Reviews by Kevin Miller

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97756062009-02-21T00:00:29.470-08:00Reviews by Kevin MillerInteract! Post your comments, rants and raves.Kevin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487724422618317811noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9775606.post-1156966393063500302006-08-30T12:32:00.000-07:002006-08-30T12:33:13.080-07:00"After..." at AFI!!

In case anyone still reads this blog, I wanted to let you know that my first film, "After...," has been accepted into the AFI Film Festival this November. No word on screening dates or times yet, but you can win an all expenses paid trip to the premiere by visiting our myspace site: www.myspace.com/themovieafter. I hope to see you there!

Kevin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487724422618317811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9775606.post-1149019875373299042006-05-30T13:09:00.000-07:002006-05-30T13:12:03.490-07:00A Bit of Shameless Self-Promotion

But hey, that's what blogs are for, right? This is the poster for my upcoming movie, a supernatural thriller about three urban explorers who get more than they bargain for when they set out to explore the secret world beneath Moscow. Click the poster to go directly to our official site. ..">

Kevin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487724422618317811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9775606.post-1146156312626158112006-04-27T09:42:00.000-07:002006-04-27T09:45:12.650-07:00The Da Vinci Code Breaker

(James L. Garlow with Timothy Paul Jones and April Williams, Minneapolis: Bethany House, 2006.)I’m not a big advocate of authors who make a living refuting other authors’ books. However, I’m also not overly fond of authors who write a novel and then put a disclaimer up front saying that although the particular events within the book are fictionalized, the research behind them is not. (That goes

Kevin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487724422618317811noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9775606.post-1142882055867405142006-03-20T11:10:00.000-08:002006-03-20T11:17:05.043-08:00The Ten Commandments: 50th Anniversary Collection

How many filmmakers get a chance to re-make their own movie? I can think of two: George Lucas—who at least got to re-work the special effects in his first Star Wars trilogy—and Cecil B. DeMille, who, after making an epic, black and white silent version of The Ten Commandments in 1923, got to shoot an epic sound version of the story twenty-three years later in dazzling Technicolor.To celebrate the

Kevin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487724422618317811noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9775606.post-1137004624271025862006-01-11T10:34:00.000-08:002006-01-14T19:24:23.730-08:00Hostel

—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 What does it mean when Hostel becomes the new mainstream, when what is essentially a slasher film unseats two relatively innocuous crowd pleasers like King Kong and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe as

Kevin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487724422618317811noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9775606.post-1135057406033813262005-12-19T21:23:00.000-08:002005-12-20T10:24:13.046-08:00King Kong

—1. Overview (multimedia)—2. Overview Basic (dial up speed)—3. Reviews and Blogs—4. Cast and Crew—5. Photo Pages—6. Trailers, Clips, DVDs, Books, Soundtrack—7. Posters—8. Production Notes—9. Spiritual Connections—10. Presentation DownloadsLet me address the obvious criticism first: Was this movie an over the top, overly long, self-indulgent piece of filmmaking? You bet it was. And thank God for

Kevin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487724422618317811noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9775606.post-1134272231802189812005-12-10T19:35:00.000-08:002005-12-10T19:37:11.850-08:00Shadowlands

With all the hype surrounding the movie version of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, it seemed fitting that I finally got around to viewing Shadowlands (1993), a touching, intelligent film about Narnia’s creator, C. S. Lewis, and his brief but tragic love affair with Joy Davidman Gresham.The film takes place just as Lewis is winding down the Narnia Chronicles—and receiving his fair share of

Kevin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487724422618317811noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9775606.post-1134196325823042302005-12-09T22:30:00.000-08:002005-12-13T19:41:27.096-08:00The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

—1. Overview—2. Reviews and Blogs —3. Cast and Crew—4. Photo Pages—5. Trailers, Clips, DVDs, Books, Soundtrack—6. Posters—7. Production Notes (pdf)—8. Spiritual Connections—9. Presentation DownloadsIf you were a beaver and four humans showed up on your doorstep wearing fur coats, would you let them in? I certainly would have second thoughts. Funny how that idea never occurred to me before, even

Kevin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487724422618317811noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9775606.post-1132869972863156282005-11-24T14:04:00.000-08:002005-12-14T09:48:28.673-08:00Story: Recapture the Mystery

—OVERVIEW--Back to Book Index (Steven James. Grand Rapids: Fleming H. Revell: 2005, 208 pages.)In a recent article[1], I criticized overzealous evangelicals for tripping over themselves to make the gospel relevant. Underlying this evangelistic fervor, I conjectured, is not so much a love of Christ as a fear that the gospel can’t stand its own. If we don’t do something to jazz it up or dumb it

Kevin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487724422618317811noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9775606.post-1130786932054961262005-10-31T11:27:00.000-08:002005-11-01T20:56:24.036-08:00A History of Violence

—1. Overview (multimedia)—2. Overview Basic (dial up speed)—3. Reviews and Blogs—4. Cast and Crew—5. Photo Pages—6. Trailers, Clips, DVDs, Books, Soundtrack—7. Posters —8. Production Notes (pdf)—9. Spiritual ConnectionsJust to prove that I can be as small-minded as the next person, my first comment upon emerging from A History of Violence was, “Well, that was… gratuitous.” From the lingering

Kevin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487724422618317811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9775606.post-1130534847021370132005-10-28T14:26:00.000-07:002005-11-29T12:28:48.516-08:00The Gospel According to Oprah

—OVERVIEW --Back to Book Index(Marcia Z. Nelson, Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2005, 106 pages)Coming rather late in the game in terms of the “Gospel According to…” genre (which has featured books on The Simpsons, Harry Potter, and Dr. Seuss, among others), one might expect The Gospel According to Oprah to fall into the “day late and a dollar short” category. Far from it. Seeking to

Kevin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487724422618317811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9775606.post-1130346618905219922005-10-26T10:07:00.000-07:002005-11-29T12:31:34.950-08:00Inside Narnia

—OVERVIEW --Back to Book Index (Devin Brown, Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2005, 256 pages)As if the scholarly and popular appetite for new books on C.S. Lewis and his works knows no bounds, Baker Books has brought out nothing less than a full-length literary analysis of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe—just in time for Christmas and the upcoming movie.While the book’s subtitle bills it as “A

Kevin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487724422618317811noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9775606.post-1128103911764932652005-09-30T11:10:00.000-07:002005-09-30T13:50:10.603-07:00Flightplan

—1. Overview (multimedia)—2. Overview Basic (dial up speed)—3. Reviews and Blogs—4. Cast and Crew—5. Photo Pages—6. Trailers, Clips, DVDs, Books, Soundtrack—7. Posters—8. Production Notes (pdf)—9. Spiritual Connections Can you stick to your beliefs even when circumstances seem to contradict them and everyone around you thinks your nuts? Aerospace engineer Kyle Pratt faces this test to the nth

Kevin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487724422618317811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9775606.post-1126288491600197052005-09-09T10:32:00.000-07:002005-09-09T10:54:55.570-07:00The Constant Gardener

In terms of decoding what is at first glance a rather unusual title, one of the most poignant scenes in this film is a brief homemade video during which Tessa films her sleeping husband Justin—a British diplomat stationed in Kenya—while joking about how he is probably dreaming of a “world without weeds.” No doubt, she isn’t far from the truth, seeing as Justin devotes most of his spare time to

Kevin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487724422618317811noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9775606.post-1126279837951187062005-09-09T08:27:00.000-07:002005-09-09T08:36:47.710-07:00The Exorcism of Emily Rose

Not since The Third Miracle (1999) have I seen a film that does such an effective job of challenging our presuppositions about the supernatural. The Exorcism of Emily Rose doesn’t exactly argue that the spiritual world exists, just that we would be unwise to place it beyond the realm of possibility, that the same body of evidence can potentially give rise to more than one legitimate explanation.

Kevin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487724422618317811noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9775606.post-1126039449632070822005-09-06T13:42:00.000-07:002005-09-06T13:46:10.510-07:00Green Lantern #3

When I reviewed the first issue in this new series by DC Comics, I admit to being a bit hard on it (see my review and subsequent apology to writer Geoff Johns elsewhere on this site). After reading my scathing critique, fellow HollywoodJesus reviewer Maurice Broaddus urged me to be patient, saying that he usually allows a title to develop the storyline over three or four issues before deciding

Kevin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487724422618317811noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9775606.post-1126036382364159432005-09-06T12:48:00.000-07:002005-09-06T21:30:49.400-07:00Apologies to Mr. Johns Part Two: A Geek Repents

There’s nothing like getting a letter from an author you’ve critiqued to make you stop and listen to yourself for a moment. And there’s nothing like hearing your own voice braying back at you like a jackass from the void to make you think that perhaps you should shut up for a while—or at least seek to make things right.Exhibit A: My review of the first issue of the new Green Lantern series,

Kevin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487724422618317811noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9775606.post-1125507079060717522005-08-31T09:47:00.000-07:002005-09-04T11:05:15.813-07:00An Exclusive Interview With Scott Derrickson

THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE —1. Overview (multimedia)—2. Overview Basic (dial up speed)—3. Reviews and Blogs—4. Cast and Crew—5. Photo Pages—6. Trailers, Clips, DVDs, Soundtrack—7. Posters—8. Production Notes—9. Spiritual Connections Scott Derrickson co-wrote (with Paul Harris Boardman) and directed The Exorcism of Emily Rose. During the course of his career, Scott has also developed projects for

Kevin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487724422618317811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9775606.post-1125443776773651952005-08-30T16:14:00.000-07:002005-08-31T12:21:05.556-07:00The Brothers Grimm

It is rather difficult to pin down exactly what is wrong with director Terry Gilliam’s new film The Brothers Grimm, but if I had to choose one adjective to describe it, it would be “disjointed.” One thing Gilliam does appear certain of in this film, however, is his perspective on the spiritual realm. Not only does he affirm it, he seems to suggest that we ignore it to our peril—although he is far

Kevin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487724422618317811noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9775606.post-1125090813951164052005-08-26T14:11:00.001-07:002005-08-29T14:00:43.093-07:00The Great Raid

—Overview —Photos —About this Film PDF —Spiritual Connections If you’ve never read Ghost Soldiers by Hampton Sides and you’re even slightly interested in World War II history, get your hands on a copy. And after that, get yourself to this movie. While The Great Raid hardly compares to Sides’ harrowing account of life at the notorious Cabanatuan Japanese POW

Kevin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487724422618317811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9775606.post-1122796041184032792005-07-31T00:44:00.000-07:002005-08-01T10:05:28.340-07:00Behind the Screen: Hollywood Insiders on Faith, Film and Culture

(Spencer Lewerenz and Barbara Nicolosi, eds. Grand Rapid: Baker Books, 2005)After a spate of books about Hollywood written by Christians who are observing the industry from a distance, it’s refreshing to see a book like Behind the Screen, which was written by a group of individuals whose day jobs place them at the heart of the most influential cultural enterprise on the planet.The book was

Kevin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487724422618317811noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9775606.post-1122672018907286172005-07-29T14:19:00.000-07:002005-08-13T12:43:43.140-07:00The Island

—Overview —Photos —About this Film —Spiritual Connections It is ironic and yet not altogether surprising that a film about cloning seems to have been derived from so many of its predecessors. Minority Report, THX-1138, Logan’s Run, and The Matrix all form part of The Island’s exemplary DNA. Whether this rich heritage enhances or takes away from your viewing

Kevin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487724422618317811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9775606.post-1122396758046789292005-07-26T09:46:00.000-07:002005-08-13T13:43:03.576-07:00Reflections on "The Devil's Rejects" Part 1

—Overview —Photos —About this FilmLet me get to the obvious question first: Why on earth would I bother to review a film about a family of homicidal maniacs who go on a killing spree? The idea seems even more ludicrous when you consider that this film’s main claim to fame is that it is the sequel to House of 1,000 Corpses, which was roundly despised by critics and horror

Kevin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487724422618317811noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9775606.post-1122397377643082642005-07-26T09:40:00.000-07:002005-08-13T13:44:26.716-07:00Reflections on "The Devil's Rejects" Part 2

—Overview —Photos —About this FilmSo there you have it, in my previous post I gave a nearly 2,000-word response to one question: Why I chose to watch this film. The fact that I took so much time to justify my actions should tell you something about the world in which I live. It may also help explain why Rob Zombie had such a difficult time bringing his dark vision to the

Kevin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487724422618317811noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9775606.post-1121899924055805192005-07-20T15:50:00.000-07:002005-09-06T13:04:59.390-07:00Green Lantern No. 2

—Overview by Kevin Miller —Back to Comix IndexApologies to Mr. Johns...?Okay, Comic-Con has come and gone, and it’s time to get back to business. After sounding off about the dearth of talent in comic publishing today as well as the absence of any sort of innovative storytelling in the first issue of this series, do I have better news this time around? Keeping in mind that my good friend Maurice

Kevin Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487724422618317811noreply@blogger.com2