Take a Deep Breath and Relax December 12, 2011
Posted by Matt in Christianity, movies, theology.Tags: god, It's a Big Old Goofy World, meaning of life, the big questions, The ravings of a madman, The Tree of Life
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It’s easy for me to get lost in my own thoughts.
Oftentimes I’ll get started on a track of thought, travel a ways, then do some research and slightly change course, then do it again and again until finally my mind is in some destination it never before considered. For the past week I’ve been pondering the film we watched last Sunday evening, The Tree of Life, plumbing its depths for meaning, trying to work out the abundant symbolism.
I have all of these ideas bouncing around my head from the film, all of the big questions asked since the dawn of humankind. What is the nature of God, the divine masculine/feminine paradigm? What is the nature of existence, the connectedness of all Creation? What is the meaning of it all?
So, I thought and thought about these and other issues and about how I could write about them and perhaps get some ideas out in the open. How could I encapsulate the meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything into a series of blog entries without just giving the number 42?
Maybe I’ll get around to it soon when I have time to do it some semblance of justice. For now, I needed to just rest my mind for a bit, smile and take things easy. As the great prophet John Prince said
“Kiss a little baby
Give the world a smile
If you take an inch
Give ‘em back a mile.”
My Busy Brain December 5, 2011
Posted by Matt in movies.Tags: beauty, god, grace, the big questions, The Tree of Life
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Last night I had the opportunity to see Terrence Malick’s latest film, The Tree of Life, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since the credits finished rolling. It was incredible, beautiful, confusing, and ultimately an experience that defies explanation. I’ve never seen anything like it. If you have not seen it yet, I wholeheartedly endorse it, while at the same time I would warn you to not expect a traditional movie. Be prepared to confront the big questions relating to humankind: existence and meaning and God. Even now, hours later, I’m still going over and over it in my mind, trying to figure out what I witnessed.
So, my mind is too busy to come up with anything compelling to write about today. Hopefully, you’re having a good one.
Finding the Rainbow Connection August 16, 2011
Posted by Matt in movies, music.Tags: Green Album, NPR, The Muppets, Weezer
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If you were a young child in the late 70’s-early 80’s like I was, there are certain things that bring back fond, wonderful memories of unworried childhood bliss, and I reckon that one of those all-important aspects of your youth, like mine, is the muppets. How could you not love the antics of Kermit and Miss Piggie and Fozzie Bear? So, when I heard that they were bringing these characters of my childhood back to the big screen in a major motion picture to be released later this year, I was ecstatic, both for my sake and for my kids. To prepare us for this monumental event, NPR is streaming a newly recorded album of muppet favorites interpreted by some of today’s favorite music artists – Weezer, My Morning Jacket, Andrew Bird, and others – making this one of the can’t miss recordings of the year.
There’s something about the muppets and the songs that characterize them so well. It harkens back to those halcyon days of childhood, of silliness and simplicity, of wistful idealism. It transports us to a time before we were bombarded with cynicism and hate, before bottom lines and dollar signs. It’s a feeling both sad about what was lost and happy that we can still revisit it, even now as grown-ups in our lives of quiet desperation.
I must admit I teared up a bit during this version of Rainbow Connection by Weezer and Hayley Williams.
Schwing! May 21, 2011
Posted by Matt in movies.Tags: clips, movies that hold up, Wayne's World
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When it comes to entertainment your tastes tend to change over time. There are things that you loved as a teenager that become laughably bad once you’ve matured to adulthood. For me this is particularly evident in my cinematic tastes. Things I thought were funny or cool 20 years ago do not usually hold the same appeal to me now as I get close to my mid-30′s. Thus, I am often hesitant to watch those films today because I don’t want to sully the memory.
One of these pieces of cinema is SNL’s 1992 hit Wayne’s World, a movie that I watched countless times as a teen, but had not seen in many years, so last night Diana and I decided to remedy that.
Yes, it’s still hilarious.
Check out some of the great scenes below.
Summer Movie Preview, Part 1 May 5, 2011
Posted by Matt in movies.Tags: Bridesmaids, Cars 2, Everything Must Go, Green Lantern, Hobo with a Shotgun, Kung-Fu Panda 2, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Priest, summer movie preview, Super 8, The Beaver, The Hangover Part II, Thor, X-Men:First Class
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That time is upon us again, when big budgets and on-screen explosions and CGI effects and scantily clad women seem to take over the entertainment industry. Yes, it’s the summer movie season! As a public service, each year I take a look at the upcoming movies, read their descriptions, watch their trailers, and give you my verdict on whether or not they will be watchable. Today we will look at some of the coming films to be released in the months of May and June.
May 6
Thor
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Plot: The warrior Thor is cast out of the fantastical realm of Asgard by his father Odin for his arrogance and sent to Earth to live among humans. Falling in love with scientist Jane Foster teaches Thor much needed lessons, and his new-found strength comes in plan as a villain from his homeland wends dark forces toward Earth.
My Take: My familiarity with the Thor comic book character is basically nonexistent, so this one does hold some intrigue for me, particularly because of the presence of Branagh, whose directorial work has mostly been in Shakespeare adaptations. The trailer looks promising and if the reviews are decent, I’ll probably check it out eventually.
The Beaver
Starring: Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, Anton Yelchin
Director: Jodie Foster
Plot: A troubled executive adopts a beaver hand-puppet as his sole means of communicating with his family and colleagues.
My Take: So, apparently Mel Gibson’s comeback from hate speech and insanity is to play Mr. Garrison from South Park. Um, okay, I guess. We’ll see.
Hobo with a Shotgun
Starring: Rutger Hauer
Director: Jason Eisener
Plot: A transient looking for a fresh start in a new town instead finds himself in the middle of an urban wasteland run by a notorious crime boss and crooked cops. Fed up with the violence around him, he grabs hold of a pump-action shotgun and begins to dole out round after round of civilian justice.
My Take: Why include this one? Because it’s about a freakin’ vigilante hobo with a shotgun and the director’s last work was on a short film about murderous Christmas trees fighting back. Awesome.
May 13
Bridesmaids
Starring: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne
Director: Paul Feig
Plot: Picked as her best friend’s maid of honor, lovelorn and broke Annie looks to bluff her way through the expensive and bizarre rituals with an oddball group of bridesmaids.
My Take: The trailer looks better than expected from the plot description and the comparison to Judd Apatow is promising. We’ll see.
Priest
Stars: Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet, Maggie O
Director: Scott Charles Stewart
Plot: A priest disobeys church law to track down the vampires who kidnapped his niece.
My Take: A vampire hunting priest? Eh. Whatever.
Everything Must Go
Stars: Will Ferrell, Rebecca hall, Christopher Jordan Wallace
Director: Dan Rush
Plot: After Nick Halsey loses his job, the rest of his life begins to crumble as his wife leaves him and he starts drinking again. Oddly enough, selling his worldly possessions on his front lawn with the help of two neighbors might be the key to his preservation.
My Take: I tend to be a Will Ferrell fan, so I’m looking at this comedy-drama with a great deal of interest, maybe even more so since it co-stars the Notorious B.I.G.’s son. I’ll see it at some point
May 20
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Stars: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane
Director: Rob Marshall
Plot: After crossing paths with a woman from his path, Captain Jack Sparrow is swept aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard, on an unexpected mission to find the elusive fountain of youth.
My Take: I wasn’t terribly enamored with the last two Pirates sequels and I don’t recall ever seeing them more than once, but I’m sure I’ll watch this one as well. You have to wonder if director Rob Marshall, best known for his work on Chicago, will add in a song-and-dance scene.
May 27
The Hangover Part II
Stars: Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms
Director: Todd Phillips
Plot: Right after the bachelor party in Las Vegas, Phil, Stu, Alan, and Dough jet to Thailand for Stu’s wedding. Stu’s plan for a subdued pre-wedding brunch, however, goes seriously awry.
My Take: Again? The first was a lot of fun, but I can’t imagine doing it over will hold the same appeal.
Kung Fu Panda 2
Stars: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan
Director: Jennifer Yuh
Plot: Po and the Furious Five venture to China to battle a villain and uncover the secrets of Po’s mysterious origins.
My Take: There’s no escape. This will be a must-see for my kids.
June 3
X-Men: First Class
Stars: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lowrence
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Plot: Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr are two young men discovering their powers. Banding together with fellow mutants to stop a threat to the world, a rift grows between the two forces, leading to the founding of Professor X’s X-Men and Magneto’s Brotherhood, and the beginning of their eternal war.
My Take: X-Men 3 was a big letdown after the classic second chapter, so I’m a bit iffy about this prequel. It has a good cast, an interesting director, and an appealing trailer, so I’m sure I’ll see it at some point.
June 10
Super 8
Starring: Elle Fanning, Amanda Michalka, Kyle Chandler
Director: JJ Abrams
Plot: Ohio, 1979: When kids shooting a super 8 movie witness a train crash, their shock soon turns to feelings of suspicion and horror after disappearances and inexplicable events begin to take place in town.
My Take: JJ Abrams struck gold with his incredible relaunch of Star Trek, so I would be watching anything he does with interest now. This teaming with producer Steven Spielberg, though, looks like a revisit to the 1980’s, so much so that in the trailer I almost expected to see bikes flying by the moon. Probably a must-see this summer.
June 17
Green Lantern
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Starsgaard
Director: Martin Campbell (Edge of Darkness, Casino Royale, The Legend of Zorro)
Plot: When he’s granted a mystical green ring that bestows him with otherworldly powers, test pilot Hal Jordan becomes the first human to earn membership into an intergalactic squadron tasked with keeping peace within the universe. His mission: to combat an enemy called Parallax, which threatens to destroy the universe’s balance of power.
My Take: In a summer jam-packed with comic book movies, Green Lantern is one that stands out and definitely one the studio believes will be huge. I’m sure I’ll see it at some point.
June 24
Cars 2
Stars: Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy
Director: John Lasseter (Cars, Toy Story, Toy Story 2), Brad Lewis
Plot: Lightning McQueen, pit boss Mater, and the rest of Lightning’s crew enter the Race of Champions, a multi-national event taking place in Japan, Germany, Italy, France, and England.
My Take: The kids will definitely see to it that they win this round, so I’m sure we’ll see it at some point.
What about you? What movies are you looking forward to? I’ll post part 2 later when I have time.
And the Oscar Goes To… February 23, 2011
Posted by Matt in movies.Tags: Academy Awards, confused by Inception
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Roll out that red carpet, call the limo service, and get those last minute shots of botox – it’s Oscar time! The Academy Awards are the only “awards show” that I generally pay any attention to and even then I can’t sit and watch the whole thing. Anyway, I am always interested in their choices. This year there are again ten nominees for Best Picture:
127 Hours
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The King’s Speech
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter’s Bone
Given that I’ve only seen one of these films (It was Inception, which by the way is not a movie made for people who’ve had head injuries and suffer from short term memory loss. A week or so after I saw it, Patrick the priest asked me about a specific point in the movie and I was completely blank. I definitely need to see it again.), I don’t feel as if I have much room to comment on the selections or choose a winner based on the synopses from IMDB. So, I turn to you to tell me your choice for best film of the year. Is it one of these nominees or is it something else entirely?
Still Abiding February 2, 2011
Posted by Matt in movies.Tags: best movie ever, Big Lebowski 2, coen brothers, sequel, The Dude
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According to reports, there are plans to film a sequel to perhaps the greatest movie ever made, The Big Lebowski. As long as the Coen’s are in charge, this could be the Godfather II of sequels about pot-smoking, unemployed bowlers.
So, what could possibly be in this sequel?
At the end of The Big Lebowski, there is talk of a “little Lebowski” on the way, who would be about 13 right now.
Sure, Donny died, but he could always come back as a ghost – at least so Walter could tell him to “shut the **** up.”
You have to hope that a sequel wouldn’t tarnish the original (which I don’t even think is possible), but I would love to revisit these characters again. Bring back The Dude, Walter, Jesus, Brandt, The Big Lebowski, Maude, the Stranger, the nihilists – all of them. I’ll be first in line.
My brother commented on this yesterday too and I think he’s just as excited about the idea as I am.
Spine Chilling Cinema October 20, 2010
Posted by Matt in movies.Tags: halloween, horror movies
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With less than two weeks remaining until the most horrifying of holidays, Halloween, something is missing from my life. It’s not pounds of candy, nor is it costumes or decorations of other frightening paraphernalia, but it is an integral part of the Halloween season. The nights are growing longer, a chill is in the air, and it’s time for some horror movies.
Now I’ve never been what many would consider a horror movie connoisseur. I’ve certainly seen my fair share of scary cinematic offerings, but it has never been among my favorite types of movies. This time of year, though, brings the genre to the forefront and I cannot help my yearning for frightful films.
So, I ask you today, what are your favorite horror movies?
On Families and Film October 12, 2010
Posted by Matt in movies.Tags: 1980's family movies, Ghostbusters, The Karate Kid, The Neverending Story
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Whatever happened to the family movie?
There are not too many things I lament from the passing of the 1980’s some two decades ago, but one piece of that decade that seems to be sorely lacking today is that of quality cinema aimed at families. Now, I realize that there have been several films released in recent years aimed at specific demographics (children, tweens, teens, etc.), but there are few that appeal across the age spectrum while also providing entertainment for parents.
Many times it seems as though today’s kids’ movies are perhaps too sheltered, too separate from reality, as though children lack the mental or emotional ability to handle certain situations that arise in life like death, depression, loneliness, and others. It is condescending, to say the least. Over the past several years it seems to have become more prevalent that parents want to draw a steel-enforced protective bubble around their children in order to keep all the bad things away. Thus, you end up with today’s cinematic situation, where movies are either on the infant-appropriate and totally unrealistic G-rated end or they are PG-13, which is a bit outside my comfort zone for my young children. Somewhere along the way the PG movie seems to have been forgotten.
That being the case, we decided at some point that it was time for our girls to be introduced to the films that we remembered from our childhood, despite the fact that they have the occasional bout of violence or vulgar language or sad situations absent in today’s sanitized cinema.
Over the past two weeks we added three more movies to our ever-expanding list. First, we started with the original The Karate Kid and I was totally surprised at how well the movie held up over the ensuing 25 years. You can’t help buy cheer on Daniel-san and Mr. Miyagi, who, I had forgotten, was a depressed old man trying desperately to drink away the memory of his wife and child that had died some 40 years earlier.
Yesterday, after we returned from our camping trip, we had a little mini-movie-marathon, starting with a something from Netflix Watch It Now that I hadn’t seen in probably 20 or more years, The Neverending Story. All that I really remembered was a kid flying around on some dog-thing (actually a luck dragon), so there were certainly some surprises in store for me. There was one scene in particular that seemed so foreign when compared to today’s antiseptic-clean children’s films. This particular portion of the film concerned the boy Atreyu leading his beloved horse through the Swamps of Sadness, who becomes overcome with sadness and slowly sinks to his death while the boy yells and moans. It is quite a harrowing scene for a kids’ movie.
The other movie we watched yesterday was completely different than these: Ghostbusters. Let me tell you, it is still an incredibly funny and inventive piece of work and I often found myself laughing out loud. I was a little concerned beforehand that Rachel might find some parts to be scary, but, as many parents tend to do, I underestimated her and she loved it.
There are other movies from that time period that I have my eye on procuring in the near future to watch. Rachel has seen E.T. before, but we’ve never watched it together and I would really like to own a copy of it, so it is certainly on the radar. I’d like to pick up the Indiana Jones movies, particularly Raiders of the Lost Ark, and I’m sure they will love it too. Then there are other classics like Back to the Future, which both Diana and I would like to see again and share with the kids.
What do you think? Do you agree that the 1980’s was a great era for family films? What movies would you suggest?
