Deliverance The 40th Anniversary Blu-ray DVD

It is hard to believe, but 40 years ago one of the most enduring, memorable movies of all time was released Deliverance. While Jon Voigt was already a star in his own right, with an Academy Award nomination, Deliverance would also make Burt Reynolds a star and the casting of two newcomers, Ned Beatty, and Ronny Cox gave them desirable careers in film. This action adventure film hovered in the category of horror, all while having as its primary theme, the conflict between human nature and their relationship with nature. The film has 4 thirty-something friends deciding to take a whitewater river trip in Georgia prior to the region being dammed up to make a lake. Along the way the four have to deal with the river, interpersonal relationships amongst each other and a band of mountain people they have offended who decides to take revenge and justice into their own hands. What transpires is a horrifying adventure that leaves the viewer on the edge of their seats. While the story is 40 years old, it is still fresh and for those not seeing it in the past, worthwhile. The movie is historic for a reason; the impact is lasting and enjoyable, for me, even some 40 years after first seeing it. While experiencing it as a youth, over the years, I have seen the movie many times and each time, it continues to amaze and educate me.

One of the unique attributes of Deliverance is it is filmed in sequence. For those who may not know, most movies are not shot this way, it isn’t unusual to shoot the last scene first or any other variety of combinations of filming. Deliverance was different however, the remarkable director of the film, John Boorman decided early on to shoot in sequence to the story. Part of the reasoning for this was that as the story evolved around the circumstances of 4 friends taking a canoe trip of which some had never been involved in before, the skills, attributes, and respect for the river would show through in a natural way. This and other reasons for the sequence filming not only works, it works terrifically. There is one scene made mention of in the special features that help explain subconsciously the viewers understanding. This centers around a sequence where Jon Voight’s character is climbing a cliff, we see his watch glazed over with the moisture shining through from the inside of the watch crystal. In a discussion of the film, it was noted that in most situations a prop man would have overlooked this little facet. Yet, filming in sequence, wearing the same clothes from day to day, helped bring about a natural look to the film. The film is also edited well; there is ample foreshadowing and more to drive home the impact. There are also natural aspects of the story included in the final version of the film that is quite remarkable. One such instance communicated to me in my interview with Ronny Cox, the character Drew well known for his musical performance on the guitar during the gas station scene where the song Dueling Banjos is played. As the performers are acting out the scene, (which took only 2 hours to film) we see in the background an older man start dancing, another whistling. This was not scripted and happened naturally during the magic of the moment as the scene and song was filmed. That magic transcends throughout the film until the heart-tugging, final scenes.

While Deliverance isn’t a perfect film, it may very well be one of the best cast films of all time. Few films have held together as well over the years and the cast of Voight, Reynolds, Cox, and Beatty are as perfect as one could get. Reynolds has spoken over the years, as has the other cast members about Reynolds that he knew during the filming of Deliverance, that he was a star about to be born. The perfection of each actor in their role is remarkable, not just for Reynolds, but all of them. From Ned Beatty who will have to face horrors unimagined, to Ronny Cox’s character Drew which maintains some semblance of humanity as the story starts to get complicated. This adds to the genius of the film with each actor being outspoken as to how this helped them advance and experience their characters. They aren’t so much acting the lives of their characters as they are in some ways, living the lives of those characters.

Deliverance is in many ways the story of deliverance of each character and their shortcomings. It is also a story of survival of not just people who have little morals, but the survival of nature. In many ways, it is nature that ultimately challenges the characters the most. In this journey of deliverance though is also the need to face the adversities of life. In that battle, it becomes quickly realized that without community, without brotherhood, there are certainly horrors in life and in some situations, little chance of survival. Deep down inside are characteristics that one must change in order to find fulfillment and purpose. How one comes to those conclusions is different for each person and being a good person is no guarantee of survival. Unfortunately, there are many, including those in the faith community who believe that good will ultimately win and that there is a great deal of protection provided by others or even God in some situations, yet, the truth is, it rains on the just and the unjust and there are bad, even horrible things that happen to the best of people. There are lessons in life that can be learned in these difficult situations though. Just as Ned Beatty’s character has a better than thou attitude at the start of the film, mocking and teasing the mountain people he comes into contact with, there is a price to pay, even those mountain folk in their simplistic lifestyles expects respect. He learns how little his opinions matter in the film in one of the most memorable scenes of the movie, one which has become a part of the vocabulary folklore of film. Here through his character, we can learn of the respect that needs to be given to all people, no matter how much better we think we are, we are in reality, just different.

Deliverance has held up well over the years, and this special edition of the film on Blu-ray not only has a terrific transfer and sound quality, it has some remarkable and thought-provoking special features. There is an excellent book packaged into the packaging of the DVD which tells some terrific stories on the filming of the movie. There are also several special features that look at various components of the film, my personal favorite was the discussion among the four actors at Burt Reynolds home in Florida. There is no doubt of the love each of these actors has towards this movie but also of the love and appreciation they have for each other. For fans of the movie, this DVD is almost worth the purchase price for this interview alone. There are also terrific stories related to other aspects of the film that will likely be educational for most viewers, even for those who are long time fans of the film. For a perfect companion piece, I would recommend the purchase of the new book release by Ronny Cox, titled Dueling Banjoes, The Deliverance of Drew. While a short book, it adds much to the understanding of the film.

Deliverance, The 40th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray DVD is well worth the cost and is a must-own for fans of the show. It is a deserving special edition and one fan will love, not just for the movie, but for the background of the film available through the book in the packaging and the special features on the DVD. For more on the story, including my interview with Ronny Cox, click here. Otherwise, for fans of the movie, enjoy the DVD, it is well worth revisiting, for those who haven’t seen it, this is a great place to start and a chance to see why this movie is so historic.

