Reading Between the Reels: Finding Meaning in the Movies You Love

RBR #24: “Independence Day”

Independence Day is a rousing Sci-Fi blockbuster film that pits humanity against a seemingly unstoppable alien invasion force. In this episode, we deconstruct the movie and discuss how it finds a unique balance between action and strong characterization.

RBR #23: “Alien”

Alien is considered by many to be the pinnacle of Sci-Fi horror. In this episode, we break down Ridley Scott’s original 1979 masterpiece and discuss why the film continues to frighten and entertain audiences.

Bonus Episode: RBR in Class #4 (Featuring Aaron Harris and Bryan Young)

Our last bonus episode of the summer features our friends Aaron Harris (“Star Wars Reactions”) and Bryan Young (“Full of Sith”) speaking to our students in a special Star Wars Zoom discussion. We apologize for the inconsistent audio in this one, but we think you’ll agree that the content is well worth a listen.

RBR #22: “Jaws”

Jaws is the quintessential summer movie and the original modern blockbuster. For the first in our series of summer movie deconstructions, we break down this iconic film and share our thoughts on why Steven Spielberg’s breakthrough hit continues to resonate with modern audiences.

Bonus Episode: RBR in Class #3 (Featuring Dominique Dennis and Mike Pilat)

This special bonus episode features the audio from a special Star Wars discussion featuring our friends Dominique Dennis, Mike Pilat (@ThaMike from the “Full of Sith” podcast) and a group of our students.

RBR #21: “Suicide Squad”

When Suicide Squad was released 5 years ago, it was a financial success and even won an Academy Award. But the critical reception was less than stellar. Now, with James Gunn’s reboot/sequel The Suicide Squad just around the corner, we re-examine the first film and discuss the franchise as a whole.

Bonus Episode: RBR in Class #2 (Featuring Jeff McGee)

Jeff McGee (@TheJeffMcGee) recently took time out of his busy schedule and graciously joined us for a Star Wars Zoom meeting with some of our students. This special bonus episode contains the audio from that discussion. It’s a fun conversation that we think you’ll enjoy. 

RBR #20: “The Rise of Skywalker”

The Rise of Skywalker is said to be the end of the Skywalker saga, and therefore carries the weight of the 40+ year legacy of Star Wars. In this extended-length episode, we discuss the filmmakers’ choices and debate whether or not Episode IX concludes the series in a satisfying way.