Dear Movie Goers,

June was a good month for movies, but, July is where we will once again see major blockbusters, not only in mainline movies but in the HERO genre. Yes, once again we have some major movies to discuss.

If you haven't checked out www.hollywoodjesus.com please do… the writers are very fair in their quest to critique movies while keeping their Christian views.

I liked an article written by David Bruce called “Christianity Takes a Dive”. It's about the decline of Christian values in America since “Passion of the Christ” era. I encourage you to read it at: http://live.hollywoodjesus.com/?p=2245

I hope you all have a safe and happy July 4 th and enjoy the movies this month with family and friends!

Peace Out!

Philly

Major Movies of July:

Hancock

There are heroes... there are superheroes... and then there's Hancock (Will Smith). With great power comes great responsibility – everyone knows that – everyone, that is, but Hancock. Edgy, conflicted, sarcastic, and misunderstood, Hancock's well-intentioned heroics might get the job done and save countless lives, but always seem to leave jaw-dropping damage in their wake. The public has finally had enough – as grateful as they are to have their local hero, the good citizens of Los Angeles are wondering what they ever did to deserve this guy. Hancock isn't the kind of man who cares what other people think – until the day that he saves the life of PR executive Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman), and the sardonic superhero begins to realize that he may have a vulnerable side after all. Facing that will be Hancock's greatest challenge yet – and a task that may prove impossible as Ray's wife, Mary (Charlize Theron), insists that he's a lost cause.

Hellboy II

Anung un Rama, Hellboy's true name, was summoned to Earth as an infant by Nazi occultists during World War II. Raised by the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (BPRD), he grew up to be their premier investigator. Gruff, red-skinned, with an enlarged right hand, and with his horns shorn off, he doesn't exactly behave as one would expect a demon to. This is partly due to him constantly being engaged in a war against his own nature and prophesied destiny.
Ultimately, it is characterization that makes this book great, and the book has a great central character in Hellboy. Part of the dark wit of the book lies with Hellboy being cast from the every man mold. As demons go, he's a regular blue-collar one. Even when he's cavorting with the rest of the BPRD, there is a pervading sense of loneliness to him. With his various mysteries to investigate, it may not always be clear what's going on, but that only adds to the vague sense of unease about the book.
Steeped in religious symbols and tradition, the true horror of the book lies in the (often supernatural) battle between good and evil, with the reality of Christ and the devil taken as a given. Another spiritual connection lies in the continual theme of Hellboy challenging his destiny. As many of us find ourselves, he's lost and at a crossroads in his life. He knows who he is and what he was created to be (his "Right Hand of Doom" is the catalyst meant to bring about Armageddon), the inverse of the situation we find ourselves in (as we too often don't know who we are, as image-bearers of God or what we were created to do). Knowing his true self, his true identity, he rejects it and decides that being human sounds like a better calling and purpose in life; and that trying to save the world as a mission sounded a lot better than leading the Apocalypse.
In Hellboy 2: The Golden Army , the BPRD travel between the surface world and the unseen magical one, where creatures of fantasy become corporeal as an elven prince seeks to unleash an army of creatures. The

prince's story runs parallel to that of Hellboy: a person of two worlds seeking to fight against his heritage, yet with a role to play in the greater battle between good and evil. In the prince, Hellboy finds a reflection, one that can reveal much about the choices he needs to make in life.
As a huge fan of the Hellboy comic and as a huge fan of Guillermo del Toro, it's a no-brainer that I'll be in attendance when the sequel is released.

