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.