Monday, April 2, 2007

X-Files Season 3 ep: 11 Revelations Faith In Film Series

The following is a follow up from a previous presentation. We will follow up the Faith In Film Meeting Presentations with these follow up reports. This will include some of the conversation topics as well as input from attendees. Feel free to use this material but please give credit to Mike Furches / The Virtual Pew and the respective web sites http://www.thevirtualpew.com/ and http://www.furches.org/. I would also be interested in any follow up thoughts from this particular presentation.

Faith In Film

An Innovative Group with a Focus on Using Culture & the Arts to Discover Spiritual Truths.

The X-Files, Season 3 Episode 11, Revelations

For More Information Call: 316-788-1961 or -258-3952 or email mike@thevirtualpew.com or mike@furches.org Mike is also available to teach these presentations in person. Contact him for more information on hosting him in your church, group, or organization.

Introduction:

What Is The Faith In Film Series? It is a form of a Small Group with a focus on discussing spiritual truths that exist in the arts, not just film. We realize all truth comes from God and God’s truths are often spoken about in culture. Jesus used parables to teach spiritual truths. The Bible states, “He never taught them anything without first telling them stories.” Mark 4:33, 34. Movies, books, television, and music are the most popular form of storytelling today; using these media we will look for ways to deepen our faith as well as finding ways to share spiritual truths with the unchurched.

Your Facilitator: Mike Furches has been using the arts to share culturally relevant truths with those in the church, and unchurched for over 15 years. Recognized as one of the leaders across the country in this area he is adequately prepared to present this in a small group or larger setting. Mike currently writes for one of the most visited review web sites in the world, Hollywood Jesus. He also facilitates and operates an online community of faith called The Virtual Pew.

What will we do? We will watch all kinds of movies, television shows, and listen to all kinds of music. The focus will be on popular arts within the non Christian sector. Some of these will be ‘R’ Rated and will include discussion while at times looking at adult themes. We will also post the discussions and various programs on line for review.

Who can come or visit the online presentation? Anyone and everyone that is age appropriate. This is a great opportunity to invite unchurched friends or those who are open to these types of themes. Small children should not attend for obvious reasons. Media that has more of an adult theme will be announced in advance.

How often will we meet? We will meet or post 2 – 3 times a month. A calendar of meeting times will be made available. You can also access information about the events through
http://www.thevirtualpew.com/. You may also email regarding a schedule of events to mike@thevirtualpew.com. Regular meetings in the Wichita KS area will be announced as will publication of meetings in other locals that are hosting these events.

The X-Files Season 3 Episode 11 – Revelations
Directorial, Script and Production Intent

There are some searches for spiritual truth in the arts that are easy, others that are difficult. One of the easy ones which we will start with is The X-Files. We will start with one that is easy to help illustrate and move on i to harder ones in the future.

When watching film, or listening to music, notice the names included in that program or song. Recognize that the producers, writers and others involved realize things like this and often times leave clues in the script to help illustrate certain points. Believe me, they don’t spend the millions they do on films or songs without some thought. One thing often used is name association.

A Couple of examples of name association include movies like The Green Mile. The lead character is named John Carpenter. Notice that Jesus Christ has the same initials JC thus the Messiah Character or Christ Figure association with the character John Carpenter. There are many other movies where this takes place, most notable is Superman with associations of Clark Kent, or Superman. Some of those associations include, Light of the World, Comes from Heaven, can perform supernatural feats, has a mother Martha, similar to Jesus’ Mary, a father John similar to Jesus’ Joseph, he is raised as a poor working man, and there are many more comparisons that can be made.

In This episode of the X-Files we see other associations like this if we look a little deeper than the entertainment only value which the episode has.

The X-Files is essentially an exploration and search for truth. Many have focused on UFO’s and Supernatural because of Fox Mulders’ fascination. They often forget about the search of Dana Scully regarding issues of faith. When the opening scenes of the X-Files states “The Truth is Out There,” they expect an exploration of evidence, leaving the conclusions to the viewer. The exploration is not just the search of Fox Mulder, but also the search of Dana Scully.

Use of light, animals and surroundings.

The use of light, animals and surroundings will have an impact on the message the writer/producer/director is trying to send. We can see this in most all productions and stories.

Light will often symbolize life, hope, and potential.

Animals, especially birds, will symbolize faith, hope, redemption and more. When doves are used, you will note specific reference to Judeo Christian values. Note in these situations, it is not always a positive note but one that the viewer or listener should take into consideration.

Images, in the background will have significant influence. Religious imagery, crosses, Jesus and so forth symbolize a great deal of imagery, specific to Christianity. They will often tell us something about the inner thoughts and/or concerns of the character who is presently being focused in that particular scene.

Notice use of light in this particular episode of X-Files Revelations. Often we see Fox Mulder in the shadows, in the dark, especially in scenes involving discussion of religious symbolism. On the other hand Dana Scully and Kevin Kryder are depicted in the light or with having images of light shine on them. This is also especially true of another character in the film, Owen. Michael Berryman a popular character actor featured in many horror films, such as The Devil’s Rejects, The Hills Have Eyes and so forth plays the part of Owen. He has stated that this particular part is one of his favorite roles of all time.

There are also certain camera angel views where we see things like the cross as a primary point of reference in a scene. Often the symbol of the cross can be from a crucifix, grave yard marker, or possibly in some situations from an old telephone pole on the side of a highway that resembles a cross.

In this particular episode of The X-Files there is the name association mentioned above:

Kevin(5) Kryder(6) – Jesus(5) Christ(6) – Simon(5) Gates(5) – Devil(5) Satan(5)

While many may think this is coincidence they can do several name checks and see the difficulty of this just being random. It is obvious that the producers intend to present the associations with the characters mentioned above

Other Associations Regarding Kevin Kryder

Kevin Kryder is a young boy who takes on the marks of Jesus during the crucifixion. It should be noted that while this was a Christmas Episode for the X-Files, that not only did it present a Christ figure as a small boy, but it also focused on the crucifixion marks of Christ. The following are but a few of the associations the producers make regarding Kevin.

Kevin Kryder – Chosen by God
Kevin Kryder – Gift of Numbers (is gifted)
Kevin Kryder – Can transport as a spirit
Kevin Kryder – A Small Boy, who came as a child
Kevin Kryder – A young boy who will be responsible for the salvation of the earth when he is older
Kevin Kryder – Able to see into the future regarding events in the life of those around him



Spiritual Truths and Images in X-Files Revelations

Prior to even looking at the opening credits, one must realize, this is a “Christmas” Episode. There was an obvious greater focus on faith issues, and this episode specific to Christian concepts.

When having guests or friends over you can find ways to share your faith by using a film like this. You can look at the Christmas season as being a prime time to discuss spiritual issues. You may want to take advantage of Tivo, DVR, VHS or something of that nature top record various programs where you know themes like this are going to be present. Spiritual themes are often common during the Christmas Season, but they are not exclusive to only the Christmas season. One of my favorite programs, The Sopranos is often filled with spiritual themes, despite what many may think, it may be possible to strike up a spiritual conversation from a program like the Sopranos or The X-Files than most any religious programming we can think of.

In Opening Credits and Introduction of The X-Files we have to ask ourselves what is the comment on every episode of The X-Files, except one? “The Truth is Out There.” At this point we can ask, “How does one discover truth?”

Note that in this particular episode the very opening scene is entirely on the cross as it scans to Reverend Patrick Findley. It is as the camera scans to Reverend Findley that we hear one of the most important sentences in any particular program, the first sentence. Reverend Findley states: “God tests our faith so that we may not take it for granted.” We know from this point on, this episode is going to be about issues of faith. A great question one can ask of others, or themselves at this point is, “How do we take faith for granted?” And we can ask, “How does God test our faith?”

As in many episodes of The X-Files the conflict between Science and Faith, and the cynicism involved is up front and center. We will see that conflict throughout this episode in many ways, in ways that we can even look at our own lives and begin to ask ourselves spiritual questions that can cause us to reflect. Some of those types of questions we can ask follow:

When looking at miracles do we look at them or just accept them? In other words do we even accept the existence of miracles? If so, What is perceived as a miracle? We can also ask ourselves is there evidence of a fake miracles like we see demonstrated in this episode? How do others who aren’t Christians, or searching for spiritual truth react to those fakes? How do we as people of faith or followers of Jesus respond to those who are fakes? Then for the skeptics, they have to ask, is there evidence of real miracles? Then they must ask themselves a series of questions that would cause them to reflect on their own unique perspective.

One of the primary religious focus points for this episode is the rare phenomena called Stigmata. Stigmata is a real anomalies or occurrence. It is unexplainable, but they do occur with people of deep religious faith, specific to Christianity. Stigmata are bodily marks, sores, or sensations of pain in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus. The term originates from the line at the end of Saint Paul's Letter to the Galatians where he says, "I bear on my body the marks of Jesus", with "marks" in the Latin Vulgate are rendered as "stigmata". An individual bearing stigmata is referred to as a stigmatic.

When looking at Stigmata, one needs to realize that there is a great deal of debate regarding the actual event of stigmata. There seems to be as much evidence supporting it as there is referring to the hoaxes that have also been proven. There are several well known individuals who have been reported to have experienced Stigmata, some such as St. Francis of Assisi.

In this episode of the X-Files there is a scene when Fox and Dana are going to Mr. Kryder regarding Kevin, that Mr. Kryder, Kevin’s dad tells Skully and Maulder, “He is bleeding.” They ask, how did you know?” He responds, “Because the faithful know.” This opens up a unique perspective on the issue of faith. There are also many comparisons and points of spiritual conversation that can come about as a result of this particular scene.

Mr. Kryder at one point states, that he is merely a messenger for his son. There was another famous messenger who had many of the same characteristics as Mr. Kryder. He was also presented as being crazy by many just as Mr. Kryder is perceived here. That association was John the Baptist. We can ask ourselves and others questions from the example displayed by Mr. Kryder. Some of those follow:
How is Mr. Kryder treated for his faith?
How relevant is that today for Christians who display faith?
Mr Kryder also states, “The forces of darkness have been watching him; they want to claim all souls.”
How accurate is this statement? Are there those who want to claim all souls?
What are the forces of darkness?

There is also a detailed scene where Mr. Kryder talks about the battle of Armageddon. Armageddon is known by some as the ultimate, “war between good and evil.” We can ask here, what is good? What is evil? If this battle is a real battle, what ways can it occur? Who will be effected by that battle? Is it possible that the battle will or can occur in ways different than what many Christians have perceived?

On this particular scene there is a deleted scene of Mr. Kryder speaking in tongues. Tongues have two present forms as known by Christians, they are in most simple terms, the language of angels, or unknown languages. The later would be illustrated as if were to all of a sudden start speaking in Russian when I in reality don’t know Russian. Here it is as if God’s Spirit suddenly gave me the ability to speak Russian. In this case there would be one around who would be able to interpret Russian for those around who didn’t know Russian. This person is often called an interpreter of tongues.

While many don’t believe in or understand tongues, it is generally a wide held belief that tongues is a gift from the Holy Spirit. There is a great deal of debate as to types, who has the gift, so forth. All of that aside in this particular episode, in the deleted scene we see that Scully can give an interpretation of the tongues that Mr. Kryder speaks. We also see Mulders’ inability to understand the language Mr. Kryder spoke.

Shortly thereafter we see the introduction of Owen. A former gardener who had a relationship with the family. In the first scene of Owen we see him as a beast, possibly even evil because there is not much understanding of him at the initial point. We could ask ourselves or others, is it possible to see good things as evil? Or even, see evil things as good? Many times one will see good as evil, or evil as good, why does this occur?

In one of the early scenes we see Owen carving an ark and its animals. The first animal we see Owen with is a dove. What does the dove represent, in relation to faith issues? Early on one will ask themselves, what is Owen, human or something else? It doesn’t take any imagination to realize that Owen is an angel. In one scene he even refers to himself as Kevin’s Guardian Angel. What are your thoughts about angels? Do they exist? Is there such a thing as Guardian Angels? What are they, what is their role and purpose?

Later on we see Owen in an attic with Fox and Dana, here we see and hear Owen’s comment on the crucifix Scully is wearing. He challenges her with the fact that at one time she had to have a belief in God. All through the series, all seasons of The X-Files the crucifix is a central part of Scully’s outfit and has a reoccurring theme regarding her faith and her search for faith. In this particular episode Owen directly challenges Dana with her belief and practice of what the crucifix represents.

Owen tells Dana and Fox that he is called to help Kevin. He is asked who has called him to help and he responds, God! From this point, this scene there are additional questions we can ask:
Does God give specific purpose to those who follow him?
Are there things God has called you to do?
How do we know God’s call?
How do we respond to the call of God?

There is a wonderful dialog, as mentioned earlier in the scene between several of the characters here, specifically Owen, Fox, and Dana. One of the points of conversation has to do with belief, faith. We are asked the question by Fox, is believing enough? (miracles, God, etc…) Owen gives a startling answer about this question. He states, “Even the killer believes.” This is almost directly out of the Bible when looking at the fact that even the Devil believes in the works and miracles of Jesus, but belief, in and of itself is not enough.

It becomes clear that Owen is not afraid of death. We see this in a self serving sacrifice and an effort that he truly desires to be in Heaven. He has no desire to go to Heaven though until he has accomplished his purpose in life. We do, unfortunately though see Owen give himself up to save Kevin. In the scene where we see him dead, we see a peace on his face, even a smile as if he had something to look forward to as a result of death. We also see that Owen is indeed a heavenly creature as his body does not decompose; he maintains the same body temperature even some hours after death and while in the morgue. This illustrates that Owen is different, that he is indeed an angel. Although Owen is an angel, we can ask ourselves the question of what happens at death? How do we respond? What happens to the soul? Do we have hope? Do we have fear?

Simon Gates is the killer who has been seeking to bring about the death of the one true messiah figure. Remember that Simon Gates has the same letters as Devil and Satan. There are many ways Gates resembles the Devil. He also uses the name of one of the Devils known disciples and followers when he has rented a car. He is able to deal with heat and fire. He is also able to indwell another’s body. He is known to destroy that which is good and has the intent to bring about Armageddon. The Bible also tells people about the point that Hell is a place where there is gnawing and gnashing of teeth. Notice the ultimate destruction that befalls Gates, he goes through a place where there is gnawing and gnashing of teeth.

One of the things evident in this particular episode is the signs that are used to communicate truths and direction, specifically to Dana Scully. One of the reoccurring themes is the concept of , “coming full circle.” Not only is there a direct symbol used on how to find Kevin once he is kidnapped, there is a reoccurring theme for Scully in her own search for her issues related to faith. When watching the episode it is important to watch how the full circle sign come about. It is also good if watching the DVD to watch the deleted scene for this particular episode. Is it possible that God intended her to be the only one that was to hear this sign, in other words the events were specific for her, from a personal God, who personally cares for Dana Scully. If watching the episode and discussing it with others it is important to look at how Scully interprets this particular sign. This raises up other appropriate questions that we can relate to if we are on a spiritual search for truth. Some of those questions could include:
How does God speak to people?
If God is speaking to you, does that mean that others will see it or recognize it?
Did Fox Mulder believe and see the same things that Scully did?
How do we respond to those who don’t see or view the same things we do?

As mentioned earlier, a reoccurring theme for this particular episode is, “What is faith?” How does Scully demonstrate faith? There are numerous other characters in the episode though that also demonstrate faith, how do they show that they are willing to act on their faith? One can also ask about Fox Maulder in the episode and ask themselves of the things he places his faith in. Why is he so inclined to place faith in some things, but not others? We can also ask ourselves if we are people that act on faith, or we have to have some “obvious” sign. While many followers of Jesus state they are people of faith, the truth is, that most of us are more like Fox Maulder than we are Dana Scully. We must realize and look at the fact that we may have more evidence that we are not people of faith, than we have that we are people of faith.

There is a scene in the program that I call Scully’s Sermon. Look at the dialog from the script.
SCULLY: Yesterday, I saw Kevin's hands. They were bleeding from identical wounds on the top as on the bottom ... just like in the crucifixion.
MULDER: Scully ...
SCULLY: There have been other signs. I haven't said anything until now, because I haven't been sure ... and I'm still not sure.
MULDER: Sure of what exactly?
SCULLY: How Kevin was able to be in two places at once ... just like St. Ignatius was able to do in the Bible.
MULDER: That was in the Bible. It's a parable, it's a metaphor for the truth, not the truth itself. Why didn't Kevin conveniently bi-locate when Owen Jarvis abducted him from the shelter.
SCULLY: How is it that you're able to go out on a limb whenever you see a light in the sky, but you're unwilling to accept the possibility of a miracle? Even when it's right in front of you.
MULDER: I wait for a miracle every day. But what I've seen here has only tested my patience, not my faith.
SCULLY: Well, what about what I've seen?

Just as in Jesus parables, there a sort of closing thought on this concept in the closing scene of the movie. The scene involves a conversation between Dana Scully and a priest while at a confession booth.
Closing scene
SCENE 17
A CONFESSION BOOTH
SCULLY: Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been six years since my last confession, and since then I've drifted away from the church. I'm not sure why exactly.
PRIEST: Have you come to confess?
SCULLY: No, um, there's a man that I work with - a friend - and usually I'm able to discuss these things with him ... but not this. Father, do you believe in miracles?
PRIEST: Of course, I see them every day ... the rising sun, the birth of a child ...
SCULLY: No, I'm talking about events that defy explanation. Things that ... I believe helped me to save a young boy's life. But now I wonder if I saw them at all. If I didn't just imagine them.
PRIEST: Why do you doubt yourself?
SCULLY: Because my partner didn't see them. He didn't ... he didn't believe them. And usually he ... he believes without question.
PRIEST: Maybe they weren't meant for him to see. Maybe they were only meant for you.
SCULLY: Is that possible?
PRIEST: With the Lord, anything is possible. Perhaps you saw these things because you needed to.
SCULLY: To find my way back?
PRIEST: Sometimes we must come full circle to find the truth. (Scully looks up at the priest) Why does that surprise you?
SCULLY: Mostly, it just makes me afraid.
PRIEST: Afraid?
SCULLY: Afraid that God is speaking ... but that no one's listening.

That last line by Scully is the closing comment of the episode. Just as an opening comment is one that challenges us to look at the theme of the episode, the closing or last comment is often one that wants us to think about the underlying theme that was just presented. That last line is a powerful line that we can ask ourselves, what if no one is listening. Does that mean that neither are we listening?

If in the Wichita area, you are welcome to attend the Faith In Film Series as mentioned above. If not able to attend, you are welcome to host an event at your location. Please note that the information here is not as the presentations actually take place. As a facilitator, the home work is done, the presentation prepared, but it is encouraged that much of the points, such as referenced here, come about through the discussion within the group settings. If wanting to see this particular episode, you are encouraged to get at your video store or possibly even a NetFlix que. You can also visit The Virtual Pew Store at http://www.thevirtualpew.com/ and type in The X-Files Season 3 in the search engine and order from there. Please note that for the first 3 meetings, we will be looking at fairly easy Spiritual Themes to identify, after that we will look more at movies, and possibly more difficult themes to identify.

Upcoming

Faith & Film Series
Meet on Saturdays at 6:00 PM on the following dates

March 31 – The X-Files Season 3 Episode 11 - Revelations
April 14 – Smallville the Origins of Superman
April 21 - TBA
May 5 - TBA
May 19 - TBA
May 26 - TBA
June 9 - TBA
June 16 - TBA
June 23 - TBA
July 14 – TBA

Now for those that do not know, make sure you check out the numerous articles and blogs by checking out the archives. If visiting The Virtual Pew or MySpace they are archived on the left hand side of the page. Scroll down to where you see newer or older listed under archives and then click there. There are hundreds of postings so make sure to check out the archives.

You can visit
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The Virtual Pew
P.O. Box
17731Wichita, KS 67217


Click on the following links to learn more about The Virtual Pew.(Please note that the links for The Virtual Pew blogs have been going through some changes and the url’s have changed.)


Scully and Faith

Rocky Balboa


In 1938 Henry Armstrong held three different championship boxing titles. He held them in the featherweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions. After he retired he became an ordained minister and focused his ministry on unprivileged youth. He also appeared in three movies and wrote his autobiography of "God Gloves, and Glory." If not knowing better one might assume that Sylvester Stallone has thought about traveling the same path as the late great Henry Armstrong. The difference is that the process is somewhat in reverse. The fact that he is using his movies to provide a spiritual message is obvious though.

Rocky Balboa is a wonderful film, and a wonderful ending to a character that is loosely based off of Stallone's own life. The fact that the last of the Rocky series is written and directed by Stallone is not lost on this one reviewer. What will be the surprise of many was not so much a surprise to me, Stallone brings us back to the character of Rocky; the one we loved in the original, and the one that has lived through various circumstances that Stallone himself has gone through. In essence, we see boxing as a metaphor for not only the life of Sylvester Stallone; we see boxing as a metaphor of all of us approaching the later stages of life. Jesus stated he never taught anything without first telling stories, Sylvester Stallone has told a story that is as rooted in faith, and moral integrity as anything coming out of Hollywood in years.

Truth is, it is virtually impossible to comment on Rocky Balboa without making reference to the Rocky's of the past. One has to go to the original Rocky, the one that garnished various Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor. In that movie Stallone in a recent interview gives indication as to what he was foreshadowing. "The character of Rocky was built on the idea that he was chosen to do something. That's why the first image in Rocky is the picture of Christ." Stallone has made it clear, that it is through God that we find our gifts, and that it is God whom we should serve when using those gifts.

From that first image in Rocky, to the continuing story of seeing him offering advice to a young Marie, telling her to not hang around certain kids, or that she will end up being a whore and not amounting to much, we see Rocky develop a tender love and compassion for those he comes into contact with. Rocky develops a love and compassion that in some ways leads to his demise at times with devastating consequences. Despite the difficulties life throws his way we see Rocky over and over come back to his senses and rekindle the love and dedication to carry and improve his situation. The love, dedication, and continual effort of the Rocky Balboa character carries on, and it is where we end up in the last film of the series, Rocky Balboa. While Rocky is questioning his own heart and his own convictions, he has reminders of the influence he has had on others.

Rocky now owns a little restaurant called Adrian's in Philadelphia. He loves telling stories of his old boxing days, always taking time to spend with an autograph seeker or anyone who has an interest in what he has done. He plays a grateful sports figure who realizes the importance of the life he has led. He knows he owes it to the fans as his blessings in life came from some place deeper than himself. We see the giving and giving continue from having around him his brother in law Pauley, who he still loves and looks out for to old fighting foe, Spider Rico, a fighter we came to know from the first Rocky. The relationships and memories do not end there though, Rocky through a series of events comes into contact with Little Maria the little girl he offered advice to in the first Rocky film. It is from this relationship that we begin to understand the heart of Rocky Balboa. Rocky's heart is one full of courage, integrity, faith and ultimately victory.

After a series of events Rocky Balboa finds himself wanting to get back into the ring. There is a beast in his stomach, or as he refers to, "in the basement," that he has yet to let out over the years. In the process of wanting to throw a few punches around, he ends up getting an invitation to fight in an exhibition match against Mason "The Line" Dixon, played quite well by real life fighter Antonio Tarver. Dixon is a unique individual because he is an undefeated champion who has lost the respect of fans. He has lost respect because the heavyweight field is not strong and many assume he has no appreciation of what he has obtained in the sport. After a computer fight between Dixon and Balboa, many begin to question even more how good Dixon is.

Through the process we see the relationship between father and son develop between Rocky and his son, Rocky Jr. played by Milo Ventimiglia. In this relationship we see of the difficulties both have gone through in life, but we also see the love and respect they have for each other. In this relationship we see a consistency with Balboa, his character really is as good as he plays out to the fans around him. While the fans are important, he truly sees value in family and they take first priority.

I could go on with the story line, but this is the place to comment on my own appreciation of the movies willingness to address a character in a strong spiritual way. Many will see this movie and not notice the spiritual attributes of Balboa, which is a shame. This is a character that from the very beginning of the series has seen value in his faith, church, family, prayer, and in scripture. Even here, we see Rocky refusing to go to battle without first hearing a passage of scripture. We see Rocky in prayer, we see him like most any other Joe on the street, except he takes his faith seriously and he chooses to live it out among those he comes into contact with, even his enemies. This love not only carries out in the way he treats other people, it is evident because we see the way he treats the animals he comes into contact with.

Is Rocky Balboa as good as Rocky? The answer to me here is obviously no. That being said, it may be the best Rocky since the original. Stallone does a great job of acting, and those who are critical of his acting methods will likely be seeing the movie because so many of their friends who have seen the movie, will come back and question their integrity. Truth is, this is the best role Stallone has played in a very long time. He has surrounded himself with a wonderful cast, provided wonderful direction, and written a beautiful script. This movie is not about boxing, it is a reminder to all of us to live life to the fullest, to get up when we are knocked down, and to do so with an attitude that we don’t care what others think. In many ways, just as boxing is a metaphor for life, this movie is a metaphor for the life many have led while growing up watching the Rocky series. It is a character we can love and appreciate; it is one that has drawn fans from all generations.

Rocky was one of the first movies I took my then girlfriend, now wife to see in 1976. It was so good we stayed and watched it twice. At the time I was a boxer and could relate to so much of what the movie was presenting. Now some 30 years later, I attended to watch the movie with my wife, and son who is 17 and a wrestler. My son, not even thought of 30 years ago fell in love with the Rocky character and watches the movies every chance he gets. He has for at least 6 or 7 years now. I can honestly say, I am honored that my son grew up admiring this character, I am even gladder that Sylvester Stallone made this final film in the series. It is a lesson on life, it is lessons on never giving up on your dreams, not for what others think of you, but for what you think and desire for yourself.

The Bible tells the Christian to love their neighbor as they love themselves. I have often had difficulty with that concept, what it means to love your self, how that relates to the way we love others. In many ways, the life struggle of Rocky Balboa illustrates that message, it illustrates it in such a way that I now have a better understanding of what that concept means. Rocky Balboa, while not a Christ figure, is certainly a role model, one that spoke to me some 30 years ago, and one that speaks to me now in my maturing adulthood. Thanks Sly, thanks for the character, and I can honestly say, Rocky will live on for as long as there is film, and people with a heart to go after their own dreams.

On a scale of 1 - 10, I am really surprised but for the 8 counts Rocky has taken over the years, only to get back up, an enthusiastic, enjoyable 8

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Oh Yea, here is that contact information again.

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Wichita, KS 67217

Or you van give on line via Pay Pal at: http://www.furches.org/donations/index.html

To become a part of The Virtual Pew, visit, http://www.thevirtualpew.com/ To learn more about me visit http://www.furches.org/ I am also active on MySpace at: http://www.myspace.com/mikefurches I have another blog at http://blog.myspace.com/mikefurches To visit the Hollywood Jesus group at MySpace with membership by numerous Hollywood Jesus reviewers visit: http://groups.myspace.com/hollywoodjesus For a more in depth weekly study and conversation you an visit: http://virtualpewsermon.blogspot.com/ where you can access deeper teaching and ultimately videos for viewing and teaching. You can also subscribe to the newsletter at http://www.thevirtualpew.com/ or see the newsletter on line at http://thevirtualpewnews.blogspot.com/ You can also sign up for the free newsletter from The Virtual Pew by visiting the main page for The Virtual Pew, or you can see the newsletters online by visiting this web site: http://thevirtualpewnews.blogspot.com/ You can contact me via email at mike@furches.org or mike@thevirtualpew.com For those interested in knowing more about my own story, contact me for a free e-copy of my book The Keystone Kid in pre-edit form.

Rocky Balboa Trailer

The Nativity Story

Sometimes I realize I am a little late, sometimes a little early. Today I realize as I write this, that at least for me, I am right on time. I also realize that my timing may not be what is best for everyone. Last night, realizing I needed a shot in the arm to get into the Christmas Spirit, I went to see The Nativity Story. While the movie has been out for sometime, I really believe the movie deserves a shot in the arm during the last weekend of Christmas. I also expect the movie will get a bump in the numbers despite the release of several expected blockbusters. It certainly deserves that shot in the arm, and my personal belief is that it would make a great Christmas Eve movie.

In some ways the movie moved me more than I expected. I know of all of the controversy surrounding the movies young star, Keisha Castle-Hughes. Frankly that controversy does not bother me. I do not know when the last time I expected a dose of morality from Hollywood, and for many within the Hollywood industry to be making such a huge deal over young Castle-Hughes real pregnancy is in my opinion hypocrisy at its worst.

For me the power of the movie was the ability to reflect on what the pregnancy of Mary meant for those around her, especially Joseph. I have heard the stories for most of my life,but I never really thought of the consequences like I did until after watching the film. In many ways, especially for the religious readers, if anything movies like The Passion and now The Nativity Story show the power of film, the power to take the persons thoughts past what they had already perceived. I believe that if truth is involved in film, no matter what type of film, we can use that truth to point others towards the realities of God.

The story focuses on various aspects, including the relationship between Mary and Elizabeth, the story and search of the wise men, and King Herrod's obsession with power and much more. The real power of the movie though has to do with the developing relationship between Mary and Joseph, and of Joseph's undying love for Mary. Wee see the willingness of the two of them to follow God's will and direction as the script plays out. Oscar Isaac does a wonderful job playing Joseph, and for me, Joseph's story becomes the focus of the movie. I thought this was likely because I was a guy, but after speaking to my wife after the movie she felt the same way.

My family was also moved by the underlying theme in the movie as to the purpose of Jesus' birth and of the power and love he had for the poor. The theme of being for the oppressed and poor is strongly presented throughout the movie; it is concluded with the narration of Mary's Magnificat where we hear about the purpose of Jesus coming to redeem the poor, and to set the captives free.

For many of us, we often get caught up in the Christmas materialism that surrounds us. Sometimes we need a reminder of what Christmas was all about, and especially what it must have been like during that first Christmas. The Christmas Nativity does a wonderful job of opening our eyes to that story. We see the story like few times before, and while the action is not great, the special effects just hardly exist, the story is intact. I promise that if seeing this movie, it is likely you will see Christmas a little differently this year, and in a much better way. I can recommend it with no hesitation and hope that for those who have not seen it, you will, I know if you do, you will have a very wonderful and Merry Christmas, because you will have a better understanding of Christmas.

On a scale of 1 - 10 I give a heartfelt 8

Now for those reading the blogs today, enjoy the videos. I am including a number of others here from different formats, but I challenge you, that despite the fact that the videos are sometimes funny, sometimes based on different themes, that the truth is, none of the videos wouldn’t exist without the birth of Christ, because without the birth of Christ, we just wouldn’t have Christmas. Now enjoy the videos, and make plans to go to the movies this week.

Now before we get to the videos today, hopefully everyone will remember to pass the blogs along to your friends. The Christmas Special blogs from TVP can help a lot of people. You can show them what we are doing by Clicking Here at this Link. They can also get in the Christmas Spirit by Clicking Here and reading about The Virtual Pew and our Christmas giving options. Also be on the lookout for my story of The Best Christmas Ever, which will be posted around Christmas Day. It is a heart tugging story, and a true testament to the power of Christmas and God. I am really looking forward to retelling this story that is true, and happened to me and my family. It has been published across the world, and I will redo the story, just for The Virtual Pew.

Now for those that do not know, make sure you check out the numerous articles and blogs by checking out the archives. If visiting The Virtual Pew or MySpace they are archived on the left hand side of the page. Scroll down to where you see newer or older listed under archives and then click there. There are numerous postings, and you will have to go into the archives to see the 100 plus postings over the last months.

Now I also want to remind you that you can visit www.thevirtualpew.com and on the front page scroll down to the left hand side of the page where you sill see our store. Your purchases through our Amazon store provides needed funds to The Virtual Pew. If you do not see something on the page to buy, you can click on the search engine for the store, (do not put anything in the search box at this time) and you will then be taken to Amazon where you can search for anything you desire. Hopefully as you shop for Christmas you will consider a gift to The Virtual Pew and/or at the very least shop our store. The items on the store page are highly recommended.

Now prior to checking out the videos for the day, here is that information, contact and contribution information regarding The Virtual Pew. Again, thanks for visiting, have a Merry Christmas or whatever holiday you celebrate. Just remember though, from The Virtual Pew, we wish you a Merry Christmas.

Contact and Giving Information

Oh Yea, here is that contact information again.

The Virtual Pew
P.O. Box 17731
Wichita, KS 67217

Or you van give on line via Pay Pal at: http://www.furches.org/donations/index.html

To become a part of The Virtual Pew, visit, http://www.thevirtualpew.com/ To learn more about me visit http://www.furches.org/ I am also active on MySpace at: http://www.myspace.com/mikefurches I have another blog at http://blog.myspace.com/mikefurches To visit the Hollywood Jesus group at MySpace with membership by numerous Hollywood Jesus reviewers visit: http://groups.myspace.com/hollywoodjesus For a more in depth weekly study and conversation you an visit: http://virtualpewsermon.blogspot.com/ where you can access deeper teaching and ultimately videos for viewing and teaching. You can also subscribe to the newsletter at www.thevirtualpew.com or see the newsletter on line at http://thevirtualpewnews.blogspot.com/ You can also sign up for the free newsletter from The Virtual Pew by visiting the main page for The Virtual Pew, or you can see the newsletters online by visiting this web site: http://thevirtualpewnews.blogspot.com/ You can contact me via email at mike@furches.org or mike@thevirtualpew.com For those interested in knowing more about my own story, contact me for a free e-copy of my book The Keystone Kid in pre-edit form.

Carol of the Bells by Claymation Christmas Special



Twisted Sister Christmas Preview



Captain Spaulding Christmas Commercial



Celine Dion The Christmas Song



Christina Aguilera David Letterman Merry Christmas Baby



WorldofWarCraft Crazy Christmas



Gordon Lightfoot Song for a Winters Night



Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds Christmas Song



Bon Jovi Please Come Home For Christmas



Elvis Presley Christmas Santa Claus



Jaci Valasquez Let It Snow



Pogues and Kiristy MaColl Fairytale of New York



Tarja Turunen White Christmas



George Winston Arrangement Carol of the Bells



Hilary Duff Santa Claus Lane



John Denver Little Drummer Boy



The Little Drummer Boy Television Special



A Little Drummer Boy, Slide Show Fan Video



Karen Carpenter John Denver



Norah Jones Don't Miss You At All



American Juniors Christmas



Jose Maria Chan Christmas Songs



Polar Express When Christmas Comes to Town



Silent Night Gackt & Ayumi

October Review Review Van Helsing

Click Here to Purchase Van Helsing

Van Helsing is one of those movies I fondly look back on as being just about everything I thought it was going to be. While it got panned by many critics, at least this one enjoyed the movie and had a great time at the theater. It is one of those movies I purchased on the first day of release even though I had already seen the movie in the theaters.

Looking back over the years, I enjoyed the movie and the slow motion options I have. Little things I wanted to verify like nail marks on the wrists of Frankenstein as he offers himself up for the salvation of those he loves. I don't recall any film critics noticing this during the initial run of the movie, but sure enough, those nail prints where there.

Since the movie Hugh Jackman has become an even bigger star. While some hated the movie, it seems as if the fans have stayed with it, still talking about how much they appreciated the story and the action. I don't think you will get bored from watching this one, even some years later. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did and find the review useful. While there are often times spiritual overtones that are a stretch, that wasn't the case in Van Helsing. So, get the DVD, get a bag of microwave popcorn, open up a bottle of Coke and enjoy the movie. Of course you may want to leave the lights on if you are afraid of things that go bump in the night.

The last two months have been heavenly for fans of old monster movies. First is the release of several of the old original movies Dracula, The Werewolf, and Frankenstein movies. Next up, Stephen Sommers, writer and director of The Scorpion King, The Mummy, The Mummy Returns and other films does tribute to the old style monsters but with a new and refreshing twist. Sommers pays tribute to the old films by using black and white footage at times and at others almost directly taking line for line from some of the old classics. Also a pleasant surprise is that while the film is violent at times, there is an obvious intent to not have a lot of blood, and or nudity. This is an apparent obvious attempt to pay tribute to the old original classics.

Included in the tale is Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Frankenstein, The Werewolf, and of course every blood suckers favorite, Dracula himself along with his three brides who happen to lead the monster ensemble. What Somers does though is have as his primary focus the hero himself, Van Helsing. Van Helsing is a hero who's faith is important and not since Wes Craven's Dracula 2000 has a movie with monsters had so many spiritual references and twists. As a result, Van Helsing could very well be the Roller Coaster Ride of the summer for movie patrons looking for a good, exciting thrill ride.

For many, the old monsters from movies and literature seem to go one of several routes. For many on the religious bandwagon, they are evil and should be shunned at all costs, after all, the representation of evil is paramount in the telling of the stories. At least that is the perspective of some. For others who don't have a belief in God they are nothing more than a fun tale with a few laughs thrown in. While that may be the view, of some, those seem to loose sight of what the original authors intended in the telling of their works.

Yet for others, the monster stories are a classic telling of good versus evil with a few social commentaries thrown in. For example, The Werewolf is a character who portrays the possibility of all people turning from good to evil. In many ways, the character represents the potential of evil in every person, even those often favored by God. The Frankenstein character on the other hand shows that despite an outward appearance that there is beauty in every person. He does not pretend that evil does not exist, quite the contrary, often times we see in the Frankenstein stories that the real evil that exists, exists within the hearts of humans who look on the outward appearance as opposed to the inner beauty. Then there is Dracula! Dracula represents the classic battle between good and evil. There is a presumption that there is a God with power and that power comes from the cross. We are also aware that there is evil and that evil has as its focus the importance of taking life-giving blood from the innocent and sending them to an eternity of hell and doom. Dracula is often viewed as a son of Satan and that is the perspective taken in Van Helsing. I am sure there are other illustrations from a social perspective that others can take. It is the later that I choose to watch monster movies and after viewing Van Helsing I can't help but think that is the theme intended by the movies writer and director, Stephen Sommers.

Van Helsing stars Hugh Jackman in the title role of Van Helsing. He is a creature, not quite human that has lived for as long as he can remember, even beyond what he can remember with the intent purpose of destroying evil. He is an agent of the church and we learn through out the movie that at one time he sat on and was with God and served on God's left hand. While many within the cultures see him as evil, he can tell the difference between evil and good and refuses to kill that which is not evil. We also learn through the story line from Sommers that his first name is Gabriel. This is a little twist that can be looked over by many in the audience but should be noted that one of God's top angels in the Bible is an angel called Gabriel.

After disposing of a monster in Paris, Van Helsing is called upon by the church to travel to Transylvania to take care of Dracula who has been terrorizing the city along with one of his new slaves, The Werewolf. Dracula has the intent of destroying the last of the Valerious family Anna, played wonderfully by beautiful Kate Beckinsale. While taking out on his journey Van Helsing decides to take along a young Friar, named Carl played by David Wenham who is a part of the group within the church making James Bond style weapons. One of the fun characteristics of this character is that while he is a holy man, he recognizes that he is still a man. It is within his own humanity that he is able to use his gifts for good and ultimately search his own heart as to what constitutes good or evil.

This movie is virtually impossible to review without giving spoilers, but I will try to make several comments. All through the script, while at times shallow, and not detailed enough, Sommers uses spiritual symbolism. All throughout the film is included the usage of crosses, holy water, prayer, the power of light over darkness and more. Then again, those are concepts that have been a part of the Dracula character for years. As of recent, the character has changed some in that while the cross and the things of God are still important the message has been given, starting first with Silver Bullet by Stephen King, that the cross is only powerful in the hands of one who believes in the power of the cross. That concept is also alluded to in this movie. There are also important nuances that are brought out in this movie. There is the importance of the Holy Bible in the hands of one of the Hero's of the movie. I especially liked the concept that a character not normally associated as being a hero is. Remember the earlier comments about the symbolism of characters. At one point, we see that in the life of this hero that one of the most important things in their life is the Holy Bible. This character often quotes scripture and uses it as a source of inspiration when times get tough. I won't tell you who the character is but it will be obvious when you see the movie.

I could tell much more about the film, from a technical perspective the special effects are pretty good. I would classify them as somewhere between the effects in Spiderman and The Hulk. . If you have seen some of Sommers previous work you know that he has a knack for action, although at times can be short on plot. He actually does a good job here and of the afore mentioned films of his I would state that this is his best, that is right even better than the Mummy. The two hours and twenty minutes go by pretty quickly. Just when the movie seems to start to drag there are action sequences that get you back into the story. Usually in this genera I find myself getting bored by the conclusion of the movie. In Van Helsing I actually found the last hour or so of the movie to be among the best parts of the movie. Story lines came together, and there was still an emphasis on action. I will say this, before seeing the movie make sure you use the bathroom. I know some will find this comment a little tacky but I'll tell you that there are numerous scenes that will literally scare the pee out of you if you are not careful. Remember the Roller Coaster ride comment earlier.

All in all I really enjoyed this movie. It was a fun ride and one that I will take again. While being far from perfect it was what makes going to the movies fun sometimes. You will have the opportunity to escape reality for a few hours and have a lot of thrills, laughs and reflective moments in the process. In the tradition of The Mummy and last years hit Pirates of the Caribbean this is a flick that many will enjoy. It is one that has given me a new respect for Sommers, he includes a lot of old memories in a new tale without doing an injustice to the formula made so successful so many years ago.

On a scale of 1-10; while not quite the best monster movie of all time, a fitting tribute to an old classic style. A thrilling and enjoyable 8.

Van Helsing Trailer



Van Helsing Fan Video



-Review -Trailers, Photos
-About this Film
-Spiritual Connections
-Forum

Oh Yea, here is that contact information again.
The Virtual Pew
P.O. Box 17731
Wichita, KS 67217

Or you van give on line via Pay Pal at: http://www.furches.org/donations/index.html

To become a part of The Virtual Pew, visit, http://www.thevirtualpew.com/ To learn more about me visit http://www.furches.org/ I am also active on MySpace at: http://www.myspace.com/mikefurches I have another blog at http://blog.myspace.com/mikefurches To visit the Hollywood Jesus group at MySpace with membership by numerous Hollywood Jesus reviewers visit: http://groups.myspace.com/hollywoodjesus For a more in depth weekly study and conversation you an visit: http://virtualpewsermon.blogspot.com/ where you can access deeper teaching and ultimately videos for viewing and teaching. You can contact me via email at mike@furches.org or mike@thevirtualpew.com For those interested in knowing more about my own story, contact me for a free e-copy of my book The Keystone Kid in pre-edit form.

Additional Film Clips from the Movie Studio:

Teaser:Windows Media Player, Hi-ResWindows Media Player, Med-ResWindows Media Player, Lo-Res Trailer:QuickTime, Full ScreenQuickTime, Hi-ResQuickTime, Med-ResQuickTime, Lo-ResTV Spot:Windows Media PlayerFeaturette 1 - 'A Look Inside':QuickTime, Hi-ResQuickTime, Med-ResQuickTime, Lo-ResWindows Media Player, Hi-ResWindows Media Player, Med-ResWindows Media Player, Lo-Res
Featurette 2 - 'Paying Tribute to the Past':QuickTime, Hi-ResQuickTime, Med-ResQuickTime, Lo-ResWindows Media Player, Hi-ResWindows Media Player, Med-ResWindows Media Player, Lo-Res 9 Clips:Windows Media Player/Real Player, Various

October Review Review Constantine

Constantine
October Review Review





There are a lot of movies during this time of year that Christians love to hate. The sad truth is that many of those movies are movies that have tremendous spiritual commentary. The movie Constantine was one such movie. The movie is one of the reasons I love the season so much. Week after week, after week, we see the release of horror, and/or supernatural movies. All of these movies have some commentary on good and evil, God and the Devil, or faith and lack of faith.

Constantine is a movie staring Keanu Reeves that falls into this category. Reeves name in the movie, John Constantine, even gives him the same initials of another JC would come to earth in an effort to provide salvation for humanity by fighting against the forces of evil. That one JC maintained a relationship with the angel Gabriel just like John Constantine.

Halloween can be a lot of things, it can have a lot of different meanings to a lot of different people, one thing that can't be ignored for long though is the spiritual nature of the day. The concept of good verses evil and God going at it with Satan also provides prevalent reminders during the season. There is also the concept of forces all around us that we can't see, having influences on our lives. Constantine is a beautiful portrayal of those conflicts it is a movie I am glad to recommend and provide a review review of. Enjoy the original review following a couple of video clips.

-Overview
-Trailers, Photos
-About this Film
pdf -Spiritual Connections

John Constantine, (JC,) is a character that is almost made to a perfect fit for Keanu Reeves. I can't recall him ever playing a character with more depth than JC. The complexity of the character is as complex as the themes addressed in the movie and without much thought; one could get lost and have issues with the movie Constantine. As for me, that was a whole other story.

I have made mention before and will make mention again, I review movies for a specific reason, I love to search for spiritual themes that can open doors to sharing my faith with others I come into contact with. Despite the massive amount of criticism I have received from "Christians." I find horror, especially with supernatural themes of good vs. evil to be amongst the best forms to open those doors. Last years Van Helsing was a wonderful movie that uses images of crosses, heaven and hell, demons and God, and faith and salvation among others as well as any movie I had seen. On parallel with keeping those and other religious themes as a backdrop, Constantine does as well and in some ways even better than Van Helsing. If crosses for example were litter, then Constantine would be the city dump for Los Angeles. Not that they are of course, but there is hardly a frame of this film that in some way does not feature or focus on the cross.

It is the faith of Christianity that is the central and primary backdrop of the spiritual struggle that JC faces. It is in reality the struggle in the life and hope of the planet. As one who has experienced Hell for two minutes in a near death episode that for JC was as an eternity, he understands the intent and struggle that exists between God and Satan. He also realizes and believes that he has no hope for Heaven but is hard pressed and set to see to it that he helps as many as possible escape the trappings of Hell and its demons. Working as a lay exorcist he is portrayed early on as being more effective than a catholic priest at delivering people from demon possession and sending the demons back to hell. Part of his ability to be effective has to do with his own ability to relate and understand the consequences of what those he is helping faces. This incarnation component of JC is something that resembles the ability to relate by another JC, Jesus Christ.

Mixing in devices similar to James Bond and Van Helsing, Constantine has the usual sidekicks that help keep the story somewhat fun and enlightening. We see the struggles of those characters in their own spiritual development and from taxi cab drivers who drive for the Angel Cab Company, to the angel Gabriel, we get a taste of the constant surroundings regarding spiritual things that Constantine is involved in. Not since The Punisher has there been better secondary parts and supporting roles in a movie than what exists here in Constantine. In each of those characters, we can find our own journey and ourselves. We can see the results of the actions we may take, the faith we may have, or in the case of some, may not have. We can also see the eternal consequences for that faith or lack thereof.

Is Constantine a perfect movie? Far from it, but for those seeking to find ways to discuss spiritual issues, especially related to Christianity, there hasn't been a better movie since Van Helsing to open up those doors. While the person of Jesus Christ is seldom mentioned, from the Cross, to the spear that was thrust into Jesus side, we hear about, and know about God's Son. The journey of discovering what the purpose is for each of us is a journey that we go on but can visualize that because the character of JC goes through that same journey. The things along the way that cause him to take the paths he takes are the very things we face in our own lives. We eventually find out the expectations that are involved and we see that in part played out by the characters on screen. Not in total of course, this is after all a Hollywood movie, but enough so that we can open up many doors of discussion and fill in the pieces to the puzzel.

Don't go expecting to see one thrill ride after another in Constantine, you won't get it. It is more of a thinking persons horror and supernatural film than Van Helsing to be sure, but it does make you think. Stay until the end of the credits, you will see a hepiloguej at the conclusion of the credits that is worth watching. It gives us some further insight into the character of Constantine as well as the eternity faced by one of the primary characters in the film. Enjoy the ride, think about the themes, and make your decision.

On a scale of 1 - 10, just a little better than the so-called perfect number, a satisfying 8.

-Overview
-Trailers, Photos
-About this Film
pdf - Spiritual ConnectionsDownload Constantine Discussion Guideand Bible Study

Movie Trailer



A Fan video




Oh Yea, here is that contact information again.

The Virtual Pew
P.O. Box 17731
Wichita, KS 67217

Or you van give on line via Pay Pal at: http://www.furches.org/donations/index.html

To become a part of The Virtual Pew, visit, http://www.thevirtualpew.com/ To learn more about me visit http://www.furches.org/ I am also active on MySpace at: http://www.myspace.com/mikefurches I have another blog at http://blog.myspace.com/mikefurches To visit the Hollywood Jesus group at MySpace with membership by numerous Hollywood Jesus reviewers visit: http://groups.myspace.com/hollywoodjesus For a more in depth weekly study and conversation you an visit: http://virtualpewsermon.blogspot.com/ where you can access deeper teaching and ultimately videos for viewing and teaching. You can contact me via email at mike@furches.org or mike@thevirtualpew.com For those interested in knowing more about my own story, contact me for a free e-copy of my book The Keystone Kid in pre-edit form.

The Grudge 2


Some will remember my review of this little horror film from Japan 2 years ago. I stated it was one of the scariest movies I had ever seen, in fact, I thought it was the epitome of the way to go with horror. I was pleased with the psychological horror that took place and the reality that the movie was able to scare the heck out of me by using very little blood, no nudity, and no cursing. In fact, with the exception of the terror in the film, there was virtually nothing the opponents of horror could pick on other than the fear the movie possessed.

I can't think of any movie in a long time that I was looking forward to seeing more than The Grudge 2. The movie had many of the former contributors back. Written by Stephen Susco, Directed by Takashi Shimizu, along with actress Sarah Michelle Gellar all return along with some newcomers that had me having hope for this sequel. The story picks up at the conclusion of The Grudge, and we assume from the opening scenes we are going to be drawn right into the movie with the same eye opening, heart pounding scenes that opened the original. After all we had been promised this by the movie company. As far as I could tell from the press materials, this movies openings were going to make the opening of The Grudge look like child's play. How wrong could they have been and unfortunately this sets the tone of the rest of the movie.

What follows next is a hodge podge of story telling that leaves a lot to be desired. For many who don't know about it by now, or understand the horror concepts of Japan, it is much different than what we know in the Western World. There is a great deal of symbolism and death is not something to be afraid of, it is something to be experienced. It is not unusual to see the hero die, or give up their life. There is a clear understanding of life after death, and a clear understanding that life after death is often affiliated with evil. Even the way the story is told is uniquely different. We see instead of long narrative stories more short stories and often we start with the end, and regress to the start as opposed to starting at the beginning and finishing with the end. I know this may be difficult to make sense of but it is a process and technique that is often hard for those of us in the West to follow and a technique that causes us often ignore this medium. That is sad, because just like in the first Grudge and others like Ju-On we miss out on some great stories.

This process requires a great deal directorial effort to work, it is why we have some great story tellers coming out of the East, they have honed their craft. It is in part what made the first movie so good, it was unique and delicately approached. The detail to making it appropriate for Western audiences, while maintaining the integrity of the original story led to great cinema, unfortunately, in the translation to making it appropriate for American audiences, this film has lost its luster.

There is really nothing original here. In fact I purchased the original Ju-On two days after seeing The Grudge in theaters. I also purchased the original Japanese version of The Grudge the following week. The story was the exact same story, with dubs, and some minor modifications. The Grudge 2 borrows heavily on various stories coming out of Japanese culture. Unfortunately The Grudge 2 don't follow the same story line as Ju-On 2. The Grudge 2, is a compilation of various short stories, attempted to be thrown in together as a single story. While many of those short stories are compelling and enthralling, at least I as a viewer became quickly bored, and frustrated with the way it was being told. In fact, in this supposedly scary movie of the season, I almost fell asleep. The scares are easily anticipated, and the makers play off of too many scenes and concepts that worked in the first movie. For me, I was insulted as a viewer. I had seen the first movie, didn't need the same scares, and have watched a great deal of Japanese horror, and didn't need the short stories I had seen in the past presented as new.

Sure there are a few new concepts in the movie, a few that maybe those of us in the West haven't observed, but any fan of Japanese movies has seen much of what we see here. While the first movie was creepy, scary, and causing me to want to put a blanket over my head to hide from the boogie man, this movie had me wanting to put a blanket over my head as well; over my head because the theater was cold, and I was sleepy. I almost think the movie theater knew the movie was going to be so bad they turned down the thermostat. If it had been warm all of us in attendance would have fallen asleep. When the supposed scariest scenes in a movie produces the biggest laughs, we know something is wrong, and in The Grudge 2, there was indeed something wrong, I had wasted good money on a horrible movie.

With the movie being as bad as it was, there was something of value in the story. The power of Rage and Revenge are appropriately addressed. We have a brief, albeit way to brief look, at the concept of exorcism of demons, and the intrigue of where evil comes from. I appreciated that the movie recognizes that much of that which is evil comes from within, as opposed to having to be blamed on an evil entity. There is the assumption that from within our own hearts and lives, we feed that which is ultimately evil. This was a unique and nice approach to see, although we only see this for the remaining moments of the movie. We see evil that rage and revenge has the power to destroy families, friendships, hopes, and even the innocence of children. Starting with this premise, and making a few changes with originality we could have had a movie superior to the original, unfortunately it just isn't there.

Often times we have the right ingredients to do what is right, even do what could be beautiful, but because we don't process, don't think about what we are doing, we lose focus. I believe that is what happened here. The makers lost focus. Instead of focusing on what they had, they focused on what they thought they could have more money. As a result, they will inevitably have less, just like we will if we don't learn to focus on the things of our own lives that produce beauty and have the potential to do good.

On a scale of 1 - 10, for the actual original moments I thought existed in the movie, I'll give a very disappointing 3

Oh Yea, here is that contact information again.

The Virtual Pew
P.O. Box 17731
Wichita, KS 67217

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To become a part of The Virtual Pew, visit, http://www.thevirtualpew.com/ To learn more about me visit http://www.furches.org/ I am also active on MySpace at: http://www.myspace.com/mikefurches I have another blog at http://blog.myspace.com/mikefurches To visit the Hollywood Jesus group at MySpace with membership by numerous Hollywood Jesus reviewers visit: http://groups.myspace.com/hollywoodjesus For a more in depth weekly study and conversation you an visit: http://virtualpewsermon.blogspot.com/ where you can access deeper teaching and ultimately videos for viewing and teaching. You can contact me via email at mike@furches.org or mike@thevirtualpew.com For those interested in knowing more about my own story, contact me for a free e-copy of my book The Keystone Kid in pre-edit form.