The Fantasy Film League

The boys are back and they are a little distracted.

After clarifying a few rules for the game for players and explaining that Legion, their benevolent AI is just here to help they get totally sideline by biscuits and unavailable Joel Kinneman films.

They manage to hold it together for *just* long enough to cover Wonka and the other film left for us in December before veering off widely again about the French and Eva Green.

We'd like to say normal service will be resumed next episode when they cover the stats but we both know that's unlikely..

The boys are back for a bit of a bumper episode. It's been a while so they're out of practice with keeping the tangents to a minimum.

Mr Birch has been to see The Marvels and has some views on it. The boys also look at some of the sequels slated for next year, some good, most bad.

Mr Smith has brought the biscuits to the recording and they are amazing. He's also been talking to Legion, our rogue AI and persuaded it to add in some features.

Finally the boys look at some of the cancelled films this year. WB have shelved three and Smith is not happy about it at all...

Music by Hidden Citizens and Two Steps from Hell.

Bad Film Club is back and Mr Smith is suffering for it. "Blackbird", the Michael Flately vanity project is given a rewatch from hime with the drinking rules. It's still everything we need it to be. Prepare for a deep dive and a shocking reveal of the next Bad Film...

The boys also look at the reduced roster of releases for the rest of the year and basically tell you how to win the Holiday Season.

Music by Hidden Citizens and Two steps from Hell. And the dubstep news song that inspires a wandering tangent..

The boys are back after an extended break travelling and collecting new biscuits and removing their Twitter (sorry, "X" accounts)

They cover Barbieheimer and Mr Birch catches up on some of the films he missed in 2023 uncovering a future Bad Film Club Classic in the process.

Smith also covers the newest season and looks ahead to some films coming out for the rest of the year.

There's a Liam Neeson action film in there you know...

Interstitial music by Two Steps from Hell and the Intro and Outro music by Hidden Citizens.

After it all went off the rails at the end of the last episode you join the Misters as Birch throws Smith into the Time Bunker, raises the shields and tries to put right what once went wrong.

The boys once again have to repair the movie casting timeline but this time we're pretty sure it's not their fault! This time we look at some more casting What Ifs and decide if we want to replace a very well know role with someone else. Han Solo? Patrick Bateman? Some complicated Harry Potter name? TWILIGHT??! Is no-one is safe from the temporal meddling? Smith makes some hards choices and a few, well , let's be honest, a few really easy ones too...

Music by Hidden Citizens with incidental music featuring Two Steps from Hell.

Mr Smith and Mr Birch are back and they've seen some films. First up we take a look at the current One and Done leaderboards and assess the strategies of the players.

Next up they look at Spider-Man, then Birch talks about The Flash which has some issues... Finally, and you may need to take a seat for this, they talk about No Hard Feeling aka Jennifer Lawrence Sex Comedy. It's not good, it's actually quite bad. *And* it breaks the "Half your age plus seven" rule. That's a thing right? Birch didn't just make that up?

After that things go very off the rails... to be continued....

Music by Hidden Citizens with incidental music featuring Two Steps from Hell.

Yeah, we fuffled up. You may have had a "Cocaine Bear" flashback just then but now we present the actual episode we recorded on Sunday..

So.. Mr B has seen Fast X, Mr S tries to explain a Neil Breen film and the boys look at films to come.

You know all this, you read this yesterday then got an over-excited Mr B intro from, like, 3 months ago.

OK, here we go. Again.

This high energy episode (after he says it) looks at Shazam! Fury of the Gods, the boys discuss how awesome Keanu Reeves is both generally and in John Wick. They also looks at some upcoming films and lay out a potential strategy to get lots of points.

And they clarify who actually isn't directing Fast X and how it has to end before someone puts Ludacris on Mars.

We talk onions (yes really) and Smith commits a serious faux pas...

Music by Hidden Citizens with incidental music featuring Two Steps from Hell and interstitials by a small child, guess the film. Smith got it on the third one this week.

This week we look back in time. A time of VHS (ask your parents) and having to share a TV with siblings and the boys talked about their most watched (but not necessarily favourite films).

They talk Ant Man and how the tables have turned. Smith covers "The Menu" while being distracted by a bird and Birch covers the very sensible, true story film called... Cocaine Bear.

Also guess the film, news on the scoring and biscuits, there is always biscuits.

Music by Hidden Citizens with incidental music featuring Two Steps from Hell and interstitial by a small child.

This week the Mister look back at 2022 and go through the results telling you who was the best investment and who was not.  It's no surprise that Top Gun gets mentioned a few times but there are a few surprises in there too.

They also look at the Oscar Nominations and give a little advice on how best to play them. Don't forget the Oscars score you some extra Fufflebucks but are they worth the risk.

Music by Hidden Citizens with incidental music featuring Two Steps from Hell.

This time the Misters look at ALL the films coming out in 2023 (more or less) and give you some advice on who you may want to invest in for this year.

They also review the players scores from 2022 and see who won.  

A lot of information this episode with a fast review of everything. Plus they break out the Budget Bond Theme *AND* there's a mini quiz with the interstitial breaks.  Name the movie quotes and the connection.  This week is easy, maybe..

Music by Hidden Citizens with incidental music featuring Two Steps from Hell. Budget Bond theme by DS Squid. 

The Misters are back to talk about the end of the year and discuss a few tactics on what to do with Avatar. Mr Birch has some views on this.

They also look into the performance of the One and Done game and the 2022 game.  They are also quite excited about a certain xmas film they're seeing tonight.  Santa Claus exacts some di$* kicking revenge?  Yes please...

Music by Hidden Citizens with incidental music featuring Two Steps from Hell.

Ok this is going to be a long one.

It's been a while and Mr B has been upgraded a few things. The boys also cover off the upcoming "Festive Season" of the game and quickly cover the frankly amazing year Michell Yeoh has had.

Then they really get into the weeds talking about the films that never made it to the screen for a variety of reasons.  Superheroes, 60's bands and a long explanation on optioning film rights awaits anyone brave enough to join them on this ride.

Normal service will be resumed next episode.

Music by Hidden Citizens with incidental music featuring Two Steps from Hell.

Mister Birch went to see "Blackbird" last night. On purpose. Listen as he tries to recover and explain to Mister Smith what the hell happened.

The lads also look at some upcoming films for the rest of 2022 and as usual get side tracked.  They've been doing this long enough, you'd think they can stay on message but oh no, drop in a Santa themed action film with David Harbour and they are off.

Music by the ever excellent Muse for the intro and Hidden Citizens for the outro with incidental music featuring Two Steps from Hell.

The Misters are back in a shorter than normal episode to mainly look at the stats for the year so far and complain about accents. Oh and they try to work out what's happening with the new FFL AI, Legion..

They look at the best performing stars this year and see which film and people you *should* have bought.  The boys also review the Bad Film Club showing of "Wild Mountain Thyme" and try to explain what happened..  They fail.

This week's intro music is "Supremacy" by Muse (The one, true Bond theme), the stings are from the ever excellent Two Steps to Hell and the outro music is by Hidden Citizens.

Mr Birch and Mr Smith are back and frankly, a little distracted. Yeah, sorry about that, we blame Smith for derailing it from the opening..

They discuss Tom Cruise's back catalogue, at considerable length...  

They also cover Morbius and Dr Strange, one of them was good..  Mr Birch unleashes his British middle class analogy to illustrate the Sony vs Marvel movie making methodology and Mr Smith turns into Beavis..

They also talk more 80's films and look forward to a few blockbusters coming to your local multiplex.

Except, Everything everywhere all at once which apparently he's having trouble getting a reasonable viewing time...

This week's intro music is "Supremacy" by Muse (The one, true Bond theme), the stings are from the ever excellent Two Steps to Hell and the outro music is by Hidden Citizens.

The Misters and back again and Birch has been to the cinema an unhealthy amount of times.

We review "Uncharted" (Boston accent optional), "The Lost City", "The Northman" (Star in people, and finally, "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent".  

Also we show you how to create the perfect modern trailer and we discuss the new season game starting.. well now really.

Basically, Birch talks a lot.  So the usual....

And apologies for the mild swearing.  It got to the point where we just couldn't bleep and other "D&$k Kicking revenge"

This week's intro music is "Supremacy" by Muse (The one, true Bond theme), the stings are from the ever excellent Two Steps to Hell and the outro music is by Hidden Citizens.

The Misters are finally back in the same room for a recording and Birch uses this opportunity to break out the Watcher voice and crack open space and time again.

Marvel as Smith's brain melts over recasting choice that could have been. We skirt with interfering with some classic 80's films and (gulp) Die Hard.

They create the new verb "to Stoltz", show you how to pull a perfect McFly and Birch channels his inner Nic Cage to utter four words you never thought you would hear...

Warning: this podcast contain reality changing scenes and no responsibility will be taken for any disruption to your own relality. That door was alway blue Danielle, it was never white... 

This week's intro music is "Supremacy" by Muse (The one, true Bond theme), the stings are from the ever excellent Two Steps to Hell and the outro music is by Hidden Citizens.

Namaste...

After a bit of a break the Misters are back. 

They cover the new mini season for this years game and look at some new films coming out in the next few months including Fantastic Beasts, Morbius and Sandra Bullock being funny.  They also talk 4 weeks of winning and Birch definitely gives a few hidden bargains in there.

But let's be honest there is only one film Birch wants to talk about. The most Fuffle film ever... And Cue Nic Cage!!

This week's intro music is "Supremacy" by Muse (The one, true Bond theme), the stings are from the ever excellent Two Steps to Hell and the outro music is by Hidden Citizens.

It's a stat filled episode showing you who you should have picked last year. We also cover the new format of the game, the changes we've made to the system and address our evasive new FFL computer.

Mr Birch also watched Infinite and was not happy about it. Speaking of bad films we cover the next Bad Film Club entry and it's a doozie...

This week's (and let's face it this years) intro music is "Supremacy" by Muse (The one, true Bond theme), the stings are from the ever excellent Two Steps to Hell and the outro music is by Hidden Citizens.

Weird epodes title, listen to Smith reaction when he hears that line.

This month the boys review The Matrix Resurrections (Birch is not happy), The King's Man and cover off the notable films for 2022.  Spoilers: there seems to be a theme for next year...

They did promise to cover all the stats for 2021 but it looks like that will have to wait till next time.

This week's (and let's face it next years) intro music is "Supremacy" by Muse (The one, true Bond theme), the stings are from the ever excellent Two Steps to Hell and the outro music is by Hidden Citizens.

The Misters are back with Mr Birch being a bit apathetic about work and Mr Smith suffering some audio lag, but they push on.

First they look at the rest of the films coming fro 2021 and then on to 2022 then Mr Smith avoids telling us when the new season starts for almost the entire episode and Mr Birch decides his life is better if he just got paid for *not* being in films.

Birch also stumbles over a podcast spin off idea and Smith guides us on a sneak peak at what some of the players are up to.

This week's intro music is Supremacy by Muse (The one, true Bond Theme), the stings are from the ever excellent Two Steps to Hell and the outro music is by Hidden Citizens.

The guys return with the episode they promised from last week.

They look at the biggest earners this year on the Fantasy Film League and show that the most expensive is not necessarily the way to go.

Mr Birch turbos through reviews of Dune, Bond and Venom relatively spoiler free and the boy talk all things Eternal.

And they try to get things done quickly but still deliver an hour long episode!! We blame Ryan Gosling in Crazy Stupid Love...

This week's intro music is Supremacy by Muse (The true Bond Theme), the stings are from the ever excellent Two Steps to Hell and the outro music is by Hidden Citizens.

Mr Smith decides the fate of our reality with the help of the Watcher (or just Mr Birch with a cloak) by choosing the Bond themes.  There are a few Bond themes that might have been and a few that *should* have been.  

Apologies for all the singing by the way.

Mr Smith and Mr Birch break recording traditions and do this on a Sunday instead. 

More news on the new quarterly style from the game in 2022. They also talk Bond (obvs) and they also look at split release dates and how is affect the game.

Also Dune is coming out soon apparently, they seem a little excited about it.

This week's intro music is Supremacy by Muse, the stings are from the ever excellent Two Steps to Hell and the outdo music is by Hidden Citizens.

Mr Smith and Mr Birch are back to discuss trailers, Dune (and its pronunciation) Bond and we cover the latest Bad Film Club.

Also there's a big change to the way we play the game, giving you more chance to play and win.

Music is by the ever present and awesome Two Steps From Hell and now the new Outro music by Hidden Citizens.

RIP Sir Clive Sinclair

Mister B explains how important it is to make sure that the "The" is present when consuming Suicide Squad content, Basically if you see Cara Delevingne, run.

The boys start randomly discussing new ways to play the game, and some changes to the titles of the starring scores. No game changes just a rebranding.

Also we look at "Free Guy" the movie guaranteed to get Birch in the door and a few more new releases.

Mr Birch has made some upgrades but the music is by the ever present and awesome Two Steps From Hell and now the new Outro music by Hidden Citizens.

The Misters are back to look at F9 and Black Widow. Mr Smith has a few new films to look at and Birch gets way too excited about a GI Joe movie.

Smith covers off how trophies work in the game, they look at how the Box Office is performing and as usual tell you where you should have spent your fufflebucks.  Looking at you Michelle Rodriguez.

Also Henry Golding being cool, Rufus Sewell career complaints, and they notice something about Brie Larson and the Internet...

Mr Birch has made some upgrades but the music is by the ever present and awesome Two Steps From Hell and now the new Outro music by Hidden Citizens.

Mr Smith and Mr Birch take the players through the ups and downs of the scoring so far and show you which people have made the most (CLICKBAIT: Number 13 will surprise you....). Mr Birch also sets out his stall on Black Widow and reveals his first film in the cinema post lockdown (hint there are ridiculous cars in it).

The boys also quickly look at the upcoming films in the next few weeks and Mr Smith tells all on a few hidden gems in the price list.

Finally, they cover the question: Is Bram Stoker's Dracula a worthy Bad Film Club entry *and* manage to do this with minimal amounts of Keanu Reeves impersonations. Yeah I know, I'm as surprised as you...

Mr Birch has made some upgrades but the music is by the ever present and awesome Two Steps From Hell and now the new Outro music by Hidden Citizens.

After an extra weeks break, Mr Smirh and Mr Birch are back to normal. 

By normal we mean Keanu impressions, an unhealthy obsession with Henry Cavill, stats and data and covering what's coming to the screen in the near future in the US and the reopened UK box office.

After a spectacular failure of professionalism half way through (we had to edit FOUR MINUTES out of this podcast for laughing and swearing) we cover off our Bad Film Club viewing of Ghost Rider and discuss great films that should be bad and bad films that missed greatness.

Mr Birch has made some upgrades but the music is by the ever present and awesome Two Steps From Hell and now the new Outro music by Hidden Citizens.

A little different this week and Mr Birch and Mr Smith have guests talking about the FFL AI player.  They desperately try to keep the running time down so they can spend more time interviewing Team 10 on their university project.  

We quickly address Henry Cavill, Highlander, Bond. Henry Cavill, Justice League and Henry Cavill.

Mr Smith covers some new releases and we look forward to the UK box office reopening.

Also there's no time to discuss "Stop! Or my Mom will Shoot" from last week's Bad Film Club but that is probably for the best.

