221 - Ghostbusters II (1989) & Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) →

CW: Sexual Assault, Addiction

It’s Ghostbusters Week again on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey wrap up the franchise (for now) and get into serious conversations about the function of the proton pack.

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!

The Classic Film: Ghostbusters II (1989)
"The discovery of a massive river of ectoplasm and a resurgence of spectral activity allows the staff of Ghostbusters to revive the business” (IMDb.com). Ghostbusters II is often maligned for being too kid-friendly and lacking the edge of the original, but it stacks up surprisingly well even if it isn't quite as good. If you think the Ghostbusters franchise isn't for kids, you're fooling yourself.

The Modern Film: Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)
"When a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind” (IMDb.com). Afterlife is actually a pretty good movie (if a little too long) and honors the franchise and Harold Ramis well. So what do you do when it's not a very good Ghostbusters movie?

Audio Sources:
"Ghostbusters" (1984) produced by Columbia Pictures, et al.
"Ghostbusters" (1986 TV Series) produced by Filmation Associates & Tribune Broadcasting Company
"Ghostbusters" (2016) produced by Columbia Pictures, et al.
"Ghostbusters II" produced by Columbia Pictures
"Ghostbusters: Afterlife" produced by Columbia Pictures, et al.
"Here We Go (Let's Rock & Roll)" written by Robert Clivillés & Freedom Williams and performed by C+C Music Factory
"Higher and Higher" written by Gary Jackson, et al., and performed by Jackie Wilson
"Higher and Higher" written by Gary Jackson, et al., and performed by Howard Huntsberry
"Magic" written and performed by Mick Smiley
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Social Psychology" (Community S01E04) produced by Harmonius Claptrap, et al.

210 - Double Feature - Ghostbusters (1984 & 2016) →

CW: Suicide, Sexual Harassment

The Best of 2021 - #4 Ghostbusters (1984)

It’s a Ghostbusters Double Feature on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey find out what it is to be roasted in the depths of the Sloar this day, I can tell you!

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!

The Original: Ghostbusters (1984)
"Three parapsychologists forced out of their university funding set up shop as a unique ghost removal service in New York City, attracting frightened yet skeptical customers” (IMDb.com). Barring a minor amount of gags that didn't age very gracefully, this horror-comedy classic is exactly as genius as the current zeitgeist would imply.

The Remake: Ghostbusters (2016)
"Following a ghost invasion of Manhattan, paranormal enthusiasts Erin Gilbert and Abby Yates, nuclear engineer Jillian Holtzmann, and subway worker Patty Tolan band together to stop the otherworldly threat” (IMDb.com). Recasting the classic with women didn't ruin this movie. It not being very good did.

Audio Sources:
"Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" produced by Morgan Creek Entertainment
"Ghostbusters" (1984) produced by Columbia Pictures, et al.
"Ghostbusters" (2016) produced by Columbia Pictures, et al.
"Ghostbusters" (The Movies that Made Us S01E03) produced by Netflix
"Janine, You've Changed" (The Real Ghostbusters S06E01) produced by DIC Entertainment
"Lonesome Ghosts" (1937) produced by Walt Disney Productions
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones

199 - Alien 3 (1992) & Life (2017) →

CW: Rape, Suicide, Harm to Animals

It’s Space Alien Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey celebrate Chris' birthday by wrapping up one of his favorite franchises: Alien! Yup! There are no more Alien movies after this!

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!

The Classic Film: Alien 3 (1992)
"After her last encounter, Ellen Ripley crash-lands on Fiorina 161, a maximum-security prison. When a series of strange and deadly events occur shortly after her arrival, Ripley realizes that she has brought along an unwelcome visitor” (IMDb.com). Alien 3 may have been an absolute mess of a production—so much so that David Fincher disowned it entirely—but it may not be as bad as you've been led to believe.

The Modern Film: Life (2017)
"A team of scientists aboard the International Space Station discovers a rapidly evolving life form that caused extinction on Mars and now threatens all life on Earth” (Sony Pictures). This movie has more than what it takes to be a banger—great actors, terrifying thrills, and a clean premise—too bad it all rests on an infuriating script.

Audio Sources:
"Alien" produced by Brandywine Productions
"Alien 3" produced by Twentieth Century Fox & Brandywine Productions
"Fight Club" produced by Fox 2000 Pictures, et al.
"Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1956) produced by Allied Artists Pictures & Walter Wanger Productions
"Life" (2017) produced by Columbia Pictures, et al.
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Spirit in the Sky" written and performed by Norman Greenbaum
"Strong Bad Email #45 - Techno" via homestarrunnerdotcom @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwZwkk7q25I

146 - Aliens (1986) & Alien: Covenant (2017) →

Best of 2020 - #1 Aliens

Read our afterthoughts for this episode here!

It’s another Alien week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey creep deeper into the Alien Franchise with what some refer to as the best installment. Chris is not one of those people.

The Classic Film: Aliens (1986)
“Ellen Ripley is rescued by a deep salvage team after being in hypersleep for 57 years. The moon that the Nostromo visited has been colonized, but contact is lost. This time, colonial marines have impressive firepower, but will that be enough?” (IMDb.com). I mean, come on, it’s Aliens. You know what’s up.

The Modern Film: Alien: Covenant (2017)
“The crew of a colony ship, bound for a remote planet, discover an uncharted paradise with a threat beyond their imagination and must attempt a harrowing escape” (Twentieth Century Fox). With Prometheus and its place in the Alien timeline winding up a little too bizarre and esoteric for the average Alien fan, it seems Ridley Scott and Fox felt compelled to compromise and bring its sequel closer to general expectations. In doing so, they’ve managed to make a relatively good movie that’s the worst of both worlds.

Audio Sources:
"Alien: Covenant" produced by Scott Free Productions, et al.
"Aliens" produced by Twentieth Century Fox, et al.
"Blade Runner" produced by The Ladd Company, et al.
"Clerks" produced by View Askew Productions & Miramax
"It's Raining Men" written by Paul Jabara & Paul Shaffer and performed by The Weather Girls
"Mad About You" written by Paula Jean Brown, James Whelan, & Mitchel Young Evans and performed by Belinda Carlisle
"Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie" produced by Best Brains & Universal Pictures
"The Naked Now" (Star Trek: The Next Generation S01E03) produced by Paramount Television
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Take Me Home, Country Roads" written by Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert, & John Denver and performed by John Denver
"The Terminator" produced by Cinema '84, et al.
"Thank You for Smoking" produced by Room 9 Entertainment
"Tombstone" produced by Hollywood Pictures, et al.

113 - Alien (1979) & Prometheus (2012) →

CW: Rape, Pregnancy

Best of 2019 - #3 (Tied) Alien

Read our afterthoughts for this episode at https://twitter.com/PodSematary/status/1200989603081023489

It’s Alien Week on Pod Sematary! Chris & Kelsey intercept a distress signal and then never make a good decision ever again.

The Classic Film: Alien (1979)
"After a space merchant vessel perceives an unknown transmission as a distress call, its landing on the source moon finds one of the crew attacked by a mysterious lifeform, and they soon realize that its life cycle has merely begun” (IMDb.com). Like… it’s Alien, dawg. What are you even doing?

The Modern Film: Prometheus (2012)
"Following clues to the origin of mankind, a team finds a structure on a distant moon, but they soon realize they are not alone” (IMDb.com). So maybe it has a “Mystery Box” problem. Maybe the plot is only propelled by characters making the absolute worst decisions at every turn. But there’s a lot there to enjoy and it’s certainly not as bad as everyone made it out to be.

Audio Sources:
"Alien" produced by Brandywine Productions & Twentieth Century-Fox Productions
"The Beginning: Making Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace" produced by Lucasfilm Ltd.
"How to pronounce Charlize Theron & Emily Blunt Interview THE HUNTSMAN & THE ICE QUEEN" via CELEBRITY INTERVIEWS Parviz Khosrawi @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMWeu8Bqj8w
"Pet Sematary" written by Dee Dee Ramone & Daniel Rey and performed by The Ramones
"Prometheus" produced by Twentieth Century Fox, et al.
"Thank You for Smoking" produced by Room 9 Entertainment, et al.