Which movies would you like to see added to the list?

Hello, all. Suman and I are in the process of watching every single movie that has won a Best Picture academy award, so we'll be putting those up as we get to them. We'll also make sure every movie that's been the subject of a Gathering Movie Night (whether it's on campus or at a theatre) is added.

But there are numerous other movies out there, and new ones coming out all the time. So, which movies do you think would benefit The Gathering by having a review (remember, the prime focus of the reviews is to note spiritual content)?

We'd love to hear what movies you want to see reviewed, so feel free to comment to this blog with your recommendations.

REVIEW: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

The Return of the King, the third and final chapter in Peter Jackson's THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, finds Middle-earth in the midst of upheaval. Our fearless hobbits Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) are nearing Mordor to destroy the Ring in the fires of Mount Doom. Meanwhile Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) are sparring with Denethor (John Noble), and Merry (Dominic Monaghan) joins the Riders of Rohan to hold back the forces of Sauron. All this, plus Aragorn's (Viggo Mortensen) rise to his destiny, with Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) battling for Middle-earth. Spectacular visuals complement Jackson's sharp focus on the characters and their emotional battles, in this adaptation of JRR Tolkien's classic novel. While the special effects help to create huge battles and frightening creatures on a previously unseen scale, they never outshine the excellent ensemble of actors who bring the heart of the story home. A truly astounding work of filmmaking, The Return of the King skillfully concludes one of the greatest trilogies in cinema history.

POSITIVE CONTENT: Themes of friendship, providence, the distinction between good and evil, prejudice, stewardship of the land, heroism, temptation and addiction, personal sacrifice, fulfilling one's calling, the wages of sin, servant-leadership and more. In a moving example of devoted loyalty, Sam picks up an exhausted Frodo and says, "I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you".

NEGATIVE CONTENT: Very minor. Middle Ages military violence is frequent and intense, but, in the depiction, never crosses the line to being gratuitous. Some viewers will cringe at creepiness of Smeagol's transformation into Gollum. The hard PG-13 content relegates this to no one younger than preteen.

SPIRITUAL CONTENT: Gandalf and Pippin talk about death and the afterlife in a way that invites comparison to the Christian understanding of heaven. When their battle seems lost, Pippin says, "I never thought it would end like this," to which Gandalf replies, "End? No, the journey doesn't end here. There's another path we all must take...". Although Tolkien insists that his stories are not allegorical, it's easy to see his Christian views at work. On a more minor note, marriage and family are noble rewards for at least two characters.

REVIEW: The Dark Knight (2008)

How do you follow up the solid reboot that was Batman Begins? Director Christopher Nolan does an amazing job meeting expectations with Dark Knight, dazzling us with deep moral themes and sheer spectacle. Nolan gets even deep into the Batman character in this one, and juxtaposes the Joker to comment on the human condition (the Joker comments in one scene to Batman, "You complete me" and he means it). In this tale, Bruce Wayne is growing weary of being the heroic vigilante, hoping for a normal life. But his run in with the Joker makes this nearly impossible.
Christian Bale performs superbly in his second appearance as Batman/Wayne. But Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker is a real treat, suggesting a posthumous Oscar for best actor. His Joker is a sadist without limit, and wants Batman to be the same. But no fear, we have the characters Alfred (Michael Cane) and Lucious Fox (Morgan Freeman) to give Wayne the moral compass he needs. This film is a must see for any silver screen officianado, though I'd leave the young ones home for this. Incredibly complex, it's haunting and full of unexpected surprises.

POSITIVE CONTENT: There's no question as to good and evil here. But the film asks an excellent question: to what extent should a person go to when fighting evil? The Joker comments that Batman has rules, but the Joker doesn't. Elsewhere, Licious Fox draws the line on not participating in unethical behavior. And then there's Batman himself, who is willing to sacrifice himself for the people of Gotham. It should also be noted that Batman's body count is zero. He fights, but never kills, anyone in this film. Lastly, Commissioner Gordon is the one untouchable in a corrupt workplace.

NEGATIVE CONTENT: There are several scenes some might consider brutality when trying to get the bad guys to talk, though the scenes are not given praise in the storyline.

SPIRITUAL CONTENT: No overt references to faith, but Batman's willingness to sacrifice himself for all people in Gotham gets an honorable mention.

