Nostalgium Arcanum

Blockbuster Video

April 28th, 2025  |  1 hr 21 mins

1980s, 1990s, 80s, 90s, blockbuster, dvd, entertainment, film, films, games, gaming, genesis, movie, movies, nes, nintendo, sega, snes, super nintendo, vhs, video, video game, video games

It's time to be kind and rewind back to the days when home media rental was a pillar of daily life. Whether it was Blockbuster, Hollywood Video, or your local mom-and-pop shop, renting movies and games was a ritual of living in the 80s an 90s that is now lost to the dominance of streaming. We're joined by Chris Coplien of the Retro Hangover podcast to rack up a few very late fees in service to the lost world of video rental.

Sneakers

February 24th, 2025  |  1 hr 46 mins

1990s, 90s, ben kingsley, caper, dan ackroyd, david strathairn, film, heist, movies, river phoenix, robert redford, sidney poitier, thriller

A high-stakes heist with an all-star cast, 1992's Sneakers is one of the most entertaining capers ever put on screen. Returning guest filmmaker Tarik Davis (@tarikrdavis) joins us to decrypt a film with too many secrets. Our voices are your passport.

80s Movies - Part 2

February 17th, 2025  |  3 hrs 9 mins

1980s, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 80s, action, cinema, comedy, disney, film, films, goonies, horror, indiana jones, john hughes, little mermaid, movie, movies, princess bride, rob reiner, scifi, steven spielberg

1985 through 1989 was the best period of filmmaking, period. Each of these years produced dozens of groundbreaking, blockbusting, genre defining, and unforgettable movies, making listing our top tens nearly impossible. Our review crew of Ami Lief, Ryan Merlo, and Tania Newton join us to close out our survey course of the best, of the best, of the best.

80s Movies - Part 1

February 10th, 2025  |  2 hrs 14 mins

1980s, 80s, action, cinema, comedy, film, films, ghostbusters, horror, indiana jones, movie, movies, scifi, star wars

The films from 1980 to 1984, buoyed by genre hits like Star Wars, took flight with bold imaginative storytelling and state-of-the-art special effects, establishing many franchises that continue to this day. We're joined by guests Tania Newton and Ryan Merlo to rank our top ten movies from this incredible period.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

November 25th, 2024  |  1 hr 55 mins

1980s, 80s, comedies, comedy, film, films, holiday, homeless, homelessness, john candy, john hughes, movie, movies, road trip, steve martin, thanksgiving

John Hughes' classic Thanksgiving story about Neal Page (Steve Martin) and Del Griffith (John Candy) questing home against geography and Murphy's Law combines stellar comedic performances and a heartbreaking (and ultimately heartwarming) twist to deliver an all-time holiday classic. Guest Dan Oster (MadTV, A Podcast, But Evil) tags along with us to make a meal of a film with far more substance than its Odd Couple trappings would suggest.

Also, please stick around to the end of the episode for special guest Michael Shepherd, who joins us for a discussion on what you can do to help those struggling with homelessness this holiday season.

Ernest Goes To Camp

November 11th, 2024  |  1 hr 58 mins

1980s, 80s, camp, cinema, comedies, comedy, ernest, film, films, jim varney, movie, movies

Hey Vern! We're joined by writer/comedian/filmmaker Tarik Davis (@tarikrdavis) to head off to Camp Kikakee with one Ernest P. Worrell. Despite its humble trappings this is, we maintain, a cinematic masterpiece. By the end of this podcast you'll know what we mean, knowwhatImean?

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas

October 28th, 2024  |  2 hrs 4 mins

1990s, 90s, animated, animation, catherine o'hara, christmas, cinema, danny elfman, disney, film, films, halloween, horror, movie, movies, musical, musicals, puppet, puppets, stop motion, theater, tim burton, x-mas, xmas

This is Halloween! This is Halloween! For our final mainline October episode guest Matt Storm aka Stormageddon of the "Fun" and Games, and Reignite podcasts tricks and treats with us to revisit this masterclass in stop-motion animation that lets us celebrate two holidays for the price of one.

The Phantom Of The Opera (1925)

October 18th, 2024  |  2 hrs 3 mins

andrew lloyd weber, film, films, gaston leroux, halloween, hollywood, horror, leroux, lon chaney, makeup, movie, movies, musical, musicals, opera, paris, phantom, phantom of the opera, silent film, silent flims, silent movie, silent movies

We can't stay silent about the classic 1925 version of The Phantom of the Opera. From Lon Chaney's iconically inhuman make-up to his all-too-human performance, the film still thrills and chills nearly 100 years later. We're joined once again by writer/director of The Canyon, Alex Sosin, to venture into the depths below the Paris opera house and revel in the true face of what dwells within.

Killer Klowns From Outer Space

October 7th, 2024  |  1 hr 42 mins

1980s, 80s, alien, aliens, camp, campy, cinema, circus, clown, clowns, cult classic, cult film, film, films, halloween, horror, horror movies, movie, movies, scifi, slasher

Send in the Klowns, from light years away. Killer Klowns From Outer Space remains a kampy konfection of 1980s klassic horror that still thrills and chills with big top bombast. We're joined by comedians Rich Baker and Merry Mary Hynes to praise this film's tightrope-walking silliness that's as tasty as cotton candy and only slightly less deadly.

Hook

September 23rd, 2024  |  2 hrs 23 mins

1990s, 90s, bob hoskins, dustin hoffman, film, films, john williams, julia roberts, maggie smith, movie, movies, peter pan, robin williams, spielberg, steven spielberg

On this podcast we generally refuse to grow up, but this time we're thinking especially happy thoughts as we head back to Neverland for Hook with filmmaker Ken Cole. Steven Spielberg and Robin Williams' love letter to Peter Pan remains forever young, buoyed by John Williams' inimitable score, and best-in-class character work from Dustin Hoffman and Bob Hoskins.