1954 novel by J. R. R. Tolkien
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We read BOOK THREE X, XI; BOOK FOUR I, II, III, IV. Next episode we'll read The Two Towers aka BOOK FOUR V – X You can go to patreon.com/rangedtouch to support the show and access the bonus episode feed. Send stuff to the PO Box![https://www.patreon.com/posts/po-box-and-new-148206449] Buy books from our Bookshop.org page! [https://bookshop.org/shop/rangedtouch] The show is hosted by… Continue reading The Two Towers – Part 3
In this week's episode, I take a look at the movies and streaming shows I watched in Spring 2026, and rate them from least to most favorite. This coupon code will get you 25% off the ebooks in the Dragontiarna series at my Payhip store: DRAGONJUNE The coupon code is valid through June 15, 2026. So if you need a new ebook this summer, we've got you covered! TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Introduction and Writing Updates Hello, everyone. Welcome to Episode 305 of The Pulp Writer Show. My name is Jonathan Moeller. Today is May 29th, 2026 and today we'll be discussing my Spring Movie Review Roundup for 2026, where I discuss the movies and streaming shows I watched over the last few months. We will also have Coupon of the Week and a progress update on my current writing, publishing, and audiobook projects. So let's start off with Coupon of the Week. This week's coupon code will get you 25% off the ebooks in the Dragontiarna series at my Payhip store. That coupon code is DRAGONJUNE. And as always, you get the coupon code and the links in the show notes for this episode. This coupon code will be valid through June the 15th, 2026. So if you need a new ebook for this summer, we have got you covered. Now let's move on to my current writing, publishing, and audiobook projects. As I mentioned last week, Dragon-Mage is out and you can get it at Amazon and Kindle Unlimited and it's doing well, so thank you for that. My next main project is Blade of Thieves and as of this recording, I am on chapter 11 of 25, though that'll probably expand in the final draft, which puts me at 56,000 words in. So I'm almost halfway through. I think probably it's going to be the length of Blade of Wraiths or a little longer, but we'll see. I'm hoping to have it out towards the end of June, but depending on how June goes, that might slip till July. Hopefully we can avoid that. I'm also 5,000 words into Cloak of Frost and that will be my main project once Blade of Thieves is done. I'm hoping to have Cloak of Frost out towards the end of July, but depending on how June goes, it might slip to August. For audiobook projects, Blade of Wraiths is still processing at ACX, though I believe as of right now, you can get it at Google Play, Kobo, Spotify, and my own Payhip store. The other stores should be available within a few weeks. As of right now, I don't actually have any current audiobooks in production, though we have some scheduled for the future. Once Blade of Thieves is finally done, Brad Wills will record that for us. Hollis McCarthy is scheduled to record Cloak of Worlds in June, if all goes well. Leanne Woodward will be recording Dragon-Mage sometime in July, if all goes well. So that is where I'm at with my current writing, publishing, and audiobook projects. Hopefully we'll have new things for you to read and listen to before much longer. 00:02:32 Main Topic: Spring 2026 Movie Review Roundup Now without any further ado, let's move on to our main topic, my Spring 2026 Movie Review Roundup. It's time for the Spring 2026 Movie Review Roundup, where I review the movies and streaming shows I watched over the last few months. As always, they're listed from least favorite to most favorite. The grades are wholly subjective and based on nothing more than my own opinions and thoughts. With that disclaimer out of the way, let's go to the movies. First up is Kicking and Screaming, which came out in 2005. This is a family comedy with Will Ferrell and Robert Duvall. Pharrell plays Phil Weston, a mild mannered vitamin store owner and Duvall plays his father, Buck Weston, owner of a successful chain of sports equipment stores. Buck is one of those hyper competitive guys who has to win at everything and Phil has always rolled with it. But when Phil's son is a benchwarmer on the youth soccer team that Buck coaches, Phil's had enough and starts coaching a rival team to get his son into the game and to defeat his father. Along the way, of course, he descends into Will Ferrell style comedic lunacy, but the PG version since this is a PG movie. Mike Ditka was also hilarious as Phil's sidekick and assistant coach. It seemed like an '80s family movie. It was a sort of movie where you could have taken the entire family to the theater in 2005 and everyone would have been at least moderately entertained. Overall Grade: C Next up is the animated Lord of the Rings, which came out in 1978. As I mentioned, this was the animated version of Lord of the Rings from 1978. Extremely ambitious, but I think it's fair to say this landed in ambitious failure territory, but they tried the best they could given the constraints of the technology at the time and the actual available budget. They tried to pack the entirety of the Fellowship of the Ring and the first half of The Two Towers into about two hours and 20 minutes. I'm sorry to say it just didn't work. Like Dune, the Lord of the Rings is one of those books that requires like 10 hours of very expensive filmmaking to pull off properly. That said, I think it is fair to say that this stumbled so that the Peter Jackson live action trilogy could run. Adapting a book (especially a big book) into a movie is a challenge and I don't think this quite got there. Too much was cut out and if you hadn't read the book, you would probably have no idea what was happening or just been confused the entire time. Additionally, the movie relied heavily on rotoscoping and it didn't always quite work. Like the rotoscope Nazgul looked creepy and unsettling, so that worked for them. However, the rotoscoped orcs just looked bad. You know how in live theater stagehands will dress all in black? The orcs kind of looked like that, albeit they're wearing yellow ponchos over their black stagehand outfits, almost like the stagehands were expecting inclement weather backstage. That said, the vocal performances and the music were very good. So an ambitious and admirable failure. As I said, I think the filmmaker's vision exceeded the grasp of their budget and the available technology of the 1970s. Overall Grade: C Next up is Airplane!, which came out in 1980. It was interesting to watch this as a cultural artifact. It had the leisurely pace of an '80s movie, with far more absurdist humor. It was a parody of various airplane disaster movies from the 1970s. It's also interesting that this is remembered as a Leslie Nielsen movie nowadays, though Leslie Nielsen 's character is only a supporting character. For all that he's known for his absurdist humor these days from later movies, Nielsen plays his character stone cold dead straight, which makes him all the funnier, amazingly enough. Some of the jokes in this movie have aged very badly, but it's still worth watching as an interesting and amusing cultural artifact, given how it influenced the entire genre of comedy movies afterwards. There's also the obligatory three seconds of nudity that can get cut on cable TV broadcast. Overall Grade: B- Next up is the Thomas Crown Affair, which came out in 1999. This is an interesting remake of a movie from the 1960s. Pierce Brosnan plays Thomas Crown, a billionaire who has grown bored with his life, so he orchestrates the theft of a priceless Monet painting from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The heist goes off flawlessly and the museum's insurance company sends out investigator Catherine Banning (played by Renee Russo) to retrieve the painting and avoid a hundred million dollar insurance payout. Banning immediately intuits that Crown is the thief and sets about to find the painting. This investigation is complicated by the fact that Crown and Banning immediately develop a strong attraction and start an affair. It was interesting to watch since neither Crown nor Banning are particularly sympathetic characters. In 2026, the phrase "bored New York billionaire" has much more sinister connotations than it did in 1999 and Banning breaks all kinds of laws and sleeping with her target is not a particularly bright idea. That said, the opening heist was interesting and Crown's final gambit to return the painting was extremely clever and enjoyable to watch. So overall, I like the movie, but there's still way too much nudity. Cable broadcasts are probably like 10 minutes shorter than the actual runtime from cutting it all out. Overall Grade: B- Next up is Whiskey Galore, which came out in 2017 and this is a remake of the original Whiskey Galore from 1949. Honestly, this is exactly the same movie from 1949 that I watched in the Movie Review Roundup for Summer 2025, just updated with modern filmmaking techniques. If the movie makers in the '40s could have done it this way, they would have. Though I would recommend watching the 1949 one first and then the one from 2017. Overall Grade: B Next up is Super Mario Galaxy, which came out in 2026. And I have to admit, it felt a little strange to be the oldest person at the theater watching