Archive - June, 2010

Life’s truths don’t require special effects

June 21, 2010 in Web Ministry with 0 Comments

Toy Story 3

We’re all living in a time of constant upheaval and change. It’s nice to be reminded that at our core, each of us simply long to be loved and belong. Don’t let the animation fool you Toy Story 3 is very much a film that we all need to see, no matter our age.

 

So this past weekend my dad and I surprised the kids with tickets to go see the final chapter in the Toy Story trilogy — Toy Story 3. Though our patience was tested as we stood in line with the throngs of fans who contributed to the $109M opening weekend debut, it was worth it.

I may have been the last person on the planet to see any of the Toy Story movies, but Disney Channel’s recent marathon offered me a chance to watch with my kids.  I’m really glad that I did.

The past few months, I’ve found myself disappointed leaving the movie theater. The industry seems to be going through a growing period. While 3D effects have been around for decades, only recently has the technology reached new heights and the industry found a revenue stream. So it seems every big budget film is presented in 3D, and as a result, filmmakers seem to be experimenting. It shows – we’re offered more effect and less story. Case in point — Avatar. Yes, the film was ground breaking, but honestly the story had potential but the characters were never allowed to develop due to the director’s need to “wow” us with 3D effects. I’m hopeful that in years to come, the industry will stop with their new 3D toy and get back to the craft of filmmaking.

The beauty of a great film like Toy Story is that each of us is touched in different ways. Most often the ways we are affected by the story is based on our own life journey. Toy Story touches on some universal topics: our need to be loved and accepted by others; our want to find a home; and the power of groups/family. These three topics are the undercurrent tying the trilogy together.

As I shared with my wife after the film, I can’t recall an ending so well written. The last 15 minutes of Toy Story 3 embodies what I love most about movies. It’s what I had hoped for when watching the final episodes of Seinfeld, Lost, The Sopranos, etc.

We’re all living in a time of constant upheaval and change. It’s nice to be reminded that at our core, each of us simply long to be loved and belong. Don’t let the animation fool you Toy Story 3 is very much a film that we all need to see, no matter our age.

The world is ‘abuzz’ with vuvuzelas

June 15, 2010 in Humor with 0 Comments

Vuvuzelas

The world is 'abuzz' with vuvuzelas. Photo Credit: AfricanGoals2010

I have to admit that I’ve never been much of a soccer fan. I have nothing bad to say about the sport, I simply wasn’t exposed to soccer growing up, so I’ve never taken the time to pay attention.

Well, it seems everyone suddenly has World Cup fever, or at least for the next month. I decided this past Saturday to jump on the bandwagon and sit down to watch my first soccer match. Or is it a game? Either way, I sat down to watch. After about 30 seconds, I found myself adjusting my television in an attempt to fix the buzzing noise. I even took the extreme step of resetting my DirecTV receiver. It finally dawned on me that the noise wasn’t my TV malfunctioning, but was coming from the soccer crowd.

Vuvuzela has become my new favorite term. The incessant “buzzing” noise that I heard is being created by a long plastic blow horn that South African soccer fans use to cheer on their team. It’s become such a buzz (pun intended) with European and American fans that organizers considered banning the horns; they ultimately have decided to keep them. An annoyance, I do think it comical that ESPN has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to sponsor the World Cup, and will ultimately lose its shirt on the deal because of a plastic blow horn. Soccer greenhorns like myself will turn tail and run at the first sound of buzzing.

Exposing ourselves to something new is often hard. Be it soccer, meeting new friends or being willing to look at the world in a new light — change is difficult. So unfortunately for many, the vuvuzelas may prevent many potential new soccer fans from learning the game for the first time. Those new to the sport may not watch, or be unwilling to give it a chance. It got me thinking, how many other vuvuzelas, or road blocks, do we experience on a daily basis that prevent us from trying something new?