Andrew May 10th, 2007

Hi guys.
Love the new show – great idea, and I'm looking forward to seeing which films you decide to take on.
Just a couple of things:
. I'm an atheist but have a deep interest in religious and theological issues. I'm guessing I'm not alone either. So, don't just assume your show will be pored over by the religious.
. This relates to the Pulp Fiction show, but I'll mention it here. I was a bit disappointed by the censorship you put in. I understand your reasoning, but I'd be very surprised if there's anyone who's actually listening to your show who would be offended. And I noticed you cut out all of the 'arse' words. Is that really offensive in the US?
Can't wait for the next one.
Cheers,
Andrew

Melissa May 10th, 2007

Hi Andrew,
Thanks for your comment. You were actually one of the things that finally pushed us into doing this show; your comments on WTD episodes and the religious discussion. Anyway, the censorship thing is something neither of us are super comfortable with, but are trying. I'm not sure that it will last. We'll see.
Thanks for listening! We look forward to future input from you.
~Melissa

Andrew May 10th, 2007

Hi Melissa,
It's always an ego boost to hear others are paying any attention to you. Feel free to keep delivering that. (ha ha.)
I'm wondering if you've got a plan of films to come (like the upcoming shows on WTD) or if you're looking for suggestions from listeners?
Cheers,
Andrew

Melissa May 11th, 2007

Andrew (and any other readers)-
Yes and yes! We have plans for upcoming shows, but we are open for suggestions, too. Although some of the episodes of Watching Theology will correspond with WTD, there's a lot more freedom to visit listener recommendations. So, feel free to suggest films from a director we are covering on WTD, or something completely different. We'll try to get to them all. In fact, the upcoming show on "The Fountain" was a listener recommendation.
~Melissa

Andrew May 13th, 2007

Hi Melissa,
here's a couple of films you might consider looking at:

American Beauty
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Signs (or in fact, any of Shyamalan's)
The Fisher King

Joseph R. May 15th, 2007

After listening to your podcast, I had to watch again to see if I remembered "Lifeboat" as well as I thought. I have to respectfully disagree with some of what you said.

1. I really don't think Connie goes through the material detachment that you say. At the end, she wants her new fella to buy back everything she lost!

2. It is interesting to contrast George with the others on the boat. He definitely seems more like a Christian, which may be what Hitchcock or Steinbeck was getting at very subtly. The other passengers are much more products of their culture than of serious faith (thus the one character can't remember the 23rd psalm beyond the first little bit). Maybe war gives people an excuse to ignore their values (which they may not have held very strongly in the first place), and treat the enemy like they aren't human. Of course, since the film was made during the hieght of the war, the Germans have to be ultimately evil and incomprehensible in their motives.

It'd be interesting to look at "Shawshank Redemption" as a meditation on hope and the Christian-in-name-only warden.

Thanks for a very interesting and thought provoking podcast!

A.J. May 17th, 2007

I just watched "The Fountain" and I am SOOOOO DISAPPOINTED. I don't even have the words to say how disappointed I am in this film. I just want to say right now that Clint Mansell's score for this film was outstanding and a hundred times better than the visuals that were being displayed on screen. It's a good thing I rented Guillermo del Toros' incredible film "El Laberinto del Fauno" (Pan's Labyrinth) that same night.