Video Store Podcast

Welcome to the Video Store Podcast.
It’s March, the snow is slowly melting, and the world is turning green. Everywhere you look, stores are pushing the same movies about leprechauns and four-leaf clovers.
I’m here to give you a break from the lucky charms and offer up four different movies for the green spring season.
Soylent Green (1973)
Set in a crowded, overheated dystopian future, Soylent Green follows New York City detective Robert Thorn as he investigates the murder of a wealthy businessman. By 2022, the world has been pushed to the edge by overpopulation, pollution, and food shortages. Most people survive on processed food rations distributed by the powerful Soylent Corporation: Soylent Yellow, Soylent Red, and their new product, Soylent Green.
As the investigation unfolds, Thorn uncovers a conspiracy that reveals the shocking truth behind Soylent Green and reaches the highest levels of the Soylent Corporation.
If you like classic 1970s science fiction with a darker edge and big ideas about the future, this one is for you.
The Emerald Forest (1985)
The Emerald Forest tells the story of a young boy, Tommy, who disappears while his father is working on a massive dam project in the Amazon rainforest. Bill Markham spends the next decade searching for his son, traveling deeper into the jungle and encountering the indigenous tribes who call the forest home.
It’s a story of love, loss, and hope set against the lush green backdrop of the Amazon rainforest.
If you’re in the mood for an adventure that feels different from the usual Hollywood formula, this one is worth pulling off the shelf.
Romancing the Stone (1984)
Romancing the Stone is often labeled an “Indiana Jones clone,” even though the script was written two years before Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Romance novelist Joan Wilder is suddenly pulled into a real adventure when her sister is kidnapped in Colombia. To save her, Joan must deliver a mysterious treasure map deep into the jungle. What follows is a fast-moving adventure filled with treasure hunters, narrow escapes, and an unlikely partnership with a rugged fortune hunter.
Much of the film takes place in the thick green jungles of South America, where the landscape becomes just as important as the story. The lush setting adds a sense of danger and excitement as the characters try to stay one step ahead of the people chasing the same treasure, a priceless emerald
Romancing the Stone is pure 80s adventure fun. If you like action, humor, and a little romance, this is an easy choice for movie night.
The Green Mile (1999)
The Green Mile takes place inside a prison during the Great Depression and follows a group of guards who oversee death row. The story centers on John Coffey, a kind, imposing inmate who arrives with a mysterious presence and an unexpected gentleness.
The “green mile” is the nickname given to the stretch of green linoleum floor that prisoners walk on their way to the execution chamber. Over time, the guards realize the man walking the Green Mile possesses something extraordinary, turning a routine prison job into a powerful story about compassion, redemption, and humanity.
Settle in for this epic. It’s a powerful, character-driven story that blends drama, mystery, and a touch of the supernatural.

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Welcome back to the Video Store Podcast. It’s Women’s History Month, so today, we’re honoring the life of Jane Baer, a trailblazer for women in animation. We lost Jane on February 16, 2026, and though you may not have known her name, you have seen her work. Her work has been so influential that we’ve already talked about a few of her films here on the Video Store Podcast. We’ve selected 4 films for the staff picks wall this week, highlighting her work.
The Rescuers (1977)
First up is the underrated Disney classic, The Rescuers from 1977. Bianca and Bernard are sent from the Rescue Aid Society to save Penny, an orphan girl held captive by the evil Madam Medusa, who is hunting for the Devil’s Eye, an enormous diamond in a small cave that’s only big enough for a small girl to get into. Can they save her? You’ll have to watch The Rescuers to find out.
Pete’s Dragon (1977)
Combining live-action with animated sequences, Pete’s Dragon from 1977 made 5-year-old me believe that I could become friends with my favorite cartoon characters. Jane’s work on this film carries over to another film that her own animation company helped produce in 1988, Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
A vastly underrated and unsung Disney classic from 1986, The Great Mouse Detective is an adaptation of the book series of the same name. Basil of Baker Street must stop the nefarious Professor Rattigan from taking out the Queen and becoming the royal consort of all mousedom. This film is notable for its gorgeous styling and performance from Vincent Price as Professor Rattigan.
The Prince and the Pauper (1990)
Finally, we look at a lesser-known Disney short, The Prince and the Pauper, based on the Mark Twain story of the same name. This short features Mickey as both the titular Prince and Pauper, and was produced with the aid of Jane’s production company, Baer Animation.
For these films, as well as many more, we lift our glasses and bowls of popcorn in honor of Jane Baer’s life and work.
Happy Women’s History Month, and thanks for joining us here at the Video Store Podcast.
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Greek mythology has a way of cycling back. Every generation seems to take a turn with these stories, reshaping them to fit the tools and tastes of the moment. With a new version of The Odyssey directed by Christopher Nolan on the horizon, it feels like a good time to revisit a few earlier attempts. Not the definitive versions. Just four films that each capture a different moment in how the myths were staged.
Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
Directed by Don Chaffey and brought to life by the stop motion work of Ray Harryhausen, this remains the standard for mythological adventure on film.
The skeleton fight is still the showcase. Harryhausen animated seven sword fighting skeletons by hand, frame by frame, matching choreography that had already been filmed with live actors. It took months to complete just a few minutes of screen time. The patience shows. The movement has weight and timing that still feels precise.
There is also Talos, the bronze giant, who creaks to life in a way that feels mechanical and ancient at the same time. No digital polish. Just careful craft. The film was not a major hit in 1963, but it built its reputation through television airings and revival screenings. Filmmakers like Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson have pointed to it as an influence.
Clash of the Titans (1981)
Nearly twenty years later, Harryhausen returned for what would be his final feature. Released in 1981, the same summer as Raiders of the Lost Ark, it feels like a bridge between eras.
Medusa is the standout. Instead of legs she has a serpentine body, and the sequence plays almost like a horror film, full of shadow and flickering light. Harryhausen again handled the creature effects himself, at a time when optical and early digital techniques were starting to change the industry.
The cast gives the film a formal tone. Laurence Olivier plays Zeus and Maggie Smith appears as Thetis. There is also Bubo, the small mechanical owl added after the success of Star Wars. Even at the time some viewers were unsure about that addition. It says a lot about where fantasy films were headed in the early 1980s.
Hercules (1983)
Directed by Luigi Cozzi and starring Lou Ferrigno, this version of Hercules leans into spectacle in a way that is sometimes baffling and sometimes charming.
Ferrigno had already been known for playing the Hulk on television, so casting him as Hercules made sense on a physical level. The film itself mixes Greek myth with science fiction imagery, including cosmic visuals and creatures that feel closer to Italian fantasy cinema than to Homer.
It was part of a cycle of sword and sandal films in the early 1980s, many of them international co productions designed for global markets. The effects are uneven, but there is sincerity here. It commits to its vision without irony.
The Odyssey (1997)
Directed by Andrei Konchalovsky and starring Armand Assante, this two part television adaptation aired in 1997 as an event production.
The format allows it to cover more of the journey than most feature films attempt. The Cyclops sequence and the Sirens episode stand out, helped by visual effects that were ambitious for network television at the time. The production won an Emmy for visual effects and reflects a brief period when large scale myth adaptations were being mounted for prime time audiences.
Watching it now, you can see both its limits and its effort. It wants to treat the source material seriously, without reducing it to spectacle alone.
Taken together, these films show how the same source material can shift with the era. Stop motion craft in the 1960s. Transitional fantasy in the early 1980s. International genre filmmaking. Large scale television in the 1990s.
When Nolan releases his Odyssey, it will enter a long line of attempts to translate these myths into something contemporary. Revisiting these earlier versions is a way to see how each generation solved the same problem with different tools.
They are worth tracking down. Not because they are perfect, but because each one reflects a moment when someone decided these ancient stories were still worth staging carefully.
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The XXV Winter Olympic Games are underway in Milan, Italy and I couldn’t be happier. I love the Olympics. I’ll admit, the Summer Games are my favorite, but growing up in the frozen tundra of the Midwest gave me a soft spot for nearly every Winter event.
So, while Team USA fights for gold, I figured: what better way to get into the Olympic spirit than by watching some great movies inspired by the Winter Games? Each of these films highlights the grind to reach the Olympics and the agony and ecstasy of chasing greatness.
Downhill Racer (1969)
We begin on the slopes with Downhill Racer, a character‑driven drama following American skier David Chappellet, a talented athlete desperate to earn his spot on the U.S. Olympic Ski Team. As he competes across Europe, David’s single‑minded obsession puts him at odds with teammates and coaches, but no one can deny his raw ability.
What makes Downhill Racer special is the realism and the psychology of ambition. The ski sequences are exhilarating, especially the first‑person shots barreling down European slopes. Those sequences alone are worth watching.
It’s a portrait of the cost of obsession and how the Olympic dream can consume a person.
The Cutting Edge (1992)
The Cutting Edge gives us a nice blend of rom‑com energy and Olympic ambition.
The movie opens at the 1988 Winter Olympics, where both main characters suffer devastating losses. Hockey star Doug Dorsey takes a blow to the head that ends his career. Figure skater Kate Moseley is dropped by her skating partner, ending her gold‑medal hopes.
Two years later, training for the 1992 Games, Kate and Doug team up out of necessity and desperation.
Doug’s rough‑around‑the‑edges hockey mentality smashes directly into Kate’s icy perfectionism. But as they train through long hours and grueling routines, their hostility slowly melts into respect, then friendship, then something more.
Cool Runnings (1993)
Cool Runnings tells the incredible true(ish) story of the first Jamaican bobsled team, a group of sprinters from a tropical island who dared to chase a Winter Olympics dream.
When sprinter Derice Bannock fails to qualify for the 1988 Summer Olympics, he discovers that legendary and disgraced bobsledder Irving Blitzer once tried to form a Jamaican sled team. Determined to get to the Olympics any way he can, Derice recruits Blitzer to train a team for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.
Cool Runnings is a pure feel‑good movie, an underdog tale that radiates joy.It’s impossible to watch this movie without smiling. It’s comedy, heart, and Olympic determination all rolled into one.
Miracle (2004)
Miracle retells the iconic story of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, one of the greatest underdog victories in sports history. At the center is legendary coach Herb Brooks
Brooks assembles a roster of young college players, not the most talented individuals, but the ones who will form the best team. He trains them relentlessly, reshapes their mindset and prepares them specifically to confront the Soviet Union, the unstoppable powerhouse of global hockey.
The final act recreates the legendary “Miracle on Ice” that stunned the world. Even if you know the outcome, the film delivers tension and suspense.
Miracle is more than a sports movie. It’s about grit, unity, sacrifice and the belief that a group of ordinary people can achieve something extraordinary.
Those are my picks for the Winter Olympic movie marathon, four films that capture the heart, struggle and triumph of the Games. They showcase the sacrifices athletes make, the hours of training, the impossible odds, and the pure joy of victory. They also deliver everything you want in a movie night: drama, laughs, and underdogs worth cheering for.
Enjoy the Games and enjoy the movies.
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Valentine’s Day is a holiday, so of course, I’m talking Valentine’s Day specials on this week’s Video Store Podcast. I’ve picked four specials for the staff picks wall this week that I think everyone should watch this time of year. These specials either make me laugh, have a different flavor than you might expect for a Valentine’s Day special, and one that actually changed popular culture. Grab that heart-shaped box of candy and let’s settle in for these specials.
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (1975)
First up is Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown. This is an underrated classic in the Peanuts special canon. The Peanuts gang is getting ready to celebrate the holiday that feels to me, just like elementary school. There’s a Valentine’s Day party, unrequited love, making homemade Valentine’s cards, and more. Plus, you’ve got a wonderful score from Vince Guaraldi, and with the main theme being the “Heartburn Waltz,” what’s not to like? Look for it in the Peanuts section.
A Charlie Brown Valentine (2002)
This is one of the “new” Peanuts specials that I think is worth your time. A Charlie Brown Valentine focuses on Charlie Brown trying to muster the courage to talk to the Little Red-Haired Girl and tell her how he feels. But simultaneously, both Marcie and Peppermint Patty are interested in Charlie Brown and would like him to be their Valentine! Miscommunication, obliviousness, and Charlie Brown’s classic wishy-washy attitude make this a fun special. There are segments that make me laugh out loud every time I watch, so I think you’ll have a good time with this one. Look for it in the Peanuts section.
The Berenstain Bears’ Comic Valentine (1982)
For a deep cut Valentine’s Day special, I’ve selected The Berenstain Bears’ Comic Valentine, which aired on February 13, 1982, on NBC. This is the fourth of five Berenstain Bears specials produced for NBC from 1979 - 1983. In this special, Brother Bear has a championship hockey game coming up. He’s focused on getting ready for the game, but Valentine’s Day is coming up, too. He starts received Valentine’s from his Secret Admirer, Honey Bear. Brother doesn’t know a Honey Bear, so all he can do is speculate. Meanwhile, Papa Bear is looking for a way to show Mama Bear just how much he cares, and Sister gets into the Valentine’s Day spirit, looking to send Valentines to everyone, including the giant, Big Paw up on the Mountain. Will Brother figure out who his secret admirer is in time for Valentine’s Day? Grab this one from the animation section to find out.
Parks and Recreation season 2 episode 16 “Galentine’s Day”
Ovaries before brovaries, uteruses before duderuses, it all starts here with “Galentine’s Day” from Parks and Recreation season 2. This episode, which aired on February 11, 2010, added a new pop culture holiday and gave the Valentine’s Day season a little more fun. Gather your best gals and join me on the couch for this all-time great from one of the greatest comedies on television, you brilliant, powerful musk ox.
From all of us here at the Video Store Podcast, we hope you have a safe and happy Valentine’s Day.
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