September 3, 2020 Podcast

Welcome to this episode of the Movies Past and Present podcast!

You can listen below as well as on Apple PodcastsSpotify, and Google Podcasts. And follow me on Instagram (my handle is @moviespap)!

New in Theaters

Reviews

  • The New Mutants (20th Century Studios)
  • Tenet (Warner Bros.)
  • The Personal History of David Copperfield (Searchlight Pictures)

As a side note, here’s what the soundtrack of Tenet in the IMAX theater sounded like to me.

Classic Cinema Corner

  • Airplane! (Paramount Pictures; 1980; check out the cool blu-ray release from Paramount on amazon.com; also playing in theaters on September 9 courtesy of TCM and Fathom Events)

Film Festival

Ever want to attend the New York Film Festival (NYFF)? Now you can with the NYFF’s virtual screenings this year. More at at NYFF website.

Thank You for Tuning In!

Subscribe to the Movies Past and Present podcast on Apple PodcastsSpotify, and Google Podcasts. I hope that watching some great movies will bring you peace and comfort this week. Be safe out there! Thanks again.

August 24, 2020 Podcast

Welcome to this episode of the Movies Past and Present podcast!

You can listen below as well as on Apple PodcastsSpotify, and Google Podcasts.

New in Theaters

Theatres across the U.S.A. are starting to reopen! Let’s hope they can do so safely and that everyone can stay well.

Last Weekend

  • Unhinged (Solstice Studios)

This Weekend

Also of Note

Tenet is finally opening next week! Advance screenings are happening August 31, September 1, and September 2. The film opens in most U.S. markets where theaters are open on September 3. Check your local theater for showtimes (where available). Tenet is also playing in IMAX.

Reviews

I watched two new movies on Disney+.

  • Howard (2018)
  • The One and Only Ivan (2020)

Classic Cinema Corner

More like “Guilty Pleasures Corner”… I watched the dreadful yet beautiful The Black Hole (1979) on Disney+.

I thought this documentary about the making of The Black Hole was very interesting. Not sure how accurate all of the information is, but it was still enjoyable.

Thank You for Tuning In!

Subscribe to the Movies Past and Present podcast on Apple PodcastsSpotify, and Google Podcasts. I hope that watching some great movies will bring you peace and comfort this week. Be safe out there! Thanks again.

August 5, 2020 Podcast

Welcome to the 50th episode of the podcast!

You can listen below as well as on Apple PodcastsSpotify, and Google Podcasts.

Coming to Theaters

Are we actually going to get new Hollywood blockbusters in theaters in 2020? Warner Bros. is planning to open Tenet on August 28 internationally and on September 3 in select U.S. cities (TBA).

The Walt Disney Studios has decided to put their live-action/CGI remake of Mulan on their Disney+ streaming service. They will charge $29.99 for this “premiere access” viewing beginning on September 4. It will also be opening in some theaters (most likely in international markets) that don’t get Disney+ (also TBA). The film will be a regular part of the Disney+ library in a few months (meaning no extra charge to watch). It’s the Wild Wild West for new movie releases, that’s for sure.

I loved seeing two Star Wars films—The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and The Force Awakens (2015)—as part of the “comeback classics” that have been playing in movie theaters while we’re waiting for new Hollywood releases to happen. Big thanks to Disney and Lucasfilm for re-releasing the films and to Megaplex Theatres for such a nice and safe movie going experience.

Classic Cinema Corner

Paramount Pictures’ new “Paramount Presents” Blu-ray Discs are really cool. More info at Amazon.com.

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is continuing the tradition of their “Summer Under the Stars” programming during the entire month of August. Check out the full lineup on the TCM website.

Thank You for Tuning In!

Subscribe to the Movies Past and Present podcast on Apple PodcastsSpotify, and Google Podcasts. I hope that watching some great movies will bring you peace and comfort this week. Be safe out there! Thanks again.

June 25, 2020 Podcast

Welcome to this week’s podcast!

You can listen below as well as on Apple PodcastsSpotify, and Google Podcasts.

Local Movie Theater Report

I went to a movie in a theater and lived to tell about it (actually, Megaplex Theatres here in Salt Lake City did a fantastic job and I had a very positive experience).

What I’ve Been Watching

I’m in the middle of my James Bond 007 movie watching project–a venerable film series that has had its share of hits and misses.

Thank You for Tuning In!

Subscribe to the Movies Past and Present podcast on Apple PodcastsSpotify, and Google Podcasts. I hope that watching some great movies will bring you peace and comfort this week. Be safe out there! Thanks again.

June 18, 2020 Podcast

Welcome to this week’s podcast!

Black Lives Matter

Lots of important feature films and documentaries are available for free digital rental through the end of June (in most cases) on Apple iTunes and Amazon Prime Video. Check your preferred digital platform for other possible options.

The new Spike Lee Joint Da 5 Bloods is now available on Netflix.

Reviews

Disney’s adaptation of Artemis Fowl is truly foul. Review on the podcast.

Best Father’s Day Movies

It’s Father’s Day this Sunday, June 21. Celebrate the good men in your life with some quality cinema. My 10 pics are on the podcast.

The 1950 version of Father of the Bride will be playing on Turner Classic Movies this Father’s Day, June 21. Check your local listings.

Thank You for Tuning In!

Subscribe to the Movies Past and Present podcast on Apple PodcastsSpotify, and Google Podcasts. I hope that watching some great movies will bring you peace and comfort this week. Be safe out there! Thanks again.

June 4, 2020 Podcast

Welcome to this week’s podcast!

Black Lives Matter

Warner Bros. is offering their 2019 film Just Mercy as a free streaming rental during the month of June. Check your preferred digital download/streaming service (I rented it on Apple iTunes).

Also just learned after recording the podcast that Paramount Pictures is offering their film Selma (2014) as a free streaming rental during the month of June, too. See tweet below from the film’s director Ava DuVernay.

The Criterion Channel has taken down the paywall on many of their “Pioneers of African American Cinema” film titles, so even if you aren’t a subscriber you can watch them for free. 

Virtual Cinema

Check out the interesting “Virtual Cinema” options available from Film at Lincoln Center.

“Must-See Sci-Fi” Project

I’m having a blast and learning a lot with my 2020 movie project of watching all 50 movies listed in the cool book from Turner Classic Movies (TCM) called Must-See Sci-Fi: 50 Movies that Are Out of This World by Sloan De Forest (Running Press, 2018; available at Amazon.com and Shop TCM). The complete list of 50 films is here. Check out the mini reviews on my Instagram feed.

James Bond 007 Project

I’m watching in order all 24 of the James Bond 007 films in preparation for the 25th Bond film (aka “Bond 25”), No Time to Die, which is now scheduled to open in theaters in November 2020. (It was scheduled to open in theaters in April 2020, but was moved, again courtesy of COVID-19.) More info about the project and a complete list of films is here. Check out the mini reviews on my Instagram feed.

Thank You for Tuning In!

Subscribe to the Movies Past and Present podcast on Apple PodcastsSpotify, and Google Podcasts. I hope that watching some great movies will bring you peace and comfort this week. Be safe out there! Thanks again.

May 28, 2020 Podcast

Welcome to this week’s podcast!

Streaming All the Way…

We’re still social distancing and movie theaters are still closed, so streaming options have been a movie mainstay again over the past week.

  • Just launched is the new HBO Max streaming service from Warner Media that has a ton of movie options.
  • Also worth checking out is the We Are One: A Global Film Festival happening on YouTube May 29-June 7. More info and schedule is here.

More Disney+

New on the Disney+ streaming service are a couple of interesting 20th Century Fox titles worth checking out: Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) and Hello, Dolly! (1969).

I also discuss on the podcast 10 comfort films currently on Disney+. (And I meant to say that The Emperor’s New Groove was initially titled Kingdom of the Sun, not Empire of the Sun, the Steven Spielberg film…my bad.)

Subscribe

This podcast is available on Apple PodcastsSpotify, and Google Podcasts. Thanks for your support!

May 19, 2020 Podcast

Welcome to this week’s podcast!

New on Video on Demand

Scoob! (Warner Bros.)

Drive-ins Are Back!

Social distancing (and some enterprising movie exhibitors) have brought back the drive-in! Search online for a drive-in near you. In the Salt Lake City area, visit the Redwood Drive-in.

