Failure to Franchise

Join us as we "Fall Back to the 80s" (yeah, we know we're starting in the summer...what of it??), a special three-month event dedicated to some of the most infamous failed franchise starters of the 80s. First up, Dino De Laurentis' cult-classic adaptation of a beloved sci-fi character, Flash Gordon. Not only was this movie clearly made to cash in on the Star Wars-mania of the time, but it even has another fascinating connection to George Lucas. But, needless to say, the movie did not fare as well as Star Wars...could the gamble of hiring an untested newcomer in the titular role have something to do with it? Does it effectively tow the line between "camp" and genuine drama? And just how damn catchy is that Queen theme song, anyway? All this discussed, and more! Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

A bestselling book series about a tough-talking female detective, adapted into a feature starring one of the most successful actresses of the previous decade. It sounds like a can't-miss proposition. And yet 1991's V.I. Warshawski failed to connect with audiences, denying star Kathleen Turner her own crime-thriller franchise. So what happened? Was the hard-boiled style simply out of style? Was the mix of comedy and drama too tough for viewers to take? Or was it just that damn title? Like Warshawski herself, we investigate whether this movie is better than its reception at the time deserved, or if its somewhat forgotten status today is warranted. But be forewarned...even we're a little confused about this one. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

The "Summer Surprise" series continues, with this look at the adaptation of the first book in Alexandra Bracken's popular YA dystopian sci-fi series. A world where the only surviving children of a mysterious plague all end up with superpowers, and are thus targeted for extermination, or worse, by the government - it should have been a perfect match-up of the successful YA and Superhero genres. So what happened? Was it simply too late in the YA movie cycle, or were there larger problems at play? Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

In the second installment of our second annual "Summer Surprise," we're looking at the final feature film of a legendary comedy director. Not only that, but it was another entry in a mega-successful, beloved franchise from that very same director. So why didn't this attempt to restart the series after a long break catch on with audiences? Well, there are many answers to that (and we discuss many of them here), but let's just go ahead and say the transition from Peter Sellers to Roberto Benigni was probably always destined to be a tough sell to audiences. But is there anything here for fans of the previous Pink Panther films to enjoy? Listen on and find out. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

It's the first instalment of the second annual "Summer Surprise," where we're letting an online randomizer choose our next watches. First up, a very recent attempt to relaunch a once mega-successful summer sci-fi/comedy blockbuster series...without the original stars or director. But is the addition of two MCU actors (Chris Hemsworth & Tessa Thompson) fresh off the success of another humorous box-office hit (Thor: Ragnarok) enough to nevertheless revive this franchise? Well...no. The real question is...why? What went wrong? And why has one of the most beloved blockbuster hits of the 90s had such a hard time with sequels, in general? All this and more is discussed, as we tackle 2019's Men in Black: International. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

In part two of "May the Farce be with You," we're looking at 2015's attempt to reboot a beloved comedy franchise...but this time with a new leading man, new attitude, and without a signature part of the original title. What makes for an effective "legacy sequel?" Is Ed Helms as strong a lead as Chevy Chase? And just how mean-spirited is too mean-spirited, when it comes to comedy? All this and more is discussed, as we look at "NOT National Lampoon's" Vacation. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

Our "May the Farce be with You" event kicks off with a look at 2015's Mortdecai, the movie that seeks to answer the eternal question - just how many jokes can one film make about a single mustache? While star Johnny Depp had enjoyed an impressive, long-time-coming reign as one of Hollywood's biggest stars during the first decade of the 2000's, his career was clearly floundering by the time he strapped on Mortdecai's signature handlebar mustache...and the resultant critical and box-office reaction certainly didn't help matters. But could this adaptation of the cult series of British novels about an adventurous, aristocratic art dealer really be as bad as its reputation suggests? Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

In part two of "April Showers Bring April Powers," we're looking at Disney's mid-aughts superhero comedy, Sky High. With Kurt Russell, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Danielle Panabaker, Kelly Preston, Bruce Campbell, Dave Foley, Kevin McDonald, Kevin Heffernan, Lynda Carter, Jim Rash, Cloris Leachman, and even the voice of Patrick Warburton, it's one of the most impressively geek-friendly casts of all time. But was a pre-MCU audience ready for a movie designed to poke fun at tropes that hadn't yet fully entrenched themselves into the very core of the cinematic landscape? Well, we're covering the movie on this show, so you can probably guess at that one. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

In a surprisingly topical kick-off to our "April Showers Bring April Powers" event, we're taking a look at a film where beloved Hollywood "good guy" Will Smith plays a jerk who the public doesn't really trust, and who is in desperate need of some image-restoring PR. Sound oddly familiar? Well, that's just a happy coincidence, because Hancock was actually a long-gestating project - a superhero genre deconstruction that, ironically, hit theaters just as the superhero genre was really about to take off. What do we think of the film's narrative and tonal shifts? Was Will Smith the right man for the job? And where could sequels actually have gone? We discuss all this, and more. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

Is 2020's THE RHYTHM SECTION an artsy, introspective deconstruction of the spy-movie and revenge-thriller genres, or is it a high-octane, blockbuster attempt to create a new female-led James Bond-style franchise? The answer, depending on who you ask, is "yes," and therein perhaps is the problem. When EON Productions decided to branch out from Bond and give another literary spy-action series a whirl as a cinematic venture, they probably figured their experience guiding the most successful, enduring action franchise of all time would guarantee smooth sailing. And yet here we are, with all the hard work of EON, director Reed Moreno, and star Blake Lively still ending up featured on OUR show. So what went wrong?? Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

And now, for something completely different. In the first edition of our new "spin-off" show, we're turning out attention from the world of failed franchises to franchises that not only very much worked, but that we're big fans of. Join us as we discuss the James Bond franchise, sharing our thoughts on what makes this particular franchise work - why it's so iconic, why it has stood the test of time, and how we each rank the individual Bond actors. All this and more, in what we hope is a little bit of a more positive discussion than usual (though don't worry, we'll be back to talking about failures with our next episode). Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

It's a new month, and a new theme. We're kicking off "March Mix-Up," a series devoted to both the bad and good of spy cinema, with a look at Phillip Noyce's Salt, from 2010. Originally developed as a spy thriller franchise for Tom Cruise, the film was ultimately reworked to instead be a star vehicle for Angelina Jolie. Was this an upgrade? Are influences of the Bourne films a hindrance or a benefit? And how does the movie, while only being a little over ten years old, hold up today, in a landscape now dominated by more fanciful superhero fare? Join us as we get salty (sorry, not sorry) while discussing all this and more. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

It's the second installment of "February Frights 3D," AND it's the most romantic time of the year. So what better way to celebrate than with a look at the remake of one of the 80s' signature slashers, My Bloody Valentine. Sure, horror remakes like this were all the rage in the mid to late 00s, but how many starred one of the leads of Supernatural?? Well, alright, the Friday the 13th reboot from that very same year did, as well...but hey, that one didn't have the added benefit of also utilizing the latest in at-the-time cutting edge 3D technology. It's good old fashioned slasher mayhem, coming right at ya in three dimensions, and like the psychotic miner killer himself, we're here to dissect it. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

In the first installment of "February Frights 3D," we're looking at Lionsgate's 2013 attempt to relaunch the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise. Following two entries from Platinum Dunes that established a brand new continuity, the 2013 film instead decided to follow the lead of previous sequels and simply make a direct follow-up to Tobe Hooper's 1974 classic original - this time with the added benefit of the 3D gimmick. But would the surprising story decisions of the film leave fans of the franchise feeling "revved up," or would they be begging for a hammer to the head? Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

In the second installment of "New Year's Robin-lutions," we're jumping forward just eight years, to 2018's ROBIN HOOD. If Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe couldn't deliver a successful franchise based on the legend back in 2010, would an emerging star and a director known mostly for TV fare much better? Well, I think we all know the answer to that. But does upping the action and utilizing time-tested tropes from a multitude of other films and TV shows at least make this one a more entertaining endeavor? Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

Happy New Year! We're kicking off 2022 by sharing with you our "New Year's Robin-lutions," looking at two of Hollywood's many attempts to adapt the classic legend of Robin Hood. First up, the 2010 film, which - despite one of the most baffling pre-production journeys in film history - still seem poised for big things, as the reunion of Gladiator director and star Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe in a similar big-budget historical action drama. So, uh...what the heck happened?? Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

When is a Harley Quinn movie NOT a Harley Quinn movie?? When it's the 1995 cult favorite, TANK GIRL! Directed by Rachel Talalay, and starring Lori Petty, Naomi Watts, Ice-T, and Malcolm McDowell, this comic book adaptation introduced the moviegoing public to the titular character, an icon of both indie-comics AND the "Riot Grrl" movement of the 90s. But could a mainstream studio version possibly stay true to the anarchic, anti-authority attitude of the original comic? Find out here, in the second installment of "Failure to Franchise with Trev & Chris-tmas." Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

In the first installment of "Failure to Franchise with Trev and Chris-tmas," we're ringing in the holidays by "gifting" each other a single movie from our long list of potential topic films. First up, with 2013's Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, Chris attempts to give Trev what was meant as a harmless little fairy tale/action mash-up, in order to pay tribute to the man of the hour himself, Jeremy "Hawkeye" Renner. However, an unforeseen dark element of the film's director's cut is waiting around the corner to potentially destroy our festive spirits. And here we thought it would be all that witch's candy making us sick to our stomachs... Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

In part two of our special month dedicated to the Wachowski's, in preparation for THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS, we're looking at their last theatrical feature as a filmmaking duo (at least for now) - 2015's ambitious space opera, JUPITER ASCENDING. Is Mila Kunis a worthy replacement for Natalie Portman? Is Channing Tatum best utilized as a half man, half dog super soldier? And just what the hell is Eddie Redmayne trying to do here?? All these questions and more are pondered, as we scrub some toilets and then go on a wild intergalactic adventure. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

With the eagerly anticipated MATRIX RESURRECTIONS on the horizon, we're spending November looking at two of the Wachowski's failed attempts at post-MATRIX franchises. First up, their colorful, hyperactive, and heartfelt adaptation of the classic 60s anime series, SPEED RACER. Is it a misguided mess, or an ahead of its time masterpiece? We certainly have our very strong opinion on it. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

Which is ultimately more dangerous - a mummy's curse, or the ego-driven demands of a movie star? Well, one of the two is at least partly responsible for the sinking of not just this episode's movie, but arguably the entire cinematic universe it was meant to kick off. That's right, our two-month "Curse of the Dark Universe" event concludes with the movie that inspired it all - Universal's recent attempt to launch a brand new series of connected franchises starring the classic Universal Monsters. And the film they chose to kick-start it all (after the failure of DRACULA UNTOLD, that is) was the Tom Cruise-starring reboot of THE MUMMY. Cursed, or just misguided? We certainly have our thoughts. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

Given the immense popularity of the Dracula character over the 100+ years since Bram Stoker's original novel, it's not surprising that many fans and writers alike would be keen to explore the origin of the villainous vampire. But how does one go about crafting an "official," audience-pleasing backstory for a character who has enjoyed so many different interpretations throughout the decades? What version of the character do you want to build to? And should the formula you aim to emulate be taken from the popular superhero movies that currently dominate the box-office, instead of the horror genre more commonly associated with the character? An inability to effectively grapple with these questions might play a key role in the downfall of 2014's DRACULA UNTOLD, as our two-month "Curse of the Dark Universe" event continues. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

Undeterred by the failure of 2004's VAN HELSING, Universal Pictures were still eager to resurrect their famous Universal Monsters film properties. In 2006, they signed Benicio Del Toro, a superfan of 1941's THE WOLF MAN, to both produce and star in a remake of the Lon Chaney Jr classic. Four years later, following a tumultuous production period consisting of a last-minute director change, costly reshoots, a strange controversy regarding the score, and multiple release date delays, the new WOLFMAN finally hit theaters...and quickly became one of the costliest bombs in Hollywood history. So what went wrong? Was the film just truly as cursed as its titular protagonist? Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

Failure to Franchise's two-month "Curse of the Dark Universe" event kicks off, with a look at this much maligned Monster mash from the early 2000s. In the wake of director Stephen Sommers' wildly successful THE MUMMY and THE MUMMY RETURNS, Universal was eager to have him potentially relaunch the entire classic Universal Monsters line. His solution for this was to dive right into a crossover-type film featuring several of the monsters, but not focusing on ANY of them. Instead, Sommer's title character would be a drastic reinvention of Dracula's most famous enemy, now played by one of the biggest up-and-coming movies stars of the era. A hot director. A hot leading man. And a movie full of time-tested iconic horror characters. What could could possibly go wrong with 2004's VAN HELSING? Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

When no sequel materialized for 2006's SUPERMAN RETURNS (a tale to be told in a future episode of this show), it might have seemed like star Brandon Routh's dreams of headlining his own comic book movie franchise were over. But the up-and-coming leading man would get a second chance in 2011...and THEN his dreams of headlining a comic book movie franchise seemed more or less over. So, what happened? In this episode, we take a look at the pitfalls of adapting a popular Italian action-horror comic series for an international audience largely unfamiliar with the character, especially when adding in a modest budget, first-time live-action director, and a collection of well-trodden genre cliches, with 2011's DYLAN DOG: DEAD OF NIGHT. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

If ever the "video game movies always suck" axiom was going to be disproved, 2016 ASSASSIN'S CREED seemed like a great candidate to do so. Based on a very successful video game franchise, the movie version came along with a popular leading man determined to do right by the property, an impressive supporting cast, a critically acclaimed director, and the creative involvement of the actual video game company behind the game. Everyone involved seemed intent on making something quite unique and special in the "video game movie" genre. But at what point does that sort of experimentation take a turn for the worse? Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

Before 2018, the idea of a failed franchise starter in the world of STAR WARS might have seemed somewhat ridiculous. But little did the world know the trials and tribulations that would face SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY, the prequel film many fans already considered to be ill-advised in the first place. Between the much publicized change of directors mid-production (leading to major costly reshoots) and being released in the aftermath of one of the franchise's most divisive films ever, SOLO certainly faced an uphill battle upon its release...a battle the box-office returns would suggest it substantially lost. So what IS the film's ultimate legacy within the STAR WARS franchise? And why exactly is this movie responsible for perhaps our most contentious episode yet? Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

A popular sci-fi/fantasy rock cartoon from the 80s is resurrected for the big screen treatment by one of the most successful production companies in Hollywood. But what seemed like a sure-fire hit was marred by a perceived lack of respect for the source material and a controversial contest that might have exploited the original property's fanbase. We discuss all this and more, as we look at 2015's JEM & THE HOLOGRAMS. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

Before COBRA KAI resurrected the KARATE KID franchise, another attempt was made to reboot the series on the bring screen - this time with a new set of characters, a different setting, and even a different type of martial arts. Developed by Will & Jada Pinkett Smith as a star vehicle for their young son, Jaden, the new KARATE KID would also feature international mega-star Jackie Chan stepping into the mentor role made famous by Pat Morita. How does this retelling of the story stack up against the original 80s classic? Listen and find out, in the first installment of our "Summer Surprise" editions. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