Mr Birch has made some upgrades but the music is by the ever present and awesome Two Steps From Hell and now the new Outro music by Hidden Citizens.

After a little temporal issue, the boys are here to discuss the reopening of cinemas, Bond (and the curry they are planning obviously), The triumphant disaster that was London Fields for Bad Film Club and Smith covers some new films coming out in the next few weeks. They also get very excited about massive soft drink containers and Mads Mikkelson.

We also give Birch two minutes on "Wild Mountain Thyme". He's Irish and he has some issues with the accents.

Mr Birch has made some upgrades but the music is by the ever present and awesome Two Steps From Hell and now the new Outro music by Hidden Citizens.

...And of course D.S. Squid for the "Budget Bond Theme" Check him out on https://dsquidmusic.bandcamp.com

The boys are back discuss Palm Springs, again, we get it you like the film.  The Misters discuss cinema etiquette in the new world we live in, why the Oscars are important and punching Bob Odenkirk in the face. 

Mr Smith talks stats. Birch talks Staith. So pretty standard.

Mr Birch has made some upgrades but the music is by the ever present and awesome Two Steps From Hell and now the new Outro music by Hidden Citizens.

The Boy are back for their regular (and now 100% live) podcast.  Mr Birch is distracted by a few new buttons on his desk while Mr Smith tries to keep it running, he gets sidetracked by Palm Springs, Ruby Rose, The MCU (at two different points in time no less) and a whole host of other things.  The boys discuss the UK Cinema reopening and have a look into where you should have invested your hard earned Fuffle.  

And Birch has found the investment bell again.. Sorry..

Music as always by the ever excellently epic "Two Steps from Hell"

The Misters are still in shock over their last Bad Film Club choice, Eat, Pray, Love.  The boys are not happy with this Julia Roberts.. masterpiece and even go as far to suggest spooky alternatives for the plot.

Mr Birch covers the Oscar nominations and the boys work out who might win what trophy.

As usual they cover the recent FFL scores and show you who you should have bought. As this is less than helpful Mr Smith gains a sheepskin coat and a frankly amazing "Cockney" accent to tell you how you should have played it, me ole son... loverly...

Music as always by the ever excellently epic "Two Steps from Hell"

We're back, well sort of.  More of a check in than a reset but Smith and Birch still chat for 45 minutes about the FFL, how the game is being affected, HBO Max, James Bond, and a lot more. Birch still has his investment bell and tells who you should have bought this year. So, that's helpful...  Generally the boys are getting ready for the rest of the year and try to come to terms with a world that still has not delivered John Cena in a Fast and Furious film...

We're live again *and* we have video but here is the audio version of the podcast.  Mr Birch and Mr Smith discuss Tenet being released to the cinema and Mulan not being released. We also find out what the boys have been up to during lockdown and discover some terrible news...

Music as always by Two Step to Hell and you can find us on Twitter on @theffl and Mr Birch is @MrBirchFFL

We're back.  After an enforced break the cinemas are open again so we've dusted off WOPR and resorted the game.  

This month though there are a few changes as Smith has added in a video feed to the usual show.  This means you can now see us in glorious grainy SD video (don't ask). We cover the films we should have seen by now as we try to work out when they'll be released. It's all a bit random at the moment but hopefully we'll get back on track.

This is the podcast recorded before the studios moved all the release dates back because of the virus that was shutting cinemas worldwide.  The movies will likely still be released, just later.  So think of this as planning for the future sometime...

Epic trailer music is from Two Steps From Hell.

Mr Birch interviews 2019 season winner David Biggins and finds out what it takes to become a champion of the Fantasy Film League.

We know this is right there on the Front Page but just in case you need it here's the quick explainer on how the FFL works.  We recorded this a while back but it should give you an overview of the game if you are new to it all.  We were going to re-record this but the planning for the new season got in the way.  Any questions though you'll find the team lurking round out Discord page or you can tweet us @TheFFL or mail Mr B at Mr.Birch@fantasyfilmeleague.com