Danger is my middle name.

There is nothing more spectacular than a well choreographed stunt, be it a fight, a drive, a fall, or whathaveyou.  In today’s cinematic climate of CGI, it is easy to forget the time when most of the stunts were done by real stunt people who had the courage and craziness to put their life on the line for art. These are the unsung doubles with the glued on mustache and wig, who make the star of the picture look like a bad-ass. These are the death defying maniacs who leap from great heights to give you the thrills that you seek to have by living vicariously through them. These are the fall guys. This week on CinemaJaw we will take a look at our favorite movie stunts of all time. There will be no harness, net or tether.

Our only safety, the best possible guest for the situation. Stunt Person, Martial Artist, Actor and Teacher: Kelso Ashby of Asylum Stunts. Kelso rounds out our panel and throws down with his top 5 stunts of all time.

In addition to that we  have some other stunts to pull off: I for an I, CinemaWAR, Trivia and a whole lot more. So don’t look down, double check that parachute, close your eyes and jump into this episode of CinemaJaw!

Reviewed this episode: Iron Man 3, Oblivion, Promised Land
CinemaWAR: Which starship is better: The Millennium Falcon or The Enterprise?
I for an I: Francis Ha, Star Trek Into Darkness
Trivia: Star Trek Actor Movie Trivia

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Once a year Chicago’s McCormick Place is transformed into a sea of Tie Fighter Pilots, Storm Troopers, Superheroes and the fans thereof at C2E2.

The Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo – also known as C2E2 – is a convention spanning the latest and greatest from the worlds of comics, movies, television, toys, anime, manga and video games. Bringing the best of popular culture to Downtown Chicago, C2E2’s show floor is packed with hundreds of exhibitors, panels and autograph sessions giving fans a chance to interact with their favorite creators and screening rooms featuring sneak peeks at films and television shows months before they hit either the big or small screen! C2E2 just celebrated it’s fourth year this April, and it nearly doubled in size from years past.

In what has become an annual tradition CinemaJaw cozied up at our very own table in “Podcast Alley” to spread the word and land some cool interviews. Boy, did we ever! Over the course of the weekend we talked to Tron himself , Mr. Bruce Boxleitner. Along with two of his collaborators Bruce walked us through his new steam-punk television show in development, Lantern City. We also sat down with comic book super star J. Scott Campbell to discuss his upcoming projects, summer movies, and have a little CinemaWAR. Last, but not least, we were fortunate to get a few minutes of time from Lance Fenserman the guy who RUNS C2E2! Lance also happens to be a fabulously interesting dude, and also gets his chance at a trivia rematch against Matt K.

Matt and Ry take a breather at C2E2. For the rest of our C2E2 photos, check out our Facebook album!

So sit back, relax and adjust you blaster holsters and lightsabers. Get your geek on with CinemaJaw’s C2E2 special!

Reviewed this episode: With Great Power, Mud
CinemaWAR: Which Comic Book Director is Better, Sam Rami or Christopher Nolan?
I for an I: The Great Gatsby
Trivia: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey McGuire Movie Trivia

(There were so many great interviews that we got at C2E2 that we couldn’t fit them all into one episode. Rest assured that they will come out! Follow us on Twitter for constant updates)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Hey CinemaJaw fans, we will be at C2E2 THIS WEEKEND at McCormick Place in Chicago. Find us at booth Q17! 

Super Dooper!

Comic book movies are often only thought of as the summer blockbuster fare. With men in tights, high flying super heroics, and amazing action, we all love these films! However, today CinemaJaw is delving a little deeper into the world of graphic novels and comics to unearth the films that were based on sequential illustrations, but do NOT feature superheroes! (GASP!) It’s true… they do exist, and whether you know it or not, these are some of your favorite movies!

