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PARTY PLEASER:

Guest: Nerds & Jesus Podcast & Instagram 

Mary Howell, lead host of the Nerds & Jesus Podcast, joins Melvin in summarizing a formative experience in Ryan Reynold's Hollywood career, Green Lantern! This stupendously expensive cinematic-universe starter failed to meet expectations, disappointing moviegoers the world over! And now it's time for us to be disappointed! 

Topics: 

• (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 41-minutes discussing "Cinematic Universe" intrigue and fatigue, as well as specifics like Marvel's current cinematic woes, the coming universe-change to DC, and a plethora of other cinematic universes (Monsterverse, Dark Universe, Conjuring-Universe, etc.). (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• Mary shares about her various creative outlets, from podcasting to cosplaying.
• The pervasive criticism against Green Lantern had been its usage of CGI. From the start, Mary & Melvin have thoughts.
• Melvin observed an editing mistake, so he spends some time explaining what went wrong.
• Mary shamefully exposes her greatest sin: seeing Black Adam four times in theaters. 
• Further criticizing the suit and visor.
• Green Lantern as a narrative puts the concept of "fear" entirely in the negative. Mary & Melvin talk about how fear is actually a useful tool in the emotional toolbelt.
• Melvin wishes the movie got into more weird sci-fi space stuff.
• It takes an hour and thirty-five minutes for the action to finally get started in Green Lantern. It's criminal.

Recommendations:

• Set a timer on your mobile device!
• The Fly (1986) (Movie)

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MOVIE DISCUSSION:

Kelsey Kramer McGinnis on Instagram & Christianity Today

Pre-Order: The Myth of Good Christian Parenting: How False Promises Betrayed a Generation of Evangelical Families by Marissa Burt & Kelsey McGinnis

Kelsey Kramer McGinnis, contributing author to Christianity Today and Professor at Grand View University, joins Melvin in discussing a classic film adaption in early feminist literature, The Stepford Wives! 

Topics: 

• (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 38-minutes discussing Kelsey McGinnis' article on Christianity Today titled "Big, Big Market: Why CCM Filled '80s and '90s Homes", where CCM developed during the '00s and the '10s, the transition in popularity from CCM to Worship music, and the impact of how we engage music in the modern day through streaming and algorithmic curation. (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• Kelsey McGinnis shares about her upcoming book with Marissa Burt on the history of Christian parenting, and some of its crossover with the modern TRAD-wife movement.
• The Stepford Wives is almost entirely mumblecore in its presentation. Apart from that one big thing, it feels like a simple, evenly-paced film about nothing.
• Nearly 50 years later... is The Stepford Wives still a good representation of feminist cinema?
• The two open up their spoiler-filled discussion early (for a 50-year-old film) so they can get into more interesting weeds of discussion.
• So... is The Stepford Wives a horror movie? Yes, but likely only for some.
• For 1975, Melvin isn't aware he's seen or read any stories that tackle systematic issues with such complex clarity. He's largely observed that in more modern material.
• The Stepford Wives is stupendously blunt. Is that useful?
• Tradwives are like a modern stepford wife, but what else defines them? The two discuss its complicated origin, and it's identity-altering and spiritually-toxic attributes.

Recommendations: 

• The Sopranos (1999) (TV-Show)
• Taskmaster (2015) (Game Show)
• Someone's Watching Me! (1978) (Movie)

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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!  

Shirleon joins Melvin in summarizing and reliving the early DCOM era of television with The Luck of the Irish, a movie that wears its inspiration on its sleeve! From weird patriotism to grotesque food, the two have fun traveling back to the early '00s for some wacky-and-weird high-school hijinks!

