My two-sentence review of WISH: it's better than the reviews make it out to be. Yes, it's formulaic Disney and you've seen it done better, but it's not BAD; it's worth seeings as the songs hit and the emotional moments connect.
Also, Happy Thanksgiving!
Yes it's true that
@therapy_cinema
is no longer posting on this platform, a decision that I was part of making.
We didn't want our brand associated with certain choices and statements this platform's leadership is making (among other concerns).
As for me, personally? Well...
At
@therapy_cinema
we get fan art sometimes. I always love it. But this one, sent to me from Abigail Gelinas, based on our discussion of grief and the death of my mother in our Wandavision episode, moved me to tears. This was healing for me.
#grief
#wandavision
#seeyouagain
Hey
@zachbraff
, we invited our
@therapy_cinema
fans to a screening of
@agoodpersonmov
tonight and your film is even more magical with a crowd. We laughed together, we cried together, and the feeling was electric. Fantastic work Zach and all of our love to you.
#agoodpersonmovie
Hopefully this counts as celebrating, not bragging 🎉😀 So grateful to Gabe Cohn for inviting us to be interviewed about
@therapy_cinema
for the
@nytimes
!
Read our assessment of this summer's blockbuster movies here:
Hats off to our entire team!
I just want to thank you all for loving me, supporting me, and tolerating me. The care of good people like you, whether in person or strangers on the internet, has got me through my hardest times. You've helped me to grow into a person who is at peace with who he is. Love you all
Last night after Dragon Con Alan, our producer Corinne, and I grabbed some late night celebratory food.
Exhausted but content, we felt a bit like the Avengers grabbing shawarma after the Battle of New York.
Some people touch your life forever. Charan Prabhakar is one of my best friends. After my mom died his mom invited me over for Sunday dinners with their family every week through the rest of college. Having a home-cooked meal and a loving mother figure saved me. Reunited today.
My 6 year-old daughter just now: "Daddy, at Comic Con I want to be a fighting zombie princess, not a stupid boy who saves a stupid girl."
#parenting
#daughter
#geek
Mom died 17 years ago today. Love em' while you got em', folks. I love this picture of my folks 💞 They both just radiate goodness.
Til we meet again...
IKEA's massive self-serve furniture warehouse just keeps going in all directions. Hey, if I find the Ark of the Covenant in here will one of you buy me a Coke?
Cinema Therapy got invited to
@pixar
for a tour, a screening, and an episode shoot! Pics incoming 😎 First, though, we spent a day by the bay.
Not pictured: lunch in Chinatown, attacking an Alcatraz-themed escape room, and catching Spider-Man 2 (2004) at the theater.
THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER one-sentence review.
The tone is all over the place, some jokes fall flat, but it's still moving and funny; Christian Bale crushes it.
P.S. yes, Korg and Valkyrie are both lowkey queer. So what? Cap is Christian, Ms. Marvel is Muslim, etc. Yay diversity!
With the changes in my family life, some commenters are postulating that I'm gay.
If I were gay, I'd tell you. I've got only love for that community and my life is an open book.
Speaking to broad stereotypes, though: if I were gay I'd likely be more fit and better dressed.
Sitting in a Cairo cafe when this delightful woman asked me if I'm Jonathan from
@therapy_cinema
. I told her I am and she brought her family over. I'm just a middle-aged dad trying to help people while geeking out with my buddy. But it's so fulfilling to meet kind fans.
#Egypt
Demi Moore and Bruce Willis divorced 24 years ago. Ever since they've been a great model, not just of healthy coparenting, but also of beautiful postmarriage friendship. I've long admired them. Now Alicia and I are building a similar dynamic. Love can change form and not be lost.
I'm passionate about my Latter-day Saint faith. I'm also passionate about LGBTQIA rights. This book is a great bridge-builder.
This Pride Month, and always, my love and support to those who deserve "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" same as the rest of us. I see you.
The Deckers are moving to Missouri! This father/son duo is leaving a day or two before the others to get the unpacking started. We've got music. We've got audio books. I've got hours of personal anecdotes and life lessons to bore him with. It'll be good for both of us.
#roadtrip
#sundaythought
: ask me anything about my being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, growing up "Mormon," what I believe, or how this interacts with some of my more progressive views.
I will answer all non-trolling questions without trying to convert.
Daughter: Dad, what do you want for Christmas?
Me: I dunno. There's a few books I'd like...
Daughter: No! You don't need more books! Read one of the hundreds of books you've already bought but still haven't read. No new books!
Folks, I'm feeling both seen and attacked.
New
@therapy_cinema
episode today about Severus Snape. Some fans upset that we focus on the story and don't address J.K. Rowling. I oppose the views and behavior of artists whose work I enjoy, like Rowling, Joss Whedon, and Mel Gibson. I stand for love, respect, and kindness.
Films play different as we age. Spider-Man 3 is a mess; meet it halfway and it's got things to say. The idea of not being as good as you thought, of being blinded by self-centered hubris, of stumbling in your happily-ever-after, of fighting for hope and change speaks to older me.
Thank you to the 600+ new friends who came to our
@therapy_cinema
DragonCon panel and made us feel so loved!
We're doing a meetup at 7:00 p.m. at the Marriott Marquis, lobby level, back left.
Loving our time in Atlanta ❤️
Shout out to The Clone Wars. Don't sleep on this. Like Harry Potter it starts as "gee whiz" kiddie fare grows into something intense, intelligent, and emotionally mature. The final four episodes, in particular, are some of the finest content ever produced in Star Wars.
#CloneWars
Just got out with the kids. Absolutely delightful. Did not realize it was a full-blown musical but that made me love it all the more. Purists may balk that young Wonka is full of optimism, not his trademark cynicism. Everyone else will have a marvelous time.
Every year, without my asking, my kids give me some of their Reese's just because they know they're my favorite. It's honestly one of the sweetest things they do.
#Halloween
#Buddhism
teaches that, the worse the world gets, the kinder and wiser we must become.
"The working of Buddhahood is as everlasting as human ignorance is endless; and as the depth of ignorance is bottomless, so Buddha’s compassion is boundless." - Teaching of Buddha p. 16
It was so amazing to meet our lovely fans at our
@therapy_cinema
panel and afterwards. Honestly, I'm overwhelmed. So much love going both ways tonight.
Anyone seen GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES? I don't know if I've ever been so devastated by a movie. I am wrecked. This, LION, A MONSTER CALLS, LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL, and SCHINDLER'S LIST make me need to take a post-cry nap.
"Therapist Reacts to DEAD POETS SOCIETY with guest Gale Hansen (Charlie Dalton!)"
Well... we got Nuwanda, everybody! Actor/producer extraordinaire Gale Hansen tells us all about working with Robin Williams.
Watch this new episode of Cinema Therapy here!
I teach Sunday school at church. It lasts one hour. Today, after 30 minutes, I wrapped it up, testified of Jesus, and sat down. In front of about 50 people I was informed that we still had 30 minutes to go. I tell you, friends, I don't embarrass easily but... that got me.
"I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." - 1 Nephi 3:7, THE BOOK OF MORMON
So many pics to share with you all! We spent the day at
@pixar
today. AMAZING.
They invited
@therapy_cinema
to come for a preview screening, to film an episode with special guests, and to take a tour of the campus.
This will take several posts so buckle up!
"6 Reasons Hiccup and Astrid are Couple Goals (according to a couples therapist)"
What more do you need than that title to click?
Watch this new Cinema Therapy ep here!
What do you like about Histrid? Or is it Ascup?
Nope, definitely Histrid.
I'm thinking of studying world religions and posting what I learn as I go. Not attempting to convert, just to understand and appreciate the world, its people, history, and cultures, much of which are tied to spirituality. If I do this, would you be interested in these posts?
I've been exercising at least 4 days a week for over a month. The habit is formed and I will keep going.
Streamlining my life, so no more check-ins and playlists. Please use previous posts to access all my playlists if you enjoy them.
Thank you for helping me make the habit!
"Know what my happy thought was? It was you."
29 percent RT score is a joke. HOOK is a wonderful film and it hits SO HARD if you're a middle-aged dad. I couldn't stop crying on a recent rewatch.
Cinema Therapy is at DragonCon! Our panel (Anakin and Padme couples therapy) is at 4:00 p.m. today at the Hilton Grand West ballroom.
We'll also be doing a fan meet up at 7:00 p.m. tonight in the Marriott Marquis lobby level, in the back by these paintings. See you then!
"Does Uncle Iroh ACTUALLY Give Good Advice? Therapist vs. Uncle Iroh"
It's about to go down. Spoiler: I get my butt kicked.
Watch this new Cinema Therapy here:
What do you think of Iroh on Avatar?
FORGIVING ISN'T FORGETTING. IT'S REMEMBERING.
"We miseducate ourselves and our children with the trite phrase 'Forgive and forget.' Forgiveness is not a form of forgetting. It is, rather, a profound form of remembering. When we forgive, we remember who and whose we are... (1/4)
A few shots from our vacation so far, visiting family in Florida. We're not going to be married anymore. Doesn't mean we stop being friends. Doesn't mean we stop being family.
IT'S HERE! The scary short-film I made with
@alanseawright
and
@TelekinesisEnt
has made its YouTube debut after finishing its film festival circuit! Enjoy Alan's fantastic direction, and my return to acting after 15 years, right here:
What do you think?
My brother is a Latter-day Saint bishop. His daughter came out last year. This sign, hanging outside their front door, sums up his response.
He told me that as he was praying about what to do, these words came to his mind: "It's simple. Love the gospel. Love your daughter."
One of my favorite things about my own growth journey is that I no longer beat myself up after I'm awkward in a conversation. I don't stress about what the other person thinks about me. I just think "Well, I did it again. I guess this is just who I am."
New therapy office decor to go with my diplomas. "Geek chic." Some people would call this unprofessional. It's okay, those aren't my people anyway. You do you. You'll draw the right folks to you and you'll be happier. Trust me.
Make sure to tune in to
@therapy_cinema
on YouTube tomorrow, we'll have writer, director, and actor
@zachbraff
on the show to talk about his new film
@agoodpersonmov
! If you live in Utah come join
@alanseawright
and I at the Cinemark 16 in Provo at 6:50 pm on Saturday to see it!
Where do you like to go to think, to feel, to meditate, to heal, or to pray? Or any combination of these? Where do you get your bearings?
This is my spot. Tell me about yours and why it's so special to you!
In my professional world this is called radical acceptance. Such a wise, healing, freeing concept.
In more spiritual terms, this can also mean submitting to divine will, respecting the agency and choices of others, and focusing on using one's own free will to do good.
We are on the road for Missouri now, but before leaving Utah we couldn't resist one last show at Maven Cinemas. The kids had never seen it, but now it's a new favorite. Such a funny, rowdy, and ultimately sweet little movie. Playing this week at Maven if you want to check it out!
41 years of life. 41 years of friendship. Three doors down, two months apart. Elementary school, middle school, high school, and college. Thick and thin. Ride or die. I'm very blessed to have Tim Whiting in my life.
Our 8-year old daughter drew this portrait of my late mother, her grandmother, who she's never met, based off of old photo albums. Excuse me while I go cry my eyes out. It's perfect.