114: Kiwi Christmas (2017)

Explicit content warning

07/20/24 • 99 min

Prior to their recent trip to New Zealand, Collin and Kerry looked up "New Zealand Christmas movies" and this was the result. "Kiwi Christmas" follows a typical formula for an ABC Family Christmas movie in which Santa Claus doesn't want to do his usual rounds on Christmas Eve, so he hides in Auckland, New Zealand and hangs out with a family during their Christmas barbeque. Wackiness ensues. Is the border patrol in NZ really as strict as they appear in this film? Can Santa really be Santa with only six employees? Will there ever be a Christmas movie or special starring Queenstown's beloved Cookie Muncher? All this, plus a robust Blu-ray Gift Exchange.

Blu-ray titles covered:

Warner Bros:

"Purple Rain" (1984) (4K)

"Godzilla x Kong: New Empire" (2024)

"American Fiction" (2023)

Criterion:

"Blue Velvet" (1986) 4K

"Fear and Loathing In las Vegas" (1998) 4K

Paramount:

"South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut" (1999) 4K

"Team America: World Police" (2004) 4K

MGM:

"Class" (1983)

Warner Archive:

"Mr. and Mrs. Smith" (1941)

"Act of Violence" (1948)

"The Man I Love" (1946)

"The Shining Hour" (1938)

Sony:

Blu-ray titles covered:

Warner Bros:

"Purple Rain" (1984) (4K)

"Godzilla x Kong: New Empire" (2024)

"American Fiction" (2023)

Criterion:

"Blue Velvet" (1986) 4K

"Fear and Loathing In las Vegas" (1998) 4K

Paramount:

"South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut" (1999) 4K

"Team America: World Police" (2004) 4K

MGM:

"Class" (1983)

Warner Archive:

"Mr. and Mrs. Smith" (1941)

"Act of Violence" (1948)

"The Man I Love" (1946)

"The Shining Hour" (1938)

Sony:

Previous Episode

113: Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas In July (1979)

Kerry and Collin take a look at the feature-length Rankin/Bass movie (and TV special) "Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas In July" and are bewildered by how plot-heavy and overloaded it is with exposition and countless new characters. What is the proper way to react to Frosty dying (again)? Is Scratchy the Evil Reindeer sufficiently evil? And what does all of this have to do with the legendary radio show "The Cinnamon Bear"? You'll have to listen to find out the answrers. Plus, Kerry dives into three more titles from the "1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die," all of which are geographically linked.

Book movies covered:

"The Adventures Of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert" (1994)

"Muriel's Wedding" (1995)

"Mad Max" (1979)

Next Episode

115: Six Weeks (feat. Peter Sobczynski)

The tearjerker "Six Weeks" starred Mary Tyler Moore, Dudley Moore and a talented ballerina named Katherine Healy. It came out in 1982 during awards season and managed to score two Golden Globe noms and a Razzie nomination. Frequent guest Peter Sobczynski has been waiting for over a year to talk about it with Kerry and Collin and even went so far as to buy them a copy of the book upon which the film is based. Collin does a dramatic reading of a few pages of this piece of literature. How do the film and book compare? How did such a talented cast get roped into this project? Should Peter really apologize for bringing us this film? All this, plus a few titles from the month of July for the Blu-ray Gift Exchange.

Blu-ray titles covered:

Warner Bros:

"Twister" (1996) (4K)

"Challengers" (2024)

Paramount:

"Swingers" (1996)

"When Worlds Collide" (1951)

MGM:

"The Mighty Quinn" (1989)

Sony:

"The Lady From Shanghai" (1948) (4K)

Criterion: