Least Important Things

The Mummy Returns…again?

Zach Hall and Mike Wynne join Luke Ferris for the second installment of The Mummycast, our franchise rewatch series on The Mummy. 

This time, the boys return to the dessert for the often derided follow-up to the 1999 classic to discuss everything from Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson’s infamous digital film debut to Horus the falcon, the real hero of the story. 

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Sources for this episode:

• Royalty-free music and sound effects via Artlist.com
• The Mummy Returns Official Trailer #1 - Brendan Fraser Movie (2001) HD

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Catch new episodes of Least Important Things every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube.

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Theme song by John Ferris

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All content falls under fair use: any copying of copyrighted material is done for a limited, educational and “transformative” purpose, such as to comment upon, criticize, or parody a copyrighted work. Such uses can be done without permission from the copyright owner.  

Every year on the 4th of July, Luke Ferris and his friends watch 2004’s National Treasure starring Nicolas Cage. But why?

In this essay episode, you’ll uncover the treasure map of how this tradition started, including: 

• National Treasure’s generational legacy. 
• The best National Treasure moments and quotes.
• Why National Treasure was memorable before it became a meme.
• And the meaning of the annual tradition of watching National Treasure on the 4th of July. 

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Catch new episodes of Least Important Things every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube.

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You can be part of the show by leaving a voicemail here.

You can email the show at [email protected] or reach out via social media at the links below.

Read our articles and learn more about the show at www.leastimportantthings.com

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Sources for this episode:

• Royalty-free music and sound effects via Artlist.com
• National Treasure (2004) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers
• national treasure » riley poole being my spirit animal

Send us Fan Mail

Catch new episodes of Least Important Things every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube.

You can email the show at [email protected] or reach out via social media at the links below. 

Theme song by John Ferris

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All content falls under fair use: any copying of copyrighted material is done for a limited, educational and “transformative” purpose, such as to comment upon, criticize, or parody a copyrighted work. Such uses can be done without permission from the copyright owner.  

“The cinema substitutes for our gaze a world more in harmony with our desires.” - Andre Bazin

We are strapping into our theater seats and preparing our senses for the overwhelming, practical-effects-driven world of cinema's premiere modern master—Christopher Nolan.

Host Luke Ferris takes a deeply personal journey through the filmography of his generational director, tracking how a filmmaker can completely captivate a movie-obsessed teenager and follow them all the way into adulthood.

In this episode, we’ll dive into:

• The Nolan Experience: Breaking down the foundational pillars of a Nolan film, from the overwhelming sensory overload of his in-camera spectacles to the intricate "cinematic chess" of his timelines.
• The Tenet Reckoning: Luke opens up about his stubborn, five-and-a-half-year refusal to stream Tenet at home out of theatrical loyalty, the internet's "film bro" discourse, and the realization that a Nolan movie is always worth watching.
• The Ultimate Journey: Looking ahead to Nolan’s next impossible IMAX challenge—The Odyssey—and how it mirrors Jean-Luc Godard’s 1963 French New Wave masterpiece, Contempt.
• And much more…

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Sources for this episode:

• Royalty-free music and sound effects via Artlist.com
• The Odyssey | Official New Trailer
• Godard's narrated opening credits (Les mépris / Contempt, 1963)
• The Joker's Bank Robbery / Opening Scene in IMAX | The Dark Knight (2008) Movie Clip 4K HDR
• Heat (1995) - The Coffee Shop Scene | Academy Conversations
• TENET - Official Trailer

Send us Fan Mail

Catch new episodes of Least Important Things every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube.

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Theme song by John Ferris

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All content falls under fair use: any copying of copyrighted material is done for a limited, educational and “transformative” purpose, such as to comment upon, criticize, or parody a copyrighted work. Such uses can be done without permission from the copyright owner.  

In this rewind episode, Luke Ferris reflects on why the World Cup is so popular, how it generates moments of human joy, and why you should tune in this year. 

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Read our articles and learn more about the show at www.leastimportantthings.com

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Sources for this episode:

• Royalty-free music and sound effects via Artlist.com
• Landon Donovan Game Winning Goal vs Algeria (World Cup 2010)
• USA v China PR | 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup Final | Full Match
• 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany - Match 41 - Group E - Ghana 2 x 1 USA 
• Zinedine Zidane's headbutt on Marco Materazzi | Germany 2006 | FIFA World Cup
• South Africa v Mexico | 2010 FIFA World Cup | Match Highlights
• Euro 2020: Wembley' seconds away from Hillsborough-type tragedy' during final chaos | ITV News
• Top 10 Most Heartwarming Ted Lasso Moments

Send us Fan Mail

Catch new episodes of Least Important Things every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube.

You can email the show at [email protected] or reach out via social media at the links below. 

Theme song by John Ferris

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All content falls under fair use: any copying of copyrighted material is done for a limited, educational and “transformative” purpose, such as to comment upon, criticize, or parody a copyrighted work. Such uses can be done without permission from the copyright owner.  

Press play if you'd rather be watching the 1999 cinematic masterpiece The Mummy (and its sequels) starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz.  

Host Luke Ferris is joined by Mike Wynne and Zach Hall to kick off the inaugural "Mummycast" franchise rewatch to celebrate the movie that simply refuses to die, 1999's The Mummy. 

In this episode, we dive into:

• The Mummy Still Delivers: Why this romantic, action-adventure hybrid holds up as a perfect blockbuster.
• Behind-the-Scenes Desert Madness: From sandstorms and medical dehydration drinks to Brendan Fraser’s terrifying near-death experience during the hanging scene.
• Mike's Theme Park Corner: A new segment where Mike breaks down the theme park connection to the movie.
• Leasties and Besties: Including Grimeiest Moment, Best MacGuffin/totem, I’m Out Scendario, and Job You’d Least Likely Want. 
• Take That, Bembridge Scholars! A massive breakdown of the most memorable quotes, iconic stunts, and childhood crushes that defined a generation.

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Catch new episodes of Least Important Things every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube.

Support Least Important Things on Patreon

You can be part of the show by leaving a voicemail here.

You can email the show at [email protected] or reach out via social media at the links below.

Read our articles and learn more about the show at www.leastimportantthings.com

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Sources for this episode:

• Royalty-free music and sound effects via Artlist.com
• The Mummy Official Trailer #1 - Brendan Fraser Movie (1999) HD

Send us Fan Mail

Catch new episodes of Least Important Things every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube.

You can email the show at [email protected] or reach out via social media at the links below. 

Theme song by John Ferris

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Follow Least Important Things: 

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All content falls under fair use: any copying of copyrighted material is done for a limited, educational and “transformative” purpose, such as to comment upon, criticize, or parody a copyrighted work. Such uses can be done without permission from the copyright owner.  

It’s the time for beaches, bonfires, basking in the afternoon sunshine, going on roadtrips, and it’s also one of the most exciting seasons for movies.

But here’s the challenge when picking a summertime flick: choosing a movie.

The last thing you want to do is have a debate over which movie to watch to dampen the mood. 

But have no fear, Luke Ferris is here. In this essay episode, Luke guides you through some summer selections so you’ll be prepared for every scenario to recommend a summer flick. 

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Catch new episodes of Least Important Things every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube.

Support Least Important Things on Patreon

You can be part of the show by leaving a voicemail here.

You can email the show at [email protected] or reach out via social media at the links below.

Read our articles and learn more about the show at www.leastimportantthings.com

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Sources for this episode:

• Royalty-free music and sound effects via Artlist.com

Send us Fan Mail

Catch new episodes of Least Important Things every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube.

You can email the show at [email protected] or reach out via social media at the links below. 

Theme song by John Ferris

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Follow Least Important Things: 

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All content falls under fair use: any copying of copyrighted material is done for a limited, educational and “transformative” purpose, such as to comment upon, criticize, or parody a copyrighted work. Such uses can be done without permission from the copyright owner.  

In honor of the 25th anniversary of Jurassic Park III, we're bringing back an episode from the vault via the podcast that started it all–Jurassic Pod. 

In this episode, Luke Ferris and Mike Wynne break down the uniqueness of this trilogy within the franchise and in filmmaking. 

Dr. Alan Grant unknowingly returns to Isla Sorna to save more children. Can he overcome the ghosts of his past and rescue this franchise from early 2000s sequelitis? Talking dinosaurs, hybrid dinosaurs, and William H. Macy. It’s Jurassic Park Claw Mark!

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Support Least Important Things on Patreon

You can be part of the show by leaving a voicemail here.

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Read our articles and learn more about the show at www.leastimportantthings.com

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Sources for this episode:

• Royalty-free music and sound effects via Artlist.com

Send us Fan Mail

Catch new episodes of Least Important Things every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube.

You can email the show at [email protected] or reach out via social media at the links below. 

Theme song by John Ferris

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Follow Least Important Things: 

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All content falls under fair use: any copying of copyrighted material is done for a limited, educational and “transformative” purpose, such as to comment upon, criticize, or parody a copyrighted work. Such uses can be done without permission from the copyright owner.  

Did JAWS and Star Wars ruin cinema? 

In this essay episode, Luke Ferris dives into why the 1970s were a critical decade in film history because of the two trajectories of its young, creative talent. One path, like Spielberg, Lucas, and De Palma, was to create universally appealing genre films. The others, like Scorsese and Coppola, chose to create serious dramatic works focusing on the counterculture ideas of the period. Was one way the correct way? 

Or is there a deeper understanding of the morphism of this era of filmmaking? 

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Catch new episodes of Least Important Things every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube.

Support Least Important Things on Patreon

You can be part of the show by leaving a voicemail here.

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Read our articles and learn more about the show at www.leastimportantthings.com

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Sources for this episode:

• Royalty-free music and sound effects via Artlist.com
• The Deer Hunter - Trailer - (1978) - HQ
• The Deer Hunter ending

Send us Fan Mail

Catch new episodes of Least Important Things every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube.

You can email the show at [email protected] or reach out via social media at the links below. 

Theme song by John Ferris

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Follow Least Important Things: 

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All content falls under fair use: any copying of copyrighted material is done for a limited, educational and “transformative” purpose, such as to comment upon, criticize, or parody a copyrighted work. Such uses can be done without permission from the copyright owner.  

There’s a forgotten form of writing, often ostracized by the publishing world, that deserves a reclamation–the novelization, 

In this essay episode, Luke Ferris dives into the "pulpy" and often misunderstood world of novelizations. Far from just being simple marketing gimmicks, these books offer a unique way to engage with our favorite films, filling in lore gaps and letting us spend more time with characters we already love.

In this episode, we’ll dive into:

• A Brief History of the "Pulp" Industry: Why these books became a marketing powerhouse in the 1950s paperback era and why writers often used pseudonyms.
• Lore and Gaps: How the Halloween novelization by "Richard Curtis" actually shaped the future of the film franchise’s Celtic lore.
• The Reverse Adaptation: A look at how directors like Michael Mann and Quentin Tarantino are using the written word to expand their cinematic universes.
• The "Book vs. Movie" Tension: Why seeing a young Al Pacino or Val Kilmer on the page can actually make the original Heat movie even better.

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Support Least Important Things on Patreon

You can be part of the show by leaving a voicemail here.

You can email the show at [email protected] or reach out via social media at the links below.

Read our articles and learn more about the show at www.leastimportantthings.com

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Sources for this episode:

• Royalty-free music and sound effects via Artlist.com
• Heat Trailer HD (1995)
• "These Are Fun. I Should Do One." - Quentin Tarantino On The Decision To Novelise His Latest Film 

Send us Fan Mail

Catch new episodes of Least Important Things every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube.

You can email the show at [email protected] or reach out via social media at the links below. 

Theme song by John Ferris

Support Least Important Things on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LeastImportantThings

Follow Least Important Things: 

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All content falls under fair use: any copying of copyrighted material is done for a limited, educational and “transformative” purpose, such as to comment upon, criticize, or parody a copyrighted work. Such uses can be done without permission from the copyright owner.  

What happens when you give an auteur director and the biggest movie stars in the world an all-expenses-paid trip to Europe to create a bombastic sequel? 

The often misunderstood Ocean’s Twelve. 

In this essay episode, Luke Ferris makes a case for Ocean’s Twelve and the brilliance behind this often derided sequel. 

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Support Least Important Things on Patreon

You can be part of the show by leaving a voicemail here.

You can email the show at [email protected] or reach out via social media at the links below.

Read our articles and learn more about the show at www.leastimportantthings.com

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Sources for this episode:

• Royalty-free music and sound effects via Artlist.com
• Ocean's Twelve: Questions about age are the most uncomfortable
• Ocean's Twelve | How Much Does Everyone Owe? | ClipZone: High Octane Hits
• Ocean's Twelve (2004) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers
• Ocean's Twelve ending song | Pitched Down (Dave Grusin - Ascension to Virginity)

Send us Fan Mail

Catch new episodes of Least Important Things every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube.

You can email the show at [email protected] or reach out via social media at the links below. 

Theme song by John Ferris

Support Least Important Things on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LeastImportantThings

Follow Least Important Things: 

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All content falls under fair use: any copying of copyrighted material is done for a limited, educational and “transformative” purpose, such as to comment upon, criticize, or parody a copyrighted work. Such uses can be done without permission from the copyright owner.