**Podcast Summary: Dear Movies, I Love You
Episode: L.A. in the ’80s & The Terminator (1984)
Release Date: February 18, 2025
Hosts: Millie De Chirico & Casey O'Brien

Introduction

In this episode of Dear Movies, I Love You, hosts Millie De Chirico and Casey O'Brien delve into the vibrant movie culture of Los Angeles during the 1980s, using James Cameron's iconic film The Terminator (1984) as a focal point. They explore how The Terminator not only shaped their perceptions of LA but also reflects the city's unique character and evolution through cinema.

Main Discussion: Los Angeles in the 1980s & The Terminator

Personal Connections to Los Angeles

Millie and Casey share their personal experiences with Los Angeles, highlighting how living in the city deeply influenced their love for its cinematic portrayal. Millie recounts her time residing in West Hollywood and how walking through the city felt like being part of a live-action movie:

• Millie (04:20): “...we just wanted to let you know that we recorded that prior to the fires... We love Los Angeles... It was a really great conversation. It’s a celebration of Los Angeles.”

The Terminator and Its Impact

The discussion pivots to The Terminator and its sequel, exploring their significance in the hosts' lives and their portrayal of LA:

• Millie (03:01): “...for our movie this week, we're going to talk about the OG, the original Terminator from 1984.”

Casey provides a succinct synopsis of the original film, emphasizing its role as a foundational piece in the franchise:

• Casey (25:02): “...this movie is about Sarah Kanna, a young woman living and working in Los Angeles. She's visited by a robot man from the future, the Terminator, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is there to kill her because she is the mother of John Connor...”

Millie reminisces about her first encounter with the film and how the sequel, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, became her all-time favorite:

• Millie (29:39): “...Terminator 2, Judgment Day came out at a time almost like the perfect moment for me... it completely radicalized me because, number one, it was a blockbuster. I watched it in the theater. But then I also watched it on VHS with my friend Karen after school. We watched it, like, maybe 20 times.”

Visual and Thematic Analysis

The hosts delve into the visual enhancements brought by the 4K restoration of The Terminator, appreciating the added details and improved clarity:

• Millie (33:07): “...the greatest thing about 4Ks and new restorations... you get to see so much of the background now... like weird little characters that you're like, oh, I didn’t even know that character was back there doing a little dance.”

They also discuss the transformation of Arnold Schwarzenegger's character from the antagonist in the first film to a paternal figure in the sequel, highlighting the shift in narrative and character development:

• Millie (34:02): “...the Terminator is a bad guy in the first one, and he's a good guy in the second one.”

• Casey (38:25): “...when you’re looking at him, when you’re like, your eyes are feasting upon him in the movie, and then it cuts to a scene with Kyle Reese, you're kind of like, oh, him deflated.”

Cinematic Representation of Los Angeles

The conversation extends to how The Terminator and other 1980s films portray Los Angeles, capturing its diverse neighborhoods and unique urban landscape:

• Millie (44:15): “...there’s this entire chunk of 80s films that I love that all sort of take place in LA, roughly the same kind of neighborhood.”

• Casey (46:07): “...Predator 2 is a very like, wild LA movie. I think it's the 80s when that came out. But that’s like, that’s a really, really crazy representation of LA as like this wasteland.”

Film Diary: Recent Movie Watchings

Millie’s Picks

Millie discusses her recent immersion in classic documentaries by Les Blank and her viewing of the new restoration of Rolling Thunder (1977):

• Millie (12:12): “...I watched a poem as a naked person. I watched God Respects Us When We Work But Loves Us When We Dance...”

• Millie (15:27): “...the new restoration of Rolling Thunder is amazing. It’s dark as shit...”

She provides an insightful analysis of Rolling Thunder, highlighting its portrayal of a Vietnam veteran struggling to readjust to civilian life:

• Millie (16:30): “...He’s like a guy that is home from Vietnam. He was a POW... there's this dance between... he wears aviators all the time. It’s a classic 70s movie about anti-heroes, violence, and crime.”

Casey’s Picks

Casey shares his recent watch of Eli Roth's Thanksgiving and David Mamet's House of Games:

• Casey (18:57): “...Thanksgiving was fun... the script could have used another pass. Some elements were kind of confusing, which isn't always a good thing in a slasher movie.”

He also recommends House of Games, commending its blend of crime and sexiness:

• Casey (21:52): “...House of Games is fun. It’s a good kind of crime. Sexy Joe Montana.”

Film Gripe: Assigned Seating at Movie Theaters

The hosts express their frustration with the prevalent practice of assigned seating in modern movie theaters, recounting personal experiences and societal tensions surrounding the issue:

• Casey (60:23): “There is a war going on between older generations and younger generations. A lot of people my parents' age hate the assigned seating.”

• Casey (62:01): “...there was a guy in our seats and he refused to move even after showing him the tickets. It was a disaster.”

• Millie (61:57): “Gripe accepted... I think you and I see very much eye to eye on the assigned seat thing... We like rules and organization.”

They discuss the practicality of assigned seating in enhancing movie-going experiences by reducing confusion and conflicts over seats:

• Millie (60:35): “I actually kind of like it because I feel like the biggest issue was the organization of seating was always so weird... It takes out the awkwardness of trying to figure out how to sit with strangers.”

• Casey (62:10): “You can buy the tickets ahead of time and reserve your seats, making the experience more efficient.”

Employee Picks: Movie Recommendations

Casey’s Recommendation: The Civil Dead (2022)

Casey recommends the low-budget LA film The Civil Dead, highlighting its blend of comedy and horror set in Silver Lake:

• Casey (68:26): “The Civil Dead is a fun LA movie about a ghost and haunting. It’s a low-budget slacker buddy comedy with heart and some scary elements...”

He notes its portrayal of LA neighborhoods and the authentic depiction of slacker culture:

• Casey (70:17): “You get to see all the apartments of Los Feliz and it made me miss Los Angeles.”

Millie’s Recommendation: Swingers

Millie endorses the classic LA movie Swingers, emphasizing its authentic representation of the city and its influence on her understanding of LA culture:

• Millie (70:34): “Swingers is a great LA movie that educated me about living in LA before I moved there. It showcases the unique apartment designs and the vibrant social scene.”

She reflects on the film’s humorous take on LA car culture and nightlife:

• Millie (71:41): “The scene where five friends drive separately to a party and park next to each other, then turn on the club is a funny commentary on LA car culture.”

Conclusion

Millie and Casey wrap up the episode by encouraging listeners to engage with their content and share their own movie-related questions and gripes. They reiterate their love for cinema and invite audience interaction through email and social media platforms.

• Millie (75:42): “If you want to get answers to your burning film questions... write us at dear movies@exactlyrightmedia.com…”

• Casey (75:24): “I hope we are not visited by a futuristic robot sex God... I don't want you killed by a robot.”

Notable Quotes

• Millie (03:30): “LA in the 80s on film is one of my favorite little pockets of moviness.”

• Casey (34:25): “LA is unlike any other city. It has this unique blend of urban decay and pockets of weirdness that you only find in Los Angeles.”

• Millie (37:27): “Arnold Schwarzenegger is probably the only Republican that I really love.”

• Casey (63:41): “There’s a war going on out there.”

Key Takeaways

• Cinematic Influence on Perception: The Terminator and other 1980s LA films significantly shaped the hosts' perceptions of Los Angeles, highlighting its unique urban landscape and cultural nuances.

• Assigned Seating Benefits: The shift to assigned seating in movie theaters brings organization and efficiency, reducing conflicts and enhancing the overall viewing experience.

• Personal Movie Experiences: Hosts share how revisiting classic films and new restorations deepens their appreciation for cinema and its portrayal of real-life locations.

• Community Engagement: Dear Movies, I Love You fosters a community of film enthusiasts who can share their own experiences, recommendations, and critiques, enhancing the collective appreciation of movie culture.

Follow Us

Stay connected with Dear Movies, I Love You on Instagram @dearmoviesiloveyou and join the conversation on Facebook. For recommendations, questions, or to share your own film gripes, email us at dearmovies@exactlyrightmedia.com or follow our Letterboxd profiles: Casey Lee O'Brien and Decherico.

This summary captures the essence of the episode, highlighting the deep connection between 1980s Los Angeles cinema and its lasting impact on the hosts, while also addressing contemporary movie-going practices and recommendations.