Mousterpiece Cinema

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Episode 196: Walt Disney Treasures: Tomorrow Land May 12, 2015

Show notes

For this week's episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, we're requiring all listeners to get their space gear in check, test their oxygen tanks, and prepare for a trip beyond Earth, beyond space, and maybe even beyond our solar system! But in case you're not ready for space travel just yet, you can still listen to the episode. This week, Josh and Gabe dig into another of the two-disc Walt Disney Treasures DVD sets, specifically the Tomorrow Land set, focusing on the way our 1950s society portrayed the future of space travel and science. Are Josh and Gabe able to embrace the optimistic futurism of this set or do they find it too quaint and dated? In short, are they ready to travel up (and at them/atom)? Or do they want to ponder their place in the dirt instead? Find out now!

Episode 195: Avengers: Age of Ultron May 06, 2015

Show notes

It's time to assemble your team, friends, because this week, Gabe and Josh are facing off against a terrifying prospect, something more fearsome than what they've faced before: another big-budget superhero movie. Yes, of course, like everyone else in the Western world, we're discussing Avengers: Age of Ultron today. Gabe and Josh are joined in this titanic quest by friend of the show Tim Grierson, author of Public Enemy: Inside the Terrordome. The trio answer some important questions this week: is superhero-movie fatigue real? Does this movie improve on the 2012 Joss Whedon film? Are the female characters multi-dimensional and complex, or are they closer to a certain s-word Jeremy Renner's been using lately? And how is Ant-Man like Cars 2? Find out on the new show!

Lucasfilm Bonus Episode Five: The Original Star Wars Trilogy May 03, 2015

Show notes

May the Third be with you! No, wait, hang on, that's not right. May the Fifth be with you! Hmm...still sounds funky. Oh, right, May the Fourth be with you! And what better way to celebrate this day than a two-hour discussion of the trilogy that started it all? There is no better way, trust us. Yes, for this bonus episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, Josh and Gabe spend entirely too much time talking about Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. Plus, because of our recording date, Gabe and Josh are able to dredge up the debate they tabled in the last bonus show: are they excited for The Force Awakens? Did the new teaser rouse them with interest or bore them? Or is it just Gabe who's a Debbie Downer? And, of course, what of the original trilogy? Did George Lucas make good films or did he just fool our childhood selves? And will there be cursing? (Yes. Earmuffs, children.) Fuzzballs, get ready to laugh it up--and listen!

Episode 194: The Monkey's Uncle Apr 28, 2015

Show notes

Hey, bros! Get ready for a full-on Brodown Hoedown on this week's Bro-sterpiece--OK, fine, Mousterpiece Cinema. This week, your top bros Josh and Gabe are getting ready to go back to college to talk about the important things about higher learning: beer, football, frat parties, and--and--AND TWINS! Maybe we're exaggerating a wee bit, but boy oh boy, does this week's movie, the 1965 film The Monkey's Uncle, feel super bro-y and misogynistic. It's so hard to avoid that Josh and Gabe go deep on this one, musing on the conservative streak in old-school Disney films, the way Walt Disney and his executives treated lead actor Tommy Kirk after his homosexuality became a flashpoint of controversy, and whether NCAA football players should be paid. Plus, Gabe brings back his Serial-esque cold-case podcast! And a bit of swearing! And Josh does a Beach Boys impression! No more talk--get to listening!

Episode 193: Monkey Kingdom Apr 22, 2015

Show notes

In the face of the brand-new Disneynature documentary Monkey Kingdom, here's a painful admission: I hate every ape I see, from Chimpan-A to Chimpan-Z. No, you'll never make a monkey out of me. OK, fine, this may not be that specifically related to Planet of the Apes (the movie, not the planet), or any musicals about said environment, but can you resist a good Simpsons reference. Neither can we! Anyway, on this week's episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, Josh and Gabe go up against this new, Tina Fey-narrated nature film, along with their guest, Genevieve Koski of The Dissolve. Does Monkey Kingdom play fast and loose with the facts? Is it unethical to have monkeys destroy a child's birthday party? Basically, is it actually about ethics in documentary journalism? You'll have to listen to find out!

