Shat The Movies - The 80s & 90s Best Films Podcast

In this powerful episode of Shat the Movies, hosts Gene Lyons and Big D, Dick Ebert, journey down under to revisit Peter Weir's 1981 war drama Gallipoli. Commissioned by listener Mac in Texas, this Australian New Wave classic stars a young Mel Gibson and Mark Lee as two spirited athletes drawn into the brutal realities of World War I. The Shat crew reflects on how Gallipoli flips the traditional war movie formula, building deep emotional connections with its characters long before the first shots are fired. From the dusty outback to the trenches of the Dardanelles, Gene and Big D dissect the film's themes of friendship, blind patriotism, and the gut-wrenching cost of war. They also explore how the film balances coming-of-age charm with historical tragedy—right up to its final freeze frame. With heartfelt insights, personal stories, and a few unexpected laughs along the way (yes, venereal diseases and desert treks come up), this episode reminds us why some war films hurt in all the right ways. Plot SummaryGall