Enchanted Afternoon

We went and saw Enchanted yesterday. As I mentioned earlier, we thought that it might be the best of the bunch released (and to hazard a guess I think The Golden Compass will have the highest opening ticket sales).

Without giving too much away, it was a somewhat fun spin on a fairy tale. I really liked the opening (and closing) sequences using a pop-up book. The film is quite sweet, and really picked up once the action had moved from the fairy-tale world to “our world" and I guess shows how 'story-book love' lasts in the real world.

Though it was a Disney film, I did not expect the musical numbers which turned up. Some of the sequences were classical ('Happy working song': including the animals of New York cleaning an apartment; and 'That's How You Know').

While Enchanted was certainly aimed at a younger audience, there was more than enough to entertain and humour us. So, I reckon give it a shot.

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See this article from The Australian, to find which films the Boxing Day audience went to.

Movies: Boxing Day...

One of our Christmas traditions (since 2002 - when the first Lord of the Rings film came out) is to go as a family and see a film on boxing day. It was quite easy at first, we saw the three Lord of the Rings films, then Phantom of the Opera (2005), in 2006, we saw The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. After having a look at the films this year: Atonement, The Golden Compass, Enchanted, Alien vs Predator: Requiem and Two Days in Paris. Though some of them won't work Alien vs Predator (yuck~!), and we thought that Atonement might be a little bit serious for Boxing Day, so we decided to have an Enchanted afternoon, which should be great fun.

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I'm looking forward to see how 2008 shapes up; 2007 was the year of the "sequel". The Spiderman, Shrek, PotC, and Ocean's franchises had version 3.0 released, and were mostly disappointing (as for me, was The Simpsons'.

Though I think I've seen more films this year, the standouts were: As it is in Heaven, Once and Amazing Grace.

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On a completely different topic, there's a fascinating article describing how Australian's use their annual leave in today's Herald, and it certainly rings true for me. I certainly haven't taken my four weeks leave this year, and the barriers described are not alien to me. There is certainly a need to "work hard" at resting.

Random links..

:: Online campaigns …
Here’s one successful online campaign, maybe we can see more of these on (cough) more important (cough) issues, it will be interesting how activism will work online with the popularity of facebook.

:: Princess Myth…
Here’s an interesting article about the Disney princess myth.(via ALD). Today's Herald also had an interesting article the ‘Princess Myth’.

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Idealism..

I read an interesting piece in the Herald by Hugh Mackay reflecting on an Essay competition for Year 5-12's, the theme of which was What Matters? Mackay wrote in the article that the theme running through many of the entries, including Erin's (the winner): "was the idea that we ourselves, though our own behaviour, are helping to shape the kind of society Australia will become. It is encouraging that read that many young people are also engaging with the question what kind of place is Australia going to be in the future, and what are we going to do about it?" Mission Australia regularly produce a survey of youth (what the value, what worries them, who they turn to for help, its an interesting read).

Here's how Mackay ends his article:

Whether you choose to become a teacher, a politician, a nurse, an engineer, an accountant, a scientist or a carpenter, you'll also be a son or daughter, a sister or brother, a friend, a neighbour, perhaps a husband, wife, father or mother.

You'll also have clients or customers, colleagues, a boss. The way you handle all those personal connections, in all those contexts, will help to determine the kind of society we will become.

Of course, some of you will make huge cultural, scientific or political contributions to the future of Australia; some will turn out to be leaders and visionaries who inspire others on a grand scale. Some will educate us, some will amuse us, some will help to explain us to ourselves. Most of your contributions - like most of ours - might seem less spectacular than any of that, but here's what really matters: the way you respond to the needs of strangers, the way you listen, the way you take other people seriously.

Many of you already know all that. The greatest disservice the rest of us could do you would be to infect your idealism with our weary cynicism.

[Aside: Mission Australia also have a blog which is also worth a read]

And, on a completely different note:

Santa nailed to cross to protest against Xmas commercialism (courtesy of The Age)

Modern Carols

Tonight, I’ve been sitting watching the Carol’s in the Domain, and it got me thinking about the carols we sing. I was reminded of a sermon where one of our pastors read (halfway) through a list of countries which will experience conflict over the Christmas period (Source: International Crisis Watch). Peace on earth certainly doesn’t ring true these days.

Jesus this song you wrote
The words are sticking in my throat
Peace on Earth
Hear it every Christmas time
But hope and history won't rhyme
So what's it worth?
This peace on Earth
Peace on Earth – U2 (All That You Can’t Leave Behind, 2001)

I Heard the Bell’s on Christmas Day was one song that he did like, which quite coincidently a few days earlier I bought Jars of Clay’s CD Christmas Songs, which included it. I am quite struck by the last two verses:

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong, And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"

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December 2, 2006

At the beginning of December Fiona and I headed up the mountains to Leura to celebrate our 1st Wedding Anniversary, 2007 has flown by. It was great to be able to head away for a few days in the Blue Mountains.

I can’t say how awesome it is to come home, after work, or seeing a friend and seeing her smiling face (or her cute sleepy stir and murmur hello). I especially love how we have ended each day together in prayer, for each other, and for our church, and for the world.

While we have certainly had our ups and downs, I would not trade them for the world. I am incredibly blessed to have Fi’s unconditional love, encouragement and companionship, and to likewise be able to love, and support her, as we travel through life’s valleys and pastures together.