.: What’s Bruin :.

Will Lex Luthor use these on him next time?
They taste good.

Perhaps we’ll see these on the new DVD.

Tags: Doritos, kryptonite, Movies, Photography, Superman

On my day off, I watched Superman Returns successfully without having Rhea with me or any other physical problems.

It was good to see it from beginning to end. I still have the same opinion on it as for the first time I saw it.

There weren’t that many people in the theater, but unfortunately there was a group of village teenage idiots who would not stop talking for most of the movie. I ended up calling the theater during the movie to complain. Some theater personnel entered the theater occasionally, but each time they did the four idiots would be quiet. I think someone else had complained because in the last hour or so of the movie, one of the theater personnel came inside and sat down to watch. But it was too little too late because, thankfully, the four idiots left the theater. So we were all able to enjoy the last segment of the movie in peace.

Tags: Movies, Rants, stupid-people, Superman

I just got back from the new Superman movie.

Note to self: don’t drink Starbucks coffee and some water without going to the bathroom first before the movie begins.

Apparently though I did not miss much since I thought the movie was kinda b-o-r-i-n-g. YAWN. More of a romance movie like Spiderman 2. It continued the story line from Superman 2, which I kind of expected since that was the best Superman movie ever.

The biggest symbol of disappointment was the total lack of character development, not to mention the plot was kinda weak. But honestly, the Lex Luthor character could have been so much more sinister. Instead the creators of this movie continued the asinine jokes and stupid idiot girlfriend from the old Superman movies.

Personally, I find Smallville to be a way better take on the Superman mythology and legend. The only semi-cool thing about this new movie is that the kid is Superman’s son. If they decide to make any more Super movies, there should definitely be more action and get rid of the stupid girlfriend of Lex Luthor; make Lex really evil and powerful.

Tags: Life, Movies, Smallville, Superman, Superman-Returns

I cancelled my Netflix subscription this morning. Time to read!

Tags: Announcements, Movies, quick_links

I’ve decided to cancel my Netflix subscription so I can give the $20/month for our church’s More Than A Building campaign for the next three years. I been prayerfully considering “shifting” that expenditure to the church’s important venture. And I figure that since I’ve been thinking about it a lot, it must be God’s way of giving me the go ahead to put the money there.

Additionally, I figure that giving up watching 6+ hours of movies per week or so will free up a lot of time to spend more time with Josephine, read books, and expand my photography skills. So starting February 22, 2006 - no more Netflix until either the building campaign is over or my monthly income increases.

Tags: Announcements, Christian, church, faith, Movies, Netflix, Spiritual

Christian studio explains hiring of gay actor. Direct from Steve Saint’s mouth. Worth the read to see Saint’s heart.

Tags: Christian, End-of-the-Spear, faith, gospel, homosexuality, missions, Movies, quick_links, Spiritual

I received a forwarded email from one of Josephine’s co-workers regarding some initial reaction to the premiere of movie, End of the Spear after its opening this past weekend.

The following email was sent from Bearing Fruit Communications and Every Tribe Entertainment:

Dear Tribe,

Your support made End of the Spear among the top ten highest grossing films in the nation this last weekend. By doing this you’ve succeeding in bringing End of the Spear to the attention of more people than our marketing budget could ever reach. Now it is word of mouth that will extend this story into more and more hearts for as long as End of the Spear remains in theaters. Each day this week we will share how people like you became a part of this story by making contact. Here are the first few.

A Nation makes contact:
Mia Doerksen became a champion for making contact in Guam. She got local TV news to do a review. She organized youth to pass out flyers. Mia told us, “Let’s just say that when I started this, when I’d ask Christians (or not) if they heard the movie, only one said yes. Now, everyone has either seen the paper, TV, etc.” She got two other radio stations to promote the film and give free tickets from the Micro Mall movie theater. She even got government sponsorship and endorsement of her efforts because of the indigenous population reconciliation and anti-violence message of the film. Guam was among the markets where End of the Spear performed the highest. Thank you Mia.

A school makes contact:
Lane, a teacher from Hopkinsville, KY dared to make contact by incorporating the story into her high school curriculum. She asked those who had been truly changed during or since the emphasis of this story to come forward. Three-fourths of 6th-12th grade students responded. Some were still crying after lunch. Lane provided us pages of personal expressions from her students after seeing End of the Spear. Thank you Lane.

An individual makes contact:
Marj Pals writes, “When I was selling tickets for our Bethany Community Church showing of End of the Spear on Jan 19th, I noticed a lady walking by and asked her if she wanted to go. She broke down in tears and said ‘I would like to go… but I am all alone and don’t know anybody.’ That gave me a chance to give her a hug and share just a little from my own experience of going through a divorce and feeling all alone…..and how the Ladies Bible Class that I teach is a safe place, and I invited her. Many hurting people like this whose lives need God’s grace……….that’s what This Story is all about.” Thank you Marj.

As you continue to experience End of the Spear and share this experience with others, please be sure to share them also with us. Send your stories to groupsales@everytribe.com We rejoice in these stories with you, and are deeply grateful for the heartfelt connection around End of the Spear.

Bearing Fruit Communications and Every Tribe Entertainment

The movie entertains and it helps change lives.

Tim, I still agree with you that the producers erred. But I think the film is bringing honor to the Lord.

Tags: Christian, End-of-the-Spear, faith, gospel, missions, Movies, Spiritual

After reading some of the few, yet popular, faith blogs on my Blogroll this morning, I have to express my disappointment in the closed-heartedness of some of the people leaving vitriolic comments regarding the movie, End of the Spear. Let me first clarify three points before I delve into my commentary.

1. I am not a gay-rights supporter or an advocate of homosexuality.
2. I believe the producers, director, casting personnel, and writers and whoever else SHOULD have picked a different actor to play the starring role of this movie instead of a homosexual activist.
3. Given my previous two points, I believe this movie is worth seeing for all.

My opinion is:

While this movie is just that, a movie that entertains, I believe the gospel message is preached loudly and clearly. Despite the fact the main actor in the film is openly against the God that I know, who sent His only Son, Jesus, to die for the sins of the universe, God uses this fallen, unregenerate actor to demonstrate the power of the gospel to change sinful men and women and transform lives. The movie amazingly demonstrates 2 Corinthians 5:17. All people should see it.

The premise behind what I believe is best stated by the Apostle Paul:

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.

Paul, Philippians 1:15-18

1. This movie is about entertainment, but it also has another purpose.: Movies entertain. I tire of Christian commentators on these faith blogs ranting. People, this is a movie, let’s not forget that. Lots of people will go to this movie because they thought the trailer was interesting and they will expect to be entertained. But … I do want to point out that all who see this movie will be encouraged in their Christian faith. Yes, if you pay attention during the movie, you will hear God’s message and plan for salvation. You’ll see the power of God to transform lives.
2. God is glorified, not mocked.: But the actor in the starring role is a homosexual activist. Yes? And ….? “But God is being mocked,” the ranters cry. Who is being being mocked? I contend it’s the homosexual activists. Yes, the actor was used in this film to communicate God’s love and plan for salvation through Christ. I’ve seen the movie. I know. Here’s what you see in the movie:

   The sin problem — These Hourani natives were killing “foreigners” and killing each other.

   God loves the sinner — There’s no better demonstration of God’s love than how the five missionaries devoted sacrificed their lives because they had compassion on the natives who were dying and going to hell because they did not know Christ. These missionaries gave their lives to bring salvation. What greater love is that to lay down one’s life for his friends? (John 15:13)

   God sent his Son Jesus to die for our sins. He died in our place, so we would not have to die. — The movie explicitly states this: “Waegongi has a Son. He was speared so that we don’t have to spear anymore and so we can live well.” The ranters exclaim that it’s not explicitly using the name of Jesus Christ. People who use this argument really have no missionary or cross-cultural experience at all in communicating the gospel message to those who have never heard it before. I think that before one can say whether or not the gospel has been communicated in this movie should first experience what it’s like to talk to Russians oppressed by communism and having atheism forced on them for decades or trying to talk to Chinese in Hong Kong. I think it’s pretty ignorant for people to say this movie does not communicate the gospel message. I’ve experienced cross-cultural missions firsthand and I know how difficult it is to communicate God’s truth in a language you can’t speak to people of a foreign and strange culture. The movie shows Christ being communicated to the Hourani tribe in the way they will understand.

   Following God’s Son is the only way to salvation — The movie communicates this in the most effective way possible: changed lives. True faith produces changed lives. If you don’t believe what’s in the movie, then listen firsthand to Steve Saint in his own words from the 2005 Desiring God National Conference. He gives details about his father’s killer being the “grandfather” to his children. Now if that’s not evidence of a regenerated life, I don’t know what is.

3. You will miss out on a very uplifting, encouraging, and faith-building experience if you don’t see this movie.: So the actor is gay. None of his “gayness” or gay activism comes out in the movie. Get over yourself. This movie is not about “gayness.” Was the actor the best choice for this movie? Definitely not. But I believe God is glorified despite the mistake in casting.

Tags: Christian, Commentary, End-of-the-Spear, faith, gospel, homosexuality, missions, Movies, Spiritual

I decided to cancel my Blockbuster account. While I really really like the two free in-store movie coupons from Blockbuster each month, the Blockbuster web site just sucks big time. Josephine says that she doesn’t mind going down to the Blockbuster store to rent movies if she needs to.

Netflix has a larger selection. Netflix has an RSS feed I can use.

Tags: Blockbuster, Movies, Netflix

As an update to my $1 reopening of my Blockbuster online account this month, here is what I think so far as I’ve been watching about six movies per week.

At this point I’m leaning towards keeping Blockbuster. The two free monthly coupons are enough to put me over the edge since sometimes I just don’t feel like waiting for that “Long Wait” to get the new releases. Or sometimes Josephine just doesn’t like the titles I rent so at least she can use the two coupons to get some movies that she likes.

Some of the movies that I’ve rented are pretty lame though, like Fate, The Cave (Widescreen Edition), Swimming Pool (Unrated Version), and Primer. Primer was the only one that I actually finished watching all the way through. Right now, I watching The Cave, but I’m about to pull it out of my DVD player.

Tags: Blockbuster, Movies, Netflix

I rejoined blockbuster.com the other day. I got an email offer of reactivating my membership for only one buck for the first month.

So I’ll try both Blockbuster and Netflix for about $20 for total for the next month–six movies at a time.

So far, Blockbuster is winning. The Blockbuster movies arrived in one day instead of two (as stated on the expected arrival), which is roughly the same as Netflix. Plus, I get two coupons each month for a free rental from any Blockbuster store.

Right now, the only thing Netflix has going for me is that I can use an RSS feed on my web site to document what I’m watching in my “Netflix Theatre”.

Tags: Blockbuster, Movies, Netflix

I can’t wait . . .

The trailer “premiered” on tonight’s episode of Smallville.

Tags: Movies, Smallville, Superman, Television

Although it was released this past Tuesday, I finally purchased it. I am watching the documentary DVD 2 right now.

Tags: DVD, Movies, Star_Wars

The Transporter 2 was most likely the last movie of the summer that Pourpa and I will see together in the theaters before he moves back to UCLA. It was pretty darn good, a lot better than the first one. This one had lots of action and fight scenes in it. The only cheesey thing about it was that some of the action scenarios and stunts were somewhat not believable.

An extra bonus was our pre-movie meal at Mr. Taco. I had my favorite, carne asada burrito, while Pourpa had a shrimp burrito.

Tags: Events, family, Food, Movies, Pourpa

Despite what the critics said about this movie, it was good. Sure it had its cheesy lines like all superhero movies do. There was not as much action as I would have hoped, but it definitely was not disappointing.

The only thing that decreased my enjoyment of the movie were the idiots throwing candy from up above us. Then going home from the theater there was the huge amount of post-movie traffic on the main streets. Because I was going the speed limit, some person of Hispanic descent was tailgating me. So he passes me and gets in the left lane in front of me, but when the light turns green he shifts lanes to the right because he doesn’t need to turn left. What a moron. Seriously, if I were mayor of this city, I wold conduct an illegal alien raid and deport everyone not here legally OUT OF THIS CITY and COUNTRY. But that’s just me. The illegals should be thankful I am not mayor.

Tags: Commentary, illegal-immigration, Movies, politics