Shows
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastMen in Black 3 (2012)The Men in Black are back… in time!? It’s time for some Amblin time-travel hijinks not involving a DeLorean as we check back in with the protectors of Earth agent J (Will Smith) and Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) as the very fabric of reality is threatened when an evil alien named Boris the Animal (Jermaine Clement) - actually it’s just Boris - rewrites history, forcing J to travel abc to 1969 and team up with K’s younger self (an eerily perfect Josh Brolin). To unpack the flimsy timey-wimey nonsense of it all, we recruit previous guest of the s...2025-07-131h 49
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastWar Horse (2011)It’s time to journey from the beautiful green landscapes of Devon to war-torn Europe - then back to a now very orange Devon - in Steven Spielberg’s World War One drama WAR HORSE. Based on Michael Morpurgo’s children's book as well as it’s hugely successful stage adaptation, we welcome friend and history-buff - and star of Zombey - Ben Weldon to join us on the journey of innocence lost and the struggle to maintain a sense of decency in a world gripped by violence - from the perspective of a horse. We get into Morpurgo’s original...2025-06-221h 44
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastThe Adventures of Tintin (2011)Blistering barnacles - it’s time to open the book (or comic album) on Tintin and tackle the crab with the golden claws, discover the secret of the unicorn and find Red Rackham’s treasure. Barry Levitt re-joins the pod after a brief break from Amblin animation and together we piece together the whole story: the complicated history of Tintin creator Hergé (and how to properly pronounce his name), the long road to the film’s production, the pros and cons of motion capture, the uncanny valley, whether or not this Tintin has a weird face, Spielberg’s unchained digital c...2025-06-011h 52
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastSuper 8 (2011)Get ready for an episode full of production value as we get nostalgic with JJ Abrams and SUPER 8 - the 70s set sci-fi drama following a group of kids making their own movie in their backyard, and happen to stumble on a government conspiracy involving an escaped extra-terrestrial being. We welcome back returning guests Daniel Kelly and Michael Perry, re-assembling the team that once made up our student radio show Close-Up on RAW 1251AM, fittingly looking at a movie that was released the summer before we all met for the very first time. We dig into its value as...2025-05-182h 31
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastHereafter (2010)We kick off a fresh new decade for Amblin with our last - at least for now - Clint Eastwood movie, the 2010 supernatural drama HEREAFTER. Our Clint journey began with something of a surprising gem with The Bridges of Madison County,and to bookend our experience with Mr. Eastwood we also get a film full of surprises; a meditative, pragmatic look at belief, grief and questions of life and death. We get into it all, from Peter Morgan’s triptych screenplay, the range of performances, its occasionally bizarre swings, to Charles Dickens and Pizza Express. TRIGGER WARNING: In...2025-05-041h 44
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastReview of the 00sAfter six years and 14 movies, the 00s of the Amblin’s comes to a quick end, which can only mean one thing: who’s going to win the Waxflatter Award for best visual effects shot of the decade? Yes, it’s time for one of our review bonanzas covering the best moments and performances of the decade that has just been, as well as reveal both our and the listener’s top five movies of the decade that have just been. Get comfy, grab yourself a beverage, and join us for a retrospective six years in the making. Follow...2025-04-202h 57
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastLetters from Iwo Jima (2006)Clint Eastwood’s two-picture project looking the Battle of Iwo Jima reaches its conclusion (as does the 00s for Amblin) with LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA, this time following the perspective of the Japanese soldiers on the island, who employed a unique strategy that took both the Americans and their own country by surprise. To examine these letters, we invite host of All 90s Action All the Time Scott Murphy to dig into what makes this the more successful film of the two, from the figure of Ken Watanabe’s General Kuribayashi, to the ensemble cast at large, its strength as a...2025-04-061h 47
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastFlags of Our Fathers (2006)The right picture can win or lose a war, and they don’t come more iconic than the image of US Marines raising the American flag atop a mountain in Iwo Jima. But the story behind an image isn't always so red, white and blue, as shown in Clint Eastwood’s sombre World War Two drama FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS. There is plenty to dive into and explore in both the film itself and the real history of the men who were - or perhaps weren’t - in the iconic image. To help us examine that iconography, we welcom...2025-03-161h 53
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastMonster House (2006)We’re back to our usual programming over at Ramblin: An Amblin Podcast, and this time we’re taking a precarious walk over old Nebbercracker's front lawn to cautiously enter MONSTER HOUSE, Gil Kenan’s 2006 feature film debut and the second of the Robert Zemeckis-produced motion capture animations. Because we’re a-scared, though, we can’t do it alone, so we’ve enlisted the help of all-time great sister Sophie Glenn to complete our trio. Together we discuss childhood memories, re-litigate tales of old ladies in the woods and reminisce about the Disney Channel in the mid-noughties. We also find...2025-03-022h 02
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastMunich (2005)We return with an episode on the final film of 2005, and the second from Mr. Steven Spielberg himself, with his historical drama MUNICH. Charting an account of Mossad assassinations following the massacre at the 1972 Olympic games, it is one of Spielberg’s most polarising and daring works to date, with the decades long Israel-Palestine conflict front and centre as it - and we - explore the moral complexities at the centre of its story that are as relevant today as it was 20 years ago.Save the Prince Charles Cinema: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-the-prince-charles-cinema...2025-02-161h 33
