The Quantum Reactor Episode 7: The 5th Element

Podcast listeners, ROLL OUT! This week Jeremy and Andrew dive into the cult classic 1986 film, The Transformers: The Movie! In this review, they pay homage to the late, great Peter Cullen, and debate if this 80s animated film sets a bar for films that sell toys, or trips over it.Join our Discord community to chat with fellow cinephiles! https://discord.gg/a4Caah2jQWTheme music by Joe FrankSoundscapes by tabletopaudio.com

Into the Spider-Verse shocked the film and comic book lover communities with its engaging story and characters, incredible art style, and triumphant superhero moments. Can the sequel, Across the Spider-Verse, live up to the hype? Jeremy and Andrew dig in on another episode of The Quantum Reactor!Join our Discord community to chat with fellow cinephiles! https://discord.gg/a4Caah2jQWTheme music by Joe FrankSoundscapes by tabletopaudio.com

The Quantum Reactor is back! This episode, recorded 3 years ago and rescued from the black hole, goes into depth on Steven Spielberg's 2001 cult classic, A.I. Artificial Intelligence. A hearty welcome back to the station from Jeremy and Andrew! Join our Discord community to chat with fellow cinephiles! https://discord.gg/a4Caah2jQWTheme music by Joe Frank Soundscapes by tabletopaudio.com

The Quantum Reactor returns in 2026 with new sci-fi movie reviews transmitting to you! Join Jeremy Cobb and Andrew Coons as they review Project Hail Mary, Alien, Shin Godzilla, and more, from aboard the only space station in the galaxy dedicated to sci-fi movie reviews...The Quantum Reactor!Join the conversation on Discord! https://discord.com/invite/PGBddA6RScTheme music by Joe Frank.

To cap off AAPI month, our Quarkermaster and Head of Radiospoilerology attempt to clean the darkened glass and come face to face with one of the crowning achievements of Japanese sci fi and one of the most influential sci fi movies of all time, the 1995 animated classic Ghost in the Shell.Join our Discord community to chat with fellow cinephiles! https://discord.gg/a4Caah2jQWFollow The Quantum Reactor on Twitter at www.twitter.com/QReactorShowFollow Jeremy and Andrew at www.twitter.com/JeremyCobb1 and www.twitter.com/drew_coonsTheme music by Joe Frank www.twitter.com/joefrank87Soundscapes by tabletopaudio.com

Our Quarkermaster and Head of Radiospoilerology turn up their collars, open their glowing umbrellas, and venture into the rainy neon depths of one of the most influential science fiction movies of all time. Join our Discord community to chat with fellow cinephiles! https://discord.gg/a4Caah2jQWFollow The Quantum Reactor on Twitter at www.twitter.com/QReactorShowFollow Jeremy and Andrew at www.twitter.com/JeremyCobb1 and www.twitter.com/drew_coonsTheme music by Joe Frank www.twitter.com/joefrank87Soundscapes by tabletopaudio.com

Techno Orientalism is a problem that's plagued the sci fi genre for decades. Today, we're joined by James Mendez Hodes to discuss some of the films that suffer from it, some of the films that avoid it, and how the industry can learn from it going forward.Films/Television Shows mentioned:Blade RunnerBlade Runner 2049Star Wars seriesThe Hidden FortressSense8Cloud AtlasThe Fast and the Furious: Tokyo DriftBetter Luck TomorrowTangledBig Trouble in Little ChinaCyberpunk: EdgerunnersJames' Recommendations:Moon Girl  and Devil DinosaurCowboy BebopCarole and TuesdayJames Mendez Hodes Articles: https://jamesmendezhodes.com/blog/2019/1/13/orcs-britons-and-the-martial-race-myth-part-i-a-species-built-for-racial-terror https://jamesmendezhodes.com/blog/2019/6/30/orcs-britons-and-the-martial-race-myth-part-ii-theyre-not-human James Mendez Hodes 3 Black Halflings Appearances: https://headgum.com/three-black-halflings/lets-hamilton-this-guy-systemic-racism-in-fantasy https://headgum.com/three-black-halflings/its-ok-frodo-i-actually-dont-see-height-systemic-racism-in-dd https://headgum.com/three-black-halflings/another-finger-on-the-racist-monkeys-paw-closes-with-james-mendez-hodes https://headgum.com/three-black-halflings/the-monks-monopoly-with-james-mendez-hodes https://headgum.com/three-black-halflings/punch-you-in-the-ki-a-guide-to-monks-with-james-mendez-hodes Nute Gunray accent:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kD2gZ-2OI4I&ab_channel=JoTambor Research Links: https://thechloegong.com/2019/12/28/techno-orientalism-in-science-fiction/https://www.vice.com/en/article/mb7yqx/cyberpunk-cities-fetishize-asian-culture-but-have-no-asians-blade-runner https://www.trtworld.com/opinion/slavery-the-robot-and-orientalism-in-science-fiction-37635 https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9780230101678_6 https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/where-the-future-is-asian-and-the-asians-are-robots https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8e8xtvElpQ&ab_channel=MaiaC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbqX53avv0o&ab_channel=YujinKim

Annihilation is one of the best and most haunting sci fi films of the last 10 years, and in this episode, Andrew and Jeremy venture into its kaleidoscopic imagery, themes, and refractions. Join our Discord community to chat with fellow cinephiles! https://discord.gg/a4Caah2jQW Follow The Quantum Reactor on Twitter at www.twitter.com/QReactorShow Follow Jeremy and Andrew at www.twitter.com/JeremyCobb1 and www.twitter.com/drew_coons Theme music by Joe Frank www.twitter.com/joefrank87 Soundscapes by tabletopaudio.com

The 5th Element is one of the most unique sci-fi films ever made, and in this episode, Jeremy and Andrew dig deep into its eccentricities, triumphs, and shortcomings. It's time to revist The Quantum Reactor! Join our Discord community to chat with fellow cinephiles! https://discord.gg/a4Caah2jQW Follow The Quantum Reactor on Twitter at www.twitter.com/QReactorShow Follow Jeremy and Andrew at www.twitter.com/JeremyCobb1 and www.twitter.com/drew_coons Theme music by Joe Frank www.twitter.com/joefrank87 Soundscapes by tabletopaudio.com

Time travel will fry your brain like an egg, but Jeremy and Andrew risk it anyways and dive into a review of the 2012 Rian Johnson sci-fi film, Looper! Join our Discord community to chat with fellow cinephiles! https://discord.gg/a4Caah2jQW Follow The Quantum Reactor on Twitter at www.twitter.com/QReactorShow Follow Jeremy and Andrew at www.twitter.com/JeremyCobb1 and www.twitter.com/drew_coons Theme music by Joe Frank www.twitter.com/joefrank87 Soundscapes by tabletopaudio.com