Podcast Episode – The Goods: Film Reviews

Podcast Episode: Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939) – TCM-core

Dan & Brian — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:26:16 +0000

Dan and Brian continue their month-long look at teachers and training with an investigation of the seminal 1939 teacher flick, Goodbye Mr. Chips. Dan pauses to share some thoughts and reading on teacher movies as a whole, then they review the life-spanning tale of an English boarding school teacher. Join as they discuss the movie-as-mirror theory of teacher films, the impenetrable English boarding school jargon, the unexpected darkness of the film, pointless April Fools pranks, and the 1969 musical adaptation of the story.

https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/8vydgekukcyxa4hc/the-goods-263.mp3

Link to Podbean episode

Episode Number

263

Films Reviewed

Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939)

Is It Good?

Is It Good? - Dan's Rating

Very Good (6/8)

Is It Good? - Brian's Rating

Very Good (6/8)

Supplemental Media

Podcast Appearance: Witch Movies on Alternate Ending

Dan Stalcup — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:18:30 +0000

Brian and I joined the Alternate Ending podcast this week to discuss movies about witches and witchcraft. We joined Caleb and regular Goods participant Dr. Gavin McDowell for the chat.

The discussion opened with some movies we’ve seen recently, then discussed a few dozen depictions of witches throughout cinema history, what some of the recurring themes approaches are, and what even is the definition of a “witch.”

Thanks Alternate Ending for hosting us!

Podcast Episode: Rocky & Creed series (1976-2023) – Soviet montage

Dan & Brian — Sat, 03 Oct 2026 15:16:05 +0000

Dan and Brian continue their “train” month of movies about teachers, training, and self-improvement with a look at the entire Rocky and Creed series. Come celebrate 50 years of Sylvester Stallone’s epic saga as Dan and Brian go all nine rounds and discuss Rocky as an unlikely success story that claimed Best Picture among an unusually stacked class of candidates. Then they look at each of the Rocky movies one by one, lingering for a bit on Rocky IV and its generational montage sequence. Join as they discuss the terrific screenwriting of the original, the many flavors of Rocky follow-up, the surprising wholesomeness of Rocky and Adrian, the insufferable Paulie getting a cool robot, the mirror images of Rocky V and Rocky Balboa, Ryan Coogler’s fresh reframing of the Rocky saga, and the dueling approaches to sequels between Creed II and III. Then, Dan and Brian rate and rank all nine films.

https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/d8e2eggzi3que4qc/the-goods-262.mp3

Link to Podbean episode

Episode Number

262

Films Reviewed

Rocky (1976)
Rocky II (1979)
Rocky III (1982)
Rocky IV (1985)
Rocky V (1990)
Rocky Balboa (2006)
Creed (2015)
Creed II (2018)
Creed III (2023)

Is It Good?

Is It Good? - Dan's Rating

Rocky (1976) – Exceptionally Good (7/8)
Rocky II (1979) – Good (5/8)
Rocky III (1982) – Good (5/8)
Rocky IV (1985) – Good (5/8)
Rocky V (1990) – Good (5/8)
Rocky Balboa (2006) – Good (5/8)
Creed (2015) – Very Good (6/8)
Creed II (2018) – Very Good (6/8)
Creed III (2023) – Good (5/8)

Is It Good? - Brian's Rating

Rocky (1976) – Exceptionally Good (7/8)
Rocky II (1979) – Good (5/8)
Rocky III (1982) – Good (5/8)
Rocky IV (1985) – Very Good (6/8)
Rocky V (1990) – Not Not Good (3/8)
Rocky Balboa (2006) – Good (5/8)
Creed (2015) – Good (5/8)
Creed II (2018) – Very Good (6/8)
Creed III (2023) – Good (5/8)

Ranking the Series

Dan's series ranking

Rocky (1976)
Creed (2015)
Creed II (2018)
Creed III (2023)
Rocky III (1982)
Rocky IV (1985)
Rocky II (1979)
Rocky Balboa (2006)
Rocky V (1990)

Brian's series ranking

Rocky (1976)
Rocky IV (1985)
Creed II (2018)
Rocky III (1982)
Rocky Balboa (2006)
Creed III (2023)
Creed (2015)
Rocky II (1979)
Rocky V (1990)

Supplemental Media

Podcast Appearance: Obsession vs. Friendship on Hard Ticket

Dan Stalcup — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 21:15:30 +0000

I had the pleasure of joining this week’s episode of the Hard Ticket Podcast. On Hard Ticket, hosts Jeff and Tristan consider a double feature of movies and pick which one they prefer.

We discussed Curry Barker’s horror sensation Obsession and Tim Robinson’s dark comedy Friendship, two movies I’ve reviewed and more-or-less liked, but had some mixed feelings to sort through with Jeff and Tristan.

Thanks Jeff and Tristan for having me on your pod!

Podcast Episode: Whiplash (2014) – Great men are rarely good

Dan & Brian — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 13:39:04 +0000

Dan and Brian continue “Train” month, their look at teacher and training films, by considering a slightly less wholesome teacher-student relationship, the one depicted in Whiplash. Join as they discuss Damien Chazelle, their formative teachers (and some less formative ones), our “first ticket” directors, real drumming, the strange energy between Neiman and Fletcher, category fraud, and what makes greatness.

https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/kdv2nprxxtwjurwn/the-goods-261.mp3

Link to Podbean episode

Episode Number

261

Films Reviewed

Whiplash (2014)

Is It Good?

Is It Good? - Dan's Rating

Exceptionally Good (7/8)

Is It Good? - Brian's Rating

Masterpiece: Tour De Good (8/8)

Supplemental Media

Dan’s brother making the Rose face in 2008 (and blinking Dan)

Podcast Episode: Follow Me, Boys! (1966) & Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995) – The sheepshank redemption

Dan & Brian — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 20:50:56 +0000

Brian and Dan kick off a new theme month: “Train Month”… but the verb this time. Each week, we’ll look at movies about teachers and other coaching figures or training regimens.

To kick the month off, Dan and Brian discuss two films that were formative examples of movie teachers for Brian: Fred MacMurray as a Scoutmaster in Follow Me, Boys! and Richard Dreyfuss as a band teacher in Mr. Holland’s Opus.

Join as they discuss their own connections with the education career, the flashpoint status of Boy Scouts, the breakdown of midcentury economics, shifting mores towards masculinity over time, the “opus” of a life of service, and “sects” in the pool.

https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/yhjifj73y5n8dada/the-goods-260.mp3

Link to Podbean episode

Episode Number

260

Films Reviewed

Follow Me, Boys! (1966)
Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995)

Is It Good?

Is It Good? - Dan's Rating

Follow Me, Boys! (1966) – Good (5/8)
Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995) – Good (5/8)

Is It Good? - Brian's Rating

Follow Me, Boys! (1966) – Very Good (6/8)
Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995) – Good (5/8)

Supplemental Media

Lillian Gish’s acting in Broken Blossoms

Podcast Episode: Three More Sinbad Adventures (1963-77) (ft. Gavin McDowell) – Maroof’s greatest hits

Dan & Brian — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 18:47:14 +0000

Dan and Brian welcome back Gavin McDowell to pick up their discussion of one of Gavin and Brian’s childhood obsessions: Sinbad’s many cinematic adventures. This follows up on their breakdown of 7th Voyage a year ago. Today, they discuss a wacky knockoff Sinbad, Captain Sindbad (1963) and two authentic Ray Harryhausen adventure pictures, Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973) and Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977).

Join as they re-examine the roots of the Sinbad myth and why it took such hold of adventure filmmaking, the nostalgia of practical effects films, the kooky Orientalism in the production, and sword and sandals in the age of Star Wars.

https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/vhkrj6e4q292g8ki/the-goods-259.mp3

Link to Podbean episode

Episode Number

259

Films Reviewed

Captain Sindbad (1963)
The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973)
Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977)

Is It Good?

