Expectations for James Cameron’s “Avatar” have been through the roof for several reasons. Claimed to be more than ten years in the making, Director Cameron came out at this year’s Comic Con and made the statement that the film would be a ‘game-changer’ for movies from a technological standpoint. Also, rumors circulated that it’s the most expensive film ever made, with budget projections anywhere from 250 to 500 million dollars. Add to that Cameron, the director of the highest grossing film of all time, “Titanic.” The fact that he only directs a film every ten years or so adds to a hype machine that’s already at full power. Unfortunately, while “Avatar” dazzles on a technical level, it falls woefully short on a dramatic one....

Writer Eric Roth’s screenplay is based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man born old - somewhere in his late 80s - who begins to age in reverse. Brad Pitt plays Benjamin, left on the doorstep of an old folks’ home by his distraught father (Jason Flemyng) after his mother dies in childbirth. It is 1918.

The story is told as it is read from Benjamin’s diary by a woman named Caroline (Julia Ormond) at the request of her dying mother Daisy (Cate Blanchett). It is 2005...

“The Shack” is a #1 New York Times Bestseller with over a million copies in print and a movie adaptation on the way. It is endorsed by celebrities and some Christian teachers and scholars. But it has also by labeled as heresy by other well-respected pastors and writers. “The Shack” may be the most controversial book since “The Da Vinci Code.”...

The Story
“Twilight” by Stephenie Meyer topped the “New York Times” bestseller list. Production is underway on a major movie adaptation due in November. The book is on “Teen People’s” Hot List, and it made the “Publishers Weekly” Best Book of the Year. It also the first in a four-book series. So what is all the fuss about?

The Artist
Leeland is a five-piece Christian rock band from Baytown, Texas. They got started by playing together after youth group in their church. The lead singer is Leeland Mooring. Other band members include Jack Mooring, Jake Holz, Matt Cambell, and Mike Smith.
They released their first album first album, “Sound of Melodies,” in 2005; it was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2007 for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album, as well as four Dove Awards. Leeland and Jack also received a couple of Dove nominations in the songwriting category, and Michael W. Smith invited Leeland to co-write his newest album “Stand.”

I’ve complained here once or twice about the lousy, ill-fitting movie titles that often herald lousy movies, so it’s only fair to give credit when it’s due. What’s this movie about? A panda that does kung fu. Exactly. And, really, who would NOT want to see a panda doing kung fu, especially when given voice by Mr. Jack Black? Give it a good title, and they’ll line up around the block.

I can’t remember a better month for big-budget popcorn movies than May 2008. “Iron Man.” “Speed Racer.” (I know it bombed; I still liked it.) “Prince Caspian.” And now the long-awaited “Indiana Jones” sequel. I was worried a nostalgic action movie about a 65-year-old guy with a whip would ruin the May streak. It didn’t.

“He taunts you with bills you can’t pay, people you can’t please, habits you can’t break, failures you can’t forget and a future you can’t face. But just like David, you can face your giant, even if you aren’t the strongest, the smartest, the best equipped, or the holiest.”

“David. You could read his story and wonder what God saw in him. His life has little to offer the unstained, straight-A saint. He fell as often as he stood, stumbled as often and he conquered. But for those who know the sound of a Goliath, David gives this reminder;”

Focus on Giant- You stumble
Focus on God- Your giants tumble

Hands down, “Horton Hears a Who!” is the most fun movie title to say over and over and over again so far this year. Try it — especially with just a touch of British accent and a little tiny question mark at the end. See? Now just try to stop saying it. Oh, and it’s also the best movie about faith in quite a long time. And there’s an elephant.

...Mayor McDodd fights a different battle over unbelief. In Whoville, nobody wants to hear that something might be wrong with their world. The city council shouts him down. Still, he stands for what he knows is true even at the cost of his reputation as a mayor...

It was a beautiful typical Big Bear day with clear blue skies and a temperature to match with good recent snowfall to blanket to slopes. I like to ride by myself at times, though snowboarding is a social event, to go at my own pace, to have my own thoughts. My iPod is standard equipment. I felt like hearing what Kanye West has to say, but really I wanted his rhythm and beat for my rides.

Song number 4 comes on and I actually play attention to the lyrics while gazing out at God’s creative handiwork of these mountains with its acquired white jacket. I was surprised at this man I thought differently about. While I do not agree with most of the things he says in most of his songs, I think his ‘Jesus Walks’ song on the College Dropout album has some good truth in it.

Like most books, some people just shouldn’t read them. Trouble with this one is I can’t think of who wouldn’t benefit from reading this one. Written by Darin Hufford in 2005, (where have I been?), it’s a book about love- mostly Gods’, but yours and mine also. If you’ll let him, Pastor Hufford will take you on a journey, a journey that will change your Christian walk forever and redefine your view of God. That sounds like hype but I think this book backs it up.