Super Mario Galaxy, but I've been playing Mario games since before any of these kids were born, so I think I had a right to be there. Anyway, I would say this movie is about 75% as good as the first one. It was a little overpacked and the plot wasn't quite as tight, but it's still fun to watch. The animation was excellent and I enjoyed all the callbacks to the various Mario games and since I haven't actually played all the Mario games (as a reminder, I played no console games of any kind between 1998 and 2019), I'm sure there were quite a few I missed. The plot is that Bowser Jr is coming to rescue his father, Bowser, who's been held captive since the end of the last movie. To power his doomsday weapon, Junior kidnaps Princess Rosalina and Princess Peach goes to rescue her while Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi stay to protect the Mushroom Kingdom. Their separate subplots will end up crossing when Bowser Jr. invades the Mushroom Kingdom to get Bowser. Glen Powell was an excellent choice to voice Fox McCloud. I'd say if you could imagine a movie that the audience would enjoy and the critics would hate, you'd end up with Super Mario Galaxy. Since that appears to be what happened to the tune of $970 million, it appears that metaphor was accurate. Also, to be less glib, "movies you can take your kids to" do serve a valuable social function (in my opinion). Overall Grade: B Next up is the Rise and Fall of Reggie Dinkins, which came out in 2026. This was a comedy with a fun premise. Reggie Dinkins (played by Tracy Morgan) was an elite NFL player who got bounced out of the league for placing bets on himself. Years later, he teams up with an indie filmmaker named Arthur Tobin (played by Daniel Radcliffe), to make a documentary to rehabilitate his image. However, Tobin has his own issues. He has an Oscar, but after the Oscar, he got hired to direct a Marvel movie and cracked under the pressure. He and Reggie have to go on a journey to recover their reputations. I thought this was a pretty funny sitcom. Tracy Morgan is a comedic natural, but Daniel Radcliffe turned out to be an excellent comedic actor as well. He was great in that Weird Al biopic a few years ago and he's very funny in this. Craig Robinson was also great as Jerry Basmati, Reggie's sleazy nemesis. Overall Grade: B+ Next up is The Mandalorian and Grogu, which came out in 2026. I enjoyed this. It was like three pretty good episodes of The Mandalorian show put together. The end result was an adventure movie that kind of reminded me of the best of 1980s fantasy and sci-fi movies with a lot of creature work and a lot of action scenes. For an extended stretch of the movie, Grogu takes over as the primary protagonist, and given that Grogu is a very expensive puppet, that's an impressive feat. The plot picks up from the end of The Mandalorian show. The Mandalorian and his adopted son Grogu are now working for the New Republic, helping to hunt down Imperial warlords. Mando gets assigned to hunt down in a mysterious Imperial warlord named Commander Coin, but the only people who have information on Coin's location are the Twins, a pair of Hutt crime lords and relatives of Jabba the Hutt from Return of the Jedi. The Twins are willing to give up Coin's location if Mando does a job for them, but as Han Solo could have warned Mando, working for the Hutts is not a good idea. I was surprised that the reviews for this movie were as mixed as they were, but I suspect that's a combination of three social factors: Number one, cumulative ill will towards Disney as a corporation, which has done numerous sketchy things in the 2020s. I think something similar happened with Microsoft and Starfield. Number two, the lingering bad aftertaste of the sequel trilogy and number three, the tendency of the hardcore Star Wars fandom to chronically overthink things. Overall Grade: B+ Next up is the animated Hobbit, which came out in 1977. Peter Jackson's Hobbit Trilogy from the 2010 famously stretched The Hobbit across three movies, which really didn't work and added a bunch of epic battle scenes, which was totally off for what was essentially a children's book. The animated 1977 version of The Hobbit, by contrast, went in a different direction, neatly adapting it down to 70 minutes or so, presumably because animation is very expensive. At the time, this got mixed reviews, but looking back nearly 50 years later, I think we can appreciate it more because of the sheer amount of work that goes into hand-drawn animation. Like computer-based animation is unquestionably a lot of work as well, but hand-drawn animation is on something of a higher level in terms of difficulty, in my opinion. That said, I think this adaptation did a better job of compressing the story down than the animated Lord of the Rings movie I mentioned earlier in this episode. There's also a lot of 1970s style folk singing-like a LOT. I suspect J.R.R. Tolkien would have hated every single adaptation ever made of any of his works (with perhaps the exception of the audiobooks), but he would have approved of the number of songs and poetry in this. Though it was amusing that the high elves in this movie sing in a '70s folk music style. It would be humorous if in the Silmarillion, Earnedil the Mariner had finally crossed the Sundering Seas to reach Valinor and appeal the aid of the Valar against Morgoth and his hordes, only to hear '70 style folk music echoing across the shining hills of the Undying Lands. Anyway, it's definitely worth watching this if you like The Hobbit or old style animation. Overall Grade: A- Next up is House of David Season 2, which came out in 2026. I wrestled with what grade to give this because it used a lot of AI for the big battle scene in episode one and as long time readers and listeners know, I do not generally approve of LLM generated slop. Ironically, I think episode one, the big battle sequence with all the AI, was definitely the weakest point of the entire second season. Everything else was better. That said, all the character drama and interactions and acting were really good, which amusingly shows that while LLM stuff can generate blurry scenes of mounted soldiers charging at night, the real human emotion comes from, well, real human emotion. Anyway, this picks right up from the end of Season 1, right after David kills Goliath, which means it takes place during most of the events with the third quarter of the book of 1 Samuel from the Bible. David becomes one of the chief commanders of King Saul, but David is secretly the anointed king of Israel. Saul's deteriorating mental state becomes threatening to David while Saul's children scheme for position (with the exception of Jonathan, who has accepted that God has chosen David as the next king of Israel) and the Philistines prepare for war against Israel. It is interesting how the show alternates between leaning into the Grimdark aspects of life in the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age and avoiding them. Like, constant warfare was a fact of life for a Mesopotamian king around 1000 BC. But the show also shows David as having passionate romantic love for Saul's daughter Michal and in the Bible, David ended up with at least eight wives that we know about (there were likely others) and an unnamed number of concubines. So late Bronze Age/early Iron Age monarchs were not likely to have been in the grips of fervent romantic love. Though based on the Psalms he wrote, David seems to have been a man who definitely was in touch with his emotions and quite possibly he would have passionately loved multiple women at the same time. Anyway, I enjoyed the show. While I am not an expert, I probably have a higher than average level of Old Testament knowledge. So when the show expanded on something from 1 Samuel (such as the role of Doeg, the murderous Edomite shepherd), I could see where they were coming from. Or the subplot where Jonathan falls in love with an Israelite woman since in the Bible, David took care of Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth, logically, Jonathan had a wife at some point. Related to that as Saul continues his descent, in a moment of rage in 1 Samuel, he calls Jonathan "the son of a perverse and rebellious woman" and the show has a subplot explaining how Saul came to see Queen Ahinoam as a "perverse and rebellious woman". So I enjoyed this and will definitely watch Season 3 when it comes along. That said, the opening battle with the AI generated battle scenes is still definitely the weakest part of the series, though. Overall Grade: A- Next up is Maul: Shadow Lord, which came out in 2026. And in my opinion, this was pretty good. I think he could call the plot Sith Noir. Maul, desiring vengeance against the Emperor for all the pain he has endured, has decided to rebuild his criminal syndicate (previously destroyed in the Clone Wars) and use it to bring down the Empire. Meanwhile, Captain Lawson, a detective on a minor world, is trying to rebuild his relationship with his teenage son and keep his career afloat. This becomes tricky when a pair of fugitive Jedi fleeing from the Inquisitors turn up on their world. But in the younger of the two Jedi, Maul sees a potential apprentice for himself, one he could corrupt to the dark side. The animation has improved by quantum leaps and bounds since the days of the Clone War show. The lighting and the shadows are excellent. Maul looks spooky and a little uncanny. The lightsaber fights are quick and fluid. No spoilers, but the final episode is absolutely excellent. I also think one of the best things about the Star Wars animation shows is how Maul's character has evolved from simply the cool swordsmen at the end of The Phantom Menace to a sympathetic yet still evil warrior-philosopher, a tragic figure whose every effort always contains the seeds of its own downfall. Overall Grade: A Next up is Emma, which came out in 2020. This is an excellent adaptation of the Jane Austen's novel. Good performances, good cinematography, and it captures the essence of the novel quite well and it's probably a must for Austen fans to see. I don't really have anything negative to say about it, say that it has the three seconds of unnecessary nudity that can be cut in cable broadcasts. Ironically, and quite amusingly, that three seconds of nudity is quite literally the only thing this movie has in common with Airplane!. Overall Grade: A Next up is No Packers, No Life, which came out in 2025. This was a fun documentary about a group of Japanese Green Bay Packers fans. Obviously, there are fairly large cultural and linguistic divides between the United States and Japan, so American football is not hugely popular in Japan. However, the Green Bay Packers are the only community owned team in the NFL to this day and so they're quite a bit more sympathetic than one that's owned by a faceless billionaire. Anyway, an American businessman goes to Japan and stumbles across a Japanese man wearing a Packers jersey at a bar. From there, he learns of a small club called the Japanese Packers Cheering Team that gathered to watch Packers games. This businessman in question happened to be from Wisconsin, so he befriended the Japanese Packers Cheering Team and invited them to Green Bay for a game. The invitation snowballed and so the entire club and their families arrived to watch the game. Sports fandom really isn't one of my interests, so it's always interesting to look at it from the outside. That said, this was an enjoyable documentary about cross-cultural communication at its best. Overall Grade: A Let's close out this episode with my favorite thing I saw in spring 2026, which was Project Hail Mary, which came out in 2026. This is another "science man solves space problem that saves the day with math and science", type science fiction adventure like The Martian, though some new twists on the formula. Dr. Ryland Grace wakes up alone on a spaceship with all the other crew dead and no memory of how he got there. Gradually, he partially remembers and works out that he is part of Project Hail Mary, a last ditch effort to stop Earth's sun from dimming due to an extremophile organism called the Astrophage. Only one other star in Earth's stellar neighborhood was showing no signs of Astrophage infection, so Grace's ship was sent there on a suicide mission to try and recover some means of defeating the Astrophage. While there, he encounters an alien ship with a sole survivor and he slowly works out how to communicate with the alien, who he dubs Rocky. It turns out Rocky's people sent him there on a mission to solve the Astrophage problem as well and together Grace and Rocky try to work out how to save their respective home worlds. Quite enjoyable and worth seeing. At the time I typed this in March of 2026, it was the highest-grossing movie of 2026 and I think it deserved that, though it did eventually get overtaken by Super Mario Galaxy. Overall Grade: A I suppose that was an eclectic range of movies, wasn't it? Interestingly, I actually saw three of them in theaters: Project Hail Mary, Super Mario Galaxy, and The Mandalorian and Grogu, so I went to the theater three times in three months. I think that's the most I've been to the movie theater in a single year in the entirety of the 2020s. So that is it for this week. Thank you for listening to The Pulp Writer Show. I hope you found the show interesting. A reminder that you can listen to all the back episodes at https://thepulpwritershow.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcasting platform of choice. Stay safe and stay healthy and we'll see you all next week.
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Preached by Pastor Jared Kress on May 24, 2026. Main Idea:There is a constant pull in our lives to trade living for Christ for living for ourselves. May we recognize that the greatest joy, fulfillment, and impact come from building on Christ and His work.Challenge:Which tower are you building your life upon?1. The Tower that Rebels Upward2. The Tower that Reaches Downward3. The Kingdom that Radiates Outward-----Join us in person Sundays at 10:30am at 6325 Poplar Ave, Memphis TN or online at https://www.kirbywoods.org/live. Follow us online! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kirbywoodsmemphis Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kirbywoodsmemphis YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kirbywoods Podcast: https://kirbywoodspodcast.buzzsprout.com
Series: Contending for The Faith Title: "How do we stand firm in truth and love?" Part 1 Scripture: Jude 1:1-16 2 Cor 13:5 "test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves." Numbers 14 12 spies Ezekiel 16:49 Sodom and Gommorah's sins 1 Cor 6:9-11 Wicked Corinth received cleansing Bottom line: Standing firm means contending for The Faith, rejecting distorted grace, and staying vigilant in fruit-bearing of both ourselves and others in love and by love. INTRODUCTION CONTEXT OUTLINE CONCLUSION DISCUSSION QUESTIONS NOTES YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION MAIN REFERENCES USED My opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same. OPENING STORY(ies) From the Lord of the Rings second book, The Two Towers In The Lord of the Rings, King Théoden has slowly fallen under the corrupting influence of Gríma Wormtongue. Wormtongue constantly whispers lies, fear, half-truths, and discouragement into the king's ear until Théoden becomes weak, passive, isolated, and unable to discern reality clearly. The corruption is subtle, not obvious. Wormtongue presents himself as a loyal counselor while actually undermining the king and the kingdom from within. Then Gandalf confronts the deception directly. He exposes Wormtongue's influence, calls Théoden to wake up, and helps him see clearly again. Once freed from that corrupting voice, Théoden rises, regains strength, and leads courageously. That parallels Jude well: False teachers rarely arrive looking dangerous. They infiltrate quietly (“have slipped in among you” — Jude 4). They distort truth while pretending loyalty. Over time they weaken discernment, courage, holiness, and mission. Jude, like Gandalf, is sounding the alarm: wake up, see clearly, contend for the faith, and do not surrender the community to corrupt influences. -ChatGPT Jude is giving the Church a wake-up call to arms. It's a challenging call that most Christ-followers brush aside so it won't disturb their spiritual slumber. Through Jude's letter, God is calling his church--his body--to rise up and contend for the faith, reject distorted grace, and stay vigilant with ourselves and others regarding ungodliness. We do all of this in love because we're loved. This calling is for everyone. And it's a calling few are willing to step into. It reminded me of Shackleton's newspaper ad when recruiting and hiring men for his expedition to cross Antarctica: Right image courtesy of John Hyatt http://johnhyattillustration.com SHACKLETON Newspaper ad: "Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in event of success." CONTEXT The book of Jude was written by Jude, who identifies himself as “a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James” (Jude 1). Most scholars believe this means Jude was also a half-brother of Jesus, making him part of Jesus' earthly family (cf. Matthew 13:55). Rather than emphasizing his family connection to Jesus, Jude humbly identifies himself as Christ's servant. He likely wrote the letter sometime before AD 70 to a group of Christians facing the growing threat of false teachers infiltrating the church from within. Jude originally intended to write a positive letter about “the salvation we share,” but felt compelled instead to urge believers to “contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God's holy people” (Jude 3). The danger was not primarily persecution from outside the church, but corruption from inside it. These false teachers distorted God's grace into permission for immorality, rejected God's authority, and influenced others through arrogance, sensuality, and selfish ambition. Jude responds with some of the strongest warning language in the New Testament, drawing repeatedly from Old Testament history and vivid illustrations to remind believers that God takes both truth and holiness seriously. Yet the letter is ultimately framed by hope: believers are loved by God the Father, kept by Jesus Christ, and sustained by God's power. Bottom line: Standing firm means contending for The Faith, rejecting distorted grace, and staying vigilant of both ourselves and others in love and by love. OUTLINE I. Contend for "The Faith" by holding fast to the Truth (1-4) * It's about who we are in Christ. (1-2) * It's about being loved so that we love others. (1-2) * It's the purpose of this letter (3) * It's why this is the purpose of this letter (4) II. Reject the distortion of grace and don't give in to licentious ways * You will be judged * Old Testament examples CONCLUSION ““Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.” Luke 6:41-42 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/luk.6.41-42.NIV “Because the church here is under a satanic lullaby and I'm falling asleep. Every time I try to wake up, the lullaby goes faster. Let's go back to my country.” According to the testimony, an Iranian Christian couple escaped persecution and moved to a Western country (often retold specifically as America). The husband believed they finally had “the abundant life” — safety, money, comfort, freedom. But after only a short time, the wife became deeply troubled and told him she wanted to return to the Middle East because the spiritual complacency of the Western church was more dangerous to her soul than persecution in Iran. It appears to come from interviews and testimony connected to the documentary Sheep Among Wolves Volume II and was later repeated on podcasts and blogs, including an interview on Jennie Allen's podcast/blog. https://www.jennieallen.com/blog/the-underground-church?utm_source=chatgpt.com Pray Questions (Write this down) - grab an index card and pen What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it? Write this down on the index card in the seat pockets. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/ Read the passage together. Retell the story in your own words. Discovery the story 1. What does this story tell me about God? 2. What does this story tell me about people? 3. If this is really true, what should I do? What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down) What are you going to do about it? (Write this down) Who am I going to tell about this? Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast NOTES "A ten-year-old started screaming about a wave no one could see—and 100 people lived because her parents believed her. December 26, 2004. Mai Khao Beach, Phuket, Thailand. Christmas holiday. Perfect weather. The Smith family walked along the sand on their first overseas vacation together. Then Tilly noticed something wrong. The water wasn't behaving normally. ""It wasn't calm and it wasn't going in and then out,"" she later recalled. ""It was just coming in and in and in."" The sea had turned frothy—""like you get on a beer,"" she said. ""It was sort of sizzling."" Any other ten-year-old might have thought it strange. Tilly knew exactly what it meant. Two weeks earlier, her geography teacher Andrew Kearney had shown the class footage of the 1946 tsunami that devastated Hawaii. He taught them the warning signs: sea receding unusually far, frothy bubbling water, ocean behaving strangely. Tilly was watching those exact warning signs unfold in front of her. She started screaming at her parents. ""There's going to be a tsunami!"" They didn't believe her. They couldn't see any wave. The sky was clear. The beach was calm. But Tilly wouldn't stop. She became more insistent, more frantic. ""I'm going,"" she finally said. ""I'm definitely going. There is definitely going to be a tsunami."" Her father Colin heard the urgency in her voice. He decided to trust his daughter. By coincidence, a Japanese man nearby overheard Tilly use the word ""tsunami."" He'd just heard news of an earthquake in Sumatra. ""I think your daughter's right,"" he said. Colin alerted hotel staff. They began evacuating immediately. Tilly's mother Penny was one of the last to leave. She had to sprint as the water began rushing in behind her. ""I ran,"" she recalled, ""and then I thought I was going to die."" They made it to the second floor with seconds to spare. Then the wave hit. Thirty feet tall. Everything on the beach—beds, palm trees, debris—was swept into the pool and beyond. ""Even if you hadn't drowned,"" Penny later said, ""you would have been hit by something."" The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami killed over 230,000 people across 14 countries. Entire beaches in Phuket were wiped out. But at Mai Khao Beach, not a single person died. Because a ten-year-old girl paid attention in geography class. Tilly was hailed as the ""Angel of the Beach."" She received awards, spoke at the United Nations, met Bill Clinton. Her story is now taught in schools worldwide. Her father Colin still thinks about what could have happened. ""If she hadn't told us, we would have just kept on walking,"" he said. ""I'm convinced we would have died."" Tilly still credits her teacher. ""If it wasn't for Mr. Kearney,"" she told the UN, ""I'd probably be dead and so would my family."" Two weeks. One lesson. One hundred lives. That's the power of education. YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION Contending for the Faith | “How Do We Stand Firm in Truth and Love?” Preacher: Darien Gabriel Series: Contending for the Faith Scripture: Epistle of Jude 1–16 (NIV) Grace Christian Fellowship Grace Christian Fellowship In a culture filled with spiritual confusion, distorted grace, and growing compromise, the book of Jude gives the church a wake-up call. Jude urges believers to “contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God's holy people” (Jude 3). The danger wasn't primarily persecution from outside the church—but corruption from within. False teachers quietly slipped into the church, distorted God's grace into permission for sin, rejected God's authority, and weakened discernment among God's people. In this message, Pastor Darien Gabriel walks through Jude 1–16 and explores what it means to stand firm in both truth and love. Bottom Line Standing firm means contending for the faith, rejecting distorted grace, and staying vigilant in fruit-bearing of both ourselves and others in love and by love. In This Sermon * What it means to “contend for the faith” * Why false teaching is often subtle and deceptive * The danger of spiritual complacency * How grace can be distorted into license for sin * Why vigilance and discernment matter in the church * The examples of Israel, Sodom & Gomorrah, and rebellious angels * How believers can examine themselves faithfully and lovingly * Why truth and love must stay together Key Scriptures * Epistle of Jude 1–16 * Second Epistle to the Corinthians 13:5 * Book of Numbers 14 * Book of Ezekiel 16:49 * First Epistle to the Corinthians 6:9–11 * Gospel of Luke 6:41–42 Opening Illustrations This sermon includes reflections on: * The Two Towers and the corrupting influence of Gríma Wormtongue on King Théoden * Ernest Shackleton's famous Antarctic expedition recruitment ad * Testimonies from persecuted believers who warn against the spiritual complacency of the Western church Jude reminds us that false teaching rarely announces itself openly. It slips in quietly, weakens discernment gradually, and lulls believers into spiritual compromise. But God calls His people to wake up, see clearly, and remain faithful to Jesus Christ. Opening Prayer: “Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in Him and leading others to do the same.” If this message encourages you, please like, subscribe, and share it with others seeking truth, discernment, and faithful discipleship in Christ. #Jude #ContendForTheFaith MAIN REFERENCES USED “Proverbs,” by Ray Ortland, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes Exalting Jesus in Proverbs, Daniel Akin Windows of Wisdom, Stephen Olford “The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC) “The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC) Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB) Willmington's Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH) NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/ Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT) ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com “Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB) “The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY) Claude.ai
We read BOOK THREE V – IX. Next episode we'll read The Two Towers aka BOOK THREE X, XI; BOOK FOUR I, II, III, IV You can go to patreon.com/rangedtouch to support the show and access the bonus episode feed. Send stuff to the PO Box![https://www.patreon.com/posts/po-box-and-new-148206449] Buy books from our Bookshop.org page! [https://bookshop.org/shop/rangedtouch] The show is hosted by… Continue reading The Two Towers – Part 2
The 2026 Elementals Gathering is a wrap — 17 speakers, two panels, three days on 100 acres in Missouri. Topher Gardner of Biocharisma and I jumped on a live stream to decompress and dig into what actually happened.We cover the group energy dynamics that emerge at intentional gatherings and why they mirror altered states, a synesthesia moment where my sense of self physically expanded, the surprising coherence between speaker topics that weren't coordinated, Kyle Denton's herb walk and what you need to know about hemlock, Chris Crutchfield's documentary-level research on how every industry connects through banking, Chris Winters and why electroculture may be the most underestimated agricultural revolution happening right now, Marty's Gnostic sermon and the Two Towers musical finale, consciousness as electrical capacitance, and a live wrist circumcision.Elementals Gathering 2027 is already in the works — late April/early May, Mother's Day weekend.https://www.elementalsgathering.comBiofield Tuning sessions — use code ELEMENTALS for $33 off a 45 minute session: https://www.innerversepodcast.com/biofield-tuningFollow Topher and @BioCharisma at https://www.topherhq.comSUPPORTKyle Denton's Potent Plant Medicines – Tippecanoe Herbs (use coupon code 'innerverse'): https://www.tippecanoeherbs.comFlower Elixirs by LotusWei: https://www.lotuswei.com/innerverseLearn To Trade Like A Wizard: https://www.skool.com/tradingbusiness/about?ref=6043c01b48d04a20ba5e90e1dd83602d Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We read BOOK THREE I – IV. Next episode we'll read The Two Towers aka Book Three chapters V – IX. You can go to patreon.com/rangedtouch to support the show and access the bonus episode feed. Send stuff to the PO Box![https://www.patreon.com/posts/po-box-and-new-148206449] Buy books from our Bookshop.org page! [https://bookshop.org/shop/rangedtouch] The show is hosted by Cameron Kunzelman, Michael Lutz,… Continue reading The Two Towers – Part 1
