Reading Between the Reels: Film analysis with snark and heart

RBR #27: “Dune”

Dune is one of the most highly regarded science-fiction novels of all time. On the other hand, David Lynch’s film adaptation was almost universally panned upon its release. Now with Denis Villeneuve’s version on the horizon, we re-examine the 1984 movie to discuss what worked and what didn’t. Finally, it’s our 1-year anniversary of doing the show, so we end the episode with our reflections on that and some special thanks to our listeners.

RBR #26: “Casino Royale”

Casino Royale is the 21st official “James Bond” film, but the reboot also serves as the first of a five-part saga that will conclude with No Time to Die. With the finale releasing this week, we take a look back at Daniel Craig’s first Bond film and discuss how deviating from the tried-and-true formula reinvigorated the franchise.

RBR #25: “Pacific Rim”

Pacific Rim is arguably Guillermo del Toro’s most accessible film, but that doesn’t mean it is without substance. The 2013 film effectively blends anime, kaiju, and mecha influences to create something entirely new--and something entirely fun. In this episode, we re-examine the movie’s merits and discuss its place in modern cinema.

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.