I’ve already purchased my tickets for the Transformers movie. Although he’s upgraded his vehicular style, I’m happy that Bumblebee is in the film. Believe it or not, he’s the earnest robot I wanted to be when I was 10 years old.

Even as a kid, identifying with “Spike” was too obvious; the “human kid who hangs out with the Transformers” routine gets old pretty fast. I didn’t wannabe a wannabe; I wanted to be a freakin’ Autobot! (Later, sadly much later, I did get a life). Still, even back then my sights only went one step higher than Spike, aspiring to be the yellow and weakest member of the Transformers family.

Maybe it was because he was the teams “spy” and I was a bit gawky, shy and furtive. Perhaps though I didn’t realize it at the time it was because Bumblebee was voiced by Dan Gilvezan, who also voiced Peter Parker on Spider-man and his Amazing Friends, which had previously been my favorite cartoon. Still, I tend to think the roots lie deeper. something to do with both a desire to be part of a grand story the victory of good over evil while humbly recognizing I wasn’t cut out to be the hero of the tale. At a young age, I think I had some godly perspective of my own place in our greater narrative. (more…)

I had a sermon to preach about Optimus Prime some day. For better or worse, WIRED magazine beat me to it. Pointing out that while geeks have Batmen and Star Trek toys in their cubicles, even the jocks have Transformers decorating their workspaces, WIRED writer Scott Brown explores the reasons why in the July print edition.

“.in 1986, the original Prime did something that distinguished him from most other cartoon heroes. He died. He died for freedom, for righteousness”. Brown goes on to assert that American culture American males are looking forward to the July 4th release of the “live-action” Transformers movie for “more than galvanic summer thrills or simple nostalgia. They’re looking for redemption, as men.”

While Brown forgets to mention Optimus did resurrect from the dead to “light our darkest hour” in 1987, missing the exclamation point on his Semi-Christophany, he strikes a narrative chord that is unmistakable. Bouncing between comparing Prime to a father and “Our Father…” the WIRED writer demonstrates how this hydraulic hero became a surrogate object for kids to respect, mimic, and yes even worship:

“Prime practically parented the latchkey kids of the mid-”80s. He was our Allfather at a time when flesh-and-blood role models were increasingly few and far between”. (more…)

Is your life a comedy or a tragedy? When Harold Crick (Will Ferrell) hears the narrator of his life while brushing his teeth, he panics with the realization that his fate may not be his own. What ensues is a fascinating character study of a tax collector looking at his life - his time, his talents, his relationships, and his very certain future - death! Harold’s fears… of death, and more specifically of someone else controlling his fate, crosses time, place, context and culture… it’s the fears many of us spend the bulk of our day trying to distract ourselves from.

“If you knew you were gonna die, possibly soon, what would you do?”
- Harold Crick, Stranger than Fiction

“…it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” - Hebrews 19:27

When will we die? How will we die? What if it is fated? If so, is that fate impersonal? What if it’s not? What if our death - and life - is determined by someone? Hopefully it’s not a neurotic, chain-smoking nitwit that looks like Emma Thompson… but more to the point: do we truly fear death, or simply a death without meaning? This really hinges on whether or not we trust the Storyteller.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them. - Psalm 139:16

I had the pleasure of presenting the theological implications of the film Stranger Than Fiction at Mars Hill Church’s Shoreline Campus. If you haven’t seen the film, the audio presentation contains plot spoilers! You’ve been warned. Then again, Harold Crick thought he knew the end of the story…

You can click to listen to the audio review in your browser
OR right-click to download the file, using the link below:
Get bent, Tax Man! (Discussion of Stranger Than Fiction)
MP3 35.7meg - 77:58min

In 2005, I subjected myself to the Fantastic Bore… watching Jessica Alba failing to act intelligent, while Ioan Gruffudd and Michael Chiklis looked around nervously, hoping no one would notice them as they collected a nice paycheck; the charming Julian McMahon smirked his way through a doomed role that was both poorly written and miscast, appearing about as comfortable as a Clooney in a Bat-suit. Watching a movie about the superteam that inspired The Incredibles, I found myself watching what appeared to be a concerted effort to undo all the work done by intelligent handling of comic book properties in the last decade. This was the Fantastic Power Rangers.

Still, the autonomic response that drives me to almost all comic book to film projects drew me to Rise of the Silver Surfer, with a sigh and prayers for patience. The sequel to 2005’s Cardboard Four promised a more ambitious story, with a world-devouring nemesis coming to earth, preceded by his polished and reflective herald. As dark forces rise, two of the titular four find their wedding plans hampered by their fame and high demand - not to mention the end of the world - and the team’s literal hot-head is forced to come to terms with the reasons for his superficial attitude. The film is not fantastic, but enjoyable, and a vast improvement on the original. While still nowhere near the bar set by Batman Begins or Spider-man 2 for 21st century superhero cinema, this film is a passable 92 minutes for parents wanting to watch a fun heroic movie with their kids, without feeling like you’re having your teeth drilled (if you truly want cinematic superhero pain, see Zoom).

For parents, the film has some family dynamics much like The Incredibles that are worthy of note. Stretchy Reed Richards wrestles with putting his bride-to-be first, ahead of his work, his love of science, and his superheroic calling. This is particularly resonant to me… as a pastor, it’s extraordinariliy easy to prioritize “ministry”, “leadership”, and “the mission” ahead of spending proper time with my wife, pouring into her life, when she is the one I’ve been called to pastor, lead, and love first as my primary mission and most important adventure. Johnny Storm sees the love people around him have and realizes that he’s been playing at life and heroism as though it were a game; he realizes that life is more than fun and self-indulgence… that people are truly hurt all around him and he has the power to use his gifts to make a difference… and that truly loving relationships are more lasting than the hedonism he’s been steeped in. (more…)

I keep expecting director Christopher Nolan to swing and miss. He gave us a stirring Memento, wrestled with Insomnia, ensured that Batman Begins, and capped things off with The Prestige, my pick for greatest film of 2006. (In 2008, he’ll give us the next Bat-installment with The Dark Knight.) This 37 year old Brit not only seems to direct films about Americans better than Americans can, his directorial choices frequently delve into deep issues of subjective perception and human nature. Whether it’s a period piece set at the end of the 19th century, present-day human drama, or a comic book hero, Nolan’s exploration of human nature and obsession remain constant.

In The Prestige, these themes ripple throughout a challenging narrative exploring morality, perspective, vengeance, justice, deception… and perhaps most importantly SELF deception. As one character instructs us:

“You don’t really want to know the secret… You want to be fooled.”

Playing against traditional forms of protagonist and antagonist, Nolan adapts Christopher Priest’s novel using actors Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman to the portray bitter, rival magicians vying for supremacy in glory and fame, locked in a cycle of hatred and revenge. Echoing the biblical King Solomon, there is even an Ecclesiastical lament: “You never understood, why we did this. The audience knows the truth: the world is simple. It’s miserable, solid all the way through.” Both men struggle for what they think is right, and what they are entitled to; it’s a tragedy echoing two poignant Proverbs:

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart. (Proverbs 21:2)

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. (Proverbs 16:25)

Highly recommended, The Prestige is a brilliant example of the human condition. Because of the nature of this mystery thriller, it’s also one of those films that is astounding to view a second time once the secrets have been illuminated. The screenplay is meticulously crafted and the acting is high caliber, including a hard-to-recognize David Bowie portraying Nikola Tesla - another brilliant move not only placing the film in an interesting period of American history, but connected to a fascinating historical character as well.

For those who’ve seen the film, there is an audio discussion of these themes in greater detail (plot spoilers abound).

You can click to listen to the audio review in your browser OR right-click to download the file, using the link below:
Abra-Kadabra (Discussion of The Prestige) MP3 13.5meg - 29:34min

Seattle Center offers diverse entertainment, if you’re willing to pony up for the parking. I found myself trying to find a stall under the shadow of the Space Needle twice last month, holding tickets for two very distinct forms of entertainment. In black tie and shined shoes (and some clothing in between), with my lovely wife sporting a black dress, we entered the Seattle Opera House for a midweek showing of La Boheme. Later, in jeans and T-shirts, we kicked back inside the enormous IMAX Theater and found ourselves tangled in the chaotic web of Spider-man 3. Swinging between the production of “fine art” and “comic book art”, I found myself eyeing the cultural juxtaposition: what was the real difference between the way Spidey slings and the fat lady sings?

There were certainly some differences in the crowd. White, grey, salt and pepper, and silver were predominant hair hues at the Opera House, lips sipping alcoholic drinks and whispering in hushed tones. More colorful even purple hair was found at the IMAX, arguing over buttered or unbuttered popcorn and spilling Diet Coke on the sticky floors (no food or drink allowed in the Opera auditorium heaven forefend someone spill their Panini). At the Opera House, a man in a tailored suit discussed the Seattle Art Walk with his girlfriend. At the IMAX, Captain America was sitting behind me, talking about the Rise of the Silver Surfer and Jessica Alba. “Aren’t you dead?” I inquired. The good Captain had also forgotten his mighty shield, and put on a few pounds since he was shot.

Critics didn’t like Spider-man 3, where the masked human arachnid finds himself trying to propose to his girlfriend while he contends with a vengeful old friend, the man who killed his uncle, and an alien ooze that brings out his own worst impulses. His girlfriend loses her role in a musical, leaves the web-head because he’s too self-absorbed, winds up having dinner with the old friend, and more conflict ensues. “Weak character development”, they said. “Flimsy plot”, they complained. The action sequences were quite spectacular on the IMAX screen, but that merely gets the film a “summer popcorn movie” label from the serious cinema aficionado. Nobody takes it seriously. With two preceding spidery installments, I’ll agree the film is the least cohesive from a narrative standpoint. The pacing seems off, plot developments rushed. I suspect a longer cut of the film could have yielded a stronger tale, but you only get screen time longer than three hours if your name is Peter Jackson.

 Thus, when I sat down to enjoy what is considered one of the most beloved operas of all time, I expected to be astounded with the nuance of character and subtlety of plot. My classically trained wife has the ear for music, so I could trust her judgment on its quality. (more…)