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Hunger Games Review
March 26, 2012 – 8:35 am
For the fans of the book (I’ve read the entire trilogy of books with my two older kids), it’s hard to see how this movie will disappoint. It’s well done on every level – acting, sets, look. They stayed close to the book – only a couple of scenes were dropped. I was impressed how much of the book they were able to include in the film.
The actors were perfect. These are not kid actors that will have to grow into their role over the course of multiple films – re: Harry Potter. These actors nail their characters. This is the best acting from a teen/tween movie ever. There isn’t even a comparison.
The ONLY annoying thing of the movie is the first few scenes are shot with the ‘shaky’ cam for effect and it doesn’t really work. It ends up looking like someone shot the scenes with their camcorder. Fortunately, they ditch this effect after the two heroes get on the train.
Content
The biggest thing I was worried about with my 12 year old was the violence. It’s a movie basically critiquing a modern-day Rome with kids 12-18 in the arena fighting till the death. I let Camber read the same reviews I read – mainly the IMDB Parent Review – and we discussed it. Did she think she could handle it? How did it compare to other movies he had already seen?
We both decided to take the risk. Nothing else in the movie was worrisome. No language or sexual stuff.
Again, I think the directors did a great job in this area of making the point without being graphic. If anything, this approach made the death of one Tribute particularly moving. Don’t misunderstand me – there is killing. The whole movie is about killing (more on that in a minute). And it’s not grown men in battle, it’s 12 to 18 year olds. It’s not supposed to be alright and acceptable. But most of it is done off-screen with no graphic shots at all.
Discussion Points
(You can ask my kids – we actually talk about this kind of stuff when we go to the movies.)
Hunger Games in general is an observation of what happens if humanism gets full freedom in a culture. That’s about as simple as I can make it – hedonism is the core of this but particularly the hedonism of the rich and powerful over everyone else in society.
This so clearly gets painted in the movie – my 12 year-old saw it. This is what happens if there is no God or no moral law.
BUT – I countered – that’s the rub – there is a moral law, a moral code that can not – even in the most extreme of circumstances – be eradicated from humanity. Even in a death match where all know that only one can win – there are some characters that CHOOSE differently. Katniss, District 11 participants, Peeta. They CHOOSE love and honor and morality in spite of circumstance and culture that is “forcing” them to choose differently. It’s the strongest that buck the system and find another way, a better way.
And it comes at great cost – but it was their decision none the less. And love wins out…eventually. Right wins out…eventually. Long term, not necessarily in the short term.
Overall – I think the movie is great. I’d go see it again. I think it is going to break all kinds of records (it already has). What is unfortunate about this series is that the first book was the best of the bunch BY FAR. The next one is good but not as good as Hunger Games and I don’t even want to talk about the third book.
But for now – this is an outstanding movie and has lots of talking points!
Rejected Jesus – Prepare The Room
March 19, 2012 – 8:13 am
We used this on Sunday for our Prepare the Room piece.
I hate Religion, love Jesus Video
January 18, 2012 – 9:10 am
I actually stumbled on this video the day it was uploaded – January 10. I sent it to our creative team before it went all viral. Now it is everywhere with different people sounding off on it. We ultimately decided to NOT use it mainly because it didn’t exactly fit the series we were in and we thought it would work better in a small group setting.
I’m showing the video below.
Overall, I like the video. I don’t interpret this guy as trashing the Church. Some will disagree. Which is part of the problem of the video, the shortcomings of the video. I really have 3 issues with the clip – that I think would be great for a small group discussion.
First, love the “voting Republican doesn’t make you Christian” slap at the very beginning of the video. Very true. But I wouldn’t have stopped there. Jesus had words for the Zealots and the Pharisees. Anything that compromised Jesus as the solution to the problems of the world, Jesus had a quote for. Politics, education, religion.
So my question/issue to him is this – does he feel that way about all political parties? Or is it angst just reserved toward the Republicans? Democrat, Libertarian or anyone else who’s hope for our culture is in the political system is in the same boat (albeit the opposite side) as the Republicans. To limit the sting of his words to one party is doing exactly what he is railing about.
Second, I don’t think Jesus was thinking of me on the cross. That is a very ego/man-centric understanding of what is going on at the cross. The cross is all about God’s character and glory, not the value of us. Yes, we get the benefit of the transaction of sacrifice – no doubt about that. But God was thinking of Himself – his promise and vision of a world without death and sin. And dieing for the consequence was the only way that was going to happen without blowing it all up and starting over.
So I think God was thinking about that. Not me.
Lastly, I can see where he comes across as an anti-church, anti-organized anything guy. But as I read his other comments, I don’t think that is him at all. I think he cares deeply about the church and wants to be a part of a movement that sees church get closer to being a Grace Station instead of Code Enforcement. I think there are glimpses of that in the video but not overtly so. I hear a guy who loves the concept of the church as the Bride of Christ but hating the examples and experiences he’s had with her so far.
And that I think is the real shortcoming of the video. There isn’t a deep, holistic handling of the issues he brings up. They make great soundbites. At times he sounds like a prophet…statements of profound truth and conviction. Then he takes an abrupt left turn leaving that conversation to sound like an angry teenager screaming shallow, pithy cliches at his parents that he himself doesn’t really understand. There are some nuanced, deeper opportunities he missed. Instead of pushing us into deeper conversations about theology or the church and what transformation COULD look like, he’ll take the quick exit to hit another platitude.
But then again, that might have been the point of the whole exercise anyway. Maybe his point was to generate conversations and dissonance with people who otherwise wouldn’t think twice about their own understanding of grace, church, Jesus, or religion.
Like I said earlier – I like the video. I’ll keep my eyes out for the next piece they produce. My hunch is they will get better and better. I think it’s worth a watch and even worth some discussion time in a small group. I think it would spark some deeper conversations of what is the church, what marks Christianity different from all other religions, and what exactly is my role in all of that.
Here’s the video:
ACDC + Star Wars = Awesome
November 14, 2011 – 12:09 am
Just when I thought Star Wars couldn’t get any cooler….
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
July 15, 2011 – 3:20 pm
Cooper and I were part of the insanity of the midnight showing of the final movie in the Harry Potter universe. (Which, btw, I don’t think it is the final movie. There is too much money to be made for them just to leave it alone. See Star Wars fiasco.) I have never seen a movie theater so packed. We parked out in the street, the lobby was full of people. Every theater was full. My guess is they made their year in one night. This movie will break every box office record. I’m calling it now.
Second observation – not as many people dressed up as for Star Wars movies. I mean, I remember when the Star Wars 1 (which is really 4) came out…it was crazy. Everyone had a light saber or mask or robe. Not so much last night. Maybe because Topeka isn’t a hotbed of Harry Potter fans but it wasn’t the crazy scene that I thought would happen.
On to the movie…
Visually, the movie is stunning – what we’ve come to expect from the HP franchise. It’s incredible how much better and cleaner the effects look like since the first film. And the film (learning from the disaster that was HP4) stays close to the book. Every film I am amazed at another layer of Hogwarts or the magic world in general they expose. It’s a beautiful thing and just complete eye candy.
It’s nice to see the characters grow up. Do you remember watching the first film and thinking – ‘can I really handle too many more films with these whiny kids?’ I am glad to say that the actors have ended the series with their best performance yet. Each film they got better. This one is by far their best performance. They grew up and they grew their characters up. Great performances all around.
The story is great. Yes, a pastor has said that. I love how clear elements of the Gospel are in the story. Did Rowling mean to do that? I have no idea. I do know that it is impossible to keep the gospel out of a great story (who said that, btw?) and this is a great story. Sacrifice as the path to redemption, love trumps hate, evil collapses on itself – all get played out in the final film.
For those three people who have not read the book and don’t know what happens, might not want to read this next part.
**Spoiler Alert**
There were really only 2 hiccups in the movie. The final scenes tended to drag a bit. You know what it is coming next and there is a part of you that just wants to get on with it. Was the director having a hard time letting go? Not sure. It’s not horrible and it in no way ruins the movie but it is noticeable. There are about 5 minutes of…are we going to end this movie or not…then it passes.
The second hiccup is really up for debate as to if the director meant it to be as funny as it came across. The Epilogue scene 19 years into the future. Seeing an older Harry, Ron, and even Draco made the audience laugh out loud. There were more than a few groans as well. It just didn’t seem to fit. Of course the question then is – how else are you going to film that scene? I have no idea but perhaps they should have gotten somebody from the Benjamin Buttons or Forrest Gump movies to do the special effects on aging. Because it looked…weird.
**End of Spoiler**
Neither of those two issues take away from the greatness of the movie. It’s expensive to go to the movies but this would be one film that I think would be worth it.
Blue Like Jazz Movie Trailer
June 10, 2011 – 10:31 am
I dare you to not feel a little excited to see this movie after watching the trailer.
Bride by Austin Branson
March 4, 2011 – 12:55 pm
Austin Branson is the guy that led worship with me at SEW in Budapest. What a great guy and we really hit if off. He sang this song all week long and I was meaning to ask him what it is called and who wrote it. Find out – he wrote it.
Enjoy…and just remember he’s the only man alive cool enough to be named after two cities.
The Super Bowl as a Cultural Strep Test
February 7, 2011 – 10:01 am
I do think the Super Bowl has become the 3rd most significant event on the US calendar. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the Super Bowl are pretty much the only 3 times a year everybody is doing and watching the same thing.
The Super Bowl is unique of them all in that it is the only one that really gives the world a fairly unvarnished look at our culture…and this year it wasn’t pretty. Let me break it down for you — (cue LL Cool J)
Pre-Game
Did you get enough of the words “redemptive” and “Ben Roethlisberger?” If the Steelers had won, it would NOT have meant anything in regards to the redemption of Big Ben. Let’s bring this topic up in a few years and have more than just 10 months of evidence to go on. If Big Ben has gotten his life turned around, found God, got a girlfriend — great. Proof will be shown over course of time. Not because he’s won another Super Bowl.
Commercials
Overall, they are just getting more and more crass. I realize this makes me sound like an old fuddy-duddy but I just don’t find cans of soda shot at a man’s groin funny. Or a valentine card commenting on a woman’s chest funny. Or Joan Rivers… I was debating which should I do when I saw the Joan Rivers/Go Daddy ad – throw up or poke me eyes out with an ice pick. Speaking of which – Jillian Michaels and Faith Hill took a huge dive in my respect category after those ads. And even Eminem as a cartoon was intense. Good to see ole’ Jim Shady has even gone corporate with Sprite and Chrysler.
But it wasn’t all bad. VW hit it out of the park with their two ads – Darth Vader and the Beetle. Doritos continued their brilliance giving us one of the most awkward, uncomfortable moments in commercial history – licking the fingers of another man.
Entertainment
Is it too much to ask our entertainers who are already completely out of touch with the rest of America, to at least know the words of our national anthem? How about just for the sake of professionalism? It’s a song, it has words, if you are going to sing the song — know the words. Not hard.
Black Eye Peas — pretty much lame city. Great first song then crashed from there. Slash provided a glimpse of hope but then it faded. Usher then helped and made us all wonder why didn’t he do the whole show? It’s a shame, too. But once again — style seemed to trumped substance once again.
Fox Coverage of Game
At first I thought it was going to be the worse coverage of a Super Bowl I’d ever seen. I don’t want to see A Rod and Cameron Diaz feeding each other popcorn. I don’t care if Madden is texting right next to President Bush. Don’t really see how John Travolta added anything to the game. The first quarter seemed to spend more time on star watching than the game.
Then all of a sudden it was like the producer remembered that this is first and foremost a football game. And it got much better from the 2nd quarter on. Even though they missed a few key replays and a penalty, very nice recovery and finish.
What Am I Trying To Say?
I’m saying that the coverage and spectacle of the Super Bowl gives us a deeper insight into our culture. Some of it is disturbing, some of it isn’t. But the messages aren’t neutral, they never are neutral.
Now to travel the sports equivalent of Purgatory until football cranks back up again…
The Story Behind “What Child Is This?”
December 22, 2010 – 4:44 pm
“What Child Is This” used to be my least favorite Christmas carol. It was slightly ahead of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”. Both songs sound alike, both sound like funeral dirges. Magaret Becker (remember her???) did a version of “O Come, O Come” that is still used in horror movies today. Or funerals. I’m serious. It’s that bad. No song about Jesus should be that horrible.
But back to “What Child Is This?” It sings like those Medieval songs that don’t rhyme at Renaissance Festivals. You want to like it but for whatever reason…you just can’t. It’s not that it’s a bad song, it’s just not as good as all the other songs we have to choose from the Christmas catalog. Silent Night, The First Noel, Joy To The World, White Christmas! (Just checking to see if you were still reading.)
The other reason that it wasn’t a huge hit with me was the line – “where ox and ass are feeding..” I mean, be honest. It’s awkward to sing that in church. I know of some churches that change the lyric to “ox and lamb” but the lambs were in the fields where Harold the Angel sang to the shepherds. (Wait for it….)
However, I just learned some incredible information that has now elevated this song at least a notch or two. The reason the animals of ox and ass were used because an ox was a clean animal (Jew), an ass was an unclean animal (Gentile). The song was celebrating the fact that it is Jesus who brings together the clean (Jew) and the unclean (Gentile). That is the wonderful miracle of Christmas – Jesus brings all people of all backgrounds together in Himself.
Now you know the rest of the story.
Merry Christmas to you.
A Man’s Guide For Christmas
December 17, 2010 – 12:26 pm
Let’s face it, men. The holiday season is tough. We’re supposed to be happier about spending more money on stuff we don’t need for people we are not sure we even like. The Christmas lights are always tangled. It’s always -34 degrees when you finally decide to put the lights up. Add to that the Christmas parties, concerts, recitals, and all the Christmas cards you get in the mail from people your wife says you know but you honestly have never seen them.
I know how you feel. I’m here to help. I’m even going to make this easy for you. So pay attention.
Presents
Let’s start with presents. Gifts. Loot. We don’t buy for just anybody. However, if you find yourself in a position to HAVING to get a gift for someone other than family – here are a couple of suggestions that you can’t go wrong with.
1. Gift Cards – Amazon.com, iTunes, Starbucks.
2. iPad – this is not for you to buy one for your friends but mainly for your rich friends so that they will buy one for you.
For the wife:
No appliances of any kind. Do not under any circumstance buy her anything from Victoria or her secret. Jewelry is safe (but expensive). A night out without kids is relatively inexpensive and shows much forethought and care.
Depending on how long you’ve been married, you can try to do the whole — “I bought this for you but really for me” kind of gift. Stuff like a BluRay player, flatscreen TV, iPad or pretty much anything electronic but they see through this pretty quick. Fortunately for us, they love us anyway. You can get away with this a couple of times so choose wisely when to do this. It can’t be your go-to gift every year.
Kids:
Girl — anything pink and/or a doll/figurine of some sort. This seems to work for every age except the ages of 16-21. Researchers are still baffled as to what works during these ages.
Boys — sports, electronics, jerseys, tickets to sporting events…basically, if you like it, he will. Regardless of age.
Christmas Parties
It’s a fact of life…you are going to have to attend a couple this year. So make the most of it.
First,know exactly where the host puts your coat. Do NOT miss this information. Nothing will drag out your escape longer than having to track down your coat. Do NOT do anything else at the party until you lock down where your coat will be stashed.
Second, head for the food. All the good snacks get sucked up first and you don’t want to miss out on them. Plus there will be other guys that don’t really want to be there and you might find a new friend.
Third, wear a team sweater or golf shirt so that you’ll have something to talk about other than work. And don’t be that guy that shows up to a party and then talks about work for 45 minutes. If you find that guy, find a bathroom. It’s about the only place he won’t follow you into. Then come out and scream in a Jim Carrey voice – “Do NOT go in there.” That will pretty much end the party night for you.
Family Time
We all want more of it until we get it then we wish we had less of it. Couple of activities that will make this not only bearable but enjoyable.
Light Hunting. With a little internet search and investigation, you can find the cool houses with lights and music in your area. Put the kids in PJ’s and a thermos of hot chocolate and go light looking. This is good for about an hour.
Movies
We have two movies we always watch – Elf and White Christmas. Kids can barely make it through White Christmas but we make them. Elf is awesome. Awkward/Embarrassing Christmas Moment: A couple of years ago I grabbed all the kids and watched A Christmas Story as a family. 1. The TV version is edited, the DVD is not. 2. After the shock of a few words that I had forgotten, came to the painful realization that kids don’t like voiceover movies. A Christmas Story is not an English family tradition.
We also do a Christmas “real” movie together. With a family of 5, we don’t go to the theater often. Scratch that – we make it once, maybe twice a year. Much cheaper for us to wait till BluRay or DVD and watch it at home. But this has become a cool tradition for us – take an afternoon matinee movie the whole family can enjoy.
This year it looks like we will divide and conquer – Tron Legacy for everyone except Cayden. Cayden will have a special Nana and Cayden date with Tangled. It works out for us all.
Christmas Eve Service
We will be having ours at 6pm at Western Hills. It will be awesome, funny, kid-friendly. Not all services are this way. Some are very serious. However, fun or serious — you have to do this. Even a bad Christmas Eve service is better than no Christmas Eve service.
Awkward/Embarrassing Christmas Moment: Cooper dumped a whole tray of communion juice at a certain Christmas Eve Service. He was 4 or 5. It was awful in the moment but awesome now looking back at it. There isn’t enough money in the world to buy that kind of memory. So find a service, show up and really enjoy it.
Family Meals
They take forever to set up and prepare then 20 minutes to be done with. This is the best advice I can give you on this one — just enjoy the process and make sure somebody brought a pie. Enjoy a glass of wine or sparkling grape soda as you prep. We make the kids clean up while we enjoy conversation and dessert.
I hope this guide helps you over the next week. I welcome any comments, corrections, and additions below.
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