Showing posts with label family movie reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family movie reviews. Show all posts

Monday, December 3, 2012

Heaven's Door

Heaven’s Door

As of recent there seems to be a plethora of faith based and spiritually themed films, some have been better than expected and others fall into the same ol same ol, mundane embarrassing films. When a movie is released and one of its primary tag lines on the packaging is that it is only available at Walmart it should have one wondering. While starring some memorable actors Heaven’s Door unfortunately falls closer to the same ol category than it does the exceptional category. There are times the feel good tear jerkers are appreciated; there are other times they seem to be overdone. Not only did I have some problems with the theology of this film, I had issues with its quality. That isn’t to say this is a worthless movie, it is to say you get what you pay for and this low priced feature at Walmart is mediocre at best.

Heaven’s Door starts with a young girl, Riley spending some quality time with her grandfather. In the opening scene the grandfather suddenly dies from a heart attack. From there we see the turmoil her family is going through, especially her mother, Julie and father Leo, played by Dean Cain. There is also the bitter separation and divorce procedure where ugliness raises its head at the grandfather’s funeral. The grandmother seems to have her own issues but is a person of faith and after a near death experience where Riley discovers the doorway to heaven she begins to share a hope in God, in faith and in the reality of angels, Heaven and the like. As is the norm in films like this there is the doubt, questions, and conflict that is challenged by adults, in this case, Riley’s mother Julie.

Unfortunately the story is old; the plot is predictable, complete with all of the heart tugging score and music throughout; even the acting as a whole is a let down. We see Riley asking questions, searching for truth and all of the predictable circumstances we have seen in films like this before. While there are moments of fantasy in the story, it is still predictable and formulated.

Throughout the film we see Riley take on Christ like concepts, being able to see and dabble into heavenly things as well as have the power to heal others, even raising some things from the dead. While we do see character development we see it primarily in the life of Riley’s mother, Julie. Julie has questions and there are times where the performance of Charisma Carpenter who plays Julie is effective. It is just that her character at times is so unreasonable, and so unlikeable that it distracts from the enjoyment of the film. Frankly, she and most of the supporting cast do as much with the script and direction as they can.

While I didn’t like this film, I do find it somewhat fascinating. As mentioned in the opening of this review I find it fascinating that so much film focuses on spiritual themes. The theme and discussion of Heaven is certainly a fascinating subject, and one worthy of discussion. The question I have though is what version of Heaven is being promoted? As a person of faith I take a traditional Biblical view of Heaven. The presentation presented in the film here is one that takes a feel good, happy in the sky, and everything is going to be wonderful approach. I would much more appreciate a program offering questions as to how to get there, varying views, the possibility that some other existence besides heaven is possible, and as a person of faith specific to Christianity, for me, the role of Jesus, or other religious leaders for that matter in their role or perspective of Heaven. Unfortunately not only does Heaven’s Door present a differing view of Heaven other than traditional Christian belief, it is also presents an interpretation that is more fantasy than reality.

In the attempt to present Heaven and spirituality in the way this film does I find issue. In such an important area as the afterlife, if the reality of Heaven is true, then a more serious discussion is needed. That isn’t to say it has to be all serious, a light hearted attempt, using family themes would certainly be fine and appreciated. But I wanted, expected something other than fantasy here. I also have issues with films like this that are just below normal broadcast standards, not just in the acting, but lighting, sound, special features and score. Can a family watch this? Yes, if they can get through it, I can’t imagine a child or even a teen being able to endure this movie, and it seems as if much of it is pointed towards children and youth. That is unfortunate, the topic is certainly deserving, the cast does about as well as they can with the script. I just didn’t find it entertaining and with the myriads of film out there, including quality family film, I can honestly say there are more quality family films, even in the discount bin at Walmart that one would be better served by purchasing. Of course there are likely those who will disagree, feel free to, but as for me, I could have spent my time in better way than this movie.

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:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7GcfLdSPS0


The Virtual Pew and our other work is 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 material is provided.

Click here to read about, and order the book, The Keystone Kid

Click here to visit the web page The Virtual Pew 

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Click here to visit Mosaic Church where Mike is Pastor

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Click here for booking information to have Pastor Mike come speak or perform, from speaking to music or magic, something for all groups.

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

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Thursday, September 27, 2012

Hotel Transylvania



I have to tell you, Disney has a way with movies, especially children’s movies and animation. It is nice to see others like Sony Pictures starting to do the same. While their newest release Hotel Transylvania isn’t what one would consider a classic, it is a very good animated movie that is rather enjoyable and quite entertaining. While I saw this in Real D 3D as opposed to the 3D with the glasses, I still had a good time and the visual and sound aspects were quite good. This October, during the month of Halloween, we some classic characters from horror bring a new taste to the treats of the season. There is no trick here, we have a treat that emphasis family and community and as a result, families will see old horror characters in a new way, one that illustrates that despite our differences, we can, and should, come together.

Hotel Transylvania is the story of a single father, Dracula, played actually quite well by Adam Sandler who has lost his wife to humans. He now lives in Transylvania with his daughter Mavis, played innocently enough by Selena Gomez. Dracula, in his heartache and intent to protect his daughter from humans he builds a Hotel where all of his and her friends needs will be met without ever having to venture around humans. Mavis is turning 118 years of age and entering into adulthood, or would that be monsterhood? While the Hotel plans to open numerous guests arrive as Dracula has a grand-opening and Mavis Birthday Party to kick everything off. Everyone from The Abominable Snowman, Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, The Blob and many others arrive to celebrate. Also appearing, quite by accident, is a young human, (humans are feared among the monster kingdom for their treatment of monsters in the past) named Jonathan. Jonathan and Mavis meet up and a Romeo Juliet themed plot advances. Forbidden love mixed in with quite a few laughs and some surprisingly scary moments for a contemporary animated film, in fact, some moments that had me feeling better about not taking my 2-year-old granddaughter to the advance screening I attended. The story is an enjoyable, if not predictable one that picks up quite nicely.

There is quality stamped all over this film, from the acting to sound and from the visual 3-D effects to the quality of story. There is a surprising cast that not only includes those already mentioned but the likes of Kevin James as Frankenstein, Fran Drescher as Eunice, one of my favorites Steve Buscemi and others like CeeLo Green, David Spade and Jon Lovitz among others. There is little doubt the cast had fun making this movie and they wanted to do something for their children. This is especially true in the case of Adam Sandler who uses 2 of his own children as voice actors. One can rest assured, this will be an entertaining evening if taking your family to the movies.

In Hotel Transylvania we see an advancement of character in Adam Sandler’s character Dracula partially because of the quality of animation. Sandler is not known as the most remarkable actor in the business but he can tell a good story, as he has indicated from his contributions to other film, he can also have fun with his voice. Fortunately, the animation captures emotions in his character that I am not sure could be caught from his own natural appearance. We see his character in regards to his opinion of humans and his relationship with his daughter grow. It isn’t just his character we see something in though; we also see it in Mavis and Jonathan. We see a love blossom that transcends animation; it moves to tell us something about ourselves as humans and the role some of us have taken on as parents.

There is a strong story concept in Hotel Transylvania that would not only be wonderful for us as adults to explore, but to explore with our children for those of us with children. There is a bias many individuals have towards others that are rooted in hatred, prejudice, and perception or stereotypes. We can especially see this now when politics, religion or election cycles are in place. It doesn’t take long for those involved in social media such as facebook to see these things. Old friends take on bitter roles, opinions are based on who is of one party or another and long lasting relationships can be ruined. One has to wonder what small children learn when watching their parents behave in such a way. Even for those who don’t have children, we as a society have to have some level of concern of the perspectives presented. As is the norm for many children, there is often a place where rebellion occurs, rebellion against the things observed by ones parents and others in society. We certainly see that here. It is one thing that gives some measure of hope though. It is possible that in areas where we as parents and/or adults have blown it, that a small child can relearn or learn anew for the first time something of value, such as the way to treat others, to love anew, and to throw away the prejudices and hatred of the past. It is here that Hotel Transylvania shines. We don’t just see the ability of a child, even an adult child, to change; we see the opinions attitudes and actions of adults can change.

