Casually Critical

Daniel Carpenter & James Newton

5.0 (3)
FILM REVIEWS
UPDATED WEEKLY

Storytellers James Newton and Daniel Carpenter discuss modern entertainment, with all of its flaws and merits.

06/09/2023

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 are, so if it's mercy you're looking for I ain't gonna give it to you. Sorry. Life's a rough friend sometimes. You can always not press play, but then you'll never satisfy the curiosity that has been building inside of you the entire time you've been reading this description. And no, I've got nothing better to do. • • • • • We'd love to keep you updated on our upcoming creative endeavors and tomfoolery. Stay in touch with us on Instagram: @james.fignewton and @danielcarpenterfilms We have websites, too: jamesnewtonart.com and danielcarpenterfilms.com • • • • • Executive Producers and Hosts: Daniel Carpenter, James Newton Sound Design and Audio Mixing: Daniel Carpenter Social Media: James Newton

58 min
02/17/2023 · BONUS

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: https://www.instagram.com/casuallycriticalpodcast/ We have a Facebook, too: https://www.facebook.com/CasuallyCriticalPodcast/ Maybe email is more your thing: casuallycriticalpodcast@gmail.com • • • • • Executive Producers and Hosts: Daniel Carpenter, James Newton Sound Design and Audio Mixing: Daniel Carpenter Social Media: James Newton

1 min
12/30/2022

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 One-Man Hype Train Award - 4:54 Franchise Killer Award - 6:40 "Good on Paper" Award - 7:35 Marketing Team Creative Influence Award - 9:35 Lemonade Award - 12:33 Participation Award - 14:10 Achievement in Acting - 16:00 Host's Personal Favorite Season Three Episode - 19:09 Achievement in Storytelling - 21:37 Creative Dumpster Fire Reigning Champion - 26:37 • • • • • 2023 Movie Forecast: John Wick: Chapter 4 - 32:35 Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves - 35:07 Dune: Part Two - 38:34 Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 - 40:52 Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny - 42.57 The Super Mario Bros. Movie- 45:23 Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania - 48:50 Coyote vs. Acme - 52:40 The Flash - 56:17 Strays - 59:33 Haunted Mansion - 1:04:09 Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse - 1:07:26 Off-the-Air Movie Recommendations - 1:14:38 • • • • • Stay tuned for Casually Critical: Season Four, premiering June 9, 2023. Until then... Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casuallycriticalpodcast/ We have a Facebook, too: https://www.facebook.com/CasuallyCriticalPodcast/ Maybe email is more your thing: casuallycriticalpodcast@gmail.com • • • • • Executive Producers and Hosts: Daniel Carpenter, James Newton Sound Design and Audio Mixing: Daniel Carpenter Social Media: James Newton

1h 18m
12/23/2022

"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 epic moment. Spoiler Review begins at 11:05. • • • • • Want to join in the conversation? We'd love to answer some of your burning questions or hear your feedback about the show. Who knows? Your questions could be featured on one of our episodes! Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casuallycriticalpodcast/ We have a Facebook, too: https://www.facebook.com/CasuallyCriticalPodcast/ Maybe email is more your thing: casuallycriticalpodcast@gmail.com • • • • • Executive Producers and Hosts: Daniel Carpenter, James Newton Sound Design and Audio Mixing: Daniel Carpenter Social Media: James Newton

31 min
12/16/2022

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, you wouldn't be reading this description unless you were a mite bit curious. Go on, then: give this episode a listen. The review begins at 10:00. Spoiler Review begins at 18:57. • • • • • Want to join in the conversation? We'd love to answer some of your burning questions or hear your feedback about the show. Who knows? Your questions could be featured on one of our episodes! Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casuallycriticalpodcast/ We have a Facebook, too: https://www.facebook.com/CasuallyCriticalPodcast/ Maybe email is more your thing: casuallycriticalpodcast@gmail.com • • • • • Executive Producers and Hosts: Daniel Carpenter, James Newton Sound Design and Audio Mixing: Daniel Carpenter Social Media: James Newton

47 min
12/09/2022

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 grab their cigars, tie their ascots, and polish their spectacles as they seek those confounding answers in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022). Spoiler Review begins at 24:21. • • • • • Want to join in the conversation? We'd love to answer some of your burning questions or hear your feedback about the show. Who knows? Your questions could be featured on one of our episodes! Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casuallycriticalpodcast/ We have a Facebook, too: https://www.facebook.com/CasuallyCriticalPodcast/ Maybe email is more your thing: casuallycriticalpodcast@gmail.com • • • • • Executive Producers and Hosts: Daniel Carpenter, James Newton Sound Design and Audio Mixing: Daniel Carpenter Social Media: James Newton

58 min
12/02/2022

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 consistent themes that stick out to you in a film? (23:52) Have you noticed any thematic patterns in the top-grossing box office films of the past decade? (28:45) Is film the best form of storytelling in our generation? (45:17) Should film be the main tool for telling stories in less technologically-advanced cultures? (53:52) Is there a literary/cinematic trope that is necessary for a good story? (1:02:41) What makes a scene truly emotional? (1:12:08) Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? (1:22:03) Daniel's question for James (1:32:48) James's question for Daniel (1:35:49) • • • • • Want to join in the conversation? We'd love to answer some of your burning questions or hear your feedback about the show. Who knows? Your questions could be featured on one of our episodes! Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casuallycriticalpodcast/ We have a Facebook, too: https://www.facebook.com/CasuallyCriticalPodcast/ Maybe email is more your thing: casuallycriticalpodcast@gmail.com • • • • • Executive Producers and Hosts: Daniel Carpenter, James Newton Sound Design and Audio Mixing: Daniel Carpenter Social Media: James Newton

1h 48m
11/25/2022

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 example of poor, hot-button writing? What if it's both? What if it's neither? Abbey shares her experience as a filmmaker, a marketing professional, and a woman. James unpacks the oversaturation of Marvel's franchise and Daniel keeps confusing She-Hulk for a movie instead of a streaming series. Spoiler Review begins at 47:30. • • • • • Want to join in the conversation? We'd love to answer some of your burning questions or hear your feedback about the show. Who knows? Your questions could be featured on one of our episodes! Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casuallycriticalpodcast/ We have a Facebook, too: https://www.facebook.com/CasuallyCriticalPodcast/ Maybe email is more your thing: casuallycriticalpodcast@gmail.com • • • • • Executive Producers and Hosts: Daniel Carpenter, James Newton Sound Design and Audio Mixing: Daniel Carpenter Social Media: James Newton

1h 57m

TRAILER

Welcome to the Show

A brief overview of the show, including who we are, what we talk about, and how you can get involved. Want to contribute to the show? Send us a message on Instagram or Facebook @CasuallyCriticalPodcast or email us at CasuallyCriticalPodcast@gmail.com.

S1

•

11 min

5

out of 5

3 Ratings

Storytellers James Newton and Daniel Carpenter discuss modern entertainment, with all of its flaws and merits.

Creator

Daniel Carpenter & James Newton
Years Active

2019 - 2023
Episodes

73
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Daniel Carpenter & James Newton
Show Website

Casually Critical