Reel World Theology

On this episode of the podcast: Spotlight is an important film that everyone should see. When I say, "everyone," I especially mean Christians. It is rare that such a tough-- and very real-- topic is handled with such care. There is no grandstanding from any side and, for the most part, this film is a recounting of the events that lead to the exposure of the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church. There is definitely emption involved, but it is the emotion that the audience brings to the subject. We take some time to dive into why a film like this is important and what kind of response can Christians-- or anyone-- have to such acts permitted in the name of God. Enjoy! This episode’s panel included Elijah Davidson (Reel Spirituality) and Alan Hawkins.

On this episode of Rewind: Blaine and Mikey kick off a series on Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy. They talk about the staying power of these films, as well as their personal connections to Fellowship of the Ring. Let us know what you think about this beloved film by sounding off in the comments below and by continuing the conversation in our Reel World Theology Facebook group. Let us know what you think! This week’s guest was Fizz (Reel World Theology)

On this episode of the podcast: One of the smaller films that has garnered a lot of attention this year (and rightfully so) is Brooklyn. While the story is simple and there are no explosions or over-dramatic interpretations of the immigrant story, the film does a very great job at engaging the audience and taking them through the day-to-day emotions of being in a new place. Through our heroine we get to experience loneliness, fear, welcoming, hope, loss, love, and about every other emotion under the sun. It is not often that a film this straight forward can evoke such a response from viewers and critics. Enjoy! This episode’s panel included Elijah Lovejoy and Blaine Grimes.

On this episode of the podcast: The Revenant is a film that seems almost impossible to live up to the hype. Alejandro Iñárritu's follow-up film to his Academy Award-winning film, Birdman (including two incredible actors in Tom Hardy and Leonardo DiCaprio) couldn't possibly be as cool as it looked, right? Well, most of us are saying 'yes' while you have some critics trying to pick it apart. We talk about why critics are so critical and why everyone else seems to be loving this film. Not only that, but there is so much depth to the journey Hugh Glass goes on that we give ourselves plenty to discuss. Enjoy! This episode’s panel included Laura Fissel and John Bucher.

On this episode of the podcast: A story so bloody that we had to stop and think, “Can this type of story really start a worthwhile conversation?” Then we remembered it was written by Quentin Tarantino and knew that there was more than meets the eye. Again, Tarantino brings us a fairly unique tale of a group of pioneers, outlaws, and brigands who cross paths and tell each other the grandest, and sometimes unbelievable, tales. Through these stories we learn a lot about how people see the world and understand their place in it. How can this teach us how we should examine our own stories? Enjoy! This episode’s panel included JR Forasteros (The Storymen, Don’t Split Up!) and Elijah Davidson (Reel Spirituality).

On this episode of Rewind: Blaine is joined by Joe Nooft to talk about Alfred Hitchcock's 1948 film, Rope. They discuss how the film is unique among Hitchcock's filmography, and they dive deep into the film's social commentary. Be sure to share your thoughts by sounding off in the comments below and by continuing the conversation in our Reel World Theology Facebook group. Follow Blaine on Twitter, and check out his work on Reel World Theology and Christ and Pop Culture. Follow Joe on Twitter, and find his work at Mockingbird This week’s guest was Joe Nooft.

On this CROSSOVER episode of the podcast: In a different sort of podcast, James Harleman (Cinemagogue), Mikey Fissel (Reel World Theology), and Steve Norton (ScreenFish) come together for a super-sized conversation on the theological issues within and behind Star Wars The Force Awakens. Discussing issues concerning the cycle of sin, repentance, and even trinitarian theology, we explore what happens when our faith changes who we are. Enjoy! This episode’s panel included James Harleman (Cinemagogue), Mikey Fissel (Reel World Theology), and Steve Norton (ScreenFish).

On this episode of the podcast: Our Force Awakens coverage continues with this EXTRA episode where we mainly answer your questions and discuss some of our theories about what we saw and what we’ll see from the future of the Star Wars franchise. Enjoy! This episode’s panel included Josh Long (More Than One Lesson), Josh Crabb, and Blaine Grimes.

On this episode of the podcast: Watch out! As the Hype Train pulls into the station. Star Wars The Force Awakens has finally arrived in theaters and it has been universally embraced as another solid entry into the Star Wars Universe. While there are some detractors, the overwhelming response has been positive and we revel in that for awhile. We also take the criticisms of the film being more of a remake than a sequel seriously and address what history tells us about stories we have heard before. Also, don’t forget to check out our special EXTRA segment where we answer your Force Awakens questions along with proposing some of our own fan theories about the franchise going forward. Enjoy! This episode’s panel included Josh Long (More Than One Lesson), Josh Crabb, and Blaine Grimes.