Podcast Spotlight: Film Junk

One of the benefits of non-professional podcasts is that they aren't limited by time restrictions. Even Filmspotting's conversations are set up to play on their local public radio station. If you have several hours, there are some great shows that really dig into movies from a fan's perspective. One of the best examples is Film Junk, a Canadian podcast with four friends obsessively covering the latest movies. Along with each week's review, there's a long segment where each guy covers what they watched that week. These discussions are often more interesting than the main reviews because you never know where they'll go. There's also "Junk Mail" with e-mails and voice mails from listeners who aren't always so happy. Devoted fans even splice together silly "best of" clips that show their dedication.

Sean hosts each podcast and is joined by weekly regulars Jay, Greg, and Frank to discuss all their latest movie-going experiences. They also veer into stories from their lives that can be more entertaining than the regular features. Jay is a documentary filmmaker and has a lot of material from his time supporting his work around the world. Greg works in the retail setting and deals with plenty of odd people. Frank joined in the middle of the show's run and was a great addition. These guys are clearly good friends, and that camaraderie lifts Film Junk above the typical podcast. Chaos reigns when they bring in recurring guest Reed Farrington, a divisive guy who tends to sidetrack the shows into random tangents that drive some listeners crazy. He can be irritating, but the shows with Reed are always fun.

The highlights include their "Movie Organization Mainfesto", where the guys talk for several hours about the right way to arrange their collections. While I don't organize mine with this level of obsessiveness, they're very entertaining and show the dilemmas faced by any serious collector. Do you arrange the titles alphabetically or by genre? Should the DVDs and Blu-rays be split? Should Criterion have its own section? These questions and many more are covered in extreme detail during these extra podcasts. They're had three parts so far, and I wouldn't be surprised to hear more of them. Frank and Jay both have gigantic collections and passionate views about the right strategy. My set-up at home violates nearly all of their strict rules, but it also falls well short of the number of titles.

Film Junk celebrated its 400th episode in January with a nearly five-hour extravaganza where each guy listed their favorite 100 movies. While this is not going to interest a casual listener, it's a wonderful treat for fans like me. The show is free, but the guys have created bonus podcasts through Bandcamp that delve into particular franchises. The dollar that I spent on the Star Wars special was a tremendous bargain. Few shows make me laugh consistently while also providing interesting material. These guys are super fans of movies yet seem like normal people with lives away from the screen. That is a tricky balance considering the huge volume of films they consume every week. If you're a movie podcast addict, you should definitely add Film Junk to your list. I'll warn you that it might start dominating your listening time.

Podcast Spotlight: Filmspotting

When my podcast addiction began in 2005, one of my first drugs was Filmspotting. I was stunned to find a weekly show that discussed movies with such intelligence and excitement. Hosts Adam Kempenaar and Sam Van Hallgren were friends who liked hanging out, and that chemistry made the shows fun and insightful. I started listening with the very first episode, and it's been a regular staple on my iPod ever since. It felt like the beginning of a new era in discussions about the arts, and these guys were at the forefront. The early shows weren't as smooth, but it felt like they were experimenting on the air and finding their voice. The Chicago-based show has become an institution during the past eight years, but it still retains the elements that made it exciting at the beginning.

Starting this week, I'm going to spotlight a favorite podcast every Wednesday. While it's hardly groundbreaking to cover a giant like Filmspotting, it feels like the perfect place to start when discussing great podcasts. In a certain way, my blog's format was inspired by Adam and Sam's approach. They had a feature discussion about a specific movie, explored blind spots with movie marathons, and gave weekly Top 5 lists. I wasn't trying to imitate them when setting up this blog, but it likely played a subconscious role. Their regular features also include Massacre Theater, where the hosts act out a movie scene in wonderfully amateurish fashion. Listeners get the chance to win a prize by guessing the film, but it's the silliness of their attempts that makes it such a fun segment.

Sam left the in 2007 and was replaced by Matty Robinson, who brought a different energy to the show. It was hard for me to think of the show without its original host, but Matty grew on me. A similar feeling happened again when Josh Larsen became Adam's third co-host in early 2012. After the expected break-in period, he's become a strong addition to the podcast. Their conversations are intelligent, yet neither guy becomes too pretentious. Former At the Movies co-host and Chicago Tribune Writer Michael Phillips makes frequent guest appearances to bring more power to the mix. I'm a big fan of his work and feel that the show is even better with his involvement. They may be a public-radio institution in Chicago but remain humble guys who love movies.

I know that some detractors think Filmspotting’s public-radio format limits their discussions. However, I believe it keeps them focused and makes for a better show. It’s easy for podcasts to go overboard with overly extensive conversations, so it doesn’t bother me for these to stay quicker. Also, they’re frequently talking about movies that I haven’t seen, so the shorter timeframe works. Beyond the main reviews, there are marathon discussions and broader topics that keep the show flowing. The tradition of bringing in Phillips and Steve Prokopy from A’int It Cool News to summarize the year’s best work is also a favorite. It’s this diversity that keeps the show interesting even when I’m not excited by the new review.

Another positive is the Filmspotting Forums, where great people get together to talk about films. It's a diverse, friendly community of movie fans who are always recommending interesting choices. I don't post as much as I'd like, but it's still fun to check in periodically. This communal atmosphere springs from the podcast, which never feels self-important. Adam and Josh are smart guys but rarely condescending. Filmspotting is an inclusive show that continues to set the standard for other movie podcasts to follow.

The Film Pasture Podcast: Do the Oscars Still Matter?

The 2013 Academy Awards are nearly here, and the anticipation for the big night is growing among movie fans. Will Argo continue its romp through the awards circuit and win Best Picture? Have we reached an era where the winners aren’t surprises? Is there any way for Seth MacFarlane to actually be funny? These questions and more will be answered on Sunday night and should raise plenty of engaging discussions. Speaking of an interesting conversation, I recently appeared on The Film Pasture podcast to talk about the Oscars with host Pat McDonnell from 100 Years of Movies. This new show about movies and blogging includes several guests on each episode to discuss the main topic. Pat and I tried to answer the question of whether the Oscars still matter. It’s a tricky subject with no clear answer, but we took our best shot at this challenging topic.

I have mixed feelings about the Oscars. On one hand, they are put on a pedestal on determining the “best” movie. Ranking this type of artistic venture is impossible, and taking the winners as truly representative of the year’s greatest work is silly. However, this fact shouldn’t diminish their importance to the success of many films. Smaller releases like Amour and Beasts of the Southern Wild should receive a huge financial boost from their nominations. The awareness brought about by this show remains high even while the ratings have dwindled. Even with the frustrations that come with every year’s ceremony, I still enjoy the experience. Even when a classic movie doesn’t get Best Picture, its legacy will often trump the actual winner. Raging Bull and Pulp Fiction are two examples of “losers” that have a much greater reputation than the champions. Their continued success provides a poignant reminder about the limitations of placing too much stock in the Oscars.

The LAMBcast: Last Year at Marienbad (1961)

Last week, I was thrilled to join a diverse group of bloggers on the LAMBcast for the latest Movie of the Month. The surprise winner for February was Alain Resnais’ divisive 1961 film Last Year at Marienbad. Brian Roan from Dear Film was its champion and worked diligently to gain the win. This gave him the chance to get attacked from all fronts by the participants of this podcast. I was the only person who had seen this movie before, so it was a new experience for the other three guys. My response is mixed but gives Resnais more credit than the newbies. My challenge is discovering whether it’s a brilliant commentary on memory and cinema or a tedious exercise. In a strange way, this confusion actually matches the characters’ own difficulties with facing their past encounters.

The story takes place at a lavish chateau, where a man known as "X" (Giorgio Albertazzi) meets "A" (Delphine Seyrig) and tries to convince her they had an encounter last year. He goes into vivid detail about the rooms and gardens of this place, yet she refuses to believe the events actually happened. As he continues to hound her about the meeting, reality starts breaking down and makes us question if anything is true anymore. Hanging over the proceedings is "M", a strange man who may be her husband. Their connection isn't clear, yet he hangs just outside the frame and looms over the characters. It's a confounding story that is covering pivotal themes about cinema but in the most abstract way possible. Even a challenging film like Inland Empire feels straightforward by comparison.

When I watched this movie back in 2007, I wrote a piece about it for my brother’s excellent website Erasing Clouds. You should be following his new blog, which is sure to provide intelligent writing about music and other pop-culture pursuits in the upcoming year. It isn’t really my best work, but this excerpt from that post summarizes my thoughts:

“Film experts have undoubtedly spent countless hours dissecting each scene and have developed some clear solutions. Unfortunately, it’s fairly easy to poke holes in almost any interpretation because Resnais jumps so frequently into fresh territory. While viewing this film, I was often frustrated by the lengthy narration from X that made little sense. However, its effect has remained with me longer than some more-digestible fare.” 

What I really enjoyed about this podcast was the fiery debate it generated throughout the discussion. While it’s fun to rave about some of our favorite movies, there’s something inspiring about having serious disagreements. This often leads to a better conversation and allowed us to dig further into the movie. Everyone stayed pretty civil and had fun even with the sharp differences in opinion. The other participants were host Dylan Fields of Man I Love Films, Nick Jobe from Your Face, and Pat McDonnell from 100 Years of Movies. We also gave some rants and raves about movie topics and played a fun game to challenge our knowledge. You should check out this podcast by following this link.

Top 5 Movie Resolutions for 2013 and Beyond

On Monday, I'll reach the grand age of 37 and nearly mark the end of this blog's second full year. Bear with me, it's time for some soul searching! When I started Public Transportation Snob in early 2011, I didn't have a clear sense of what it would be. I'd been writing about movies for a long time, but my style felt stale. This site gave me the opportunity to try different types of writing and focus on blind spots in my movie background. Looking at 2013, we'll be having our second child in late March. It's a really exciting time at home, and movies won't be the top priority. Even so, this doesn't mean that I'm going to shutter the blog. Instead, I've been spending more time pondering what I really enjoy doing.

Most of us are doing this for fun, but it's easy to get trapped into meeting a schedule or seeing "required" films. I don't feel like this leads to the best content or personal fulfillment. While I'm sticking with my current format in general, the overall mindset will be looking for ways to stretch myself creatively. With that approach in mind, I've put together this list of resolutions for 2013 and beyond. These aren't concrete goals that are easily measured and represent more of a "mission statement", to quote Jerry Maguire. I'm hoping that the end result will be better writing and even more enjoyment from a pursuit that I love.

5. Focus more on depth over frequency.
I originally planned to post a few times a week, and that quickly changed to almost every day. It was inspiring to get so engaged, but 250 posts in 2012 was too much. Some pieces were about work for other sites and podcast appearances, but that's still a lot of material. Going ahead, I've resolved to focus on delivering more in-depth writing. To accomplish this feat, decreasing the posting frequency is a requirement. The blogging format makes it so easy to throw some words on the page and release it. I'm going to fight against that motivation. I'm writing rarely about new films, so speed isn't the key factor. The goal should be crafting the best pieces that I can do even if it takes more time to reach that level.

4. Expand my movie-watching horizons.
This is a standard goal that fits with my reasons for doing the blog. It's tougher in practice than it might seem, however. When it comes picking movies, I'm sometimes my own worst enemy. I watched 160 films in 2012, and only 24 were from other countries. While that isn't a terrible percentage, it's still not where I'd like to be. The much scarier number comes in documentaries, where I watched a grand total of four. That is bad news. Even though I'm scheduling the films, there is still too much emphasis on a specific type of movie. It's time to stretch out my viewing palette and toss aside my usual genres. There may be fewer journeys to outer space, at least from this country. Even so, I'm really looking forward to diving into some new territory in the upcoming months.

3. Avoid generic, predictable films.
During the past few years, I haven't caught as many films in the theaters. The benefit has been a wealth of great options every time I make that trip. This positive trend isn't always true at home, where my standards aren't as high. A recent example is the remake of Total Recall, which is dull and a complete waste of time. I spent nearly two hours in this mess a few weeks ago and regretted the lost time. I don't mind seeing a movie that doesn't completely engage me if the filmmakers are trying something original. What I'm seeking to avoid are cookie-cutter genre movies that never stretch beyond the obvious formula. Even if they cost nothing to watch, life is too short to waste on boring movies. I'm not talking about skipping big-budget films; some indies fall into the same traps. The key is to strive for originality and excitement regardless of the size or category.

2. Seek out intellectually satisfying blogs and podcasts.
The Internet offers so many options for content that it can become overwhelming for movie fans. I'll go through phases where I add and remove blogs and podcasts, and it's hard to find a balance. Instead of looking at the quantity, my goal is to truly consider what I'm getting out of each choice. I'm really focusing on podcasts, where it's easy to fall into familiar listening habits. Along with staples like Filmspotting and The Matineecast, I want to check out shows that have intellectual curiosity about movies and pop culture. The challenge is finding podcasts that can stay entertaining while providing smart material. This will require tough decisions to cut some regular shows. The ultimate goal is escaping my comfort zone, and that plan should help with the previous two resolutions. I'm also looking to read a lot more books that analyze the medium and classic films.

1. Participate more fully in the film community.
During the past few years, I've commented frequently on other blogs and made appearances on excellent podcasts. My goal is to look for ways to go beyond that standard approach. This is the trickiest resolution because there's no simple route to get more involved. Writing a movie blog makes me part of a community, but everyone has such different goals. Where do I fit within this group? I don't have an easy answer, so it's an ongoing process. I love appearing on podcasts, so that's always a priority. I've connected with so many smart and friendly people, and it's been great so far. The challenge is looking for more rewarding ways to connect with other movie fans in the upcoming year.

I'd love to hear your thoughts about this list. Have you made resolutions for your movie life in 2013? You should also check out past Top 5 Lists if you've missed them.

The LAMBcast: Children of Men

Last week, I was thrilled to join the Movie of the Month discussion on the LAMBcast about Children of Men. Alfonso Cuarón's 2006 dystopian thriller has lost none of its impact and is even better on a second viewing. Ryan Fernand from Lord of the Films was the champion and led an excellent chat. We delved into the key themes and why it's such a pivotal film for our times. Justin Gott from Man, I Love Films and Lindsay Street of French Toast Sunday also had plenty of great insights on the podcast. I subbed in as the host at the last minute and tested out my fancy new microphone. Thankfully, it was a big improvement over my previous device. Now the sky's the limit! We also gave some rants and raves and participated in the all new trivia game. It was great to talk about such an intriguing movie with such a strong panel. You should check out this podcast through this link.

The Televerse Podcast: Sports Night

This week, I was thrilled to join Kate and Simon from The Televerse to discuss one of my favorite shows. Sports Night is an entertaining take on the half-hour comedy from Aaron Sorkin that works because I love the characters. There's so much to like about this show, which aired on ABC from 1998 to 2000. The main cast is remarkable and includes Josh Charles (The Good Wife), Peter Krause (Six Feet Under), Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives), and Joshua Malina (The West Wing). This fast-paced look at a Sportscenter-like TV show includes plenty of wit and a relaxed atmosphere. I just enjoy spending time with these characters. Kate, Simon, and I discussed why we like this series, but we also delve into some of the murkier issues. Sorkin often struggles to write his female characters, and the trend is present here. This segment on The Televerse is their DVD Shelf, which appears at the end of the show. They also do a great job covering the shows currently airing each week. You can check out this episode at Sound on Sight through this link.

The LAMBcast: Licence to Kill

Last week, I was thrilled to join a group of fine bloggers to discuss the 1989 James Bond film Licence to Kill. I championed this divisive movie for the Movie of the Month of The LAMB (Large Association of Movie Blogs). It was a close battle for this prize, but we were able to win against The Princess Bride. While I really like that movie, it's basically universally acclaimed. With this choice, I knew there were going to be some detractors. This discussion included a variety of different takes about its merits, which led to a lively podcast. I hosted the conversation and had a great time going through one of my favorite Bond films. We also spent some time giving our reactions to Disney's recent acquisition of LucasFilm. This topic is a big one for me as a fan of both theme parks and Star Wars. The other participants were regular LAMBcast host Dylan and Justin from Man I Love Films, Joel from Deny Everything (and the LAMB!), and Kristen from Journeys in Classic Film. Check out this excellent podcast about this interesting part of the Bond franchise since through this link.

As You Watch Podcast: The City of Lost Children (1995)

Last week, I joined the excellent hosts of the As You Watch podcast to talk about a wide array of movies and related topics. This fine group of bloggers includes Nick of the Cinematic Katzenjammer, Joe from Two Dude Review, Vern of the Vern's Videovanguard, and Bubba of Flights, Tights, and Movie Nights. Our main topic was Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet's film The City of Lost Children. Ron Perlman stars in the clever story that mixes whimsy with some pretty creepy scenes. It was an insightful discussion with varying opinions about the 1995 fantasy. I'm a big fan and enjoyed catching up with it for the first time in a long while. We also covered the upcoming fall releases, including blockbusters like Skyfall and Lincoln. Finally, Nick hosted a trivia game where Vern and I battled it out to the very end.  You should check out this podcast; despite my crappy audio, I think it turned out well.