To see the video below, just click on it, if for some reason the video doesn’t appear or is distorted or not in full frame, click on the following link:

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An Interview with Ronny Cox, Musician, Author, Actor and Star of Deliverance

Ronny Cox is a man who was in many ways made famous by the movie Deliverance. There is little doubt that he would have made it in music or some other life vocation had without Deliverance but it was in fact, the movie Deliverance which catapulted him into the world of film. Ronny has been in many favorites over the years, from such movies as Robocop, Total Recall and Vision Quest to television roles in Dexter, Apple’s Way, and The Starter Wife. He has recorded numerous albums and tours nationally playing his music. There are interesting tidbits I learned while doing this piece, for example, the scene in Deliverance where he plays Dueling Banjos took all of 2 hours to record. The movie Deliverance was filmed in sequence, an almost unheard of thing nowadays, but one of the reasons many believe the actors did so well in their parts, as the story developed, so did their characters because the characters were, in fact, developing along storylines as they developed.

Ronny has a new book out, titled Dueling Banjos, The Deliverance of Drew. The book is available in paperback, hardback, and e-reader versions. It is a captivating story of stories related to the movie Deliverance. Included are stories of how Ronny Cox was largely responsible for the author of Deliverance being asked to no longer be on set during the initial filming of the movie. There are other well told, captivating stories such as the story of Billy Joe Redden, the 15-year-old boy at the time who played the banjo in the now infamous and iconic scene in the movie. While the 40th Anniversary Blu-ray DVD version of the movie has a mini-book that comes with it, Ronny’s book carries far more detail than previously told before. The book in itself is a worthy companion to the film Deliverance. I have seen the movie many times, seen various features on the making of the movie, but the book Dueling Banjos, The Deliverance of Drew was a captivating, page-turner of a read that I couldn’t put down until completing it.

I recently had the opportunity to interview Ronny in an exclusive for The Virtual Pew and Hollywood Jesus. I enjoyed the short time we had together, and hope that others glean some information about Ronny and of course, the movie Deliverance. The interview was about much more than the movie though and in it are lessons we can all learn from and things of interest we can learn about Ronny Cox. Enjoy and hopefully, you will have as much fun reading it as I did getting it.

Ronny Cox (RC): Hi Mike

Mike Furches (MF): Hi Ronny, how are you doing?

RC: I’m good, how about you?

MF: I’m doing pretty well; I guess you’re staying pretty busy right now?

RC: Yeah!

MF: I have a number of questions, don’t think I’ll be able to get through them all, but over the years I’ve been a huge fan of Deliverance. One of the questions is related to music as I’m also a musician. Some of your music has intrigued me over the years. Can you tell me some about your music and the guitar you play?

RC: Well, I have one off the great guitars in the world. It is a hand made guitar by Dave Bertoncini. He is a luthier out of Tacoma Washington. He made this guitar for me. I’ll drop just a little bit of names; I live here in L.A. and I have a guy who works on my guitars and to drop just a few names, Paul McCartney picks this guitar shop as does Jackson Browne and people like that, and according to the guy who works on my guitar, he said none of those guys have a guitar as good as mine. So that’s about as good as it gets.

I play acoustic stuff. I am a really simple player who plays with a 3 finger picking style. I play more acoustic and rarely play with a pick.

MF: I love your style of music, would you say you play more of a folk style than anything else? I also have seen that you are going to be coming to my neck of the woods in Kansas.

RC: Yeah, but I like all kinds of music, but I am a singer-songwriter and I play a whole lot of folk clubs, folk and music festivals and things like that. When I come to Kansas I’ll have a piano slash accordion player and a fiddle slash mandolin player with me.

MF: I look forward to seeing you when you are out here. Another question though, how did you develop your love for music?

RC: I actually started playing when I was 10-years-old. I grew up in New Mexico and most people don’t realize this but where I grew up in New Mexico is a little town called Portales New Mexico. It is 19 miles south of Clovis New Mexico. In the late 50’s and early 60’s, Clovis was a hotbed of recording. I was actually at the studio where they were cutting the Buddy Holly cut Peggy Sue. Do you remember Jimmy Boyle and Buddy Knox?

MF: Oh yeah!

RC: Remember I’m Sticking with you, the Fireballs, Sugar Shack?

MF: Yeah I remember all of that.

RC: There was a country artist named Charlie Phillips who had a song called Sugar Time: (Ronny starts singing here) Sugar in the morning, sugar in the evening, sugar at suppertime. (Ronny starts speaking again) Those were all cut there so I was cutting records when I was in high school. I had a rock-n-roll band back in those days, Ron’s Rock Outs, (starts laughing.) I put myself through college with a rock-n-roll band and then when I started struggling as an actor I went to Arena Stage in Washington DC and I was in New York so I was playing folk clubs at the same time. I was struggling sort at the same time as an actor as I was struggling as a musician. I got the role in Deliverance because I could play. My second film was a film called Bound For Glory, a Woody Guthrie film, I also played music in that.

MF: I see that you’re going to be playing the Woody Fest down in Oklahoma?

RC: Yeah, I’m going to be at the Woody Fest in almost another month.

MF: Have you been there before?

RC: Oh yeah! This will be my sixth or seventh time there. I just got back from another Folk Festival. What kind of stuff do you play?

MF: I’ve played everything from a little bit of classic rock to with my wife I play some folk music, so it’s kind of a full-circle thing.

RC: Okay!

MF: You have a new book that has just come out which I have been reading. Can you tell us some about it?

RC: As you can see from the book, it is a book of stories about the making of Deliverance. The film meant so much to me that I just wanted to write about what it was like. I was a total unknown and to get to be in a place where I was one of the stars in a picture, but not only just a picture, but a picture that ended up being one of the most talked about, and iconic films that have been made in the last forty or fifty years. It really was an incredible breakthrough for me. It was my first time in front of a camera and it was Ned Beatty’s first film. While the film is 40-years-old it still holds up pretty well today and it is I think an incredible film. Now did you get the Blu-ray version of the film?

MF: Yes

RC: Are you enjoying the book?

MF: Yes I am, one of the things I appreciate is that it reads like a story. One of the questions I have is that the editor of your book makes mention of the fact that you are a storyteller. I love the Harry Chapin style and the art form. Do you think that storytelling as an art form is kind of lost in today’s society?

RC: I think that is part of it. The music just becomes so important. These days, I spend most of my time playing music. I don’t mean to be cavalier about this but most of the acting jobs I get offered these days I say no to just because I would rather go and play music.

MF: I have a question about possibly the most iconic song in the history of film, at least in my opinion. The song is Dueling Banjos. I can’t think of any single song that has had the impact in film. There is likely no one left alive to better tell the story of the song in the movie than Ronny Cox.

RC: Well, you know it was originally played with two banjos. In the book, they were playing Wild Wood Flower but Jim Dickey had heard Dueling Banjos and recommended to John Boorman. Warner Brothers weren’t too in favor of it because they didn’t think that anyone listened to Bluegrass Music. (laughter,) It became a huge hit. I think Dueling Banjos along with the theme from Bonnie and Clyde and Oh Brother Where Art Thou are primarily responsible for the popularity of Bluegrass in America today.

MF: Why do you think that scene is so iconic and has such a lasting memory?

RC: Well, I think there is an energy about that scene. It is also the incredible connection that music makes with a scene like that. One of the reasons that Drew, my character, has no fear of the mountain people like the other characters is because he was able to make a connection with that young boy through the music. It shows the power of music. I think that people, without maybe even realizing it consciously, subconsciously get it, they feel the power that that energetic piece of music occurring between two human beings. It becomes that energy which brings about a connection for everybody and it becomes infectious. If you notice that the old man starts dancing, there is another guy that starts whistling, people start moving and there is something about that piece of music that transcends the movie for a little while.

MF: I have 2 friends that asked me to ask you specific questions. One was a great fan of the show Apple’s Way. He wanted me to ask your thoughts as to if you think there is still a need for strong families in television oriented programs?

RC: Yeah, I loved doing that show in that it was a kind of modern-day Walton’s. Shows that talk to the human condition are I think, really important in television and movies and I think needs to be done. Now, I am in no way in favor of censorship, but it seems to me that we are just doing these reality shows where people trash other people and I just don’t know what those are all about.

MF: Another friend wanted me to ask your long love affair with your wife Mary who passed away several years ago. He wanted me to ask, what you think was the reason for the success of your long love affair and marriage with your wife?

RC: You know, I was just lucky that I found that love of my life, early in my life. Mary lived in my hometown and we met when she was 11 and I was 14. We started going together when she was 15 and I was 18 and we got married when she was 22. I’ve never had another date or another girl in my life. I think one of the reasons for our success is I married someone way, way, way, way smarter. (Each of us, including the publicist present during the interview starts laughing here.) Mary had a Ph.D. in Chemistry, that is the secret for us guys, to marry up. (Myself and the publicist start laughing again, but Ronny stays serious) I said that to Mary, thinking I would get some brownie points, “Mary I know the secret to our great marriage.” She said, “What?” I said, “I married up.” She looked at me kind of funny and she said, “What? All men do!” (we all, including Ronny, start laughing again.)

Mike Furches here, with just a thought, there are so many places I could have gone with this interview, so many things I could have concluded with, but I think it appropriate that Ronny and I ended our conversation on a note about his long love affair with his wife. In a world where so many couples just don’t seem to make it, there is something to the concept that a husband loves his wife so deeply and sees her as much more than he. It is a concept of servitude I think Ronny lives by, it is a concept many of us can learn by. His character in the movie, Drew is the one who tries to maintain a sense of normalcy with the world around him, with his surroundings, with doing what is right. It was a role in many ways made for a man like Ronny Cox, it is a character, that through the actor Ronny Cox we can still learn from, not just in the things presented in the movies, but in this thing called life which Ronny has continued to live for some years now. You can find out more about Ronny, his touring schedule, plus listen to his music at his website: www.ronnycox.com

To see the video below, just click on it, if for some reason the video doesn’t appear or is distorted or not in full frame, click on the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KTCspkO0Wc

Presently we are going through a tough time where my wife of almost 40 years is in a serious battle with pancreatic cancer. The prognosis is not good. You can follow the exploits of that battle by following me at Facebook, via The Mike Furches Page by clicking the following link:

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BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR OUR NEW CHILDREN'S BOOK, HAROLD THE ANGEL, NOW AVAILABLE  AT AMAZON, BOOKS A MILLION, BARNES & NOBLE AND OTHER MAJOR RETAILERS, OUR BOOK THE KEYSTONE KID IS ALSO STILL AVAILABLE AT MOST MAJOR RETAILERS AND IS A TERRIFIC READ. The audio book is also available for a Free Download at Soundcloud.com Just search for Mike Furches The Keystone Kid.

The Virtual Pew and our other work are supported solely by the kind contributions of others. You can click on the donate button below to give any amount to this work that does so much more than just post articles on the net; I draw no ongoing salary from the church I pastor, Mosaic Wichita which is predominantly a homeless church; I am grateful for any small amount you can contribute to help with this ministry.  Believe me, there is much more going on than most realize. I will also provide information to verify the ministry and income that comes into this ministry and work.  Thanks and feel free to share any material from The Virtual Pew, I only ask that appropriate credit is given and a link to the original site with the materials provided.



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The Lion King, Diamond Edition on Blu-ray

Over the years there have been a handful of animated movies that have moved from family fare to classic film. Many of those come from the Disney Library and the new release of The Lion King on Blu-ray DVD on the tails of the recent rerelease of theatrical release and a #1 weekly box office rating shows this film is a timeless classic for a reason; it resonates and endures, not just for a little while, but a lifetime.

Seeing The Lion King in theaters back when it was originally released was a memory I will likely never forget. It was 1994 and I took my young daughter and then very young son to see the movie. My daughter, while older was entertained, and my son, who was around 3 years of age, was also glued to the screen, on top of all of that was the family experience, my wife and I also enjoyed the movie. It had great animation for the children, along with memorable characters but it also had an enjoyable story line for the adults.

It is hard to imagine that animation technology and CGI have evolved as much as it has since the release of the film in 1994. At the time, The Lion King presented state of the art animation, possibly equaled by none. The reality of that quality is no better displayed than how the animation holds up today, especially with the Blu-ray format. The images are crisp, clear, and bright. Another benefit is the high quality of sound on the Blu-ray format. The voice acting of the actors playing their respective parts such as Matthew Broderick (adult Simba), James Earl Jones (Mufasa), Nathan Lane (Timon) and Jeremy Irons as Scar, just to name a few, still stands out. Some of the voice acting and animation to match the characters is among the best Disney has ever offered. On top of all of this is the score and story which is still outstanding.

The premise of the film is one that most people likely already know. The story takes place in Africa where a pride of lions and the animal kingdom is led by Mufasa. Musfasa has a jealous brother named Scar. Scar is deceitful and seeks to inherit the kingdom by any means necessary. As fate has it, Mufasa has a son, named Simba who will inherit the kingdom. Simba in his innocence listens to his uncle and this unfortunately leads to the death of Mufasa. Scar talks Simba into going into the dark lands where he will escape the punishment of the animal kingdom for what he thinks is his own role in his father’s death. While there, he comes across two friends, a warthog named Pumba and a meerkat named Timon, (Ernie Sabella.) These three embark on a journey of growing up and in the process learning to do what is right.

In the journey of Simba, we see him grow up and become a lion worthy to be king. He recognizes the need to make things right and to follow his call in life. One of the unique attributes of a Disney film is that while targeting children, with animation and fun characters, there is a willingness to not only show the good, but to also show the dark side of life, including revenge, difficulty, and even ultimately, death. It is in their willingness to show these things that the adult viewer can relate to the characters and story. Simba is memorable for a reason; we grow with him and ultimately understand his journey into adulthood. There are difficulties in life, but there is also a need to overcome.

There is a reason The Lion King is the best selling home entertainment release of all time, it delivers with a story that is eternal. The story is based in part on stories from the Bible, including Moses and Joseph, we see the concepts of being outcast, and then the return where justice is served and leadership qualities are developed. In real life my faith tells me to persevere. It is a concept Simba eventually learns, he recognizes the reality of a higher power in his life and the need to submit to the calling on his life. While there has been tragedy, it is through the concept of perseverance that strength is developed and things of value accomplished. The need to hear these themes, to be reminded of them is a likely reason parents took their children to see it in theaters to the extent they did during its recent release. We recognize that in a hopeless world, we need leaders who persevere. These characters were created with some of the stories from the Bible in mind. It hopefully will have some going back to the original stories to learn about characters like Moses, Joseph, and even Jesus, who all persevered to the point of doing something of value not just for their families, but the world around them. In those lessons of discovering our gifts and talents, we can be inspired to find the hope we need to persevere in our own lives.

I loved The Lion King in 1994 when it was released, I still love it. The transfer quality onto Blu-ray is outstanding and Disney again provides so many quality special features they can’t all be mentioned. For the film buff like me, one will be very satisfied with the product. The only drawback I can think of is this product is going to only be available for a limited time. For those who have followed Disney, they know that when Disney says a limited time, they mean it. I suspect it will be hard to find this product during the Holidays, but I could be wrong. If a fan of the movie, and wanting to give it as a gift this year, I wouldn’t take the chance, Buy it right away, it is worth every penny it costs. I reviewed the Diamond Edition which includes not only the Blu-ray version but also a regular DVD. There are a variety of packages available, all worth the cost.

To see the video posted below, click on the video, if the video doesn’t appear or appears in distorted form, click on the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL1JmPCogq0



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O' Brother Where Art Thou? Now on Blu-Ray DVD

What do you get when you cross The Three Stooges with Homer’s Odyssey? You get what the Coen Brothers call ‘O’ Brother Where Art Thou?’ This star-studded, well acted, scored and directed film has become a cult classic over the years, but more than that, this highly anticipated release on Blu-ray DVD has become a classic Coen Brothers film. Released initially in 2,000 this 10+ year old film tells an incredible story that is as timeless as The Odyssey by Homer which it is based on.

Over the years the Coen Brothers have contributed a great deal to the cinema. From such films as Raising Arizona, Barton Fink, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, No Country for Old Men, and as of late, True Grit, this brother director force has produced some of the top grossing, well reviewed films of the last 10 years. Some would justifiably argue that O’ Brother Where Art Thou, may be the best of the lot. I wouldn’t go quite that far but I would go so far as to say it is certainly in their top 5, possibly top 3 films. The story weaves together like a fine Amish quilt and of all the roles George Clooney has played, his role here as Ulysses Everett the leader of the trio of convicts on the run is my favorite. Every role though has incredible talent, especially Pete and Delmer, played by John Turturro and Tim Blake Neslson. While mixing in humor with allegorical story, the film is quite entertaining.

The story follows the exploits of three escaped convicts in the 1930’s. Shortly after the after their escape they come across an old man who shares a prophesy with them about how their lives is going to change for the better after a series of difficulties. The location of the movie set in the South in the 1930’s incorporates a part of the regions history as well as the music of the region in its storytelling. It seems as if Everett, Pete and Delmer are three convicts searching for their freedom, not just in a literal sense, but also in a spiritual sense. As the three come across various circumstances and opportunities their story mixes in humor with stunning visuals. Along the way is a mixture of spiritual themes that each character must address in their lives.

The Coen Brothers do something somewhat incredible in their movies, they find ways to take the strange character and make them not only likeable, but present them in such a way that the audience can relate to, and appreciate them. The same can be said for O’ Brother. One of the things they do here, especially in the primary three characters is they do this with humor, but also with us caring for each of the characters presented on screen. There is no doubt as to who is a good guy or who is a bad guy, but there is also no doubt that the acts of the person in the past does not make them who they are now. We see this especially as the characters develop and come to recognize the important things of life such as friendship, freedom, and the hope for an eternal future.

The spiritual significance of the story can be easily associated with various Christian concepts, ranging from scenes of acceptance of all people, despite race, or background to the ability to change and become a new creature. We also see the danger of religion, especially of those pretending to be something they aren’t. We especially see this in the role of a Bible salesman by John Goodman. We also see the positive aspects of religion, especially in a character that goes through a transformation in a baptism scene. In another symbolic baptism scene, we see characters getting ready to be hung and killed when suddenly, after a confession and prayer, a giant flood comes in. Out of the water emerge new creatures that recognize the potential for the future. We also see the imagery of crosses and church played out in the storyline. Of all of these themes, I especially liked the way the redemptive themes are presented. They are played out in such a way that we can see that whosoever can find redemption, for whatsoever. We even see this in the movies featured track, by Alison Krauss and Union Station, featuring Dan Tyminski, Man of Constant Sorrow. During an exciting conclusion of the film, we see the song play out to the point that not only the characters, but the viewer sees the possibility of hope, especially hope that comes with the love from others and commitment to God.

There is nothing I didn’t like about this movie. The story flows with ample spiritual themes that have the viewer relating to the temptations of their own life, and the possibility of change. Not only change though but the hopes of a bright, eternal future. The Blu-ray transfer is quite nice; especially the sound aspects and both of these make the DVD worth owning. While there are some good special features, I would have liked more. It is well worth owning though and is a movie I have watched many times and now with the Blu-ray aspect, will watch many more, but with more clarity, sound quality and an overall enjoyable experience. If you haven’t seen the film, get it, watch it, and enjoy a Coen Brothers classic.

To see the video posted below, click on the video, if the video doesn’t appear or appears in distorted form, click on the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08e9k-c91E8&feature=related


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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 also contact me for a free e-book pre edit version of The Keystone Kid at mike@thevirtualpew.comYou can visit http://www.thevirtualpew.com/ and on the front page down on the left side you sill see our store. Your purchase provides needed funds to The Virtual Pew. If you do not see something to purchase you can click on the search engine, (do not put anything in the search box at this time). You will be taken to Amazon where you can search for anything you desire. Hopefully you will consider a gift to The Virtual Pew.

Now I get asked this quite often, Can we repost your blogs or articles? The short answer to that is, what an honor that you would ask, and by all means, spread the word.Here is our contact information

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Dumbo on Blu-Ray, 70th Anniversary Special Edition

There are some movies that pass the test of time; Dumbo is one of those movies. Disney has just released this classic on Blu-Ray DVD and the question for most will be this, is it worth it? Let me tell you, as a fan of Disney, and especially as a fan of classic animation, this product is well worth it and we now have the opportunity to see Dumbo like never before.

There was the magic age of Disney where it seemed like everything they touched turned to gold, Dumbo is among that era, and the fact that Walt Disney himself had his hand involved in this is no coincidence. The fact that a film released in 1941 would still have appeal to a small child today, and at the same time, entertain their parents or grandparents is a testament to the reason Dumbo is a classic. This animated tale includes valuable lessons in everything from family, to friendship, and from bullying to obtaining dreams. There is more though and the reality that it is all included in only 64 minutes is outstanding. Some would consider Dumbo a part of Disney Gold, count me among them.

For those not familiar with the story, Dumbo is the new baby delivery to Mrs. Jumbo the elephant. He is delivered by the stork, and early on we see how much mothers love their children, whether a lion or a chimpanzee, parents from all walks of life love their children, (or at least they should.) Unfortunately Mrs. Jumbo doesn’t get her baby on time, he comes a little late. We see her go from sadness to joy, back to love and protector as she discovers that Dumbo has an apparent defect, he has giant ears. In a moment of Dumbo being bullied and her trying to protect him she is put into captivity and separated from her baby. This scene, some years later, still brings tears to most that see the love of Mrs. Jumbo for her son when they are separated. Fortunately, Dumbo is befriended by Timothy Q. Mouse who takes Dumbo under his wing, and in the process, helps Dumbo learn to accept himself.

I used the word ‘magic’ earlier, along with the word ‘outstanding.’ I don’t use either of those words lightly. What happens on screen, especially with the time frame given, is nothing short of either of these two words. We see an outstanding, magical story that has many life lessons for those watching. The 64 minutes of this presentation may be as close to 64 minutes of perfection ever put on screen. We see everything from plot development, incredible voice acting, brilliant animation, (not the CGI we are used to, but real animation) and life affirming, eternal messages that will last as long as movies exist. I have seen movies that have lasted for hours that were unable to come close to the character development we see here. I have seen entire series that have said less in their hours than Dumbo presents in its 1 hour. I have seen less entertaining films, that get boring and yet after numerous viewings I have never gotten bored with this story, yes, I use the words ‘magic’ and ‘outstanding’ with intent.

There are so many lessons that one could touch on with Dumbo, but one I have thought little of in the past is the importance of friendship and encouragement we see in the character of Timothy Q. Mouse, not just him though, but in other characters like the crows who encourage Dumbo to find a way to put his giant ears to good use. Those lessons of encouragement, of befriending the outcast, the one who is bullied is a message and theme just as important today as it was in 1941 when this movie was released. In a world where we see bullying and making fun of others played out so much, to know that a lesson of friendship can be learned, appreciated, and at the same time, entertain even for a 2 year old is refreshing. That refreshing concept is the concept I appreciated as I watched the movie with my 18-month-old granddaughter who was entertained throughout the film. I understood, those are lessons I will be able to revisit with her over and over again as she gets older, not just those messages though, but others that are presented in the film such as the love and appreciation of family. The spiritual lessons of how we are to love each other, to see the positive in each other, despite those things we consider faults in others is another life lesson of value. If we could learn to see the benefit and potential in others in the same way God sees those things in us we would be in such a better place. Of course real friends can help with that process. We can learn, whether the one needing encouragement, or the one giving encouragement, there is benefit to loving each other and treating each other like family. Dumbo and Timothy both learn those lessons and we learn along with them.

One of the things I normally like to comment on is the quality of the DVD and the special features. In those aspects, Disney, with Dumbo, delivers. While we have a small screen format as opposed to a widescreen presentation, the colors and sound are more vibrant and brilliant as ever. Disney has included some special features including artwork around the framing of the film to fill out the television screen. I also found myself enjoying as much as ever the abundant special features that Disney brings to this product. In the past Disney has mostly been a hit in the special features they present; sometimes there is a let down; that is not the case with Dumbo. While the navigation bars are not the easiest to navigate, there are numerous features that I have not seen before which make this DVD a definite must own for those owning Blu-ray players. I would go so far as to say this; the purchase of a DVD player would be worth it if buying it to watch this movie. One will quickly find out there are ample features on the Blu-ray DVD’s, (generally speaking) but when finding a blu-ray like this one, you realize, your purchase of the player, plus the extra cost for the DVD are well worth it because it isn’t often we get the opportunity to enjoy a magical, refreshing, outstanding film and product like this version of Disney’s Dumbo.

To see the video posted below, click on the video, if the video doesn’t appear or appears in distorted form, click on the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvTstdw1g6o



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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 also contact me for a free e-book pre edit version of The Keystone Kid at mike@thevirtualpew.comYou can visit http://www.thevirtualpew.com/ and on the front page down on the left side you sill see our store. Your purchase provides needed funds to The Virtual Pew. If you do not see something to purchase you can click on the search engine, (do not put anything in the search box at this time). You will be taken to Amazon where you can search for anything you desire. Hopefully you will consider a gift to The Virtual Pew.

Now I get asked this quite often, Can we repost your blogs or articles? The short answer to that is, what an honor that you would ask, and by all means, spread the word.Here is our contact information

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Email: mike@furches.org

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Bambi II On Blu-ray

One of the classic films of all time is the Disney film, Bambi. Just released on Blu-ray DVD is the sequel Bambi II. The film released in 2006 is the follow up to the original which was recorded in 1942. Despite the difference in time regarding the release of the sequel, the story in Bambi II starts soon after the death of Bambi’s mother.

Bambi’s father, The Great Prince, voiced by Patrick Stewart, is a single father facing the conflict of raising a son. Bambi goes through many issues that others may be going through, as a result Bambi II is more than just a coming of age story, it looks at the relationship of single fathers and the conflicts they go through in raising a child on their own. Through a series of events, Bambi and The Great Prince learn to realize the need for each other, but not just each other, the community around them.

Over the years I have been quick to praise Disney for their outstanding work, especially in the field of Blu-ray transfer. Bambi II has a great story that is mature enough for adults and children to watch and learn from. The voicing of the characters of the film is quite good, especially Alexander Gould, the voice of Bambi, Brendon Baerg as Thumper, and Nicky Jones as Flower. The story is well crafted. What is lacking isn’t so story, but the magic animation Disney is noted for. There are several good scenes with quality transfer but those are few and far between. The quality is more of what may be expected of a television program than a DVD or movie release. Whatever the expectation, one who has viewed Disney DVD’s in the past will agree this is not as good in its animation.

One of the strengths of the DVD is the story and in that story the understanding of the two primary characters, Bambi and his father The Great Prince. While the story could have been a tad longer, the basics of the characters are intact. One of the weaknesses is the movie plays to the attention span of small children too much. It would have been possible to add some moments appreciated by small children, and developing the characters for the adult audience. For those who have gone through single parenthood, there is enough information but for those wanting to understand the issues, more could have been worthwhile.

Just as in real life, lessons for both father and son are learned through experience, sometimes, even the bad experiences. We see this transpire in a natural and real way, if seeing the story as an allegory. Thankfully, the ultimate lessons doesn’t come at the cost we of the original Bambi film. That doesn’t mean there isn’t tragedy involved, and it doesn’t mean there aren’t lessons to be learned. While some of the events may be difficult for the very young viewer, there are ample opportunities for discussion between child and parent and due to the nature of the events and growth process within those characters it is likely discussion will need to take place.

We unfortunately live in a society where family is becoming more fragmented. Disney recognized that I believe when they decided to do this sequel. The struggles of single parenthood are at its root the theme of this film. While there are difficulties in single parenting, Disney in the character of The Great Prince recognizes that the concept of love within the family, even in broken or single parent families is important and needed. Ultimately that love is transferred not just from a father to a son but from a son to a father. That love involves a sacrifice where one is willing to go beyond the norm. We see that sacrificial love throughout the Bible, a love that reflects not only the goodness of God, but the goodness and love to be communicated to our fellow human. While there is at times conflict, the ultimate desire is to love God and each other. Through the experiences, which require sacrifice, we can get to the place where there is not only understanding, but a life worthwhile for each of us.

I find myself having mixed opinions about Bambi II. I loved the story, although it could have been longer than the 74 minutes of the film, but I was disappointed in the quality of animation. I expect more from Disney and this product just didn’t deliver. While there are some special features on the DVD, I also found them lacking. If purchasing the DVD, I would recommend the purchase of just the standard version of the film as there is nothing worth the additional expense of the Blu-ray. It is nice to know that Disney is offering a value price of the Blu-ray that comes complete with the standard DVD. If able to find the standard DVD in a stand alone package, that is what I would recommend.

I still find myself reluctantly recommending this product on the power of the story and the well acted out voicing. It isn’t the best, but a less than average Disney product is still better than the standard run of the mill animated or children’s product. This one isn’t much better, but it is better on story alone. For that reason, it is worth owning and seeing several times, especially for those coming from single parent families and fathers.

To see the video posted below, click on the video, if the video doesn’t appear or appears in distorted form, click on the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PqdgiSq52Q


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Click to subscribe to my blog

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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 also contact me for a free e-book pre edit version of The Keystone Kid at mike@thevirtualpew.comYou can visit http://www.thevirtualpew.com/ and on the front page down on the left side you sill see our store. Your purchase provides needed funds to The Virtual Pew. If you do not see something to purchase you can click on the search engine, (do not put anything in the search box at this time). You will be taken to Amazon where you can search for anything you desire. Hopefully you will consider a gift to The Virtual Pew.

Now I get asked this quite often, Can we repost your blogs or articles? The short answer to that is, what an honor that you would ask, and by all means, spread the word.Here is our contact information

The Virtual Pew
6441 N. Hydraulic
Park City Kansas, 67219

Email: mike@furches.org

Click on the following links to learn more about The Virtual Pew

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Mars Needs Moms, On Blu-ray

Sometimes movies are praised so highly that when you see them there is somewhat of a letdown. I had never really anticipated the reverse to be true but I think it is, sometimes a movie can be panned so badly that when you see it, you realize it really isn’t that bad. Such is the case of the new DVD release of Mars Needs Moms. I had seen various reviews of the movie, most all bad, the latest, on a nationally broadcast syndicated television show had two critics listing it among their worst films of the year claiming it wasn’t for children. After seeing the movie I was pleasantly surprised, while not the best Disney film I have seen, it was far from the worst and it was actually ended up being quite enjoyable.

The premise of Mars Needs Moms is that an evil female Martian, called The Supervisor, voiced by Mindy Sterling, and has decided, unbeknownst to the other Martians to separate the male from female Martian babies because she sees little value in family. The female Martians are raised by robots and the males sent to the trash pits. Over the years the Martians have gathered or abducted Human Moms who ultimately die. The young human Milo, voiced by Seth Green, has issues with his mother, voiced by Joan Cusack. The Supervisor observes the issues and decides to abduct Milo’s mom. Milo sees the abduction, tries to save his mom, and gets trapped on the spaceship to Mars. While there he attempts to save his mother. He comes into contact with another human, Gribble, voiced by Dan Fogler who assists him in trying to save his mother.

One of the things Mars Needs Moms has been critiqued for by some is its dark nature, not only in its themes, but also in the colorization on screen. The film shot for a 3-D experience actually was quite nice on the Blu-ray rendition. Using a format which had the actors acting out the parts and having their images and expressions animated was quite nice. I was also impressed and pleased with the acting, and the dramatic nature of the film. The director, Simon Wells takes a difficult theme and turns it into a decent story.

One of the things the critics got right in their reviews is that it really is not a children’s film. There are scary moments and difficult themes which involve death, and abduction. These themes are rather difficult for young viewers, Seth Green, and especially Dab Fogler as Gribble do very nice jobs in their respective roles and we do see both characters grow. In their growth we see and learn about their past, especially in the case of Gribble. As the characters develop we see a change of attitude in Milo as he learns to accept the sacrifices his mother has made. By the time we get conclusion of the film, we feel for him, we also contemplate and think about our own relationships with those we love.

Mars Needs Moms address the most basic of human needs, the need for family, understanding and an appreciation for those who make sacrifices for others out of love. We see that sacrifice not just in the willingness of Milo to recognize his wrongs, but to recognize his need to change. We also see the love of a mother in her willingness to sacrifice for her son. As others observe sacrificial love they as well are moved to the point of change in their own lives, enough so to change their environment.

Many often refer to God as a man and male attributes and characteristics but there are several instances in the Bible that refer to the motherly nature of God. We see a glimpse of what that entails in the character of Mom. She is quick to discipline but she does so in love. She is also quick to sacrifice for her son and those she loves, in fact, all she does she does out of love. This is a reminder to the love God, no matter the situation or circumstance. That doesn’t mean we don’t sometimes have difficult times, even punishment, but it is always done out of a selfless love to improve our lives.

I found myself liking this movie far more than I thought I would. It isn’t a great film, but it isn’t bad either. Disney has always done a good job at providing quality entertainment and quality DVD’s, while this isn’t their best effort it isn’t bad. The package I reviewed came complete with a Digital Copy, a Standard DVD, a Blu-ray version and a Blu-ray 3-D version. There is a quality transfer with terrific sound and ample special features. Due to the quality of the special features and the complete package I found the DVD one worth owning. With the appropriate themes of family, respect, and appreciation of those who love you, the themes are worth visiting, and revisiting. While this movie isn’t for very small children, I think older children and parents will appreciate it. I have watched it twice already and fully expect to see it again. That said, one of the worst movies of the year? I don’t think so.

To see the video posted below, click on the video, if the video doesn’t appear or appears in distorted form, click on the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aS5W___Ezk


Click here to follow The Virtual Pew on Twitter

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Click to visit with Pastor Mike regarding any of your needs. He will respond to each request personally, and if need be refer you to one of our other pastors.

Click to subscribe to my blog

Click to visit and join our sister group at MySpace Hollywood Jesus.

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 also contact me for a free e-book pre edit version of The Keystone Kid at mike@thevirtualpew.comYou can visit http://www.thevirtualpew.com/ and on the front page down on the left side you sill see our store. Your purchase provides needed funds to The Virtual Pew. If you do not see something to purchase you can click on the search engine, (do not put anything in the search box at this time). You will be taken to Amazon where you can search for anything you desire. Hopefully you will consider a gift to The Virtual Pew.

Now I get asked this quite often, Can we repost your blogs or articles? The short answer to that is, what an honor that you would ask, and by all means, spread the word.Here is our contact information

The Virtual Pew
6441 N. Hydraulic
Park City Kansas, 67219

Email: mike@furches.org

Click on the following links to learn more about The Virtual Pew

Donations to The Virtual Pew

The Virtual Pew Blog

Personal Furches Web Site

Mary Jane Furches MySpace Page

Mike Furches MySpace Page

Mike Furches MySpace Blog

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To Subscribe to The Virtual Pew Live Feed

Dead Man Walking, 1995, 2011 on Blu-ray

In 1998 I personally sat across the table of the man who had just murdered my aunt who had helped raise me. He had killed another person, and shot and intended to kill my cousin. I was supposed to be at the residence when this tragedy took place but wasn’t due to my daughter having a knee injury from soccer. As I sat across this man, I came face to face with my own challenge, to follow Jesus example of love or to follow my desire to at the moment hate this man. I found it in me to share with him that I loved him and that I could call him brother if he accepted Christ. It was a hard thing to do but over the years I have told people, it wasn’t nearly as hard as the ability to continue to love him after he said after my offer, exactly these words that still burn in my mind, ‘That Bitch deserved everything she got.” Loving with an unexplainable love after that was among the hardest things I have ever done, but I can now speak with conviction, it is possible to love the unlovable in even the most difficult of situations.

Dead Man Walking is the critically acclaimed film by Tim Robbins from 1995 where Susan Sarandon won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Sister Helen Prejean, a nun who developed a relationship with convicted murderer and death role inmate Matthew Poncelet, played by Sean Penn who was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. This riveting tale, based primarily on meetings and conversations between Poncelet and Prejean challenges the viewer to think outside the box of their own beliefs regarding capital punishment and the role faith can play in the debate. The brilliant direction by Robbins, also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director, has a very nice mix of thought provoking dialog and perspectives on the issue of the death penalty and the role of faith, specifically Christianity. The story follows the true story of the relationship and friendship that developed between these two seemingly different characters. The movie now released on Blu-ray DVD will hopefully pull in new viewers like me for the first time. While the movie is some 15 + years old now, the story and debate are still relevant.

Robbins pulls no punches in his screenplay based off of the real Prejean’s book. He holds no punches in letting us know that Poncelet’s character was someone who was in many ways evil and in fact committed heinous crimes. Robbins also does a wonderful job in directing Sarandon in her struggles with not only the concept of the death penalty, but in her friendship and obligations as a Christian in loving and trying to reach Poncelet. She is presented as a real person of faith, with a genuine love, not just for the victims, but the perpetrator. As the relationship between the two characters develop, we the viewer come to ask questions as to the appropriateness of the death penalty, and for Christians, how far does one go to love another.

It is in the concept of loving even the unlovable that people of faith, especially Christians will find not only debate, but likely struggle. Just as Prejean is questioned in one scene about her willingness to support and care for a murderer, she is challenged by an inmate, ‘How can you support this murderer? Don’t you know what he did? Don’t you know that bible of yours talks about an eye for an eye?’ To which Prejean questions the man about the call to love even your enemies and the acts of Jesus. She also brings into question the other things where the Old Testament in particular calls into reasoning the right to execute for things which many would never consider the death penalty. The jailer then responds, ‘Well I’m certainly not going to get into a debate about what the Bible says with a nun.’ In some ways, that is the heart of the problem, not so much what it is that Prejean quoted, but the reality that it is evident, that even if one supports the position of the death penalty from a Biblical perspective, it becomes very difficult to defend in the way it is carried out, especially so when taking the words of Jesus to task with his commands of loving our enemy. Of course many Christians may support and recognize the rights of the state to carry out justice, while also recognizing their own responsibility to separate themselves and their requirements as a follower of Jesus from the responsibility of the state. This debate related to faith is at the crux of the plot and dialog. While a tough and controversial subject, it is one of the most spiritual, thought provoking movies I have seen in some time. Unfortunately, because of the dogmas of many, they likely won’t watch the movie, or allow themselves to engage in serious discussion related to the themes of the movie.

This movie is certainly worth a revisit, especially after recent headlines in America. The praise of such actions has caused many to question the responsibilities of the Christian. Dead Man Walking seems to take the perspective that the real power of love, is not in the ability to love the loveable, but the willingness to get to know and love the unlovable. In that love change takes place and redemption can occur. The Bible is filled with characters that were murderers, rapist, and other less than desirable personality traits that found God, and were ultimately used by God. There are also passages where Jesus complicates things by saying things like, if we hate or are angry at another, then we are guilty of murder. I love themes that cause me to struggle, and while I have struggled in the past on this issue, I personally know of the ability to love even those we seemingly have reason to hate. I also believe that growth takes place through struggle, and Dead Man Walking will help one struggle with their beliefs on this issue.

The only think I didn’t like about this DVD was the lack of special features. There is a director’s commentary but no other features. While the sound and image transfer is nice, I don’t know if it is worth the extra cost of the Blu-ray. I would recommend finding another regular DVD with more features. Robbins in his commentary does bring out some nice bits of information but it needs more.

This is a very good movie, well worth owning despite the flaws. The questions, and thought process, especially for Christians, is certainly worth struggling through. Dead Man Walking is an example of how good movies can be, and the meaningful discussions that can take place, if given the chance.

To see the video posted below click on the video. If the video isn’t at full scale or doesn’t show up, click on the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg-GMqPHIPQ


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