Ever wondered which films have the power to shape a person's very soul? Join us as we unveil our top five movies that have done just that, etching their stories into our hearts. We kick things off with "The Patriot," unpacking how its stirring blend of patriotism and family drama grows more resonant with each passing year, especially as we navigate the complex journey of parenthood. "Air Force One" swoops in next, with its memorable one-liners and classic action sequences that have become a family viewing tradition for us. We don't shy away from the political undertones of "V for Vendetta" and its message on revolution and legacy. And who could forget the thrill of '80s action epitomized by "Commando"? Our trip down memory lane is peppered with personal anecdotes that breathe new life into these iconic scenes.
The silver screen magic doesn't end there; we also tackle the spine-tingling suspense of "The Ghost and the Darkness," diving into its gritty portrayal of man versus nature set in 1890s Africa. Then, we're off to Gotham with "Batman Begins," arguing why it stands tall above its successors in the Batman franchise with its rich psychological exploration and enthralling origin story. Lastly, we pay homage to the epic "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, advocating for the extended versions as the definitive experience. Through these films, we explore themes from colonialism to heroism, proving that great storytelling does indeed transcend time and continues to invite passionate discussion among audiences and hosts alike. Step into our theater of thoughts and memories for an episode that celebrates the films that define us.
Ever wondered which films have the power to shape a person's very soul? Join us as we unveil our top five movies that have done just that, etching their stories into our hearts. We kick things off with "The Patriot," unpacking how its stirring blend of patriotism and family drama grows more resonant with each passing year, especially as we navigate the complex journey of parenthood. "Air Force One" swoops in next, with its memorable one-liners and classic action sequences that have become a family viewing tradition for us. We don't shy away from the political undertones of "V for Vendetta" and its message on revolution and legacy. And who could forget the thrill of '80s action epitomized by "Commando"? Our trip down memory lane is peppered with personal anecdotes that breathe new life into these iconic scenes.
The silver screen magic doesn't end there; we also tackle the spine-tingling suspense of "The Ghost and the Darkness," diving into its gritty portrayal of man versus nature set in 1890s Africa. Then, we're off to Gotham with "Batman Begins," arguing why it stands tall above its successors in the Batman franchise with its rich psychological exploration and enthralling origin story. Lastly, we pay homage to the epic "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, advocating for the extended versions as the definitive experience. Through these films, we explore themes from colonialism to heroism, proving that great storytelling does indeed transcend time and continues to invite passionate discussion among audiences and hosts alike. Step into our theater of thoughts and memories for an episode that celebrates the films that define us.
Hi everyone. Thanks again for joining us for the launch of the Psychintheo podcast. We're excited that you're here. If you have listened to our first school-length episode and are enjoying these shorter episodes of who we are and why we started the podcast, we'd greatly appreciate it if you could share these episodes and their stories, comment on our posts and leave a review for us on Apple Podcasts. Let us know what you think and if you have any topic ideas for your favorite messages.
Speaker 2:
Enjoy the following episode Absolutely Okay so that was a semi-serious one, so let's go back to the bottom one. We've got to come up for air. Okay, let's do favorite movies. All right, okay, this one. So top five favorite movies. You want me to start? Oh, yeah, you're going for a system.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, five favorite movies, okay. So there's one I saw on Tim's list and I'm going to mention that one first, because it is such a classic and this one's usually my one or two, it just depends on my mood, I guess. But the Patriot, mel Gibson, heath Ledger, his breakout movie. The whole idea of gaining our independence was so well done in that movie and the fact that they have the family story behind it was even more incredible. And then Mel Gibson just as an actor, he's just amazing. So the Patriot, one of the first movies I saw that had a patriotic theme to it, and just understand now, even now as a father like you, understand when he starts telling him. Right, there's that part where he tells Heath Ledger one day you'll understand.
Speaker 1:
He's about to marry this girl and he says I think I know what you meant by. I'll understand one day. And that's exactly what it is. You start to understand your dad's struggles and you start to understand. Okay, this is different. Maybe I was too hard on my dad, because now I'm understanding how hard it is for me to also do that. So Patriot has a lot of good underlying themes to it. I love that, yeah it's great.
Speaker 1:
It's the Air Force One classic movie, also just one of the first, I guess, terrorist movies that I've seen or that I had seen.
Speaker 2:
Are you going five to one or one to five? I think I'm just listening.
