Welcome back to a new episode of "Helen & Bill Do Retro Cinema", the episodes of this podcast where Helen and Bill take on the roles vacated by David and Margaret and bring you the reviews that matter... on movies from the past that no doubt you have all seen before.

Today's episode features the five films that were nominated for Best Picture at the 79th Academy Awards in 2007, all released in 2006. So why not tune in to hear what these two cinefiles think about:

LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA

BABEL

LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE

THE QUEEN

THE DEPARTED

That's the agenda on today's episode of "Helen & Bill Do Retro Cinema", on the podcast where agreeing on anything is a full time commitment, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

For your consideration, here is episode sixteen of "It's a Ponderous Life", the place where I offer you the weekly rantings of a middle aged man trying to come to grips with life, where the wife and kids all have their own lives that don't require me, and I get fist shakingly annoyed at the world as I see it.

Mel Brooks, the creator of some of the best comedic films and shows of the 20th century, turned 98 years of age this week. And what better way to celebrate that than to look back on his career and some of the most iconic moments that he has been involved in. Some of them you will all know, such as “Blazing Saddles” and “Spaceballs”, but what about those other great movies he has been involved in, as a writer or a producer or an actor… or all of those roles?

On today’s episode I am going to talk about my favourites that Mel Brooks has gifted us over the years, and why I love them so much.

So please join me in my quest to get a few things off my chest, in another episodic enlightenment of “It's a Ponderous Life”, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

For your consideration, here is episode fifteen of "It's a Ponderous Life", the place where I offer you the weekly rantings of a middle aged man trying to come to grips with life, where the wife and kids all have their own lives that don't require me, and I get fist shakingly annoyed at the world as I see it.

As the title of this week’s episode suggests, I have a few problems with the recent announcement of the people who have been nominated for the Gold Logie at Australian TV’s ‘so-called’ night of nights, the Logie Awards. A couple of years ago I did an episode wondering why these awards still even exist. And on today’s program I will probably revisit some of those thoughts, as well as expanding on a few of the current ones.

In amongst that are a couple of other quick items which I feel I should add, just for the general amusement of... myself.

So please join me in my quest to get a few things off my chest, in another episodic enlightenment of “It's a Ponderous Life”, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.