A quick end-of-year episode to settle the debate one last time.

Die Hard is a Christmas movie. So are Lethal Weapon, The Long Kiss Goodnight, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. If it’s set at Christmas and ends with emotional closure and gunfire, it counts.

Happy New Year!

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Music: "Neon Fury" by Sascha Ende

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Brace yourself for a holly-jolly hostage situation! This special Christmas bonus re-release of Reading Between the Reels is decking the halls… and the villains. From John McClane’s barefoot antics to explosive corporate holiday parties, we reveal why Die Hard is the ultimate Christmas movie you secretly love (or pretend to hate).

Originally released in 1988, Die Hard defied low expectations to become a critical and financial hit, introduced Alan Rickman to the world, solidified Bruce Willis as a movie star, and inspired an entire sub-genre of action films. On this episode, guest co-host Jeff McGee returns to help deconstruct the film, share his insights, and explain why Santa might be coming to town… but he’s definitely taking notes from Hans Gruber.

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The following music was used for this media project:

Music: "Neon Fury" by Sascha Ende

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/12190-neon-fury

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

In this episode, we dive into Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk—the movie that weaponizes sound design, disorientation, and narrative chaos to make you feel like you’re drowning in tension even when the characters aren’t in the water (yet).

We break down the film’s infamous three timelines, why Nolan thinks clocks are a personality trait, and how the movie somehow maintains zero chill for 106 minutes straight. We also talk about Hans Zimmer’s “I hope you like panic attacks” score, Tom Hardy acting exclusively with his eyeballs, and Nolan’s ongoing war against traditional storytelling.

If you’ve ever wondered why Dunkirk feels like a cinematic escape room run by a sadistic genius, this is your episode.

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The following music was used for this media project:

Music: "Neon Fury" by Sascha Ende

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/12190-neon-fury

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

We’re back on the other side of the black hole — emotionally and maybe spiritually. In Part Two of our deep dive into Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, we unpack Cooper’s bookshelf breakdown, the emotional math of Murph’s ghost, and whether “love” was actually the answer or just Nolan trolling us all. Expect equal parts awe, analysis, and exasperation. Bring tissues… and maybe a physics degree.

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Connect with Jeff on X: x.com/TheJeffMcGee

Check out the “Audio Advent Calendar” and all of Jeff’s other shows at marvindogmedia.com and anywhere you listen to podcasts!

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The following music was used for this media project:

Music: "Neon Fury" by Sascha Ende

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/12190-neon-fury

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Strap in and don’t forget your helmet — we’re launching into Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, where science meets sentimentality and somehow both cry. In this episode, we begin to tackle wormholes, relativity, and why Nolan seems to hate linear storytelling. Expect theories, sarcasm, and just enough pseudo-physics to make Neil deGrasse Tyson sigh audibly.

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The following music was used for this media project:

Music: "Neon Fury" by Sascha Ende

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/12190-neon-fury

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Part 2 of our The Dark Knight Rises analysis dives into the details that make (or break) Nolan’s finale: body language, costuming, set design, and character arcs. Anne Hathaway slinks her way through as Catwoman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt maybe-becomes Batman, and Batman trades his cape for a cappuccino in Florence. We’ll pull apart the visual storytelling, the prison pit metaphors, and the way Gotham itself becomes a character. Finally, we’ll ask: does Nolan’s trilogy conclusion rise above the rubble—or just collapse under its own weight?

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The following music was used for this media project:

Music: "Neon Fury" by Sascha Ende

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/12190-neon-fury

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

In Part 1 of our two-part The Dark Knight Rises breakdown, we dig into Christopher Nolan’s favorite toys: IMAX spectacle, chest-rattling sound design, and dialogue that makes you wonder if Bane swallowed a CB radio. We’ll unpack the film’s big themes—fear, pain, hope, and rebirth—before diving into the performances and the script’s endlessly quotable (and sometimes laughable) lines.

Is Nolan a master of operatic storytelling, or just a guy who cranked the subwoofers and hoped Christian Bale’s whisper-growl would carry the day? Let’s find out.

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Visit our TeePublic store for t-shirts, hats, hoodies, mugs, and more!

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The following music was used for this media project:

Music: "Neon Fury" by Sascha Ende

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/12190-neon-fury

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Inception isn’t just a movie—it’s Christopher Nolan’s ultimate brain prank. In the conclusion of our two-part deep-dive on Nolan’s mind-bending epic, we dissect dream heists, confusing layers, and that infamous spinning top. Did you really understand it—or are you just pretending? We break down every twist, turn, and “what just happened” moment so you can finally feel smug about your cinematic IQ. Spoilers included, patience not guaranteed.

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The following music was used for this media project:

Music: "Neon Fury" by Sascha Ende

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/12190-neon-fury

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Inception promised answers, but instead gave us spinning tops, folding cities, and Leonardo DiCaprio screaming into the void of his own trauma. In this first episode of our two-part dissection of Christopher Nolan’s ‘dream heist masterpiece,’ we begin to discuss why the film is equal parts brilliant, pretentious, and meme-worthy. From Hans Zimmer’s foghorn symphony to Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s gravity-defying hallway brawl, we’re digging into the subconscious chaos that made Inception the internet’s favorite ‘explain this movie’ clickbait for over a decade.

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The following music was used for this media project:

Music: "Neon Fury" by Sascha Ende

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/12190-neon-fury

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

This week, we return to our series on the films of Christopher Nolan by diving headfirst into The Dark Knight — the movie that convinced an entire generation that growling equals gravitas. From Heath Ledger’s chaos-icon Joker to a Batman so serious he makes taxes look fun, we’re dissecting the film’s themes, IMAX spectacle, and how Hans Zimmer’s score is a nerve-shredding symphony of dread. 

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Thank you so much for listening! Please help us spread the word by leaving us a 5-star review! 

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If you are interesting in advertising on this podcast, please go to: podbean.com/advertiseonRBR

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: "Neon Fury" by Sascha Ende

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/12190-neon-fury

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license