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with comments by David Bruce

WOULD LIKE TO TALK
Subject: Gary_Busey
Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2001
From: monica

hello my name is monica norris and i have followed your career for a long time. i too am a christain and have had may share of issuses with adtiction. i was so glad to hear that u are serving god. it is never easy even after we give ou lifes over to him but we have his great promises to help us thru. if u would like to talk i can be reached at xxxx@xxxx.com. or llabty for instant mess.
stand strong and be well.
monica

INQUIRY
Subject: Meggido
Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001
From: Peschken

Is there any particular reason why you don't review MEGGIDO (omega Code 2) ? or did you review the film... and if so.. can I see this on your website ?
Thanks!
Chris Peschken Executive Producer

Response: Send a screener and I will review it. -David

LOVED THE MOVIE
Subject: The_Score
Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2001
From: Aidan

I absolutely loved 'The Score'. Edward Norton's acting was fabulous, and of course Robert de Niro played his role to perfection. I have to admit, the ending caught me totally by surprise, which allowed to really enjoy it. I never thought I would be cheering for a criminal, but I was in this case. I was so thrilled when Nick Wells had out-thought Jackie Teller. The movie does show the downside of crime in a big way. Of the three criminals, none are content or secure. They are constantly looking over their shoulders to make sure they aren't being conned. What a terrible way of life!

GRUESOME
Subject: Kiss_Of_The_Dragon
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001
From: Jessica

As far as this movie , no one under 21 should see it .I saw it and I'm 15! It is totally gruesome!

ANOTHER CORRELATION
Subject: Lord_of_Rings
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001
From: tkc

You failed to mention one other characteristic or correlation of Gandalf to the Christ figure and that is that when he fell into the abyss with the balrog, he was in the abyss three days! I have thoroughly enjoyed your web site and all of your tolkien study. I think the man was facinated by the supernatural character of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ and that is why he used so much of His imagery and characteristics, bestowing them on many of his characters.
Sincerely, tkc

GENDER ROLES
Subject: "Hearts In Atlantis" Newsletter_28
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001
From: "Doug Sirman"

I saw an enormous amount of attention paid to gender roles in this movie; particularly in the differing ways of relating to one another.

While Liz's gift to Bobby of a library card could be seen as cheap and meaningless, I almost see it as her handing her son a key to his adulthood. >From King's earlier writings, we see the importance of the Library as a touchstone of growth and maturation, and this gift seems to carry with it an admission on Liz's part that while she cannot give to Bobby what he needs, she can show him the pathway to getting it himself. While Liz cannot be a father to Bobby and show him what it is to be a man, she can be a mother to him and show him the way to becoming a man.

Typically speaking, modeling gender roles are expressed by women providing emotional resonance and empathy, whereas men provide rationality and abstract structure. It's no secret that King views literature, although perhaps not exclusively, as the domain of rationality in an irrational world. For Bobby, the act of reading becomes very "male" in its relational context. Indeed, his relationship with Brautigan begins with the act of reading the news to Ted; this is Ted's inroad to becoming Bobby's friend and vice-versa. They form a relationship, but unlike Bobby's relationship with his mother, it is based in structured rationality, and is definitively male in its essence.

It is also in this rational, relational activity that Ted warns Bobby of the danger of "the low men." What's fascinating about this is that we're not even sure if these men exist or if they're a figment of Ted's imagination. While they are certainly externalized in the plot of the story, the metaphysical warning to Bobby is clear: There is a danger that you, on your way to becoming a man, could become like these low men. Indeed, King's description of them as "dangerous to know" echoes the degenerate genius Byron's self-description as "Mad, bad, and dangerous to know." Brautigan seems to be saying to Bobby, "Take care on your way to manhood, that you do not become like them."
YBIC,
Doug Sirman

REALLY EXCITED TO SEE IT
Subject: extreme days
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001
From: Jodie

Hi, I have just read your reviews about the movie extreme days and am really excited to see it. I live in Australia and this was the first time I had heard about the movie. I was wondering if you know of the release date for Australia and if we are getting it at all. I would really love to take my non-Christian friends to see it, as it sounds like our type of movie. Thanks for all the work you put into your site. I found it by accident one day and am very greatful I did. You offer perspectives i hadn't thought of and a different way to view things compared to some sites. Keep up the great work! God Bless :)
Luv Jodie from Down Under

SMALLVILLE TV SERIES PREMIER
Subject: Superman
Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2001
From: Kathy V

Hi! Are there any plans to discuss the new TV series, "Smallville", which focuses on Superman's life during high school? I watched the premier last night and the scene where he is strung up like a scarecrow was so MUCH a "crucifixion" scene that I finally had to accept your Superman/Jesus interpretation!
Kathy V

VIEW FROM WITHIN THE BIZ
Subject: creed/ U2 reviews
Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2001
From: "benjamin hunter" benjamin@dublin.com

hey,. wuzzup, David?
I'm a thirty three year old believer, and an industry professional. I've been both a believer and in the music industry, on one side of the mic or the other, since I was 8. Having said that, I'll say that I did not "grow up in the church". In fact, the "church" *crapped* on my family quite severely when I was a child and my parents never got over it. I prefer an arms-length and infrequent relationship to my mainstream family, however nice most of them may be. I have, really, more respect for Scott, Ed, Bono, and the other guys in Creed, Live, U2, and Staind, in pretty much every way, than I have for most of the mainstream church "Christians" I have met. At my age, that's a lot of people. Real is what we must be, and seriously most of us miss the boat everytime. The difference is the maturity to see it and admit that it's there. Thank Dad for grace! I am part of a small family of believers we call "the Gathering", a very post-modern group, and employed by a national sound/stage gear supplier, both based in Edmonton, Canada. I say this to give some background for my letter.

About Creed and U2.
So what?
If the boys are believers, let 'em be, pray for 'em.
If not, then pray harder, already!

I would put Creed, Live, U2, and Staind in the same musical/lyrical catagory, myself. Beliefs aside, all four write and perform music which seeks to ask questions in a way that will get listeners thinking, and asking questions themselves. Case in point, "Peace on Earth (U2). "Jesus, could you take the time, to throw a drowning man a line, Peace on Earth". I could take about two and a half hours typing, to SKIM over the different and interconnected possibilities of meaning and the issues raised in just the chorus of this song!

CIP#2 "Epiphany", (Staind) "It's always raining in my head. Forget all the things I should have said." This song gives accurate voice to my view of my own relationship with the Father. Depth galore, here...

#3 Overcome, (Live) I pray this song. "Drive me out to that open field. Turn the ignition off, and spin around. Your help is here, but I'm parked in this open space, blocking the gates of love." nuf said.

CIP#4 "What if" (Creed) "What if your words could be judged like a crime?" Do I need to spell this one out?

I worked on the U2 POP tour a few years back and happened to meet Bono in the elevator. He reminded me of me, only different on the outside. Very decent guy. Each of these guys swears on almost every CD they make. I swear every day. None of us has it together the way we "should". Funny, none of you out there in Listenerland have it together either. Why? Because we're human and we are broken and incomplete.

Reading the reviews on your website and the petty little debates your readers get into about this kind of stuff, I was struck by the lack of depth that almost everyone displayed. Dude, we are the childen of THE embodiment of love, we need/must/HAVE GOT TO write/review/respond like we are. (the band says this, God says this, I think...) Lining everything up to Christ and His ideals is the only way to be.

Keep it up, man! It's good to see a website that professes Christ and doesn't suck.

Check out our site at http://www.gathering-online.com for an upcoming review of Scott Stapp by George Hardy, my roommate and a 51 year old ordained minister and doctor of mathemetics! He's speaking on Oct 27.

Y'all at hollywood Jesus will be prayed for, you can count on it.
blessings,
ben hunter benjamin@dublin.com
canada

ps: please post this (with my email address) if you can spare the space on your site, I'd be interested to see if it sparks any new discussions...
conciousness: that annoying time between naps...

OUR JESUS, WHAT DOES IT TAKE?
Subject: Mithras
Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2001
From: josh

so much learning about evering? do you need someone to save you from a life that is so messed up? tell JEsus about it and 'he will help you Read the BIble and just relaxed, but examine yourself and tell JEsus about it ,

SHORT COMMENT ON THE MOVIE
Subject: Shawshank Redemption
Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2001
From: Andrew

Dear David thanks for the 'site - it's helped me see a few more things in the movie. One thing not mentioned by your other contributors is the way in which Andy is himself changed for the good by the prison experience.. shortly before the escape he tells Red about his love for his late wife but also reflects on his own shortcomings in the relationship. This acquired self-understanding is another aspect of 'redemption'. (OK, it could be offset by his admission in the library that he'd never broken the law before coming to prison, but I think it still stands).
best wishes Andrew Waugh
Reading, Berks, UK
please do not display my email address

REFLECTOR OR DIRECTOR?
Subject: R_Rated_Newsletter #26
Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2001
From: "Jason Gardner"

I entirely agree with the sentiment behind this article it is vital that christians maintain an informed and incisive view of pop culture. However the issue of censorship is one that needs to be seriously addressed in our day and age as we've seen a huge increase in the amount of violence, sex & swearing in films. The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy in their brilliant diatribe on the media 'Televison - the drug of the nation' ask the question of it is it the 'director or the reflector' the age old question asked in hip hop rhetoric 'does art imitate society or society imitate art.' Does the increase in i8 or R films correctly reflect how things are or is hollywood simply cashing in on a very real 'appetite for destrution'?.

For every bloke who deems 'fight club' a brilliant survey on the influences of consumerism and postmodernity on contemporary society there's someone else who sees it as a fantastic excuse to start up their own combat community. Society already believes whole heartedly in censorship, that's why we have film ratings. who are we trying to protect by giving films certificates? obviously children as the ratings are defined by age. What happens between the grand old age of 17 and 18 that suddenly makes us able to cope with violent images? do we suddenly become mature adults overnight able to discern between fantasy and fact? I think not. if we're genuinely trying to protect the innocence of children wouldn't it be better to make sure that all films were below a fifteen rating say. I'm sure it's the case in the us as it is in Britain that many children's parents allow them access to 18 or r certificate films. eight and nine year olds watch films like scream and i know what you did last summer. Yes the parents should be more discerning, but in many ways wouldn't we prefer a society where things that have a damaging influence such as crack and heroin didn't exist or came under tighter controls? We have to assess what is beneficial for society as a whole.

This is just for starters, the issue is huge and needs to be addressed by christians who monitor the arts in a serious fashion.

Great website by the way
Cheers Jason Gardner
Youth Culture Researcher.
the london institute for contemporary chrisitainity.

TREACLE ME
Subject: Blair_Witch_2
Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2001
From: Jo Jo

Heres a fun one for ya'. If you rearrange the letters of "Treacle Me", both words shown/hidden in the movie. You get "Erect Male", and as you may notice, the scenes in which "Treacle" and "Me" are shown are both when showing the women of the movie laying down. Good stuff, isn't it?

MEGIDDO?
Subject: Megiddo
Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2001
From: "Shane & Dayle Conrad"

We saw this movie tonight and thought it was rather interesting. We rushed home to see what you had to say about it, but were disappointed to find nothing. When might you have a review on it? We love your site and value your opinion on movies.
Shane and Dayle Conrad

CATHOLIC LOTR
Subject: Lord_of_Rings
Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2001
From: Jennifer

Anyone who reads "Letters Of J.R.R. Tolkien" will discover that not only was Tolkien a faithful Catholic, but that he intended his novel to reflect his Catholic worldview. Although he did not write in direct allegory, the themes, symbols and characters of the story are all connected to Catholicism. A good book is "Tolkien: Man & Myth" by Joseph Pierce (Ignatius Press.)

TO BE POSTED, PLEASE
Subject: Lord_of_Rings
Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2001
From: MC KENNA

Tolkien came from the tradition of northern European people who genuinely converted to Christianity. Objections to his pre-Christian settings and characters are not really religious in origin. Hiding behind the veneer is the genocide habit of Germanics whose kind have been exterminating other racial groups for over 6000 years. Their pathological hatred for the particular culture portrayed in Tolkien's work is due to the fact that this particular culture has been more resilient than their other victims. More information on this culture can be found at http://www.angelfire.com/home/thefaery/index/html

USE OF PROFANITY
Subject: Creed
Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2001
From: Kevin

After reading a few of the comments posted here about Creed and their use of profanity in the end of "What's this life for", I thought I would throw in my two cents worth. I'm curious if any of these people have visited the FAQ section of Creed's website to find out what the circumstances surrounding that song are. If they had, they would have discovered that the theme for that song came from two of Scott's friends who committed suicide because "they could never find... what's this life for". While I don't excuse Scott's use of profanity, because it does bother me too, I can see that he is venting his anger at the loss of his friends. I look at it this way, we all have done something in the past because we were caught up in the heat of the moment and said things that we wish we could take back. Unfortunately for him, his mistake was recorded and preserved. I'm just glad that God looks past those moments (when we ask for forgiveness) and concentrates on trying to see the good in us. I chalk up Scott's verbal slip up to youthful indiscretion, and try to focus on all the other good songs that they have put out and the positive effects those songs have had on today's generation. If God were to judge me every time I've screwed up, like everyone that is ripping this one song, I'd be in big trouble. Anyway, those are my thoughts.
Thanks for listening.
Kevin

VAMPIRE 1995
Subject: vampire 1995 Dracula_2000
Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2001
From: Butler

Vampire a vampire's turned loose on the earth
both male and female he strikes with his curse
do not welcome him inside
once there he's ruthless and bites
he sucks the life right out of you
and turns you into a monster too
he comes and gives you his lovebite
you'll be on fire yet full of fright
beware; vampire at large
better lock your door tonight
a vampire's turned loose to roam free
inflicted the life is conceived
he breaks all your resistance down
you think your safe then he comes 'round
he thrives on your arrogance
intelligence lost in ignorance
blinded by carelessness
danger comes closer with each warm caress
beware; vampire at large
evil slumbers in the twilight zone
lurking when the sunlight's gone
only the mirror reveals the truth
only a wooden stick can cut rite through
you trust in your tokens of protection
but you forget in the heat of the passion
he laughs at people who claim to be good
but turns to dust in the light
...he searches in vain for innocent blood

from the album Imbrocata by Dilemma [1995]

I THOUGHT I MADE THIS CLEAR...
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001
From: the messenger

David: Your site is a blasphemy. This is the last time I tell you: Pack it up.
Thank you, The Messenger
(God's ONLY spokesperson)

MARGOT KIDDER
Subject: Gary_Busey
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001
From: Tammy

Blessings To You! Thanks for the inspiring Christian movies...they really touched my life! My question has to do with your co-actress Margot Kidder. What can you tell me about her Chrisitan walk and does she has a testimony to share? I'm eager to learn more because her name has come across in a book "The Choices We Made" (and her willingness to tell her own abortion experience) and I'm searching for how to get in touch with her to find out more because I'm confused about the contrast in these two...I know Jesus can transform anyone's life because he did mine too! Any information or networking would be a wonderful reaching out. May God continue to use your talents for his Glory!
Tammy

REAL WORLD SETTING
Subject: Extreme_Days
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001
From: "Glenn Krispense"

Mike, I have seen the movie and really agree with Mike. I am a youth pastor and found the movie to connect with our students in a way that other christian films have not. It does present great opportunities for discussion about faith and life, but most of all it does a great job showing life in a real world setting and portraying how Christians can stand strong, even at a cost!
Glenn Krispense

LOVE SURFERS
Subject: In Gods Hands
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001
From: Kathleen

This Movie was definately the best one I've seen in a long time. I always thought surfers were dumb but after watching this movie surfers have all my respect. It's an amazing sport. And Also fun even though I've only tried it once. Shane Dorian was amazing he's so hot I totally love him. Shane you should definately do some more movies. I now love surfers. P.S. the directing and the story line was great.
All my respect - Kathleen

FILM HELP
Subject: In Gods Hands
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001
From: Mark

Hello, I recently visited your site to see if I could get a list of the songs off the film "In Gods Hands". However I'm not having any luck. I was hoping you might be able to help me. If so I would really appreciate it.
Thanx. Mark

INCREDIBLY INSPIRING!
Subject: Dyan_Cannon
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001
From: Traci

I was just flipping through the TV channels and saw you on TBN talking about the Lord, and I was so surprised...I thought "Dyan Cannon is a Christian..WOW!" I have watched you for years, and was glued to Ally McBeal when you were guest staring....I have always admired your work, and to see you praising God gave me goose bumps. So I looked you up on line to see what was up with your faith and found this web page. I was also amazed to find that you had a marijuana addiction that led you to Christ...because I was led to him the exact same way. I felt lost, like I couldn't control it anymore, rather it was controlling me. It was bringing me down, and I was very unhappy. I opened my heart up to God, and after battling this problem for 6 years I was relieved of it literally overnight. I too "hid my stash" when I traveled, and took some pretty significant risks to be able to support my habit. I was convinced that I had to be stoned first before I could enjoy anything in life. Since then I have felt the presence of God and his love in my life and have finally found happiness and contentment for the first time ever. Jesus is the best "high" I've ever known. Thank you for your inspiring story, I'm sure there are many others who can relate to it as I have.
Traci

MOVIE SUGGESTION
Subject: Fight Club
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001
From: Zack

Just want to say, I very much enjoyed your site. I didn't see the movie "Fight Club" on your list of 100 movies, I was watching that movie again just a couple of nights ago and there are some great lines in there that really made me think about my christian life and what I've been through, I think one of the lines talked about "losing everything before you can gain anything".
Thanks again, Zack

JUST WONDERING
Subject: Something_To_Sing_About
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001
From: Nathan Gunter

When I saw this movie it really touched my heart. I really like singing also so I could relate to the songs. But I was wondering If you wonderful people had a soundtrack to this movie. I watched it a while back this year and they were saying at the bottom of the movie that if we need these songs to call them at a number that I lost. So If you have any way Of telling me how can I get these wonderful songs I will be so grateful. God Bless!!
Yours in Christ
Nathan Gunter.

MISINFORMATION ON TOLKIEN
Subject: Lord_of_Rings
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001
From: Mike

You are misinformed. He (Tolkien) was a devout Christian---and his LOTR reflects this. Read the literature on it. Middle Earth was set in a Bronze Age setting so it had some other influences to reflect an ancient civilization in a remote era of the Earth's history.
Mike

THE GIRL IS THE KEY
Subject: Ninth_Gate
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001
From: Jörgen

The Girl is the key to solving this puzzle. (See f.e. "The Devil In Love" by Jacques Cazotte, 1772)

And who's to say that the Lord of Darkness represents evil? In the Judeo-Christian belief system Adam and Eve was living their days in paradise, in total bliss but also in total ignorance and stupidity, oblivious to the world surrounding them. Without free will. Enter the "Dark" Lord, in the form of a snake. He gave them knowledge. He gave them Illumination. And above all, he gave them free will. The so called "good" god saw this and cast them out of paradise, much like a angry little child taking his ball and going home, leaving the other children wondering what just happened.

Isn't there something wrong with this picture?

Why would the good "guy" want his own creation to live all their days in ignorance? To not be able to think for themselves? To not see the world for what is was? It sounds like a rather cruel and selfish creator to me. Not at all like the warm and loving, bearded nice old man they want us to picture it. Certainly a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, to quote W. Churchill.

So for that reason (and several others) I think that Corso, when entering the Ninth Gate, was finally granted a place in paradise, forever lifting his veil of Darkness that has been placed over the eyes of mankind since the day the so called god of "light" was throwing mankind out of paradise. And not just granted a place in paradise, but becoming One with the real God.

I think the film itself is a bit clumsy here and there. The acting is not that great, the symbolism is convoluted at places, but overall I think it's rather nicely done. The message is true with a warm and happy ending. Quite different from the way most people react to it, I guess, by looking at the comments here. But that's the nice thing - living in a world where people *are* allowed, and able, to think for themselves...
Jorgen
"Scire tacere

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