Science Fiction Rating System

It's a bumper episode as we head back to a galaxy far, far away, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Episode I . Join us for a predictably in-depth discussion of the making of the film, how our opinion of the film has changed over a quarter of a century, what a genuine child thinks about the film, and much more! Here is Jenny Nicholson's incredible 4-hour Galactic Starcruiser video which Sam ment...

We return to discuss Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow ! But first, Alex makes the executive decision to discuss other films, so we briefly discuss Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Furiosa, Atlas, and You Can Call Me Bill. Then we sadly have to watch the film we're here to see. And it ain't great. But at least it's a good excuse for Alex to tell his story about his copy of Horton Hears A Who...

This week we take a trip back to the Riddickverse (one of many verses) and watch Chronicles of Riddick ! Join us as we marvel at two films existing at once, chart the rise and fall and rise of Vin Diesel, chat a lot about mongers monging, and alienate anyone who likes metal. Sorry. Next week, it's Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow , which we said last time, but it genuinely is this time! See t...

This week we 'celebrate' the release of Alex Garland's Civil War by looking back at Annihilation . Join us as we discuss the perils of adapting a story you don't actually know, whether Natalie Portman can actually act, and a strange bear. Next week, get your annoying steampunk tat at the ready - it's Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow! See the new list! Play along at home! Get in touch! Visit t...

Accidental post-apocalypse/ Fallout season continues with Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior . But first, Alex has a random newsblast? Join us as we take our usual detour into mourning the death of practical effects, ponder if this film invented the post apocalypse, and generally just enjoy a well-made film. We watch them occasionally. (When Sam keeps saying 'The man with no name' he means A Fistful of D...

This week, Alex picks his birthday film - it's Albert Pyun's Cyborg ! Join us as we discuss JCVD's career, butcher's shops in the USA, double TKOs, missing contact lenses, and a quiz which, let's be honest here, Sam absolutely aces. Next week, accidental Fallout apocalyptic season continues with Mad Max 2 ! See the new list! Play along at home! Get in touch! Visit the Website! Watch us on Youtube!...

This week we watch Ghostbusters II , except Chris who got the wrong film. But first, we have a little bonus spoilercast about Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire , which unlocks a classic Chris Rant­. And then we watch the main feature, discussing the impact of The Real Ghostbusters , what you want from a sequel, the bad vibes that come from good vibes, and I think our third passionate defence of Peter Ve...

This week, we take our annual trip to the world of Star Trek. Having watched all the original ten films, it's time to follow a very old Spock through a black hole and join the Kelvin timeline. Join us as we discuss rebooting franchises, a terrible bad guy, fate vs. logic. and the perils of stunt-casting unfunny comedians. Next week, we celebrate (?) Ghostbusters being back in cinemas by watching G...

This week, we continue the modern Planet of the Apes franchise seven years (!) after watching the first instalment. Join us as we marvel at the CG, complain about everything else, get into a very, very long discussion about post-apocalyptic survival (yet again) and we learn that Chris is prepared to play any game, no matter the game. Game on. Note for Sam's brain: You are confusing Jason Clarke wi...

This week, Chris and Sam spoiler their way through the latest Denis Villeneuve sci-fi blockbuster, Dune: Part Two at Alex, who hasn't seen it yet. But first, Austin Butler's face, a mini spoilercast of Priscilla, Agent Elvis and a lot of other stuff that is absolutely definitely related to the film in question. And there's a Dune quiz! WARNING: Spoilers for Dune: Part Two and the other Frank Herbe...

This week, we add three old films to the new list in another Re-Ranking special! Join us as we apply PROPER SCIENCE to Dune, Predator , and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Also, Alex reviews some modern dance. Next week, we look at some more apes with the confusingly titled Rise sequel, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes! See the new list! Play along at home! Get in touch! Visit the Website! Watch us...

We're back! And we return with a classic of our childhoods, the grammatically troubling Honey, I Shrunk the Kids . Join us as we discuss the superb practical effects, sense memories of Oreos, and we have possibly our 2nd Ant-based quiz. Next week, we re-rank a bunch of films! See the new list! Play along at home! Get in touch! Visit the Website! Watch us on Youtube! See the old list! Download the...

Our infinite look at sci-fi films finally hits upon Zardoz , John Boorman's psychedelic cult (?) classic (???) which turns 50 this year. Join us as we try to follow along, discuss Sean Connery's 'unique' contract, Sean Connery's 'unique' acting style in this film, and Sean Connery's wedding dress. Next week we take a trademark SFRS hard turn into something completely different - it's Honey, I Shru...

The pod heads back to the Weird West for Barry Sonnenfeld's ill-advised follow-up to the hugely successful (and quite good) Men in Black - its Wild Wild West ! Join us as we discuss our general dislike of all things steampunk, marvel at how a film from 25 years ago feels like it was written in the 1800s, and ask the most important question of all: Kevin Kline - why? Next week, we take another trip...

We celebrate our 300th episode (which is insane) by watching Detective Pikachu , our final look back at 2019 releases! Join us as we revel in the CG, have varied opinions about Ryan Reynolds, worry about the idea of being merged with your pet, and Alex officiates a Poke Battle. Next week, we watch wicky wicky Wild Wild West ! See the new list! Play along at home! Get in touch! Visit the Website! W...

2019 season continues with Chris' choice, Bacurau! Join us as Chris sprinkles a little Cannes stardust across the pod, we discuss the merits of ambiguity in plot, and try and work out if this is Poppins or not. Next week, it's the final 2019 film, Alex's wildcard pick: Detective Pikachu ! See the new list! Play along at home! Get in touch! Visit the Website! Watch us on Youtube! See the old list!...

2019 season continues with Sam's pick, The Wandering Earth , the Chinese film industry's attempt at an American blockbuster, complete with a nonsensical plot, unlikeable characters, and a film that's too long. Join us as Chris dissects just how stupid the science on display here really is and we try to steer away from matters that might get us blacklisted in certain parts of the world. Next week i...

A new year begins and SFRS are back for an 8th year of rating science fiction films! As is tradition, we start the year with a selection of films from the newly unlocked and primed to rate films from 2019. First up is Alex's pick, Serenity (not the Joss Whedon one). Join us as we discuss the strange career of Steven Knight, the even stranger plot of this film, Matthew McConaughey's illicit bongo p...

As is tradition, we see out the year with a look back at the last twelve months, like a Spotify Wrapped but MORE SCIENTIFIC. Join us as we discuss some of our favourite films and TV shows of the year, take a quiz to see if we can remember what we watched on the pod, and then announce which films from newly unlocked 2019 we'll be watching in January. p.s. no spoilers for anything science fiction, b...

On Christmas morning SFRS leave a special bonus gift for you, a spoilercast for the fantastic new proper Godzilla film, Godzilla Minus One ! Join Sam and Alex for a spoiler-free overview of the film until 14:10 when Godzilla STOMPS the spoiler wall and we go into lots of detail about what makes this new entry in the franchise feel fresh and exciting as anything thats come before. Want more Godzill...

It's Christmas Eve (or thereabouts) and as is tradition around these parts, we finish the year by watching a Star Wars! We realise too late we could have watched A New Hope and so watch The Force Awakens, JJ Abram's nostalgia-drenched sequel. Join us as we discuss nostalgia vs creativity, the problem with not having a plan, a Star Wars quiz, we try to prise at least one positive comment from Chris...

Ladies First season concludes with Arrival , which we watched absolutely ages ago in an old list with an old format, so now it gets the proper SFRS review and rating. Join us as we discuss deceiving the audience, the paperwork of first contact, and as ever we get in a bit of a mess with logistics of a mechanic of this script that I can't really discuss here for spoiler-y reasons. Next week, it's o...

Ladies First season continues with  Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines . Join as we discuss the questionable decision to restart SkyNet development after T2, the questionable abilities the new Terminator thinks are essential to her mission, and we discover who won Sexiest She-Villain 2004. Next week Ladies Night concludes with  Arrival ! Get in touch! Visit the Website! See the new list!...

This week, we begin a new season of films - it's Ladies First/Night! Our respective partners pick their favourite science fiction film for us to watch starting with, er,  Unbreakable . Join us as we discuss what's gone wrong with the decision to watch this film, Alex's secret director's cut of the film, and the many ways this isn't very good.   Next week, we watch another film:  Ter...

Hi, we're back! This week, we take a quick break from your normal pod-based rating system for the latest in our long-dormant series of spoilercasts! Alex is a busy bee so Chris and Sam hop online to chat about The Creator , Gareth Edward's latest sci-fi flick. It's not all bad, but it's  mostly bad.  And just in case the name of this episode wasn't enough of a clue, be warned: SPOIL...