EP#181-The Specialist

Charlie and George are off to mid-90s Miami, getting hot and sweaty in the explosive and (not so) erotic action movie, The Specialist!   There's a lot to unpack - Stallone and Stone's desperate search for chemistry, James Wood's acting in overdrive, Rod Steiger offending all of Latin America with that accent and Eric Roberts' amazing wardrobe - just wow.    Oh, there's also John Barry on the soundtrack with some James Bond B-sides. There's all the usual alternative casting and directors, deleted scenes and bad impressions.

Charlie & George are taking a stroll down the shadowy alleys of Dark City! They are looking back at the 1998 cult-classic sci-fi noir from The Crow's Alex Proyas. They look at the film's origins, influences, philosophical themes, plus it's similarities with The Matrix, which was released a year later. There's also alternative casting in Coulda Woulda Shoulda and some breathy Kiefer Sutherland impressions.

How do you follow up a blockbuster like Top Gun? Simple, you get the same people involved and remake it, swapping out jets for race cars. What could go wrong? Turns out quite a bit.   Yes, that's right it's a Retro Ramble on 1990's summer blockbuster Days Of Thunder, reuniting star Tom Cruise, director Tony Scott and uber-producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer.    For such an event, Charlie and George are joined by a returning guest, broadcaster, good friend and fellow Tom Cruise fan, Andy Hughes.    

In this episode, Charlie and George are tackling another Christmas classic, this time slightly more modern than previous festive outings, they're talking about Elf! From the films challenging production with an untested star and director in Will Ferrell and Jon Faverau, a limited budget, legal issues and some nostalgic stop motion. As per usual, there's alternative casting in Coulda Woulda Shoulda, some bad impressions as well as abandoned sequel ideas in Suspicious Spin Offs! Enjoy, and please share!   Retro Ramble (2025) Note: All content copyright or otherwise is protected by the Creative Commons Act.

In this episode, Charlie & George are hitting the streets of LA to revisit cult comedy TV show adaptation, Dragnet! They delve into the production of one of 1987's biggest hits, very much a passion project for writer and star Dan Ackroyd, co-starring a then-up-and-coming actor called Tom Hanks and directed by Bond alumni, Tom Mankiewicz. There's also chat around the legacy of Dragnet, some alternative casting, and the bizarre craze of a tie-in rap song - so a whole lot more than just the facts, maam!   COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL USED IN LINE WITH CREATIVE COMMONS ACT

It's time for another Halloween special! Charlie and George are heading to the dark side of Neptune in search of the Event Horizon!   They will delve into Paul W.S. Anderson's cult classic sci-fi horror film, exploring its production, the tight schedule involved, and some haunting deleted scenes.   They won't be alone on this adventure in terror, as they are excited to welcome special guest Chris Lackey from the "Strange Studies of Strange Stories" podcast!   Horror fans can learn more at https://www.strangestudies.com/about.   Enjoy, rate and please share. Happy Halloween!

In this episode, Charlie and George are rambling about retro 90s hit, Leon aka Leon: The Professional. Considering this was a film the boys have watched over the years again and again, gaining access to the fully uncut international version of the film has left them as traumatised as character Mathilda's neighbours! From scenes that should have probably remained on the cutting room floor, to the mesmerising Gary Oldman to answering the age-old question of is someone ever too old to get married. The usual bad impressions and coulda-woulda-shouldas ensue, we don't know why it took us so long to cover this on Retro Ramble but we sure are glad we did. Enjoy, review and please share!

It's down, down to wire, as Charlie and George are back in Bond territory, tackling 1987's The Living Daylights!  They discuss the debut of (the very underrated) Timothy Dalton and taking Bond back to his gritty roots. There are the typical Bond tropes to cover, including memorable action sequences, dastardly henchmen, and a synth-heavy John Barry score, amongst a very convoluted plot!  So set your hopes up way too high - the living's in the way we diiiiiiiie!

In this episode, Charlie and George travel to Mexico for some stylish and sexy nineties gun play, it must mean Desperado! They delve into the films origins, as well as the career of writer/director/editor/sometimes musician Robert Rodriguez. To get there, they need to discuss his ground breaking debut, El Mariachi and the third installment of the trilogy, Once Upon A Time in Mexico. Expect bad impressions, sweaty chemistry (Banderas- Hayek, less so McGhee Brothers) and film trivia! 

Get ready for a deep dive into the classic film that redefined the summer blockbuster -  Jaws! Charlie and George celebrate the movie's 50th anniversary, reminiscing about its enduring impact whilst exploring its challenging production, iconic moments, characters and lasting legacy, from the problematic mechanical shark "Bruce" to John Williams' unforgettable score. Join them for a light-hearted yet insightful look back at a film that became a shared experience for a generation, making us all afraid to go into the water!