The Test of Time

Three gunslingers search for hidden Confederate gold in the iconic spaghetti western, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. This week, special guest Nathaniel Gold joins us as we discuss a movie with a dialogue-free opening—just like Wall-E, a theme song that's kind of the star, and the stupidest question a would-be torturer could possibly ask. We also contemplate the proper syntax of hanged vs. hung before finding out if The Good, The Bad and The Ugly stands the Test of Time. Support Nathaniel's Kickstarter at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/375872124/the-chimp-with-the-brown-hat-vol-1-the-first-banan?ref=nav

A ruthless and well-camouflaged alien visits Earth to go hunting. But has it met its match when it tries to best Arnold Schwarzenegger? As the Predator franchise is rebooted once again, we come up with names for future sequels, discuss tough guy jungle shaving, and reveal what this movie has in common with Mike Tyson's Punch Out. Then we GET TO DA CHOPPA as we find out if 1987's Predator stands the Test of Time.

In 1984's Footloose, Kevin Bacon plays the new kid in a small town, where dancing and music have been banned. Special guest Adam Pincas returns to the podcast for a lot of singing (of course), an epic game of Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, and a healthy debate about the merits of angry dancing. And 114 episodes in, we have a Test of Time first. Join us as we kick off our Sunday shoes and find out if Footloose stands the Test of Time.

Harrison Ford plays a U.S. President whose plane is taken over by Russian separatists. But this President is no mere hostage—he's fighting back against the bad guys! This week, we discuss the lessons learned from skydiving, our hatred of fax machines, and when you just shouldn't bother putting on your dictator's uniform. We also go on tangents about ALF, Good Burger, and the Paris Hilton sex tape as we wrap up our 1990's Airplane Hijacking Trilogy and find out if Air Force One stands the Test of Time.

In 1996's Executive Decision, Kurt Russell leads a commando unit as it boards a hijacked plane… in mid-air! Join us for the second episode of our 1990's Airplane Hijacking Trilogy, as we chat about the Hollywood studio that traded a future Oscar winner for this movie, on-screen text that insults your intelligence, and how action star Steven Seagal sees very little action. In the end, we decide if Executive Decision stands the Test of Time.

Wesley Snipes plays an anti-terroism expert who just so happens to board a plane with an international terrorist in the 1992 movie, Passenger 57. In the first episode of our 1990's Airplane Hijacking Trilogy, we discuss a villain who surgically changes his face but keeps his mullet, an airline that upgrades a terrorist but not their new Vice President, and a one-liner that's memorable but is actually awful advice. We also talk about the cast of Star Wars Episode IX before finding out if Passenger 57 stands the Test of Time.

It's a classic tale: boy meets mannequin. Mannequin comes to life. Boy and mannequin fall in love. Mannequin helps boy achieve career success. Boy's jilted ex-girlfriend kidnaps and tries to destroy mannequin. Mannequin becomes a real girl and lives happily ever after with boy. This week, we chat about the 1987 movie Mannequin, where the ancient Egyptian curse that drives the plot isn't explained at all, the female lead almost murders her love interest, and the only thing that determines a department store's success is... their window displays? Nothing's gonna stop us now as we find out if Mannequin stands the Test of Time.

The Shawshank Redemption was a flop when it was first released in theaters, but it's now the top rated movie on IMDb. Special guest "Andrew" Mehler joins us as we discuss who would play old man Brooks in a Shawshank remake, the best video rental store in Fort Lauderdale, and the business model of Red's prison smuggling operation. We also chat about 4D movies and the best Stephen King adaptations before being obtuse enough to ask if The Shawshank Redemption stands the Test of Time.

Al Pacino plays a blind, retired soldier who's determined to experience life's greatest pleasures before killing himself in the 1992 movie, Scent of a Woman. This week, we're joined by special guest Eddie Perez-Cortes for a conversation about how this movie can impress the ladies at fraternity formals (or not), why you shouldn't let a suicidal blind man drive a car, and if it's worse to be rude to a family member or a stranger. In the end, we find out if Scent of a Woman stands the Test of Time. HOO-AH!

Jim Carrey proved that he was more than just a comedy actor with his turn as an unwitting reality star in the 1998 movie, The Truman Show. This week, we chat about some very strange behavior, like crossing your fingers on your wedding day, holding a six-pack of beer next to your face, and watching an obscene amount of television from the bathtub. And that's before we even get into The Truman Show Delusion, a real life condition where people don't believe in real life. Plus James tells the story of the worst blind date ever before we reveal if The Truman Show stands the Test of Time.

