“Did you leave a cigarette burning?”

On this episode we look at one of classics of the disaster movie boom of the 1970s, The Towering Inferno (1974).

We’re joined by Nick Rehak to discuss the future of Faye Dunaway’s journalism career, how much water you can really store at the top of a skyscraper, and all the exploding helicopter action.

Episode 150.

“Get real Beavis – she’s just clearing her throat.”

On this episode we look at yet another volcano disaster movie that features an exploding helicopter, DANTE’S PEAK (1997).

There was really only one man for this job, so we’re joined once again by magma movie enthusiast Fred Andersson to discuss the alluring appeal of Pierce Brosnan, the gratuitous glory of grandmothers being dissolved in acid lakes, some of the best miniature work we’ve ever seen, and – of course – the exploding helicopter action. 

Episode 149.

Show notes

Dante’s Peak (1997)
Director: Roger Donaldson
Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Linda Hamilton
Plot: A volcanologist arrives at a countryside town recently named the second-most desirable place to live in America, and discovers that a nearby long-dormant volcano may awaken at any moment.

“Wow – that tongue thing is amazing.”

On this episode we take a look at Michael Bay’s The Island (2005).

We discuss how well the inventor of ‘Bayhem’ handles a film which attempts an exploration of philosophical and ethical questions whilst trying to figure out why we keep wanting to buy expensive consumer goods. Oh, and of course we take a look at the exploding helicopter action. 

Episode 140.

“Whatever happens, we’ll always remember our silver wedding anniversary.”

On this show Will takes Dara hostage in order to review the 1980s action classic The Delta Force (1986).

Among the topics of discussions: the film’s surprisingly accurate dramatisation of a real-life airplane hijacking, how on earth the cast stars four Oscar winners, and the weird incompetence of America's 'elite' special forces.

They also examine the film’s stunning exploding helicopter and what may well be the greatest opening scene in cinematic history.

Episode 50.

“If you lie to me I hurt you.”

On this show Will is joined by Ben Dadds from Top Film Tip for an enhanced interrogation of Zero Dark Thirty (2012).

They unpick the controversy around the film’s depiction of torture, what story Kathryn Bigelow was trying to tell, and a considered discussion as to who among the cast wears the worst wig.

They also examine the film’s exploding helicopter action which “really gets the helicopter hormones going”.

Episode 49.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt your threat.”

On this episode Will is joined by Todd Liebenow from the Forgotten Filmcast to review Sixties mystery thriller Arabesque (1966).

Among the topics of discussion, Stanley Donen’s psychedelia-inspired direction, the awkward chemistry between Gregory Peck and Sophia Loren, and what on earth the plot’s meant to be about.

They also take a look at one of cinema’s earliest exploding helicopters where the whirlybird is destroyed by the unconventional use of a ladder.

Episode 48.

“What do you say we play a little Bangkok rules?”

On this show Will injects Nick Rehak from French Toast Sunday with a lethal virus and blackmails him into reviewing Escape From LA (1996).

They try to figure out what the hell John Carpenter was attempting with this film and whether this it accurately predicts the American of 2017.

And we of course examine the film’s futuristic exploding helicopter action.

Episode 47.

“Let’s kill ‘em all.”

On this show Will and Dara bravely take on Courage Under Fire (1996).
Among the topics of discussion, the film’s Rashomon-influenced structure, Matt Damon’s coming of age performance, and the stunning sight of Lou Diamond Phillips' jockstrap.

They also attempt to tackle the thorny philosophical question of whether you can explode an already exploded helicopter.

Episode 46.

“I thought Christmas only came once a year.”

Will is joined by Joe Scaramanga of the Now Music Fan Blog to review The World Is Not Enough (1999).

Pierce Brosnan’s third outing as 007 is regularly ranked as one of the worst ever Bond movies. But does the film deserve its reputation? Or was it an ambitious attempt to rejuvenate the formula that paved the way for the Daniel Craig era?

They also discuss James Bond’s licence to kill helicopters, and two chopper fireballs which leave our reviewers shaken but unstirred.

Episode 45.

“Blimey! I thought I smelled cabbage.”

On this show Will and Dara dig out their thick-rimmed glasses, crushed velvet flares, and anachronistic social attitudes to review Austin Powers In Goldmember (2002).

Does Mike Myers’ spy spoof comedy hold up? Did Jimmy Savile ruin this film? How to swear in Japanese, and a surprisingly heartfelt appreciation of the life and works of Susannah Hoffs.

Oh, and not to forget a review of a truly awe-inspiring exploding helicopter.

Episode 44.

“Season’s over a55hole!”

Will and Dara don their climbing gear and attempt to reach the summit of Sylvester Stallone’s action career, Cliffhanger (1993).

On their route to the top they discuss the merits of John Lithgow’s robbery plan, the film’s bizarre lurch into stoner dude comedy, and the legend that is British TV hardman Craig Fairbrass.

They also examine the film’s classic exploding helicopter action sequence which sees Stallone and Lithgow engage in a fistfight on an upside-down chopper dangling from a mountain.

Episode 43.

“It’s a documentary, it’s all really happening.”

Exploding helicopters are almost exclusively found in the action genre. But on this show we’re reviewing that rarest of all aviation animals: an exploding helicopter in an art house movie.

Will is joined by Helen from the Flixwatcher Podcast to review Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004). So get ready for matching tracksuits, childish adults, and popular songs sung in a foreign language.

Episode 42.

“You’re either SWAT or you’re not.”

Will and Dara take a look at SWAT (2003) the big screen reboot of an old, long forgotten, Seventies cop show.

After a considered discussion of the film’s puzzling structure and Hollywood’s approach to reboots, they try to answer such important questions as who likes Jeremy Renner and why Michelle Rodriguez always wears vests.

Episode 41.

“Have you received adequate training for your profession?”

On this show we’re taking a look at the Michael Douglas noughties comeback THE SENTINEL (2006).

After a three year absence from acting everyone’s favourite recovering sex addict returned to the big screen with presidential assassination conspiracy thriller. Did we suffer a fatal attraction for The Sentinel? Or did fail to satisfy our basic instinct? After that we take some time to consider the musical career Kiefer Sutherland. Lucky us…

Episode 139.

Show notes

The Sentinel (2006)
Director: Clark Johnson
Cast: Michael Douglas, Kim Basinger, Kiefer Sutherland, Eva Longoria
Plot: A Secret Service agent is framed as the mole in an assassination attempt on the President. He must clear his name and foil another assassination attempt while on the run from a Secret Service Protective Intelligence Division agent.

"Imagine the future, because you're not in it."

Will is joined by Nick Rehak from French Toast Sunday to look at the cult classic Stone Cold (1991). It marked the movie debut of the former American footballer turned actor Brian Bosworth.

In time honoured fashion, he plays a maverick cop who plays by his own rules trying to bring down a biker gang run by Lance Henriksen. The result is one of the most explosive films ever committed to celluloid. And more importantly it features a truly legendary exploding helicopter.

Episode #40

“They hate us, because they ain’t us.”

Will and Dara take a look at one of the most controversial films of recent times, The Interview (2014).

They try to work out how on earth this film caused a diplomatic storm, an embarrassing email scandal, and how it became a totem for free speech.

They also take a look at what could be one of the greatest exploding helicopters of all-time.

Episode 39.

“We're going to make you indestructible - but first, we're gonna have to destroy you.”

Will is joined by Bubba Wheat from Flights, Tights and Movie Nights to look at X Men Origins: Wolverine (2009).

Among the topics of discussion why cool guys don’t look at explosions, heroes with under-powered superpowers and a personality free exploding helicopter.

Episode 38.

“Well I told you what we had to do, shoot down the helicopters.”

Will and Dara take a look at Charlie Wilson’s War (2007) a film which tells the true story of America’s involvement in the Soviet/Afghan war.

Among the topics of discussion Tom Hanks’ weirdly sex scene free career, whether exploding helicopters were the key to ending the Cold War, and of course film’s six chopper fireballs.

