Cinematic Doctrine: A Movie Review Podcast Hosted by Christians

MOVIE DISCUSSION: 

Kathryn joins Melvin to discuss one of the most pivotal anime-film releases to ever grace the silver-screen; Akira! This 1988 film not only pushed the genre of animation to its limits, it also introduced anime to the west as a serious new genre of entertainment! Does it still hold up? Spoilers: absolutely it does!

Topics:

• (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 18-minutes discussing the ins-and-outs of the cyberpunk aesthetic, what makes it distinct from other sci-fi settings, and whether its our preference. (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• The vibes are strong with Akira.
• The quality is strong with Akira.
• When Melvin first saw the film he liked it but wasn't impressed. This time around? He thinks its incredible.
• Although the characters aren't profoundly deep, they are a clever, complicated mix of different figures amidst a chaotic, epic story.
• Every 10 minutes something crazier than the last happens on screen.
• Kathryn wasn't totally wowed by Akira but she totally understands its titan-status in filmmaking.
• Discussing Building, Rebuilding, and Destruction.
• Talking about Kaneda.
• Discussing the line, "Time isn't clear, and there ought to be a future we can choose."
• Getting into that absolutely insane ending.

Recommendations:

• The Thing From Another World (1951) (Anime)
• Steins;Gate (2011) (Anime)

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MOVIE DISCUSSION: 

Shirleon joins Melvin to discuss what is perhaps Hayao Miyazaki's most popular feature, Spirited Away! Its music, its character, it's magic; Spirited Away continues to dominate the conversation among Ghibli and anime fans alike, and the two get into all the good stuff in their latest episode!

Topics:

• (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 23-minutes of wondering if we're back on the MCU train with the success of Thunderbolts*, and also playing a rapid-fire MCU trivia game! (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• Shirleon, "I really don't think I can say anything bad about the movie."
• Melvin does a rundown of similarities he's observed between the 3 Miyazaki-directed movies they've covered on the show.
• Chihiro grows from someone who fears a lack of agency into someone empowered with determination.
• Spirited Away is a little different from other family-accessible movies in that its complicating incident isn't the fault of it's child-protagonist but rather their parents.
• The concept of "work" is constantly on the mind of the movie.
• Talking about the "weeping rice-cake" scene.
• If we spend time meditating on the blessings of our lives, we start to notice how supported and how resilient we are.

Recommendations:

• Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (2006) (Anime)
• Durarara!! (Season 1) (2010) (Anime)

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Support on Patreon for Unique Perks! 

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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! 

Kathryn joins Melvin to discuss our latest Patreon-picked movie; Her! The two discuss the ins-and-outs of digital romance, modern sexuality, and so much more all in a post Chat-GPT world!

Topics:

• (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 26-minutes discussing disc rot, media preservation, and the difficulty of preserving media in general all because Melvin found on his copy of On Golden Pond a Documentary special-feature he can't find any record of online, either on Wikipedia, IMDB, or YouTube. (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• Melvin & Kathryn both kick things off with some positives. 
• With that out of the way... the cat's out of the bag: neither Melvin nor Kathryn liked Her.
• Melvin, "[Her] is wrapped up in a visually pleasing film with performers who are very impressive and I find that that might actually be distracting from the flaws of the film."
• Theo is codependent, and Sam is an enabler.
• Melvin & Kathryn take turns explaining things they didn't like while using examples from other movies they feel better represent those ideas.
• Melvin felt the technology in the film was kind of terrible.
• Theo is uncomfortable with the idea that a woman would have a desire conflicting with his own.
• Kathryn, "[Theo] has a "pornified" style of relating to women."
• Discussing the initial sexual encounter with Sam & the "surrogate sex" scene.
• Melvin, "[Theo] is not capable of having a safe sexual encounter with this born-beautiful-yesterday-manic-pixie-dream-girl."

Recommendations:

• You know we're cooked when middle class normalities are trending by Ashley Embers (YouTube)
• Possibly in Michigan (1983) (Short Film)

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Support on Patreon for Unique Perks! 

• Early access to uncut episodes 
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• One-time reward of two Cinematic Doctrine Stickers & Pins

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PARTY PLEASER: 

Shirleon joins Melvin to summarize a late-90s retelling-with-a-twist adaptation of a beloved fairytale: Snow White: A Tale of Terror! From its surprisingly nuanced characters to its downright diabolical antagonist, the two enjoy discussing the horrific ins-and-outs of this late-20th century oddity! 

Topics:

• The opening tone-setter for Snow White: A Tale of Terror really sells the atmosphere of dark fantasy.
• Interestingly, the opening dynamic between Claudia, the "Evil Queen" equivalent, and Lilli, the "Snow White" equivalent, is more of Claudia seeking a good relationship with Lilli while Lilli acts consistently bratty.
• Once the movie goes grimdark, it doesn't stop topping itself with bizarre dark fantasy ideas.
• Discussing why they think classic fairytale villains, Disney or otherwise, are so compelling.
• The film is undeniably a horror film, but it's largely psychological with some horror-lite sequences.
• The "Seven Dwarves" equivalent are essentially Highwaymen, and each one has some form of physical deformity or ailment which contrasts with Claudia's unabashed vanity.
• The whole "catatonic Snow White" sequence that the fairytale is famous for starts and ends near immediately.
• The film is loaded with "show don't tell", but sometimes it's to a fault.

Recommendations:

• Fairest of All by Serena Valentino (2009) (Book)
• Mirror, Mirror by Jen Calonia (2019) (Book)
• Event Horizon (1997) (Movie)

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Support on Patreon for Unique Perks! 

• Early access to uncut episodes 
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MOVIE DISCUSSION: 

Kathryn joins Melvin to discuss Jon Favreau's grounded indie-style flick, Chef! The two explore themes of maturing and parenthood, the relationship between the artist and the observer, and the importance of passion in everyday life. 

Topics:

• (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 25-minutes talking about those insane A Minecraft Movie screenings where people are throwing their popcorn and bringing live chickens, and how that's wildly different to otherwise incredibly engaging fan screenings of The Room or Rocky Horror Picture Show. (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• Kathryn shares what it is about Chef that she really enjoys.
• Melvin compares Chef to Parks & Recreation, saying how it's a movie with conflict but ultimately everyone still kinda likes each other.
• It's fairly clear that Chef is somewhat an artistic response to John Favreau's experience with Marvel, Iron Man 2, and the subsequent critical response to it.
• Which food in the movie got us the most hungry.
• The movie explores the dynamics of the artist and the observer (or, critic), and Melvin spends some time categorizing what he thinks are variations of these archetypes.
• Chef depicts professionalism and the pursuit of maturity well.
• Sometimes eating food is like time travel.
• Seeking to live a life by design, not by default.

Recommendations:

• Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking (2017) (Cookbook)
• Salt Fat Acid Heat (2018) (Cooking Show)
• Try new and exotic foods, and be adventurous with what you eat!

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

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QUARTERLY CATCH-UP:

Movies & Us: Podcast, Instagram

TV & Us: Podcast, Instagram

Quarterly Catch-Up is a co-production between Cinematic Doctrine & Movies & Us! In it, the gang answers 3 questions:

1. What have we been watching?
2. What are we anticipating?
3. What else are we up to?

Things Mentioned:

• Better Days (2019) (Movie)
• Insecure (2016-2021) (TV Show)
• Sing Sing (2024) (Movie)
• Black Bag (2025) (Movie)
• Heretic (2024) (Movie)
• The Residence (2025) (TV Show)
• Bad Sisters (2022-2024) (TV Show)
• The Midnight Meat Train (2008) (Movie)
• My Little Pony: The Movie (2017) (Movie)
• The Mouse Trap (2024) (Movie)
• A Minecraft Movie (2025) (Movie)
• Together (2025) (Movie)
• Final Destination Bloodlines (2025) (Movie)
• Sinners (2025) (Movie)
• The Bear (2022-X) (TV Show)
• Death in Paradise (2011-X) (TV Show)
• Paradise (2025) (TV Show)
• The Pitt (2025) (TV Show)
• The White Lotus (2021-X) (TV Show)
• A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (2025) (Movie)
• Ballerina (2025) (Movie)
• Caught Stealing (2025) (Movie)
• Screamboat (2025) (Movie)

Support the show

Support on Patreon for Unique Perks! 

• Early access to uncut episodes 
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PARTY PLEASER: 

Systematic Geekology: Spotify / Instagram

Will Rose of Systematic Geekology joins Melvin for a second time to summarize North Shore, a little-seen surfer flick in the vein of Karate Kid! Will shares a ton about the dynamics of surfing culture, and Melvin celebrates the layers of North Shore's coming-of-age story. Plus, they can't get enough of those glorious Hawaiian waves, and neither will you!

Topics:

• Will Rose catches us up with where he's at and what Systematic Geekology's been up to since our Spawn Party Pleaser episode.
• There was hype behind North Shore for Will Rose as a kid, and he recounts his experience seeing the film in theaters.
• The music, visuals, and pacing are all pretty solid, and that's made apparent within the first 15 minutes.
• Surfing etiquette 101.
• North Shore features a ton of classic surfing legends, and Will shares all the cool trivia about them.
• Surfing is dangerous and it demands wave/ocean literacy, and North Shore asserts the importance of understanding this as a "coming of age" drama.
• The brisk pace of the film allows the film to explore various "coming of age" tropes.

Recommendations:

• World Surf League (Instagram)
• Surf's Up (2007) (Movie)
• Big Wednesday (1978) (Movie)
• Riding Giants (2004) (Documentary)
• Primer (2004) (Movie)

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! 

Shirleon joins Melvin to discuss our latest Patron-Selected movie, Exodus: Gods and Kings! Can Ridley Scott give this paramount Bible story the Gladiator treatment? Does it play fast and loose with the historical account? Was it, at the very least, enjoyable? Tune in to find out!

Topics:

• (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 33-minutes discussing the various drama leading up to Snow White (2025)'s release as well as it's Rotten Tomato Score debut. (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• Shirleon, "I hated it. I hated the direction that it went."
• Melvin, "It's super rare to find movies that feel like they're devoid of content."
• What deflates the material is how remedial it is compared to the rich complexities of the Biblical text.
• A follow-up to criticism's mentioned in the Journey to Bethlehem episode regarding bible-reading statistics.
• The film doesn't just mischaracterize historical figures, it mischaracterizes biblical figures, texts, and God Himself, all in ways that can't be considered concessions of the medium.
• Melvin talks about the one scene in the movie he liked.
• The two agree: It's not just a bad biblical adaptation, it's also a bad movie.

Recommendations:

• Read Exodus from the Bible
• The Prince of Egypt (1998) (Movie) (Cinematic Doctrine Episode)
• The Ten Commandments (1956) (Movie)
• The Midnight Meat Train (2008) (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 & Pins

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MOVIE DISCUSSION: 

Shirleon and Kathryn join Melvin to discuss Annihilation, Alex Garland's sophomore feature adaption of Jeff VanderMeer's celebrated weird-fiction book. Additionally, both Kathryn and Melvin have read the book, so how does the movie stack up? Also, what is the movie trying to say? Tune in to find out! 

Topics:

• (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 45-minutes discussing leaked Avengers: Doomsday concept art, characters that are included, the surprising setting and aesthetic, suspicions regarding character backstory, who the heroes will be, and whether we're excited or not. (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• The gang steps away from Annihilation conflicted, and they discuss the different things that impeded their enjoyment.
• The movie is so loosely based on the book that they only share Area X, small plot details, and distant interpretations of characters.
• Melvin begins his critical descent into madness, and how he feels Annihilation is "just a stupid movie based on a smart and moving book".
• He also complains about reductionism in popular culture; quippy jokes defining a film's reputation, the tiktokification of public spaces, and interpreting kindness and manners as sexual interest.
• Kathryn shares some of her beef with the characters, frustrated that everyone's "tragic backstory" is so rudimentary.
• Despite it being a "theme", the film has nothing to say about self-destruction.
• Discussing a few key scenes and going script doctor.
• Sharing our interpretations of the ending and wishing the film was weirder.
• Melvin monologues his frustrations one last time.

Recommendations:

• At the Mountains of Madness by H.P. Lovecraft (1936) (Short Story)
• Cult of the Lamb (2022) (Video Game)
• Prometheus (2012) (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 & Pins

Social Links: 

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• Facebook Group 

MOVIE DISCUSSION: 

Kathryn joins Melvin to discuss The Monkey, one of the first horror hits of the year, and possibly the first of two new Osgood Perkins films in 2025! For a movie whose tagline is "Everybody dies. And that's F#$*ed up.", is it cynical? Or, is a little heart tossed in with this horror comedy? Also, and perhaps most importantly... is it funny? Tune in to find out!

Topics:

• (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 28-minutes discussing Longlegs, Osgood Perkins' 2024 satanic-panic horror-thriller cop drama, and ponder how it stands with his other films, if it exceeded the hype, and how Melvin compares it to The Blackcoat's Daughter, one of his favorite movies. (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• It's premise is simple, and it's idea is absurd, lending itself to an easily digest horror/comedy.
• Everything in the film is in service of jokes.
• The industry is timid around horror/comedy films, but a film with a reasonable budget offers a lot of opportunity.
• This is Osgood Perkins' first movie with a male-led cast, and the two explore his representation of gender across his filmography.
• Chuckling over silly deaths.
• Amidst all the comedy, Osgood Perkins' still makes sure to add a level of heart the film needs to give it decent pacing, both in its metatext as he processes grief and literally as the film showcases a throughline regarding generational trauma.
• Talking about the ending, and how you can read into the drama if you want.

Recommendations:

• The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (2010) (Book)
• @Niall.Breen.Comics (Instagram)

Support the show

Support on Patreon for Unique Perks! 

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