Science Fiction Rating System

We return after an unexpected hiatus with  Next , in which Nicolas Cage plays himself, or maybe a clairvoyant magician who seems to share a lot of interests with Mr. Cage. Join us as we try and work out if this film actually has a villain, discuss the worst FBI agent in the history of cinema, and try and work out what on earth this film's gimmick actually is supposed to be. Next week we watch...

"Maximum thrash." (apologies if you've got this episode twice, something went haywire on the backend!) This week we celebrate the 32nd anniversary (weird) of  Robocop 2 . The first film has been in the top 10 since all the way back on episode 22, can the sequel fare as well? Join us as we discuss why you might bankrupt a city, animatronics, wrestling tie-ins , days of the month beef, and much...

This week we reach the tenth and final proper (yeah, I said it) Star Trek film, Star Trek: Nemesis.  As is often the case with Trek, it's a bumper episode. Klingon psychological warfare, the worst baddie in history, the problem with Riker's back, lots of griping about Data, and lots, lots more! And if this wasn't enough, we also get into a bit of  Obi-Wan Kenobi  chat!  Next we...

This week Sean Connery is sent to Io to sort out a corrupt mining colony, armed with a shotgun and in a bit of a mood. Also, we bring you the only comprehensive breakdown of the music in the club scenes in this film available anywhere on the internet. I think. Next week, we take our annual trek to the stars with Star Trek: Nemesis   Get in touch! Visit the Website! See the new list! Play...

"Chinese Woman Stares at Matt Damon: The Movie" This week, America and China throw a load of money at a JOINT VENTURE and end up with The Great Wall , a blockbuster action film with, er, Matt Damon as the lead. Matt Damon, seriously? We discuss the history of clapping, foxes, Alex has a quiz, Chris lets us know how much he likes chopping, and: Matt Damon, George Clooney, Pig? Oh, and here's a...

"Big Frack's got involved." This week we watch a film in which a hyperintelligent black blob is stuffed into a suspiciously old-looking child's monster truck. Also, Chris gives us a science lesson about the lack of wheels in nature, Sam has a problem with quip timing in films in general, and Alex just wants to have fun. Also, Sam drops a late twist and the faint sound of " chim chimney " can be he...

"Cirque de Horny" This week we're back to our full complement as Chris returns from the razzle dazzle of filmmaking to join us for a thorough look at Cameron Crowe's Vanilla Sky ! As well as working through the plot, we have time to discuss Alex's trip to Legoland, the new  Avatar 2 trailer, lucid dreaming, alternate endings, an much, much more! Next week we are watching some trucks that have...

Chris is still away on location so Alex and Sam soldier on for a second DUO REVIEWO. This time, it's Alex's birthday pick,  Cowboy Bebop , the film of the anime of the manga of the same name. Join us as we discuss the perils of adapting TV shows for film, which other films this film really  really  rips off, and get whistful for our missing co-host, especially when neither of us kno...

This week we return to our Disney flop trilogy for the final instalment,  Tomorrowland . We take an exhaustive look at this film's lumpy plot, problematic romantic leads, and then descend into hell as we unpeel the strange message behind this film. Ayn Rand, Noah's Ark, the end of the world, and queueing - it's a long episode with a dramatic conclusion! Next week...I'm not sure! Something! Pr...

It's an Easter miracle- SFRS returns! After covid lays waste to one host another one goes AWOL, but finally we are back with a new episode! Chris is off on business so Alex and Sam attempt the rare duo rating, taking a look at cyberpunk 'classic' Johnny Mnemonic .  If you want your own copy of  Johnny M , rate us on iTunes or Spotify and drop us a line for a chance to win the all new blu...

Disney flop series continues with  The Black Hole , a film with a confusing tone, an absence of plot, but most importantly a film that is absolutely dominated by the presence of V.I.N.C.E.N.T. the robot. Join us for robot wisdom, Henry Hoover history lessons, and much more! Next week our third and final Disney flop is  Tomorrowland !   Get in touch! Visit the Website! See the new li...

This week we begin another trilogy of films, a look at some of Disney's biggest flops. And there's no bigger flop in the history of film than  John Carter , the story of a American civil war pacifist who gets whisked off to Mars and jumps a lot. It's not great. Also, there's a flop-based quiz! Next week, it's  The Black Hole ! Get in touch! Visit the Website! See the new list! Play along...

Our ill-timed naval military sci-fi trilogy concludes with 1984's  The Philadelphia Experiment . Based on a 'real' but obviously not real conspiracy theory, a ship goes invisible and two dudes fall through time. Standard. We also discuss a very unlikable leading man, why automatic cars are no good (or good, depending who you ask), and indulge in a little (spoiler free) The Batman  chat....

"Still pollutin'" Naval science fiction season continues (it's a thing) with The Final Countdown , a Douglas family affair in which an aircraft carrier goes back in time and...not a lot else happens? Nevertheless, we discuss a lotta history, a lotta production stuff, make time for an erotic docking sequence, get lost in a classic SFRS confusing time travel conversation, and then round it all out w...

"It's too late to eat a burrito, too many complex carbs" With our trademark bad-timing in full effect we begin a trilogy of science fiction films about battleships, starting with, er,  Battleship. Chicken burritos, "football", and a film so terrible we resort to actually playing Battleship(s). This podcast Also, what's in the dome?   (We recorded these before world events got so dir...

"I know wheat." Our 2017 review ends with a crash-landing on a spooky kooky planet with an in-depth look at Alien: Covenant. An evil android, a nice android, an expendable crew and a plot that makes absolutely no sense- sounds like a modern Alien film to me! Next week we play a quick game of  Battleship. Brace. Get in touch! Visit the Website! See the new list! Play along at home! Watch us on...

"Zero bantz had." This week we skip Chris' choice of 2017 film for boring technical reasons, and instead watch listener-picked Valerian . Good character design, a terrible script and the least appealing leading man in the history of cinema can't stop us from taking an in-depth look at this very French, very odd film. Next week, it really will be  Alien: Covenant.    Get in touch! Vi...

We continue our 2017 season of films in Alex's pick,  Life ! This week Chris brings lots of actual scientific information, Alex fails to see an obvious twist, and Sam has no time for bantz.   Next week, we conclude our look at 2017 with  Alien: Covenant !   Get in touch! Visit the Website! See the new list! Play along at home! Watch us on Youtube! See the old list! Download the...

This week we break from our 2017 recap to SPOILER the hell out of the latest Matrix film, which came out in stages across the festive period. Admin drama, unprecedented Saturday night recording, eating on mic (sorry), a film of two halves, love and hate for Keanu and a whole lot more.   Also, watch out for secondary SPOILERS for Spider-man: No Way Home at the end of the pod!   Next week,...

Hello there, it's SFRS! It's a new year so we start, as is tradition, with three picks of films from 2017, as our five year moratorium on rating rolls over once more. First up, we take a close look at  The Humanity Bureau , one of 362 films Nicolas Cage has made in the past decade. Also, weird things France like, Peter Venkman blowback, correspondence, trouble in paradise as Sam launches a ne...

We end the year with our annual look back at the past 52 weeks. The highs, the lows, the films we forgot we watched and the films we wish we could forget. There's also an end of year quiz, a look ahead to 2022 and we pick the first three films we'll be watching in the new year. Thanks to all our listeners, new and old, for sticking with us through another turbulent year! See you in the future! Get...

It's the night before Christmas and all through the house your smart speakers and phones should be blasting out SFRS. It's a bumper Christmas episode as we take our annual trip back to a galaxy far, far away. Unfortunately, this time we're stuck with Attack of the Clones . Still, there's lots to talk about: Incompetent jedis, Anakin red flags, the unrealised potential of Jar Jar Binks, galactic mo...

The hits keep coming with another BIG FRANCHISE film, it's...oh, it's Jurassic Park III . Alex hosts and brings two quizzes along for the ride as we discuss bad parenting, worse parenting, a lot of weird plot points, talking raptors, and how to procure T-Rex urine. Next week, it's either the christmas show or Attack of the Clones ...watch this space! Get in touch! Visit the Website! See the new li...

We're back from a brush with Covid (and a cold) to bring you more science fiction rating goodness - this week, we've got one! It's Ivan Reitman's seminal Ghostbusters , the original and the best. Join us for ghost history, Venkman cancellation queries, a Moranis love-in and lots and lots of quotes. Next week, we keep the blockbusters coming as we head into Christmas with Jurassic Park 3 ! Get in t...

This week we begin with a bonus John Lewis christmas advert spoilercast before tackling Chris' birthday pick, the weird Robin William's vehicle Toys . We pick up where we left off with Bicentennial Man with not really getting the leading man's appeal, discuss how much the design saves this film, and ponder one of history's worst soundtracks. Next week, who yer gonna call? SFRS, that's who, and we...