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| Tasty morsels of cultural delight |
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| One wonders how long Pixar can continue to outdo themselves and remain Filmdom's top chefs of children's fare. Once again, with their latest offering, Ratatouille, they have surpassed past creations in both animation and storytelling and have delivered to our table an entertainment feast. MORE |
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| I don't think I have to sell anyone on the beauty of North Carolina in general or Great Smoky Mountain National Park in particular. It is the most visited park in the national park system, boasting the greatest variety of animals in the world (with over 1,600 black bears), more flowering plants than any other North American national park (over 1,600 varieties), more native tree species than all of northern Europe (over 100), over 800 miles of maintained hiking trails (including the famed Appalachian Trail), and a range in elevation from 800 to 6,643 feet, including the tallest mountain in the Eastern United States, Mount LeConte. To say the least, it is spectacular and breathtaking. MORE |
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| While Bridge To Terabithia is a good effort by any standard, the story itself hardly rises above a typical Hallmark channel offering. Based on the book by Katherine Paterson, it tells the story of two Middle School (then Junior High School) children that are treated like outcasts in their school: Jesse, played by Josh Hutcherson (Zathura), and Leslie, played by AnnaSophia Robb (Charlie And The Chocolate Factory). Add to that the fact that Jesse is alienated from his overly strict dad, played by Robert Patrick (Terminator 2), and his unsympathetic sisters - except for his youngest sister, May Belle, played by Bailee Madison. She almost worships the ground he walks on. MORE |
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| I still have not decided if I like the idea of "Christian Filmmaking." On the one hand, I want to see God glorified in film as I want to see Him glorified in all things. On the other, I have seen what "success" does to Christians, as it does to most people, and I would not wish that on anyone. There are some sayings the world puts forth: "Nothing succeeds like success," and "Everyone loves a winner." I think Scripture teaches just the opposite. MORE |
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| In this masterful effort by first-time director Christophe Barratier, the new prefect at a school for troubled boys decides to start a chorus, against the cruel headmaster's warnings. It seems just the thing to give the boys purpose and unity. But then a true juvenile delinquent is enrolled as an experiment, and he upsets everyone's world and even sabotages the chorus. MORE |
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| No genre of film, television or literature has been more loved, nor has any had a greater influence on American culture and values
Westerns were the dominant genre in film for the first sixty years. In television, westerns dominated for the first three decades. It wasn't until the eighties that westerns began to wane in popularity, and that is probably because they were supplanted by sci-fi adventures such as Indiana Jones, Star Wars and Back To The Future. But, if you study those films, you'll notice that they contain the same elements as a western. MORE |
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| I'm guessing Casablanca is the most referenced film in history. It is known as the best written script, among other things. The story behind the writing of Casablanca is one of the best stories in cinema. It was being written while the film was being shot, so no one knew how it would end. There is good reason for the mystique that surrounds it. It is the classiest of the classics. MORE |
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| With the opening of the fifth of the Harry Potter films scheduled for July 11, and the issuing of the seventh and last of the books scheduled for July 21, I think it would be a good idea to look back on the series and take stock of just what J.K. Rowling has accomplished, both good and bad. Whether we like it or not, Harry Potter has had a tremendous influence on children's literature and culture. MORE |
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| Politically correct version of first English epic poem about Nordic warriors in the 12th century and their heroic leader Beowulf who try to help their Danish kinsmen rid themselves of a murderous troll named Grendel. Director Sturla Gunnarsson uses the story of Beowulf as an excuse to shoot a film in the strikingly beautiful but barren landscape of Iceland. There are so many problems with this production, it is hard to appreciate the few things that are good. MORE |
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| A God-shaped gap exists in all of us. What we fill it with will determine who we are and how satisfied we are with life. MORE |
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| We've got new samples of our copywriting in our portfolio. MORE |
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| © 2007 Waitsel Smith. All Rights Reserved. |
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