Why Wasn't It Better?

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe promised magic, epic battles, and a talking lion. And it delivered, mostly. The 2005 big screen adaptation brought C.S. Lewis’ beloved book series to life, but still couldn’t quite escape the shadows of Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. Guest Nathan Perry joins to weigh in.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Before Sherlock Holmes was a genius detective, he was an adventurous schoolboy in Young Sherlock Holmes. This forgotten 1985 gem combines teen detective charm, Indiana Jones-style action, and some seriously bizarre mystical shenanigans. Patrick and Anton dive into the film that tried to make a teen Sherlock a thing, but ended up more cult classic than franchise starter. Was it ahead of its time, or just a confusing mess of 80s adventure tropes?___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

A special emergency episode as we honor the passing of one of our favorite actors, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

It’s sweeping, it’s romantic, it’s nearly three and a half hours long. Doctor Zhivago was a box office smash and an Oscar darling, but does it actually work? David Lean gave us snow-covered melodrama, endless longing glances, and Omar Sharif’s eternally furrowed brow to ask: is this epic a masterpiece or just a beautifully shot soap opera? Guest Paul Kind returns to sort it out for the 60th anniversary of Doctor Zhivago.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!

Don Bluth’s Anastasia brought lush animation, catchy songs, and a not-so-historically-accurate fairy tale to the late 90s — and for many, it was the non-Disney princess movie. Producer Eric Taylor and his wife Catelyn join the pod to explore this fan favorite to explore its strange blend of royal tragedy, undead villains, and Broadway ambition. Was it a worthy competitor to Disney, or a beautifully animated mess with an identity crisis? Together, we journey once upon a December to find out.___Please consider joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wwibofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whywasntitbetterLetterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/wwibpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwib_officialX: https://x.com/WWIBpodcastSubscribe! Rate! Review! Tell a friend!