Review and Reflection: Unbroken

As I mentioned in my last post, Jamie and I have a tradition of going to the movie theater in the winter time, and we look for movies specifically that move us, that stir us, that cause us to think deeply about this world we live in, our purpose in it, and how we can help it be better. We watch movies that help us reflect, to set our intentions, and to become a better version of ourselves as well.

And this past winter, we discovered the story of WWII Veteran Louis Zamperini. Zamperini was an Olympic athlete, a Japanese WWII prison camp survivor, and a deeply committed Christian. And this winter, Angelina Jolie told a portion of his story in the movie Unbroken. Unbroken is also a book, and I am sure it is a great one, but I have not read it yet.

Jamie and I had done some reading about Louis Zamperini before watching the movie. His life was amazing, and the movie only carried the viewer through a small portion of it. Zamperini, after the events of the movie, became a deeply committed Christian, and worked to be reconciled and to forgive his captors after his faith was re-ignited at a Billy Graham crusade in 1949.

As I watched the movie with Jamie, there were several points I found myself in tears. There's something about taking in a story of a person who perseveres, who overcomes, and who refuses to give up that ignites a spark deep inside.  Our world needs good stories like Louie Zamperini's. Our world needs you and I to also begin living a better story.

Would I recommend this movie to you? Absolutely! But, I must warn you. The pain that this man went through, and that was portrayed on the screen is pretty overwhelming. But maybe, in getting a glimpse of this man's story, you will find yourself more ready to engage in the trials that emerge in your own life, maybe you'll find yourself pushing your limits and refusing to quit, maybe you will find yourself more able to be reconciled to others. I sure hope so. The world will be better if more of us dig in our heels and refuse to give up when the going gets tough.

May we all grow in our resolve to do the right thing and to never quit!

Review: Selma

Every winter since we started dating, Jamie and I have a bit of a tradition. Neither of us can recollect making this an intentional tradition, but the pattern emerged, and we can both trace it back to winter 2008. Winter is our moving watching season, but not just any movies, we end up watching really serious historical/biographical films that give us an opportunity to think about justice and the perseverance of the human spirit. This winter has been no exception.

One of the movies we watched this winter was Selma, a movie that tells the story of the planning and events that led to the march 54 miles from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama on March 7, 1965. As I started writing this post, I just had the realization that today marks 50 years since that march. The march itself led to President Lyndon Johnson signing the Voting Rights act of 1965, and was a massive milestone in the civil rights movements of the 1960s.

I won’t go into the details of the film, but I do recommend you go watch it. I recommend it for a couple of reasons. First, it is a great film. Beyond being a great film, it carries the viewer back 50 years to a very different United States, and portrays just how overwhelming the opposition was to equal voting rights in parts of this country, and also carries the viewer to see how that opposition was overcome. Movies like Selma are a reminder that as Dr. King said many times, “The moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” May we all remember that the path toward a better world may not be an easy one, but it is always worthwhile to labor for the betterment of others. 

The Wild Wonderful Whites of West Virginia

So I went to see a movie about Jesco White and his family as my final movie viewing at the Warner Theater. I usually have hearty positive recommendations for most movies, but this particular movie is not one that I would recommend. It was actually pretty heart-breaking.

In the past I’ve watched the movie “The Dancing Outlaw” which put Jesco and his family on the celebrity map. That movie is a mixture of tragedy and comedy as Jesco, at that time, was a pretty charismatic storyteller. The movie was originally made to tell the story of his father, Donald Ray White, but unfortunately he was shot by a neighbor before the documentary about the greatest mountain tap dancer could be made.

The new movie, tells a different story. It tells the story of Jesco being harassed by fans with regularity as they want to say they have met the legend. It tells a story of drug use and abuse and dealing by many members of the White family. It tells a story of criminal activity and a destructive lifestyle happening for several members of the family as well.

In the midst of the tragedy, there’s a wonderful sub-plot about Jesco’s mother, Bertie Mae. It appears that she was a woman of deep faith, who worked hard to care for own as well as many other children in their community. It was clear throughout the film that most of her descendants at least had heard the message of the Gospel, and from what was demonstrated in the film, they saw the messaged lived out in Bertie Mae’s life.

During the course of the movie, the viewer watched as multiple family members and friends chronicled the life and times of the family. One is serving in prison after attempting to shoot another relative’s boyfriend along with a police shootout. Another enrolled in rehab after giving birth to a child and having CPS take that child away because of her drug addiction and the child being born with a similar addiction. The viewer watched as members of the family stuck together in picking up other members from prison and traveling to hospitals and to bars together. The Whites have achieved a celebrity status among the people of Boone County West Virginia, and now through the film, the notoriety has made it’s way to the big screen.

I think the most heart-breaking part of the movie is knowing that this isn’t just a Hollywood drama—these are real people, and they all live just a few hours away. Beyond the fact that this isn’t fiction, it hurts watching this film because I feel like I have known people in my life who have lived similar lives. The other families I have known, didn’t have their stories on the big screen, but they lived lives that were just as tragic.

While I can not recommend this movie to anyone, I do sincerely hope that something happens to help this whole family heal from the losses they have experienced, and to live a different kind of life, a life filled with hope, and with joy. That would make a much better story, and it’s possible. Not only for them, but for us as well!

Pirates the second time around

I went to see the movie again with my buddies ryan and ryan, and my newly made friend E-bo. It was fascinating. I watched the original movie two nights ago, so many images were still fresh in my mind. After watching this one a second time I saw a number of themes and bits of foreshadowing that I missed the first time around. It's funny because many viewers miss all of the signs that point to something a little deeper than the surface of the story.

I am not going to share those with you though--go see the movie yourself! I am anxiously awaiting the third episode though.

Isn't it interesting that we have a little foreshadowing in our lives too? I mean, we get to experience beauty and community here and now. But we don't experience them fully. We get to experience awe and wonder right now, but just as an echo. But the foreshadowing in our story points to something even more epic than we could imagine.

Are you looking at the foreshadowing of what is to come in eager anticipation, or are you missing out on all the signs and living along the surface of the most compelling and deep story ever written?

Pirates of the Caribbean

Last night I saw the debut of the second Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Don't worry, I am not planning on giving any spoilers. The movie had some interesting themes though, including some very overt references to Christianity. It seemed like the dominant theme had a lot to do with character, and how circumstances and life experience can affect character. Unexpected heroes and villains emerge throughout the film, and the whole time one can't help but get immersed in the story. Aren't we in a story similar to this one. Heroes and villains pop up in unexpected places. If we aren't careful, circumstances can transform our normal way of living and doing things. Heroes can become touched with moments of villainy and villains can become heroic. All along I think the goal is to be proactive in living out our own story as heroes, and we can only do that if we enter into the larger heroic story of God.

Anyhoo, the film was beautiful, and the local theater ended up selling out two theaters for midnight showings. I think it is going to do quite well at the box office. If you are able, i recommend seeing this movie. The ending is so cool, it . . .

superman returns

superman icon, originally uploaded by chanchanchepon.

Last night I went to see the new Superman movie. It was brilliant. So much imagery, and so many allusions to the original.

I started thinking as I watched it. Isn't Superman a lot like Jesus. I'm sure there have been many who have made the comparison's before. But, as I watched the movie, it caused my eyes to well with tears.

You see, the movie is entitled Superman Returns. When I watched it, I began to imagine what it might be like when Jesus returns. When Superman returned, the comment was made that everyone loves Superman. There is something endearing about the character that saves the day.

I wonder how much rejoicing will happen when Jesus returns and puts all of the wrongs to wright. Superman had a redemptive effect on many, and yet there were those like Lex Luthor who had a hunger for power, and resented Superman for thwarting their exploits.

I wonder if that is what it will be like when Jesus comes back. Many will rejoice that everything is getting put right in the world, and others will be resentful. I could write ad nauseum about this movie and the profound effect it had on my faith, and my worship, but I will simply suggest that you go see the movie yourself.

There are places where the metaphor breaks down, but that's the thing about metaphors, they are like models. They only give a shadow of the real thing, and they don't quite compare to the real thing.

I look forward to the day when every tribe and tongue and nation bows at the throne of the King of Kings. I believe it will be the most beautiful day, and event, that we wil ever have the opportunity to see.

Are you experiencing a taste of that joy and beauty now? The world needs a savior, and people cry out every day for one. Perhaps, Jesus wants His followers to do more than rejoice. Perhaps he want's us to bear His image so that people will know something of what He is like, and what the world will look like under His reign.

OK, I watched it

Well, I had to go see what all the hype was about. I have heard so much about the book, that I had to see it. I've had so many conversations about the book (and I anticipate many more), that I had to find out what it was all about.

Tonight, around a dozen of us went to see the Da Vinci Code together. Then we went out for dinner and discussion. I had high expectations for the movie, and maybe they were a little too high. It wasn't a bad movie, but it wasn't exactly a blockbuster either. I'm sure it will do well at the box office, in spite of reviews. People love conspiracy and secret society type stuff.

I'd have to say the thing I most enjoyed about the movie is the opportunity it presents for conversation and education. There are a lot of unorthodox and untrue ideas that are put forth in the story, and yet there is no really new idea being presented by the story, just a lot of em all at once. If you do go see the movie, I recommend going to see it with friends, and to go somewhere for discussion afterward. There are tons of succinct resources available for scrutinizing the fiction that presents itself as fact.

The real question one has to ask is--what's the allure of the fiction? Why do people want to spend more time trying to dig into the conspiracy than examining the claims of Jesus as they have been handed down from the first century?

I think it might just be because folks are waiting to see it lived out. People are wanting to get in discussions about the book, and about Jesus. Are you equipped? And are you living a life that let's others see the beauty of a life that follows Messiah?

Akeelah and the Bee

My friends in Los Angeles gave me a choice between two movies, United 93 and Akeelah and the Bee, so I went to see the latter with them last night. I had some doubts, but it ended up being a decent film. the selling point for me was Lawrence Fishburne. I really enjoy the roles I have seen him in.

During the film, a lengthy quote by Marianne Williamson is read a couple of times. Nelson Mandela once used the quote in a speech, and it often gets attributed to him. I have posted it here. I hope it inspires you.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.

-Marianne Williamson

Los Angeles Plays Itself

This evening I went to Hollywood and Highland with my friends Kip, JR, and Ryan. We had dinner at the Pig N Whistle, a delicious shepherd's pie, and then me JR, and Ryan continued on to watch this really interesting movie at a historic theater in Hollywood called the Egyptian Theater. The movie, Los Angeles Plays Itself is a documentary about the depiction of the city Los Angeles in film. Here is a review of the film.

There were a number of commentaries made about the city, and the film brought several nuggets to the screen for me. While it was interesting, I don't know if I would give it a high recommendation. Unless you were living in the Los Angeles area, it probably wouldn't have a lot of meaning. He starts off the lengthy (169 minutes) film with the comment, "people become movie stars as a substitute for achievement." As a native Angelino, it appears he doesn't like the instant association the city has with movies. 2.5% of the population of the city is involved in the industry--that was a pretty shocking statistic for me. One in forty people are involved in the industry. So it seems that no matter where you go in the city, you are probably going to run into someone who works in film. There are several million people here too!

I really like the title of the movie. Multiple meanings maybe? Los Angeles, stars in films as itself. Or, Los Angeles makes a mockery of itself on the screen. The producer hasn't been offered an opportunity to play the thing in any theatres in the area, otehr than the Egyptian, which seems to specialize in independent films.

The film did get me thinking though. He marked the trend to sell out the downtown area of Los Angeles to developers who have brought in skyscrapers and corporate chains. I believe this trend is being repeated all over the country even today. Downtowns are being "revitalized" by bringing in bigger businesses. The maker of the film seemed to be a bit suspicious of the developers who gutted out downtown areas for the sake of development. In essence, they have rid the city of much of what makes it unique.

While I understand his lament, as I look out a window in East Hollywood on Hollywood Blvd. I can't help but think that it would take much more than this gesture to get rid of Los Angeles' uniqueness. I ahve never been anywhere that even remotely compares. Smog and palm trees, movie stars and freaks (I wonder if I should separate those categories), concrete and plastic, neon sprawl and ocean vistas, Los Angeles is definitely a unique place in the world.

What gives the town where you live it's uniqueness?