Once again Ron Howard and Tom Hanks bring a Dan Brown novel to life. I’ve not read the book or seen the film, but I’m told it pits science against religion. I’m sure many of our neighbors, friends, family, and co-workers are seeing the film. Westminster Theological Seminary has done a great service by putting together a great web site which addresses many of the issues raised by the book and film. You can access it HERE.
We’re having a just for fun NCAA Tourney pickem game again this year. Winner gets accolades and lots of props from this blog. It’s easy and fun- the more who play the merrier. Last year’s winner defending his title: Stephen Bankson! Click on the link below and then enter the private group # 51120. The password is “calvin” (hey, I’m a Presbyterian minister, what do you expect?). Y’all play!
We saw the latest Pixar film, WALL*E last week. I’m a big fan of the Pixar pictures, my favorite being “The Incredibles”. Being a little disappointed with their most recent offering of”Ratatouille”, I was looking forward to WALL*E. I liked it and give it an A-. Contrary to many who thought the movie was mainly a statement about caring for the environment (not that there’s anything wrong with that), I thought the messages that came through were that we are made for more than surviving, but for living and that we are made for and need relationships. Both messages are solidly rooted in the Christian worldview. The movie portrayed how technology can serve to distance us from one another and genuine connection while all the while keeping us “connected”. Life is not meant to be one giant cruise ship kind of a experience. After all, God put Adam and Eve in the garden and gave them a job, making them stewards of His creation. WALL*E is worth seeing, in my humble opinion.
The Darlings (bluegrass group the Dillards) visit Andy. My favorite song they performed on “The Andy Griffith Show”. Have to share it.
I don’t know the story behind Walden Media but I like what they are doing with films. They are not only the production company behind Prince Caspian but also are behind Journey to the Center of the Earth that is to be released July 11th and will be in 3D. I haven’t seen all their films, but they all look like great stories, using quality actors, and are well made. I don’t know if there are Christians who lead this company, but they are living out a Christian world and life view when it comes to movies.
Frederica Mathewes-Green makes an interesting point regarding Prince Caspian. She argues in this piece on National Review Online that the movie is actually better than the book and then lists 10 movies that were improvements on the books on which they were based.
As a HUGE fan of C.S. Lewis and the Chronicles of Narnia, that’s an emotionally difficult leap for me to make but I must say, Mathewes-Green makes some good points. She even argues that The Lord of the Rings trilogy makes for better films than books. Again, that’s a high hurdle but I do remember how the trilogy became much more ponderous in the second two books of the series so I can see where she’s coming from.
Anyway, give her piece a read give me some of your reaction.
Just got home a while ago from seeing Prince Caspian with the family. Here’s my $0.02.
Overall, a good movie and entertaining. Douglas Gresham, stepson of C.S. Lewis and one of the movie’s producers said in an interview that he thought that Caspian was not as good a book as The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe but made for a better movie. I thought that was an interesting comment.
This movie departed markedly from the book. I realize that turning books into film is not an easy task and that changes have to be made. In fact, some of the changes actually made some sense and added to the drama and message of the film so I wasn’t too frustrated. However, at one point in the film the question is asked why it’s taking Aslan so long to help and the comment is made that perhaps he is testing them to see if they’re worthy (something to that effect). That comment was the departure that bothered me most.
I give it a B+ as a book adaptation and an A- as a film.
Who’s with me? Friday, May 16th…
