Redshirt Cinema Club

It's 2026 already? TRY SPINNING OUT ABOUT THE PASSING OF TIME, THAT'S A GOOD TRICKJoin us as we mark this new phase in our enduring existential terror with a rewatch of a film only babies and idiots like - Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. Actually that's not the tone of the podcast at all. Here at Redshirt Cinema Club we have always tried to be a positive place for fans of all persuasions to enjoy and discuss films. Semi-serious point - not enjoying films in a positive way is something of a lost art in the toxic internet wastelands of (JESUS) 2026. And so watching the Phantom Menace without devolving into a snarking pack of trolls is perhaps our biggest challenge yet (yes, somehow, even bigger than the Hobbit). Can we, like Luke looking into the cold mask of Darth Vader, find the good in the prequels? Can we find something new to say that hasn't been screeched and endlessly echoed already over the last 25 years? And can we get through this podcast without dropping a c-bomb? 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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to an end of year mailbag special looking back over Redshirt Cinema Club's 2025.What a year it's been! David Lynch, The Matrix, Jurassic Park, 1991, Indiana Jones, [Alien Earth I guess], John CarpeNNter - we have been on a cinematic tour and you have kept us company on the way. Now we go through the best of your emails and take a moment to reflect before breaking up for the Christmas period. Yes this would normally be a bonus episode, and yes we've made it available to everyone on purpose. And yes we don't really understand very much about Australia, sorry about that. Star Wars continues with The Return of The Jedi on Monday 29th December. 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 [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're all enjoying The Empire Strikes Back - Dave's favourite Star Wars film. Rob's favourite Star Wars film. Not Nath's though, but he does still like it. You could describe Empire as the beginning of Star Wars as a 'franchise' - it's a film brimming with confidence, with characters hitting their stride (Darth Vader is definitely evil now and C3PO is a bit nicer) and with ships and set-pieces that would make excellent toys. Then there's that bit - one of the most famous twists in cinema history, a moment that ignited spoiler culture as we know it. Let's dive in!We'll be watching the original Star Wars trilogy followed by the prequel trilogy, all through December and January. Dates are below!Star Wars: An Intro - 8/12/25Bonus - Star Wars Games - 10/12/25A New Hope - 15/12/25Empire Strikes Back - 22/12/25Mail Bag End 2 - 24/12/25 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A long time ago in an office in Bath... we said we'd do a series on Star Wars. Finally, here it is. We start where it all began, with 1977's A New Hope (or simply 'Star Wars' as it was known back then). An un-assuming sci-fi adventure with a cast full of unknowns that director George Lucas thought was going to bomb - so much so that he went on holiday to avoid the noise around its release.What follows is movie history - the biggest film franchise of all time was born. But how does the original measure up to what's come since? How did a simple post production decision transform the entire finale? And is Harrison Ford actually handsome in this one? We discuss all this and more as we move scene-by-scene through the film that started it all.We'll be watching the original Star Wars trilogy followed by the prequel trilogy, all through December and January. Dates are below!Star Wars: An Intro - 8/12/25Bonus - Star Wars Games - 10/12/25A New Hope - 15/12/25Empire Strikes Back - 22/12/25Mail Bag End 2 - 24/12/25Return Of The Jedi - 29/12/25 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.