'Superman Returns' (feat. film critic Sara Michelle Fetters)

Just a year after Batman Begins relaunched the Caped Crusader back into Gotham's crime-ridden streets, Superman Returns flew into theaters, attempting to bridge the gap between Richard Donner’s Superman and the modern superhero era.Starring Brandon Routh as the Man of Steel, the film honors Christopher Reeve’s legacy while paving its own path. Film critic Sara Michelle Fetters joins us to explore its ambitious vision, the risk of its nostalgia-fueled approach, and how it fits within Superman’s cinematic journey.Join us as we bid farewell to the last son of Krypton with a Superman film like no other!Subscribe to Crooked Table on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crookedtable Follow Crooked Table on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/crookedtableSubscribe to Crooked Table on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crookedtable Follow Crooked Table on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/crookedtable Crooked Table Productions is powered by Riverside.fm. Start your own audio or video project here 👉 https://riverside.sjv.io/c/2356989/2648500/28064

For the penultimate stop on our Superman mega-series, Franchise Detours takes flight with 1987’s Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. Christopher Reeve not only dons the cape once more but also contributes to the story this time around, though the result isn’t exactly what he had in mind. Due largely to Cannon Films’ budget cuts, Reeve’s final flight became one of the most infamous superhero sequels ever made. Now we unpack why this well-intended effort fell so very flat. Dallin Curtis, The Film Fanatic, joins us as we revisit perhaps the Man of Steel’s most controversial hour. Does The Quest for Peace deserve its reputation, or is there more to appreciate beneath the rubble?Subscribe to Crooked Table on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crookedtable Follow Crooked Table on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/crookedtableSubscribe to Crooked Table on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crookedtable Follow Crooked Table on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/crookedtable Crooked Table Productions is powered by Riverside.fm. Start your own audio or video project here 👉 https://riverside.sjv.io/c/2356989/2648500/28064

1984’s Supergirl attempted to expand the Superman cinematic universe with a new hero, fresh mythology, and a bold new direction. But did it live up to its promise? On this episode of Franchise Detours, Robert Yaniz Jr. welcomes The Vern from Cinema Recall to discuss Helen Slater’s debut as Kara Zor-El, the film’s campy villain turn from Faye Dunaway, and where this underrated entry fits into the legacy of superhero cinema.Subscribe to Crooked Table on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crookedtable Follow Crooked Table on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/crookedtableSubscribe to Crooked Table on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crookedtable Follow Crooked Table on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/crookedtable Crooked Table Productions is powered by Riverside.fm. Start your own audio or video project here 👉 https://riverside.sjv.io/c/2356989/2648500/28064

It’s a bird, it’s a plane… it’s a tonal shift! Robert is joined by Sandro Falce of Oldie But a Goodie to discuss Superman III, the movie that trades high-stakes heroics for slapstick hijinks. From Richard Pryor’s chaotic tech wizardry to Clark Kent’s trip down memory lane, the third Christopher Reeve Superman film is as infamous as it is fascinating. We talk evil Superman, high school reunions, synthetic kryptonite (with… tar?), and why this sequel's weirdest legacy might be inspiring Office Space.The final entry in the franchise to definitively turn a profit, Superman III also marked the beginning of the end for the Donnerverse. But how does it play decades later?Subscribe to Crooked Table on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crookedtable Follow Crooked Table on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/crookedtableSubscribe to Crooked Table on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crookedtable Follow Crooked Table on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/crookedtable Crooked Table Productions is powered by Riverside.fm. Start your own audio or video project here 👉 https://riverside.sjv.io/c/2356989/2648500/28064

On this episode of Franchise Detours, we continue our deep dive into the original Superman film series with 1980's Superman II — both the theatrical cut and the 2006 Richard Donner Cut.Darin Lundberg of NostalgiaCast and Back To Bluey joins us to explore how the behind-the-scenes turmoil affected the film’s tone and vision, from Richard Lester’s more comedic approach to Donner’s darker, character-driven version. We'll also discuss Superman’s (Christopher Reeve) relationship with Lois Lane (Margot Kidder), the legacy of Terence Stamp's General Zod as a villain, and what both versions reveal about the evolution of superhero storytelling.Did Superman II essentially create the template for modern superhero sequels? Perhaps. But whichever version you prefer, this episode has something for every fan of truth and justice.Subscribe to Crooked Table on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crookedtable Follow Crooked Table on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/crookedtableSubscribe to Crooked Table on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crookedtable Follow Crooked Table on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/crookedtable Crooked Table Productions is powered by Riverside.fm. Start your own audio or video project here 👉 https://riverside.sjv.io/c/2356989/2648500/28064

A new Franchise Detours mega-series takes flight! Deanna Chapman of The Podcast Life joins us to take a fresh look at 1978’s iconic Superman: The Movie just as James Gunn’s 2025 reboot starring David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, and Nicholas Hoult soars into theaters. We’ll discuss Christopher Reeve’s iconic portrayal of the Man of Steel, how the original film set the blueprint for superhero cinema, and the enduring legacy that continues to influence the genre and filmmaking today. We’ll also dive into the film’s groundbreaking special effects, its hopeful storytelling, and what Superman: The Movie means for this beloved character’s big-screen future. No matter which version is “your” Superman, this episode welcomes all fans as a celebration of the superhero myth and its cinematic evolution. Join us as we revisit the series launched by director Richard Donner’s original film, including 1984’s Supergirl and 2006’s Superman Returns.Subscribe to Crooked Table on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crookedtable Follow Crooked Table on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/crookedtableSubscribe to Crooked Table on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crookedtable Follow Crooked Table on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/crookedtable Crooked Table Productions is powered by Riverside.fm. Start your own audio or video project here 👉 https://riverside.sjv.io/c/2356989/2648500/28064

Buckle up — we’re cruising into a major milestone! Four years and 100 episodes later, Franchise Detours is putting the pedal to the metal with a special celebration that takes you on a high-octane journey through the 16 mega-series we’ve covered so far.Past and future guests Lauren Robinson of the Beer’d Al Podcast, Darin Lundberg of NostalgiaCast, Ryan Luis Rodriguez of One Track Mind, filmmaker Jackson Smith, Brian Skutle of the Sonic Cinema Podcast, and David Rosen of Piecing It Together make pit stop appearances as we pull over to revisit favorite moments, unforgettable conversations, and what makes these franchises legendary.Along the way, we'll steer you through reflections on the trip from Episode 0 to now, discussing all 16 mega-series to date in a bracket-style format that leaves one franchise standing. And we'll also announce the first mega-series queued up for 2026. Whether you’re a seasoned co-pilot or just hopping in for the ride, this episode is all about celebrating the road traveled and mapping out the journey ahead. So fill up your tank, roll down the windows, and enjoy the ride as we commemorate 100 exits to date.Subscribe to Crooked Table on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crookedtableFollow Crooked Table on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/crookedtableSubscribe to Crooked Table on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crookedtable Follow Crooked Table on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/crookedtable Crooked Table Productions is powered by Riverside.fm. Start your own audio or video project here 👉 https://riverside.sjv.io/c/2356989/2648500/28064

On this episode of Franchise Detours, we reach the final stop in Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy with 2013’s Before Midnight. Jackson Smith returns to the show to unpack this raw, reflective chapter in the ongoing story of Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delpy). Set nearly two decades after their first meeting, Before Midnight trades youthful idealism for hard-earned honesty as the couple confronts what lasting love really looks like. We’ll discuss how Linklater, Hawke, and Delpy bring a lived-in authenticity to this bittersweet installment, one that challenges everything that came before it. With its intimate long takes and emotionally charged dialogue, Before Midnight shifts the trilogy’s tone from romantic fantasy to grounded reality. It's a love story, yes, but one that dares to ask what happens after the fairy tale. Join us as we complete our trek through one of the finest trilogies in cinema history.Follow Crooked Table on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/crookedtableSubscribe to Crooked Table on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crookedtable Follow Crooked Table on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/crookedtable Crooked Table Productions is powered by Riverside.fm. Start your own audio or video project here 👉 https://riverside.sjv.io/c/2356989/2648500/28064

On this Franchise Detours, we continue our stroll through Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy with a stop in Paris and the heartbreaking honesty of 2004’s Before Sunset. Dallin Curtis, The Film Fanatic, joins us to unpack the film’s real-time structure, emotional depth, and themes of missed opportunities and second chances. Nine years after their unforgettable night in Vienna, Jesse and Céline reunite for another epic conversation. But was their brief connection just a fleeting moment or the beginning of something lasting? We’ll dig into how Before Sunset shifts the tone, raises the stakes, and digs deeper into the characters' emotional evolution. Join us as we talk Linklater’s direction, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy’s electric chemistry, and what Before Sunset teaches us about love, regret, and timing. And be sure to check back next episode as we revisit Jesse and Céline one last time, with an in-depth chat about 2013’s trilogy-ending installment Before Midnight.Subscribe to Crooked Table on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crookedtable Follow Crooked Table on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/crookedtableSubscribe to Crooked Table on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crookedtable Follow Crooked Table on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/crookedtable Crooked Table Productions is powered by Riverside.fm. Start your own audio or video project here 👉 https://riverside.sjv.io/c/2356989/2648500/28064

On this episode, we’re kicking off a mega-series on the Before trilogy, which quietly redefined what a franchise could be. Megan Kearns of Spoilerpiece Theatre joins us to unpack Richard Linklater’s 1995 romantic drama Before Sunrise, the film that launched one of cinema’s most intimate and epic love stories.Before Sunrise captures a fleeting connection between two strangers, Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delpy), as they wander, talk, and fall in love over the course of a single night in Vienna. We’ll discuss how the film's naturalistic dialogue, romantic spontaneity, and subtle direction helped redefine modern love stories. We’ll also dive into how Jesse and Céline’s dynamic continues to resonate with audiences decades later and what makes Before Sunrise such a timeless beginning to Linklater’s masterful trilogy. Whether you're new to the Before series or revisiting it with nostalgic eyes, this episode sets the tone for the cinematic journey ahead.Subscribe to Crooked Table on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crookedtableFollow Crooked Table on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/crookedtableSubscribe to Crooked Table on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crookedtable Follow Crooked Table on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/crookedtable Crooked Table Productions is powered by Riverside.fm. Start your own audio or video project here 👉 https://riverside.sjv.io/c/2356989/2648500/28064