Robin Lee Hatcher's Write Thinking

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-

this, that, and the other

I can hardly wait. The release of The Last Sin Eater on DVD is almost here. It will be available on May 15. I've got it in my Netflix queue, but I'll also be ordering a copy from Amazon.com. (The link on the title will take you to the Amazon listing.)

Of course, I cannot afford to wish that May 15 was already here because that is my deadline, and this preparation to put my house on the market has put me waaaay behind. But I've had some pretty good writing days this week. Just not as good as they need to be to get me back on track. At least my head is back in the story, and the words are coming a little easier.

I'm currently listening to Bird by Bird, written and read by Anne Lamott. I've read the book a couple of times but it has been awhile since the last reading. Listening to it in Anne's own voice, it's even better. I've laughed aloud a lot as I'm driving down the street. If you are a writer and haven't yet treated yourself to this book, do yourself a favor and get a copy. It is a treat not to be missed.

I read something awful about last night's Idol result show. The audience stood and cheered when Sanjaya was voted off. The person reporting it has been in all the result audiences and says this hasn't happened before. Now, while I thought Sanjaya needed to go home because he was out of his league, voice-wise, I wouldn't cheer his departure. That's just cruel. He's a kid. If this is true, then I hope he was too upset to realize it. I hope most of those people were cheering because Lakisha was staying.

Well, that's it for my this, that, and the other.

-rlh-

Technorati Tags: American Idol, Last Sin Eater, bird by bird

Nativity Story DVD winners announced

Thanks everyone for participating in Write Thinking's contest for The Nativity Story DVD. My 93 year old mother had the honor of drawing the five names from among the entries. The winners are:

• Rosemary T., Tarpon Springs, FL
• Alexa C., Vestal, NY
• Delane R., Mankato, MN
• Clara O., Medicine Hat, AB
• Leanna E., Keller, TX

Congratulations to the winners. Big Honcho Media will ship your DVDs by the end of this week. I hope you enjoy the film as much as I did.

-rlh-

Technorati Tags: Nativity Story

nativity story - enter to win

I rented The Nativity Story from Netflix and watched it with my mom last night. I enjoyed it just as much as in the theater. The music is beautiful and the filming exquisite. Once again, I was forced to consider what is so easy to miss in the Bible versions. As a person raised in western culture in the 20th Century, I don't always realize how dangerous it was for Mary to say Yes to God. I forget that she could have been stoned to death for her pregnancy. I forget that Joseph risked his own reputation by not accusing her of sleeping with another man. The Nativity Story isn't a fast paced adventure. It is a quiet look at the beginning of the greatest story ever told.

Be sure to enter to win a copy of the DVD. To enter, read my previous post about it and follow the instructions. FYI, once the contest is over, your entry emails will be destroyed. Your name, address, phone number, etc., will not be shared with anyone -- except that the winners' info will go to the promotion company who will be shipping the DVDs.

-rlh-

Technorati Tags: Nativity Story, Contest

THE NATIVITY STORY on DVD

Hitting stores just in time for Easter, The Nativity Story is an inspirational tale of extraordinary faith and love that chronicles the arduous journey of Mary and Joseph, a divine pregnancy and the miraculous birth of Jesus. The Nativity Story, arriving on DVD on March 20, 2007, from New Line Home Entertainment.

Write Thinking is delighted to bring the US and Canadian readers of this blog a chance to win their own copy of The Nativity Story on DVD.

If you didn't see this wonderful movie while it was in theaters, you won't want to miss it on DVD. And if you haven't seen it (or even if you have), take a moment to catch a glimpse of its beauty by watching the trailer of The Nativity Story here.

Beginning today (March 16, 2007) and ending on Good Friday, April 6, 2007, simply send an email to me at dvdcontest@robinleehatcher.com. (One entry per email address.) To be considered eligible, your email must include:

• How you learned of this contest (regular reader of Write Thinking, a referral from another blog, from Robin's e-newsletter to subscribers, from a friend, etc.)
• Your email address
• Your full name**
• Your physical mailing address (no PO Boxes)**
• Your telephone number including area code**

A drawing will be held on Saturday, April 7, 2007. Five lucky entrants (one winner per household/mailing address) will receive their own copy of this beautiful movie. Winners will be announced on this blog (first name, last initial, city/state only). The DVDs will be shipped to the winners via FedEx Ground by Big Honcho Media who is handling the promotion for New Line Home Entertainment.

Blessings!

-rlh-

** This information is necessary for FedEx shipments.

Screwtape coming to film

As reported a number of places over the past week or two, C. S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters is being made into a film. Here is what CBA's Aspiring Retail had to say:

Walden Media, the studio behind The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, is joining forces with a well-known Christian in Hollywood, Ralph Winter, who produced X-Men and Fantastic Four, for a big-screen adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters. The film, described as “mid-budget,” is slated for a 2008 release. Lewis’ stepson Douglas Gresham supervised the Wardrobe production and will produce with Winter. The Screwtape Letters was first published in 1942. Variety reported HarperSanFrancisco has sold almost 1 million copies of the trade paperback alone since taking over its publishing in 2001.

The Screwtape Letters is a book I read when I was a new Christian. It's probably my favorite Lewis novel, although I love The Chronicles of Narnia. It was this book that really opened my eyes to the ways, mostly subtle, the enemy works to disrupt our lives of faith. The novel is, of course, letters written by Screwtape to Wormwood, a demon just learning the ropes of upsetting the life of his human. So how they will translate this to film is beyond me, but it should be interesting.

If you like to listen to audio books, I highly recommend this book as read by John Cleese. If there is another actor who could have portrayed the demon Screwtape better, I do not know who it could be. I bought it years ago on tape, but I recently purchased another copy on Audible.com so that I can have it on CD and/or in my iPod. I don't have a tape player anymore.

-rlh-

Technorati Tags: CS Lewis, Screwtape Letters

movie time

Tomorrow after church, I'm going to see The Last Sin Eater. I'll let you know about it ASAP. In the meantime, I thought I'd report in on a few other films that I've watched over the past couple of months.

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I completed the entire nine seasons and reunion shows of As Time Goes By. I dearly loved this series. It was funny and warm and delightful. Sure, there were a few things that I could have done without, but nothing offensive. Jean and Lionel are wonderful characters. I am now watching the shows a second time, this time on my local PBS station.

* * *

Bleak House is another made for TV series. Superbly acted and beautifully filmed, I can highly recommend this one. I have never read this Charles Dickens' tale, so I had no preconceptions going into the film. I gave it five out of five stars on Netflix.

* * *

I don't know when I first heard of the film, Facing the Giants. I don't think it came to Boise, but I could be wrong. I understand that this film was made by a church, and I've got to say, it is pretty good for a low budget production. One review I read said it was a film that preached to the choir. Well, I suppose that's true. But I "know" these characters. I talk like them. I think like them. I read my Bible like them and try to live my life like them. It was rather nice to see a movie about evangelical Christians who weren't portrayed as bigots or fanatics or hypocrites. These were just normal people trying to live their lives to the best of their abilities, while giving honor to God.

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Last but not least, Flags of our Fathers. I always find it hard to say I "like" a war movie. It seems inappropriate when what the movies represent is so brutal and sad. Nonetheless, this is a good movie. It didn't come close to having the same impact on me that Saving Private Ryan or Schindler's List did, but it's worth seeing.

* * *

So that wraps up this movie post. Somebody pass the popcorn.

-rlh-

Technorati Tags: As Time Goes By, Bleak House, Facing the Giants, Flags of Our Fathers

Last Sin Eater comes to Boise

Oh, happy day!

I just did a quick check again on where The Last Sin Eater will be playing, and Boise is now on the list. It just so happens that I was already scheduled to go see a movie on Sunday, so now I will campaign to make it this movie instead of the one we'd planned. I know it is very important in Hollywood how the first weekend box office goes. I want to support this one.

PW reports this about the movie's premiere at CBA Expo:

On Wednesday night, evangelical novelist Francine Rivers and a standing-room-only crowd saw the film adaptation of her 1998 book The Last Sin-Eater starring Academy Award-winning actress Louise Fletcher and Golden Globe nominee Henry Thomas (of E.T. fame). Rivers and producer Michael Landon, Jr., got a standing ovation at the end of the movie; it opens on some 500 screens on February 9.

Tyndale House released a special trade paperback edition of the novel, which includes a full-color inset with movie images. Mavis Sanders, corporate publicist for Tyndale, said the reissue has gone back to press for a second run; the novel now has 193,000 total copies in print.

I read somewhere that Francine had final say on the movie, that if she felt the faith message was not what it should be or (to the best of my knowledge) for other reasons, she could have had her name removed from the film as well as any indication that it was based on her novel. Knowing that she was pleased with the film tells me a lot.

So, if you thought the film wasn't playing in your area, check back with the link shown above. Maybe it will get to you after all.

-rlh-

Technorati Tags: Last Sin Eater, Francine Rivers

the last sin eater

On February 9, 2007, The Last Sin Eater will debut in movie theaters around the country. Alas, the state of Idaho is not one of the places where it is now scheduled to play. More than likely, I will have to wait for the DVD before I can treat myself to this one.

It was Francine Rivers' book, Redeeming Love, that first sparked the desire in my heart to write Christian fiction, and I met her a few months later. We became good friends after spending several hours running around Disneyland like a couple of teenagers. Francine is an inspiration to me, but not simply because of her wonderful books. She inspires me in my faith walk.

If you are fortunate enough to have The Last Sin Eater playing in your area, I encourage you to go see it. The trailer looks wonderful. And if you haven't read the novel, I encourage you to do so. It's very different in that it is told from the POV of a young Appalachian girl in the mid 1800's. I read it when it came out in 1998. It took me a short while to get into the story because of the "voice" of the story, but once I was in, I was hooked.

-rlh-

Technorati Tags: last sin eater, francine rivers

Oscar nominees announced

The nominees for the Oscars were announced this morning, and I find myself going, "Ho-hum." Yes, my main entertainment these days is movies, mostly watched on DVD at home, often while I'm cycling. Since most of the movies represented in the top awards (Best Picture, Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor/Actress, and Director) came out in the fall, I haven't seen but two of the nominees. Some I will never see because they just don't float my boat.

I am looking forward to seeing The Queen and Dreamgirls. The others I'll just have to wait and see.

Here is the list of nominees for your perusing pleasure.

-rlh-

Technorati Tags: Oscars

as time goes by

I just finished watching the BBC series, As Time Goes By, starring Judi Dench (Jean) and Geoffrey Palmer (Lionel). Not sure how I stumbled on this gem (via Netflix), but I'm so glad I did. The show aired in 1992.

The two main characters were in love in 1953. Then Lionel went off to the Korean War and Jean never heard from him again. Thirty-eight years later, their paths cross. He's divorced. She is widowed. Their journey through these 13 half-hour episodes is beautiful, funny, touching, engaging. In the later episodes, I had a few laughing spells that I thought might harm me.

For the writers among us, Lionel is a first time author of a rather dull autobiography, My Life in Kenya. His publisher shepherds him along from revisions (first episode) to book signing (thirteenth episode). Some things made me shake my head and say, "No way." Others had me going, "Yeah, it's like that."

Truly, this is a charming series. Rent it and enjoy it for yourself.

-rlh-

quotable movie lines

For the movie lovers among you, here is a fun post to read.

The Official 79th Oscars Poster was revealed recently, and it includes dozens of memorable and quotable lines from motions pictures. This link will take you to a site that has lifted all the lines from the poster and written them out for us, along with the movie they came from. Fun reading!

How many of these lines have you tossed out at one time or another? How many have you used but didn't know the movie it came from?

-rlh-

nativity story

Yesterday after church, I went to see The Nativity Story. It was lovely and moving. I'm sure that it is more meaningful for Christians than for those who don't believe and/or don't understand the story of the virgin birth and the many prophecies that were fulfilled in Jesus. I couldn't help thinking of The Passion of the Christ, too. Either story alone is not quite enough. Together, they are a powerful testament to God's amazing love for humankind.

I encourage you to take the time to see this movie while it is still in theaters. It's well worth the price and will encourage filmmakers to continue producing high quality movies of faith. I will definitely add this one to my DVD collection when it's released so I can view it every December.

-rlh-

mrs. palfrey at the claremont

I believe it was a year ago on Christmas that my cousin told me she had seen this delightful film and said I should try to go see it. Unfortunately, it left the theater before I got around to it, so I saved it on Netflix and waited for it to release on DVD. At last it did, and I received my rental copy today.

That delightful film is called Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont, and it was every bit as good as my cousin promised. Touching. Insightful. Heartwarming. Sad. Lovely. Poignant. Here's the Netflix description:

Joan Plowright takes the title role in this heartwarming drama, based on the best-selling novel by the same name. After traveling to London to be closer to her 26-year-old grandson, the recently widowed Mrs. Palfrey moves into a local hotel while she waits -- and waits -- for him to return her calls. But when fate introduces her to a kindly young writer (Rupert Friend), she finds the family she's always wanted.

The beautiful relationship between the elderly Sarah Palfrey and the young Ludovic Meyer, who becomes her surrogate grandson, touched my heart in so many ways. It's a deceptively simple story with surprising depth. I loved it! Don't miss this one.

-rlh-

of snow and spam and one good movie

December 1st? How did that happen? Didn't summer end just the other day?

Boise got its first real snowfall yesterday. (The mountains have been white for more than a week.) I was getting a massage when it started to fall. Went into the spa with dry roads and came out to snowy roads with already snarling traffic. It was worse when I got up this morning to go to the chiropractor's. The snow had turned to ice. Lots of fender benders around town. I am a cautious driver, leaving lots and lots of room between me and the car in front of me. Good thing, because when I gently applied the brakes to prepare to turn into my chiropractor's parking lot, I wasn't stopping. Ice had apparently built up on the pads (the temp was about 14 degrees F). I did the tap and release a few times, and then the old brakes started to work. But by that time, I was passed the parking lot. Had to turn into another lot, go back, and try again.

The snow did put me in the mood to get the Christmas decorations down from the shelf in the garage. I don't go all out the way I used to, but I do like to get some lights in the window and put up my little artificial tree. Most of my decorations are atop my upright piano.

Good thing I'm ready to get into the holiday spirit because it just so happens that the book I'm working on is another Christmas story, this time a romance for Steeple Hill to be published a year from now. To make this blog entry, I left my heroine skiing down a mountain, and I already know it isn't going to end well for her. She should have stuck to the bunny slopes. (The things we authors do to our poor, unsuspecting protagonists!)

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I bemoaned my email woes earlier this week. It really was a nightmare. The problem started when I canceled a special anti-spam program because it wasn't making any difference in the amount of spam getting through to me, so I figured why spend the additional money for a service that wasn't helping. Well, apparently when they turned off that filter they did something wrong because suddenly my email started bouncing back to senders. Despite three calls to Tech Support on Tuesday, it wasn't until my fourth call (made on Wednesday), that one of the guys figured out the problem. By Wednesday night, emails were starting to get through to me again. Then the server went down early on Thursday (meaning I couldn't get email and no one could view my web site). It was finally up and running by early afternoon.

Needless to say, I felt like I lost an entire week to technology snafus.

And speaking of spam, it really is awful right now. I must be getting about 100 to 150 of those "Michael wrote:" "Kathy wrote:" "Somebody wrote:" spam messages a day. And so is everybody else. My web hosting company says that they are being swamped by these messages. It is slowing down everything on the 'Net.

So here is the question (actually several questions): Who are these spammers and what do they think they are gaining? Do people really end up buying that stock they are trying to sell? Or is the stock bogus and they are just doing this to create havoc on the Internet?

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A friend emailed me this afternoon, wanting to know if I knew if the movie The Nativity is biblically accurate because she and her boyfriend didn't want to take their kids to see a biblical movie that wasn't ... biblical. Just in case any of my Write Thinking readers are wondering the same thing, here's what I told her:

The movie makes it very clear that Jesus is the Messiah and God made flesh. You can take the girls to this without a worry.

One place you can always check for Christian reviews is the Movie Guide. It gave The Nativity a 4 star (exemplary) rating. Here's the "in brief" portion of the review:

In Brief:
THE NATIVITY STORY is one of those very rare movies that brings the Gospel alive in a compelling, captivating, entertaining, and inspirational way that shatters expectations. The movie references and quotes Scripture throughout. King Herod sends out the troops to kill all the innocents in Bethlehem and stop the prophecy that there will be born a King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The movie then flashes back to a year earlier in the town of Nazareth, introducing the audience to the life of Joseph and Mary. Soon, an angel of God comes to Mary to tell her that she is with God's child, born by the Holy Spirit. Joseph and Mary have to journey to Bethlehem to register for the Roman census. In the fullness of time, the prophecies of God are fulfilled.

THE NATIVITY STORY is a nearly perfect movie. It has one of the best scripts ever for a biblical story. A sense of jeopardy is present throughout. The dialogue, the plot development, the turning points are refreshingly dramatic. Best of all, THE NATIVITY STORY testifies in every way to Jesus the Messiah and is clearly evangelistic without being preachy.

My edition of Christianity Today arrived this week, and they raved about the way Joseph is portrayed in the movie.

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Well, I'd best get back to my heroine who is surely just about frozen by now. Hero to the rescue.

-rlh-

back to business

This week I watched the DVD of The Perfect Stranger, a movie based on the novel Dinner with a Perfect Stranger. This isn't a movie to watch for excitement, but it includes a great presentation of the gospel and some strong apologetics. It pretty much entirely takes place in a restaurant. The Perfect Stranger is Jesus Christ, who invites the woman (an unhappy wife) to dinner. She thinks the invite was a joke sent by her husband, so she goes but is met by this stranger.

I listened to the audiobook some time in the last year and was surprised by it. It's fiction and it broke a lot of rules about how to include worldview and Scripture in novels. But this slim