What A Movie: A Nostalgia-Infused Podcast

No!! What's going down in Laser Bay 2?! Come get digitized with us as we go inside A COMPUTER where tax programs are thrust into gladiatorial combat! Meanwhile in the real world, corporate espionage and greed have taken us to terrifying future controlled by AI. Sorry I meant the real world in the movie...But have no fear! Jeff Bridges is here! And no derp tanks can stop the digital messiah. Will he help TRON and Yori save the day? Will there be sufficient RAM? How many times will Star Wars be copied? Get on your lightcycles and be prepared to face computer murder as we come face to face with TRON!

Good hair won't save you from the forces of evil. Sure, it might be mundane evil but we don't know that yet. And the only way to stop it is to assemble a team of heroes. Not THOSE heroes, but ones from where else but classic literature! A grizzled explorer, an invisible rapscallion, an American dude who's just there, a pirate with a ship we want to live on, a vampire who could honestly do this all by herself, a tortured scientist whose alter ego just needs direction, and an immortal scenery chewer who made us go down our bluest rabbit hole yet. So get ready for all the fights, the quips, and ALL THE GREY and ALL THE GRAY. Is it good? Is it bad? Is it fun? All we'll say is that it's a vibe, and we are here for it. Here, at the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Bomb voyage.

You fools! You've unearthed the most dreaded curse of all! A sequel. Join us as we rewind back to 2001 for this follow up to an all-time classic. Is it good? Well, it's definitely better than 2017's The Mummy starring Thomas Cruise. Come back and hang with all your favorite characters that aren't super dead (mummies and reincarnates not included). Our lovable rogue Rick, our underused badass heroine Evie, Ardeth Bay - Keeper of the Exposition,  and oh that's right we almost forgot Jonathan (so did the movie). Will they defeat the easily revived Imhotep? How much of their own franchise will they rip off? It's Grey Hawk Down and Raptors vs Redshirts. Don't get that reference? You will soon. So buckle up and watch out for Shanky McShankersons as we settle in for The Mummy Returns! 

Welcome to Hollywood, kid! See how fast your bright-eyed, bushy-tailed attitude will shift to that of a chain-smoking fish. But that's showbiz! And watch as a little cat with big dreams won't let his friends get down in the dumps, because they all got spunk (a running theme recently). The only thing standing in their way is the Shirley Temple from hell and her clay golem who literally towers over the city. Will this Grinch/Beelzebub/literally Satan of a child actor win out in the end? At least her character will steal the show. But in any case, join us as we see if Cats Don't Dance! (They probably will, though).

Step lightly furlings! Peril lurks around every corner of this cult 90s flick. Bird choir funerals, yellow dragons, Waggs the Racist Squirrel. Our plucky protagonists might be forgetful but they've got spunk! Abigail, the leader mouse who really should listen to her friends more. Russell, the muscly hedgehog with surprising stunt-flying skills. And of course, Edgar (or quite possibly Dr. Who) who is the only reason they're still alive. Together, only they can find the herbs, to save Michelle, to stop the humans, and into the woods to grandmother's house! Their fate lies in the hands of the gods (Goose Jesus? Badger Jesus?), but their mentor Cornelius (or quite possibly Batman) has prepared them as well as could honestly be expected considering the circumstances. So join us as we go mashy mashy on these magical herbs in the harrowing tale of Once Upon A Forest.

Holy Polynesian Iguana Batman! When you think of Godzilla, don't you always think of the city of NOO YAHK, walking HR complaints, and the Human Cheerio known as Matthew Broderick? We hope so because we're going back to 1998 to see Roland Emmerich stop at nothing to get us damp in more ways than one. What's that? How could he possibly know that? Why are there so many iguanas? Don't think too hard, seriously we can't be held responsible for what happens. So come join us for bananas tomfoolery and just a lot of bullshit. So long, and thanks for all the fish.

Beware, for here, there be dragons! And the only ones who can stop them are Batman, Leonidas, Killer Joe, and Goldeneye's own Natalya. Sounds epic, right? WELL IT IS. Join us as we re-discover this forgotten gem that truly deserves a re-evaluation from the entire planet. Will our heroes be able to stop these beasts of burden from completely conquering the world? Will that one nice, funny guy be destined to die? Will Matthew McConaughey be able to fly, swing an axe, and scream all at the same time? Thrown on your anti-dragon fire suits and find out!

We're back after so long! But don't worry, we've made up for it by taking almost 2 hours discussing the animated classic from our childhoods, The Swan Princess! Special guest Eli Barraza (Swan Princess #1 Fan) joins us as we dive into surprisingly competent villain plots, ugly crowns, a himbo with the most badass move, and a baby who may or may not be a strawberry croissant. Will Princess Odette avenge her swan-napping? Will Prince Derek cross country run his way to saving her? Will Lord Rogers create a musical theatre duo for the ages with Chamberlain Hammerstein? Will Bromley continue to be useless? Only Hagatha Crispy knows for sure!

