Cinemavino

This week’s “mini” episode of Cinemavino is more like a full-length one.  After all, Dune is a complex film that tackles half of a beloved sci-fi novel.  Frank Herbert’s magnum opus has been labeled as “unfilmable,” and after two previous debacles, it’s easy to see why.  His work is loaded with plot, subtext, and hundreds of characters.  There’s just no way a mini-episode could cover it all.

Sean is a huge Dune fan, thus making the release of this new version a really big deal.  As for me, I haven’t read any of the source novels, and don’t completely grasp a lot of Herbert’s expansive mythology. With that said, I did appreciate the film on a purely cinematic level:  In terms of technical skill and sheer ambition, this Dune is amazing to watch.  It’s also well-acted, and the screenwriters streamlined the story enough to where a noob like me can follow it.

Well, mostly: There were a few moments where I felt lost, as if there were crucial plot details that had been skimmed or trimmed.  They didn’t ruin the experience for me, but–much like landing the F-14 in the Nintendo version of Top Gun–I needed a little help.

Thank God for Sean.  For this episode, we discuss our Dune feelings, and he helps snap a few missing pieces into puzzle.  Some people were left a little confused by this film, while others loved it to max.  No matter which camp you fall into, this podcast has your name written all over it.

I’ll go ahead and reiterate:  SPOILERS WILL ABOUND.  We discuss major plot points, with Sean serving as a knowledgeable tour guide.  Dune is available on HBOMax, and in IMAX theaters.  So, get to screening, and head back here.

Next, we’ll tackle one last Halloween classic, before settling in for a fun holiday run.  Enjoy!

Happiest of Halloweens from all of us at Cinemavino!  This is a big holiday in the movie world, as it inspires an entire genre in of itself.  Some of these films are great.  Others are so terrible, they end up being wonderful.  Countless others fall somewhere between these two goalposts.

For this very special episode of Cinemavino, we take a look at two horror films that split those uprights.  The first is Trick ‘r Treat, a cult classic that has slowly gained a huge following.  Structured in a non-linear, Pulp Fiction-style narrative, Trick follows a disparate group of stories, all loosely tethered to a murderous little monster boy with a pumpkin-shaped head.  Brian Cox (Rob Roy, X2) stars as a grouchy, Boo Radley-type neighbor who shoos away trick-or-treaters on Halloween.  Anna Paquin (The Piano, True Blood) plays a timid co-ed with a big ol’ secret.  Dylan Baker (Thirteen Days) also pops up as a school teacher with a psychotic streak.  There’s a lot more to unpack here, but a lot of the fun of this film is the surprise of seeing horror tropes flipped upside down.  It’s on HBOMax, and you won’t be sorry for streaming it.  I promise.

But wait–there’s more!  Part II of this super-sized bonanza is a discussion and dissection of a huge Halloween classic:  Hocus Pocus!  That’s right, it’s everybody’s favorite kiddie horror flick from the 90s.  Bette Midler stars, but you already knew that.  So do Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker, but you also knew that.  We love this movie, and the ensuing conversation gets pretty silly.  Long story short:  We really want to be sponsored by Quizno’s, and you can help get the ball rolling with that.  #toastedsubs

To get a little sloppy for this episode, we enjoy a little Halloween punch:  Basically, take 500ml of red wine (I used Cabernet), 500ml of vodka (I used Reyka, from Iceland), two liters of cranberry juice, and top it all off with a little sprite (if you like a little fizz).  It may look like blood, but it’s real damn delicious.  If you’re looking for a strong buzz whilst handing out candy, mix up a little of this recipe.

In the meantime, enjoy another spooky episode of Cinemavino!

Part III of our Halloween series continues with an all-time favorite, the cult classic Fright Night.  A Valentine for horror movie fans, this film has a little something for everyone:  A goofy, disarming sense of humor?  Check.  Outstanding makeup effects for the era and budget?  Check.  Deep respect for old school horror tropes?  You’d better believe it.  True fans of vampire mythology and B-movie cinema best get in on this one.

For this week’s vino, we actually opted out of the vino.  A casual lap around the nearby liquor store reveals that a ton of breweries design their bottles and cans around demons, monsters, etc.  Plus, as much as I love wine, sometimes an ice cold beer pairs up perfectly with a good movie.

With that in mind, the boys and I sampled the Colossal Claude from Rogue Brewery.  This is an outstanding Imperial India Pale Ale that captures everything great about big IPAs:  It’s big, hoppy, but refreshing and balanced in malt flavors.  If you enjoy bold, citrusy, grassy beers, the Colossal Claude is for you.  Also, Rogue is an outstanding brewery from Portland, Oregon.  They have a great portfolio of beers, in a wide range of styles.  If you’d like to learn a little more, click here.

Next week, we’ll wrap up our weekly series with the remake of 13 Ghosts.

Now, relax and enjoy another fine episode of Cinemavino!

*Spoilers ahead!*  If you haven’t seen No Time to Die, the latest 007 flick, head to a theater and check it out.  Then get back in here and listen to our thoughts and beliefs in this mini-pod.  We’re all pretty big Bond fans, so we had strong opinions about this polarizing film.

To read my full written review, head this way.  Enjoy another fine mini-episode of Cinemavino!

Hey everyone!  This week’s Cinemavino continues our Halloween series, and we’re looking back at a genuine classic.  Aliens actually hits on several of our recent themes:  It’s a great sequel, a great horror flick, and a personal favorite of mine.

Aliens is also a rarity in cinema history, as it completely shakes up the formula that made its predecessor every bit as iconic.  Alien was a combination of Jaws and Lifeboat in space.  Ridley Scott created an intensely claustrophobic experience.  With this second film, the producers hired James Cameron, a totally different director.  Unsurprisingly, Cameron brings his own aesthetic, replete with big guns, brawny action scenes, and more ambitious monster effects.  Even better, he soups up Ellen Ripley into an all-around badass, thus making her a pioneer in the genre.

For our vino, we decided to Dr. Konstantin Frank’s semi-dry Riesling.  It’s a refreshing white, loaded with rich melon flavors and mouth-coating acidity. As the Xenomorphs have acid for blood, this seems like the perfect pair.  Plus, like all of our wines for October and November, it’s a great match for the holidays.

To learn more about the wine, click here.

Also, to read my written review, head this way!  Next week, an 80s horror-comedy classic.  Meantime, kick back and enjoy another fine episode of Cinemavino!

 

This week’s episode is a real labor of love.  Tremors is personal favorite of ours, a cult classic, and a full-on nostalgia trip.  We all loved rewatching and talking about it.  If you’re looking for pure junk food entertainment for Halloween, Tremors might be the absolute cream of the crop.

For this week’s vino, we went with a classic Pinot Noir with the perfect name:  Folly of the Beast.  It just seemed appropriate, as you can see a whale’s tale on the label, and this film was born with the premise of Jaws on Land.  This is a fun, lightweight, cherry-flavored Pinot that will also pair well with the upcoming holiday cuisine.  (In fact, all the wines we’re doing till New Year will be holiday-friendly.  For more wine info, click here.

To bask in my written review of Tremors, head this way.

We hope you enjoy another fine episode of Cinemavino!

For this week’s Cinemavino, it’s the last episode of our Host’s Choice series.  The four of us have each picked a favorite movie to screen, and this time it’s Travis’ turn.  (A great drinking game could be played for every time we call him “Trav,” and he angrily corrects us.”)

Travis is a lifelong comic book fan, with Superman occupying a special place within that love.  Here he is as a wee tyke, dutifully wearing his underwear outside of his pants:

With that in mind, it makes perfect sense for us to screen Superman.  It’s the first big-budget superhero flick, and it’s also one of the all-time best. Christopher Reeve kills it as the Man of Steel, thus redefining the character for all time.

To read my written review of Superman, click here!

As for the vino, Trav has a soft spot for poundable reds.  He was downing box wines long before they were considered cool.  And he was definitely on to something:  Box wines are more economical, they keep longer, and you can take ’em places where glass ain’t allowed.

