Verbal Diorama

Cutthroat Island has quite the reputation. It's known as the infamous pirate flick that sank a studio, as well as the entire pirate genre, but that's not completely true.

In many ways, Cutthroat Island might just be more of a misunderstood gem, that happens to have been created when Carolco Pictures was at the very end of its life - mired in debt, and struggling to stay afloat. Cutthroat Island was its last chance. Cutthroat Island...

In 1999, Stan Winston Studios and Digital Domain joined forces to create one of cinema's most convincing monsters - the massive crocodile from "Lake Placid." Winston's team, fresh off "Jurassic Park," built a groundbreaking 30-foot animatronic that could actually function underwater using waterproofed hydraulics and urethane skin - a technical marvel that had previously destroyed lesser movie creatures. With snapping jaws, moving e...

In 1997, Anaconda slithered into cinemas with a secret: every second of computer-generated snake footage cost $100,000 to create. This wasn't just another creature feature—it was Sony Pictures Imageworks' first fully computer-animated character and a technical nightmare that pushed both digital and practical effects to their limits.

To mitigate that cost, and to the benefit of this movie, they decided to rely heavily on practical a...

I'm currently taking a break from the podcast, however I think you might enjoy this slightly older episode on That Thing You Do!

1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4....

Everyone's favourite movie uncle Tom Hanks isn't as known for his directorial or screenwriting career, as he is for his many Oscar-winning acting roles. That Thing You Do! was his first foray into both directing and writing, and boy does he knock it out of the park with this.

I...

The final of five special episodes to celebrate this podcast's 300th episode, focused on J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings, this episode goes into what happened after The Lord of the Rings - namely The Hobbit trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: the Rings of Power, and the various struggled with the rights, plus multiple lawsuits that were filed after The Lord of the Rings.

The possibility of losing the rights led to Ne...

In the fourth of five special episodes to celebrate this podcast's 300th episode, focused on J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings, and we're diving deep into the epic finale of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Return of the King.

The Return of the King had a monumental impact on the film industry, and epic box office success, raking in over $1.1 billion worldwide. The film swept the Academy Awards, winni...

In the third of five special episodes to celebrate this podcast's 300th episode, focused on J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings, this episode is the second middle chapter, with no beginning and no end, just like The Two Towers.

The Two Towers ups the ante from The Fellowship of the Ring, balancing intense action with rich storytelling. This episode focuses on the pivotal Battle of Helm's Deep and the groundbreaking i...

In the second of five special episodes to celebrate this podcast's 300th episode, focused on J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings, Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings was 18-years-old by the time Peter Jackson started considering making his own version in live action. Jackson and his partner Fran Walsh wanted to make something high fantasy, but kept coming back to Tolkien's stories.

Acquiring the rights from Saul Zae...

In the first of five special episodes to celebrate this podcast's 300th episode, focused on J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings, this episode summarises how Tolkien's life experiences, from childhood tragedies to the horrors of war, deeply influenced the themes of his stories. They reflected the complexity of human nature, shaped his creation of Elvish languages, and how Tolkien's love of linguistics led to Middle-E...

Pathetic Earthlings, who can save you now?

Well, there might be one guy...

Flash Gordon has been on our screens for almost 90 years, and the story of the dashing all-American hero, his companions, and his battles against Ming the Merciless laid the groundwork for modern sci-fi, influencing everything from Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek and Doctor Who.

From his humble comic strip roots, Flash's adventures were perfect for a...

Hail, holy Queen enthroned above; O Maria! Hail, mother of mercy and of love, O Maria!

Triumph, all ye cherubim. Sing with us, ye seraphim! Heav'n and earth resound the hymn

Salve, salve, salve, Regina!

Let the clapping begin!

Sister Act isn’t just a comedy. It’s a celebration of sisterhood, resilience, and the joys you find in unexpected places. It brilliantly flips the script on the traditional representation of nuns, when lounge sin...

Sonic’s journey from video game to blockbuster film should have been straightforward.

From Sega’s fierce rivalry with Nintendo, to the chaotic path of bringing Sonic to life on the big screen, there are more twists and turns in this story than Green Hill Zone.

Sega’s quest for a mascot that could rival Mario led to the creation of Sonic the Hedgehog, but several attempts to make a movie fell at the first, second, third and fourth hur...

Tonya Harding's story highlights the struggles of being an underdog in a highly elitist sport like figure skating, where social status can overshadow talent. The media portrayal of Harding changed public perception, making her the undisputed villain of the narrative.

But there's always two sides to every story. Or three. And there may be truth, or there may just be someone's truth.

I, Tonya sheds light on the cycle of abuse and the c...

Erin Brockovich proves that sometimes the biggest heroes come in the most unexpected packages, like a single mum with a penchant for swearing and a relentless drive for justice. With zero legal training but a whole lot of heart, Erin uncovers a scandal involving toxic waste poisoning a small California town’s drinking water, proving that you don't need a fancy law degree to take on a multi-billion dollar corporation.

Julia Roberts,...

Queen Elizabeth I was a formidable leader who defied the norms of her time, cleverly balancing the expectations placed upon her as a woman with her ambitions as a ruler. An Indian director and an Australian lead actor came together to bring us a truly brilliant biographical drama on the ascension to the-then Catholic English throne of the Protestant Elizabeth I, in Shekhar Kapur's Elizabeth.

Queen Elizabeth I was a powerful female f...

This month on Verbal Diorama, we celebrate Women’s History Month, and it’s the perfect time to highlight the Agojie; fierce African warriors of the kingdom of Dahomey, who fought not just for their country, but for a legacy that resonates today.

Watching The Woman King is like stepping into a vivid tapestry of history, action, and empowerment that celebrates the resilience of women in an often overlooked narrative - 19th century bl...

This podcast is now six! And to celebrate, some post-Renaissance Disney.

If Atlantis really existed, no one wrote about it until Plato, who did so 9,000 years after its destruction. Atlantis: The Lost Empire draws from Plato's original Atlantis myth, as well as classic adventures stories like Jules Verne’s Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1864) and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas (1870), Victorian-era adventure fiction and...

This podcast is now six! And to celebrate, some Renaissance Disney.

The story of Heracles is revered across Greek mythology, but this isn't Heracles. This is Hercules. Same guy, kind of, but this isn't just a retelling of a Greek myth—it's a whole exploration of what makes a true hero; taking some "creative liberties" with the original myth—goodbye tragic backstories, hello superhero narratives (as well as Disney's penchant for merc...

This podcast is now six! And to celebrate - some pre-Renaissance Disney.

Basil may just be a little mouse, but this little mouse packed a mighty punch for Disney during a time when the animation studio was teetering on the edge of disaster. With a mix of clever storytelling, dark visuals, and a villain who’s as charismatic as he is frightening, Basil proves that sometimes, the smallest heroes can save the day—or in this case, an ent...