A group of young Mayan men hunt a wild boar in the jungle and kill it. They rip out its organs and make one of the men eat the testicles of the beast. They are enjoying themselves when one of them, later to be called Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood), senses movement in the trees. A short time later a young man from another tribe emerges from the foliage and asks for safe-passage for his villagers who are moving to a... Read more

The Nativity Story is now enterting it’s third weekend in theaters. You are still on time, in most places, to see this lovely film about Mary (Joseph, Elizabeth, Zechariah, Anna, Joachim, the shepherds and magi) in the year leading up to and including Jesus’ birth. If you’ve been planning to see The Nativity Story but waiting for some reason, please do go this weekend so that box office numbers will grow and sustain the film through the New Year. For... Read more

Chris Gardner (Will Smith) is an energetic salesman in San Francisco who works hard to support his son, Christopher (Jaden Smith) and the boy’s mother, Linda (Thandie Newton). Gardner invested all his money in a portable medical scanner scheme but now is unable to sell all the equipment. It takes all the money the couple can scrape together to keep their son in a day care center in Chinatown.     Discouraged, Linda moves out and an almost incredible series of... Read more

(This essay was written by me and Sr. Madonna Janet Kuhlman, FSP, one of our nuns who loves kidlit!)   1952 was a very good year for children’s literature.   In addition to The Borrowers (Mary Norton), The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (C. S. Lewis), Secret of the Andes (Ann Nolan Clark; a book went on to receive the 1953 Newbery Medal), emerged E. B. White’s barnyard fantasy yarn, Charlotte’s Web, the best-selling children’s paperback of all time according to... Read more

    Its thirty years since Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) first broke into the ring, and he’s hitting 60. His beloved wife Adrian has died and he visits the cemetery regularly. In fact, he keeps a folding chair stashed in the branches of the large tree nearby. He misses her very much even though he leads a busy life as a restaurateur in South Philly. His fans remain loyal. He and his brother-in-law Paulie (Burt Young; The Sopranos; Mickey Blue Eyes)... Read more

                      Here are some more links to reviews, reflections, and articles about The Nativity Story – the must-see film of the season. Honolulu Catholic Herald http://www.hawaiicatholicherald.com/Home/tabid/256/newsid884/320/Default.aspx Christianity Today (scroll down; many links at the end) http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/reviews/2006/nativitystory.html Catholic News Service http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=22034   Read more

The Roots of Bling: Blood Diamond and Blood on a Stone   A diamond is a symbol, a promise of love. A diamond is the hardest mineral substance in the world and because of this quality it has industrial applications. Due to their exquisite visual qualities and how they disperse light, diamonds have been used as jewelry for at least 2,500 years, if not longer. Almost 50% of the world’s diamonds come from South and Central Africa. Diamonds are judged... Read more

Just a reminder that the film GUADALUPE (www.guadalupelapelicula.com) is opening today: It is in Spanish with English subtitles; a feature length film in a telenovela style that blends a modern day search for faith with the dramatization of the story of the apparitions of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe to Sr. Juan Diego 475 years ago. This is a film that goes well with The Nativity Story (www.thenativitystory.com) because the image of Guadalupe is of Mary who is pregnant: a message... Read more

Here are some really great comments about The Nativity Story from Archbishop Vlazny of Portland, OR (the archdiocese where screenwriter Mike Rich and his family live): http://www.sentinel.org/articles/2006-49/15127.html This week I received a call from a diocese on the east coast asking about the idea of schools taking all the students to see the film… Absolutely wonderful idea!! After you read the Archbishop’s comments, you may want to help your local parish sponsor a screening for students, seniors, adult faith formation... Read more

Helen Mirren, who plays Queen Elizabeth II in this admirable film, ought to be crowned queen of the British Film Academy. Fresh off her portrayal of Liz the First, (the 2005 HBO made-for-television miniseries that won 9 Emmy’s including one for Mirren as best actress) she steps flawlessly into a role that humanizes – and sympathizes with – today’s queen of England. Mirren even looks like Queen Elizabeth II, from the hair, to the glasses, to the handbags, to posture,... Read more