Favorite Movies: 2011

It is time for round two of my end of the year (beginning of the year?) recap of pop culture. In 2011 I watched a lot of movies. Some were great, several were alright, and there were some that were so bad that I will deny having seen them. What follows is my list of my favorites.

These are movies that:

• I saw for the first time in 2011.
• Entertained me more than any other movies I saw last year.
• Were not necessarily made or released in 2011.
• Are not necessarily the best movies of 2011.
• Are listed in no particular order.

So, here is my list of the top 10.

• The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
• Cyrus
• The Wrestler
• True Grit
• Secretariat
• The Rat Pack
• Bottle Rocket
• Get Low
• Black Swan
• The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Movies I want to see before the end of the Year

• The Ides of March
• Midnight in Paris
• Winter's Bone
• Super 8
• Crazy, Stupid, Love
• 30 Minutes or Less
• Beginners
• Tree of Life
• Everything Must Go
• Limitless
• Win Win
• Jack Goes Boating
• Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
• Source Code
• Courageous
• The Book of Eli
• Tower Heist
• The Big Year
• Not Forgotten

Old Ways are Better?

There is nothing in the entertainment world that is more economical and fun than renting a video and ordering a pizza. This is one of the great pleasures of life for my family. Pizza is the greatest food and movies are the most fun. What a riot.

At Christmas time our family watches Christmas movies. We have some favorites that we watch every year. It's a Wonderful Life, Christmas Vacation, Holiday Inn and A Christmas Story, among others, all get an annual tour in our video player. It is one of our great family holiday traditions. But this year, there was a change in the custom.

A few weeks ago there was an ad in the paper for a special showing of White Christmas at the Riviera Theater in Three Rivers, Michigan. What a great thing. The Riviera is an old, downtown movie house on the main street of a small town. There are about 300 seats in the theater that has been lovingly restored. It is a beautiful place.

I had been wanting to see the theater anyway, but now they were going to be showing one of our annual Christmas films. BINGO! We have a winner. A classic film on the big screen is a dream come true.

So we went. It was a great time. Here are some observations.

• Watching a movie with a crowd is way more fun than watching at home with just the family. There times that I was laughing out loud just because someone else thought something was funny. Everything was more enjoyable because there was a group response to the action on the screen.
• Bing Crosby is creepy looking when his head is that big. His eyes are very blue, but there are wrinkles and make up that I have never been unable to see on my television at home. Additionally, Vera Ellen, who I have always thought was nice looking, is a little bit funny looking at that size as well.
• When I watch movies at home, I get sleepy. In fact, I almost always fall asleep. There is an energy generated with a group of people that keeps me going, however. I have seen White Christmas at least once a year for 20+ years, and yet it help my interest this time as much as the first time I saw it.

So here is my verdict: Movies are more fun with a crowd in a theater. I will refuse to even argue this point.

Me and Jean

Its a holiday weekend and so I have devoted myself to a couple of my favorite things. I am reading and watching movies. I am having a little trouble on the reading front. It has been hard for me to find anything that really excites me this year. I have been reading Andrew Vachss, but the one I am in right now is hard for me to get into. But I digress.

I have also been watching movies. Last night I watched Les Miserables. The version I saw last night was the one from 1998 starring Liam Neeson and Geoffrey Rush. It is a fine production, but by no means the best one available. There is a version with Charles Laughton from 1935. There is one with Claude Rains (I think) that I really like too.

I first met the story of Les Miserables through the Broadway musical version. It is great music, a superb story and just innovative enough to keep it interesting. I have seen stage productions of Les Miserables several times (including one high school production that was surprisingly excellent). There are days that I spend in a blissful fog singing "Who Am I," or "Bring Him Home." The music makes me smile and takes to specific scenes, times, places, emotions. Ahhh...

The novel, written by Victor Hugo, is one of my favorites. There are no weaknesses. Reading this thing allows me to get lost in the pages. I love everything about it.

