Redshirt Cinema Club

It's finally happened. We're giving the world not the podcast it deserves but the one it needs right now. And what the world needs is a movie podcast where three early-middle-aged straight, white guys talk about Christopher Nolan films.First up is Memento, Nolan's critically-acclaimed mainstream debut from 2000 that - despite its raw, indie feel - carries itself with the artistic swagger of a surefire summer hit. Within it you can already see a few Nolan trademarks: a non-traditional narrative structure and a preoccupation with time (and how we always seem to be running out of it). Is the film as good as we remember? Let's jump in and find out...We're not just doing this for the sake of it, however. The Odyssey hits cinemas on 17th July, the kind of summer blockbuster that's become increasingly rare and upon which so many of our most cherished movie memories have been made. So we're watching Nolan's films in the run up to release, followed by the Greek epic itself. Please watch along with us and email your thoughts, questions and opinions to redshirtcinemaclub@gmail.comThe schedule for RSCC's Nolan summer looks like this:Memento - 8th JuneThe Mandalorian and Grogu (Patreon-exclusive) 10th JuneInsomnia - 15th JuneBatman Begins - 22nd JuneThe Dark Knight (Patreon-exclusive) - 24th JuneThe Prestige - 29th JuneInception - 6th JulyTBC Captain's Choice/The Dark Knight Rises (Patreon-exclusive) 8th JulyInterstellar - 13th JulyThe Odyssey - 20th JulyDunkirk (Patreon-exclusive) - 22nd JulyTenet - 27th JulyOppenheimer - 3rd AugustCaptain's Choice - 5th August (Patreon-exclusive) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Redshirt Cinema Club it’s the turn of 2002’s Resident Evil, an adaptation of the survival horror videogame that spawned a series of actually quite successful films despite never really being that good. Kind of like Fast and the Furious but with zombies instead of cars. Did the first movie convince US, however? Is the Licker scary? And just who is Milla Jovovich supposed to be? We’ll answer at least two of those questions in this episode.Let us know what you think of this episode by emailing us at redshirtcinemaclub@gmail.com and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/redshirtcinemaclub for access to two bonus episodes per month as well as our newsletter, The Civilian Observer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week it's time for Pokémon: The First Movie. Rob is a lifelong is a lifelong Pokéfan while Nath and Dave are bemused onlookers ready to receive a heartwarming introduction to the world of collecting, training, and trying your best. Which is a shame because what they actually get is an existential nightmare dressed as a children's adventure. What does it mean to be alive? What is the purpose of existing? And what would you do if you have to fight yourself to the death? Join us as we find out!Let us know what you think of this episode by emailing us at redshirtcinemaclub@gmail.com and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/redshirtcinemaclub for access to two bonus episodes per month as well as our newsletter, The Civilian Observer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kicking off our season on videogame adaptation we've got the notoriously awful Super Mario Bros. movie from 1993. Yes, the one that doesn't look anything like the Mario games and instead feels like if Blade Runner had dinosaurs and was directed by an idiot (or two idiots as it turns out).It does star Bob Hoskins and Dennis Hopper though, and despite the critical and commercial failure is still a film remembered fondly by many. How will it fare in the Redshirt opinion cauldron? Listen on to find out!Here's how our schedule is shaping up for the next month:- Super Mario Bros. (1993) - Monday 27th April- Tron (1982) PATREON EXCLUSIVE - Wedesday 29th April - Street Fighter (1994) - Monday 4th May- Pokémon: The First Movie (1998) - Monday 11th May- Captain's Choice (Patreon vote) - Wednesday 13th May- Tomb Raider (2001) - Monday 18th May- Resident Evil (2002) - Monday 25th May Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week - we’re falling through holes in the universe and landing in Time Bandits, Terry Gilliam’s visually cacophonous 1981 adventure about a small boy careening through time with a band of thieves pursued by God and evil itself. There’s… a lot going on. It's possible that Time Bandits features the best backstory to a heist ever conceived (a band of God's minor manufacturers are sent to the repairs department for creating a very unusual tree, and use the map of all the holes in the universe ("it was a rush job, seven days...") to steal things instead of fixing the fabric of... everything. It's for absolute certain that it's another slightly-too-scary-for-kids-but-actually-great-as-an-adult adventure, and another glimpse into what Sean Connery was up to after that whole Bond deal. Did we like it? Join us to find out…Let us know what you think of this episode by emailing us at redshirtcinemaclub@gmail.com and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/redshirtcinemaclub for access to two bonus episodes per month as well as our newsletter, The Civilian Observer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re losing ourselves again in the delightful maze of 80s fantasy, with Jim Henson’s extraordinary Labyrinth (which, like our very own Rob, turns 40 this year...)Think of it less like a museum of childhood traumas, and more like a fun adventure with cool puppets and a brilliant - nay, magical - dance number. Now if we only figure out how to get inside…Let us know what you think of this episode by emailing us at redshirtcinemaclub@gmail.com and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/redshirtcinemaclub for access to two bonus episodes per month as well as our newsletter, The Civilian Observer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new season begins, and we transition from our favourite genre (sci-fi) into our other favourite genre (fantasy) quicker than turning the corner in Waterstones' basement. Moving from Star Wars into 1988's Willow felt like the most natural step - it's directed by Ron Howard (of Solo fame), stars Warwick Davies (Wicket the ewok) and has a story dreamed up by George Lucas himself. There are other parallels, most notably the roguishly handsome Han Solo-esque swordsman Madmartigan (Val Kilmer) and wonderfully crafted stop-motion monsters, but really who needs an excuse to sit through a bunch of classic 80s fantasy movies for the next few weeks? If you fancy watching along with us, here is our schedule for the next month. Consider joining our brand new 'Captain' tier on Patreon if you want to vote for what we watch on 1st April. - Willow (1988) - 9th March - Labyrinth (1986) - 16th March - Highlander (1986) - 18th March (Captain and Commander bonus episode) - The NeverEnding Story (1985) - 23rd March - Time Bandits (1981) - 30th March - Captains Choice Bonus Episode - 1st April Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We conclude our Star Wars season with 2019's The Rise of Skywalker, J.J. Abrams' second stab at the franchise having kicked off the sequel trilogy with The Force Awakens 4 years prior.Where the latter was an exercise in replaying familiar hits, Episode IX was all about course correction after the split fan reaction to The Last Jedi. Kylo Ren has his mask back, force ghost Luke likes his light sabre again and Palpatine is back. Somehow.But is the magic back? Contrary to Luke's declaration in The Last Jedi, I'm afraid this one is going to go the way you think.Join the Redshirt Cinema Club! Support us at patreon.com/redshirtcinemaclub to receive two bonus episodes every month as well as our newsletter, The Civilian Observer.You can also follow us at x.com/redshirtcinema, and get in touch at redshirtcinemaclub@gmail.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"This will begin to make things right."As first lines go, this is powerful stuff. An acknowledgement that what came before wasn't up to scratch. A promise that what you're about to see will bring back the old magic. But does The Force Awakens deliver where it counts? J. J. Abrams is the man with the seemingly impossible task, fresh from reviving (and then killing?) the Star Trek movie franchise, his first film in the new trilogy introduces new characters, revisits old ones, and has an evil base the size of 10 Death Stars. What more could a Star Wars fan want?Admittedly it's tough to watch this film over 10 years later without the following two movies constantly invading your mind like some kind of insidious Force Power, but that's what we've tried to do; watch The Force Awakens with fresh eyes, before conjuring equally fresh opinions. Ready to take the plunge alongside us? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a change to our scheduled programming, this week Rob has forced Dave to watch Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, the straight-to-DVD movie sequel to one of the greatest videogames of all time.When it released in 2005 this was an explosion of cutting-edge CG, an all-action burst of fan service fed to an audience ravenous for more Final Fantasy VII. More Cloud, more Sephiroth, more cool fights set to even cooler music.Watching it in 2026 those visuals are starting to creak, which means unfortunately we're actually going to have to judge this film on things like story, pacing and character. Can it stand up to such critique? Will Dave understand anything that's going on? Just what happens when the demands of fervent fandom entice talented game devs to try their hand at the whole movie-making thing? Let's find out!Join the Redshirt Cinema Club! Support us at patreon.com/redshirtcinemaclub to receive two bonus episodes every month as well as our newsletter, The Civilian Observer.You can also follow us at x.com/redshirtcinema, and get in touch at redshirtcinemaclub@gmail.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So this week we're watching Attack of the Clones. Can we be honest? It feels like we're beset on all sides by inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. And - as Mace Windows might have said in a previous life - we're trying, listeners, we're trying real hard to be the shepherd. Or at least not to go full dark side toxic fandom and spend two hours howling at the moon (wait... that's... whatever). Anyway here are the shoulder-stroking adventures of Anakincel Skywanker and two armies of synthetic soldiers that ends with a climactic battle in a giant sand bowl watched on by an audience of flying ants. Rob actually quite likes it. Join the Redshirt Cinema Club! Support us at patreon.com/redshirtcinemaclub to receive two bonus episodes every month as well as our newsletter, The Civilian Observer.You can also follow us at x.com/redshirtcinema, and get in touch at redshirtcinemaclub@gmail.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the concluding chapter of the original Star Wars trilogy this week, as we tackle Return of the Jedi. If you're over 35 this was probably your favourite Star Wars movie as a kid - an action-filled romp across a forest moon, Tatooine and a brand new Death Star. It's got speeder bike chases, Leia in that outfit, and Luke facing off against Darth Vader and the Emperor.What's not to like? The ewoks. The ewoks are not to like, right? We're all agreed? Right?Join us again on the 5th January as we begin our journey through the prequel trilogy with The Phantom Menace.Join the Redshirt Cinema Club! Support us at patreon.com/redshirtcinemaclub to receive two bonus episodes every month as well as our newsletter, The Civilian Observer.You can also follow us at x.com/redshirtcinema, and get in touch at redshirtcinemaclub@gmail.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.