Melissa Kaercher - Podcast Details

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Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 207: B-Fest 2025Dearest listeners, we have missed you! We come to you today from B-Fest 2025, a long-running annual 24-hour movie marathon of B movies, run on campus at Northwestern University in Chicago. Melissa is joined live on the ground by Kelvin Hatle and Noel Thingvall for all manner of travails and gloriously weird cinema. Please pardon the sound quality of this episode. We were recording in environments with lots of background noise. Movies discussed: Sheba, Baby The Thing That Couldn’t Die Shack Out on 101 Truth or Dare?: A Critical Madness The Wi...2025-02-172h 03

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 196: Twisters (and also a story about a bird)We are back, dear listeners! We bring to you this week appreciation for Glen Powell and for the hallowed Jucy Lucy. And Melissa has a story about a bird! Movies discussed: Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar Twisters Midsomer Murders (TV) Other things discussed: Matt’s Bar and the famous Jucy Lucy The Burger Scholar (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAzrgbu8gEMIkFTtpY-Vn0Kjj_LQ0pE0M&si=sdDTnc4g4o65GhOm) A particularly ridiculous encounter with a small bird Monster smut Politics (sorry!) Th...2024-09-0848 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 185: XanaCineHoliday 5Dear listeners, this week we bring you the joy of another XanaCineHoliday, where Windy and Melissa show each other movies the other hasn’t seen! NOTE: We apologize for various noisy pet sounds in this episode. Melissa’s dogs in particular had OPINIONS. Movies discussed: El Conde My Sister Eileen The Map of Tiny Perfect Things The Parallax View River Fear Street 1994 Fear Street 1978 Cocaine Bear The post Episode 185: XanaCineHoliday 5 appeared first on Xanadu Cinema Pleasure Dome. 2024-03-141h 10

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 184: B-Fest 2024Today, dear listeners, Melissa is joined by Noel Thingvall and Kelvin Hatle for tales from B-Fest 2024! Terrible movies! Bad jokes! Paper plates! NOTE: We deeply apologize for the background noise during this episode. We were recording in live environments, including a moving car on Interstate 94. We did our best to reduce the background noise while emphasizing our voices. Movies discussed: Stunt Rock Hot Potato Wonder Women The Wizard of Speed and Time Plan 9 from Outer Space Demonic Toys Hard Rock Zombies The Chilling Runaway A...2024-03-071h 51

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 180: Marvels / The Angry Black Girl and Her MonsterIt’s good to be back, dearest listeners! Today we bring you tidings of our latest discoveries, plus a long discussion about the ever-expanding MCU and its associated fatigue. Movies discussed: The Thin Man The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster Thanksgiving Marvels (and the MCU in general) Other things discussed: General praising/griping about various streaming services The Marvelization of Cinema (video mentioned by Melissa during the episode) It Can’t Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis Book Nooks Sarah J Maas books Russian Doll (TV)2024-02-1152 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 162: Barbie (now with spoilers!) / The Rocking HorsemenThis week, dear listeners, Windy has caught up with Barbie and goes into The Spoiler Zone! And Melissa has been catching up with Nobuhiko Obayashi movies and with Ted Lasso! Movies Discussed: Barbie The Rocking Horsemen Fargo Other things discussed: Genghis Khan (music video) by Miike Snow Mandom commercial by Nobuhiko Obayashi Ted Lasso (TV) Kindle Unlimited (especially for smut) Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (and also Sanditon, Lady Susan, and The Watsons) The post Episode 162: Barbie (now with spoilers!) / The Rocking Horsemen appeared...2023-08-1030 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 156: Flux Gourmet / Velvet Buzzsaw / The SquareDearest listeners, this week we discuss a trio of movies that poke at the art world! And then we discuss monster erotica for some reason! Movies discussed: Flux Gourmet Velvet Buzzsaw The Square Robocop Careful (this is the movie whose title Melissa could not remember) The Saddest Music in the World Other things: Guy Maddin Link: scene from The Square Link: interview with Peter Strickland The post Episode 156: Flux Gourmet / Velvet Buzzsaw / The Square appeared first on Xanadu Cinema Pleasure Dome. 2023-06-1635 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 148: XanaCineHoliday 4, Part 2Dear listeners, today we bring you the exciting conclusion of our XanaCineHoliday disucssions! We surprise each other with movies new and old, silly and serious, and big and small. Movies discussed: Book of Eli In Fabric The 40 Year Old Version Cruella Prey Sorry to Bother You Dead Again The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent Also: Melissa’s Letterboxd list of Sentient Murder Object movies https://letterboxd.com/chebuytkin/list/sentient-murder-objects/ The post Episode 148: XanaCineHoliday 4, Part 2 appeared first on Xanadu Cinema Pleasure Dome. 2023-04-131h 07

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 147: XanaCineHoliday 4, Part 1Dear listeners, today we bring back one of our favorite traditions of Pleasure Domes past: the XanaCineHoliday! This esteemed holiday is when Windy and Melissa pick out a weekend, assign movies to each other, watch those movies, and meet up between films to talk about them. Today’s episode is the first half our XanaCineHoliday disucssions; next week we will post the second half. Movies discussed: Space Sweepers Newsies: The Broadway Musical Mulholland Drive Facing Nolan Lisztomania The post Episode 147: XanaCineHoliday 4, Part 1 appeared first on Xanadu Cinema Pleasure Dome. 2023-04-0747 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 145: Movie Set Visit / Moulin Rouge on stage / That Thing You DoDear listeners, this week we have some very special treats for you! Melissa and Windy sign in from London, where they bring tales of visiting the set of The Gorge, seeing the West End stage adaptation of Moulin Rouge, and watching the extended version of That Thing You Do. Movies Discussed: The Gorge Moulin Rouge (stage adaptation) That Thing You Do Other Things Discussed: The Shaggs The post Episode 145: Movie Set Visit / Moulin Rouge on stage / That Thing You Do appeared first on Xanadu Cinema Pleasure Dome. 2023-03-2333 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 144: Off Topic Collection #9Dear listeners, we are still traveling, so today you are receiving a new “off topic” episode, which is constructed of some of the more interesting bits we edited out of our previous episodes. Some clips are new, some clips are many years old, and all clips are quite random. Voices heard in this collection, aside from ours: David Canfield Fes Kaercher David Tyler Rand-McKay Miscellaneous links to some things discussed: Keep Watching the Skies! by Bill Warren Gorilla in the International Space Station The post Episode 144: Off T...2023-03-1628 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 141: B-Fest 2023Dear listeners, this week Melissa brings you to the wilds of Evanston, Illinois for the 40th anniversary of B-Fest, a 24-hour film festival of bad movies, cult movies, and other mayhem. Killer children! Aliens resurrecting the dead! Space Camp! Show notes behind the cut! Movies discussed: Gator Big Man Japan The Adventure X the Unknown Wizard of Speed and Time Plan 9 from Outer Space The Children of Ravensback Fiend Without a Face The Boy Who Cried Werewolf American Ninja Thrilling Bloody Sword 2023-02-231h 20

