Watch This With Rick Ramos

Fritz Lang's Metropolis In 1927 Cinema was still in its relative infancy. Nearly eleven years earlier D.W. Griffith had established the "grammar of cinema" with his epic masterpiece, The Birth of a Nation. The subsequent decade would showcase spectacles (Ben-Hur, Intolerance), comedies (The Gold Rush, The General), and dramatic classics (Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans, The Last Laugh). Cinematic Science Fiction would be attempted as early as 1902 with Melie's A Voyage to the Moon, however it would take nearly a quarter of a century for Sci-Fi to reveal its technical brilliance and possibilities with 1927s Fritz Lang masterpiece Metropolis. While an incredibly innovative, beautiful, and groundbreaking film, Lang's narrative (from a treatment and screenplay by his wife and artistic partner, Thea von Harbou), continues - or is the beginning - of the lazy and apologetic "White Savior" cinematic trope that has continued from Lawrence of Arabia thru Dances with Wolves, and most recently, Avatar and Dune. This week Mr. Chavez & I go back to the argument that we have made before and will continue to make regarding this insulting and problemtic cinematic trope. Each generation seems to want to tell its own version of this story without recognizing the inherent hypocrisy of a society and culture victimized by the elite while simultaneously needing to be saved by a blonde-haired, blue-eyed messiah (in this case a billionaire suddenly aware of his "mediator destiny" and responsibility to his "brothers"). Yes, we recognize the technical and production brilliance of this film, while at the same time being unable to ignore (or excuse) the obvious and insulting simplicity of its narrative. It is possible to simultaneoulsy admire and take issue with a work of art. Take a listen and ask yourself if you agree. Let us know what you think. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Remakes, Re-Imaginings, Expansions. In 2004 Director Jonathan Demme would explore the world of Politics, Espionage, and Cold War Brainwashing with a new and novel take on John Frankenheimer's 1962 Cold War Classic The Manchurian Candidate. Demme would expand and manipulate Richard Condon's source material (a best-selling novel from 1959),  replacing the Korean Conflict with an updated Persian Gulf - and a replacement of Soviet and Chinese Communist manipulation with International Global Corporations holding the strings. Demme's update would be both more timely, relevant, frightening, and - somehow - reveal the problems with both films (at least in the mind of one of your hosts). This week Mr. Chavez & I discuss this very important film, its predecessor and its relevance in the current global environment. We discuss great performances from Denzel Washington, Liev Schreiber, and - a criminally underused - Meryl Streep. Take a listen and decide for yourself if we are correct, misguided, missing the point, or if we don't go far enough with our assessments. We'd love to hear from you - gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

