Robin Lee Hatcher's Write Thinking

100 Great Movie Quotes

I LOVE this sort of thing!

Wasn't that a fun trip down movie-memory lane?

~robin

The Blind Side

I just finished reading the 11/13/09 Entertainment Weekly article about Sandra Bullock's new movie, The Blind Side. I've been eagerly awaiting the release of this movie (November 20th) ever since I caught the trailer last summer. But after reading about the real life story, my interest is even greater.

The woman that Bullock plays is Leigh Anne Tuohy who, the article says, derives her certitude about right and wrong from her faith as a born-again Christian. Tuohy puts it this way: "I'm all about loving and giving, but I'm going to kick your a** if you do something you're not supposed to do."

Here's a link to the trailer.

~robin

Julie & Julia

I'm really looking forward to seeing Julie & Julia, and the following review from Leigh DeVore at Charismamag.com makes me want to see it even more.

Columbia Pictures | Starring Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci, Chris Messina | Rated PG-13

I've been to a lot of movies, but I experienced something new when I sat down to watch Julie & Julia. A good 30 minutes or more into watching the film, I realized I'd been smiling the entire time—and I didn't stop. Sure, this isn't a rip-roaring comedy, but Julia Child's personality, her (lemon) zest and enthusiasm for life made me grin like a Cheshire cat.

Julie & Julia is based on two true stories. Julia Child and Julie Powell are separated by decades, but their lives become intertwined with a common love for food and cooking.

The film briefly chronicles Julia's life before she becomes the person we know: the chef, cookbook author and television personality. Her story unfolds as she and husband Paul (played by the brilliant actor Stanley Tucci) live in France. Not satisfied to just sit around like the other wives in their circle of friends, Julia is antsy to find something to do. She tries a variety of hobbies, but they leave her unsatisfied. It's not until she starts cooking school that she finds her life calling.

Flash-forward several decades to Julie Powell. She has a loving husband, but feels restless and unfulfilled as she nears 30. She hates her secretarial job and has almost lost hope of ever fulfilling her dream of being a writer (her unpublished novel haunts her). Julie escapes her dreary reality with cooking (and from what we see onscreen, it looks like she's a pretty good cook). When a friend of hers starts a blog, Julie decides she can write one too. Her mission: cook her way through Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking cookbook and blog about it—365 days, 524 recipes. Julie's journey gives her a sense of accomplishment as she rediscovers a joy and passion for life.

Julie & Julia is both entertaining and inspiring. Though her life onscreen isn't perfect, Julia embraces everything and everyone around her with gusto. In fact, her zeal for living challenged me—in a sense, I want to be like her when I "grow up." I also took note of hers and Paul's marriage; they adore and love each other deeply. He is Julia's biggest supporter and fan. Watching him care for and encourage his wife was especially moving. I have a high standard of what I'm looking for in a future husband; Paul Child just raised that bar even higher.

This film is rated PG-13 for sexuality and language. The romantic gestures in Julie & Julia are tame by comparison to other movies with a similar rating. Plus, keep in mind that the couples portrayed onscreen are actually married—which, unfortunately, we don't see too often these days. I will warn you about a few instances of harsh language (including at least one f-bomb)—though many viewers will find these sporadic enough to not detract from the movie's overall quality.

When I tell others about the movies I see, I usually try to not reveal too much of the plot or overhype to the point of disappointment. But I'm convinced I can brag about Julie & Julia until I'm blue in the face—or my typing fingers fall off. This is an excellent movie, and one I wholeheartedly recommend to guys and dolls. Bon appétit!

Me, I'm making a date with myself to see Julie & Julia ASAP.

~robin

Streaming Netflix Movies

Great news for fans of LOST who are also subscribers on Netflix. The first four seasons are now available via streaming to your computer or to your TV via an Internet connected device (Xbox and LG Blu-Ray players are two such devices, plus Netflix's own movie device).

Are you a Netflix subscriber who hasn't used their streaming movie service? Give it a try. You'll be glad you did. Since December of 2008 when Instant Movies became available for the Mac computers, I've watched some excellent movies via this service (free to subscribers), and I've been really pleased with it.

Okay, back to LOST. We fans have a bit over five months until the start of Season 6, the final season. These coming months are a great time to refresh our memories of all that has happened to the survivors of Oceanic 815 since it crashed onto our TV screens in fall 2003. (Season 5 will be available on DVD or Blu-Ray in December of this year.) Many fans already own the complete series available to date, but if you aren't one of them, jump at this chance to see the show via Netflix without it costing you a single penny AND without the discs taking up all those spots in your Netflix queue.

And if you haven't become a fan of this terrific show yet, well, here is your chance to be sucked into the mysteries surrounding the survivors of Oceanic 815 as well as The Others.

Here's how I rank the seasons thus far:

Season 1: 5 stars Season 2: 5 stars

Season 3: 3 stars Season 4: 5 stars

Season 5: 5 stars

~robin

A Busy July

July is a hectic month for me. I'll attend a novelist "retreat" (more of a mini-conference) just prior to the International Christian Retail Show, which I'll also attend for a day or two. This year it's in Denver. Some years, like this one, I also go to the Romance Writers of America national conference. Since I'm up for the RITA Award, I decided to go to Washington D.C., just in case The Perfect Life might win. I'll only be there for one and a half of the four days of the conference, but it's long enough to get to meet with friends and eat with my agent and attend the award ceremony. And finally there is the annual "Plot, Play, and Pray" retreat in northern Idaho where I'll meet with ten dear, dear Christian women writers (ages ranging from late 30's to early 90's) who have become my closest sisters in the Lord. We brainstorm books, we pray with and for one another, and we are as silly as grown women can possibly be (which is mighty silly). Oh, yes. And we eat, eat, eat.

This coming Friday, I'll be attending a seminar taught by screenwriter Michael Hauge. He advised us in advance of eight movies he will refer to throughout the day. I'd seen all but one of them at least once (and a few of them many times), but I decided to do a refresher course and watched all eight of them again so they'll be fresh in my mind. They are:

Million Dollar Baby
Titanic
Shrek
Good Will Hunting
Rain Man
A Beautiful Mind
LA Confidential
Hitch

I disliked one of the movies (Million Dollar Baby). I liked or really liked most of them even though I'm not crazy about some of the crude language included in several of the films. And I absolutely loved one (Shrek). What can I say? I love a good romance with believable conflict and a happily ever after ending; Shrek delivers that, along with lots of good laughs along the way. Now I'm eager to see what all of those films will end up teaching me about good writing/storytelling.

