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In this episode, Jessica Stone joins the podcast. She brings along the movie Rare Exports. Marty and Clif give Jessica the movie The Ref to watch.

This milestone episode gets it's start with Ted Demme’s The Ref (1994). The trio breaks down Dennis Leary’s breakout performance as a cat burglar forced into referee duty for a brutally unhappy family, discussing the film’s sharp dialogue, performative holiday traditions, and why its mix of rage, therapy, and forced honesty still works decades later.

The conversation then shifts north - way north - with Rare Exports (2010), a Finnish holiday horror film that re-imagines Santa Claus as something far older and far more dangerous. The group digs into what makes the film so effective, how it contrasts with The Ref, and why both movies ultimately tap into the same holiday anxieties in very different ways.

It’s funny, unhinged, thoughtful - and the perfect way to ring in 100 episodes of Talking Pondo.

#TalkingPondo #FilmPodcast #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #ChristmasMovies #HolidayMovies #DarkChristmas #CultFilms #TheRef1994 #RareExports #DennisLeary #FinnishHorror #Episode100 #FilmAnalysis #MovieTalk

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Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace

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In this episode, Marty gives Clif the movie Return of the Jedi to watch and Clif gives Marty the movie Local Hero to watch.

Clif and Marty revisit 1983 by pairing two very different films released just weeks apart: Return of the Jedi and Local Hero.

They break down what makes this moment in movie history so unique: from the large-scale filmmaking and iconic imagery of Jedi to the quiet charm and character-driven storytelling of Local Hero. The conversation dives into performances, themes, and the shifting tone of early-80s cinema, with thoughtful insight into how both films have continued to influence audiences and filmmakers.

#ReturnOfTheJedi #LocalHero #1983Movies #StarWars #FilmPodcast #MovieDiscussion #80sCinema #FilmAnalysis #TalkingPondo #ClassicFilms #PopCulturePodcast

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Making Pondo on Letterboxd:
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Season Two
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Season Three
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Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace

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In this episode, Marty gives Clif the movie The Empire Strikes Back to watch and Clif gives Marty the movie The Right Stuff to watch.

This week on Talking Pondo, Marty and Clif dive into a double feature: the unaltered Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and the epic aviation drama The Right Stuff.

From space chimps and Wampa attacks to the bleak brilliance of early-80s filmmaking, the guys break down why Empire still defines modern sci-fi and how The Right Stuff captures the birth of American spaceflight. They dig into deleted scenes, production quirks, the evolution of special effects, Yoda puppetry, Han-and-Leia chemistry, and why 1983 was such a weird, magical year for movies.

It’s film analysis mixed with nostalgia, overthinking, mild confusion, and emotional support Wampas. Classic Pondo chaos.

#TalkingPondo #MovieReview #StarWars #EmpireStrikesBack #TheRightStuff #80sMovies #FilmPodcast #MovieDiscussion #CinemaTalk #PodcastClips #FilmNerds #FunnyPodcast #StarWarsHumor #MovieComedy #EmpireStrikesBack #SpaceChimpsEnergy

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The Love Song of William H Shaw

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Making Pondo on Letterboxd:
Season One
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Season Two
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Season Three
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Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace

Photos by Geoffrey Notkin

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In this episode, Dylan J. Schlender (from Reels of Justice) joins the podcast. He brings along the movie Mixed Nuts. Marty and Clif give Dylan the movie Mazes and Monsters to watch.

Clif and Marty return with special guest Dylan for a completely unhinged holiday double-feature: Mixed Nuts (1994) starring Steve Martin, and Mazes and Monsters (1982) starring a very young Tom Hanks.

The trio digs into why Mixed Nuts, with its massive ensemble cast, still feels chaotic and uneven, why the French original didn’t translate, and how the movie became one of the oddest entries in 90s holiday cinema. Then they turn to Mazes and Monsters, the infamous TV movie inspired by Dungeons & Dragons panic, filled with LARPing, melodrama and lots of spelunking.

#TalkingPondo #MoviePodcast #MixedNuts #MazesAndMonsters #TomHanks #SteveMartin #ChristmasMovies #HolidayMovies #FilmDiscussion #PodcastEpisode #MovieReview #ComedyPodcast #DungeonsAndDragons #FiggyEpisode #IndieFilmmakers #CultMovies #YouTubePodcast #FilmNerds #MovieTalk #CinemaDiscussion

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The Love Song of William H Shaw

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Instagram:
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Making Pondo on Letterboxd:
Season One
https://letterboxd.com/marty_ketola/list/talking-pondo/

Season Two
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Season Three
https://letterboxd.com/marty_ketola/list/talking-pondo-season-3/

Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace

Photos by Geoffrey Notkin

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In this episode, Marty gives Clif the movie The Last Waltz to watch and Clif gives Marty the movie My Cousin Vinny to watch.

In this Thanksgiving installment of Talking Pondo, Clif and Marty serve up the perfect double feature: My Cousin Vinny (1992) and The Last Waltz (1978).

They break down Joe Pesci’s hilarious courtroom chaos, Marisa Tomei’s Oscar-winning performance, and why Vinny is one of the most rewatchable comedies ever made. Then they pivot to Martin Scorsese’s legendary concert film The Last Waltz: a raw, beautifully shot farewell to The Band, filmed on Thanksgiving night and packed with music icons like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Joni Mitchell.

#MyCousinVinny #TheLastWaltz #TalkingPondo #MartinScorsese #MarisaTomei #JoePesci #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #ThanksgivingMovies #ClassicMovies #RockDocumentary #FilmNerds

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Find our films here:

The Love Song of William H Shaw

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X (formerly Twitter):
@MakingPondo

Instagram:
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Making Pondo on Letterboxd:
Season One
https://letterboxd.com/marty_ketola/list/talking-pondo/

Season Two
https://letterboxd.com/marty_ketola/list/talking-pondo-season-2/

Season Three
https://letterboxd.com/marty_ketola/list/talking-pondo-season-3/

Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace

Photos by Geoffrey Notkin

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In this episode, Marty gives Clif the movie Star Wars to watch and Clif gives Marty the movie Hell or High Water to watch.

The FBI teaches Darth Vader how to surf? Not this week: Marty and Clif dive deep into two films that changed their galaxies in very different ways.

First up: Hell or High Water, Taylor Sheridan’s neo-Western about brothers robbing banks to save the family ranch. Clif says it’s a modern classic; Marty calls it “trope city.” Then the guys revisit Star Wars (1977), no McClunky cuts here, breaking down why the original’s pacing, world-building, and 70s filmmaking magic still hit harder than any special edition.

Join the conversation as they debate Oscars, tropes, desert palettes, and why Jeff Bridges and R2-D2 might be America’s most reliable screen partners.

#TalkingPondo #StarWars #HellOrHighWater #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #TaylorSheridan #JeffBridges #ChrisPine #FilmNerds #StarWars1977 #MovieReviewPodcast #NeoWestern #FilmAnalysis #PopCulturePodcast #MovieDebate

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The Love Song of William H Shaw

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X (formerly Twitter):
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Instagram:
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Making Pondo on Letterboxd:
Season One
https://letterboxd.com/marty_ketola/list/talking-pondo/

Season Two
https://letterboxd.com/marty_ketola/list/talking-pondo-season-2/

Season Three
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Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace

Photos by Geoffrey Notkin

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In this episode, Joe Palmer joins the podcast. He joins Marty and Clif for an episode of Walter Matthau movies with Hopscotch and The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.

Joe Palmer joins Marty and Clif for a Walter Matthau-themed double feature, diving into Hopscotch and The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. It’s Talking Matthau, a celebration of one of Hollywood’s sharpest, funniest, and most surprising leading men.

The trio explores Matthau’s incredible range, from charming CIA agent to wisecracking transit cop, while unpacking what makes both films such perfect showcases of 1970s filmmaking.

#TalkingPondo #WalterMatthau #Hopscotch #TheTakingOfPelhamOneTwoThree #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #RobertShaw #SpyMovies #ClassicCinema #MovieReview #FilmNerds

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Find our films here:

The Love Song of William H Shaw

Revenge of Zoe

Writing Fren-Zee

Making Pondo on Facebook
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X (formerly Twitter):
@MakingPondo

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/makingpondo/

Making Pondo on Letterboxd:
Season One
https://letterboxd.com/marty_ketola/list/talking-pondo/

Season Two
https://letterboxd.com/marty_ketola/list/talking-pondo-season-2/

Season Three
https://letterboxd.com/marty_ketola/list/talking-pondo-season-3/

Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace

Photos by Geoffrey Notkin

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In this episode, Marty gives Clif the movie Star Trek The Motion Picture to watch and Clif gives Marty the movie Midnight Run to watch.

What do Captain Kirk, the first-ever Happy Meal, and Robert De Niro on a cross-country road trip all have in common? They’re all part of this week’s Talking Pondo! Marty and Clif fire up the warp drive for a deep dive into Star Trek: The Motion Picture (Director’s Edition), the 1979 sci-fi epic that launched Trek onto the big screen. From wormholes to wild uniforms to the film’s psychedelic “screensaver” visuals, they unpack what makes this one both weird and wonderful.

Then it’s onto Midnight Run (1988), where De Niro’s bounty hunter and Charles Grodin’s mob accountant redefine the buddy road movie. The guys debate chemistry, pacing, and why this flick’s DNA is still all over modern action comedies.

#TalkingPondo #StarTrek #TheMotionPicture #MidnightRun #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #RobertDeNiro #CharlesGrodin #SciFiPodcast #80sMovies #StarTrekMovies #FilmAnalysis #BuddyMovies #PopCulturePodcast #MovieReviewPodcast #RetroCinema

Support the show

Find our films here:

The Love Song of William H Shaw

Revenge of Zoe

Writing Fren-Zee

Making Pondo on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087139659233

X (formerly Twitter):
@MakingPondo

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/makingpondo/

Making Pondo on Letterboxd:
Season One
https://letterboxd.com/marty_ketola/list/talking-pondo/

Season Two
https://letterboxd.com/marty_ketola/list/talking-pondo-season-2/

Season Three
https://letterboxd.com/marty_ketola/list/talking-pondo-season-3/

Theme Song "The Rain" by Russ Pace

Photos by Geoffrey Notkin