Episode 192: Castle in the Sky Apr 15, 2015

Show notes

On today's episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, we're making specific and loud declarations. Such as "I DON'T WANT YOUR LIFE." Yes, that's right, you're going to get to hear Josh's impression of James van der Beek in the true classic Varsity Blues. Why, you may ask? Well, this week's movie is the Hayao Miyazaki film Castle in the Sky! (van der Beek provides a voice in the English dub, of course. But you knew that.) One of your hosts, in fact, loves the movie so much that it might be their favorite Studio Ghibli film overall. And the other host...well, he DON'T WANT YOUR LIFE. (That might spoil which of us loved the movie more.) Take a listen for more Ghibli/Dawson-cry-face talk!

Episode 191: Angels in the Outfield Apr 07, 2015

Show notes

The smell of the grass, the sound of a ball being hit by a wooden bat, the cries of "Get your popcorn and Cracker Jack!," and, of course, the unavoidable use of steroids. Yes, that's right, friends, it's baseball season once again! And this week, to celebrate the return of their beloved Mets and Pirates, Josh and Gabe step into the batter's box with one of Disney's modern baseball movies, the 1994 remake of Angels in the Outfield. (If only the Mets or Pirates made appearances in this one!) It's been over 20 years since this film came out, and many of its performers have gone on to massive careers, from child lead Joseph Gordon-Levitt to supporting players Matthew McConaughey and Adrian Brody. But does the movie hold up as more than a curio of expert casting? Do Josh and Gabe believe after revisiting this somewhat religiously-themed film? And how the hell did Gabe not hear about the Netflix revival of Full House yet? Find out now!

Episode 190: The Misadventures of Merlin Jones Apr 01, 2015

Show notes

Thanks to a unique case of electromagnetism (or some such), we've been gifted temporarily with the ability to read your thoughts, friend. And so we promise, this episode is completely April Fools Day prank-free. Pinky swear! Unfortunately, in some ways, Gabe and Josh got pranked this week by their choice of film, the 1964 comedy The Misadventures of Merlin Jones, which is all about a nerdy college kid being able to read people's thoughts! Until...he can't. Yes, this movie is surprising, but in a lot of the wrong ways. Even more so, Gabe's presumption that this movie would be monkey-heavy may have been equally misguided! What mysteries await? What happened in this movie that bothered Gabe so much that he cracked open his Sherlock Holmes costume to solve a cold case? Find out in the new show!

Episode 189: The Country Bears Mar 25, 2015

Show notes

It's bear-ly spring, friends, but for some of us, the weather has become truly unbearable! Oh, come on, you're not really that surprised that it took bear-ly two words for some choice bear puns in this podcast description, are you? And why would you be, with our film of the week, The Country Bears from 2002? Yes, Mousterpiece Cinema has gone for the easy pun this week, as Josh and Gabe are joined by return guest Mark Pfeiffer to talk about all things Country Bears, from the famous Jamboree at Walt Disney World to Don Henley. (Yes, that Don Henley.) Does Mark still appreciate this oddball film as much as he did originally? Was Josh able to resist bear puns, or did he stand above his co-host? And what opinion of Josh's is likely to infuriate a subset of fans? Listen to find out!

Episode 188: Cinderella (2015) Mar 18, 2015

Show notes

Make sure you're dressed to the nines, dear listeners, because we've got quite the high-class tale to talk about on this week's episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. Did you ever see the film about the beautiful, kind, and silently suffering young woman who, with the help of a fairy godmother, falls in love with a handsome prince and gets to go to a fancy royal ball in a pumpkin-cum-coach? No, silly, we don't mean the 1950 animated film Cinderella; we mean the all-new, live-action Disney film Cinderella, from director Kenneth Branagh! Yes, the 2015 remake is on the docket today, and Josh and Gabe are joined by friend of the show Tasha Robinson of The Dissolve to talk about saying yes to the dress (and goodbye to swallowing food), how Robb Stark looks like Michael Fassbender clean-shaven, talking mice, and the gloriousness of Cate Blanchett. But did they like the new Cinderella? Did it prove its worth as more than a brand deposit? Or is this just another sign of the poor quality of live-action reboots? Put on both of your shiny glass slippers and find out now!

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