On this night, we enjoyed La Nevera, an easy-drinking Spanish red.  It’s fun, light-bodied, with strong fruit flavors and a smooth finish–perfect for relaxing to an all-time classic movie.  As a bonus, it retails for around $20/box, making it just about as affordable as it gets.

So, kick back and enjoy another fine outing of Cinemavino!

 

This week’s Cinemavino takes us back to one of the all-time guilty pleasure movies.  That’s right, gang–it’s Con Air!  With this magnificently strange action flick, you get the souped-up action and political incorrectness of the 80s, melded with the upgraded production skills of the 90s.  Plus, it’s also a good chance to check out Nicolas Cage with gorgeous, flowing Allman Brothers hair.

Con Air represents Taylor’s pick, and it embodies some of his favorite action traits:  Over the top stunts, cheesy one liners, and very broad performances.  This film fits neatly beside some of his other favorites, including Die Hard, Congo, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.  Also, you’ll notice on our Cinemavino poster, Taylor is dressed as John McClane.

In contrast, Taylor’s favorite wine is Pinot Noir, one of the most subtle grapes.  For this episode, we opted for a classic offering from the Burgundy region of France.  By law, any red from Burgundy must be Pinot Noir, and the Vignerons de Monts exemplifies the best of this area:  It’s zesty, brightly fruity Pinot–easy-drinking and smooth all the way through.  The holidays aren’t too far away, and this is the perfect pair with the typical fare for Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.

To learn a little more about Burgundian wines, click here.

For my written review of Con Air, head this direction.

Now, kick back and enjoy a very entertaining episode of Cinemavino!

That title pretty much says it all.  Few big-budget productions from Hollywood have been as brazenly eccentric as Buckaroo Banzai.  This cult classic from 1984 feels like a hybrid of Flash Gordon, Mad Max, and…damn, I don’t even know what.  In any case, the world wasn’t ready for the strange shenanigans of Buckaroo and his crew.  The movie tanked at the box office, and seemed destined to fade into Trivial Pursuit obscurity.

Until…the glory of home movie rentals brought Buckaroo back into the limelight.  As is still the case, people are much more adventurous about what they’ll rent/stream than what they’ll actually trek to a movie theater to see.  And, like any cult film, Buckaroo Banzai demands multiple viewings to truly absorb and process its aggressive strangeness.  People slowly caught on, the movie developed a nice little following, and here we are!

Sean picked this one, as it’s one of his all-time favorites.  He also loves Cabernet, so we paired up Buckaroo with a big, burly red:

This Cab from Revelry is full in body and in flavor–much like Sean himself.  Pair it with a juicy steak, or just enjoy it with this quirky 80s movie.  Just make sure you toast to Sean Jordan with your first sip.

To read my full review of The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, click here.

For more about the vino, head this way.

Enjoy another fine episode of Cinemavino!

That title pretty much says it all.  Few big-budget productions from Hollywood have been as brazenly eccentric as Buckaroo Banzai.  This cult classic from 1984 feels like a hybrid of Flash Gordon, Mad Max, and…damn, I don’t even know what.  In any case, the world wasn’t ready for the strange shenanigans of Buckaroo and his crew.  The movie tanked at the box office, and seemed destined to fade into Trivial Pursuit obscurity.

Until…the glory of home movie rentals brought Buckaroo back into the limelight.  As is still the case, people are much more adventurous about what they’ll rent/stream than what they’ll actually trek to a movie theater to see.  And, like any cult film, Buckaroo Banzai demands multiple viewings to truly absorb and process its aggressive strangeness.  People slowly caught on, the movie developed a nice little following, and here we are!

Sean picked this one, as it’s one of his all-time favorites.  He also loves Cabernet, so we paired up Buckaroo with a big, burly red:

This Cab from Revelry is full in body and in flavor–much like Sean himself.  Pair it with a juicy steak, or just enjoy it with this quirky 80s movie.  Just make sure you toast to Sean Jordan with your first sip.

To read my full review of The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, click here.

For more about the vino, head this way.

Enjoy another fine episode of Cinemavino!