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with comments by David Bruce

AMELIE WAS CHARMING
Subject: Amelie
Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2002
From: "Sara Cobb"

I loved Amelie! What a sweet, incredibly charming and imaginative film. Audrey Tautou's performance was perfect. I could have done without the scenes in the porn shop, but other then that I thought it was great. I left the film feeling elevated, inspired, joyful, and full of goodwill. Amelie was a treat to watch and a joy to experience.
-Sara J. Cobb
Salt Lake City, UT

LITERARY "HOLLYWOOD JESUS"?
Subject: Literary "Hollywood Jesus"?
Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2002
From: Dan G San Diego

I enjoy your site and refer to it often. It occurred to me there should be a similar site which compiles the best Christian reviews of both classical and contemporary literature. Do you know of such a site?
Dan G San Diego

Response: There is no such site to my knowledge. -David

UNDERGROUND CHRISTIAN FILM?
Subject:
Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2002
From: "Eric Walusis"

David:
I have been a fan of HollywoodJesus for some time, and noticed your newsletter request to hear from Christians working in the visual arts, especially film. (I'm paraphrasing and inferring, of course!)

I am a Christian, a filmmaker, and sometimes even a Christian Film Maker!

I became a Christian in college, oddly enough around the same time that I started film school ... although I had been a media producer for over ten years already by that point.

Since then, I have been involved in producing film, video, and other "new" media for ANOTHER ten years, and much of that effort has been directed at fostering growth of this medium in the Church. It has always occurred to me that although most (all?) other major art forms are well-represented in the Church (at least historically) the medium of film & television (probably because of its newness) is poorly, if at all, represented.

My dream has always been to be the "Larry Norman" of the film & television industry. (At least in regard to his "too rock 'n' roll for the religious people, too religious for the rock 'n' roll people" boundary stretching during the advent of Christian rock & pop in the seventies.)

I lead a media arts team at a medium-sized (but rapidly growing!) non-denominational Christian church in Ohio. Among our other activities, I am trying to plan & promote a true "juried" film festival specifically to advance the development and profile of Christians working in film & video. We are seeking advice, judges, cooperative promotion, etc.

I wonder, would it be something that you (or others from HJ) may be interested in lending a hand in? (No strings, of course, I am just looking to dialog at this point.) To my knowledge, there is no such venue at the present time. There are "religious" film festivals of sorts, but they are generally NOT competitive, juried exhibitions.

If any of this interests you, or if you'd care to share any other thoughts, please drop me a note! And keep up the good work!
Eric Walusis Dayton, OH

IT SURE SCARED ME...
Subject: RosemarysBaby
Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2002
From: Catty

I have read all the above comments and don't have much else to add, except SEE it. If you are a fan of suspense and a true lover of movies, you will be glued to your screen. When my heart stops pounding so hard, I want to watch it again - a really good movie bears another viewing. SCARY!!! You will run to your Bible and start reading to get some relief.

Please don't post my email address.

FINALLY!
Subject: ET_The_Extra_Terrestrial
Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002
From: Nowak

I've been coming to this site for years and ive always been hoping to see your review of this one. I really understood the deeper meaning of ET a couple of years ago. Nobody ever believed me when I told them about it. They all just said "it was a coincidence" Anyway, your review was great. It looks like you got just about everything. I have 2 things that I believe you missed though. The "gold," "frankincense," and "myrrh," in the movie were the reeses pieces, the baseball, and the pizza. These were all left for ET at the big shed or........ "the stable" Also, Jesus is always with us.....He is in us. It shows this in the movie. The boys name is Eliot. The first and last letters of his name are ET. E lio T. Great Review!

YUCK
Subject: Se7en
Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002
From: Mollie

I could have lived my entire life without seeing Se7en. I felt dirty when I left the theater. I think this is definitely a movie for "whatever is pure, whatever is holy. . .think on these things." I don't think Christians should have the images from that movie in their heads, and I'm sorry I saw it. I don't have to see that movie to know that this world is totally out of whack. Seeing the movie simply made me feel sick. It didn't help anything. I recommend to everyone to run screaming from this movie. It is not good for our brains or our hearts.

HMMMM
Subject: Church_is_Irrelevant-News31
Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002
From: Susan

I don't think the Bible would back the idea of CHURCH being irrelevant. Maybe our current FORM of church is, but not the biblical idea of church!

IMAGES
Subject: Images_and_Post_Modern
Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002
From: Susan

I like your look at pre-Modern vs. post-Modern, and the connection to the images. And, that you point out that we've "exxed" out the spiritual world, etc. I agree, even to the point that we "forget" about the Holy Spirit bcs we're afraid we're gonna "get spiritual" or something! Heavens to Murgatroid, listen to me, and I'm a Baptist!

But, there is more to why protestants rejected the icons ... it is the whole Catholic (pre-protestant) belief in the idea/power of "saints" (and even Mary)and the tendency we humans have to quicly make idols out of icons. This can be seen "live" in places like South America and the Philippines, where animist beliefs of the past are alive and well in STATUES, icons of the saints and Mary, etc. Icons in and of themselves are not "evil" - it is when WE give them more value or power than they own that they get our minds and hearts off the main thing. And, if I remember my history anywhere near as well as you do, protestants were SO SICK of all the crud in the RC church at the time that our rejection of art and decoration in the church was the result, even in there being no Jesus on a protestant cross, etc. So, while I think there is this fear of spiritual stuff in the modern church, it also comes out of some basic protestant theology about what is an idol and who is a saint and man's unending tendency to forget God, and so forth.

And, on another topic, does anyone out there KNOW how to talk Jesus to the current generation - genX and the busters, etc.? I mean, it seems to me that there can't be a EUCATASTROPHE (or however that's spelled!) without someone to tell 'em! (see, I'm a boomer and I am clueless about anything beyond about 1980, bcs I turned 30 then and untrustable!)

Yak, yak, yak.
SRCravey

CHRISTLIKE LOVE
Subject: A Beautiful Mind
Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2002
From: Nancy

Thank you for the insight regarding the Christlike love of Alicia for John. I think that Hansen was also Christlike in his forgiveness, love, and acceptance of his former rival.

Also, I appreciate the respectful portrayal of the psychiatric treatment that John Nash received. Psychiatric medications, which are among the major medical achievements of the 20th century, have helped so many people. Yet, as A Beautiful Mind demonstrates, human beings (spouses, friends, doctors) embodying Christ's love can create miracles. Nancy Errebo

SO MUCH FUN
Subject: Vanilla Sky
Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2002
From: Wes

Has anyone postulated that the whole movie might be simply one of David Ames dreams? I remember at the beginning hearing, "open your eyes" and expecting Cameron Diaz's voice, but it didn't seem to sound like her. (Later on I thought maybe it was Penelope Cruz's voice). As well, at the end all we see is Cruise's eye open, his right eye if I remeber correctly. This is important because I thought the right eye was the one that was disfigured a bit, but it didn't look disfigured at the end. "Tech Support" said they had the technology to fix it, but he didn't say that they had fixed it. That would make me think that Aames was not actually waking up at some later date after a horrendous accident, but was instead waking up from his real life back in the present. I would suppose that this guessing is what the writer's intended and that even they don't know (or would prefer not telling) what the outcome really is (or even if there really is o! ne). I think that's what makes the movie so much fun, and interesting.

WHY?
Subject: Touched_By_An_Angel
Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2002
From: Ray Haynes

Why did "Touch By An Angel" get put on Saturday nights where it is put on the back burner when other special programs come up. I miss being able to watch the show. I love the show. This show displays how we people sometimes question God's plan and blame him for the things that happen to us. It reminds me how God never turns from us but just the opposite. I know it is just a TV show, but it so close to reality. So I really miss not watching the show. PLease consider going back to Sunday nights.
Ray Haynes

ALL TIME FAVOURITE
Subject: Simon Birch
Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002
From: "DanielChoy"

Simon Birch is most definitely my all time favourite movie - guaranteed to give my tear ducts a very good clean each and every time I watch it. I played the movie recently at a "All You Can Weep" video day and all my colleagues ( who are non Christian) were bawling uncontrollably. Some even made comments and had questions about the themes of God and faith and were genuinely interested in knowing more.

WONDERFUL REVIEW
Subject: Amelie
Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2002
From: "Simon Remark"

great review darrel... i really loved this movie. i thought it was one of the year's best. it was such a joy to watch, as you mentioned, and it was so beautiful watching Amelie overcome a sad childhood to bring others so much joy. keep up the good work, i thoroughly enjoy the insight and perspective you offer in your reviews!
simon remark

PLEASE
Subject: Vanilla sky
Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2002
From: Mary

There are so many of us that have not gone to movies is such a long time. I pray they make more wholesome movies, please tell them too. I went for the first time to see Tom Cruise in Vanilla sky, yes I walked out, my girls were shocked, I did that Hey they Followed, Now you can see why there is a market for us out there. I took a chance and lost. I will never attend a movie that Tom is in again. He has had a couple real losers I hear.
Good Luck and God Bless,
Mary

BEAUTFUL MIND, BEAUTIFUL LIE
Subject: Beautiful Mind
Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2002
From: Jeff

Let's be honest-- this film is NOT about the real John Nash! As stated in the NY TIMES:

He was notorious among his colleagues for his antisocial temperament and his predilection for cruel put-downs and dangerous practical jokes.

Before he married Alicia, with whom he had a son named John, he fathered another child, also named John, with a woman named Eleanor Stiers, and abandoned both mother and child to poverty. He formed a number of intense, apparently sexual bonds with other men, and he lost his security clearance and his position at the RAND Corporation after he was arrested for soliciting sex in a men's room in Santa Monica, Calif. When his illness became intractable and his behavior intolerable, Alicia divorced him. (They remarried last June.)

None of this has made it to the screen. Worse, the intellectual and political context that would throw both Mr. Nash's genius and his madness into high relief has been obliterated. "A Beautiful Mind" opens with a speech by the fictitious Professor Helinger (Judd Hirsch), declaring that American mathematicians, having played an important part in the defeat of Nazi Germany, must now turn their attention to defeating Soviet Communism. of this Article ------ Now THAT would have been a movie!

CHRIST AND BRUCE
Subject: Dragon
Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2002
From: Al

I really liked Steve's comments regarding Christ and Bruce Lee and Adrienne's comments too. After much thought (I am a martial artist who is a Christian) I can see that the plain Bible verses they queoted are easy to understand. Jesus is the only Way and really has nothing to do with martial arts ... the only martial arts that Jesus will practice I guess, will be when he comes at the Battle of Armageddon to destroy the combined armies of the world turning against Israel. Tha's why I decided to quit all the martial arts and become a true believer in Christ ... without all the anger, "self-defence" and wasted fees to the supposed 'sifus, senseis' and other false 'masters'. How do you like that DAVID? God loves you and so do we.....
WARMLY Al

BRUCE LEE: BEST OF THE BEST... ?
Subject: Dragon
Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2002
From: REN TAO

I couldn't help but notice how many of you took offense at my clear and plain comparison of Bruce Lee and his life with the words of Jesus. I expected this to happen anyway but if you were to ask Bruce Lee TODAY if he believed in Jesus Christ ... he would definitely say YES.

You see... there are no unbelievers in hell ... they are all believers now. If you really need to be convinced try this internet connection:
type in: Bruce Lee...Best of the Best...?
Christopher D. Hess
click on and be convinced

Best regards
REN TAO

TOOL
Subject: tool Tool_Lateralus
Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2002
From: Hugo Alonso Marenco

You guys should listen to "Opiate", in case you haven't CHROMA KEY : 'You Go Now' http://www.chromakey.com/

NEWFOUNDLAND!
Subject: THE SHIPPING NEWS
Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2002
From: "leola haley"

Hi, I just read your review on THE SHIPPING NEWS and i wanted to point out a mistake you have made. The movie was filmed in Newfoundland which is a province in Canada. Nova Scotia is another seperate province in canada. we have provinces whereas you have states.Newfoundland is NOT in Nova Scotia. It is an entirely different part of the country.The film, in fact, was shot in a small fishing village in Newfoundland, Canada. I just thought I would let you know this fact in case you wanted to correct this mistake.
Thank You.
Leola Haley
( a proud Newfoundlander)

Response: Thanks! We fixed the error, it was in the synopsis supplied by the studio.-David

BEAUTIFUL MIND NOT HURT BY CHANGES
Subject: Beautiful Mind
Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2002
From: "J. Mike Mansfield"

I did not know that the Nashes had been divorced and remarried nor about his having fathered an illegitimate child. I do not find those facts to influence my opinion of this film, though, David. This was a love story; and it was a reminder of me not only that "love never fails;" but also that ".....love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If one offered for love all the wealth of one's house, it would be utterly scorned."
Mike J. Michael Mansfield,
Pastor Mt. Holly United Methodist Church
804 Mt. Holly Road Fairdale KY 40118
502-366-5781
My Yahoo Calendar http://calendar.yahoo.com/revjmike
Feed the hungry in the world. Visit "The Hunger Site" each day. http://www.thehungersite.com/

BEST KIND
Subject: Spy_Kids
Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2002
From: Sergio

The best kind of kid´s movie, in my opinion, is the one the actually makes kids gather empty cardboard boxes, colored paper, glue and other things, to build their own submarines, helicopters and jets - build their own toys, create, draw "Flooglies" and all those exciting things you can do with your imagination.

That´s one of the best things I see in SPY KIDS.

BRAVO!
Subject: Bravo! Moulin_Rouge
Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2002
From: Rev. Dean

I watched the video of MR last night and have not been able to get the movie out of my mind. I wondered why that was so until I read your brilliant review. Now I know. There are meanings within meanings that I probably would have somehow worked out eventually after seeing it several times but with your help I can move a bit quicker. I'm going to recommend it to every adult in my church and suggest a discussion group over coffee.
Thanks. Rev. Dean

GREAT INFO!
Subject: Fellowship_of_the_Ring_movie
Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2002
From: Teetee

Thanks for giving great info!!!!I'm 11 years old and have an "anime" cartoon of Elijah Wood[Frodo]I'm an art teacher and love the movie and books.

LYRICS FOR "NO ONE LIKE YOU" & FILM COMMENTS
Subject: Powder
Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2002
From: Weed

Greetings. . .from one who stumbled onto this site in my search for the (presumably) beautiful lyrics by David Zippel to the Jerry Goldsmith tune used in the movie "Powder". I have Sarah Brightman's CD; unfortunately neither I nor any of my listening friends can discern all of the lyrics (either the male spoken monologue at the beginning or Ms. Brightman's). CAN ANYONE HELP, PLEASE? -- I LOVED the movie and from what I can gleen from the lyrics, it's a beautiful song which ties into the movie's theme. As all comments on any movie come from the unique perspective of one's own existence, we can probably all learn something about the greater human spirit by reading others' opinions. I am a gay man and also an agnostic who places all his hopes and faith in the boundless possibility of the human spirit to ultimately do good. I blame the incredible natural universe for the magnificent biology and evolution which have placed us on this amazing Earth. We have the power within our species to learn, develop, love and achieve "heaven" during each of our lives--and obviously, we have the capacity--through greed, selfishness, and fear--to create "hell" for ourselves and those around us. But enough about me. . .back to the movie--it reinforces MY philosophy that we are all connected through an incredible energy field which can result in both good and bad--and we have some say in the matter. Powder has achieved a level of genius/consciousness which puts him in the awkward position of seeing and knowing more than the average homo sapien. The beautifully written film portrays so much of the pain which any of us can experience during those episodes when we have an insight into life which is different from those who may view us with scorn (OK--there's the allusion to my being gay)

My take on the sherrif's son is that HE is gay and the family is fractured since he came out and left home. His return during his mother's illness and subsequent death is a beautiful opportunity to show the power of love, compassion and understanding which Powder encouraged in the sherrif. So, to sum this up, the movie "Powder" validates my belief that we each (if we're lucky) have between 50 and 100 years or so to be amazed and fulfilled by the earth and all its inhabitants and we can revel in that by generously sharing love and joy and consciously choosing to love the environment, clean up our trash, and reject materialism. If we acknowledge our common humanity and dwell on the wonderful connections we have through a natural energy field, Einstein's dream of a peaceful world abiding by the laws of physics and nature may still be a possibility. My friends tell me I'm amazingly spiritual for an agnostic--I guess we're each full of mystery and surprise! Thanks for this opportunity to reflect on. . .LIFE--and thanks for helping me find those lyrics!

NEWFOUNDLAND IS A PROVINCE!
Subject: The Shipping News
Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2002
From: "Heather Clarke"

Whoever wrote this commentary screwed up the location. It's not "the fishing village Newfounldland, Nova Scotia". Newfoundland and Nova scotia are both seperate provinces(provinces=states) within the country, Canada.In "The Shipping News" , the small fishing village is called Killack Claw ( reference to Quoyle's Point also) , Newfoundland. Hope this helps clarify things.
Jodie Clarke
St. John's, Newfoundland

Response: Thanks! We fixed the error, it was in the synopsis supplied by the studio.-David

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