Classic Films to Watch at Home

While we’re still sheltering in place somewhat, here are some more watch at home movie idea.

“The Wonderful World of Disney” on ABC – The ABC television network is bringing back the “The Wonderful World of Disney” programming block on Wednesday nights for the next four weeks.

On Wednesday, May 20, the first film in the series will be Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Moana (2016). Check out this Instagram post from the voice of Moana herself, actress Auli’i Cravalho.

Look for Marvel Studios’ Thor: The Dark World (2013) on May 27, Pixar Animation Studios’ Up (2009) on June 3, and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Big Hero 6 (2014) on June 10 all on ABC at 8:00 p.m. ET (check your local listings). (Also, all four of these films are also available on the Disney+ subscription streaming service if you would just rather watch them right now commercial-free…just sayin’.)

“Sunday Night at the Movies” on CBS – The CBS television network has been broadcasting movies from the Paramount Pictures library every Sunday in May.

Two more films are left. From CBS.com: “Titanic [1997] will tug at your heartstrings once again on Sunday, May 24 at 7/6c, while Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade [1989] rounds out the lineup on Sunday, May 31 at 8/7c.”

AFI Movie Club – The American Film Institute (AFI) is continuing their ongoing “Movie Club” where they daily pick a film to watch at home. The AFI selections have been eclectic and interesting and run the gamut from family friendly films (The Sound of Music) to more adult fare (Straight Outta Compton). It’s a great way to increase your film knowledge and experience, too! Details are at afi.com/movieclub.

D23 Pollyanna Watching Party on May 22 – D23, the official fan club of The Walt Disney Company, is celebrating the 60th anniversary of Disney film Pollyanna (1960) with some at-home events and an online viewing party. Below are a couple of tweets from D23 about their plans this week. More details are on the D23 website.

TCM Memorial Day Marathon – This Memorial Day weekend, from Saturday, May 23 to actual the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 25, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is honoring “those who have lost their lives serving our country by showcasing a marathon of movies covering conflicts that range from the Civil War to Vietnam.” I am hoping to check out as many of these as possible, including Glory (1989), Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944), Where Eagles Dare (1968), and The Best Years of Our Lives (1946). More info and the complete schedule is on the official TCM website.

Thank You for Tuning In!

Subscribe to the Movies Past and Present podcast on Apple PodcastsSpotify, and Google Podcasts. I hope that watching some great movies will bring you peace and comfort this week. Be safe out there! Thanks again.

May 1, 2020 Podcast

Welcome to this week’s podcast where we’re talking all about the great Disney+ streaming service.

New on Disney+

Three films of note are being added to the Disney+ streaming service during the first week of May 2020.

10 Academy Award-Winning Films to Consider Watching on Disney+

I discuss 10 Academy Award-winning films currently playing on Disney+ that you might want to consider watching. Let me know if you check out any of these titles.

One of the films is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), which won an honorary Academy Award which you need to see to believe.

(©️Disney, AMPAS)

Thanks for Tuning In!

Listen to the podcast below or subscribe on Apple PodcastsSpotify, and Google Podcasts. I hope that watching some great movies will bring you peace and comfort this week. Be safe out there! Thanks again.

April 16, 2020 Podcast

Welcome to another “Social Distancing” episode of the podcast where we discuss more films that you can watch from home.

New on Video on Demand

Trolls World Tour (DreamWorks Animation)

“Bond 25” Project

Now that the theatrical release date for No Time to Die, the 25th James Bond 007 film, has been moved to November 2020, I thought it might be fun to watch all 24 of the James Bond films in order. First up is Dr. No (1962) and it’s great.

And here are some other interesting James Bond links:

10 Unique Films on Disney+

I discuss 10 under-the-radar films currently available on the Disney+ streaming service.

Here’s a link to the article about Walt Disney’s involvement with the U.S. government’s Good Neighbor Policy: https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/donald-duck-diplomat.

A Few More Options for this Weekend and Beyond

Thanks for Tuning In!

Listen to the podcast below or subscribe on Apple PodcastsSpotify, and Google Podcasts. I hope that watching some great movies will bring you peace and comfort this week. Be safe out there! Thanks again.