A Wedding, A Wedding for the Lord

Yesterday, I went to a wedding. The son of my former Sunday School teachers got married. I knew the son, too, though he was nine years old(!!!!) when I moved to Houston. He was clearly excited as he was bouncing the entire ceremony. He's been excited for several weeks. I'd talk to him every Wednesday when we'd be at the comic shop at the same time, and he always knew how many days it was. He has always been looking forward to it.

After lighting the unity candle and coming back for the closing ceremony, the groom kicked the bride's train to the side so it would be out of the way when they turned around to leave. Everyone laughed when he did that. When I talked to his parents afterwards, his dad said that he can't believe his son did that. I asked if he would expect anything different from him, though.

This wedding was different from others I've been to in recent years. I didn't (nearly) cry at the ceremony or go home and cry because I felt I had totally wasted my life being near or in my forties and hardly ever having been on a date. I still feel I've wasted it, but I'm not condemning myself for it. This is a tremendous change for me. I was actually able to have a good time and not have a bittersweet outlook on the whole thing.

Revenge

I went to see the new Star Wars movie today. Excellent work! Dark & gritty. And it really does bridge everything from Episodes 1 & 2 to the original trilogy. It does do one spoiler in bridging to the original trilogy that could have been easily avoided, something that wasn't revealed until Return of the Jedi. While it doesn't make up for what the first two episodes lacked (and I don't think they were bad, just not up to snuff for EVERYONE's expectations), it does go a long way in distancing those from the rest. Overall, it was very satisfying.

I didn't see the big political parallels as I had been led to believe. If you're looking to believe President Bush is trying to take over everything, then you'll see that in the movie. instead, I see soemthing that had to take place to make the rest of the movies happen. Regardless of 43 being the President, Palpatine would have assumed power, and done so violently. It was alluded to in the original trilogy. Get over it.

So Tired

Listening to the news this morning, another kid is suspended from school because of his hair (he put corn rows or corn braids in it like his favorite baseball player has). The same thing has happened to other kids over the past couple of years, and this has happened to even police officers (not the suspension from school, but they were susupended from the force until they agreed to comply.

This is just ridiculous. All of these people I've seen picutres of, there's nothing wrong with their appearance (and I'm a fairly conservative person). Would I wear my hair that way (even if I could)? 99% no. Does that mean it's wrong? 100% NO!

I understand that there are certain standards of acceptibility that must be maintained, especially in schools. However, I think all of this intolerance of non-conformity is much more rooted in the same thinking that says to medicate our kids into "proper" behavior because we're not willing to work with them on a continuing basis. (90% of kids on Ritalin and other similar behavior-norming drugs are boys. Let's see, who's more active, aggressive, and generally antsy all around in general? Girls? Nope. For those that truly need this help, do it. But not every wiggle is indicative of ADD or ADHD, or whatever disorder you fancy, and it doesn't call for being drugged into submission.)

Kids are kids, not little adults. They grow up so fast as it is, why do we try to force them into it so much faster?

A Bad Movie, and Probably a Bad Remake

Tonight's movie: The Haunting, 1999, PG-13, 113 min
Starring: Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Owen Wilson, Lili Taylor
Rating: ***

The Haunting is a fairly inane movie. A couple of times during this alleged horror movie, I was startled. Being startled is not the same as being scared. The acting is perfunctory at best. The sets, however, are stunning.

Basic Plot

Dr. Marrow (Neeson) entices some insomniacs to spend time at Hill House to be "cured". In reality, he wants to study the reactions fear produces in people, and he knows the reputation of the house. Nell (Taylor) begins hearing voices and experiencing other "supernatural" phenomena shortly after hearing the history of the house. Non-hilarity and non-scariness ensues.

What I Didn't Like

It's easier to read the section on what I liked and then extrapolate from there that anything not mentioned is something I didn't like. That would be pretty accurate. In particular, the passage of time is scoffed at, or even just plain ignored. Two characters that appear destined to play bigger parts from the beginning are taken out rather unexpectedly and for no good reason. They at least would have been good ghost fodder.

What I Liked

The sets are gorgeous. The set decorators obviously had a blast going wild with the different rooms. Very ornate, stunning, ond massively over-sized, I'm sure watching this movie on my 27" tv did not do it justice visually, yet the visual is the only part of the movie I liked. The mansion looks fairly spooky. The effects are fairly spectacular as well, though the story is kind of outlandish at the use of some of them. (i.e., effects good, story bad)

Spiritual Content

The idea that we are held here after our death for unfinished business just doesn't fly with me. Our lives are the timeframe we have to take care of our business here on earth. Once we die, that's it. We'd like to think there's one more chance to make it right, and it would be great if that were true. But, accepting the Bible as the inspired Word of God, I find nothing in there to indicate a second chance after this life, but I do find many things indicating that we do not have this option.

Recommendation

There are several reasons to watch this movie: to see how poorly it compares to the original; to see the beautiful sets; because you're required to. Only the middle one is worthwhile, but it's not much worth. You'd do much better to find pics on the internet of the sets than watching this trifle of a movie.

Belief

Belief can be a tricky thing. Maybe not tricky, but it can be complicated. This came to mind while driving to work this morning.

• Many people believe (is this a circular definition?) that all beliefs are equal and sufficient. If that be true, then why believe anything?
• Some believe that if you believe hard enough, then that will work. But believing hard enough that you can fly isn't going to negate the law of gravity when you jump off a building or cliff. Your belief will come right up and smack you upside the head (and shoulders and hips and back and ...). Some laws can't be broken.

But what you believe in is what's important. When Jesus talks about the faith of a mustard seed, He's indicating that it's not how much faith you have but what you have faith in.

For far too long, I've had far more faith in myself than in God, and it's hard to have that realization. But my faith object, clearly, is insufficient to carry me through. I need to transfer a bit o' that to The One that can truly do anything about my pain, hurts, and dreams.

Another movie

Happy Birthday, Dearly Departed Audrey!

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Tonight's movie: Sleuth, 1972, PG, 138 min
Starring: Laurence Olivier, Michael Caine
Rating: *****

Sleuth, though a little slow in the start, quickly picks up speed and is a joy to behold and experience. The entire movie has the feeling of a play, which is appropriate considering the movie is made from a play (screenplay written by the playwright).

Basic Plot

I can't reveal too much without giving away anything, as there are surprises in even the first ten minutes or so. Laurence Olivier plays Andrew Wyke, a man who loves to play games; his mansion is filled with all kinds of games and playful trophies. Michael Caine plays the foil to Wyke's machinations. What more can I tell you? There is a plot twist or two that will hold your interest, though the first you suspect is coming. I think definitely for the time this movie came out, it took everyone by surprise. As it is, it's still a great deal of fun.

What I Didn't Like

The initial 20+ minutes kind of drags. But this initial time is really necessary for the setup. The DVD does not have English subtitles, or any subtitles, for that matter. Either it's my age or the sound on the DVD, but occasionally I missed words in the dialog, and I would have to rewind a couple of times or so to figure out what they were saying. To not have at least English subtitles on a DVD is a severe detriment. Overall, though, these are fairly minor quibbles.

What I Liked

I liked the plot twist, even if it is heavily foreshadowed. Olivier and Caine, of course, give superb performances, and it seems they react to each other very well. (Apparently, working with Olivier on this movie turned Caine into a huge fan, and they became lifelong friends.) The story is very entertaining and engrossing (beyong the somewhat lengthy introduction). In some ways, this reminds me of Deathtrap with Christopher Reeve and Michail Caine (could there be a pattern here?).

Spiritual Content

The movie addresses class issues (it takes place in England), and one has to wonder at the thought process that goes into deciding what these men decide is okay (again, it's a spoiler to explain too much at this point). Other than that, it's just a highly entertaining 2+ hours.

Recommendation

This movie is highly recommended, for it is a great gem. If you don't like plays adapted to film, then you might not like Sleuth, but you should give it a shot anyway.

Hot Time in the Old Town Last Night

Last night around midnight, I went into the kitchen to get some water. Clark (the cat) was on a pillow on the couch, which is about a foot from the sliding glass door leading out to the patio. The couch runs parallel to the sliding glass doors.

As I was getting water, I heard Clark fall off the couch, which is an extremely unusual occurrence; at least it's never happened when I've been home. When I got to that wall, Clark was looking out the window, his tail whipping back and forth, and the hair on his back starting to stand on end. Then he came running around the corner (there's another window), and he was plastered to that window looking out at (whatever might be, though I'm pretty sure aren't knights seeking shrubbery).

I start hearing noises now, tapping against the window, rustling around (there are lots of leaves out there -- they fall from the trees, and the groundsmen blow all of the excess under the fence on my patio). All in all, these are not normal sounds, and certainly not at midnight does one expect or want to hear these things. I got dressed and was about to go outside when I realized I needed some kind of weapon. Not owning a gun, I looked for one of my hammers. No hammers. I went back into the kitchen and saw a black handle. Aha! A knife! While Crocodile Dundee would probably still laugh, my eight-inch butcher TV knife would have to serve.

Let me add that the patio and porch lights were out (these are maintained by the apartment mgmt, not me), so I couldn't see anything.

Then I thought that the police might be better people (and better equipped) to handle the situation. Twenty minutes later, they showed up. There was a knock at the door. "Who is it?" I asked, and a male voice responded, "It's the police." I looked out the window, and it being dark with the lack of lightage, I could just see a dark figure through the peephole. "Just letting you know, I have a big knife here." If it's the police, I'd rather them not be shocked to see it and panic, and if it's not the police, then I've given fair warning.

Well, I'm pretty sure it was just a cat wandering around. A couple of minutes before the police arrived, I got down and peeped out at Clark level and saw four legs walk by the outside of the patio fence. I left out the part where I caught a shadow seem to jump over the fence. Which could have been any number of things, including a person hopping over. Or a cat jumping up and down.

It took me a while to calm down from this little episode. I slept with the knife next to my pillow. This kind of excitement I don't need!