30-Day Challenge, Day 24

A movie no one would expect you to love.

Agh.  Some of these posts are not so easy.

I mean, what does it mean by "no one"?  No one at all?  No one upon meeting me?  No one who knows me at least a little?  None of you?  And should it be one no one expects me to love that I do love, or that I don't love?  (I analyze too much.)  I think all my readers here are pretty familiar with the types of movies I like... I'm not too secretive about what I like.  It is a fact generally acknowledged that I love Jane Austen and Charles Dickens adaptions and other period dramas (though not all) and animated films (particularly Disney).  If you didn't know I love Disney animated films and get as much enjoyment out of watching them as I do out of watching a Jane Austen flik, then I guess there's the answer to today's post. :-)


But anyway, I  thought it would be more interesting (and easy) to write about a movie no one would expect me NOT to love.


So I love animated films.  And I have a soft-spot in my heart for, well, um, like dolls and stuff. :-)  So what would you all expect me to like?  (In general.  At least, I think most people would expect me to like it.

Toy Story.  :-P

Okay, rewind.  I really like Toy Story 2.  It's not one of my top 10 favorites, but I do enjoy watching it very much if I fastforward Jessy's depressing song.   But Toy Story 3 is a different matter.


I was hesitant at first about watching it because I knew the theme was Andy growing up, and I've struggled a lot inside about growing up and knowing I'm not a little girl anymore.  (It has awesome pros, but it's kind of sad too sometimes. :-) )  But when I watched it, that aspect didn't bother me at all.  I teared up in the end scene with Andy playing with the little girl... especially when he starts talking about how Woody is a faithful friend... Okay, so that was a lovely scene; I loved that part.  In fact, I would probably have loved the movie except for one thing.


The climax.


*spoilers ahead* (if you haven't seen it and you don't want to know, just stop reading here)


If Lotso had clipped the "stop" button on the dump belt when I thought he was going to, and everyone had been saved just before going over the edge towards the fire pit, I would have been quite happy with the movie.  I would have gasped with relief and sat back to enjoy the rest of the film.
But to have those "friends" of my childhood... Woody, Buzz, Jessy, Rex, Slinky, and the others, really actually almost burn to death??  I didn't even like when they all started holding hands.  I've heard some people say they started crying there and thought it was so wonderful because it symbolized the strong bond of their friendship and how they would stick through anything together, but I didn't like it at all.  I don't mind if the characters "almost die" and then get saved in the nick of time, but to really almost ALMOST die...and in such a traumatic way... and so emotional... and, I mean, Woody and Buzz, ya know?... yeah.  It was just a little too much.  I even had a hard time appreciating "The claaaawww!!"  I was so tensed up after that that I had a hard time sitting back and enjoying the sweet ending.  I did like the sweet ending, but I was too traumatized to really let it warm my heart, if you know what I mean.  


In addition, the film did have enough "darker" moments that it just didn't make it to the top of my list.  The evil Lotso bear that smells of strawberries, and... *shudders* that SUPER CREEPY BABY DOLL that looks like it needs someone on the American Girls Fans Message Board to fix it up.... (I still hated the baby doll even by the end.)  And just little aspects here and there.  Not bad things, necessarily, just things that didn't sit right with me when I wanted a heart-warming, nostalgic movie. :-)

Don't get me wrong-- I don't hate this movie, and I don't not recommend it (though I don't recommend it for children, even if it is a cartoon-- don't believe in that line on the back of the case that says "G-General Audiences").  I got some good laughs out of it, and I thought the ending was the perfect way to conclude the series.  I loved Bonnie (absolute adorableness!) and her little toys, especially Mr. Pricklepants ("I am trying to stay in character!") :-) :-)   And who doesn't love Woody?  (mmmmm!!  *hugs self* I LOVE WOODY!!!!)   But it just didn't make it to my favorites list and I probably wouldn't watch it again unless my sisters let me fastforward through (or leave the room for) the whole dumpster scene.  It just wasn't my idea of a good climax.  The climax should have been a good several minutes prior to that, like, before the dump truck even picked the toys up in the first place. :-P

