The kids and I went to see UP today.  It’s a beautiful movie, probably the best thing Pixar have ever made.  I know that’s a bold statement given the genius of Toy Story, but UP is a touching story of relationships, of dreams and of love of different kinds.

Treat yourself.  Go see it.  You won’t regret it.

‘Do you want to win the war on terror? Yes or No?’

We watched Lions for Lambs on DVD last night and I’m so glad we did.  It was one of those movies that I saw trailed and though about going to see but never got round to so when I saw it in the supermarket last night it found its way into my basket.

Lions for Lambs is an intelligent examination of the war on terror, telling three connected stories in real time.

The first story is that of a bright, ambitions senator (Tom Cruise) who has a plan to win the war in Afghanistan and needs a journalist (Meryl Streep) to sell it for him.  Their discussion is all about the failure of the strategists to learn from the past, and the media’s complicity in the war on terror.

The second story sees a professor of political science (Robert Redford) engaged in a fascinating conversation with a bright student who is cruising and having fun, wasting his talent and ability.

The final story is about two of Redford’s previous students who have signed up to the army and are at the front line of the Senator’s plan.

This is a complex and engaging film with lots of questions and no answers.  It asks us to think about engagement.  How do we engage with the world?  How do we engage with the political process?  How do we engage with life?  Do we say that it is someone else’s problem?  Do we believe everything we see and read?

The film made me think of the current US elections where McCain is busy defending Obama while his running mate Palin is busy making all kinds of accusations at the same time.  McCain looks decent and generous but the mud thrown at Obama sticks.

It made me think about how parents want a better life for their kids but that better life isn’t for their kids to sit around being amused and entertained, it is to make life better for other’s kids.

It made me think.  That has to be a good thing.  I wonder if it will make me act?

The movie of one of my favourite books is out today and with it comes a load of downloadable discussion resources for church groups.  Go here to get them.

Tired of boring slideshows? Don’t have the time or the software to make you snaps look interesting…

ANIMOTO is for you!

It’s a genius online application that allows you to import your photos and creates very cool shows with music. Click the My Videos link on the right and see what happens when you import a random selection of holiday snaps! (HT Ewan)

The Road To Perdition was on TV last night.  We discovered it while channel surfing.  We have it on DVD but watched it anyway.  Why?

It is probably one of the most visually beautiful pieces of cinema ever made.  Directed by Sam Mendes, who also directed American Beauty, and filmed by Conrad Hall, this is surely a masterpiece.

The story is simple, Tom Hanks, Paul Newman and Jude Law are fantastic, as are a pre-Bond Daniel Craig and Tyler Hoechlin who plays Hank’s 12 year old son.  Hanks is a hit-man, Newman the Boss and Craig his petulant and greedy son.  Hanks learns too much and his wife and son are murdered.  He and his boy go on the run and bid to settle the score.

This is no slick shoot ‘em up.  This is a slow and deliberate movie that takes its time and makes the most of the stunning images combined with Thomas Newman’s amazing score.  If you haven’t seen this film rent it or buy it. 

Simply beautiful.

I finally got round to watching V For Vendetta and I have to say I was a little disappointed with the movie over all.  It lacked depth and tension.

 That said I thought the ideas it dealt with are a timely reminder of what could be.  On this morning’s news I heard that the Archbishop of York was warning that the UK could slip into becoming a police state.  He was speaking out in opposition to proposals for police to be able to detain suspects for up to 90 days without charge, and I agree with him.  We need only look back over recent history to see that it is possible for people to manipulate the public through fear.  Hitler did it.  Bush is doing it.  Blair is doing it.  Fear is a powerful emotion, easily created and channeled.

V For Vendetta is set in such a police state where fear of people who are different has led to repression and torture of those who are seen as different.  A man known only as V starts a chain of events based on the Gunpowder Plot.  One of the things I liked about the film was that at the end it needs lots of people to act to make the change.

What did confuse me was the choice of the Houses of Parliament as the target.  Surely Parliament is a symbol of democracy?  But then again… maybe not.