Summer Movies Number Two

Ah -- warm popcorn and a diet coke. Very little makes me happier than the simple pleasure of sitting in a dark room, in a comfy chair watching a movie with popcorn and a drink. So - here are my thoughts on my next batch of movies.

1. Street Kings: I loved LA Confidential and was looking forward to this James Ellroy movie as well. I got to see if for a dollar (and at that price, it's hard to feel ripped off (but not impossible)). First, this movie is not for everyone. Profanity and violence are rampant. If that kind of things bothers you, stay away. But, the story was wonderful. The turns and twists and ending remind me of classical stories. The acting was well done (Forrest Whitaker and Hugh Laurie were wonderful). If you are a fan of violent, hard-boiled, dirty cop movies (or even TV shows), you should check this out.

2. Forbidden Kingdom: Jet Li (who cannot act) and Jackie Chan (who is like 80) are combined for the first time in a martial arts movie. As I watched it, I noticed that Chan used a stunt man (and I was kinda saddened by that - until I realized that he's 90 and just can't do back flips anymore). I wondered ... why didn't someone suggest this ten years ago? Jet's acting hasn't really improved since then and they were both way more in their physical primes. The Jet/Jackie fight sequence could have been really something (instead of just good).

I have grown tired of "the wire" in my movies, at least in fight scenes. The mark of a great fight scene is (IMHO) foot-work. That kind of thing can't be faked and the foot work here was superb.

Overall, I liked this movie - but to be honest, I really wanted to like it. Watching Jackie Chan act is a gift. He's funny, charismatic and athletic. If I let it bother me, it does bother me that an American kid got drawn into this tale of Chinese mythology. But, only if I let it. Kung-Fu Panda was a better martial arts story (and had better action). But, I don't think you'll be disappointed if (if you like "Black Belt Theater") you sit down one lazy Sunday afternoon and catch this on Cable.

3. The Hulk: Ed Norton is a great actor. It's sad they gave him such a bad script. I really didn't like this movie.

Next time: Hancock and The Dark Knight.

Summer Movies Number 1

I loves me the movies. Three of my general fiction loves are Superheroes, Martial Arts and Science Fiction. So - this is my summer of movie goodness.

Some of these were movies I saw in second run theaters (formerly "dollar theaters" -- but everything goes up). The only movie that I have really wanted to go and see but haven't is Wall-E. Lyn took Tim to see that without me. Dark Knight opens Friday and I'm hoping to catch that "soon".


1. Iron Man: Expectations low - very low really. Loved it. That being said, this is not really a superhero movie for kids. Much like the comics, they seem to be making these movies for an older audience. The story was good; action was good. Robert Downey, Jr. was refreshing on the very flawed Tony Stark. The movie essentially retold the origin of Iron Man with some modern updating. And they threw in the (Iron Man #200) Iron Monger as the supervillain. I didn't mind any of the changes -- everything made sense. Jeff Bridges really (really) was menacing, he was great.

2. Speed Racer: Expectations low - lower than Iron Man. Loved it! Those "W" brothers do it again (and do it again like the first Matrix movie, not the other two). This movie was beautiful with "WOW!" special effects. The story was predictable, but it's Speed Racer ... did anyone expect that he would lose?

3. Kung-Fu Panda: Expectations low. Loved it. Very funny, very classic story. And the ending pointed back to one of my favorite (bad) martial arts movies of all time. The voice casting was amazing. Story was predictable (but, it was also a classic story).

Next time: Street Kings, Forbidden Kingdom, the Hulk (and maybe Dark Knight).

Andy

Waiting

I ordered an MP3 player a bit ago from an internet site. I remember going nuts while I was waiting for them to send me a tracking number; then I went buggy wondering why it wasn't moving through the system faster.

Normally, when I order electronics from an online vendor, I pay to have them shipped faster. But, normally, it's a computer or something pricey and the extra expense doesn't really feel like very much added.

But - with this little player - it was adding nearly 25% to the price of the purchase. And, that got me to not pay the premium. So, I waited and I waited and then, I kinda forgot that I had ordered it at all. I forgot so much that, when it did arrive, I was surprised.

Generally speaking, I hate waiting. Hate it. Hate it. Hate it! I don't even like waiting to give my wife her birthday or Christmas gifts ... if I buy them early, I just want her to have them right away. Making her wait to receive, making myself wait to give ... seems mean.

I guess God doesn't mind that I think of Him as mean from time to time. He seems to make me wait all the time, and usually wait right up to and past the point of my ability to rationally deal with (well) waiting. He pushes my limits all the time: He either likes seeing me go all bug-nuts or He's on some program to make me grow. (And there are times when I'm pretty sure that (sometimes) it's both.)

And then, there is Tim.

Tim: who is always in motion; Tim: who never stops (to think, or breath, or reason, or listen). But, Tim is six and expecting him to wait (much less wait patiently) is like expecting a tree to grow wings and start walking. And, part of my job as a good dad, is to help Tim understand the need for waiting and the many wonderful things we can do while we wait.

I try to explain that time is a gift and we can do so much in the times we have to wait. We can even have fun or be productive or be creative (which is productive + fun). He looks at me like I just told him that I love pretty, pink ponies. And I realize that he must think that I either like seeing him go bug-nuts or that I'm on some program to try and grow him -- and I'm pretty sure that most times, it's both.

So - to recap: #1 - I hate waiting. But, I should learn to love the time spent waiting; because there's just so much that can be done with that time. #2 - Tim hates waiting. #3 - God is a better parent than I am and I should listen more.

Hopefully, if you were waiting on this blog post - it was worth your time. And, you won't have to wait so long for the next one.

Peace - Andy

Note

Two posts in three days ... don't take this as a sign that I'm going to keep this kind of post rate up. Didn't want to get anyone's hopes up.

As the Gin Blossoms said: "If you don't expect too much from me, you might not get let down."

Andy

Andy's Pet Peeves (number 7432)

This is kind of a rant, but hopefully one that also informs. It's 4 July 2008 and my mind often runs to thoughts of the freedom we enjoy here in America. I am a big fan of freedom; especially the freedom we have here in the States. Freedom based on the laws set out in our Constitution; a document written more than 200 years ago and is still relevant today.

However – despite years of disinformation and misinformation, it is not a document based upon Biblical laws. The Law (as set forth in Torah) is really nothing like the Bill of Rights. Certainly there are Ten Commandments and there are Ten Amendments to the Constitution in the Bill of Rights. But, the similarities stop there.

The difference is really elemental and foundational. The Ten Commandments set up limited to personal freedom as the cost for being the “Children of God”; while the Bill of Rights tells our Government the ways that they may not infringe upon our personal freedom. That's the biggest difference.

Specifically, the first four Commandments are restrictions of our Freedoms of Worship and Speech. Those Commandments set up the under-pinnings of a State Religion; and this was certainly an anathema to men who grew up either running from religious persecution or with the forced compliance of the Church of England.

The rest ... well, we have laws against Murder and Theft. But, most countries do. Certainly Islamic nations do, as do Communist nations and I think that anyone would be hard pressed to agree that those nations were created under “Biblical Principles”.

However ... there are also prohibitions against dishonoring your parents, lying, adultery and envy. None of those are considered crimes under our Constitution (and as someone who has dishonored their parents, lied, been envious and (in my heart) committed adultery ... I am thankful).

The architects of our brand of freedom were Age of Enlightenment thinkers. And, I put forward that it was Enlightenment philosophy that was the basis for our Constitution and not the Bible.

The “point” of the Bill of Rights is the protection of personal liberty at the expense of the State. The “point” of the Law is restricted personal liberty for the good of the individual. Those kinds of restrictions fly in the face of Enlightenment philosophy.

I feel better now. Happy Fourth of July – go and grill something. And, if you get the chance, say “Thank you” to someone who helped earn this wonderful freedom we all enjoy.

Andy

Experimental Church

Want to blog about my Wednesday night service tonight. First, kudos to JC (not Jesus) for the idea.

Let me explain what we did and then I'll tell you how great it was.

After a short Praise and Worship time, we moved our chairs into a circle and JC explained his plan for the night. In short, it was a different kind of corporate Praise & Worship. It was a time of focused corporate prayer.

We started out meditating on Psalm 100 and pulling the definitions for God from that.

Verse 3a: Know that the Lord, He is God
Verse 3b: It is He who has made us
Verse 3c: We are His people and the sheep of His pasture
Verse 5a: For the Lord is good
Verse 5b: His mercy is everlasting
Verse 5c: And His truth endures to all generations

We prayed this scripture and others that came to mind; each time focusing on a meaning of God.

We moved from this, to confessing how we know that God is God. While the first part was very heavy on scripture; this part was more personal and more intimate. But – it was also corporate and there were walls that were being torn down between those of us there.

From time to time, people who start a song and we'd sing it through a couple of times. And, then move back to prayer or an insight.

Next, JC passed out a page with the names of God; we meditated on these and when one of them spoke to us – we prayed that. Confessed that God is “the God who heals” or “the Lord of peace” and what that meant to us.

Finally, we broke into groups of three; and we each confessed something that we were having a struggle with – then the other two people in our group prayed for us. It was very private and open ... and it was wonderful and scary.

OK – so that's what we did (more or less – I didn't take notes). But, what happened was that walls were torn down between us and we were forced – if we really wanted to commune with God – to commune with each other. To begin to create community.

Community. Something that my church has been needing. It really was a beautiful thing; and I was so honored that God had me there tonight.

Thanks JC (both of you).
Andy