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 138: Oscars / Come From Away / Space SweepersOh my, dear listeners, what a week! The Oscar nominations have arrived, Windy wants to talk musicals again, and Melissa has love for a Korean space epic. Show notes under the cut! Movies Discussed: Everything Everywhere All at Once The Banshees of Inishirin Triangle of Sadness Come From Away Space Sweepers Other Things Discussed: Book nooks This photo of Jamie Lee Curtis and Michelle Yeoh, when Yeoh won a Golden Globe award: Jamie Lee Curtis and Michelle Yeoh The post...2023-02-0449 min

Fiasco Family Movie NightBonus: Melissa Kaercher on Hudson HawkThe Fiascos bring back Melissa Kaercher to talk more about the making of a flop. Buckle up for more discussion of Hudson Hawk! Show Notes. Melissa joined the Fiascos for their episodes on Matinee and God Told Me To.2021-10-0443 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 134h: The Eclectic Mayhem Raids Again! Part 8Dear listeners, we are back with tales and movies from the final day of Fantastic Fest 2019! Movies and parties and intergalactic funk bands! Show notes below the cut! Movies Discussed: The Platform Parasite Knives Out People Discussed: Gille Klabin Carl Lucas Daniel Craig The post Episode 134h: The Eclectic Mayhem Raids Again! Part 8 appeared first on Xanadu Cinema Pleasure Dome. 2019-09-2731 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 134g: The Eclectic Mayhem Raids Again! Part 7Dear listeners, we are back with tales and movies from Day 7 of Fantastic Fest 2019! Now with more Dracula! Show notes below the cut! Movies Discussed: The Death of Dick Long Wyrm Dogs Don’t Wear Pants Saint Maud Sweetheart Guns Akimbo People Discussed: Daniel Radcliffe Samara Weaving The post Episode 134g: The Eclectic Mayhem Raids Again! Part 7 appeared first on Xanadu Cinema Pleasure Dome. 2019-09-2635 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 134f: The Eclectic Mayhem Raids Again! Part 6Dear listeners, we are back with tales and movies from Day 6 of Fantastic Fest 2019! Time travel! Crocodiles! Time travel with crocodiles! Show notes below the cut! Movies Discussed: Memory: The Origins of Alien Swallow The Pool Dolemite Is My Name Primal Fractured Synchronic The Mortuary Collection People Discussed: Genndy Tartakovsky Stephen Tobolowsky Rian Johnson Karina Longworth The post Episode 134f: The Eclectic Mayhem Raids Again! Part 6 appeared first on Xanadu Cinema Pleasure Dome. 2019-09-2536 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 134e: The Eclectic Mayhem Raids Again! Part 5Dear listeners, we are back with tales and movies from Day 5 of Fantastic Fest 2019! The second half of the fest has begun, so we are starting to catch the movies we’ve heard good things about in the first four days! Show notes below the cut! Movies Discussed: Vivarium In the Shadow of the Moon Patrick The Death of Dick Long In the Tall Grass The Cleansing Hour Jallikattu VHYES People Discussed: Stephen King Joe Hill Jack Henry Robbins ...2019-09-2435 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 134d: The Eclectic Mayhem Raids Again! Part 4Dear listeners, we are back with tales and movies from Day 4 of Fantastic Fest 2019! Settle in with some panna cotta and have a listen! Show notes below the cut! Movies Discussed: The Last to See Them The Platform Ride Your Wave Sea Fever Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street Synchronic Dolemite Is My Name Trampa Infernal Why Don’t You Just Die! People Discussed: Mark Patton Cecil Baldwin Justin Benson Aaron Moorhead Eddie Murphy Di’Vine...2019-09-2350 min

A Reel EducationEpisode 130 – Spider Man: Into the Spider-VerseWe decided we needed to watch the 2019 Oscar Winner for Best Animated Film, Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse! Melissa had not yet seen it so Patricia Wick returns as our expert to talk about the film that may have just been the best film of 2019, period. While not officially a part of the MCU, … Continue reading The post Episode 130 – Spider Man: Into the Spider-Verse appeared first on A Reel Education.2019-04-1500 min

A Reel EducationEpisode 129 – Green BookAs has been our annual tradition, we are taking a look at this year’s Oscar winner for Best Picture! For this episode, Melissa and Tim had both not yet seen the film. That means Patricia Wick joins us as our expert as we watch Green Book. This movie has some issues. It isn’t horrible but … Continue reading The post Episode 129 – Green Book appeared first on A Reel Education.2019-04-0200 min

A Reel EducationEpisode 113 – The OmenWe had a bit of an unintentional hiatus there because Melissa and Tim had a heck of a time coordinating schedules. We’re back and we are watching The Omen with guest Kyle Dekker. Tim also hasn’t seen the film so we have two newbies with a film Melissa watched on nearly constant loop when she … Continue reading The post Episode 113 – The Omen appeared first on A Reel Education.2018-06-0100 min

A Reel EducationEpisode 112 – Get OutBarb Lind returns as we look at yet another film nominated for Best Picture in 2018 – Get Out! Melissa is actually the only member of our podcasting crew who has seen the movie so Tim and Barb both get to experience it for the first time. This is the work of first time writer/director … Continue reading The post Episode 112 – Get Out appeared first on A Reel Education.2018-04-0400 min

A Reel EducationEpisode 110 – The GooniesThis week is unusual because Melissa couldn’t make it and Tim was forced to be the movie expert. This proved difficult as it was only his second time watching the film! He and guest Kelvin Hatle do their best as they watch a favorite of many people who were children in the 80’s – The … Continue reading The post Episode 110 – The Goonies appeared first on A Reel Education.2018-03-0100 min

A Reel EducationEpisode 97 – The Living DaylightsWe return to our James Bond series with the first of only two Bond outings by Timothy Dalton – The Living Daylights! Chrys VanDerKamp returns as our guest to decide for herself where Dalton falls in the “who is the best Bond” debate. Tim and Melissa are both Dalton apologists as he is frequently viewed … Continue reading The post Episode 97 – The Living Daylights appeared first on A Reel Education.2017-07-1500 min