When a giant ball of evil that makes phone calls is one of the LEAST wild things in your movie, you know you got a special one. "May-la June-vovich" concludes with a look at Milla's star-making turn in Luc Besson's bonkers sci-fi epic. It doesn't really get any more 90s than this, folks - an engaged, interested Bruce Willis! A super over-the-top Gary Oldman! A constantly screaming Chris Tucker! A healthy mix of CGI and practical effects! And of course, Milla, in her most iconic role ever (sorry, Alice). Plus, we randomly draw the next five movies we'll be covering, as we get ready for the "F2F Summer Surprise!" Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

When Guillermo Del Toro's HELLBOY franchise sputtered out, it was only a matter of time until Hollywood tried to give Mike Mignola's popular comic series another cinematic try. With a popular horror movie and TV director at the helm, a fan-favorite geek icon actress as the main villain, and a star from the beloved STRANGER THINGS taking over in the lead role, the ingredients seemed promising. Could this new HELLBOY possibly live up to the high standards set by Del Toro's two films? Well, probably not...but why? We discuss, in the third installment of "May-la June-vovich," two months dedicated to the failed franchise starters of Milla Jovovich. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

Our two-month "May-la June-vovich" extravaganza continues, with a look at a collaboration between Milla Jovovich and her husband, Paul W.S. Anderson. No, not the RESIDENT EVIL movies. And no, not last year's MONSTER HUNTER, either. Instead, we're tackling Anderson's 2011 THREE MUSKETEERS adaptation, in which the writer/director bravely answered the question readers have been asking for almost 200 years - would this story be better with giant flying airships blasting each other with cannons? As for Milla, she takes on the role of Milady de Winter, one of literature's great villains. How did it all shake out? Well, certainly not well enough to get a sequel, but what did WE think of it? Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

What happens when someone makes a vampire movie, but forgets to bring the vampires? Our two month "May-la June-vovich" extravaganza kicks off with a look at ULTRAVIOLET, Milla's 2006 mash-up of THE MATRIX, UNDERWORLD, RESIDENT EVIL, and every techno song you've ever heard. From poorly-rendered CGI to confusing mythology to "gun-kata," this one has it all. So slip on your best color-changing, midriff-baring outfit, and join us for a celebration of this bizarre Milla Jovovich star vehicle. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

With centuries of retold and rewritten tale to choose from when deciding to adapt Arthurian legend for a modern audience, it's easy to see why the task might feel overwhelming. Perhaps the solution is to simply choose the BEST, most interesting elements of the story, and concentrate on those moments for your film. Or, I dunno, maybe the better idea is just to say "eh, don't worry, we'll eventually get to all of it cause we're clearly gonna make six of these babies." That was certainly the approach Warner Bros. took in 2017, when they hired Guy Ritchie - a director more known for tales of down-on-their-luck hoodlums than virtuous knights - to craft a brand new, epic Arthur film, and promised it would be the beginning of a new multi-movie cinematic universe. Spoiler: it wasn't. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

Arthurian legend. The phrase calls to mind classic tales of romance and magic, of timeless myths of noble heroes passed down through the ages, becoming arguably inextricably infused into both pop culture and our entire understanding of storytelling, in general. But, in 2004, Disney said "forget all that," and instead offered up a down-and-dirty, gritty retelling of the King Arthur myth...this one supposedly delivering the "true story" behind the legend. How true? Was this a worthy endeavor? And just how ironic was the James Bond-inspired casting of Clive Owen in the lead role? We discuss these questions and more as we explore KING ARTHUR. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

In the second installment of our spin-off series about failed TV pilots, we're looking at Comedy Central's 2007 attempt to turn the hit 2001 film NOT ANOTHER TEEN MOVIE into a weekly series, with NOT ANOTHER HIGH SCHOOL SHOW. Despite reuniting the original film's creative team, and featuring young up-and-coming stars like Alison Brie and Jennifer Lawrence, the show didn't work nearly as well as the film that inspired it. What went wrong? Well, there's no Chris Evans...but there're gotta be more to it than that. We're here to figure it out. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

In 2001, author Philip Reeve published "Mortal Engines," the first in a series of YA books about a post-apocalyptic world where survivors now live in large, warring, mobile "traction cities." In 2009, acclaimed filmmaker Peter Jackson purchased the rights to the series, intrigued by the story's cinematic potential. In 2016, production on the film began, under the guidance of first-time director and Jackson protégé Christian Rivers. In 2018, the film was released, into a crowded and highly competitive holiday movie season. And by 2019, the film was almost completely forgotten. But WE remembered...and now we're here to try to figure out what the hell went wrong. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

F2F's "Mortal March" kicks off with another dive into the waters of YA fantasy cinematic adaptations. This time, we're looking at a tale of half-human/half-angel warriors tasked to protect Earth from vampires, werewolves, and demons, and the "average" teenage girl pulled into their world after learning her secret destiny. It's a tale of ancient runes, goth costuming, and forbidden romance...VERY forbidden romance, in fact. Will the Hollywood version of this story have the guts to tackle one of the most controversial elements of the original book series? What is the point where "a lot" of exposition becomes "too much" exposition? And why did Phil Collins go so hard on the Disney TARZAN soundtrack? (Trust us, that last question actually has a connection here.) Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

In the wake of TWILIGHT's pop-culture explosion in 2008, every major studio was looking to launch the next big movie franchise based on a popular Young Adult literary series. In this episode, we take our first dive into these crowded YA waters. When Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg were eager to cash in on the TWILIGHT-craze themselves, they turned to the manuscript of an at-the-time unreleased sci-fi adventure book by a controversial author (writing, with a partner, under the pen-name "Pittacus Lore"), called I AM NUMBER FOUR. While the book WOULD go on to spawn a successful literary series, the movie adaptation...well, we're talking about it on this show, so you get the idea. But what went wrong? Let's discuss. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

A rare case of a superhero movie where the behind-the-scenes drama was more action-packed than anything onscreen, Josh Trank's 2015 reboot of FANTASTIC FOUR has become a go-to example of the dangers of conflicting visions, tonal uncertainty, and conflicts between cast, crew, and studio. But is the movie really AS bad as its reputation? Strap on your blonde wigs and take a listen, as we dive into this infamous attempt to once again bring Marvel's first family to the big screen. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

Billed as the "Special Effects Movie Event of the Year," SPAWN seemed to have a lot going for it when it arrived in theaters in 1997. Based on a popular comic book that had been the centerpiece of a brand new company that revolutionized the comic industry in the early '90s, and arriving only a few months after the debut of a well-received HBO animated series, the film was also the first mainstream superhero movie with an African American hero in the lead. So what the heck went so wrong that it's being featured on our show? We get to the bottom of it. Plus, a brand new episode of everyone's favorite podcast-within-a-podcast, "Let's Go, Leguizamo!" Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

You sunk our franchise! Get it?? That's right, in this episode, we're looking at BATTLESHIP, the second of TWO failed 2012 Taylor Kitsch blockbusters. This time, it was an attempt to turn a popular board game about naval combat into a TRANSFORMERS-like sci-fi/action series, complete with aliens, bombastic action, and in-your-face patriotism. But why here have there been six TRANSFORMERS movies to date, and only one BATTLESHIP? Listen on to find out. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

This is a show about franchises, and we all know a big part of franchises is spin-offs. So here then is the first installment of our occasional bonus spin-off series, in which we take a brief look at failed TV pilots that never made it to series. Just in time for the release of WW84, we're kicking off with a look at the 2011 WONDER WOMAN pilot, from writer David E. Kelley and starring Adrianne Palicki as the Amazonian superhero (and, interestingly enough, WW84's Pedro Pascal in a supporting role). DC has had a number of successful TV series in recent years...why wasn't this one of them? Listen on to find out. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

When is a Batman movie NOT a Batman movie? How literal can a movie's title be? Can you convince an Academy Award winning actress at the height of her stardom to rub her face in catnip and swat at insects? Is there anything sexier than an alley pick-up game of one-on-one basketball? And who is the mysterious man known only as...Pitof?? In this episode, we answer these questions and more, as we take a look at the ill-fated 2004 attempt to create a new version of an iconic DC comic character. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

One of the biggest movie stars of the moment, re-teaming with the director of his recent mega-success sci-fi comedy blockbuster for ANOTHER sci-fi comedy blockbuster. What could possibly go wrong? Well, clearly something did, or else we wouldn't be talking about 1999's WILD WILD WEST on this show. So join us as we try to get to the bottom of this infamous mess, with all the misplaced sexual innuendo, casual racism, and giant mechanical spiders it entails. It will be a "wicky-wicky-wild" time. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

While the failure of 1995's JUDGE DREDD might have left some believing the character's cinematic journey was over, time has shown that Hollywood will let no IP with a substantial enough fanbase be left alone forever. And so, in 2012, we were given a brand-new attempt at bringing Mega-City One's toughest Judge to the screen...and this time, the helmet stays on. But how does the movie stack up even beyond that one crucial detail? Why isn't Karl Urban a bigger star? When is a director maybe NOT a director? And just what exactly does Justin Bieber have to do with all of it? We explore these questions and more in part two of our Judge Dredd spectacular. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

"He takes off the helmet?!" This became the go-to, angry exclamation of JUDGE DREDD fans around the world when the cult favorite British comic book series was adapted into a 1995 Hollywood summer blockbuster. For these "Dredd-heads," this betrayal of an iconic visual tradition was indicative of a larger sense that the film didn't understand the spirit of their beloved character. But IS the movie really as bad as the comic fans (and, to be fair, most of the rest of the world, too) claimed at the time? And, if so, who is ultimately to blame, when considering a production that was, by most accounts, fraught with tension between the megastar at its center and a young, unproven director determined to do right by the comic he grew up loving? The answers...will probably NOT shock you. But listen anyway! Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

In the wake the financial success of 2009's FRIDAY THE 13th reboot, New Line and Platinum Dunes were eager to revive the other slasher icon of the '80s. But this time, they faced different significant challenges...is it possible to recast Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger? Could a music video director making his feature debut bring the same class and style as horror master Wes Craven? And what would audiences expect to see from a more modern take on the franchise, with a bigger budget and an allegedly more "serious" and "realistic" take on the story? The attempt to answer these questions would result in one of the more maligned examples of the 2000's horror remake boom...but do we believe it deserves its frightfully bad reputation? Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

After dominating the slasher sub-genre throughout the '80s, and heading to space and then doing battle with his biggest box-office rival Freddy in the early 2000's, what else was left for everyone's favorite hockey-masked, homicidal mama's boy to do? Why, take part in the horror remake craze of the mid-'00s, of course! This episode, we take a look at Platinum Dunes' 2009 reboot of FRIDAY THE 13th, discussing both its worth as an overall entry in the franchise, and why, despite financial success, it didn't kick-start a new era of Camp Crystal Lake as clearly intended. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

"Video game movie." This three-word phrase has sent a shudder down the spine of gamers and movie fans alike for almost three decades. To say this particular sub-genre has a spotty track record is an understatement. And it all started with a failed attempt to begin a new cinematic series featuring the most popular video game franchise of them all. In terms of pop culture in 1993, it didn't get much hotter than Super Mario Brothers...so what exactly went wrong with the movie? In this episode, we take a look at the film's troubled production and bizarre creative decisions, in order to try to answer that question. Plus, the debut of everyone's next favorite podcast-within-a-podcast, "Let's Go, Leguizamo!" Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd