I received this note from a reader in response to something I mentioned in my review of Stardust: After following the Focus on the Family link about Harry Potter in the Looking Closer review of Stardust, I went to Focus’s homepage, and the first story was Dr. Dobson talking about the dearth of examples of sacrificial heroes in today’s culture. Sometimes I like irony, sometimes it just makes me sad. I have nothing to add to that. Oh, by the... Read more
Oh how I want the Looking Closer music page to be more lively than it is. But too much is happening in my life right now, and I’m left singing along with great new albums while I work, wishing I had time to write in-depth reviews of all of them. I’ll get around to reviewing some of these eventually, but for the record, here’s what’s currently getting frequent “rotation” on my iPod… (more…) Read more
It’s a bright sunny day in Seattle, and it’ll be a bright sunny evening in the theater, as I head out to feast my eyes on Danny Boyle’s Sunshine for the first time. I’ve heard all kinds of things — severe disappointment (from a trustworthy friend), mixed feelings (from a trustworthy friend), and “Best Movie of the Year” (from a trustworthy friend). Thus… I’m intrigued. Speaking of movies that are sure to divide viewers into enthusiasts and nay-sayers… (more…) Read more
The fantasy section of the bookstore is such a wasteland of derivative, unimaginative, indulgent storytelling. And I say that as someone whose house is full of fantasy volumes, and who spends many hours every week working on fantasy stories. It’s such a rich tradition, but holy Merry Brandybuck, it can be tough to find true inspiration and enchantment amidst so much disposable and recycled material. I laughed and cheered all the way through this hilarious list of fantasy-lit pet peeves,... Read more
[This is an expanded, revised version of a review originally published at Christianity Today Movies.] – What would we do without “Once upon a time…”? For most of us, that famous opening line conjures vivid memories of children’s stories about knights, magic spells, wicked witches, dragons, epic battles, and curses broken by the power of a kiss. But many grownups have folded up their imaginations and stuffed them in a closet, pooh-poohing stories about princesses and goblins.* It’s tough to... Read more
Matt Page has a blog where he tracks the development, release, and reception of movies that are in some way based on the Bible. This last week, he came down with a cold, and he suffered through it by reading Through a Screen Darkly. He’s posted a few comments… Read more
A few quick notes and links from my flurry of catching up: I can’t believe it. After all of the buzz, the hype, the excitement, I’ve seen The Bourne Ultimatum, and I’m really, really disappointed. It’s the least of the three… basically 112 minutes of action, with a plot thread that introduces absolutely ZERO new ideas to the series. Don’t get me wrong… the action is slick and exhilarating. And it’s still the best sequel of the summer. But the... Read more
The Guardian reports that Ingmar Bergman died this morning. He was 86. Much more at GreenCine Daily, which will be updated as the obituaries are posted. Which is your favorite of his films? Read more
A courtyard waterfall is splashing down into a koi pond here, playing the same music that plays in the closing moment of Malick’s The New World. Water skippers are flitting about on the surface on their tiny skates, barely troubling the surface. Beneath the lily pads, koi of all colors and sizes drift and ponder, lazy as cattle. It’s a glorious morning here at The Glen Workshop on the campus of St. John’s College, sunny and cool. (more…) Read more
I enjoyed my interview with Angela Walker, the brains behind ChristianCinema.com. I met Angela at the Biola Media Conference 2007, and we quickly figured out that we had much to discuss. I appreciated her thoughtful questions, and we must have talked for an hour and a half. (more…) Read more
Looking Closer
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