He is the visionary mind behind critically acclaimed books such as "The Killing Joke" and "Watchmen" and has helped shape the comic book medium into what it is today. But over the last few years he has spoken out against the seemingly never ending retelling, rehashing and recycling of the same stories that have become the staple of modern comics. Alan Moore, the enigmatic genius writer, recently announced his official retirement from comic book writing and in this very special ToB Interlude we take a look back at his long career. We reexamine "Watchmen", which may be his most enduring creation, as well as address his stance on today's comic book industry.
Read MoreToB Interlude - Car-cast
Its a ToB bonus episode! Julian and Dan were driving out to a wedding and figured why waste a perfectly good conversation? So out came the microphone as the guys briefly reviewed Matt Damon's latest, Jason Bourne, discuss Schindler's List decades after its initial release then began a trip down memory lane. The announcement of the NES Classic has brought the nostalgia of that era to the forefront as we look at where Nintendo has come from. While at the same time we look forward to where they're going as some significant rumours about the Nintendo NX have come to light.
Read MoreToB Interlude - DC Comics Rebirth
Its been a few weeks since all three members of the ToB Crew have put out a show. What with all the Game of Thrones finales and our YouTube account termination hubbub. But this week we make good on a promise we made a few weeks back. Julian, Dan and Jeremy are here to discuss DC Comics Rebirth in all its glory. We review issue 1 of Rebirth, breakdown what it means for the DCU and then meander into a discussion about DC's film slate. This episode is also a bit more free form than others as it follows an "after show" format that picks up after our E3 2016 episode.
Read MoreToB Interlude - Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice
"The greatest gladiator match in the history of the world!"
Arguably our most anticipated film of the year, Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice also turned out to be the most divisive; receiving its fair share of criticism, and polarizing online communities. Here at the Tower of Babble Podcast we sat down to explore our impressions of the film and discuss its many controversies. Night versus day, God versus man, these two duelling ideologies always prove to be some of the most riveting material that comic books have to offer and, while these may not be our ideal depictions of beloved characters, BVS did feature the type of action we deserve from Batman and the scale we need from Superman. Drawing inspiration from Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns comic, director Zack Snyder creates a visually stunning and fast-paced story which tries to balance not only the symbology but also the psychology of the two icons, not to mention the various cameos and world building which give the film its subtitle. We were somewhat split over BVS and if the risks that were taken with these important characters paid off, but whether you loved it or hated it there's no denying that Batman V. Superman sparks a compelling debate, it surely did for us in this ToB Interlude.
Read MoreToB Interlude - House of Cards Season 4
Julian and Jeremy give our, generally spoiler-free, impressions on the fourth season of House of Cards. The hit Netflix original series that, in our opinion, has returned to form. We spend this brief ToB Interlude praising Robin Wright and Kevin Spacey for their brilliant work this season and gush about how amazing this show continues to look.
Read MoreToB Interlude - Oscars Preview
In anticipation of the 88th Academy Awards we were able to record a special ToB interlude discussing the various Best Picture nominations. This year includes everything from the intimate and psychological, to large scale conspiracies, to outrageous post-apocalyptic war zones, and, having run the gamut, we were able to examine them at length. With films like The Revenant and Mad Max: Fury Road taking cinematography to new heights, this year certainly provided a spectacle in theatres; while some less visually stunning like The Big Short and Spotlight invoked a poignant social outrage. Each of the Best Picture nominations was successful in creating an emotional connection, and maybe we're just growing up, but this sentimental quality is why we go to movies.
Read MoreToB Interlude - Star Wars: The Force Awakens Review Follow-up
When we recorded Episode 65 of the ToB Podcast we went on an hour long tangent that followed up on our Star Wars Episode VII Review from a few weeks back. It seems as though we can't go an episode without talking about Star Wars. It just so happens that this this time our conversation expanded on many of the thoughts we had during our original review. It's arguably a better a better discussion than out original review. Maybe.
Read MoreToB Interlude - Star Wars: Battlefront Review
One of the most anticipated games of 2015, Star Wars Battlefront, is finally here and the ToB crew got together to break it down. Combining the immersive gameplay of the Battlefield series with the Star Wars universe DICE's new shooter doesn't disappoint.
Read MoreToB Interlude - Jessica Jones & More
This week we talk Marvel's Jessica Jones. The latest entry in Marvel's Netflix Defenders series has been out for some time and we've finally got around to discussing it. We all basically enjoyed it but not without a few gripes. We also discuss the state of modern television, asking which is the better option when it comes to week to week viewing or the Netflix binge model. To finish off we touch on the latest from the superhero shows on the CW and praise them for taking images from the comic page and putting them straight onto the small screen.
Read MoreToB Interlude - Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
It was one of, if not the most anticipated film of 2015. Star Wars has been seemingly everywhere for months now and the day we've all been waiting for has finally arrived. All of us here at the ToB Podcast have now seen the movie and we're here to discuss it. As always with our reviews we don't shy away from SPOILERS, so be wary. Of course it seems unlikely that anyone listening to this hasnt seen it already, with the film smashing all kinds of box office records, but the warning must be given regardless. Needless to say we all very much enjoyed the film and any grievances we had with it were very minor. However, the big take away from all of this is that it is just great being able to talk Star Wars again. To theorize, speculate and dissect the new Star Wars lore is as much, if not more, fun than reviewing the film itself. This film has kicked off a new era in Star Wars films, with seemingly no end in sight, and that seems just fine to us.
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