December 2009

Film: The Nativity Story

The Nativity Story is a 2006 historical drama directed by Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight, Lords of Dogtown). It stars relatively unknown actors Keisha Castle-Hughes and Shohreh Aghdashloo.

The story follows the virgin conception of Mary, her betrothal to Joseph, their journey to Bethlehem, and concludes with the birth of Christ. It follows the gospels respectfully, adding some speculative (but plausible) historical and relationship details.

I thought the film was decent. It is a good Christmas film, depicting the true reason for the season. Here is the trailer:

November 2009

Preview: The Road

The film called “The Road” came out this weekend. It is based on the award-winning 2006 novel by Cormac McCarthy. The same author wrote “No Country for Old Men“. The Road is a post-apocalyptic drama about a father and son trying to survive in a barren wasteland.

It should be a thought-provoking and intelligent film, unlike a recent disaster film I watched. “The Road” stars Viggo Mortensen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Robert Duvall, Guy Pearce, and Charlize Theron. I plan to see it soon, I will give a mini-review once I do. Here is the trailer:

November 2009

Mini-Review: A Christmas Carol

This weekend I watched “A Christmas Carol” with my friend and his 7 year old daughter. It is a computer animated film based on the classic 1843 novella by Charles Dickens.

I enjoyed it more than expected. With it being computer animated and in 3D, I thought it would sanitized towards a younger audience. However, it isn’t the case. If fact, has some mildly scary moments and I wouldn’t recommend the film for younger or sensitive children.

It has good visuals, ignores political correctness, doesn’t shy away from the true meaning of Christmas, and has a clear “don’t be a scrooge” message. I think it is worth seeing.

The trailer makes the film look primarily like a mix of comedy and action. While it isn’t devoid of either, I found it to be more of a mild supernatural thriller and drama. Never-the-less, here it the trailer:

November 2009

Oh My God

There is a documentary coming out entitled “Oh My God”. It examines how various people, cultures, and traditions answer the question: “What is God?”

Now I believe the Bible and specifically Jesus Christ is the decisive revelation of God. That being said, insight can be found in different cultures and traditions. It is also good to understand the various thoughts people have about God, even if you may not agree with their thinking.

“…God made every nation of the human race to inhabit the entire earth, determining their set times and the fixed limits of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope around for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us”.

- Acts 17:26-27

So with that in mind, “Oh My God” may be insightful and interesting. Here is the trailer:

October 2009

Mini Review: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

“Childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights, before the dark hour of reason grows.”

I previewed “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” in a recent post.  It is a film about the holocaust, mainly from the perspective of a German child. I managed to watch it over the weekend. It is an excellent film that it is well made, intelligent, and powerful. However, it is not a film you watch for fun and excitement. It is a sad drama that stimulates the mind, the heart, and hopefully conversation.