In Episode 52 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. uncovers director Alex Kurtzman's new take on The Mummy, starring Tom Cruise and Sofia Boutella. The film is, of course, intended to kick off Universal's monster-centric Dark Universe. We'll investigate whether The Mummy provides a solid foundation for what's to come as well as how it stacks up against the 1999 edition, which saw Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz bring the classic tale to the modern age. Also: Rob reviews A24's latest, director Trey Edward Shults' It Comes At Night starring Joel Edgerton, and discusses his thoughts on the latest news surrounding X-Men: Dark Phoenix. It's a jam-packed episode of the Crooked Table Podcast. So let's get to it before a certain Egyptian princess catches up with us.
We’re excited to hear your feedback as the show continues to evolve. As usual, the podcast does feature explicit language and, as such, is best considered NSFW.
Synopsis for The Mummy, courtesy of Universal Pictures:
Tom Cruise headlines a spectacular, all-new cinematic version of the legend that has fascinated cultures all over the world since the dawn of civilization: The Mummy.
Thought safely entombed in a tomb deep beneath the unforgiving desert, an ancient princess (Sofia Boutella of Kingsman: The Secret Service and Star Trek Beyond) whose destiny was unjustly taken from her is awakened in our current day, bringing with her malevolence grown over millennia and terrors that defy human comprehension.
From the sweeping sands of the Middle East through hidden labyrinths under modern-day London, The Mummy brings a surprising intensity and balance of wonder and thrills in an imaginative new take that ushers in a new world of gods and monsters.
Cruise is joined by a cast including Annabelle Wallis (upcoming King Arthur, television’s Peaky Blinders), Jake Johnson (Jurassic World), Courtney B. Vance (TV’s American Crime Story: The People V. O.J. Simpson), Marwan Kenzari (The Promise) and Oscar®winner Russell Crowe (Gladiator).
The creative team on this action-adventure event is led by director/producer Alex Kurtzman and producer Chris Morgan, who have been instrumental in growing some of the most successful franchises of the past several years—with Kurtzman writing or producing entries in the Transformers, Star Trek and Mission: Impossible series, and Morgan being the narrative engineer of the Fast & Furious saga as it has experienced explosive growth from its third chapter on. Sean Daniel, who produced the most recent Mummy trilogy, and Sarah Bradshaw (Maleficent) produce alongside Kurtzman and Morgan.
Thanks for listening!
SHOW NOTES
Previously on the Crooked Table Podcast: http://www.crookedtable.com/2017/06/09/podcast-wonder-woman/
Podcast review of A24's Free Fire and other films: http://www.crookedtable.com/2017/04/21/podcast-free-fire-a24/
Video review of X-Men: Apocalypse: http://www.crookedtable.com/2016/05/28/x-men-apocalypse-video-review/
Podcast review of Logan: http://www.crookedtable.com/2017/03/10/podcast-logan-hugh-jackman-x-men/
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Robert Yaniz Jr. can be reached on Twitter at @crookedtable. Connect with Crooked Table on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr