The Big Picture · Review · Discussion
February 17, 2023/ 87 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins · Mallory Rubin
Sean, Amanda, and Ringerverse chief Mallory Rubin cover Phase 5's opener: Kang, MODOK, and whether the multiverse can still land, capped by the first Amanda's Science Corner.
6 films across 2 segments.
AI-generated This episode was transcribed and analyzed with AI models. The matches aren't perfect — expect the occasional misheard title or a link to the wrong film.
‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’the review
Phase 5's opener, spent almost entirely in the quantum realm. Sean liked it, Amanda had no idea what happened but laughed a lot, and Mallory came away mixed: she thinks the CGI setting drained the heart the first two Ant-Man films ran on. Jonathan Majors' Kang and a Corey Stoll MODOK get the most love; the Baskin-Robbins framing and Michael Douglas' Hank Pym close behind.
Is Marvel's future here too?the state of the MCU
The last MCU film to clear a billion dollars, the yardstick everything since has fallen short of.
Hugely hyped, never broke a billion; cited as the multiverse-fatigue warning sign.
Mallory rates it well above Quantumania; different aims entirely, she argues, so not a fair comp.
Due in May; the one film on the slate nobody at the table doubts.
The July release that closes out Marvel's year, with no dated TV shows behind it.
Also mentioned raised along the way
Ant-Man history Ant-ManAnt-Man and the Wasp
MCU comps in passing Iron ManThe Incredible HulkIron Man 2Iron Man 3ThorThor: The Dark WorldThor: RagnarokThor: Love and ThunderCaptain America: The First AvengerCaptain America: The Winter SoldierCaptain America: Civil WarGuardians of the GalaxyShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten RingsEternalsSpider-Man: HomecomingDoctor StrangeAvengers: Infinity WarAvengers: Endgame
Upcoming Marvel Captain America: Brave New WorldThunderboltsBladeFantastic FourAvengers: The Kang DynastyAvengers: Secret Wars
Outside the MCU Creed IIIMagazine DreamsTop Gun: MaverickAvatar: The Way of WaterFast XMagic Mike's Last DanceTriangle of SadnessGuillermo del Toro's PinocchioStar WarsBack to the FutureGhostbustersFatal Attraction
Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads
TV LokiWandaVisionThe Falcon and the Winter SoldierWhat If...?HawkeyeMoon KnightMs. MarvelShe-Hulk: Attorney at LawM.O.D.O.K.Muppet Babies
Podcasts The Bill Simmons PodcastBandsplainBinge Mode
Games FIFA World Cup Launch Edition
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