Episode 245 - A KID IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT

Camelot gets a healthy dose of '90s attitude when there's A Kid in King Arthur's Court, a fast-paced farce with a surprisingly stacked cast of nostalgic faves and future A-listers. Medieval history plays host to baseball, biking, and 'blading – and we're not talking about swordplay – in this episode that's certifiably baaaad (meaning good).

A Kid in King Arthur's Court (1995)
Directed by Michael Gottlieb
Written by Michael Part and Robert L. Levy
Based on A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain
Starring Thomas Ian Nicholas, Joss Ackland, Art Malik, Paloma Baeza, and Ron Moody with Daniel Craig and Kate Winslet

Episode 240 - THE INDIAN IN THE CUPBOARD

We unlock the mysteries of The Indian in the Cupboard, an unusually sensitive kids' movie that's notable for both its visual effects and its verisimilitude. Amy Ambler returns to tell us how it strives to elevate the cultural discourse of the classic children's book series, and what lessons this well-meaning adaptation can still teach.

The Indian in the Cupboard (1995)
Directed by Frank Oz
Written by Melissa Mathison
Based on the book by Lynne Reid Banks
Starring Hal Scardino, Litefoot, Lindsay Crouse, Richard Jenkins, David Keith, and Steve Coogan

Episode 236 - TRON

A digital adventure ahead of its time, TRON revealed the secret lives of computer programs and gave many their earliest glimpse of cutting-edge CGI cinemascapes. A debuting Richard Dunham joins us to fight for the users (and the listeners!) as we raise our identity discs to hail this mainstay of modern geek culture. END OF LINE.

TRON (1982)
Written and directed by Steven Lisberger
Story by Steven Lisberger and Bonnie MacBird
Starring Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, Cindy Morgan, Barnard Hughes, Dan Shor, and David Warner

Episode 233 - PRACTICAL MAGIC

The blood moon is rising, the witching hour is upon us, and the time is right to brush up on our Practical Magic. Blythe Rudloff completes our coven as we quaff from a cauldron of doomed romance, witchy intuition, and sisterly bonds. So mix those midnight margaritas and get out your brooms because listeners, it's time to clean house!

Practical Magic (1998)
Directed by Griffin Dunne
Written by Robin Swicord, Akiva Goldsman, and Adam Brooks
Based on the novel by Alice Hoffman
Starring Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Dianne Wiest, Stockard Channing, Evan Rachel Wood, Alexandra Artrip, Goran Visnjic, and Aidan Quinn

Episode 229 - BABE: PIG IN THE CITY

How ya gonna keep us down on the farm after we've seen Babe: Pig in the City? Surreal shenanigans ensue when Ryan Kasmiskie returns to talk about a sequel that takes a bold detour into harrowing and heavily symbolic adventures with adorable talking animals. Thank the pig!

Babe: Pig in the City (1998)
Directed by George Miller
Written by George Miller, Judy Morris, and Mark Lamprell
Starring Magda Szubanski, James Cromwell, Mickey Rooney, Mary Stein, and the voices of E.G. Daily, Danny Mann, Glenne Headley, Steven Wright, James Cosmo, and Roscoe Lee Browne

Episode 209 - THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY

The world has changed. It's been two decades since The Lord of the Rings trilogy redefined everything about epic cinema, and we're kicking off a new year of podcasting with an episode to match the scale and ambition of Peter Jackson's classic imagining of the seminal fantasy saga. 

Because though some of what was has been lost, there are still many who remember, including our own fellowship of Alyssa Renzi, Barm, and Sean Davis, who each join us to pontificate on their personal favorite entry of the trilogy. It's a LOTR lovefest that's nothing short of...precious.

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
The Two Towers (2002)
The Return of the King (2003)
Directed by Peter Jackson
Written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Peter Jackson
Based on the novels by J.R.R. Tolkien
Starring Elijah Wood, Ian McKellan, Viggo Mortenson, Sean Astin, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies, Sean Bean, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Bernard Hill, Hugo Weaving, Miranda Otto, Karl Urban, David Wenham, Brad Dourif, John Noble, Ian Holm, and Andy Serkis

Episode 204 - WARRIORS OF VIRTUE

A half-forgotten entrant in the '90s anthropomorphic hero team craze, Warriors of Virtue put its own dreamlike spin on the TMNT/MMPR formula with a healthy dose of Daoist philosophy and wuxia wire-fighting wizardry. 

