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'The blast wave from a thermonuclear weapon has been likened to an enormous door, slamming in the depths of hell'
-Narrator, The War Game.
Sean and Sarah go from very silly (Sean has been eating too many Brandy-infused Mince Pies) to incredibly serious whilst discussing one of the most harrowing films they've ever seen: The 1966 BBC Nuclear War pseudo-documentary programme, The War Game. Banned from TV broadcast until 1984, when it was show alongside Threads (1984) this is a must-see film.
A harrowing film showing a nuclear strike on the South of England, infused with British humour alongside horrific details of the impact of radiation, this is peak British Television.
Please Note: This podcast episode contains one use of the term ‘coloured’. This is quoted directly from the film purely as part of a historical discussion and review of the film, and is not meant to cause any offence/distress. It highlights the 1960's society, which was still grappling with racial and social prejudice, and allows us to discuss the film in it's historical context.
References:
The V2 attack on Woolworths in London, occurred on Saturday 25th November 1944, and killed 168 people.
Chapters:
0:03 Welcome to the Podcast
1:16 A Heavy Discussion, a Silly Start!
1:56 The War Game
3:48 The Impact of Nuclear War
10:26 British Responses to Nuclear Threats
16:32 Society's Fragility
23:00 Exploring the Horrors
25:43 The Psychological Toll
29:10 The Aftermath of Destruction
33:09 The Reality of Survival
37:27 Triage and Resource Allocation
42:28 The Bleak Future
45:45 Children of the Fallout
49:11 The Illusion of Hope
53:42 Historical Context and Reflection
57:54 Cautionary Tales
1:01:37 Preparing for the Unknown
1:06:14 The Limits of Survival
1:08:21 Closing Thoughts and Reflections
Thanks for Listening!
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What do you get when two Titanic enthusiasts get together to geek out over one of the staples of 1990's Titanic documentary: Answers from the Abyss (1999)?
You get nerdy chaos.
Sean is joined by Ryan 'The Dalek Man' Wade this time around. Ryan brings his insight into the documentary, the Titanic disaster and lesson learned from the tragedy... when Sean let's him get a word in that is.
Chapters:
1:29 Introduction to Titanic Enthusiasts
15:09: A piece of Titanic (allegedly) fell off a truck
37:36 Captain Smith's Role in the Titanic Disaster
37:48 Exploring Titanic's Lifeboats and Safety Measures
42:37 Theories on Titanic's Final Moments
44:13 Investigating the Stern's Implosion and Explosion
47:10 Titanic's Stern: A Hidden Tragedy
49:46 Eyewitness Accounts and Historical Misunderstandings
51:30 The Debate on Titanic's Final Moments
53:47 Theories on the Ship's Breakup
57:13 The Iceberg's Impact: A Fatal Encounter
1:00:02 Lifeboat Protocols and Miscommunication
1:05:52 Societal Impact of the Titanic Disaster
1:06:35 Lessons Learned from Titanic
1:08:33 Modern Documentaries vs. Classic Approaches
1:10:50 The Personal Side of Titanic Stories
1:19:16 Current Titanic Exploration Challenges
1:20:57 Ryan's Titanic Model Making Journey
1:27:00 Future Titanic Podcast Plans
1:32:22 Wrap-Up and Farewell
Thanks for Listening!
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Katja Hoyer, German-British Historian, Author and Journalist joins Sean and Sarah to discuss the dilemma facing German actors since 1945: whether to take Nazi roles or not.
They examine 'memory politics' of the Second World War, the stereotypical Nazi portrayal seen in Hollywood over the years such as Wolf Kahler, through to modern German actors like Sandra Hüller, Daniel Brühl, Franka Potente, among others.
From Star Wars, Commando Comics to Coronation Street, this episode truly examines a rarely-discussed issue in films with the trademark humour that you've come to expect from Sean and Sarah, whilst maintaining a respectful tone given the historical context.
Question Raised:
-How quickly did this issue rear it's head in post-war Germany?
-Could a German family join Coronation Street?
-How many films/television series does Sean mention?
-When did the stereotypical Nazi villain begin?
-What was the reaction to The Untergang [Downfall] in Germany?
-Do all film villains have to be either German or well-spoken English characters?
-Will German topics other than the Nazis ever be of interest to the international film scene?
Books:
-Der Brand [The Fire] by Jörg Friedrich, published in 2002.
The Song that Sean was trying to think of for 'Deutschland 83':
-"Major Tom (Coming Home)" by Peter Schilling.
Our Guest:
https://www.katjahoyer.uk/
Read The Article Here:
https://www.katjahoyer.uk/p/the-nazi-dilemma-facing-german-actors
Chapters:
0:05 Welcome to Review It Yourself
0:46 Introducing Katja Hoyer
2:29 The Inspiration Behind the Article
5:08 German Actors and Nazi Stereotypes
6:58 Portrayals in Film
10:44 The Impact of Historical Memory
11:10 The Modern German Actor
16:18 The Balance of Typecasting
17:57 The Complexity of Nazi Depictions
20:34 Female Actors and Their Roles
23:17 The Challenges of Representation
33:22 The Role of Nationality in Acting
36:46 The Future of German Cinema
41:01 Shifting Perspectives in Film
57:23 Cultural Stereotypes in Modern Media
1:00:48 Upcoming Projects of Katja Hoyer
Thanks for Listening!
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Preview It Yourself Returns! Sean and Sarah watch what Sean thought was the teaser trailer for Christopher Nolan's Odyssey (2026), before discussing his filmography. It turned out to be a concept trailer. Never mind.
Do you enjoy Nolan's films or endure them?
Chapters:
0:07 Introduction to Odyssey Trailer
0:27 Thoughts on Matt Damon
2:03 Concerns About the Cast
4:42 Storytelling Challenges
6:58 Nolan's Recent Films
9:45 Adapting Epic Poetry
14:25 Trailer Impressions
16:35 Character Development Issues
23:57 Anticipation and Apprehension
25:33 Final Thoughts and Farewell
*Sean meant King Ethelstan, not Ethelstad.
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Luke from 'Howdy Beans' has never seen 'October Sky' (1999). Sean wasn't having it.
Chapters:
0:04 Hey Luke, where's my sigh?
2:03 Housekeeping and Positivity
3:29 Trivia About October Sky
5:18 Introducing Homer Hickam
11:11 The Influence of Sputnik
27:01 The Role of Education
33:25 The Father-Son Dynamic
38:09 Understanding Each Other
44:29 The Rocket Building Journey
49:00 Homer's Growth and Learning
50:56 The Tuskegee Airmen film portrayals
52:38 Film Cameos and Trivia
55:35 The Rocket Launches Begin
1:00:45 Family Dynamics and Challenges
1:06:25 The Last Rocket Launch
1:10:10 Inspiration and Hope
1:21:05 The State of Modern Cinema
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In Space No-One Can Hear You Rage, or Argue Like Hell!
Paul from 'History Rage' returns to continue the Alien series, with Alien 3 (1992), Alien: Resurrection (1997) and Alien: Romulus (2024).
Will Sean and Paul agree on anything in this one?
Listen in to find out...
Chapters:
0:05 Welcome to Review It Yourself
26:03 The Flaws of Alien 3 (1992)
26:18 A Dive into Alien Resurrection (1997)
1:01:52 The Best of the Rest? Alien Romulus (2024)
1:10:14 Anticipating the Future of the Franchise
1:11:09 Closing Thoughts and Farewells
Thanks For Listening!
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Sean and Sarah are joined by Author Fiona Dodwell to discuss her new book 'A Cursed Collection of Haunted Dolls', to try and answer the question: Can dolls truly be haunted?
The Book is Out Now!
Our Guest:
X (Twitter): @Angel_Devil982
Instagram: Fiona_Dodwell_
Chapters:
0:04 Introduction to Haunted Dolls
6:05 The Risks of Engaging with Spirits
12:38 The Cultural Perspective on Haunted Objects
16:56 The Online Market for Haunted Items
21:36 The Human Connection to Objects
29:23 Exploring Personal Paranormal Experiences
32:50 The Influence of Horror on Reality
36:29 Humour in the Paranormal
46:22 Rehoming Haunted Objects
53:00 Collecting Stories for the Next Book
58:23 Open-Mindedness in Paranormal Beliefs
1:02:33 Conclusion and Future Discussions
Thanks for Listening!
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The Dames of Doom, Tessa and Nicole from the 'Doom Generation Podcast' join Sean to rant about the cheesy, science-bereft 2003 film 'The Core'.
Chapters:
0:06 Shout-out to Luke from 'Howdy Beans podcast'
0:50 Introducing Nicole and Tessa from 'Doom Generation'
4:33 "Why The Core?" Nicole and Tessa question Sean’s film choice.
31:29 Analysing the Film's Flaws (there's a few of them)
38:19 The Mission to the Core
46:28 The films ending-Does anyone actually care?
58:15 Reflecting on Disaster Films
1:09:16 Upcoming Themes and Films
1:18:12 Wrapping Up the Episode
Thanks for Listening!
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Sean is joined by Carla and James from 'The Traumarific Podcast'. In this second part of their E.T. review, they get bored of talking about E.T. (who could blame them?) and decide to discuss films in general. They discuss a shared love of Tropic Thunder (2008), the Terrifier films, and the Halloween series.
Chapters:
0:16 E.T. Disappointment
0:23 Nostalgia vs. Reality
2:50 Watching E.T. as a Child vs. as an Adult
4:24 Themes in Kids' Films
8:06 The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
9:16 Comedic Horror
12:30 The Terrifier Films
18:46 Tropic Thunder (2008)
22:58 The Halloween Series
25:51 Unsettling Films
28:46 Music in Horror
31:52 Childhood Traumas
37:00 Podcasting Journey
39:47 Engaging with Listeners
46:28 Future Film Discussions
Thanks for Listening!
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Sean is joined by Carla and James from 'The Traumarific Podcast'. Although newcomers to Review It Yourself, Sean, Carla and James bond over a shared bewilderment over how E.T. is considered a classic.
Chapters:
0:08 Welcome Everyone
0:58 The Trauma of E.T.
2:28 An Unbearably Long Slog of a film?
8:00 Modern Film Frustrations
9:32 The Art of Storytelling
11:28 Nostalgia and Influence
19:31 E.T. and Star Wars Connections
25:51 The 2002 Remastered Version of E.T.
31:30 The Value of a simple premise
37:07 Comparing E.T. to Other Films
43:18 Humour in E.T.
47:50 E.T. Merchandise Madness
53:13 Bizarre E.T. Collectibles (the finger)
58:55 Reflecting on Family Dynamics
Thanks for Listening!
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Sean is joined by Author and Historian Roger Moorhouse to discuss his new book 'Wolfpack: Hitler's U-Boat War'.
Sniff up that fabled 'U-Boat Stink' and keep your hands off anyone else’s Tauchretter, and immerse yourself in the U-Boat War of 1939-1945, from the optimistic beginnings and the happy years, until the turkey shoot of the final years as Nazi Germany is beaten back on all fronts.
The book is out in the UK Now!
Our Guest:
Roger's Website: https://www.rogermoorhouse.com/
Roger Moorhouse on X: @Roger_Moorhouse
Chapters:
0:08 Welcome to Review It Yourself
1:10 Introducing Roger Moorhouse
2:23 Opening the Book with the vivid surrender of the German U-Boats in 1918
4:52 Roger explains book-ending the Story
7:57 Close Quarters Combat
9:38 German Perspective on U-Boat War
11:45 Tauchretter Training Insights
13:57 A Psychological 'Comfort Blanket'
17:00 The Solidarity of the Sea
22:42 The Myth of the U-Boat Threat & Churchill
24:11 Revising the Narrative
27:05 The Brutal Reality of U-Boat Warfare
28:43 The Laconia Incident
30:42 The Impact of the Second World War on German Society
31:45 The Axis Powers' Lack of Cooperation
42:02 The U-Boat Command Structure and Enigma
46:34 What if Dönitz was listened to by the Kreigsmarine High Command
51:41 Cinematic Representations of U-Boats
1:02:53 Accessibility of the Book
1:08:36 Closing Thoughts and Acknowledgments
Most Importantly: Thank you to you for Listening!
X:@YourselfReview
Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021
Review It Yourself.
'The podcast with the sigh. Film Reviews (mostly) without the Faff'.
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Today, Sean and Sarah welcome Author, YouTuber, Journalist, Speaker, Podcaster, Film Critic and Baptist Minister, Peter Laws to discuss his upcoming book 'The Frighteners: Why We Love Monsters, Ghosts, Death and Gore'. The book will be published on 9th October 2025.
'The Frighteners' finds Peter on a paranormal pilgrimage to seek out what is it that draws people to both the dark and macabre, but also to the light and faith.
With a healthy dose of dark-humour including threatening a zombie in a wheelchair with a shotgun, enticing a werewolf with peppered steaks from a Sainsbury's Local, to a festival which Peter described as a sort-of meta-physical Come Dine With Me, this thought-provoking book is one not to be missed. When I say thought-provoking, mainly death if we're honest but we'll get into that.
As the book blurb proclaims: 'Grab your crucifixes, pack the silver bullets, and join the Sinister Minister on his romp into our morbid curiosities!'
Sean, Sarah and Peter share their own ghost 'experiences'.
Guest Links:
-Peter Laws Website: https://www.peterlaws.co.uk/
-Into The Fog with Peter Laws: https://www.youtube.com/@IntoTheFog
-Creepy Cove Community Church Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3238cjOfCXGgXHI3SKI4ka
-Uncanny: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0010x7c
Acknowledgments: Thank You To Peter, Elle-Jay from Icon Books and Paul Bavill from the 'History Rage' podcast.
Chapters:
0:08 Welcome to Review It Yourself
1:06 Literary Exploration of the Macabre
2:25 Introducing Pleasure a.k.a. Peter Laws
3:42 Childhood Memories of Fear
8:52 The Psychology of Horror
12:20 The Cultural Significance of Death
18:01 High vs. Low Culture
22:45 The Evolution of Female Representation in Horror Films
26:03 Personal Paranormal Experiences
36:50 The Quest for the Paranormal
45:11 The Nature of Belief and Skepticism
56:07 The Role of Coincidence
1:00:00 The Intersection of Science and Supernatural
1:08:09 Blasphemy and Artistic Expression
1:11:42 Final Thoughts and Recommendations
1:18:29 Conclusion and Acknowledgements
Most Importantly: Thank you to you for Listening!
X:@YourselfReview
Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021
Review It Yourself.
'The podcast with the sigh. Film Reviews (mostly) without the Faff'.
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Ryan Walker is back! He joins Sean to discuss the iconic film Total Recall (1990). They also swear-ily discuss 1980's/90's action films, dating fails and Jean-Claude Van Damme.
0:05 Welcome to Review It Yourself
0:44 Manifesting Nicknames
2:07 Worst Dating Stories
3:39 Total Recall Discussion
8:12 Classic Action Films
16:43 Violence and Nostalgia
17:58 Practical Effects vs. CGI
21:44 The Memorable Characters
28:48 Theories and Interpretations
37:23 The Film's Legacy
45:11 Film Recommendations
50:42 The End of an Era
1:05:39 Closing Thoughts
1:12:08 Where to Find Us
Thanks for Listening!
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Sean has just got home from seeing the legacy-sequel 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' (2025) in cinemas. Clayton can't wait to see what Sean thinks of the film.
Chapters:
0:05 Welcome to Review It Yourself
1:15 Free Popcorn and Awkward Dates
3:19 Nostalgia and Killer Reveals
8:46 Cinema Renaissance and Legacy Sequels
11:49 A Dive into the Conjuring Universe
15:40 Merch and Film Memories
20:02 Throwbacks and True Crime
23:47 Flaws and Fun in Horror
26:36 Tales of Past and Present
28:50 Town Hall Meetings and Tension
29:50 Theories and Creepy Diaries
32:29 Bold Moves and Expectations
35:24 Critics and Opinions
38:50 Late to the Party?
43:04 Final Thoughts and Future Sequels
48:07 Wrapping Up and What's Next
Thanks for Listening!
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Paul from 'History Rage' continues to argue that his favourite film in the Alien series is Alien (1986). One snag: Sean and Sarah prefer Alien.
This conclusion to the Aliens (1986) review is chockful of laughs, disagreements, tangents and nit-picking.
Chapters
0:01-Sting from 'Pods Like Us'
0:15 James Cameron's Deleted Scenes
1:21 Practical Effects vs. CGI
3:43 Thematic Elements of Alien
6:06 The Complexity of Ripley's Character
10:34 The Role of Supporting Characters
13:42 Corporate Villains in Alien
17:58 Sequels: A Comparative Analysis
21:38 Robot Sentry Guns Debate
23:45 The Tension of the Motion Tracker
27:24 Ripley's Maternal Instincts
33:28 Newt: The Unexpected Hero
36:45 The Importance of Hiding
39:58 The Threat of the Aliens
42:15 The Showdown with the Queen
47:00 The Catharsis of the Final Confrontation
50:14 Concluding Thoughts on Aliens
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Paul returns to discuss his favourite film in the Alien series: Aliens (1986). One snag: Sean and Sarah prefer Alien (1979).
Sean tries to derail the review by discussing his frustration with James Cameron's latest films. Paul thinks Terminator 2 "broke James Cameron".
Did Paul really prefer Barbie over Oppenheimer?
With a sting from the fantastic Marv at 'Pods Like Us'.
