Watch This With Rick Ramos

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I are tackling one of greatest series in film history, George Lucas' Star Wars. We're going deep as we discuss the original series, the prequels, the new sequels, as well as the cult surrounding the series and attempt to understand the continuing popularity and importance of these films over forty years after A New Hope's initial premiere. So take a listen as two fans do what we do best, talk movies, laugh, argue, and come to some kind of understanding. Questions, Complaints, Suggestions, and Support can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. As always, thanks for the continued love and support.  

Direct download: StarWars.mp3
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This week Ibrahim & I dive right back into our examination of Lucifer himself . . . Beelzebub, The Prince of Darkness, The Anti-Christ.  We start this look at The Evil One by examining Richard Donner's 1976  Horror-Thriller, The Omen, which would quickly become a series with Damien: The Omen Part II (1978), and the concluding film in the series Omen III: The Final Conflict (1981). Not the best films to take a look at, but even bad films have their importance.  Take a listen as Ibrahim & I dissect what these films get right and (more often) get wrong.  As always thanks for the continued love and support.  Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com

Direct download: TheAntiChrist.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:01am EDT

It's crybaby week on this episode of WatchThis W/Rick Ramos as Ibrahim & I sit down in The Temple of Ultimate Darkness to discuss Disney/Pixar's newest masterpiece, Coco.  It's a pleasure to sit down and talk a film that strives for and achieves so much.  We discuss the the film's personal importance to the both of us, as well as the cultural significance of Dia de Muertos (Mexico's Day of the Dead).  We also discuss 2014's The Book of Life.

This started out as a normal episode and quickly turned in to a more personal one.  We hope that you listen and are inspired to see this magnificent new film from Pixar.  Thank You for your continued support. As always we can be reached for Questions, Comments, Complaints, and Suggestions at gondoramos@yahoo.com.   

Direct download: CoCo.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:05am EDT

On this weeks episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I continue our dance with The Devil profiling The Occult and the tragic, controversial, and fascinating life and career of Polish filmmaker and Fugitive of American Justice, Oscar-winner Roman Polanski (he drugged and raped a 13 year old girl, in case you forgot). With this episode (recorded a few days after the death of Charles Manson) Ibrahim continues with his history of The Satanic Church, Anton LaVey, The History of the Devil in the Bible, but we also go into Polanski's Rosemary's Baby (1968) and The 9th Gate (1999).  We also spend a great deal of time looking back on the history of Charles Manson, The Manson Family, and The Tate-LaBianca Murders.  Take a listen and let us know what you think. As always, we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com.  Many Thanks & Much Love.  

Direct download: Polanski.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:53pm EDT

On this week's episode of WatchThis W/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I begin an examination into the world of The Devil. This first episode (in a proposed series of five) will look into the historical and religious role of The Devil in our world. Ibrahim & I begin with William Friedkin's 1973 Classic The Exorcist featuring Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Jason Miller, and - the great - Max Von Sydow.  We follow this with a look at depictions of The Devil in Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ (2004), George Stevens' The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) and - finally - Martin Scorsese's controversial labor of love, The Last Temptation of Christ (1988).  Take a listen and let us know what you think. Thanks for the continued love and support.  Questions, Comments, Problems, and Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com

Direct download: TheExorcist.mp3
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We're hitting episode #150 and what better way to do that then with a little bit of introspection? So with the jumping off point of Neil Berkeley's new documentary profiling the life of comedian Gilbert Gottfried, Gilbert is a fascinating look at the life of the aforementioned comic who has spent the last forty years as some kind of strange curiosity in the world of stand-up comedy. A "comics' comic" Gottfried seems to have always been driven by insecurity and fear. With that combination there exists some kind of magic in the comic's approach to his life, his craft, his (surprising) 10 year marriage, and fatherhood. I found this to be a beautiful and lovely little film. It hits close to home and I'm not sure I did justice to Berkeley's film because so much of what is shown mirrors my own life. Either way it's a heartfelt and emotional episode that - I hope - gets to the core of the comics' dream. Special Thanks to Joey Diaz & Lee Syatt on this one.  Questions, Problems, Comments, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com - All of My Love; All of My Thanks!

Direct download: GilbertGottfried.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:11am EDT

On this week's episode of WatchThis w/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I sit down in The Fortress of Ultimate Darkness to talk the ever-evolving Harvey Weinstein controversy.  With an ever increasing number of accusers, as well as additional controversies involving Kevin Spacey and Dustin Hoffman, Ibrahim & I are eager to put Hollywood under the microscope.  For this episode we go back almost a hundred years to the Rocoe "Fatty" Arbuckle scandal and the death of young starlet Virginia Rappe, as well as such Hollywood tragedies and controversies including Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, Jayne Mansfield, The Manson Family, Bill Cosby, Woody Allen, and - of course - Roman Polanski.  We talk sexism, racism, homophobia and our opinions on how all of this should be handled.  So sit back and prepare to be engaged (we hope)! As always Questions, Comments, Complaints, and Suggestions should be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com. As always, thanks for your continued love and support.

Direct download: Weinstein.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:58am EDT

On this week's episode of WatchThis w/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I sit down in The Fortress of Ultimate Darkness to discuss Horror in Cinema, and specifically a True Master of the Grenre, John Carpenter and his early Masterpiece, Halloween.  With an exceptional debut performance from Jamie Lee Curtis, and beautiful slumming by the great English actor Donald Pleasance, John Carpenter's Halloween remains the single greatest Horror film of the late century and rivals just about anything that has come before it.  We talk about the origins of the horror film including the 1920 German Expressionist Classic, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari as well as the Universal Monster Movies of the 1930's & 40's.  We also discuss the great Universal make-up artist, Jack Pierce and his influence over countless make-up artists to follow including: Rob Bottin, Greg Nicotero, Tom Savini, and Rick Baker.  So sit back and take a listen.  It's really a pretty good time.  As always, Questions, Comments, Complaints, & Suggestions can be directed to gondoramos@yahoo.com.  Many Thanks. 

Direct download: JohnCarpentersHalloween.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:34pm EDT

On this week's episode of WatchThis w/RickRamos, Ibrahim & I take on a classic of the Science Fiction Genre, Ridley Scott's 1982 Masterpiece Blade Runner. We discuss it's groundbreaking narrative as well as it's lasting legacy over nearly four decades. Of course, we discuss the continuing argument of Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) as a replicant as well as the insights, opinions, and questions created and posited by the film. We also take a look at continuing sage of the film in Denis Villeneuve's Blade Runner 2049.  Take a listen to what we have to say.  Maybe you'll agree; maybe you'll disagree.  They're all just opinions backed by a little bit of insight and a lot of love.  Thanks for the continued support.  Questions, comments, arguments, and suggestions can be directed to gondormaos@yahoo.com.  Thanks.  

Direct download: BladeRunner2017.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:32am EDT

Let's get right to this . . . there is one great action star of the cinema and his name is Chan Kong-sang better known as Jackie Chan. A child actor and graduate of The Famed Peking Opera School, Jackie Chan shot to fame in the mid-70's as the Hong Kong Movie Industry was reeling from the loss of the great Bruce Lee.  Looking to fill this void there were a number of attempts at replacing Lee. Chan was one of these candidates, however it quickly became apparent that Lee (as his screen persona stood) was irreplaceable.  Chan would go in another direction and focus on creating a new genre of action films, the kung-fu action-comedy film. With early films such as Snake In the Eagle's Shadow and Drunken Master, Chan would go on to redefine the World of Hong Kong Action. In preparation of his upcoming film The Foreigner, we focus this week's episode on the great Jackie Chan. As always, Thanks for Listening.  

Direct download: JackieChan.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:59pm EDT