How to Watch A Movie (As A Christian)

Peter Pan has been in the public consciousness for 100 years. There have been many adaptions over the generations, some better than others. How does Disney's latest live action remake stack up to the rest? We talk about whether the new film "gets" what Peter Pan is, and whether the changes they made improve upon the original—or if they fail to live up to J. M. Barrie's vision for the story. We also talk about how updates can be great, if they don't eclipse the point of the story. Then we discuss how Jesus' parables don't occupy the same space as his sermons; a sermon is not a story. But at times, "Peter Pan & Wendy" felt preachy, to the detriment of the characters.

Today we feature special guest and longtime friend, the co-owner of Sidekick Coffee, and the frontman for Endeavor, Josh Siegel (applause, applause). Josh's favorite movie of all time is Disney's Robin Hood. Yeah, the cartoon one. Now, what's with Robin Hood? What's with its staying power? Why so many adaptions? What is it about this medieval story about vigilante justice? We talk about all that and more. #robinhood #filmreview #endeavor

It's a me, Mario! The Mario movie is here after much anticipation and controversy about Chris Pratt's voice. How was it? We review the film and more on this episode, featuring our friend Javan Wallace. On this episode, we talk about archetypes, whether saving princesses is outdated, and the Bible's love of symbolism. #mariobrosmovie #thesupermariobrosmovie #mario

So John Wick 4 is the conclusion (?) of the John Wick quadrilogy. The Wick series is known for its action, pacing, and characters and lore. It's safe to say it's a huge hit. How should Christians approach the John Wick movies? In this episode, we talk about violence, action movies, and why John Wick has a lasting impact on audiences. Featuring our very good friend Javan Wallace! #johnwick #johnwick4 #moviereview

Annihilation is a 2018 sci-fi/horror film by Alex Garland, one of our favorite film makers--who previously directed "Ex Machina." In this episode we welcome our friend Charlie, who posted on his Letterboxd, "I don't think I'm smart enough for this movie." So, we wanted to talk about it with him! We dive into Annihilation's themes, the film maker's vision, and whether or not it's good to tell stories that go "over people's heads." Join us as we discuss Annihilation!

In this episode, we discuss Netflix's new adaption of "Matilda," based on the beloved children's book by Roald Dahl and also on the award-winning 2010 musical All three of us have daughters; and "Matilda" hits at the feels for dads--well, for Riley. PJ and Ben disagreed, not really enjoying the film at all. We discuss why this is, and come to realize that sometimes the genre is not "your cup of tea," and therefore stand in the way of your enjoyment--even if you recognize that film's merit objectively. We also discover Matilda's greatest themes: righteousness and rebellion. Join us as we discuss 2022's Matilda!

One of our most-anticipated shows of the year, "The Last of Us," just dropped on HBO. We sit down with Josh, who along with PJ, has played the game a whopping 5 times. We talk about how the show manages to adapt a beloved game, and what it gets right, and what it all means. Specific to the themes of the show is "love," but The Last of Us has something unique to say about it. Join us as we ask "How to Watch the Last of Us (As A Christian)"!

Are you the type of person who can't help but take one-hundred pictures of your food at a restaurant; or the type that is so hyper critical of your dining experiences that you end up losing the love and joy of just eating some yummy dumplings? This episode we welcome Javan to the podcast as we discuss the question: "Which table are you sitting at?" in regards to the different character groups portrayed in the 2022 film, 'The Menu.' We also discuss the 'price of perfection' and how that relates to both the film's narrative and the character of God. Spoiler warning: we spoil this film.

Even though PJ hasn't seen it in 10 years, Home Alone is for most people a Christmas classic. What makes it have such staying power? What makes it funny? Good? Heartwarming? In this episode, we examine the 1990 film by Chris Columbus, and perhaps get to the point where we agree: Home Alone is a perfect movie.

"The Office" is one of our favorite TV shows. Actually, for PJ and Ben, it might be THE favorite. Is that okay? How should a Christian watch a show that has been criticized in recent years for being inappropriate, crass, even harmful in its joke-telling? We examine that question and more, such as "What is an 'everyman' character?" in this episode.