Franchise Fatigue

This week we take a quick break from the MCU to have a minisode discussion on the 1988 horror classic, Child's Play with Victims and Villains Podcast host Josh Burkey! This is part of a special crossover with his show, so if you wanna hear us talking about the 2019 remake, you can listen to it over on the at the Victims and Villains Podcast feed https://www.victimsandvillains.net/

This week we explore the MCU's first foray into cosmic storytelling with Kenneth Branagh's delightful Shakespearean drama, Thor. A bright, imaginative and open-hearted space fantasy that always kept its grand ambitions firmly grounded in the wonderful characters and powerful emotional arcs. One of the MCU's most under-appreciated gems.

This week we tackle the deeply flawed, yet still highly entertaining third installment of the then fledgling MCU.

James couldn't make it this week. So Gabe is joined again by Ryan Wall to discuss this highly unique film in the MCU. More akin to the action and chase films of the 90s than the modern Superhero genre, The Incredible Hulk doesn't quite fit in with this series. And in our opinion, this slick, stylish action romp is all the better for it.  

This we begin our exploration of the most successful film series of all time with Jon Favreau's 2008 hit, Iron Man. A bold, intelligent and highly entertaining film that sparked a series that changed the film industry.

We take a break between franchises to talk about the a film that one of the hosts considers to be be highly Underrated. The Greatest Showman beat the odds in 2017, becoming something of a phenomenon among audiences despite a less than stellar reception from critics.  Much like the critical and audience divide, there is a large difference of opinion on the qualities of this film between the hosts. But there is one thing we can agree on, Hugh Jackman is the best!

In this episode we wrap up M. Night Shyamalan's comic-book trilogy with the highly controversial final installment, Glass. A far more flawed film than the previous two, there is still much to love in this ambitious and idiosyncratic tale.

This week we dive into 2016's surprise sequel to Unbreakable, Split. A tight, engaging thriller with a surprising emotional heft and one of the most satisfying final reveals we've ever seen.

Our episode on Split has been delayed, so Gabe and James had a quick impromptu discussion on the cinematic event of the decade, Avengers: Endgame.

This week we begin a new series with M. Night Shyamalan's celebrated proto-superhero film, Unbreakable. The first chapter in an unexpected trilogy. The definition of "Ahead of Its Time", Unbreakable is Comic Book Movie that mastered the genre before it had even truly found its shape. A beautiful movie.

This week we discuss the unlikely sequel, Blade Runner 2049 with the help of guest Quentin Irey. A film that takes the themes, ideas and visuals of the original to new heights.   You can follow Quentin at... https://commoncandor.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ireyq Twitter: https://twitter.com/quentinirey?fbclid=IwAR3s9oc0uZVytBALt0tNuHHvxWidVbJ-ciO9QhpHr4E8GuiSxyKmi4bSGhQ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ireyq/?fbclid=IwAR1DyTzJUNRxv3Iqy97Po1ME_6Bz8oT1BN9J6sCMDDD766mUMPvdQudiuNM  

This week we start a new series with the seminal Sci-Fi classic, Blade Runner. A film's who's legacy and influence on Cinema is almost impossible to quantify. Yet despite its legendary status, it has received a somewhat mixed reception with audiences both at the time of its release and to this day. There is even a bit a disagreement between Gabe and James on this episode about just how successful it is in telling its story and executing its enormous ambitions.

This week we discuss the much-delayed final chapter in the Maze Runner Trilogy . The most ambitious film in the series, and in some ways the most flawed, The Death Cure still manages to deliver a thrilling and emotionally satisfying finale for this above-average YA franchise.

This week we have a brief discussion on the 2nd film in the Maze Runner Trilogy, The Scorch Trials. A much more ambitious film than The Maze Runner, this chapter continues to impress with its great cast and fantastic direction from Wes Ball.   Our full Underrated episode on The Scorch Trials... https://underratedpodcast.com/2017/05/01/episode-33-the-maze-runner-the-scorch-trials-review/

Before we finish up the Maze Runner Trilogy with The Death Cure next week, we go back to the film that started it all back in 2014. In this minisode we revisit the Maze Runner and have a quick discussion on this well-made and highly entertaining YA offering.   Our Underrated Episode on this film... https://underratedpodcast.com/2017/04/10/episode-30-the-maze-runner-review/

This week we finish up our journey into Narnia with a massive disappointment. A desperate bid to regain the whimsy, magic, and most importantly, the massive box office revenue of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, Voyage of the Dawn Treader feels like a cobbled together mess. Not a terrible movie, but one without much of an identity.

This week we are joined by Brian Carnell(AKA Glumpuddle) from Narniaweb and The Talking Beasts Podcast to discuss the 2nd chapter in the Narnia series. A darker, more ambitious chapter, Prince Caspian provides much fodder for discussion on adaptation, storytelling and filmmaking.     www.narniaweb.com https://www.narniaweb.com/cat/podcast/

This week we are swept up in a fantastical adventure in the magical world of Narnia! The Lion, The Witch, and Wardrobe is a childhood favorite for both hosts, so nostalgia abounds in our discussion of this excellent family film.

This week we complete our exploration of the Mission Impossible series with the 6th film, Fallout. And to help us with our discussion of Christopher McQuarrie's 2nd chapter in the series, we are joined by our friend DJ Nichols. Fallout is an incredible movie filled with some of the greatest action sequences ever filmed. But it also has a great story and some of the best character drama in the entire franchise. Another great installment.

This week we praise Christopher McQuarrie's first entry into the Mission Impossible series. McQuarrie took all the best elements from previous chapters and combined them into a film that exemplifies everything great about this franchise.