http://cinemagogue.com redefining entertainment Sat, 19 May 2012 20:07:55 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 engaging and exploring the connection between film, narrative, spirituality, creativity and Creator, images and imaging God. Join James Harleman, writer and speaker on narrative and its connective chords between all storytelling and the story of which we're all a part. Find new depths in what it means to be "entertained" and the reasons why stories (whether they're simple or complex, Citizen Kane or Harold and Kumar, touch our hearts and minds. Pastor James Harleman clean Pastor James Harleman jh@marshill.com jh@marshill.com (Pastor James Harleman) ...redefining "entertainment" religion, tv, film, spirituality, Mars Hill Church, movie reviews, Christianity, Christian Movie Reviews +http://cinemagogue.com/rss.png http://cinemagogue.com/category/reviews-by-genre/musical-reviews-by-genre/ http://cinemagogue.com/2008/11/07/509/ http://cinemagogue.com/2008/11/07/509/#comments Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:30:47 +0000 James http://voxpopnetwork.com/cinemagogue/?p=509 http://cinemagogue.com/2008/11/07/509/feed/ 0   - Sweeney Todd was a fictional character first appearing in penny dreadfuls in 1846. The "Demon Barber of Fleet Street" has seen several incarnations since then, from Stephen Sondheim to most recently Tim Burton's film adaptation of the musical.   Sweeney Todd was a fictional character first appearing in penny dreadfuls in 1846. The "Demon Barber of Fleet Street" has seen several incarnations since then, from Stephen Sondheim to most recently Tim Burton's film adaptation of the musical. The character even transcended fiction and is now an urban legend; while there is no historical account for this barbarous barber, a few spurious claims have led many to assume the story is based on true events akin to Jack the Ripper.  This story's longevity and it's focus on depravity raise some interesting questions, as the character is sinned against and abused by others. Is Sweeney wrong to want justice? Is violent retribution ever an answer, and why do our souls cry out against evil but so often beget evil in response? Power, sanity, greed, and institutional corruption in the film expose the human condition and make us take a hard look at the human creature, contrast so oddly by the fact that it's set to music and has a lyrical quality that creates a cavalier, unsettling juxtaposition. As my friend Scott Philips suggested " I have to admit, this movie is <em>off</em>. Maybe it’s because the film is a musical about eating people; or maybe it’s because of the throat-cutting montage; maybe it’s as simple as the director’s stark use of color throughout the film: dirty grays, off white’s, and endless black. I suppose it’s probably all of these things, but it’s something more, too. There is an "off"-ness to the film that reminds you how awful life can be, especially for those who don’t know Christ. And this is what my day needed: an exhortation via film and teaching that there is something "off" about life this side of eternity, reminding us to wait in hope, and in faith, for the kingdom that is to come." Pastor James Harleman clean http://cinemagogue.com/2008/10/12/the-second-time-its-all-for-one/ http://cinemagogue.com/2008/10/12/the-second-time-its-all-for-one/#comments Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:57:28 +0000 James http://voxpopnetwork.com/cinemagogue/?p=411 http://cinemagogue.com/2008/10/12/the-second-time-its-all-for-one/feed/ 0 http://cinemagogue.com/2008/09/11/were-all-in-this-together/ http://cinemagogue.com/2008/09/11/were-all-in-this-together/#comments Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:52:24 +0000 James http://voxpopnetwork.com/cinemagogue/?p=256 http://cinemagogue.com/2008/09/11/were-all-in-this-together/feed/ 1 http://cinemagogue.com/2008/04/16/we-all-want-happily-ever-after/ http://cinemagogue.com/2008/04/16/we-all-want-happily-ever-after/#comments Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:04:59 +0000 James http://voxpopnetwork.com/cinemagogue/2008/04/16/we-all-want-happily-ever-after/ http://cinemagogue.com/2008/04/16/we-all-want-happily-ever-after/feed/ 0 Fairy Tales: Folly or Faith? An audio exploration of Enchanted by Pastor James Harleman - Enchanted intrigued me as it hit squarely on one of my favorite narrative dichotomies in Hollywood storytelling... Fairy Tales: Folly or Faith? An audio exploration of Enchanted by Pastor James Harleman Enchanted intrigued me as it hit squarely on one of my favorite narrative dichotomies in Hollywood storytelling... what I affectionately call "Life Under the Sun" and "Life Beyond the Sun" films. These worlds collide in Enchanted in what I think is one of Disney’s strongest achievements to date – cinematically combining elements of their best animated and live productions into a self-effacing pageant that comments on both their wonder, their humor, they’re syrup, and also our own earthly disenchantment without them. Whether it's the seemingly naive Giselle or the Carrie Underwood song that closes the film, it's apparent that we want to believe in fairy tale endings but many of us, like Robert in the film, believe that "The lovey-dovey version that you talk about – it’s fantasy. And one day you have to wake up and you’re in the REAL world.” What if neither of them are wrong? What if BOTH worlds are true? While not dismissing the toils and legitimate brokenness of this life, the Christian knows that the Universe is a Love Story, the fabric of our very existence is the pages on which it is written, and the hero is Jesus Christ. Christians can rest in the calm assurance that Giselle has... that everlasting love is real, that happily ever after IS possible. The Christian existence is one of restored WONDER, true love that provides endurance in this life and the promise of eternity. Although sometimes poorly caging God's wonder in systematics and bullet points, scripture is replete with the true fantastical nature of both our Storyteller AND Savior. As the fairy tale believes in "destiny", Romans 8 proclaims the beautiful story of God's love as destined. It goes on to tell us: "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Philosopher G.K. Chesterton describes sanity as the result of a tension between two extremes (in fact, two poles). Christ is the pinion around which these poles spin. This holds the reality of Giselle’s world and Robert’s world in tension. Giselle’s humble assurance transforms Robert, Morgan, Nancy, and saves the Banks’ marriage. If our affection for our Creator, Lord and Savior were more evident – if we were indeed enchanted with our Lord in a deep and genuine way – perhaps more people would hunger after the music in OUR hearts. For more on the movie, the language of heaven, and (sorry guys) why men have to repent and start loving musicals, I encourage you to listen to the audio review. Pastor James Harleman clean