Here’s this week’s Film Forum, covering Fantastic Four, Dark Water, March of the Penguins, and Rebound, along with several more War of the Worlds reviews… and the return of Michael Leary!
What's the verdict on "Fantastic Four"? The critics disagree.
July 14, 2005
I haven’t seen it yet, but I don’t see how it could be any better than The Incredibles. It’s a shame that a movie playing off of the archetype that The Fantastic Four comics cemented probably pulled it off better than the real thing.
I’m really trying to get excited about Fantastic Four but I just can’t. I really like the Commish but can’t stand Dark Angel. And, of course, I judge a movie but what actors make up the ensemble. I think it’ll go into the Daredevil, I’ve care to watch category.
ahhh, the words of a sage hippy guitarist.
the sad thing is, a lot of people eat that mess up, still. and, generally speaking, the masses don’t care to discriminate truth from hocus pooey.
though i still don’t understand why you spent so much energy blowing against sheryl crow…
Well, I review what I listen to. And, having enjoyed some of Crow’s stuff in the past… as bright, shiny, frivolous pop… I was interested in this one because I’d heard it was more reflective and thoughtful. So I thought I’d comment on it. Didn’t require much “energy,” just a coffee break and a quick rant. I think Crow should go back to bright, shiny, empty pop. Trying to be thoughtful didn’t do her any favors.
amen.
More surprising is the number of self-proclaimed Christians who hesitate to claim Jesus as the only way.
With all due respect folks, I am a christian but I do respect some of Santana’s words. I think God is much, much bigger than our human minds or spirits can understand, and I do think that other faiths will be seen in heaven, and as well as other spiritual points of view. Here’s an interpretation for you all………the bible says “God is Love” and Jesus says “No one comes to the Father but through me”, can be intepreted as “no one comes to the Father but through Love”. Love is seen and displayed in many faiths. How can we as christians be so full of ourselves to think that we are the only ones that will be sharing eternity with the great Creator. It’s time we christians get up off our arrogant “our way is the only way” chairs and have a little tolerance for other spiritual points of view.
And yes, I am one of those self-proclaimed christians who hesitate to point to Jesus as the only way. I guess I’m going to hell, according to my judgmental peers. Thank God Himself that he is more benevolent than many of His followers.
Funny how when he says religion, he seems to just be talking about Christianity. It’s obvious he has something against Christianity after saying that, and sees that Christians are full of the sh-t, that he says that the religion says people are full of.
Shar,
It’s funny that you are calling your’ “peers” judgemental, when in your post you are judging the people that you feel are judgmental, and taking the moral high ground. Your’ post is just an appeal to emotions.
I understand how as American Christians you guys can bent out of shape by words like this, but I also think you need to take into account the cultural context from which Santana is speaking. The institutionalized Catholicism of Central and South America have sucked the life out of church and state. The stranglehold of religion upon one’s cultural identity is virtually inescapable. And he’s right–there’s a *huge* difference between spirituality and religion. Perhaps not according to his specific definitions, but it’s an important distinction.
In response to Char’s comment:
It’s not Christians who made up the idea that ‘ours is the only way’. The entirety of the verse you quoted is: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by Me.” And it was Jesus himself who said it.
Different religions teach different, sometimes completely opposite things – and two opposite things cannot be true at once.
*Shar, sorry!
Pardon me, Shar, but the real [expletive] hits the fan your comment when you relegate Christianity to the status of one “spiritual point of view” among many. Is that what Christianity is? If Christianity is nothing but the collective ruminations of two millennia’s worth of churchgoers inspired by a really nice guy who did some cool stuff and then was crucified under Pilate, you might as well espouse your view. If, on the other hand, Christianity is about God’s perfect Self-revelation and saving Act in Christ, and the preservation of that perfect Self-revelation and extention of that Act in the Church, then you’ve rhetorically placed yourself on the far side of the fence. Christianity is not ours to define as we want to, but it has always understood itself as far more than a “spiritual point of view,” well-informed or otherwise.
In my first sentence, please insert the word “in” between “fan” and “your.” 🙂
shar,
those are strong words. sorry they’re woefully inadequate.
true, God is Love. but also, God is Sovereign. and God is Truth.
therefore, it would be unloving of us to let others continue in their ignorance in regards to the person and Godness and exclusivity of Christ.
Douglas, well said, well said and amen.
Well, I left this alone for a week, and actually expected all this response, and I’m not surprised. I can’t believe you people. If I were a non-christian I would be so turned away by your responses.
Yes, I might be judgmental in saying the things I did, and I may not be as educated as some of you, but all I know is that we need to be alot more tolerant of other faiths. Have you ever noticed that no other faith tries to push it’s beliefs on anyone else? And we “in love” as one of you stated should show them the “right way”? Wouldn’t that be an insult to a Buddhist or Muslim? We don’t win anyone over by telling them we’re right and they’re wrong.
It’s exactly this attitude by all of you that is turning people away, I think Santana had a very good point. And “religious” does tend to mean “christian” culture in North America.
Many christians these days should be ashamed of themselves, this is one of the reasons I’m reluctant to say I’m part of the christian movement nowadays. It’s strayed so far from Jesus’ teachings. I tell people that I believe in God and Jesus’ teachings which is a far cry from what is happening here. Yes, that was judgmental, too, but it’s funny how self-proclaimed Christ followers are so quick to judge (ie., insulting Santana as a “sage hippy guitarist” to quote jasdye) but as soon as someone judges them, their fur goes up and they get all defensive. Very interesing.
Sorry Jeffrey, if you’re reading this, but I think we all have the rights to our own personal view.
One more thing, the most ironic of all. I probably would agree with everyone of you as far as your view of what/who God is. Yes, He is sovereign, yes He is the only way, but what I’m trying to say is that we have such a limited view of who “He” is. Why can’t you all see this? What about the most remote areas of the earth who haven’t heard our version of the gospel? What about some child who has been brought up Buddhist or Hindu, are they doomed to be lost just because one of us hasn’t informed them of the “truth” as we see it?