Did it make you afraid to go into the water? Maybe you remember the frenzy around the blockbuster movie, Jaws. This month is the 50th anniversary of its release, and we are celebrating with personal remembrances and our thoughts on Jaws’ contribution to both movie and mainstream culture. Grab and brew and join us. Don’t worry; you won’t have to go into the water!

Leave us a comment with the title of your favorite shark movie.

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References

Gallagher, Charlotte. “Something in the Water.” British Broadcasting Company. (27 July 2024). https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckmmgxvp7dgo.

Geraets, Nell. “Since Jaws, we’ve been obsessed with shark movies. What makes them so compelling?” The Sydney Morning Herald. (2023 August 3). https://www.smh.com.au/culture/movies/since-jaws-we-ve-been-obsessed-with-shark-movies-what-makes-them-so-compelling-20230721-p5dq6u.html.

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Ever hear of “hate-watching?” It is the tendency to watch movies and television shows that do not appeal to you. Some go beyond lacking appeal to making you cringe every time you see them. Indeed, occasionally you watch the shows just for the sake of mocking them. Psychologists say that this strong negativism makes us happy and even strengthens bonds among friends and community. In this week’s episode of the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast, we take a deep dive into “hate-watching” and passionately discuss the shows we have a strong disdain for but watch anyway!

Leave us a comment with a list of the shows that you hate-watch.

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References

Mark Travers. A Psychologist Explains Why We ‘Hate-Watch’ Cringe TV. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2023/09/22/a-psychologist-explains-why-we-hate-watch-cringe-tv/

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Have you seen the new John Wick movie, From the World of John Wick: Ballerina? Ana de Armas plays the lead and she is a badass in the film! It got us thinking how rare it is to see women presented as the lead in action movies. While they are prevalent in ensemble casts of action productions like Fantastic Four, X-Men, Game of Thrones, and name any Avengers feature you like, women are rarely featured as the focal point in these releases. Also, where we brand productions as “the next Tom Cruise movie,” the new Vin Diesel flick,” or even “Guy Ritchie’s upcoming release,” we rarely brand features led and directed by women. Join us on the podcast as we discuss the social dynamics and industry factors that contribute to these phenomena. Did we miss anyone? Leave us a comment with your own favorite action stars!

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References

Sarah Cassway, Alexa Solomon, and Caroline Walton. Gender Representation in the Film Industry. George Washington University School of Engineering and Applied Science. https://eda.seas.gwu.edu/showcase/2020-Spring/gender_representation_in_film.html.

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Consider for a moment your go-to movies or television shows. You know, the ones you stream decades (or perhaps just a year or two) after their release and they still make you laugh, make you cry, or just stir something inside you. Would you consider these works to be “classics” and, if so, why? The answers often spur intense debate because the subject is personal. In this episode, we discuss what makes a classic and expound on it with plenty of cinema that exemplifies it.

So, what are your criteria for a film industry classic? Send us a note to let us know!

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References

David Rubin and Jacqueline Stewart. Academy Conversations 2020: What Makes a Movie a Classic. Turner Classic Movies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGLXg8u7RFc

Hare, Breeana. (2019 July 5). What Makes a Movie a Classic? CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/05/entertainment/movies-what-makes-a-classic

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Last fall, COTC reviewed the Peacock series, Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist, starring Kevin Hart, Taraji P. Henson, Terrence Howard, Samuel L. Jackson, and Don Cheadle. The series is based on a true story about a robbery that occurred at a party after the Muhammad Ali‑Jerry Quarry fight in Atlanta in 1970. Big afros, platform shoes, and even plaid suits abound in this story. Seeing the eight‑part series took Terry and I back to our days as children, and Brandon and Chris began to reminisce on films that reminded them of their own childhoods. In this episode, we discuss nostalgia and throwback films. How do these productions make us feel and how do filmmakers pull it off?

Throwback films are meant to spur feelings of nostalgia in us. Which films do this for you and how so?

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References

Nostalgia. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/nostalgia#:~:text=Nostalgia%20is%20a%20longing%20and,a%20coherent%20sense%20of%20identity.

The Psychology of Nostalgia. University of Florida. (8 January 2025). https://online.aging.ufl.edu/2025/01/08/the-psychology-of-nostalgia/

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Remember movies like Little Big League, Any Given Sunday, Mighty Ducks, Major League, and Sandlot? From the 1990s to the early 2000s, the film industry released about four sports movies like these every year. But in recent years, we’re lucky to see two such films in theaters. What happened? Why have sports movies all but disappeared from the big screen? Join us as we discuss several contributing factors.

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References

How is the success of films and TV shows measured? IMDBPro. https://pro.imdb.com/content/article/entertainment-industry-resources/featured-articles/how-is-the-success-of-films-and-tv-shows-measured/GLFTC8ZLBBUSNTM3

Smith, Chris. Whatever happened to the sports movie? Sports Business Journal. (2024 June 6). https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/06/24/whatever-happened-to-the-sports-movie/#:~:text=Adjusting%20for%20inflation%2C%20no%20sports,in%20the%20prior%2014%20years

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Ryan Coogler’s recent hit movie, Sinners, starring Michael B. Jordan, has sparked a lot of buzz. What is the appeal of vampires and what adds credibility to a vampire production? In this episode, we dive into the mystique of this century-long cinematic spectacle. After sharing our thoughts on the new blockbuster, we discuss the classic vampire movies, like Dracula and Nosferatu, as well as the contemporary hit shows, such as Buffy and The Vampire Diaries.

Send us a note to let us know your favorite vampire production. Also, if there’s a topic you would like us to cover, text us your idea.

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In this episode, we delve into cinema on difficult topics and social issues. Be aware that samples of these works and some aspects of our discussion may be triggering for some listeners. Many movies and TV series mirror real‑life circumstances and experiences. When handled deftly, the works often resonate with us or at minimum inform our perspectives about aspects of life or life encounters that are unfamiliar to us. We hope you find our talk on these issues affirming, comforting, and informative. Below, we have compiled a list of hotlines obtained from endcan.org and psychiatry.org should you be in need of support.

National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN) - 1-800-656-HOPE (1-800-656-4673)

Teen Dating Violence & Abuse (Love is Respect hotline) - 1-866-331-9474

National Suicide Hotline - 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)

National Alliance on Mental Illness - 1-800-950-NAMI (1-800-950-6264)

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) - 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – Call 800-273-8255 or Chat with Lifeline.

Crisis Textline – Text TALK to 741741.

Veterans Crisis Line - Call 800-273-8255 or text 838255.

Is there a topic you would like us to cover? Text us your idea.

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