Overcomer - Better than 'The Blind Side'

I don't write much here anymore, this is my first posting in over a year.  But every once in a rare while I feel compelled to share my thoughts on a particular subject, this is one of those times.

My wife and I along with our soon to be six year old son went to see the newly released film 'Overcomer' on Monday August 26th.  This is simply an incredible movie, so incredible that I took it in a second time on Tuesday September 3rd with my daughter from my first marriage.

Take note of these two seemingly contradictory terms, simple and incredible, because this movie is both.  While the production and acting are top rate I doubt Overcomer will be winning any Academy or Gloden Globe Awards, unless they create a new category, Most Powerful Message.

Full disclosure now, I represent what many would consider to be this movie's target audience, I am a Christian.  But I must also acknowledge that its only in the past year that I have become much more intentional with my faith, in point of fact I turned my back on God for a long time.  Central to my faith and a big part of this story is that while I, as an individual, turned my back on God and rejected the saving grace that comes from the person of Jesus Christ, God did not turn His back on me. 

I can pretty much promise anyone going to see this movie, that they will identify with one of the characters.  For me it was the lead role of John Harrison, a history teacher and basketball coach at a Christian high school.  While John is a Christian, the way he views himself as a believer is challenged when he meets Thomas, a blind diabetic undergoing dialysis in the hospital. 

Cameron Arnett is the actor who plays Thomas, and if anyone in this movie were to deserve an Acadamy nomination, in my opinion it would be this veteran actor.  I was literally moved to tears during some of his scenes.  The first time I saw the movie I had tears rolling down my cheeks, the second time my daughter thought I was having trouble breathing when in fact I was trying to supress audible sobs. 

I found Overcomer to be an incredibly emotional movie, however there are also some wonderfully funny moments and I enjoyed some heartfelt, (and very much needed) belly laughs.  I will admit though, I laughed more on the first viewing, and wept more on the second.  The tears were not sorrowful however, they were tears of joy.  A joy that comes from receiving the most meaningful of gifts despite having done absolutely nothing to deserve it.  This movie reminded me and reinforced the beauty and joy of God's wonderful grace.

God isn't just good, God is amazing.

It would be a mistake to put this film into the feel good, beating the odds, underdog David vs Goliath pile, because Overcomer is so much more.  This movie is about life, I can think of no better way to phrase it.  And a central theme of every life is struggle, everybody struggles at one time or another.

In this film all the characters struggle, and if you've struggled with life (has anyone not) then I encourage you to go and see it.  If you're open to having your heart and soul touched, this movie has a very good chance of reaching you:

Some YouTube movie recommendations

I still don't have cable or satellite at my residence, so the internet remains the chief source of entertainment.  Thanks to the resident love goddess however we now have a modern flat screen thingie. LCD or LED, or is it LSD?  No wait, that's acid, never mind.

Anyway,whatever it is, there's a cable that hooks up to the computer which allows us to watch these movies on the semi-big screen.  

I've already shared some good old TV shows like WKRP in Cincinatti that are availabe on YouTube, now I will share a few classic and awesome movies.

I realize that there are many "youngins" out there who think there's no such thing as a good movie made in a year starting with 19.  I of course will beg to differ, in fact four out of five of the movies I'm going to recommend pre-date my existence on the planet.  

I'm not going to embed them the way I usually do, or provide a hyperlink.  Instead I will just provide the URL and you can cut and paste it.   The reason is because I find a lot of good movies seem to get removed, probably because they were uploaded without permission.  Oh, if you don't know how to cut and paste the URL then you're even more of a Luddite than I am, and you have no business even using a computer.  So turn it off now.

The Great Escape :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UBuMBx3Sn8&feature=g-hist

This movie is an absolute classic, about WWII prisoners escaping from a POW camp.  Based on a true story, the plan was to blitz 250 prisoners out in one night.

West Side Story:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO82t4ViZl4

If you are a fan of musicals then this one is for you.  The language is dated certainly  "Daddy-O" and I doubt anyone ever used the word "buggin", as in....'we own the entire buggin' street'.  Its Romeo and Juliet meet NYC street gangs, with the Jets and Sharks taking the place of the Montagues and Capulets.  

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCAaEbCDovQ

Interracial marriages are nothing unusual now, my wife is originally from Sri Lanka.  But back in the 60s at the height of the civil rights movement, well things were different.  This awesome movie stars one of my favourite actors, Spencer Tracy.  Of course with Sideny Pottier and Katherine Hepburn in it as well, there's no shortage of star power.

Twelve Angry Men:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0NlNOI5LG0

Starring Henry Fonda this is the film adaptation of a great play that has twelve men arguing in the jury room over the guilt or innoncence of a young man charged with the murder of his father.  I love Henry Fonda's voice and demeanor, that calm but serious tone he effected so well.

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All four of those movies can be viewed in their entirity without interruption.  I will suggest one more that has to be viewed in 11 installments.  That's maybe not a bad thing as it breaks things up if you need a bathroom or snack break.

Creator:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng-HbBZEbX0&feature=g-hist

Peter O'Toole is a brilliant scientist dedicated to cloning, or as they refer to it in the movie "growing" his dead wife.  Muriel Hemmingway is awesome as is M*A*S*H star David Odgen Stiers better known as Charles.  

