Music Builds Tour supports Habitat for Humanity
The sun set to the west, the cool San Diegan air blew through the fan-packed stadium, and the first beat of the drums and strums of the guitars filled the Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre. The Music Builds Tour erupted Saturday night with a packed show featuring Jars of Clay, Robert Randolf and the Family Band, Switchfoot, and Third Day on the main stage and The Howls, This Holiday Life and The Daylights playing on a side stage.
“Religulous” documentary does not play fair
“Religulous” demands to be seen by intelligent Christian apologists. It’s a documentary that asks difficult questions about creationism, Christology, and questions like how could Jonah survive in the belly of a fish. When comparing Christ to Santa Claus, a Christian believer responds in an interview that he doesn’t believe in Santa. “Of course not,” Maher replies, “that’s ridiculous! One man flying all around the world and dropping presents in chimneys. But one man listening to everyone murmur to him at the same time, that I get.”
Scotty’s offers unique treats
Scotty’s Flowers & Gifts is just down the street from Biola’s campus, and it’s the home to a plethora of snow cone flavors – twelve to be exact. Among favorites are “Kaui Cherry” and “Aloha Strawberry.” Customers can choose between a traditional snow cone or a creation exclusive to Scotty’s.
“The Boys in the Trees” a beautiful, sad success
It is a common criticism that modern fiction writers produce depressing and gloomy novels. Mary Swan fits this rather uncomplimentary profile with her first book, “The Boys in the Trees,” but in her case, it works out well.
“Choke” a strong adaptation
Every once in a while in cinema, there are films that provide unique insights and a quest for grace and meaning, despite their rough ages. This is evident in the new adaptation of the Chuck Palahniuk novel, “Choke.”
“Miracle at St. Anna” lacks plot focus
After Clint Eastwood released “Letters from Iwo Jima” and “Flags of Our Fathers,” Spike Lee berated him for the lack of black characters in either film. Eastwood responded by informing Lee that he should “shut his face.” Instead of giving a similarly witty retort, Lee made “Miracle at St. Anna,” a film about the trials of four black soldiers who are trapped in a Tuscan village by the German army.
“Battle in Seattle” explores social issues
Many people do not know of the events surrounding the World Trade Organization’s meeting almost 10 years ago in Seattle. Some of us may vaguely remember the news of protests and riots on the West Coast, but globalization is part of our everyday vocabulary, and the events of 1999 were crucial to raising awareness for its impact on developing countries, labor and the environment.
“Eagle Eye” excites without overwhelming
This September’s “Eagle Eye” may have taken pointers from the 1998 film “Enemy of the State,” but director D.J. Caruso manages to separate his paranoid actioner from being a carbon copy of the Will Smith thriller. Although the plot treads the familiar line of political propaganda and Big Brother-like suspicion, “Eagle Eye” does a great job at keeping the attention on the interaction of the characters while creating tense action sequences.
“The Lucky Ones” tells story of soldiers’ return
Movies about the Iraq war seem to be quite unpopular at the box office, but that doesn’t seem to stop filmmakers from making them. It’s important to these storytellers to express their feelings and their beliefs about the war, despite the fact that so few people will actually watch their movies.
Fleet Foxes take on the El Rey
Seattle-based Fleet Foxes performed at the El Rey Theatre in downtown Los Angeles on Sept. 23, kindly giving a chance to those of us who couldn’t get to their sold-out show the day before. Four friends and I, show enthusiasts that we are, braved the sardine feel of a less-than-roomy pickup truck during the long drive.
Jack’s Mannequin album grows on the listener
I’ve often found that my favorite records are those that aren’t instantly catchy – the discs that grow on you are usually the ones that grow to be larger than the quick flavor-of-the-day single that smashes the iTunes charts. Jack’s Mannequin’s new release, “The Glass Passenger,” is just one of those types of albums.
Promising indie film “Save Me” brings little peace
Sometimes films with noble intentions try to strike a balance when dealing with controversial subjects, in order to draw more people than they demonize. Yet sometimes this can backfire and make a film that is muddled, like the recent “Save Me.”
The heart of poet Dana Gioia’s work is being able to capture the beauty of God’s creation: “What beauty does is beauty draws us to the...