I am only a lowly film buff and amateur movie historian so now and then I am going to highlight actual film experts/critics/pod-casters that I respect and trust.
This time I'd like to highlight…
The Video Archives Podcast
This is an audio podcast hosted by Roger Avary & Quentin Tarantino.
Famously Tarantino worked in a video store back in the day and that video store was called
“The Manhattan Beach Video Archives” Manhattan Beach, California.
Where he worked with Roger Avary.
I’m going to assume you know who Tarantino is.
Roger Avary is also a screenwriter/director who co-wrote Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction and True Romance with Quentin and Roger Avary wrote and directed the movies,
The Rules of Attraction & Killing Zoe.
Quentin is very keen for everyone to know he did not obtain his movie knowledge from working in the Video Store he was hired to work in the Video Store because of his movie knowledge... So There!!
When the Video Archives store was closing down forever, Tarantino swept in and bought the shop's VHS inventory and the shelving units and Roger Avary bought the store's Laser Discs selection.
Quentin now has a room in his L.A. home set up as a kind of video store with all the VHS arranged as they were in Video Archives on the original shelving.
Quentin is also keen for people to know it's not “over the top” he doesn’t have a counter with a cash register or anything because THAT! would be too much. OK!
The format of the podcast is the guys select a couple of movies from the shelves, watch them then talk about them.
They avoid themes because they try to replicate that video store experience where you would grab a few different movies. They watch the films on VHS. They discuss what's written on the back of the boxes and even the kind of box the tape lives in.
Every episode Gala Avary Roger's daughter (who is also the podcast producer) joins them for part of the discussion and her mission every episode is to see the film by buying a VHS copy or finding it by hook or by crook so we the listeners who don't have a full video store in their house can check out the film.
It is a fun and educational listen. they have discussed some real cult classics and some super obscure stuff.
They have had a few special guests including the living legend Mr Joe Dante!!
I really enjoyed the first season they discussed,
Dark Star (1974), Cocaine Cowboys (1979), Women in Cages (1971), Moonraker (1979), Firefox (1982), Delirium (1979), The Keep (1983), The Relic (1997), Cafè Express (1981), Teenager (1974), The Illustrated Man (1969), Dirty Hands (1975) Demonoid: Messenger of Death (1981), The One-Armed Executioner (1983), Welcome to Blood City (1977), Blind Rage (1978), Coma (1978), Mikey and Nicky (1976), Piranha (1978), Dressed to Kill (1980), Eyes of Laura Mars (1978), Alice Sweet Alice (1976), Happy Birthday to Me (1981), Star 80 (1983), Lipstick (1976), The One and Only (1978), Spawn of the Slithis (1978), The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970), The Light at the Edge of the World (1971), Traficantes De Pánico (1980), The In-Laws (1979), Rage (1972), The Loved One (1965), Cry for Me, Billy (1972), Busting (1974), Little Darlings (1980), Julia (1974), Haunted Honeymoon (1986), Bandera Bandits (1972), Rulers of the City (1976), American Nitro (1979), The Fool Killer (1965), The Young Nurses (1973), My Nights With Susan, Sandra, Olga & Julie (1975), Straw Dogs (1971), Better Late Than Never (1983), The Choirboys (1977), Hennessy (1975), Amphibian Man (1962), The Last Run (1971), Rustlers' Rhapsody (1985), The Jet Benny Show (1986), The Great Waldo Pepper (1975), The Visitor (1979), Buster E Billie (1974), Baxter (1989), The Fast Kill (1972), The Fourth War (1990), High Rollers (1976), The Hospital (1971), Ulzana's Raid (1972), Steel (1979), The Apple (1980), Rodan (1956), The Quiller Memorandum (1966), Treachery and Greed on the Planet of the Apes (1981), The Marshal of Madrid (1972), The Manhunter (1974), Rollerball (1975), Cobra Mission (1986), Blastfighter (1984), Jungle Raiders (1985).
All of season one is still out there in podcast land to listen to and I strongly suggest you do.
