Verbal Diorama

They're here...

Some of the '80s most influential and popular films wouldn't exist without Steven Spielberg, and Poltergeist is one of them.

But its origins aren't from ghost stories, but in UFO sightings, and it would be Spielberg's hesitance to do a sequel to Close Encounters of the Third Kind that would lead him down the path of creating a pseudo sci-fi horror sequel called Night Skies, itself based on the Kelly-Hopkinsville encounter of 1955.

Night Skies, a dark story of malevolent aliens terrorizing a rural family, would never materialise, but it would create the basis for two cinematic classics - one rooted in sci-fi, and the other in horror. The former would become E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial and the latter, would become Poltergeist...

But the story of Poltergeist doesn't end there. Its legacy is one of miscredits, alleged stolen work, game-changing visual effects, the MPAA PG rating, the absolute industry clout of Spielberg, and its own ghoulish curse, culminating in the tragic deaths of its talented young stars.

This house is clean

I would love to hear your thoughts on Poltergeist (1982) !

CONTACT....

• Twitter @verbaldiorama
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• Facebook @verbaldiorama
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• Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com
• Website verbaldiorama.com

SUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....

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ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMA

Verbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio

Patrons: Simon E, Sade, Claudia, Simon B, Laurel, Derek, Vern, Cat, Andy, Mike, Griff, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Will, Jack, Dave, Chris, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Tyler, Stu, Brett, Philip and Michele

Be careful what you wish for...

Wishmaster might not be up in the realms of horror classics like A Nightmare on Elm Street or Friday the 13th, but for a low budget cheesy '90s horror fantasy, it has serious horror pedigree.

Directed by visual effects maestro Robert Kurtzman, executively produced by Wes Craven and containing cameos from a whole host of screen horror legends, Wishmaster revels in its campy horror roots, and gives the Disney version of a benevolent and funny genie offering three wishes, a total makeover.

This djinn is a creature not to be messed with, but the stories of jinn go way back, through Arabic folklore and into the Islamic holy book, the Quran, where jinn are even mentioned as one of the creatures made by God, and as a result they have responsibilities to fulfil, and will face similar judgement as both humans and angels.

But, your wish (for this episode) is my command...

I would love to hear your thoughts on Wishmaster !

CONTACT....

• Twitter @verbaldiorama
• Instagram @verbaldiorama
• Facebook @verbaldiorama
• Letterboxd @verbaldiorama
• Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com
• Website verbaldiorama.com

SUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....

Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review

Join the Patreon | Send a Tip | Buy Merch

ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMA

Verbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio

Patrons: Simon E, Sade, Claudia, Simon B, Laurel, Derek, Vern, Cat, Andy, Mike, Griff, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Will, Jack, Dave, Chris, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Tyler, Stu, Brett, Philip, Michele and Russell!

Mentioned in this episode:

Paid promotions in this episode

This episode contains a paid Patron promotion for Middle Class Film Class, hosted by patron Pete.

Steven Spielberg quite famously refused to take on a sequel to his iconic shark movie, Jaws, (as referenced in last week's episode on Jaws 2, Jaws 3-D and Jaws: The Revenge.

But when it came to a sequel to his iconic dinosaur movie, Jurassic Park, covered on this podcast in episode 57 back in August 2020, Spielberg returned to the director's chair, despite having just set up the studio DreamWorks, and filming Jurassic Park and Schindler's List back-to-back.

While Michael Crichton was writing the sequel novel, The Lost World, Spielberg and screenwriter David Koepp were putting together ideas for their own movie sequel. They would take the best bits of both, but that didn't mean The Lost World: Jurassic Park was the easy directorial gig that Spielberg assumed it would be...

I would love to hear your thoughts on The Lost World: Jurassic Park !

CONTACT....

• Twitter @verbaldiorama
• Instagram @verbaldiorama
• Facebook @verbaldiorama
• Letterboxd @verbaldiorama
• Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com
• Website verbaldiorama.com

SUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....

Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review

Join the Patreon | Send a Tip | Buy Merch

ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMA

Verbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio

Patrons: Simon E, Sade, Claudia, Simon B, Laurel, Derek, Vern, Cat, Andy, Mike, Griff, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Will, Jack, Dave, Chris, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Tyler, Stu, Brett, Philip, Michele and Russell!

The first ever triple-bill episode, as voted for by Patrons of this podcast for Sequeltember, on the history and legacy of Jaws 2, Jaws 3-D & Jaws: The Revenge ! The sequels to the previous episode on Jaws.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water. JAWS 2 was wanted pretty much immediately after the success of Jaws, but Steven Spielberg wasn't interested in reprising his directorial role. The director they did find, John D. Hancock, was fired after a month, and the production had already spent huge amounts of time and money. Once Jeannot Szwarc came on board, tensions with star Roy Scheider would escalate. Not that Scheider wanted to come back...

JAWS 3-D. The third dimension is terror, but it wasn't always terror. Famously, Jaws 3 started life as a National Lampoon spoof, called Jaws 3 People 0, to be directed by Joe Dante, and co-written by John Hughes. When Universal quashed that idea, it was decided to capitalise on the rise of threequels with 3D, to give Jaws 3 the edge. Jaws 3-D would be filmed at SeaWorld Orlando, and would be the first 3-D film to use ArriVision, but the increased costs meant cutting back on visual effects...

JAWS: THE REVENGE. This time, it's personal. Or at least it was for Sid Sheinberg. Universal desperately needed a financial boost after a string of box office disappointments in 1986, and he decided to revive the Jaws franchise one final time. He would give director Joseph Sargent complete creative control, and Sheinberg's wife Lorraine Gary would come out of retirement to reprise her role as grieving widow Ellen Brody, in return for an effects-heavy shark movie to be released in just nine months time. It would be set in the Bahamas, feature triple Oscar-nominee Michael Caine, and have its ending changed after its US release. Trigger warning for this part of the episode for the tragic story of child actor Judith Barsi, which references child abuse and murder.

I would love to hear your thoughts on Jaws 2, Jaws 3-D & Jaws: The Revenge !

CONTACT....

• Twitter @verbaldiorama
• Instagram @verbaldiorama
• Facebook @verbaldiorama
• Letterboxd @verbaldiorama
• Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com
• Website verbaldiorama.com

SUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....

Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review

Join the Patreon | Send a Tip | Buy Merch

ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMA

Verbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio

Patrons: Simon E, Sade, Claudia, Simon B, Laurel, Derek, Vern, Cat, Andy, Mike, Griff, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Will, Jack, Dave, Chris, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Tyler, Stu, Brett, Philip and Michele!

We start Sequeltember 2023 with the sequel to last June’s episode on X-Men: First Class - itself a movie that didn’t deserve to be as good as it was, but it really was.

When a sequel to X-Men: First Class was announced, fan expectation was high. Not only did it adapt a much beloved and influential comic book series, it also announced it was bringing the original trilogy cast and the new cast together, for the first and only time…

But bringing together the new and old casts for X-Men: Days of Future Past wasn't easy, due to scheduling issues, other work commitments, and a surprise pregnancy.

And just how did Anna Paquin only get two seconds of screen time for five days worth of work?

I would love to hear your thoughts on X-Men: Days of Future Past !

CONTACT....

• Twitter @verbaldiorama
• Instagram @verbaldiorama
• Facebook @verbaldiorama
• Letterboxd @verbaldiorama
• Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com
• Website verbaldiorama.com

SUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....

Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review

Join the Patreon | Send a Tip | Buy Merch

ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMA

Verbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio

Patrons: Simon E, Sade, Claudia, Simon B, Laurel, Derek, Vern, Cat, Andy, Mike, Griff, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Will, Jack, Dave, Jason, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Tyler, Stu, Brett, Philip and Michele!

EPISODE THANKS TO....

Most excellent patrons:

• Andy @geeksaladradio. Listen to Geek Salad in your podcast app of choice
• Brett @DissectThatFilm. Listen to Dissect That Film in your podcast app of choice
• Derek @derekjones198. Listen to The Midnight Myth in your podcast app of choice
• Zo@BackLookCinema. Listen to Back Look Cinema in your podcast app of choice
• Brendan

Twitter peeps

• @NikolisKitchen
• @retrorambleblog
• @movieduelpod
• @elpeevio
• @SWOProductions
• @The80sMoviePod
• @Nerdstalgic_pod
• @2g1reusablecup
• @ZackDeuce
• @SpookynatPod
• @GeorgeSirois

Instagram folk

• @toptenpods

Facebook chums

• Kieren

Threads pals

• @ru57y14
• @drewtoynbee

Mentioned in this episode:

Paid promotions in this episode

This episode contains a paid Patron promotion for Middle Class Film Class, hosted by patron Pete.

Welcome to 1985! Where CD players were brand-new, everyone loved Flock of Seagulls, everyone wanted to join the Mile High Club, "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" and Billy Idol gets it, I don't know why she doesn't get it...

The Wedding Singer started life as one of Adam Sandler's trademark man-child comedies. It became something different after the involvement of two incredibly famous women - Drew Barrymore, and the late Carrie Fisher.

It's also the annual birthday episode, which means I literally do wanna grow old with you.

Not as old as Rosie, although I do perform a mean Rapper's Delight...

Keanu Reeves is a Wedding Singer

I would love to hear your thoughts on The Wedding Singer !

CONTACT....

• Twitter @verbaldiorama
• Instagram @verbaldiorama
• Facebook @verbaldiorama
• Letterboxd @verbaldiorama
• Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com
• Website verbaldiorama.com

SUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....

Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review

Join the Patreon | Send a Tip | Buy Merch

ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMA

Verbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio

Patrons: Simon E, Sade, Claudia, Simon B, Laurel, Derek, Vern, Cat, Andy, Mike, Griff, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Will, Jack, Dave, Chris, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Tyler, Stu, Brett, Philip and Michele!

SURPRISE!

No-one knew this one was coming. Not the Patrons, and no-one on social media. This week was going to have no episode, but I really wanted to do an episode on the crazy story behind Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, and how a sequel this wacky and ambitious ever got made in the first place. A sequel that references Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal, as well as containing evil robot versions of Bill & Ted, and the characters dying and ending up in hell.

It's a lot more fun than the sequel was going to be, that's for certain!

Just a small episode, but a most non-heinous one.

STATION!!

I would love to hear your thoughts on Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey !

CONTACT....

• Twitter @verbaldiorama
• Instagram @verbaldiorama
• Facebook @verbaldiorama
• Letterboxd @verbaldiorama
• Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com
• Website verbaldiorama.com

SUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....

Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review

Join the Patreon | Send a Tip | Buy Merch

ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMA

Verbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio

Patrons: Simon E, Sade, Claudia, Simon B, Laurel, Derek, Vern, Cat, Andy, Mike, Griff, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Will, Jack, Dave, Chris, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Tyler, Stu, Brett, Philip and Michele!

Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure almost wasn’t so excellent. Its original plot had to be changed during shooting, a major role was left uncast until the last minute, its original ending was abandoned for being, honestly, most heinous, and its production company went bankrupt during post-production.

But, just like the movie, its ending was most triumphant. Bill and Ted would pass their history report, form Wyld Stallyns, and their music would create utopia on Earth. The movie would become cemented in 80s comedy, for not being totally bogus and giving us two of cinema's most bodacious heroes, as well as two sequels.

Not to mention, it invented the internet (sort of!) and highlights the power of non-traditional scholastic education.

Be excellent to each other, and party on, dudes!

I would love to hear your thoughts on Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure !

CONTACT....

• Twitter @verbaldiorama
• Instagram @verbaldiorama
• Facebook @verbaldiorama
• Letterboxd @verbaldiorama
• Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com
• Website verbaldiorama.com

SUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....

Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review

Join the Patreon | Send a Tip | Buy Merch

ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMA

Verbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio

Patrons: Simon E, Sade, Claudia, Simon B, Laurel, Derek, Vern, Cat, Andy, Mike, Griff, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Will, Jack, Dave, Chris, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Tyler, Stu, Brett, Philip and Michele!

EPISODE THANKS TO....

Most excellent patrons:

• Andy @geeksaladradio. Listen to Geek Salad in your podcast app of choice
• Mike @gundam_guyver. Listen to Geek Salad in your podcast app of choice
• Derek @derekjones198. Listen to The Midnight Myth in your podcast app of choice
• Zo@BackLookCinema. Listen to Back Look Cinema in your podcast app of choice
• Vern @cinema_recall. Listen to Cinema Recall in your podcast app of choice

Twitter peeps

• @NeededRoads
• @OSWpodcast1
• @thewoodyatt
• @bitchenboutique
• @AntsHumansStars
• @ErikSlader
• @CaronaTea
• @ZackDeuce
• @unitofamanc

Instagram folk

• @moviesyoumissedpod
• @friendlysparpod
• @easyridersragingpodcast

Facebook chums

• Tony
• Mark

Threads pals

• None this time

Two households (Baz Lurhmann & 20th Century Fox), both alike in dignity,

In fair Verona (Australia / Hollywood), where we lay our scene,

From ancient grudge (Strictly Ballroom was a huge success) break to new mutiny, (mutiny = partnership)

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. (there was no blood that I'm aware of)

From forth the fatal loins of these two foes (they decided to collaborate, non-fatally)

A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life; (They made Romeo + Juliet, which is a tragedy)

Whose misadventured piteous overthrows (Kidnappings, illness and storms plagued the set)

Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife. (As far as I know, everyone's parents were ok with it)

The fearful passage of their death-mark’d love, (A 72-day shoot culminating in the joint onscreen deaths of both characters)

And the continuance of their parents’ rage, (Would you want to be a Montague or a Capulet?)

Which, but their children’s end, nought could remove, (Parents just don't understand!)

Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage; (And this movie is exactly two hours long)

The which if you with patient ears attend, (48 minutes worth of patient ears, please)

What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend. (This episode was a labour of love, I hope you enjoy it!)

I would love to hear your thoughts on William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet (1996) !

CONTACT....

• Twitter @verbaldiorama
• Instagram @verbaldiorama
• Facebook @verbaldiorama
• Letterboxd @verbaldiorama
• Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com
• Website verbaldiorama.com

SUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....

Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review

Join the Patreon | Send a Tip | Buy Merch

ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMA

Verbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio

Patrons: Simon E, Sade, Claudia, Simon B, Laurel, Derek, Vern, Cat, Andy, Mike, Griff, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Will, Jack, Dave, Chris, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Tyler, Stu, Brett, Philip and Michele!

EPISODE THANKS TO....

Most excellent patrons:

• Andy @geeksaladradio. Listen to Geek Salad in your podcast app of choice
• Brett @DissectThatFilm. Listen to Dissect That Film in your podcast app of choice
• Pete @TheRealPEEEETE. Listen to Middle Class Film Class in your podcast app of choice
• Vern @cinema_recall. Listen to Cinema Recall in your podcast app of choice
• Brendan

Twitter peeps

• @ReelFeelsPod
• @KatieSmithWong
• @IAmThatWiz
• @jerry_zero6
• @elainegwrites
• @jonnyliterati
• @CaronaTea
• @SwatiShahKicker
• @movie_drone

Instagram folk

• @moviesyoumissedpod

Facebook chums

• Giles

Threads pals

• None this time

Mentioned in this episode:

Paid promotions in this episode

This episode contains a paid Patron promotion for Middle Class Film Class, hosted by patron Pete.

A spec script sitting in development hell at Touchstone Pictures, called There's Something About Mary, wouldn't be the raunchy r-rated comedy it ended up becoming.

Originally written more straight, with Ted as a creepy stalker hiring a PI to track down the girl he crushed on at high school, once the Farrelly Brothers got involved, it became more of a comedy (with traces of those stalker tendencies still included) and 20th Century Fox wanted in.

R-rated comedies were big business in the '80s, but by the '90s romcoms were sincere, sweet and told us that love conquered all. There's Something About Mary would not only change the formula for what a romantic comedy could be, it also ushered in the new age of R-rated raunchy, gross-out humour that would make producer/directors like Judd Apatow huge in the future.

There’s Something About Mary was, in essence, a trendsetter. But it never set out to be one.

I would love to hear your thoughts on There's Something About Mary !

CONTACT....

• Twitter @verbaldiorama
• Instagram @verbaldiorama
• Facebook @verbaldiorama
• Letterboxd @verbaldiorama
• Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com
• Website verbaldiorama.com

SUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....

Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review

Join the Patreon | Send a Tip | Buy Merch

ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMA

Verbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio

Patrons: Simon E, Sade, Claudia, Simon B, Laurel, Derek, Vern, Cat, Andy, Mike, Griff, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Ian, Lisa, Sam, Will, Jack, Dave, Chris, Stuart, Sunni, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Tyler, Stu, Brett, Philip and Michele!

EPISODE THANKS TO....

Most excellent patrons:

• Danny @DannyBrownCA. Listen to One Minute Podcast Tips in your podcast app of choice
• Andy @geeksaladradio. Listen to Geek Salad in your podcast app of choice
• Derek @derekjones198. Listen to The Midnight Myth in your podcast app of choice
• Pete @TheRealPEEEETE. Listen to Middle Class Film Class in your podcast app of choice

Twitter peeps

• @NeededRoads
• @the_film_bee
• @kevin_thecritic
• @IAmThatWiz
• @laughmatician
• @bos_arjan

Instagram folk

• None this time

Facebook chums

• None this time

Threads pals

• None this time