Batman vs. Superman...it's a long one

Batman vs. Superman Review

So…all the hype…and the movie has now come and gone.  If we bottom line this, i think everyone is asking, is the movie any good?  Well, in my humble opinion, it is an average film that wants and tries to do more.  For what its worth, no, it is not the Avengers.  The Avengers seemed to have fun.  This film is not sure what it is, who the main focus should be on, and what it is trying to say.  With the Avengers, Joss Whedon kept things simple:  Have a solid bad guy, but just enjoy watching these classic characters fight together.  With Batman vs. Superman, Zach Synder seems unsure as to what he wants the film to be about because he has so many “teasers” for future movies, as well as confusing motives that i’m unsure of what the film is trying to be.  If it is a film about Batman fighting Superman, there is very little of that after a lot of build up.  If it is a film that is setting up a huge battle against a foe casual moviegoers will not recognize, it does this, but is very vague, which leaves the original question:  what is this film?

The basic plot everyone will recognize from the trailers that show up on countless websites:  Batman does not trust the power of Superman, since he can wipe out all of humanity, so Bruce Wayne decides that the safest thing he can do is steal some Kryptonite and kill Superman.  What he doesn’t know, along with Superman, is that he is a pawn in the schemes of Lex Luther.  Eventually, these two powerful comic characters battle head to head, but ultimately team up to stop a weird alien known as Doomsday.  The actors are solid, but truly, the script doesn’t give any of them much meat.  Most movie-goers were very concerned about Ben Affleck taking on the role as Batman in light of the masterpieces that Christian Bale got to star in, but he does okay as an older, aging Bat.  Henry Cavil, i’m convinced, has the right body, look and feel for the “new generation” of Superman fans, but just doesn’t get to do much other than look forelorn, as if he is trying to make us feel the burden of being a superhero.  This kind of acting may be difficult, I don’t know, but Chris Evans, Christian Bale and even Robert Downey Jr. seem able to carry this weight more effectively.   The actor who is having fun, or trying to make the film fun is Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor, who many know from the fun film “Now you See Me.”  Many critics have panned his performance and i’m confused as to why, as he is the only one that has any ideas about the world and is willing to try and speak about things.  What Lex is missing is motive.  Yes, comic book fans will know his motives, but in the film he just wants to destroy two hero’s and we don’t know why, other than veiled discussions about his father’s physical abuse towards him when he was a child.  That is pretty thin, but Jesse gives it his all, seems to know, wrestle with and argue about what or who is God;  and if there is a God, do we know if he can be all good and just?  As a casual fan, i find it interesting that as Lex wrestles with these complexities, unsure of what is truth, he heads more towards evil, sin or the “darkside,” the truly cool part about the film.  Darkseid will be the next villain in this film franchise, but for casual moviegoers, after the film you may expect the villain to be Satan himself, but that is part of the conundrum of this film:  Is it a fight between two great hero’s OR merely a vehicle that Warner Bros. is using to set up a parallel universe that will “marvel” Marvel?  Because Zach Synder is unsure or is trying to do too much, the film feels bloated and leaves the actors grasping at air in a lot of places.  All of them truly are wrestling with deep things, but they either don’t know where to go with them or aren’t sure what their role is.  Again, is this the fault of the actor, director, or the script they are given?

It is well known that Zach Synder is a comic book devotee and die-hard when it comes to bringing “visual flair” to his projects (no matter one’s thoughts on Watchmen, it had flair), but he truly seems unable to write decent dialogue in any capacity.  From “Dawn of the Dead,” to “300,” it’s as if all of his projects have dialogue that can only be used in the trailers.  After watching Batman vs. Superman, i truly felt that i had “seen” all the important conversations watching the trailer and not the actual movie.  And this isn’t a one time thing.  His other films have the same vibe to them: “This is Sparta!!!”  Under certain circumstances, this may not be a problem, just look at Michael Bay and all the money he can bring in with the Transformer films.  But he also brings in a ton of action and different style for the action, while Synder has yet to show any growth as a filmmaker, especially when it comes to dialogue and actual conversations.  When Superman meets up with Batman, it is slightly painful, instead of awe-inspiring:  “Next time your light shines, don’t go to it.”   “Tell me…do you bleed?”   Wow.  Real page turning stuff here.  (Sarcastic voice) I can’t understand why Leonardo got his Oscar for the Revenant.
Bottom line:  it is a long film that should have been edited by 10-15 minutes, and will leave many questioning what took place or where the franchise is headed.  The only thing that is certain with this movie is the fact that it made enough money  ($168 mil opening weekend) to justify the hype and ensure more films with these characters.  For some movie goers that’s enough and that’s what going to the movies is all about.  For others, “of all the words of paper and pen, the worst, what might have been.”
2.5 out of 5

2015 top 10 music picks

Notable that I couldn’t squeeze in: Beach House “Cherry Depression” AND “Thank your Lucky Stars”— Most people are grateful if their band releases 1 album every year, which is considered working hard, in addition to touring. This is certainly understandable. Until you run into the great Beach House. These Baltimore songwriters have dream pop down to an amazing science. But 2 albums?! Yes, they are good. Yes, you should buy them and let the music drip through your soul.

Oh yeah, their other albums are stunning too! You can’t go wrong.

 

10-Tenement “Predatory Highlights”—The first album i had listened to that was inspired by a Grantland article, the now canceled website that ESPN sponsored. I was drawn to their low profile and the lead singer openly stating that it did not matter if they went big or simply improved their sound; it was about the music and specifically, punk. What? Every band seems to want to go big, which is why you become a band. Not these boys, who hail from Wisconsin. This double disc concept album has some head scratching moments, but also has bona-fide style, skill and punk. They sound like Offspring paired with the Pixies, but who really cares when they sound this good. Check out all their albums on band camp and be impressed. They seem to put out music at an incredible rate.

 

9-Sleater Kinney “No Cities to Love"—Fellow Portland female punk/rockers simply dominate on their first album in 10 years. I had not heard of Sleater Kinnney, but instead, had encountered the members in a side project known as Wild Flag, which also rocked, but is several years old now. Anyway, these ladies may be extreme left-leaning feminists, but man, do they know how to rock! “It’s not the weather, it’s the cities we love” is a great anthem for every touring band that cares about their listeners. When you listen to the rest of their canon, you can’t help but be impressed by their passion, urgency and sheet talent. Keep it up ladies!

 

8-Dustin Kensrue—“Carry the Fire”--I must admit this: Out of all the albums on this list, i have listened to this one the most. Part of that is because i love Dustin Kenrsue and his main band—Thrice. However, he is the worship pastor at Mars Hill and his solo work is down right catchy. He has a way of writing about the sin and darkness in our hearts in such a powerful way that you can’t help but feel convicted as you sing along. I saw him in Portland for an amazing show, but what blew everyone away was his Encore rendition of Tom Waits “Down by the Train.” WOW! As for the album, “Gallows” is stunning, as are the other songs. “Back to Back” & “Carry the Fire” leave the listener feeling as if they have been carried along by the spirit of friends or God.

 

7-Lauren Daigle—If you want the literal Christian Adele, then you have Lauren Daigle. I had not heard Lauren until my wife went into labor, and she had made a “Pregnant Playlist.” Well, Lauren Daigle was on it…for all 12 hours of labor. Guess what? The songs never got old. In fact, they were inspiring and perfect for the pregnant moment. The nursing staff even made comments about her powerful voice and message, which was an inadvertent testimony to the glory of God. All the must be said about Lauren: Amazing voice! Buy the album.

 

6-Royal Headache “High"

This band needs no introduction. But know this: they may not get back together, which would be tragic, because Shogun, yes, Shogun, needs a band to plead his case to “Carolina.” This is punk that has heart, the perfect frontman and an urgency for the little things in life.

 

 

5-Wolf Alice “My Love is Cool"

I was excited when writing this, because about a day before i started writing, Wolf Alice was nominated for a Grammy, which is awesome because they simply rock. I am totally biased because i got to see them in Portland and meet them after the set, which is always great when you drive 3 hours to see a band perform But, their songs are catchy, fun and show a lot of variety in their craft. Many will compare or link them to the band Chvrches simply because they are both from across “the pond,” but this is misleading because Wolf Alice are very much about rock, whereas their counterparts Chvrches are more pop oriented. Check out what all the fuss is about before they take over the world.

 

4-Car Seat Headrest “Teens of Style"

I must admit: when i first heard this music (aka Will Toledo), i was not completely sure what i had encountered. I knew i didn’t hate it. It was certainly unlike anything i had ever experienced. If you were to combine the Strokes with vocals that sound like a walkie-talkie, then you would have 10% of Car Seat Headrest. What makes this discovery or album unique is the fact that Will Toledo has been releasing albums for years, despite only being in his early 20s. A look at Bandcamp will unlock other great albums that he wrote, played and produced all himself. It is great that he finally has a label (Matador) to back up his output and ambitions. I look forward to seeing him play in Eugene in a month.

 

My Top 3 could go in any direction…i can’t honestly make up my mind...

 

3-Titus Andronicus “The Most Lamentable Tragedy"

The underground knew of this brilliant, depressed, magical maniac, but it wasn’t until July of this year that I discovered Titus (aka Patrick Stickles). What makes this music top 3? Simple: his latest genius is 29 songs that compile a double album. In an age when all we hear is Coldplay or Adele and the latest “produced in a lab” sound, it is refreshing to encounter 29 songs that have urgency, tell a story AND actually say something about life. After listening to The Most Lamentable Tragedy, i researched the band and discovered this kind of musical brilliance had been expanded, since the band had already written an epic in the form of a civil war biography of sorts with their previous album The Monitor. Anyway…there is a total abandonment in search of honesty in regards to what Patrick struggles with in life, and that should help people in a musical form, which is refreshing.

 

2-Beach Slang “The Things We Do to Find People Like Us"

Speaking of urgency and life’s struggles, what if there were a band that worshiped rock and the experience one can have when listening to music? Oh wait, there is such a band. Beach Slang.

I read about this band right before the website Grantland was shut down by ESPN, thereby making it the last review the site ever did. Boy, did they go out with an amazing band. First, Beach Slang nail what rock (in its essence) must do: be catchy, urgent and life affirming (in a sense) because we are listening to ROCK. How can one be “down” when listening to rock? Beach Slang unequivcally say, “That is not possible!” Second, this band has some amazing lines: “The night is alive” “Sounds that are made are barely rehearsed,” “California is full of porno love” AND the best ever, “Good love is not SAFE"

 

Third: They just enjoy playing because they know you will enjoy listening, so just be enraptured by the beauty.

 

1-Hop Along “Painted Shut"

I saw this band on NPR and simply listened because their name is “different." I was hooked instantly. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the first song is “The Knock” and Frances Quinlan singing, “The witness just wants to TAAAALLLLKKKKK to you.” So catchy! But that’s just the beginning of this excellent record. Painted Shut whisks along with songs that just make sense, are in the perfect order and just hit new notes/ideas and visuals for stunning consistency. Many have commented on the singles, but my favorite song is “I Saw my Twin” which plays or pays homage to “West Virginiaaaaaaaa” and you can’t help but sing along to the urgency of the south.

 

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2 types of fear

Every person struggles with and is afraid of something. Spiders, snakes or needles, we all struggle and are scared of something. As Tonya and I continue to read books that prepare our hearts for parenting, we learned that there are 6 types of fear that dictate the theology of parents and how they raise their kids: Fear of everything, Behavior Modification, Image control, High Control, Herd Mentality, Duct Tape, 911 support. It is sad that we are all susceptible to letting our fears dictate following Christ or how we raise our children, but it is nonetheless apparent, relevant and costly. But there is good news: The Bible discusses 2 kinds of "FEAR" that are essential to raising one’s children. The word "fear" in the Bible, for a majority of the time, refers to two kinds of attitudes, or mentality that we must have: a humble, respect to His almighty power, or a "be scared to death of His power because He is God." Both are powerful and can be seen in how a parent discusses God with their children. In Proverbs, the word "fear" is used over 40 times and is the central theme to the book. In fact, without the "fear of the Lord" one is considered a fool that will soon find his own folly because of sin and an imperfect view of God. If we bottom line all this, it would be that the "fear of the Lord" (in both a respect, as well as a terrified sense) and a relationship with Christ is so closely linked that it is virtually synonymous with living for Him. Parents must teach their children to fear—both respect God’s power over their lives, as well as tremble at His power. In fact, kids should fear (be terrified) the consequences of their sin because it is unacceptable to a holy God. We seem to have lost the fear of God (in both uses of the word) and replaced it with a fear of offending another.

 

To our child, we did not pray for your education, your friends or even what sport you would play. No my precious one. We began to pray that we would train you to fear the Lord, to lean on that healthy fear, because "The fear of the lord is a fountain of life" (proverbs 14:27)

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Parenting Fear: Boldly Go!

