'Batman Begins' (feat. film critic Nguyen Le)

11/04/22 • 110 min

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Batman was in a characteristically dark place in the early 2000s. After 1997's Batman & Robin, Warner Bros. struggled to figure out what its next move would be for Bruce Wayne's DC Comics alter-ego. Then an up-and-coming filmmaker named Christopher Nolan came in, and the resulting trilogy would leave an impact that still lingers within superhero movies. Film critic Nguyen Le joins us to kick off our mega-series on Nolan's The Dark Knight trilogy with an in-depth chat about 2005's Batman Begins. We'll discuss Christian Bale's indelible performance in what is the first live-action Bat-movie about Bruce Wayne, Nolan's grounded approach to Gotham City and the Batman mythos, and how Batman Begins paves the way for what would come next. Are you ready to begin? Connect with Crooked Table Productions on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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'Muppets Most Wanted' (feat. Brandon from Film Code)

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On paper, the introduction of an evil doppelganger for Kermit the Frog sounds like a worthy addition to the Muppet mythos. So why didn't the much-anticipated sequel to 2011's The Muppets connect with audiences? With the characters' popularity seemingly restored, Muppets Most Wanted saw Disney deflate this "viable franchise" soon after its reintroduction. Brandon from the Film Code Podcast joins the final episode of our Muppets mega-series as we investigate how Muppets Most Wanted failed to renew the fan goodwill of its predecessor. We'll discuss all those celebrity cameos (Lady Gaga! Tom Hiddleston!), what Constantine reveals about Kermit's role in the Muppets, and how Disney can reinvigorate the future of the Muppets. Also, we'll reveal which of the eight theatrical Muppet films our guests think is the pinnacle of the characters' big-screen career! Connect with Crooked Table Productions on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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'The Dark Knight' (feat. Darin Lundberg of NostalgiaCast)

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Batman Begins singlehandedly revived the DC superhero's film career. And The Dark Knight, well, it ensured that Batman would never stray far from the silver screen again. In this 2008 sequel, director Christopher Nolan took Christian Bale's Batman down a deeper, more morally complex path by pitting him against his ideological opposite: Heath Ledger's indelible Joker. Darin Lundberg of NostalgiaCast joins us to talk all about how Nolan and Bale expanded on their version of this iconic character. We'll discuss whether The Dark Knight lives up to its sterling reputation, which cast member gives a wildly underrated performance, and how the film's focus on theme and character set a new template for comic book movies. Connect with Crooked Table Productions on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram