Cinematic Doctrine: A Movie Review Podcast Hosted by Christians

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, but a lot of what is covered through it's various episodes will likely resonate with them.
• Sharing our interpretations of The Beast, The Unknown, Fear, and so much more.
• The music, the comedy, everything about Over the Garden Wall still feels fresh and original.
• After the Recommendations, stick around for a short discussion on that Netflix slasher flick "There's Someone Inside Your House"

Recommendations:

• Moises Silva's "Philippians, Second Edition: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament"
• The Blackcoat's Daughter (Movie)
• Watch "There's Someone Inside Your House" and then tweet Dan (twitter below) if you think it's a good movie or not.

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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.

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Support the show

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• Early access to uncut episodes 
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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 children and Christians. 
• Chris Staron does some biblical gymnastics to correlate Ernest Scared Stupid to scriptural parallels. Hope you brought yoga pants! 
• Ernest Scared Stupid still fits the bill of "kids on bikes save the day" even if Ernest is, like, 50 years old. 
• Fear is not a juvenile emotion. Fear is not a sign of immaturity. Fear is healthy, useful, fun, and complicated. 

Recommendations: 

• 30 Rock (Show) 
• Frequently visit a Thrift store! You'll always find super cool stuff each week! 

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Support the show

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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" 
• Dance of the Dead (Movie) 
• Over the Garden Wall (Mini-Series) 

Support on Patreon for Unique Perks! 

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Support the show

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• Early access to uncut episodes 
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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 which communities will consider or delineate canon.

Recommendations: 

• R.C. Sproul's "Matthew: An Expositional Commentary"
• What We Do in the Shadows (Movie)
• Colossal (Movie)

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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!

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 with you."
• How ParaNorman isn't really all that scary, especially compared to something like Coraline.
• But also, how ParaNorman can have these intensely emotional moments elevated by the children's story-book nature of the movie.
• Discussing what it's like to be an outcast, or treated differently, for your interests (in particular, Melvin & Dan being Christians who like horror movies).
• In this particular case, most Christians who enjoy horror movies have a strong understanding as to why they enjoy them than most Christians have with non-horror movies.
• "Weird" people know that they're "weird" and see how others treat people who are also "weird", and it can become a perpetual self-isolating and self-preservation machine to try and keep away from those who may target their "weirdness" for laughs, bullying, or with disappointment.
•  In Christian circles, when people are ostracized for certain qualities, social ticks, or "abnormal" hobbies, it's not a far-cry for people to start thinking the Lord sees them in a similar fashion: weird, different, separate, and superfluous.
• And, finally, we talk about that one joke between characters Mitch and Courtney that apparently became the big talking point during the time of ParaNorman's release, despite there being so much more to talk about (as proven by the rest of the episode).
• But first, a brief tangent talking about that 2019 movie Serenity because every time we remember it exists it blows our mind that... you know... it exists.

Recommendations: 

• Nate Pickowicz's "How to Eat Your Bible: A Simple Approach to Learning and Loving the Word of God"
• Parents: Learn to be interested in your kid's lives!
• Gilmore Girls // Dark Matter

Support the show

Support on Patreon for Unique Perks! 

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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 Malignant is considered 'giallo', a classic sub-genre of horror.
• Malignant is perfectly balanced between 'outright silly' and 'demanding to be taken seriously'.
• Daniel on the last 15-20 minutes of the movie, "It's awe inspiring."
• Reminder: If you have not seen Malignant and it sounds like your thing, definitely check it out before we start talking spoilers [43:36]
• Working through the mystery of Malignant, covering all the bases, and building up to the grand finale.
• Daniel, "This is the most awkwardly moving movie monster I've ever seen."
• Also Daniel, "This movie brings joy, as it should, as James Wan intended."
• How sometimes things not making sense is part of what makes something extremely fun, entertaining, and outright better than over explaining every detail.
• In detailing the ending of the film, and covering the various spoilers throughout Malignant, we start to see how clever the writing is in leading the audience down several different paths.

Recommendations:   

• Paul Miller and David Powlison's "A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World"
• Blair Witch (Video Game)
• Vice's "Dark Side of the Ring"

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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 have albums like "Me Against The World" that are deeply thought-provoking, chillingly sad, and exemplify a cry of suffering, a want for change, and the gaslighting of the black community against white systems of oppression. 
• Daniel talks about calling pets babies. 
• Introducing Candyman (2021) [13:26] 
• For Daniel, Candyman (2021) wasn't scary, but its an effective creepy story. 
• Candyman (2021) isn't overtly pioneering off BLM or ACAB, it's merely a thematic evolution of the first film's themes. From ghetto/project community to gentrification, from a white-woman's thesis to a black man's artistic muse, Candyman (2021) feels natural as a sequel that continues the legacy of its predecessor. 
• Melvin felt Candyman (2021) succeeds in being scary, and a lot of that is due to the presence of the Candyman as an intimidating horror icon. 
• Daniel reminisces about the first time he saw the original Candyman. 
• Candyman (2021) is fairly heavy-handed at times in expositing its themes, which reminded Daniel of a review by Angelica Jade who feels the film is essentially written for a white audience, specifically in that it explains details that otherwise would be intrinsically known by Black audiences. 
• Yet, the frustrating reality of systematic issues is that, often times, they are bold as day. Thus, no matter how much clearer they become, there are still people unwilling to believe them even if they're explained to them in the simplest most basic of terms. 
• How the ending abruptly happens and it's kinda mehh, but that's alright. 

Recommendations:   

• Joel Beeke's "Revelation - eBook" 
• 2Pac's "Me Against the World" 
• Patton Oswalt's "Silver Screen Fiend" 

Support on Patreon for Unique Perks! 

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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 settings, and the over-abundance of bloodless violence and deaths. 
• Discussing The Mandarin's "previous outing" in Iron Man 3, and how this version is a nice change to a bonafide racist figure in classic Marvel history. 
• Our curious excitement about where the Ten Rings are from and if they're connected to The Eternals. 
• Melvin hopes future Marvel movies would introduce feelings of dread and hopelessness as a plot mechanic, which often in stories (when done carefully) produces more hope and excitement for future installments.

Recommendations: 

• W. Phillip Keller's "A Shephard Looks at Psalm 23" // Max Lucado's "Safe in the Shepherd's Arms: Hope & Encouragement from Psalm 23" // Derek Kidner's Psalms 1-72 Commentary 
• Mouse Rat's "The Awesome Album" 
• What If...?

Support on Patreon for Unique Perks! 

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• Vote on a movie/show we review

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Support the show

Support on Patreon for Unique Perks! 

• 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!

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 brief history of CCM in the early 2000's which set the stage for the song I Can Only Imagine. 
• Explaining the impact of the song I Can Only Imagine. 
• Melvin had three not-so-positive (but not deal-breaking) observations that made it hard for him to fully enjoy the movie I Can Only Imagine. 
• I Can Only Imagine is a 'good Christian movie' because "it just does all the things a movie should." 
• Melvin, "I would have liked if the bulk of the movie was the reconciliation between [Bart Millard] and his dad." 
• For Daniel, the ending is too cheesy when compared to the real life events they seem to semi-replicate. 
• I Can Only Imagine, as a movie, isn't trying to sell you anything, and that's likely why it worked well with critics.

Recommendations: 

• John MacArthur's Acts Commentary (Volume One & Two) // Stanley Horton's Acts Commentary
• Donut County 
• Erin Morgenstern's "The Starless Sea"

Support on Patreon for Unique Perks! 

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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: 

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