Da Vinci Code, The (2006)

—1. Overview
—2. Cast and Crew
—3. Photo Pages
—4. Trailers, Clips, DVDs, Books, Soundtrack
—5. Posters (Tom Hanks)
—6. Production Notes (pdf)
—7. Spiritual Connections
—8. Presentation Downloads

To start with, I was disappointed. Not that the Da Vinci Code wasn’t a “good” movie, more so that it wasn’t a “great” movie. With all the hype I had expected something more than I got. Maybe that was the problem -- all the hype had built up my expectations beyond what the movie delivered.

Tom Hanks was good as usual and almost any film by Ron Howard has to at least be considered for viewing. Though I was thrown off a little at times by some of the quickly flashing scenes, which I assume was included for artistic appeal, but all it ended up doing was to make my stomach queasy.

I guess what drew me, and everyone else, to the film was the religious controversy. Again, I was very disappointed. I expected some strong theological points that could be debated (as I like a good theological discussion), but the story was really more about a mystery surrounded by murder (I don’t really care for murder mysteries, which may bias my Review). Yes, at the heart of the murders and the mystery was a Catholic Church conspiracy, though even this wasn’t about a Papal conspiracy – not the Vatican, but a small council or group of renegade priest. This is nothing new. I have seen several other movies that had Church officials involved in a murder plot to protect the faith. The sad thing is with all the hype around the Da Vinci Code, it wasn’t even as good as some of these other movies – like the 1986 film “The Name of the Rose” starring Sean Connery.

I will admit that there were some exciting scenes and it was interesting to see Tom Hanks play detective and solve the various clues to the mystery – though as has been discussed ad nauseam, the basis for the clues are mostly a twisting of actual facts by the author. It would be fun to go on for a couple of pages discussing how the author’s, Dan Brown, fictional novel played loosely with historical facts to create a mystery at the center of the novel. But that has been done by more people than I can count at this writing. I guess overall I did not buy into the basis of the story. Not about some renegade priest killing people in the name of the Church – that I could believe – after all priest are still men at the core when it comes down to it and people will rationalize many things in the name of something they are passionate about, not just religion. But it seems like a long stretch to buy into Jesus marrying Mary Magdalene and having a child. Maybe this is because I have spent some amount of time studying the authenticity of the Bible and have researched other extraneous documents, especially Gnostic gospels (the basis for much of Brown’s rationale) such as the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Philip, the Secret Book of James, and many other “books” that have been raised as contradicting the Bible.

I imagine some people might take the fictional film as some type of truth, but I don’t think the movie would sway anyone from their faith. Those that have faith will not all of a sudden decide that Jesus is not the Son of God and change their religious affiliation. Those that believe Jesus is God will still believe that and those that believe in Church conspiracies or don’t believe that Jesus was really man and God in one, will just have that belief enforced. Those that had no opinion before may be influenced by the film, but if they came out with anything more than questions (which is a good thing) then I would be amazed. If someone came out of watching the Da Vinci Code and all of sudden believed that there was a descendent of Jesus walking around somewhere, then we need put extra guards on the Declaration of Independence because these same folks are going to try and steal it so they can locate the giant shaft, under a church tomb, where they will be able to recover the “National Treasure” buried there by the Knights Templar and the Masons in the time of our fore-fathers. And by the way, the movie “National Treasure” (a knock off of Da Vinci Code in the first place) probably relied upon more facts than the Da Vinci Code does.

I consider myself a pretty good follower of Jesus (not the best by any means), but I really have a lot of trouble understanding why some in the religious community have raised such a stink about this movie. All they have done is turned a fairly mediocre movie into a blockbuster and have driven to the film the exact people they wanted to keep away from seeing it. Other than being about 30-45 minutes too long, the film was just a reasonable mystery story with a church conspiracy thrown in (which like I said has been done many times in the past).

Few people are going to be swayed one way or the other by this film. If anything, it might generate discussion about Jesus around the office water cooler – I know I have already talked to a couple of people about it -- and how can this be a bad thing?

— Overview

RV (2006)

—1. Overview
—2. Cast and Crew
—3. Photo Pages
—4. Trailers, Clips, DVDs
—5. Posters (Robin Williams)
—6. Production Notes (pdf)
—7. Spiritual Connections
—8. Presentation Downloads

Special:
Faith in Hollywood: Up Close with Kristin Chenoweth

FREE DOWN LOAD
The RV Activity Book from the movie RV starring Robin Williams, Cheryl Hines, Kristin Chenoweth , Bob McNeive
Click here (PDF)


I LOVED IT! Not only was RV a very funny movie, but it also had a very deep message for me. This is probably why I LOVED IT and I also hated it. Okay, I guess I have to explain this statement. But first let me tell you one reason I loved it. It was hilariously funny. Robin Williams was at his best. His movie family complimented his wit with their own comedic talent and the Gornicke family (more about them later) played a great straight man for the characters played by Williams’ and his movie family. Laughter constantly filled the theater and you just couldn’t help but roar at the various situations and the one-liners.

Why I hated it is going to have to wait a few minutes (but I promise it will be worth it). Let me go through an overview of the story, before I get into explaining the statement. Bob Munro (Robin Williams) is a hard working company man who, at 50, is threatened by the younger blood that Williams’ boss (a real jerk well played by Will Arnet) has brought into to evidently replace Williams. Williams’ family is a modern day, all too common, group of individuals who have grown apart over time. The 12 year son, played by Josh Hutcherson, is isolated spending his time body building (to compensate for his small stature) and acts all “down with it”, which doesn’t quite go with his upper middle class California upbringing. The 15 year old daughter Cassie (played by singer Joanna “JoJo” Levesque) pretty much thinks her father, Williams, is the biggest jerk in the world and you can only imagine that she can’t wait to get out of high school and away from the family. Williams’ wife, Jamie, played by Cheryl Hines, doesn’t really demonstrate any character flaws other than as a member of the family -- they are all, as Williams says, most of the family’s time at home is spent off in four different parts of the house watching four different TVs.

To “save” his job, Williams must come up with an excuse why he can’t take the family on vacation to Hawaii, as planned (and can’t go another time during the Summer because the kids are off to camp in Alaska or other ventures), but must instead go to Colorado via a rented RV. So naturally he is afraid to tell his wife or kids and just lies to them, telling them he wants them all to get together and spend time as a family. The truth being that he wants to work on a presentation and then somehow, when they reach Colorado, give the presentation and keep his job. He doesn’t believe that they will support him, so he must lie. As you can imagine, nothing works as planned, except that the lie, the family bonding, starts to become a reality.

Along the way the Williams and family meet another roving RV family, the Gornicke’s. And in contrast to Williams’ family, the Gornicke’s are so sweet they are dripping with honey. They are “overly” friendly. The husband and wife are as close as you can get, the kids love the parents, and they come across as about as nerdy as you can get. Living in their RV and traveling the country, the kids are home-schooled by the busty blond mom (Mary Jo Gornicke played by Kristin Chenoweth) and the dad, Travis (played superbly by Jeff Daniels) who you figure is just got to be a good ole boy from the backwoods. Not to spoil it, but you can’t tell a book by the cover -- or a family by the fact that they live in a RV. The problem with the Gornicke’s is not that they aren’t nice. The problem is that they are toooooooo nice. They are the type of people you just want to strangle at first. But this is more the problem of people like me, not people that are like the Gornicke’s – they have their act together and have no problem with priorities (unlike some people I know – hint-hint, I mean me).

So you have the jest of the movie. An extremely (but all too common) dysfunctional family stuck in an RV for several days and who are constantly confronted with the other side of family life (the Gornicke’s). So now I can explain more about why I hated the movie. The movie had a GREAT message. It really showed what family was supposed to be about, many times by demonstrating what it shouldn’t be. It also showed that underneath the charade we act out for the world and the self imposed isolation that many of us enforce on ourselves and those around us, that what most of us want is to be loved and part of something bigger than ourselves – and what most of us don’t realize is that our own family is the easiest “bigger” thing we can be part of.

Even though just watching Bob and family you have no problem understanding their problems, the film uses the Gornicke’s to provide a startling contrast in family dynamics. Like I said before, at first you want to strangle the Gornicke’s, but by the end of movie you understand that Bob’s family’s real problem with the Gornicke’s is probably driven by jealousy. You are able to see past the “nerdiness” and see true love and devotion.

So if it was unbelievably funny and had a great message, then why did I hate it? Well, I hated it because I was Williams (but not nearly as funny). I can’t remember a time when I laughed so much and at the same time felt more convicted of my own behavior. I was Williams at the beginning of the movie. I am all about trying to “do” things. I saw him so worried about the material things in life that he would lie to his family and try to “control” everything around him – and I sat there saying “OUCH!” I can relate. And he always had the excuse that he was getting these things for his family – the camp in Alaska, the beautiful home for his wife (who he refers to as the “princess” at one point – and not in a good way). While spewing one-liners I watched Williams lie and connive and use his family as the rationale for what he did. I have come to understand, which is one of the reasons I love Robin Williams, that he has many layers to his performances and the characters he portrays. With Bob, he brings alive a character who is simultaneously funny and a poignant representative (sad to say) of modern father and husband.

My daughter complains that I am always on my laptop (writing, well, Movie Reviews or working on my website or catching up on e-mails and “work”). More often than not she will ask me a question and I will go “huh” and ask her to repeat. She has pretty much given up and just says “forget it”. She has told me on numerous occasions that I should go get my hearing checked. The problem is that I have and my hearing is fine. It is just that I don’t pay attend. My focus is not on what she is saying, but on all the “other” things. My wife jokes about the fact that I disappear into my “cave” the moment I walk through the door. Though I don’t think she is joking in reality. The greatest gift I gave her was the one time we went on vacation and didn’t bring my laptop – thank goodness for Blackberrys.

This is my life, Bob Munro. A self made Bob Munro. This is why I hated the movie. Because I saw myself as Bob Munro, or at least as he was through most of the film. The challenge that I have given myself is, can I be like Bob at the end of the movie. Do I have the strength and courage to change? Is Bob’s transformation, as his wife says a glimpse of the way they (Bob and her) use to be – HAPPY -- just a fairytale out of a movie, or is there a chance that it can be real. So there you have it -- I am Bob Munro. And I hate being Bob. So that is why I hate the film. Not that the movie was bad, but that it reflected my own character flaws. My own inability to understand where my real priorities lie. Okay, I have put it in writing. I have admitted it. So what can I do about it? I just saw the film while on business travel and will be going home tomorrow. I don’t know what I am going to do, but I am so glad that I saw the film. It gave me a couple of hours of plain old fun, and did what a really good movie should do – made me look at myself or the world around me. And as ugly, and as hard as that was, I am so glad that I saw it.

I highly recommend this film to virtually anyone, but I especially suggest you gather up the family (and that includes you teens dragging your parents along if they won’t go willingly), no matter if you are dripping with sweets like the Gornicke’s or even mildly dysfunctional like Bob and his family, and head to the theater as soon as you can. It will be more than worth the price of admission. And if you are lucky – maybe you will hate it also.

— Overview

Take the Lead (2006)

—1. Overview
—2. Cast and Crew
—3. Photo Pages
—4. Trailers, Clips, DVDs, Books, Soundtrack
—5. Posters (Dance)
—6. Production Notes (pdf)
—7. Spiritual Connections
—8. Presentation Downloads

“It takes courage to lead, but it takes as much courage to follow”. And in my opinion, sometimes it takes more. These words are spoken by Pierre Dulaine (played by Antonio Banderas) to two of his students Rock (played by Rob Brown) and LaRhette (played by Yaya DaCosta). A great story-line and a great message.

Take the Lead is based upon the true story of Pierre Dulaine who believed that dance could help students at an inner New York City high school to learn to respect each other, build their confidence, and dream of what could be tomorrow instead of wallowing on what is today. A future.

The story has a sort of To Sir with Love feel to it, though the old 1960’s film had originality to it that no other movie can quite copy. Yet Take the Lead has its story to tell and does it well. The funny thing is that if it weren’t a true story, the movie wouldn’t be believable. A bunch of “school rejects”, who have permanent residence in Detention, not only learning ballroom dancing, but enjoying it.

The music was great. Not only some real classic ballroom dance music and more up to date popular songs, but even a blend of the two to show how they are not so different if you only try to work them together. A lot like different people.

I really enjoyed Banderas’ performance and that of many of his students. It was interesting to see Lauen Collins, Paige of DeGrassi fame (who plays Caitlin in the film) as the uptown rich girl voluntarily hanging out with the “school rejects” because of her love of dance. Something that she had in common with the “rejects”.

The dance numbers, both hip-hop/rap and ballroom, were entertaining and kept you enthralled as the story unfolded. To see the change in Dulaine’s students was really inspiring, especially since you knew it was based on a true story. Even if it wasn’t successful, I can’t imagine how someone could just come off the street and volunteer to try and teach inner city kids ballroom dance. I was impressed with how he related dance to life – even in the inner city. But what makes it even more impressive is that it was a success. Today, from Dulaine’s initial program, there are now 42 dance instructors in over 120 New York City schools – I would call that a success. Teaching kids about dignity, trust, respect and many basic characteristics that many of these kids might not get even in their own home. Oh, yeah, and how to dance.

I highly recommend this movie for a feel good time. Either with friends or on a date, you will come out inspired and doing a little toe tapping along the way. And oh yeah, the opening line I used was part of a longer speech where Dulaine started by telling Rock that Rock had to have the courage and confidence to lead, to take the first step and guide LaRhette. At which LaRhette countered that she was supposed to just let Rock be the boss. This is where Dulaine opened her eyes (and I must admit mine), that Rock can take the first action, to lead, but it was up to LaRhette to make the choice to follow or not. To have the courage, and most importantly, the trust to follow Rock’s lead. Believe me following is hard to do. And from my many years of experience, you can’t lead until you learn how to follow.

— Overview

She's the Man (2006)

—1. Overview
—2. Cast and Crew
—3. Photo Pages
—4. Trailers, Clips, DVDs, Books, Soundtrack
—5. Posters (Amanda Bynes)
—6. Production Notes (pdf)
—7. Spiritual Connections
—8. Presentation Downloads

Some of the funniest scenes, as you can imagine, are built upon Viola (played by Amanda Bynes) pretending to be a guy, her brother Sebastian (played James Kirk – no not of the Enterprise). I knew Amanda was a big star on Nicelodeon and I had seen her a couple of times in the past, but had not really taken her very seriously. But in She’s the Man, Amanda is really, seriously, funny. But it’s not just the comedic lines, but her facial expressions and body language, and how she carried herself in the role of this character. Of course this role wasn’t what you would call an Oscar winning role, but then it wasn’t really meant to be. I can’t wait to see Bynes, as she matures, in other more meaningful roles. Though I figure for now she will be in the mold of Linsay Lohan and other Disney/Nicelodeon stars.

While the film was extremely funny, it was also moving at times. A little bit of teen romance set against a sports background. But I think that more than just teenage girls will enjoy this film. Maybe not something a group of guys would go to see together (even if it does have a sports theme), but a good movie for a teen couple to take in or even an adult date movie. Nothing too deep, but worth it nonetheless.

Besides the humor I liked the theme of the movie. Basically, that people are more than what we see on the surface. The old cliché of “don’t judge a book by the cover”. And this wasn’t just shown by Viola pretending to be her brother Sebastian, but also through the character Duke (Channing Tatum), Viola’s love interest and unsuspecting roommate. We think of him initially as the stereotype selfish jock only interested in girls for physical entertainment with his major concern scoring on and off the field. But as the story unfolds, we see him as a sensitive, shy individual who wants a relationship that is as much, or more, based upon friendship as lust.

I highly recommend this movie for a couple of hours of just plain old entertainment. You will have no choice but to laugh out loud and when all is said and done, you will come out of the theater with a warm feeling. What better way to spend an evening.

~PapaBear

—1. Overview