Today's brand new episode is a full review of 2002's The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. We give it the modern-day, scene‑by‑scene treatment and ask the important questions like how is Legolas' hair so perfect? Why is Frodo the most annoying main character in history? Does Andy Serkis deserve an Oscar for this performance, and is The Two Towers actually better than Fellowship? Join us! •0:00:00 - Introductions •0:02:30 - Memories of first viewing •0:06:00 - Pertinent movie details •0:10:00 - Critical and fan reviews •0:17:00 - Scene by scene breakdown •1:42:00 - Modern day ratings —————————————————————— SPONSORS- **TruDiagnostics- Our listeners can get 20% off at http://TruDiagnostic.com using code CONFUSED at checkout. **NordVPN- Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to http://nordvpn.com/breakfast to get a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + 4 additional months on top! It's completely risk-free with Nord's 30-day money-back guarantee! **BIG GROVE- Check out our beers of the episode here- http://BigGrove.com **PROGRESSIVE- Visit http://progressive.com **FABLETICS- Get 80% off everything when you sign up as a VIP! Just head to http://Fabletics.com/confused **LITTLE SLEEPIES- If you're expecting or dressing little ones, check out Little Sleeps. You can visit http://littlesleepies.com and use promo code GOODNIGHT for 10% off of your first order. **WAYFAIR- Find furniture, decor, and essentials that fit your unique style and budget. http://Wayfair.com —————————————————————— **Support us at http://patreon.com/confusedbreakfast for bonus weekly episodes, voting on upcoming movies, giving your modern-day ratings on our movies and much more. **Mail us something The Confused Breakfast PO Box 10016 Cedar Rapids, IA 52402-9802 Special thanks to our executive producers- Josh Miller, Starling, Dylan Mick and NicMad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We read BOOK TWO VIII – X. Next episode we'll read The Two Towers aka Book Three chapters I – IV. You can go to patreon.com/rangedtouch to support the show and access the bonus episode feed. Send stuff to the PO Box![https://www.patreon.com/posts/po-box-and-new-148206449] Buy books from our Bookshop.org page! [https://bookshop.org/shop/rangedtouch] The show is hosted by Cameron Kunzelman, Michael Lutz,… Continue reading The Fellowship of the Ring – Part 5
Our listeners can buy one prescription pair and get 20% off additional pairs at http://warbyparker.com/KINDAFUNNY — and using our link helps support the show. #WarbyParker #ad Thank you for the support! Run of Show - - Start - ADS - Plot Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In Review: Movies Ranked, Reviewed, & Recapped – A Kinda Funny Film & TV Podcast
Our listeners can buy one prescription pair and get 20% off additional pairs at http://warbyparker.com/KINDAFUNNY — and using our link helps support the show. #WarbyParker #ad Thank you for the support! Run of Show - - Start - ADS - Plot Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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In Review: Movies Ranked, Reviewed, & Recapped – A Kinda Funny Film & TV Podcast
The Kinda Funny Membership gets you Ad-Free and Exclusive Shows: https://www.youtube.com/KindaFunnyGames/join http://www.patreon.com/KindaFunny Thank you for the support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Send us Fan MailThe Boardgame Specialists Podcast Episode 143: Rocky Mountaint Retreat 2026 RecapBe sure to follow us on discord.https://discord.gg/ssnqjsRFxV%0A Follow Carla at: IG: boardgamespecialist FB: Red Deer Board Game Fanatics Follow Mel at: IG: mels_boardgame_room FB Mel's Board Game Room YouTube: Mel's Board Game Room Bluesky: Mel's Board Game Room[6:52] The Druids of Edora [10:01] Coffee Rush[13:17] Saltfjord[18:01] Rebel Princess[20:32] Shapely[23:32] Tournay[26:08] Dimension[28:00] Moon Colony Bloodbath[32:16] Heaven & Ale[36:33] Kingdom Crossing[39:38] Mistborn[43:58] Zenith[45:12] Duck & Cover[49:10] Otter[51:38] Earth[57:22] Everdell[1:01:26] Lemming Mafia[1:06:07] Beyond The Horizon[1:09:33] Park Life[1:12:15] Sanibel[1:15:19] Sauros[1:18:11] Shackleton Base[1:25:16] Magical Athlete[1:28:53] Clans of Caledonia[1:32:59] The Lord of the Rings the Two Towers[1:36:55] Timber Town
The Bourne Identity 2002 Review kicks off a brand-new era of action cinema, and this week on Born to Watch, the boys break down the movie that changed everything.After a chaotic start that only this crew can deliver, Whitey, Dan and Will dive into The Bourne Identity, the film that flipped the script on what an action hero looks like. Gone are the invincible muscle-bound icons of the 80s and 90s, enter Jason Bourne, a confused, calculated and absolutely lethal operator played by Matt Damon in a career-defining role.Pulled from the ocean with no memory and two bullets in his back, Bourne is forced to piece together who he is while being hunted by the very organisation that created him. What follows is a grounded, gritty thriller that trades explosions for realism and spectacle for precision.Whitey reflects on just how many times he's seen this video shop classic (hint: it's borderline unhealthy), while Will comes in fresh, experiencing Bourne for the first time and questioning how this one slipped through the cracks. Dan, meanwhile, brings the chaos, including losing his phone at sea and somehow tying it back to Bourne's survival odds.The boys dig into what makes this film stand out. The realism. The pacing. The fight choreography that feels raw and believable. And of course, Matt Damon, the unlikely action star who proved everyone wrong. From embassy escapes to park bench beatdowns, Bourne doesn't just fight, he reacts, and that's what makes it feel so different.There's also plenty of discussion around the supporting cast. Does Marie actually bring anything to the table? Is Chris Cooper quietly elite in everything he touches? And why is Julia Stiles getting top billing for doing absolutely nothing?As always, things go off the rails. There's a debate around whether fishermen are the most honest blokes on earth, a deep dive into Hollywood's best and worst operators, and one of the more ridiculous breakdowns of Bourne's observational skills you'll ever hear.The crew also revisits 2002, a massive year for film, and pits Bourne against the likes of The Two Towers, Spider-Man, and Attack of the Clones… which gets exactly the treatment you'd expect.At its core, The Bourne Identity is more than just a great action movie; it's a reset button for the genre. It paved the way for everything that followed, from Casino Royale to John Wick, and it still holds up over two decades later.So… does it belong in the upper tier of action films? Or is it slightly overrated?You know the drill.Hit play, grab a beer, and let's find out. JOIN THE CONVERSATIONIs Bourne the most realistic action hero ever?Could this movie be made the same way today?And seriously… how does he survive that opening scene?#BourneIdentity #BornToWatch #MoviePodcast #ActionMovies #MattDamon #FilmReview #JasonBourne #2000sMovies #SpyThriller #MovieDiscussion
With Lori on a whole-ass other continent, we're left sad and lonely and drifting through the news of the week, with much talk of American decline, our lack of faith on one another, and whether or not we are a people capable of building the sort of world we hope to live in. It's quite a hoot! Listen, if you must! Has something we said, or failed to say, made you FEEL something? You can tell us all about it by joining the conversation on our Substack or you can send us an email here. Enjoy!Show RundownOpen — Some talk of Geno Smith, inexplicably5:10 — Dudes in the Wild, Betting on Senate Races19:52 — Iran war is over or about to be or possibly escalating ¯_(ツ)_/¯31:05 — Does American public opinion matter at all?1:09:41 — Did CBS News' News Senior National Correspondent Mark Strassmann Get Off a Good One?1:12:59 — Wrap-up! Hamnet; The Alabama Solution; Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere; The Two Towers; Baseball season is upon us and how that might herald the decline of civilizationRelevant Linkage can be found by visiting https://brainiron.substack.com/, where, if you would like to support this and the other podcasting and blogging endeavors of the Brain Iron dot com media empire, you can also become a paying subscriber.The opening and closing themes of Cast Iron Brains were composed by Marc Gillig. For more from Marc, go to tetramermusic.com.
This week’s Best Picture-winning archive pick takes us back to May, 2018, when Adam and Josh returned to The Shire for a LORD OF THE RINGS reckoning, with a review of the entire trilogy (the final two installments of which Adam had never seen, including the Best Picture-winning RETURN OF THE KING). The original episode (#681) also includes a Top 5 Lord of the Rings Scenes. For full access to the show archive, Filmspotting Discord, ad-free and monthly bonus episodes, and more, join the Filmspotting Family.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Titles: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring [Wikipedia] [IMDb] The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers [Wikipedia] [IMDb] Director: Peter Jackson Producers: Barrie M. Osborne, Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh Tim Sanders (TFOTR) Writers: Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson (screenplay); J. R. R. Tolkien (original novel) Stephen Sinclair (TTT: screenplay) Stars: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Ian Holm, Andy Serkis Sean Bean (TFOTR) Bernard Hill, Miranda Otto, David Wenham, Brad Dourif, Karl Urban (TTT) Release dates: December 19, 2001 (TFOTR: US) December 18, 2002 (TTT: US) SHOWNOTES: One does not simply review the Lord of the Rings trilogy... but we'll attempt to! In Part 1 of our two-part episode on arguably the greatest film trilogy of all time, Ash and Beau discuss the movie adaptations of The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers. We talk the many beloved characters, iconic landscapes from the Shire to Helm's Deep, and countless memorable quotes/meme lines of these two films. So, grab some of that hobbit pipe-weed, listen along, and stay tuned for Part 2, where we'll cover The Return of the King! Collateral Cinema is happy to announce that we are now partnered with Dubby Energy! Use our promo code CCINEMAPOD to get 10% off your first purchase of Dubby Energy drinks on their website: https://dubby.gg/discount/CCINEMAPOD (Collateral Cinema is a Collateral Media Podcast. Intro song is a license-free beat from Purple Planet Music. All music and movie clips are owned by their respective creators and are used for educational purposes only. Please don't sue us; we're poor!)
We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by.(00:04) Welcome to Mythmakers and the Two Towers wrap-up begins(01:00) Aragorn’s “odd negligence” and a sense of fate driving events(02:49) Boromir’s deathbed scene and the shift into a heroic register(03:53) Aragorn’s stage-like lament and Legolas’ clear-headed plan(05:05) Entering Rohan: potted history, songs over books, and Anglo-Saxon echoes(07:22) The Riders arrive: horses, “manes,” and cinematic choreography(08:47) Back to the hobbits: Pippin moves from “luggage” to leadership(10:16) Orc factions, wartime alliances, and the craft problem of “common speech”(13:00) Gandalf returns: riddles, limits on power, and “the turn of the tide”For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok
00:00:30 Intro00:03:30 GMT Camden Game Convention00:11:00 Timeline: Games and Leisure00:13:00 LOTR: Two Towers Trick Taking Game00:15:00 Portal Games00:16:30 Thebai00:41:30 3 Witches00:50:30 Miniature Market00:51:30 WunderWaffen01:11:30 Muppet Show Reimplement01:16:30 Outro We finally got Thebai, the newest release from Boards & Dice, to the table. After seeing it at Gen Con, the production immediately caught our eye, and the designers hinted at the kind of tough, timing‑sensitive decisions players would face. That promise absolutely shows up in play. Turns are wonderfully clean—place your die, resolve the action, then move your Archon for a bonus action—but the simplicity hides a surprising amount of depth. Positioning is everything. The strongest move in the moment can easily create problems down the line, and the board state shifts just enough each round to keep you second‑guessing your priorities. On top of that, the looming battles add a steady undercurrent of tension. You can't ignore them, even when you're tempted to chase a clever combo elsewhere. Thebai ultimately becomes a race for victory points, and the endgame accelerates fast. Points pour in quickly, so timing your big plays matters just as much as choosing the right ones. It's a sharp, elegant design—easy to teach, but full of those delicious “oh no, that changes everything” moments that make Boards & Dice titles so satisfying. We love historical games that look beyond the familiar battles and instead explore the lesser‑told moments—especially those late‑war pivots where everything hangs by a thread. WunderWaffen fits that niche perfectly. The Allies are closing in on Germany, and the German player is scrambling for a last‑ditch path to victory through experimental research. It's a tense, asymmetrical setup, but not a simple 3‑versus‑1 scenario; only one player can win, so everyone has to keep each other in check, even if that occasionally means helping Germany to prevent someone else from running away with the game. One of the standout mechanics is the turn structure. Each round, you choose two of your three action tokens to use and must hand the third to another player. That single decision point creates delicious pressure—what you keep, what you give away, and who you empower all shape the board in subtle ways. It's a small rule with big strategic consequences. The game moves quickly, and for groups that enjoy negotiation, table talk becomes an extra layer of strategy. Deals, promises, and threats can shift the momentum just as much as the research tracks or battlefield positioning. WunderWaffen ends up being a fast, interactive contest of timing, leverage, and opportunism—exactly the kind of historical “what‑if” experience that keeps us coming back. Thanks for listening and be sure to join our Discord server Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We return with our Lord of the Rings deep dive. This week, we explore the pulse-pounding second installment, The Two Towers. Peter Jackson and team raise the stakes, sharpen their skillset, and deliver a whollop of a sequel. In this episode, co-host Nicholas Ybarra and producer Sonja Mereu discuss their favorite moments from the film, Andy Serkis's incredible performance as Gollum, and the painstaking effort the cast and crew put into making this film happen. Where does The Two Towers rank for you? Is it your favorite Lord of the Rings film? Let us know!❗️SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE ❗️Support the showSign up for our Patreon for exclusive Bonus Content.Follow the podcast on Instagram @gimmethreepodcastYou can keep up with Bella on Instagram @portraitofacinephile or Letterboxd You can keep up with Nick: on Instagram @nicholasybarra, on Twitter (X) @nicholaspybarra, or on LetterboxdShout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.
Like what you hear? Show some love and send a text. #CheersSeason 7 begins in Middle-earth.In this episode of Reels, Booze & Bro's (RB2Podcast), we dive into The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers — the darker, bigger, and battle-heavier middle chapter of Peter Jackson's epic trilogy. From the rise of Gollum as one of cinema's most complex characters to the legendary Battle of Helm's Deep, this movie doesn't just continue the story… it escalates everything.We break down Aragorn's leadership arc, Legolas and Gimli's rivalry, the emotional weight of Frodo and Sam's journey, and why Helm's Deep still stands as one of the greatest battle sequences ever put on film. And yes, we debate whether this might secretly be the strongest film of the trilogy.As always, we pair this fantasy epic with some booze-worthy brews fit for the halls of Rohan. So grab a drink, sharpen your blade, and join us as we kick off Season 7 with an episode worthy of the White Tree.Clear eyes. Full fellowship. Can't lose. Support the show
Are you ready for an action-packed recap? In The Two Towers the fellowship is disbanded, but not the mission secure. Merry and Pippin are hobbitnapped, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli meet up with a refined Gandalf the white who sweeps them into a war while Frodo and Sam are led by Gollum through the swamps.They meet Faramir, Boromir's brother who has wisdom that Boromir lacked.“War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only what they defend.”There are a plethora of powerful quotes! Here's a few of our favorites.“The hasty stroke oft goes astray.” -Aragorn“Often does hatred hurt itself.” - Gandalf“Where there's life there's hope, and need of vittles.” - SamGandalf gives Saruman a chance to change, but he refuses. “He will not serve only command.”Kate explained the backstory about how evil men fell into idleness and ease which led them into fighting amongst themselves. Which connects with: “Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.”― G. Michael Hopf, Those Who RemainWon't you join us as we recap this timeless tale through Middle Earth!https://recapbookchat.com/
25 years after its original release, Jon and Jasmine finally got the chance to see it in the theater (Jon also got to watch Two Towers and Return of the King). We chat about our experience seeing these masterpieces on the silver screen. Did any else get the chance to see the anniversary screenings?
We continue on our journey through Middle-earth and review The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. The fellowship has been split up and now must continue their question while traveling separate paths. The Two Towers offers a lot more action and violence than it's predecessor, but does that make it the better film?Support the showCatch new episodes of the Where to Stick It Podcast every Tuesday and Thursday. If you like the show, please consider supporting us on Patreon where we upload exclusive content each month for only $3 a month.
In this Bonus Segment of The Brothers Take Podcast we share the Audio of Round 2 from the initial Recording Session of Ep. 299 : 'The Brothers TakeDown', which was lost to Space & Time. Outside of Round 1, this Audio is all that remains of that initial Recording.A special thank you once again to all our Guests who came on and helped make Episode 299 (and its Bonus Content) Possible.Be sure to Follow our Podcast for the Final Episode;Link Tree : https://linktr.ee/TheBrothersTakeBe sure to Follow our Guests' Various Projects as well and to check out the past Episodes they featured on;Pagan :Twitch: @pagan_playsInstagram: @pagan_playsGaming Channel : https://www.youtube.com/@pagan_playsReaction Channel : https://www.youtube.com/@PaganReactsThe TRY Channel : https://www.youtube.com/@TheTRYChannelPast BROTHERS TAKE Episodes Pagan Featured on;Ep. 189 : The Best Horror Games of 2023 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0mZ0Ief3Es&t=1036sEp. 196 : The Return of the King 20th Anniversary : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eoaaGyzIy8&t=4896sEp. 240 : Linkin Park ‘From Zero' Track-by-Track Album Review : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqaLVEQwWkU&t=3231sCraig (Last Call Gaming): Youtube Channel : https://www.youtube.com/@LastCallProductionzLink Tree : https://linktr.ee/lastcallproductionzEmail : Lastcallproductionz@gmail.com Past BROTHERS TAKE Episodes Craig Featured on;Ep. 181 : Final Fantasy 16 Spoilercast : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmjPuTDVdWc&t=1sEp. 190 : Spiderman 2 Spoilercast : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1Pvx0RLdQQGary (Audio Books & Voice Acting):Website : https://garyfurlongvoiceovers.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPXDNtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBrcHVsTFZncWU2OHFPQnl3c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHsF3iOX5Q3E7fuMb6Xs4ihTcT7KmR5loik_ihq1_1FT-wuzFYxQ5XrPOvKti_aem_DrkT8S26r24efLt8N8woTwTikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@garyfurlongvoFacebook : https://www.facebook.com/garyfurlongvoice/Past BROTHERS TAKE Episode Gary Featured on;Ep. 57 : Discussing Voice Acting in VideoGames : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb54KoElgVAMichael (12 Gauge Outrage)Spotify : 12 Gauge OutrageYoutube : youtube.com/@12GaugeOutrageInstagram : 12gaugeoutrage · 1.6K followersEmail : outrage12gauge@hotmail.comLink Tree : linktr.ee/12gaugeoutrage12 Gauge Outrage REACTION Videos Playlist;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxlWFtazILc&list=PL4qrqPneM_4Kh0HyTq3VNsfxgJzq1aFOhPast BROTHERS TAKE Episode Michael Featured on;Ep. 92 : Celebrating 20 Years of Xbox & Halo : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_dnlAaT5xo&t=31sDanny:The Plot Heads (Movie Podcast);Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/2xmTCcKktUkCIJdbc1UDGcFacebook : https://www.facebook.com/theplotheads/?locale=da_DKPast BROTHERS TAKE Episode Danny Featured on;Ep. 21 : Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater Spoilercast : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZTQdo9-SwU&t=25sBrian:The Ready Up Podcast (Gaming);Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBwEG7AnA3xDtdu-TUm6gXQTwitch : https://www.twitch.tv/readyupplaysFacebook : / readyuppodcast Past BROTHERS TAKE Episodes Brian Featured on;Ep. 15 : Final Fantasy VII Remake Spoiler Discussion Part 1 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uum4eRQLi9o&t=392sEp. 16 : Final Fantasy VII Remake Spoiler Discussion Part 2 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I40f51KYAT0&t=3849sCorey:Past BROTHERS TAKE Episode Corey Featured on;Ep. 144 : The Two Towers 20th Anniversary : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZKhlzVKCaE&t=24sDaire:Past BROTHERS TAKE Episode Daire Featured on;BONUS : Our Friend Plays Final Fantasy VII for the First Time : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyGFRBJMa3k&t=1332sShoutout also to Nathan Booth who previously guested on The Brothers Take Podcast for Ep. 51 : Explaining Kingdom Hearts to people who never played it :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4tP0QnsX30&t=3763sThanks for Listening!
This Week in Geek's Loose Cannon is our all around movies podcast covering the weird, wild, or sometimes nostalgic world of films.This time, Ken, Adam and David continue our long digesting Lord of the Rings Retrospective. Some of us are book readers and some of us are revisiting these features for the first time as adults.It's a winter spirited TWIG Loose Cannon. Please Be Kind and Don't Forget to Rewind before returning your videos to the shelves.Show Notes:Your Geekmasters:Mike "The Birdman" - https://bsky.app/profile/birdmanguelph.bsky.socialAlex "The Producer" - https://bsky.app/profile/dethphasetwig.bsky.socialKen Reels - https://bsky.app/profile/kenreels.comAaron PollyeaFeedback for the show?:Email: feedback@thisweekingeek.netTwitter: https://twitter.com/thisweekingeekBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thisweekingeek.netSubscribe to our feed: https://www.spreaker.com/show/3571037/episodes/feediTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-geek/id215643675Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Lit2bzebJXMTIv7j7fkqqCastbox: https://castbox.fm/channel/id2162049Website: https://www.thisweekingeek.netJanuary 25, 2026
The lord of the rings series continue. Shane and I discuss the extended cut of The Two Towers that we both got to see in theaters and I do a quick review of Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year old wheated bournon. Cheers!
To mark the 25th anniversary of The Lord of the Rings, Bob and Brad are joined by Zach Johnston for a wide-ranging retrospective on why this trilogy still endures, and why revisiting it now feels different than it did the first time around.Rather than re-reviewing the films beat by beat, the conversation looks at how Fellowship, Two Towers, and Return of the King function as a single, unified story; how their craft and restraint have allowed them to age with uncommon grace; and how their themes of friendship, sacrifice, authority, and moral clarity land differently decades later. Along the way, the hosts share personal touchpoints, from marathon viewings of the Extended Editions to introducing the films to a new generation, and reflect on what the trilogy reveals about growing older alongside art that was once formative.The episode also wrestles with adaptation choices, the balance between spectacle and discipline, and why Peter Jackson's trilogy remains a cultural reference point in an era of endless franchises. More than a nostalgia trip, this is a conversation about legacy: what lasts, what deepens with time, and why The Lord of the Rings still feels like a singular cinematic achievement.For longer episodes and special bonus content, consider joining our Patreon for as little as $3/mo!Film & Whiskey InstagramFilm & Whiskey FacebookFilm & Whiskey TwitterEmail us!Join our Discord server!For more episodes and engaging content, visit Film & Whiskey's website at www.filmwhiskey.com.
frankly its not long enough www.patreon.com/generationloss
Alright everyone, grab your Po-Tay-Toes and get ready for the second installment of LOTR: The Two Towers. In this episode, Meghan realizes she and Gimli are one, Jacqueline fully admits to being a horse girl, and they both fangirl over the Ents for a bit. Too bad they don't talk as slowly as they do, it might be easier to listen! Stay tuned for the final chapter! Follow LTP on Social Media
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The Gospel in Lord of the Rings In this episode of the Exploring More podcast, Michael Thompson and SJ Jennings journey through the epic world of The Lord of the Rings—exploring how Tolkien's masterpiece mirrors the deeper spiritual realities of our own lives. From the quiet comfort of the Shire to the battlefields of Middle Earth, the conversation follows Frodo, Gandalf, Aragorn, and the fellowship as they answer the call to adventure, face down evil, and sacrifice for something greater than themselves. Using the trailers from The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King, Michael and SJ unpack the arc of the Hero's Journey and why it continues to resonate. They reflect on the pull toward comfort, the cost of leaving "the normal world," and the significance of choosing hope in the darkest places. The ring becomes more than a plot device—it's a symbol of the burdens we carry and the battles we face daily. With personal stories, spiritual insight, and reverence for the storytelling genius of Tolkien, this episode reminds us that every man is in a larger story—one filled with glory, grief, and a King worth following. We hope you enjoy this episode and invite you to connect with us! Sign Up for the Heart of a Warrior Encounter: www.zoweh.org/events
Forth Eorlingas! This week we toss Gimli face first into the forces of the Enemy. It's another four hour tour of Middle Earth, and this time, we brought Ents.Is the middle film of a trilogy ever the best one? In this case, the jury's out, but one thing is for certain: it has the weirdest title of all three.Topics explored this week include: Legolas's whole deal, the groundbreaking creation of Sméagol, Merry and Pippin blazin' it with Treebeard, Helm's Deep, Helm's Deep, and a LOT more Helm's Deep.Next week, we complete the holy trinity with RETURN OF THE KING (2003), and then we promise we'll never talk about Rings again (just kidding, the Ring has corrupted us and there's no turning back now). Join the conversation on our Discord at https://discord.com/invite/RssDc3brsx and get more Eye of the Duck on our Patreon show, After Hours https://www.patreon.com/EyeoftheDuckPodReferences:Special FeaturesWarriors of the Third AgeCameras in Middle EarthFrom Book to Script: Finding the StoryEditorial: Editing the StoryRick Porras as GollumThe Soundscapes of Middle EarthCinefex #92 Production HistoryAnything You Can Imagine: Peter Jackson and the Making of Middle-Earth by Ian NathanPeter Jackson: A Filmmaker's Journey by Brian SibleyUma Thurman Turns Down EowynASC Cinematography BreakdownCredits:Eye of the Duck is created, hosted, and produced by Dom Nero and Adam Volerich.This episode was edited by Michael Gaspari.This episode was researched by Parth Marathe.Our logo was designed by Francesca Volerich. You can purchase her work at francescavolerich.com/shopThe "Adam's Blu-Ray Corner" theme was produced by Chase Sterling.Assistant programming and digital production by Nik Long.Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Letterboxd or join the conversation at Eye of the Discord.Learn more at eyeoftheduckpod.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
This new year we dive into one of the biggest movie trilogies of all time in J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings! Jordan and Colin join Edwin and Alex to break down The Two Towers, the second installment from 2002. After hitting on our overall impressions on the film, we discuss: - The most important scenes to us (10:41) - Delightful moments (44:10) - Discussion question roundtable (57:17) All that, plus greasy ol' Wormtongue, trinkets to help Sam & Frodo, Gimli's fighting prowess, and Orcs ordering off a menu. So retreat to Helm's Deep, unbind the spell on you from Saruman, and ride out to meet your fate to discuss the middle of the LOTR saga! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
You made it through The Fellowship of the Ring — and now The Two Towers splits the story in two, introduces new kingdoms, and drops a whole new set of names into the mix.If you've ever thought, “Wait… who is that again?” — this episode is for you.In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim breaks down a clean, spoiler-lite Who's Who of The Two Towers, explaining the characters who matter, where they fit in the story, and why this middle chapter is where Middle-earth gets serious.This episode is perfect if:• You're reading Tolkien for the first time• You've read the books before but want a refresher• You've only seen the movies and want to try the novels• You want clarity without drowning in lore
Listeners, the Third Age is finally upon us. The nine companions are assembled. The recording is 4 hours long. It shall be… The Fellowship of the Duck!This week, Adam and Dom are embarking on a quest to save Middle-Earth and somehow make sense of the greatest trilogy in movie history. It's FELLOWSHIP, and we still cannot believe Peter Jackson actually pulled this off. There are simply too many Eye of the Duck scenes!Some points of discussion on our journey to Mordor: do the Rings movies function as self-contained stories? Is this the best the industry will ever be? Should Jackson be arrested for skipping Tom Bombadil? And when the hell is Warner Bros going to finally put out a 4K box set that contains the Blu-Ray Appendices?!Next week, the trilogy continues with another massive episode on THE TWO TOWERS (2002). Join the conversation on our Discord at https://discord.com/invite/RssDc3brsx and get more Eye of the Duck on our Patreon show, After Hours https://www.patreon.com/EyeoftheDuckPodReferences:Special FeaturesDesigning and Building Middle-earthFilming The Fellowship of the RingVisual EffectsCosta Botes' Fellowship of the Ring DocumentarySound and MusicAnything You Can Imagine: Peter Jackson and the Making of Middle-Earth by Ian NathanPeter Jackson: A Filmmaker's Journey by Brian SibleyCinefex #89 Production HistoryThe Music of The Lord of the Rings Films by Doug AdamsPeter Jackson and the Tolkien EstateASC Cinematography BreakdownCredits:Eye of the Duck is created, hosted, and produced by Dom Nero and Adam Volerich.This episode was edited by Michael Gaspari.This episode was researched by Parth Marathe.Our logo was designed by Francesca Volerich. You can purchase her work at francescavolerich.com/shopThe "Adam's Blu-Ray Corner" theme was produced by Chase Sterling.Assistant programming and digital production by Nik Long.Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Letterboxd or join the conversation at Eye of the Discord.Learn more at eyeoftheduckpod.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
This discussion focuses on the differences between watching Two Towers now versus upon original release with many prompting questions asked about the charcters, the premise, and if the ideas are still relevant in 2025. It's an emotional visceral lookback with some nerdy lore moments too. YouTube Version: https://youtu.be/uuU0NUXamy4?si=UJY7X6g-b_S4eYwD Connect w/ us on Discord! https://discord.gg/8FmrT9Drvu Join the Faithful for bonus episodes! https://lsgmedia.net/product/membership-options/ Acknowledgements Floyd Frye (Intro/Outro Voice): https://www.tiktok.com/@floydfrye George C Music (Music): https://www.youtube.com/@GeorgeCMusic
Part IV of The Two Towers focuses on the love story of Aragorn and Arwen, as well as the poems of Tolkien that can be found in the orchestral score. We also break down an exciting action cue, and look at how Howard Shore's music tells the centuries-long story of Gandalf. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Part III of our look at The Two Towers focuses on Gollum, Treebeard and more. We also discuss how the music blends themes and story points together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Part III of our look at The Two Towers focuses on Gollum, Treebeard, and how the music continues to serve not only as a binding for our narrative, but a useful tool for bringing story points together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Part II of our examination of The Two Towers focuses on the kingdom of Rohan. We examine its modal melodies and how they are first introduced to us, we listen to how they're orchestrated, and we take a deep dive into Rohan's Anglo-Saxon roots. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! We kick off the holidays by revisiting our journey with the greatest living podcaster, co-host of The Ringer's House of R, Joanna Robinson! She joined us last year for The Lord of the RIngs: The Fellowship of the Ring and it instantly became an all time episode. Before that, Jason and I reflect on our Meetup 2025 hangover, and share turkey prep horror stories! And get ready for Jo's return next week for The Two Towers!!Chapters Introduction (00:00:00) Hatch News (00:09:44) The Running Man Roundtable (00:15:55) Your Letters (00:46:57) Notes and Links Check out Escape Hatch Merch! Our all new collection of swag is available now and every order includes a free Cameo style shoutout from Haitch or Jason. Browse our collection now. Join the Escape Hatch Discord Server! Hang out with Haitch, Jason, and other friends of the pod. Check out the invite here. Escape Hatch is a TAPEDECK Podcasts Jawn! Escape Hatch is a member of TAPEDECK Podcasts, alongside: 70mm (a podcast for film lovers), Bat & Spider (low rent horror and exploitation films), The Letterboxd Show (Official Podcast from Letterboxd), Cinenauts (exploring the Criterion Collection), Lost Light (Transformers, wrestling, and more), and Will Run For (obsessed with running). Check these pods out!. See the movies we've watched and are going to watch on Letterboxd Escape Hatch's Breaking Dune News Twitter list Rate and review the podcast to help others discover it, and let us know what you think of the show at letters@escapehatchpod.com or leave us a voicemail at +1-415-534-5211. Follow @escapehatchpod on Bluesky,Instagram, and TikTok. Music by Scott Fritz and Who'z the Boss Music. Cover art by ctcher. Edited and produced by Haitch. Escape Hatch is a production of Haitch Industries.
Our journey through Middle-earth continues as we begin discussing the music of The Two Towers. We discuss the structural challenges of bringing the middle portion of LOTR's giant story to the silver screen, and examine just how composer Howard Shore's thematic score assists in holding the plot together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices