Media Ghouls

WELCOME TO EPISODE 250! What an amazing milestone for the Media Ghouls crew! To celebrate this huge achievement, the gang plays a game filled with video game, movie, and Disney Parks trivia before discussing what the amazing future of this podcast has in store!

Justin and Ian are back this week for some catching up in this episode of Media Ghouls. The guys start things off by sharing their thoughts on the latest releases from both the Jurassic Park and Star Wars series. While thoughts are mixed, the Ghouls do their best to give a fair assessment of the state of these legacy franchises. After that, they discuss one of the most well regarded video game franchises of all time: The Legend of Zelda. Thoughts and emotions run high when it comes to the many games released since 1986. While Justin and Ian may not agree on certain titles, just about every game is given its due here in this long awaited top 5.

This week the Ghouls are back with their retrospective on Disney's Tangled! After multiple missteps with CG animation, Disney finally found their groove with this 2010 release. Taking just enough from classic Disney princesses and the modern sensibilities that Shrek popularized, Tangled and its memorable cast have become an enduring favorite. Despite this, Ian has never seen it before. What's worse is Nando has somehow forgotten that he first saw this film with his wife. Emelynn wastes no time reminding him and much hilarity ensues.

The Ghouls return this week with their newest Disney episode covering the lauded Toy Story 3. After over a decade since the second film's release, anticipation was high for Pixar's return to their much-beloved original franchise. Many of the kids who were there for the original film were now adults, and the team at Pixar used this fact to make one of their most emotionally resonant films. In this episode, the Ghouls discuss some Andy theories, Ian spends some time dissing the choices of Toy Story 4, and Nando and Justin engage in a taco debate for the ages.

With Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness fast approaching, the Ghouls take this opportunity to explore another one of Sam Raimi's theatrical outings in their review of Drag Me To Hell. This horror film with Raimi's trademark humor follows Christine after she is cursed to be tormented by a demon for three days before her death. Christine is unlike many horror protagonists in that it is debatable whether or not she should get what's coming to her. Ian and Justin discuss the multiple offenses she commits over the film, many of them subtle, that hint at what Raimi was trying to say with this character. The boys also discuss the role of CGI in horror films as the once practical effects-exclusive Raimi embraces digitally enhanced scares.

In 2009, Walt Disney Animation Studios returned to 2D animation with The Princess and the Frog. All of the Ghouls welcomed this return to form after the likes of Chicken Little and Bolt had dampened their enthusiasm for Disney's releases. Does this tale of magical transformations and budding romance hold up after all of these years or were all of us '90s kids just nostalgic for the Disney style of our youth? Justin, Ian, Nando, and Emelynn all lean toward the positive but there are plenty of missteps to explore as Disney attempts to, once again, explore diversity.

It's that time of year again! Put on some green, pour up a bowl of Lucky Charms, and tune in to our review of Leprechaun in the Hood! It has been a long journey to get here from Warwick Davis and Jennifer Aniston's humble start to the series. Along the way, we've seen a leprechaun take on Vegas and kill assholes in outer space. Most series are creatively bankrupt when they finally cash in the space card. Leprechaun, however, pulled off a miracle when they took things back to the 'hood. This infamous film starring Ice-T is an anomaly. What seems to be a straightforward drama about three friends trying to make it in the rap industry becomes a harrowingly hilarious misadventure as the Leprechaun returns to ruin everyone's lives. This one, simply put, has to be seen to be believed.

Break out the tissues because the era of emotional Pixar films truly begins this week in our review of Up! Movies rarely focus on the elderly as the protagonists, family films even less so, but Pixar took a lot of risks when making this classic. Focusing on themes of loss, grief, and adventure, Up remains one of the most unique and tear jerking films in Disney/Pixar's catalog. Despite the heavier themes, the film has a hilarious supporting cast and stunning animation. Join us as Justin and Emelynn work through their memories of watching this one for the first time. Ian also takes the time to explain a key similarity between this movie and Disney's Angels in the Outfield.

Another year, another whole bunch of stuff we enjoyed. This is the 2021 Media Ghouls Awards show! Join Ian and Justin as they discuss what they did (and didn't) watch in movies and television, animated or otherwise. 2021 ended up being a catch up year as everything we should have got in 2020 and more was released. Ian uses this as an excuse to explain why he's so far behind on pretty much everything. Once the duo wrap up the film and television awards, they go over their top video games of the year. So kick back and hang out with us as we say "smell ya later" to 2021!

It's a full squad on this month's Disney episode as Justin, Ian, Emelynn, and Jared take on the oft-forgotten Disney film Bolt. What is supposed to be a review of the John Travolta dog movie quickly devolves into a discussion on what is the worst Disney film in the catalog. Quite a few recently reviewed movies are brought up before someone says "Pocahontas" to Ian. Justin discusses the most recent Miley Cyrus news and Jared dares to defend the pigeons of Bolt.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Media Ghouls. The whole gang's here to celebrate together! In this special episode, Ian, Nando, Emelynn, Phil, and Jared compete in a holiday-themed round of Jeopardy shenanigans for your listening pleasure. Justin does his best Trebek impersonation as our ever-patient host. Ridiculous answers and controversial calls abound as the squad brings you a fun-filled holiday episode!

It's another episode from the Patreon archive this week as the Ghouls re-review Disney's musical classic Fantasia! Ian, Justin, Emelynn, and Jared are pretty excited to take a deeper look at the music and animation of Walt's early passion project. Emelynn brings her expertise this time around as we attempt to right the wrong of having our most musically educated member absent from the original review. Join us as we go over our favorite and least favorite pieces and let us know which are yours!

The holiday season is upon us this week as the Ghouls take a look at one of the few great Thanksgiving classics. Based on a real life experience, Planes, Trains and Automobiles chronicles the desperate journey of two men trying to make it home for Thanksgiving dinner. John Hughes writes and directs the legendary Steve Martin and John Candy in one of the best comedies of the '80s. With well-aged humor, a performance that is equal parts hilarious and dramatic from the late Candy, and an ending that still tugs at our heartstrings, this is one holiday classic that is always worthy of a watch.

Having survived the October festivities, the Ghouls return to the comfort of Pixar this week with their review of WALL-E. This modern classic is remembered for its creativity and lovable robotic leads. However, Justin is still not a fan of the film's story shift half way through. Emelynn and Ian are a bit mixed on it but see the thematic purpose as important to the story the team was trying to tell. After exploring the film's many references to science fiction classics, Justin asks the question you've all been waiting for: should WALL-E be canceled?

Somehow the 2021 Halloween Spooktacular is already coming to an end. Justin and Ian have had a great time reviewing some of horror's best remakes this season, and are excited to end things in the most bloody fashion possible. And few movies are bloodier than 2013's Evil Dead remake. With a more allegorical take on the classic cabin in the woods story, Fede Alvarez's film impresses in how it balances the series' gory horror and tongue in cheek tone, a feat previously thought only possible in the hands of Sam Raimi. With a different take on the lore, characters that are actually decent human beings, and a final scene among the very best in horror, this remake is the perfect subject with which to send off this Halloween.

It's almost Halloween and what Spooktacular season would be complete without a good vampire story? This week, the Ghouls take a look at Let Me In. While the Swedish original, Let the Right One In, was critically acclaimed, many thought the American remake was too derivative. Ian and Justin both disagree and find the differences to be very interesting. This one was made only two years after the original so we spend more time directly comparing the films then with our earlier reviews this season. Theme and character motivations take center stage as we try to figure out whether or not Abby is a force of pure evil.

We are staying in the '80s this week as we take a look at another horror remake for the 2021 Halloween Spooktacular! This time, we review the Frank Darabont-penned remake of The Blob. Ian is shocked to find out Darabont wrote this film six years before he would write and direct The Shawshank Redemption. Despite that pedigree, Ian found this one to be a little lacking in some areas. Justin, on the other hand, loves this film for its incredible practical effects and its absolute craziness when compared to the 1958 original. Join us as we take a look at one of the most overlooked horror remakes!

This week things get gross as the 2021 Halloween Spooktacular continues with the 1986 remake of The Fly! Jeff Goldblum delivers a memorable performance in one of his most famous roles as a scientist who starts transforming into something inhuman after an experiment goes wrong. Ian couldn't finish this movie as a child while Justin has loved it for most of his life. Having conquered the film for this review, Ian has a lot to say about its dour tone and whether or not Brundle deserves our empathy. Justin's take is far more sympathetic as the Ghouls explore their different interpretations as well as the various allegorical takes on the story.

The 2021 Halloween Spooktacular has begun! This year the Ghouls are taking a look at some of the best Horror Remakes. First up is the 1978 remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. By setting the film in San Francisco and taking a different approach to its lead characters, this film manages to be an eerie sci-fi horror classic with nearly no violence or bloodshed. Join us as Ian and Justin discuss the subtleties of the film's cinematography, horrific special effects, and its incredible final scene. We also venture into some Jeff Goldblum theory crafting and tie everything back to Star Wars, as always.

This week the Ghouls take a detour from the traditional Disney reviews to cover the animated to live-action hybrid film, Enchanted. This movie was Disney's attempt to poke fun at their own fairy tale films and bring them into the real world. What happens when a Disney princess meets a New York divorce lawyer? Well, they fall in love of course. Ian is far less enthused about this one than Justin and Nando who both enjoy the music by Alan Menken. What isn't debatable is the unexpected return of Disney racism in its unfortunately live-action form. With many ups and down, is this Disney self-parody still worth a watch?

This week the Ghouls take another dive into Ian's childhood trauma with their review of the Stephen King and George A. Romero horror anthology film, Creepshow. Ian's stepdad introduced him to this when Ian's intense fear of corpses was at its peak. As you can imagine, he didn't quite make it through to the end of the movie. Now in his 30s, Ian should be able to watch this kind of goofy set of horror short stories, right? At Justin's behest, the duo will see if this precursor to more famous anthology movies and series holds up as well as discuss whether the horror comic theming works in the film medium.

This month's Disney review is a long-awaited and much anticipated one. Why? Not because Ratatouille is unquestionably the best Pixar animated film. No, we are excited because this is Phil's favorite FILM of all time. The meme comes to fruition as Phil guests alongside Justin, Ian, and Nando for a deep dive into Remy the rat's culinary career. With a unique premise, interesting characters, and captivating animation and lighting, Ratatouille is a nice bounce back from the mixed reception of Cars. Is Phil alone in loving this movie though? Can the Ghouls resident "Little Chef" Nando attest to the film's accuracy or does it misrepresent the world of cooking?

Mr. Voorhees is back and deadlier than ever in this week's review of Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives! After a lackluster entry that tried to shift the slasher series away from its hockey masked villain, Jason Lives resurrects the titular murderer Frankenstein style! Ian is initially impressed with the more campy direction, but it isn't long before the film falls back into its well-worn routine of camp counselors in peril. Even with Jason back in the mix and a returning Tommy Jarvis, this sequel can't quite find its rhythm and the Ghouls are here to try and figure out why.

The Disney slump continues...or does it? Meet the Robinsons seems to be a somewhat divisive animated film. While certainly not as bad as Disney's first attempt at a cg feature, Meet the Robinsons seven writers can't quite shape the film into anything resembling a "classic." Instead, it feels much more like a c-grade Dreamworks movie. The Ghouls do their best to analyze the film's hazy time travel rules with Fernando returning to the mic! More exciting is his review of Avengers Campus at Disney's California Adventure. Is Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure worth the hassle? Is it too scary for young children? Nando brings his full report!

In this episode, the guys sit through one of the worst remakes they have ever seen: Rob Zombie's Halloween. From the redneck family replacement to the confusing decision to over explain Michael's obsession with masks, nothing in this remake quite clicks into place. Is it faithful to the original? Nope. Does it understand what made that film work? Not so much. Can two fantastic actors save this script? Also unfortunately not

The Ghouls are turning up the nostalgia this 4th of July with their review of The Sandlot! Justin has no history with this '90s cult classic. Ian, on the other hand, grew up loving this movie and has a lot to say about the more subtle references to both baseball and the way we remember our childhood. A heated debate ensues when Justin claims to hate most of the movie's characters. Somehow the conversation turns into a criticism of the streaming model with the recent news of a Sandlot revival on Disney+. Justin has trouble identifying actors to hilarious results.

The Media Ghouls horror pick of the month might be light on the horror, but it's horror lineage stretches back to the classic era of Universal's monsters. This surprisingly effective reboot of the Boris Karloff-led original is remembered fondly by all who grew up in the '90s, but does it actually hold up? Ian and Justin share their opinions and hot takes as they rekindle their appreciation for a bygone era of blockbuster filmmaking. As always, a tangential argument or two takes place, this time centering on how many minutes of dinosaurs are actually in Jurassic Park. Place your bets!

After years of jokes and dreading the inevitable viewing, the Ghouls are here with their review of Pixar's Cars! Justin is so excited that he drove up to the Bay Area with his newborn son just to record with the rest of the squad! Emelynn drops a bomb early on regarding her secret love of Lightning and friends. As a newbie to Pixar's second biggest franchise, will Ian absolutely hate the first of the trilogy or be surprised by its quality? The answer may surprise you.

The Ghouls return to horror this episode with their review of Yeon Sang-ho's Train to Busan. This 2016 zombie film takes notes from the classics while adding new and compelling elements to the well-worn subgenre. With memorable characters you actually want to see survive, a hateable antagonist, and a strong emotional core, Train to Busan shows that zombie horror can be so much more than its associated stereotypes. Despite this, will Ian find enough to enjoy or will his critical eye find something that tears the movie down?

The downward spiral for Walt Disney Animation Studios continues with their very first cg-animated feature, Chicken Little. The Ghouls are mortified to find that this uninspired, trend-chasing, and mean-spirited children's film was actually produced by Disney. With a completely unfocused plot, characters that encourage bullying, and animation that looks worse than Pixar's first film released 10 years prior, does Chicken Little have anything to like? Ian certainly found something and he can't wait to talk about it.

Ian, Justin, and Phil are proud to present the Media Ghouls Retrospective on Rare and Nintendo's Donkey Kong Country Trilogy. It's no secret that these are some of the defining games of our childhood, with a lot '90s nostalgia baked in. However, our job here is to look back within the context of today to discover if these classic games truly do hold up. With insight into the incredible amount of work it took to produce the graphical magic trick of the games' presentation and in depth discussions on level design and the music of each title, we do our best to leave no stone unturned and bring you the most comprehensive look at some of the best video games of the Super Nintendo era.

For the first time in what seems like a long time, Ian and Justin take a look at a recent release with their review of 2018's A Quiet Place. John Krasinski's directorial breakthrough is a unique horror film with excellent pacing and brilliant sound design. However, despite critical acclaim and commercial success, Justin somehow missed out on this film at release. Did he like it or will he go all Stardust on it as Justin sometimes does with movies most people enjoy? You'll have to listen to find out!

The Pixar Renaissance continues as the Media Ghouls gladly review The Incredibles! It's no secret that this is a fantastic film, but with all of the Ghouls now well into adulthood, how does an older perspective affect their view of the movie? It's definitely different now that marriage and raising children is a part of our lives. Approaching these subjects in a mature way is what makes Brad Bird's first Pixar film truly great for audiences of all ages. That and it's just an overall awesome take on a superhero universe. Check out this episode for all of this and more with your favorite podcast crew!

The first of our previously Patreon exclusive episodes is now available for your listening pleasure! This one was part of the 2019 Halloween Spooktacular spotlighting the Frankenstein films! In this episode, we take a look at Kenneth Branagh's Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. This film is infamous but the Ghouls find plenty to enjoy about it. The pacing and editing was not one of those things. The film is unintentionally hilarious...we think? There's a mishmash of poor filmmaking and impressive acting here making for a truly peculiar adaptation of horror's most famous monster. Let us know what you think about this film that history is currently trying to forget!

In the 4th annual St. Patrick’s Day special, Ian and Justin are transported to a galaxy (presumably) far, far away. In this distant place we find an alien princess...and a leprechaun. That’s right, Warwick Davis is back for Leprechaun 4: In Space. This very cheap Aliens ripoff is, unsurprisingly, a mess, but how does it rate on the Leprechaun scale? Grab a beer and celebrate this holiday the right way with our review!

It's time to review the modern Disney film that nobody remembers. That's right, the one with the cows. Home on the Range is an enigma for the Media Ghouls and probably for many of you. What could this oft-forgotten story of Roseanne Cow and Judi Dench Cow have in store for Disney fans? According to the Ghouls, not much to get excited about. Despite music by Alan Menken and some occasionally funny jokes, Home on the Range looks and sounds more like a c-grade studio animated film than a Disney production. Join us as we explore all of the reasons why.

Better late than never! Much like this year's Golden Globes, the annual Media Ghouls Awards show is a bit behind schedule, but Ian and Justin have much to talk about! The state of television and movies in 2020 was tumultuous at best with many of the years biggest draws being delayed indefinitely. The Ghouls struggled to find series and films they actually enjoyed in 2020, but their choices are (mostly) illustrious nevertheless. Video games, on the other hand, had a fantastic year and the boys spend the latter half of the episode recapping their top 5 games of the year.

The Ghouls return to Disney this week with their review of Brother Bear. Justin, Ian, and Emelynn aren't sure what to say about this animated film. Things get bizarre when Justin points out how much Michael Eisner intended this to be "the next Lion King." It definitely isn't. With baffling choices, a paper thin plot, and forgettable characters, it's understandable how this film is largely forgotten. Ian experiences Bongo PTSD and Emelynn struggles to recall a single note from Mr. Collins's triumphant return.

The Gamer Ghouls are back for another Final Fantasy retrospective. This time, Ian, Justin, Nando, and Phil join Tidus on HIS journey through the mystical world of Spira in Final Fantasy X. At the time, this game was one of the most anticipated and well received rpgs ever made. Two decades later, the cracks are definitely beginning to show. Join us as we discuss the characters, plot, development, music, and systems that make up this acclaimed entry in the series. Some of our opinions (Justin's) may surprise you...

It's the first horror week of 2021 on Media Ghouls! Ian and Justin are excited to kick off this year's frights with a review of the horror comedy, The Cabin in the Woods. This satirical look at horror tropes and the people who enjoy them has a lot of great ideas, but Ian doesn't find them as effective as they were in 2011. Justin does his best to defend the film before the Ghouls gush over the utter madness of the film's final act and try to identify as many horror references as they can.

Justin, Ian, and Nando return to a Pixar classic in this review of Finding Nemo! This fan favorite has a lot to love, but Ian still finds something to complain about that you might not have noticed in your youth. Nando explains how fatherhood has given him a new perspective on Marlin's journey. A Turtle Talk with Crush story goes awry when the truth behind the encounter is revealed.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Ian and Justin are making the most of this season by taking a look at some Christmas-related films, and this week they review one of the all-time greats, It's a Wonderful Life! Justin immediately takes offense at this movie being labeled a Christmas film, but thankfully still enjoyed it. The Ghouls round out the year by discussing the many small moments that contribute to one of Ian's favorite final acts. The obscure and presumably terrible remakes and spinoffs are also mentioned, many of which we had trouble believing actually exist.

The 2020 Christmas spirit continues to thrive in this week's bright and colorful review of the 1974 slasher, Black Christmas! Everyone is in a merry mood at the sorority house when one of the sisters mysteriously disappears. Once her father gets the police involved, it becomes clear that the prank calls the girls have been receiving may be more sinister than they could have imagined. Ian and Justin had a blast wrapping presents to this all time classic. We hope you will watch the film and listen in as we amplify the holiday cheer with our in depth review!

In the first of a trio of Christmas movie reviews, Ian and Justin take on the horror comedy classic, Gremlins! This twisted story about little monsters that terrorize a small town has a ton of history behind it with many unexpected cameos and references to classic movies. It also has an exploding head and grotesque imagery far too scary for a young Ian. Strangely enough, the film is also utterly hilarious. This dichotomy made Gremlins a unique smash hit back in the day even if some parents had to escort their crying children out of the theater. Listen in and find out if the Ghouls think this one holds up!

It's time to talk about another one of Disney's great failures this week on Media Ghouls. The incredibly expensive Treasure Planet is our topic this episode as we take a rare look at a Disney film none of us have seen! Nando tries (and fails) to not bring up Muppet Treasure Island multiple times. Justin reveals his infatuation with cat ladies. Ian attempts to figure out if setting this story IN SPACE actually adds anything. Collectively, the Ghouls discover what may be one of the absolute worst Disney characters to ever appear in one of their animated movies.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody! Justin is taking this opportunity to ruin Ian's and possibly your holiday by making him watch one of the most unabashedly terrible movies ever made, Thankskilling. This "film" starring a demonic turkey hellbent on murdering college students is one of the lowest budget and egregiously bad pieces of cinema ever recorded. And Justin never stops quoting it! Strap in for a wild ride as the Ghouls try to squeeze some humor and merit out of a movie so incredibly tasteless, it makes three JonBenet Ramsey jokes in the span of an hour.

The Ghouls take a look at another anime classic this week in their review of 1995's Ghost in the Shell. Combining new technology with traditional animation, Ghost in the Shell was a daring and innovative anime when it was released. Much like the classic science fiction films that inspired it, it didn't achieve immediate financial success. However, the film speaks for itself and gives its audience a glimpse into the potential future of human existence. Ian and Justin spend more time pondering the forgotten "special interest" section in '90s and early '00s video stores than they do on the film's philosophical message. They do find time to analyze the film's gratuitous interest in human anatomy. You know what we mean.

Is there a chill running up your spine? Does something feel not quite "right" today? Maybe you feel like you're being watched? Well that's appropriate because it's Friday the 13th once again and that means a new Friday the 13th movie review from your favorite Ghouls. This time Ian and Justin take a look at Friday the 13th: A New Beginning, a '80s version of a soft reboot. While still a sequel, Friday 5 tries to make some interesting choices with its story and lore but ends up being more of the same nevertheless. At least this one has enchiladas!

It's Disney week on this episode of Media Ghouls and we are back with one of the best of it's era, Lilo and Stitch! With a more heartfelt story, brilliant character design, and a whole lot of Elvis, there's a lot to love about Lilo and Stitch. It isn't a perfect film though and Ian wastes no time voicing his opinion on the film's final act. Emelynn gives a hula lesson and explains the movie's approach to the traditional dance. Justin lets loose with his love for the infamous Disney World attraction that Stitch famously replaced.

Happy Halloween! It is with great sadness that this episode marks the end of the 2020 Media Ghouls Halloween Spooktacular. Fittingly, our exploration of the Decades of Horror is cut off by the 2004 film, Saw. Having spawned countless imitators and an overwhelming number of sequels, the original Saw remains a modest horror film made by first time director James Wan and his writing partner Leigh Whannell. Justin and Ian explore what made this concept so unique at the time as well as the individual pieces that obscure one of the greatest plot twists in horror history!

The 2020 Media Ghouls Halloween Spooktacular enters the '90s this week as the guys review Wes Craven's Scream! Nearly 25 years after the film's release, does it's "fresh" take on slasher films hold up? Both Ian and Justin think so as they explore the major shake ups this meta film brought to the horror genre and the film industry as a whole. Oddly enough this film has connections to almost every other film we've reviewed for this year's Spooktacular. Could it be a coincidence or is something more Sinister at play...