Who’s your daddy?

Happy Father’s Day from CinemaJaw! This week we decided to take a look at that important, oft overlooked, necktie receiving figure in our lives… The Dad. Anyone can be a father, but it takes a true man to be a dad. Dads will go to the ends of the earth to protect and provide for their family. While none of these men are perfect and dads can be flawed, they do try to overcome. In the movies it’s the same. Dads can be hilarious and terrifying and often must be both to be successful characters. Whew, it’s a tough job! We need a great guest to help us sift through this.

Welcome Mr. Matty “Ballgame” Robinson who you may know as the co-host of the WBEZ radio show Filmspotting.  In September 2007  Matty began co-hosting duties full-time.  On September 24, 2011, during the airing of Filmspotting episode #365, it was revealed that Robinson would be leaving the show. For those of you not doing the math, that is nearly 200 episodes of a great movies radio show/podcast. So Matty knows a thing or two. He also taught film at the University of Chicago!! Currently he continues to live the dream by acting and working on his website full-time. I think we found ourselves a GREAT guest!

In addition to our Movie Dads, we have our patented segments: I for an I (Interested or Ignore), CinemaWAR, Trivia, a brand new CinemaRiddle and a whole lot more. So don’t forget to give your dad a call this weekend and maybe take him to the movies!

Reviewed this episode: Before Midnight, Francis Ha, Warm Bodies
CinemaWAR: Will Amy Adams be able to fill the shoes of Margot Kidder as Lois Lane? 
I for an I: Man of Steel
Trivia: Superman Movie Trivia

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Never go against the family!

Blood is thicker than water, and home is where the heart is. In Hollywood home is where the movie making industry is, and many a power family seems to have blood type 35mm. It’s in the genes. It’s tough to throw a rock in that town without hitting a fraternal team of filmmakers, or a pair of sisters sending out headshots. Many of these familial  filmies are some of the most well known people in Hollywood, and this week on CinemaJaw we pick out our favorite of the bunch.

Our guest this week quickly becomes like family to us as he joins our discussion and lends his picks to the list. You may know Mr. Mark Dujsik from his minimalistically designed, literally titled, and well written blog Mark Reviews Movies. Mark is a member of both the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Online Film Critics Society. He has been reviewing film for a long time. He is also a member of a family. So he is pretty much the perfect person for this task!

In addition to a saunter up some family trees we also plumb the depths of Hollywood as always. Going “I for an I” (Interested or Ignore), bashing each other in a CinemaWAR, and playing a rousing game of Movie Trivia. We also have a NEW SEGMENT, that I will leave as a surprise! This Jaw is more loaded than your drunk Uncle Scott. So remember that film is in your DNA and take a listen!

Reviewed this episode: Star Trek Into Darkness, The Intouchables
CinemaWAR: Who has the brighter future Jaden Smith or M. Night Shaymalan?
I for an I: After Earth
Trivia: Directional Movie Trivia

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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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. 

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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

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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.

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