Catching Up On Cinema

This month is Action April at Catching Up On Cinema!

Every week we'll be taking a look a blockbuster action flick from the filmographies of some of the greatest stars in action cinema.

To kick things off, Trevor and his brother Matt review George P. Cosmatos' mid-80's action classic, Rambo: First Blood Part 2 (1985)!

The first of several louder, dumber and more violent sequels to the surprisingly contemplative and engrossing First Blood (1982), the served to repackage the John Rambo character into the pop culture figure he's best remembered as, as well as secure star Sylvester Stallone's position as one of the most prominent of 80's action stars.

Make sure to check out Matt's gaming podcast, Couch Co-Op!

He also has a new wrestling podcast, The Hollywood Brunettes, so check that out too!

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It's once again time for Catching Up On Cinema's monthly Catching Up On Blu-Ray episode!

This time around, Trevor is once again joined by his good friend Brad from the Cinema Speak podcast in reviewing the month's physical media releases.

Check out Brad's podcast, Cinema Speak on Libsyn at Cinema Speak, or on Twitter and Instagram.

Find us online at catchinguponcinema.com

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In this week's installment of Catching Up On Cinema's March of the Monsters event month, we review Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi's modern monster classic, Shin Gojira (2016)!

Produced only a few short years after the Tohoku earthquake and subsequent Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster of 2011, the film boldly reinstates Godzilla's status as the living embodiment of a nation and people's fears and insecurities, not just of nuclear technology and weapons, but of their complicated and delicate position in the geopolitical landscape.

Starring a cast of thousands, and filled with equal measures of biting political commentary and bold nationalistic sentiments, the film swept the Japanese equivalent of the Academy Awards.

Brilliant, engaging, and innovative in every way that a movie can be, Shin Gojira is a truly exceptional film that non-Godzilla fans should consider adding to their watchlists.

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Catching Up On Cinema's March of the Monsters event month continues with a review of John Guillermin's King Kong (1976)!

The brainchild of prolific Italian film producer Dino De Laurentiis, the film is a tepid remake of the 1933 original, swapping stop-motion for suitmation, and the premise of a film project gone wrong to an oil expedition gone bad.

Starring Jessica Lange in her cinematic debut, as well as a young Jeff Bridges and a scenery chewing Charles Grodin, the film is well acted and grand in scope, but largely tedious and devoid of genuine thrills.

While Rick Baker and Carlo Rombaldi's animatronic and suitmation effects are impressively expressive for their day, the film's decision to cast the titular ape as a sympathetic/romantic figure results in a confusing and uneven affair that feels handicapped by it's own ambition.

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It's once again time for Catching Up On Cinema's monthly Tales from the Shelf episode!

In this installment, Blind Buys, Trevor is joined by Brad from the Cinema Speak podcast in sharing stories about movies they've purchased before actually watching the film.

Check out Brad's podcast, Cinema Speak on Libsyn at Cinema Speak, or on Twitter and Instagram.

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March of the Monsters continues at Catching Up On Cinema with a review of the original Japanese cut of Ishiro Honda's, King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962)!

The first Godzilla film to be shot in color, as well as the first to debut many of composer Akira Ifukube's most iconic theme musics for the Big G, the film serves as the prototype for the majority of Show era Godzilla films to come.

Officially released in the US for the first time just last year as part of the Criterion collection, the original cut of the film has long been a rarity in the American film market.

More slowly paced than the American recut, but more consistent in tone, the original cut of King Kong vs. Godzilla is not likely to be considered a favorite among modern fans, however to this day it remains one of most theatrically attended of all Japanese Godzilla films.

Colorful and light hearted, the film is an enjoyable novelty that delivered the goods where it mattered, and set the stage for Godzilla's wild success in the many years to come.

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March of the Monsters month at Catching Up On Cinema continues with a review of Ishiro Honda's groundbreaking daikaiju masterpiece, Gojira (1954)!

A grim, allegorical tale of the horrors of nuclear weapons from a uniquely Japanese perspective, the film is often mistakenly thought of as just another dime a dozen atomic age B-movie, largely due to it's slightly inferior repackaging in the form of the recut, Godzilla, King of the Monsters (1956).

Stunningly photographed, and ably acted, the film is nevertheless an astounding piece of sci-fi horror that still packs a punch when digested with proper historical context.

Directed by Ishiro Honda, produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka, with effects by Eiji Tsuburaya, musical score by Akira Ifukube, and Haruo Nakajima donning the 220 lbs Godzilla suit, the film represents the film assemblage of what could easily be considered the "Dream Team" of tokusatsu craftsmen.

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This March is "March of the Monsters" month at Catching Up On Cinema!

In celebration of the imminent release of Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), Trevor and Kyle will be reviewing the titular monster's films all month long.

To start things off, the boys sit down to review the earliest film in the chronology of both franchises, Merrian C. Cooper's original King Kong (1933)!

Featuring groundbreaking stop motion animation from effects pioneer Willis O'Brien, the film is easily one of the most iconic and influential of all time.

A true treasure of cinema, King Kong deserves to be seen by any and all that have an interest in the medium of film.

Find us online at catchinguponcinema.com

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It's once again time for Catching Up On Cinema's monthly Catching Up On Blu-Ray episode!

This time around, Trevor is once again joined by his good friend Brad from the Cinema Speak podcast in reviewing the month's physical media releases.

Check out Brad's podcast, Cinema Speak on Libsyn at Cinema Speak, or on Twitter and Instagram.

Find us online at catchinguponcinema.com

Follow us on Instagram @catchinguponcinema

Follow us on Twitter @CatchingCinema

Like, share, subscribe, and we'll catch you next time!

It's once again time for Catching Up On Cinema's monthly Tales From the Shelf episode!

This time around, Trevor and his buddy Brad from Cinema Speak are joined by Harrison of the Grief Burrito podcast!

Pivoting away from the usual Tales From the Shelf format of swapping stories about movie collecting, this month's episode, the Super Turbo Champion: Plus Alpha edition, sees our hosts talking about video games and their respective experiences growing up with and collecting games.

Check out Brad's podcast, Cinema Speak on Libsyn at Cinema Speak, or on Twitter and Instagram.

Additionally, check out Harrison's show Grief Burrito, or feel free reach out to he or any of his lovely cohosts on the Twitter.

Also check out Trevor's brother Matt's show, Couch Co Op.

Additionally, some of the other resources mentioned during the episode include:

Noah Gervais, creator of some of the most insightful and in depth game reviews you can find on Youtube.

Hazbin Hotel, the wildly popular Youtube animation that Harrison was kind enough to introduce us to.

Night in the Woods, the lovely game that Harrison talked up during the episode.

Find us online at catchinguponcinema.com

Follow us on Instagram @catchinguponcinema

Follow us on Twitter @CatchingCinema

Like, share, subscribe, and we'll catch you next time!