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastMemoirs of a Geisha (2005)Ramblin is back - and we’re more Geisha than ever. After an extended summer break, the boys are back to continue down the Amblin road, staying in 2005 to explore Rob Marshall's period drama MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA, based on Arthur Golden’s novel of the same name. To chart the journey of young Chiyo’s self-discovery and efforts to become a Geisha in pre and post-WW2 Japan, we welcome back returning guest, friend and film journalist Barry Levitt. Together, we discuss the film’s origins, its questionable sense of authorship and posit the question; could this film - a follow...2024-11-101h 22
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastThe Legend of Zorro (2005)After donning the Mask, it is now time to continue THE LEGEND OF ZORRO with our episode on Martin Campbell’s 2005 sequel, once again starring those damn fine sexy leads Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. But, coming some seven years after the original, something seems to have been lost along the way: the juice. To find out why this Zorro doesn’t quite whip like he used to, we enlist the help of podcaster MJ Smith of Let’s Jaws For a Minute fame to see if this follow up was just a case of too little too late - or i...2024-05-191h 34
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastWar of the Worlds (2005)We finish the tub of Neopolitan Spielberg trilogy by saving the best (chocolate) for last: his 2005 adaptation of WAR OF THE WORLDS. Together with returning guest Harley Mumford (of the fabulous Fandomentals podcast), we talk through the various different interpretations of H.G. Wells’ 1897 classic—particularly Orson Welles’ (no relation) infamous 1938 broadcast and the 1953 movie—and chart how each acts as a response to its particular place and time. In this instance, we discuss Spielberg’s film as an explicit response to 9/11 (and its place as the final instalment of his Paranoid Sci-Fi Trilogy), the surprisingly dour tone for a summer b...2024-04-211h 52
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastThe Terminal (2004)It’s time to check in with Steven Spielberg’s 2004 comedy-drama THE TERMINAL, the second part in our Neapolitan Spielberg trilogy. The ‘vanilla’ section of the trio is a rare Amblin joint where we have quite different opinions on the movie, and to help us unpack our feelings is our guest; friend, musician and one half of the Ramblin-theme composing team Robert J. Hunter-Clayton. Together, we delve into the inspiration behind the Tom Hanks-starring tale, marvel at the scale of its production design, weigh up the strengths and weaknesses of its various subplots and despair at Hanks’ Whopper-eating technique. So, boardi...2024-03-311h 44
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastCatch Me If You Can (2002)We kick off the first chapter in our self-coined ‘Neapolitan Spielberg trilogy’ with the strawberry of the trio, the beard’s 2002 con-man caper ‘CATCH ME IF YOU CAN’, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. To join us in tracking down the tale of putting the story of Frank William Abagnale Jnr to the screen is film historian and musical expert Miles Eady. Together, we discuss the long line of filmmakers who couldn’t quite get their clutches on the story, try out a Christopher Walken impression or two, consider the difficulties of a broadway adaptation, and look at what depths lie b...2024-03-171h 47
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastMen in Black II (2002)We’re back - in black - to get things rolling for Ramblin in 2024. We’re checking in with the MIB franchise, investigating the bad case of sequelitius that seems to have infected the Barry Sonnenfeld directed follow up to the 1997 sci-fi comedy classic. Both Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones return from Amblin past, and so does our guest -critic and broadcaster Rihanna Dillon. Together, we dig into the film's dragged out road to production, stressful shooting schedule and try to put our finger on just what is missing from this misfire of a sequel. But always remember, when...2024-02-111h 50
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastMinority Report (2002)This Christmas, everybody runs - particularly everyone's favourite Hollywood cross country champ Tom Cruise. It is time to wave our hands in the hand and catch the red ball that is Steven Spielberg’s ‘MINORITY REPORT’ the sci-fi action-thriller based on the short story by Phillip K. Dick.
To join us in unpacking this vision of the future is our pal and fifth-time guest Dan Kelly. We get into the project’s origins as a retooled Total Recall sequel, reflecting on the film’s themes of free will and state surveillance, while also offering many Max Von Sydow impre...2023-12-242h 04
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastJurassic Park III (2001)This time it’s not just a walk in the park. The same could be said for the production of ‘JURASSIC PARK III’ - the third entry in the Jurassic franchise, directed by Joe Johnsotn. We get into its turbulent journey to the screen with returning guest David from Jurassic Collectables (@JurassicCollect), musing on the film that could have been, reminiscing about our first encounters with both the franchise and Johnston, as well as unpacking just what works and what doesn’t in the finished feature, Spinosaurus and all. Just don’t go drifting off and dreaming of talking raptors now...2023-12-031h 56
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastA.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)Cirrus. Socrates. Particle. Decibel. Hurricane. Dolphin. Tulip. Ramblin. Listener. Ramblin.
Now we’ve got that out of the way, it’s time to get serious about Papa Spielberg’s first offering of the new millennium: 2001’s moody, existentially shattering A.I. Artificial Intelligence. Beginning as a short story in the pages of Harper’s Bazaar in the early-‘70s, the film started out as a Kubrick project before gradually, over the years, forging a bridge between the two master filmmakers and ultimately coming to fruition as a ghostly collaboration.
We talk about the extent to which the fil...2023-11-121h 51
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastThe Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000)Bright light city is gonna set my soul on fire. But will The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas have the same incendiary effect? We’re back in the podcastin’ business and back in Bedrock for Brian Levant’s prequel, swapping out the original crew for newer, younger, improved(?) models to see how Fred, Barney, Wilma and Betty all got together in the first place - with a little help from The Great Gazoo (may God have mercy on us all). To take the trip to Rock Vegas, we have cordially invited back two returning guests, Daisy Edwards and Clare Brunton...2023-10-151h 47
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastReview of the 90s (Part II)Like any good blockbuster these days, we split our 90s review in two and have now come to the final chapter of Amblin’s most prolific decade. Strap in as we gun it to 88 to cover such great topics as our biggest cry, the worst film of decade, best dog, favourite performance and of course, reveal the listener’s top five Amblin movies of the 90s. We also invite returning guest Emily Tatham to test our 90s knowledge to suitably zany results. Let’s get this intergalactic kegger off the ground - and see you in the 00’s.
Follow...2023-08-062h 07
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastReview of the 90s (Part I)Get ready for the first instalment in our two-part 90s review lollapalooza. We at Ramblin wanted to give the 90s the send off it deserved, and boy did we ramble. So much so that there’s just too much good stuff to pack into one episode - so let’s spread the joy and celebrate the most prolific decade of Amblin’s history so far in two epic parts, with categories both old and new, from best score, to best surprise, and the most 90s of the 90s. So, hold onto your butts and enjoy part one, and make sure t...2023-07-301h 06
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastIn Dreams (1999)It’s time for us to close the book (well, almost) on the 1990s, the most fruitful span of time for Amblin so far. That the film that sees us do this is Neil Jordan’s deeply bizarre supernatural psychological thriller IN DREAMS feels wholly appropriate for such a far-reaching, uneven and frequently unwieldy decade. Together we figuratively go bobbing for apples in an attempt to make sense of this tangled mess of a movie, wading through the giallo-esque narrative, the questionable performances and the truly stunning visual work en route to a conclusion that makes less sense the more...2023-07-091h 24
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastSaving Private Ryan (1998)Papa Spielberg returns with his blistering take on the WWII drama, 1998’s SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, so we enlist the help of Mike West (@Mike333West) to wade through this deeply influential, almost-Best Picture-winning movie. Together we talk about the revolutionary portrayal of the D-Day landings, the contributions of the extensive cast and the reactions of veterans themselves. We also wade into some of the film’s more complicated elements, such as its relationship to jingoism, the impossibility of avoiding glamourising war and accusations of a propagandist bent. There are no easy answers, as with everything in life, but we had...2023-06-252h 21
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastThe Mask of Zorro (1998)It’s time to enter the lair of the fox, as we welcome back guest and Ramblin artist Emily Tatham to discuss Martin Campbell’s THE MASK OF ZORRO. We get unapologetically lustful over what is one of the last great sexy blockbusters of recent memory, diving into the history of Zorro on screen, the sizzling star power of Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, and feeling absolutely whipped by Anthony Hopkins silver locks. So, don your masks and whistle for your noble steed as we become as one spirit in our love for one of Amblin’s most indisputably entert...2023-06-042h 13
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastSmall Soldiers (1998)Big Action! Big Podcast! Small Soldiers! The Ramblin boys draw up battle plans to face Joe Dante’s final - at least for now - Amblin joint, the 1998 action-adventure SMALL SOLDIERS. We assemble an elite unit made up of returning guests Rhys Edwards and Dan Kelly to assist in taking down the Commando Elite and aiding the peaceful Gorgonites, as we cover the film’s production history, Burger King tie-ins, its anti-military industrial complex sentiments and the uncanny similarities to Avatar. Civilians, declare your allegiance and take on the mission - everything else is just a podcast.
Read...2023-05-221h 58
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastMen in Black (1997)No, that’s not swamp gas from a weather balloon trapped in a thermal pocket and reflecting the light from Venus—it’s Ramblin’s episode on Barry Sonnenfeld’s 1997 masterpiece MEN IN BLACK! To join us in dissecting this perfect blockbuster (as though it were an expired Arquillian ambassador) is self-professed ‘Queen of the Dead’ Anna Bogustkaya, critic/broadcaster extraordinaire and host of The Final Girls, Successionistas and Dead By Dawn podcasts. Together we work through that Smith and Jones chemistry, the killer Rick Baker designs, some exquisite ‘90s goo and a Vincent D’Onofrio performance that’s up there with the ve...2023-05-072h 24
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastThe Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)We welcome you back once more to the Jurassic Park franchise as we make the journey to the dark and brooding shores of Isla Sorna for our episode on the 1997 sequel THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK, once again directed by Steven Spielberg with a script by David Koepp, based on the novel by Michael Crichton.
Similarly, as The Lost World brings back Ian Malcolm for the ride, we also welcome the return of a surviving guest from the first Jurassic Park incident, as Jurassic Outpost founder Jack De La Mare joins us to wade into the long g...2023-04-231h 28
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastThe Trigger Effect (1996)You're travelling through another dimension - a dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land of imagination. Next stop, Ramblin! That’s right, it’s time to step through that scary door into the twilight zone of 1996 thriller THE TRIGGER EFFECT, screenwriter David Koepp’s feature directorial debut and an altogether overlooked entry in the Amblin canon.
Joining Andy and Josh on their journey is newly-minted three-timer Dan Kelly (@DeekingAround), self-proclaimed Koepp-head and general appreciator of this kind of conceptual, slimline blockbusting. Together they talk about the film’s conceptio...2023-04-091h 47
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastTwister (1996)Well shake it up, baby, now! Twist and shout! Yes, that’s right, it’s time to hunker down and strap yourself to a pipe as the Ramblin team go chasing that fabled F5 by tackling Jan de Bont’s wacky 1996 disaster-ish thriller-ish, TWISTER. The boys are joined by fellow tornado enthusiast Charlotte Bailey, and together they delve into the bonkers production history, the chills and spills of repurposed CGI zebras and the film’s enduring legacy amongst extreme weather freaks. So grab your DOROTHY, leave your lemonades on the car roof and come join us in the suck zone. (T...2023-03-261h 55
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastBalto (1995)The bell has finally rung on Amblimation, as we reach the third and final film produced by the short-lived animation wing of Amblin Entertainment. It has been a rocky road for Spielberg’s attempt at tackling the animation market, but it tries to cut fresh tracks in the snow with the based-on-fact adventure BALTO, directed by Simon Wells and featuring the voice talents of Kevin Bacon, Bridget Fonda, Bob Hoskins and Phil Collins (no songs though). We head out on the trial of the movie, taking a look at its relationship with the true story of the great serum ru...2023-03-121h 29
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastHow to Make an American Quilt (1995)Young lovers seek perfection. Old lovers learn the art of sewing shreds together and of seeing beauty in a multiplicity of podcast ramblings. In this Ramblin episode, we thread together the connecting stories of Jocelyn Moorhouse’s HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT, the 1995 adaptation of Whitney Otto’s novel, described by Amazon as a ‘gentle comedy’ We’ll determine just how gentle it is as we welcome our guest - critic and broadcaster Rihanna Dillon - to become a part of the Ramblin patchwork. We discuss Moorhouse’s background and the performances of a stacked cast that includes the likes of...2023-02-261h 42
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastTo Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995)No one say anything frivolous for the next few moments. We are having a significant experience! The Ramblin gang are back on the road of Amblin Entertainment. This time, we’re hitching a ride in a 1967 Cadillac Deville with drag queens Vida Boheme (Patrick Swayze), Noxeema Jackson (Wesley Snipes) and Chi Chi Rodriguez (John Leguizamo) as we discuss Beeban Kidron’s comedy TO WONG FOO, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING! JULIE NEWMAR. To tackle the longest title - in terms of letters that is - so far, we invite Sarah Buddery of Looper and Let’s Jaws For A Minute podcast fame...2023-02-121h 41
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastThe Bridges of Madison County (1995)Happy Boxing Day to all the fellow Ramblers out there! In this festive tryst with an Amblin outlier, the boys head Iowa-ward with production manager extraordinaire and host of CineMortuary podcast Rob Yeomans (@dancinghenry) to document the storied BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY. En route they talk about the historical perception of Clint Eastwood, swoon over his gorgeous central romance with Meryl Streep and get stuck into the heady themes of desire, duty and dashed dreams. Grab yourself a leftover sandwich, pour some Bucks Fizz and buckle in for a voyage of emotional discovery!
You can follow Rob...2022-12-261h 21
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastCasper (1995)Things are getting benevolently spooky here at Amblin Manor, as the Ramblin boys welcome back returning guest Michael Perry to discuss Brad Silberling’s family comedy ‘CASPER’ released in the summer of 1995. The make-shift ghostly trio get cosy and warm with their nostalgia as they recount their tales of meeting the friendly ghost for the first time, address the film’s ‘my first existentialism’ themes, its surprising emotional heft, its Harvey comics origins and praise the ever brilliant and incredibly missed James Horner. Come on in and join us as we unpack the unfinished business of Casper the Friendly Ghost.
2022-12-112h 14
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastLittle Giants (1994)Hut hut! It’s time for some football! Pee Wee football that is as we take to the field to discuss the 1994 sports family comedy ‘LITTLE GIANTS’, directed by Duwayne Dunham and starring Rick Moranis and Ed O’Neal as bickering brothers with rival Pee Wee football teams. Seeing as Andy and Josh's knowledge of NFL and American football is somewhat limited, the Ramblin boys call in assistant coach Rhys Edwards for their discussion to make a play that can rival the Annexation of Puerto Rico. Join us as we discuss the film’s McDonald’s Super Bowl ad origins, sin...2022-11-241h 42
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastThe Little Rascals (1994)Good day, Ramblin fans, can we get an azooga!? We welcome you to the clubhouse as we assemble a group of little rascals to aptly chat about all things THE LITTLE RASCALS, the 1994 Penelope Spheeris-directed adaptation of the classic Hal Roach ‘Our Gang’ short films from the early era of Hollywood. In our clubhouse we welcome back returning guests Jack Buckley and Seb Jones and let chaos reign as our chat gets as unwieldy as the film itself. And how!
