Retro Ramble

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.

EP#179-Dark City 1998

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.

EP#177: Days Of Thunder (1990)

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.    

Ep#174:ELF

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.

EP#173: Dragnet 1987

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