This is a film that really needs no introduction. A pivotal film in the 80’s, Rain Man is both a monumental film for the decade and the careers of Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman. This is a film that never gets old, no matter how many times you watch it. Since lately we’ve been on the topic of films getting rereleased on Blu-ray, now we get to see Rain Man. Seeing it in HD quality you notice right away the improvements such as clearer picture and audio. While it’s not the best I’ve seen on Blu-ray, I think they did a good job for this 80’s classic. Definitely worth your time to watch it again, especially with the extra features like commentaries, a documentary titled “The Journey of Rain Man”, and deleted scenes.
“Snap out of it!”
If you’ve ever seen the movie Moonstruck then you know what that line above means. Moonstruck is the one movie where people that don’t like Cher and Nic Cage can actually enjoy. Cher has always annoyed me ever since I was a kid. Nic Cage has to be in the right role, otherwise his performance usually has me feeling awkward. Well Moonstruck is the one movie where you forget that you’re watching Nic and Cher. This classic romantic comedy is filled with great one-liners and is a smart and witty take on love. In case you haven’t heard, the film has released on Blu-ray. Considering this is from the 80’s, you can definitely see the difference in watching the Blu-ray version. Much clearer picture on the widescreen and HD audio makes it a good movie-watching experience. Of course features have been thrown in for an extra bonus. Some included are audio commentaries and a feature titled “Moonstruck: At the Heart of an Italian Family”. In short, a good title to own for any fan of the film.
BAMBI Diamond Edition
One of the all time classic coming-of-age movies has been released in all its Blu-ray glory. Bambi is one of the most beloved Disney films, and why wouldn't it be? What's not to like about the cute deer growing up and facing the joys and sorrows of life? I think that this is a timeless film that people of all ages can learn from. Now about this special Diamond Edition. This is a 2-disc combo pack, so it includes the Blu-ray and DVD version for you to enjoy. As enjoyable as the film is, I thought the special feature "The Making Of BAMBI" was very informative and entertaining. If you like seeing how films get done, then this feature is right up your alley. So if you haven't had the opportunity to catch this classic in hi-def, do yourself a favor and check it out.
I thought they were done with releasing He-Man. Apparently, they're not. Mill Creek Entertainment has released the ENTIRE first season all in one collection. That's right. Rather than release different volumes of one season, they decided to pack ALL episodes from this legendary cartoon into one box set. So that means A LOT of enjoyment for all you He-Man fans.
Pros:
Great video and sound quality. Around 22 hours of MOTU fun for anyone looking to reminisce about this great cartoon. PLUS, there is a wonderful documentary on a bonus disc that includes interviews with the creators of the show. Most questions related to the creation of the show are answered in this in-depth documentary. Not to be missed.
Cons:
The packaging! Arrggh! They did a great job with the artwork on the outside cover, but once you open it you'll be surprised to see each disc not in a foldable booklet of some kind, but individual envelopes. You'd think for a collectible set like this, that they could have spent more time creating some cool packaging along with the great discs. But it seems like where they excelled in one, they lacked in the other. On the bright side, it's not like you're just going to be staring at the box! But still, it would've been nice to have some kind of collectible box to go with the discs.
Overall it's a cool set that any He-Man fan can appreciate.
Yes, there is hope for Christian music. If more artists with raw talent like Newworldson keep coming out, they could reshape the way "Christian music" is done. On their self titled album, these guys bring a lot of funk, heart, and soul in thir songs. The constant theme in their music is one that points back to the Creator. The style is hard to pin down, since one minute you hear a little jazz, then some straight up funk, then Stevie Wonder, etc. This is one band that streches their musical styles all over the place, and the results are songs that be sure to get your body and soul moving. Check out their album and you won't be disappointed.
Books, books, and more books..
Here are some of the books I’ve been fortunate to check out recently.
Fearless by Max Lucado
I really like this guy’s style. From his Punchinello children’s stories to encouraging books for adults such as this one, Max always finds a way to get the heart of the reader. In Fearless, Lucado provides a very hopeful book with timeless advice that points the reader to a God as the source of all hope, no matter what the circumstance. Hard as it may be, if followed properly, this is one book that can truly help you to become “fearless”.
Drops Like Stars by Rob Bell
This great book put out by Bell is a collection of photos, personal stories and other life illustrations that drive home the point that suffering unites us as humans. Very profound in its writing style, this book also weaves in the story of how God joins us in our sufferings, and that we’re not alone. It’s a big book (literally) too, so don’t expect to be able to put it on a bookshelf! It’s best left out on a coffee table as a decoration.
O Me of Little Faith by Jason Boyett
At first glance this book would appear to jump on the trendy “doubt” bandwagon, but this one is as honest as it gets. I found myself connecting with Boyett in his confessions in many ways, and appreciated his “confession” style of writing. Rather than drive you away from God, this is one book that deals with doubt honestly and pushes the reader to seek God further, even amidst a sea of doubts.
The Message – Large Print Hardcover
Yes, I reviewed this translation of the Bible before. But this time I checked out the large print version of the Message. Where the Remix version was one that’s great for keeping in the car or just carrying on the go, this large print version is perfect for adding to a home library. Crack it open and dig into the large print text on each page. This one is easy to read, and a great one to own for anyone eager to study more of the Bible.
The Dude Abides: The Gospel According to the Coen Brothers by Cathleen Falsani
I’m not a big fan of some books that try and pull (or put) Christianity into everything related to pop-culture. Being the movie buff I am, I appreciate those books written by people who “really get” the story, rather than try and fit a certain film into THEIR worldview. This is one of those books. This one mainly deals with films made by Hollywood legends, the Coen Brothers. Warning: This book contains many spoilers so if you haven’t seen some of the films, you may want to not read about them in this book. Falsani really did her homework when it came to these movies. After reading this, you may not watch a Coen Brothers film the same way.
Are you like me where you get the post-Christmas holiday blues after the sacred day just flies right by? Well one way of dealing with it is with some great Christmas songs! Sure the holiday's over, but who says you still can't jam to some jolly X-Mas (CHRISTmas for those who get uptight about the deal with the letter X thing) songs! One good recommendation is the "Christmas! A Newsboys Holiday" album dropped by the Newsboys! Now mind you, this is the post-Furler era Newsboys now fronted by Michael Tait. I would've loved to hear a X-Mas album with Peter as singer, but this album hits the spot as far as Chrismas jingles go. It's a short album with only 5 tracks. But put on repeat, this album can still bring holiday joy up until Valentine's Day. I enjoyed each track, but standouts for me are their cover of Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You", and "O Holy Night". But like I said, each track is full of holiday cheer, so put in on repeat and ENJOY!
