intersections

24: To watch or not to watch?

I've been watching the TV series, 24, since it started 6 years ago. But now, with season 7 starting in one week, and after hearing an increasing chorus of criticism that 24 amounts to "torture on TV," I'm wondering, should Christians be watching 24?

What does it mean to watch it? Is it necessarily an endorsement? What does it mean to not watch it? Also, in my possession, from Blockbuster.com, are two films I'm planning to watch this month: Paradise Now (seems like a good time to watch this) and Taxi to the Dark Side.

So, with one week to go before the start of season 7, I'm inviting you to weigh in. Do you plan to watch? Why or why not? Have you had a similar concern about 24?

Please leave your comments below and vote on the right sidebar.

Meeting Rabbi Lerner

Yesterday I had the privilege of hearing Rabbi Michael Lerner speak to a small group that gathered at a bookstore in West Hollywood. There may have been 20 of us packed into this small space. He spoke passionately about his book and the Network for Spiritual Progressives for nearly an hour. As he signed my book I told him I was a pastor in Hollywood and we spoke about ways in which Adventists have a natural affinity to the things he's talking about, separation of church and state, anti-militarism, peace, a society characterized by love and generosity rather than fear and control. I'm going to be blogging chapter by chapter through the Left Hand of God, so if you want, you can read along with me and comment and share what you're learning. Come on...you know you want to!

I also saw a documentary film that I've been really anxious to watch - Eugene Jarecki's, "Why We Fight". It was really outstanding. In LA it's playing on Sunset in West Hollywood, Pasadena and Santa Monica. If you're outside a major metropolitan area you probably can't find a theater that is showing it. But when it comes out of DVD you need to see this. I'll be writing more about this film in the near future.

 

Munich

I saw the new Stephen Spielburg film, Munich, yesterday. I can't say I exactly recommend it although there were powerful moments. It's difficult to sit through dozens of brutal asassination scenes to get to the gems. I came home and told my wife that the movie made me physically sick. Because I was less than a year old when the the actual events of the Munich Olympics took place, I'm not really in a position to say how "accurate" the details were but there were some lasting impressions worth passing on:

• The Israeli/Palestinian conflict is really complicated and messy and there are no easy solutions (otherwise someone would have found them by now).
• There is no way you can convince me that violence is a pathway to peace. Violence only begets more violence.
• Revenge does not quiet the anxiety in the human  heart. The only way to peace is through forgiveness. Revenge only yields nightmares and broken lives.
• I think it was Ghandi who said, "An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind." That should have been the subtitle of the movie. There are no "winners." Everyone loses.
• Not much has changed in the world in in 33 years.

Enter the Wardrobe

I can't resist! This movie was fantastic. You simply must see it! It's been several days since my wife and I stole away for 2+ hours and indulged ourselves in some of the most beautiful storytelling ever.

A friend of mine in Australia, Nathan Brown, asked me to write a review, which you can read here. It doesn't open in Australia until next week.

Go see the movie and tell me what you think.

God Sleeps in Rwanda

Last night (thanks to our friend Christina Attiken) my wife and I got to see a special screening of a documentary short entitled, God Sleeps in Rwanda. The film was shown at the Museum of Tolerance here in LA and the producer and co-director, Kimberlee Acquaro, spoke and answered questions. One neat side note to this film for our church is that the Rwandan lady who translated all the interviews - a woman named Norah Bagirinka and a survivor of the genocide - is a Seventh-day Adventist who fled to the US. Hollywood Church is looking forward to hosting a screening of this film along with a conversation with Norah and the filmmaker, Kimberlee. Watch this site and the Hollywood Adventist Church site for details on this rare film event.

27 Attend Screening

Last night we were thrilled to host 27 people from the HOllywood community who came out to watch Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Prices. It was the first day of a special week of nationwide, grass roots screenings. We had a great discussion afterwards as well. Oh yeah, and the popcorn was oh so yummy!!! Thanks, everyone, who came out and supported. Do your part and say no to Wal-Mart and push our elected officials to do the right thing and enforce corporate responsibility. Peace, out!

Walmart movie screening

We're screening this new Robert Greenwaldt documentary at our church on Sunday at 7:00 pm. I think we're going to get a good crowd from the buzz I'm hearing already. We'll have a great discussion afterwards about what we think of it. There is also a counter piece available online that I'll try to have available at the screening. Hope to see you there.

Read more about this at the Hollywood Church website or the movie's website.

I saw it first!

I am among the first to see Star Wars: Episode III. I'm really not the type. My friend had an extra ticket and so, on Thursday night, after falling asleep at 10:30 pm. I woke up at 11:00, drove 30 minutes to King of Prussia and watch this film from midnight until about 2:30 am. Then it took me 20 minutes to get out of the parking lot. It was like attending services at Willow Creek Community Church. Anyway, I had a terrible seat and it was terribly late and in spite of all that I thought it was really good. I'm looking forward to seeing it again when I'm awake. There were Biblical moments and not-so-biblical moments. All in all, very good entertainment!