Confused by the concept of kung fu kangaroos? Do not think thoughts! Just do the right thing and come along with us on this campily wholesome ride.

Warriors of Virtue (1997)
Directed by Ronny Yu
Written by Michael Vickerman and Hugh Kelly
Starring Mario Yedidia, Angus Macfayden, Marley Shelton, Chao-Li Chi, Dennis Dun, Michael J. Anderson, Tom Towles, and suit performers Jack Tate, Don W. Lewis. J. Todd Adams, Adrienne Corcoran, and Doug Jones

Episode 182 - BACK TO THE FUTURE

Great Scott! It's about darn time we talked about a pop culture giant like Back to the Future. And folks, this episode is heavy...with discussions of memories and memorabilia, characters and quotes, trivia and themes, all infused with the power of love.

Amy Ambler hops in our DeLorean for a trip back in time - and into a perennial cinematic comfort zone. Trust us, when this podcast hits 182 episodes, you're gonna hear some serious shit.

Back to the Future (1985)
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
Written by Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis
Starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover, Thomas F. Wilson, James Tolkan, Claudia Wells, and Huey Lewis

Episode 175 - RETURN TO OZ

If you thought tin men and flying monkeys were strange, let me tell you about Return to Oz, a film that doubles down on the inexplicable whimsy of L. Frank Baum's beloved books and the unrestrained darkness that pervaded children's fantasy films during the 1980s. It's nightmare fuel delivered with a sprightly, wholesome spirit. It's also a marvel of practical effects with enough imagination and offbeat humor to enthrall a whole new generation of weirdos.

Thank goodness we've brought our friends Brian Rudloff and Nate Tapp along to share their thoughts about uncomfortable creature suits, traumatizing imagery, and the dangerous truth about eggs. Join us as we embrace the odd in our journey back to Oz. After all, it can't be helped now!

Return to Oz (1985)
Directed by Walter Murch
Produced by Paul Maslansky
Written by Walter Murch and Gill Dennis
Based on The Marvelous Land of Oz and Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Starring Fairuza Balk, Jean Marsh, Piper Laurie, Matt Clark, Denise Bryer, Sean Barrett, Brian Henson, and Nicol Williamson

Episode 174 - MULAN

Let's get down to business as we flap our gums about Mulan, the mold-breaking animated classic that loaded the Disney canon with its strongest questioning of gender roles at the time. In several ways, it transmuted the traditional formula that sustained the studio's modern resurgence, while still remaining a reflection of deeply internalized storytelling (and brand) values. The result: a rousing and memorable film that's true to its complex heart.

Kevin Chu brings honor to our pod as we dig into some of the catchiest tunes in the Disney discography, discuss the movie's depictions of Asian culture, and show Mushu a little love. This episode will surely make a man/woman/person out of you!

Mulan (1998)
Directed by Barry Cook and Tony Bancroft
Written by Rita Hsiao, Philip LaZebnik, Chris Sanders, Eugenia Bostwick-Singer, and Raymond Singer
Starring Ming-Na Wen, BD Wong, Miguel Ferrer, James Hong, Jerry Tondo, Gedde Watanabe, Harvey Fierstein, Soon-Tek Oh, Pat Morita, George Takei, June Foray, and Eddie Murphy

Episode 167 - SUPER MARIO BROS.

Everyone's favorite Italian plumbers trade the colorful fantasia of the Mushroom Kingdom for a grim cyberpunk dystopia in Super Mario Bros., the very first movie to be adapted from a video game. The film employs plenty of wild imagination in connecting the dots of Mario and Luigi's bare-bones backstory, and conjures up an inter-dimensional tale of dinosaurs, dictatorship, and de-evolution that certainly didn't feature in any Nintendo marketing materials.

Matt Schley joins us for some multiplayer fun, and helps us understand the movie's bizarre and undeniable legacy in his WWWW debut. Ready, player one? Let's-a go!

Super Mario Bros. (1993)
Directed by Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel
Produced by Jake Eberts and Roland Joffé
Written by Parker Bennett, Terry Runté, and Ed Solomon
Starring Bob Hoskins, John Leguizamo, Samantha Mathis, Fisher Stevens, Richard Edson, Fiona Shaw, and Dennis Hopper

Episode 158 - THE SANTA CLAUSE

'Tis the ho-ho-holiday season, and we're kicking off our festivities with Tim Allen's turn as a smart aleck St. Nick in The Santa Clause. Is it a sarcastic and saccharine fruitcake of a movie featuring flatulent reindeer, child custody battles, ugly sweaters, and elves...with attitudes? Or is it an eggnog-laced body horror flick featuring a man powerless to prevent his flesh and blood from transforming into the ageless avatar of Christmas cheer?

Jolly old Saint Nate Tapp cartoonishly squeezes down our chimney to help us examine the fine print on this Santa succession story. Whether you were naughty or nice this year, we gift-wrapped this magical episode just for you!

The Santa Clause (1994)
Directed by John Pasquin
Produced by Robert Newmyer, Brian Reilly, and Jeffrey Silver
Written by Leo Benvenuti and Steve Rudnick
Starring Tim Allen, Eric Lloyd, Wendy Crewson, Judge Reinhold, Peter Boyle, and David Krumholtz

Episode 151 - LITTLE NICKY

The lesson of Little Nicky: even the Sandman has limits. This big budget, high-concept comedy busted Adam Sandler's streak of box office success, and the legacy of this daring and wildly unsuccessful risk helped define the boundaries of a comfort zone he's inhabited in the years since (with a few notable exceptions).

The Summer of Sandler takes a detour on the highway to hell as we find the good, the bad, and the butt-ugly in this bewildering story of a bashful Beezlebub. We deserve this!

 

Little Nicky (2000)

Directed by Steven Brill

Produced by Jack Giarraputo and Robert Simonds

Written by Tim Herlihy, Adam Sandler, and Steven Brill

Starring Adam Sandler, Harvey Keitel, Patricia Arquette, Reese Witherspoon, Rhys Ifans, Thomas "Tiny" Lister Jr., Robert Smigel, Kevin Nealon, Allen Covert, Peter Dante, Jonathan Loughran, and Rodney Dangerfield

Episode 144 - POKÉMON

While the Pokémon phenomenon has been going strong for more than two decades, there's something especially magical about that first batch of 150-plus pocket monsters. A super effective cocktail of animal cuteness, competitive spirit, and pre-social media FOMO, the franchise conquered America--and the world--like few Japanese imports before or since, and left an evolutionary blueprint for others to follow.

Cartoons, video games, toys, trading cards, novelty raps: we catch 'em all in this episode focused on the Big Bang of a synergistic media universe. While we were recording, a wild Josh Lee appeared to make his WWWW debut, so boot up your Pokédex and join us in our quest to be the very best, like no pod ever was!

Pokémon (1998-present)
Based on the video game created by Satoshi Taijiri

Episodes included in this podcast:

"Pokémon, I Choose You!" (aired 9/8/98)
"Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village" (9/21/98)
"Pikachu's Goodbye" (11/20/98)
"Cyber Soldier Porygon" (unaired in the United States)

Episode 141 - MATILDA

Precocious young viewers saw a bit of themselves in Matilda, a dark power fantasy for gifted kids that's softened with eccentric humor and a kind-hearted Mara Wilson performance. It's a movie that delights in the comeuppance of several crooked and cruel authority figures. But the one that really grabs us by our pigtails is Agatha Trunchbull, an iconic villain determined to make sure that you never look at chocolate cake the same way again.

Kevin Chu returns to send us on our way to the golden age of Roald Dahl adaptations. Remember to return your library books, and don't miss this (tele)kinetic episode!

Matilda (1996)
Directed by Danny DeVito
Produced by Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher, and Lucy Dahl
Written by Nicholas Kazan and Robin Swicord
Based on Matilda by Roald Dahl
Starring Mara Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Pam Ferris, Embeth Davidtz, Kiami Davael, Tracey Walter, and Paul Reubens

Episode 128 - HOOK

Welcome back to Neverland, Pan the Man! Long considered a black sheep in Steven Spielberg's filmography, Hook is a touchstone for countless '90s kids who dreamed of living in an awesome treehouse and hanging out with Robin Williams. It's an all-out smorgasbord for the juvenile ego, full of insult battles, mincing pirates, and food-based weaponry.

It's also the perfect place to launch our latest themed month: the Robin Round Robin! In round one, Mr. Williams awakens the inner child in all of us, while special guest Brian Rudloff helps us recover some of our earliest movie-going memories. Bangarang!

Hook (1991)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, and Gerald R. Molen
Written by Jim V. Hart and Malia Scotch Marmo
Based on Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie
Starring Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, Bob Hoskins, Julia Roberts, Charlie Korsmo, Amber Scott, Caroline Goodall, Dante Basco, and Maggie Smith

Episode 125 - KAZAAM

It’s Shaq-Fu, Diesel, the Big Aristotle

About time you let me out the bottle

To spit like the colossal genie apostle

And a five thousand-year-old role model

Your deadbeat criminal dad’s a disgrace

I like to invade his airspace with my bass

Make it rain burgers after winning a bike race

And slam your momma’s French toast into your face

Pay attention even if you ain’t superstitious

I’m about to grant these three podcast wishes:

An episode so vicious, delicious, and auspicious

I’m true djinn, boy, my style’s never repetitious

Get ready for the original Shaq-tober jam

Courtesy my best friends Eric and Cam

Shout it over the air and across the land

I am…Kazaam!

Kazaam (1996)
Directed by Paul Michael Glaser
Produced by Bob Engelman, Scott Kroopf, and Paul Michael Glaser
Written by Christian Ford and Roger Soffer
Starring Shaquille O'Neal, Francis Capra, Ally Walker, James Acheson, Marshall Manesh, and John Costelloe

Episode 123 - LAST ACTION HERO

Last Action Hero had the misfortune of releasing a mere week after the hottest movie of 1993: “Big mistake!” As Jurassic Park signaled the dawn of a new age of special effects-driven spectacle, audiences understandably approached this uneven send-up of tired tropes with caution. When the trifecta of '80s action legends Arnold Schwarzenegger, Shane Black, and John McTiernan struggles to pump up your enthusiasm, you know it’s truly the end of an era.

So how does the film stand up today? Will it be remembered as a prescient example of the meta deconstruction that now permeates pop culture? Does it succeed as a pastiche of Arnie's on-screen persona? Grab your magical movie ticket and step into this episode with us to find out!

Last Action Hero (1993)
Directed by John McTiernan
Produced by John McTiernan and Steve Roth
Written by Shane Black and David Arnott
Story by Zak Penn and Adam Leff
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Austin O'Brien, Charles Dance, Robert Prosky, Tom Noonan, Bridgette Wilson, F. Murray Abraham, Anthony Quinn, Mercedes Ruehl, Frank McRae, and Art Carney

BONUS - SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY

You might want to buckle up, baby... Our two best star-friends Brian Rudloff and Sam Stovold welcome us into their tribe (or should we say family?) for an extra special episode of Marvel Star Wars Explorers! Podcast pals Sean Davis and Kev Young round out the crew for a roundtable debate over the latest anthology film from our favorite franchise, Solo: A Star Wars Story.

The discussion boasts more range than a DL-44 blaster, covering everything from the symbolism of Han’s dice to toxic fanboy villains to whether or not the Imperial March should remain non-diegetic. We’ve also officially reached the point where our Star Wars chats can no longer be contained in single installments, so be sure to check out BOTH parts of this summa-verminoth-sized episode! If you listen to this podcast, you’re in this life for good.

Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Directed by Ron Howard
Produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Allison Shearmur, and Simon Emanuel
Written by Lawrence Kasdan and Jonathan Kasdan
Starring Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Joonas Suotamo, and Paul Bettany

Check out the rest of our series on the Star Wars saga:
Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Episode IV: A New Hope
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Episode VIII: The Last Jedi

Solo: A Star Wars Story
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Star Wars: Clone Wars
Star Wars Holiday Special
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure

Episode 115 - WILLOW

As Solo: A Star Wars Story swaggers into theaters, we turn our attention to the O.G. collaboration between Ron Howard and Lucasfilm: the epic fantasy Willow, a movie that leans hard into genre traditions while attempting to make children simultaneously giggle with delight and soil their pants in terror. Just your garden-variety '80s family film operating within a far more permissive ratings board culture.

Sean Davis, co-host of the After the Credits podcast, was there to experience the magic at the beginning, and shares his memories with us during the glorious conclusion of Not Quite Star Wars Month. Listen in to learn how Willow blends practical wizardry and cutting-edge technology, and how it serves a story that is by turns emotionally resonant, staunchly conventional, and wildly silly.

Willow (1988)
Directed by Ron Howard
Produced by George Lucas, Nigel Wooll, and Joe Johnston
Written by Bob Dolman
Story by George Lucas
Starring Warwick Davis, Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Jean Marsh, Patricia Hayes, Kevin Pollak, Rick Overton, Gavan O'Herlihy, Pat Roach, and Billy Barty