Clips for Christ

Movie Devotions: The King's Speech - Fulfilling Our Calling - Ephesians 4

2010-12-28T15:21:00.001-05:00

Ephesians 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

As per our usual custom, our family went to the movies on Christmas Day. We’ve done this for several years because we enjoy the atmosphere at the picture house, as well as the blockbuster of a movie that we choose to see.

This year, we chose “The King’s Speech,” which is definitely not a blockbuster but it may win more than a few Oscars. It’s about the story of King George VI of Britain who suffered from a terrible stammer. Each time he was called upon to make a public speech, his stuttering took over and ruined his presentations. When his older brother abdicated the British throne, George was thrust into the forefront of the British Empire and had to make many broadcasts. When war came to Britain in 1939, King George had to rally the nation. Without the determination of his Australian Speech therapist, the new king would never have been able to do this and the encouragement that the British public needed in the darkest days of war would never have been accomplished.

The movie is fantastic and I heartily recommend it to everyone. There is some cussing involved but it’s used to express the utter frustration that the king experiences with his stammer. Both Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush play their roles perfectly. This is a classic drama and a great representation of both these award winning actors.

King George fulfilled his calling to which he was appointed. He never chose to do this, but when called upon to lead his people, he put duty first and set aside his own preferences. He was one of the most beloved rulers that Britain has ever known and his own daughter Elizabeth epitomizes all that was best in him, as well as her devoted mother.

We are all given a calling in this life. We may not be called to be kings and queens of the nations, but are we expected to live our lives as heirs to God’s Eternal Kingdom. This means that as Christians our lives are meant to be significantly different from those around us. Our faithful calling is Christ’s vehicle to a fallen world and a faithless culture. If we set aside Christ’s desire for us in His work, then all that we accomplish in this life are our own preferences instead of the purposes that God has in store for us.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we are all different and individual. Our backgrounds, cultures and influences over our lives are as varied as we are. Yet with all of our differences, You call us to that one sameness in You. Help us to cast aside our preferences and to carry with us Your purposes each day. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send John an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Movie review: Clash of the Titans

2010-04-03T14:30:00.002-04:00

Two words best describe this current blockbuster: too dark. I’m not talking about the battle of evil vs good, I’m referring to the failure of this movie photographically. There are too many shadows, dark spaces, and dim lighting that the film suffers. If I was editing the movie, I would have upped the brightness level by 5-10%. If you really can’t see the actor’s mouth, you really can’t hear what they’re saying.

Even watching it in 3-D had no charms for me. Compared to Avatar, COTT is like one of those bad Japanese sixties movies that is all effects and nothing in dialogue. The 1981 version is a far better movie to watch. It has more pace, character, and imagination.

So if I was classifying this movie, what would I give it? D for Dud. The movie producers can release the Kraken on me or send me to Hades, but it would be far too dark for me to see or care.

Movie Review: The Young Victoria

2010-01-01T20:02:00.001-05:00

It’s about time that this historical royal love story was told in a way that reflects the devotion, charm, and wonderful love that Victoria and Albert once had for each other. Jean-Marc Vallee’s “The Young Victoria” is a beautiful movie which portrays the young queen’s romantic relationship in such a positive and alluring way.

The scenery, which mainly takes place in both Kensington and Buckingham Palaces, is breathtaking. The costumes are perfectly astounding, which makes this dramatic movie instantly comparable to anything that David Lean produced decades ago.

Whilst these things are essential to make a compelling and attractive movie, it’s the growing relationship between Victoria and Albert that keeps the audience enthralled. Emily Blunt was perfectly cast as the young Victoria and portrays the young princess’s frustrations and fears in ways that make the viewers want to cheer her as she faces down her opponents. Albert’s loving courtship and utter devotion to his future bride are utterly believable through Rupert Friend’s tremendous characterization.

The movie covers the early years of Victoria’s sixty three year reign and all of the political intrigue that occurred just before her coronation. The young princess is practically a recluse and prisoner in her mother’s home. She is used as a pawn between political foes and her ambitious relatives at home and abroad. Her uncle King William, remarkably played by Jim Broadbent, in the midst of his own spells of rancor and madness, tries to protect the young heir to the throne. His only wish is to live long enough for Victoria to reach the age of adulthood so that she will not be controlled by those around her.

In the midst of all this aristocratic skullduggery and Machiavellian machinations, young Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg comes into Victoria’s life and lovingly rescues her. It is Albert who makes Victoria strong by believing in her ability to successfully reign over her people. And it is this loving relationship which grows at a distance through the sharing of love letters that is beautifully portrayed in this film.

Some critics have panned the movie as being over-romantic and superficially sentimental. The audience that I experienced the movie with enjoyed the whole spectacle from start to finish. It’s a tear-jerker, but not what some would call a ‘chick flick.’ It’s an historical drama that brings to life the utter devotion and incredible love that Victoria and Albert shared.

If I was rating this movie, I would give it five stars for quality performances, historical settings, marvelous costumes, an excellent screenplay, and a wonderful ensemble of European actors. Miranda Richardson’s portrayal of Victoria’s mother and Paul Bettany’s charming and scheming Lord Melbourne are also highly commendable.

This remarkable movie's website can be found at http://theyoungvictoriamovie.com/

Christmas Movie Clips: Christmas Journey

2009-12-12T19:03:00.000-05:00

Christmas Movie featuring art of Stushie

Suitable for presentations at Christmas Eve services

Book of Eli Trailer: Biblical Violence being glorified or Holocaustic holiness?

2009-12-12T18:29:00.000-05:00

I wonder if this is a new trend...

Movie Devotions: End Stoning

2009-08-06T13:33:00.002-04:00

Jeremiah 9: 20 Now, O women, hear the word of the LORD; open your ears to the words of his mouth. Teach your daughters how to wail; teach one another a lament.

It was both brutal and harrowing. I wept buckets of tears and left the movie theater angry. In fact, I was so angry that my teeth were clenched throughout my fifteen minute drive home.

Every woman and every man in this land should see “The Stoning of Soraya M.” Women should see it because of the brutal stoning and gender discrimination that is portrayed. Men should see it because of their wicked use of faith to squash human rights and their weakness in standing up against falsehoods.

The leading actresses in the movie, Shohreh Aghdashloo and Mozhan Marnò deserve Oscars. They are strong and beautiful, resolute and courageous. But because this is a foreign movie and Hollywood is so narcissistic, they won’t even be mentioned. And yet, I honestly have never seen a more powerful movie in my life. It has changed me completely.

The movie doesn’t entertain the audience, it educates them. I don’t know if America is ready for this because we’re becoming so tabloid titillated and paparazzi pampered that we don’t know how to deal with serious global issues anymore.

I want to set up a new online ministry called “End Stoning.” I’ll highlight the verse (John 8 v7) from the Gospel where Jesus says, “Whoever amongst you is sinless, let him cast the first stone.” I’ve even set up a new blog at www.endstoning.wordpress.com. I’ll put information about stonings from around the world and list the contact addresses of politicians and leaders that people can write to in order to end this barbaric, satanic, and inhumane religious practice. If you want to help me, then send me an email to traqair@aol.com.

Go and see the movie. Women are lamenting all around the world because of this horrific occurrence. This is not God’s work, God’s way, nor is it God’s judgment. This is about man’s inhumanity to women. This is the 21^st century. This has to stop.

Prayer: O LORD, let Your Spirit move amongst us so that we can begin the work of removing this scourge from the Earth. Help us to do whatever we can to save people from being stoned to death. Educate and inform us in order that we may rescue and liberate those who live under this diabolical tyranny. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Movie Devotions: The Stoning of Soraya M

2009-08-05T13:05:00.001-04:00

Today’s devotion may be alarming to some. Please do not read if you are squeamish.

Isaiah 53: 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

I’m going to a movie this afternoon, but it’s not one that I’m going to enjoy. It’s called “The Stoning of Soraya M.” It’s about a young Iranian woman who was falsely accused of ‘unworthy conduct’ in her village and who ended up being horribly stoned to death, just for being a woman.

I cannot believe that in this 21^st century that women are being stoned to death in Iran. Gays and teenagers are also being killed in their communities by religious fanatics who wrongly believe that God wants these people stoned to death.

About eighteen months ago, I watched a horrifying video which was smuggled out of Iran of two young people being stoned to death. They were semi-entombed in a pit and covered in a white shroud. They were absolutely terrified and their families were desperately trying to protect them. When the mullah gave the word, stones the size of baseballs were harshly thrown against the bodies, faces, and heads of the unfortunate couple. Their agonized screams were drowned out by a fanatical chorus of “Allah akbhar!” (God is great!). The execution took fifteen minutes and when the camera secretly panned over the bodies all that could be seen was blood, guts, and brains.

How long can the United Nations allow this to happen? How long will Western governments dependent upon oil put up with these satanic injustices? How long will liberated women in the West ignore the plight of their sisters in Iran? And how long will Christian churches, whose Savior died a similar agonizing and repulsive death, who also spoke out against the stoning of women, how long will our churches refuse to speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves?

Prayer: Lord God, this world is tarnished by religious monsters and zealous terrorists who commit atrocities in Your Holy Name. Stop allowing them to hide behind the trappings of faith and raise up Your Son’s Church to courageously and boldly speak out against these evils. In Christ’s Holy Name, we pray for the women, the gays, and teenagers of Iran who live in fear of false accusations and satanic executions. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Tron Legacy Movie Clip

2009-08-01T12:31:00.003-04:00

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the movies....

A Few Good Men: Handling the Truth

2009-07-28T15:27:00.002-04:00

1 Samuel 3:17 "What was it he said to you?" Eli asked. "Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you."

Did you ever see the movie ‘A Few Good Men?’ it stars Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson. It’s a courtroom drama and its gripping climax comes when Tom Cruise is cross examining Nicholson near the end. In a battle of words, Cruise passionately insists that he wants to hear the truth, to which Nicholson aggressively replies: “You can’t handle the truth!”

When old Eli insists that the boy Samuel tells him what God has spoken to him, he wants to hear the truth, no matter what it is. Samuel is reluctant to tell him because it is a prophetic curse upon Eli and his sons. But Eli persists and even curses Samuel with the same fate if he does not tell him what God has said.

I wonder if moments later Eli had wished he hadn’t been given the message. The truth was ruthless and full of judgment upon Eli and his family. Would he have been better off being ignorant of God’s wrathful message?

I try to preach the Gospel from the pulpit on Sunday mornings. Sometimes when I’m looking over a chosen passage, I wish that Jesus hadn’t said what He did. I know that when I start preaching the truth, it is sometimes too much for people in the pews to handle. So I’m left with a dilemma, do I please the people by diluting the Gospel, or do I please Jesus by not mincing His words?

The truth about the Gospel is this: some people can’t handle it, so they shape it into something that makes them comfortable and spiritually cozy. But they ignore this truth – how cozy is the Cross? How comfortable are the calls that Christ makes to us to repent, challenge our ways, and change our lives? A Gospel that is comfortable makes us all spiritual couch potatoes; Christ’s Gospel, which is awkward and challenging, makes us who God calls us to be.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we’ve let society become our Savior and allowed the world to become the Word. We’ve surrendered our souls to coziness and peacefulness, instead of aligning our spirits to the Gospel and You. We honestly can’t handle the Truth and so we make up our own Way, which leads us to no Life. Forgive us and rebuke us; direct us and renew us. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

A Feast of Easter

2009-04-10T21:06:00.001-04:00

The Easter Story, as told through my Christian contemporary art.

High Noon - A Good Friday Devotion

2009-04-10T16:38:00.002-04:00

From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi,lama sabachthani?" — which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

The first time I ever came across the word “forsake” was when I saw the old black & white western movie, “High Noon.” You’ll remember that it starred Gary Cooper as a US Marshall who single handedly has a gunfight with four gunslingers whoa re out to get their revenge. As if that wasn’t enough to deal with, it’s also Gary Cooper’s wedding day and his bride, played by Grace Kelly is thinking about deserting him.

The title song of the movie, sung by Tex Ritter, is called “Do Not Forsake Me, O My Darling,” and it more or less tells the whole story of the picture. It’s a wonderful song and I learned it completely as a child. If I had the time, I could sing to you from start to finish.

So I learned from that movie that the word ‘forsaken’ means to abandon someone in the midst of deep trouble and possibly life threatening circumstances. When I later came across the passage from scripture where Jesus shouts out from the Cross, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” all that I could think of, was how abandoned Jesus felt by His Father.

It must have been both a terrible and terrifying moment for Jesus. As His life is fading away and the pain is most excruciating, it’s as if the Devil chooses this weak moment to tempt Jesus into believing that the situation is hopeless and that God can no longer bear to watch what is happening. Only the night before, Jesus pleaded with God to take this cup of sacrifice away from Him. He didn’t personally want to go through with it, but eventually Jesus surrendered Himself to God’s will.

As Christ calls out these words, beneath the Cross His beloved Mother is also going through the same agony, second by second, tear by tear, blood drop by blood drop. Jesus’ words must have pierced her heart and I imagine that Mary must also have felt forsaken by God and the promises that Gabriel had given to her before Christ was born. But perhaps she also remembered that another name was given to Jesus – that of Immanuel – which means God is with us. Mary could do nothing for her Son at that time, except to hold on to the promise that God had not forsaken them, but was still in the midst of the suffering.

As each Easter comes and goes, we all experience loss and grief, separation and suffering, pain and anxiety. During those moments, sometimes despair will rend our hearts and bring chaos to our minds. On Good Friday, we recall the suffering of our Savior, the heartbreak of His Mother, and the holy presence of the God who suffers with us. We are not forsaken nor forgotten by God. We are supported, embraced, and completely loved.

Amazing Grace

2009-04-01T10:59:00.001-04:00

Hosea 14:4 I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them.

Podcast Version here:

Sometimes when I make mean mistakes or selfishly sin, I think that God is deeply disappointed and angry with me. I find it difficult to approach Him with the right contrition and sincerity, so I end up wondering if I will be forgiven. I don’t feel worthy enough to be saved or good enough to be pardoned, and sometimes a darkness overwhelms my soul. It’s a frightening thing to fear God and to think that He will harshly judge me.

And then, just as I need it most, the Spirit leads me to a biblical verse which turns out to be a wonderful promise of God’s grace in action. Even as a pastor, I need to hear God speak to my soul. And He does today through these wonderful words of Hosea. It’s as if God is saying to me: “I will heal your waywardness and love you freely, for my anger has turned away from you.”

I don’t know if you’ve ever seen the movie, ‘Amazing Grace.’ It’s all about William Wilberforce, the great anti-slave trade opponent who gave his life seeking to abolish slavery throughout Britain and her colonies. In one scene from the movie, Wilberforce is seen talking to John Newton, the slave trader turned preacher. Newton is agonizing over his sinful past and despairingly expresses his deep regrets. At one moment, he is almost overwhelmed with his past wickedness. Then he boldly declares: “I know two things – I am a great sinner and that Christ is a Great Savior.”

We all carry burdens of past mistakes and each of us have moments when we feel our guilt before God. But His grace through Jesus Christ is so almighty and complete, that all our sins can be forgiven, our past burdens can be relieved, and our future hopes can be restored. We just need to come to Christ in prayer to receive these wonderful blessings.

Prayer: Father God, we know that we offend, disappoint, and anger You with our sinful ways and selfish choices. We confess to doing stupid things and making serious mistakes. We seek Your mercy and forgiveness through Christ’s sacrifice and grace. In His Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor at Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Goodbye, Mr. Chips

2009-03-16T14:11:00.004-04:00

Some movies are like good wine – as the years go by, they mature into a great vintage. Take the 1969 musical “Goodbye, Mr. Chips,” starring Peter O’Toole and Petula Clark. When it was first released, the world was in awe of Armstrong walking on the moon. The musical seemed quaint and old-fashioned, and was quietly acclaimed, but not much of a success.

Forty years, however, have transformed this beautiful picture into a vintage movie-screen performance.

Most people think that O’Toole was magnificent in Lawrence of Arabia and that Petula Clark was an acclaimed sixties pop-singer with one hit “Down Town.” They have probably not seen this movie. Both these actors are truly wonderful together in this film production.

O’Toole plays a stoic and dull English Schoolmaster whose life is transformed and turned upside down by a talented and lively musical hall actress played by Clark. The chemistry between the two is evident on the screen, making the James Hilton’s classic story both charming and captivating. It is a wonderful tale of true love between opposites and a lifelong vocation.

The music is not exhilarating, but the songs touch the soul. Petula’s performances are a “hit,” and it is great to see and hear a classic actor like O’Toole croon the lyrics.

Although I still think that both Robert Donat and Greer Garson played their characters outstandingly in the original black and white movie, this musical and its two main performers tell the story in a wonderful way, too.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Laurel and Hardy: Lonesome Pine

2009-02-26T14:20:00.003-05:00

Even after all these years, it still raises a pleasant smile!

Transfiguration Sunday: Gone with the Wind

2009-02-22T01:19:00.003-05:00

A great moment in cinematic history and an intense transforming moment for Scarlett O'Hara.

The Legend of Bagger Vance

2009-02-15T19:31:00.005-05:00

"The Legend of Bagger Vance" is a highly under-rated movie, but it displays the excellence of Robert Redford’s directing. I always meant to go and see this on the big screen because golfing movies need a giant screen to be truly appreciated. However, the movie is not about the game; it’s about the people who play it.

The scenery is fantastic. Kiawah Island in South Carolina makes a perfect backdrop for this wonderful feel good movie. The storyline is like “The River” (another excellent Redford movie) meeting “Field of Dreams.” It never lags or disappoints you; in fact it enchants you.

Much has been made about this being one of Will Smith’s worst movies. I couldn’t disagree more. If you just want to see Smith as a smart-mouthed, high adrenaline, good guy vs. the bad guy black actor, then you will miss the subtlety and charm Smith hs to offer in this production. His acting is never way over the top. He plays Bagger Vance perfectly, and it makes me think that this will personally be one of his favorite roles. As the caddie who comes out of nowhere to help a has-been golfer, Smith excels. And the other great thing about the movie is this: Matt Damon does not compete with Smith on the screen – they both compliment and augment each other’s acting ability.

This is also a charming romantic movie. The chemistry between Matt Damon as local hero Rannulph Junnuh and Charlize Theron as the heiress Adele Invergordon is wonderful. Miss Theron is palpably beautiful throughout the screenplay. The highs and lows of the couple are depicted over twelve years, and in the end they happily find each other again.

Rachel Portman’s theme music is exceptional and wonderfully sets the mood for the legendary golfing showdown between Junnuh, Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen. The whole era is magically captured on the screen and I found the entire movie a joy to behold and experience.

Jack Lemmon’s cameo appearance, as well as his narration throughout the picture is marvelous. You get the feeling that the whole cast enjoyed the entire movie and if there had been an Oscar for best ensemble, I think it would have won it.

Lastly, the young Hardy Greaves (whose elderly character is played by Jack Lemmon) is wonderfully portrayed by J. Michael Moncrief – a local Savannah lad who beat 2000 other applicants to play the part. He has the key character that holds the movie together – it says a lot about the acting security of Smith, Damon, and Theron to allow such a young local boy to do so well.

I wouldn’t have thought so before I saw this movie, but “The Legend of Bagger Vance” has become one of my Top Ten. I rate it five stars out of five for entertainment, character value, scenery, music and direction.

Matt Damon thought he was under attack from a lunatic stalker when an on-set explosion brought his new film to a standstill. He was practicing hitting golf balls for his role as a golfing phenomenon in The Legend Of Bagger Vance when he laid into a practical joke ball - shattering it into a hundred pieces and sending a cloud of smoke into the air. In the background, his young co-star J. Michael Moncrief collapsed giggling to his knees. Damon says, "My immediate reaction was to throw myself to the ground. I thought somebody, possibly a loopy fan, has thrown a grenade. "It was genuinely scary. The last thing I expected to happen. Then I saw JM and realized I had been the victim of a practical joke!"

Richard III

2009-02-11T13:53:00.001-05:00

John 6:15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

I love February because it’s Oscars month on Turner Classic movies. I get to record and watch the old movies with famous actors like Errol Flynn, Olivia de Haviland, Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, and Greer Garson.

For the past two night, I’ve been watching Laurence Olivier in Richard III. He plays one of the sleaziest, greediest, and wickedest villains on the screen. I love Shakespeare’s plays anyway, but Olivier’s acting is absolutely amazing.

Richard, Duke of Gloucester, cheats, conspires, and kills his way into becoming the King of England. Along the way, he makes many enemies and at the end of the play, he is left destitute on the battlefield. That’s when Olivier utters the immortal lines: “A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!” Justice is served and the villainous king is cut down and killed by his rival.

When I read the Gospel passage this morning, I was reminded that the people wanted to make Jesus their king, just because He supplied them with fish and bread. They wanted Him to provide for them, to heal their sicknesses, to satisfy their hunger, and to make their lives pleasant.

But Jesus was on a mission from God, so He couldn’t be tempted by such an offer. He was serving God, not Himself. He was doing God’s will, not His own.

This also reminds me that our faith in Christ is purely meant to glorify and honor Him. If we seek Jesus to bless us all the time and to make our lives easier, then we’ve crowned the wrong kind of king in our hearts. If we place our lives into His hands and seek to serve His kingdom here on earth, then we’ve truly made Him the King of our lives.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to place You at the center of our lives and to honor You with our service to Your Kingdom. Enable us to keep You as the King of our hearts and Lord of our days. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

New In Town - Renee Zellweger

2009-01-31T18:47:00.003-05:00

This movie is absolutely hilarious and the perfect escapist remedy for the gloomy economic times that we’re living in. I’ve always liked Renée Zellweger as an actress, but she is also a terrific comedienne. I think that she must have had a great deal of fun on the set and it comes across in her character.

The storyline is a bit like Baby Boom meets Fargo. Minnesotan accents and characteristics are everywhere. Zellweger plays a highly attractive Miami jet-setting executive, Lucy Hill, who is sent to the Northern town of New Ulm to downsize the plant. The plotline is predictable, but that’s what makes the movie work so well. Everything that you’re rooting for in the movie transpires. It’s the old formula of a large commercial company taking over and closing down a small rural plant. And as the storyline develops, true to form, Zellweger’s Lucy Hill falls in love with the area, as well as the people.

In my opinion, the casting is perfect. J K Simmons plays Stu Kopenhafer, the typical curmudgeon of a maintenance manager who is totally pan-faced throughout the movie. He has some of the best one-liners in the film and his antics are a joy to watch.

Harry Connick Jr plays the local union representative, Ted Mitchell, and ends up becoming Zellweger’s romantic partner. The scenes between the two of them whilst hunting in snow-laden forest had me laughing until I cried. The whole audience in the cinema found it absolutely hysterical and it reminded me that the contagious laughter of ordinary people is one of the best things about life.

Siobhan Fallon Hogan steals the movie at times with her small town scrap book making, Jesus loving, factory secretary Blanche Gunderson. She plays opposite Zellweger’s city life Lucy Hill wonderfully, and the two of them light up the whole movie.

The small town setting and the snow covered landscapes are wonderful to see, but the best scene in the movie takes place on Christmas Eve. The whole community gathers around the town’s Christmas tree singing a Christmas Carol. It is pleasantly played down, so that it evokes a simple, rural hometown nostalgia that many urbanite city dwellers miss in the hustle and bustle of the season.

I also liked the touching relationship between Connick Jr. and his screen daughter Ferron Guerreiro playing Bobbie. Her prom night transition from Daddy’s little girl to a lovely young lady, under Zellweger’s direction, is very heart-warming.

I would rate the movie four out of five stars for the cast, characters, and side splitting humor. It is rated PG-13 for some adult humor, but nothing that I think is offensive.

Movie website: http://www.newintownmovie.com/

Wingclips.com has a few good clips for studies.

Persepolis

2009-01-28T22:53:00.003-05:00

It seems strange to be writing about an animated movie about a Muslim girl in a Christian website, but Persepolis is an intriguing coming-of-age film that transcends language, culture, and religion.

The movie portrays the younger life of Marjane Satrapi who grew up in Iran during the 1970s when the Shah stilled ruled the country. Her independent and freedom loving family show us a part of Iranian life that has largely disappeared due to the Khomeini revolution and religious oppression that takes place in Tehran today.

Marjane’s rebellious streak is celebrated throughout the movie, which is a testimony to the real strength of freedom-loving Iranian women. Her adventures and setbacks, her family’s love of life and tragedies are well told throughout the story. Especially touching is the relationship Marjane has with her spirited grandmother.

Marjane’s feelings about sharia, as well as the decadence of the West are shared throughout the movie. Her survival and tenacity to remain independent are expressed as a remarkable journey of self-discovery and liberty. Marjane’s heart is firmly attached to her family and the country that she loves, but her fierce independence means that she must live in a self-imposed exile in order to survive.

The black and white animation is beautifully drawn and creates a bye-gone world that is hard to believe existed before the ravages of the revolution. The music perfectly accompanies the action and makes the whole movie very entertaining and appealing.

Some adult themes of free love and sexual encounters are portrayed in the movie. Drugs and binge drinking are also featured. Some crude language is used and heavy criticisms of all kinds of religions are mentioned.

The dialogue is all in French, but the subtitles do not interfere with the action. I would give the movie 5 stars and it has well deserved the many film awards that it has received.

The movie has its own website where you can read other reviews, watch scenes, look at interviews and listen to the wonderful soundtrack.

Movie website: http://www.sonyclassics.com/persepolis/

Movie trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PXHeKuBzPY

Interview with Marjane Satrapi http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kRiyFb8lRk

New Star Trek Movie Trailer

2009-01-17T12:25:00.003-05:00

I can't wait...

Triumph of the Spirit (1989)

2009-01-16T22:16:00.004-05:00

This is both a brutal and beautiful movie, directed by Robert M. Young. It’s about the awful choices and true experiences of a Greek Olympian boxer, Salamo Arouch, who was deported to Auschwitz concentration camp, along with his entire family.

Willem Defoe (Green Goblin in Spiderman) deftly plays Salamo with stoic conviction. He has to regularly box before the SS Officers, in life or death matches. Salamo has to totally defeat his opponents in order to live, as well sharing food with his family.

Edward James Olmos (Adama in Battlestar Galactica) plays his gypsy minder, whose ability to comically entertain the Nazis, keeps them both alive.

Robert Loggia (Jagged Edge), who plays Dafoe’s father, is terrific. The scene, when he hears about the tragic fate of his wife and children, is intensely portrayed. And when he has to leave Defoe to be terminated by the Nazis, is one of the most touching and heartbreaking moments in the film.

The plight of women prisoners at Auschwitz is also chronicled by the movie, but most of the story deals with the men. The movie was also filmed on location at Auschwitz, which adds a chilling component to the film.

It is an R rated movie because of the brutality and some nudity. It is a compelling story and should be recognized as one of the Top Ten Holocaust movies ever made. Any Christian group that is discussing the Holocaust should take a look at the Making of the Movie clips.

Making of the Movie Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AijXVCtJ9aM

Clips from the movie: http://www.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/screenplay/vi3523150105/

Youtube trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSjzWQVUfoY

Sweeney Todd

2009-01-01T22:53:00.005-05:00

Johnny Depp's performance as Sweeny Todd was electrifying. He was both mesmerizing and menacing in Tim Burton’s gruesome and gory adaptation of Sondheim’s musical. Depp’s singing was also superb. If he based his character Jack Sparrow from “Pirates of the Caribbean” on Keith Richards, then he must have pitched his singing voice to reflect David Bowie’s skills.

The whole movie was incredible. As usual, Burton skillfully mixed the macabre with the wonderfully weird. The whole cinematic atmosphere was like “Sin City” meets “Oliver!” and it worked beautifully. Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett was the perfect partner to Depp’s Todd. She oozed malice in a gorgeous way. The seaside scene from the musical, in the midst of all the blood and gore, was a hilarious relief. Both Depp and Carter were like Frankenstein creations. Their make up made them look like menacing mannequins, brought to life by the evil of the times.

Alan Rickman and Timothy Spall were so ugly in the movie that the audience cheered when their throats were splayed open and a fountain of blood gushed forth. Tim Burton definitely did not hold back on the special effects. The slitting of throats was so severe that I had to look away from the screen several times.

In the end the movie leaves you with that “wow” experience. You know that you’ve been to a great theatrical and cinematic experience. If Sweeney misses out on snapping up most of the Oscars, then Hollywood needs to have its own critical throat cut. “Sweeney Todd” is more than just a movie: it’s destined to become a cultural classic.

Although I wouldn’t heartily recommend this movie to every Christian, I think that it has practical applications that could be discussed by mature Christians. Evil does not triumph and the sickness of vengeful souls is never healed. Murder is not glorified and violence is not excused or justified. Love and loneliness are shown to be powerful feelings that can corrupt the human soul. If ever there was a movie made about the empty road to perdition, this is it.

Movie Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_hgrfZVlJA

Official website: http://www.sweeneytoddmovie.com/

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

2009-01-01T22:41:00.003-05:00

I watched one of my favorite movies recently that I haven’t seen in decades. It’s called “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” and stars Alan Arkin as a deaf mute, and Sondra Locke as a teenager. It’s a precious movie which deals with loneliness, mental illness, injustice, racism, love and life all at the same time. I would heartily recommend that it be viewed by parents of High Schoolers, as well as teenagers themselves.

It’s a beautiful story that has a sad ending. It evokes a lot of emotions, but what captivated me when I watched it this time, was the Americana throughout the movie. It was filmed in 1968 in Selma, Alabama, and watching it was like going back in time. The buildings, the stores and the streets were attractively small town America; the people, their hairstyles and clothes were all Southern mid-sixties styles - the likes of which we shall probably never see again.

Sondra Locke’s character, Mick, is a young girl who wants to learn to play music. Sadly, her dreams are shattered when her father cannot work due to disability. In a poignant moment, she pleads with her mother to let her stay at High school: “I feel as though I’m going to be somebody, momma. I want to do something with my life.” Stoically, her mother responds, “Well, you’ll soon grow out of that.”

It’s at that moment that Mick realizes she will have to give up her dreams and work for the sake of her family.

Verse of the Day

2 Corinthians 12:14 Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

Most of the time, parents try to work hard for the sake of their children. They make sacrifices and save up, so that their kids can start off on the right foot when it comes to establishing themselves, their careers, their hopes and dreams. Paul mentions this when he is writing his second letter to the church at Corinth. He feels like a parent to them, and is willing to expend his resources of time, talents, and money so that the church will grow. He sees it as his gift to them. He wants them to grow strong in faith, in numbers, and influence. Happily, his work and devotion, sacrifice and blessings enabled the church to fulfill its potential.

So, how do we apply this lesson today? Firstly, if we are parents, we should remember that we brought our children into the world, therefore we need to support them when they seek to find and fulfill their dreams. Secondly, we should be thinking about the future of the churches to which we belong. Instead of looking for what we can get from church, we should be investing in its future. That way, we allow future generations to benefit through the blessings and gifts we bestow today.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we pray for our children. We ask that You will enable and empower us to love and support them, to honor and encourage them. We pray that they will find and fulfill their dreams. We also pray that they will find faith in You and seek to serve You through Your Church. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Penelope

2009-01-01T22:32:00.004-05:00

If you want to see a good film this week rent or buy the DVD “Penelope.” It’s a great family movie, , very funny, and highly entertaining.

Christina Ricci is absolutely gorgeous in the movie, which is all about a young heiress who is under a family curse. Her piggish features leave her isolated in her home, whilst her parents try to find a willing husband for her.

Catherine O’Hara plays yet another quirky and obsessive mom, whilst current Scottish heartthrob James McAvoy plays a drifter who falls in love with Ricci’s Miss Piggy.

Reese Witherspoon plays a comical role as a UPS dispatch rider and she has some of the best one-liners in the movie.

The film has a talented cast and I would give it five stars for great family entertainment and its happy ending. It may not have been big at the box office, but this has the potential of becoming an annual TV movie classic.

And after the movie, the kids can go to the official website at http://www.penelopethemovie.com/ for more interactive fun.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBSItZ4T86I

The Duchess

2009-01-01T22:21:00.004-05:00

Keira Knightley perfectly plays the Duchess of Devonshire in her new movie, "The Duchess." What lessons of faithfulness can we learn from such a movie?

Podcast version here

Nehemiah 9:33 In all that has happened to us, you have been just; you have acted faithfully, while we did wrong.

Yesterday, Evelyn and I went to see the new British movie called “The Duchess.” It stars Keira Knightley, who usually pouts, sighs, and overacts too much for me to enjoy any of her movies. I wanted to see this movie because I read the book a couple of years ago.

It’s all about Georgiana Cavendish, who marries young to become the Duchess of Devonshire. It takes place towards the end of the 18th century, when Britain was undergoing turmoil due to the American Revolution overseas. The movie portrays the loves and sadnesses in Georgiana’s life, as well as the impact that she had on society. Keira Knightley portrays her perfectly, whilst the scenery and costumes are absolutely amazing. It’s one of those movies that you have to see on the big screen and I give it two thumbs up.

Who was the Duchess of Devonshire? She was the Princess Diana and Elizabeth Cady Stanton of her time. She was a trend setter whose sense of fashion was copied throughout Britain. She was also a political pioneer and even although she could not vote, she made appearances and speeches at conventions, seeking to usher in a brave new world for the failing British Empire. Many of the famous Gainsborough paintings of Regency women were based upon Georgiana’s influence. Had she lived in today’s world, she would be on the cover of every fashion magazine on earth, as well as Time magazine.

The sadness in her life was that she desperately tried to be faithful to her older husband. His unfaithfulness and rakish life both shocked and scandalized her until she was forced to look for love elsewhere. She had an affair and a daughter by her lover Charles Grey, who was destined to become Prime Minister of Britain and to whom Earl Grey tea is named after. Georgiana sadly died at the young age of 49. Two of her most famous descendants were Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, both of whom were married to Prince Charles and Prince Andrew of the present British Royal Family.

So what’s this got to do with a devotional for today? I think it comes in the faithfulness factor. Georgiana was a young girl when she married, full of hopes, dreams, and expectations. Those closest to her wronged her and changed her through their unfaithfulness, which serves as a lesson for all of us.

God remains faithful to us through the power of Christ’s obedience to Him. We are often unfaithful in worshiping and revering God, but His patience is long standing and His love for us endures. Through Jesus, we can come back to God at any time, to confess our biggest faults and mistakes. With Christ beside us, we are heard, cleansed, and restored to God, no matter who we are or what we’ve done.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive our foolish and unfaithful ways. Cleanse us of the past and restore us to God’s favor. You are our Lord and Champion; our Savior and Great Redeemer. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

Movie Website: http://www.theduchessmovie.com/

Valkyrie

2009-01-01T14:46:00.004-05:00

Tom Cruise’s new movie, “Valkyrie,” deeply troubled me. It left me with a question that has concerned Christians for over sixty years: why didn’t God allow the bunker assassination to work? It would have saved millions of lives, and the Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War, as well as the Gulf wars, might never have happened. Why did God permit such a monster as Adolf Hitler to survive the bomb? Why didn’t He allow the assassination attempt to be successful?

I guess I’ll have to go back and read some of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s writings from prison.

The movie was excellent and the intensity of the conspiracy was totally captivating. The plot to kill Hitler was carefully laid out and the actors who portrayed their historical characters were tremendous. If ever an Oscar was created for Best Cast in a movie, it would be this one. The Press have focused upon Tom Cruise and his eye patch, but the supporting cast make the movie suspenseful and utterly believable.

You know how it is all going to end, but it doesn’t stop you from rooting for the conspirators. There are even a couple of scenes that portray what would have happened if the plot had been successful. However, history is not about what if, but about what occurred.

Tom Cruise plays his usual intense role, but I don’t think it’s an Oscar winning performance. He is more than ably assisted by a blockbuster cast – Kenneth Branagh, Terence Stamp, Bill Nighy, and Tom Wilkinson.

Nazi Germany is depicted in a ‘comfortable’ way, which makes the atrocities that Hitler and his henchmen committed so horrendous. Instead of the usual tyrannical dictator, Hitler comes across as a benign grandfather, who is looking after his people. The one chilling moment for me in the movie occurs when Hitler calmly broadcasts over the radio that he is alive and still in control. It comes across as a friendly fireside chat and reminded me that evil is at its most wicked when it appears to be most comforting.

Documentaries about the movie have the cast talking about the execution scenes as being highly charged and very emotional for the actors. If so, this never transpired on the big screen. It all felt very stoic and routinely Prussian. I think I would have liked to have seen more about the trials, rather than concentrating on a firing squad.

Over all, I’d give the movie four stars out of five. Now where did I put my copy of Bonhoeffer’s ‘Letters and Papers from Prison’?

Official Movie Site: http://valkyrie.unitedartists.com/

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSy96KB7Dh4

Bella - A Beautiful Movie

2008-12-28T22:43:00.004-05:00

If you enjoy ‘a day in the life of’ type of movies, you’ll find this one compelling. The story is about Nina, (Sophie Nyweide) a young waitress in a Mexican restaurant, who gets fired for turning up late. The restaurant owner’s brother, Jose (Eduardo Verastegui), who is also the chef, walks off his job to befriend Nina and discovers that she is pregnant. Instead of abandoning her, he accompanies Nina throughout the day, sharing his support and friendship. This leads Nina to make a very important decision about the fate of the unborn child.

Nina and Jose have past tragedies in their own lives, which they have struggled to overcome. The gift of time, understanding, and friendship that they give to one another throughout the day, helps them both to be healed of the past.

I loved the journey through New York City that the movie portrays using subways, trains, and taxi cabs. The conversation that the two major characters have is very moving and intense at times. There is also a beautiful moment when Nina is asked by a blind beggar to describe the sights around her.

The movie is a pleasant blend of white American and Latino cultures. Subtitles are used at times, but they don’t interfere with the story. When Jose invites Nina back to his family home, the feelings of welcome, acceptance, and understanding that Nina needs, are found in the compassion of his mother and father.

The movie deals with adult situations, but not in a gratuitous way. The care that Jose displays to Nina enables her to overcome her fears and worries. She does not want to go through with her pregnancy, but Jose’s sincerity reassures her in many beautiful ways. He also needs Nina to go through with the pregnancy in order to redeem himself from a tragic past.

The ending is absolutely marvelous and brings the whole story to a beautiful ending and new beginning. It’s during those last scenes that we at last get to know who Bella actually is. The actors are relatively unknown, but that enriches the whole film. The characters become real people and not just movie stars playing real people.

I think it would be a wonderful movie for any adult Sunday school or Youth group to view. It will inspire a lot of questions and discussion that we tend avoid in our churches today. The movie was also the 2007 winner of the prestigious Toronto Film Award.

Movie website: http://www.bellamoviesite.com/

Youtube Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ9AkTrbxgk

August Rush

2008-11-27T11:07:00.008-05:00

Genesis 1:4 - God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. (NIV)

I watched a great movie recently that has become one of my top ten. I had been meaning to watch it for awhile because my daughters told me it was terrific. I've also used some clips from the movie in the Sunday School class that I teach each week. So, late one evening, I began to watch August Rush.

It's really an updated version of Oliver Twist (Oliver! is also in my top ten). The plot is about a young boy called Evan, who grows up in an orphanage, and who has some amazing hearing and musical skills. As he listens to the world around him, he can hear all sorts of music and rhythms. He also believes that his parents, who unknowingly abandoned him, can hear that music too. Evan thinks that if he can write and play the music he hears in his head and heart, he will be reunited with his parents.

The music in the movie is beautiful, and the setting is mostly in New York. Evan's adventure is as delightful as Oliver Twist's in London town. The whole story is a musical journey, and the characters, who lead separate lives, are wonderfully drawn together. The crescendo of the movie builds until it reaches both a musical and dramatic climax that had me in tears. It's a great family movie, and I would recommend it to anyone. The separation issues in August Rush are beautifully overcome.

Freddie Highmore plays Evan so brilliantly that you cannot help but cheer for him throughout the entire movie. It's a great film for a Youth Group lock-in, dealing with issues of relationships, sexuality, abandonment, and innocence.

When God separated the light from the darkness in the creation of the universe, I wonder if He did it musically, as well as dramatically. I wonder if all the angels, who watched the universe being born, sang gloriously as God spun the galaxies, stars, and planets together. I would love to have been there, watching God as a master craftsman building the physical structure of the cosmos. And as He wove our planet into being, I wonder if God was whistling, humming, or singing.

Today, as I look at the world around me, I'm going to try to listen as well. I want to be keyed into the voice of God and hear what He is saying through all the interaction of life that is buzzing around me. I want to feel that I am ready to hear what He says and no longer be separated from His universal song. I want to listen to God singing; I want to join in the cosmic chorus.

Prayer: Lord God, life is truly amazing, and this planet is a wonderful world. Help us to listen to Your voice and realize that there is music in all that You do and accomplish. Allow us to accompany You in the celestial song of creation. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Movie Homepage: http://augustrushmovie.warnerbros.com/

The Boy in Striped Pajamas

2008-11-14T21:49:00.004-05:00

James Horner’s haunting theme for the movie, “The Boy in Striped Pyjamas,” is a musical combination of innocence and dread. The music captivates all that transpires in this moving film. The critics will probably pan it for underplaying the intensity of the holocaust, but they are missing an innovative perspective that this movie brings: the innocence of children in the midst of a nightmarish and devastating time.

The story, written by John Boyne, is about two boys on either side of the electrified, barbed-wired fence of a Nazi concentration camp. Bruno, innocently played by young Asa Butterfield, is the eight year old child of the camp’s commandant. He befriends an equally young Jewish boy called Shmuel (Jack Scanlon). Their secret friendship makes them each ponder their circumstances, whilst comparing their fathers’ personalities. Each day, Bruno and Shmuel surreptitiously play games with each other, completely unaware of the horrors and atrocities that are taking place inside the camp.

Initially, Bruno is convinced that the camp is a farm and wonders why the workers wear striped pajamas all day long. And even when he meets Shmuel, he is convinced that the number on his jacket is all part of a silly game that the workers are playing.

Throughout the movie, the feeling of dread persists, but both boys retain their innocence until the last few stunning minutes in the movie, when both of them are caught up in a whirlwind of horrifying events, which they sadly cannot escape. Their innocence is brutally crushed, but their friendship is undying when Shmuel lovingly takes Bruno’s hand. It’s the tenderest and most loving part in a very sad movie.

The rest of the cast wonderfully underplay their characters in order to make the two boys shine. David Thewlis, who is more recently known for playing bungling Professor Lupin in the Harry Potter series, conveys evil in a matter-of-fact manner. The commandant is absolutely soulless, which makes him appallingly dangerous.

Vera Farmiga, who played alongside Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson and Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Departed,” plays Bruno’s mother, whose hopes and expectations for her family, as well as her pride for her husband, are shattered completely when she realizes the horrific truth about what is happening to the Jewish prisoners in the concentration camp.

Amongst the other actors, David Heyman plays a cameo role of a Jewish doctor, who is reduced to using his surgical skills to peel potatoes in the commandant’s kitchen. David Heyman is one of Britain’s finest actors, as well as being the founder of Heyday Productions, which produced this movie, as well as the successful Harry Potter series.

Perhaps the movie will not live up to people’s expectations of Holocaust-themed films, but it may eventually become a vehicle for educating young people about those horrific times. Overall, I would rate it with a B+.

Movie Homepage
http://www.boyinthestripedpajamas.com/

Discussion Study Guide: http://www.boyinthestripedpajamas.com/BOYDiscussionGuide_Heartland%5b3%5d.pdf

Podcast devotional on the Movie
http://media.libsyn.com/media/stushie/Striped_Pajamas.mp3

Youtube Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5FU-yDC-uI