Ramblin: An Amblin Podcast

After donning the Mask, it is now time to continue THE LEGEND OF ZORRO with our episode on Martin Campbell’s 2005 sequel, once again starring those damn fine sexy leads Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. But, coming some seven years after the original, something seems to have been lost along the way: the juice. To find out why this Zorro doesn’t quite whip like he used to, we enlist the help of podcaster MJ Smith of Let’s Jaws For a Minute fame to see if this follow up was just a case of too little too late - or if it is a greater miscalculation of appeal than that. You can follow Harley on Twitter at @MJSmith891 and you can find his shows (Let’s Jaws For a Minute, Let’s Party with Marty and Reel Perspective) where you get this podcast. Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinAmblin) and be sure to like and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Get in touch with us either via Twitter or email rambinaboutamblin@gmail.com. Please feel free to give us a 5-star review, share your favourite Amblin movies and tell us if ET makes you cry. Ramblin is created and produced by Andrew Gaudion and Joshua Glenn. A special thanks as always to Emily Tatham for the artwork, and Robert J. Hunter-Clayton & Greg Sheffield for the theme music.

We finish the tub of Neopolitan Spielberg trilogy by saving the best (chocolate) for last: his 2005 adaptation of WAR OF THE WORLDS. Together with returning guest Harley Mumford (of the fabulous Fandomentals podcast), we talk through the various different interpretations of H.G. Wells’ 1897 classic—particularly Orson Welles’ (no relation) infamous 1938 broadcast and the 1953 movie—and chart how each acts as a response to its particular place and time. In this instance, we discuss Spielberg’s film as an explicit response to 9/11 (and its place as the final instalment of his Paranoid Sci-Fi Trilogy), the surprisingly dour tone for a summer blockbuster and what the changes to the source material say to the contemporary mindset. We also talk about Tom Cruise in deadbeat dad mode, draw some surprising connections with the Jurassic Park sequels and try to understand what the hell is going on with Robbie. Andy also talks about the musical. A lot. Brace yourselves. You can follow Harley on Twitter at @HarleyMumford and his Fabdomentals Podcast at @FandomentalsPod. You can listen to Fandomentals wherever you get your podcasts. Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinAmblin) and be sure to like and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Get in touch with us either via Twitter or email rambinaboutamblin@gmail.com. Please feel free to give us a 5-star review, share your favourite Amblin movies and tell us if ET makes you cry. Ramblin is created and produced by Andrew Gaudion and Joshua Glenn. A special thanks as always to Emily Tatham for the artwork, and Robert J. Hunter-Clayton & Greg Sheffield for the theme music.

It’s time to check in with Steven Spielberg’s 2004 comedy-drama THE TERMINAL, the second part in our Neapolitan Spielberg trilogy. The ‘vanilla’ section of the trio is a rare Amblin joint where we have quite different opinions on the movie, and to help us unpack our feelings is our guest; friend, musician and one half of the Ramblin-theme composing team Robert J. Hunter-Clayton. Together, we delve into the inspiration behind the Tom Hanks-starring tale, marvel at the scale of its production design, weigh up the strengths and weaknesses of its various subplots and despair at Hanks’ Whopper-eating technique. So, boarding tickets at the ready and hop aboard - we hope you have a pleasant flight. You can follow Robert on Instagram and Twitter @RJHunterMusic and experience his musical stylings on Spotify: https://tr.ee/J3DdSljatd - You can also purchase physical copies of his latest album over on Bandcamp: https://robertjhunter.bandcamp.com/album/nothing-but-rust Read production designer Alex McDowell’s production diaries here: https://rb.gy/91x59x Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinAmblin) and be sure to like and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Get in touch with us either via Twitter or email rambinaboutamblin@gmail.com. Please feel free to give us a 5-star review, share your favourite Amblin movies and tell us if ET makes you cry. Ramblin is created and produced by Andrew Gaudion and Joshua Glenn. A special thanks as always to Emily Tatham for the artwork, and Robert J. Hunter-Clayton & Greg Sheffield for the theme music.

