EXPELLED

EXPELLED - 2008

RATED - PG for thematic material, some disturbing images and brief smoking.

RATINGS - 318 Amazon (3/5), 16,783 Netflix (3.6/5), 5,115 IMDB (3.6/10).

STARRING - Ben Stein as writer & host. Richard Dawkins, Guillermo Gonzalez and many others as themselves.

THEMES - Intelligent Design is being censored in the academic world and those who promote it are being expelled from higher education world.

STORY - First of all, Ben Stein is a talented and very smart individual. Second, there is no attempt to be unbiased in this documentary. The theme is that those who take a stand for Intelligent Design in the elite world of science and higher education are finding themselves out on the street sooner or later for their beliefs. The metaphor he uses for the science/academic world is Communist East Germany. The film flashes back and forth to Germany beginning with the building of the Berlin Wall as a symbol of academia building a wall around itself and its cherished Darwinian philosophy so that no competing theories can get in and muddy the waters. The film bounces back and forth between interviews with Intelligent Design proponents who, apparently, have lost their positions because of their beliefs, Atheistic evolutionary proponents and clips from Germany. The film moves along quickly and is entertaining, if not factual. Some might call this a 'red meat' film that plays to the ID base audience. There is very little, if any, attempt to validate the ID theory versus Darwinian evolution or to document that those 'expelled' actually lost their jobs due to prejudice. It is assumed the evolution is wrong and, in an effort to protect its turf in science and academia, it is purging the ID enemies. Ben Stein is no dummy and he has crafted a 'documentary' that 'proves' his point through some rather strong metaphors including using the Holocaust as an example of what random selection, survival of the fittest evolution leads to ultimately when it falls into the hands of someone as evil as Hitler. This is worth watching to better understand the battlefield between ID and Darwinian evolution in halls of science and academia which ultimately filter down into our schools and society. It is not the kind of film I would make if I was really wanting to start a serious conversation with those who differ with my viewpoint. Lu G. for Lus' Reviews. 10/30/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TRAILER.

PERSONAL THOUGHTS - I believe that Intelligent Design is the product of good science and is a valid theory, one that is actually more and more becoming acceptable in scientific and academic circles. It is hard to defend the Origin of Species as proposed by Darwin. The science is outdated and would be akin to defending a 'flat earth' today. The problem seems to me both theories have been hijacked by those wishing to prove a religious belief. The creationist viewpoint of the three monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam all point to ID as validating their religious faith in a Creator God. The Darwinians have been hijacked by a militant atheistic faction with spokespersons like Richard Dawkins and others. Both sides want science to do something it cannot - prove the existence or non-existence of God. I believe there is tremendous evidence for a loving Creator who is personally involved in our world and wants a personal relationship with each person through the historical person of Jesus Christ. But that does not mean ID is the proof for my faith. It is good evidence but it may give the same 'proof' to those who believe some intelligent alien force created the world. On the other side, there is a denial of the seemingly overwhelming evidence that life cannot be reduced to a simple cell that came from nothing and then through random selection and survival of the fittest got us to where we are today. Whether you go small and end up confronting DNA, the string theory, etc. or go big and encounter billions of stars and galaxies, and hundreds of events that must all be kept working together with zero tolerance for error to support life such as distance from the sun, the tilt of the earth's axis, the composition of our atmosphere, the odds are immeasurable of chance being the cause. Both sides need to follow the science and be willing to accept it for what it can and cannot do. ID is a valid theory but we should not assume that it automatically confirms our faith view as much as we might want that to be the case. Evolutionists need to follow the science, admit that legitimate science confirms there is intelligence behind the universe and not continue to claim that somehow this came out of pure chance. Those of us with religious beliefs should not force people who accept ID to accept our faith. Let's all work together and let legitimate science take us wherever it will without preconceived ideas. Science and faith are not mutually exclusive.

SEVEN MEN FROM NOW

SEVEN MEN FROM NOW - 1956

RATED - NR but at least PG for western violence.

RATINGS - 45 Amazon (4.5/5), 5,795 Netflix (3.6/5), 827 IMDB (7.6/10).

STARRING - Randolph Scott, Gail Russell, Lee Marvin.

THEMES - Justice, relationships, honor.

STORY - First of all, this is in color and widescreen and the scenery is fantastic - the Arizona desert. This is not just a formulaic western with the good guys versus the bad guys, although it is that, too. The problem is we're not sure who the good guys are and who the bad guys are and sometimes they change. If you don't like westerns, this probably won't change your mind but if you're at all interested, this is worth watching for the complexity of the characters as well as some beautiful western background. Lee Marvin is a cool, cold blooded character like the kind he became known for. Randolph Scott is the somewhat detached ex-sheriff hunting for the seven men who held up Wells Fargo and killed his wife, an innocent bystander. Along the way he helps Gail Russell and Walter Reed, a married couple trying to get to California. Everything is not as it seems with them, also. When Lee Marvin and his sidekick join the trio, the tension mounts as you discover there was a past relationship between Marvin and Scott that still smolders. An underrated and not well known gem of a western. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/26/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, NY TIMES REVIEW.

IRON JAWED ANGELS

IRON JAWED ANGELS - 2004

RATED - NR but probably at least PG for violence and adult themes. The DVD cover (left) is not a reflection of the content of the movie but there is a bathtub scene (nothing revealed) in which she appears to be fantasizing about a romantic encounter with a young man on a picnic (nothing sexual is shown). Also, there is some violence during a protest that turns violent and when Hilary is force fed in prison during a hunger strike.

RATINGS - 103 Amazon (4.5/5), 2,096 IMDB (7.4/10), 114,612 Netflix (3.9/5).

STARRING - Hilary Swank, Anjelica Huston, Margo Martindale, Frances O'Connor.

AWARDS - Winner of Golden Globe Best Supporting Actress and nominated for 5 Emmys plus a number of other awards and nominations.

THEMES - Civil rights, women's rights, relationships, the Constitution.

STORY - This is an HBO movie about the final fight for women's voting rights. It probably helps to have had some background in the long battle for women's right to vote as this story picks it up in the final stages and takes it to the finish line. Others have said that it may try too hard not to be a period piece and that is probably a fair criticism as the characters may be a little more reflective of today than the early 1900's. Having said that, it has always taken people who have that radical toughness and obsession to break down barriers in society. Isn't it amazing that our Constitution that proclaimed 'all men are created equal....' took so long to make it really viable for half of our population, not to mention the battles for freedom from slavery and the subsequent struggle for voting rights of African-Americans. Our country was founded in revolution and struggle-both ideological and physical and that was the beginning as we have struggled to define 'all men' since then. This is a movie worth watching for the reminder of the hard fought (they literally experienced physical violence and wrongful imprisonment) rights that some in our society have had to battle for while others have been able to take for granted those same freedoms. This is the story of a sad chapter in our history and the women who paved the way for their daughters and granddaughters to have an equal (mostly) seat at the table. In a year where we had a woman almost achieve the nomination for President and a woman is on the ticket of the other party, this is a testimony to those who made it possible. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/25/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TRAILER

ROOTS

ROOTS - 1977

RATED - NR but at least PG for some violence and non-sexual nudity.

RATINGS - 161 Amazon (4.5/5), 132,101 Netflix (4.3/5), 3,019 IMDB (8.7/10).

AWARDS - Winner Golden Globe Best TV Series, 9 Emmy Awards and nominated for 35 other Emmy Awards plus, plus.

STARRING - LeVar Burton, Ben Vereen, Sandy Duncan, Lynda Day George, Ed Asner, Chuck Connors, Lloyd Bridges, Lou Gossett, Jr., Cicely Tyson and on and on.

THEMES - Family, relationships, slavery, freedom.

