Mousterpiece Cinema

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Episode 105: Planes Aug 16, 2013

Show notes

Are you ready to soar to new heights? Have you checked your mental baggage? Are your tray tables in their fully locked and upright positions? Oh, sure, you're rolling your eyes at this aviation-based puns, but if you think similar jokes aren't littered all over the new movie Planes, you've got another think coming. Yes, this week on Mousterpiece Cinema, it's time to face off against this new not-Pixar movie inspired by the Cars films from Disney/Pixar honcho John Lasseter. And once again, Gabe's nowhere to be found (though he might've made the right decision). So Josh is joined by Noel Kirkpatrick of This Was TV and Mark Pfeiffer of Reel Times to ask the hard questions: is Planes as bad as the chatter would lead you to believe? Does Dane Cook remind anyone else of Alex Rodriguez? And what kind of vehicle would Hitler be if Hitler was a vehicle in the world of Cars? (And...oh, yeah, why is World War II invoked in a kids' movie without humans? That too.) It's time to answer those burning queries and depart on the Boeing 747 known as Mousterpiece Cinema, so get on board!

Episode 104: Song of the South Aug 10, 2013

Show notes

You read the title right, friends. This week, Josh and Gabe tackle one of the most controversial films in American cinema, and arguably the most challenging in Disney's filmography: the 1946 live-action/animated hybrid Song of the South, which tells the tale of white and black characters living in harmony in the Reconstruction-era Deep South. To unwrap all of its complications, Josh and Gabe are joined by Noel Murray of The Dissolve, and they ask the big questions: should this movie be shown publicly? Should Disney profit as much as they do on its theme-park inspiration, Splash Mountain? And is Gabe a racist? (For liking this movie, that is.) If the bluebird is on your shoulder and you're whistling a very specific tune, tuck in and listen to the new show for the answers!

Episode 103: The Straight Story Aug 01, 2013

Show notes

Everything's topsy-turvy on Mousterpiece Cinema this week, from top to bottom. For the first time in a while, Gabe's not on the show due to scheduling issues; in his stead, Josh got two esteemed guests--Peter Labuza of The Cinephiliacs and Jake Cole of MovieMezzanine.com--to join him to review, of all things, a David Lynch movie. Yes, David Lynch does have a Disney connection: his 1999 film The Straight Story, which is rated G, features no terrifying nightmare sequences, and is, on the surface, as un-Lynchian as it gets. But maybe not. Maybe The Straight Story is David Lynch's most centered film, his most emotional, and his heaviest. You'll have to listen to the new show to find out!

Episode 102: The Great Mouse Detective Jul 26, 2013

Show notes

Before Robert Downey, Jr. donned the cap and pipe, before Benedict Cumberbatch deduced in the modern world, there was another revival of Sherlock Holmes back in the 1980s. And yes, it was a Disney movie. Sure, the lead characters were...mice, and sure, they weren't...called Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. But no matter! This week on Mousterpiece Cinema, Josh and Gabe take a look at The Great Mouse Detective, one of Disney's last animated features before the vaunted Renaissance period kicked in. They're joined by Doug Tilley of DailyGrindhouse.com to discuss the majesty of Vincent Price, the old-school bumbling nature of Watson (or, as he's known here, Dr. Dawson), Basil of Baker Street, and erotic fan fiction. (No joke! And if you're listening with kids, be warned: we do discuss said fan fiction in a bit of PG-13 detail around 40 minutes in.)

Episode 101: Pixar Short Films Collection, Volume One Jul 19, 2013

Show notes

Take a walk back in the past with us, friends, on the new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. This week, Josh and Gabe look back to the humble beginnings of Pixar Animation Studios, specifically its animated short films. Yes, it's time to look at the Pixar Short Films Collection, Volume One DVD set on the podcast. Josh and Gabe are joined this week by Sound on Sight contributor and Sordid Cinema co-host Edgar Chaput to discuss the awfulness of Mater the tow truck, the sadness of a lonely unicycle, and exactly how much they all kind of hate Boundin'. But there's plenty of positivity to go around in spite of those few stumbles, so make sure to check out the new show!

