Looking Closer
Wow. I thought the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops’ rave review of The Golden Compass was remarkably short-sighted. (You can still read the review in this cached page at Google.) (more…) Read more
Wow. I thought the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops’ rave review of The Golden Compass was remarkably short-sighted. (You can still read the review in this cached page at Google.) (more…) Read more
If you haven’t seen these news stories, take note: We should be praying for those harmed (in any way) by gunfire in Colorado today. Story here, and here. Read more
I’ve just seen Lars and the Real Girl, a film that I’ve been trying to get across town to see for weeks. Fortunately, Anne got to come along. And we both fell head over heels in love with it. I haven’t cried for joy at the conclusion of a movie in a long, long time. If you haven’t seen it, make plans before it disappears. It’s a tender-hearted, deeply moving comedy that is full of insight about abandonment, loneliness, and... Read more
I saw Juno again last night. And I went from liking it to loving it. It really is something special… and I’m not going to complain about Paste magazine picking it as their #1 movie of the year. It’s not my #1 movie of the year, but it deserves a big audience and a heap of praise. It’s the best thing showing at the multiplex this weekend. It’s not for kids, but for discerning adults, it’s a surprisingly tender-hearted comedy... Read more
Okay, my apologies to those who are sick of hearing about The Golden Compass. (more…) Read more
Nuclearity has just posted a very special podcast. I had the privilege of contributing to this, but that’s not why I’m linking to it. I was moved as I listened to a wide variety of people share their views on why A Charlie Brown Christmas stands apart as a treasure of holiday storytelling. Take a few minutes and listen to this remarkable program. [2013 UPDATE: The recording has been moved to this location.] The other guests include: Robert Short, author... Read more
An abridged version of this review was originally published in Risen Magazine. – Knocked Up, Waitress, Bella, and the internationally celebrated “masterpiece” 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days… yes, 2007 is officially The Year of the Unexpected Pregnancy. And now, here comes Jason Reitman’s Juno, a comedy about a high-school girl whose sexual experimentation has left her pregnant and confused. What’s going on? Is Juno just another movie in this unlikely trend? (more…) Read more
Finished with their phenomenal Lord of the Rings trilogy, New Line Cinema needed another series, something with box-office promise. Harry Potter and the Narnia chronicles were already spoken for. So they seized the next-best thing: Philip Pullman’s award-winning trilogy, His Dark Materials. The first movie, The Golden Compass, is full of dazzling spectacles. Director Chris Weitz conjures awe-inspiring environments and fantastic creatures that recall Peter Jackson’s Middle-Earth movies. And, like Andrew Adamson’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Compass... Read more
Check out this free Mars Hill Audio download of Ken Myers talking with literary critic Alan Jacobs about Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass. There are a lot of hysterical Christians out there speaking in ignorance about Pullman’s books and the upcoming film. But there are also some Christians offering perceptive examinations of the stories… at least as perceptive, if not more so, than any other reviews yet published. See what you think of Jacobs’ perspective. (You’ll also find his review... Read more
As I’m so busy revising the sequel to Auralia’s Colors in preparation for a Fall ’08 release, I’ve fallen behind on my music reviews. So I’ve invited Josh Hurst, one of the most enthusiastic and thoughtful listeners I know, to fill the gap for a bit, and he’s generously agreed. Here’s his review of one of my favorite albums of 2007. (I’m working on my “favorites” list for the year, and hope to publish it on the last day of... Read more
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