I just found out they really are making a 4th Terminator movie. And Christian Bale will be playing John Connor.
Yes, I’m excited.
And yes, I know I’m a dork.
Category Archives: Movies
Charlotte’s Web
This was my favorite book as a kid, so I’ve been wanting to see the movie that was released last year for some time. I just finished it. It was good, but not nearly as good as the book. It was hard for me to watch this movie because I’m deathly afraid of spiders and…well…Charlotte creeped me out. A lot. Even though she had Julia Roberts’ soothing voice, she gave me the heeby jeebies.
That being said, the movie was very well done. I’ve realized in the last few days why movies are never as good as their bound counterparts. It’s because in a book, more detail about emotion and thoughts are brought to life. In a movie, you only get the visual, even when there’s a narrator. And it’s the internal processes of the characters that bring a book alive. You just don’t get that from a movie.
Posted in Movies
Bridge to Terabithia
I watched an incredible movie last night. I read Bridge to Terabithia when I was in the 6th grade, and all I could remember from the book was that it made me cry. I had no idea why, because I honestly couldn’t remember anything from the plot. I just remembered that Katherine Paterson was an incredible author and that her books had won several awards.
So I sat down last night to watch this movie, knowing that it would probably make me cry. It didn’t disappoint. I won’t give anything away, but it was very well done.
The story itself is about self-descovery and friendships and imagination.
Jess is a loner from a rural family with 5 kids – 4 of them girls. He’s the fastest runner in his class, until the new girl, Leslie, shows up. But eventually an unlikely friendship begins, and Leslie introduces Jess to the wonderful world of the imagination. She teaches him that he doesn’t have to be alone, and if he can dream it, it can happen.
Katherine Paterson said that she wrote this book in an effort to explain the unexplainable. The topics of family, self-esteem, and grief are all explored very deeply and in a very real way. I definitely encourage anyone to watch this movie.
Posted in Movies
House
Another of Ted Dekker’s novels has been adapted to the big screen. The movie version of House is set to be released in October. I’m thrilled! I’ve been a huge fan of Ted Dekker for years – I think he is easily the best Christian fiction author out there. House is a joint collaboration between Dekker and Frank Peretti, and is, to me, reminiscent of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Yes, it’s Christian and horror all at the same time, but it works. I love the tag line…
“The only way out…is in.”
View the trailer:
I also know that Ted Dekker has gotten a lot of flak for his writing because it is so dark and just plain weird. But Ted does what no other author does as well…he takes the unseen and makes it seen. His books are filled with darkness, but in the end the light always shows up.
Here’s an interview he did that explains his writing so much better than I could:
Posted in Movies
Spidey
Any oh-so-kind soul out there want to buy this broke but loving chica a ticket to see Spiderman 3 tonight?* 
*Ok, so I don’t really expect anyone to. I just thought I’d throw it out there.
Posted in Movies
I Am the Wretch the Song Refers To
Amazing Grace opened on Friday, so of course I dragged my roommates along to see it that night.
I’m so glad I did. I was pleasantly surprised at the size of the audience – and their reaction at the end.
The story focuses on William Wilberforce’s tireless effort to end the slave trade in England.
It’s not an overtly Christian film, though it is clear that Wilberforce’s faith drives what he does. At the beginning of the film, right after his conversion, he struggles with the direction his life should take. He’s involved in politics already, but at this point he questions if he should remain there. He can’t figure out if he should praise the Lord all the time or still work to make the world a better place. One of the greatest lines in the movie is when someone tells him, “I humbly suggest you do both.”
I think that phrase was the catalyst behind all of the conviction I felt at watching this movie. Wilberforce had a dream; a dream to make the world a better place. I share that dream; I’m just too lazy to do anything about it.
Throughout the movie, I found myself wanting to do something worthwhile. I want to make a difference. Wilberforce labored for more than fifteen years before he saw the results of that work. But what a reward it was when he finally accomplished what he’d been working for!
I love the way Brent described his reaction to the movie and the convictions stirred in him:
The portrayal of William Wilberforce (and John Newton) convicted me personally of how little diligence I truly have in the Christian life. I claim allegiance to the kingdom of Christ yet fight so little for it. Instead, I try to smuggle my scraps of contraband sin in through the back door and pretend that they’re really not so bad. I hold my words when I know that I should speak because I don’t feel like a conflict that day or I pretend that sin isn’t really all that bad. At least my sin isn’t. After all, I’m still better than that guy over there.Wilbeforce represents a life so gripped by the power of the Gospel that there is no choice but to act because even our dreams will convict us when we do not. Modern American Christians often worry about the perceived persecution we believe is coming our way, but we rarely stop to think that it could actually be more dangerous to the church if the persecution doesn’t come. We don’t live radical lives of faith because we feel as though we don’t have to.
