We Love the Love

We're taking a look at the dawn of the SPUMC as we dig into the romance of Venom! Join in as we discuss Tom Hardy's double performance, the lobster tank scene, The Brock Report, and surprise good guy performance by Reid Scott. Plus: How do these Sony movies connect to Spider-Man? Why didn't Riz Ahmed get to use his British accent? And how does Sony keep tricking people into thinking they're joining the MCU by being in these movies? Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe! Next week: Elektra (2005) --------------------------------------------- Key sources and links for this episode: * Marvel Comics: The Untold Story by Sean Howe (2012) * "Tom Hardy Says His Son's Love for Venom is Why He Took the Role" [https://variety.com/video/tom-hardy-why-venom-role/](Variety) * "How Sony Learned to Cede Control to Marvel on Spider-Man: Homecoming" [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/spider-man-homecoming-how-sony-learned-cede-control-marvel-1015408/] (The Hollywood Reporter) * "Even After Kraven the Hunter and Madame Web, Sony's Marvel Movies aren't Dead" [https://variety.com/2024/film/news/kraven-sony-marvel-movies-not-dead-1236249221/] (Variety) * "Tom Hardy Came up with the Best Scene in Venom on the Spot" [https://www.polygon.com/2018/10/8/17951952/venom-movie-lobster-scene-tom-hardy] (Polygon) * "The History of Unmade Venom Movies" [https://web.archive.org/web/20181003121446/https://comicbook.com/marvel/2017/03/16/unmade-venom-movies/#4] (ComicBook.com) * "The Spider-Man 4 that Never Was" [https://web.archive.org/web/20180204111010/http://collider.com/spider-man-4-sam-raimi#plot] (Collider) * "Sony Sets Spider-Man Spinoffs Venom, Sinister Six with New Franchise 'Brain Trust'" [https://deadline.com/2013/12/spider-man-spinoffs-sony-marc-webb-alex-kurtzman-roberto-orci-jeff-pinkner-ed-solomon-drew-goddard-651848/] (Deadline) * "SPUMC?" [https://gizmodo.com/spumc-1843200536] (Gizmodo) * "The Post-Disaster Artist" [https://www.polygon.com/2020/5/5/21246679/josh-trank-capone-interview-fantastic-four-chronicle] (Polygon)

To herald the release of Fantastic Four: First Steps, we're starting the second half of our Summer of Superheroes with a look at the romance of 2007's Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer! Join in as we discuss the history of FF adaptations, the challenge of writing a super-genius, the flattening of Sue Storm, and our favorite movies of 2025 so far. Plus: Why are adaptations so scared of Dr. Doom? Why is Galactus a cloud in this movie? What is Doom's plan with the silver surfboard? And how did this movie's promotional campaign break federal law? Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe! Next week: Venom (2018) ------------------------------------------------- Key sources and links for this episode: * MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios by Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzalez, and Gavin Edwards (2023) * All of the Marvels by Douglas Wolk (2021) * "Inside Move: Surfer May Board Four" [https://variety.com/2006/film/markets-festivals/inside-move-surfer-may-board-four-1200506282/] (Variety) * "2007 Preview: Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" [https://web.archive.org/web/20071211045159/http://www.wizarduniverse.com/movies/fantasticfour2/003014399.cfm] (Wizard Universe) * "Fantastic Four 2 Set Footage and Comments" [https://web.archive.org/web/20070304071041/http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=5276] (SuperHeroHype) * "Fishburne Voices Surfer" [https://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/fishburne-voices-surfer-1117963368/] (Variety) * "US Mint: Silver Surfer Coin is Breaking the Law" [https://web.archive.org/web/20081206004049/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,275655,00.html] (Fox News) * "The Fantastic Four Movie You'll Never See" [https://archive.ph/Ixvbz#selection-723.1-728.0] (Wired) * "A Mania for Marvel" [https://variety.com/1997/voices/columns/a-mania-for-marvel-1117434784/] (Variety) * "Down with Love's Reed Won't Do Fantastic Four" [https://web.archive.org/web/20150506144636/http://www.ew.com/article/2003/07/30/down-loves-reed-wont-do-fantastic-four] (Entertainment Weekly) * "Fantastic Four Almost Made Jessica Alba Quit Acting" [https://web.archive.org/web/20140401115046/http://www.popeater.com/2010/11/22/jessica-alba-elle-full-interview-fantastic-four/] (PopEater) * "The Hundred Best Movies of the Twenty-First Century" [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/movies/best-movies-21st-century.html] (New York Times)

We're celebrating our 400th episode with a look at the biggest 400 in cinema, Francois Truffaut's 1959 French New Wave classic, The 400 Blows! Join in as we discuss the New Wave's place in cinema history, Antoine Doinel's poor fire safety, his conspicuous lack of siblings, and engage in a cinemabration of eight years of podcasting. Plus: How closely does the film map onto Truffaut's life? What does the title actually mean? Which school subjects are worth learning? And, most importantly, what's the difference between 2017 and 2018? Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe! Next week: Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007) ------------------------------------------------- Key sources and links for this episode: * "Movie Poster of the Week: Francois Truffaut's The 400 Blows" [https://mubi.com/en/notebook/posts/movie-poster-of-the-week-francois-truffauts-the-400-blows] (MUBI) * "The 400 Blows: Close to Home" [https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/528-the-400-blows-close-to-home] (Criterion) * "The Emoji Movie was the First Film to Publicly Screen in Saudi Arabia after 35-Year Cinema Ban" [https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/emoji-movie-saudi-arabia-film-ban-screening-1201917485/] (IndieWire) * "Mike White Confronts Rob Cesternino over Emoji Movie" [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMLTs1Y5kek] (All Winners Survivor on YouTube) * "Christopher Nolan Took his Kids to See Phantom Thread and Now They Call Him 'Woodcock' When He's Being Mean" [https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/christopher-nolan-phantom-thread-get-out-lady-bird-oscars-1201926428/] (IndieWire) * The 2022 Sight & Sound lists [https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/greatest-films-all-time]

Our Summer of Superheroes reaches its climax with arguably the most important movie in the genre's history: Richard Donner's 1978 film Superman, starring Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder, and a firmly on-book Marlon Brando. Join in as we discuss the geophysics of Lex Luthor's evil plot, the other attempts to put Superman in cinemas, the nearly two-year shoot, and our favorite real estate schemes. Plus: What ideas did Brando have to reduce his workload? Did Donner have a phone in his bathroom? What was the original plan for the time travel finale? And, most importantly, is Clark Kent more super or more man? Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe! Next week: The 400 Blows (1959) ----------------------------------------------------- Key sources and links for this episode: * Which Lie Did I Tell? More Adventures in the Screen Trade by William Goldman (2000) * The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture by Glen Weldon (2016) * Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang and Gurihiru (2019) * Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (2024) * Taking Flight: The Development of Superman (2001) * Making Superman: Filming the Legend (2001) * Roger Ebert's four-star review of Superman [https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/superman] (1978) * "The Making of Superman" [https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/making-superman/] (EMPIRE Magazine) * Interview with Producer Ilya Salkind by Barry M. Frieman [https://www.supermanhomepage.com/movies/movies.php?topic=interview-salkind] for SupermanHomePage.com * "Nick Nolte Doesn't Care about Legacy, and Talks Julia Roberts Feud" [https://www.businessinsider.com/nick-nolte-interview-legacy-drinking-julia-roberts-2022-11] (Insider) * "The Superman Story that Set the Ku Klux Klan Back Years is Now a Comic" [https://www.polygon.com/comics/2019/10/15/20914503/superman-ku-klux-klan-dc-comics-superman-smashes-gene-luen-yang] (Polygon)

We're taking a look at one of the most-maligned superhero movies of the twenty-first century: Martin Campbell's 2011 adaptation of Green Lantern, starring Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively. Join in as we discuss good and bad superhero costumes, the many attempts to adapt this character for film, the dead-on-arrival post-credits scene, and the Reynolds-Lively relationship timeline. Plus: Does this movie need a Bill Pullman? Why are there xenobiologists? Should Parallax be a guy? And, most importantly, is this movie as bad as its reputation? Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe! Next week: Superman (1978) ------------------------------------------------------ Key sources and links for this episode: * "Jack Black Green with Envy over New Lantern" [https://web.archive.org/web/20110628205927/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2007/11/21/jack-black-green-with-envy-over-new-lantern] (MTV Movies Blog) * David Goyer interview with MovieHole.net [https://web.archive.org/web/20080206124217/http://www.moviehole.net/news/4718.html] * "The Closer Star Wants to Pitch Green Lantern Film" [https://web.archive.org/web/20130523150646/http://blog.newsarama.com/2007/06/18/the-closer-co-star-wants-to-pitch-green-lantern-film/] (Newsarama) * "Marc Guggenheim Drops the Comics that Inspire Green Lantern's Screen Debut" [https://web.archive.org/web/20081018115149/http://splashpage.mtv.com/2008/10/14/marc-guggenheim-drops-the-comics-that-inspire-green-lantern%E2%80%99s-screen-debut/] (Splash Page) * "TV Producer of the Year Greg Berlanti: 'I Still Fight about Everything'" [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/flash-arrow-producer-greg-berlanti-892417/] (The Hollywood Reporter) * "Update: Justin Timberlake, Ryan Reynolds, or Bradley Cooper will Star in Green Lantern" [https://web.archive.org/web/20110621064916/http://collider.com/update-justin-timberlake-ryan-reynolds-or-bradley-cooper-will-star-in-green-lantern/3737/] (Collider) * "Ryan Reynolds on his Deadpool Obsession, Meeting Blake Lively, and His New Film, Life" [https://www.gq.com/story/ryan-reynolds-deadpool-blake-lively-life-moty] (GQ) * "Warner Bros.' Green Lantern Marketing Campaign Delayed by Special Effects Work" [https://web.archive.org/web/20220704161258/https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/company-town-blog/story/2011-03-29/warner-bros-green-lantern-marketing-campaign-delayed-by-special-effects-work] (LA Times) * "First Look at the Green Lantern Script" [https://web.archive.org/web/20080912044536/http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=122&Itemid=99] (IESB.net) * "Warner Bros. Announces 10 DC Movies, Including Wonder Woman" [https://ew.com/article/2014/10/15/justice-league-green-lantern-wonder-woman-flash-movies/] (EW) * "Bradley Cooper on His Green Lantern Audition" [https://web.archive.org/web/20230308032503/https://www.mtv.com/news/j54ctg/bradley-cooper-on-his-green-lantern-audition-i-couldnt-not-do-christian-bales-batman] (MTV) * "Avengers: Doomsday Cast Announced in Marvel Livestream" [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/avengers-doomsday-cast-announced-1236172556/] (The Hollywood Reporter) * "Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively Apologize for Plantation Wedding" [https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/ryan-reynolds-blake-lively-apologize-plantation-themed-wedding-n1235770] (NBC News)