A Reel Education: NoirEpisode 47: VertigoThis week, we go see Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo in 70mm, and then we have a whole lot to say about it! We highly recommend you watch the film before listening to the episode, because oh boy do we spoil all the details. The film is readily available for rental on streaming services such as Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, Google Play, and YouTube. Note: Melissa only introduces Alee during the first segment, because they weren’t sure Tonya wasn’t at the theater yet, and she wasn’t sure she was going to make it in time for th...2017-04-241h 11

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 130: XanaCineMovieTradeHolidayDayThing: Part 1This week, dear listeners, Windy and Melissa do another variant on the XanaCineHoliday, where they each spent an entire day watching movies they had never seen, as dictated by the other host. The movies range from ultra-obscure avant-garde to a movie where projectile vomiting happens before the opening credits end, and approximately 71% of them are arguably musicals. If you want to drink along, grab some Bushmills Irish Whiskey or some sake and dig in! ALERT ALERT ALERT LATE BREAKING NEWS: filmmaker Ross Sutherland has posted the entirety of Stand by for Tape Backup to Vimeo...2017-04-141h 16

A Reel EducationEpisode 90 – MoonlightThis episode, we tackle the 2017 Oscar winner for Best Picture: Moonlight! After the crazy ending to this year’s Oscar ceremony, this film was crowned Best Picture. We’re guessing you haven’t seen it. In fact, neither Melissa or Tim had seen it either. Still, we brought in Pat Wick, who also hadn’t seen it, to … Continue reading The post Episode 90 – Moonlight appeared first on A Reel Education.2017-04-0100 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 129: Thornado!We’re back, dear listeners, with an episode all about power dynamics in the MCU (Marvel Comics movie universe) and superhero movies in general! And for this extremely long (and kinda drunken) discussion, we are joined by geography professor David Tyler McKay! If you would like to drink along (and why wouldn’t you?), we recommend either Bushmills Irish Whiskey (Melissa’s choice), Grupo Olarra ‘Acantus’ Cabernet Sauvignon – Tempranillo (Windy’s choice), or New Amsterdam Vodka (which is what Melissa was feeding David). Show notes behind the cut! People mentioned: Bryan Singer 2017-03-301h 58

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 218: A Nickel Short of QuasimodoThis week, dear listeners, we bring you an episode about Abel Ferrara’s 1992 movie Bad Lieutenant and Werner Herzog’s 2009 not-remake Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans! Why? Well, Windy hadn’t seen them before, and Melissa had a need to talk about inexplicable iguanas. A special note about this episode: it was recorded over a year ago, on February 23rd, 2016. It is one of six episodes that we recorded early last year, which never got posted due to our later hiatus and subsequent posting schedule change. Thankfully, we were talking about movies that were already over fiv...2017-03-061h 15

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 127: They Ask So Little of MeIn this week’s episode, Windy and writer/TV show host/modern rogue Jason Murphy bring back tales of SFFSFF, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Short Film Festival in Seattle, WA! (Since Melissa got to have a B-Fest episode without Windy, it’s only fair that Windy also got a solo show!) Show notes behind the cut! Exclamation points!!! Short films mentioned: Seahawks vs. Monsters Getting Fat in a Healthy Way The Mill at Calder’s End The Story of Pluto Tears of Steel Filthy But Fine L...2017-02-1851 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 126: Everything Is Doors NowThis week, dear listeners, we bring you straight into the heart of B-Fest 2017, as Melissa, Field Correspondent Kelvin Hatle, and special guest star Tim Lehnerer spend 24 hours in Chicago watching crappy movies! And if you are wondering what we were drinking, the answer is, “Not enough.” Click beyond the cut for show notes! Movies seen at B-Fest 2017: Hercules in New York The Magic Sword Bloodlust! The Empire of the Ants The Wizard of Speed and Time Plan 9 from Outer Space The Last Dragon...2017-02-031h 48

A Reel EducationEpisode 85 – La Dolce VitaThis episode is a return to the world of Federico Fellini with two guests as we all try to determine if Melissa’s hatred of the film is misplaced. La Dolce Vita is considered one of Fellini’s masterpieces. But is it? We watch the film and do our best to appreciate it as film geeks. You … Continue reading The post Episode 85 – La Dolce Vita appeared first on A Reel Education.2017-01-1500 min

A Reel EducationEpisode 83 – A Hard Day’s NightWe have a first this week – it is the first episode of our podcast that doesn’t feature Tim at all! Instead, Melissa is joined by Lauren Haven and John Youker. They are present to watch the classic Beatles Film, A Hard Day’s Night! This rather light and frothy mixture of Beatles music and a … Continue reading The post Episode 83 – A Hard Day’s Night appeared first on A Reel Education.2016-12-2700 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 123: Gettin’ Silly, Gettin’ Deep with Sex CanariesWe’re back, dear listeners, and we bring you news from Butt-Numb-a-Thon 2016! Meghan Murphy returns as our special guest correspondent, and this year, we are also joined by BNAT newbie, Barb Lind! If you would like to drink along, we recommend just taking a long swig of sleep deprivation, because that’s what all four of us were working on. (If you do need to sleep, Melissa does not recommend sleeping on the bathroom floor.) Show notes behind the cut! Movies seen at Butt-Numb-a-Thon 2016: Silence Deluge Fences Long L...2016-12-222h 04

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 122: Dormammu, I’ve Come for a CookieWindy and Melissa both spent the entirety of Black Friday in movie theaters, so this week’s episode is about all the shiny new movies they saw on their latest XanaCineHoliday! If you would like to drink along, we recommend Indeed Brewing’s Dandy Lager (Melissa’s pick) or Yellow Tail’s Sweet Red Roo wine. Show notes behind the cut! Movies Discussed: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Rules Don’t Apply Doctor Strange Allied Arrival Edge of Seventeen Hacksaw Ridge Loving 2016-11-281h 43

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 121: BabaDook Dook Grey DookThis week, dear listeners, we bring you an episode about The Babadook, and boy do we have a lot to say about it! If you would like to drink along, we recommend Surly Brewing’s Todd the Axe Man IPA (Melissa’s pick) or Yellowtail Cabernet Shiraz (Windy’s pick). Show notes behind the cut! Movies mentioned: The Babadook Monster (short) Bad Batch Belief: The Possession of Janet Moses The Wolf of Wall Street People mentioned: Essie Davis Jennifer Kent Lars von Trier 2016-11-151h 10

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 120: The Art of Anti-City ViolenceLo and behold, dear listeners, we have returned! And with us, we bring special guest star Matthew Kessen, who has been dying to talk A LOT about Shin Godzilla! If you have not seen the film yet, do not worry, as the first many minutes of this episode are spoiler-free. We make it very clear before we move in to The Spoiler Zone. (And after that, you are on your own.) There is also a special segment at the end that was recorded the same night that Shin Godzilla opened in Minneapolis. We apologize for...2016-10-281h 25

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 119g: The Return of the Eclectic Mayhem: Part 7Rejoice, dear listeners, for our recap of Day 7 of Fantastic Fest 2016 is here! Special thanks to guest star Adam Lueck, who was able to talk to Windy while Melissa is dying of consumption in the background! Movies mentioned: Kammattipadam Nova Seed Assassination Classroom: Graduation The Handmaiden The Autopsy of Jane Doe Sadako vs Kayako The post Episode 119g: The Return of the Eclectic Mayhem: Part 7 appeared first on Xanadu Cinema Pleasure Dome. 2016-09-2925 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 119e: The Return of the Eclectic Mayhem: Part 5We are still alive (somehow), so here is our report from Day 5 of Fantastic Fest 2016! In Ugandan terms, it is BEST OF DA BEST SUPA ACTION! Movies mentioned: Belief: The Possession of Janet Moses Age of Shadows The Arrival Bad Black Split A Dark Song People mentioned: Nabwana IGG (director of Bad Black) Alan Hofmanis (aka Commando Jesus, the American who made the pilgrimage to Wakaliwood) Lee Majors M. Night Shyamalan James MacAvoy Links: The website for Wakaliwood, the movie...2016-09-2753 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 115: A Blunt Instrument at the Sharp Utensil SocietyThis week, dear listeners, we discuss the Liz Taylor/Richard Burton film adaptation of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, which was released 50 years ago as of this June! Windy had never seen it before, so Melissa figured that it was about damned time. If you would like to drink along, we recommend WATER. That’s right. We both drank WATER for this episode, which is probably a first in XanaCineHistory. But, seriously, this movie has a proximity intoxication effect. It is unwise to double-down on such power. Show notes behind the cut! Mo...2016-05-261h 08

A Reel Education: NoirEpisode 25: Kiss Me DeadlyOn this giddy episode, we visit Robert Aldrich’s groundbreaking Mickey Spillane adaptation, Kiss Me Deadly! We highly recommend you watch the film before listening to the episode, because we head straight for the spoiler room. This film is a little hard to find on the official streaming channels right now, but Criterion has it on a very nice DVD release, and there is usually an illicit copy available for free on YouTube. During the episode, Melissa mentions that Xanadu Cinema Pleasure Dome recently did two whole episodes encompassing the entire filmography of Robert Aldrich. So, if yo...2016-05-2155 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 114: Multicolored Ramen Movie NightDear listeners, this week we are joined by David Tyler McKay for an episode full of nerdlove for Captain America: Civil War! We start off with a few minutes of spoiler-free territory, then plunge straight into the Spoiler Zone, so you’ll probably want to see the movie before listening to the episode. If you would like to drink along, we recommend either Bushmills Irish Whiskey (Melissa’s pick), New Amsterdam Vodka (David’s pick), or Grupo Olarra ‘Acantus’ Cabernet Sauvignon/Tempranillo (Windy’s pick) (it’s red). Show notes behind the cut! Movies me...2016-05-191h 23

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 113: The Parrot Is Under Police ProtectionDear listeners, this week, we are joined by guest star Paul Comeau for an episode about master documentarian, Errol Morris! Paul was a former cohost of The Geek Life podcast alongside Melissa, so this is a reunion of sorts. Also, Errol Morris is awesome. If you would like to drink along, we recommend picking up a bottle of Lambrusco (Windy’s pick) or pre-Prohibition cocktails crafted out of Old Tom gin (which is what Paul was sharing with Melissa). We do have one correction for this week’s episode. During the show, Melissa complains that the...2016-05-151h 21

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 112: Congratulations, Ulysses S. GrantThis week, dear listeners, we bring you a completely self-indulgent episode about our movie-themed weddings! That’s right: Melissa just got married a few weeks ago in a very nerdy fashion, and Windy also had a nerd wedding when she got married, so we just talk about all that for an hour. We promise that there is far more talk about swords and Godzilla than flower arrangements or color themes. If you would like to drink along, we recommend either Yellowtail Sangria (Windy’s pick) or Bushmills Whiskey (Melissa’s pick). We don’t currently have a cop...2016-05-081h 06

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 109: We Don’t Need Physics! We Have Cars!We return victorious this week, dear family, with an episode about The Fast and the Furious series! We are joined by Alamo Drafthouse denizen Luke Mullen for this in-depth squeefest about our favorite car-smashing soap opera, as Windy describes her thoughts and feelings after seeing all of the films for the first time. If you would like to join us in drinking… well, we did it wrong. No matter what we were/weren’t drinking during the actual episode, we should have been drinking Corona. Because family. Sorry for delivering this episode a week late! Meli...2016-04-141h 21

A Reel Education: NoirEpisode 22: Sunset BoulevardThis week, we finally watch one of the greatest films noir that ever noired: Sunset Boulevard. (Yes, dear listeners, we also did a full episode on Sunset Boulevard over on the parent podcast Reel Education back in 2014. The two shows are different. The first one features Melissa’s full barrage of trivia; this one is more dedicated to our raw reactions after seeing the film in a packed theater.) We highly recommend you watch the film before listening to the episode, because wow, it’s a great movie. This film is currently available pretty much everywher...2016-04-0751 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 108: Let’s Pop the Hubris Bubble!This week, dear listeners, guest star Jerry Belich returns to share stories about movie sweding! That’s right: Jerry and Melissa tell backstage stories about making silly YouTube videos! (If you are not familiar with the term “sweding”, it refers to making your own homemade version of your favorite movies. The term comes from the Michel Gondry film, Be Kind Rewind, which tells the tale of two video store clerks who accidentally erase their store’s inventory, and must remake all the movies from scratch.) If you would like to drink along with all the tales of...2016-03-311h 08

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 107: Everybody Needs FrockcoatsThis week, dear listeners, we bring you a magical double-feature episode about the two magician movies that came out in 2006: The Prestige and The Illusionist! (Okay, there was a third one in the same year, but did anyone really see Scoop?) For this episode, we are joined once again by super special guest star, Fes Works! If you would like to drink along, we recommend the following (not necessarily at the same time): Two Gingers Whiskey (Windy’s pick), Apple Pie (Fes’ pick), or New Glarus Staghorn Octoberfest (Melissa’s pick). Show notes behind the cut!...2016-03-241h 37

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 104: A Pair of Teeth: Part 2Dear listeners, we return to you this week with the second half of our XanaCineHoliday Extravaganza! That’s right — Windy, Melissa, and Pat Wick all spent an entire day in movie theaters, and they bring tales of current movies for your ears. If you would like to catch up with Windy’s garrulous inebriation, we recommend Yellowtail Sangria. Show notes behind the cut! Movies mentioned: The Witch Midnight Special (trailer) Room Race Brooklyn Hail, Caesar! The Young Messiah (trailer) People mentioned: Jeff Ni...2016-03-031h 09

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 103: A Pair of Teeth: Part 1This week, dear listeners, we are joined by Pat Wick for a two-part extravaganza about current movies, because this is our XanaCineHoliday Special! Windy, Melissa, and Pat all spent an entire day in theaters in three different cities, and they all lived to tell about it. (Bonus: if you’re the type of person who likes to try to guess the Oscars, the end of this episode contains 20 minutes about all five of the nominated Best Documentary Short Subject films.) If you would like to drink along, we recommend Yellowtail Sangria, because it fuels Windy like gasoline fu...2016-02-251h 32

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 102: Poopception: Part 2This week, dear listeners, we bring you the second half of our B-Fest 2016 rundown! Kelvin Hatle of the Get Off My World podcast returns to help Melissa relay tales of joy and horror. If you would like to drink along, we’re still drinking what we had last week: New Glarus Staghorn Octoberfest, Green River soda, and HEB sparkling water with sake. (Separately. Not mixed together.) Show notes behind the cut! Movies discussed: The Garbage Pail Kids Movie Blood Mania Moon Zero Two Low Blow The Fift...2016-02-181h 04

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 101: Poopception: Part 1This week, dear listeners, is the first half of our B-Fest 2016 report! Melissa ventured off to Chicago with Kelvin Hatle to watch 24 straight hours of B movies, and so now you can hear the two of them tell tales of dumbfoundedness while Windy happily drinks! If you would like to drink along, we heartily recommend New Glarus Staghorn Octoberfest (Kelvin’s pick), Green River soda (Melissa’s pick), and HEB mango sparkling water with sake (Windy’s concoction). And here’s a photo of Melissa wearing her birthday present from Windy: I AM BATMITE!2016-02-111h 04

A Reel EducationEpisode 63 – The Hateful EightThose of you who listened to our last episode may have noticed we said this episode would be about The Phantom of the Opera. Surprise! With The Hateful Eight leaving theaters soon, we decided we should shuffle off to the movie theater and check out Quentin Tarantino’s latest offering. Melissa actually saw the film in … Continue reading The post Episode 63 – The Hateful Eight appeared first on A Reel Education.2016-02-0100 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 99: Your Hopes and Dreams Are Bug PowderThis week, we are joined by game designer Jerry Belich for an episode about The Neverending Story! Join us as we revisit this classic from childhood and realize that we have so very many questions. If you would like to drink along, feel free to grab some Yellowtail Cabernet Sauvignon (Windy’s pick), 12 year old Glenlivet (Jerry’s pick), or Cheerwine (Melissa’s non-alcoholic pick). Show notes behind the cut! Movies mentioned: The Neverending Story Labyrinth People mentioned: Noah Hathaway Barret Oliver David Bowie ...2016-01-211h 19

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 98: So Many Carbs for Your JoyThis week, dear listeners, we bring you an episode about war movies, featuring super-special guest star, Pat Wick! This episode was recorded waaay back in October, so we’re extra excited to bring this one to you this week. It kept getting bumped out because of various reasons (i.e., “Noel did a two-part episode again”, “we probably shouldn’t post an episode about war movies on Christmas”, etc.), but now it is live in the world, and you can reminisce about the days when Melissa could still have a beer! (Or at least Melissa can reminisce about beer.)2016-01-171h 18

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 96: There Is a Party in My Bottle, and You’re Invited!Buckle up, dear listeners, because this week, we celebrate the New Year with a selection of PARTY MOVIES! (Appropriately, this is an even-numbered episode, so the drunk is especially strong with this one.) If you would like to drink along (hoo boy), we recommend either Yellowtail Winter Red Blend (Windy’s choice) or Kickapoo Fruit Shine sangria-flavored soda with New Amsterdam Vodka (Melissa’s choice). (Note: Kickapoo Fruit Shine contains caffeine, unbeknownst to Melissa at the time. Melissa hadn’t had caffeine in many years. If she sounds like a rabid, drunk Tasmanian Devil at times du...2015-12-311h 18

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 92: A Jail of Cages: Part 2This week, dear listeners, Windy, Melissa, and Noel Thingvall bring you the exciting conclusion to our two-part episode about Nicolas Cage! …and really, do we need to say anything more than that? Show notes behind the cut! Movies mentioned: Kick-Ass Ghost Rider Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance Snake Eyes Stolen Face/Off Birdy Lord of War Good Kill …and pretty much every movie Nicolas Cage was ever in People mentioned: Nicolas Cage Chloe Grace Moretz Matthew Vaug...2015-12-031h 28

A Reel EducationEpisode 58 – Bull DurhamIn part two of our exploration of movies about Baseball, we watched Bull Durham. Pat Wick acts as our stunt Jena but it is Melissa who has never seen the film. The film is one of the more quotable ones we’ve watched and is actually about baseball. At least it is a little bit like … Continue reading The post Episode 58 – Bull Durham appeared first on A Reel Education.2015-11-1600 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 89: I Believe in DhoomThis week, dear listeners, Windy and Melissa bring you their favorite Bollywood movies! Well, Bollywood and other films from India. But mostly Bollywood. And mostly Shahrukh Khan movies. Seriously, there’s a lot of Shahrukh Khan talk in this episode. Anyway, you’ll enjoy hearing us make egregious geographical and pronunciation errors. If you would like to drink along, we suggest either Bogle Essential Red (if you’re into wine) or New Glarus’ Staghorn Octoberfest (if you’re into beer and have access to Wisconsin). Show notes behind the cut! Movies mentioned...2015-11-131h 06

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 88: Onion, Parsley, ShoeThis week, dear listeners, Melissa gets all nerdy with one of her favorite areas of cinema: documentaries. She selects a few of her favorites to discuss, and Windy adds a few of her own. If you would like to drink along, we suggest either Norton Barrel Select red wine or New Amsterdam vodka, both of which are fine budget selections. We apologize for the audio issues. We were recording over Hangouts, and Windy’s feed wasn’t always reliable. Also, there was nearly a one-second delay, so some weird timing things happen. We’ve fixed everyt...2015-11-081h 09

A Reel Education: NoirEpisode 12: Leave Her to HeavenDear listeners, you are in for a real treat this week. Our regular crew is joined by special guest star Sharon Stiteler (aka Birdchick) for our episode about Leave Her to Heaven! We highly recommend you watch the film before listening to the episode, because we spoil the film. Like, a lot. You want to see the movie. While this movie isn’t on most of the usual streaming channels, there are a couple copies on YouTube, and it can usually be found for DVD rental. Also, during the episode, we start talking about the Ha...2015-11-0758 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 87: Whaps WhapsolicallyDear listeners, this week we talk about movie music with our friend and movie fan, Pat Wick! We chat about movie music we love and about some we hate, and then we sing a bit. If you would like to drink along, we recommend Casillero del Diablo Carmenere, which we found highly drinkable. An additional note on this episode: you may notice in the Ravenous section that Melissa does not actually talk about the music. She did, but her original short description was based on alcohol and not seeing the film for a very long t...2015-10-291h 01

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 86: Mechanocinephilia (with the Occasional Devil Cult)This week, dear listeners, we bring you an episode about Melissa’s obsession with car movies! We talk about car chases, car crashes, car explosions, and, of course, devil cults. If you would like to drink along, you’ll need to go to a gas station in Wisconsin to pick up a bottle of Three Lakes Winery semi-sweet cranberry wine. But we won’t judge you if you substitute something within easier reach! Show notes behind the cut! Movies mentioned: Fury Road The Road Warrior The Blues Brothers H...2015-10-221h 00

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 85: Crotchety RockDear listeners, this week, we bring you our first cross-country recording! Through the wonders of modern technology, this episode was created while Melissa was in Minnesota and Windy was in Texas. In honor of this, we bring you an episode about moving movies (as in movies about characters who are in the process of changing residence, just like both of us). Since this was our first go at a recording session via Google Hangouts, we had some challenges with the audio. Windy’s audio improves dramatically after the first few minutes, so please hang in there. Also, the...2015-10-151h 36

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 84f: Fantastic Fest and the Eclectic Mayhem: Part 6This morning, dear listeners, we continue our march toward our inexorable cinematic doom with our next daily report from Fantastic Fest! Hear about the latest slate of movies, Marko Zaror, and Melissa’s brand-new chest cold! Movies mentioned: Stand By for Tape Backup Schneider vs. Bax Zoom The Assassin The Brand New Testament The Wave The post Episode 84f: Fantastic Fest and the Eclectic Mayhem: Part 6 appeared first on Xanadu Cinema Pleasure Dome. 2015-09-2932 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 71: Live Chicken Melee WeaponOh my, dear listeners, it’s time for our second XanaCineWeekend Movie Marathon! For this episode, Windy and Melissa ensconced themselves for an entire weekend, trading off watching movies that one or both of them had never seen before. This episode compiles their thoughts and comments about fifteen films, with each segment recorded immediately after the completion of each film. If you would like to drink along, dears, grab the vodka. (It was a long weekend.) (And it’s a long episode.) (I mean, seriously, it’s a long episode. Buckle up, kids!) S...2015-06-182h 13

A Reel EducationEpisode 48 – The Lady From ShanghaiFor this episode, we return to the lovely Trylon Microcinema in Minneapolis to enjoy Orson Wells’ curious film noir, The Lady from Shanghai. The film stars Wells and his then wife Rita Hayworth, who makes her first appearance on our podcast. Melissa is the only member of our team who has seen the film before … Continue reading The post Episode 48 – The Lady From Shanghai appeared first on A Reel Education.2015-06-0100 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 67: Switches Are FunThis week, dear listeners, we talk to Linkara (aka Lewis Lovhaug) about making Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, a crowdfunded film based on his popular web video show. We discuss independent filmmaking, producing content for the Internet, and space ships. For this episode, we were also joined by a couple of excellent audience members, Fes Works and Noel Thingvall. Yay! If you want to drink along with Windy and Melissa, we suggest drinking whatever you have handy, because your dear hosts had drank so much wine prior to the episode that they totally forgot to...2015-05-211h 05

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 63: But What About the Lacrosse?Dear listeners, we are well aware that we are middle-aged ladies, so we brought on young’un Kate Cornish from the North Star Roller Girls to discuss teen comedies! (Okay, so we admit Kate is old enough to have PhD and we’re talking about teen comedies of the late 1990s, but hey! We’re trying!) If you feel brave enough to drink along with two roller girls and Melissa, we suggest The Gaucho Club Oak Cask Malbec. It is tasty and its Argentinian ways pleased us greatly. Show notes behind the cut! 2015-04-231h 20

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 62: Turtles All the Way Down: Part 2This week, devoted listeners, we bring you the second half of our meta movies discussion with Tonya Wershow! Or perhaps more correctly, this is the final few minutes of the discussion, followed by 20 minutes of tangents and drunken giggling, because that is the quality podcasting that we know you value. Show notes behind the cut! Movies mentioned: Holy Motors Wayne’s World Wayne’s World 2 Attack of the Killer Tomatoes 2 The Muppet Movie The Holy Mountain Monty Python and the Holy Grail Singin’ in the Rain 2015-04-1648 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 60: All Up in My Limbic SystemThis week, dear listeners, we bring you our fourth Off Topic extravaganza! If you are a new listener, here’s what’s going on: our episodes are heavily edited, mostly because we drink while we record. Most of the things we cut out are things nobody will miss, but sometimes we simply go off on an odd tangent. So, we save all the fun clips until we can just make a whole episode out of them. It’s like Voltron with less planning. The audio bits you are about to here were recorded between November 2014 and Februa...2015-04-021h 12

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 58: Superposition YetiDear listeners, we have a great episode for you this week, because we nerd out about Hammer Films with our erudite friend and author, Pat Harrigan! We traipse through the history of the famed British studio, mentioning favorite films and actors along the way. And, as you can probably tell by our diction in this episode, we have had plenty of Cocobon Red Blend wine. You should, too! Show notes behind the cut! Movies mentioned: Hammer House of Horror (TV) Journey into the Unknown (TV) Four Sided Triangle 2015-03-1957 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 56: Mutter Mutter Mutter KNIFEThis week, dear listeners, we set Melissa loose on early Hitchcock films! Why? Because she’s seen them all, and can tell you which ones are the best of the Master of Suspense’s early years. If you would like to drink along with us, we recommend Esprit Barville Cotes du Rhone wine, which has those little hat-like marks over several letters when written correctly. Or, if you don’t have any of that, you can always go for Hitch’s favorite: brandy. Show notes behind the cut! Hitchcock movies mentioned: The...2015-03-0555 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 55: Neon Escalators and Things: Part 2This week’s episode, dear listeners, is the second half of our John Carpenter discussion! And, of course, returning from last week is Master of Carpentry, Noel Thingvall! As you can probably tell from our diction during this episode, Melissa and Windy had a whole litany of drinks coursing through their veins while recording. If you care to join in, Fox Barrel Pear Cider and Great Lakes Brewing Company Burning River beer are recommended. Show notes behind the cut! John Carpenter movies mentioned: Escape from New York (1981) The Thing (1982)2015-02-2654 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 51: Gloss Gone Horribly, Horribly WrongThis week, dear listeners, bring out your jazz hands, because we talk about BOB FOSSE! Well, mostly Windy talks about Bob Fosse. But that’s alright, because Melissa suggested the topic because she knew she could be lazy for an episode while Windy expounded upon the greatness of Bob Fosse. If you would like to drink along with us (and you know Fosse would have wanted it that way), we suggest Esprit Barville Cotes du Rhone, which was a lovely red wine. It’s probably not as high octane as what Fosse would be imbibing were he still...2015-01-2955 min

A Reel EducationEpisode 37 – Mystery of the Wax MuseumThis episode focuses on a rather obscure film that is a favorite of Tim and Melissa. Mystery of the Wax Museum has lots of things working for it. It has Fay Wray (of King Kong fame) and is directed by Michael Curtiz (who also directed Casablanca). The film would later be remade into House of … Continue reading The post Episode 37 – Mystery of the Wax Museum appeared first on A Reel Education.2014-12-2300 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 44: If You Can’t Feel Your Nose, Is It Still There?Oh wow, listeners. This week, we bring you the drunkest drunk we’ve ever drunked. Author and storyteller Rob Callahan returns to join us for an episode about philosophy movies, which is absolutely the sort of brainy episode you want to embark upon after killing three bottles of wine before even starting to record. Seriously. We recorded for three hours. We edited out two hours of unintelligible mumblings and completely random rhapsodies about Jennifer Connelly in The Rocketeer. After the podcast, Rob fell asleep on the couch and woke up in the morning to find Windy’s daughte...2014-12-111h 02

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 41: Flower Arranging for GoonsGood afternoon, dear listeners! This week’s episode is our long-awaited movie trade marathon! For this episode, Windy and Melissa spent an entire weekend watching movies, recording bits of podcast between films.That’s why this episode is super-duper sized (even though it’s not as super-duper sized as it was originally supposed to be, due to a microphone calamity at the end). While we drank and ate many things over the course of the weekend, we suggest pairing this episode with either a Yellowtail Shiraz or a decent, affordable champagne. Also, pizza rolls. Show notes...2014-11-201h 34

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 37: Your Crazypants Are on FireThis week, dear listeners, we have an episode all about ghost movies! Haunted houses, poltergeists, and children in peril… it’s all here! If you would like to enjoy some spirits with your spirits, we suggest you join us in drinking Fog Head Cabernet, because is fog is creepy and ghostly. If we sound like we’re recording in a box (AGAIN), it’s because the recording software used the wrong microphone. Thankfully, the microphone on the laptop isn’t too terrible, but you will hear some artifacting generated by removal the computer fan noise. Melissa is cu...2014-10-231h 12

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 36: Metal as F*ckHello, dear listeners! This week, Windy and Melissa talk about ROCK MUSICALS! Because, clearly, we don’t talk about musicals enough! If you’d like to drink along this week, well, you’ll need to BYOB, because we were drinking nothing but glorious water. We’d already killed a bottle of wine before the episode, and we were sleep deprived from the Minnesota Fringe Festival, so honestly, we couldn’t handle anything else. By the time you finish listening to the episode, I’m sure you’ll agree. Show notes behind the cut! Movies m...2014-10-1659 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 34: Flatitudes, Y’allGordon Smuder, in his element. This week, dear listeners, we are joined by professional puppeteer Gordon Smuder for an episode all about PUPPET MOVIES! And, because we like a challenge, we have decided to discuss only non-Henson puppets, so no Muppets allowed! (Don’t worry, we still love Muppets — it’s just that everyone knows about Muppets already, right?) So bring your ventriloquist dummies and magic talking flutes and have a listen! This week is an even-numbered episode, too, so Windy and Melissa are extra-sauced for this puppetry discussion. If you would like to drink along...2014-10-021h 10

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 29: Kilt Weasels and Other Charismatic MacrofaunaWindy’s chest is also a creature. Good tidings, dear listeners! This week, we are joined by Jennifer Menken of the Bell Museum of Natural History for an episode all about movie critters! That’s right, we’re bringing SCIENCE to creature features! SCIENCE also brought us the tasty Protocolo 2011 Tempranillo that we drank while recording this episode. Please feel free to sip along! Now, before we go to the show notes, we have a couple of corrections for this episode: Melissa was mistaken in how she pronounced H. R. Giger. It’s actually...2014-08-281h 01

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 26: Zen Master Tai Chi Roadhousey-Fu In this week’s episode, special guest Kelvin Hatle, comedian and erudite thought-leader, returns to the Pleasure Dome to profess his love of so-bad-it’s-good filmmaking. Did Vikings wear bath mats? Does furniture crave fried chicken? Where can you find Patrick Swayze doing a sexy belt dance on roller skates? Find out in this episode! If you would like to drink along with us, we highly recommend The Gaucho Club’s Oak Cask Malbec. It sustained us in our times of laughter and tears. Show notes, photos, and oh-so-many links behind the cut! 2014-08-071h 06

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 22: Dysfunctional Is Still FunctionalThis week, Windy and Melissa make use of listener Ryan Alexander’s suggestion and talk about BOOZE MOVIES! (“Because meta,” writes Ryan.) We, of course, did not do this episode sober. We found a bottle of wine with a sheep on it (Le Grand Noir Malbec) and enjoyed it very, very thoroughly. Show notes behind the cut! Movies mentioned: The Thin Man Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle Withnail and I Hudson Hawk Cockt...2014-07-1052 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 19: Manic Pixie Dream NutsThis week, we are joined by comedian Molly Glover, of Geeks Without God and Fearless Comedy fame! Our subject du jour is one near and dear to our hearts: portrayals of mental illness in film. We go big with the dark comedy in this one! Our wine pairing for this week is Barone Fini Merlot, which certainly loosened our tongues, as this episode runs a bit longer than most. I assure you, I clipped an hour out of our recording session, and still had 78 minutes remaining. We had so many stories! Show notes behind the cut...2014-06-191h 18

A Reel EducationEpisode 25 – CabaretJena wasn’t able to make it to the recording of this episode but that’s OK, we bought in a stunt Jena! This week’s stunt Jena was…Melissa! Turns out Cabaret was one of the few films that she had never seen. With Melissa our acting Jena, we were down one expert. Enter our friend Windy Bowlsby! Windy is … Continue reading The post Episode 25 – Cabaret appeared first on A Reel Education.2014-06-1500 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 18: It’s Like a Treadmill for My LiverMelissa and Romeo displaying their love of wine and Superman. This is what a typical Xanadu Cinema podcast recording session looks like. This week, Superman enters our Pleasure Dome! (Wait, that didn’t sound quite right…) Tune in to listen to hear us wax nostalgic about Christopher Reeve and argue about everything else with Man of Opinions, Romeo Azar! Also, you can listen carefully for our fantastic studio audience, Courtney Azar! Our wine pairing for this week is Rosenblum Cellars’ Stark Raving Malbec, which we found to be very tasty. Or you could also grab a Crisp...2014-06-1248 min

A Reel EducationEpisode 24 – DuneFor our newest episode, we subjected Jena to the 1984 train wreck that is David Lynch’s Dune! We are joined by two special guests. First is Kelvin Hatle, who has an unholy love for bad movies great and small. Second is Jerry Belich who, along with Melissa, produced a Swede version of the film that … Continue reading The post Episode 24 – Dune appeared first on A Reel Education.2014-06-0100 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 11: A Loving God Would Not Be Mad at Yul BrynnerThis week, we chat about religious movies from a secular perspective. Were we able to complete our mission before the laptop’s battery ran out? Listen to find out! We also finally get to read out a listener’s response to our Pleasure Dome questions! (Have you answered our questions yet? You should!) This week’s booze pairing is Zonin’s lovely Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, which is fun to say and even more fun to drink. Further show notes behind the cut! Movies mentioned: A View to a Kill The G...2014-04-241h 02

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 10: The Thousand Parsec StareThis week, we talk about Star Trek vs. Star Wars: comparing and contrasting the two properties, and why we love them both. This week’s booze pairing is either a Schell’s Dark beer (if you side with Melissa) or a Hakusuru draft sake (if you side with Windy). Further show notes behind the cut! Movies mentioned: Star Trek (everything) Star Wars (everything) Rustler’s Rhapsody Hidden Fortress Adventures of Robin Hood Gravity Collateral Damage Dune People mentioned: Everyone in Star Wars 2014-04-1753 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 9: Joy Flames at the Sides of My FaceThis week, we talk about dumb action movies and why we love them! This week’s wine pairing is a seriously amazing 2011 Victorian Claret from Guenoc. And a quick note: remember to come to our web site and answer our listener questions! We haven’t yet started calling out to our listener responses in our podcasts yet, but only because we currently have about a six week buffer on our episodes. Listener responses will start showing up in the episodes in just a couple weeks! But for now, we give you the greatest trai...2014-04-101h 02

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 6: Wait… what was the point?This week, we get autobiographical about why we love movies… and then promptly and frequently wander away from whatever it was we were talking about. This episode was cobbled together from outtakes from our first recording session, so you may hear a little bit of compression in the audio. If you would like to drink along with us (and oh, you might), we were enjoying that same Gascon Malbec that we were praising in Episode 2. NOTE: Windy is not sure if 2002 was the year Tom DeSanto visited Butt-Numb-a-Thon, but wants to reassure our li...2014-03-2040 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 4: Oscars Pajama PartyIn this week’s episode, we keep special guest Tim Wick awake past his bedtime by keeping him talking about the Oscars after the show! If you would like to drink along with Windy and Melissa, the drink of the evening was Angry Orchard hard cider. If you want to drink along with Teetotaler Tim, we suggest a 5-Hour Energy shot. You can follow the further adventures of Tim Wick at: PetSnakeReggie.com, his blog Geeks Without God, a fantastic podcast by nerdy atheists A Reel Education, a podcast where Tim and Melissa educate Je...2014-03-0654 min

Xanadu Cinema Pleasure DomeEpisode 2: Watershed MomentsWe survived the last podcast long enough to make another podcast! If you care to drink along with us, this week’s wine is a Malbec from Gascon Wines. (It’s lovely.) Please excuse a few minor audio problems. While we were able to rid ourselves of the static heard last week, you will probably notice some audio artifacts here and there. (The audio for next week’s episode is stellar, I assure you. Despite our inebriated states, we have an upward slope on our learning curve.) And we went another week without explai...2014-02-2038 min

A Reel EducationEpisode 17 – Seven SamuraiIt is time for some Reel Education subtitled action courtesy of the great Akira Kurosawa’ s masterpiece, Seven Samurai! While Jena speculates there will be flips in this film, she finds nary a one. Instead, she finds one of the greatest films ever along with some truly racist Japanese accents courtesy of Melissa and Tim! … Continue reading The post Episode 17 – Seven Samurai appeared first on A Reel Education.2014-02-1500 min

A Reel EducationEpisode 4 – Lawrence of ArabiaHoly crap! This movie is so long we had to split this episode into three parts! Lawrence of Arabia is an undisputed classic no matter what the length so Melissa and Tim couldn’t wait to show it to Jena. There is significant geeking about the score, the flimmaking and Peter O’Toole. If you have never seen … Continue reading The post Episode 4 – Lawrence of Arabia appeared first on A Reel Education.2013-08-0100 min

A Reel EducationEpisode 2 – Singin’ in the RainFor our second episode, our permanent co-host Melissa Kaercher joins the party to enjoy one of the greatest movie musicals ever made – Singin’ in the Rain. We don’t know how Jena managed to go this long without experiencing “Make ’em Laugh” but that horrible oversight has now been rectified. Enjoy the episode and remember … Continue reading The post Episode 2 – Singin’ in the Rain appeared first on A Reel Education.2013-07-0100 min

A Reel EducationEpisode 1 – CasablancaWelcome to the inaugural episode of our podcast! This podcast will follow our attempts to educate Jena Young on the great films that she hasn’t seen yet. Or, occasionally, just the ones she doesn’t remember. This week’s episode was recorded before co-host Melissa Kaercher became a co-host so Tim Wick educates Jena all on his … Continue reading The post Episode 1 – Casablanca appeared first on A Reel Education.2013-06-1700 min

The Secular BuddhistEpisode 142 :: Melissa Lee, Matt Lowry, Melissa Kaercher :: Dealing with Different ViewsToday we have a trio of guests, Melissa Lee, Melissa Kaercher, and returning guest Matt Lowry to speak with us about how we can best deal with people who have contrasting views to our own.2012-11-1000 min