Movies That Make Us

Before anything else, we want to thank Holly for this awesome suggestion. This week we are talking about the 90s classic, Titanic. This film was huge when it came out, having a long successful run at the theater. It was the largest grossing film of all time until Avatar (another James Cameron film). It won 11 Academy Awards out of the 14 it was nominated for (eat your heart out Joker). We share our thoughts on this cultural phenomenon. Val talks about how she wanted to be like her same name director, James Cameron, and Jake talks about his first job at the movie theater, right in the middle of Titanic fever, and Tracy talks about working at the video store and getting in trouble with parents for renting it to kids. Oh, and we talk about the movie too. It was a technical marvel, with solid acting and a good story. It was deserving of all the critical acclaim and all the hype of the time. This was a passion project for James Cameron and comes across in the film, as well as all the work we has done sin

The Oscar Nominations are out, as of January 13. There were 9 films nominated for best picture. And no women nominated for best director. Again. There were surprises and there were snubs. So it was just like any other year. And we are here to talk about it. We start the episode by discussing our apparel store, and we are going to remind you about it here. Please check it out, and pick yourself up an epic Movies That Make Us shirts or a nice sticker. Proceeds go to help us keep the lights on. So check it out here. We also recognize our fan, Holly, and share her wonderful feedback. We love you Holly, like we love all of our fans, you guys are why we do this show, and we love hearing from you.And we talk about what it feels like to be 40 and fell like you are in high school again. And going to your friend’s house. And not leaving the gate open so the dogs can get out. Then we talk Oscar nominations. We break down the major categories, like actor, actress, director, music, cinematography, and of co

It’s our year in review episode! What were the top ten grossing films of 2019? Were they the ten best films of 2019? Probably not. In this week’s episode we compare the list of the top ten grossing films from the year with what our favorite films from the year were. This episode was recorded right before last week’s episode, and we had intended to release it before, but Jake made a decision to put it after last week’s episode, so it might sound a little our of order. Here is the updated list of top grossing films domestically (according to Box Office Mojo), after the last week of December, so Star Wars moved up:10. It Chapter 2- $211,592,2289. Joker- $333,772,5118. Aladdin- $355,559,2167. Spider-Man: Far From Home- $390,532,0856. Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker - $390,706,2345. Captain Marvel- $426,829,8394. Frozen II- $430,144,6823. Toy Story 4- $434,038,0082. The Lion King- $543,638,043Avengers: Endgame- $858,373,000What were some of your favorite movies of 2019? What movies in the to

It is January 6, and the 77th Golden Globes are in the books. But when we recorded this episode, they hadn’t happened yet, and we just had the nominees. And we had our thoughts on the nominations and decided to share them here. Maybe we picked some of the winners, and maybe we got them all wrong. You get to check our guesses against the actual winners and see how we did.We also talk some slights- like where was anything Avengers: Endgame? And we talk about how badly Universal missed the mark with Cats- a film that looked like it should be nominated for an Oscar, or the type of film that should be, and then it was just awful.We also discuss and run through the nominees for the Screen Actors’ Guild Awards nominees. The one we think is a lock in both awards is Best Actor- Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker. What do you think about the nominees for each show? Who was slighted? Let us know by sending your feedback to podcast@moviesthatmakeus.com. Come back next week as we drop our episode about the best of 2019- ac

Have you ever wondered what we all thought about Rise of Skywalker? Well, now is your chance to find out. We welcome our friends Collin and Zach to the show as we share our reactions. And, for the first time in the history of our show, we are even keeping it spoiler free.With Star Wars being what it is now, and the fandom being what it is right now, this film is another polarizing installment, or it seems to be if you read the internet. But we all seemed to enjoy it quite a bit.Have you seen this final installment of the Skywalker Saga? What were your initial thoughts? Let us know. You can send your feedback to podcast@moviesthatmakeus.com. You can also join our Rise of Skywalker Discussion group on Facebook.Thanks for listening, and we won’t see you at the movies!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

