We Are Db

The Martian - Rated at 8.0 / 10 on the IMDb as of June 2020, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes the fun and creative problem-solving narrative, and an in-depth comparison between the film and the novel.

Raiders of the Lost Ark - The #56 movie on the IMDb as of May 2020, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes a brief breakdown of the entire series, and a conversation on whether this is actually a good movie. (It's not).

P.S. We understand the movie is just called 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' and not 'Indiana Jones and the...' but the other 4 movies have the prefix title, and it's brand recognition, so forgive us.

Memento - The #55 movie on the IMDb as of May 2020, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes the unique, non-linear narrative technique, and the meaning behind the ending of the film.

Cinema Paradiso - The #50 movie on the IMDb as of May 2020, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes the heart-warming story of the main character's relationship to the cinema and movies, and a look into our memories of our small hometown cinema theaters.

City Lights - The #42 movie on the IMDb as of May 2020, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes a comparison to 'Modern Times' from 1936, and a look at the sweat and classic ending.

Dunkirk - Rated at 7.9 / 10 on the IMDb as of May 2020, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes looking into the interesting Nolan approach to a true-event war movie, and the brilliant use of sound and music throughout.

Apocalypse Now - The #54 movie on the IMDb as of May 2020, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes a deep-dive into the meaning and symbolism of the film, how amazing it is this movie ever got made, and a discussion about the 1991 documentary 'Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse' on the filming of the movie.

Grave of the Fireflies - The #48 movie on the IMDb as of May 2020, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes the incredibly powerful and important story, the Japanese-civilians' war backdrop, and the amazing symbolism of the 'red' versions of the character's throughout.

Alien - The #53 movie on the IMDb as of March 2020, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes the subtle and suspenseful art of this movie, and looking into the best and worst traits of the entire horror movie genre.

Be sure to check out 'In Love With the Process' podcast if you love filmmaking and getting behind the art!

Rear Window - The #51 movie on the IMDb as of March 2020, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes the creative visual story-telling by Hitchcock, and the relationship between Jeff and Lisa.

Primal Fear - Rated at 7.7 / 10 on the IMDb as of March 2020, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes the brilliant performances by the actors (and characters), and the great character arc depicted from the hard-cut ending.

Joker - The #49 movie on the IMDb as of March 2020, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes the many influences of the film, and the strong theme of mental health running throughout.

Casablanca - The #50 movie on the IMDb as of March 2020, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes the unique wartime setting, and the (possible) hidden meaning to Bogart's character.

The Prestige - The #46 movie on the IMDb as of March 2020, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes the intense ethical problems arisen by the characters (particularly Hugh Jackman's), and Nolan's creative use of time in all his projects.

Once Upon a Time in the West - The #48 movie on the IMDb as of March 2020, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes a comparison between this and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, and an interesting look into he motivations of the main characters.

Dances with Wolves - Rated at 8.0 / 10 on the IMDb as of February 2020, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes the representations of Native Americans, and whether this movie needed to be 4 hours long!

Whiplash - The #46 movie on the IMDb as of February 2020, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes talks about the motivations of both main characters, and the real world effects of the movie and its messages.

The Departed - The #45 movie on the IMDb as of February 2020, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes the refreshing setting and characters to the mafia genre, and whether this movie is overrated. They talk about how confusing and illogical parts of this movie are, and whether or not it should have won Best Picture.

This Bonus Episode starts to break down the first 21 movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe on the journey to Endgame.

Please see We Are Db on Patreon to listen to the remaining episodes on Phase 2 and Phase 3, as well as other bonus episodes, and every usual episode uncut and unedited, over on Patreon.

The Intouchables - The #44 movie on the IMDb as of February 2020, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes a comparison of this to The Upside, and the genuine and human relationships between the characters / actors.

Gladiator - The #42 movie on the IMDb as of February 2020, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes our disagreement on whether this is actually a good movie, and the interesting historical setting of the movie.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Rated at 7.9 / 10 on the IMDb as of February 2020, discussed by Danielle and Brenton, with guest Jessica. The discussion includes a rather thorough break-down of the entire Harry Potter series, as well as looking into which films are best for different reasons, and comparing elements of the films with the books.

Psycho - The #41 movie on the IMDb as of January 2020, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes the influence of the iconic music and scenes, and thinking critically about what is actually 'psycho' about Norman Bates.

Modern Times - The #40 movie on the IMDb as of January 2020, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes a look into the context this movie was released in, and what iconic comedy performances Chaplin had influence on in the following decades.

The Pianist - The #39 movie on the IMDb as of January 2020, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes how the war and Holocaust has been represented in cinema, and that this film focuses on a more personal civilian story than most other films.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day - The #38 movie on the IMDb as of December 2019, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion breaks-down why this sequel is better than the first, and a quick look into the paradoxes proposed in the movie.

Titanic - Rated at 7.8 / 10 on the IMDb as of January 2020, discussed by Danielle and Brenton, with special guest Dan LeFebvre of the 'Based on a True Story' podcast. The discussion includes the accuracy of the events seen in the movie, and the sheer scale of the production and its wake.

Be sure to check out 'Based on a True Story' podcast for a detailed comparison of reality and film events, for over 150 titles!

Back to the Future - The #37 movie on the IMDb as of December 2019, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes some of the Easter eggs and goofy 80s-comedy flaws, but how it still manages to be a fun, timeless classic.

American History X - The #36 movie on the IMDb as of December 2019, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes thoughtfully exploring the etymology of the N-word, and looking into the interesting arc of Norton's character.

The Lion King - The #34 movie on the IMDb as of December 2019, discussed by Danielle and Brenton, with guest Jessica. The discussion includes a comparison to the new 2019 version, and talk about what is the greatest animated movie of all time.

Parasite - The #33 movie on the IMDb as of December 2019, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes the motivations of all characters, and the single moments that changed this movie completely.

Apocalypto - Rated at 7.8 / 10 on the IMDb as of September 2019, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes the accurate depiction of the Mayan culture, and the bad-ass moves seen in the third act!

The Usual Suspects - The #31 movie on the IMDb as of December 2019, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes a comparison with Se7en from the same year, and what makes a good movie twist ending.

Harakiri - The #32 movie on the IMDb as of December 2019, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes a quick comparison between this film and Seven Samurai, and the artistic quality of Japanese cinema.

Interstellar - The #30 movie on the IMDb as of September 2019, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes the impressive and accurate scientific theories portrayed, and why the fate of the Earth is coming to an end.

Léon: The Professional - The #29 movie on the IMDb as of September 2019, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes the differences between French and American Indie films, and whether the character of Matilda is likeable and what are her motivations.

Monster - Rated at 7.3 / 10 on the IMDb as of October 2019, discussed by Danielle and Brenton, with special guests Dasha German and Gabriela Kostadinova. The discussion includes a the current representation of women in the film industry, and the journey and experiences of making their new project 'Bad Trip'. (The conversation regarding Monster doesn't actually start until 43.35)

Be sure to check out Feelreal Films for more on 'Bad Trip', or follow the ladies on Instagram for more!

The Green Mile - The #28 movie on the IMDb as of September 2019, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes a comparison to the Shawshank Redemption, and the reasons why we think the film isn't regarded higher on the list.

Spirited Away - The #27 movie on the IMDb as of September 2019, discussed by Danielle and Brenton, with special guest Miranda Sanchez from IGN. The discussion includes the hidden symbolism detail throughout, and some of the differences between American and Japanese animation films.

Saving Private Ryan - The #26 movie on the IMDb as of August 2019, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes a deep breakdown of war and war films, and the amazing little elements, symbolism and character developments by Spielberg throughout the film.

Life is Beautiful - The #26 movie on the IMDb as of July 2019, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes the incredible mixture of comedy and drama, and the clever foregrounding and story-telling techniques used by Benigni. 

Planet of the Apes - Rated at 8.0 / 10 on the IMDb as of August 2019, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes a brief break-down of the entire franchise, and their representation on the science, religion and culture of humanity.

It's a Wonderful Life - The #24 movie on the IMDb as of August 2019, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes the influences of finances on mental depression, and the clever set-up / high-concept of the film.

The Silence of the Lambs - The #24 movie on the IMDb as of July 2019, discussed by Danielle and Brenton, with guest Jessica. The discussion includes the fascinating approach to criminal psychology, and the subtle motifs used to provoke a feeling from the audience.

Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope - The #23 movie on the IMDb as of July 2019, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes the ambitious Sci-Fi concept for audiences upon initial release, and how the special effects stand up pretty well, over 40 years later. 

City of God - The #22 movie on the IMDb as of July 2019, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes a comparison to traditional crime-drama films, and the multicultural and architecturally diverse setting. 

Brokeback Mountain - Rated at 7.7 / 10 on the IMDb as of July 2019, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes the outstanding acting from Ledger and Gyllenhaal, and the tragic reality of homosexuality through the 60s and 70s. 

Seven - The #20 movie on the IMDb as of July 2019, discussed by Danielle and Brenton, with special guest Mike Pecci of the 'In Love with the Process' podcast. . The discussion includes Fincher's amazing direction, and where film really stands up in today's cinematic climate. 

 Seven Samurai - The #19 movie on the IMDb as of July 2019, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes the huge influence of this film and Kurosawa's work, and how a foreign-language, black-and-white film from the 1950s, set in 1586, can still hold up so well today! 

 The Matrix - The #18 movie on the IMDb as of June 2019, discussed by Danielle and Brenton. The discussion includes the now cliche, but awesome, one-liners and action scenes, and the many religious symbols throughout.