Review It Yourself

Preview It Yourself returns! Sean and Sarah discuss the new trailer for the upcoming Final Destination Bloodlines. Is it worth your hard earned money? Listen in to find out. Time Stamps: 0:11 Trailer Talk 0:50 Trailer Reactions 3:03 Franchise Expectations 5:04 Spoilers and Surprises 6:14 Modern Day Elements 6:58 New Perspectives 9:58 Anticipation Builds 10:27&nbs...

Sarah is back! She and Sean finally discuss one of their oddly favourite films, Prometheus (2012). Discussion Points: -Sean likes this film, but can see it's faults. -Sarah really appreciates the story's set-up and the unusual landscape. -The film's aesthetics and themes versus the execution and uneven tone. -Sarah loves films where people grapple with their faith. -Sarah's recollections of watchi...

Sean is joined by Jamie from 'Old Shipping Lines' YouTube Channel to review the Norwegian film, Konvoi (2023), known internationally as The Arctic Convoy. The film appears to be based upon the true story of the 1942 PQ17 convoy, one of the first major Anglo-American convoys of the Second World War.  Discussion Points: -Sean needs his nautical fix.  -Why this film is one of Jamie's favour...

Stew from 'Stew World Order' joins Sean to try and answer the question: Modern Films, are they flying or dying? Stew believes we're in a golden age, Sean does not... Time Stamps: 1:29 Film Debate: Flying or Dying? 1:40 Generational Nostalgia 6:02 Access to Diverse Films 10:48 Voices in Cinema 14:41 The Case Against Modern Films 17:12 Poor Writing and World Building 20...

Sean is feeling the pressure this week as he and Sarah review his Auntie's favourite film: What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? (1963). Discussion Points: -What the hell happened to acting and film-making. -The tour de force performances from Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. -Sarah and Sean were surprised by the sheer class of the entire production. -The career of Davis and Crawford. -The golden age of...

Sean gives his initial thoughts to Alex Garland's Civil War (2024). Discussion Points: -Sean was reminded of The Road (2009) and Nightcrawler (2014), with the intent of this film. -Typical American understatement.  -Whether this film felt futuristic or not. -The strange sense of normality that people still adhere to, in the midst of a civil war. -Sean goes on tangent about Tesco. -The strange...

Sean welcomes back massive friend of the show Luke, from The Howdy Beans Podcast! to discuss the first Wallace and Gromit film. What follows is a celebration of English television. With the shops shut on a Bank Holiday, A Grand Day Out (1989) sees an inventor Wallace and his pet dog Gromit travel to the moon in their home-made rocket ship, in order to replenish their cheese supplies. Because you c...

Sean is joined once again by Marie from '2 Girls, 1 Reusable Cup Podcast' and 'We Needed Roads' to lay into the poorly-executed Batman: The Killing Joke (2016). Discussion Points: -The DVD read-through returns. -Marie brings her comic book knowledge, whilst Sean brings his views without having read the comic. Neither were impressed. -The baffling creative choices behind this adaptation, particular...

Sean and Sarah review one of their favourite films, M. Night Shyamalan's Signs (2002). They once again examine what the top critics think, before embarking on an in-depth dive into the film.  Discussion Points: -The way this film divides people. -The Bad Reviews return! -The laser focus of this film. -Sean isn't happy to be taught how to pronounce a word by Sarah, someone from the South.&nbsp...

Marie from '2 Girls 1 Reusable Cup Podcast' and 'We Needed Roads Podcast' finally guests on Review It Yourself and what a film she picked! Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010). Warning, this episode contains spoilers. Discussion Points: -Sean and Marie discuss animated Batman films. -Marie lays out her relationship with Batman animated films and comics. -Sean explains his love of superhero films (no,...

Sean is joined by Josh, Alex, Will and Luke from 'This Isn't Life' Podcast to review one of the best comedies of recent memory: Tropic Thunder (2008).  Discussion Points: -Sean gets the This Isn't Life guys to introduce themselves. -The guys and Sean discuss the reason for why this film wouldn't get made now. -How Hollywood lost the ability to laugh at itself. -Sean details how context is key...

Sean and Sarah reach the Final Destination (for now) of the franchise, with the oddly-fantastic Final Destination 5 (2011). Discussion Points: -Sean compares this series to the Jaws franchise. -Sarah wonders how The Final Destination (2009) turned out so badly. -Sean moans about modern-day films and the rising cost of visiting the cinema. -The importance of a gut-instinct when picking which film t...

Sean does his best to put together a coherent review for the Doctor Who Christmas Special 2024, but it's fair to say, he wasn't impressed. Sean likens the episode to "a sh*t sandwich from a corner shop". Discussion Points: -Sean discusses why he can't be bothered to review Doctor Who anymore. -If you make good TV, people will watch it. -The issues with pacing. -Using a fly to introduce a character...

Merry Christmas from Sean and Sarah!  Join them for an extended look into the 1998 Christmas Classic Jack Frost (1998). Sean and Sarah wonder why this film was decimated by critics but loved by audiences. They unusually look at the criticisms from around the time the film came out and address the ridiculous views of the critics.  Is Jack Frost (1998) really 'sloppy', 'repulsive', 'charm-...

Sean and Sarah continue their nuclear film exposure, with 1979's The China Syndrome; a tale about the power of the media, the dangers of nuclear energy and the effects of corporate indifference and greed.  Released just 12 days before the real 'Three-Mile Island' nuclear incident, this film was discussed by everybody in 1979. Sean and Sarah wonder whether this brilliant film has had the cultu...

Review It Yourself's first ever guest returns! Ryan Walker from 'The Walk The Line Podcast' joins Sean and Sarah to discuss the fourth (and planned last) film: The Final Destination (2009).  Will Ryan and Sarah remain unimpressed by Sean's choice of film? Check Out Ryan's website here: https://www.thewalkthelinepodcast.com/ Discussion Points: -Ryan is practising for Loose Women or This Mornin...

Savon, formerly of Coffee and Comments podcast, returns to review a classic film, The Indian in the Cupboard (1995). Based on the 1980 book by Lynne Reid Banks, the story sees Omri, a young kid who lives in New York City, discover his cupboard brings his toy American Indian to life. Discussion Points: -How the book became a staple of British Primary Schools. -The DVD read-through returns. -Sean is...

Ben from 'Push Pull Health' returns to the podcast after two years, complete with booing, to help Sarah and Sean review Final Destination 3 (2006). Discussion Points: -Sarah feels this film is a return to form after Final Destination 2 (2003). -The solid opener with the rollercoaster crash. -Ben thinks the characters are "awful" and "stink". -The shocking amount of times Wendy gets her face spatte...

Thomas Lynskey, actor, writer, and director of The Last Signals joins Sean to discuss the story behind the making of his independent film. The film explores the actions Titanic’s wireless operators, Senior Operator John ‘Jack’ Phillips and Junior Operator Harold Bride, throughout Titanic's voyage. The story of the making of the film is as amazing as the film itself, as Tom describes how his family...

Sarah continues her first-time viewing of the Final Destination series, with Final Destination 2 (2003). Discussion Points: -The tonal shift from the first film to it's sequel. -The truck with the log that haunts a generation. -Changing the formula of death's design. -Sarah discusses her love of kitchen-based deaths in films.  -TANGENT: Sean and Sarah discuss Chinese food. -Sarah is not happy...

Sarah had never seen a single Final Destination film. Sean cleared the schedule to get these reviews done. Sarah will get her own back soon with 'Sarah decides'.  Will Sarah remain unimpressed by Sean's choice of film? Discussion Points: -Sean nearly gets killed by a bookcase. -Sarah was surprised by how good this film was. -The origin of the film's premise. -Sean tries not to spoil any of th...

This is a grim one, but it's a film you need to see! A British kitchen sink drama set in Sheffield in 1983, which follows a young couple expecting their first child before a nuclear war interrupts their plans.  Sean and Sarah review one of the most-unflinching and best British TV films of all time. Will they remain unimpressed by their choice of film? Warning: This podcast episodes contains d...

Randy and Steve return to continue the Rush Hour reviews with Rush Hour 2 (2001). Watch your egg rolls, we're going in! Discussion Points: -Sean's notes are abysmal again. -The lack of seriousness in this film. -Chris Tucker's dancing. -The reason Jackie Chan doesn't like the way he speaks in English in this film. -A brief history of '7 11' shops (Not Sponsored). -Behind the biggest mouth in the W...

Luke from 'The Nerdstalgic Podcast' returns to join Sean and discuss the Disney-Pixar short film, Float (2019). Float is a short six-minute film which highlights the importance of difference and acceptance, by following a Father coming to terms with his young son, who 'floats'. Chapters: 0:00-Welcome and Introduction of this Week's Guest. 25:51-The Power of Acceptance. 45:07-The Impact of Represen...

Jackson from 'History with Jackson' joins Sean to discuss one of his favourite films:  Jojo Rabbit (2019). Jackson and Sean use the film as a framework to delve into the world of Nazi Germany, totalitarian regimes and how this film stays funny and effective, whilst dealing with such a grim subject matter.  Guest: https://historywithjackson.co.uk/ Discussion Points: -The unique and weird...