Casual Movie Club

John, Brian, and Tina get together to talk about the episode we would have done this week. However, a viral pandemic decided to occur, government leaders issued orders for us to stay home, and we had to put the idea on hold.In the mean time, check out our previous episodes and content on our website. We'll be back before you know it. Until then, stay safe everyone. 

Not everything is what it seems, especially in movies, but even more especially in this classic film we did this week: The Karate Kid from 1984. This movie shows how painting a fence, sanding a floor, waxing cars, and painting a house can be turned into the fundamentals for basic martial arts. It shows the loving and inspirational relationship between a fatherless youth and an old Japanese immigrant working as an apartment handyman. This is one of those movies you definitely should see before you die. We love it, and we think you will too.

Ahh, winter. The snow falls, the temperature drops, and you'd love to spend your days in a log cabin in the middle of the forest in front of a fire sipping hot cocoa. Sadly, that wasn't the case for the actors in the movie we watched; they decided to con their way onto a ski lift that got shut down, and they had to figure out what to do with themselves as a result. We're talking, of course, about "Frozen" from 2010. Despite not having any well-known actors in it, not doing great at the box office, and not having any digital effects, it was a surprisingly good movie. Don't take my word for it; watch the movie, and most importantly, listen to the episode. This is one you definitely won't want to just let go. 

So, this just happened: We lived every moment, we loved every day, because before we knew it, we had this gem of a movie brought to the podcast by Brian this week, since it was his turn for a surprise movie. We did "Grown Ups 2" from 2013 - this cinematic gem, according to John, is the "perfect background movie" - Brian seems to think otherwise. Take a listen to this episode to hear where we stand; this was definitely a movie that made for some interesting discussion.  

At the time of this episode's recording, we're in the middle of a worldwide concern about a viral outbreak in China, and what could be more appropriate than doing a movie that's about just that? We picked the movie "Contagion" from 2011 for this week's episode. It's a movie we both highly recommend,  because it brings the situation of what would happen in a viral outbreak type of event to the forefront. The movie presents everything in an easy-to-understand fashion. With brilliant acting, cinematography, and writing, this movie, besides being in our top 5 on our Leaderboard, is one we recommend everyone have in their collection.    To donate or find more information on the Coronavirus Outbreak, please visit casualmovieclub.com/coronavirus

Who doesn't love a good romantic movie? The kind of thing that makes you feel warm and fuzzy, seeing the two star-crossed lovers find themselves, embrace at the end, and share a passionate kiss? That's all well and good, but let's throw in a bunch of plot holes, a failed attempt at a science fiction element, and a movie with tons of moments where you're asking yourself "What the hell am I watching?" - We're talking, of course, about The Lake House from 2006. This movie features a time-traveling mailbox. What exactly is a time-traveling mailbox? Listen to the episode and you may find out. Watch the movie if you can find it somewhere for free, but definitely check out the episode. We even feature one of our favorite special guest hosts on this one too. 

Have you ever woken up one morning and asked yourself "I wonder what it'd look like if a bunch of bodies were suspended from the ceiling by wires..." No? That's okay. Perhaps you wondered what cadavers might look like hung up by clamps through their ears. Not that either? Well this movie brings those two bizarre visuals to life.  We're talking about the movie "Coma" from 1978, in which patients are intentionally placed into a coma, and wind up in an experimental institute hanging from the ceiling by cables.  The acting is on point, the story has lots of detail (and not without some solid medical jargon), and of course... a bit of cheesy music thrown in. It's a great thriller, one with both of our seals of approval. Watch the movie, then listen to this episode, and if you have to go into the hospital, steer clear of OR 8. 

This week we couldn't review this work of cinematic genius without bringing back our favorite co-host Tina, because of how much she loves this movie. This flick has it all: unrelatable whiny characters, horrendous factual inaccuracies, and of course, killer sharks. We're talking about none other than "47 Meters Down" from 2017. You may not need to watch the movie if you haven't seen it, we tore it to shreds like a hungry shark rips at its dinner. 

You remind me of the babe. What babe? The babe with the power. What power? The power of voodoo. Who do? You do! Do what? Listen to this podcast! We're back in 2020 kicking off Season 5 of the Casual Movie Club with the Jim Henson classic: Labyrinth from  1986. What movie gives you non-muppet Jim Henson puppets, a bog of eternal stench that regularly farts, and David Bowie wearing a skin-tight costume leaving nothing to the imagination (if you catch my drift) - If you haven't seen this movie, definitely watch it, then listen to this podcast or we'll cast a spell on you! 

