Talking Pondo

From summer blockbusters to indie darlings, Talking Pondo celebrates the joy of watching, questioning, and occasionally roasting the movies that shape our lives.

Every week, hosts Clif Campbell and Marty Ketola sit down to swap movies and swap opinions. Each of them brings a film to the table and together they dig into what makes it work (or not). Sometimes, there's a guest!

Whether you’re a casual moviegoer or a die-hard cinephile, there’s always room more movie talk.

And yes, there will be spoilers!

Making Pondo is a discussion with Clif, Marty and a guest from one of their many productions.

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Talking Pondo

Talking Pondo: Star Trek The Motion Picture and Midnight Run

November 03, 2025 • Clifton Campbell, Marty Ketola • Season 3 • Episode 21

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In this episode, Marty gives Clif the movie Star Trek The Motion Picture to watch and Clif gives Marty the movie Midnight Run to watch.

What do Captain Kirk, the first-ever Happy Meal, and Robert De Niro on a cross-country road trip all have in common? They’re all part of this week’s Talking Pondo! Marty and Clif fire up the warp drive for a deep dive into Star Trek: The Motion Picture (Director’s Edition) — the 1979 sci-fi epic that launched Trek onto the big screen. From wormholes to wild uniforms to the film’s psychedelic “screensaver” visuals, they unpack what makes this one both weird and wonderful.

Then it’s onto Midnight Run (1988), where De Niro’s bounty hunter and Charles Grodin’s mob accountant redefine the buddy road movie. The guys debate chemistry, pacing, and why this flick’s DNA is still all over modern action comedies.

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