Episode 37.

“Oh brother, somebody gonna kiss the donkey!”

Will is joined by Nick Rehak from French Toast Sunday to look at the most important film in the exploding helicopter genre BATTLESHIP (2012), a movie that features a record-breaking 8 (eight) helicopter explosions.

Our intrepid hosts also discuss chicken burritos, old dudes kicking butt, and whether this alien invasion movie, isn’t really about an alien invasion.

Episode 36.

“God damn, if I’d just been a couple minutes early he’d be breathing now.”

Will and Dara pull on their diving suits, hook up their oxygen line and plunge into nautical biopic Men Of Honor (2000).

Among the topics of discussion: the strange demise of Cuba Gooding Jr’s career, Robert De Niro impressions, and one of the worst exploding helicopter scenes we’ve ever had the misfortune to witness.

Episode 35.

“You just killed a helicopter with a car.”

On this show we’re looking at Die Hard 4.0 (2007) a film that includes one of the greatest ever helicopter explosions.

So, in keeping with the movie, Exploding Helicopter’s cranky old podcast presenter Will, is joined by an irritating youthful sidekick - Daniel from Get Reel Movies - for a show that’s a pale shadow of previous installments.

Episode 34.

“What does it take to change the essence of a man?”

On this show Will and Dara don eccentrically tasselled jackets and tie their hair into ponytails to look at On Deadly Ground (1994), Steven Seagal’s bizarre attempt to save the environment via the medium of action cinema.

They also examine what has been described as “one of the screen’s greatest ever exploding helicopters.”

Episode #33

“Do we get to win this time?”

On this show Will sharpens his Bowie knife, ties on a bandana and perms his mullet in readiness to talk about Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985).

Guesting on this show are Barry and Jairo from the True Bromance film podcast. Among the topics of discussion, revenge fantasies, the technical definition of a mullet, and Rambo as homoerotic icon.

They also look at a spectacular exploding helicopter and ponder the classic philosophical question: If a helicopter blows up in a forest and there’s no-one there to see it, did it actually explode?

Episode 32.

“This trip is going to make LSD feel like aspirin.”

On this show Will is joined by Nick Rehak from French Toast Sunday to look at John Wayne’s infamous Vietnam War propaganda film The Green Berets (1968).

Among the topics of discussion: what on Earth’s the film’s message is, whether it even has a plot, and the name of Hamchuk’s dog is.

They also look at cinema history and the only scene to feature John Wayne and an exploding helicopter.

Episode 31.

“You may be bulletproof – but you’re not love proof.”

On this show we take a look at the cult Eighties action film BULLETPROOF (1987).

We’re joined by Matt Poirier from the DTV Connoisseur to discuss the action movie credentials of Gary Busey, why you should take a nap around this film’s third innings, and whether it provided inspiration to the writers of The Simpsons. We also review the exploding helicopter action and discuss a method of chopper destruction that’s only been seen 8 times in the entirety of film history!

Show notes

Bulletproof (1987)
Director: Steve Carver
Cast: Gary Busey, Henry Silva, Danny Trejo, William Smith, LQ Jones, RG Armstrong. 
Plot: McBain - a former CIA agent turned renegade – loose cannon cop is called back to action by The Agency when an experimental, super tank is stolen. Our hero is sent to Mexico to recover the super weapon from the rag tag collection of Arab terrorists and Latin American commies who are behind the heist. 

Episode 138.

Follow Exploding Helicopter
Twitter: @chopperfireball
Website: explodinghelicopter.com
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Twitter: @dtvconnoisseur
Website: dtvconnoisseur.blogspot.com

“When paradise became a battleground, she led the fight for survival.”

On this show Exploding Helicopter looks at the at the frankly bonkers jungle adventure romp Sheena (1984), a film which features the strangest and possibly greatest chopper fireball of all time.

Guesting on this show are Dec and Em from Two Takes. Amongst the topics of discussion: the Eighties craze for ‘white people in the colonies’ movies, whether this is the most ‘adult’ PG film ever made, and the cinematic joy of monkeys throwing grenades.

Episode #30.

“Are we shooting people or what?”

On this show Will and Dara take a look at Three Kings (1999) and try to work out if it’s a comedy, a drama or a war movie.

They also examine a rare exploding helicopter featuring an unexpectedly combustible American football.

Episode 29.

“Vengeance never dies. It only changes target.”

When Robert Rodriguez made a fake trailer for part of the Grindhouse project with Quentin Tarantino, no-one could have guessed it would become a real-life film franchise.

So, on this show Will and Nick Rehak from French Toast Sunday take a look at the Mex-sploitation action flick Machete Kills (2013).

Among the topics of discuss who would make Hollywood’s most unlikely action star, the enduring appeal of Moonraker, and of course an epic exploding helicopter of gonzoid inventive genius.

Episode #28.

"Pervert."

On this show Will and Joe take a look at one of the classics of the 1970s wave of conspiracy thrillers: Capricorn One (1978). Or do they?

What real evidence is there that they watched the film? Can you trust their opinions? And where's the proof it's even their voices on this recording?

There is though one thing that you can believe in: that this film features an exploding helicopter.

Episode #27.

“One ping only.”

On this episode of Exploding Submarine we take a look at one of the big sea beasts of the genre: The Hunt For Red October (1990).

Will is joined in the conning tower by Nick Rehak from French Toast Sunday.
We discuss the appeal of the submarine genre, Sean Connery’s hairpiece, and the optimum number of sonar pings in an underwater film.

We also talk about one of the classic exploding submarine scenes ever committed to celluloid.

Episode #26.

“Terror goes into overtime.”

After Die Hard rewrote the rules of the action movie, Hollywood started churning out thinly disguised knocks offs that replicated its plot in increasingly bizarre locations.

So on this show Will and Dara take a look Jean Claude Van Damme’s Sudden Death (1995), which took the Die Hard concept and moved the action into the unlikely environs of an ice rink.

Among the topics of discussion: the wondrous villainy of Powers Boothe, improvised weapon making, and the never before seen sight of the Muscles from Brussels fighting a 7ft female penguin.

They also look at one of the most operatic exploding helicopters ever committed to celluloid.

Episode #25.

“I married Rambo.”

Exploding Helicopter takes a look at the action classic True Lies (1994), which features one of the all-time great helicopter explosions (in case you’ve forgotten: a chopper is destroyed by a missile-propelled terrorist).

Along the way, Will and Dara go all chin-stroking intellectual to discuss the film’s strange gender politics and equally weird geopolitics. But they quickly revert to type to discuss Jamie Lee Curtis’ striptease and the bits where stuff blows up.

Episode #24.

“Something cool.”

Will and Dara, the maverick podcasters who play by their own rules, are back. This time they’ve only 24 hours to review the buddy cop movie comedy 22 Jump Street (2014) otherwise it’s their ass.

They also take a look at the chopper fireball action and debate whether this film includes the greatest exploding helicopter kiss-off line ever uttered on screen. And our heroes also take a look at a rare animated helicopter explosion.

Episode 23.

"Is that all you got? A trick and a cheesy one-liner."

Exploding Helicopter is joined by Ben Dadds from Top Film Tip to take a look at Iron Man 3 (2013), a film where we get to see a helicopter destroyed by a grand piano. Well, almost.

Among the other topics of discussion: is Tony Stark the most unlikeable superhero, movie red herrings, and why it is impossible to make a conspiracy thriller in Britain.

Episode 22.

“I’ll bring the wine. You bring the scarred psyche.”

Exploding Helicopter and Troy Allen from Action Ago Ago squeeze into luridly coloured lycra, strap on their utility belts, and adopt ridiculously husky voices to take a look at 1995’s Batman Forever.

Among the topics of discussion, the strange career of Joel Schumacher, whether helicopters can have steering locks, and why on Earth the Statue of Liberty is in Gotham.

