Thanks to director Alfonso Cuarón and his dream-team of British actors, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban may mark the first time that the third film in a trilogy has been the best. But thanks to storyteller J.K. Rowling, the derivative plot lacks depth and suspense. Cuarón is clearly a great choice for the film, bringing with him the talent that made his 1995 film A Little Princess one of the best fairy tales ever filmed. He’s got a... Read more
Whether viewers have read the book or not, they’ll find no real surprises in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Director David Yates makes this one of the darker episodes in the series, literally: there are few glimpses of daylight. That serves to accentuate that our rather self-absorbed, disobedient hero, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), is starting to discover his dark side, like Peter Parker in Spider-Man 3. It also serves to accentuate the lack of humor and whimsy... Read more
Laura Bramon Good delivers Part 2 of her series “Elliot Spitzer Makes a Porno” … at Image’s blog, Good Letters. (If you missed Part 1, it’s here.) – Greg Wright on “Anatomy of a Christian Approach to Movies” (Hey, thanks, Greg! I’m honored!) Read more
Well, I’ve run out of time to deliver the review of Twilight I’d hoped to write this weekend. Too busy working on the third book of The Auralia Thread, and we had our Thanksgiving dinner a week early, thanks to a visit from my parents. But that’s okay, because I’ve got something much better for you than my disgruntled perspective on the film. The best thing I’ve read on the appeal of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight is Laura Miller’s article in... Read more
Perhaps the best thing about the release of the movie Twilight is that the Internet is already abundant with Twilight-related comedy. One of the most amusing exhibits so far: A slideshow of 28 Reasons That Twilight the Movie is Better Than the Book. Perhaps the best thing about the release of the movie Twilight is that the Internet is already abundant with Twilight-related comedy. One of the most amusing exhibits so far: A slideshow of 28 Reasons That Twilight the... Read more
Planning to give copies of Cyndere’s Midnight and Auralia’s Colors for Christmas gifts? Here’s a bonus. (more…) Read more
Tonight at 7 p.m., I’ll be reading from Auralia’s Colors and Cyndere’s Midnight at Village Books in Bellingham, Washington. Know anybody in Bellingham? Tell them to come to the reading! I’ll be signing copies for Christmas gifts and passing out free posters to anybody who wants one. Read more
UPDATE: An alternate script for Twilight. Yes, I’ve seen Twilight. (more…) Read more
This review of I’m Not There was originally published at Christianity Today Movies. – If you want to inspire a challenging discussion about art and culture, try this: Watch Martin Scorsese’s excellent 2006 documentary No Direction Home: Bob Dylan, and discuss it. Then, reconvene a week later for a viewing of Todd Haynes’ surreal new movie I’m Not There. Their differing, complimentary portraits of Bob Dylan will give you so much material to ponder and discuss, you won’t know where... Read more
‘Tis the season to toss aside what other people think of you, do what you feel, and devil-may-care who gets hurt in the process. At least, that’s what the movies will tell you. The leading men onscreen this season (Lester Birnam of American Beauty, Tyler Durden and “Jack” of Fight Club, Craig and Lottie of Being John Malkovich) are not generous people. They are not humble. They’re not the kind of people to give up their own dreams for the good of others.... Read more
Looking Closer
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