Cinematic Doctrine

PARTY PLEASER:

Systematic Geekology: Spotify / Instagram

Will Rose of Systematic Geekology joins Melvin to summarize Spawn, a notoriously bad superhero movie from the 90s! From John Leguizamo imitating Jim Carrey's The Mask, to shockingly bad CGI, the two get into the not-so-good, the pretty dang bad, and the stupendously ugly. It's a trip!

Topics:

• (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 34-minutes discussing Robert Downey Jr. returning to the MCU as Dr. Doom, and playing a trivia game called "Boo or False?" where, after guessing true or false, Pastor Will Rose has to utilize the trivia fact as a sermon illustration. (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• Will Rose shares a brief history of how the Lord cultivated his enjoyment of comic books into a means for evangelism. Also, surfing!
• As is tradition with most Party Pleaser episodes, the movie begins with a lore-dump to make sure the audience knows what's going on.
• The filmmaking, aesthetic, and basically the whole package feels like a TV-production, not a Hollywood blockbuster.
• Will & Melvin talk about the shockingly bad CGI, something that precedes the film in a lot of online film spaces.
• The subtitles for the film were often adult in nature compared to the actual film, leading Melvin to believe the project was made "PG-13" during editing.
• Will finally realizes why he can't stand John Leguizamo's Clown; he's doing his version of Jim Carrey's The Mask.
• The final fight scene is incomprehensible. Good luck understanding what's happening.

Recommendations:

• Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (2022) (Graphic Novel)
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 (2015) (Video Game)

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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 Synchronic, one of the later Benson & Moorhead productions before they transitioned into television. The two get into all of the interesting ideas at play, while also accepting the fact that a lot of the ideas only somewhat work.

Topics:

• (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 24-minutes discussing the National Association of Theater Owners (NATO) is investing $2.2 Billion over 3-years to revamp theaters, which include AMC, Regal, and Cinemark to have laser-projection, arcades, and even... ziplines? (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• Melvin kicks things off by discussing the directing duo of Benson & Moorhead.
• Shirleon & Melvin agree: Synchronic may have been better as a mini-series.
• Shirleon & Melvin also agree: the first half of the film’s tone is not only completely different to the second half, it’s also just a better movie.
• By the time the film ends, it feels like it didn't earn its ending. Almost in every way.
• Defining the actual word "Synchronic", and how the fictional drug is correlated to Ayahuasca (and also doesn't make sense).
• Melvin, "There's just, like... the kitchen sink, man. It just gets bad."
• Rewriting the ending, because that's what podcasts do.

Recommendations:

• Age of Mythology: Retold (2024) (Video Game)
• As Above, So Below (2014) (Movie)

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MOVIE DISCUSSION:

Beneath the Tangles: Instagram / YouTube / X / Website

Twwk (Charles) from Beneath the Tangles joins Melvin to discuss the hugely popular anime film Your Name. from Makoto Shinkai. From its Studio Ghibli-esque accessibility, its stunningly detailed animation, and Shinkai's filmography, the two discuss all sorts of topics in this dense episode! Tune in now!

Topics:

• (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 43-minutes playing an "Anime Draft" where-in Charles & Melvin each draft 5 anime in competition, discuss each show/movie mentioned along the way, and then decide which projects they'd watch in the end. (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• Beyond the Tangles has a lot of functions and contributors: a blog, cosplayers, twitch streamers, podcasts, and a social media presence. Charles shares all about it, and Melvin asks about their mission.
• Charles was surprised to hear that Your Name. is still a critical success in the west, as he never saw the film as a “critic’s movie”.
• Melvin was disappointed he didn’t connect with the film, and distinctly remembers being in the movie theater during its western premiere and thinking during a pivotal scene, “I wish I was emotional right now. I wish I was crying right now.”
• It seems Your Name. is playing with a mixture of various anime tropes, Japanese folklore, and even details in Shinkai’s filmography.
• Discussing themes of threading relationships.
• Melvin complains about the twist, and how it didn't really work for him.
• The whole film functions on a breakneck pace. Mundanity is thrown to the wayside.
• Discussing and appreciating the ending.

Recommendations:

• Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (2023) (Anime)
• Chainsaw Maid (2007) (Claymation)

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MOVIE DISCUSSION:

Movies & Us: Podcast, Instagram, Threads 

TV & Us: Podcast, Instagram, Threads

Jen & Sarah from the Movies & Us Podcast join Melvin to discuss an early 2010's indie classic, Frances Ha! From it's deep relatability to it's clever humor, the three explore what makes the film stand out as a testament to growing up even when you're all grown up.

