Just a few years after the 1935 publication of Mary Poppins (written by P.L. Travers), Walt Disney promised his daughters that he would make a film of the book. Unfortunately for him, Travers had no interest in allowing Disney to turn her book into a sweet children’s film or, even worse, into an animated film. But Disney persisted for twenty years and, in 1961, when Travers was experiencing financial struggles, he persuaded her to fly from London to Los Angeles to talk about purchasing the rights to film Mary Poppins.A funny, touching, tragic, profound, beautifully-told film and should not be […]

Rated RAfter the buzz fades, of being “had” by one more movie, there are a number of interesting questions that can be explored.

Last year for my last my final review of 2012, I made a playlist of some of the top 12 songs that I would remember down the road as significant songs during a transitional time in my life. I don’t know if I was trying to wax poetic or what. I can try to be as poignant as I want, but at the end of the day, I know the truth: I like lists. I like making mix tapes. I also like traditions.So, in the spirit of those three things, I present the 2013 Media Matters mix tape, featuring a […]

The year 2012 will go down in history for me as a transition year. I turned 40 and gave up my good gig as a part-time stay-at-home dad in exchange for a more-than-full-time job in middle management.I’m noticing right now that I have a mix of pick-me-up songs and downers, which can describe any year!

Here are the films making it to the top of Third Way Cafe’s annual “Top 10 Films of the Year” list. We don’t give away Oscars or have red carpets, (and these are not films our reviewers are nominating for Oscars or Globes) but films worthy of mention which either uphold Mennonite/Anabaptist approaches to looking at the world, or, at least tell a whopping good story or make an inspiring and excellent film. For our website fans, our reviewers also have created a great list (28 in all) with succinct descriptions around which you can make your Netflix or other queues, or plan a quarter of great […]

Compare to your own favorites or save this for when you want quick descriptions in picking a film to view or discuss in a group.

A good summary of many of the worthwhile and noteworthy films of the year for your own list of “must sees.”

Our Media Matters reviewers have done it again: brought you not only their picks for top 10 films of the year (in keeping with the Oscar awards’ move to having 10 nominees for each category for the first time this year), but handy short descriptions that you can use to make your own queue for Netflix or other list, or even use in choosing flicks to use for youth or other film discussion groups. After reading their choices, go to our Poll to register your own favorite films of 2009. There were fewer outstanding films to consider as the year’s best, but surprisingly […]

Altogether 23 different films are listed which makes a fine “recommended” list for your Netflix or other queue!

Here are our Media Matters reviewers’ picks for favorite films of 2007. Yeah, yeah, we know they are not necessarily Oscar contenders—which is why we do Third Way Café anyway: to offer a little different voice and view. Here, without editing, are five of our reviewers’ picks, with top film first. You can vote for your own favorite film of 2007 in the Media Poll to the right of this page. Jerry Holsopple For my first two picks I am choosing movies with strong female leads. Both actresses took challenging roles and did superb work. 1.  Juno. Rarely do you get a comedy about a teenager […]