The Kendrick brothers made a movie. I don't know much about these brothers other than they were approached specifically to make a "Christian" movie for major distribution. "The War Room" was the result of their efforts.
I've read some reviews about the movie and they seem to fall into two camps. The church goer camp is willing to praise the effort simply because its a "Christian" effort. That's all well and good. After all you can't complain about the horrible state of American entertainment and not be willing to go out and support your own side when they make an effort to produce something family friendly. The Hollywood establishment is not as kind. Surprisingly (or maybe not) they seem to be more upset about the message than the moviemaking itself.
I'm decidedly of two minds about "The War Room".
If you evaluate the movie as a form of narrative sermon (as most Christian reviewers seem to) it is excellent. A sermon should have a message, a memorable narrative, and an agenda for the hearer to take action on. "The War Room" excels as a narrative sermon.
The Kendrick boys decided that a 2 x 4 was inadequate for their needs and opted for a 8 inch wrought iron post. Then they went in swinging, hard. Christians (writer of this blog in particular) need a good old fashioned "come to Jesus" message, delivered right upside the ole noggin. "The War Room" does just that.
If you are a Christian, go see the movie. Chances are, you need to hear the message. You should financially support those trying to do the right thing in Hollywood. Think of the ticket price as less than what you normally put in the collection plate. Plus you can get popcorn and cokes. We don't have that at my church. Then again I don't go to one of those hip new culturally relevant churches, so maybe you have that every week.
As a movie I have a different take on "The War Room".
The Hollywood cheerleader types seemed focused on not liking the message of the movie. This seems odd (unless you take into consideration their rampant anti-Christian prejudices). "The War Room" is utterly lacking in technical cinematic merit.
The camera work wasn't very good. The first part of the movie had a scene with a lot of "jumping" of the camera. This might have been a reel operators error in our theater, but I doubt it. Seriously guys you should have caught this in editing and reshot the scene. I know the budget was tight, but then again it was in the first 5 min of the movie, not a good way to open the show.
Throughout the movie the camera work was weak. I know overhead cranes cost money but a couple of well done aerial overview zoom ins (like when the company came to reposes his car) and some more low/high tilt work, would go along way to improve your story telling. Dialog isn't the only thing communicating a message in a film.
For example, one way the camera could have been employed to improve the story would have been to use long distance overhead shots to communicate space during the initial periods in the closet. Then zooming down and in to a convey an intimate environment as Elizabeth gets more serious about her faith and her praying.
When it comes to the story and plot there needed to be some improvements. If Tony might go to jail for illegally selling drugs, perhaps it would make sense to establish that he was selling drugs illegally BEFORE you introduce that as a crises point in the story line. Just a scene or two, maybe at the gym, with him peddling a couple of packets to "friends" to "help" them out would work.
Apparently neither one of the Kendrick boys have ever been married. I base this statement on the one dimensional nature of Tony and Elizabeth's marriage. I'll sum it up as "husband bad, wife good". Common guys. Who do you think wanted the extra fancy house? Do you believe Tony forced that on his real-estate agent wife? Tony drives the big black SUV and Elizabeth has the environmentally friendly hybrid. You could have used a flashback scene to communicate how Elizabeth's desire for the good life was part of Tony's motivation to get ahead at all costs.
Marriage and marriage problems don't happen in a vacuum. Both people contribute to the success and failure of their relationships. It's not all one sided.
In an effort to introduce Tony's near infidelity you almost (probably by accident) made a great point. I said almost. When Elizabeth tells MS Clara, "if Tony isn't getting it from me, he must be getting it somewhere", you could have rendered great service to Christian marriage everywhere, but you failed miserably. MS Clara could have said any number of things to rebuke or instruct Elizabeth on this topic. Indicating that a women who is being sexually unfaithful to her husband by withholding sex, might in some small way be responsible for some of the stress in her marriage, wasn't on your agenda. Again, "husband bad, wife good" even when wife bad, we don't care, "husband bad, wife good".