What about you? Are any of the above movies particular favorites of yours? Why?

~robin

Taking Chance

I have another movie recommendation for you, but it's one you need to watch with a box of tissues right next to you.

Based on an article by Marine Lt. Col. Michael Strobl, this HBO original film tells the story of Strobl's emotional experience traveling across America as a volunteer escort officer for the body of fallen 19-year-old marine Chance Phelps. The 2004 journey was made especially significant by the fact that both Strobl and Phelps shared the same hometown.

I'll be honest. Being this was an HBO film, I was expecting to see a more negative film where Americans are always the villains (as Hollywood has spit out on a regular basis in recent years), but that wasn't the case. This was an emotional film that honored the sacrifice of a young American who lost his life in Iraq, serving a country he loved. Kevin Bacon is amazing in his role as the escort of the young marine's remains.

As I watched this film, it made me want to once again say "Thank you" to all the men and women who are serving or who have served in any and all branches of the U.S. military. Thank you for fighting to keep America and Americans safe.

Perhaps this movie was all the more emotional for me because on Thursday I attended the funeral of a Korean War veteran. At the graveside service, an ambassador from South Korea was there to pay tribute to a man who helped make his country free. Because the ambassador didn't speak English, his words were translated by the chaplain, also a South Korean, who conducted the service. I can't tell you how amazing that was, to hear words of thanks from both of these men. There are so many times all we hear are the criticisms of America. It's good to know that they appreciate the sacrifices that have been made.

~robin

Inkheart

Hey, movie-loving friends. I've got a recommendation for you. I just watched Inkheart , and I want to recommend it to you. Here is the Netflix description:

Unbeknownst to his 12-year-old daughter Meggie (Eliza Bennett), bookbinder Mo "Silvertongue" Folchart (Brendan Fraser) has a secret ability to bring characters to life by reading their stories out loud. But when the wicked Capricorn (Andy Serkis) comes after her father, Meggie must rescue him. Based on the best-selling children's novel by Cornelia Funke, this enchanting fantasy co-stars Paul Bettany, Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren.

What a fun fairy tale of a movie! I was enchanted. I loved all the characters, and I particularly appreciated Jim Broadbent in the role of the author of the book, Inkheart, who wants to enter his imaginary world for real. I hadn't heard about the children's novel, so the story itself was totally new and fresh for me, and I didn't miss whatever was left out (as something always is in a movie).

I want my young grandchildren to see this, so now I'm off to complete my order on Amazon.

~robin

Taken

It's been a long time since I've posted anything about a movie. That's because it's been awhile since I've been excited enough about a movie to take the time to write something. Well, I have to speak up about the movie Taken. I absolutely loved it.

I'm not much of a suspense reader, and often times, suspense movies get put into my Netflix queue and then skipped over again and again. I don't like to be scared, and my life at times has plenty of stress on its own. I don't want to spend two hours on pins and needles, biting my nails. But the critics I trust the most all loved this film, so I decided to take a chance. I'm so glad I did.

Liam Neeson is a superb action hero. He is very believable in his role as a father who wants to grow closer to his 17 year old daughter after too many years away from her because of his job with the government as a "preventer." When she is kidnapped in Paris, he kicks into action, a man with a particular set of skills that should make the kidnappers (dealing in human trafficking) afraid, very afraid.

So if you've skipped seeing Taken, I suggest you give it a try. I give it 5 Stars.

~robin

The Visitor

It's been ages since I've seen a movie that I've wanted to blog about. Last night, with nothing appealing to watch on TV and having no Netflix DVDs lying around, I decided to watch a movie on my laptop via Netflix's instant movies online. I chose to watch a 2007 film called The Visitor. Here's the Netflix blurb:

Widowed professor Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins, in an Oscar-nominated role) discovers an immigrant couple, Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and Zainab (Danai Gurira), squatting in his Manhattan flat and becomes wrapped up in their lives when Tarek is thrown into a detention center. A wonderful Hiam Abbass co-stars as Tarek's mother, who forges an unlikely connection with Walter. Thomas McCarthy won a Best Director Independent Spirit Award for his touching drama.

This is a movie all about emotions rather than action or even dialogue. Richard Jenkins is superb. Actually, all four of the key players are wonderful, but watching the character Walter Vale "come to life" because of his encounter with these three immigrants touched my heart in inexplicable ways.

Oh, and I think I want to get one of those drums.

~rlh~

2008 in Review & Expectations for 2009

It's that time again. Time to bid farewell to another year and welcome in the new one. This is my annual post of reflection and expectations.

Word for the Year: As my regular readers know, every December I ask God for a word or words for the coming year. For 2008, the words He gave me were Intimacy and Devotion: Intimacy with God and Devotion in Prayer. I'm not sure I realized all He wanted for me to learn in those two words during 2008, but He proved Himself faithful as my Instructor. Two examples:

• First, I decided (obviously after God decided) to do another Beth Moore Bible study, this one called Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent . Turns out that the overriding theme (at least for me) was deepening my intimacy with the Father and definitely a devotion to prayer.
• And second, I was asked to read a new Bible study for endorsement. I have done three Bible studies by the authors before and loved them, so I didn't even ask for the title (if it was ever mentioned, it went in one ear and out the other). Imagine my excitement when the study arrived and I saw what the subject/title was: Live Intimately: Lessons from the Upper Room . Through a totally unexpected means, He gave me more lessons in intimacy.

And now to reveal my words for 2009:

Press in/Press on. Press in to Jesus and Press on in the faith.

I pray that when I do a recap on December 31, 2009, I'll be able to say I soaked in the lessons He had for me.

Bible Reading: I read through the New Testament three times in 2008. For twelve years, I've alternated years of reading through the whole Bible (odd years) and then reading the New Testament three or four times (even years). But beginning in 2009,

20 favorite actresses meme

I'm not actually answering this meme. Instead, I'm linking to Dirty Harry's Place for his answers. They're great. Here's his #1 and #2 picks:

1. Barbara Stanwyck: Number one for no reason more complicated than the fact that I’m desperately in love with her.

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2. Judy Garland: Because there will never be another. Not even close.

Read the rest of his list here.

-rlh-

Christmas movies

I finished my WIP yesterday. Yea! And for the next few days, I plan to do some relaxing and enjoy watching as many Christmas movies as I can squeeze in. I love It's A Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol (the Alastair Sim version is my favorite) and White Christmas (I tear up over the retired general every time) and Miracle on 34th Street and Elf and The Bishop's Wife (which I saw Friday night) and others whose titles escape me now.

I hope over the next few days, you'll be able to kick back and enjoy some funny and/or heart-warming Christmas movies, too.

TCM Tribute

I am in the home stretch with my next novel, the second book in the Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series. I hope to type The End by this afternoon. Oh man. I am ready to be able to ship this puppy off to my editor. I have loved the story and these characters but I want to be done. Christmas is rushing toward me. My family will celebrate early (the 23rd) as my oldest daughter and her family will spend Christmas Eve to New Years up at her in-law's cabin in the wild. That means I have two days less than most people to prepare for a houseful of folks for dinner and gift giving.

So, not having anything witty or wonderful to say, allow me to share another YouTube video, this one a tribute to actors, directors, screenwriters who passed away in 2008. These year-end tributes always touch me because I see so many "familiar" faces, those actors and writers who have given me many hours of entertainment throughout my life.

tapping up a smile

What is it about Bojangles and Shirley Temple tap dancing up and down a staircase that just makes me feel nostalgic from tip to toe? And here I am, wearing another one of those sappy grins. I wonder if The Little Colonel is available on Netflix. I'd better go check it out.

Don't you just love that?

-rlh-

Movie time

I haven't talked about movies on my blog in more than a month, so I'd better do some catching up.

John Adams (mini-series): Five stars. This was a wonderful show about the birth and early years of the USA as a nation. Three DVDs, maybe a total of 8 hours or so. The acting was superb throughout. Lots of good historical data, and for as much as I could tell as I looked at my encyclopedia software and around the 'Net, it was pretty accurate too. Don't miss this one.

The Great Debaters : Four stars. Denzel Washington is as terrific as he always is in this period piece (the 50's) about the first African American debate team to debate at Harvard. Harvard was fictional, but the story is based on fact. Not always an easy movie to watch because of the topic of racial discrimination and the type of crimes that went along with it. But I do recommend it.

Love in the Time of Cholera : Two stars. What a waste of time was this period piece. SPOILER ALERT: In the 1800's, a poor young man falls madly in love with a girl whose father won't let them marry. She marries another pretty decent guy, a doctor, instead. But the first young man swears he will be true to her forever, then starts sleeping with anything in skirts and keeps track of them in a journal. Fifty years later, he has topped 600 conquests when the doctor dies and he can tell his beloved that he has waited for her. Yeah, sounds like love to me ... NOT. Skip this one.

Silk : Three stars. Another period piece (19th century again) about a silk merchant who travels to Japan for silk worms. He is married to the lovely Keira Knightley, but he falls under the spell of a beautiful Geisha. The twist at the end was both tragic and tender. The ending reminded me a little of Atonement, another Keira Knightley movie. This isn't a great film but it's quite good.

The Bucket List: Four stars. This movie boasts a couple of fine actors (Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman) who play two men who have cancer. They meet in the hospital and decide to do a list of things before they kick the bucket, and in the process, they are both changed. You'll smile and you might cry, too. I did both.

Rails & Ties : Three stars. Kevin Bacon is a train engineer whose train strikes the car of a woman who parked on the tracks to commit suicide. The woman's son sees it all. The engineer's and the boy's lives become entwined because of it, and each helps the other heal from much more than just the collision. This movie plods along a bit, but I'm glad I saw it.

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So there you have it. Over all, Netflix has delivered me some decent films this summer. Of course, right now my movie time has been taken up by the Olympics. Did you see Michael Phelps' 1/100th of a second win last night? Amazing!

-rlh-

"and remember, the slave trade is no more"

I just finished weeping my way through the ending of Amazing Grace. It has been awhile since I first watched this wonderful, powerful movie about William Wilberforce's fight to abolish the slave trade by the British. What an inspirational story of the difference one man can make in the world, especially a man of faith and passion.

At the end of the film, when Lord Charles Fox spoke the words I used in my title, saying that Wilberforce would go home that night [after years and years and years of fighting and striving] and lay his head on his pillow "and remember, the slave trade is no more," it broke me.

Why?

Because the slave trade exists today, two hundred years later. It looks different than it did in the early 1800s, but it still exists. It broke me because human trafficking is a global issue. Because children and women, primarily, are being bought and sold and put into prostitution all around the world, not only in third world countries, but right here in America. It's happening daily, hourly.

I learned today that 14 people in my church have been in training for many months to better understand the issues of human trafficking. Soon they will leave America to work in Bangkok among the prostitutes. I forget how long they will be there but this isn't a short term missions trip.

I'm very blessed to be part of a local church body that is missional, a church that cares about social justice and so much more — and all of it done in light of the Gospel. This week, 39 young people are headed for Guatemala for two weeks to work at an orphanage. And the first of six to eight teams of volunteers are headed today for Iowa to help victims of the recent flooding (they'll be gone 8 days, and upon their return, the next team will depart). And those are just some of our outreach ventures. Locally, our huge garden feeds the poor in the area. In fact, word of this garden has spread, and last week The 700 Club was here to film it to show what the church is doing.

We (me and you, if you're a believer) are the church. We can make a difference in the world. We can make a difference in America. We are living in a time not unlike the world that the Apostles lived in, a world ignorant of the Gospel. When I was a child, even kids who never went to church could name some of the Ten Commandments. Even people who had no faith still understood many tenets of Christianity. That is no longer true. America may have been founded on Judeo-Christian ideals, but it is not a Christian nation. The world is in turmoil. People are afraid. The economy is shaky. Gas and food prices are skyrocketing. This is not a time for Christians to pull in. It is a time for us to reach out.

Father-God, I want to make a difference in this world. You have called me into a ministry of writing, and even while I seek to entertain those who read my books, would You also give me the words that will speak to hearts and bring about change? Challenge me and challenge my readers, readers of this blog and readers of my books, to break free of the status quo. Don't let us settle for things as they are. Send Your Holy Spirit and light a fire in the hearts and minds of Your children. Remind us that You, Jesus, came to bring good news to the afflicted, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners. Give us hearts of compassion for the poor and the marginalized in our neighborhoods, our towns, our cities. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

In the grip of His grace,
Robin

Dirty Harry's Place

I discovered Dirty Harry's Place via Barbara at Church of the Masses and I get quite a kick out of this guy's posts. Here is his Mission Statement:

To what extent this site can, we will promote, aid, and encourage those in the entertainment community doing right by liberty and America.

To what extent this site can, we will shame those in the entertainment community still capable of feeling shame into doing right by liberty and America.

