Retro Grade Podcast

“YOU THERE, OGRE!“

On this episode, we cover the first film to ever take home the Best Animated Picture at the Oscars. We talk about the first film in the Dreamworks tent-pole franchise, Shrek, directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, starring Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and John Lithgow. What was it about Shrek that permeated throughout pop culture for over twenty years since its original release? Was it the fact that it was book-ended by two catchy Smash Mouth tracks? Because it lampooned all of the Disney films we grew up with and came out during the years where we wanted more edgy comedy? Or maybe because it provided the perfect meme template rivaled only by SpongeBob? Perhaps it’s a combination of everything above.

We talk about how the comedy in this film still works to this day. So much of the comedy comes from making fun of fairy tales made popular by Disney, and potentially making fun of people working at Disney, but some of the comedy is on a layer aimed for the adults in the audience. Watching the film 20 years later gives us a whole new level of jokes to notice that we might have missed as kids.

We talk about how the comedy of the film doesn’t completely bury the story. While often times our entertainment media might indulge in meta humor, it might come at the expense of the sincerity of the story. Shrek is a little different. While a huge part of the movie is all the jokes made about the fairy tale genre, the film doesn’t forget about what it’s trying to say about it’s underdog characters.

We talk about the legacy of Shrek. While it was great box office success in 2001, spawned two movie franchises, it also meant a lot of different things to a lot of different people. The song All-Star became a hit (again) and inspired some creative people to create mashups and remixes. We talk about how the love story in the film has since become a source of inspiration for real life weddings. We also take a look at some fan fiction that ranges from bizarrely sincere and sweet, to criminally obscene. If you have never heard the phrase “Shrek is love, Shrek is life,” don’t look it up unless you want to revisit peak “no holds barred“ message board ‘humor.’ Seriously.. its gross.

Joining us on this episode is Brittnie who chose to talk about Shrek. We love talking to people about their favorite movies, and we were very curious as to what she had to say!

We hope you enjoy this episode, and keep a lookout for our upcoming PATREON launch!

Music is from Triune Digital and audio clips pulled from movies we will be reviewing in other episodes.

Artwork by @jannelle_o

“LET THE DREAM BEGIN, LET YOUR DARKER SIDE GIVE IN“

On this Valentine’s Day, we decided to cover a romantic film for Retro Grade Podcast. Upon a listener’s birthday request, we are going back to 2004’s critically panned, audience adored, movie adaptation of the longest running show in Broadway history.. The Phantom of the Opera, starring Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, and Patrick Wilson, directed by the late Joel Schumacher.

We talk about Joel Schumacher’s reputation as a film director, and how he’s made some nostalgic, cult classics, but also a lot of movies people LOVE to hate. Perhaps one of the first directors to feel the unenviable vitriol of comic book fans after 1997’s Batman and Robin. We talk about how from the right perspective, we can find immense entertainment value in his gaudy, camp style. What does he bring to the table in adapting Webber’s widely successful show?

Listeners of the pod know about Jorge’s confession of not being into musicals. However, listeners also know this is probably one of the biggest lies in our show’s now 69 episode run. Like we said, this was by no means a critic’s darling film, but will the faults of the film be too much for Jorge to find Schumacher’s Phantom entertaining?

The casting of the film was also controversial. The vocals for Phantom’s music typically demands exceptional Broadway voices, particularly for the part of the titular Phantom.. and they cast a young, then-unknown Gerard Butler, with no singing background at all. We talk about how his singing (and age) differ from typical stage portrayals of the Phantom. Can Butler hit all those notes? Maybe not like a Broadway singer could, but we can’t help but appreciate the raw, unrefined emotive performance and exceptional cape twirls.

We also get into a bit of things that don’t hold up as well. Somethings that don’t really matter, like leaps in logic that require industrial grade suspension of disbelief. And then there’s somethings we can’t overlook, particularly one scene that unfortunately perpetuates a very harmful stereotype of Romani people. In revisiting older films, these kinds of things are very common, but part of the show is acknowledging those uncomfortable moments rather than glossing over them.

We do a bit of research on how this movie’s budget compared to other musical films of the era, why there was such a huge gap in time between the 1986 show and the 2004 film, some of the various adaptations of Gaston Leroux’s novel, and how one of our favorite scenes in the film was created.

We hope you enjoy this episode, and stay tuned for our upcoming PATREON!

Music is from Triune Digital and audio clips pulled from movies we will be reviewing in other episodes.

Artwork by @jannelle_o

“TREES AND PEOPLE USED TO BE GOOD FRIENDS.“

On this episode of Retro Grade Podcast, we cover our first 2D animated film, Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbor Totoro, written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki from 1988. Although we both know Totoro from seeing that fluffy, grey creature, neither of us have seen the movie he comes from. We only know him as the mascot for Studio Ghibli. However, we are going to be joined by someone who LOVES this movie. Someone who calls My Neighbor Totoro, her favorite movie. Today, we are joined by Austin’s girlfriend, Leanna!

My Neighbor Totoro is a critically acclaimed film, but it is very different from what one might expect from an animated film made for children. We talk about the film’s story, and general lack of a plot, and how that is one of the film’s strengths. We also talk about the timeless, utopian setting, and the film relates to each of us, coming from three different backgrounds. How does a film strike that nostalgia chord that is all so popular now, in a way that doesn’t reference any popular IP?

We talk about how Studio Ghibli released the film as a double feature along with Grave of the Fireflies, and how looking at the two as companion pieces may add an extra layer to our Totoro viewing. Although the film is G rated and targeted for kids, the film is a lot deeper when considering the context of its theatrical run. The context may also opens up a sweet, cathartic scene to something much more meaningful, and can be interpreted as a hopeful response to national trauma.

We also talk about some of the things that get lost in translation between the English and Japanese versions of the film, Hayao Miyazaki’s relationship with his films being adapted for a Western audience, and figure out how you are ‘supposed’ to pronounce “Ghibli.”

This is the first episode we have ever done that isn’t marked “explicit” and we tried really hard to keep the entire episode “safe for work” and profanity free, because Totoro is for everyone! We hope you enjoy!

Music is from Triune Digital and audio clips pulled from movies we will be reviewing in other episodes.

Artwork by @jannelle_o

On this week’s episode, we finish our retrospective on James Cameron 1997 classic, Titanic. In the previous episode, we summarized the entire story, going through Jack and Rose’s blossoming romance to the Titanic crashing into the iceberg and the aftermath of it all. We talked about our initial thoughts, what worked and what didn’t, mainly how some of the dialogue has not aged well. But as a whole, we all concluded that while not perfect, the story has largely has well enough to still get viewers invested in the love story and in the story of those  on the Titanic, both in the wealthy and poor.

From here, we move into the production and reception of the film. We talk about the immense list of actors who were considered for this film, from Matt Damon and Paul Rudd for Jack, to Winona Ryder and Gwyneth Paltrow for Rose, and how Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet ultimately won out over everyone else. We talk about they’re experience filming, including Kate bruising a bone and getting hypothermia filming the climatic sinking, leading her to say that she would never work for James Cameron again unless she was paid a lot of movie.

We talk about the filming techniques used to film the movie, and how they combined visual and practical effects to bring it all together. We break down specific scenes from the film and how they were shoot using different techniques including using miniatures, building actual sets, using mirrors as set extensions, computer generated imagery being composed with real life elements to bring the early 1900s to life. And we go into how all these techniques were used to film the sinking of the ship, and all the techniques they used to sell the viewer that what they were seeing was actually real. So sit back, relax, and join us in this final episode of Titanic.

Music is from Triune Digital and audio clips pulled from movies we will be reviewing in other episodes.

Artwork by @jannelle_o

“ITS BEEN 84 YEARS..”

On this week’s episode, we go back and revisit one of the highest grossing films of all time. The behemoth of a movie about the “unsinkable ship,“ Titanic. Written and directed by James Cameron, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, and the late great Bill Paxton. We talk about our early memories of the movie, how it came in a two-part VHS cassette package because the film was too long, and how we reacted to seeing the romance between Jack and Rose and the destruction of the ship. We compare and contrast the multiple times we’ve seen the film throughout our lives and how each time we walk away resonating with something we previously didn’t.

We cover the story, from the very beginning of Rose stepping onto the Titanic for the first time, and how that might be one of the scenes that hasn’t aged well, to the actual framing device for the film, with an older Rose recounting her experience on the ship before it collided with the iceberg. We go into the multiple ways this framing device not only allows James to creatively insert exposition in order to keep audiences from becoming confused, but also how it creates suspense in the story, every so often remind the audience that the ships inevitable doom is coming.

We go over different elements of the story, from and Jack and Rose’s growing romance, to Billy Zane’s Cal Hockley stealing the show with his incredible line delivery, to the social hierarchy seen in the ship and how that structure may have led to the death of many people on board when the ship finally sank. And there’s plenty that we still talk about, but just like the original VHS, this episode is just too long for one recording, so we decided to split up the entire episode into two parts. So join us, as we dive in on this classic film with out special guest, Aneesa!

Music is from Triune Digital and audio clips pulled from movies we will be reviewing in other episodes.

Artwork by @jannelle_o

“YOU CROSSED THE LINE“

On this episode, we return to Pandora before the long awaited sequel of the highest grossing film “everybody forgot about.” We are talking about James Cameron’s Avatar, from 2009! We talk about how we weren’t super impressed first time we saw this movie, and how that may have changed 13 years later.

We talk about the new technology used to create the the luscious, flora and fauna paradise planet of Pandora, and pay respect to the artistry of the VFX work done in the film. Also bring up how influential the “performance capture“ technique has been in the films we see today, and how influential the film was for the video game industry. James Cameron himself actually showed up on G4 TV to explain how his camera rigs were able to shoot 3D better than the previous camera set ups!

We talk about James Cameron’s vision, and how time and time again he makes movies that change the way people make movies. We talk about how special the ability for filmmakers to be trusted (and funded) to pursue their crazy vision, without the studio pressure to make a certain kind of movie for a specific, unmovable date.

Avatar is often criticized for its familiar plot. We talk about its similarities with films like Fern Gully or Dances with Wolves, but also talk about how that doesn’t really hurt our enjoyment of the film this time around. Storytelling isn’t always about how it ends, and this story resonated with some people so strongly, there were waves of depression that hit audiences as the film left theaters. Why did people love this movie so much? What makes Avatar so special? That’s what we try to figure out.

Music is from Triune Digital and audio clips pulled from movies we will be reviewing in other episodes.

Artwork by @jannelle_o

“I HAVE CROSSED OCEANS OF TIME TO FIND YOU”

On this week’s episode, we talk about the classic 1992 film, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, directed by Francis Ford Coppola starring Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, and Keanu Reeves. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, we revisit the film to see if what many people consider to be one of the definitive interpretations of Dracula stills holds up. 

We talk about Francis’s goal with the film, wanting to be true to the original novel written in 1897, and to differentiate this story from the classic 1931 Bela Lugosi film from Universal Pictures. He wanted to create a grandiose telling, with sets and costume and visual effects that were nothing short of extraordinary and that would pay an homage to classic silent film era techniques but while using modern technology to make sure they had no limitations in what they could show. 

We dissect the story, talking about why we liked the film, and trying to see what may be holding us back from loving it. Because for as grandiose as the film may be, that’s no guarantee that everything will work perfectly. Is this an example of style over substance? We talk about the A-list cast present, from young new talent like Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder to Hollywood veterans like Anthony Hopkins and Gary Oldman, what is the chemistry like among them all and are there some actors we feel that might not well suited for the film?

Lastly, we go over the production of the film, from talking about costumes that were created by Eiko Ishika, who would win an Academy Award for her work in this film, to the visual and special effects created by Coppola’s son, Roman Coppola, and some of the things they had to do in order to get some of the more elaborate shots needed. And we go over some of the more controversial acting decisions Francis implemented on set in order to get the best possible performances from everyone, including having Gary Oldman whisper into the cast ears some potentially problematic things. So join us for our discussion of Francis Ford Coppola’s telling of Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

Music is from Triune Digital and audio clips pulled from movies we will be reviewing in other episodes.

Artwork by @jannelle_o

“IT’LL FIGHT IF IT HAS TO, BUT IT’S VULNERABLE OUT IN THE OPEN.“

On this Halloween episode of Retro Grade Podcast, we cover one of the best movies from one of the best horror filmmakers of all time, 1982’s The Thing, directed by John Carpenter. Although the film is referred to as a remake of the 1951 RKO Pictures production, The Thing from Another World, the film is actually more of a reinterpretation of the original novella from 1938, Who Goes There. If it’s hard to believe that this movie has just celebrated it’s 40th anniversary, it may be even harder to believe that it was a box office bomb and despised by critics of the time. However, the film has lasted the test of time, being remade, turned into a video game, and then inspiring the popular pandemic game, Among Us!

On our episode, we talk about how the film also doubles as a “whodunit” and a graphic body horror film. We talk about how the film tricks you in your first viewing, and inspires multiple viewings, each one giving you a new thing to appreciate about it. We discuss our theories on the timelines, trying to track down when The Thing assimilates and imitates the doomed US Outpost 31 Team, with the help of the John Carpenter approved fansite. When do the crew members get infected, or rather, why did it imitate who it imitates? We have a lot of fun exchanging theories on this section of the episode.

We talk about the nihilistic themes of the movie, and how innate it is in human nature to distrust each other, especially when you are on a job with people you might not necessarily like. The film’s characters were (unfairly) criticized for being ‘stereotypes,’ but we talk about how realistic they actually are, and their significance to the story and theme.

We talk about the amazing special effects done by a then 21 year old Rob Buttin, working with the highest budget Universal had ever spent on creature effects. We talk about the score from the legendary Italian composer Ennio Morricone, and how the early versions of the score were used in a more recent western film. And yet, despite the amount of talent from the actors, (especially the arguably best dog actor in a film ever,) Carpenter’s vision, Morricone’s score, Buttin’s effects, Dean Cundey’s cinematography, the film was disregarded as “instant trash.“ We get into why we think the summer audience of 1982 might not have appreciated the film, but why we do now.

We hope you enjoy this episode, and have a Happy Halloween!

Music is from Triune Digital and audio clips pulled from movies we will be reviewing in other episodes.

Artwork by @jannelle_o

“INTO THE LIGHT, I COMMAND THEE!“

Continuing our spooky movie themed month, we decided to cover a movie about the world’s grumpiest exorcist, Constantine! Although the Vertigo Comics character comes from the Hellblazer series, is blonde and British, certain liberties were taken in the American film adaptation starring Keanu Reeves as the titular character. Though the changes upset some fans (especially the comic series’ creator Alan Moore as he infamously refused to accept any royalties from the film) the film still resonated with an audience. The film wasn’t beloved by the critics, and to be honest, we at Retro Grade Podcast weren’t enamored by the film when we first saw it. However, as news broke of an upcoming sequel with director Francis Lawrence and Keanu Reeves returning, maybe it’s time to revisit the film and see how we feel about it now?

Throughout our discussion, we talk about all of the things that make the movie so memorable. It sets up a unique paranormal noir world, rooted in Catholic concepts of sin, Heaven and Hell. The amazing cast AND performances from Rachel Weisz, Djimon Hounsou, Shia LeBeouf, Tilda Swinton, Gavin Rossdale, and Peter Stormare, playing both complex and archetypal characters in a thoroughly entertaining way. We even dig into the “lost” character of Ellie, played by Michelle Monaghan, and why she only appears in one shot of the final film.

We get clinical about what are problems are with the movie, it’s pace, its plot devices, and the burden of taking the audience to a magical world while showing/telling us the rules in which this world operates. Are these issues enough for us to say Constantine is a bad movie? Not at all. By diving in deep on the story and themes, and how the two main characters paths intersect, the movie is a lot deeper than critics said it was back in 2005.

We hope you enjoy the episode!

Music is from Triune Digital and audio clips pulled from movies we will be reviewing in other episodes.

Artwork by @jannelle_o

WE’LL TEAR YOUR SOUL APART!”

On this week’s episode, we continue our month of spooky movies by revisiting Hellraiser, 1987 horror classic directed by Clive Barker starring Ashley Laurence, Clare Higgins, Andrew Robinson, and Doug Bradley as the famous Cenobite, Pinhead. We talk about how this film differs very much from how  it was conveyed to us when we were younger. Instead of it being a film about torture with senseless acts of brutality, we see that there is actually a story present, a story about love, lust, betrayal, obsession, pain, and how in some ways, pain and pleasure are one in the same, and not as distant from each other as we may think. The characters are very relatable, and all interesting in their own way.

We go into the connection between this film and the BDSM culture, even though there are some in the latter that would want to stay far away from this film, but how maybe the film isn’t insulting the culture, but merely using it as an example of how unchecked passions can be detrimental to innocent bystanders, or to oneself. We go into the production of the film, and how the film was produced for 1 million dollars, which is extremely low considering the average budgets for films at the time. We talk about how the film was shot chronologically, mostly filmed in one location, and how they had to deal with the censors when it came to rating this film.

So if you feel like you’re up for it, then enjoy this week’s episode on this horror classic. Be advised this movie does have extreme scenes of violence with lots of blood and gore, it’s not for the faint of heart. If you’re trying to get into horror films but still working your way up, then it might be best to visit this film in the future. But if you’re still curious about it, then enjoy listening to this episode about it.

Music is from Triune Digital and audio clips pulled from movies we will be reviewing in other episodes.

Artwork by @jannelle_o