It Takes Two

This week we are comparing Jumanji (1995) and Zathura (2005) - two films about children finding a board game that's a little too realistic.

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The Movies:

Jumanji (1995)

Directed by Joe Johnston

Written by Jonathan Hensleigh, Greg Taylor, Jim Strain & Chris Van Allsburg

Based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg

iMDb Rating: 7.1

Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005)

Directed by Jon Favreau

Written by David Koepp & John Kamps

Based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg

iMDB Rating: 6.3

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Content Warning: Mentions of death, divorce, injury, insect bites, childhood trauma

This week we are comparing Tropic Thunder (2008) and Anaconda (2025) - two films where on-location filming becomes a little too real.

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The Movies:

Tropic Thunder (2008)

Directed by Ben Stiller

Written by Ben Stiller, Justin Theroux & Etan Cohen

iMDb Rating: 7.1

Anaconda (2025)

Directed by Tom Gormican

Written by Tom Gormican & Kevin Etten

Based on the screenplay by Hans Bauer, Jim Cash & Jack Epps Jr.

iMDB Rating: 6.1

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Content Warning: Mentions of death, injury, animal attacks, explosives, war, racism, blackface, yellowface, and problematic themes.

This week we are comparing a Christmas classic and it's beloved remake - Miracle on 34th Street (1947) & Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

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The Movies:

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Directed by George Seaton

Written by George Seaton & Valentine Davies

iMDb Rating: 7.9

Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

Directed by Les Mayfield

Written by John Hughes

Based on the screenplay by George Seaton & Valentine Davies

iMDB Rating: 6.6

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Content Warning: Discussions of war, alcoholism, mental illness

This week we are looking at remakes of a classic holiday slasher - Black Christmas (1974), Black Christmas (2006) and Black Christmas (2019).

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The Movies:

Black Christmas (1974)

Directed by Roy Moore

Written by Bob Clark

iMDb Rating: 7.1

Black Christmas (2006)

Directed by Glen Morgan

Written by Glen Morgan

Based on the screenplay by Roy Moore

iMDB Rating: 4.7

Black Christmas (2019)

Directed by Sophia Takal

Written by Sophia Takal & April Wolfe

Based on the screenplay by Roy Moore

iMDB Rating: 3.5

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Content Warning: Discussions of death, murder, injury, rape, sexual assault, gore, cannibalism, incest, abuse

It's time for a Hallmark Christmas episode! This year we are comparing November Christmas (2010) and The Christmas Heart (2012) - two films about communities coming together to support a family in need at the holidays.

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The Movies:

November Christmas (2010)

Directed by Robert Harmon

Written by Pnenah Goldstein

Based on the book by Greg Coppa

iMDb Rating: 7.5

The Christmas Heart (2012)

Directed by Gary Yates

Written by Michael Heaton

iMDB Rating: 6.0

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Content Warning: Discussions of death, loss, injury, illness, organ donation, cancer, gambling, criminal activity

This week we are comparing The Running Man (1987) and The Running Man (2025) - two films about a man fighting for his life as a cog in the media machine.

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The Movies:

The Running Man (1987)

Directed by Paul Michael Glaser

Written by Steven E. de Souza

Based on the novel by Stephen King

iMDb Rating: 6.6

The Running Man (2025)

Directed by Edgar Wright

Written by Edgar Wright & Michael Bacall

Based on the novel by Stephen King

iMDB Rating: 6.8

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Content Warning: Discussions of death, murder, injury, illness, criminal activity, drug use, prostitution

This week we have a child-friendly episode comparing Coco (2017) and Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) - two films about children understanding death and learning about their families' stories.

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The Movies:

Coco (2017)

Directed by Adrian Molina & Lee Unkrich

Written by Lee Unkrich, Jason Katz, Matthew Aldrich & Adrian Molina

iMDb Rating: 8.4

Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)

Directed by Travis Knight

Written by Shannon Tindle, Marc Haimes & Chris Butler

iMDB Rating: 7.7

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Content Warning: Discussions of death, grief, funeral traditions

This Hallowe'en, we are covering a classic horror remake with Ring (1998) and The Ring (2002).

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The Movies:

Ring (1998)

Directed by Hideo Nakata

Written by Hiroshi Takahashi

Based on the novel by Kôji Suzuki

iMDb Rating: 7.2

The Ring (2002)

Directed by Gore Verbinski

Written by Ehren Kruger

iMDB Rating: 7.1

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Content Warning: Discussions of death, violence, suicide, mental illness, neglect, murder, rape, disturbing images and content

This week we are comparing three movies based on Disney's Haunted Mansion theme park attraction - Haunted Mansion (2023), Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021) and The Haunted Mansion (2003)

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The Movies:

Haunted Mansion (2023)

Directed by Justin Simien

Written by Katie Dippold

iMDb Rating: 6.0

Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021)

Directed by Kirk R. Thatcher

Written by Bill Barretta, Kirk R. Thatcher, Kelly Younger & Jim Lewis

iMDB Rating: 6.3

The Haunted Mansion (2003)

Directed by Rob Minkoff

Written by David Berenbaum

iMDB Rating: 5.2

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Content Warning:

Mentions of death, suicide, grief.

Join us this week as we compare Olympus Has Fallen (2013) and White House Down (2013) - two films about attacks on the White House and one man's mission to save the President.

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The Movies:

Olympus Has Fallen (2013)

Directed by Antoine Fuqua

Written by Creighton Rothenberger & Katrin Benedikt

iMDb Rating: 6.5

White House Down (2013)

Directed by Roland Emmerich

Written by James Vanderbilt

iMDB Rating: 6.3

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Vote for pīwauwau/rock wren for Bird of the Year 2025 at birdoftheyear.org.nz

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Content Warning:

Discussions of violence, death, gun violence, terrorism, drug use.