Episode 755: Return of the Jedi (1983)

Special Guest: Jim Bloom
Guest Co-Hosts: Jamie Benning, Stephen Scarlata

Sci-Fi July wraps up with Return of the Jedi (1983), the final installment of the original Star Wars trilogy—directed by Richard Marquand, guided by George Lucas, and packed with new creatures, recycled plot beats, and merchandising gold. Joining Mike to explore the film's legacy and limitations are Jamie Benning (Filmumentaries) and Stephen Scarlata (Best Movies Never Made), along with special guest Jim Bloom, associate producer on Empire and Jedi.

From Jabba's palace to yet another Death Star, Jedi tries to close the saga with spectacle and sentiment—but not without creative compromises. We dig into the behind-the-scenes drama, the tonal whiplash between Ewoks and existential stakes, and how Jedi served as both a climax and a commercial pivot point for the franchise. Was it a fitting finale or just a soft landing pad for action figures? Strap into your speeder bike, it's going to be a bumpy ride.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 755: Return of the Jedi (1983)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Return of the Jedi on Blu-Ray
Buy The Making of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi by J.W. Rinzler

Music:
Original Soundtrack - John Williams

Watch:

Episode 733: Captain America - Brave New World (2025)

Guest Co-Host: Chris Stachiw

The shield is back in action! Mike is joined by Chris Stachiw of The Kulturecast to take on Captain America: Brave New World (2025), the latest chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With Anthony Mackie stepping into the role of Captain America, the film explores Sam Wilson’s challenges as he navigates political intrigue, old enemies, and new threats—including the return of Tim Blake Nelson’s Samuel Sterns, now fully embracing his role as The Leader.

Directed by Julius Onah, this entry also introduces Harrison Ford as President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross and teases the rise of the Serpent Society. But does Brave New World deliver a worthy continuation of the Captain America legacy, or is it another symptom of the MCU’s growing pains?

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Ep733-Captain-America-4" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Truth: Red, White and Black by Robert Morales, Joe Quesada, and Kyle J Baker

Music:
"Mr. Blue" - The Fleetwoods

Watch:

Episode 637: Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Guest Co-Hosts: Rob St. Mary, Chris Stachiw

Sci-Fi July continues with a look at Denis Villeneuve's Blade Runner 2049 (2017). It’s the story of K (Ryan Gosling). He’s a replicant experiencing memories where he thinks he’s the chosen one, a product of a replicant and human pairing. Of course, that Replicant is Rachel (Sean Young) and the human is Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) which, I guess settles the whole thing about Deckard being a human or replicant... or does it?

Rob St. Mary and Chris Stachiw join Mike to discuss this ponderous sequel to Ridley Scott's 1982 original.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 637: Blade Runner 2049 (2017)" on Spreaker.

Listen to the Blade Runner episode:

Listen to "Special Report: Blade Runner (1982)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Blade Runner 2049 on Blu-Ray
Buy The Art and Soul of Blade Runner 2049 by Tonya Lapointe
Buy Blade Runner 2049: A Philosophical Exploration edited by Timothy Shanahan & Paul Smart

Music:
"Hijack" - Hans Zimmer

Watch:

Special Report: Reading of the Lost Ark

Special Guests: Frank Marshall, Howard Kazanjian
Guest Co-Hosts: Chris Stachiw, Andrew Rausch

On this special limited series, we read the story transcripts from the Raiders of the Lost Ark story conference wherein George Lucas (Chris Stachiw of The Kulturecast), Steven Spielberg (Author Andrew Rausch), and Lawrence Kasdan (Mike White) discuss the idea for a new adventure hero... Indiana Smith.... 

This series will be at least eight parts which include three parts reading, three parts discussion, at least one interview, and a discussion of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

Artwork by Jim Steranko. Opening theme from Nottingham Music Excellence.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Special Report: Reading of the Lost Ark Pt 1" on Spreaker.

Listen to "Special Report: Reading of the Lost Ark Pt. 2" on Spreaker.

Listen to "Special Report: Reading of the Lost Ark Pt. 3" on Spreaker.

Listen to "Special Report: Reading of the Lost Ark Pt. 4" on Spreaker.

Listen to "Special Report: Reading of the Lost Ark Pt. 5" on Spreaker.

Listen to "Special Report: Reading of the Lost Ark Pt. 6" on Spreaker.

Interviews:

Listen to "Special Report: Frank Marshall" on Spreaker.

