American Gospel: Christ Alone a review

 American Gospel: Christ Alone is a 2018 documentary which became available on Netflix in May 2020. Written and directed by Brandon Kimber, American Gospel offers a critical critique of the Word of Faith Movement also known as the prosperity gospel and its influence on Christianity. Through expert interviews, biblical references and personal testimony, the documentary exposes the dangers of the prosperity gospel as well as the call to refocus on the true gospel. Through the Word of Faith history into the prosperity gospel of today, American Gospel argues that salvation with through Christ alone and a call to return to the true gospel, the gospel of Jesus. The Bible gives example after example that Jesus is the hero, the source of our salvation. Throughout the Old Testament, God is saying we need a better lawgiver, we need a better judge, we need a better king and we need a better prophet. The New Testament is Jesus as the fulfillment of those needs. The prosperity gospel teaches man as the hero and God is simply a genie in a lamp to make requests. What is the core of the documentary? What are the praises and well as the criticisms?

American Gospel opens with the core of what Christianity and the gospel is about and that is Jesus. The Bible teaches that faith in Jesus brings salvation and from other the fruit of good work follows. The prosperity gospel appeals to two basic human desires: 1) not to be sick or unhealthy and 2) to be wealthy, not to have to worry about money. A common theme among all the prosperity gospel proponents is that Christians are called to be healthy and wealthy and if you are not, then your faith isn’t big enough or strong enough. It is idolatry as it elevates the gift above the Gift Giver. At the heart of the prosperity gospel is “the more money you give to the Lord’s work, the more likely God will answer your prayers.” The prosperity gospel is a softer, gentler salvation by works. It is still the law, “do this and be blessed.” American Gospel focuses on exposing the falseness of these various teachers including Benny Hinn’s and his “healings” and well as Todd White of Gateway Church. The prosperity gospel teaches that you cannot speak against or criticize the anointed (aka the pastors) and if we do, God will curse us. However, Scripture after Scripture that tells us that we are to hold our teachers accountable and call out the false teachers. In Acts 17:11 tells us that the Bereans heard Paul’s message and checked it against the Scriptures to make sure what he said was true.

The documentary has been praised by many. American Gospel reveals that “the money changers are still in the temple, still making God’s name a mockery” (Strachan, 2019) as Costi Hinn, nephew of Benny Hinn and former Prosperity Gospel follower, “provides a key perspective that is brutally honest while being compassionate” (Vandenboom, 2020). I had known little about the Prosperity Gospel before this documentary. I had tried researching it before and the information out there was so convoluted that I eventually stopped. I knew it wasn’t biblically based as many of the teachers in the Prosperity Gospel rarely teach from Scripture with specific verses. The Prosperity Gospel’s main teaching is the “Name it and Claim it” doctrine, essentially the Power of Positive Thinking that God calls all Christians to be healthy and wealthy while ignoring the truly sick. Justin Peters of Justin Peters Ministries has made it his mission to expose the fallacy of the faith healers like Benny Hinn. I also liked that American Gospel shows why the Prosperity Gospel has been able to thrive in the United States as “America has always been a pragmatic, can-do kind of country” and “the material focus of the “gospel” suits the American culture” (Strachan, 2019).

American Gospel is not without its critics as Todd White, who is featured prominently in the film as a false teacher and faith healer, has stated that the film has been “demonically inspired” (Bjornson, 2020). Another criticism is that the film “enables a patriarchal power structure” (Pidcock, 2020) as men were interview for an instructional purpose while women were interviewed for their emotional stories. Unfortunately, many churches have a prohibition against women in leadership roles, especially as senior pastors. However, it doesn’t mean that women cannot have an active role the church, but that’s a different post. Another criticism is the film’s view on sin and justice (Pidcock, 2020). In the film, Ray Comfort, a minister, is seen doing his common Ten Commandments confrontation with a stranger, and with a microphone and camera in this individual’s face, Comfort questions and questions about lawbreaking until this person relents and admits he is a sinner. I understand Comfort’s motivation to share the gospel in the world; however, this is the part of the film I did not like. It is a common evangelistic method: confront, pray the sinner’s prayer, and then move on. I think the film would still have an impact without featuring Ray Comfort and this tactic.

In conclusion, American Gospel opened my eyes to the prosperity gospel which I have heard about in the last decade but didn’t truly delve into it very deeply. I knew it felt wrong, against my understanding of the Bible. The basics of prosperity gospel is great faith leads to health and wealth. The truth is that is not a great faith we need but a small faith (a mustard seed as Jesus says in Luke 17:6) and a great God. While the idea that we can be healthy and wealthy simply undermines the many examples in the gospel in which Jesus tells people to give up everything and follow him. The story of Jesus and the rich young man in Mark 10:17-31 comes to mind. The Church needs to refocus on the focus of Christianity in Jesus. Christianity is simply Jesus and nothing else. American Gospel is not perfect; however, it does an amazing job expose the truth behind the prosperity gospel. A teaching which doesn’t allow you to question and challenge your pastors is not a teaching we need in the church today. I recommend watching American Gospel and take the information they present to begin an investigation of your own. 

References

Bjornson, Greta (May 29, 2020). ‘American Gospel Christ Alone’ Controversy: Why The Film is Dividing Netflix Viewers. Decider. www.decider.com/2020/05/29/american-gospel-netflix-controversy/. Retrieved September 13, 2020.

 

Pidcock, Rick (August 14, 2020). Six ways ‘American Gospel’ is small-minded and abusive. Baptist News Global. www.baptistnews.com/article/six-ways-american-gospel-is-small-minded-and-abusive/#.X15cS2hKi1t. Retrieved September 13, 2020.

 

Strachan, Owen (January 17, 2019). ‘American Gospel’ Blows a Hole in the Prosperity Gospel. The Gospel Coalition. www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/american-gospel-blows-hole-prosperity-gospel/. Retrieved September 13, 2020.

 

Vandenboom, Liza (June 22, 2020). “American Gospel” Shows Real-Life Consequences Of Poor Theology. Ministry Watch. www.ministrywatch.com/american-gospel-shows-tangible-consequences-of-poor-theology/. Retrieved September 13, 2020. 

Cobra Kai: a reexamination of The Karate Kid narrative

Cobra Kai is the YouTube action comedy-drama series which takes place 34 years after the events of The Karate Kid (1984). Created by Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg, and Josh Heald, it stars Ralph Macchio and William Zabka who reprise their roles as Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence and serve as co-executive producers. Cobra Kai also stars Xolo Mariduena as Miguel Diaz, Courtney Henggeler as Amanda LaRusso, Daniel’s wife, Tanner Buchanan as Robbie Kenne as Johnny’s estranged son, and Mary Mouser as Samantha LaRusso as Daniel and Amanda’s teenage daughter. The series sets to reexamine The Karate Kid narrative from Johnny Lawrence’s point of view and the aftermath of his defeat in the first film. Season One was released on May 2, 2018 and season 2 was released on April 24, 2019. A third season is expected to release sometime in 2020.

After his defeat in the 1984 All-Valley Karate Tournament, Johnny Lawrence had fallen hard from his wealthy lifestyle in Encino. Now in his 50s, Johnny works construction and lives in an apartment in Reseda. After losing his job, the down and out Johnny rescues his teenage neighbor, Miguel, from a gang of bullies by using karate, in similar fashion that Mr. Miyagi had rescued Daniel. As first reluctant, he ultimately agrees to teach Miguel karate and decides to reopen the Cobra Kai. Unfortunately, this decision rekindles his rivalry with Daniel LaRusso, who is now the owner of a highly successful car dealership. Finally living the wealthy lifestyle, he envied as a teen, he struggles to connect with his children and keep his life in balance. The newly open Cobra Kai dojo attracts a group of bullied social outcasts. While the Cobra Kai philosophy of “Strike First. Strike Hard. No Mercy” remains the same, Johnny also adds a sense of honor. As a means of revenge against his estranged father, Robbie begins to work for Daniel and develops a close friendship with Daniel and his family. Daniel begins to teach Robbie karate in the style of Mr. Miyagi. The events revolve around the primary characters which lead to conflicts between Johnny and Daniel and their students.

A few ago, someone did an analysis of The Karate Kid in which he states that Johnny was the real victim and Daniel was the bully. I remember the explosion of discussion afterwards. Years of watching the movie and rooting for Daniel, I saw with new eyes and yes, I can see how Johnny was the real victim (the ultimate bully was his mentor and sense John Kreese). Cobra Kai takes that idea and runs with it. In this show, the audience roots for Johnny as he has struggles to overcome his past while Daniel is riding his laurels and fame into the wealth and fortune. I also liked that despite Daniel’s good life, he still has issues. He has lost his connection with his children while his wife and his mother have a tenuous relationship. Daniel also struggles to past on Mr. Miyagi’s teachings and even ignores the first rule of Miyagi Karate: “Karate for defense only” and often takes an attack stance when he confronts Johnny.  Daniel is still a whiny baby, which is one reason I disliked Daniel in The Karate Kid franchise, as he focuses on what doesn’t go his way rather than focuses on what he can do to make it better.

While there wasn’t much I didn’t like about the show, the main aspect of the show I didn’t care for was that by the end of the second season, the stories were more about the teens and their love triangles than about the rivalry between Johnny and Daniel. Although, the animosity between the teens is, in part, fueled by the rivalry and devotion to their respective dojos. Second, there were scenes that were very unbelievable. In one scene, two teens are fighting at the school and there no adults in sight. The fight even grows and covers a lot of ground and still no adults. At one point, a student does bring a teacher, who then cowardly says “I don’t get paid enough” and runs in the other direction. At my high school, the minute someone even whispered “fight,” the administrators and teachers were all over the situation. The extended fight sequences were too farfetched to be believable especially in today’s school atmosphere. However, I will admit that the fight scenes were cool to watch.

In conclusion, Cobra Kai received overwhelmingly positive reviews from both critics and fans. After watching both seasons, I can see why. It is the only recent show in which my husband actually watched all the episodes. The third season is being eagerly awaited as fans want to see the fallout from the season two finale. It is a great mix of nostalgia, drama and action. It shouts out to the fans who helped make The Karate Kid the enduring franchise that it is as well as deals with a few fan theories that have developed over the years. If you get the opportunity to watch Cobra Kai, I highly recommend it.

The Weddings and Scandals collection: Regency Romances

The Weddings and Scandals collection by Joyce Alec is a series of four books set in 19^th century. Regency England. Advertised as heartwarming romances filled with mystery, suspense, and surprising twists and described as “clean and wholesome” with “rakish lords, strong heroines, mystery, and love,” I was intrigued by the series and was set to be taken on a journey of romance and shocking societal scandals. Did the series live up to it’s advertisements?

The Viscount’s Promise opens as Thomas, Viscount Sharpe is at the trial of a friend, Francis Newton. Newton is found guilty of murder but spared the gallows. As he proclaims his innocence, he pleads with Thomas to watch over his younger sister, Julianna. As Thomas agrees, Francis takes a vital of poison and kills himself. Fast forward, one year later, Julianna is preparing for another season in London after being in the country estate of her older brother, Baron Hollard, for mourning. She is terrified of the gossip and fears society will turn their backs on her. Soon her fears are put aside as Julianna and Thomas are put on the trail to discover Francis’s innocence after a strange, bearded man hands them a note. A warning that Julianna and her oldest brother are in danger. Can they find out the truth before its too late?

The Viscount’s Wife is book 2 and opens as Henrietta Reapson marries the Viscount Chaucer. It is a marriage of duty rather than love. She longed to be free from her father’s strict control and hoped her marriage was that breath of freedom. Soon after the wedding, she finds that she has exchanged a strict father for an even stricter husband. But she is determined to make the most of it and hopes her new husband will soften in time. Unfortunately, she finds herself in the middle of a mystery as her husband is missing and she was drugged. With the help of Lord Wickton and his sister, Charlotte, Henrietta finds the strength and courage to stand up for herself and fight for the freedom she desperate craves. Was there more to her marriage than just societal duty? Was there a deeper plot afoot? Can she solve the mystery in time?

The Viscount’s Mystery is book 3 as the Viscount Arthur Wickton is eager for his sister Charlotte to marry and when she is safely married, he would possibly consider his own marriage. Charlotte is having none of that, they make a wager that would satisfy them both. One day, Charlotte and her close friend, Emily Hornsby, come to the rescue of a man being beating in the park. She takes him home to nurse him back to health. The man refuses to give her his name for fear it would put her in danger. Soon the mystery man and Charlotte find themselves in a race against time as he has something in his possession, a journal, that another man desperately wants and would stop at nothing to get it back. What is in that journal that must be kept secret? Can the web be untangled before it is too late?

The Viscount’s Heart is the final book as Wickton begins to enjoy peace and quiet as his sister is now safety married and on her honeymoon. Her friend, Emily, is a now a sought after lady as Wickton helped her gain the attention of various eligible bachelors. Her father, Lord Hornsby, tells Emily she must marry before the end of the season or be shipped off to Scotland to live her life as a spinster. Wickton defends her honor when a possible suitor slights Emily at a ball. Emily puts her concerns for her future are put aside when Wickton goes missing and Emily is determined to discover his whereabouts. She reaches out to Wickton’s friend, Viscount Matthews, for help and together they track down his movements. Can she find Wickton before it’s too late? Who is behind his disappearance?

The Weddings and Scandals series was an easy read. I was able to read all four books in two days. The mysteries were easy to solve. There was not a lot of “scandals” at least I didn’t see the characters really suffering from the events. For instance, the scandal of Francis’s trial and suicide in barely mentioned by characters other than Thomas and Julianna. If these events were so shocking that Julianna would fear returning to London for the season, why is no one else talking about it? And, while each couple is engaged by the end of each story, there are very few weddings too. The only wedding seen in each book is the wedding of Henrietta in the second books. The series is not bad but its not great. If you enjoy Regency romance and want quick and easy reads, I recommend The Wedding and Scandals series.

The Wedding and Scandals series

is available in paperback and eBook

One Chicago: a franchise featuring the great city of Chicago

Some of my new favorite shows are the collective known as One Chicago. It consists of Chicago Fire, Chicago PD and Chicago Med. Created by Michael Brandt and Derek Haas and produced by Dick Wolfe (Law and Order franchise), the shows follow the men and women who serve and protect the citizens of Chicago as well as the medical staff that treats them in emergency situations. The shows air Wednesday night on NBC starting at 8 pm with Chicago Med, followed by Chicago Fire at 9pm and Chicago PD at 10. Although the lineup changes as needed for the franchises crossover episodes. It was recently announced that each show has been renewed for three more seasons. Past episodes are available on streaming services such as Hulu and Amazon Prime Video. They will also be available on NBC’s Peacock streaming service which is set to launch on July 15, 2020.

Chicago Fire premiered October 10, 2012 and is currently in its eighth season. Of the three shows, Chicago Fire is my favorite. It is the stories and lives of the firefighters and paramedics of Firehouse 51. Firehouse 51 is the home of Truck Company 81, Engine Company 51, Rescue Squad 2, Ambulance 61 and Battalion 25. Starring Jesse Spencer as Captain Matt Casey of Truck Company 81. Most might remember him as Dr. Robert Chase from House M.D. (2004-2012). He is usually aloof and introverted, but he is fiercely loyal and protective of the firefighters in this command and in return receives their loyalty and respect. Taylor Kinney plays the handsome and ladies’ man Lieutenant Kelly Severide of Rescue Squad 3. Charismatic, a bit of a maverick, Severide was raised and groomed to climb the ladder within department. And despite the best efforts of some, he is perfectly happy and content with his boots on the ground on calls. There are so many great characters and interactions between them that it looks and feels like it could be a real firehouse. I like the realistic feel (although I’m sure there is a poetic license taken) to the fires and rescues. The impact of the job on the men and woman who risk their lives. I have cried more at Chicago Fire than any other show. Even rewatching episodes years later, I still cry at the emotional impact of the story, despite knowing that the characters service or don’t, it is still a very emotionally impactful.

Chicago P.D. is the first show in the franchise that I was introduced to after it began syndication on the Oxygen, USA and MyNetwork TV (channel 13) channels. Premiering on January 8, 2014 and currently in its seventh season, it follows the elite Intelligence Unit of the Chicago P.D. Lead by Detective Sergeant Hank Voight (played by Jason Beghe), a tough, take-no-prisoners approach to police work and its afraid to bend or even break the law to solve crimes. A few of my favorite characters include Officer Adam Ruzek (played by Patrick John Flueger) who at the beginning of the show as a bit of a whiny show-off but has truly matured into a seasoned officer. Another favorite of mine is Officer Kevin Atwater (played by LaRoyce Hawkins), a loyal brother and friend who is constantly trying to find the balance between being a black man and a brother in blue. Chicago P.D. is one show that has had a revolving door of actors leaving the show. Beginning with Sophia Bush, who played Detective Erin Lindsay and one of the original cast members, left the show after four seasons. Despite the cast changes, the show remains a high octane of drama, suspense and a race against time with a bit of ambiguity. Does the case truly get solved with the bad guy in cuffs or is someone taking the fall? The stories of Chicago P.D. don’t always have the same emotional impact that Chicago Fire does but the stories are impactful and keep you hooked.

Chicago Med is the newest show in the One Chicago franchise and my least favorite. Premiering on November 17, 2015 and currently in its fifth season, it follows the doctors and nurses of the Emergency Department (ED) of the fictional Gaffney Chicago Medical Center. One of my favorite characters is Dr Daniel Charles (played by Oliver Platt), the chief of psychiatry and is often called on to consult on difficult cases. Another favorite character of mine is Sharon Goodwin (played by S Epatha Merkerson, many know her as Lt. Anita Van Buren of Law and Order), the Chief of Patient and Medical Services. She is often called on the make decisions on the legality of treatments, especially against patient wishes, and the allocation of the hospital resources. I do like that Chicago Med often shows the fine line doctors face when treating a patient. How they do they make a treatment decision when the patient is not responsive or cooperative? Can they face the life or death decision and its consequences? One of the reasons I watch the show is that characters from Chicago Fire and Chicago PD will appear as needed for a story. Sometimes the drama between characters is good and other times, especially now with one current storyline, it’s like enough already! One Chicago is known for its crossover specials which follows one case as the department entities deal with a crisis. One of my favorite crossovers is the Infection (October 16, 2019) crossover.

In conclusion, the shows of One Chicago make for a great night of television. Chicago Fire is by far my favorite for being emotional and impactful. Although the stories and actions of its characters may not be too realistic, it still gives an insight to the firefighters and their jobs. And it’s just different from the many police procedurals and medical shows that are on many different networks. Chicago PD is also a great show that shows the sometimes nitty and gritty of police work when the bad guy sometimes isn’t the right bad guy. Chicago Med is still kind of growing on me; but it still isn’t one I rush to watch on Wednesday night. If you haven’t checked out the One Chicago franchise and you have access to the streaming services, I highly recommend starting with Chicago Fire.

