Reading Between the Reels: Film analysis with snark and heart

RBR #146: "Star Wars 101: Lightsaber Literacy" with Jay Krebs

Star Wars 101 is back! Join us for the first installment is our annual summer series in which middle school English students do their best to break down the themes and character arcs of the Star Wars saga. In this episode, we are joined by educator, podcaster, and cosplayer extraordinaire Jay Krebs!

RBR #145: “A.I.: Upgrade Your Son Today”

For this installment in our Steven Spielberg series, we unpack A.I. — the feel-good family story about replacing your dead child with an upgraded model. We’re talking abandoned robot children, existential loneliness, uncanny smiles, fairy tale symbolism, and why this movie somehow feels like both a warm hug and a psychological evaluation. Also: the tonal whiplash of watching a sweet robot boy wander through a world that absolutely deserves several lawsuits.
 
It’s sentimental. It’s disturbing. It’s beautiful. It’s two filmmaking legends stitched together like cinematic Frankenstein. Some assembly required.

RBR #144: “Minority Report: Pre-Crime & Punishment”

In Minority Report, people are judged before they act—which hits a little close to home, because we definitely formed strong opinions early and spent the rest of the episode trying to justify them. Join us for the latest installment in our Steven Spielberg series as we wrestle with pre-crime, free will, and a movie that’s clearly operating on a higher level than we are. The system isn’t broken… we just keep getting flagged.

RBR #143: “War of the Worlds: The Common Cold Strikes Back”

In War of the Worlds, global annihilation isn’t stopped by genius alien tech or tactical brilliance—it’s ultimately halted by Earth’s smallest, least cinematic residents: germs. Join us for the latest entry in our ongoing series on Steven Spielberg films—and the third in a miniseries exploring alien invasions—as we deconstruct the film’s cinematic craft alongside its panic-fueled chaos and collapsing illusion of control, revealing a quietly brutal irony at its core: the invaders didn’t lose to humanity, but to a planet that’s been quietly enforcing its own rules since day one.

RBR #142: “E.T.: Glow Fingers, Big Feelings”

The third episode of our Spielberg series covers E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and explores how one glowing finger traumatized a generation, turned bikes into pedal-powered UFOs, and made Reese’s Pieces an emotional bribe. We break down suburban chaos, DIY alien tech, government creeps, and the subtle art of guilt-tripping kids via extraterrestrial manipulation. Snark, nostalgia, and your tear ducts are officially invited—bring tissues, chocolate, or both.

RBR #141: “Close Encounters: Signals, Spuds, and Sudden Obsessions”

For the second stop in our Spielberg deep dive, we’re landing straight in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. From the five-note tune that ruins lives to mashed potato mountains, we dissect all the weird, wonderful, and downright confusing choices that make this sci-fi classic unforgettable.
 
Expect snark, speculation, and some obsessive breakdowns of our own. Whether you’re a casual viewer, a die-hard Steven Spielberg fan, or someone who just stares at your dinner way too long, this episode will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about aliens… and potatoes.

RBR #140: “Jaws: The Bite That Won’t Quit”

We’re kicking off our Steven Spielberg series with Jaws, the movie that made beaches terrifying and mechanical sharks famous. Spielberg turns a busted shark into pure panic, proving he’s the master of suspense and blockbuster terror. Dive in as we break down every scream, every shadow, and why this 1975 classic still bites decades later—just don’t go near the water afterward.

RBR #139: “Dream Teams & Dumpster Fires: Building the Perfect Movie”

If you could snap your fingers and assemble the ultimate movie dream team, who’s on your list? The director who actually gets it, the writer who really writes, the composer who makes you feel things, and the actors who could carry it all. In this episode, your three regular podcast hosts—joined by guests Dan Zehr and Jeff McGee—draft their own fantasy crews to build the “perfect” movie. Along the way, they debate directors, champion favorite collaborators, and make the case for the artists they think would bring a film together. Expect near-misses, snarky commentary, and a tour through our fantasy film factory—where actors get drafted (and occasionally reconsidered), creative teams take shape, and everyone tries to build the movie they’d most want to see. Because even with the best of the best, perfection in filmmaking is still a pretty elusive target.