Movie Review: Up -- [Updated]

The latest craze in animated movies is 3-D. It goes through fazes, and this faze of 3-D is the best ever.

Unfortunately, we didn't see UP in 3D, we saw it on DVD. I would normally be disappointed about such a thing, but not in this case. I found UP to be one of the most entertaining animated films I have seen all year.

We all have dreams -- squirrel! -- and for many of us those dreams go unrealized. When a widower sets out to pursue his wife's dreams for her, action and hilarity ensue. What's best about this movie is that there is none of the unnecessary innuendo included to keep the attention of adults who feel trapped into attending the movie with their children that most animated films have now. The movie was neat, clean, funny. And I'll just bet it was awesome in 3-D, too.

I highly recommend UP for viewers of all ages.

Squirrel!

You won't be disappointed.

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Movie Review: Knowing

The greatest mystery of our time is "Why?" Why do we exist. Why are we here? What is our purpose? What happens when our time on Earth is over? There are nearly as many answers to the questions as there are people asking them. But only one answer can be correct.

In Knowing, starring Nicholas Cage, we see what some confused souls likely believe to be the answer. It's hard to talk in great detail here about Knowing without too many spoilers. Perhaps a quick look at the theatrical trailer will give you an overview of the movie without spoiling it for you. Then I'll add my thoughts.


Direct video link.

First, let me begin by saying that Knowing is great entertainment. The story line is well thought out and presented well, and is, frankly, quite compelling. The acting, for the most part, is quite convincing (with the exception of one of the child actors, which I somehow find it easy to overlook). The effects, at times, are top notch, while at others (one scene in particular, toward the end of the movie) leave something to be desired.

If you enjoy science fiction, and you aren't easily influenced by Hollywood fiction, then you should see this movie. If you are solidly grounded in your faith -- whatever that faith might be -- then you might want to see this movie. If you are uncertain of what you believe, and frequently find yourself in doubt or asking the questions mentioned above, then you should probably steer clear of this movie. It is pure entertainment and not in any way grounded in fact, but too many people when presented with any kind of fictional account of what the End Times might be like, find themselves considering such fiction as a real possibility. This, I assure you, is not a possible portrayal of what the End Times will be like.

As Knowing rolls into the last fifteen minutes or so of the movie, the story takes a rather sharp turn from mere fiction to outright fantasy, and SPOILER ALERT (sorry), the closing scene of the movie might easily be mistaken by the gullible as the opening chapters of the book of Genesis, where a new Adam and Eve (in this case, Caleb and Abby) find themselves in a beautiful garden and take off running across the field toward what could be the Tree of Life (or, perhaps, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil bearing the Forbidden Fruit). END OF SPOILER.

Maybe it is best advised, for those who find themselves uncertain after watching Knowing, to crack open The Word and read the book of Revelation, specifically Revelation 21:1-22:21. There, you will find a factual account of what we can expect in the End Times. In the meantime, if you can watch this movie and separate fact from fiction, fantasy from reality, enjoy Knowing. It just might get you thinking about The Word. Just remember, this is Hollywood, not prophecy!

Your comments?

Joe

Maddy's Cancer Battle

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Movie Reivew: Paul Blart Mall Cop

Paul Blart Mall Cop was released today on DVD and Blu-ray, and my wife and I have been looking forward to it. It isn't often that a movie comes out that actually makes me laugh out loud, but with Kevin James behind Paul Blart as creator and star, Mall Cop fulfills its promise to entertain.

Mall Cop isn't necessarily a movie intended for the entire family, as there is frequent use of mild profanity, but there was nothing else I could find of offense in the movie. About the first half of the movie is much like watching the Kevin James hit TV series, King of Queens, as Paul Blart is very much the same character as Doug Heffernan. At times during the first half of the movie, I found my mind wondering just a bit, or found myself not too disappointed when distracted by something my son would say or do. But about half way through the movie, when the action really kicked in and we get to see James playing the role of Paul Blart a la John McClane of Bruce Willis' Die Hard fame, I found myself engrossed.


Direct video link.

