Show Notes
[School of Movies 2025] NOTE: This episode was originally released in 2025, a year before we covered the sequels in 2026. An extremely long-awaited show on a game-changer of a blockbuster movie. The first Pirates film, released in 2003 before Lord of the Rings had completed brought the world many things: A fantabulous extravaganza of practical effects, combined with a surprisingly light smattering of digital VFX that would be leaned into a lot harder later down the line, The notion that the swashbuckler could still do big business (the hidden caveat was that Johnny Depp being strange absolutely must be present) Keira Knightley as a leading lady, Gore Verbinski as a major director, the supposition that audiences would flock to cinematic adaptations of Disney park rides (they won't, just this one. See above regarding Johnny Depp) and Geoffrey Rush as an all-time iconic big-screen presence embodying the most consistently enjoyable pirate of all time. But there's more going on, beneath the frothing surface, a fantastically witty, urbane and efficient script by Terry Rossio and Ted Elliott, one of the greatest scores ever composed (in a shockingly short amount of time) and Orlando Bloom's character actually being quite good, especially when held against Jack Davenport's Lawful Neutral Commodore James Norrington. This was a commission for Lincoln Alpern and features clips from the best audiodrama I've ever composed; Panther Soul, and the first chapter of the brand new Dracula adaptation Castle of the Moon. Guests: Hollywoo Actress Maya Souris @Mayasantandrea Brenden Agnew @BLCAgnew of Make Me Watch It
More from School of Movies
[School of Movies 2026] The original Rocky series comes to a close... twice. For the longest time, sixteen years in fact, fans of the first entries in the saga of this good-natured fighter were disappointed by the fifth film. It took things out of the ring, stole all of his family's money and gave him brain damage. The result is a return to the chilly streets of Philadelphia and a tug of war between the son who needs him and the surrogate who can continue the boxing career he is now denied. But there's still merit to be found in this messy search for self-esteem. However, in 2006, Stallone returned with a little more stuff left in the basement. I've seen some lists that classify Rocky Balboa (2006) as a mediocre entry only a smidge better than the previous. This baffles me like a right-hook from inside a baby carriage! It is the first one I saw, so I had nothing invested at the time, I didn't know who Adrian was, nor what her absence would feel to those who grew up with her around. But as a meditation on grieving, unresolved rage and a final climb up a Sisyphean mountain to prove this old man can still go the distance, it is a rousing triumph, and my abiding favourite. This week's After School Club: The Abominable Dr. Phibes Next week: An American Werewolf in London
[School of Movies 2026] This trio of double-bills are arranged across three distinct stages of Rocky's life. As a thirty-year-old Boy he was fighting to prove he could go the distance. Now, as the Man of the hour he has ascended way beyond all of us mere mortals to World Champion Superhero for two helpings of 1980s American excess that are quite differently flavoured from their humble 70s roots. In III he meets Hulk Hogan and Mr T, loses his beloved mentor and has to find that role anew in his former opponent Apollo Creed. But then in IV the Cold War comes calling and while Creed battles in vain to prove America is better than The Soviet Union, it ultimately falls to Rocky to finish the fight and end historical global conflict by boxing really well. For IV however, after Creed II was released and during Lockdown Stallone went back to new transfers sourced from the original negatives to reconstruct it as a more serious and focused effort that would fit better with the new movies as well as the older ones, giving Sharon and I a lot to talk about regarding how her original favourite changed, both for better and worse. Still to come, the consequences of getting hit in the head over and over again, and a surprise favourite for the original six. This week's After School Club: Shakespeare in Love (With an Upstart Crow) Next week: Rocky V + Rocky Balboa
[School of Movies 2026] Welcome to a saga of films spanning fifty years and being more about male vulnerability and the struggle for self-esteem than they actually are about boxing. They skirt the line between super-marketable, modestly-budgeted mass-appeal and heartfelt and very personal artistic expression. We have long-promised the Rocky series, and finally we are able to cover them in a trio of double-bills spanning three stages of life for the lovable, tragicomic pugilist. We have also recorded on the two remaining Creed sequels, and those will be released as a final show (for now) next year. Here we begin in Philadelphia, 1976 with a young, broke, unknown Silvester Stallone writing a piece about his struggle to gain work and recognition, utilising the analogy of a sports movie. Then after three years of uncertainty, can he, and Rocky prove that they weren't just one-hit wonders? This week's After School Club: Shakespeare in Love (With Anonymous) Next week: Rocky III + Rocky IV
[School of Movies 2026] This was a commissioned show for Sarah Montgomery, though it is a film we have promised to cover for years and needed the right time. Turns out sandwiching it between Shakespeare and the Rocky Saga is appropriately ideal. It was released the same year as The Empire Strikes Back and watching any one minute of it will convey to newcomers why this campy space opera could not possibly compete for the attention of an audience craving Star Wars. However, it still did well enough, especially in the UK where the many fans of Queen celebrated this, the first ever sci-fi blockbuster film underscored with rock music. It has subsequently gained a cult following and a revival of interest when forgotten star Sam J. Jones turned up as a parody of himself in Seth McFarlane's two Ted films. His life story is in fact just as compelling as the tale of a simple quarterback opposing the cruel emperor of the universe; Ming (the Merciless)! This week's After School Club: Hamnet Next week: Rocky & Rocky II
[School of Movies 2026] The final week of Shakestember brings us to a modern teen high school adaptation that far surpasses the dodgy original by an as-yet-unseasoned William, blushingly groping for a satirical take on misogyny in the sixteenth century and landing by accident upon dystopian horror with Taming of the Shrew. 10 Things was the debut of Heath Ledger, and is intensely fondly remembered, being the sweetly dry retreat for those who mourned his passing just nine short years later. It is also the most prominent early onscreen role for Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and David Krumholtz. This one was a favourite for us from the first word, but we found out things we never knew whilst exploring these hallowed hallways. Our Shakespeare season may be ended here, but the Patreon bonus feed for the next few weeks will play host to a series of discussions on movies that explored the real life man, some heartbreaking, some hilarious and one utterly despicable! Coming soon, we unexpectedly find ourselves training up to tackle the Rocky movies after years of putting them off. This next month will be our long-awaited, long-promised Rocktober! This week's After School Club: Cutting Class on 10 Things Next week: Flash Gordon (1980)