REVIEW: ‘Hobbs & Shaw’ is all about family … and punching people in the face

by Michael Foust | Aug 2, 2019

The film Hobbs & Shaw (PG-13) opens this weekend, giving us an ultra-violent but family-centric spinoff of the Fast & Furious series.

Luke Hobbs and Deckard Shaw are two muscular men who never have gotten along.

They argue. They bicker. Most of all, they mock and dare one another to take the first punch.

In other words, they’re the last two men you’d want teaming up to save the world from a deadly virus.

Yet that’s exactly what the CIA has in mind. After all, Hobbs and Shaw are very good at what they do: beating up bad guys and fighting crime.

At first, Hobbs and Shaw refuse the proposal. But then Shaw discovers his sister’s life is in danger. And then the two men learn the virus has a 100 percent mortality rate. And then they realize a brilliant mastermind wants the virus so he can wipe out Earth’s population and repopulate the planet with a human-robotic hybrid race.

Perhaps these two men aren’t the ideal duo, but with the world in peril, they’ll have to do.

The film Hobbs & Shaw (PG-13) opens this weekend, giving us a spinoff of the Fast & Furious series with all the things those popular movies delivered: high-speed car chases, more fisticuffs than you can count, and over-the-top action that could happen only in a Hollywood film (My personal favorites: the car driving through the skyscraper and the tow truck battling a helicopter).

Like the Fast and Furious movies, Hobbs & Shaw also gives us a family-centric plot with a great message. But that doesn’t mean it’s family-friendly. It has a ton of language and violence. And it has more jokes about the male anatomy than I’ve ever heard in a film.

It stars Dwayne Johnson as Hobbs, Jason Statham as Shaw, Vanessa Kirby as Hattie (Shaw’s sister) and Idris Elba as Brixton, a human-robot hybrid who wants to spread the virus.

Warning: minor/moderate spoilers!

(Scale key: none, minimal, moderate, extreme)

Violence/Disturbing

Extreme. The film is wall-to-wall punches to the face, punches to the stomach, and kicks to the groin. People get thrown out windows and beaten up with metal chairs. Gunshots are prominent, and we see people fall down, presumably dead. Cars explode. We see three torture scenes: two mild ones and a third that includes men being shocked with jumper cables and a car battery. The film doesn’t have excessive bloodshed, but it more than makes up for it in other areas.

Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity

Moderate. The film includes no nudity or bedroom scenes, but we briefly see scantily clad women at a party (some in underwear-type apparel). We see a man and a woman kiss twice. Shaw tells Hobbs not to mess with his sister in the romance realm. Hobbs replies with an implicit reference to sex. The film is full of innuendo about the male anatomy.  We see Hobbs and other men shirtless.

Coarse Language

Moderate/extreme. S–t (11), h-ll (8), a– (6), SOB (4), GD (3), d–n (2), misuse of “Jesus” (2) and f-word (1 or 2)

Other Positive Elements

For all its testosterone, Hobbs & Shaw is a movie about family, regret and redemption. Hobbs would do anything for his nine-year-old daughter, although he is estranged from his mother and brothers. Likewise, Shaw doesn’t have a good relationship with his sister. I won’t spoil the plot for you, but the film has a redemptive ending. 

Other Stuff You Might Want To Know

We see people drink alcohol.

Life Lessons

Family is essential. It’s fun watching a tough guy like Hobbs spend quality time with his daughter. It reminded me of the old saying, “Anyone can be a father but it takes someone special to be a dad. “

It’s never too late to go home and make amends. Hobbs proves that’s the case.

Optimism is always needed. Shaw, despite his faults, is a positive person. This trait comes in handy when his sister nearly dies.

Mothers should be honored. One major character gives us a good example of this.

Worldview/Application

The Fast and Furious series always has delivered conflicting messages about women. On the one hand, the series objectifies women. On the other hand, it holds up marriage and the family unit as a priceless ideal.

“I spent my whole life running away,” Hobbs says. “… My own daughter doesn’t even know her own family.”

“You can change that,” Hattie responds.

No, Hobbs & Shaw isn’t a pro-family movie in the realm of the faith-based movie Courageous. But it’s nice to see a family-affirming message in a PG-13 action flick.

What Works

The pro-family, redemptive message. The action. I’m a sucker for car chase scenes. Hobbs & Shaw delivers.

What Doesn’t

Could we cut down on the male anatomy jokes if there is a sequel?

Discussion Questions

1. Why is it sometimes difficult to make amends with family members? What is the solution?

2. Both Hobbs and Shaw had major regrets about their past. Do you? Is it possible to begin anew?

3. What, if anything, can Hobbs and Shaw teach us about “loving your enemy”?

4. What was the key to Hobbs and Shaw learning how to get along?

Entertainment rating: 3 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 2 out of 5 stars.

Rated PG-13 for prolonged sequences of action and violence, suggestive material and some strong language.    

DHD: 6 takeaways from Lankford’s speech on border crisis

by Chris Doyle | Jul 26, 2019

Greetings!

Oklahoma U.S. Senator James Lankford reported from the floor of the Senate chambers this week about his recent trip to the U.S.-Mexico border. I appreciate Sen. Lankford’s willingness to make this trek, and because he is somebody I trust (in fact, there’s nobody in current politics I trust more than James Lankford), I believe what he shared about the conditions of the border, the facilities conditions and operations of the Customs and Border Protection, as well as the operations of the cartels which involve child exploitation.

Here is a video of Lankford’s floor speech, and for this week’s edition of Doyle’s Half Dozen, I will give you my takeaways:

1. Lots of TV watching and video games playing

I start my DHD with a light-hearted take. You’ll notice at different times during Lankford’s speech, he shows pictures of the children in border agents’ custody playing video games and watching television.

I don’t know why but I chuckled a little bit when Lankford said, “You can see him playing a little Paw Patrol back at the station,” referring to the three-year-old boy whom the agents found abandoned by human smugglers.

I wouldn’t know for sure, but that may have been the first time Paw Patrol has been mentioned from the U.S. Senate.

Later, Lankford shows a photo of young people in a detention facility watching TV. “They’re sitting there watching actually Puss in Boots on the TV,” Lankford said.

So Paw Patrol and Puss in Boots are both discussed in the congressional chambers of the U.S. Government. At least I can appreciate that dogs and cats are equally represented.

2. Roles of government and church differ

On a more serious note, I would like my fellow evangelical Christian friends to understand the differences in the roles of the church and the government.

It is the role of the government to protect and support citizens. We want a strong military and police force. We must be careful about who comes to our country, especially when they take illegal measures, and because the threat of terrorism is ever present. This is the priority of the government, and everybody including evangelical Christians should value and appreciate the government’s protection.

It is the role of the church, first and foremost, to advance the Gospel and further God’s Kingdom. In doing so, the church should be caring for those in distress or times of need (James 1:27) and showing hospitality to strangers (Heb. 13:2). There are many verses in Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy about respecting and caring for “foreigners.”

In 2014, Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptists’ Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, made this comment:

“The Gospel doesn’t fill in for us on the details on how we can simultaneously balance border security and respect for human life in this case. But the Gospel does tell us that our instinct ought to be one of compassion toward those in need, not disgust or anger.

“The border crisis will take careful work by government leaders. And it will take a church willing to pray and to love. Our answer to the border crisis cannot be quick and easy. But, for the people of God, our consciences must be informed by a Kingdom much more ancient and more permanent than the United States.”

Again, Moore made this statement in 2014. Who was the U.S. president in 2014? I’ll get to that in my next point.

Notice, though, the emphasis Moore made on balancing border security and respect for human life. He said the border crisis, which even existed five years ago, “will take careful work by government leaders.” He then emphasized the church separately, saying the consciences of the people of God “must be informed by (God’s Kingdom).”

It is important for Christians to understand the differences in the roles of the Church and the government when it comes to border security.

I welcome you to read a great commentary from former executive director-treasurer of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma Anthony Jordan.

In 2014, in his column titled “Our primary effort,” Jordan emphatically explained the role of the church.

“We have declared our desire to show compassion on everyone, whether legal or illegal,” he wrote. “Our churches have not and do not stop people at the door and inquire as to their legal status.”

