Gratuitous Pausing Podcast

Comics Bracket Issue #8: Wanted vs Watchmen

Are you excited to watch us watch Watchmen (2009)? Too bad, we're an audio only podcast. But you will get to HEAR us talk about Watchmen (Ultimate Cut) and also Wanted (2008), and how we feel about Men, Women, and Gun Violence. We'll try to avoid talking about the comics too much, for various reasons, the pros and cons of de-pulpifying your adaption, and casting troubles.

Comics Bracket Issue #7: The Mask vs The Crow

It's Devil's Night in Edge City as we once again explore two 90's films that while very different, both capture the sense of the time, specifically 1994. The Mask (1994) and The Crow (1994) are both adaptations of fairly dark comics, but have taken much different approaches. Join us as we get into how they deal with the duality of their protagonists, the way they use horror motifs, and some of the liberties taken with the source material.

Also a huge thank you to Daniel Na of Audiomorphs.

CW: sexual assault

Comics Bracket Issue #6: Popeye vs The Peanuts Movie

There are a LOT of Peanuts Movies out there, but the one that did the best, financially, came out in 2015! So this week, we'll be discussing The Peanuts Movie (2015) vs. Popeye (1980) starring the late, great, Robin Williams. In this episode we'll unpack the use of music, translating cartoon action to a 3D World, and women with agency. We'll also uncover a long lost lineage that uncovers secrets never before realized about beloved characters. We hope you enjoy!

Comics Bracket Issue #5: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vs Spawn

Hey all you Millenials, this one's for you, 'cause it's 90s week. We're looking at Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) and Spawn (1997). In this episode we learn a lot about people's childhoods, effects make or break a movie, and Jackson defends the honor of Satanists.

Note: There's a FAIRLY HEAVY trigger warning for Spawn, so we will give you an opportunity to nope out.

Comics Bracket Issue #4: Annie vs Cowboys & Aliens

Yep, this week for Issue 4 of our comics bracket, it's Annie (1982) vs. Cowboys & Aliens (2011). We'll get into the importance of developing your villains, narrative energy, and The American System. Also, Jackson has some complaints about the Magic System in Annie.

Comics Bracket Issue #3: Dick Tracy vs Dennis the Menace

Hot off the presses, it's Issue 3 of our Comics Bracket - this time, we're looking at Newspaper Comic Adaptions, namely, Dick Tracy (1990) and Dennis the Menace (1993). We'll talk about the relative value of men and women having desk jobs, likability of characters, and padding. We hope you enjoy!

Comics Bracket Issue #2: Road to Perdition vs Kingsman: The Secret Service

It's father/son dynamics this week as we talk about 2002's Road to Perdition vs. 2014's Kingsman: The Secret Service. We are going to spoil them both and they're quite good, so maybe watch them first, they're both about star studded casts (of mostly white men) doin' a punch up. Along the way we'll talk about character development, the pros and cons of subtly, the cons of shooting the dog and the pros of having swords for legs.

And of course Jackson on The Equelizers pitching Dog Soldiers 2: Strays

Comics Bracket Issue #1: Men in Black vs RED

Welcome to 2019, a new year calls for a new bracket, and we've got just the thing, a Comics Bracket. Join us as we kick this bracket off with Men in Black (1997) vs RED (2010). We'll get into special effects, relationship dynamics, emotional investment, and much more as these two films about covert extra-government agents go head to head.

Episode 36 Disney Honorable Mentions: The Black Cauldron

As we round out the year we have one more Disney film to look at, 1985's The Black Cauldron. Often considered Disney's biggest flop, how does it stack up today? We'll take a look at the animation, voice work, and some over-zealous editing to find out. Along the way we opine about the difficulties faced by fantasy films in general and metaphors for puberty often applied to the genre. Make sure to join us next week as we begin our comics bracket!

Episode 35 Disney Honorable Mentions: Atlantis: The Lost Empire & Treasure Planet

In our Penultimate Honorable Mentions episode, we're going to be pitting Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) against Treasure Planet (2002). Which is the hidden trove of gold, and which deserved to never be found? Find out here! Along the way we'll talk about how Disney's animation grew and changed with the millennium, how the unforgiving market can scuttle an otherwise unsinkable ship, and Being Cool. We hope you enjoy!