This past weekend two films were released that were based on stories of faith: Noah and God's Not Dead. In the past two days, I have seen both of them (yeah, I go to the cinema a lot--I don't have cable). Over the past few weeks I have been deluged (no Noah pun intended) with others' opinions... Continue Reading →
Mr. Peabody and Sherman…and unlikely families
It's been a while since I've written a post about a movie, which is strange given how often I go to the movies--combined with the fact that I believe we can find the spark of the Divine anywhere, even in (especially in) secular pop culture. Last week I ventured out for my Sunday evening routine... Continue Reading →
Unexpected Lessons (In Ender’s Game)
This weekend I broke through my conflicted feelings and headed to the theater to see Ender's Game. My feelings were conflicted because everything about Ender's Game (mind you, I had not read the book) appealed to what I love: a dystopian future, science fiction, the weight and significance of war on young people... and as an... Continue Reading →
Mamas, Don’t Let Your Sons Watch “Riddick”
<<<<<<<SPOILER ALERT>>>>>>> I am a huge fan of the science fiction and fantasy movie genres; but, I'm often disgusted by the lack of women in these movies, or the portrayal of women as passive victims... as if women have no place in the realms of space or fantasy. But the latest installation of the Riddick... Continue Reading →
Superman Isn’t a Messiah… and He Can’t Save You
(((((((((SPOILER ALERT!!!!!))))))))))) Ladies and gentlemen, today has been a terrible day. Terrible. Today, before my very eyes, my childhood hero (and the childhood hero of my father and my father's father before him) withered away and became just another implement of all the evil that exists in this world (and beyond). Since the 1930s, Superman... Continue Reading →
An Open Letter to Javert
Dear Javert, I was but a junior in high school when I first encountered you in the pages of Victor Hugo's timeless classic, Les Misérables. Since then I have revisited you in those pages no less than six times and paid visits to you countless times on the big screen as well as the small screen... Continue Reading →
The Gospel According to… The Rise of the Guardians
God is always interacting with us. God is always trying to open our eyes and our hearts to a divine revelation. And sometimes, if we are willing to listen, we will find God in unexpected places. A couple of weeks ago I went to see The Rise of the Guardians and all I expected was a... Continue Reading →
Hungering for “The Hunger Games”
Recently, an acquaintance of mine very publicly denounced any parent who would take her child to see "The Hunger Games." She had just begun reading the novel in anticipation of the movie, and I suppose some of the themes were disturbing to her. But when I heard her railing against the book, I found myself... Continue Reading →
The Gospel According to… The Lorax?
I know... I know. It's no secret that I am a huge Dr. Seuss fan. I have a Cat-in-the-Hat tattoo. I own every book Dr. Seuss ever wrote. And somewhere, buried in a box labeled "College Papers" are about a half dozen theses on the underlying meaning and philosophy of Dr. Seuss' writings. So it's... Continue Reading →
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