Review It Yourself

Review It Yourself celebrates five years of the podcast with a proper reunion as Sean and Sarah finally find themselves recording in the same room — and, naturally, the conversation quickly goes everywhere. This time, they’re reviewing Gladiator II (2024) , Ridley Scott’s long-awaited sequel to the Oscar-winning Gladiator . Starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen and...

Was Sink the Bismarck! one of Britain's most accurate war films? What happens when one of the most famous naval engagements of the Second World War becomes a 1960 British classic? In this episode of Review It Yourself , Sean dives into Sink the Bismarck! with returning guest Richard M. Jones , author, historian, researcher and lifelong enthusiast of shipwrecks and maritime history. Rather than sim...

One of the most divisive vampire films finally gets a fair defence. Is Queen of the Damned (2002) really one of the most unfairly criticised vampire films of the 2000s? In this special Defend It Yourself episode of Review It Yourself , host Sean is joined by co-host Sarah to make the case for the much-maligned adaptation of Anne Rice's vampire universe. Rather than piling on the criticism, Sean an...

Before the beast awakens, discover why this divisive horror remake deserves discussion. Sean is joined by returning co-host Sarah for an in-depth review of The Wolfman Extended Cut (2010) , starring Benicio del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt and Hugo Weaving . While the film was heavily criticised on release and struggled at the box office, does the extended cut reveal an underrated Gothic hor...

Honour, sacrifice, and unforgettable battles—does The Last Samurai deserve modern masterpiece status? Sean is joined by returning co-host Sarah to take a deep dive into The Last Samurai (2003) , the sweeping historical epic directed by Edward Zwick and starring Tom Cruise , Ken Watanabe , and Timothy Spall . More than two decades after its release, does this ambitious blend of action, history, phi...

We wanted to love Guillermo Del Toro's Frankenstein—here's why we didn't. Guillermo Del Toro's Frankenstein (2025) has been one of the most anticipated horror films in years—but did it live up to the hype? Join Sean and Sarah as they dive deep into this bold adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein , exploring its stunning visuals, performances, themes, and where they believe the film ultimately...

From classic werewolves to Dancing Wolfeman—Rick London reveals all in this interview. What happens when classic werewolf mythology meets dancing, comedy, and heartfelt storytelling? In this episode of Review It Yourself , Sean is joined by author Rick London (Ricardo Cotto) to discuss his entertaining novel The Dancing Wolfeman: Volume One , the enduring appeal of werewolf fiction, and why monste...

Does Daredevil's Director's Cut redeem one of Marvel's most divisive superhero movies? In this episode of Review It Yourself , Sean is joined by Stew from Stew World Order to revisit Ben Affleck's take on Marvel's Man Without Fear and find out whether this early superhero film deserves a second chance. We discuss the differences between the Director's Cut and the theatrical release, Michael Clarke...

Can reading minds really save a relationship, or destroy one forever? In this episode of Review It Yourself , we’re joined by Lou from Pods Like Us to revisit the 2000 romantic fantasy comedy What Women Want , starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt . More than two decades after its release, does this blockbuster still entertain, or have changing attitudes left it feeling like a relic of its time? We d...

How historically accurate is Cromwell (1970)? A historian gives the definitive verdict. Step into the English Civil War with historian Dr. Erica Canela as she joins Sean of Review It Yourself to explore the 1970 historical epic Cromwell , starring Richard Harris as Oliver Cromwell and Alec Guinness as King Charles I. Is Cromwell (1970) an overlooked classic, or does it sacrifice history for Hollyw...

Discover the hilarious gender-swap comedy critics dismissed but audiences enjoyed. In this episode of Review It Yourself, host Sean welcomes back Lou from Pods Like Us for a lively discussion about the 2026 Netflix comedy Ladies First , starring Sacha Baron Cohen. Three years after their last recording together, Sean and Lou reunite to review a film that flips traditional gender roles on their hea...

Why Shrek remains the funniest and most heartfelt fairy tale. In this episode of Review It Yourself, Sean and Sarah are joined by Luke from The Howdy Beans Podcast to revisit the animated classic that changed fairy tales forever: Shrek (2001). Twenty Five years after its release, Shrek remains one of the most influential animated films ever made. Packed with unforgettable characters, sharp comedy,...

Epic Battles, Betrayal, and One of Cinema’s Most Powerful Endings! In this episode of Review It Yourself, Sean and Sarah tackle one of the greatest historical epics ever made: Spartacus (1960). What begins as a discussion of Roman slavery, gladiatorial combat, and rebellion quickly becomes an emotional deep dive into a film that still packs a punch more than six decades later. Sarah discovers that...

From Wartime Hardship to Hope, One of Britain's Most Beloved Stories. In this heartfelt episode of Review It Yourself, Sean is joined by Luke from The Howdy Beans Podcast to discuss the beloved 1998 television adaptation of Goodnight Mister Tom . Based on the classic novel by Michelle Magorian, this moving story follows young evacuee William Beech as he leaves wartime London and forms an unlikely...

An explosive SAS action thriller sparks fierce debate and unforgettable eighties nostalgia In this episode of Review It Yourself, we dive into the controversial 1982 British action thriller Who Dares Wins — the cult classic starring Lewis Collins that blends SAS action, Cold War paranoia, terrorism, political extremism, and one unforgettable embassy siege finale. Joined by returning guest Paul fro...

Ancient epics, Nolan controversy, and brutal trailer reactions from passionate film fans. In this episode of Review It Yourself, hosts Sean and Sarah dive into the newly released trailer for Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated adaptation of The Odyssey (2026), while comparing it to classic historical epics including Troy (2004) and Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014). Does Nolan’s Odyssey look like t...

Love, grief, desire, and rebirth collide in Deb Twiss’s Crave journey In this emotionally honest and deeply engaging episode of Review It Yourself , Sean sits down with filmmaker, writer, actor, and creative force Deb Twiss to discuss her powerful new independent film Crave (2025). Exploring themes of love after loss, emotional vulnerability, self-discovery, relationships, intimacy, and personal l...

High-altitude chaos, nitro explosions, and questionable climbing decisions collide In this second part of Review It Yourself’s deep dive into Vertical Limit , Sean and Sarah push further up the mountain—and deeper into the madness. From explosive set pieces to surprisingly brutal injuries, this episode breaks down everything that makes this cult climbing thriller unforgettable… for better and wors...

A ridiculous climb, impossible odds, and a surprisingly fun debate In this episode of Review It Yourself , we take on the 2000 survival thriller Vertical Limit —a film that’s equal parts intense, absurd, and weirdly unforgettable. Hosts Sean and Sarah go head-to-head as nostalgia clashes with scepticism in a lively, funny, and surprisingly thoughtful deep dive into one of the most over-the-top mou...

A haunting maritime tragedy retold through gripping drama and expert insight. In this episode of Review It Yourself , we dive deep into the powerful Polish mini-series Heweliusz —a dramatisation of one of the most devastating maritime disasters in European history. Joined by special guest Jamie from Old Shipping Lines , this episode blends historical analysis, storytelling critique, and real-world...

When the sea turns deadly, every decision becomes a fight. Dive into this week’s episode of Review It Yourself , where Sean and Sarah tackle the gripping disaster drama The Perfect Storm—a film that blends real-life tragedy, intense character drama, and jaw-dropping ocean spectacle. Based on a semi-biographical account inspired by real events and the book by Sebastian Junger, this episode explores...

Volcano chaos, science ignored, and peak 90s disaster movie madness! If you love explosive disaster films, this episode dives deep into Dante's Peak and why it still erupts with tension, questionable decisions, and surprisingly sharp commentary on human behaviour under pressure. In Part Two, the hosts of Review It Yourself (Sean and Sarah) go beyond surface-level reactions and explore what really...

Volcanoes, chaos, and 90s thrills—does Dante’s Peak still erupt today? In this explosive first part of our deep dive into Dante's Peak, Review It Yourself hosts Sean and Sarah unpack one of the most iconic disaster movies of the 90s. From molten lava to political tension, this episode blends nostalgia, film critique, and surprisingly relevant real-world themes. Tangents aside, we eventually begin...

Conspiracies, cinema, and political paranoia collide in Oliver Stone’s controversial JFK epic. In this second part of our deep dive into Oliver Stone’s landmark political thriller JFK (1991) – Director’s Cut , hosts Sean and Sarah continue their conversation with returning guest Fraser McCallum. The discussion moves beyond the basics of the film and into the deeper cultural and cinematic impact of...

A conspiracy, a courtroom, and one film that changed political cinema forever. What happens when one of the most controversial political films ever made is given the full Director’s Cut treatment ? In this episode of Review It Yourself , Sean and Sarah are joined by returning guest Fraser McCallum to explore the sprawling, provocative and endlessly debated film JFK (1991) – Director’s Cut . Part O...