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Cinema: A to B

Media & Entertainment Podcasts

Meet Alec and Ben, long-time friends who previously worked in Hollywood. Together they're discussing movies and streaming series while sharing their experiences in the industry. This is not a traditional movie review it's Cinema: A to B.

Location:

United States

Description:

Meet Alec and Ben, long-time friends who previously worked in Hollywood. Together they're discussing movies and streaming series while sharing their experiences in the industry. This is not a traditional movie review it's Cinema: A to B.

Language:

English


Episodes
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Train Dreams (2025)

4/20/2026
A spoiler filled analysis and conversation on the Oscar nominated Train Dreams written and directed by Clint Bentley from the Denis Johnson novella and starring Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones and William H. Macy. Join Alec and Ben as they explore the film's themes, cinematography, standout performances and emotional impact. Image by Igor Makarevich from Pixabay Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaatob Cinema: A to B Merch - https://www.bonfire.com/store/cinema-a-to-b/

Duration:00:40:52

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Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025)

4/6/2026
Spoiler Warning. A candid critique of the third entry in James Cameron's Avatar series, focusing on the narrative shortcomings, visual spectacle, and character development across Avatar: Fire and Ash starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang and Oona Chaplin. Image by hartono subagio from Pixabay Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaatob Cinema: A to B Merch - https://www.bonfire.com/store/cinema-a-to-b/

Duration:00:30:33

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Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) revisited

3/23/2026
A look back at the iconic Robin Williams performance as the titular character Mrs. Doubtfire. Directed by Chris Columbus and also starring Sally Field and Pierce Brosnan. Alec and Ben explore Williams' comedic brilliance, emotional depth, and the film's cultural impact. They share personal stories, analyze the film's themes, and reflect on Williams' legacy as a performer. Cover art by Testet95 Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaatob Cinema: A to B Merch - https://www.bonfire.com/store/cinema-a-to-b/

Duration:00:36:35

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One Battle After Another (2025)

3/9/2026
A SPOILER filled discussion on Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro and Teyana Taylor. The guys discuss and critique the film's premise, messaging, performances and cinematography. The episode wraps up with a conversation on the slate best picture nominees for the 98th Academy Awards. Image by Donna B. McNicol from Pixabay Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaatob Cinema: A to B Merch - https://www.bonfire.com/store/cinema-a-to-b/

Duration:00:36:34

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Arrival (2016) revisited

3/2/2026
A Season of Sci-Fi concludes with an analysis and discussion of Denis Villeneuve's 2016 film Arrival starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker. Alec discusses where he ranks the film among Villeneuve's filmography. Ben critiques the film's unique cinematography. The guys talk through how the script tricks viewers expecting a linear narrative. Image by Zaimhel Syakir from Pixabay Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaatob Cinema: A to B Merch - https://www.bonfire.com/store/cinema-a-to-b/

Duration:00:36:43

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Blade Runner 2049 (2017) revisited

2/23/2026
A Season of Sci-Fi entry 12 is a look back at Denis Villeneuve's Blade Runner 2049 starring Harrison Ford, Ryan Gosling and Ana de Armas. Join Alec and Ben as they discuss why the film is a worthy follow-up to the iconic Ridley Scott directed Blade Runner. Image by Roger Jeffreys from Pixabay Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaatob Cinema: A to B Merch - https://www.bonfire.com/store/cinema-a-to-b/

Duration:00:48:44

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The Abyss (1989) revisited

2/16/2026
A Season of Sci-Fi episode 11 features a lesser known James Cameron picture with the 1989 deep sea action film The Abyss starring Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Michael Biehn. The guys discuss the dangerous and difficult filming conditions, stunning VFX, narrative critiques and finally touch on a film that they don't really agree on. Image by Tabby Cat from Pixabay Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaatob Cinema: A to B Merch - https://www.bonfire.com/store/cinema-a-to-b/

Duration:00:29:07

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Alien (1979) & Aliens (1986) revisited

2/10/2026
A rewatch and discussion on the first two landmark films in the Alien franchise from legendary directors Sir Ridley Scott and James Cameron and starring Sigourney Weaver. Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaatob Cinema: A to B Merch - https://www.bonfire.com/store/cinema-a-to-b/

Duration:00:54:31

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Star Wars Original Trilogy ('77-'83) revisited

2/2/2026
The ninth entry in A Season of Sci-Fi lands with a sprawling discussion and celebration of George Lucas's iconic trilogy of Star Wars: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi as well as many of the related properties that followed. Join Alec and Ben for a tangent filled conversation on the science fiction world that inspired a generation of fans and filmmakers alike. Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaatob Cinema: A to B Merch - https://www.bonfire.com/store/cinema-a-to-b/

Duration:01:08:03

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Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) revisited

