Why Wasn't It Better?

It’s sweeping, it’s romantic, it’s nearly three and a half hours long. Doctor Zhivago was a box office smash and an Oscar darling, but does it actually work? David Lean gave us snow-covered melodrama, endless longing glances, and Omar Sharif’s eternally furrowed brow to ask: is this epic a masterpiece or just a beautifully shot soap opera? Guest Paul Kind returns to sort it out for the 60th annive...

Don Bluth’s Anastasia brought lush animation, catchy songs, and a not-so-historically-accurate fairy tale to the late 90s — and for many, it was the non-Disney princess movie. Producer Eric Taylor and his wife Catelyn join the pod to explore this fan favorite to explore its strange blend of royal tragedy, undead villains, and Broadway ambition. Was it a worthy competitor to Disney, or a beautifull...

It’s peace in our time… or is it? The original Enterprise crew faces their final frontier with political intrigue, Shakespeare-quoting villains, and a surprisingly topical Cold War allegory. Guest and casual Trek fan Ben Hill returns to the podcast to talk about Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://ww...

It’s morphin’ time! This week we dive into the mid-90s explosion of spandex, sparks, and nostalgia with Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie. From Angel Grove to the planet Phaedos, the Rangers face their biggest threat yet in the wise-cracking villain Ivan Ooze. Guest Ivan Calixto joins to talk about the film’s place in the Power Rangers phenomenon, how it stacks up against the hit TV show, an...

Presumed Innocent had all the makings of a gripping legal thriller: a best-selling novel, Harrison Ford at his dramatic peak, and a twisty murder mystery. This 1990 courtroom drama was a major box office hit but somehow left a surprisingly faint cultural footprint. Was it too slow, too serious, or just overshadowed by slicker thrillers that followed? We dig into the performances, the plotting, and...

A House of Dynamite turns seventeen minutes of nuclear uncertainty into a Netflix thriller. Kathryn Bigelow delivers a fractured, overlapping narrative where a single anonymous missile forces the American government into a race against time—and against its own instincts. This episode digs into the film’s structure, its unsettling realism, and why it may or may not be a pointless pyramid scheme. __...

Peter Jackson's follow up to his Lord of the Rings triumph was his most personal project, a remake of his favorite film. King Kong was an enormously expensive, massively hyped monster movie that performed well but has a mixed legacy twenty years later. Should it have been better? Guest Peter Baldeo returns to talk Kong. ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial...

Pixar's latest entry has unfortunately turned out to be its biggest loser at the box office. Whether it was the delay in production, controversy around its content, or a lack of marketing, audiences flatly ignored Elio when it was released a few months ago. It's doing better on Disney+ but how does it stack up in the totality of Pixar's filmography? ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https:/...

He's baaaaack! After the poorly-received bizarre third film, the studio decided to bring back Michael Myers. The fact that he died in the second film didn't matter. In what is now a yearly tradition for this podcast, guest Sean O'Connor returns to discuss Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers. ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.you...

Edgar Wright’s stylish dive into psychological horror had fans buzzing — but Last Night in Soho left audiences split. Was it a bold genre experiment or a beautiful mess? Patrick and Anton unpack the film’s aesthetic highs, narrative lows, and whether it actually delivers on the scares. Guest Zion Parker returns to discuss Giallo vibes, ghost girls, and one very confused third act. ___ Please consi...

It's gothic, it's moody, and it's kind of a mess. We sink our teeth into Neil Jordan’s adaptation of Anne Rice’s Interview With the Vampire. Tom Cruise goes full glam rock as Lestat, Brad Pitt pouts for two hours, and Kirsten Dunst steals the whole movie. We talk tonal whiplash, tragic wigs, and why this movie is equal parts fascinating and frustrating with return guest Jake Valkusky. ___ Please c...

Perhaps John Carpenter's finest work, The Thing may be beloved now but was completely ignored by audiences upon its release in 1982. It's a perfect choice to talk about as we get into spooky season. Guest Sean O'Connor returns to the podcast to discuss. ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Instagram: https:...

They're heeeere! Does this count as a Steven Spielberg film? We like to think it does. Is Poltergeist really the horror classic that many claim, or is it somehow overrated by its fans? Guest Paul Kind is here to figure it out in the first of our 2025 spooky mini-season episodes. ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasnt...

It’s been thirty years since Pierce Brosnan first suited up as 007 — and GoldenEye still hits like a tank-driving, bungee-jumping, post-Cold War reset button. After a six-year hiatus, James Bond was back with a new face, a new attitude, and a whole lot of mid-’90s tech action. Guest Kai Wang joins the podcast to revisit the film that made Bond relevant again and ask: was this the last great reinve...

That's it for Season Eight! Join us as we give our traditional recap and preview what's on deck for next season. ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_official Twitter: https://x.com/WWIBpodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wwibpodcast Letterboxd: https://letterbo...

We conclude Season Eight with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, where the series took a darker turn. The stakes were higher and the hair was longer, but should this fourth entry in the series have been better? Guest Taylor Schuurmans is back to talk about the return of Lord Voldemort. ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/...

This animated reboot fell flat at the box office despite stellar reviews. Despite being part of such a recognizable franchise, why did Transformers One fail to make an impact with audiences? Does it deserve more love? Guest and Transformers fan Kai Wang returns to defend this film's honor. ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.co...

One of the most unique comic adaptations ever, Warren Beatty's Dick Tracy is fascinating to watch. The cast is stacked. The visuals are eye-popping. But could it have been better? Disney was hoping it would be. Noted guest and Marvel consigliere Garret Ohringer joins to talk about Warren Beatty's conquests. ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: http...

According to some, The Color Purple was Steven Spielberg's first "serious" drama. It made Whoopi Goldberg into an overnight star. Spielberg got the awards attention but not in the way he wanted. How does this acclaimed but controversial adaptation of Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel hold up after forty years? Guest Zion Parker joins to give his thoughts. ___ Please consider joining our...

Continuing our tradition of covering 1970s disaster movies, The Hindenburg is an (un)interesting one. Despite being based on the famous historical event and being released during the height of the disaster movie craze, it was hardly a success for Universal. Should it have done better or did it deserve its fiery fate? ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial You...

Doctor Strange was never the first name that came to mind when you thought of Marvel heroes yet somehow, this mind-bending, trippy addition to the MCU became a smash hit. First-time guest and patron Daniel Ake joins the podcast to break down the film that turned a B-list sorcerer into a fan-favorite, and why the visuals, cast, and unexpected blend of mysticism and sci-fi hit so hard. ___ Please co...

The Black Cauldron was released during the darkest period in Disney's history. It flopped so badly that it nearly killed the studio's animation department. Just thinking about that alone is wild enough. Yet some fans defend this as a misunderstood classic. One thing is for sure. It should have been better. ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https...

Zabba zabba zabba. The second and almost certainly the last Steven Seagal movie we're covering. Under Siege 2: Dark Territory is the sequel to what most fans agree is Seagal's best work. Is this sequel somehow underrated? Does it work as a guilty pleasure 90's action cheesefest? Guest Sean O'Connor returns to weigh in for the 30th anniversary of Under Siege 2: Dark Territory. ___ Please consider j...

The Man of Steel has recently soared back to the big screen in a reboot that promises hope, heroism, and a fresh start for DC? The studio has entrusted James Gunn with reviving their iconic hero, but does the new Superman deliver? Industry insider and comic book fan Ivan Calixto returns to the podcast to share his thoughts. ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwiboffic...

What would God need with a starship? William Shatner's first directorial effort turned out to be his last. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier is the black sheep of the original film series, and it's not hard to see why. Does it deserve its bad rap? Trekkie and guest Paul Kind returns to vent his feelings. ___ Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficial YouTube: https://w...