Movie Review: "The Day The Earth Stood Still"

Many will remember the original black and white movie “The Day the Earth Stood Still”. It was a classic. This year’s version is a remake. Like most remakes, there are two story lines. The first is the movie itself and it’s message. The second is the contrast between the re-make and the original and it’s portrayal of the cultural changes that occurred between the two movies.

The classic black-and-white version of The Day the Earth Stood Still has been recognized as a Christian allegory: An alien (higher being) taking the form of man comes from the heavens to Earth preaching peace. He's murdered by those he came to save even thought they reject or don't understand his message. He rises form the dead and preaches a message that if not embraced by men they will die. In essence He saves man.

In the 2008 version instead of simply warning mankind to behave, Klaatu (played by Keanu Reeves) and his robot pal Gort (much larger and with more dramatic special effects this time are on a mission to retrieve a sampling of Earth's species ( symbolic of Noah's Ark) before the Earth and Mankind are wiped out. The Earth is dying or should we say being destroyed by man (environmental message). Man had their chance. Now it's time for the higher powers of the Universe to reboot the planet. The emphasis shifted from saving “Man” to saving the “Earth”.

Klaatu is shot and wounded- not killed and brought back to life (i.e. the resurrection imagery is removed). His birth is pictured as his DNA in a cocoon that resembles “placental tissue” growing into a man. The government and military complex is again portrayed as evil and unable to “get it”. Their only solution is violence.

It’s reasonable to view Klaatu as a Christ figure. He arrives from another world and is "born" as one of us. Nonviolent by nature, he has healing power, can restore life to the dead, warns that our sinful predispositions will lead to our destruction, and appears to surrender his life to save humanity. It breaks down from there, but comparing and contrasting the missions of Klaatu and the biblical Jesus could profit mature viewers.

-Larry Dormois, DDS, PhD, etc.

Movie Review: “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas”

This movie is based on a John Boynes children’s novel. The story centers on the odd friendship between the son of a WWII German concentration camp, Bruno, and an eight year old Jewish inmate, Schmuel.

Bruno moves with his sister and parents from the hustle and bustle of wartime Berlin to an isolated house near a concentration camp. Boredom drives Bruno to the edge of the camp where he meets Schmuel. Despite the electrified wire separating them, the two strike up a close friendship. Ethnic and familial ties are tried throughout the story.

The author and director’s attempt to portray the story through the innocent eyes of a child is quite elegant. I was pleasantly surprised by the thoughtful development of the children’s relationship despite the stresses of war and family discord. The plot was somewhat predictable. We were spared the gore of yet another holocaust movie. The cinematography and score were above average.

Review: William Hogarth: Master of Satire

This exhibition features prints of the 17th Century Englishman, William Hogarth. Hogarth was a satirist and critic who pioneered sequential art. The main work displayed is “Rakes Progress.” This comic-strip like series of prints chronicles the moral decline and fall of Tom Rakewell. Rakewell is the fictitious heir of a rich London merchant who wastes his money on riotous living and ultimately lands in prison. These prints are on display at the Brooks Museum until 3/15/09

Review: The Baroque World of Fernando Botero

This exhibition features paintings, sketches and sculpture of Columbian Fernando Botero. The style of his works are based on his childhood exposure to Baroque architecture and art of Roman Catholic churches in Northern Columbia. Most of the featured paintings deal with the religion, politics and Latin American society in general. All animal and human subjects are malproportioned and fat. Some of the paintings were warped to the point of being gaudy. The most interesting objects were the sculptures featured in front of the entrance of the museum.

This exhibit is running at the Brooks Museum from 11/19/08- 1/11/09

Movie Review “Billy: The Early Years”

This film chronicles the early life of evangelist Billy Graham through the eyes of a dying Charles Templeton. Charles Templeton co-founded Youth for Christ with Billy Graham. Templeton later renounced Christianity and actually published an agnostic apologetic.

This movie has an odd cast and director. Robby Benson directs. Martin Landau is an elderly Charles Templeton. Jennifer O’Neill (Summer of ’42) plays Templeton’s television interviewer. Lindsay Wagner (Bionic Woman) is Billy Graham’s mother. Armand Hammer’s grandson portrays Graham. Ice skating great, Scott Hamilton, makes a cameo appearance as a university professor.

The quality of the script and budget are better than an average “B” movie, but not quite up to “A” movie standards. Graham is portrayed in a fairly benevolent light. I’m not sure who the intended audience is. The message is not the usually overt evangelical dialogue of a low budget “Christian” movie (Facing the Giants), but not quite up to the standards of a mainstream Hollywood film.

Dixon Museum Review: The Road to Impressionism: Barbizon Paintings from the Walters Art Museum

This fine exhibition features mid nineteenth century paintings from the Barbizon school, named after the French village of Barizon near Foutainbleau Forest. Instead of using nature as a backdrop for their paintings, this group used nature as both subject and inspiration. The style of painting is generally considered the forerunner of late nineteenth century Impressionism.

Also at the Dixon is a wonderful companion show The Road to Claude Monet: Four Paintings and Three Others. The exhibit includes four Monet’s and works of Camille Corot, Alfred Sisley and Camille Passaro. Featured paintings are from both the Dixon’s permanent collection and a private art collector in San Francisco.

Movie Review: "Eagle Eye"

This action thriller throws together Jerry Shaw, an intelligent young rebel who works at “Copy Cabana” and Rachel, a single young mother working as a paralegal. Their sad lives include the recent death of Jerry’s twin brother and Rachel’s young son’s departure for a band field trip. A female calls the duo with very explicit instructions- threatening to kill them and their loved ones. Their every move is tracked and controlled by everyday technology.

The action is so intense and rapid, that it is difficult to keep up with who and what is being threatened and destroyed. The plot is a little above average in sophistication. If you’re looking for an action flick without a lot of bad language and people doing the wild thing on screen - this is it.