Imagine Die Hard meets Homer Simpson, and you'll get a pretty accurate picture of what Paul Blart lives through in his dedication to defend the people of his mall against the invading force of a band of Black Friday thugs out to steal thirty million dollars worth of the credit card transactions on the busiest shopping day of the year. And just like Homer Simpson, Paul Blart manages to pull through in the end.

While I don't recommend Paul Blart Mall Cop for the entire family, it is harmless and enjoyable fare for viewers over the age of twelve or thirteen. I haven't laughed so hard at a movie in I don't know how long.

Your comments?

Joe

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Movie Review: Monsters versus Aliens in Real 3D

I took my son today to see Monsters versus Aliens in Real 3D. Having grown up in the 3D revival era (remember Friday the 13th Part 3 in 3-D or Jaws 3D?), I had my doubts about how good this 3D could actually be. Reminiscences of the paper glasses with one blue and one red lens made me wary of what this movie might offer.

Our first exposure to this new "Real-D 3D" was a preview for the movie Battle for Terra. I was immediately sold on this incredible new 3D technology! Wearing clear-lensed 3D glasses made large enough to fit comfortably over prescription glasses, this new technology involves none of the color distortion of the early 3D movies while providing an exceedingly realistic three dimensional experience.

For a movie that reportedly used the 3D process as an enhancement to the story and not a gimmicky addition, Monsters versus Aliens starts with an early scene of a man playing paddle ball while waiting for some form of extra-terrestrial activity to pop up on a computer monitor. I literally flinched when the paddle ball popped out of the screen, nearly hitting me in the nose.

Other realistic three dimensional effects included snow blowing around in a scene that made me feel as if I was actually in the snow storm, soaring through the rings around Saturn, and a meteor crashing to the earth, just to name a few.

The story line of the movie was pleasing, as well, with a governmental facility where monsters are kept being forced to release the monsters to fight off an invading alien force that the American military is ineffective against (must be the post-Obama military era). There are only two brief scenes in the movie that even the most guarded of viewers should be okay with. When the President of the United States (played by Stephen Colbert) receives a warning from Galaxhar, the ruler of the invading alien armada, that everyone will die within 24 hours, he says, "Raise the alert level to brown, because I need to change my pants." In another scene, when bride turned monster Ginormica is approached by the other monsters who are trying to figure out what the giant monster woman is, B.O.B., an indestructible gelatinous mass, says, "He's a boy. Look at his boobies."

My son and I both immensely enjoyed Monsters versus Aliens, both for it's humorous story line and it's incredible 3D effects. Happily, there will be more where that came from as at least eight other films are slated for release this year in this incredible 3D format. This movie is a must-see for all!

Your comments?

Joe

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My New Review Store

I have added a store to the site that provides simple purchase links for all of the books, music, and movies reviewed at AverageJoeAmerican.US.

Visit the page and scroll to the bottom, or click the link in the site header.

For now, here's a sample:



Your comments?

Joe

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Video of the Day: Friday the 13th Theme Song

Direct video link.

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Joe

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MOVIE REVIEW: The Chronicles of Narnia 1 & 2

This Christmas season, thanks to ABC Family Channel's 25 Days of Christmas, my family discovered the joys of the epic Chronicles of Narnia.

We first watched The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe on ABC Family Channel -- which lasted an unbelievably long three and a half hours, thanks to commercials nearly every five minutes -- and loved it. My wife and I, especially, enjoyed the movie.

Author C.S. Lewis claimed to have had no Christian theme in mind as he wrote The Chronicles, but there is clearly a Christian undertone to the story. Okay, maybe it's a little more blatant than that. As a group of four children stumble into a hidden world while playing hide-and-seek in a wardrobe, they find themselves in the midst of a battle of good versus evil, as they help Aslan (the Lion) defeat the White Witch. SPOILER ALERT: We see Aslan surrender his life to save a young boy, then later we witness him resurrected. The children go on to defeat the White Witch and to become kings and queens of Narnia, only to later find themselves stumbling back through the wardrobe into reality.

The first movie in what promises to be a trilogy (there were seven books, but reportedly only three movies planned) is well done, from the screenplay to the special effects, all the way to the performances delivered by the cast. So enjoyable, in fact, that we just had to see the second movie.

When Prince Caspian was released on DVD, my wife picked up a copy at RedBox, and we watched the movie together last night after putting the kids to bed.

My wife felt that Prince Caspian started a bit slowly, as the story opens with the birth of a baby in Narnia and a man fleeing his people. SPOILER ALERT: We then see the same four children from the first movie stumble back into Narnia -- this time through a subway or train terminal -- in response to a call for help from the man who had fled after the birth of the baby.

Again, the battle of good versus evil takes place, as the "Kings and Queens of Old" battle to help the fleeing man -- who turns out to be a Prince -- and the people of Narnia fight for their freedom from a tyrant ruler. Aslan makes a return to the action as an epic battle ensues. I literally found myself sitting on the edge of my seat, rooting for the Narnians.

Again, the screenplay, the effects, the acting -- everything about the story -- is incredible. Reports are that the third episode in this trilogy won't be released until May 2010. I can't imagine waiting so long. I couldn't recommend The Chronicles any more enthusiastically. In fact, I'm considering reading all of C.S. Lewis's saga.

Your comments?

Joe

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Movie Review: The Spiderwick Chronicles

The movie The Spiderwick Chronicles is a surprisingly enjoyable movie.

Review after this preview:

It is so difficult today to find a movie that will entertain the entire family -- children and adults alike -- without either innuendo that plays over the kids' understandings or a plot that plays below the adults. The Spiderwick Chronicles is a movie that will satisfy the entire family.

My wife and I enjoyed the movie at least as much as my 5 year old son and 2-1/2 year old daughter (she was probably too young to really enjoy it, but she watched anyway). The movie follows a family who has moved into an inherited home that protects the secrets of the world all around us. When the troublesome Jared stumbles upon his great-great uncle's field guide and ignores the warning not to read the book, he finds himself and his family surrounded by goblins and other fantastical creatures that no one else can see.

We join Jared and his brother and sister as they try to convince their mother of the dangers around them, only to be confronted face to face by an evil ogre trying to get his hands on the field guide. If the ogre succeeds, everyone will die.

Spiderwick is full of incredible special effects, the actors deliver a believable performance, and the story created just enough suspense to keep the entire family on the edges of our seats.

Looking for a movie the entire family can enjoy without the worry of innuendo, inappropriate language, or outright adult content? Spiderwick promises to deliver!

Your comments?

Joe

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Friday's Video Roundup

Zombies

Direct video link.

Fred Thompson on the Election

Direct video link.

Ted Dekker's House Hits The Big Screen November 7

Direct video link.

Comic Relief: Democrats On An Escalator

Direct video link.

Mark My Words

Direct video link.

Colorado Amendment 47

Direct video link.

Archie Bunker on Democrats

Direct video link.

Smearing Joe the Plumber

Direct video link.

Rush Limbaugh: It's Not Over

Direct video link.

Comic Relief: Obama Out of Touch With The Working Class

Direct video link.

Politics, According to Opie and Richie
This has got to be one of the stupidest things I have ever seen.

See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die

Direct video link.

The Aaron Pelsue Band: We Are Hungry
To end on a positive note, with some great inspirational music.

Direct video link.

Your comments?

Joe

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Coming Soon: House, the Movie

Two of the best Christian authors return to the big screen in November, with House, by Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti. This one is one that must be seen!


Direct video link.

Your comments?

Joe

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Movie Review: Fireproof

My wife and I went this weekend to see the movie Fireproof, based upon the book of the same name by Eric Wilson. We don't get to go out to many movies, so it's always a special occasion -- and it takes a special movie -- for us to go out to the theater instead of watching on Pay-Per-View. We chose to see Fireproof in the theater because I felt strongly about supporting the author and the producers of this film because it carries what I feel is a critical message for couples.

Fireproof is about a Captain of the Albany (Georgia) Fire Department and his wife, who works as a Public Relations Representative at a hospital. They have let their careers and their selfish interests build a wall between them and they struggle with the same issues that many couples do. After seven years of marriage, they just don't see eye to eye on anything. As they start to give serious discussion (if you can actually call it "discussion") to the topic of divorce, Caleb (the husband, played by Growing Pains alum Kirk Cameron) confides in his father.


Direct video link.

Caleb's father presents him with a copy of  The Love Dare and challenges him to try to 40-day program before giving up on his marriage. Each day, Caleb is presented with something special he has to do for his wife. Each day, Caleb makes a half-hearted attempt, and each day his wife rebuffs him.

Fireproof is the story of a man and woman about to give up on love. It's the story of a father who loves his son enough to speak out for love. It's the story of a God who loves his children enough that He would do anything for them, including die. As Caleb learns the true meaning of love from the example of his Fathers, we see miracles unfold.

I haven't spoiled the entire movie for you, though there are a few minor spoilers above. There is no spoiling this movie, because I don't think any reviewer can do justice to the message that you can only receive by seeing the film (or, possibly, reading the book).

Fireproof is one of the best movies I have seen all year. Every couple, whether married, planning a marriage, or merely considering the future possibility of marriage, should see this film. You just might find yourself in tears (and deeper in love with your mate).

To learn more about why most of the actors in this movie volunteered to perform without pay, why churches donated houses for the fire scenes, why hospitals, fire departments, and train companies donated equipment to be used in the movie free of charge, watch this:


Direct video link.

Your comments?

Joe

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Date Night

My wife and I had a pretty nice weekend. Several months ago, my wife purchased tickets to see Big Daddy Weave in concert at our old church in Terre Haute, Indiana. If you aren't familiar with Contemporary Christian bands, they frequently perform at churches. If you've ever been to a Contemporary Christian concert, you've seen that it's quite natural, really. And with seating for over 1,400 people, and a sanctuary (auditorium) built for acoustics, Maryland Community Church is perfect for concerts.

So with concert tickets in hand, we set off yesterday afternoon to drop the kids off with their grandparents (where they would spend the evening) and we started a much anticipated, long overdue date night. We dropped off the kids and headed to the Hampton Inn to check into our room, drop our bags, and go for a swim. We had the pool to ourselves for nearly an hour. It was very refreshing and relaxing.

We then got dressed for the concert and went to Tumbleweed for dinner. We have always enjoyed Tumbleweed, because we both can find the kind of food we enjoy there. My wife has authentic southwest fare and I have steak! And the steak is always cooked to perfection. I have never had any complaints about Tumbleweed, and last night's experience proved to be the best ever. We enjoyed it so much I left a very generous tip and asked for the Manager so I could comment on the exceptional food and service.

After the awesome dinner, we headed for the concert, where we arrived just in time (literally). My wife mistakenly read the ticket time as the time that doors opened. We pulled up right at 7pm and went inside to find the first song already under way.

First up was Jason Gray, described as Christian music's best kept secret. His music was great, and we actually purchased his newest album, All The Lovely Losers.

Here is a sample of Jason's performance:


Direct video link.

Next up was Rush of Fools, a very, very upbeat, energetic Christian band from Alabama. They literally rocked the place with some great audience participation.

Here is a sample of Rush of Fools' performance:


Direct video link.

And finally, the headline band, Big Daddy Weave, took the stage. Among other things, we learned that Big Daddy is in fact not any specific member of the band, but rather the band as a whole. Go figure. When you see the band in this clip below, you'll understand why the lead singer, Mike, is frequently referred to as "Big Daddy" by his unknowing fans.


Direct video link.

This morning, after breakfast and a little running around town, we went to see the new theatrical release of Fireproof, one of the best movies I have seen this year. I'll post a review here this week, in the meantime, here's a sample of this awesome movie:


Direct video link.

After the movie, we picked up the kids (whom I missed very much), and returned home.

By the way, while I'm sharing pictures, here's another new one of my beautiful wife. One thing I learned from the movie: I definitely don't show my wife how much I appreciate her often enough. She is a wonderful woman, and I am living proof that God is graceful in the fact that she married me.

We had a wonderful weekend together, and I'm already looking forward to our next date night.

Your comments?

Joe

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Ahhhh, The Weekend!

The weekend is here. Wow, actually a weekend for a change. I mean, I'm actually off work both Saturday and Sunday this weekend. Wow! We started the weekend watching Senator John McCain put the smackdown on his Democrat rival (no matter how the liberal media spins it, Senator McCain was clearly the stronger candidate tonight).

Tomorrow, I'll be working on my bathroom remodel project in the morning, then heading out to my son's soccer game (and soccer pictures, too). Afterward, while my wife takes the kids to a birthday party, I'll be back to the bathroom remodel project (it's almost ready to lay the new flooring, paint, and install the new vanity).

Finally, after the birthday party is over and my wife and kids return home, we'll be packing up, loading up, and heading to Terre Haute, where the kids will spend the night with their grandparents while my wife and I have the remainder of the weekend to ourselves.

Why Terre Haute, you ask? Because my wife got us tickets to see Big Daddy Weave at Maryland Community Church (you can still get tickets at the door, and this is one church with that was built with acoustics in mind). I'm not much of a listener to mainstream music, but if you've been around here often, you probably know that I do a podcast featuring independent Christian music. The concert, I'm sure, will prove to be a great show.

And while we're away, getting a little time to ourselves, I'm hoping we can find a little time to take in the new movie, Fireproof. I think it promises to be a nice weekend for us. I'm eagerly looking forward to spending a little quality time with my wife, which is why you probably won't find me online much at all this weekend. I plan to leave the laptops at home and devote the weekend to being with the woman I love. Hope you have a great weekend.

Here's a little sample of the concert we'll be at tomorrow evening.

Direct video link.

Your comments?

Joe

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The Joe Show 79 - Kidcast #4

Average Joe Radio
presents

The Joe Show
featuring
Average Joe American
and Son

Episode Seventy-Nine: Kidcast #4

Phone: (317) 644-6129
Email Feedback: joe@averagejoeamerican.us

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Movie Review - Disney Pixar's WALL-E

I took my son to see Disney Pixar's new movie, WALL-E, this morning. It was an entertaining movie, but I have to say that I am disappointed. To me, the movie seemed to be marketed as a children's movie, which it definitely is not. Not there's really anything inappropriate in the movie.

It's just the theme, really. It's not a children's theme. This is the most political movie I have seen in quite some time. And what, for me, makes it worse is that it's covertly political. The message of the movie is deeply political. Watch this video promo, then read on, if you don't mind a few SPOILERS BELOW THE VIDEO.

Direct video link.

Imagine, if you will, if the CEO of the largest company in the world (which, in reality, is Walmart, but in WALL-E is Buy-N-Large), was also the leader of the free world. And, because of the power this one CEO has, and the power of his company (BnL), everything you see everywhere you look is BnL. And as this CEO/Leader of the free world and his company continue to promote and hock their wares, with no real concern for the impact on the environment, the world becomes cluttered with trash. Cluttered with trash so badly, in fact, that BnL creates a spaceship called Axiom and evacuates the entire population deep into space, to a luxury space liner, where they can escape the devastation of the Earth. While the entire population is living on the spaceship Axiom for over 700 years, little robots called WALL-Es (Waste Allocation Load Lifting Earth-clearer), who have only one task: to compact the trash on the Earth and prepare it for removal to space. Enter WALL-E, the only remaining unit still in operation. And he has developed a personality. An attitude. He has built towers of trash blocks, and collected the choicest trash treasures for himself. He shares a trash collection barge with his pet cockroach, and lives out a meager existence on a globe all his own. Until the day that his world is disrupted when a rocketship lands, dispatches an EVE (Earth Vegetation Evaluator), which has the sole purpose of finding live vegetation on Earth. WALL-E falls for EVE, and offers her as a gift the very first plant he has ever discovered on the planet. She immediately scans the plant for life, seizes it, and shuts down, activating a beacon that notifies the home ship that she has discovered live vegetation. When the rocketship returns to collect EVE, WALL-E hates to see his new love disappear, and he hitchhikes a ride on the ship, leaving his faithful pet cockroach behind. When WALL-E finds himself aboard the Axiom, where EVE is scanned and the plant is to be turned over to the Captain of the ship, he fears for EVEs safety, and chaos ensues. We learn that the Captain of the ship has orders from the BnL CEO -- who is surely long gone by now and has left his instructions in video form -- to return to Earth and recolonize the plant upon the discovery of live vegetation. The Captain and all of the inhabitants of the Axiom, descendants of the original evacuees. None of them know anything about Earth. They have lived out their entire existence on the Axiom, riding around the ship in mobile chairs that eliminate any need they might have to actually walk on their own. They eat every meal from a cup through a straw, and communicate through holographic screens that hover in front of their faces. And every single one of them -- including the Captain -- is morbidly obese. We learn later that, in addition to the orders the Captain received from the BnL CEO, the ship's Autopilot -- an autonomous computer system -- has also received orders. These orders are that Autopilot is to assume total command of the ship and, under no circumstances, are they to return to Earth, because the waste removal program has failed and the Earth will be forever uninhabitable. Too make a long story short (too late, I know), the Captain overpowers Autopilot, and everyone returns to Earth. They recolonize and begin the process of renewing the Earth. Happy ending, right?

Except politics is deeply involved in this movie. Can you figure out the political messages I was referring to? How about these:

First, we must take care of the Earth. At one point in the movie, this is clearly meant to be a major message of the film. The Captain waters the plant after seeing a leaf fall off it. He then says to the plant, "See, all you needed was for someone to take care..." then looks away at a large screen with images of the pre-evacuation Earth. Nothing subtle there.

I believe there's also the message about how corporate dominance can negatively impact not only the Earth, but also society. Not to mention the impact on the very concept of Democracy as the corporate world breeds the future leaders of the world.

And then there's the message of how the human race has become a fast paced, throw away society. We want everything fast, no matter what the cost. Not just the cost to Earth, but to ourselves. Obesity is at an all time high right now, and that's no surprise with four fast food joints at every intersection.

Is that enough of a political message for you? I honestly thought my son didn't enjoy the movie, but as it ended he said, "I love that movie." I'm still not sure if it was the movie he loved, or going to the movies with Dad that he loved.

Nevertheless, this is a very interesting and entertaining film, but if you're easily offended politically, you might want to skip this one. And I'm not sure I would have taken my son to it if I had received an honest representation about it from the studio rather than the one they marketed to me. That, actually, is what disturbed the most about the film.

Your comments?

Joe

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Movie Review: Ted Dekker's Thr3e

Regular visitors to the site know that I have read and reviewed Ted Dekker's Book Thr3e more than once (read reviews HERE and HERE). You might even have seen me mention that the book was made into a motion picture. And you may even have noticed recently that the movie is available via Comcast OnDemand until June 30. I watched it with my wife -- who has never read the book -- and these are my thoughts.

First, I have never believed that any book was improved by being made into a movie. With a book, the author's imagination is translated into words, but those words are then translated back into millions of distinctly different imaginations by everyone who reads the book. The book tells one story which will likely be received uniquely by everyone who reads it. I might take one thing from the book while the next reader takes something else entirely different. On the other hand, when an author's work is made into a movie, his imagination has been translated into words, and those words are then translated into the imagination of a director. We all see what the director imagined. In my opinion, in almost every case, the translation of that director is received identically by almost every viewer. Rather than making our own interpretation of the author's intentions, we are viewing the interpretation of that movie director. In my opinion, it is for this reason that I have never enjoyed a movie as much as the book from which it originated.

The movie Thr3e is not departure from this pattern. While the movie was adapted from what I consider one of Ted Dekker's best works, the final product we see on the screen is not the book on film. It is another interpretation of that book. The first, most obvious evidence of this is the opening to the movie. In order keep a movie-goer -- which is often someone who watches movies because they don't have the stamina to read a full-length novel -- engrossed from beginning to end, the important back story that is woven out in intricate detail in the book is dealt to us on a stryofoam plate at the opening of the movie. All of the suspense as to the motivation behind the involvement and action of some very important characters is gone with a snap of the fingers.

In addition, while the book feels fast-paced as you read it, much more detail is laid out on paper than on film. We get to know the characters much more intimately on paper than on film. On paper, the reader gets to imagine what Kevin looks like, and the facial expressions he uses, and the inner-conflict he has with the matriarch of his childhood. Sorry, but there is just no playing out that relationship as vividly on film as it is done on paper. Or the relationship between Kevin and his childhood friend, Samantha. In the movie, in order to achieve that fast-paced feeling, much of the detail has been omitted. Details just don't play out so well on screen.

And maybe it's just me, because I've actually read the book three times, but [SPOILER ALERT] it sure seemed pretty obvious to me that no other major character actually saw Kevin and Samantha together. Even though the viewer frequently sees some combination of Kevin, Samantha, and Slater together. My wife, even though I had long ago told her the outcome of the story, was still caught off-guard by this one at the end. If you aren't sure what I'm speaking of, you'll just have to see the movie or read the book.

I say all of that to say this: in spite of what I considered to be some pretty atrocious acting, the movie Thr3e is definitely worth watching, but in no way is it as rewarding an experience as reading the book. If you've read the book, see the movie, but don't have high expectations. If nothing else, it will make you want to read the book again -- as it has done to me. If you haven't read the book or seen the movie, see the movie first. You might enjoy it more than before reading the book. Then, by all means, grab a copy of the book! You will not be disappointed.

And if you need a little sample of what you might see, check out this unofficial movie trailer...





While Dekker writes in the Christian fiction genre, his books rarely come across as preachy. I would venture to say that if you read most of his books without having any knowledge of his genre, you would never label it as Christian fiction. The same can be said of the movie. Even though Dekker was on the set almost every day of filming, what you see in this movie is more the vision of the director than the author, and any subtle references to Dekker's religious convictions have been stripped by the director's interpretation.

Joe

Thr3e On Demand

Just watched Ted Dekker's Thr3e. Review soon.

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Underdog On DVD

My son and I went on a cupcake run today. Yep, I had a craving, and we headed out to the store to get some cupcakes, or a cake, or something to satisfy the crave. What we found were potato chips, cookies, and the movie Underdog out on DVD.

When I was a boy, one of my favorite cartoons was Underdog. When the movie was out in the theaters, my wife and I took my son to see it. I loved it, and so did he. As we walked out of the theater after the movie, my son said he wanted to see it again. So I told him then that we would buy the movie when it came out on DVD. And today we did just that.

We came home, popped popcorn, opened the chips, broke into the cookies, and enjoyed some good, wholesome family entertainment. It really is a great movie for all ages!

Joe

Movie Review: Horton Hears A Who

I took my son this afternoon to see the latest big screen adaptation from my childhood: Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears A Who.

The movie is enjoyable for all ages. My son, who sometimes finds it very difficult to sit still for any measureable amount of time, did so quite well through most of the movie. At just 88 minutes long, that's not bad, though trimming the ten minutes of previews at the start of the show might have been a big help.

If you haven't read the Dr. Seuss classic, Horton Hears A Who, shame on you. Where have you been, under a rock? The story itself shouldn't require much introduction. If it does, maybe you should buy a copy and get familiar with the story before seeing the movie.

What's most important here is how the story is treated in movie form. I have to be honest, when I saw that Jim Carrey was involved, I was a little concerned. The Grinch and The Cat In The Hat were both degraded from the great Seuss tradition when adapted to film. Luckily, Horton received an animated adaptation, which makes it a much more family-friendly treatment. Jim Carrey accomplished the rare feat of reigning in his over-the-top antics in Horton. In fact, I can't think of any areas of the movie where even adult-oriented innuendo was used.

My son did have a little tough time following the story at some points. He seemed a bit confused about the concept of Whoville existing on a speck of dust perched atop a clover. And especially when Whoville suffered the side effects of Horton jumping, bouncing, and running with the clover clutched in his trunk. Other than that, however, he quite enjoyed the movie.

The film adaptation remains as true as can be expected to the Seuss tale. Even some of the original Seuss rhyme is used in the movie.

My son said he loved the movie, though I wasn't sure at times if he was enjoying it as much as I was. Overall, it's a good movie for kids of all ages -- a great show to take the family to see. We'll probably be watching it with the whole family when it comes out on pay-per-view.

Joe

The Pirates of Big Idea Strike Again

Yesterday, my wife and I did something we don't do often -- we bought a DVD for our children. Now, they have several DVDs, but we usually get videos for them from the library, where there's no cost, and no worry of buying a movie that they'll only watch once. Then, when we've found one they really enjoy, we'll consider purchasing it.

My son has wanted the Big Idea Productions movie, The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything ever since it came out. We decided yesterday to let him get it. So we drove to the nearest Lifeway Christian Store, which is roughly 30 minutes away, and bought the movie (plus the latest Ted Dekker book, which I'll be reading and reviewing here soon).

We got it home, popped it into the DVD player (this morning, because we got home too late to watch it last night), and there was one problem: the movie isn't out on DVD yet. My first clue? The fact that the DVD we purchased, which looks suspiciously like there should be a movie on it, begins with a theatrical preview for the very movie we thought we had purchased.

DUPED AGAIN

That's right, the brainiacs at Big Idea Productions have found a way to boost sales: package a Sing Along DVD that looks exactly like a movie (in fact the package even says "A VeggieTales Movie" on it), so that kids will want it and parents will give in and buy it, only to get home and find that what they have isn't the movie at all, but a bunch of "Silly Songs" supposedly inspired by the movie.

This wasn't the first time this happened to us with Big Idea, so I guess I should have known better. The same thing happened when my mother-in-law bought them what she thought was the VeggieTales movie Jonah. The box looked just like a video box, with the same exact cover as the video, and it also said "A VeggieTales Movie" under the title. But when we opened the box, it was some kind of activity kit, and not a movie at all. Talk about having a disappointed kid.

This time, I was furious -- but I managed to keep my cool. My wife was out of town today for her friend's baby shower, and the kids and I were going to watch the movie. We had popped a bag of popcorn (the bargain stuff from Target, that we also bought last night, just for this movie). The first bag burned, and I quickly threw it out in the trash in the garage so it wouldn't stink up the house. I then popped a second bag of popcorn (I would recommend paying a little more for the good stuff), got drinks for myself and the kids, popped the movie into the DVD player, and sat down to enjoy some good wholesome entertainment with my kids -- some Daddy Time.

I was surprised when the first thing to roll was a theatrical trailer for the very movie we were about to watch. The fact that there was a preview didn't surprise me, just the fact that it was a preview for the movie we had just purchased. That didn't make any sense at all to me. Until the main menu popped up, and there was no "Play Movie" selection. It was all about songs.

I looked closer at the package and, sure enough, under the title of the movie, superimposed on the package that I'm sure is exactly what the actual movie package will look like when it's released on DVD, were the words "Silly Songs and More" in a light, transparent kind of type. My kids were both disappointed, and I was annoyed.

KUDOS TO LIFEWAY

After calling my wife to tell her the sad news, I found the receipt and called the store we had purchased it from: Lifeway Christian Stores in the Castleton area of Indianapolis. I explained my dilemma and was told that I could exchange the DVD for something else. I then asked them about getting credit for a one-day-only coupon we had used on the purchase. The employee on the phone wasn't sure, checked with someone, and came back with an answer that sounded like a no. Prepared to argue my case, I loaded the kids up in the car and made the 30 minute drive back to the store (it should be noted that there is a Family Christian Stores location just five minutes from home, but we choose to make the longer drive to Lifeway).

When we arrived at the store, I explained that I had called, and was immediately told that they normally do not allow returns of DVDs due to copyright laws. I had expected them to use that as a reason not to allow an exchange, but the clerk immediately went on and explained that they would allow me to exchange the movie, and that they would give me the same discount on the new movie as they had on the incorrect movie.

Thank you, Lifeway Christian Stores, for caring for your customers and understanding that my poor kids had been duped by the big wigs at Big Idea. No hassle whatsoever! I was shocked and pleased at the same time! I myself am a Retail Store Manager, and so often in retail it's easier to find a way to say NO, and these folks found a way to say YES.

I'll tell you now what I told Lifeway Christian Stores when we finished our transaction and prepared to leave the store: I will be back.

As for the movie? My kids selected another Big Idea selection: Sheerluck Holmes and the Golden Ruler. We came home, grabbed our popcorn, refreshed our drinks, and enjoyed the movie. I'll be more careful next time not to fall for the big ideas of Big Idea.

Joe