STORY - Perhaps the most famous TV miniseries of all time. Played for eight straight evenings in January of 1977. The country practically came to a halt during that time slot every evening. Over 130 million views tuned in to watch this amazing story of Alex Haley's family's roots and history. It has been translated into 28 languages since. While the story and technology may seem a little outdated today (how can it not?), this is one story worth watching to gain a better understanding our country's history and where we have come from. In many ways it is the story of our nation from the days of slavery through the great struggles for freedom for all. Kunta Kinte is the main character who was captured and forced into slavery as a young man and brought to America. Perhaps the most poignant moment in the movie is where he has refused to give up his African name and be called Toby, the name his master has given him. He is beaten until, finally, he verbally says his name is Toby. While he may no longer be Kunta Kinte on the outside, he retains his African identity inside and longs to be free to be himself. He tries to pass that heritage down to the next generation. Although slavery obviously plays a major role in the story, it is first and foremost a story of family and what gets passed down from generation to generation. I understand the request for family records from archive sources skyrocketed after the series played. Haley spent over 12 years researching his family's roots before writing the best-selling book that was the basis for the movie. The movie rights were actually purchased before the book was finished and the screenplay was written and finished at the same time as the book. It is a 12 hour investment of your time but something you will not regret. You don't need to watch it all at once-spread it out. Get some friends together. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/25/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, ROOTS THE BOOK, TRAILER.

UNCONSTITUTIONAL: THE WAR ON OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES

UNCONSTITUTIONAL: THE WAR ON OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES - 2004

RATED - NR but probably PG

RATINGS - 29 Amazon (4.5/5), 24,746 Netflix (3.9/5), 223 IMDB (8.2/10).

STARRING - A cast of political characters as themselves.

STORY - Our country has been here before. During WWII, we put innocent Japanese citizens in internment camps because they were all considered to be security threats to our nation. In retrospect, most people can see what a horrible decision that was. Maybe it was not so clear at the time given the state of the world. When the horrible attacks of 9/11 occurred, it seems that same mindset reappeared and certain people are paying the price again for the evil deeds of others. Is it right to take away the liberties of people who happen to have a skin color or name similar to the terrorists? How far do we go in balancing security and individual freedom? Is the USA PATRIOT Act really making us safer? Was there enough thought and discussion before passing this bill that was rewritten during the wee hours of the morning and not one member of Congress read it through before voting? These and other controversial issues are discussed in this documentary as well as interviews with people whose lives have been affected by the PATRIOT Act such as a US Olympian whose name has made him a target. This is not a partisan issue as you see Bob Barr and Barney Frank teaming up in challenging the administration's actions. These past few weeks have shown us once again how politicians can 'use' a 'crisis' to push through governmental controls and once our freedoms are gone, they don't ever come back. The film makers have tried to present a balanced story although I'm sure not everyone will agree. It is a very difficult job trying to balance security versus freedom and one worthy of every one's involvement. How much freedom are you and I willing to give up to feel secure? Is this what our founding fathers had in mind? A worthwhile investment of your time. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/17/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, WIKIPEDIA

UNCOUNTED

UNCOUNTED - 2008

RATED - NR but probably G/PG

RATINGS - 14 Amazon (4.5/5), 347 Netflix (3.4/5), 30 IMDB (8.2/10).

STARRING - Emmy-winning filmmaker David Earnhardt

THEMES - Justice, Democracy, Freedom.

