CAUTION - This is a SPOILER FILLED deep dive discussion between two giant nerds: Zoe and her brother, Christian. Zoe and Christian grew up together watching theory YouTube videos and playing the Five Nights at Freddy's Games. Zoe self-classifies herself as a knowledgable fan, and Christian would describe himself as more of a casual fan. They have disagreements about the movie and go back and forth on several plot points, what they liked verses disliked, and what they predict the future holds for this franchise.The big question on Zoe's mind was what she saw happening in the online community: is this movie peak or bleak? In other words, is this movie the best thing to have ever happened to the franchise or is it a massive disappointment. Zoe argues it is made for the fans, she had a good time as a fan, and it's an acceptable film for the franchise but it is not a great movie and she's okay with this because she hopes for a third installment and conclusion to the trilogy.Warning - this very nerdy conversation is nearly an hour long, and you probably won't understand any of it if you aren't already aware of FNAF lore. You have been warned.Have you seen the film? What do you think? Did you enjoy it? Let Zoe know by sending a shoutout on the real fm app or texting real fm at 833-433-REALIn a world where movie tickets are pricey and you could spend hours browsing streaming platforms, Zoe is here to help by giving you the nuts and bolts of a movie or TV show without the spoilers! But movies and shows are more than just mindless consumables, they’re stories that tell us something about our world and the people around us. Zoe invites you into a deeper conversation about media and how to navigate modern storytelling.

This recommendation boils down to one major factor: Are you a fan of the Five Nights at Freddy's franchise? This sequel movie highly depends on a viewer's previously knowledge of the games lore and online theories and encourages the continued online theorizing, which is part of what makes this franchise what it is. Zoe, as a big fan of the franchise, really enjoyed the movie personally but understands this is for a very small and specific audience and most people will have no idea what is going on. Additionally, Zoe has found even the fanbase has been split on the film. She still recommends it for the fans, but she doesn't believe it's "peak." It is good, but "suffers from second movie in a trilogy syndrome." Lastly, Zoe tells parents this is NOT a kids movie or family-friendly. It is fine for teenagers, it is rated PG-13, but she again reminds parents this is an indie horror franchise produced by Blumhouse and is about child possessed animatronics. Have you seen the film? What do you think? Did you enjoy it? Let Zoe know by sending a shoutout on the real fm app or texting real fm at 833-433-REALIn a world where movie tickets are pricey and you could spend hours browsing streaming platforms, Zoe is here to help by giving you the nuts and bolts of a movie or TV show without the spoilers! But movies and shows are more than just mindless consumables, they’re stories that tell us something about our world and the people around us. Zoe invites you into a deeper conversation about media and how to navigate modern storytelling.

Wicked: For Good is now in theaters and now it's time for a spoiler FILLED discussion! Zoe invites her friend Olivia Lee to compare the movie to the musical, dive into the "bad guy is misunderstood trope" and explore how parents and kids can unpack the themes of this story.Olivia loves theater and has seen the Wicked production and was super helpful in comparing the movie to the musical. She saw it at an age which she felt is perfect and appropriate for engaging in morally complex stories, like Wicked. Together, they discuss a lot of the film's criticism surrounding "bad guy is misunderstood trope" and Zoe argues Wicked actually does a good job of telling that story.Have you seen the film? What do you think? Did you enjoy it? Let Zoe know by sending a shoutout on the real fm app or texting real fm at 833-433-REALIn a world where movie tickets are pricey and you could spend hours browsing streaming platforms, Zoe is here to help by giving you the nuts and bolts of a movie or TV show without the spoilers! But movies and shows are more than just mindless consumables, they’re stories that tell us something about our world and the people around us. Zoe invites you into a deeper conversation about media and how to navigate modern storytelling.