Topics:

• (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 49-minutes of discussing Denis Villeneuve's disinterest in "extended cuts" and "deleted scenes", why we're so enamored with extended/unrated cuts of movies, the concept of fan-edits, and the tragedy of lost versions of films. (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• The Luck of the Irish isn't subtle in how it plays with ideas explored in Teen Wolf, although its various changes are far stranger.
• There aren't many showcases of food in the film that ostensibly isn't about food. Even so, every shot of food in this film is truly criminal.
• A main throughline of the film is a conversation on Irish-prejudice. Although this is a very real thing that took place in the U.S., and has also happened overseas, the heft with-which the movie tackles the topic is simultaneously absurd and overly serious.
• It isn't used enough, but the shrink-effect in the film is neat. There's some fun macro-props of otherwise small objects.
• So... like... does the general population know Leprechaun lore?

Recommendations:

• PowerWash Simulator (2022) (Video Game)
• Rings (2005) (Short Film)

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MOVIE DISCUSSION: 

Jerry Dugan's "Beyond the Rut" Podcast & Book

Cinematic Doctrine's Dune Episode

Jerry Dugan from the Beyond the Rut Podcast joins Melvin and Shirleon in discussing Denis Villeneuve's latest film, Dune: Part Two! Jerry and Shirleon share insight into the original Frank Herbert novel, how Villeneuve's two films handle adapting such complex material, and the tragedy of Paul Atreides.

Topics:

• (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 42-minutes roleplaying as Imagineers building a Dune-themed section of Disney World's Hollywood Studios. One person creates a ride, one person explains why it's successful, and one person explains why it's either a risk to human life or an outright failure! (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• Since Jerry's previous appearance on Cinematic Doctrine (Avatar: The Way of Water) he's been going strong on his podcast and has published a book! (Episode mentioned in discussion here)
• It's unanimous: the gang loves Dune: Part Two!
• Melvin, "[Seeing Dune: Part Two] is why you fall in love with movies."
• Melvin hasn't read the book, so he asks Jerry and Shirleon about the differences between Villeneuve's interpretation and the source material.
• Dune (2021) has an ethereal, philosophical exploration of how frightening and daunting the concept of possibility is as a conscience being. Meanwhile, Dune: Part Two feels primarily a tale of grand, epic proportion.
• Shirleon reads a section of the book to assert the tragic loneliness of Muad'Dib.
• Getting into how broad, deep, and positively complicated the literature of Dune can get.
• Thoughts on where a sequel is headed, as both an adaption and an interpretation of its source material.

Recommendations:

• Paranormal Activity 2 (2010) (Movie)
• Silo (2023) (Series)
• The Stormlight Archive Series by Brandon Sanderson

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MOVIE DISCUSSION: 

The Gospel According To Podcast & Instagram

Dave Hallahan of The Gospel According To podcast joins Melvin in discussing one of Dennis Villeneuve's most accessible and celebrated features, Arrival!

Topics:

• (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 36-minutes of discussing Dave Hallahan's podcast The Gospel According To, their wide-variety of subject matter, the pursuit of media literacy, and the wonder of curation. (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• Dave shares about his podcast The Gospel According To, his meme page @youthgroupmemes, and his Substack "Bottom's Up w/ Dave Hallahan".
• Melvin asks Dave about his familiarity with Denis Villeneuve's film work, and the two discuss his films.
• Villeneuve utilizes the 5 senses to serve as various pick-up shots during moments of intense, transfixed awe.
• Melvin, "What do you think it is that makes, like, movies like this a chore to watch?"
• Discussing the beauty of the storytelling mantra, "Show, don't tell".
• Communication is the complexity of a "story in my head" in combined with or against the pursuit of mutuality.
• Dave sharing thoughts in the spoiler-filled section, "The journey to the hardship is also filled with tremendous joy."
• Discussing recurrent visuals, symbols, and motifs.
• The Heptapod B language is a gift because it encourages the self to invest further in the present because of their knowledge of the future.
• Dave, "The point of knowing 'the ending' is it should motivate our 'right now'".

Recommendations:

• About Time (2013) (Movie)
• Man on Wire (2008) (Documentary)
• Terraform: Building a Better World by Propaganda (2021) (Book)
• On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living by Alan Noble (2023) (Book)
• The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014) (Movie)

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MOVIE DISCUSSION:

@terrorificlady

Brandy, the Terrorific Lady herself, joins Melvin to discuss one of John Carpenter's more offbeat entries into the world of cinema, Prince of Darkness! From the combination of religion and science, to discussions on cosmic, otherworldly fears, and even fun comparisons to the other two films in Carpenter's soft "Apocalypse Trilogy", Brandy and Melvin discuss all sorts of topics within this fun, brisk episode!

Topics:

•  (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 33-minutes of Horror Movie Trivia with Brandy, the Terrorific Lady! Brandy answers a wide-range of horror film trivia while also using the questions as prompts for discussion! Tune in, you might learn something new! (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• Brandy talks about "Retro Horror School", a discussion series on horror flicks from the 1970s through the 2010s.
• Melvin wasn't a fan of Prince of Darkness the first time he watched it. This time around? Things were much different, and he's excited to share his newfound thoughts.
• In terms of John Carpenter's filmography... is Prince of Darkness confusing?
• A lot of John Carpenter's films leading to this point include a lot of graphic, visceral violence. Prince of Darkness not so much.
• Ranking the soft-titled John Carpenter "Apocalypse Trilogy".
• Interpretations on the ending, and how the tv-edit drastically changes the plot.
• Prince of Darkness creates an "archeological horror" story built around science and religion, not science vs. religion, which makes it unique.
• "Apocalypse Trilogy" endings: which would you prefer to live in?

Recommendation:

• Fan of horror? Build up that physical media collection! Shop ebay.com, visit thrift stores, and flea markets!
• The Strangeness (1985) (Movie)

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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!  

Shirleon and Melvin travel back a whopping thirty years to summarize The Mighty Ducks, the early 90's hockey trilogy-starter! What a throwback! From simple-yet-compelling characters to an outright scumbag of a villain, The Mighty Ducks sure offered a lot to discuss! Tune in now! Quack Quack!

Topics:

• (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 31-minutes discussing the dynamics of nostalgia. We discuss its dictionary definition, how content like Urban Exploration is cultivated around nostalgia, and how nostalgia isn't always a yearning for things in our own childhood. We also discuss some Bible verses that speak into the dangers of over-indulging nostalgia rather than mere acceptance of its experience. (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• Shirleon reveals a groundbreaking insight into the hit 1992 hockey movie The Mighty Ducks... does Gordon Bombay have a house?
• The start of the movie has a weird, sped-up, slapstick heavy sequence that seems out of place. Shirleon proposes a clever re-write.
• Melvin wonders if most sports movie villains were based around infamous high-school basketball coach Bobby Knight.
• There's a subtle thread throughout the film that Gordon, after the loss of his father, is still struggling to grow without a father figure, and for the film's sake is in between two options: Coach Reilly or Hans.
• Talking about how 90s and early 2000s fashion is so in right now.
• That odd moment where Charlie asks Gordon to pursue his mother.
• The entirety of the third act, most notably the film's climax, is a great, simple, and accessible depiction of recovering from past trauma. It's clever!

Recommendations:

• Expedition Roasters (Coffee Beans)
• The Way of the Househusband (2021) (Anime)
• The Way Back (2020) (Movie)

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MOVIE DISCUSSION: 

@TylerBanarkReviewsMovies

Tyler Banark from @TylerBanarkReviewsMovies joins Melvin to discuss one of his favorite films of 2022, The Menu! Combining culinary arts with cultish antics, this horrific thriller showcases excellent performances, delicious food, and class-warfare all in a tight 107-minutes! And there's a whole lot more where that came from! Tune in now!

Topics:

• (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 32-minutes recapping David Zaslav's two years as Warner Bros. Discovery's CEO, his bizarre cancelations and removals of streaming exclusives and originals, the current state of Coyote vs. Acme, and discussing how we feel about that as movie fans. (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• Tyler Banark shares about The League of Cinephiles, going to TIFF, and his favorite movies (right now).
• Initial impressions on The Menu, and fun trivia regarding a TIFF screening and food truck.
• The Menu was one of Tyler's top 5 movies of 2022. He shares the other top 4, and talks about how some movies succeed merely by connecting with its audience.
• Thinking through the hierarchal structure of service work, and the intoxication of chasing perfection.
• Yes, it's bold as day: "The Menu" as a phrase or "thing" is very much a metaphor for life.
• How The Menu portrays the "never meet your heroes" idea.
• How each course lends itself to metaphorical interpretation.
• Interpretations of the ending, and what makes it poignant, and what makes it a little silly.

Recommendations:

• Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) (Movie)
• Little Manhattan (2005) (Movie)
• Your Name. (2016) (Movie)
• High and Low (1963) (Movie)
• Wings (1927) (Movie)
• Incantation (2022) (Movie)

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PARTY PLEASER:

Shirleon joins Melvin in summarizing Chris Columbus' return to the YA genre, Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief! From an ill-defined protagonist to it's swiftly resolved mile-a-minute narrative hurdles, this late-stage entry into the world of YA-movie adaptions tries its darndest to make it out alive. Will Shirleon and Melvin find something to appreciate in the end? Tune in to find out!

Topics:

• (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 31-minutes discussing a new frustrating trend in publish: "Fast Fashion" Books. These books are written poorly, unedited, printed, and sold on book shelves everywhere, and Shirleon has a thing or two to say about them! (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• Do Shirleon and Melvin like Greek Mythology? What do they know about the Pantheon?
• Whenever a problem arises in the film it is solved almost instantaneously.
• Comparisons to Harry Potter are necessary when discussing the YA genre. It has to happen. So it does.
• As each mythological creature is unveiled, Melvin has difficulty figuring out the reason why these creatures and demi-gods have to be hidden in the first place.
• Melvin believes that ten years after Chris Columbus successfully jumpstarted the Harry Potter film series, 20th Century Fox wanted him to do it again with Percy Jackson. He remarks on the difficulty to catch lightning in a bottle twice and ponders some current industry woes that seem similar to this issue.
• The language-laden post-chorus of Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" is prominently heard during a casino montage and Melvin is positive it is not the censored version.
• The lack of caution present in Percy, Grover, and Anna Beth really frustrated Shirleon.
• Even the movie is ready to be over by the time the last half hour hits.

Recommendations:

• Cuckool Microwavable Heating Pad
• The Unknown (1927) (Movie)

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MOVIE DISCUSSION:

Kathryn joins Melvin in discussing one of Wes Anderson's most celebrated films, The Royal Tenenbaums. The two enjoy discussing it's silly-yet-serious family drama, the effects of negligent parenting, and the absurdity of that scene involving a pop-song and a bathroom mirror. But most of all, the two enjoy discussing the idea that it's never too late to do the right thing.

Topics:

• (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 20-minutes discussing Asteroid City, Wes Anderson's latest film. Melvin asks Kathryn about Wes Anderson's ever-meticulous and quirky style, whether he's getting better with each movie or too hands-on, how the actors feel about playing such understated characters, and so much more. (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• In their married couple, Kathryn is the spouse that watches Wes Anderson flicks. So, Melvin asks Kathryn about Anderson's portrait-like style, dead-pan humor, and favorite tropes.
• Melvin, "Everything's extravagant, but the family problems are 100% relatable."
• Watching Royal's maturation throughout the film is truly satisfying, and it's a delight to see him go from selfish leech to curiously caring father/grandfather.
• Discussing a few characters from the film, their dynamics, and what makes them different.
• As Henry Sherman shows kindness and respect to each of the Tenenbaums, each character has a moment of reflection wherein they see something better than they had as children.
• Eli Cash: To Be Pitied.
• Because Margot Tenenbaum has constantly been introduced as "adopted", it's no wonder she spent her life carelessly searching for where she belongs.
• Chas spends his time chasing safety and security likely in response to the lack of safety and security he felt with Royal while growing up.
• Discussing that scene with Richie.
• The symbolism of Richie's bird and learning to safely coexist.

Recommendations:

• Purchase an External 4K Blu-ray Player for your PC so you can watch region-free films via VLC player, digitally store materials, and so much more!
• Pursue self-care with good, old hobbies and other simple enjoyments.

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