Review| Anthony Jeselnik: Fire In The Maternity Ward
For a time in college, I found myself saying the worst thing I could imagine and finding it hilarious. In order to avoid getting in trouble, I’d make sure I was saying it ironically. I’d say something misogynistic and it…
How Culture Has Killed the Zombie: The Dead Don’t Die and the Death of Meaning
“[George Romero] turns the whole concept into something completely different. You can’t control the zombies. They are out of control. Generally, monsters — vampires, Frankenstein, Godzilla, whatever — they are outside the social structure. They are a danger to it, they are…
Re:View| Men in Black: They Won’t Let You Remember
The sci-fi comedy Men in Black is two decades old. (Though it probably doesn’t remember, having been “flashy-thinged” too many times.) Today, its third sequel comes out: look out for our review of Men In Black: International next week, but…
Good Omens’ Ineffable Apocalypse
It’s difficult, bordering on impossible, to talk about Amazon & BBC’s Good Omens miniseries from a Christian perspective without talking about the Biblical setting it inhabits and the Christian trappings it wears. Many are obvious, like the angelic and demonic…
Aladdin (2019): Phenomenal, Cosmic Powers; Identity-Giving Loving Space
The luckless Aladdin, whose luck turns around; his beloved Jasmine, a princess far above his station; and Jafar, the dark vizier consumed with a dark purpose. The story would hardly be complete without identities concealed and then discovered; what else…
#202 – Shazam! and the Power of Family
On this episode of the Reel World Theology Podcast: Before Avengers, there was another superhero movie that was bringing great joy to the masses– from the DCEU of all places. Shazam! proves that DC’s cinematic turnaround isn’t stalling anytime soon.…
Review| Under The Silver Lake
I am sorry to start this review with a personal anecdote, but I’m white and male and we like talking about ourselves, so just bear with me. I, unfortunately, watched this film over two evenings because I wasn’t fortunate enough…
Stories and Myths: Fatherhood in The Road (2009) and Life is Beautiful (1997)
It’s hard to be a father. Or so I assume, not being one myself. Though, having been a kid, I can only imagine how awful I was to parent. There are dirty diapers, temper tantrums, scraped knees, and that’s not…
The Complex Identity and Emotions of Pokémon Detective Pikachu
It would be easy to dismiss Pokémon Detective Pikachu as “just” any number of things: “Just” a kids’ movie. “Just” a video game movie. “Just” a funny-animal movie. “Just” a supernatural mystery. “Just” a live-action spinoff of a long-running anime.…
Reflections on a Sense of the Self: Toy Story (1995) and Us (2019)
In the social jungle of human existence, there is no feeling of being alive without a sense of identity.” – Erik Erikson, Identity, Youth, and Crisis One of the first films that comes to mind when thinking of explorations of…