Unboxing Story

Nerds were not always cool, but after Weird Al won us over with pop parody hit after hit, a shift began. Who are our favorite nerdy musicians, and are they "nerdcore" or nah? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

The last days of winter simmered with suspense. We met the new Invisible Man, witnessed Rian Johnson's whodunnit, Knives Out, and shadowed two unusual sci-fi suspects: Devs and Alter Carbon (season 3.) Join authors Jon and Melissa Matos as they recount what stories kept them on the edge of their seat, and what palette cleansers helped cut the tension. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

We're back from a strange and exciting Evil Expo to talk multi-genre movies and TV. How does the Star Trek spin-off 'Picard' compare to the OG series or the new reboot? Also, does the Korean dark comedy 'Parasite' live up to the hype? What are you waiting for?? Find out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

The cognitive bias is strong with these two! Much ado preceded the new Star Wars and Little Women, but did they live up to the hype? A new decade begins with some old stories ending and new binges beginning. Start the new year with some thoughts on story! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

Melissa and Jon take a quick break from binging the Mandolorian, Gargoyles and Tailspin to review Frozen 2. Is baby Yoda the best magic companion? Is Elsa skating around a personality disorder? Find out here first! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

Leave your proton pack at the AA meeting? Your soul sister will help you cope AND catch ghosts! Join Melissa and Jon, author siblings and spiritual speculators, as they review the Shining sequel. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

Sirens aren't only the only allusions in cop dramas. Join authors Jon and Melissa Matos as they investigate mysteries with a flare for the supernatural. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

Put on your Mickey ears and grab your pumpkin pail: it's time for a Disney/Halloween movie mash-up! Fresh off a Disney Cruise voyage, Melissa and Jon discuss three scary sequels: Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, Toy Story 4 and Zombieland 2. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

On the heels of a Breaking Bad / Better Call Saul binge, El Camino drops on Netflix. Muscle cars and cat-and-mouse mischief? Sounds like a formula for fun. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

Pieces of this talk include: a mystery novel that feels like a puzzle, a brief discussion of how good theology can help fantasy writing, and what we're excited about in sci-fi and fantasy coming soon. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter @Unboxing Story! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

We packed in the feature presentations for this freestyle episode. Relax and enjoy our chat on Downtown Abbey (2019), Ad Astra, and the noir throwback, Sunset Boulevard. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

Combine Zootopia and Sing! and you've got the 90s animated feature film Cats Don't Dance. Produced during the Disney Renaissance, Warner Bros wrote a love letter to old Hollywood while maintaining their brand of slapstick comedy. Join Melissa and Jonathan Matos as they discuss this forgotten gem and examine what makes it great. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

Provincial wisdom says roses from a street corner vendor aren't anything special, but the charming romantic drama 'Once' is anything but provincial. Discover the story of Guy and Girl, a vacuum repairman and flower girl who dream of making music. Melissa and Jon Matos take a break from humming the film's many soulful songs to discuss its blend of poetry and slice-of-life drama. Join Jon on January 24th - 26th for Evil Expo: The Convention for Villains! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or leave us a message on our homepage. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

Practical magic is tough in the age of visual effects. The Jim Henson Company recreates the world of Thra and make it look easy. Join Jon and Melissa Matos as they heap praise on one of their favorite studios, stories, and special effects. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

File this one under "current affairs." Not only did Melissa get a sweetheart novelette published, but she got donors to raise some $ for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. To celebrate these double convictions, your Boy & Gal Fridays eschew a topic for a chat about a dark but thrilling novel, Netflix's Another Life, and more. Pre-order the first Iron Sorcerer novelette! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. You can also leave us a message here, a rating here or write to us at unboxingstory(at)gmail.com. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

The race to replace 'Game of Thrones' is underway, but after that ending, is sword and sorcery dead? Nearly a year after MTV cancelled Shannara Chronicles, Melissa and Jon Matos ask why it failed. Can new writers recapture the magic of the 80's fantasy renaissance, or is nostalgia killing originality? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

Fairytale retellings are here, and they're bad (but, like: Michael Jackson bad.) Huntsman: Winter's War builds on Universal Studio's expanded universe of evil queens by introducing Freya, a snow queen out to stifle all love. It's bad news for the two "Huntsmen" at the story's center, forcing these two orphans to rediscover their romance in the face of certain death. Melissa Matos of Momtoast.com opens the first full episode of "Siren Song," a series that will explore strong female characters and songwriters, by taking on the "Evil Queen," and how she has inspired songs like "You Should See Me in a Crown" by Billie Eilish and "Castle" by Halsey. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