Topics:

• (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 40-minutes discussing three trailers - The Monkey, the live-action Snow White, and Kraven the Hunter - and ranking their excitement based on these wildly different films. (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• Jen & Sarah just celebrated their 6-year podcasting anniversary. Melvin spends some time asking about what they’ve learned throughout that experience.
• There’s a showcase of girlhood and sisterhood that is gently explored throughout the film.
• The film is in black and white, and Melvin feels this highlights the "color" experienced in Frances and her relationships.
• Money is consistently an issue throughout the movie, and Sarah, Jen, and Mel all appreciated how the film doesn't imply that having more money is the solution to Frances' problems.
• Celebrating an ending that ties every theme together.
• Jen, "Man, I love this type of movie and would love to see more of these types of small stories get funded and onto the big screen."

Recommendations:

• The Forty-Year-Old Version (2020) (Movie)
• The Harder They Fall (2021) (Movie)
• Annie Hall (1977) (Movie)

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MOVIE DISCUSSION: 

The Filmjoe Podcast: Spotify / Instagram / YouTube

Joe Velazquez of The Filmjoe Podcast joins Melvin to discuss Francis Ford Coppola’s The Outsiders, the movie based upon a staple grade-school book-assignment! The two discuss the atmosphere of a realized world, experiences soaked in nostalgia, and the painful beauty in growing up. 

Topics:

• (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 25-minutes of discussing SDCC 2024 with Joe, who was at the convention, about what the experience was like, what were his highlights, and the general vibe around the Robert Downey Jr./Dr. Doom announcement in a post-Marvel fatigue world. (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• Joe shares about being “pushed” into podcasting, how he’s innovated on his podcast format, and his favorite episode (which you can listen to here!).
• Joe, “In my opinion, outside of The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, [The Outsiders] is one of his best films.”
• Melvin watched the film but felt like he didn’t pick up everything he wanted. But, no worries, because he liked it so much that he just watched it again the following day.
• There are constant little moments where characters allude to a newfound awareness of their age, or how things have changed.
• The movie is gentle in depicting what are literal social outsiders; people most wouldn’t even bother to observe or respond to.
• At least in the director’s cut (The Outsiders: The Complete Novel) there are tons of licensed tracks, specifically from Elvis Presley.
• There are many times when one of the boys is so overwhelmed with emotion that they run away from a situation.
• Discussing the ending, both the theatrical cut and the director’s cut.

Recommendations:

• Cine-ful Cuts (Podcast)
• Ouch, Was That a Ghost? (Podcast)
• Trap (2024) (Movie)

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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 Patreon Selected film, Pulse! This early 2000's Japanese horror film explores isolation, death, and human relationships amidst the infancy of an internet age, and the two dissect what makes the film so dense, so unsettling, and so predictive about internet technology.

Topics:

• (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 27-minutes playing Sloppy Synopsis Movie Edition, a game where-in one person describes a film poorly and the other guess which movie it is! Play along with Kathryn and Melvin and see how many films you guess right! (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• Pulse is eerie and spooky as opposed to shocking and violent.
• Pulse has been celebrated as being predictive in how it explores the internet and its effects on relationships and the individual, as well as a "safe" window into curiosities.
• Melvin thinks Pulse would work perfectly as a double-feature alongside The Last Broadcast, as both films are oddly predictive in how they understand media in an internet age a decade before the explosive growth of social media and smart phones.
• Kathryn and Melvin are very much a part of the generation that grew up with unfettered, unfiltered internet access. In this way, the two deeply resonated with a lot of what the film explores.
• Pulse is the kind of movie that proposes all kinds of different reads and understandings. You can interpret so much from this film.
• Discussing the apocalyptic ending.
• Melvin, "It's barely even "man" that has killed each other. It is, like, the technology that is put in their hands that is killing themselves."

Recommendations:

• Destined for Glory: The Meaning of Suffering by Margaret Clarkson (1983) (Book)
• Pick a country that is not the U.S. (or English speaking) and watch their movies for a while.

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REBROADCAST MOVIE DISCUSSION: 

In this rebroadcasted episode (originally released October 5th, 2021), 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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REBROADCAST MOVIE DISCUSSION: 

In this rebroadcasted episode (originally released September 20th, 2022), you'll hear 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, which as stated before clearly comes through the film. 
• The Blackcoat's Daughter lends itself well to rewatching, both in shedding light on the narrative, and introducing more curiosities. 
• When either a secular or religious person has no support system, they are prone to fill the void of community, companionship, and intimacy with risky and dangerous solutions often because those are easier or simpler to implement than an entire social structure. 
• Melvin feels The Blackcoat's Daughter displays a convincing, gentle, yet clear perspective as to why one may be attracted to evil, and he feels the film can help bring a sense of clarity and compassion toward an otherwise contentious subject matter.
• There's a really strong dream-like logic to The Blackcoat's Daughter in which things don't necessarily make real-world sense but heavily improve the film's overall tone.
• Daniel, "Helping somebody who's [overtly] choosing something other than God; that's a tough one. Because there's something about the thing they're choosing that calls to them uniquely."
• Melvin, "In terms of [The Blackcoat's Daughter], a resolution to loneliness is companionship. But learning... learning to be a good friend is hard."

Recommendations: 

• Global Impact Bible: ESV
• Find and visit your local pop-up Spirit Halloween!
• Young Justice (Show) & Batman: The Brave and the Bold (Show)

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MOVIE DISCUSSION: 

The Infinity Bros Podcast: Spotify / Instagram / Website 

Isaac Edlund of The Infinity Bros Podcast joins Mel to discuss Dream Scenario, a movie whose hook is so good you'll run to the theater to see it! Then, you'll see it and go... huh? We discuss what we like, what we don't like, and the hazard of chasing your dreams! 

Topics: 

• (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 43-minutes discussing a rumor that the Russo Brothers may have been asked to return for Avengers 5 and 6, as well as discussing James Hibberd's article "The ‘Gladiator II’ Trailer Is Getting Review Bombed for Three Reasons", what those criticisms are, and why this sort of hubbub is so tired. (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• Isaac shares about The Infinity Bros. Podcast, an all-purpose geek discussion podcast that covers a mix of TV, film, video and board games, and so much more!
• Dream Scenario’s premise and casting is on point for creating an elevator pitch that will capture anyone’s attention.
• Dreams are often abstract expressions of deeply rooted desires and fears, and they also don’t pull any punches.
• Where Dream Scenario goes and what it wants to do is will likely test the patience and interest of casual audiences.
• Melvin talks about his favorite scene where characters try to recreate one of these dreams only for it to fail in epic proportions.
• Our dreams may showcase abstract depictions of our desires and fears, but it’s in our waking hours where we have power to decide what is moral, sensible, and useful in attaining or denying such things.
• Isaac observes how Paul’s journey is indicative of the overall theming behind Ecclesiastes; that Paul doesn’t realize his pursuits are vanity no matter how far to the top he reaches.
• The ending is frustrating, and the film doesn’t end in a way that feels complete.

Recommendations:

• Twisters (2024) (Movie)
• Godzilla Battle Line (Mobile Game)

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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 Pitch Black, one of Vin Diesel's early action outings! The two explore what's cool and what's not-so-cool. But don't worry, they both agree: the eyes are friggin' cool!

Topics:

• (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 37-minutes discussing Anthony D'Alessandro's article "As 'Deadpool & Wolverine' Stomps On Superhero Fatigue, Studios Debate Comic-Con's Relevance", where-in D'Alessandro notes some geeky films that are skipping Comic-Con like Joker: Folie à Deux, Venom: The Last Dance, and Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim, and why some studios may start treating SDCC differently. (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• Shirleon has been on a self-described “Vin Diesel kick” lately, which made covering Pitch Black more enjoyable.
• While watching the film Melvin thought, “Syfy Channel basically copied this movie a thousand times over.”
• Shirleon observed that certain online discourse* compares Pitch Black to John Carpenter’s The Thing. Melvin doesn’t really see it. (*Source: 1 // 2)
• Contrary to its title, it never feels like our characters are in a state of pitch black.
• Old cohost Daniel sent Melvin a list of 7 interesting details about Vin Diesel/Riddick. Melvin reads them aloud.
• The film contains a kind and interesting pre-9/11 depiction of Islam with a throughline about faith.
• Do we like the ending?
• Celebrating Riddick's simple character design in a world of gaudy superhero suits.

Recommendations:

• Gab Smolders (YouTube Channel)
• Call of Duty Campaigns: World at War // Black Ops // Black Ops 2

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