We kick off the first chapter in our self-coined ‘Neapolitan Spielberg trilogy’ with the strawberry of the trio, the beard’s 2002 con-man caper ‘CATCH ME IF YOU CAN’, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. To join us in tracking down the tale of putting the story of Frank William Abagnale Jnr to the screen is film historian and musical expert Miles Eady. Together, we discuss the long line of filmmakers who couldn’t quite get their clutches on the story, try out a Christopher Walken impression or two, consider the difficulties of a broadway adaptation, and look at what depths lie beneath the stylish and breezy surface of one of Spielberg’s most surprising works. And we also grapple with the age old question: should you ever let the truth get in the way of a good story? You can check out more of Miles’ work over on his website: https://mileseady.com/ Here’s a link to the real Frank William Abagnale’s appearance on The Johnny Carson Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIYtKR24LQs&pp=ygUkZnJhbmsgYWJhZ25hbGUgb24gam9obm55IGNhcnNvbiBzaG93 And a taste of the Broadway musical: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zayv01x1QLs&pp=ygUcY2F0Y2ggbWUgaWYgeW91IGNhbiBicm9hZHdheQ%3D%3D Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinAmblin) and be sure to like and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Get in touch with us either via Twitter or email rambinaboutamblin@gmail.com. Please feel free to give us a 5-star review, share your favourite Amblin movies and tell us if ET makes you cry. Ramblin is created and produced by Andrew Gaudion and Joshua Glenn. A special thanks as always to Emily Tatham for the artwork, and Robert J. Hunter-Clayton & Greg Sheffield for the theme music.

We’re back - in black - to get things rolling for Ramblin in 2024. We’re checking in with the MIB franchise, investigating the bad case of sequelitius that seems to have infected the Barry Sonnenfeld directed follow up to the 1997 sci-fi comedy classic. Both Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones return from Amblin past, and so does our guest -critic and broadcaster Rihanna Dillon. Together, we dig into the film's dragged out road to production, stressful shooting schedule and try to put our finger on just what is missing from this misfire of a sequel. But always remember, when there’s an Amblin movie to discuss, the elite is here, so have no fear, just, let me see you, NOD YA HEAD. You can follow Rhianna on Twitter @RhiannaDhillon and you can listen to her on BBC Radio 6 Music and catch PodPod (@podpodofficiak) wherever you get your podcasts. Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinAmblin) and be sure to like and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Get in touch with us either via Twitter or email rambinaboutamblin@gmail.com. Please feel free to give us a 5-star review, share your favourite Amblin movies and tell us if ET makes you cry. Ramblin is created and produced by Andrew Gaudion and Joshua Glenn. A special thanks as always to Emily Tatham for the artwork, and Robert J. Hunter-Clayton & Greg Sheffield for the theme music.

This Christmas, everybody runs - particularly everyone's favourite Hollywood cross country champ Tom Cruise. It is time to wave our hands in the hand and catch the red ball that is Steven Spielberg’s ‘MINORITY REPORT’ the sci-fi action-thriller based on the short story by Phillip K. Dick. To join us in unpacking this vision of the future is our pal and fifth-time guest Dan Kelly. We get into the project’s origins as a retooled Total Recall sequel, reflecting on the film’s themes of free will and state surveillance, while also offering many Max Von Sydow impressions. Please listen and enjoy, as the precogs foretold - and a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all you Ramblers out there. Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinAmblin) and be sure to like and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Get in touch with us either via Twitter or email rambinaboutamblin@gmail.com. Please feel free to give us a 5-star review, share your favourite Amblin movies and tell us if ET makes you cry. Ramblin is created and produced by Andrew Gaudion and Joshua Glenn. A special thanks as always to Emily Tatham for the artwork, and Robert J. Hunter-Clayton & Greg Sheffield for the theme music, and to all our guests and listeners over the year that was 2023.

This time it’s not just a walk in the park. The same could be said for the production of ‘JURASSIC PARK III’ - the third entry in the Jurassic franchise, directed by Joe Johnsotn. We get into its turbulent journey to the screen with returning guest David from Jurassic Collectables (@JurassicCollect), musing on the film that could have been, reminiscing about our first encounters with both the franchise and Johnston, as well as unpacking just what works and what doesn’t in the finished feature, Spinosaurus and all. Just don’t go drifting off and dreaming of talking raptors now. Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinAmblin) and be sure to like and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Get in touch with us either via Twitter or email rambinaboutamblin@gmail.com. Please feel free to give us a 5-star review, share your favourite Amblin movies and tell us if ET makes you cry. Ramblin is created and produced by Andrew Gaudion and Joshua Glenn. A special thanks as always to Emily Tatham for the artwork, and Robert J. Hunter-Clayton & Greg Sheffield for the theme music, and to all our guests over the decade that was the 1990s.

Cirrus. Socrates. Particle. Decibel. Hurricane. Dolphin. Tulip. Ramblin. Listener. Ramblin. Now we’ve got that out of the way, it’s time to get serious about Papa Spielberg’s first offering of the new millennium: 2001’s moody, existentially shattering A.I. Artificial Intelligence. Beginning as a short story in the pages of Harper’s Bazaar in the early-‘70s, the film started out as a Kubrick project before gradually, over the years, forging a bridge between the two master filmmakers and ultimately coming to fruition as a ghostly collaboration. We talk about the extent to which the film represents the nexus of these two very (ostensibly) different sensibilities, the truly remarkable work done by Hayley Joel Osment in doing the impossible and making human this uncanny life form, and the wild (mis)interpretations that have led to people taking very different things from the conclusion. It’s heavy stuff, so we’ve brought out the big guns to help us wade through it. That’s right, for this episode we’re joined by the one and only Good Doctor himself, Mr. Mark Kermode, a man who famously reassessed the film (as well as his own reaction to it) in the years since, even going so far as to confessing to the director himself. We’re over the moon that he could join us and we hope you find this discussion (which begins at around the 40 minute mark) as rewarding as we did, instead of looking at us blankly and asking: ‘What were those words for, Mommy?’ You can listen to Mark Kermode every Friday on Kermode and Mayo’s Take, available on all good pod catchers of choice. If you’re already a member of the vanguard, we salute you. Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinAmblin) and be sure to like and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Get in touch with us either via Twitter or email rambinaboutamblin@gmail.com. Please feel free to give us a 5-star review, share your favourite Amblin movies and tell us if ET makes you cry. Ramblin is created and produced by Andrew Gaudion and Joshua Glenn. A special thanks as always to Emily Tatham for the artwork, and Robert J. Hunter-Clayton & Greg Sheffield for the theme music, and to all our guests over the decade that was the 1990s.

Bright light city is gonna set my soul on fire. But will The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas have the same incendiary effect? We’re back in the podcastin’ business and back in Bedrock for Brian Levant’s prequel, swapping out the original crew for newer, younger, improved(?) models to see how Fred, Barney, Wilma and Betty all got together in the first place - with a little help from The Great Gazoo (may God have mercy on us all). To take the trip to Rock Vegas, we have cordially invited back two returning guests, Daisy Edwards and Clare Brunton - collectively the hosts of the W-Rated podcast - to take in the garish sights and sounds. What will we find under this turn of the century rock as we embark on a new decade for Amblin Entertainment? Get on your tippy toes and join us for the ride!! You can find episodes of W-Rated wherever you get your podcasts, and can follow the show over on Twitter (X) @WRatedPod). Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinAmblin) and be sure to like and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Get in touch with us either via Twitter or email rambinaboutamblin@gmail.com. Please feel free to give us a 5-star review, share your favourite Amblin movies and tell us if ET makes you cry. Ramblin is created and produced by Andrew Gaudion and Joshua Glenn. A special thanks as always to Emily Tatham for the artwork, and Robert J. Hunter-Clayton & Greg Sheffield for the theme music.

Like any good blockbuster these days, we split our 90s review in two and have now come to the final chapter of Amblin’s most prolific decade. Strap in as we gun it to 88 to cover such great topics as our biggest cry, the worst film of decade, best dog, favourite performance and of course, reveal the listener’s top five Amblin movies of the 90s. We also invite returning guest Emily Tatham to test our 90s knowledge to suitably zany results. Let’s get this intergalactic kegger off the ground - and see you in the 00’s. Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinAmblin) and be sure to like and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Get in touch with us either via Twitter or email rambinaboutamblin@gmail.com. Please feel free to give us a 5-star review, share your favourite Amblin movies and tell us if ET makes you cry. Ramblin is created and produced by Andrew Gaudion and Joshua Glenn. A special thanks as always to Emily Tatham for the artwork, and Robert J. Hunter-Clayton & Greg Sheffield for the theme music, and to all our guests over the decade that was the 1990s.

Get ready for the first instalment in our two-part 90s review lollapalooza. We at Ramblin wanted to give the 90s the send off it deserved, and boy did we ramble. So much so that there’s just too much good stuff to pack into one episode - so let’s spread the joy and celebrate the most prolific decade of Amblin’s history so far in two epic parts, with categories both old and new, from best score, to best surprise, and the most 90s of the 90s. So, hold onto your butts and enjoy part one, and make sure to come back next week to hear what the listener’s voted for as the top five movies of decade. Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinAmblin) and be sure to like and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Get in touch with us either via Twitter or email rambinaboutamblin@gmail.com. Please feel free to give us a 5-star review, share your favourite Amblin movies and tell us if ET makes you cry. Ramblin is created and produced by Andrew Gaudion and Joshua Glenn. A special thanks as always to Emily Tatham for the artwork, and Robert J. Hunter-Clayton & Greg Sheffield for the theme music.

It’s time for us to close the book (well, almost) on the 1990s, the most fruitful span of time for Amblin so far. That the film that sees us do this is Neil Jordan’s deeply bizarre supernatural psychological thriller IN DREAMS feels wholly appropriate for such a far-reaching, uneven and frequently unwieldy decade. Together we figuratively go bobbing for apples in an attempt to make sense of this tangled mess of a movie, wading through the giallo-esque narrative, the questionable performances and the truly stunning visual work en route to a conclusion that makes less sense the more you think about it. TW: IN DREAMS deals with instances of child abduction/abuse and suicide and, though our discussion mainly focuses on the ludicrousness of the film’s register, these elements do still factor into the conversation. If this sounds like it might be upsetting, we recommend skipping this episode. Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinAmblin) and be sure to like and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Get in touch with us either via Twitter or email rambinaboutamblin@gmail.com. Please feel free to give us a 5-star review, share your favourite Amblin movies and tell us if ET makes you cry. Ramblin is created and produced by Andrew Gaudion and Joshua Glenn. A special thanks as always to Emily Tatham for the artwork, and Robert J. Hunter-Clayton & Greg Sheffield for the theme music.

Papa Spielberg returns with his blistering take on the WWII drama, 1998’s SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, so we enlist the help of Mike West (@Mike333West) to wade through this deeply influential, almost-Best Picture-winning movie. Together we talk about the revolutionary portrayal of the D-Day landings, the contributions of the extensive cast and the reactions of veterans themselves. We also wade into some of the film’s more complicated elements, such as its relationship to jingoism, the impossibility of avoiding glamourising war and accusations of a propagandist bent. There are no easy answers, as with everything in life, but we had a great time searching for them, all the same. Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinAmblin) and be sure to like and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Get in touch with us either via Twitter or email rambinaboutamblin@gmail.com. Please feel free to give us a 5-star review, share your favourite Amblin movies and tell us if ET makes you cry. Ramblin is created and produced by Andrew Gaudion and Joshua Glenn. A special thanks as always to Emily Tatham for the artwork, and Robert J. Hunter-Clayton & Greg Sheffield for the theme music.

