Franchise Detours

After exploring time travel and creating a shared universe with X-Men: Days of Future Past, where could the sequel go next? Why, the gods, of course! For better or worse, 2016's X-Men: Apocalypse pits the Marvel mutants against their most formidable enemy yet: a big, blue Oscar Isaac. In this episode, Clare Brunton of W-Rated helps us uncover the truth behind director Bryan Singer's most divisive X-Men installment. We'll discuss whether the movie is actually unjustly hated, how it serves as a prequel to Singer's original trilogy, and whether Isaac's performance hurts or helps. Join us as we journey back to the Apocalypse and decide whether the movie lives up to its name. Is this where the X-Films finally jumped the shark? LISTEN on Apple, Spotify, GoodPods, and other podcatchers: https://linktr.ee/crookedtable

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After The Avengers, superhero cinema has never been the same. Suddenly, everything needed to be interconnected, featuring tons of characters and an increasingly complicated timeline. Naturally, the X-Men series retroactively created its own shared universe of sorts with X-Men: Days of Future Past. Fourteen years after the first film, director Bryan Singer's film combined the original trilogy cast and that of X-Men: First Class to create a time-travel adventure that raised the bar for what Marvel's mutants could do onscreen. Or at the very least, it put pressure on the series to be more ambitious. Film critic Rosa Parra joins Franchise Detours to travel back to 2014's X-Men: Days of Future Past, a movie that feels like even more of a wild swing nearly a decade later. We'll discuss its unique place in the series, that epic cast, and how this installment may have doomed the series going forward. Connect with Crooked Table Productions on social media: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

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Hugh Jackman's Wolverine has always been a fan favorite. But X-Men Origins: Wolverine called into question whether the mutant hero would get the opportunity to carry more than a single solo film. Thankfully, Jackman's desire to take Logan to Japan paid off in the form of 2013's The Wolverine. Adapting one of the character's most popular storylines, the movie marks a departure from its predecessor, tying more closely in with X-Men: The Last Stand than the first Wolverine film. It also marks James Mangold's first time directing an X-Men movie, a decision which paid off remarkably years later. Ryan Luis Rodriguez of One Track Mind joins us to break down The Wolverine. We'll talk about how it draws inspiration from what's come before — including X-Men Origins: Wolverine — bemoan the lack of Rila Fukushima's Yukio in future projects, and that CGI-heavy third act. Connect with Crooked Table Productions on social media: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

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X-Men Origins: Wolverine was meant to slash open a whole new avenue for the X-Men movie franchise. Yet, despite its commercial performance, the tepid reception ultimately led the series to take another approach: going back to basics with a fresh start on the whole mutant saga. In hindsight, it might seem like 2011's X-Men: First Class was always meant to be a prequel to the previous films. But director Matthew Vaughn described it as a reboot of the franchise. So which is it? And ultimately, does it even matter when the resulting superhero adventure is that much fun? Kevin the Critic joins Franchise Detours as we head back to school for an in-depth chat about X-Men: First Class. We'll discuss the chemistry between James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, how the story quietly retcons the series, and whether Vaughn deserves another crack at the Marvel mutants. Connect with Crooked Table Productions on social media: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

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Despite the less-than-enthusiastic response from fans and critics, 2006's trilogy-ending X-Men: The Last Stand did at least offer fans something of a sense of closure (that final shot and post-credits scene notwithstanding). But it also outperformed its two predecessors at the box office. So it didn't take long for Fox to begin exploring ways to extend the franchise. On paper, a solo film exploring the dark backstory of Hugh Jackman's fan-favorite character was the obvious way to continue. At the time, such a film was meant to start a whole subset of X-Men Origins movies featuring different beloved characters. But 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine didn't exactly deliver the strong kickoff the studio or fans hoped for. Jose Lopez Jr. joins the show to help us break down one of the most maligned entries in the X-Men franchise. We'll discuss whether X-Men Origins: Wolverine does right by Jackman's mysterious mutant, the behind-the-scenes drama, the addition of Liev Schreiber as Sabretooth, and -- of course -- Ryan Reynolds' inauspicious debut as "Deadpool." Connect with Crooked Table Productions on social media: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

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We interrupt your regularly scheduled mutant superhero mega-series already in progress for, well, another mutant superhero mega-series. It's time to dip back into the sewers for a return to the world of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Seven years have passed since the latest franchise revival fizzled out with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is now playing. So Rob steps up to the mic to address his thoughts on the new animated movie. Does the film justify its existence as the seventh theatrically released TMNT film and the fourth iteration of this franchise? We'll dig into whether this latest effort could, in fact, carry the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles forward. Connect with Crooked Table Productions on social media: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

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Our X-Men mega-series continues, spanning 10 films and nearly 20 years. Following the success of X2: X-Men United, the franchise takes its first major shift. Director Brett Ratner (Rush Hour) steps in to helm 2006's polarizing X-Men: The Last Stand. But is it a satisfying finale to the original trilogy of mutant adventures? Or is the film the X-Men series' first wrong turn? Jeremiah Stewart of Let's Talk joins us to discuss this crucial chapter of the mutant chronicles. The discovery of a so-called mutant "cure" raises the stakes. And X-Men: The Last Stand does escalate tensions as the dynamic between mutants and humans grows more complicated. We explore the mutant struggle for acceptance and the moral dilemmas the film presents. The X-Men franchise's ensemble comes into focus again, especially with the much-anticipated return of Jean Grey as the Dark Phoenix. Of course, this is the first of two attempts this franchise will take to adapt the fan-favorite story. We'll discuss how the movie balances two main plots and whether it deserves the less-than-beloved reputation it still has. Subscribe and stay tuned for much more as we continue our epic X-Men mega-series. The legacy of the mutant franchise lives on through its influence on the superhero genre. Next time, the franchise gets even wilder. The X-Men officially enters the wild world of prequels, spin-offs, and time-hopping with 2009's even more maligned X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Connect with Crooked Table Productions on social media: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

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Welcome back, fellow mutant enthusiasts! As we celebrate the 23rd anniversary of the X-Men film franchise, we continue our journey through the groundbreaking series that revolutionized the superhero genre. In this episode, we dive deep into the sequel that took everything we loved about the first film and elevated it to new heights: 2003's X2: X-Men United. Phoenix Clouden of Film Code helps us unravel the intricacies of this thrilling installment, which showcases the continued evolution of both the X-Men franchise and its ensemble of mutant characters. At the time X2 hit theaters, superhero sequels were still a rare breed. And the film leapt back into action with a surprising sense of purpose and depth this time around. Building on the foundation laid in its predecessor, X2: X-Men United expanded the roster of characters while delving deeper into their personal struggles and identities. Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) once again took center stage, but the film also granted us a more in-depth look at Professor X (Patrick Stewart), Magneto (Ian McKellen), and Jean Grey (Famke Janssen). Of course, the film's themes are eerily more relevant today than they were back in 2003. The mutants' fight for acceptance and equality mirrors real-world struggles for marginalized communities, making the film's narrative as powerful as ever. Yet, remarkably, X2: X-Men United balances that social commentary with rollicking action sequences and superhero thrills. Perhaps that's why X2: X-Men United set the stage for future superhero sequels. Even 20 years after its release, fans still hold it in high esteem. So, tune in as we celebrate the legacy of X2: X-Men United and its impact on superhero cinema. Whether you're a long-time X-Men fan or a newcomer, this episode promises an adventure like no other. X2: X-Men United turned out to be the middle chapter in the original trilogy of X-Men films. So join us next time as we discuss the final installment of that trilogy, 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand. Remember, we're journeying through 10 films in Fox's X-Men saga. Let's explore the subsequent X-films that continued to redefine and reshape the superhero landscape. Connect with Crooked Table Productions on social media: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

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Twenty-three years have passed since the mutants of Marvel Comics made their big-screen debut. And it's an understatement to say the cinematic landscape has itself mutated since X-Men hit theaters. So on this 23rd anniversary of the film that started it all, we're taking a look back at Fox's dearly departed mutant saga with a mega-series covering 10 X-Men films. Brian Skutle of Sonic Cinema joins the show to kick off our X-Men retrospective with an in-depth conversation about 2000's X-Men. We'll discuss how it changed the world of superhero movies, why its themes are more relevant than ever, and what challenges Marvel Studios needs to overcome to successfully bring Professor X and company into the MCU. Connect with Crooked Table Productions on social media: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

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Walt Disney is a name that has become synonymous with family entertainment. But back when Disney himself was running the company, the studio was pushing the boundaries of feature animation. And perhaps few films are as much of a testament to that as 1940's Fantasia. Brian Skutle of Sonic Cinema joins the show to discuss that film's ground-breaking blend of classical music and animated storytelling. We'll discuss the evolution of the Fantasia project, its legacy, and its long-awaited 1999 follow-up, Fantasia 2000, as well as our hopes for more Fantasia soon. Connect with Crooked Table Productions on social media: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

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