Popcorn Theology

Watch the episode here. Lady and gentlemens! Start your mindful engines and go for a ride with Mad Maddy and Praetorian James as they explore an oasis of themes in the wasteland of this fast and frantic film. From imagery of the fall to exploring how God sifts souls in the desert, there’s a truckload of ideas to race through. Ready! Setty! GOOOOOOOOOOO! James' book Cinemagogue has a new edition! Hear more in this episode and read more here. For a sneak peak at the Director's Cut, click here. — We've got new merchandise! Check it out at the merch store. Help us recruit more film lovers and theology nerds by sharing this episode with your friends. Rate and review the podcast wherever you listen to help attract more listeners. Follow and connect with us on social media. Support us on Patreon. Chapters: Cold Open - 00:00 Intro - 01:34 Popcorn Ratings - 02:45 Theology Ratings - 05:44 Subscribe, Share, Connect - 07:15 Ads - 09:46 Popcorn Thoughts - 12:46 The Fall & Dementus the Devil - 27:40 Facing Trial in the Desert - 38:24 Lightning Round - 52:57

Watch this episode here. This week starts a new series of “In The Lobby: A.I. in Film”. For this series, James and David are joined by two special guests, Bart Caylor and Zach Coffin, to explore Artificial Intelligence, its impact on ministry and filmmaking, its portrayal in film, and the theological implications. This was such a blast, and we know you’ll enjoy it!  The first episode is available to the public; the next 3 episodes will release through June 2024 and are exclusively for our Premium Seating tier of Patreon Supporters. To hear the rest, go to Patreon.com/PopcornTheology and become a Patron Saint. Your support is greatly appreciated! To learn more about our guests, visit caylor-solutions.com and higheredmarketerpodcast.com  #Terminator #2001ASpaceOdyssey #WarGames #TheCreator #BringBackClippy #Clippy #Copilot #Gattaca #JurassicPark #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #ChatGPT #ReformedTheology #ChristianPodcasts #MoviePodcasts #YouAreNotAMindlessConsumer #MovieDiscussion #FilmDiscussion #MovieExplanation #FilmAnalysis #MovieAnalysis Music by Ross Bugden: https://youtu.be/Bln0BEv5AJ0?si=vZx_YiHK3hNxaETA

Watch the episode here. How do we finish off comedy month? With MORE CHEESE! Pour a cup of tea and join Kat and James as they put on some trousers, shave, and blast off with these beloved stop-motion characters from across the pond. Three short films provide easy themes to tinker with like imagination, contentment, friendship and intercession. All this and a nice slice of Wensleydale! James' book Cinemagogue has a new edition! Hear more in this episode and read more here. For a sneak peak at the Director's Cut, click here. — We've got new merchandise! Check it out at the merch store. Help us recruit more film lovers and theology nerds by sharing this episode with your friends. Rate and review the podcast wherever you listen to help attract more listeners. Follow and connect with us on social media. Support us on Patreon. Chapters: Cold Open - 00:00 Intro - 02:04 Popcorn Ratings - 05:50 Theology Ratings - 08:35 Ads - 12:53 Subscribe, Share, Connect - 15:14 Popcorn Thoughts - 16:38 A Grand Day Out - 26:37 The Wrong Trousers - 36:57 A Close Shave - 48:03

Watch the episode on Youtube here. "Since I've become a Popcorn Theologian I've noticed things I've never noticed before: Christ figures in The Matrix, Fools in Cocaine Bear, stoplights." Join Eric and Miles as they break down how comedy points to the Christian worldview and how God is not only the greatest story teller, but also the greatest comedian. James' book Cinemagogue has a new edition! Hear more in this episode and read more here. For a sneak peak at the Director's Cut, click here. — We've got new merchandise! Check it out at the merch store. Help us recruit more film lovers and theology nerds by sharing this episode with your friends. Rate and review the podcast wherever you listen to help attract more listeners. Follow and connect with us on social media. Support us on Patreon. Chapters: Cold Open - 00:00 Intro - 2:21 Popcorn Ratings - 6:57 Theology Ratings - 11:42 Subscribe, Share, Connect - 15:33 Ads - 16:46 Popcorn Thoughts - 19:30 The Point & Purpose of Comedy - 21:33 Life is Too Serious to Take Too Seriously - 34:43 Morality and Atonement - 57:10 Lightning Round - 1:02:47

Watch the episode on Youtube here. What kind of stunt are we trying to pull with this episode? Do any meaningful themes really tumble out of this hilarious comedy action movie? Does David hate Ryan Gosling? Will James drop  theological parallels? Is it even our real hosts, or stunt hosts using deepfake technology? You’ll have to see for yourself as we discuss stunt teams, the church, sexy bacon and more. James' book Cinemagogue has a new edition! Hear more in this episode and read more here. For a sneak peak at the Director's Cut, click here. — We've got new merchandise! Check it out at the merch store. Help us recruit more film lovers and theology nerds by sharing this episode with your friends. Rate and review the podcast wherever you listen to help attract more listeners. Follow and connect with us on social media. Support us on Patreon. Chapters:  Cold Open - 00:00 Intro - 1:25 Popcorn Ratings - 2:52 Theology Ratings - 5:06 Subscribe, Share, Connect - 7:08 Ads - 10:00 Popcorn Thoughts - 12:47 Sexy Bacon - 28:39 The Body (and Face) of Christ - 32:31 Not to be Served, But to Serve - 44:54 Lightning Round - 54:27

Watch the episode here. James, Maddy and Rory reunite for this epic podcast crawl and become Popcorn Theology's only hope for finishing the Cornetto Trilogy! Can they make it from theme to theme and receive/reject/redeem before the episode comes to a tragic end? You’ll have to see for yourself. Let’s Boo-Boo! James' book Cinemagogue has a new edition! Hear more in this episode and read more here. For a sneak peak at the Director's Cut, click here. — We've got new merchandise! Check it out at the merch store. Help us recruit more film lovers and theology nerds by sharing this episode with your friends. Rate and review the podcast wherever you listen to help attract more listeners.  Follow and connect with us on social media. Support us on Patreon. Chapters:Cold Open - 00:00 Intro - 01:12 Popcorn Ratings - 03:18 Theology Ratings - 08:24 Subscribe, Share, Connect - 11:19 Ads - 12:54 Popcorn Thoughts - 15:26 Self-Sacrificing Glory vs. Destructive Self-Serving Glory - 28:23 Exposing Our Sin - 38:12 Loving Our Sin, Rejecting Our Savior - 48:50 Lightning Round - 1:02:57

Watch the announcement on Youtube here. The times they are a-changin' at Popcorn Theology. While we will continue releasing our flagship weekly episodes, we are also thrilled to introduce a brand NEW series! "In The Lobby" features 15-20 minute weekly episodes that explore themes extending beyond a particular film. These episodes will also feature special guests and include live Q&A.  We have also updated Patreon, allowing our "Patron Saints" to gain this exclusive content, as well as a free gift, discounts on merchandise, and other new benefits! Watch the video linked above to see the details, or go to patreon.com/popcorntheology.     

The first episode of our brand new series "In The Lobby" is available now on Youtube. David and James had a fascinating discussion with author and financial expert David Bahnsen about work, life, and purpose in film. This discussion will be released in weekly episodes over the month of May, and is exclusive to our "Premium Seating" Patron Saints. But this first episode is a free sample; we hope you enjoy the discussion!  For more information about David Bahnsen's book, visit www.fulltimebook.com. James' book Cinemagogue has a new edition! Hear more in this episode and read more here. For a sneak peak at the Director's Cut, click here. — We've got new merchandise! Check it out at the merch store. Help us recruit more film lovers and theology nerds by sharing this episode with your friends. Rate and review the podcast wherever you listen to help attract more listeners.  Follow and connect with us on social media. Support us on Patreon.

Watch the episode here. This episode will shake you out of your fugue state! Hopefully Kat won’t choke on the themes as she joins James and David for a look at the sophomore year of this acclaimed show. James dares to say something negative about this season, David and Kat examine the escalation and ripples of temptation and sin, and the crew discuss a pride so great it can’t accept charity. What else might they fish out of the narrative pool? Or will it all come crashing down on their heads? James' book Cinemagogue has a new edition! Hear more in this episode and read more here. For a sneak peak at the Director's Cut, click here. — We've got new merchandise! Check it out at the merch store. Help us recruit more film lovers and theology nerds by sharing this episode with your friends. Rate and review the podcast wherever you listen to help attract more listeners.  Follow and connect with us on social media. Support us on Patreon. Chapters: Better Call Paul - 00:00 Intro - 01:43 Popcorn Ratings - 03:20 Theology Ratings - 08:55 Subscribe, Share, Connect - 12:31 Ads - 14:30 Season 2 Recap - 17:20 Popcorn Thoughts - 20:00 Charity and the Denial of Service - 36:41 Temptation and Escape - 53:28 We Don’t Sin in a Vacuum - 1:20:45 Lightning Round - 1:37:12

Watch the episode here. Are you guilty of worldview murder? Is your mindless consumption predetermined? The Pop-Theo-Cogs have seen a different path to take, one that points you to the "Capital P" Precog and film as an opportunity to glorify Him. So strap in and view this Sci-fi classic with new eyes as we cover Minority Report. James' book Cinemagogue has a new edition! Hear more in this episode and read more here. For a sneak peak at the Director's Cut, click here. — We've got new merchandise! Check it out at the merch store. Help us recruit more film lovers and theology nerds by sharing this episode with your friends. Rate and review the podcast wherever you listen to help attract more listeners.  Follow and connect with us on social media. Support us on Patreon. Chapters: Cold Open - 00:00 Intro - 01:50 Philip K. Dick - 03:00 Subscribe, Share, Connect - 06:07 Popcorn Ratings - 08:45 Theology Ratings - 11:26 Ads - 14:12 Popcorn Thoughts - 17:34 Living in a Precrime World? - 28:18 God is the Capital P Precog - 43:45 What is man? - 53:34 Duty, Justice, Utilitarianism - 1:06:47 The Gospel IS THE Minority Report - 1:19:30 Lightning Round - 1:30:52

Watch the episode here. It’s a battle royale as our hosts - like Godzilla versus Kong - wrestle over the quality of this latest monsterverse installment! But James, Eric, and guest host “James the Younger” all surface some curious observations about the film’s Moses motif, the sovereignty of God(zilla) and a curious parallel with Revelation chapter 20. Want some kaiju-sized conversation? We gotcha. James' book Cinemagogue has a new edition! Hear more in this episode and read more here. For a sneak peak at the Director's Cut, click here. — We've got new merchandise! Check it out at the merch store. Help us recruit more film lovers and theology nerds by sharing this episode with your friends. Rate and review the podcast wherever you listen to help attract more listeners.  Follow and connect with us on social media. Support us on Patreon. Chapters: Cold Open - 00:00 Intro - 01:24 Plot Summary - 02:49 Subscribe, Share, Connect - 04:05 Popcorn Ratings - 05:28 Theology Ratings - 09:08 Ads - 11:23 Cross-Cultural Engagement (The Al-Ma'idah Initiative) - 13:45  Popcorn Thoughts - 18:26 KONG’s Moses Motif - 34:19 Revelation 20 - 38:23 Godzilla the Watchful Protector - 46:47 Collateral Damage: Godzilla vs. God - 1:03:25 Lightning Round - 1:11:00

Watch episode here. Miles and James take the call and cruise through the frozen landscape of New York looking for what haunts this latest Ghostbusters installment! From rarely discussed biblical ideas of where evil spirits come from to the film’s shockingly trad view of parenting and relationships, there’s plenty of things to discuss. Just remember: don’t cross the themes! It would be bad.  James' book Cinemagogue has a new edition! Hear more in this episode and read more here. For a sneak peak at the Director's Cut, click here. — We've got new merchandise! Check it out at the merch store. Help us recruit more film lovers and theology nerds by sharing this episode with your friends. Rate and review the podcast wherever you listen to help attract more listeners.  Follow and connect with us on social media. Support us on Patreon. Chapters: Cold Open - 00:00 Intro - 01:48 Popcorn Ratings - 04:30 Theology Ratings - 08:00 Subscribe, Share, Connect, Ads - 09:52 The Ghostbusters Universe - 15:12 Popcorn Thoughts - 18:19 Ghosts & Demons - 27:19 Legacy & Identity - 56:22 Family & Parental Discipline - 1:13:39 Lightning Round - 1:42:07

Watch the episode here. Knock knock, Neo. The Matrix released 25 years ago this Easter. Join us as we revisit our 200th episode on this iconic sci-fi film, which we recorded for the film's 20th anniversary. In this episode James, Richard, and David as we revisit this modern classic as well as the highlights for the first 200 episodes. We discuss how Neo illustrates both the convert and the savior, the cost of discipleship, and how we should view our "enemies" in this world. Trust us, you'll want to take the red pill, and we'll show you how deep the rabbit hole goes...  James' book Cinemagogue is getting a new edition! Hear more in this episode and read more here. For a sneak peak at the Director's Cut, click here. Intro - 00:00  Pilot - 04:27 James’ first episode - 7:44 100th episode - 11:26  Favorite episodes - 13:29 First Matrix episode - 19:18 Top films since Matrix - 21:28 Ads - 37:30 Symbolism in The Matrix - 39:15 Neo the Convert - 46:49 The Real World and Slavery - 1:03:50 Enemies on the Team - 1:14:04 Neo the Savior - 1:22:09 The Matrix's Influence on Messaging in Film - 1:45:32 Looking ahead to 2020 - 1:40:10 — We've got new merchandise! Check it out at the merch store. Help us recruit more film lovers and theology nerds by sharing this episode with your friends. Rate and review the podcast wherever you listen to help attract more listeners.  Follow and connect with us on social media. Support us on Patreon.

How are Christians to live in a world where humans can be genetically engineered and discrimination is down to a science? Using the world of Gattaca, the hosts discuss the ethical use of genetic engineering, how the gospel frees you to live in God's favor, and why a Christian worldview is necessary to holdback the excesses of man's tampering with nature. So put your fate in the hands of your trust podcast hosts and not the Hollywood director. Cold Open - 00:00 Intro - 02:18 Popcorn Ratings - 07:51 Theology Ratings - 11:08 Ads - 18:14 Popcorn Thoughts - 20:47 The World of Gattaca - 31:33 Biotechnology and Stewardship - 46:28 Human Favoritism vs. the Spirit of Man - 1:12:08 Morality vs. Sentimentality - 1:27:05 Lightning Round - 1:40:03 James' book Cinemagogue is getting a new edition! Hear more in this episode and read more here. For a sneak peak at the Director's Cut, click here. — We've got new merchandise! Check it out at the merch store. Help us recruit more film lovers and theology nerds by sharing this episode with your friends. Rate and review the podcast wherever you listen to help attract more listeners.  Follow and connect with us on social media. Support us on Patreon.

Watch video podcast here. We’re back to the world of Blade Runner with possibly the best sequel ever made. Miles and James give top scores for this movie’s entertainment value and theological depth. Blade Runner 2049 shows how different people react in the face of miracles. If the original blade runner made us ask what it means to be alive, then this movie will make us all ask what it means to love. Cold Open - 00:00 Intro - 02:12 Rankings - 03:47 Ads - 13:36 Popcorn Thoughts - 17:10 Reaction to Miracle Child - 26:35 It's Not About You - 51:20 Nature of Love - 1:05:18 Lightning Round: 1:26:04 James' book Cinemagogue is getting a new edition! Hear more in this episode and read more here. For a sneak peak at the Director's Cut, click here. — We've got new merchandise! Check it out at the merch store. Help us recruit more film lovers and theology nerds by sharing this episode with your friends. Rate and review the podcast wherever you listen to help attract more listeners.  Follow and connect with us on social media. Support us on Patreon.

Watch video podcast here. Put on your stillsuits and join David, Jam, and Maddy as they hitch a ride on the cinematic epic, Dune: Part Two. Much like Part One, This long-awaited film is rich in visual spectacle, narrative complexity, and theological discussion. While Paul’s similarities to Christ seem to be on the surface, a deeper look under the sand causes us to ask: is Muad’Dib the promised Lisan al-Gaib, or merely a human manipulation? Plant a thumper and ride with us; but remember…nothing fancy.  James' book Cinemagogue is getting a new edition! Hear more in this episode and read more here. For a sneak peak at the Director's Cut, click here. — We've got new merchandise! Check it out at the merch store. Help us recruit more film lovers and theology nerds by sharing this episode with your friends. Rate and review the podcast wherever you listen to help attract more listeners.  Follow and connect with us on social media. Support us on Patreon.

For the rest of this early release, watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/GGRttrVLkso The full audio episode will release the morning of Tuesday, March 12 Much like Paul Muad'Dib, YOU get to have an "early look" at our newest episode on Dune: Part Two. Put on your stillsuits and join David, Jam, and Maddy as they hitch a ride on the cinematic epic, Dune: Part Two. Much like Part One, This long-awaited film is rich in visual spectacle, narrative complexity, and theological discussion. While Paul’s similarities to Christ seem to be on the surface, a deeper look under the sand causes us to ask: is Muad’Dib the promised Lisan al-Gaib, or merely a human manipulation? Plant a thumper and ride with us; but remember…nothing fancy. Hear our episode on Dune: Part One here: https://youtu.be/cCQBpaloI18?si=asvoUe607KwehUG-

Do you like our owl? Miles and James open their VK briefcases and give this milestone science fiction film the old PT test, probing with deep questions about empathy, consent, creators, prejudice, and inevitable decrepitude. Will they have enough time for James to settle – once and for all – the long running speculation about Deckard? Time… enough. Watch video podcast here. James' book Cinemagogue is getting a new edition! Hear more in this episode and read more here. For a sneak peak at the Director's Cut, click here. — We've got new merchandise! Check it out at the merch store. Help us recruit more film lovers and theology nerds by sharing this episode with your friends. Rate and review the podcast wherever you listen to help attract more listeners.  Follow and connect with us on social media. Support us on Patreon.

Join James and Kat for a special episode from stately Harlemanor as they look at the underrated and overlooked fun film that kicked off 2024! Matthew Vaughn’s bombastic, eclectic action-adventure is a romantic comedy for people who don’t like romantic comedies, and also explores foundation themes of myth, caricature vs. reality, identity, and sin. Watch video podcast here. James' book Cinemagogue is getting a new edition! Hear more in this episode and read more here. For a sneak peak at the Director's Cut, click here. — We've got new merchandise! Check it out at the merch store. Help us recruit more film lovers and theology nerds by sharing this episode with your friends. Rate and review the podcast wherever you listen to help attract more listeners.  Follow and connect with us on social media. Support us on Patreon.

CODA is a heartfelt “life transcendent” family drama-comedy with a fantastic soundtrack. Join hosts Maddy, Kat, and Eric as they tackle themes of the cost of discipline, what truly binds a family together and what it is like to live with a disability. James' book Cinemagogue is getting a new edition! Hear more in this episode and read more here. For a sneak peak at the Director's Cut, click here. — We've got new merchandise! Check it out at the merch store. Help us recruit more film lovers and theology nerds by sharing this episode with your friends. Rate and review the podcast wherever you listen to help attract more listeners.  Follow and connect with us on social media. Support us on Patreon.