Another beautiful byproduct of this story is the willingness of a father to recognize his own wrongs and failures and be a big enough human, (or vampire in this case) to change and do what is right. Dracula is at least in this film, a role model for adults. Are we as adults, willing to recognize our own sins, prejudices, stereotypes, hatred if you will and change to establish a better model for the children of this world, or as some would say, this planets future? When willing to make that change we see illustrated how some things aren’t always as we thought and of the potential of a mighty powerful word, the four letter word, HOPE. It is with the potential of hope that things can change but all parties have to be willing to address the need for change, specifically in how we see each other. In Hotel Transylvania we see the potential of hope come about in a powerful way by the goodness of humans. While humans at one time were afraid of certain things, even doing harm and killing monsters, we see their ability to change. I can’t help but believe there are strong moral and spiritual messages for us seeing this movie. Just as a pastor or speaker may deliver an eloquent sermon that inspires change, Sony Pictures through the message of Hotel Transylvania does the same thing.

Unfortunately as mentioned above, Hotel Transylvania is not a classic by any measure but it is very good with some very good and exceptional lessons in it for all of us. There is a lackluster opening and closing credit sequence and the plot could have been a little tighter. The film drags a little in the first 20 minutes or so but picks up and becomes quite good towards the end. I seldom talk about the appropriate content of a film but will say, very small children may experience some scary moments. I couldn’t recommend it for them. I certainly think it is well worth the price of a regular admission ticket, and if taking a family, to save a few bucks certainly a matinee. I think the real D 3D is quite good and don’t think the extra price for a regular 3D ticket is necessary. That all said, on a scale of 1-10, for the better than average family experience a worth while 7

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=q4RK3jY7AVk

The Virtual Pew and our other work is 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 material is provided.

Click here to read about, and order the book, The Keystone Kid

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Click here to visit Mosaic Church where Mike is Pastor

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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

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Monday, August 20, 2012

Disney's The Tigger Movie on Blu-ray



I unapologetically admit, I have for most of my life, for whatever reason, been a huge fan of Winnie The Pooh. I was actually excited to get the opportunity to review the new release of Disney’s The Tigger Movie on Blu-ray DVD. As is the norm with most Disney products, there is an exceptional product made available for the consumer. The imagery and sound is spectacular, and even if owning this film in standard DVD, one can’t go wrong with the purchase of the Blu-ray version if they have a high definition television. One of the excellent features with the Blu-ray is not only the special features, which are refreshing, educational, and enjoyable, but also the sound quality. In a seemingly hand drawn format, the visual images are are stunning and the story is as good as this fan could have wanted. While Pooh is the star of the Winnie The Pooh franchise, there is enough of the other characters to keep all the fans of Pooh happy. I loved them all, their portrayal, and story. There is very little to be critical of this spectacular feature.

The premise of The Tigger Movie centers on Tigger accepting himself and the circumstances he is in as opposed to the images that often hurt, even if brought on by ones self. Unfortunately, Tigger is a representation of what many experience. It is hard for many. In this premise, I think of the command in my faith that dictates that we love others as much as we love ourselves. Many will understand that it is often difficult to love ourselves, thus we have a hard time loving others. Disney has produced an extremely spiritual concept here that is that we can often learn to love ourselves by the recognition of the fact that others love us, despite our differences. Unfortunately, many, like Tigger have a hard time understanding this. It is through the love of others thought that Tigger sees himself in a different light. I was once told by a friend, while we were filming an educational video documentary for The Sandoz Corporation that it was as others believed in this one person, that she begin to believe in herself. That is how it is not just for Tigger but many of us. As we love others, they experience the love and thus, feel loved, making it possible for them to love others not just more, but more perfectly. I loved this movie for that reason. For fans of Pooh, you can’t go wrong here; this is one to be enjoyed by not just the children, but by all ages. I know I did and this one will be on my must watch list, many more times in the future.

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=MBnw_3r0wtM

The Virtual Pew and our other work is 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 material is provided.

Click here to read about, and order the book, The Keystone Kid

Click here to visit the web page The Virtual Pew 

Click here to follow The Virtual Pew on Twitter

Mike Furches on Faceboook.

Click here to visit Mosaic Church where Mike is Pastor

The Keystone Kid/Virtual Pew Message Boards

Click here for booking information to have Pastor Mike come speak or perform, from speaking to music or magic, something for all groups.

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

Disney's :Lady and The Tramp 2, Scamps Adventure on Blu-ray



Disney has a reputation of making classic animation. Many over the years have seen the wonderful animated classic, Lady and The Tramp. Now on Blu-ray is the follow-up sequel to the story, Lady and The Tramp 2. This wonderful little gem, like most Disney DVD’s exudes excellence. From the animation to the quality of sound and excellent high definition transfer, Disney continues to work its magic. Also included in this wonderful little film is some nice special features that brings out some of the old footage from the vaults explaining some of the workings on the original. Seeing some of that old footage with Walt Disney himself is quite nice.

Lady and The Tramp 2 also addresses a primary point regarding family, and in that, the growth and maturity of children. We see Scamp, the son of Lady & The Tramp venture out on his own, trying to find his own way. Along the way, he finds as many children do, that the parents, as imperfect as they often are, still have the best interest of their children in mind. That isn’t to say there aren’t things to learn on the journey to independence, but it is to say that as is often the case, an appreciation of ones parents and what they have for their children, or as in this case, pups, is in the best interest of the child or pup, and with an amount of extreme love for the child. I appreciated the version of the program because we don’t see the parents as perfect, few of us in reality are, but we do see a love and a family that despite difficulties will come back together with a better understanding for each other. Just as in real life, there are lessons to learn, thankfully, Disney still understands not only the struggles of families, but the needs of families, especially when it comes to loving and being there for each other.

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=0t0GjNThU1A

The Virtual Pew and our other work is 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 material is provided.

Click here to read about, and order the book, The Keystone Kid

Click here to visit the web page The Virtual Pew 

Click here to follow The Virtual Pew on Twitter

Mike Furches on Faceboook.

Click here to visit Mosaic Church where Mike is Pastor

The Keystone Kid/Virtual Pew Message Boards

Click here for booking information to have Pastor Mike come speak or perform, from speaking to music or magic, something for all groups.

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

Hollywood Jesus

Reviews With Mike

The Virtual Pew Sermons

The Virtual Pew News

MySpace Hollywood Jesus Group

MySpace The Virtual Pew Group

The Virtual Pew Live Radio Web Page

To Subscribe to The Virtual Pew Live Feed

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Bubble Guppies with Wanda Sykes Movie on DVD



I have been trying to figure out as of late the recent phenomena regarding the resurgence of bubbles. There are bubbles with color, bubbles with scent, big bubbles, bubble machines, little bubbles, there just seems to be bubbles everywhere. My beautiful granddaughter Aaliyah is infatuated with bubbles; I couldn’t help but wonder why? Then there were the words she was saying which made no sense to me, ‘Bubble Guppies! Bubble Guppies Pee Paw!’ I can’t even begin to describe my confusion and wonderment. Then her daddy, my son, told me about how she loved the television show Bubble Guppies. It made no sense, then I had as an assignment; the opportunity to review the new DVD movie, Bubble Guppies. Luckily, I had the wisdom of a 2-year-old little girl to help me understand the DVD. After that approximate 2 hours of time, my questions about the resurgence of bubbles, and Bubble Guppies, may have just been answered.

Now I have to admit from the very outset, I am one of the rare few that have not been the biggest fans of Nickelodeon or their programming. There just has been too much disrespect for parenting for my enjoyment. That isn’t to say all programming is bad, there is the innocent enough programs and on a rare occasion, the exceptional program that I have enjoyed. With the new movie and DVD release of Bubble Guppies, I was pleasantly surprised, not just at the attention my 2-year-old granddaughter was giving the show, but the appropriateness of the show.


There are several features on the DVD including the short movie where the primary feature has The Bubble Guppies discovering certain aspects of Fairy Tales. There is also the search for the Bubble Puppy which is quite adorable. Wanda Sykes plays a fun role in her part as a witch attempting to keep The Bubble Guppies from discovering the truth about certain things. She adds an extra fun dimension to the story adding to the enjoyment likely more so for the adults than the children watching along. One of the things I didn’t know or expect was the educational techniques used in the show, from music to simple games within the program, I was impressed with the ability to teach, even a 2-year-old simple concepts. That along with the 3-D types of effects of the computer CGI and bright and brilliant colors had this an easy to watch, enjoyable program.

Now as to character development, don’t expect The Grapes of Wrath, but believe me, this program does an excellent job at communicating on a lower level to the small children watching it. I was simply put, amazed at the things my granddaughter picked up on, but maybe she did that because she is a genius after all.

There are valuable lessons presented in this show that goes along with the teaching which occurs. The concepts of friendship, diversity, sharing, and other attributes which demonstrate decency was in all honesty somewhat surprising. That says something in and of itself though about how we tend to prejudge others. The reality is there is beauty in all of us as we are all created in the image of God. These concepts can also bring about a measure of respect that helps in the understanding of God’s creation.

One of the concerns I have about this program is that it is so good it maintained the attention of a very small child for a long period of time. The movie teaches a concept of togetherness and love but if the DVD is used as a babysitting tool it is really the parent that is loosing out. I would hope and pray that this be a DVD that parents and their small children sit down together and watch as opposed to a babysitting tool. It is unique enough that it will entertain adults and children. There is even a special feature that has karaoke and another which involves dancing that my wife and I literally did with our granddaughter. Not only did she love this, but we did to. That is the beauty of this video, the potential for families to have fun together. The uniqueness here is that most of the time, there is just little available that will keep the attention of both adult and child, Bubble Guppies does it.

With the release of this DVD, I expect the DVD’s will be flying off the shelves. I have already seen the program selling for above retail prices on eBay and other online services. A unique concept I know, but I would personally recommend, if you have a small child in your life, especially one who loves Bubble Guppies, purchase this when you see it on the racks. It will make for a fun experience in doing something few movies of this type have done in the past, bringing the very young together with the very old. Heck who knows, you may even be dancing and singing with your child sooner than expected if you aren’t already.

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://vimeo.com/36783617
Bubble Puppy's Fin-Tastic Fairytale Adventure with Wanda Sykes from Jessica Wilson on Vimeo.


Click here to read about, and order the book, The Keystone Kid

Click here to follow The Virtual Pew on Twitter

Mike Furches on Faceboook.

Click here to visit Mosaic Church where Mike is Pastor

The Keystone Kid/Virtual Pew Message Boards

Click here for booking information to have Pastor Mike come speak or perform, from speaking to music or magic, something for all groups.

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

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Tuesday, March 20, 2012

October Baby

Few subjects can create controversy like the subject of abortion. For far too long there has been little beneficial discussion on this subject that brings about a measure of respect for those engaged in the conversation, it seems as if the word abortion builds up walls of defense that has people engaging in war as opposed to reasonable discussion. The heavy handed tactics from both sides of the fence had for me created an atmosphere where I didn’t think intelligent discussion on the subject was possible. That is until I saw the movie, October Baby.

For me, abortion is a subject that hits home because of the circumstances of my own birth; the 1950’s, my mother is pregnant in her mid teens prior to being married. It was an era where abortion was not legally available, and over the years, I have contemplated on how I benefited as a result. That isn’t to say my life has been a barrel of fun, it hasn’t, it isn’t to say that my life at times hasn’t been tragic, it has, but the breath that comes from life, at least for me is something I value. I value it so much that later in life, after being married for some years, my wife, daughter and I decided to adopt a hard to place child. It was on December 26 that our son came into our lives as a result. A child whose mother sought out to have an abortion, but pleasantly and gratefully, decided against it, as a result our family became whole.

When screening this film I did something I normally wouldn’t do, I watched the screener with a group of people. I had no idea what the film was about. I, through our church, operate a shelter for homeless women. We normally either have the television on or show movies on our big projection unit each night. Knowing I needed to see this movie for review I decided to watch it with approximately 20 homeless women. I was impressed with the movie as it progressed and especially with the sensitivity, yet reality of how it dealt with the subject of abortion, or in the case of the movie, attempted abortion since it explores the journey of a young girl whose birth mother attempted to abort her. It isn’t until shortly after a breakdown on a theater stage while in her late teens that the primary character finds out her birth mother birthed her during an abortion attempt, something not unheard of.

As the story came together on screen, something begin to happen, the gals at the shelter watching it, they became enthralled with the story, and at the conclusion of the film, approximately 10 of the 20 gals were not just crying, but sobbing. For many, the movie hit home and conversations begin as they asked me questions about the subject of abortion, many coming to the conclusion that the fetus in the womb was in fact, ‘a baby.’ For one young lady, she couldn’t get the tears and emotion out of her head for the next days as she detailed to me; she was pregnant and had many care providers encouraging her to have an abortion. She was desolate, on the streets, single, homeless, yet she recognized the value of contacting someone to give the baby up to for adoption as opposed to having the baby aborted. It was over these days that I realized the potential impact of this film, especially on those in similar situations, if they in fact, had the opportunity to see the movie.

October Baby stars Rachel Hendrix as Hannah, the teen daughter of Grace and Jacob, played respectfully by Jennifer Price and John Schneider. While the acting is credible and the film well produced and put together it is story driven. It is well told however and once the viewer gives the movie a little time they will be drawn into the story, caring about the characters and their journey. One of the things I appreciated about the film is the conflict between the primary character Hannah and her adopted parents. These conflicts, often resulting in the need to search out the birth parent are difficult for those going through that particular experience. Yet the love of the adopted family is well presented and shown in a loving and caring way. The script of the story allows for this to take place from my own personal experiences, in a real way.

Hannah is a bright young girl who has the benefit of having good, caring friends around her. These friends help lead her in the right direction and provide the appropriate types of support. This scenario is unfortunately not always the case for adopted children. October Baby though shows the value of loving and caring parents, along with the appropriate support system around that family. That isn’t to say there isn’t difficulty, the reality of that difficulty for many is one of the drawing factors that will have many appreciating the movie. The characters are developed and played nicely on screen. This is especially the case in the role of the father, played by John Schneider of Smallville and The Dukes of Hazard fame among others.

While the subject of abortion is controversial, this movie presents the journey to understanding by the primary character Hannah. No where in its portrayal is the movie ‘preachy’ and the story is presented in a non threatening, caring way. It is one of the things I think will give the movie some impact if given the opportunity. I have no doubt October Baby will convey the importance of life, while at the same time, respecting the audience it is presenting the story to. If the story presented never happened one could easily look over the premise of the story, in that the story does and has happened though, it isn’t presented as much as an anti abortion movie as it is the story of a young lady who went through a unique situation. The courage and journey of young girl discovering herself is a story that many will appreciate, no matter what they have had to journey through in life. It just so happens that with the subject matter of this movie, there will be others who experience life because the choice and benefits of life are presented. I am reminded of the Bible passage where it states, ‘I knew you and formed you while you were yet in your mother’s womb.’ More than that though, I have learned to appreciate and value the young women, despite difficulty, who chose to give life, even if giving the child up for adoption, because they recognized the potential of life as opposed to the uncertainty of what could have been which comes about with abortion.

Abortion is a subject many are passionate about; it is one where in the support of a position, we often loose respect for the person with a differing belief. It is rare that that uncertainty, which produces heated discussion, is presented in such a way as to bring people together to understand or contemplate the realities of abortion. October Baby, in and of itself does such a thing; whether those who choose to engage in the debate will do that is yet to be seen. I know the surprise and impact I experienced of watching this movie with a group of women, some who had had abortions and others who were contemplating and being encouraged by others to do so. The bottom line is October Baby will save the lives of future babies. I have already seen it do so with at least one baby. I personally don’t know how one puts a price on that, the value of a baby, but in my book, the movie, the story, has already been worth the cost of production, and October Baby did it prior to hitting theaters. Quite an accomplishment if you ask me, but don’t ask me, ask those who see the movie who walk in similar shoes of those I saw the movie with. If that doesn’t persuade one as to the viability of life, I don’t know what will.

On a scale of 1 – 10, while this isn’t a perfect movie, it is still very good and well worth seeing, you might even say it kind of matches that holy number that many refer to, and so, I give this movie a well deserving 7

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=L52Lciaui4o


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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

Donations to The Virtual Pew

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To Subscribe to The Virtual Pew Live Feed

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

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



Click here to read about, and order the book, The Keystone Kid

Click here to follow The Virtual Pew on Twitter

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The Keystone Kid/Virtual Pew Message Boards

Click here for booking information to have Pastor Mike come speak or perform, from speaking to music or magic, something for all groups.

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

Hollywood Jesus

Reviews With Mike

The Virtual Pew Sermons

The Virtual Pew News

MySpace Hollywood Jesus Group

MySpace The Virtual Pew Group

The Virtual Pew Live Radio Web Page

To Subscribe to The Virtual Pew Live Feed

Monday, September 19, 2011

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



Click here to read about, and order the book, The Keystone Kid

Click here to follow The Virtual Pew on Twitter

Mike Furches on Faceboook.

The Keystone Kid/Virtual Pew Message Boards

Click here for booking information to have Pastor Mike come speak or perform, from speaking to music or magic, something for all groups.

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

Hollywood Jesus

Reviews With Mike

The Virtual Pew Sermons

The Virtual Pew News

MySpace Hollywood Jesus Group

MySpace The Virtual Pew Group

The Virtual Pew Live Radio Web Page

To Subscribe to The Virtual Pew Live Feed

ABC's No Ordinary Family, Season 1

Imagine a family consisting of a father, mother, son and daughter starting to fall away from each other. Some of us would be used to it as it tends to happen, especially when the children become teenagers and the parents are caught up in their own careers. The family decides to come together, spend some time together and take a trip to South America. Along the way, the plane they are traveling in crashes. They fall into a body of water where they end up breathing in unknown substances from the lake. Unknown to them, they each develop super powers which enable them to do unique things, the father can leap buildings in a single bound and has a new super human strength. The mom can run faster than the speed of light. The daughter can hear the thoughts from others and the son goes from a C student to super genius. If one didn’t know better, they would almost thing No Ordinary Family starring Michael Chiklas from The Shield and The Fantastic Four, and as his wife, Julie Benz, known best for her role as Dexter’s wife in the Showtime series Dexter is based on the Pixar film, The Incredible’s If one doesn’t take the series too seriously they will find a ABC series that deserved more respect and viewership than it received.

One of the benefits of new technological advancements is that a television series like No Ordinary Family can appear almost like a feature film as to the quality of acting, special effects, and story. In those regards this is a pleasing series that deserved another chance to bring in an audience. Michael Chiklas and Julie Benz do a terrific job as does their supporting cast. Everything about the series proved enjoyable, with quality editing, direction, and always entertaining enjoyable story.

I was especially pleased how the story developed. Each character grew into their part, especially true with the children who have their own special powers and issues related to those powers. In some of the same ways as series Smallville, the characters develop in such a way where we find ourselves caring about them and the struggles they are going through. While far from perfect, the issues related to growing up are addressed in a way most can relate to.

At the heart of the series is the desire of the characters to serve their community and those in trouble. While there are sacrifices to be made, those sacrifices take into consideration the role of family and the gifts they have been given. Each character has their own issues and difficulties to face, yet there is a willingness to serve their fellow man. Often times we see individuals in movies make these kinds of decisions, yet never take into consideration the cost of those decisions. That is not the case here, there is a love of family, an understanding of gifts, yet also an understanding of what could be lost when serving others. The difficulty of those types of decisions hits home to me in No Ordinary Family. There is a cost to pay, but ultimately, the need to serve their community and using their gifts for the wellbeing of their fellow humans come at a cost, but a cost that is worth it.

I enjoyed No Ordinary Family. It is a series that deserved a chance for continuation as it was well done, and promoted the family. It promotes more than that though, it promoted the need of each person using their gifts for the good of their community. Those are themes we just don’t have enough of and it was a refreshing program in comparison to all of the other programs on the air. One of the only negatives regarding the DVD series for me was the lack of special features. While there are a few, they are not listed on the product and are not enlightening to the series. ABC unfortunately never gave the series a chance so it doesn’t surprise me that they didn’t put more into the DVD, that isn’t a reflection on the product though, it is a reflection on ABC, there are many fans who wanted more. Watch for yourself, see how the show could have gone places, places we need, and places we deserved.

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=i3ssH58qf8I



Click here to read about, and order the book, The Keystone Kid

Click here to follow The Virtual Pew on Twitter

Mike Furches on Faceboook.

The Keystone Kid/Virtual Pew Message Boards

Click here for booking information to have Pastor Mike come speak or perform, from speaking to music or magic, something for all groups.

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

Hollywood Jesus

Reviews With Mike

The Virtual Pew Sermons

The Virtual Pew News

MySpace Hollywood Jesus Group

MySpace The Virtual Pew Group

The Virtual Pew Live Radio Web Page

To Subscribe to The Virtual Pew Live Feed