Science Fiction Rating System

This week, we almost watch a listener request and return to probably our favourite genre of sci-fi: old, mad, black and white sci-fi. Join us as we discuss some improbably bad acting, filming in Westminster Abbey, stapling eyes to octopuses, and the enigma that is Quatermass himself. Next week, it's Ladies First! A new season kicks off with, er,  Unbreakable ? Get in touch! Visit the Website!...

This week, we watch  The Hunger Games , Chris' birthday pick. Long-time listeners may remember us devoting 15 minutes to this way, way back several podcast formats ago, but here we are with a full on SFRS rating treatment. Join us for a long discussion about the problem with siloing off all your manufacturing into distinct districts of a country, and...er...no, it's mostly just moaning about...

This week, the long-lost spoilercast for season 3 of  Star Trek: Picard finally returns from pod hell for everyone to have a listen to! Recorded in May, join us as we discuss why this was better than every other bit of modern Trek. Also, there's a mailbag that has also been to the other side of the galaxy and back- sorry about that, correspondent! Next week, it's  The Hunger Games ! Get...

It's birthday season on SFRS, and this week watch Sam's choice of birthday pick:  Alien: Resurrection ! Join us as we dissect this most messy of Alien sequels. Directors speaking the wrong language, a mysteriously destroyed blu-ray, and a scriptwriter trying to wriggle out of responsibility when it's all his fault. It's a downer, but it's a fun downer! Next week, Chris' birthday pick - ...

We reach the end of this strange, never-ending sequence of sci-fi and non-sci-fi films with The Cell , a film about a serial killer's mind. Join us as we try and find Jlo's career highlight, discuss the many problems with late '90s culture, and work out that most, if not all, of this film is entirely pointless... Next week it's time for some birthday picks yet again, starting with Sam's choice - i...

This week, join us for a third and final trip 𝓑𝓔𝓛𝓞𝓦 𝓩𝓔𝓡𝓞!  It's Sam's turn to choose a non sci-fi film and he picks  Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.  Join us as we descend into hell, hear about Alex's insane 24 hour Twin Peaks marathon, and discuss how wrong the bad press was for this film when it released. Next week, it's the science fiction film paired with this one -  The Cel...

If you thought last week was bad, then we can only apologise. Alex makes us watch  Gamer and the nicest thing your humble typist can say is at least we only have to watch it once. Join us for a long discussion about how to soundtrack a trailer, how not to make a film, and the perils of nominative determinism. Next week, the third and final instalment of this entire ridiculous Below Zero serie...

This week SFRS: 𝓑𝓔𝓛𝓞𝓦 𝓩𝓔𝓡𝓞  continues, with Alex's pick,  Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle . No, not  Jumanji , which at least one host didn't realise, but the Rock vehicle that came a lot later. Join us as Alex finally gets to talk about his favourite film of all time, Chris thinks this might not actually be Poppins after all, and Sam pitches us on a new computer game. Also, Mr....

Hi guys! Remember us? We're back with #CONTENT of the highest order, our first proper look at many people's favourite Star Trek film, Wrath of Khan ! Join us for a bumper episode filled with top chat about bad space admin, what not to do with a corpse, a long discussion about the practicality of having a chinwag whilst being beamed up, and bagpipes at funerals. Oh, and there's also some class...

It's an SFRS first as we take a dip 𝓑𝓔𝓛𝓞𝓦 𝓩𝓔𝓡𝓞 ! Chris invents a reason for us to watch one of his favourite non-science fiction films,  Master and Commander and we use our new ranking system to rate an intentional slice of Poppins. Join us as we learn a lot about ships, a lot about the navy, and a lot less about why this is relevant. Next week, we pair this dip into the chilly side of the li...

This week, we conclude the  Back to the Future  trilogy with a trip to the wild west! Join us for problematic parentage, barbed wire appreciation, steampunk complaints, and almost definitely the longest discussion of track gauges on any non-railway based podcast ever recorded. Next week, it's time for SFRS Below Zero as we watch  Master & Commander,  which, uh, isn't a...

After Back to the Future joined the new list at number one after last week's re-ranking, we watch the 2nd part of the trilogy. Join us for rampant nostalgia, Zemeckis respect and endless discussions about plot. Next week, we conclude the trilogy with  Back to the Future Part III ! Get in touch! Visit the Website! See the new list! Play along at home! Watch us on Youtube! See the old list! Dow...

You asked for it, we delivered. This week, we add a whole load of list 1.0 films to list 2.0 with a bumper episode of classic SFRS re-ranking action. Join us to hear revised thoughts on Back to the Future, Twins, Death Race 2000 and lots more! It's the hard-hitting analysis you've come to expect from us: mis-remembered plots, confusion over how the system works, and Alex inventing some rules. Also...

Hey, it's us! Yes, episode drops have been a little infrequent, but you know the drill...Anyway, hopefully we're going to be around a bit more often for a bit. First up, we're watching  Strange Days , Kathryn Bigelow's almost career-killing VR neo-noir cult (?) classic (??)! Join us to hear about Chris' conclusive thoughts on VR in film, Hollywood divorces, True Lies 2 , and the One Secret Th...

We're back after a classic impromptu break (Chris was in Cannes etc.) to review  Gravity , an incredibly critically revered film by Alfonso Cuarón! What's not to like? Oh, wait, he also directed another critical darling we didn't care for, Children of Men ? Hmm. Next week we finally have a little chat about season 3 of  Picard ! Get in touch! Visit the Website! See the new list! Play alo...

This week we watch  Downsizing , in which a 5-inch tall Matt Damon is a small man with  big problems. Join us as we discuss a film of two halves, pitch endless ideas for our own versions, ponder the science of being shrunk, and marvel at Udo Kier's dancing. Also, we add our first Poppins film to the new list! Next week it's  Gravity ! Get in touch! Visit the Website! See the new lis...

This week we rank Alex's birthday pick, John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars . It's the only Carpenter film Alex hadn't seen...is this a lost gem? No, it's not. It's a stinker. But we watched it so you don't have to, so join us to find out just why it isn't worth your time. Public service podcast. The government should be paying us to make this, probably. Next week we watch a 5 inch tall Matt Damon in...

This week we review a 'cult classic' that is truly cult, because none of us have heard of it. Join us as we watch a pretty stellar cast star in a truly bizarre film. Suicidal concert goers, questionable accents, Jeff Goldblum being Jeff Goldblum. It's a film that's got everything, except a particularly coherent plot. Next week it's Alex's birthday pick, er, Ghosts of Mars ! Sorry about that. Get i...

Wachowski season concludes with a forensic, scientific review and rating of V for Vendetta . Join us as we discuss poorly thought out dystopias, Sam's past conflicts with Anonymous and a domino world record attempt. And then we rerank Equilibrium , too! Next week, we escape the Wachowskis and watch cult 'classic' The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension Get in touch! Visit the We...

We return from a classic SFRS unexpected hiatus with the 2nd part of our Wachowski season, Cloud Atlas . Join us as we try and untangle six stories, 60 bad prosthetics, and 600 roles played by 6 actors. It's a mess, but is it a good mess? Hmm? (not really, no.) Next week, we watch V for Vendetta ! Get in touch! Visit the Website! See the new list! Play along at home! Watch us on Youtube! See the o...

This week we begin our Wachowski season with Speed Racer , 2008's insanely colourful kid's film that at least one host has fond memories of. Join us as we discuss the film's unusual look, dental work on piranhas, and chimps on film. Next week, we continue down Wachowski-ing it up with Cloud Atlas ! Get in touch! Visit the Website! See the new list! Play along at home! Watch us on Youtube! See the...

2018 season concludes with long-time listener Colin's pick- A Quiet Place ! Join us for a classic SFRS alien feasibility breakdown, great ideas for films that we should have redacted, unrelated Jack Ryan appreciation. And we re-rank Toys and end up with loads more problems with the rankings! Next week, Wachowski season begins with Speed Racer ! Prepare to feel sick. Get in touch! Visit the Website...

This week we continue 2018 season with Sam's pick, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse . We watched these films a month ago so excuse your host as he forgets what order the film took place in, and even what happened. Alex gives us some deep Marvel lore, Sam can't stop talking about the animation, and Chris is enjoying himself despite this being both a superhero film and animated. Next week, 2018 sea...

2018 season continues with Alex's pick, Sorry to Bother You, a dystopian tale of capitalist gone mad. Join us for white voice confusion, an anti-capitalist rant from guess who, the usual concern about the state of everything and a twist nobody saw coming. And we also find time to add another film to the new list! And correspondence too? It's the podcast that keeps giving! And then ends. Next week...

A new era of ranking begins, as we put our first film to the proper 2.0 test - join us for a bumper discussion of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom! We get into the rampant lack of logic on show throughout, ideas for better dino films, auction confusion, the most unlikeable cast in cinema, and much more! Next week, 2018 season continues with Sorry to Bother You ! Get in touch! Visit the Website! See...