Share
Failed Critics (2012-2019 episodes)
Failed Critics Podcast: Star Wars - The Force Awakens
•
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...
Owen Hughes has vanished. In his absence, the sinister Steve Norman has risen from the ashes of the Failed Critics Podcast and will not rest until he has reviewed Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
With the help of Paul Field and Dave Valentine, Steve leads a brave effort to restore order to the podcast..
OK, enough of that. You get the idea with our opening crawl. It's a Star Wars special episode that celebrates the iconic movie series, from the original trilogy all the way through to JJ Abrams smash hit Episode 7 - The Force Awakens, released in UK cinemas yesterday.
As Owen kicked off the podcast this week, it's up to Steve to host on his lonesome, with support from Underground Nights' very own Paul Field, and making his debut on Failed Critics, Dave Valentine. All of whom have been huge fans of the sci-fi fantasy saga from a young age and share their nostalgic experiences and how it may or may not have impacted on their enjoyment of the latest release in the franchise.
If, like Steve, Paul and Dave, you too had been avoiding spoilers like the plague, then don't worry. We have a main review that is as spoiler free as is humanly possible for a film review, keeping the nitty gritty to a separate 'spoiler alert' section after the end credits, with plenty of warning in advance!
Don't forget to take the time to vote in our Failed Critics Awards if the force is strong enough to break your top 10 films of the year.
Join us again next week for our rather festive Christmas episode!
More episodes
View all episodes
295. Triple Bill: Turning TV into Films
57:46||Season 1, Ep. 295Like buses, you wait for three years and then two come along at once, overcharge you, and make you late for work. Or something. Released at almost the exact same time as the previous episode, because why wait? This time, it's just Steve and Owen talking about stuff they've seen - including Disney+ series Andor, Disney+ movie See How They Run, and non-Disney+ Christmas movies - and think up some ideas for TV shows that deserve a spin-off movie. Like Bean: The Ultimate Disaster Movie. Only different.294. Up to no good again (again)
01:22:15||Season 1, Ep. 294Surprise! We're back, sort of, for a couple of episodes at the very least. We do sure hope nothing's changed since we last stepped onto this feed in 2019. Steve is putting the memory foam back in his hosting chair seat, Owen is being as pretentious as always, as Brooker is, of course, reviewing horror movies. The more things change, the more they stay the same. There's quizzing, a round up of 'what we've been watching' that spans the last couple of weeks rather than years featuring Ghostbusters, Netflix's The Watcher, and the best/worst of FrightFest 2022 - plus a couple of new releases sneak their way in under the radar with reviews of All Quiet on the Western Front, the new Hellraiser movie, and a couple of words at most for Black Adam.Announcement: Failed Critics is back (and in a new home!)
17:04|A quick announcement from Failed Critics' new publisher and editor Tony Black discussing the return of Failed Critics and where to now find the podcast, plus a sneak peek at our first episode back with Tony, regular host Steve Norman, and guest Matt Lambourne.This feed will remain active as a storehouse for all 290+ episodes of Failed Critics between 2012-2019, but you can find the rebooted era of the show by subscribing at the following link here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/failed-critics-podcast/id1611135627You can also find the podcast on Spotify and all good pod catchers if you type in 'Failed Critics Podcast'.We'll see you there!291. Failed Critics Podcast: Triple bill 2019 and that
51:13||Season 1, Ep. 291Hosts Steve Norman and Owen Hughes had a day off work and decided to kill time by doing an impromptu podcast on stuff they've seen in 2019. It also means we edge one step closer to the magic episode 300 mark - just nine more to go. But, seeing as the last podcast they released was in June 2018, it's unlikely to be reached any time soon.The pair talk about what they've watched recently, including a chat about bizarre Japanese arthouse film Tetsuo, The Iron Man, and the wave of true crime documentaries lately. In triple bill, they each pick out their favourite new film of 2019, their favourite first-time watch of the year, and the worst film they've seen over the past three months or so.We'll be back.. probably.. at some point.. hopefully.290. Failed Critics Podcast: Solo: A Star Wars Podcast
01:09:46||Season 1, Ep. 290We're back! Sort of. Host Steve Norman is back, at least, for another Star Wars special episode with regulars Paul Field and Dave Valentine booting misery guts Owen Hughes from the podcast. There's quizzing, japes, and of course more Solo: A Star Wars Story chat than you could shake a lightsaber at.289. Failed Critics Podcast: Avengers: Infinity War birthday special
01:21:39||Season 1, Ep. 289Happy birthday to you guys! Yes, it's your birthday everyone. Or, rather, the Failed Critics Podcast turned six this week, which means happy birthday to us and all of our listeners who witnessed this Frankenstein's monster of a podcast come to life.To celebrate, hosts Steve Norman and Owen Hughes have put together a hastily arranged episode with a sneaky post-credits Avengers: Infinity War review.Also on the episode, we return to a classic format for the quiz section, before covering The Discovery, Money Monster, Alien 3 and Rampage in WWBW.Thanks to everyone who has ever downloaded, listened, shared, liked, commented on, complained about, subscribed, unsubscribed, or otherwise interacted with the podcast in some form or another throughout our existence.288. Failed Critics Podcast: Oscars That Never Were Triple Bill
52:59||Season 1, Ep. 288We're back for a bit. No biggie. Just Steve Norman, Owen Hughes and Paul Field, hanging around recording a random triple bill podcast trying to ride the crest of interest that usually comes during the Oscars season.Resurrected from the near dead, the Failed Critics revive an old quiz - not an old quiz format, literally they replay an old quiz - and chat about what they've been watching lately. Paul revels in riotous horror Freehold, Owen revisits 10 Cloverfield Lane, and Steve rubbishes a bunch of Netflix Originals.In the triple bill section, there's chaos, confusion and regular shambolic behaviour as each critic picks a movie that missed that all important award nod from the Academy throughout history.Don't get too excited; this doesn't actually signal a return to a weekly format for FC. But we're on 288 episodes now. You'll probably see us appear in your feed at 12 other points throughout the year as we push for the magic 300, so don't unsubscribe just yet!If you want more regular podcasting goodness from Owen and Steve (and Tony Black!) then please subscribe, listen and rate to STT: Rewind over at SetTheTape.com/podcasts.287. Failed Critics Unplugged: Live in Oxford (Again)
01:29:40||Season 1, Ep. 287Happy New Year and all that jazz. We're back from our end of year celebrations (sort of) as hosts Steve Norman and Owen Hughes head to a pub in Oxford to chat movies and TV with Character Unlock's Andrew Brooker.Recorded over a month ago in the same pub as our last live podcast, the trio run through what they've been watching lately, as well as a triple bill giving insight into what has caught their eye over the past year at the cinema, on Netflix and the goggle box.286. Failed Critics Podcast: FC Awards 2017
02:10:21||Season 1, Ep. 286Another year down, and another awards ceremony concluded. Hosts Steve Norman and Owen Hughes are joined by a returning Paul Field to produce another quality end-of-year quiz, and to help us round-up the results from the Failed Critics Awards 2017.Our huge thanks go out to everybody who took the time to submit nominations in the various categories. We'll be posting the results as a list later in the week, but for now we hope you have a great New Year!We'll return soon for another special live episode recorded in Oxford earlier this year.