Transitional Ministry: A Time for Opportunity edited by Molly Dale Smith. Foreword by Loren Mead. Church Publishing, 2009. Pb., 194 pp. $20. reviewed by Joel A. Alvis Jr.
When a church is without a pastor, there is anxiety and uncertainty. For many years a church in this situation was referred to as “vacant.” But it was obvious this did not mean the church was empty. Rather it meant the pulpit did not have a “permanent” occupant.
Ryan Piers Williams, the writer and director of “The Dry Land,” is the “significant other” of America Ferrerra, so it’s not surprising that she would be a primary figure in his movie about post-traumatic stress disorder.
“Predators” is that almost-laughable sci-fi melodrama where everybody takes themselves so seriously it just begs for its own caricature. (But if they did a “Saturday Night Live” parody, would anyone identify the original?) It’s an interesting career turn for Adrien Brody, of “The Pianist” fame, who’s come a long way from pre-World War II Poland.
“Salt” is a throwback movie. Though set in the present, it hearkens back to the Cold War era, when the two world powers on the earth grappled clandestinely in the deadly, covert world of spy networks. The desperation is high because the stakes are ultimate: the threat of nuclear holocaust is imminent and pervasive.
Director Roger Nygard, besides working on television comedies like “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” has also given us “Trekkies” (about the extreme fans of the “Star Trek” series) and “Six Days In Roswell” (about UFO enthusiasts). So Mr. Nygard appears to have an affinity for showing us people’s heartfelt passions about the invisible, looked upon with an ironic air of comic absurdity.
Charlie St. Cloud (Zac Efron) is the kind of guy who looks like the world is his oyster: he’s handsome, charming, outgoing, and, in a coastal Massachusetts harbor town, a great sailor. He wins so many local races that he’s actually offered a sailing scholarship (do they even have such things?).
“Ramona and Beezus,” based on Beverly Cleary’s popular children’s book series, features a cute little ten-year-old named Ramona (Joey King, who’s perfect for the part).
“Restrepo” is the real-life war movie. It’s so raw and spontaneous that we can’t help but be moved by witnessing what it’s really like to be an American soldier in Afghanistan.
It is not too surprising that Hollywood would be on the vanguard of those advocating for societal acceptance of homosexual couples. After all, anything goes in Tinseltown, where hedonism is good publicity, and no marriages last for very long, anyway, no matter which genders are involved.
“Inception” is one of those clever, suspenseful movies that delight the sci-fi-techno crowd, but is truly frustrating to the more linear thinkers, who want their story lines clean, clear, and chronological.
“The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” may borrow from a lot of recent fantasy tales, but it’s kid-friendly, interesting, well-cast, and funny, which is a winsome combination for any movie.
“Winter’s Bone” is one of those slice-of-life films that transport the viewer to another place and point of view. It’s set in present-day rural Missouri, but it feels like the back-country Ozarks of another era.
Sequels are always more difficult than originals. What begins as a fresh idea becomes, in the re-warming, a kind of cinematic leftover. It just doesn’t tantalize the taste buds any more.
“Despicable Me” is the animated film whose plot is a mix of “Up,” “Scrooge,” and “Annie:” irascible old man named Gru (the voice of Steve Carrell) shows us how mean he is by driving a tank down the street and brushing other vehicles aside.
I saw this movie in the company of an eight-year-old boy, whose one-sentence review was, “Best movie ever!” Since he’s the perfect target audience, the following remarks should be taken in that context:
“Toy Story 3” is just a delight. It’s clever, well-thought-out, and supplies just the right combination of story line, humor, and slight twist at the end.
It’s easy to see why Stephanie Meyer’s “Twilight” series is so rampantly successful. She creates a tension in all her characters that makes them all show internal dynamism, and external movement. They’re all headed somewhere, so the character development is always in a state of flux, which drives the plot forward. It’s all about the triangles.
I watched this film in the company of an eight-year-old boy, probably the ideal target audience, whose one-word commentary was “Awesome!” All of the following remarks should be taken in that context.
“Please Give” is a quirky little story (written and directed by Nicole Holofcener) about a couple of families living in apartments next to each other, somewhere in New York City.
There’s no fool like an old fool. Ben Kalmen (Michael Douglas) is a mature single man who exudes confidence and success; but going to the doctor and hearing the grim diagnosis bursts his invincible bubble. In fact, it made something important snap within him.
