THE MESSAGE OF CHRISTOPHER ROBIN: COME AWAY WITH ME

I went to see this movie with no real expectations, as I did not grow up watching much of the kids cartoon show, or reading the books.  For some reason however, I felt drawn to the theaters to see this film. That morning I awoke with some real life questions, and even had a conversation with God about them... questions about life that I found direct responses to in Christopher Robin.

With that piece of background information, I will skip ahead to sitting in the theater before the trailers rolled, where I said a prayer, asking “God to show me something through this film.” He more than answered that prayer, that’s for sure.

The film opens to reveal to us a day specific day in the Hundred Acre Wood, it is the day that Pooh and his friends have a farewell party for Christopher Robin. 

I was immediately lost in the Hundred Acre Wood as I watched this first scene of fuzzy creatures, Winnie the Pooh, Tiger, Piglet, Owl etc sitting around a party table, discussing how this was the day that Christopher Robin was leaving, and for where they knew not. You may recall this from the books, or the cartoon, but having no real Winnie the Pooh history, I was more oblivious than his friends as to “Where he was going” and “why he had to leave”. Through the conversation we discover that this is the day that C.R. is leaving childhood and all of his fantastical stuffed animal friends behind.

This movie is so nostalgic, even if you never were a big Winnie the Pooh fan, the feelings it evokes are those that any person who has taken the journey from Childhood to a becoming an Adult, can relate to. It makes us think about our own personal childhoods, and makes us ask the questions “When did we leave childhood behind? And why did we have to leave?”

The first conversation between Pooh and Christopher Robin touched my heart and made me think. Pooh goes on a private walk with Christopher after the cake is eaten, knowing that this is their last day together in the wood. They stop at a bridge overlooking the serene stream that flows under it. 

Here is where the boy and his stuffed bear friend talk about what their favorite things to do are, and Christopher says that his favorite thing to do is "Nothing"...to which Pooh responds something like, “Ahh yes, because I often find that when I am doing nothing I find myself doing the very best of something.”

It made me think about what God has personally been showing me, and that is that I don’t have to constantly be creating, or doing something “productive” to be happy. Sometimes God is just looking for us to get to that place of emptiness, where we no longer feel like life is “living us” but we are “living it”. What is one of the things about being a child that we miss when we are adults? Their freedom... I believe that deep inside we envy it. 

Kids aren’t so tied down to responsibilities, pressured to meet deadlines, and they are less concerned about what other people think. They seem to skip through their days, taking everything as it comes.  I believe that as we grow, and have to take on new responsibilities, we find ourselves walking a tight rope of fear and becoming more performance driven. This is a part of life that seems inevitable, considering the weight of life. But there is something deep inside that desires that relationship of trust, like we once had in the garden, when life was less complicated, and we didn’t have to work so hard to get by.
Children represent this innocence. It is an innocence that the world is trying to steal, and this movie portrays beautifully.

From this moment onward, I saw Winnie the Pooh in the light of being a Savior Character, and honestly some of the emotions I was feeling made it hard to breathe. I felt overwhelmed by the presence of God in the movie theater.  I’m not a big crier, and I tried to hold the tears inside, but a few found a way to break through my barricade and stream down my face. I wiped them away quickly, as I didn’t want to be embarrassed, as my Mom and her friend were sitting in the seats beside me. But I’ve never felt so touched by a movie before. 
It seemed like every word that came out of Pooh’s mouth was deep revelation for me. 

Something that God has been walking me through these last few months is “disconnecting” and “living in the moment”, “awareness”, and “doing less” to “experience more”. In this season I have had my moments of feeling less productive and purposeless. But this film spoke to me as if God was saying “When you allow yourself just to BE, when you lay down your life for me, you will find it"…Sometimes it is in the most unlikely season that the most wonderful things happen…When we empty out our buckets, feeling, like there’s nothing left, when everything seems still...then the very best shows up and the most awesome adventures take place.

Something amazing about seeing Winnie the Pooh as a Christ/Holy Spirit character: Where the road ends and another begins…God is calling us to “be” to “come away” with Him. When we simply enjoy His presence, let the world fade away and not let work consume us…we find that what might seem like “doing nothing” can be the door to the best of something.

The Power of Simple Love

Much like Christopher we can lose our way, get caught up in the distractions of life, and get pulled away from our truest source of happiness,and that is communion with God. 

I like this movie so much, because it is a movie that reminds us of the power of simple love. We grow up, put down childish things, and yet we shouldn't lose our childlike faith. 

The love of Winnie the Pooh for Christopher is so moving; It would seem that he has supernatural powers.No matter the distance, Pooh able to reach C.R. when he needs Him most. It reminds me of God, who is never late, but always on time, to reach us when we need Him most. 

A few of my favorite lines from the movie, is when Pooh and Christopher meet for the first time since his childhood, and Mr. Robin asks Winnie "How did you recognize me?!" Pooh responds, "You look the same". "I look nothing like I used to."
"It is still you, looking out." I love how Pooh hasn't changed, and yet though C.R. has changed so much, Pooh still sees the child inside. It makes me think that God is this way, just like a parent, He sees who we are inside and remembers who we were meant to be, even when life gets cloudy, His plans for us remain the same, and no matter how far we stray, His compassion and forgiveness is constant.

It is through hanging out with his old friends, that Christopher Robin is changed. Pooh never corrects him, but Christopher becomes more and more like the child he once was, and the Christopher Robin that Pooh always cherished. 
And when I say this, I don't mean that he throws responsibility to the wind, nor leaves his adult life and family behind....but rather that his perspective and attitude towards everything changes.

This is the same way it is when we spend time in God's presence, we are changed, remade, refreshed, and our fears flee as we let Him rub off on us. We become innocent once again.
This is why I think that this movie in many ways is a Redemption Tale.

God Never Forgets

In the beginning of the film when C.R. is leaving the Hundred Acre Wood, Pooh tells Christopher that He hopes he will not forget him. Christopher promises that he will not. In that scene I was reminded of Peter's interaction with Jesus before He went to die. Peter insists that he will not deny Christ, and yet when things get tough...he does.

This theme is the same with Christopher and Pooh. When Pooh visits him as an adult in London, he informs Robin that his friends have gone missing and asks him for his help to find them. Christopher says that he hasn't thought of Pooh nor his friends in many years, to which W.P. responds "I thought of you every day".

This touched me, because it made me think of how much God loves us and remembers all of our adventures with him...How he thinks of us every day, and longs for us to interact with him...and yet we forget about Him. The love of Christ is so deep, so wide, so soft, so innocent, so pure...Pooh's uncomplicated, and un-demanding love for Christopher was a reflection to me of God's own love for us. Let us not deny God's love, or ignore it, when it awaits our daily response.

We Let Go of God

In this movie there is a scene where Christopher Robin gets very frustrated at Pooh. The two of them are trudging through a foggy Hundred Acre Wood, trying to find Pooh's friends. C.R. has given Winnie the Pooh a compass to guide them North, but Pooh never looks down at the compass to check if they've gone off track, so the two of them walk around in circles for hours. Christopher Robin really takes it out on Pooh, while our bear stands there very contained and still. In his harsh comments he says something about having to let go of the things that hold you back, in other words he is saying that time and his work is important than hundred acre wood relationships.To Which Pooh responds, "Did you let me go?"
This is also something that I feel like we have to ask ourselves...When things get tough, do we blame God, or do we get closer to Him? God's love for us is pure, and sometimes it is in the the most  frustrating moments of our lives, the seasons where we feel like God is leading us in circles, that we find that what matters most is not a physical destination, our own timing, but of course character grown and learning to trust Him.
God is all powerful, and He nothing is impossible for Him. We sometimes imagine that His thoughts are our thoughts, and His ways our ways...but his thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and His ways more perfect than our ways.

Becoming Like A Child
Christopher Robin has allowed the cares of this world to detour Him from simple faith. I feel like that is something that we can relate to.
He has to humble himself in order to grow. He has to bend low, stick his head in a tiny door in a tree, get stuck, fall down, and in some ways act carefree as a child to get back on track.
Often times we follow after the world's way and try to climb the man man ladder to success, only to discover that there isn't any true joy in this. The way to the Kingdom of God is truly through becoming as a little child and following His heart.

"Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of God." - Jesus, Matthew 18:3

And again He says, "Forbid not the little children to come unto me, for of such, is the kingdom of God." Matthew 19:14

For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Matthew 23:12 NIV

Thanks for reading my thoughts on the message of Christopher Robin.
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Ghost in a Shell: Movie Lessons

This is quite a disturbing film, at least for my personality. It is pretty heavy. It's definitely not a refreshing weekend watch. But although my stomach felt like hurling I decided it would be worth my time to suffer through. After all, it had pretty good acting, an interesting story line, and I'm all into underlining messages you can find in unique Sci Fi. 
Honestly, the reason I couldn't pull myself away was that it seemed to me that this movie is more than meets the eye. I would go so far as to say it is probably prophetic.

The story takes places in a futuristic Japan where technology has become more integrated with humanity than ever before. There are a few concept similarities to Robo Cop and the movie Source Code, and I can say this without giving away any Spoilers. 
The main character is a robot with a human brain, created by a corporation that is all about human/robot advancement. The idea was to create a robot with a soul, hence the movie title "Ghost in a Shell". The film is about this character who is more or less commissioned as an advanced law enforcer and body hunter for this prestigious company.

The problem is, "Major" as she is called, doesn't have any memory of her old life, only the new, empty one, that she leads. And she hates it. The questions of her purpose, true identity, and mission unfold as the story progresses before our eyes.
This may seem like a pretty simple plot, and of course there is a Villain....or two...But to be honest, I believe this movie is not so much an action flick as advertised, it felt more like a psychological experiment to me. It was a real trip-pity trip.

There's nothing so weird as seeing a brain enter a robotic body, it makes me cringe every time. It's super disgusting. To me this movie raises all sorts of questions, and I felt like the screenwriter/filmmakers were curious about what sort of reactions they would get because they knew that they were creating a glimpse into the future we will one day experience.
In this movie, we are the souls weaving in and out of the scenes that flash before our eyes, and asking the deep questions that this being evokes. This movie speaks to our moral conscience more than anything else.

Thoughts from my Ghost: 

In Ghost in a Shell, the scientists that work with Major are always reminding her that she is more than a robot, she is still a human, because she has a brain, which they believe houses her soul/ghost. 
I think this film is super spiritual, as are most SC FI stories. It's not since I watched a holocaust story, that I felt these kind of emotions that this flick brought to the surface. 
But why? I was reminded that we are God's creation, made to represent His glory, and the works of the enemy are to destroy our view of ourselves and our Creator. Because when you think about it, the holocaust was pure evil, and the forms of torture that went on were intentional disrespect against God's people, down to the tattoo markings they received. 
What this character experiences is pure torture, to separate a brain from it's body, is horrific. Beyond obvious reasons and disrespect to God's perfect creation; a person's spirit/ghost is not just housed in the brain, it is housed in the entire body, and looks exactly like the outward shell. 

The main character feels soulless, despite these reminders of her mental humanity. She rushes into things, like a rebel, which constantly results in her destruction and being pieced back together. 
She lives in a world where body modification is all the hype and fashion. People are getting robotic limbs, not because they lost their human ones, but because they want to be more efficient in their jobs, or more interesting to the opposite sex. In this fallen futuristic world, the body remains the focus, more than the soul. Most of the modifications are not pretty, nor natural in appearance. 

* We are fearfully and wonderfully made. We are unique beings, both natural and supernatural. Psalm 139: 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I will praise you, because I am fearfull and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth, there your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book, even before one of them came to be.

* Man can only imitate what God has already mastered. And playing God leads to destruction, as we have seen over and over again in history. The problem is that the business owners, politicians, artists and college graduates of our society view success as coming away from the simple beauty and creating something more fantastical. What if happiness came from embracing and becoming more aware of the beauty that already exists, instead of draining nature's resources only to create something that feeds their pockets or egos? The earth is dying, people's souls are going into hiding, and yet we think that we have a more advanced world? I do not see an entirely positive evolution.

* We all long for a state of immortality/incorruptibility,  to "evolve" beyond our "fallen man". This is a desire for our "glorified bodies" which we will receive in the next life. These "shells"/bodies are beautiful, but our spirits won't always be confined to them.
1 Corinthians 15: 53-55 says: For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal body will put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall the saying be brought to pass that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your sting? O grace, where is your victory?.

* Without belief in our true value and purpose we are "useless", but through love we grow and find our vision. Love means sometimes getting our hands dirty, or putting our heart on the line. The world has lost the true meaning of love, and are ignorant as how to receive and give love; they are afraid of it. Love is patient, love is kind, love is long suffering, love thinks the best, love respects, love hopes, love forgives, love covers a multitude of sins, love means more than acceptance, it sometimes means embracing the unknown. 
It is so important that we love ourselves, and this can only be done when we understand what it means to love God, who first loved us. We can only properly love ourselves, when we understand our value, and that value comes from our identity in God. 

* It is important for us to be healthy in mind, body, and spirit. Most humans don't recognize that they have a soul, anymore. They don't understand the inward workings of the heart. In a world that is becoming more and more dependent in technology, one cannot help but wonder if we are losing some of our humanity to it. People no longer have meaningful conversations, or connect as easily on an intimate level. As relationships are replaced with social media friends, and people converse less and less....a part of the human brain is not only stifled, but handicapped. We were created with emotions, that are meant to be realized, and used to determine the state of the soul. People are no longer recognizing symptoms of unhealthiness. 

* Man wasn't created to be alone, or to feel alone.
The world is becoming a lonelier place, as people disconnect from the communities around them, and plug into a world of technology that focuses mainly on the outward appearance more than the condition of the heart. People are no longer embracing the realities of humanity, but rather trying to create a world where everything is flawless, and emotions are weakness. It is in our humanity that we find our true purpose, not by disconnecting or ignoring it.  We are reminded that as humans we long to belong and were made to feel a part of something bigger than ourselves.

* We are all God's creation/Children whom He loves personally. We are not some meaningless beings, we are beautiful creatures, with a divine destiny. We are super-wonderful, intricate, living vessels made in the image of our Creator. God loves us so much more than we imagine, and His love is not shifty like the world's. He made us the way that we are, because we represent so much spiritually in our physicality. The Devil would like us to think we are expendable and unloved

* We no longer live in yesterday, but in today.
The cool thing about this film, is that it reminds us through several lines of dialogue, that we shouldn't be so confined to the memories of who we used to be, because our identity and value is more found in our inherit humanity than in our positions, talents, or deeds. All humans deserve respect and love, because they are humans, eternal beings, and living breathing reflections of the image of God. God is the "beginning and the end" and at the heart of our DNA. True "Science" observes God in mankind and points back to Him.

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities- His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what he has made, so that people are without excuse.

Thank you for reading my thoughts on this movie, Ghost in the Shell is rated PG 13, Directed by Rupert Sanders, Based on the Comic Book, and stares Scarlett Johansson.

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The Greatest Showman: The Greatest Show

Ahhh, I enjoyed this movie so much! After being much dissapointed with the last Star Wars film, and not expecting much from another modern made musical...I went into the movie not hoping for much, and leaving the theater happily surprised at the beautiful cinematic masterpiece I'd just witnessed. 

This is a film I could most definitely watch a hundred times. It is refreshing, vibrant, and original.
Call me obsessed but I've seen it twice already, and am planning a third viewing before it leaves the theaters for good!

What made this film a beauty, was that it delivered EVERYTHING you could want from a Classic Musical. Good acting. Good Choreography. Good Vocals. Good Story. Good Pace. Good Screenplay. Good Music. Good Visuals. Good Ending. Good Editing. Good Characterizations. Good Vibes.

It is a movie that the world needs right now, because it it is positive. We don't see a lot of positivity  coming from the cinemas, or media in general anymore. I hope that this movie wins a load of awards, because frankly, it earned them.

This is one reason I would be surprised if it did win them...Because it is in many cinematic ways a Disney movie, and an safe movie. And Disney movies are never taken seriously.

 It touches on some deep issues, and yet it doesn't leave you walking away feeling vexed. It covers the overly covered topics such as Prejudice, Class Differences, Forbidden Love, but it doesn't leave us trampled by them. 

I'd say perhaps the only thing I found unsettling thing about this film first time around was the performance by the HIGHLY SKILLED singer Keala Settle, who is playing "The Bearded Woman". The performance I refer to is, "This is Me" where the character is stomping around wearing a bossum busting corset dress while singing to the top of her lungs... The clash of beard, busts, and dance choreography is a bit...MUCH. But, it's not the whole movie, it's ONE song.

However, the song is catchy, just as epic as the rest, and isn't in it's self a raunchy song.

Yet, I think if you listen to the song and watch the scene through the lens of present social issues , you can definitely see the connotation. I don't think it's controversial, but I do think it's dangerous for those who are being taught that "Anything Goes". 

Before long we're going to have a social problem, and I frankly think we already have one...If you had physical deformations back in the day, you were considered "A Freak", but it wasn't something that folks could help, they were essentially BORN THAT WAY. 

Now a days most of the deformations are physiological, and because people refuse to treat people based as their sexual preferences, or multiple personalities, quirks, they're considered hateful. 

Thinking about another character's struggle in the story...I was reminded that people need to realize that there is a difference between hate and disagreement . People should be given grace to have their own opinions, and just because they conflict with your own, or aren't fully formed truth, does NOT mean you should point a finger and call them wrong. 

This story reminds us of the simple fact that "We're all trying to get ahead in this Life". But it also reminds us that Family is more important than earthly riches, and that the time we have on this earth is so short, and that true love takes sacrificial acts...The cool thing about the main Character is that he actually grows deeply in the film, yes, believe it or not, there IS character growth in this film...and although the main character battles with temptation, he does NOT give in to it, which is a nice change for us who are sick of seeing cheats being portrayed as innocents on the big screen. At the end of the day Family comes first, and is considered the greatest treasure of all. It's a good message.

So go see this movie if you like musicals. It's not rough, it's not gritty, and even though it is based on Barnum's Life and the creation of the circus, it is only "loosely based" on the facts, and is IN FACT mostly a good fantasy. Perhaps that is why it's put down in some places on the internet...people were expecting this musical to be the biography of P.T. Barnum's Life, and it's not, it's just a show, and a great one at that. People are the ones mistaken, and the ones who had false expectations. It's not a show to satisfy the nit-picking "realism" critics, but it sure is a graceful piece of art.

When I watched the movie in theaters I was transported by the first song that began to play. My favorites? Definitely A Million Dreams, Never Enough, and Rewrite the Stars.

A Million Dreams is the song that reminds us what it was like to be a child, full of imagination and wonder. Barnum, and his wife as kids steal the focus of the audience, as they explore an abandoned mansion. It reminds us of what joy there is in seeing beauty in the neglected and seemingly insignificant. If you can in-vision it, you can make it. 

When you're young, anything is possible...but if you hold onto your imagination, creativity, and work hard your dreams can still come true. 

I think this song is my top favorite because it's the song of a dreamer and I can personally relate to it.

Never Enough is the most moving...and literally you could have heard a pin drop in the theater after the incredible performance by the stunning Rebecca Ferguson, who nails the emotion of the scene so well. However, the vocal recording is by a lady (Loren Allred) who deserves a tour of her own! It's definitely a scene that will give you chill bumps. 

Rewrite the Stars is the love story theme. It gets stuck in your head, and you'll never want to quit singing it...I personally don't think I can stop...I just need the lyrics so I can stop re-singing the same two lines haha. It is beautiful, but the scene it's self is breathtaking because let's face it, the actors (Zac Efron and Zendaya) are captivating physically and their flying around on trapeze! It almost makes you believe that with love anything is possible, such as flying...And this isn't CGI folks! Some of the choreography is so fabulous in the film, that the first time around I found myself wondering if I could trust my eyes, but yes, from what I have researched it's mostly pretty legit. 

(P.S. I find I now have a crush on Zac Efron. Yes, that boy from High School Musical...

Except he's all grown up now, and age has been kind to him.)

I don't recommend this movie for those under 13 just due the level of understanding and the sometimes revealing costumes. But it's got a beautiful original soundtrack, and you can tell the actors worked hard to be in this production. The music is far more interesting and memorable than that of La La Land a musical that came out in theaters last year, brought to you by the same lyrical writers. La La Land is the opposite of The Greatest Showman, it is a film that promises much, delivers little. Fake Dancing, Boring Story, and Sad Ending. Not to say that I didn't find it unique, because I did. But heck it was about time that a positive musical hit the big screens again...I guess I didn't know I was starving for a good, old fashioned, musical. *Happy Sigh* 

 I can't help thinking that film titles should be switched between the latest Star Wars film and this Musical...The Greatest Jedi (in honor of the Luke Skywalker we used to know and love) And The Last Showman,  because the Barnum and Bailey Circus is in fact, NO MORE,  and because Hugh Jackman is one of the greatest Showman of our time, and because I know not many more Musicals like this will hit the big screen.... Maybe I'm just being eccentric, but after looking at the reviews on rotten tomatoes, I am reminded that not everyone is looking for a positive escape from the mundane. People are putting down the film because they heard someone say 

"This film fails because the real Barnum's life was more interesting than this petty musical", please, go smoke your pipe and leave us folks to have a little fun. ( It's because of people like this, that we no longer have the Circus!)

 Hardly anyone knows the biography of P.T. Barnum, and I'll tell you right now, it wasn't at least bit as entertaining as The Greatest Showman. But if anything, this movie's release might make you look it up now.

After all critics, real life isn't a musical, and if you think we wanted another Les Mis like the 2012 version or to come away singing "Life killed the dream I dreamed" than you are sadly mistaken. For once some of us would like just to be entertained. I think people take everything so "seriously" these days that they're losing the ability to be entertained by music, trapeze, dancing...those things that people used to pay to see before technology zapped out our attention spans. 

Anyhow, I'm just happy that they released this entertaining movie, instead of the biography of P.T. Barnum. Not to say that I wouldn't watch a movie about him if ever there was made a serious drama about him...But I can't promise I'd enjoy it.

Now all I'm looking forward to is owning the soundtrack...and having it on DVD, this way I can watch The Greatest Showman every weekend hehe. 

Star Wars - The Last Jedi Review ( BEWARE SPOILERS)

Perspective...the way we see things...our point of view.
That is what Star Wars 'The Last Jedi' is about...
Yes, surprisingly the Last Jedi is not necessarily about it's characters hearts, emotions, hopes, fears, destinies... And it is definitely not about the audiences hearts, emotions, hopes, fears, or desires.

                                                 (The Last Jedi is all about Perspective.) 

I never thought the day would come when I would be able to share something about Star Wars with an audience, that they may not know. But after watching the last Jedi, and really thinking about it, I realized that the beauty of perspective is actually sharing it. And if we don't share the past with the present generation, we truly are doing them an injustice. The truth is, Star Wars has changed, just like society has changed, and as hard as it may be for some to believe, the changes we see in a decade are more than we used to see in 50+years. This is the power of technology.

For those of us dedicated Star Wars fans...We clearly remember how 13 years ago, Revenge of the Sith squeezed our hearts when it revealed the yellow eyes of the fading Anakin Skywalker, the supposed "Chosen One" just before he gives in to the darkness and kills the innocents in the Jedi Temple. It breaks our hearts, as it does Padme's when her beloved husband begins to choke the very woman he has sworn to protect and vowed to save.
 Yes, Revenge of the Sith more than any other SW film made plain to us the truth about the "Dark Side".
The Force is merely a power/energy that can be used for either evil or good, and to stay in the light is at the heart of what it means to be a Jedi and to give in to the dark is what it means to fall from grace.
You may not be a prequel fan, but in my philosophical opinion, Revenge of the Sith is the most pure in it's message. Whether you like the acting or not, or find the scenes a bit choppy, the truth about this movie is it truly is the one film that "binds everything together", for those of us who watched the original films...
 It was important for us to see the journey of the most iconic character of the SW franchise...Darth Vader. I believe it wasn't just important for the filmmakers to squeeze more money out of the movie goers, but was one of the most necessary prequels ever made.

                (You cannot be a Knowledgeable in something if you haven't been trailed.)

After you look beyond the never ending galaxies, the space battles, and the droids and aliens...Star Wars is a drama that fulfills it's promises. At the heart of Star Wars is a message, a message about good and bad, darkness and light.

This is why I liked Star Wars most. When I first saw the original trilogy I was 12 years old, and was going through a faze when I was fascinated by space travel and anything to do with outer space...So naturally, I enjoyed Star Wars because it opened a world of possibility and fed my wonder.
But, it was the heart of Star Wars that made it stick like glue. What do I speak of? The relationship between Luke and Darth Vader of course...and not even their relationship as characters, but in relation as opposite forces in a perilous galaxy. Luke stands for what is right, he works hard to learn the ways of the Jedi...but in the end what is it really that saves the universe? Is it his bad ass fighting skills? No. Is it his connections? No. Is it his knowledge of the force? No. It is love.

And what is it that destroys planets? Is it big guns? Is it big mouths? Or is it the root of the "dark side"? If you know Star Wars you know this quote,

"Fear is the path to the dark side...fear leads to anger...anger leads to hatred...hatred leads to suffering" - Yoda, Phantom Menace 

This tells us that "the dark side" of the force is fed by: fear, anger, hatred, and all unhealthy negativity. The hardest chore of a Jedi in training is to keep one's mind single and focus true. This is not simple, this is not to be taken lightly by the apprentice, it requires work and dedication. The reality is that the profound message of Star Wars from a Truth Seeker's Perspective is this
"When the two suns set, and the day has come to an end...Your choice of side will determine your destiny."
If a Jedi chooses to give in to the "dark side" of the force, they will inevitably be destroyed by it. Just like bad choices have consequences, hatred never leads to peace, and love is the only true power we have. Eternal life is only something that is given to the Light Jedi in the SW universe. I wonder why that is? Perhaps it was Lucas's way of hinting to Christianity and the Christian's belief that "The Righteous Inherit Eternal Life". The fact that the fallen Jedi have the ability to be seen as spirits, is very similar to some bible stories where prophets were seen after death by other important figures.

Yet, even so, the force is said to be in every living thing, and bind all things together...as Obi Wan preaches in 'A New Hope'.
For those of many different religions there is something to be seen in "The Force". Christians may see it as Supernatural Power in general, New Age'ers may see it as Mother Earth herself, and Hindus may see it as a way that they connect with their many gods. But, that is why Star Wars has been so universally accepted and praised...it has just enough truth in it that people of any religion can at least tolerate it, but more likely can be inspired by it in a spiritual way.

When I was younger this fascinated me, and being the type of person that enjoys "seeking out the background facts" did enough research on the subject and listened to enough of Mr. Lucas's words on how he created the "religion" of Star Wars to tell you that; He took a bit of this, a bit of that, and sprinkled it all in a big mixing pot that included cultural references and some religious inspiration as well, but over all, Star Wars is NOT merely a religious film series, it is a SPIRITUAL one.

 The Jedi Way is "The Jedi Religion", this is made clear by Luke Skywalker's words in the recent film when he calls it such.

             (Star Wars is a Spiritual Film Series, about a Religious Sect called the Jedi)

In retrospect, 'A New Hope' gave us hope, it reminded us that no matter where you are from, you can make a difference. That a new world can open up before you at any time, any where, and all you need is courage, and a heart ready to take responsibility to do not what is "expected of you" but rather "what is needed of you". Sometimes in order to embrace the new, we must let go of our doubts, and trust...in this case, trust in the force.
But, the truth about Star Wars and it's first Hero Luke Sky walker is that Force Sensitivity is passed down. Luke and Leia inherited their force sensitivity from their Father, Anakin Skywalker, who was conceived by the force it's self. Was he conceived by the Light Side of the Force? or the Dark Side of the Force? Because they obviously are at odds with each other, with different desires...whether you believe they are or not...

But according to "The Last Jedi" the force is not light without the dark, and not dark without the light. Forget the sides, because according to new revelation about what the Force is in Star Wars, the Force is more of a Ying Yang, with shades of grey, and shades of green, with white fences and black staircases. In this "New Force" and I say "New Force" because as the Force is more defined in the new Star Wars films, it becomes less of something that makes sense, and more and more something that has no absolute shape or form. I this that the desire of The Last Jedi is to meld the two together, and to rid our eyes of the Jedi and their purest religion, but instead to promote the modern day beliefs of "Anything Goes", "Post Truth", and "Darkness has no consequences"

But, I personally don't want to give Star Wars too much weight. It doesn't even have to make sense, because at the end of the day it is just entertainment, and NOT a ligament religion. Still, I want to make it clear that  many people ARE going to be very disappointed by this last Star Wars film...and that effect is going to be more intense then some of us give it credit. and it's not going to be the new movie goers, or star wars fans 13 and under that it effects; It's going to be the human beings that have grown up/ or grown old with the series.
It has been a baby sitter to many a young boy, it has been a training wheel to many a young child, it has been an escape for many a lonely soul, and it has been an inspiration for many a filmmaker.
I believe that films make impact on a spiritual, emotional, level. Ofcourse, the thing is...this generation is more numb to the effects than us from previous generations. We watch as the beauty gets drained from society, how appreciation for art is going down the drain, as "on demand" and "instant gratification" is more desired than "seeking to understand" and in result "being rewarded for it".
This all being said, I welcome you to the part where I give my "perspective" on the latest addition to the Star Wars Series: The Last Jedi
 "A Long Time Ago in A Galaxy Far, Far, Away....

                                                             REVIEW OF LAST JEDI


* Character Development and Drive

The problem with The Last Jedi, is that the Last Jedi is the one who is setting the entire tone of the film. Without vision a people perish, and without vision one movie can ruin a franchise.
Star Wars is based around the Jedi, some would argue that without the Jedi Star Wars is simply another SC FI movie, that has no weight or worth. The Jedi are the blood of the movie.
Our Jedi in this movie "Luke Skywalker" has given up on his "faith" and his doubts have landed him right back where he was before A New Hope...blaming himself for the death of loved ones. Luke's weakness is his guilt complex. He can be whiny, and well age hasn't made him any less whiny that's for sure. Regardless of his many flaws, Luke is still a solid character. Mark Hamill's acting is very consistent with that of his acting in the original films, and more seasoned. I liked it.
But, the last thing this movie needed, was comedy where there should have been some meaningful moments of getting to "feel" Luke's pain rather than just see his negative attitude.

The beauty of true story crafting is "Showing rather than Telling" and allowing us to "Feel the Pain" rather than just have a character "Tell about it". It's one thing to hear Obi Wan tell Luke "Darth Vader killed your Father" and another thing all together to see it happen.
Luke is no less cryptic in his explanation of what went down that caused him to isolate himself, cut communication with his sister, and act like Miracle Max from the Princess Bride when Rey comes knocking on his front door. 'Cept Rey is a brute squad all unto herself.

The movie begins as the last film ended, with every character unsure about who they really are and where they really are. Rey wants Luke to train her in the ways of the force. Luke, the once mighty Jedi Master, wants to be left to his new life style of Speer heading fish and milking seaside sows. Kylo Ren is starting to show signs of being torn between the past and the present he's created, Snoke is a Villian without a backstory, Po is causing conflict because he is headstrong and trying to fill the invisible shoes left by the death of our beloved Hon Solo, and Fin...well he wakes up with a bunch of  tubes attached to him.
It's a good way to start a film perhaps, but not a good way to end one.
I'm hear to tell you that Po does NOT make decisions that gain him respectability, Rey does NOT grow in wisdom of the force, Luke does NOT train Rey nor physically leave the island, Kylo Ren is still trying to kill people to make himself feel good, Snoke remains story-less and leaves the film much like a puff of smoke, and Fin...well he almost ends up dead again, accept this time someone takes the blow for him and ends up laying in the medic bed of the Millennium Falcon near the end of the movie, sound familiar? It's all very lacking and tacky, to say the least. There is little to almost no character growth or revelation in the movie.

(No Character Growth = reveals a World Where Self Betterment is Unnecessary for Progress)

The Jedi that we were looking to to set the tone of the film, he finally makes one last mighty appearance towards the last half of the movie, yes, Luke does show some force powers eventually...but, sadly they kill him, and although it does show some a change of heart for Luke to actually put some effort into being a Jedi again, it is not enough to save the movie. Too late Luke, yeah you might have pulled a Loki move that gets you an easy way out of your guilt, but it's not enough to give this movie a positive review.

The Characters in this film are lacking drive and believe-ability. Many of the aspects that gave Star Wars the unique ability to be both a SC FI Fantasy and yet relate-able to people on a person level, was not it's acting, but the reliability of it's core. You can still have bad actors, but have a good screenwriter who returns the story to it's center. Bottom line is that none of the main characters drives, weaknesses, or strengths, made sense in this film. And every time you thought there might be some development of either a light or dark nature for a character, the screenwriter failed to carry through. Luke shows some spunk towards the end, and honestly instead of it awakening an old man it sends him off.
Honestly, I didn't go into the film with false expectations. I liked The Force Awakens, and I thought that it had potential to take us in a cool direction. But the Force Awakens set us up for disappointment.

I liked the acting and character of Kylo Ren in the Force Awakens. His anger is childish, and he gets his butt kicked by a character with no trailing...but he's interesting. And Rey is interesting in the Force Awakens because she has all this raw untrained power that makes us question her origin and role in saving the galaxy. I can't say that the other two main characters (Po and Fin) really have a purpose in this story...It seems almost like they were tacked on to replace the roles of Leia and Hon Solo, because after all, it was 4 main characters in the originals.

*  Film-making

I might also add that the only memorable lines in this movie were in fact recycled from previous films, which only served to remind me that as time goes on, originality is lost, and creativity is most definitely sacrificed on the alter or oxymorons.

This film's poor timing/editing really surprised me. I felt like most of the film was in fact stalling, for what reason I am not sure, other than perhaps the filmmakers had no idea where they were going with the story. The little bit of hope we had for plot twists such as the revelation of Rey's parentage,  was in fact so untactfully revealed,  the changes in direction so uninteresting, that it didn't stir one single emotion. Towards the end Luke and Leia have a moment, and that's probably the most moving in the entire film. Oh, and sorry folks, no light saber duels.

Not to mention that the battle scenes were severely unrealistic even for a SC FI movie. If you look closely you will see Ridley Scott's handiwork everywhere.

So why does this film get a 'F' rating from me? It failed to fulfill the 6 major things I look for in movies:

1. A Good Story Arch
2. Good Character Development
3. Consitant Worldview
4. Intentional Acting/Performances
5. Impressive Creativity
6. Believable Choreogprahy

                                                             THE PERSPECTIVE

Since the desire of the truth seeker is to indeed find truth, you may ask...what truth or lie is there to find in this movie? What essentially is the goal of this film?
Like I mentioned at the start of my post, this film's goal is to target your perspective, and to shatter what you might believe about the force, or good and evil in general.
You might think that's too deep to be saying about this movie...

Rey is the most physically powerful on screen character we have ever seen in Star Wars. When Luke finally agrees to share something about the Force with her character, he soon discovers that she is far advanced in force sensitivity. She reaches out and feels both the light and dark side of the force, and can access them equally, and without spiritual consequence. As Luke says something to the order of "You went straight to the dark side of the force, and didn't even try to stop yourself."

At one point in the film Rey decides to visit beneath the island, where supposedly the darkness resides. When she visits there, she merely finds herself in a boring place where only she exists. She reaches out her hand into the wall where she sees her reflection, and sees an endless chain of herself. Nothing is explained and there is no clarity about this scene. However, she asks her reflection to "Show her her parents"...and two dark shadows approach, morph into one, and when the face is reveled it is none other than herself. In a sense, it reminds us of the scene in The Empire Strikes Back where Luke finds himself in a training situation with the Force (a scene also imitated with Kylo Ren in The Force Awakens) Where Darth Vader shows up before him, and he battles his darkest foe...that battle ended with Luke decapitating Lord Vader, and seeing his own face in the helmet instead of Anakin Skywalker's face. Maybe this scene with Rey has a meaning similar to that of this throwback...
That evil is within us all, and at the end of the day the thing that we desire is not really as important as the power that we give it.
Either way, the darkness doesn't give any answers to Rey, and it's not really that bad down there in the center of the island, only a bit lonely a grey. So much for a dark side of the force being fire and brimstone.

I am reminded of Eve from the origins of Humanity, she listens to the snake and eats from the tree of  the knowledge of good and evil, mind you, that it is "knowledge" that is so important to her...because Eve knew, just like the Snake knew, that knowledge is the key to power. And this is the problem with Rey's faulted character. She has no weakness, she needs no knowledge, and she experiences no consequences...She can eat from the tree of Good and Evil, and it doesn't kill her.

I wish that much like the scene in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull where knowledge destroys the villain, the source of knowledge (the force) would have revealed to Rey more than she wanted to know...because that is the truth about knowledge, if you open the door, it can overload you. And eating from the intimate knowing of the tree of good and evil destroyed Adam and Eve's hopes, killed their dreams, and burdened their souls. Nothing was completely beautiful with the perspective of darkness. And that's the problem with the "dark side perspective" it is a endless pit, that goes on forever, a hunger that is never filled, a desire for beauty that never appears.
Knowledge about the light, and identification with it, only makes us more beautiful.

Rey "knows" the force in an intimate way. BUT, she still should be trained. You may not agree, but I believe that every person no matter how good they are, needs to be trained in the way they should go. What training is it that Rey needs? Well, she doesn't actually need any if she is going to embrace the darkness just as she does the light. That is the point of training, of guidelines, of the Jedi Order...to keep it's pupils grounded in the light. To teach padawans to have balanced "fear" of the darkness, so that they will stay far from it, and to be able to keep their emotions in check.

The perspective of The Last Jedi is that it encourages people to believe in the lack of absolutes. It teaches people to believe solely in the power of themselves, and that the "narrow way" is not the "only way" it is merely a self-righteous system that doesn't work. Teaching that being powerful is merely connecting to your yourself and your place in the galaxy. Giving in to the darkness is not portrayed as being severely dangerous in this film.

                                                                    THE TRUTH

Without vision a people perish, without knowledge they perish, without understanding they fall, without growth...they devour themselves.

Training as a Jedi as portrayed in prior films requires growth and the following:

* Exersizing what you learn
*Singleness of Aim
* Abandoment
* Effort/Dedication
* Perserverance
* Long Suffering
* Submission to Authoriy
* Communion with the Sorce
* Sacrifice of Self
* Fellowship
* Trust
* Grace
* Discernment
* Wisdom
* Self Control
* Obedience
* Sanctificaiton
* Co-operation
* Stillness
* Conversion
* Hope
* Compassion
* Love (though forbidden for pleasure in the sect)
* Boldness
* Revelation
* Rejection of Lies/Darkness

These are all things that we should strive for and can relate to if we are dedicated to growth as individuals.

 Is there anything in this film that is true?

Something that I think, is that it is true that much like the "Force Awakens" there is an "Awakening" happening in the earth today. There are many people who are being reminded of what they want, and many young people are going to be raised up to be "front line warriors". They have been born with destinies, and are experiencing God in ways more powerful than their parents did. Because they are unafraid, and "Called for such a time as this".

I'd like to say that the greatest truth that can be derived from the Last Jedi is this: The earth points to a powerful being, much like the force is in all things created, God also can be found in all things created.
Secondly, there is another truth spoken of and that is this "When Darkness Rises there is always a Light to Rise with it".

                                       (The dark gets darker, and the light gets brighter.)

So what is my conclusion?
Remember these things as you walk in the light:

* It's NOT an easy path
* It's NOT about you
* The Enemy is REAL
* The Stakes are HIGH
* The Source is TRUTH
* The reaction is necessary
* The CHANGE is pivitol
* The Preperation is costly
* The Prize is ETERNAL
* The SPIRIT leads the way
* Our Participation Moves Mts.
* Our Choices are Important

Les Miserables: Movie Review

 

 

WARNING: SPOLIERS

Les Miserables! The production that that I personally, have anxiously awaited, since I discovered last year that the musical was going to be adapted into a film... The poster is truly intriguing isn't it?!

If you are a fan of 'Les Mis' you probably already know that the story started off as a book, written by Victor Hugo in the 1800's...It has been made into many, many films throughout the years, ever since the very start of the invention of 'film'. It seems this story has been on the minds and in the hearts of the entertainment business and 'touched' individuals from it's creation. Although, Les Miserables was first adapted and performed as a 'musical'  in 1985...
It's quite amazing actually that it took as many years as it did for Les Miserables to become a musical. But, the wait was 'worth it', for the 'quality' and 'genius'. To read more history behind the musical see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Mis%C3%A9rables_%28musical%29

There's been so many  'Les Mis' films made. Many are masterpieces. Although, perhaps the most popular is the the film made in 1998. Liam Neeson acted as the main character 'Jean Valjean' (Jhon Val Jhon) and did a magnificent job. The film was touching, and well acted...

 So it's not like the world "needed" another Les Miserables film, unless of course it is a 'musical'! The Musical is performed every other year in different parts of the world, including London and Paris...and many would agree we me in saying, it has some of the most emotionally moving, and spiritually fulfilling music of any musical ever created.
Songs such as 'I dreamed a dream' have been sung by some of the best of the best, and even 'Susan Boyle' the little scotch woman who auditioned for 'Britain's Got Talent' blew the audience away in her performance of the beautiful song. The music of 'Les Mis' has captured thousands of hearts, and moved people to tears all around the globe. It would be an understatement to say that 'Les Miserables' is a 'good' musical, it is truly a 'great' musical. But, it's not only that the music of 'Les Mis' is top notch, but the 'story' of 'Les Mis' is one of the most unique and moving stories about 'redemption' and the 'human struggle' ever written.

With this being said. One can't help but rush to the local theater to see 'Les Miserables' the 2012 musical, even if it is on 'Christmas day'. The film has an all star cast of Russell Crow, Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Helena Bonham Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen, and the list goes on...I can imagine that some people went to view the film just to see 'Russell Crow' and 'Hugh Jackman' sing...I don't blame their curiosity. But, the fact is, the reason you haven't seen either of these two actors with a microphone in a film before, is because they really don't know how to sing.
This might seem a bit harsh, considering Hugh Jackman has sung on stage before a large crowd before..But, as soon as I entered the theater I was shocked at how out of tune he was. I honestly was embarrassed and annoyed by his screeching throughout the entire film. He acts the main character, the hero...and yet he has the weakest, worst voice of all the other singing actors or actresses in the movie.

Some people don't have great voices I understand, but in Hugh Jackman's case, it's not just that he doesn't have a 'graceful voice', it's the reality that he can't even keep a tune or hold a note. If you asked him to hum a scale "Do, Ray, Me, Fa, So, La, Te, Do", I'm pretty sure he couldn't. And that stunned me. I literally stared at the screen as soon as he started singing and couldn't believe my ears. A "musical" should put emphasis on the 'music', there should be strong back ground music, and strong vocal leads...But, it didn't take long for me to notice not only the lack of the two, but the poor sound quality. The film sounded like all the audio was recorded with a digital built in mic on the camera, and not recorded separately. The loudest most dramatic sound in the entire film was at the very start of the movie, and after that I felt like I was going deaf. And I'm by no means exaggerating. I don't know if it was just the theater I was in, or not...but the volume was so low, that I had to strain to hear even the music. It was really horrible. This was even worse a problem than you may image, as most of the songs at the start of the film seem to be 'whispered' and not truly 'sung'.

I hope I can give an honest review, while still uplifting the film's good qualities...But there was definitely several things that bothered me about this film. 1. The Music was not 'dramatic' or 'full' enough. It was almost as if the orchestra had been traded in for a music box, and it was depending on 'strong vocal performances' to carry out the tune and body of the songs. But, his was sadly impossible, as most of the main characters couldn't keep a tune, and had very shallow vocal ranges...especially in the case of Jean Valjean.  Javert (Jaa vair) played by Russell Crow, at least could keep 'in tune' and didn't have an unpleasant sounding voice, even if it wasn't trained and kept at one octave throughout.

Those who actually did well singing were 'Amanda Seyfried' who plays (Cosette), 'Eddie Redmayne' (Marius), 'Aaron Tveit' (Enjolras), and 'Samantha Barks' who played (Eponine) not only in this film, but in the 25th Anniversary of the West End/London Les Mis Musical. And truly, she was the best vocalist in the film, and did a very moving and realistic job in her acting performance as well. I wont be surprised if she gets a lot more acting parts now that the world will be seeing for themselves what a great entertainer she is.

But overall, the 'acting' in this film was very good. Hugh Jackman and Russell Crow had you wishing they would stop singing and just 'act'. I'd say Hugh Jackman, Aaron Tveit, and Anne Hathaway worked the hardest in their emotional performances, and it really paid of on screen. There were tears shed all around me in the theater, and they were mainly due to the believable performances of these actors/actress in particular.
And Hugh Jackman has a nice voice when he 'isn't' singing, the problem is he only says one or two words the entire movie that aren't "sung".

Overall, this film had me wondering why they didn't just make it a 'talkie' considering the vocal cast, and not have the characters sing 'every thing' they wanted to say. But, even so...if they wanted it to be an even better 'musical' they shouldn't have had every thing 'sung', it really would have made even the poor vocal performances better, because you aren't hearing 'them' throughout the entire film!

If you already know the story of 'Les Mis' feel free to skip the 'synopsis' bellow, and continue on with the review.

The Main Story Synopsis of 'Les Miserables': 

A hard and angry 'Jean Valjean' is given parole after 20 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister's starving child. His hatred is focused mainly on ' Inspector Javert' who watched him in prison and seems to treat all men without compassion. On his parole, Jean tries to find work, but is treated badly and is taken advantage of for being a 'prisoner'. Looking for a place to stay, Valjean knocks on the door of the home of a catholic priest, and the priest invites him for dinner and lets him stay the night. Valjean in turn takes advantage of the priest's kindness, by stealing his silverware and running off. The next morning Valjean is caught by local police and brought back to the priest's house with the silverware. When the police tell the priest they have caught a thief stealing his silverware, they also tell him that Valjean said that he had "given it to him". The priest not only pretends as if he 'had' given Valjean the silverware, but he gives him his silver candlesticks. This act of kindness stirs something in Valjean, and is the start of his surrender of the old hateful prisoner, he once was...and the making of a new, compassionate Valjean. 8 years later Valjean has become the Mayor of a small French town and is the head of a factory where a young single woman 'Fantine' works hard to make enough money to pay some innkeepers that take care of her small child 'Cosette'. 
Fantine is thrown out from her job at the factory, since she is unfairly judged by her coworkers for being a 'bad example' and 'unworthy' or her job. With no other way to pay for her supposedly 'ill' child, she resorts to 'harlotry'. After an attack from a "ungentlemanly gent", Fantine is almost put in jail by 'Javert' the Inspector that has come to work  for the Mayor (Valjean), sent by the state, and seems no longer to recognize Jean. Valjean comes to Fantine's rescue in questioning Javert, and makes it his charge to care for her after being informed that she once worked for him at his factory, and because of his lack of attention was kicked out unfairly by those under him. Meanwhile, through his observations Javert notices the similarities in the Mayor and the prisoner he once knew. But, once another person is taken to court accused of being 'Valjean' the Inspector confesses his thoughts to the Mayor. A 'conscience convicted' Jean, rushes to court in attempt to save the 'accused' by confessing he is the true 'Valjean'.
 Fantine, sick since rescued, grows ever more ill. She dies in Val jean's presence when he returns from court, but not before he can tell her that he will care for her child 'Cosette'.
Javert comes to arrest Valjean near Fantine's deathbed, but Jean says he must take care of her daughter, and gets away. Valjean goes to the inn where Cosette is, and takes her away from the awful place and innkeepers 'The Thenardiers' (Ten-ardee-ays). Cosette and Jean run away from the Inspector and his men and hide away  at a Convent where they stay for many years. Exactly ten years later Jean and Cosette move into Paris where they are met with the speeches and cries of 'rebels' in the streets, stirring the people to start a revolution. Cosette sees a 'Marius' in the group of rebels and it is 'love at first sight' for the two of them, much to the dismay of 'Eponine' the 'Thenardiers' grown daughter, and the silent lover of Marius. 
The story progresses as Valjean and Cosette are recognized by Inspector Javert who happens to be in Paris at the time, and takes 'sent' of them. Cosette does not know why they are always running, but Valjean refuses to tell her his past. The two move from their house to another place.

 Meanwhile the revolution rises, and Marius decides to fight at the barricades with the rest of his revolutionary friends. Intercepting a message meant for Cosette, Valjean goes to the barricades to look after his adopted daughter's love. While at the barricades he happens upon 'Javert' who has been captured by the rebels, pretending to be on their side, but really a spy for the state. Jean saves Javert's life by asking to "take care of him" for the rebels, and instead lets him go free. Javert is is confused by this act of compassion.
Marius is seriously wounded by the fight, and the cannons demolish the last of the barricades. Valjean heaves Marius out of the street, and carries his body in the underground sewers to avoid them being discovered and get to safety. In the sewers, Javert finds Valjean and Marius and holds him at gunpoint.  Again Valjean insists on saving a life and showing compassion, and Javert can think of nothing else but the obedience of the 'law' without 'compassion'. To him obedience of the law, and 'an eye for an eye' is more to be perused than 'love', 'mercy', and 'compassion'. But, somehow Valjean walks away unharmed with Marius over his shoulder. A distressed and spiritually confused Javert cannot live with himself. He cannot destroy a man who only shows compassion and saved his life, and yet he cannot live with the fact that he has not done his duty and brought Valjean in. Javert commits suicide, and Marius is saved. Valjean thinks he must walk out of Cosette's life for her own safety, and leaves her with Marius. Valjean becomes ill and is dying alone at the convent. Marius and Cosette marry, and on their wedding day Marius finds out by the Thenardiers unintentionally that it was Valjean who saved his life that day at the barricade. He and Cosette rush to the convent where they find Valjean. Valjean gives a letter to Cosette about her beginnings, and his past that he never told her about. Valjean is met by a vision of Fantine who ushers him into his eternal rest.

Overall I really appreciated that this film adaption of 'Les Mis' was much "cleaner" than I expected considering the topics of 'prostitution', 'violence', and the 'grimy streets' of France during the time of the revolution...I've seen the Broadway musical, and the dark scenes/ characters were presented more vulgar than the film adaption and that's saying something, especially for Hollywood 'now a days'.

The thing I think this film/musical adaption failed in was fleshing out the relationship between 'Javert and Valjean' and their 'personal conflict'. Russell crow just can't act as a villain, and you didn't dislike him near enough in the film. Honestly, if you don't know the story ahead of time, you probably would have no idea why he even commits 'harry carry'. It's kind of odd actually, cause Russell just doesn't come off confused, or angry enough at this time in the film to even scrape his toe ha!

Well, if you're a long time fan of 'Les Mis' especially the 'musical', I would recommend you stick to the Broadway soundtrack to hear some good vocal performances and hear the moving music. But, if you aren't acquainted with 'Les Miserables'; I say watch it, and enjoy a 'good movie'. It has a very moving ending, and after all the annoying singing of Hugh Jackman, he redeems himself in the end a good bit, by dying and singing his best performance of the show...his adaption of 'Valjean' sounds best when he's dying...Sad, but true lol.

The religious focus of the film/story remains true, which is a big plus. And you don't have to question yourself what the moral message is over and over, like you might in most of the other films that have been coming out in theater lately, such as life of Pi...You know 'Valjean' is a Christian, and you know where he's heading when he dies, and it really is beautiful. Even with it's fails in vocal performance at times, the message stills rings true, and it will be hard to maintain a dry eye at the end.

"So so" Videography. Music/Singing less than epic. Good Acting. Good Message.
But, overall it's a 'good movie'. If you can get over the poor singing by the main character, focus on the singing of the characters that can actually sing, and if you purchase it for a 'home viewing' and 'raise the volume' you might just enjoy a good story.