This week the CineClub team of Matthew, Rhys, Jake and Billy, fondly discuss the Muppets and their creator, Jim Henson.

They start with The Muppet Movie (1979), but with 8 Muppet films, 3 Television Films, a television series and television Specials, there’s plenty of Muppet content to talk about.

Not content with Muppets, the team then move on to Jim Henson’s non Muppet films, The Dark Crystal (1982) and Labyrinth (1986) and Henson's particular take on the fantasy genre.

Our presenters are Matthew, Rhys, Jake and Billy. The episode was engineered and edited by Emily Main.

Let us know Favourite Muppet and your thoughts on this weeks films using the email below or sending a message on our Instagram.

This episode was recorded and produced by the CineClub members at the University of Sunderland. Special thanks to our technical team and academic staff.

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It’s been an awesome summer for cinema and the team of Rhys, Matthew, Dion and Billy discuss two of the biggest films of the season - Superman (2025) and Fantastic Four (2025). It’s the equivalent of an on-screen battle between DC and MCU.

As ever, there’s in-depth analysis of these two megahit movies. Spoiler alert! DC wins this clash according to CineClub. Tune in to find out why…

Our presenters are Rhys, Matthew, Dion and Billy. The episode was engineered and edited by Emily Main.

Let us know your thoughts on Superman vs Fantastic Four using the email below or sending a message on our Instagram.

This episode was recorded and produced by the CineClub members at the University of Sunderland. Special thanks to our technical team and academic staff.

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This week we’re in the weird world of Al Yankovic. The team of Jake, Matthew, Billy and Rhys discuss the bizarre comedy, the songs and outstanding filmic parodies of UHF (1989) and the more recent Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022).

It’s clear there’s a whole lotta love for Weird Al and his brand of fantastical comedy.  

Our presenters are Jake, Matthew, Billy, and Rhys. The episode was engineered and edited by Emily Main.

Let us know your favourite Weird Al song or your thoughts on this weeks films using the email below or sending a message on our Instagram.

This episode was recorded and produced by the CineClub members at the University of Sunderland. Special thanks to our technical team and academic staff.

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This week the Team share their Letterboxd favourite films. What’s interesting is that each of the four choices share some common themes: the films are all quite stylized (albeit in different ways), they all contain outstanding acting performances, and they all have stood the test of time.

Tune in to find out which movies they selected and whether you agree with their picks…

Our presenters are Dion, Rhys, Billy, and Matthew. The episode was engineered and edited by Emily Main.

Let us know your Favourite films or even your thoughts on the Team’s faves by using the email below or sending a message on our Instagram.

This episode was recorded and produced by the CineClub members at the University of Sunderland. Special thanks to our technical team and academic staff.

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The team of Jake, Billy, Rhys and Matthew are on a magical mystery tour of The Beatles’ animated film Yellow Submarine (1968).

There’s clearly some evidence of Beatlemania in the episode, but there’s also the usual ‘intelligent readings’ of the film, some Beatles history trivia and some talk about the way the music, dialogue and animation come together.

Our presenters are Jake, Billy, Rhys and Matthew. The episode was engineered and edited by Emily Main.

Let us know your thoughts on The Beatles films using the email below or sending a message on our Instagram.

This episode was recorded and produced by the CineClub members at the University of Sunderland. Special thanks to our technical team and academic staff.

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This week Lupin aficionados Dion and Jake enthuse about the Japanese animated action films Castle of Cagliostro (1979), Mystery of Mamo (1978) and Lupin III: The First (2019).

These cult films focus upon the character of gentleman thief, Lupin III, which was originally developed in a manga series by Monkey Punch. The team ruminate fondly about the filmic art and music and the influence of these acclaimed films.

Our presenters are Dion and Jake. The episode was engineered and edited by Emily Main.

Let us know your thoughts on the Lupin III films, or even the tv series or manga using the email below or sending a message on our Instagram.

This episode was recorded and produced by the CineClub members at the University of Sunderland. Special thanks to our technical team and academic staff.

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Lock the door and leave the light on – this episode explores horror films based on or around television shows. The team of Matthew, Connell, Jake and Bebe discuss the iconic BBC television film Ghostwatch from 1992 and the more recent independent film, Late Night with the Devil (2023).

The whole team agree that Ghostwatch stands out as a genuinely creepy, innovative and well written piece of work. It’s BBC origins and supreme ‘Britishness’ make it particularly convincing and quite frankly has left some of the team with nightmares!

The response to late Night with the Devil is more mixed. Bebe observes how the new film compares unfavourably to Ghostwatch because some characters are underdeveloped, whereas Jake and Connell dislike the use of AI in the newer film. Matthew was a little distracted by some flickering lights in Studio 4 during the recording of this episode….

Our presenters are Matthew, Connell, Jake and Bebe. The episode was engineered and edited by Emily Main.

Let us know which films have given you nightmares by using the email below or sending a message on our Instagram.

This episode was recorded and produced by the CineClub members at the University of Sunderland. Special thanks to our technical team and academic staff.

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This week sees the release of the new Superman film starring David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan and directed by James Gunn. The team of Rhys, Billy, Jake and Matthew discuss the range of Superman films from George Reeves version of the 1950’s to Christopher Reeve through to Brandon Routh and lately Henry Cavill, as well as a handful of small screen adaptations.

The chat covers the Superman story themes, actors and directors. Rhys confesses some of the human drama is ‘so emotional’. For Billy and Matthew, it’s the violence of the Routh and Cavill versions leading them to consider ‘is Superman a murderer?’ And Jake just wants the new film to be as good as some of the past films and give us a ' big Superman summer.'

It’s fair to say that the whole team are Superman enthusiasts – so our sound engineer, Emily, had a job to keep them to time in the recording studio this week!

Our presenters are Rhys, Billy, Jake and Matthew. The episode was engineered and edited by Emily Main.

Let us know your thoughts on Superman by using the email below or sending a message on our Instagram.

This episode was recorded and produced by the CineClub members at the University of Sunderland. Special thanks to our technical team and academic staff.

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To coincide with the recent release of 28 Years Later, the Team discuss the merits and demerits of the ‘28’ film series.

28 Days Later is accepted by the whole team as a film which ‘loves to have the zombies on screen’ and is characterised by the magnetic performances of its actors and the visual language created by the writer (Alex Garland) and director (Danny Boyle). 28 Weeks Later proves more controversial and an example of what Billy kindly refers to as ‘missed potential’.

With 28 Years Later the series seems back on track with outstanding acting and wonderful world building. The Team loved the characters, drama and locations of this film. Is it a love letter to the North East? Let us know what you think…

Our presenters are Billy, Dion, Matthew and Rhys. The episode was engineered and edited by Emily Main.

Let us know your thoughts on ‘28 Days, Weeks and Years’ by using the email below or sending a message on our Instagram.

This episode was recorded and produced by the CineClub members at the University of Sunderland. Special thanks to our technical team and academic staff.

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There’s a difference of opinion in the team this week when Matthew, Rhys and Billy ruminate on Keanu’s back catalogue of work. Matthew wonders about Keanu’s line delivery and mannequin-like face, Rhys thinks he’s a star vessel, whilst Billy is prepared to defend Keanu to the hilt on the grounds that Reeves is self-aware and plays to his strengths.

From some dodgy casting (‘what was Coppola thinking casting Keanu as Jonathan Harker?’) to ‘Peak Keanu’ (The Matrix, John Wick and Bill and Ted) the team ultimately agree that Keanu is good in some genres rather than others.

Our presenters are Matthew, Rhys and Billy. The episode was engineered and edited by Emily Main.

Let us know your thoughts on Keanu by using the email below or sending a message on our Instagram.

This episode was recorded and produced by the CineClub members at the University of Sunderland.

Special thanks to our technical team and academic staff.

Email: [email protected]  

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