Watch This With Rick Ramos Rick Ramos

The Bailey Effect: Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life
This week Ibrahim & I re-watch a classic (Thank You - Anonymous Donor, Someone), Frank Capra's 1946 Jimmy Stewart/Donna Reed Classic It's a Wonderful Life. Few films have captured the public's hearts and imaginations like Capra's look at the life of Bedford Falls' George Bailey - A man with big dreams hobbled by the responsibilties and challenges of life. A kind of Christmas Carol re-telling from the Bob Cratchett point of view, Capra's look at pre-war thru World War II Small Town America, is a film that has been honored, cribbed from, parodied, and beloved by American audiences and audiences throughout the world. A financial failure upon it's 1946 theatrical release, Wonderful Life was re-discovered in the late 1970s when it's copyright expired and it was gobbled up by UHF and other public television stations, airing nearly round the clock during the holiday season. A paint-by-numbers story of goodness and American values, Capra's "little story" of one man's life and the effects it has had throughout his community is magical, touching, and - ultimately - inspiring. 
Thank you for your continued support. As always we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com. 
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A Fighter's Journey: The Rocky Saga & Legacy
This week Mr. Chavez & I continue our look at Sylvester Stallone's 1976 Oscar-Winning creation, Rocky Balboa. For nearly five decades Stallone's Balboa has captured the hearts of the American public. An underdog character that has appeared seven times on the big screen, Balboa's story has run the gamut of emotions featuring deaths, births, disappointments and success. It's a paint by numbers story that the public continues to eagerly swallow. Why is this the case? On this week's episode Mr. Chavez & I attempt to understand and answer this question. There's a great deal to unpack in this episode . . . we hope that your are interested in joining us in finding the answers. 
As always we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com. You're comments and questions are always appreciated.
For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a donation at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

America's Underdog: John G. Avildsen's Rocky & Sylvester Stallone's Rocky II
Jumping into the world of underdogs (last week's Popeye), Mr. Chavez & I look at one of the great American Cinematic creations - Rocky Balboa. The Balboa character's screenplay origin rivals that of the character's struggle in the film(s). From a real life adaptation of the 70s Muhammad Ali/Chuck Wepner bout, Stallone is legendary for having written Rocky and forcing studios to accept him as the lead in order to produce the film. It was an incredible gamble that paid of beautifully for Stallone. This week we look at the character, the role of the hero, Rocky's place in 70s Cinema, and the beginning of the legacy of the original film - and character - that would continue for close to fifty years. Take a listen as we look at these first two films and their importance in and for the American public. You can reach us at gondoramos@yahoo.com. Many Thanks. 
 For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a donation at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Comic Strip Underdog: Robert Altman's Popeye
This week we look to the fans with a special episode dedicated to WatchThis supporter, Jorge Saucedo. Mr. Saucedo asked that we take a look at the much-maligned 1980 Robert Altman comic strip adaptation, Popeye. This was a great time re-visiting a classic of my youth and, although Popeye is not Mr. Chavez's type of film - good guy hero, comic strip adaptation, musical - there is a great deal that he admired in this 80s Classic. Featuring Robin Williams (in his debut role) as the famed Sailor Man, a supporting cast including: Ray Walston (Poopdeck Pappy) Paul Dooley (Wimpy), Paul L. Smith (Bluto), Bill Irwin (Ham Gravy), Richad LIbertini (George W. Geezil), and - in perfect casting - Shelley Duvall as Olive Oyl, Popeye is a film that is remembered fondly. For too long it  has been unfairly labeled a "disaster", but the truth is it is a charming, beautiful, and light-hearted adaptation of the E.C. Segar comic strips of the 1930s. This was a fun time remembering a classic of the 1980s. We hope you like what we have to say. Thanks for the continued support. We can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com.
 For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a donation at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos  - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

We'll Always Have Aqaba - David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia
Few films are able to live up to the label of "epic".  In 1962 David Lean created one of the great epic masterpieces of cinema, Lawrence of Arabia. Based on the life of British archaeologist, army officer, diplomat, and write, T.E. Lawrence, Lean's film chronicles Lawrence's involvement in the Arab Revolt (1916-1918), his life among his adopted tribal families and his struggles with loyalty to the Arab tribes, the dessert, and his ties to his British roots. Lean's film is an epic in every way; from beautiful 70mm cinematography (lensed by the great Freddie Young) majestic and engrossing music from Maurice Jarre, and the incredible editing of Anne V. Coates (all three Academy Award winners for the film). Introducing Peter O'Toole and Omar Shariff, Lean would help create two of the great international stars Cinema has known. It's a thrill for Mr. Chavez and I to sit down, watch, remember, and discuss this powerful, overwhelming, and life-changing film. Take a listen as we dig into the history of The Middle East, the reception and legacy of this film, and comparisons to other "White Saviour" stories. It's a damn good talk. We hope you'll enjoy. Let us know what you think - gondoramos@yahoo.com. 
For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a donation at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos  - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.

Frank Herbert's Burden: Denis Villeneuve's Dune Part 2
This week Mr. Chavez & I return to Planet Arrakis for the conclusion (a lie) of Frank Herbert's Sci-Fi Classic, Dune. We partly imagined that this would be more of our previous look at this film (Episode #353), however we were able to find more to complain about. Take a listen as we fortify our stance in the minority opinion regarding this "WhiteSaviour" epic. It's an interesting talk with a lot to unpack. As always we can be reached at gondoramos@yahoo.com.
For those of you who would like to donate to this undying labor of love, you can do so with a donation at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/watchrickramos  - Anything and Everything is appreciated, You Cheap Bastards.