X-Men: The Last Stand

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

*Note: the following review is spoiler free, but if you really don’t want anything spoiled, just see the movie before you read anything.*

Wow. The X-Men’s last stand delivers exactly what one expects from a summer movie. Once, action films officially marked the beginning of the summer movie season, but now movies with super powered heroes officially herald it's start. If you’ve been disappointed with this year's summer “event� movies so far (Poseidon sank, Da Vinci was a snooze, and although M:i:III was solid, it wasn’t quite “big� enough), try X-Men: The Last Stand; it doesn't disappoint.

When a film has a title like The Last Stand and the hype claims it as the last of a successful franchise, it has to be epic, big, and satisfying. X-Men: The Last Stand delivers on all counts. This is the most action packed of the series, and the action moves the story forward. The action scenes don't just look cool, they are cool. The violence is intense and visceral, and the overall tone of the film is darker than the previous two, befitting a final film. (Take note, Star Trek: Nemesis, this is how to properly end things.)

X-Men fans will be pleased with the slew of new characters and though their screen time is limited by the huge cast, it’s still fun to see them. This final film covers a lot of X-Men history, and let me just warn fans that you may be disappointed with how brief and undeveloped the X-Men mythology is. But with a lore as rich and deep as that of X-Men, it would be difficult in a movie to properly develop those stories. Although most of this film is about as thin as the skin on soup left sitting too long, it’s still enjoyable to watch. In fact, because they didn’t squeeze in a bunch of explanations, the film flows smoothly. And even with its lack of depth, fans and non-fans will get a kick out of this film.

Hugh Jackman's portrayal of Wolverine is definitely a hit. Although I’m not a die hard fan of X-Men, I’ve always enjoyed the comics and cartoons and I think Jackman has done an excellent job of portraying Wolverine. The feral ferocity, the fierce individualism fighting with the need to be a part of team, and the quips and barbs are all there as a fan would want. Of course Patrick Stewart found himself another iconic role as Professor Xavier, and he’s at his best in this film. Not only does he look a lot like the Prof, but in this third film Stewart really becomes the character. Ian McKellen has already had a success this year with his role in The Da Vinci Code (his part was one of the only interesting parts of the film, the rest is a bore), and he continues his success with X-Men. This time I think he, too, finally embodies the character he portrays. The writers finally make Magneto the fearsome, awe inspiring, powerful presence he’s supposed to be. Halle Berry’s Storm finally has something to do in this film, and the rest of the cast put in great performances. Although I wasn’t a huge fan of the make-up, Kelsey Grammer really is the Beast. (By they way, Beast’s fight scenes are really cool).

It's interesting that X-Men was released on the heels of Da Vinci because both films feature a group of people separated from society by differences the society wants to “cure� so they can be set free. In The Da Vinci Code, we’re told that if people knew the “truth� of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, then the oppression of Christians worldwide would finally be lifted. In essence, the truth would be a “cure� for Christianity. In X-Men, the so called “cure� for mutation is also a way to conform them to society. Is the timing of these films a coincidence? Probably. But a war could be coming, and movies like The Da Vinci Code and X-Men suggest that lines are already being drawn. Storm tells Wolverine that time for sitting on the fence is over; “If you’re going to be with us; be one with us.�

Like the X-Men, Christians have been transformed (or perhaps you could say mutated by Jesus Christ), and though they stand apart from the world, they still fight to save the world that would persecute and hate them. You might even call Christians the Ex-Men, for Jesus has made them into something new. Jesus brings freedom, redemption and eternal life, making all who accept Him into a new creation, a new person free from the past and free from sin. Soon, however, the choice to accept that mutation might be gone. Regardless of your beliefs, know this: if the battle comes, and a last stand has to be made, it may already be too late to choose sides. It's worth thinking about now. What would you rather be? Man or Ex-Man?

X-Men: The Last Stand is a great comic book film, but it is still just a comic book film. It doesn’t transcend the genre like Superman: The Movie or Batman Begins, and it doesn’t quite reach the lofty heights of Spiderman 2; but it’s close. One thing's for sure; it’s a fun, satisfying ride. The type of ride you immediately what to ride again. Summer is officially here.

— Overview

The Da Vinci Code

—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

Why did I like this book? I mean, I’m pretty sure I remember enjoying this story when I read the book. It wasn’t a literary masterpiece or anything, but it was a brisk adventure with some thrilling moments. Sure the overall story was pretty silly, but still, I had fun following the clues and seeing the characters solve the puzzles. But here I am, sitting in this darkened theater, watching a movie that follows pretty closely to what took place in the book, and somehow I’m finding it all a bit...dull. Where are thrills? Where’s the intrigue? The adventure? The mystery? The awe of discovery? Somehow from book to screen it’s all been lost, and now I can’t quite remember, why did I like this book in the first place?

These are thoughts that crossed my perplexed mind as I watched Ron Howard’s screen version of the mega best-selling book The DaVinci Code. After all the hype and controversy, I find it ironic that the one thing no one anticipated from this movie is that it would turn out to be so bad. Of course, how could it? It has such a high caliber of talent; Oscar winners both behind the camera and on the screen. There’s even an Oscar in the closet of the screenwriter, so surely this would be the summer event movie of the year, right? Well...not so much, and perhaps the real mystery of The DaVinci Code is how a story that seem to be perfect for the big screen, put together by some of the best in Hollywood, could turn out be such a dud.

There’s no denying that Tom Hanks is one of the best actors today, and perhaps in movie history. However, in The DaVinci Code, he just seems lost. Some critics have said that he seems bored or uninterested or asleep in his role, but to me he seemed confused. It was like he didn’t quite know what to do with the material he was given, like he was unsure of exactly how to deliver his lines. The movie itself seems to believe it’s a very serious and profound look at the fundamentals of Church and history, but Hanks seemed unsure of just how serious or profound he should act. In the end, I don’t think it was boredom that contributed to his wooden performance; it was uncertainty.

Another problem was the fact that Hanks’ character was changed. In the book, Robert Langdon firmly believes in the whole Grail/Magdalene/conspiracy story and therefore was truly motivated to pursue the clues and puzzles to find the Grail. In the movie, however, Langdon is a skeptic who isn’t quite sure what to believe about the events he’s caught up into. This uncertainty of the character almost undoubtedly contributed to the uncertainty with which Hanks portrayed him; and the results is a muddled mess. Add in the fact that he has zero chemistry with his co-star Audrey Tautuo (you almost wonder if they even liked each other, which I’m sure they did because everyone says Tom Hanks is such a nice guy), and the core component of the film, our two protagonists, become the most uninteresting part to watch. In fact, the only ones who really seem to be putting in any effort are Paul Bettany and Ian McKellen. The only interesting parts of the film were when they were on screen, but even then, I was hard pressed to follow along with McKellen’s verbose expository soliloquies; they made me feel like I was in school again and I was actually relieved when Bettany’s character jumped out on screen and attacked Hanks. Finally, I thought, someone got punched in the face. No really, I was that bored. How Ron Howard was able to take something that was fun to read and turn it into something you find hard to watch is quite an accomplishment. Perhaps this is because his heart wasn’t really in it, or at least that’s the way it feels as you watch. While Dan Brown enjoys a good conspiracy and while his characters had a passion for their pursuits in the book, all such passion is missing from the film version.

There have been entire books, several in fact, published on all the inaccuracies both historical and scriptural when it comes to The DaVinci Code, so I will not waste the time here to cover that which has been covered ad infinitum. The film and the book are about the search for the truth of who Jesus Christ is, and this is a quest that we all take part in, whether we realize it or not. We all have an opinion about Jesus Christ, and a film like The DaVinci Code will either confirm or confound those opinions. The question is; why do you believe what you believe? Have your opinions about Jesus been formed by the opinions of others; such as authors like Dan Brown and filmmakers like Ron Howard? Or are your opinions about Jesus the result of your own careful investigation into His story? Whether or not you agree with the claims of the book and/or film, let me suggest that you at least take the time to investigate these claims for yourself. There is no more important question in all of humanity than that of "Who do you say Jesus is?" Begin your own quest for truth and see where it leads you. If you truly follow the clues, I think you’ll find that it will lead you to surprisingly different conclusions than those of The DaVinci Code.

The DaVinci Code is a movie full of lofty ideas wrapped in the excitement and intrigue of a spy thriller...or at least it wants to be. As I watched, I felt as though this movie was desperately crying out for me to see just how seriously profound, deep, insightful and enlightening it was. My response however was, "...zzzzttt...what’s that? Oh, I’m sorry, I nodded off again. You were saying something you thought was important? Go ahead I’m listeni...zzzzz?"

— Overview

Poseidon

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

I don’t think Mother’s Day is the best day to watch a boatload of people die. That thought kept running through my mind as I sat through Poseidon. There I was, watching a film where literally hundreds of people are dying in disaster (and I’m sure most of them had mothers), and I’m there on the day we’re supposed to celebrate the gift of our mothers. There was just something incongruous about the whole situation. I thought it was even weirder that apparently a lot of people thought this would be a good gift for their mom. My theater was filled with people who thought taking mom to the movies would be a good idea, though why they choose this film I don’t understand. But such is the draw of the summer event film; you don’t need to understand it to enjoy it.

Poseidon is basically Titanic without the exposition, character, drama, or romance. The film skips the ususal time setting things up and basically gets right to it. Once the wave hits and the ship flips over, which is a pretty impressive sequence effects-wise, the film is very efficient in going through all the steps and scenes necessary for a disaster film. You don’t really get much more cliched or paint-by-numbers than this. However, I was left with the distinct impression that perhaps this movie was a little too efficient in getting its job done; in so far as it really kind of felt that all it was doing was getting the job done. Wolfgang Petersen can make this kind of film with his eyes closed, and it feels like he put in just about that much effort with Poseidon. I don’t know if perhaps he had some bills to pay or what, but it just feels like he was cashing a check with this film. Now that isn’t to say the movie is bad, Poseidon is enjoyable as a summer popcorn flick, but just don’t expect much more than the standard vapid summer adventure film.

Perhaps I would have found this movie more engaging if it would have elaborated more on a theme that Kurt Russell’s character mentions when he says there’s nothing fair about who lives and dies. That could have been a very profound, very moving statement if we cared about any of the characters in the first place. However, since we barely have a passing acquaintance with most of them, and since the film doesn’t really give us any time to get to the know them (I can’t even remember their names, or if they had names beyond "leader guy" and "heroic father figure guy"). We don’t really care so much about who survives so much as how they survive. I felt almost clinical as I pondered how the group of survivors would get past the various obstacles in their path without having much concern about who would or wouldn’t make it. Still, it’s a sentiment we’ve all felt at some time, especially in times of crisis. We sometimes truly believe that life and death aren’t fair; that heaven and hell aren’t fair. Well, the simple fact is that although it isn’t always fair who lives and dies, it’s very often left up to us to choose one or the other. Just as the few who survived their adventure on the Poseidon were the few who choose to look for a way to survive, so it is with us. Those few who will actually enjoy eternity are those who chose life. Let’s be very clear, God does not send anyone hell. People choose to go to hell when they reject God. Just as all the people who thought they would be safe by not doing anything after the ship capsized eventually perished, the people who decide to do nothing with Jesus Christ will eventually perish in a life that has capsized without Him. These are, admittedly, fairly profound things to ponder after seeing a film like Poseidon, especially considering the fact that the characters certainly never stop to ponder such things and the fact that after seeing this movie you’ll probably won’t be pondering much of anything except whether or not that was really worth you seven bucks.

Audiences today have learned not to expect too much from the summer films, after all, they are supposed to be fun escapes from reality. Films like Poseidon deliver exactly what audiences expect. Theirs is nothing that really stands out about this film. The performances are functional. The direction competent, if without heart. And although there are a couple of noteworthy scenes that are fairly intense, there isn’t much emotional investment required for viewing this film. In fact, this movie really felt more like a rental. Sometimes a summer film can be shallow but worth seeing on the big screen because of the money shots and the special effects. Poseidon does have some great effects, but nothing that really would make it necessary to see on the big screen. In the end, the question really comes down to whether or not one wants to waste Mother’s Day, or any other day for that matter, watching something they probably won’t waste the time trying to remember later.

— Overview

Mission: Impossible III

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

What would the TV show Alias look like with a bigger budget, longer running time, and a male lead? The answer: Mission Impossible 3. Take Alias, add in a generous helping of True Lies, and you know all you need to about the latest outing for IMF agent Ethan Hunt and his team. This isn’t to say that M:I:III isn’t fun; it is, in fact, quite fun. But you may be hard pressed to differentiate it from last week's adventure with Sydney Bristow.

J.J. Abrams does a competent job with his directorial debut (which is good news for Trek fans, as he’s slated to direct the next film in that franchise). However, he played it too safe in using so much of what he already knows. This mission was more of a team effort, befitting the Mission: Impossible name, but it felt like a longer episode of a TV show - which, ironically, is exactly what these films have always been. Is this because Alias owes so much to entries in the spy genre like Mission: Impossible, or is it because Abrams is so familiar with the flow and structure of his show that he had a hard time getting away from that for his big screen debut? Still, M:I:III is a solid summer action film. The stunts are cool, the action sequences are fun, there are a couple of intense moments between the hero and the villian, and it’s all wrapped more authentically than the second film.

But I prefer the Ethan Hunt of the first film. He was driven, intense, focused, and had no time for distractions. Since then, each subsequent director softened Agent Hunt; ostensibly to make him more relatable as the hero. In the second film, Hunt attained a debonair suaveness that gave him, and the film, a Bond like feel. In this outing, he has attachments. Agent Hunt has settled down and left field work in order to establish a normal life. Of course we all know that won’t last; mainly because we’ve seen the trailers with Philip Seymour Hoffman threatening Hunt’s loved ones. This version of Agent Hunt is more Tom Cruise than the others. I miss the real Agent Hunt from the first film. Hoffman is excellent: his cold, merciless villain plays strongly against the softer Agent Hunt. Ving Rhames finely reprises his role as Luther, and it’s nice to see that his character hasn’t changed much over the years. In fact, the entire cast is solid, including Michelle Monaghan whose only real purpose is to give Agent Hunt someone to care about so that the villain can threaten her.

This could be the biggest weakness of the film. The central conflict is how Hunt’s job can never allow him to have a normal life as long as someone he cares about can be exploited by his enemies. And Luther also points out that it’s impossible to have a normal relationship when you’re constantly lying to the one you love (which, by the way, is sage advice). But Julia is nothing more than a plot device. Her role would have worked just as well if she had been named Love Interest, but that would be too impersonal I guess. Still, she’s only there to drive Hunt to the edge as he tries to rescue her from a fate he can't prevent. Along the way there are plot twists (none terribly surprising), exotic locales (all exotic but completely unneccessary to the story) and of course lots of action. Though fun, it’s by the numbers and doesn’t rise above the best episodes of Alias.

You know, call me crazy, but as I watched Hunt’s attempts to save Julia from the vindictive Davian, I was reminded of how God put everything on the line to save us. We’re His love interest, and Satan knows it. When Satan realized he would never defeat God, he decided to do the next best thing: hurt the ones God loves most. So he tempted humanity in Eden, caused us to fall into the death trap of sin, and generally set out to utterly destroy us. Of course God wouldn’t allow that and so, not unlike agent Hunt, God risked everything - He sacrificed His only Son to save us from the bad guy who wanted to destroy us out of spite for God. Doesn't that sound similar to M:I:III? That may be a stretch, but you might be surprised at how many movie plots are similar to Bible stories.

The bottom line is that M:I:III is a good time at the movies, without giving you much to hang on to after you leave. It’s fun, if not particularly memorable. And, as I reflected on how God’s mission to save humanity is similar to this latest Mission: Impossible, I realized that a summer action film isn’t nearly as exciting as real life; if we’re willing to accept the mission.

— Overview