Saturday, February 25, 2012
Minor Delay
Thursday, February 23, 2012
"Best In Show"
Title: “Best In Show”
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Christopher Guest
Producers: Gordon Mark and Karen Murphy
Editing: Robert Leighton
Composer: Jeffrey CJ Vanston
Starring:
- Christopher Guest as Harlan Pepper
- Eugene Levy as Gerry Fleck
- Catherine O’Hara as Cookie Fleck
- John Michael Higgins as Scott Donlan
- Michael McKean as Stefan Vanderhoof
- Jane Lynch as Christy Cummings
- Fred Willard as Buck Laughlin
- Parker Posey as Meg Swan
Plot and Critical Review: “Best in Show” is presented as a documentary of five dogs and their owners destined to show in the Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show, held in Philadelphia. The documentary jumps between the owners as they prepare to leave for the show, arriving at the hotel, and preparing backstage before their dog takes the show. The owners and their dogs include:
- Gerry and Cookie Fleck, with their Norwich Terrier Winky. They are a middle-class couple from
- Meg and
- Harlan Pepper and his Bloodhound Hubert. Pepper's family has raised a variety of hounds for generations, and Harlan continues the tradition by raising bloodhounds (though he has aspirations of becoming a ventriloquist).
- Sherri Ann and Leslie Ward Cabot with their standard poodle Rhapsody in White (a.k.a. Butch), a two-time winner of the show in the past. Sherri Ann is a luscious blonde, having the elderly Leslie as her sugar daddy. She is primarily worried about giving Rhapsody a makeover; however, trainer Christy Cummings makes sure the dog is ready for the show while Leslie stays utterly oblivious to Christy’s feelings. Over the course of the film the empty marriage between Sherri Ann and Leslie crumples while Sherri Ann's romantic involvement with Christy becomes more and more apparent.
- Scott Donlan and Stefan Vanderhoof and their Shih Tzu. A typical campy gay couple, they take great pride in their dog and are confident that she will win the competition.
The owners and their dogs all arrive in time for the show which is hosted by dog expert Trevor Beckwith and oblivious "color" commentator Buck Laughlin. During the first round Beatrice is disqualified when
Afterwards the film explores what each character is doing after the competition. Gerry and Cookie returned home to
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“Best In Show” proved a financial success at the box office, grossing just over twice its initial budget of $10 million. We’d not consider that a “success” in the general sense but for a production of this kind it’s worth the mention. I am unsure how Guest managed to spend $10 million on a film of this quality (I mean production quality only – he must have paid dearly for those improvised treasures), but spend it he did and he was repaid at the box office. “Best…” is generally considered to be the greatest and most beloved of Guest’s directorial/writing projects. Alongside other cult classics like “A Mighty Wind” and “For Your Consideration”, Guest continues to carve out a place in cinematic history. If you’ve not invested in any of his films, please do so. The tempo and comedic “texture” might be difficult to appreciate at first, but I am certain you’ll be pleased by what you’ll find inside Christopher Guest’s comedic wonderland. It should have been Guest, not the USA Network, that took advantage of the slogan, “Where Characters are welcome.”
My Rating: 6.5/10
Content to Caution:
V-.5 – Dog toys be chewed!
L-2.5– Mild and relatively infrequent profanity.
DU-1 - No comment.
RT-1 – No comment.
H/S-1.5 – “Where’s Busy Bee?!”
CH-2.5 – Some inappropriate joking between a homosexual couple. Crude/coarse jokes scattered throughout, but not too scattered.
S/N-1 – Some kissing. Sometimes between people. Sometimes between dogs and people. You know how it goes…
The "Reel Revelation": "There’s Your Problem, Right There…"
Have you ever known someone who seemed to always have someone or something to blame their problems on? Maybe you can think of a person who fixates on a particular element of their life and believes it is the source of all their trouble; a relationship, a job, a neighbor, a family member, a car, etc. If you can imagine such a person, can you recall how often their suspicions were justified? Can you think of a time when all of any one person’s trouble stemmed from one thing? If you can, they’d be a lucky person to only have one difficult thing to deal with!
We are, unfortunately, quick to point the finger and place blame on anything and everything around us when something goes wrong. It’s easy, isn’t it, to look at our lives, find a prominent or troublesome element and say, “Yep, that’s what’s wrong with me!” Sometimes we’ll be absolutely right as there certainly are stand-alone aspects of life which can cause enormous amounts of trouble; addictions, dangerous or harmful behavior, dangerous or harmful friends, and so on. But at a second glance I believe that, if we’re truly honest with ourselves we’ll find that external influences (no matter how internal they’ve become) rank low on the list of what brings us trouble, challenge, and strife. If we look closely we’ll find that we are the trouble.
This concept is brilliantly and humorously illustrated in the challenges Meg and Hamilton Swan face in their marriage throughout the course of the film. The film opens and closes with Meg and
This seemed a weak example to employ for illustration until I realized that I’ve done this in my own life many times. Perhaps you have, too. I’ve started to notice a pattern of negative behavior and, instead of facing that behavior straight-on I’ve looked for something to blame it on. I can remember myself conjuring up these sorts of thoughts:
“It’s my job…the stress is so hard to deal with."
“I’d feel so much better if they’d just leave me alone.”
“Once I finish this project I’ll get back on track.”
I wish that i'd said:
“I need to find a healthier way to handle the stress and deal with my anxiety.”
“It’s time to forgive that person and stop blaming them for my mistakes.”
“Lord, help me to balance my schedule so that I can tend to myself the same way I want to care for my creative projects.”
I wish that I had remembered Jesus’ words:
“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:5)
While Jesus is speaking specifically of judging others I think His words also reach us when we blame (judge something else as being the source of our trouble) our circumstances on a person or thing outside of ourselves. We want to pray, “Lord, if only I didn’t have to deal with X!” Jesus probably wants us to pray, “Lord, my pride is keeping me from seeing the source of my frustration. Open my eyes and may the Holy Spirit guide me to truly see with clarify what’s happening in my heart that’s causing me to stumble.”
Let that be our ambition and goal this Lenten season; to stop blaming others for what we ourselves have done! When we face our own sinfulness we look upon the self we most detest in realizing how fallen and broken we truly are. But Jesus is present to comfort even the most broken soul. Jesus is present to lead us to repentance, renewal, and to restore unto our hearts the joy of His salvation (Psalm 51:12).
See you tomorrow - E.T.
"Avatar"
Director: James Cameron
Producers: James Cameron and Jon Landau
Editing: J. Cameron, J. Refoua, and S. E. Rivkin
Composer: James Horner
Starring:
- Sam Worthington as Jake Sully
- Stephen Lang as Colonel Miles Quaritch
- Sigourney Weaver as Dr. Grace Augustine
- Zoe Saldana as Neytrii
- Michelle Rodriguez as Trudy Chacon
- Giovanni Ribisi as Parker Selfridge
Plot and Critical Review: By 2148 humans have severely depleted Earth's natural resources. In 2154 the RDA Corporation mines for a valuable mineral—unobtanium—on Pandora, a densely-forested habitable moon of the gas giant Polyphemus in the Alpha Centauri star system. Pandora, whose atmosphere is poisonous to humans, is inhabited by the Na'vi, 10-foot tall, blue-skinned, sapient humanoids who live in harmony with nature and worship a mother goddess called Eywa.
To explore Pandora's biosphere, scientists use Na'vi-human hybrids called 'avatars', operated by genetically matched humans; wherefore Jake Sully, a paraplegic former marine, replaces his deceased twin brother Tom as an operator. Dr. Grace Augustine, head of the Avatar Program, considers Sully an inadequate replacement and assigns him as a bodyguard. While protecting the avatars of Grace and scientist Norm Spellman as they collect biological data, Jake's avatar is attacked and is rescued by Neytiri, a female Na'vi. She takes him to her clan where Neytiri's mother Mo'at, the clan's spiritual leader, orders her daughter to initiate Jake into their society.
Colonel Miles Quaritch, head of RDA's private security force, promises Jake that the company will restore his legs if he gathers intelligence about the Na'vi on grounds that Hometree (the Na’vi’s dwelling) sits atop the richest deposit of unobtanium in the area. When Grace learns of this she transfers herself, Jake, and Norm to an outpost. Over three months Jake grows to sympathize with the natives. After Jake is initiated into the tribe he and Neytiri choose each other as mates. Soon afterward Jake reveals his change of allegiance when he attempts to disable a bulldozer that threatens to destroy a sacred Na'vi site. When Quaritch shows a videograph of Jake's attack to Administrator Parker Selfridge, Selfridge orders Hometree destroyed.
Despite Grace's argument that destroying Hometree could damage the Biological neural network native to Pandora, Selfridge orders Jake and Grace to convince the Na'vi to evacuate. When this fails, Quaritch's forces destroy Hometree, killing Neytiri's father and many others. Mo'at frees Jake and Grace; but they are detached from their avatars and imprisoned. Pilot Trudy Chacón, disgusted by Quaritch's brutality, carries them to Grace's outpost. Grace is injured during the escape.
To regain the Na'vi's trust, Jake captures Toruk, a dragon-like predator feared and honoured in Na'vi history. Jake goes to the Tree of Souls and pleads with Mo'at to heal Grace. The clan attempts to transfer Grace from her human body into her avatar with the aid of the Tree; but she succumbs to her injuries before the process can complete.
Supported by the new chief Tsu'tey, who acts as Jake's translator, Jake speaks to unite the clan and tells them to gather other clans for battle against the RDA. On the eve of battle Jake prays to Eywa and intercedes on behalf of the Na'vi. Orbital satellites relay images of the Na’vi army to Quaritch who orders a pre-emptive strike to destroy the Tree of Souls, believing that its destruction will demoralize the natives.
During the subsequent battle, the Na'vi suffer heavy casualties but are rescued when Pandoran wildlife unexpectedly join the attack and overwhelm the humans. Jake destroys a makeshift bomber before it can reach the Tree of Souls.
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Let’s go ahead and address the most obvious criticism that this movie has faced; yes, the story looks a lot like that of Pocahontas. The dashing warrior finds himself in enemy territory and, through a series of most unlikely events, falls in love with the princess. He fights for her, wins her love, and must make a most difficult decision which will decide their fate. But the two stories differ in one all-important aspect; John Smith never became a member of the Powhatan tribes. In “Avatar” Jake Sully willingly breaks ties with RDA and the space marines to become one with “the people”, to become a full member of the Na’vi society. He follows that desire to his death and (we’re made to think) resurrection.
“Avatar” opened to overwhelming praise for its superior design, innovative use of 3D technology, and exceptional cast. As the years of filming and production on “Avatar” rolled on many thought Cameron was reaching too far with such an ambitious project. The costs kept increasing and rumors suggested that James Cameron was pouring money into – pardon the pun – a sinking ship. He was especially criticized for having stepped almost entirely out of Hollywood’s spotlight; having directed only 3 films (none of which met noteworthy success) since “Titanic” in 1997. But it was the success of “Titanic” that drove Cameron toward a new level of perfection in cinematic production. His dedication paid off, and it paid in cash. Here are some of the domestic box office figures:
Opening Night (Midnight Showing Only): $3.5 Million
Opening Day: $26 Million
Opening Weekend: $77 Million
“Avatar” became the highest-grossing film of all time only 41 days after its international release. In case you’d not noticed, Mr. Cameron holds the #1 and #2 spot on that list.
My Rating: 8/10
Content to Caution:
V-3.5 - Small and large-scale battles abound.
L-2.5 – Space Marines…you know how it goes.
DU-1 – No comment.
RT-3.5 – The story is based on racial discrimination and the Na’vi are clearly treated as second-class creatures.
H/S-3 – Very exciting!
CH-1 – No comment.
S/N-2 –The Na’vi wear “skimpy” loincloth-type garments. In the Extended Edition there is a scene of intimacy between Jake and Neytiri.
The "Reel Revelation": "Can I Come In?"
Perhaps you know what it feels like to be an outsider. Moving to a new place, starting in a new position, or even becoming a member of a new family can hold incredible delight and a sense of adventure. But when we enter into such a situation our excitement can be diminished by a sense of fear that we won’t be accepted; we fear we’ll become and remain an outsider in the eyes of those around new to us. We fear we’ll be left alone.
Much of the drama of “Avatar” is tied up in Jake Sully’s effort to integrate himself into Na’vi society. While his avatar allows him to appear as one of the Na’vi he is immediately rejected for being a “dream walker”; a human “pilot” in a Na’vi body. Jake persists, however, and the Na’vi require him to endure a rigorous set of challenges to prove that he is a man (in the Na’vi sense) in order to become a true warrior and one of “the people”. Can you think of any challenges you've had to overcome (hoops you've had to jump through, etc.) to go from being an outsider to someone who’s welcomed and accepted? Can you think of a time when you made someone else prove themself in order to gain your acceptance?
One need not look far in the Bible to see that God is deeply interested in bringing the outsiders inside! God sees those who have separated themselves from Him through sin; God sees them and loves them. God looks at us and asks us do to the same. Consider St. Paul’s words from Colossians:
“Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to respond to each person.” (Colossians 4:5-6)
“Making the most of the opportunity”.
Go back into your personal experience and think of a time when someone took advantage of an opportunity to bring you “into the fold”. Think of how that made you feel, knowing that someone was actively pursuing you and genuinely desired that you feel welcome and at home. Are we as quick to act if such an opportunity were to arise with someone “outside” of God’s love? We all know at least one person who’s on the fringes. Like a child watching a sports game from a distance and longing to play there are countless who watch from afar and wish they could be a part of God’s family. Whatever they might say about themselves, their behavior, or their history, God yearns for them to be “inside” with the family of faith. Will you stand guard and hold the door open for those who are about to come home?
During Lent we’re reminded that we were once outsiders, too. Led by sin and Satan’s empty promises we wandered away from God’s plan. We opted for baser pleasures instead of turning to Christ and following His example of righteousness and love. But God has made a way for us to get back inside, a pathway for us to rejoin the family, a doorway by which we come into the fold. Our Lenten journey beings and ends at the food of that sacred doorway, at the foot of barren cross which bore Jesus, the Lamb of God.
See you tomorrow - E.T.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
"Content To Caution" Explanation and Key
Here’s the key:
Violence - (V-x)
Language - (L-x)
Drug Use - (DU-x)
Racial Themes - (RT-x)
Horror/Suspense - (H/R-x)
Crude Humor - (CH-x)
Sex/Nudity - (S/N-x)
And here’s an example:
Film Title: “Aliens”
V-4 – Things get a little dicey. The gore element is high.
DU-2 – Drinking and smoking.
RT-2 – The humans sure do hate the aliens.
H/S-4 – It is very scary, yes.
CH-2 – You know, Colonial Space Marines saying the sorts of things Colonial Space Marines say.
S/N-1 – Ripley wears a slinky (but not intentionally erotic) outfit when she goes into and awakes from hypersleep.
The Grading Scale
1/10 - A complete flop. A bomb. A film of no use to the world of cinema. A film to be avoided at all costs.
2/10 - A apple at the bottom of the barrel. Whatever value the film has is momentary and fleeting at best.
3/10 - A rebel film. What some might consider to have "cult" status. Worth renting but probably not buying. B-Rate at its best.
4/10 - A film that is acceptable and generally enjoyed. A film that will be the topic of water cooler attention but never receive the Academy's recognition.
5/10 - An average film. Functional and worth the watching but not something you'd necessarily commit to multiple viewings.
6/10 - A good film that just wasn't good enough to achieve the fame it might have deserved. Still worthy of praise for making it above movie mediocrity.
7/10 - A diamond in the rough. The sparkle of greatness is mixed with tolerable disappointment.
8/10 - A standard. Oscar-worthy and steady. A must-see and must-own.
9/10 - A classic or soon-to-be classic. Easy to watch over and over with consistent enjoyment. A spectacle of cinematic production and direction.
10/10 - A movie of the highest preparation, production, and presentation. Without any noticeable flaws or moments of want for anything. Cinematic perfection. Though awards are not required to achieve 10/10, these films may be heavily rewarded by the Academy and cinematic community.
E.T.'s Film Review Turns 4 Years Old! - Lent 2012
Some Christians choose to fast during the liturgical (church) season of Lent. Some give up meat, soda, Facebook, etc.; something that will challenge them to offer a daily sacrifice for Christ. Others choose to add something to their "spiritual diet" to strengthen their faith. Alongside fasting I've chosen to review motion pictures for the 40-Day season of Lent. My reviews will incorporate elements of critical review (directing, editing, sound design, scoring, etc.) and biblical review. For the latter I will attempt to study and review the film through the words and stories of the Bible. The overall aim of each review is to give you a sense what the film is about from a technical perspective and how we might learn more about God (and ourselves in so doing) through the stories, events, and conversations held within the motion pictures at hand.
In keeping with the many "God In The Movies"-type projects which have become so popular with contemporary theologians and entertainment aficionados I'll give fair treatment to both the technical and spiritual aspects of film review. The "Reel Revelation", however, is the focus of this Review.
I took it upon myself to select the films for this year's review along with a few suggestions. I've decided to incorporate two film series this year and will be going back and completing series which I started years past but only reviewed in part. This will once again present wonderful opportunities for series-based reflections and the chance to unpack larger or "richer" theological ideas.
I will only post reviews Monday-Friday, taking Saturday and Sunday off. I will endeavor to post each review in a timely manner. More often than not the reviews won't be available until late afternoon/evening. The first review will be posted later tonight, Wednesday, February 22nd.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
"Eat Pray Love" Reflection from Stacie
***A quick word on divorce in a Christian context: I do not believe the author of the book or producer of the movie intended a Christian sub-context from the title’s “Pray” or the movie’s spiritual context. I personally do not hold an “American New Yorker” protagonist character accountable to the same Judeo-Christian values that I personally ascribe to.
(In my personal experience, however, I am grateful to those values that caused me personally to take my vows gravely seriously: failure to do so on my part would have lead to a disastrous and painful marriage one year ago. I have nothing but incredible thanks to God for causing me to take them seriously, yet I still do not “judge” or in any way “devalue” another human being for holding different values.)
Liz: living the perfect American dream… but she feels like something is missing. She’s married to a good man, living a good life, and everything is “good.” Something is definitely missing. She wants out. Her marriage isn’t perfect – communication skills definitely lack, but she really isn’t in need for anything. So why is she feeling so guilty? Why is she feeling so dead?
Younger man David seems to fill the gaping hole… for a while. He’s different, exciting, new. Yet the same problems keep coming back. Empty. Dead. Lifeless. Something is missing. David seems to be a younger version of her former husband. Liz comes to a stunning realization: is the dead reality of life just filling it with man after man? Relationship after relationship? Could there be more to life?
Eating. Enjoying now. Not feeling guilty about savoring the moment. Not measuring oneself based on the opinion of another, or the feeling of whether the enjoyment is “deserved” just enjoying. Praying. Clearing space. Clearing the garbage to have room to love. Forgiving oneself. Love. Loving yourself. Trusting. Giving what you would have meaninglessly given before to be meaningful. Letting go.
I really enjoyed this movie: it symbolically represented the celebration of my one year past my breakup, and I’m somewhere in the between the Eat and Pray stages… :)
Pardon the fragmented sentences, but I really truly enjoyed the movie. I would add that with the whispers of love from my Creator, it added layers to my own story to this “Delightful Human Experience” realizing that it is both brilliant and beautiful, and that I am in the middle of my own healing process, and that God is good beyond my comprehension, and sometimes that overwhelms me… and as I read from C.S. Lewis, when you feel like something’s missing, maybe, just maybe you were destined for eternity? :)