John Frankenheimer's The Manchurian Candidate  On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Mr. Chavez & I sit down to discuss a classic of Cold War, Political Cinema, John Frankenheimer's groundbreaking 1962 The Manchurian Candidate. Based on the 1959 novel by Richard Condon, Frankenheimer's film would captivate audiences with a paranoid and chilling story of American soldiers brain-washed by Soviet and North Korean intelligence agencies to act as hypnotized robots. There are aspects of the film that are certainly far-fetched, however the core of the story is very real and a credible warning in its depiction of national and international struggles for power. As always, Mr. Chavez & I look at the film in the broader context of the world it depicts. There is a great deal to discuss here as well as the comparison/contrast that we will undertake when we discuss Jonathan Demme's 2004 re-interpreation in our next episode. It's a fun and exciting talk concerning one of our favorite topics. Take a listen and let us know what you think. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Our Continued Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Shinya Tsukamoto's Tetsuo: The Iron Man 2026 finds us digging into the Beautiful, Strange, and Challenging filmography of auteurs unafraid of being misunderstood or the offensive nature of the stories and images they deliver. It would be difficult to find a film that challenges it audience more than Shinya Tsukamoto's 1989 Cyber-Punk Classic Tetsuo: The Iron Man. There is no simple way to describe this film, except that it is an over-powering assault on the mind. What Tsukamoto achieves is unlike anything else you will find in popular cinema, but also cult cinema, midnight movies, or experimental films. A commentary on capitalism, workforce, the poor, middle, and upper classes, and - finally - the human spirit. This is an incredible film that magnifies the struggles of the human experience, doing so with a production design that leans into the limited budget available to its director. A Powerful Film, unlike anything else on celluloid, Tetsuo: The Iron Man is an incredible achievement that rewards its audience in the most beautifully realized way. Take a listen and let us know what you think - gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.    For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Akira Kurosawa's Ran  Happy New Year WatchThis Fans. Depending on Your Perspective, 2025 was a horrible year or the beginning of a grand awakening, returning America to its rightful place as Leader and Benefactor of the Unwashed Ignorant Masses. There are many ideas of what 2026 can and will be. We here at WatchThis W/RickRamos believe that Akira Kurosawa's 1985 masterpiece, Ran, is a film that offers powerful warnings on the dangers of conflict, paranoia, greed, but most importantly, pride. Adapted from Japanese history and Shakespeare's King Lear, Kurosawa explores the fragilty of government . . .  royalty . . . leadership, as pride disintegrates the perspective of leadership. One of the greatest films in the History of Cinema, Mr. Chavez & I are thrilled to be opening 2026 with Akira Kurosawa's Late Period Masterpiece. Take a listen and let us know what you think. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Our Continued Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Robert Wise's Odds Against Tomorrow & James Foley's After Dark My Sweet  This week Rick Ramos flies solo for a new episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos and the last new episode of 2025. After a heartfelt look at the past year, dreams, the job, and making sense of the art, we look at two Noirs that have been criminally overlooked: Robert Wise's 1959 Classic Odds Against Tomorrow and James Foley's After Dark My Sweet (1990). The episode is a deep dive into the power of Noir; how and why it continues to appeal to audiences and a continuing attempt to understand what "constitutes" Noir. One Man talking into the Darkness. Take a listen and let us know how you feel. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Our Continue Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos  - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Scott Sanders's Black Dynamite  We're finishing out the month of December - two more weeks left in 2025 - and having a great time exploring the world of Cult Cinema and Midnight Movies. This week we take a look at one of the best comedies of the 21st Century . . . a film that should have been exactly the definition of Midnight/Cult Movie. In 2009 Director Scott Sanders and Writer/Star Michael Jai White would unlease Black Dynamite on the moviegoing public. A Spoof/Parody/Love Letter to the "Blaxploitation" films of the 1970s, Black Dynamite was sadly ignored by the majority of moviegoers, however would find an eager and dedicated audience remembering the power of Fred "The Hammer" Williamson, Jim Kelly, Isaac Hayes, and the brilliance of Richard Roundtree and Jim Brown. Willie Dynamite, Three the Hard Way, Black Caesar, Truck Turner, Shaft, Foxy Brown, and Slaughter -  all cited and paid tribute to. Take a listen and let us know what you think of this trip through the History of Blaxploitation, the actors, directors, stories, and racism of the time. It's a fun talk . . . We hope you enjoy it. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Alejandro Jodorowsky's The Holy Mountain This week we continue our love for Midnight and Cult Movies. For this episode we return to the great Chilean-French filmmaker, Alejandro Jodorowsky. A Visionary Artist and Poet of the Cinema, Jodorowsky has created some of the most beautiful and challenging images and concepts ever conceived. Problematic, Polarizing, Poetic, and Personal, Jodorowsky's films exist as islands of beauty in a world of Cinema too often overwhelmed by commerce - established, continuinuing, and obvious proven projects, as well as "safe" childrens' fair. Jodorowsky digs deep into the humanity, history, and struggles of the species. The Holy Mountain is a powerful film that is not easily digested or - even - understood, but the poetry of the images in this film continue to haunt audiences since its release over a half century ago. Take a listen and make the decision if you wanto to make the dive into this beautiful and rewarding film. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Mike Judge's Office Space  Recorded some time ago, we've been holding onto this episode until the right time. As we move into our second month of Midnight & Cult Movies it is clear that Director Mike Judge (creator of Beavis & Butthead, Idiocracy, and King of the Hill) is a director whose filmography is almost entirely cult films and television shows. In 1999 he was approached by 20th Century Fox to adapt his short films (based on the Milton character first seen on Saturday Night Live and Mtv's Liquid Televison) into a theatrical film. There is no real undestanding of what 20th Century Fox expected. Judge's film would dive deep into the soul-sucking, emotionally paralyzing world of daily office work. A film that was never backed by its studio, Office Space would go onto find popularity on cable television and the dvd market. This is a wonderful film that plays to the pain and suffering of the 40 hour work week, idiot bosses, crazed and delusional co-workers, and ultimately fulfillment. Take a listen as we celebrate Mike Judge and this studio-trashed film that - somehow - found an audience and rose Phoenix-like. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Robert Aldrich's Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? Not a "Midnight Movie" but certainly one of the great Cult Classics, 1962s Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? was an audience's dream pairing. The coming together of Oscar winners Bette Davis and Joan Crawford - two of the greatest stars the medium has known - created a film that has captivated film lovers for decades. The story of two sisters - volatile, abusive, and mutually destructive - has become a love/hate letter to the entertainment industry as well as continuing fuel to the bitterness surrounding its two stars. On this episode, Mr. Chavez & I dig through the film's creative history, the relationship between Davis and Crawford, and our own interpretations of the movie and its lasting impact in the culture. Take a listen and let us know what you think. As always we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Russ Meyer's Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!  If you allow it to do so, Cinema will take you to strange, hypnotic, and brilliant places. For close to forty years I have known about Russ Meyer's Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965) and have assiduously avoided it. Cinematic Snobbery stopped this podcaster from one of the strangest and - seemingly - sexist and self-indulgent exercises in moviemaking. I could not have been more mistaken. The verdict on Russ Meyer as a filmmaker is stil to be determined by this podcast, however we can be sure that this film contains one of the greatest performances ever captured on celluloid. Tura Satana is simply incredible. The leader of a three girl gang of violent, porsche-racing, hedonistic go-go dancers on a desert adventure of murder, kidnapping, seduction, and robbery, Satana is a force of nature that is unlike anything else ever captured in the movies. This week we discuss this classic film, our opinions and theories regarding Russ Meyer, sexploitation, and the brilliance of Tura Satana. This is a fun talk. We hope you enjoy it. We can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