On a related note, had Elizabeth greeted Tony when he returned from his business trip with a wink and the suggestion that Danielle was spending the night at the family's only white friends house so they could enjoy some "alone time", would have made Tony look like a bigger jerk. It also would have make the reconciliation scene more powerful. You don't have to show it, a cut away and roll over (more of that fancy camera stuff) would have told the story without being inappropriate.
There are a number of other nit picks I have about the film, like the church scene, and the cameos. Guys if you are going to employ Hitchcock like appearances in your own films, fine. Do it in line with your acting abilities. Stick with roles like toll both operator, or unnamed guy on park bench.
If it sounds like I'm being too hard or critical about this film, I'm not. I like the film. You should go see it. This is the third time the Kendrick boys have made a full length Christian themed movie and it's worth your time and money to go see. What I would like to see in the future is them putting as much effort into the art of movie making as into advancing the message in their movie making.
The much Hollywood hated Mel Gibson made "The Passion". Even those who hate the message of the film cannot argue with the quality of the work or the artistic value of the finished product. The message was strong, the medium in which it was communicated was equally compelling. That is my expectation of all so called Christian film making. If you are producing a narrative sermon, that's fine, I guess. If you are making movies with a message do it right.
Make good movies, at profit if you can, at a loss if you must; but make good movies.
9/14/2015
9/12/2015
9/09/2015
Old Men in Texas
An 80-year-old Texas farmer goes to the clinic in Dallas for a check-up.
The doctor is amazed at what good shape the guy is in and asks, “How do you stay in such great physical condition?”
“I’m from Texas, and in my spare time I like to hunt and fish”, says the old guy, “and that’s why I’m in such good shape. I’m up well before daylight in the field plowing and mending fences and when I’m not doing that, I’m out hunting or fishing. In the evening, I have a beer and all is well.”
“Well”, says the doctor, “I’m sure that helps, but there’s got to be more to it. How old was your father when he died?”
“Who said my father’s dead?”
The doctor is amazed, “You mean you’re 80 years old and your father’s still alive? How old is he?”
“He’s 100 years old”, says the old Texas boy. “In fact he worked and hunted with me this morning. Then we went to the bar for a while and had some beers. That’s why he’s still alive. He’s a Texas farmer. And he’s a hunter and fisherman, too.”
“Well”, the doctor says, “that’s great, but I’m sure there’s more to it than that. How about your father’s father? How old was he when he died?”
“Who said my grandpa’s dead?”
Stunned, the doctor asks, “You mean you’re 80 years old and your grandfather is still alive?”
“He’s 118 years old”, says the man.
The doctor is getting frustrated at this point, “So, I guess he went hunting with you this morning too?”
“No, Grandpa couldn’t go this morning because he’s getting married today.”
At this point the doctor is close to losing it, “Getting married!! Why would a 118-year-old guy want to get married?”
“Who said he wanted to?”
The doctor is amazed at what good shape the guy is in and asks, “How do you stay in such great physical condition?”
“I’m from Texas, and in my spare time I like to hunt and fish”, says the old guy, “and that’s why I’m in such good shape. I’m up well before daylight in the field plowing and mending fences and when I’m not doing that, I’m out hunting or fishing. In the evening, I have a beer and all is well.”
“Well”, says the doctor, “I’m sure that helps, but there’s got to be more to it. How old was your father when he died?”
“Who said my father’s dead?”
The doctor is amazed, “You mean you’re 80 years old and your father’s still alive? How old is he?”
“He’s 100 years old”, says the old Texas boy. “In fact he worked and hunted with me this morning. Then we went to the bar for a while and had some beers. That’s why he’s still alive. He’s a Texas farmer. And he’s a hunter and fisherman, too.”
“Well”, the doctor says, “that’s great, but I’m sure there’s more to it than that. How about your father’s father? How old was he when he died?”
“Who said my grandpa’s dead?”
Stunned, the doctor asks, “You mean you’re 80 years old and your grandfather is still alive?”
“He’s 118 years old”, says the man.
The doctor is getting frustrated at this point, “So, I guess he went hunting with you this morning too?”
“No, Grandpa couldn’t go this morning because he’s getting married today.”
At this point the doctor is close to losing it, “Getting married!! Why would a 118-year-old guy want to get married?”
“Who said he wanted to?”
9/02/2015
Minor Edit
Kim Davis has raised a considerable stir with not granting SSM licenses. I don't think her not issuing the license is as much of a problem as her reason for not issuing them. Her reasoning is summed up in a statement she issued through her lawyers.
SJW's dumb but not that stupid.
I never imagined a day like this would come, where I would be asked to violate a central teaching of Scripture and of Jesus Himself regarding marriage. To issue a marriage license which conflicts with God’s definition of marriage, with my name affixed to the certificate, would violate my conscience. It is not a light issue for me. It is a Heaven or Hell decision. For me it is a decision of obedience. I have no animosity toward anyone and harbor no ill will. To me this has never been a gay or lesbian issue. It is about marriage and God’s Word. It is a matter of religious liberty, which is protected under the First Amendment, the Kentucky Constitution, and in the Kentucky Religious Freedom Restoration Act.That statement explains her reasoning very clearly. It also is what has the LBG crowd's panties and strapons in a bunch. I have an editing suggestion that helps out both Ms. Davis and the rest of America. I believe this will get Kim off the hook and allow the SJW herd to stifle themselves.
I never imagined a day like this would come, where I would be asked to violate a central teaching of The Koran and of Mohamad Himself regarding marriage. To issue a marriage license which conflicts with Allah’s definition of marriage, with my name affixed to the certificate, would violate my conscience. It is not a light issue for me. It is a Heaven or Hell decision. For me it is a decision of obedience. I have no animosity toward anyone and harbor no ill will. To me this has never been a gay or lesbian issue. We should be beheading them for their sins. It is about marriage and Allah's Word. It is a matter of religious liberty, which is protected under the First Amendment, the Kentucky Constitution, and in the Kentucky Religious Freedom Restoration Act.See how nicely that works out? Kim doesn't have to issue the licenses and the SJW's can't find anything to complain about.
SJW's dumb but not that stupid.
Football Coaches' Quotes
"Show me a good and gracious loser ... and
I'll show you a failure." Knute Rockne / Notre Dame
"I make my practices real hard ... because if a player is a quitter ... I want him to quit in practice, not in a game." Bear Bryant / Alabama
"It isn't necessary to see a good tackle ... You can hear it." Knute Rockne / Notre Dame
"At Georgia Southern, we don't cheat ... That costs money and we don't have any." Erk Russell / Georgia Southern.
"Football is only a game. Spiritual things are eternal. Nevertheless, Beat Texas." Seen on a church sign in Arkansas prior to the 1969 game.
"After you retire, there's only one big event left ... and I ain't ready for that." Bobby Bowden / Florida State
"The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it." Lou Holtz / Arkansas
"When you win, nothing hurts." Joe Namath / Alabama
"Motivation is simple. You eliminate those who are not motivated." Lou Holtz / Arkansas
"If you want to walk the heavenly streets of gold ... you gotta know the password, "Roll, tide, roll!" Bear Bryant / Alabama
"A school without football is in danger of deteriorating into a medieval study hall." Frank Leahy / Notre Dame
"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you." Woody Hayes / Ohio State
"I don't expect to win enough games to be put on NCAA probation. I just want to win enough to warrant an investigation." Bob Devaney / Nebraska
"In Alabama, an atheist is ... someone who doesn't believe in Bear Bryant." Wally Butts / Georgia
"You can learn more character on the two-yard line than anywhere else in life." Paul Dietzel / LSU
"It's kind of hard to rally around a math class." Bear Bryant / Alabama
When asked if Fayetteville was the end of the world. "No, but you can see it from here." Lou Holtz / Arkansas
"There's one sure way to stop us from scoring ... give us the ball near the goal line." Matty Bell / SMU
"Lads, you're not to miss practice unless your parents died or you died." Frank Leahy / Notre Dame
"I never graduated from Iowa, but I was only there for two terms - Truman's and Eisenhower's." Alex Karras / Iowa
"My advice to defensive players: Take the shortest route to the ball and arrive in a bad humor." Bowden Wyatt / Tennessee
"I could have been a Rhodes Scholar ... except for my grades." Duffy Daugherty / Michigan State
"Always remember ... Goliath was a 40-point favorite over David." Shug Jordan / Auburn
"They cut us up like boarding house pie ... And that's real small pieces." Darrell Royal / Texas
"They whipped us like a tied up goat." Spike Dykes / Texas Tech
"I asked Darrell Royal, the coach of the Texas Longhorns, why he didn't recruit me and he said: 'Well, Walt, we took a look at you and you weren't any good.'" Walt Garrison / Oklahoma State
"Son, you've got a good engine, but your hands aren't on the steering wheel." Bobby Bowden / Florida State
"Football is NOT a contact sport - it is a collision sport. Dancing IS a contact sport." Duffy Daugherty / Michigan State
After USC lost 51-0 to Notre Dame, his post-game message to his team: "All those who need showers ... take them." John McKay / USC
"If lessons are learned in defeat ... our team is getting a great education." Murray Warmath / Minnesota
"The only qualifications for a lineman are to be big and dumb. To be a back, you only have to be dumb." Knute Rockne / Notre Dame
"Oh, we played about like three tons of buzzard puke this afternoon." Spike Dykes / Texas Tech
"We live one day at a time and scratch where it itches." Darrell Royal / Texas
"We didn't tackle well today, but we made up for it by not blocking." John McKay / USC
"Three things can happen when you throw the ball, and two of them are bad." Darrell Royal / University of Texas
"I've found that prayers work best ... when you have big players." Knute Rockne / Notre Dame
"I make my practices real hard ... because if a player is a quitter ... I want him to quit in practice, not in a game." Bear Bryant / Alabama
"It isn't necessary to see a good tackle ... You can hear it." Knute Rockne / Notre Dame
"At Georgia Southern, we don't cheat ... That costs money and we don't have any." Erk Russell / Georgia Southern.
"Football is only a game. Spiritual things are eternal. Nevertheless, Beat Texas." Seen on a church sign in Arkansas prior to the 1969 game.
"After you retire, there's only one big event left ... and I ain't ready for that." Bobby Bowden / Florida State
"The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it." Lou Holtz / Arkansas
"When you win, nothing hurts." Joe Namath / Alabama
"Motivation is simple. You eliminate those who are not motivated." Lou Holtz / Arkansas
"If you want to walk the heavenly streets of gold ... you gotta know the password, "Roll, tide, roll!" Bear Bryant / Alabama
"A school without football is in danger of deteriorating into a medieval study hall." Frank Leahy / Notre Dame
"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you." Woody Hayes / Ohio State
"I don't expect to win enough games to be put on NCAA probation. I just want to win enough to warrant an investigation." Bob Devaney / Nebraska
"In Alabama, an atheist is ... someone who doesn't believe in Bear Bryant." Wally Butts / Georgia
"You can learn more character on the two-yard line than anywhere else in life." Paul Dietzel / LSU
"It's kind of hard to rally around a math class." Bear Bryant / Alabama
When asked if Fayetteville was the end of the world. "No, but you can see it from here." Lou Holtz / Arkansas
"There's one sure way to stop us from scoring ... give us the ball near the goal line." Matty Bell / SMU
"Lads, you're not to miss practice unless your parents died or you died." Frank Leahy / Notre Dame
"I never graduated from Iowa, but I was only there for two terms - Truman's and Eisenhower's." Alex Karras / Iowa
"My advice to defensive players: Take the shortest route to the ball and arrive in a bad humor." Bowden Wyatt / Tennessee
"I could have been a Rhodes Scholar ... except for my grades." Duffy Daugherty / Michigan State
"Always remember ... Goliath was a 40-point favorite over David." Shug Jordan / Auburn
"They cut us up like boarding house pie ... And that's real small pieces." Darrell Royal / Texas
"They whipped us like a tied up goat." Spike Dykes / Texas Tech
"I asked Darrell Royal, the coach of the Texas Longhorns, why he didn't recruit me and he said: 'Well, Walt, we took a look at you and you weren't any good.'" Walt Garrison / Oklahoma State
"Son, you've got a good engine, but your hands aren't on the steering wheel." Bobby Bowden / Florida State
"Football is NOT a contact sport - it is a collision sport. Dancing IS a contact sport." Duffy Daugherty / Michigan State
After USC lost 51-0 to Notre Dame, his post-game message to his team: "All those who need showers ... take them." John McKay / USC
"If lessons are learned in defeat ... our team is getting a great education." Murray Warmath / Minnesota
"The only qualifications for a lineman are to be big and dumb. To be a back, you only have to be dumb." Knute Rockne / Notre Dame
"Oh, we played about like three tons of buzzard puke this afternoon." Spike Dykes / Texas Tech
"We live one day at a time and scratch where it itches." Darrell Royal / Texas
"We didn't tackle well today, but we made up for it by not blocking." John McKay / USC
"Three things can happen when you throw the ball, and two of them are bad." Darrell Royal / University of Texas
"I've found that prayers work best ... when you have big players." Knute Rockne / Notre Dame
9/01/2015
Tuesday at Work
It's Tuesday.
Millions of Americans are going into work today. In a couple of hours Kim Davis will go into work too. Depending on what time of day it is when you
are reading this; Kim may or may not be under arrest and in a jail cell or dead
by cop.
Violating one person's conscience diminishes everyone s liberty.
Today Kim Davis will go into work. If she stays the course she has
committed to, she will defy the United States Supreme Court and take what ever
comes.
What is so important that Mrs. Davis, a pudgy middle aged
women with two failed marriages and a job as a low level elected county
bureaucrat in a backassward state like Kentucky willing to risk arrest for?
She is unwilling to:
Call darkness, light;
Call bitter, sweet;
Call evil, good.
Kim Davis holds elected office as a county clerk. Her job traditionally involves, among other
things, issuing marriage licenses.
Earlier this year SCOTUS decided they would follow their
activist predilections and call same sex cohabitation marriage. For the record, at least 2 of the so
called justices were performing SSM (Same Sex Marriages) prior to ruling on the case where they created
the right to SSM.
Why they are allowed to keep their bar licensees and haven t been
impeached for ethics violations is another story.
In response, Kim decided that she would not issue any marriage
licenses to anyone, straight or gay. She
isn't discriminating against anyone.
Nobody can get a marriage license from her office.
Hundreds of homosexuals have decided that they absolutely
must have a marriage license issued to them in Rowan County
Kentucky. Many, if not most of the applicants, don't actually live in Rowan
County, or even Kentucky. No matter,
they are having their civil rights violated because Kim Davis won't condone
their lifestyle choices.
It doesn't matter that the applicants she refused drove by other county courthouses that they could have received a marriage license from. It doesn't matter that they could have gotten a license in their home town or state even. The only marriage license that will properly solemnize gay love, celebrate and sanctify same sex marriage is one that Kim Davis is unwilling to issue. She has magic marriage licenses.
It doesn't matter that the applicants she refused drove by other county courthouses that they could have received a marriage license from. It doesn't matter that they could have gotten a license in their home town or state even. The only marriage license that will properly solemnize gay love, celebrate and sanctify same sex marriage is one that Kim Davis is unwilling to issue. She has magic marriage licenses.
The collective butt hurt is unimaginable. These people know about butt
hurt. Mostly they like it. What they don't like is someone who isn't
willing to go along with their version rainbows and unicorns.
This is why they are willing to drive all the way from
Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio and other places in and outside of Kentucky, so
they can have their civil rights violated by someone they never knew or cared
existed.
Tuesday September 1, 2015, Kim Davis went into work and ....
May God bless Kim Davis, keep her strong and fight this
battle on her behalf.
May America realize:
Conformity isn't diversity,
Political correctness isn't a substitute for personal
virtue, Violating one person's conscience diminishes everyone s liberty.
If Kim Davis is in the wrong, the solution is to vote her
out of office, not force her to compromise her conscience.
UPDATE
Kim Davis staying the course.
UPDATE
Kim Davis staying the course.
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