MOVIE REVIEW: The Rift

 

When an experimental submarine is lost, the designer joins the rescue mission looking for it. What they find is a secret that boggles the mind. This film, made in 1990, was the product of a Spanish studio that made it to the US under the title Endless Descent. It stars Jack Scalia, Deborah Adair, and Ray Wise. Though the production value is low and the script is sometimes a little repetitive, this movie has everything in it that makes for a excellent sci-fi/horror flick. There are mutant monsters, a secret government lab, and a conspiracy of silence that someone will kill to keep intact. The cast is great at making due with what little they have in dialogue, and the action is enough to overlook the rubber monsters that jump out at every turn. With no gore, no erotica, and very little strong language, this is an entertaining enough feature that even young children will like it for family night.

BOOK REVIEW: The Bhagavad Gita by Anonymous

 

This is classic Hindu literature that is actually part of a larger work called Mahabharata. It is the narrative of a conversation between an Indian prince and the god Krishna, and is written in poetic form. It puts forward the duality of the individual self and the god self within each being, and the concept of reincarnation. It also asks its adherents to meditate solely to lose their individuality and embody only the god self, with absence of all emotion or desire.

While I respect this book as being extremely important to the Hindu religion and its followers, I have a problem with the idea of paradise being premised on the total loss of the individual. In my opinion, how can one look forward to a time of bliss when all ability to enjoy it has been taken away? Isn’t paradise supposed to be the one place where someone can be happy and contented, not an emotionless lump that simply sits and accepts their surroundings or is merely an infinitely small part of a greater whole? The individual has to be whole and complete to be able to fully appreciate a state of being where conflict and suffering are absent. For this reason, I still prefer a God that accepts the full individual and loves them just as they are without any meditation or work on their part needed.

MOVIE REVIEW: Behemoth

 

This is a 2011 film about a monster that lives in a mountain and the people from the small town nearby that find themselves in a fight to stop it from destroying the world. Concentrated on one family in particular, this has strong mythological links, including a man who, like the legendary Cassandra, tries to warn those around him that something terrible is about to happen but is largely ignored. The special effects are really good and the screenplay, especially building up to the first complete sighting of the monster, is very well done. But the real gem of this is William B. Davis, who made his mark playing the Cancer Man in the television series X-Files, as the pathetic, haunted college professor who is the only one who believes that horrible things are about to happen and is not listened to, even by his own family, because of his recent bout with depression following his wife's death. Made for the small screen, this has no erotica, very little strong language, and no gore. For anyone looking for a decent monster movie to show the kids on family night, this is it.

BOOK REVIEW: The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis

 

This is the fifth book of the Narnia series of books about a magical land where a huge Lion presides over talking animals and mythological creatures. Into this land four brothers and sisters have been taken to rid the land of evil and become its royalty. This story, however, takes place in the land of Calormen, which is to the south of Narnia, and involves a young boy who runs away from the fisherman who raised him rather than be sold as a slave. With him is a Talking Horse that was stolen from Narnia when it was young, and together they find themselves the only ones who can warn the Narnians that Calormen is about to attack them. In the process they learn their own worth and a little humility.

Though fifth to be published, this is chronologically the third story in the timeframe of Narnia. The author was best known as one of the leading Christian apologists in the 20th century and this novel has definite Christian overtones. However, it is also a great adventure story as a boy who has never had anything in his life, not even love, finds he is more than he ever dreamed he could be. With enough action and tense moments to keep the reader spellbound, this is a definite must for fantasy fans and young people of all ages.

MOVIE REVIEW: Stardust

 

In the town of Wall there is a border protecting entrance to a magical world. A young man dares to enter that world and meets a beautiful girl. They spend a night together and, nine months later, the baby he fathered is left for him at the portal. Fast forward 18 years, and the child has now grown into a young man. He also dares to enter the magical kingdom to retrieve a fallen star for the girl he wants to marry. Unknown to him, the king of the magical land has decreed that the one of his three sons that can find a lost ruby will be the one to inherit the throne. The fallen star, now a beautiful young woman, holds the ruby, and thus becomes the target for the murderous trio of brothers. Add to this an evil witch who wants to eat the heart of the star to obtain eternal youth, and a gay pirate who captains a ship that sails through the clouds, and you have one great romp of a movie.

Claire Dane stars as the fallen star and Charlie Cox plays the young man, but the real treasure of this film is the supporting cast, which includes Michelle Pfeiffer as the evil witch and Robert De Niro as the gay pirate. While there is plenty of sword and sorcery action in this, as would be expected in a fantasy, there is no erotica (unless you count De Niro dancing around in a tutu) and very little strong language. This is highly recommended for family night, or anyone who just loves a wonderful time at the movies.

BOOK REVIEW: What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do by David Jeremiah

 

The author of this book is a staple on many Christian radio stations and broadcasting networks. Head pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California, and president of a Christian college connected to the church, David Jeremiah is known as a man who faced the reality of his own mortality when, in 1994, he was diagnosed with lymphoma and had to undergo stem cell transplant surgery to save his life. That experience is one he draws on in many of his sermons and his broadcast ministry, Turning Point.

In this book the reader is taken through the book of James, using the scriptures to teach things like what to do when a person is not feeling confident, when even small decisions seem overwhelming, when we are being pressured to do the wrong thing, and other dilemmas that life always seems to put in our paths. I do have to warn anyone who listens to Jeremiah’s radio or television programs on an ongoing basis that this might seem like simply reading a series of his sermons. However, for those who are not familiar with Dr. Jeremiah and are looking for answers to help them through difficult times, this is an excellent read.

MOVIE REVIEW: He Went That Way

 

This is a low-key thriller based on the true story of an animal trainer who had a run in with a serial killer while on a cross country drive.

Starring Zachary Quinto (of Star Trek fame) as Jim and Jacob Elordi as Bobby, the story follows the two on their drive across country after Jim picks up Bobby, who is hitchhiking, only to learn that his young passenger is a homicidal maniac that has already murdered two men. Jim is transporting a trained chimpanzee named Spanky and is able to strike up an uneasy truce with Bobby that will allow Jim to stay alive until they part ways in Chicago. Quinto's character runs a gamut of emotions from stunned terror to grudging respect while Elordi maintains the tension of a seething volcano about to erupt at any moment. While not recommended for children due to some violent hostage scenes, this is still worth the watch, and all the more chilling to know that it actually happened.