Sci-Fi Graveyard

In this episode of Sci-Fi Graveyard, Joseph, Jeremy, and Josh return from a hiatus to review the 2013 film adaptation of Orson Scott Card's classic novel, Ender's Game. Directed by Gavin Hood, the movie stars Asa Butterfield as the brilliant young tactician Ender Wiggin, recruited to lead humanity's fleet against an alien race known as the Formics.

The discussion centers on why this highly anticipated film failed to launch a franchise despite its strong cast (Harrison Ford, Viola Davis, Ben Kingsley). The hosts debate the changes from the book, particularly the condensed timeline and the diminished roles of Ender's siblings, Valentine and Peter. They praise the visual effects, especially the Zero-G Battle Room sequences, and Asa Butterfield's performance. However, they also address the controversy surrounding the author that may have impacted the box office, the crowded release schedule (competing with Thor: The Dark World and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire), and the emotional weight of the ending twist—where Ender realizes his "simulation" was a real genocide. Ultimately, the crew agrees the film is a solid, if flawed, adaptation that deserves a second look, voting for it to "Rise from the Grave" potentially as a sequel or series that could better explore the complex themes of the later books.

Key Highlights
[02:17] Book vs. Movie: Joseph outlines key differences, such as the compressed timeline (one year vs. six years), Ender killing Bonzo intentionally vs. accidentally (in his mind), and the gender-swapping of Major Anderson.
[05:55] Elon Musk Consulting: Trivia about the production team consulting with Elon Musk regarding the futuristic space shuttle designs used in the film.
[16:47] Stacked Cast: The crew marvels at the impressive cast list, including Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley, Viola Davis, and young stars like Hailee Steinfeld and Abigail Breslin, noting how expensive the talent must have been.
[36:04] The Twist Ending: A discussion on the film's powerful conclusion, where Ender discovers he has unwittingly committed xenocide, and how the movie handles the moral weight of his actions compared to the book.
[41:04] Box Office Failure: An analysis of why the film flopped, citing a budget of $110 million vs. a $125 million gross, bad release timing against major blockbusters, and the lack of mainstream awareness compared to Hunger Games.
[51:30] Sequel Potential: The hosts express a strong desire for a sequel based on Speaker for the Dead, believing the story of Ender seeking redemption for the Formics is compelling enough to revisit.

In this episode of Sci-Fi Graveyard, Joseph, Jeremy, and Josh blast off to Alpha to review Luc Besson's 2017 space opera, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. The crew debates whether this visually spectacular film was unfairly maligned by critics or if its flaws truly sank what could have been a new franchise.

The discussion centers on the breathtaking visuals, from the innovative "Big Market" sequence to the diverse environments of Alpha, with the hosts agreeing that the special effects rival Avatar. However, they are divided on the casting of Dane DeHaan as the title character, with some finding him miscast as a rogueish hero. They praise Cara Delevingne's performance as Laureline and highlight Rihanna's memorable role as Bubble. The crew also touches on the film's choppy narrative flow, the "Star Trek-like" opening handshake montage, and the disappointment of its box office failure despite its rich world-building. Ultimately, they vote to "Rise from the Grave," hoping for a sequel or reboot that can better balance the stunning visuals with a tighter story.

Key Highlights
[02:18] Budget Record: Joseph notes that with a budget of $180 million, this was the most expensive French film ever made, surpassing Besson's own The Fifth Element.
[06:03] The Opening Handshake: The hosts praise the opening montage set to David Bowie's "Space Oddity," showing the evolution of the Alpha station from the ISS to a massive intergalactic hub.
[11:24] Valerian's Likability: A critique of the character Valerian, with Josh finding him "douchey" and unlikable in the first act, though he warms up to him later.
[12:50] Rihanna as Bubble: The crew highlights Rihanna's performance as the shape-shifting entertainer Bubble, calling it one of the film's standout elements despite her tragic end.
[15:02] Rank Confusion: Joseph nitpicks the military ranks, pointing out that a Major (Valerian) shouldn't be giving orders to a Sergeant (Laureline) in the way depicted, and the confusion between Army and Navy ranks.
[40:30] Big Market Concept: A discussion on the inventive "Big Market" sequence, where characters use VR headsets to interact with a marketplace that exists in another dimension.

In this impromptu episode of Sci-Fi Graveyard, host Joseph, Jeremy, and Josh deviate from their usual review format to have a candid conversation about the state of "toxic fandom." Joseph begins with a touching tribute to his late mother, who introduced him to geek culture by taking him to rent horror and sci-fi movies in the 80s, setting the stage for why these franchises mean so much to him.

The discussion then dives into the darker side of modern fandom, specifically addressing the harassment faced by actors like Kelly Marie Tran (Star Wars: The Last Jedi) and Ahmed Best (Jar Jar Binks). The crew debates the line between valid criticism and personal attacks, arguing that disliking a character or a creative direction never justifies bullying the real people involved. They touch on the divisive nature of Star Trek: Discovery and Picard, noting how expressing dislike for a character like Michael Burnham often leads to accusations of bigotry rather than a discussion on writing quality. The hosts also reflect on their own "controversial" opinions—like disliking The Walking Dead or having mixed feelings about Captain Marvel—and emphasize that it's okay to disagree without being a "dick." Ultimately, the message is one of inclusivity and perspective: enjoy what you love, let others do the same, and remember that at the end of the day, it's just a show.

Key Highlights
[02:00] A Tribute to Mom: Joseph shares heartfelt memories of his late mother, who fostered his love for sci-fi and horror by letting him rent movies like Sleepaway Camp and Maximum Overdrive as a kid.
[12:38] Star Wars Harassment: The crew discusses the toxicity aimed at Star Wars actors, specifically mentioning how Kelly Marie Tran was bullied off social media and Ahmed Best contemplated suicide due to fan backlash.
[21:03] Star Trek Gatekeeping: A discussion on the "real fan" mentality in the Star Trek community, where disliking new shows like Discovery or Picard often leads to name-calling and division rather than constructive debate.
[38:48] Captain Marvel vs. Alita: The hosts touch on the 2019 "rivalry" between Captain Marvel and Alita: Battle Angel, criticizing how some fans used Alita as a weapon against Brie Larson rather than appreciating both films on their own merits.
[48:00] The Walking Dead Fatigue: Josh shares his experience of quitting The Walking Dead after Rick Grimes left, illustrating that it's okay to stop consuming media that no longer brings you joy without attacking those who still watch it.
[59:00] Just a Show: A closing reminder from the crew to relax and remember that these are fictional universes meant for entertainment, urging fans to be kinder to one another.

In this episode of Sci-Fi Graveyard, Joseph, Jeremy, and Josh plug into the cyberpunk world of Alita: Battle Angel. Directed by Robert Rodriguez and produced by James Cameron (who waited 20 years for technology to catch up to his vision), the film adapts the classic manga Gunnm about a cyborg girl with a mysterious past found in a scrapyard.

The discussion centers on the film's impressive visual effects, particularly the motion-captured performance of Rosa Salazar as Alita. The hosts debate the initial controversy over her "anime eyes," agreeing that they work perfectly within the context of the world. They praise the supporting cast, including Christoph Waltz as the fatherly Dr. Ido, Jennifer Connelly as Chiren, and Mahershala Ali as Vector. However, the crew is less enthusiastic about the romantic subplot involving Hugo (Keean Johnson), finding his character frustratingly dim-witted despite the film's attempt to make him sympathetic. They also touch on the exhilarating Motorball sequences, the faithful recreation of iconic manga scenes, and the disappointing box office performance that has stalled a potential sequel involving Edward Norton's Nova. Ultimately, the verdict is a passionate "Rise from the Grave," with the hosts eager for a follow-up to complete Alita's journey.

Key Highlights
[02:08] Manga Origins: Joseph provides a detailed backstory on the original manga Gunnm (Battle Angel Alita), explaining the character's origins as Yoko and her Panzer Kunst fighting style.
[07:37] Cameron's Delay: A discussion on how James Cameron held onto the rights since 1995, waiting for Avatar's technology to mature before handing the directorial reins to Robert Rodriguez.
[16:08] Hugo's Stupidity: The crew rants about Alita's love interest, Hugo, criticizing his poor decision-making—specifically his attempt to climb the sky tube to Zalem immediately after receiving a new cyborg body.
[40:30] Motorball Realism: Joseph shares trivia that Robert Rodriguez based the Motorball camera angles on NASCAR physics to make the high-speed CGI sport feel grounded and realistic.
[41:25] James Cameron Cameo: A fun fact revealed: the voice that says "I'd do whatever it takes" morphs from Kenneth Johnson into James Cameron, marking a rare vocal cameo from the producer.
[58:47] Better Than Captain Marvel?: The hosts dip into the "toxic fandom" debate of 2019, comparing Alita to Captain Marvel. Joseph argues that while he didn't hate Captain Marvel, Alita felt like a labor of love with more heart, whereas the Marvel film felt "cookie-cutter."

In this episode of Sci-Fi Graveyard, Joseph, Jeremy, and Josh return to the time loop to review the 2019 sequel, Happy Death Day 2U. Directed by Christopher Landon, the film shifts genres from slasher horror to sci-fi comedy, explaining the time loop via a quantum reactor experiment gone wrong.

The discussion explores the film's "Back to the Future Part II" vibe, as Tree (Jessica Rothe) is thrown into an alternate dimension where her mother is still alive, forcing her to make a heartbreaking choice between her past and her future. The hosts praise the expanded role of Ryan (Phi Vu) and his science team, the clever suicide montage where Tree kills herself repeatedly to reset the loop, and the emotional depth added to Tree's character. They also debate the identity of the new Babyface killer (Dr. Butler in this timeline) and the post-credits scene that teases a DARPA-led third movie. Despite box office struggles preventing a trilogy, the crew agrees the sequel stands strong on its own, offering a fun, inventive twist on the original premise.

Key Highlights
[02:44] The Sci-Fi Explanation: Joseph explains how the sequel introduces the "Sisyphus Quantum Cooling Reactor" (SISSY), turning the slasher premise into a sci-fi multiverse story involving Ryan and his lab partners.
[04:51] Tesla vs. Edison: A fun tangent where Joseph discusses the opening shot of a Nikola Tesla bobblehead and launches into a history lesson on why Tesla is the true father of the 20th century, not Edison.
[08:31] Multiverse Stakes: The crew discusses the emotional core of the movie: Tree entering a dimension where her mother is alive, forcing her to choose between staying with her mom or returning to her boyfriend Carter in her original timeline.
[13:20] The Killer Reveal: A breakdown of the twist that the Babyface killer in this dimension is Dr. Butler (not Lori), revisiting the original planned ending for the first movie.
[25:50] Suicide Montage: The hosts highlight the "Hard Times" montage scene where Tree creatively kills herself (drinking bleach, jumping into a wood chipper) to memorize the math needed to fix the reactor.
[40:48] Happy Death Day to Us: Joseph mentions the potential third film, Happy Death Day to Us, which would involve a DARPA time loop experiment, and expresses hope that it eventually gets made to complete the trilogy.

In this episode of Sci-Fi Graveyard, Joseph, Jeremy, and Josh die over and over again to review the 2017 horror-comedy hit, Happy Death Day. Directed by Christopher Landon, the film follows college student Tree Gelbman as she relives the day of her murder repeatedly, trying to unmask her baby-faced killer.

The discussion centers on why this PG-13 slasher stands out in a genre the hosts usually dislike. They praise Jessica Rothe's performance as Tree, noting her evolution from a "bitch" to a sympathetic hero who uses her time loop to become a better person (and solve her own murder). The crew debates the film's "sci-fi" qualifications, teasing that the sequel, Happy Death Day 2U, explicitly explains the time loop with science fiction elements. They also share trivia about the original plan for a killer pig mask (scrapped to avoid Saw comparisons), the alternate ending involving a poisoned cupcake, and the fact that the director's impending fatherhood inspired the creepy baby mask. Ultimately, the verdict is a unanimous recommendation, with the hosts appreciating the film's clever script, humor, and heart.

Key Highlights
[02:59] Groundhog Day Meets Scream: The hosts describe the film as a perfect mashup of the two classics, praising its ability to balance horror and comedy without feeling like a generic slasher.
[16:47] The Roommate Reveal: A discussion on the twist that Tree's roommate Lori is the killer, driven by jealousy over an affair with a professor, and how the "poisoned cupcake" plot point adds layers to the time loop.
[30:28] The Baby Mask: Joseph shares trivia that director Christopher Landon chose the baby mask because he was expecting a son at the time, wanting something that was both "scary and funny."
[33:11] Nude Walk Scene: A look behind the scenes at the sequence where Tree walks naked across campus, noting that Jessica Rothe found it liberating despite the challenges of filming on a real college campus.
[35:34] "Who Takes Their First Date to Subway?": The crew laughs about an improvised line by Jessica Rothe that became one of the funniest moments in the movie.
[48:38] PG-13 Horror Done Right: The hosts admit their bias against modern PG-13 horror but agree that Happy Death Day succeeds because of its strong script and character development, proving gore isn't always necessary.

In this special episode of Sci-Fi Graveyard, Joseph, Jeremy, and Josh bravely accept the "Uwe Boll Challenge." Each host watched a different video game adaptation directed by the infamous German filmmaker Uwe Boll: House of the Dead (2003), Alone in the Dark (2005), and BloodRayne (2005). The crew comes together to determine which of these critical disasters is the "best" of the worst.

The discussion is a hilarious deep dive into bad cinema. They break down House of the Dead's bizarre editing choices, like splicing in actual game footage during action scenes, and the nonsensical plot involving a rave on a zombie island. For Alone in the Dark, they question the casting of Tara Reid as a brilliant anthropologist and the confusing opening text crawl needed to explain the plot. BloodRayne gets roasted for its lackluster action, miscast stars (Ben Kingsley as a vampire king?), and a plot that has little to do with the game's Nazi-fighting premise. The hosts also touch on Boll's reputation, his tax shelter funding strategy, and his habit of challenging critics to boxing matches. Ultimately, they agree that while House of the Dead offers some "so bad it's good" laughs, the other two are painful endurance tests.

Key Highlights
[02:18] House of the Dead: Jeremy reviews the zombie flick, noting the ridiculous use of game clips during gunfights and the baffling decision to have a character perform a 360-degree jump shot with a shotgun.
[04:39] Uwe Boll Trivia: Joseph shares that Boll included a scene on the House of the Dead DVD where he plays himself being tortured by watching his own movie.
[20:00] Alone in the Dark: Joseph discusses the film starring Christian Slater, criticizing the incoherent plot that required an opening text crawl just to make sense and the infamous casting of Tara Reid.
[22:04] BloodRayne: Josh tears into the vampire adaptation, lamenting the wasted cast (Ben Kingsley, Michael Madsen, Michelle Rodriguez) and the cheap production values that made it look like a soundstage play.
[23:04] Real Prostitutes: A shocking bit of trivia revealed by Josh: the scene with Meat Loaf in BloodRayne used real prostitutes because it was cheaper than hiring actresses.
[34:39] Tax Shelter Funding: The hosts discuss the German tax loophole that allowed Boll to keep funding these flops, which explains why he was able to attract big-name actors despite the poor quality.

In this episode of Sci-Fi Graveyard, Joseph, Jeremy, and Josh sink their teeth into the 1996 B-movie adaptation of the comic book cult classic, Vampirella. Directed by Jim Wynorski (known for Chopping Mall and various exploitation films), the movie stars Talisa Soto as the titular heroine and The Who's Roger Daltrey as the villainous Vlad.

The discussion highlights the film's notoriously low budget and questionable production values, including a costume for Vampirella that looks nothing like the comic book version. The hosts debate the casting of Talisa Soto, noting that the director famously complained she wasn't "busty enough" for the role, a criticism the crew finds ridiculous given the script's poor quality. They laugh about Roger Daltrey's performance as a Vegas lounge singer vampire, the bizarre plot holes (like hiding in plain sight in Las Vegas), and the gratuitous nudity that earned the film its R-rating. They also touch on the cameo by director John Landis and the planned sequel Death's Dark Avenger that never happened. Ultimately, the group votes to "Rise from the Grave," wishing for a proper, big-budget adaptation that does justice to the comic book character's campy, sexy, and violent roots.

Key Highlights
[01:30] Comic Origins: Joseph provides a deep dive into Vampirella's history, starting from her debut in Warren Publishing in 1969 to her Planet Draculon backstory where blood flows like water.
[07:11] Director's Regret: A discussion on director Jim Wynorski's disdain for the film, specifically his rude comments about Talisa Soto not having the "assets" for the role, despite her previous success in Mortal Kombat.
[16:07] Roger Daltrey as Vlad: The crew reacts to rock legend Roger Daltrey playing the main vampire villain who inexplicably hides out as a famous singer in Las Vegas.
[20:20] Gratuitous Nudity: A critique of the unnecessary topless scenes that serve no plot purpose other than to secure an R-rating, a hallmark of the director's B-movie background.
[34:39] John Landis Cameo: Trivia about director John Landis (The Blues Brothers, Animal House) appearing as the bearded astronaut in the opening flashback sequence.
[52:00] Uwe Boll Challenge: The hosts announce their next challenge: each member will watch a different video game adaptation by infamous director Uwe Boll (House of the Dead, BloodRayne, Alone in the Dark) and report back on just how bad they are.

In this episode of Sci-Fi Graveyard, Joseph, Jeremy, and Josh dive deep into James Cameron’s 1989 underwater sci-fi thriller, The Abyss. The crew discusses the film's reputation as one of the toughest productions in cinema history, with the cast and crew enduring grueling conditions in a massive underwater set constructed in a nuclear reactor containment building.

The conversation highlights the groundbreaking visual effects, particularly the "water tentacle" scene, which paved the way for the CGI in Terminator 2. The hosts debate the ethics of the infamous rat breathing scene, where a real rat was submerged in oxygenated fluid, and share trivia about Ed Harris and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio's emotional breakdowns on set. They also touch on the film's multiple cuts (theatrical vs. special edition) and the somewhat controversial ending involving aliens saving humanity. Despite the behind-the-scenes turmoil, the group agrees that The Abyss is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant film that holds up remarkably well today.

Key Highlights
[03:25] Liquid Breathing: Joseph explains the real science behind the fluid breathing used in the film and the controversy surrounding the scene where a real rat was submerged in oxygenated fluorocarbon.
[05:57] Production Hell: A discussion on the "toughest shoot in history," where the cast and crew renamed the film "The Abuse" due to the physical and mental strain of filming underwater for months.
[09:25] Cameron's Near-Death Experience: Joseph shares the story of how director James Cameron almost drowned when his air ran out at the bottom of the tank, forcing him to punch a safety diver to escape.
[15:49] The Drowning Scene: The crew breaks down the emotional intensity of the scene where Lindsey (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) voluntarily drowns to be revived later, praising the performances of the actors.
[44:03] 3D Potential: Jeremy suggests that The Abyss would be perfect for a 3D re-release, given Cameron's expertise with the format in Avatar and Titanic.
[52:00] Uwe Boll Rant: A hilarious tangent where the hosts discuss the terrible video game adaptations of director Uwe Boll, planning a future episode dedicated to roasting his filmography.