Avatar Update

So you've probably heard that Avatar was released on DVD and Blu-Ray last week. It only features the film, no extras at all. I'm not going to buy this version. Why? Because in November they are releasing a box set version with tons of special features and a lot of extra footage. I'm going to save my money now and buy the better edition later. I figured I'd give you a heads up about that. Have a great day!
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Another movie that reminded me how BAD Eragon was...

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a pet dragon? How to Train Your Dragon (2010) delves into the awesomeness and mystery of dragons and their dealings with vikings. It also wonders why Brett Favre ever became a Viking.

In this highly entertaining film, a young viking (only by name) somehow manages to catch the fastest breed of dragon. While he was always told to kill dragons on the spot, he couldn't do it. He ends up befriending "Toothless" and learns to fly with him and do many other cool things. Because the vikings are sworn enemies of the dragons, he has to keep it all a secret. Interesting things happen (I'm not going to give anymore away).

I saw this film in 2D and it was really cool. I think 3D or IMAX would also be cool, but I enjoyed it muchly in 2D. This film had great themes and content; Fatherly expectations and family were some of them. Aside from it's good themes, ti was funny, heart-warming, and full of action...plus it ended great too.

Also, the voice talent was superb, the music was nice and I was severely...
happy with this film.

I wasn't expecting as much from this movie as I got, so I left the theatre quite chipper. This was the best animated film I've seen since Up.

How to Train Your Dragon runs 98 minutes and is a very family-friendly PG. I give it 9 ramheads out of 10. If you're still confused about the Brett Favre thing, it was a joke.


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This ghost is no Casper, but he's friendly

I've always enjoyed Ewan McGregor films. I haven't seen alot of them, but the one's I've seen have been excellent. He grows an awesome beard in Star Wars II and III, he is spectacular in Big Fish, and I love his first name. The Ghost Writer is no exception.

McGregor plays the character only named "The Ghost" in this brilliantly written suspenseful thriller. The difference between this thriller and alot of others out there is that this one is smart. The characters are very convincing, thanks to the acting. Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, and Olivia Williams all pull of award-worthy performances. The minor roles all had solid acting as well.

The other thing that sets this film apart is the ending. I'm not going to say how it ends, but I was extremely impressed. It is just good movie-making. It reminded me of how Citizen Kane ended.

The music in this film is very well done. Andre Desplat, the composer, did a great job assisting with the suspense and intrigue. The music in this film is putting me a little at ease about the fact that Desplat is doing the music for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1.

This film was bloody brilliant in my opinion and I would highly recommend it. The Ghost Writer runs 128 minutes minutes and is rated PG-13. This isn't too bad for kids, but younger ones probably wouldn't get it. I give this film 10 ramheads out of 10.

Alice!

I finally saw the much anticipated Alice in Wonderland [3D] (2010) on Saturday and let me tell you, another film lived up to the hype. First Avatar, now Alice.... I'm a pretty happy moviegoer.

Tim Burton creates a much more adult "Underland" in this adaptation of the Lewis Carroll book. Alice has returned to Wonderland, where everything seems vaguely familiar to her, but she thinks it is a dream. The audience journeys along with Alice as she deals with a darker Wonderland than in her childhood and has more decisions to make. Parts of the movie may seem superfluous or misguided at times, but that is because Alice is feeling misguided; the film immerses the audience very well. You feel how Alice feels. It's pretty sweet. It may be a bit darker and dealing with heavier subject matter, but it was still funny.

Johnny Depp, of course, plays the Mad Hatter, who has a lot more depth than I remember from the animated classic. Depp does a spectacular job. Mia Wasikowska also nailed her role as Alice. I was extremely impressed with the performances...even the CG performances. The characters felt real to me. (That's a good thing.)

Danny Elfman's score was brilliant. It helped create the mystery and was an essential part of this film. The only thing is that it felt like I had heard it in another film; it just felt familiar. I love this score, so I'm not going to knock it. Here's a sample:

Overall, this movie rocked. Alice in Wonderland is rated PG and runs 108 minutes. This one can be shown to all ages, though kids probably wouldn't get the deeper meaning. 9 ramheads out of 10.

A couple movie reviews are coming soon...

I haven't had a chance to post any new reviews recently, but there will be Chronicles of Narnia (1 &2) and Seven reviews coming soon. Happy Friday!

What does Easter really mean?

Easter means much more than just extra church services, baskets full of candy, or egg hunts. Easter is God’s fulfillment of His age-old promise. Man (and woman) had directly disobeyed God. They sinned. This sin doomed mankind forever and our daily sin digs us into a deeper hole. But God promised to save us from our sin.

To Satan he said,

“And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15)

He promised to Satan someone who would be a Satan-crusher, a Savior of mankind. God fulfilled part of his promise on Christmas.

"Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. ³¹You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. ³²He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High…So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God…While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.” (Luke 1-2, selected verses)

God sent his Son as our Savior. He lived his life perfectly in our place, but he had to do more than that. He had to take upon himself the death—the punishment—that we deserved. Isaiah prophesied it hundreds of years before…

“Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.

⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

⁶ We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:4-6)

Isaiah’s prophesy came to fruition through Jesus’ death on the cross. “Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). ¹⁸Here they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle... Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19 selected verses)

Jesus’ death was the end of the sacrificial substitution Jesus had to fulfill. That is why he said, “It is finished.” But Jesus was not done there; he rose from the dead, in full glory conquering not only sin and the devil, but death as well.

We celebrate His glory with him on Easter. But Easter doesn’t have to be the end of the celebration, celebrate Easter every day because with faith, your sin is taken care of! We are saved!

HE IS RISEN, HE IS RISEN INDEED! HALLELUIAH!