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PODCAST

Ruined Childhoods

Dan Wiener and Jon Richardson

Think that a movie reboot or remake can ruined your childhood? Brothers/cinephiles Dan and Jon beg to differ! Join them each week as they talk through a cult or classic film or franchise and imagine how it could be revisited, exploring Hollywood’s trend of reviving franchises with long-awaited sequels, prequels, spin-offs, remakes, and/or reboots. Do YOU have a movie you want them to cover Email the show -ruinedchildhoodspod@gmail.com Ruined Childhoods is produced and edited by Jon Richardson -

tv & film

All Episodes

1:04:48

Willard (1971)

Ruined Childhoods ·

2025/05/28

Most known for the Michael Jackson song written for its sequel, the 1971 film Willard was a surprise box office success, leading to a sequel the following year and a 2003 remake starring Crispin Glover. Dan and Jon celebrate the ways that Willard stands out from other films of its generation, character dynamics, thematic connections, and the portrayal of isolation and revenge.They also, as always, share how they would revisit the film in the present day.Next episode: Victim (1961) • The 3rd season

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50:21

Xanadu (1980)

Ruined Childhoods ·

2025/05/21

For the 2nd X film of Ruined Childhoods, we discuss the strengths and issues with the 1980 musical fantasy, Xanadu. With such a strong cast, what could go wrong? Not only is it Gene Kelly's final film, but it's the follow-up film for both Olivia Newton-John and Michael Beck after their smash successes, Grease (1978) and The Warriors (1979), respectively. Dan and Jon also share their ideas for how Xanadu could be revisited today.Next episode: Willard (1971, 2003) • The 3rd season of Ruined Childhoods

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53:36

Yojimbo (1963)

Ruined Childhoods ·

2025/05/14

On our 2nd Y film of this season, we celebrate Akira Kurosawa's iconic 1961 samurai smash, Yojimbo. What has become an inspiration for generations of filmmakers, Yojimbo is a prime example of the dawn of a new legacy, introducing audiences to a flawed protagonist set out to manipulate 2 rival gangs. And we've got plenty of ideas for how this film could be revisited in new and exciting ways.Next episode: Xanadu (1980) • The 3rd season of Ruined Childhoods is a year-long cinematic/alphabetic yo-yo,

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1:01:19

Z (1969)

Ruined Childhoods ·

2025/05/07

We are officially on our way BACK DOWN the alphabet in the 3rd season of Ruined Childhoods. We went from Anaconda to Zardoz and we're beginning our descent with the 1969 French/Algerian classic Z! This is the fictionalized version of the very true story of a political assassination conspiracy carried out in Greece just a few years prior to the film's release and the novel its adapted from. But this political thriller doesn't look or feel like many others of its ilk, so definitely seek it out if you

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1:10:07

Zardoz (1974)

Ruined Childhoods ·

2025/04/23

WE DID IT! This episode marks our half-way point through season 3 where we are going A-Z and then Z-A through movie titles. We're thrilled to cap off the first half with Sir John Boorman's 1974 heady fantasy, Zardoz. What is now considered a cult classic was at the time considered a flop and embarrassment, but we're here to tell a different side of the story, celebrating what makes it special and worthy of conversation in 2025.Next episode: Z (1969) • The 3rd season of Ruined Childhoods is a

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1:08:32

Yentl (1983)

Ruined Childhoods ·

2025/04/16

In our journey working from A-Z then Z-A in movie titles, it's hard to get to Y and not explore Barbra Streisand's 1983 directorial debut, Yentl. This adaptation from a short story is a tough nut to crach - it's the story of an Orthodox Jewish woman from a Polish shtetl who challenges the traditions of her own faith in order to better learn its very own teachings. The movie's legend perhaps surpasses its own success, but that's what we're here to do on this episode - celebrate the elements that make

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50:57

X-15 (1961)

Ruined Childhoods ·

2025/03/19

Richard Donner. Charles Bronson. Mary Tyler Moore. Jimmy Stewart. Yup - these unlikely bedfellows teamed up for a government-funded film to market a new rocket-powered jet meant to propel the US Air Force and NASA into outer space. X-15 contains a lot of firsts - it boasts that it's the first movie filmed in space as it uses actual footage from test flights, this is the first feature film in Mary Tyler Moore's oeuvre, and it's the first movie directed by film legend Richard Donner. Dan and Jon

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1:09:05

Willow (1988)

Ruined Childhoods ·

2025/03/06

Willow has all the makings of a fantasy classic - top tier director, big stars, impressive special effects, and bell of the ball writer, George Lucas. But for many, this movie is nothing but a bad attempt at capitalizing on the success of Star Wars. Dan and Jon celebrate the elements of the film that make it work and come up with some fresh ways to it back, perhaps without Disney+ removing it almost instantly. Next episode: X-15 (1961)Watch this episode on YouTube or SpotifySubscribe to The

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1:05:19

V for Vendetta (2005)

Ruined Childhoods ·

2025/02/26

Remember Remember the 26th of February (this episode's release date, of course). V for Vendetta may not be a film classic, but it activated a generation of activism fashion. Though the design is from the V for Vendetta graphic novel, this 2005 film launched it into global collective consciousness. Paired with Natalie Portman's iconic head-shaving scene, the visuals of this film are still memorable 20 years later. Dan and Jon celebrate the film's legacy and give their thoughts on how it could be

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1:12:12

The Usual Suspects (1995)

Ruined Childhoods ·

2025/02/20

The legend of The Usual Suspects continues to this day. Its twist ending, stories from the set, and all of the parodies that came in its wake are a big part of the film's lasting legacy. But after much deliberation, Dan and Jon have some ideas on how this 1995 crime/heist film could be revisited for a modern audience.Next episode: V for Vendetta (2005)Watch this episode on YouTube or SpotifySubscribe to The WALT!Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch atlinktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods

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55:57

Teaching Mrs. Tingle (1999)

Ruined Childhoods ·

2025/02/14

With the success of Dawson's Creek, Kevin Williamson let his freak flag fly on the big screen by writing a number of late 90s and early 2000s teen thrillers, but he only directed one - Teaching Mrs. Tingle. This film features Dawson's alum Katie Holmes up against screen legend Dame Helen Mirren, which sounds like fun, right? But with studio intervention and major edits to turn this movie into a PG-13 romp, perhaps Dan and Jon have some ideas for how the film could be revived for a contemporary

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1:08:31

The Secret of my Success (1987)

Ruined Childhoods ·

2025/02/07

Fresh off the success of Teen Wolf, Back to the Future, and Family Ties, young actor Michael J. Fox was white hot and it seemed like any project he was attached to would be a success. It's no surprise that this week's movie, The Secret of my Success, would be one of the highest grossing films of the year, despite being a relatively mediocre adult comedy. Dan and Jon talk about what makes the movie fun to watch, but at times hard to get through given today's standards for workplace decorum. They also

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1:31:57

Ready to Rumble (2000)

Ruined Childhoods ·

2025/01/30

Director Brian Robbins may have been head of the class, but that doesn't make him out of touch with the world of burnout numbskulls and the world of professional wrestling. The proof? 2000's Ready to Rumble, the story of two idiots who are determined to bring a disgraced pro wrestler back to his former glory. Dan tells Jon all about the world of pro wrestling, wrestlers, and how they entered and re-entered his life starting in the 1980s. Dan and Jon also share their ideas for how Ready to Rumble

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1:13:44

Q: The Winged Serpent (1982)

Ruined Childhoods ·

2025/01/22

Wow. If you haven't seen Q: The Winged Serpent, stop whatever you're doing, find it, and press play. With the star power of Richard Roundtree and David Carradine, the run-and-gun directing style of Larry Cohen, and mind-altering acting from Michael Moriarty, this film truly has it all. But perhaps there's an opportunity to revisit this cult classic - Dan and Jon surely have their thoughts.Next episode: Ready to Rumble (2000)Watch this episode on YouTube or SpotifySubscribe to The WALT!Contact us,

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58:27

Phantom of the Paradise (1974)

Ruined Childhoods ·

2025/01/15

Before there was Rocky Horror, Tommy, or The Wall, director Brian De Palma and Paul Williams teamed up to bring us a genre-defining rock opera that continues to stun audiences, further cementing its cult classic status. Phantom of the Paradise tells the story of a singer-songwriter whose opus is stolen from him by Swan, the one man who controls the world's popular music, and his descent into madness. Dan and Jon celebrate the music, the stunning visuals, and brilliant direction by De Palma. They

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1:14:08

O (2001)

Ruined Childhoods ·

2025/01/08

Actor Tim Blake Nelson took a few breaks from acting to direct films starting in the 1990s. And with the surge in popularity of teen heartthrob Shakespeare adaptations like Romeo + Juliet (1996), it was an obvious choice to adapt Othello for a contemporary audience. Jon and Dan celebrate this overlooked token of its time and admire the talents that brought it to life, even if it is a little over the top at times.Next episode: Phantom of the Paradise (1974)Watch this episode on YouTube or

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1:09:32

North by Northwest (1959)

Ruined Childhoods ·

2025/01/01

One of Alfred Hitchcock's few adventure films also may be his most influential, which is saying a LOT. North by Northwest defined the look and feel for spy movies, gave us iconic set pieces, and may change the way you shave your face. Dan and Jon also have some ideas for how it can be brought back in 2025. Next episode: O (2001)Watch this episode on YouTube or SpotifySubscribe to The WALT!Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch atlinktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods &

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59:18

M (1931)

Ruined Childhoods ·

2024/12/25

Fritz Lang's first sound film may also be his most complex, despite having released Metropolis in 1927 to much acclaim. M is the story of a city that is worked into a frenzy when an elusive child murderer is on the loose and nobody can be trusted. The cops are determined to find the murderer and bring him to justice, but the city's criminal underworld wants to get to him first and serve their own justice so they can back to their life of crime without the cops always on their tail. Dan and Jon come

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1:07:42

The Landlord (1970)

Ruined Childhoods ·

2024/12/18

Director Hal Ashby's first film is a clear prototype for what he has to come with films like Being There, Shampoo, & Harold and Maude, all satires with a focus on class inequality. The Landlord is a brilliant portrayal of upper classes whites gentrifying a Black neighborhood in Brooklyn, essentially looking into Prospect Park's actual future. Dan and Jon celebrate its place in cinema history and theorize how it could be reenvisioned today, years after life imitated art.Next episode: M

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1:16:44

Klute (1971)

Ruined Childhoods ·

2024/12/05

Dan and Jon GUSH over the 1971 Alan J. Pakula Neo-noir Klute and they are NOT shy about it! They also celebrate the amazing Jane Fonda, the tactile audio of 70s cinema, and the lost art of a slow pace. They also share their thoughts on how Klute could be revisited in the modern era.Next episode: The Landlord (1970)Watch this episode on YouTube or SpotifySubscribe to The WALT!Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch atlinktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods & RuinedChildhoodsPod.com Hosted on

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305 results

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