Reviews by Marcus Pittman

The Delusion of American Theology

2007-01-08T23:38:00.000-08:00

The Delusion of American Theology

Working at a local TV station, I have the opportunity to listen to a lot of sermons and Christian radio shows daily. Its a perk that comes with an office job I guess. Listening to all these preachers like Todd Friel and Ergun Caner I am saddened and deeply distraught by the American Theology of Gods Love.

Yes, God is Love, God invented love, he knows what Love is better then anyone we can comprehend. But is this the only message of the American Church? Did Jesus step down from his heavenly manifestation of holiness to love everybody? When did Jesus get diluted into this peace and love liberal hippie?

Our infatuation with a Loving God has created no need for repentance; the cotton candy feel good message of God loving everybody has created a false blanket of security from the wrath of a holy righteous god.

Max Lucado said that "God is not Holy, He is not Holy Holy, God is Holy, Holy, Holy." He was referring to that amazing passage in Isaiah.

Isaiah 6:3
And they were calling to one another:
"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory."

Its the only place in the entire bible that three identical words are used to describe God. The word holy as powerful and amazing as it is, saying God is just Holy is an offense, He is three times that, and I am sure saying it three times isnt even enough.

So what does all of this talk about holiness have to do with Gods love? Its quite simple, with out God, being 3xHoly, his love means nothing. Its worthless.

So what is Holy? The common dictionary gives several meanings of holy. Sacred, righteous, pure…all things are true, God is perfect, he is so perfect that blemishes dont just bother him, they offend him… He must eliminate them from his presence…Maybe this is what the other definition of holy is referring to…

Holy - inspiring fear, awe, or grave distress.

Why is it that God always said "Fear Not" whenever he came into someones presence? Is it that at the first sight of his hint of holiness we are struck down with fear as we realize how holy He really is, and how worthless we really are?

Here comes the part where I rip Joel Osteen to pieces, of gooey cotton candy.

Yes, Joel Osteen does preach Jesus death, burial and resurrection, but here is where I differ, and why I so greatly despise his ministry. What is the point of Jesus death and resurrection without mentioning Gods holiness and your sin?

Joel Osteen and several other preachers in America dilute the gospel, with their feel good gospel of salvation that is, salvation from struggle, bills and waking up on the wrong side of the bed. With Joel Osteen Jesus died to save you from a debt free life full of financial burden and bad days?

Tell Paul that Jesus can make his life better…

Ask Moses if God made his dessert walking comfortable and convenient…

Ask Stephen if Jesus would make him live a longer life…

This message of feeling good, and bills being paid creates a false sense of salvation that Jesus referred to in the parable of the seeds.

Mark 4:16-17
Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

Joel Osteen is preaching a Rocky sermon, which relies on Gods giving people a good life to fit the consumerist style of this nation. Where are the fruits of Joel Osteens ministry? A church of that magnitude should sweep a revival across America, but its not because Joel like most churches in America does not preach true salvation. His feel good message of peace and prosperity does not inspire others to place them self in harms way for the cause of Christ, instead it encourages them to sit back relax, and wait for Jesus to come back.

America has got to stop preaching a feel good gospel, and get back to the real nitty gritty of why Jesus came down here. He came here to save you, because your sin is an offense to a Holy, Holy, Holy God, and without Christs blood on the cross, you are going to suffer eternal damnation…

America has the biggest churches and the largest percent of "Christians" then any other country in the world, yet sadly America has the least amount of people saved.

Where are the Christians in America that are like Missionaries of old praying that God would send them within a stones throw from hell, Where are the Christians that beg for God to send them to the worst of the Worst… Why are all of the great feats of God happening in other countries but in America, we just pray for our bills to get paid.

I actually paused and laughed as I typed that, come on Nation, Dear God, pay my Bills or Dear God, send me to the closest thing to hell on earth? Please God, I really want that new iPod, or God please get me a new Car… No wonder some theologians believe God has turned his back to America.

Now don't get me wrong I am not saying go into a third world country, in fact I am saying the opposite, we need to be here, we need to be a loud voice here in America. Imagine with the technology and resources available today how huge a revival in America could be, it wouldn't just stay in America, it can spread across continents.

But a revival is never going to come with a heartwarming message about peace and prosperity, in fact if you look at the messages that started the greatest revivals, they were not focused not on God's love, but on his Grace. Not on prosperity, but persecution.

To say that Christ died for you so you can live a healthy happy life, is an insult to his inequities and a blasphemy to his pain. Christ suffered to save us from Hell because God cannot stand our lying, cheating, thieving, swearing, and terribly sinful nature …

Yes people are going to be offended by that message, yes people are going to be turned off, yes people will despise you, but isn't that exactly what the bible say's? If everyone loves everything you say, then you are not preaching about the God of the bible, you are making your own God, a false God that ignores sin, and "looks at the heart."

So I challenge you to look at your techniques for "winning" people to Jesus, what do you say first? Jesus loves you? Well if he does then I am already forgiven right, so I don't have to do anything but be a good person?

We have to convict people of their sins. We have to, Jesus did it to everybody. The Samaritan Woman at the well thanked Jesus for calling her out, yet the Pharisee's killed Him for it.

So of course you are going to be persecuted, and your co-worker won't like you as much, and people will call you that religious freak. So what? SO FREAKIN WHAT? Missionaries are beaten, raped, hung, decapitated and stoned for Jesus and were worried about an uncomfortable car-pool ride? What the heck are we thinking?

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound.

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now I am found.

Was blind but now I see.

---Marcus

www.transplantministries.com

Why I didnt watch The Nativity...

2006-12-24T23:26:00.000-08:00

When the Focus of Christmas is temporarily taken off of Santa and presents, our attention is then transformed to this cute little nativity, of the Virgin Mary holding the precious baby Jesus, as cute little sheep and donkey’s. We constantly hear about this amazing night, and this amazing birth, all the while forgetting that with exceptions to the whole virgin birth thing, this birth was quite unextrodinary. .A baby born in the animals slums of the poorest nation in the world at the time. Contemplate that for a moment. Bethlehem was probably one of the dirtiest, poorest cities in the world, through out time. That means poorer then the poorest in modern Africa, Poorer then the poorest in the middle ages, and poorest of the poor in the future of the world. Bethlehem was not on any major map, it was probably overlooked by the roman’s, tossed aside as “The place some Jew’s live.”

So when Mary and Joseph were looking for a place to stay they most likely went down the list of stars. Five star Hotel, Denied, Four Star, Denied, Three Two and Motel Six, all denied. They ended up not staying in a hotel at all, they stayed outdoors, Mary was forced to give birth to the Creator of Life, in a feces infested shed. A hotel for the poorest animals, in the poorest country, the world has ever known. Christ wasn’t even granted a humans birth. The son of God’s first breath wasn’t even granted the smell of fresh air; instead Christ was greeted to the smell of animal urine on hay. His first bed was the feeding troth of those animals.

So you see the birth of Christ means nothing. It is small, miniscule and insignificant, why is this?

The reason Christ’s birth was stripped of any dignity is quite simple. The entrance of Christ to this earth means nothing. The true glory of Christ coming to earth is nothing in comparison with his exit. He didn’t come to earth to get gifts from wise men, he came to die.

With all the hope and cheer going on in the world on Christmas day, all the giving, good will towards men, and happiness and laughter I want to remind everyone reading this that were are all dirty rotten sinners, and some good person had to die because of us, Myself included.

Jesus Christ was whipped beaten and ripped apart, not because Jesus was a Good person, but because we weren’t.

This Christmas as we unwrap our gift’s and give to others. Don’t forget the gift that is waiting for you, the gift of God’s grace. What Christ did for you not on Christmas, but three days before the first Easter, when his skin was disfigured, and punctured like play dough and toothpicks, all because he cared enough to pay your sin, and bail us out of an eternal Hell.

So instead of sitting with the family and seeing “The Nativity” why don’t you watch The Passion of the Christ and discover what Christmas is really not about?

- Marcus

Mel Gibson Apologizes...What a Christian thing to do.

2006-10-13T21:29:00.000-07:00

Mel Gibson and Forgiveness

It amazes me how the Media is attracted so much to Mel Gibson. This week on Good Morning America Mel Gibson gave his public apology for his drunken ramblings and anti-Jewish remarks.

For those of you who are not aware a few months ago Mel Gibson was arrested for driving under the influence of Alcohol. Apparently he relapsed into his addiction and when arrested stated several cruel things about the Jewish Race.

Thus came day’s of media out lash criticizing Mel Gibson, calling him a hypocrite, The Passion of the Christ really is Anti-Semitic. The news channels and magazines proudly stated.

I immediately wrote an article about the man I greatly admire, criticizing Barbara Walters and the rest of the media legions for so harshly attacking him. Celebrities are charged with DUI all the time. Paris Hilton, Haley Joe Osment (who was under age and Drunk) and Bam Bam Magera are just a few examples, but those didn’t make big news.

It wasn’t until The Christian messed up that it became a big deal. How dare someone who is a Christian make a mistake! The media acted like Mel Gibson was caught red handed on Datelines To Catch a Predator.

But time settled and people forgot about Mel Gibson. That is until Diane Sawyer interviewed Mel this week on Good morning America. Mel Gibson who was obviously incredibly nervous described the incident and events leading up to it. Diane Sawyer tried to pin him in the corner, stir the waters prove he was really Anti-Semitic.

But the wave of controversy that attacked Mel Gibson this time wasn’t on his anti-Semitic marks. This time the news onslaught that followed was about True Forgiveness.

And there we have it folks. A brilliant God uses a fallen follower of Christ to evoke questions of forgiveness.

What is Forgiveness, how is someone truly sorry. How do we know?

They asked Maya Angelou, theologians and educated Doctors and Professors. How do we know if someone is truly sorry?

They all concluded with the same answers. It was as if they were quoting from the bible itself

Admit you were wrong.

Really Feel Remorse

Change. Or as Jesus puts it, Go and Sin no More.

There it is the Gospel brilliantly played out again through the eyes of Mel Gibson. The first time he showed us Christ though his Faith. The second time Mel showed us Christ through his Failures. Both times the Anti-Christian media played a huge role. There criticisms fuel God’s will.

Mel Gibson, if you read this I want you to know that I am a true admirer of you. You are such a great example of a biblical Old Testament figure. A loser in society that does great things through Faith and Failure. Like David the Adulterer, and Moses the murderer, You are a role model not because of your sins. But because of how God used them for his glory.

Keep up all the great work. Keep strong in Christ. You are forgiven, but you know that already don’t you.

Marcus

www.transplantministries.com

www.hollywoodjesus.com

Why are you NOT watching Studio 60.

2006-10-06T19:45:00.000-07:00

This is a Call to Action...

Today I was skimming by MSNBC (I swear I never really watch that channel) when I noticed it was talking about the hottest TV shows this season. Some of my shows were on there, Lost, Heroes, The Office ....But one show was not. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.

In fact it was mentioned as a "Second Chance" show. Please give it a second chance. It really is a good show. The guest was pleading. Watch Studio 60. Because apparently No one is...

I have to disagree Studio 60 isint a good show it's an amazing show. But besides the amazing cast, incredible plot and of course Arron Sorkin. I need to mention one thing.

This show gives the best (fictional) representation of a Christian ever showed on Network TV. Her name is Harriet Hayes played by Sarah Paulson , she plays the ex-girlfriend of Matt Albie (Matthew Perry).

This show having a Christian as one of the main Character could have been an insult to all of Christianity. She could have represented every major true and false stereotype about the christian faith known to man. But NBC didn't write her that way. No instead Harriet Hayes is a phenomenal christian who stands boldly for her faith in a totally secular environment.

She broke up with Matt Allbie because Matt couldn't stand the fact she went on the 700 Club. (A Show which I adore). She is ridiculed, slandered, and mocked all because of her faith. Yet she remains strong in it. Working hard. She even makes Jokes of her own Faith. She is the best actress on the show (The Character not Sarah Paulson) . And she credits that to her faith. If NBC tried to make her a Joke of Christianity they did a terrible job, because she comes off so perfectly at being not perfect.

Christians are the FIRST, to criticize a show for slandering Christians but were the last to Praise a show for positively portraying Christians. And this is what Studio 60 does so incredibly well...

So this is a Call to all readers of Hollywood Jesus. This is a Call to the Church, The Christian Coalition and all other Christian people and friends you can possibly thank of. Let's stand behind this show. Let's give it our support. Buy any episodes you missed on iTunes. It really is an exceptional show, and it would be a shame to see A great leading Christian Character like Harriet Hayes be reduced to nothing more then a DVD sale of a 2 Disc "Complete Series" Collection.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip comes on Monday's at 10pm after Heroes on NBC.

- Marcus Pittman
www.transplantministries.com

Placing the Must See back in NBC.

2006-09-26T10:20:00.000-07:00

Placing The Must See Back in NBC.

Conan Joked about the Glory day’s of NBC on the Emmy’s. Days when Seinfeld, Frasier and Friends were keeping NBC profitable. But ever since TiVo replaced sitcoms with week to week Drams, NBC has fallen short.

Fox has 24 and The OC, ABC has Lost and Desperate Housewives, CBS has several versions of CSI. But as far as good dramas on NBC, well, I never watched any of the several Law and Orders, and never did get into The West Wing. I guess a lot of other people didn’t watch either judging on them being ranked lowest of the top 5 stations, last year.

So NBC decided this year, they are changing the game. First of all there are tons of shows coming out on other networks, but do we really know what they are? It may just be me but NBC has really pushed the marketing campaign this year to build hype for there almost entirely new season.

Here is what NBC Plans to Deliver.

Heroes

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

30 Rock

Kidnapped

Friday Night lights

20 Good Years.

I have been privileged to preview 3 Titles of the ones above. I would like to do a quick preview and make my prediction for NBC this year.

Kidnapped…

I have to say I got this preview courtesy of Netflix along with Studio 60. I didn’t care for Studio 60 but hey it was on the DVD as well, I was incredibly excited about Kidnapped. So much so I ran to Radio Shack (My Current Second Place of Employment) to get a Universal DVD remote. I couldn’t wait till Sunday for the church to open back up. (I left my DVD Remote at Church because I haul my DVD player back and forth to show DVD’s for bible study for my youth group….anyways)

Clearly taking the queues from Fox’s Prison break, kidnapped is the story of a high ranking government official who has his son stolen, Instead of using the conventional FBI the father hires a sort of hit man who conveniently specializes in returning stolen kids..

Well that is about it. The preview doesn’t give us any more information then that, and at the end of the Pilot we are left asking if we really want to continue with another episode. Now supposedly I get the idea that the Son is incredibly smart and will actually free him self. But that’s not real clear yet.

In all honestly it left me bored. It wasn’t exciting, nor did it have the rush of 24 or prison break. It left you empty in a way that didn’t leave you asking for more. Disappointed I decided to fill my empty holes by watching Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

Ok, so it didn’t go so well for Joey. After being pushed and pushed NBC finally decided to cancel the spin-off leaving the first Friends cast member’s, after friends attempt at television a, failure. It was beginning to have the famed Seinfeld Curse that Julia Louise Dreyfus just broke.

Then the creators of the West Wing hired Matthew Perry to do Studio 60…

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is NBC’s First joke of themselves. Studio 60 is about two writers who get a job writing for the failing “Friday Night in Hollywood” the National Broadcasting System’s wannabe Saturday Night Live. That’s right I said National Broadcast System or NBS. In this make believe world, there is ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and oh yea the NBS.

NBS hires a new female president played by Amanda Peet who has just come from get this, An amazing ratings success at NBC. I couldn’t make that up if I tried. Her first day on the Job starts off when an elder writer for “Friday night…” interrupts a live taping and goes on a rant about how corrupt corporate broadcasting is.

Amanda Peet decides to make the NBS look good, by hiring two incredibly talented writers, who well hate the NBS and have had several bad past experiences. I really want to get into the plot more, because let me just say there is literally Christian meaning in here, Christianity happens to be the focus of one of the main characters, but I don’t want to give anything away. I will do a full review once Studio 60 is out, and people already know the basics of it.

Let me just start off by saying, this show disappointed me tremendously. Not because of the bad writing, or poor actors. It didn’t have any of that. I was disappointed because I have to wait till October for the entire show to come out so I can see the next episode.

I think the reason I like it so much is because it gives me such an inside view of where I want to be. Transplant Ministries is (ww.transplantministries.com) is the passion of my soul right now. Creating quality Christian Television and eliminate the crappy televangelist scum from the face of God’s planet.. So anyway it’s like Studio 60 is my internship.

It is very West Wing. It is Very Good. NBC should be proud of there competitor the NBS. It’s not exciting to watch, it’s not edgy or raw. It is just good screenwriting, and it is fun to watch. They didn’t leave anything out, you have the cast of the show, the production staff, the president and board, even actual guests which happened to be Felicity Huffman and Three Six Mafia.

The studio like the White House is very busy, with a lot going on. I love it.

I am glad this came with the Kidnapped DVD, it really made my day. This is the show that will be left long after Kidnapped is cancelled, and quite possibly the head Emmy winner next year. (That is if 24 just randomly disappears of the face of the earth)

Heroes.

Unless you have been living under a rock lately you probably know by now that NBC is going to have a Lost like show called Heroes.

Heroes is the story of several people, who have gained Super Hero Powers. Like X-Men, actually a lot like X-Men the whole bogus Evolution line is in there as well. Millions of years, through evolution blah blah blah. Besides the obvious origins difference I have with the show, this show is really quite good.

And you will hear that it is like unbreakable, you will hear it is like X-Men but in the words of my brother “How many new ways are there to make super heroes”

This show is like Lost. Not because people are stranded or there are secret magical numbers, but because it has that many many mysteries feel to it. If you havnt watched Lost you will know that it keeps you hooked because it has several different plots and story lines only a few get attention every week, so you are literally starving for answers. Heroes has lost written all over it.

It is just intriguing. I love Super Heroes. They are awesome. They remind me of Old Testament bible characters. I cant get enough of them. Just watch Heroes, I don’t think you will be incredibly disappointed.

30 Rock

Next, we have 30 Rock which I have not seen but I know that it is like ‘The Office” but is jokes NBC. This is the Second Joke of NBC, except unlike Studio 60 who makes fun of a fake studio. 30 Rock makes fun of NBC. That’s right, themselves.

30 Rock stars several Saturday Night Live cast members Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, alongside of Alec Baldwin, who might as well be considered a Saturday Night Live Cast member. He has his Own Best of SNL DVD anyway.

I haven’t seen it yet, I am hoping the release a preview. I cannot wait. It looks a mixture of Arrested Development and The Office. So Right on NBC, keep it up.

Friday Night Lights.

Finally there is Friday Night Lights based off of the movie which as based off of the book which is based off the true story of a football team in Texas. I have to say I do not know how this is gonna end up, I want to watch it I can’t wait to see it. It is directed by the same people that made the movie. So it can’t be that terrible can it. I mean it’s about Football…

NFL on NBC

Not much to say here, It has been said a station without NFL coverage is a station that has no future. SO now the four major networks has some sort of football coverage (ABC still does it’s just technically on ESPN which is technically the same thing.) So that was just an obvious move on NBC’s part. Granted Ratings. Which also means people are guraneteed to see the previews of your shows during the commercials.

So we have a winner NBC. Keep up the good work and thanks for giving me no reason to do anything after work but watch TV.

Mel Gibson is a Sinner!

2006-08-05T22:27:00.000-07:00

Oh No! A Christian Sinned, Shame on you Mel Gibson

Seriously though was what Mel Gibson did really that bad. Yes he relapsed into his alcohol addiction, said some terrible things about Jews, and made some sexual slanders. But I mean the way the press is acting, they act like they have never seen a Christian sin before.

You see the Media has this false notion that is popularized by current Christian media symbols, from TBN and Christian T-Shirts that all Christians are perfect. We never fail, Jesus makes us Godly.

Are you ready for this, Christians Still Sin. Pointing out our flaws and our weaknesses just make Christians look like a bunch of hypocrites. It makes Christians look bad. It makes Christianity look worse.

We know Mel Gibson struggles with alcohol addiction, and unfortunately and with great sadness he relapsed. We do not know why he did, or what caused it, we just know it happened. Is Mel Gibson still a Christian, was he ever or did he just play all the Christians in the world as a fancy attempt to gain 300 million dollars?

I would say that Mel Gibson is still a Christian and he is deeply sorry for what he did. We need to look past his flaws, and get on with more important news. Hollywood stars drink and drive all the time, its never a big deal. Unless you are a Confessed Christian that made more money with a film that Hollywood just cant duplicate.

And his statements about Jewish people. Were they that far from truth? I believe he said that Jews were responsible for all the Wars in the World

Well they kind of are. I dont want to get into this very deeply, but as the war against liberal media and Christianity flows day to day, so does the war against the Jewish nation of Israel. The current crisis in the Middle East is because of Israel, SHOCKER, and the there will be more Wars because of Israel. Terrorist despise America because we support Israel, and the 500 WMDs recently found in Iraq were quite possible intended for Israel. The ungodly hate the things God loves. We have seen this time after time. God loves Israel. God loves Mel Gibson, God Loves his followers.

Barbara Walters said on The View that she will boycott everything that Mel Gibson does, and asked for everyone else to do the same. Congratulations Barbara, you just became the exact mirror image of a raging Christian hypocritical housewife who Boycotts Harry Potter movies. Like you never drink anything?

I just know that this will not stop Mel Gibson. The media tried to stop The Passion, now they will try to stop Apocalypto. It will only fuel the fire.

And to Mr. Gibson, I still think you are wonderful, you have your flaws. But so did everyone else in the bible (except for Jesus) and you are not him, you just told his story. David fell several times, and God didnt give up on him, Samson caved to a woman, and God didnt give up on him, Paul and a constant Thorn, and God still didnt give up on him. I hate to disappoint everyone but God doesnt use Perfect people to do his work.

I still look forward to seeing Apocalypto, I still want to see more films by Mel Gibson and I still want to meet Mel Gibson one day. To someone that didnt need Hollywoods approval for The Passion, I do not think You will need Barbaras. I am praying for you, and hope God only uses this to strengthen you and encourage you. And If you are ever in Newport News, VA I know a great place for coffee.

--Marcus

Barnyard

2006-08-02T08:37:00.000-07:00

First let me start off by saying that there has only been one movie I have ever walked out on, and that was Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius. I just didn’t care to see the ending. I didn’t care about the movie. I surely didn’t care that Nickelodeon decided to turn a second rate film, into a terrible TV series. Most importantly I didn’t care to see their new movie, Barnyard.

But after much consideration I decided to go out and give it a shot. After all I am a tremendous fan of animated films, and the second Nickelodeon 3d film can’t be as bad as Jimmy Neutron right?

Well the truth is I don’t know, I only have a vague idea of the plot. Why you ask? Why would you spend an hour and a half in a movie full of crying babies and laughing kids and not pay attention to the movie Was it the kids, was it the Cell Phones?

I worked at Chuck E. Cheese for over two years, so crying kids do not bother me anymore. The reason I couldn’t pay attention to this movie was well because of the movie. You see it’s really simple. All the cows in the Barnard world have utters. And it is so distracting to watch that I quite simply couldn’t focus on any of the plot.

For those of you that don’t get it. Male cows are called bulls. They do not have utters. To see a male and female cow both displaying milk dispensers is annoying and distracting.

But if I could somehow get passed the bad character design, the story is nothing more then a barnyard version of The Lion King. It is actually almost exactly like it.

I can’t really go into detail why without giving it away, but don’t worry it’s not worth seeing much anyway. Just go rent The Lion King, sit back and be glad, Timone and Pumba were drawn to sex.

Actually this movie was so distracting for me as a viewer, that I was districted with discovering any hidden biblical meanings, or messages….or maybe that is the message.

Satan uses things like boy cows with utters, to distract you from God’s message. Whether it is sitting in church texting on a cell phone, or just quite simply working to hard. These can all be distracting from what God is trying to reveal to you.

So just be still and know that God is God. Ignore male cow’s with utters and do not watch this movie.

---Marcus

Lady in the Water

2006-07-24T22:55:00.000-07:00

M. Night M. Night M. Night, you never cease to amaze me, never! I wanted to see this movie as soon as it came out but being the busy person that I am I wasn’t able to see it until now.

First I want to say that it was well worth the wait. Second I want to say to all those critics who trashed it,

“Haven’t you ever seen an M. Night Shyamalan film!!!!!!!!”

Seriously there has to come a time that film critics will stop judging movies based on college text book film classes and start to judge them accordingly to the vision of the director. Who in this case happens to be M. Night Shyamalan who is in fact my favorite director of all time.

With an M. Night Shyamalan film two things happen, You get what you expected, or you don’t get what you expected. Wait, wait, wait, what am I talking about? You don’t ever get what you expected with an M. Night Shyamalan film. I mean its M. Night Shyamalan for goodness sake.

This man likes to poke fun of and manipulate his audience, his films are his practical jokes, and they are our ….I don’t know how to explain this…

If you were to try and put together a puzzle from let’s say Mattel. Mattel makes a puzzle. You know what a puzzle looks like so you put it together, only when it is done right, it’s all funny and well not right, so you have a completely weird puzzle that doesn’t make sense, yet it does. Because the puzzle not making sense is the puzzle Mattel wanted you to have, It’s like Mattel laughing at you and saying, look at these idiots trying to place something together the same way every time, let’s mix it up.

M. Night Shyamalan kind of does that with his films. He makes a movie, and sits in the back row of the theater and laughs at you while you try to figure him out. Only you can’t. Because he’s crazy awesome like that.

Now I am not saying M. Night Shyamalan Is God, but it does remind me of how we can never figure out God. I like to think about how amazing he is and try to put God in a Box sometimes. Because then I realize how God is way to big for a box, and we can not imagine or even come close to his awesomeness.

When I was little my Sunday school teacher told me that we would never know the answers to some of our questions that we have. But I think that is kind of true and untrue at the same time. I like to think that in heaven we will be able to ask God any question that we want and he will answer it, but his answer will leave more questions. Like if I were to ask God how many colors there were, he would respond by saying “for who’s eyes” and I would say well raccoon’s and he would say “They see more colors then humans” and I would be like let me see thru the eyes of raccoons and when he lets me see thru the eyes of raccoons I would be totally mystified and ask more questions and it would go on for eternity like that., there is a verse in Corinthians that sums this up.

1^st Corinthians 2:9 (MSG)

…No one's ever seen or heard anything like this,
Never so much as imagined anything quite like it—
What God has arranged for those who love him….

I really wish I could go into detail with this movie, but it would spoil it. I know this review doesn’t make sense, maybe it will if you see the movie or maybe I am just crazy and ADD.

However I did not like everything about this film. I thought you had two great actors (Paul Giomatti and Bryce Howard) surrounded by a smorgasbord of terrible ones (not including M. Night) that really took away from the drama of the film. I mean some of the actors were really terrible, I thought they won a walk on role from a cereal box contest or something. However acting aside, you should really go and see it. Then e-mail me if you still wonder why I think this movie is amazing.

Oh and M. Night if you are ever in Hampton Roads, VA I know a great place for coffee.

Insert “ What in God’s Creation Are you talking about” Comments here…

--Marcus

NEW VeggieTales MOVIE Announced!

2006-07-03T13:35:00.000-07:00

Guess what people a New Veggietales Movie is underway and I am extremly excited about, Growing up with Veggietales, they have been a true inspiration for me going into media industry, below is an article coming staight from Big Idea's front page, and umm Phil, I look foward to seeing you in person at the National Youth Leaders Conference in Charlotte, NC in November. I know a Great place for Coffee there to, (Actually I don't but I swear if you want to have coffee, I will find one for you.)

BIGIDEA.com

***
VeggieTales Hits the Big Screen

May 31, 2006

Universal Pictures to Release Worldwide an All-New Animated VeggieTales Feature Film The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything in Early 2008

It's the Big Screen Again for Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber!

LOS ANGELES, May 31, 2006 -- Hoist the mainstay! Trim the sails! Paint the poop deck!?! - it's BIG time for Bob and Larry! Universal Pictures brings everyone's favorite talking vegetables back to the big screen worldwide in early 2008 with the release of The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything -- A VeggieTales Movie. The CG-animated family film is based on Big Idea's enormously successful VeggieTales franchise and features the creative team behind the series, Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki. The announcement was made today by Universal marketing heads, Adam Fogelson and Eddie Egan, and Big Idea COO, Terry Pefanis.

The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything -- A VeggieTales Movie will be directed by Mike Nawrocki and is based on a script written by Phil Vischer, who will also serve as executive producer through his production company, Jellyfish Labs. Big Idea's David Pitts will produce. The film will feature an original soundtrack by Kurt Heinecke.

Cast with a boatload of VeggieTales stars, The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything is a comedic adventure filled with family-friendly lessons on the importance of doing what is right, even when it's difficult and discovering that real heroes don't have to be tall, strong, handsome ... or even human.

VeggieTales' second feature film follows the highly successful 2002 release of Jonah�A VeggieTales Movie, that grossed over $25 million theatrically. Since 1993 VeggieTales has helped teach kids values like honesty, kindness, and forgiveness with its unique blend of humor, award-winning animation, and infectious "Silly Songs." With nearly 50 million videos sold, VeggieTales is one of the most popular kids' series in America and continues to be an innovator in values-based family entertainment.

"The beloved and hilarious VeggieTales characters, and the beautifully designed and rendered CG animation have made this franchise a favorite of families everywhere," said Fogelson and Egan. "We're delighted to be partnering with Big Idea on bringing these vegetables back to the big screen in an all new adventure full of fun and music."

"It's great to see Bob and Larry attracting new generations of fans more than a dozen years after we first introduced them," said Vischer. "I'm looking forward to working with Mike, Big Idea and Universal to bring The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything -- A VeggieTales Movie to the screen for all our fans, both young and old." Added Nawrocki, "We couldn't ask for a better partner than Universal in bringing VeggieTales back to the big screen."

The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything -- A VeggieTales Movie opens in modern day suburbia at the local pirate themed restaurant, where derring-do and turkey legs go hand-in-hand five nights a week. But not for Sedgewick, Elliot and George (Mr. Lunt, Larry the Cucumber and Pa Grape). While they love all things piratical and dream of taking the stage in the big show, Elliot's timidity, Sedgewick's laziness and George's lack of self-confidence relegate them to busing tables and refilling drinks.

When they finally do get up the courage to audition, the three would-be swashbucklers manage only to destroy half the stage set. Out of luck and out of work, they stand dejectedly outside the restaurant as a strange, ancient-looking metal ball lands at their feet. It is a "Helpseeker," sent from another time and place in search of heroes. After scanning the three moping misfits, it sets in motion events that will send them back to the 17th century to face real pirates in a real pirate adventure, and in the process challenge everything they believe about themselves. ***

Superman and Jesus

2006-06-29T13:32:00.000-07:00

Not everyone is happy about the whole Jesus is Superman and Vice Versa portrayal...

Where once the superhero flew up, up and away, he now flies down, down, down, sent from above to save mankind from its sins and what looked like another bummer summer. --NYTimes

READ

Superman Returns!

2006-06-27T23:36:00.000-07:00

What can I say, I have always loved Superman, I am his biggest fan. He will destroy any Marvel or DC character hands down. He is the strongest hero, He is almost near invincible. He can fly, He can shoot lasers out of his eyes, and he can blow Ice from his mouth and hear amazing things. His only weakness is the rarest mineral in the galaxy, which Lex Luther always seems to know how to get. I don’t care what you Marvel fan boy’s say, Superman is the greatest. Yea DC might not have a lot of Superheroes, but when you got them all in one person, who needs a bunch of weak Xmen.

So we haven’t had a Superman movie in well over 15 years and what do you know, Bryan Singer gets to direct it. For those of you that do not know, Bryan Singer is a Christian. I have a quote from him that I love to read over and over and over again.

“God has given me the ability to create good movies, and I want to do it for his glory” – Bryan Singer

Bryan Singer is known for hiding biblical themes in his Movies. So I anxiously awaited Superman so I could try and figure out what themes he would reveal.

I knew the obvious parallel of Superman, Father sends son to earth, Son raised by poor parents as own, Son saves the world.

So when I went into Superman Returns my main objective was to find a connection to Jesus that wasn’t of the old Superman Cliché. I couldn’t do it. The only biblical connection of Superman I could find was that of the obvious, Superman is the Savior of the World.

But I was blown away, by the truth that Bryan Singer captured. There is one scene in the movie without giving anything away that shows Superman above the world. This is beautiful and portrays God looking down on his creation; however that on its own is not enough for me to get the Holy goose bumps. It’s what Bryan Singer added, to that scene, what Superman Heard. Superman sitting on top of the world looking down in sadn+ess hears all of the pain and suffering of the entire world at once. A giant melody of screaming, suffering and pain.

It reminded me of this church I went to while at bible camp two summers ago. When the deacons prayed over someone they all said their own individual prayer out loud at the same time. Its sounds like mumblings and unrecognizable it reminded me of how God can hear and know everything all at once, and how we have no idea of his capabilities.

1^st Corinthians 2:9(MSG)
No one's ever seen or heard anything like this,
never so much as imagined anything quite like it—
What God has arranged for those who love him.

I didn’t just enjoy this movie because I was overwhelmed with biblical metaphors. I enjoyed it because it’s everything summer movies are supposed to be. It’s the first truly amazing breathtaking movie of the summer. The action scenes are amazing, and although the special effects are not the most realistic, Special effects don’t make a movie good or bad anyway.

Kevin Spacey did such a wonderful job as Lex Luthor, it was so what Lex Luthor is and was. Lex Luthor is jealous of Superman’s powers just as Satan is jealous of God. In one instance one of Lex’s minions calls Lex Luthor a God, he shouts back and says “I am not a God, God’s run around in tights and a red cape refusing to share their powers with the rest of the world.” Remind you of someone?

This movie was the only movie I have seen where people applause scene after scene a full theater shouted and yelled with victory, It could be because we were at the early 10pm showing on Tuesday night with a bunch of Superman Fan boy’s but I am pretty sure that it was just because some scenes were so exciting you couldn’t help but applaud.

Thank you Bryan Singer for not slipping into the Christian Entertainment category of films, you have given me a goal to work for as I start out in the entertainment indusry and you pretty much gave me enough Sunday School lessons for a whole year. Oh and if your ever in Newport News, VA give me a call I know a great place for coffee.

I end with this, a line form the original Superman that is also used in the new.

Jor-El: Even though you've been raised as a human being you're not one of them. They can be a great people, Kal-El, they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you... my only son

---Marcus
---John 3:16

---------------------

Just a side note I was reading on IMDB.com a fact about Jim Caviezel who played Jesus in The Passion…

“James Caviezel expressed great interest in the role of Superman, but director Bryan Singer refused to cast him because he felt that Caviezel was "too famous" after starring in The Passion of the Christ (2004).”

I think the truth here Is that it would be to weird to see Jesus twice. Bryan Singer makes such a great resemblance of Superman to Jesus. I think that was an excellent decision and I am not sure that Jim has that Superman kind of look anyway.

Over the Hedge

2006-05-23T20:11:00.000-07:00

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

My biggest flaw as a critic is that I am extremely PIXAR biased when it comes to CG movies. Nothing beats them, Nothing, comes close. Their detail and story making process allows them to create amazing movies, one after the other. DreamWorks is second on the CG list with amazing movies like Shrek and Shrek 2, then they made (or copied from The Wild, I don’t know which one came first) Madagascar. Thus ruining the near perfect streak of animated films. So you can imagine my upturned nose and folded arm posture as I am sitting thru the constant array of previews for three less then PIXAR CG films before Over the Hedge actually played… and then it happened…Over the Hedge played.

Over the Hedge is based on the comic book by Michael Fry and T. Lewis. It involves several wildlife animals who live in the wilderness just behind a suburban neighborhood, and need to rely on stealing from humans to gather food. It stars Steve Carell, Wanda Sykes, Bruce Willis, and William Shatner.

