What makes a great adaptation? The Critics Club crew dives into their Top 10 Adaptations, ranking the movies that brought books, plays, and even video games to life on the big screen. From classics like The Godfather and The Princess Bride to modern hits like Ready Player One and Crazy Rich Asians, we debate what worked, what didn’t, and why some stories thrive in translation while others fall flat.

Join Geoff, Jim, and David as they break down fan favorites, argue over controversial picks (Ready Player Two, anyone?), and swap personal stories about how these adaptations shaped their movie-going experiences.

Featured films & books:

Ready Player One (Ernest Cline → Spielberg)

Crazy Rich Asians (Kevin Kwan → Jon Chu)

The Devil Wears Prada (Lauren Weisberger → David Frankel)

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (J.K. Rowling → Chris Columbus)

The Godfather (Mario Puzo → Francis Ford Coppola)

Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (J.R.R. Tolkien → Peter Jackson)

The Princess Bride (William Goldman → Rob Reiner)

Jurassic Park (Michael Crichton → Steven Spielberg)

Edge of Tomorrow / All You Need is Kill (Hiroshi Sakurazaka → Doug Liman)

Casino Royale (Ian Fleming → Martin Campbell)

Plus: Tangents on kitchen appliances, Dick Cheney jokes, James Bond casting rumors, and why some novels should never become films.

Visit RantingMedia.com for more episodes, reviews, and updates. Follow us on Bluesky for behind-the-scenes banter.

00:00 – Opening banter (Cheney jokes, food tangents, air fryer talk)

04:30 – Introducing the “Top 10 Adaptations” theme

05:25 – Ready Player One, Crazy Rich Asians, The Devil Wears Prada

13:20 – Harry Potter, The Godfather, Lord of the Rings

16:00 – The Princess Bride, Jurassic Park, Edge of Tomorrow

18:10 – Casino Royale and the James Bond legacy

20:00 – Bond casting rumors and future speculation

23:08 – Hidden Figures, Fight Club, Jurassic Park (book vs. movie)

28:00 – No Country for Old Men and The Princess Bride

31:00 – American Psycho and The Shining

34:00 – Battle Royale and dystopian adaptations

38:00 – Adaptations that divide opinion (violence, tone, endings)

44:00 – Shifts in tone: book vs. film expectations

50:00 – Cultural impact of adaptations over decades

56:00 – Controversial picks and debates

01:02:00 – Comparing faithfulness: when movies outshine the books

01:08:00 – Final adaptations discussed and wrap-up tangents

01:15:00 – Closing thoughts on adaptation trends

01:22:14 – Episode outro

Friends come and meet once a month at the Critics Club to discuss their favorite movies, tv shows, video games and much more. Some are more right than others, but that’s half the fun. Join Jim, David and Geoff as they duke it out over their latest opinions.

Tune in to our podcasts and read our lovely reviews at https://www.rantingmedia.com/

Welcome to Critics Club: Deep Cuts — a new series where we take a more focused dive into a single film. This time, it’s the haunting, unforgettable Japanese horror classic: Audition (1999), directed by Takashi Miike.

What happens when a grieving widower looks for love... through a fake movie audition? Jim and Geoff walk through the film’s surreal structure, disturbing tonal shift, and ambiguous ending. They tackle questions about trauma, manipulation, and whether the film's most horrifying moments were hallucinations, metaphor, or something even more sinister.

Along the way, they share:

Personal horror stories of poblano pepper accidents

Root canal commentary

Japanese cultural context and misogyny critiques

Film comparisons to Promising Young Woman, I Spit on Your Grave, The Ring, and Evil Dead II

Key Timestamps:

[00:04:59] – Introducing “Critics Club: Deep Cuts”

[00:05:55] – Why Jim thought they were watching Battle Royale

[00:06:05] – A primer on Takashi Miike’s filmography

[00:08:02] – Early 2000s J-horror boom context

[00:12:01] – The ethics of a fake audition plot

[00:21:08] – Asami's trauma and the film’s layered horror

[00:30:00] – The infamous sack scene

[00:35:11] – Paralysis, needles, and piano wire terror

[00:40:01] – Dream vs reality: dissecting the ending

[00:50:48] – Surprise! It was marketed as a romance in Japan

🔗 Links:

Read reviews and listen to more episodes at RantingMedia.com

Follow us on Bluesky: RantingMedia.bsky.social

💬 Whether you’re a longtime horror fan or cautiously curious, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in films that challenge your expectations and leave your stomach in knots.

Friends come and meet once a month at the Critics Club to discuss their favorite movies, tv shows, video games and much more. Some are more right than others, but that’s half the fun. Join Jim, David and Geoff as they duke it out over their latest opinions.

Tune in to our podcasts and read our lovely reviews at https://www.rantingmedia.com/

The Critics Club: Superman Review (With Special Guest Louis)

Geoff and Louis dive deep into James Gunn’s Superman, breaking down everything from the casting of David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan to Lex Luthor’s darker edge. They debate how this version stacks up against Man of Steel, gush over the film’s standout score, and discuss the impact of new characters like Krypto. Plus, the duo looks ahead to the future of the DC Universe—Clayface, Supergirl, Lanterns, and more.

00:00 – Welcome + Guest Intro
Geoff welcomes Louis, and the duo set the stage for a spoiler-heavy conversation.

05:00 – Initial Reactions
Louis convinces Geoff to give Superman a fair shot after his skepticism, tracing back to Man of Steel and Guardians of the Galaxy 2.

15:00 – Casting & Chemistry
Thoughts on David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman, Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult’s manic Lex Luthor.

25:00 – The Standout Moments
The emotional beats with Krypto, the fresh take on Superman’s humanity, and why the score sticks in everyone’s head.

40:00 – Villains & Visuals
The metamorpho character design, Green Lantern’s debut, and perfect casting news—yes, Jason Momoa as Lobo comes up.

55:00 – Plot, Themes & Gunn’s Direction
They debate James Gunn’s tone, story choices, and how this Superman compares with Snyder’s version.

1:10:00 – Future of DC Films
What comes next: Supergirl, Brave and the Bold, Swamp Thing, and why Batman 2 and Clayface could set the tone for the next era.

1:20:00 – Final Thoughts
A heartfelt moment about introducing Superman to the next generation—and what the film means to them.

Friends come and meet once a month at the Critics Club to discuss their favorite movies, tv shows, video games and much more. Some are more right than others, but that’s half the fun. Join Jim, David and Geoff as they duke it out over their latest opinions.

Tune in to our podcasts and read our lovely reviews at https://www.rantingmedia.com/