Speaker 1:
Five so, because my second one and I'll explain that in a little bit. But Air Force One again great movie. President Gets Kibbeden, but then he saves a day Really good movie.
Speaker 2:
I have probably seen that movie 20 times.
Speaker 1:
You like it too.
Speaker 2:
No, no, no, it's my dad's favorite movie and he would make us watch it all the time that makes sense. That makes a famous line get off my plane.
Speaker 1:
I'll get to use that one at some point. So Air Force One classic movie and Harrison Ford did a great job. V for Vendetta.
Speaker 2:
I think that would be the one that mixed with one and two.
Speaker 1:
V for Vendetta. Again, the one guy who's trying to change the course of the country, right yeah, by standing up to it and creating this master plan that takes a year to come to fruition, only to hand it off to the next generation that's going to take over after destroying, basically, the government of five people, which is crazy. Classic movie Commando this one, the wise commando, this is old school Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Speaker 2:
You mentioned before the show old school movies. They just don't make them like they used to. I was thinking he's going to say gone with the wind or or some, or the sound of music, or no, no, that's not my style.
Speaker 1:
No, no, every see if it had violence as a kid, I think I was an angry kid. I don't know. I do talk about that a lot Like I feel like I was an angry kid, no reason, just naturally angry in that regard. But as a teenager and young adult, even I would get with my friends. We put on gloves and we just do like our own MMA stuff in the garage. So anyways, commando, I would grab. I bought a jacket.
Speaker 2:
You know the jacket I like how you're not really defending it, You're just. You're just moving on to like why you like it.
Speaker 1:
I have to explain. This is this is why I bought the jacket. It was the best jacket right and I would do that whole scene when it's him loading up his jacket with the gun yeah, with the bombs, everything and I would do the sound effects. The whole scene classic. I didn't have the classic eighties montage.
Speaker 2:
Exactly.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, with the fog in the back row, yeah, so. It's like I don't know what the sound was for commando, but oh well, the I showed it to my sister, my brother, my, who hadn't seen it before, and he says this music does not line up with this movie. And that was basically the eighties.
Speaker 2:
Yes, that's what. That's what's fine. The cheesiest soundtrack and put it with the movie. More on that later if we ever get to another movie topics.
Speaker 1:
But yes, yes, but I. That's why I remembered commando. So, when I thought about these movies, what comes to mind first? And these are the five.
Speaker 2:
You know what Like always stuck with me when I saw commando, I forget, when I saw it as a young man.
Speaker 2:
But, it's when Arnold Schwarzenegger picks up a 50 cow and he's holding it just bare hand and like fire a fully automatic 50 caliber machine gun. Yes, and he's just mowing people down like the fly swatter. Yeah, yeah, I'm like, and I knew that was an adult, like I knew then that probably wouldn't possible. And then when I went through the military, I forgot to mention I was in the military. Yeah, that's a cute thing. Yes, yeah, yeah, small, small fact. Yeah, when I went through the military and actually fired a machine gun, mm, hmm, I was like there's now commando, wasn't the first thing I was thinking of? Yeah, but like there's no way.
Speaker 1:
Hey, there's just no way you can do that. Hold it up and just mow people down. You can't hold a 50.
Speaker 2:
You can't hold a 50. A 50 caliber like OK, you have 50 caliber sniper rifles, usually you're in some sort of prone position which is like laying down the rifles on a bipod or or prop the bun thing.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, it's really hard to fire a 50 cow, basically, and be as accurate. Yeah, and those sniper rifle single shots, you know a machine gun it, it's usually on a bipod or tripod and and you have to go and burst, like you know, and and Because you can't really hit anything after that, because the barrel is gonna rise with Arnold Schwarzenegger. No, no, he's firing it from the waist, he's not even a yes, that's right.
Speaker 1:
Yes, it's just so absurd. That's what one kid wished he could do. I'm like I have to be able to do this. There has to be a way to do this. But no, now as an adult, you become very disappointed with the movie. But I remember because of that. But yeah, lastly a classic. I think everyone should love this movie Rocky 4.
Speaker 2:
Oh, Wow, it's it's so funny, you should say that, given bad soundtracks.
Speaker 1:
I love that sound, oh my goodness, no, I, I love that soundtrack.
Speaker 2:
So wait which one, which one?
Speaker 1:
so there's war. Which one does they have here?
Speaker 2:
Hearts on fire. Hearts on fire, right no easy way out.
Speaker 1:
Oh, my goodness, burning hearts, oh.
Speaker 2:
Man, I Rocky 3. Rocky 3 had the best soundtrack, like I had the tiger, you know, I think it was good. Yeah, I mean that's to the test of time.
Speaker 1:
Yes, that's proven. Yeah, but you know like war.
Speaker 2:
The first time I saw Rocky 4 and I heard the soundtrack, I was like none of this lines up with it, with the seriousness of this movie.
Speaker 1:
That's it.
Speaker 2:
It's just, it was classic.
Speaker 1:
No, sorry, I'm not gonna remember before you even get no, but that's what, that's just you should say that I wouldn't plan this?
Speaker 2:
I didn't know we did it before, but that's the movie that is the movie I was thinking of when I thought about soundtracks that don't line up.
Speaker 1:
Oh man, go ahead. I love that sound, go ahead. Yeah, rocky 4. It's an emotion again during that time, right Cold war. So I think the whole idea of David versus Goliath also was a good thing in there as well. But that's a classic one and my boys like the war song so every time we're driving in the bag, daddy, the worst on the worst One was war. It's the one when they are fighting in the fifth, 12th, it's, it's well frowned.
Speaker 2:
Okay, that's right at the end. Back to go back and listen to that. Yeah, it's not that, it's just pure music.
Speaker 1:
It doesn't have any.
Speaker 2:
Okay, any words that's when you, that's when he starts to turn the whole history of the cold war.
Speaker 1:
Yes, we appreciate this, Can you?
Speaker 2:
guys hear this on the. Are we gonna get sued for copyright infringement?
Speaker 1:
Oh, is this fair use? I think, if I share just a little bit fair use, there you go Okay that's, that one's not bad.
Speaker 2:
I'll walk back a little bit, but heart, hearts on fire.
Speaker 1:
I know I can't do it, all right. All right, I'll take that, but those are my top, okay, yeah, that's yours.
Speaker 2:
Okay, okay, okay. So my, I'm gonna go from the bottom. Oh, you know, I'll go from the top to one, go from the top down, okay, okay. So I have to. I have two at the top and they remain together.
Speaker 1:
Okay at the top.
Speaker 2:
I can't decide between them. So the first one is a movie most people have not seen. Okay, I think it is one of the most underrated movies of all time. Okay, it's called the ghost and the darkness. Hmm, have you heard of it?
Speaker 1:
I have not see.
Speaker 2:
See folks. Okay, how old is it? It was made in 1995.
Speaker 2:
Oh, it's not that now some someone listening to this episode also loves this movie, and they're probably Others are. Like, what is that movie? Yeah, the ghost and the darkness stars Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas, and it's about A hunt for two lions in Africa. It's a true story based on the late in late 1800s British railroad company that's trying to build a bridge in a town called Savo, which is the town that still exists today, I think, or at least there's a Savo Reservation In Kenya. I think it's in Kenya which I that's on my bucket list to go one day because of this movie.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, and specifically specifically to this safari, Savo safari you know, but so Val Kilmer he is an engineer, or British Irish engineer gets sent down to build this bridge in the town called Savo, and while he's there, these lions start to kill people in the, in the, in the work camp, and it gets so bad that it shuts down operations. And he's he is trying to take care of them and he can't. And then Michael Douglas is brought in because he's a professional hunter and the two of them are struggling to take out these two lions. Um, and it's, it's a true story. It's really crazy. It's like this movie is like jaws, but with on land, with lions, like think of how horror, like horrifying jaws was to everyone in the water. It's like that, yeah, with two lions, uh yeah destroying.
Speaker 1:
They're killing everyone.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, yeah, yeah, and and so, and it's a legend to this day, because the two lions that they caught are Stuffed. Spoiler alert the lions died, you know, eventually, so but they're stuffed and and and they're on display in the field museum in Chicago and I have gone there to see it anyway.
Speaker 1:
Are they massive or you're just normal lions?
Speaker 2:
Well, it's deceptive because they're in the movie, there they have mains, but in real life this, this particular breed of lion male lions did not have mains and so they look a little different. It looks sort. They kind of look creepy.
Speaker 1:
Yeah.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, and so they were called the man-eaters of Savo and they kill all I'll. They kill a lot of people. I'll just say that. So you got to watch the movie. Okay, it's great, great soundtrack. It's really well done. Like it's that. That has a great soundtrack, folks. And it's really well done like it actually talks about, like it doesn't shy away from the, the column, the topic of colonialism. You know it's not a woke movie, it's. It was the 90s. No one was woke in the 90s.
Speaker 2:
But it act, it highlights like there's there's the British here, then there's Africans here, then there's Muslims and Hindus, like it's just kind of this hodgepodge of all these different cultures. You know then the ten, the racial tension that's in, the cultural tension that's there. It's really fascinating movie. Okay, so I've gone on a long time about that one. What's the?
Speaker 1:
tie with this one, hmm the tie.
Speaker 2:
My other number one is none other. Then Batman Begins, oh. Which is why I want to have him begin which is why I want to buy the Batman tumbler. I had ten million dollars.
Speaker 1:
Okay.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, in my opinion, batman Begins is the greatest Batman movie of all time. It's better than the Dark Knight. In my opinion, now, the Dark Knight.
Speaker 1:
What is that with?
Speaker 2:
the Batman. Batman Begins is with Christian Bale. It's the first it's the first Christian Bale movie, see see another underrated movie you know, because I always think about the other one.
Speaker 1:
You think about the Joker one yeah with Heath Ledger. Yeah.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, that's the second one. Okay, have you never seen Batman begins? I don't think I have.
Speaker 1:
oh my goodness because I think I wanted to see, because once they switched to Christian Bale, I was like I don't know if I want to see it. But when I heard about Heath Ledger and the other Batman, I was like I want to see that one. Batman Begins is the origin story.
Speaker 2:
I'm just and it's really really good you being a well, I keep on the call you a psychologist, but counselor.
Speaker 1:
Yes but knowing human psychology, psychology, you would really, I think, I'll enjoy that story, the backstory, yes, yes, yes, yes, it's really really good and it's it's, it's A classic Nolan kind of movie.
Speaker 2:
Okay, you know, very like, just very good all around. I like it more than a dark night. Dark night is a great movie, don't get me wrong. It's a great movie. But that man begins has a special place in my heart.
Speaker 1:
Okay, yeah.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, it's got Liam Neeson in it as well, so is it really?
Speaker 1:
Oh huh yeah.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, is he Alfred? I won't tell you so. Okay, so that's number one, number two or just two number ones. Yeah depending on, and I try to watch them periodically, you know just to just to remember? Yeah, just to remember, I'm reminiscing number three I just have to put in a trilogy and that's Lord of the Rings. I like it.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, you know classic.
Speaker 2:
I try to watch that every few years, the whole trilogy, extended versions. Oh, yes, you have to watch it. You have, no, you have.
Speaker 1:
It's the truth.
Speaker 2:
It's the truth. You have to watch them on the extended versions because there's there are scenes in there that kind of help explain some things that got cut out of the theater version.
Speaker 1:
Okay yeah, even the theater version was long, but it is long, yeah, yeah Okay.
Speaker 2:
Like I'll give you one example, so um, I think it's in the second one, where Frodo and Sam are taken captive by Um Faramir would okay.
Speaker 1:
I'm gonna nerd out for a minute here.
Speaker 2:
Yeah yeah, bear with me, Okay so they're taken captive by Faramir, and this is when Faramir discovers that Frodo has the ring. Okay, and he, he like, reminisces on something, but it doesn't show you what he's reminiscing on and he says something to Frodo. He says he mentions this line about it's time for Faramir to prove his. What does he say? Um, prove his worth, I think. Mm-hmm, or show his worth, it's time for Faramir to show his, where he says that to himself in the third person Okay, with and with Frodo hearing him.
Speaker 1:
Okay.
Speaker 2:
What he is reminiscing on, though, is a scene that got cut from the theater version. And this is where his older brother Boramir, who, spoiler alert, is in the first movie. It's a scene when they're in Osgiliath, which is the town near ministeris. I told you, folks, I'm gonna nerd out, okay, I'm. And.
Speaker 1:
I only know, because I also had the risk board of Lord the Rings.
Speaker 2:
So.
Speaker 1:
I learned the map Okay.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, as a teenager. Osgiliath is this that? This little town that's like a it's between Mordor and and ministeris, it's this little town that there's a lot of fighting in and the third movie? Well, yeah, it's a little town, well uh that's the.
Speaker 2:
There's a scene where the steward of gondor, whose Boramir's father, says hey, there's rumor, this is supposedly. It's a. It's like a flashback before the first movie. And he says there's rumor that the ring has been discovered and we need to bring it to ministeris as a weapon. And then he says to his older brother, like so, this is their father who does, who favors Boramir and really shuns faramir, doesn't like him. So faramir has this in board inferiority complex. He's always in the shadow of his younger brother, boramir. He, their father, says to Boramir this is a chance for Boramir to prove his worth or show his worth. It's one of those like lines that the father says to the older brother and then faramir later on Says that to himself in the hope that his father will be proud of him if he brings the ring to ministeris. So that's something you don't get in the theater version.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, but you get in the extended version Crazy, okay.
Speaker 2:
Well, good stuff, yeah, okay. So, anyway, show it, show it. You guys got to watch it.
Speaker 1:
You got to watch it Okay.
Speaker 2:
All right, so number four. Number four you already mentioned was the Patriot.
Speaker 1:
Yeah.
Speaker 2:
Same reasons that you mentioned, so I won't go into those. Just all around, feel good movie.
Speaker 1:
Yeah.
Speaker 2:
Really makes you appreciate the American founding. So yeah, definitely, definitely great movie. And the fifth one. You know I thought about putting some other Nolan movies because I just love Nolan movies, not all of them, but most of them but I figured I would put something on here that really, you know, I'm not, you know I'm not going to be ashamed of it. It's a period piece and it's a it's a seasonal piece the Muppet Christmas Carol.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, the Muppet Christmas Carol folks, if you haven't seen the Muppet Christmas Carol, it's the best Christmas movie you could watch. Oh man, you're going to get some hate for that one. I don't know.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, you know. No Muppets Christmas Carol, you know? And if you guys are mad at me, why don't you just share this episode and tell everyone what a full.
Speaker 1:
Oh man Well Malone.
Speaker 2:
OK, I'm not saying die hard, I'm not saying they aren't. Now Some people would dispute if die hard is actually a Christmas. That's part of the controversy that I argue that it is. I'm going to agree.
Speaker 1:
Good.
Speaker 2:
It is definitely a Christmas movie but yeah, the Muppet Christmas Carol. I just watched it a lot growing up and so I know all the songs. I actually know them to this day. You know the open. So the opening one about Scrooge is just so good. I find myself singing it. You know random times of the year.
Speaker 1:
You'll be really disappointed at me. I've never seen it.
Speaker 2:
Oh, my God.
Speaker 1:
Yeah. I've not seen a lot of movies on my list. I have not Well, I have not, but you mean to be fair. I mean the ones that you're showing and the way that you describe the sound pretty good. I just you know what they should pay me. They should pay me to promote them. But you know what? I'm also not a big movie watcher, I'm more of a TV show.
Speaker 2:
Ok, so that's a big thing. Yeah, so throughout my life.
Speaker 1:
I can't remember as many movies as other people went to or saw. I'm actually just now maybe seen some more of the classic movies, but I just have a couple in there that, or none of them stand out to me enough where I remember so much about them. But I enjoy listening to people who watch the movies and enjoy the themes and everything behind it, because it's so good.
Speaker 2:
But we should. We should do like an episode sometime, like great movies with terrible messages. Yeah, we should totally do something like that, because I got a lot.
Speaker 1:
Yes, there should be a good number of those great movies for terrible messages or or songs that you've listened to your whole life One Rocky.
Speaker 2:
Or no, I'm kidding, I'm kidding.
Speaker 1:
Songs that you've heard your whole life. That actually had a bad message behind it.
Speaker 2:
Oh yeah, you know, oh yeah, Because there's some where you don't know the lyrics or don't pay attention.
Speaker 1:
Now I was saying you're like as an adult, yeah. What in the world? Was I listening to?
Speaker 2:
Yeah, and as a teenager I was really into like rock music.
Speaker 1:
I was yeah.
Speaker 2:
And I look back now, my heavy metal Not not.
Speaker 1:
Or like a screamo More like. More like a talacal. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:
That vibe yeah.
Speaker 1:
OK, yeah, cool. Well, that's. That's a good spot for us to agree on.
Speaker 2:
OK, ok, we agree on Metallica.
Speaker 1:
We disagree on.
Speaker 2:
Muppet Christmas Carol.
Speaker 1:
let the records and and the Rocky soundtrack.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, let the record show.
Speaker 1:
Friends, thanks so much for tuning in to our launch day episodes. We actually released our full length episode first and then published the shorter episodes for you to learn about us, our why and how our life stories, perspectives, faith and even humor influence how we discuss these various topics. We have plenty of more short episodes like this for you to enjoy, so feel free to click on the next episode.
