How does Hot Fuzz use its setting to its advantage? We chat about why action movies are usually set in cities and how the juxtaposition of Sandford makes the film even more humorous.

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We chat about Edgar Wright, his filmmaking style and background. Our conversation also leads us to discussing his broad range and his recent transition into thriller-horror films.

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Why don’t we have as many action adventure movies like Indiana Jones anymore? In this episode, we chat about how audience tastes have changed, and hypothesise why interest in adventurous action films may have waned.

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Now, when we re-watch or think back to Twilight, a lot of us cringe at teenage us and our obsession with the series. But, how did it become so popular? In this episode, we chat about how book series become popular and in particular why timing mattered for the rise of Twilight.

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How have the main actors in the franchise fared post-Twilight? In this lighter (juicier) episode, we talk about the romance between Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, their careers since they wrapped the Twilight series, and why Taylor Lautner hasn’t made it big in comparison.

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Do narrated films work or do they come across as cheesy? This episode, we chat about first person storytelling in Twilight and more broadly, talk about whether it works in film compared to books. Our conversation leads us also to talk more broadly about the use of exposition in films, specifically in Nolan films.

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We are starting 2023 off with a bang, Twilight-style! And you can’t talk about Twilight without talking about its fans. In this episode, we chat about the term “fangirl”, whether it’s still used now, and more generally, comparing “the fangirl” to other types of fans.

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

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What were our favourite films of 2022? How did we feel about this year of filmmaking? Keep listening until the end to find out what our most look forward to films are next year!

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What is the next big teen franchise? And, will teen dystopia make a comeback? This episode, we chat about how much timing matters for teen series to become popular. And, we postulate whether Divergent was always going to fail as the follow up series after The Hunger Games. Lastly, we touch upon the upcoming prequel and how we feel about it.

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Who would you rather, Snow or Coin? This episode we chat about the demise of Snow and Coin and dystopian story endings. Our conversation leads us to a conversation about the movie’s epilogue, comparing it to the Harry Potter epilogue and why Mockingjay’s epilogue works so well.

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What do we think about Mockingjay being split into part 1 and 2? In this episode, we chat about how corporate money making might not be the worst thing. We also bring in other examples of two part releases in other movie franchises and TV series - to chat more about the two parter release schedule.

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Are you Team Peeta or Team Gale? This episode, we chat about love triangles in general and the love triangle that exists in The Hunger Games series. We also discuss why we think the trope exists in teen dystopia, specifically within stories aimed at female teen audiences.

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

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Why is Catching Fire the most well received of The Hunger Games series? What do we think about the film and where do we stand on the success of the film? In this episode, we chat about our thoughts on Catching Fire overall and how it compares with the other films in the series. We also chat about book to movie adaptations and how adaption decisions are made in the production process.

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

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How should franchises handle aging protagonists? In this episode, we talk about the aging celebrity in long running franchises and what franchises do when movie stars age out of their roles.

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Why is hope important in dystopic films, and what draws us to characters that instill hope in us? In this episode, we talk about the ending of The Hunger Games and how the survival of Katniss and Peeta carry through as beacons of hope into Catching Fire and the rest of the seres. We chat about the importance of hope in films overall and how hopeful endings may differ for films targeted at different audiences.

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This week, we chat about society within The Hunger Games, and the parallels some parts of it have with real life. We also chat about Katniss and how the story is written so that she is someone we’d root for. But most importantly, are we Team Gale or Team Peeta?

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

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We’re kicking off an 8 week special series about all four movies of The Hunger Games franchise! This week, we chat about teen dystopias - the tropes that exist in the genre and dive slightly into what makes The Hunger Games special compared to the other franchises in the genre.

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

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After watching some big movies at TIFF and the London Film Festival, we chat about our top 5 films from our respective festivals, digging into what the films are about and why they made our top 5.

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Why is anarchy scary? We wrap up The Purge by talking about the anarchy and chaos in horror movies - and why we might feel scared of it. In the episode, we also chat about dystopian movie worlds, and why we might not have believed in this version of America in The Purge, despite it being more realistic than other dystopic films.

References & Further Reading:

Complex “A Sociologist Discusses the Possibility of “The Purge” Happening in Real Life”: https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2014/07/sociologist-the-purge-real-life-possibility-interview

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

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Some of the most iconic moments in horror include a villain with a mask on. Why are masks scary? In this episode, we chat about which ones are the scariest and why not seeing a face is creepy. We also get into a side tangent about dressing up for Halloween and which costume we think will be popular this year.

References & Further Reading:

Den of Geek “Top 21 Scariest Horror Movie Masks”: https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/top-21-scariest-horror-movie-masks/#:~:text=Sometimes%20they%20serve%20to%20hide,frightening%20in%20its%20own%20right

Literary Hub “The Terror Behind the Mask”: https://lithub.com/the-terror-behind-the-mask/

The New York Times “Horror Masks Are Never Just About the Monster”: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/23/movies/halloween-horror-masks.html

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

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Would The Purge work in real life? This month, we end our horror season with the contemporary franchise The Purge. In this episode, we chat about our thoughts on the first movie, whether we enjoyed it and why it has become such a big franchise in the genre.

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

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To finish off September, we watched the first couple episodes of Ryan Murphy’s “Scream Queens”. We chat first impressions (for Cheryl) and how it compares to Scream, which partly inspired the series. In the episode, we also chat about whether horror works for tv shows, and whether audiences can or want to remain scared for several weeks of a show’s run.

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

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What’s scary about a slasher movie compared to supernatural, social or psychological horror? In this episode, we compare horror movie types and discuss potentially why slasher movies are more satisfying to watch. In our comparison, we also talk about the amount of “buying in” we have to do with each type of horror movie, and why that matters.

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

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What is the “final girl” phenomenon? In this episode, we chat about this horror movie trope, why it exists and how it works within horror-specific storylines. We also chat about how it was a symbol of female empowerment in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, and whether the “final girl” has become outdated now in 2022.

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What are the aspects of Indiana Jones that makes it such a beloved franchise? Is it Harrison Ford himself? In this episode, we talk about why it worked and how franchises reinvent themselves over time.

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Would you survive a horror movie? In this episode, we chat about horror movie tropes, and how Scream uses our understanding of horror movies to toy with our expectations. Want to know our our hot tips on how to survive a horror movie? Listen in on our conversation to find out!

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What made Scream so successful? This week, we chat about one of the most important horror movies of all time, Scream, one of the highest-grossing horror films of all time. We talk first impressions of the film (by Cheryl) and chat about how it still remains relevant and creepy over 20 years later.

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

Check out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O6GFhumzrq8qNBYZuF_1Q

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…Parasite! In this episode, we chat about the reception of Parasite and how its Best Picture win has impacted the industry in the last couple years. We also chat briefly about Roma, how it might have paved the way for Parasite, but why it ultimately didn’t win.

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

Check out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O6GFhumzrq8qNBYZuF_1Q

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In this episode, we chat about the rise of Korean culture in Western culture, including increased interest in k-beauty, Korean food,  and idol culture. We end the episode with a quick chat about the overall increase in Asian American perspectives in film and TV, and whether that was in parallel to or fueled by this new wave of Korean culture.

References:

USA Today “This is America: ‘Squid Game,’ K-beauty and BTS - What’s so special about Korean pop culture?”: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2021/10/21/squid-game-bts-k-beauty-why-korean-pop-culture-making-waves/8437852002/

TIFF Summer of Seoul: https://tiff.net/tiff-celebrates-the-best-of-new-korean-cinema-this-summer

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

Check out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O6GFhumzrq8qNBYZuF_1Q

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What do you think of Bong Joon-Ho and his filmmaking? In this episode, we chat about our thoughts on Bong Joon-Ho and compare him to other filmmakers we have discussed in the past. Listen in on our conversation about what we think about his films, what we think about his style and our theories on why 2020 was his moment in Hollywood.

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

Check out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O6GFhumzrq8qNBYZuF_1Q

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Is Parasite a scary film? In this episode, we chat about how Bong Joon-Ho’s Parasite is so terrifying, despite having no major jump-scares or traditional horror characteristics. After Jordan Peele month, we also compare Parasite with Get Out and discuss the similarities and differences of both films.

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

Check out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O6GFhumzrq8qNBYZuF_1Q

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What was horror like before the new wave of horror movies we currently see now? In this episode, we chat about how the genre has changed, and we compare the characteristics of previous and contemporary horror movies. We also chat about how filmmakers like Jordan Peele have transcended the horror genre.

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

Check out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O6GFhumzrq8qNBYZuF_1Q

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PSA: “Nope” is coming out tomorrow! In this last countdown episode, we compare “Get Out” and “Us”, and we discuss predictions for “Nope”, which is coming out this weekend! We also note how Jordan Peele might be the Christopher Nolan of the horror genre, and how his name has become the pull for his latest movie.

Reference: 

Screen Rant “5 Things Us Did Better Than Get Out (And 5 Things Get Out Did Better)”: https://screenrant.com/jordan-peele-get-out-better-movie-us/

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

Check out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O6GFhumzrq8qNBYZuF_1Q

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Why are we so much more excited about the horror genre these days? From “Get Out” to “Hereditary” and “A Quiet Place”, we chat about the new wave, “elevated horror” (not coined by us) and how it’s changed the horror genre. We also tie it in back to our last episode’s discussion about comedy and horror, and how although less “scary” aesthetically speaking (and therefore perhaps more accessible), these movies might not be as accessible to as wide of an audience as we might think.

References:

BBC “How Jordan Peele redefined Horror films forever | Inside Cinema - BBC”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnL8lX52gPo

Reporter “MODERN HORROR: HOW A GENRE GETS ELEVATED”: https://reporter.rit.edu/culture/modern-horror-how-genre-gets-elevated

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

Check out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O6GFhumzrq8qNBYZuF_1Q

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Welcome to Jordan Peele month! In the weeks leading up to “Nope”, we will be chatting about all things Jordan Peele. Our month starts with “Get Out” and a comparison between comedy and horror. We chat about why the storytelling techniques in comedy are so transferable to storytelling in the horror genre.

Reference:

Sidenote by AsapSCIENCE “Humour: what makes something funny?”: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/sidenote-by-asapscience/id1383086982?i=1000501832321

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

Check out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O6GFhumzrq8qNBYZuF_1Q

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Why do we find suspense engaging? In this episode, we talk about suspense across different genres - how they differ and when too much suspense might not be a good thing!

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As our understanding of technology shifts and evolves, what sci-fi movies stand the test of time? In this episode, we chat about why despite changes in science and technology older sci-fi can still remain beloved and timeless. We also chat what science or technology will be featured most in the next wave of sci-fi films.

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

Check out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O6GFhumzrq8qNBYZuF_1Q

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We couldn’t talk AI without chatting about Westworld - just in time, right before the season 4 premiere this weekend! In this episode, we share our thoughts on the show upon this re-watch compared to when the show first aired. We also compare Westworld and Ex_Machina, the movie we’re watching this month, and discuss the similarities between both stories.

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

Check out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O6GFhumzrq8qNBYZuF_1Q

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Is Ava culpable for the crimes she’s done at the end of the film? In this episode, we start by chatting about how the film influences how the audiences feel about the characters through the male gaze. Our conversation then turns to whether Ava should be considered a bad character if her actions were pre-determined by the coding that Nathan created for her.

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

Check out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O6GFhumzrq8qNBYZuF_1Q

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Who do we build technology for? In this episode, we talk about the biases within the tech industry and how the film explores the this topic. We also chat about the gendered technology we interact with (some that we interact with on a daily basis) and how historical biases influence the way technology is built.

References:

World Economic Forum “ This is why AI has a gender problem”: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/06/this-is-why-ai-has-a-gender-problem/

Screen Rant “Ex Machina's Alternate Ending Explained”: https://screenrant.com/ex-machina-movie-alternate-ending-explained/

Paste Magazine “A Moral Question: Gender and (Re)production in A.I. Artificial Intelligence 20 Years Later”: https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/ai-artificial-intelligence-gender-reproduction/

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

Check out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O6GFhumzrq8qNBYZuF_1Q

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Who is to blame for what happened in Ex_Machina? In this episode, we start our Ex_Machina conversation with a chat about the power dynamics within the three main characters within the film. We also talk about how the film showcases the themes of power, influence and ego in the tech industry.

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

Check out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O6GFhumzrq8qNBYZuF_1Q

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In this celebratory 100th episode, we look back on the film genres we’ve talked about and discuss films that we didn’t get a chance to chat about. We also talk about potential genres we’ll talk about in the future and shout out two films that we love but that don’t naturally come up in conversation. The start of the episode also includes our final thoughts on Wall-E.

Spiels on Reels: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb7OrCuVpVFNxaA8DyY__mw

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

Check out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O6GFhumzrq8qNBYZuF_1Q

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Why do most films seem to present us with a hopeless future? In this episode, we chat about why most films seem to paint bleak futures, the demise of Earth or the end of the human race. We also talk about why there is a lack of optimism in sci-fi, documentaries and beyond. Lastly, we chat about utopias and how those stories usually reveal themselves as dystopic societies.