Joining us for his third appearance on CinemaJaw is Chicago comic book artist Jim Terry. CinemaJaw has been fortunate to be among the few to see the pages of his most recent project fresh from his drawing table, and we’ve been talking to Jim about his exciting news for well over a year! That news: (slightly out of the bag at this point) is that Jim is the artist on The Crow: Skinning the Wolves book, penned by James O’Barr (creator of  The Crow). It is the first such book from O’Barr in a long long time, and we are VERY happy to see Jim hand picked for this project! It is out now, and all of you should READ IT!

handsome lads

In addition to our Non-Superhero Comic Book Movie picks, we go I for an I (Interested or Ignore) on  , have a CinemaWAR over Michael Bay, and play some Bounty Hunter movie trivia. Plus all the tomfoolery you’ve come to expect. So leave your cape and tights at the dry cleaners and kick your feet up, listen to some CinemaJaw!

Reviewed this episode: Jurassic Park 3d, Dredd, Robot & Frank, The Imposter
CinemaWAR: Is Michael Bay a Hack? or a Good Director?
I for an I: Pain And Gain
Trivia: Bounty Hunter Movie Trivia

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Lets get Mid West!

This week on CinemaJaw we stay close to home (but outside of Chicago) as we cover our favorite Midwestern films (NOT Chicago Films, since we have covered that a bunch). Aside from cornfields, cornfields, and Chicago the Midwest is a veritable hotbed of cinema. Spawning many an unlikely Hollywood blockbuster, as we learned this episode.

Welcome to the heartland

Our guest is a local dynamo and a spitfire powerhouse of Midwest film knowledge,  Mr. Mike McNamara. It makes sense that he is too, because Mac (his nickname) is the co-founder and director of the Midwest Independent Film Festival. So this guy really knows his stuff! What follows is one of the most hilarious and energetic episodes of CinemaJaw to date. Midwestern style!

CinemaJaw with Mike McNamara

Reviewed this episode: Evil Dead, The Place Beyond the Pines, The Paperboy
CinemaWAR: Wesley Snipes Comeback
I for an I: Oblivion
Trivia: Tom Cruise – Morgan Freeman Movie Trivia

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Welcome to the internet!

The internet in three words: One, Zero, Cats.

Since the late 80′s the internet has rapidly turned into an indispensable part of our daily lives. From Chat rooms to email, to social media and mobile. Who could exist anymore without the internet? It’s quite true, this very podcast that you are reading about wouldn’t exist either! That is why this week on CinemaJaw we will take a look at our favorite Cyber/Computer/Internet Movies.

We need a digital dynamo to help us hack into this mainframe. Enter Joe Avella. Fresh off his feature directorial debut Master of Inventions (which is available FREE and in its entirety here), Mr. Avella helps us get plugged into this topic. This also marks Joe’s 3rd appearance on CinemaJaw, and a heated trivia battle is SURE to ensue!

Nevermind the Master… Here’s The Master of Inventions

Download it.

Reviewed this episode: American Grindhouse, Foxy Brown, War Witch, No, Gi Joe: Retaliation, Olympus Has Fallen, This is 40
CinemaWAR: Which is the better baseball film: Major League or Field of Dreams?
I for an I: Disconnect, 42
Trivia: Harrison Ford Movie Trivia

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Function is the key.

Here on the Jaw Matt and Ry tend to argue. Throw in Eliaz who randomly chooses a side and our little family is not what you would exactly call nuclear. As it turns out, most families in film are a touch of what is commonly known as dysfunctional. We don’t need to get all clinical here, we all know what dysfunction is and every movie family defines it. After all, were they not, it would make for some pretty boring movies. This week on CinemaJaw we take a look at our favorite dysfunctional movie families, comical, horrific and everything in between.

We need a councilor to help us on this therapy session. Enter Brent Kado. Brent is a man of many talents and ambitions  He is currently on the board of the Chicago Comedy Film Festival, as well as beginning a new film school: The Chicago Film Institute. Somehow he also finds time to make feature films. Brent is someone to pay attention to, and a perfect guest!

Brent Kado and Matt and Ry

In addition to the above, we also have some great segments like I for an I, CinemaWAR, Trivia and a whole lot more. So let CinemaJaw join the family in your head and give your eardrums a complex.

Reviewed this episode: Stoker, The Croods, Liberal Arts, Bully
I for an I: Trance
Trivia: Movies That Take Place in The Woods

This episode of CinemaJaw is dedicated to the memory of Roger Ebert. He will never be equaled. 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

All you need is love.

An Iconic Movie Moment

Love. Love is what brings us here today. A challenging love at that. As the age old adage goes, behind every great person is another. This week on CinemaJaw we take a look at Superhero Love Interests. These are the women (and men) who stand pillar like in support of the hero. They may or may not have powers of thier own, but they face the struggles both within the relationship and without. No great story is complete without a love, and these are the super ones.

Joining us is CinemaJaw’s own Superman, marking his 6th official appearance as guest, Mr. Charles Klein. Fresh off the set of his latest film our Chuck is promoting his upcoming premier and the upcoming Indie Incubator Film Fest! Also he knows a thing or two about superheroes and uses his X ray vision to see to the heart of this topic.

In addition to that we have all the usual side kicks: I for an I, Movie Trivia, CinemaWAR and a whole lot more. So wring out your tights and wear your underwear on the outside. It’s time to get super duper!

The Three Amigos!

Reviewed this episode: Oz The Great and Powerful, Stone Cold Steve Austin The Bottom Line, Everything or Nothing, Liberal Arts, End of Watch
I for an I: The Place Beyond The Pines
Trivia: Tournament Movie Trivia

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This week on CinemaJaw we go back in time. Way back to our episode 50!

Welcome to CinemaJaw’s Delorean. Every so often we will take a look back at long forgotten episodes of the Jaw that had a great topic and/or guest that didn’t quite have the audience that we have now. Obviously we’ve come a long way since then, but as they say, “know your roots”. And we do.

A great discussion featuring fellow podcaster John Suintres of Word Balloons.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Big Ben.

Ben Affleck has had a tumultuous career to say the least. Battles with girlfriends, alcohol, and poor acting choices. On the other hand, he burst onto the scene with a Best Original Screenplay Oscar and has been in some of the most successful movies of all time. With Ben, it truly is a mixed bag. At this point, fresh of a Best Picture Oscar win for Argo, his Directing talent can not be denied. That is why this week on CinemaJaw Matt K. and Ry The Movie Guy go In Depth on this Hollywood legend in the making. By taking a look at his Best, Worst and Most Underrated films we hope to get a clearer picture of Where Ben’s taking us.

Aside from Ben Affleck, we have some awesome segments: I for an I, CinemaWAR and the brand new MovieWed Game, and a whole lot more! Its Oscar Worthy!

Reviewed This Episode: Seven Psychopaths, Magic Mike, The Invisible War
I for an I: Oz the Great And Powerful
Jaw 101: James Franco

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Adventure? Heh. Excitement? Huf. a Jedi craves not these things…

Bust out your treasure maps and be on the look out for booby traps because this week on CinemaJaw we undertake an epic quest for adventure! Adventure Movies that is. Now Matt and Ry know how to buckle some swash, but these intrepid movie adventurers need to meet their proverbial Yoda.

Enter Matt Kelly and Joe Dejulius of hit web series Hank Frisco: Galaxy Defender. These Frisco boys certainly know a thing or two about adventure, having crafted a hilarious high quality DIY space adventure episodic that would give the Ice Pirates ship envy. With thier help, CinemaJaw deturmines the difference between Action and Adventure, and names thier top 5 of the genre.

Also ever present are the adventurous segments: I for an I, CinemaWAR and many many more.

Keep your whip and six-gun handy. Fortune and glory are near.

Reviewed This Episode: After Porn Ends, How to Survive a Plague, Paranorman
I for an I: Stoker
CinemaWAR: Is James Franco a quality actor, or a lucky pothead?
Trivia: Nicole Kidman Movie Trivia

Podcast: Play in new window | Download