To what extent this site can, we will expose and ridicule the shameless who seek to do harm to liberty and America.

A favorite recent post from the 4th of July:

Top Five: Movies That Say Great Things About America

Today’s list isn’t about the holiday, the American Revolution or the Founding Fathers… Think about it this way; a cute, little, innocent alien from a peaceful planet lands in your backyard and wants to know about America. Not the dry historical stuff, but who we are as a people and nation. What we represent and believe. Before you hand your new found friend over to the CIA for interrogation and dissection, which five movies would you screen? Here are mine with the short comment I’d make after explaining the choice:

1. Glory (1989) - Every generation, better than the last.

2. They Were Expendable (1945) - What men this country creates.

3. An American In Paris (1951) - What art this country creates.

4. Rocky Balboa (2006) - Only in America.

5. Independence Day (1996) - You sure you came in peace?

Imagine what liberals would show the poor thing. All that porn, Al Gore and Michael Moore… No, the CIA is definitely more compassionate.

Robin here: Every one of those movies makes sense to me for the reasons stated. And, secret confession ... I watch Independence Day whenever I stumble across it on cable. No, it is not great filmmaking or a classic by any means. But there is just something fun about whipping those bad aliens who are out to destroy all mankind.

-rlh-

The List

Sunday evening, I watched the movie, The List. It's based upon the novel of the same name by Robert Whitlow, a man I'm fortunate to get to call a friend.

I enjoyed the film a great deal. Faith and prayer play a part in this thriller about a mysterious secret organization that was founded during the Civil War. It is well-worth seeing, and if you are like me, you'll want to know everything that had to be left out of the film in order to keep its length to under two hours. Me, I'm getting the book because I want to see these characters in a way only the novel can deliver.

-rlh-

EW's new classic movies (1983-2008)

Okay, I simply could not post the 100 new classics in books without a follow up of 100 new classic movies. No one reads this blog without knowing I make great use of my Netflix membership. I rarely talk about the bad films I've seen (and I've seen more than a few), but I love to share about the good movies I've come across.

If you want to know more about these top 100 new classic films, go here. That's where you'll find a still photo from each film plus a very brief summary.

I'm sure that you're curious to know how many of the new 100 movies I've seen. (Right?) The answer: 63 that I'm absolutely sure I've seen. There were about another half dozen that I think I might have seen, but obviously I didn't think they were good enough to remember.

Okay, your turn. Count away and then tell us how many of these movies you've seen.

1. Pulp Fiction (1994)
2. The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-03)
3. Titanic (1997)
4. Blue Velvet (1986)
5. Toy Story (1995)
6. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
7. Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
8. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
9. Die Hard (1988)
10. Moulin Rouge (2001)

Under the Same Moon

After two days of adding many much needed words to my WIP and getting closer to the ending, I plopped my fried brain and tired body onto the sofa and watched a new DVD, Under the Same Moon. I have had this in my Netflix queue ever since I first read about its release in theaters in Entertainment Weekly. And during the past month or two, there's been a "making of" piece about this movie on one of the movie channels, although I don't remember which one.

This movie is mostly in Spanish so I had to have the subtitles turned on (my high school Spanish is mostly gone from my brain). It tells the story of nine-year-old Carlitos whose mother, Rosario, left Mexico for the US four years earlier, wanting to work toward a better life. Since she is an illegal, it isn't easy for her to earn the money to send home each month, let alone earn enough money to be able to bring him to the US. When Carlitos' grandmother dies, he packs up and comes to America to find his mother. Not an easy task since he doesn't have an address or phone for her, only a description of the Los Angeles corner where she has called him from the pay phone every Sunday for four years. His journey is not an easy one.

This movie is touching in so many ways. I especially liked the character Enrico (hope I'm remembering his name) who begins as such a selfish jerk but doesn't end that way. And no matter how you feel about the political issue of illegal immigration, the emotional issue of reuniting a mother and son is worth watching.

I gasped once, and I teared up at the end — but they were happy tears.

-rlh-

AFI Top Ten in Ten

Be sure to check out the AFI's top ten films in ten different genres. For film lovers, particularly fans of classic films, this was great fun to see.

The link takes you to the #1 pick in all ten genres, but then you need to click on each genre to see what the other nine films were in that category.

#1 Animated Film: Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs

#1 in Fantasy Film: The Wizard of Oz (can't argue with that; The Wizard of Oz is one of my all time favorite movies)

Now go see the rest of them. You know you want to.

-rlh-

all things tudor

My current interest in all things Tudor hasn't abated. After finishing four Tudor books by Philippa Gregory, I moved on to Netflix. My latest feasts included:

The Madness of Henry VIII

This documentary from National Geographic was interesting to watch, despite how repetitive it was in places. Because of the other shows and books I've read and the articles I've pulled up in my World Book software, I knew a lot of what it told me, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I gave the documentary a 3 star rating.

The Other Boleyn Girl

This movie wasn't nearly as good as the book. Some reviews I read said that Ms. Gregory's books are inaccurate in many ways. I cannot comment on that. All if know is, they are enjoyable reads. This movie changed many things from the books, and not for reasons of accuracy. Some of those changes made no sense, and many of the things they left out weakened the movie a great deal. Although I gave the movie a 3 star rating, I wouldn't tell anyone it is a must see movie. Update (6/12/08) : There may have been some brief nudity in this film, but to tell you the truth, I cannot be sure. I've forgotten a lot about it already — which is rather telling.

Lady Jane

Now here was a piece of history I was completely clueless about until I began all this Tudor fascination. Lady Jane Grey was the great-granddaughter of King Henry VII. When her cousin King Edward VI knew he was dying at the age of 17, he left a will to put Jane Grey, a protestant like the king, on the throne rather than it going to his half-sister Mary, a devout Catholic. Jane ruled with her husband for nine days. This movie was made in the 80's and it stars a very young Helen Bonham Carter and Cary Elwes as her husband, Guilford Dudley. It garnered a 4 star rating from me. I liked it a lot. Update (6/12/08): Please note that there was some brief nudity in this film.

Oh, this movie also helped me understand how the Dudley family fell into so much trouble. Some years later Guilford Dudley's brother, Robert, was the lover of Elizabeth I. There were very different portrayals of Robert Dudley in Gregory's The Virgin's Lover and the movie Elizabeth starring Cate Blanchett as well as the HBO mini-series Elizabeth I starring Helen Mirren.

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In case any of you are wondering, no, I do not plan to write a novel about the Tudors. I am content to watch these movies and read the books of others and be entertained by them. I did write a medieval novel early in my general market writing career. The research was interesting but exhausting. I could use up hours and hours trying to figure out if they used forks yet during the time of my novel.

Ah, there are advantages to writing contemporary stories. On the other hand, when one writes an historical, you don't have to worry that something catastrophic will happen before your book is released that will alter the accuracy of your story.

-rlh-

grace is gone

I have little interest in seeing most movies about the Iraq war that Hollywood has spit out. Too agenda-driven for my taste. I'm not even sure why I rented this one. Maybe because it stars John Cusack, and I do love his acting.

Grace is Gone has a sad premise. A female soldier's husband and father of two receives word that his wife (Grace) has been killed in action in Iraq. Heartbroken and unable to break the news to his daughters (ages 8 and almost 13), he takes them on a road trip to a theme park in Florida.

Cusack is in top form. He transformed himself in this film into an entirely different man. Even the way he walks was altered. When I first saw him onscreen, I didn't think it could possibly be him. The actresses who play his daughters do a truly fine job, too.

My heart hurt more than once during the film, but I didn't cry until the last two seconds.

-rlh-

millions

I hope everyone had a good Memorial Day weekend. I know that lots of folks were away having fun because the email groups I participate in were very quiet. Which was a good thing for me as I had to work the entire holiday.

Did you stop at 3:00 pm EDT, as the president requested, to observe a moment of silence in memory of those who have given their lives in service to their country? I did, and said a silent prayer for our men and women in arms, no matter where they are serving.

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I put in a long, hard day at the computer on Monday and am finally making real progress on these blankety-blank line edits. I need them finished and out of here so I can get back to work on my WIP which is due much too soon!

Exhausted and feeling brain dead, I plopped onto the couch and treated myself to a movie: Millions. I'm not sure how this one ended up in my Netflix queue, but I enjoyed it a lot. It's a quirky British film about a young boy whose mum died. In his imagination, he sees Catholic Saints who sort of guide him through the rough patch of life he's going through. He is playing in a little fort he built when a duffel bag full of British pounds (less than two weeks before the conversion to the Euros) is tossed out of a train and falls on his fort. Troubles ensue.

This isn't a Christian film and I would quibble with the "theology" of the Saints who appear to him, but I loved this kid who wants so badly to give all this discovered money to the poor and who knows when something is wrong. This young actor reminded me of Beaver in Leave it to Beaver of 1950's TV. Those freckles and that infection smile and his great serious expressions. He is just too cute for words.

-rlh-

a couple of heart-tuggers

First of all, Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there. I hope this was a blessed day for you. My birthday was yesterday, and I got a beautiful bouquet from Daughter #2 and her family, celebrating both my birthday and Mother's Day. And today Daughter #1 and Granddaughter #1 took me horseback riding. I haven't been on a horse since I sold my last one 25 years ago. I was thrilled that I could get up in the saddle on a rather tall horse (Rocket) without someone giving my backside a big push.

Now for the real reason for this post. Over the past couple of weeks, I've seen two movies that really tugged at my heart, and I want to share them with you.

Lars & the Real Girl caught me totally by surprise, despite the good reviews of critics and a trusted friend. I mean, how good does a movie sound that's about a guy who "dates" a life size female doll? But let me encourage you to see it. This is a movie that will tug at your heart strings and leave you smiling in the end. I thought it might be a chick flick, but the guys seem to really like it too. Don't let this one pass you by.

The other movie I loved was Bella. This movie is told in the present and with flashbacks. Early on the viewer knows that something awful had happened in Jose's past, but you don't know what it was. You get pieces a little at a time until all is revealed. In the meantime, you are falling in love with Jose and Nina. And the resolution to the story? Ahhhhhh. Perfect.

-rlh-

bad romantic comedies

Okay, I'll admit it. I'm a romantic at heart. I love a love story. I love the hope I find in the promise of a wonderful HEA (happily-ever-after). I also love to laugh. So put love and laughter together and I'm usually right there with you. I will also freely admit that I am somewhat easily entertained. I am not the world's toughest critic. Not by a long shot.

Entertainment Weekly has put together a list of 24 Bad Romantic Comedies. Kind of fun to look through these. I have enjoyed a few of the movies on the list. I may have only given them a three out of five stars on Netflix, just an "I liked it" and not an "I loved it," but I was still at least mildly entertained. But there are quite a few that I haven't seen because even the synopses let me know I wouldn't like them. Others that I have seen were truly BAD.

I thoroughly disagree, however, about Father Goose. Okay, it may be a bit corny, but I've seen it more than a dozen times through the years, thanks to cable/satellite and the classic movie channels, and I always smile over the silliness.

So fess up. Which one of these "bad" romantic comedies do you like? And do you have some "bad" ones that you would add to this list?

Ready. Set. Comment.

-rlh-

films that make you tear up

This afternoon, TCM (one of my favorite channels) had on The Natural. Even better, they had it on in widescreen, the only way to really enjoy movies made since the invention of Cinemascope. Anyway, I love this movie. There is just something about it.

No matter how many times I've seen it, I still tear up when Roy Hobbs connects with that ball at the end of the movie and it soars across the field and shatters the lights and sparks go flying everywhere. In fact, I can chance upon just the last five minutes of The Natural and still tear up over that scene. It just does that to me.

So what about you? Are there any movies that you can see time and time again and they still make you cry?

-rlh-

more on Expelled

I didn't make it to see Expelled on Friday as I'd hoped, so I am going this afternoon. If I have anything intelligent to say, I'll either post again or add a comment here. Several of my writer friends (a physicist and a lawyer included -- in other words, better brains than I have) have been very praiseworthy about the documentary, both the quality of the film itself and the fairness with which it addresses the topic. Certainly more fair than those who want to silence any discussion.

Here's a very interesting piece by David Klinghoffer that's worth reading: 

This movie is, in fact, about the professional ostracism visited today on American scientists who doubt that undirected natural selection can fully explain life’s development. They are academics at places like the Smithsonian Institution, Iowa State University, and Baylor University. Droll comic-actor Ben Stein stars, interviewing the researchers.

But for about ten minutes, Expelled touches on Darwinism’s historical social costs, notably the unintended contribution to Nazi racial theories. That part packs an emotional wallop. It also happens to be based on impeccable scholarship.

The Darwin-Hitler connection is no recent discovery. In her classic 1951 work The Origins of Totalitarianism, Hannah Arendt wrote: “Underlying the Nazis’ belief in race laws as the expression of the law of nature in man, is Darwin’s idea of man as the product of a natural development which does not necessarily stop with the present species of human being.”

Go read the entire article here.

-rlh-

Expelled: the documentary

This Friday, April 18, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed will release in 1000 theaters across America. I know (via email at least) a number of people who have had a chance to get an early viewing, and everyone is saying great things. But the last time I blogged about this, months ago when I first heard of it, I got comments from someone who would like to silence this movie and proclaim that anyone who doesn't believe in evolution or who does believe in intelligent design is an idiot and needs to be silenced. Which is exactly why this documentary was made.

Barbara Nicolosi of Church of the Masses has written a review of Expelled that I encourage you to take a moment to read. Here's one part to note:

The film doesn't deserve the attacks it is getting and deserves to be seen widely and brooded over. It is anything but a right-wing, Christian hit piece, and from a craft standpoint, it is entertaining, funny and very respectful of the audience.

Now, go see the documentary this weekend. Opening weekends are so important in the society we live in. I'm planning to take off Friday afternoon to see it.

-rlh-

Potpourri

I had the nicest thing happen to me this evening. One of the readers (a lurker) of my blog wrote to check on me since I hadn't posted since Tuesday. And since I usually post on the departing Idol contestant on Wednesday nights that increased her concern. I'm very serious when I say, it is nice to be missed.

After a day of writing on Wednesday, I had a Homeowner's Association board meeting to attend. I am the HOA's treasurer, and after a very hard winter with lots of snow removal, we had important budgeting issues to discuss. Thus, I didn't get to watch American Idol "live." (We don't actually get it live in Boise.)

Thursday was a running around day. I wasn't home much at all. Then it was off to speak to the newly formed chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. IdaHope Writers — cool name, huh? That was a lot of fun but I did Q&A for about an hour and a half so was very tired when I got home. No time to post.

My mom's hospital stay two weeks ago really put me behind on my book, and I've suddenly found myself needing to write many more words per day than is normal for me, so as soon as I was home from the chiropractor's this morning, I hit the writing hard.

TMI? Sorry. But it isn't as if I haven't thought of things I needed to post about. So I am going to do an "information dump" with a much more attractive name of Potpourri.

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Farewell to Chikezie.

On Tuesday, I said that Ramiele and Chikezie looked to be in danger. I also thought that Kristy Lee could have gone. I do feel that Chikezie has more talent than some who are still on board, but I never thought he would go the whole distance to Idol status. This kid has such a sweet heart, from all appearances, that it's impossible not to like him and wish him great success wherever life takes him.

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Let me tell you about a book that you simply must read!!!

Small Footprint, Big Handprint: How to Live Simply and Love Extravagantly
by Tri Robinson

This book — only 125 pages, not counting Notes and Discussion Guide — is amazing. Like the man who wrote it (pastor of the Boise Vineyard), it is simple yet profound. Here's the back cover blurb:

What would you sacrifice to change the world? Your job? Your lifestyle? Your money?

We need a smaller footprint. The pursuit of the American dream has left most of us empty, stretched in nine different directions and self-absorbed. Aside from the occasional natural disaster, we've all but forgotten about the people around the world and down the street who need us and need us to live differently. We need to live more simply.

We want to make a bigger handprint. In a world crying out for help, we struggle to believe we can make a difference. But reformation starts with people who have one idea they believe can change their world and the power of God's love changes everything. We need to love more extravagantly.

The world is changing whether we like it or not. The question that begs to be answered is this: Will you sit by idly and watch it change for the worse or will you allow God to put you on the forefront of changing it for the better? Small Footprint, Big Handprint is your invitation to embark on a journey for the latter.

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How much is too much?

In the midst of reading the above mentioned book, my latest People Magazine arrived, and in it was an article about the McCartney divorce. Poor Heather Mills only gets $33 million cash plus two homes, additional funds for security and vacations and $70,000 a month in child support for their four year old daughter. She complained because Paul can fly A Class while his daughter will be forced to fly B Class with this little bit of money (my wording, not the article's). In the same issue is a beautiful photo display for J Lo and Marc Anthony's twin babies, including pictures of the pair of $3,000 prams (one for each baby) and their gorgeous mansion and her Mercedes.

The contrast of the way these celebrities live compared to how the rest of the world lives (and too many barely survive if they survive at all) made my heart break. I have been working at rendering down my life, at simplifying, at owning less and being owned by less. And yet, Have I given enough, Lord, to those who have so much less? Have I loved extravagantly?

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Movie Time

I have watched some really good movies recently that I simply must recommend.

Enchanted

A truly charming, feel good film. Okay, this isn't food for your brain. This is a movie to watch when you want to smile for a couple of hours.

    Martian Child
 

I am not sure when I added Martian Child to my Netflix queue, but I'm so glad I did. This is a charming movie, one that gives you hope for mankind. A story of a heartbroken widower, a writer of Sci-Fi, who adopts an orphan who believes he is from Mars. It's about unconditional love and trust and acceptance and being an imperfect parent in an imperfect world but doing the best you can and a whole lot more. John Cusack is wonderful (he's such a talented actor), and the kid who plays his adopted son, Bobby Coleman, is a young actor with loads of talent. Do not miss this. And never, never, never, never, never give up. (You'll know why I said that after you watch the film.)

The Kite Runner

 

I've already told my blog readers how much I loved the novel on which this movie is based. Well, I must tell you that I loved this film too. I watched the movie sometimes while holding my breath, in one scene hiding and unhiding my eyes, but it was the last line of the film which made me cry. And I do mean cry. It didn't matter that I'd read it in the book. Seeing it play out on the screen made me weep, both sad and happy tears. A tale of redemption worth seeing.

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So there you have it. Several days' worth of posts all in one.  

-rlh- 

big honkin' chicken watches I Am Legend

Yes, it is true. Somehow this card carrying member of the BHCC (big honkin' chicken club) managed to watch the I Am Legend DVD. Alone!!!! Aren't you proud of me?

I'm not sure I could have watched it in a theater. Not without a lot of jumping and gasping and hiding my eyes behind my hands. (In the theater, this often means that popcorn goes flying all around, landing on innocent bystanders.)

I confess that I turned it off when the first "ghoul" attacked Will Smith and was going to return it to Netflix without finishing it. Then I decided to simply fast forward it every time those infected, flesh-eating ghouls came out of the woodwork. Not super fast. Just one notch up from normal. That got rid of the sound so I didn't have to hear the eerie music (the music can make me scream even when nothing happens), and it let me get through the tense spots quickly. I could still tell what was happening but didn't suffer from it.

