to the world of anime . . . these episodes are our ntroduction to this magnificent world. Featuring story elements of traditional folk tales, the hero's journey, and environment warnings. This is a magnificent motion picture; leading us into deeper and more rewarding viewings. A good beginning and a promising journey. Take a listen and let us know if you agreee. As always we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many Thanks.

#549 - Battle Royale - WatchThis W/RickRamos May 28, 2025

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High School Murder Tournament - Kinji Fukasuku's Battle Royale

This week Mr. Chavez & I look back to the beginning of the new millennium and an examination of the paranoia, violence, and uncertainty societies all over the world were facing. In 2000 Japanese director Kinji Fukasuku would bring to the screen one of the most controversial, thought-provoking, and challenging films of the new century. Battle Royale would stun and anger audiences in Japan and - later - throughout the world with its (seemingly) hopelessly dystopian look at a future not very distant from our own. Societies are breaking down and youth violence is running rampant; In the tradition of Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange as well as considerable debt to William Golding's 1954 novel, The Lord of the Flies, Fukasuku combines his influences in a world that resembles "reality television" without the cameras. It's a difficult and challenging movie that rewards its viewer with a sense of purpose that could have easily been overlooked. Take a listen as we remember Fukasuku's game-changing Battle Royale. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks.

#548 -Franchises, Sex Tapes, & The Future of Film - WatchThis W/RickRamos May 21, 2025

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Franchises, Sex Tapes, & The Future of Film

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Mr. Chavez & I dive back into the archives to remember this 10 year journey. A John Turturro working-class musical, a Sean Penn/Gary Oldman/Ed Harris Hell's Kitchen crime drama, Defining Decades, and a Salute to Martin Scorsese . . . This week we look back to episodes #411-416 in this continuing Journey of Self-Indulgence. We hope you're enjoying this look back as much as we are enjoying talking it. Take a listen and let us know what you think - gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many Continued Thanks.

#547 - Ghost in the Shell (Live Action) - WatchThis W/RickRamos May 13, 2025

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Superficial Sci-Fi: Rupert Sanders' Ghost in the Shell

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I dive into Rupert Sanders' 2017 live-action re-imagining of Mamoru Oshii's 1995 Anime-Classic, Ghost in the Shell. There are so many things that can go wrong with an adaptation and Sanders manages to check many of those boxes. From casting Scarlett Johansson in the lead role through a amateurish handling of theme and purpose - the film is - certainly - beautiful to look at, however it misses out on so much that made the oringal anime both special and important. In an attempt to be all things to all audiences, the film fails to capture the existential ideas and philosophical statements of the original material (manga and anime film). We may be wrong, but you'd have to mount an argument against what we have to say. Feel free to let us know what you think . . . gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many Thanks.

#546 - Ghost in the Shell (1995) - WatchThis W/RickRamos May 07, 2025

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Cyborg Awakening: Mamoru Oshii's Ghost in the Shell

From time to time this podcast allows Mr. Chavez & Myself the opportunity to explore new genre's. With the encouragement and recommendations of WatchThis listeners, we have had the opportunity to engage in new experiences a number of times. Some of these new viewings have been from The World of Japanese Anime (Thank You, Mr. Burroughs!). This week we dive into one of the very best, Mamoru Oshii's 1995 dystopian masterpiece Ghost in the Shell. It is rare that a film is able to deliver on so many different levels (entertaining/exciting - insightful/thought-provoking), but this is precisely what Oshii's film does. What could have been a simple and obvious look into a bleak and misery-infused Science-Fiction future is, rather, an insightful and compelling examination of Artificial Intelligence, The Soul . . . its relation to the species and culture, and intellectual and emotional awareness. This is an incredible film that mixes Fritz Lang, Blade Runner, martial-arts & gun-play, and the police procedural to examine grand existential questions. Take a listen as we continue diving deeper and deeper into the world of AI and its promises, hopes, and threats for the future. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many Thanks.

#545 - Ex-Machina - WatchThis W/RickRamos Apr 29, 2025

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Synthetic Sexuality: Alex Garland's Ex Machina

AI continues to hold our fascination. This week Mr. Chavez & I dive into Alex Garland's examination of Artificial Intelligence with 2014s Ex Machina. Set, as Garland describes, "Ten minutes from now," Ex Machina is a fascinating film with exceptional performances from Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, and Alicia Vikander. Few films are able to capture the subtleties and realities of science fiction paranoia with this level of skill. As these talks have continued over the last few episodes, the paranoia is becoming greater as the realities of our world begin to live up to predictions. Garland does creative and powerful work; asking questions and presenting situations that seem to be more likely than simple imagination. Take a listen and let us know what you think . . . gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many Thanks.

#543 - Terminator 2: Judgment Day - WatchThis W/RickRamos Apr 22, 2025

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Bad Bitch, Cyborg, & Liquid Metal: James Cameron's Terminator 2: Judgement Day

Go to last week's introduction to James Cameron's The Terminator . . . fast-forward seven years. Sarah Connor is no longer a "damsel in distress". James Cameron has worked his Sigourney Weaver magical transformation on another heroine, creating one of the great female action stars in all of cinema. Once again, Sarah Connor is facing the destruction of the world. However this time she is fully aware of the danger in front, behind, above, and below. Cameron's imagination - coupled with a sheer will and an (at that time) unheard of and unlimited budget, would unleash one of the greatest sequels of all time. Basically a remake of the first film with a series of adjustments to continue the story in a logical manner, Cameron proved that imagination and drive could make up for the simplicity of a plot that had been presented before - Cinema is no stranger to The Apocalypse in its many forms. Take a listen as we reminisce on this incredible film and continue falling down the rabbit hole as we dive further into the struggles, dangers, and promise of AI. It's a good talk. Let us know what you think - gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many, Many Thanks.

#542 - The Terminator - WatchThis W/RickRamos Apr 16, 2025

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Skynet AI 2029: James Cameron's The Terminator

If you grew up in the 1980s, you were living in a decade that would be controlled by raunchy teen sex comedies (Porky's, My Tutor, Private Lessons), John Hughes (The Breakfast Club, 16 Candles, Ferris Bueller's Day Off), and the emergence of straight to video. However there was one genre that stood above all others and would forever alter the output of Hollywood. Action films had always been a part of Hollywood, however the 1980s would unleash the talents of Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Willis, as well as lesser box office talents such as Steven Seagal, Jean Claude Van Damme, and the continuing presence of 70s holdover, Chuck Norris. One name would stand above all others, however. Inhabiting the title role of the 1984 B-Movie, Low-Budget Classic, The Terminator, Director James Cameron would establish Austrian-born, seven-time Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger, as - possibly - the greatest Action-Star to ever grace the Big Screen. The Terminatorwould change cinema and introduce both actor and director as formidable and genre defining talents. This week Mr. Chavez & I dive into the world of Artificial Intelligence and discuss one of the greatest Science Fiction films ever made. What are the lessons we should have learned from Cameron's film? What did we miss? How far away are we from Skynet becoming self-aware? There's a whole lot to unpack and we're diving right into all of it. This was an exciting and wonderfully joyous trip back to the 80s and a film that greatly defined both our youths, the decade, and the evolving world of Cinema. Take a listen and let us know what you think - gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many Thanks.

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