A retired English teacher approached me last week at Sacred Heart Parish in Covina, CA after I gave a presentation on The Da Vinci Code. She spoke to me in that quiet tone of disappointment used by English teachers and said, “What I regret the most about The Da Vinci Code is that it gives us no heroes.”               Alas, even with such high production qualities, an A-list cast, and the character of Sir Leigh Teabing … [Read more...]

World Catholic Association for Communication http://www.signis.net/   “Media for a Culture of Peace”     “The Da Vinci Code”: A film which, finally, the Church has little to be concerned about. Cannes, 17 May 2006 (SIGNIS) – Much ado about very little… Many Christians from different backgrounds and sensibilities were anxious about the release of the film of The Da Vinci Code, directed by Ron Howard.  However, far from being a cinema masterpiece, the film is simply … [Read more...]

AMC ENTERTAINMENT AND LIONSGATE TO KEEP “AKEELAH AND THE BEE” F-R-E-E TO U.S. TEACHERS   WHAT:           With teachers swarming their local AMC theatres this past weekend and AKEELAH AND THE BEE holding strong in the top ten, AMC Entertainment and Lionsgate are extending the offer for every teacher in the United States to receive one free ticket to the film Friday, May 19 through Thursday, May 25, 2006.  The offer is valid … [Read more...]

  Goal! Or Goal! The Dream Begins is a very good film that is filled with the kindness of strangers. It is about a young llegal immigrant to the United States from Mexico who makes his away to soccer (football) stardom with the Newcastle United team in England.   The film opens with the Munez family crossing the border under the cloak of night. They end up in Los Angeles. Ten years later, Santiago’s mother has deserted the family, but his father (the ever-dependable Latino actor … [Read more...]

This press release is from Barry Gordon's office: Sunday, May 21, from about 3:00 to 3:30 p.m., Sister Rose Pacatte, FSP, of the Pauline Center for Media Studies, in Culver City, CA, will discuss the newly released movie "The Da Vinci Code" and the likewise controversial book "The End of Faith" with Barry Gordon, former candidate for Congress and president of the Screen Actors Guild, on "Barry Gordon From Left Field," broadcast on KCAA 1050 AM in the Inland Empire of California … [Read more...]

In an almost perfect blending of the MI film franchise and the soon-to-be-retired-into-syndication Alias television show, the multi-talented J.J. Abrams delivers another manic-paced adrenalin rushing full-tilt workout thriller without a point. Not that it matters.   For fans who are along just for the ride, what they get is a genuine run-along with the Tom Cruise character Ethan Hunt, who, with his new wife Julia (Katie Holmes look-alike Michelle Monaghan), is threatened by the newly … [Read more...]

I just want to pass on the message to all teachers who may read this that if you go to any AMC theater this weekend where Akeelah and the Bee is playing, bring your I.D. and get in for free. The studio, Lionsgate, is offering this as a gift for you. It is an irresistible film that will validate your dedication to education and offer you support and hope - and an entertaining two hours. … [Read more...]

Akeelah Anderson (Kete Palmer) is an 11 year-old seventh grader with the amazing ability to spell almost every word she hears. She doesn’t know the etymologies or even the meanings of all the words at first, but has the power to absorb and recall a word once she hears or sees it. Her father died when she was very young and her mother (Angela Bassett) struggles to keep her family together.     She goes to Crenshaw Middle School in South Los Angeles, an area known for gangs and … [Read more...]

I will keep this one short, too. There's wasn't much to add to the first Ice Age that more or less said it all about soon-to-be extinct animals in comedic ways. This sequel isn't very funny because Denis Leary's Diego is just too reformed. Queen Latifa is the voice of a female wooly mammoth with severe identity problems, but even that doesn't save the film. But the squirrel and the acorn makes the films so darned funny; keep your eye on the acorn.   … [Read more...]

I will keep this short... The Wild is a mildly entertaining highly animated film that will remind you of last year's Madagascar and Finding Nemo. Certainly technically more than competent, I found it made me laugh more than Madagascar (that except for the penguins made me snooze)and sure, it has the usual suspect family themes. Some parts might be seen as scary for little kids. There's not a lot that's new here but if you like to take young kids to the movies, and they like this kind of … [Read more...]