It's Only Fair
Having encouraged people to tear other Christian-film-reviews to pieces with their editing cutlery, I should put myself on the operating table as well. I do this to emphasize that I'm interested in better writing, not in belittling other review writers.Read more
My Star Wars Oath
I have never seen a Star Wars movie without knowing the story first.
Not once.
I read the novelisation before I saw Star Wars on the big screen... at seven years old.
I read the classic young-readers' Star Wars "storybooks" ... those large, thin books full of movie photos ... because my family forbade me to see The Empire Strikes Back on the big screen (they were concerned about the violence and the rumor in Christian circles that all of this Force stuff was of the occult), and because I was living out in the boonies at a campground the summer of Return of the Jedi. In fact, I never saw Empire on the big screen until the Special Editions arrived. That is just sad, I know.
I gulped down any spoilers I could find about Episodes 1 and 2.
This my last chance to see a Star Wars movie without knowing the story ahead of time. I want to be surprised. Disappointed or delighted, we'll see... but I want to go into the film without having already learned all of the surprises.
So please help me. Here is my oath:Read more
"Re-Viewing the Passion"
If you are at all interested in the plight of artists seeking to contribute serious religious art in the arena of mainstream art and entertainment, I encourage you to check out this new book of essays on Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ.
Bono the Preacher
Books and Culture covers Get Up Off Your Knees, the book of sermons based on U2 songs.
Saturday Night Not-So-Live
I remember when the music on Saturday Night Live was as much an event as the comedy.Read more
Election Blues
Count me among the crowd of people who wishes they could just go to sleep and wake up long after the election is over.Read more
Lost: I'm Hooked (Are You?)
Okay, I’m “out-ing” myself as a fan of the new TV series “Lost.”Read more
He wants to be not a clone but a filmmaker
Do these titles set your toes a-tappin'?
"I Want to Be a Clone." "Meltdown." "Hero." "Baby Doe." "On the Fritz." "This Disco (Used to be a Cute Cathedral)." "I Blew Up the Clinic Real Good." "Since I Gave Up Hope I Feel a Lot Better." "The Finish Line."
Does the name Chagall Guevara mean anything to you?Read more
The Legend of Bono's Lost Suitcase
Bono of the rock band U2 had a briefcase of new songs stolen from him while he was in Portland, Oregon. That was back in the early '80s.
The crime is famous among fans of the band.
And three years ago, when I was at the front of the Portland audience that caught U2’s first show there since the scandal, Bono addressed the crowd by saying he was in a “forgiving mood.” He got a good laugh, and then put on the greatest show I've ever seen.
Guess what.Read more