Prepare for what will most likely be the shortest Year in Movies post of the year. June is a busy month in the life of a youth minister so little time is left for movies. Get over it.
Slumdog Millionare
See my write up from April. Rating:
Fanboys
Staring a whole bunch of nobodies and Kristen Bell, Fanboys is the story of a group of friends who attempt to break into the Skywalker Ranch in order to see Episode I before it’s released. The reason? One of the friends is dying and wont make the release date. Despite the underlaying reason for the adventure, the movie is downright hilarious and throws a nice nod to Star Wars fans. There are cameos from just about everyone working in Hollywood including Billy Dee Williams and Carrie Fisher. It’s a great movie well worth your hour and a half. Rating:
The Wrestler
If you’re looking for a feel-good movie about a broken down old man who finds redemption upon reaching out to his estranged daughter and stripper girlfriend, this isn’t your movie. Mickey Rourke deserved all the awards and nominations, but the ending of the film (though justified) left a bitter taste on the whole thing. It’s alright, but not worth a repeat viewing — unless you’re a glutton for punishment. Rating:
Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen
From Premiere’s Robert Calvert:
It is unapologetic about delivering what it promises. Bigger battles. Massive explosions. Megan Fox looking hot.
If that’s all you’re looking for then Transformers 2 delivers. Though if you’re looking for something a bit more, something with an actual story that makes sense, then Transformers 2 is not a movie for you. Thing is the movie isn’t bad, it’s just not good. Just about everything that takes place in the film is pointless and, at times, ridiculous. Cinematical has a nice list of seven absurdities and it’s a pretty good evaluation of the film as a whole. Though I’d add two more absurdities to the list: The hot college girl who’s really a violent Decepticon with a crazy tail and tongue and the fact that everything in the film left a “why didn’t they do that before” question in my head. If all you’re looking for is a popcorn movie, or the chance to see Megan Fox on a giant screen, then go see the film. If you actually want to be able to tell the different Transformers apart, or actually see what they’re doing, you might want to skip it. Rating:
Megan Fox's 'acting' was good enough to merit $387 million dollars at the worldwide box office over opening weekend.
Earlier in the year I explained how you could use a little device to geotag photos for use with iPhoto. Last week when I upgraded my first generation iPhone to the new 3GS, I realized a much easier way to accomplish the same thing.
If you have an iPhone 3G or 3GS you can very easily geotag photos in iPhoto. Make sure you have “Location Services” turned on (iPhone settings under “general”) and then, while you’re out taking pictures, just take one with your iPhone camera. Using the built in GPS, the picture you take will be properly geotagged.
Just two simple steps. No extra software needed.
When you get back to your computer and are uploading everything into iPhoto, ⌘-click on the picture taken with your iPhone and select “Copy.” Then, select all of the picture you took with your other, non-GPS camera, and then ⌘-click and select “Paste Location.” All of your photos will be automatically geotagged and be available on the “Places” map in iPhoto.
When I landed in Nicaragua a few weeks back, an interesting thing happened. I turned on my iPhone so that I could text my contact parent back in the states and let them know we were all set. That’s when I received this text:
Claro is the cell provider in Nicaragua and, surprisingly, has excellent coverage all across the country (at lest the 60 or so KM I traveled). This was the second foreign country I took my iPhone to, and the first that greeted me upon arrival. What a cool thing. It made me very happy to be in Nicaragua. Then a few moments later I received this text:
Thanks, AT&T, for proving you’re an evil conglomerate corporation that cares nothing more than making a dollar. I had turned all the data features on my phone off prior to traveling because I knew that the bill could rise in a hurry, but $19.97 a megabyte? Really? I was floored.
And in case you had any questions, AT&T did not welcome me back to the States with a friendly text message. I bet Claro wouldn’t have any problems with iPhone tethering…
I meant to post this awhile back, but I left for Nicaragua the day after it aired so whatever. It’s pretty awesome.
It all started when Serious Lunch made the allegation that Conan O’Brien’s new backdrop was inspired by Super Mario Bros. It was then picked up by Gizmodo (where I saw it) and eventually, within hours, made it’s way to The Tonight Show.
This. Is. Awesome.
Was it done on purpose or is Conan’s backdrop one massive coincidence? You be the judge.
I first discovered La Chureca in January at the National Youth Ministry Convention. There, Braddigan was talking about the work that his Love, Light & Melody organization does there. La Chureca is the city dump in Managua, Nicaragua. It’s just like the city dump in your town except for the 1,500 families that live there. Among the trash, the fires, and the sewage. People live there. Children go to school there. It’s hard to imagine.
When my youth group decided to go to Nicaragua and the organization we ended up working with told me they do work in La Chureca, I knew God was pointing us where we all needed to be. Right to the dump. Amongst the trash. With the people who live there.
We went in with World Missions Outreach and washed kids feet and then gave them new shoes, probably for the first time. Some four or five groups of sixteen kids at a time. Picture seeing a kid’s face getting brand new shoes that light up for the first time. It’s difficult to explain just what this meant and the experience there, but just know that it was amazing.
Next door to the school in La Chureca is a church that is completely run by the children who live there. They give the messages, lead the prayers, everything. In a dump. Children run a church. It’s amazing.
These measly words on this screen and the few pictures I’m going to attach throughout won’t do life in La Chureca or our experience any justice but just know it was incredible and, despite the circumstances, God is really working there.
Fanboys
