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with comments by David Bruce

KINKADE'S FUNDAMENTAL DISCONNECTION FROM REALITY
Subject: Newsletter_27-Kinkade
Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2001
From: Lizzie

I came across your (very intriguing) website while doing a web search on Thomas Kinkade -- I had just finished reading an article about him in this week's New Yorker (a must read for any TK skeptics), and found myself at once fascinated and repelled by his art work. My interest piqued, I typed in his name, got something like 29,000 hits. To refine the search, I tried the word "scam", and your site (amongst a very few others) popped up.( If there is any good to be got from my encounter with this mediocre artist, it is in finding the hollywoodjesus site!)

I had never heard of TK, but his art seemed vaguely familiar, perhaps something I had seen in passing in some mall somewhere. Frankly, his is the sort of art I almost automatically dismiss as "Kitsch" on par with velvet Elvis painting. I was shocked to discover how popular, and profitable, his art is and that his company is publicly traded on the NYSE. Clearly, he is a kind of phenomenon and I had dismissed him too lightly.

I don't really know where to begin the list of the many things I find so disturbing about the TK phenomenon, but since you and contributors to your site have covered much that was on my list I will restrict myself to his basic lack of artistic technique (an important point, as many people preface their criticism by acknowledging of his "impressive talent" and "genius").

At first glance, his subjects look well drawn, realistically rendered, and believably three-dimensional--what one would expect from any art school graduate. However, where I had expected to find a master craftsman very carefully painting in the sentimental tradition, I found misaligned perspectives, awkward proportions, inexplicable light sources, and strange juxtapositions of architecture and landscape. His scenery has no relationship to geographical reality: it is a world where shadows fall haphazardly; small cottages dwarf clock towers; large gazebos are perched awkwardly on the edge of cliffs, in front of disproportionatly small light houses; horses the size of dogs graze near trees just barely larger than flower bushes; and babbling brooks tumble down steep hills without suffering the effects of gravity. His churches are buried in deep forests and hover at the edge of swamps, without paths, their front doors, blocked by streams that in any remotely real geography would immediately flood the buildings, and impossibly large manors are wedged, cottage-like, into tiny lots crowded with strangely tall flowers (see the "Cotswold" cottage/manor looming over a tiny bridge and a shoe-sized skiff in a painting from the Lamplight Lane series).

The lack of human life (commented on in your article) further contributes to the strangeness of his world. I find it especially telling in the painting of the nature churches, where there seems to be no way for any human to access the church itself. One is cut off by dense forests, giant mountains, and rivers. Where people are depicted they are awkward, stick-like and blurred: unspecific, faceless figures, barely three dimensional and lacking the color, depth, weight, movement, that he gives inanimate objects. His human figures look especially doll-like and vague when placed near the carefully rendered bricks and shining windows of his buildings (as in Town Square and his Christmas paintings). In "It doesn't get any better than this" the fisherman is sort of tacked onto an improbably angled log. There is no sense of tension in the fisherman's body--how he would be balancing on a round slanted object. His legs, which are straight in the painting, would be bent at different angles and so would not appear to be the same length. Professional artists spend years trying to capture the human body in just such motion, and there are many ways of rendering depth that just aren't at work here--there is no sense that this guy is a representation of anyone real. Also the fisherman's' shadow is cast in a different direction than the shadows of the trees, a basic sloppy mistake (on a sunny day everything would project a shadow from the same source and would project in the same direction at the same angle).

In almost all of his paintings the parts do not fit together naturally, as they would in three dimensional reality, but seem to come from different places and to be forced together in the scene: buildings stand firmly on river beds, stable light sources shift all over, otherwise immutable horizon lines disappear, historical eras collide and compete, dark colors appear where bright ones would naturally and vice versa. This general mismatching is patched over with the stippled points of light and deliberately brilliant colors to create an artificially uniform effect.

So, what is the point of all this technical nit-picking? I think TK's obliviousness to the basic physics governing the material world is related to your overarching thesis that his paintings advocate a retreat from reality. Just as he depicts a lack of involvement with the world, his painting evidences a profound disregard for world on the most fundamental level (how the sun shines, how trees grow, how the human body moves). His preference is always for the kind of magical effect one associates with depictions of misty fairy-lands.
Lizzie

LA VITA E BELLA
Subject: Life_Is_Beautiful
Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2001
From: Jan

this is deffinetly the best movie ever about the power of love in a world full of madness give this movie to all the world leathersand tere won't be a war annymore!

THIS IS THE BEST MOVIE
Subject: American_History_X
Date: Tue, 09 Oct 2001
From: Brooke

I found that this movie was very educational and interesting. It is true in many ways. I was wondering if "Hate is baggage, Life's to short to be pissed off all the time" is a quote from the end of the movie. I watched it 3 times and that's what I thought I heard him say, but when I look it up on the internet I find nothing about him saying that. If anybody knows please e-mail me at little_miss03@hotmail.com. Thanks. This is the best movie.

ENJOYED
Subject: God the Devil and Bob
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001
From: Taraterm

I enjoyed the show very much- and did not find it all offensive. I think you can be a good Christian and still have a sense of humour. I wish the religious right would go after other programming far more dangerous and idiotic to the minds of the population.

ABOUT THE 100 LIST
Subject: Newsletter_25
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001
From: Pastor Eric L. Eickhoff beeickh@ruraltel.net

Sir: I agree that many of the movies that you have listed on the 100 faith affirming list do have a positive faith message(10 commandments, chariot of fire, etc), many more have a most confusion way of doing that(matrix, exorcist, aliens, traffic). Also many of those films have a faith that is unrecognizable to the vast majority of people who name Christ as lord and savior. Also many of those films have subject matters that would immediately eliminate them from a 'faithful' persons watching list.
In HIS Service
Pastor Eric L. Eickhoff
Portis Grace Brethren Church
PO Box 6 Portis, Kansas 67474
785.346.2085 beeickh@ruraltel.net

HOLLY WOOD AND JESUS
Subject: Hollywood
Date: Sat, 06 Oct 2001
From: Dennis

Holy Mackerel there Andy! I had no idea of the links holly and wood had to Jesus. Very interesting.
dennis

BLUE LETTER
Subject: blue letter Mithras
Date: Sat, 06 Oct 2001
From: "shohreh jandaghian"

Dear sir, I've already sent you an email, asking you about some information considering "mithraism in hollywood". I read your article 'The incredible mithras myth' which is very interesting. I'm a filmmaker living in paris and preparing a documentary about "mithra". I'd like to know more about you and your activities considering mithra and also I'd like to know if there is already a movie produced about "mithraism" in hollywood. I'd appereciate if you let me know about it. Please receive my best regards from paris;
sincerely, shohreh Jandaghian

CHRISTIANITY/TOLKIEN
Subject: Lord of the Rings
Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2001
From: Kate

While looking for Tolkien information, I came across your site and was intrigued. Your insights are interesting, but I think there may be more to it. I understand that many of Tolkien's plots and characters are drawn from archetypes of Norse and Celtic legends pre-dating or non-related to plots and characters from the Christian Bible. Something you may want to look into is that many of the plots and characters of the Christian bible are drawn from archetypes much older than christianity. For example, the "death and resurrection" archetype can be found in the ancient Egyptian legend of Osiris and other eastern religions.
Thanks, Kate

JESUS -INTERNATIONAL VERSION
Subject: JesusMiniSeries
Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2001
From: Ron D'Antonio

I emailed Lions Gate Films about the release date of the International version of "Jesus".Their excuse now is that they never planned to release the international version on DVD. I was told several times it was on the list and coming in 2001 and then Easter 2002. I wish we could contact the director and have him find out what's what. I'm starting to get ticked off with this company and I really want the International version.
Ron D'Antonio

KEEPING OUR HEARTS ON STRAIGHT DOWN SOUTH!
Subject: Cool_Churches_Newsletter_26
Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2001
From: Wendy Pace Columbia, SC

Hey! I just read your article about "The R-rated Problem" and I totally relate! I grew up in a Southern Baptist household, a minister's daughter no less, and at 18 left it all behind. I saw too much hypocrisy, un-warrented criticism, judgement, etc., and I wanted no part of it. Thanks to God's grace, 14 years later I am back in His family, back in the South, and involved with some of the coolest people I could ever ask to meet. My church is called Tommy's Interactive. We meet at a coffee house in Columbia SC on Sunday's at 12:30 where we sing praise and worship songs with a live band, have actual DISCUSSIONS about the scriptures, use movies and music to demonstrate God's word as relevent and applicable to all our lives, and have coffee and snacks to boot! Our attendance during the school year reaches 80+ (capacity) and the age range goes from 3-60 (mostly in the college age, though). Many of us share my story, rejecting our parents' "religion", only to have God reveal our misconceptions and confusion and show us the truly AWESOME life that He wants for us. I could write so much more, but I just wanted to give a shout out for our crew down here. About our name, it comes from doubting Thomas, who asked for proof - we encourage people to come and ask questions, challenge us to "give proof for the hope that is in us" (to paraphrase).
Keep up the good work,
God Bless you and your ministry,
Wendy Pace Columbia, SC

BAND OF BROTHERS
Subject: HBO's Band of Brothers
Date: Thu, 04 Oct 2001
From: Darrell

Dear David: I have been looking on your web site for a review or some commentary regarding the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers; however, I have not found anything to date. I hope you are intending to have the miniseries reviewed, but more importantly, I believe your readers need to know about this incredibly well done WWII miniseries.

I believe that the entire series will encompass 11 separate episodes, of which the first 5 have aired to date. Although each new episode premiers on Sunday nights, they are rerun on a regular basis throughout the week.

Certainly you are familiar with the show; but if you are not, the miniseries is produced by Stephen Spielberg and Tom Hanks (with Hanks also directing). It is filmed in a very similar fashion to "Saving Private Ryan" (with washed out color, lots of jittery camera shots especially during battle scenes, and other touches). It does not have as much of the graphic violence as SPR, but it is still pretty realistic.

The plot follows the lives of Easy Company of the 506th Airborne Division of the Army from D-Day through the end of the war. The main character is Richard Winters (who starts out as a Lieutenant and has thus far been promoted to Captain) Although the show does not dwell on it, Cap. Winters is a Christian, who is deeply concerned about the safety of his men, longs for a swift end to the war, but is always going beyond the call of duty in battle, in both a very honorable and human way. All the characters seem to possess very real and human qualities of fear, pain, anger, courage, grief, and humor.

It is an excellent miniseries that I have been telling my friend to watch, and I would encourage you and your readers to watch as well.
Darrell

GOD SPEAKS THROUGH HER
Subject: Dyan_Cannon
From Jill M.
Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2001

Dyan Cannon is just a wonderful person! I go to the Gods Party Bible Studies, and I just love it! Dyan does a great job with her messages that God gives and speaks through her.
God Bless ! Jill

MYTH AND MYTHRAS
Subject: myth and mythras
Date: Wed, 03 Oct 2001
From: cedar

Hi there I tell you true, on religions I am confused, though amazingly enough about, God I am not :)

I don't understand any purposes of human sacrifices, it all seems repugant and abhorrant.... whether they be the rites of Molech, this religion or that down through time, and even to even of Jesus on a cross. I don't understand animal sacrifice, let alone human sacrifice, and I don't know why mammel life is considered more so desirable for the task over plant life. The whole concept of LIFE sacrifice period gives me the creeps!!!

I have nothing against the words attributed to Jesus (or coming from God's Spirit through out human history) The problems I DO however have is ANY religion that professes to be THE WAY OR BE DOOMED (damned). "Believe this way", aka "BELIEVE OUR WAY"-- "MY WAY" or burn in hte lake of fire for eternity. This to me is mind control, a cult mentality if you will..... and plays on CONTROL of believers and of FEAR. BUT contrary to all of this, is a God of Whom I understand is LOVE.

I can't ascribe to alot of Paul's teachings, his predjuce against women is most apparent, by one who claims to be so enlightened. He even "threatens" his followers with heresay, if one disputes his authority on these matters. Peter too ascribes to the same predjuces of women. Between the two of these, they have created hell on earth for many a woman for the last 2000 yrs, all in the name of their god! If God gave a woman a gift to speak, be a prophet, etc...who was this Paul (Saul) to say, even command otherwise! grrrrr

My feelings are that in ANY religon, one must use a God given discernement to pick and choose, of what one believes and knows to be true (inside) and what one may and should discard as a writer's personal predjuces and tactics. On Mythras, I sorta ascribe and agree with everyone saying that the bull is the age of Taurus...and some (symbolic or literal)"god" was the slayer of that age and of those times, as well as the bringer of new ones to come. I liked the "seawitch" review alot.

I humbly request my e-mail addy not be posted thankyou very much I may not agree with all or most of your views...but it is good we all can discuss them. Remember no one here is an authority on any of these matters,as it is all specualtion from any of us. But we know what we know what we know....lol

My daughter first introduced me to Men in Black and the spiritual insights were so blatant to me that I've shared them several times but have found no other person who could see the spiritual until I told them about it.

Think of it -- Men in Black -- Think Johnny Cash after his conversion -- he began to wear black -- think of priests and nuns who wear black -- Anyway these Men in Black are really spiritual people. They see what average people do not see. They see the warfare between the aliens (demons) and others whose lives they influence.

BUT, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (nor are the weapons the Men in Black use regular earthly weapons) but they are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.

Sometimes people become aware that something has taken place but it wears off after the incident as if some Man in Black has taken away their memory of the event through his special flasher. Then they go about their lives oblivious to the spiritual warfare surrounding them.

Even at the end when we realize the cat is wearing a universe around her neck and the spiritual beings recognize that ours is but a small world within a larger universe.

The demons come disguised also -- Some humans think they are just other humans but they are not. Anyway -- what do you think of my analogy? Thanks for the response.
God bless you in your ministry Cathy Bayert

Response: Sure. I like it. Why not! -David

WHY WAS IT REMOVED?
Subject: Review Removed: Titanic
Date: Tue, 02 Oct 2001
From: Angela

To whom it may concern: I was very disappointed to see that you removed your spiritual review of "Titanic". I found your site and was thrilled, considering that I have to write a paper for my Films class on this particular movie. And, being a Christian, I thought it would be a good idea to research the spiritual emphasis on the film...I was dismayed to see that you removed your thoughts.
In Christ, Angela

Response: The person who wrote the original review decided to throw rocks at me. -David

REVIEW?
Subject: Meggido
Date: Tue, 2 Oct 2001
From: Dave

I can`t fing the film Megiddo on your site . why is this?
thanks Dave

Response: They have not sent me a review copy. -David

FORREST GUMP?
Subject: Forrest Gump?
Date: Tue, 02 Oct 2001
From: Sean N.

I coldnt find anything about forrest gump on your site. What, if any, is the meaning behind that film. I would like religious or sociological meaning behind the film if you have one.
Thanks! Sean N.

Response: I have not reviewed this film. Sorry -David

INTERNATIONAL VERSION OF JESUS
Subject: Jesus Mini Series
Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2001
From: DANTON

I have been informed by Mr. Scott Hayman of Lions Gate Films that there are no plans to issue the International version of "Jesus "on DVD. As I told you I was told that it was due out this year,now they've done an about face. I guess your readers haven't written in to request this release. Too bad.

MISTAKEN QUOTE
Subject: Jurassic_Park_III
Date: Mon, 01 Oct 2001
From: Sara Lackey

I believe the saying is "the book is always better than the movie," which has always been true in my experience.
-- Sara Lackey lackeysr@jmu.edu

"KINKADE" PROBLEM
Subject: "kinkade" problem Newsletter_27-Kinkade
Date: Mon, 01 Oct 2001
From: Nathan Landis

Dear Mr. Bruce, It saddens me that there are so many Christians out there today that think movies have to always have conflict, or totally be worldly to be "christ" like. I read an article in a denominational magazine a few months ago that listed the 5 best secular films that "displayed" christian values. On that list was "American Beauty."

Let me tell you, I watched it and found the "christian values" in it, but to find it I had to sit through so many scenes of just distasteful trash. Both adults slept with partners other then their spouse, the father used drugs, and on top of that he almost slept with his daughter's best friend.

I agree with you that christian movies right now are not dealing with alot of reality, but I caution people like yourself into trying to find "christian" values in alot of Hollywood films. After reading many of your reviews

I feel that your trying to add spirituality to films that just don't have it. Just because a film "teaches" us about the nature of sin, doesn't mean that it is worth watching, much less paying to see. I doubt Jesus would sit down to be entertained by "snatch" or other such movies, just because they teach realities that are written in the Bible. I feel that this "christianizing" of hollywood films is really a wolf in sheep's clothing. I wish critics like yourself would write reviews about hollywood films that WOULD be worth watching.

I came along a great movie a month ago that was one of those odd gems hollywood puts out now and then. You may have heard of it. It was called "The Body" and it starred Antonio Banderes. This movie had conflict, it was very interesting, and it had a great underlining message.

This is the kind of films I think you should be writing about, and the Christian film industry should be making. It's not some end times thriller, or a "preachy" movie, but it was interesting and was definitely worth watching.
Sincerely, Nathan Landis

EXTREME DAYS
Subject: Extreme Days
Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2001
From: "Sara Cobb"

Dear David, I want to tell you how much I like hollywoodjesus.com! It is a great site. The reviews are always interesting and insightful. I appreciate how you and your staff always seem to look for the positive lessons that movies can teach us.

I would also like to recommend that you watch and review the new film Extreme Days. I saw it this weekend with a bunch of college aged friends and we all really enjoyed it. The film godly values and a god honoring story without being preachy. I would be interested to read your review.

Thanks and keep up the good work!
Blessings, Sara J. Cobb

INTERFAITH PRAYER SERVICE
Subject: Sept 23
Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2001
From: "pat tracey"

Hi, David! Your website has been very helpful to me, especially as a teacher; great work! You never fail to give me another one or two or three or more perspectives on popular films. Have sent a lot of my friends to the site.

Wonder if you can do me a favor? Do you know of any source where I can obtain a video of the Interfaith Prayer Service at Yankee Stadium on Sept 23, 2001?
Thank you! Pat

Response: Sorry, I know of no source. -David

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