Movies

Jurassic Park: Rebirth is the latest installment in the Jurassic World series. And while dinosaur paleontologist Matt Lamanna has loved dinos — and the Jurassic Park franchise — his whole life, he says some of the films are more accurate than others. So how accurate are the ones unveiled in this latest movie? Matt gets into it with Short Wave host Regina G. Barber, who got a tour of the dinosaur exhibits where Matt works: the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh. They also discuss the accuracy of the beloved giant creatures in the newest Jurassic World film, as well as some of the hits from the franchise's archive — like the dinosaur he was partially responsible for discovering. Want us to cover more natural history? Tell us by emailing shortwave@npr.org! We'd love to know what you want to hear from us. Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.

From pro wrestling and Beanie Babies to Insane Clown Posse and Jerry Springer—author Ross Benes looks at the explosion of low culture in the mass media in the late ’90s. His book 1999: The Year Low Culture Conquered America and Kickstarted Our Bizarre Times reveals its profound impact and how it continues to affect our culture and society today.

Star Trek, Wrath of Khan, Blade Runner, Poltergeist, The Thing and ET — these are just some of the now classic science fiction films that came out in the summer of 1982. What was it about that moment in Hollywood that made it open to fresh ideas and high concept films and what would it take to do it again?

There are certain genres of movies—like the western or the horror film— where you know what to expect. But what about the movies about journalism? This is the film where a reporter takes on the corrupt establishment and risks all to bring the truth to the people. We take a look at some of the greatest journalism movies in cinema and explore what they say about press freedom in America.

The first singing cowboy of the movies—Gene Autry —was one of America’s most popular stars. As the Texas native sang "Back in the Saddle Again" he was also promoting ideas that supported the New Deal and friendly relations with Mexico. His messages rang true with his fans during the Great Depression. On this episode, we unpack the ways this western folk hero, Gene Autry, used his talents to support a positive pro-America agenda.

An embattled Disney princess, a steroid-addled bodybuilder and a trapped carjacker are all at cineplexes this weekend.

From pro wrestling and Beanie Babies to Insane Clown Posse and Jerry Springer, author Ross Benes looks at the explosion of low culture in the mass media in the late ’90s. His book 1999: The Year Low Culture Conquered America and Kickstarted Our Bizarre Times reveals its profound impact and how it continues to affect our culture and society today.

There are certain genres of movies—like the western or the horror film— where you know what to expect. But what about the movies about journalism? This is the film where a reporter takes on the corrupt establishment and risks all to bring the truth to the people. We take a look at some of the greatest journalism movies in cinema and explore what they say about press freedom in America.

He was a songwriter, a singer and an actor, known to many Texans for his part in the “outlaw country” movement of the ’70s and ’80s.

A rundown of the fall movies that we should be looking forward to the most, and the standouts from the Toronto International Film Festival.