Wicked: For Good is now in theaters but was it worth the year long wait for this part two? Zoe recommends this film if you were a fan of the first one, but if you haven't seen the first one you better watch it first or else you may be confused and lost. This film directly picks up where the story left off and is a natural continuation, just like how a stage production has an intermission and continues. Zoe was a fan of the first film, and really enjoyed this second part. She found it entertaining and full of interesting themes. However, she cautions parents that this may not be the family friendly film it looks to be. There is a scene where two characters explicitly engage in intimacy; there is nothing graphic depicted but it is clear what these characters are going to do when the scene cuts. The main criticism Zoe has, however, is the issue of Ariana Grande's noticeably unhealthy body and how she is a role model to little girls. Zoe is concerned for how her body image may influence young girls who are already bombarded with cultural messages that beauty fits a certain image and a certain size. Overall, she recommends the movie with those two criticisms for parents to watch out for if they intend to bring their children. Have you seen the film? What do you think? Did you enjoy it? Let Zoe know by sending a shoutout on the real fm app or texting real fm at 833-433-REALIn a world where movie tickets are pricey and you could spend hours browsing streaming platforms, Zoe is here to help by giving you the nuts and bolts of a movie or TV show without the spoilers! But movies and shows are more than just mindless consumables, they’re stories that tell us something about our world and the people around us. Zoe invites you into a deeper conversation about media and how to navigate modern storytelling.el Review (https://real.fm/podcasts/reel-review)

Zoe is joined by Ansen from Real FM's Afternoon Show. He is a father to three kiddos, but his two daughters are especially obsessed with K-Pop Demon Hunters. That is why he is here to discuss how Christian parents can navigate popular media with their kids, how to know when something is appropriate, how to engage with kids in asking questions, and how to see certain movies as opportunities. It can be tempting as Christian parents to say "no" to what's secular and popular, and if it has the word "demon" or "magic" in the title, for example. However, both Zoe and Ansen argue there can be redemptive qualities to these movies, themes which align with God's truth, and ways of the kids to engage with this media and their friends in a healthy way. When it comes specifically to K-Pop Demon Hunters, both Ansen and Zoe were very surprised by the movie's themes of shame and identity. Together they unpacked how this aligns with God's truth for us, but also where the movie is different, and how to talk to your kids about the similarities and differences. The big take-away from this conversation is intentionally talking with your kids about media: its characters, its messages, and what is true verses what the world says. Have you seen the film? What do you think? Did you enjoy it? Let Zoe know on instagram by following her @reel.zoe or on Threads for her takes on pop-culture and media.In a world where movie tickets are pricey and you could spend hours browsing streaming platforms, Zoe is here to help by giving you the nuts and bolts of a movie or TV show without the spoilers! But movies and shows are more than just mindless consumables, they’re stories that tell us something about our world and the people around us. Zoe invites you into a deeper conversation about media and how to navigate modern storytelling.

Zoe takes a closer look at the surprise hit K-Pop Demon Hunters — a movie she initially dismissed but ended up loving. What looked like a flashy kids’ film turned out to be a heartfelt, action-packed story with humor, catchy songs, and deeper themes than expected. She unpacks the meaning behind the title, gives context for parents concerned about the word “demon,” and shares why this film is more than just a “girl movie.”Zoe also explores how the movie’s themes of shame, redemption, and sacrificial love unexpectedly align with Christian values, even though the film itself isn’t religious. With anime-inspired visuals, fun characters, and a message that resonates across cultures and ages, K-Pop Demon Hunters might just be the most meaningful family film of the year — and Zoe’s here to tell you why.Have you seen the film? What do you think? Did you enjoy it? Let Zoe know on instagram by following her @reel.zoe or on Threads for her takes on pop-culture and media.In a world where movie tickets are pricey and you could spend hours browsing streaming platforms, Zoe is here to help by giving you the nuts and bolts of a movie or TV show without the spoilers! But movies and shows are more than just mindless consumables, they’re stories that tell us something about our world and the people around us. Zoe invites you into a deeper conversation about media and how to navigate modern storytelling.

It's Marvel VS D.C. at the box office right now as two comic book movies come head to head for your hard earned money, but which one will win the summer? Who knows, but Zoe is glad she spent her money seeing "Superman." Did we REALLY need another Superman movie? It turns out... YES! This movie is everything we need in a world that feels like it's getting darker every day. This movie inspires hope, bravery, selflessness, kindness, strength, justice, and all the good qualities of Superman, even though he's flawed and a bit dorky--he is human and he is super, not just because of his powers but because of his heroism. This means we can be super too, if we choose to be. This movie has a lot of heart, clever writing, fun characters, and gets a huge recommendation from Zoe with the caveat that is it PG13 for crude language. Have you seen the film? What do you think? Did you enjoy it? Let Zoe know on instagram by following her @reel.zoe or on Threads for her takes on pop-culture and media.In a world where movie tickets are pricey and you could spend hours browsing streaming platforms, Zoe is here to help by giving you the nuts and bolts of a movie or TV show without the spoilers! But movies and shows are more than just mindless consumables, they’re stories that tell us something about our world and the people around us. Zoe invites you into a deeper conversation about media and how to navigate modern storytelling.

Spare yourself the expense! Jurassic World: Rebirth is NOT worth your time, energy, or money at the theater! It is also NOT for children. Zoe thought it was bizarre there were so many children (even a baby???) at her theatrical viewing of the film and she wants to remind listeners that it is rated PG-13, and it is not necessarily a family-film, there is a lot of intense action, mild horror, etc. Zoe doesn't recommend it for kids and she doesn't recommend it for anyone because this movie thinks you're stupid. The movie is so poorly written that Zoe wonders if the script was AI generated.... Have you seen the film? What do you think? Did you enjoy it? Let Zoe know on instagram by following her @reel.zoe or on Threads for her takes on pop-culture and media.In a world where movie tickets are pricey and you could spend hours browsing streaming platforms, Zoe is here to help by giving you the nuts and bolts of a movie or TV show without the spoilers! But movies and shows are more than just mindless consumables, they’re stories that tell us something about our world and the people around us. Zoe invites you into a deeper conversation about media and how to navigate modern storytelling.

If you're looking for something good to stream, Amazon Prime recently released "The Accountant 2" on its platform. Zoe was hesitant and skeptical about a sequel to a beloved action film starring Ben Affleck, but her husband insisted they watch it. To their surprise, the film exceeded expectations! The film, while serious in its portrayals violence and crime, is also balanced with relatable characters. It is surprisingly heartfelt and Zoe highly recommends it, with the caveat that this is indeed Rated R for violence, language, mature themes. Have you seen the film? What do you think? Did you enjoy it? Let Zoe know on instagram by following her @reel.zoe or on Threads for her takes on pop-culture and media. In a world where movie tickets are pricey and you could spend hours browsing streaming platforms, Zoe is here to help by giving you the nuts and bolts of a movie or TV show without the spoilers! But movies and shows are more than just mindless consumables, they’re stories that tell us something about our world and the people around us. Zoe invites you into a deeper conversation about media and how to navigate modern storytelling.

Is Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning the FINAL Mission Impossible movie? Is this the end of Ethan Hunt, aka Tom Cruise? Was this a great theatrical experience? How were the stunts? How was the action? Zoe breaks it down without spoilers! Have you seen the film? What do you think? Did you enjoy it? Let Zoe know on instagram by following her @reel.zoeIn a world where movie tickets are pricey and you could spend hours browsing streaming platforms, Zoe is here to help by giving you the nuts and bolts of a movie or TV show without the spoilers! But movies and shows are more than just mindless consumables, they’re stories that tell us something about our world and the people around us. Zoe invites you into a deeper conversation about media and how to navigate modern storytelling.

Thunderbolts is the latest MCU theatrical release but will it save the floundering franchise? With so many characters and plotlines to juggle, will this film be able to tie it all together, even for audiences that haven't kept up? Zoe was pleasantly surprised by this film, enjoying it way more than she was expecting, having been so disappointed in the MCU for the past two years. The movie is fun but earnest, and explores themes not yet touched in the MCU. The film, however, does have more gun violence than perhaps some of the other films, explores more mature themes, and uses strong language--its main cast is comprised of characters who are misfits and outcasts, so its a bit expected.Have you seen the film? What do you think? Did you enjoy it? Has it revitalized the franchise? Let Zoe know on instagram by following her @reel.zoe

Welcome to my game show, "Whooo Said!"Hi, I'm Zoe, your resident movie-nerd at 100.3 Real FM. Every Wednesday night, we play my game of movie quote trivia. Contestants win points for correctly guessing the movie quote's character, the movie it's from, and the actor or actress is double the points. There are four rounds, with points increasing each time as the level increases. Do you speak movie-quote? Then this is the game for you! Play along by listening every Wednesday or here on my movie-review podcast. Thanks for joining me!Tonight's contestant: My Dad! We played this game "Who Said" around the dinner table as kids, and my dad says he's the original inventor.

Welcome to my game show, "Whooo Said!"Hi, I'm Zoe, your resident movie-nerd at 100.3 Real FM. Every Wednesday night, we play my game of movie quote trivia. Contestants win points for correctly guessing the movie quote's character, the movie it's from, and the actor or actress is double the points. There are four rounds, with points increasing each time as the level increases. Do you speak movie-quote? Then this is the game for you! Play along by listening every Wednesday or here on my movie-review podcast. Thanks for joining me!Tonight's contestant: GLADDEN, an artist, singer/songwriter you can hear on 100.3 Real FM and elsewhere!

Welcome to my game show, "Whooo Said!"Hi, I'm Zoe, your resident movie-nerd at 100.3 Real FM. Every Wednesday night, we play my game of movie quote trivia. Contestants win points for correctly guessing the movie quote's character, the movie it's from, and the actor or actress is double the points. There are four rounds, with points increasing each time as the level increases. Do you speak movie-quote? Then this is the game for you! Play along by listening every Wednesday or here on my movie-review podcast. Thanks for joining me!Tonight's contestant: Sam Bowman, a singer/songwriter/artist who's music can be enjoyed on 100.3 Real FM and elsewhere!

Zoe has been playing Minecraft since 2012, so she had very strong feelings when she saw the film's trailer. Originally, she wasn't planning on seeing the movie, but her husband dragged her to the theater and she was pleasantly surprised it didn't totally suck. It is a decent option at the theater right now if you're looking to see something during this easter weekend with the kiddos--it is very much a family film. Zoe also highlights the recent tiktok trend with teenage boys that involves trashing theaters, so there's a warning about that.Let Zoe know on Instagram what you think! Give her a follow @reel.zoe

Welcome to my game show, "Whooo Said!"Hi, I'm Zoe, your resident movie-nerd at 100.3 Real FM. Every Wednesday night, we play my game of movie quote trivia. Contestants win points for correctly guessing the movie quote's character, the movie it's from, and the actor or actress is double the points. There are four rounds, with points increasing each time as the level increases. Do you speak movie-quote? Then this is the game for you! Play along by listening every Wednesday or here on my movie-review podcast. Thanks for joining me!Tonight's contestant: Josh Bishop! Author, poet, Michigander, and my cousin-in-law.

In this spoiler-filled deep dive of the recent Amazon original "Holland", Zoe is joined by a special guest, a third generation Dutch American Holland Resident named Josh Bishop. Josh is also an author, poet, film-enjoyer, and Zoe's cousin-in-law. Together, they explore the themes of the film, its missed opportunities in storytelling, the flawed screenplay, and poor representation of the beloved town filled with a beautiful and unique embrasure of its Dutch heritage.

"Holland" is a movie set in the Michigan town of Holland, which embraces its Dutch heritage through landmarks such as a historic Windmill and traditions like Tulip Time. This movie stars Nicole Kidman who plays Nancy, a traditional mom living a seemingly perfect life in a perfect town but is clearly unhappy and discontent. Things start unraveling, divulging into a "suspenseful thriller" according to some critics, but Zoe found the film boring and morally questionable in its story and message. She does NOT recommend this film, even though its available now on Amazon prime. She also warns the film is rated R for language, violence, and sexual content. Zoe looks forward to a spoiler filled discussion on Reel 2 with her special guest, an author and life-long Holland resident.

Zoe reviews the new movie "Mickey 17" starring Robert Pattinson and directed by Korean filmmaker, Bong Joon Ho. Zoe doesn't feel like she can fully recommend the film because of its polarizing, dark comedic nature--being full of violence, body-horror, swearing, sexual innuendos, and on-the-nose political commentary. She found the film had a lot of layers, to the film's detriment, but she also commends the film attempting to be bold. A lot of mixed feelings and a lot to discuss!

In this spoiler-filled, deeper-dive on the new release from Angel Studios, Zoe does not pull any punches while discussing "Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Assassin." There were already a few red flags that Zoe had to contend with after watching the film, specifically the "call to action" at the end of the movie, but because she enjoyed the film so much she let it slide and gave it a glowing review. Now that she has had time to think deeply about the film and read articles about what was fact verses fiction about the movie, she has come to another conclusion.Zoe now finds it difficult to recommend and wonders what Bonhoeffer himself would think of this portrayal of his life and legacy. Would he appreciate being called an assassin?Links to the articles Zoe references:https://www.angel.com/blog/bonhoeffer/posts/whats-true-in-bonhoeffer-pastor-spy-assassin (https://www.angel.com/blog/bonhoeffer/posts/whats-true-in-bonhoeffer-pastor-spy-assassin) https://www.christianitytoday.com/2024/11/bonhoeffer-movie-review-angel-studios/ (https://www.christianitytoday.com/2024/11/bonhoeffer-movie-review-angel-studios/)