If you have some time over the Thanksgiving holiday, hook up the TV to your computer and enjoy some great classics before they get removed. 

If you know of some others I'd love to hear about them, you can leave a comment or send me an email.

Taking in Biebermania with the Princess Raspberry

Biebermania, Bieber-Fever...if you're the parent of a young girl chances are you've heard of Canada's newest and biggest singing sensation. Yesterday I went with my daughter (Princess Raspberry) to take in the Justin Bieber 3-D movie, 'Never Say Never'.

I had my opinions on this Stratford kid before going, many seeded by her older brother, my son Buddy. I knew of the youtube connection and assumed this Ontario teen was something of an overnight success...good looking, decent set of pipes, a couple little dance steps. He uploads a few songs onto the net and THEN BAM, he's a major recording artist.

My preconceived notions, it seems, could not have been more wrong.

One of my Dad's favourite bromides is that there are no overnight successes. That many major stars toil in obscurity for years before getting their big break. At just sixteen years of age one might be excused for thinking Bieber is an exception to this rule...but he isn't.

This is a bio-pic and it starts with videos of Justin at 2 or 3 years of age banging away on the drums, not long thereafter there's home videos of him playing the guitar...one far too big for him. By 12 he's already busking on the streets of downtown Stratford, performing in a local Idol competition and placing second.

Justin Bieber was no overnight success, it just seems that way. He started working his way to stardom from the moment he stoped using diapers...maybe before.

Even after he'd been discovered record labels weren't convinced, apparently it took a youtube video with Usher to seal the deal and convince them he was marketable without a media machine like Disney backing him.

And still the kid kept working hard. Apparently radio stations weren't too keen on playing his music, so he started going all over North America to radio stations far and wide, guitar in hand. That certainly helped, but I think the hundreds of screaming girls outside of their stations helped more.

Being just 16 Justin has grown up with the internet and social media. I don't see it as some might, that he exploited social media like youtube to become a star. For today's youth, its just the way things are done.

Justin Bieber had tools at his disposal teen idols of previous generations didn't. Michael Jackson, Donny Osmond, Elvis Presley never had twitter to connect directly with their fans. When he was just getting started, going to a radio stations for interviews, he'd tweet it. He wasn't a big star, just a gnat in the music industry trying to make a name for himself, but he had die hard and loyal fans. Girls would descend on the radio station with their screams and their signs.

The stations didn't have to promote him, he could do it all by himself, with just a cell phone.

Needless to say, I enjoyed the movie...although Raspberry enjoyed it more. This was my first ever 3-D movie so that made it cool, and from what I hear its already number one at the box office.

Is Justin Bieber just a flash in the pan? Maybe, but I wouldn't bet against him being around for a long time. That's actually the whole theme behind the movie, and the reason its called 'Never Say Never'.

If your son or daughter told you they wanted to be a major pop star, one so famous they could sell out Madison Square Garden in less than half an hour...what would you say? I'm betting a lot of parents would say: "That's a nice dream but its not realistic".

Justin Bieber tells his fans to follow their dreams, that anything is possible, to Never Say Never.

Its a pretty good message for kids, and adults too.


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Haven't seen The Hannah Montana Movie? If you have a young daughter you will

My daughter is 4, so like a lot of parents I took her to see the new Hannah Montana movie on Friday...opening night. We got there half an hour early, and still ended up about 8 rows from the front, and off to the side to boot. If this little review comes across as a tad on the harsh side, please realize that its probably the result of my aching neck.

Not that my opinion counts for anything, to a pre-teen girl it will be as meaningful as my political commentary...but none the less here goes. I'll start with what I liked, seeing as it amounted to one scene. The 'Hoedown Throwdown' song is a toe tapper and Princess Raspberry (my 4 year old) was doing her best to: 'Pop it, lock it, polka dot it'....she got a little lost with the zig-zag and shuffling in diagonal...but it was cute as all get out.

I've seen enough of the show to understand the concept, Hannah and Miley, best of both worlds, teen sensation gets to lead an ordinary life with her dual persona....but this movie tries to make Hannah out as something of a super hero. Like Spider-Man fighting Doc Oc, Miley gives a concert and removes her wig (big gasp)....she can't do Hannah anymore. But the crowd tells her the world needs Hannah Montana, and that they'll keep her secret. The world needs Hannah Montana??? Why!?!? Of course I know why, this was the best the writers could do when trying to come up with a story line for a sure fire box office smash.

But rave review or total hatchet job, it doesn't matter. Every girl aged 3 to 13 is going to go see this movie...and many of the older ones as well. My 10 year old son was there as well, and he secretly liked the movie...just don't tell his friends. If your daughter or niece isn't yet old enough to go her own then there's a good chance you'll be going along too...like it or not.

Actually it wasn't that bad, I've seen worse...Underdog springs immediately to mind. Besides, if it wasn't for Hannah Montana who among us would remember Billy Ray Cyrus aside from trivia buffs? Oh, if you want to practice the "Hoedown Throwdown" here's a video clip...nothing will turn your princess of a song quicker than seeing her parents trying to shake it like its 1999.



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