STORY - This is a documentary about the votes that go 'uncounted' for various reasons during elections. There are a variety of reasons, some through negligence and human error and others through deliberate attempts to sabotage our voting system. The story is mostly told from the Democratic' viewpoint, although it does try to be impartial. Obviously, the Democrats have been on the losing end of the national elections this century until 2006. The Republicans have no incentive to tell the story. Stripping all the politics away, this is a report about how susceptible our system, especially the electronic voting machines, is to to fraud. It's almost unthinkable that we are using a system that virtually has no check and balances to detect fraud. The same people, Diebold, that manufacture our ATM machines and verify who we are before it dispenses or takes our money and then gives us a receipt to verify the transaction, are responsible for much of the electronic voting equipment used in America. They alone have access to the computer code that control the machines so the government can't even check to see if the code has been altered after an election. It has been proven that these machines are easily rigged, yet they cannot provide equipment even as good as the ATM machines we use every day. Those with high blood pressure and heart disease may want to beware before watching this film. It will make you angry that our Democracy rests on such fragile legs and that we cannot be assured that the real winners of our elections actually get into office. The one check and balance is the exit polling that is done on election day. In both the 2004 & 2006 elections, the exit polls were significantly different from the tabulated results. Statistically, they were way beyond the margins of error from the final vote totals. Who was wrong and what went wrong? You decide. A secure and honest system is all that lies between us and the regimes that govern the countries we so oppose. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/12/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB. BLACKBOXVOTING.COM

THE LONGEST DAY

THE LONGEST DAY - 1962

RATED - G

RATINGS - 199 Amazon (4.5/5), 193,480 Netflix (4/5), 13,712 IMDB (7.8/10).

STARRING - The list is too long. From Eddie Albert to John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, etc, there were over 40 international stars.

AWARDS - Two Academy Awards and five nominations including Best Picture. AFI Top 100 nominee for Best Thrills and Top Movies. 1963 Golden Globe nominee for Best Picture.

STORY - This is the definitive story of D-Day. It's almost beyond comprehension today to think of the scope of this mission which involved 11,000 planes, 4,000 ships and 3,000,000 men. The logistics of coordinating the attacks, keeping everyone supplied with fuel, ammunition, medical supplies, etc. is mind boggling. This film follows the day from start to finish from a number of different Allied assignments including the U.S., the English, the French and even the Irish contingent led by the ever present bagpipes. It also shows the day from the German side. You get the big picture that is not usually present in most war films. This was an incredible day in history. As big as it was, it was made up of individuals, all trying to fulfill their assignments. As we see, sometimes with humor, not all of them went well. Many ended tragically because of human error or weather conditions. There were also many, many heroes that day and we meet some of them. It was also a day that reminded us that 'war is hell'. There is no other way to describe war, even for the most noble causes-for those on the front lines, it is pure hell. We can all be grateful for the thousands of men from all countries who sacrificed their lives. One of the credits of the movie is that it is G rated and although there is plenty of war violence, it is not graphic. While some may say it is sanitized, and, therefore, not realistic, I think it allows for this film to be shown to a wide variety of audiences who will be able to better understand and appreciate the magnitude of this mission. There are plenty of graphic war films for those interested. This is a classic epic worthy of watching more than once. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/04/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

SECRET BALLOT

SECRET BALLOT - 2001

RATED - G

RATINGS - 5,048 Netflix (2.9/5), 682 IMDB (6.5/10), 20 Amazon (3.5/5), Roger Ebert (3/4)

AWARDS - 10 wins and 3 nominations at various Film Festivals including Venice and London.

THEMES - Democracy, gender discrimination, politics.

STORY - The film begins with a plane dropping a large crate with a parachute on what appears to be a remote desert area by the ocean. It then pans to a bunk bed in the open by the beach with a soldier sleeping. He wakes and discovers the crate contains all the ballots and voting materials for the upcoming election and a notice that the voting agent will be arriving shortly and his assignment is to chaperon the agent around the island to collect and verify the votes. This is an Iranian island and when he discovers the bureaucratic agent is a woman, that is his first problem. The second is locating all the voters on the island and convincing them that voting is their responsibility and that it does impact their lives. The one day adventure of this odd couple, a reluctant Iranian soldier and enthusiastic, persevering female agent produces some humorous as well as sobering encounters with the reality of life on this island. Is the film primarily about democracy, gender discrimination or life in Iran? Perhaps it's a combination of all three in this documentary-like film. If you're only into action and fast-paced adventure, this movie is not for you, but, if you enjoy learning about other cultures and the people in other parts of the world who may be very different (or maybe not) from us, this is worth the time investment. Enjoy!! Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/03/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, ROGER EBERT.