DAILY CALL SHEET: NOVEMBER 30, 2019

The Swarm (1978) Long and dull Irwin Allen epic has killer bees offing almost everyone who ever appeared on an episode of Fantasy Island. TIL: Bees are occasionally used as a symbol of Jesus. The honey reflects his sweet and gentle character, while the sting recalls his justice.

Still Voices - Cry-Baby (1990) "Rebels are the people who refuse the seen for the unseen." - Anne Douglas Sedgwick

Dad Rock Daily: The Runaways - The Runaways (1976) Perfect soundtrack for angry young girls. Of course, if you had this band's backstory, you'd sound pretty much PO'd as well. Laudable Lyrics: Two TV sets and two Cadillac cars, well they don't mean nothin' at all.

DAILY CALL SHEET: NOVEMBER 29, 2019

Rubber (2010) Touching tale of a car tire turned head-exploding Scanner pursuing the girl of its dreams. Tests your suspension of disbelief. TIL: The latest Popemobiles have run-flat tires capable of rolling on their rims at speeds up to 70 mph if they are suddenly deflated.

Still Voices - Captain America (1990) "A man's country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle; and patriotism is loyalty to that principle." - George William Curtis.

Dad Rock Daily: Bread - Bread (1969) Yes, the Simpsons would file Bread under wus-rock, but this debut album is much better than that. Laudable Lyrics: I'm tellin' you now like I told you before that love has got to be somethin' more than a past time.

DAILY CALL SHEET: NOVEMBER 28, 2019

The Twonky (1953) How much TV is harmful is debatable, but if your boob tube starts walking around and takes complete control of your life, it’s time to pull the plug. TIL: The encyclical Miranda Prorsus states the primary aim of TV should be to serve truth and virtue. Should be.

Still Voices - Tank Girl (1995) "When we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness and call it love true love." - Robert Fulghum

Dad Rock Daily: Paul Simon - Paul Simon (1972) Wistful, melancholy, and sometimes meandering. Pretty much like a lot of people after a sad breakup. Laudable Lyrics: I was playing my guitar lying underneath the stars, just thanking the Lord for my fingers.

DAILY CALL SHEET: NOVEMBER 27, 2019

The Mangler (1995) Anytime Stephen King gets snooty, remember he wrote the short story about a killer laundry folding machine this is based on. TIL: Among other things, the document Redemptionis Sacramentum details the proper way to care for the linens used during Communion.

Still Voices - The Wolf Man (1941) "If you can but give to the fainting soul at your door a cup of water from the wells of truth, it shall flash back on you the radiance of God." - Moncure D. Conway

Dad Rock Daily: New York Dolls - New York Dolls (1973) Not sure what you get if you put lipstick on a pig, but put it on the Rolling Stones and you get a darn good rock album. Laudable Lyrics: What's wrong today is what's wrong with you.

DAILY CALL SHEET: NOVEMBER 26, 2019

The Hand (1981) Cartoonist’s severed hand puts the squeeze on people. Directed by Oliver Stone? Yes, and it’s not even considered his worst. TIL: Jesus drew in the sand with his fingers, but we're never told what. One of those fun rabbit holes of speculation to jump down.

Still Voices - Hannibal (2001) "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it." - Terry Pratchett

Dad Rock Daily: Diamond Head - Lightning To The Nations (1980) NWOBHM classic is one of the altars at which all Metal acts to follow must genuflect. Laudable Lyrics: From the shores of home, we send a gift of love to sweet and hopeful hearts, a gift from high above.

DAILY CALL SHEET: NOVEMBER 24, 2015

Amityville Dollhouse (1996) Hey, let's get the kid a toy that looks exactly like the most famous haunted murder house in the country. Movie logic. TIL: Scripture looks down on giving unhelpful gifts which may be fun in the moment, but eventually cause heartbreak.