’Tis the season to talk about Christmas movies! “tis the season to be super busy as well, and to have family commitments and things like that, so unfortunately we a re a host down as Tracy and Jake try to sit down and tackle Christmas movies without Val. We promise it went better than our Pacific Rim episode, but we still missed Val a ton.We try to talk about all the classics. The movies that make us at this time of year. The ones you pull out and know it is officially that time of year. We talk Elf, A Christmas Story, Home Alone, different versions of A Christmas Carol and so many more. If you have a favorite film, it’s probably in here. We also talk about some newer Christmas films, like Klaus on Netflix and Noelle on Disney+ and Anna and the Apocalypse. And we have a lot of fun. And because it is so busy this time of year, we aren’t going to be launching as many new episodes in December. We have this one this week. Next Monday we won’t have a new episode, but we will be busy seeing Rise of Skywal

On this episode of our show, we welcome special guest Blake Casselman. Blake is a local film maker. You can purchase or rent his film, Adopting Trouble, on Amazon now. He also heads up a local screenwriting group in Salt Lake City. Blake also works with the programming at FanX. We are so excited to have him on the show.The film we are discussing is the 1986 film The Mission. The film has a cast consisting of some current big name actors, including Robert De Niro, Jeremy Irons, and Liam Neeson. It chronicles the events of a Jesuit mission in South America that is under the control of Spanish Jesuit missionaries, but located in pro-slavery Portuguese territory. We discuss the powerful music, the beautiful cinematography, and the impactful story that has established this film as one that is studied in film schools throughout the country. Although a masterpiece in many ways, the film was a flop at the box office, and some critics and audiences struggled with it. Although a difficult story, it is also hopeful

Happy Thanksgiving! We are talking about the classic Planes, T

Disney+ went live last week, and the internet has not stopped talking about it since. Yes it is another streaming service, and if you want to watch their original series then you have to get the service. But, is this streaming service worth it? Our team answers that question. To be fair, though, the three of us do drink the Disney Kool-Aid.Disney+ is the place to go and find almost anything you want from Disney. Its is also the new streaming home to The Simpsons and the only place to find original series like The Mandalorian and The World According to Jeff Goldblum. You can also find over 500 Disney films, National Geographic programming and Disney Channel Original content like High School Musical. There really is something for almost everybody.Our team breaks down the cost and they talk about what they have watched, before taking a little bit of a deep dive, albeit spoiler free, into The Mandalorian, which is one of their favorites. They also talk about what some of the complaints have been, but overall, the

In this episode of Movies That Make Us, Jake, Tracy, and Val are talking about the films this year that may be up for some awards. It’s the time of year when the studios are trying to get their Oscar nominees into theaters, so Val is busy almost every day with multiple screenings. In this episode we talk about what is coming up that you may not want to miss, as well as some films you may want to go back and revisit before they start handing little gold statues. We talk about some of the films with great performances by actors, and some of the films that had great cinematography, and some of the films that are for sure going to be nominated for best picture. It may not be a comprehensive list of every film that will probably be nominated, but it’s better. This is a Movies That Make Us list, so you know it will be entertaining to listen to.Did you have a film that didn’t make this list? Did we get it wrong somewhere on the list? Let us know by sending an email to podcast@moviesthamakeus.com. Or you can leave us

Singin’ in the Rain is the iconic Musical. Released in 1952, this film has it all. Great singing, amazing dancing, a fun story and spectacle galore. The film stars Gene Kelly in the lead as Don Lockwood, as well as Debbie Reynolds in one of her earliest roles as Kathy Selden. The film also stars Donald O’Connor as Cosmo Brown and Jean Hagen as Lina Lamont.The story takes place in 1927, as films are transitioning from silent moving pictures to “talkies,” and offers a glimpse behind the scenes in early Hollywood film making. Don and Cosmo have to figure out what to do with Lina Lamont when it comes out that her voice is not going to work for the new audio tracks accompanying films. This is a love story, a comedy and a musical all rolled into one, and our team is talking about why it has endured for so long. Tracy talks about why this film is in his top 10 or 15 of all time. Val talks about the influence this film has on her as a budding filmmaker herself.What do you think of Singin’ in the Rain? Is it one of yo

Our spooky October wraps up with a look at the visionary Wes Craven. He is the director behind Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream. What made him such an influential director? He is a pioneer of the slasher genre of horror films and has created characters and franchises that have redefined the genre multiple times. This is a fun, perfect way to end our October. Beginning with The Hills Have Eyes, and then moving to Nightmare on Elm Street, and up through the Scream franchise, he has been a staple of Horror films since 1977. In between there we have had some other films like Swamp Thing and Vampire in Brooklyn. He has created Iconic characters like Freddy and Ghost Face.We talk about all of it, and Val talks about waking up with no pants one, and Jake talks about the difference between boys and girls bathrooms, and Tracy tries to just keep us on track as we discuss Wes Craven. It’s a winding look at a storied career.What’s your favorite We Craven movie? Or do you prefer John Carpenter or Friday the 13th? Let us

Tim Burton has directed 19 feature length films, countless shorts, and even a couple of music videos. He has also produced several other films. He has established a signature style. When you watch a Tim Burton film, you know it’s his movie within minutes. In this episode we talk all about Tim Burton’s career and some of our favorite Tim Burton movies- films that fit perfectly with a Halloween-y mood.Not every Burton film is perfect, and we admit some of them have problems, but overall, he has put together an impressive resume. How do you choose a favorite? Is it Pee-wee’s Big Adventure? Maybe it’s the 1989 classic Batman. Or maybe you love Big Fish. Whatever your choice, we are probably going to hit on it in this episode.And you can’t talk about Tim Burton films without discussing Danny Elfman and his amazing film scores. Danny Elfman and his music add to the signature Tim Burton film feel. His music just seems to take the visuals of Tim Burton into auditory form. When you hear Elfman’s score, you can picture

On this week’s episode we have two very special guests to help us talk about the 1960 horror classic Psycho. Tracy, Val, and Jake welcome Brandon and Heather from Cancer Bites, SLC. If you hate walking but you also still hate Cancer, then Cancer Bites it the organization for you. They started as a 5K alternative. Each year around Halloween they host a screening of a favorite scary, spooky movie to raise money for Cancer research. This year they are hosting a double feature for their 10th annual 5K alternative. Psycho and House on Haunted Hill. You can check out more information and purchase tickets to the 6:30 screening on October 24 at Brewvies in Salt Lake City, by going to cancerbitesslc.org.In this episode, we break down why Psycho has endured all these years, and why it is still scary, even without the gore. How did Hitchcock use angles and sound and music to set the tone? We also discuss some of the inspiration for the main character and why Hitchcock did some of the things he did in this film.We also h

Our spooky October marches on with Ghostbusters! This 1984 comedy has been a staple in our lives since it came out 35 years ago. What has allowed this film and this franchise to endure so long and stand the test of time? Great writing, great comedic timing, great special effects, and a fun story. And we break it all down on the show.Quick side note, Jake brings up the cartoon series and the Real Ghostbusters, and totally gets it backwards. The fake, rip off, show was called just “Ghostbusters.” The actual cartoon was “The Real Ghostbusters” so that everyone knew which was actually based on the film. Jake screws this one up, and we’re sorry. The rest of the episode is gold, though.Jake talks about his love for Rick Moranis. I mean, it’s a lot of love. A lot of Love. We then go over which Ghostbuster each of us is, and all agree that Val is clearly our Venkman. None of us disagree on that. We talk about the ghosts, and how this film blends the fun with spooky. That library ghost was terrifying. And the demons i

A Quiet Place was released in 2018. It follows the story of a family in a dystopian future where people are being hunted by monsters that are alerted to any sound. How do you survive in a world where you can’t make sounds? How do you deal with even happy events like the birth of a child? How do you protect your kids, especially one who can’t hear the sounds they make? This is an edge of your seat thriller that hangs on to you from start to finish.Join Jake, Tracy, and Val as they discuss this thriller, perfect for your Halloween time viewing. This is the first of our month long look at scary or at least scaryish movies, just in time for Halloween and October. Our hosts break down the story of this film, directing yourself and your wife in a film, hiring actors with disabilities to represent disabilities on screen. Our team is back at the Watchtower, and back to just our three hosts, after a minute where we had multiple guests. It’s good to be back together, just the three of us. We loved this film and we love

This is a very special episode. This is part one of a three part episode spanning three days over multiple podcasts. Part two will be on Stolendroids on Tuesday, and part three will be on Cutscenes and Cupcakes on Wednesday. It was a lot of fun getting together with so many great podcasters to talk about Pirates of the Caribbean on “International Talk Like a Pirate Day.” Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl came out in 2003 and launched a major tent pole movies franchise for Disney, before they had Marvel or Star Wars. This made Johnny Depp a household name and turned Orlando Bloom into a heartthrob. It was action and adventure and everything just worked. The first installment was a huge hit and pirates became all the rage.The sequels never seemed to get to the same level of quality that the first one did, but there are still plenty of fun moments, and each one was a box office smash. Enough that they made five films over 14 years. That’s not too shabby.And then there’s hugging and smelling

30 episodes! Wow. We know that there are a lot of shows that have way more episodes, but we’re also proud of what we have put together so far for our little show. One week ago we found ourselves at FanX in Salt Lake City, and we thought it would be a lot of fun to bring together other podcasters and panelists and nerds to talk about Spider-Man to celebrate our 30th episode. And, wow, we got some really great talent on the show. And there’s a lot to talk about with Spidey. What is going to happen to our favorite web slinger now that Disney and Sony have split up? What will Spider-Man 3 look like without Happy Hogan and Tony Stark’s technology? What about Into the Spiderverse? What will that sequel look like? And how will they integrate Spidey into the Venom franchise? We talk about all of this in the episode and offer a lot of thoughts, opinions, and speculation. We also talk about our favorite iteration of Spider-Man across any medium, whether it’s video games, movies or cartoon series. All of this happened i

Superman II came out in 1980 as a follow up to the 1978 Superman. Christopher Reeve returns as Clark Kent / Superman along with Margot Kidder as Lois Lane and Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor. Terrence Stamp is also back as the main baddy, General Zod. And all the side characters are back, like Jackie Cooper as Perry white and Ned Beatty as Otis. For this film, Richard Donner had left the production because of issues with producers Ilya and Alexander Salkind, so Richard Lester was brought in to finish the film.Richard Donner had recorded a lot of footage for Superman II while recording the first installment, most of which was lost as Richard Lester came in to finish. In 2006, Warner Bros. worked with Donner to restore his original footage and mix it with the existing film to allow Donner to finish his vision for the movie. This was released as Superman II: The Donner Cut.Join Jake, Tracy, and Val as they welcome special guest Craig Price from Matinee Heroes, as they discuss Superman II! They breakdown bad trailers,

The Muppet Movie came out in 1979, which means it turns 40 this year. It is a movie that has been a staple in pop culture ever since. It is full of wit and humor and heart. For these reasons it has endured all this time. It starred the whole cast of the Muppets, from Kermit and Miss Piggy to Fozzie Bear and Gonzo. Every Muppet you know and love made an appearance in this film. The movie tells the story of how the Muppets came together and made their way to Hollywood and became big stars. It follows Kermit as he leaves his place in the swamp to follow his dreams to make others happy through entertainment. Along the way he meets the other Muppets, who join him on his trip to Hollywood. All the while, he is being pursued by Doc Hopper who would like Kermit to be the spokes-frog for his fried frog leg commercial.The film itself is full of great puns, huge Hollywood cameos including Orson Wells, Steve Martin, and Bob Hope, and many, many others. Then there’s the music. We dare you to talk about The Muppet Movie wi