Folk - The final review has been posted and Lent is nearly over. Tomorrow we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the death and we glory in the victory God has achieved over death forever and ever. With songs of thanksgiving and prayers of joy we lift our hearts to God in humble worship for what he has done through the work of his Son, Our Lord. I pray that tomorrow will be a day of outstanding joy for you and your family. May your worship and your fellowship be full of God's blessing and love.
I give my thanks to all of those who supported me as I wrote the film reviews. It became common to get texts in the morning as folks read the new review over their coffee. I feel tremendously privileged so many of you have chosen to give my words such caring time and prayerful consideration. I pray that God spoke to you in a unique way through the words and thoughts offered in these reflections.
When I took on this "discipline" for Lent I was not sure how it would pan out. Having the films chosen at random and by people other than myself certainly challenged me in a unique way as I came face-to-face with films that I had never thought of or viewed through the "lens of faith." I am pleased to say that the Spirit gave me the vision necessary to see what God had hidden in even the most unsuspecting films. Every time the "Reel Revelation" came forward I embraced it, took it into my own life, and reproduced it that we may share together in God's Word. That being said, I encourage you to not use my reviews (or anyone's devotional material) as a replacement for reading the Bible! There is simply no substitute, and we can all use more time delving into the splendid mysteries of God's Word.
I cannot say if i'll continue to post reviews or not. If I do you'll find them at this same blog. For those who would like a hard copy of the Lenten Reviews I am producing several complete copies and making them available to anyone who wants to re-read these thoughts away from the computer. I hope the hard-copies will be of value to those who do not have access to the Internet but still want to read.
I wish you all good and peace - E.T.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
"Zathura"
Title: "Zathura"
Director: Jon Favreau
Producer: Michael De Luca, Scott Kroopf, William Teitler, and Peter Billingsley
Editing: Dan Lebental
Composer: John Debney
Starring:
- Josh Hutcherson as Walter
- Jonah Bobo as Danny
- Tim Robbins as Dad
- Kristen Stewart as Lisa
Plot and Critical Review: Two boys, Walter and Danny, discover a space themed board game from the basement, where everything inside it becomes real. The boys are eventually drawn into an adventure when their house is magically hurtled through space.
During the course of the story, the boys must overcome their personal ill-feeling held toward one another in order to survive. They are aided in this by an astronaut (Dax Shepard) who appears as a result of the game. This astronaut is eventually revealed to be an older version of Walter, who had been trapped as a character in the game's world as a result of using a wishing card to cause Danny to disappear- wishing that his brother had never been born-, resulting in him being unable to escape the game as it was no longer his turn and the game could not advance without another player. This back story becomes the basis, although the viewer only sees its role as such in retrospect, of parallels drawn between the two versions of Walter, including a revelation of the back story without mention of his name or that of his brother. He is finally released when Walter, drawing another wishing card, wishes the astronaut had his brother back, resulting in the 'other' Danny appearing. After the future Walter apologises to his brother, the two seem to merge with their other selves (after the astronaut turns back into another version of Walter) now that the future caused by Walter wishing Danny away has been erased.
Accompanying Danny, Walter, and the astronaut is their cantankerous elder sister, Lisa, who while not a player is as vulnerable to the dangers present in the game. She is placed in cryogenic freeze for five turns. She develops a crush on the astronaut, and is thus horrified when she finds out that she fell for an older version of her brother Walter.
The main villains in the movie are the Zorgons; reptilian, biped tool-users who are fond of heat and are attracted to a heat source much like bees are attracted to nectar, because they are cold-blooded. The Zorgons, having burned their own planet to obtain more heat, are nomads who travel through space seeking more to burn and who keep a flock of four-eyed goats on their ship.
Another character, a robot (voiced by Frank Oz), first appears as a wind-up tin toy that quickly becomes life-size. It is supposed to defend the players, but as it is malfunctioning it mis-identifies Walter as an alien life form and begins rampaging through the house. Walter uses a "Reprogram" card on the robot, and it instead sets its sights on the Zorgons. A single Zorgon survives the robot's kamikaze attack and sneaks up behind Walter and Danny as they are wondering where Lisa is. Just as it's about to kill them, it is crushed and killed by Lisa with Danny's piano. Unfortunately, a massive Zorgon fleet arrives and attacks after Walter frees the astronaut and his brother.
Danny eventually completes the object of the game, whereupon the house is drawn into a roaring black hole, which Danny realizes is Zathura. The Zorgon fleet is pulled into the black hole, as are Lisa and Walter. Moments later, they have returned to Earth. All the "pieces" of the game (the house, its furnishing, and the players) have been replaced as they were before the game began. The brothers are thereafter much more cooperative with one another. The boys, and Lisa, retain their memories of the game's events in which they all agree never to speak of Zathura again. As the kids get in the car with their mother and drive away, one of their bicycles which drifted off into space falls back to the lawn.
My Rating: 6.5/10
The "Reel Revelation": "When It Suits Me Best..."
While "Zathura" is a film full of special effects and fantastic space-themed elements which echo the plot-line of its "parent" film, "Jumanji", it also contains very strong elements of compassion, respect and, most importantly, love. We see the apparent lack and sudden appearance of respect and love between Walter and Danny, two brothers who, at the beginning of the film, seem altogether set against getting along with one another. I remember watching the film for the first time and feeling genuinely disturbed by how harshly Walter treated his little brother. Why couldn't they just get along? Walter's hatred toward Danny only seemed to grow as the movie progressed, building and building as Walter continued to push his brother away, using him only as necessary to win the game (for he was certain he alone could achieve victory and save them from destruction). By the end of the film, however, the brothers overcome their differences and enter into a more loving relationship. Thank goodness. The real-world revelation is this: that won't work in the real world!
We've all been in situations in which we've been brought closer to a person or a group of people through hardship or trial. You can probably think of several instances when something tragic or undesired caused your relationships to become stronger. Think back to the horrific events of 9/11; have you ever felt such a strong sensation of united patriotism. Many said that no feeling had been commonly appreciated since John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Yes, hardships can bring us together. Indeed, we are all brought into communion through the Blood of Jesus, a gift given to us as a result of Jesus' sufferings on the cross. But what about the divisions we entertain before those unexpected events occur?
Screenplay writers lean on this very dramatic plot "twist" to heighten the emotion generated within motion pictures. It works, doesn't it?! How many times have you wept or felt your heart soar when enemies embrace one another at the end of a movie, when lovers finally return to one another after their fighting has ceased? It really does work, but it only works on the silver screen.
Jesus calls us to love one another in a way that reflects the love he has for us. He calls us to love one another without reservation and without condition. Jesus calls us to be bold in the way we treat one another; that we might honor our friends and our family with love and devotion, with the respect and admiration they (and all people) deserve. We must not allow ourselves to become so lazy that only when tragic events occur do we experience the urge to make our peace with those we've pushed away. While it is certainly not outside of God's power to bring enemies together through tragedy or even the most curious and unexpected of events, we must be brave and seek reconciliation with one another today. Perhaps God has been working in your heart, bringing someone to mind that you need to make peace with, someone you need to extend your hand to in a sign of love and acceptance. Do it! Do it for your sake, do it for theirs, and let it be done for the glory of the Kingdom of God.
Jesus died on the cross to save us from the eternal consequence of the sins we commit, this is true and we believe it. Then Jesus rose from the bonds of death to secure our salvation and to grant us the grace necessary to live peacefully with one another. Receive that grace today. Receive the gift of the resurrection which God has given to all who will call upon his name; the power to become sons and daughters of God and to love as God loves, with mercy, justice, and unceasing devotion. Receive the gift God has always longed for you to have and to use in your life; the unfailing love of Jesus, the Son of God and our everliving King of Kings.
I wish you good and peace - E.T.
Director: Jon Favreau
Producer: Michael De Luca, Scott Kroopf, William Teitler, and Peter Billingsley
Editing: Dan Lebental
Composer: John Debney
Starring:
- Josh Hutcherson as Walter
- Jonah Bobo as Danny
- Tim Robbins as Dad
- Kristen Stewart as Lisa
Plot and Critical Review: Two boys, Walter and Danny, discover a space themed board game from the basement, where everything inside it becomes real. The boys are eventually drawn into an adventure when their house is magically hurtled through space.
During the course of the story, the boys must overcome their personal ill-feeling held toward one another in order to survive. They are aided in this by an astronaut (Dax Shepard) who appears as a result of the game. This astronaut is eventually revealed to be an older version of Walter, who had been trapped as a character in the game's world as a result of using a wishing card to cause Danny to disappear- wishing that his brother had never been born-, resulting in him being unable to escape the game as it was no longer his turn and the game could not advance without another player. This back story becomes the basis, although the viewer only sees its role as such in retrospect, of parallels drawn between the two versions of Walter, including a revelation of the back story without mention of his name or that of his brother. He is finally released when Walter, drawing another wishing card, wishes the astronaut had his brother back, resulting in the 'other' Danny appearing. After the future Walter apologises to his brother, the two seem to merge with their other selves (after the astronaut turns back into another version of Walter) now that the future caused by Walter wishing Danny away has been erased.
Accompanying Danny, Walter, and the astronaut is their cantankerous elder sister, Lisa, who while not a player is as vulnerable to the dangers present in the game. She is placed in cryogenic freeze for five turns. She develops a crush on the astronaut, and is thus horrified when she finds out that she fell for an older version of her brother Walter.
The main villains in the movie are the Zorgons; reptilian, biped tool-users who are fond of heat and are attracted to a heat source much like bees are attracted to nectar, because they are cold-blooded. The Zorgons, having burned their own planet to obtain more heat, are nomads who travel through space seeking more to burn and who keep a flock of four-eyed goats on their ship.
Another character, a robot (voiced by Frank Oz), first appears as a wind-up tin toy that quickly becomes life-size. It is supposed to defend the players, but as it is malfunctioning it mis-identifies Walter as an alien life form and begins rampaging through the house. Walter uses a "Reprogram" card on the robot, and it instead sets its sights on the Zorgons. A single Zorgon survives the robot's kamikaze attack and sneaks up behind Walter and Danny as they are wondering where Lisa is. Just as it's about to kill them, it is crushed and killed by Lisa with Danny's piano. Unfortunately, a massive Zorgon fleet arrives and attacks after Walter frees the astronaut and his brother.
Danny eventually completes the object of the game, whereupon the house is drawn into a roaring black hole, which Danny realizes is Zathura. The Zorgon fleet is pulled into the black hole, as are Lisa and Walter. Moments later, they have returned to Earth. All the "pieces" of the game (the house, its furnishing, and the players) have been replaced as they were before the game began. The brothers are thereafter much more cooperative with one another. The boys, and Lisa, retain their memories of the game's events in which they all agree never to speak of Zathura again. As the kids get in the car with their mother and drive away, one of their bicycles which drifted off into space falls back to the lawn.
My Rating: 6.5/10
The "Reel Revelation": "When It Suits Me Best..."
While "Zathura" is a film full of special effects and fantastic space-themed elements which echo the plot-line of its "parent" film, "Jumanji", it also contains very strong elements of compassion, respect and, most importantly, love. We see the apparent lack and sudden appearance of respect and love between Walter and Danny, two brothers who, at the beginning of the film, seem altogether set against getting along with one another. I remember watching the film for the first time and feeling genuinely disturbed by how harshly Walter treated his little brother. Why couldn't they just get along? Walter's hatred toward Danny only seemed to grow as the movie progressed, building and building as Walter continued to push his brother away, using him only as necessary to win the game (for he was certain he alone could achieve victory and save them from destruction). By the end of the film, however, the brothers overcome their differences and enter into a more loving relationship. Thank goodness. The real-world revelation is this: that won't work in the real world!
We've all been in situations in which we've been brought closer to a person or a group of people through hardship or trial. You can probably think of several instances when something tragic or undesired caused your relationships to become stronger. Think back to the horrific events of 9/11; have you ever felt such a strong sensation of united patriotism. Many said that no feeling had been commonly appreciated since John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Yes, hardships can bring us together. Indeed, we are all brought into communion through the Blood of Jesus, a gift given to us as a result of Jesus' sufferings on the cross. But what about the divisions we entertain before those unexpected events occur?
Screenplay writers lean on this very dramatic plot "twist" to heighten the emotion generated within motion pictures. It works, doesn't it?! How many times have you wept or felt your heart soar when enemies embrace one another at the end of a movie, when lovers finally return to one another after their fighting has ceased? It really does work, but it only works on the silver screen.
Jesus calls us to love one another in a way that reflects the love he has for us. He calls us to love one another without reservation and without condition. Jesus calls us to be bold in the way we treat one another; that we might honor our friends and our family with love and devotion, with the respect and admiration they (and all people) deserve. We must not allow ourselves to become so lazy that only when tragic events occur do we experience the urge to make our peace with those we've pushed away. While it is certainly not outside of God's power to bring enemies together through tragedy or even the most curious and unexpected of events, we must be brave and seek reconciliation with one another today. Perhaps God has been working in your heart, bringing someone to mind that you need to make peace with, someone you need to extend your hand to in a sign of love and acceptance. Do it! Do it for your sake, do it for theirs, and let it be done for the glory of the Kingdom of God.
Jesus died on the cross to save us from the eternal consequence of the sins we commit, this is true and we believe it. Then Jesus rose from the bonds of death to secure our salvation and to grant us the grace necessary to live peacefully with one another. Receive that grace today. Receive the gift of the resurrection which God has given to all who will call upon his name; the power to become sons and daughters of God and to love as God loves, with mercy, justice, and unceasing devotion. Receive the gift God has always longed for you to have and to use in your life; the unfailing love of Jesus, the Son of God and our everliving King of Kings.
I wish you good and peace - E.T.
Friday, April 10, 2009
"Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Kahn"
Title: "Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Kahn"
Director: Nicholas Meyer
Producer: Robert Sallin and Harve Bennett
Editing: William Paul Dornisch
Composer: James Horner
Starring:
- William Shatner as James T. Kirk
- Richard Montalban as Kahn Noonien Singh
- Leonard Nimoy as Spock
- DeForrest Kelley as Leonard McCoy
- James Doohan as Montgomery Scott
- George Takei as Hikaru Sulu
- Walter Koeing as Pavel Chekov
- Nichelle Nicols as Uhura
'Doesn't S come before W in the alphabet?' Aye, it does. Oops...
Plot and Critical Review: The film opens with a female Vulcan, Lieutenant Saavik, in command of the starship USS Enterprise. The vessel is on a rescue mission to save the crew of a damaged ship in the Neutral Zone along the border with Klingon space. The Enterprise is attacked by Klingon cruisers and critically damaged. This "attack" is revealed to be a training exercise known as the "Kobayashi Maru"; a no-win situation designed to test the character of Starfleet officers. Admiral James T. Kirk oversees the simulator session of Captain Spock's trainees.
The USS Reliant is on a mission to search for a lifeless planet for testing of the Genesis Device, a torpedo that reorganizes molecular matter to create hospitable worlds for colonization. Reliant officers Commander Pavel Chekov and Captain Clark Terrell transport down to the surface of a possible candidate planet, Ceti Alpha VI, where they are captured by Khan Noonien Singh. Khan and his fellow genetically-advanced supermen were once rulers on Earth in the late 20th century, but after their defeat they were exiled to space in a sleeper ship. The Enterprise discovered Khan's ship adrift in space fifteen years previously; James Kirk exiled Khan and his followers to Ceti Alpha V after the supermen nearly captured the Enterprise. Khan reveals that after they were marooned, Ceti Alpha VI exploded, destroying Ceti Alpha V's ecosystem and shifting its orbit; Chekov and Terrell have unwittingly landed on Ceti Alpha V. Khan blames Kirk for the deaths of his wife and followers, and plans to avenge them. He implants Chekov and Terrell with indigenous, mind-controlling eels that enter the ears of their victims, and uses the officers to gain control of the Reliant.
The Enterprise embarks on a training voyage under the command of Spock. Kirk, conducting an inspection of the Enterprise, receives a garbled message from Space Station Regula I, a remote science laboratory where Kirk's former lover, Dr. Carol Marcus, and their son, Dr. David Marcus, have been developing the Genesis Device. The Enterprise is ordered to investigate and Kirk assumes command of the vessel. En route, the Enterprise is ambushed by the Reliant, which is now captained by Khan. The attack cripples the Enterprise and many of its trainees are killed. A transmission between the two ships reveals Khan knows of the Genesis Device and wants all materials related to the project sent to him. Kirk stalls for time and disables the Reliant's defenses by transmitting a prefix code. With his ship badly damaged, Khan is forced to retreat and make repairs.
The Enterprise arrives at Regula I, where they find members of the Genesis team dead. The remaining scientists, including Carol and David, have hidden deep inside the planetoid of Regula. Using Terrell and Chekov as spies, Khan steals the Genesis Device. When Terrell is ordered to kill Kirk, the eels' influence wanes; Terrell kills himself while Chekov overcomes the parasite's control. Though Khan believes he is leaving Kirk stranded on Regula I, Kirk and Spock use a coded message to arrange a rendezvous and pilot the Enterprise into the nearby Mutara nebula. Static discharges from the nebula renders both ships' defensive shields useless and compromises targeting systems, making the Enterprise and Reliant evenly matched. Khan pursues his quarry against his lieutenant's advice.
Inside the nebula, Kirk uses Khan's inexperience in three-dimensional combat to critically disable the Reliant. Mortally wounded, Khan activates the Genesis Device, which will reorganize all matter in the nebula—including the Enterprise. Though Kirk's crew detects the activation of the Genesis Device and begins to lumber away using impulse engines, with the warp drive damaged they will not be able to escape the nebula in time. Spock goes to the ship's Engineering section to restore warp drive. When McCoy tries to prevent Spock's exposing himself to high levels of radiation, he disables the doctor and tells him to "remember". Spock restores power to the ship, allowing the Enterprise to escape the explosion. Kirk arrives in Engineering just before Spock dies of radiation poisoning.
The explosion of the Genesis Device causes a planet to coalesce out of the nebula. A space burial is held in the Enterprise's torpedo room, and Spock's coffin is shot into orbit around the newly formed planet. The crew leaves the planet to pick up the Reliant's marooned crew. In the final scene Spock's coffin is seen to have soft-landed on the planet. Spock narrates Star Trek's "Where no man has gone before" monologue as the view moves forward into a field of stars.
My Rating: 8.5/10
The "Reel Revelation": "The Difference Is This..."
Have you ever seen known any two characters as different as James Kirk and Spock? No doubt a creative answer could be submitted but, for the sake of the task at hand, let us presume they are the "end-all." Everything Kirk is, Spock isn't, and likewise. Kirk is impulsive, emotional, reacts without regard to reason and is altogether impractical. Spock is steady, calm, logical (of course), and his every move is calculated to yield maximum efficiency. They are truly opposites, two men polarized against one another. And yet, they need each other in ways neither of them can express. Kirk needs Spock to be his guide, his flawless sounding board, and a source impeccable counsel. Spock is in dire need of Kirk to remain intact with the human condition he will never fully understand. Kirk's foolishness also allows Spock to make use of his Vulcan intellect and logic time and time again...keeps him sharp. For as different as Kirk and Spock are, they really do need one another.
Have you known people that were so different from yourself it was almost impossible to have a civil relationship with them? Was there ever a point in which you realized, much like Kirk and Spock realized, that you actually needed that person to serve as a sort of counter-balance to your own personality? I believe we all have those people in our lives. If they're "so different" from ourselves it would be no surprise if we pushed them away instead of keeping them close, but they're still there. A very wise friend of mine once rejoiced that he and his wife weren't entirely alike. He said "If we were both the same there'd be no sense in having both of us around!" His words are humorous, but true. It's always easy to get along with the people whom you share common interests with, etc. Those friendships have great value, indeed! But the people who challenge you with different opinions, traditions, perspectives, and thoughts will cause you to grow as a person.
Kirk and Spock exist in the fictional universe of "Star Trek" (that it were not so!) and so the example of their dicey relationship runs thin somewhat quickly. There is, however, a very real relationship we are all a part of that is even more dramatic than that of the Starfleet Captain and his Vulcan companion. That relationship is the one that exists between Jesus and ourselves. Jesus is altogether holy, righteous, sinless, merciful, and forgiving. We wander away from the things of God, do evil acts, hurt one another, exact revenge on each other for foolish reasons, and harbor hatred against one another. With a comparison like that it's easy to see how different we really are. Yet for our sake Jesus became a man and suffered the pains of a human life. To take our sins away Jesus willingly took the sins of the world on himself...he became all of the things he wasn't. He did this so that we might have all of the things he has had all along and share with him in the eternal glory of Heaven. Through Jesus' death and resurrection we are also able to trust in a God who can relate to us. Think back to our Kirk/Spock example. For as intelligent and insightful as Spock was he was never really able to relate to Kirk because he wasn't a human. He didn't know what it was like to be driven by human emotion, etc. Jesus took on real flesh (just like the stuff you and I have!) so that we could look to him and say "Lord, you knew the pain of this life...grant me the strength to endure it today!" Jesus is God, and he is a God we can approach like a friend, one who knows every angle and understands every difficulty we might endure.
Keep your friends close, even those who you don't agree with on every topic or subject. Keep your friends close, even those who don't talk like you do, or whose skin is a different color. Keep your friends close, even those whose lives seem to be in direct disagreement with your own. Keep your friends close, and keep Jesus even closer. God is near to us, and he is altogether compassionate, loving, and understanding of the struggles we face on a day to day basis. Jesus is the One who understands us and no matter how far away from him we feel, no matter how unclean we may become, he is merciful, and he knows.
See you tomorrow - E.T.
Director: Nicholas Meyer
Producer: Robert Sallin and Harve Bennett
Editing: William Paul Dornisch
Composer: James Horner
Starring:
- William Shatner as James T. Kirk
- Richard Montalban as Kahn Noonien Singh
- Leonard Nimoy as Spock
- DeForrest Kelley as Leonard McCoy
- James Doohan as Montgomery Scott
- George Takei as Hikaru Sulu
- Walter Koeing as Pavel Chekov
- Nichelle Nicols as Uhura
'Doesn't S come before W in the alphabet?' Aye, it does. Oops...
Plot and Critical Review: The film opens with a female Vulcan, Lieutenant Saavik, in command of the starship USS Enterprise. The vessel is on a rescue mission to save the crew of a damaged ship in the Neutral Zone along the border with Klingon space. The Enterprise is attacked by Klingon cruisers and critically damaged. This "attack" is revealed to be a training exercise known as the "Kobayashi Maru"; a no-win situation designed to test the character of Starfleet officers. Admiral James T. Kirk oversees the simulator session of Captain Spock's trainees.
The USS Reliant is on a mission to search for a lifeless planet for testing of the Genesis Device, a torpedo that reorganizes molecular matter to create hospitable worlds for colonization. Reliant officers Commander Pavel Chekov and Captain Clark Terrell transport down to the surface of a possible candidate planet, Ceti Alpha VI, where they are captured by Khan Noonien Singh. Khan and his fellow genetically-advanced supermen were once rulers on Earth in the late 20th century, but after their defeat they were exiled to space in a sleeper ship. The Enterprise discovered Khan's ship adrift in space fifteen years previously; James Kirk exiled Khan and his followers to Ceti Alpha V after the supermen nearly captured the Enterprise. Khan reveals that after they were marooned, Ceti Alpha VI exploded, destroying Ceti Alpha V's ecosystem and shifting its orbit; Chekov and Terrell have unwittingly landed on Ceti Alpha V. Khan blames Kirk for the deaths of his wife and followers, and plans to avenge them. He implants Chekov and Terrell with indigenous, mind-controlling eels that enter the ears of their victims, and uses the officers to gain control of the Reliant.
The Enterprise embarks on a training voyage under the command of Spock. Kirk, conducting an inspection of the Enterprise, receives a garbled message from Space Station Regula I, a remote science laboratory where Kirk's former lover, Dr. Carol Marcus, and their son, Dr. David Marcus, have been developing the Genesis Device. The Enterprise is ordered to investigate and Kirk assumes command of the vessel. En route, the Enterprise is ambushed by the Reliant, which is now captained by Khan. The attack cripples the Enterprise and many of its trainees are killed. A transmission between the two ships reveals Khan knows of the Genesis Device and wants all materials related to the project sent to him. Kirk stalls for time and disables the Reliant's defenses by transmitting a prefix code. With his ship badly damaged, Khan is forced to retreat and make repairs.
The Enterprise arrives at Regula I, where they find members of the Genesis team dead. The remaining scientists, including Carol and David, have hidden deep inside the planetoid of Regula. Using Terrell and Chekov as spies, Khan steals the Genesis Device. When Terrell is ordered to kill Kirk, the eels' influence wanes; Terrell kills himself while Chekov overcomes the parasite's control. Though Khan believes he is leaving Kirk stranded on Regula I, Kirk and Spock use a coded message to arrange a rendezvous and pilot the Enterprise into the nearby Mutara nebula. Static discharges from the nebula renders both ships' defensive shields useless and compromises targeting systems, making the Enterprise and Reliant evenly matched. Khan pursues his quarry against his lieutenant's advice.
Inside the nebula, Kirk uses Khan's inexperience in three-dimensional combat to critically disable the Reliant. Mortally wounded, Khan activates the Genesis Device, which will reorganize all matter in the nebula—including the Enterprise. Though Kirk's crew detects the activation of the Genesis Device and begins to lumber away using impulse engines, with the warp drive damaged they will not be able to escape the nebula in time. Spock goes to the ship's Engineering section to restore warp drive. When McCoy tries to prevent Spock's exposing himself to high levels of radiation, he disables the doctor and tells him to "remember". Spock restores power to the ship, allowing the Enterprise to escape the explosion. Kirk arrives in Engineering just before Spock dies of radiation poisoning.
The explosion of the Genesis Device causes a planet to coalesce out of the nebula. A space burial is held in the Enterprise's torpedo room, and Spock's coffin is shot into orbit around the newly formed planet. The crew leaves the planet to pick up the Reliant's marooned crew. In the final scene Spock's coffin is seen to have soft-landed on the planet. Spock narrates Star Trek's "Where no man has gone before" monologue as the view moves forward into a field of stars.
My Rating: 8.5/10
The "Reel Revelation": "The Difference Is This..."
Have you ever seen known any two characters as different as James Kirk and Spock? No doubt a creative answer could be submitted but, for the sake of the task at hand, let us presume they are the "end-all." Everything Kirk is, Spock isn't, and likewise. Kirk is impulsive, emotional, reacts without regard to reason and is altogether impractical. Spock is steady, calm, logical (of course), and his every move is calculated to yield maximum efficiency. They are truly opposites, two men polarized against one another. And yet, they need each other in ways neither of them can express. Kirk needs Spock to be his guide, his flawless sounding board, and a source impeccable counsel. Spock is in dire need of Kirk to remain intact with the human condition he will never fully understand. Kirk's foolishness also allows Spock to make use of his Vulcan intellect and logic time and time again...keeps him sharp. For as different as Kirk and Spock are, they really do need one another.
Have you known people that were so different from yourself it was almost impossible to have a civil relationship with them? Was there ever a point in which you realized, much like Kirk and Spock realized, that you actually needed that person to serve as a sort of counter-balance to your own personality? I believe we all have those people in our lives. If they're "so different" from ourselves it would be no surprise if we pushed them away instead of keeping them close, but they're still there. A very wise friend of mine once rejoiced that he and his wife weren't entirely alike. He said "If we were both the same there'd be no sense in having both of us around!" His words are humorous, but true. It's always easy to get along with the people whom you share common interests with, etc. Those friendships have great value, indeed! But the people who challenge you with different opinions, traditions, perspectives, and thoughts will cause you to grow as a person.
Kirk and Spock exist in the fictional universe of "Star Trek" (that it were not so!) and so the example of their dicey relationship runs thin somewhat quickly. There is, however, a very real relationship we are all a part of that is even more dramatic than that of the Starfleet Captain and his Vulcan companion. That relationship is the one that exists between Jesus and ourselves. Jesus is altogether holy, righteous, sinless, merciful, and forgiving. We wander away from the things of God, do evil acts, hurt one another, exact revenge on each other for foolish reasons, and harbor hatred against one another. With a comparison like that it's easy to see how different we really are. Yet for our sake Jesus became a man and suffered the pains of a human life. To take our sins away Jesus willingly took the sins of the world on himself...he became all of the things he wasn't. He did this so that we might have all of the things he has had all along and share with him in the eternal glory of Heaven. Through Jesus' death and resurrection we are also able to trust in a God who can relate to us. Think back to our Kirk/Spock example. For as intelligent and insightful as Spock was he was never really able to relate to Kirk because he wasn't a human. He didn't know what it was like to be driven by human emotion, etc. Jesus took on real flesh (just like the stuff you and I have!) so that we could look to him and say "Lord, you knew the pain of this life...grant me the strength to endure it today!" Jesus is God, and he is a God we can approach like a friend, one who knows every angle and understands every difficulty we might endure.
Keep your friends close, even those who you don't agree with on every topic or subject. Keep your friends close, even those who don't talk like you do, or whose skin is a different color. Keep your friends close, even those whose lives seem to be in direct disagreement with your own. Keep your friends close, and keep Jesus even closer. God is near to us, and he is altogether compassionate, loving, and understanding of the struggles we face on a day to day basis. Jesus is the One who understands us and no matter how far away from him we feel, no matter how unclean we may become, he is merciful, and he knows.
See you tomorrow - E.T.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
"The Wizard of Oz"
Title: "The Wizard of Oz"
Director: Victor Fleming
Producer: Mervyn LeRoy
Editing: Blanche Sewell
Composer:
- Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg
- Music by Harold Arlen
Starring:
- Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale
- Ray Bolger as Hunk/The Scarecrow
- Jack Haley as Hickory/Tin Woodman
- Bert Lahr as Zeke/Cowardly Lion
- Billie Burke as Glinda, Good Witch of the North
- Margaret Hamilton as Miss Almira Gulch/Wicked Witch of the West
- Claire Blandick as Auntie Em
- Terry the Dog as Toto
Plot and Critical Review: The opening and closing credits, as well as the Kansas sequences, were both filmed in black and white and colored in a sepia tone. Orphaned twleve-year-old Dorothy Gale lives a simple life in rural Kansas with her Aunt Em, Uncle Henry, and three colorful farm hands. Shortly before the movie begins, the irascible townswoman, Miss Almira Gulch is bitten by Dorothy's dog, Toto. Dorothy is upset that Ms. Gulch hit Toto over the back of the head with a rake, but her aunt and uncle, as well as the farmhands, are too busy to listen. Miss Gulch shows up with a court order and takes Toto away to be destroyed. Toto escapes and returns to Dorothy, who is momentarily elated. When she realizes that Miss Gulch will soon return, she decides to take Toto and run away. On their journey, Dorothy encounters the charlatan, Professor Marvel. He is a kind and lovable man who guesses that Dorothy is running away and feels unappreciated at home, and tricks her into believing Aunt Em is ill, so that she (Dorothy) will return home. As Dorothy leaves, there begin to appear signs of an oncoming storm. She rushes back to the farm's house just ahead of a sudden tornado. There, she takes shelter inside the house, where she is knocked unconscious by a loose window frame.
A confused Dorothy seems to awaken a few minutes later to discover the house has been caught up in the twister. Moments later, the twister drops the house back onto solid ground. Opening the door and stepping into full three-strip Technicolor, Dorothy finds herself in a village and parkland of unearthly beauty. Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, arrives magically via bubble. She informs Dorothy that she is in Munchkinland and that she has killed the ruby-slippered Wicked Witch of the East by "dropping a house" on her.
Encouraged by Glinda, the timid Munchkins come out of hiding to celebrate the demise of the witch, while singing "Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead" and proclaiming Dorothy as their national heroine. The Wicked Witch of the West makes a startling appearance claiming the powerful ruby slippers. Glinda magically transfers the slippers from the dead witch onto Dorothy's feet and reminds the Witch of the West that her power is ineffectual in Munchkinland. The witch vows revenge on Dorothy before leaving the same way she arrived. Glinda advises Dorothy to seek the help of the mysterious Wizard of Oz in the Emerald City in her quest to return home to Kansas. Glinda explains that Dorothy can find Emerald City by following the yellow brick road. She also advises Dorothy that she must never remove the slippers or she will be at the mercy of the Wicked Witch of the West.
On her way to the city, Dorothy meets a Scarecrow with no brain, a Tin Man with no heart, and a Cowardly Lion (these are played by the same actors as the farm hands back in Kansas). The three decide to accompany Dorothy to the Wizard in hopes of obtaining their desires. Along the way, they behave in various ways which demonstrate that they already have the qualities they think they lack: the Scarecrow has several good ideas, the Tin Man is kind and sympathetic, and the Lion is ready to face danger even though he is terrified. The group reaches Emerald City, where they are greeted kindly. The group talks to the Wizard of Oz - a disembodied and imposing head with a booming voice - who says that he will consider granting their wishes if they can bring him the broomstick of the Wicked Witch.
On their way to the witch's castle, they are attacked by a gang of flying monkeys. These carry Dorothy and Toto away and deliver her to the witch. The Witch demands that Dorothy hand over the ruby slippers. After the witch threatens to drown Toto in the river, Dorothy agrees to give her the shoes; but, a shower of sparks prevents their removal. The witch says that the shoes cannot be removed unless Dorothy dies. While the witch is distracted, Toto takes the opportunity to escape. The witch then locks Dorothy in the chamber and leaves to consider how to kill Dorothy without damaging the shoes' magic. Toto finds Dorothy's friends and leads them to the castle. Once inside, they free Dorothy and attempt an escape. The witch and her Winkie soldiers corner the group on a parapet, where the witch sets the Scarecrow's arm on fire. To douse the flames, Dorothy throws water on them, while accidentally splashing water on the horrified witch, causing her to melt. To the group's surprise, the soldiers are delighted. Their captain (Mitchell Lewis) gives Dorothy the broomstick in gratitude.
Upon their return to Emerald City, Toto exposes the great and powerful wizard as a fraud; they find an ordinary man hiding behind a curtain operating a giant console which contains a group of buttons and levers. They are outraged at the deception, but the wizard solves their problems through common sense and a little double talk rather than magic. He explains that they already had what they had been searching for all along and only need things such as medals and diplomas to confirm that someone else recognizes it.
The wizard explains that he, too, was born in Kansas, and his presence in Oz was the result of an escaped hot air balloon. He promises to take Dorothy home in the same balloon, leaving the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion in charge of Emerald City. Just before takeoff, Toto, sees a cat and jumps out of the balloon's basket. Dorothy jumps out to catch him, and the wizard, unable to control the balloon, leaves without her. She is resigned to spend the rest of her life in Oz until Glinda appears and tells her that she has always had the power to return home. Glinda explains that she did not tell Dorothy at first because she needed to find out for herself that "The next time I go looking for my heart's desire, I won't look any further than my own backyard. If it's not there, then I never really lost it to begin with."
Dorothy says a tearful goodbye to the friends she has met in Oz, and then follows Glinda's instructions to get home. Back in sepia tone, she awakens in her bedroom in Kansas surrounded by family and friends and tells them of her journey. Everyone laughs and tells her it was all a dream, except Uncle Henry, who says sympathetically "Of course we believe you, Dorothy". Toto appears and jumps onto the bed. A happy Dorothy, still convinced the journey was real, hugs Toto and says, "There's no place like home."
"Wizard..." is widely regarded as being one of the most musically superb films of all time. The talents of Harold Arlen manifest themselves in glorious fashion with songs that still remain at the heart of choir and solo canons all over the world. "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" is one of the most covered songs of all songs! While "Wizard..." lost the Best Picture award (it lost to "Gone With The Wind"...not so bad when you lose to a film like that) it received the awards for Best Score, Best Music, and Best Original Song. Even though it didn't receive the Academy's highest honor, however, it remains a cherished and treasured film in the lives of many. More importantly, it consecutively ranks high on most "Top 100" lists, often in the top 25-10 films of all films. It is a film to be enjoyed by the young and old alike, and a film that can be enjoyed time and time again.
My Rating: 8/10
The "Reel Revelation": "Our Song Is The Same"
"The Wizard of Oz" is a film that is full and overflowing with more than enough suitable material to write and reflect on from a spiritual perspective. Themes of kindness, acceptance, respect, honor, love, and the battle between good and evil repeat themselves over and over as Dorothy embarks on her great adventure to return to Kansas. Any of those topics would make fine "Reel Revelations," indeed. My focus is on a very specific musical instance in the movie that leads to a very important development in the plot.
Recall, if you will, the songs sung by the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman, and the Cowardly Lion. Do you notice anything peculiar about these songs? If you're able to hear the songs in your head you'll no doubt recall that the melodies of all three songs are identical. Give it a listen for yourself! They each carry the same delightful melody even though the lyrics are quite different. The Scarecrow croons "If I Only Had A Brain" while the Tin Woodsman offers up the simple "If I Only Had A Heart" and the Cowardly Lion sings his memorable "If I Only Had The Nerve". Their ballads of longing are set upon the pursuit of a different quality but the music is the same! I believe the same is true for our lives and for the very condition of humanity. Even though we all sing about different things, our song is the same.
Perhaps you know people who (though not yet Christian) are interested in spirituality/religion and are seeking after the Truth. We often find that those who are ardently seeking the truth do so in a way not altogether dissimilar from the way we approach and seek after God. We are both looking for a source of comfort, compassion, love, and unceasing favor. And we too want to receive something that will satisfy our longings and make us feel like we're really alive! Everyone is searching for God, everyone inherently desires the same thing...that's the way God made us, to long after righteousness and to thirst for justice. It's obvious enough, however, that many people don't make it to the cross...many fall short and give up the hunt when the great powers of this sinful world overwhelm honest attempts at finding true faith in the True God. Yet still, the song is the same.
For those of us who have found the love of Jesus and accepted his free gift of grace it is easy to think of ourselves as being "above" or "higher" than those who are still "climbing the mountain" of faith. We ought not think this way. We ought to have great security and confidence in Jesus' work on the cross and the everlasting power of his resurrection, yes! But we must humbly confess that we are searching for God now (when in relationship with him) just as we were before we found God for ourselves; before we came to know him in a personal and intimate way. We go through the same heartache and disappointment when God is silent and we rejoice in the same spirit of happiness and victory when God moves in our lives and blesses us. You see?! The song is the same!
So let us sing altogether as one. Let us not work against each other or cause each other to stumble, that one person might achieve some measure of victory over another. If you believe that we are all moving in the same direction (toward the cross of Christ) then embrace those who have not yet come into the full knowledge of God's grace. Tend to them with love and compassion. Do not be afraid to come alongside those who are struggling with things you've probably struggled with in your own life! We are singing together, and the song is the same.
See you tomorrow - E.T.
Director: Victor Fleming
Producer: Mervyn LeRoy
Editing: Blanche Sewell
Composer:
- Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg
- Music by Harold Arlen
Starring:
- Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale
- Ray Bolger as Hunk/The Scarecrow
- Jack Haley as Hickory/Tin Woodman
- Bert Lahr as Zeke/Cowardly Lion
- Billie Burke as Glinda, Good Witch of the North
- Margaret Hamilton as Miss Almira Gulch/Wicked Witch of the West
- Claire Blandick as Auntie Em
- Terry the Dog as Toto
Plot and Critical Review: The opening and closing credits, as well as the Kansas sequences, were both filmed in black and white and colored in a sepia tone. Orphaned twleve-year-old Dorothy Gale lives a simple life in rural Kansas with her Aunt Em, Uncle Henry, and three colorful farm hands. Shortly before the movie begins, the irascible townswoman, Miss Almira Gulch is bitten by Dorothy's dog, Toto. Dorothy is upset that Ms. Gulch hit Toto over the back of the head with a rake, but her aunt and uncle, as well as the farmhands, are too busy to listen. Miss Gulch shows up with a court order and takes Toto away to be destroyed. Toto escapes and returns to Dorothy, who is momentarily elated. When she realizes that Miss Gulch will soon return, she decides to take Toto and run away. On their journey, Dorothy encounters the charlatan, Professor Marvel. He is a kind and lovable man who guesses that Dorothy is running away and feels unappreciated at home, and tricks her into believing Aunt Em is ill, so that she (Dorothy) will return home. As Dorothy leaves, there begin to appear signs of an oncoming storm. She rushes back to the farm's house just ahead of a sudden tornado. There, she takes shelter inside the house, where she is knocked unconscious by a loose window frame.
A confused Dorothy seems to awaken a few minutes later to discover the house has been caught up in the twister. Moments later, the twister drops the house back onto solid ground. Opening the door and stepping into full three-strip Technicolor, Dorothy finds herself in a village and parkland of unearthly beauty. Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, arrives magically via bubble. She informs Dorothy that she is in Munchkinland and that she has killed the ruby-slippered Wicked Witch of the East by "dropping a house" on her.
Encouraged by Glinda, the timid Munchkins come out of hiding to celebrate the demise of the witch, while singing "Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead" and proclaiming Dorothy as their national heroine. The Wicked Witch of the West makes a startling appearance claiming the powerful ruby slippers. Glinda magically transfers the slippers from the dead witch onto Dorothy's feet and reminds the Witch of the West that her power is ineffectual in Munchkinland. The witch vows revenge on Dorothy before leaving the same way she arrived. Glinda advises Dorothy to seek the help of the mysterious Wizard of Oz in the Emerald City in her quest to return home to Kansas. Glinda explains that Dorothy can find Emerald City by following the yellow brick road. She also advises Dorothy that she must never remove the slippers or she will be at the mercy of the Wicked Witch of the West.
On her way to the city, Dorothy meets a Scarecrow with no brain, a Tin Man with no heart, and a Cowardly Lion (these are played by the same actors as the farm hands back in Kansas). The three decide to accompany Dorothy to the Wizard in hopes of obtaining their desires. Along the way, they behave in various ways which demonstrate that they already have the qualities they think they lack: the Scarecrow has several good ideas, the Tin Man is kind and sympathetic, and the Lion is ready to face danger even though he is terrified. The group reaches Emerald City, where they are greeted kindly. The group talks to the Wizard of Oz - a disembodied and imposing head with a booming voice - who says that he will consider granting their wishes if they can bring him the broomstick of the Wicked Witch.
On their way to the witch's castle, they are attacked by a gang of flying monkeys. These carry Dorothy and Toto away and deliver her to the witch. The Witch demands that Dorothy hand over the ruby slippers. After the witch threatens to drown Toto in the river, Dorothy agrees to give her the shoes; but, a shower of sparks prevents their removal. The witch says that the shoes cannot be removed unless Dorothy dies. While the witch is distracted, Toto takes the opportunity to escape. The witch then locks Dorothy in the chamber and leaves to consider how to kill Dorothy without damaging the shoes' magic. Toto finds Dorothy's friends and leads them to the castle. Once inside, they free Dorothy and attempt an escape. The witch and her Winkie soldiers corner the group on a parapet, where the witch sets the Scarecrow's arm on fire. To douse the flames, Dorothy throws water on them, while accidentally splashing water on the horrified witch, causing her to melt. To the group's surprise, the soldiers are delighted. Their captain (Mitchell Lewis) gives Dorothy the broomstick in gratitude.
Upon their return to Emerald City, Toto exposes the great and powerful wizard as a fraud; they find an ordinary man hiding behind a curtain operating a giant console which contains a group of buttons and levers. They are outraged at the deception, but the wizard solves their problems through common sense and a little double talk rather than magic. He explains that they already had what they had been searching for all along and only need things such as medals and diplomas to confirm that someone else recognizes it.
The wizard explains that he, too, was born in Kansas, and his presence in Oz was the result of an escaped hot air balloon. He promises to take Dorothy home in the same balloon, leaving the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion in charge of Emerald City. Just before takeoff, Toto, sees a cat and jumps out of the balloon's basket. Dorothy jumps out to catch him, and the wizard, unable to control the balloon, leaves without her. She is resigned to spend the rest of her life in Oz until Glinda appears and tells her that she has always had the power to return home. Glinda explains that she did not tell Dorothy at first because she needed to find out for herself that "The next time I go looking for my heart's desire, I won't look any further than my own backyard. If it's not there, then I never really lost it to begin with."
Dorothy says a tearful goodbye to the friends she has met in Oz, and then follows Glinda's instructions to get home. Back in sepia tone, she awakens in her bedroom in Kansas surrounded by family and friends and tells them of her journey. Everyone laughs and tells her it was all a dream, except Uncle Henry, who says sympathetically "Of course we believe you, Dorothy". Toto appears and jumps onto the bed. A happy Dorothy, still convinced the journey was real, hugs Toto and says, "There's no place like home."
"Wizard..." is widely regarded as being one of the most musically superb films of all time. The talents of Harold Arlen manifest themselves in glorious fashion with songs that still remain at the heart of choir and solo canons all over the world. "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" is one of the most covered songs of all songs! While "Wizard..." lost the Best Picture award (it lost to "Gone With The Wind"...not so bad when you lose to a film like that) it received the awards for Best Score, Best Music, and Best Original Song. Even though it didn't receive the Academy's highest honor, however, it remains a cherished and treasured film in the lives of many. More importantly, it consecutively ranks high on most "Top 100" lists, often in the top 25-10 films of all films. It is a film to be enjoyed by the young and old alike, and a film that can be enjoyed time and time again.
My Rating: 8/10
The "Reel Revelation": "Our Song Is The Same"
"The Wizard of Oz" is a film that is full and overflowing with more than enough suitable material to write and reflect on from a spiritual perspective. Themes of kindness, acceptance, respect, honor, love, and the battle between good and evil repeat themselves over and over as Dorothy embarks on her great adventure to return to Kansas. Any of those topics would make fine "Reel Revelations," indeed. My focus is on a very specific musical instance in the movie that leads to a very important development in the plot.
Recall, if you will, the songs sung by the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman, and the Cowardly Lion. Do you notice anything peculiar about these songs? If you're able to hear the songs in your head you'll no doubt recall that the melodies of all three songs are identical. Give it a listen for yourself! They each carry the same delightful melody even though the lyrics are quite different. The Scarecrow croons "If I Only Had A Brain" while the Tin Woodsman offers up the simple "If I Only Had A Heart" and the Cowardly Lion sings his memorable "If I Only Had The Nerve". Their ballads of longing are set upon the pursuit of a different quality but the music is the same! I believe the same is true for our lives and for the very condition of humanity. Even though we all sing about different things, our song is the same.
Perhaps you know people who (though not yet Christian) are interested in spirituality/religion and are seeking after the Truth. We often find that those who are ardently seeking the truth do so in a way not altogether dissimilar from the way we approach and seek after God. We are both looking for a source of comfort, compassion, love, and unceasing favor. And we too want to receive something that will satisfy our longings and make us feel like we're really alive! Everyone is searching for God, everyone inherently desires the same thing...that's the way God made us, to long after righteousness and to thirst for justice. It's obvious enough, however, that many people don't make it to the cross...many fall short and give up the hunt when the great powers of this sinful world overwhelm honest attempts at finding true faith in the True God. Yet still, the song is the same.
For those of us who have found the love of Jesus and accepted his free gift of grace it is easy to think of ourselves as being "above" or "higher" than those who are still "climbing the mountain" of faith. We ought not think this way. We ought to have great security and confidence in Jesus' work on the cross and the everlasting power of his resurrection, yes! But we must humbly confess that we are searching for God now (when in relationship with him) just as we were before we found God for ourselves; before we came to know him in a personal and intimate way. We go through the same heartache and disappointment when God is silent and we rejoice in the same spirit of happiness and victory when God moves in our lives and blesses us. You see?! The song is the same!
So let us sing altogether as one. Let us not work against each other or cause each other to stumble, that one person might achieve some measure of victory over another. If you believe that we are all moving in the same direction (toward the cross of Christ) then embrace those who have not yet come into the full knowledge of God's grace. Tend to them with love and compassion. Do not be afraid to come alongside those who are struggling with things you've probably struggled with in your own life! We are singing together, and the song is the same.
See you tomorrow - E.T.
"Tropic Thunder"
Title: "Tropic Thunder"
Director: Ben Stiller
Producer: Stuart Cornfeld, Eric McLeod, and Ben Stiller
Editing: Greg Hayden
Composer: Theodore Shapiro
Starring:
- Ben Stiller as Tugg Speedman
- Robert Downey Jr. as Kirk Lazarus
- Jack Black as Jeff Portnoy
- Nick Nolte as John "Four Leaf" Tayback
- Tom Cruise as Les Grossman
Plot and Critical Review: During the filming of Vietnam veteran John "Four Leaf" Tayback's memoir Tropic Thunder, the actors—fading action hero Tugg Speedman, five-time Academy Award-winning Australian method actor Kirk Lazarus, rapper Alpa Chino, and drug addicted comedian Jeff Portnoy—behave unreasonably (with the exception of newcomer supporting actor Kevin Sandusky). Production is going poorly: rookie director Damien Cockburn is unable to control the actors while filming a large war scene and just five days into shooting, filming is reported to be a month behind schedule. Cockburn is ordered by studio executive Les Grossman to get the production back on track or risk having it shut down.
Acting on Tayback's advice, Cockburn drops the actors into the middle of the jungle, where he has installed many hidden cameras and special-effect explosions rigged so he can film "guerrilla-style". The actors have guns that fire blanks, along with a map and a scene listing that will guide them to the helicopter waiting at the end of the jungle route. Unbeknownst to the actors and the production, the five actors have been dropped in the middle of the Golden Triangle, the home of the heroin-producing Flaming Dragon gang. Shortly after the group is dropped off, the actors are stunned to see Cockburn blown up by a land mine. Speedman, believing Cockburn faked his death, attempts to convince the other actors that it was a hoax. The gang, believing the actors are DEA agents, are about to ambush the actors. However, the actors scare away the gang as they aimlessley fire their guns and Speedman persuades Chino, Portnoy, and Sandusky that Cockburn is alive and that they are still shooting the film. Lazarus is unconvinced that Cockburn is alive, but joins the other actors in their trek through the jungle.
When Tayback and pyrotechnics operator Cody Underwood attempt to locate the now-dead director, they are captured by the gang, at which point Tayback is exposed as a fraud when Underwood pulls off his prosthetic hooks to reveal fully functioning arms. Meanwhile, the actors continue to forge through the hostile jungle. After Lazarus and Sandusky discover that Speedman is leading them in the wrong direction, the four actors, tired of walking through the jungle and hoping to be rescued, part ways from Speedman who leaves by himself to follow the film's scene listing.
The next day, Speedman is captured by several members of Flaming Dragon and is taken to their heroin factory. Believing it is the prisoner-of-war camp from the script, he continues to think he is being filmed. The gang discovers that he is the star of the box office bomb Simple Jack and force him to reenact it several times a day. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Speedman's agent, Rick Peck, is trying to negotiate with an uninterested Grossman an unfulfilled term in Speedman's contract that entitles him to a TiVo. Flaming Dragon calls the two and they demand a ransom from them, but Grossman instead curses out the gang. Despite the threats he made to the Flaming Dragon, Grossman then tells Rick that they can benefit more by collecting the insurance claim on Speedman's death, even offering the agent a share of the profits along with his own personal Gulfstream V.
The actors stumble upon Flaming Dragon's heroin factory. After seeing Speedman being tortured, they plan an ambush based on the film's script. Lazarus impersonates a farmer bringing in a captured Jeff, distracting the armed guards so Chino and Sandusky can sneak in to where the captives are held. After the gang notices inconsistencies in Lazarus' story, the actors open fire on the gang, temporarily subduing them. When the gang realizes that the suspected DEA agents are only actors using guns filled with blanks, they begin firing on the actors.
Chino, Portnoy, Sandusky, and Lazarus locate Speedman and attempt an escape in Underwood and Tayback's recaptured helicopter. After rejoining with Tayback and crossing a bridge that Underwood has previously rigged to detonate, they meet up with Underwood at the helicopter. Speedman asks to remain behind with the gang which he considers his "family", but he quickly returns with the murderous gang in hot pursuit. Tayback detonates the bridge just in time for Speedman to reach safety, but as the helicopter takes off, the gang fires an RPG at their helicopter. Rick unexpectedly stumbles out of the jungle carrying a TiVo box and throws it in the path of the RPG, saving them all. Footage from the hidden cameras is compiled into a feature film, Tropic Blunder, which ends up becoming a major critical and box office hit and a multiple-Academy Award winner.
My Rating: 7.5/10
The "Reel Revelation": "Behind These Masks"
We've all wanted to be someone else. There has been at least some point in all of our lives when we've desired the identity of someone else for reasons that no doubt seemed reasonable enough at the time. Perhaps they still seem reasonable? Ask yourself a hypothetical question; if you could take on the identity of any one person for a single day, who would it be? Go wild, entertain your dreams! I am not ashamed to say I would willingly take on the identity of Herbert von Karajan, the most successful conductor of the 20th century. To attain even 1/10th of his talent would please me, indeed. Then the sun would set (the end of that one glorious day) and i'd transform back into Eric Thompson. What a dream it would be. And that's what it would have been, a dream, no more, and no less.
To many "Tropic Thunder" is a film of such disrespect and "poor taste in humor" that it seems no redemptive value can be drawn from it's scenes of gore and altogether inappropriate adult humor. Within this film, however, we are able to catch a glimpse, albeit a humorous one, of two men who are looking for their own identity. Tug Speedman is the quintessential action-actor, the king of the effects-driven film. He represents actors like Arnold, Sylvester, Wesley, and Bruce, who have spent so much of their acting careers shooting guns and bandaging wounds they seem altogether lost to their folly. Kirk Lazarus is the prince of drama and is no good to anyone unless he's weeping by the seashore. In "Tropic Thunder" both make an honest attempt to become more than they are within and outside the fictional production of Tayback's falsified Vietnam tale. While the way they encounter their "true selves" is comedic, it is truthful.
To properly "fill the boots" of Sgt. Lincoln Osiris, Lazarus has a "skin pigment-changing" surgery which darkens his skin so as to portray an African American character. His strong drama background allows him to fill the role with excellence (the role actually won Downey Jr. a real Academy Award nomination) but by the end of the movie Lazarus realizes that his attempts at self-manipulation for the sake of cinematic excellence don't represent who he is. No matter how hard he tried to become any one of the scores of characters he portrayed he was never true to himself. His attempts to be someone else failed. Speedman, meanwhile, realized that he was far more sensitive and caring than all of his action films may have led fans to believe. They both came face-to-face with the biting reality that the pursuit of other identities besides their own would only lead them to failure and personal depression.
While the film presents this contrast of character in an extreme way (which film has a very particular way of doing time and time again) it speaks to a very real dynamic of the human condition. We are all looking to become someone else. Admit it! Admit it to yourself that you've probably always wanted to look like this person, or be as strong as that person, or have the talents of so and so. While we experience a very real desire to improve upon ourselves, to make ourselves "better" people, we must not fall into the very real sin (coveting in action, in this instance) of seeking after the talents, looks, or abilities of other people so much we forget the gifts God has given us! They say "It's never too late to learn to play the piano!", and so we have the sense that we will always have the time to learn new sets of skills, etc. But God will give us (and has given!) the gifts necessary to fulfill our calling, to do the work of the Gospel where we are in the world. Do not waste your energy longing for the things you don't have...if it is for you then God will grant it!
To have "heroes" is no sin, and if it is then I am in need of much forgiving. But to chase after an identity all apart from our own is no way to use the gifts God has place within our hands. If you want to desire to be like someone else...look to Jesus. Let us desire to be like him, to love as he loved and to forgive as he forgave the sins of many, even those who persecuted him! Let us look to his instruction, his living example, and seek after the way of righteous living he laid our for us. That is the identity we must strive to attain, to be, as C.S. Lewis said, "little Jesus'" to our world. To pursue that identity will never lead to failure but only draw us closer and closer to the heart of the God who made us and loves us.
See you tomorrow - E.T.
Director: Ben Stiller
Producer: Stuart Cornfeld, Eric McLeod, and Ben Stiller
Editing: Greg Hayden
Composer: Theodore Shapiro
Starring:
- Ben Stiller as Tugg Speedman
- Robert Downey Jr. as Kirk Lazarus
- Jack Black as Jeff Portnoy
- Nick Nolte as John "Four Leaf" Tayback
- Tom Cruise as Les Grossman
Plot and Critical Review: During the filming of Vietnam veteran John "Four Leaf" Tayback's memoir Tropic Thunder, the actors—fading action hero Tugg Speedman, five-time Academy Award-winning Australian method actor Kirk Lazarus, rapper Alpa Chino, and drug addicted comedian Jeff Portnoy—behave unreasonably (with the exception of newcomer supporting actor Kevin Sandusky). Production is going poorly: rookie director Damien Cockburn is unable to control the actors while filming a large war scene and just five days into shooting, filming is reported to be a month behind schedule. Cockburn is ordered by studio executive Les Grossman to get the production back on track or risk having it shut down.
Acting on Tayback's advice, Cockburn drops the actors into the middle of the jungle, where he has installed many hidden cameras and special-effect explosions rigged so he can film "guerrilla-style". The actors have guns that fire blanks, along with a map and a scene listing that will guide them to the helicopter waiting at the end of the jungle route. Unbeknownst to the actors and the production, the five actors have been dropped in the middle of the Golden Triangle, the home of the heroin-producing Flaming Dragon gang. Shortly after the group is dropped off, the actors are stunned to see Cockburn blown up by a land mine. Speedman, believing Cockburn faked his death, attempts to convince the other actors that it was a hoax. The gang, believing the actors are DEA agents, are about to ambush the actors. However, the actors scare away the gang as they aimlessley fire their guns and Speedman persuades Chino, Portnoy, and Sandusky that Cockburn is alive and that they are still shooting the film. Lazarus is unconvinced that Cockburn is alive, but joins the other actors in their trek through the jungle.
When Tayback and pyrotechnics operator Cody Underwood attempt to locate the now-dead director, they are captured by the gang, at which point Tayback is exposed as a fraud when Underwood pulls off his prosthetic hooks to reveal fully functioning arms. Meanwhile, the actors continue to forge through the hostile jungle. After Lazarus and Sandusky discover that Speedman is leading them in the wrong direction, the four actors, tired of walking through the jungle and hoping to be rescued, part ways from Speedman who leaves by himself to follow the film's scene listing.
The next day, Speedman is captured by several members of Flaming Dragon and is taken to their heroin factory. Believing it is the prisoner-of-war camp from the script, he continues to think he is being filmed. The gang discovers that he is the star of the box office bomb Simple Jack and force him to reenact it several times a day. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Speedman's agent, Rick Peck, is trying to negotiate with an uninterested Grossman an unfulfilled term in Speedman's contract that entitles him to a TiVo. Flaming Dragon calls the two and they demand a ransom from them, but Grossman instead curses out the gang. Despite the threats he made to the Flaming Dragon, Grossman then tells Rick that they can benefit more by collecting the insurance claim on Speedman's death, even offering the agent a share of the profits along with his own personal Gulfstream V.
The actors stumble upon Flaming Dragon's heroin factory. After seeing Speedman being tortured, they plan an ambush based on the film's script. Lazarus impersonates a farmer bringing in a captured Jeff, distracting the armed guards so Chino and Sandusky can sneak in to where the captives are held. After the gang notices inconsistencies in Lazarus' story, the actors open fire on the gang, temporarily subduing them. When the gang realizes that the suspected DEA agents are only actors using guns filled with blanks, they begin firing on the actors.
Chino, Portnoy, Sandusky, and Lazarus locate Speedman and attempt an escape in Underwood and Tayback's recaptured helicopter. After rejoining with Tayback and crossing a bridge that Underwood has previously rigged to detonate, they meet up with Underwood at the helicopter. Speedman asks to remain behind with the gang which he considers his "family", but he quickly returns with the murderous gang in hot pursuit. Tayback detonates the bridge just in time for Speedman to reach safety, but as the helicopter takes off, the gang fires an RPG at their helicopter. Rick unexpectedly stumbles out of the jungle carrying a TiVo box and throws it in the path of the RPG, saving them all. Footage from the hidden cameras is compiled into a feature film, Tropic Blunder, which ends up becoming a major critical and box office hit and a multiple-Academy Award winner.
My Rating: 7.5/10
The "Reel Revelation": "Behind These Masks"
We've all wanted to be someone else. There has been at least some point in all of our lives when we've desired the identity of someone else for reasons that no doubt seemed reasonable enough at the time. Perhaps they still seem reasonable? Ask yourself a hypothetical question; if you could take on the identity of any one person for a single day, who would it be? Go wild, entertain your dreams! I am not ashamed to say I would willingly take on the identity of Herbert von Karajan, the most successful conductor of the 20th century. To attain even 1/10th of his talent would please me, indeed. Then the sun would set (the end of that one glorious day) and i'd transform back into Eric Thompson. What a dream it would be. And that's what it would have been, a dream, no more, and no less.
To many "Tropic Thunder" is a film of such disrespect and "poor taste in humor" that it seems no redemptive value can be drawn from it's scenes of gore and altogether inappropriate adult humor. Within this film, however, we are able to catch a glimpse, albeit a humorous one, of two men who are looking for their own identity. Tug Speedman is the quintessential action-actor, the king of the effects-driven film. He represents actors like Arnold, Sylvester, Wesley, and Bruce, who have spent so much of their acting careers shooting guns and bandaging wounds they seem altogether lost to their folly. Kirk Lazarus is the prince of drama and is no good to anyone unless he's weeping by the seashore. In "Tropic Thunder" both make an honest attempt to become more than they are within and outside the fictional production of Tayback's falsified Vietnam tale. While the way they encounter their "true selves" is comedic, it is truthful.
To properly "fill the boots" of Sgt. Lincoln Osiris, Lazarus has a "skin pigment-changing" surgery which darkens his skin so as to portray an African American character. His strong drama background allows him to fill the role with excellence (the role actually won Downey Jr. a real Academy Award nomination) but by the end of the movie Lazarus realizes that his attempts at self-manipulation for the sake of cinematic excellence don't represent who he is. No matter how hard he tried to become any one of the scores of characters he portrayed he was never true to himself. His attempts to be someone else failed. Speedman, meanwhile, realized that he was far more sensitive and caring than all of his action films may have led fans to believe. They both came face-to-face with the biting reality that the pursuit of other identities besides their own would only lead them to failure and personal depression.
While the film presents this contrast of character in an extreme way (which film has a very particular way of doing time and time again) it speaks to a very real dynamic of the human condition. We are all looking to become someone else. Admit it! Admit it to yourself that you've probably always wanted to look like this person, or be as strong as that person, or have the talents of so and so. While we experience a very real desire to improve upon ourselves, to make ourselves "better" people, we must not fall into the very real sin (coveting in action, in this instance) of seeking after the talents, looks, or abilities of other people so much we forget the gifts God has given us! They say "It's never too late to learn to play the piano!", and so we have the sense that we will always have the time to learn new sets of skills, etc. But God will give us (and has given!) the gifts necessary to fulfill our calling, to do the work of the Gospel where we are in the world. Do not waste your energy longing for the things you don't have...if it is for you then God will grant it!
To have "heroes" is no sin, and if it is then I am in need of much forgiving. But to chase after an identity all apart from our own is no way to use the gifts God has place within our hands. If you want to desire to be like someone else...look to Jesus. Let us desire to be like him, to love as he loved and to forgive as he forgave the sins of many, even those who persecuted him! Let us look to his instruction, his living example, and seek after the way of righteous living he laid our for us. That is the identity we must strive to attain, to be, as C.S. Lewis said, "little Jesus'" to our world. To pursue that identity will never lead to failure but only draw us closer and closer to the heart of the God who made us and loves us.
See you tomorrow - E.T.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
"Star Trek: Deep Space 9 - Season 4"
Title: "Star Trek: Deep Space 9 - Season 4 - Episode #24 - "The Quickening"
Director: Rene Auberjonois
Producer: Hans Beimler, Steve Oster, and Rene Echevarria
Editing: Steve Tucker
Composer: David Bell - (Main Theme by Dennis McCarthy)
Starring:
- Avery Brooks as Commander Sisko
- Rene Auberjonois as Odo
- Siddig El Fadil as Doctor Bashir
- Terry Farrell as Lieutenant Dax
Plot and Critical Review: In this episode, Dr. Bashir and Jadzia Dax travel to a planet that was attacked by the Jem'Hadar 200 years earlier. In order to make an example of its people, the Jem'Hadar infected them with an incurable disease called the "blight" that leaves spidery black lesions on the body that at a random time (usually before adulthood) will "quicken" into a spreading red form that results in a slow, painful death.
Bashir is distraught when he learns that the closest equivalent to a doctor these people now possess is Trevean, a man who offers a swift and comfortable death through herbal treatments to the recently quickened. Bashir attempts to develop a cure with the help of recently quickened volunteers, but fails when he finds that the electric fields from his equipment are causing the virus to mutate rapidly.
When the others leave to return to Deep Space Nine, Bashir elects to remain behind to help a recently quickened woman who is in late pregnancy. While he administers his anti-viral treatment to her, it appears to have no effect, and she dies shortly after childbirth. However, the child is born without the lesions, as the treatment apparently acts as a vaccine rather than a cure. This gives hope to the people of the planet that by applying the anti-viral treatment to pregnant women, the next generation can be free of the blight.
Back at DS9, Bashir is seen still working on a cure for the disease in those who already have it, but is unsuccessful. Sisko reassures him that at least the next generation will be free of the disease, but Bashir does not seem entirely satisfied.
My Rating: 8/10 (A reflection of the episode alone, not of the series on the whole.)
The "Reel Revelation": "Visions and Dreams"
When interviewed about his vision for the 24th century and consequent depiction of the future in the Star Trek universe, Gene Roddenberry gave this simple response: "Star Trek" isn't about photon torpedoes or shield generators. It isn't about aliens or star ships. It's about real people who have learned to overcome their differences and live in peace." Those who look close enough will see that this vision is reinforced in the great majority of "Star Trek" episodes and films. While the "Star Trek" universe is full of injustice, poverty, war, and those dastardly Klingons, the great moral thread woven through every depiction of Roddenberry's original vision is that of a universe where people deal with personal struggles and overcome them through reason, logic, and an occasional disruptor blast. Indeed, it is merely consequential that they use phaser rifles and planet-destroying weapons to exact their will on one another. Isn't that true of most civil disagreements that turn into deadly wars? Roddenberry looked into the deepest part of the human condition and saw the potential for a presently savage race (in his own reckoning) to overcome the divisions that have caused life on this planet so much difficulty for such a long time.
Roddenberry was not a Christian. He wasn't a religious man of any kind, in fact. He believed that religion was an "excuse for a lazy brain," and so we ought not regard his words or visions as bearing the same power as the Gospel. It is not inappropriate, however, to look into the dynamic expression of his imagination and discover the dreams of a man who hoped for a better future for our planet and people. Today's episode, "The Quickening", is a perfect example of the message of hope Roddenberry presents for the future.
Julian Bashir is one of the top doctors in all of Starfleet (an alliance of planets and races that spans a large part of our galaxy). Of all the positions available to him he takes a position as the Chief Medical Officer at a Deep Space Station. While DS9 is on the "frontier" of Starfleet-controlled space it is not the kind of place a young and experienced doctor would normally take a post. In the early seasons of DS9 Bashir is disliked for his arrogance and strong sense of confidence in himself. In later seasons it's revealed that he was genetically altered at birth and is thus capable of performing mundane tasks at superhuman speeds, etc. He's a cool guy. A man so talented would have been more than pleased to take a position working at Starfleet Medical where he could have quickly become the Chief Medical Officer for Starfleet; the most desired position in the medical profession of the 24th century. Not only does he learn to tame his arrogance, develop friendships, and operate as an integral part of the DS9 Command Crew, he sets aside his inhibitions and ends up serving those who many would have considered "outcast" and altogether "untreatable." Remind you of anyone?
I am by no means going to suggest that Bashir is a Christ figure...no more than I would say the Silver Surfer is a Christ figure. Any coincidence is just that, a coincidence. It's in the behavior, attitude, and action of the "good Doctor", however, that we discover the projection of a hope we all should believe in. Yes, we must believe that doctors of every kind will be full of a willingness to treat the sick, no matter how far beyond treatment the suffering ones may be. Let us believe that people in every profession will give of themselves (lay themselves down for their friends) that the common good might be served; that we would turn from servicing our greedy desires and lift up others before ourselves.
The future is unknown to us and thus, no matter how attractive Roddenberry's vision may be, we must place our trust in God alone to lead us to the future he desires. What sort of future does God desire for your life? While the events, experiences, and encounters of your future may be altogether unknown to you, you do know that the Word of God calls you to a life of service, kindness, and charity. Live that life! Serve others before yourself, love your neighbor, forgive your enemies, and live with compassion for those who cry out for help. Learning to live in this way will welcome a future far greater than the future dreamed of by any man, even Gene Roddenberry.
See you tomorrow - E.T.
P.S. - This review is dedicated to another fellow Trekkie and good friend, James Morin.
Director: Rene Auberjonois
Producer: Hans Beimler, Steve Oster, and Rene Echevarria
Editing: Steve Tucker
Composer: David Bell - (Main Theme by Dennis McCarthy)
Starring:
- Avery Brooks as Commander Sisko
- Rene Auberjonois as Odo
- Siddig El Fadil as Doctor Bashir
- Terry Farrell as Lieutenant Dax
Plot and Critical Review: In this episode, Dr. Bashir and Jadzia Dax travel to a planet that was attacked by the Jem'Hadar 200 years earlier. In order to make an example of its people, the Jem'Hadar infected them with an incurable disease called the "blight" that leaves spidery black lesions on the body that at a random time (usually before adulthood) will "quicken" into a spreading red form that results in a slow, painful death.
Bashir is distraught when he learns that the closest equivalent to a doctor these people now possess is Trevean, a man who offers a swift and comfortable death through herbal treatments to the recently quickened. Bashir attempts to develop a cure with the help of recently quickened volunteers, but fails when he finds that the electric fields from his equipment are causing the virus to mutate rapidly.
When the others leave to return to Deep Space Nine, Bashir elects to remain behind to help a recently quickened woman who is in late pregnancy. While he administers his anti-viral treatment to her, it appears to have no effect, and she dies shortly after childbirth. However, the child is born without the lesions, as the treatment apparently acts as a vaccine rather than a cure. This gives hope to the people of the planet that by applying the anti-viral treatment to pregnant women, the next generation can be free of the blight.
Back at DS9, Bashir is seen still working on a cure for the disease in those who already have it, but is unsuccessful. Sisko reassures him that at least the next generation will be free of the disease, but Bashir does not seem entirely satisfied.
My Rating: 8/10 (A reflection of the episode alone, not of the series on the whole.)
The "Reel Revelation": "Visions and Dreams"
When interviewed about his vision for the 24th century and consequent depiction of the future in the Star Trek universe, Gene Roddenberry gave this simple response: "Star Trek" isn't about photon torpedoes or shield generators. It isn't about aliens or star ships. It's about real people who have learned to overcome their differences and live in peace." Those who look close enough will see that this vision is reinforced in the great majority of "Star Trek" episodes and films. While the "Star Trek" universe is full of injustice, poverty, war, and those dastardly Klingons, the great moral thread woven through every depiction of Roddenberry's original vision is that of a universe where people deal with personal struggles and overcome them through reason, logic, and an occasional disruptor blast. Indeed, it is merely consequential that they use phaser rifles and planet-destroying weapons to exact their will on one another. Isn't that true of most civil disagreements that turn into deadly wars? Roddenberry looked into the deepest part of the human condition and saw the potential for a presently savage race (in his own reckoning) to overcome the divisions that have caused life on this planet so much difficulty for such a long time.
Roddenberry was not a Christian. He wasn't a religious man of any kind, in fact. He believed that religion was an "excuse for a lazy brain," and so we ought not regard his words or visions as bearing the same power as the Gospel. It is not inappropriate, however, to look into the dynamic expression of his imagination and discover the dreams of a man who hoped for a better future for our planet and people. Today's episode, "The Quickening", is a perfect example of the message of hope Roddenberry presents for the future.
Julian Bashir is one of the top doctors in all of Starfleet (an alliance of planets and races that spans a large part of our galaxy). Of all the positions available to him he takes a position as the Chief Medical Officer at a Deep Space Station. While DS9 is on the "frontier" of Starfleet-controlled space it is not the kind of place a young and experienced doctor would normally take a post. In the early seasons of DS9 Bashir is disliked for his arrogance and strong sense of confidence in himself. In later seasons it's revealed that he was genetically altered at birth and is thus capable of performing mundane tasks at superhuman speeds, etc. He's a cool guy. A man so talented would have been more than pleased to take a position working at Starfleet Medical where he could have quickly become the Chief Medical Officer for Starfleet; the most desired position in the medical profession of the 24th century. Not only does he learn to tame his arrogance, develop friendships, and operate as an integral part of the DS9 Command Crew, he sets aside his inhibitions and ends up serving those who many would have considered "outcast" and altogether "untreatable." Remind you of anyone?
I am by no means going to suggest that Bashir is a Christ figure...no more than I would say the Silver Surfer is a Christ figure. Any coincidence is just that, a coincidence. It's in the behavior, attitude, and action of the "good Doctor", however, that we discover the projection of a hope we all should believe in. Yes, we must believe that doctors of every kind will be full of a willingness to treat the sick, no matter how far beyond treatment the suffering ones may be. Let us believe that people in every profession will give of themselves (lay themselves down for their friends) that the common good might be served; that we would turn from servicing our greedy desires and lift up others before ourselves.
The future is unknown to us and thus, no matter how attractive Roddenberry's vision may be, we must place our trust in God alone to lead us to the future he desires. What sort of future does God desire for your life? While the events, experiences, and encounters of your future may be altogether unknown to you, you do know that the Word of God calls you to a life of service, kindness, and charity. Live that life! Serve others before yourself, love your neighbor, forgive your enemies, and live with compassion for those who cry out for help. Learning to live in this way will welcome a future far greater than the future dreamed of by any man, even Gene Roddenberry.
See you tomorrow - E.T.
P.S. - This review is dedicated to another fellow Trekkie and good friend, James Morin.
Monday, April 6, 2009
"Star Trek: Deep Space 9 - Season 3"
Title: "Star Trek: Deep Space 9 - Season 3 - Episode #4 - "Equilibrium"
Director: Cliff Bole
Producer:
Editing:
Composer:
Starring:
- Avery Brooks as Commander Sisko
- Rene Auberjonois as Odo
- Siddig El Fadil as Doctor Bashir
- Terry Farrell as Lieutenant Dax
Today and tomorrow's reviews will both be on episodes from "Star Trek: Deep Space 9". Today i'll review an episode from Season 3 and tomorrow an episode from Season 4. While neither are films (obviously) I have profoundly enjoyed the moral and ethical statements made by the many adventures into the Star Trek universe. Some would call that an "outright falsehood!" and take away all my credibility. If you feel that way, read the plot review and give the "Reel Revelation" some serious consideration. I believe you'll find, as I have so often found, that even in curious places gems of grace and wisdom can still be found. I do apologize, however, if you're not familiar with the Star Trek universe, or with the "DS9" series in particular. If you feel so inclined you can go here to get an overview: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_Deep_Space_Nine
Plot and Critical Review: Jadzia Dax begins experiencing unsettling mental problems. She suddenly remembers a melody and can even play it on a keyboard despite never having done so before. She snaps at her friends and is disturbed by the anger she feels for no apparent reason. After she is overcome by a hallucination in which she is cornered by a masked, robed figure she pays a visit to Dr. Bashir for help.
He detects critically low levels of the neurotransmitter isoboramine, the substance that allows the Dax symbiont to live within Jadzia, its current host. Bashir and Commander Sisko rush Dax back to Trill on the Defiant in the hopes that the medical staff at the Symbiosis Commission can help her. One of the experts on the physiology of the joining of symbiont to host, Dr. Renhol, administers some medication that may stabilize Dax's condition.
While she waits for her neurotransmitters to return to normal levels, Dax visits the Caves of Mak'ala, a place on Trill where symbionts swim in pools carefully and lovingly tended by unjoined Trills called Guardians. As soon as she meets the Guardian Timor, he can tell what's wrong with her. He tells her that her hallucinations are actually memories of a previous host. This is confusing to her because she has access to all of the memories of all of her hosts, and these scary flashes are not from any host Dax ever had, to her knowledge.
The Defiant's computer has meanwhile identified the melody that was haunting her earlier. It brings up a biography of its composer, a Trill man named Joran. When Jadzia sees a picture of his face she experiences a strong hallucination, has a seizure, and collapses. When Dr. Renhol examines her, she says that if there is no improvement soon, Dax will have to be removed from Jadzia, which will kill her. Trills value the symbiont's life over that of the host.
Sisko and Bashir begin an investigation. The Guardian, Timor, seems to be less than open with them, and computer files regarding the musician Joran have been deleted. They finally track down Joran's brother, who admits that Joran murdered a physician and was then killed. Joran had been joined to the Dax symbiont by mistake after he had been deemed unsuitable to serve as a host. After the incident, all records in regards to this joining were deleted and the affair was covered up. Dax received a memory block so that the hosts would not remember anything about Joran. The memory block was beginning to deteriorate in Jadzia, causing her symptoms.
When Sisko and Bashir notify the Symbiosis Commission that they have discovered the coverup, Jadzia is released to them instead of having her symbiont removed. They are now aware of a great secret underlying Trill society. Most believe that only a very small percentage of Trills are physically capable of joining to a symbiont, when in truth, roughly half of them are potential hosts and it is the Symbiosis Commission that selects the ones who will receive the limited number of symbionts.
Dax pays one last visit to the underground symbiont pools. She enters a pool and the symbionts help her assimilate Joran into her mind with all of her previous hosts.
My Rating: 7.5/10 (A reflection of the episode alone, not of the series on the whole.)
The "Reel Revelation": "Songs of Remembrance"
Music plays an undeniably important role in the human experience. We all have songs or melodies (even single notes or chords) that remind us of particular moments, experiences, and emotions. You have those musical reminders in your life, yes? I'll never forget the first time I heard "Hotel California" by the Eagles, or the emotional transport I experience when I hear Biebl's "Ave Maria." Music has a very particular way of taking us to places of time and emotion where we relive things that have long since passed. We are also made to remember things that may have otherwise been forgotten. Music is powerful, but there are far greater powers which call us to remember even greater things.
In the Old Testament, God made a series of promises to his children, especially to the people of Israel. To reinforce those promises God gave reminders to his people. Do you remember some of the things that happened? After the Flood, God set the rainbow in the sky to serve as a reminder that he would never destroy the Earth in that manner again. Just after their escape from Egypt, Moses commanded Israel (on God's behalf) to eat only unleavened bread for seven days. This act, along with the consecration of the firstborn of Israel would serve as a reminder that God had brought them out of their bondage. And during the course of their wandering through the desert Moses set up altars of remembrance whenever God performed great works and miracles to provide for Israel. All of these things were set in place to turn the attention of the faithful to the great things God had done for them.
What reminds you of God's action and activity in your life? We've already established that certain things such as music can remind us of special times and emotions, but what reminds you of what God has done? What reminds you of the most important thing of all; Jesus giving his life for you and rescuing you from death? While there could be many good and altogether acceptable answers to that question I believe it is right to lift up two primary sources of remembrance; the Bible and the Cross.
Have you ever heard the Bible described as a "love letter from God"? Many people use that phrase to remind that the Bible is indeed an intimate and flowing expression of love "written" by God and sent to us. Think of receiving a letter from someone you're deeply in love with. What would you do with that letter? You would most likely keep it somewhere very safe and re-read it often as to remember and believe in the love that person has for you. It is the very same with the Bible! In the words of this text we discover the fullness of God's love and devotion. We read of the promises made by God long ago and are given freedom to ponder what God's promises God has for us today. We read the old old stories of God's provision for people in need, his kindness to those who cried out for help. And most importantly we come face-to-face with God's immense love for us as we read about Jesus, the Son of God, who died on the cross that we may share in the eternal glory of Heaven. That leads us to what I recommend ought to be our second great "reminder"; the Cross of Christ.
Have you ever been to a church that didn't display a cross in a place of importance? Maybe you've been to a church where instead of a cross there is an enormous crucifix that seemed to cast a shadow on every other piece of "church furniture" available. There is much theology behind how churches "decorate" their worship spaces but one thing is for sure, wherever and whenever you see the cross it ought to remind you of what Jesus did for you and for all of mankind. For this reason many people (including myself) place crosses or crucifixes in their homes, to keep them intentionally aware of Jesus' sacrifice. Even when they become "part of the furniture" it is curious how a random glance that falls on a cross can suddenly bring our hearts before the body of Jesus. While songs written about the cross and books written on the subject of the cross and even pieces of art depicting the cross will turn our attention to that most sacred and holy moment, it is the cross itself that must be before the "eyes of our hearts" at all times.
May your heart remain open to receive the many reminders God has placed in your life; things to remind you of the great love he has for you. And may every divine reminder bring you before the cross of Jesus where, as you call upon the name of God, you may receive anew the grace to live in peace.
See you tomorrow - E.T.
P.S. - Today's review is dedicated to fellow Trekkie, Sean Lacy, who, in spite of his deep dislike for the "DS9" series has long embraced Roddenberry's immortal ideal and vision for the Star Trek universe.
Director: Cliff Bole
Producer:
Editing:
Composer:
Starring:
- Avery Brooks as Commander Sisko
- Rene Auberjonois as Odo
- Siddig El Fadil as Doctor Bashir
- Terry Farrell as Lieutenant Dax
Today and tomorrow's reviews will both be on episodes from "Star Trek: Deep Space 9". Today i'll review an episode from Season 3 and tomorrow an episode from Season 4. While neither are films (obviously) I have profoundly enjoyed the moral and ethical statements made by the many adventures into the Star Trek universe. Some would call that an "outright falsehood!" and take away all my credibility. If you feel that way, read the plot review and give the "Reel Revelation" some serious consideration. I believe you'll find, as I have so often found, that even in curious places gems of grace and wisdom can still be found. I do apologize, however, if you're not familiar with the Star Trek universe, or with the "DS9" series in particular. If you feel so inclined you can go here to get an overview: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_Deep_Space_Nine
Plot and Critical Review: Jadzia Dax begins experiencing unsettling mental problems. She suddenly remembers a melody and can even play it on a keyboard despite never having done so before. She snaps at her friends and is disturbed by the anger she feels for no apparent reason. After she is overcome by a hallucination in which she is cornered by a masked, robed figure she pays a visit to Dr. Bashir for help.
He detects critically low levels of the neurotransmitter isoboramine, the substance that allows the Dax symbiont to live within Jadzia, its current host. Bashir and Commander Sisko rush Dax back to Trill on the Defiant in the hopes that the medical staff at the Symbiosis Commission can help her. One of the experts on the physiology of the joining of symbiont to host, Dr. Renhol, administers some medication that may stabilize Dax's condition.
While she waits for her neurotransmitters to return to normal levels, Dax visits the Caves of Mak'ala, a place on Trill where symbionts swim in pools carefully and lovingly tended by unjoined Trills called Guardians. As soon as she meets the Guardian Timor, he can tell what's wrong with her. He tells her that her hallucinations are actually memories of a previous host. This is confusing to her because she has access to all of the memories of all of her hosts, and these scary flashes are not from any host Dax ever had, to her knowledge.
The Defiant's computer has meanwhile identified the melody that was haunting her earlier. It brings up a biography of its composer, a Trill man named Joran. When Jadzia sees a picture of his face she experiences a strong hallucination, has a seizure, and collapses. When Dr. Renhol examines her, she says that if there is no improvement soon, Dax will have to be removed from Jadzia, which will kill her. Trills value the symbiont's life over that of the host.
Sisko and Bashir begin an investigation. The Guardian, Timor, seems to be less than open with them, and computer files regarding the musician Joran have been deleted. They finally track down Joran's brother, who admits that Joran murdered a physician and was then killed. Joran had been joined to the Dax symbiont by mistake after he had been deemed unsuitable to serve as a host. After the incident, all records in regards to this joining were deleted and the affair was covered up. Dax received a memory block so that the hosts would not remember anything about Joran. The memory block was beginning to deteriorate in Jadzia, causing her symptoms.
When Sisko and Bashir notify the Symbiosis Commission that they have discovered the coverup, Jadzia is released to them instead of having her symbiont removed. They are now aware of a great secret underlying Trill society. Most believe that only a very small percentage of Trills are physically capable of joining to a symbiont, when in truth, roughly half of them are potential hosts and it is the Symbiosis Commission that selects the ones who will receive the limited number of symbionts.
Dax pays one last visit to the underground symbiont pools. She enters a pool and the symbionts help her assimilate Joran into her mind with all of her previous hosts.
My Rating: 7.5/10 (A reflection of the episode alone, not of the series on the whole.)
The "Reel Revelation": "Songs of Remembrance"
Music plays an undeniably important role in the human experience. We all have songs or melodies (even single notes or chords) that remind us of particular moments, experiences, and emotions. You have those musical reminders in your life, yes? I'll never forget the first time I heard "Hotel California" by the Eagles, or the emotional transport I experience when I hear Biebl's "Ave Maria." Music has a very particular way of taking us to places of time and emotion where we relive things that have long since passed. We are also made to remember things that may have otherwise been forgotten. Music is powerful, but there are far greater powers which call us to remember even greater things.
In the Old Testament, God made a series of promises to his children, especially to the people of Israel. To reinforce those promises God gave reminders to his people. Do you remember some of the things that happened? After the Flood, God set the rainbow in the sky to serve as a reminder that he would never destroy the Earth in that manner again. Just after their escape from Egypt, Moses commanded Israel (on God's behalf) to eat only unleavened bread for seven days. This act, along with the consecration of the firstborn of Israel would serve as a reminder that God had brought them out of their bondage. And during the course of their wandering through the desert Moses set up altars of remembrance whenever God performed great works and miracles to provide for Israel. All of these things were set in place to turn the attention of the faithful to the great things God had done for them.
What reminds you of God's action and activity in your life? We've already established that certain things such as music can remind us of special times and emotions, but what reminds you of what God has done? What reminds you of the most important thing of all; Jesus giving his life for you and rescuing you from death? While there could be many good and altogether acceptable answers to that question I believe it is right to lift up two primary sources of remembrance; the Bible and the Cross.
Have you ever heard the Bible described as a "love letter from God"? Many people use that phrase to remind that the Bible is indeed an intimate and flowing expression of love "written" by God and sent to us. Think of receiving a letter from someone you're deeply in love with. What would you do with that letter? You would most likely keep it somewhere very safe and re-read it often as to remember and believe in the love that person has for you. It is the very same with the Bible! In the words of this text we discover the fullness of God's love and devotion. We read of the promises made by God long ago and are given freedom to ponder what God's promises God has for us today. We read the old old stories of God's provision for people in need, his kindness to those who cried out for help. And most importantly we come face-to-face with God's immense love for us as we read about Jesus, the Son of God, who died on the cross that we may share in the eternal glory of Heaven. That leads us to what I recommend ought to be our second great "reminder"; the Cross of Christ.
Have you ever been to a church that didn't display a cross in a place of importance? Maybe you've been to a church where instead of a cross there is an enormous crucifix that seemed to cast a shadow on every other piece of "church furniture" available. There is much theology behind how churches "decorate" their worship spaces but one thing is for sure, wherever and whenever you see the cross it ought to remind you of what Jesus did for you and for all of mankind. For this reason many people (including myself) place crosses or crucifixes in their homes, to keep them intentionally aware of Jesus' sacrifice. Even when they become "part of the furniture" it is curious how a random glance that falls on a cross can suddenly bring our hearts before the body of Jesus. While songs written about the cross and books written on the subject of the cross and even pieces of art depicting the cross will turn our attention to that most sacred and holy moment, it is the cross itself that must be before the "eyes of our hearts" at all times.
May your heart remain open to receive the many reminders God has placed in your life; things to remind you of the great love he has for you. And may every divine reminder bring you before the cross of Jesus where, as you call upon the name of God, you may receive anew the grace to live in peace.
See you tomorrow - E.T.
P.S. - Today's review is dedicated to fellow Trekkie, Sean Lacy, who, in spite of his deep dislike for the "DS9" series has long embraced Roddenberry's immortal ideal and vision for the Star Trek universe.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
"Sleeping Beauty"
Title: "Sleeping Beauty"
Director: Clyde Geronimi, Les Clark, Eric Larson, and Wolfgang Reitherman
Producer: Walt Disney (I've never been more pleased to post a producer's name.)
Editing: Roy M. Brewer Jr. and Donald Halliday
Composer: George Bruns, Tom Adair, Winston Hibler, Ted Sears, Erdman Penner, Sammy Fain, and Jack Lawrence.
(Portions of the film's score were adapted from Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky's ballet.)
Starring:
- Mary Costa as the voice of Princess Aurora/Briar Rose
- Bill Shirley as the voice of Princess Phillip
- Eleanor Audley as the voice of Maleficent
Plot and Critical Review: Set in the 14th century of a fairy-tale world, the newborn Princess Aurora is named after the Roman goddess of the dawn because she fills the lives of her mother and father, King Stefan and Queen Leah, with sunshine. While still an infant, she is betrothed to the also-young Prince Phillip, son of King Hubert. At her christening, the good fairies Flora (dressed in red/pink), Fauna (in green), and Merryweather (in blue) arrive to bless her. Flora gives her the gift of beauty while Fauna gives her the gift of song. But before Merryweather could give her blessing, Maleficent appears on the scene, expressing disappointment in not being invited to Aurora's christening ceremony and curses the princess to die when she touches a spinning wheel's spindle before the sun sets on her sixteenth birthday. Fortunately, Merryweather's blessing weakens the curse so that instead of death, Aurora, would fall into a deep sleep until she is awakened by true love's kiss. Though King Stefan decreed all spinning wheels in the kingdom burned, the three good fairies know Maleficent couldn't be stopped that easily and sneak Aurora away with them to a woodland cottage until her sixteen birthday lapses, passing themselves off as her aunts and swearing off magic to conceal themselves.
Years later, Aurora, renamed Briar Rose, had grown into a gorgeous young woman with the blessings that Flora and Fauna bestowed to her. She does not care about her looks despite being very beautiful but she awaits love, as she is a very romantic girl. By that time, Maleficent is vexed at her minions' incompetence and sends her raven Diablo to look for Aurora. On the day of her sixteenth birthday, the fairies attempt to make Rose a gown and a cake. When their attempts end in disaster they decide to use their wands, resulting with an argument by Flora and Merryweather over the color of the gown that catches Diablo's attention. Meanwhile, Aurora gathers berries while singing to her animal friends; this attracts the attention of Prince Phillip, now a handsome young man, as he is out riding his horse in the woods. When they meet, they instantly fall in love. Realizing that she has to return home, Aurora flees from Phillip without ever learning his name. Despite promising to meet him again, the fairies reveal the truth of her birth to her and take her to her parents and her betrothed's family.
Unfortunately, Maleficent uses her magic to lure Aurora away from her boudoir up a vacant room of the palace, where a spinning wheel awaits her. Fascinated by the wheel with Maleficent's will enforcing it, Aurora touches the spindle, pricking her finger and completing the curse. The good fairies place Aurora on a bed with a red rose in her hand, and place all in the kingdom in a deep sleep until the spell is broken as King Hubert tries to tell Stefan of his son being in love with a peasant-girl. At that time, Prince Phillip arrives at the cottage, but is captured, bound and gagged by Maleficent's minions and taken to her castle, "The Forbidden Mountain", to prevent him from kissing Aurora until he is an old man. However, the fairies sneak into Maleficent's stronghold and free the prince. Armed with the magical Sword of Truth and The Shield of Virtue, Phillip braves all obstacles to reach Stefan's castle prior to battling Maleficent when the sorceress turns herself into a gigantic Dark Fire-Breathing Dragon. The sword, blessed by the fairies' magic, is plunged into the dragon's heart, causing the evil sorceress to fall to her death from a cliff. Phillip climbs to Aurora's chamber, and removes the curse with a kiss. As the film ends, the prince and princess both happily learn that their betrothed and their beloved are one and the same. They arrive at the ballroom, where Aurora is happily re-united with her parents, and she an Prince Phillip dance a waltz. However, they are unaware of the fact that Merryweather and Flora are still in disagreement of the color of her dress and that the color changes from blue to pink. The last color to appear is pink.
Of all the films Disney produced which re-tell traditional/folk stories, "Sleeping Beauty" is widely regarded as the most popular and well-known next to "Aladdin" and "Beauty and the Beast." For whatever reason "Sleeping Beauty" was the last fairy tale-based film Disney would produce until 1989's "The Little Mermaid." Many attribute this hiatus as a result of Walt's death in 1966 and Walt's profound love of the fairy tale. This was also one of the first films in which Disney artists drew the performances of the on-screen characters based on live-action performances. Long before the groundbreaking technologies which brought us characters such as Jar-Jar Binks ("Star Wars") and Gollum/Smeagol ("Lord Of The Rings") Disney artists were at the forefront of cinematic artistic technique.
My Rating: 8/10
The "Reel Revelation": "Set Free To Live"
Can you think of a time when you heard a particular phrase, watched or participated in a particular event, or was spoken to in a way that set you free to do something, to live in a new way, to have a new life altogether? A few examples may help. Many of the great blues musicians share the common story of hearing the legends of blues for the first time. Artists like Eric Clapton, John Mayer, and Eric Johnson all recount the first time they heard the distorted sound of Muddy Waters' or B.B. King's music ring in their ears. Although they are altogether different men and musicians they all share the same sentiment as a result of their first encounter with the blues, "I was never the same again." Likewise there are the stories which come from people who first encountered the joys of photography, or painting, or the challenge of a particular sport and from that day were "never the same again." Something happened in their lives when they came into contact with that particular event or activity. What are the things that have happened in your life which have "set you free" to live in a new way, to live for a new purpose?
In fairy tales characters often go through an event which has a profound impact on their lives and consequently changes them forever, or at least changes the plot of that particular fairy tale. While Briar Rose's encounter with Prince Phillip in the forest changed her life, it was Phillip's kiss (the kiss of true love required to break the spell of sleeping death) that set her free to live anew, to live a different life. We, like Aurora, have stories of similar experiences, don't we? If you've not had an experience like the one i've described do not be disheartened, it will come. It is as sure for your life as it was for Aurora's. Remember Merryweather's "gift" at the celebration of Aurora's birth? It was a sort of semi-prophecy that Aurora would be set free from sleeping death as a result of true love's kiss. While we're not guaranteed a similar experience (although the first kiss of true love is an earth shattering experience, isn't it?) God does make us a promise, and his promise sets us free each day to live according to his principles and promises.
At the beginning of this reflection I listed a few experiences that might lead a person to a sort of occupational self-reformation. That's great! God promises more. Coming to know Jesus will transform our lives in a way that no earthly experience can match. Ask people who have recently received Christ into their lives! I'm certain you'll hear them say something along the lines of "I feel like a whole new person, like my life has started all over again!" Coming into contact with God's forgiving grace will lead us to feel this way, indeed! God releases us from the "sleeping death" we endure on a daily basis as a result of living in a fallen and sinful world. God also speaks words of admonition and direction into our lives which call us to live for new and righteous purposes. Think of how the great evangelists felt when they first read the words of The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). How their hearts must have burned with the desire to share the Word of God, to spread the news about Jesus' love for all people. While we encounter life-changing events every day there are few things that set us free to live for God like reading the Bible, worshipping with other Christians, receiving God's presence through the Sacraments, and sharing the love of God with others. You'll know when it happens. Suddenly everything you knew before that point in time will not be quite as important to you and your focus will be set on something new and wonderfully exciting...something challenging as well, perhaps. You'll know that moment because you'll probably feel very much like Aurora did when she opened her eyes, looked up at Prince Phillip, and suddenly realized her life would never be the same. God be with you in those moments, in the moments when God sets you free to live for him.
See you Monday - E.T.
P.S - I've watched this several times over the past couple days and have enjoyed it so very much. I hope you'll like it too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgUnYzXU-Fo I think I like it so much because I remember saying the same thing to my Mom, "I want another glass of water and a story, Mommy!" Enjoy.
Director: Clyde Geronimi, Les Clark, Eric Larson, and Wolfgang Reitherman
Producer: Walt Disney (I've never been more pleased to post a producer's name.)
Editing: Roy M. Brewer Jr. and Donald Halliday
Composer: George Bruns, Tom Adair, Winston Hibler, Ted Sears, Erdman Penner, Sammy Fain, and Jack Lawrence.
(Portions of the film's score were adapted from Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky's ballet.)
Starring:
- Mary Costa as the voice of Princess Aurora/Briar Rose
- Bill Shirley as the voice of Princess Phillip
- Eleanor Audley as the voice of Maleficent
Plot and Critical Review: Set in the 14th century of a fairy-tale world, the newborn Princess Aurora is named after the Roman goddess of the dawn because she fills the lives of her mother and father, King Stefan and Queen Leah, with sunshine. While still an infant, she is betrothed to the also-young Prince Phillip, son of King Hubert. At her christening, the good fairies Flora (dressed in red/pink), Fauna (in green), and Merryweather (in blue) arrive to bless her. Flora gives her the gift of beauty while Fauna gives her the gift of song. But before Merryweather could give her blessing, Maleficent appears on the scene, expressing disappointment in not being invited to Aurora's christening ceremony and curses the princess to die when she touches a spinning wheel's spindle before the sun sets on her sixteenth birthday. Fortunately, Merryweather's blessing weakens the curse so that instead of death, Aurora, would fall into a deep sleep until she is awakened by true love's kiss. Though King Stefan decreed all spinning wheels in the kingdom burned, the three good fairies know Maleficent couldn't be stopped that easily and sneak Aurora away with them to a woodland cottage until her sixteen birthday lapses, passing themselves off as her aunts and swearing off magic to conceal themselves.
Years later, Aurora, renamed Briar Rose, had grown into a gorgeous young woman with the blessings that Flora and Fauna bestowed to her. She does not care about her looks despite being very beautiful but she awaits love, as she is a very romantic girl. By that time, Maleficent is vexed at her minions' incompetence and sends her raven Diablo to look for Aurora. On the day of her sixteenth birthday, the fairies attempt to make Rose a gown and a cake. When their attempts end in disaster they decide to use their wands, resulting with an argument by Flora and Merryweather over the color of the gown that catches Diablo's attention. Meanwhile, Aurora gathers berries while singing to her animal friends; this attracts the attention of Prince Phillip, now a handsome young man, as he is out riding his horse in the woods. When they meet, they instantly fall in love. Realizing that she has to return home, Aurora flees from Phillip without ever learning his name. Despite promising to meet him again, the fairies reveal the truth of her birth to her and take her to her parents and her betrothed's family.
Unfortunately, Maleficent uses her magic to lure Aurora away from her boudoir up a vacant room of the palace, where a spinning wheel awaits her. Fascinated by the wheel with Maleficent's will enforcing it, Aurora touches the spindle, pricking her finger and completing the curse. The good fairies place Aurora on a bed with a red rose in her hand, and place all in the kingdom in a deep sleep until the spell is broken as King Hubert tries to tell Stefan of his son being in love with a peasant-girl. At that time, Prince Phillip arrives at the cottage, but is captured, bound and gagged by Maleficent's minions and taken to her castle, "The Forbidden Mountain", to prevent him from kissing Aurora until he is an old man. However, the fairies sneak into Maleficent's stronghold and free the prince. Armed with the magical Sword of Truth and The Shield of Virtue, Phillip braves all obstacles to reach Stefan's castle prior to battling Maleficent when the sorceress turns herself into a gigantic Dark Fire-Breathing Dragon. The sword, blessed by the fairies' magic, is plunged into the dragon's heart, causing the evil sorceress to fall to her death from a cliff. Phillip climbs to Aurora's chamber, and removes the curse with a kiss. As the film ends, the prince and princess both happily learn that their betrothed and their beloved are one and the same. They arrive at the ballroom, where Aurora is happily re-united with her parents, and she an Prince Phillip dance a waltz. However, they are unaware of the fact that Merryweather and Flora are still in disagreement of the color of her dress and that the color changes from blue to pink. The last color to appear is pink.
Of all the films Disney produced which re-tell traditional/folk stories, "Sleeping Beauty" is widely regarded as the most popular and well-known next to "Aladdin" and "Beauty and the Beast." For whatever reason "Sleeping Beauty" was the last fairy tale-based film Disney would produce until 1989's "The Little Mermaid." Many attribute this hiatus as a result of Walt's death in 1966 and Walt's profound love of the fairy tale. This was also one of the first films in which Disney artists drew the performances of the on-screen characters based on live-action performances. Long before the groundbreaking technologies which brought us characters such as Jar-Jar Binks ("Star Wars") and Gollum/Smeagol ("Lord Of The Rings") Disney artists were at the forefront of cinematic artistic technique.
My Rating: 8/10
The "Reel Revelation": "Set Free To Live"
Can you think of a time when you heard a particular phrase, watched or participated in a particular event, or was spoken to in a way that set you free to do something, to live in a new way, to have a new life altogether? A few examples may help. Many of the great blues musicians share the common story of hearing the legends of blues for the first time. Artists like Eric Clapton, John Mayer, and Eric Johnson all recount the first time they heard the distorted sound of Muddy Waters' or B.B. King's music ring in their ears. Although they are altogether different men and musicians they all share the same sentiment as a result of their first encounter with the blues, "I was never the same again." Likewise there are the stories which come from people who first encountered the joys of photography, or painting, or the challenge of a particular sport and from that day were "never the same again." Something happened in their lives when they came into contact with that particular event or activity. What are the things that have happened in your life which have "set you free" to live in a new way, to live for a new purpose?
In fairy tales characters often go through an event which has a profound impact on their lives and consequently changes them forever, or at least changes the plot of that particular fairy tale. While Briar Rose's encounter with Prince Phillip in the forest changed her life, it was Phillip's kiss (the kiss of true love required to break the spell of sleeping death) that set her free to live anew, to live a different life. We, like Aurora, have stories of similar experiences, don't we? If you've not had an experience like the one i've described do not be disheartened, it will come. It is as sure for your life as it was for Aurora's. Remember Merryweather's "gift" at the celebration of Aurora's birth? It was a sort of semi-prophecy that Aurora would be set free from sleeping death as a result of true love's kiss. While we're not guaranteed a similar experience (although the first kiss of true love is an earth shattering experience, isn't it?) God does make us a promise, and his promise sets us free each day to live according to his principles and promises.
At the beginning of this reflection I listed a few experiences that might lead a person to a sort of occupational self-reformation. That's great! God promises more. Coming to know Jesus will transform our lives in a way that no earthly experience can match. Ask people who have recently received Christ into their lives! I'm certain you'll hear them say something along the lines of "I feel like a whole new person, like my life has started all over again!" Coming into contact with God's forgiving grace will lead us to feel this way, indeed! God releases us from the "sleeping death" we endure on a daily basis as a result of living in a fallen and sinful world. God also speaks words of admonition and direction into our lives which call us to live for new and righteous purposes. Think of how the great evangelists felt when they first read the words of The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). How their hearts must have burned with the desire to share the Word of God, to spread the news about Jesus' love for all people. While we encounter life-changing events every day there are few things that set us free to live for God like reading the Bible, worshipping with other Christians, receiving God's presence through the Sacraments, and sharing the love of God with others. You'll know when it happens. Suddenly everything you knew before that point in time will not be quite as important to you and your focus will be set on something new and wonderfully exciting...something challenging as well, perhaps. You'll know that moment because you'll probably feel very much like Aurora did when she opened her eyes, looked up at Prince Phillip, and suddenly realized her life would never be the same. God be with you in those moments, in the moments when God sets you free to live for him.
See you Monday - E.T.
P.S - I've watched this several times over the past couple days and have enjoyed it so very much. I hope you'll like it too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgUnYzXU-Fo I think I like it so much because I remember saying the same thing to my Mom, "I want another glass of water and a story, Mommy!" Enjoy.
Friday, April 3, 2009
"Romeo + Juliet"
Title: "Romeo + Juliet"
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Producer: Baz Luhrmann and Gabriella Martinelli
Editing: Jill Bilcock
Composer: Nellee Hooper, Craig Armstrong, and Marius de Vries
Starring:
- Leonardo Dicaprio as Romeo Montague
- Claire Danes as Juliet Capulet
- John Leguizamo as Tybalt Capulet
- Harold Perrineau as Mercutio
- M. Emmet Walsh as Apothecary
- Paul Rudd as Dave Paris (What a contrast to his more recent comedic performances!)
Tonight's plot synopsis is courtesy of the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com)
Plot and Critical Review: The story is, of course, about a pair of star-crossed lovers. Two teenagers pursue their love for each other despite the fact that their families have been at odds with each other for decades. The story combines swordfighting, disguise, misunderstanding, tragedy, humor, and some of the most romantic language found in literature all in the name of true love.
In Verona, Italy, two powerful families the Montagues and the Capulets have been feuding with each other for years. Old Capulet, Juliet's father, throws a party to which he invites all his friends. The Montagues are not invited of course, but Romeo devises a plan to get a look at Rosaline; a young girl he has been pursing. He disguises himself and slips into the party. Once inside, his attention is stolen; not by Rosaline, but by Juliet. Romeo falls instantly in love, but is disappointed when he finds out that Juliet is a Capulet. Juliet notices Romeo too, but she is unaware that he is a member of the hated Montagues.
Later, after discovering that the young man who caught her eye is a member of the enemy family, Juliet goes out onto her balcony to tell the stars about her strong but forbidden love. At the same time, Romeo is lurking in the bushes below. He overhears Juliet confess her love for him to the heavens. No longer able to control his powerful feelings, Romeo reveals himself to her and admits that he feels the same. The very next day, with the help of Romeo's friend Friar Lawrence, Romeo and Juliet are secretly married.
On the day of the wedding, two of Romeo's friends, Benvolio and Mercutio, are walking through the streets of Verona when they are confronted by Juliet's cousin, Tybalt. Tybalt is out to get Romeo for crashing the Capulet's party so he starts a fight with his friends. Romeo shows up, but does not want to fight Tybalt because he no longer holds a grudge against Juliet's family. Romeo's friends can't understand why he won't stand up for himself so Mercutio steps in to do it for him. A swordfight with Tybalt follows. Mercutio is killed. To avenge the death of his friend, Romeo kills Tybalt, an act that will award him even more hatred from the Capulet family. The Prince of Verona banishes Romeo and he is forced to leave Juliet, who is devastated by the loss of her love. Juliet's father, not knowing of his daughter's marriage, decides to marry her to another young man named Paris.
In despair, Juliet consults with Friar Laurence. He advises her to agree to the marriage, but on the morning of the wedding, she will drink a potion that he prepares for her. The potion will make it look like Juliet is dead and she will be put into the Capulet burial vault. Then, the Friar will send Romeo to rescue her. She does as the Friar says and is put into the vault by her heartbroken parents.
Bad news travels fast. Before the Friar can tell Romeo of the hoax, Romeo hears from someone else that his beloved Juliet is dead. Overcome with grief, Romeo buys a poison and goes to Juliet's tomb to die beside his wife. At the door of the tomb, Romeo is forced to fight Paris, whom he swiftly kills. Nothing will stop him from joining his love. Inside the vault, Romeo drinks the poison and takes his last breath next to his sleeping wife.
Moments later, Juliet awakens to see her husband's dead body. She learns what has happened from Friar Laurence who has just arrived and accessed the scene. With no reason left to live, Juliet kills herself with Romeo's dagger. The tragedy has a tremendous impact on both the Montagues an d the Capulets. The families are hurt so much by the death of their children that they agree to never fight again.
My Rating: 6.5/10
The "Reel Revelation": "Context, Context, Context"
Have you ever tried to tell someone something important but found that the only way you could accurately communicate what you wanted to say was to altogether change the way you delivered your message? Have you ever had to re-word (a simple way of putting it) a particular message so that it could be more easily understood? While the message remained the same your delivery had to accommodate a different context for the person you were conversing with. Is that sort of situation familiar to you in any way? That is the intention behind the artistic liberties taken in this representation of Shakespeare's monumental tragedy. While some critics harshly criticized (that's what they do, after all) the loose, brazen, and "MTV-like" way this film was produced it does succeed in communicating the pure message of the love between Romeo and Juliet to a new generation. Yes, horses have become cars and swords have become guns but the message is still the same. Context!
From the earliest stages of his ministry Jesus chose to use parables and common-place means to communicate the highest of all messages; the love of God and the coming of God's Kingdom. Outside of the Pharisees the people he spoke to were common folk, tradesmen and farmers; people who would have struggled to understand a "by the book" explanation of God's will for all people. Thus it was that Jesus used parables and as people listened to his words they understood God's most mysterious and holy principles in ways that were easy for them to grasp; easy for them to remember and carry in their hearts. His example lives on in the sermons and homilies of preachers everywhere who use real-life images and instances to help us understand God's plan, promise, and will for our lives. Context!
We are the next generation of ministers who carry within our hearts the message of God's love. Jesus looks to us to use the same creativity he exampled through his use of the parables. This is no small charge and no simple task. Be cautious of presumptuous thinking here, as some Christians may believe that because they know the Bible so well they'll be able to communicate the message of the Gospel with relative ease. No doubt there are those who have been gifted with tremendous talent that enables them to communicate the message of the Bible in a way others can easily understand. For those who have been given such gifts we give thanks to God, but not everyone will look back at us and say "Oh wow, I never thought of it that way! God does love me! Thanks!" when we tell them about Jesus in traditional Christian-friendly terms. Some people need us to bring the Gospel to them in a unique way, in a way they won't have to fight to understand. While the comprehension of the Bible's message is no small feat the way we present the heart of the Gospel (the way we "open the door" when we evangelize) must be done in a way that gives due consideration to a person's culture, background, and spiritual journey. "Jesus loves you, so love him back!" just doesn't play as we'd like it to, does it?
If you've ever been in love with someone you may be familiar with the desire to show that person how much you love them in a unique way. Imagine a time when you were so enchanted by a person that the only thing you wanted to do was to tell them about your feelings for them in a way that they would understand, a way that would leave no room for doubt. Can you imagine that? For those who have not experienced it use your imagination. You probably poured over countless ideas of how to say "I love you" in the most true and unwavering way. Scores of disappointing love poetry covered the floor and your attempts to make a rose out of ice left a puddle in your living room. Dismayed you were, yet you pressed on! Now...if you've ever done any of those things you really must have loved that person. All the greater is God's love for us and God's desire for us to know the truth of the Gospel in a real way. This is why Jesus was sent to live and die, so that God could contextualize his love in a way we couldn't ignore, to show us his eternal and burning desire to make us his own. The glory of Heaven was altogether pure and present in Jesus even though he was as frail as you and I. Context!
Every day God will present us with opportunities to share the love of Jesus with other people. Those opportunities may come through an encounter at work, a text message with a friend, or even through a random film review on E.T.'s blog. Whatever the medium is, let us set the message of the Gospel in a context that will communicate with accuracy the depth of God's love for all people.
See you tomorrow - E.T.
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Producer: Baz Luhrmann and Gabriella Martinelli
Editing: Jill Bilcock
Composer: Nellee Hooper, Craig Armstrong, and Marius de Vries
Starring:
- Leonardo Dicaprio as Romeo Montague
- Claire Danes as Juliet Capulet
- John Leguizamo as Tybalt Capulet
- Harold Perrineau as Mercutio
- M. Emmet Walsh as Apothecary
- Paul Rudd as Dave Paris (What a contrast to his more recent comedic performances!)
Tonight's plot synopsis is courtesy of the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com)
Plot and Critical Review: The story is, of course, about a pair of star-crossed lovers. Two teenagers pursue their love for each other despite the fact that their families have been at odds with each other for decades. The story combines swordfighting, disguise, misunderstanding, tragedy, humor, and some of the most romantic language found in literature all in the name of true love.
In Verona, Italy, two powerful families the Montagues and the Capulets have been feuding with each other for years. Old Capulet, Juliet's father, throws a party to which he invites all his friends. The Montagues are not invited of course, but Romeo devises a plan to get a look at Rosaline; a young girl he has been pursing. He disguises himself and slips into the party. Once inside, his attention is stolen; not by Rosaline, but by Juliet. Romeo falls instantly in love, but is disappointed when he finds out that Juliet is a Capulet. Juliet notices Romeo too, but she is unaware that he is a member of the hated Montagues.
Later, after discovering that the young man who caught her eye is a member of the enemy family, Juliet goes out onto her balcony to tell the stars about her strong but forbidden love. At the same time, Romeo is lurking in the bushes below. He overhears Juliet confess her love for him to the heavens. No longer able to control his powerful feelings, Romeo reveals himself to her and admits that he feels the same. The very next day, with the help of Romeo's friend Friar Lawrence, Romeo and Juliet are secretly married.
On the day of the wedding, two of Romeo's friends, Benvolio and Mercutio, are walking through the streets of Verona when they are confronted by Juliet's cousin, Tybalt. Tybalt is out to get Romeo for crashing the Capulet's party so he starts a fight with his friends. Romeo shows up, but does not want to fight Tybalt because he no longer holds a grudge against Juliet's family. Romeo's friends can't understand why he won't stand up for himself so Mercutio steps in to do it for him. A swordfight with Tybalt follows. Mercutio is killed. To avenge the death of his friend, Romeo kills Tybalt, an act that will award him even more hatred from the Capulet family. The Prince of Verona banishes Romeo and he is forced to leave Juliet, who is devastated by the loss of her love. Juliet's father, not knowing of his daughter's marriage, decides to marry her to another young man named Paris.
In despair, Juliet consults with Friar Laurence. He advises her to agree to the marriage, but on the morning of the wedding, she will drink a potion that he prepares for her. The potion will make it look like Juliet is dead and she will be put into the Capulet burial vault. Then, the Friar will send Romeo to rescue her. She does as the Friar says and is put into the vault by her heartbroken parents.
Bad news travels fast. Before the Friar can tell Romeo of the hoax, Romeo hears from someone else that his beloved Juliet is dead. Overcome with grief, Romeo buys a poison and goes to Juliet's tomb to die beside his wife. At the door of the tomb, Romeo is forced to fight Paris, whom he swiftly kills. Nothing will stop him from joining his love. Inside the vault, Romeo drinks the poison and takes his last breath next to his sleeping wife.
Moments later, Juliet awakens to see her husband's dead body. She learns what has happened from Friar Laurence who has just arrived and accessed the scene. With no reason left to live, Juliet kills herself with Romeo's dagger. The tragedy has a tremendous impact on both the Montagues an d the Capulets. The families are hurt so much by the death of their children that they agree to never fight again.
My Rating: 6.5/10
The "Reel Revelation": "Context, Context, Context"
Have you ever tried to tell someone something important but found that the only way you could accurately communicate what you wanted to say was to altogether change the way you delivered your message? Have you ever had to re-word (a simple way of putting it) a particular message so that it could be more easily understood? While the message remained the same your delivery had to accommodate a different context for the person you were conversing with. Is that sort of situation familiar to you in any way? That is the intention behind the artistic liberties taken in this representation of Shakespeare's monumental tragedy. While some critics harshly criticized (that's what they do, after all) the loose, brazen, and "MTV-like" way this film was produced it does succeed in communicating the pure message of the love between Romeo and Juliet to a new generation. Yes, horses have become cars and swords have become guns but the message is still the same. Context!
From the earliest stages of his ministry Jesus chose to use parables and common-place means to communicate the highest of all messages; the love of God and the coming of God's Kingdom. Outside of the Pharisees the people he spoke to were common folk, tradesmen and farmers; people who would have struggled to understand a "by the book" explanation of God's will for all people. Thus it was that Jesus used parables and as people listened to his words they understood God's most mysterious and holy principles in ways that were easy for them to grasp; easy for them to remember and carry in their hearts. His example lives on in the sermons and homilies of preachers everywhere who use real-life images and instances to help us understand God's plan, promise, and will for our lives. Context!
We are the next generation of ministers who carry within our hearts the message of God's love. Jesus looks to us to use the same creativity he exampled through his use of the parables. This is no small charge and no simple task. Be cautious of presumptuous thinking here, as some Christians may believe that because they know the Bible so well they'll be able to communicate the message of the Gospel with relative ease. No doubt there are those who have been gifted with tremendous talent that enables them to communicate the message of the Bible in a way others can easily understand. For those who have been given such gifts we give thanks to God, but not everyone will look back at us and say "Oh wow, I never thought of it that way! God does love me! Thanks!" when we tell them about Jesus in traditional Christian-friendly terms. Some people need us to bring the Gospel to them in a unique way, in a way they won't have to fight to understand. While the comprehension of the Bible's message is no small feat the way we present the heart of the Gospel (the way we "open the door" when we evangelize) must be done in a way that gives due consideration to a person's culture, background, and spiritual journey. "Jesus loves you, so love him back!" just doesn't play as we'd like it to, does it?
If you've ever been in love with someone you may be familiar with the desire to show that person how much you love them in a unique way. Imagine a time when you were so enchanted by a person that the only thing you wanted to do was to tell them about your feelings for them in a way that they would understand, a way that would leave no room for doubt. Can you imagine that? For those who have not experienced it use your imagination. You probably poured over countless ideas of how to say "I love you" in the most true and unwavering way. Scores of disappointing love poetry covered the floor and your attempts to make a rose out of ice left a puddle in your living room. Dismayed you were, yet you pressed on! Now...if you've ever done any of those things you really must have loved that person. All the greater is God's love for us and God's desire for us to know the truth of the Gospel in a real way. This is why Jesus was sent to live and die, so that God could contextualize his love in a way we couldn't ignore, to show us his eternal and burning desire to make us his own. The glory of Heaven was altogether pure and present in Jesus even though he was as frail as you and I. Context!
Every day God will present us with opportunities to share the love of Jesus with other people. Those opportunities may come through an encounter at work, a text message with a friend, or even through a random film review on E.T.'s blog. Whatever the medium is, let us set the message of the Gospel in a context that will communicate with accuracy the depth of God's love for all people.
See you tomorrow - E.T.
"Patton"
Title: "Patton"
Director: Franklin J. Schaffner
Producer: Frank Caffey, Frank McCarthy
Editing: Hugh S. Fowler
Composer: Jerry Goldsmith
Starring:
- George C. Scott as General George S. Patton
- Carl Malden as General Omar Bradley
- Michael Bates as General Bernard Law Montgomery
Plot and Critical Review: The film documents the story of General George S. Patton during World War II, beginning with his taking charge of demoralized American forces in North Africa after the Battle of the Kasserine Pass, leading them to victory at the Battle of El Guettar. He then participates in the invasion of Sicily and races against the equally egotistical British General Bernard Law Montgomery to capture the Sicilian port of Messina. Patton is shown as believing in reincarnation, while remaining a devout Christian. At one point in the movie, during the North Africa campaign, Patton takes his staff on an unexpected detour to the site of the ancient Battle of Zama. There he reminisces about the battle, insisting to Omar Bradley that he was there.
After he beats Montgomery into Messina, Patton is relieved of command for slapping a shell-shocked soldier in an Army hospital. This incident, along with his tendency to speak his mind to the press, gets the general in trouble and he is sidelined during the invasion of Europe, being placed in command of the fictional First United States Army Group in south-east England. Later, he begs his former subordinate, General Omar Bradley, for a command before the war ends. He is given the U.S. Third Army and distinguishes himself by rapidly sweeping across France and later relieving the vital town of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. Later, Patton smashes through the German "West Wall" and drives into Germany itself.
Just prior to victory in Europe, Patton remarks to a British crowd that America and Great Britain would dominate the post-war world, which the press finds insulting to the Russians. After the Germans capitulate, he insults a Russian officer at a celebration; fortunately, the Russian insults Patton right back, leading to mutual respect and defusing the situation. Later, Patton casually compares the defeated Nazis to American Republicans and Democrats, costing him his command. The film closes with Patton walking his dog in a field as a voice over (Patton's voice) offers a most bitter sentiment for a soldier/conqueror like the General, "all glory is fleeting."
My Rating: 9/10 (No doubt one of the finest of all war films.)
The "Reel Revelation": "Cast It Off! - A Poem"
Today I cast it off,
That which has hindered me.
Today I cast if off,
That which has held me back,
For far too long.
Today I cast it off,
The hesitation and the angst.
Today I cast it off
That which love has dissolved,
This fear of fears.
Today I cast it off,
And pray caution will replace.
Today I cast it off,
And pray wisdom be my guide,
My faithful guide.
Today I cast it off,
That I may do what I must.
Today I cast it off,
That I might say the words,
To lead the lost.
Today I cast it off,
Fear, and foolish action,
That keeps me from the life
God has for me.
Lord, we cast off our fears and pray for your abundant joy, mercy, love, compassion, and grace to replace that which has hindered our growth as Christians and Children of God. May we no longer live in bondage, weighed down by the heavy chains we have dragged for so long, for far too long. Lord, in your mercy, release our hearts to fly far from the fear that chokes and suffocates the life you've always desired for us. In your mercy, O Lord. Amen.
See you tomorrow - E.T.
Director: Franklin J. Schaffner
Producer: Frank Caffey, Frank McCarthy
Editing: Hugh S. Fowler
Composer: Jerry Goldsmith
Starring:
- George C. Scott as General George S. Patton
- Carl Malden as General Omar Bradley
- Michael Bates as General Bernard Law Montgomery
Plot and Critical Review: The film documents the story of General George S. Patton during World War II, beginning with his taking charge of demoralized American forces in North Africa after the Battle of the Kasserine Pass, leading them to victory at the Battle of El Guettar. He then participates in the invasion of Sicily and races against the equally egotistical British General Bernard Law Montgomery to capture the Sicilian port of Messina. Patton is shown as believing in reincarnation, while remaining a devout Christian. At one point in the movie, during the North Africa campaign, Patton takes his staff on an unexpected detour to the site of the ancient Battle of Zama. There he reminisces about the battle, insisting to Omar Bradley that he was there.
After he beats Montgomery into Messina, Patton is relieved of command for slapping a shell-shocked soldier in an Army hospital. This incident, along with his tendency to speak his mind to the press, gets the general in trouble and he is sidelined during the invasion of Europe, being placed in command of the fictional First United States Army Group in south-east England. Later, he begs his former subordinate, General Omar Bradley, for a command before the war ends. He is given the U.S. Third Army and distinguishes himself by rapidly sweeping across France and later relieving the vital town of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. Later, Patton smashes through the German "West Wall" and drives into Germany itself.
Just prior to victory in Europe, Patton remarks to a British crowd that America and Great Britain would dominate the post-war world, which the press finds insulting to the Russians. After the Germans capitulate, he insults a Russian officer at a celebration; fortunately, the Russian insults Patton right back, leading to mutual respect and defusing the situation. Later, Patton casually compares the defeated Nazis to American Republicans and Democrats, costing him his command. The film closes with Patton walking his dog in a field as a voice over (Patton's voice) offers a most bitter sentiment for a soldier/conqueror like the General, "all glory is fleeting."
My Rating: 9/10 (No doubt one of the finest of all war films.)
The "Reel Revelation": "Cast It Off! - A Poem"
Today I cast it off,
That which has hindered me.
Today I cast if off,
That which has held me back,
For far too long.
Today I cast it off,
The hesitation and the angst.
Today I cast it off
That which love has dissolved,
This fear of fears.
Today I cast it off,
And pray caution will replace.
Today I cast it off,
And pray wisdom be my guide,
My faithful guide.
Today I cast it off,
That I may do what I must.
Today I cast it off,
That I might say the words,
To lead the lost.
Today I cast it off,
Fear, and foolish action,
That keeps me from the life
God has for me.
Lord, we cast off our fears and pray for your abundant joy, mercy, love, compassion, and grace to replace that which has hindered our growth as Christians and Children of God. May we no longer live in bondage, weighed down by the heavy chains we have dragged for so long, for far too long. Lord, in your mercy, release our hearts to fly far from the fear that chokes and suffocates the life you've always desired for us. In your mercy, O Lord. Amen.
See you tomorrow - E.T.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
"Monty Python and the Holy Grail"
Title: "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"
Director: Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones
Producer: Mark Forstater and Michael White
Editing: John Hackney
Composer: DeWolfe Music
Starring:
- Graham Chapman as King Arthur
- John Cleese as Sir Lancelot
- Terry Gilliam as Patsy
- Eric Idle as Sir Robin
- Terry Jones as Sir Bedevere
- Michael Palin as Sir Galahad
- Neil Innes as Sir Robin's Minstrel
Plot and Critical Review: King Arthur (Chapman), along with his faithful servant Patsy (Gilliam), is recruiting his Knights of the Round Table throughout England. He is frustrated at every turn by such obstacles as anarcho-syndicalist peasants, a Black Knight who refuses to give up despite losing both his arms and legs, and guards who are more concerned with the flight patterns of swallows than their lord and master. Finally he meets up with Sir Bedevere the Wise (Jones), Sir Lancelot the Brave (Cleese), Sir Galahad the Pure (also called "the Chaste") (Palin), Sir Robin the Not-Quite-So-Brave-As-Sir-Lancelot (Idle), "and the aptly-named Sir Not-Appearing-in-this-Film" (a picture of Palin's infant son). They declare themselves the Knights of the Round Table. When "riding" to Camelot (by strutting and banging two coconut halves together), they are given a quest by God (represented by an animated photograph of legendary cricket figure W. G. Grace) to find the Holy Grail.
They encounter a castle with a Frenchman who randomly taunts them with names like 'Daffy English knnnnnniggits' and odd insults such as, "I fart in your general direction!" and "Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!", together with some mangled Franglais, notably "Fetchez la vache!" (Fetch the cow). The Knights then retreat, weathering a barrage of livestock and executing a poorly thought-out plan to sneak into the castle while concealed within a crudely built giant wooden rabbit (a Trojan Rabbit) which the French throw back at the knights. Arthur decides that he and his knights should search for the Grail individually. After they split up, Sir Robin travels through a forest with his favourite minstrels, and encounters a Three-Headed Giant, Galahad follows a Grail-shaped light to the perils of Castle Anthrax (the girls of which are very interested in being spanked and having oral sex with him), Sir Lancelot massacres a wedding at Swamp Castle, and Arthur and Bedevere encounter the dreaded Knights who say Ni, who demand a shrubbery as tribute. They each overcome or avoid their individual perils in a variety of ways, then reunite to face a bleak and terrible winter, the happenings of which are told in the form of a Gilliam animation. Next they venture further to a pyromaniacal enchanter named Tim, who leads them to a cave guarded by a killer rabbit.
After killing the vicious Rabbit of Caerbannog with the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch, the knights face the Legendary Black Beast of Aaaaarrrrrrggghhh in another animated scene, escaping this peril when the animator suffers a fatal heart attack. Their final task is to cross the Bridge of Death, which is guarded by "the old man from scene 24." Only Arthur, Bedevere, and Lancelot survive the confrontation, but Lancelot mysteriously disappears before the others can catch up to him on the other side. Arthur and Bedevere reach the gates of Castle Aaargh, only to find themselves facing the French taunter once more; the whole quest has in fact been a wild goose chase. As Arthur leads a great army in a charge against the castle, a group of present-day police officers suddenly arrive on the scene, disrupting the film's climax. They have been investigating the murder of a "famous historian," who was earlier cut down by an unidentified knight while he was presenting a television program on a topic from the film's supposed era. Lancelot has already been taken into custody, and Arthur and Bedevere are promptly arrested as well. One of the policemen covers the camera lens with his hand and the screen goes blank for several minutes, with music playing in the background, until the viewer realizes it is the end of the film.
"Holy Grail" was no surprise to those who were familiar with the antics of the Monty Python comedic group. It is full of the life, sass, social scrutiny, historical pun, and mildly-crass comedy that defined much of British comedy at the time. It is one of the few films (aside from other Python projects) to cross over from U.K. to U.S. audiences and become a classic in the eyes of the American cinematic community. Today is holds high position on many lists ranking the Top 100 (or so) funniest/best comedic films. Aside from its commercial success it remains a source of cultural trivia. Several phrases coined in this film are still used in common (albeit jovial) conversation today. Perhaps you've heard some of the following:
- "Ni!" (The Knights Who Say Ni!)
- "I fart in your general direction!"
- "Run away!"
- "We want...a shrubbery!"
- "...a grrrrrrail?!"
- "Sir Robin ran way..."
- "(to Arthur)...you can't expect to wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you."
- "And the Lord spake, saying, "First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then, shalt thou count to three. No more. No less. Three shalt be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once at the number three, being the third number be reached, then, lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in My sight, shall snuff it." (Not a quote people use in common conversation but a popular quote remembered by many.)
If there was any surprise that came as a result of the film's widespread success (over the course of 30+ years, much less) it was on the part of the Python troupe. Members of Monty Python felt that "Life of Brian" was the best film they produced, although there's no indication they're opposed to the reaction "Holy Grail" has received. "Holy Grail" is a timeless classic that has and will no doubt continue to influence the writing and production of comedy films for years.
My Rating: 8/10
The "Reel Revelation": "Low Budget Living"
If there is anything particularly peculiar about "Holy Grail" it is that Monty Python was able to produce an acceptable and altogether enjoyable movie with a minuscule budget. The Python troupe was given a budget of $375,000 to produce the entire film. To put it into perspective you might recall another film that was produced in 1975 by a fresh-faced writer/director named George Lucas. That film was "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope" and had a budget of exactly $11 million dollars. "A New Hope" went on to make over $450 million dollars. "Holy Grail" met wide scale success in the U.K. and made just under $2 million on the silver screen in America. DVD sales have continued to make an impressive mark and now an all new generation of people are discovering the delightful comedy of Monty Python. While many elements play in to the success of this film one of them is the bravery with which the Pythons approached the production of a sub-epic film with a tiny budget.
Have you ever approached a project and, when looking around to consider your resources, suddenly realized you didn't have even half of what was required to complete your task? Or have you ever been challenged to accomplish a certain project or task and knew you didn't have the resources yourself to complete it? Say you've been asked to write a song for someones wedding. A great idea, yes? Except that you've never written a note of music in your life. Or perhaps you've been hired to cater a company picnic which is also a great opportunity outside of the fact that you never learned how to boil water, much less cook a brisket. While these examples may seem extreme the way you might feel within these sorts of situations is not at all unlike how you feel/have felt/will feel when God calls you to do something that seems altogether beyond the resources and talents you posses. If you have ever felt that way, you're not alone.
When God called Moses to deliver Israel from Egypt Moses protested God, telling God that he was unable to complete the task because he wasn't a good public speaker. Moses was, in a sense, working on a "low budget" of talent which he felt didn't qualify him to complete the task God had placed before him. The Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy to not become discouraged because people were looking down on him due to his young age. No doubt Timothy felt unequipped to do God's work when he was ministering to (and leading) people who were much older than he was. How could the blossoming wisdom of a young man convince and convict the elders of the early Christian church? In spite of their setbacks (their apparent "low budgets") both men did great things for God and we revere them as models of faith and courage.
God will equip you with every gift and talent necessary to fulfill the work to which he has called you. "If God calls you to it, he'll see you through it!"...or something like that. I believe that it is better for us to live on "low budgets" of talent and ability, that we might more adamantly seek after God, the giver of all good gifts. When we are challenged with a task we do not feel prepared to conquer we must approach God and pray for the blessings of talent and ability only he can give. Jesus sent his disciples out, imploring them to take along only what they needed and no more. Jesus set the standard for a "low budget" life when he promised that things of the world would not be necessary, that his blessing would be enough. Let us believe his promise and live in the security of his love.
See you tomorrow - E.T.
Director: Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones
Producer: Mark Forstater and Michael White
Editing: John Hackney
Composer: DeWolfe Music
Starring:
- Graham Chapman as King Arthur
- John Cleese as Sir Lancelot
- Terry Gilliam as Patsy
- Eric Idle as Sir Robin
- Terry Jones as Sir Bedevere
- Michael Palin as Sir Galahad
- Neil Innes as Sir Robin's Minstrel
Plot and Critical Review: King Arthur (Chapman), along with his faithful servant Patsy (Gilliam), is recruiting his Knights of the Round Table throughout England. He is frustrated at every turn by such obstacles as anarcho-syndicalist peasants, a Black Knight who refuses to give up despite losing both his arms and legs, and guards who are more concerned with the flight patterns of swallows than their lord and master. Finally he meets up with Sir Bedevere the Wise (Jones), Sir Lancelot the Brave (Cleese), Sir Galahad the Pure (also called "the Chaste") (Palin), Sir Robin the Not-Quite-So-Brave-As-Sir-Lancelot (Idle), "and the aptly-named Sir Not-Appearing-in-this-Film" (a picture of Palin's infant son). They declare themselves the Knights of the Round Table. When "riding" to Camelot (by strutting and banging two coconut halves together), they are given a quest by God (represented by an animated photograph of legendary cricket figure W. G. Grace) to find the Holy Grail.
They encounter a castle with a Frenchman who randomly taunts them with names like 'Daffy English knnnnnniggits' and odd insults such as, "I fart in your general direction!" and "Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!", together with some mangled Franglais, notably "Fetchez la vache!" (Fetch the cow). The Knights then retreat, weathering a barrage of livestock and executing a poorly thought-out plan to sneak into the castle while concealed within a crudely built giant wooden rabbit (a Trojan Rabbit) which the French throw back at the knights. Arthur decides that he and his knights should search for the Grail individually. After they split up, Sir Robin travels through a forest with his favourite minstrels, and encounters a Three-Headed Giant, Galahad follows a Grail-shaped light to the perils of Castle Anthrax (the girls of which are very interested in being spanked and having oral sex with him), Sir Lancelot massacres a wedding at Swamp Castle, and Arthur and Bedevere encounter the dreaded Knights who say Ni, who demand a shrubbery as tribute. They each overcome or avoid their individual perils in a variety of ways, then reunite to face a bleak and terrible winter, the happenings of which are told in the form of a Gilliam animation. Next they venture further to a pyromaniacal enchanter named Tim, who leads them to a cave guarded by a killer rabbit.
After killing the vicious Rabbit of Caerbannog with the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch, the knights face the Legendary Black Beast of Aaaaarrrrrrggghhh in another animated scene, escaping this peril when the animator suffers a fatal heart attack. Their final task is to cross the Bridge of Death, which is guarded by "the old man from scene 24." Only Arthur, Bedevere, and Lancelot survive the confrontation, but Lancelot mysteriously disappears before the others can catch up to him on the other side. Arthur and Bedevere reach the gates of Castle Aaargh, only to find themselves facing the French taunter once more; the whole quest has in fact been a wild goose chase. As Arthur leads a great army in a charge against the castle, a group of present-day police officers suddenly arrive on the scene, disrupting the film's climax. They have been investigating the murder of a "famous historian," who was earlier cut down by an unidentified knight while he was presenting a television program on a topic from the film's supposed era. Lancelot has already been taken into custody, and Arthur and Bedevere are promptly arrested as well. One of the policemen covers the camera lens with his hand and the screen goes blank for several minutes, with music playing in the background, until the viewer realizes it is the end of the film.
"Holy Grail" was no surprise to those who were familiar with the antics of the Monty Python comedic group. It is full of the life, sass, social scrutiny, historical pun, and mildly-crass comedy that defined much of British comedy at the time. It is one of the few films (aside from other Python projects) to cross over from U.K. to U.S. audiences and become a classic in the eyes of the American cinematic community. Today is holds high position on many lists ranking the Top 100 (or so) funniest/best comedic films. Aside from its commercial success it remains a source of cultural trivia. Several phrases coined in this film are still used in common (albeit jovial) conversation today. Perhaps you've heard some of the following:
- "Ni!" (The Knights Who Say Ni!)
- "I fart in your general direction!"
- "Run away!"
- "We want...a shrubbery!"
- "...a grrrrrrail?!"
- "Sir Robin ran way..."
- "(to Arthur)...you can't expect to wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you."
- "And the Lord spake, saying, "First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then, shalt thou count to three. No more. No less. Three shalt be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once at the number three, being the third number be reached, then, lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in My sight, shall snuff it." (Not a quote people use in common conversation but a popular quote remembered by many.)
If there was any surprise that came as a result of the film's widespread success (over the course of 30+ years, much less) it was on the part of the Python troupe. Members of Monty Python felt that "Life of Brian" was the best film they produced, although there's no indication they're opposed to the reaction "Holy Grail" has received. "Holy Grail" is a timeless classic that has and will no doubt continue to influence the writing and production of comedy films for years.
My Rating: 8/10
The "Reel Revelation": "Low Budget Living"
If there is anything particularly peculiar about "Holy Grail" it is that Monty Python was able to produce an acceptable and altogether enjoyable movie with a minuscule budget. The Python troupe was given a budget of $375,000 to produce the entire film. To put it into perspective you might recall another film that was produced in 1975 by a fresh-faced writer/director named George Lucas. That film was "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope" and had a budget of exactly $11 million dollars. "A New Hope" went on to make over $450 million dollars. "Holy Grail" met wide scale success in the U.K. and made just under $2 million on the silver screen in America. DVD sales have continued to make an impressive mark and now an all new generation of people are discovering the delightful comedy of Monty Python. While many elements play in to the success of this film one of them is the bravery with which the Pythons approached the production of a sub-epic film with a tiny budget.
Have you ever approached a project and, when looking around to consider your resources, suddenly realized you didn't have even half of what was required to complete your task? Or have you ever been challenged to accomplish a certain project or task and knew you didn't have the resources yourself to complete it? Say you've been asked to write a song for someones wedding. A great idea, yes? Except that you've never written a note of music in your life. Or perhaps you've been hired to cater a company picnic which is also a great opportunity outside of the fact that you never learned how to boil water, much less cook a brisket. While these examples may seem extreme the way you might feel within these sorts of situations is not at all unlike how you feel/have felt/will feel when God calls you to do something that seems altogether beyond the resources and talents you posses. If you have ever felt that way, you're not alone.
When God called Moses to deliver Israel from Egypt Moses protested God, telling God that he was unable to complete the task because he wasn't a good public speaker. Moses was, in a sense, working on a "low budget" of talent which he felt didn't qualify him to complete the task God had placed before him. The Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy to not become discouraged because people were looking down on him due to his young age. No doubt Timothy felt unequipped to do God's work when he was ministering to (and leading) people who were much older than he was. How could the blossoming wisdom of a young man convince and convict the elders of the early Christian church? In spite of their setbacks (their apparent "low budgets") both men did great things for God and we revere them as models of faith and courage.
God will equip you with every gift and talent necessary to fulfill the work to which he has called you. "If God calls you to it, he'll see you through it!"...or something like that. I believe that it is better for us to live on "low budgets" of talent and ability, that we might more adamantly seek after God, the giver of all good gifts. When we are challenged with a task we do not feel prepared to conquer we must approach God and pray for the blessings of talent and ability only he can give. Jesus sent his disciples out, imploring them to take along only what they needed and no more. Jesus set the standard for a "low budget" life when he promised that things of the world would not be necessary, that his blessing would be enough. Let us believe his promise and live in the security of his love.
See you tomorrow - E.T.
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