Has Hollywood run out of ideas?

Has Hollywood run out of ideas?

Author: The Times August 30, 2022 Duration: 29:48

The traditional summer blockbuster season is drawing to a close but in a world of prequels, sequels and remakes, independent films are finding it increasingly hard to break through. So why are we deluged by all these spin-offs?

Guest: Kevin Maher, chief film critic, The Times. 

Host: Manveen Rana. 

Producer: Olivia Case

Clips:

Thor: Love and Thunder. © 2022 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Director: Taika Waititi.

Suicide Squad. © 2016 Warner Brothers Pictures. Director: David Ayer.

Minions: The Rise of Gru. © 2022 Universal Pictures. Director: Kyle Balda

Nope. © 2022 Universal Pictures. Director: Jordan Peele

Spider-Man: Far From Home. © 2019 Sony Pictures. Director: Jon Watts.

Nomadland. © 2021 Searchlight Pictures, Walt Disney Company Nordic. © Director: Chloe Zhao.

Kramer vs. Kramer. © 1979 Columbia Pictures. Director: Robert Benton.

Hit the Road. © 2021 Director: Panah Panahi.

The Matrix. © 1999 Warner Bros. Pictures, Roadshow Entertainment Directors: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski.

Thirteen Lives. © 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Bron Creative; Imagine Entertainment; Magnolia Mae; Storyteller Productions. Director: Ron Howard.

The Matrix Resurrections. © 2021 Warner Bros. pictures. Director: Lana Wachowski.

Black Widow. © 2021 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Director: Cate Shortland.

Elvis. © 2022 Warner Bros. Pictures; Bazmark Films; The Jackal Group. Director: Baz Lurhman.

The Godfather. © 1972 Paramount Pictures, Alfran Productions. Director: Francis Ford Coppola.

Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back. © 1980 20th Century Studios, 20th Century Studios Home Entertainment Director: Irvin Kershner.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife. © 2021 Columbia Pictures; Bron Creative; Ghost Corps; The Montecito Picture Company; Right of Way Films. Director: Jason Reitman.

Iron Man. © 2008 Paramount Pictures, MORE. Director: Jon Favreau.

Everything Everywhere All At Once. © 2022 Directors: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert

Bullet train. © 2022 Sony Pictures, Sony Pictures Releasing. Director: David Leitch

Bande à part. © 1964 Columbia Pictures. Director: Jean Luc-Godard.

Captain Marvel. © 2009 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Directors: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck

Doctor Strange main theme. © 2019 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Composer: Michael Giacchino

Top Gun theme - Danger Zone. 1986 ©Paramount Pictures. Composer: Giorgio Moroder. Lyricist Tom Whitlock.

The Matrix Awakens - Main Theme. © 2021 Warner Bros Pictures. Composer: Don Davis

Jaws theme tune. © 1975 Universal Pictures. Composer: John Williams.

Ghostbusters theme tune. © 1984 Columbia Pictures, Fórum Home Entertainment Hungary. Composer: Ray Parker Jr.

Jurassic Park theme tune. © 1993 Universal Pictures, FilmFlex. Composer: John Williams

League of DC Super Pets theme tune (Superman theme tune). © 2022 Warner Bros. Pictures © Composer: John Williams

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace theme tune. © 1999 20th Century Studios, 20th Century Studios Home Entertainment. Composer: John Williams

Iron Man theme tune. © 2008 Paramount Pictures, MORE. Composer: Ramin Djawadi

Sweet Child of Mine, Thor: Love and Thunder film trailer version. © 2022 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Composers: Steven Adler Saul Hudson, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagan, Axl Rose.

Marvel opening theme. © 2016 Marvel Entertainment. Composer: Michael Giacchino.

Godfather theme tune. © 1972 Paramount Pictures, Alfran Productions. Composer: Nino Rota.

Reviews: Mojo.com; Clipped Coin; Looper; Karsten Runquist.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Each morning, The Story arrives with a clear purpose: to move beyond the headlines and explore the forces and people shaping our world. Guided by the experienced reporting of Manveen Rana and Luke Jones, this daily podcast from The Times delves into the most significant political developments and news events with a level of depth and context that only their global network of journalists can provide. You’ll hear more than just summaries; you’ll get a nuanced understanding of why a story matters, who it impacts, and what might happen next. The analysis is sharp and the storytelling is compelling, designed to fit into your morning routine seven days a week. It’s a direct line to the frontline reporting and editorial expertise of one of the world’s most respected news organizations. This consistent, in-depth approach makes the podcast a reliable resource for anyone looking to truly comprehend the day’s events. Supported by readers of The Times and The Sunday Times, the production maintains a commitment to journalistic integrity and thorough exploration, ensuring every episode provides substance and clarity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 108

The Story
Podcast Episodes
The Prussian prince, the MI6 spy and the plot to kill Hitler [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:33
In the summer of 1944, some of Adolf Hitler's most trusted senior officers narrowly failed in their attempt to assassinate him. But was that the whole story? A recently unearthed file reveals Britain had a man at the hea…
The human cost of the migrant crisis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:10
Last Wednesday, 27 people died crossing the Channel from France in a small, inflatable dinghy. On the same day, many more did make it, landing on the beach in Kent. What is it actually like for the people trying to find…
The Omicron variant: What we know so far [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:26
The news of a new Covid variant swept the world in hours. Days later, new restrictions were introduced. Today: what the emergence of Omicron could mean for the next few months.This podcast was brought to you thanks to th…
The end of an era: Barbados becomes a Republic [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:09
Fifty-five years ago, Barbados gained independence from Britain. Despite independence, Queen Elizabeth has remained head of state. Today, that's come to an end. Barbados has formally cut ties with the British monarchy an…
Can working with abusive men cut violence against women? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:48
Domestic violence programmes have traditionally been tailored for the victims. Now, there’s a push to work with the perpetrators to stop their abusive behaviour. How do these programmes work? Can abusive men ever change?…
Ghislaine Maxwell on trial [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:57
On Monday, after 16 months in solitary confinement, Ghislaine Maxwell will finally go on trial in New York, where she is charged with multiple sex trafficking offences relating to the Jeffrey Epstein sex abuse case. It's…
The fourth wave: What's behind Europe's Covid riots [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:11
Europe is being battered by a fourth wave of Covid. Today we speak to our correspondent in Berlin, to find out how the German-speaking parts of Europe became the epicentre for both the fourth wave of the virus and a wave…
Can the NHS cope this winter? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:26
The NHS is under intense pressure, but since the peak of the pandemic public attention has largely moved elsewhere. Today we catch up with The Times' health editor – and with the doctors we spoke to in January, during th…
Crisis on Europe's doorstep: When migration becomes a weapon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:36
Last week tensions at the border between neighbouring Poland and Belarus escalated as thousands of people, looking to start a new life in the West, were stranded in desperate conditions. Belarus has been accused of 'weap…
Xi Jinping: The man behind the myth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:50
Xi Jinping is consolidating his position as the all-powerful president of China. But who is the man at the top of the sharpest pyramid in the world of politics?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of rea…