References:

Vlogbrothers “Are You Stuck In The Sad Gap”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbPY2hyU3zk&ab_channel=vlogbrothers

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

Check out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O6GFhumzrq8qNBYZuF_1Q

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Do AI romances work on screen? In this episode, we chat about Wall-E and Eve’s romance and how that differs from a human-AI romance. Our conversation also turns to the unique perspective an AI protagonist brings to a story and the unique perspective we experience from various Pixar films.

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

Check out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O6GFhumzrq8qNBYZuF_1Q

Theme Music Credit: Ultra Lights by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2020 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/JeffSpeed68/61225 Ft: Javolenus

Was Wall-E successful as a sci-fi film? And, how does Wall-E work for both the adult and kid audiences? In this episode, we chat about whether animated sci-fi movies work, and whether we think Wall-E has a happy ending. We also chat about how sci-fi tropes and storylines can work for both adults and children.

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

Check out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O6GFhumzrq8qNBYZuF_1Q

Theme Music Credit: Ultra Lights by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2020 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/JeffSpeed68/61225 Ft: Javolenus

How is sacrifice used in storytelling and when is it most successful? In this episode, we talk about the act of sacrifice in real life and how a person’s sacrificial act might impact their loved ones. We also chat about Matt Damon’s role in this film, and how sacrifice that doesn’t result in death may impact the character’s mental state after the sacrificial act.

References:

All The Tropes “Heroic Sacrifice”: https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Heroic_Sacrifice

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

Check out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O6GFhumzrq8qNBYZuF_1Q

Theme Music Credit: Ultra Lights by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2020 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/JeffSpeed68/61225 Ft: Javolenus

What is Keanu Reeves’ appeal? In this episode, we talk about the types of action movie stars, and how Keanu Reeves fits into the category.

Vulture “The Beatific Imperfection of Keanu Reeves in The Matrix, 25 Years Later”: https://www.vulture.com/article/the-matrix-keanu-reeves-invented-a-new-kind-of-action-star.html

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

Theme Music Credit: Ultra Lights by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2020 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/JeffSpeed68/61225 Ft: Javolenus

Even though the film felt slightly fantastical, Lara explains that a lot of Interstellar is based on real science. We chat about whether realism is important for the sci-fi genre, and space movies in particular. This conversation leads to a chat about other genres, like true crime, and the importance of having the right balance of realism and entertainment.

References:

Den of Geek “Interstellar: Kip Thorne and Jonathan Nolan Talk Science Behind the Movie”: https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/interstellar-kip-thorne-and-jonathan-nolan-talk-science-behind-the-movie/

TIME “What's the Most Realistic Movie About Space? Here's What 8 Movies Got Right—and Wrong”: https://time.com/5627032/most-realistic-space-movies/

SPACE.com “5 most realistic space movies”: https://www.space.com/realistic-space-movies

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

Check out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O6GFhumzrq8qNBYZuF_1Q

Theme Music Credit: Ultra Lights by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2020 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/JeffSpeed68/61225 Ft: Javolenus

How does Nolan’s use of time in Interstellar compare with his other films? In this episode, we talk about why Nolan is so fascinated with time and which of his time concepts we prefer. We also chat about why the impact of aging in Interstellar is so impactful compared with other representations of the passage of time. Our conversation ends with a general discussion about time in the sci-fi genre and how it’s been explored in other films.

References:

Fortress of Solitude “Understanding Christopher Nolan’s Obsession With Time“: https://www.fortressofsolitude.co.za/understanding-christopher-nolans-obsession-with-time/

Screen Rant “Why Christopher Nolan Is So Obsessed With Time In His Movies”: https://screenrant.com/christopher-nolan-movies-time-stories-obsession-explained/

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

Check out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O6GFhumzrq8qNBYZuF_1Q

Theme Music Credit: Ultra Lights by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2020 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/JeffSpeed68/61225 Ft: Javolenus

So… Cheryl finally watched Interstellar! What did she think about the movie, and how does it compare with what she thinks about other Christopher Nolan movies? In this episode, we talk about our impressions of Interstellar and our views on Christopher Nolan and his work. Tune in to hear how we rank Nolan films and how it compares with the aggregate critics score on Rotten Tomatoes!

Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs

Check out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O6GFhumzrq8qNBYZuF_1Q

Theme Music Credit: Ultra Lights by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2020 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/JeffSpeed68/61225 Ft: Javolenus