PODCAST · tv
Casually Critical
by Daniel Carpenter & James Newton
Storytellers James Newton and Daniel Carpenter discuss modern entertainment, with all of its flaws and merits.
Episodes
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Media Criticism and the Pursuit of Excellence
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Avengers: Endgame. Casually Critical: Season 4. What do they all have in common, aside from colons? You'll have to press "play" on your device to find out. I know, it's a lot of effort, but today is the present day of the year and people are the way they...
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A Special Announcement for Season Four
Help us shape our fourth season! Take the short survey here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdStOaxvzkxaxlzwG_iBMGMGHCKkMI2zuoc6cml1x9_7DcAIA/viewform?usp=sf_link • • • • • Casually Critical: Season Four will premiere on June 9, 2023. Until then... Check us out on Instagram:...
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Casually Critical's Season Three Finale
Daniel and James wrap up season three by bringing back the Entertainment Awards, followed by a forecast for 2023's new releases. Don't worry, you can rest easy: the entire episode is spoiler-free! • • • • • Season Three's Entertainment Awards: The Casually Critical Fan Club Award - 3:49 The…
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"The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" Is Actually Quite Nuanced
The two reviewers revisit a childhood classic, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), and measure it up against their nostalgia. James reveals one of his favorite animal side characters of all time and Daniel uses the end battle as a case study for setting up an…
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We Finally Watched "Rings of Power"
You taunted us. You cajoled us. So we finally did it: we watched the entire season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022). Was it worth the eight-hour investment? Did we have any regrets, or did our viewing experience cause us to do a heel turn on our initial thoughts? Let's face it,...
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Peeling Back the Layers of "Glass Onion"
Here's a mysterious inquiry: how could Rian Johnson top what he did in his previous whodunit, Knives Out? Is it possible for a sequel to be bigger AND better? And can you objectively appreciate a well-crafted story even when you subjectively disagree with the themes it conveys? Daniel and James...
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Casual Correspondence: Fan Theories & Is "Die Hard" a Christmas movie?
Daniel and James take a break, relax, and answer questions from listeners of the podcast. What's your favorite movie soundtrack? Is music essential to telling a story in film? (3:54) What's a fan theory you wish was true or would improve the property it's about? (14:56) What are the most…
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Feminism and the Marvel Brand in "She-Hulk"
Featuring Abbey Frisco as this episode's guest! The two critics step back into the murky, money-dense waters of Marvel Studios as a corporate filmmaker joins them in discussing the first season of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022). Is the show a milestone in female representation, or the latest...
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"Thank You for Smoking" Puffs up Edgy Satire
Is smoking actually bad for you? It is. But this movie isn't (at least in terms of lung cancer)! Daniel and James shed some light onto the inner workings of this dark comedy. What does a tastefully edgy movie look like? How can you trust your audience with your movie's message without blatantly...
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Not All Movies Should Be Like "Top Gun: Maverick"
Look, up in the sky! Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it a Boeing F/A - 18/F Super Hornet piloted by Oscar-nominee Tom Cruise?! Is it coming right for me? Am I going to live? When will the questions end? Why is Top Gun: Maverick (2022) so good and yet so worrisome? When will Daniel and James…
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"God's Not Dead 4" and the Pitfalls of Christian Films
Featuring Pastor Dan Chapin as the show's first-ever guest! Daniel and James find themselves in a new level of appalling creativity as they attempt to wade through the treacherous waters of God's Not Dead: We the People (2021) alongside a real-life pastor. God may not be dead, but this franchise...
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Evolving the Horror Genre in "Alien"
What makes you think of Halloween? Local costume parties? Trick-or-treating through the neighborhood with family? How about outer space? James and Daniel take spooky season into the stars as they dissect the legendary sci-fi horror film Alien (1979). Daniel rants about holograms. James compares…
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Why We Didn't Finish "The Rings of Power"
Amazon's new show The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022) is the most expensive show in television history. But how much good story can money really buy? Why didn't Daniel and James finish watching it? More importantly, why didn't Amazon simply give Daniel and James some of the money…
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Don't Be "Hoodwinked" by This Low-Budget Classic
James attempts to put aside both his childhood and his nostalgia blindness as he joins Daniel in trying to properly analyze Hoodwinked (2005). The critics unlock James's mind and dive deep into his origins, Daniel finds himself in an internal debate over art vs. heart, and the two men dissect the...
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"Severance" Shows Who's Boss
The two reviewers dive into the dark and sometimes strangely comedic world of Severance, Season 1 (2022). The review makes Casually Critical history, Daniel gets the green-eyed monster from the show's writing, and James unpacks his love-hate relationship with the more suspenseful moments. If…
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"Moneyball" Isn't Just Fun and Games
Daniel and James put on their batting hats and hit the baseball diamond in their review of Moneyball (2011). Or, in this case, they hit the baseball...offices? The world of baseball clashes with a Nolanesque story as America's pastime is analyzed through the lens of its managers, who are in turn...
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Digging Into "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner"
What things do you typically discuss while around the dinner table? Is it lighthearted discourse about the recent sports game? Some merry conversation regarding hilarious work escapades? Well, in this episode, Daniel and James sit back and relax with some banter about heavy societal issues and...
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"Kung Fu Panda 3" Has a Kick To It
Dreamworks Animation flexes its franchise-building chops with Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016). The two reviewers gush over scale-shrinking trilogies, James geeks out over toon shading, and Daniel confesses that he doesn't cook. Daniel and James enter the Build-A-Better-Villain workshop together and also...
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"Kubo and the Two Strings" Doesn't Monkey Around
Did you have a great day today? Well, if you haven't yet watched Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) then the answer to that question is a "no". The two critics pull no punches with this film review, analyzing everything from the stop-motion techniques to the overall narrative structure, discussing...
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Disney's "Enchanted" is a Spellbinding Subversion
The two critics find themselves caught between fairy tales and divorce lawyers in Enchanted (2007), an interesting movie made within an interesting era in Disney's history. Daniel recalls the podcast's traumatic past with movie musicals, James expresses a shocking desire to cut the movie's...
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Things Go South in "Gone with the Wind"
Daniel and James go back in time to review Gone with the Wind (1939), their oldest reviewed film to date. Along the way, the two critics face shallow characters, cringe at overdramatized romance, roast death, see unrealized potential, and confront the unfortunate reality of historical racism....
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"The Sea Beast" Reaches Unexpected Depths
With the world becoming full of Minions and Pixar films that don't make you cry, is there any hope for animation? Netflix rises to the nonexistent challenge with The Sea Beast (2022), a gorgeous animated film with a lot more to offer than just pretty visuals. The two reviewers reawaken their...
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Casual Correspondence: Podcast Origins & Disney Speculations
In this first-ever standalone episode of “Casual Correspondence”, Daniel and James take a break from their relentless criticism of media and answer questions from listeners of the podcast. What actor would you want to play you in a feature film? (2:58) What are your top movies of each year from…
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"Minions: The Rise of Gru" Drives Us Bananas
Daniel and James plug their noses and dive butt-first into the sludge of Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022). James has an epiphany that is simultaneously encouraging and depressing, Daniel dives deep into the Despicable Me lore, and the two reviewers collectively go bananas as they rage against the...
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"Thor: Love and Thunder" Doesn't Bring the Thunder
Marvel Studios might have truly done it: corrupting even the previously unstoppable Taika Waititi. Daniel and James perform a reluctant biopsy on the beloved director's latest product, this time attempting to trace the MCU's recent string of failures back to the source. Also mentioned is Joker's...
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The Fresh "Prince of Egypt"
Despite being a 'Christian movie', The Prince of Egypt (1998) continues to impress both Christian and Non-Christian audiences. But why? What's the secret sauce? Your two favorite reviewers dig further, unearthing this old masterpiece of a movie. Also, Daniel and James rip apart animation haters…
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Turning Horror Upside Down with "Stranger Things, Season 4"
Thirteen hours is a long time to be doing anything, but that's the total length of Stranger Things, Season 4 (2022). If our time on this earth is finite, should we be watching this gargantuan Netflix juggernaut? In this episode, Daniel and James do just that by examining the long-awaited...
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"Inside" the Mind of Bo Burnham
Can a lonely artist stuck inside his home make anything good? Moreover, can he make anything funny? Daniel and James aren't going to directly answer that, since they themselves record and edit the podcast in their respective homes. Instead, they're going to unpack Inside (2021), a comedy special...
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Does "Frozen" Hold a Candle to "Encanto"?
Critiquing Disney's animated movies is no small undertaking, which is why Daniel and James are reviewing two-Frozen (2013) and Encanto (2021)-and pitting them against each other. They had good childhoods, we swear. Also included in the review are words that would make Josh Gad fans writhe in…
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Why "The Batman" is Riddled With Excellence
The reviewers repress their love of Matt Reeves as they attempt to give an honest examination, detective-style, of the world of The Batman (2022). They compare Robert Pattinson to previous Batmen, Casually Critical faces its most significant score discrepancy to date, and Daniel shares his…
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Spicing Up Sci-Fi With "Dune"
DJ Vanilla New-Wave is back, this time with a greatly anticipated movie jam-packed with celebrities and based on a classic book. But does it live up to the hype? Could it somehow beat "The Force Awakens"? Will Daniel ever find his Dream Girl™? Stay tuned for the answers in this review of Dune...
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How Marvel's "Multiverse of Madness" Motivates Mediocrity
The two quirky reviewers are back, this time to tackle the increasingly problematic Marvel Cinematic Universe by using Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness (2022) as a case study. The Film Review begins at 5:37. Spoiler Discussion starts at 32:10. • • • • • Want to join in the…
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Serenity (2005) and Superior Adaptations
This continuation of "Firefly" may be in a different medium, but has a lot to say regarding proper adaptations. Casual Correspondence: 9:17 Spoiler Discussion: 12:20 Contact us on Instagram or Facebook @CasuallyCriticalPodcast for a chance to be featured on our show.
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Firefly (2002-2003) and How to Win the World in 14 Episodes
Hailed by many as one of the greatest science-fiction shows of all time, Daniel and James finally discuss the cult classic "Firefly". Casual Correspondence: 11:01 Spoiler Discussion: 13:49 Contact us on Instagram or Facebook @CasuallyCriticalPodcast for a chance to be featured on our show.
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Space Force, Season 1 (2020) and Greg Daniels Syndrome
Daniel and James tackle the latest show from the creator of "The Office" and "Parks and Recreation". Casual Correspondence: 9:39 Spoiler Discussion: 19:00 Contact us on Instagram or Facebook @CasuallyCriticalPodcast for a chance to be featured on our show.
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Ip Man (2008) and Kung Fu Gary Stu
Donnie Yen kicks some serious butt in this often-overlooked martial arts film, but perhaps there are some narrative flaws just as overlooked. Local Forecast - Slower Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License...
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Marriage Story (2019) and Theater-Going Reminicers
Divorce can be messy, and the narrative of Marriage Story is no exception. But does the movie's narrative juggle authenticity or fall into unrealistic blandness? Contact us on Instagram or Facebook @CasuallyCriticalPodcast for a chance to be featured on our show.
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The Dragon Prince, Seasons 1-3 (2018-2019) and Parks and Recreation Special Mini-Review
This Netflix-exclusive series contains many similarities to Avatar: The Last Airbender, but with some different flaws. Contact us on Instagram or Facebook @CasuallyCriticalPodcast for a chance to be featured on our show.
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Singin' in the Rain (1952) and Wonder Lost
This forgotten musical of yesteryear may still teach us a thing or two about modern movies today. Daniel and James debate the good, the bad, and even the philosophical elements of this energetic feature. Contact us on Instagram or Facebook @CasuallyCriticalPodcast for a chance to be featured on…
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10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) and Perfect Parallels
This movie took theaters by surprise and had a significant impact on one of the hosts, but who? Also, Daniel and James dissect your favorite movie directors and brainstorm an improved ending to the movie! Contact us on Instagram or Facebook @CasuallyCriticalPodcast for a chance to be featured on...
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The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003) and Guilty Pleasures
What makes an adaptation great? The two hosts take a deep dive into the legendary trilogy, recommended by you, our fans! Also, stick around to listen to Casual Correspondence for a special announcement. Contact us on Instagram or Facebook @CasuallyCriticalPodcast for a chance to be featured on…
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Anomalisa (2015) and Quirky Quarantines
The two hosts take a deep dive into the surreal and even learn a few things about themselves in the process. Contact us on Instagram or Facebook @CasuallyCriticalPodcast for a chance to be featured on our show.
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Knives Out (2019) and Dissing Nolan
Daniel and James tackle a film that subverts, and yet simultaneously respects, the whodunit genre. Stay tuned to learn about the host's favorite directors and then delve into a discussion including cynicism in modern movies. Contact us on Instagram or Facebook @CasuallyCriticalPodcast for a…
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Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) and Screaming in the Dark
This sequel has some significance...and detriments. Daniel and James dissect the powerful panda in this episode. Contact us on Instagram or Facebook @CasuallyCriticalPodcast for a chance to be featured on our show.
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The Greatest Showman (2017) and Future Possibilities
Daniel and James tackle one of 2017's greatest hits and analyze the beating heart behind this musical juggernaut. Contact us on Instagram or Facebook @CasuallyCriticalPodcast for a chance to be featured on our show.
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Stranger Things, Seasons 1-3 (2016-2019) and Parasite Prophets
Daniel and James go ham on those Demogorgons, lemme tell yah. Contact us on Instagram or Facebook @CasuallyCriticalPodcast for a chance to be featured on our show.
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Whiplash (2014) and Strange Wholesomeness
How scary could jazz be, really? A lot more than you think. Also, Daniel and James challenge the perceived nature of art. Contact us on Instagram or Facebook @CasuallyCriticalPodcast for a chance to be featured on our show.
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Arrival (2016) and DJ Vanilla New-Wave
The podcasting duo delves into a mind-blowing science-fiction feature. Contact us on Instagram or Facebook @CasuallyCriticalPodcast for a chance to be featured on our show.
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Onward (2020) and Pantless Potential
The podcasting duo shares some differing opinions regarding Pixar's latest feature. Contact us on Instagram or Facebook @CasuallyCriticalPodcast for a chance to be featured on our show.
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Parasite (2019) and Groundhog Actors
Season 2 kicks off with last year's "Best Picture" winner, but does it live up to the hype? Daniel and James dissect the film and give their thoughts on the recent Oscars ceremony. Contact us on Instagram or Facebook @CasuallyCriticalPodcast for a chance to be featured on our show.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Casually Critical have?
Casually Critical currently has 73 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Casually Critical about?
Storytellers James Newton and Daniel Carpenter discuss modern entertainment, with all of its flaws and merits.
How often does Casually Critical release new episodes?
Casually Critical has 73 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Casually Critical?
You can listen to Casually Critical on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Casually Critical?
Casually Critical is created and hosted by Daniel Carpenter & James Newton.
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