If storming Area 51 sounds like a stupid idea now, in 2019, it'll seem bonkers after you see 'The Signal.' The film follows Nic, a track and field star who suffers a dire diagnosis, then gets abducted by aliens. Jon and Melissa Matos review this break in the "mystery box" formula, and highlight some horror / sci-fi classics. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

Good books make you feel things, but what if that's all they do? Melissa and Jon review a local author's book, Good Grief, and discuss how it achieves a high level of intimacy and honesty without becoming melodramatic. Can a novel survive without ninjas and 80's nostalgia, even if its protagonist grew up with similar pop culture touchstones? Find out inside... --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

The magic of Disney animation is part of our DNA, so when it changes, has Disney changed or have we? Melissa and Jon recorded this special, nostalgia-filled episode at the 7th Annual Philly Podfest, thanks to the sponsors below and the lovely people at Indy Hall. Relive VHS tapes and discuss live-action Disney on our Twitter or Facebook, or leave us a voicemail. We'd love hear from you! The 7th Annual Philly Podfest was sponsored by: New Media Touring Tattooed Mom Indy Hall The National Liberty Museum Obie Media Click/Save Photography/Design Philly Podcast Studio T-House Screen Printing --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

When I was a young boy, My Chemical Romance were the heartthrobs of the emo era. Looking back, their creativity set them apart, as frontman Gerard Way crafted concept albums, music videos and comics. Jon and Melissa discuss the band's biggest hit and Gerard Way's Netflix-adapted series, Umbrella Academy. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

Melissa returns from the live-action mega-game "Dragon Thrones," (played at an actual castle in Bryn Mawr, PA,) to give us her first impressions. The "LARPing" talk continues as Jon talks about his reading of Stranger Things as a millennial and role-playing newbie. Join us for Pancakes & Podcasts, including our live recording of Disney Deconstructed ft. Lion King (2019) on Saturday, June 20th at Indy Hall in the Colonial Penn building. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

Authors Jon and Melissa Matos spotlight a show SciFi.com described as "part X-Files, part [Indiana Jones,] part Moonlighting." Melissa loves this action comedy that balances thrills with believable romance and character growth. Listen as we gush about our favorite tributes to history, mythology, and genre inside this new sci-fi / fantasy classic series. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

Aliens. Time travel. Portals into another world. These are mainstays of science fiction, and can make or break an audience's viewing experience. Ted Chiang crafted a short story that quietly broke the mold, and would later inspire a cerebral blockbuster by director Denis Villeneuve and screenwriter Eric Heisserer: 2016's Arrival. Authors Jon and Melissa Matos praise Chiang's mastery of world-building, organic storytelling, and how "Story of Your Life" uses theoretical physics to explain human connections. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

As X-Men films gaze further and further into their fuzzy blue navels, the original comics remain cult classics. Does Jean Grey's original rise to power in the Dark Phoenix Saga surpass the recent film and comics, or is it a hot mess? Relive a legendary X-Men run with authors Jon and Melissa Matos, as well as "Sound of Silence" by way of Disturbed, multiplied by Melissa's Phoenix-infused lyrics in our first Siren Song segment. Enjoy this action-packed episode, recorded live at Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con 2019! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

Mon-Stars were around long before Space Jam. Giant blobs and fifty foot women towered above the audience in glorious 35 millimeter monochrome, but in 1956, the king of the monsters was anointed. Godzilla was born, and now he's back, but do authors Jon and Melissa Matos care about the kaiju renaissance? And why do some beasts bore us, while others break the mold? Check out Games My Mom Found! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

Jon and Melissa Matos discuss J.R.R. Tolkien's defense of fairytales. Decades before D&D and Game of Thrones, the fantasy genre was limited to children's books and ancient history. In the last episode of INKLINGS MONTH, join our discussion on modern mythology. What is your favorite fantasy story? Hit us up @UnboxingStory with your picks! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

The classics captured Lewis and Matt Crotts much in the same way. Host Jon Matos met Matt, an illustrious illustrator, through his comic book, Kyrie: an Indiana Jones-style adventure set in the 3rd century. Hear the comic creator and history buff baffle Jon with his know-how of Lewis' medieval imagery and iconography. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

Lewis was a man of many words, but only one woman made him speechless. Learn the love story that tested Lewis' "refining fire & brimstone" theology. Melissa and Jon Matos react to another tragic romance, and review how actors Debra Winger and Anthony Hopkins, (with a little help from Richard Attenborough,) honored the broken beauty of this late love story. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

How do you solve a problem like Tolkien? The young poet and artist grew up an isolated orphan, but longed to share his love of language with the world. Melissa and Jon Matos review Tolkien (2019), a biopic about love, fellowship and the fantasy that makes reality more meaningful. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

Seventy years ago, if you walked into the right bar in Oxford, England, you might have heard J.R.R. Tolkien reading an epic poem, about dwarves searching for lost gold, a love beset by evil times, or a great Ring of Power that conquers men's hearts. Maybe you'd scoff at it, and join the likes of C.S. Lewis in yelling out "nay," if just for a laugh. You have joined a meeting of the Inklings, a group that included Lewis, and other writers, like Owen Barfield, J. A. W. Bennett, and more. Tolkien stands out as a titan in the group: a writer whose created stories within stories, languages and cultures, and brought history to life through age-old symbols, creatures, and epic poetry. INKLINGS MONTH is our celebration of this historic writing group, and the legends they created that would influence a generation of readers, writers, and storytellers in every medium. Tell us your favorite Tolkien tome, tale, or trope on Facebook or Twitter! Inklings Month is about connecting with fans like you. And don't forget to join as on Melissa's YouTube channel, Momtoast, for our discussion of "On Fairy Stories." --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

The sun sets on a decade of dynamite entertainment, with the definition of blockbuster bliss. Melissa and Jon revisit the start of their superhero fandoms and review the latest chapter in the Marvel saga, Avengers: Endgame. Maybe you'll laugh, maybe you'll cry, or maybe you'll roll your eyes: but you will feel something. Commemorate this moment with us by sharing your thoughts with us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/unboxingstory) or Facebook (http://facebook.com/unboxingstory) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

If brownface could kill, would it murder your movie-watching experience? Melissa and Jon stumble upon a problematic piece of history watching 'Lawrence of Arabia.' The overlong epic's 3 hour and 45 minute run-time led them to read Ray Bradbury's short story, "Sun and Shadow," and opened a broader discussion of the pitfalls and pathos of writing fish out of water fiction. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

Does injustice end with one hand-out? Richard Wright questions "pay-it-forward" morality through his novel, 'Native Son,' where an awkward racial encounter turns deadly, virtually setting Chicago on fire. Jon and Melissa struggle through a story even more dense and depressing than their previous entrées into Greek tragedy and the southern Gothic. What they find are harsh truthes, baked into a well-written but bleak look at class, sex, and race in the 1930's. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

"You are about to enter another dimension, not only of sight and sound, but of mind." So began the most iconic sci-fi anthology series in history: 156 episodes over 5 years, and everyone has a favorite. Melissa and Jon reflect on the show's history, as well as the recent reboot's pilot episode, "The Comedian." What ensues is more Jordan Peele fangirling, some Kumail Nanjiani love, and a tribute to the small screen sci-fi of yesteryear. Reach out to us on Facebook or Twitter, and log onto Momtoast.com for more sci-fi / fantasy stories. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

"A new nightmare" from screenwriter, director, and comedy giant Jordan Peele invites uncomfortable laughter and thoughtful thrills. Jon and Melissa offer (non-spoiler) thoughts on the how Jordan's sophomore movie fits into the horror genre, and what they expected going into 'Us.' But beware, all ye who listen past the mid-roll ads: your co-hosts spend the back-end of the podcast diving into the lore of this socially-conscious thriller, as well as their favorite sequences, scenes, and spooky extended metaphors. Thou hast been warned. Check out Momtoast.com for more female warriors, or get Jon's creepy 90's nostalgia novel. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

Chivalry lives on in Knightfall, a series set in the twilight of the Knights Templar. These warrior monks seek to find and protect the Holy Grail, as powerful individuals seek to use or abuse it. Melissa and Jon praise this high watermark in holy war historical dramas, for its set pieces, costuming, and organic inclusion. Also, are period pieces too grimdark for their own good? Let us know your thoughts @UnboxingStory or unboxingstorypodcast(at)gmail.com! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

Gender-bent homages and femme fatales have fallen. From the rubble, Marvel re-envisioned classic characters to better represent their readers. Captain Marvel is the latest adaptation, and the perfect Rosetta Stone to decipher what makes a female hero tick. Melissa and Jon review the film, discuss common tropes, and define #comicsgate. They also discuss the difference between harassment and critique, and how publishing and politics intersect. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

The classics and modernity clash in 'Song of Achilles,' a critically-acclaimed crossover of Greek myth, romance and historical fiction. 'Achilles' Trojan-horsed an Illiad prequel on your friendly neighborhood hosts, who expected an updated retelling of an ancient epic. Jon and Melissa interpret the fatal flaw in Madeline Miller's debut novel, divining the difference between disliking her writing and disliking coming-of-age romances. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

Absurdist director Terry Gilliam met his match when Robin Williams walked on the set of 1991's 'The Fisher King.' Few actors embody the chaotic creativity Williams brought to this Arthurian comedy, as well as a dozen other farcical films. After a few drinks, Melissa and Jon recount the plot of 'Fisher King,' discuss the meaning behind it, and celebrate late comedian Robin Williams' unrivaled legacy. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

Ceremonies matter to film fans young and old, but social media has made 2018's carnival of controversies its own sideshow. Jon and Melissa eschew hot takes for a conversation on how style and substance clash. The most controversial show since 2018 will pit politically-charged biographies and musicals against a grind house comedy, period dramedy, and a comic book blockbuster. Find out our picks and humble opinions, and tune in Oscar Sunday for our first Fan Frequency, featuring friend of the show Trevor Davis and a deeper dive into Black Panther and Green Book. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

M*A*S*H meets Sedaris in this slice-of-life short story about being Jewish in World War II. Can you be an American soldier and keep kosher? Does army life mean no life at all? Jon and Melissa interrogate the text, and ask if a story can be political without being polarizing. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

"Bullets solve everything," or at least they do at the Mexico border, according to our bad boy antagonist. Ismael Cruz Córdova plays a gang leader and captor of our lead heroine played by Gina Rodriguez. Their cat-and-mouse relationship sparks conversations about cinematography, sexist film-making, and how cultural context effects criticism. Listen as two sorta Rican siblings debate the merits of a middling Hispanic shoot-em-up based on a Spanish-language film. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

Grab your synth cassettes and the keys to the Mustang. Nicholas Winding Refn's Drive updates crime noir all the way to the 80's, creating a new generation of retro thrillers that has invaded films, TV, and video games. Do the neon lights and electro-pop make it style over substance? Does Refn say something with a scorpion jacket you couldn't say in a 40's speakeasy? Join thriller author Jon Matos and his noir fan sister, Melissa, on a wild ride through the underworld of L.A., into the core of the crime / drama genre. Click here to preview or purchase Cane and Able. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

Meet the kooky criminals at the center of 'Glass,' the third in a genre-bending trilogy including 'Unbreakable' and 'Split.' This superhero-thriller closes with a conflict between a vigilante, a mastermind, a man/beast, and a cynical psychologist. Fanboy (and -girl) Jon and Melissa team-up to explain their post-modern reading of 'Glass,' and how each major character adds to this story's epic conclusion. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

"Soul" is used to describe jazz music if the 20's and 30's, but it also fits the melodic poetry of Langston Hughes. Jon and Melissa try to express what makes Hughes poetry so accessible, despite it's contrast to today's turbulent racial politics. Is Langston's voice, established before the dominance of Civil Rights rhetoric, no longer relevant, or do his allusions to the Nile and the Civil War still ring true? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

Alt-right Rush?? Say it isn't so! Before "progressive" was a political label, the band Rush were "prog" rockers: composing symphonies of screaming guitars and soulful ballads. But how did their space opera earn them a comparison with Nazis? Is "2112" just one of many half-baked sci-fi concept albums, or does it set the standard for 70's space jams? Jon and Melissa continue to investigate stories set to a soundtrack, by way of ancient aliens, jukebox heroes, and shrugging off Ayn Rand. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

The nightmare after Christmas is Southern-fried with racism on the side. Melissa and Jon explore the imagery and irony in Flannery O'Conner's short story "A Good Man is Hard to Find," and compare it to Gothic writers and modern art theory. Does O'Conner's scathing satire conflict with her Christian worldview? Do difficult characters distract readers from a story's deeper meaning? Languish in the self-indulgent, but self-aware world of the Southern Gothic with us, and find out how far pathos can be pushed. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

What if history had a three-act structure? For Vikings, the gods enacted the biggest blockbuster of all, with frost giants, comedic cross-dressing, and a bloody finale. Join Melissa and Jon as they use Neil Gaiman's book to discuss the wisdom of Odin, the cunning of Loki, the bravery of Thor, and much more. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

The furnace burns, smoke billows, and Peter Jackson's mega machine gobbles up a YA series, just to spit it back onto the silver screen. Did Weta Workshops create the steampunk dystopia of Melissa's dreams? Meanwhile, Jon asks why ads for an adventure film (re: Star Wars) felt more like commercials for Disney's Avatar theme park. Also, some spoilers, but not really? Explore the creative decisions behind the book jackets, teaser trailers, and game announcements that either sabotage or sell our favorite stories in our new series, "On Brand." --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support

Perception is everything: in romance, in religion, and in storytelling. Pi Patel's love story was a middle grade game changer, landing on required reading lists and becoming a cult classic coming-of-age film. But does the story of a shipwrecked Hindu-Christian-Muslim bear the same meaning to two born-again Sorta Rican writers? Venture into the forest with us, to find the meaning inside the lotus flower... --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unboxing-story/support