Not Actually Film Critics

GHG
  • 5.0 (2)
  • FILM REVIEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Not Actually Film Critics where not actual film critics critique actual films. Each week, join us as we talk about random stuff, watch movies together and review them. For every episode, we take turns picking movies that fit within a theme, which often leads us to some real hidden gems, or fun oldies that give us a blast from the past! Sometimes we will even release a sync-track of us watching the movie together, so you can sync it up to your viewing of the movie and feel like you're one of us! Follow along with our journey, and you might just discover a favorite film you've never seen before!  Also, if you have a great movie pick for one of our themes, or just want to reach out to us, feel free to email us at nafilmcritics@gmail.com You can also support our podcast at https://www.patreon.com/nafc Support us on Patreon!

  1. FEB 10

    Big Fish & Begonia (2016): Compound Names, Nioh 3, and Mythic Melancholy

    This week on NAFC, the crew starts with a very important linguistic debate: are compound names cheating? No clear answers, just strong opinions and mild frustration. They move on to game and movie check-ins, touching on Nioh 3 and Sweeney’s role in The Housemaid, before settling into the main event. The episode closes with a deep dive into Big Fish & Begonia (2016)—a visually lush, emotionally heavy animated film that sparks discussion around mythology, sacrifice, and whether vibes alone can carry a story this big. Support us on Patreon!

    1h 12m

  2. FEB 3 · BONUS

    Zootopia 2 (2025): Immortality Chasing, Spoilers, and Existential Spirals

    It’s a bonus NAFC episode with just Izzy and Mox this week, and things get heavy fast. The two start by spiraling into the pursuit of immortality by the ultra-rich—what’s actually happening now, what’s pure sci-fi cope, and what the future might look like when billionaires refuse to die quietly. From there, it’s full spoiler territory as they do a deep dive into Zootopia 2, unpacking themes, surprises, and whether the sequel earns its existence. They follow that up with another spoiler-filled breakdown of The Pitt Season 2, digging into character arcs, narrative turns, and where the show might be heading next. It’s focused, unfiltered, and very much not safe if you’re behind. Support us on Patreon!

    1h 49m

  3. JAN 27

    The Legend of Hei 2 (2024): Isekais, Second Screens, and Emotional Damage

    This week on NAFC, the crew checks back into animation, anime, and the never-ending content machine. They talk The Legend of Hei 2 and why it continues to punch way above its weight, both visually and emotionally. The conversation branches into the state of modern isekai—what’s working, what’s exhausted, and why some shows still manage to stand out despite the genre being strip-mined to hell. Netflix’s push toward second-screen content also comes up, raising the question of whether anyone actually wants more distractions while watching something they’re already half-paying attention to. They also touch on the Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc and what it means for the series going forward, while Izzy checks in with thoughts on Murderbot and The Pitt. Then they settle in and properly dive into The Legend of Hei 2 (2024)—relationships, scale, animation flexes, and why it hits harder than most big studio releases. Support us on Patreon!

    1h 27m

  4. JAN 20

    Burning (2018): Slow Burns, Supermen, and Badlands Predators

    This week on NAFC, the crew circles around a bunch of current watches and games before settling into something far more unsettling. Izzy runs through what he’s been checking out lately, including The Pitt, the newest Superman movie, Predator: Badlands, and Spider-Man: Far From Home, bouncing between blockbuster fatigue and cautious optimism. Mox brings some game updates with Shape of Dreams and Ball x Pit, while Gibbs checks in on Welcome to Derry and whether it actually justifies returning to that cursed town yet again. Then the gang jumps into Burning (2018)—a quiet, simmering psychological mystery that refuses to give easy answers and dares the audience to sit with the discomfort. Support us on Patreon!

    1h 7m

  5. JAN 7

    No Other Choice (2025): Oyster Ramen, Podcast Futures, and Year-One Reckoning

    It’s the first NAFC episode of the year, and the crew kicks things off by immediately spiraling. They talk about Netflix flirting with video podcasts, what that might mean, and why it’ll probably be annoying. Gibbs has been poking around a web-based text game called Type Help, Izzy’s deep into For the King, and Mox delights over a life-changing bowl of oyster ramen. Mox also finishes the Stranger Things finale, which leads straight into a look back at 2025 movies and how everyone’s doing in the NAFC Fantasy Movie League—victories, regrets, and bad bets included. They then scan ahead to the 2026 movie slate and try to convince themselves to feel something resembling optimism. Finally, the crew dives into No Other Choice (2025)—a bleak, sharp, and controlled film that sets the tone for the year whether they like it or not. Support us on Patreon!

    1h 36m

  6. 12/31/2025

    Battle of the Sexes (2017): Year-End Wins, Plur1bus Spoilers, and Christmas Regrets

    It’s the end of 2025, so naturally we’re settling scores. The gang kicks off revisiting what we somehow rated the highest this year and arguing whether those scores still hold up. From anime to TV, movies, and games, we run through our favorite 2025 recommendations—and a few picks that definitely say more about us than the media itself. We dive headfirst into a full spoiler discussion of the Plur1bus finale, breaking down what worked, what didn’t, and whether the ending actually earned its big swings. Izzy gives his take on the live-action How to Train Your Dragon, wrestling with nostalgia, shot-for-shot faithfulness, and the uncomfortable realization that it might actually work. Mox checks in with Another World, spotlighting a lesser-talked-about animated film out of Hong Kong and why it stood out visually and thematically. Gibbs unloads by suffering through—and reporting back on—a pile of truly awful Christmas movies, because someone had to do it, and it definitely wasn’t going to be Izzy. Finally, we close out 2025 by diving into a full review of Battle of the Sexes as part of the ongoing Emmaverse, unpacking its themes, performances, and whether it deserves its place in our ever-growing Emma Stone–adjacent cinematic journey. End-of-year chaos, Emmaverse commitments, strong opinions, questionable rankings, and absolutely no restraint. See you in 2026. Support us on Patreon!

    2h 6m

  7. 12/24/2025

    Bugonia (2025): AI Slop, Skating Rinks, and the Movie We Definitely Didn’t Watch

    Sorry for missing last week’s Bugonia episode—turns out it was 100% Gibbs’ fault. Recording mishap, lost files, the usual. So naturally, we’ve decided to title this episode Bugonia (2025) instead, even though the actual movie we’re reviewing is… Aloha (2015). Yes, that Aloha. And yes, it’s every bit the joke you remember. Before diving into cinematic regret, the crew gets into AI art in video games and Larian’s latest self-inflicted dumpster fire, followed by Gibbs recounting a near–Final Destination experience dodging children at a skating rink. Zea also drops in for a surprise visit, adding to the chaos. We do a quick, mercy-driven check-in on Bugonia (since we owe you one), then fully commit to diving into Aloha (2015)—a movie so bafflingly miscast and tone-deaf that it almost feels like performance art. Support us on Patreon!

    2h 11m

  8. 12/08/2025

    The Scarlet Letter (1995): Zootopia Drama, Saudi EA, and Human Robots

    This week on NAFC, the gang bounces across movies, games, and geopolitical absurdity like only they can. Mox kicks things off with his thoughts on Zootopia 2, while Izzy and Gibbs have fallen deep into Gloomhaven—cardboard suffering and tactical joy in equal measure. Izzy also compares Immortals Fenyx Rising to Breath of the Wild, confirming once again that Nintendo’s shadow looms over us all. Gibbs brings a shoutout to Unavowed, the indie gem punching far above its weight. Then things take a turn into global insanity: Saudi Arabia’s attempt to buy EA (because sure, why not), Iraqi “robots” that turned out to be… actual humans in suits, and an AI minister caught taking bribes—proving once more that dystopia isn’t coming, it’s already checking email.Finally, they dive into The Scarlet Letter (1995), a movie that took classic literature, tossed it in a wood chipper, and said “close enough.” Support us on Patreon!

    1h 33m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to Not Actually Film Critics where not actual film critics critique actual films. Each week, join us as we talk about random stuff, watch movies together and review them. For every episode, we take turns picking movies that fit within a theme, which often leads us to some real hidden gems, or fun oldies that give us a blast from the past! Sometimes we will even release a sync-track of us watching the movie together, so you can sync it up to your viewing of the movie and feel like you're one of us! Follow along with our journey, and you might just discover a favorite film you've never seen before!  Also, if you have a great movie pick for one of our themes, or just want to reach out to us, feel free to email us at nafilmcritics@gmail.com You can also support our podcast at https://www.patreon.com/nafc Support us on Patreon!

Information

  • Creator
    GHG
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    244
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Not Actually Film Critics
  • Show Website
    Not Actually Film Critics