Cinematic Doctrine: A Movie Review Podcast Hosted by Christians

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 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 (Documentary)
• Welcome to Leith (Documentary) 
• The Drama of Scripture, Second Edition

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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) 

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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) 

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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). 2022 has been great for movies!
• Top Gun: Maverick feels incredibly real with it's insane focus on practical effects, real flights, and well written characters.
• Val Kilmer's inclusion in Top Gun: Maverick is greatly appreciated and adds a much-celebrated heart to the film.
• The contrast between a legacy depiction of Tom Cruise' Maverick in Top Gun: Maverick is worlds more enjoyable than Harrison Ford's Han Solo in Star Wars: The Force Awakens because it's more representative of a developed, matured character rather than merely being the same.
• Melvin connected with Top Gun: Maverick's depiction of cross-generational codependence, and the partnerships to complete tasks between those who are older and those who are younger.
• Talking about Tom Cruise's career rehabilitation.
• Daniel talks about the worst tweet he's ever read.

Recommendations:

• Esther & Ruth: Reformed Expository Commentary
• Evil Dead: The Game (Video Game)
• King Falls AM (Podcast)

Support the show

Support on Patreon for Unique Perks! 

• Early access to uncut episodes 
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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 continues naming specifics throughout the episode.
• Archive 81 as a whole package contains a lot of what internet-age horror fans will enjoy.
• Getting specific about why that last episode feels so... incorrect.
• Interestingly, the effect of Archive 81's ending is very similar to the ending of Insidious.
• Horror demands limitations. It requires characters overcome massive limitations and therefore writers must be conscientious of 'power levels'.
• With such highs and unfortunate lows... would we recommend Archive 81?
• Melvin shares a long passionate rant about Netflix's routine, premature cancelations of its various TV-shows.
• Discussing streaming watching habits, and how they largely don't include Netflix original television shows.
• Daniel, "I'm gonna say something crazy. Netflix is the Facebook of streaming services."
• Explaining the long-term marketing issue proposed by the "binging" model.

Recommendations:

• Only Murders in the Building (TV-Show / Hulu)
• Land of the Giants (S2): The Netflix Effect (Podcast)
• Pushing Daises (TV-Show / HBOmax)
• Unmatched (Board Game)

Support the show

Support on Patreon for Unique Perks! 

• Early access to uncut episodes 
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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 from the drama.
• Discussing the various spoilers of the show, and how a lot of what makes the show cool is used later in the show.
• These various Marvel Limited Series' come across like Phase Two in-that they feel very committee, even if they are far better than most of the Phase Two films.
• Melvin and Dan discuss themes of atonement and justice throughout both Moon Knight, but Scripture as well.

Recommendations:

• Chosen by God by R.C. Sproul
• Our Father (Documentary)
• Road to Perdition (Movie)

Support the show

Support on Patreon for Unique Perks! 

• Early access to uncut episodes 
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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 violence in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
• Movies are a safe place to feel a wide spectrum of emotions, including emotions that otherwise make an individual feel uncomfortable.
• Melvin, "It's so good to see a movie that's fun!"
• There are countless little touches that come from Raimi and Waldron that enhance the overall package, such as America Chavez's power looking like stars, the music fight, and the myriad levels of clever, horror-nostalgia comedy throughout Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
• Daniel feels that superhero films seem to lack a lot of what the genre can lend itself too: creativity and risk-taking.
• There's a noticeable difference between a film-director working in the Marvel machine and a TV or indie director working in the Marvel machine.

Recommendations: 

• A Little Book on the Christian Life by John Calvin (Book)
• "How the Supreme Court Became 'Intoxicated With its Power'" - Sway (Podcast Episode)
• The Crow (Movie) & The Crow (Graphic Novel)

Support the show

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• Early access to uncut episodes 
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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 Picture winner... despite also being a Best Picture winner.
• The last 30-or-so minutes of the film pull out a series of emotional touchpoints that likely left audiences feeling very satisfied about the movie despite whatever else happened during the nearly 2-hour runtime.
• Melvin, "It's just really... just okay."
• Despite being a super cartoony character, Eugenio Derbez's character contributes a lot to the narrative drama.
• Daniel on CODA, "It's like seeing a really talented chef create fast food."
• There's a trope about deaf people not understanding music, but this is largely a fallacy.
• CODA carries a lot of dramatic tension but, for some reason, Melvin didn't really carry a lot of that tension. He felt the drama was okay at times, but largely impotent.
• There's a real lack of interpreters in Massachusetts which seems unrealistic considering some of the private sector and government sector agencies the Rossi family interacts with.
• Where the film succeeds is in causing us to root for the family.
• An aside talking about Apple TV.
• Daniel talks about what it's like to watch a movie on his phone.
• Melvin and Daniel both recommend CODA for the most part, including the fact that its momentary sexuality isn't really all that abrasive, and really more wholesome and endearing.
• Daniel, "I think the strength of the movie lies in how widely accessible it is."

Recommendations:

• ESV Lutheran Study Bible, Hardcover (Concordia Publishing House)
• Everything Everywhere All at Once (Movie) (Currently in Theaters)
• Moon Knight by Lemire & Smallwood: The Complete Collection (Graphic Novel)

Support the show

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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

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• Early access to uncut episodes 
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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 crowded theater only behind Avengers: Endgame and Evil Dead (2013), even more than Spider-Man: No Way Home.
• The Sonic franchise has countless stories (needlessly well written and interestingly complicated ones) for these movies to draw from, leaving both Melvin & Daniel excited for what future installments may contain.
• Discussing the horrible nightmare that would be a Super Smash Bros. universe of films, and how that's a terrible, awful, and completely bad idea.

Recommendations:

• CSB Study Bible
• Company Man (YouTube Channel)
• Old Enough! (Netflix)

Support on Patreon for Unique Perks! 

• Early access to uncut episodes 
• Vote on a movie/show we review 

Social Links: 

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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 & Pins

Social Links: 

• Threads
• Website
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• Facebook Group