Listen to "Special Report: Reading of the Lost Ark Pt. 9" on Spreaker.

Dial of Destiny:

Listen to "Special Report: Reading of the Lost Ark Pt. 8" on Spreaker.

Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made (2015:

Listen to "Special Report: Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made (2015)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy Raiders of the Lost Ark on Blu-Ray
Buy Howard Kazanjian: A Producer's Life by J.W. Rinzler
Download the story conference from CinephiliaBeyond.org
Read Lawrence Kasdan's early script drafts
Buy books by Andrew Rausch
Hear podcasts by Chris Stachiw
Read Mike's article, When George Lucas Had Talent
Read Mike's article, Digging up the Bones of Indy Jones
Read The “Raiders” Story Conference by Mystery Man on Film
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy The Spear of Destiny: The Occult Power Behind the Spear which pierced the side of Christ by Trevor Ravenscroft

Music:
"Raiders Theme" - Nottingham Music Excellence
All other music by John Williams

Watch:

Raiding The Lost Ark: A Filmumentary By Jamie Benning from Filmumentaries - Jamie Benning on Vimeo.

Episode 522: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Special Guests: Peter Suschitzky, Paul Hirsch, Jim Bloom, Rebecca Harrison, J.W. Rinzler
Guest Co-Hosts: Jamie Benning, Chris Bricklemyer

#Sci-FiMonth kicks off with a look at possibly the best sequel of all times, The Empire Strikes Back (1980). It's the second -- or fifth -- chapter in the Star Wars saga which truly tests our heroes: Luke Skywalker gets mangled, Han Solo gets tortured, and Leia Organa gets a good kiss... from her brother.

Chris Bricklemyer (Outside the Cinema) and Jamie Benning (The Filmumentaries Podcast) join Mike to discuss Irvin Kershner's first and only foray into the Star Wars universe.

Interviews include cinematographer Peter Suschitzky, editor Paul Hirsch, associate producer Jim Bloom, author Rebecca Harrison, and author J.W. Rinzler.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 522: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)" on Spreaker.

Listen to Justing Berger discuss he Empire Strikes Back Unauthorized Timeline:

Listen to "Special Report: Justin Berger on The Empire Strikes Back" on Spreaker.

Listen to More Jim Bloom:

Listen to "Bonus Interview: Jim Bloom" on Spreaker.

Listen to our Star Wars episode:

Listen to "Episode 219: Star Wars (1977)" on Spreaker.

Listen to the Star Wars Music Mix:


Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy The Empire Strikes Back on Blu-Ray
Download The Empire Strikes Back de-specialized version
Buy A Long Time Ago in a Cutting Room Far, Far Away: My Fifty Years Editing Hollywood Hits—Star Wars, Carrie, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Mission: Impossible, and More by Paul Hirsch
Buy The Empire Strikes Back (BFI Film Classics) by Rebecca Harrison
Buy The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back by J.W. Rinzler
Buy The Smpire Strikes Back Unauthorized Timeline 1975-2020 by Justin Berger
Visit 365 Star Wars
Visit the OriginalTrilogy.com website
Visit the official Star Wars website

Music:
"Luke's First Crash" - John Williams
"Empire Strikes Back (Medley) Darth VaderYoda's Theme" - Meco
"Seagulls! (Stop It Now)" - Bad Lip Reading

Watch:

Building Empire, A Filmumentary By Jamie Benning @jamieSWB from Filmumentaries - Jamie Benning on Vimeo.

Episode 442: The Conversation (1974)

Guest Co-Hosts: Vincenzo Natali, Jamey Duvall

Noirvember 2019 continues with a look at The Conversation (1974). Sandwiched between the first two Godfather films, The Conversation is writer/director Francis Ford Coppola’s paean to European art films of the 1960s, most notably Antonioni’s Blow-Up.

Instead of swinging London, however, The Conversation is set in San Francisco and stars Gene Hackman as Harry Caul, a schlubby nudnik whose life revolves around audio surveillance, his own privacy, and violating the privacy of others.

Vincenzo Natali (In the Tall Grass) and Jamey Duvall (Movie Geeks United) join Mike to discuss the film and its spiritual sequel Enemy of the State (1998).

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 442: The Conversation (1974)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Buy The Conversation on Blu-Ray
Buy The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film by Michael Ondaatje
Buy In the Blink of an Eye: A Perspective on Film Editing by Walter Murch

Music:
"The Conversation" - Twilight Singers

Watch: