Category: Movies

Top 10: Superhero Movies

The Big Guy helped me compile this list.

#10: Spider Man 2 TBG

spidy2

 

#9: Captain America: Winter Solider — I like what I like. DH

wintersolider

#8: X-MEN First Class TBG

xmen1stclass

#7: Avengers: Age of Ultron — I’m a Marvel fan. To me the Avengers are the cornerstone of the Marvel Universe.  DH

ultron

#6: The Dark Knight TBG

darkknight

#5: The Avengers  — I’ve always been an Avengers fan.  This is still one of my favorites. DH

avengers

#4: Iron Man TBG

ironman

#3: The Incredibles  — With the popularity and success of The Incredibles I’m surprised it has taken Disney so long to come out with a sequel. DH

incredibles

#2: Guardians of Galaxy TBG

gotg

#1: Captain America: The First Avenger — Captain America may be one of my favorite recent movies. I’ve always enjoyed super hero movies and grew up reading comics. Captain America was one that I really didn’t know much about his story until this movie.  DH

capamerica

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Stars Wars: What’s the Big Deal?

Unless you have been hiding under a rock in a galaxy far, far away you are probably aware that Stars Wars: The Force Awakens (Episode 7) opened yesterday. Surprisingly, I’ve heard, read or had conversations lately with several people who just don’t get what the deal with Star Wars. Of course, if you are Gen X nerd like myself, it is hard to believe that anyone doesn’t think  that at least Star Wars the Original Trilogy is the greatest movie series ever.

One explanation this phenomenon is  age at the release of Star Wars. The Original Trilogy was released between 1977 and 1983. Episodes I-III were released between 1999-2005. Several of the people I know who don’t get the Star Wars thing were either born after 1983 or to young to see a of the Original Trilogy and by the time Episode I was release were old enough to consider it a little kid film. Seriously, if your first exposure to Star Wars is The Phantom Menace and you are over the age of 8 or 9 I understand not liking it. The Phantom Menace and the prequels were not good movies.

There are several reasons why I think Star Wars is a big deal.

First A New Hope greatly changed the way special effects were done in  movies. A New Hope required new technologies and methods.  Companies like Industrial Light and Magic and Digital Production grew out of this boom of new technologies.

A New Hope was one of the first science fiction movies to become a true blockbuster. Star Wars pulled fans from a variety of backgrounds not just science fiction junkies.

Star Wars and Jaws launched the Summer Blockbuster. This has become a very profitable approach for Hollywood.

Personally, I was fell in love with Star Wars after my Dad took me to see Star Wars a New Hope. It may have been the first PG movie I was allowed to see.  It was not like any movie I had seen before the special effects blew me away. Oh, then there was the music. Star Wars is the sole reason I consider John Williams one of the greatest composers of the 20th century.  One of the things my Daddy and I enjoyed doing was movies.  I’m really not into science fiction but he was. We enjoyed watching Star Wars together.

Being the nerds that we are the Big Guy and I have decided to celebrate our anniversary by seeing The Force Awakens (TFA). If you haven’t seen it go see. Unlike, the prequels  TFA has the feel of a Star Wars movie. The cinematography is absolutely beautiful and of course then there is that John Williams score.   I was leery about how Disney would handle a Star Wars movie.  They did a great job. J.J. Abrams has proven he can make a better Lucas movie than Lucas.

Christ is Risen!

Christ is Risen! … He is risen indeed!

He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Matthew 28:6 ESV

Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed
by Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty and Ed Cash

How can it be, the One who died,
Has borne our sin through sacrifice
To conquer every sting of death?
Sing, sing hallelujah.

For joy awakes as dawning light
When Christ’s disciples lift their eyes.
Alive He stands, their Friend and King;
Christ, Christ He is risen.

CHORUS
Christ is risen, He is risen indeed!
Oh, sing hallelujah.
Join the chorus, sing with the redeemed;
Christ is risen, He is risen indeed.

Where doubt and darkness once had been,
They saw Him and their hearts believed.
But blessed are those who have not seen,
Yet, sing hallelujah.

Once bound by fear now bold in faith,
They preached the truth and power of grace.
And pouring out their lives they gained
Life, life everlasting.

CHORUS

The power that raised Him from the grave
Now works in us to powerfully save.
He frees our hearts to live His grace;
Go tell of His goodness.

CHORUS
He’s alive, He’s alive!
Heaven’s gates are opened wide.
He’s alive, He’s alive!
Now in heaven glorified.

Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, and Ed Cash; © 2012 Gettymusic and Alletrop Music (BMI) (adm. by MusicServices.org)

Noah: The Movie

Disclaimer: I have not seen the movie. This is my thoughts to what I’ve read and heard about the movie.

The movie Noah was released this weekend. There has been a bit of controversy about the movie. The reviews on Rotten Tomatoes are mixed with critics like the movie but audience not so much. I have been reading a series on Ed Stetzer’s blog about the movie and other reviews of the movie. The series on Stetzer’s blog is guest written by Dr. Jerry Johnson, President of National Religious Broadcasters. I would recommend reading Dr. Johnson’s series.

One of my biggest concerns about the movie is Darren Aronofsky’s interpretation of the Genesis narrative of Noah. However, I’m not surprised that Aronofsky’s portrayal of Noah is vastly different from the biblical account.  Here is why? Aronofsky’s isn’t a believer. He doesn’t necessarily value scripture in same way I do. Aronofsky has produced his version of a “classic”.

I still haven’t decided if I will see the movie. After reading Dr. Johnson’s articles I was at least interested in seeing the movie.  Well at least until I saw a trailer for Noah tonight. The trailer so bad that I doubt I will pay money to see the movie. I might eventually see.

I do have some thoughts about how a Christian should handle the movie. See the movie if you would like but if you aren’t interested or offended don’t .  My advice is to study the Genesis account of Noah. Read the Bible first. Next break out the commentaries and dig into the story.  Be prepared and open to dialogue with others about the movie.

 

Top 10: Valentine’s Day Movies

So I had a lot of help from the Big Guy on this one. I had a hard time coming up with a Valentine’s Day post this year. I had several really cool ideas but unfortunately I had already used them.

#10: Two Weeks Notice (2002)
Lucy Kelson (Sandra Bullock) is lawyer for George Wade (Hugh Grant) a womanizing real estate developer. Wade is from an old money family and used to doing whatever he pleases. Kelson is raised by a former-hippies and has been protesting big business since she was young.  Kelson gets tired of being more of the a nanny than a lawyer for Wade and quits.

#9: You’ve Got Mail
Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan play business rivals who dislike each other. Hanks owns a big corporate chain type bookstore that is pushing out the small stores. Ryan plays the owner of a small but very unique children’s bookstore. The two meet anonymously on the internet. Yes the plot is predictable but it is a fun movie. One thing I like about the version I have is the option to play the soundtrack only. It turns the movie into one big music video.

#8: Pillow Talk
A classic starring Rock Hudson and Doris Day as a two strangers who share a telephone line. Of course they despise each other at first but with a little help from a mutual friend played by Tony Randal things ….. Well watch the movie.

#7: Sleepless in Seattle
Starring Tom Hanks  as Sam Baldwin a recent widower and Meg Ryan as Annie Reed. On Christmas Eve, Sam calls a radio talk show and tells his story of loosing his wife. Annie is one of hundreds of women who write to Sam wanting to meet him. Sam’s young son plots to arrange a meeting for the two. If you want a double feature through in An Affair to Remember. The plot of that movie is tied into Sleepless.

#6: The Man From Snowy River
Set and filmed in Australia the scenery is amazing.  Also, all of the scenes with the wild horses are a bonus.  I think horses are one of the most graceful and beautiful animals to watch in motion.  Jim Craig (Tom Burlinson), grown up on a farm in mountains of Australia. After his Father his killed in a farming accident. He is forced to go down to the low lands to earn money and the respect of the other mountain folk. Jim lands a working for Harrison (Kirk Douglas). Harrison happens to be the twin brother of Spur (also played by Kirk Douglas) who was a good friend of Jim’s dad. The two haven’t spoken in a couple of decades Jim falls in love with Harrison’s daughter Jessica (Sigrid Thornton).  Jim and Jessica get caught in the middle of the feud.

#5: The American President
Starring Michael Douglas as President Andrew Shepherd and Annette Benning as lobbyist Syndey Ellen Wade. One of my favorite parts of the movie is when Shepherd tries to buy flowers for Syndey. He is amazed that the most powerful man in the world can’t do something as simple as buy flowers for his girl.

#4: The Princess Bride
This may be one of my all time favorite movies. I guess it isn’t a traditional “romance movie” but it I think it is a great date night movie.   I love the humor. The movie is filled with quotable lines. I think the Big Guy and I have as much fun quoting lines as we do watching the movie.  Hey there’s even a wedding scene.

#3: My Big Fat Greek Wedding
I love the transformation of Toula Portokalos from a shy and dumpy girl to a beautiful and confident young woman. Toula is 30 something, single and working in her family’s Greek restaurant. Her dad Gus just wants her to marry a nice Greek boy. After convincing her dad to let her take some college classes the transformation begins. Toula meets and begins dating Ian Miller, a non-greek. Nia Vardalos wrote and stars in the movie. It is loosely based on her life. Vardalos’s husband Ian Gomez plays Ian Miller’s best friend Mike. Also, several of her family members appear as extras in the movie.

#2: Rear Window
Alfred Hitchcock masterpiece starring Jimmy Stewart as photographer L.B. Jefferies and Grace Kelly as Lisa Fremont, is one of my favorites. The cinematography from is amazing. I would recommend getting the special edition the extras including the documentary about the filming of the movie.  Hitchcock was a master storyteller and in my opinion this may be one of his best films. I like how that it is a true suspense movie without unnecessary gore.

#1: Sweet Home Alabama
 Reese Witherspoon plays Melanie Carmichael from a small town in Alabama who has traded her humble beginnings for the big city. She has become a successful fashion designer in New York City. She becomes engaged to the mayor’s (Candice Bergen) son (Patrick Dempsey) but there is one catch. She is still married to Jake (Josh Lucas) who is back home in Alabama and has refused to sign the divorce papers.

Song Challenge #5: Song by the weirdest named band I can think of …

I have selected my Guardian Angel by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. It may not be the weirdest name but it was the first one that popped in my head. According to Wikipedia the band’s name was selected by voting on random words thrown up on a wall.

Another Word on Bullying

October is Bullying Prevention Month and in honor of that I want to share a video by my cousin’s students. Oh, yeah they were winners of the  2012 The Great American No Bull Challenge

The Formula written and directed by Austin Barker, Copperas Cove High School