nerdfest Podcast: Movies, TV, Trivia and Fun!

As we head into that time of year where no one has a clue about what day it is, and we constantly emerge blurry-eyed from multiple turkey comas, you can take comfort in our many and varied holiday viewing recommendations!

In this episode, we review the excellent 'Watchmen' TV series, which Jon has declared his favourite TV show of the year. We also do a spoiler-free preview (because we obviously haven’t seen it yet. Ahem!) of 'The Mandalorian' from Disney+.

Dan recommends 'Ladhood', a BAFTA nominated coming of age comedy. And we have a group discussion on Rian Johnson’s modern murder mystery, 'Knives Out'.

We end the show with our immediate reactions to J.J. Abrams’ closing chapter of the new Star Wars trilogy, 'The Rise of Skywalker'. Having taken our pod recording equipment to the midnight screening, we put off going to bed for the sake of capturing this segment, featuring a few nerds you’ve never heard from before! Don’t worry if you haven’t seen it yet, we don’t reveal any secrets :)

May we wish all our listeners the absolute best Christmas ever. Thank you for all your support this year. We’ll be back in early 2020 with our favourite films of the year, and a preview of what’s coming up! Until then, take care nerds!

Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, please take your seats for the return of Nerd Court! In the dock this week is a film that has almost divided a relationship - Thor Ragnorok.

Engaged couple Andy and Hazel battle each other in the Nerd courtroom, in our most fiercely fought nerd battle yet. Will Thor Ragnorok see off all the evidence weighted against it? Will Judge Jon pronounce an unbiased ruling? Can Andy and Hazel’s relationship even survive this? Listen to find out!

Also in this episode we have our Film Buff or Film Bluff quiz, where our nerds must find the false fact from a web of lies and deceit. Topics this week include record breaking in films, ridiculous fighting game pairings, Star War’s The Emperor, and the 30th anniversary of the Nintendo Gameboy.

Thanks for listening!

The year was 2019. An era of political strife. A climate crisis loomed. Royal reputations were in tatters. Cats were "sexy". And Sonic the Hedgehog scared the living daylights out of children and adults alike.

Through the mist, one podcast emerged from tens of thousands of other film podcasts to bring peace and prosperity to each and every one of its listeners.

In this episode, play along to our “Guess the movie from its opening crawl” quiz. Hopefully you paid more attention than most of us to the opening titles of some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters!

Also we have a ton of new reviews and recommendations for you. Dan tells us why we should all give 'Jack Ryan' a chance. Jon reviews 'Terminator: Dark Fate' amid multiple interruptions from the nerds who didn’t share his positive opinions. Peter double-taps 'Zombieland 2', Andy introduces a 7 minute film to those of us with short attention spans, and Hazel talks of the new BBC adaptation of 'His Dark Materials'.

This week our Film Buff or Film Bluff quiz includes questions on ridiculous Disney live action plots, some devious Terminator facts, the weird and wonderful films available on SyFy, movie costumes, and how food was used as an effect in some iconic movies.

Also Ian Mayor contacts us from the Void, to talk all things unique to John Wick, the Hipster Assassin.

And spurred on by some recent awful examples, we have a good old fashioned debate about modern movie trailers- discussing what we feel a movie trailer should contain, and casting our minds back to our favourite trailers of all time.

Join in to let us know YOUR opinion on the best/worst trailers you’ve seen- @nerdfestuk on Twitter and Facebook.

In one of our favourite episodes yet to record, we prove just how divisive “Joker” really is, as each of our nerds viewed the film in a different way. Our spoiler-heavy review explores fan theories, direction, Joaquin Phoenix’s take on the character, and how it all fits into today’s world.

Before that, we have our main Reviews section. This week, Jon has been lucky enough to attend a preview screening of Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” - is it worth the 3 and a half hour run time, and how effective is the digital de-ageing? Andy is back, and talks fondly of little-known Japanese zombie comedy, “One Cut Of The Dead” which had us all dying to see it. Hazel has been bingeing true crime documentary “The Staircase” (Do you think he did it? Let us know!). Dan has an antidote for all the history-haters out there, with new podcast “You’re Dead To Me”. Peter reviews new Netflix series “Living with yourself”, starring Paul Rudd and Paul Rudd. And finally Ian reviews “It: Chapter 2” (let’s just say he wasn’t a fan)

Plus, we have a brand new quiz! Andy’s “First Lines” quiz is full of fun, as our nerds try to guess the famous movie character from the first line they ever speak on the big screen...

DID George Lucas really name a Star Wars planet after Jon Stewart? DID Faye Dunaway once throw a cup of urine in Roman Polanski’s face? DID Patrick Swayze really chew on ice in order to hide his breath during the filming of Ghost? And DID the producers of "Thunderball" REALLY drag a dead shark past Sean Connery, only to discover it wasn’t actually dead? Find out in our regularly deceptive quiz, Film Buff or Bluff!

Also in this episode, hear what Ian Mayor (still trapped in The Void) recommends you check out in order to prepare for Marvel’s Phase 4 and 5.

And it’s the return of our "Shameful Gap". Whilst having grown up in the 90s, Dan had somehow never seen the action thriller Face/Off, featuring one of the craziest concepts ever committed to screen. Find out what he thinks of Nic Cage and John Travolta’s gun fu ballet as he watches it for the very first time...

The pitiful remains of what was once Jon Farthing join us for a bumper crop of recommendations and quizzing.

Dan raves about Helen O'Hara's new "Superhero Movie Guide", Hazel swoons over Sir Ian McKellen's live show, Peter checks out the backstory of "Pennyworth", Batman's butler, Jon enthuses over Tarantino nostalgia-fest, "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood", and Ian eventually drag(on)s himself away from the clinically addictive "Merge Dragons" game to surf some shorts on the "Dust" channel.

And who will win our closely-fought quiz, based on the plots of ten famous science fiction movies.

We’re excited by the recently-revealed plans for Marvel Phase 4, but Hazel and Jon think there’s room for one or two other ideas. So, for this episode we created our own version of Kevin Feige, to which Hazel and Jon must pitch their new Phase 4 concepts. This includes a movie centred on the backstory and adventures of Valkyrie, as well as a comeback vehicle for Marvel’s long-lost character, The Swarm. Get ready to hear Jon defend his alt-right mega bee movie...

Before that, we have our Film Buff or Film Buff quiz, with questions on foreign superhero knockoff TV shows, "Home Alone", intriguing movie costumes, and links between Francis Ford Coppola and "Star Wars".

We also have the return of Taking One For The Team, where two nerds debate over the merits or otherwise of Jim Jarmusch’s “The Dead Don’t Die”- Is it a zombie comedy with a starry cast, or a self indulgent metatextual and disappointing version of Shaun of the Dead? Find out who triumphs...

This week our two special guests, Louise and Andy, join their significant others (Jon and Hazel) in the ultimate Mr and Mrs battle: ”How Deep Is Your Nerd?” See how well they know their partner’s true nerdiness, with a series of movie-based questions.

We've lots of new recommendations for you, too: Peter tells us why new Amazon series “The Boys” is different from the other superhero shows. Andy enjoys Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse’s soothing and hilarious fishing trips in “Gone Fishing”. Hazel covers the mockumentary series “Documentary Now!” starring Bill Hader, Fred Armison and Helen Mirren. And Louise gets her licence to kill in Secret Cinema’s ”Casino Royale”.

Jon "takes one for the team" by watching "Men In Black International", and not even Hazel’s beloved Chris Hemsworth can save this predictable piece of nonsense!

Welcome to a very special live episode, where hosts Hazel, Jon, Peter, Dan and Ian broadcast in front of an audience, as part of the Newcastle Improv Festival.

We’re joined by some very special guests, including Bev Fox from renowned improv group The Suggestibles, who joins Ian to talk about the secret ingredients to their success, and we unearth some new intimate details about how they first met!

We’re also joined by improviser and author of 17 novels, Stella Duffy OBE. In a frank and honest interview, Stella talks about how she emerged from a challenging childhood to being able to find herself on the page and on the stage. If you’re interested in writing or what goes into creating a great character, you’ll love her remarkable insights.

We then talk to Kerris Gibson, a recent graduate of School of Improv, who reveals why she is so passionate about improvisation, and what skills she’s been learning and mastering.

Of course, we pepper the interviews with some Film Buff or Film Bluff quizzes, and finish with a special game of Pitchstorm in which Hazel has to improvise a movie plot involving Jason Statham, the Cold War, and a mysterious tapestry!

As this was recorded live in a busy theatre with a lively audience, the sound quality isn’t as great as our usual episodes, but we had the most amazing experience recording it, and we hope you enjoy it too!