Episode 699 - The Ice Pirates (1984), Stewart Raffill, and Budget Cuts

Mark and Niall discuss the 1984 science fiction film The Ice Pirates. Directed by Stewart Raffill and starring Robert Urich, Ron Perlman, Anjelica Huston and a time distortion field, the movie focuses on a group of pirates who loot ice from spaceships. In this episode, they also talk about budget cuts, cheeky sci-fi, and clumsy robots. Enjoy!

Mark and Erik discuss the 1988 comedy The Great Outdoors. Directed by Howard Deutch and starring John Candy, Dan Aykroyd and a gigantic slab of beef, the movie focuses on what happens when a family's serene vacation is wrecked by uninvited guests. In this episode, they also talk about happy families, animal hijinks, and bear fights. Enjoy!

Mark and Zanandi discuss the 2025 horror sequel I Know What You Did Last Summer. Directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson and starring Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, Tyriq Withers and a doomed podcaster, the movie focuses on what happens when several good-looking people have a terrible summer. In this episode, they also talk about vodka chugging, legacy characters and the excellence of Madelyn Cline.

Mark and Professor Mike Dillon discuss the 1993 action film Hard Target. Directed by John Woo, and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lance Henriksen, Arnold Vosloo, Yancy Butler, and an unlucky rattlesnake, the movie focuses on what happens when a group of hunters battle a hard target. In this episode, they also talk about exploding pants, cajun accents, and spin kicks. Enjoy!

Mark and Norbert discuss the 1995 action film Fair Game. Directed by Andrew Sipes, and starring William Baldwin, Cindy Crawford and unpaid alimony payments, the movie focuses on what happens when two attractive people are hunted by international money launderers. In this episode, they also talk about comically large explosions, random freighters, and the Baldwin brothers. 

Mark and Niall finish up their Star Trek series by talking about the 2025 sci-fi comedy Star Trek: Section 31. Directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi, and starring Michelle Yeoh, Omari Hardwick, and an Irish Nanokin, the movie focuses on what happens when a group of Starfleeters attempt to stop a doomsday device from dooming the galaxy. In this episode, they also talk about Irish accents, bad jokes, and doomed projects. Enjoy!

Mark, Megan and David talk about the 2026 Best Picture race and piece together the MFF Best Picture lineup. In this episode, they also talk about emotionally mature movies, safe picks, and Hot Spring Shark Attack. Enjoy!

Mark and Jonny Numb share their favorite 2025 “Feel Good” movie moments. In this episode, they talk about their favorite moments from A Little Prayer, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Bob Trevino Likes It, Sorry, Baby, Eddington, It Was Just an Accident, A House of Dynamite, and many more excellent films. Make sure to check out the “Feel Good” series! Mark and Jonny Numb have talked about The House That Jack Built, Red Rooms, Clean, Shaven, Green Room, Super Dark Times, First Reformed, Badlands, The Zone of Interest, A Better Place, Only God Forgives, Thirst, The Devil All the Time, Bad Lieutenant, Killer Joe and The Virgin Suicides. 

Mark and Professor Mike Dillon discuss the 1994 sci-fi action film No Escape. Directed by Martin Campbell, and starring Ray Liotta, Stuart Wilson, Ernie Hudson and a gross swimming pool, the movie focuses on what happens when an elite Marine is sent to a remote prison island. In this episode, they also talk about swimming pool fights, big explosions, and the excellence of Martin Campbell. 

Mark and Norbert discuss the 1995 action film Sudden Death. Directed by Peter Hyams and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Powers Boothe, and a penguin-suited mascot named Iceburgh, the movie focuses on what happens when a group of terrorists take over a hockey arena. In this episode, they also talk about kitchen fights, improvised weapons, and helicopter explosions. Enjoy!