He also said churches should never violate the law in regard to immigrants.

Please note how different both church and government should be when it comes to handling the border crisis.

3. President Obama’s involvement

So, as I pointed out, the border crisis has existed well before President Trump was in office. Lankford also mentioned this in his speech, and he specifically calls out President Obama and his administration in response to the recent blame given to Trump:

“You see, the famous ‘kids in cages’ facility that President Trump has taken so much heat for is actually a facility in McAllen, Texas, they call the central processing facility. It was stood up in 2014 and 2015 when President Obama was facing a rush of children coming across the border with no place to put them. And so President Obama’s team, Jeh Johnson as the Secretary of DHS, built a facility in McAllen to be able to hold children there. That’s the facility that President Trump is getting blamed for—President Obama and his team actually designed and built. Now, is it a great facility for children? No. I don’t think it is. Nor is it the fault of Border Patrol, though, that it’s a bad facility. They’re using what they have to be able to manage the crisis that’s happening in front of them. But I’m tired of hearing people say that President Trump is trying to be able to throw all these kids out and treat them so miserable when that is not the case.”

Yes, Senator, I’m tired of hearing it too.

I have said in previous DHDs I’m not an avid Trump supporter. I even mentioned I did not vote for Trump in the previous election. I left that portion of the ballot blank, offering an anti-vote. But I want people to present the facts honestly.

If you are on a crusade on the border crisis and are blaming President Trump, why were you not shouting from your stump during the Obama years? It makes your actions appear more politically enticed.

4. Cartel’s involvement

To those who genuinely have concern for those who are crossing the border illegally—seeing these people wanting asylum and desiring to live in America for a better life—your intentions are noble.

However, as Lankford pointed out, be aware of how the cartel (criminal organization) is using people, especially young children, to cross the border for their financial gain.

“Cartels are making millions and millions of dollars exploiting children,” Lankford said. “They are smuggling children and families across the border. If you’re an individual, a single individual, it costs $8,000 now to be able to cross the border, and you pay a toll to the cartels, both to the traffickers and smugglers that are moving people, that $8,000, and then an additional fee to actually physically cross the border at the time of the cartel’s choosing in that area. But if you bring a child with you, it’s half price; it’s $4,000. The incentive now is: it is cheaper to be able to cross this area if you bring a child because the cartel knows, ‘I don’t have to sneak you over the wall. All I have to do is be able to get you to the border and drop you off.’”

Lankford pointed out the cartel used to use 10-, 11-, 12-year-olds, but because these children are able to tell the border agents who they are, the cartel are now using three-year-olds.

Are there innocent people genuinely seeking asylum and a better life? Yes, but the business of the cartels has been happening since the 1980s, and they are playing the system while exploiting children and families for their financial gain. Please don’t discredit this and understand how difficult it can be to handle this border crisis.

5. False reporting

Lankford also debunked the false accusations of the treatment of immigrants in the border facilities.

“One of the things that I’ve heard so many times is ‘these kids can’t even brush their teeth because Americans are so mean and because the Border Patrol are so ruthless to them.’ I went to five different facilities, and every facility I asked to see their supply room,” Lankford said. He mentioned he saw 87,000 toothbrushes as well as other hygiene products, along with many snacks and supplies.

Lankford pointed out the border agents are personally paying for clothing and other materials to provide for children.

“Are facilities overcrowded? Absolutely there are. The people that struggle with that the most are actually members of the Border Patrol because they have been exceptionally frustrated that they’re not getting more support and more ability to be able to transition people out of their facilities into actual detention facilities,” Lankford said.

6. ‘Go with the angel every time’

I conclude with sharing Lankford’s closing comments:

“I will never forget last year sitting with a bipartisan group of my colleagues, and as we discussed solutions to immigration, one of my Democratic colleagues said out loud, ‘I haven’t decided what I want to do on this yet. There’s an angel on one shoulder saying this problem needs to be solved, and there’s a devil on my other shoulder saying, this is the greatest political weapon I have against the President. Why would I give it up? And I haven’t decided which way I’m going to go yet’. I looked at them and said, ‘Here’s a basic rule of thumb I try to live by: when there’s an angel and a devil talking to you, go with the angel every time.’ This is something we should do, and we should stop playing political games and trying to hurt the President and ignore the obvious solutions that we all should see. This is not a partisan issue. This is a humanity issue. Let’s go solve it together.”

DHD: Moon communion, SBU, PP, Thunder, 13 Reasons Why, MedAdvance

by Chris Doyle | Jul 19, 2019

Greetings!

I am taking some time to do this week’s DHD while I’m covering the MedAdvance Conference at Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. I’ll give a report in one of my talking points.

1. Moon landing communion

Tomorrow, July 20, will be the 50^th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission landing on the moon. I was all of nine months when this occurred, but it is a fascinating occurrence of man walking on the moon.

Joe Carter offers an excellent explainer about a great observance by Buzz Aldrin who had communion (Lord’s Supper) while on the moon.

A couple of takeaways from Carter’s article:

• Aldrin was quoted in 1970: “One of the principal symbols is that God reveals himself in the common elements of everyday life.”
• The communion observance was kept low key in order not to draw controversy, such as the lawsuit in response to the reading of the Book of Genesis during the Apollo 8 mission.
• The church that supported Aldrin commemorates the moon communion service every year.

2. Mo. SBC-affiliated university challenged

The Statement of Faith of Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo. was reported by Baptist Press to be under investigation by a peer assessment committee.

The reports seem positive, though SBU doctrinal position “appeared to be ambiguous.”

This caught my eye due to the fact many institutions of higher education that have Christian affiliations have appeared to veer away from foundations of the faith, including Scriptural instruction.

I pray SBU responds properly and will stand strong in the faith.

3. Planned Parenthood leadership change

Something that flew under the radar this week is a rather quick change in leadership with Planned Parenthood.

Baptist Press reported Leana Wen has been removed as president of the world’s largest abortion provider. You should check out this BP article because it shares information that may not be found in other news sources.

BP reported that Wen was removed from her position “10 days after she wrote for The Washington Post about her miscarriage in June. She did not indicate any change of heart on abortion when she said the experience has made her ‘commitment to women’s health even stronger.’”

I also appreciate Abby Johnson’s comment of compassion for Wen. A former Planned Parenthood clinic director, Johnson tweeted for “Pro-lifers” to “to reach out to (Wen) in love. Let us also remember that she is a woman grieving the loss of a miscarried child. Let us treat her with care, not callousness.”

It is a shame Al Mohler is not giving Briefing reports in July. I would be curious to know if he would have offered a take on this PP leadership change.

4. Netflix cuts suicide scene from ’13 Reasons Why’

Another BP story reported this week that Netflix cut a graphic suicide scene from its streaming of the series 13 Reasons Why.

Many organizations applauded the move by Netflix including Parents Television Council (PTC) and American Council for Suicide Prevention (ACSP).

“Netflix has finally acknowledged the harmful impact that explicit content, such as the graphic suicide scene in 13 Reasons Why is capable of inflicting on children,” PTC said. “While we applaud Netflix for making this responsible decision, we call on the company to redouble its efforts to protect children from harmful content.”

“If the vulnerable individual sees a fictional character struggling and then dying by suicide,” AFSP said, “the vulnerable viewer can become more at risk of imitating this suicidal behavior.”

I know many who have spoken against this popular show. I pray this could only be the beginning of the entertainment industry being held responsible for its productions and offering better, constructive, life-encouraging content.

5. Thunder thoughts

People are wondering what are my thoughts about the recent, drastic changes that have happened with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

When the Paul George trade happened I was floored, just like everybody else.

Since then, I’ve just been in “wait-and-see” mode. I’ve had some various ideas on how the Thunder would continue through this offseason, but I’m not going to hold my breath. Obviously, though, it is apparent they are hitting the reset and basically starting over.

Expectations are low, and that’s OK. I’m never one to go major “gloom and doom” when it comes to the Thunder.  It means we have to look at the Thunder a little differently this season.

The good news is, my second favorite Thunder person is still in charge. Sam Presti fascinates me. His job is hard, and it appears to have gotten harder, especially with many fans spewing negative venom his way. However, I am confident that Sam is the man!

My first favorite Thunder person is no longer with the Thunder. I will miss my fist bump buddy, Russell Westbrook. It will be hard to see him playing for the Rockets, but I don’t have any ill feelings for him. Hopefully, when the Rockets come to town, he will make one more visit down the scorer’s table.

6. MedAdvance

Real quick, let me tell you about this conference I am currently attending. MedAdvance is an International Missions Board annual event, and it is making its first appearance in Oklahoma.

Many medical missionaries from around the world are here to share their stories and to network with others in the medical profession.

I’ll be doing a story for the Baptist Messenger about MedAdvance, but the stories I hear and the camaraderie and fellowship I have witnessed are encouraging.

Also, it has been reported this is the largest attendance for MedAdvance. God is doing great work through doctors, nurses and other medical professionals!   

REVIEW: ‘The Lion King’ is a superb family-friendly remake

by Michael Foust | Jul 19, 2019

Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ opens in theaters this weekend. It’s a live-action remake that has plenty of family-friendly moments. 

Simba is a young lion cub who can’t imagine life without his father, Mufasa, the king of the pride lands.

“Dad, we’re pals, right?”

“Right,” his father tells him.

“And we’ll always be together,” Simba says.

Well, not exactly, but just like any good father, Mufasa explains his future death in language that won’t shock his son.

Yet nothing can prepare Simba for what happens a few days later.

Simba gets caught in a stampede of wildebeests. His father rescues him, but then is killed due to a nefarious action of a jealous brother, Scar.

Believing he is responsible for his father’s death, a guilt-ridden Simba runs away from the only place he’s ever known, and Scar—a power-hungry evil lion—takes the throne.

Disney’s The Lion King (PG) opens in theaters this weekend, starring James Earl Jones as Mufasa, J.D. McCrary as the young Simba, Donald Glover as the older Simba, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, and Billy Eichner as Timon.

It’s a live-action remake of the 1994 animated film that won two Oscars. Jones had the same role in that earlier film. Composer Hans Zimmer also worked on both projects.

The film follows the same plot and, in some scenes, is nearly an exact reproduction. But the remake is 30 minutes longer than the original. It gets there by lengthening a few scenes and adding other ones that were not in the 1994 movie.

Overall, the 2019 The Lion King is an entertaining and well-done remake, although with a slower pace at times. It’s a redemptive story about tragedy and triumph. Overall, it’s superb. 

Warning: minor/moderate spoilers!

(Scale key: none, minimal, moderate, extreme)

Violence/Disturbing

Minimal/moderate. The scenes seem more intense in a live-action film. Hyenas chase a young Simba, trying to eat him. (“Kill him,” Scar says.) Mufasa’s death is identical to the original, but the emotional impact of Simba mourning over him is greater, as is Scar’s falsely blaming Simba for the tragedy. The movie ends just like the first one, with hyenas and lions battling and then two lions going one-one-one (and one lion falling off a cliff toward a fire). 

Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity

None. Zazu, a red-billed hornbill, gives Mufasa his daily report and says he saw two giraffes “necking.” 

Coarse Language

None/minimal. We hear one “my G-d” and one “farted.” The latter takes place in Pumbaa’s song, Hakuna Matata. In the original film, Timon places his hand over Pumbaa’s mouth, preventing him from saying it.

Other Positive Elements

Mufasa’s love and care for his son is admirable. It’s the heart of the story. Meanwhile, Simba is just as cute and cuddly as the original

Other Stuff You Might Want To Know

Watching Mufasa die, and Simba mourn over him, could trouble children (or anyone) who has lost a parent (“Wake up,” Simba says).

Pumbaa passes gas.

Life Lessons

You can’t change your past, but you can change your future. That’s what Pumbaa and Timon tell Simba. It’s good advice.

Don’t answer evil with evil: Simba has a chance to kill Scar the same way Scar killed his father. Simba, though, displays mercy.  

Children are a blessing: Mufasa and Sarabi truly care for Simba.

Worldview/Application

The 1994 film and the 2019 version tell us there is a “circle of life.”

But is there? Well, yes and no.

There certainly is a circle of life in the physical realm. Just look at a forest through the seasons: Trees bloom in the spring. Leaves turn green in the summer, and then fall off in autumn. Then, on the ground, those decayed leaves provide fertilizer for—you guessed it—new trees in the spring. The film illustrates this by showing us a tuft of Simba’s fur changing ownership—from a bird nest, to a giraffe’s accidental meal, to a dung beetle, to a leaf-cutting ant.

In the Kingdom or spiritual realm, though, there is no circle of life. There is no reincarnation. We have a soul, and it spends eternity either with or apart from God. This means Mufasa is spouting real-world nonsense when he tells Simba that “the great kings of the past look down on us from the stars” to guide us.

Mufasa comes close to the truth when he says of his land: “It is ours to protect—a great responsibility.”

The Bible says we are stewards of the planet, entrusted to treat it as we would our own home—with care.

Sponsors

McDonald’s, General Mills, Yoplait, Go-Gurt and Ocean Spray are sponsors well-known to children.

What Works

The animal recreations. The interaction between Mufasa and Simba. The tiny details, such as recreations of ants and worms. 

What Doesn’t

The slower pace. The movie doesn’t drag, but there are a few moments where the original movie easily outshines the newer version.

Discussion Questions

1. What is the key to overcoming guilt about your past? What does the Bible say?

2. Why was Scar jealous? Should he have been jealous? How would the story have been different if he were supportive?

3. One character says “Life is meaningless.” How would you have responded?

4. Is there a “great circle of life”?

5. Are our ancestors in the stars, looking down on us? What does the Bible say?

Entertainment rating: 4 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Rated PG for sequences of violence and peril, and some thematic elements.

PHOTO CREDIT: Disney

Millennial Monday: One year later

by Emily Howsden | Jul 15, 2019

One year ago tomorrow, life as I knew it would change forever. My husband and I went to sleep with the kind of butterflies you have in your stomach when you know tomorrow you get to go on vacation, or like trying to sleep on Christmas Eve.

We woke up early, so we would for once in my life, be on time. We had a 5 a.m. check in, and while my husband was hungry, with his sister stopping to get him food on the way, to me, the thought of eating anything seemed ludicrous.

The next two hours were the fastest two hours of my life, and before we knew it, the time had come.

We walked together to a stark white, cold room, and they told my husband to robe up and wait. This is when he said things started to set in for him. The next time he would see me, it would be go-time.

It was 47 minutes later, which seemed more like five, but 47 minutes later our sweet Silas was born. Silas Dean Howsden was born at 7:47 a.m., at 7lbs 6 oz of absolute perfection. I almost couldn’t believe my eyes when the doctor held him over the surgical curtain and laid him on my chest.

For 9.5 long months, we had prepared and dreamed of what this day would be like, but nothing seemed real. It was all as if we were living the most spectacular dream.

Here we are, a year later, and our hearts burst with love for our little man. The newborn months were sweet times of bonding, with some scary sickness mixed in to keep us humble.

But on the eve of my sweet Silas’ first birthday, I can’t help but feel like raising our baby for the first whole year of his life is one of my greatest accomplishments.

I was talking with a co-worker, and we both noted how you have to go through more testing and prepare yourself much more to get a driver’s license, as opposed to the number of requirements there are to have a baby.

People always say, if you wait for everything to be perfect you’ll never have kids, or if you wait until you feel ready/prepared, you’ll never make the leap. Those things may be true, but I think the best way to approach parenthood is with an army of support behind you.

In this first year, there have been many pediatrician phone calls, texts to my mom and sisters, conversations with close friends and a lot of times where my husband Casey and I just look at each other like “what do we do now?”

Our lives and Silas’ life are so much sweeter because of the people that love us and have surrounded us to support our little family in this first year.

From baby showers, to people bringing us meals in the first month of parenthood, to offering to watch Silas while we take a rare night for ourselves and go on a date—I feel like all of our family and close friends also deserve a pat on the back for carrying us through this time.

It is our hope that we can instill in Silas that life here on earth is made sweeter by our God-given community through the Church and our families. The phrase from an English Premier League soccer team Liverpool FC, reigns true about the body of Christ, especially when it comes to family and community, “You’ll never walk alone.”