Verbal Diorama

Verbal Diorama

Are you interested in how movies are made? Do you wonder how a film went from conception to completion? If so, Verbal Diorama, hosted by Em, is the award-winning(!) podcast for you! Movies are tough to make, and Verbal Diorama is here to celebrate the coming together of teams of extraordinary cast and crew, bringing us movies that inspire us, delight us, make us laugh, make us cry and frighten us. This podcast discovers the stories behind the scenes, and proves how amazing it is that movies actually exist! Welcome to Verbal Diorama. The podcast all about the history and legacy of movies you know, and movies you don't! Subscribe on your favourite podcast app, and enjoy new episodes every week. Winner of the 2024 Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards for Best Movie Podcast. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy read less

TV & FilmTV & Film

Film HistoryFilm History

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How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Looks like you've found yourself on Santa's Naughty List!How the Grinch Stole Christmas isn't just a beloved holiday classic; it’s a deep dive into the complexities of acceptance, compassion, and the true spirit of Christmas, that also contains a Mean One!From Dr. Seuss's iconic original story to its 1966 animated version and the 2000 live-action adaptation featuring Jim Carrey, the Grinch's transformation from a cynical hermit to a figure of redemption mirrors our own struggles with loneliness and societal pressures during the holiday season. The live-action movie's rights were auctioned by Dr Seuss' widow, Audrey Geisel, in 1998; with a list of strict rules the winning studio had to follow. Ron Howard's idea to flesh out the backstory of the character, and to give more agency to Cindy Lou Who was part of the winning bid, and Geisel wanted a big name star like Jim Carrey to play her late husband's iconic green character.She got Jim Carrey. But his gruelling makeup and costume process would cause tensions on the elaborately designed set that brought Whoville to life.Christmas is about more than just presents; it's about togetherness and the power of kindness, regardless of how big our hearts might be. The Grinch's story is ultimately one of of acceptance and the true spirit of Christmas.I would love to hear your thoughts on How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) !Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! I won the Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards recently. I am beyond thrilled, and hugely grateful to the Ear Worthy team. It means so much to me to be recognised by a fellow indie outlet, and congratulations to all the other winners!CONTACT.... Twitter @verbaldiorama Instagram @verbaldiorama Facebook @verbaldiorama Letterboxd @verbaldiorama Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com Website verbaldiorama.comSUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review Join the Patreon | Send a Tip ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMAVerbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free. Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique StudioPatrons: Sade, Claudia, Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat, Andy, Mike, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Jack, Dave, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Michele, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Philip K, Adam, Elaine, Kyle and Aaron.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Episodes

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Looks like you've found yourself on Santa's Naughty List!How the Grinch Stole Christmas isn't just a beloved holiday classic; it’s a deep dive into the complexities of acceptance, compassion, and the true spirit of Christmas, that also contains a Mean One!From Dr. Seuss's iconic original story to its 1966 animated version and the 2000 live-action adaptation featuring Jim Carrey, the Grinch's transformation from a cynical hermit to a figure of redemption mirrors our own struggles with loneliness and societal pressures during the holiday season. The live-action movie's rights were auctioned by Dr Seuss' widow, Audrey Geisel, in 1998; with a list of strict rules the winning studio had to follow. Ron Howard's idea to flesh out the backstory of the character, and to give more agency to Cindy Lou Who was part of the winning bid, and Geisel wanted a big name star like Jim Carrey to play her late husband's iconic green character.She got Jim Carrey. But his gruelling makeup and costume process would cause tensions on the elaborately designed set that brought Whoville to life.Christmas is about more than just presents; it's about togetherness and the power of kindness, regardless of how big our hearts might be. The Grinch's story is ultimately one of of acceptance and the true spirit of Christmas.I would love to hear your thoughts on How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) !Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! I won the Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards recently. I am beyond thrilled, and hugely grateful to the Ear Worthy team. It means so much to me to be recognised by a fellow indie outlet, and congratulations to all the other winners!CONTACT.... Twitter @verbaldiorama Instagram @verbaldiorama Facebook @verbaldiorama Letterboxd @verbaldiorama Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com Website verbaldiorama.comSUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review Join the Patreon | Send a Tip ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMAVerbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free. Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique StudioPatrons: Sade, Claudia, Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat, Andy, Mike, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Jack, Dave, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Michele, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Philip K, Adam, Elaine, Kyle and Aaron.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Lethal Weapon (1987)