The LAMBcast: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Last week, I was thrilled to join some fellow bloggers to discuss the surprise gem Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. This was my first time watching Shane Black's entertaining mishmash of the detective story and Hollywood satire. It was chosen as the Movie of the Month for the Large Association of Movie Blogs, also known as the LAMB. The other participants were huge fans and had seen this film a bunch of times, so I was the skeptic newbie. Even so, it was hard to dislike much with such an enjoyably witty movie. We also covered some rants and raves on topics like Rian Johnson's commentary for Looper and the continued mess that is Netflix. Justin from Man I Love Films was the guest host for this discussion and was joined by Nick from Random Ramblings of a Demented Doorknob, Kristen from Journeys in Classic Film, and Jason from Life vs. Film. Check out this latest episode of the LAMBcast through this link.

The Matineecast: Looper

Last week, I was thrilled to join host Ryan McNeil as a guest on The Matineecast, one of my favorite podcasts. The show was packed with discussion on a variety of great films, including the personal favorite Out of Sight. Our main topic was Rian Johnson's Looper, which I listed as the #1 most anticipated film from the remainder of 2012 in a Top 5 List in August. We delved into the key themes from this intriguing movie and probably just scratched the surface. I had a blast recording this podcast, which also covered Woody Allen's Manhattan. Beyond my participation, I'd highly recommend that you add The Matineecast to your weekly listening. There are plenty of guests much smarter than me who talk with Ryan each week. If you get the chance to listen to our discussion, let me know what you think in the comments section. You can listen to this episode on Ryan's site through this link. While you're there, you should also check out the wealth of material about movies on his site.

The MILFTS Trivia Extravaganza Podcast

Last week, I hosted one of the great trivia battles in movie podcast history. It was an epic contest with nine players competing to determine who has the most game. Three players entered the arena from the MILFcast, the "unofficial official" podcast of Man I Love Films. Kai, Dylan, and Heather were ready to compete against a group with superior numbers. The fine folks at French Toast Sunday entered the fray with all six regular podcast members. Lindsay, Jess, Mark, Nick, Will, and Rob brought a lot of movie knowledge to the mix. Would it be enough to top the capable trio from the MILFcast? I won't spoil the results in this post. I tested them on a variety of fun categories, including movie taglines, song lyrics, and the villains' plots from well-known franchise films. Considering the large amount of people involved, the recording was a bit chaotic. However, it was also good fun and a very close match. You can listen to this battle on either the MILFcast or French Toast Sunday episodes. Once you do that, you should add both shows to your weekly podcast queue. You won't be disappointed. I had a blast hosting this show and interacting with both teams.

The LAMBcast: Bruce Willis Career Draft

Last week, I joined some fellow bloggers to draft movies from an actor's career. In the style of a fantasy draft, each of us chose six Bruce Willis films. My competitors were Nick Jobe of Random Ramblings of a Demented Doorknob, Alan Grimm of The Great Movie Project, Joe Guiliano of Two Dude Review, and Nick Rehak of French Toast Sunday. The twist is that a random round would be cut at the end. I didn't over think it and used a direct strategy. Did that approach work out? Without revealing which choice was nixed, here are my picks:

Pulp Fiction
Sin City
Planet Terror
Hudson Hawk
Beavis and Butt-head Do America
Last Man Standing

Although most of these aren't great films, I believe they compare favorably to the other lists. You can listen to this fun podcast through this link. Regardless of the result, I enjoyed participating in this discussion. It was interesting to note how difficult it became to make a strong choice during the last few rounds.

The Demented Podcast: Post-Apocalyptic Films

I recently appeared on The Demented Podcast once again to discuss two films that fall into the post-apocalyptic genre. I don't generally think of either choice as part of that category, but they're both intriguing movies. Steve Honeywell from 1001 Plus and Nick Jobe from Random Ramblings of a Demented Doorknob do an excellent job on their show, so it was great to return. Our movies for this episode were Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro's Delicatessen and Richard Kelly's Southland Tales. The former is a brilliant dark comedy, while the letter is a ridiculously messy epic. I'm always curious to hear reactions to Kelly's ambitious two-and-a-half hour second film. I know that it's an odd movie, but it's also hilarious and very entertaining at times. I also challenged The Tower once again, which is always a fearsome task. I hung in there against some difficult movie trivia, but it wasn't easy. You should definitely check out this episode through this link.

The LAMBcast: The Rocky Franchise

Growing up in the 1980s, one of my favorite movie series was the Rocky franchise. I watched our worn-out copies of Rocky II and Rocky III repeatedly and can still quote from them today. After the disaster of Rocky V, I'd lost some interest in the character despite my love for the original. When Sylvester Stallone returned to him with Rocky Balboa in 2006, I was stunned by how much I loved it. It reminded me what had drawn me to the films in the first place. Last weekend, I joined Dan Fogarty of Fogs' Movie Reviews, George Bell of Green People Soup, Joe Guilano of Two Dude Review, and host Dylan Fields of Man I Love Films to explore all six movies in detail. This LAMBcast is epic and includes nearly two hours of discussion about the entire franchise. It was a great time and should be a must-listen for anyone interested in these movies. It's worth checking out solely for the great Stallone impersonations. I'm grateful that I got the chance to explore this classic series with other passionate fans. You should check out this podcast through this link. Yo Adrian! We did it!

The LAMBcast: Roll Your Own Top 5

This week, I joined four excellent bloggers for the latest episode of the LAMBcast. Our topic was Roll Your Own Top 5, which asks each participant to bring a list. Jason Soto from Invasion of the B Movies was the guest host for the raucous show. A murderers' row of podcast superstars was on hand; Nick Jobe of Random Ramblings of a Demented Doorknob, Sebastian Gutierrez of Films from the Supermassive Black Hole, and Nolahn from the Bargain Bin Review joined the fun. The topics included Samuel Jackson quotes, films to never see again, movies that need car chases, and characters Sebastian would marry. My list covered remakes that I didn't realize were remakes. The show ended with an epic game of Last Lamb Standing about one of the great directors. You can check out the podcast through this link.

The LAMBcast: An American Werewolf in London (1981)

Last week, I joined host Dylan Fields from Man I Love Films, Fogs of Fogs' Movie Reviews, and Joel Burman of Deny Everything for the latest episode of the LAMBcast. The topic was An American Werewolf in London, the 1981 horror comedy from John Landis. It's an interesting film that works 30 years later because of its offbeat sense of humor. Landis excels at this type of comedy, which doesn't feel locked into a certain time period. The highlight is definitely the special effects from Rick Baker, particularly during the stunning transformation sequence. There's no way this type of scene could work so well with computer animation. David Naughton plays the lead role of David Kessler, who's backpacking through England with his buddy Jack (Griffin Dunne) when they're attacked by a vicious creature. Following this encounter, David starts changing into something that isn't human. He also begins a relationship with Nurse Price (Jenny Agutter), but this happiness may be short-lived. For more details, check out the LAMBcast and let me know what you think!

The LAMBcast: Franchise Look-back - Jurassic Park

The Jurassic Park franchise is one of the rare examples of a series that showed a huge creative drop-off between the first and third movies. Even the difference between the original and its first sequel is extreme. Regardless of the quality of the follow-up movies, we discussed all three in detail on the LAMBcast this week. We also briefly talked about the fourth movie, which has been announced and may arrive in the next few years. With the regular hosts Nick and Dylan unable to appear, I took over and hosted the festivities this week, which was a personal first for me. Thankfully, I had a great group on hand to share their expertise and bring a lot of fun to this podcast. Joining me were Fogs from Fogs' Movie Reviews, Lindsay from French Toast Sunday, Ryan from Lord of the Films, and Mike from Man I Love Films. We had a great time dissecting the three Jurassic Park movies and digging through the positives and negatives of each one. Check out the latest episode of the LAMBcast and let me know what you think!

The LAMBcast: The Hunger Games

In case you're still looking for more discussion about The Hunger Games, I've finally entered the fray on this week's LAMBcast. I joined Dylan from Man I Love Films, Rachel from Reel Insight, and Nick from Random Ramblings of a Demented Doorknob to discuss the biggest hit of 2012. All of us had read the Suzanne Collins books before seeing the movie, so it's not a surprise that we liked the Gary Ross adaptation. That said, there were certain parts of the film that didn't work so well, and our conversation delves into those issues. Recording this podcast was a lot of fun, and it also includes some great rants and raves of the week. Check out this LAMBcast episode and let me know what you think!

The LAMBcast: Top 10s for 2011

A few weeks ago, I joined fellow bloggers for an enjoyable discussion of the past year's best films. The intelligent group included Dylan from Man I Love Films, Fredo from Film Yarn, Nick from Random Ramblings of a Demented Doorknob, and Lindsay from French Toast Sunday. There was some crossover between each of our Top 10 lists, but not as much as you might expect. Each contributor provided a few lesser-known movies that I'm hoping to check out in the future. I had provided my Top 5 Movies of 2011 back in December, but there were a few changes to my list before this podcast. This show includes my final rankings from this past year. Lock 'em down! Check out this fun LAMBcast episode to hear my choices and find out how much they differed from the rest of the group.