Wilberforce stands as a larger-than-life reminder that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:14) and a rebuke that so few of us have the discipline or diligence to make a difference for the kingdom. Though we may argue that we don’t face such blatant societal evils as slavery, ceratinly abortion is no less hideous. How is it that so many of us are willing to do so little? Such was the case in Wilberforce’s day and we stand as testimony that there is indeed nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9).
I also loved John Newton’s journey of faith throughout the movie. At this point, he’s already written the well known hymn, but he’s still unable to recount what he saw during his days as a slave trader. He laments that he lives with 20,000 ghosts. By the end of the movie, he can finally put together his “confession” and he utters one of the most profoundly simple lines:
Although my memory’s fading, I remember two things very clearly. I’m a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.
Rent
I’m rewatching my favorite movie tonight: Rent. I absolutely love the movie, and would love to see the broadway musical. Something about this musical strikes a chord in me. If you’ve not seen it, it follows a year in the life of a group of 8 friends (ok, Benny isn’t really a “friend”) struggling to make it in New York City. They have an incredible closeness that I envy. They care about each other. They worry about each other. They love each other.
I want that.
I’m closer to it now than I’ve ever been. I’ve developed more close friendships in the last 2 years or so than I have in my entire life. But for some reason, I hold back. I’m terrified of rejection. I’m terrified that people will see all of my flaws and want nothing to do with me. I’ve opened up a lot more recently, but I can feel those old familiar fears coming back. I don’t know why.
Amazing Grace
I want to see this movie. Just watching the trailer gave me goosebumps.
Amazing Grace is, without a doubt, the most influential song in Christian history. Written in 1779 by a former slave trader by the name of John Newton, this song has inspired countless people.
Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind, but now I see.
‘Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear,
And Grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come.
‘Tis Grace hath brought me safe thus far
And Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His Word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.
Posted in Movies
Jesus Camp the Movie
I just found out about a new movie called Jesus Camp. I haven’t really formed an opinion on it yet. Part of me thinks it is a great idea. Part of me thinks it’s slightly cult-ish.
You can watch the trailer below:
The website for the movie says:
A growing number of Evangelical Christians believe there is a revival underway in America that requires Christian youth to assume leadership in advocating the causes of their religious movement.Jesus Camp follows a group of young children to Pastor Becky Fischer’s “Kids on Fire Summer Camp” where kids are taught to become dedicated Christian soldiers in God’s army and are schooled in how to take back America for Christ. The film is a first-ever look into an intense training ground that recruits born-again Christian children to become an active part of America’s political future.
Because of the time I spend interacting with nonChristians, I can already picture the reactions of athiests and agnostics. One thing I want to point out…camps like these are voluntary. People aren’t pulled out of their homes, and the teaching of these kinds of camps are not forced onto anyone who doesn’t want it.
Another issue I have is that the camp is very obviously charismatic in nature. I’m not a charismatic Christian. And while I no longer believe that charismatic Christians are of the devil (yes, I was actually taught that growing up), it’s still something very different from me and that causes some bit of discomfort. That doesn’t, however, make it wrong.
One of the video clips was of a 10 year old girl named Tory who loves to dance for the Lord. That’s awesome! But they quoted her as saying that she has to be careful that her dancing isn’t from the flesh. I think that is very noble and it’s awesome that she’s aware of that. But at the same time, she’s only 10! How much of that is from actual Holy Spirit conviction and how much of it is this little girl parroting what she’s heard from parents and pastors?
I wouldn’t dream of saying that children can’t be a formidable force in God’s army. I know they can. But at the same time, I worry that camps like these are more cult-like in nature than Christian. These kids are being spoon fed their religion rather than being able to think for themselves and figure out what God is calling them to do rather than what their parents or the camp directors are calling them to. Especially since the director keeps comparing these Christian kids to Islamic kids who know how to use hand grenades and bomb belts.
I will probably watch the movie. I’m more interested in seeing the kids than anything else. I want to know how they talk and how they act. I’m not sure if it’s possible to tell if the Holy Spirit is really moving through a movie, but that’s what I want to know.
Blogs that link here: Pursuing Holiness, Conservative Cat
Tags: Jesus Camp, Christianity
Posted in Movies