The Dark Knight

After seeing the latest trailer for The Dark Knight , I say hands down that this is my most anticipated movie of the summer. Yes I know there's a new Indiana Jones this year. Yes Iron Man was really good. Yes there's a new Hulk that looks like it'll successfully reboot the franchise. Not to mention other films like Caspian , Hancock , and Wall-E , but The Dark Knight is the one I want to see the most, and it's not just because I'm a huge Batman fan, but because I really think that this is going to be one of the best movies of the year. Are my expectations too high? Maybe. But let's examine just a few of the things that this latest trailer has hinted at and why I think its going to once again raise the bar, just like its predecessor did.
First and foremost, Christopher Nolan has hinted the the film's title, The Dark Knight , has a lot to do with what takes place in this second year of Batman's career. In the new trailer, we even hear a line from Harvey Dent proclaiming that "the night is always darkest before the dawn." It seems clear that things will get very dark for Batman this time out, and how could they not with the Joker on the loose? I love the brief scene from the trailer that shows Bruce Wayne sitting in a chair in the Batman outfit, holding his cowl, staring at it while he cries. One of the things I've always appreciated most about Batman are his moments of self-doubt. How many times have you been in a spot where you felt things were too bleak, too dark, too difficult to really carry on? How many times have you wondered if it was really worth it trying to do the right thing, to remain moral and righteous when everyone else seems to get away with doing whatever they like, no matter how mad, depraved or crazy?
Well, I don't know about you, but I've experienced those times as a Christian. There are times when I've wondered if it was all really worth it. I've always admired the fact that Batman has faced similar moments, and that he always finds the strength within himself to carry on no matter what. I must confess that I don't have that strength, but I have found that God's Spirit is the one who finds me in those dark moments and gives me the strength to move forward regardless of what I may face. As Psalm 112 reminds me, "Even in darkness light dawns for the upright." Because my hope is in Christ, I have a hope that will never disappoint no matter how dark my world may be. That gives me strength, even in the face of a dark night.
Another reason that I'm excited for The Dark Knight is because of its source material. The cast and producers have hinted that they used The Long Halloween for much of the inspiration for this film, and the latest trailer seems to confirm that; from the focus on Harvey Dent to the criminal world trying to cope with an emboldened police and law enforcement agencies, most of the major beats from the comic look like they are going to be in The Dark Knight . Plus, The Long Halloween is considered by many as the definitive version of Harvey Dent's/Two-Face's origin, so a faithful adaptation of that would be amazing to see on the big screen. Granted, changes have been made. It looks as though the Joker will take the place of Holiday and the other villains of that storyline, but from what I've seen so far, it looks like a good move to focus on him.
Finally, the Internet is buzzing with rumors that look like they're confirmed in the new trailer about a major death in the film. (Spoiler Alert: If you don't to hear theories on who dies, read no further)
It has been hinted and rumored that someone close to Bruce Wayne and Batman is killed in The Dark Knight , and all signs point to (Spoiler Alert: This is your last chance...)
...it being Rachel Dawes. The choice seems fairly obvious. The character is unique to the films, but is a good representation of the few women that have actually meant something to Bruce Wayne. The impact of such a death on Batman to make him question his resolve, whether or not he really can make a difference in the face of such evil, whether or not he can protect those he cares for... If these elements are handled well, it'll be a big part of what sets The Dark Knight apart from every other comic book movie out there.
Finally there's Heath Ledger's portrayal of the Joker. Although Jack Nicholson did a fine job, from the glimpses we've seen so far, Ledger appears to really have caught the true essence of what makes the Joker such a fascinating and deadly villain. There's never really been a portrayal of the Joker that I found scary (except in the excellent Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker ), but Ledger's Joker is definitely scary and looks very convincing as a menace that could cause in every sense the darkest night of Batman's young career.
Batman Begins was the success it was because it was a great film, not just a great comic book film. It was an amazing movie that just happened to be based on a comic book that featured a man dressed up as a bat. However, it was able to transcend the comic book genre to become a movie that touched on themes and emotions that we all relate to, and did so in such a way that felt real, that felt like it could happen. Should The Dark Knight follow that trend (and for all intents and purposes it looks as though it will), I see no reason that it couldn't become the one film still standing after the summer box office wars are over. It may not make the most at the box office, but it may be the one most people will actually remember something about, the one that people will feel was something special. It may even be the one that leaves people hope in the face of the dark nights we all face.

And if you are looking for a movie musical…

Mamma Mia!

Meryl Streep leads an all-star cast in the feature-film adaptation of the beloved musical that has been seen by more than 30 million people in 160 cities and 8 languages around the world. Bringing the timeless lyrics and melodies of iconic super group ABBA to movie audiences, Summer 2008 is the season for "Mamma Mia!"
The three women who created the worldwide smash stage hit--global producer Judy Craymer, writer Catherine Johnson and director Phyllida Lloyd--repeat their roles in bringing this joyful, musical story to the big screen. The Mamma Mia! film is produced by Judy Craymer and Gary Goetzman.
Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper join Streep in this celebration of a mother, a daughter and three possible dads.
An independent, single mother who owns a small hotel on an idyllic Greek island, Donna (Streep) is about to let go of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), the spirited daughter she's raised alone. For Sophie's wedding, Donna has invited her two lifelong best girlfriends--practical and no-nonsense Rosie (Julie Walters) and wealthy, multi-divorcee Tanya (Christine Baranski)--from her one-time backing band, Donna and the Dynamos. But Sophie has secretly invited three guests of her own.
On a quest to find the identity of her father to walk her down the aisle, she brings back three men from Donna's past to the Mediterranean paradise they visited 20 years earlier. Over 24 chaotic, magical hours, new love will bloom and old romances will be rekindled on this lush island full of possibilities.
Inspired by the storytelling magic of ABBA's songs from "Dancing Queen" and "S.O.S." to "Money, Money, Money" and "Take a Chance on Me," Mamma Mia! is a celebration of mothers and daughters, old friends and new family found.