The Inn at Hidden Run: linking the present to the past with genealogy

The Inn at Hidden Run by Olivia Newport is the first book in the Tree of Life series. It is the story of one young woman, Meri Davies, searching for a way off her family’s career path, with a link to the historical event of the 1878 Memphis yellow fever outbreak. Meri Davies shows up at the Inn at Hidden Run in the small town of Canyon Mines. Colorado, searching for a job. The owner, Nia, hires her as she needs the help but sees there is more to her story than she is telling. Nia enlists her friend, Jillian, a genealogist and her father, Nolan, a lawyer, to help gather the story from Meri. As they learn new information about Meri, it becomes clear that she is running from something or someone. Will Meri learn to trust Nia, Jillian and Nolan and accept their help? How does the events on 1878 link to Meri and her problem?

It has become very popular among authors to connect the present with historical events. Some do it very well while others have difficulty with it. It was obvious that Meri’s story and the events of the outbreak were connected, and it had something to do with her family, otherwise why would Jillian’s skills as a genealogist be important? While the story held my attention, to the point that I finished it in a few hours but there was no emotional impact for me. When the connection was revealed, there was no “aha!” moment. It was more, “Oh that makes sense” moment. I enjoyed Jillian and her father. I loved the connection they have. While other characters seemed to be downright mean for no reason and one dimensional. Overall, I enjoyed it and I may look into other books in the series. I recommend The Inn at Hidden Run.

The Inn at Hidden Run

is available in eBook and audiobook

Daughtry's Cage to Rattle is great fun music

Cage to Rattle is Daughtry’s fifth studio album, released on July 28, 2018, it was released five years after their last album, Baptized (2013). It received predominately positive reviews from music critics with some calling the album the band’s strongest and most mature to date. Working with a new producer, Jacquie King, the band explores “new musical styles far away from the earnest, polished pop-rock of its predecessors” (Gary Graff, www.billboard.com). Cage to Rattle has been called a crossroads of sort as it is devoid of the usual angst and has “an honest, open, encouraging effort that’s ready to rattle” (www.pluggedin.com). The album speaks to the anxieties and pressures we all face daily but encourages listeners to face them head on, to keep going.

I have been a fan of Daughtry since 2013 when their song, Gone too Soon, from their 2011 album, Break the Spell, helped me through my darkest days after the loss of my newborn daughter. I received this album as a Christmas gift and immediately was drawn to four songs which became my favorites. First, Deep End is a message of love and encouragement in times of need. It is very emotional and when I heard it for the first time I immediately thought my husband and I with lyrics like “We're all swimming into the light/I want you by my side/And I'm right here waiting for you/Right here waiting for you/We're all living on borrowed time/I've been holding my breath all night/Waiting for you.” Second, Death of Me is where the album gets its title. The song is filled with emotion and frustration at the difficulties of life’s obstacles: “We're all under pressure/Can't stand the weather/For the worse and not for the better/Please, this ain't the way to live/Something's got to give.” But the song offers hope to hold on: “Blood is thicker than water/But love is even stronger/Hold out a little longer/Until we found ourselves/Again, again…” I also enjoy the song, Back in Time as a call to memories of the newness and excitement of a relationship when we were “doing things that Momma said don't do.” Lastly, White Flag closes out the album as an anthem with spiritual aspects to keep fighting through hard times: “With one hand, we're reaching for the sky/And one hand, holding on for life/I won't raise my, I won't raise my white flag.”

While researching the album for my review, I found other reviews which weren’t very glowing and downright hated the album. I understand that Daughtry’s type of music isn’t for everyone. Just like with beauty, music is in the ear of the listener. If you are a fan of Daughtry, you will enjoy this new album. It has the heart and soul of their previous albums as well as an added depth and maturity to the topics which the songs cover. I find some songs to be fun and others to be the encouraging anthems I look for when I was to rock out my frustrations and cry out my fears. I highly recommend Cage to Rattle.

Star Wars The Last Jedi: a great action film which takes the galaxy in a new direction

Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi opened on December 15^th to rave critic reviews and mixed fan reactions. The Last Jedi continues the story of Rey, Finn and the Resistance as they fight against the First Order. In the two years since The Force Awakens, there were many fan theories floating around the internet and fans were eagerly awaiting The Last Jedi to see which theories were right and see how the story continues. I finally was able to see it a few days after it opened and heard the criticisms of fans. I will discuss what I liked, what I didn’t and the critics, fans and even Mark Hamill’s remarks about the film.

There is so much that I liked about the film; however, I will discuss a few storylines I enjoyed the most. First, I liked the interactions between Rey and Luke. The closing scene of The Force Awakens, we see Rey handing Luke his original lightsaber as the camera pans out over the island. In The Last Jedi, the first scene we see with Rey and Luke is the continuation of that scene. While I will not give away what his reaction is, I will say it was highly appropriate. Luke had been living in exile after Kylo Ren destroys Luke’s new Jedi academy and temple and turns to the dark side. Luke realizing his failure as a teacher, decides to leave everything behind and Rey has a tough road to convince him to help the Resistance and teach her the ways of the Force. Second, I enjoyed the character of Kylo Ren in this film. He was far less emo and more dark and conflicted as he struggles with the aftermath of the Force Awakens and his master, Snoke’s, disappointed in him. Adam Driver delivered a superb performance as Kylo Ren, especially toward the end as he decides which direction he wants to go. Does he embrace the dark side? Or does he turn to the light side? Third, I enjoyed Finn and Rose’s (played by Kelly Marie Tran) story as they find a way to help the Resistance escape the First Order. As Finn still struggles with his defection from the First Order and Rose is dealing with her hatred of the First Order, together they learn what they are fighting for and who they can trust in their fight against the First Order.

There was only a couple things that I disliked about the film. First, there were a few unnecessarily scenes. One in particular was on the island as Luke goes about his life, ignoring Rey’s presence. I won’t reveal what the scene was; however, when I saw it both my daughter and I looked at each other and whispered “ewwww!” I understand that the scene’s purpose was to show how Luke survived on the island but I felt it was unnecessarily and his survival on the island could have been shown a litter better. And some of the humorous scenes may have had the joke go on a little too long. There is one scene in which Poe (played by Oscar Isaac) plays a joke on General Hux (played by Domhnall Gleeson). While the joke was funny at first, it dragged on a little too long. Second, there is still a great mystery about who Snoke is. The movie did not reveal anything about where he came from, who he is or how he knows the Force. In this film, we see he is an imposing figure and would strike fear in anyone who stands in his presence. However, we don’t know why he is such an imposing character. Third, the porgs, one of the creatures who live on Luke’s island, are cute but add nothing more to the story than to show the cycle of life on the island. They were in the movie for too long especially once the story leaves the island.

The reviews and opinions run the gambit from favorable to absolutely hated. First, the critics gave this film rave reviews. The consensus on Rotten Tomatoes is that the film “honors the rich legacy while adding some surprising twists and delivering all the emotion-rich action fans could hope for.” I would agree. It paid homage to the original trilogy in particular The Empire Strikes Back and some could agree The Return of the Jedi. Second, fans continue to be adamant in their disagreement with the critics. Many of the fans are blaming Disney for putting profits over story. Some said that the story strayed too much from the original trilogy while others would argue it was a copy of Empire like the Force Awakens was a copy of A New Hope. I disagree with them on both counts. I think some of the fans are just so invested in the Star Wars saga that they don’t know what they want. They don’t want copies of the original trilogy but they don’t like the new material. Fans used Mark Hamill’s remarks about the film where he said he “fundamentally disagreed with every choice for Luke” as proof that Disney screwed up. I disagree with Mr. Hamill and these fans. I loved Luke’s progression in this movie. I think it fit. Without going into detail for those who have not yet seen it, as an avid reader and writer, I can see why the writer took him in that direction. Yes, Luke was very much the optimist in the original trilogy; however 30 years have passed and that’s a long time and a person can change especially when one of his students turns on him. It can be and was the hit to his ego that sent him into exile.  

In conclusion, I enjoyed The Last Jedi. I left the theater with a sense of awe and excitement. I know that many fans did not feel this way, my husband included. He had to see it again to understand more of the story. My cousin in law has seen it three times and he even admits that one viewing isn’t enough. The original trilogy is still beloved to me as an important part of my childhood; however, it is time to move on from the Skywalker storyline of Star Wars into the greater universe and galaxy that’s out there. Of the new Disney/Star Wars films, Rogue One (2016) is still my favorite so far. The Last Jedi adds more depth and drama to the Star Wars universe. It adds the struggles of life, that everything isn’t so black and white, good vs evil. I highly recommend The Last Jedi. Watch it without any expectations and see it for what it is: a great action film with heart and life lessons

Thor: Ragnarok a film that has it all

Thor: Ragnarok is the fifth chapter of Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). It is also the first Thor film which takes place in the other realms besides just Earth and Asgard. When we last saw Thor in The Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), he left to find the remaining Infinity Stones as four have now turned up and he senses a greater plot afoot. The official synopsis reads: “Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok, the destruction of his home world and the end of Asgardian civilization, at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela.” There are many things I liked at the film, a few things I didn’t and I will respond to a few of the critics’ issues with the film.

First, what I liked about the film. First, the cast. Every actor filled their role very well. Chris Hemsworth as Thor as always brings the God of Thunder to life. In this film, Hemsworth was allowed to show more of his comedic side as well as the dramatic and action packed sequences. Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie was great. I knew very little about the character when I saw the film and I was pleased to see how she fit in the story. Thompson brought great heart and depth to the character. Cate Blanchett as Hela was amazing! She seemed to be tailored made for this role. Her portrayal of Hela is definitely an improvement in Thor villains over Malekith in The Dark World. Second, the story with all the humor (there were a few laugh out loud moments), the drama (which I will not discuss in case you haven’t seen it yet) and the action from beginning to end kept me entertained and on the edge of my seat. The movie didn’t feel like it was over two hours which is good. If I watch a movie and I am aware of how long it is, then it didn’t hold my attention. I should be so engrossed in the story that I am unaware of the passage of time and Thor: Raganrok did that. Lastly, the music. I loved the use of Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song which fits perfectly with the Viking/Norse mythology which inspired Thor and his adventures.

Second, there wasn’t much I didn’t like about this film. However, what I didn’t like about the film were a few of the comedic scenes which were uncomfortable to watch. I cringed like “ewww really?!?” There is one joke in particular which features how Thor returns to Asgard and every time they said it, I cringed. I was glad when he finally returns to Asgard and this particular joke could stop. These types of jokes are so juvenile and unnecessary. They belong in a different comedies like Dumb and Dumber. Thankfully they weren’t the majority of the jokes in the film. While Jeff Goldblum is a great choice for the Grandmaster, some of his scenes were a bit tedious and cringe worthy. However, these awkward scenes were really few and far between so it’s something I could overlook when enjoying the film.

Third, many critics both professional and viewers had quite a few things to say about this film. One criticism I read is that the plotline of Ragnarok was an afterthought and wasn’t central to the film. I didn’t see that at all. While Ragnarok isn’t discussed at length in the film, it is Thor’s motivation to free himself from the Grandmaster and return to Asgard and defeat Hela. So I feel Ragnarok was not a side plot especially in the final act, when you see the final you may understand what I mean. Sometimes I think people wanted the Ragnarok storyline to be used to bash the audience’s head and remind them over and over that the end was coming. Not necessary. I think it worked in the film as they portrayed it. Second, many critics had a problem with the humor. There was too much. While I enjoyed the majority of the humor and didn’t enjoy some of the jokes, I don’t see why a superhero film can’t have humor. Iron Man did. Both Avengers films did. Captain America: Winter Soldier did. Maybe not to the extent of Ragnarok but it was there. Looking back on the first two Thor films, there were quite bit of humor in those films too.

In conclusion, I loved Thor: Ragnarok. It had great acting. The story was good and for the most part the humor fit. Despite finding some of the humor awkward and hard to watch, I look forward to watching it over and over again as part of the MCU. In my opinion, every movie will have flaws. No matter how much they try to cover all the bases, mistakes will be made and ideas will falter. However, this film is a great film which its flaws can be ignored. If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend it. 

Gilmore Girls A Year in the Life: a review

I’ve been a fan of Gilmore Girls almost from the beginning when the show premiered in 2000. After seven seasons, the show ended, leaving fans unsatisfied with how the characters and storylines were left. On November 26, 2016, Netflix released Gilmore Girls a year in the life a four episode season which was supposed to tie up loose ends and give fans a glimpse into the lives of their beloved characters. I waited eagerly as I counted down the days until the new episode were released. When I was finally able to sit down and watch the first episode left me confused and bewildered. I tried to watch the second episode when I gave up. Recently, I decided to give the new episodes another glance. After two more viewings, to write down thoughts and reactions, I decided to write my review. The return to Stars Hollow had its hits and misses.

The first episode entitled “Winter” (written and directed by Amy Sherman-Palladino, one of the show’s co-founders) and opens with a black scene as some of the show’s most memorable lines are played quietly as first and get louder as we get to the title shot. The first scene opens to reveal a snow covered Stars Hollow and Lorelai (played by Lauren Graham) sitting on the gazebo’s steps waiting for Rory (played by Alexis Bledel) who is back for the day. The episode focuses on Rory’s career to this point, the passing of patriarch, Richard Gilmore (originally played by the late Edward Hermann) and ends with Lorelai agreeing to join her mother, Emily (played by Kelly Bishop) in therapy.

The second episode, “Spring” (written and directed by Daniel Palladino, the show’s co-founder) and opens with Emily and Lorelai in a very tense and quiet therapy session. Rory is at a Chilton Alumni Day when she encounters her own school enemies (i.e. Francie) and Paris’ old crush (i.e. Tristian). Rory is insulted that Headmaster Charleston suggests that she go back to school to get her Master’s so she can teach. Determined not to fall into that pitfall, Rory decides to be proactive about her journalism career. Unfortunately, many doors are closing around her and her dream is slowing coming to an end. Where will she do from here? She moves back home, of course!

The third episode, “Summer” (written and directed by Daniel Palladino) opens with Lorelai and Rory at the pool and everyone congratulates on being back which Rory vehemently insists she’s not back. In this episode, the Palladino makes fun of the college students who end up moving home. They are called the Thirtysomething Gang and they are creepy. She ends up editing the town’s newspaper and decides to write her story (an idea given to her by Jess, played by Milo Ventimiglia). And poor Emily, once again, finds fault with Richard’s grave story. It’s an idea Lorelai is not crazy about and refuses to give her permission for Rory to use her story.

Lastly, “Fall” (written and directed by Amy Sherman-Palladino) has everyone questioning what the next step in their lives will be. Lorelai travels to California to participate in a hike to recreate Into The Wild while Emily vacations on Nantucket and considers selling her house in Hartford. And Rory decides to write her book in the hopes that opening chapters will help convince Lorelai to let her finish it. Lorelai comes home from her hike and decides that she and Luke have waited too long to get married. So the wedding plans are full steam ahead. At the end of the show, Lorelai and Rory are sitting on the gazebo steps, basking in the happiness of the wedding and Lorelai jokes about Rory’s turn to get married. Rory’s face is very telling and then she finally confesses something. The episode ends with four little words.

I loved about these episodes, yeah, let’s start with what I loved is the nostalgia. Seeing the town in which I spent many years living in during the show’s run as well as in reruns. I loved the deep impact of Richard’s death has on Lorelai, Rory and especially Emily. I loved how the writers wrote Emily’s grief. It felt real and substantial like a real wife who lost her husband of 50 years. I loved Lorelai’s favorite memory of Richard, which she finally shares with Emily. It was such a tearjerker. I loved Sookie’s return to the show, so classic Sookie and Melissa McCarthy played her as if she never left. I loved seeing Jess on the show and his influence on Rory. I must admit, I didn’t like Jess in the original series and didn’t want him and Rory together. However, Jess has matured and is a great fit for Rory. And there is a scene which shows so clear that Jess is still in love with her.

Now what I hated about these episodes. First, some of the humor just didn’t work. In the beginning, there is a gag with Rory running around Stars Hollow looking for a cell signal when cell phones worked fine before. And the town’s WiFi works but not the phones. Oh! The town’s first musical was very painful to watch. Oh so painful! And the four words that Amy Sherman-Palladino has been saying is how she wanted to end the show 10 years ago? I’m not going to say what they were for anyone who has not seen the new episodes. However, I will say that I say it coming. Throughout the episodes, there were signs that led me to believe that something was off and I could tell the writers were trying to build up to it. To me, it wasn’t as much of a shock that the writers were hoping. Maybe there were fans who were surprised at the ending; however, I was not.

Overall, it was great to see the return to Star Hollows. Despite my dislikes, I wouldn’t mind to see more episodes especially with Rory’s confession. I’d like to see where they take it. I’d also like to see them tone down the over-eccentric-isms (I know that’s not a word but it’s the best way to describe it) of Taylor and some of the other townspeople. I know it was a part of the original show but in these episodes, it was so over-the-top. I would rather see the focus be on Lorelai and Rory and their lives between their small town and the world outside. I’d rather them focus on the relationships instead of the sights.  To get back to the premise of the original show, the story of a unique mother-daughter relationship. If you are a fan of the original show, you may or may not enjoy Gilmore Girls A Year in the Life. 

Presidential Candidate Review: Dr. Jill Stein

As part of my political review for this election year, I will be review each of the presidential candidate. I will present a brief bio followed by reasons why I would and would not vote for each candidate. Today I will be reviewing Jill Stien:

Jill Ellen Stein was born May 14, 1950 in Chicago, Illinois to Joseph and Gladys (nee Wool) Stein. She is of Russian Jewish decent and grow up attending a local reform synagogue. Although she now considers herself to be agnostic. She is married to Dr. Robert Rohrer and has two adult sons. She graduated from Harvard with degrees in psychology, sociology and anthropology in 1973. She would graduate from Harvard Medical School in 1979. Dr. Stein practiced internal medicine for 25 years while also serving as an instructor at the Harvard Medical School. She retired from both in 2005 and 2006, respectively. She began her activism in 1998 as she protested against the “Filthy Five” coal plants in Massachusetts. She has served on the board of the Greater Boston Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility. She co-founded and served as Executive Director of the Massachusetts Coalition for Healthy Communities. Her activism hasn’t stopped. In September, a warrant was issued for her arrest by a North Dakota judge. She was with misdemeanor counts of criminal trespass and criminal mischief for spray-painting a bulldozer during a protest of the Dakota Access Pipeline. She defended her actions by saying it would be “inappropriate for me not to have done my small part” in support of the Standing Rock Sioux.

Dr. Stein’s campaign history began in 2002 as a Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate for the Green-Rainbow Party. She finished third of five candidates with 3.5% of the votes. In 2004, she ran for the Massachusetts House of Representatives candidate for the 9^th Middlesex District. She lost to the incumbent, Thomas M. Stanley, with 21.3% of the votes. In 2006, she ran for the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth but lost to the 3-term incumbent, Bill Galvin, with 18% of the votes. In 2005, she was elected to the Town Meeting seat of Lexington for Precinct 2 and reelected in 2008. In 2010, she again ran for governor of Massachusetts; but, lost with 1.4% of the vote. In 2012, she ran for president, receiving less than 1% of the votes in the majority of the states. As the candidate for president for the Green Party, she has received the endorsement of actress and social activist Susan Sarandon.

Dr. Stein’s political positions on the major areas focus on renewable energy and green jobs. For the economy, she proposes a “Green New Deal,” which would create renewable energy jobs to address climate change and environmental issues. It would be funded by a 30% reduction in military budget. As well as funded by an increase in taxes on speculation in stock markets, offshore tax havens and multi-million dollar real estates. She argues that her plan would “end unemployment and poverty.” She calls for the “nationalizing” and “democratizing” the Federal Reserve. She calls for the Federal Reserve to end its independence and be placed under a Federal Monetary Authority in the Treasury Department. Dr. Stein supports the creation of nonprofit publicly owned banks. She claims that the government should be the employer of last resort. For energy and environment issues, she proposes that the US transition to 100% renewable energy by 2030. She supports a national ban on fracking and opposes nuclear energy. She has called climate change as a “national emergency.” Dr. Stein proposes to override the Paris Climate Agreement as she claims it is inadequate. Dr. Stein believes we are in a major extinction event (the sixth great extinction). She believes that half of the world’s life forms will disappear this century. For education, she has argued for “free higher public education” and favors canceling all student loan debt. According to Stein, the Federal Reserve could buy up the student loans and agree not to collect the debt, thereby canceling it. She has said that is essentially what happened with the Wall Street bailout in 2008. She opposes charter schools and is critical of the Common Core Standards. In terms of foreign and defense policies, Dr. Stein, proposes to close all US military bases overseas and “restore the National Guard as the centerpiece of our defense.” She is also in favor of bringing in “far more” than 10,000 Syrian refugees that Obama had pledged. She also regards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “war criminal” and supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against Israel. For health issues, she favors replacing Obamacare with a “Medicare-for-all” system. She has been back and forth on the safety of vaccinations. She has expressed concerns on how Wi-Fi signals in schools are effecting children’s brains.

My reasons to vote for Dr. Stein are: first, she has virtually no political experience especially at the state or national level. Like Trump, she is political outsider, although she has experience in political campaigning. Second, I like the idea of canceling student loan debt, as the loans have become too much of a burden on college graduates; however, how feasible it is, I seriously doubt. Third, I like her support for the Standing Rock Sioux and the opposition of the Dakota Access Pipeline. My reasons not to vote for Dr. Stein are first, she seems to be back and forth on the subject of vaccinations. She says there are safe, then she says they aren’t. Although, I agree with her opposition to mandatory vaccinations. As I believe in many of the vaccinations, there are some that I question and refuse for my family. Second, fourteen years to be 100% on renewable energy seems like a tall order. In my research, I haven’t seen how she plans to implement changes in order to achieve this goal. It seems to me to be more of a wish list of ideas than an actual plan. Third, overall, I just don’t get a good feeling about her. With so many issues, she has been back and forth and not really clear where she truly stands. The making of a true politician.

Overall, my thoughts about Dr. Stein are mixed. I like many of her ideas; however, like most ideas, I have doubts how they would be implemented and work in the long run. Renewable energy and green jobs seem to be the future but those jobs and technologies are still somewhat in their infancy and haven’t proved to be sustainable. For instance, solar panels industry has been sustained with tax breaks and subsidies under Obama and has not yet seen any real promise. For many homeowners who have transited to solar panels, with the promise that it would lower their electric bill, have seen their bills skyrocket or, at the very least, stayed the same. I have read reports that homeowners have met resistance from their cities about even turning on the solar panels. So, right now, the benefits don’t outweigh the costs and headaches for many Americans. Dr. Jill Stein has been a great activist for social change focusing on environmental issues which affect our health and is not afraid to speak her mind against the status quo. She is another voice against a political system which has failed us for the last time. I see the growing support for political parties other than Republican or Democrat will help shape future elections. We may even see the first president elected from a third party. 

Presidential Candidate Review: Donald Trump

As part of my political review for this election year, I will be review each of the presidential candidate. I will present a brief bio followed by a brief overview of his or her stance on the issues and reasons why I would and would not vote for each candidate. Today I will be reviewing Donald Trump:

Donald John Trump was born June 14, 1946 in Queens, New York to Fred and Mary Anne (nee MacLeod) Trump. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1968. He took control of his father’s real estate and construction firm in 1971 and renamed it “The Trump Organization.” Everyone is familiar with Mr. Trump. He has lived a life of luxury and often showed it off in television shows like Entertainment Tonight and Inside Edition. In the 90s and 00s, he had a popular reality show, The Apprentice, where he’d utter his famous line, “You’re fired.” In June 2015, he announced his candidacy for president and received the Republican Party nomination in July 2016. He is controversial to say the least.

His stance on the social issues is wide. He is pro-life with exceptions for rape, incest and the health of the mother. He opposes legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. He feels that same-sex marriage should be left up to the states. Trump supports a broad interpretation of the 2^nd Amendment and opposed to gun control in general. He supports fixing the federal background checks by adding criminal and mental health records to the system. He opposes legalizing recreational marijuana but supports medical marijuana. For economic issues, he has called for the reduction of the corporate tax rate and the elimination of various business loopholes and deduction. Trump favors repealing the Affordable Care Act and replacing it with a different free market system. He also supports upgrading the Veterans Affairs facilities and getting rid of the backlogs and waitlists affecting the veterans. Trump supports school choice and local control for primary and secondary schools. He opposes the Common Core State Standards Initiative. He has pledged to cancel the Paris Climate Agreement which he claims treats the United States unfairly and favors countries like China in reductions of carbon emissions. The biggest issue Trump has talked about is immigration. Everyone is well aware he has proposed to build a wall on the US-Mexican border and plans to deport approximately 11 million illegal immigrants. Although in August 2016, he has hinted he has softened his position on the deportation. He now wants to focus on deportation for criminals, those with expired visas and other security threats.

I take issue with his campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again,” what America is he referring to? The America where if you weren’t a WASP, you weren’t considered important enough. The America where your country of origin, your religion, and your language mattered if you found a job, livable housing or even receive the other basics of life. The America where women didn’t have a voice except through their fathers and later their husbands. The America where children were forced to work in horrible conditions for little wages and no education. However, Trump isn’t the first one to use the phrase. Bill Clinton made the same statement of Making America great again in 1991, 1992 and in 2008 during Hillary’s US Senate campaign. Ronald Reagan also used the phrase in his 1980 presidential campaign. So a better slogan “Making American great for our future.”

I searched online to see what people were saying their reasons to vote for Trump. Some of the reasons were seriously laughable and I realized that I had to really think why I would vote for Trump. The main reason why I would vote for Donald Trump is he is the anti-politician. He isn’t the career politician that we are used to. Many supporters are tired of the status quo which had gotten our country nowhere. So much so that people are willing to radically vote for someone who is willing to challenge the status quo. If he can or will is another story. He is brash and in your face. He tells it like he sees it and doesn’t beat around the bush. However, the main reason why I would not vote for Donald Trump is he is vulgar and condescending. I don’t see him being respectful in a diplomatic situation. He’s a very toxic person. Another reason why I would not vote for Trump is he is thinned-skinned and vengeful. I don’t trust him as President especially with foreign leaders. I’m all for transparency; however I do not like Trump’s brand of candor. I will support someone who means what he says; however, I will not support someone who doesn’t do so calmly and respectfully. To do so without demeaning others is a quality of leadership.

Overall, I agree with his stance on some of the issues. I agree that the way things have been done is no longer working and this country needs a radical change. However, I don’t agree with all his proposals to implement those changes. My main concern about Mr. Trump is his personality and the way he behaves in the public arena. This is the man we truly want to represent us as the United States of America? I’m not sure. Is he the lesser of two evils? I’m not sure. What I am sure about is I will put more thought, consideration and prayer into my vote for president than I have in previous elections.   

Frozen: another Disney classic

I recently saw the movie “Frozen” for the first time and I loved it. I don’t know why I waited so long to see it. The film stars Kristen Bell as Anna, Indina Menzel as Elsa, Jonathan Groff as Kristoff, Josh Gad as Olaf and Santino Fontana as Hans. The movie is inspired by “The Snow Queen” by beloved Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875). The songs were written by husband and wife team of Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez. The song “Let it go” won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Since the movie came out, I’ve read two article which heavily criticized the movie. One for the overly sexual nature of the Snow Queen and the apparently homosexual propaganda of the relationships in the movie. I will address each criticism later. But first a short recap.

                The story opens with village men cutting the frozen river to make ice blocks, singing a work song which sets up the story: “Beware the frozen heart” and “Ice has a magic that can’t be controlled.” Inside the castle, younger sister, Anna, is wide awake and wakes up her older sister, Elsa. Elsa have magic powers to create ice and snow. Anna is able to get Elsa up and they play in a great hall, where Elsa makes a frozen wonderland. During their play, Elsa accidently hits Anna and their parents afraid of her growing powers, forcing Elsa to live isolated from everyone. “Do you want to build a snowman?” is a song which shows the continuing isolation of the Elsa and the loneliness of Anna as they grow up.

Elsa is now of age, which I assume is 18 years old but the film gives no indication of her age, and it’s her coronation day. With the excitement of the coronation and the open castle gates, Anna meets Hans, prince of the Southern Isles and they have a seemingly magical evening together. The song “Love is an open door” is sung as they fall in love. Hans proposes, Anna accepts and Anna presents their engagement to Elsa who become angry at the prospect of more people in the castle. The sisters have an argument and Elsa can’t control her powers as it seems they grow with fear and anger. She runs away as they are revealed and imparts fear into the people.

                Elsa runs high into the mountains while singing “Let it go” as she creates her ice castle and becomes the Snow Queen. Elsa’s power has grown so great the she has created an eternal winter. Anna, feeling guilty, decides to go after her and leaves Hans in charge. Anna employs the help of Kristoff and his pet reindeer, Sven, to go to the North Mountain where Elsa has set up her castle. Along the way, they met Olaf, a magic snowman who Elsa created with Anna as children and recreated when return the land to summer. Elsa hits Anna in the heart with ice magic and creates an ice monster to chase them off the mountain. Kristoff takes Anna to the magical trolls to heal from the magic hit and the troll tells them that only true love can undo the magic. They assumed that Hans is Anna’s true love and they rush to get there soon. When Anna arrives back at the castle, Hans shows his true colors and leaves Anna to die and goes after Elsa. Hans attacks Elsa just as Anna steps between them, turning into ice and breaking the sword. Elsa falls to the ground in grief. Anna begins to thaw and the sisters embrace and that’s when Elsa realizes how she can control her powers with love.

                The first criticism of “Frozen” was Elsa’s transformation into the Snow Queen. As the Snow Queen, Elsa is sexier and more womanly

My response is every little girl becomes a woman. Ignoring that fact does not change it. Little girls need to stay little girls for as long as possible; however, eventually they will grow up and if I assumed Elsa’s age correctly, she’s 18. She’s no longer a child. She’s a woman and deserves to look like a woman.

                The second criticism of “Frozen” was famously posted in the blog “A Well Behaved Mormon Woman” by Kathryn Skaggs. Her claim is that “Frozen” is filled with pro-gay propaganda and that even Elsa is a lesbian. There were NO homosexual themes in this movie. Anna’s curse broke because of true love. The head troll, Pappie, said, “Only true love can thaw a frozen heart.” Not true love’s kiss, but true love. Why not the true love of sisters? John 15:13 says “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” And that’s what Anna does when she steps between the sword and Elsa, she laid down her life for her sister. Mrs. Skaggs’ other criticism was that since Elsa was not “boy crazy” like her sister, she must be a lesbian. Not being “boy crazy” doesn’t mean that Elsa’s automatically a lesbian. Her parents instilled in her fear of her powers, fear of hurting others. So Elsa closes herself off from others. She couldn’t allow herself to get close to anyone.

                “Frozen” is going to be counted among the beloved Disney movies. I enjoyed this movie very much and look forward to seeing for years to come with my children. I love the song “Let it go.” It’s a great about being freed from whatever may have been holding you in prison. It’s being free from stress and fear. I particularly like the line “It’s funny how some distance makes everything seem small.” I don’t see any basis for any of the criticisms of this movie. My only suggestion to those critics is: if you think Disney is corrupting the youth, don’t let your children see it. Don’t buy movie tickets, don’t buy the merchandise.