But the best thing about Les Miserables is Jean Valjean. He is probably my all-time favorite fictional character. Jean is a convict. The story opens with Jean working on a chain gang for 19 years. He has been sentenced hard labor for stealing bread. When paroled, however, he goes on the run. While evading the police Valjean encounters a priest who shows compassion, grace, forgiveness and love. Jean Valjean is transformed.

For the rest of his life Valjean has to hide from the authorities- he is a parole violator after all. But he shows grace and compassion for everyone he meets, including his greatest enemies. His concern and love for others is clearly the theme of the story.

This is not necessarily and Christian novel. The musical is not a religious production. Every filmed version I have seen does not focus on the obvious Christian themes. However, it is impossible to separate Les Miserables from the gospel. It is, in many ways, a parable of the the way the Christian life ought to be lived. Jean Valjean is not Jesus, nor is he intended to be. But those who read or view Les Miserables honestly will see Jesus in Valjean as surely as they will in Aslan. Do not miss Les Miserables, in whatever form you can find it.

Movies I Want to See

One of the problems with life is that there is not enough time to do everything you want to do. My favorite T-shirt slogan is "So many books, so little time." That summarizes my life. There are too many books to read. Too many places to go. Too much music to hear. All of that can get very frustrating.

Movies are the same for me. There are tons of movies that I want to see, but do not have time for every year. And, just as I have a shelf of books that I am planning to read, I have a list of movies I need to watch. And although I always prefer films on a big screen in a theater, I am resigned to seeing most of these at home on video.

• (500) Days of Summer
• Inglorious Basterds
• Up In the Air
• Dead Man
• The Book of Eli
• The Lovely Bones
• Nine
• The Blind Side
• Fantastic Mr Fox
• An Education
• Crazy Heart
• The Hurt Locker
• A Single Man
• The Road
• The Invention of Lying
• Whiteout
• Sunshine Cleaning
• Synechdoche, New York
• Rachel Getting Married
• W
• Smart People
• Gran Torino
• Milk
• The Wrestler
• The Informant
• Burn After Reading
• The Man Who Wasn't There
• Billy

Favorite Movies of 2009

Its time to do my year-end evaluations. I know that I may be the only one interested in these lists, but they do help me to think critically about the ways in which I spend my time. So, here is my list of my best movies of the year. But first, my disclaimers.

These movies are not necessarily the best ones of 2009. They are movies that have moved me, entertained me or made me think more than any other movies this year.

These movies were not necessarily released in 2009. They are all new to me, however. I watched them all for the first time in 2009.

I try very hard to not be influenced by what is popular. Consequently, I may be biased against the Hollywood blockbuster. But then again, maybe not.

• The Visitor
• No Country for Old Men
• Freedom Writers
• Transsiberian
• Ed Wood
• Slumdog Millionaire
• Doubt
• Run, Fatboy, Run
• Henry Poole is Here
• Up

In Praise of Nooma

I am not sure when I first heard about Nooma videos. There was some talk. That's all I remember. Someone said that the videos were cool. I don't know who it was. I can't tell you when it was. Then someone (I think it was Jeff Newton) told me I should read Velvet Elvis, by Rob Bell. So I did.

The book was good, but didn't get me too excited. Bell has an interesting approach to the church, to Christianity in particular and faith in general. He looks at the big picture of things, but also sees the tiniest detail at the same time. I liked that. That is about the time that I realized Rob Bell, author of the book, was also the person behind the Nooma video series. I decided it was time to try one out.

I went to my local Christian store where I found a video called "Rain." I brought it home and watched it with my wife. I was immediately hooked. In Rain, Bell is carrying his toddler son on his bike as they hike through the woods. When they get as far away from their cabin as they can get, a storm begins. Naturally the son is terrified. During the whole trip back father tries to assure son that everything will be fine. Daddy is in charge. Finally, Bell makes the comparison to our Father, God, caring for us as his children. It was powerful. I was hooked.

There are currently 24 films in the series. They are all rather short (10-15 minutes). Some of my favorites include Rain, Lump, Luggage and Dust. They are all available at any Christian store or online at http://flannel.org/. Each video comes with Scriptures and discussion guides for groups.

I have used nearly all of these films with various kinds of groups. Discussion is almost always good. The quality of these videos is excellent. Bell is good as the narrator and the stories that are told, both by him and by the images we see, are dramatic and appropriate. It is good to see that there are Christians who are using their gifts in very creative ways.

The Christian faith is clearly spoken in these films. It is not the "in-your-face" faith of fundamentalist preachers from an older generation, but it is a completely orthodox, Christian account of the world we live in.

Nooma is a kind-of corruption of the Greek word, pneuma. In the New Testament the pneuma is the Holy Spirit and also the breath of God. Pneuma is another word for wind. There is a fresh wind from God that blows through these videos and makes them worthwhile watching.

I recommend these films highly. Watch them and be challenged. Watch them and be entertained. Watch them and grow.

The Best Rock/ Music Movies

It is a favorite thing of mine to make lists. If you have read this blog for very long you have figured that out. I keep track of things so that I can make lists. I have compiled lists of favorite concerts, favorite movies, favorite hamburgers and way more than that. (You should pray that you never get to read some of my more personal lists.)

Many people in the media have learned that lists are very popular. In fact, I believe that USA Today owes much of its existence to the bulleted list. Every paper and magazine formulates lists; Best and worst dressed, Newsmakers of the year, Best new reality tv series' of the year. You get the idea.

This is my very personal list of two of my favorite topics: Movies and music. These are my favorite movies about or containing music. These are not necessarily documentaries, but they are filled with music, or music is a central theme of the movie. I make no claims to the intrinsic value of the movie or the music contained therein. Only that the movie, and the music were enjoyed by me. You have no doubt seen most of these films. If you have missed some, look them up. You will not be sorry.

One last thing: Do not get excited. I have not listed these in any order. They are not arranged according to quality, musical style or preference.

• The Last Waltz. This is my favorite concert movie. It is the final concert of The Band with many guests. Watch this movie. Directed by Martin Scorsese.
• This is Spinal Tap. The original "mockumentary" is the funniest rock movie ever made. Rob Reiner directed an hilarious film that has become a cultural phenomenon.
• Almost Famous. This is a semi-autobiographical story about how one young boy became a writer for Rolling Stone Magazine.
• A Mighty Wind. A mockumentary from the mind of Christopher Guest. Think Best in Show with folk music. Although everything is completely tongue in cheek, do not take the music for granted. It is good!
• Walk the Line. This is not only a great music movie, it is a great movie. The story of Johnny Cash and June Carter is wonderfully played out and the music is not bad.
• The Buddy Holly Story. I believe that Buddy Holly was the true King of Rock and Roll and Gary Busey was never better.
• La Bamba. Lou Diamond Phillips plays Ritchie Valens. This movie, with music by Los Lobos, is wonderful. Did Phillips ever make another movie?

What movies would you add? What ones do you disagree with?

Are There Christian Movies?

When I was still in high school, my church, Union Chapel in Bryant, Indiana, hosted a series of "Christian" films. It was a great outreach event. On a series of Sunday evenings we watched "A Thief in the Night," "A Distant Thunder," "Image of the Beast" and "The Prodigal Planet." The movies were all about prophecy and the end times. It was an interpretive look at what will happen just before Jesus returns to earth.

I remember the intentions of my church family being noble. I also remember inviting some friends from school. A couple of my friends came at least once. Chris, who never went to church anywhere, came with a large, paper grocery sack filled with popcorn. Not everyone was glad to see his snacks in the sanctuary of our pretty little church.

The problem was that the movies were terrible. The acting stunk. The productions values were poor. The print that was shown in my church was awful. Although our hearts were in the right place and our congregation was doing a good thing, the movies failed to produce a positive result. In fact, I was embarrassed by them and my visiting friends spent a lot of energy making fun of the movies, and maybe even the church people who supported them.

There are a couple of excuses available for producers of Christian films. First of, because the market for Christian films is so small, the budgets of these productions is necessarily small in comparison to the typical movie coming out of Hollywood. Although some may argue (myself included) that the best films are not big-budget Hollywood productions, we are still at a disadvantage.

Since there is not as much money available for Christian films, that means that those who would like to make them are at a disadvantage. They do not have the resources or the experience to make Hollywood-quality films. Someone with deep convictions about making wholesome and uplifting movies may never get the opportunity to learn how to do that very thing.

Some things have changed through the years, however. Recent Christian films seem to be making some headway in the production values department. For example, although they are not up to par with Hollywood standards, the Left Behind movies (http://www.cloudtenpictures.com/) deal with the same subject matter as the earlier mentioned films and have come a long way in terms of quality.

Recently, the center of Christian film making has seemed to center around a church in the south. Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia has made three respectable contributions to the Christian film genre. (http://www.sherwoodpictures.com/) Flywheel(http://revdeweysworld.blogspot.com/2007/11/flywheel.html), Facing the Giants, and Fireproof have each provided an emotional tug and each one is better than the one before.

I will mention two others that I have seen recently. The Visitation is based on a Frank Peretti novel and deals with spiritual warfare and the power of God. Three is from a Ted Dekker book. It is the story of a seminary student being stalked and targeted by a serial killer.

Do not expect to see huge special effects and Tinseltown glitter in any of these films, but know that they are getting better.

Harry Potter and the Christian's Dilemma

It was shocking to me that upon seeing the most recent Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, I have not written anything about either the books, or the movies. It is time to fix that little oversight.

First of all, let me go on record as saying that I came late to the world of Hogwarts. I had to be convinced to start reading the books. However, I did, and I have read all seven installments. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was my favorite book. I felt that Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was the weakest book. I have also seen all of the movies. And naturally, some have been better than others.

JK Rowling as a good writer, but she is not great. Those who have compared the Harry Potter books to Narnia or other classic children's literature are mistaken. Harry Potter will live a long life because his stories are committed to film. Frank Baum wrote a series of books about Oz. We remember his stories because one of them was turned into a movie that we all have seen. JK Rowling and Harry Potter are in this category.

There are many people, usually Christians of a particularly narrow theological persuasion, who are against Harry Potter and everything about him and his Hogwarts world. Witchcraft, wizardry and the like are the works of evil is their belief. Good Christian people should avoid all association with anything however remotely related to witchcraft or the occult. At this point, I would like to point out that in these stories, Harry and his friends, Hermione and Ron, are the very personification of good. And although they often appear fallible and human, they are always struggling for virtue. They are "disciples" of Dumbledore, the benevolent headmaster and gracious teacher. It would not be stretching too far to talk about Dumbledore as a figure of God and Harry as a Christ-figure. I will not do that, however.

Suffice it to say that I do not believe the Harry Potter books or movies are bad, or detrimental for Christians (or anyone for that matter). They are fiction after all. Most Christians would protest if someone tried to take all stories with magic in them away. There would be no more fairy tales. (Cinderella, Snow White and Sleepy Beauty would all be gone.) Additionally, I am just obstinate enough that I want to know for myself what is good or bad for me. I am afraid if I take your word for what I should or should not see or do, I might miss out on something great. Consequently, I tried Harry Potter and I kind of liked him.

The most recent Harry Potter movie has very little in the way of action or violence. There are stories of teens growing up. There is good vs. evil (again). There are sad things and there are great victories. But the movie was good. The only shortcomings I came away with are:

• Even more than the book of the same name, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince was nothing more than a lengthy set up for the final installment of the series. Stories are left unfinished. I would like more closure.
• I am a little upset that the last book will be turned into two films. Of course the books do get longer as you continue through the series. However, this seems to be nothing more than a money making scheme. I one movie can make you rich, two can make you filthy rich.
• The much ballyhooed opening sequence seemed to be tacked on with little relevance to the story or the rest of the film. The effects were good, but it was hard to make the connection.

I will, under protest, see the last two films. And I suppose that I believe the total cycle makes for good story-telling. In it we learn a lot about good and evil, growing up, and making good decisions. And that's not bad.

