White Christmas (1954)
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If there's one thing we've learned about guest Bob Kerr it's that he has a taste for the macabre. How else do you explain his love of Ernest Saves Christmas? This year we made him watch 1954's White Christmas - a movie this avowed lover of Christmas had never seen before - just to see if his head would explode. Did he find something to love? Give a listen to find out. Another fun episode.
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The Matrix/Hail the Conquering Hero
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Jimmy and Phil dare to challenge each other to watch a movie they've never seen before. Phil makes Jimmy watch The Matrix. Jim takes Phil back to WWII for Hail the Conquering Hero. Can something modern turn Jimmy's crank? And what about Phil, can he get into something - even a comedy - that came out long before he was born . You'll be surprised! An episode that wasn't really planned but just kind of happened with surprising results.
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Major League Baseball (1989)
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Gerry Hall takes us out to the ballgame for his take on the greatest baseball movie of all time prior to 2000, 1989's Major League. Surprisingly, he has a criteria that coulld possibly support his argument. Contains discussion of Gerry's career and the grand-daddy of all co-incidences. Lot of fun - and not just for baseball fans.
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Grosse Point Blank (1997)
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Barry Carter drops by to extolls the virtues of the quirky Grosse Point Blank from 1997. Does it sell out its premise to become just another rom-com or does it never lose its edge? There's holes and Jimmy ineveitably falls into them.
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Army of Darkness (1992)
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Talk about spooky! For our Halloween episode, guest Ryan Sim defends a movie that's credited with killing the Evil Dead series. What's worse, engineer Phil, loves the movie too. Stayed tuned to the very end for Ryan's challenge to Jimmy.
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The Sandlot (1993)
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Not without its flawa but Jimmy actually agrees with guest Chris Jarvie that The Sandlot is not without its charm. But is it the best movie about baseball ever made? That was supposed to be Chris' position - but it's Chris Jarvie and you'll hear what that means.
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Edward Scissorhands (1990)
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Guest Chris Wuergler revels in this off-beat gothic-romance, while Phil and Jimmy confess they enjoyed it while being constantly confused by exactly when it's taking place. Big revelation of the episode: Chris used Avon Make-up. If you've seen the movie you'll know why that's significant.
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Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
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Not just a classic but considered one of the seminal films of American cinema. It stands up for guest Chris Wuergler and engineer Phil as still powerful after all this time. The big question on Jimmy's mind? Did it really happen. Just one of the intriguing ways it send this talk down a very deep rabbit hole.
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Money Pit Versus Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
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Most people probably don't know that The Money Pit was actually a remake of an old Cary Grant - Myrna Loy movie called Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House - a movie that's among Jimmy's favourites. Does it hold up or will guests Mario Bernardi and Chris Wuergler see something less in it.
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Pee-Wee's Big Adventure
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For a twist - and to celebrate (late again) our 200th episode - Mario Bernardi and Joel Van Vliet turn the tables on Jimmy and make him the guest who has to talk about one of his favourite films: Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. Jimmy says it's a unique, cultural masterpiece. Will that be the prevailing opinion? Listen to find out if it it - and why this is such a special appearance by Joel. Mario, not so much but Joel!
info_outlineGuest Nik Duncan surprises Jimmy with a rigorous defense of the virtues of Meet Joe Black. Includes a brief interlude where they may have been visited by the ghost of Barry White. Actually the 200th episode of Back to the Balcony - just not the 200th anniversary celebration of the show.