Lucasfilm Bonus Episode One: Howard the Duck and Raiders of the Lost Ark Jul 18, 2013

Show notes

Hey, friends! It's time for another b-b-b-bonus episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, going along with the show having recently hit 300 Likes on Facebook. And per an old challenge laid out by our good friend Michael Ryan, Gabe and Josh are tackling the high and low of the Lucasfilm enterprise, now owned by Disney. First up, it's the 1986 disaster known as Howard the Duck; Gabe's seen it before, but Josh has not. Would you be surprised to learn that neither of the hosts was impressed with the misguided story of an anthropomorphic talking duck in 80s-era Cleveland? They were, of course, thrilled as usual by the other movie on the docket this week: Steven Spielberg's adventure classic Raiders of the Lost Ark. Come for the Lucasfilm discussion, stay for Josh's dramatic reading from the Star Wars Holiday Special!

Episode 100: The Lone Ranger Jul 12, 2013

Show notes

Yes, you read that title right, friends, it's our 100th episode. The first episode of Mousterpiece Cinema focused on Cars 2, not the most auspicious film to kick off any podcast. So perhaps it's fitting that our first major milestone episode focuses on the fine old mess known as The Lone Ranger. Gabe and Josh are joined by Battleship Pretension and CriterionCast writer Scott Nye to sift through all of Johnny Depp's quirks, Gore Verbinski's excess, and William Fichtner's cannibalistic nature to discuss whether this movie is actually as bad as so many people feared, if it's halfway decent, or if it's actually a hidden gem. Plus, Gabe pulls out his patent-pending Dumb Guy Voice! Celebrate 100 episodes by giving this one a listen.

Episode 99: Meet the Robinsons Jul 06, 2013

Show notes

If you've had a bad day, or a bad week, or simply made a few too many bad decisions lately, follow this simple advice: keep moving forward. No, seriously, say it to yourself: keep moving forward! You feel a bit better now, don't you? You especially will if you're a fan of Disney's 2007 animated film Meet the Robinsons, as those three little words are the film's mantra. And that film is this week's topic on Mousterpiece Cinema, as Josh and Gabe are joined by Scott Mendelson of Forbes.com to discuss B-movies in Disney's animated canon, time travel, emotion, and, at the very end, Despicable Me 2. (Because why not?) Check it out!

Episode 98: Monsters University Jun 29, 2013

Show notes

Attention, students! The summer session has just begun at your beloved and monstrous educational institution, and now it's time for class to commence. Apologies for the academic build-up, but this week, Josh and Gabe are going back to school with Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan, those lovable monsters from Monsters, Inc. Mike and Sulley, though, are a bit younger this time around, of course. Yes, it's time to talk Monsters University, Pixar's newest computer-animated feature. To do so, Josh and Gabe are joined by past guest Adam Kempenaar, from the Filmspotting podcast, to discuss prequels, Pitch Perfect, and...wait, Pitch Perfect? Yes, really. And you may be surprised by which member of this motley crew is most positive about a Pixar prequel. But you'll have to tune into this scare-ifying episode to find out!

Episode 97: Who Framed Roger Rabbit Jun 22, 2013

Show notes

Anniversaries aplenty this week, friends. First up, we're at the two-year point of Mousterpiece Cinema's history! (Two years is a mix of silver and gold, right? We'll take all gifts of both kinds.) But more importantly, we're celebrating another anniversary on today's podcast, in which Josh and Gabe discuss the 1988 animated/live-action hybrid Who Framed Roger Rabbit with Walt Disney Imagineering intern and friend of the show Morgan Ditta. Yes, this episode is going up on the 25th anniversary of this classic, and you'd better believe that Josh, Gabe, and Morgan spent the entire show figuring out new ways in which to explain how great this movie is. Does it hold up? Is the Pope Catholic? Will we stop asking questions without answering them? Yes. (See?) Check out the new show today, and raise a glass to one of the all-time classics celebrating its birthday. (Also, make sure to honor Who Framed Roger Rabbit.)

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