TRIVIA:

• This is the first Batman film to not have "Batman" in the title.
• Off-duty Chicago Police Officers along with Officers from Elyria OH, Hammond IN, Buffalo Grove IL and Joliet IL played Gotham Police officer extras.
• The Gotham license plates are modeled directly off of those of the state of Illinois.
• Holds the record for reaching the $500 million mark the fastest, after 45 days. The former record holder was Titanic (1997) (98 days).
• Made more money than Batman Begins (2005) entire domestic run in only 6 days of release.
• Had the biggest three-day opening weekend of all time with $158 million beating Spider-Man 3 (2007).
• Set a new record for the biggest opening-day gross at the box office with $66.4 million. Former record holder was Spider-Man 3 (2007).
• Had the biggest number of opening theaters with 4366. Former record holder was Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007).
• Set a weekend box-office record for IMAX venues with $6.2 mil. Former record holder was Spider-Man 3 (2007).
• Set a new mark for money earned in midnight showings when it grossed $18.5 million. Former record holder was Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005).
• Holds the record for reaching the $400 million mark the fastest, after 18 days. The former record holder was Shrek 2 (2004) (43 days).
• Holds the record for reaching the $200 million mark the fastest, after only 5 days.
• Holds the record for reaching the $300 million mark the fastest, after only 10 days. Former record holder was Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006).

REVIEW - No Country For Old men (2007)

Texas Sheriff Ed Tom Bell remembers a day when respected lawmen could deal with a problem without having to even draw their firearms. He's tried to follow those old-timers' lessons throughout his career, but things nowadays just don't seem to be that easy.

Case in point: A local man named Llewelyn Moss is out hunting when he stumbles upon a drug deal gone bad. Amidst the bodies of dead men and attack dogs he finds $2 million. And though he's usually a levelheaded guy, he can't help but think of the good life that the cash could bring, so he takes it.

But what the money brings is a psychopathic killer named Anton Chigurh who's sent to retrieve the lost fortune. Llewelyn tries to use his hard-earned skills as a hunter and Vietnam vet to evade the heartless stalker, but Chigurh is relentless, and corpses begin to stack up like cordwood.

Sheriff Bell wants desperately to help Llewelyn and stop the carnage, but he always seems to be one step behind the quick-moving men. On top of that, the wizened officer realizes that he may be outside his depth on this one. Over the years, things have changed in some very bad and evil ways. And he may now be living in a world where a good man with good intentions can't make a difference anymore.

In conclusion, NCFOM is not a "happy ending" movie. It's a dark movie that's incredibly thought provoing, but not necessarily morally redeeming. If you're looking for a movie that requires processing and stays with you afterwards, this film is right up your alley.

POSITIVE CONTENT:

There are a few moments of characters doing the right thing, regardless of the cost. When Llewelyn comes upon the site of the drug deal shootout, he finds one man alive and begging for water. He takes the money and leaves the wounded man, but later he's driven by his conscience to return with water. In another scene, Llewelyn's wife, Carla Jean, goes along with her husband's plans for absconding with the money, but when he tells her he's going to put her on a plane out of town, she responds, "I ain't gonna leave you in the lurch." She eventually goes to the police out of concern for his safety. Elsewhere, the sheriff believes that revenge and "getting even" are foolish pursuits. He says, "All the time you spend to get back what's been took from you, more's just goin' out the door." It's also pointed out that the gradual eroding of respectful and civil interactions in a society inevitably leads to worse and worse things.

NEGATIVE CONTENT: Intense and bloody violence is the meat and potatoes of this movie. For example, it opens with Llewelyn stumbling upon about a dozen dead men and dogs scattered haphazardly between pockmarked pickup trucks.

SPIRITUAL CONTENT: God is either not thought much about or He's not thought much of in No Country for Old Men. "I always figured that when I got older God would come into my life," the beaten down sheriff grumbles. "He didn't."

TRIVIA:

• "No Country for Old Men", the title of the novel the film is based on, is part of the first line from W.B. Yeats' poem, "Sailing to Byzantium". The full line is "That is no country for old men".
• The Coen Brothers used a photo of a brothel patron taken in 1879 as a model for Anton Chigurh's hair style.
• Contrary to most successful films made from books, much of the film's action is taken word for word from Cormac McCarthy's 2005 novel, and even occurs in the same order of events. Bell's final speech in the film, for instance, can be read on the final page of the book.
• While on location in Marfa, Texas, "There Will Be Blood" (2007) was filming nearby. While filming a wide shot of the landscape one day, directors Joel and Ethan Coen had to halt shooting for the day due to pyrotecnics from There Will Be Blood going off in the same frames.
• Anton Chigurgh and Llewellyn Moss are seen dressing injuries a sum of five times in the movie. Five is also the number of locks that Anton breaks in the movie.

(excerpts from "Plugged-In")

REVIEW: Get Smart (2008)

Maxwell Smart, our favorite retro spy spoof, is back from decades-old syndicated tv! Except this time, he's not the super-sleuth, he's a mundane bumbling analyst, who gets promoted to agent when all other field agents' identities of CONTROL are compromised. Partnered with Agent 99 (the only agent not compromised) are off to fight their arch-rival KAOS.
This movie has most of the original series comedy, and manages, albeit barely, to make it fresh for a new generation. There is plenty of slapstick, and just enough James Bond-esqueness to make this movie fun. If you're looking for a carbon copy of the 1960's TV show, all we can say is "Sorry about that, Chief." But if you're looking for a mindless, fun, enjoyable movie that's not overly cerebral, this movie is a perfect pick.

SOCIAL CONTENT: This movie is a polite reminder to baby boomers that, the more things change, he more things remain the same. It's also a very gentle reminder that the days of the Cold War are long behind us.

POSITIVE CONTENT: Good guys wear white, and the bad guys wear black. There's no greying of morals morals here. Max's promotion is a testament to believing in yourself and not giving up. There's also a clear lesson of loyalty that's not lost in between the spoofing.

NEGATIVE CONTENT: A few moments of mild non offensive sexual innuendos.

SPIRITUAL CONTENT: It's classic good vs evil. There's no mistaking one for the other.

TRIVIA:

• The items in the CONTROL Museum are from the original television series, including the Shoe Phone, the portable Cone of Silence, a red Sunbeam Tiger and a snub-nosed revolver.
• Max and 99 fly on Yarmy International Airlines. Yarmy is Don Adams' actual last name.
• During the opening credits there are clippings of Get Smart villains from the series including Mr. Big and the Claw.
• There are references to the three cars that were shown in the original television series (Sunbeam Tiger, Volkswagen Karman Ghia, and Opel GT).
• Bernie Kopell, who played Siegfried on the original series, makes a cameo.
• Jennifer Love Hewitt and Rachel McAdams were considered for the part of "Agent 99" before it went to Anne Hathaway.
• When the project was in development in 1998, Jim Carrey was attached to star.

REVIEW: Life of Emile Zola, The (1937)

Recently, Suman and I decided to sit down and watch every film that has won a Best Picture Academy Award. One of those films was a wonderful work called The Life of Emile Zola, filmed in 1937, about the life of the famous writer. This is a film I highly recommend. It is incredibly passionate and moving. Being based on historical events, it remains remarkably true to the facts. It moves quickly through the author's early years, and spend the majority of its time on the trial that Zola underwent after he published his celebrated "J'Accuse" (I Accuse) which condemned the hypocrisy and corruption of the military establishment. The Military had falsely accused a high-ranking captain, Capt. Alfred Dreyfus, of treason, and then attempted a massive cover-up when it realized it had made a mistake.

The only historical inaccuracy I saw was at the end. The movie depicts Dreyfus regaining his military comission right after returning from Devil's Island (and on the same day as Zola's death). In reality, though, Dreyfus was retried and found guilty again by a tribunal in 1899, but was pardoned by the President. He was not cleared of charges and reinstated until 1906. Also absent in the film was the fact that Zola had produced two children from a 14-year affair with one of his housemaids, and no children through is wife. My guess is that 1930's propriety in films probably discouraged such anecdotes.

POSITIVE: The film is incredibly moving, and moves with a sharp and dramatic pace. Despite the fact that this film was made in the 1930's, the quality of filmmaking is not diminished by time.

NEGATIVE: The early part of the film spends too little time on Zola's early life, almost making it a sidenote. Those wishing to learn more about his rise to fame won't find much here. Also, Zola's longtime friendship with noted painter Paul Cezanne deserves more screentime than it received. Lastly, the 1930's sound quaity, even on the remastered DVD, leaves a bit to be desired. But that is more an issue of available technology of the day, and not a detraction from the story.

SOCIAL CONTENT: The film touches on the importance of freedom of speech, the right to a fair and impartial trial with a jury of one's peers, and freedom of the press. We in today's society often take these ideals for granted. Viewers are likely to have greater appreciation for these ideals. The arguments of institutional corruption (a common theme in Zola's writings) resonate as much today as they did when the film was first released.

SPIRITUAL CONTENT: There is a brief moment where Zola, during his libel trial, points to a painting of Jesus crucified, referring to great men who willingly went to trial despite being innocent.

TRIVIA:

• The film was shot in reverse order.
• Paul Muni, the actor who played Emile Zola, grew his own beard for the role; it was trimmed and darkened as he proceeded to scenes where Zola is younger.
• Paul Muni's makeup took 3-1/2 hours to apply each morning.The film's score is by Max Steiner, wo also scored "Casablanca", "Gone with the Wind", "A Star Is Born", and "The Jazz Singer".

AWARDS:

• Best Picture: Warner Bros. (Henry Blanke, producer)
• Supporting Actor: Joseph Schildkraut
• Best Writing, Screenplay: Heinz Herald, Geza Herczeg and Norman Reilly Raine