In 1998, there was something about There's Something About Mary that propelled Ben Stiller and Cameron Diaz to the A-list. As we chat about the movie, we discuss the bizarre layout of Mary's house, which Dillon brother is more famous, and the very real fear of getting "caught" in your zipper. Plus Alan describes a very Ted-like moment when he met Cameron Diaz in person, and we ponder the promotion of the next Spider-Man movie before deciding if There's Something About Mary stands the Test of Time.

In 1998's second movie about the end of the world, humanity can only be saved by Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck... and the music of Aerosmith. This week, we're talking about Armageddon, a flick that's heavy on emotional manipulation and meteor showers that only hit major cities (thanks, Michael Bay!) We also discuss the Tunguska event, if space dementia is real, and how this movie ruined animal crackers forever. You don't want to miss a thing (#sorrynotsorry) as we find out if Armageddon stands the Test of Time.

Twenty years ago, we were graced with two movies, released just months apart, about celestial objects threatening to end life as we know it on Earth. The first, Deep Impact, explores how the U.S. President, a group of astronauts, a news reporter, and a horny teenager respond to the crisis. In our chat about the movie, we discuss rampant MSNBC product placement, terrible parenting decisions, and a total disregard for saving women and children first. We also ponder what would happen if a comet was coming our way while Trump was President (yup, we'd all be screwed) and we discuss our feelings about Solo: A Star Wars Story (yup, we geek out about parsecs). In the end, we find out if Deep Impact stands the Test of Time.

An adventure 65 million years—and 103 podcast episodes—in the making. Jurassic Park is the movie that made dinosaurs cool, put Laura Dern in a whole lotta denim, killed Samuel L. Jackson off-screen, and turned Jeff Goldblum into... a sex symbol? We also discuss the movie's lame original ending, and why 1993 was a great year for Michael Crichton but an amazing/awful year for Steven Spielberg. Hold on to your butts as we find out if Jurassic Park stands the Test of Time.

Before Animal House and The Blues Brothers, John Landis directed the 1977 independent comedy, The Kentucky Fried Movie. As we chat about a flick that's filled with wordplay and gratuitous nudity, James gets sepia confused with black and white, Alan reveals what he would name his first studio album, and we both admit that we know nothing about Leave it to Beaver. We draw parallels between this film and Saturday Night Live, The Onion, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Die Hard with a Vengeance (?), and Citizen Kane (??) before deciding if The Kentucky Fried Movie stands the Test of Time.

George Clooney leads a team of Hollywood's hottest actors in the 2001 heist flick, Ocean's Eleven. This week, we talk about the actor with an extremely punchable face, movies that could be gender-flipped in the future, and we try (unsuccessfully) to name all the members of the Rat Pack. Plus, we break the record for the most number of times the word "cool" is said in a single podcast as we find out if 2001's Ocean's Eleven stands the Test of Time.

Tom Hanks plays a 12-year-old boy who wished to be big. We're adults who act like we're 12-years-old and wished for 100 podcast episodes. Spoiler alert: everyone's wishes came true. Join us for a conversation that includes baby corn trivia, dumb things to ask Zoltar for, and why you shouldn't put your life in the hands of carnival workers. Plus, we celebrate our centennial episode with *two* major show announcements before finding out if the 1988 movie Big stands the Test of Time.

Our hero is too cool for school in the 1986 flick, Ferris Bueller's Day Off. This week, we discuss the difference between a principal and a dean, the way Sloane sometimes talks with a British accent, and what it means to be "The Sausage King of Chicago." All the kids may think Ferris Bueller is a righteous dude, but does his movie stand the Test of Time?

The first Karate Kid centered around two rivals going head to head in a karate tournament. The sequel culminated in a fight to the death. And the third film, the climax of this blockbuster trilogy... all leads up to… another karate tournament. As we wrap up our series on the Karate Kid franchise, we discuss good hair styles for bad guys, the stupidest thing you can force someone to do under duress, and a guerrilla marketing stunt gone horribly wrong. Along the way, we also give our thoughts on the new YouTube Red series Cobra Kai, and offer our spoiler-filled take on Avengers: Infinity War, before ultimately deciding if 1989's The Karate Kid Part III stands the Test of Time.

Daniel-san and Mr. Miyagi travel to Okinawa for the fight of their lives—literally—in the 1986 sequel, The Karate Kid Part II. This movie contains a ridiculously traumatic breakup story, what might be the first fight club ever, and a super sharp hook that totally killed dozens of fishermen for no good reason. After discussing how Bill Maher kinda threw shade at us, we see if The Karate Kid Part II stands the Test of Time.

You're the best! Around! Nothing's gonna ever keep you down!!! That's right — this week, we're talking about the 1984 classic, The Karate Kid. Listen as we chat about the "best friend" who disappears after three scenes, Daniel's utterly brilliant Halloween costume, the subtle difference between wax-on/wax-off and sand the floor, and the one tournament rule that could totally kill someone. Don't sweep the leg as we find out if The Karate Kid stands the Test of Time.

A baby is destined to destroy an evil queen, and a farmer must lead an epic quest to protect the child in the 1988 fantasy film, Willow. This week, Sweetie and Sweety from the Large Marge Sent Us podcast come by to talk about Ron Howard's (alleged) ginger conspiracy, the one character in this movie with a semi-normal name, and how George Lucas "borrowed" ideas from Star Wars and Indiana Jones when he came up with this story. In the end, we find out if Willow stands the Test of Time. Listen to the Large Marge Sent Us podcast at https://largemargesentus.libsyn.com

Super Troopers, about a group of cops who'd rather prank each other than write speeding tickets, was a surprise hit when it was released in 2002. This week, we discuss what this stoner comedy has in common with both Police Academy 3 and the works of William Shakespeare, we wonder if real Vermonters would ever actually chug syrup, and Alan mocks James for not knowing how to laugh. As the long-awaited sequel finally hits theaters (on 4/20, of course), we find out if Super Troopers stands the Test of Time.

Two pissed off teenagers wreak havoc on their town with murders and forged suicide notes in 1989's Heathers. This movie left us with a lot of questions. Like, why do cool high school girls hook up with loser college guys? Did anyone ever really go cow tipping? What's up with all the croquet? And, most important of all, does Heathers stand the Test of Time?

A kid who's obsessed with action movies gets transported into a world of gratuitous explosions and cheesy one-liners in the 1993 flick, Last Action Hero. Join us as we discuss a terrible way to end a fictional blockbuster, how to get teenagers interested in Shakespeare, and why it's ridiculous that famed illusionist Harry Houdini would have an actual magic ticket. We also rant about the latest season of The X-Files before deciding if Last Action Hero stands the Test of Time.

When a dead couple needs help scaring the yuppies who move into their house, they turn to Michael Keaton's ghost with the most in 1988's Beetlejuice. This week, we discuss Tim Burton's bureaucratic vision of the afterlife, the oddly spelled star that's Beetlejuice's namesake, and the deus ex machina that ultimately saves the day. Plus Alan sings Harry Belafonte, and James talks about his Star Wars experience at South by Southwest as we see if Beetlejuice stands the Test of Time.

The stars of a sci-fi TV show find themselves on an actual space adventure in 1999's Galaxy Quest. Tim Allen loses his shirt, Tony Shalhoub has the munchies, and Alan Rickman does what he does best: exude exasperation. And did you ever hear about the Star Trek actor who changed the course of American history? Join us as we discuss all that, and find out if Galaxy Quest stands the Test of Time.

A brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, and a criminal spend Saturday detention together in the 1985 flick, The Breakfast Club. This movie is full of important life lessons: how not to pronounce "elephantiasis," how not to mold young minds, and how not to eat pixie sticks. And it proves that Anthony Michael Hall is the greatest actor of our lifetime. Well... maybe that's a stretch. We discuss what this movie *should* have been called (there's no eggs or cereal or anything!) before deciding if The Breakfast Club stands the Test of Time.

Back from the dead, a young man seeks revenge against the goons who killed him and his fiancée in the 1994 flick, The Crow. Special guest Dominic Monfre (who is totally "the goth" of our friends) is back as we chat about how Devil's Night is similar to The Purge, if it's ever okay for a musician to quote his own lyrics, and if the crow is actually kinda sexist. We also discuss the late Brandon Lee, and other actors who died before their productions wrapped, as we find out if The Crow stands the Test of Time.

In The Big Lebowski, a laid back Californian known as The Dude gets mixed up with a shady philanthropist, nihilists, and a porn kingpin, all because someone peed on his rug… which really tied the room together. This week, special guest Dominic Monfre drops in to see what condition his condition is in, and to chat about the difference between being waterboarded and getting a swirly, what it means to find a stranger in the Alps, and how The Dude was a pioneer in car phone safety. We also discuss the (over)reaction to Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss joining the Star Wars universe before finding out if The Big Lebowski stands the Test of Time.

Falling Down is the story of a seemingly normal man's descent into violence and madness over the course of a single day. This movie's "hero" looks like Frank Grimes, has terrible trigger control, and doesn't want to believe he's a bad guy... despite the fact that he's a racist who shoots up a fast food restaurant. If you wrote a think piece about the "forgotten white voter" after the 2016 election, do yourself a favor and listen to see if 1993's Falling Down stands the Test of Time.

Life with kids is like being on a roller coaster. Steve Martin, Mary Steenburgen, Dianne Wiest, Rick Moranis, and others are along for the ride in the 1989 film, Parenthood. This week, we talk about the cheesiest line of dialogue ever uttered by Keanu Reeves, the mistake made by this movie and Saved by the Bell, and the tragic—but ultimately hopeful—story of a kid named Cool. This flick's got a song about diarrhea, a car accident caused by oral sex, and an obligatory cameo from Clint Howard, but does Parenthood stand the Test of Time?

Tom Hanks plays a heartbroken widower, and Meg Ryan plays an unhappily engaged reporter. They're both searching for true love, and they may find it thanks to a radio call-in show. Just in time for Valentine's Day, we're talking about the 1993 movie, Sleepless in Seattle. Special guest Courtney Noah joins us for a conversation about what qualifies as a rom-com, how this movie has absolutely nothing to do with grunge despite being set in early 90's Seattle, and the pros and cons of using LinkedIn to stalk an ex. We also chat with a couple of little Noahs (#nepotism) before finding out if Sleepless in Seattle stands the Test of Time.

If podcasting about old movies is cool, consider us Miles Davis. This week, we're talking about Adam Sandler's classic comedy, Billy Madison. This movie dared to ask whether shampoo or conditioner is better, and special guests Joanna and Amanda Brief join us to ask even more burning questions. Who's the hidden cameo on a nudie magazine cover? What's the nature of the relationship between Veronica Vaughn and the penguin? Does O'Doyle actually rule? How did Bruce Jenner inspire the movie's finale? And of course, does Billy Madison stand the Test of Time?

Solar flares and a ham radio connect a father and son across time in the 2000 movie, Frequency. Join us for a conversation about the most amazin' baseball team ever (the '69 Mets, duh), how terrifying hospitals used to be, and the correct pronunciation of Yahoo. We also discuss using time travel to improve your life *and* your living room before deciding if Frequency stands the Test of Time.

Eddie Murphy plays an African prince (and a singer, a barber, and an old Jewish man) in the box office smash, Coming to America. This week, Amita Patel from the Inside Pop podcast joins us to talk about the movie with a pampered prince you pity, the most misogynistic song ever, and a mic drop before mic drops were even a thing. Plus it's got a young Cuba Gooding Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, and Louie Anderson! Grab a Big Mick from McDowell's as we find out if 1988's Coming to America stands the Test of Time. Listen to the Inside Pop podcast at http://www.insidepoppodcast.com

Six strangers find themselves in a geometric, booby-trapped maze in the 1997 thriller, Cube. This week, we're talking about prime numbers (like a couple of nerds), why the whole "five o'clock shadow" thing isn't true for everyone, and how this franchise missed a huge opportunity with its third movie. Plus we give our thoughts on Star Wars: The Last Jedi—and make a few Episode IX predictions—before asking if Cube stands the Test of Time.

The Last Dragon wasn't a hit when it was released in 1985, but it has since become a beloved cult classic. Special guest Jason Torres joins us to discuss why The Last Dragon's villain may be its true hero, the movie's shocking similarities with Kung Fu Panda, and why you should never try to catch a bullet with your teeth once, let alone twice. We also make our 2018 box office predictions before deciding if The Last Dragon stands the Test of Time.

Matt Damon plays a reformed gambler drawn back into the world of underground poker in the 1998 movie, Rounders. Recorded live at Nick's Marathon, listen as we ponder the shelf life of a toothpick, why a good fake accent can still be distracting, and how this movie didn't really try too hard when it came to giving characters nicknames. (Worm? Joey Knish?? Teddy KGB???) We hope you don't call our bluff as we go all in and... third poker thing... to find out if Rounders stands the Test of Time.

As a no-nonsense "cooler" (basically just a glorified bouncer), Patrick Swayze is bustin' heads and breakin' hearts in 1989's Road House. Listen as we talk about Swayze's fatality move, when you should carry around your medical records, and what this movie's villain has in common with Mr. Burns. Not racy enough for you? Well hang on, because we also discuss the sounds that breasts make, the invention of foreplay, and how vertical sex is more difficult in real life than it looks in the movies. Recorded live at Nick's Marathon, special guest Adam Pincas helps us decide if Road House stands the Test of Time.

Robin Williams brings the jungle to life—literally—in 1995's Jumanji. This week, we discuss the worst way to tell someone that their parents are dead, the difference between alligators and crocodiles, and how parts of Jumanji are reminiscent of Back to the Future Part II, Big, and Pinocchio. We also come up with clever nicknames for both David Alan Grier and computer generated images, and we make a few predictions about Star Wars: The Last Jedi before finding out if Jumanji stands the Test of Time.

What happens when you make a movie with Tom Selleck, Ted Danson, Steve Guttenberg, and an adorable infant? You get the #1 movie of 1987: Three Men and a Baby. Join us as we ask why three successful men in their 30's would want to be roommates, how drug dealers could confuse a baby with a brick of heroin, and why anyone would ever attempt to use a puppet to impress a woman. Come for the conversation about our favorite movie remakes, then stay for the story of our most humiliating experience as fraternity pledges. In the end, we decide if Three Men and a Baby stands the Test of Time.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck hit the A-list and took home Oscars for their 1997 movie, Good Will Hunting. This week, we talk about what the MIT campus really looks like, the deep love Bostonians have for Dunkin' Donuts, and how you can quickly spot the difference between Funny Robin Williams and Serious Robin Williams. We also give our thoughts on the Super Mario movie that's reportedly in development before we ask if Good Will Hunting stands the Test of Time.

Steve Martin plays a man on a desperate quest to get home to his family, and John Candy plays the travel companion from hell in the quintessential Thanksgiving movie, Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Join us as we discuss the movie's missing scene that probably would have been hilarious, how the "two pillows" joke could have easily been improved, and whether this flick or The Sixth Sense does the better twist ending. Plus we give our hot take on Justice League before finding out if Planes, Trains and Automobiles stands the Test of Time.

Aliens make first contact in Steven Spielberg's second blockbuster, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Give a listen as we discuss what this movie may have in common with Guardians of the Galaxy, the iconic scene that has been referenced by both Weird Al and The Simpsons, and what the different "kinds" of close encounters actually are. (Put it this way: Close Encounters of the Seventh Kind would have been a verrrrrrrrrry different kind of movie.) As the film celebrates it's 40th anniversary, we determine if Close Encounters of the Third Kind stands the Test of Time.

It's Spaceballs: the podcast episode! In 1987, Mel Brooks set his satirical sights on Star Wars (and a lot of other movies) with a farce that features sight gags, puns, and frequent use of the word "schwartz." Live from Nick's Marathon, special guest Dominic Monfre joins us to talk about jokes that are funnier in Spanish, we offer terrible tax advice that you definitely shouldn't take, and we ponder why NASA will never send a probe to Uranus (it's exactly what you think). Ultimately, we find out if Spaceballs stands the Test of Time.

Cowabunga! It's the big screen debut of Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael in the 1990 movie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Jon Willis of The Wayward Willis podcast joins us to talk about Shredder's poorly thought out plan for world domination, kids who love both the Ninja Turtles and Humphrey Bogart, and this movie's character who's sexist, homophobic, a murderer... and one of the good guys. We also definitively declare the greatest movie and video game to ever feature the heroes in a half shell as we decide if 1990's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stands the Test of Time.

Director Wes Craven brought fresh blood to the teen slasher genre in his 1996 movie, Scream. In our annual Halloween episode, we discuss modern meta moments, the old-fashioned name for cell phones, and how this film has twists in the opening *and* closing scenes. (Take that, M. Night Shyamalan!) You may know how to survive a horror movie, but do you know if Scream stands the Test of Time?

Dan Aykroyd and Tom Hanks play mismatched detectives tracking down a cult/crime syndicate in the 1987 flick, Dragnet. This movie has a nefarious plot that hinges on a personal check, a bad guy with a great name, and a scene of Ramsay Bolton-esque torture that's played for laughs. But does this 1980's movie based on a 1950's TV show stand the Test of Time?

Teens 'n parties. Music 'n dancing. Kid 'n Play. They all come together in the 1990 movie, House Party. We are once again joined by Brat Pack America author Kevin Smokler as we talk about old school Kool Aid, the only man who can crack up Ice Cube, and what House Party has in common with Bridesmaids, Dirty Work, and Frankie and Annette beach movies. Plus we share our thoughts on Ready Player One and the 80's nostalgia craze (something we happen to know a little bit about) before we see if House Party stands the Test of Time.