Motorcycle Diaries, The (Diarios de motocicleta)

The Motorcycle Diaries, is the story of a road trip taken by Ernesto "Che'" Guavera (Gael Garcia Bernal of El Crimen de Padre Amaro) and his friend Alberto Granada (Rodrigo de la Serna) in 1952. Their plan was to ride a motorcycle from Buenos Aires, around the southern most tip of South America and north to Venezuela in four months - arriving in time to celebrate Alberto's 30th birthday.

Che' Guavera is known as one of the major leaders of the Cuban revolution who was eventually murdered by the CIA in Bolivia in 1967. This story, based on the writings of the two main characters, is an interprative, minimalist approach to biographical filmmaking. We get to see the beauty of the South American landscape and experience the extreme discomforts of the journey of the two men (from motorcycle travel, to the machine's demise, to their walking and hitchhiking - and their running out of money), while witnessing Che's growing awareness of the oppression of the poor and indigeneous peoples of South America and his eventual decision to participate in their liberation.

I think it is an excellent film that does not preach, but let's us see what it means to listen and pay attention to the world around us, reflect and process this experience through journaling, enter into dialogue with one's companions or others and then to act .... We may not agree that Che' chose the "proper" approach to social change, but then things haven't changed all that much in South America and other parts of the world, have they? I think that in a very subtle way this film lets us see how post World War II economic expansion and globalization began to take root to the destruction of native peoples lives and cultures. Pope John Paul II, in his statement to the Synod of the Americas in 1997, focused on the principles of Catholic Social Teaching and considered both North and South America "one" continent with shared "social sins." And this comes almost 50 years after Che' and Alberto's road trip.

With freedom, comes responsibility for the lives and well-being of our brothers and sisters wherever they are.

 

 

The Polar Express

I loved The Polar Express. Just saw it this morning, and I thought it was wonderful. It ranks very close to Pirates of the Caribbean for me, in that it was that kind of pure entertainment that makes a trip to the multiplex worthwhile and satisfying. The Polar Express is a different kind of entertainment that Pirates, but films like these are strong reminders of what Hollywood is capable of when all the creativity is generously poured into bringing stories like these to the screen for the enjoyment - and in this case, inspiration- of a broad audience (however North American and northern hemisphere that may be...)

By now everyone knows that Tom Hanks plays at least four parts in this amazingly animated film; sometimes the characters look almost ... real.

The story goes that a young boy is of the age when he starts to doubt the existence of Santa Claus. On Christmas Eve he is torn between believing or not. He even looks up the North Pole in his encyclopedia (so this is set before the age of computers!) and knows that it is a floating geographic place that could not sustain Santa's workshop.

Soon after he goes to bed, he hears a train outside and goes to investigate. The conductor invites him aboard, but he can't make up his mind. As the train leaves, though, he jumps on and joins other children on their way to the North Pole. He makes friends with a young girl, and a know-it-all kid annoys them. As they pass to the "other side of the tracks", they stop at a house without any decorations and a small boy, Billy, is standing outside. He decides not to board, but the hero of the story and the girl go back for him. Their trip to the North Pole is like a giant roller coaster ride - so if you like these, and are a fan of model trains, you will enjoy many aspects of The Polar Express.

They arrive at the North Pole just before the stroke of midnight ... and I would tell you what they find and but you'll just have to go and see it for yourself!

On the way to the North Pole, the hero-girl and Billy sing a gentle and heartfelt Christmas ballad that may bring a tear to your eye. The film knows that loneliness is the most difficult part of Christmas (Billy says that Christmas has never been much for him) and that friends and family can make all the difference in the world.

Expertly directed by Robert Zemeckis and based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg.

The Polar Express has Oscar potential.

It is not a religious film per se, but it is full of the gifts of the Spirit.

Certainly this is a family film, but very young children might find it a bit slow-going. However, it is an intelligent, beautifully crafted film and embraces the audience as it entertains and - inspires.

 

 

Cinderella Story, A

A Cinderella Story with Hilary Duff as the over-worked and ill-treated teen, is an updated 'tween version of the fairy tale, only for those who have strong teeth that won't melt from the sugar.

I just voted at www.imdb.org (I gave it a 2 out of 10) and saw that viewers either loved it or hated it. Roughly 25% have it a 10 (excellent) and 25% gave it a 1 (awful) and all other votes scattered in between. It must have hit it's target market: girls loved it and parents - or a huge number of critics - hated it. After all, with Chad Michael Murray as Prince Charming and Jennifer Coolidge (remember, she was Paulette in Legally Bond) it had some entertainment value. To me it was just a showcase for Miss Duff. I enjoyed Drew Barrymore's Ever After: A True Cinderella Story much more, not least of which was the presence of Anjelica Huston as the evil step-mother.  

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

Hi everyone!

At long last I am back from my trip to Rome and my 30 Day Retreat. It was awesome, especially the silence. Silence is a gift.

I went to see two new films today, and I will be writing about them, but first let me play "catch up" once again on recent films that I missed (blessedly) in theaters, but caught up with on the long flights to and from Rome.

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story was one big bark, like that of a dog howling under a full moon and starving. I thought that Vince Vaughn's acting as Peter, the owner of the gym about to go under financially, was so laid back that he was almost horizontal. The adolescent emphasis on male body parts isn't lost on anyone, least of all Ben Stiller as White Goodman, the wealthy owner of the chain of gyms about to buy up Peter's when it goes into foreclosure. Enter Kate, the lawyer for the bank who takes sides with Peter and his den of kind-hearted,  delusional athletes, especially Steve, who thinks he is a pirate and dresses and acts accordingly. Arrrgh!

Members of both gyms end up battling it out at a dodgeball contest in Vegas. Guess who wins?

For a film that had to be really low budget, there was one part that I thought was very thoughtful and gave me something good to take away from the quasi-agony of the viewing. When Steve the Pirate goes missing, I think it is the character Justin (or Gordon - can't recall) who doesn't even realize they have had a play-pirate on their team. Steve shows up just before the finale, hair cut and shaved - unrecognizeable to all except Justin who calls out, "There's Steve." He never saw the outward trappings of the pirate that Steve hid behind, but only the real person. Nice touch to an otherwise forgettable film.

NOEL & Finding God at the Movies

Greetings from Rome! I am in the midst of a 30 day retreat and today is a day of rest so I am pleased to post this information for you: 

Here is a link to a new film - and our choir is in it! Also, it's coming out on DVD, will be on TV and open in theaters in ten cities at the same time...  

 Read more about it! 

NOEL a film by Chazz Palminteri

http://www.noelthemovie.com/index.htm

A new book (I already posted some information, but here is a web link, too.)   Finding God in the Dark... by John Pungente, SJ  A 30 day retreat with movies... (alas, not the kind I am currently involved in!)  

http://www.pauline.org/store/moreinfo/0819826804.html  

Take care and I will be back online, God willing, on October 31st.   Best wishes to everyone.... Sr. Rose

 

Search:

Languages
English Spanish

Search by:
Title Author ISBN

Finding God in the Dark
Taking theSpiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius to the Movies

By John J. Pungente, SJ and Monty Williams, SJ

Film can be profoundly spiritual. This stunning new book uses fifty-two popular films to engage the reader on a significantly personal and transformational journey through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, which have, since their establishment in the sixteenth century, influenced countless millions to discover a personal, passionate, and intimate spirituality transforming their lives and cultures.

KEY FEATURES

• Divided into four parts corresponding with the Four Weeks of the Spiritual Exercises:Part One: Discovering God’s love;Part Two: Channeling energies into a personal relationship with Christ; Part Three: Accompanying Christ’s love in the face of suffering and death; Part Four: Celebrating the triumph of God’s love and working together to transform the world through acts of love
• Includes a concise, helpful explanation of what the Spiritual Exercises are, and how to make them

John J. Pungente, SJ is a creator and host of the award-winning monthly television show Scanning the Movies, seen on Bravo! Canada. A well-known author, educator, and media literacy specialist, Fr. Pungente is director of the Toronto-based Jesuit Communication Project.

Monty Williams, SJ, a Canadian Jesuit ordained in 1977, is known for his innovative exploration of Jesuit spirituality and the Spiritual Exercises. He is a spiritual and retreat director at Loyola Retreat House, Guelph, Ontario, and teaches at Regis College, University of Toronto.

Paperback / 306 pages / Dimensions: 8 1/2" x 8 1/2" / ISBN: 0819826804
Retail Price: $26.95

Available November 2004

Paparazzi

One last entry before my retreat begins...

Paparazzi is the story of a new movie star: Bo Laramie (Cole Hauser). He is new to fame, new to the industry, etc. With his newfound fame, come the paparazzi.

The paparazzi plague him and his family, especially four of them who seem to have really evil intent. They follow Bo, his wife and child one night and in a scene that reminds us of what it might of been like for Princess Diana's last night, cause a terrible accident that leaves Bo's son in  a coma and his wife injured.

Bo ends up in therapy for anger (!). One morning when he is buying coffee in a little shop in Malibu, a shop worker hugs him and one of the paparazzi takes a photo. Bo wants to strike out but instead leaves and on the way home, stops along a cliff road to call his therapist. The paparazzi has followed him, gets into an accident, and when Bo has a chance to save him, the paparazzi threatens him, and after a moment of hesitation, Bo lets him fall off the cliff and die.

Thus, Bo starts to eliminate the three remaining paparazzi one at a time.

A Colombo-like detective kind of figures things out as he tries to solve the mystery of the murders.

The problem with this film is how it justifies revenge and how the producers of the film, Icon Pictures, Mel Gibson and Steve McEveety, could have taken on such a project that promotes such brutal, violent revenge (and getting away with it), right after The Passion of the Christ.

I don't get it. Did they not even stop to ask themselves "What would Jesus have done in these circumstances?" I doubt he would have done what Bo did and then flaunt it as if to say, "I sure taught those guys a lesson and kicked them in the a_ _ !"

To me, this is the whole problem with contemporary religiosity: the split between Sunday and the rest of the week, or how we can profess faith and make a movie about it, and then turn around a make a movie that competely promotes and justifies the opposite: immoral behavior.

This is the problem with violence in film; the movie promotes violence as a way of life and as the way to solve problems. There is certainly nothing remotely redemptive about this film.

What would Jesus think?

Wouldn't the better film have been one that figured out how to stop the paparazzi in a non-violent way? That's a film I would love to see.

Just more violent films cluttering up the cultural landscape.

No thanks.

 

Finding God in the Dark

Just to let you know that I won't be posting any entries for new films until November. Right now I am in Rome and will begin the Spiritual Exercises, a 30-day retreat, on September 29th. This is a silent retreat, including electronic silence. For the members of my religious community, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, though we do make a week long spiritual retreat once a year.

If you are interested in reading up more on the Spiritual Exercises as designed by St. Ignatius of Loyola in the 1600's, google the term "Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius."

Our publishing house, Pauline Books & Media (www.pauline.org) is publishing a book soon called Finding God in the Dark, that puts together popular film and the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. Here is the announcement; be well and pray for me as I will for you.

______________________________________________________

Abstract

Film can be profoundly spiritual. This stunning new book uses fifty-two popular films to engage the reader on a significantly personal and transformational journey through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, which have, since their establishment in the sixteenth century, influenced countless millions to discover a personal, passionate, and intimate spirituality transforming their lives and cultures. This invaluable resource shows us how to make watching a movie a deeply contemplative experience.

 

Full Review

People today are shaped by film and television. When we watch a film, we are not just being entertained; we are exposing ourselves to narratives that define what is possible for us, and we often incarnate those possibilities. In Finding God in the Dark, John Pungente SJ and Monty Williams SJ guide you through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius as you watch 52 popular films that are available at your local video/DVD store

 

Watching these films “the Ignatian way” becomes an act of contemplative prayer and self-reflection. St. Ignatius lived 400 years ago, but his approach to spiritual growth has transformed history and culture to the present day. Ignatian spirituality uses the imagination to present our world and ourselves to us in new ways by revealing the dynamic presence of God that is constantly communicating with us.<o:p></o:p>

 

Finding God in the Dark offers a rooted approach to developing a spiritual life and a personal intimacy with God, providing an easy-to-follow format and various options for using the material.

 

Key Featureso       The book’s introduction includes a concise and helpful explanation of what the Spiritual Exercises are, and how to make them, as well as a reflection on “Cinema as Church.”

·        The book is divided into four parts corresponding with the Four Weeks of the Spiritual Exercises:

o       Part One: Discovering God’s love

o       Part Two: Channeling energies into a personal relationship with Christ

o       Part Three: Accompanying Christ’s love in the face of suffering and death

o       Part Four: Celebrating the triumph of God’s love and working together to transform the world through acts of love<

·        Within these parts, the readers are led through each “day” of the exercises, with scripture quotations, the “grace” to pray for, a reflection on the Ignatian theme, and questions for personal prayer and reflection.<

·        Then, a movie is offered as a means for contemplating this theme. Movie sections include a film summary, questions about the movie itself, questions relating the movie to the day’s theme, and questions relating the movie to the reader’s own prayer experience