(Though it's kind of odd, because I don't really dislike intense scenes in general; I mean, I love The Incredibles and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which have some intense, main-character-almost-dies types of scenes. (Didn't know I liked those?  Maybe I should have featured them... :-P ) (another post for another time...)  I think, though, that it was the fact that I sort of "grew up" with Woody and Buzz and the others, and already have a soft spot for (eh-hem) toys anyway, so to see them almost burn to death just wasn't what I wanted to see.  :-P

So what did you think about it?  Feel free to disagree with me.  I'm very glad if other people like it, because I feel bad that I didn't. :-)  What were your thoughts on Toy Story 3?   

P.S. I'm sorry I keep posting about animated films.  I tried to think about something else to write about for this post, but animated films kept coming to mind and I didn't know what live action films people wouldn't expect me to love. :-)

30-Day Challenge, Day 2

A Favorite Movie

I don't usually post about movies on this blog, so this will be a little different. ;-) You're probably expecting me to post about a period drama, but since I already post about those on my other blog, I decided to go with another kind of movie. I had a hard time deciding between It Happened on 5th Avenue (a new favorite) and Balto (an old but recently renewed favorite). I decided to go with Balto. And yes, it's a cartoon, but most of you know I love animated films.

Balto is based on the famous story of the little town in Alaska that fell under a terrible epidemic of diphtheria, and of a dog who saved the day by bringing in the medicine despite hindering weather conditions. The movie keeps only to the very bare bones of the true story (in most ways it's terribly inaccurate), but it makes up for it by an exciting story and excellent characterization.

Balto is an outcast. His heritage is a mix of dog and wolf, and most of the dogs, particularly the lead sled dog runner Steele (who is, in my opinion, Gaston re-incarnated ;-) ) , treat him as inferior because of this. Everyone, except a beautiful husky named Jenna and a comical goose named Boris, fail to see the strength and speed that will become Balto's greatest assets.

Panic descends when diphtheria sweeps over the town of Nome and begins claiming lives. The hospital runs out of medicine to treat the illness, and the weather is too heavy to allow anything but dogsled to go fetch and bring back the medicine. Steele's team is chosen for this, even after Balto proves himself to be the fastest runner. However, when the sled team team is reported lost in the blizzard, Balto determines to go find them and bring back the medicine that will save the town of Nome. It will be a journey full of peril on all sides-- weather, wild animals, natural forces...and Steele.

Balto

Balto is definitely a lovable hero. He is faced with odds, not only external but also internal-- he feels unwanted and useless, but he does not let this interfere with doing what is right. He also has a very patient and selfless heart, and does not fight to defend himself against Steele, but only to defend those weaker than himself. He is aware of others' needs. When he makes the decision to go and find the lost team, Boris exclaims in dismay, "He's going out into freezing cold to find a dog he doesn't like to bring medicine back to a town that doesn't like him!" And yet Balto does it, not to prove himself, but to save the children of the town and the lost dogs, even though they never gave him any reason to care about their well-being.

Muk and Luk

Balto also has its share of endearing characters. There's Jenna, who is quiet and gentle, and yet surprisingly brave; she is faithful to her owner Rosy and supportive of Balto. Boris is a hilarious Russian snow goose that can't fly; he hates bears; he is usually outwardly skeptical but stands behind Balto and encourages him; he also has some of the best lines in the film. Muk and Luk are two fat, fluffy, adorable polar bears whose oddity is that they can't swim (or at least, they think they can't.) Muk speaks in a cute British accent and Luk doesn't speak at all; they love Boris and are very simple, yet lovable.

Boris

Balto was a favorite of my sisters' and mine when we were little, but we only just got a hold of a copy again and watched it as adults. I think I like it better now than I did then! It is technically a kid's movie, but I'm allowed to like a kid's movie, right? It has all the qualities for a good film-- strong storyline, good characters, thrilling character arcs and climaxes, stirring music (James Horner ;-) see previous post ;-) )...Unfortunately, the film didn't do well in the Box Office (possibly due to the fact that it is a Universal picture, not Disney, and was overshadowed by Disney's Lion King, which came out the same year) and isn't sold in stores anymore. We borrow it from the library, but it has also been uploaded online.

Here's the trailer... beware, it gives away a lot of the story, but at least it doesn't give away the main climax. ;-)

:-(

Except on Inkblots. :-)
The original line from which the text above is taken is probably us girls' FAVORITE Charlie Brown line. :-) Watch the video below to know why. (I'M SERIOUS! WATCH IT!)

(That's our cousin Daniel and us in November 2007, when we went out to California to see my grandma. Daniel is such a pickle. :-) )

God Reversed My Thinking...

This is incredible!!! Please watch and enjoy!

Watch This Video...

...and prepare to cry!

Rescue Haiti's Children: The Rescue of an Orphan from Douglas Phillips on Vimeo.

Luther

This evening's Bible class was regarding Roman Catholic teaching and how it is contrary to God's word. It was very eye-opening to see how the Roman Catholic church teaches dependence on works to reach salvation-- not rest in Christ's finished work on the Cross. This lesson and the notes for this lesson should be downloaded on Orwell Bible Church's website in a couple days so you can listen to it if you wish!

In the course of the lesson, Pastor Greenfield mentioned Martin Luther several times, as Luther was one of the people who broke through the darkness of the Church and helped people to search the Scriptures for themselves. All that talk about Martin Luther made me itching to see this again (that's the trailer for it actually; I want to see the movie ;-) )!! (even though I saw it only a month ago) :-P

I love the film Luther as it brings to life the man who "revolutionized" the world. To see his inner struggle, his realization that the Church and works cannot save a person, the darkness of the people and the Light that the Gospel brings is just amazing. Of course, like any movie put out by Hollywood, there are some aspects of Luther's life and of the Bible that they could have emphasized better, but it is almost like an embellishment to a biography-- helps you envision it-- helps you think. I love this movie!!

Plugged In (a Christian site for movie reviews, I believe from Focus on the Family) has a good review on it to give you an idea of whether it is something you want to watch and will make you aware of a couple spots that may not be suitable for younger viewers. (We usually fast forward the peasant revolts scenes because they are, I guess, pretty graphic (I haven't seen those parts actually) .) In any case, if you want a stirring movie and a greater appreciation for the Word of God that you can read and study for yourself, watch Luther! :-)

Some quotes by Luther (some in real life, some from the movie):

(at the Diet of Worms)-- "Unless I am convinced by Scripture and by plain reason and not by Popes and councils who have so often contradicted themselves, my conscience is captive to the word of God. To go against conscience is neither right nor safe. I cannot and I will not recant. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me."

(in a sermon)--"So when the devil throws your sins in your face and declares that you deserve death and hell, tell him this: 'I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it? For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction on my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, Son of God, and where He is there I shall be also!' "

(to the priest that sent him to Wittenberg to study the Bible)-- "That day when you sent me out so boldly to change the world, did you really think there wouldn't be a cost?"


Bible verses on the Word of God--

"The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." (Psalm 119:130)

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever." (Isaiah 40:8)

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." (John 1:1-5)

Check it Out!! :-D

Here!

SCREAMS!!!!

I CAN'T WAIT FOR SUNDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


WHY???????????????????????????????


CLICK HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Reformation Day!

"Since then Your Majesty and your lordships desire a simple reply, I will answer without horns and without teeth. Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason-- I do no accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other-- my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen." -Martin Luther

I tried to download the YouTube video clip from the 2003 film Luther, that contains Luther's speech at the Diet of Worms. So I will post the link to it instead. I highly encourage you to head over there and check it out. It really is stirring. Click here to watch.

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The following text is from Answers in Genesis.

The 5 Solas of the Reformation

Though widely known a generation ago, the five solas are frequently overlooked in the modern church. Each is a Latin phrase. When taken together, they summarize the teaching of the Reformation. They stress the positive aspect of the truth and how the medieval church distorted the truth.

Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone)

This sola expresses the conviction that all teaching of the church for doctrine and practice must be built upon that which is revealed in Scripture or deduced by good and necessary consequence from the Scripture. So the Word of God is the supreme and final authority. It alone has the power to bind the conscience.

Sola gratia (Grace alone)

Salvation comes by the free grace of God. Man cannot—and need not—do any work to earn God’s favor. Salvation is not based in any way upon human merit.

Solus Christus (Christ alone)

Christ is the only mediator between God and man. Thus an individual can go directly to God through Christ.

Sola fide (Faith alone)

Faith in the Person of Christ is the instrumental means of salvation. The Roman Catholic Church taught that, while initial grace was infused at baptism, the person had to cooperate with that grace until God accepted him as righteous.

Soli Deo Gloria (for God’s glory alone)

Salvation is exclusively God’s work, and so He alone is worthy to receive praise and thanksgiving. This sola expresses the highest motive for all the Christian’s deeds—the glory of God alone.

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HAPPY REFORMATION DAY!
Let us praise God for the light of His Word!

"The entrance of Thy words giveth light..." (Psalm 119:130)

Origin of Species Challenge

Here is something on Way of the Master's current project. I would love to get involved, but getting other people involved may be a challenge.... and I'm afraid I have big ideas...
But as you watch, maybe you can consider what you can do. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Make sure you browse the rest of Way of the Master's resources at www.wayofthemaster.com !

Bleak House

London. Michaelmas Term lately over, and the Lord Chancellor sitting in Lincoln's Hall Inn.... Fog everywhere. Fog up the river... fog down the river... fog on the Essex marshes, fog on the Kentish heights... The raw afternoon is rawest,and the dense fog is densest, and the muddy streets are muddiest, near the laden-headed old obstruction, appropriate ornament for the threshold of a leaden-headed old corporation: Temple Bar. And hard by Temple Bar, in Lincoln's Hall Inn, at the very heart of the fog, sits the Lord High Chancellor in His High Court of Chancery.

Thus begins Charles Dickens' epic tale of the long-standing Chancery court case of disputed wills, dashed hopes, and damaged lives. Bleak House was originally published, over the course of nineteen months, in a magazine, Household Words, and was printed in volume form in 1853. It has remained a stirring classic ever since, and has been made by BBC into a phenomenal, 15-episode miniseries.

At the very heart of the fog stands the High Court of Chancery. At the heart of Bleak House lies the "monument of Chancery practice"-- Jarndyce and Jarndyce-- a 53-year-old case of several wills upon which no one can agree. And at the heart of Jarndyce and Jarndyce stand cousins Richard Carstone and Ada Clare, taken in by a distant cousin, Mr. John Jarndyce, one of the kindest and most benevolent fictional characters of Dickens' creation. A young lady of obscure birth, Esther Summerson, also finds herself drawn into the confusing case when called upon as a companion for Ada. Against Mr. Jarndyce's recommendation, Richard throws himself into the pursuit of his interests in the Chancery case, while Esther searches to know her hidden ancestory.

According to his own distinctive style, Dickens builds his plot around a wide variety of places, people, and circumstances. We find ourselves familiar with the depressed slum, Tom-All-Alone's; the great Lincolnshire house, Chesney Wold; the center of despair and misery, Lincoln's Hall Inn; and the cheerful haven, the house oddly enough called Bleak House, after which the book is named. We grow to love-- or hate-- Dickens' colorful characters: ice-cold Lady Dedlock with her haunted past; the hilarious clerk Mr. Guppy and "the image imprinted on his 'art"; the clever, indefatigable sleuth, Mr. Bucket (said to be one of British Literature's earliest detectives); the evil, prying, power-obsessed lawyer, Tulkinghorn; preoccupied Mrs. Jellaby and her Borrioboola-Gha project; the poor, illiterate crossing-sweeper boy, Jo; the eccentric but endearing Miss Flite, who looks forward to the "Day of Judgment" when all her little birds will be set free; the crooked, self-serving free-loader Skimpole... Rising above them are some of my favorite fictional characters ever: Esther Summerson, whose sweet humility, constant love, and selfless service are a model of a godly woman; and Alan Woodcourt, a doctor whose life is marked by Christlike character and unswerving love and compassion.

Dickens also mixes a huge variety of genres, as only Dickens can do; in Bleak House, we find the legal thriller, mystery, romance, tragedy, adventure, and satire. We see philanthropy and poverty, secret pasts and scandal, comedy and crime, and the undying virtues of love, humility, generosity, and true righteousness.

While Bleak House features a phenomenal storyline and cast, it requires a determined reader who is willing to undertake eight hundred pages of Dickens' very unique writing style which often consists of very long descriptions (for instance, nearly the whole first chapter describes the fog and the operations of the Court of Chancery, which I abbreviated at the beginning of this review) and confusing rabbit-trails (such as the discourse on Sir Leicester's political views in Chapter 28 and elsewhere). One of this novel's further singularities is that it alternates between two narrators: an unnamed narrator who writes in third person and in present tense, and Esther Summerson, who writes in first person and past tense. While at the same time entertaining, it can also be confusing and does disallow the interchange of scenes from all points of view. These challenges are gladly overlooked, however, in light of a wonderful, heart-stirring story.

When Dickens wrote this novel, the Court of Chancery was just as real, as controlling, and as ruinous as it appears to be in the story. At the time of writing, a suit stood before the court which had commenced nearly twenty years earlier, the costs of which had amounted to seventy thousand pounds (according the author's Preface, page 5). In addition, Dickens saw all around him the poverty and despair of places much like Tom-All-Alone's and of people much like Jo, the crossing-sweeper. Like Dickens' other novels, Bleak House shows life as it really was and is: it is not a bed of roses or a rag-to-riches existence; there are the very wealthy and there are the unbelievable poor; there are righteous people who choose to bless each life they touch, and there are cruel people who are determined to control or ruin the lives of everyone around them; there are the wrongs of this world, and there is "the world that sets this [world] right." Bleak House met with a society in desperate need of reform, and indeed, it succeeded in causing its readers, then and now, to consider what is important in life. I highly suggest you put this book on your list for winter reads. It is an adventure you will never forget.

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For those who are still wary of undertaking the reading of such a long book, or who simply enjoy a good film adaption of a classic work, I recommend BBC's outstanding television adaption of Bleak House. With a screenplay written by Andrew Davies (Pride and Prejudice, Wives and Daughters), this phenomenal miniseries runs over 450 minutes and features stunning cinema- tography, a thrilling music score, and a star- studded cast which includes Gillian Anderson (PBS's Masterpiece Theater), Anna Maxwell Martin (North and South), and Carey Mulligan (Pride and Prejudice 2005). Guppy is absolutely slapstick hilarious; and Tulkinghorn's puffy eyes, low voice, and sinister looks are perfectly done. This adaption mixes and matches some of the scenes for a better and more understandable flow of the story line, and eliminates some of the unimportant events and characters (such as Mrs. Snagsby's suspicion of her husband regarding Jo, and the silly, painted cousin of the Dedlocks, Volumnia.) The book, however, sheds more light on some details, particularly on backgrounds and thoughts that are hard to express on film. Overall, it is an excellent adaption of an excellent story and I recommend it as highly as I do the book.

Can't Figure Out This New-Fangled Technology!

A funny video my mom sent me. :-) It is so like Kitty! :-P

Elegant Economy

Due to some reason that I don't really understand, the cost for electricity has nearly doubled, so we are trying to economize on electricity, use daylight as much as possible, not run the AC, etc. :-P It reminded me of this cute scene from Cranford. :-) So sorry about the Japanese/Chinese/whatever writing on it and the terrible pixelation (?); I tried downloading the scene off of our DVD but couldn't figure it out, so I just got the clip off of YouTube, pieced it together on Windows Movie Maker, and added the title and credits. :-)

My version of elegant economy:

hand-sewing the waistband lining of my dress in the bright, hot summer sun :-)