Lethal Weapon (1987)

Perennial Christmas classic Lethal Weapon redefined the buddy cop genre with its festive setting, unique characters and the undisputed chemistry between Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. Shane Black's screenplay combined humour and action and made it a benchmark for future action films, and Richard Donner's direction brought a skilled touch to the film's pacing and storytelling. Unlike other buddy cop or action movies of the 80s, it also explores deep themes of depression, grief, and trauma, particularly through Riggs's character. Lethal Weapon broke new ground by incorporating themes of emotional vulnerability in its portrayal of masculinity.The cultural impact of Lethal Weapon is also prevalent, particularly how it addresses themes of race and the changing portrayal of law enforcement in cinema. The narrative resonates differently in today's context, especially regarding ongoing discussions about police conduct and racial dynamics in America. Lethal Weapon isn't just as a successful action film, but as a poignant commentary on friendship, trauma, and societal issues, as well as the power of found family - even if the dinner's aren't all that great... I would love to hear your thoughts on Lethal Weapon (1987) !Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! I won the Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards recently. I am beyond thrilled, and hugely grateful to the Ear Worthy team. It means so much to me to be recognised by a fellow indie outlet, and congratulations to all the other winners!CONTACT.... Twitter @verbaldiorama Instagram @verbaldiorama Facebook @verbaldiorama Letterboxd @verbaldiorama Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com Website verbaldiorama.comSUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review Join the Patreon | Send a Tip ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMAVerbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free. Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique StudioPatrons: Sade, Claudia, Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat, Andy, Mike, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Jack, Dave, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Michele, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Philip K, Adam, Elaine, Kyle and BRAND-NEW PATRON AARON!This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Before I begin, I notice that Chancellor Jarnathan is not present...?I'm back from an extended break, deciding to do an episode on Dungeons & Dragons, and its fifty-year history and legacy as the most popular TTRPG in the world. Easing myself back into podcasting slowly, then, because it's safe to say nothing has impacted geek culture like Dungeons & Dragons, since its debut in 1974. It evolved from its early iterations to mainstream popularity, especially with the rise of its fifth edition. It wasn't without its controversies, though. Its associations with the 'Satanic Panic' significantly affected its public perception in the 1980s, and led to Evangelical Christian groups linking it with suicides.This isn't the first time Dungeons & Dragons has been adapted to the screen either, with the popular 1983-1985 animated series, and the not-so-popular movie in 2000, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves started its earliest conception in 2013, and had plenty of delays along the way.Despite ongoing rights issues and a global pandemic, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves remarkably manages to honour D&D's legacy and lore, while ensuring authenticity for fans, and accessibility for non-fans and casual moviegoers alike. Despite its critical success, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves faced challenges at the box office, mostly due to some Italian plumbers, but also a fan backlash against owners Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast. This movie deserves to find an audience, and hopefully it will, once Jarnathan arrives... Interested in finding out more about D&D or listening to others' campaigns? Here's some great indie D&D podcasts:Time to Die - https://timetodie.podbean.com/ Join The Party - https://www.jointhepartypod.com/ Dungeons & Dragons & Daughters - https://dungeonsdragonsdaughters.podbean.com/ Do Dragons Dream of Scorched Sheep? - https://shows.acast.com/scorchedsheep I would love to hear your thoughts on Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves !Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! I won the Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards recently. I am beyond thrilled, and hugely grateful to the Ear Worthy team. It means so much to me to be recognised by a fellow indie outlet, and congratulations to all the other winners!CONTACT.... Twitter @verbaldiorama Instagram @verbaldiorama Facebook @verbaldiorama Letterboxd @verbaldiorama Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com Website verbaldiorama.comSUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....Give this podcast a five-star

(From the Archive) Your Name. (君の名は。)

(From the Archive) Your Name. (君の名は。)

How can I write about Your Name? Is it possible to convey the jaw dropping beauty and breath-taking majesty of Your Name with words? I'm not really sure it is, but I take a stab at it in Episode 77 anyway, because Your Name is truly something magical and resplendent to witness. A simple boy meets girl love story, with an added element of celestial forces; Your Name takes a simple story and elevates it to a visual treat as well as an emotional powerhouse.Put simply, if you don't believe in true love or soulmates, you'll walk away from Your Name believing that both are possible, that connections between strangers exist and that person you took a double-glance at in the street may have been someone you knew, but you just don't remember that you knew them.Episode originally released 21st January 2021Mentioned in this episode:From the ArchiveThere's no new episode this week, so I thought you might be interested in revisiting this slightly older, but no less brilliant episode. Just bear in mind, this episode is several years old, it may not sound quite as polished as newer episodes, and new information may have come to light in recent years with regards to the making of this movie (please see above for the original date of release) Please enjoy this time capsule of an episode. Thanks for listening!This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Halloween (1978)

Halloween (1978)

Halloween has a complex and multifaceted legacy, intertwining themes of fear, adolescence, and societal commentary. The exploration of the concept of the 'Final Girl,' epitomized by Laurie Strode, played by Jamie Lee Curtis. Laurie’s character represents resilience and survival, challenging traditional gender roles often depicted in horror films, and her casting was just a simple publicity stunt really. Her mother was the original scream queen, Janet Leigh, and Psycho's DNA is woven throughout this movie in more ways than one...John Carpenter and Debra Hill crafted a narrative for Halloween that goes beyond simple scares, incorporating deeper messages about innocence, morality, and the unpredictability of evil. Carpenter's innovative filming techniques, such as the use of point-of-view shots that enhance the sense of being hunted, a tactic that has become a staple in horror storytelling, leading Michael Myers to becoming the granddaddy of slashers, and the villain to end all villains.Halloween resonated with audiences, and the growing popularity of horror as a genre, and it remains not only a beloved classic but also a significant work that continues to inspire and provoke thought about the horror genre and society's fears.And it all started with the idea of murdering babysitters... I would love to hear your thoughts on Halloween (1978) !Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! I won the Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards recently. I am beyond thrilled, and hugely grateful to the Ear Worthy team. It means so much to me to be recognised by a fellow indie outlet, and congratulations to all the other winners!CONTACT.... Twitter @verbaldiorama Instagram @verbaldiorama Facebook @verbaldiorama Letterboxd @verbaldiorama Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com Website verbaldiorama.comSUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review Join the Patreon | Send a Tip ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMAVerbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free. Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique StudioPatrons: Sade, Claudia, Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat, Andy, Mike, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Jack, Dave, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Michele, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Philip K, Adam, Elaine and Kyle.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 -...

Friday the 13th (1980)

Friday the 13th (1980)

There's a curse at Camp Crystal Lake. It's going to be a Long Night at Camp Blood. Except that didn't turn out to be the title of this movie.The original Friday the 13th cleverly subverts horror tropes by making the killer a middle-aged mother, capitalizing on the fears associated with the number 13, as well as the success of Halloween in 1978.Betsy Palmer's portrayal of Pamela Voorhees, who only shows up in the final moments, makes her one of horror's most subversive, and yet misremembered villains. Remember that scene in Scream? The answer is not Jason Voorhees, but it is for the myriad sequels to follow...With memorable effects by Tom Savini, the success of Friday the 13th led to a surge of slasher movies throughout the early 1980s, not all as successful as this one, and also led to the death of the slasher, until A Nightmare on Elm Street came along to revive it... They all should have listened to Crazy Ralph!This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

40 years ago, slashers took a terrifying turn, when Wes Craven suggested that we could not only be haunted by our nightmares, but also die from the creatures within them.Craven's creation of Freddy Krueger stemmed from a haunting childhood memory that inspired the character - called Fred Krueger in this movie only - and the true unexplained deaths of Cambodian immigrants who randomly died in their sleep. While cinema was becoming saturated with cheap, clichéd knock-offs after Halloween and Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street would successfully reinvent the genre; blending supernatural slasher horror with innovative visual effects on a low budget. Despite initial rejections from major studios, New Line Cinema took a chance on this unique horror concept, leading to huge success for the fledgling independent production company, and Robert Englund's portrayal of Freddy Krueger would become one of horror's most iconic villains, and make Englund synonymous with the character across the franchise.But don't pour blood-coloured water on live electrics... I would love to hear your thoughts on A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) !Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! I won the Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards recently. I am beyond thrilled, and hugely grateful to the Ear Worthy team. It means so much to me to be recognised by a fellow indie outlet, and congratulations to all the other winners!CONTACT.... Twitter @verbaldiorama Instagram @verbaldiorama Facebook @verbaldiorama Letterboxd @verbaldiorama Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com Website verbaldiorama.comSUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review Join the Patreon | Send a Tip ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMAVerbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free. Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique StudioPatrons: Sade, Claudia, Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat, Andy, Mike, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Jack, Dave, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Michele, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Philip K, Adam and ElaineThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Child's Play (1988)

Child's Play (1988)

Horror icon Chucky was originally created by UCLA student Don Mancini, evolving from a script originally titled 'Batteries Not Included' which then became 'Blood Buddy', where the character was named Buddy.Potential lawsuit with Hasbro aside, Buddy would eventually become Chucky; the movie was eventually renamed Child's Play, and would become a ground-breaking horror film that successfully combined dark comedy with genuine suspense. The animatronics used for Chucky were state-of-the-art for the late 1980s, and the film's success spawned an entire franchise that includes sequels, merchandise, and a television series. But it wasn't all fun and games behind the scenes. Significant changes to Child's Play were made after poor test screenings, leading to a more streamlined movie and the controversy surrounding the entire Child's Play franchise, especially regarding violence, had lasting implications for horror films here in the UK.I would love to hear your thoughts on Child's Play (1988) !Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! I won the Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards recently. I am beyond thrilled, and hugely grateful to the Ear Worthy team. It means so much to me to be recognised by a fellow indie outlet, and congratulations to all the other winners!CONTACT.... Twitter @verbaldiorama Instagram @verbaldiorama Facebook @verbaldiorama Letterboxd @verbaldiorama Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com Website verbaldiorama.comSUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review Join the Patreon | Send a Tip ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMAVerbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free. Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique StudioPatrons: Sade, Claudia, Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat, Andy, Mike, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Jack, Dave, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Michele, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Philip K, Adam and ElaineThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Bill & Ted Face the Music

Bill & Ted Face the Music

Bill & Ted creators Ed Solomon and Chris Matheson, along with stars Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves, always assumed Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey would be the last time anyone would see Bill S. Preston Esquire and Ted Theodore Logan together on the big screen ever again.Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey hadn't done the business of Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, and so all four men went their own ways in Hollywood, each carving their own successful careers.It wasn't until a random red carpet comment in 2005 that any of them thought seriously about reviving the characters, and not until 2008 that they got together at a BBQ to discuss ideas. And they ended up having a great idea, one they all wanted to do, but it meant writing a spec script, without having any of the rights in place to get this legacy sequel actually made.And then they found out MGM was planning their own reboot called Bill & Ted's Friggin' Badass Voyage...I would love to hear your thoughts on Bill & Ted Face the Music !Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! I won the Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards recently. I am beyond thrilled, and hugely grateful to the Ear Worthy team. It means so much to me to be recognised by a fellow indie outlet, and congratulations to all the other winners!CONTACT.... Twitter @verbaldiorama Instagram @verbaldiorama Facebook @verbaldiorama Letterboxd @verbaldiorama Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com Website verbaldiorama.comSUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review Join the Patreon | Send a Tip ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMAVerbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free. Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique StudioPatrons: Sade, Claudia, Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat, Andy, Mike, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Jack, Dave, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Michele, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Philip K, Adam, Elaine and KyleThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Spider-Man 3 (2007)

Spider-Man 3 (2007)

Verbal Diorama: It’s hip, it’s now, it’s wow and how?!After the huge success of both Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2, Sam Raimi wanted to finish his Spider-Man trilogy with a bang.Originally planning to have Sandman and the Vulture, along with a non-New Goblin Harry Osborn against Peter Parker's newly adored Spider-Man, plans would evolve somewhat as time passed, with Avi Arad instead wanting fan favourite anti-hero Venom to be a secondary antagonist alongside Sandman.Sam Raimi wasn't keen on Venom, he didn't fit Raimi's themes of humanity, and to show flaws in his hero. He also wanted a key theme of forgiveness. The alien symbiote represented none of this, but he eventually reluctantly agreed to reshape the movie to take out Vulture and include Venom.Then producer Laura Ziskin suggested he add Gwen Stacy to an incredible busy mix too.You can understand the logic - both Venom and Gwen are fan favourite characters, but in an-already busy movie, it just got busier and more bloated.But Spider-Man 3 does have great things underneath the bloated exterior - the birth of Sandman still looks great, Mary Jane is given more to do than just scream, and we got the ultimate meme - Emo Peter and the Bully Maguire. People Get Up and Drive Your Funky Soul!I would love to hear your thoughts on Spider-Man 3 (2007) !Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! I won the Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards recently. I am beyond thrilled, and hugely grateful to the Ear Worthy team. It means so much to me to be recognised by a fellow indie outlet, and congratulations to all the other winners!CONTACT.... Twitter @verbaldiorama Instagram @verbaldiorama Facebook @verbaldiorama Letterboxd @verbaldiorama Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com Website verbaldiorama.comSUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review Join the Patreon | Send a Tip ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMAVerbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free. Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique StudioPatrons: Sade, Claudia, Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat, Andy, Mike, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Jack, Dave, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Michele, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Philip K, Adam, Elaine and BRAND-NEW PATRON KYLE!This podcast uses the following third-party...

Batman Forever, for all its neon grandiose spectacle, was purely created as the anthesis to Batman Returns. While retrospectively, Batman Returns is seen as one of the best Batman movies, the backlash around the movie's dark, violent and sexual nature led to parents revolting, and Warner Bros scrambling to make Batman family-friendly again.Enter Joel Schumacher, a guy with a strong movie making record, who was more than happy to follow Warner Bros family-friendly mantra, with his own accoutrements.So, we got colour! We got manic humour! We got a new Batman, two new foes, a new sidekick, a new love interest, Bat Nipples™, and a really earnest attempt at the duality of Batman; about the two sides of your persona; your public and private sides, your billionaire and vigilante sides, your serious Batman movie and your goofy jokes. This is a movie that talks fairly seriously about Bruce Wayne’s psyche, but then can also say “holy rusted metal, Batman”Because... the ground, it's all metal. It's full of holes.But there was darkness to Schumacher's vision, and fifty minutes of material was removed from the final cut for being "too dark", including Bruce coming face to face with a huge animatronic bat, and in turn coming face to face with his destiny.I would love to hear your thoughts on Batman Forever !Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! I won the Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards recently. I am beyond thrilled, and hugely grateful to the Ear Worthy team. It means so much to me to be recognised by a fellow indie outlet, and congratulations to all the other winners!CONTACT.... Twitter @verbaldiorama Instagram @verbaldiorama Facebook @verbaldiorama Letterboxd @verbaldiorama Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com Website verbaldiorama.comSUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review Join the Patreon | Send a Tip | Buy Merch ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMAVerbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free. Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique StudioPatrons: Sade, Claudia, Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat, Andy, Mike, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Jack, Dave, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Michele, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Philip K, Adam and ElaineThis podcast uses the following third-party services for...

Jurassic Park III

Jurassic Park III

After Steven Spielberg took the reins for both Jurassic Park and The Lost World: Jurassic World, it was time for some fresh meat for Jurassic Park III, which was the first to not be directed by Spielberg and not be based on a Michael Crichton novel.Jurassic Park III would start to have problems early, though. The original script was thrown out five weeks before filming was due to start, with the project already having spent $18 million. New writers Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor were quickly hired to improve the story and characters , but they never actually completed a script.Filming would start without a complete script, which would lead to a myriad of problems. It meant entire days shooting only one or two scenes, and quickly the production was behind schedule.While Jurassic Park III is mostly known for "Alan", being the shortest movie in the franchise at a lean 92 minutes, and the lowest grossing movie of the franchise, it was also quietly revolutionary with its visual effects - the practical led by the legendary Stan Winston Studio and the CG by Industrial Light and Magic. And who knew it would predict an actual scientific discovery on dinosaur behaviour?I would love to hear your thoughts on Jurassic Park III !Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! I won the Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards recently. I am beyond thrilled, and hugely grateful to the Ear Worthy team. It means so much to me to be recognised by a fellow indie outlet, and congratulations to all the other winners!CONTACT.... Twitter @verbaldiorama Instagram @verbaldiorama Facebook @verbaldiorama Letterboxd @verbaldiorama Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com Website verbaldiorama.comSUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review Join the Patreon | Send a Tip | Buy Merch ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMAVerbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free. Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique StudioPatrons: Simon E, Sade, Claudia, Simon B, Laurel, Derek, Vern, Cat, Andy, Mike, Griff, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Will, Jack, Dave, Chris, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Michele, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Russell, Philip K Adam and BRAND-NEW PATRON ELAINE!This podcast uses the following third-party

Snowpiercer (설국열차) (2013)

Snowpiercer (설국열차) (2013)

Bong Joon-ho’s dedication to making Snowpiercer, and making it his way, is as always a true testament to his greatness as a director, and a visionary director at that. You don’t start something in 2005 and take seven years to develop it if you don’t have that passion for the project. In many ways the scale and scope of Snowpiercer led Bong to want to make smaller films - his next film would be Okja for Netflix, and then he’d make Parasite - undoubtedly his most important, acclaimed and successful film, and the gateway for many in the west to truly accept Korean and international cinema after it swept the boards at the Oscars.But Snowpiercer remains one of his most special, and most overlooked entries, despite the star-studded cast, terrific action set pieces and thoughtful social commentary. This would be Bong's first English language movie, and the irony is that in a movie where the entire train is controlled by a wealthy white power-mad elitist, a wealthy white power-mad elitist would end up controlling its release...It's also the annual birthday episode; I've got a lovely black jelly birthday cake here, I wonder what it's made out of.... I would love to hear your thoughts on Snowpiercer (설국열차) (2013) !Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! I won the Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards recently. I am beyond thrilled, and hugely grateful to the Ear Worthy team. It means so much to me to be recognised by a fellow indie outlet, and congratulations to all the other winners!CONTACT.... Twitter @verbaldiorama Instagram @verbaldiorama Facebook @verbaldiorama Letterboxd @verbaldiorama Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com Website verbaldiorama.comSUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review Join the Patreon | Send a Tip | Buy Merch ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMAVerbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free. Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique StudioPatrons: Sade, Claudia, Simon B, Laurel, Derek, Vern, Cat, Andy, Mike, Griff, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Will, Jack, Dave, Chris, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Michele, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Russell, Philip K and Adam!This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Hollywood cinema has often featured Native American men in Westerns as brutal, hypermasculine barbarian warriors, and Native American women as hyper-sexualised or a quiet subservient. They'd also often be portrayed by white actors in brownface.How remarkable that a Predator prequel aimed to set this injustice right?Despite not being of Native American descent, director Dan Trachtenberg and writer Patrick Aison knew that they needed to make this movie as authentic as possible to the 1700s in the Great Plains, and not only did they get the advice of the Native communities, they involved them in every aspect of making Prey, and this started with producer Jhane Myers - the VIP of this movie.Myers was instrumental on the authenticity and representation of the Comanche in Prey, as well as ensuring that a variety of roles, both in front and behind the camera, were First Nations people, with Native interns in the crew at all levels, as well as first time Native actors, led by an impeccable lead performance by Amber Midthunder.But the greatest contributions came from community and tribal elders, who advised not only on language and specific tribal culture, including weapons, customs, face painting and regalia. Comanche is classified as a severely endangered world language, which makes it even more incredible that we got a Comanche dub of this movie. It’s more important than ever to preserve this language.Prey is as authentic to Comanche tradition as it can be, and it's the best Predator movie by far. Yeah, I said what I said. I would love to hear your thoughts on Prey (2022) !Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! I won the Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards recently. I am beyond thrilled, and hugely grateful to the Ear Worthy team. It means so much to me to be recognised by a fellow indie outlet, and congratulations to all the other winners!CONTACT.... Twitter @verbaldiorama Instagram @verbaldiorama Facebook @verbaldiorama Letterboxd @verbaldiorama Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com Website verbaldiorama.comSUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review Join the Patreon | Send a Tip | Buy Merch ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMAVerbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free. Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique StudioPatrons: Simon E,

Predator (1987)

Predator (1987)

From the depths of the Mexican jungle, an elite team of special forces are sent in to rescue hostages, but unbeknownst to them, they're the ones who are being hunted.Predator, originally known as Hunter, was a spec script by brothers Jim and John Thomas that was slid under the door at 20th Century Fox, and ended up being sold without an agent or a lawyer. While its premise changed slightly from that initial iteration, it did under the weight of its star Arnold Schwarzenegger, who would be a huge muscular manly macho man, but also an every man.Casting of Vietnam veterans aside, this is a movie steeped in Vietnam imagery, the traumas of conflict, and a commentary on masculinity.But mostly it's just an excuse for some really buff guys to show off their incredibly big and powerful guns (not at all a penis metaphor), but one buff guy was let go in the middle of filming, and there are at least seven reasons why Jean-Claude Van Damme is not in this movie...If it bleeds, we can kill it.Full credit to Predator: The Musical by legolambs on YouTubeI would love to hear your thoughts on Predator (1987) !Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! I won the Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards recently. I am beyond thrilled, and hugely grateful to the Ear Worthy team. It means so much to me to be recognised by a fellow indie outlet, and congratulations to all the other winners!CONTACT.... Twitter @verbaldiorama Instagram @verbaldiorama Facebook @verbaldiorama Letterboxd @verbaldiorama Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com Website verbaldiorama.comSUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review Join the Patreon | Send a Tip | Buy Merch ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMAVerbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free. Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique StudioPatrons: Simon E, Sade, Claudia, Simon B, Laurel, Derek, Vern, Cat, Andy, Mike, Griff, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Will, Jack, Dave, Chris, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Michele, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Russell and Philip K!This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is beloved by fans of the franchise, and lauded as the best Star Trek movie, with Khan himself as one of the standout villains, and Spock's sacrifice and resulting death as an emotional high point.That wasn't always the case though. In fact, Spock's death was leaked to fans during production, and fans were not happy, even resorting to sending death threats to producer Robert Sallin.Sallin, though, is one of the MVPs of this whole production. He would never work on Star Trek (or really in Hollywood) again after this movie, but his influence, ideas and steady hand would lead The Wrath of Khan to becoming a fan favourite. He was a man who put decency and integrity above his own selfish gains. Gene Roddenberry was not happy about losing the creative control he had on Star Trek: The Motion Picture, but Paramount blamed him for a lot of the issues that movie had, and for the sequel, it would be a controlled affair, especially when it came to the budget... Please listen to Episode 259 for the history and legacy of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, because that story is integral to the setting up of this one... I would love to hear your thoughts on Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan !Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! I won the Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards recently. I am beyond thrilled, and hugely grateful to the Ear Worthy team. It means so much to me to be recognised by a fellow indie outlet, and congratulations to all the other winners!CONTACT.... Twitter @verbaldiorama Instagram @verbaldiorama Facebook @verbaldiorama Letterboxd @verbaldiorama Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com Website verbaldiorama.comSUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review Join the Patreon | Send a Tip | Buy Merch ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMAVerbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free. Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique StudioPatrons: Simon E, Sade, Claudia, Simon B, Laurel, Derek, Vern, Cat, Andy, Mike, Griff, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Will, Jack, Dave, Chris, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Michele, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Russell and BRAND-NEW PATRON Philip...

Starting life as a skit for the VH1 Fashion awards, Derek Zoolander would become an international sensation, and be vying for his fourth consecutive VH1 Male Model of the Year. It's an impressive feat for a man as ridiculously good-looking as he is.Inspired by the success of Austin Powers, the idea was to make a feature length movie out of Derek's life and successes, but filming during the 2000 Autumn fashion season in New York, and at the real VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards, meant they could only film during commercial breaks.Luckily, Derek's fashion industry and celebrity friends were there to help, with Donatella Versace agreeing to co-star alongside Derek in that moment, and his life story, the movie Zoolander, would eventually be released in September 2001.And nothing bad happened in September 2001... right?I would love to hear your thoughts on Zoolander !Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! I won the Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards recently. I am beyond thrilled, and hugely grateful to the Ear Worthy team. It means so much to me to be recognised by a fellow indie outlet, and congratulations to all the other winners!CONTACT.... Twitter @verbaldiorama Instagram @verbaldiorama Facebook @verbaldiorama Letterboxd @verbaldiorama Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com Website verbaldiorama.comSUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review Join the Patreon | Send a Tip | Buy Merch ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMAVerbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free. Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique StudioPatrons: Sade, Claudia, Simon, Laurel, Derek, Vern, Cat, Andy, Mike, Griff, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Will, Jack, Dave, Chris, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Stu, Brett, Philip, Michele, Xenos, Sean, Ryno and Russell!This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Cloverfield, or one of its many other names, was greenlit in a shroud of secrecy, and that secrecy continued throughout production.Actors were auditioned without even being told what they were auditioning for, just that it was a new untitled J.J. Abrams project, and the Abrams name was enough to whet the appetites of not only the actors involved, but also the general public.After a teaser trailer debuted alongside Transformers in the summer of 2007, fans were desperate to find out anything about this mysterious film, titled 1-18-08, with online theories suggesting it was a massive lion monster or a new Godzilla entry.Websites for the movie started to weave a web of intrigue, with a whole backstory evolving, leading to one of the most effective viral internet marketing campaigns of the 2000s...I would love to hear your thoughts on Cloverfield !Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! I won the Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards in July 2024. I am beyond thrilled, and hugely grateful to the Ear Worthy team. It means so much to me to be recognised by a fellow indie outlet, and congratulations to all the other winners!CONTACT.... Twitter @verbaldiorama Instagram @verbaldiorama Facebook @verbaldiorama Letterboxd @verbaldiorama Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com Website verbaldiorama.comSUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review Join the Patreon | Send a Tip | Buy Merch ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMAVerbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free. Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique StudioPatrons: Simon E, Sade, Claudia, Simon B, Laurel, Derek, Vern, Cat, Andy, Mike, Griff, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Will, Jack, Dave, Chris, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Stu, Brett, Philip, Michele, Xenos, Sean, Ryno and Russell!This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

The Bourne Identity (2002)

The Bourne Identity (2002)

Remember when action movie heroes didn’t have to think and just beat up a load of bad guys? Jason Bourne heralded the change when The Bourne Identity came out in 2002, and heroes became as vulnerable as they could be dangerous.It was a troubled production, led by Doug Liman, who fought for years to get the rights to the material, and get the movie made in his own chaotic and frenetic directorial style - a style that didn't sit well with the producers or the executives at Universal.Liman didn't just want another generic action spy movie, but an art film that the studio could sell as an action movie, and his lead actor Matt Damon agreed. Damon wanted to play this every man hero - the All-American boy next door who could also take on several trained operatives at once.The production was plagued with multiple delays, rewrites, reshoots and shots of Jägermeister.Warner Bros had let the rights they originally hold revert back to the original author Robert Ludlum in 1999, so how did they end up in a lawsuit over lost royalties from The Bourne Identity, a movie not even made by them?I would love to hear your thoughts on The Bourne Identity (2002) !Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! I won the Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards recently. I am beyond thrilled, and hugely grateful to the Ear Worthy team. It means so much to me to be recognised by a fellow indie outlet, and congratulations to all the other winners!CONTACT.... Twitter @verbaldiorama Instagram @verbaldiorama Facebook @verbaldiorama Letterboxd @verbaldiorama Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com Website verbaldiorama.comSUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review Join the Patreon | Send a Tip | Buy Merch ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMAVerbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free. Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique StudioPatrons: Simon E, Sade, Claudia, Simon B, Laurel, Derek, Vern, Cat, Andy, Mike, Griff, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Will, Jack, Dave, Chris, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Stu, Brett, Philip, Michele, Xenos, Sean, Ryno and Russell!This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Independence Day

Independence Day

Roland Emmerich is not known for being an auteur director, but he is known for his disaster movies; the most defining and well-known of which is Independence Day. A movie that was almost called Doomsday. Can you imagine celebrating our Doomsday every 4th of July? A movie called Independence Day, released around Independence Day 1996, was never going to be anything other than a spectacle of American patriotism and the archetypal blockbuster. It was expensive, it was lucrative, and it was bombastic, and it could have only come out in the 90s. It would pay homage to The Day The Earth Stood Still, The War of the Worlds, and 70s disaster movies like The Towering Inferno, Airport and The Poseidon Adventure.Emmerich and his writing partner Dean Devlin knew they wanted to make an alien invasion movie. Surely no one else was doing one at the same time? Oh, hi, Tim Burton. Checkmate.I would love to hear your thoughts on Independence Day !CONTACT.... Twitter @verbaldiorama Instagram @verbaldiorama Facebook @verbaldiorama Letterboxd @verbaldiorama Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com Website verbaldiorama.comSUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review Join the Patreon | Send a Tip | Buy Merch ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMAVerbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free. Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique StudioPatrons: Simon E, Sade, Claudia, Simon B, Laurel, Derek, Vern, Cat, Andy, Mike, Griff, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Will, Jack, Dave, Chris, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Stu, Brett, Philip, Michele, Xenos, Sean, Ryno and Russell!This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy