I read the first book that this movie is based on. I considered it bad fanfic. I’m even hesitant to post this . I got called a troll on other social media for not liking this movie or book. I am happy people went to the theater to watch it . Even though it’s not my cup of tea.
At least I know I'm not the only one who disliked the book. I read it a long time ago (after seeing the book sitting on a seat in an autobody shop and having nothing else to do while my car was being fixed) and remember being very underwhelmed by it. But almost everyone else I've talked to seemed to like the book.
If you want another troll-ish Oz fanfic take, there is no good Wizard of Oz movie besides 1939. That’s not a book purist stance or anything, I get people have attachments to this-or-that one, but if we’re honest with ourselves 😆🤷♂️…
Well! As a testament to how much I revere all of you, I listened to the entire review of a movie I have never had any intention of seeing. I didn't watch the first movie, either. Like Sonny, I'm not a fan of musicals. Nevertheless, I must admit, I found your review interesting and, as usual, I learned some more about movies and movie-making.
Also, Suderman your Calamityware mug is a fine indication of your suave sophistication.
Well, that means a lot. I definitely watch a lot of movies I would not otherwise watch for the pod (everything horror, really), and so appreciate learning from these guys too!
I haven't seen it, but my almost 13 year old daughter saw and loved it. (She also thought the first film was ok, but wasn't as great as everyone else was saying). So it appears my family's tradition of being contrarian on the cultural zeitgeist continues apace.
Also, I'm surprised the merch store doesn't have "Sonny Was Right" tees.
Setting all the very bad political implications and fate of theatrical aside, this sucks because Zaslav has earned the right to spin off the cable assets from the WB/HBO. To Alyssa’s point about CNN, that might buy that news network time too.
Listen, I had my thoughts on what Zaslav did when he first started but those moves worked out! WB had an incredible 2025. DC Studios is on really firm footing. They will likely have an incredible awards season.
I really hope he can keep the sale at bay, in no small part because the California AG and others are making it clear that they will fight it, and gets a chance to run this next phase.
Yeah, one of my less-popular opinions is that Zaslav has, basically, done a pretty good job over the last couple of years by staying out of the way of the film team and HBO. The cable part of the business is ... another matter. Haha.
I think there is a good case that WB is on strong ground creatively and even financially, this year at least.
But Zaz is being paid tens of millions to manage the overall business, the whole package of products and business lines. And the case that he has done well in that respect is not as strong.
True, but I don’t know how anyone could make the cable assets work.
I believe the plan would be to send a bunch of the debt they took on when they bought WB and allocate it to the cable company. Basically freeing the studio and streaming from less stellar parts of the package.
Basically have a managed decline of cable, which frees the studio/HBO.
Is Across the Movie Aisle now a separate subscription from The Bulwark? I've been a subscriber to The Bulwark since about 2020 but when I tried to comment I a pop up notified me that only subscribers could post. When I tried to find a login for The Bulwark, I ended up subscribing (again) by accident (yes, I'm one of those people. So sue me.)
Anyway, if ATMA is still part of my Bulwark subscription package, I'd like my money back. If it's become a separate subscription, I'll pay -- but only because I like Sonny so much.
Also, trying to search Substack AND The Bulwark is a bleeding nightmare. Sure, you can find all Tim's stuff and JVL's and Sarah's. But try to find Bill's Sunday and good freaking luck. How about listing his show in your Shows menu. Same for ATMA.
Yeah, ATMA was canceled, for lack of a better word. (In the original TV show sense, not the MeToo sense.) But we were able to split it off into its own thing, so it exists as its own Substack.
That's a damn shame and a poor decision, in my opinion. But I'm content to know that I'm playing a small part in keeping you, Alyssa, and Peter in movie tickets. Also, I hope Bulwark paid for your Vegas trip and the eye-popping ticket to The Wizard of Oz in the Sphere.
I haven’t read the books, but Alyssa might have thoughts there.
As for the second question, I don’t know whether it’s bad for progressive politics. But I think it’s reflective of some bad tendencies in progressive politics.
I read the first book that this movie is based on. I considered it bad fanfic. I’m even hesitant to post this . I got called a troll on other social media for not liking this movie or book. I am happy people went to the theater to watch it . Even though it’s not my cup of tea.
At least I know I'm not the only one who disliked the book. I read it a long time ago (after seeing the book sitting on a seat in an autobody shop and having nothing else to do while my car was being fixed) and remember being very underwhelmed by it. But almost everyone else I've talked to seemed to like the book.
If you want another troll-ish Oz fanfic take, there is no good Wizard of Oz movie besides 1939. That’s not a book purist stance or anything, I get people have attachments to this-or-that one, but if we’re honest with ourselves 😆🤷♂️…
Well! As a testament to how much I revere all of you, I listened to the entire review of a movie I have never had any intention of seeing. I didn't watch the first movie, either. Like Sonny, I'm not a fan of musicals. Nevertheless, I must admit, I found your review interesting and, as usual, I learned some more about movies and movie-making.
Also, Suderman your Calamityware mug is a fine indication of your suave sophistication.
Well, that means a lot. I definitely watch a lot of movies I would not otherwise watch for the pod (everything horror, really), and so appreciate learning from these guys too!
I haven't seen it, but my almost 13 year old daughter saw and loved it. (She also thought the first film was ok, but wasn't as great as everyone else was saying). So it appears my family's tradition of being contrarian on the cultural zeitgeist continues apace.
Also, I'm surprised the merch store doesn't have "Sonny Was Right" tees.
Setting all the very bad political implications and fate of theatrical aside, this sucks because Zaslav has earned the right to spin off the cable assets from the WB/HBO. To Alyssa’s point about CNN, that might buy that news network time too.
Listen, I had my thoughts on what Zaslav did when he first started but those moves worked out! WB had an incredible 2025. DC Studios is on really firm footing. They will likely have an incredible awards season.
I really hope he can keep the sale at bay, in no small part because the California AG and others are making it clear that they will fight it, and gets a chance to run this next phase.
Yeah, one of my less-popular opinions is that Zaslav has, basically, done a pretty good job over the last couple of years by staying out of the way of the film team and HBO. The cable part of the business is ... another matter. Haha.
I think there is a good case that WB is on strong ground creatively and even financially, this year at least.
But Zaz is being paid tens of millions to manage the overall business, the whole package of products and business lines. And the case that he has done well in that respect is not as strong.
True, but I don’t know how anyone could make the cable assets work.
I believe the plan would be to send a bunch of the debt they took on when they bought WB and allocate it to the cable company. Basically freeing the studio and streaming from less stellar parts of the package.
Basically have a managed decline of cable, which frees the studio/HBO.
Is Across the Movie Aisle now a separate subscription from The Bulwark? I've been a subscriber to The Bulwark since about 2020 but when I tried to comment I a pop up notified me that only subscribers could post. When I tried to find a login for The Bulwark, I ended up subscribing (again) by accident (yes, I'm one of those people. So sue me.)
Anyway, if ATMA is still part of my Bulwark subscription package, I'd like my money back. If it's become a separate subscription, I'll pay -- but only because I like Sonny so much.
Also, trying to search Substack AND The Bulwark is a bleeding nightmare. Sure, you can find all Tim's stuff and JVL's and Sarah's. But try to find Bill's Sunday and good freaking luck. How about listing his show in your Shows menu. Same for ATMA.
Yeah, ATMA was canceled, for lack of a better word. (In the original TV show sense, not the MeToo sense.) But we were able to split it off into its own thing, so it exists as its own Substack.
That's a damn shame and a poor decision, in my opinion. But I'm content to know that I'm playing a small part in keeping you, Alyssa, and Peter in movie tickets. Also, I hope Bulwark paid for your Vegas trip and the eye-popping ticket to The Wizard of Oz in the Sphere.
Ok, Alyssa's comment that the animals are fleeing for the state of Israel is clearly the funniest thing that's been said about this movie.
1) It's honestly been so long since I read "Wicked" that I would be hard-pressed to offer a recommendation either way.
2) I think it might be. If I have time, I will try to write a separate post about some of these questions.
I haven’t read the books, but Alyssa might have thoughts there.
As for the second question, I don’t know whether it’s bad for progressive politics. But I think it’s reflective of some bad tendencies in progressive politics.