Video Store Podcast

Happy Memorial Day weekend! If you’ve got a 3-Day Weekend, we’ve got a trilogy that will fit the bill for you. Make a plate and join us for a great weekend of movie trilogies.
Guardians of the Galaxy
This hilarious trilogy in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has something for everyone. Comedy, action, great stunts and effects, and a killer soundtrack for every single film. This film trilogy is a conga line of straight bangers, just like each soundtrack. Guardians of the Galaxy 1, 2, and 3 will split your sides and make you tear up with their found-family motif. It’s truly a film trilogy that everyone can enjoy.
The Lord of the Rings
Peter Jackson’s multi-award-winning The Lord of the Rings trilogy is an epic cinematic masterpiece. With a cast of Oscar winners, a gorgeous score from Howard Shore, incredible cinematography, and groundbreaking practical and CGI special effects, these films are hard to beat. Plus, they’re about as long as your long weekend, so no need to do anything other than get up to change the disc and get more snacks! We’ve got both the theatrical cuts and extended editions of each film, so pick your preference!
John Carpenter’s Apocalypse Trilogy
If you want something a little different in terms of trilogies, how about a trilogy of three separate films that don’t share a story, but instead a theme? That’s exactly what director and composer John Carpenter’s Apocalypse Trilogy is. This trilogy comprises John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982), Prince of Darkness (1987), and In the Mouth of Madness (1995). They’re considered the Apocalypse Trilogy because the protagonists of these films don’t stop the Apocalypse, but are rather meant to bear witness to the world’s end. Flack covers John Carpenter’s The Thing in greater detail in his “Halloween Spirit!” episode, and Pitfall Gary has a great treatment of Prince of Darkness in his “John Carpenter, Master of Horror,” episode. I spend more time focusing on In the Mouth of Madness, which takes much inspiration from the works of H. P. Lovecraft and Stephen King. Check out this trilogy of terror on the John Carpenter shelf in our horror section.
Star Wars
It’s hard not to think of trilogies and not have Star Wars come immediately to mind, especially since it’s a trilogy of trilogies within itself! Today, I focused on the original trilogy, as that’s the one that everyone seems to agree on. Star Wars forever changed the game for science fiction films, and really, the entire film landscape. Not just with its special effects, but with its merchandising. Those effects are felt to this day, and for that reason, make it a great way to spend a long weekend.
Thanks for joining us here at the Video Store Podcast for your 3-Day weekend. We hope you have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend.
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I love a good heist film. These films always feature a group of criminals coming together to pull off a crime none of them could do on their own. I always enjoy the interaction and banter between the members of the gang, and despite trying to figure out what the group is about to do, like the police chasing them, I’m usually one step behind. There are many classic films including the Oceans 11 franchise, Point Break, and The Italian Job. Here are four of my favorites.
First up is Reservoir Dogs (1992), the directorial debut of Quentin Tarantino. In this film, things go terribly wrong after six men known only by aliases like Mr. White and Mr. Pink attempt a jewelry heist. By the end of the film several members of the gang have been killed, an undercover cop has infiltrated the group, and one very unlucky police officer ends up tied to a chair. Reservoir Dogs is not for the faint of heart, but then again neither is a good jewelry heist.
House of Games (1987) is a lesser known film that features a group of conmen who cross paths with a psychiatrist, Margaret Ford. Ford is sucked in by the group’s jobs, alternating between being a member and a mark of the group’s cons. When Mike, the leader of the group pushes Margaret too far, the two go head to head in a battle of the minds… and also, bullets.
Third up is The Usual Suspects, the groundbreaking film from 1995. After meeting in the clink, five local criminals team up to begin working together. The danger mounts when the group begin working for the mysterious crime lord Keyser Söze, a criminal so underground that no one has ever seen his face. The story unfolds through the eyes of Verbal Kent as he relays the group’s activities to a detective. By the end of the film you’ll discover that Kent may not have been entirely truthful to the police… and by the very end you’ll be hit with a twist that will not only blow your mind but demands you watch the film a second time.
Wrapping up this week’s episode is one of my favorite films of all time, 1998’s Ronin. ”Ronin” were samurai who lost their masters and roamed the earth as mercenaries for hire, which defines the criminal masterminds that come together in this film. Four men are hired to obtain a briefcase, despite not knowning what’s in the case, who has it, or who' they’re delivering it to. The stakes continue to rise as one mission leads to another, and things really spin out of control when one member of the gang attempts to make off with the briefcase for his own purposes. Starring Robert De Niro as Sam, the self-appointed leader of the gang. Ronin features a twisty plot, non-stop tension, and jaw-dropping car chases. A must watch.
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On this episode of The Video Store Podcast, I am recommending four movies about the people who get called when somebody has made a mess, crossed the wrong person, or needs a situation to go away quietly. The movies this week are Sweet Smell of Success (1957), Wise Guys (1986), La Femme Nikita (1990), and Pulp Fiction (1994). They all deal with that idea in different ways, from a press agent trying to stay useful, to mob errand boys trying to stay alive, to handlers working inside a government machine, to a man who arrives with a plan when everyone else is panicking.
I start with Sweet Smell of Success (1957), which may be the coldest movie on this list. Tony Curtis plays Sidney Falco, a press agent who is always working an angle and always trying to stay useful to Burt Lancaster’s J. J. Hunsecker. Hunsecker has the power, but Falco is the fixer. He is the one moving through restaurants, clubs, offices, and sidewalks trying to make things happen for people who would rather not get their own hands dirty. The film was directed by Alexander Mackendrick, with cinematography by James Wong Howe and music by Elmer Bernstein. It was shot partly on the streets of New York, and it still feels like a movie made out of cigarette smoke, bad favors, and late night anxiety.
Then I move to Wise Guys (1986), a Brian De Palma comedy that feels a little odd in his filmography, which is part of what makes it interesting. Danny DeVito and Joe Piscopo play low level mob guys who are useful until they are not. They run errands, take orders, and try to read the room, but the room keeps changing on them. Harvey Keitel, Dan Hedaya, Ray Sharkey, Frank Vincent, and Captain Lou Albano are all in the cast, which gives the movie a nice mix of mob movie faces and broad comedy. It is not De Palma in thriller mode, but you can still see his interest in people trapped inside systems they do not fully control.
The third recommendation is La Femme Nikita (1990), Luc Besson’s French action thriller about a young woman pulled into a government program that turns her into an assassin. The fixer here is not only one person. It is the whole structure around her. Tchéky Karyo’s Bob is part handler and part threat, someone who can seem kind while reminding Nikita that her new life is not really hers. Jeanne Moreau also appears as Amande, who helps shape Nikita into someone who can move through polite society while carrying a completely different life underneath. Anne Parillaud won the César Award for Best Actress for the role, and you can see why. She has to play the violence, the fear, and the strange sadness of someone being rebuilt for other people’s purposes.
The last movie is Pulp Fiction (1994), where Harvey Keitel’s Winston Wolf may be the cleanest example of this week’s theme. He arrives, assesses the problem, gives instructions, and leaves before the movie can turn him into something bigger. That is part of why the character works so well. He does not need a long backstory. He is there because somebody called the right number. The movie is full of people talking themselves into and out of danger, but Mr. Wolf is different. He does not talk around the problem. He handles it.
So this week, the shelf has a bitter New York classic, an oddball mob comedy, a French thriller, and one of the defining crime films of the 1990s. Four very different rentals, all built around people who know what to do when the situation has gone bad.
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Welcome to the Video Store Podcast.
As the 1960s rolled into the 1970s, something changed in Hollywood. Movies got bigger. Louder. More chaotic. And sometimes… they were a total disaster, in the best way possible.
These were practical, physical, dangerous productions, massive sets, real stunts, and ensemble casts packed with stars who weren’t guaranteed to make it to the end.
The disaster movie wasn’t born in the ’70s but it peaked there. Airplanes in crisis, cities collapsing, ships overturning, skyscrapers burning.
This week, my picks come from the golden age of disaster movies as we look at four of my favorite disaster movies that still hold up, and that showcase exactly why the 1970s did the disaster movies better than anyone else ever has.
Airport (1970)
Set over one snowbound night at a busy Chicago airport, Airport weaves together multiple storylines, an overworked airport manager, a conflicted pilot, strained relationships, and a desperate man with a dangerous plan. The tension builds gradually, before the larger stakes take hold.
What makes Airport work so well is it’s scale. Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, George Kennedy, Jean Seberg, Helen Hayes, the cast is stacked with faces you may not know by name, but absolutely recognize. The movie treats its ensemble seriously, letting each storyline unfold without feeling forced.
It was a massive hit, one of the earliest true “blockbusters,” and set the template the entire decade would follow: big casts, grounded storytelling, and high-stakes tension.
Earthquake (1974)
Earthquake promised exactly what it delivered: the complete destruction of Los Angeles.
Centered in Los Angeles, the film introduces a wide range of characters, before unleashing a catastrophic quake that tears the city apart. Once it hits, the movie becomes pure spectacle: collapsing buildings, massive destruction, and survival stories unfolding in real time.
At the center is Charlton Heston, bringing his signature intensity to a man caught between personal turmoil and unfolding disaster. Around him is a deep ensemble cast, including familiar faces like George Kennedy, Lorne Green and Ava Gardner.
Earthquake was create as an event, not just it a movie, it was a physical experience. The filmmakers pioneered the shaker mount camera system to simulate realistic movement, and introduced Sensurround, blasting sub-audible bass through giant speakers so powerful they made seats (and sometimes ceiling tiles) vibrate.
The stunt work is amazing: real falls, real debris, real crashes.
In the midst of all the destruction, the personal stories carry real weight, making the survival (or loss) of characters more emotional than expected. It’s pure disaster chaos.
The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
Set aboard a luxury ocean liner on New Year’s Eve, the movie quickly turns into a survival story when a rogue wave capsizes the ship. The survivors must navigate an upside-down world, climbing their way through the wreckage in hopes of escape.
Led by Gene Hackman as a determined and unconventional preacher, the movie leans heavily into character dynamics. Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Shelley Winters, Jack Albertson, it’s another stacked cast, but no one is safe simply because they’re famous.
Relationships evolve, tensions flare, and every character has a purpose. The writing gives each person a distinct arc, making the journey feel and survival feel important. Add in a powerful score by John Williams, and you get one of the best disaster movies ever made.
The Towering Inferno (1974)
Set in the world’s tallest skyscraper during its grand opening, The Towering Inferno follows what happens when overlooked safety shortcuts turn into a full-scale catastrophe.
The film is powered by two Hollywood titans: Steve McQueen and Paul Newman. Their dynamicm, one a no-nonsense fire chief, the other the building’s architect, gives the film a strong emotional core amid the chaos.
The practical effects and stunt work are relentless: real fire, real smoke, real danger. You can feel the heat.
It’s also one of the best examples of the genre’s ensemble storytelling—multiple perspectives, intersecting arcs, and constant tension. And once again, John Williams’ score gives you a movie that is epic and intense.
These movies hold up today because of the disaster but also the story telling.
They take their time. They let you meet the characters, understand their relationships, and invest in their outcomes. So when disaster strikes, it actually matters. And there’s no guarantee of survival, not even for the biggest stars.
Long before the term “blockbuster” became standard (thanks to Jaws), these films were already defining what that meant.
No matter which of these you choose, you’re guaranteed a movie night that’s anything but a disaster.
Until next time — be kind, rewind.

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We’re having fun with more strange and familiar things this week on the Video Store Podcast, looking at four films that the Duffer Brothers took inspiration from for the second season of Stranger Things. If you missed the first installment of this series, go check out the first part, “Things to Watch After Stranger Things I.”
Ghostbusters (1984)
We’re keeping it light and breezy to start this week’s show with Ghostbusters (1984). It’s a silly comedy with a healthy dose of spooky fun. Yes, our leading young guys are dressed as Ghostbusters, have their own proton packs, PKE Meters, and ghost traps to bust all the ghosts in the neighborhood. But what makes this an inspiration for Stranger Things season 2 is the haunted feeling our cast has during this season. And of course, Dustin catches a baby demogorgon with his ghost trap. What’s not to like about that?
Aliens (1986)
Next is the sequel to 1979’s Alien, Aliens, directed by James Cameron. This sci-fi action horror flick gives Stranger Things season 2 inspiration for its newest form of demogorgon, the demodog, as well as flamethrowers aplenty. Eleven is a mini-Sigourney Weaver in aesthetics and tenacity. And can we really trust Doc Owens if he is played by Paul Reiser, aka Burke from Aliens? Guess you’ll just have to watch Aliens and find out.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day is the second example of a sequel that sticks the landing in today’s show, and truly, that’s why Stranger Things season 2 nods to it. As James Cameron sought to honor the original source material and give it a twist with Aliens, he does the same with Terminator 2: Judgment Day. The film turns expectations upside down, and that’s exactly what Stranger Things season 2 does! And for that reason, it’s worth watching the film to see what jumped to Stranger Things. You’ll be back for more!
The Exorcist (1973)
The final film I’ve got for you today is often called “The Scariest Movie of All Time,” 1973’s The Exorcist. And with good reason! This film’s final act inspires the Stranger Things season 2 finale’s final act as well. There are also certain parallels that can be drawn between Father Karras’ journey and Hopper’s journey to be a father. This is a really scary film, and it’s not for everyone, but it is a film that’s worth watching at least once.
Honorable Mentions
Go back and listen to Flack talk about Gremlins in his “I’m Dreaming of a Bloody Christmas” episode. I discussed Stand By Me in my “Film Friendships” show, which was visually referenced in the first two seasons of Stranger Things (and it won’t be the last time either). Flack talks on the Ozploitation genre in his “Ozploitation Cinema” episode, of which Mad Max is the most famous, which is where Max gets her gamer tag in the Dig Dug game. Finally, I would be beyond remiss if I failed to include the most obvious reference---Eleven, dressed as a ghost, begging to go out for Halloween, just like E. T. did in E. T. the Extra-Terrestrial, which I covered in my first installment of this series. There are loads more I could mention, but I’ll spare you that today. Come talk to me after hours if you want the full thesis dissertation.
Thanks again for joining us today on the Video Store Podcast. I must say, it’s pretty…b!t₵h1n’ of you to do so!
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