Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever*

As always there are spoilers ahead! This is episode one of a four-episode mini-series. To make things even more confusing Episode 1 has two parts. This is part 2. If you have arrived here before treading the ground of part 1 turn back now! The idea is to most definitely watch the film before listening to the episode. If you don't want to do that and still want an overview of the film and the plot you can check out the Wikipedia entry here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001:_A_Space_Odyssey Please refer to these very show notes for some extra information or clarification. (Yes I'm repeating the same text from part 1. Do you even know how busy I've been and now I must copy and paste to get this out on time!) You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you have money to invest in further space or other scientifically romantic adventures and would like to be a patron of the podcast, pay heed! You can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm Thankfully my two guests are heavy weight bearing beams (of light?). I am indeed getting my metaphors in a mix. That makes no sense. Apologies. Michael Benson is an artist, filmmaker and author of a range of exciting books including the magnificently comprehensive 2018 Space Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke, and the Making of a Masterpiece. Scott Bukatman is a cultural theorist and Professor of Film and Media Studies at Stanford University. He has written extensively about popular culture with a focus on how it mediates between modern technologies and the human experience. He is also the author of the wonderful BFI book on Blade Runner. Clarification: The quote I use near the beginning "Politics and religion are obsolete. The time has come for science and spirituality" originates from Indian philosopher Vinoba Bhave. Arthur C Clarke used the quote in a keynote address. Kubrick underlines the second half in his copy of the speech. (Michael then goes on to open his fantastic book with this quote.) 28:25 The concept of a technological singularity is a theoretical scenario in which technology increasingly becomes so advanced that is has unpredictable and irreversible effects ono humanity. 34:13 JPL is short for Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. 48:23 Mad magazine's parody of 2001 is available to view here: https://www.tumblr.com/keirdullea/34795391907/201-minutes-of-space-idiocy-a-mad-magazine Lastly: I concede that my internet search for the giant baby may have led me to some very dubious sources. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 19:00 The Sublime 11:30 Kubrick's minimalism 20:32 HAL 34:58 Doug Trumbull and George Lucas' Star Wars droids 37:57 Slow pace and filming restrictions 39:58 Legacy 46:50 Recommendations for the listener Recommendations Childhood's End and The Sentinel both by Arthur C Clarke 201 (minutes of) A Space Idiocy by Mad Magazine. (Link above) NEXT EPISODE! In the next episode we will be prepping to discuss the special effects of 2001 in two weeks' time!

As always there are spoilers ahead! As we chronologically venture through science fiction history it is finally time to examine one of the heaviest of heavyweight sci-fi films. 2001: A Space Odyssey. The idea is to most definitely watch the film before listening to the episode. If you don't want to do that and still want an overview of the film and the plot you can check out the Wikipedia entry here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001:_A_Space_Odyssey This is episode one of a four-episode mini-series. To make things even more confusing Episode 1 has two parts. This is part 1. Part 2 is also out. (Why two parts? Because I prefer a more digestible length of podcast.) Please refer to these very show notes for some extra information or clarification. You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you have money to invest in further space or other scientifically romantic adventures and would like to be a patron of the podcast, pay heed! You can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm This is the longest episode I've ever recorded (hence the two parts) and I simply couldn't cut much of it down because of my phenomenal guests. Michael Benson is an artist, filmmaker and author of a range of exciting books including the magnificently comprehensive 2018 Space Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke, and the Making of a Masterpiece. Scott Bukatman is a cultural theorist and Professor of Film and Media Studies at Stanford University. He has written extensively about popular culture with a focus on how it mediates between modern technologies and the human experience. He is also the author of the wonderful BFI book on Blade Runner (which we will get to in good time). 34:48 The literal translation of "alte kackers" which is how Stanley Kubrick's wife Christiane described the people at the premiere is "old shitters". Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:43 Childhood cinematic experiences of the film 07:31 Not understanding the film 09:57 The impact on sci-fi cinema 10:28 The proverbial good science fiction film 14:35 The philosophical nature of science fiction 17:09 Kubrick and Clarke in the mid 60s 21:26 Initial intentions 25:46 Special effects and immersion 33:04 The reception of the film 46:32 The ape arm throws a bone 51:15 Kubrick and improvisation 53:52 Outro to part one NEXT EPISODE! The next episode is already out and it's part 2 of this discussion! After that we will be prepping to discuss the special effects of 2001: A Space Odyssey in two weeks' time.

As usual there are spoilers ahead! You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you have an air of gravitas and money to spend and would like to be a patron of the podcast, please do! You can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm The novel Planet of the Apes was released in 1963 in France by French author Pierre Boulle. In that same year publicist Arthur Jacobs bought the screen rights while he was looking for something "like King Kong". Five years later in 1968 the film was released with one of the most famous twist endings of cinematic history. The film is a fun "off-planet" sci-fi adventure story with heavy commentary on societal expectations and standards. I have two lovely guests to help us understand this sci-fi classic. John Wills is a Professor of American Media and Culture at the University of Kent. He has written lots about popular culture including his new book Doom Town USA Phil Nichols is Senior Consultant to the Ray Bradbury Center at Indiana University, and formerly Film & Television course leader at the University of Wolverhampton. The Scopes trial was a 1925 case in the USA in which a teacher was accused of violating the law by teaching evolution in schools. The trial was set up on purpose to challenge the Butler Act which prevented the teaching of evolution. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:20 Book vs film 03:53 Arthur Jacobs 06:28 From astronaut to animal 11:10 Simian society 15:43 Concepts of civility 20:07 Western vibes 22:39 The Trial 26:40 Race 32:46 1968 USA 39:25 The twist ending 42:34 Liberty in ruins 47:37 Legacy 52:18 The brains behind the ending 53:19 Recommendations Recommendations Inherit the Wind (1960) Soylent Green (1973) NEXT EPISODE! Eep! It's finally here. I tried to put it off for as long as I could but the 2001: A Space Odyssey mini-series will begin next week with a two-part first episode. The film is available widely. According to Just Watch (where you can find the availability in your region) it is included in the HBO subscription in the USA and Australia. In Canada it's included in the Crave subscription. In the UK it's Prime video and Now Cinema. But the film can also be bought or rented online from many outlets including Apple, Fandango, Spectrum and Prime. Or you could buy a fancy DVD of it to add to your collection.

As always, there are spoilers ahead. You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you have an air of gravitas and money to spend and would like to be a patron of the podcast, please do! You can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm Graphic novels and comics were widely considered to be for children in the early 1960s. It was a relatively small number of artists and publishers who were working to have comics seen as a viable form of art as well as making comics for adults. Although the history of comics for adults is definitely older, this period marks a surge in European interest in the medium. Famous film producer Dino de Laurentiis helped this when he bought the filming rights to adult comics Diabolik (from Italy) and Barbarella (from France) turning them both in to movies in the 1960s. De Laurentiis originally wanted Bridget Bardot for the title role and after she turned it down, he looked to Sophia Loren who did the same. His third choice was Jane Fonda who initially rejected the script until her then husband Roger Vadim convinced her to take it. Vadim joined as Director and the rest is kitschy sci-fi history. I have two fantastic guests to talk through this swinging 60s sci-fi space opera oddity. Lisa Yaszek is Regents' Professor of Science Fiction Studies at Georgia Tech and has written/edited extensively on science fiction. Hugo Frey is Professor of History at the University of Chichester. He has a special interest in graphic novels and is co-author of the 2026 book The Look of the 1960s. Barbarella and the Pulp Pop Comics. CORRECTION: In the question about the legacy of Barbarella I say Star Trek when I mean Star Wars. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:17 Sci-fi precedence 03:45 Barbarella comic origins 06:31 1960s France and the rise of adult comics 09:37 Jane Fonda playing it straight 10:59 Jean Claude Forest 12:22 Jane Fonda: Body dysmorphia and sexploitation 14:01 Censorship 19:19 Pop Art and design 26:56 Big hair and science fiction 32:24 Terry Southern 35:50 UK vs US reception 41:48 Government girl with a gun 44:22 A progressive Barbarella? 46:48 Masculinity and femininity 55:37 Recommendations Recommendations: Born in Flames (1983) Bardot, Deneuve and Fonda: The Memoirs of Roger Vadim Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg (2024) NEXT EPISODE! Next episode we will be talking about The Planet of the Apes (1968). Planet of the Apes is available to rent or buy from major online platforms including Apple TV. It is also available on Disney+ in the UK. You can check the Just Watch website to find where it may be streaming in your region.

Translation for the intro: A race against time. Office time against outside time. Who's winning? I don't know yet. Apologies as I am coming down with a heavy cough and need sleep. I am so out of it that I almost forgot that it is release day! But I jumped out of bed with quite a shock and here you have the episode. Phew! As always, there are spoilers ahead. You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you have an air of gravitas and money to spend and would like to be a patron of the podcast, please do! You can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm 1968's Je t'aime, je t'aime (AKA I Love You, I Love You). A wonderfully unusual science fiction film about memory, love and loss by French New Wave director Alain Resnais. If you would like an overview of the plot you can find it on the Wikipedia page here. The time code after the beep (indicating the discussion about sexual violence is done) 50 minutes and 40 seconds. I have two magnificent guests! Mark Bould is a professor of Film and Literature at the University of West England, Bristol. He has written/edited extensively about science fiction cinema. Mani Sharpe is a lecturer in Film Studies at the University of Leeds. He is the author of the book Late-Colonial French Cinema: Filming the Algerian War of Independence. At one point Mark mentions Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius by Jorge Luis Borges and I'm mentioning it here as I had to look it up and it might be on interest. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:42 Alain Resnais 07:20 France in 1968 11:27 Cancelled Cannes Film Festival 13:51 Editing and Chronology 20:10 Continuity conventions 24:33 Editing words and memories 33:23 Unreliable Narrator 39:05 The film watching experience 44:21 Loss and heartbreak in sci-fi 50:55 Legacy 55:05 Recommendations Recommendations New Rose Hotel (1998) by Abel Ferrara Alain Resnais by Emma Wilson NEXT EPISODE! Wish me luck as I attempt to arrange an episode on Barbarella in two weeks. As this hasn't been finalised I would suggest that you might also like the watch Planet of the Apes just in case should the fates be tricky! Both of these films are quite easy to find to rent.