Fantasy for the Ages

Is The Running Man (2025) the rare remake that’s actually better than the original?

I went into this one as a fan of the 1987 Schwarzenegger classic—campy, quotable, and unmistakably of its era. But this new adaptation takes a very different approach: darker, smarter, more faithful to Stephen King’s novel, and far more interested in making a point than cracking jokes.

In this spoiler-lite review, I break down why The Running Man (2025) is a far more serious, fully realized dystopian sci-fi film than its predecessor—one with top-notch production value, a strong central performance from Glen Powell, and themes that feel uncomfortably relevant in today’s media-obsessed world.

That said… this movie is not for everyone.

If you’re looking for pure escapist fun, over-the-top villains, and one-liners you can quote for decades, this might not be your jam. But if you want sci-fi that actually makes you think—and maybe squirm a little—this one deserves your attention.

In this episode, I cover:
• How the 2025 film differs from the 1987 original
• Why this version feels truer to Stephen King’s intent
• Glen Powell’s performance and rise as a leading man
• Who will love this movie, and who absolutely won’t
• Whether we should finally stop comparing everything to Arnie (sorry, Arnie)

Now it’s your turn:
👉 Which version of The Running Man do you prefer?
👉 Should remakes aim for fun… or faithfulness?
👉 Did the ending work for you?

Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’ll be reading them.

If you enjoyed this review, please like the video, subscribe for more fantasy & sci-fi content, and consider supporting the channel on Patreon to help keep Fantasy for the Ages going strong: https://www.patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges

#TheRunningMan #TheRunningMan2025 #SciFiMovies #StephenKing #MovieReview #DystopianSciFi #FantasyForTheAges #GlenPowell #FilmReview #SciFiFilm

Ways to connect with us:
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges
Follow Jim/Father on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13848336-jim-scriven
Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/jMWyVJ6qKk
Follow us on "X": @Fantasy4theAges
Follow us on Blue Sky: @fantasy4theages.bsky.social
Follow us on Instagram: fantasy_for_the_ages
Follow us on Mastodon: @[email protected]
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Check out our merch: https://www.newcreationsbyjen.com/collections/fantasyfortheages

Jim’s Microphone: Blue Yeti https://tinyurl.com/3shpvhb4
Jim’s Camera: Razer Kito Pro https://tinyurl.com/c873tc2n

0:00 - Opening
1:28 - Film Details
2:54 - Spoiler-Lite Summary
3:41 - Jim’s Take
5:23 - Six Reasons You May Enjoy This Movie
7:11 - Six Reasons You Might Not
8:46 - Final Thoughts
11:20 - Conclusion & Wrap-up

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Music and video elements licensed under Envato Elements:
https://elements.envato.com/

What makes a Fantasy or Sci-Fi movie endlessly rewatchable?

In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim & Zach counts down the Top 10 Most Rewatchable Fantasy & Sci-Fi Movies of All Time. These are the films you can drop into at any moment, watch for five minutes or two hours, and still have a great time.

We’re talking about movies that:
• Get better on repeat viewings
• Reward familiarity with quotes, details, and payoff
• Balance spectacle, character, and pure fun
• And somehow never get old, no matter how many times you’ve seen them

From comfort rewatches to blockbuster classics to movies that reveal something new every time, these picks span decades of Fantasy & Sci-Fi greatness.

⚠️ This episode is spoiler-light, focusing on why these films are so rewatchable—not ruining the moments that make them special.

👉 Jump into the comments and tell us:
• Which movie do you rewatch the most?
• Which one surprised you on this list?
• And what absolutely should have made the Top 10?

If Fantasy & Sci-Fi movies are your go-to comfort viewing, this episode is for you.

Don’t forget to:
👍 Like the video
📺 Subscribe for weekly Fantasy, Sci-Fi, & Horror content
🔔 Ring the bell so you don’t miss future rankings and debates
💬 Join the conversation in the comments

Visit our Patreon page to help support the channel and get some special “thank you” perks like our other supporters: patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges

#FantasyForTheAges #SciFiMovies #FantasyMovies #RewatchableMovies #Top10Movies #SFF #MovieRanking #GenreMovies

Ways to connect with us:
Follow Jim/Father on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13848336-jim-scriven
Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/jMWyVJ6qKk
Follow us on "X": @Fantasy4theAges
Follow us on Blue Sky: @fantasy4theages.bsky.social
Follow us on Instagram: fantasy_for_the_ages
Follow us on Mastodon: @[email protected]
Email us: [email protected]

Check out our merch: https://www.newcreationsbyjen.com/collections/fantasyfortheages

Jim’s Microphone: Blue Yeti https://tinyurl.com/3shpvhb4
Jim’s Camera: Razer Kito Pro https://tinyurl.com/c873tc2n

0:00 - Opening
1:16 - Episode Explanation
3:32 - We Build Our Top 10 List
26:57 - Finalizing the List
27:47 - Wrap-up & Conclusion

————————————————————————————
Music and video elements licensed under Envato Elements:
https://elements.envato.com/

Do you enjoy your science fiction with humor, while still delivering big ideas, hard-SF concepts, action, and genuine heart?

In this episode, I (Jim) dive into We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor, the first book in the wildly popular Bobiverse series. This is smart, funny, binge-worthy science fiction that asks huge questions about identity, AI, and what it really means to be human… even when you’re technically a self-replicating space probe.

After wanting to expand my sci-fi reading and hearing many of you recommend this series, a two-for-one Audible sale finally pushed this book to the top of my TBR. And let me tell you, I had so much fun that I immediately committed to reading the rest of the series in order. Time to binge, baby.

In this spoiler-lite review, I talk about:
• Why Bob Johansson is such a wildly relatable protagonist
• How the clone/replication premise actually works
• The balance of hard science and accessible storytelling
• The humor, heart, and hopeful tone of the story
• Who this book is perfect for — and who it might NOT work for
• And why this is such a great entry point into modern science fiction

If you’ve been curious about the Bobiverse, or if you’re looking for a sci-fi read that’s both clever and incredibly fun, this might be exactly what you’re looking for.

⸻

📚 Join the conversation:

💬 Have you read We Are Legion (We Are Bob)? Let me know your thoughts in the comments
🚀 Join us on Discord to talk sci-fi, fantasy, and horror with fellow fans
👍 Like, subscribe, and share if you enjoy thoughtful genre reviews
⚔️ Join the Fantasy for the Ages community: patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges

#WeAreLegion #WeAreBob #Bobiverse #DennisETaylor #ScienceFictionBooks #SciFiBooks #BookReview #HardSciFi #HumorousSciFi #Audiobooks #FantasyForTheAges #BookTube #SpeculativeFiction

Want to purchase books/media mentioned in this episode?
We Are Legion (We Are Bob): https://t.ly/Ie_uO

Ways to connect with us:
Follow Jim/Father on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13848336-jim-scriven
Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/jMWyVJ6qKk
Follow us on "X": @Fantasy4theAges
Follow us on Blue Sky: @fantasy4theages.bsky.social
Follow us on Instagram: fantasy_for_the_ages
Follow us on Mastodon: @[email protected]
Email us: [email protected]

Check out our merch: https://www.newcreationsbyjen.com/collections/fantasyfortheages

Jim’s Microphone: Blue Yeti https://tinyurl.com/3shpvhb4
Jim’s Camera: Razer Kito Pro https://tinyurl.com/c873tc2n

0:00 - Opening
1:24 - Book Details
2:26 - Why Jim Read This
3:09 - Spoiler-Lite Summary
4:07 - Jim’s Take
5:12 - 10 Reasons You May Love This Story
9:34 - Three Reasons It Might Not Work for Some Readers
11:11 - Final Thoughts
11:38 - Closing & Wrap-Up

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Music and video elements licensed under Envato Elements:
https://elements.envato.com/

What makes an opening scene truly unforgettable?

In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim and Zach count down their Top 10 Opening Scenes in Fantasy & Sci-Fi — across books, movies, and television. These are the moments that hooked us instantly, set the tone for everything that followed, and made us say, “Oh… I’m in.”

We’re talking about opening scenes that:
• Instantly establish tone, stakes, and voice
• Redefine a genre or subgenre
• Still hit just as hard on a rewatch or reread
• Made us trust the storyteller within minutes (or even seconds)

From iconic first lines on the page, to jaw-dropping cinematic prologues, to TV pilots that changed the game, these openings didn’t just start a story — they announced something special.

⚠️ This episode is spoiler-light, focusing on why these openings work rather than ruining what comes next.

👉 Let us know in the comments:
• Which opening scene hooked you the fastest?
• Which one do you think should’ve made the Top 10?
• And which opening still gives you chills every time?

If you love Fantasy & Sci-Fi discussions that dig into why stories work, this one’s for you.

Don’t forget to:
👍 Like the video
📺 Subscribe for weekly Fantasy, Sci-Fi, & Horror content
🔔 Ring the bell so you don’t miss future countdowns and debates
💬 Join the conversation in the comments

Visit our Patreon page to help support the channel and get some special “thank you” perks like our other supporters: patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges

#FantasyForTheAges #FantasyBooks #SciFiBooks #OpeningScenes #BookTube #SciFiMovies #FantasyMovies #SFF #Top10Fantasy #Top10SciFi

Ways to connect with us:
Follow Jim/Father on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13848336-jim-scriven
Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/jMWyVJ6qKk
Follow us on "X": @Fantasy4theAges
Follow us on Blue Sky: @fantasy4theages.bsky.social
Follow us on Instagram: fantasy_for_the_ages
Follow us on Mastodon: @[email protected]
Email us: [email protected]

Check out our merch: https://www.newcreationsbyjen.com/collections/fantasyfortheages

Jim’s Microphone: Blue Yeti https://tinyurl.com/3shpvhb4
Jim’s Camera: Razer Kito Pro https://tinyurl.com/c873tc2n

0:00 - Opening
1:15 - Episode Explanation
3:32 - We Build Our Top 10 List
25:51 - Wrap-up & Conclusion

————————————————————————————
Music and video elements licensed under Envato Elements:
https://elements.envato.com/

What happens when a past wrong refuses to stay buried?

In this episode, I dive into The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones, a modern horror novel that twists familiar haunting and revenge tropes into something deeply unsettling, emotionally sharp, and completely its own.

After falling in love with The Indian Lake Trilogy, I spent about a year working my way up to this book, where many readers first encounter Stephen Graham Jones’ unmistakable voice. And wow… this one delivers.

We’ll talk about:
• Why Jones’ authorial voice is so unique in the horror space
• How this novel reimagines haunting and revenge
• His continued fascination with (and reinvention of) the final girl trope
• Why this is a quick, low-commitment read that still hits hard
• And why I think this is a great first Stephen Graham Jones book for new readers

This is horror that lingers — not just because of what it shows you, but because of what it asks you to sit with afterward.

If you’ve read The Only Good Indians, I’d love to hear your take in the comments. And if this is your first time considering Stephen Graham Jones… this might be the perfect place to start.

⸻

📚 Join the conversation:

💬 Drop your thoughts in the comments
🧠 Join us on Discord to talk horror, sci-fi, and fantasy with fellow fans
👍 Like, subscribe, and share if you enjoy thoughtful genre discussions
⚔️ Join the Fantasy for the Ages community: patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges

#TheOnlyGoodIndians #StephenGrahamJones #HorrorBooks #BookReview #ModernHorror #IndigenousHorror #FinalGirl #BookTube #FantasyForTheAges #SpeculativeFiction

Want to purchase books/media mentioned in this episode?
The Indian Lake Trilogy: https://t.ly/g2ug_
The Only Good Indians: https://t.ly/WA3J-

Ways to connect with us:
Follow Jim/Father on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13848336-jim-scriven
Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/jMWyVJ6qKk
Follow us on "X": @Fantasy4theAges
Follow us on Blue Sky: @fantasy4theages.bsky.social
Follow us on Instagram: fantasy_for_the_ages
Follow us on Mastodon: @[email protected]
Email us: [email protected]

Check out our merch: https://www.newcreationsbyjen.com/collections/fantasyfortheages

Jim’s Microphone: Blue Yeti https://tinyurl.com/3shpvhb4
Jim’s Camera: Razer Kito Pro https://tinyurl.com/c873tc2n

0:00 - Opening
1:35 - Book Details
2:26 - Why Jim Read This
3:45 - Spoiler-Lite Summary
4:37 - Jim’s Take
6:20 - Six Reasons You May Love This Story
9:15 - Three Reasons It Might Not Work for Some Readers
10:49 - Final Thoughts
11:18 - Closing & Wrap-Up

————————————————————————————
Music and video elements licensed under Envato Elements:
https://elements.envato.com/