The stated score is two and a half stars.
The quoted review calls it a merely good thriller that rehashes familiar science-fiction ingredients for cynical times.
The panel gives the review an L and questions comparing the movie to Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Casting What-Ifs

The studio preferred Charles Bronson or Tommy Lee Jones, then approached Nick Nolte and Jeff Bridges; Warren Oates was first set for Brain.

This discussion recalls a choice from an earlier episode.

In the discussion (6)

Approx. transcript time · 00:49:25Read transcript

The financing studio preferred Charles Bronson or Tommy Lee Jones for Snake.
Carpenter rejected Bronson as too old and feared losing control to a more experienced star.
Nick Nolte and Jeff Bridges were approached but were not interested.
Nolte is considered insufficiently funny, while Tommy Lee Jones is the only proposed alternative with partial plausibility.
Warren Oates was originally set to play Brain, withdrew while unwell, and recommended Harry Dean Stanton.
The performer whose name is transcribed as Season Hubbly was married to Kurt Russell, which is offered as the reason she joined the cast.

Half-Assed Internet Research

Research covers narration, location work, the eye patch, Maggie’s death insert, James Cameron, Nick Castle, and Stephen Ford.

In the discussion (9)

Approx. transcript time · 00:55:13Read transcript

Jamie Lee Curtis is identified as the narrator.
Russell reportedly stayed in character but removed the eye patch between takes because it damaged his depth perception.
East St. Louis was selected for its old buildings, river, bridge, and blocks of fire-damaged rubble.
The Chain of Rocks Bridge was reportedly purchased for one dollar, and the city darkened ten blocks nightly for filming.
An eleven-year-old J. J. Abrams reportedly prompted the insert proving Maggie died, which Carpenter shot with Adrian Barbeau in their garage.
James Cameron worked on visual effects and cinematography before The Terminator and was considered the set genius.
Co-writer Nick Castle also played Michael Myers in Halloween.
Gerald Ford’s son Stephen Ford plays the Secret Service agent at the cockpit.
The appended interview says Snake’s eye patch was proposed as a visible, painful war injury and might also have a hidden futuristic function.

Picking Nits

The unique fusion tape, terrorist flight attendants, Brain’s competence, escape pod, arena security, capsules, day–night timing, and Cabby trade are questioned.

In the discussion (9)

Approx. transcript time · 01:00:14Read transcript

The president carries the only copy of a nuclear-fusion peace tape on a dangerous flight, with no backup.
Terrorist flight attendants apparently pass background checks and seize the aircraft.
Brain can make gasoline but struggles to locate an obvious tall-building landing point and delivers Snake into immediate capture.
The one-person escape pod leaves the president easy to seize and excludes Secret Service protection.
After the gladiator fight, guards inexplicably stop treating Snake as dangerous.
Romero is unfairly excluded from watching the fight.
The implanted charges dissolve and explode with implausible second-by-second precision.
The changing daylight seems inconsistent with the stated 24-hour mission.
Cabby’s casual hat-for-tape barter with Romero leaves the negotiation unexplained.

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Questions cover World War III, the liberation front, survival strategy, prison services, and the displaced people and sports teams of New York.

In the discussion (6)

Approx. transcript time · 01:05:35Read transcript

The panel asks what happened in World War III and infers the United States probably lost.
The National Liberation Front’s plans after crashing the plane and then losing the president remain unclear.
A hypothetical prisoner chooses the sewers or immediate cremation in real life, but imagines overthrowing the Duke in a movie version.
Another participant imagines building a pirate radio station funded by Chock Full o’ Nuts.
The prison’s electricity, plumbing, food, entertainment, gas, and the Duke’s governing services are questioned.
The fate of New York’s teams, residents, homes, and largest arena is explored without a firm answer.

Producer review

Producer Craig praises the now-fashionable synth music and Russell, while his viewing partner rates it two out of four.

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:16:19Read transcript

The closing reaction says the synth music has become cool again and resembles what current listeners seek from electronic artists.
He argues there is no current Kurt Russell equivalent and that Russell still improves any production.
His viewing partner gives the movie two out of four and checks her phone, making it a middle-ground shared viewing.