This movie totally took me by surprise. There were about 10 people in the movie theater that night. Everyone else was at The Da Vinci Code. All ten people were laughing harder then a whole theater full of people. This movie was so incredibly funny. Let me say this again This Movie was FUNNY. This review is probably coming off as scattered and un organized because every time I try to think of something to write about, I start laughing at some of the scenes in this movie. Not many movies make you laugh a day later.

Are there awards for voice actors, because I honestly believe that Steve Carell who played Hammy did one of the best voice acting jobs I have ever seen in any Animated Movie, far above any PIXAR film...as much as it saddens me to say that.

However, as funny as this movie is, as entertaining as this movie is, as sure as I am going to see it in theaters again and buy the DVD, the story itself is not that different from other stories, it's nothing we have never seen before, it's not incredibly original. But it does parallel one popular bible story, and that would be the Garden of Eden.

RJ the raccoon has an underhanded plan of his own. He tries to convince the other animals to just taste the human’s food; it's so much better then what you have. Once you try this you'll never go back. Don't you want to eat like the humans eat?

Sound familiar? RJ who has his own selfish desires and plans tries to get the other animals to just taste what he has tasted. He tells them how much better it is, exactly like Satan did in the Garden of Eden. Verne the turtle was the conscious of the group...He tried to warn the other animals that taking the humans food was trouble, but the other animals didn’t want to listen. The food was just too good to pass up.

Just like Adam and Eve…

This films humor is unexpected, it contains over the top, original Looney Tunes style comedy, not seen since the original WB cartoons. This is a big deal for DreamWorks; there is life after Shrek...

I am making two HUGE predictions about this movie. Number One, after they hype of The Da Vinci Code, this movie will be number one. Why did DreamWorks decide to hide this film among they hype of The Code? And number two; it will have a sure place on my DVD shelf, relatively close but not quite next to my PIXAR films.

— Overview

The Da Vinci Code

2006-05-19T21:39:00.000-07:00

—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

Tonight in a sold out theater I went to go see The Da Vinci Code. I have been waiting to see the movie for a while now. I first read the book a few years ago before it was really popular and by read I mean listen to the audio book on a long road trip home from Indiana. It was a really interesting read, (um I mean hear) and the more I listened to it, I laughed. I was about eighteen or nineteen and so when I first came upon the “Shocking Details” I was humored by it all. Kind of like the way you see a small child tell a joke and then pat him on the head and say “isn’t that cute?” and then get on with your life.

Then The Da Vinci Code got big. It became an issue, and I already forgot most of the books details, however I never forgot the gist of the novel. Jesus was only a man; he was married and had kids.

When I first heard that the movie was coming out, I didn’t think about people watching it and believing it, because I didn’t think of it as a serious problem. I mean the general public was smart enough to understand that in order to buy the book you have to find it in the fiction section at Barnes and Noble right?

My main fear was and still is not about the reaction of the Non-Christians but the reaction of the Christians that see this movie. How will Christians who watch the movie, or engage in the controversy and discussions react to the film, to the story, and to the people they come across?

The power of The Da Vinci Code lies not on secular ears, but on Christian’s action. In the theater I was tempted to snicker out loud and moan and groan at the “Dejesusfying” parts. I wanted badly to stand up to the screen and yell blasphemy and throw the over priced popcorn at Leigh Teabing. But doing that wouldn’t help anything. In fact it would make the negative image of Christianity the movie tries to present perfectly accurate. I was reminded of Peter…

1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

Being confident in what you believe in is not displayed when your yelling or throwing stones, in fact it makes you look weak and intimidated, scared that your mind can be changed. Peter knew that strong faith wasn’t displayed by childlike name calling or hunger strikes. True faith is shown in people that stand up in conflict with bold confidence listening to the other side, and learning from them. This is what shows faith and courage in the midst of persecution.

So in the upcoming days will angry fire breathing Christians rage against movie goers with wrath and picket signs, in an attempt to get their message heard. Will Christians watch the movie or be frightened due to a lack of a strong biblical foundation. These are questions we will see answered…

Finally I was worried about biased opinions of the film. Christians claiming a movie with Ron Howard and Tom Hanks was terrible just because of the underlying message. For Example…

Non-Christian: So what did you thing of The Da Vinci Code? Wasn’t it a good movie?

Christian: That movie was garbage, it was full of lies and tried to make a joke about my lord and savior. You should see a real movie like Left Behind.
Non Christian turns and walks away never talking to a Christian about anything artistic ever again.

I was worried that Christians wouldn’t give credit where credit is due. Critics gave The Passion some wonderful reviews even though they didn’t agree with the story; Christians should do the same for The Da Vinci Code.

Except for one minor detail, The Da Vinci Code was not a good movie. It was boring and tedious, and felt like a PBS-kids NASA documentary. You know the ones where the kids are trying to solve a puzzle and they have to talk each others ears off with boring “Facts” until they get enough clues to find out how Jupiter got so big. The only difference is that The Da Vinci Code wasn’t 15 minutes long, it was two and half hours long. Two hours and twenty minutes of non stop CBS’ CSI interrogating dialogue, scattered with ten minutes of less then amazing action and suspense.

Don’t get me wrong the acting was wonderful, (Tom Hanks is my favorite actor ever!) some of the special effects were pretty cool as well, I have been really excited over the past few weeks waiting to see a great movie, but over all it just seemed like a boring documentary. Maybe it was because I know the ending. Maybe it’s not amazing because everyone knows the ending, and the book is a keep going till you find out what’s at the end mystery. The problem with the movie is that it was written exactly like the book everyone read. The draw of the book was the mystery, but when the mystery is shouted over and over on Larry King, Fox News, and Matt Lauer Live in Paris on the Today Show, you wind up not wondering what happens next, but when is it going to end.

Maybe Ron Howard should have taken some lessons on how to entertain an audience who already knows the ending from the guys who made United 93.

— Overview

Disappointing Weekend.

2006-05-16T18:40:00.000-07:00

Ok so I have to admit, I wasn't feeling inspired to go to the movies this weekend. Nothing grabbed my attention. Posideon's trailer looked boring, and the reviews didn't let me down. So I saved Money there. I do still want to see Art School Confidential, I am a big fan of those kind of films.

But I guess you can say the peak of the Summer Movie Season tops off this weekend. The Da Vinci Code come to the theaters! All I can say is So What...

How can I possibly be excited about The Da Vinci Code when I have all this wonderful excitement stored up for well over a year with the release of the PIXARS Cars!!!!

I am sorry guys all this hype about Dan Browns Novel and stuff is wonderful but I think we have truly forgotten about the real summer blockbusters...

PIXAR FILMS!!!!

Toy Story, Bugs Life, Toy Story 2,, Monsters INC, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles... (OK so some of them were released in the fall)

But the true joy of summer movies isn't about seeing a movie in the summer, it is about going to the theater and seeing a PREVIEW for the Fall PIXAR FLICK!

Come on someone out there has got to know what I am talking about it. Right?

I mean really, who wants to see a movie about talking cars voiced by Larry the Cable Guy, and Owen Wilson? Not me...

Now who wants to see a movie about talking cars voiced by Larry the Cable Guy, and Owen Wilson that PIXAR Made!

ME ME ME I DO I DO!!!!

Excuse me but Wal-Mart has a sale on Tents and I need one to go and wait in line....

- Marcus

Mission Impossible....

2006-05-08T18:36:00.000-07:00

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

OK now that Mission Impossible 3 is out it officially marks the beginning of the Summer Movie Season! First let me start off by saying You dont go to see Summer Action Movies for their incredible plot's, character development or even great acting. You go and see them because they are big and expensive, they are loud and the special effects are more realistic every year.

MI3 is a Big-Expensive-Loud-Summer-Hollywood-Explosionfest.

There is no getting around that. It's the Summer, Tom Cruise is in it, and it's Mission Impossible. Everything about this movie is explosive and loud. But underneath all the wonderful bangs and booms, this movie actually has what I didnt go there to see nor expect, A wonderfully well written plot!

Tom Cruise returns again as Ethan Hunt an IMF agent in the third installment of Mission Impossible. The Newly Engaged Ethan Hunt must return to work after a long what should have been permanent vacation, to rescue a former team member Lindsey Ferris (Keri Russell) who has been taken hostage by Owen Davian who is played by Capote himself Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Let me stop right here and say that Philip Seymour Hoffman is one of the most hated villains I have ever seen in any movie. I can only compare his performance to 3 other characters in movie history. Commadus (Jaoquin Phoenix) in Gladiator, Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper) in Speed and The Terrorist in United 93. You hate him, you hate him, you yell at the screen in vile anger, you wait for him to get his, he is the devil in the purest of forms.

They call Owen Davian the Invisible Man, know one knows where he is, they just know he is always up to something. The only goal he has in mind is his own well being, and he does not care who he has to stop to get his way. He is resistant to trade and negotiation...Sound Familiar?

2 Corinthians 4:4 (The Message)

...They think he can give them what they want, and that they won't have to bother believing a Truth they can't see...

Just like Owen Davian, Satan is always up to no good and willing to use anybody to get his way. We just have to be on guard, and wait for him to finally get his...

To sum it up this movie is a definite summer action thriller. There are plenty of scenes of explosions, guns, and Tom Cruise hanging from ropes. The movie is intense, brilliantly action packed with scenes that make guys say coooool!, An exciting way to start off the Summer Movie Season.

-Marcus

— Overview

American Idol Results!

2006-05-04T06:28:00.000-07:00

American Idol Results....

Last Night as you all know Paris Bennett was sadly voted off American Idol.

Finally!

I have been waiting for her to go since day one! Every time the judges said something she would just respond with an constant onslaught of Thank You's 7-8 Time during each song. She had No Personality! America Got it Right!

So we are down to Four

Elliot Yamin
Katharine McPhee
Chris Daughtry
Taylor Hicks

In that Order they will be voted off...

Let me be the first to congratulate Taylor Hicks on being the 5th American Idol.

Insert Paris Bennett Fan Complaint Comments....

-Marcus

United 93

2006-04-28T22:11:00.000-07:00

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

It’s about 1am and I just got back from seeing the late night showing of United 93. I have to be awake at 6am to go to a Youth Leader Training Seminar. I shouldn’t be writing this review so late. I should take my time on it. But I need to write this now. While it is fresh on my mind.

I know the story, I know the ending. We lived it. Usually movies are spoiled when you know the outcome; there is always that burden to know what happens next…

We know what happens next.

But for some reason, I cannot explain, we are sucked into this story about these people. We have heard it before but this movie makes it so wonderfully new. I am stumbling on words that are adequate enough to describe it.

At first when you start to watch it, you think wow these guys are really bad actors. Who did the casting. But after about 15 minutes you realize that everyone is a bad actor, and 5 minutes after that you realize that they are supposed to talk this way. These people are not acting. They are just living their life, and doing their jobs. There is no intense dialogue, there is no detailed conversations or sophisticated character development.

It’s like you are there…

The entire movie is real time, maybe give and take a few minutes. Most of the movie is thru the eyes of the Air Traffic Controllers. You watch the radar with them. The fact that you know what is happening allows the movie to build on itself.

My review needs to stop here. I am speechless and awestruck and any attempt to describe how amazing this movie is will just simply fail.

Go see United 93. Period.

— Overview

So much to Choose From....

2006-04-27T07:20:00.000-07:00

OK so I was looking at all the movies that are being released this Friday, and I seriously do not know what to do. Besides spending all weekend in the movie theater which sadly won't be possible due to work. I am forced to choose.

Akeelah and the Bee.

United 93

Stick it

Over the Hedge

Hard Candy

Everyone looks wonderful. Oprah said to watch Akeelah and the Bee. So I might just do that, but United 93 and Hard Candy look wonderful as well. I might have to draw straws.

Welcome to the Summer Movie Season everyone!

-Marcus

Summer Movies!!!!

2006-04-26T17:36:00.000-07:00

I am not a fan of the heat. I like the Air Condition. That being said If there were no movies in the summer I would probally hate the summer. But I do not hate the summer I love it. Why? Why do I love 90 degree weather and 2nd degree sunburns so much! Well let me tell you.

Summer Movies.

It makes Heat Strokes worth it!

As of now we are in the beginning stages of summer movies! So I wanted to take a minute to share my edge of the seat, catch the midnight showing the day before, picks of 06.

I can't decide what I want to see more, The Da Vinci Code or Cars. I am really excited about Tom Hanks and Ron Howard doing a film together. If we take a minute to just forget all the "hype" of the movie we come to the conclusion that this is actually going to be an awesome movie. Great Actors, Great Directors, and I am pretty sure it will a wonderful fictional story told incredibly well. (isint that what the movies are all about)

Then there is Disney PIXAR's Cars. Notice how Disney is really small. That's because disney doesnt know how to make CG movies. They tried, they failed. (Chicken Little, Valiant) So what do you do when all attempts to go on your own turns out to be a huge disater! You by the company that knows more then you. PIXAR is now owned by Disney.

I am the worlds biggest PIXAR fan. I am just in awe of everything they make. Every movie, every short film, is perfection. They refuse to have it any other way. I have heard several people say that they are not interested in a film about Cars. Nascar is boring. Cars are boring. I said the same thing about Fish. And look where NEMO ended up. PIXAR will not let me down. They havnt done it yet.

Then there are the Super Hero movies! X-Men 3 and The Return of Superman.

Mission Impossible 3. Little Miss Sunshine and IdleWild Over the Hedge, etc etc etc!

Get the popcorn, grab the Soda, and rot the summer away in a Sticky, crowded multiplex and escape...

About Me....

2006-04-26T17:28:00.000-07:00

Hey look I have my own HJ blog, hooray!

Let me use this entry to introduce myself.

My name is Marcus Pittman I am from Newport News, VA. I was atteneding Liberty University but God called me away from it, to work back at home with my Home Church Youth Group.

I am currently in the planning stages of developing a Film Ministry, I call Transplant Ministries hopefully God will use it in a big way!

I got started with HJ when I e-mailed David and asked him to pray for my film ministry because I had no idea how to start, later on he called me and asked If I would like to review. So here I am now.

So hopefully that didnt bore you to much.

-Marcus

RV

2006-04-26T15:12:00.000-07:00

—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

FREE DOWN LOAD
The RV Activity Book from the movie RV starring Robin Williams, Cheryl Hines, Kristin Chenoweth , Bob McNeive
Click here (PDF)

Let me just start right off the bat by saying that I am not a fan of over the top slapstick comedy. I was when I was little but I have kind of grown out of it. I prefer more artistic forms of comedy like The Office (British Version First, then American) Arrested Development and any movie where Bill Murray is on the brink of suicide, (See Lost in Translation, Broken Flowers , and The Life Aquatic) That being said and off my chest I want to cut right to the point. R.V. with Robin Williams was not this kind of movie, however I enjoyed every single moment of it.

The first time I remember seeing over the top comedy and laws of physics defining jokes was when I was six. I was taken to the local theater to see Home Alone. Since then almost every family comedy after that has been some kind of lame rip off. Flash Forward to R.V. in 2006.

Robin Williams plays Bob Munro your average suburban family man. He has everything he ever needs a nice home, great job, beautiful wife (Cheryl Hines) and two wonderful (sarcasm?) teens (JoJo, and Josh Hutcherson) who could care less if he exists. Bob comes to the conclusion that his family has forgotten all he does for them and plans a road trip to get there attention.

Throw in some prop comedy, death defying stunts, and a few fart jokes and you have a wonderful movie that copes with the lack of communication in families of the 21^st century. As Bob knows his family is so concerned with other issues (boyfriends, self image, video games) they have forgotten how to communicate with each other. Bob is forced to go to drastic measures to grab his families' attention.

While watching this movie I thought about how God goes out of the way to gain my attention so I can have that relationship he seeks from me so badly. Being a "Youth Ministry Intern" I am coming to the harsh reality of my lack of daily communication with him. I wonder what God would do to gain my attention just so he can tell me he loves me. Oh wait I know, He would send himself to die on a cross as his only begotten son.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. --John 3:16

As a Christian I am aware of what God has done. I know all the verses and traditional routines. I just might not express it all the time. I get so wrapped up in the routine of everyday life I forget to take a vacation with God. Bob's kids are always aware of what there father is doing for them they just do not always know how to show it. R.V. does an incredible job of showing a loving family and the father who tries to grab their attention in amazing and over the top ways. With a great cast (including two members from Arrested Development!), funny family moments, and the best slapstick I have seen since Home Alone, how could this family vacation (I mean Movie) go wrong?

— Overview

Freedomland

2006-02-17T13:10:00.000-08:00

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

Another Friday at the movies, my favorite day of the week. My manager said I could get off an hour early so I could catch the matinée showing of Freedom Land at the mall theater. I had to watch this movie because my car was at the mechanics and a walk down a crowded mall on a Friday night is a lot easier than a walk downtown to the local multiplex. As I was walking out of the store I received a phone call from the mechanic. My car needs it's engine rebuilt. I would be better off getting a new one...

Samuel L. Jackson and Julianne Moore star in Freedom Land. Samuel L Jackson plays Lorenzo Council, an African-American detective who polices the low class projects of New Jersey. When Brenda Martin's (Julianne Moore) son is kidnapped it is quickly up to Lorenzo to find him again. Even if it means placing an entire neighborhood under marshal law.

This movie intrigued me because of it's incredible actor line up. Samuel L. Jackson, Julianne Moore and Mrs. Soprano herself Edie Falco. When you have a cast of such caliber all you need next is a good story. And I thank it's that good story that made Freedom Land an intriguing thriller. While this movie may have some unanswered subplots and confusion it was well worth the ticket.

The constant mystery of finding Brenda's kid was able to keep my interest. The movie had several questions that needed to be answered. Is he still alive? If so where is he? If not who killed him? Julianne more did a wonderful job portraying a traumatized mother who was put in a position the likes of which I cannot imagine. The thought of losing your kid to a stranger is beyond comprehension. Karen Collucci (Edie Falco) was the leader of a group of mothers who helped look for lost kids. Her role made it clear that you can't understand this situation unless it happens to you.

The beauty of this film is that it is not just about losing your kid, it also involves other issues as well.Why does a white woman blame a black man for the disappearance of her son and an entire neighborhood gets shut down because of it?

Then there's Detective Lorenzo who has personal issues of his own to deal with, he is persecuted for siding with the "white cops" and he has a son in jail, but he is ok with it. He has faith. Lorenzo's faith is not a key role in the movie and whether or not he has it would not affect the final outcome or it's overextended ending. But it does make for some really inspiring theological quotes, that ask why God lets bad things happen?

"I believe in God, whatever happens, the good things and the bad things, happen because God wills it...Let go and let God." - Lorenzo Council

I haven't heard that great of a line from Samuel L. Jackson since he pondered the disappearance of his super suit in The Incredibles. While focusing on this movie my current automobile situation was on the back of my mind. But I couldn't help but be comforted upon hearing those reassuring words. "Let go and let God."

The apostle Paul wrote about hard times and struggles.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." --2^nd Corinthians 1:3-4

I should praise God in my time of struggles, thank him for what he is going to bring out of it.

When I have the very person who spoke all of creation into existence on my side, I should treat car troubles like I would a rainy day. I don't even care about my car now, God has another used one waiting for me in someones front yard, He just needs to show me the classified ad.

My suggestion: Give all of your struggles, be it missing children, financial problems, medical struggles, or a really screwed up Oldsmobile to the One with all the answers, and see how he surprises you.

— Overview

When a Stranger Calls

2006-02-03T13:22:00.000-08:00

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

I am a fan of movies with interesting plots. Movies that take place around simple concepts and rewrite the cliches of cinematic storytelling. How scary the thought of a stalker calling you and keeping tabs on your every move. In its original context left alone it is creepy and thought provoking. But this Remake of the 1979 "When a Stranger Calls" is not even remotely scary, the only thoughts it provokes is "When will this be over.?"

Jill Johnson, played by Camilla Belle is your average teenager movie cliche who is forced to babysit because she is grounded for ironically going over her cell phone minutes. After the parents leave, she is left alone, a stranger calls her repeatedly as she tries to figure out where the stalker is coming from.

And that is the plot. 95% of this movie is a One Person Play, that even "The Producers" would reject. With no other characters playing much of a crucial role we are forced to watch a frightened girl roam a house an hour and a half as she scares herself with common noises of a refrigerator ice maker, a predictable black house cat and of course a ringing phone.

If you are alone in a mysterious house, what scares you about it. I would say the silence. But we are not entertained by moments of scared straight silence instead this one hour and twenty three minute film plays a on hour and twenty two minute dollar store Halloween sound track (that refuses to stop even for dialogue.)

This fear factor of this film is being alone. Being alone and having no one to call out to in your times of need is frightening. Everyones been there at times, whether you have been alone in a huge glass mansion or just in the comfort of your house. This film keeps asking the same unsettling question, What do you do when your alone and in trouble, Jill Johnson decided to call the cops. To Jill these police officers might come to her rescue. They were bigger then her, they were her life line.

For me I call on God. He is bigger the fear. He understands loneliness and most importantly he understands me. Who would you call on if you had no one to turn to?

The ancient Hebrews had such awareness:

Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish. - Psalms 25:16-17

The ancient Hebrews believed that God was always there, and in times of trouble they would call upon God for help. Just like present day followers of Jesus, they believe that God is everywhere so it is impossible for him to be nowhere. One of the names given to Jesus was Emmanuel -which means God with Us.

Even someone like Jill Johnson (Pun Warning) can "call" on Christ at times she feels most alone and He will answer. Jill Johnson was scared for her life. She was alone and could sense bad things about to happen...

Even at times when we are scared and fleeing for our lives, God is there.

Even if you do have a terrible fear of ice makers...