David Lynch's Eraserhead This week we continue our look into Midnight/Cult Movies. One of the earliest films to find an audience (and build its directors career) was 1977s Eraserhead. A film that baffles description, this weeks episode takes the angle of describing the "feelings" and memories that have followed our initial viewings of this brilliant debut film. Brilliant Black & White cinematography by Frederick Elmes and Herbert Caldwell, hypnotic performances from Jack Nance, Charlotte Stewart, Judith Anna Roberts, as well as a disturbing supporting cast that simply feels right. Take a listen to see if Lynch's debut film has affected you in a way that it has affected us. We'd love to hear from you. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Jim Sharman's The Rocky Horror Picture Show Cinema is art, Viewing Cinema is an artistic experience. We sit in the theater and drift into the beauty of a story that either entertains, explains, or enlightens. Sometimes all of these and even more. In 1975 20th Century Fox would distribute a film that would fail miserably with mainstream audiences, but would survive box office death and be reborn on the Midnight Movie Circuit. The Rocky Horror Picture Show has played non-stop since it began midnight screenings in 1976. With a rabid fanbase that acts out scenes, musical numbers, and improvised attacks on the action, the film has become a cinematic cultural experience . . . But, what is it, and is it actually a good movie? This week Mr. Chavez & I return to our shared experience with a NuArt screening, his return to the theatre, and my home viewing, alone in a dark room without any of the supporting distractions. This week we discuss  Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, and - a legendary - Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Take a listen as we dive into a month of Cult Films & Midnight Movies. It's going to be a good time. Reach Out: gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Kathryn Bigelow's Near Dark  This year Halloween fell on a weekend . . .  We've come to the end of the Halloween season. Two months of Vampire movies finds us ending on a cult favorite from the 1980s. In 1987 Kathryn Bigelow would direct her first solo-outing by re-imagining the Vampire film as a Neo-Western centered around a young couple and the family of vampires that haunt and terrorize a modern Southwest. Featuring Adrian Pasdar as Caleb Colton, a young man bitten and "turned" by the seductive Mae and his "adoption" into a troubling imagining on the traveling "nuclear family" including Bill Paxton, Jenette Goldstein, and Lance Henriksen. The film certainly has its problems however it is an assured and impressive debut directorial feature for Bigelow and captivating performances from her Vampire Family. Take a listen and let us know what you think - Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggesetions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards. 

E. Elias Merhige's Shadow of the Vampire Sometimes it's simply a thrill to watch one your favorite actors let loose and have a great time. F.W. Murnau's 1922 Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror is widely - and deservedly - considered one of the greatest films of all time. A mythology has formed around the making of the film including the idea that its star, Max Shreck, was an actual vampire. With this springboard, writer Steven Katz and director E. Elias Merhige's fashion an exciting, inventive, and thrilling historical re-telling of the making of Murnau's film. With a great supporting cast including Cary Elwes, Eddie Izzard, Udo Kier, and Catherine McCormack as actors and crew of Nosferatu. However the film belongs solely to a pair of unhinged and clearly fun performances from John Malkovich as Murnau, and (in an Academy Award nominated performance) Willem Dafoe as Schreck. For fans of Murnau's classic, silent films, and vampire stories, Shadow of the Vampire is a real treasure. Take a listen to see if you agree. As always we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.  

Carl Theodore Dreyer's Vampyr If you dig deep enough, Cinema will unleash great treasures. The Silent Era ended in 1927 with the release of The Jazz Singer . . .  Movies would never be the same. A number of filmmakers would utilize the new technology in innovative, imaginitive, and groundbreaking ways. Fritz Lang's M comes to mind. Musicals became a reality and would astonish audiences. Storytellng became an entirely new artform. However the power of Silent Films would continue to be felt. Chaplin stubbornly held onto silence, while Karl Dane, Douglas Fairbanks Sr., and Emil Jannings would witness their star power dim sound emerged. Danish filmmaker, Carl Theodore Dreyer, would struggle throughout his career with complex material, however he would - years later - be recognized as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. With Vampyr the struggle with the new technology is evident in its use in the film, however the brilliance in Dreyer's vision is in the visual. The images are haunting, disturbing, and - in many cases - unforgettable. Take a look at this Classic of World Cinema and enjoy one of the great works of the 20th Century. Take a listen as we bring you this powerful film. Questions, Comments, Complaints, and Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Adrien Beau's The Vourdalak If you dive into the depths of World Cinema you will often discover magic. You may not know that you're viewing something exceptional while you're watching it, but you will find yourself realizing the power of the image, the power of ideas from different corners of the world. This week Mr. Chavez & I find Adrien Beau's 2023 French "Folk" Tale The Vourdalak, a film of nuance and beautifully imagined historical horror. Chronicling the story of a French aristocrat, robbed and left lost in Eastern Europe, Beau's story takes on a familiar story re-imagined as the Marquis Jacques Saturnin du Antoine is directed to a villager's home and the terror of a new vampire story. Better seen than read about, we encourage you to take the chance, start the movie, and trust that it will captivate you. Take a listen, watch the movie, and let us know if you agree. As always we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.  

Tobe Hooper's Salem's Lot From time to time movies slip through the cracks. Although Tobe Hooper's Salem's Lot is considered a television classic, it is a film that your movie podcaset host has somehow missed these 46 years. Adapted from Stephen King's 1975 best-seller, this 1979 adaptation features David Soul from TVs Starsky & Hutch, as well as future Mrs. Holly McClane, Bonnie Bedelia. What could have easily been a throw-away television mini-series, is instead a ground-breaking take on Vampires, Lust, and Small-Town Paranoia. Guided through the directorial lens of Mr. Hooper, shortly after the landmark Horror spectacle, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) and before Poltergeist (1982), Hooper elevates the material to a truly frightening and exciting experience. If you haven't seen this classic you owe it to yourself to make the time. Take a listen and let us know what you think. Questions, Comments, Complaints, and Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Park Chan-wook's Thirst One of the great thrills of the past ten-plus years is the discovery of new, exciting, and challenging films. On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Mr. Chavez & I dive into the cinema of South Korea's Park Chan-wook for 2009s Thirst. It's fascinating to watch stories we believe we understand and are sure we have witnessed every variation. Park Chan-wook's Vampire story centers around a priest (Kang-ho Song) as he struggles with his beliefs and his slow transformation into the Undead. With an equally exceptional performance from Kim Ok-vin (as Tae-ju, the woman who fall in love with the priest with all of its complications), Chan-wook's film is a beautifully realized exploration of love, religion, death, and sin. Take a listen and let us know what you think. Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.  For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

John Landis's Innocent Blood  There are times when you have to take what you can get from a project. This week Mr. Chavez & I look at John Landis's 1992 Horror/Mob/Vampire/Comedy, Innocent Blood. With a talent such as Landis, the strokes are broad and without nuance. Innocent Blood is no exception. There are definitely the seeds for an exceptional Horror/Comedy hybrid, however this film is serving far too many masters. Some of the Horror works. Some of the Comedy works. The problem is there's simply not enough dedication to either. You can't serve two masters. The Pros . . . Robert Loggia - The man is having a great time spoofing himself, the Mob genre, and Horror movies. With an exceptional supporting cast including the great Don Rickles and a "who's who" of 90s Mob faces, Innocent Blood  is a miss but a curious, interesting, and - somewhat - charming film. Take a listen and let us know what you think - gondoramos@yahoo.com - Many, Many Thanks.   For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a contribution at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.