The future — the movie budget salary caps have melted, and the very expensive scenery is deep beneath the waves. The survivors discuss these disasters on recordings known as "Podcasts" in this place called...Flick Flops. Brave podcasters voyage in search of whether or not an expensive, pretty, and dumb movie deserves the reputation it's gotten. But the Universal Studios stunt show, a far superior and shorter version, is determined to be the only thing about this movie audiences remember. They've ensured that no two people would dare sit through over two hours of Kevin Costner glowering at everyone while the money literally goes up in flames in the background ... until now.

People of the world! Did you have any idea that this movie is GREAT?! Spice up your life as we go down the bizarre, super British rabbit hole that is 1997's Spice World! Stunning supporting performances, a murderers row of cameos, the icons that are the Spice Girls themselves?! Come for a concert movie, and stay for a film that goes wayy harder than it has any right to. And for that, we thank you.

Yehar!! Avast mateys, batten down the hatches as we dive back into the bizarre era of Disney animation with 2002's Treasure Planet! Hop aboard the ship ship (not spaceship) as our heroes come face to face with shenanigans like space murder, spider liars, and the endless abyss of nothingness. Will they find their space gold? How are they breathing? Will Jim's absentee dad get a face even though the production ran out of money? Join us to find out, and maybe you'll see that the real treasure was the friends we made along the way.

It's time to spend a fun week with Helen because we're going back in time to the Trojan War! In the bizarrely "straight" world of the Greeks vs. the Trojans (because we know everyone is into everyone), come for the sexy, oily bods and butts we paid to see, and stay for the surprisingly good acting and action. At almost 3 hours this chonky boi of a movie spared no expense on armor, extras, and sandals. So many sandals. So come see what all the fighting's about and why none of them can have nice things. Patrocles? Patricless?

What do you get when Disney makes an action adventure sci-fi epic? A lot of questions. Take a deep dive with us as we explore the runes and ruins of Atlantis: The Lost Empire! Everything you need from a fast-talking crew, to the baddies who gonna bad, to crystals that actually do work, we've got it. And it's true, you might have a question, or several in regards to any number of plot twists, but just remember, there are no questions under the sea!

BAD DOG! In our first episode of Flick Flops, join us for the bizarre ride that is 1995's albatross, Cutthroat Island! How could a movie featuring a badass lady pirate captain plus Frank Langella as a scenery-chewing villain flop so spectacularly? And is it really as bad as all that? Avast ye questions! And come join us for some high seas adventure where everything can and will explode.

Join us as we take a trip back to the 50s/90s. A time of pastel colors puking over the landscape, bored suburban jackals, and AVON AVON AVON. Special guests Leia Crawford and Fionnegan Murphy join us as we take a look back at the seminal Tim Burton film from 1990, Edward Scissorhands. Lonely shut-ins, Breakfast Club glow-ups, all the thirsty people, we got it all! And cookies, all the cookies.

Have you ever wondered what Lord of the Rings would be like if everyone was a puppet and it was like 10 times creepier? Then you've come to the right episode! Join us as we immerse ourselves in the incredibly creative minds of Jim Henson and his team for a movie that's honestly one-of-a-kind. I mean seriously, can you think of anything else quite like this. So grab some juicy essence as we tackle this trial by stone that 9 out of 10 Chamberlains agree is "Mmmmmmmm"!

Who’s ready for some D&D?! Well not really, but this movie is pretty darn close! Where else can you get Dennis Quaid with a wig as mysterious as his accent? Or see the young, badass days of Friar Lawrence? Or perhaps most importantly, a Sean Connery DRAGON?! So grab your Bowen arrows, watch out for pointy spikes, and join us for 1996’s Dragonheart!

How do you follow up on a moving, intense, and oh so sad deconstruction of the American Dream? You hit all the beats again but make it a Looney Tunes cartoon in the Ol' West! It's about as good as it sounds. For better or worse. Join us as we follow our young, mouse hero who's learned absolutely nothing as he encounters scenery-chewing villains, plenty of OH NO moments, and a subplot involving the bond between a cat and another mouse that's far more interesting than anything else in this movie. And most surprisingly, a moving swan song for the one and only Jimmy Stewart. Get ready to give your best flying AHH as we dive into 1991's Fievel Goes West!

Everyone is SO DIABOLICAL. And we're talking EVIL INCARNATE here, with the exception of truly the best of boys. Join us as we kick off 2022 with cute puppies, overqualified lackeys, and SO MUCH SLOBBER with 1992's Beethoven! And did we mention the evil? Also, we love Bonnie Hunt. 

In today's episode, James and Nicole dissect 1974's The Year Without a Santa Claus. A "movie" in only the loosest of terms. Yes, they know it was a TV special, and not technically a movie. But still.

Listen along as they rage against the capitalist machine that prevents Santa from getting the sick day that he so clearly needs.

It's Christmas time! And to kick off the festivities, James and Nicole revisit the 1964 stop-motion classic, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!

For the second installment of What A Movie's Batman double feature, James and Nicole examine the animated (cult?) classic from 1993, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm! A movie that is a better Batman film (and a better film in general) than Batman & Robin in nearly every conceivable way! Listen along as they discuss, among other things: the emotional maturity of this and most other entries in the DC Animated Universe; the ratio of graveyard to non-graveyard set pieces; and the missed opportunity for a Mask of the Phantasm/Phantom of the Opera crossover.

What do you get when you have villains who clearly understood the assignment, and heroes who didn't even do the homework? You get the mess that is 1997's Batman & Robin! Someone really needs to call OSHA, safety railings could prevent every villain origin story as well as Robin's general dumbassery. If you've come for the ice puns, billionaires in space, and ALL THE LEATHER, then you've come to the right place. Throw on those Bat butts and Bat nips and join us! 

"I want to be thirty, flirty, and thriving." But at what cost??? Find out as James and Nicole discuss 2004's 13 Going on 30!

Ain't no rule says a dog can't play basketball!

On this episode of What A Movie: A Nostalgia-Infused Podcast, James and Nicole are joined by Ian Geers and Lauren Grace Thompson of Not Another Film Podcast! We discuss the classic 1997 boy-and-his-dog sports movie: Air Bud!

How much tapioca pudding is too much tapioca pudding? What role did Big Napkin have in the making of this movie? Why are dogs SO GOOD?! Listen along to find out!

Content warning for discussion of abuse as depicted in Air Bud.

For today's episode of What A Movie, join James and Nicole as they venture into the rugged frontier of 1800s California and examine 1998's The Mask of Zorro! They discuss, among other things: land grabs; how no one has game when they're fourteen years old; "the Youtubes"; and parallel universes involving the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Roll back the rock! To the dawn of time! Or to the Middle Future?

On this episode of What A Movie, Nicole and James try to wrap their heads around the fever dream that is We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story. Join them as they discuss, among other things: the moral implications of feeding mind-altering substances to living beings without their consent; the parallels of this movie to the Billy Joel hit "Uptown Girl"; and how the ongoing war between God and Satan is exemplified through the mind of one John Patrick Shanley. No we're not kidding.

There are no cats in America...?

Find out as Nicole and James revisit what may hold the crown for saddest of all animated films, An American Tail. Among other things, they discuss disillusionment with the American dream, missed opportunities in the film Gangs of New York, and the American Tail/Game of Thrones crossover that literally no one asked for.

Price check on prune juice! Price check on prune juice!

James and Nicole are joined this week by Lex Agolsove of The Peony Podcast to revisit her nostalgic pick, Fern Gully: The Last Rainforest! Listen along as we riff, laugh, and maybe cry about this unfortunately still-relevant, nearly 30-year-old movie.

What is What A Movie? This trailer will (maybe, hopefully) tell you all about it!

Watch out for that tree! Join James and Nicole on their expedition to revisit 1997's George of the Jungle! What makes a good live-action cartoon adaptation? Why is there an Asian elephant in the middle of an African jungle? Why is everyone SO thirsty? (Spoiler alert: it's Brendan Fraser's washboard abs and complete rejection of toxic masculinity).

Grab a vine and swing into this adventure with us!

We're homeward bound...again! This week, James and Nicole revisit the dynamic trio of Shadow, Chance, and Sassy as they try to find their way home for the second time, and make things even worse for Bob than in the original. Join us for the riveting discussion of Homeward Bound 2: Lost in San Francisco!

Join James and Nicole as they travel to France to experience the non-stop joke fest (and occasional knife to the heart) that is Rugrats in Paris. They also learn that they should never trust pointy ladies. And that anything can be food if you're really determined.

And we're back, folks! On today's episode of What A Movie, Nicole and James revisit the 1994 live-action/animated hybrid The Pagemaster. Join them as they dive headfirst into a Jekyll and Hyde rabbit hole, revel in yet another Jim Cummings sighting, and collectively agree that Horror is a precious baby angel who must be protected at all costs.

SPACE! The final frontier. Wait - wrong franchise. Join Nicole and James as they revisit the movie that killed Fox Animation Studios: Titan A.E.

Join James and Nicole as they venture down The Road to El Dorado for all the rogues, laughs, evangelicals, and raunchiness that a PG-rated Dreamworks film can offer.

To quote Frank Sinatra: "Regrets, I've had a few."

Or more than a few. Namely, the hour and forty-five minutes spent watching this movie. Join Nicole and James this week as they revisit the unmitigated disaster that is Wild Wild West.

Gotta catch'em all! Or...not.

On this week's episode of What A Movie, join James and Nicole as they revisit the wonderful(?) world of the Pokémon franchise with Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back.

Home is where the heart is, except for Shadow who won't be satisfied till the Peters come home.

In this week's episode, Nicole and James dive into "Homeward Bound" with our four-legged friends as they brave wild animals, waterfalls, incompetent humans, and the worst enemy of all...a ditch.