#027 – Maleficent and Familiar Feminism
On this episode of the Reel World Theology Podcast:
We take a look at Angelina Jolie’s return to the live-action big screen in Maleficent. A reinterpretation of the Disney classic, Sleeping Beauty, Maleficent tries to show that there are two sides to every story and sometimes “evil” may not be as evil as once thought. JR Forasteros and Laura Fissel help explain why the critics found their problems but we all found ways to enjoy the movie anyway– and take a lot away from this film. By leaving no doubts about its feminist underpinnings, the film turns out to be one of the most conversation starting films of the year. We also get into many, many, tangents including some of our least favorite films and why we would consider seeing the new Transformers film (seriously!)…
#025 – Spider-Man and The Amazing Gwen Stacy
On this episode of the Reel World Theology Podcast:
Summer 2014 keeps bringing us more comic book movies, so we keep the superhero talk going by looking at the second installment in the Amazing Spider-Man universe. It certainly isn’t quite the same quality as the MARVEL Cinematic Universe, but it does feature MARVEL’s most popular and, to a certain degree, most relatable superhero. In this sequel, Spider-Man’s responsibilities start to seriously affect Peter Parker’s ability to function as a normal guy. From haunting visions of Gwen’s father, to never being anywhere he is supposed to be, Peter struggles with his ever-growing responsibility in both lives. With his relationship with Gwen uncertain and Oscorp finding ways to create new villains, both Peter Parker and Spider-Man may find that though they are extraordinary, they both need help. Identity, tough love, living in the moment, responsibility and the power of choice– we can certainly cover a lot of ground.
#022 – Divergent and Social Division
On this episode of the Reel World Theology Podcast:
We dive, again, into the world of young adult literature adaptations by conversating about the hugely popular film, Divergent. In the adaptation, up and comer, Shailene Woodley takes on our lead as Tris, who learns she’s Divergent and won’t fit in to a society that categorizes all it’s citizens into factions. When she discovers a plot to destroy Divergents, Tris and the mysterious Four (played by the surprising Theo James) must find out what makes Divergents dangerous before it’s too late. We will give our thoughts on the movie, as an adaptation of the widely popular Young Adult literature genre, and also explore the themes the book very intentionally raises about conformity, human nature, leadership, sacrifice, and identity.
#021 – Game of Thrones and Moral Ambiguity
On this episode of the Reel World Theology Podcast:
We try to tackle the enormity of A Song of Ice and Fire, or, Game of Thrones to those of you who haven’t had a chance to read the books. IMDB puts it simply by saying that this is about “Seven noble families fighting for control of the mythical land of Westeros.” As fans, we have known it to be so much more. Love, betrayal, violence, power, lust, hatred, revenge… and dragons; it seems to have everything you could want in a story— including an ever-growing and impressive cast. The TV show is heading into it’s 4th season in just a few weeks and it is more popular than ever. We are here to take a look back at the previous 3 seasons and ask some fundamental questions about the show (and the books) popularity, its criticisms from the more conservative side of the isle, and, finally, it’s exploration of the human condition.
We do give everyone the disclaimer that even though we have all read further in the books than the 3rd season leaves us, we DO NOT spoil anything coming down the pipes. So, viewers, listen away!
#020 – Monuments Men and the Value of Art
On this episode of the Reel World Theology Podcast:
We take a look at The Monuments Men, a George Clooney joint. With a near-all-star cast, this movie, about an unlikely World War II platoon tasked to rescue art masterpieces from Nazi thieves and return them to their owners, hasn’t made as much of a splash as I think it would have hoped, but, it does have a very clear message about the value of history, art, and human life. It also speaks about human legacy and what matters in the annals of time. We try to dissect where the film is pointful and where it is just fun— and with this cast, it certainly had a bit of both.
Who-ology: S01E04&05 Aliens of London & World War Three
Episodes 4 and 5 of Doctor Who, “Aliens of London” and “World War Three,” comprise one story that explores the human instinct to self-preserve, and its alternative: self-sacrifice. The plot is constructed around an evil plan to reduce planet Earth…
#015 – Wonderful Christmas Timey Wimey
On this episode of the Reel World Theology Podcast: It’s our first annual Christmas Episode! Yes, we show our British bias by following in the footsteps of the BBC and have a special, extra, episode just for Christmas. Hopefully this will be…
Who-ology: S01E03 The Unquiet Dead
“What the Shakespeare is going on?” This clever line is given to the actor playing Charles Dickens in this, the third episode of the Doctor Who reboot, written by Mark Gatiss (most recently of Sherlock Holmes fame). The TARDIS (as…
#012 – Ender’s End Game
On this episode of the Reel World Theology Podcast: On this episode we are going to be taking apart the recent film, Ender’s Game. The film is based on the 1985 military science-fiction novel by Orson Scott Card. Set in Earth’s…
#011 – Addictions With Don Jon
On this episode of the Reel World Theology Podcast: This week we return to the realm of new releases and take a look at the thought-provoking independent film from Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Don Jon. The Film is about a New Jersey…