Movie Review; 'Dinner for Schmucks'
Dinner for Schmucks
By Hannah Goodwyn
CBN.com Producer
CBN.com - Dinner for Schmucks is one of those films that really disappoints. The problem isn’t found in the hilarious comedic spars between the equally talented Paul Rudd and Steve Carell or its endearing story of a self-centered guy who learns what’s most important in life – not power, position – people. The head-shaking disappointment comes from the offensive content that overshadows the film’s comedic and underlying messages of friendship and acting selflessly.
The Movie in a Minute
A rising star in his firm, Tim Conrad (Paul Rudd) is pretty much up for anything to get to the next level at work. His determination is tested when he’s invited to the “dinner for idiots”, a monthly get-together hosted by the boss. Tim’s girlfriend, Julie, shares her disgust with the idea, but Tim isn’t sure he should pass up the opportunity. Ready to decline the invitation, Tim changes his mind after running into Barry (Steve Carell), an IRS employee with a peculiar hobby. Barry’s presence seems to invite chaos into Tim’s life, confirming – in Tim’s mind – that he made the right decision to bring his schmuck to dinner.
Dinner for Schmucks: The Good vs. The Bad
Based on the trailers, moviegoers can pretty much assume the type of crude “comedy” they’ll find at Dinner for Schmucks. Though this new all-star flick, starring Paul Rudd (Anchorman), Steve Carell (The Office), Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover), and other noted funny people, is rated PG-13, it’s got to be just on the edge of not being an R comedy. Beyond its use of obscenities (including an F-bomb) and profanities (God’s name taken in vain), audiences will be subjected to offensive sexual content and partial nudity in this remake of the 1998 French film Le Diner de Cons. Jesus also makes an appearance in the form of a mouse (Barry’s hobby is making “mouseterpieces” – works of art using dead mice). All of it is just too much.
To get a better idea of what to expect from Dinner for Schmucks, just look at the resumes of the filmmakers behind it. Director Jay Roach brought us Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan and the Austin Powers series. And one of the producers is Sacha Baron Cohen, Borat himself. Without a doubt, the film has its moments of lighthearted fun and hilarious scenes. However, its crass content, which is sprinkled generously throughout the film, ruins the overall movie experience. It clouds the good comedy and strong message of preferring others before yourself despite peer pressure or personal gain.
In the End
According to movie ads, a movie critic is praising Rudd and Carell as the new odd couple. Though their comedic talent in Dinner for Schmucks is unquestionable, it's eclipsed by the film’s crass humor.
ATTENTION READERS
I shall not 'endorse' any product, even if it's 'slipped in' to a comment on any article. I really
do appreciate those who take the time to write a genuine comment, but there are a few who write different ones on the same individual article, and include specific websites of their own, probably believing I will not catch it. Most of these are not the type of sites/blogs I would ever visit myself, therefore would never make it seem that I endorse them. To those of you who are doing that, with the same email address, or the same IP address, I ask that you refrain in the future. Again, to those who genuinely read and enjoy www.takecaregodbless.com, I thank you. Maggie
Rescue Needed
Rescue Needed
I was a captain of a medical missionary ship. But I was no hero...yet.
“What an amazing looking waterfall,” my fiancé Lori said, pointing ahead to a spot just off the road we were driving. Breathtaking scenery was all around us here in New Zealand, and I didn’t get to enjoy it often, spending most of my time captaining a medical missionary ship. I loved the mission’s goal—to bring medical treatment to remote Pacific island communities, but I was often looking for opportunities to connect with people one-on-one: I didn’t want to just hide behind my job of getting the ship from place to place.
I trained as a Merchant Mariner and with the Navy Reserve—always to be ready for the unexpected. On a month and a half long break back in America, I had taken a first aid refresher course, to keep my skills fresh. When I returned to my ship in New Zealand I needed to be prepared for another season of service. The ship had doctors but sailors have to be ready for all kinds of situations. Before my plane took off, I prayed with my parents: “Lord, give me an opportunity to make a personal difference in someone’s life.”
Suddenly, I saw a man slip off one of the rocks. The drop had to be at least 13 feet. It was an ugly fall, but as he came to the surface we thought he was okay. Then his body rolled face down. Blood clouded the water around his head.
I ran quickly around the pool, shouting to Lori to call for help. I jumped in as close to the man as I could and managed to turn him upright while keeping his neck stabilized. Within a few moments, he regained consciousness. His head steady between my forearms, I supported him in the water for 30 minutes until the ambulance arrived.
We heard about a month later that he had spent two weeks in the hospital with a broken neck, but had miraculously not been paralyzed.
No one else around the waterfall at that moment had the training to save his life—except me.
A Dagger at the Heart of Religious Freedom
A Dagger at the Heart of Religious Freedom
Supreme Court decision marginalizes Christians.
by Jim Ray
It was the simplest of requests, really – just an email from a student group to a college administrator, asking for permission to set up an informational table on a patio. So why was the request ignored…and therefore, in effect, denied? Because the group in question – the Christian Legal Society – ran afoul of the college’s decree that everyone subscribe to certain politically-correct beliefs.
Little notice was taken last week of a Supreme Court decision that, according to Justice Samuel Alito, is a “serious setback for freedom of expression in this country.” In Christian Legal Society v. Martinez, the Court decided that Hastings College of the Law, one of the University of California schools, had the right to deny recognition to a Christian group as a “Registered Student Organization” because the group’s Statement of Faith included the tenet that “sexual activity should not occur outside of marriage between a man and woman.”
There are “Registered Student Organizations” for just about anything at University of California public universities. Students can join groups focused on feminism, environmentalism, animal laws, “reproductive justice,” and scores of others. But for a group committed to traditional biblical principles – well, those beliefs were evidently an intolerable embarrassment to the school. Although the Christian Legal Society can continue to operate without “registered” status, it faces obstacles – such as the inability to even get approval to set up a table – that are clearly calculated to make the group go away entirely.
There are a lot of people besides evangelical Christians who are deeply troubled by this latest ruling from the Supreme Court. Many other groups filed “friend of the court” briefs urging the justices to rule in favor of the Christian Legal Society, including Gays and Lesbians for Individual Liberty, the American Islamic Congress, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Boy Scouts of America, and the State Attorneys General for 14 states.
But for the five members of the Supreme Court who formed the majority opinion, it didn’t matter. “The era of loyalty oaths is behind us,” said Justice Anthony Kennedy in the decision. But the substance of the ruling itself would seem to render that statement dishonest, given the demands made upon the Christian Legal Society to conform…or be ostracized.
Public universities promote themselves as bastions of free speech and tolerance, when in reality many of them have become virulently hostile places for Christians. Thanks to this latest court decision, the door is open for the systematic marginalization of Christians to spread beyond the campus.
As you pray for your nation’s leaders today:
- Pray that God would grant wisdom and discernment to the members of the United States Supreme Court in the many decisions they are charged to make.
- Pray that the wisdom of our Founding Fathers as articulated in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights would not be subjugated to prevailing ideologies.
- Pray that President Obama would nominate, and the Congress would approve, the people of God’s choosing to the courts.
- Pray that God would give Christian students across the country the boldness to stand strong in their faith in the face of increasing ridicule and opposition.
Do You Know Him?
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If you never felt pain, then how would you know that I am a Healer?
If you never had to pray, How would you know that I am a Deliverer? If you never had a trial, how could you call yourself an overcomer? If you never felt sadness, How would you know that I am a Comforter? If you never made a mistake, How would you know that I am a forgiver? If you knew all, How would you know that I will answer your questions? If you never were in trouble, How would you know that I will come to your rescue If you never were broken, Then how would you know that I can make you whole? If you never had a problem,How would you know that I can solve them? If you never had any suffering, Then how would you know what I went through? If you never went through the fire, Then how would you become pure? If I gave you all things, How would you appreciate them? If I never corrected you, How would you know that I love you? If you had all power, Then how would you learn to depend on me? If your life was perfect, Then what would you need me for? |
Movie Review, "The Karate Kid"
The Karate Kid
By Hannah Goodwyn
CBN.com Producer
CBN.com - No, you haven't traveled back to 1984, and no, you will not see Mr. Miyagi or Daniel-san "wax on, wax off". In fact, the "remake" should be called The Kung Fu Kid, since that's what the little hero learns, not karate (a martial art revered in Japan). All that in mind, this new film is actually quite good.
Starring power couple Will and Jada Pinkett Smith's son, Jaden, The Karate Kid is an updated version of an '80s classic. It doesn't offer groundbreaking storytelling, which isn't a big surprise, since it's a remake, but it is a fun coming of age film the family will enjoy seeing together this summer.
The Movie in a Minute
Dre and his mother Sherry (Taraji P. Henson) leave their home in the US. to start a new life on the other side of the world. Trying to accept China as his new home, Dre begins to fall for his classmate Mei Ying. The trouble starts when bully Cheng and his friends use their Kung Fu training to beat up Dre. Secretly a Kung Fu Master, Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) stops the local boys from seriously hurting Dre. To gain his new young friend a reprieve from the bullyiing, Mr. Han agrees to enter Dre in a Kung Fu tournament, for which he trains him.
What Works – and What Doesn't – in The Karate Kid
Though this remake is slow in its beginning, it's strong at the finish. One major plus audiences will key in on is how well the soundtrack follows the plot of the film. With a well-selected song list backing the story, our focus is centered on lil' Dre. The transplanted 12-year-old starts off as a complaining, frustrated kid. Similar to the original, he soon discovers a martial art that will help him stand up for himself. By the end, Dre has the Kung Fu Tournament audience and those of us in the movie theater cheering.
In the lead role of Dre, Jaden Smith shows us just how much he is his father’s son. Like dad, A-list movie star Will Smith, Jaden has got the acting gene, the dance moves, and even shows off his rap skills in the movie’s theme song with popstar Justin Bieber. You may remember Jaden from The Pursuit of Happyness, in which he played his father's onscreen son, Christopher. Don't be surprised if you catch Jaden showing some Will Smith mannerisms in The Karate Kid. This big break role is definitely just the beginning for the little star in the making.
Jackie Chan takes on the Mr. Miyagi-esque role as maintenance man Mr. Han. A much more serious part than the action and comedy star is known for, Chan expresses the right amount of emotion, giving this troubled Kung Fu Master the edge needed to keep the story interesting.
A few remarks about questionable content: The film refers to ancient Chinese remedies, magic Kung Fu water from the Dragon Well, and the concept of yin and yang. Mr. Han also teaches young Dre about qi, the flow of internal energy, the essence of life in each of us -- as he says.
Rated PG for bullying, martial arts action violence and some mild language, The Karate Kid is not for the little ones. Parents of young children, buy movie tickets with caution; our young hero, Dre, is the perpetrator of some of the obscenities used in the film.
In the End
If you go to the film understanding that this remake can't touch the classic, then The Karate Kid will not disappoint. Actually, it has the potential to be one of the best movies available to younger audiences this summer.
The Men in White
The Men in White
We’d left our keys inside our apartment. How would we get back in?
There’s nothing hotter than summer in Atlanta, especially if you can’t afford an air conditioner. My wife, Rebekah, and I couldn’t that year, and living on the third floor of an old building, the heat seemed to turn our apartment into an oven.
"Let’s get out of here," Rebekah said one scorching Friday afternoon. "Why don’t we go down to the mall and enjoy their air conditioning?"
So that’s what we did. We cooled off sipping iced tea before ambling back. Maybe it was the heat, but when we got home we realized we’d left our keys inside. We went to the building manager’s office. "Gone Till Monday," read a sign on the door.
We’d passed a church a block away where some painters were working, their truck parked out on the street. "Maybe they’ll let us borrow their ladder and we can climb through a window," Rebekah said.
We walked over and found two men in spotless white overalls and caps putting the finishing touches on the church eaves. Shouting up to them, we explained our dilemma. "Take that forty-footer on the truck."
Rebekah and I carried the ladder home, and it reached the bathroom window perfectly. I found our keys, then we returned the ladder to the painters, who were still hard at work.
Monday morning, we walked over to the church office to get an address so we could send the painters a thank-you card.
"Painters?" the church secretary asked. "The church needs painting, but we don’t have anything like that planned for this year."
Baffled, we led the secretary outside. There wasn’t a trace. The paint was peeling off the eaves.
"Their truck was right here," I insisted. "They wore white overalls."
"Painters in white overalls?" The church secretary said, looking at us strangely. "Are you sure? No one like that has been around here at all."
Movie Review - Shrek Forever After
Shrek Forever After
By Beth Patch
CBN.com Producer
Thankfully, Prince Charming and the Fairy Godmother are no longer part of the cast and the new villain Rumpelstiltskin (Walt Dohrn) moves in to the character line-up. Cookie, an ogre chef (Craig Robinson) also adds memorable humor as a new character.
Shrek Forever After: The Breakdown
Shrek has grown weary of the day-to-day repetitiveness of being a husband, dad, and well-respected ogre of the community. His temper flares during his triplets’ first birthday party and he heads out a back door grumbling to himself. He wishes aloud that he could have his old life back. He’d like people to be scared of him again. After all, he is an ogre. He says he want to go back to when he could do what HE wanted to do – just for ONE DAY! The deal maker of all-time, Rumpelstiltskin (Rumpel), overhears him. He offers Shrek a deal – Shrek gets the day he desires in return for giving one day of his past life to Rumpel.
Shrek’s so ready for a break that he signs Rumpel’s contract with only a little hesitation. Any reservations he has, Rumpel reassures him that all would be OK – just sign the paper! Immediately, Shrek begins enjoying the life of a no-name ogre, scaring people all over town. Soon he discovers that Rumpel is the reigning king over the Kingdom of Far Far Away, has made his friends slaves to the wicked witches, and has a plan to wipe out all ogres from the land. Shrek hurries to the King’s palace raging over the changes only to find that he only exists for one day because Rumpel took the day Shrek was born in the deal. Since he wasn’t born, no one knows him at all.
In a tale reminiscent of the Christmas classic, It’s a Wonderful Life, Shrek discovers how the lives of Fiona, Donkey, and all the good storybook citizens of Far Far Away turned out dramatically worse without Shrek. He has to save Fiona and his friends and he only has ONE DAY.
Morals and Values
Positive Impact: strong marriage and family values, appreciation for what you have, dangers of making deals with evil people, prioritizing self gratification has negative effects, witchcraft and spells bring harm, love conquers all
Negative Impact: Drinking alcohol and getting drunk is acceptable for good guys and bad guys. As with all prior Shrek films, crude behavior and humor abounds. Parents should use the same precautions with children as they felt appropriate for other Shrek films.
Who Will Save Lindsay Lohan?
By Bill O'Reilly for BillOReilly.com
Back in the late 1960s, it seemed like every few weeks another rock star would drop dead. The big three, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison of the Doors, all died in their 20's from alcohol and drug related causes. Even bigger names like Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe abused themselves into early deaths. Lately, Michael Jackson continued the tradition, although he made it to age 50.
I've always wondered whether, back in the Woodstock days, the folks who were applauding obviously intoxicated stars on stage ever thought about that connection when the musicians bit the dust. I mean, many concerts were simply drug- and alcohol-fueled free-for-alls, and it's still that way today. As a young reporter, I remember being stationed in the medical tent at a Rolling Stones concert in 1979. Hundreds of young people were treated for gross intoxication.
Now we have a young actress named Lindsay Lohan who apparently is out of control. A former childhood star, her sad drama is being played out in the worldwide press. This week, a Los Angeles judge ordered Ms. Lohan to wear an alcohol-monitoring bracelet and submit to drug testing. This is because she was convicted of driving under the influence and possession of cocaine. Lindsay Lohan is 23.
If you believe the celebrity press, Ms. Lohan has been used by a number of people for a long time. At age 11, she began to have success in a series of family films like "The Parent Trap" and, subsequently, "Freaky Friday." Her parents profited from her movie fees even as the family dissolved during a nasty divorce action.
Lindsay Lohan then went on to have a number of public affairs with both men and women, all the while looking lost and confused. But after age 18 in America, you are pretty much free to destroy yourself. Obviously, Judge Marsha Revel is trying to prevent that by holding the actress accountable for her substance intake, but there's only so much the justice system can do.
So who will save Lindsay Lohan? If history is any indicator, the answer is no one. Elvis had a big entourage around him and so did Michael Jackson. Both men perished with doctors actually assisting them.
Truthfully, the only person who can save Ms. Lohan is Ms. Lohan. Millions of American parents anguish over the sons and daughters who are caught in the vicious cycle of addiction. Therapy, rehab, and interventions all have little chance of success unless the addicted person uses their free will to fight their disease.
Chances are Lindsay Lohan has been presented with that fact. And even though her life is on constant display, nobody really knows what the young woman truly wants. Some people want to die and slowly kill themselves. That is a brutal thing to watch. Some people finally wise up and save themselves. That redemption gives us hope.
We should all pray for this woman Lindsay Lohan. Her clock is ticking.
GLO Named Top Bible fore 2010
Glo Named Top Bible for 2010
Rogers & Cowan
CBN.com – The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) recently awarded Glo (Immersion Digital LLC, Zondervan) the top Bible for 2010 at the Industry Awards banquet held Monday, May 3, 2010, during ECPA's annual Executive Leadership Summit in Nashville, Tenn. Out of the five finalists, Glo was the only interactive digital Bible featured in its category. Presented annually to the finest in Christian publishing since 1978, the Christian Book Awards honors titles in six categories – Bibles, Bible Reference & Study, Christian Life, Fiction, Children & Youth, and Inspiration & Gift. Glo garnered top honors in the Bible category for 2010 by receiving this year's Gold Medallion/Bible of the Year Award.
Glo brings the Bible to life with HD video and documentaries, high-resolution images, zoom-able maps, 360-degree virtual tours and more. Glo is the Bible "re-imagined for a digital world," according to Glo creator Nelson Saba. He and co-creator Phil Chen combined more than 12 years of expertise in interactive media to create a Bible product that would revolutionize how the Scriptures are experienced.
Content is accessed through five 'browsing lenses" within Glo: Bible (the text in its traditional form); Atlas (biblical events represented geographically); Timeline (biblical events represented chronologically); Topical (browse by subject); and Media (HD video, works of art, 360-degree virtual tours, zoom-able high-resolution images and more). In addition to the NIV Bible text and its study notes, the content in Glo includes more than 500 virtual tours with 360-degree views, 7,500 encyclopedia articles, 2,300 high-resolution photos, 700 pieces of artwork, 3.5 hours of HD video, nearly 150 maps and much more. With the intuitive browsing lenses in Glo, users can easy personalize their Bible experience and find Scripture relevant to daily life. With a few clicks, it's possible to create a custom Bible reading plan, explore the biblical world, and become immersed in breathtaking 360-degree tours to experience biblical stories coming to life.
The recent award accolade builds on the Glo Bible's unprecedented achievements. Since its Oct. 15, 2009 debut, Glo has been featured in national print publications including Newsweek, Charisma & Christian Life, Church Executive, Reuters, The Guardian, Christianity Today, About.com, and Examiner.com, among others. Glo co-creator Nelson Saba has also appeared on numerous national broadcast outlets including, ABC News Now, Campus Crusade for Christ International, Moody Radio, SIRIUS/XM Radio, LeSEA Broadcasting and Daystar TV, among others. In addition to its national media success, a number of churches throughout the country have begun incorporating Glo into their services. Oak Hills Church (San Antonio, TX), with Pastors Randy Frazee and Max Lucado, was one of several churches to use the Glo Bible in their Easter services.
For more information about the Glo Bible, please visit: www.globible.com.