by Brian Hobbs | Feb 11, 2015
NBC’s Brian Williams and I may not have a lot in common, but there are three things in which I see we are alike. We have the same first name, we are both journalists and we both wear neck ties a lot.
On a serious note, I am both saddened and reflective at the news of his being caught in a lie and his downfall. I therefore offer this open prayer to the Lord God:
Dear Lord,
I praise Your Name and thank You for Who You are. With Brian Williams’ recent fall from favor and position, I am reminded of many things about You.
I am reminded that You alone, O Lord, never have sinned. I am reminded that, no matter how dark the times, You have made us in Your image and with a conscience that longs for truth, as a friend pointed out to me just today.
Forgive me, if I have ever misrepresented the facts or tried to inflate a view of myself to others. Set me on an unwavering path of truth. Forgive me, forgive us, for so easily seeing sin in others and not in our own lives.
Forgive us for reveling in the downfall of people and taking pleasure in the humiliation of others.
May, through Jesus Christ, Mr. Williams take on a spirit of repentance and find reconciliation and forgiveness, not just with TV executives or viewers, but to You God.
May Your grace and truth be near to all who call on You. I pray this in Jesus’ holy Name, Amen.
by Brian Hobbs | Feb 6, 2015
After her continued requests, I recently took my oldest daughter to see the new Annie movie. Generally speaking, I find that re-make movies fall short of their predecessors. Perhaps it is because they are always measured against the original, in this case the 1982 movie classic starring Carole Burnett (Yes, I realize there is a Broadway play, too, but the movie version is the most well-known). Following the borrowed-from-Plugged-In-movie-review-website format, here are my thoughts.
Plot summary
Eleven-year old Orphan Annie is back on the big screen. Set in modern-day New York, this capable young foster kid seeks for her long-lost parents and, instead, finds a family in the surprise form of billionaire businessman and politician, Mr. Stacks (played by Jamie Foxx).
Positive elements
Without question, the songs from Annie are memorable, sing-along songs. This newly adapted version takes a modern twist, putting an extra beat to songs like “Tomorrow.” You will either love it or hate it, in this modern form. I probably would say I like it, though the movie viewing experience was brought down by the adult man, sitting behind me and singing all of the familiar tunes (Really dude, did you have to do that?!).
At any rate, the young lady playing Annie is cute as a button and a good singer to boot. Jamie Foxx, of whom I am not a huge fan, did a good job acting and even singing.
Negative elements
Some of the characters in the movie, such as the notorious “Miss Hannigan” (played by Cameron Diaz) take a while to warm up to. Diaz is not believable in her role, until later in the movie.
There is some noticeably bad language in the movie that makes this one you would not want to own. Furthermore, some of the outrageous behavior from Miss Hannigan seemed inappropriate, though without giving away the plot she does improve. Lastly, there is a small tweak to the song “Tomorrow” in which it is “always a day away” instead of “only,” which is not an improvement on the song’s meaning.
Spiritual content
There is nary a mention of Jesus or God in the movie, yet this can be evaluated based on its message. In “Annie,” we see several glimpses of faith and hope, against all odds, and even talk of prayer. We also see that riches are meaningless apart from God-balanced relationships. We also see forgiveness and perseverance praised, while treachery and political ambition are painted in a bad light.
Overall
This latest rendition of Annie is by no means a classic, but it was a unique take on an older storyline that can touch the heart. Moreover, there were some cute references to the original (including a red-haired little girl and a mention of FDR). I tend to think this toe-tapping will be enjoyable for most viewers, all things considered.
Rating
3 of 4 stars
Photo credit: Sony Pictures
by Brian Hobbs | Jan 29, 2015
I am a huge fan of British culture. I am a fan of good movies for the whole family. I am not always a fan of movies that combine live people with computer-generated characters. These preferences all came together in a positive way, however, when I recently saw Paddington Bear.
Plot summary
According to the Internet Movie Database website, the plot is as follows: “A young Peruvian bear travels to London in search of a home. Finding himself lost and alone at Paddington Station, he meets the kindly Brown family, who offer him a temporary haven.”
Positive elements
The great British statesman most responsible for eradicating slavery in England, William Wilberforce, believed that God called him to two great goals: abolish slavery and reform manners. In this movie, although there are bathroom humor moments, good manners are subtly preached all the way through. Then again, what else would we expect from a movie that takes place in London and features a bear that speaks with a British accent? On a deeper level, Paddington Bear inculcates other positive themes, like self-sacrifice, love of family and courage. These are not often found in children’s movies these days.
Negative elements
This movie had few-to-no significant problems, only some smaller ones. In one scene, we see the head of the household, Mr. Brown (played by Hugh Bonneville of PBS’s Downton Abbey, a show I have seen only once), try to sneak his way by security by dressing like a maid. As Plugged-In Movie review site points out, he says this was a “liberating experience.” The movie did not camp on this or seem to be sending a political message fortunately. My biggest problem related to Mr. Brown’s daughter having a boyfriend.
Related, there is one scene at the end of the movie where the boy is in the daughter’s room that bothered me, even though nothing sexual or specifically inappropriate was inferred. Compared to most movies marketed to kids, the language in Paddington Bear was tame. I do not recall any dirty words. Finally, parents who are ultra-against violence may find a few scenes too tense for younger viewers.
Spiritual content
Plugged-In Movie review found one explicit spiritual reference I would have missed, “Paddington is startled awake by someone’s voice, and he asks, ‘Is that you, God?’” Beyond that, the movie speaks to everyday themes. If you are looking for an explicitly Christian movie for the whole family that feeds the soul, this movie will disappoint you. If you want some good, clean entertainment with overall positive values that are not incompatible with the Christian worldview, this film works.
Overall
Whether you have long loved Paddington, the talking bear who eats marmalade and wears a rain coat, or are brand-new to the series, there is something in this movie for viewers of all ages.
Rating: 3 of 4 stars
by Brian Hobbs | Jan 21, 2015
It’s late January, and do you know where your Christmas decorations are? If you’re like me, you’ve only recently taken down the lights on your house. Having purchased brand new lights for this holiday season, many of the strands we own are already dysfunctional and beyond repair.
It is not only Christmas lights made in China, however, that are cheaply made. If you look around, we have created a disposable society in which hardly anything is built to last.
Wal-Mart, which used to boast of its Made in America product line back in Sam Walton’s day, seems to be the world capital of cheaply-made items that won’t last long. Stores have disposable items of every stripe—kitchenware, cameras, contact lenses. There is no shortage of disposable items that will find themselves quickly going from store shelf to the trash dump.
Now I am no environmentalist, and I use more than my share of disposable items. Yet, I have observed that I need to be careful that my use of these items does not affect my worldview. If we start to view the things around us as disposable, it won’t be long before we risk viewing people around us as disposable.
Take also, for example, our society’s changing view of the body. If we view the human body as transient or something that will be done away with, that will affect how we eat, exercise and behavior. A disposable view of the body, as opposed to the Christian view which teaches that the body is made by God and will be resurrected in the last day (John 5:28), leads to careless and casual habits.
We also see evidence of this in the evil practice of pornography. The very act of consuming pornography—which is of the Devil—creates a worldview that people are to be used and then thrown away. This act cheapens our view of sexuality and life itself. It is not a stretch to say that our throw-away views about sex have made cohabitation, divorce and even abortion more widely practiced and acceptable.
This disposable tendency shows itself in far more subtle ways too. Consider how widespread the practice of cremation of the dead has become. In Christianity, we see that the historically preferred action at death is burial, because it points to the day that our bodies will be resurrected. While many people feel forced to cremate loved ones due to economic hardships, the act of cremation can suggest that the body is of less permanent and enduring value. Because of this, churches have an excellent opportunity to come alongside financially those families who wish to bury their loved ones.
I am, of course, not saying that this act of cremation means people view others as disposable. What I am saying is that as much as any time in history, Christians today must be more careful about treating things, people, the body and life itself as disposable. I am also saying that a worldview that embraces a disposable view of life usually goes on to embrace death.
Contrary to this, we know that, as one Christian thinker said, God is not into scrapping things. While the world is passing away, His creation will someday be made new. While our bodies grow old and wear out like a garment now, He promises one day to return and resurrect us into bodies that are imperishable and incorruptible.
Knowing we are part of His plan means we know we are part of something meant to last. And that single promise creates a bright light that can never flicker, fade or go out.
by Brian Hobbs | Jan 9, 2015
Over the holidays, I went to see the third and final installment of movie director Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit. While I’ve read the book by J.R.R. Tolkien, and am a fan of his companion Lord of the Rings trilogy in book and movie form, I am by no means an aficionado. Yet I will offer these thoughts and reflections as a fan.
The Plot
Viewers of the previous two Hobbit movies will recall “Bilbo,” “Thorin Oakenshield” and other dwarves and their quest to recapture the Lonely Mountain, a treasure filled mountain once owned and inhabited by Oakenshield’s ancestors and other dwarves. In the previous movie, “Bilbo” awakened the dreaded dragon “Smaug,” who decades before took over the place because of its gold and treasure. According to the Internet Movie Database Website, “Bilbo and Company are (now) forced to engage in a war against an array of combatants and keep the Lonely Mountain from falling into the hands of a rising darkness.”
Positive elements
The Hobbit, while an entirely fictional plot, forces the viewer to grapple with human nature. The story happens on a grand scale, as therefore ennobles your soul, unlike the petty, silly movies of say, Adam Sandler. The movie has characters that are memorable, none more so than “Bilbo” himself. The character development we see from opening scene of the first installment to this final is remarkable.
The acting, screenplay and special effects in The Hobbit are gripping, and the music score is very memorable. This movie has light-hearted moments related to the quirky dwarves that make you laugh. The film, which contains a sub-plot romance that Tolkien’s work did not have but Jackson added in, will almost certainly stir your emotions and keep you engaged until the end, if you have seen the previous movies.
Negative elements
Some Christians dislike the fantasy genre altogether. Still others, who would not be afraid to be described as fundamentalist Christians, loathe stories like The Hobbit with magic, dragons and the like. In this other blog post, I offer my perspective on how and why stories like C.S. Lewis’ Narnia and The Hobbit have a redeeming value.
The Hobbit movies contains a great amount of monsters and images that could be frightening for younger viewers. The movie also shows a lot of fighting, for which families should be prepared. I personally believe in movies as in life, we need to distinguish between justified violence and unjustified violence, let alone realize that wars happen. To more sensitive viewers, though, The Hobbit could create a problem.
Spiritual value
In a morally-relative age such as ours, any movie or book that ingrains in children a belief in absolute right and wrong is a welcome sight. The Hobbit depicts evil and darkness for what they really are. It also shows that while darkness is something that looms out there, it is also lurking within our own hearts.
While God is not specifically mentioned in The Hobbit, some of the grand topics of the Bible and life itself, including death, greed, sin, redemption and love, shine through.
Overall
To see this film, you must have seen the others first. If you are a fan of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings series, you will likely agree that this movie is good, but maybe not great. I personally thought The Hobbit, which is one book, would have been better presented in two movies, not three. Be that as it may, Peter Jackson once again created a work of art that has attracted millions of dollars and a wide audience and also inspired renewed interest in Tolkien’s literary classic.
Rating
3 out of 4 stars