I'm not sure exactly, but I suspect I watched the 100 minute movie in a little over 60 minutes. And I can say I actually liked the movie. No, it won't be a favorite and I wouldn't care to watch it again. But it'll get 3 stars on Netflix.

And best news yet — no nightmares. Yea!

Now if I could just fast forward Brandilyn Collins' books through the scary parts without missing important parts of the story, I might actually be able to read another one. But I'm afraid it doesn't work that way.

-rlh-

a film that broke my heart

Today I watched the 2006 movie, The Wind that Shakes the Barley. Set during the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War (it opens in 1920), the story centers around two brothers, Damien and Teddy, who join the Irish Republican Army.

While watching this film, many things ran through my mind. A prayer that lasting peace will come to the Irish. The pain of the poor and the weak when people with power and guns choose to control them. The pain of mothers and women who watch their sons, husbands, lovers fighting a war in their own backyard. The dread that the day will come when I will see war happening on American soil, fear that, if not me, my children or grandchildren will have to live through it. The desire to see peace not only in Ireland but in the whole world. Even so, come Lord Jesus.

This isn't a feel good movie, but it is one I'm glad I saw, even through it broke my heart. I recommend it to you.

-rlh-

juno

Well, it took me quite a while to catch up with the rest of the moving going public, but at least I didn't wait until it was out on DVD (March, by the way). Thursday afternoon I skipped out on work and went to see Juno.

There was some crude language, but I know it was far milder than I would hear if I walked down the hallway of a local high school as kids were on their way to their next classes.

As a writer, I loved learning some of the slang and lingo of today's teens. (Not that I will be able to remember it. Nor could I use it in my historicals.) I laughed often at some of the funny things Juno and her friends said.

I loved that part of what stopped Juno from getting an abortion was learning that her baby already had fingernails.

I choked up when Juno cried after having her baby and when the adoptive mom held the baby for the first time.

I thought the characters were real and layered. A movie that sneaks up and suddenly you discover it has hold of your heart. I loved it.

-rlh-

Update: I was wrong about the DVD release date. It has yet to be announced.

a great western

Earlier this week, Netflix delivered 3:10 to Yuma to my mailbox. When the film was in theaters, a friend saw it and told me it was the best western she'd seen in years. Maybe she said it was the best western ever. Don't remember for sure.

Well, guess what? My friend was right. This isn't just a great western. It's a great movie. I never saw the original so cannot do a comparison. Certainly watching Russell Crowe (even as a bad guy) and Christian Bale (a favorite of mine since he appeared as a kid in Empire of the Sun) for two hours isn't hard to do. They were both superb in addition to being easy on the eyes. But it was the redemptive little twist at the end of the movie that was icing on the cake for me. Subtle and perfect.

If you haven't seen this movie yet, I highly recommend it. I gave it my first five star rating of the year on Netflix.

-rlh-

2007 Wrap Up: looking forward, looking back

I let myself relax over this past Christmas week. Not that I didn't do some work, but I didn't allow myself to feel under the gun. I moved at my own pace. I must say that this was the least stressed December I've had in a decade, and I enjoyed it a great deal. Too often I've been under a tight deadline during the holidays.

Well, I do have a deadline, of course. And tomorrow I must hit the ground running. So last evening, I took down all the Christmas decorations. Everything is back in boxes and stored in the garage. It helps that I do just enough decorating to feel festive and not so much that the idea of putting things away is mind-boggling. Been there, done that.

Like many other believers, I've gotten in the habit of asking the Lord for a word for the coming year. In 2005, the word was Endurance. In 2006, the word was Victory. For 2007, I was given two words: Peace and Simplicity. I can look back and see how the Lord taught me many things as He brought those words to fruition in my life. For 2008, God has again given me two words instead of one: Intimacy and Devotion. I already have a hint of what He means to teach me in relation to those words, but I also know there is much I don't understand yet. And so I look forward with anticipation to the new year.

Since I read through the Bible twice in a row (Bible in a year in 2005 and the Bible in 90 Days in 2006), I spent 2007 doing Bible studies and focusing on specific books. But now I'm ready to return to my usual reading schedule (whole Bible in odd-numbered years, New Testament 3 x in even-numbered years). I've got my reading schedule for going through the NT three times, and I'm starting with the New Living Translation but haven't decided which translations I'll use for the other two read-throughs.

This year was a busy one for me. I sold my large home with its large yard and bought a smaller home with a small yard and no yard work. I still have way too many boxes stacked in my garage, but little by little I'm getting through them. When I moved to my last house in 1996, it took me at least a year to get fully settled. So looks like I'm running true to form.

What books did I work on in 2007? A Cloud Mountain Christmas in Hearts Evergreen, Steeple Hill, Nov 2007; The Perfect Life, Women of Faith Fiction/Thomas Nelson, Mar 2008; Wagered Heart, Zondervan, May 2008; Bundle of Joy, Steeple Hill, Nov/Dec 2008; and (just barely started) an untitled historical for Zondervan to be released the very end of 2008. I guess I wasn't lazy this year.

Favorite novels I read in 2007 (in the order I read them): Ten Thousand Charms by Allison Pittman; The Road by Cormac McCarthy; A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini; The Trophy Wives Club by Kristin Billerbeck; Between, Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson; and Widow of the South by Robert Hicks. I reread some great books, too, including C.S. Lewis's Screwtape Letters. Love that book!

I don't make it to many first-run movies, mostly because it isn't much fun to go alone and fitting my schedule with the schedule of others too often doesn't work out. So I'm a DVD gal, thanks to Netflix. So here's a few of my favorite movies that I watched in 2007: Amazing Grace; We Are Marshall; Little Manhattan; and Freedom Writers. I enjoyed the new National Treasure: Book of Secrets movie that I saw on Christmas Day, although still like the first one better. And I hope to make it to see Enchanted before it's gone from the theaters.

What else should I add? Hmm. Unhappily, I'm carrying an extra 6 pounds, put on after moving out of the two-story house where I went up and down the stairs an average of 30 times a day. My official work-outs have been sporadic. I get really good for a month or so, then "fall off the wagon" and get lazy. December has been a lazy period. So one of my goals for the new year is to be consistently faithful at my exercise. I took up knitting again after a 30 year break and am really enjoying it. I've already made scarves for Daughter #1 and Granddaughter #1, as well as one for myself. Grandson #2 requested a hat, which is finished but I think it will be too large for him. I just ordered a few knitting books, plus Debbie Macomber's Knit Together, the latter purchased for both spiritual and knitting inspiration. And finally, one more goal for 2008: To be more faithful in my journaling. I was sporadic at it this year, and I feel it. I learn more from life when I write it down and can reflect on it. As the Lord says, "Remember..." It helps me remember when I have a record of events and emotions and revelations.

