Archive for Movies
Jimmy Chitwood Style
Posted by: | CommentsIn thinking about doing some semi-consistent blogging again, I can’t help but think of the best scene from one of my all-time favorite movies, Hoosiers.
I know you have seen it. If not, stop what you are doing and watch it right now. It’s a classic. And though I have seen it countless times, I still tend to get chills every single time Jimmy Chitwood walks into the church and gives his little speech to the community. “I think it’s about time I start playing some ball.” To which the community responds with cheers because they think he is only going to play because Coach Norman Dale is headed out. But then, as the cheers die down, Jimmy turns it on him and says, “Just one thing, I play, Coach stays. He goes, I go.” Everyone is hushed. The bitter ex-assistant coach gives a gulp. The old Mom calls out for a revote (“I say we have a revote”). The vote for Coach to stay is now overwhelming. Everyone starts shaking hands with him, then the music starts playing and you know they are going to win it all.
Man I love that movie. I might need to take a break and watch it right now. At least that scene. But of course, if I watch that scene, I am going to watch the rest. Or I am going to head back to the beginning, so I can enjoy the build up to that scene. Or I could not do any of those things and make my point.
My point? Well, “I think it’s bout time I start doing some blogging.”
I know there must be a deep hush in the blogging world in response to that. Or I suppose there could be a few folks calling me to reconsider! Well, either way, it’s time for me to do some writing again, no matter who may or may not be listening. After a long fall with a change in countries and the beginning of a busy season, I have managed to settle in. My email inbox is clear (don’t ask about the next action folder), and I have seen enough Tim Tebow to have to write a blog post about him. Not really (but I am sure I will write that post). But there is always plenty to say.
So get the Hoosiers music rolling. Or don’t. I think it’s about time I start doing some blogging.
See you soon (for real).
Imagination: Better than a Movie
Posted by: | CommentsIf my Amazon Widget thing were working off the right of my page, you would be able to see that I am currently reading The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. They are, quite simply, great books. Or I suppose I should say it is one great story, because it really is all one, divided as it may be. It has taken me a while to move through the work, and I still have a little less than a third to go, but I have enjoyed it thoroughly.
I have, however, run into one problem: I watched the movies first.
What a mistake this was. In hindsight, I think I would have been better off locking myself in a room for a few days and completing the entire book before headed out to see the films. The reason? Well, because I realize that my imagination has been hampered by watching the films. Rather than allowing the book to stimulate images within, I keep thinking about Elijah Wood and the guy from Rudy.
This isn’t to say that the movies were bad. No way. After finishing my reading, I am going to watch them again. It’s just to say that they can’t be as good as reading the book and using your imagination. At least first. Not to mention, the movie can’t tell the entire story, even when it runs three hours, as the films do. A good rule of thumb for any classic book made into a movie seems to be: Make sure you read the book first!
It’s a good rule, one that leads me to a greater appreciation for a good story and the importance of reading good stories. Even more, it helps me understand why the Bible is such a powerful book, for it is the work of the greatest Storyteller and indeed, when rightly understood and embraced, contains the greatest story every told. No film can capture that entire work, only bits and pieces, so we better make sure to read that one first.
Land of the Lost- Not Funny
Posted by: | CommentsIn my last post, I talked about what we laugh at and how our laughter exposes what we truly value.
Well, this movie review of the new Land of the Lost movie serves to highlight my point.
And I suppose Will Ferrell himself highlights my point. For although I think some of what he says and does is very funny, the majority of what I hear and see from him probably should not be considered funny. The fact that people (myself included at times) laugh at most of what he does reveals more about the people than the material itself.
Sure, many people think he is hilarious, but I can’t help but be sure that most of what he says and does will never make for good comedy on the New Earth. In the end, I feel more comfortable being offended by much comedic material than I do laughing at it.
So the Movie…
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Yes, as I mentioned at the end of my post yesterday, I watched The Man in the Iron Mask (movie version) last night. Here are a few things I uttered while watching it:
“For real?” ”O come on…” ”Now that’s just plain ridiculous.” “No, just no.” “Seriously…that didn’t just happen.” “What were they thinking?” “Athos is actually the exact opposite of the guy Malkovich is playing.”
Or in responding to Erin’s question: “Did this happen in the book?” I had to simply reply: “This isn’t based upon the book. It’s just an entirely new story with new characters that just happen to share the same names as Dumas’.”
Or when I paused the movie and said to Erin, “I’ll tell you what, after this buster movie ends, I will tell you what happens in the book and then we can decide what the movie-makers could have done to actually make this good.”
That being said, you can imagine how I feel about the movie. Although it did have a happy ending…sort of. Actually, they threw something in there at the end that was just so ridiculous and not smart that the ending wasn’t so happy at all. At least to me.
So again I was left longing for the true and final happy ending. And again, it’s not a bad place to be. But still, with the amount of money and energy that was poured into the film I saw last night, they could have done so much better. In my opinion, the best movie based upon one of Dumas’ books is The Count of Monte Cristo. I loved the book, though I desired a little different ending, which the movie thankfully gave me (more or less). Seriously, that one is money.
And so was the one we viewed with the kids tonight, The Tale of Despereaux. (Yea, we are on a rare movie roll around here.) It was great, and it certainly served its purpose of making up for the poor showing of the Iron Mask. That’s one of my movie habits, I confess. When I see a bad one (at least to me), I often am compelled to follow it up quickly when one I know is legit.
But enough of all this nonsense. Maybe I will post something highly significant tomorrow, like how the plug for my Macbook went out. No. I’ll spare you that…at least for now.
One quick lesson from all this rambling: Whether you like the ending or not, be sure to let it lead you to a greater longing for the true and final ending that is soon to come. That way, both the good and bad movies (or books) serve you well.
The True and Final Happy Ending
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I have never been a huge fiction reader, but over the past six months or so, I have read six books by Alexandre Dumas. I began with his lengthy, and very entertaining, The Count of Monte Cristo. I then picked up his five-book, D’Artagnan Romances (of which The Three Musketeers is the first). Last night I stayed up too late finishing the final book in his series, The Man in the Iron Mask.
Naturally, some of the books were better than others. In all of them, there were numerous historical figures used, usually with plenty of fictional stories attached to them (some flattering and others not so much).
One of the things I so readily enjoyed about reading Dumas is his ability to paint such a powerful picture of events with words. And not just the external events, but the internal ones, the various inclinations and desires and motivations going on within the hearts of his characters. Also the intrigues and looks and insinuations and tones. Not only that, but he weaved a whole host of characters with their differing issues into one coherent story. I would often find myself reading, asking to myself, ‘Where in the world is he going with this?’ And when I finally found out, I was usually filled with joy at how it all came together.
Until last night…
For last night, as I mentioned, I finished the final book in his series. And I could not help but leave the work a bit disappointed. Why, you ask? (And even if you didn’t, I am going to ask it for you). Simply because I didn’t like the ending. I personally, didn’t like how it all wrapped up. For after reading five full books and more or less traveling thirty-five years with his primary four characters, I had a certain happy ending that I wanted to read. But that is not what I found in the final chapters. Instead, I found one that left me wondering what could have been had Dumas consulted me in all my literary wisdom.
I realize that one of the primary reasons Dumas ended things as he did is because he inserted fictional (or exaggerated historical) figures into actual history. So many of his characters ended in their proper historical place. I knew that going into things, but a part of me wanted him to fix history so that it was more to my liking. I mean, after all, it is only a few minor details, and if you can leave you readers (or at least me 150 years later) with a better taste in their mouth by doing so, what does that hurt?
Yes, I know I am being ridiculous, but I am all about happy, even semi-ridiculous, endings. That’s part of the reason, no doubt, I usually like chick-flicks. I want to walk away from my dream world story with a dream world ending. I want to escape in my story from the way things really are (at least most of the time).
Is this healthy, I wonder? Yes and no, I believe. For on one hand, if you watch too many romance movies or read too many ridiculous Cinderella endings, you often end up looking at your spouse, wondering why he or she falls so short of Prince Charming or Cinderella. You distort reality by escaping too much (for evidence of this, check out the divorce rate). But on the other hand, this desire for a happy ending seems to be instinctive to us all. And I am of the opinion that that desire is a good and inevitable thing that ends up pointing the way to the only real, lasting happy ending.
Whether we believe in God or not, we all recognize instinctively that the world is not as it ought be. The Bible fully supports this notion, telling the story of why that is, what has been done to fix it, and the happy ending that is available for all who will believe in the One who did all the fixing work. What a story it is! So realistic, so rich and deep and difficult at times. But one that ends in the most glorious way possible, with the return of the Savior and the remaking of all things.
That being said, my disappointment with Dumas’ ending is put in its proper perspective by the Scripture. Not only that, but the way he ends his Romances actually ends up serving me well. For it leaves me longing for the true and final happy ending. And that is a good place to be.
Still, I confess, I am going to rent the movie (The Man in the Iron Mask), because I think Hollywood has one of those ridiculous good endings set for me tonight.
