As often happens on SFRS we follow a truly terrible film with possibly a worse one. This week we marvel at the train wreck that is After Earth , surely a career low point for everyone involved. In a film with a main actor who can't act and a script that doesn't make much sense, perhaps the biggest crime is that the film is just, well, forgettable? Still, we also discuss scientology, who should be fired into the sun, and stay tuned after the credits for an exclusive song from an unwritten '80s ac...
Jul 15, 2019•55 min•Ep. 109
What happens when you watch a film only good through the misty lens of nostalgia, but nobody actually has any nostalgia for said film? What happens is we all suffer through Krull , no. 1 fan Colin's questionable choice for nostalgia sci-fi. Poor acting, poor plot, poor everything, and then even the Poppins Clause rears it's ugly head. Is this the worst week ever? Is The Lawnmower Man finally going to stop propping up the rankings? Also we've got two quizzes, impromptu financial investigations, d...
Jul 09, 2019•56 min•Ep. 108
The Men in Black franchise is back and currently stinking up cinemas across the globe with it's apparently dreadful fourth entry. Happily, we return to the 1997 original, a happier time when Will Smith still wore the baggiest clothes he could find, Barry Sonnenfield still made good films, and Rip Torn wasn't dead. Next week it's Krull. For real, this time. GIVE US 5 STARS ON ITUNES! Get in touch! Visit the Website! See the list so far! And we're on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook too! Hosted on...
Jun 25, 2019•54 min•Ep. 107
We return to the realm of '80s nostalgia for a reader's pick, It's Flight of the Navigator ! You may remember being traumatised by the idea of losing 8 years of a childhood, but do you remember an illicit love story? A subplot revolving around Twisted Sister? How dull the second half of this film is? Probably not, and our advice is probably don't start a podcast where you ruin all your childhood memories. Also, join us for the cautionary tale of Joey Kramer. Show notes: Tommy Lee Jones in Japan ...
Jun 19, 2019•54 min•Ep. 106
We're back! Sorry about that, real life intervened and we took our annual unschedule break from podding. We return with Tron Legacy our look back at Disney's attempt to resurrect a long dead franchise. Listen to find out why you shoudn't put an arcade game in a swimming baths, how much we wish Michael Sheen wasn't in this film, and what this picture is all about: GIVE US 5 STARS ON ITUNES! Get in touch! Visit the Website! See the list so far! And we're on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook too! Ho...
Jun 10, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 105
The conclusion of our Godzilla double bill takes us back to 2014 and Hollywood's last attempt to make Japan's greatest export work in America. Chris hosts as we find out what went wrong and went right with Gareth Edward's very expensive monster movie, and end up losing our way in plotholes and inexplicable character choices. Oh well. Godzilla 2: King of the Monsters is in cinemas next week! Also Alex's audio has a little buzzy gremlin on it for the 2nd half, sorry about that! GIVE US 5 STARS ON ...
May 21, 2019•55 min•Ep. 104
To celebrate the arrival in cinema's of Godzilla: King of the Monsters we start a double bill of Godzilla films. This week we go all the way back to 1954 with the original film that started the longest running film franchise of all-time. Next week we jump 60 years into the future and watch Gareth Edward's 2014 remake, watch a trailer here! GIVE US 5 STARS ON ITUNES! Get in touch! Visit the Website! See the list so far! And we're on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook too! Hosted on Acast. See acast...
May 14, 2019•54 min•Ep. 103
It's the 2nd annual re-ranking! Every birthday we each get to pick a film we think has been treated unfairly by the list and re-watch and re-rank it! This year Sam chose Predator , Chris chose Independence Day and Alex chose Tron . You can probably guess which film is the most contentious. Hint: This is the THIRD time we've have to watch it and it's not happening again, no matter what Chris says. GIVE US 5 STARS ON ITUNES! Get in touch! Visit the Website! See the list so far! And we're on Twitte...
May 06, 2019•46 min•Ep. 102
As The Avengers: Endgame hits cinemas across the world we hop onto some super-heroic coattails and watch the first Marvel team up from way back in 2012. In a bumper episode we thoroughly pull apart a film that feels older than it is. Alex is in his element dishing out facts like confetti, Sam is hard to impress and Chris is maybe coming around to this sort of thing? Maybe. And don't worry, there are absolutely * no spoilers * for Endgame here (plenty for earlier films in the MCU though.) Next we...
Apr 26, 2019•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 101
We made it! This week we celebrate 100 episodes of the podcast with a new website and a new look. Still the same old hosts but don't despair, this week we tackle a proper big film, Ridley Scott's classic Alien . Following Chris' recent short for the film's 40th anniversary (watch it here! ) we watch the original that inspired countless films Next week we get to our 2nd annual re-ranking episode. Tron , Independence Day and Predator are all up for a re-watch and the potential to move up (or down)...
Apr 16, 2019•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 100
Things go from strange to stranger in part 2 of World on a Wire. As Stiller's mental state unravels so does our understanding of the plot. What is the real world? Which character is called Holm? And why are we on in a cabaret club anyway? Next week it's our 100th episode, join us as we tackle another film celebrating an anniversary, the original 1979 Alien! GIVE US 5 STARS ON ITUNES! Get in touch! Visit the Website! See the list so far! And we're on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook too! Hosted o...
Apr 10, 2019•59 min•Ep. 99
In a list first we tackle a film so long we had to cut in two. Also it was originally a TV show that was in two parts anyway, so everything worked out OK. Join us as we watch the film that was The Matrix before The Matrix, a captivating and strange world of cryptic dialogue, brilliant synths and a protagonist who isn’t a bit phased by someone being crushed by bricks in front of him. Next week we watch the second half of the film and decide where the whole package will end up in the list! GIVE US...
Apr 02, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 98
Our final film of Nostalgia Season is Chris’ pick, Short Circuit, a film we all thought we remembered a lot more than we did. Listen as we discover that a white actor pretending to be an Indian is far from the only thing wrong this film, and start to wonder whether looking back was a good idea after all. Next week it’s our first ever two part episode, with the first half of Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s lost ’70s classic World on a Wire . GIVE US 5 STARS ON ITUNES! Get in touch! Visit the Website! ...
Mar 26, 2019•49 min•Ep. 97
Week 2 of nostalgia season and it’s Sam’s choice, the 1986 animated classic The Transformers: The Movie , a film Sam has been pitching repeatedly since episode 2 of the podcast, and finally we get around to watching it. Join us as Alex is overwhelmed by the film’s refusal to take a breather, Chris actually manages to say a couple of nice things and Sam falls over himself with excitement and occasionally breaks into song. Next week Chris’ pick rounds out the nostalgia season, its Short Circuit ! ...
Mar 19, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 96
It’s the start of nostalgia season! This week Alex plucks a film from his childhood to see if it still holds up, and predictably Arnold Schwarzenegger is involved. In 1987’s The Running Man 2019 is a totalitarian hellscape where TV controls the world and the masses are oppressed by a minority, getting their kicks watching innocents throw themselves into a violent nightmare for a chance at redemption. Its only marginally less depressing than the real 2019 etc. Next week we visit Sam’s childhood b...
Mar 12, 2019•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 95
It took half a year for us to expunge the taste of Star Trek V but finally we are ready for more Trek. And it’s even numbered Trek so its good Trek. Nicholas Meyer returns to direct one last hurrah for the original cast, facing off against their old enemies the Klingons! Next week we start NOSTALGIA SEASON. We re-watch three films from our childhood we haven’t seen in a long time and see if they hold up to grown up scrutiny. First up is Alex’s pick, Its Arnie in The Running Man. Got your own sli...
Mar 05, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 94
Many moons ago Chris chose Yor over the Matrix sequels. After putting off watching it for months Alex, Chris and Sam are all pleasantly surprised by Yor’s brand of terrible. Cavemen, dinosaurs, Gimp Vader, the grandpa from Troll 2 and the greatest theme tune we’ve rated yet this week we watch the film that has it all! (But is still pretty awful.) We’ve gone long enough without any Trek and so next month we catch up with the original Enterprise crew for the last time in Star Trek VI: The Undiscov...
Feb 27, 2019•55 min•Ep. 93
This week Alex hosts and possibly stars in Attack the Block, Joe Cornish’s hoodies vs. aliens sci-fi romp. It doesn’t take us long to decide we have serious issues with the film and then spend a long time trying to come to terms with it. Its the sort of borderline deep conversation you don’t really expect from us to be honest. Next week is a film about a time travelling dinosaur hunter so business as usual. That film is Yor The Hunter From The Future! GIVE US 5 STARS ON ITUNES! Get in touch! Vis...
Feb 19, 2019•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 92
This week Sam becomes ever more familiar with editing podcasts as we discuss Kevin Spacey’s K-PAX and definitely not anything else related to Kevin Spacey that may be in the news right now. Chris is unwilling to jeopardise any future Hollywood link-ups whilst Sam and Alex are determined to write a better version of this terrible film. And if that’s not enough the debate over whether this is actually sci-fi potentially activates the dreaded Poppin’s Clause. Will K-PAX be our third film not to eve...
Feb 12, 2019•49 min•Ep. 91
Dr. Who is a big deal, a bigger deal than makes any sense to any of us here at SFRS. But let it not be said we aren’t willing to learn so this week we watch a Dr. Who film and partake in a wide ranging Dr. Who quiz to brush up on our knowledge of sonic screwdrivers and aliens that look like a group of 8 year olds designed them in design & tech class. If you are a big fan of this film, maybe look away now… Next week we watch K-SPACEY in K-PAX and thats not going to be a minefield of inappropr...
Feb 05, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 90
Our third and final 2014 film is Predestination in which Ethan Hawke and Sarah Snook tie themselves in knots trying to catch the poorly named Fizzle Bomber. Predictably we also get a bit confused attempting to un-jumble the paradox before Chris activates his own time machine to cheat on Alex’s quiz. Next week its Dr Who & The Daleks! GIVE US 5 STARS ON ITUNES! Get in touch! Visit the Website! See the list so far! And we're on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook too! Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...
Jan 29, 2019•58 min•Ep. 89
Part 2 of our 2014 trilogy is Chris’ pick: Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, the big budget sci-fi thinker that *INCEPTION NOISE*d into cinemas five years ago. Find out which host can’t stand Jessica Chastain, which host is bailing out of Nolan films, and which host is finally ‘taking this seriously’ now that we are 88 episodes in 😐 Next week the 2014 trilogy concludes with Predestination! GIVE US 5 STARS ON ITUNES! Get in touch! Visit the Website! See the list so far! And we're on Twitter , In...
Jan 22, 2019•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 88
Its 2019 and we’re back from break with three weeks of films from 2014, a year now apparently (and absurdly) FIVE YEARS FROM NOW. I mean really, time is a bit weird, isn’t it? Anyway this week is an uncharacteristically nuanced and deep look at Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin, in which we attempt to separate authorial intent from the audience’s experience, discuss the merits of ambiguity versus a cold hard narrative, and stop Chris getting into beef with Scotland. Well, almost. Next week its Ch...
Jan 14, 2019•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 87
It’s Christmas Day so what better way to celebrate than putting your headphones in and watching a bunch of trailers with your chums from the SFRS? Its our 2nd annual Christmas show! We discuss our favourite sci-fi (and non sci-fi) films of 2018, look forward to the year ahead, see how well we predicted the year in film and make more predictions for the coming year. We also help Chris work out what exactly Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is… Fill out your 2019 predictions here for a chance to MAYBE...
Dec 25, 2018•1 hr•Ep. 86
We end 2018 with a bang, the second (and fifth) Star Wars, which is also the third we’re rating. Predictably we can’t stop talking about it in this bumper episode. How do you make a sound like a Mynock? Is Lando a secret clothes thief? And is there a better Star Wars film? Join us as we see out the year in a galaxy far, far away… GIVE US 5 STARS ON ITUNES! Get in touch! Visit the Website! See the list so far! And we're on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook too! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...
Dec 18, 2018•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 85
This week its all Chris’ fault. We watch his choice of science fiction films, 1993’s Knights, a messy, cheap and Lance Henriksen starring post-apocalyptic tale of cyborg knights, kickboxing slaves and Kris Kristofferson not really being aware what film he’s in. If you can face it you can watch the whole film here! And if not, let us tell you why you should really click that link. Oh and listen till the end to hear whether Chris will make a similar mistake again… Next week we see out the year wit...
Dec 11, 2018•50 min•Ep. 84
This week its back to the ’90s for Waterworld, Kevin Costner’s flopping wet fish of a blockbuster. In depth plot discussion, Kevin Costner’s casino, ideas for a better film, we dive so deep into Waterworld we come up screaming for air. And a better film. Next week its Chris’ fault we’re watching Knights! What? GIVE US 5 STARS ON ITUNES! Get in touch! Visit the Website! See the list so far! And we're on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook too! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informat...
Dec 05, 2018•55 min•Ep. 83
This week we take the red pill and ask the question: What is The Matrix? In a bumper episode we meticulously work our way through the film, discuss Keanu’s acting ‘style’, moan about how things were better in the ’90s (again), discuss the fast approaching singularity and fill plot holes as fast as Chris can create them. And there’s even time for a quiz! Next week we keep this blockbuster train rolling with, er, Waterworld GIVE US 5 STARS ON ITUNES! Get in touch! Visit the Website! See the list s...
Nov 27, 2018•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 82
Our (late) horror season concludes with science fiction slasher and tenth entry in the Friday 13th franchise Jason X. 400 years in the future Jason is set loose aboard a school/military/research(?) ship and goes about his business killing dudes. We look for the positives in a seriously flawed film and even manage to coax Chris into saying a few nice things. Next week a sci-fi classic- The Matrix! GIVE US 5 STARS ON ITUNES! Get in touch! Visit the Website! See the list so far! And we're on Twitte...
Nov 20, 2018•46 min•Ep. 81
This week we continue our horror trilogy and things are getting creepier. Sam Neill and friends go to hell aboard the Event Horizon! We dissect the grisly events that ensue, whilst trying not to remember how scared we were as kids. Next week its Jason X GIVE US 5 STARS ON ITUNES! Get in touch! Visit the Website! See the list so far! And we're on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook too! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Nov 12, 2018•40 min•Ep. 80
