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Movie Review: Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

Posted by admin on Sep 1, 2010 in Blog | 0 comments

–Film Era: The Modern Era

–Film Genre: Action/Comedy
Pilgrim is hard to label as it draws from a wide array of media, including anime, video games, sitcoms, and the graphic novel it is based on.

–Director: Edgar Wright (Shaun Of The Dead, Hot Fuzz)

–Running Time: 113 minutes

–Main Actors: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jason Schwartzman

–Thematic Analysis:
Though the plot is relatively simple there is an overarching theme to the film: the ups and downs of falling in love and the baggage we carry into relationships. In the beginning of the film, Scott is dating high schooler Knives Chao but when he dreams of another girl and then discovers she is real he dumps Knives and starts to pursue his dream girl. The story takes on fantastical elements as the story cuts from reality to Pilgrim’s dreams.

–General Observations
Pilgrim didn’t do very well at the box office but I think it will become a cult hit when it’s released on DVD.* I really appreciated the films attention to detail- the sounds from video games and TV shows, the evil ex’s turning into coins when defeated, and the visual influences of anime and video games. This is not just another cookie-cutter studio movie, though I think it has a broad appeal. Wright took an intricate, exhaustive, and ambitious approach to the film and it shows. That being said, the frantic pace and sensory overload that make the film fresh also can be a little jarring and sometimes feels like too much to take in.

–Objectionable Content
Some language and adult/adolescent themes make the film unsuitable for children. The fight scenes are impacting and engaging without being gory.

See Plugged In’s review for a more in-depth analysis: http://www.pluggedin.com/movies/intheaters/scottpilgrimvstheworld.aspx

–Faith Content
None.

–Ratings (Out of 10)

-Plot/Continuity: 6
-Character Development/Acting: 6
-Music/Singing: 7
-Directing/Editing: 8
-Cinematography/Special Effects: 8

–Overall Rating: 7

——————–
-Reviews and Links

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/scott_pilgrims_vs_the_world/

http://www.metacritic.com/movie/scott-pilgrim-vs-the-world

*Scott Pilgrim vs. the Box Office
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-scott-pilgrim-20100817,0,4541645.story

*Theories on Why ‘Scott Pilgrim’ Bombed
http://www.cinematical.com/2010/08/24/theories-on-why-scott-pilgrim-bombed/

NOTE: A statement made in the above article saddens me and then fact that it is mostly true scares me. It is put forward that audiences don’t want films that incorporate different styles like Scott Pilgrim… does. Audiences, and this is backed up by the success of The Expendables, want action movies to be action-filled, comedies to be funny, and dramas to be serious. Of course, most action flicks and some dramas contain jokes but they don’t blur the line between genres like Scott Pilgrim… does. As an aspiring screenwriter I don’t like feeling that I have to stick to a set formula in order to sell a script but the reality is that is mostly true.

25: O’ What A Number

Posted by admin on Aug 30, 2010 in Blog | 2 comments

25, ‘O what a number! It’s great for the math-obsessed or for people who have OCD because it’s square root is a whole number and it can evenly divide 100 into 4 segments. For me 25 is a wake up call. I’m having a pre-midlife crisis of sorts due to my 25th birthday on August 30. It’s not the birthday itself that bothers me nor is it the fear that I’ve statistically lived close to a third of my life, perhaps much more. The thing that is getting to me is facing the fact that I am now a full-fledged adult and no longer a child. I know the law calls an 18 year old an adult but the idea that society now views the early 20′s as a part of adolescence is being written about more and more*. For me, reaching 25 signals that I’ve stretched my transition to adulthood as far as I can; now it’s time to really grow up.

When did it happen? It seemed like one second someone was chopping apples for me to eat while sitting on the toilet (I thought it would help me go #2) and the next second there is all this talk of careers and jobs and leaving the nest. I mean, my little sister just moved into an apartment and will be the first of us to live outside what has been our home since the days we were born. (I exclude my year at Lipscomb University, even though I did live there for two semesters. Also, while our home has always been the same, the houses have changed). Now, I’m sure all older siblings think their younger siblings are younger than they really are, but my sister on her own? The fact that she is growing up should signal that it’s time for me to do likewise. I am nearly five years older for crying out loud!

Some of you know my story. I won’t go into specifics here but it is crucial to this piece that you understand that I went through hard times; both personally and with my family. My dad’s deployment in Afghanistan and my mom’s battle with leaukemia really stretched my faith and forced me to trust God beyond anything I could have imagined. In addition, my life hasn’t played out the way I and others envisioned it. I’ve been in and out of college, struggling to find motivation without any sense of direction. I’ve made tons of mistakes and carry elephant-sized guilt for the pain and disappointment I’ve caused others. In his study of Romans, Chuck Swindoll says about people saddled with guilt:

“If the shame becomes intense and repentance doesn’t follow, they invariably make irrational and destructive choices.”

When our guilt grows into shame and we do not repent we are left shamed and unchanged and will continue to dig ourselves a deeper hole.

I am probably too hard on myself as to the things I now regret. (You know you’re too hard on yourself when you’re hard on yourself for being too hard on yourself). The great news is that Christ died and was resurrected, wiping my slate clean and becoming the bridge over which I can cross into the warm embrace of the Creator.

Ultimately, the last 25 years have prepared me for this moment. I am now in the present, which is hard to discern because the present is always changing; every second, every minute, every hour. I don’t think forgetting my past would do me much good as I learned a lot on the journey that will keep me aware of the consequences and results of different behaviors. If I were to forget the past I would also miss out on a lot of good memories. Times have been rough recently but ultimately I have been blessed with more than I deserve. Here’s an unfinished song I wrote that captures what I’m trying to say:

“They say I’m nothing short of brave
For digging up my skeletons
And exposing these dirty graves
The truth is, I was not brave enough
To live another day without God’s unfailing love

I stand upon the mistakes I’ve made
In hope of reaching a higher place
It’s not a matter of having guts
I simply have had enough
Of failing on my own
So I’m giving up on going alone

Make me, stronger
Fortify me with Your mercy
I’m faking no longer
Honesty has revealed me
To be the person I never wanted
Doing things I said I wasn’t
Now the only thing I want is just to be”

I love the line, “I stand upon the mistakes I’ve made in hope of reaching a higher place.” Learning from the past not only initiates growth but is also the best way to find focus and direction in the future.

I will close with a list of lessons I have found to be fundamental to living a successful and satisfying life. These are all pretty common sense principles but applying them will have a tremendous affect on our lives. I have countless lessons still to learn and massive growth to make. As Confucius said, “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” Change doesn’t happen immediately, it takes small steps and gradually moves you closer and closer to your goals. Here are some of the things I’ve picked up so far and that I’m constantly trying to integrate into my actions:

-Always do what is right, even if doing so could harm you or comes at a cost. The consequences may be detrimental in the short term but will always bring you blessings in the future. Plus, people will know they can trust your integrity.

-Always tell the truth. Similarly to always doing the right thing, telling the truth may harm you in the present but will ultimately lead to positive things happening in your life. A liar has to stay on their toes to maintain their intricate stories with even more lies; it doesn’t end until the truth comes out. When it does people get hurt, relationships disintegrate, and trust is obliterated. Marketing guru Seth Godin said this about little lies:

“They blur the line, and they lead (pretty quickly) to big lies. The worst kind of little lies are the ones you make to yourself. Once you’re willing to lie to yourself, you’re also willing to cheat at golf, and after that, it’s all downhill.”

-Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. When times get tough I often try to deal with things on my own. This is a dangerous habit that can be detrimental to personal and spiritual growth. I’ve found that sharing my burdens with a close friend, a family member, or, most importantly, to God helps lighten my pain and guilt.

-You are in control of you. A caveat to receiving help from others is that only you can make changes in your life. Others can counsel you and give you advice but ultimately you are the one that decides whether or not to implement their input into your actions. It’s very easy to form bad habits and very difficult to break them but only you can make them happen.

-Find someone to hold you accountable. As I mentioned above, reaching out to others can greatly enhance our ability to cope. Another benefit of letting others assist you is being accountable to them. In my life I’ve discovered that when I confide my shortcomings and bad habits to another person it vastly improves the chance of ending the harmful actions or thoughts. Of course, we are most accountable to God and should daily confess, repent, and ask for help with the ‘thorns’ in our side.

-Your words have weight. The things you say, and how you say them, have a grand affect on other people. Be careful with your tongue lest you say things you don’t mean and strain relationships or hurt feelings.

-Control your impulse. There many situations in which we must reign in our first instinct. Here are three:

1) It is easy to get caught up in a stressful moment and react in a harmful way or say something you don’t really mean. Take a few seconds to think things through, calm yourself, and respond in an appropriate and respectful manner. Jesus says in Matthew 5:39 ,“If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Who would do that? I know in that situation I would get angry and either hit them back or say something degrading towards them.. Jesus tells us to keep our cool and to control our impulse to stoop to the hitter’s level and retaliate.

2) When you see something in a store that you really want but don’t really need take a second to think about controlling your desire. I am horrible about limiting impulse buys and often spend rather than save. Sacrifice now and you will set yourself up for financial security in the future.

3) Be careful about overeating. It is so easy to consume one more cookie or drink one more soda. I have a problem with this and the result is health problems and obesity.

-Don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today. It’s a cliche but it contains a powerful truth. I constantly struggle with procrastination. Saying you’ll do something tomorrow often leads to a never-ending cycle where tomorrow never comes. Get what you need to do done now before it becomes a longterm resident on your to do list.

-Humility elevates your self-confidence. It may seem backwards but being humble is the result of truly believing in yourself and God. When you value yourself and are conscious that through Jesus’ death and resurrection you are holy in God’s sight, you won’t crave the praise of others. At the same time, humility is knowing that you are no better than anyone else; we are all fallen and broken people incapable of overcoming sin and in need of redemption. Acknowledging that you don’t know everything, that you aren’t always right, that you can’t do everything yourself, and that you will continually be learning and growing is true humility.

————
*An article from The New York Times, “What Is It About 20-Somethings?”, presents some psychologist’s call for a new stage of human development- called “emerging adulthood”. I can relate to much of the article but don’t agree with some of the social government-backed solutions provided by the psychologists cited. As I work towards a BS in Psychology/Christian Counseling and, eventually, a masters in Psychology, I hope to work with the 20-something age group, at least during the beginning of my career. I went through a tough transition from my teen years to my 20′s and am still working at becoming a responsible, self-supported adult. I want to help others who face similar difficulties from making the same mistakes I did and hopefully shorten their transition to being a grown up. Here’s the link to the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/magazine/22Adulthood-t.html?_r=2&ref=magazine&pagewanted=all

Mark Driscoll, author (just finished reading his book ‘Doctrine’ the other day and highly recommend it) and pastor of Mars Hill Church, wrote an article about the trend of men continuing adolescence into their 20s from a Christian perspective. Here’s the link: http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/mark_driscoll/2010/08/the_world_is_filled_with_boys_who_can_shave.html

Link Dump (8/29/10)

Posted by admin on Aug 29, 2010 in Blog | 0 comments

Faith

C.S. Lewis on ‘The Dangers of Friendship’
http://www.boundlessline.org/2010/08/cs-lewis-on-the-dangers-of-friendship.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+boundlessline%2Fblog+%28Blog%3A+Boundless+Line%29

C.S. Lewis on the Blessings of Friendship
http://www.boundlessline.org/2010/08/cs-lewis-on-the-blessings-of-friendship.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+boundlessline%2Fblog+%28Blog%3A+Boundless+Line%29

And What Does the Lord Require of You
http://existtheblog.com/post/1012237665/and-what-does-the-lord-require-of-you

Why the Bible is a Tough Book for Americans
http://donmilleris.com/2010/08/26/why-the-bible-is-a-terrible-book-for-americans/

Are We Building Bench-Riding Believers?
http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2010/08/are-we-building-bench-riding-believers/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+churchmarketing+%28Church+Marketing+Sucks%29

TV/Movies

Films In Search Of The Faithful Audience
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/movies/22christian.html?_r=2&ref=religion_and_belief

Letters to God…Pornographic?
http://www.poptheology.com/2010/08/letters-to-god/

How Will Joaquin Phoenix’s Year of Performance Art Play Out?
http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/08/how_will_joaquin_phoenixs_year.html

Joaquin Phoenix’s Great Practical Joke
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-08-22/joaquin-phoenix-great-practical-joke/

Should Hollywood Begin Rewarding the Most Frequent Moviegoers?
http://www.cinematical.com/2010/08/26/should-hollywood-begin-rewarding-the-most-frequent-moviegoers/

Watch ABC’s “No Ordinary Family” Pilot
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Tvbythenumbers/~3/60HE5a6rsEI/60621

Apple’s Revamped iTV Will Change Everything
http://kevinrose.com/blogg/2010/8/21/why-apples-itv-will-change-everything.html

Lottery Ticket
http://www.pluggedin.com/movies/intheaters/lotteryticket

Piranha 3-D
http://www.pluggedin.com/movies/intheaters/piranha

Movie Review – ‘Piranha 3D’
http://www.getthebigpicture.net/blog/2010/8/20/movie-review-piranha-3d.html

‘Piranha 3D’ Review: Cliched but Highly Enjoyable
http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jhanlon/2010/08/26/piranha-3d-review-cliched-but-highly-enjoyable/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BigHollywood+%28Big+Hollywood%29

In ‘Death at a Funeral’, Death Has Never Been So Lifeless
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/129815-death-at-a-funeral/

Watching Miley Grow: ‘The Last Song’
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/post/129925-watching-miley-grow-the-last-song-2010/

The Expendables (Movie Monday: The Expendables)
http://www.pluggedin.com/movies/intheaters/expendables

Box Office: Why Does The Expendables Continue to Thrive, While Scott Pilgrim Continues to Flounder?
http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/08/22/box-office-the-expendables-stays-1-scott-pilgrim-drops-to-10/

Thoughts on… Scott Pilgrim vs The World (2010)
http://flickeringmyth.blogspot.com/2010/08/thoughts-on-scott-pilgrim-vs-world-2010.html

We Love Pixar: What I Learned From ‘Up’

http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/cjohnson/2010/08/23/we-love-pixar-what-i-learned-from-up/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BigHollywood+%28Big+Hollywood%29

Studio Notes on INCEPTION (Satire)
http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2010/08/studio-notes-on-inception.html

Structure: Inception
http://thestorydepartment.com/structure-inception/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+com%2FkMPH+%28The+Story+Department+-+Test%29

A Pop Candy Reader Attends The Huge ‘Lost’ Auction
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/23/us/23lost.html

‘The Tillman Story’: Why Are You Shooting at Me? (Review)
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/129888-the-tillman-story/

Facebook Is Displeased With Its Portrayal in ‘The Social Network’
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/21/business/media/21facebook.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Early Buzz: David Fincher’s ‘The Social Network’
http://www.filmlinc.com/nyff/2010/revenge-of-the-nerd

Quint talks briefly about the motion chair theater experience with D-Box VP Guy Marcoux!
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/46220

Framed: There Will Be Blood
http://www.cinematical.com/2010/08/19/framed-there-will-be-blood/

Iron Man Screenwriters Hired to Write ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’
http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/08/20/iron-man-screenwriters-hired-to-write-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles/

The James Franco Project
http://instapaperstories.tumblr.com/post/972880219/the-james-franco-project-new-york-magazine

Movie Review – ‘Eat Pray Love’
http://www.getthebigpicture.net/blog/2010/8/25/movie-review-eat-pray-love.html

Grim Reaper Kitty Is Ready For His Close-Up
http://www.getthebigpicture.net/blog/2010/8/26/grim-reaper-kitty-is-ready-for-his-close-up.html

Players in ‘The Square’ Bear Not One Single Pure Intention (Review)
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/130073-the-square/

Sports

Singleton’s Busy Summer
http://www.seminoles.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/082410aaa.html

Bowden claims he was ‘pushed out’ by Seminoles
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/ncaa/08/24/bowden-fsu.ap/index.html

Bowden giving Fisher breathing room
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=rivals-1117195

FanHouse: Bowden in demand as public speaker
http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/08/20/bobby-bowden-finds-theres-a-demand-for-80-year-old-motivational/?ncid=

Football and the Virtue of Tolerating Disappointment
http://www.thinkchristian.net/index.php/2010/08/25/football-and-the-virtue-of-tolerating-disappointment/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ThinkChristian+%28Think+Christian+Blog%29

Self-Improvement

Four Crucial Steps to Avoid Procrastination
http://www.dumblittleman.com/2010/08/four-crucial-steps-to-avoid.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DumbLittleMan+%28Dumb+Little+Man+-+tips+for+life%29

The Most Dangerous Word in The World
http://www.readingforyoursuccess.com/the-most-dangerous-word-in-the-world?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ReadingForYourSuccess+%28ReadingForYourSuccess%29

The Quick Fix to Avoiding Regrets

http://www.readingforyoursuccess.com/the-quick-fix-to-avoiding-regrets?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ReadingForYourSuccess+%28ReadingForYourSuccess%29

The Introvert’s Guide to People | The Art of Great Things
http://artofgreatthings.com/2009/11/the-introverts-guide-to-people/

How Positive Thinking Re-Wires Your Brain
http://www.stevenaitchison.co.uk/blog/2010/08/10/how-positive-thinking-re-wires-your-brain/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ChangeYourThoughts+%28Change+your+thoughts%29

Finding Short Time Fulfilment Whilst Keeping The Long Term Vision
http://www.stevenaitchison.co.uk/blog/2010/08/17/finding-short-time-fulfilment-whilst-keeping-the-long-term-vision/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ChangeYourThoughts+%28Change+your+thoughts%29

Music

Stream Sufjan Stevens New EP
http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/08/hear_sufjan_stevenss_new_album.html

Random

Batman Robs A Taco Bell
http://consumerist.com/2010/08/batman-is-in-your-taco-bell-drive-thru-stealing-your-food.html

Conservative Students Survive and Thrive (College and Conservatism)
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/08/18/conservative

Thousands strain Fort Hood’s mental health system
http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2010-08-23-1Aforthood23_CV_N.htm?csp=34news&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+usatoday-NewsTopStories+%28News+-+Top+Stories%29

L.A. unveils $578M school, costliest in USA
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2010-08-22-taj-mahal-schools_N.htm?csp=34news&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+usatoday-NewsTopStories+%28News+-+Top+Stories%29

Inside the Knockoff-Tennis-Shoe Factory
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/magazine/22fake-t.html?_r=1&ref=magazine&pagewanted=all

The Powerful And Mysterious Brain Circuitry That Makes Us Love Google, Twitter, and Texting
http://www.slate.com/id/2224932/pagenum/all/

A Brief Primer on Stem Cell Research
http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2010/08/24/a-brief-primer-on-stem-cell-research/

Phone Calls Come To Gmail
http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheat-sheet/item/phone-calls-come-to-gmail/freebies/

How schools are putting the iPad to work
http://www.macworld.com/article/153672/2010/08/ipaded.html?lsrc=rss_main

You snooze, you lose
http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/you_snooze_you_lose_gFLignlA4d2d5gfmiiVNpK

The Magic of Attempting the Impossible
http://www.readingforyoursuccess.com/the-magic-of-attempting-the-impossible?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ReadingForYourSuccess+%28ReadingForYourSuccess%29

Sleep Secrets Revealed in Human Hair
http://www.livescience.com/health/hair-follicles-circadian-clocks-sleep-wake-cycle-00823.html

Will Ads in Books Destroy the Industry or Save It? (Re:Print)
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/post/129931-will-ads-in-books-destroy-the-industry-or-save-it/

The e-reader price wars heat up
http://www.macworld.com/article/153682/2010/08/ereader_price_war.html?lsrc=rss_main

Review: Discover for iPad
http://www.macworld.com/appguide/app.html?id=597040&lsrc=rss_main

The Art of Momentum: Why Your Ideas Need Speed
http://the99percent.com/tips/6815/the-art-of-momentum-why-your-ideas-need-speed

Analysis: Royalty-free H.264 may clear way for HTML5 video standard
http://www.macworld.com/article/153692/2010/08/h264_royalties.html?lsrc=rss_main

Magician Exploits Howie Mandel’s OCD For Shock Value

Posted by admin on Aug 22, 2010 in Blog | 1 comment

A few nights ago I was watching America’s Got Talent and was absolutely appalled by the actions of one of the contestants. After doing a freaky magic trick in which he swallowed a peppermint and then, somehow, put a string through his neck and pulled out the candy around the string (you can watch the video below), magician Dan Sperry threw the string at judge Howie Mandel. This would be gross for anybody but Mandel is well known to suffer from OCD and for having an intense fear of germs. Obviously this was done to shock people and proves that Mr. Sperry is willing to stoop very low to get attention. The reaction of judge Sharon Osbourne was equally resentful as she could not stop laughing for minutes. Is there no respect for someone with a mental illness?

Here’s the video:

Link Dump (8.21.10)

Posted by admin on Aug 21, 2010 in Blog | 0 comments

This is a long one but there is some really interesting stuff here. Enjoy!

Movies

-Ultimate Filmmakers Guide to Film Noir
http://filmmakeriq.com/2010/08/ultimate-filmmakers-guide-to-film-noir/

-Concepts, not actors, are now the real stars at the movies

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2010-08-06-stars06_st_N.

-Why ‘Inception”s Success Is Not a “Gamers vs. Geezers” Debate
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/post/129332-perceptions-part-1-why-inceptions-success-is-not-a-gamers-vs.-geezer/

-The psychological process from disunity to unity, Inception’s elements
http://www.gointothestory.com/2010/08/inception-carl-jungs-wet-dream.html

-Get Two Bonus Tracks from the Inception Score)
http://inceptionscore.com/

-The Ethics of Reality in Inception
http://www.christandpopculture.com/featured/the-ethics-of-reality-in-inception/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ChristAndPopCulture+%28Christ+and+Pop+Culture%29

-Q&A with Scripped.com COO Ryan Buckley
http://www.gointothestory.com/2010/08/q-with-scrippedcom-coo-ryan-buckley.html

-Trailer: Rudd, Reese, and Jack in ‘How Do You Know’
http://www.getthebigpicture.net/blog/2010/8/13/trailer-rudd-reese-and-jack-in-how-do-you-know.html

-Movie Trailer: Freakonomics
http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/08/12/movie-trailer-freakonomics/

-‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Alternative Extended Ending
http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/08/10/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-alternative-extended-ending/

-Eat, Pray, Love My Middle-Aged Neighbor
http://www.christandpopculture.com/featured/eat-pray-love-my-middle-aged-neighbor/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ChristAndPopCulture+%28Christ+and+Pop+Culture%29

-Will Google TV do to Hollywood what Napster did to the music biz?
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2010/08/will-google-tv-do-to-hollywood-what-napster-did-to-the-music-biz.html

-Movie Review – ‘Centurion’
http://www.getthebigpicture.net/blog/2010/8/19/movie-review-centurion.html

-Movie Review – ‘Vampires Suck’
http://www.getthebigpicture.net/blog/2010/8/20/movie-review-vampires-suck.html

-Review: Lottery Ticket
http://www.cinematical.com/2010/08/20/review-lottery-ticket/

-’Lottery Ticket’: Play One for Yourself (Review)
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/129866-lottery-ticket/

-‘The Switch’ Review: Bateman, Aniston Comedy, Good to the Last Drop
http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/ckozlowski/2010/08/20/the-switch-review-bateman-aniston-comedy-good-to-the-last-drop/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BigHollywood+%28Big+Hollywood%29

-’The Switch’: Who’s Your Daddy? (Review)
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/129867-the-switch/

-Review: The Switch
http://www.cinematical.com/2010/08/20/review-the-switch

-Review: Nanny McPhee Returns
http://www.cinematical.com/2010/08/20/review-nanny-mcphee-returns/

-’Nanny McPhee Returns’ Is All About Class (Review)
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/129884-nanny-mcphee-returns/

-Review: Piranha 3D
http://www.cinematical.com/2010/08/20/review-piranha-3d/

Music

-Dierks Bentley: Up on the Ridge (Review)

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/127819-dierks-bentley-up-on-the-ridge/

-The Music-Copyright Enforcers

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/08/magazine/08music-t.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

Faith

-The Perils of ‘Wannabe Cool’ Christianity
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704111704575355311122648100.html

-Q & A: Anne Rice on Following Christ Without Christianity
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/augustweb-only/43-21.0.html

-The Probability of God
http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2010/08/18/the-probability-of-god/

-Teen church group participation flat for over a decade – USATODAY.com
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2010-08-11-teenchurch11_ST_N.htm?csp=34news&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+usatoday-NewsTopStories+%28News+-+Top+Stories%29

Sweet Comfort for Feeble Saints
http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0006.htm

-Excerpt from Bittersweet, from Shauna Niequist
http://donmilleris.com/2010/08/10/excerpt-from-bittersweet-from-shauna-niequist/

-When Pop Culture Mocks Us
http://www.christandpopculture.com/general-culture/when-pop-culture-mocks-us/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ChristAndPopCulture+%28Christ+and+Pop+Culture%29

-Katy Perry: ‘I’m Still a Christian’
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctentertainment/2010/08/katy-perry-im-still-a-christia.html

-Teens avoid church groups and other aspects of religion
http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/usatoday-NewsTopStories/~3/Y_3_DkztjbE/2010-08-11-teenchurch11_ST_N.htm

Random

-Changes In Culture
http://www.stevelaube.com/changes-in-culture/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SteveLaube+%28Steve+Laube%29

-Jon Foreman: Replay: My Standoff With Florida Police
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-foreman/standoff-with-florida-pol_b_685042.html

-How Nike’s CEO Shook Up the Shoe Industry
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/148/artist-athlete-ceo.html?partner=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+fastcompany%2Fheadlines+%28Fast+Company+Headlines%29

-The strange comforts of reading Mark Twain in the age of oppositional defiant disorder
http://www.slate.com/id/2263340/

-Sleep affects kids in school; how much do yours need?
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2010-08-12-kidsleep12_ST_N.htm?csp=34news&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+usatoday-NewsTopStories+%28News+-+Top+Stories%29

-Can college students learn as well on iPads, e-books?
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2010-08-10-ebooklearning10_CV_N.htm?csp=34news&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+usatoday-NewsTopStories+%28News+-+Top+Stories%29

-The Franchise: Madden Football
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=100805/madden

-Addictive Web use linked to teen depression
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-08-05-online-depression_N.htm?csp=34news&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+usatoday-NewsTopStories+%28News+-+Top+Stories%29

-Do This One Thing and You’ll Rise Above Your Peers
http://donmilleris.com/2010/08/06/do-this-one-thing-and-youll-rise-above-your-peers/

-A Cause for Concern: Prescription Drug Abuse
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/08/06/prescription-nation.html

-How to Rebuild Your Attention Span and Focus
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/technology/07brainside.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=technology

-I’d Rather be Hated than Loved with Conditions
http://donmilleris.com/2010/08/02/id-rather-be-hated-than-loved-with-conditions/

-7 Must Read Success Lessons from Dale Carnegie
http://www.dumblittleman.com/2010/08/7-must-read-success-lessons-from-dale.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DumbLittleMan+%28Dumb+Little+Man+-+tips+for+life%29

-A post-industrial A to Z digital battledore
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/08/a-postindustrial-a-to-z.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fsethsmainblog+%28Seth%27s+Blog%29

-The Top Idea in Your Mind
http://www.paulgraham.com/top.html

-Let Story Guide You Pt. 1 – Would the Hero Say That?
http://donmilleris.com/2010/08/03/let-story-guide-you-pt-1-would-the-hero-say-that/

-What Reading a Digital Bible Does to Your Mind
http://www.christandpopculture.com/featured/what-reading-a-digital-bible-does-to-your-mind/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ChristAndPopCulture+%28Christ+and+Pop+Culture%29

-The Complete Guide to Saving Money on Textbooks
http://lifehacker.com/5613591/the-complete-guide-to-getting-cheap-textbooks

-See a Squirrel Baby Bonus Clip From the Lost Season-Six DVDs
http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/08/see_a_squirrel_baby_bonus_clip.html

-E-Books: The Downfall of Bookstores Everywhere?
http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_15809109?source=rss

-Moral Reckoning on ‘Mad Men’
http://www.thinkchristian.net/index.php/2010/08/19/moral-reckoning-on-%e2%80%98mad-men%e2%80%99/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ThinkChristian+%28Think+Christian+Blog%29

How To Become A Successful Religion

Posted by admin on Aug 20, 2010 in Blog | 0 comments

I came across this satirical article and thought I would post it now instead of throwing it in tomorrow’s Link Dump where it might get overlooked. It’s a funny and thought-provoking look at how a modern marketing firm would have handled the formation of the Church after Jesus’ death. I find it intriguing that God used means that today we think of as detrimental to starting a movement. It’s a testament to the fact that God is infinitely wiser than people and that He knows who and what to use to bring about His purpose.

Part 1: How to Become a Successful Religion
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/augustweb-only/43-41.0.html?start=1

Part 2: How to Become a Successful Religion
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/augustweb-only/43-41.0.html?start=2

Part 3: How to Become a Successful Religion
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/augustweb-only/43-41.0.html?start=3

Link Dump (8/17/10)

Posted by admin on Aug 17, 2010 in Blog | 0 comments

-Want A Quick Way To Ruin Your Relationship? Watch A Movie Together

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/boundlessline/blog/~3/qpWQgEhdhmE/want-a-quick-way-to-ruin-your-relationship-watch-a-movie-together.html

-Amazing Pencil-Tip Art

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/08/see_dalton_ghettis_incredible.html

-What If Dumb & Dumber Were More Like Inception?

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/08/what_if_dumb_dumber_were_more.html

-Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World Review

http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2010/08/scott-pilgrim-vs-the-world-review.html

-Roger Ebert’s “Eat Pray Love” Review

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100811/REVIEWS/100819999

-Plugged In’s “Eat Pray Love” Review

http://www.pluggedin.com/movies/intheaters/eatpraylove.aspx

-Interview: ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’ Director Edgar Wright

http://www.cinematical.com/2010/08/13/scott-pilgrim-vs-the-world-director-edgar-wright-interview/

-’Scott Pilgrim…’ Review

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/46129

-Film Break: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/movies/reviews/2010/scottpilgrimworld.html

-Interview: ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’ Co-Star Mary Elizabeth Winstead

http://www.cinematical.com/2010/08/12/interview-scott-pilgrim-vs-the-world-co-star-mary-elizabeth/

-Movie Review – ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. The World’

http://www.getthebigpicture.net/blog/2010/8/13/movie-review-scott-pilgrim-vs-the-world.html

-Christianity Today’s ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’ Review

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/movies/reviews/2010/scottpilgrimworld.html?start=2

-Alternatives to Porn, Part 1

http://www.boundless.org/2005/answers/a0001256.cfm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+boundless%2Fwebzine+%28Website%3A+Boundless+Webzine%29

-Guy Fieri Is In The House

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/11/dining/11Fieri.html?src=me&ref=general

-Review: The Expendables

http://www.cinematical.com/2010/08/12/the-expendables-review/

-Revisiting INCEPTION

http://www.davidbordwell.net/blog/?p=9770

-Movie Review – ‘Get Low’

http://www.getthebigpicture.net/blog/2010/8/12/movie-review-get-low.html

-Movie Review – ‘The Expendables’

http://www.getthebigpicture.net/blog/2010/8/13/movie-review-the-expendables.html

-Who diagnoses ADHD?

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/08/11/adhd.medication.schools/

-”I’m Still Here” Teaser Trailer

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810167068/video/21429271

Romans: A Study Guide

Posted by admin on Aug 12, 2010 in Blog | 0 comments

Romans: A Study

Sections

1. Condemnation: 1-3:20
2. Justification and Sanctification: 3:21-8
3. Restoration/Disspensation: 9-11
4. Application: 12-16

Chapter Outline

Ch 1: God has revealed Himself to men, but they chose to ignore Him, so God gave them over to their lusts.

Ch 2: God will judge all who judge, because 1) everyone does evil and 2) there is no partiality with God, Jew or Greek. Those with the Law perish by it, those without perish without it.

Ch 3: All are guilty, God is still just and righteous.

Ch 4: Justification by faith from OT.

Ch 5: The power of justification and the spread of sin through one man and the gift through another.

Ch 6: We are dead to sin and alive to God now, don’t continue on in sin.

Ch 7: We were bound to the law and that brought about death, but now we have been released from the law, but the law isn’t sin. There is now a conflict in us, between sin and spirit.

Ch 8: We are delivered from death by Christ, who accomplished what the law could not do, and now we should have nothing but hope in all circumstances.

Ch 9: Not all Israel is chosen, only those called by God are chosen. God cannot be argued with on His purposes.

Ch 10: All who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved, but not all who pursue religion will.

Ch 11: God has hardened some and saved others, he has saved some Gentiles and not some Jews.

Ch 12: Knowing how we were saved, we should live our lives for him, as a sacrifice.

Ch 13: Be subject to authority, live an honest, moral life.

Ch 14: Nothing is more important than God, don’t get caught up in rules, especially those that others are weaker in their following of.

Ch 15: Live in peace with others, Paul’s prayer.

Ch 16: Greetings and messages to other believers.

Notes
My thoughts on a few of the themes and lessons from Romans.

1:18-23
God is not ambivalent about our disobedience. Continuing to sin while knowing the truth angers Him greatly. God is wrathful toward ungodliness and unrighteousness because they are against and opposite His very nature. We will be held accountable for our transgressions.

1:24-32
Life without God is devoid of His fulfilling love and tender mercy. Once you reject God you start down a path towards progressively growing more and more sinful, continually straying farther from Him. The result of rejecting God is given in verses 18-32:

“Since they didn’t bother to acknowledge God, God quit bothering them and let them run loose. And then all hell broke loose: rampant evil, grabbing and grasping, vicious backstabbing. They made life hell on earth with their envy, wanton killing, bickering, and cheating. Look at them: mean-spirited, venomous, fork-tongued God-bashers. Bullies, swaggerers, insufferable windbags! They keep inventing new ways of wrecking lives. They ditch their parents when they get in the way. Stupid, slimy, cruel, cold-blooded. And it’s not as if they don’t know better. They know perfectly well they’re spitting in God’s face. And they don’t care-worse, they hand out prizes to those who do the worst things best!” (The Message)

God gives us over to our sin. The same word is used for this ‘giving over’ as for when Christ was given over to the authorities for crucifixion. We reap the result of the bad seeds we sowed and get what we deserve- alienation and meaninglessness.

Chs. 2-3
Often times we find ourselves judging a person for something they’ve done and label them as ‘worse’ than ourselves. Paul reminds us that we also will be judged and found wanting. This reminds me of the Sufjan Steven’s song “John Wayne Gacy, Jr.”:

“His father was a drinker
And his mother cried in bed
Folding John Wayne’s T-shirts
When the swingset hit his head
The neighbors they adored him
For his humor and his conversation
Look underneath the house there
Find the few living things
Rotting fast in their sleep of the dead
Twenty-seven people, even more
They were boys with their cars, summer jobs
Oh my God

Are you one of them?

He dressed up like a clown for them
With his face paint white and red
And on his best behavior
In a dark room on the bed he kissed them all
He’d kill ten thousand people
With a sleight of his hand
Running far, running fast to the dead
He took of all their clothes for them
He put a cloth on their lips
Quiet hands, quiet kiss
On the mouth

And in my best behavior
I am really just like him
Look beneath the floorboards
For the secrets I have hid”

The song hits on the message that we are no better than others, even others who have done horrible things. At the end of days everyone will account for eternal life and be judged as to their good deeds. Those who rejected God are split from Him forever, those who lived by faith in His power and were judged not on their own deeds but on Jesus’ will live with Him for eternity. When we live for our own desires we are being unrighteous, we must die to ourselves and adhere to the word of God. Under the covenant of Christ’s death no one has a leg up on another or is more special to God; we are all equal.

3:9-20
The old law was never going to work as a way to rescue mankind from it’s own depravity. Rather, it served to show that no one can adhere perfectly to the law and that our own deeds will always fall short. The emptiness and helplessness we feel when rebelling against God demonstrates our need to be saved by the work of another. Of course, through Jesus we are so saved and experience the blessings of a faithful life.

Ch. 4
The modern definition of faith is “believing in something despite no evidence that it exists”. The biblical meaning of faith evokes trust and humility. When we display faith we fully believe in God’s plan for our lives and surrender ourselves to be guided by Him. Abraham is an excellent example of faith. When he and Sarai gave birth to Isaac at around 100 years old Abraham’s faith developed fully. When commanded by God to sacrifice his ‘miracle’ child he goes about doing it despite not understanding why God would bless him and then take that blessing away so soon. God stopped Abraham before he committed the horrific act and provided a lamb for sacrifice. We should strive for a faith like Abraham’s; he trusted God so much he almost killed his child!

5:1-11
Because our ransom has been paid through Jesus’ blood, we are able to live under God’s protection. Things will get hairy but Paul says to rejoice in those moments and remember they will soon end. Right focus begets right attitude begets indescribable.

5:12-21
When Adam disobeyed God’s order and ate the forbidden fruit he bound humanity to sin, which always leads to death. Then Jesus came and sacrificed himself in order that those who choose to believe will carry his name and will be blameless in God’s sight.

Ch. 6
Abraham Lincoln gave the emancipation proclamation and set free thousands of American slaves. Once free the predominately old slaves were so use to no freedom they didn’t know what to do with it. Many became sharecroppers on the same plantation they were owned by. Christian’s do something very similar: we were slaves to sin but have been freed through Jesus’ blood. Yet, we go back to sinning quickly. The gradual, internal transformation of a newly freed slave of sin into a fully mature and completely free individual is called “sanctification”.

6:15-23
There is no way around the fact that we are in bondage- we are either a slave to sin or a slave to God. The paradox of being a slave of God is that it is the only way to be completely free.

Ch. 7
Chuck Swindoll uses drug addiction as a metaphor for the recurrence of sin after being saved by Christ. A drug addict often returns to using after going through a period of being clean, forgetting the negative effect of using and the horrible process of detoxing. In the same way, Christians return to sin despite the knowledge that it leads to death. A drug addict is forever in recovery, just as we must always work to combat our sin.

8:14-17
Here, Paul presents four benefits of life in Christ:
-The first benefit: practical everyday leading from God (8:14)
-The second benefit: fearless intimacy with God (8:15)
-The third benefit: assurance of belonging to God (8:16)
-The fourth benefit: a continual reminder of our value before God (8:17)

Ch. 10
Swindoll uses a great example to explain our confusion towards the sovereignty of God- it is like our understanding of light. Light is both a particle and a wave, as proved by Einstein, but science dictates that it should be one or the other, not both. We do not understand many aspects of God, He seems to exist in ways that are unnatural and contradictory, yet, He is how He is.

12:9-16
Here, Paul gives us a cheat sheet for how to live:
-Unhypocritical Love (12:9)

13:12-13
This verse is the basis for my term ‘Knight of Day’. See the About page for more.

Supplemental Sources

-Insights Into Romans by Chuck Swindoll. (Main Source)

-The Testimony of Johnny Cash in Pop Goes Religion and online at http://www.tmatt.net/2003/09/24/the-testimony-of-johnny-cash/

“As a veteran of many Billy Graham crusades, Johnny Cash must have known the parable of the drunken airline passenger by heart.

Here’s how Graham told this old, old story during his 1985 South Florida crusade.

One day, the evangelist boarded an airplane at the same time as a fat, boisterous drunk who cursed up a storm and even pinched a stewardess. The crew finally wrestled the man to his seat — right in front of Graham. Another passenger leaned over and said he ought to behave. Didn’t he know who was behind him?

“You don’t say,” the man said. Then he turned and loudly said, “Are you Billy Graham? … Put her there! Your sermons have sure helped me!”

After the laughter, Graham warmly introduced Cash, who added another punch line.

“I wonder,” said Cash, “why he thought about introducing me right after he talked about the rowdy drunk on the airplane.”

Yes, Cash knew his role as a missionary to the backsliders.

The man in black was a country kid who embraced his mother’s faith, then flung it away, the hell raiser who got saved, and saved and then saved some more. Cash sang about the hope of heaven and the siren songs of hell. Time magazine put it this way: “Here was a man who knew the Commandments because he had broken so many of them.”

The gritty details filled 1,500 songs and a lifetime of work in television, movies, books and nights on the road. For years, Cash prowled the stage on amphetamines and wept as he sang “The Old Rugged Cross” — often in the same show.

Things got better after he married June Carter in 1968, a meeting of souls made in heaven, but worked out in the flesh under the parental gaze of Ezra and Maybelle Carter. These country-music pioneers not only prayed at Cash’s bedside while he kicked drugs, but hung on through years of front-porch Bible study as he walked the line toward redemption.

Cash was in a spiritual war and he knew it. Thus, he constantly quoted Romans 8:13 as his favorite verse: “For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live….”

The superstar also knew that millions of people were watching and waiting for him to fall. He lived in that hot spotlight until the day he died.

“I have been a professional entertainer,” said Cash, at a 1989 Graham crusade in his home state of Arkansas. “My personal life and problems have been widely publicized. There have been things said about me that made people ask, ‘Is Johnny Cash really a Christian?’

“Well, I take great comfort in the words of the apostle Paul who said, ‘What I will to do, that I do not practice. But what I hate, that I do.’ And he said, ‘It is no longer I who do it, but the sin that dwells within me. But who,’ he asks, ‘will deliver me from this body of death?’ And he answers for himself and for me, ‘Through Jesus Christ the Lord.’ “

This language he used in his Graham crusade testimonies was loftier than his style on stage. But the words hit home because Cash knew that his listeners knew he was there flaws and all. So he talked about his struggles with drugs — past, present and future. He talked about the flaws in his family life. Cash named his idols and his demons and urged others to do the same.

The man in black was on the same Gospel road throughout his life, even when he detoured into the gutter, said Steve Beard, author of the Cash profile in the book “Spiritual Journeys: How Faith Has Influenced 12 Musical Icons.”

“This was the real Johnny Cash.”

Link Dump (8/6/10)

Posted by admin on Aug 6, 2010 in Blog | 0 comments

Here it is, hot off the press- the very first Link Dump at the new and improved KnightOfDay.com! There will be at least one of these every week, usually on Fridays, and in it I’ll share links to articles, interviews, movie trailers, infographics, and anything else I think deserves a look from the week that was. Today I’ll test out adding my thoughts on some of the links but if you’d prefer that I get out of the way, tell me so in the comments. Let the fun begin:

-LOST Epilogue
In typical LOST fashion this epilogue, which features events from the time Hurley assumed Jacob’s role on the island, brings up more new questions than it answers old ones. It does show the origins of the Dharma Initiative drop packages and we see an old character again. I hope this will result in more footage in the future.

http://jezebel.com/5606489/

-’USA Today’ Notes Church Movie Trend
Sherwood Pictures (Facing The Giants, Fireproof) is featured in this article detailing the rise in faith-based films like The Blind Side. As a Christian and aspiring screenwriter this is an encouraging trend. I loved Flywheel, Facing The Giants, and The Blind Side but have yet to watch Fireproof even though we have it on DVD. I need to get on that.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2010-07-19-churchmovies19_CV_N.htm

-Holy Franchise, Batman! Bringing The Caped Crusader to the Screen
Wonderful three-part article about the history of Batman on film. If you know me at all you know I am obsessed with Christopher Nolan’s most recent Batman films but you may not know that one of my earliest, and most beloved, memories of watching a flick was the first Batman movie based off the ’60s TV show with Adam West. It is a totally different take than the tone Nolan has used but it’s a heck of a fun film.

Part One:
http://flickeringmyth.blogspot.com/2010/07/holy-franchise-batman-bringing-caped.html
Part Two
http://flickeringmyth.blogspot.com/2010/07/holy-franchise-batman-bringing-caped_30.html

-FSU’s Chris Singleton To Be Part Of USA Basketball’s Select Team
FSU basketball star Chris Singleton has been selected to be a part of the USA Select team that will practice with the USA team in August. Chris is one of the most heralded recruits in FSU history and was named ACC Defensive Player Of The Year last season. He is one of the top returning players in college basketball, a hot prospect for the NBA, and will likely leave FSU for the pros after this coming season, his junior campaign. Most importantly, Chris is a strong person off the court and is an excellent representative of the university and the basketball program.

http://seminoles.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/080210aaa.html

-Michel Gondry Talks About The Green Hornet
After Comic-Con the buzz around The Green Hornet film, starring Seth Rogen, has been mostly negative. Many feel Rogen and his writing partner are not well suited to the material and the trailer has been coldly received. I stand starkly opposite the consensus on this one; I think it will be a fun flick and a different take on the superhero formula that has been used so often recently. The biggest thing this has going for it is the involvement of director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, Be Kind Rewind), who always finds a uniquely original way to tickle the eyes and create imagery that supports the material. Here’s an interview with the frenchman about the film:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2010/07/29/gondry_green_hornet/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed

-Don Miller Turns Over His Blog To His Dog, Lucy
This is a great series that uniquely approaches some important life lessons from the viewpoint of a dog. It totally puts to shame my constant joking that my dog is thinking about sausage. Lucy actually got very sick recently and the experience yields some great writing from Don.

-Director Jeff Tremaine Interview For JACKASS 3D
Jackass is a guilty pleasure for me and millions of other guys (maybe a few girls, too). It’s unique as a film in that it’s not really a film; there is no narrative, no plot, and no story arc. It’s just guys doing really, really stupid and extremely dangerous things and it’s a total blast. Except for Avatar, I haven’t felt any movie really needed to be in 3D but I am intrigued by the prospect of seeing what the Jackass guys can do with it. Here’s a nearly 9-minute interview with director Jeff Tremaine:

http://www.collider.com/2010/07/29/comic-con-jackass-3d-interview-jeff-tremaine-video-interview-jackass-3d/

-Crazy Stop Motion Video
The whole thing is awesome but be sure to watch around the 2:30 mark, it’s ridiculously creative and ambitious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9Et7UQh1tg

-Q&A With Inception Costume Director

http://clothesonfilm.com/inception-jeffrey-kurland-costume-qa/14317/

-Rule.fm Business Management

http://rule.fm/

-The Daily Beast’s Top 20 iPad Apps

http://www.thedailybeast.com/galleries/1895/1/?redirectURL=http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-07-25/best-ipad-apps-experts-vote/

-Arcade Fire: The Suburbs Reviews

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/128940-arcade-fire-the-suburbs/
http://thehurstreview.wordpress.com/2010/07/28/arcade-fire-the-suburbs/

-Possible Crazy New Taxes