1:21 Aliens vs. Alien: A Controversial Debate
2:07 James Cameron's Unique Filmmaking Style
5:50 The Last Train from Hiroshima
9:31 Directors and Their Creative Freedom
12:19 Fun vs. Tension in Filmmaking
22:23 Bureaucracy in Aliens
31:28 The Importance of Ripley's Journey
36:54 The Role of Newt in Ripley's Life
45:41 Iconic Moments and Character Development
55:55: Pods Like Us sting
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In Space No-One Can Hear You Rage! Sean and Sarah are joined by Paul from 'History Rage', to begin yet another franchise: The Alien Franchise. Beginning with arguably the best (at least according to Sean and Sarah), Ridley Scott's Alien (1979).
Chapters:
0:07 Welcome to Review It Yourself
0:24 Terminator Talk
1:19 The Alien: The One That Began It All
1:49 Cramming Alien
3:15 Ground-breaking Science Fiction
4:38 The Template for Horror Survival Films
5:10 The Gritty World of Alien
5:27 Comparing Worlds
7:38 Character Depth and World-Building
10:53 The Horror of Alien
17:36 The Unseen Threat
24:49 The Emotional Impact of Death
28:39 Ripley's Leadership
33:52 Strong Female Characters
37:31 The Company's Agenda
38:24 Ash's Revelation
54:14 The Alien Lifecycle
1:04:13 The Self-Destruct Sequence
1:11:41 Realism in Space
1:15:18 The Sound of Space
1:21:35 Recap and Reflection
1:22:26 Thank You
Thanks for Listening!
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Clayton and Shawn from 'Men Who Like Men Who Like Movies' return to hear what Sean thought of his first-time watching I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998).
Chapters:
1:28 Welcome Back, Clayton and Shawn
1:31 Thoughts on the Sequel
3:28 Voodoo and Quirky Characters
4:56 Obvious Plot Points
6:51 Recognizing Actors
7:40 The "Nice Guy" Trope
9:59 Julie's Character Shift
11:36 Jennifer Love Hewitt's Musical Career
12:56 Concealed Weapons and Survival
13:37 Carla's Love Interests
14:39 Julie's Trauma
15:16 The Importance of Character Depth
19:20 Contagion (2011)
22:14 Freddie Prinze Jr.'s Limited Screen Time
24:32 Cops in the 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' franchise
27:49 British Friendships
30:16 Seasickness Tales
32:17 Flying Fears
36:55 Karaoke and Song Choices
41:52 Justice for the House Cleaning Lady
43:45 The Pacing of Kills
45:05 Plot Holes and Confusions
49:45 Tanning Bed Trauma
1:16:31 Dissecting the New Sequel
1:32:17 Critiques and Comparisons
1:38:00 Podcast Wrap-Up and Reflections
Thanks for Listening!
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Sean and Cliff continue their in-depth review of the 2012 TV Film 'Saving The Titanic'. The film focused upon the Engineers and Firemen, who fought to save the ship.
With a podcast sting from the fantastic Marv at 'Pods Like Us'.
1:48 Titanic's Youngest Crew Members
4:59 The Engineers Behind the Ship
8:35 Cliff's future writing projects
11:54 The Role of Music on Titanic
20:21 The Dilemma of Survival
30:18 Cliff's Book on Bruce Ismay
40:42 Upcoming Spooky Projects
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Sean is once again joined by author of 'Understanding J. Bruce Ismay: The True Story of the Man They Called The Coward of Titanic', Clifford Ismay.
Cliff brings his life experience as an electrician to bear during this in-depth review of the 2012 TV Film 'Saving The Titanic'. The film focused upon the Engineers and Firemen, who fought to save the ship.
-The book which Sean references is 'Titanic: The Unfolding Story', by Carol King and Richard Havers, published by Haynes Publishing in 2011.
-The ship which Sean was trying to think of was the White Star Line's RMS Republic which was built in 1903, and sank in 1909, but unlike the Titanic, the lifeboats were able to ferry almost all of the passengers onto rescue ships.
With a podcast sting from the fantastic Marv at 'Pods Like Us'.
Chapters:
0:05 Welcome to Review It Yourself
0:47 Titanic Film Discussion
2:54 Engineers of the Titanic
6:40 The Role of Engineers
9:50 Heroism in Crisis
11:44 Film Reception and Awards
15:07 Behind the Scenes of Saving the Titanic
19:57 The Tragedy of Titanic
21:46 Attitude Towards the Sea
25:26 Design Flaws and Considerations
26:26 The Emergency Generator
28:38 Misconceptions of Titanic’s Fate
29:21 The Role of Luck
31:33 Character Portrayals in the Film
34:56 The Quest for Heroes
Thanks for Listening!
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