Friday, October 29, 2010

Defending Harry Potter - a question of faith

There's an interesting blog I like to check out once or twice a week, Stuff Christian Culture Likes, written by a woman in the US, Stephanie Drury. She has a laser-like ability to identify cultural issues within 21st Christian communities which really aren't based on the key messages of Jesus - and she does so with a wicked sense of satire and irony. I don't always agree with what she writes but it's honest and refreshing.

I agree with the sentiments of her latest post on the issue of Harry Potter. My children and I love reading the Harry Potter novels and the arguments that it promotes witchcraft and the occult are anti-intellectual, anti-education, and anti-faith - it's like a scene from a Monty Python movie, only and sadly actually believed by many people.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Hobbits to roam over New Zealand again

Seems like common sense and good politics has prevailed in the land of the long white cloud. Peter Jackson will keep the The Hobbit movies in New Zealand.

I can't wait to see them and I'm hoping the rating will be low enough so I can take my son.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Finally, Bilbo is revealed

So Martin Freeman is to play Bilbo Baggins in the two Hobbit movies in pre-production. It's an interesting choice - a comedic actor. Does this indicate that Peter Jackson's script will have a lighter touch than the Lord of the Rings trilogy?

We can only wait to see - let's hope that the industrial issues over pay won't delay a movie that millions are waiting for. Tolkien's great novel has a balance of humour and drama and the challenge will be to be make it as dramatic and as visually appealing as Lord of the Rings.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Commonwealth Games

Delhi belly - this medical condition just about sums up these Commonwealth Games. When Australia can win so many medals, is it really worth the hype.
 
There's no atmosphere, no excitement - the highlight of the games will only come when the Diamonds take on the Silver Ferns in the netball final.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Entering the land of cyberia

It was drummed into me to never start a sentence with 'it' and, look, I've gone and done it (and I ended the first par with it).

I don't expect anyone to read this first post but I have start somewhere. No grand statements of intent or trying to save the world for this blog.

Just some random idea to start a blog and see what happens - although I might use this to write a book.

More later ...