To find out which Little Rascals you are along with us, take the quiz over at Zimblo: http...2022-11-131h 32
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastThe Flintstones (1994)Yabba Dabba Doo! We’re back and this time we’re heading to the town of Bedrock through the courtesy of our two pairs of feet to meet The Flintstones. This 1994 adaptation of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon from the 1960s was much maligned by critics at the time of its release, but is the Brian Levant directed movie starring John Goodman and Rick Moranis really all that bad? To help us take apart the comically large rack of ribs that is this movie, we’re joined by podcaster co-host of W-Rated, Clare Brunton. Pour yourself a cold one and have a gay...2022-10-231h 44
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastSchindler's List (1993)We finally arrive at one of the most crucial films in both Spielberg’s and Amblin’s filmographies, 1993’s Best Picture-winning SCHINDLER’S LIST. To help us in our examination of the film’s portrayal of the Holocaust, Jewish life and Oskar Schindler, we’re very lucky to be joined by Chief Executive of UK Jewish Film, Michael Etherton. Together we break down the film’s aesthetic choices, Spielberg’s motivations behind tackling this subject matter at this particular time and the ethics of trying to depict such an abhorrent moment in human history, let alone in a piece of popular enter...2022-09-251h 51
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastA Dangerous Woman (1993)After a brief hiatus, the Ramblin boys are back, baby, with an episode on a film that was so hard to track down that we almost had to do the unthinkable and skip it. Yes, that’s right, we’re talking A DANGEROUS WOMAN, Stephen Gyllenhaal’s 1993 melodrama starring Debra Winger, Barbara Hershey and Gabriel Byrne. It’s a film that comes the closest to not actually existing out of any we’ve covered yet, but still provides plenty of fertile ground for discussion. Join us as we work through such questions as ‘isn’t Byrne a dish?’ and ‘who exactly is the...2022-08-071h 06
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastWe're Back! A Dinosaur's Story (1993)It’s time to chow down on some brian grain and get weird with it in our episode on the second film from Amblin’s animation house - Amblimation - the other 1993 dinosaur movie WE”RE BACK! A DINOSAUR’S STORY. With a script by JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO’s John Patrick Shanley and multiple hands on the wheel, the final product needs to be seen to be believed, as our makeshift herd will attest. Join us as we welcome new guest, friend and fellow Warwick grad Lucy Ogilvie, and welcome back returning guest Jack Buckley to take the trip from...2022-06-261h 34
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastJurassic Park (1993)It is time for the episode that has been 65 million years in the making. That’s right folks, let us at Ramblin welcome you to JURASSIC PARK - the 1993 mega-blockbuster directed by Steven Spielberg that became the highest-grossing movie of all-time. To excavate the mines of this cinematic milestone, we invite Jurassic expert Jack De La Mare - founder of the site Jurassic Outpost - to share his expertise, while being mindful of anything in mirrors that may be closer than they appear. It’s a suitably epic episode where we spare no expense, leaving no Barbasol Can untouched as w...2022-06-122h 31
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastA Far Off Place (1993)It is 1993, the start of a big year for Amblin Entertainment. But on our way to JURASSIC PARK, we got a bit lost and ended up in A FAR OFF PLACE - the directorial debut of ALWAYS cinematographer Mikael Salomon and one of the earliest roles for future Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon. Released by Walt Disney Pictures, the coming of age adventure drama has fallen into obscurity, forgotten by most including, seemingly, Disney themselves. We dig into why that might be, all the while reflecting on where Amblin is at this juncture, while Josh reflects on his past as a...2022-05-221h 12
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastNoises Off (1992)On we blindly stumble, as the Ramblin gang tackles Peter Bogdanovich’s 1992 adaptation of classic farce NOISES OFF. For this episode we’re joined by our resident expert on the matter (she’s seen it three times in the theatre!) Emily Tatham, who helps bring the requisite amount of chaos to a discussion of a movie about a play that goes horribly wrong. Together we take a journey through Bogdanovich’s tumultuous career, pitch our own Roger Corman pictures, practise our Michael Caine impressions and try not to slip on the sardines. We also try to make time to talk abo...2022-04-241h 39
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastHook (1991)‘Have to fly, have to fight, have to crow, have to save Maggie, have to save Jack… Hook is back.’
It’s time to take flight with Ramblin once more as we head for the second star on the right and straight on till morning to discuss Steven Spielberg’s take on the Peter Pan legend - 1991’s ‘HOOK’, starring Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman and Julia Roberts - which asks the question, what if Peter Pan grew up?
It would be bad form not to have a guest join the Jolly Ramblin crew for such a voyage, which i...2022-04-101h 46
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastAn American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991)Howdy pardners, we’re back. Sorry for the hiatus, one of your fine feathered hosts got struck down with dreaded ‘rona. Don’t sweat it though Ramblin’ fans, as we’re back on the saddle to continue our epic journey through the valley of Amblin Entertainment. That’s right we’re back in the Old West, this time with an animated mouse, with our look at sequel ‘An American Tail: Fievel Goes West’.
We’re joined by our old pal - film journalist Barry Levitt (@blevitt93) - to chart our travels on to the dusty town of Green River, home to...2022-03-271h 21
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastCape Fear (1991)We sail the ocean blue / And our saucy ship's a beauty / We are sober men and true / And attentive to our duty… This week, our duty takes us not to the H.M.S. Pinafore but on Martin Scorsese’s impressionistic river ride into the dark underside of America. That’s right, we’re talking 1991’s CAPE FEAR! Along for the ride is multi-hyphenate film journalist Hanna Flint (@HannaFlint), who helps us unpack its strange production history, its relationship to the noirish original, and how Marty warped an Amblin blockbuster towards his particular sensibilities. Oh, and most importantly, Max Cady’s war...2022-02-272h 02
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastArachnophobia (1990)Eight-legs, two fangs and an attitude. In this episode, we take you on a journey from the deep jungles of Venezuela to Canaima, California, as we follow the adventures of Big Bob, a lovable previously unknown species of spider who has plans to make it big in the USA. On his way he finds love and starts a family, but quickly becomes the target of a community resistant to change and new ideas. Can Big Bob make them see that just because something’s different, doesn’t mean it’s bad?
Join us as we… wait, what do y...2022-02-131h 33
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastGremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)After an extended Christmas break, Ramblin is back, baby! This time we’re joined by Ollie Guthrie (@OGEpisodes), graduate of the Institute of Gremlins 2 Studies, to delve into Joe Dante’s jekakqzzzzz&”&##%*
Your usual episode description writer has been temporarily indisposed as, in my esteemable opinion, ‘Gremlins 2: The New Batch’ requires a level of nuance only attainable by, say, having emerged from a gooey green cocoon. This picture is many things: a furious cry against the machinations of late capitalism; a Trojan horse designed to rip apart a studio release from the inside; and, most importantly, a utopian...2022-01-301h 54
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastBack to the Future Part III (1990)Ramblin heads to Hill Valley for one last time as we round out Robert Zemeckis’ 'Back to the Future’ trilogy with this goofy little Old West delight. Fellow Warwick grad Robin Kerrison (@robinjames_) joins us on the proverbial locomotive, and together we ponder how adorable Doc and Clara are, how thrilling that steam train climax is, and how Jules and Verne are somewhat… unsettling. So don your ponchos, get your frisbees ready and pop on some ZZ Top – it’s time to say goodbye to our favourite time travellers. Don’t be yella, now.
You can find Robin on Twi...2021-12-192h 01
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastJoe Versus the Volcano (1990)It’s time to jump into the fiery crater that is the 1990s, and our first step of the journey takes us to the Big Wu and beyond with John Patrick Shanley’s existential mid-life crisis rom-com ‘Joe Versus the Volcano’. The first in the unofficial Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan ‘meet cute’ trilogy, Joe is a stranger film than its appearance may lead you to believe. We won’t be making our voyage to Waponi Woo alone, as we are joined by BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra film critic Ali Plumb for our discussion. So, pack your steamer trunks Ramblin listeners and get ready...2021-12-051h 34
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastReview of the 80sWhoa, this is heavy - we’re already done and dusted with the 1980s, the decade responsible for some of Amblin’s greatest movies - as this review more than goes to show. So, before we hit the wilderness of the 90s, join us for a look back over the decade that was, as we reveal a number of categories that allow us to ramble once again about some of our favourite aspects of the journey so far. We explore characters, actors, music and dogs before culminating in our individual top fives, as well as revealing the results of the...2021-11-212h 34
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastAlways (1989)Is that smoke in your eyes or are you just that happy to hear us? Climb aboard as we take off in our podcasting cockpit once again to fly over the rich canopy of Amblin Entertainment. In this episode, our attention turns to Steven Spielberg’s ‘Always’ from 1989, the last 80’s Amblin movie. Strap in as we battle the flames of this romantic drama, itself a remake of 1943’s ‘A Guy Named Joe’, trying our darndest to evaluate just why this isn’t one of Spielberg’s more widely discussed ventures. And as an extra game, try and count how many times Jos...2021-11-071h 23
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastBack to the Future Part II (1989)You have to come back with us! Where, you ask? Back to ‘Back to the Future... Part II'! That’s right, gang, it’s time to load up Mr Fusion and set the time circuits to 1989 as the Ramblin boys return from their hiatus to talk about Robert Zemeckis’ looney sci-fi sequel. Returning guest Dan Kelly (@DeekingAround on Twitter) is also along for the ride, which covers such storied ground as the disappearance of Crispin Glover, the mistreatment of Jennifer, the under-rated talents of Thomas F. Wilson and the prophetic Trumpiness of alternate-1985 Biff. There are takes, theories and impressi...2021-10-241h 52
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastDad (1989)Allow us to introduce you to ‘Dad’, the Amblin movie that very few seem to know exists. Despite starring Hollywood legend Jack Lemmon, ‘Cheers’ star Ted Danson and a young Ethan Hawke hot on the heels of ‘Dead Poets Society’, this multi-generational comedy-drama is a film that has very little cultural footprint (and a sparse IMDB trivia page). We take a look at how it came to be and offer our thoughts as to why this is one film in the Amblin canon that seems to have drifted into relative obscurity.
TRIGGER WARNING: The film and our conversation...2021-08-291h 33
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastThe Land Before Time (1988)Once upon this same earth, beneath this same sun, in the winter of 1988, Amblin Entertainment released ‘The Land Before Time’, and kids have been emotionally traumatised ever since. Don Bluth’s second and final Amblin movie sees a group of young dinosaurs making an incredible journey to find the Great Valley, all within 59 minutes. We put together our own herd by inviting our two friends, Nicole Davis and Michael Perry to make the pilgrimage across Bluth’s prehistoric landscape with us. Along the way, we encounter a troubled production history, stumble over a crater of 13 direct to video sequels, and unea...2021-08-151h 56
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastWho Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)Hollywood, 1988. Director Robert Zemeckis, along with producer Stephen Spielberg, somehow convinces Disney to bankroll a live-action/animation hybrid containing a plethora of characters from rival studios, lurid film noir plotting and the libido of a teenage boy. How did he do it? What was its effect on blockbuster cinema? And who did set-up that little cartoon leporid? All of this and more will be explored in this episode, as the Ramblin boys - joined by Anton film executive Jack Buckley - crack open the case file for ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’ and examine the gloriously bizarre delights within. So hop...2021-08-012h 30
Ramblin: An Amblin Podcast*batteries not included (1987)There’s something strange going on in a rundown apartment block on New York’s lower east side. To check it out, we’ve invited our guest, writer and friend Steph Brandhuber (@StephBranded) to see what’s what. We discover some Amazing Stories within concerning a deeply lovable elderly couple, a wannabe artist with a milky beard who grinds everyone’s gears, and of course some incredible 'Fix It' flying machines. All this and more in our adventure through Matthew Robbin’s ‘*batteries not included.’
You can follow Steph over on Twitter (@stephbranded) and Instagram (also @stephbranded) to stay up on he...2021-07-181h 32
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastEmpire of the Sun (1987)After a brief hiatus, we take flight once again with the next film in the Amblin Entertainment timeline, Steven Spielberg’s 1987 adaptation of JG Ballard’s novel, ‘Empire of the Sun’. Starring a young Christian Bale in a tale that offers a unique perspective of World War Two, we dive into the underrated Spielberg war epic, admiring its use of imagery and exploring its relationship with its source material to deliver a story about makeshifts community and a loss of innocence against the grand scale of worldwide conflict.
Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinAmblin) and be sure to subsc...2021-07-041h 40
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastInnerspace (1987)Strap in and get ready for a podcast of incredible proportions. Martin Buddery (@TheMovieNerdSB) joins us as we miniaturise and intravenously enter the world of Joe Dante’s overlooked 1987 classic ‘Innerspace’. Follow us as we latch onto the optic nerve and look at the film’s glorious Looney Tunes excesses, explore the rich subgenre of shrinking movies and discuss how much of a snack Dennis Quaid was in the mid-’80s. How does it sound? Sounds good. The Ramblin machine, zero defects.
Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinAmblin) and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an epis...2021-06-131h 26
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastHarry and the Hendersons (1987)Bigfoot is real, and he loves TV! Head into the woods with the Ramblin Boys as they welcome Petros from the Caged In and Coppola Connections (@cagedinpod) podcasts to discuss William Dear’s bigfoot family comedy, ‘Harry and the Hendersons’, produced by Amblin Entertainment in 1987. Listen as they gawk over great Rick Baker effects, be puzzled by a Purge-esque narrative detour, and consider the shadow of a three-foot ET that weighs heavy over the proceedings. The gang also put Harry’s seemingly innocent and cuddly demeanor on trial, once and for all.
Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinA...2021-05-301h 34
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastAn American Tail (1986)Hop aboard a ship across the Atlantic, as we make the journey to ‘An American Tail’, the first animated movie from Amblin, released back in 1986. Friend and fellow podcaster Barry Levitt (@blevitt93) joins Andy and Josh to unpack the rollercoaster career of the film’s director Don Bluth, before sharing their thoughts on the beautiful animation, the strange details of mice society and pray that nothing happens to their sweet boy, Fievel Mousekewitz. We also ask the question: what’s Don Bluth got against cats?
Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinAmblin) and be sure to subscribe so you don’...2021-05-161h 30
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastThe Money Pit (1986)Don’t worry, that’s not the sound of a bathtub coming through your ceiling, it’s just the Ramblin episode on ‘The Money Pit.’ Griff (@TheEnigmaGriff), co-host of The Paul and Griff Show (@paulngriffshow), joins Andy and Josh to dig through the Tom Hanks/Shelley Long 1986 comedy, directed by Richard Benjamin and produced, of course, by Amblin Entertainment. No airbourne turkey is left unchecked, as they chart the making of the film, try to impersonate Hanks’ exasperated laughter and somehow get on to the topic of ‘Wild Wild West’ once again.
Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinAmblin) a...2021-05-021h 28
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastThe Color Purple (1985)Join Andy and Josh as they take a look at Steven Spielberg’s 1985 adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, ‘The Color Purple.’ Along the way they take a deep dive into the production history of the film, the relationship it has with the novel and question whether the material is a good fit for Spielberg’s sensibilities.
