Strangers and Aliens: Science Fiction & Fantasy from a Christian Perspective
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Ep. 64 — Director’s Special Edition: Steven Spielberg
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSFor this episode, we start a series that will take a look at directors of speculative fiction movies, and what better place to start than Steven Spielberg? Steve, Dr. Jayce, and Ben each go through their favorite three and least favorite three films directed by Spielberg, along with…
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REVIEW: Superman and the Mole Men (live tweet transcript) (BONUS: The Adventures of Superpup)
Earlier, I live tweeted about Superman: the Movie. Rewatching that movie led to two things: first, it gave us an episode topic for the podcast, “The Test of Time”; second, it made me decide to live tweet while watching the other Superman movies! Instead of jumping into Superman II, though, I went back in time…
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Ep. 63 — Lots o’ Listener Feedback (and a Special Guest)
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSIn this episode, we talk a bit about the recent Star Wars schedule announcement, some listeners take a look back some of their childhood favorites and look at if they hold up or not (as we did in episode 62), a listener confronts us about some details from…
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Ep. 62 — The Test of Time
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSIn this episode, Steve, Dr. Jayce, and Ben have a LOT of fun as they revisit movies, comics, and TV shows they loved when they were young and explore whether or not it stands the test of time. Favorite heroes are discussed, favorite toys are fondly remembered, and…
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REVIEW: Superman the Movie (live tweet transcript)
Today is Superman’s 75 birthday, if Facebook, Twitter, and news feeds are to be believed! We needed to do something to commemorate that here at Strangers and Aliens. So, while we will talk about it tonight when we record (tangentially), here’s something a little more immediate. Last night, I watched Superman the Movie. It’s been…
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WHO REVIEW: Cold War
Spoilers ahead! Heavily! And not labelled! Initial Thoughts: I liked this episode. I did. I need to say this because everything else I say after this will probably make it seem like I did not. But I did. That said, this season is on a downward spiral. After another episode or two continuing on this…
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Ep. 61 — Aliens and Strangers Part I: Alien Agenda
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSIt happened! The Strangers & Aliens and The Sci-Fi Christians have joined forces to take on the Aliens! It’s like the humans and the predators teaming up in those two movies with aliens, humans, and predators! The topic? The Alien franchise. But wait! This is just ONE HALF…
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Ep. 60 — Interview with Heath McNease (The Year of C.S. Lewis)
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS A special episode for the Year of C.S. Lewis!!! Heath McNease, a geek philosopher hip-hop/folk musician, sat down to talk with Ben and Steve about C.S. Lewis, being an artists and a Christian, being a musician in today’s economy and with today’s technology, and some geek-stuff, too!…
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Ep. 59 — Sci-Fi Sitcoms
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSBen, Steve, and Dr. Jayce look back on some of their favorite science fiction situation comedies in this episode. Alf, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Mork and Mindy, Red Dwarf . . . and many, many more. Also, Shazbot’s family makes their first appearance in the show, making…
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WHO REVIEW: The Rings of Akhaten
Spoilers ahead! They are labelled, but they are not hidden! Initial Thoughts: I’ve seen a lot of people talk about how they didn’t really like last week’s episode. I really enjoyed it. I’ve seen a lot of people talk about how they loved this week’s episode. I liked it, most of it, anyway. But where many…
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Ep. 58: Interview w/ Flight of the Angels authors Aaron and Allan Reini
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSIn this episode, Ben interviews Allan and Aaron Reini, the father/son writing team behind the Christian sci-fi book Flight of the Angels. Flight of the Angels is a big space opera military action story, with elements of corporate espionage, that has a spiritual theme woven into the plot.…
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Ep. 57: Westerns — the Original American Fantasy Genre
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSIn this episode, we talk about Westerns — a genre that we believe should be filed under “fantasy” when talking about all the other speculative fiction genres. We talk about why the Western tends to be a genre fans of sci-fi/fantasy enjoy. We talk about the attraction of…
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WHO REVIEW: The Bells of Saint John
Spoilers ahead, they are labelled but they are not hidden . . . Initial Thoughts: An exciting and fun midseason opener. Worth the price of admission. Everything I’ve come to like about Matt Smith and Stephen Moffatt. Amused Thoughts: The motorcycle steals the show. Every scene it is used in is perfect Matt Smith Doctor…
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Ep. 56 — Listener Feedback and a Request
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSFor this episode, listener feedback! And a request. The request: send us a recording, under five minutes, talking about what caused speculative fiction to change for you from something interesting and exciting to something deeper with more meaning? Email us your recording to podcast@strangersandaliens.com or call our S&A…
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Ep. 55 — “Wrath” (Part Three of the SEVEN DEADLY SINS Series)
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSThis is the third part of a periodic series we are doing about the Seven Deadly Sins, and this time it’s . . . WRATH!!! In this episode: Muppet! Bad Shatner impressions! The Bozo Show! Comic book characters! Trek! Wars! Justice, vengeance, grace, love, righteous indignation . .…
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Ep. 54 — Read the Book, Don’t Wait for the Movie
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSThis episode of Strangers and Aliens, the Christianity and sci-fi fantasy podcast, is a celebration and deconstruction of adaptation! Hosts Ben Avery, Dr. Jayce O’Neal, and Stephen MacDonald take a look at some of the best and worst translations of book to movie, from Lord of the Rings…
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Ep. 53 — Will this Justice League Movie FINALLY Get Made?
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSIn this episode, we talk about the huge news that Christopher Nolan may be taking the reigns of the DC Comics superhero movie franchise. Some of the topics covered: What was the big news that Ben wanted to talk about that Dr. Jayce squashed? What were their initial…
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Ep. 52 — Strangers, Aliens, and Theology
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSIn this episode, the guys tackle some of the biggest questions in faith-based geekdom: is there life on other planets? And if so, what would it mean for Christian theology and Christians in general? And how does Aslan fit into the conversation? And what revelation did Ben have…
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Awesome Empire Strikes Back “making of” video!
This video is pretty awesome. It’s a making of documentary from the 1980’s, and it took me back to when I would wait and hope for shows like this to come on TV. Before VCRs, I had limited chances to see anything Star Wars related. I had Marvel comics, I had action figures, and I…
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Ep. 51 — Interview with Writer/Director Ryan Dunlap
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSThis episode is an interview with Ryan Dunlap, who is, among other things, a writer, director, editor, actor, producer . . . We talk about his movie Greyscale, which stars Ryan along with Tim Russ (Star Trek: Voyager) and Doug Jones (Hellboy, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver…
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