Jumanji: The Next Level was a great follow-up to a great re-do! We both loved the new characters and actors along with new story elements and settings.
SPOILER ALERT! Watch the movie before proceeding.
Lessons Learned from Jumanji: The Next Level
Listen to our episode on Jumanji: The Next Level
Dusty: Never let issues get in the way of friendship. Forgive and move on with your life.
It was great seeing Milo (Danny Glover) coming to visit his lifelong friend Eddie (Danny DeVito) to mend their friendship.
Sky: “You got to pay attention to what’s in your hand.”
Fun lesson from Milo to Eddie in the plane.
They’re back!
Dusty: Don’t let pride or pain keep you from doing what you love.
Eddie was living an unhappy and resentful life and missed out on still being involved in the restaurant with Nora (Bebe Neuwirth).
Sky: You must continually exercise your mind and be a lifelong learner.
When you stop learning you lose that growth mindset and things become harder to accept and understand. It took Eddie and Milo a bit too long to understand they were in a video game.
Danny DeVito and Danny Glover were great additions to the cast.
Dusty: Keep your body in shape.
“If you’re not growing, you’re dying. There’s no third direction.” – Big Tom Callahan from Tommy Boy. Getting old ain’t fun, but staying healthy in mind and body will make aging a bit more tolerable.
Awkwafina was great portraying both Spencer and Eddie.
Sky: The things you do affect more than just yourself, you’ve got to think about your loved ones before you do something drastic.
Spencer didn’t think about what his disappearance would do to his family nor his friends when he jumped back in. Also, 0 thought was given to how he would be able to complete the mission and end up stuck in the game.
Team America: World Police holds up! Just as funny as ever and it’s a great send-up of Bruckheimer movies, actors, dictators and Hollywood pretentiousness.
SPOILER ALERT! Watch the movie before proceeding.
Lessons Learned from Team America: World Police
Listen to our episode on Team America: World Police
Sky: Every good team needs an acting expert!
“Without an expert they were like pigs to the slaughter.” – Spottiswood
Dusty: Be aware of what is behind your target.
Funny stuff blowing up parts of Paris when your intent was to save Paris, but c’mon! Pay attention, people.
There’s no way to see through this disguise.
Dusty: No country should police the world.
Only step in when you’re invited. Like giving another man’s wife a foot massage.
We love the portrayal of Kim Jong Il.
Sky: Difficult times separate the men from the boys.
Gary just couldn’t hack it. But it wouldn’t be a great third act if he didn’t switch gears and jump back into action (with a dong in his mouth).
Matt Stone and Trey Parker on set with Sky’s prop.
Dusty: Don’t ever join a guild that has a horrible name that people can make fun of you. F.A.G.
Yeah, think about what they’ll call you first.
Dusty’s opinion: the best Matt Damon movie ever.
Sky: Don’t ever be a irritating, stupid, lowlife Matt Daemon.
What a fun re-watch! The Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy holds up and the comedy mixed with action and adventure in a period piece is a must-see. And, Captain Jack Sparrow!
SPOILER ALERT! Watch the movies before proceeding.
Lessons Learned from Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Dusty: Even though it’s sad, rum can make a huge bonfire and save you.
Out in the ocean, you’ve got to do what you can to guide ships to you.
Sky: Everyone has a price.
Most people are greedy, just offer them something to get what you want.
The best pirate we’ve ever seen
Dusty: Do what you gotta to avoid a mutiny.
This holds true for pirate captains as well as us in the real world who manage people or even your family.
Sky: Being waited on hand and foot makes you weak.
If somebody is doing everything for you (waking you up, getting you dressed, cooking all your meals) then you won’t become a self-reliant, strong person. Elizabeth Swan is an exception to this, but in the real world, coddled people are weak people.
We love the cursed pirates CG
Sky: Show them what you want them to see (misdirection).
Captain Jack’s Sparrow’s plan of stealing the super fast British ship by commandeering the other one was perfect misdirection. Everyone thinks he’s a buffoon and underestimates him, but he’s always one step ahead.
Rotten Tomatoes score: The Audience at 89% and The Critics at 66%
Lessons Learned from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Dusty: Know what your end goal is and go after it.
Even though losing the game meant more years added on to Will Turner’s sentence, it was the one way for him to learn the location of the key, so it was worth it.
Sky: Stay on task.
The cannibals kept going back and forth between Jack and the Pirates. If they just stayed on task and maybe divide up their forces, they would’ve had a very nice meal that night.
Awesome fishy bag guys with Davey Jones leading this cutthroat crew
Dusty: Pick yourself up when life throws you a curve ball.