So there you go. My year in review. What about you? What stands out for you? Do you have a word or words for 2008? How about any goals or New Year's Resolutions? Please share if you feel so inclined.

And Happy New Year!

-rlh-

Expelled the Movie

I hadn't heard about this movie, releasing in February 2008, until today. Wow! Watch this trailer. It is a little bit long but it is worth seeing. I've heard about how scientists who dare question Darwinism or who dare suggest there may be something to Intelligent Design are fired, ostrasized, are not allowed to be published, can't get tenure or research grants.

You go, Ben Stein!!!

-rlh-

sniff, sniff

Well, I've seen another race horse movie that I can recommend. It's dated 2007 on Netflix, but I don't recall hearing anything about it until it came out on DVD. Set in  1973-1975, Ruffian is the true story of the remarkable filly of the same name. Like Dreamer and Seabiscuit, some tough things happen in this movie, as they did in real life. I had crocodile tears going on at the end of this one, and my throat was swollen up tight. If you watch this, have lots of tissues handy. You'll need them.

I can remember when Ruffian was racing. I don't recall if I watched the match race between her and Foolish Pleasure. I think I would remember if I saw that live, but maybe not.

Oh, one funny thing. I didn't pay any attention to who the star of the show was when the DVD arrived (not sure how long it was in my Netflix queue). Whitely was Ruffian's trainer, a regular guy with glasses and crooked teeth. I was sure the actor was wearing false teeth and that his nose was fake, but I couldn't tell who it was to save me. When the show was done, I looked at the movie description. Sam Shepherd — an actor whose work I always enjoy — plays Whitely. Now that I know I can see through the cosmetic changes, but I couldn't before.

-rlh-

little manhattan

A week ago, I did a movie post and asked for recommendations. Christina recommended Little Manhattan, so I moved it to the top of my Netflix queue. Well, it arrived and I watched it last night. I smiled all the way through it, albeit sometimes the smile was from bittersweet memories, not just sweet ones. I may be a long, long way from 11 years old, but I still remember those feelings of first love. Here's the Netflix description:

Director Mark Levin's (Wimbledon) quirky tale of first love puts the spotlight on pint-sized passion. Against the backdrop of the Big Apple, young urbanites Gabe (Josh Hutcherson) and Rosemary (Charlie Ray) explore their budding emotions. And there's one thing that makes them perfect for each other: They're both in the fifth grade. Cynthia Nixon and Bradley Whitford co-star in this winning comedy that proves bigger isn't necessarily better.

If you want a sweet romance story, this one is for you. I gave it a five star rating. A real winner. Thanks, Christina, for the recommendation.

-rlh-

movie time

There are many, many things I love about living in Boise, but air travel is not among them. Not being a major airline's hub means we pay more for tickets. It also means most trips include at least one plane change and sometimes two. Which also means I am rarely on a flight where I get to see a movie that I haven't brought along on DVD.

On my Atlanta trip for ICRS, I saw one movie going (a four-plus hour direct flight) and one movie returning (a three-plus hour first leg).

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The eastern flight featured The Astronaut Farmer, starring Billy Bob Thornton and Virginia Madsen. Netflix describes it this way: "To save his failing family farm, a NASA astronaut in training must shelve his dreams of intergalactic travel -- until he decides to build a homegrown rocket in his barn. Enduring the jeers of the local townspeople and the government's efforts to bring his grassroots space program to a screeching halt, he keeps his eyes on the skies, determined to realize his ambition of orbiting the Earth."

I admit that I wasn't convinced I would want to see this film, although it was in my Netflix queue. I'm not a real fan of Thornton, and the movie sounded so unbelievable. But guess what? I liked it a lot. I loved the "never give up the dream" theme. Come to think of it, I really liked Thornton. Okay, do I think a guy could build a spaceship from things thrown away in government dumps? Not really. Not unless he could travel the world to gather what he needs. But maybe I'm wrong. Regardless, I think you'll enjoy this one. Give it a try.

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The western flight featured Premonition, starring Sandra Bullock. I remember that the reviews of this movie weren't great. Here's how Netflix describes it: "A housewife (Sandra Bullock) is devastated when her husband (Julian McMahon) dies suddenly in a car crash. But when he reappears the next day as if nothing had ever happened, she realizes it may have just been a premonition. Can she prevent the horrible tragedy from happening all over again, or is she powerless to redirect fate?"

I hadn't even put this movie into my Netflix queue, despite enjoying Sandra Bullock in many of her movies. That's how convinced I was that it wouldn't be very good. Wrong again. I thought it was intriguing, and I was surprised by the ending. Most novelists I know are pretty good at guessing where a movie's storyline is going and why. So when a movie ending surprises me, it gets some extra marks in my rating system.

SPOILER: I cannot say the ending was happy-ever-after happy, but I did think it worked well.

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There are several films in theaters now that I would really like to see, but my travel and writing schedules probably won't allow me to get to the cineplex. So they are now all waiting in the Netflix queue so I won't forget about them when they finally come out on DVD.

What about you? Seen anything good in the theaters or from your local DVD rental that you care to share about?

-rlh-

a disaster-prone company

I'm living in a whirlwind right now. Writing on my next book which had to have an extension when I went into the move mode. Preparing a devotional that I'll give to a distributor's sales reps in Atlanta. Getting first of the month bills paid. Beginning to pack for my annual trip to the International Christian Retail Show, this year in Atlanta.

Anyway, I sat down this afternoon, TV on and magazine open in my lap, wanting to relax a bit. On one of the Starz channels was the 1996 movie, Executive Decision. I hadn't seen the Kurt Russell vehicle in a long while so I watched the last 40 minutes of it. When the film went to some exterior shots of the troubled plane, I saw the airline's name: Oceanic. Hmm. Oceanic. Oceanic. Isn't that the airline in LOST?

So I popped over to Wikipedia. Sure enough. Turns out Oceanic Airlines is a fictional one that has been used in a number of films and television programs and at least one novel. The inside joke in Hollywood is that Oceanic is a disaster-prone company. How come I never noticed before? At least I know to dial 555 as the prefix to any Hollywood phone number.

Sometimes this blog is incredibly highbrow. Ha!

-rlh-