Dinner With a Movie

We fulfill the needs of the many this week by eating apples and canned food and discussing Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (1982). Considered to be the most influential Star Trek movie, we are moved by the story, the space battles, and the humanity. Although it leaves out, or fails to explain, some important theme-strengthening connections, the film maintains its inspiring message that life is to be lived and there is nothing more noble, or human, than sacrificing yourself for the benefit of others. Farewell, Spock, or maybe not. KHAN!

You want some of this? It’s delicious coleslaw, potato salad, mashed potatoes and gravy, carrots, barbecue brisket, and the film Everybody Wants Some! (2016). Is this a film about nothing stuffed full of dudes being dudes, or is it about a guy finding who he is through the first days at college? It may not have all it needs for our main guy to grow, but it leaves us wondering where he’s headed and what he’ll become. We want some! More story and brisket would be excellent.

We’re going to Gotham to eat falafel and drink some green juice before discussing Batman Begins (2005). We enjoy watching our man Bruce become the Caped Crusader. We know that Batman is needed in Gotham, but the story is weighed down with at least five bad guys. None of them are fully developed, which leaves us wondering why they’re needed. This drags the film down a little. It’s still good and has the best Batmobile ever. Now we need to go and rid the city of some very bad men. We’re Batmen.

Your gracious hosts are eating beef kabab, assorted sheep cheeses, and drinking some fine wine before we discuss The Odyssey (2026). This must-see journey is full of what it takes to make an epic film. Fantastic story, cinematography, sound, and acting have come together to create something incredible. We swear to Athena, it’s a trip you won’t regret taking.

We come together this week to eat squid ink corn dogs and discuss Arrival (2016). The possible appearance of aliens leads us to debate the existence of God, while the inclusion of knowing the future leads us down a whole other rabbit hole. We agree that the film is wonderfully shot, directed, and full of meaningful ideas to contemplate, but the film’s lack of eloquent dialogue left us all a bit bewildered. For a movie about a linguistics expert communicating with aliens, that’s saying something. What that is, we still haven't deciphered.

We travel to Savannah to eat gumbo and rice and cool ourselves with cold drinks before discussing Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997). There are some problems with the storytelling in this courtroom drama with a comedic romance spin. We yearned for more meaningful courtroom scenes and less meandering investigation. The true star of the film is the city itself. Just enough of Savannah's quirky charms are included in the film to make up for its shortcomings.

We officially welcome Kye into our DWAM family this week when we eat mushroom ravioli and salad before discussing Twilight (2008). This fantastical world of awkward and perpetually pubescent vegetarian vampires is a beloved story for many teens. The film lacks a clear antagonist at the beginning of the movie and has campy scenes of Bella on Edward’s back running through the forest like Yoda and Luke that are laughable. Most of the questions we had about the story are answered in the book, so read the book first. In all, the film’s focus on family is done well. No matter if it’s through blood or chosen, family is a fundamental part of love.

We go out for chashu ramen this week before discussing Ponyo (2008). This film is full of little swimmers, with Ponyo as the biggest and most magical one. The reimagining of a story about a fish who wants to become human is a gentle and cheerful tale. The love between Sosuke and Ponyo is innocently pure throughout. We don’t completely understand some of the Japanese culture in the film, but we appreciate the beautiful animation, score, and cuteness. That's good enough for us to adore the film.

We’re letting our birds fly this week after we eat bacon and eggs (not rotten) and discuss Little Voice (1998). We feel the coziness of the small town in this film about a lonely girl who comes out of her shell and learns to fly against her mother’s incessant chatter. The musical numbers and variety acts are second to none. We’re still wondering what happened to poor Elaine.

It’s time for a change this week when we eat hot dogs and cupcakes in the dark before we discuss About Time (2013). We enjoyed the relationship between Tim and his dad and wanted more. We also liked the complications that time travel presents, but we unwind when a movie’s rules of time travel are broken or distorted just to complicate the story. We wish we could go back and fix a couple of moments that time forgot and make this a timeless classic.