Flatland the Film

Did anyone watch the Flatland film? Or are you too afraid of seeing past your limited dimensional world?

I think it is still at grandma Doris' house. Don't lose it.

What . . .

is this guy looking at?







What's so special about May 25?

New Movies Worth Seeing

I am looking forward to these new movies. The information is quoted from several sources.

Daddy’s Little Girls ( releases 2/14)
A single father, Monty, is a garage mechanic who lives in a poor neighborhood and struggles to make ends meet as he raises his three young daughters on his own. But when the courts award custody of his daughters to his corrupt, drug-dealing ex-wife, Monty desperately tries to win them back, enlisting the help of Julia, a beautiful--and hard-nosed--attorney he meets during his short stint as a chauffeur. While Monty and the Ivy-League-educated Julia couldn't be less alike, an unexpected romance blossoms--and it soon begins to feel like true love. But in order for their relationship to survive, the couple must reconcile their two very different worlds--and overcome the forces that threaten to tear Monty's family apart. A Tyler Perry movie. - daddyslittlegirlsmovie.com

(Glen & I are Tyler Perry fans. He is masterful at sharing a story about experiences different from our own in a humorous and touching, authentic way.)

Amazing Grace (releases 2/23)
William Wilberforce led efforts as a member of Parliament in 18th-century England to end slavery and the slave trade in the British empire. Wilberforce was elected to the House of Commons at 21 and took on the issue of slavery, successfully assembling a diverse coalition that went up against the most powerful men of the time. - Yahoo Movies

AMAZING GRACE reflects the no-nonsense storytelling skills of prolific helmer Michael Apted, whose career-long mix of feature and documentary work holds him in good stead once more. - edited from an article by Eddie Cockrell, Variety.com


The Ultimate Gift (releases 3/9)
Jason Stevens lives a life of wealth and privilege. When his grandfather dies, Jason expects to receive a hefty inheritance. Instead, however, Jason must set out on a journey of self-discovery to earn the true gift his grandfather meant for him to have. Along the way, Jason befriends a dying girl and her mother and learns what is really important in life. Based on the book The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stovall. Produced by David Ross -- movies.excite.com

The producer is the husband of my Creative Memories client/friend)

Catching Up...

Haven't blogged in a while. I was thinking about what's been interesting in my life lately. I finished reading a book that I found personally challenging, "Chasing Francis." It is a clever blend of fiction and non-fiction. It's about a pastor of a "megachurch" who wrestles with big questions about his faith and the church's impact in a broken world. He travels to Italy for some time away and encounters the life and teachings of St. Francis of Assisi. It digs into the topics that have been on my heart and mind lately:forgiveness, the poor, AIDS, the environment,homelessness, peace, and community, and how to respond to those things as a follower of Christ. I found it interesting, relevant, authentic, brutally honest, and entertaining.

I also saw a movie this weekend, "All the Kings Men." There will be Oscar nominations for this one. Very well done, though a troubling story. My friend, Erica, a US History teacher, gave us the background story. Complex characters and good dialog. Be ready for relational discomfort. This isn't a romantic comedy. It's based on a 1946 Pulitzer-prize winning novel made into a 1949 and a 2006 movie. The 2006 movie is not a remake, however. I thought the acting was excellent. The film is about the life of Willie Stark, a fictional character based loosely on a Louisiana governor, Huey Long. If you are looking for an entertaining, light-hearted evening out, this is not it. So, clearly, I liked it. And I did. Intriguing and insightful.

Narnia

Beth, Kyle and I saw the movie yesterday. I was the only one of the three who had not read the book. I think my reaction to the movie was governed by my impressions of Britain during WWII. The focus on males and females uniting for a common cause, being exposed to danger and evil as a child, using fantasy toward imagining a time without turmoil, sacrifice based on selflessness, and forgiveness of our human frailty. I thought of the children and what beliefs they would need to survive the loss of family, home and peers. The children were believable in their struggle to accommodate to the rupture in their lives. The conflict between being safe and the relief that comes for doing something heroic. The rush to save the brother who is trying to retrieve the picture of dad while mom and sister vainly try to protect them brought this point to life early in the movie.

"narnia" was disappointing.

The Wardrobe, Lion, and Witch

With all the buzz about the pending release of the movie "Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," I recalled that I've actually seen the family wardrobe used as the portal in this story by C.S. Lewis. It was on display at Wheaton College, where I attended from September 1973 until I graduated in 1977. It is still there today, along with other valued and interesting items and works of a collection of fine writers. I feel privileged to have been made aware of the value of Lewis's and Tolkein's and MacDonald's works as a student. The pleasures of a liberal arts college education! Reading the web page www.wheaton.edu/learnres/wade/ renewed my interest in these scholars.

Squid and the Whale revisited

Beth and I saw the Squid and the Whale this weekend. It struck a note with me on a personal level. When my parents separated I lived with my dad for a year. This meant moving away from my friends, mom and siblings. My dad wanted have one of his children live with him and as the oldest I was the chosen one. Not much thought about my needs. I thought about my own son's and how much custody "rights" dominated their post-divorce experience. Being early or late, all of a sudden finding out that you couldn't count on a parent wanting to spend time with you unless it was "their time". Odd stuff. I mentioned to Beth that when a child's perception changes from that's my "Dad or Mom" to that's a person who is my dad or mom, that child is exposed to the flaws without an experiential base to place them in context. This can lead to a critical view that can strip even good qualities away. Like your either "good" or "bad". A confusing view to acquire as a child. I am glad it focused more on the children involved than the parents. Most post-divorce movies seem to focus more on a parent finding a partner than on the effect it has on the kids.

Weekend Plans

Today is a holiday for us school teachers. After the election for new schol board members this Tuesday past, a new board member whom I supported stopped by to pick up her sign that has been in my yard. Too late, I already threw it away. I'll owe her one in 4 years.....New things to come, hopefully, in the PUSD.

Tomorrow afternoon Don and Nille Taylor will be here with Nille's sister Suse from Denmark and daughter-in-law Erica from Sacramento. It will be good to see them again!

Sunday afternoon we are going to the Crest Theatre to see "The Squid and the Whale". It is finally here in our area. Have a great story about Rob and the Crest Theatre...just ask him. (Sorry, Rob. Love, Mom)

Last night I got a call from Lance Hayman. He is here for a short time before heading back to Iraq. Hard to imagine the little guy over there. Pray for our troops.

the squid and the whale

i just watched the movie "the squid and the whale," a drama/comedy about a family falling into dissolution. it has strong language, and a few moments of "adult situations" that'd likely make much of this group squirm, (at least it sure did to me) but it was incredible how much i could relate to the two boys in the movie who were left bewildered and without guidence by their parents' seperation and subsequent divorce. while the younger, more outwardly distraught of the two kids went on to develop severe social problems at school, the older did as well, but was able to cloak his anguish when he was around other people. the various ways that the characters of the movie reacted to this life changing event seemed all very accurate, and even in some cases very familiar. one example of which would be the first time the audience sees the father's new house. it is sparsely furnished, a little run down, and in lieu of a familiar warmth that accompanies a home, there are all sorts of mawkish symbols, like a poster on a wall, and especially of the "lefty desk," (you'd have to see the movie to get the humor in this) trying to force a new home-like habitat for the confused kids. that was a common experience for me. those who can enjoy a movie even with very harsh language and über awkward moments are highly encouraged to watch this flick.