Tag: Podcast

Cinema Smorgasbord – We Do Our Own Stunts – Winners & Sinners (1983)

CUT THE CRAP! We’re post-American excursion and post-Lo Wei scraps and things are about to POP OFF with the first of the Five Lucky Stars series WINNERS & SINNERS starring Sammo Hung, Richard Ng, Charlie Chin, Stanley Fung and John Shum. Oh, and Jackie Chan is here as well, reconnecting with his “big brother” (and Yuen Biao in a tiny part) for the first time in years and transitioning to martial arts/comedy hybrids with higher production values and bigger stunts. This one might lean a bit TOO heavily on the comedy, but you get roller skating stunts, car stunts, and some dynamite action to whet your appetite for what’s to come. Enjoy!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Cinema Smorgasbord Sells Out – Rebel Ridge (2024)

Jeremy Saulnier (MURDER PARTY, BLUE RUIN, GREEN ROOM) returns after a lengthy hiatus with the long-in-development Netflix original revenge movie REBEL RIDGE! Starring Aaron Pierre as a marine facing off against the corrupt law enforcement of a small Louisiana town, it’s not quite the FIRST BLOOD-riff that the initial trailers suggested, but its mix of crooked cops, a righteous cause, racial politics and a dynamite performance in the lead creates something very special. On this episode of CINEMA SMORGASBORD SELLS OUT we restrain ourselves from delving into spoilers while discussing the film, responding to some of the critiques we’ve heard since its release, and so much more. Check it out!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Wild in the Streets – The Suspicious Death of a Minor (1975)

Claudio Cassinelli plays a man on the edge in Sergio Martino’s unique eurocrime oddity THE SUSPICIOUS DEATH OF A MINOR which mixes comedic elements, the elaborate (and stylish) murder sequences from the popular giallo films of the time – including a knock-off Goblin-style score almost as good as the real thing – and the usual Poliziotteschi trappings of the era to create something a bit scattershot, but totally unique. Filled with odd flourishes and bizarre choices, it’s equally confusing and enthralling – just like our hosts! Check it out!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Whatever Happened to Vic Diaz? – Blood Thirst (1971)

On this episode of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO VIC DIAZ? (the world’s finest podcast devoted to “the Filipino Peter Lorre” Vic Diaz) we’re checking out the oddball 1971 (though filmed in 1965) B&W sorta-spy horror film BLOOD THIRST featuring a wise-cracking cop in a foreign land, a monster that looks like a diseased testicle, many legitimate – and accidental – red herrings and, of course, the legendary Vic Diaz playing a rare good guy. It’s pretty entertaining with some nice photography, and also consistently strange for its brief 75-minute run time. We also chat about diseases, FLETCH, and SO MUCH MORE! Check it out!

The Shame List Picture Show S8E12 – CHINATOWN (1974) feat. Steve Cuff

On this week’s episode of The Shame List Picture Show, Michael Viers is joined by Steve Cuff of the podcast Optimism Vaccine for a deep dive into the classic film CHINATOWN. They unravel the twists and turns of Roman Polanski’s neo-noir masterpiece, exploring its intricate plot, memorable performances, and the film’s lasting impact on the genre.

Cinema Smorgasbord – We Do Our Own Stunts – Fearless Hyena 2 (1983)

One stage of Jackie Chan’s career comes to an awkward conclusion in FEARLESS HYENA 2, with producer Lo Wei taking old footage (from the first Fearless Hyena, along with some bits from Spiritual Kung Fu) along with some a few new scenes filmed before Jackie’s controversial move to Golden Harvest to create something predictably incoherent. Filled with actors doubling Jackie (in disguise), pieces that don’t quite fit together, and the introduction of Austin Wai as Tung, a mechanical genius with an automatic house, it makes for a bizarre and often baffling viewing experience without ever becoming entirely unwatchable. Have a listen and see if you agree!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Wild in the Streets – Rabid Dogs (aka Kidnapped) (1974)

In 1974 Mario Bava was struggling after a series of financial failures and decided to turn towards a genre completely new to him: Poliziotteschi! Adapting a crime story by Michael J. Carroll, he was almost finished filming when the producer filed for bankruptcy, leaving the film to sit on a shelf for twenty years (well after Bava’s death in 1980). On this episode of WILD IN THE STREETS we take a look at the revived film RABID DOGS, which exists in FIVE different versions – most notably an unfinished workprint version and a re-edited version with new sequences filmed by Lamberto Bava retitled KIDNAPPED! Was it worth the wait, or should these dogs be put down? LISTEN AND FIND OUT!