All posts filed under: Film

The spiritual message hidden in ‘Star Wars’ – CNN

Current Affairs / Film

[The Last Jedi]  hints that Luke might not be the “last Jedi,” after all. Even without his help, Rey is remarkably skilled at connecting with the Force, the mysterious energy that pervades the galaxy. This is where some cultural commentators see an argument against organized religion. In previous “Star Wars” films, using the Force required joining the Jedis and spending years learning the “old ways” from established masters. Luke seems to say that none of […]

Why study Physics.

Film / Science / SOSc

A truly lovely short film by a Rhode Islander – who studied physics at Brown and design and animation at RISD – both a few blocks from where I sit as I write this sentence. Why Do I Study Physics? (2013) from Xiangjun Shi on Vimeo. Take a few minutes to watch it and then look at the world around you with your new rational and irrational eyes…

Anastasis

Film / Religion

On the Sunday after the Feast of the Ascension I preached a sermon at the Cathedral that focused, ironically, on Christ’s Harrowing of Hell following his death on the Cross. My point was that Jesus shows us the depth of his servant ministry to each one of us by his willingness to descend into the depths of the most profound alienation from the Father both because of his obedience as a loving Son, and because […]

What an amazing thing…

Film / Religion

Saw this quote in the review of the new movie, “The Golden Compass” – it’s in a discussion of the economics of making movies with overtly religious messages: “New Line made a bid [for financial success] with The Nativity Story in 2006, a prequel to The Passion. It bombed.” So much information about the interaction between faith and culture is present in that one sentence. At least, perhaps unknowingly, the author got something fundamentally right […]

Harmitology as found in The Order of the Phoenix

Film / Religion

Harmitology, the theological inquiry into the nature of sin and evil, can be found quite readily in the Harry Potter universe. Much of what Rowling is writing explores the relationships between the people who try to do good and those who turn themselves over completely to evil. Marc Newman has a wonderful essay up in which he examines this in terms of the way the questions are presented in The Order of the Phoenix: “In […]

Harry Potter: T-3.5 hours…

Film

Okay. Our tickets are purchased. The pre-movie pizza is ready to be consumed. In an hour and a half our family departs for the local theater with our pre-purchased tickets in hand for the latest Harry Potter flick. The good news is the weather has cooperated. I never imagined how refreshing 105 F can feel after 2 weeks at 115+ weather. So I’m actually looking forward to standing out in the “cool” night air…

My 4th so far…

Film

We started the 4th of July by keeping to an old tradition that I inherited from Fr. Karney, the priest who really taught me how to be a priest, that of keeping the 4th as a holy day of obligation. Having read +Paul Marshall’s book on the history of the early Episcopal Church in the U.S., I’m much more keen on the tradition now that I understand the context. It has always seemed particularly right […]

Raspberry Rabbit: The Lives of Others

Film

Raspberry Rabbit has posted a movie review of a film I’ve not seen yet, but which I will now having read up on it: Link: Raspberry Rabbit. If you’ve not yet seen The Lives of Others (Das Leben Der Anderen) then this is the week to see it. Not because the film will be withdrawn any time soon – it’s playing in a large number of movie houses and I doubt there’s any risk of […]

Video jerome murat

Film

Gosh. I wish I could have come up with choreography like this back when I was doing such things… Link: Video jerome murat – seg, murat – Dailymotion Partagez Vos Videos. Check it out – won’t take too long to watch the performance. Happy Feast of St. Nicholas! Thanks Nancy for pointing me to this.

Quick Narnia Movie impressions

Books / Film / Religion

My daughter and I went to see the new movie “The Lion, The Witch and Wardrobe” last night. I have to admit that I was dreading seeing the movie. I read the books for the first time when I was in 4th grade, and more than any other book I read as a child, these were treasures. They have had a HUGE influence on me – something that my role as an Anglican clergyman should […]