The Sci-Fi Podcast – Episode 51: Solo (A Star Wars Story)

Welcome to The SciFi Podcast, a wretched hive of scum and villainy a bi-weekly podcast focused on in-depth discussion of all things science fiction. The SciFi Podcast features three hosts—Mattroid, Solo, and Station!—and frequent guests. Each episode we look at a science fiction theme or franchise and take the discussion where no show has gone before.

The second spin-off of the Star Wars saga has a young Han Solo flying across the galaxy to reunite with the one he loves. On the way his character and loyalties are tested as he makes new friends, new enemies, and begins his life as a smuggler.

With so much on the line, how does Solo hold up against it’s predecessors? Does new Han compare to the old? Lando? Chewy? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments section.

Theme music courtesy of i hear sirens, featuring Matt on bass and Liz on keyboard. Hear more of i hear sirens ethereal, instrumental, post-rock at BandCamp. Podcast production by Solo and Mattroid; artwork by Mattroid.

 

The Sci-Fi Podcast – Episode 50: Listen Along! Stupider Ascending

Welcome to The SciFi Podcast, a wretched hive of scum and villainy a bi-weekly podcast focused on in-depth discussion of all things science fiction. The SciFi Podcast features three hosts—Mattroid, Solo, and Station!—and frequent guests. Each episode we look at a science fiction theme or franchise and take the discussion where no show has gone before.

It’s here. Episode 50. And only a year or two late.

Getting back to the roots of the show, Mattroid, Solo, and Station decide to once again visit the exquisitely awful Jupiter Ascending, and this time you get to join in on the fun from your very own couch! Special guest Maddy Triggs weighs in on her thoughts on the movie, life, and a thousand other subjects as the gang struggle to pay attention to the space train-wreck brought to us by the Wachowski Siblings. How much do love hating this movie? Or do you hate that you love it? Head to the comments section and let us know.

Theme music courtesy of i hear sirens, featuring Matt on bass and Liz on keyboard. Hear more of i hear sirens ethereal, instrumental, post-rock at BandCamp. Podcast production by William Solo Jr. Artwork by Mattroid.

Show Notes:

William worked really hard on this production. The edits were abysmally difficult, the swears plentiful, the content barely salvageable, and the number of tracks numerous. Yet it sounds great. Find out more about William’s wonderful project The Villa and tell your friends do to the same.

The Magic Word will get you a SCI-Fi tee!

Thank you for joining us for 50 episodes and many extras over the past few years. We love and appreciate each of you.

In case you want to read about someone (somehow) defending this movie, go here.

HERE ARE YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTS:

Horror Movie Podcast
Retro Movie Geek
Geek Cast Live!
Movie Stream Cast
We Deal in Lead
Universal Monsters Cast
Movie Podcast Weekly
Movie Moments Podcast
MOVIE PODCAST NETWORK

 

The Sci-Fi Podcast: IT CAME FROM PLANET X – Weird Science

Some movies are so strange, so bizarre, so ultimately excellent that they belong in their own pocket universe of The Sci-Fi Podcast, known as Planet X! Mattroid will be joined in each of these short episodes by a special guest and together they’ll discuss a relatively unknown movie and any number of related (and unrelated) tangents.

The big 50 is almost here! Episode 50, nearly finished in the editing room, is almost live. Until then you’ve got something to hold you over. This episode’s guest is the subtle, quiet-yet-hilarious Zach Merris. The reason Zach was chosen for this Planet X episode is because Zach is an 80s comedy aficionado, huge John Hughes fan, and 80s era music enthusiast – but he doesn’t know crap about sci-fi movies. It was also his first time watching this movie, which just so happens to rate as one of Mattroid’s all-time-favorite 80s AND sci-fi films – WEIRD SCIENCE.

Have you seen it?

Chat about the movie in the comments section.

 

There’s a big episode coming up, so until then make sure to check out our friends and family at Movie Podcast Network.

Podcast production and artwork by Mattroid. Music provided by TMMC.

RATINGS:

Mattroid – 8.5/10

Zach – 7/10

 

Show notes:

Check out the incredible legacy left by John Hughes, and to learn more about the other movies mentioned in the episode, here you go: The Breakfast Club / Sixteen Candles / Some Kind of Wonderful.

 

 

The Sci-Fi Podcast – Episode 49: Annihilation and Black Panther

Welcome to The SciFi Podcast, a wretched hive of scum and villainy a bi-weekly podcast focused on in-depth discussion of all things science fiction. The SciFi Podcast features three hosts—Mattroid, Solo, and Station!—and frequent guests. Each episode we look at a science fiction theme or franchise and take the discussion where no show has gone before.

The entire planet has been shocked by Marvel’s Black Panther. From a cultural standpoint the film’s impact is clear and impressive. How does it far as a superhero movie? Station! and Mattroid discuss the film’s technical side before William joins them for a lengthy discussion on the cultural merits of the movie and more. Head to the comments section for your take.

Station! leaves Mattroid and William to chat about Annihilation–she hadn’t seen it yet–and the two get into a spoiler-heavy discussion of the film. A true hard-sci-fi thriller, Mattroid and William agree on much, disagree on some, and leave most of it up you, the listener and viewer, to determine for yourself. What are your thoughts on the movie? Let us know in the comments.

Theme music courtesy of i hear sirens, featuring Matt on bass and Liz on keyboard. Hear more of i hear sirens ethereal, instrumental, post-rock at BandCamp. Podcast production and artwork by Mattroid.

Annihilation rating:

Mattroid – 10 ( Black Panther – 7.5 )
William – 9.5

 

SHOW NOTES:

Mattroid references 2010 twice, and on both occasions he meant 2001; the implication changes when this correction is considered.

Find the Annihilation books for sale here.

The Sci-Fi Podcast – Episode 48: Chris Claremont’s X-Men

Welcome to The SciFi Podcast, a wretched hive of scum and villainy a bi-weekly podcast focused on in-depth discussion of all things science fiction. The SciFi Podcast features three hosts—Mattroid, Solo, and Station!—and frequent guests. Each episode we look at a science fiction theme or franchise and take the discussion where no show has gone before.

When we think of comics, the X-Men are up at the top of the list that comes to mind. We conjure images of a berserker Wolverine, Cyclops’ optic blast, a torrential Storm, and of course Jean Grey and the Phoenix. We think of these characters, and we thank Chris Claremont for bringing them to us as never before, and for creating some of the greatest superheroes since their inception.

With Chris Claremont’s X-Men we learn about the franchise and how Claremont came to spearhead a new direction for the team, taking the fabled mutants from whatever to nothing better. While the documentary might suffer from some unfortunate production issues, the material is wonderful. Check it out and let us know your thoughts in the comments section. There might even be a little give away…

Theme music courtesy of i hear sirens, featuring Matt on bass and Liz on keyboard. Hear more of i hear sirens ethereal, instrumental, post-rock at BandCamp. Podcast production by Mattroid; artwork by Eric Chung, altered by Mattroid.

Rating:

Mattroid – 5
Station! – 5


The Sci-Fi Podcast – Episode 47: Aliens: Zone of Silence and The Toys that Made Us: episode 1

Welcome to The SciFi Podcast, a wretched hive of scum and villainy a bi-weekly podcast focused on in-depth discussion of all things science fiction. The SciFi Podcast features three hosts—Mattroid, Solo, and Station!—and frequent guests. Each episode we look at a science fiction theme or franchise and take the discussion where no show has gone before.

Hello, everyone. Welcome to 2018. The Sci-Fi Podcast crew has been preparing the schedule for the year and decided to start with a film review request and a trip into the mighty world of nostalgia.

Remember to check the show notes for a link to friend of the podcast Yo, Joe! Depot. As always, tell us your thoughts in the comments section.

Theme music courtesy of i hear sirens, featuring Matt on bass and Liz on keyboard. Hear more of i hear sirens ethereal, instrumental, post-rock at BandCamp. Podcast production by Mattroid; artwork by Mattroid.

Ratings for Aliens: Zone of Silence

Mattroid – 2.5

William – 2.0

Station! – 4.5

SHOW NOTES:

Liz’s video, Tomato, Tomato, is unavailable at this time…which is too bad because the VHS is excellent.

Find Yo, Joe! and his amazing collection of vintage toys (which you can purchase!) here.

The Sci-Fi Podcast – Episode 46: Star Wars – The Last Jedi

Welcome to The SciFi Podcast, a wretched hive of scum and villainy a bi-weekly podcast focused on in-depth discussion of all things science fiction. The SciFi Podcast features three hosts—Mattroid, Solo, and Station!—and frequent guests. Each episode we look at a science fiction theme or franchise and take the discussion where no show has gone before.

Finally, December of 2017 arrived, and with it the most anticipated movie in the last two years; Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The dramatic continuation of The Force Awakens finds out heroes–both new and old–banding together to escape, and if possible, defeat the First Order once and for all.

How did this movie compare to it’s predecessors? Does Finn matter? WHO IS REY?! All these things and more are discussed in a lengthy and fantastic review and dissection of the film, by Mattroid, Solo, and friend of the podcast Nick Ricci. Station! was forced to sit this one out, once again caring for a baby, but her thoughts on TLJ will be heard in future episodes.

Theme music courtesy of i hear sirens, featuring Matt on bass and Liz on keyboard. Hear more of i hear sirens ethereal, instrumental, post-rock at BandCamp. Podcast production by Mattroid; artwork by Mattroid.

 

SHOW NOTES:

The Sci-Fi Podcast – Episode 45: The Best and Worst Sci-Fi Worlds

 

Welcome to The SciFi Podcasta wretched hive of scum and villainy a bi-weekly podcast focused on in-depth discussion of all things science fiction. The SciFi Podcast features three hosts—Mattroid, Solo, and Station!—and frequent guests. Each episode we look at a science fiction theme or franchise and take the discussion where no show has gone before.

Naboo! Riza! Madmax! One impressive element of sci-fi movies is the setting. Everything from stark, bleak post-apocalyptic Earth to lush and vibrant planets in distant galaxies, the environment and basic tenets of these worlds can inspire us to long for visiting or perhaps allowing us to find a great deal of gratitude for living in the real world instead of what horrors could be.

Is Star Wars really so ideal? Would Battlefield Earth be a worse place to find yourself than the Madmax universe? We want to hear your thoughts about these movies, so check the comments section and leave your own.

Theme music courtesy of i hear sirens, featuring Matt on bass and Liz on keyboard. Hear more of i hear sirens ethereal, instrumental, post-rock at BandCamp. Podcast production by William and Mattroid; artwork by Mattroid.

The Sci-Fi Podcast – Episode 44: Blade Runner 2049 – Live Reaction

 Welcome to The SciFi Podcasta wretched hive of scum and villainy a bi-weekly podcast focused on in-depth discussion of all things science fiction. The SciFi Podcast features four hosts—Mattroid, Solo, and Station!—and frequent guests. Each episode we look at a science fiction theme or franchise and take the discussion where no show has gone before.

In this short episode (which is really a teaser for the upcoming Blade Runner episode), the Sci-Fi Podcast is joined by Jay and Karl from Movie Podcast Weekly, and special guest Sharon Solo Jr. Together they discuss their initial reactions and feelings about Blade Runner 2049. Did it hold up to the original? Was Karl disappointed? There’s just too much to sum here, and we want to hear what you thought about it, so check the comments section and leave your own.

Theme music courtesy of i hear sirens, featuring Matt on bass and Liz on keyboard. Hear more of i hear sirens ethereal, instrumental, post-rock at BandCamp. Podcast production and artwork by Mattroid; photograph by Sharon Solo Jr.

MOVIE PODCAST MEETUP!

The Sci-Fi Podcast – Episode 43: Comic Con SLC 2017 with Matt Jacobson of USA Today

Welcome to The SciFi Podcasta wretched hive of scum and villainy a bi-weekly podcast focused on in-depth discussion of all things science fiction. The SciFi Podcast features three hosts—Mattroid, Solo, and Station!—and frequent guests. Each episode we look at a science fiction theme or franchise and take the discussion where no show has gone before.

In Salt Lake City, Comic Con is alive and well. Your crew from The Sci-Fi Podcast witnessed thousands of eager geeks prove to each other that there’s no place like a comic convention to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of America’s beloved nerd culture. Along the way, through the three-day event, we were fortunate enough to cross paths with the lovely and hilarious Matt Jacobson, who writes for The Spectrum and USA Today. We took the chance to interview him and ask a few sci-fi standard questions, and he most definitely did not let us down.

Have you been to a comic convention before? Do you read USA Today? Do you love Andy Warhol? There’s so much to discuss, and we want to hear your thoughts about these movies, so check the comments section and leave your own.

Theme music courtesy of i hear sirens, featuring Matt on bass and Liz on keyboard. Hear more of i hear sirens ethereal, instrumental, post-rock at BandCamp. Podcast production and artwork by Mattroid.