The Third Reel: A Movie Podcast

It topped all of our most anticipated lists at the start of the year… and now The Odyssey has finally landed.A couple of weeks into its cinematic run, with plenty more time still to catch it on the big screen, we’ve sat down for a Reel Kwik to give our full thoughts. And without spoiling too much up top… yeah, we loved it. Simple as that.Join all three of us as we dive into what makes this one so special, from the scale and spectacle (yes, we’re talking IMAX) to the performances, themes, and everything in between. There’s a lot to unpack here, and while we couldn’t cover absolutely everything, we’ve given it our best shot.Haven’t seen it yet? This is your sign. Get yourself to the cinema, and if you can, go big with IMAX.As always with Reel Kwik: we kick things off spoiler-free with our recommendations, before the klaxon sounds and we head into full spoiler territory for deeper discussion and final scores.If you have any things you want to discuss about this film or what you want us to cover in the future, email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through our socials @third_reel_podhttps://linktr.ee/thirdreelpodSupport our Patreon for more TTR! https://patreon.com/thirdreelpodTIMESTAMPS00:00:00 - Preamble00:02:22 - Spoiler Free Review00:33:00 - Spoiler Review

Twilight landed with all the grace of a vampire in Crocs… so naturally, we’re back for round two. 🌑In this episode of The Third Reel, Dale, Dan, and Rachael dive headfirst into The Twilight Saga: New Moon — the broodiest, slowest, most “stare out of a window while sad indie music plays” sequel in cinematic history.After both Dale and Dan slapped Twilight with a lukewarm 5/10, the big question is: does New Moon rise from the ashes… or just sulk in the corner for two hours? Rachael isn’t optimistic — it’s her least favourite book, and she’s calling the film a full-on snooze fest. Confidence is high. Spirits are low. Team morale? Questionable.Expect:• Painfully intense eye contact• Shirtless Jacob doing overtime• Bella inventing new levels of dramatic sadness• And three hosts slowly losing their mindsBut… could this be the episode where Team Edward gets benched and Team Jacob steals the show? Stranger things have happened. Probably.🎙️ If you love movie reviews, chaotic debates, and brutally honest takes on iconic films, you’re in the right place.FULL SPOILERS FOR NEW MOON IN THIS EPISODE. You have been warned.If you have any things you want to discuss about this film or Twilight in general, email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through our socials @third_reel_podhttps://linktr.ee/thirdreelpodSupport our Patreon for more TTR! https://patreon.com/thirdreelpodAll music used in this podcast is for commentary and review purposes under fair use. We give full credit to the original composers and right holders, and acknowledge that we do not own any of the music featured.TIMESTAMPS00:00:00 - Preamble00:03:28 - Review01:17:05 - Closing Thoughts & Scores

Welcome to a brand new format from The Third Reel: our quest to build the Top 100 Films of All Time (According to Us)… and yes, it’s exactly as unhinged as it sounds.This isn’t your polite, panel-based, “let’s all agree and hold hands” kind of list. Absolutely not. This is cinema carnage. Rankings are thrown, stolen, boosted, and occasionally launched out of a moving vehicle.Each episode, the three of us bring three films each to the table. The twist? We can place them anywhere we want on the Top 100. No committee approval. No democracy. Just pure, unchecked cinematic ego.But wait, there’s more chaos in the chamber.Every episode, we’re each given a random power that can completely flip the board. Want to bump your favourite up three spots? Done. Think a film is sitting far too high? Drag it down into the depths. Fancy swapping two films just to watch the world burn? Go on then.It’s part movie debate, part strategy game, part glorious nonsense.Think of it like a game show… if the prize is eternal bragging rights and the battleground is the greatest films ever made (according to whoever happens to be holding the power at the time).🎬 New format🎲 New rules every episode🔥 Maximum chaosWelcome to the Top 100.If you have any things you want to discuss about this film or what you want us to cover in the future, email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through our socials @third_reel_podhttps://linktr.ee/thirdreelpodSupport our Patreon for more TTR! https://patreon.com/thirdreelpodTIMESTAMPS00:00:00 - Preamble00:10:45 - The Game

The Review Series is back… and it’s sparkling in the sunlight ☀️🧛Yes, somehow, some way, we’ve entered the world of Twilight — and we’re starting exactly where it all began: Twilight (2008). This one’s been a long time coming, with Rach campaigning harder than a vampire chasing a fresh paper cut to get it on the schedule. Her wish has finally been granted… but at what cost?Because here’s the twist: Dan and Dale are notorious Twilight sceptics. That’s right — two reluctant mortals stepping into a franchise beloved by millions. Will they be converted? Will they survive the angst, the baseball scene, and the… unique line deliveries? Or will this turn into a full-blown cinematic bloodbath?Whether you’re Team Edward, Team Jacob, or Team “I’ve never actually seen this,” there’s something here for you.Also — a quick apology for the slightly late release… but come on, England beating Mexico had to take priority. No regrets.FULL SPOILERS FOR TWILIGHT IN THIS EPISODE. You have been warned.If you have any things you want to discuss about this film or Twilight in general, email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through our socials @third_reel_podhttps://linktr.ee/thirdreelpodSupport our Patreon for more TTR! https://patreon.com/thirdreelpodAll music used in this podcast is for commentary and review purposes under fair use. We give full credit to the original composers and right holders, and acknowledge that we do not own any of the music featured.TIMESTAMPS00:00:00 - Preamble00:12:20 - Review01:42:55 - Closing Thoughts & Scores

This week, the popcorn’s a little quieter… but the stories? Absolute chaos.With Dan off on a mysterious “working trip” (we’re choosing to believe he’s method acting somewhere), it’s just Dale and Rach back behind the mic for a two-hander episode. And instead of forcing each other to watch something questionable again, they’ve turned their attention to something far more unpredictable… the cinema experience itself.Because let’s be honest — sometimes the film is only half the story.In this episode, Dale and Rach each bring their 3 best and 3 worst cinema experiences, and the results are exactly what you’d expect: a rollercoaster of magical movie moments, awkward encounters, technical disasters, and the kind of audience behaviour that should probably be studied by scientists.We’re talking:The kind of screenings that remind you why cinema is unbeatableThe films that were massively elevated (or completely ruined) by the crowdUnexpected moments of pure movie magicAnd the absolute trenches… noisy eaters, phone zombies, and “is this seat taken?” warriorsIt’s not about the best or worst films — it’s about everything around them. The atmosphere, the people, the chaos, the vibes. The stuff you can’t stream, pause, or escape from.So whether you’re a cinema purist, a back-row bandit, or someone who still hasn’t forgiven that one person who checked their phone at full brightness… this episode will feel painfully familiar.Email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through the socials @third_reel_podhttps://linktr.ee/thirdreelpodSupport our Patreon for more TTR! https://patreon.com/thirdreelpod

This week, we deliver the second dose of D — another 16-disc showdown packed with daring picks, dazzling classics, dark horses, and a few decisions that may genuinely derail our credibility. It’s double the debate, double the doubt, and definitely a descent into chaos as we attempt to determine which film deserves a duel with the reigning champion.Expect disagreements. Expect defensiveness. Expect declarations that will age disastrously. Because when the stakes are this high and the D list is this deep, every decision feels dangerous.Will a deserving darling rise? Will an underdog deliver? Or will we completely detonate the bracket with one dodgy decision?One thing’s for certain: by the end of this episode, the final duel will be decided.Are there any films you think we missed in our list of D films? Any ones you want to see included in future letters? We want to know!Email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through the socials @third_reel_podhttps://linktr.ee/thirdreelpodSupport our Patreon for more TTR! https://patreon.com/thirdreelpodTIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 - Preamble00:07:11 - Round of 1601:16:33 - Quarters01:25:41 - Semis01:27:46 - Final01:29:49 - Ultimate Final

The A–Z of Films is BACK… and the letter D has kicked the door off its hinges and made itself very comfortable 🎬After A, B and C served up a surprisingly chaotic mix of predictable winners, shocking exits, and moments that made us question whether we’ve ever actually seen a film before… we’ve arrived at D. And honestly? This might be the most stacked, most stressful, most “how on earth do you choose between THESE?” letter yet.We’re talking wall-to-wall heavy hitters. Iconic classics. Cult favourites. Certified bangers. The kind of films that don’t just sit on your watchlist… they glare at you from across the room, demanding respect. Narrowing this down to 32 films felt less like a fun podcast segment and more like a brutal, no-holds-barred elimination chamber. Cuts were made. Feelings were hurt. Some choices will absolutely come back to haunt us.Of course, every tournament has its “obvious” contenders… the films you assume will cruise through without breaking a sweat. But if the first three letters have taught us anything, it’s this: NOTHING is safe. Not reputations, not fan favourites, not even our own picks. One rogue argument, one chaotic vote, and suddenly a titan is on the ropes.Welcome to Part 1 of our Letter D showdown — 16 films enter the bracket this week, battling it out in head-to-head clashes fuelled by passion, nostalgia, and increasingly questionable reasoning. Only ONE will emerge victorious and earn the right to face next week’s winner in the ultimate D finale.Are there any films you think we missed in our list of D films? Any ones you want to see included in future letters? We want to know!Email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through the socials @third_reel_podhttps://linktr.ee/thirdreelpodSupport our Patreon for more TTR! https://patreon.com/thirdreelpodTIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 - Preamble00:08:56 - Round of 1601:01:00 - Quarters01:05:57 - Semis01:11:42 - Final?

This week on The Third Reel, we’re joined by director Keith Kopp and producer Luke Allen to talk about their ambitious upcoming feature First Christmas — and the very real journey of actually getting a film made.We dig into how Keith and Luke found their way into the industry, how their paths crossed, and how that collaboration has snowballed into their biggest project yet. First Christmas is already shaping up to be a stacked production, with a cast including Mark Addy, Eleanor Tomlinson, Russell Tovey, Dean-Charles Chapman, Samuel Anderson, Ian McNeice, Yasmin Al-Khudhairi and Alex Horne — which, frankly, is the kind of lineup that makes you double-check you’re still an indie film.But before the cameras roll, there’s the small matter of… money. We talk candidly about the final financing hurdles, what it’s like pitching a film in today’s industry, and their recent trip to Cannes — where dreams are pitched, deals are made, and sleep is optional.With principal photography planned for later this year and a target release of late 2027, this is a rare, behind-the-scenes snapshot of a film in motion — not after the fact, but right in the thick of it.If you’ve ever wondered what it actually takes to get a feature film off the ground (beyond shouting “action”), this one’s for you.Want to follow the journey of First Christmas?Check out Luke’s production company at www.askseekknock.co.ukFollow along at linktr.ee/firstchristmasmovieOr find them on socials @firstchristmasfilmWho do you want to see us interview next? We want to know!Email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through the socials @third_reel_podhttps://linktr.ee/thirdreelpodSupport our Patreon for more TTR! https://patreon.com/thirdreelpodTIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 - Preamble00:17:00 - Previous Work00:26:15 - How They Met00:35:50 - First Christmas00:54:40 - Cannes Debrief