A review of RUN, FATBOY, RUN
by James Harleman
(Rated PG-13)

“… let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” - Hebrews 12:1b

Marathon becomes metaphor in this story of the everyman’s desperate flight from role and responsibility. Although the story is as old as the sin of Adam, this story - written by Simon Pegg and Michael Ian Black, directed by David Schwimmer - is acted beautifully by the comedic and oddly charming Simon Pegg. While this romantic comedy is more standard than Pegg’s previous, zombified offering (Shaun of the Dead) many of the themes are similar. With shades of both American and British comedy, a touch of Disney but a hint of dark humor, Pegg brings the blend together to make a thoroughly engaging film. Neither a fan of “Friends” or Schwimmer in general, I was impressed by his direction of the film, which is shot entirely on location in London.

Pegg portrays Dennis, a man who literally runs like a schoolgirl from the altar, leaving bride-to-be Libby (played by Thandie Newton) in tears… not to mention pregnant. Five years later, when Dennis realizes his almost-wife and mother of his child is getting serious about an American businessman named Whit (Hank Azaria), he desperately wants to prove himself and win her back. As a clumsy gesture, he enters himself in the charity marathon the fit Whit has entered, hoping to demonstrate he can actually finish something for once in his unremarkable life. (more…)

A Review of Doomsday (R)
by Pastor James Harleman

When a movie comes out called Doomsday, it invariably draws ones mind to many other end-of-world films that have graced (or smeared) the silver screen over the last several decades. There are so many creative ways the apocalypse might be ushered in, after all. It could be zombies, infections, decay of social order, climate change, a cataclysmic event throwing us back to the stone age (or the thunderdome) with a broken statue of liberty tipped like the leaning Tower of Pisa and Will Smith saving the world. However, with so many days of doom lurking in the cinematic shadows of the past, what’s a tough girl like Eden Sinclair (actress Rhona Mitra) to do? Apparently, imitation is the highest form of flattery… as Eden literally runs and drives through at least four or five classic films in the “new” film by director Neil Marshall (The Descent).

I remember a story as a child about “The Borrowers“, cute little people who lived in the walls and borrowed small items from the homeowners (this explains your lost keys, toys, buttons, etc.) so they could live. Marshall’s film lives off of borrowing, from Danny Boyle and Mel Gibson to Peter Jackson and John Carpenter. Gibson, your keys are in Eden Sinclair’s Bentley. Mr. Carpenter, “Doomsday” is in your floorboards. Admittedly, like the titular characters of that childhood book, the film is actually pretty cute… in a devastating, end-of-world kind of way. (more…)

LEGENDS AND FALLEN HEROES
AUDIO REVIEW by Pastor James Harleman

“The time of heroes is dead: the Christ god has killed it, leaving nothing but weeping martyrs and fear and shame.” - Beowulf, from the 2007 film

The tale of Beowulf in 2007 differs greatly from the epic, ancient Anglo-Saxon poem. What of Beowulf’s claim in the film? What of Director Robert Zemekis’ boast that his version of the tale has ”nothing to do with the Beowulf you were forced to read in junior high — it’s all about eating, drinking, killing, and fornicating.” If this is true, what does the tale inform us about where that leads?

The original story of Beowulf is about a hero, Heroic myth, the foundation for Arthurian legends, Lord of the Rings and even Star Wars according to co-writer Robert Avary. Originally written between the 7th and 12th century by monks, modern writers Neil Gaiman and Avary assumed the Monks imposed some of their own spin on it. Thus, they felt the liberty to “liberate” Beowulf from his “purer” version. In this revision, even Beowulf asks the queen to remember him “not as a hero, but as a man, fallible and flawed”.

Their “subtle” alteration doesn’t just add or tweak the tale, it BECOMES the tale. They have changed it in the most significant way POSSIBLE… and I’m fine it.

King Hrothgar boasts that “the gods will do nothing for us that we will not do for ourselves – what we need is a HERO!” Along comes the alleged hero, boasting “Mine is strength, and lust, and power! I am Beowulf!!!” Boasting, temptation, and tragedy feature largely in the audio exploration of Beowulf I was able to offer at our Seattle-based “Film and Theology” event.

James 3 says “So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.” Considering Beowulf’s dealings with the demon in this adaptation o the story, this verse rings with fresh truth in 3D imaging. The following examination of the film runs just under 30 minutes.

Listen right here by clicking the play button above.

You can also listen to the audio in another browser by clicking on the link below, or right click and “save as” to download the mp3. For those options, click here.

For those who don’t sample the audio, I’ll share a few thoughts… (more…)

I was excited to see The Bourne Ultimatum get three Oscars, which I would say are well deserved. Of course, if you asked me what the differences are between “Best Achievement in Sound”, “Best Achievement in Editing”, and “Best Achievement in Sound Editing”, I would be hard pressed to differentiate between them. Fortunately, Director Paul Greengrass’ brisk, jarring documentary style didn’t win the “Best Achievement in making my wife seasick” award like the second installment, The Bourne Supremacy, did.

I posted a written review on the Bourne movies a while back, but since the third film won two awards for aspects of audio, I thought it prudent to post the audio review I did of The Bourne Ultimatum for a live audience in December ‘07.

NOTE: this 30 minute review assumes you have seen the Bourne trilogy and contains spoilers.

Listen right here by clicking the play button above.

You can also listen to the audio in another browser by clicking on the link below, or right click and “save as” to download the mp3.
For those options, click here.