Hey there! We're (almost) back in 2020 with a quick little special where we're talking about some special things. We're cooking up something fun for the new season of Casual Movie Club, so you won't want to miss this! 

Let's take 25,000 light bulbs, some eccentric family members, and the front-runner for "Father of the Year" and mix 'em up - what do you get? The greatest family Christmas movie of all-time: National Lampoons Christmas Vacation from 1989. We couldn't resist featuring this movie on this week's podcast as we end our season. It doesn't get any better than the sap-filled Christmas tree, the house visible from space, and the shenanigans Chevy Chase gets his family into. This is a movie and a podcast episode not to be missed. 

Have you ever wondered how Santa Claus became Santa Claus? Did he just start out in this role, or was he an average Joe that took over for someone else? The movie we talked about this week gives us a possible explanation; the movie is "The Santa Clause" from 1999, and it's truly one not to miss. We get to see what happens when a guy like Tim Allen becomes the big jolly guy himself, and learns how to reconnect with not only his kid, but kids all over the world. This is a Christmas classic you won't want to miss; the podcast episode is pretty great too, if you don't mind us saying so. 

Flight delayed? Train derailed? Car out of gas? Look no further than your favorite movie podcast to help you get through your travel woes. On this episode of the Casual Movie Club, we talked about a John Hughes classic from 1987, "Planes, Trains and Automobiles". We love this kind of movie on the Casual Movie Club; we find out what happens when flights are diverted a long ways from their original destination, strangers come together to get each other home, and of course, we learn that the word "pillow" has multiple meanings. 

Grab your air guitar get ready to wail, it's time for another head-banging episode of the Casual Movie Club. This time, we're watching a film about a garage band trying to be heard, and "sticking it to the man" in the only way their limited intelligence allowed them to. What does that mean exactly? You'll have to listen to the episode to find out. 

Have you ever found yourself craving a movie with an imaginary dude with a penchant for being obnoxious and devious, a (potentially) crazy girl who's the only one who can see him, and the movie isn't Beetlejuice? You're in luck, because we've reviewed the perfect movie for you: It's "Drop Dead Fred" from 1991, a movie that will certainly leave you scratching your head. Heck, it will even get the likes of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung wondering just what the hell happened on the screen. You won't want to miss this episode, because John and Brian don't hold back in their take on this work of cinematic lunacy. 

If you've ever found yourself dying... nay; CRAVING a "Die Hard"-esque movie...but it takes place on a stolen battleship... with an all-star cast, and Steven Seagal, and of course Gary Busey in drag... then you're in luck! We've got the perfect movie for you: Under Siege from 1992;  it's a classic from an era rife with epic action films.  This movie definitely delivers and this podcast episode is not one to be missed!

What do you get when you cross a little old lady, an action star, and a script that's barely on the cusp of mediocre? If your answer is "a great podcast episode" you are completely correct. This movie combined an action movie icon and a golden girl; we're talking about "Stop Or My Mom Will Shoot" from 1992. The gloves definitely come off in this one, as Brian and John go at it about this hodgepodge of a film. We parted friends as usual; no need to call the cops, we don't want to be arrested by a sergeant with his mother in tow. 

Bubble bubble toil and trouble, we've brewed a special potion for you this week on the Casual Movie Club! We watched Hocus Pocus from 1993, the classic Halloween flick! We also welcome our first special guest host Tina who joins us for a fun chat about this movie, so this is one not to miss - don't let this one disappear in a puff of green smoke, or you may be turned into a cat. 

It's time for another crime drama movie, a "whodunit" of sorts. This movie combines an A-list cast, powerful storytelling, and an ending that will definitely throw you for a loop. This is the first movie we've done that includes an actual typo in the title, but we'll let that slide. It's a great movie nonetheless; we're talking, of course, about the 1995 mystery/thriller/crime drama...Se7en. 

Was it John in the hall with the revolver? Or, was it Brian in the conservatory with the lead pipe? You'll have to listen to this week's episode to find out, because we reviewed "Clue" from 1985, the classic whodunit flick. This is the only podcast where we'll answer your burning questions: Was Mr. Green geeky enough, and did Yvette show enough cleavage? One must listen to know for sure!