From the category archives:

movies and music

Amazing Grace movie posterI took Zachary to see Amazing Grace yesterday afternoon–wow! I was deeply moved, challenged, and encouraged. I had heard of Wilberforce through my studies of British literature, but I didn’t know much about him. It was exciting to see a man of faith and conviction portrayed as a hero–and he should be, because he did something profound. I also appreciated the opportunity to learn more about Olaudah Equiano, the former slave; I’ve read and taught parts of Equiano’s autobiography in my American literature courses, but I was not aware of the extent of his involvement in the anti-slavery movement in England.

I’ve wanted to see the film since it opened, and I wanted to take Zack, but he was not particularly interested, and I hadn’t found a good time to go. As usual, though, the timing was perfect, and I can see that the Holy Spirit had a hand in it. I had just finished reading about having a vision for one’s life in Live Your Calling, which Teddie and I are using in a small group we attend this semester, and Amazing Grace shows vision and calling in action in a spectacular way. It is good to be reminded that one person can change the world–though I’m mindful that Wilberforce didn’t work alone, and the film makes that clear. He was surrounded by those who shared his vision and labored with him. Still, it was his persistence and determination–dogged determination is more apt–that bore fruit.

Amazing Grace is just the sort of film that I want my children exposed to: I want Zack to see the power of vision and passion, to see the legacy that a man of conviction can leave, and so to stir his vision for what he can do. I know it did that for me.

You can learn more about the film and Wilberforce at the official site for the film.

The Wild movie posterI took Isaac and Anna to see The Wild this afternoon and really enjoyed it. It has a number of similarities to Madagascar, but I think The Wild is better. I’ll leave reviews to the professionals; what I want to comment on are the father/son relationships presented in the movie. (I should note, too, that my comments will probably contain spoilers, so if you haven’t seen the film and don’t want any surprises ruined, then read another post.)

The story focuses on the lion Samson, the pride of the New York Zoo, and his son Ryan. Samson regales Ryan with stories of his fearlessness back in the wild and is teaching him to roar; unfortunately, Ryan can’t pull it off, producing only loud meows. Feeling like a failure compared to his father’s immense reputation, Ryan heads off to find “the wild.” Too late, he changes his mind, and Samson follows to rescue him. As Samson and his friends pursue Ryan, we discover that Samson’s not as fearless as he appears, and we learn that he has a secret. At a crucial point in the story, Samson, reunited with his son, tells Ryan that he never lived in the wild, and that he failed to roar when he most needed to as a cub. In the flashback, we see Samson separated from his father, and we see the disappointment of the father as well.

I love this picture: me, Zack, and Isaac (2003)The Wild offers clear illustrations of a number of ideas in Eldredge’s Wild at Heart: the wound that’s frequently passed from father to son, the need to discover/recover the wildness within the masculine heart. What I appreciated about this movie is that while Ryan is initially disappointed that his father lied to him, he doesn’t hold it against him very long at all. In fact, soon after, he says to Samson, “I’m sorry you didn’t have a dad like I have.” And we see Samson become what he was created to be: a fearless lion.

I can relate to Samson; I feel like I’m learning how to do the whole “man” thing along with Zack, my oldest; I’m blessed that Zack, like Ryan, is not the kind to hold my failures against me and that he recognizes I’m learning too.

On the way home from a movie, I always ask the kids to tell what they liked best. For The Wild, Isaac, not surprisingly, picked one of the silly moments (a break-dancing wildebeest). I was very much surprised, though, that Anna said her favorite part was when we learn about Samson’s childhood failure in front of his father. I asked her why she chose that part; she said, “Because it was sad and because we see what happened to the daddy lion.” Smart little girl!

Samson’s saving grace is that he has a real, ongoing relationship with his son. It’s not his supposed “wildness” that makes him a great father; it’s his daily interaction with Ryan. I use grace purposely: I’ve come to realize that my ability to spend a lot of time with my children is a gift, a grace from God. I’ve learned that regular interaction and a ready willingness to say “I’m sorry” make up for a host of hurts and mistakes. The Wild illustrates this beautifully.

trading freedom for fear

June 1, 2006

I saw V for Vendetta Tuesday night; it’s about the overthrow of a totalitarian government. It’s also very much about the power of fear. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that oppressive governments trade in fear–Iraq under Saddam Hussein is a clear picture of that. V for Vendetta did a better job of making this clear than other films I’ve seen in this genre, in part because Evey, the main character, has to overcome her own fears to make a difference in the world around her.…

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“Men and Angels Say”

April 15, 2006

cover of Men & Angels SayAbout a week ago I downloaded Ashley Cleveland’s Men and Angels Say, a collection of hymns. Cleveland is not a well-known name in Christian music; nevertheless, she’s incredibly talented, winning the Grammy for Best Rock Gospel Album in both 1996 and 1999. More to the point for this blog, she’s one of my favorite artists, and this CD has been about the only thing I’ve listened to over the past week…

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“bind yourself to Christ”

March 23, 2005

I’ve just finished watching Luther again–I highly recommend it! I was deeply moved by it when I first saw it in the theater about a year ago; my sister Jennifer had called and urged me to see it right away, saying it wasn’t likely to play long. I saw it a few days later. Oddly enough, it stayed in town for about a month, and I took my older son Zack to see it as well. Zack loves history, and I wanted him to see the life and impact of this most influential figure…

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“In Good Company”

March 17, 2005

I saw In Good Company last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s the story of a good man (he happens to be named Dan) who mentors Carter, a man half his age, showing him what a meaningful life is about…

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Chris Tomlin’s “Arriving”

February 15, 2005

cover of Arriving CDI’ve been listening to Chris Tomlin's latest project, Arriving, and I love it. When I get a new CD that I really like, I listen to it pretty much non-stop; I want the words and music to sink in. I’ve been listening to this one so much I often wake with one of the songs “playing” in my mind…

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