Cinematic Doctrine: A Movie Review Podcast Hosted by Christians

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 & Pins

Social Links: 

• Threads
• Website
• Instagram
• Letterboxd
• Facebook Group 

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 interpretation, The Chosen becomes increasingly problematic.
• General audiences often aren't reading their bibles, and thus are having their only biblical exposure to second-hand adaptions.
• Simultaneously, not many people have had personal experiences with God (Genesis 32 & 33), and thus often yearn for these experiences through surrogate means (i.e. watching bible films, reading Christian fiction, etc.).
• If you do not have a "mental colander" to sift through The Chosen's biblical inaccuracies (and why they're important), it could be an unhealthy watch.
• The danger of giving "Jesus" extra scenes and lines, as well as restructuring certain biblical scenes, and even omitting sections of dialogue.
• It's important to meditate on why the Gospels don't include Jesus' personality traits and characteristics such as his favorite foods and pass-times.
• Daniel, "Jesus isn't Peter Pan. He's not a public domain character you can just put in anything and do whatever you want with. He's God."
• Christianity already struggles with people either not reading their Bibles or misinterpreting their Bibles. Having biblical adaptions add to that mix is... frustrating.
• The Chosen, in pursuing period accuracy, creates a scriptural uncanny valley effect that otherwise isn't experienced with clearly fictional representations of Jesus as seen in South Park or Joshua.

Recommendations:

• Victor P. Hamilton's Handbook on the Pentateuch, 2nd edition: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
• Read your Bible and keep an honest journal of your reading
• Dane Ortlund's "Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers"

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 & Pins

Social Links: 

• Threads
• Website
• Instagram
• Letterboxd
• Facebook Group 

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 original show never did. 
• Daniel, on one reason critic reception can be so different than fan reception, "When you watch, like, 10 movies a week and you're watching all these shows, something that stands out is gonna really hit different." 
• But, we're all guilty of going "back in my day!" with things we loved when growing up. 
• Melvin, "Do you think it's, like, the comfortability of chasing identity that draws people in to be so angry about this stuff?"
• Sympathy for those who idolize things, acceptance that it's okay to not like things, but the importance of a reality check over what priorities take stock in our lives.
• Expanding on the "Reboot Template" and why Melvin is growing tired of it (Editor's Note: Melvin means Star Wars, not Star Trek: The Motion Picture, when talking about a movie shown in theaters, like, 7 years in a row)
• Are we interested in watching the rest of S1?

Recommendations: 

• Charles Hodge's 1 & 2 Corinthians: Geneva Commentary Series
• Write a letter to someone important to you explaining why they're important to you, then call them and read it to them (Source for Inspiration)
• Amphibia (again, with new qualifiers) & What Remains of Edith Finch

Support on Patreon for Unique Perks! 

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 & Pins

Social Links: 

• Threads
• Website
• Instagram
• Letterboxd
• Facebook Group 

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 “Christ-less morality” 
• A brief tangent about clearing out books by disgraced authors (which segways into a discussion about the song “Problematic”) 
• “Look Who’s Inside Again” is the turning from general topics to personal, yet still relatable, mental health issues 
• Melvin shares his interpretation of several songs and compares specific metatextual concepts to real life situations, both in his own life and in church life 
• Inside is too plausible to be disingenuous, as everyone in some capacity relates to Bo Burnham's breakdown and introversion.
• Melvin continues his observation of various songs, specifically "That Funny Feeling".
• Daniel, "We were not made for this hyper awareness of everything that's going on."
• A discussion on the loss of relationship amidst 2020, and how often what was left was merely difficult conversations online without the security of companionship.
• Contemplating overcoming anxiety, depression, past sin, guilt, and shame, and the isolation produced from staying "inside" with these experiences and feelings.

Recommendations:  

• D.A. Carson's The Gospel According to John: Pillar New Testament Commentary 
• Blake J. Harris' "Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle that Defined a Generation" 
• Jeff Vandermeer's "Annihilation" 

Support on Patreon for Unique Perks! 

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 & Pins

Social Links: 

• Threads
• Website
• Instagram
• Letterboxd
• Facebook Group 

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 smug be healthy for anyone.
• Introducing The Queen's Gambit [16:34]
• Melvin doesn't feel it's always appropriate for a buncha 20-year old dudes to explain their opinions on female-centric stories.
• ...but he did love how The Queen's Gambit portrayed early childhood development and feminist themes.
• Daniel loves Anya Taylor-Joy, the soundtrack, the cinematography, and the whole craft of The Queen's Gambit.
• Excellent portrayal of various relationships and the many stages experienced within them.
• Daniel, "I'm a sucker for any actor that does a lot with no dialogue. It's just something I enjoy. Call it the "Ryan Gosling in Drive" syndrome."
• Melvin feels The Queen's Gambit is a good work of feminist fiction.

Recommendations: 

• R. Kent Hughes' "Romans: Righteousness From Heaven" // (Old Edition) 
• Engage media you don't like for the purpose of learning things 
• Two cartoon shows: The Owl House & Amphibia

Support on Patreon for Unique Perks! 

Social Links: 

• Twitter 
• Website 
• Facebook Group 

____________

Record Scratch.wav by Luffy // Edited to remove empty space // License 

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
• Instagram
• Letterboxd
• Facebook Group 

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 though, like, if this is what the shows going to be like the whole time, I'm going to be very disappointed." 
• Loki's one-line mention of his sexuality, and how it's really not a big deal in case anyone was complaining 
• Art always reflects the time, place, and people who make it. 
• It's useful for the Christian to be aware of people's genuine lives. To embrace the honesty of others, even when that honesty reveals they have sin in their life. 
• It is unhealthy to rely on corporations to dictate one's morality, nor to be overtly bothered by a corporations moral stance. 
• How Disney, a corporation, doesn't push the progressive button too far because it may affect their bottom-line, and how a company's bottom-line is more important than their morality. 
• Melvin, "[Christians] are always so worried about "what should I do and what should I not do; who should I support and who should I not support; what show should I watch and what show should I not watch - and why."" 
• If the Big-C church had been doing its job - making disciples, and not fighting a culture war - then perhaps Christians wouldn't have to be upset with the kind of art they engage in television and film. 
• When imitating Paul at the Areopagus (Acts 17), the Christian learns media literacy for the sake of disciple making. 
• Getting into the last episode of Loki, the big reveal of Kang the Conqueror, and theorizing for the future. 
• Suspecting that the branching of timelines is how we'll see Mutants introduced into the MCU. 

Recommendations: 

• Lyman Coleman's CSB Life Connections Study Bible 
• Pokemon GO 
• The 4400 

Support on Patreon for Unique Perks! 

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 & Pins

Social Links: 

• Threads
• Website
• Instagram
• Letterboxd
• Facebook Group 

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 opportunity that is Taskmaster (but potential future hope for the character) 
• Wanting more creativity in the MCU, and comparing Black Widow to the MCU Mini-Series' on Disney Plus. 
• Rewriting scenes, because we're a podcast and that's what podcasts do! 
• Hoping to see more creativity in the MCU movies 

Recommendations:

• G.K. Beale and D.A. Carson's Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament 
• The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill Podcast by Christianity Today 
• Albert Mohler's "The Prayer that Turns the World Upside Down" 

Support on Patreon for Unique Perks! 

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 & Pins

Social Links: 

• Threads
• Website
• Instagram
• Letterboxd
• Facebook Group 

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 inherent value imbued by God 

Recommendations: 

• William MacDonald’s Believer’s Bible Commentary 
• Rebecca McLaughlin’s “10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) About Christianity” 
• Go to the Gym (boost those Serotonin levels!) 

Support on Patreon for Unique Perks! 

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 & Pins

Social Links: 

• Threads
• Website
• Instagram
• Letterboxd
• Facebook Group 

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 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
• Instagram
• Letterboxd
• Facebook Group 

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
• 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 & Pins

Social Links: 

• Threads
• Website
• Instagram
• Letterboxd
• Facebook Group