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The Test of Time Posts

Episode 13: Short Circuit (1986)


What does it mean to be alive? How does one feel? What is the nature of the soul? These heady questions are kinda sorta addressed in the 1986 movie, Short Circuit.

Come listen as we rant about Fishers Stevens in brown face, the major design flaw in these robotic super weapons, and one of the single biggest plot holes ever: what happened to Robot #4? In the end, we ask: does Short Circuit stand the Test of Time?


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Episode 12: Kindergarten Cop (1990)

It’s not a tumor… it’s a podcast! Arnold Schwarzenegger goes from action hero to (kinda) family friendly star in 1990’s Kindergarten Cop.

We chat about Detective John Kimble’s great one-liners and his shoddy police work. We talk about Crisp, the bad guy with the incredible ponytail and the least intimidating name ever. We even give the movie credit (or is it blame?) for inspiring flicks like The Pacifier and Tooth Fairy. And we do it all in the name of finding out: does Kindergarten Cop stand the Test of Time?


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Episode 11: The Mighty Ducks (1992)

A ragtag group of misfits are terrible at sports, until they get an inspirational new leader who teaches them important life lessons… and learns a little something himself along the way. Not sure which movie we’re talking about? Here’s a hint: this flick has Emilio Estevez!

Our conversation about The Mighty Ducks includes a healthy debate over what the insult “cake eater” means, a dissection of the movie’s subtle pro-vaccination message, and as a bonus blast from the past, we taste test Crystal Pepsi! All this as we ask: does The Mighty Ducks stand the Test of Time?


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Episode 10: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)


RIP Gene Wilder. In light of the beloved actor’s passing, we’re taking a look back at his most iconic role, the seminal film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

Join us as we wonder what the hell a bean feast is, discuss the part of the movie that we always fast-forwarded, and Alan questions the *real* motives behind Wonka’s Golden Ticket ploy, all in the name of finding out: does Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory stand the Test of Time?


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Episode 9: Tommy Boy (1995)

Tommy Boy is the quintessential Chris Farley/David Spade movie (sorry, Black Sheep!) The movie’s got plenty of Farley’s falls, Spade’s sarcasm, and even some genuine emotion mixed in (RIP, Big Tom.)
Join us as we reenact our favorite Chris Farley SNL sketches, try to remember what Apple Newtons did, and reminisce on when cow tipping was a thing, all as we decide if Tommy Boy stands the Test of Time.


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Episode 8: Labyrinth (1986)

Don’t you just hate it when your annoying baby brother gets kidnapped by the Goblin King, and you only have 13 hours to venture through a magical labyrinth to get him back?

Sarah can relate.

In a conversation about the beloved cult classic Labyrinth, we also discuss the Netflix sensation Stranger Things, Nintendo 64 polygons, and, yes, David Bowie’s prominently featured crotch. Plus Alan sings, and James manages to confuse Bowie, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Simon and Garfunkel—all at the same time! Ultimately, we determine if the Jim Henson directed movie stands the Test of Time.


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Episode 7: The Goonies (1985)

Hey… you… guys! That’s what I said – booty traps! Down here, it’s our time!

The Goonies is the beloved—and highly quotable—80’s movie that sent a group of kids from the goondocks searching for the lost treasure of One Eyed Willie. Our chat covers The Goonies II Nintendo game, the brilliant decision to delete that terrible scene with the octopus, and just how medically accurate the movie is (spoiler alert: not very.) Then, when all is said and done, we determine if The Goonies stands the Test of Time.


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Episode 6: Stand By Me (1986)


This week marks the 30th (!) anniversary of Stand By Me, Rob Reiner’s coming of age story about four young friends who go on a journey to find a dead body.

Join us for a conversation that spans the horrors of leeches, a blueberry pie-eating contest with questionable rules, and how easy it is to adapt a Stephen King story into a movie. At the end, we ask if this movie, set in 1959 and released in 1986, stands the Test of Time in 2016.


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Episode 5: The Princess Bride (1987)

Hello! Our names are Alan and James! You found our podcast! Prepare to enjoy! 
It wasn’t a big hit when it was first released, but The Princess Bride has become one of the most beloved films of the 1980’s. Join us as we ask the hard hitting questions about this movie: What is the proper pronunciation of Westley and Cary Elwes? Is Prince Humperdink kind of a jerk, or a really big jerk? Is “to blave” an actual expression that means “to bluff?” And most importantly, does The Princess Bride stand the Test of Time?


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Episode 4: Pretty Woman (1990) and Overboard (1987)

Garry Marshall passed away last week, leaving behind an impressive body of work. To celebrate the late director, James and Alan look back at two of his classic rich-person-falls-for-a-poor-person movies, Pretty Woman and Overboard.

The discussion includes Alan’s (terrible) impression of Julia Roberts’ laugh, plenty of puns, and the one scene in Overboard that casts a dark, terrible shadow over what’s supposed to be a light-hearted rom-com, all in the name of finding out if these films stand the Test of Time.


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Episode 3: Ghostbusters II (1989)

Long before internet trolls worried about how a Ghostbusters reboot would tarnish the original—heck, long before the internet was a thing most people even knew about—Ghostbusters II effectively killed the film franchise for over 25 years.

Alan Noah and James Brief dissect the sequel from all angles, from the villain who kind of looks like Gérard Depardieu, to the questionable comedy of fake accents, to what really happened at the Paramus, New Jersey Holiday Inn, all in the name of finding out: does Ghostbusters II stand the Test of Time?


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Episode 2: Ghostbusters (1984)

Don’t debate the artistic merits of the new Ghostbusters remake—listen to James Brief and Alan Noah debate the merits of the 1984 movie that started it all!

Ghostbusters is widely considered to be a classic 80’s flick, but is it more “fun” than “funny?” Will young viewers be confused by the haunted card catalog? And how do Citizen Kane and George Clooney factor into the conversation? Join us as we determine if the original Ghostbusters stands the Test of Time.


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Episode 1: Independence Day (1996)

In 1996, aliens came to Earth to destroy our precious planet, and only the ragtag team of Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldbum, and… Randy Quaid (?) could stop them.

It’s been twenty years since the release of Independence Day, and its long-awaited sequel is now in theaters. To mark the occasion, join Alan Noah and James Brief as we discuss everything from that all-powerful computer virus to James’ love of Zima all in the name of finding out: does Independence Day stand the Test of Time?


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