Episode 115 - WILLOW

As Solo: A Star Wars Story swaggers into theaters, we turn our attention to the O.G. collaboration between Ron Howard and Lucasfilm: the epic fantasy Willow, a movie that leans hard into genre traditions while attempting to make children simultaneously giggle with delight and soil their pants in terror. Just your garden-variety '80s family film operating within a far more permissive ratings board culture.

Sean Davis, co-host of the After the Credits podcast, was there to experience the magic at the beginning, and shares his memories with us during the glorious conclusion of Not Quite Star Wars Month. Listen in to learn how Willow blends practical wizardry and cutting-edge technology, and how it serves a story that is by turns emotionally resonant, staunchly conventional, and wildly silly.

Willow (1988)
Directed by Ron Howard
Produced by George Lucas, Nigel Wooll, and Joe Johnston
Written by Bob Dolman
Story by George Lucas
Starring Warwick Davis, Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Jean Marsh, Patricia Hayes, Kevin Pollak, Rick Overton, Gavan O'Herlihy, Pat Roach, and Billy Barty

Episode 114 - LOST IN SPACE

Not Quite Star Wars Month rolls on with Lost In Space, a confused jumble of galactic adventure, toxic masculinity, familial angst, and iffy CGI. Following the blueprint of so many kitschy TV-to-film adaptations, it inflates a very basic premise with an abundance of attitude, and we have trouble agreeing whether it's escapist fun or just a fresh coat of paint on a clunker.

Lieography podcast co-host John Parton joins our crew to chat about everything from Matt LeBlanc action figures to Looney Tunes-inspired distress signals. Danger, Will Robinson: it's another smashing WWWW debut!

Lost In Space (1998)
Directed by Stephen Hopkins
Produced by Carla Fry, Akiva Goldsman, Stephen Hopkins, and Mark Koch
Written by Akiva Goldsman
Based on Lost In Space created by Irwin Allen
Starring John Hurt, Mimi Rogers, Matt LeBlanc, Heather Graham, Lacey Chabert, Jack Johnson, Dick Tufeld, Jared Harris, and Gary Oldman

Episode 113 - SPACEBALLS

To celebrate May the Fourth (as well as the impending debut of a film about the solo adventures of a certain space rogue) your intrepid podcast hosts are proud to present Not Quite Star Wars Month! We get things rolling with Spaceballs, Mel Brooks's quotable spoof of sci-fi sagas. Kristal Bailey and Kevin Taylor drop by to share their thoughts on our favorite Rick Moranis performances, Lone Starr's "glow up," and the conspicuous amount of profanity in this PG-rated film.

Prepare your earbuds for ludicrous speed, and may the Force...er, may the Schwartz be with you!

Spaceballs (1987)
Directed and produced by Mel Brooks
Written by Mel Brooks, Thomas Meehan, and Ronny Graham
Starring Rick Moranis, John Candy, Joan Rivers, Bill Pullman, Daphne Zuniga, George Wyner, Dick Van Patten, and Mel Brooks