It's time for a Hallmark Christmas episode! This year we are comparing November Christmas (2010) and The Christmas Heart (2012) - two films about communities coming together to support a family in need at the holidays.

-----

The Movies:

November Christmas (2010)

Directed by Robert Harmon

Written by Pnenah Goldstein

Based on the book by Greg Coppa

iMDb Rating: 7.5

The Christmas Heart (2012)

Directed by Gary Yates

Written by Michael Heaton

iMDB Rating: 6.0

-----

Find us on:

Discord - https://discord.gg/dxgmcfj552

Tumblr - @ItTakesTwoPod

Instagram - @ItTakesTwo_pod

Facebook - @ItTakesTwoPod

Youtube - @ittakestwonz

Bluesky - @ittakestwo

Our website - ItTakesTwo.co.nz

-----

Content Warning: Discussions of death, loss, injury, illness, organ donation, cancer, gambling, criminal activity

This week we are comparing The Running Man (1987) and The Running Man (2025) - two films about a man fighting for his life as a cog in the media machine.

-----

The Movies:

The Running Man (1987)

Directed by Paul Michael Glaser

Written by Steven E. de Souza

Based on the novel by Stephen King

iMDb Rating: 6.6

The Running Man (2025)

Directed by Edgar Wright

Written by Edgar Wright & Michael Bacall

Based on the novel by Stephen King

iMDB Rating: 6.8

-----

Find us on:

Discord - https://discord.gg/dxgmcfj552

Tumblr - @ItTakesTwoPod

Instagram - @ItTakesTwo_pod

Facebook - @ItTakesTwoPod

Youtube - @ittakestwonz

Bluesky - @ittakestwo

Our website - ItTakesTwo.co.nz

-----

Content Warning: Discussions of death, murder, injury, illness, criminal activity, drug use, prostitution

This Hallowe'en, we are covering a classic horror remake with Ring (1998) and The Ring (2002).

-----

The Movies:

Ring (1998)

Directed by Hideo Nakata

Written by Hiroshi Takahashi

Based on the novel by Kôji Suzuki

iMDb Rating: 7.2

The Ring (2002)

Directed by Gore Verbinski

Written by Ehren Kruger

iMDB Rating: 7.1

-----

Find us on:

Discord - https://discord.gg/dxgmcfj552

Tumblr - @ItTakesTwoPod

Instagram - @ItTakesTwo_pod

Facebook - @ItTakesTwoPod

Youtube - @ittakestwonz

Bluesky - @ittakestwo

Our website - ItTakesTwo.co.nz

-----

Content Warning: Discussions of death, violence, suicide, mental illness, neglect, murder, rape, disturbing images and content

This week we have a child-friendly episode comparing Coco (2017) and Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) - two films about children understanding death and learning about their families' stories.

-----

The Movies:

Coco (2017)

Directed by Adrian Molina & Lee Unkrich

Written by Lee Unkrich, Jason Katz, Matthew Aldrich & Adrian Molina

iMDb Rating: 8.4

Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)

Directed by Travis Knight

Written by Shannon Tindle, Marc Haimes & Chris Butler

iMDB Rating: 7.7

-----

Find us on:

Discord - https://discord.gg/dxgmcfj552

Tumblr - @ItTakesTwoPod

Instagram - @ItTakesTwo_pod

Facebook - @ItTakesTwoPod

Youtube - @ittakestwonz

Bluesky - @ittakestwo

Our website - ItTakesTwo.co.nz

-----

Content Warning: Discussions of death, grief, funeral traditions

This week we are comparing three movies based on Disney's Haunted Mansion theme park attraction - Haunted Mansion (2023), Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021) and The Haunted Mansion (2003)

-----

The Movies:

Haunted Mansion (2023)

Directed by Justin Simien

Written by Katie Dippold

iMDb Rating: 6.0

Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021)

Directed by Kirk R. Thatcher

Written by Bill Barretta, Kirk R. Thatcher, Kelly Younger & Jim Lewis

iMDB Rating: 6.3

The Haunted Mansion (2003)

Directed by Rob Minkoff

Written by David Berenbaum

iMDB Rating: 5.2

-----

Find us on:

Discord - https://discord.gg/dxgmcfj552

Tumblr - @ItTakesTwoPod

Instagram - @ItTakesTwo_pod

Facebook - @ItTakesTwoPod

Youtube - @ittakestwonz

Bluesky - @ittakestwo

Our website - ItTakesTwo.co.nz

-----

Content Warning:

Mentions of death, suicide, grief.

Join us this week as we compare Olympus Has Fallen (2013) and White House Down (2013) - two films about attacks on the White House and one man's mission to save the President.

-----

The Movies:

Olympus Has Fallen (2013)

Directed by Antoine Fuqua

Written by Creighton Rothenberger & Katrin Benedikt

iMDb Rating: 6.5

White House Down (2013)

Directed by Roland Emmerich

Written by James Vanderbilt

iMDB Rating: 6.3

-----

Vote for pīwauwau/rock wren for Bird of the Year 2025 at birdoftheyear.org.nz

-----

Find us on:

Discord - https://discord.gg/dxgmcfj552

Tumblr - @ItTakesTwoPod

Instagram - @ItTakesTwo_pod

Facebook - @ItTakesTwoPod

Youtube - @ittakestwonz

Bluesky - @ittakestwo

Our website - ItTakesTwo.co.nz

-----

Content Warning:

Discussions of violence, death, gun violence, terrorism, drug use.

This week we are comparing Bullet Train (2022) and Fight or Flight (2024), two films about multiple trained assassins encountering each other in confined modes of transport.

-----

The Movies:

Bullet Train (2022)

Directed by David Leitch

Written by Zak Olkewicz

Based on the novel by Kôtarô Isaka

iMDb Rating: 7.3

Fight or Flight (2024)

Directed by James Madigan

Written by Brooks McLaren & D.J. Cotrona

iMDB Rating: 6.4

-----

Find us on:

Discord - https://discord.gg/dxgmcfj552

Tumblr - @ItTakesTwoPod

Instagram - @ItTakesTwo_pod

Facebook - @ItTakesTwoPod

Youtube - @ittakestwonz

Bluesky - @ittakestwo

Our website - ItTakesTwo.co.nz

-----

Content Warning:

Discussions of murder, violence, death, gun violence, grooming, drug use, poison.

This week we are comparing Dead Poets Society (1989) and Mona Lisa Smile (2003) - two films about inspiring teachers touching the lives of their students.

-----

The Movies:

Dead Poets Society (1989)

Directed by Peter Weir

Written by Tom Schulman

iMDb Rating: 8.1

Mona Lisa Smile (2003)

Directed by Mike Newell

Written by Lawrence Konner & Mark Rosenthal

iMDB Rating: 6.6

-----

Find us on:

Discord - https://discord.gg/dxgmcfj552

Tumblr - @ItTakesTwoPod

Instagram - @ItTakesTwo_pod

Facebook - @ItTakesTwoPod

Youtube - @ittakestwonz

Bluesky - @ittakestwo

Our website - ItTakesTwo.co.nz

-----

Content Warning:

Discussions of suicide, death, societal pressures, abusive family situations, pornography, consent.