Cinebanter #19 - VOLVER

The MP3 file of Episode 19 of Cinebanter is available here.

In this episode, Michael and Tassoula share some laughs about Michael's interpretation of VOLVER. They also deliver their Last Five®, a Listener Last Five®, and Michael tells us What Went Wrong at the Theater® as this featured segment returns. And to wrap things up, the hosts respond to some Listener Feedback from across the pond. The breakdown is as follows:

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:32 VOLVER Discussion
• Break
• 13:21 TO SUM IT UP
• Break
• 13:57 The Last Five®/Listener Last Five®
• Break
• 43:59 What Went Wrong at the Theater
• Break
• 49:03 Listener Feedback
• 55:01 Credits and Outtakes

If you'd like to subscribe to the show (it's free, of course) via iTunes, click here.

We're also available on Podcast Alley, Pop Current and Podcast-Review. Please vote for us at any of those sites if you like what you hear. And, if you're compelled to donate to the show, there is a PayPal button labeled 'Make a Donation' to the left of this blog. We thank you in advance for your support.

Michael's Last Five in this episode were: THREE COLORS TRILOGY, CHILDREN OF MEN, VENUS, GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES and ROME: SEASON ONE, EPISODES 1 – 4. Tassoula's Last Five in this episode were: DANCING AT THE BLUE IGUANA, 21 GRAMS, NOTES ON A SCANDAL, THE WIRE: SEASON 1, EPISODES 6 – 7 and THUMBSUCKER.

Special thanks to Brad Daane and Mark Cummins for providing the music in this episode.

Reviews and/or notes of every movie Michael sees can be found at his MichaelVox website.

Tassoula has movie reviews/musings at Tassoula's Blog.

Feedback is always welcome - you may leave comments here or e-mail the hosts at cinebanter@gmail.com.

We hope you enjoy the show!

Cinebanter #18 - CHILDREN OF MEN

The MP3 file of Episode 18 of Cinebanter is available here.

In this episode, Michael and Tassoula have a dreadful fight over the effectiveness of CHILDREN OF MEN, starring Clive Owen. They also share their Last Five® and their picks for the upcoming Screen Actors Guild Awards on January 28. The breakdown is as follows:

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:32 CHILDREN OF MEN Discussion
• Break
• 26:16 TO SUM IT UP
• Break
• 27:02 The Last Five®
• Break
• 40:23 SAG Award Picks
• 51:48 Credits and Outtakes

If you'd like to subscribe to the show (it's free, of course) via iTunes, click here.

We're also available on Podcast Alley, Pop Current and Podcast-Review. Please vote for us at any of those sites if you like what you hear. And, if you're compelled to donate to the show, there is a PayPal button labeled 'Make a Donation' to the left of this blog. We thank you in advance for your support.

Michael's Last Five in this episode were: SHERRYBABY, SHORTCUTS, STAGECOACH, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, and THREE COLORS TRILOGY. Tassoula's Last Five in this episode were: DEXTER: SEASON ONE, EPISODES 10 THROUGH 12, JOYEUX NOEL, BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY, THE WIRE: SEASON ONE, EPISODES 1 THROUGH 5, and THE WIZARD OF OZ.

Special thanks to Brad Daane and Mark Cummins for providing the music in this episode.

Reviews and/or notes of every movie Michael sees can be found at his MichaelVox website.

Tassoula has movie reviews/musings at Tassoula's Blog.

Feedback is always welcome - you may leave comments here or e-mail the hosts at cinebanter@gmail.com.

We hope you enjoy the show!

Cinebanter #17 - THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS

The MP3 file of Episode 17 of Cinebanter is available here.

In this episode, Michael and Tassoula give props to the young Jaden Smith during their review of THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS (which also stars Jaden's dad Will). They also share their Last Five®, discuss a Listener Last Five, welcome Average Matt back to the Cinebanter studios, and respond to Listener Feedback. The breakdown is as follows:

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:32 THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS Discussion
• Break
• 17:31 TO SUM IT UP
• Break
• 18:19 The Last Five®/Listener Last Five®
• 44:29 Average Matt
• Break
• 50:35 Listener Feedback
• 58:48 Credits and outtakes

If you'd like to subscribe to the show (it's free, of course) via iTunes, click here.

We're also available on Podcast Alley, Pop Current and Podcast-Review. Please vote for us at any of those sites if you like what you hear. And, if you're compelled to donate to the show, there is a PayPal button labeled 'Make a Donation' to the left of this blog. We thank you in advance for your support.

Michael's Last Five in this episode were: SHERRYBABY, SHORTCUTS, STAGECOACH, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, and THREE COLORS TRILOGY. Tassoula's Last Five in this episode were: LOVE ACTUALLY, NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM, EVERYONE STARES: THE POLICE INSIDE OUT, PLEASANTVILLE and THE RECEPTION.

Special thanks to Brad Daane and Mark Cummins for providing the music in this episode.

Reviews and/or notes of every movie Michael sees can be found at his MichaelVox website.

Tassoula also now has movie reviews/musings at Tassoula's Blog.

Feedback is always welcome - you may leave comments here or e-mail the hosts at cinebanter@gmail.com.

We hope you enjoy the show!

Average Matt's Five Best Movies of 2006

Hehehehe. Why not? Especially since I only saw about 10 movies in 2006. So, the list shouldn't be too difficult to put together. :-)


1. Over the Hedge
2. Cars

I may ultimately change the order of these two. I just watched the Cars DVD and thought the movie was so much better than when I saw it in the theater (on a day when I wasn't feeling too well). I haven't seen Over the Hedge on DVD yet, but loved it when we saw it at the theater.

So I'll give OTH the nod for now, based largely on one scene: It happens near the beginning of the movie, when the main character RJ (the raccoon) is showing the other animals all about humans, and he goes off on an awesome speech -- with great animation to match -- about Americans and food, and how we love food and our lives revolve around food. Very funny and a pretty effective jab at the culture, too. Maybe the smartest bit of adult humor I've seen in a kids' movie.

3. King Kong (2005 version; I didn't see it until this year)

The movie-making was excellent. Loved the opening scenes and how they seemed to really capture that era perfectly -- the vaudeville, the Great Depression, etc. Very cool. The island scenes were great -- more cool special effects -- and the aborigines were utterly frightening. Yikes!!! The blond chick is a babe, it had the guy from the TV show Homefront that I like (as an actor), and I eventually came to accept Jack Black as an eccentric, visionary filmmaker. The movie as a whole was really good, but ...

It was just a bit too unbelievable at times... like how on earth does a group of 10-20 humans race down a thin valley with a half-dozen Brontosauruses and another half-dozen Velociraptors, and survive?? No way. They should've all died. Please.

Most of all -- do you have to be a kid to believe it's possible for a beautiful blond to fall for a 100-foot tall gorilla? I think you do. That part of the movie just wasn't believable, and so the stuff at the end when she's climbing up to be with him as he fights the planes -- that all seemed too contrived to me. I don't think Peter Jackson did a good enough job selling that relationship.

4. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

This was funny in a stupid way, like some of the movies I remember liking in my teens. And I'm sure it was made much better because I saw it immediately after watching that Woody Allen tripe that not even Scarlett Johansson could rescue.

5. The Wild

I told you I watch a lot of animated movies, didn't I? This was good, but not great like Nos. 1 and 2 on this list. It had some really funny moments and a pretty nice story, but nothing exceptional overall.

So ... what were YOUR top five movies of 2006?