Franchise Detours

It was a dark time for moviegoers. After Muppets from Space failed to meet expectations, the Muppets took an extended break from the big screen. But following Disney's acquisition of the characters in 2004, they finally made their long-awaited return to cinemas with 2011's The Muppets. And judging by the box office receipts, the world welcomed them back with open arms. Film critic Dede Crimmins jo...

In 1999, Muppets fans probably expected Kermit and friends to dive headfirst into a third consecutive literary adaptation. Instead, Jim Henson Company Pictures -- this time under Sony Pictures, not Disney -- decided to boldly go where no Muppet movie had gone before: the realm of science fiction. And so Muppets from Space was born. Sandro Falce from Oldie But a Goodie stops by to discuss the black...

Once you've done Ebenezer Scrooge, the next logical step is Long John Silver, right? That's what Disney, Jim Henson Productions, and director Brian Henson apparently thought. After the success of 1992's The Muppet Christmas Carol, the Muppets stuck with literary adaptations, this time plugging them into Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 novel Treasure Island. On this episode, screenwriter and actor Br...

Following the death of Jim Henson, the Muppets were absent from the big screen for nearly a decade. But under the guidance of director Brian Henson, Jim's son, Kermit the Frog and company finally returned with a twist in 1992. And 30 years later, The Muppet Christmas Carol is one of the most beloved installments in the Muppet movie franchise. In this episode, film critic Morgan Roberts joins us to...

First, the Muppets got a movie. They solved a great caper. But taking Manhattan? In this economy?! Well, that's next in our Muppets mega-series. In 1984's The Muppets Take Manhattan, Kermit and company aspire to become Broadway stars. And director Frank Oz brings as much heart and unforgettable songs as fans would expect from a Muppet movie. The Vern from Cinema Recall joins the show to delve deep...

The Muppet Movie took Kermit the Frog and company from The Muppet Show all the way to Hollywood. But beyond the "approximate" story of how the Muppets got together, what does everyone's favorite group of frogs, pigs, bears, and whatevers do with their "rich and famous contracts"? The Great Muppet Caper, that's what. Ryan Luis Rodriguez of The Coolness Chronicles and Reels of Justice joins our Mupp...

It's time to play the music. It's time to light the lights. It's time to meet the Muppets on a brand-new Franchise Detours mega-series. For the next eight episodes, we'll be covering every single theatrically released Muppet film, journeying through spanning 35 years of Muppets on the big screen. First up is the story of "approximately" how the Muppets came together. On this episode, Stephen Fodor...

On its face, Happy Death Day feels very much like a slasher movie spin of 1993's time-loop comedy Groundhog Day. While it is that, director Christopher Landon manages to transcend that premise to create one of the best horror-comedies in recent years and a truly underrated sequel. On this episode, Robert Stewart of Stew World Order joins the show to talk not only about 2017's Happy Death Day but i...

For an entire generation, Pee-wee Herman was an integral part of their childhood. The character -- created by Paul Reubens -- made his big-screen debut in Tim Burton's Pee-wee's Big Adventure before landing the award-winning Pee-wee's Playhouse TV series. Now Franchise Detours takes a tour through Pee-wee Herman's "trilogy" of cinematic adventures. On this episode, Lauren Carey of the Beer'd Al Po...

To today's audience, Sister Act must feel like a real relic of the 1990s. A star-driven, fish-out-of-water, pseudo-musical comedy blockbuster!?! Add to that the religious setting, and there's little chance a movie like the 1992 hit starring Whoopi Goldberg would become a full-fledged phenomenon. On this episode, Phoenix Clouden of the Film Code Podcast joins us to discuss how Sister Act became one...

Fifteen years after Sam Raimi concluded his Spider-Man trilogy, the Evil Dead filmmaker is back in the Marvel family with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. But as audiences re-discover just how damn great Raimi is at bringing comic books to life, we're taking a look at perhaps his most misunderstood film, 2007's Spider-Man 3. On this episode, Brian Skutle of the Sonic Cinema Podcast joi...

In the pantheon of superhero sequels, Spider-Man 2 is arguably among the best of its kind. Two years after Sam Raimi finally brought the webslinger to theaters, he aimed even higher with deeper themes, a more visually ambitious villain, and a tighter focus on character relationships. On this episode, Josh Bell of Awesome Movie Year joins the show to discuss how Raimi tries to outdo himself with th...

In 2002, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was just a glimmer in Kevin Feige's eye. And Sony entrusted Sam Raimi -- director of the Evil Dead franchise -- with bringing Marvel's most famous and beloved superhero to the big screen. In that way, Spider-Man is very much a testament to its time. On this episode, The Lady-Wan of Screen Run helps us swing right into our next friendly neighborhood mega-serie...

Mad Max rewrote the rules when it came to action movies back in 1979. And with each sequel, George Miller continued to raise the bar higher. So naturally, Mad Max: Fury Road is the culmination of all that came before it. On this episode, filmmaker and music producer David Snyder joins the show as we talk about how Miller once again redefined a genre with Mad Max: Fury Road and what we hope to see...

George Miller started the Mad Max franchise as an indie filmmaker. But by the third film, Hollywood was ready to enter the Wasteland with Mel Gibson's title character facing off against music icon Tina Turner. On this episode, Megan Kearns of Spoilerpiece Theatre joins the show as we talk about Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome. We'll discuss how the movie continues the series' evolution, its PG-13 rati...

If the first Mad Max gives audiences a glimpse of the last vestiges of civilization, 1982's Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior takes them full-on into George Miller's Wasteland in one of the most celebrated action films ever. On this episode, film critic Sara M. Fetters joins the show as we talk about how Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior builds on its predecessor, how it impacts the series' future, and why it...

What a lovely day it is as we jumpstart a brand-new mega-series. Back in 1979, George Miller essentially invented the modern action movie with the original Mad Max. Now it's time for us to enter the Wasteland. On this episode, Jackson Smith of Nightfall Entertainment joins the show as we talk about how Mad Max's vision of the post-apocalypse changed everything. Plus, we'll spend a few minutes on T...

After Army of Darkness, the Evil Dead franchise lay mostly dormant for decades. Then news of a remake broke. But fans certainly weren't ready for the intense experience that is director Fede Álvarez's 2013 Evil Dead. On this episode, film critic Angie Aguayo joins the show, as we discuss whether Evil Dead 2013 is a remake or sequel, the underrated strength of Jane Levy's performance, and how it bu...

It seems some Evil Dead fans didn't realize Army of Darkness was a sequel when they first saw it. Alas, the 1992 movie -- once again directed by Sam Raimi and starring Bruce Campbell -- completes the duo's Evil Dead trilogy. On this episode, Jeff Johnson of Suns and Shadows-Cast joins us to discuss how the movie completes the evolution of Ash's character, the distinction between his buffoonish and...

The Evil Dead remains an undeniable classic. But Evil Dead 2 is arguably where director Sam Raimi and star Bruce Campbell emerged fully formed. And it's why this entry perhaps boasts the most passionate fan base. On this episode, David Rosen of the Piecing It Together podcast joins us to talk Evil Dead 2. We'll cover why it's one of his favorites, how it serves as both sequel and remake, and why i...

It's time to leave Child's Play behind. But we're not giving the world of horror a rest just yet. Instead, we're swerving right into another hugely influential franchise, starting with Sam Raimi's 1981 classic The Evil Dead. On this episode, Bri Azmoudeh of The Geeky Waffle Network 's Killer Waffles podcast joins us to talk about Raimi's cabin-in-the-woods splatter-fest. We'll discuss the film's s...

Eighteen years have passed since The Matrix trilogy. Now director Lana Wachowski returns -- with Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss back as Neo and Trinity -- with The Matrix Resurrections. And here's our raw review. On this episode, Rob weighs in on how this fourth installment in The Matrix franchise stacks up with the previous films, how it builds on what's come before, where it might lead, and w...

Exactly one year before The Matrix Resurrections' release, Jackson Smith of Nightfall Entertainment joined Close Watch -- then the Crooked Table Podcast -- to discuss The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. Now Franchise Detours looks back at that epic three-hour conversation. We'll discuss why The Matrix sequels are underappreciated, where the trilogy sits within cinema history, and look...

In 2019, Freddy Yaniz joined Close Watch -- then the Crooked Table Podcast -- for an in-depth discussion of The Matrix. Now, with the release of The Matrix Resurrections, Franchise Detours looks back at that chat. In this special encore episode, we discuss the profound impact The Matrix had on us personally, how its legacy has impacted Hollywood, and why the movie continues to inspire fans more th...

Playtime is just about over. After seven wild films, 2017's Cult of Chucky brings our inaugural mega-series to a close. And writer-director Don Mancini takes an appropriately go-for-broke approach with (so far) Chucky's final cinematic outing. In the final episode of our Child's Play/Chucky mega-series, film critic Angie Aguayo joins us to talk Cult of Chucky. We'll discuss how the film revolution...