Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Lucasfilm Bonus Episode Two: Willow, Ewoks: The Battle for Endor, and Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure

Well, friends, as you can tell from the title, this episode's a mouthful. We hit the 350-Like threshold on Facebook a few weeks ago, and you know what that means: time for another b-b-b-b-b-b-b-bonus episode! This time, per Gabe's suggestion, your intrepid co-hosts tackle not one, not two, but three movies, all from the now-Disney-owned Lucasfilm: Willow, Ewoks: The Battle for Endor, and Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure. Yes, really, these are movies that we sat down and watched willingly. (OK, some less willingly than others.) And, as you might expect from a bonus show, this one's full of goofy tangents as well as a few impersonations. Listen carefully, and you'll hear Josh impersonate Wilford Brimley, and Gabe may even impersonate...Taylor Lautner? Yup. Now go forth on your own caravan of courage and check out the new show!

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Episode 132: The Absent-Minded Professor

Well, friends, it's about that time again: time for the sexism talk. Not the sex talk, mind you. That's...well, we're not going to have that talk with you ever. You're on your own. But the sexism talk, specifically sexism in Disney movies, is something we're a bit more prepared to tackle. And we do so in the new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, focusing on the 1961 comedy The Absent-Minded Professor, starring Fred MacMurray, Keenan Wynn, and a whole lot of flubber. Between Gabe and Josh, one of your co-hosts enjoyed the film and laughed at its many slapstick sequences; the other one was turned off by the main character's treatment of his fiancee. Can you guess who's who? No? Well, then, get to downloading the new episode! Don't bounce off the walls, just listen to the new podcast. Get it? Bounce? Because flubber...never mind.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Episode 131: Return to Never Land

Who's ready to go back to Never Land? Well, if this new episode is any indication, the answer may not be your intrepid co-hosts Gabe and Josh. While they still believe in faith and trust and pixie dust, they're not totally on board with Return to Never Land, the theatrically released sequel to Peter Pan from 2002. In fact, they're so not on board that, eventually, the conversation turned to a ranking of the films of Steven Spielberg. (Blame Hook for that.) And so, what begins as a frustrated discussion about why this DisneyToon Studios release falls so flat--hint: don't set your whimsical story during World War II--ends as Josh wondering if Gabe's lost his mind by ranking Hook over Jurassic Park. Yes, really. Anyway, think happy thoughts and listen to the new podcast!

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Episode 130: Howl's Moving Castle

As we quickly approach the American release of Hayao Miyazaki's latest film, The Wind Rises, it's time once more for Mousterpiece Cinema to wade into the past of Studio Ghibli. This week, Gabe and Josh focus their sights on Howl's Moving Castle, with two special guests: Simon Howell of The Televerse and Andrew Daar of This Was TV. Both guests are huge Miyazaki buffs, and Josh is well-known for not being an ecstatic fan of every Miyazaki film. BUT. If you think you know where this conversation is going, trust us, you don't. Unless you presume this conversation is heading down tangential avenues, talking about Jeff Daniels, Werner Herzog, and Poochie the rappin' dog. In that case, you're right. But still! Listen to the show, because you won't know for sure until you hear it, not just read it in a description.

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Episode 129: Toy Story 2

Get the Roundup gang together and put on the record player, because it's time for a new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema! (We're not making any promises about whether or not you can hear the episode on a record player.) Yes, it's time for Gabe and Josh to move on from the first adventures of Sheriff Woody and Buzz Lightyear, and onto the sequel, Toy Story 2. This 1999 release was totally redone by Pixar's animators within just nine months, but is widely considered one of the best sequels ever made; in this episode, Gabe and Josh, along with guest Dan Schindel, debate whether that consensus still holds up. Is Toy Story 2 the best film in the trilogy? Are there too many pop-culture references? And, let's answer that age-old question: is Estelle Harris really a goddess? Find out on the new episode!