Cinematic Doctrine
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Cinematic Doctrine is a mature, millennial-infused film/tv discussion podcast from Melanie & Melvin that features Movie Discussions (conversational episodes about specific movies), Party Pleasers (movies fully-summarized from start to finish to discern if its a 'Party Pleaser' or 'Party Pooper'), and Let's Talks (prepared film-or-Christian related topical episodes). Influenced by Acts 17 and Romans 2:4. Podcast Magazine says Cinematic Doctrine "uses the shared value of human life as a springboard into deeper conversations". // CinematicDoctrine.com
Available episodes
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6 days ago
Rashomon - A Trial of Lies, Sensationalism, and Humanity
MOVIE DISCUSSION:
Melanie & Melvin talk at length about Akira Kurosawa's worldwide phenomena, Rashomon. From it's forward-feeling filmmaking and pacing to it's gripping drama, Rashomon continues to be in conversation for it's layered entertainment and deep contemplation. And, of course, they also talk about the immensely disruptive nature of lying.
*Topics:*
* (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 32-minutes discussing Vulture's "The Decomposition of Rotten Tomatoes" article from September 6th about how an advertising firm paid reviewers for positive reviews... or, how it's a bit more complicated than that, but still a bad look for Rotten Tomatoes (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
* Melanie & Melvin recommend Rashomon, full stop, but also recognize it has several details that make it a deceptively hard watch. For Melvin, he's sure the dark complexities could be a turn-off. For Melanie, some fans might be put to sleep.
* The first time Melvin watched Rashomon he felt, "That was a good movie.". The second time he watched Rashomon he went, "Oh, wow. This movie is great!".
* Although Rashomon is very much about the complications of conflicting storytelling, it also showcases the way in which people communicate inherently through biases.
* Rashomon is about a lot of things, one of which is the everyone's internal battle against cynicism and sensationalism.
* Contemplating the reality that God permits evil during this age and the hope in Christ to endure.
* Why do we as humans choose to commit evil amidst so much glorious beauty?
* Rashomon's ridiculous level of digestibility lends it to be a very good "watch with friends" movie. Both Melanie and Melvin wonder what sort of amazing and profound reactions their various friends would have.
*Recommendations:*
* Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2023 Broadway Cast Recording) (2023) (Soundtrack)
* Feeders 2: Slay Bells (1998) (Movie) Support the show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
* One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers
*Social Links: *
* Threads
* Website
* Instagram
* Facebook Group
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Sep 12, 2023
Good Will Hunting - Healing Masculinity
*MOVIE DISCUSSION: *
Melanie introduces Melvin to another long-standing classic drama, Good Will Hunting, and the joy had in overcoming toxic traits of the male psyche!
*Topics:*
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 25-minutes of Melanie & Melvin playing "Would You Rather?" with some of the most absurd options available! Even so, it leads to some great real-talk about first-impressions, the resilience of the human body, and the fear of losing their memories. *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)*
* Melanie proposed Good Will Hunting when she first joined the show. Now, they're talking about it. She shares why she felt it would be perfect for the podcast.
* The first counseling session between Sean and Will is a brilliant expression of the psychologically competitive way in which certain men often interact, and how this scene unfolds is dramatically satisfying, as well as quite funny.
* Melvin has two mini-tangents about how Good Will Hunting showcases mentorship, and also how parts of the movie made him think of Barbie. Nice!
* Although Good Will Hunting is undeniably masculine, Skylar is an exceptionally well-written female character.
* Proverbs 19:22 asserts that a person desires steadfast love, or a love that is full and permanent. Often, we presume to think we can never find such love, will never have such love, or that one must work towards it. God, through Christ, showcases something wholly different.
* A lot of movies about characters overcoming shame often - likely inadvertently - ignore guilt.
*Recommendations:*
* No Need to Argue - The Cranberries (1994) (Album)
* Warning: Do Not Play (2019) (Movie) Support the show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
* One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers
*Social Links: *
* Threads
* Website
* Instagram
* Facebook Group
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Sep 5, 2023
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay: Part 1 - Different Game, Different Rules
*PARTY PLEASER:*
Melanie & Melvin continue their adventure through the popular Hunger Games saga with Mockingjay - Part 1! They describe the movie from beginning to end, exploring themes of repressed individuality amidst cultural responsibility, and also observe how the film very much feels like half of a book (because it is!).
*Topics:*
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 36-minutes discussing the danger of idolizing storytelling, and how the recent news regarding Michael Oher's potential conservatorship with the Tuohy family jeopardizes the fantasy of the "American Dream" as showcased in the successful 2009 Oscar-winning movie The Blind Side. *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)*
* Brief background on the previous two films, both of which they've done episodes for!
* Although Mockingjay - Part 1 isn't nearly as visually stark and pleasing as Catching Fire, a lot of the movie still looks really great.
* Melvin appreciates that even though the proper Hunger Games have ended, Katniss as a character is still subservient to the game that is cultural codependence, and that Mockingjay - Part 1 still has her character wrestling with who she is, and wants to be, amidst all of these people and expectations.
* The characters in the Hunger Games series, and their dynamics, are quite engaging. They are deceptively complicated figures in a deceptively complicated story.
* Mockingjay - Part 1's climax, like most of the film, is oddly unspectacular, but it definitely feels like that's on purpose. And, just because it's not spectacular doesn't mean it's necessarily bad. Rather, it's pretty dang complex and intense!
*Recommendations:*
* Madison Ryann Ward (Musician)
* Saw VI (2009) (Movie) Support the show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
* One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers
*Social Links: *
* Threads
* Website
* Instagram
* Facebook Group
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Aug 29, 2023
Barbie as The Princess and the Pauper - Queen Cinema
*PATREON PARTY PLEASER:*
This movie was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
Melanie & Melvin travel back to the wonderful world of 2004 and summarize Barbie as The Princess and the Pauper. While it isn't the first Barbie-animated film, it is the first Barbie-animated musical! From it's bouncing musical numbers to its surprisingly complicated plot, the gang have fun explaining this childhood gem!
*Topics:*
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 32-minutes discussing tabletop boardgames (important!) and then whether or not arriving-late or leaving-early is destroying the modern-day church (less important!) because of that viral mega-church pastor blaming his congregation for what may, actually, be his problem, *shrugs*. *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)*
* Melvin is taking notes this time and the second Barbie and The Princess and the Pauper started he sighed and realized; he has a lot of notes to take.
* As each song is introduced, Melvin will first explain what happens in the song, then the two will discuss whether they liked the song or not.
* From the start, Barbie and The Princess and the Pauper asserts a maturity in how it trusts people (specifically kids) to keep up with the oddly complicated material within the film, including the tension between personal interests and cultural responsibility.
* Although the animation is like that of an early Resident Evil pre-rendered cutscene, it also looks like toy-dolls so we both feel it gets a pass.
* Melanie, "It's a very cute film. There were just several things I just found to be very unmemorable."
* Erika's song to her cat Wolfie is just perfect.
* The credits has bloopers!
*Recommendations:*
* The Swan Princess (1994) (Movie)
* Bee Movie (2007) (Movie)
Support the show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
* One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers
*Social Links: *
* Threads
* Website
* Instagram
* Facebook Group
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Aug 22, 2023
Scanners - Boundary Breaking & Head Popping
*MOVIE DISCUSSION:
*Melanie & Melvin discuss David Cronenberg's Scanners, a contemplative psychological horror with intense bookends! From the film's odd casting to its heady-concepts of individual thought and sovereignty, the two discuss what makes Scanners a worthwhile watch for those searching for a little bit more in their thrillers!
*Topics:*
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 36-minutes further discussing Wall·E, specifically the film's focus on the transcendental nature of love. *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)*
* Scanners has great special effects, and they are used sparingly. This undoubtedly makes them more fun.
* Howard Shore's score excels in audibly explaining the effect of the Scanner.
* Stephen Lack's performance as Cameron is undoubtedly unfulfilled but Melvin didn't find it so distracting that it took away from the experience.
* Melvin, "It's a movie that knows you're smart and can keep up."
* How individual scanners find ways to overcome the internal static, or noise, that they suffer is extremely interesting. Some will coexist with other scanners, others will create art.
* The two think through what makes the scanner so frightening, specifically the invasion of the self.
* While watching Scanners, Melvin contemplated the way in which God created humanity, specifically the individual sovereignty of the body, and how the body creates a natural, secure barrier among others both physically and mentally.
* The two agree: being a scanner probably sucks!
*Recommendations:*
* Overcooked! (Video Game) (Nintendo Switch)
* It's Alive (1974) (Movie) Support the show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
* One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers
*Social Links: *
* Threads
* Website
* Instagram
* Facebook Group
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Aug 15, 2023
Canon, Continuity, and the Tommy Westphall Universe Hypothesis
*REBROADCAST LET'S TALK:
*In this rebroadcast of *Cinematic Doctrine's* pilot Let's Talk episode (originally released August 24th, 2021), Melvin and Daniel discuss the concept of narrative canon (or, fictional continuity), whether an over-reliance on canon is necessary for enjoying a fictional property like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and how nearly all of American movies and television is a part of the Tommy Westphall Universe Hypothesis, or, how-everything-takes-place-in-a-snow-globe. Support the show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
* One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers
*Social Links: *
* Threads
* Website
* Instagram
* Facebook Group
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Aug 8, 2023
Tickled - Grippingly Awkward, Absurdly Silly, Excellent
*REBROADCAST PARTY PLEASER:
*
In this rebroadcasted episode (originally released June 28th, 2022) you'll hear Daniel and Melvin discuss one of the single-most bizarre stories to come from the documentary world. Journalist David Farrier stumbles upon the strange world of Competitive Endurance Tickling. What ensues is a long-stretching borderline "true-crime" drama of Jane O'brien Media.
*Topics: *
* Tickled, as an experience, triggers everything: disgust, surprise, laughter, mockery, heartbreak, excitement, intrigue. It's the full package.
* Detailing caveats to engaging this movie, because there's no getting around it; the tickling is fetishistic.
* Beginning the long, twisted adventure of explaining Tickled from start to finish.
* Competitive Endurance Tickling... except they never explain how to win?
* How much would they have to pay Melvin to do one of these videos?
* Detailing how Jane O'Brien Media manipulated and harassed talent that merely said 'no'.
* Discussing the cultural strangeness of the West which dictates that men cannot be physical by any means without putting their sexuality in question, despite it being typical in other countries for comfortably heterosexual men to hold hands or be physically closer to one another.
* Getting into the subsequent 20-minute short-doc The Tickle King which details continued interventions from Jane O'Brien Media during the events of Tickled's festival and limited theater run, including a damning final confrontation.
* The final tragic nail in the coffin of the Tickled saga.
* Discussing the potential availabilities of certain sexual fetishes, regarding they adhere appropriately to biblical sexuality (basking in one another's beauty, other-oriented satisfactory experiences, and honoring each other's image-bearing nature).
*Recommendations: *
* The Wolfpack (2015) (Documentary)
* Welcome to Leith (2015) (Documentary)
* The Drama of Scripture, Second Edition Support the show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
* One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers
*Social Links: *
* Threads
* Website
* Instagram
* Facebook Group
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Aug 1, 2023
Barbie - No Genitals. No Problems.
*MOVIE DISCUSSION: *
Melanie & Melvin have a blast talking about 2023's not-so-surprise hit, Barbie! From it's nonstop comedy to its sensible-yet-kind display of gender and social economics, Barbie has it all!
*Topics:*
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 37-minutes further discussing DC's biggest flop, The Flash, and why the movie simply doesn't work on a plethora of levels. *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)*
* Melanie liked Barbie, but she didn't connect with the movie like she expected. She wonders if it's because of the hype.
* Melvin really enjoyed Barbie and appreciated that the comedy never comes off as mean-spirited.
* Melanie greatly resonated with Barbie's introduction about the Barbie figure greatly changing the landscape of children's toys because that's exactly what it was like for her as a child.
* Contrasting the Barbie figure with the baby doll, there's simply so much more creativity permitted in a child's development when playing with Barbie than with a baby doll. It's incomparable.
* Melvin meditates on the proliferation of products based on products waxing poetic about existentialism, which feels especially strange but makes total sense in a post-post-post capitalist culture.
* Melvin rants about people who don't think men rule the world and asks them to name one female director from before 2018.
* Casting Ryan Gosling as Ken, and then having Ken be a character like this makes total sense when we observe how Ryan Gosling has become somewhat of an icon of the man-o-sphere.
* The third act of Barbie is undeniably frenetic, but it still works nonetheless.
* Daniel had texted Melvin and said a man at his theater was being extremely rude and cheering on the "playful misogyny" of the movie. Melanie and Melvin frustratingly process why anyone would choose to be so rude.
* Melvin, "You cannot believe sin exists and that the potential for sin exists and then not think that men, by their biological power, [would] then abuse it."
*Recommendations:*
* The Devil Wears Prada (2006) (Movie)
* Tragic Kingdom by No Doubt (1995) (Album)
* The Blob (1988) (Movie) Support the show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
* One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers
*Social Links: *
* Threads
* Website
* Instagram
* Facebook Group
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Jul 25, 2023
Wall·E - Consumerism, Connection, Community
*PATREON MOVIE DISCUSSION: *
This movie was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
*
*Melanie and Melvin discuss one of Pixar's most celebrated, most loved movies, Wall·E!! From consumerism to essentialism, from despair to hope, Wall·E has it all!
*Topics:*
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 29-minutes discussing why some Pixar movies may not have connected with audiences, as well as the concept of remastering early Pixar features *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)*
* Wall·E says a lot despite having very little dialogue.
* Products and tools are best utilized as life-enhancers. When they become life itself - something that is functionally impossible - they become self-destructive.
* Wall·E is full of theming but it is also easily palatable for children (and adults) who simply want a fun adventure plotline.
* Community perseveres not on consumerism but on cooperation, communication, creativity, and contribution.
* Prior to The Fall of Man seen in Genesis 3, God had already instated both work (the act of carrying out various strenuous actions to complete goals) and the Creation Mandate (to subdue and care for the whole Earth; or, God's creation). Although the curse God put on man after The Fall introduces some changes to how we engage these functions, they are still good and can-and-do produce good in our lives when we fulfill them.
* The way the music in Wall·E helps to communicate in place of dialogue is exceptional.
*Recommendations:*
* Ratatouille (2007) (Movie)
* The Blob (1958) (Movie) Support the show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
* One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers
*Social Links: *
* Threads
* Website
* Instagram
* Facebook Group
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Jul 18, 2023
Smile - Ant Coughlin and how Smile is Engaging, Derivative, and Irresponsible
*MOVIE DISCUSSIONS:
*Ant Coughlin joins Melanie & Melvin to discuss one of 2022's surprise horror hits: Smile! The classic "You-Die-In-7-Days" trope is refreshed for a new generation and the gang are here to get into what makes Smile so effective, so oppressive, and... so irresponsible? That's right! So, press that play button and get listening!
*Topics:*
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 26-minutes discussing 8 massive "blockbusters" from 2023, several of which have financially flopped, and various theories as to why these $200 million+ films haven't connected with audiences. Meanwhile, Evil Dead Rise and Cocaine Bear are comfortably profitable! *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)*
* Smile is very blunt about its rotating themes of trauma, anxiety, and saving face. That worked for Ant the first time he saw the movie... until the ending happened.
* When Melanie saw the trailer for Smile last year she audibly declared, "Nope!". She also said, "I was deeply invested, discouraged at the end, but throughout the film just terrified." and "I had a hard time sleeping.".
* Smile has infrequent-yet-brutal violence. Melvin very much appreciated this, as well as the pervasive dour vibe.
* Cristobal Tapia De Veer produced a stellar, terrifying soundtrack to accompany Smile. It goes hard!
* A reviewer Melvin respects gave Smile a glaring 1/10 for being near-entirely derivative of better material. During Ant's second watch of the film he found himself agreeing.
* Melvin largely understands most criticisms against Smile, including its irresponsibility regarding the way it handles its themes, but that doesn't matter to him when he really connects with a character's journey.
* Caitlin Stasey is an absolute standout!
* Getting into the controversial, irresponsible ending.
* For Melanie, Smile was really difficult to watch. Melvin asks why.
*Recommendations:*
* Annihilation (2018) (Movie)
* CCEF.org (Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation), a great resource for those struggling with their mental health.
* Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018) (Movie) Support the show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
* One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers
*Social Links: *
* Threads
* Website
* Instagram
* Facebook Group
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Jul 11, 2023
Beckman - The Supposed Christian John Wick
*PARTY PLEASER: *
Melanie & Melvin summarize Beckman, that weird Christian-marketed movie produced by David A.R. White where he plays a John Wick/Taken-esque assassin. The catch? He's a recent Christian convert. Does that stop him from killing dozens of people? Tune in to find out!
*Topics: *
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)** *27-minutes discussing the content of Christian movies, interpreting what they're communicating, their advertising, and so much more. *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)** *
* Beckman feels like a YouTube movie made by YouTubers back in, like, 2011. You could almost see Freddie Wong making something like it with Corridor Digital, except probably more fun.
* Melvin never watched Beckman even though he's owned it since mid-2020. Then, he watched it twice in a row for... reasons.
* David A.R. White routinely plays pastors in the movies he produces. Melvin finds this to be an odd reoccurrence.
* Gabriel Sabloff shared in the commentary track that he does a hard cut to action in…
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Jul 4, 2023
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, The Flash
*LET'S TALK:
*
Melanie and Melvin catch-up on some Superhero entries they missed over the last two months. In release order, the two discuss what made Guardians 3 (02 minutes) a decent return-to-form for Marvel, how Spider-Verse 2 (16-minutes) offered and exhilarating albeit overwhelming theater experience, and how The Flash (34 minutes) defied even the worst expectations. Support the show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
* One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers
*Social Links: *
* Threads
* Website
* Instagram
* Facebook Group
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Jun 27, 2023
Teen Wolf - 80s Comedy Galore
*PATREON PARTY PLEASER:
*
This movie was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard! * *
Melanie and Melvin summarize Teen Wolf from start to finish with hilarious commentary, goofin' on the supremely weird premise yet laughing over the absurd, hairy comedy within! Plus, stick around to the end for a surprise regarding that rumor!
*Topics: *
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 27-minutes discussing the aesthetics and appeal of 80s films. Plus, the celebration of exquisite practical effects prior to the embrace of digital effects in the 90s onward. *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)** *
* Teen Wolf's opening is really strong, setting the groundwork for the drama and comedy that will ensue.
* Boof is a queen among queens, but she is also very problematic. Especially if we swapped Boof and Scottie's gender.
* The first time Scottie transforms publicly is one of the funniest laughs Melvin has had in a very long ti…
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Jun 20, 2023
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - Bigger in Scope
*PARTY PLEASER:
*
Melanie and Melvin continue their summarization of The Hunger Games franchise following their previous party pleaser on The Hunger Games! This time, Katniss and the Hunger-Games-Gang is pulled into another Hunger Games! Who could have expected that? Melanie and Melvin are ready to pick-apart the political intrigue of Panam and question whether Katniss and Peta will ever stand a chance against President Snow!
*Topics: *
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)** *23-minutes discussing different ways to engage movies (phone, tv, theater) and hilarious-or-terrible movie theater experiences. *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)** *
* The Hunger Games: Catching Fire succeeds in being a sequel that increases the scope of the world, characters, and everything in between.
* Despite some of the improvements, parts of Catching Fire essentially re-do the material of The Hunger Games which got a little tiresome for Melvin who wanted to see some new experiences in the Hunger Games universe.
* During the…
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Jun 13, 2023
Skinamarink, Creepypasta, and the Culmination of Internet Horror
*LET'S TALK:
*After Fantasia Fest last year there was hubbub surrounding a particularly strange horror film called Skinamarink. Considered to be aggressively nontraditional, the film terrified audiences and led to intense popularity on TikTok. Then, in January, it finally received wide-release. Melvin and his wife Kathryn caught it in theaters and they felt "aggressively nontraditional" wasn't strong enough a description: Skinamarink was borderline oppressive in its prose and horror.
Not only is Skinamarink Melvin's #3 film of 2022 (out of 100), it inspired him to get the *Cinematic Doctrine* gang together to discuss Skinamarink and its very clear influences. These influences include the unique strain of horror-storytelling available on the internet. From Creepypasta to YouTube oddities to the modern folktale of the Slenderman, Melanie, Daniel, and Melvin discuss the very-young yet three-decades-long history of internet horror. From popular Creepypasta Ben Drowned to more obscure tit…
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Jun 6, 2023
Whale Rider - Artificial Hope Is Naturally Hopeless
*MOVIE DISCUSSION: *
Melanie and Melvin discuss the poignantly melancholic New Zealand film, Whale Rider, one of Melanie's favorite movies!
*Topics: *
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 22-minutes of discussing specific qualities we love (and hate!) in movies with examples, and why these things work (or don't!). *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)*
* Whale Rider opens on an extremely dour note, which functionally means it's a great tone-setter for a dour movie!
* Keisha Castle-Hughes is particularly stellar in a movie that's already stacked with excellent performances.
* The character of the grandfather made Whale Rider very difficult for Melvin to watch. Not out of anything personal, but just because his character is so insufferable.
* The ending of Whale Rider is conflicting, so Melvin and Melanie explain more about the movie before explaining more about their feelings.
* Regardless of cultural strain, a community often produces the same toxic attributes when it is in deterioration: lethargy, a…
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May 30, 2023
A Silent Voice - You Can't Say It Didn't Shoot For the Moon
*PATREON MOVIE DISCUSSION:*
This movie was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard! * *
Ani-May is almost over, but there's still room for one more episode! Melanie and Melvin discuss A Silent Voice, the popular Kyoto Animation project from 2016 about an elementary school bully who seeks amends during High School. The catch? He incessantly bullied a deaf girl, and must overcome his shame before he can apologize.
*Topics:*
* *(**FREE **PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 54-minutes reflecting upon Princess Mononoke, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Puella Magi Madoka Magica while also discussing the recurrent themes of Ani-May: 'Self-Destruction by Evil Desire', 'Acceptance of Reality', and 'The Maturity of Growing' complete with biblical verses and theological discussion! *(**FREE** PATREON EXCLUSIVE)*
* Melanie was still processing A Silent Voice and verbalizes that something felt off, but she doesn't…
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May 23, 2023
Madoka Magica is Beautifully Tragica
*LET'S TALK:
*
Melvin coaxes Melanie into the wonderfully tragic and poignant world of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, one of his absolute favorite - if not his favorite - fictional stories ever! From it's deeply rich characters, memorable action set-pieces, and heart-wrenching drama, Puella Magi Madoka Magica and its sequel film Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part III: Rebellion are extensively explored in this episode of episode of *Cinematic Doctrine*! During its first half, enjoy non-spoiler reflections, and during the second half, enjoy a beat-by-beat dissection of Puella Magi Madoka Magica's various revelations! And, if you haven't seen the show yet... check it out! Melvin highly recommends it!
*(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 50-minutes of additional content including Melvin discussing 7 manga spin-offs from the Puella Magi Madoka Magica franchise, talking about how they connect to the original story, what makes them engaging, and which ones to avoid. *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)** * Support the…
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May 16, 2023
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Legacy of Evangelion
*LET’S TALK:*
Melanie and Melvin are joined by Kathryn, Melvin’s wife, to discuss the much celebrated psychological-mecha anime Neon Genesis Evangelion and its sequel film Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion. The first half of the episode is a comprehensive non-spoiler discussion on what makes the show and film so enjoyable, provocative, challenging, and rewarding. The second half gets into more spoiler-specific discussions regarding the final two episodes of the show, the iconography of the film, interpretations of the ending, and most importantly: who is best girl?
*(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)** *1 hour of Melvin talking about the Director's Cut of the last three episodes of the show, and Melanie asking Melvin and Kathryn about other Neon Genesis Evangelion material such as what makes the manga different from the show, whether or not the “Rebuild” films from 2009 to 2021 are worthwhile, and a particular cross-over experience Melvin learned about while investigating extra…
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May 9, 2023
Dragonball Evolution - A Movie You Forgot Exists
*PARTY PLEASER: *
Happy Piccolo day! Melanie and Melvin check out the long forgotten Hollywood live-action adaption of Dragonball!
*Topics:
*
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 41-minutes discussing what makes Anime/Manga live-action adaptions so difficult to adapt, what unique characteristics separate the mediums, and what Anime/Manga would make a good live-action adaption *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)** *
* What background do Melanie and Melvin have with the Dragonball franchise?
* The start of Dragonball Evolution is an info dump that immediately confounds the movie. Melvin cross examines the Dragonball Evolution canon against the actual Dragonball canon.
* Dragonball Evolution’s general sense of setting and location is all over the place, and it never permits its audience a solid footing. Is it set on Earth? Is this a fantasy continent? What time period is it?
* There is one truly great thing that has come from Dragonball Evolution and it's a goofy edit someone made for YouTube. Here it…
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May 2, 2023
Princess Mononoke - Exploring the Universal Problem of Death
*MOVIE DISCUSSION:
*Happy Ani-May! Melanie and Melvin kick things off this month by discussing Hayao Miyazaki's adult animated feature: Princess Mononoke!
*Topics: *
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 38-minutes discussing comments made about forgiveness in last week's Fireproof episode, as well as a further deep-dive into what God expects from His people regarding the concept *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)*
* Melanie and Melvin open by discussing adult nature of Princess Mononoke: political intrigue, warring factions, violence, etc.
* Princess Mononoke sports deep, nuanced characters with incongruent mutual goals. This leads each character to be simultaneously relatable and at odds with the audience, depending on how the audience interprets each figure.
* Despite all reasons for aspiration and conflict, everything dies under the weight of death. The end of Princess Mononoke explores this idea in particular.
*Recommendations:*
* Inferno Cop (2012) (Anime)
* The Karate Kid (2010) (Movie) Su…
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Apr 25, 2023
Fireproof - Weirdly Voyeuristic, Strangely Intriguing, Awkward
*PATREON PARTY PLEASER:
*This movie was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard! *
*Melanie and Melvin travel back to 2008's big Christian-Marketed Movie release, Fireproof, a Kirk Cameron led Kendrick Brothers production! From occasional filmmaking flubs and functionally-okay narrative decisions, the two figure out if Fireproof is a Party Pleaser or a Party Pooper! Or, maybe something in between? Find out now!
*Topics: *
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 33-minutes discussing the Christian-Marketed Movie Complex (CMMC, as coined by Melvin Benson) and positive ways in which it could be improved, rather than dogging on it as people are prone to do. *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)*
* The verdict of a Party Pleaser can be for any reason, but Melvin thought it would be interesting to think about whether Fireproof would be edifying to watch with friends or not. You know, because it's a Christian-Marketed film.…
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Apr 18, 2023
The Prince of Egypt - Knowledgeable, Reverential, Beautiful
*MOVIE DISCUSSION: *
Melanie joins Melvin in discussing one of her all time favorite flicks, and the two also get into what makes The Prince of Egypt far more palatable than most Bible or Christian-marketed media.
*Topics:*
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 42-minutes discussing a list of movies Christian's say are commonly known by other Christians such as Nacho Libre, The Book of Eli, and many others, and why we think they may be popular in the Christian community *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)*
* What familiarity do Melanie and Melvin have with the Book of Exodus?
* John 1:1 makes it clear by stating that God's word is God Himself, as Christ also is God and therefore also God's word. So, when we create adaptions, we add degrees and opportunities for loss in translation when God's word is already authentic and reliable. This is a deeply important reality necessary for engaging in Biblical or Christian-marketed media: it is degrees away from God's literal word.
* Moses' character, strangely, i…
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Apr 11, 2023
The Tree of Life - Eric Nevins and Growing Up in a Broken, Glory-Filled World
*MOVIE DISCUSSION:
* *
*ericnevins.com
Eric Nevins from the Halfway There Podcast, and the Christian Podcast Association, joins Melvin and Dan in discussing one of Terrance Malick's most popular films, if not his most popular film ever! Semi-autobiographical, semi-retelling of the book of Job, semi-conventional narrative; The Tree of Life offers a lot to chew on, and the three of them eagerly dive in!
*Topics: *
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 28-minutes detailing movies we've changed opinion on, both films we've liked and now dislike and also disliked but now like, and why. *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)*
* Eric shares about his podcast, what drew him to amplifying Christian voices, and the particular way he prefers to do it.
* The Tree of Life, as Melvin puts it, is usually someone's pastor's favorite movie.
* While everyone watched The Tree of Life for the episode, Melvin specifically watched the extended cut of The Tree of Life exclusive to its Criterion release. It contains an additional…
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Apr 4, 2023
Ladyhawke - What Makes a Film Prime Remake Material?
*MOVIE DISCUSSION:*
Melanie, Daniel, and Melvin talk Ladyhawke, Richard Donner’s fantasy family film featuring Rutger Hauer, Michelle Pfieffer, and Matthew Broderick.
*Topics:*
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 35-minutes talking about two Disney animated science-fiction box-office failures, Lightyear and Strange World, their absurdly confusing marketing campaigns, and how their lack of success isn't a surprise for keen-eyed film fans *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)*
* Melanie specifically wanted to hear what Melvin and Dan thought of Ladyhawke. Melvin, for some reason, initially thought Ladyhawke was a wrestling movie.
* Melvin shares his strange fixation on Matthew Broderick.
* Melanie has been thinking about “remakes” a lot, and apart from the nostalgic joy she has with Ladyhawke, she’s been thinking about what would make for a good remake of this charismatic fantasy flick.
* For Melvin, a remake, reboot, or sequel doesn't necessarily need to be tied down to anything, it merely need…
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Mar 28, 2023
The Hunger Games - Odds? In My Favor? It's More Likely Than You Think!
*PATREON PARTY PLEASER:
*
This movie was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard! *
*Melanie and Melvin go through the entirety of The Hunger Games, starting from its opening text all the way to its closing credits! Relive the experience of your first Hunger Games and listen to our various commentary on the films interesting metaphors and frustrating editing!
*Topics: *
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 23-minutes discussing the YA genre of film, attempting to define it, describing different franchises, and what we like and don't like about it *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) *
* Melvin's never seen a Hunger Game. Melanie learns him a lesson.
* Melvin on the film's editing, "It was never, uhh, not a problem."
* The Hunger Games has a good, consistent sense of tone.
* Despite what some may think, The Hunger Games is technically a mid-to-low budget film costing an estimated 78-million to produce. This m…
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Mar 21, 2023
Shazam! Fury of the Gods - Decent, but Tired
*MOVIE DISCUSSION: *
Melanie and Melvin discuss Shazam! Fury of the Gods, a decent-enough sequel that’s far-too-late in a far-too-tired genre.
*Topics:*
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) *30-minutes discussing the future DCCU plans to completely rework the canon, something Melanie wasn’t aware of, and why neither of them are interested in a future with more superhero movies *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)*
* Celebrating Shazam!, perhaps DC’s best movie in this particular universe of films.
* Discussing David F. Sandberg as a creator, both in and out of theaters.
* Shazam! Fury of the Gods, like most DC movies, is a film with occasional successes but mostly missed opportunities.
* Noticing the performance disparity between Zachary Levi and Asher Angel, two actors playing different versions of the Barry Batson character.
* Is the *Cinematic Doctrine*crew even excited for geek-themed media anymore?
* Are the Daughters of Atlas good villains? Discuss.
* Discussing what is quantifiably t…
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Mar 14, 2023
Best & Worst of 2022 (Part 2)
*LET'S TALK:
*Melvin carries Daniel through the second half of his Top Ten/Bottom Ten 2022 movie list, giving detailed, bite-sized reviews for each flick as the two discuss what works, what doesn't, all finalizing with Melvin's top film of 2022!
*(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 10 additional honorable mentions (across part 1 and part 2) spanning drama, arthouse, horror, and the ever-elusive 'so-bad-its-good' category! *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* Support the show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
* One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers
*Social Links: *
* Threads
* Website
* Instagram
* Facebook Group
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Mar 7, 2023
Best & Worst of 2022 (Part 1)
*LET'S TALK:*
Melvin shares with Daniel the first half of his Top Ten / Bottom Ten 2022 movie list, giving detailed, bite-sized reviews for each flick as the two discuss what makes these films successful or sucky.
*(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 10 additional honorable mentions (across part 1 and part 2) spanning drama, arthouse, horror, and the ever-elusive 'so-bad-its-good' category! *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* Support the show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
* One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers
*Social Links: *
* Threads
* Website
* Instagram
* Facebook Group
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Feb 28, 2023
Belle - Dysfunctional Digital Duality
*PATREON MOVIE DISCUSSION:
*
This movie was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard! *
*Melanie joins Melvin to discuss Belle, Mamoru Hosoda's latest anime feature that combines real-life heart with the wonder of cyber-space! How well does he balance these ideas, and are we familiar with Hosoda's filmography? Tune in to hear that and more!
*Topics: *
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 38-minutes discussing our history with Anime, what we like and dislike about the style, and where we currently stand as purveyors of the medium *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)*
* Mamoru Hosoda clearly has a fascination with the duality between the real-world and digital-world as observed through his filmography (several Digimon movies, Summer Wars, Belle).
* Melanie connected with the way in which Suzu found her voice throughout the story's progression.
* Both Melvin and Melanie enjoyed most of the music, specifically the…
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Feb 21, 2023
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania - The Multiverse Homework Problem
*MOVIE DISCUSSION:
*
Daniel joins Melvin in discussing the second Rotten-rated film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania! Critics have been critical, and fans have been mildly amused. But, what about us? Tune in to find out!
*Topics: *
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 35-minutes discussing The Flash trailer, Ezra Miller's influential escapades, James Gunn's future changes for DC, and so much more! *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) *
* Melvin wastes little time criticizing the outsized scope of the film, a borderline-Shakespearian world-ending character exploration flick written and directed by individuals whose previous work include bit-comedy, a functionally and fundamentally different style of storytelling.
* Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quuntamania is 125-minutes and barely anything happens.
* After two comedy-heist features, it feels weird for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania to take itself so seriously... and also not really be a heist movie.
* Melvin and Daniel agr…
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Feb 14, 2023
Drag Me to Hell - Shame, Consequence, and Body Fluids
*MOVIE DISCUSSION: *
Melanie joins Melvin to talk Sam Raimi's 2009 return-to-horror feature Drag Me to Hell, a film so silly it disorients most viewers, including Melanie! From slapstick violence to cartoon gore, this movie surprised its PG-13 audience from start to finish!
*Topics:*
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) *18-minutes discussing AMC Theater's new tiered-seating price points, from value-pricing at the front to premium-pricing at the center *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) *
* Melanie has specifically told Melvin that Drag Me to Hell was a movie she hated. Has that changed?
* Melvin gives some background to the Sam Raimi style, something that no doubt shocks and stuns the unprepared.
* The hyperbole of Drag Me to Hell helps exemplify the subtle yet damning ways in which people can disregard one another, or put oneself before others, and all of this is made exceedingly evident in the complicating incident.
* Melanie, "It was so funny and I think I was just able to appreciate the more com…
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Feb 7, 2023
George Washington - Heartfelt, Adolescent, Spiritual, Poetic
*MOVIE DISCUSSION:
*
Melanie and Melvin talk about George Washington, David Gordon Green's critically celebrated directorial debut, a coming-of-age poverty drama dripping with heart.
*Topics: *
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) *28-minutes discussing various Director's who've produced remarkably good movies and remarkably bad movies, why there might be such varied quality among projects, and what makes these movies distinct in their own right. *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) *
* George Washington isn't as plot heavy as it is character heavy, so Melvin explains some of what defines each character in the film.
* Melanie and Melvin both recommend George Washington prior to tuning in to their spoiler-filled discussion.
* Despite their clear talent virtually all of the teen and pre-teen actors have no acting credentials which speaks to David Gordon Green's effective directing.
* George Washington displays endearing cross-generational relationships that are both mundane and valuable, the kind where pe…
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Jan 31, 2023
Daredevil - Is It As Bad As We All Remember?
*PATREON PARTY PLEASER:
*This movie was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard! * *
Melanie and Daniel join Melvin to discuss the 20th anniversary of Ben Affleck Daredevil! Is it as bad as Catwoman? Let’s find out together as we dissect the film from start to finish!
*TOPICS:*
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 51-minutes discussing the Oscar Nominations, who we think will win, standouts, and the Oscar’s as an institution *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)*
* Daredevil has a director’s cut with an additional 30+ minutes, content that does contextualize and improve a few plot details and subplots that otherwise are expedited in the theatrical cut.
* Although it’s dependent on what the movie needs at the time, it’s neat that this version of Daredevil is, in a way, more blind than the Marvel/Netflix Daredevil, who functionally can just “see” everything despite his condition.
* This version of…
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Dec 27, 2022
Where the Scary Things Are - Delightfully Terrible in All the Right Ways
*PATREON PARTY PLEASER:
*This movie was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard! *
*Melvin and Melanie explain, beat for beat, the entirety of Where the Scary Things Are, one of 2022's most baffling and hilariously unwatchable features that nobody knows about. Amidst frustrated and confused laughter, the two bring you from opening to closing credits! Hilarity ensues!
*Topics: *
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 18-minutes discussing Christmas seasonal stress (gift giving and decorations) and the balancing Christian traditions with Western traditions *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) *
* The blurb for Where the Scary Things Are is about a group of students who find a monster and turn it into an influencer. Sort of.
* The choice to shoot Where the Scary Things Are at Field of Screams, a real horror themed park, greatly benefits the general aesthetic of the film.
* A teacher gives the students their projec…
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Dec 24, 2022
Chris Staron and A Royal Gremlins Christmas
*LET'S TALK:
*
TrucePodcast.com
Chris Staron of Truce Podcast joins Melvin to chat a bit of Gremlins, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, and play a Hallmark-Christmas themed quiz game! Ultimately, this episode is an excuse to continue our several-episode's long discussion on the concept of comedy and its ever-changing nature, alongside the eternal nature of slapstick!
*(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 25-minutes talking about Chris Staron's fascination with Jordan Peele's latest film Nope, why it can just be a fun movie and doesn't need to necessarily mean anything to someone, and the difference between straight horror movies and science-fiction horror movies. *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)*
*Recommendations:*
* Family Fears: Gremlin Party! – Cinematic Doctrine (Article)
* Mixed Nuts (1994) (Movie)
* Klaus (2019) (Movie)
Also, we found the movie Chris said he worked on. It's on Amazon. Stream it here! Support the show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vo…
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Dec 20, 2022
Avatar: The Way of Water - Jerry Dugan and Celebrating Great CGI
MOVIE DISCUSSION:
Beyondtherut.com
Guest Jerry Dugan of the Beyond the Rut podcast joins Melvin to discuss James Cameron's latest flick Avatar: The Way of Water, a sequel many years in the making!
*Topics: *
* (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 30-minute interview with Jerry Dugan about his podcast, the difficult experience of podcasting, and his favorite episodes (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
* Jerry Dugan shares some of his affinity for James Cameron as a director, and the two discuss what it is they've come to know about his style.
* Giving just enough plot setup for all the 10-year questions we've had about what an Avatar sequel would be about and saving spoilers for the end of the episode.
* When Avatar: The Way of Water's initial trailer came out, Melvin was, admittedly, not excited in the least. Now that the movie is out, he can confidently say he loved it!
* One primary takeaway from Avatar: The Way of Water is how expertly directed the film is, clearly showcasing a confidence in its whim…
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Dec 13, 2022
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery - A Solid Whodunnit
*MOVIE DISCUSSION:
*Were you able to catch Glass Onion in theaters before its holiday weekend release? Melvin and Dan did, and they're excited to share some details on what makes Glass Onion worth the wait! Don't worry, they don't get into spoilers until halfway into the discussion, and they'll make it clear when to tune out if you're wanting to go into Glass Onion blind!
*Topics: *
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 31-minutes discussing Melvin's Covid sickness part 2, the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, and the rumors surrounding changes to the DC Universe *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)*
* To give a non-spoiler review, Melvin and Dan celebrate the film's ensemble cast, general themes, and upbeat atmosphere.
* The atmosphere of "body positivity" within the film as it showcases various actors in bathing suits was a little shocking for Melvin despite the setting, and he suspected some of *Cinematic Doctrine's* Christian audience may want to be forewarned about some of the non-sexual body-…
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Nov 16, 2022
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - Ambitious and/or Bloated
*MOVIE DISCUSSION: *
Melvin & Dan can only agree on one thing: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is, in fact, a Marvel movie. To focus their attention, Melvin proposes four ambitions that he feels will make-or-break the film for audience members.
*Topics:*
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 44-minutes discussing Kevin Conroy's passing, Video Rental store nostalgia, and media curation *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) *
* Reflecting on Black Panther's immense cultural impact and success.
* Reminiscing on the intended plans for King T'Challa in the MCU post-Endgame.
* Melvin liked that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever had a somewhat self-serious profile as opposed to the more flippant, light sensibilities of other Marvel fare.
* However, Melvin has four headers - ambitions - that he observed within Black Panther: Wakanda Forever that he felt prevented him from "buying in" to the fiction of the film but may actually be beneficial qualities to certain audience members.
* His first point covers the film'…
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Nov 8, 2022
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law - Melvin Officially Has Marvel Exhaustion
*TV-SHOW DISCUSSION:
*
Marvel couldn't get through one more show without fans going nuts, and Melvin & Dan are here to parse through the mire. We get through what makes She-Hulk: Attorney at Law extremely fun and a breath of the fresh air, as well as what makes its ending both clever and dull.
*Topics: *
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 33-minutes discussing Phase 4 Marvel, it's ups and downs, the overwhelming content-drip of borderline week-to-week Marvel content and wanting more creativity from Marvel despite knowing its still, you know, Marvel. *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) *
* Daniel details the conception of She-Hulk as a Marvel comic character in the late 70s/early 80s.
* Daniel, "She-Hulk is, other than WandaVision, one of the only one of these [Marvel shows] to take advantage of the fact that it is a streaming show."
* Although anyone could have predicted the negative response to She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, it was funny to see how the show, episode after episode, would almost commentate…
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Nov 1, 2022
Black Adam - Rentable
*MOVIE DISCUSSION: *
Melvin & Dan discuss the latest entry in the troubled, frustrating, and extremely strange DC Universe. This time it features fan-and-mom favorite Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson donning a cool black suit and looking maliciously confused. Neat!
*Topics:*
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 35-minutes talking about Walter Hamada stepping down from the DCU, James Gunn replacing him, and the lack of cultural permanence DC has compared to Marvel, or even Horror/Slasher icons. *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) *
* Daniel briefly details the 15-year journey Dwayne Johnson took to get Black Adam made, featuring himself in the titular role.
* Melvin & Dan agree: The first half of the film is pretty dang fun, albeit nothing new.
* Despite a marginally enjoyable experience, Melvin feels like it's "a movie that I'm already tired of seeing", one that has been made for the last decade and a half.
* Every two years the DCU has shifted and turned and changed its mind; do we really care anymore? Doe…
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Oct 31, 2022
David Gordon Green's Halloween Trilogy and Changing Opinions
*LET'S TALK: *
When Melvin saw Halloween Ends, he wasn't sure if he liked or disliked the movie. Mostly, it left him confused. So, he embarked on a journey: rewatching all three David Gordon Green Halloween flicks and seeing how they stand up. In doing so, his opinion on Halloween Ends has completely changed, and both he and Daniel discuss the experience of having their opinions change on movies, media, and life in general, and how the practice of mulling over and meditating on media is a helpful, often good practice.
*(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 17-minutes discussing Halloween Halloween Halloween! *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) * Support the show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
* One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers
*Social Links: *
* Threads
* Website
* Instagram
* Facebook Group
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Oct 27, 2022
Hangman's Curse (Part 2) - Melanie Dejesus and the Official Hangman's Curse Devotional
*PATREON PARTY PLEASER:
*This movie was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard! *
*
Frank Peretti's film adaption of Hangman's Curse arrived with an official youth devotional. Or, at least, Melvin's DVD copy did. In part two of their Hangman's Curse discussion, Melvin, Dan, and special guest Melanie Dejesus (from Melvin's church) spend time working through the official Hangman's Curse devotional guide questions, including what makes some of them so problematic. But, before they get into the spicey stuff, the three laugh over 20-year-old IMDB reviews.
*Topics:*
* Melvin feels the Online Christian Review complex is very "team jersey", in that they often celebrate and 5-star films that are otherwise quite bad or uninspired despite containing all they need: the "Christian" tag in the marketing field. Thus, he reads a few silly reviews that celebrate Hangman's Curse for being good actually.…
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Oct 25, 2022
Hangman's Curse (Part 1) - Melanie Dejesus and Talking Frank Peretti's First Spooky Film Adaption
*PATREON PARTY PLEASER: *
This movie was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
Frank Peretti's Hangman's Curse was the first of his books to finally reach the silver screen, and Melanie Dejesus from Melvin's church joins him and Daniel on this first of two episodes where the three work through this weird amalgamation of teen scream and early 2000's "cool" Christian media.
*Topics:*
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 33-minute discussion of "cool" Christian media, the mid-90s to mid-00's craze of music, clothing, and all things "cool" in the western Christian world *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) *
* Melvin proposes, since no one on the planet has seen Hangman's Curse other than Melvin' sister, that the three detail the entirety of the film from start to finish.
* Daniel, a self-described Frank Peretti novel-fan, details Peretti's style and talent when it comes to literature.
* Melvin starts describi…
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Oct 18, 2022
Halloween Ends - Bonkers
*MOVIE DISCUSSION:*
Remember that wild Halloween Kills episode from last year? Melvin & Dan are ready to rock your world with a roaring sequel episode on Halloween Ends, a finale so bonkers it blows our minds!
*Topics: *
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 34-minutes talking about Werewolf by Night, the borderline TV-MA Marvel special on Disney Plus! *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) *
* Melvin and Daniel talk around the movie before actually getting into specifics, because that's what Halloween Ends has done to your hosts.
* Spoilers from the get-go, as Melvin and Daniel realize they can't discuss the movie much without getting into specifics.
* Daniel clocked it; it takes 40 minutes before Michael Myers even shows up in Halloween Ends. You practically forget it's a Halloween movie by this point.
* Daniel, "This really feels like a strange episode, a Halloween-themed episode of Twin Peaks."
* In isolation, a lot of the new ideas throughout Halloween Ends are neat, but the way all of them are us…
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Sep 27, 2022
Oculus - Decent Despite Disappointments
*PATREON MOVIE DISCUSSION: *
This movie was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
If you've seen The Haunting of Hill House/Bly Manor or Midnight Mass, you've seen director Mike Flanagan's work! However, for this episode we're traveling back to 2013 to discuss one of his earliest projects, Oculus!
*Topics: *
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 40-minutes talking about the complicated dynamics of modern movie watching like watching on airplanes, cell phones, the gym, or doing dishes. Also, the concept of director, producer, editor, or alternative cuts to movies. *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) *
* Daniel has watched more Mike Flanagan projects than Melvin. Melvin is curious if he's noticed a style or focus of Flanagan across each project.
* Oculus is a fairly simple visual experience of reliving family trauma, but there isn't a whole lot else going on from start to finish.
* The concept of cursed obje…
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Sep 20, 2022
The Blackcoat's Daughter - The Horror of Spiritual Loneliness
*MOVIE DISCUSSION: *
Melvin & Dan talk about one of Mel's favorite movies, The Blackcoat's Daughter, perhaps the most painstakingly slow burning, brooding mood slashers ever made. Also, Melvin gets really honest about why he loves The Blackcoat's Daughter so much.
*Topics:*
* Melvin has wanted Daniel to watch The Blackcoat's Daughter since they started the podcast. Finally, it happened.
* The Blackcoat's Daughter shows various aspects of alienation, loneliness, and general social dysfunction despite its small cast.
* Despite The Blackcoat's Daughter being set at a spiritually indistinguishable denominational school, an aesthetic choice likely chosen to add flavor to the horror, Melvin finds himself deeply connecting with the general atmosphere present within the film.
* The structure of The Blackcoat's Daughter is extremely subtle, with even its timeline giving small yet pivotal narrative clues.
* Daniel read that Ozgood Perkins wanted the film to be about loneliness, whic…
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Aug 30, 2022
The Bear (S1) - The Most Loving Show on Television
*PATREON TV-SHOW DISCUSSION:*
This TV-Show was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
Melvin & Dan put on some no-slips and get to work talking about The Bear! Corner!
*Topics: *
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 37-minutes of various topics: She-Hulk Episode 1 Twitter response, Warner Bros. can only afford to release two movies this year, and that nonsensical MoviePass revival *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) *
* The Bear is mercifully efficient and accurately represents kitchen work.
* Melvin feels The Bear's realistic depiction of work-space experience and people relationships might actually so relatable that it becomes difficult to watch.
* Daniel has worked with coworkers just like some of the characters in The Bear.
* Melvin has an affinity and yearning for structure, so seeing a healthy and positive depiction of work and hierarchy in The Bear is greatly appreciated.
* Melvin jokingly says,…
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Aug 23, 2022
WB Discovery Repels Artists through David Zaslav's Wild Management Style
*LET'S TALK:
*Earlier this month we reported the cancelation of Batgirl, Scoob! 2, and much more. These projects, both nearly complete, got the unceremonious axe, but they would be far from the first. Since then, several other projects have been either canceled or removed outright from HBOmax despite being originals to the streaming service. This leads Melvin and Daniel down a frustrating discussion about whether anyone will ever willingly work with Warner Bros. Discovery in the future, the moral quandary of piracy, and so much more. *
*
Support the show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
* One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers
*Social Links: *
* Threads
* Website
* Instagram
* Facebook Group
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Aug 16, 2022
Not Okay - The Better Evan Hansen
*MOVIE DISCUSSION:*
Hulu continues to put out bangers, and Melvin & Dan discuss Not Okay, one of its latest successes!
*Topics: *
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* Discussing They/Them, the controversial and questionable slasher set at a gay conversion camp, as well as some new Ezra Miller/Flash/Warner Brothers news. *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) *
* When Melvin first learned about Not Okay's description, he immediately knew he wanted to watch it.
* Melvin felt Not Okay had some influence from Friday the 13th: Part V: A New Beginning. Yes, he explains.
* Zoey Deutch and Dylan O'Brien were both in The Outfit, another movie from 2022. Melvin gives a mini review for that, while asserting the quality of their chemistry.
* Part of why Melvin texted Daniel about covering Not Okay is specifically to compare it to Dear Evan Hansen, so the two begin detailing key differences in quality and character between the two.
* By making the film more realistic and sensible, Not Okay succeeds in making its l…
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Aug 9, 2022
Prey - Or, the Actual First Sequel to Predator
*MOVIE DISCUSSION:*
Melvin & Dan talk about the latest Predator movie, Prey, that probably should have been in theaters, right?
*Topics: *
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 50-minutes talking about the benefits to physical media over streaming, and the exciting world of special features w/ examples. *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)*
* Immediate disappointment that Prey was not in theaters.
* Jacob Knight on Letterboxd writes that Predator is at its best when it just embraces its "Pro Wrestling" aesthetic.
* Predator has always been more enjoyable when it's simple. This is why Predators can feel pretty fun at times, and why Prey feels great all the time.
* Melvin & Dan want to see the Predator dropped into other time periods: pirates, samurai, ancient Greece. All sorts of weird, high concept stuff!
* Amber Midthunder was very pleased to see the depictions of Native Americans in Prey was not hyper spiritual and shamanistic.
* There's a cultural, current fascination with "simple" movies; movie…
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Aug 4, 2022
It's Not Just Batgirl; HBOmax May Be Canceled Too
*LET'S TALK:
*
On Tuesday, August 2nd, 2022, the news broke that Batgirl, an upcoming DC film featuring the continued return of Michael Keaton's Batman as an old, weathered, matured Bruce Wayne training a young Barbara Gordon, was canceled. But that's not all; the film was nearly complete, virtually gold by the time the axe came down. Along with its death came the cancelation of Scoob! 2, and several other upcoming properties deemed unworthy.
This news also comes with expected, wild changes to what's considered many cinephile's #1 streaming service: HBOmax. With the finalized merge between Discovery and Warner Brothers, things sure are changing, and Melvin and Daniel felt so affected by the news that they put together this surprise, impromptu episode so they could complain about it.
Due to the quick nature of this episode's recording and scheduling, the episode also hasn't been edited. All coughs, squeaks, and sound distractions are included. How ASMR of us! Despite this, we're sure…
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Aug 2, 2022
Nope - Anthony Coughlin and the Consequence of Spectacle
*MOVIE DISCUSSION: *
Melvin & Dan are joined by Anthony Coughlin, one of several pastors of Risen Christ Fellowship. The three discuss the latest Jordan Peele pic, what they perceive it's about, and how it's not quite a horror movie, even if it's occasionally horrific!
*Topics: *
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 45-minutes talking about movies, specific ones or types, that we regret watching, or have reconsidered as we've matured *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) *
* The three agree: Nope is not only a good movie, but it also ruminates in the mind for a while after seeing it.
* Daniel feels Jordan Peele movies always produce two questions: Is it a horror movie, and what is it about?
* Using that one viral tweet where someone claims Jordan Peele must be the best horror director because he's made three good horror movies as a jumping point to actually talk about Jordan Peele's greatness.
* Nope feels like a movie built around boundaries, respect, and meditating on the morality behind certain acti…
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Jul 26, 2022
Ms. Marvel - A Great Teen Superhero Show Nobody Watched
*PATREON TV-SHOW DISCUSSION:
*
This TV-Show was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
Disney released two shows at once rather than one at a time! Weird!! Patreon Supporters picked Ms. Marvel over Obi-Wan Kenobi. Not weird!
*Topics:*
* *(PATREON EXLUSIVE)* 40-minutes talking about the incomprehensible Marvel-fan backlash to Thor: Love and Thunder, as well as tangents on Metallica, Rockband and Guitar Hero, and Seventh-Gen Console gaming *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) *
* Daniel enjoys how Ms. Marvel has a positive perspective on organized religion.
* Melvin reads some of Iman Vellani's Letterboxd reviews from 2020.
* Maybe not specifically, but conceptually there's a lot to find relatable in Ms. Marvel for anyone who's grown up in a healthy, yet difficult religious setting.
* The choice to give Ms. Marvel 'hardlight' powers may have been a wise VFX choice when compared to that abysmal S…
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Jul 19, 2022
Jurassic World Dominion - Oof
*MOVIE DISCUSSION: *
Melvin deliberately told Daniel not to see Jurassic World Dominion. Daniel saw it anyway.
*Topics: *
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 27-minutes of talking about the disastrous choice for the Snyder-verse to initially invest in Ezra Miller, Amber Heard, and Jared Leto for its future. *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)*
* Talking about how inconvenient Jurassic World Dominion was to our lives.
* The entire theater was noticeably restless during both of our theater experiences.
* Trying to comprehend various scenes and plot-points.
* Spoiler: Daniel never saw Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Melvin tries to explain it.
* How is Jurassic World Dominion not about the insane, massive ecological disaster that would be caused by even the introduction of one Dinosaur?
* Routinely, the editing caused Melvin and his wife Kathryn to get seriously confused.
* Daniel, ""Why is any of this in a Jurassic Park movie?" is this is the question you keep asking yourself."
* Is it morally…
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Jul 12, 2022
Thor: Love and Thunder - Tripping Over Itself
*MOVIE DISCUSSION:*
Like all good movie podcasts, we have to talk about Thor: Love and Thunder. Even if it is terrible.
*Topics:*
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 46-minutes talking about TV-Shows: Ms. Marvel, the upcoming Echo show (feat. Daredevil), and brief discussion on Umbrella Academy (S3) *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)*
* Pitching a Gwenpool show for Disney Marvel.
* Did we laugh even one time during Thor: Love and Thunder?
* Melvin and Daniel each bring interesting observations regarding Taika Waititi as a content creator and Rotten Tomatoes as a review-aggregate site, and how they relate to Thor: Love and Thunder.
* Thor: Love and Thunder reopens the vault of "poorly handled Marvel villains", including wasted casting just like Thor: The Dark World.
* Melvin, "I think sex jokes can be funny, but this movie? It was weird."
* The goats are the worst part of the MCU.
* Daniel shares yet another stranger theater experience he witnessed.
* Thoughts on the ending, which still does…
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Jul 5, 2022
Stranger Things S4 - "There really is nothing like it!"
*TV-SHOW DISCUSSION: *
Did you finish Stranger Things S4 yet? Melvin and Daniel have. Tune in to hear them chat about that crazy new season, volumes 1 and 2, and their predictions for S5! And yes, we go full spoilers right from the start.
*Topics: *
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 50-minutes of Melvin talking about his live-changing first-time watching the WWE, and a brief aside about Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life. *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)*
* Explaining the over-arching details of the massive Season 4 plotline.
* Melvin felt this season clarified some in-world details he was curious about since Season One, as well as introduced a much needed fatal-threat to the franchise as opposed to each season's antagonistic figure being more of a cautiously curious violent figure.
* The final episode felt more like a mid-movie low-point than a right-and-true finale, but that makes sense considering The Duffer Brothers couldn't do everything they wanted without needing a Season 5.
* The "Fa…
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Jun 28, 2022
Tickled - Grippingly Awkward, Absurdly Silly, Excellent
*PATREON PARTY PLEASER: *
This movie was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
In this episode you'll hear us discuss one of the single-most bizarre stories to come from the documentary world. Journalist David Farrier stumbles upon the strange world of Competitive Endurance Tickling. What ensues is a long-stretching borderline "true-crime" drama of Jane O'brien Media.
*Topics: *
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 48-minutes talking about the latest Vince McMahon controversies, plus other oddities of his personality. *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) *
* This month's curated Patreon Poll was built around "shocking movies". The idea being movies that are contextually shocking, not necessarily filled with shocking material.
* Tickled, as an experience, triggers everything: disgust, surprise, laughter, mockery, heartbreak, excitement, intrigue. It's the full package.
* Detailing caveats to engaging this m…
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Jun 21, 2022
Stranger Things S1-3 Retrospective
*LET'S TALK:
*
Are you watching Stranger Things? Well, Melvin sure has been. He's been losing sleep over it! But, only in the best way possible. Tune in to hear Melvin and Daniel discuss Seasons 1-3 of Stranger Things in preparation for the upcoming finale of Season 4! We get into the massive cultural impact Season 1 held when it first released, the black sheep of the series that is Season 2, and the wonderfully different and significantly higher budgeted Season 3, why Steve Harrington is maybe the best character, how the show brilliantly uses the "binge" model to keep you engaged, and the undeniable versatility of the Stranger Things universe. Oh, and yes, we do spend time talking about the infamous S2E7.
*(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* Hear our early thoughts on Season 4 before volume 2 releases on July 1st, including its best episodes, how we feel about it being the scariest season, and what works so well about this potential finale! *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) *
Support the show
*Support on Pat…
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Jun 14, 2022
So... About That Halo Show...
*LET'S TALK:
*
Melvin and Dan travel back in time and adventure through Halo's early popularity, the constant behind-the-scenes talks about a Halo movie, the subsequent dark phase of Halo after Bungie moves on, and how Halo continues to struggle to reach its original sky-high success. A previous, two-generation console selling franchise can't even begin to garner interest in a new streaming service, Paramount+. Why is that? Let's get into it.
*(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* Various extra video game discussions throughout including classic console variations, other Halo shows, Halo 'killers', Kingdom Hearts, and so much more! *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE) *
Support the show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
* One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers
*Social Links: *
* Threads
* Website
* Instagram
* Facebook Group
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Jun 7, 2022
Top Gun: Maverick - Everyone Loves it, Including Your Dad!
*MOVIE DISCUSSION: *
Tom Cruise rehabilitates that Oprah interview we all remember by flying really fast. Tune in to hear more!
*Topics: *
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 39-minutes talking about Morbius being re-released to zero fanfare, and an article from Vice about Marvel movies being content rather than art. *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)*
* Top Gun: Maverick received extremely good buzz prior to release, which captured Melvin's attention.
* Melvin hadn't seen Top Gun before, so he shares what it was like watching Top Gun for the first time less than 48-hours before seeing Top Gun: Maverick.
* Both Top Gun: Maverick and Michael Bay's Ambulance are being celebrated this year for being excellently crafted films despite being extremely simple. Daniel ponders why that may be.
* Melvin, "This is the best legacy movie I've seen."
* Top Gun: Maverick has intense melancholic undertones.
* Top Gun: Maverick is also Melvin's third 10/10 movie he's seen this year (out of 32 total movies). 202…
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May 31, 2022
Archive 81 - Analog Horror & Quality Cancelations
*PATREON TV-SHOW DISCUSSION:
*
This TV-show was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
Melvin and Dan are joined by Melvin's sister Shirleon to discuss that successful Netflix horror series Archive 81 that also got canceled despite being a sizable hit. Insane!
*Topics:*
* *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)* 27-minutes of discussing the Chip n' Dale: Rescue Rangers movie partially from the crew behind The Lonely Island *(PATREON EXCLUSIVE)*
* Melvin's sister Shirleon joins the crew because she's a real-life archivist! Although, not entirely like Dan Turner.
* Daniel had recommended Archive 81 on a previous episode, but with a major qualifier: He recommended the first 7.5 episodes of the show, with the last 30 minutes being a dud for him.
* Shirleon felt that as the mystery unfolds, the story became less engaging.
* As for Melvin, he mentions a lot of details he loved about Archive 81 and cont…
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May 24, 2022
Moon Knight - Not Quite Weird, Not Quite Experimental
*TV-SHOW DISCUSSION:
*
Melvin and Dan dive into that new Marvel thing featuring Oscar Isaac and Oscar Isaac and also Oscar Isaac. Wow!
*Topics: *
* (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 30-minutes talking about Netflix stock, loss of subscribers, and reasons behind Netflix's currently poor situation. (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
* For Daniel, the current baseline of Marvel content is that it's not that great, but it's also not necessarily bad, either.
* Discussing a bit of Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson's previous science-fiction work, and their "kitchen sink" approach to filmmaking.
* Daniel, "If this wasn't in the MCU, like, would they be allowed to be more violent? Would they be allowed to be weirder and more experimental?"
* Most members involved in Moon Knight have previously shared a disinterest the MCU, but something about the Moon Knight project grabbed their attention.
* Oscar Isaac's performance as two different characters functions so incredibly well that it never distracts you away fr…
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May 10, 2022
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness - The Anti-No Way Home
*MOVIE DISCUSSION: *
As Melvin left the theater, he called it: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is going to be controversial. And, as Daniel confirms, it sure is!
*Topics:*
* (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 30-minutes talking about the Avatar: The Way of Water trailer. (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
* Before getting into the specifics, Melvin shares how he felt the movie progressively becomes better and better.
* Daniel details how the contrasting tones will likely divide audiences, despite it being one of our positives.
* Daniel, speaking positively, "The plot and story are deceptively simple."
* Daniel, "Framing the Scarlet Witch as a movie monster, essentially, is one of the movie's best ideas."
* If you've heard talk online about Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness being too violent or "gorey". Two questions to think about: Is it true, and would it be wrong if it were?
* Discussing that viral Twitter thread where a bunch of 20-year-olds share their grievances with the…
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May 3, 2022
CODA - A Disney Channel Original Best Picture Winner
*PATREON MOVIE DISCUSSION: *
This movie was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
CODA beat Don't Look Up for Best Picture, and for many people that's all that matters. But, in reality, when compared to so many other films that released in 2021, is CODA truly the Best Picture? That's the question Melvin's been wrestling with while watching CODA, and both he and Daniel discuss the films successes, failures, frustrations, and celebrations. Maybe the Best Picture was the podcast discussion we had along the way.
*Topics:*
* Discussing strange technicalities of the Academy.
* Award notwithstanding, is CODA actually the Best Picture of 2021?
* Episode title notwithstanding, CODA really is like a Disney Channel Original movie, and only a step above what makes that narrative structure interesting. Thus, it feels like CODA will always live under the shadow of what makes a movie a Best Pic…
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Apr 19, 2022
Thor: Love and Thunder Trailer Reaction and the Future of DC in Film
*LET'S TALK: *
Our first teaser for Thor: Love and Thunder released yesterday morning, so Melvin and Daniel spend some time dishing about the future of the Norse hero! Afterward, they discuss the Warner Bros. Discovery merger and what has everyone talking: what's going to happen to DC?
Support the show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
* One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers
*Social Links: *
* Threads
* Website
* Instagram
* Facebook Group
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Apr 12, 2022
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 - Gotta Go Faster!!
*MOVIE DISCUSSION:
*Sonic's speeding back into theaters, and this time we're in agreement: Sonic the Hedgehog 2's kind of great! *
*
*Topics:*
* Daniel reflects on how he was in the minority with Sonic the Hedgehog, but that's old news because Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is pretty good!
* Our theater crowds were 75% kids, 20% adults, and 10% video game nerds and podcasters.
* The comedy in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is more absurd and downright goofy.
* Sonic the Hedgehog 2 contains some extremely well-done CGI, as well as clearly unfinished sequences where animated characters mouths stutter, or human characters are improperly input into CGI sequences.
* The Sonic video game franchise is celebrated for having some of the best, most creative video game soundtracks, so why are the movie soundtracks so bland?
* Talking about the mid-credits scene and what to expect for the future of Sonic on the big screen!
* For Daniel, the mid-credits scene was the third most excited he's ever seen a…
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Apr 5, 2022
Morbius - Skippable
*MOVIE DISCUSSION:
*Don't see Morbius. It's pretty boring. Tune into our episode instead! Did we mention its shorter than the runtime? *
Topics:*
* Melvin explains his theory about why the trailers contain a plethora of Spider-Man easter eggs that aren't in the movie.
* Daniel explains some history behind the making of Morbius, and how the character has been trying to get off the ground for years.
* Daniel, "Is this the worst comic book film you've ever seen?"
* Morbius may be a vampire, but this movie really doesn't have a lot of "vampire things" in it.
* Talking about the end credit scenes, and how they're bafflingly ridiculous.
* After some solid reflection... there's no reason to ever watch Morbius.
* Melvin tells you about other movies in theaters worth watching instead of Morbius.
* Melvin also checks out other Sony productions to see if there have been any good releases since Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood that aren't also Marvel films.
*Recommendations:*…
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Mar 29, 2022
The House - We Are Extremely Interested in This Podcast
*PATREON MOVIE DISCUSSION:
*
This movie was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
Typically, January offers us the worst of the year, but Netflix came in clutch with an inquisitive stop-motion feature called The House. Melvin & Dan chew on each segment with curiosity, tackling how the project made them feel as a whole.
*Topics: *
* As movie people, Melvin & Dan are used to being asked by others, "Hey, have you seen this weird, obscure film?" and it just turns out to be a film that most people haven't seen a trailer for.
* Melvin asks Daniel how he feels and interprets the first segment in The House.
* Melvin: "I think art is most interesting when it's not factual. When it's more interpretive."
* Detailing Segment 2 and experiencing how the house itself refuses to cooperate.
* Daniel: "One thing that all three of these do wonderfully well is you really sympathies with the chara…
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Mar 22, 2022
Redeeming Love - A Marriage of Sacred & Secular
*MOVIE DISCUSSION: *
Before Dune, Daniel saw a trailer for Redeeming Love. After the trailer played, he leaned over to his friend and said, "I think that's supposed to be a sexy Christian movie.". So, here we are talking about that "sexy Christian movie". Boy, there sure is a lot to talk about here.
*Topics: *
* Melvin compares Redeeming Love to an awkward interaction he witnessed at work.
* Redeeming Love contains some rather extreme and transgressive content despite having a serious lack of context.
* Daniel details some background for Redeeming Love, author/screenwriter Francine Rivers, and director D.J. Caruso.
* Redeeming Love is loosely based on the Minor Prophet book Hosea from the Bible.
* Each character feels devoid of personality which may work in both a shorter and more artistic film than Redeeming Love ends up being.
* Where Redeeming Love works is where it leans heavily into its "inspiration", but even then, that's not success from talent, that's success fro…
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Mar 15, 2022
Turning Red - Heritage, Teenagers, & Puberty: Oh My!
*MOVIE DISCUSSION: *
Melvin & Dan talk about Pixar's latest feature film Turning Red, a film too criminally fun to be streaming only! What a shame!
*Topics: *
* Turning Red is very much a family/kid's movie, with a more direct demographic target of preteens and young teens.
* Some of the narrative choices frustrated Melvin, in particular the mother's lack of social awareness (in particular, the journal scene).
* Media produced for young girls is often overly derided for being lame. With Turning Red, it's fun to see that culture celebrated as valuable and exciting through music, puppy love, music, and dance.
* The Panda works on multiple levels as a metaphor. For Melvin, he connected with the Panda as a metaphor for self-identification and self-discovery. For Daniel, the metaphor he connected with was an "assimilation cultural heritage" angle.
* It's great to watch a kid's movie where the kids act like actual kids, and not movie kids (i.e., little adults).
* Turning Red h…
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Mar 8, 2022
The Batman - Peak Comic Noir
*MOVIE DISCUSSION:*
Melvin and Daniel return to the world of superheroes! In this episode they discuss the newest adaption in the long-running cinematic Batman canon.
*Topics: *
* Are there too many Batmen in 2022?
* Production history leading up to the release of The Batman.
* For Melvin, there's a lot to like about The Batman in terms of adapting the noir, mystery nature of DC's greatest detective.
* ...but, there was a point when Melvin thought, "This movie is just okay." while watching it in theaters.
* Melvin, "But the problem is in a movie that's gonna be 3 hours, I really hope everything's worthwhile."
* When Melvin would see the trailer for The Batman, he kept thinking, "This movie's biggest fault will be it's overt self-seriousness."
* Daniel really liked the movie, and felt Gotham felt more alive than ever.
* Also, for Daniel the strength of the movie is based upon its "theming and understand of the Batman as a thing that exists."
* Daniel, "I love that t…
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Mar 1, 2022
A Normie's Best & Worst of 2021
*LET'S TALK: *
Melvin usually sees a ton of movies from each year, but 2021 was a bit scant. Despite this, Melvin shares with Daniel his 10 favorite and least favorite movies of 2021, which looks and sounds a lot more 'normie' than 'cinephile'. All of which are subject to change as Melvin watches more movies from that year. But first they talk about the 2021 Oscars.
Here's to hoping Melvin's 2022 Ranked list is more substantial.
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
*Social Links: *
* Twitter
* Website
* Facebook Group Support the show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
* One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers
*Social Links: *
* Threads
* Website
* Instagram
* Facebook Group
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Feb 23, 2022
Texas Chainsaw Massacre - Thanks, I Hate It
*MOVIE DISCUSSION:
*No better way for content creators to return than to complain about things they don't like! Join Melvin and Daniel as they tear into the latest entry in the Texas Chainsaw franchise!*
Topics: *
* Melvin and Daniel are not massive fans of the Texas Chainsaw franchise, but for different reasons. However, they both like the 1974 film, with it being one of Melvin's top 4 films (as of recording).
* Discussing the production behind the Texas Chainsaw franchise, as well as Fede Alvarez who produced Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
* How Fede Alvarez in particular produces visually transgressive/squeamish horror films that have just enough heart and soul to make their wild, extreme content bearable. And, how something must have gone wrong in the process of making Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
* Before even getting into the episode proper, we both don't recommend Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
* Texas Chainsaw Massacre doesn't hold a candle to the violence and gore within a few ot…
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Feb 21, 2022
Hiatus Prayers and Computer Problems
*LET'S TALK:
*
The hiatus is over! Thanks to some surprise computer issues, Melvin wasn't able to record or produce the podcast. Or do anything with his computer! Nice! However, that's all resolved so the podcast is back!
During our time away, the Lord had lots on our plate. In this Let's Talk episode, Daniel shares his most recent COVID-scare in which his father became dangerously ill with the virus. He shares the difficulty of caring for his family, preaching at his father's church, and enduring a patient period of prayer. We hope this episode can provide some comfort for those who've experienced similar difficulties.
We also hope you're as excited as we are for returning to the show! Keep your eyes peeled for new episodes soon! We're glad to be back, and we look forward to another year of podcasting!
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
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*Social Links: *
* TikTok
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Dec 28, 2021
Free Guy - Summer Blockbuster in Winter!
*PATREON MOVIE DISCUSSION: *
This movie was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
2021 is over! Well, almost! Tune into this last episode of *Cinematic Doctrine* for 2021 with the last Patreon Pick of the year! Patreon Supporters didn't disappoint with their votes, and we're happy to discuss the Summer Blockbuster Free Guy!
*Topics: *
* Melvin and Daniel's experience with video games, and how their gaming history impacted some of the comedy and atmosphere to Free Guy.
* Free Guy has a decent amount of clever, video-game themed jokes that are clearly written by people who actually play video games.
* It's great that Free Guy doesn't take itself too seriously while also flavoring in serious concepts of individuality, the value of the moment, experience, etc.
* Unfortunately, a lot of people reacted to Free Guy in exactly the way Melvin hates; talking about a ridiculous, non-serio…
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Dec 21, 2021
Spider-Man: No Way Home - Super Spider Bros.
*MOVIE DISCUSSION: *
2021's most anticipated feature has finally released, and it's destroying the box office! Critic ratings are through the roof, and audiences are exploding with joy! Melvin and Daniel briefly share their non-spoiler thoughts on No Way Home before expanding heavily with everything that comes with the Spider-Man territory!
*Topics: *
* Melvin and Daniel answer three non-spoiler based questions to qualify their experience with Spider-Man: No Way Home.
* Getting into No Way Home's plotline demands explaining a few spoilers, because every 20 minutes is a new event that not only defines the movie, but also redefines the MCU.
* Melvin wishes there was at least one more Spider-Man movie that had released either before Far From Home or No Way Home to give more assistance in realizing these characters, as he felt both Homecoming and Far From Home felt somewhat unsatisfying.
* Daniel was happy to finally see Tom Holland's Spider-Man actually develop into his own Spi…
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Dec 14, 2021
Is Cinematic Doctrine a Christian Movie Podcast?
*LET'S TALK: *
This is probably our most important episode, ever. From the start, Daniel shares some concern about how we don't always jump into more Christian topics, but Melvin is quick to calm his nerves about how he views the podcast as a whole. Following this, the two discuss a series of deeply important topics regarding Christ-like freedom, engaging culture with patience and maturity, and the complexity of artistic communication. This episode is filled to the brim with self-reflection, and perhaps gives the greatest insight into who Daniel and Melvin are as Christians, communicators, and podcasters.
This episode was a long time coming. As *Cinematic Doctrine* finishes out yet another year of operation, this *Let's Talk* helps solidify some of what makes this show different from the rest, as well as shares the hopes they have for the future of the show.* *
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
*Social L…
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Dec 7, 2021
The Marc Webb Spider-Man Duology
*LET'S TALK: *
With two weeks left before the release of Spider-Man: No Way Home, fans have countless questions they're waiting to see answered. Will the Webb Duology finally see closure in No Way Home? Is Tobey Maguire returning as Spider-Man full time? Will Paul Giamatti be the Rhino we've always wanted? What will happen to Tom Holland? There's so much anticipation! But, before we can dive into No Way Home, we need to catch up on Marc Webb's black-sheep duology, a strange two-film entry into the superhero canon.
There's much to look forward to, so join us as we discuss Andrew Garfield's interpretation of the Peter Parker character, why not handling Ben Parker's death well seriously inhibits the drama, the strange decision to make Electro the way he is (and why Melvin kind of likes that), and the true success of the Marc Webb duology: Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy's relationship.
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we…
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Dec 2, 2021
Dear Evan Hansen (Part 3) - The Anti-Bojack Horseman
*PATREON MOVIE DISCUSSION:*
This movie was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
A few days after recording for Dear Evan Hansen, Daniel felt compelled to expand upon certain topics we discussed. As such, here's *Cinematic Doctrine's *third and final installment of their Dear Evan Hansen series. Considering the complex subject matter of the film, there's some additional perspective and background Daniel felt was necessary to explain his reasoning behind his intensely critical thoughts.
*Topics:*
* Daniel stands by his harsh perspective of the movie, but feels uncomfortable leaving his feelings without explanation.
* Evan Hansen is a fictional character with "movie mental illness"; an undefined psychiatric issue that largely is only relevant when the plot needs it to be.
* If we try and understand his mental health issues, and then see how they vanish when he's lying, are we to be…
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Dec 1, 2021
Dear Evan Hansen (Part 2) - Problematic, Incomplete, Dangerous
*PATREON MOVIE DISCUSSION:*
This movie was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
In part 2 of their Dear Evan Hansen discussion, Melvin & Dan figure out where Dear Evan Hansen went wrong, Daniel loses his mind, and they share conflicting perspectives on the film overall.
*Topics:*
* Discussing the incomplete, inconsequential ending to Dear Evan Hansen.
* Daniel, "This is the most selfish, self-centered take on Mental Health I have ever seen!"
* Melvin, "...part of contrition is the humbleness to let one's consequences unfold."
* Daniel, "Evan Hansen is not the character who should come of age and get redemption. The victim of mental health issues is Connor. That is the character that, if you watch this movie and struggle with mental health issues, that's the character you should be identifying with. Not Evan Hansen."
* Feeling bad (or, emotions that one otherwise deems unwant…
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Nov 30, 2021
Dear Evan Hansen (Part 1) - 2021's Movie Punching Bag
*PATREON MOVIE DISCUSSION: *
This movie was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
Dear Evan Hansen is our most expensive episode. Coming in at a whopping $35 for rentals, as well as 2.5 hours' worth of content, we truly have spent far too much on this episode. But it's all worth it for our Patreon Supporters! We love you all, and that's why we spend this first of three episodes discussing some of the history behind Dear Evan Hansen, how the casting for Evan Hansen immediately kills the movie dead, and the beginnings of what makes this movie so frustrating.
*Topics: *
* Every year there is a movie that garners the scorn of film-goers. Currently, Dear Evan Hansen has it.
* Detailing the history behind Dear Evan Hansen, it's musical, it's awards, and now, it's movie.
* Ben Platt, the 28-year-old actor playing Evan Hansen, who is 17 during the events of the film, looks to be in his m…
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Nov 23, 2021
The Sam Raimi Spider-Man Trilogy
*LET'S TALK:*
In preparation for what they've jokingly referred to as Spider-Man: Endgame, Melvin and Dan take a moment to reflect on the Sam Raimi trilogy that started the theatrical Spider-Man craze! Join the two of them as they dive deep into these amazing films, what makes them hold up so well after all these years, and how Spider-Man 3 really isn't as bad as we all sort of think it was.
*Note:* We do NOT discuss leaks for Spider-Man: No Way Home but we DO discuss how the leaks have happened.
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
*Social Links: *
* TikTok
* Twitter
* Website
* Facebook Group Support the show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
* One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers
*Social Links: *
* Threads
* Website
* Instagram
* Facebook Group
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Nov 16, 2021
Dune (2021) - Succeeds Where Eternals Fails
*MOVIE DISCUSSION: *
It's never too late to talk about good movies, and both Daniel and Melvin are finally ready to get philosophical and heady with Dennis Villeneuve's latest feature!
*Topics: *
* Introducing Dune.
* Dune is a science-fiction fan's science-fiction.
* Villeneuve captures the awestruck nature of mindfulness, how simply existing and observing the world cultivates a healthy and comfortable smallness.
* Dune doesn't require rewatches, but they do benefit the richness of its characters.
* The movie is possibly as long as it is because Warner Bros. is looking at Dune like they did Lord of the Rings. And, keep in mind, all three Lord of the Rings movies are about or over 3 hours long, and often the extended cuts are what people watch nowadays.
* Discussing various spoilers and diving deeper into the narrative themes of the movie. *[23:06]*
* Dune feels deeply realized and fully lived-in.
* The spiritualism around the world, which is arguably quite risky con…
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Nov 10, 2021
Eternals - Certified Rotten
*MOVIE DISCUSSION: *
No time wasted. An earthquake in the MCU has taken place: a rotten score! It's sort of all anyone is talking about, and Melvin & Dan take their turns sharing complaints, frustrations and irritations (a la that 2+ hour runtime). Even so, tune in and hear their thoughts through this wildly strange addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
*Topics: *
* Trying to explain what Eternals is about.
* Immediate plot issues, such as there only being 10 Eternals versus a planet wide infestation of Deviants who clearly seem extremely powerful, requiring upwards of 3-4 Eternals to kill a single Deviant at a time. Therefore, if multiple cities were attacked by Deviants at once, there is likely no chance the humans would survive or populate at a natural rate.
* POP QUIZ: Can Daniel name all of the Eternals?
* Even as the movie came to a close, and set the stage for much anticipation to come, Melvin was still scratching his head trying to figure out what the point of E…
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Nov 2, 2021
Dune Episode When, Zoomer Youth Group and Media, Eternals Certified Rotten??
*LET'S TALK: *
Daniel hasn't watched Dune yet because Melvin told him his first time seeing Dune shouldn't be through HBOmax, so look forward to a Dune discussion episode in the future. They also talk about that movie Daniel recommended a few episodes ago, There's Someone Inside Your House, and if the Zoomers in his youth group would understand the movie since it's definitely a Zoomer-centric flick (while also talking about the bizarre nature of Youth Group, its failings, and curiosities). And lastly, the two discuss the negative reviews for the upcoming Marvel film, Eternals, and how even the positive reviews include a few negatives.
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
*Social Links: *
* TikTok
* Twitter
* Website
* Facebook Group Support the show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
* One-time reward of two Cinematic…
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Oct 29, 2021
Halloween Kills - Deliciously Divisive
*MOVIE DISCUSSION: *
Happy Halloween! In this extra episode of the podcast, Melvin & Dan discuss the latest entry in the Halloween franchise! If you've been a part of the online discussion, or at least aware of how people feel about Halloween Kills, then you're in for a treat! Daniel didn't like Halloween Kills, but Melvin did! Thus begins some great Halloween banter!
*Topics: *
* Melvin really wants to talk about Halloween Kills, so they waste no time and jump right into it.
* Chronicling the various canon of the Halloween franchise, and laying the framework between Halloween (2018) and Halloween Kills.
* Daniel was on board with Halloween Kills for about 20-30 minutes, and then it started to lose him.
* Daniel also feels Halloween Kills takes itself too seriously, trying to elevate a franchise whose groundwork is based in simplicity.
* CinemaScore was at Melvin's screening and he gave Halloween Kills an A! His wife Kathryn gave it a C.
* Melvin suspects David Gordon Gr…
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Oct 26, 2021
Over the Garden Wall - A Dream-Like Fairy-Tale of Fear
*PATREON TV-SHOW DISCUSSION:
*
This TV-show was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
Melvin & Daniel talk about the animated modern cult-classic Over the Garden Wall, a story about two brothers who get lost in the woods.
*Topics: *
* Daniel not only looked forward to discussing Over the Garden Wall, he remembers eagerly watching the show when it initially aired.
* Also, Daniel recently had a watch party with some friends! Their post-show discussion was about Elijah Wood, and how one of Daniel's friends met Elijah Wood for a strange Wilfred-themed photo exchange.
* Creator Patrick McHale brings a clever melancholy to Over the Garden Wall, somewhat similar to his work on Adventure Time.
* Is Over the Garden Wall scary? Mostly in a folk-horror, mystical sense.
* Kids and Teens may not have the words to explain why they connect with certain fears presented in Over the Garden Wall…
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Oct 22, 2021
Nightbooks and Family-Friendly Horror Movies
*LET'S TALK: *
Daniel was tasked with finding a not-so-scary horror movie to watch with friends. So, he ventured into the Netflix unknown to watch Nightbooks. Surprised by it's balance between family-friendly and outright-scary sequences, Daniel couldn't help but jump behind a microphone and share his thoughts on this wildly strange kids horror flick. Then, Melvin talks about other kid/teen horror flicks that are fun for the whole family, or simply hit other demographics among youth and teens that he feels may be fun to explore during the Halloween season.
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
*Social Links: *
* TikTok
* Twitter
* Website
* Facebook Group Support the show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
* One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers
*Social Links: *
* Threads
* Website
* Instagram
*…
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Oct 19, 2021
Ernest Scared Stupid - Chris Staron and Halloween Hijinks
*MOVIE DISCUSSION: *
TrucePodcast.com
Chris Staron of* Truce Podcast* joins Melvin to talk Ernest Scared Stupid, the movie Melvin kept talking about during their last episode together, Ernest Saves Christmas!
*Topics:*
* Chris Staron tells us about *Truce Podcast*, his award-winning Christian show about how the Christian church has gotten where it is, and how it can do better.
* Melvin relives some library/Blockbuster nostalgia with rewatching Ernest Scared Stupid.
* Introducing Ernest Scared Stupid *[13:31] *
* Melvin felt Ernest Scared Stupid's comedy is pretty good. The kind of comedy you talk about after the fact rather than laugh about in the moment.
* Ernest movies are comfy. They're easy to digest and remind viewers of simpler times.
* It's a shame that comedy is often regarded as low-brow or low-tier to the general public in terms of performative arts when comedy requires a wealth of talent and brilliance to pull off.
* Discussing the concept of fear for child…
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Oct 12, 2021
What If...? - A Chaotic Episode for a Chaotic Show
*TV-SHOW DISCUSSION: *
Melvin & Dan discuss yet another Marvel property, because I guess that's what the Film & TV industry is now.
*Topics: *
* The comic history behind What If...?
* How the animation, and that first episode, are kinda terrible.
* How What If...? permits more risk with Marvel characters and concepts, especially with episode 3 onward.
* Melvin loves the trope of a character who observes but cannot interact (or, should not).
* Will certain episodes get sequels? Like, will we see Zombie Thanos fight our heros?
* Daniel wasn't sure he liked that What If...? went from a fun episodic "fan-fiction" style show into a typical epic superhero project at the end.
* Talking about which actors they brought back and which they didn't.
* What If...? exceeded expectations, but it wasn't like there were many to begin with.
* Speculating on what may happen in later seasons.
*Recommendations: *
* James Montgomery Boice's "The Boice Commentary Series: Philippians"…
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Oct 5, 2021
Venom: Let There Be Carnage - It's Embarrassing and Weird
*MOVIE DISCUSSION:
*
Melvin & Dan waste no time with banter and jump right into discussing Sony's latest Marvel feature, Venom: Let There Be Carnage!
*Topics: *
* Daniel reviews the new Venom track by Eminem.
* Melvin suspects Venom: Let There Be Carnage will be the worst movie the two of them discuss on the podcast.
* Both Melvin & Dan each had a moment while watching Venom: Let There Be Carnage where they covered their faces with embarrassment.
* Critics seem to be embracing Venom: Let There Be Carnage, warts and all!
* Daniel explains what he likes about the movie.
* Daniel thanks our lovely Patreon Supporters for helping him get AMC Stubs A-List which permits him to see movies for the show at no expense!
* Talking about the source of this particular interpretation of Venom.
* Discussing the mid-credits scene, the only thing truly worth noting about Venom: Let There Be Carnage.
* A semi-continuation of our "Let's Talk" Canon & Continuity discussion regarding whic…
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Sep 28, 2021
ParaNorman - How it Feels to be Weird and Lonely
*PATREON MOVIE DISCUSSION:
*
This movie was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
In this wholesome Halloween episode of the *Cinematic Doctrine* podcast, Melvin & Dan talk about one of Laika's several family-friendly horror-animated features, ParaNorman!
*Topics: *
* Daniel gets into a car accident, and contemplates how several of his peers from Bible college and ministry are leaving or struggling with their faith.
* Introducing ParaNorman *[8:04]*
* ParaNorman has a comfortable, cozy Fall atmosphere.
* Laika takes advantage of it's medium to create a fun, charismatic animation style that separates itself from the competition.
* Melvin shares about an extremely lonely period in his life where he tried talking to ghosts because he had no one else to talk to.
* Melvin, "When you're just feeling distant and weird, all you want is someone to step into your world and spend time…
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Sep 21, 2021
Malignant - Pulpy Horror Mystery with a Killer Third Act
*MOVIE DISCUSSION: *
Malignant's been the talk of the town lately, and Melvin & Dan couldn't wait to finally jump on this crazy new horror flick from acclaimed director James Wan! Tune into this laughter-filled episode where the two discuss one of the wildest movies they've covered for *Cinematic Doctrine*! However, tread carefully with this episode! Both of us recommend checking the movie out (if fun violent horror-mysteries are your thing) before having the plot spoiled! It's a great payoff if you're looking for something wicked this spooky season!
*Topics: *
* Melvin calls Daniel about his extended car warranty.
* Discussing Yahtzee from Zero Punctuation's pitch for Duke Nukem Forever, Michael Bay's Pain & Gain, and how Melvin isn't in tune with Film Twitter so he misses a lot of the happenings.
* Introducing Malignant *[12:29]*
* Melvin explains the challenge of watching Malignant, and how it's a process of progressive improvement.
* The online discourse over whether M…
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Sep 14, 2021
Candyman (2021) - Black Gaslighting, Exploitation, and Gentrification
*MOVIE DISCUSSION:
*
Melvin & Dan discuss the latest entry in the Candyman franchise, a series whose first film is far more artful than its horror-icon counterparts. Candyman (2021) continues its original's themes of uniquely racial struggles and readopts them for the modern age in a thoroughly complex manner, covering topics as wide as gentrification, art exploitation, Black self-exploitation, and a continued theme of cultural gaslighting that sits comfortably beside the original's narrative. Tune in to hear more about the first of many horror flicks we're reviewing this spooky season! Also, both our cats make an appearance! Meow!
*Topics: *
* Melvin talks about how rap and hip-hop has been maligned for being inappropriate by certain white communities (specifically Christians, and also the Gen X and Boomer generation), and how often the reality is that "rock-and-roll" is incredibly crass, sexual, and violent. Meanwhile artists like 2Pac, while often transgressive as well, also hav…
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Sep 7, 2021
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings - Martial Arts and Future Hopes
*MOVIE DISCUSSION:
*
Melvin & Dan rushed to the movie theater to catch the latest Marvel picture, because that's what every good little movie podcast is supposed to do! From enjoying martial arts to pondering the future of Phase Four, and ending with some pipe dreams, check out this episode of *Cinematic Doctrine*!
*Topics: *
* Melvin pitches to Daniel an opening for Season 10 Episode 1 of The Office.
* Daniel talks about how his theater screening for Shang-Chi was better than Black Widow, except for one weird argument a couple had before the movie started.
* Contemplating why movie theater bathrooms are always the worst bathrooms on the entire planet.
* Introducing Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings *[11:38] *
* Daniel has a soft spot for martial arts flicks.
* Every MCU Phase seems to have a gripe people collectively complain about. Melvin posits Phase Four's gripe will be a mixture of two things: Not using real sets and overly relying on CGI for backgrounds and…
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Aug 31, 2021
I Can Only Imagine - A Monumental Song, A Serviceable Movie
*PATREON MOVIE DISCUSSION:
*
This movie was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard! *
*
Daniel shares his extensive thoughts on Donda, the new Kanye album, which segways well into discussing one of Christian music's most prominent songs, I Can Only Imagine, and the movie that shares its name. From setting the stage with the world of CCM, to I Can Only Imagine's release and world domination, then finally right into the movie itself, Melvin and Daniel dive into many topics on this Patreon selected episode!
*Topics: *
* Daniel texted Melvin and asked if he could talk about Donda. So, we talk about Donda for 15 minutes.
* Donda feels like two albums: one a great album, the other an unfinished mess.
* Daniel feels "Jesus Lord" is potentially Kanye's magnum opus.
* Daniel, "Jesus is King is such a genuine reflection of young faith."
* Introducing I Can Only Imagine *[14:58] *
* A bri…
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Aug 24, 2021
Canon, Continuity, and the Tommy Westphall Universe Hypothesis
*LET'S TALK:
*In their debut episode of Let's Talk, a topical discussion format for *Cinematic Doctrine*, Melvin and Daniel discuss the concept of narrative canon (or, fictional continuity), whether an over-reliance on canon is necessary for enjoying a fictional property like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and how nearly all of American movies and television is a part of the Tommy Westphall Universe Hypothesis.
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
*Social Links: *
* Twitter
* Website
* Facebook Group Support the show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
* One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers
*Social Links: *
* Threads
* Website
* Instagram
* Facebook Group
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Aug 17, 2021
The Chosen (S1) - Depictions of Jesus & Media Literacy
*TV-SHOW DISCUSSION:
*Melvin & Dan can finally say "Yes" to the question "Have you watched The Chosen?".
*Topics:*
* The Chosen's strength lies in its source material, similar to a comic-book movie or book adaption.
* Daniel's felt The Chosen was overhyped for him, and he was waiting for the show to be "amazing" like he'd heard so much about.
* Despite the shows occasional problematic depiction of historical events, The Chosen reveals to us more about who Creator Dallas Jenkins and co. are than Jesus or any of its biblical figures.
* Melvin's ambivalent comfortability with The Chosen is partially based on his media-literacy, his acceptance of the instinctual problematic nature of historical adaptions, and the importance of comparative concepts between the interpretations of source material.
* It may sound strange to some, but the best scenes in The Chosen are typically ones without Jesus.
* As a fictional historical drama, The Chosen works really well.
* As Biblical in…
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Aug 10, 2021
Masters of the Universe: Revelation (P1) - Critics vs. Fans, A Tale as Old as Time
*TV-SHOW DISCUSSION:
*
Melvin and Daniel discuss the highly divisive new installment in the Masters of the Universe franchise.
*Topics: *
* After restarting Arrested Development (again x16+), Melvin wonders what it would be like for the Russo brothers to return to comedy.
* Daniel imagines their return to the MCU for a Marvel Comedy procedural.
* Introducing Masters of the Universe: Revelation (S1E1-5) *[8:38] *
* Basically, Kevin Smith and his group of friends wrote/produced MotU:R and that got Daniel really interested
* Critics loved it. Fans hated it. We can't really explain these reasons without spoiling the show, but it's worth the discussion.
* Melvin wasn't totally on-board with MotU:R, but that's because he's growing tired of the "Reboot Template".
* Unpacking the controversial complicating incident for the season, and how not being invested in He-Man may be a benefit to the show.
* MotU:R raises the stakes and adds depth to its characters, something the origi…
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Aug 3, 2021
Bo Burnham: Inside - A Musical Memoir about Mental Health, the Internet, and 2020
*COMEDY SPECIAL DISCUSSION:
TW: *Mental Health, Suicide
Melvin and Daniel discuss deteriorating mental health, content creation, the internet, and comedy. They also discuss being honest with one another, and the difficult necessity of vulnerability.
*Topics: *
* Daniel gets stuck in a church bathroom, enjoys his wedding anniversary, and talks about his Bo Burnham Bacon-number.
* Introducing Bo Burnham: Inside *[7:12] *
* Inside is a snapshot of what it’s like to exist online during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, which means it may alienate viewers outside of that demographic
* Additionally, the special begins broadly accessible with tracks like ‘Content’ and ‘Comedy’, yet soon becomes musically debilitating due to the onslaught of social awareness and existential anxiety
* Inside’s lyrics are loaded with a multitude of anxieties, including anxiety about capitalism as an ideological moral compass
* Companies chasing morality for profit is a perfect example of…
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Jul 27, 2021
The Queen's Gambit - Peak Feminist Cinema
*PATREON TV-SHOW DISCUSSION:
*This TV-Show was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard! *
*
Melvin does a lukewarm open, and Daniel talks about how he followed a bunch of Christian twitter accounts of people who were in the American Gospel: Christ Alone documentary only to find they're more interested in posting about masks than things related to the Bible. Then they talk about The Queen's Gambit, it's strong depiction of relationships, Beth Harmon as a tragically sad character, and its narrative elaboration of a budding feminist wave during the 1960's.
*Topics:*
* Melvin embarrasses himself with a terrible introduction to the episode, and then Daniel talks about why he finds politics tiresome and uninteresting.
* Daniel, "The mixture of, like, Biblical knowledge and a platform I think makes people feel like they can talk about anything."
* Talking about how The Babylon Bee is too sm…
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Jul 20, 2021
Loki (S1) - Self-Love and Reflection, and Cultural Observation
*TV-SHOW DISCUSSION:
*
Melvin and Daniel talk about spilled coffee, Space Jam: A New Legacy, and Britney Spears. Then they discuss their enjoyment of Loki, it's expert balance of tone and theme, the Christian response to fiction containing things they don't like, and implications for the Marvel multiverse in future installments.
*Topics:
*
* Melvin has two cold-opens: one about Space Jam: A New Legacy and the other about Britney Spears. Daniel chooses the "I-Spilled-My-Coffee-While-Recording" option.
* Then they get into Space Jam: A New Legacy's weird cross-promotion choices
* How #FreeBritney can be observed similarly to the fascination with Princess Diana, and how the continued humanization of stars is a net-positive.
* Introducing Loki *[15:07] *
* Melvin shares what he likes about Loki, such as the weekly release schedule and its powerful subject matter of individual value (free-will, self-love, and self-reflection).
* Daniel, "I'm just going to say it right now thou…
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Jul 12, 2021
Black Widow - A Middling Marvel Movie
*MOVIE DISCUSSION:
*
Melvin and Daniel talk about what it's like to be back in the theater (officially), how Black Widow compares to the multiple Marvel Mini-series, and how Black Widow feels a bit like two movies at once that don't always work together.
*Topics:
*
* Daniel, "This was my first movie back in the theaters."
* Discussing the trailers seen before Black Widow
* Introducing Black Widow *[14:17] *
* Trying to figure out the purpose of this movie apart from it simply being a Black Widow stand-alone flick.
* Melvin, "Yeah, let's talk about that [opening credits] cause that was, like, really strange!"
* Daniel, "Like I said, it feels like there's almost two movies at play."
* Fangirling over Florence Pugh and how she's a brilliant performer
* Contemplating reasons for audience disengagement
* Daniel, "Again, they're trying to do Jason Bourne serious-spy-movie... but then they have secret pheromones that keep you from killing people."
* The missed opportunit…
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Jul 5, 2021
Invincible (S1) - Brilliantly Complex and Intensely Human
*TV-SHOW DISCUSSION:
*
Melvin and Daniel talk about Invincible, the crazy popular and occasionally ultra-violent animated superhero show on Amazon Prime.
*Topics: *
* Why we’re talking about Invincible despite the fact we were planning to talk about Bo Burnham: Inside
* Introducing Invincible *[7:41] *
* Baseline, non-spoilery reasons why Melvin and Daniel found Invincible so compelling
* Invincible masterfully employs a brilliant hook to create pervasive suspense
* Open, total-spoiler reasons why Invincible is so compelling
* Each character and plotline are deeply rich and highly engaging
* Amber, Mark’s girlfriend, is written really well and doesn’t get the usual “hero-girlfriend” treatment
* Daniel, “…one of the best season finales of any show I’ve ever watched...”
* How Invincible causes us to ponder the value of humanity in spite of humanity
* A strong resolution with exciting implications for Season 2!
* By the way: Humanity does have inh…
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Jun 28, 2021
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier - Too Much Too Little
*TV-SHOW DISCUSSION:*
Daniel’s been thinking too much about streaming services and spends 15 minutes ruminating on what worries him the most, and then the two discuss The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and its complex metaphorical stand-ins. Also, they complain about the last episode because everyone has complained about the last episode.
*Topics:*
* Daniel’s existential dread over streaming services…
* …but Melvin feels VUDU solves that existentialism.
* Melvin, “What’s your fear, then? Like, what’s your fear [about streaming services]?”
* Introducing The Falcon and the Winter Soldier *[17:19]*
* Daniel, “I love the character of John Walker.”
* Melvin, amidst mocking laughter, “Let’s talk about the ending!”
*Recommendations:*
* Day X Podcast by The New York Times
* Charles Spurgeon’s “The Treasury of David”
* Sweet Tooth
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!**
Social Links:*
* Twitter
* Website
* Facebook Group Support the…
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Jun 21, 2021
WandaVision - A (Marvel) Grief Observed
*TV-SHOW DISCUSSION: *
In this episode, Melvin and Daniel talk about the first Phase Four property from the MCU, WandaVision, and how grief maintains the through line of the show.
*Topics:*
* Melvin got sunburn in the shade
* Introducing WandaVision
* How Daniel watched a ton of TVLand and was prepared for WandaVision
* WandaVision is a genuinely risky Disney Marvel project
* How Melvin loved the melancholy tone and metatextual content within WandaVision
* The Evan Peters fan theory/controversy and the disparity between creator intention and fan expectation
* Is entertainment media always required to depict justice and accountability?
* Creating our own unrealities because they’re often “easier” to live in than reality
*Recommendations:*
* Philip Ryken’s Galatians Reformed Expository Commentary
* Requiem for a Paper Bag
* “Is A.I. the Problem? Or Are We?” – The Ezra Klein Show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!**
Social Links:*
* Twitter…
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Jun 13, 2021
Inside Out - How Emotions Put the Podcast on Hiatus
MOVIE DISCUSSION:
On our return episode of the podcast, we discuss a much-loved Pixar flick from a few years ago, as well as the reason *Cinematic Doctrine* was on hiatus for so long.
*Topics:*
* Podcasting nonsense
* Introducing ‘Inside Out’
* Why Melvin picked ‘Inside Out’ and how it relates to the hiatus
* How Daniel also caught ‘Inside Out’ at a pivotal time in his life
* Emotions are indicators of our needs (i.e. sadness = external alert to others)
* How Melvin and Daniel are not worrying about Spoilers anymore because most people only listen to episodes of movies/shows they’ve already seen
* Vin Diesel
* Calling your Insurance to see if they’ll cover an in-patient “vacation” to The Center – A Place of Hope
* Sadness as a community bonding experience
* Brainstorming an ‘Inside Out’ sequel except this time it’s adults
* Memes Melvin missed while he was away
* Recommendations
* Daniel: “Can I briefly talk about one thing fro…
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Jan 28, 2021
Long Hiatus Underway
*Due to a personal emergency, the **Cinematic Doctrine** podcast will be taking a long hiatus.
*We intend to come back with new content at a later date, but because of our circumstances, things will have to be put on hold for an undefined length of time. We apologize for this, and will be pausing all Patreon billing cycles until further notice. In other words, *Patreon Supporters will not be charged, and we encourage fans not to join the Patreon at this time. *
Unfortunately, this also means that *January’s Patreon Selected episode will also be canceled*. We are deeply sorry about this inconvenience.
If the hiatus continues longer than we anticipate,* we will consider **unlaunching** the Creator Page* to eliminate confusion. All future updates will be present on the *Cinematic Doctrine *website, as well as our active Twitter, so try not to forget about us!
Thank you so much for your past support, and we pray you are all doing well and staying safe.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@…
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Jan 7, 2021
The Mandalorian (S2) - ShatterCast Loves Star Wars
*TV-SHOW DISCUSSION:
*
In a year without movies, film fans had television. In a year with television, everyone anticipated the release of The Mandalorian Season Two. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t one of my most anticipated projects of the 2020, and I think it’s safe to say it didn’t disappoint.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We have a lot to get into with this episode, and right off the bat Derrick Whitmore from ShatterCast gets into one of his famous positive-and-negative lists, while John Weiand, Daniel, and I jump off his list with our own comments. We also celebrate The Mandalorian’s series format for the breathing room it provides the expansive Star Wars universe, as opposed to the limited runtime of a 2-hour film. Then, spoilers run free as we get into the nitty-gritty of The Mandalorian, discuss Episode 2’s wild Baby Yoda antics, geek out over Episode 5’s star cameo, and talk at length about Episode 7’s great introduction of much-needed nuance to the…
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Dec 31, 2020
MMN: Warner Media's Industry-Changing Decision
MONTHLY MOVIE NEWS:
In this episode, Melvin, Daniel, and Carter talk about the huge Warner Bros. news that their entire movie release schedule for 2021 would launch not only in theaters but also on HBOMax the same day. That’s wild news that shakes the movie industry to its core, so they speculate on how this decision came to fruition, what it means for the future of theaters, and if the general movie watcher will jump at the opportunity to visit the theater once vaccines are widely distributed and COVID is a thing of the past.
Also, they spend, like, 10 minutes talking about the SAW Franchise. Woops.
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*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
* One-t…
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Dec 29, 2020
TT: Loki, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, What If...?
TRAILER TALK:
Carter and Melvin chat several upcoming Disney properties: Ms Marvel, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, and What If…?. Also, they chat about two Star Wars shows: Star Wars: The Bad Batch and Andor. Also, Melvin kept calling the show Andor, “Cassian”. So, if you hear him talking about a show called "Cassian", that one doesn’t exist. Andor exists. Or, at least, in 2022 it does.
* Patreon: http://bit.ly/CinDocPatreon
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*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
* One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers
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* Facebook Group
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Dec 24, 2020
Onward - The Magic of Family & Self-Sacrifice
PATREON MOVIE DISCUSSION:
This movie was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
Advertised as Pixar’s return to a release schedule of original properties, lots of people had high hopes for Onward. Then, Coronavirus ruined everything, as we’ve known it to do, and theaters shut down roughly two weeks after it’s theater debut. Soon, Disney saved the day by making it available to the masses soon after, and the world got a taste of Pixar’s latest flick. That is, until Soul releases like a day from this episode’s release.
After we give you all the technical details regarding Onward, Daniel kicks us off with his comprehensive thoughts on the film, and how Pixar simply has a knack for producing genuine, heartfelt, and engaging stories no matter the setting. Not only that, the two of us meditate on the idea that, at its core, Onward is pretty melancholy for a kid’s film, and how anoth…
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Dec 15, 2020
Update and Tenet Episode
PODCAST UPDATE:
Quick episode detailing the content we're producing for the end of the year (special Quibi episode, Trailer Talk, Monthly Movie News, and Patreon Supporter chosen film), as well as pointing you lovely people to our Tenet podcast episode and written post from September!
Tenet Episode: https://bit.ly/TenetCinDoc
Tenet Written Review: https://bit.ly/TenetDemandsARewatch
* Patreon: http://bit.ly/CinDocPatreon
* Website: CinematicDoctrine.com
* Email: CinematicDoctrine@Gmail.com
* Twitter: http://bit.ly/CineDoctrineTwitter
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* Facebook: http://bit.ly/FBCinDoc Support the show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
* One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers
*Social Links: *
* Threads
* Website
* Instagram
* Facebook Group
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Dec 10, 2020
Ernest Saves Christmas - Chris Staron and Slapstick Silliness
MOVIE DISCUSSION:
I love Chris Staron and I love Truce Podcast, so of course I had him back on the show this Christmas season to talk about one of his favorite Christmas flicks (and that's after chatting one of his favorite musicals!). When he suggested we chat Ernest Saves Christmas, I jumped at the opportunity to revisit Jim Varney’s classic character. I don’t typically throw this term around much, but rewatching Ernest Saves Christmas was very wholesome, and reminded me of the comfort one can have watching holiday films.
As we get started, Chris and I dive deep into our general thoughts on Ernest as a character, slapstick as a bygone comedy format, and how nostalgia glasses are virtually required when rewatching films we liked as a child. Then, our trivia section borderline advocates string-theory as we ponder the consistent themes, tropes, and overlapping characteristics of many Christmas films featuring Santa Claus, and how there may be a secret Santa cinematic universe. Chr…
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Dec 2, 2020
Jiu Jitsu - A Messy Martial Arts Misfire
MOVIE DISCUSSION:
October saw the release of this wild martial arts trailer about Nicolas Cage training warriors to fight aliens. That alone set Twitter aflame, and even Cinematic Doctrine’s website saw increased traffic from our write-up on the site. Jiu Jitsu looked crazy fun. People punching and kicking to stop an alien warrior invader? Sign us up!
And then… we watched it. And boy, Daniel and I sure have some thoughts! We’re no stranger to camp, let-alone Nicolas Cage camp, but Jiu Jitsu’s overly serious and convoluted plotline leaves a lot to be desired. From the get-go, before we even get the chance to give you logistics, Daniel and I air out some grievances about the film with tangible confusion. Then, not soon after, we jump right into decrypting the bizarre choices behind the filmmaking. From first-person martial arts to a camera acting like a fidget-spinner, there’s a lot going on in Jiu Jitsu that was not expected.
Afterward, stick around for some fun trivia rega…
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Nov 25, 2020
The Santa Clause - My Wife Cheers when Tim Allen Kills Santa
PATREON MOVIE DISCUSSION:
This movie was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
First things first: thanks so much for your patience with this Patreon voted episode! It’s been a while since we’ve had a perfectly normal chance to produce a perfectly normal episode, and I can tell you from our side of things that this is a huge blessing. So, we hope this episode is as enjoyable for you as it was for us!
Second, my wife does not like Santa. And, maybe by the end of this episode you’ll feel I've hyperbolized her distaste, because she does enjoy a Santa movie or two, but she has good reason to not like Santa. Stick around to hear all about that. Also, hear why she likes this movie despite the things she doesn’t like about Santa! Oh, and hear my thoughts, too, because this movie is wild if you really spend any amount of time thinking about it.
Third, hang out for our trivia section an…
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Nov 17, 2020
The Mandalorian (S1) - How Slow-Paced Character Building Isn't "Filler", You're Just Droning
REBROADCAST TV-SHOW REVIEW:
Enjoy this rebroadcast of an early 2020 episode on The Mandalorian Season One and how some of its criticism for being 'slow' sparked an interesting thought process on how good things are worth waiting for.
The Mandalorian is *Rated TV-PG*. It has no detailed certificate, so here's a Melvin certificate: Sci-fi action through-out, and brief mild language. It features Pedro Pascal, Carl Weathers, Gina Carano, Werner Herzog, Nick Nolte, Taika Waititi, and Giancarlo Esposito. Created by Jon Favreau.
Patreon: http://bit.ly/CinDocPatreon
Website: CinematicDoctrine.com
Email: CinematicDoctrine@Gmail.com
Twitter: http://bit.ly/CineDoctrineTwitter
Instagram: http://bit.ly/CineDoctrineInsta
Facebook: http://bit.ly/FBCinDoc Support the show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
* One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers
*Social Links: *
* Threads
* Website
* Instagram
*…
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Nov 12, 2020
Enola Holmes - The Gender Discussion Episode
MOVIE DISCUSSION:
If I’m being honest, I’ve always found it strange that Sherlock Holmes is as popular as he is. Like, as a property. I guess I understand the lasting appeal. Mysteries are always a good time if you don’t have them spoiled. Maybe it’s just that I don’t remember enjoying the Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock Holmes’ movies, or that my interest in the BBC Sherlock waned drastically as the series continued. Also, and I even mention this in the episode, I don’t like snarky lead characters.
I’m not selling this episode well, I’m sorry! That’s not my job! I’m supposed to make sure you’re excited to tune into our thoughts on Enola Holmes, so let me do that now!
As we get under way, Carter and I share some divisive opinions on Enola Holmes as I found this film largely inoffensive and kind of fun, even if I wanted more, while Carter not only disliked the film, but shares a particular insight that, for him, was a real deal breaker. This leads to an interesting…
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Nov 6, 2020
MMN: AMC Tries to Survive, 'Soul' on Disney Plus, Speculative Distribution Changes
MONTHLY MOVIE NEWS:
To kick things off, Carter and I discuss the continued strain that is 2020 on movie theaters, and how AMC is looking to make some major changes regarding it’s stocks and, what I predict, will be its assets due to the direction things are headed. Carter also shares insight on how stocks function, because I only know so much about them, and how people like me should view them.
Then we discuss Disney’s change from releasing Pixar’s upcoming film Soul from theaters to Disney Plus. As the film will be releasing directly to streaming via Disney Plus, and be included in your Disney Plus subscription as opposed to Mulan’s $30 price-tag, we discuss the massive changes in terms of film-distribution, a topic closely related to the changing theater scene. And yes, we also discuss the controversy surrounding Mulan, and how it may have affected Disney’s pursuit of a PVOD model.
Also, we continue our speculation on whether a precedent has been set regarding typical st…
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Nov 3, 2020
TT: Monster Hunter, Mank, Jiu Jitsu
TRAILER TALK:
To kick things off, Carter and I talk about *Monster Hunter*, and how this is not the first Capcom licensed property to hit the big screen from director Paul W.S. Anderson, nor starring Milla Jovovich. And, frankly, we don’t think it will be the last. Even so, we have a good time chatting about our… reserved thoughts on Monster Hunter, whether we even like big-monster movies to begin with, and if fans of the video game will be satisfied with what this movie has to offer.
Then we talk about David Fincher’s upcoming Netflix feature, *Mank*. Carter grounds us on what to expect with Fincher’s latest picture, and carries us into 1930’s Hollywood and the creation of what many consider cinema’s greatest achievement, Citizen Kane. This sparks a really interesting discussion regarding Netflix’s annual bid for the Oscars, how their pursuit of big-name directors is a sign of a changing corporate culture at Netflix, and how both of us pretty much agree that *Mank* wil…
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Oct 29, 2020
God Convicted Me with 'Last Shift', and I Must Fear God Over Man
PATREON MOVIE REVIEW (SORT OF):
Tune in to this unconventional episode for clarification, transparency, and an apology I owe our Patreon Supporters - and you, the listener - for not properly vetting 'Last Shift', the movie that won the Patreon-Poll for October.
* Patreon: http://bit.ly/CinDocPatreon
* Website: CinematicDoctrine.com
* Email: CinematicDoctrine@Gmail.com
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Support the show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut episodes
* Vote on a movie/show we review
* One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers
*Social Links: *
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* Website
* Instagram
* Facebook Group
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Oct 22, 2020
Killer Camp - Real Life "Among Us" with Real Life Consequences
TV-SHOW DISCUSSION:
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic there are a lot of films and tv-shows that aren’t producing right now. Not only that, just before the shutdown, a looming writer’s strike was coming in Hollywood, which meant scripted television was going to have a slump. With this in mind, most production companies embrace reality-television as a means for cheap, unscripted, and quickly produced content. This is why you can have some wild shows like The Masked Singer or I Can See Your Voice, two absurdly bonkers singing competition shows, on television during the largest economic crises in ages. It’s cheap, easy, and quick to produce. Alongside this, American TV channels may license foreign gameshows and reality shows to fill timeslots in their schedule, and this Summer a British gameshow called Killer Camp made the rounds on the CW.
Killer Camp’s premise is absolutely wild, and Kathryn and I talk about the excitement present in this reality gameshow’s gimmick, it’s eas…
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Oct 14, 2020
Sinister - Home Videos Hide Horrible Histories
MOVIE DISCUSSION:
Are you enjoying your October? I know I am! It’s been nice watching the leaves change their color, have a chilly breeze flow through the open windows, and eat copious amounts of candy when nobody’s looking.
I’ve eaten… just… so many Crunch bars.
Last week we had a great time talking with Logan Sharp of *The Reformed Gamers* about the South Korean zombie film, Train to Busan. This week, we’re comin’ back state-side for Sinister, another fun, accessible, and tame horror flick that we feel fits the spooky-Halloween spirit just right!
As we get things started, Carter and I talk about Sinister’s clever pacing and parallels, how we often view our history and hopes with rose-colored glasses, and the dangers of chasing nostalgia rather than focusing on our responsibilities. Following that, we discuss some fun trivia about the conception of Sinister and give a bit of love to film over digital in the movie-making field. We also lament the transition to digit…
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Oct 6, 2020
Train to Busan - The Reformed Gamers Treasuring Trains and Zombies
MOVIE DISCUSSION:
Logan from *The Reformed Gamers* has previously joined us here at *Cinematic Doctrine* to talk about everybody’s favorite video game movie, Super Mario Bros., which was an amazing experience if I do say-so myself! And while we had an absolute grand time recollecting the bizarre experience of watching such an absolute train-wreck of a film, Logan and I are excited to talk about another film that’s a different kind of train-wreck. You know, the kind that isn’t bad, because there’s literal trains and wreckage in it (see what I did there? Puns!!).
So, what is Train to Busan? It’s a South Korean zombie flick that has landed itself squarely in Logan’s favorite horror films to date, and with the way he speaks about the movie, and the insight he shares, you’d be hard-pressed to think it was anything other than an absolute favorite movie of his in general.
With that in mind, our initial non-spoiler discussion is filled with some truly great nuggets of value as…
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Oct 4, 2020
TT: WandaVision, Dune, The Mandalorian Season Two
TRAILER TALK:
First off, Carter and I dig into *WandaVision*, the first new property to release in the much-loved Marvel Cinematic Universe! Carter and I dig into the mystery surrounding this strange trailer that seems to only give us just enough without giving us too much, but what we get is awesome. A weird, pseudo retro sitcom with superheroes trying to fit in, paired alongside some typical Sci-Fi fighting action? Sounds great!
Then, we take a look at Warner Bros. next big blockbuster, *Dune!* First things first, we see whether or not Carter or I have actually read the classic sci-fi novel of the same name, and then fangirl over virtually everything about this trailer from the somber and petrifying themes, unbelievable cast, and Director Denis Villeneuve. We also get into a great conversation regarding content awareness, and supporting content creators who, in the past, have done some questionable or sinful things. (*UPDATE*: As of recording this episode, the release date has chan…
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Sep 29, 2020
Tenet - The Predestination Episode
MOVIE DISCUSSION:
There’s this running gag in film communities about how if you join a film course in college and the teacher asks everyone their favorite director, 9 out of 10 students will answer Nolan or Tarantino. It’s a little cynical, since mostly the joke is aimed at people who cinephiles would say “like movies” but don’t really “watch movies”. In other words, they check out tentpole films and blockbusters but they’re not really digging into the community that much.
That’s all well and good, and honestly both Nolan and Tarantino have some great movies, so it’s not a bad thing! But that’s just two of many great directors out there, so I always find it a bit comical. Granted, one of my favorite movies of 2019 was Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, so I guess I’m falling into the trap, too!
Jokes aside, we’re just glad to be talking about another Nolan flick. He has a unique and easily recognizable style, and Carter and I dig right into that from the start.…
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Sep 15, 2020
She Dies Tomorrow - Anxiety is Infectious, Sympathy is Key
MOVIE DISCUSSION:
Hey guys, just wanted to let you know this episode delves into a very difficult topic, including *content that might otherwise be uncomfortable, offensive, and triggering* to those listening. As such, I have marked this episode explicit in the shownotes.
In this episode, Daniel and I take some time setting the groundwork for this tonally challenging film, giving you some details on the content within. It may seem a bit abrasive, but we promise we wouldn’t be covering the movie if it weren’t tame. Then, Daniel and I get into our immediate, non-spoilery thoughts regarding the films expression of anxiety, and how different characters exhibit different responses to anxiety. Following this, we chat about a small cameo that horror fans will enjoy when watching She Dies Tomorrow. Afterward, we dig into spoilers and talk about the more nuanced themes and projections of anxiety and how certain characters resolve their struggles, and how Daniel and I as Christians believe…
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Sep 8, 2020
TT: The Batman, Zack Snyder's Justice League, WW84
TRAILER TALK:
First up, the excitement of a new Batman movie gets Daniel and I talking about martial arts, various practices, and our hands-on experience in self-defense.
Then, we discuss the new *Wonder Woman 84* trailer, how this latest marketing bid left Daniel and me a tad unimpressed, and the skeleton in the closet that is Wonder Woman’s initial comic-book conception.
Afterward, we discuss the mythical Snydercut, or as is now officially titled, *Zack Snyder’s Justice League*, and see what it is about this official sneak peak at Zack Snyder’s supposed original vision for the Justice League. And, we also dig into the curious nature of Schrodinger’s Movie, or as Daniel digs into it further, how the Snydercut movie inside our head might actually be better then what we see next year on HBOmax.
And, after being inspired for a few minutes to talk about martial arts after watching Batman fight a guy in his latest trailer, Daniel and I chat about *The Batman*. Daniel turns tota…
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Aug 27, 2020
An American Pickle - Two Seth Rogans for the Price of One!
PATREON MOVIE DISCUSSION:
This movie was selected by our patron supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
2020 has been a year where new movies are a hard to come by. But, as cinephiles persevere, more movies arrive! This time around, we’re checking out a new Seth Rogan led comedy where we have not one but two Seth Rogan’s to enjoy. Whether you think that’s the best thing in the world or the absolute worst, well, I guess that’s up for you to decide!
Even so, Daniel and I head into our discussion on An American Pickle by starting out with some straight-A cringe. Then, we go right into our immediate experience with An American Pickle and how it was my comfiest movie experience in a while. Then, Daniel shares some frustration over how An American Pickle could have been a much better movie, but still stepped away with a few nuggets of joy. Then, after our Trivia section which includes some fun behind-the-scene…
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Aug 21, 2020
A Ghost Story - On Time, Grief, and Interpreting Media
MOVIE DISCUSSION:
We’ve been covering an obscene amount of Disney productions lately what-with the Marvel films and two Disney Plus exclusives – Hamilton and Stargirl respectively – so I think it’s safe to say we’re ready to move away from Disney for a while. Or, as long as we can, because Disney clearly has a hold on the market. We’ll inevitably get back to it, but we want to head into more independent and creative atmospheres, and that’s where A Ghost Story comes in.
In this episode of the podcast, you’ll get a chance to hear how Daniel and I initially reacted to the trailer for A Ghost Story back in 2017 (you know, seeing an atmospheric, visually stunning film with a man wearing a sheet-ghost costume). After that, you’ll hear about Daniel’s excellent theater experience with a random stranger. Then I dig into how a scene emotionally destroyed me, and how A Ghost Story uses simple yet prolonged sequences to produce strong emotions. Among those emotions, we discus…
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Aug 17, 2020
Stargirl - Discussing Adaptions and Christ's Joy in Kindness
MOVIE DISCUSSION:
Earlier in 2020, Disney Plus gained a new* PG-Rated* addition in Stargirl, the film adaption of Jerry Spinelli’s much-loved 2000 young-adult fiction novel of the same name. Having found a copy of novel at a used book store, I figured I’d read it, text my sister about doing the same, and the two of us could take some time to chat about the film adaption, as well as the book, here on the podcast.
So, as we get things underway, we contextualize our experience with the film adaption of Stargirl by talking briefly about the book. Afterward, we dive headfirst into talking about the movie and - while we try to keep our book-to-film comparisons light - most readers will sympathize with our experience that, sometimes, the book really is better. However, we do spend some time talking about how both the film adaption and the source material stay largely true to the same theme, that sometimes you have to make a decision: In your actions, whose affection are you seeking, and…
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Aug 3, 2020
MMN: Ambler Theater Interview, Supporting Local Venues, Tenet Codependency
MONTHLY MOVIE NEWS:
Our first segment is an interview with the Ambler Theater, a local venue in my area to hear about their story during COVID-19, how they’ve responded to it, how it’s affected their community, and how people can help. While you’ll be hearing about how things are being handled in my community, I hope that it’s a helpful jumpstart to how you can begin thinking about your local community and how you can help.
Immediately after, Carter and I will discuss what’s heard in the interview and share how the two of us have been able to engage our community theaters and screenings during a time where it’s so difficult to visit them.
Following this, Carter leads us into the symbiotic relationship between Theater re-openings and Tenet delays, and we discuss a few factors in play that make this story so important.
Patreon: http://bit.ly/CinDocPatreon
Website: CinematicDoctrine.com
Email: CinematicDoctrine@Gmail.com
Twitter: http://bit.ly/CineDoctrineTwitter
Instagram…
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Jul 29, 2020
Hamilton - Chris Staron Total Geek Out
PATREON MOVIE DISCUSSION:
This movie was selected by our patron supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
Chris Staron is the creator of *Truce*, the award-winning Christian podcast that looks at history to deep dive into the Christian Church. You’re going to hear more about him and his work when you press that play button - and all of it is such good stuff - but my goodness, after hearing his podcast, I just had to have him on the show! In fact, the latest episodes of Truce, as of this recording, have been on the founding fathers and other important aspects of American history, so it made sense to have him on for our Hamilton episode!
For starters, Chris shares his absolute love for Hamilton, and how he’s been a huge fan since it toured! We also dig into its questions on legacy, pride, and the unique benefit to having a story span many years. Then, we run headfirst into some fascinating trivia I collected for…
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Jul 24, 2020
The Avengers - ShatterCast Phase One Finale and Retrospective
MOVIE DISCUSSION:
Longtime listeners of the *Cinematic Doctrine* podcast may recognize the names Derrick Whitmore and John Weiand. In July of 2019, I was in Florida visiting Derrick about his non-profit organization Shattered Studios. During that trip, I appeared in an episode of their Christian pop-culture podcast ShatterCast discussing Spider-Man: Far From Home. You can find the episode on their YouTube channel for ShatterCast and, apart from seeing what I look like in real life, you’ll also catch a glimpse of what Derrick and John do at Shattered Studios.
Considering they invited me on their show to chat a Marvel film, I figured it only made sense to invite Derrick and John from ShatterCast to chat another Marvel film with me, and what better film than the one that convinced us this Marvel Cinematic Universe thing was going to be a real juggernaut: The Avengers!
So, travel back to 2012 with Derrick, John, and me as we talk about revisiting this genre-defining and, dare I say, i…
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Jul 15, 2020
Captain America: The First Avenger - Half Pure, Half Schlock
MOVIE DISCUSSION:
In case you didn’t already notice, *Cinematic Doctrine *has been going through Phase One of the MCU, and while you’ll see we took a momentary break to discuss our Patreon-voted episode on America Gospel: Christ Alone, as well as catch up on our monthly segments Trailer Talk and Monthly Movie News, we returned with a discussion on Thor and are now getting closer and closer to The Avengers. But first, here we are, ready to talk about one more film before the big climax: Captain America: The First Avenger.
In this episode, Daniel and I talk about how Captain America: The First Avenger’s first hour has a lot of fun, clever, and poignant character drama mixed in with creative action sequences only to boil into the second hour of… something completely different. Then we take a look at the history of the MCU and how it came into being (you know, some behind the scenes stuff), and how Captain America: The First Avenger feels like the last of those early-era films be…
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Jul 8, 2020
Thor - Brad Bates and Asking if the Past Defines Us
MOVIE DISCUSSION:
As I’ve become more engaged in Christian podcasting communities I’ve come to enjoy finding new podcasts that really speak to me, and *The Angry Christian Podcast* is one such show that’s kept my interest. While one might think *The Angry Christian Podcast* is nothing more than some bent-outta-shape Christians complaining about life’s inconveniences, it’s the opposite! It’s Christians fighting for the fruit of the Spirit amidst angering and difficult times, and because of their willingness to talk culturally difficult topics, I knew inviting *Brad Bates *on to the *Cinematic Doctrine* podcast was a no-brainer.
First, Brad and I share our somewhat confused thoughts on the tone of Thor as it balances between science-fantasy epic and fish-out-of-water romance. Then we deconstruct Thor's character arc from the arrogant prince of Asgard to the somewhat less arrogant prince of Asgard. And finally, we think about the difficult question of birth-right, and whethe…
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Jul 3, 2020
MMN: VOD, Masks in Theaters, Gone with the Wind
MONTHLY MOVIE NEWS:
Like our recently revived Trailer Talk monthly segment, Daniel and I decided to use this time for Monthly Movie News to involve a bit more than simply news from the month of June… Because it’s been several months since our last episode.
Our first topic on the docket is the booming trend of Video-on-Demand popularity. With movies like Trolls: World Tour, Capone, and many others seeing success skipping the theaters and landing on streaming services such as Amazon Prime and Vudu, more out of necessity than anything, Daniel and I contemplate what these changes in the industry may mean for movies as a whole, whether they’ll remain permanent as things return to, quote-unquote, normal, and if we can see certain companies regretting their over-commitment to VOD services.
Then we get into the contentious topic of mask-wearing, as theater chains AMC and Cinemark demand visitors to wear masks to their properties when they eventually open (as that date seems to change…
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Jul 1, 2020
TT: The King's Man, Bill & Ted 3, Connected
TRAILER TALK:
Welcome back to *Trailer Talk*!* Cinematic Doctrine’s* monthly segment in which my cohost Daniel and I talk about trailers that released in the past month. At least, that was our typical practice… but everything shut down mid-March, Daniel’s work-week skyrocketed, and I got super sick… Plus, movie trailers stopped coming out.
Until now! 3.5 months later, Daniel and I have been able to accrue enough movie trailers to return with a proper, well-deserved *Trailer Talk*, and we’re really happy to get the ball rolling again.
First, we dive into *Connected*, the upcoming Sony Animation picture film. We talk about the excitement of seeing another Sony animated feature that embraces the creativity of their previous successful film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, while approaching that creativity with a generational film about a family struggling with technology.
Then we talk about *The Kings Man*, the latest in bombastic and violent Kingsmen films that takes us…
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Jun 29, 2020
Quarantine Binge: What We've Been Watching
BONUS EPISODE:
So this was a segment originally intended for June 2020’s Monthly Movie News where Daniel and I start the episode by giving you a quick catch-up on what we’ve been doing, watching, all that jazz, now that we’re able to get back into a steady rhythm of recording.
However, the two of us (and by two of us, I mean Daniel) went a little long talking about all the movies and shows we’ve been watching, as well as sharing our motivation for what we’ve been watching during such a, *keyword incoming*, unprecedented time.
From listing off every single movie I’ve watched from March till July to Daniel sharing his fascination with the WWE, his traumatic experience watching Tom Hooper’s Cats, and his frustration with Christian-outrage culture toward a particular Disney animated film, we hope you enjoy this little bonus episode.
Patreon: http://bit.ly/CinDocPatreon
Website: CinematicDoctrine.com
Email: CinematicDoctrine@Gmail.com
Twitter: http://bit.ly/CineDoctrineTwi…
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Jun 23, 2020
American Gospel: Christ Alone - Challenging, Empowering, Overwhelming
PATREON MOVIE DISCUSSION:
This movie was selected by our patron supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
American Gospel: Christ Alone has been a word-of-mouth juggernaut in Christian circles both online and offline. I remember the impact it had on social media Reformed groups back in 2018, and I even remember when my pastor was recommending it at the pulpit during morning announcements. It was crazy. Now, in 2020, it’s landed on Netflix and you would think it was American Gospel: Christ Alone’s second coming, as groups online and offline have been praising its successes.
Through-out the episode we talk about balancing an appropriate appreciation of the documentary alongside healthy critique, how American Gospel: Christ Alone has both an excitement and frustration within its response to the prosperity gospel, and in our closing section, which runs quite long this time around, Daniel shares at length his first…
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Jun 16, 2020
Iron Man 2 - Caleb Young and Enjoying Things that Stink
MOVIE DISCUSSION:
As *Cinematic Doctrine *works our way through reviewing Phase One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we couldn’t help but bring back *Caleb* to talk about Iron Man 2, which at the time of release was the highly anticipated sequel to 2008’s total breakout film, Iron Man.
*Caleb* hails from *The Polymath Roundtable*, a semi-weekly Christian podcast that produces bite-sized reviews and topical discussions on all sorts of media. Some episodes he is talking about movies, other’s he’s discussing books, and at other times he’s looking at video games. It’s well-rounded and often balanced pursuit makes for easy listening on your daily drive for when you need some good Christian thoughts on all kinds of topics.
And with *Caleb’s* return, we eagerly looked forward to talking about the divisive Iron Man 2. Right off the bat, we start talking about how our thoughts on the film don’t seem to be the same as everyone else’s. In fact, we both really enjoyed Iron Ma…
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Jun 10, 2020
The Incredible Hulk - A Strange Anomaly in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
MOVIE DISCUSSION:
Funnily enough, Daniel and I recorded this a few weeks ago and had stepped away disappointed. We felt it wasn’t very good, but when you have deadlines to meet you gotta do with what you have. Then I started editing the episode and thought to myself, “You know what, this episode isn’t that bad!” So there you have it. Quote me on it! This episode isn’t that bad!
I’m, of course, joking around. It really did turn out well, but the circumstances of recording were difficult. I had just gotten over being sick, Daniel had been awake for well over 24 hours… it was amazing we ever recorded at all. But God took care of everything, as it were, and the conversation turned out well.
From the start, we talk about what a strange experience The Incredible Hulk is, and how this anomaly is still considered canon in the Marvel Cinematic Universe despite having very little direct mentions or callbacks to the events of the film. We also contemplate how The Incredible Hulk…
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Jun 5, 2020
Iron Man - Caleb Young and Revisiting an Old Friend
MOVIE DISCUSSION:
We here at *Cinematic Doctrine* are happy to kick off a series of reviews on Phase One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. From Iron Man to The Avengers, we’ll be looking at each film and discussing them one by one, and along the way we’ve decided to bring on a few guests from other Christian podcasts, starting with *Caleb Young*. *Caleb* hosts the popular *Polymath Roundtable*, a Christian podcast that produces bite-sized reviews and topical discussions on all sorts of media. Some episodes he is talking about movies, other’s he’s discussing books, and at other times he’s looking at video games. It’s well-rounded and often balanced pursuit makes for easy listening on your daily drive for when you need some good Christian thoughts on all kinds of topics.
And so, with *Cinematic Doctrine* offering a larger format than bite-sized 20-minute episodes, *Caleb* and I had a lot of time to really dig into Iron Man. From the start, we discuss what it was like to rev…
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May 29, 2020
Tigertail - Carter Bennett on Overcoming Pride and the Immigrant Experience
PATREON MOVIE DISCUSSION:
This movie was selected by our patron supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
Tigertail released on Netflix around the beginning of that big worldwide event that I can't type out without algorithms blacklisting my website, and while there were two Netflix properties released around that time with the word “tiger” in it, Tigertail really got the short end of the stick. I guess when you get right down to it, the United States is far more interested in gawking at the bizarre characteristics of human depravity than watching a challenging film about immigration and growing up… but who am I to judge?
Besides, I have *Carter Bennett* for that, and he can make all the judgments. Just kidding. I had completely forgotten that Tigertail and Tiger King released around the same time until now, and we recorded this episode a few days ago so I guess that was a missed opportunity for some good ma…
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May 17, 2020
Samson - How My Wife Got Me To Watch This Despite Us Knowing Better
MOVIE DISCUSSION:
I’ve been bouncing around the idea of having Kathryn join me for an episode of *Cinematic Doctrine* for quite some time, and finally, a year since creating the podcast, the two of us have settled on a film to review together. Samson, or any Pureflix film for that matter, was not necessarily a film we ever thought we would jump on for this opportunity, but as you will hear later in the episode, the timing was surprisingly perfect. And with Samson streaming on Netflix, it only made sense for us to give it a go.
Within this episode, we open with why we watched Samson of all things, followed by our general thoughts regarding the film. As one would suspect, we conveniently transition into discussing whether Pureflix’s Samson is biblically accurate, and how we feel about the film’s handling of the material. Not only that, but we also head into a discussion about the difficulty of adapting anything historical, let-alone biblical, and what can cause a biopic or histor…
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Apr 13, 2020
I Am Legend - Carter Bennett on Will Smith, Zombies, and Community
MOVIE DISCUSSION:
Just before calling the hiatus, I had Carter Bennett of *Film_Junkie_Reviews* join me on the *Cinematic Doctrine* podcast for a fun discussion of the popular Will Smith film, I Am Legend! Rather than have everyone, including Carter, wait a few weeks before the release of this episode, I figured I'd dredge up what energy I had during this quarantine to produce this last episode to its completion. Back-pain be darned to heck and back, I will get this episode out!
So here it is in all its glory, and it sure was a fun one! From the get-go, Carter and I talk about what it was like to return to I Am Legend after spending so many years apart from it, the cultural impact it had upon its release, whether or not we're even Will Smith fans to begin with, and how I Am Legend paints an interesting picture of community - or the lack thereof it - despite stripping away so much of what seems apparent in the legacy of Richard Matheson's classic novel.
And just a reminder, this will…
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Mar 23, 2020
To All the Boys I've Loved Before - The Teen Drama/Dating/Romance Episode
PATREON MOVIE DISCUSSION:
This movie was selected by my patron supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
Out of the last few discussion episodes we’ve had here on *Cinematic Doctrine*, I must say going through this episode was a real treat. Prepping for this episode was a little difficult as the few discussion points we approached with To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before seemed as though they wouldn’t spark any worthwhile or meaty discussions.
Now, I say that, and that’s after we did a discussion episode on Sonic the Hedgehog, so maybe I’m just being a little ridiculous!
Even so, we walked away from this episode discussion the clever creativity present within To All the Boys I've Loved Before, our high school experience and what makes high-school romantic-comedies relatable despite their hyperbole, and most interestingly, our thoughts on dating as Christians.
This led to what might be my favorite discuss…
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Mar 17, 2020
Super Mario Bros. - The Reformed Gamers and Reliving Trauma
*PARTY PLEASER:
*
Logan Sharp of *The Reformed Gamers* has been an incredibly helpful guide during my podcasting venture. Apart from his many years of podcasting experience, his heart overflows with wisdom and knowledge that has helped me to understand deeper what it is to be a Christian engaging culture in such an explicit manner. And it's because of his strong kindness that I couldn't help but take advantage of it and demand we discuss one of the worst video game movies, if not the worst video game movie of all time*, *on the *Cinematic Doctrine* podcast.
Yup, that's right, we're talking Super Mario Bros., and after a year of successful video game movie releases (Pokemon Detective Pikachu and Sonic the Hedgehog), I felt it was good to ground ourselves and our expectations for the future. Sometimes... just sometimes... video game movies turn out horrendous.
But also, it's their stereotypical failure that makes for hilariously good content, and in this joint episode of *Cinematic Doc…
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Mar 13, 2020
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives - Accessible and Amazing
REPOST MOVIE REVIEW:
*Happy Friday the 13th!*
Yep, you guessed it, we're reviewing a Friday the 13th movie on Friday the 13th. Can't get enough Friday the 13th? Don't worry, there are far too many Friday the 13th movies, but for your own good, I picked out the best Friday the 13th movie to review!
Jason Lives is not only a Friday the 13th film that doesn't assault your senses, but it's also a genuinely good roller-coaster-like film, and hopefully, I can convince you it's well worth a watch!
*Tune in Wednesday nights for new episodes of **Cinematic Doctrine!*
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives is *Rated R *but has no detailed certificate. So, here's my here's my own certificate: Frightening images, violence and gore, brief sexual content, and language.
It features Thom Mathews, Jennifer Cooke, David Kagen, and C.J. Graham.
Directed by Tom McLoughlin.
Patreon: http://bit.ly/CinDocPatreon
Website: CinematicDoctrine.com
Email: CinematicDoctrine@Gmail.com
Twitter: http://bit.ly/Ci…
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Mar 11, 2020
MMN: Bob Iger & Disney Plus, Coronavirus and the Looming Writers Strike, Quibi
MONTHLY MOVIE NEWS:
For February 2020 Daniel and Melvin decided to talk about a hodgepodge of topics. In fact, this might be their most loose and casual episode to date. For starters, what begins as a discussion of Bob Iger’s recent choice to step down as CEO of Disney goes straight into a discussion on the Coronavirus and how COVID-19 has been affecting the film industry at large.
Then they swing headfirst into a discussion over Disney Plus. For the foreseeable future, Bob Iger will oversee Disney Plus’s development, and to put things in perspective Daniel and Melvin discuss their experience with Disney Plus, how it’s fought to differentiate itself from the competition, and what sort of changes may happen in the months to come.
They also take some time to discuss a potential Writers Strike that may hit the film industry in the near future, and look back to the writer’s strike of 2007 for some guidance on what to expect from such an event.
And finally, because Melvin's been…
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Mar 6, 2020
TT: Fast and Furious 9, Candyman, The Green Knight
TRAILER TALK:
In this episode of Trailer Talk, Dan and I look at February 2020 and talk about *Candyman*, the latest horror reboot slash pseudo-sequel that likely ignores all the previous films except the original in the Candyman franchise while still offering interesting commentary on western racial tensions, *Spiral*, the latest horror reboot slash pseudo-sequel that likely ignores all the previous films except the original in the Saw franchise while still offering interesting commentary on western racial tensions, *The Green Knight*, a dark fantasy film distributed by the ever consistent quality measure of A24 and our excitement over the promises offered in this stark, visually pleasing trailer, and finally *F9*, or *Fast and Furious 9*, or *The Fast Saga*, the latest in the never-ending Fast and Furious franchise, and Daniel’s unfettered excitement at another bonkers, absurd car movie where people defy the functional laws of creation and look cool while doing it.
February 2020…
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Feb 27, 2020
Contagion - Strangely Predictive (and Not Because of the Coronavirus)
PATREON MOVIE REVIEW:
This movie was selected by my patron supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
During the early 2010s like most other teenagers, I had a fascination with zombies and the zombie sub-culture. If I wasn’t watching The Walking Dead, I was playing Left 4 Dead 2 nonstop with my friends on Xbox 360. I would watch zombie short films on YouTube and play tons of flash games on Kongregate.com in the zombie sub-category.
All of this to say, when I went to see Contagion in theaters, I didn’t get it. I mean, I got it, it was a plague movie, but I didn’t get it. I thought it was slow. I thought it had too much talking. I thought there wasn’t enough action. And I also thought to myself, “Why bother making a plague movie without zombies?”
And I know I’m far removed from who I was nearly 10 years ago, but my goodness was I off my rocker. I need to personally thank you, my patron supporters, for…
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Feb 20, 2020
Sonic the Hedgehog - A Messy Franchise, a Messy Film
MOVIE DISCUSSION:
In response to Daniel's message about doing a discussion episode for Birds of Prey I said, "That sounds great, but we haveta talk about Sonic the Hedgehog, too."
Let me tell you, this was a blast to record! Daniel and I had some very interesting thoughts regarding the debut Hollywood feature film for the blue blur, and it's one of the most entertaining pieces of *Cinematic Doctrine* media you can find. Trust me!
In this discussion episode, Daniel and I share fun stories about playing the Sonic video games, our immediate (and hilarious) takeaways from this bizarre film and how Jim Carrey steals the show, and whether it's wise to indulge a film as nothing more than candy or background noise.
*Tune in weekly for new episodes of **Cinematic Doctrine!*
Sonic the Hedgehog is *Rated PG* for action, some violence, rude humor, and brief mild language.
It features Ben Schwartz, Tika Sumpter, Jim Carrey, and James Marsden
Directed by Jeff Fowler
Patreon: http://bit.ly/Ci…
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Feb 14, 2020
Birds of Prey - and the Fantabulous Discussion of One Christian Podcast
MOVIE DISCUSSION:
A few weeks ago, Daniel sent me a text on Messenger: Hey man, I like Harley Quinn. Birds of Prey looks neat. Want to do a discussion episode?
And now, here we are, *Cinematic Doctrine’s** *first-ever film discussion episode!
This will be very different to the typical movie reviews, or better yet, audio essays that *Cinematic Doctrine* has previously offered. However, a lot of the process going into this episode has remained the same. Daniel and I still did our research, we still prepared some talking points, we still approached Birds of Prey’s cultural talking points with a biblical perspective. Perhaps the biggest change you’ll notice between this episode and any other film-review offered from *Cinematic Doctrine *is that it will be far less eloquent. Even though, that’s fine. Most podcast aren’t eloquent.
For this episode, Daniel and I will talk about our immediate thoughts on Birds of Prey and how it’s R-Rating might negatively impact its themes of…
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Feb 6, 2020
MMN: The Bizarre Legacy of the Golden Globes and How They're a Sham
MONTHLY MOVIE NEWS:
For their January 2020 episode of Monthly Movie News, Melvin and Daniel decide to dig head-first into the Golden Globes. Although they were almost a month ago, and the Oscars are literally happening in a matter of days, Daniel went deep-diving into some fascinating subjects regarding the Golden Globes. Throughout this episode, you’ll hear our deliberations on the results of the Golden Globes, the never-ending controversy surrounding them, their mysterious and borderline conspiracy-sounding history, and ultimately, whether or not they truly matter apart from being a manufactured scheme to sell more home-video copies of popular movies.
It’s an amazing adventure as we navigate the value of award shows, whether the cultural definition of good is equal to the Christian definition of good, and how, despite all of this chit-chat, we still look forward to hearing the results of the award shows.
*Tune in weekly for new episodes of **Cinematic Doctrine! *
//
Monthly…
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Feb 4, 2020
TT: A Quiet Place Part 2, Tenet, Morbius
TRAILER TALK:
In this episode of Trailer Talk, Dan and Melvin look at January 2020 and talk about *A Quiet Place: Part II*, and whether JJ Abrams is disappointed he didn’t get the chance to add A Quiet Place into the Cloverfield franchise, *Tenet*, and how Christopher Nolan is creative insofar as he’s allowed to have men wear suits and ties while talking somberly in an office building, *Morbius*, a movie that Melvin literally forgot they talked about and still can’t take seriously, and *The New Mutants*, which is honestly their most anticipated movie of 2018!
January 2020 provided a very strange batch of trailers, and it's a common thread that, throughout their discussion, they're far more interested in what’s going on behind the scenes with these movies than the movies themselves. Sometimes, that’s where the better story is, but they're still hoping these movies turn out great.
*Tune in weekly for new episodes of **Cinematic Doctrine!
// *
Trailer Talk is a podcast/arti…
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Jan 31, 2020
First Reformed - Hope and Despair
PATRON MOVIE REVIEW:
This movie was selected by my patron supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
I remember seeing First Reformed in theaters with my wife. We were sitting in the middle of the theater and two older women were sitting way in the back. About 2/3rds into the film, when the strangest thing started to happen on screen, I over-heard one of the older women lean over to her friend and whisper, "Okay, it's lost me!"
I think that's the best way to prepare anyone going into First Reformed. It's a strange movie, no doubt about that, and when you have writer/director Paul Schrader at the helm, it's a no-brainer to think things are going to get a little... cerebral. And when tackling a pastors struggle with his faith in a world that's falling apart, maybe cerebral is just what this story needs to make itself understood.
So, thanks to my lovely Patrons, let's dig into First Reformed, and I'll let you know wh…
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Jan 23, 2020
A Hidden Life - Conscientious Objection and the Christian Walk
MOVIE REVIEW:
More often than not, when talking to other Christians who enjoy cinema they bring up Terrence Malick. In fact, when I visited Florida for a job opportunity, I had this exact thing happen to me. At the time, I hadn't seen a single Malick film, but I started to get some serious Malick FOMO when I saw The Tree of Life end up on a ton of "Best of the Decade" lists. Thankfully, I was near a theater showing A Hidden Life, the auteur's 10th film, and made it a priority to grab a ticket.
Considering the premise of the film - the persecution of a man of faith who resists swearing allegiance to Hitler - I considered it a fairly appropriate film to review this week, so here we are. Let's dive in, and let me tell you what I thought about A Hidden Life!
*Tune in weekly for new episodes of **Cinematic Doctrine! *
A Hidden Life is *Rated PG-13 *for thematic material including violent images.
It features August Diehl, Valerie Pachner, Maria Simon, Tobias Moretti, Ulrich Matthes, and…
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Jan 16, 2020
The Mandalorian (S1) - How Slow-Paced Character Building Isn't "Filler", You're Just Droning
TV SHOW REVIEW:
It’s finally here! The long-awaited first-ever live-action Star Wars series has landed. And, to everyone's surprise, both critics and general audiences love it! With a healthy percentage on Rotten Tomatoes, The Mandalorian is turning out to be a welcome success for Disney.
As such, it's garnered plenty of social media engagement, dominating everything across the board with its precious cargo, Baby Yoda. Hilarious when considering the democratic debates were getting less online engagement thanks to an infant space alien.
But, social media engagement is one thing. What matters is if The Mandalorian is any good. So, is it? Well, let's find out!
*Tune in weekly for new episodes of **Cinematic Doctrine! *
The Mandalorian is *Rated TV-PG*. It has no detailed certificate, so here's a Melvin certificate: Sci-fi action through-out, and brief mild language.
It features Pedro Pascal, Carl Weathers, Gina Carano, Werner Herzog, Nick Nolte, Taika Waititi, and Giancarlo Esposi…
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Jan 9, 2020
MMN: Star Wars Production Rumors, Thoughts on The First Temptation of Christ
MONTHLY MOVIE NEWS:
Did you all have a wonderful December? Well, we're about a week into January, so we hope you did, and hopefully, your prospects for 2020 are looking good, because boy, do we have an episode for you!
In this episode of *Monthly Movie News*, Daniel and Melvin take you on the journey of recording-so-late-they-missed-all-the-actual-news and actually-just-covering-controversial-stuff-because-it's-both-interesting-and-buzzworthy.
Yup, you read that right (hyphens and all)! Things got a little busy at the end of December, and perhaps the best idea would have been to push this off until the end of January, but we love you guys, and we love what we're doing, so here we are! We're ready to talk to you about some rumored behind-the-scenes info on the latest Star Wars release, and a particularly inflammatory Netflix special.
*Tune in weekly for new episodes of **Cinematic Doctrine! *
//
Monthly Movie News is a podcast/article released at the end of every month and contain…
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Jan 3, 2020
TT: Black Widow, Wonder Woman 1984, Mulan
TRAILER TALK:
In this episode of Trailer Talk, Melvin and Dan look at the month of December and talk about No Time to Die, the latest James Bond Film, Ghostbusters Afterlife, and the concept of a franchise giving fans what they want, Black Widow, and their patient expectations, Wonder Woman 1984, and how Melvin's growing tired of ‘80s nostalgia, Mulan – and whether or not it’s quality can overshadow its controversy, and the teaser trailer for A Quiet Place: Part II.
This episode was recorded on December 19th, so toward the end, you’ll hear them sharing their predictive thoughts about the end of 2019, as far as movies are concerned, and you get to see if what they thought might happen, well, happened! Not only that, you get to hear their thoughts on the homogenization of film, and Daniel tasking you, the listener, with some homework!
*Tune in weekly for new episodes of **Cinematic Doctrine!
//
*Trailer Talk is a podcast/article released at the end of every month and contain…
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Dec 31, 2019
A Quiet Place - Efficient Mom Horror
PATRON MOVIE REVIEW:
This movie was selected by my patron supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
Perhaps one of the most talked-about movies of 2018, A Quiet Place took theaters by storm! Anyone and everyone were running out to catch this low-budget horror flick and it's all largely due in part to an excellent trailer campaign. I don't know about you, but I remember theaters treating the trailer for A Quiet Place with more reverence than the movie that would show afterward!
And so, for this month's Patron-voted review, and the last episode of *Cinematic Doctrine* for the year, let's talk about A Quiet Place, it's effectiveness, and why I would consider it to be a part of a cheeky, new sub-genre of movie called Mom Horror!
*Tune in weekly for new episodes of **Cinematic Doctrine! *
A Quiet Place is *Rated PG-13*for terror and some bloody images.
It features Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds, and…
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Dec 26, 2019
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker - Let's Talk About Idol Worship
MOVIE REVIEW:
It's finally here! The conclusion to Disney's sequel trilogy has arrived, and it's time for the latest episode in the Skywalker saga to conclude 42-years of Star Wars films. And, as one would suspect, the disparity between critic and audience reception is as typical as ever. With a not-so-favorable percentage on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and a fairly positive response from audiences, The Rise of Skywalker is turning out to be another divisive Star Wars film across the community. Who would have guessed?
Nonetheless, The Rise of Skywalker went on to make plenty of money in its opening weekend, dominating other films that debuted at the same time, not least of which was Tom Hooper's latest musical adaption, Cats (which barely made 5% of its projected budget).
But, money is money is money. What matters is whether or not Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is any good. So, is it? Well, let's find out!
*Tune in weekly for new episodes of **Cinematic Doctrine!*
Star Wars: T…
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Dec 5, 2019
MMN: Feige Responds to Scorsese, James Dean Recast, Disney+
MONTHLY MOVIE NEWS:
November came and went and it's already time for the rush of Christmas shopping, so if your last thirty-some days were a blur, don't worry! Daniel and I are here to catch you guys up on some big film news that debuted over the last month.
Not only that, we dig into some of the latest box-office news regarding the month of November which saw the release of Terminator: Dark Fate, Doctor Sleep, and Charlie's Angels followed up with Joker officially crossing the $1 billion mark.
So press that play button and hear some candid thoughts from November's Monthly Movie News where Daniel and I talk about Kevin Feige's response to Martin Scorsese's recent opinion piece, the surprising news of James Dean's new casting, and whether or not Disney Plus' first month was worthwhile.
*Tune in weekly for new episodes of **Cinematic Doctrine! *
//
Monthly Movie News is a podcast/article released at the end of every month and contains a discussion of the month's most interesting, f…
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Dec 2, 2019
TT: Sonic the Hedgehog, Soul, Bad Boys for Life
TRAILER TALK:
We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend! As you're headed back to work or buying Christmas presents, Daniel and I are here to give you some background to six new trailers that dropped during the month of November. From the much anticipated Sonic the Hedgehog redesign to two separate films hoping to start a shared cinematic universe, there sure were some interesting offerings last month. But what are you waiting for? Press that play button and let's get started with November 2019's Trailer Talk!
*Tune in weekly for new episodes of **Cinematic Doctrine!
//
*Trailer Talk is a podcast/article released at the end of every month and contains an informative and entertaining discussion of a month's trailers.
Patreon: http://bit.ly/CinDocPatreon
Website: CinematicDoctrine.com
Trailers: http://bit.ly/TT11-19CinDoc
Email: CinematicDoctrine@Gmail.com
Daniel's Twitter: @TomRhonda1 Support the show
*Support on Patreon for Unique Perks!** *
* Early access to uncut…
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Nov 27, 2019
Black Christmas (1974) - A Response to the Sexual Revolution
PATRON MOVIE REVIEW:
This movie was selected by my patron supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
Considered a proto-slasher along the likes of The Town that Dreaded Sundown, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Psycho, we're nowhere near the holiday favorites of A Christmas Carol, A Christmas Story, or even Die Hard. Nope, this is Black Christmas, and we're getting our seasons greetings from Pi-Kappa-Sigma.
This isn't your normal Christmas movie, and there's no guessing what's wrapped up under the tree, but why don't you go ahead and press that play button and I can give you a couple clues?
(First clue: read the title!)
*Tune in weekly for new episodes of **Cinematic Doctrine!*
Black Christmas (1974) is *Rated R*. It has no detailed certificate, so here's my own certificate: Frightening images, violence and gore, brief sexual imagery, mild nudity, occasional vulgar speech, strong language, and crude humor.
It f…
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Nov 21, 2019
Lady and the Tramp (2019) - Uncanny Valley for Dogs
MOVIE REVIEW:
Disney+ is finally here, and no, I didn't watch The Mandalorian. Not yet, at least. I decided my time was better spent watching another shameless live-action remake of a beloved Disney classic. You know, because reasons!
Cynicism aside, I plan on binge-watching The Mandalorian later this year, and since Disney+ debuted with a limited supply of new movies, I figured Lady and the Tramp would be a great film to start with. Although I must admit (and let's keep this between us...), I haven't seen the 1955 original.
I know, I know. It's practically a sin, but let's just call this review a nostalgia-free experience where I look at Charlie Bean's Lady and the Tramp with a clear lens. And, well, it sure was an experience. So, press that play button and let's get started!
*Tune in weekly for new episodes of **Cinematic Doctrine!** *
Lady and the Tramp (2019) is *Rated PG *for some mild thematic elements and action/peril.
It features Tessa Thompson, Justin Theroux, Sam Elliot…
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Nov 12, 2019
The King (2019) - Royalty and Responsibility
MOVIE REVIEW:
Released November 1st on Netflix, The King is a new take on Shakespeare's Henriad. Although, one would be forgiven for the immense tonal differences between the two, as screenwriter Joel Edgerton, who also performs as Falstaff in the film, decided it was best to pen the tale in a far more brooding, horrific image. Some might find this a stretch from the source material, if not also a historical departure on multiple fronts, and beg the question, "What's the point of all this?"
But, dare I say it, I think that's the point. So, join me as we talk about David Michôd's latest film, The King!
*Tune in weekly for new episodes of **Cinematic Doctrine!*
The King is *Rated R* for some strong violence, and language.
It features Timothée Chalamet, Joel Edgerton, Sean Harris, Ben Mendelsohn, and Robert Pattinson.
Directed by David Michôd.
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Nov 7, 2019
The Book of Eli - A Product of General Revelation
MOVIE REVIEW:
The Book of Eli is a strange film, to be sure. Released in January of 2010, Denzel Washington's post-apocalyptic samurai-like action flick seemed to shoot for the stars, and seemed to fall into the strangest of places: the Christian community.
To this day, I occasionally hear chatter over the film among church-goers, and I've always found it a little interesting considering the violence within the film. Not that I've shied from watching violent flicks, as anyone who listens to this podcast knows, but it's always interested me that Christians talk about The Book of Eli among other church favorite films like The Princess Bride or the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Because of this, it was a no-brainer to give The Book of Eli a look on the Cinematic Doctrine podcast, so without further ado, press that play button and let's get into it!
*Tune in weekly for new episodes of **Cinematic Doctrine!*
The Book of Eli is *Rated R* for some brutal violence and language.
It features D…
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Nov 4, 2019
MMN: Joker Aftermath, Martin Scorsese on Marvel, and Kevin Feige's Promotion
MONTHLY MOVIE NEWS:
October sure was a fascinating month for movies. Not only did we see the release of Todd Phillip's Joker, a long-awaited sequel in Zombieland: Double Tap, and the stateside release of Palme D'Or winner Parasite, we've had plenty of movie-related controversies break the month apart. The first few weeks were reserved entirely around worries of Joker's influence, while the last few weeks have seen a nonstop debate on whether or not we can call Marvel movies 'cinema'.
Certainly, this was the perfect month to unveil a new segment on *Cinematic Doctrine* called Monthly Movie News. In it, my cohost Daniel and I take a look at some movie-related news we found interesting, entertaining, and worthwhile.
Be sure to press that play button to hear our candid thoughts on the aftermath of the #1 Rated R movie Joker, Martin Scorsese's comments on the MCU (and whether or not he would consider producing a Neil Breen movie!), speculation regarding Kevin Feige's promotion over Marve…
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Nov 1, 2019
TT: The Rise of Skywalker, Dolittle, Birds of Prey
TRAILER TALK:
Starting with our first look at Warner Bros.' Birds of Prey trailer and offering us an official look at Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, October's brought us quite an offering of new trailers for us to munch on. Whether you're enamored with theories surrounding all of these fascinating IP, or simply interested in hearing about a few new trailers from this month, Daniel and I are here to get you guys caught up on what's happening in the world of cinema!
And, let us tell you, it's pretty crazy. Apart from the bizarre rumors surrounding Dolittle's production, or even how a film like The Turning is secretly a passion project, there is a lot of juicy stuff in this debut episode of Trailer Talk!
*Tune in weekly for new episodes of **Cinematic Doctrine!
//
*Trailer Talk is a podcast/article released at the end of every month and contains an informative and entertaining discussion of a month's trailers.
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Website: CinematicDoctrine.com
Tr…
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Oct 31, 2019
28 Days Later - Genre Defining, if Not a Little Flawed
PATRON MOVIE REVIEW:
This movie was selected by my patron supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
At this day and age, it's hard to imagine the zombie genre resurrecting in full force. Yet, interestingly enough, that was the same feeling surrounding the kitschy horror zombie genre prior to the release of 28 Days Later, a film often considered alongside the great Romero films of the late 60's early 70's. And, like with 28 Days Later, we could be one film away from a resurgence of brain-eating, flesh-rotting, gross-looking, culture-shocking zombie flicks.
But until then, let's look back at what gives 28 Days Later it's staying power, and think about the fascinating concepts surrounding the genre from questionable ethics, to cultural interest!
*Tune in weekly for new episodes of **Cinematic Doctrine! *
28 Days Later is *Rated R* for strong violence and gore, language and nudity.
It features Cillian Murphy, Naomi…
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Oct 16, 2019
Joker - Dangerously Cathartic
MOVIE REVIEW:
The Golden Lion is the most prestigious award a film can receive at Venice Film Festival and is regarded alongside the Palme D'Or and Golden Bear, the highest prize awards at the Cannes Film Festival and Berlin Film Festival respectively. This year, Joker won the Golden Lion and garnered an eight-minute standing ovation.
Alongside immense critical praise, Joker has also seen its fare share of criticism. Considered irresponsible and even dangerous, Joker finds itself under flack for what others believe is too hyper-violent and cynical.
So where does Joker actually land? Is it as ground-breaking as Venice Film Festival would have you believe, is it as unsafe as publications say it is or is it a bit of both? Or, maybe neither? Press that play button, and I'll letcha know!
*Tune in weekly for new episodes of **Cinematic Doctrine!*
Joker is *Rated R* for strong bloody violence, disturbing behavior, language and brief sexual images.
It features Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De…
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Oct 4, 2019
Halloweentown - I Can't Believe This Episode is 20 Minutes
PATRON MOVIE REVIEW:
This movie was selected by my patron supporters over at the *Cinematic Doctrine* Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard!
It's October! Finally! Time to bring out the creepy skeletons, spooky candles, and eat loads of candy! And what better way to start out this Spooky-Season than watching Halloweentown? That's the thought-process of my Patron Supporters who, for the month of September, voted in a Patron-exclusive poll for me to review Halloweentown! And you know what? That's awesome!
So grab that pumpkin spice latte, toss on your sweatpants, get comfy, and get ready to go on a needlessly long adventure as I not only talk about Halloweentown as a movie, but also compare its modern depiction of magic against what we read about magic in Scripture (more specifically, Deuteronomy 18:9-11).
Yeeeeeup. It sure is a weird episode, but it'll still be fun... right?
*Tune in weekly for new episodes of **Cinematic Doctrine**!*
Halloweentown is…
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Sep 26, 2019
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (S1) - Exceptional Creativity and Confidence
TV SHOW REVIEW:
Another world, another time!
We're back at it again with The Dark Crystal, the Jim Henson Company's epic fantasy tale, and diving headfirst into the new Netflix series, and. it's. AMAZING!
A dark and twisted tale, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is not only frightening, menacing, and undeniably sinister, it's romantic, heart-warming, and awe-inspiring! It's the sort of show that only comes along every once in a while, the sort of creativity and majesty one can only dream of! By golly, you need to watch it!
If you need some convincing, then press that play button, because I'm going to do my best to sell this to everyone I can. Trust me, it's worth it!
*Tune in Wednesday nights for new episodes of **Cinematic Doctrine**! *
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is *Rated TV PG* and contains a warning about flashing lights that may cause epileptic seizures, but has no detailed certificate otherwise. So, here's my own certificate: Violence, frightening images, and th…
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Sep 18, 2019
The Dark Crystal - A Charming, Ancient Tale
MOVIE REVIEW:
Who doesn't love puppets? Well, I guess they can be pretty freaky at times, especially marionettes, but we're not here to talk marionettes, we're here to talk puppets!
Well, okay, not really, we're here to talk The Dark Crystal, Jim Henson and Frank Oz's high-fantasy movie from 1982, the same Dark Crystal that just saw a prequel released on Netflix (but more on that in another episode!). We're here to review The Dark Crystal and its puppet magic, so why don't you press that play button and join me on an adventure in another world, and another time!
*Tune in Wednesday nights for new episodes of **Cinematic Doctrine!*
The Dark Crystal is *Rated PG* but has no detailed certificate. So, here's my own certificate: mild violence and frightening images.
It features voice acting and performances from Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Kathryn Mullen, and Dave Goelz, and Stephen Garlick.
Directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz
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Sep 13, 2019
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives - Accessible and Amazing
MOVIE REVIEW:
*Happy Friday the 13th!*
Yep, you guessed it, we're reviewing a Friday the 13th movie on Friday the 13th. Can't get enough Friday the 13th? Don't worry, there are far too many Friday the 13th movies, but for your own good, I picked out the best Friday the 13th movie to review!
Jason Lives is not only a Friday the 13th film that doesn't assault your senses, but it's also a genuinely good roller-coaster-like film, and hopefully, I can convince you it's well worth a watch!
*Tune in Wednesday nights for new episodes of **Cinematic Doctrine!*
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives is *Rated R *but has no detailed certificate. So, here's my here's my own certificate: Frightening images, violence and gore, brief sexual content, and language.
It features Thom Mathews, Jennifer Cooke, David Kagen, and C.J. Graham.
Directed by Tom McLoughlin.
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Sep 11, 2019
IT Chapter Two - A Boring, Repetitive Snooze-Fest
MOVIE REVIEW:
It's been 27 years, and the Loser's Club is back in Derry, Maine to fulfill their promise. "If It comes back, we come back to kill it." But, strangely enough, nobody can remember why they left, nor a single thing from their childhood. To defeat It once and for all, the gang must remember their past to save the future.
IT: Chapter Two is the highly-anticipated conclusion to 2017's IT, featuring an A-list cast of young and old stars alike.
*Tune in Wednesday nights for new episodes of Cinematic Doctrine! *
IT: Chapter Two is *Rated R *for disturbing violent content and bloody images throughout, pervasive language, and some crude sexual material.
It features Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, Jay Ryan, James Ransone, Bill Skarsgård, Jaeden Martell, Wyatt Olef, Jack Dylan Grazer, Finn Wolfhard, Sophia Lillis, Chosen Jacobs, and Jeremy Ray Taylor.
Directed by Andy Muschietti.
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Sep 10, 2019
IT (2017) - A Satisfying Adaption of an Ambitious Novel
MOVIE REVIEW:
IT destroyed box office records, solidifying the power of a well crafted R-rated horror blockbuster and reminded everyone of Stephen King's prolific storytelling. And while this isn't the first adaption of the over-one-thousand paged epic, it has become an absolute favorite for many. I mean, goodness, who doesn't love a good coming-of-age story where a bunch of kids fight an insane clown?
*Tune in Wednesday nights for new episodes of** Cinematic Doctrine!*
IT is *Rated R *for violence/horror, bloody images, and for language.
It features Finn Wolfhard, Jack Dylan Grazer, Jaeden Martell, Wyatt Oleff, Sophia Lillis, Jeremy Ray Taylor, and Bill Skarsgård.
Directed by Andy Muschietti.
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Sep 4, 2019
Cloverfield - One Big Giant Mystery
MOVIE REVIEW:
It's May 22nd, 2008, and Rob's friends are throwing him a party. He just received a huge promotion, and soon he'll be in Japan far away from New York's troubles and woes. But sooner, rather than later, it seems everything's been put on hold when an explosion shakes Manhattan island from north to south. Things only get worse when Rob and his friends learn there's a giant monster rampaging down central park.
Something about Cloverfield has kept the attention of fans for years. Maybe it's the found-footage film-making, maybe it's the never-ending questions that parade its audience from start to finish, or maybe people just like giant monster movies. Whatever the case, it's here to stay, and I couldn't help myself from rewatching this modern classic kaiju film for the podcast!
*Tune in Wednesday nights for new episodes of **Cinematic Doctrine**!*
Cloverfield is *Rated PG-13* for violence, terror and disturbing images.
It features Michael Stahl-David, Jessica Lucas, Lizzy…
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Aug 28, 2019
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood - For the Times They Are a-Changin'
MOVIE REVIEW:
Rick Dalton has reached his peak, and it's all downhill from here. Nobody cares that he was a part of a #1 serialized western. That's old news. Now he's just an extra, a star that's bounced around shows to bring in viewers and grow the ego of new, younger stars. He knows it's not long until he's nothing but an old memory in the minds of the world, and that terrifies him.
*Tune in Wednesday nights for new episodes of **Cinematic Doctrine**!*
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is *Rated R* for language throughout, some strong graphic violence, drug use, and sexual references.
It features Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, and Margaret Qualley.
Directed by Quentin Tarantino.
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Aug 18, 2019
The Boys (S1) - A Revealing Picture of Western Culture
TV SHOW REVIEW:
Cinema is crawling with them. You can't escape them. Superheroes are everywhere, and their mythos has gone from strictly nerd culture to passive general knowledge. From grand selfless acts to amazing feats of strength, a superhero represents truth and justice the world over.
And yet, we live in a world that feels sick, hopeless, and cynical. 'Things can't get worse than they already are, because they're already the worst they've been.' That sort of attitude permeates the culture around us, and at times, it's so painfully aggressive, we can't help but think the same. Where does this worldview come from, and why do we resonate so well with it?
The Boys contains a harsh reality where hope and faith seem elementary, but that's not all it harbors. There's something smart about The Boys, and it's begging to be talked about.
*Cinematic Doctrine** is testing out a new release schedule, but you can still expect episodes to release on Wednesday.*
The Boys is *Rated TV-MA*.…
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Aug 14, 2019
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark - Fun, Preteen Horror
MOVIE REVIEW:
I have fond memories of reading Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark back in Elementary school. Well, when I say reading, I mean looking at all the spooky illustrations. Even so, I still remember having a grand old time with my friends telling each other stories from the pages of Alvin Schwartz anthologies. Although I must admit, I never got around to reading his third volume.
But I did get out of the house and catch the film adaption of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and it captured an adolescent atmosphere with expert precision (whether that's a compliment is for you to decide).
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is *Rated PG-13* for terror/violence, disturbing images, thematic elements, language including racial epithets, and brief sexual references. It features Zoe Margaret Colleti, Michael Garza, Gabriel Rush, Austin Zajur, Lorraine Toussaint, and Dean Norris. Directed by André Øvredal.
*Tune in Wednesday nights for ne…
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Aug 7, 2019
The Farewell - The Heavy Weight of Lying
MOVIE REVIEW:
Which is better: to ignore the truth, or confront it?
Sometimes, it doesn't feel that simple. Sometimes we tell half-truths or skip around it with ease. For Billi's family, lying is at the forefront of their every action after learning her grandmother has stage-four lung cancer. Rather than telling her outright, they treat it like nothing's happened and put up a ruse to keep her from ever finding out. But the morality of the situation puts Billi in a hard place, and she can't help but question her family's motives.
The Farewell is *Rated PG* for thematic material, brief language and some smoking. It features Awkwafina, Tzi Ma, and Diana Lin. Directed by Lulu Wang.
*Tune in Wednesday nights for new episodes of **Cinematic Doctrine!**
*Website: CinematicDoctrine.com
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Jul 31, 2019
The Art of Self-Defense - Toxic Masculinity and the Importance of Community
MOVIE REVIEW:
Casey Davies is different, fragile, soft-spoken, qualities that make for a vulnerable man, and all it took was a single mugging to put him on edge. Fearing the worst, he decides to join a Karate class to toughen up, but there's more to this than meets the eye. It's not just about getting stronger, but feeling confident, feeling powerful, feeling comfortable around... other men? Yes, you read that right! Casey Davies is afraid of his own gender, and to prepare himself for male relationships, he's learning how to handle himself from the insanely charismatic Sensei, a mysterious yet manly-man who seems to know everything about what it's like to be a proper man's man!
The Art of Self-Defense is *Rated R *for violence, sexual content, graphic nudity and language. It features Jesse Eisenberg, Alessandro Nivola, and Imogen Poots. Directed by Riley Stearns.
*Tune in Wednesday nights for new episodes of Cinematic Doctrine!
*
Website: CinematicDoctrine.com
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Jul 24, 2019
Manchester by the Sea - Quick Audiences and Dysfunctional Families
MOVIE REVIEW:
It's often difficult to put into words the kind of experiences we've had, and sometimes we have to skirt around the idea that we can be vulnerable, open, emotionally available. Sometimes we feel like we need to put up a wall, and that's the best way we can protect ourselves, like a callous of the heart.
One of the most difficult things to do is understand someone. I'm talking really understand someone, yet understanding is a fundamental aspect of relationships. Sometimes, though, you come across those who are cut off, separated from everyone else, and trying to understand them is a difficulty in its own right. For Lee Chandler, you'll find yourself wondering why he's so irritable, so quiet, so distant, and sometimes, it's hard to come to terms with what you learn.
Manchester by the Sea is *Rated R* for language throughout and sexual content. It features Casey Affleck, Lucas Hedges, Michelle Williams, and Kyle Chandler. Directed by Kenneth Lonergan.
*Tune in Wednesday…
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Jul 17, 2019
Let the Right One In - An Intimate Innocence
MOVIE REVIEW:
What does it mean to be a child whose lonely, angry, and callous in a world that's left you nothing but the cold, bitter snow of winter?
More appropriately considered a childhood drama with vampires in it, Let the Right One In has won over 40 awards during its festival run. Haunting, patient, a master craft of depressive thrillers, you'll want nothing more than to bundle up with a hot chocolate when watching this film. But even then, you may still feel a chill run down your spine as Tomas Alfredson carries you through the dark and dismal world of his critically acclaimed adaption.
Let the Right One In is *Rated R* for some bloody violence including disturbing images, brief nudity and language. It features Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson, Per Ragnar, Peter Carlberg, and Karin Bergquist. Directed by Tomas Alfredson.
*Tune in Wednesday nights for new episodes of Cinematic Doctrine! *
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Email: CinematicDoctrine@gmail.com
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Jul 16, 2019
OT: The Steep 'Learning Curve' of Panos Cosmatos
ARCHIVED EPISODE //
ON TOPIC:
There are tons of movies out there that may seem off-putting. They're alienating from start to finish, often called 'artsy-fartsy' or 'pretentious', and at their worst can repel most people. Other films can seem too good to be true and you can't help but press play, wading through what seems the most bizarre plot line with unrealistic characters.
And then, there are other films that seem a little... too weird. They make you go, "That's it?" and you move on.
Or... so you think.
//
On Topic's are [DEFUNCT] bonus episodes between the standard reviews and will not be numbered. They largely contain 'cutting room floor' content from main episodes, and will be released irregularly. Audio transcripts available at CinematicDoctrine.com
Cinematic Doctrine Mandy review: bit.ly/MandyCinDoc
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Jul 10, 2019
Spider-Man: Far From Home - A Safe Epilogue to Phase Three
MOVIE REVIEW:
If Avengers: Endgame wasn't surreal enough, Spider-Man: Far From Home will really get you thinking about the MCU as a whole. With this being the first foray into a post-Endgame world, there's something familiar yet undeniably different about its offerings, and the big question will be how Kevin Feige and the rest of the crew back at Disney/Marvel decide on the franchise future. So how does this film handle itself as both an epilogue to Phase 3, but also whispers of Phase 4?
Spider-Man: Far From Home is *Rated PG-13 *for sci-fi action violence, some language and brief suggestive comments. It features Tom Holland, Zendaya, Samuel L. Jackson, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jon Favreau, and Marisa Tomei. Directed by Jon Watts.
*Tune in Wednesday nights for new episodes of Cinematic Doctrine!
*
Website: CinematicDoctrine.com
Email: CinematicDoctrine@gmail.com
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Jul 3, 2019
Yesterday - A Day in the Life Without The Beatles
MOVIE REVIEW:
Could you imagine waking up in a world where you're the only person who knows your favorite artists? Most hipsters don't need to think hard about that, but what if it was the Beatles? And worse yet, they never existed in the first place?
A real nightmare indeed, a nightmare Jack Malik realizes is all too real. To cope, he struggles to remember every single Beatles song he can, but can't help himself from touring as though they were his own songs. But that sounds a little like plagiarism, doesn't it?
Yesterday is *Rated PG-13* for suggestive content and language. It features Himesh Patel, Lily James, Kate McKinnon, and Ed Sheeran. Directed by Danny Boyle.
*Tune in Wednesday nights for new episodes of Cinematic Doctrine! *
Website: CinematicDoctrine.com
Email: CinematicDoctrine@gmail.com
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My guest appearance on *The Reformed Gamers*: http://b…
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Jun 26, 2019
The Happening - You Almost Can't Believe It Happened
MOVIE REVIEW:
We're reviewing The Happening for this episode. You know The Happening gets a bad rap? It's got a cool premise, it's got comedy. You like The Happening, right? By the way, I think I know what's going on, and I want to let you know before it's too late. I was at the thrift store a while ago. There was a really good-looking DVD on the shelf. Really good-looking. I went up to it and grabbed it from the shelf. I didn't even have cash, and I almost bought it. I'm talking a completely superfluous DVD on the shelf. Cost like six bucks.
The Happening is *Rated R* for violent and disturbing images. It features Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo, and Betty Buckley. Directed by M. Night Shyamalan.
*Tune in Wednesday nights for new episodes of Cinematic Doctrine! *
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Jun 19, 2019
Rocketman - Love Lost is Hard to Find
MOVIE REVIEW:
Producers wanted nothing more than Rocketman to push for a PG-13 rating, yet Elton John would say every time: I have not led a PG-13 life. And when it comes right down to it, I don't think most people have. I believe that's what makes this film such a fascinating, magical experience. Brilliant visuals and mystical moments in Rocketman are more than simply a dream-inspired retelling of Elton John's life, but a translation of what it's like to be human, to remember, to want, to hope, to love. Sometimes, that's a hard road to walk, and it can either make us or break us.
Rocketman is *Rated R *for language throughout, some drug use and sexual content. It features Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Jamie Bell. Directed by Dexter Fletcher.
*Tune in Wednesday nights for new episodes of Cinematic Doctrine! *
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Jun 12, 2019
Mandy - Furious, Starless Love
MOVIE REVIEW:
Earning a 4-minute standing ovation at Cannes Film Festival, Mandy embraces the world of art-house cinema while comfortably fitting itself amidst popular midnight movies. It's the best of both worlds, and that's not the only thing about Mandy that flips like a coin. Perhaps it's most alienating quality is it's most attractive, and I seek to engage its passionate love and furious anger in this latest episode of Cinematic Doctrine!
Mandy was a movie voted on by members of Cinematic Doctrine's Facebook Group. If you're interested in having your voice heard, join here! http://bit.ly/CinDocFBGroup
Mandy is *Unrated*, but here's my own certificate: *Rated R* for intense graphic/bloody violence and gore, graphic nudity, sexual content, pervasive drugs and alcohol, and language. It features Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough, Linus Roache, and Bill Duke. Directed by Panos Cosmatos.
*Tune in Wednesday nights for new episodes of Cinematic Doctrine! *
CinematicDoctrine.com Suppor…
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Jun 5, 2019
Godzilla: King of the Monsters - Fun, Dumb, and Ironic
MOVIE REVIEW:
Michael Dougherty has said Godzilla: King of the Monsters is to Godzilla (2014) as Aliens is to Alien, and while I can understand the logic, I don't know if the comparison works entirely. At the very least, both films feature inventive motion capture, if you can call 3 actors playing the individual Ghidorah heads inventive.
Trivia aside, how does Godzilla: King of the Monsters handle in comparison to not only Godzilla (2014), but even the much appreciated 1954 original? Come join me as I contemplate what it means for a franchise to change so much over the years, and whether or not King of the Monsters is a worthy addition to a much-loved franchise.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters is *Rated PG-13* for sequences of monster action violence and destruction, and for some language. It features Vera Farmiga, Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins, Millie Bobby Brown, and Bradley Whitford. Directed by Michael Dougherty.
*Tune in Wednesday nights for new episodes of Cinematic Doctrine!
*…
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May 29, 2019
Brightburn - A Failed Attempt at Everything (Except Passion)
MOVIE REVIEW:
What if Superman was evil? That's been the marketing focus of Brightburn since day one. It's been the question everyone's wondered about, and at the very least, it makes for a very interesting high concept advertisement. But a film is more than a concept, and what we watch in the theater lays testament to what we hype up during the seasons leading up to release. So, now that it's out, what's the strange amalgamation of Superhero and Horror genre like on the big screen?
Brightburn is *Rated R* for horror violence/bloody images, and language. It features David Denman, Elizabeth Banks, and Jackson A. Dunn. Directed by David Yarovesky.
*Tune in Wednesday nights for new episodes of Cinematic Doctrine! *
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Intro / Outro song - Kevin Macleod's 'Happy Alley' Support the show
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May 23, 2019
John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum - Murderously Dream-like
MOVIE REVIEW:
John Wick is back in theaters with shock and awe, and let me tell you, It. Is. WILD! You've never seen anything quite as crazy as this film, and I think Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves had a bit too much fun this time around, but who can blame them? So come on in and press that play button as we get into the thick of what makes John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum both a daring addition to the franchise, and may signal a bit of a change in the property as a whole.
John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum is *Rated R* for pervasive strong violence, and some language. It features Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, and Asia Kate Dillon. Directed by Chad Stahelski.
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May 15, 2019
Pokémon Detective Pikachu - Unironically Postmodern
MOVIE REVIEW:
One of the strangest, most unexpected contributions of the year has to be Pokemon Detective Pikachu. It may not seem all that weird until you really sit down and think to yourself, "Wait a minute... a Pokémon movie built entirely around a missing person, and a talking Pikachu is on the case? Who thought of this!?" Well, I can confirm it's as weird as you might suspect, although I'm eager for things to get weirder, and I think this film is the franchise tip of an iceberg!
Pokemon Detective Pikachu is *Rated PG* for action/peril, some rude and suggestive humor, and thematic elements. It features Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith, Bill Nighy, and Kathryn Newton. Directed by Rob Letterman.
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May 8, 2019
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog - A Love Letter to New Media
MOVIE REVIEW:
After that Avengers: Endgame review, you'd think I didn't know how to have fun, but we're going to set things straight and talk about a cult favorite from Joss Whedon. Alongside, we'll take a look at what surrounded the release of Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog historically and what makes its existence unique amidst the cinematic world.
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is *Rated TV-PG*. It features Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion, and Felicia Day. Directed by Joss Whedon.
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May 1, 2019
Avengers: Endgame - The Grand Finale to 21 Feature-Length Commercials
MOVIE REVIEW:
They finally did it! The moment we've all been waiting for has finally arrived, and Avengers: Endgame has graced the cinematic screen this weekend. Garnering over 1 billion dollars in less than a week, Kevin Feige and the rest at Disney are pouring the champagne and celebrating financial success. Money is one thing, but how is the film itself? Just a tad over 3 hours, is Endgame worth holding it in, or is it fine to skip a few scenes and come back at the end?
Avengers: Endgame is *Rated PG-13* for sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and some language. It features Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Josh Brolin, and many, many more. Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo.
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Apr 24, 2019
Pet Sematary (2019) - Sluggishly Mediocre, Highly Forgettable, Disappointing
MOVIE REVIEW:
Despite being rather tame in comparison to other Stephen King novels, Pet Sematary is known for its merciless psychological horror. Bordering on brutal, how does the seemingly hopeless world of Pet Sematary translate to the big screen? In this second film adaption of the popular literary work, do we end up with something remarkable or detestable?
Pet Sematary (2019) is *Rated R* for horror violence, bloody images, and some language. It features Jason Clarke and Amy Seimetz. Directed by Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer.
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Apr 17, 2019
Hellboy (2019) - Worst Film of the Year (and Possibly the Decade)
MOVIE REVIEW:
A third Hellboy film has been in development hell for years (pun intended). Since then, it's gone from being a finale to Guillermo Del Toro's previous films into a hard-R reboot. Yet, now that the film has released was it worth the wait, or should we do everything we can to return it back to the 9 circles of hell?
Hellboy (2019) is *Rated R* for strong bloody violence and gore throughout, and language. It features David Harbour, Milla Jovovich, Ian McShane, and Sasha Lane. Directed by Niel Marshall.
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Apr 11, 2019
Shazam! - A Meta Superhero Film (And Another Good DC Movie!)
MOVIE REVIEW:
Aquaman was an over-the-top absurd film that dared to be stupid and it paid off. DC was hurting for something fun, and it delivered. Can Shazam! do the same? Can it be fun? Can it exceed expectations? Can it actually make more sense than Aquaman did?
Spoilers, it is! Thoroughly enjoyable, incredibly goofy, filled to the brim with heart, Shazam! perhaps has a little too much fun with itself, and you know what? More power to it! If this is where DC wants to go, let's keep going! I don't ever want to see the breaks turned on for this!
Shazam! is *Rated PG-13* for intense sequences of action, language, and suggestive material. It features Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Mark Strong. Directed by David Sandberg.
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Apr 3, 2019
Colossal - A Small Tale About Big Problems
MOVIE REVIEW:
Absolute power corrupts absolutely. So they say, at least. But I don't think it takes absolute power to corrupt, even the smallest amount of it can drive someone drunkenly mad, and Colossal is all about drunken power. Or maybe, the lack of it? Actually, it's probably both. Walk with me as I take apart Nacho Vigalondo's genre-bending dramedy and try to make sense of a film that is equal parts bizarre as it is funny!
Colossal is *Rated R* for language. It features Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis, and Dan Stevens. Directed by Nacho Vigalondo.
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Mar 27, 2019
Us - A Parable of Division
MOVIE REVIEW:
Jordan Peele's new film Us is breaking records, but what is it about the film that makes it so special? And what does it speak to? But most importantly, is it even a good movie?
I must confess, I had to see this movie twice to gauge a good estimate for my thoughts. There were plenty of things I wanted to talk about, but I constantly second-guessed everything I put on the page. It wasn't that I didn't get it, because I did. I think it was a matter of better understanding what Jordan Peele was really saying with this film. Thankfully, round two rewarded me with exactly what I needed, and hopefully, that translates well in this episode!
Us is *Rated R* for violence/terror, and language. It features Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss, and Tim Heidecker. Directed by Jordan Peele.
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Mar 20, 2019
It Follows - How to Engage 'Extreme Content' as a Christian
MOVIE REVIEW:
In the first episode of Cinematic Doctrine, I review It Follows. However, due to the content of this film, I felt it important to elaborate on my thoughts about adult content in a narrative. Adult content can include sexual content, nudity, pervasive language, graphic violence, and anything that might seem overly uncomfortable. I also discuss how film as a medium is unique to other types of storytelling such as photography, books, etc.
Afterward, I (finally) talk about some fascinating trivia regarding the production of It Follows and contemplate its themes both on what the film seems to be saying, and what David Robert Mitchell wanted to say when he conceived the project. If you'd like to hear only my thoughts on the film and not a mini-dissertation on adult content, skip to about 9 minutes in.
I have tagged this episode as *EXPLICIT *due to the nature of the discussion and the rating of the film reviewed.
It Follows is *Rated R *for disturbing violent and sexual con…
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