Ruined Childhoods

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 is a year-long cinematic/alphabetic yo-yo, taking listeners from A-Z and then Z-A.Watch this episode on YouTube or SpotifyContact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods & RuinedChildhoodsPod.comRuined Childhoods is produced & edited by Jon Richardson • jrmediaservices.net

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, taking listeners from A-Z and then Z-A.Watch this episode on YouTube or SpotifyContact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods & RuinedChildhoodsPod.comRuined Childhoods is produced & edited by Jon Richardson • jrmediaservices.net

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 haven't already watched the film.Next episode: Yojimbo (1961) • The 3rd season of Ruined Childhoods is a year-long cinematic/alphabetic yo-yo, taking listeners from A-Z and then Z-A.Watch this episode on YouTube or SpotifyContact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods & RuinedChildhoodsPod.comRuined Childhoods is produced & edited by Jon Richardson • jrmediaservices.net

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 year-long cinematic/alphabetic yo-yo, taking listeners from A-Z and then Z-A.Watch this episode on YouTube or SpotifyContact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods & RuinedChildhoodsPod.comRuined Childhoods is produced & edited by Jon Richardson • jrmediaservices.net

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 it special and imagine new ways to revisit the film through a 2025 lens.Next episode: Zardoz (1974) • The 3rd season of Ruined Childhoods is a year-long cinematic/alphabetic yo-yo, taking listeners from A-Z and then Z-A.Watch this episode on YouTube or SpotifyContact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods & RuinedChildhoodsPod.comRuined Childhoods is produced & edited by Jon Richardson • jrmediaservices.net

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 discuss what sets this film apart from others of its kind and share thoughts on how it could be revisited today. Next episode: Yentl (1983) • The 3rd season of Ruined Childhoods is a year-long cinematic/alphabetic yo-yo, taking listeners from A-Z and then Z-A.Watch this episode on YouTube or SpotifyContact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods & RuinedChildhoodsPod.comRuined Childhoods is produced & edited by Jon Richardson • jrmediaservices.net

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 WALT!Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods & RuinedChildhoodsPod.comRuined Childhoods is produced & edited by Jon Richardson • jrmediaservices.net

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 revisited in 2025.Next episode: Willow (1988)Watch this episode on YouTube or SpotifySubscribe to The WALT!Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods & RuinedChildhoodsPod.comRuined Childhoods is produced & edited by Jon Richardson • jrmediaservices.net

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 at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods & RuinedChildhoodsPod.comRuined Childhoods is produced & edited by Jon Richardson • jrmediaservices.net