How about just one word: Delightful. What a library this man has produced! My Neighbor Totoro. Castle in the Sky. Kiki’s Delivery Service. Princess Mononoke. Spirited Away. If I had children, each one of these titles would be in the family video library. Well, here’s a confession: It’s just us grownups living at Overstreet Headquarters, but we have all of these titles in the family video library anyway. The more films by Hayao Miyazake I see, the more I realize... Read more
Time to resurrect this post again. We’re closing in on the year’s mid-point. What have you seen that’s worth remembering when the Faith and Film Critics Circle cast their votes for the best of 2005? Can you think of any suggestions we’ve missed that we should consider? (more…) Read more
A few posts ago, I asked what films could be characterized as “generation-defining” … like Star Wars, The Matrix, and perhaps now, Napoleon Dynamite. After chatting with my longtime friend Gary Scott (church elder, moviegoer, frequent commentor) and new friend Luke Brodine (musician, ministry pioneer, U2 fan) at church, it was clear that I had to come back and expand the question. What albums would you consider “generation-defining”? (more…) Read more
J. Robert Parks checks in with three film reviews, and… lo and behold, he prefers the wide-release, mainstream film over the two art films this time! Should he seek counseling? Or is Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants really that good? (more…) Read more
I keep running into younger people, students mostly, who don’t seem to think the end of the Star Wars saga is any big deal. And of course they don’t… they weren’t born yet when Star Wars opened. It’s causing me to wonder… Star Wars was such a defining film for so many of us. It changed our imaginations. It provided a new vocabulary for understanding good and evil. What other films in film history have been “banner films” for their... Read more
All glory to God, who moves in very mysterious ways! To make a long story short… and believe me, eventually I’ll tell you the long and bizarr-o story… Random House has just offered me a two-book deal. (more…) Read more
Those of you with the time and attention to pray, I’d appreciate your prayers as Anne and I consider an offer from a publisher to bring one of my novels out of the home office and into the world. It’s an exciting day. I’ll report with more details when we have something certain to report. Read more
Today’s specials: My Reel News at CT Movies focuses on the end of the Disney boycott, but there are a lot of other news links as well. Peter Chattaway takes a look at Mr. and Mrs Smith AND Howl’s Moving Castle. Some folks who are fed up with “Christian-defamation” in Hollywood are teaming up with Ted Baehr to try and stop it. When Christians are criticized in Hollywood films, what do you think our primary response should be? To turn... Read more
Recently I spoke in church about the “ministry” of U2 through their music and through their involvement in aid for Africa. Afterward, I heard from someone arguing the same thing I’ve heard for decades… that Bono may use a lot of religious references, but he’s really just a rock star who’s sold out for the love of money. Frankly, I’m not very interested in arguments about the state of Bono’s soul. That’s not my business. But I *am* excited that... Read more
They like it! They really like it! ComingSoon.net reports that George Lucas and Steven Spielberg have both finally agreed upon a new script for a fourth Indiana Jones film… one written by Jeff Nathanson. And that leaves fans with one super-sized question…. HOW DO WE STOP THEM? Nathanson wrote the sentimental, uneven, largely forgettable film The Terminal. Oh, yeah… he also wrote Speed 2: Cruise Control and Rush Hour 2. The one genuine feather in his cap is Catch Me... Read more
Looking Closer
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