The Critics Club by Ranting Media

Ranting Media, Geoff Stevens, David Feldman, Jim Keel

5.0 (4)
FILM REVIEWS

Friends come and meet once a month at the Critics Club to discuss their favorite movies, tv shows, video games and much more. Some are more right than others, but that’s half the fun. Join Jim, David and Geoff as they duke it out over their latest opinions.

12/24/2025

Die Hard Is (Or Isn't) a Christmas Movie

The Critics Club is back to start the holiday season the only way they know how: by arguing about movies. This episode dives headfirst into the eternal debate — Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? What starts as a simple question turns into a full breakdown of what defines a Christmas film, whether setting matters more than theme, and how audience tradition can override original intent. Along the way, the conversation drifts through holiday traditions, non-traditional Christmas picks, action movies set in December, nostalgia-fueled viewing habits, and why some movies become seasonal staples whether the creators intended it or not. Expect strong opinions, deep nitpicking, and the kind of arguments that only come up once the decorations go up. 00:00 – Opening banter and holiday timing 01:55 – Getting into the holiday mindset 03:20 – Christmas traditions and movie rituals 05:30 – Favorite Christmas movies and TV specials 08:40 – Bad movies, guilty pleasures, and contrarian tastes 11:40 – Universally hated movies and why people still watch them 14:35 – Transition to holiday movie definitions 15:20 – Framing the Christmas movie debate 16:45 – What counts as a Christmas movie? 18:50 – The Die Hard argument begins 20:40 – Christmas setting vs. Christmas story 22:35 – Family, reconciliation, and holiday tropes 24:55 – Can Die Hard work without Christmas? 27:00 – Comparing Die Hard to other “holiday-adjacent” movies 29:40 – Action movies set during Christmas 31:50 – Studio intent vs. audience tradition 34:10 – Black Friday, office parties, and plot necessity 36:40 – What actually defines a Christmas movie 38:55 – Creator intent vs. cultural ownership 41:10 – Comparing Die Hard to classic Christmas films 43:40 – Iron Man 3, Lethal Weapon, and edge cases 45:10 – “Alternative Christmas movies” explained 47:00 – Nostalgia, memory, and personal associations 49:10 – Non-traditional Christmas movie picks 52:00 – Merch, brands, and off-topic tangents 56:30 – Quality changes, consumer fatigue, and nostalgia traps 59:40 – Wrapping up holiday movie philosophies 01:03:00 – Final thoughts on Christmas movies Friends come and meet once a month at the Critics Club to discuss their favorite movies, tv shows, video games and much more. Some are more right than others, but that’s half the fun. Join Jim, David and Geoff as they duke it out over their latest opinions. Tune in to our podcasts and read our lovely reviews at https://www.rantingmedia.com/

1h 16m
11/21/2025

Top 10 “Based on a True Story” Movies (Chaos Edition)

00:00 — Jim Forgot the Topic The coldest open imaginable. Jim admits he thought this episode was about remakes. Geoff and David lose it. 03:00 — “Okay, Welcome to The Critics Club…” The trio finally introduces the actual episode: Top 10 Movies Based on a True Story. Geoff goes first because apparently he’s the only one prepared. 05:30 — #10: Cool Runnings (Geoff) This immediately causes a fight about Fargo, movie disclaimers, Coen brothers, and whether Geoff’s childhood Jamaican accent was appropriate (it was not). 12:00 — #9: The Founder / McDonald’s Lore Geoff drops McDonald’s history facts. Jim debates accuracy. David threatens to reorganize his list mid-episode. 17:00 — #8: The Imitation Game This turns into a side detour about Cumberbatch, Cillian Murphy, Peaky Blinders, and who would break whose face. 23:00 — #7: October Sky Surprisingly wholesome. Rockets, NASA dreams, and childhood inspiration. Also someone immediately compares it to Oppenheimer for no reason except chaos. 28:00 — #6: Killers of the Flower Moon Leo plays “a box of rocks,” crimes against the Osage Nation, and the bleakest section of the list. 32:00 — #5: The Wolf of Wall Street Everyone loves it way more than they want to admit. The theater-reaction tangent is pure gold. 40:00 — #4 / #3 / #2 (David’s Wildcard Zone) Includes: Zero Dark Thirty accuracy debates Catch Me If You Can (“IT’S NOT A REAL STORY” fight) Hacksaw Ridge Letters from Iwo Jima A surprise Ip Man entry 53:00 — #1: Oppenheimer Everyone saw this coming. Everyone still talks about it too long. Score appreciation. Nolan speculation. Sea monsters?? 1:04:00 — Bonus Chaos 300 trolling Ridley Scott disagreements Mel Gibson chair-yelling stories A brief existential crisis about sad dog movies (Hachi) Friends come and meet once a month at the Critics Club to discuss their favorite movies, tv shows, video games and much more. Some are more right than others, but that’s half the fun. Join Jim, David and Geoff as they duke it out over their latest opinions. Tune in to our podcasts and read our lovely reviews at https://www.rantingmedia.com/

1h 22m
09/24/2025

Top 10 Movie Adaptations: From Books to the Big Screen

What makes a great adaptation? The Critics Club crew dives into their Top 10 Adaptations, ranking the movies that brought books, plays, and even video games to life on the big screen. From classics like The Godfather and The Princess Bride to modern hits like Ready Player One and Crazy Rich Asians, we debate what worked, what didn’t, and why some stories thrive in translation while others fall flat. Join Geoff, Jim, and David as they break down fan favorites, argue over controversial picks (Ready Player Two, anyone?), and swap personal stories about how these adaptations shaped their movie-going experiences. Featured films & books: Ready Player One (Ernest Cline → Spielberg) Crazy Rich Asians (Kevin Kwan → Jon Chu) The Devil Wears Prada (Lauren Weisberger → David Frankel) Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (J.K. Rowling → Chris Columbus) The Godfather (Mario Puzo → Francis Ford Coppola) Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (J.R.R. Tolkien → Peter Jackson) The Princess Bride (William Goldman → Rob Reiner) Jurassic Park (Michael Crichton → Steven Spielberg) Edge of Tomorrow / All You Need is Kill (Hiroshi Sakurazaka → Doug Liman) Casino Royale (Ian Fleming → Martin Campbell) Plus: Tangents on kitchen appliances, Dick Cheney jokes, James Bond casting rumors, and why some novels should never become films. Visit RantingMedia.com for more episodes, reviews, and updates. Follow us on Bluesky for behind-the-scenes banter. Timestamped Chapters00:00 – Opening banter (Cheney jokes, food tangents, air fryer talk) 04:30 – Introducing the “Top 10 Adaptations” theme 05:25 – Ready Player One, Crazy Rich Asians, The Devil Wears Prada 13:20 – Harry Potter, The Godfather, Lord of the Rings 16:00 – The Princess Bride, Jurassic Park, Edge of Tomorrow 18:10 – Casino Royale and the James Bond legacy 20:00 – Bond casting rumors and future speculation 23:08 – Hidden Figures, Fight Club, Jurassic Park (book vs. movie) 28:00 – No Country for Old Men and The Princess Bride 31:00 – American Psycho and The Shining 34:00 – Battle Royale and dystopian adaptations 38:00 – Adaptations that divide opinion (violence, tone, endings) 44:00 – Shifts in tone: book vs. film expectations 50:00 – Cultural impact of adaptations over decades 56:00 – Controversial picks and debates 01:02:00 – Comparing faithfulness: when movies outshine the books 01:08:00 – Final adaptations discussed and wrap-up tangents 01:15:00 – Closing thoughts on adaptation trends 01:22:14 – Episode outro Friends come and meet once a month at the Critics Club to discuss their favorite movies, tv shows, video games and much more. Some are more right than others, but that’s half the fun. Join Jim, David and Geoff as they duke it out over their latest opinions. Tune in to our podcasts and read our lovely reviews at https://www.rantingmedia.com/

1h 30m
08/07/2025

Deep Cuts: The Horrors of Love in Takashi Miike’s Audition (1999)

Welcome to Critics Club: Deep Cuts — a new series where we take a more focused dive into a single film. This time, it’s the haunting, unforgettable Japanese horror classic: Audition (1999), directed by Takashi Miike. What happens when a grieving widower looks for love... through a fake movie audition? Jim and Geoff walk through the film’s surreal structure, disturbing tonal shift, and ambiguous ending. They tackle questions about trauma, manipulation, and whether the film's most horrifying moments were hallucinations, metaphor, or something even more sinister. Along the way, they share: Personal horror stories of poblano pepper accidents Root canal commentary Japanese cultural context and misogyny critiques Film comparisons to Promising Young Woman, I Spit on Your Grave, The Ring, and Evil Dead II Key Timestamps: [00:04:59] – Introducing “Critics Club: Deep Cuts” [00:05:55] – Why Jim thought they were watching Battle Royale [00:06:05] – A primer on Takashi Miike’s filmography [00:08:02] – Early 2000s J-horror boom context [00:12:01] – The ethics of a fake audition plot [00:21:08] – Asami's trauma and the film’s layered horror [00:30:00] – The infamous sack scene [00:35:11] – Paralysis, needles, and piano wire terror [00:40:01] – Dream vs reality: dissecting the ending [00:50:48] – Surprise! It was marketed as a romance in Japan 🔗 Links: Read reviews and listen to more episodes at RantingMedia.com Follow us on Bluesky: RantingMedia.bsky.social 💬 Whether you’re a longtime horror fan or cautiously curious, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in films that challenge your expectations and leave your stomach in knots. Friends come and meet once a month at the Critics Club to discuss their favorite movies, tv shows, video games and much more. Some are more right than others, but that’s half the fun. Join Jim, David and Geoff as they duke it out over their latest opinions. Tune in to our podcasts and read our lovely reviews at https://www.rantingmedia.com/

59 min
07/27/2025

Superman Discussion - The Critics Club

The Critics Club: Superman Review (With Special Guest Louis) Geoff and Louis dive deep into James Gunn’s Superman, breaking down everything from the casting of David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan to Lex Luthor’s darker edge. They debate how this version stacks up against Man of Steel, gush over the film’s standout score, and discuss the impact of new characters like Krypto. Plus, the duo looks ahead to the future of the DC Universe—Clayface, Supergirl, Lanterns, and more. 00:00 – Welcome + Guest Intro Geoff welcomes Louis, and the duo set the stage for a spoiler-heavy conversation. 05:00 – Initial Reactions Louis convinces Geoff to give Superman a fair shot after his skepticism, tracing back to Man of Steel and Guardians of the Galaxy 2. 15:00 – Casting & Chemistry Thoughts on David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman, Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult’s manic Lex Luthor. 25:00 – The Standout Moments The emotional beats with Krypto, the fresh take on Superman’s humanity, and why the score sticks in everyone’s head. 40:00 – Villains & Visuals The metamorpho character design, Green Lantern’s debut, and perfect casting news—yes, Jason Momoa as Lobo comes up. 55:00 – Plot, Themes & Gunn’s Direction They debate James Gunn’s tone, story choices, and how this Superman compares with Snyder’s version. 1:10:00 – Future of DC Films What comes next: Supergirl, Brave and the Bold, Swamp Thing, and why Batman 2 and Clayface could set the tone for the next era. 1:20:00 – Final Thoughts A heartfelt moment about introducing Superman to the next generation—and what the film means to them. Friends come and meet once a month at the Critics Club to discuss their favorite movies, tv shows, video games and much more. Some are more right than others, but that’s half the fun. Join Jim, David and Geoff as they duke it out over their latest opinions. Tune in to our podcasts and read our lovely reviews at https://www.rantingmedia.com/

1h 22m
07/23/2025

The Top 10 Film Scores of All Time - The Critics Club

The Critics Club – Top 10 Film Scores of All Time 00:00 – Intro & Ground Rules Geoff, Jim, and David set the stage: what counts as a great score, who gets to decide, and why The Dark Knight might be overrated (or not). 10:00 – Geoff’s Top 10 Film Scores Geoff opens strong with emotional heavyweights and big cinematic moments—1917, Up, and The Social Network all make appearances. 42:00 – Jim’s Top 10 Film Scores Jim mixes genre with mood, diving deep into There Will Be Blood, Drive, Gojira, and even Seven Samurai. Vintage meets synth. 60:00 – David’s Top 10 Film Scores David goes orchestral with sweeping, iconic soundtracks like Gladiator, E.T., and Jurassic Park. Don’t worry—he brings the nostalgia too. 85:00 – Final Thoughts & Honorable Mentions The guys compare notes, defend their wildest picks, and admit what got left out (Inception, anyone?). Let the debates continue. Friends come and meet once a month at the Critics Club to discuss their favorite movies, tv shows, video games and much more. Some are more right than others, but that’s half the fun. Join Jim, David and Geoff as they duke it out over their latest opinions. Tune in to our podcasts and read our lovely reviews at https://www.rantingmedia.com/

1h 32m
06/06/2025

We Crash The Cannes Film Festival - Critics Club

The Critics Club: Crashing Cannes 2025Geoff and Jim (with David off enjoying some well-earned PTO) decide to crash the Cannes Film Festival—metaphorically, of course. Why should the French have all the fun deciding what counts as "cinema"? From Spike Lee’s Highest to Lowest to Ari Aster’s pandemic-weird Eddington, the guys take you through their favorite (and least favorite) selections from this year’s festival. There’s plenty of film geekery, bold opinions, and maybe a rant or two about the Criterion Collection’s pricing model. Listen to all episodes at RantingMedia.com Episode Breakdown00:00 – Intro & Motivation Why we’re talking about Cannes, the French origins of cinema, and why David isn’t here (probably protesting berets). 14:00 – So Many Categories, So Little Clarity We untangle the madness: Palme d'Or, Un Certain Regard, Out of Competition, and more. Spoiler: some of them matter, most just sound fancy. 28:00 – The Out-of-Competition Darlings From Spike Lee’s neo-noir NYC thriller to Simon Pegg’s latest cinematic gamble, we cover the buzziest films that aren’t even playing to win. 42:00 – In Competition: The Main Event A rundown of our top picks from the actual contest. It Was Just an Accident isn’t just a title—it’s an Iranian political thriller with real-world consequences. 56:00 – Underdogs, Disappointments, and Debate Fuel Who got snubbed, what got overhyped, and why The Phoenician Scheme might be Wes Anderson’s most Wes Anderson-y film ever (and not in a good way). 70:00 – Wrap-Up & Future Film Plans Geoff and Jim yell about Criterion prices, dream about Fantastic Fest, and tease a new Critics Club mini-series that may or may not be called On the Spot. Friends come and meet once a month at the Critics Club to discuss their favorite movies, tv shows, video games and much more. Some are more right than others, but that’s half the fun. Join Jim, David and Geoff as they duke it out over their latest opinions. Tune in to our podcasts and read our lovely reviews at https://www.rantingmedia.com/

1h 28m
05/23/2025

Top 10 Summer Blockbuster Movies - The Critics Club

Tune into the Critic's Club on https://www.rantingmedia.com Friends come and meet once a month at the Critics Club to discuss their favorite movies, tv shows, video games and much more. Some are more right than others, but that’s half the fun. Join Jim, David and Geoff as they duke it out over their latest opinions. Tune in to our podcasts and read our lovely reviews at https://www.rantingmedia.com/

1h 29m

5

out of 5

4 Ratings

Friends come and meet once a month at the Critics Club to discuss their favorite movies, tv shows, video games and much more. Some are more right than others, but that’s half the fun. Join Jim, David and Geoff as they duke it out over their latest opinions.

Creator

Ranting Media, Geoff Stevens, David Feldman, Jim Keel
Years Active

2017 - 2025
Episodes

180
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 2025 Ranting Media
Show Website

The Critics Club by Ranting Media