1/26/2026
Entry eight in A Season of Sci-Fi is a conversation on the second Star Trek feature film Wrath of Khan directed by Nicholas Meyer and starring William Shatner, Ricardo Montalban, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Kirstie Alley and Bibi Besch. Join Alec and Ben as they discuss where arguably the best Trek film has aged well and where it frankly hasn't. The conversation tangents across multiple Trek films and the Star Wars comparisons are... inevitable. Image by WikiImages from Pixabay Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaatob Cinema: A to B Merch - https://www.bonfire.com/store/cinema-a-to-b/

Duration:00:37:39

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The Fifth Element (1997) revisited

1/19/2026
Entry seven of A Season of Sci-Fi is Luc Besson's 1997 film The Fifth Element starring Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm and Chris Tucker. Join the guys for a laughter filled discussion on a beloved late 90s romp. Cover art by Norio Nakayama Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaatob Cinema: A to B Merch - https://www.bonfire.com/store/cinema-a-to-b/

Duration:00:36:11

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A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) revisited

1/12/2026
It's A Season of Sci-Fi entry six and another Steven Spielberg picture with the 2001 adventure-drama A.I. Artificial Intelligence starring Haley Joel Osment, Jude Law and Frances O'Connor. The guys marvel at a film well ahead of its time. Ben makes his case on why this is likely Osment's best performance to date. Alec dispels a misconception regarding the late Stanley Kubrick's involvement with the film. Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaatob Cinema: A to B Merch - https://www.bonfire.com/store/cinema-a-to-b/

Duration:00:32:43

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District 9 (2009) revisited

1/5/2026
A Season of Sci-Fi entry five takes another look at the groundbreaking alien action film District 9 from writer-director Neil Blomkamp and starring Sharlto Copley. Alec and Ben discuss why the film has aged so well and how its raw grounded nature makes it a landmark entry in the genre. Image by vantomen from Pixabay Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaatob Cinema: A to B Merch - https://www.bonfire.com/store/cinema-a-to-b/

Duration:00:34:02

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Ad Astra (2019) revisited

12/29/2025
For the fourth entry in A Season of Sci-Fi the guys break down the 2019 James Gray film starring Brad Pitt and Tommy Lee Jones. Join the conversation as Alec and Ben discuss both why the film didn't find an audience and why is deserves another look six years later. Image by Pexels from Pixabay Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaatob Cinema: A to B Merch - https://www.bonfire.com/store/cinema-a-to-b/

Duration:00:36:35

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Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) revisited

12/22/2025
For entry number three in A Season of Sci-Fi Alec and Ben backtrack five years before E.T. to 1977 with Spielberg's definitive entry in the UFO genre with Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The guys discuss the merits of the film along with the evolution of the UAP phenomena over the past 48 years. Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaatob Cinema: A to B Merch - https://www.bonfire.com/store/cinema-a-to-b/

Duration:00:37:45

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E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) revisited

12/15/2025
The second entry in A Season of Sci-Fi arrives with a conversation on Steven Spielberg's 1982 alien adventure film E.T.. The guys discuss how it differs from Close Encounters of the Third Kind and how unique Spielberg truly is in the pantheon of great film directors. Image by Robert Karkowski from Pixabay Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaatob Cinema: A to B Merch - https://www.bonfire.com/store/cinema-a-to-b/

Duration:00:33:42

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2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) revisited

12/8/2025
Back from hiatus the guys kick off a 13 episode Season of Sci-Fi with a conversation on Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film, it's place as a technical standard bearer for the genre and why major portions of its plot remain as relevant as ever nearly 60 years later. Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaatob Cinema: A to B Merch - https://www.bonfire.com/store/cinema-a-to-b/

Duration:00:34:35

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Training Day (2001) revisited

11/17/2025
The guys discuss why Antoine Fuqua's 2001 crime drama, Training Day, starring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke demands a rewatch. Ben makes his case why 2001 was a banner year for cinema. Image by Jose Aitor Pons Buigues from Pixabay Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaatob Cinema: A to B Merch - https://www.bonfire.com/store/cinema-a-to-b/

Duration:00:40:32

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Sherlock Holmes (2009) revisited

11/10/2025
A rewatch and conversation on director Guy Ritchie's take on the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle detective starring Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams and Mark Strong. Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaatob Merchandise - https://www.bonfire.com/store/cinema-a-to-b/

Duration:00:28:34

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The Last of the Mohicans (1992) revisited

11/3/2025
The guys discuss the strengths and weaknesses of Michael Mann's 1992 adaptation of the James Fenimore Cooper novel, The Last of the Mohicans, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe, Russell Means, Eric Schweig, Jodhi May, Steven Waddington and Wes Studi. Image by Loren Biser from Pixabay Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaatob Merchandise - https://www.bonfire.com/store/cinema-a-to-b/

Duration:00:34:03