SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE review

I have found another film worth reviewing. I avoided this one for quite awhile, because I hate going to movies that get this kind of a gushing love fest in the media. Movies seldom live up to the hype of the “Golden Calf” that is created in the media to worship it.

I have finally gone to see Slumdog Millionaire, twice in one week.

This movie captivated me from the opening scene. It is refreshing to see a movie that does not rely on a $60 million dollar budget for just a few big name, overrated and talentless pretty faces to attract people to the box office. Director, Danny Boyle has a knack for creating movies in almost any genre that grab and interest the audience on “Indie” sized budgets. This one had a budget of only $15 million.

Slumdog Millionaire, is the story of a young man who grew up without parents in the slums of Mumbai and Bombay and ends up getting on the Indian version of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire”. I will not give any more of the story away than that.

Boyle and screenwriter, Simon Beaufoy, illustrate the triumph of love over selfishness and greed. The films locations are amazing, captivating, depressing and scary all at the same time. The music is both foreign and familiar and deserves the Oscar nominations it has received. The actors are all incredible and Boyle has masterfully directed them in this movie. The film oscillates between brutality and tenderness, greed and selflessness, hatred and love in a give and take manner that keeps you engaged throughout.

The religious imagery throughout the film is fodder for much thought and discussion, that I won't go into now, but I will probably revisit down the road sometime after the DVD is released.

For now, if you haven't seen this film yet, make sure you catch it in the theater before its gone, at least once. If you've seen it once see it again, there is so much to unlock in this piece.

Raise your hand if you know the answer

Here is another clip of Peter Rollins from the website www.theworkofthepeople.com So do you think you have it figured out?



Checkout Peter's blog at www.peterrollins.net

HOW TO BE IRRELEVANT or DOGMA FOR FUN AND PROFIT

As we are about enter a new era of American Life we stand at a crossroads. The political climate is poised on a precipice and we have a choice to make. Do we practice politics as usual or do we transform our methods.

Over the last 16 years we've seen incredible schisms in our culture in the arenas of politics and religion. During the administration of President Clinton the political and religious Right distinguished itself by opposing everything he tried to do and searching and waiting for any little reason to blast him and in the end impeach him. In this way they became mostly irrelevant. During the administration of President Bush the Left took over that job and likewise rendered themselves ineffective and irrelevant by opposing any and every move he made.

Today we stand at the precipice of a new and historic time in our country. On Tuesday we will inaugurate the first African-American President in our nations history. Barack Obama will make history no matter what he does. Will the Right again choose dogma over effectiveness?

There have been two Christian men, one from the Right the other from the Left, over the last several years who have managed to live very relevant lives. Billy Graham has been one of the most prominent voices of conservative Christianity for more than half a century. During that time he has been friends with every President, Republican or Democrat. He has not added his voice to chorus of rants from other Christians and so he found himself inside their circles of influence. He has led very influential life.

Bono the lead singer of the rock band U2 has been a powerful voice from the Christian Left. Like Graham he has been willing to work with leaders on the Left and the Right. He has taken flak from many of like mind for sitting down with leaders on the right like Rick Santorum, Rick Warren and George W. Bush. Because he was willing to work with people he may not always agree with he too has led a very relevant life.

I write this post as someone who not too long ago considered himself a member of the political and religious Right. I don't really consider myself right or left at this time and definitely not religious. I want to urge my friends on the Right to try a new tactic. Let's not cling to dogmatic and divisive ideals. Lets choose our battles wisely and more importantly lets find common ground where we can work together and make history as people who were willing to work together and not as those opposed everything our first African-American President tried to accomplish.

I have included a video of Bono receiving the 2007 Liberty Medal from George H. W. Bush as evidence of a relevant life. Let's make ourselves relevant too!

Peter Rollins Video Clip

This is a very poignant little video clip I got from a website called The Work Of The People. It is a short thought from Peter Rollins of Belfast Ireland. Check it out.



Check out their website at: http://www.theworkofthepeople.com/

Charlie Brown's Christmas

I just wanted to post my favorite Christmas TV moment of all time. It is low tech and not very flashy, and the best that has ever been put to film. Merry Christmas & Enjoy!

Twas the Night Before Christmas (revisited)

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring except me and my spouse;
Credit card bills were stacked by the chimney with care,
And I was assembling toys trying to make it look like St. Nicholas had been there.

The children were lying restless in their beds,
While visions of "X-Boxes" danced in their heads;
I cursed the assembly instructions, understanding not a word,
While in the kitchen ma toiled stuffing the bird.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to the window to see what was the matter;
I peaked through the blinds, trying not to be seen,
I thought maybe the vandals had returned to the scene.

You see, two nights before my lights they did take,
And my eight-foot Santa they threw in the lake;
Don't they know what this season's all about?
I would have won the lighting contest, no doubt.

I peered, and squinted, watching the yard,
Hoping to catch the punks all off-guard;
"Call 911," I said to my wife,
Ready to pounce on the first sign of life.

Then what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But someone lurking by the plastic remains of my reindeer;
He was looking over Dasher, and Dancer, and the antlers of Vixen,
But there was nothing left of Comet, Cupid, Donder, or Blitzen.

I put on my shoes, and stepped out the front door,
Then I spoke to the stranger, "I see you've returned to do more."
His clothes were all threadbare from his head to his feet,
But his eyes shown like jewels and their gaze I couldn't meet.

"I was looking at all the damage that was done,
They didn't ruin it all, they missed the little one;"
He motioned to my little manger scene,
The small set I got from Aunt Jean.

The man was shaking as he spoke,
The wind must have blown right through his coat.
"I love to gaze upon that little child, whenever I can,
And I remember that he was God became man."

"He was hidden behind an inn that night,
"Hidden from harm, safe out of sight.
He grew and reached out to a world in pain
But on deaf ears his words fell, his efforts seemed to be in vain."

"No longer safe in his manger,
The world was hostile and he walked into danger;
He was betrayed, and then taken by force,
But, He did not fight back for this was part of his course."

"Soldiers whipped and beat him with glee,
Then he was hung to die on a tree;"
The old man shivered and trembled and shook,
Then told me. "When he died our sins He took."

"Then He rose again on the third day,
His life he lived to show us the way;"
Then the old man's Spirit did lift,
He said with a smile, "That was the greatest Christmas gift"

The night was cold and the wind made a racket,
Then I went in the house and grabbed him a jacket;
Humbly he took it and put it on with a smile,
Then I asked him to come in for a while.

He thanked me for the offer but kindly refused,
"I have many people to see before this night is through;"
I looked down for a moment then he vanished form sight,
But I heard his voice ring through the night, "Remember Christ this Christmas, and Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight."

Advent Conspiracy

We are going to participate in this, why don't you join us. Watch the video and go to http://www.adventconspiracy.org/ and join us.



God Bless You All.