X2Z Movies e5. Return to Oz

We took a few weeks off for the holidays (and school!) but now we’re back with a follow-up to our review of Wicked. During that review it became clear that Marie had never seen the 1985 cult classic Return to Oz. So, we’ve decided to remedy this. So on this episode Mav and Marie talk…

X2Z Movies e3. Unpacking Wicked: A Generational Review

On this week’s epsiode, Mav and Marie team up to review a current movie that’s in theaters now. It’s Wicked! Obviously, the film is already a success. But how does it play across generations? Mav and Marie sit down to discuss why and how the film works for them from both a Gen X and…

e346: Over the Rainbow: Examining Wicked, Oz, and their Cultural Impact

Did you know there was a movie adaptation of the film Wicked released this week? If not then we assume you must not see any commercials or advertisements in your life ever, because the marketing is PERSISTENT. And by all accounts it’s doing fairly well at the box office. That’s to be expected; the play…

Call for Comments: Wicked and the Wonderful (?) World of OZ

From Hannah: In our next show, we’re tackling populism, propaganda, and resistance — through Wicked (the film, the musical, the book series) and its source material the Oz series by L. Frank Baum. The world of Oz has always been political (especially in terms of American politics) since The Wonderful Wizard of Oz first appeared…

e335. Prequels Unraveled: Stitching Gaps or Snagging Cash?

In today’s nostalgia driven, franchise driven, pop culture world sequels are obviously big business. But what do we do when sequels become too boring (and we can’t get the original cast of a film back)? Prequels are obviously the answer. But why? Is there any value to prequels or are they nothing more than shameless…

e140. Why Do We Suddenly Love Musicals?

From Broadway to London, music has been a part of the history of drama for over a thousand years. The genre is enough of a part of American pop culture that it’s major award, the Tony, has become part of the EGOT, the grand slam of acting. And yet somehow, it has always seemed somehow…