Wednesday, June 25, 2008

The Happening

You cannot go see an M. Night Shyamalan film expecting to see a typical movie. His films have a different flavor to them. When you get used to that idea, when you understand that this isn't a typical Hollywood-told story, you may begin to understand the genius that is Shyamalan.

How can I explain The Happening without giving anything away?
People begin to kill themselves in New York City. Authorities believe it to be a kind of terrorist attack.

You're then introduced to Mark Walhberg's character, Elliot Moore, is a high school science teacher. He's joined by his co-worker/friend Julian (John Leguizamo), Julian's daughter Jess, and Elliot's wife, Alma (Zooey Deschanel).

The school where Elliot and Julian work decide to release the students when they hear of the attack. The main characters decide to take a train away from Philly. While on the train they hear of the attacks spreading throughout the Northeastern part of the United States.

There seems to be no way of escaping this event. Everywhere they go, people are killing themselves. How will anyone survive?

I'm a fan of Shyamalan's films. I enjoy his ability to tell a story. All of his films have a message to them and you'd have to be pretty slow not to catch on to what he's trying to say. And I have to tell you, it goes much deeper than "treat the earth with respect". People who jump on the bandwagon denouncing this movie as a global warming protest have simply missed the message.

Having enjoyed the film, there are a few things that really irked me. Many critics have panned the acting. I go back to what I said earlier, this is not your average film. Don't expect your macho/hero man type talk. But I did have a problem with Mark Wahlberg's character. Maybe it was because he's always around teenagers, but every line sounded like it came from a fifteen year old. It wasn't enough to ruin my experience, it was just a noticiable irk. Second came from Zooey Deschanal. If her character was written like that, than it was just a poor choice. If it was her level of acting...I hope to avoid her films. She was the worst of the small ensemble.

**Edit** Having thought about it for a while, I have come to the conclusion that the way they were acting: like children was part of the deeper meaning Shyamalan was trying to bring out. When you watch this movie, watch how childish these two "adults" act. And then see how they become real adults...**end edit**

John Leguizamo was fantastic, but when is he not? I wanted to see more of him. Maybe he should have been the main character and Walhberg his buddy.

This film is rated R and for very good reasons; Shyamalan keeps the camera on the suicide moments a second too long which create a serious feeling of dread. The other reason is because you see two teenage boys murdered with a shotgun. Anytime a minor is killed in a film, the ratings go deeper into R territory.

I really enjoyed watching this movie. Along with the sheer dread saturating the run time there were a couple "Shyamalan" moments of jump-out-of-your-seats scares.

It is rated R so be warned - and, like I said, if you see it, see it with your Shyamalan glasses on (look for the deeper meaning).

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Merciless by Robin Parrish

I found this book at a local Christian retailer. I was surprised because it was on the shelves two weeks early. I have been waiting for this book since I finished Fearless last Summer and it was exactly what I wanted!

Robin Parrish has created a blockbuster trilogy with Relentless, Fearless and now Merciless.

The story follows Grant Borrows, a man who steps off a bus and sees himself walking on the other side of the street. Something has shifted, and when he looks at his reflections, he doesn't recognize himself.

Grant notices a ring on his finger that doesn't seem to want to come off. Plus, he's able to do some strange things with his mind. It's almost as if he's got super powers...

But with these powers comes a secret organization devoted to usher in the ultimate evil. The only question seeking an answer: is Grant going to become this evil or will he be destined to battle it?

Relentless kicks off the story and, I think, is the best of the three. It feels like you're reading an episode of LOST. There are always questions needing to be answered with each chapter giving you more clues but not quite giving you the whole solution. Borrows meets up with others like him and call themselves the Loci. Borrows seems to have the ability to connect with the other Loci. He seems to be the most powerful one.

Fearless continues once Borrows (now known as Guardian) and the Loci take hold of their new identities as superheroes and attempt to make the world a better place. However, the Secretum of Six (the secret organization) are always there behind the scenes manipulating Borrows and his team toward something more sinister. While not as engaging as Relentless, Fearless has an ending that caused all of us to scream in anticipation for the final installment.

Merciless. The name alone evokes dread. Something arises from the depths with power to destroy the entire planet. Wherever this thing, Oblivion, walks; death and decay follow. He can wipe out an entire coalition of military forces with one thought - an energy wave of destructive power. Oblivion's mission is to travel to Israel and use this energy wave to consume the planet.

This finale is everything I hoped it would be: Superheroes going mano a mano with the ultimate evil, powers are used, people are killed who you wouldn't expect.

This was the book that Ted Dekker's Sinner should have been. Of course, since it isn't out yet, there is still the possibility of a change. But as of right now, Robin Parrish rules the realm of fiction writing!

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

The Meaning of Jesus by Marcus Borg & N.T. Wright

Two scholars discuss their views of Jesus in his historical context.

Marcus Borg states that much of the New Testament, if not all, should be understood as metaphor. He claims that we should not take the written accounts of Jesus' life and ministry as true historical fact. We should look for the meaning behind the stories. He understands The Bible not as a divine work of God but written by a group of people, Israel for the Old Testament and the early Christian community for the New Testament, about how they see God. He calls it a lens in which we can get a glimpse of how we understand God.

N.T. Wright takes the opposite view and states that the gospels express the reality of Jesus' life and how we can learn from those true stories.

Borg has the ability to write about difficult subjects in a way that a non-theologian/scholar will understand in one reading. N.T. Wright writes in a way where it seems as if you're sitting in on one of his lectures - basically he's more difficult to understand.

What is very nice about this book is that these two men are friends. They do not belittle one another when they disagree. The purpose of this book is to present two different opinions on the life of Jesus and how we should read and understand the gospel accounts and to make up on our minds.

I think there are other books out there that may be easier to grasp as you read, but this book provides two views in one book. Which is very convenient. It may also get you interested in reading some of their other works.

4 out of 5 stars.

House of Dark Shadows by Robert Liparulo

When King family move to a small town, 15 year old Xander (short for Alexander) is not happy. But his brother and sister, David, and Toria (short for Victoria) are captivated by the many rooms in the old Victorian fixer-upper they move into.

Soon they find that there is something odd about the house. There see giant footprints in the dust, sounds come from all over the house and when Xander and David walk through a doorway in the second floor, they find themselves in a locker at the local school...

Xander and David discover that there is a portal to far away places and different periods of time. Their father seems to know something about the house but isn't talking. And then the horror happens.

Thus begins the Dreamhouse Kings series.

I don't know why two of the characters have their names shortened to create this unique looking name...well maybe that's the reason.

Liparulo has written three novels I have read, Comes a Horseman, Germ and Deadfall. Like Ted Dekker, this is his first in a series of young adult novels. I must say I enjoyed this novel more than Dekker's young adult series.

House of Dark Shadows is a well thought out story. Liparulo will keep you turning the pages trying to figure out all the mysteries in this house. And because it's a series, you will be in for a thrilling ride.

I cannot wait for book 2, Watcher in the Woods.

5 out of 5 stars here!

Monday, June 16, 2008

Sinner by Ted Dekker

I'll give you what I really didn't like about this book first. I didn't like how my expectations were not met. I've been reading Dekker books since Thr3e first came out and no one was part of his website.

I was expecting Sinner to answer all of my questions that began with The Circle Trilogy. The trilogy causes your brain to twist and turn in on itself so many times and then comes a book called, Showdown. This is a fantastic book. Good versus evil on an ultimate level! But with Showdown, there were questions that followed.

I waited how many months/years for the culmination. And with Sinner I was let down.

With the hype that was building, I was expecting this huge supernatural battle between the villain named Marsuvees Black and the heroes, Billy, Darcy and Johnny. Even in the new covers of the books, Showdown and Saint, they show Johnny and Marsuvees controlling the elements. Nowhere in the book do they use this ability.

Sinner portrays the United States as a place that promotes tolerance. The pinnacle of postmodernism. Congress and the President create a law prohibiting any kind of religious expression in public. Basically making it illegal to say, "Jesus is the only way to God".

The showdown occurs when Johnny brings three thousand Christ followers to a town and they start blogging about Jesus as the only way. The government sends the police and the troops to stop them - by any means.

However, the final battle was not up to par with my expectations. Maybe I'm to blame and should read the book as a story against tolerance at the expense of personal freedoms.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

This second installment of the Narnia Chronicles is much better than The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe film.

The film begins with the birth of a son. Cousin to Prince Caspian. Caspian must now flee his home or else be killed by his evil uncle. It has to do with heirs and wanting to rule the people.

As he escapes into the woods, he blows a horn. This horn he was instructed to blow whenever he was in serious trouble. It also happens to belong to Susan. The oldest sister. This action by Caspian causes the siblings to transport back to Narnia.

But it's been 1300 years since they've left after the first movie. Narnia has changed. Many of the animals no longer speak and humans now rule the land.

Of course, Caspian and the Pevensie kids team up with a few magical beasts to fight Caspian's uncle and his forces.

I don't want to get too much into because I think you'd want to see it for yourself. It's action packed, a couple battle scenes that take up a large section of run-time along with a couple jump-in-your-seat moments.

I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars. It was almost perfect!

I can't wait for the third film!

Finding Faith: A Search for What is Real by Brian McLaren

I found these two short books in a book warehouse. McClaren writes in a way that is very comfortable. He's not preachy and he explains things in ways that everyone can understand.

His Finding Faith books are written with spiritual seekers in mind.

In A Search for What Is Real, McLaren talks about finding faith by way of emotions. The other volume, A Search for What Makes Sense, deals with intellect. Two ways people argue about faith and McLaren exposes the truth in his signature gentle way.

I've read both Finding Faith books and strongly encourage anyone to read them. You can be someone who already has strong convictions about your faith and these books will challenge you to go deeper.

The Stand by Stephen King

This has been years in the making. I purchased The Stand with the idea of reading a long novel. I'm not a big fan of Stephen King, however I have wanted to read this book ever since watching the mini-series.

A virus or "super flu" spreads across the United States, but there are a few people still alive. The first couple parts of The Stand deal with these survivors dreaming of a woman and a man; both wanting them to join them. And, you guessed it, one's good and one's bad.

These first sections are really boring. King takes forever in creating the characters. And most of the main characters are traveling from the east coast to Colorado without airplanes, so you can imagine the amount of story he can tell.

The story doesn't get interesting until well after the two groups have formed. The good-guys are in Colorado, the bad-guys in Las Vegas.

What more do I need to tell you by way of review? This is a Stephen King novel, there's large amounts of violence, sex and gore. And the length of the story causes, at least for me, one to become so bored with it, you have to put it down for months at a time.

This was my first King read, and it will probably be my last.