Episode 21.

“Now – just blink for yes – or die for no.”

Over a 40-year career John Frankenheimer earned himself a reputation as one of Hollywood’s foremost directors of action and suspense films. Here we're joined by Nick Rehak to take a look at one of his less heralded films, Black Sunday (1977). While it may not have the prestige and plaudits of The Manchurian Candidate, Seven Days In May or Ronin, it does have an exploding helicopter (which elevates its status in our eyes).

Show notes

Black Sunday (1977)
Director: John Frankenheimer
Cast: Robert Shaw, Steven Keats, Bruce Dern, Marthe Keller
Plot: Terrorists attempt to blow up a Goodyear blimp hovering over the Super Bowl stadium in an attempt to kill the American president and 80,000 spectators.

“Science is never wrong.”

On this episode we take at the low budget disaster movie Absolute Zero (2005), where the only people who can save the world from a new ice age are Jeff Fahey and Erika Eleniak. (Probably best not to make too many plans for next week).

On this show Exploding Helicopter is joined by Jason and Nolahn from Your Face and the Liar of the Unwanted. Among the topics of discussions, the demise of Jeff Fahey’s career, some highly questionable “science”, and how exactly you pronounce Erika Eleniak.

Episode 20.

“The things we do for frequent flyer mileage.”

After disappearing from cinema screens for 6 years, GoldenEye (1995) sought to relaunch the career of the world’s most famous spy. But how did they make James Bond – a sexist, misogynistic dinosaur and relic of the Cold War – relevant to the Nineties?

To look at this question, Exploding Helicopter is joined by Tim Postins from Bride Of Crapula to discuss the feasibility of helicopter ejector seats, terrible one-liners, and two memorable helicopter explosions.

Episode 19.

“What a relief. The symbologist is here.”

Exploding Helicopter takes a look at Angels & Demons (2009), a film which features one of the most ridiculous exploding helicopter sequences we’ve ever encountered.

Well, it’s not every day you get to see the Pope blow up a helicopter with an anti-matter bomb is it?

Episode 18.

“You want the last of the baklava?”

Steven Spielberg may be the greatest living director, he may have won every cinematic award known to man, but it wasn’t until his 24th feature film that the bearded boy wonder finally blew up a helicopter.

So on this show Will is joined by Lindsay Street from French Toast Sunday to discuss MUNICH (2005) and one of the most extraordinary exploding helicopters we’ve ever seen.

Episode 17.

“One of you is a werewolf!”

Exploding Helicopter is joined by Jim Moon from the Hypnobobs podcast to talk about The Beast Must Die (1974) one of the oddest werewolf movies ever made.

We sink our oversized canines into subjects including the history of Old Dark House films, whether you can ever make a German Shepherd dog look like a blood crazed lycanthrope, not to mention the “werewolf break” – the film’s notoriously bizarre marketing gimmick.

We also discuss the most “bling” helicopter explosion in history.

Episode 16.

“Who’s the alpha? You’re looking at him kid.”

On this show we’re looking at Jurassic World (2015) the latest entry in the ‘dinosaur eating people’ franchise.

Will is joined by his film quiz teammate Kobi Omenaka to tackle questions including whether animatronics are better than CGI, what the plot of a sequel could be, and where this films ranks in the series.

They also attempt to answer an age old narrative question: if you see a helicopter in the first act does it have to explode by the third act.

Episode 15.

“Oh my god, bees bees, millions of bees.”

Arm yourself with bug spray and a fly swatter because the bees are coming! That’s right, we’re looking at one of the classics of ‘bad cinema’, infamous seventies disaster movie The Swarm (1978).

On this episode Exploding Helicopter is joined by Booze from the Sweet Feathery Jesus podcast. Amongst the topics of discussion: the bizarre outbreaks of Northern Soul dancing, septuagenarian love triangle, and whether this film isn’t just a little bit *whisper it* racist.

Episode 14.

“I’m gonna hit you with so many rights you’ll be begging for a left.”

