Is it Wednesday already? Geez. Still no base tan.
I have been watching some good movies on DVD and (gasp!) in the theater lately, and I wanted to share them with you.
1. Wall-E. This is the cute tale of an anthropomorphic robot charged with cleaning up Earth after humans have made it inhabitable. He falls in love and follows his darling to a distant ship, which just happens to be the home-away-from-home for Earthlings while they're waiting for Wall-E to finish his cleanup job. Part love story, part ET, part cautionary tale, it's a story everyone in the family can enjoy!
2. The Golden Compass. (DVD) I missed a lot of what happened because I have trouble doing just one thing while watching a movie, but I still really enjoyed this screen adaptation of the book by Philip Pullman. Good news -- it's a kids' book, so I should be able to figure it out! I know a lot of people had trouble with the supposed anti-Christianity stance, but I didn't get that. I got the anti-dogma stance, and who, after all, IS in favor of dogma??
3. The Break-up. (DVD) This movie about a couple who finds their latest argument going too far, too fast, was hilarious and touching. I can see why Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn hooked up afterwards. Fun!
4. Dan in Real Life. (DVD) Steve Carell plays a widower and parenting columnist, trying desperately to keep his own three girls from growing up. On a family reunion vacation, he finds love where he least expected it -- his younger brother's girlfriend, Marie, played by Juliette Binoche. Watch this if only for the amazingly touching rendition of "Let My Love Open the Door."
Don't believe me? Watch for yourself:
Lain--
I believe the controversy over The Golden Compass was as much about the behind-the-scenes and the 2nd and 3rd books as anything else. If I remember correctly, the author (a self-proclaimed agnostic)of the books admits to writing them to be "anti-God". Also, the director admitted he tried to veil the anti-Christian theme in order to draw in an audience so that he could more directly portray those themes in the 2nd and 3rd movies. The author was quoted in one newspaper as saying, "...But if there is a God, and he is as the Christians describe him, then he deserves to be put down and rebelled against." among other things.
Not trying to start a heavy discussion or religious debate among your readers, just thought you might want to know some of why it was controversial. Michael actually did quite a bit of reading on this movie/book series. Being a pastor, and all. :)
Posted by: Etta | July 09, 2008 at 04:41 PM
Sorry, I forgot something:
One of the characters in the series at one point says, "The Christian religion is a very powerful and convincing mistake, that's all."
Posted by: Etta | July 09, 2008 at 04:44 PM
I just re-watched "Dan in Real Life" the other night and I still really love that movie. I'm a huge Steve Carell fan. We also adored "Wall-e" and look forward to adding it to our collection of DVDs later this year.
Also, I taught myself to knit. I'm hooked!
Posted by: Tina Cockburn | July 09, 2008 at 04:57 PM
We just watched "Dan in Real Life" and I loved it too.
Posted by: Jenna | July 09, 2008 at 05:19 PM
we just got 'Compass' from Netfix today, & 'Dan' in third down on my list. Glad to hear your take on them.
Have you seen Kung Fu Panda yet?
Posted by: sue Treiber | July 09, 2008 at 05:38 PM
I totally agree, Dan in real life was great!!
Posted by: Jeanette Brooks | July 09, 2008 at 07:57 PM
I love jennifer aniston! Speaking of movies,
I just saw "the other boleyn sister"- and i was SO suprised how much i LOVED this movie. It intriqued me so much that i went on a google search to do learn more about these people. Anyways, thought i would recommend one to you :)
Posted by: lacey | July 09, 2008 at 08:08 PM
There is a hilarious line from Dan In Real Life... "Put it on my tab". Cracks me up every time!
Posted by: Andrea F. | July 09, 2008 at 09:16 PM
There is a hilarious line from Dan In Real Life... "Put it on my tab". Cracks me up every time!
Posted by: Andrea F. | July 09, 2008 at 09:17 PM
I loved both Dan in Real Life and The Breakup. I haven't seen the other ones you mentioned. I've been watching some of the DVDs we've had here for awhile. I watched the original of Yours, Mine, and Ours (with Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda) and City of Angels (with Meg Ryan and Nicholas Cage). I really enjoyed those. I also watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding again recently. Such fun!
Posted by: Maria | July 10, 2008 at 11:15 AM