It’s time to enter the lair of the fox, as we welcome back guest and Ramblin artist Emily Tatham to discuss Martin Campbell’s THE MASK OF ZORRO. We get unapologetically lustful over what is one of the last great sexy blockbusters of recent memory, diving into the history of Zorro on screen, the sizzling star power of Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, and feeling absolutely whipped by Anthony Hopkins silver locks. So, don your masks and whistle for your noble steed as we become as one spirit in our love for one of Amblin’s most indisputably entertaining offerings. Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinAmblin) and be sure to like and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Get in touch with us either via Twitter or email rambinaboutamblin@gmail.com. Please feel free to give us a 5-star review, share your favourite Amblin movies and tell us if ET makes you cry. Ramblin is created and produced by Andrew Gaudion and Joshua Glenn. A special thanks as always to Emily Tatham for the artwork, and Robert J. Hunter-Clayton & Greg Sheffield for the theme music.

Big Action! Big Podcast! Small Soldiers! The Ramblin boys draw up battle plans to face Joe Dante’s final - at least for now - Amblin joint, the 1998 action-adventure SMALL SOLDIERS. We assemble an elite unit made up of returning guests Rhys Edwards and Dan Kelly to assist in taking down the Commando Elite and aiding the peaceful Gorgonites, as we cover the film’s production history, Burger King tie-ins, its anti-military industrial complex sentiments and the uncanny similarities to Avatar. Civilians, declare your allegiance and take on the mission - everything else is just a podcast. Read Jonathan Rosenbaum’s essay on the critical reception of Small Soldiers here: https://jonathanrosenbaum.net/2022/03/at-war-with-cultural-violence-the-critical-reception-of-small-soldiers-tk/ Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinAmblin) and be sure to like and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Get in touch with us either via Twitter or email rambinaboutamblin@gmail.com. Please feel free to give us a 5-star review, share your favourite Amblin movies and tell us if ET makes you cry. Ramblin is created and produced by Andrew Gaudion and Joshua Glenn. A special thanks as always to Emily Tatham for the artwork, and Robert J. Hunter-Clayton & Greg Sheffield for the theme music.

No, that’s not swamp gas from a weather balloon trapped in a thermal pocket and reflecting the light from Venus—it’s Ramblin’s episode on Barry Sonnenfeld’s 1997 masterpiece MEN IN BLACK! To join us in dissecting this perfect blockbuster (as though it were an expired Arquillian ambassador) is self-professed ‘Queen of the Dead’ Anna Bogustkaya, critic/broadcaster extraordinaire and host of The Final Girls, Successionistas and Dead By Dawn podcasts. Together we work through that Smith and Jones chemistry, the killer Rick Baker designs, some exquisite ‘90s goo and a Vincent D’Onofrio performance that’s up there with the very best of Lon Chaney. Time to push the little red button. You can follow Anna on her socials at @annabdemwnted. Her book UNLIKEABLE FEMALE CHARACTERS is out on 9 May in the US and 9 June in the UK. Find out where you can pre-order here: https://linktr.ee/annabdemented Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinAmblin) and be sure to like and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Get in touch with us either via Twitter or email rambinaboutamblin@gmail.com. Please feel free to give us a 5-star review, share your favourite Amblin movies and tell us if ET makes you cry. Ramblin is created and produced by Andrew Gaudion and Joshua Glenn. A special thanks as always to Emily Tatham for the artwork, and Robert J. Hunter-Clayton & Greg Sheffield for the theme music.

We welcome you back once more to the Jurassic Park franchise as we make the journey to the dark and brooding shores of Isla Sorna for our episode on the 1997 sequel THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK, once again directed by Steven Spielberg with a script by David Koepp, based on the novel by Michael Crichton. Similarly, as The Lost World brings back Ian Malcolm for the ride, we also welcome the return of a surviving guest from the first Jurassic Park incident, as Jurassic Outpost founder Jack De La Mare joins us to wade into the long grass to discuss the beast that is The Lost World. What’s that Ajay? DON’ T go into the long grass? But wh-ARRRGHHH! You can follow Jurassic Outpost on Twitter @JurassicOutpost and find the work that Jack and the team do over at https://jurassicoutpost.com/. Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinAmblin) and be sure to like and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Get in touch with us either via Twitter or email rambinaboutamblin@gmail.com. Please feel free to give us a 5-star review, share your favourite Amblin movies and tell us if ET makes you cry. Ramblin is created and produced by Andrew Gaudion and Joshua Glenn. A special thanks as always to Emily Tatham for the artwork, and Robert J. Hunter-Clayton & Greg Sheffield for the theme music.

You're travelling through another dimension - a dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land of imagination. Next stop, Ramblin! That’s right, it’s time to step through that scary door into the twilight zone of 1996 thriller THE TRIGGER EFFECT, screenwriter David Koepp’s feature directorial debut and an altogether overlooked entry in the Amblin canon. Joining Andy and Josh on their journey is newly-minted three-timer Dan Kelly (@DeekingAround), self-proclaimed Koepp-head and general appreciator of this kind of conceptual, slimline blockbusting. Together they talk about the film’s conception, the cast of Amblin all-stars and tonal reference points that range from the understandable (Spielberg!) to the unexpected (Shyamalan?). Cock your shotgun (several times) and follow along! Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinAmblin) and be sure to like and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Get in touch with us either via Twitter or email rambinaboutamblin@gmail.com. Please feel free to give us a 5-star review, share your favourite Amblin movies and tell us if ET makes you cry. Ramblin is created and produced by Andrew Gaudion and Joshua Glenn. A special thanks as always to Emily Tatham for the artwork, and Robert J. Hunter-Clayton & Greg Sheffield for the theme music.

Well shake it up, baby, now! Twist and shout! Yes, that’s right, it’s time to hunker down and strap yourself to a pipe as the Ramblin team go chasing that fabled F5 by tackling Jan de Bont’s wacky 1996 disaster-ish thriller-ish, TWISTER. The boys are joined by fellow tornado enthusiast Charlotte Bailey, and together they delve into the bonkers production history, the chills and spills of repurposed CGI zebras and the film’s enduring legacy amongst extreme weather freaks. So grab your DOROTHY, leave your lemonades on the car roof and come join us in the suck zone. (This is something that a character says in the film, we promise, we’re not just being rude.) Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinAmblin) and be sure to like and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Get in touch with us either via Twitter or email rambinaboutamblin@gmail.com. Please feel free to give us a 5-star review, share your favourite Amblin movies and tell us if ET makes you cry. Ramblin is created and produced by Andrew Gaudion and Joshua Glenn. A special thanks as always to Emily Tatham for the artwork, and Robert J. Hunter-Clayton & Greg Sheffield for the theme music.

The bell has finally rung on Amblimation, as we reach the third and final film produced by the short-lived animation wing of Amblin Entertainment. It has been a rocky road for Spielberg’s attempt at tackling the animation market, but it tries to cut fresh tracks in the snow with the based-on-fact adventure BALTO, directed by Simon Wells and featuring the voice talents of Kevin Bacon, Bridget Fonda, Bob Hoskins and Phil Collins (no songs though). We head out on the trial of the movie, taking a look at its relationship with the true story of the great serum run to Nome Alaska in 1925, the undue pressure the failures of the previous two Amblimation films put on Balto and perhaps most importantly seek justice for Togo, the real hero of this story. Let’s mush, Ramblin fans! Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinAmblin) and be sure to like and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Get in touch with us either via Twitter or email rambinaboutamblin@gmail.com. Please feel free to give us a 5-star review, share your favourite Amblin movies and tell us if ET makes you cry. Ramblin is created and produced by Andrew Gaudion and Joshua Glenn. A special thanks as always to Emily Tatham for the artwork, and Robert J. Hunter-Clayton & Greg Sheffield for the theme music.