Tim Spanburg

dudes, swords, and authorized punching

2007-04-13T07:18:00.000-07:00

After an extremely long blogging hiatus, I am breaking the silence with something I have been thinking about a lot lately. Should Christians fight? I know the passage about 'turning the other cheek,' I know how Jesus could have invoked violence to come off the cross but He didn't, and I know that we are supposed to be peacemakers, not warmakers.

Having said that, I listened to a sermon yesterday where a pastor was proud his son punched another kid. Why did he do this? Because the other kid was picking on this pastor's son's little sister. The son told him to stop, and if he didn't, the kid was going to get a punch in the face. The kid didn't stop, and so the pastor's son, a PK nonetheless, punched this other kid in the face.

The parent of the kid who's face got jacked was obviously upset (probably more because it was her son that got punched, rather than did the punching) and wanted to know what this pastor was going to do about it. So, the pastor talked to his son, found out what happened, and when he learned this kid was pushing his daughter down, picking on her, and calling her names, then the pastor was OK with what his son did.

That was shocking to me. But the more I think about it, the more I like it.

Many PK's really don't like the church and Christians because they have to be something they don't want to be...perfect. But when it comes to pastor's sons, I think its much different. I think the church expects them to be feminine, moreso than anything else. After all, most pastors are feminie. Pastors are expected to be soft, gentle, and caring. You know, the very thing you would not expect to find in uh...you know...a DUDE!

This does not mean pastors shouldn't be that way, but I think in raising my sons, I am going to teach them that defending themselves, their sisters, and their mom is noble. That dudes don't just go looking for a fight, but we do defend the defenseless, either by words or by actions.

I remember when I was like 8 years old, and I heard my mom talking about how there were these dudes at Lafayette Square Mall who were waiting under cars, and then slashing women's ankles so they could steal the car and the women could not run them down. It was obviously effective.

Becuase of this, my mom was afraid to go to Lafayette Square Mall, and as I heard this, I immediately spoke up and promised to protect her, that she would be safe as long as I was around. I'll take on knife carrying dudes for my mom anyday. Anyway, for the next few months everytime we would go anywhere I would always check under the car. I would not let my mom see me, but I would do it nonetheless.

Even at 8 years old I was ready to fight and defend. Dudes are like that. Sons are like that. Its a shame the Church still thinks of Jesus as a weak, effeminate man, rather than a strong Savior that laid down his life because it was necessary for our forgiveness, not because he wanted us to become weak, effeminate men.

So what I am doing to change this? Three Words: Jack Bauer Ministry...

The Break Up...

2006-06-05T20:36:00.000-07:00

This summer I decided to become a man. I'm not sure how I decided it, or even why, but I just realized that I was not a man, and at 23 years old, I had better stop doing things boys do and become a man, or else I may end up 35 years old with a Cubs bedspread, unemployed, living with my parents, and still thinking that I have a chance to succeed in life.

Enter The Break Up, a seemingly perfect movie in my manhood quest, because it really is more about becoming a man than anything else. The movie features the perfect leading man (Vince Vaughn), a credible supporting lady (Jennifer Aniston), and a supporting cast that was phenomenal. Unfortunately, the movie really did not end up amounting to much. And, because real don't like bad movies, I must refrain from trying to throw unwavering support behind the movie. After all, it did feature the Cubs, Wrigley Field, Vince Vaughn, and Jon Favreau.

The majority of the comedy centered around three supporting characters, including Jon Favreau (Johnny O), Vincent D'Onofrio (Dennis), and John Michael Higgins (Richard). This leaves out Jason Bateman, whose comedy I love (see Arrested Development), but even Bateman's character really did not have enough to save the movie.

The Break Up is proof that Vaugh is becoming a big star, because much of the dialogue appears to Vaughn's quick witted improv. Most of the lines miss, and Vaughn has so many lines, that I actually got tired of hearing him talk, and that is saying something, because I think Vince Vaughn is hilarious.

Jennifer Aniston said nothing funny the entire movie, and neither did the entire female cast. Granted, I know I am a male, but I was in the movie theater full of females, and none of them laughed at anything that was said from a female. The movie had funny parts, but far too few to be recalled or to make me feel justified in having spent $8 on the movie.

With the disappointment beside, this movie was about becoming a man. Gary (Vaughn) did what he wanted to do. He came home from work, kicked off the shoes, had a beer, and turned on the Cubs, my dream life, I might add. The problem is, often the girlfriend was home cooking dinner, cleaning, or preparing for some guests on the way, and her work day was no easier. Gary constantly faced this question; Do I do want to do, or do I lose myself and do what others need or want me to do?

All dudes face this question, because only a few dudes like to go to the ballet, or have the same taste in music as their significant other, and let's face it, no one likes to clean or do dishes. But sometimes our own freedom is not really as freeing as we think. As good as baseball, beer, and rest are, they will never give us the joy that serving others gives us. And real men are servants...

X-Men 3: The Last Stand...

2006-05-26T07:24:00.000-07:00

Power. It is something we all want, we all strive for, and when we get it, we promise to use it for good. Politicians constantly promise to fight for the poor and the oppressed, but once in office they tend to do whatever will get them reelected. So often I hear people say that if they ever become rich, they will give millions away to charity, but statistics consistently show that the more money someone makes, the less they give away. Power. Will it be used for good or for evil?

X-Men 3: The Last Stand centers around that question, but it also brings up another important point. We all have to choices to make, but will we use those choices to do good or to do evil? To be selfish or work for the good of others? Ideally, we would all work for the good of others, but that begs the question. Why does it seem that in this world people watch out for themselves and their own interests instead of the interests for others?

Wolverine's character wrestles with this tension, and he sees first hand that self-interest will result in the death of others, so what is there to do? I will let you watch X-Men 3 to find his answer to that question, which you definitely should do.

X-Men 3 is not a great, but a good movie, and it certainly beats all the other supposed summer blockbusters for 2006 so far. The action is exhillirating and gives pace to the story. Plus, the addition of the Beast is wonderful addition, and his action scenes are some of the best in the film. Wolverine, of course, does not disappoint. Storm has more chances to show off her ability than the first two movies combined. Overall, the movie had the makings of everything it needed to be great.

Unfortunately, some of the most important parts of the story lacked emotion, punch, and the weight of the importance of the different decisions that were made. But do not let this deter you, this is still a movie worth seeing, especially if you enjoyed the first two installments.

One interesting theme in the movie is this idea of 'being who you are.' The mutants are given a supposed 'cure,' a shot that will make them normal human beings. This obviously does not seem right, both to the moviegoer and to the mutants in the movie. After all, these people have been created this way, and their gifts and talents are as much a part of them as their hands or eyes.

This is an idea very prevalent in our culture today, the idea of 'being true to yourself.' After all, if you are made a certain way, just be that, and there is no need to change. But before you think that X-Men is giving on this idea, it is not. The Pheonix, Jean Gray's alter-ego (so to speak), wants to come out and take complete control of Jean's body. The problem is that the Phoenix is ultimately rage-filled and does not control her powers, bringing death to innocent people. Professor Xavier wants to harness this power, so that it can only be used for good, where Magneto wants to let this power be unleashed, in order to use the Phoenix to accomplish his goals.

Magneto's main argument is that Jean Gray has all this power, so why hold it back? This is who she is, and she should be allowed to be that. This brings up such a powerful point, a point that goes against a culture that says you need 'to be who you are.' Sometimes, who we are, brings pain and death. And although this may not be to other people, often it brings those things in to our own lives.

What is it, in who we are, that brings death? Sin. Let's face it, some of the time, OK, for me, most of the time, it is so much easier to do evil things. To just be true to the fact that I'm a dude, and dudes like sex, so I should just sleep around. But that would bring pain into the lives of so many people, not to mention my own. Sin. It is such a tired word, but it is the line between good and evil, and crossing over that line leads to death. And, we have all crossed that line...

Being 'true to yourself' can lead to death if 'yourself' is a sinful being. Which, unfortunately, that includes every person. And when we live our lives in a way that is selfish and self-serving, then we become a force for evil in this world. But when we live our lives in service to others, putting our very lives on the line for others, then we become a picture of the best. One of my favorite things Jesus was Mark 10:45, where he reminded his disciples that "...the son of man did not come in to the world to be served, but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many..." Not only did Jesus try to get us to change who we are to serve others, but he also provided the answer to the death and pain our sin creates. There is no need to wallow in sin, its been paid for with Christ, all we need to do is trust Him, and take on the life of a servant.

X-Men shows the fruits of sacrifice, but it also points out that sometimes who we are need to be changed. Wolverine, the Phoenix, Storm, Scott, all the characters are faced with decisions about either being true to themselves, or putting down their power, their selfishness, or their inhibition to serve others. Either they will serve others, or die serving themselves, which makes for an entertaining movie...

The Da Vinci Code...

2006-05-20T12:02:00.000-07:00

—1. Overview
—2. Cast and Crew
—3. Photo Pages
—4. Trailers, Clips, DVDs, Books, Soundtrack
—5. Posters (Tom Hanks)
—6. Production Notes (pdf)
—7. Spiritual Connections
—8. Presentation Downloads

Well, Jesus Christ had a daughter. The Church is full of liars. Christianity is actually based upon pagan religions. Jesus died 'for the betterment of humanity.' So, what question is left unanswered. Perhaps this one: What is the worst part of The Da Vinci Code? There are several possibilities, so let me sift through some of them for you.

1. The Sermon Nature: For a book that seems to have much trouble with the authoritative nature of the church, it sure seems to claim a whole lot of authority. In all honesty, I do not care about heresy or inaccurate pictures of the Church. That is to be expected and the thing that the Church needs to do is be an institution that is above reporach, that serves humanity and proclaims a risen Savior. Unfortunatley, the Church has often fallen in these regards, which means that the Church is going to get attacked. But the Da Vinci Code does not just attack the Church, but it tells you what to think. And what are we supposed to think? Well Ron Howard has clued Christians into the fact that Christianity is in fact New Age Pantheism where "what you believe is all that matters" and "maybe the divine is in all of us."

2. Tom Hanks Hair: I might have fallen asleep at how slow this movie was, but Tom Hanks' hair kept me awake the whole time. Frightening.

3. Ian McKellen's Anti-Church Rant: I know I am supposed to be objective here, but someone else should have had this roll. Granted, McKellen was perhaps the best actor in the movie, but the whole time I felt like this was a shot at Christianity, with no Christian to stand up and give any defense. Tom Hanks did what he could, but Ron Howard clearly was not too interested in Christianity giving any legit response to the ranting of McKellen. I know I am expecting too much here, but this did not appear to be any sort of humble approach to getting at any kind of truth, which I think hurts the movie's point that truth does matter.

4. The Absence of Jesus: Jesus was talked about, but the age old thought that the nice guy Jesus walked around blessing people and never said much else comes out again. One of the worst lines of the whole film is when Tom Hanks said that Jesus died 'for the betterment of humanity.' What does that even mean? Seriously, if a dude started walking around Bloomington, IN (where I live) saying he was God and that we should eat his flesh and blood (as Jesus said in a figurative matter) then I don't think we're going to start saying he's a good dude we should listen to. No. I have seen guys that claim to be God walking out on the streets, and they are CRAZY! I agree with C.S. Lewis when he reminds us not to patronize Jesus be turning him into a good teacher or an old pal. Either he's an insane liar or he's God. He's not a decent guy with some good things to say.

5. The Rejection of Scripture: This is the point that scares me the most, because many Christians today have started to question the authority of Scripture. Rob Bell's Velvet Elvis and the Emergent Church Movement are examples, and this is scary, scary stuff. The movie makes it sound like no one could decide what should be Scripture and that there were many credible Gospels to choose from. So, the movie quotes from the Gospels of Margy Magdalene and the Gospel of Philip, two crazy documents that NO ONE though should have been Scripture at the Council of Nicea. I recommend people study how Scripture came together because it is pretty amazing what both Scripture says about itself and how early on people were quoting what would eventaully become the N.T.

6. Anti-Climatic Actions Scenes: There is one action scene where Langdon, Neveu, Leigh, and his manservant (whatever his name is) are quickly driving away from the police who is chasing them. They are on their way to a plane to get away, and then, the next thing you know, they are in the air safely. Disappointing. There are two scenes then when Langon and Neveu are about to get shot, and a bullet casing and a flock of doves or something saves them. Stupid. Let's see, I'm sure there were other scenes, but honestly, they aren't worth recalling.

So, yea, pretty negative response, I know. Please know this is not an attack on Dan Brown, who's Angel and Demons is much better than The Da Vinci Code. This is an attack on a bad movie that attacks everything I hold dear. Granted, there are other movies like this that I have loved such as Jesus of Montreal and Jesus Christ, Superstar. But The Da Vinci Code was almost not even bearable to watch. Even if it didn't attack Christianity turning it into a pagan pluralistic religion, it was still a bad, bad movie. But, it will make a lot of money, and in that regard, I guess it is a success.

But there is one thing I love about this movie. It calls Christians out. It challenges us to think, act, and produce a people that are not liars, cheaters, and thieves. So often it just seems Christians are just like the rest of the world, which is so disappointing. There is power in the line of Christ, but not because we are some ancient royal bloodline. We are the adopted children of the Living God, with the Holy Spirit empowering us to live changed lives. Imagine if Christian's lives showed that.

—Overview

R.V...

2006-04-26T20:03:00.000-07:00

—1. Overview
—2. Cast and Crew
—3. Photo Pages
—4. Trailers, Clips, DVDs
—5. Posters (Robin Williams)
—6. Production Notes (pdf)
—7. Spiritual Connections
—8. Presentation Downloads

Special:
Faith in Hollywood: Up Close with Kristin Chenoweth

Spiritual insights by Mike Furches

Oh...the good ole days. The days with dinner at 6 o'clock sharp, where kids' biggest problems consisted of which girl to ask to a dance or how to talk your teacher into no homework for the weekend. The days when moms wore pink dresses, dads played catch with their kids, and gas was like 25 cents a gallon. Compare that with today, and it seems that as cheesy as I think the 50's culture might have been, there is something missing.

Today we have suburbs where you drive everywhere so you don't have to talk to anyone, IPods to listen to while you shop (so you don't have to talk to anyone), and power windows so that they can roll up quickly in case a neighbor is trying to flag you down. Gone are the days when the front porch was where the family spent their evenings, catching up with the neighbors, providing a helping hand or a word of encouragement. Granted, the 50's were hardly perfect, but there is something about our corporate, money-focused, success-driven society that misses the finer things in life; like family, service, and love.

OK, enough of thinking of those good ole days, especially considering the fact that I was born 30 years after they happened away. But after watching the movie RV, it is hard not to think where we have gone wrong, why our families seem so fragmented, the divorce rate so high, and children so ashamed of their parents. R.V. is a social commentary on some of these things, complete with some great laughs (although some laughs missed pretty hard) and a nice ending.

Robin Williams plays Bob, a frustrated father seeking to have one week with his family in Hawaii before his family splits up for the summer. Not surprisingly, this idea quickly falls through, and even though Bob is the one guy in the family really looking for some quality time with the fam, he ultimately cannot even be honest with his family, thus producing an RV trip instead of the promised trip to Hawaii...how disappointing.

What follows is a family searching for love and searching for meaning in a world that seems to lack it. Please don't read into this too far though, its not like RV is going to have anyone finding meaning in life, but it may make you think about your family, how you treat your kids, parents, etc.

Bob's family runs into another family, with Jeff Daniels playing Travis, the Father of this family. Travis runs a homeschooled RV full of a family that seems to have been exported straight out of the 50s. Travis' family is completely unable to understand the struggle of Bob's family, mostly because they have not bought the lie that money, success, and more things bring happiness. There are greater things in life than this, and Travis' family shows it, because their family lives a life basically unconcerned with those things.

Bob's family is, and the rest of the movie is focused in on this struggle between what the world tells you to value and what Bob begins to value. It is obvious that one thing is true here...Bob has come into contact with all the world has offered him...and all he wants is a family that loves him. How refreshing. And, in the end, Bob will back this whole thing up with his actions. But, that is for you to go see. R.V. may not reach into 'classic' status with other road trip family movies, but it will make you laugh, think, and drive home either appreciating the family that loves you, or wanting a family that wil love you...

—1. Overview

Take the Lead...

2006-04-05T12:55:00.000-07:00

—1. Overview
—2. Cast and Crew
—3. Photo Pages
—4. Trailers, Clips, DVDs, Books, Soundtrack
—5. Posters (Dance)
—6. Production Notes (pdf)
—7. Spiritual Connections
—8. Presentation Downloads

I was pleasantly surprised with Take the Lead, a movie that quite honestly, looked like a cheese-fest when I saw the previews. Dancing? Ballroom dancing? Antonio Banderas? I mean this is the guy who can box and shoot people up with a guitar case gun, but now he is teaching ball room dancing? Disappointing, right? Well if these thoughts have ran through your mind, then believe me, I thought the same things, but Take the Lead is a really good movie.

Take the Lead is the inspiring story of Pierre Dulane, a ballroom dance teacher who, after witnessing a crime committed by a high school student, wants to teach ballroom dance in an inner city high school that is pleased enough when students are not caught in drugs or dead. Ballroom dance seems to be the last thing on anyone's mind, yet in walks Dulane, stressing he really intends to teach the foxtrot, the waltz, (put whatever ballroom dance you know here), etc. The teachers laugh at him, but the principle decides to allow him to fill a teaching vacancy, detention.

This begins the story that is surprisingly funny, smart, and entertaining. I was truly shocked at how much I laughed and thought through a movie that was supposed to be about dancing (lame...). But this is movie is about one thing: Choices.

At one point in the film, the students had learned a few dances, were getting pretty good, but after watching the richer, white students of Dulane, they were convinced they could not ever be that good and that Dulane had misled them. Out of this comes the best line of the movie, when Dulane tells them, "When I look around the room I don't see a bunch of rejects, I see choices."

Choices. Lahrette (DaCosta) lives with her mother, a prostitute, and younger siblings. Rock (Brown) lives with his drunk parents, who he must support because they do not work. The list could go on, but Dulane offers them a choice; a choice to do something that matters. But Ballroom Dancing? Come on.

But this is where the power in this movie really shines. If something as seemingly pointless as Ballroom Dancing can become a passionate pursuit for people that lead them away from drugs, crime, and hopelessness, then only a lack of opportunity prevents people from such the pains of the streets.

Choices. We all have them. It is so much easier to blame our parents, our lack of intelligence, or whatever, but Take the Lead encourages to make a good choice. Serve, respect, and love others. That is the message of this movie, and it is one worth seeing.

People today have so many different types of gifts, and it is a shame that those gifts are often focused in the suburbs or to well-paying clients. I pray that there are more people like Dulane out there, with gifts, passions, and a heart to teach, that will consider moving to inner city to reach kids who are caught in families that are less than caring, neighborhoods that are less than safe, and schools that struggle to teach. Imagine if instead of expecting our government to fix the schools, people saw their gifts and used them for others, instead of themselves.

Take the Lead points us in that direction, and it begs the question: Are you willing to use your gifts for others, or for yourself? It is a tough question, but a question worth discussing. For that reason, Take the Lead should be commended.

— Overview

Inside Man...

2006-03-28T06:48:00.001-08:00

—1. Overview
—2. Cast and Crew
—3. Photo Pages
—4. Trailers, Clips, DVDs, Books, Soundtrack
—5. Posters (Denzel Washington)
—6. Production Notes (pdf)
—7. Spiritual Connections
—8. Presentation Downloads

You can try covering your sins up for as long as you want, but eventually, the smell will catch up to you. The trouble is, when there is not a clear definition of what 'sin' is, then you can smell whatever you want. This quick summary of Inside Man is why I both loved and became frustrated at this movie.

Inside Man is an intriguing movie, with a sort of old school, classic detective style that is somewhat surprising coming from Spike Lee. The story is told masterfully with superb acting from Clive Owen, Denzel Washington, and Jodie Foster. All told, this is the making of a great film, something that, unfortunately, Inside Man is not.

This is a good movie, but what makes it so frustrating is the fact that the movie crushes under the weight of its own logic.

SPOILER WARNING:
This movie centers in on Arthur Case (Plummer), a man that got rich from less than reputable decisions. This sets in motion a plan that Dalton Russell (Owen) calls "the perfect bank robbery." However, this is not a bank robbery because the robbers are not after the cash, the bank vault, or any valuables. They are after the man, Arthur Case.

What follows next is corruption, followed by more corruption, and then ending with...well...you guessed it...corruption. Madeline White (Foster) does not care what Russell has on Case, Case has paid her to protect his interests, and because of that, she does not care what he is guilty of, she got paid.

This is a horrible act, especially when the viewer finds out what Case is guilty of. But at this point, there is a question that must be asked: Even though Case got rich off of heinous crimes, is robbing him then a sinless act? Inside Man says yes, and that is where this movie breaks down.

Russell is not robbing Case to bring good to others (which would still not justify his actions); he is robbing Case to get rich, even though there are times throughout the movie where Russell speaks out against riches and being concerned about money. In other words, Russell is a hypocrite, even though the movie aims to make him a hero.

Inside Man does not view the robbery in such a negative way. Instead it is seen as judgment on a man who committed a heinous sin. This is a perfect reminder that the only person who can bring perfect justice is God. Any justice humans try to give out is insufficient, and typically leads to more injustice.

When we have been wronged, our response cannot be simply to wrong others. This is where I think Jesus had something completely right. "And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well" (Matthew 5:40). Jesus gives us everything we need, and he will bring to justice all wrongdoers. To think that suddenly any man who has ever done severe wrong should now be robbed is ridiculous. Yet that is precisely what Inside Man asks us to believe.

Let me encourage you to let God give justice and for you to put your trust in God. God is so much better at bringing justice than we are anyway.

— Overview

Augustana...All The Stars and Boulevards...

2006-03-09T11:32:00.000-08:00

Augustana may take you to Boston, Los Angeles, the midwest and back to California, but their music is unlikely to take you anywhere but to great disappointment. Granted, in a strange way, this is a compliment for their first effort, All the Stars and Boulevards, an album that starts out with great promise, but ends in a formula that becomes noticeable early in their writing.

Their writing is predictable, with the chorus building, the verses being more laid back, finally building into a bridge that soars higher than the verse or chorus. It is the same formula that many bands have used to bring much commercial success (see Coldplay, Creed, and Nickleback). Unfortunately, as a lover of music, it leaves me bored, which is so disappointing because tracks like "Mayfield," "Bullets," and "Boston" are good songs, a great start to what I believe is a promising career for Augustana.

However, after Boston, things take a drastic turn for the worse, where it seems that the same thing is being sung over and over and over...and over again. Dan Layus apparently is focused on failed relationships which have turned him to loneliness and alcohol. And artistically speaking, this is not necessarily a bad thing, because for many artists, these moments lead to soul searching, to asking the basic questions of life, to finding meaning or finding none. It is these situations when art transcends into being able to speak into people's lives in a profound way, something Augustana is simply unable to do.

So, what is my recommendation for Augustana? It is hard to say. Because I am glad I picked up their album, because their potential is limitless. However, this is just another pop/rock album that will make them money but is really nothing artistic. Having said that, this is not a bad album to pick up, but do not expect too much.

Here is a run down of the tracks:

"Mayfield": A great start to the album, a track that deals with growing up, and dealing with a failed relationship wondering..."Are we gonna make it?" A song that I am sure they will be playing for years to come. (ITunes Rating: 3 stars)

"Bullets": More proof that Layus can write great songs, even if lyrically the songs are not that deep or lacking. His spacing and voice make Bullets a much better song than what it would have been. (ITunes Rating: 3 stars)

"Hotel Roosevelt": Again, lyrically the song just lacks. Plus, it is now the third song about a relationship, and it is starting to get a little old at this point in time. There is some good music potential here, but the finished product is all I have to go on. (ITunes Rating: 2 stars)

"Boston": No doubt their strongest song on this album, despite the Coldplay'ish style. Finally, the lyrics are going somewhere that could connect people with this song. Lines like "In the light of the sun, is there anyone?" and "You dont' know me/You don't even care/You don't wear my chains" could very well connect with a younger generation that very much feels broken off from any type of true community. Vocally the song soars, and there is a lot of good to take from this song. (ITunes Rating: 4 stars)

"Stars and Boulevards": This is where you begin to wonder when Layus is going to realize that he is writing the song over and over again. He is in some disconnected relationship where he hopes it will work out but probably knows that it will not. (ITunes Ratins: 2 Stars)

"Feel Fine": This is where I began to wonder, "Was 'Boston' really just two tracks ago? If you want to see what this song is about, look at any of other songs I listed. (ITunes Rating: 1 star)

"Wasteland": A very dark song with lines like "Here we're nothin more than fools and whores and sad highs/through the summer sand we're living in the wasteland." Again, the music here is really good stuff, and Layus brings you into the darkness of the world, the darkness of sin. (ITunes Rating: 3 stars)

"Lonely People": At this point I was really tired of the drinking references (like 6 or 7 now). Not just because I think drinking should not be sung about, but because it is a cop out from really thinking through issues, something an artist should do. There is no doubt in my mind that there are many people in this world that drink away their nights, never thinking about anything besides that. However, as an artist, Layus should not fall into that trap with his songwriting, and unfortunately he does. Artists should always seek to ponder the question "Why..." a question Layus has not gotten to yet. (ITunes Rating: 1 star)

"Sunday Best:": More good music, but the formula has been put in place, and because of that, by now the album is not what it could have been. (ITunes Rating: 1 star)

"California Burning": More isolation and having broken from any type of community. Layus writes "and I'm here, wondering where the sun has gone/driving through a midwest storm/asking why there's no one home." Layus sounds like one longing for something real, and if he thinks a little deeper, he could have some good stuff, but he has not yet, which leaves songs like 'California Burning' as more or less having great potential, but not possessing any. (ITunes Rating: 1 star)

"Coffee and Cigarettes": Not much here. (ITunes Rating: 1 star)

Augustana could become something great, the same thing I once thought about Coldplay (and still do). Augustana could move beyond the surface level lyrics into something deep, and if they do, this could be a truly great band some day.

16 Blocks...

2006-03-03T19:13:00.000-08:00

—1. Overview
—2. Cast and Crew
—3. Photo Pages
—4. Trailers, Clips, DVDs, Books, Soundtrack
—5. Posters (Bruce Willis)
—6. Production Notes (pdf)
—7. Spiritual Connections
—8. Presentation Downloads

People can change. And if that is true, it seems in our darkest moments, the moments when we see two roads, we have a choice to change, or to walk the same line we have always walked. A line that leads to a boring, mundane, predictable, sad, lonely, and in the words of Jack Mosley from 16 Blocks (Bruce Willis), ultimately long life.

Mosley is tired and perhaps ready to die, and he is doing it slowly by drinking his days away. He is a cop that has been reduced to nothing more than desk status, until he is called to transport Eddie Bunker (Mos Def), a prisoner, 16 Blocks. A seemingly harmless task, until Mosley shoots a man trying to kill Bunker. Enter Frank Nugent (Davis Morse), who explains that this seemingly harmless prisoner is in fact going to testify against cops. Nugent, Mosley's former partner, would be implicated, and of course, he is willing to do anything to prevent that, and so Mosley has to make a choice. Side with dirty cops and go back to drinking his days away, or side with a known criminal who may or may not be telling the truth?

The rest of the movie is a result of that choice. The choice to do good. The choice not to erase Mosley's past sins, but rather to confront and confess them. The choice is to change.

16 Blocks is by far the most powerful film I have seen this year, packed with both superb storytelling and acting. But above all, 16 Blocks reminds us of one thing: People can change. A criminal who has spent over half his life in prison? He can change. A cop that is dirty and has constantly sold others out for his own success? He can change. How does that change occur?

Self-sacrifice. Not exactly the most highly recognized value in our society, but 16 Blocks tells us that our lives would become suddenly much less boring, sad, and long when we put others before ourselves, risking our lives for them. But self-sacrifice means risking everything, as repeatedly both Mosley and Bunker have their lives threatened.

This could possibly classify 16 Blocks as an Action-Thriller, but I am afraid if I say that then you will think that it is Die Hard 14, or whatever they are on now. But this is not Bruce Willis shooting dozens of men, killing all evildoers, and then getting the girl in the end. No, there is no girl, there is not much killing, there is a lot of action, but this is far better than an action thriller.

16 Blocks is about a choice. A choice we all face every day when we wake up. A choice to matter, to do good, and to serve others, or a choice to seek fulfillment in our life. For Mosley seeking fulfillment was alcohol, but let's be honest, for any one of us it could be sex, drugs, gossip, or whatever we want. But something in all this is screaming at us that our life could mean something, that we could break out of the mold into something real and deep. For me, ultimately, that is what a life in Jesus is all about. And although Jesus is never discussed in 16 Blocks, this movie is an open door for such a thing.

At times movies can fill in two hours of my life, with a little bit of entertainment value but ultimately a message that really does not matter. But every now and then a movie comes along, a movie like 16 Blocks, that dares to shake me from the monotony of my life, challenging me to change, to see value in other people, and ultimately put their rights and life before my own.

— Overview

Final Destination 3...

2006-02-10T21:52:00.000-08:00

—1. Overview
—2. Cast and Crew
—3. Photo Pages
—4. Trailers, Clips, DVDs, Books, Soundtrack
—5. Posters (Current Movies)
—6. Production Notes (pdf)
—7. Spiritual Connections
—8. Presentation Downloads

Intense, but provocative. Well, Final Destination 3 is at least provocative if you can get past what are arguably the most gory, intense death scenes in any movie I have seen recently.

But while Final Destination 3 will fail to win any awards or the hearts of many parents, the movie will get its viewers to think about death. Not death in the sense that we all are going to die, but death as an inescapable force that will some day have its success. We are all going to die, and a movie like Final Destination 3 forces us to deal with that.

For this reason, I love it when movies like this hit the main stream. Granted, this movie is not cinematic genius, but it will get many teens and college students to think about something we never think about, our death.

Final Destination 3 is written by Glen Morgan and James Wong (The X-Files) and stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Wendy) and Ryan Merriman (Kevin), although I do not expect any of these names to ring a bell, and quite honestly, after watching this movie it is not their performances that stood out. Rather, what stood out is the main character of this movie, Death.

Death is described as a 'force' which is out of 'your control.' Not necessarily groundbreaking ideas, but when you place this with a series of gruesome deaths, suddenly Death becomes an intimidating force, something to even have me afraid on the drive home from the movie theater. Death is linked to all kinds of imagery here, a huge Satan in front of a roller coaster, fire, but most importantly Death is successful against all odds. And yes, some of the deaths are completely unrealistic, and although that could take away from the power of the deaths themselves, for me it did not.

To be honest, I left this movie really shaken, and that is saying something for me, considering Kill Bill (which has 10 times as many gruesome scenes) did not lead me to really contemplate my own mortality. But here I am, a few minutes after the movie finished and I am just shaken. And these feelings lead me to Scripture, where I find some pretty important truths about death.

First, Death is not a force, it is a sentence. Romans 6:23 reads "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Death is not some being, it is our gift for turning our backs on God. I say gift with a hint of sarcasm, because it is a gift no one wants.

Second, Satan has nothing to do with our death. Final Destination uses a huge character of Satan as one of the intimidating images of death. But nowhere in Scripture is Satan given any control over our death. And that leads me to my next point.

Third, Death is not the final word! Romans 3:23-24 says "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified FREELY by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." I know this is going to sound cheesy, but the whole Final Destination franchise could have been averted if the characters had called on Jesus rather than on themselves. And to me, that is where Final Destination 3 is a reminder of where we are today in our culture. We live in a world that tries to cheat death in so many ways, by false fulfillment (sex, drugs, rock/roll), by plastic surgery, and by promising ourselves that there is some pie in the sky heaven where we'll hang out with our best friend and our dog.

But that is not the truth. The truth is we are going to die. No, the truth is we are ALREADY dead. But that is not the final word. The final word is Jesus, and He has overcome the force of death. The only is question, what we will die to? A life filled with meaninglessness? Or a life devoted to the true God of the world, Jesus. I think 2 Corinthians 5:15, "And Christ died for all, that those who live should no longer liver for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again."

— Overview

Underworld: Evolution...

2006-01-21T22:37:00.000-08:00

—1. Overview
—2. Cast and Crew
—3. Photo Pages
—4. Trailers, Clips, DVDs, Books, Soundtrack
—5. Posters (Kate Beckinsale)
—6. Production Notes (pdf)
—7. Spiritual Connections
—8. Presentation Downloads

This past friday I was introduced to the Underworld film series, seeing the first one on DVD and then following that up with a trip to the theater to see Underworld: Evolution, the second installment of what seems to be at least a three part series. What roped me into seeing such a movie? Well, here are some reasons:

First, I was curious to see if Kate Beckinsale could carry a lead role. After all, she was horribly annoying in Pearl Harbor, her role simply leaving me wishing that it was her that got shot down in the airplane.

Second, there were no other good movies that I had not seen.

Third, it had been awhile since I reviewed a film, and seeing that my last couple have been somewhat controversial (Syrianna/Munich), I thought why not go with the lighthearted choice of vampires and werewolves slaying one another in a quest for world dominance.

Truthfully, I found Underworld: Evolution to be extremely lacking. Kate Beckinsale is a solid lead character, and although her supporting cast was lacking, there was still enough action to make it an entertaining film. However, it lacked the punch, the power that one should feel when watching a hero fight. Watching Superman, Spider-Man, Batman, we are caught up in the quest of good vs. evil, realizing that if our hero loses, the fate of mankind is lost.

Unfortunately, Underworld offers none of this. In fact, half way through the first film I began wondering why the vampires and werewolves are fighting at all. They are not fighting for human preservation. They are not fighting to promote good and justice in the world. The only possible justification I came up with is that they are fighting simply to survive. And quite honestly, who cares if vampires or werewolves live?

That is where Underworld is simply not a hero movie. But without any substantial reason for the fighting, the movie will lack the moral punch of a Superman, Batman, or Spiderman. Justice is absent. Selflessness is not desired. Vengeance is pursued. Actually, I am not sure why Kate Beckinsale is the hero in this movie. It could just as easily have been turned around and there would have been no difference.

For me, Underworld is a bust, not a complete bust, but a movie that is at best a DVD rental, and even then, probably should not make it in to your home until you have seen Sideways for a third time.

— Overview

Top 10 Movies in 2005...

2006-01-06T08:15:00.000-08:00

Now that the year had ended, I thought I would give a list of my favorite 10 movies from 2005. In starting, I must say that I have not seen every movie this year, and so I might miss one that many of you might consider to be clearly a top 10 movie. So, this is a list of the top 10 movies this year from the 35 movies released this year that I saw...

10. Chronicles of Narnia: I know, again, this will upset many Christians, but if I did not love the book so much, I probably would not even have the movie in my top 10. The book lost its edge in the movie, and I daresay that even the cartoon version captured the death and resurrection of Aslan even better than the movie. I hope they make more of the books into movie, because I think the other books will be easier to make than this one. So, I haven't given up on the movie series, but please, do me a favor, go read the books.

9. Jarhead: My review of Jarhead pretty much summed up my mentality to the movie. It allowed me to have a deep respect and love for our troops, while at the same time standing against a war I am starkly against. Jarhead captures that at the end of the day the troops just have a job to do, and no government, politics, or decision will stand in the way of that job. Jarhead is an incredible look into the life of a soldier, but, seeing as it is 9th, I think it could have been higher.

8. Batman Begins: Christian Bale was pretty incredible as Batman. Michael Caine was the best Alfred in any Batman movie, cartoon, or series. Katie Holmes, well, uh, she is engaged to Tom Cruise, and she didn't ruin the movie for me, so that's saying something. Christopher Nolan's Batman has more depth and curiousity to him than any Batman before. We feel the struggle between justice and vengeance, but more importantly, we get something very close to a selfless hero, who seeks the good of others, before himself. This was an absolutely incredible movie, and I would encourage any Christian to go to see it.

7. Rent: The musical is better, but the movie is still incredible. As I said in my review, there were so many things that the Big Screen can do that a musical cannot. That added power to a musical that was already packed with so much. The original cast (except for 2 members) proved once again why this movie was an incredible hit.

6. Sin City: Incredible story telling. In terms of moral value, many Christians may find Sin City lacking, but this is still a great example of how to tell a story. A clash between 50's old school acting writing and 2000's incredible technology, Sin City is a movie that is great for entertainment value.

5. Syrianna: I stand by my prediction that most liberals will love this movie, moderates will find it entertaining, and conservatives will be calling Rush Limbaugh looking for some consoling (if you don't agree, see my review/comments). But regardless, Syrianna is a provacative story aimed to make us think. It is not as preachy as Farenheit 9/11, but it is a sermon, and it is a sermon that challenges Americans to look at the way we do business and government. And with this latest Jack Abramoff scandal, Syrianna may be more accurate in terms of corruption than we thought. I know Syrianna has problematic scenes, but it still has something to say, and it should be heard.

4. Walk the Line: Johnny Cash. That is about all that needs to be said, but I'll say more anyway. I have to admit than I am one of the young generation guys that saw his video for 'Hurt' and became a Cash fan that way. That is cheap, shameless, and embarassing, but hey, I am a Cash fan now and I think that counts for something. This movie is brilliant, and Oscar nominations should be numerous. The story, the cast, everything about Walk the Line is incredible. But most of all, the struggle of Johnny Cash, to be something, something better than a rock star is what intrigued me.

3. Crash: The cast was amazing, but the movie was so powerful because it forced the viewer to look into his/her selfish mentality. That could mean racism, bigotry, or just arrogance, but either way, Crash probed its way into the human struggle. A struggle to not be at war with each other. But ultimately it is a struggle that is wrapped in the pain and hurt of the characters. This movie is one that leaves me screaming for Jesus, hoping some ultimate authority such as a perfect Savior could be called upon. Jesus can really solve our problems. But I guess that's where I look at the past and see why a movie like Crash does not call upon the name of Jesus. Although Christianity helped stop slavery, it was used in justifying to start slavery as well as the continuance of slavery. Numerous wars have been fought in Christ's name, despite his obsession with peace. Jesus has rarely been a legitimate answer to society's problems, not because of Jesus, but because of the church's inability to apply the teachings of Jesus to the social realm and ethics (beyond the two issues of abortion and gay marriage). As you can tell, Crash made me think, and I hope that it gets the recognition it deserves.

2. King Kong: Wow. Apparently no one has told Peter Jackson that three hours is too long for a main stream movie, and I am glad for that. He tells a story so well, and King Kong is just that, an incredible story.

1. Munich: I know this selection won't win me a whole lot of support, but this movie is exactly what our country needs. Jesus said, "If you live by the sword, you will die by the sword." Munich testifies to that. But what it also testifies to is the fact that by responding to terrorism with more terrorism, the result is pain, death, and hopelessness. Hmmm...sounds like Iraq. Granted, there is hope in Iraq, but at what cost? Munich asks us to get beyond the typical response to terrorism. If our response to terrorism is to go and attack countries that had little to nothing to do with terrorism, then perhaps we are not as intelligent as we believe ourselves to be. As a Christian, I believe peace is possible, but that peace is possible as a Christian. As a believer in Christ, I do not need my country killing others for me to feel more safe. I feel as safe as I ever will because I rest in the arms of Jesus Christ. No terrorist, war, or anything can take that away. So, as a Christian, I want to challenge you if you are a Christian to go see Munich, and ask yourself the question, "How should I, as a Christian, respond to terrorism?" Munich points that question at us, not providing an answer. But sometimes before an answer could ever be agreed upon, a question must be asked. Thankfully, Spielberg has asked that question, so let's go find an adequate answer...

Munich...

2005-12-30T11:14:00.000-08:00

—1. Overview
—2. Cast and Crew
—3. Photo Pages
—4. Trailers, Clips, DVDs, Books, Soundtrack
—5. Posters (Eric Bana)
—6. Production Notes (pdf)
—7. Spiritual Connections
—8. Presentation Downloads

It is far too rare that films today reach into the heart of a culture, and challenge its very foundation. And although Munich could have been so much more, it is nonetheless a film that I believe has the potential to challenge the American culture. How can it change American culture? By reminding us that the answer to terrorism is not more war, killing, and death, but finding some middle ground, where justice is served, but peace becomes a reality.

Munich stars Eric Bana (Avner) who plays an Israeli assassin given the task to kill the people involved in planning the Munich terrorist attack in 1972. At this point, Steven Spielberg begins to write a movie that one would not expect to find in America. After all, in these days, with the war on terror, most Americans want to bomb, kill, and torture any terrorist or potential terrorist. Thus one would expect Spielberg to glorify the murder of the 11 people involved in the planning of Munich. If this is your expectation, Munich will be a disappointment.

The problem is that such a mentality (a mentality like America currently has) sees only one side to the argument. Spielberg did not take the approach of Israel as only good, and Palestine as only bad. Instead, Spielberg approached terrorism in an intelligent and bold manner.

The interesting thing about the movie Munich is that Spielberg is so incredibly neutral. You feel for Israel. You feel for Palestine. But most importantly, you want the killing to end.

The best part of the film is a conversation that Avner has with Robert (Mathieu Kassovitz). Robert says, "We're supposed to be righteous. I lose that, that is my soul." This quote comes in a conversation where Robert wonders why Israel, the chosen people of God, could be caught up in such killing.

Granted, I know what many responses will be to such a point. After all, is such killing not justified because of the horrible acts of terrorism? That is a question that Spielberg invites us to ask. But he does not provide an answer in this film, only what the results are of the current mentality A current mentality that has led Americans to question our war in Iraq, and further, to become acquainted with the Middle East more than ever before.

SPOILER WARNING:
The end of the film is a powerful scene where Geoffrey Rush's character is trying to get Avner to go back to being an assassin. Avner declines because he wants to remain with his new daughter and family. After Avner declines, he invites Rush back to his home, 'to break bread.' Rush declines and walks away, signifying the options that we have. Either we can continue killing, or we can break bread.

Granted, I understand what many will say in response to this. You cannot break bread with terrorism. They must be met with force and destruction. And however much I understand that viewpoint, I must say that as a Christian, I simply disagree.

SOME NON MOVIE RELATED POLITICAL COMMENTARY:
As Christians, we are called to love our enemy and pray for those who persecute us. Moreover, we are called to turn the other cheek, and told that Jesus was not leading a rebellion with swords. So, what was the church's response to such a problem? For the first 300 years, the church refused to take up arms against others, even though they were being persecuted, killed, and oppressed by the Roman government. What was the result? The church grew exponentially.

Evangelical Christians have unequivocally supported the war in Iraq, and the result has been somewhere between 30,000 (Bush's estimate, probably more) and 100,000 (Amnesty International's estimate, probable less) dead Iraqi civilians. I bring this up only to hope that today's Christians will go see Munich and wrestle with such massive killing.

I know I am some optimistic idealist. But Munich gives me hope. It gives me hope that we can break bread together. It gives me hope that we can come to grips with our mentality that we should kill any who dare even think of threatening us. It gives me hope that we can come to a day when we will strive to break bread and end war, not look to start i. That rather than concentrate on killing we can concentrate on peaceful resolutions between Palestine and Israel, between Americans and terrorists. I know that is dumb. I know that is unrealistic. But it is something I pray for everyday, and I challenge all Christians to do the same.

For me, Munich is the best film of 2005. Not because it was entertaining, made me laugh, or made me cry. So, what did Munich do? It made me wrestle with my own sins. There is perhaps not a greater compliment I can give a film.

— Overview
— Cast and Crew
— Photo Pages

Fun With Dick and Jane...

2005-12-30T10:33:00.000-08:00

If you are going to make a comedy, and in the process convey some political message, you had better make sure your movie has these three components:

1. It had better be funny. It is a comedy after all.

2. It had better be smart. If you are going to get political on me, say something worth saying. If you don't, then that is going to ruin much of the comedy of the movie, because no one wants a funny movie to turn into a bad sermon (and Lord knows I have heard some of those, and, gulp, to my dismay I have preached some of those as well).

3. It had better be coherent within your film. In other words, do not contradict the very point you are making by saying something else for the rest of the movie.

Unfortunately for Fun with Dick and Jane, they only scored well on one of these three points. The movie definitely had some great laughs, but most of these laughs were ruined by a funny movie that turned into a bad sermon (see warning for such transition above).

Dick and Jane star Jim Carrey and Tea Leoni, both of whom are quite funny. The movie is set in a clear suburban landscape, complete with identical houses, cars, lawns, etc. There is a race to have the best car, the best house, the best pool, and the best job. Thus, Fun With Dick and Jane touches on the American Dream, or at least what has become the American Dream.

The story takes a turn for the worse when Dick finds out that his company is going under, and although he has been elevated to Vice President of Communications, he is now unemployed. What ensues is an over the top commentary with many funny laughs, on American corporations as well as American greed.

This leads to a mixed bag of some great comedy but some horrible conclusions as well. Dick and Jane condemns the corruption at the top of the corporate ladder (remember Enron, Arthur Andersen?). They call out the corrupt CEO's who remain billionaires while their lower level employees lose everything. This, however, is where Dick and Jane simply breaks down.

For example, the movie condemns the greed of the CEO, but not the greed of Dick and Jane's characters, who steal in order for them to get their tv, nanny, and $600,000 home back. More than that, the movie shows others who reverted to crimes (selling pot/more theft) after losing their jobs in Dick's company. The problem is that in the end, they are rewarded. This is hard to fathom given that the movie is built on the premise that the greed of the CEO is wrong.

At this point, I think it is important to note that the problem is not with the movie, but with American society. We are greedy, but most people would never see themselves that way. After all, they always have the CEO's from Enron, Worldcom, etc., to look at. And, if I am not as greedy as those guys, then obviously I'm not that bad.

The problem is that money and greed will never lead to happiness, and that is one of the fundamental problems with Dick and Jane. Instead of your average Christmas movie, where one finds a life beyond possessions, Dick and Jane teaches that life is in the possessions. And as long as there is someone more greedy than you are, then you are justified in committing crimes.

The movie is funny. You will laugh. But I hope that you will also look deeper, to see the culture that this movie upholds. Jesus said a very harsh thing at one point, "You cannot love both God and money." Unfortunately, too often we try to hold on to both, and the product is ruined lives. I pray you'll look beyond American greed and selfishness to a Savior that defined giving and love.

Syriana...

2005-12-11T22:28:00.000-08:00

—1.Overview
—2. Reviews and Blogs
—3. Cast and Crew
—4. Photo Pages
—5. Trailers, Clips, DVDs, Books, Soundtrack
—6. Posters (George Clooney)
—7. Production Notes (pdf)
—8. Spiritual Connections
—9. Presentation Downloads

"Corruption is why we win." To most Americans, those are harsh words. To the conspiracy theorists, those words are canonized. To Syriana, those are the words that drives every action by every character.

Directed by Stephan Gaghan ("Traffic"), Syriana is a political thriller, one that will have oil companies crying foul and liberals pointing their fingers at corrupt corporations. As for myself, a moderate in terms of politics, it gave me a scary picture of the world, a world that is ruled by corrupt people, interested in themselves and their profits, and not for the good of mankind.

Syriana is several stories intertwined into one social commentary, not just about corrupt oil companies, but more specifically, about the corruption of man. "If man is created in God's image...then God is pretty messed up." These words are uttered by a Muslim man, a Muslim man who would eventually give his life in a terrorist act against an oil company. But more importantly, these are the words that drive the narrative of Syrianna, a picture of corrupt human beings, messed up, causing them to ruin the world the live in.

For the average moviegoer, Syriana is simply too confusing. I consider myself fairly astute in terms of understanding the world, but as careful as I watched the movie, much of it was confusing Perhaps Syrianna assumes too much of its viewers.

However, that is the only real weakness the film has. Besides the compelling story, the acting is phenomenal. Clooney, Damon, and Alexander Siddiq (Kingdom of Heaven) give noteworthy performances. But the real strength of the movie is its commentary, its picture of humanity, one that is bleak.

Some people will be upset or frustrated with the ending of the movie, because it does not seem to bring closure, but in my mind, the ending fit perfectly with what Syriana is trying to say. Throughout the movie Bennett Holiday's (Jeffrey Wright) father is sitting on the steps of his house, obviously drunk, and obviously on the outs with Holiday. This interaction is a microcosm of the film, as one man deals with the 'messiness' of man's image. Holiday's father is a bum, and he is proof that maybe in fact God is messed up for creating such a messed up man.

SPOILER WARNING:
Syriana continues this commentary, showing the corruption of man through corrupt corporations, corrupt politicians, corrupt lawyers, Islamic terrorists, and a government that sells out its own for it's mistakes. But, like I said, the end of the movie gives us our response. The end of the movie is Holiday, for the first time, showing love for his father, telling him to come in, and actually opening the door and closing it behind him, a sign of real love, love that has been absent up until then.

Just before that scene, you have George Clooney's character trying to save a man's life, a man he had previously contracted by the CIA to kill. Yet Clooney risks his life to try and attempt to save the other man's life.

Matt Damon's character, who had left his wife to pursue success, comes home to his wife and son, to rebuild the life that he once had. This is where, to me, Syriana is a great, not just a good movie. It shows the corruption of man, but it gives an answer to such dirt. Love. Peace. Restoration. Selflessness.

Man may be messed up, but that is not the part created in God's image. God is love (John 3:16). God is peace. God has restored us (2 Cor. 5:21). God showed us selflessness in the cross. I understand many conservatives will be put off by the very anti-corporation and anti-political message of Syriana. My prayer is that you will not stop there. Rather, I pray you will see man's corruption, and strive to live the kind of life that is made in God's image.

—Overview
—Reviews and Blogs

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe...

2005-12-09T23:14:00.000-08:00

"There is death in the camera." C.S. Lewis said it, and it makes me wonder if he would still say it today, having viewed Andrew Adamson's adaptation of Lewis' beloved The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. My guess is that Lewis would take back what he originally said.

Now, before you say that is Lewis blasphemy, let me explain what I am trying to say. The reason why Lewis would retract his statement is because he would come to realize that no movie, regardless of how good or bad, can put to death the genius of a novel that Lewis put together.

Thus, if you think that your view of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe will be forever tainted by viewing the movie, then you are wrong. But, if you think you are going to see an excellent movie, you are also wrong.

Adamson's version is somewhere is not great, its not bad, it just is. I know that is not very helpful, and I should be full of robust adjectives to describe the movie, but you'll have to look elsewhere for a plethora of words. But I will give you my analysis of what was successful, and what was not. First, how about the successes.

Adamson did a great work with developing a few of the characters. You could tell he worked hard to bring us into the world that the children were going through, a war full of war, pain, separation, and confusion. This world would transfer to Narnia quite well, and they way they stick together is beautifully portrayed in the movie.

I am also happy to report that my favorite character in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Mr. Tumnus, was also played exceptionally well. Tumnus, played by James McAvoy, was everything I hoped him to be, from the faun scared of a young girl to a flute toting master.

The last part of the movie that was exceptionally done was the special effects and scenery. When the children were walking with the beavers, it was eerily real. The Narnia was beautiful, and the snow imagery, especially the queen's castle was well done. OK, so there were the parts I loved (aside from the story), but I did have some major frustrations with the movie, and here they are as well.

Anyone who has read the book knows how big of a role the Turkish Delight plays in the book. But in the movie, Edmund is only given the Turkish Delight one time. This is frustrating because this leads to a false portrayal of the queen and Edmund's relationship. In the book you get this queen that is both very likeable (what boy doesn't want all the Turkish Delight he can eat!) yet very evil. And that is part of the great power of Narnia, there is a strangely likeable queen that seems evil, yet has so much good to offer, that you really feel Edmund's struggle to decide to side with Aslan. In the movie, this is very disappointing.

Perhaps the biggest disappointment is Aslan. Liam Neeson, an incredible actor whom I always enjoy, was just not Aslan. After all, Aslan is supposedly a terrifyingly good animal, but there is no terrifying to Aslan in the movie at all. You can tell they try, but perhaps thats one best left to the imagination than to a movie.

OK, so you've heard my analysis of the movie, but now let me tell you why this is an important movie to see. First, it highlights the easy slide into sin that we find ourselves. After all, Edmund only wanted Turkish Delight, then he only wanted to be prince, then he only wanted to be king. All the while the queen is suckering him into her plan, and she has no regard for his life whatsoever. If this is not the most accurate picture of Satan's scheme I do not know what could be. Satan loves to lure us with things we like, because Satan would never come out and say, "I want you to die." But that is what he wants. So instead he offers us things like sex, drugs, gossip, pride, selfishness...(turkish delight...), things we want. We bite into the hook, and then before we know it we are being taken away.

But thank God that is not the end of the story. There is a man who has come to take you out of your prison and to take care of your punishment to satisfy justice. In Narnia, this is Aslan, on Earth, this is Jesus. Jesus took care of the deepest of sins by being murdered unfairly, mocked at continuously, and finally left for dead. But Christ did not remain dead and that is the hope for us.

But Jesus is no tame God. He does not look for easy way outs, nor does he want us to either. He wants us to earnestly seek Him, to follow His will, and the people the kind of people of we are called to be. I guess that is why I could never call anything related to this Narnia story bad, because it points to the only thing that is good about the world. Jesus.

Rent...

2005-11-27T20:40:00.000-08:00

The first time I went to see Rent on Broadway, I left with a sense of awe. I was not sure what that awe was from, whether the music, the story, the acting, the theater, whatever it was, I was not sure. But what I did know was that there was something powerful and that in some way Rent is a picture of all that is good about art.

Because of this, you would think that I would be very excited that Rent was coming to the big screen. And although I could not wait to go and see it, there was some hesitation, that somehow the movie would not capture the power that the Broadway show brought. And, about 30 minutes into the movie, that is how I felt. However, starting with the song "Tango Maureen," this all began to change.

One of the really great things about the movie version of Rent is that they can do certain things during the songs that cannot be on stage. This is where the movie becomes truly great. For those that have seen the musical, they will have to see the movie to understand what I am talking about, but during the song "Tango Maureen" the cinematography is outstanding, depicting in picture what the actors are singing in words. This happens a couple of other times in the movie, and makes certain songs very powerful.

Beyond the imagery of Rent, is the incredible music, written by the late Jonathan Larson (who won a Pulitzer Prize as well as numerous Tonys). What Larson captures in this musical better than anything else is the power of community. During an AIDS life support group, the members begin singing: "There's only us/There's only this/No Other road/No other way/no day but today." Again, the faces of pain of those who have AIDS are real, but in that pain you sense they are not alone.

However, there is still doubt amongst those who have AIDS about where there future is going. The song 'Will I' says: "Will I lose my dignity/Will someone care?/Will I wake tomorrow/from this nightmare." Where do we find refuge from our pain and suffering? Rent answers by the power of community. Watching Rent I could not help but think of the early church, how people were being murdered for their faith, but they stuck together, prayed together, and fought through all kinds of trials to give witness to the power of Jesus Christ.

Granted, I understand it is a far stretch for me to compare homosexual AIDS patients to the early church, but the fact of the matter is, Larson knows about the power of community. He knows that loving friends can change everything, and that is what happens in Rent. Friends can help each other deal with death, commitment, regret, love, fear, whatever, it does not matter, because the power of community can overcome all.

And I think that is where I realized why I am in awe of this musical, and now the movie. It is a living testament of what life could be like if we 'gave into love.'

Just Friends...

2005-11-27T20:39:00.000-08:00

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The Friend Zone. Guys, you know what I am talking about. And if you do not know what I am talking about, then drop to your knees and pray that you never find out. But for those of you that know, that have felt the pain of being stuck in this dreaded place, then Just Friends might be the comedic relief you are looking for. If you still do not know what the Friend Zone is, let me fill you in.

The Friend Zone is the dreaded place where a girl sees a guy who she is very close to as a complete asexual being. That guy has no chance of dating the girl, because they are 'friends.' This is a short answer to a complex problem, but here are a few warning signs from my experience, as well as from the movie Just Friends, that can show you if you are in the Friend Zone.

5. If she ever references you as her brother, then she sees you as a complete non-dating option. You are in the Friend Zone.

4. If the only time you hang out is for 'day dates' then you are probably in the friend zone (lunches are the worst).

3. If you make that classic deal with her, you are most definitely in the friend zone. You know the deal. "If we aren't married by 35, we'll get married." That's basically another way for the girl to say, "Please Lord I better be married by 30, but there's not way I won't be married before 35."

2. If you ask her out and she says, "I don't want to risk what we have." That is a definite friend zone notifier.

1. If the girl is calling you about boy troubles it is not because she thinks you can solve her problems by you becoming her boyfriend. It's her way of saying, "Check out the loser I am dating, but no matter how great of a guy I think you are, I would still date this dude over you."

As you can tell, I like having fun with that topic, and I'll be honest, I've been in the Friend Zone before, and it is no fun. That is why Just Friends started out as a great idea for a movie, and why I had such high hopes with Ryan Reynolds being its star.

Just Friends has its funny parts, but it also has some failed jokes as well. The basic premise of the movie is that Ryan Reynolds (Chris) has fallen in love with Amy Smart (Jamie) in high school. But unfortunately for Chris, he is just too much of a loser, singing All 4 One in a mirror while thinking about Jamie (as lame as I might be with girls, I have NEVER done that). Chris is stuck in the friend zone, and he wants out, but Jamie is keeping the cage shut on Chris, and this leads to Chris changing his whole life.

10 years later Chris returns home by accident, and gets lost in the hope that maybe he could finally win over his girl. This is where most of the comedy comes, in Chris' failure to win the girl, and moreover, Chris Klein gives a hilarious performance as Dusty.

On the whole, Just Friends did make me laugh, but it ended up being that cliched finish that 'you have to be yourself in order for a girl to love you.' But as overused as the cliche is, it is true. Just Friends is a reminder that regardless of your circumstances, be who you are. Just don't let being who you are get you stuck in the Friend Zone.

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Jarhead...

2005-11-05T20:47:00.000-08:00

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"Every war is different. Every war is the same." This quote from Jarhead could be considered a tagline or a brief summary of what Jarhead is trying to convey to us, the moviegoer. How is every war different? Every war is different because of the politics surrounding the war, the reason for going to war, and the actual nature of the fighting. How is every war the same? Because in every war there are brave men, sacrificing everything.

That is what Jarhead comes down to. Nothing matters but the brotherhood you serve with, the men you fight along side, the men you risk your life serving beside. Jarhead is a look into the job that is being a soldier. Granted, we hardly see it as a job, but it is just that, a job. And that is where Jarhead soars, describing the life of a solider; the pains, trials, and frustrations that come with serving in the armed forces.

From front to finish, Jarhead is about a brotherhood of men. A brotherhood that does not end when the war ends, but as Swoff (Jake Gyllenhaal) declares, every war that is fought unites the men who fought from every war in a common bond nothing can break.

Jarhead uses some powerful imagery to develop this theme. For one, virtually every man loses his wife or his girlfriend because they eventually leave them for another man. This alone is a painful reminder of the price our troops pay to be at war. They lose their families, girlfriends, and in some cases their children because their wives are unfaithful.

This theme continues when an old vietnam vet jumps on the bus of the soldiers returning from Iraq. He congratulates them on a successful war, but it is a congratulations with pain, with sorrow, with no smile on his face. It is the same face that the marines will wear on their face as they move on to their 9-5 jobs.

Jarhead is a reminder to all of us who do not fight in wars that our politics, war decisions, and support of war had better meet the level of sacrifice that our service men give. Granted, this is probably impossible, but it is what I loved about the movie Jarhead.

The past several months I have wondered how I can be against a war (like the one we are in right now) and yet still be for our troops. Jarhead answers that question for me, because it is a living example of what our service men give up. And because they have given up everything, there is nothing less than for them to forge a bond no one can break, a bond that goes through generations and lives today.

Jamie Foxx (Staff Sgt. Sykes), Gyllenhaal, and Peter Saarsgard (Troy) give incredible performances, and while I am not sure the movie as a whole deserves a whole lot of oscar recognition, the portrayal these men give of their character add another dimension to Jarhead.

In the end, this is a movie about men. Men that give everything, sometimes giving everything for a cause they may not be completely for. It seems that it is not this cause for freedom that keeps the men fighting, but rather the bond, the brotherhood they form between one another.

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Saw II

2005-10-31T20:57:00.000-08:00

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Anytime I have made my way to a sequel of a horror movie that I loved, I immediately think of the endless, pathetic sequels of Halloween, Friday the Thirteenth, Scream, this list, of course, being neverending. So, even though I loved "Saw," I really did not have high expectations for "Saw 2", expecting the same story as "Saw," only less thrilling and more predictable. And for the most part, I was right.

However, "Saw 2" does bring you back to that brink, that sick feeling of what you would do in a situation where only your pain can bring about your salvation. Moreover, "Saw 2" leads us to examine our own lives, to see if we live lives worthy of the body we have been given.

The best part of the film is when Jigsaw (Tobin Bell), the serial killer, asks Detective Matthews (Donnie Wahlberg) what would change if Matthews knew the second he would die. Of course, this means everything would change, and our lives would be lived in anxiety until that moment. The problem is, that because we do not know when we are going to die, we live worthless lives, not really living for anything, and as Jigsaw notes, not even seeing the beauty in something as simply as a drink of water.

This is so important to the Christian existence, because every second is wrapped in the thought and beauty of God. That water, breath, life, are all gifts of God. And these gifts are best appreciated when Jesus is the one whom we worship. We worship ourselves or other gods that will no doubt fail to satisfy, we live a life that lacks the meaning that Jesus has to offer.

I just wish the rest of the movie was as intriguing as this. Unfortunately, "Saw 2" follows the same fate as all other horror sequels. It tries to have a more shocking ending, more death, and a reason for there to be yet another sequel.

In doing this, "Saw 2" leaves most of the characters underdeveloped, meaning that it lacks the Psychological edge that "Saw" had, because in the original you truly felt for the victims, hoping they could escape alive. In "Saw 2," you do not really care. Although there is that edge at times, on the whole, it is missing. The ending, although a twist, was hardly surprising or as shocking as the first, although I am not sure that would have been possible in the first place.

However, if you are looking for a good fright on halloween, "Saw 2" is your flick. Just do not expect to be satisfied like you were walking out of the theater at the end of "Saw."

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Switchfoot..."Nothing is Sound"

2005-10-23T22:02:00.000-07:00

Switchfoot, the band I never thought I would listen to, has captured me yet again with their latest release, Nothing is Sound. Their latest effort combines pop music with lyrics that are anything but pop, and have created an album achieving a lyrical depth worthy of listening to. Even if you are not a fan of Pop/Rock, there is no question that frontman Jonathan Foreman has an ability to write lyrics like few can. He raises questions we all want answers to, and does so in a way that leaves the listener truly believing that life does not stop with our pain and trials. No, that is where life begins.

Their previous album, The Beautiful Letdown, had huge success, reaching double platinum status and winning numerous awards. This more than anything made me want to purchase Nothing is Sound, because it is always intriguing to see how bands follow huge success.

After listening to Nothing is Sound, Switchfoot has made an album that is stronger than Letdown, although sales and radio-play might indicate otherwise. The reason for this is because Nothing is Sound lacks huge singles like "Meant to Live" and "Dare You to Move" from Letdown. Their first single off Sound, "Stars," has had limited success, but it is still early.

The album starts out with "Lonely Nation," a song that begins this album with many of the themes found in Letdown. Songwriter Foreman talks about how we are slaves to what we want, and because we have wanted the wrong things, we have ended up empty. An interesting theme that raises the simple question: What is it that we are supposed to want? A question he will answer later.

"Lonely Nation" is followed up with "Stars," the first single off Sound. The question that Foreman raised in "Lonely Nation" he begins to answer with this line from "Stars": "I've been thinking about the meaning of resistance..of a hope beyond my own...And suddenly the infinite and penitent begin to look like home." If we want anything less than the infinite (God), then we will be left wanting.

"Happy is a Yuppie Word" could perhaps be described as 'Ecclesiastes: The Song.' Ecclesiastes starts with the line "Meaningless, Meaningless, says the Teacher. Everything is Meaningless." Foreman echoes these lines with "Everything Fails. Everything run its course. A time and place for all this love and war." No doubt this is a reference to Ecclesiastes 3. But, in the midst of lack of meaning, Foreman finds his hope in God, yet again when he says: "I don't believe the emptiness, I'm looking for the kingdom coming down." This song is about getting past just being 'happy' and finding true fulfillment, something that comes is impossible to come by, apart from God.

It is not until the fourth song where Switchfoot matches beautiful lyrics with even better music. Although I liked the first three songs, it is Track 4, titled "The Shadow that Proves the Sunshine" that made me begin to believe Sound is not just a good, but a great album. Foreman has already been talking about the failures in our lives, but this song describes the true sense of our mistakes. Foreman describes the human race as "Crooked Soul trying to stay up straight...dry eyes in the pouring rain." But our mistakes ('shadows') are washed away in the forgiveness God is ready to give us ('sunshine'). The song ends with the line: "Let my shadows prove the sunshine." In other words, our failures only prove the goodness of God, his faithfulness to forgive our sins.

"Easier than Love" brings up the theme of lack of fulfillment Foreman discusses in "Happy is Yuppie Word." The hardest part of this is owning up to who we truly are: "It's easier to leave. It's easier to lie. It's harder to face ourselves at night, feeling alone, what have done, what is the monster we've become."

How do we find freedom from such mistakes? "The Blues" deals with this idea, but more specifically it deals with when we have found forgiveness. When we have found forgiveness, can we trust it? After all, the mistakes seem to never leave, our failures repeat themselves. Foreman echoes Romans 3:23 when he writes: "is there nothing here worth saving? is there no one here at all?...are there any left who haven't kissed the enemy?". The answer is obviously no. But we can trust the forgiveness of God because 'when the world caves in' everything will be okay.

"The Setting Sun" is a perfect follow up to "The Blues," because the pain and hurt in "The Blues" disappears. "My hope runs underneath it all the day that I'll be home...Finally free, finally strong, somewhere back where I belong."

One of the weaker tracks on the album is "Politicians." Foreman starts out with a good idea, that we should stop blaming politicians for problems and look at ourselves. However, in the end this song doesn't call us to change, just that we should be a part of a land without politicians.

"Golden" is such a perfect song for this album because after Foreman talks repeatedly about how we have failed as humans, it would be natural for one to think that humanity is not valuable. However, that is completely false. We are not "just another so and so" as Foreman writes, but rather "you are golden, you are golden child." And because we are so golden, "everything will be made new again like freedom in the spring." Our failures are not the final word, only a stepping stone to the new creation God wants to make in us.

After a song like "Golden," it is hard to imagine why Switchfoot would follow it up with a song like "The Fatal Wound." There is no doubt Foreman has a gift for talking about humanity's mistakes, but this song seemed like overkill.

If you can get past "The Fatal Wound," "We are One Tonight" is the perfect sequel to the song "Golden." "We are One Tonight" reminds us that "though the world is flawed these scars will heal/We are one tonight." There is a healing between humanity as well as between humanity and God in redemption.

The official last track, titled "Daisy," echoes the lyric "let it go." This is a fitting ending to the CD. After all, the themes of failures, our longing for something more, the disappointment of our lives have been prominent throughout Nothing is Sound. We can let it go because "For all redemptive motion and every rainy day/He gives Himself away." Let go of our sin, let go of our failures, because there is a God ready to embrace us.

It will be interesting to see where Switchfoot goes after Nothing is Sound. They have taken a step forward with their music, creating a sound that although is much like Letdown, is much more complex. Foreman's lyrical ability has only improved since Letdown, and any person that listens to music for lyrics that connect, Nothing is Sound is an album you will find listening to many times.

The Fog

2005-10-18T10:08:00.000-07:00

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The only thing more perplexing than the plot of The Fog, is how it turned into the number one movie on its first weekend. This confusing plot feature a completely ridiculous story, although it does teach some very sound morals in the process, making it a movie that has something good to say, but says it a boring and uninteresting way.

The movie is based upon a saying in Scripture which states "the sins of the Father will be visited upon the heads of the son." Sins being passed onto the next generation is a Biblical idea, but not the way The Fog uses it. The Fog is set in a small town of Antonio Bay, a prosperous town celebrating its rich history and its founding fathers. Unfortunately, no one knows that Antonio found its riches by stealing the money from a boat full of drifters (a leprosy colony), and then murdering all of the people in the boat once they had their money.

An interesting start to a movie, but, the way they use this phrase of 'the sins of the Father' is simply not accurate. Exodus 20:5 and Deuteronomy 5:9 add the stipulation that the sons "hate me" (with me being God). Thus, it is not that God just gets angry with fathers and then punishes the sons, the sons must have some wrongdoing involved as well. And this is where The Fog fails to hold any weight, whatsoever.

The people being murdered in the movie are innocent people, with no ties to town's dark history besides simply being the ancestors of the people that killed the leprosy colony. Granted, I know that is a big part of the horror genre, that innocent people are senselessly murdered. But, that is not what The Fog is trying to do. It's main point is that the people of Antonio Bay are guilty for what their forefathers did.

This is something I would not take issue with if the people of Antonio Bay knew their dark past, but they didn't. They had no idea of their forefathers murders, and therefore were innocent. So we see a group of ghosts seeking 'justice,' but in reality what we get is more murder and lack of justice. This is where the plot fundamentally breaks down and makes this movie more than boring and not scary, but just plain bad.

Having said that, The Fog raises some interesting questions about how we treat the outcasts of society. Do we oppress them? Do we take of advantage of the weak? This is where Jesus quite literally changed the world. In His day the poor, the people with leprosy, the tax collectors, etc., were all rejects of society. And yet Jesus loved them deeply. He spent time with the sick, healed leprosy, and 'preached good news to the poor' (Luke 4). It seems quite clear this is what The Fog is asking us to do. Do not forget the poor, the oppressed, and especially do not oppress these people. Because if you do, justice will find you, either in this life, or in the eternity to follow. It is just a shame that had to use such a boring story to make these points.

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Waiting...

2005-10-11T10:21:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for the perfect fall comedy, I’m afraid Waiting is going to leave you just that, waiting. This comedy features an unending string of jokes about male genitals and having sex with minors, but in Waiting, many jokes lead to hardly any laughs.

The bright spots of the movie are Ryan Reynolds (Monty) and Dane Cook (Floyd). Reynolds continues to be one of the funniest character actors in Hollywood. He single handedly made Blade: Trinity bearable to watch, and was the sole reason Van Wilder was actually funny. However, as funny as Reynolds can be, most of Waiting he is just not that funny. And unfortunately, as I said, this is one of the bright spots of the films.

Cook’s role was very limited, but he has proven he is one of the best current stand up comedians, and he leaves no disappointment in the film Waiting. From his impersonations to his one-liners, Cook constantly makes you laugh, proving that perhaps he should have had the lead role.

In the end, Waiting is a movie that wants to tell twenty-somethings how to break out of the monotony of life, to break free from the every day grind that drags us down and leaves us feeling worthless. The problem is, the answers they give are ridiculous, and where Office Space found solutions that were ridiculous, at least they were funny (burning your office building down, stealing staplers, and beating copier machines). Waiting, gives other options, like flashing male genitals at one another, sleeping with minors, and getting drunk.

The moral premise of the movie is clearly to do what makes you happy, to ‘find your own penis-showing game’ (to quote the words of Chi McBride who quotes Bishop). This game that the waiters at Shenanigaz (the restaurant the movie takes place in) led to better work enjoyment, and that, says Bishop is the thing one should chase after.

The problem is no one in this movie really appears happy. They all hate their job and in the end drink it away each night. Although Waiting tries to present moral lessons, the movie is just so unfunny that by the time those lessons are taught, you just want to leave the movie theater because most characters are just too annoying, namely the two high school characters who do nothing but smoke weed and drop the F word. Now, this can be funny, but not so here.

If you really want to go see a good comedy about the workplace and the redundancy of day to day activities, and have decided that Waiting is your movie, then I have advice. Take a drive down to your local Blockbuster, and rent Office Space.

Flightplan

2005-10-04T10:27:00.000-07:00

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How do we respond to someone in crisis? Even when we have all reason to treat someone badly, should we still uphold their dignity? These are the questions Flightplan raises, and in the movie, the answer to these questions is rather disappointing.

Flightplan stars Jodie Foster as Kyle, a mother who recently had lost her husband to a 'fall.' Because of his death, Foster is flying with her 6 year old daughter from Germany back to the United States, in order to bury the body. However, it is on this flight that things will take a drastic turn for the worse.

After Kyle (Foster) falls asleep for a couple of hours on the plane, her 6 year old daughter completely disappears. Kyle calmly begins checking the rest of the plane because her daughter had wandered off once before. But after a few minutes it becomes clear that Kyle is not going to find her daughter, that she has disappeared, and this starts a chain of events that lead to a thriller that raises basic moral questions that need to be answered.

While watching the film, it was interesting to note all the times staring was used. People stared at each other to give the clear indication they thought Kyle was crazy. Another time, after Kyle had caused a major disruption on the plane, she is put in hand cuffs and marched to the back of the plane. During this walk, she is met with applause and angry stares by the people of the plane. This is a powerful scene where you see how much pain Kyle must have been in. She knows her child exists, and yet she cannot prove that her child was kidnapped.

This theme is further played out when a man in first class joked about how losing a 6 year is not that big of a deal, after all, "It's not like she lost her palm pilot." This attitude is also seen when two crew members apparently have sex in one of the hidden areas of the plane while they are supposed to be looking for the 6 year old. The people on the plane simply do not care about Kyle or her lost child.

SPOILER WARNING: This theme meets its culmination when Foster learns that her 6 year old was kidnapped in plain view of anyone that wanted to see. Yet, no one cared, no one paid any attention. It is in this we find the ultimate disappointment, the very people that were so angry at Kyle for causing all the disruptions were themselves guilty of failing to stop the kidnapping.

In the end, this is a great moral but the story really fails to teach it in a very convincing matter. For example, Fosters saw some Arabs there were on the plane staring into her window the night before. But the Arabs turn out to be perfectly normal people and were never even at the apartment building Kyle was out. That is a major untied part of the plot.

Also, Kyle does act crazy in this movie, running after the pilot, forcing the oxygen masks out of the plane, and killing the electricity in the plane. She is given 2nd and 3rd chances to stop doing these things and she repeatedly does. Should people really be that condemned for considering her that crazy?

But maybe this weakness is the strongest part of the film. After all, the moral of the movie is that people should not be treated as guilty until it is 100% true they are guilty. In society we see this in so many ways. We assume people are guilty and we give them ugly stares, treat them how we would not want to be treated. Flightplan urges us to seek the truth, and that even when the truth maybe the harder thing to believe, we should never give up on it. That is the price of unconditional love: that we do all things for someone else under stress, even when those things appear in vain.

The Island

2005-09-21T10:30:00.000-07:00

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In terms of Sci-Fi thrillers, The Island finds its way somewhere between Minority Report and The Matrix. Its plot, somewhat implausible (Do you think people with the minds of 3 year old clones could escape two Black Hawk helicopters full of Navy Seals? Probably not.), still has enough substance to make this a worthwhile movie.

The Island begins with a ‘fake’ reality (here comes another Matrix plot where your reality is not ‘real’) where clones are living in a safe haven from the rest of earth which has been contaminated and is no longer safe to live in. However, there is one unaffected piece of the earth still remaining. This ‘Garden of Eden,’ as it is referred to in the movie, is the last remaining uncontaminated part of the earth, and all of the survivors are entered into a lottery system, with the winners being awarded a place to live on this ‘Island.’

The rest of the movie deals with the questioning of ‘the reality that you are presented,’ something which is natural to ‘humans,’ to use some of the interesting lines in the movie. Although The Island will not win many hearts with its extremely long ending and its inability to answer all of the questions it raises, it opens an interesting door to the way that God views the world.

I was especially intrigued with the role that God’s power played in this movie. While talking to L6E (McGregor), McCord (Buscemi) makes a joke about God when L6E wants to know who God is. McCord says that when you close your eyes and really want something, God’s the guy that ignores you. This is a funny crack at a serious problem. After all, who has not had a prayer unanswered and wonder why God does not answer prayers at times? What makes this joke so perfect for this movie is that the rest of the movie begins to deal with this very question. Humanity has illness, pain, death, things God could end tomorrow, and yet He does not. The movie then takes these themes in many different directions.

For example, the rest of the movie features people who want to live longer (for several more decades). So, they seek out Merrick Institutes, who can provide them with that wish. Merrick Institutes is a cloning center where Dr. Merrick (Bean) clones his ‘clients’ in order to assure them new livers, skin, whatever it is that can make them look better, feel younger, and live longer. It would not be too far-fetched to say that these people are in search of eternal life. Or as McCord cracks about God, they have their eyes closed, really wanting to live longer, and since God is not granting that wish, they turn elsewhere.

However, they want their ‘long life’ even in the midst of their sin. All in all, we see glimpses of four people who had bought ‘life insurance policies’ (clones). It is interesting to note that two of these clients are on the verge of dying because of their own sin. One is in desperate need of a new liver (massive drinking?) and the other is been quite free in sexual expression, leading to a type of hepatitis that is going to kill him in the near future. This is stark reminder that sin has real consequence.

All of these ideas come to a dialogue at the end of the movie between Merrick and Laurent (Hounsou). At this point, all the benefits of cloning and one could argue, stem-cell research, are spelled out. Children’s leukemia is described as only being 2 years away from being cured (a noble goal), and that Merrick will be the only one with the cure. So Merrick asks Laurent this qusetion, Who else can cure children’s leukemia? And Laurent gives the expected response, ‘Only you and God.’

It seems that The Island is accepting the fact that God has not and will not solve our problems, namely diseases and things that resulted from our sinful lifestyles. Unfortunately, the movie never gives an answer as to why we should not clone to solve these problems. This is one of the major weaknesses to The Island. There is no question that human life is deeply valued in the film, because the clones are viewed as the heroes, while most of the ‘real’ humans are the antagonists.

However, one question remains to be answered. What is so special about the human experience that makes life so important? These questions are not given an answer in The Island. Instead, humans are merely depicted as willing to do anything to survive, even if that survival has no purpose or intent. In reality, we know that human life has value because God has created us, and in Genesis 1 proclaimed humans as ‘very good.’ Clearly that is why God has not given up on us and still loves us so deeply. Although we will always have the questions as to why God allows disease, suffering, etc., He has also promised us that there is something much better than living for another 70 years (as Merrick Institutes promised) here on earth, that in heaven there will be no more leukemia, disease or suffering. So, although there is no real island in The Island, God has created a perfect place, where the pain of this world ceases, and immeasurable joy begins.