TW: Please be advised that ‘The Color Purple’ is a story that deals with themes of domestic and sexual abuse. We do touch on these themes in our discussion, so please do skip this episode if these are t...2021-04-181h 59
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastYoung Sherlock Holmes (1985)The game is afoot, dear listeners! Who will solve the mystery of 'Young Sherlock Holmes' and its place in the Amblin Entertainment canon? Don’t you fret, The Ramblin Boys are on the case! Join them on their latest adventure as they examine the career of the film’s director, Barry Levinson, discuss the brand power of exec-producer Steven Spielberg, and uncover how this little seen schoolboy detective story helped pave the way for the creation of Pixar Animation Studios. Listen, like, review and subscribe; why that’s elementary dear listener!
Check out the Corridor Crew’s VFX brea...2021-04-041h 47
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastBack to the Future (1985)Great Scott! The time has come for The Ramblin Boys to tackle one of the most defining hits of Amblin Entertainment, Robert Zemeckis’ 1985 sci-fi classic, ‘Back to the Future’ (which also happens to be Josh’s favourite film of all-time). Joined by their guest, creator and host of the Fandomentals podcast (@FandomentalsPod) Harley Mumford (@harleymumford), the boys discuss just what it is that makes this timeless blockbuster tick. From the origins of Zemeckis, to the casting (and firing) of Eric Stoltz, to Huey Lewis and The News and bespoke Van Halen tapes; no Old Man Peabody impression is left behind i...2021-03-212h 13
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastThe Goonies (1985)Hey You Guys! It’s time to hop on your bikes once again and go in the search of some rich stuff, as we discuss Richard Donner’s beloved adventure movie, ‘The Goonies’. Andy and Josh are joined by friend and fellow Warwick Film Grad, Seb Jones, as they recount their own Goonie-esque childhood escapades, unearth an old spiteful Terry Wogan clip and unpack the problematic character of Sloth. And Cyndi Lauper’s ethos will be put to the test as they find out once and for all if ‘The Goonies’ really ‘r’ good enough.
As mentioned in the episode, her...2021-03-071h 41
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastFandango (1985)Grab a case of beer and hop in a Cadillac, as we take to the road with The Groovers to discuss Kevin Reynolds’ debut feature film, 1985’s ‘Fandango’. Executive produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and an uncredited Steven Spielberg, this little seen coming of age flick is also the first leading role for one Kevin Costner. Join us as we chat about its student film origins, uncover the dangers of reading the Wiki page for a film whilst you’re still watching it, and question the fact that Kevin Costner clearly doesn’t like sharing booze. Also, if you thought...2021-02-211h 51
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastGremlins (1984)Join us for a belated Christmas special, as Andy and Josh are joined by one half of the W-Rated podcast (@WRatedPod), Daisy Edwards (@DaisyVicEdwards) to discuss another cold hard classic, Joe Dante’s 1984 seasonal black comedy, ‘Gremlins’. Hear tales of childhood woodland walks, discussions of the logistics of owning a Mogwai, gushing praise of incredible puppetry, as well as Josh doing his best Phoebe Cates impression. And remember, if your internet connection ever drops, before you restart the router, turn on all the lights, check all the closets and cupboards, look under all the beds. 'Cause you never can tell...2021-02-071h 22
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)What is there left to say about one of the most iconic movies of all-time? Well, quite a bit it would seem! Andy and Josh are joined by David from Jurassic Collectables (@JurassicCollect) to unpack Steven Spielberg’s 1982 classic, ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’, the film which gave Amblin its logo. The horror origins of everyone’s favourite alien are discussed, performances are praised, childhood memories and theme park experiences are recounted, and the question is asked: who doesn’t cry at E.T., ANDY?! What is clear is that, after nearly 40 years, this film still has absolute power.
You ca...2021-01-241h 25
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastPoltergeist (1982)They’re Here! Andy and Josh kick off the New Year by welcoming their first guest, friend and fellow Warwick Film Grad Dan Kelly (@DKsMum), to discuss the 1982 horror classic ‘Poltergeist’. Produced and written by Steven Spielberg, and directed by Tobe Hooper, the boys go into the debate surrounding who really directed the movie, a debate that has been raging ever since the film’s release. Myths are dissected, themes are unpacked and a good movie dog gets his dues. Let’s get spooky!
Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinAmblin) and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss...2021-01-101h 14
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastContinental Divide (1981)Andy and Josh take to The Rockies to unpack Michael Apted’s 1981 film, ‘Continental Divide’, the first film to be released under the Amblin Entertainment banner. Executive produced by Spielberg, with a script by Lawrence Kasdan and starring John Belushi as a romantic lead, there’s plenty to discuss in a seemingly obscure title, particularly when placing the film within the larger context of the brief yet explosive career of Belushi. Andy also tries out a new nickname for Josh, which he seems to enjoy.
Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinAmblin) and be sure to subscribe so you don’...2020-12-271h 12
Ramblin: An Amblin PodcastPrologue - Amblin' (1968)In this introductory episode, Andy and Josh give you a flavour of what’s to come, as well as your first listen to the pumping theme music crafted by Robert J. Hunter and Greg Sheffield. The Ramblin Boys also roll back the clock to discuss the short film that gave Amblin Entertainment its name, a student film by 22 year-old Steven Spielberg, entitled ‘Amblin’ from 1968.
Follow the podcast on Twitter @RamblinAmbln,
Special thanks to Emily Tatham for our artwork, Robert J. Hunter and Greg Sheffield for our awesome theme music, and Sarah Buddery & MJ Smith of 'Let's J...2020-12-1323 min