What's up with the fascination with angels lately?
Beloved writer Anne Rice surprised everyone when she made the announcement that she'll be writing for the Lord from now on. Known as an atheist for most of her writing career, this news was a shocker. Now, after her releasing some books on Jesus, she has presented a gift to us in the form of a metaphysical thriller. Angel Time is the book, and it is one that takes a little time to get used to. Some parts are a little slow, but necessary in the bigger picture. Overall, it's a good read. Anne Rice still hasn't lost her touch when it comes to writing. It's just that now her faith seeps into every story. And that is fine with me. We need more writers like Anne that can mix faith and art in a very real way.
If humanity were about to get “smited”, and our only hope was in the Archangel Michael, would you feel good if he appeared as Paul Bettany? That’s what happens in the end-of-the-world action flick Legion. I have to admit this movie was “OK”. Not phenomenal, but “OK”. There are some pretty cool action sequences that balance out some of the lame acting. Mr. Bethany did a decent job of playing Michael. The whole concept of the film is badass, with the fighting angels and whatnot. Overall, it’s an enjoyable action film that hopefully will open the door for more warring angel films.
The Bible is a book that stirs up different feelings for different people. Some people loathe it; some hold it in the highest regard. Some think that its fiction and some find it to be a series of texts that are literal documents to support their faith. As a believer, the Bible is a comforting book, yet it’s confusing at the same time. I’ve wrestled with a lot of the stories I’ve read. Some have made me laugh, some have strengthened my faith, and some have made me doubt. But overall, I am fascinated by it. After saying all this here are some versions of the Bible that I’ve found to be helpful.
The Jesus Storybook Bible
Every Story Whispers His Name
By: Sally Lloyd-Jones
Now this isn’t a real “Bible”. But as a father raising a son, I think this is an amazing book to share with a kid who is learning about faith. It is pretty straight-forward and really has some cool illustration by a guy named “Jago”. The writer of the stories in here is Sally Lloyd-Jones, and she brings a fresh perspective to these Biblical stories. I definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a book to share with their kids. I even admit that some of the stories have given me a new way of looking at the biblical texts!
The Message//REMIX 2.0
This is a funny version to read, yet I love it. It doesn’t change any of the meanings in the Bible (although some critics will tell you otherwise). It’s just translated into everyday modern language. It always gives you something to ponder, and really makes reading the Bible fun without “watering it down”. It does take some getting used to, especially if you’re used to the “Thee’s” and “Thou’s”. But overall, it’s a version that has changed the way I read the Bible in a good way.
Man, I can't believe how fast this movie came on DVD. So let's get down to business! Avatar (the highest-grossing film of all time) can now be viewed at home thanks to Fox Home Entertainment. Now I had the chance to check it out on DVD, and while it's great to view the film in my living room, I was expecting more. To put it bluntly I was expecting some extra features. I mean anything would have been fine. But sadly, there were none. There were no interviews, alternate endings, commentaries, etc. That's my main beef with the DVD. So on one hand, having the film at home is great. On the other, if you're expecting any extra features, don't look here. So if you're just looking to check out the film and nothing else, then the DVD will do just fine.
A contemporary look at Shakespeare's HAMLET comes to DVD and Blu-ray. Starring David Tennant as and Patrick Stewart, this is a fresh take of Shakespeare's famous play. What’s great about this version is that rather than being filmed at the theater, this was filmed on location. All fans of Shakespeare can appreciate this contemporary version of the play. Overall, it’s a well acted and very well produced version of HAMLET.
What perfect timing to release the complete 1994 animated series of Iron Man on DVD. With Iron Man 2 in theaters, it's a great time to revisit this great animated show! This 3-disc collector's set contains all the episodes from this series. Here we get to see Iron Man do battle along with Nick Fury, War Machine, Scarlet Witch, Spider Woman and Hawkeye. Overall, it's a cool set to own for any fan of all things Iron Man!
Next on DVD is X-MEN: Volume 5. This set is a 2-disc collection of Episodes 63 to 76 from the animated series. Being that this is the final installment in the series, it's a must see for any X-Men fan. Some things in store on this set include the X-Men seeking help from Magneto, and the final episode “Graduation Day"! Don't miss out on this final volume in the X-Men collection.
Obama was put in office in 2009, so I'm not sure why only now a DVD of his inauguration was released. Is it to distract us from the mess that's going on in this country? Who knows? Well whatever side of the political fence you're on, Barack Obama's presidency is one that we'll have a hard time forgetting. Out now on DVD is a collection of the Obama Inauguration festivities. All of the performances from artists like Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Jon Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, U2, and Usher are here in this 2-disc collector’s set. Also included on this set is the Neighborhood Ball that has the President’s and First Lady’s first dance. Oh, and along with the entertainment of course we get to see Obama's swearing-in and inaugural address. Overall, this is a set that captured the best moments of this historical inauguration.
The name "FFH" may not mean anything to you, unless you are familiar with this veteran CCM band. Whether you're a fan or not, I think this is one of the most surprising albums I heard recently. In a nutshell, these songs were born out of pain. After the band went on a hiatus, singer Jeromy Deibler was diagnosed with MS. I'll spare the details here since you can look up other interviews online that cover his story. This album is worth checking out, especially to hear some very honest songwriting that doesn't hide the pain that comes in life. And yet, the album still leaves room for hope. I honestly didn't expect to be writing about a FFH album, but this one was a nice surprise.
Remember when Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck saved the world back in 1998. Well now you get to see ARMAGEDDON all over again on Blu-Ray. This is one movie that is way over the top, but in a good way. I’m not sure why they decided to re-release it now, but this movie does benefit from the Blu-Ray treatment. This is one of those films you pop on to kill a few hours and get a few laughs and thrills along the way. With end-of-the-world movies becoming so trendy now, I got reminded that this came out before all the hype. If you enjoyed this film, it’s worth checking out on Blu-ray. However, I wish they would have added more bonus features on the disc.