Still Voices - Scary Movie (2000) “A smartphone is definitely smarter than us to be able to keep us addicted to it.” - Munia Khan

Dad Rock Daily: Throbbing Gristle - 20 Jazz Funk Greats (1979) More accessible, less terrifying than their previous stuff, so probably a good gateway drug into Industrial music. Laudable Lyrics: I'm hot on the heels of love, waiting for help from above.

DAILY CALL SHEET: NOVEMBER 23, 2019

The Beast With Five Fingers (1946) Deceased pianist's digits aren't ready to stop playing. Peter Lorre chews up the scenery in the granddaddy of all crawling hand movies. TIL: Can't say the Medici's gave us any saintly popes, but at least they did fund the creation of the piano.

Still Voices - Weird Science (1985) "Tis the privilege of friendship to talk nonsense, and to have her nonsense respected." - Charles Lamb

Dad Rock Daily: Pink Floyd - The Wall (1979) Teenage me is too emotionally attached to this to review it honestly. Leave me alone. Or better yet, please don't. Laudable Lyrics: Hey you! Don't help them to bury the light. Don't give in without a fight.

DAILY CALL SHEET: NOVEMBER 22, 2019

Dazed and Confused (1993) Perfect snapshot of that brief teenage period where the past is forgotten, nobody cares about the future, and now is all that matters. TIL: Theologians speculate that God exists in an eternal now experiencing the past, present, and future simultaneously.

Big Trouble in Little China (1986) "Fools give vent to all their anger; but the wise, biding their time, control it." - Proverbs 29:11

Dad Rock Daily: Led Zeppelin- Led Zeppelin (1969) Despite its carelessness with songwriting credits, this debut rightfully remains a milestone of rock. Laudable Lyrics: I've tried to do all those things the best I can. No matter how I try, I find my way into the same old jam.

DAILY CALL SHEET: NOVEMBER 21, 2019

Death Bed: The Bed That Eats (1977) If you're going to climb into a bed you find in a mausoleum, you're kind of asking to be eaten aren't you?  TIL: The consequences of sin (lying in the bed you make) are determined by intent, seriousness of the offense, and the circumstances.

The Trail of the Octopus (1919) "Worry is a weighty monster with poisoned tentacles." - Mary E. DeMuth

Dad Rock Daily: Scandal - Warrior (1984) A shame infighting tore the band apart after this, their one full release, as Patty Smyth's vocals were an 80's highlight. Laudable Lyrics: Sometimes a fool gets lucky and wins, sometimes the innocent pay for an old man's sin.

DAILY CALL SHEET: NOVEMBER 19, 2019

Return to Oz (1985) Dorothy's electroshock therapy is just the start. Things like witches who wear other women's heads make this crazy creepy for kids. TIL: Coincidentally, our hero's namesake, St. Dorothea of Alexandria, was beheaded for refusing the advances of Maximinus II.

The Ape Man (1943) "Hug your friends tight, but your enemies tighter - hug 'em so tight they can't wiggle." - Lyndon B. Johnson

Dad Rock Daily: Camel - Mirage (1974) A bit more melodic and accessible than most of their Prog Rock contemporaries. Deserves to be more than a cult hit. Laudable Lyrics: When he rides, my fears subside, for darkness turns once more to light.

And finally, for Aleteia this week I watched the first episode of every new show on the Disney+ streaming service. The question now is, should you?

DAILY CALL SHEET: NOVEMBER 18, 2019

Smithereens (1982) Wretched woman leeches off other wretched human beings in wretched post-punk NYC. I dare you to try and get much more indie than that. TIL: 1 Thessalonians tells us never to take advantage of or exploit a brother. Yes, that goes for the wretched ones as well.

Kickboxer (1989) "Dancing can reveal all the mystery that music conceals." - Charles Baudelaire

Dad Rock Daily: Teena Marie - It Must be Magic (1981) Soul Train's favorite white chick belts out some catchy Rick James produced pop. Laudable Lyrics: That life has taught me lessons, like don't dare to question fate, for God will do the gifting, all we've got to do is wait.

DAILY CALL SHEET: NOVEMBER 17, 2019

Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) Notoriously silly sequel tries to be spiritual without being religious, which almost always produces laughable results. TIL: In Catholicism, a heretic is one who recognizes an obligation to believe a revealed truth, but chooses to deny it anyway.

Häxan (1922) "Tell the truth and shame the devil." - Francois Rabelais

Dad Rock Daily: Nico - Chelsea Girl (1967) Flirts with coffee-house drivel in spots but ends up being unique and hauntingly captivating. Laudable Lyrics: ...all the Sunday people were so quiet in the dark, afraid to be better the next day.

DAILY CALL SHEET: NOVEMBER 15, 2019

Dream Stalker (1991) What to do when you own a video camera, a dirt bike, and not much else? Make a movie about a zombie motocross biker who offs anyone who harasses his old flame, of course. TIL: Columbanus, patron saint of motorcyclists, would probably not approve.

Still Voices - The Terror Beneath the Sea (1966) “Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings.” – Samuel Johnson

Dad Rock Daily: Loggins and Messina - Mother Lode (1974) Laid back without being wimpy. Features excellent production and... wait, are they playing Stonehenge? Laudable Lyrics: The lesson learned is not taught in a school. You have to start out first by being a fool.

DAILY CALL SHEET: NOVEMBER 14, 2019

Highlander 2: The Quickening (1991) Incoherent plot takes the rules and canon established in the first movie and defecates all over them. Shame, eternal shame, and nothing but shame! TIL: And this is why dogma is important, kids.

Still Voices - Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31

Dad Rock Daily: Grand Funk Railroad - Grand Funk (1969) But... but... Rolling Stone said these guys sucked. Please. This is just good hard rock n' roll. Laudable Lyrics: Winter brings sadness that empties my soul. Life is too short for a dog growing old.

DAILY CALL SHEET: NOVEMBER 13, 2019

Iron Sky (2012) Finnish foolishness has Nazis from the moon planning a blitzkrieg of Earth. What The Asylum movies could be if they tried hard. TIL: The real Nazis claimed jurisdiction over social interactions of all kinds and hoped to eventually de-Christianize the country. Hmm?

Still Voices - Spawn (1997) "More weighty than wisdom or wealth is a little folly!" - Ecclesiastes 10:1

Dad Rock Daily: Gary Wright - The Dream Weaver (1975) Early progenitor of synth-pop provides congenial keyboard driven tunes. Laudable Lyrics: You came and you saved my mind from the fear that was near when you rescued me.

DAILY CALL SHEET: NOVEMBER 12, 2019

The Hobbit (1966) 12-minutes long with no dwarves and ends with Bilbo marrying a princess. But sure, keep tsk-tsking the changes Jackson made to his adaptation. TIL: All versions of the story keep the Christian message that evil is best opposed through simple acts of kindness.

Still Voices - Forrest Gump (1994) "Slander meets no regard from noble minds; only the base believe what the base only utter." - John Bellers

Dad Rock Daily: Mary Wells - Mary Wells Sings My Guy (1964) Toe tapping collection of singles and standards from an artist deserving of more credit for the groundwork she lays. Laudable Lyrics: I gave my guy my word of honor to be faithful and I'm gonna.

DAILY CALL SHEET: NOVEMBER 11, 2019

Death at Love House (1976) Husband's obsession over a dead silent film starlet threatens his wife and his life. Fairly entertaining made for TV schlock. TIL: Since mortal sin requires a deliberate choice, both knowing and willing, clinical obsessions don't always qualify.

Still Voices - A Plumbing We Will Go (1940) "Early to bed and early to rise probably indicates unskilled labor." -John Ciardi

Dad Rock Daily: The Doors - Full Circle (1972) I can't even. Love or hate Morrison, this Jim-less effort proves the importance of his contribution to the band. Laudable Lyrics: One, two, three, four billion souls are going to rest if all our friends don't try their best.