Pull on your denim jeans and shirt, strap on your Uzis and prepare for war, because we’re looking at the Chuck Norris action classic Invasion USA (1985).

On this show, Will is joined by Todd Liebenow from Forgotten Films to discuss ‘Cold War cinema’, whether Chuck Norris is the ultimate American male, and whether it’s ethical to blow-up a defenceless helicopter.

Episode 13.

“Ain't nothin' in the world get Black Dynamite more mad than some jive ass sucka dealin' smack to the kids!”

Pour yourself a large glass of Anaconda Malt Liquor, and relax with Exploding Helicopter’s review of blaxsploitation send-up Black Dynamite (2009).

On this show Will is joined by DJ Valentine from Simplistic Reviews to chew the fat about the state of genre parodies, the kung-fu skills of US Presidents, and whether this film features the greatest White House exploding helicopter scene ever.

Episode 12.

“Would you consider the cinema of the Ukraine?”

On this show Will is once again joined by Dara to discuss Mission Impossible (1996) and one of cinema’s greatest exploding helicopter scenes.

Among the points of discussion: Tom Cruise as an action star, whatever happened to Emilio Estevez, and whether the film suffers from the “Big Momma’s House” syndrome.

Episode 11.

“The rich must pay or the rich will die.”

On the new Exploding Helicopter we’re joined by Doug Tilley from Cinema Smorgasbord to look at a very strange film: ASSAULT IN PARADISE (1977).

We try to decide if the film was trying to make a sophisticated exploration of the exploitation of Native Americans, or if it was just a confused mess of a movie with nothing to say.

We discuss seduction at gunpoint, comedic car chases, wildly inappropriate cultural appropriation, and, of course, the exploding helicopter action!

Listen now, listen later, but just make sure you listen

Show notes

Assault In Paradise (1977)
Director: Richard Compton
Cast: Oliver Reed, John Ireland, Stuart Whitman, Paul Koslo, Deborah Raffin
Plot: An Arizona resort town is rocked when local cops are struck down by a crossbow-wielding assassin dressed as a Native American. The perpetrator of these murders is demanding a million-dollar payoff from the town’s wealthiest citizens – lest they become his next victims. Fearing for their lives – and no doubt hoping to save themselves a few quid – the town’s gentry call in a hard-drinking mercenary to stop the reign of terror before the killer notches up more victims.

Episode 136.

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Twitter: @chopperfireball
Website: explodinghelicopter.com
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Twitter: @CinemaSmorg
Twitter: @Doug_Tilley
Website: Cinema Smorgasbord

“We just came up with a mince pie under each arm.”

On this show, Will and Bob strap themselves into the cockpit and turn on the surveillance mikes to discuss an undisputed classic of the exploding helicopter genre, Blue Thunder (1983).

Among the points of discussion, Vietnam flashbacks in eighties movies, A-Team style violence and whether Malcom McDowell is the most sneer-y actor in film history. All this and two classic exploding helicopter scenes.

Episode 10.

“The deadliest art of the Orient is now in the hands of an American.”

On this show, Exploding Helicopter dons karate pyjamas to take a look at the eighties VHS action classic American Ninja (1985).

Amongst the points of discussion, how much would it cost to maintain an army of ninja warriors? The acting career of Michael Dudikoff. And whether any element of this film’s plot makes sense.

Will and Dara also pick over another classic helicopter explosion and debate whether every film can be improved by the inclusion of a chopper fireball.

Episode #9

“When we have mastered these tactics, we will use them to seek out and confront the forces of evil and kill 'em deader than hell!”

In 1986 Top Gun took the breath away of film fans around the world, but the movie had one noticeable flaw: no helicopters.

Fortunately, that error was corrected in 1990 with Fire Birds – Wings of the Apache. It took the Top Gun’s formula, added helicopters and a scenery chewing Nicolas Cage to make cinematic gold (or possibly tin).

On episode #8 Exploding Helicopter is joined by Nick Rehak from French Toast Sunday to discuss whether Fire Birds is the greatest exploding helicopter film of all-time.