Is It Good? - Dan's Rating

Captain Sindbad (1963) – Good-ish (4/8)
The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973) – Good-ish (4/8)
Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977) – Not not good (3/8)

Is It Good? - Brian's Rating

Captain Sindbad (1963) – Very Good (6/8)
The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973) – Good-ish (4/8)
Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977) – Good-ish (4/8)

Is It Good? - Gavin's Rating

Captain Sindbad (1963) – Good (5/8)
The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973) – Very Good (6/8)
Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977)– Not not good (3/8)

Supplemental Media

Incredible stop motion from Captain Sindbad

When you can tell a movie was made in the ’70s

Podcast Episode: Death Becomes Her (1992) – Delightful whiplash

Dan & Brian — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 17:54:18 +0000

Dan and Brian continue their exploration of misuse of corpses by watching and discussing the proto-Substance satire by Robert Zemeckis, a “swee generis” screwball horror comedy. Join as they discuss Zemeckis’s knack for integrating and normalizing groundbreaking tech, ingenious preoduction design and cinematography, unexpected genre mashups, David Koepp, the fine line between arch satire and misogyny, and Meryl Streep ridiculous run of awards nominations.

https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/yhjifj73y5n8dada/the-goods-260.mp3

Link to Podbean episode

Episode Number

258

Films Reviewed

Death Becomes Her (1992) – Dan’s review

Is It Good?

Is It Good? - Dan's Rating

Exceptionally Good (7/8)

Dan’s full review

Is It Good? - Brian's Rating

Exceptionally Good (7/8)

Supplemental Media

Contact’s mirror shot:

Twilight Zone mirror shot:

Podcast Episode: Weekend at Bernies 1 & 2 (1989/93) – Tailor-made for shenanigans

Dan & Brian — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 01:09:58 +0000

Dan and Brian bring to life the corpse of the much-mocked Weekend at Bernie’s and find it more palatable than they expected. Join as they discuss “they don’t make ’em like they used to” writing and practical effects, the sneaky (and possibly unintentional) satire of ’80s excess and hedonism, unspeakable acts to unalive bodies, the deliriously wacky sequel, and Dan’s proposed metaphor for the corpse.

https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/mw48wvv93g7g6p6t/the-goods-257.mp3

Link to Podbean episode

Episode Number

257

Films Reviewed

Weekend at Bernie’s (1989)
Weekend at Bernie’s 2 (1993)

Is It Good?

Is It Good? - Dan's Rating

Weekend at Bernie’s (1989) – Good (5/8)
Weekend at Bernie’s 2 (1993) – Good-ish (4/8)

Is It Good? - Brian's Rating

Weekend at Bernie’s (1989) – Exceptionally Good (7/8)
Weekend at Bernie’s 2 (1993) – Good (5/8)

Supplemental Media

Podcast Episode: Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July (1979) and other Rankin/Bass ft. Zan Gillies – Normal Boxing Day behavior

Dan & Brian — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 13:32:21 +0000

Dan and Brian welcome Brian’s college friend and Emmy-winning filmmaker Zan Gillies to discuss the extended Rankin/Bass holiday universe, culminating in the Avengers: Endgame-like Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July. Join as they discuss collecting the Ultron of media awards, the deathly fascinations of the Frosty franchise, the spiritual landscape of the Rankin/Bass universe, an abundance of redheads, the insanity of Rudolph’s second movie, and the grand unhinged culminating carnival adventure pulling them together.

https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/pyckzaratijqumbv/the-goods-256.mp3

Link to Podbean episode

Episode Number

256

Films Reviewed

Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July (1979)
Frosty’s Winter Wonderland (1976)
Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (1976)

Is It Good?

Is It Good? - Dan's Rating

Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July (1979) – Not Not Good (3/8)
Frosty’s Winter Wonderland (1976) – Not Not Good (3/8)
Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (1976) – Good-ish (4/8)

Is It Good? - Brian's Rating

Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July (1979) – Good-ish (4/8)
Frosty’s Winter Wonderland (1976) – Not Not Good (3/8)
Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (1976) – Not Not Good (3/8)

Is It Good? - Zan's Rating

Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July (1979) – Masterpiece: Tour De Good (8/8)
Frosty’s Winter Wonderland (1976) – Not Not Good (3/8)
Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (1976) – Good-ish (4/8)

Supplemental Media

“Thanks 256”

Some uncanny celebrity cameos in animation: