The Idol Room Podcast Episode 4 - Discussing the Batman Movie Franchise
The Idol Room Podcast
Hosted by Mark Tuan & Kim Yugyeom
Feat. Conan Gray & Troye Sivan
Guest Star: Jeon Jungkook
Intro Theme: Starble Zone by Tee Lopes
All Voice Acting is produced using Elevenlabs Voice Cloning Software
------
Mark
Hey everyone and welcome to the forth episode of The Idol Room Podcast.
I'm Mark, your host as always. And I'm joined here in the studio with my three 'amazing' co-hosts; Yu-gyeom, Conan and Troye.
Yugyeom
Hey!
Conan
Hi everyone.
Troye
Howdy!
-Mark laughs-
Mark
Anyway, we have a very special guest on the show today.
Please give a very warm welcome to BTS's own... Jeon Jungkook!
Jungkook
Hi everyone.
Yugyeom
Yeah! Wooooo!
-Clap hands sfx-
Mark
So, Jungkook. Welcome to the show.
Jungkook
It's no problem at all, thanks for inviting me.
Mark
It's a pleasure.
So, for those of you who are new to the podcast, basically this is a podcast where we talk about anything and everything related to film.
Both current releases, new releases, our favourite movies, Hollywood blockbusters and often just Hollywood in general.
Where we think the industry is going, etcetera, etcetera...
Jungkook
Gotchu...
Mark
So anyway, out topic for today's episode, "Discussing the Batman movie franchise."
This is actually perfect because the new Joker movie; Joker: Folie a Deux just came out recently, and we all saw it together, didn't we.
Yugyeom
We did.
Conan
Yeah, was that at the Nephopolis theatre we saw it in? Or was that somewhere else? I totally forgot.
Mark
No, it was CVG in New Eden. I really wanted to push to see this in Imax and... I've gotta say... it was kinda hard to justify it?
Troye
Yeah it really was a slog to sit through.
I remember, doing the first episode of the podcast I think?
Where we were first talking about this movie, and... I was really excited to see it because they were featuring Lady Gaga as Harley, and...
That in no way, shape or form was the film I was expecting to see.
Yugyeom
Total letdown.
Conan
Yeah, I was confused as well actually.
Because that trailer hinted that this was going to go beyond what the first movie established, with Arthur Fleck becoming the Joker and raging hell all over Gotham.
This film...
Troye
In no way, shape or form gave us any of that.
Conan
Yeah... I dunno why they chose to go in 'this' direction instead of just giving us a movie that focuses purely on the Joker.
I guess it was because of that ending, like...
They're trying to establish that this 'other guy' is actually the Joker and the guy we've been following, is merely the guy who inspired him?
Yugyeom
Ugh, I barely stayed awake throughout it man.
This film was soooo god damn dull, it really was.
Troye
Yeah it was. I mean, even as you just said Conan, if this film merely existed "just" to establish another Joker, there is "such" a better way to do it than this boring drama about a guy stuck in an asylum and back and forth between that, and his trial at a courthouse.
Yugyeom
It was such a disappointment, dude...
Such fucking trash...
Mark
Yeah, I was hoping to get you, Jungkook, on the show because Yu-gyeom told me you were a huge Batman fan, so I thought this would be right up your alley.
Did you see this film recently?
Jungkook
Yeah I did. Me & Jimin went to see it last Thursday actually.
Our anniversary was coming up and I was hoping we'd get to see it before we left, but it didn't come out here in New Eden until much later, so we put it off and saw it when we got back instead.
Mark
Oh that's right. Your anniversary was two weeks ago, wasn't it?
Jungkook
Yeah, two weeks this Wednesday actually.
Troye
Congrats man!
Yugyeom
Cookie!!
Jungkook
Thank you.
Conan
I didn't even know you two were dating.
How long have you been together now?
Jungkook
It's been 3 years now since we got married officially, but, we were kinda dating in secret for three whole years before anyone actually knew about it.
So... pretty much 6 years we've been together now.
Mark
Congrats, man!
Jungkook
Thank you.
Conan
Where did you spend your anniversary?
Jungkook
Kyoto actually.
Jimin really wanted to go, but it was hard getting state clearance from TG Industries, as they're really strict about Idols leaving New Eden for personal reasons.
Yugyeom
Tell me about it.
Jungkook
Yeah.
Jin owed me a solid, so I asked him & he managed to get us clearance.
Only he was insistent that we have like, 20 body guards and a whole security detail of about 30 people, which really sucked.
I was like, c'mon man, it's our anniversary.
We just wanted a quiet weekend to ourselves, but he was all like "Nooooo but you're a hybrid, and you're important to the regime, and I have to protect you from terrorists, and whatnot."
And I'm just like, "ugh, for fucks sakes, man..."
-Conan laughs-
Troye
Is... Jin still part of BTS by the way?
Jungkook
Uhhhh no. I dunno what's going on with him lately.
He keeps going on about being the "Gemini of Creation" or whatever, and how he has to be the one to "perfect humanity through hybrid resurgitation" or something.
He... ugh, ...it's hard to keep up with his insanity at times.
Yugyeom
Yeah, Jin can say some pretty 'out there' stuff sometimes.
I gotta admit, even I have no clue what he's talking about half the time.
Jungkook
Dude, even "I" have no fucking clue what he's talking about half the time, and I've known this guy for like... 10 fucking years now, give or take.
Mark
Yeah, we're hoping to get Jin on for a later episode of the show.
He's 'really' insistent about wanting to talk about the Matrix movies, so we're trying to set that up for...
Episode... 7, ...I think?
But yeah, he's really passionate about it.
Do you know Jin's the one who sponsors this podcast?
Jungkook
I dunno man, it's so hard to keep up with him sometimes.
He's like, on a totally separate plain of reality to the rest of us, y'know?
-Mark Laughs-
Conan
Jin's the one who created Noah, right?
That AI emo kid who's seen throughout the city?
Jungkook
Yeah. He's umm...
The thing about Jin...
He's... 100% crazy, but he's also a genius when it comes to tech and stuff.
Like, he knows what he's talking about when it comes to New Eden tech, and all these crazy innovations he creates, but...
It's impossible to know what the hell he's talking about sometimes.
Like, when he rants about this stuff, I... honestly have no freaking clue man.
-Yugyeom laughs-
Jungkook
Like, Jimin's birthday is coming up in a few days, right?
And Jin comes up to me and says that he wants to get Jimin this game.
Uhh... Bomb Rush... Whatever?
Right?
But... then out of nowhere he goes on this "Huge" rant about how the Nintendo Switch is irrelevant and how "all Asians shouldn't be wasting their time on Prehistoric Tech."
Then he goes on for hours about how "AR is the future" and how "we need to be able to stream our computers through AR glasses and speak to AI through a headset to tell us sports and start out cars".
And I'm like... what the hell are you even talking about!? Dude!
-Conan laughs-
Jungkook
And then he goes and pulls out some AR glasses he apparently invented and says he wants to hook it up to all the computers in the office so he can stream data through it and I'm like,
"Ahhhh... you do you, Jin."
-Mark giggles-
Conan
Is... Jin the one who built all of New Eden by the way?
Jungkook
Pretty much, yeah...
Originally it was just Shinee and a few others who started all this way back in the day.
Taemin was in charge originally I think?
But later Jin took over and pretty much made it all his, so... yeah.
Pretty much most of what you see here is all of Jin's design.
Conan
Right, gotchu, gotchu...
Because... I keep seeing his face like everywhere in this city, like all over billboards and government buildings and all and I'm like...
What's up with that?
Jungkook
Yeah, Jin's pretty much responsible for all of the main buildings and everything you see around New Eden, and...
We mostly handle the behind the scenes stuff basically.
Conan
Gotchu...
Jungkook
Like... I actually worked with Taemin for a while, back when he came to the City looking to be involved, and...
It was actually interesting, actually working with him, because...
He had a lot of insight on how things should be run, and what the city needs to be in order to be stable and be run efficiently, but...
It was obvious him and Jin clashed on a lot of levels, and...
It was pretty much Jin's way or no way.
Like... Jin has a lot of respect for Taemin. I mean he practically talks about him like he's some sort of deity.
But Jin is also a bit of a control freak, and...
He makes it very clear that the city needs to be run a certain way and, things need to be done a certain way.
Basically if things are done Jin's way and only Jin's way then he's happy, otherwise he'll shut you down immediately and 'make' you do it his way.
And... Jin's TG Industries. Like, he's one of the heads of the regime. So... even though Taemin's high ranking, it was pretty clear that it was pretty much "Jin's way and that's final."
So... Taemin eventually left.
Then Jin brought out Noah, his AI to replace him, pretty much.
Mark
Yeeesh... that's harsh, man.
Jungkook
Yeah... He means well, but Jin is kinda crazy.
Most of the time anyway.
Troye
Is Jin? ...Sorry to derail the subject real quick.
But, you mentioned you and Jimin are together?
I'm guessing Jin...?
Like? Are there a lot of Gay idols here in New Eden? Or, is it just you three guys?
Is basically what I'm asking.
Jungkook
Yeah... no, there's quite a few actually.
I mean everyone knows Jin's Gay. He doesn't even try to hide all the crazy shit that he does.
-Troye Laughs-
Jungkook
Then there's myself, Jimin...
Umm... Taehyung?
Yugyeom
There's Jay B.
Mark
Yeah, Jay B's Gay... Yu-gyeom...
I'm Bi, so's Bam-Bam.
Troye
Are you really?
Mark
Yeah. I'm Bi-sexual.
Umm... who else...?
There's quite a few actually.
Troye
Oh, right.
So, I guess it's pretty common amongst Idols in the industry then?
Jungkook
Yeah... like, back in South Korea, you really had to shut up about it and keep it private, because...
Korea's a conservative Country. They don't really like seeing that stuff on TV or in the Media.
At least in terms of "Actual" gayness.
It's okay if it's fake. ...But "Real" homosexuality is definitely uh-uh.
Troye
Right.
Jungkook
But, here in New Eden, I guess nobody really cares so...
It's like whatever, y'know?
Yugyeom
Plus it's a Satanic driven society down here so, it makes sence really.
Jungkook
Exactly, yeah.
Troye
Right, I gotchu.
That's cool man.
I'm glad to see there are so many idols who aren't afraid to express that side of themselves.
Jungkook
Yeah.
Mark
"Anyway". We should probably get back to the topic of Batman.
Troye
Right, sorry.
Mark
No it's okay. I just didn't want us to trail off too far off the original topic.
Troye
Right.
Mark
So anyway... we were just talking about the new Joker and Harley movie.
Uhh, Jungkook? Do you have any thoughts?
You said you saw it with Jimin, right?
Jungkook
Yeah I did.
We both saw it in Imax as well actually, funnily enough.
Ehhhhh... it was alright.
Jimin found it boring, I was kinda half into it.
Yugyeom
DCU is just fucking trash, man.
-Mark Giggles-
Jungkook
Yeah, I dunno.
I loved the first Joker movie.
This I kinda liked it, but... like you guys said, I went into it expecting a totally different film to what I'd hoped the movie was going to be?
I mean... it almost felt like i was just 'waiting' for the film to get good.
You know what I mean?
Conan
Yeah, totally. I felt the same way.
Jungkook
Like, the last 30 minutes of the movie...
That should of been how the film started, dude. Y'know?
Cut the courtroom and asylum stuff early, just let us see Gotham under chaos.
That's what we all paid good money to see.
Troye
Yeah. Lady Gaga really was carrying the whole entire thing.
Those were the scenes I really wanted to see. But I gotta admit, I really didn't think that would be what carries the movie, y'know?
Mark
Yeah, it really says something where a film even titled 'Joker' would even 'need' to be carried in the first place.
Troye
Exactly! Like, why are we not seeing what The Dark Knight already established?
Like, "That" should be the blue print for what any good Batman film should be, y'know what I mean?
Mark
I'm actually glad you brought that up actually, because 'that' is what I was hoping to talk about today.
What "makes" a good Batman movie.
Now Yu-gyeom, I know you hate DC.
Yugyeom
Yeah, I really fucking do.
Like, don't get me wrong, I do like Batman, but...
The rest of DC is such fucking trash, man.
-Mark Laughs-
Yugyeom
Like, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, "Shazam!"
Blue Beetle... It's like... Who fucking cares man, who fucking cares?
Conan
Don't forget about Green Lantern.
Yugyeom
Oh my God! "Bleagh!"
I fucking God damn hate that movie!
-Jungkook Laughs-
Yugyeom
Like, I am never gonna let Ryan Reynolds live that down man, it was such fucking trash.
-Mark Giggles-
Troye
What about Batman vs Superman?
What are your thoughts on that?
Yugyeom
Are you fucking kidding me!?
Are you "seriously" fucking kidding me right now!?
"Un" Freaking watchable, dude.
Such fucking garbage. I'd rather be watching Garbage Pale Kids, dude.
-Mark Laughs Hard-
Conan
What about Shazam?
Yugyeom
Are you seriously fucking kidding me!?
Oh my God! I couldn't, I just...
It was "So fucking cringe, man!"
Every single joke was such a fail, it felt like those kids were the ones writing the movie they were starring in.
-Conan Giggles-
Jungkook
Did you see the sequel?
Yugyeom
Unfortunately!
Youngjae was the one who 'forced me' into that garbage.
I couldn't man, I just fucking couldn't!
-Jungkook Giggles-
Mark
So... why don't we go around and list our favourite movies?
I take it everyone here can all at least agree they all love Batman so...
How about it?
Troye
Let's do it.
-Conan Claps-
Conan
Let's go!
Mark
Yu-gyeom? Do you wanna start us off?
Yugyeom
It's gonna be the Nolan Trilogy, man.
No contest.
Like Troye said earlier, The Dark Knight is the blueprint for what 'every' Batman movie should be.
Troye
Totally. I mean, I wouldn't want 'every' single Batman movie to just copy The Dark Knight, because...
That would get old super fast, let's be real.
But as a blueprint for what a "good" Batman movie should be...
It's gotta be The Dark Knight trilogy, hands down.
Yugyeom
Ditto.
Mark
Conan? How about you?
Conan
Honestly? For me it's gonna be the original.
Troye
1989 Batman? Or... Adam West Batman?
Conan
Ohp! No, sorry.
-Conan Giggles-
Conan
I meant 1989 Batman.
I forgot Adam West Batman was even a thing to be honest.
Yugyeom
They did bring it back for those two animated spin-offs though, didn't they?
Mark
Yeah, they did.
Jungkook
That was Adam West's last performance, wasn't it?
Conan
Was it really? Ahh, that's harsh.
Mark
Yeah, Rest in peace, man...
Troye
Mmm...
Conan
But yeah. For me, it's gotta be 1989 Batman.
Dude, Jack Nicholson as The Joker. It's like, the perfect casting choice, hands down!
Troye
Yeah that actually surprised me as well actually, about Heath Ledger playing The Joker in The Dark Knight.
Both Jack Nicholson and Mark Hamill are easily the definitive choice when it comes to, what we all think of when we think of The Joker.
So for Heath Ledger to just come in as The Joker and knock it out of the park...
Jungkook
You just don't see him coming, man...
Troye
Yeah, and that's actually the whole point of his character, actually.
He just comes right the hell out of nowhere, steals the show entirely, and then leaves.
If that's not a 'perfect' Joker thing to do...
I don't know what is, to be honest.
Mark
Mmm... Jungkook? What about you?
What film do you love best?
Jungkook
Honestly? Hands down it's gotta be Mask of the Phantasm for me.
Hardly anyone ever talks about that movie, but even for it's animation and budget, it's honestly just the best quintessential Batman film.
For me at least.
Mark
Yeah I'm surprised. Funnily enough, no one ever really mentions the animated show anymore.
I mean, for me personally, Batman the animated series is just, "The" blueprint for what a perfect Batman adaption should be, y'know?
Jungkook
Oh yeah, hands down.
I mean, God. None of us were even old enough to be born when this was a thing.
But, pretty much before Batman the animated series came out, super hero films were all just known to be campy, y'know?
Like, Stuff like Adam West Batman...
Was pretty much the norm for super heroes back then.
Yugyeom
That's true.
Conan
Yeah but, 1989's Batman predates the animated series though, doesn't it?
Jungkook
Yeah, pretty much both Burton films predate it, and you could argue they were an inspiration, but...
It really took what worked from the comics and just inspired the entire genre going forward, y'know?
Like, not just Batman, but 'all' superhero movies and shows kinda changed after Batman the animated series came out.
Mark
Plus it got a ton of spin off movies afterwards, right?
Batman and Harley Quinn?
Yugyeom
The Killing Joke?
Troye
Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?
Has anyone ever seen that film?
Yugyeom
I was so hoping you'd bring that up.
Jungkook
Oh, totally. "Loved" that movie.
See that's what I'm talking about.
Batman works 'so' well in animation, but...
People always write it off as kids stuff just because of crap like "Batman meets Scooby Doo" or whatever.
Conan
Yeah, true.
Jungkook
I mean, if it's not live action, it's written off as for kids, and I'm like...
Did you all forget Batman and Robin exists?
Or Batman Forever? Y'know?
Troye
Yeah, I know what you mean.
A lot of times animated movies are written off solely for kids, which in turn is "kinda" true.
Because, if you look at like, when they do try and make animated movies that are solely for adults come out in the cinema...
It rarely does more than 'just' a cult following.
I mean, look at the early Ralph Bakshi movies, or South Park the Movie for example.
That doesn't pull in half as much as an audience as say, Disney's Aladdin or Toy Story would.
Yugyeom
Yeah, that's true.
Mark
Things might be changing though.
Like when you look at how well the Spider-verse movies are doing right now, it might be enough to say, "Hey look. Animated films don't have to be just for kids, y'know?"
Troye
Yeah, exactly.
Mark
I think, well... if you make something that's worth more than "just a kids movie" then the audience "will" come for it.
I mean, I for one wouldn't put Into the Spider-verse in the same category as something like "Open Season" or "Despicable Me", y'know what I mean?
Jungkook
Definitely.
Conan
Speaking of animated movies, have any of you seen Turtles Forever by any chance?
I mean you mentioned Ninja Turtles earlier and it makes me think of that instantly.
Jungkook
I have.
Mark
I've heard of it, but I haven't actually see it, no.
Conan
Oh, well, I just brought it up because, well...
Counter to what you just said, that was an animated film with a very small cult following, but didn't really do well outside the fans who already know about it.
Jungkook
But wasn't Turtles Forever direct to DVD though?
Conan
Was it?
Troye
Yeah, Batman V Ninja Turtles was as well, actually.
Conan
Oh? Well, yeah, I guess that answers my own question then.
Sorry.
Troye
Hey, it's okay.
Mark
Yeah, going back to Batman though, there is one final film I do wanna bring up, because I'm surprised no one ever talks about it, and that's 2022's The Batman with Robert Pattinson.
Jungkook
Oh, man! I forgot about that movie!
Troye
Yeah, I completely forgot that film even existed to be honest.
Mark
Yeah, that's exactly my point.
Nobody remembers this film even existed.
Like, it just came and went with very little fan fare and hardly anyone ever talks about it, or even compares it to the other batman films, which I find interesting.
Yugyeom
Who played Catwoman in that movie again?
It wasn't Halle Berry was it? It was, umm...
Mark
Zoe Kravitz.
She was the one who starred in the Divergent movies all those years back.
Yugyeom
Right. I remember now, yeah.
I remember her being good in that movie.
Mark
Yeah.
Troye
Divergent was the film that starred Theo James, right?
And had Kate Winslet as the villain?
Mark
Yeah, it did.
I just find it fascinating however that nobody ever thinks of this film or ever brings it up when they think of Batman.
Like, people think of The Justice League, and Batman V Superman.
Even The Suicide Squad movies before thinking of this, and I'm like...
Even Robert Pattinson himself hardly wants to acknowledge this movie and said he wouldn't want to return to do a sequel, and I'm like...
Why does everyone hate this movie so much?
Y'know?
Jungkook
Yeah, I think the main thing is, a lot of people went into this thinking it was going to be The Dark Knight 2.0.
And while it wasn't that, it also didn't blow people away the same way Christopher Nolan's Batman did, y'know?
Mark
It's more Noir than action oriented.
Jungkook
Yeah, exactly.
I just think everyone went into this, expecting something else entirely is all.
Yugyeom
You gotta admit though, for a 3 hour long movie, it's a bit much to expect from your audience if it doesn't contain a lot of action or at least good memorable moments you can walk away from.
I mean, that was my main issue with Joker 2 as well.
I mean, this did "not" need to be a 2 hour plus long movie if the only thing you're going to establish is, that the Joker's in Arkham, and isn't even sure if he even 'wants' to be the Joker anymore.
2 and a half hours is a "lot" to expect from your audience if that's all you're going to establish.
And, we saw this in Imax as well, didn't we?
And even then, even with these big establishing shots of Gotham, even on the bigger screen, I 'still' couldn't keep invested in it.
Mark
Yeah, I get what you mean.
Going back to The Batman though, I think a big part of it is...
I'm not sure the world really wants or accepts film noir anymore.
That's actually something I wanted to bring up in a later episode of the podcast as well actually, because lets face it, film noir is kinda a dying genre, if not already dead.
Conan
Yeah, it's mostly relegated to independent films now.
Like, not the stuff that brings in big audiences anymore.
Mark
Yeah.
Jungkook
I think Sin City was the last big one, wasn't it?
At least the last one I can remember.
Yugyeom
Sin City was more comic book though, wasn't it?
Conan
Was it? I can't remember.
Yugyeom
Kinda like a mature rated Dick Tracy kinda thing.
Mark
Maybe.
Troye
Going back to Robert Pattinson and The Batman movie real quick. I gotta say, I'm honestly surprised at what, such a versatile actor he is.
I mean, here's a guy that for many years was typecast as "just" being Edward Cullen from Twilight, now years later he's everywhere and just doing "such" a good job in every movie he's in.
Jungkook
Mickey 17
Troye
Yeah. I really want to see that as well actually.
Yugyeom
Me too actually. We saw the trailer at The Joker 2 screening. It looks so good.
Definitely wanna see that one.
Mark
Yeah. Well okay guys. I think that's gonna do it for "another" episode of the podcast.
I wanna thank Jeon Jungkook for joining us.
Jungkook
It was my pleasure.
Mark
Guys, that's gonna do it for today, but be sure to tune in next week where we're gonna be talking about the Spider-Man movies with Lee Felix from Stray Kids.
It should be really exciting.
Well guys, that's a wrap.
Conan
Yeah, thanks guys.
Troye
Take care everyone.
Yugyeom
Yeah thanks guys.
Jungkook
Bye!
Mark
Bye guys.
-outtro music plays-