Don’t fall into despair and wallow in your own stink like Norrington did after his defeat in the first movie. Get back on that horse and ride!
Sky: Don’t give in to superstition.
Being haunted, ghosts, ancient Chinese secrets… don’t believe any of it. Just believe in yourself and what you can do and what you know to be true. Acting upon your superstitions doesn’t get you anywhere I believe and all it does is add fear to your life. Humans are too fearful, so cut the superstitions, cut the fear and just enjoy life more.
The two-pronged native cannibal chase was great!
Sky: Always be prepared to settle your debts when the collector comes.
You make your bed, you’ve got to lie in it.
Dusty: Don’t ever settle somebody else’s debt.
For us in the now, don’t cosign for other’s debts.
A little over-the-top, but a great sword fighting scene
Rotten Tomatoes score: The Audience at 53% and The Critics at 72%.
Lessons Learned from Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
Dusty: Never give up your human rights without a fight.
Instead of singing in solidarity on your way to the gallows, fight in solidarity for your life.
Sky: Hold true to your word because that’s all you’ve got.
Once a betrayer, always a betrayer. This is a big mistake of Lord Beckett and most pirates. If you show somebody they can’t trust you, they won’t trust you from that point forward.
Captain Jack Sparrow: never one to be outdone
Dusty: Always have a plan.
Be like Sparrow and always think about how you’re going to get what you want or get out of the predicament you’re in.
Sky: “Improvisation is too good to leave to chance.” – Paul Simon
It seems like Sparrow is constantly improvising, but we’re sure he’s game planning the entire time before he takes action on anything.
Calypso!
Sky: The more you do, the more you can do.
Jack’s success in this movie came from everything else he’s experienced and accomplished (and failed at) in the past. For us in the real world, every bit of experience you gain adds to your wisdom, allowing you to draw from past successes and failures as you work to achieve your goals.
Dusty: Communication helps all situations.
Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann should’ve been communicating their intentions the entire time. They could’ve been working together toward the same goals.
Rousing the troops and headed towards a fantastic conclusion!
The Goonies is a perfect adventure movie for anyone who’s ever wanted to follow a map to buried treasure. This one captured our imaginations back in ’85, and it landed at the top of our lists in last week’s Top 5 episode. Listen to this episode and let’s live vicariously through the adventures of Mikey, Chunk, Mouth, Data, Brand, Andy and Stef.
Lessons Learned from The Goonies
Always be kind.
The Fratelli’s poor treatment of Sloth, along with Mikey’s (Sean Astin) and Chunk’s (Jeff Cohen) kind treatment put Sloth on their side and against his family.
Never judge a book by its cover.
Chunk was scared at first. But, it’s great how Sloth became Chunk’s best friend and new family member.
Don’t let good opportunities pass you by.
The Goonies had plenty of chances to end their journey because of the danger, but they chose to go on instead. They succeeded as a group of friends, beat the Fratelli’s and saved the neighborhood.
Kids can do amazing things.
For sure, they’re capable and with their imagination, they see the possibility in everything.
Keep your candles and dynamite separate. In fact, don’t buy candles that resemble the dynamite you’re carrying.
C’mon Chester Copperpot, you’re not a treasure hunter I would try to emulate.
Never pig out at a fat camp or you will get kicked out.
Great story from Chunk.
Check out The Goonies official trailer:
Let us know what you think of the movie or any lessons you learned that we missed by commenting below. Or, you can visit out Watch and Learn Facebook Page and comment there.
We skip the lessons learned this week and instead discuss our individual top 5 defining childhood movies. Interestingly, at least to us, our lists only overlapped on one movie… and it was our #1 choice! Get ready for some fun ’80’s movie talk.
Sky’s #5: Return of the Living Dead (1985 – horror)
Dusty’s #5: Red Dawn (1984 – action)
Sky’s #4: The Last Starfighter (1984 – sci-fi)
Dusty’s #4: Predator (1987 – action)
Sky’s #3: The Transformers: The Movie (1986 – animated)
Dusty’s #3: Ghostbusters (1984 – comedy/sci-fi)
Sky’s #2: Spaceballs (1987 – comedy)
Dusty’s #2: Commando (1985 – action)
Sky & Dusty’s #1: The Goonies (1985 – action/adventure)
Let us know what you think of our list, and tell us your Top 5 Childhood defining movies. We’d love to hear them, especially if they’re non-1980’s movies. Just comment below or you can visit out Watch and Learn Facebook Page and comment there.
Dusty has chosen our #1 movie, The Goonies as the next movie we’ll learn from.
