Archives For The Arts

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The X-Men film franchise begins at a rain-soaked Nazi concentration camp during World War II. In the midst of a large crowd walks a young Jewish boy. His dark coat bears the Star of David, the badge’s yellow color contrasting against the dreary hues of the compound. As the boy is torn from his parents, he mysteriously emits a powerful magnetic force, bending the camp gate. The chaotic moment reaches a breaking point when the child, later known as Magneto, is knocked unconscious.

This introductory scene—expanded in X-Men: First Class—encapsulates the thematic mood of the entire franchise. At its core, the X-Men cinematic universe is more than a slab of blockbuster meat to a slew of hungry consumers. It’s a probing commentary on social subjugation, equality, and discrimination…READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE HERE.

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While summer cinema is usually judged by popcorn—not philosophical—consumption, this year’s upcoming releases look to pose a number of questions that just might get our brains turning. From issues like equality, supernaturalism, and human progress, these next few months at tinseltown have the potential to instigate a slew of conversations about faith and culture. Continue Reading…

Heaven is for Real - Sony Pictures

Heaven is for Real – Sony Pictures

Heaven is for Real, the story of a boy who allegedly visited heaven and lived to tell the tale, is getting a big Hollywood treatment this week. Continue Reading…

Captain America: The Winter Soldier - Marvel Studios

Captain America: The Winter Soldier – Marvel Studios

In junior high, good guys finish last.

It’s not too much different in the film world.

A well-rounded plot must possess more than a heightened sense of external conflict to be engrossing. An internal transformation—taken by the main character(s)—which parallels external stimuli makes a story worth telling. There must be demons inside and out. John McClane is fighting to save his wife and his marriage in Die Hard. Clint Eastwood is battling more than a gang in Gran Torino, he’s coming to terms with his own personal concave of racism. Continue Reading…

noah-movie-review

Noah is a film I have looked forward to for some time. My previous blog about the movie (Noah Might Not Be Biblical, But That’s Okay) is by far my most popular article to date. Most liked it. Some disagreed. Some agreed, saw the film, and then disagreed. Continue Reading…

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Non-Stop releases this weekend and I’m pretty sure everyone who has a heartbeat is stoked to see it.

Is it the action packed plot? Nope.

The incredible visual effects? Guess again.

What about Oscar Nominated actress Julianne Moore? I know, I know. I could be a comedian.

We’re going to slap down our hard earned cash at Tinseltown because of one person and one person only: Liam Neeson. Sure, Non-Stop won’t be the next Schindler’s List, but it does have Liam Neeson and that’s what everyone loved so much about Schindler’s List. Continue Reading…

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Russell Crowe in Noah – Paramount Pictures

Noah doesn’t hit theaters for another month, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy some controversy early. Rumors over the film’s assumed extra-biblical content are circulating faster than it takes to click “Share to News Feed.” There are even a few church leaders—who have yet to see the film—calling for an outright boycott. One Christian writer has gone as far as calling the script a “waste of a hundred and fifty-million dollars.” Continue Reading…

robocop-movie-2014

Robocop. Think about the title for a second. It’s greatness in a word. It’s what our world would look like if Transformers could be people too.

It’s also the name of a new hollywood reboot that surprised me in many ways. While not perfect, Robocop isn’t the train wreck I was expecting. And (bonus), it at least attempts to ask a few big questions. If Robocop were a club, you might call it Deep Thinking Over Donuts. I’m just rolling out loud here. Continue Reading…

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Words used to describe Mitt Romney during the 2012 presidential election:

Wealthy.

Mormon.

Hair.

Wealthy.

Robot.

I think that pretty much sums it up. Continue Reading…

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Two years ago, Barkhad Abdi drove limos in Minneapolis. Today, he is an Academy Award nominated actor for his role in the brilliant Captain Phillips.

Did I mention Captain Phillips is brilliant? Because really, it is. If you haven’t seen it, why are you still reading this? Redbox that mug. Director Paul Greengrass (United 93, The Bourne Ultimatum) is stellar and Tom Hanks is well, Tom Hanks. Continue Reading…