Movies You Ought to See (for good reasons)

Here are a few movies that I have seen recently that would be good to see. Some of these movies I have not seen recently, but I was reminded of them by seeing some of the others. I stand behind all of these recommendations. I guarantee you will like them, or I'll refund the price you paid to read this blog entry.

• Doubt- Philip Seymour Hoffman is the best actor in American movies today. He is great, as usual, as a priest accused of sexual abuse with a minority student at his school. Meryl Streep plays the nun who thinks the worst in every situation. She raises suspicions and evil thoughts in every possible situation. Amy Adams plays the young nun who is caught in the middle and doesn't know what to think. Although we never learn whether or not the priest is guilty, we learn and grow a lot in the experience. Pay special attention to the sermons on doubt and gossip.
• Henry Poole is Here- This could easily become my favorite movie. Luke Wilson is a terminally ill man who has given up on life and hope when his neighbors begin to notice an image of Jesus on the side of his house. Henry deals with his own disease, his impending death, his nosy neighbors and the miracles that start happening in thought-provoking ways. Again, you will be left with as many questions as answers, but the trip is worth it.
• Leap of Faith- This Steve Martin film of several years ago raises many of the same questions as the Henry Poole movie. Does God heal? Who can you trust? What about a person's motivations? It's fun and funny, but be sure to wear your thinking cap.
• Up- A great new animated feature in which an elderly man deals with his loneliness and a young boy works through his feelings of abandonment. These issues are packaged in a delightful story with wit and sensitivity.
• Bella- Although I felt I was being preached at on a couple of occasions, this film is only part propaganda. It is mostly great. The issues surrounding abortion are dealt with seriously without flinching. Nina is a pregnant waitress who is fired for being late. She is befriended by the restaurant's chef. As the two of them spend 24 hours together we see the conflicts in Nina's life, as well as how great Jose (the chef) is. It does not have a traditional story book ending, but you will not be disappointed.

Watch one. Watch them all.

Of Mice, Men and Death

You know the story of Of Mice and Men. I know it too. I read the book first when I was in college. I have seen a couple of movies based on Of Mice and Men. I know a lot about the story, the setting, etc. But I was still not prepared for my recent re-reading.

First of all, I love the writing of John Steinbeck. I have never been disappointed by any of his work. I went into a depression for weeks after I finished Grapes of Wrath. I still cannot think about nursing mothers in the same way. Steinbeck has a way of moving me that no one else does. His work is informative and educational without being preachy. I find it to be moving without corny-ness.

So I knew that I would enjoy Of Mice and Men. What I didn't expect (or remember) was the lessons that there are to learn here. If you have never read this book- or haven't read it recently- do it right away.

• Killing a man for killing a man is worse- at least harder- than just killing a man. There is some violence in this book. There is no way around it. In fact, there is no story without the violence. Lennie, a large, powerful and simple-minded man, is not a violent character. He is a man who does not know his own strength and does not understand the consequences of his actions. His co-worker/ best friend George is trapped in a relationship with Lennie that is fraught with difficulties. George learns that some times death is better than other options, but that it is never good.
• Sometimes a person is killed for mercy. Without giving away too much of the plot line, let me say that death is sometimes better than life. Animals are destroyed when they are injured or too ill to recover. Of Mice and Men seems to endorse that thought, even for humans. One more step to euthanasia.
• This story reminded me of the Clint Eastwood film, Million Dollar Baby. There are no boxers or car accidents here, but the issues are sometimes similar. Read the book, then watch the movie and see if you don't agree.

In Praise of Movie Innovation

I love movies. I love new things in movies- new ways of making movies.

I loved Memento, in which the main character has no long-term memory. In essence, the entire movie goes backwards until we learn why he has lost his memory.

I loved Rope, in which Alfred Hitchcock made the whole movie in one room with only one "shot."

I love movies that experiment, that change things up. I want to be inspired and challenged.

But more important than this, I want to watch movies. And herein lies the problem. But thankfully there are several new ways to see movies that I am learning about. Let me share a few of them with you.

• The Movies Channel on YouTube. Wow! That was my first reaction to this little gem. On YouTube you can now watch full length movies for free (and legally). You need a high speed connection and the selection is not great, but it is growing. You can watch movies on your computer any day or time. Check out http://www.youtube.com/movies.
• The Red Box. This was completely new to me until this week. The Red Box is a vending machine that has popped up in many locations in the last few years. For $1 you can rent a DVD for 24 hours. Again, the selection is not the greatest, and it is not as convenient as finding a movie on your computer, but it is good... very good. You will need a credit or debit card to use the Red Box, and if you do not return you movie you will be charged late fees. But- one more bit of good news- you can return your movie to any Red Box. Find details and Red Box locations at http://www.redbox.com/home.aspx.
• Netflix. Some friends got me a Netflix subscription for my birthday. I may never go to another video store. Netflix is convenient. The movies come to my home. It is inexpensive. I spend less money for more movies. And the selection is great. I have been able to find every movie that I am interested in (so far). Netflix is simple. You pay a monthly fee for the number of movies you would like. I get two movies at a time for $13.99 monthly. I pick out the movies online and Netflix sends them to me. On Monday I returned Slumdog Millionaire, today I will receive Run, Fatboy, Run. I am a happy fatboy. Find Netflix at http://www.netflix.com.

Flash of Insanity?

The film, Flash of Genius was missed by many last year when it made the rounds to theatres. It is not a powerful dramatic film. There are no car chases, fight scenes or action sequences. It contains very little "adult" language. There is no nudity, sex or drug use. There are no high powered Hollywood stars. It is not a romance, comedy or romantic comedy. There is little here to argue for commercial success. However, Flash of Genius is a very good film.

Greg Kinnear stars as Robert Kearns, an engineering professor who has the idea, and then develops the intermittent windshield wiper. He tries to sell it to the Ford Motor Company, but they steal it. The bulk of the film deals with everything that Kearns lost as a result of Ford's theft- dignity, marriage, family, job, career, home, sanity (the list could go on). In one sense this is a very sad movie. A good man lost everything that he had ever held dear.

In another sense, this is a great triumph.

• Although Kearns lost the respect of children he never gave up on them, or having a relationship with them. And although he ultimately lost his marriage, he always hoped to save or rescue that relationship. He was deeply committed to his family. When he finally gets his day in court, we are glad to see that all his children have joined is ad hoc legal team. They are all in this together. When Ford sends a representative to the Kearns home on the night before the verdict and offers $30 million to settle the case, there is very little interest in anyone in the family. They stick together. The importance of family is a great lesson in Flash of Genius.
• Another triumph of this film is the importance of personal dignity and integrity. Our culture would have us believe that anything is okay if it leads to money, or an easy life, or advancement in the world. Robert Kearns rejects that idea. He is almost as corny as a traditional American superhero. He stands for truth, justice and the American way. A large settlement is less important to Kearns than the recognition that he was the inventor and that Ford stole his idea. For a moment I wanted him to compromise his convictions and take the money, but then I realized that it is much better to be principled than to be rich.

Flash of Genius is not everyone, but it is definitely worth watching.

Ben "Alger" Carson

Horatio Alger was a prolific author who was best known for his rags to riches stories of the American dream. Several year ago I became aware of true-life Horatio Alger story. The story of Ben Carson is not secret, but it was very exciting when I first became aware of it. Carson's autobiography, Gifted Hands, was an inspiring, life-altering book for me.

When I read the book I was impressed by Dr Carson's success. He has an impressive resume no matter where he comes from and who he is. He is a pediatric neuro-surgeon who pioneered procedures to help children suffering from seizures, the hemispherectomy that removes one half of the brain to give a child a normal life, and to separate conjoined twins who were connected at the head. Both procedures were successful and created a lot of publicity for Dr Carson.

But the truly amazing aspect of the story is the environment from which Dr Carson came. He was raised in the inner-city by a single mother. He endured racism, poverty, a bad attitude and many other forms of disadvantage. And yet he was able to overcome disadvantage, become a productive member of the medical community, attain a measure of success, attain a measure of financial security, keep his deep Christian faith and become an effective and loving father and husband.

The true story, however, is about the faith and commitment of his mother, Sonya Carson. When it was required, Ben's mother got her two sons in line. She made sacrifices, worked hard and loved her sons. She is a true example of what parents ought to be.

Recently TNT produced a broadcast a filmed production based on Carson's book. It is well worth your time. (Read about the film at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1295085/maindetails.) (Get more information about when to watch at http://www.tnt.tv/movies/giftedhands/.)

So, do three things...

1. Watch this movie.
2. Read this book.
3. Become the parent God intended you to be.

Truly Nothing New

I am frustrated and fed up with the current crop of films being offered to American movie-goers. There is very little that is original coming from Hollywood. Thankfully there is the independent movie scene allowing us some choices at the cinema. Hollywood is sure not giving us much variety.

It seems to me that every other movie that is released by the big movie studios is either

• A sequel to a previously made movie. How many Friday the 13th movies do we really need?
• A remake of a movie that we have seen before. Doesn't the Day the Earth Stood Still seem familiar?
• A remake or adaptation from a television series. Can you say Get Smart and Land of the Lost?
• A formula that we have seen a hundred times before. How about New in Town?
• And the latest fad, a comic book adaptation. Are you ready for Watchmen?

I think that for the money you and I have to pay to go to the movies, we deserve a little bit more entertainment than a tired retread. Give us something new. Give us something original. No more Sex and the City. No more Batman.

In case you are out of ideas, Mr Hollywood-man, how about reading a book? There are lots of great ideas in books. What about meeting some real people? That means that you will have to get out in the real world away from the entertainment business. Hey, here's a revolutionary thought: Get some ideas from the newspaper. There are stories in there every day!

It's on you, Hollywood. Be creative. Just do it.

Movies I Still Want to See

I have gotten very far behind in my movie viewing. I am watching fewer movies and reviewing fewer films as well. I am hoping to make some adjustments to that in the new year. To that end, here is a list of movies that I would like to see, that I have not.

• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
• Talk to Me
• Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
• The X Files
• Get Smart
• 21
• 88 Minutes
• Transsiberian
• The Bank Job
• Righteous Kill
• Appaloosa
• The Wackness
• Henry Poole is Here
• Kill Bill, Volume 2
• Awake My Soul
• Synechdoche, New York
• Nothing Like the Holidays
• Cadillac Records
• Australia
• The Boy in Striped Pajamas
• The Secret Lives of Bees
• The Duchess
• Lakeview Terrace
• Nobel Son
• W
• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
• Frost/Nixon
• The Visitor
• Burn After Reading
• The Reader
• Vicky Christina Barcelona
• Doubt
• I'm Not There
• Slumdog Millionaire
• Gran Torino
• A Christmas Tale
• Rachel Getting Married
• Valkyrie
• Young at Heart
• Leatherheads
• Snow Angels

Redemptive Movies

I have written before about what I call "adult movies," those films with themes that are not necessarily scandalous, but deal with themes beyond having sex, using drugs or super heroes. When I talk about adult films, I am referring to movies that children and teens (and unfortunately, many adults) are not interested in. For more on adult films go here: http://revdeweysworld.blogspot.com/2008/09/adult-films.html .

Within in the large category of adult films, there as a sub-category that I would call "redemptive movies." Redemptive movies, to me anyway, are films that make you a better person. Sometimes you grow and improve just by having watched the film. Other times the movie will cause you to make decisions or take actions that will change your life or future. There is one footnote: redemptive movies change you for the better. Change in itself does not make a movie redemptive. For example, a film that is excessively violent may create change in you. It might make you angry, or cause you to accept or tolerate violent actions. This is not redemption, however.

I understand that my definition of redemptive is very subjective. What is positive change to me, will not be positive to someone else. I know this is the case. So with that understanding, let us move forward to recognize that movies- and all art for that matter- can be powerful tools for changing people, our culture and the world.

Many of the movies that I have reviewed on this blog are 'redemptive movies.' They are films that make you think. They cause you to evaluate life, the world and especially the status quo. Redemptive films are tools for education. I learn new things and different perspectives when I watch a movie with a message.

I don't always agree with 'redemptive movies.' Sometimes they cause me to change in a way that is completely different than what the film-maker intended. Once in a while I watch a movie just because it is controversial. 'Redemptive movies' often fall into the controversial category, but they do not need to.

Be on the look out for movies that do not only entertain, but also educate. Our time is wasted if we sit down for two hours, turn off our brains and let someone else think for us. Film should make you think, learn, change and feel.

10 Top 10

AMC played the AFI 10 Top 10 special last night. It was a ranking of the 10 best movies in 10 different categories (see http://www.afi.com/10TOP10/). Lists always stimulate discussion and calling something one of the best inevitably leads to an argument. So, it is time that I weighed in with some observations.

1. They had to stretch to come up with 10 categories. They easily could have combined science fiction and fantasy, or fantasy and animation. The epic could have been eliminated or combined with western, gangster and court room drama to form one category. But I understand the symmetry of 10 Top 10.
2. Is sports movies a category? Really. There are some great sports films, but are there so many that they need their own genre?
3. There was some serious stretching going on to get to 10 films in some of the categories. Sports is a good example. Caddyshack came in at #7, but without this artificial genre demarcation it would not have made the top 200.
4. There are some film categories that could have been included that were not. There could be a top 10 musicals list; a top 10 Christmas films list; a top 10 silent films list; or a top 10 horror movies list.
5. Some filmmakers and studios are so well represented that they could have had their own categories. Top 10 Disney films (after all, 9 of the 10 animated films are from Walt Disney). Top 10 Alfred Hitchcock films (the mystery category lists four of Hitchcock's classics). Top 10 James Stewart films (There are six Stewart films in four of the categories).

There are a lot of movies that do not appear on these lists, but should. There are a lot of movies that have no business being on any "best of" lists, but here they are. There will always be an argument about which is best, funniest, scariest. And that is why the list is so much fun.

Spirituality, Christianity, Seeking and the Arts

Over the past few years I have noticed a true hunger for spiritual things in the arts. I first noticed this several years ago when I read my first novel by John Grisham. Everyone was reading him, and although I had a general aversion to popular novels, I gave The Testament a try. I was not disappointed. It was a true page-turner. I have learned in the ensuing years that many of Grisham's books fall into that category.

The Testament is not one of Grisham's most popular works, but it is good. And one of the reasons that I liked it so much is that it is a blatantly spiritual novel. In fact, right in the middle of the thing there is a very clear presentation of the Christian faith and how to become a Christian.

Soon thereafter, I joined a reading group that read The Green Mile, by Stephen King. This was my first Stephen King book, and it was not at all what I expected. The main character in the book is a Messiah-figure with miraculous healing powers. One cannot read this book without getting a sense of longing for "otherness," a spiritual yearning. Then I read The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. In this small book the main character, a little girl lost in the woods, prays. She prays to God.

But it is not just books that have these great spiritual themes. Movies are filled with searching, with thoughts and questions about God. The Matrix trilogy, the Star Wars movies, and many others are about Christian faith. Some of my recent favorites, including Walk the Line, are filled from front to back with Christian themes.

Popular music has followed that lead. Several years ago Christian artists like Kirk Franklin (Stomp) and Bob Carlisle (Butterfly Kisses) had huge popular hits with unashamedly Christian songs. Other Christian artists like Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith worked to achieve some popular crossover success. But more recently it has been the "secular" artists who have made it acceptable to sing about God. Consider Joan Osborne (One of Us) and Kanye West (Jesus Walks).

So why is all this happening? There are probably a million reasons, but I want to focus on only one. People are interested in spiritual things, and especially Christianity, because they have a spiritual hunger inside them. Every person, including you and I, were made to be spiritual. Most humans have a tendency to ignore that natural state. However, sometimes we need to think about God. We need to ask questions, to consider, to seek. That seeking is often displayed in our art.

Seek on!