We continued our journey towards your dedication by praying for something unusual: Courage. For some reason, our society deems courage much differently than in years past. However, all parents would agree that there must be an element of courage when raising children, as there is so much "out there" that can destroy or steal a child's innocence. At this point, many parents may observe the world/society and be scared of what their child must encounter, which can dictate a spirit of fear in parents, as well as form the theology of how they raise their child. This is why Tonya and I began praying not just for courage in raising our young one, but a spirit of engagement, grace and joy and that counters the fear that can render many families, even Godly ones, to cower and withdraw from society. The Bible is filled with countless verses for believers, verses that should not just encourage, but renew vitatity in a parent. Paul writes to the Romans that because of Christ dying for our sin, the Gospel ("Good News") is the very power of God (literally "dynamite") that completely alters family dynamics: "For i am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation..." (Romans 1:16). Families and parents should no longer fear the world or a hedonistic society, but instead, cling to the power of almighty God with extreme delight and boldness. We prayed that God would see our hearts, our hard work, and as we teach the Word to you, God would bless us with boldness and courage to face the unknown, "because God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self control" (2 Timothy 1:7).

To our child, we did not pray for your education, your friends or even what sport you would play. No my precious one. We began to pray that as we walk "through the valley of the shadow of death, we (your parents) would fear no evil because GOD is with us. His rod and staff, they will comfort us" (Psalm 23: 4).

 

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Cultivation

We continued our journey towards your dedication by praying for something unusual:  cultivation.  To cultivate is to prepare the soil for growth.  In Luke 8, Jesus tells a parable about a sower who sowed on four different types of soil: rocky, shallow, thorny and good.  Since we prayed for our home last week--that it would be a place where God would be Bethel ("God is Here")-- it was obvious to us that this cannot take place in the child God has blessed us with unless we have cultivated our own hearts, as well as our marriage.  When one cultivates a garden, there are many elements that lead to the soil producing an excellent crop, the most vital being water and sun.  And so we prayed for our relationship with God to be cultivated, that our marriage and hearts would be knit together, as close as the sun and the water are when cultivating a garden.  We prayed that God would see our hearts, our hard work, and as we teach the Word to you, God would reach down and save you from "hardness of heart."  We prayed that you would respond with gladness and conviction of heart, because your heart has been cultivated by the living God, bringing you to a full understanding of his demonstrated love "that while you were still sinning, Christ died for you" (Romans 5:8).

To our child, we did not pray for your education, your friends or even what sport you would play. No my precious one. We began to pray that as we begin the greatest job we have ever taken up, our hearts would be cultivated by the grace of God, that you would be part of the cherished crop that produces "a harvest that yielded a hundred times more than what was sown" (Luke 8:8). 

To our baby..."Bethel"

We continued to pray for you last night.  We prayed for our home, that it would be a place of love, nurturing, guidance, laughter, teaching and discipline.  Those are all essential elements of a childhood, life and family, but they are also vital components to the one thing God longs to build and bless: a home.  We prayed for our future home last night.  As the family and home is attacked and destroyed in America, we prayed not just for God’s blessing on our home, but for our lives within to be blessed with "Bethel."  “Bethel” in the Old Testament is seen in many passages, but significantly in Genesis 28, when Jacob realizes the faithfulness of God and says, this rock and place will be known as “Bethel,” which means “God is here.”  We prayed that God would be in our home, that other people, friends and relatives would long to be in our house because "God is here."

To our growing little one, we did not pray for your education, your friends or even what sport you would play. No my precious one. We began to pray that as we begin the greatest and most difficult job we have ever encountered, we prayed for a unified home, one that has the literal presence and blessing of God, because “unless the Lord builds the house, you labor in vain."

To our baby

We began this long journey known as "parenting" by praying for you last night. We prayed for consistency in being Godly parents, but more importantly, we prayed for your focus. We are not referring to a medical or educational focus, but a Godly focus, one that is "yachad," which is Hebrew for "United; undivided." You will be born into an amazing and powerful world, one that has reshaped many things and advanced the world because of technology. With great freedom comes a haunting realization that there are many distractions amongst our powerful country. Only those who are united in their pursuit of the fear of the Lord and His word will one truly leave a legacy. A "divided" heart throughout the Bible refers to those who are "split; hypocritical; uncertain," people that have too much on their "plate" and rarely have any conviction or life purpose. Why? It's simple. They are distracted.

And so, precious little one, we did not pray for your education, your friends or even what sport you would play. No my precious one. We prayed that we would have a united marriage, a united family and home, a united focus on the Gospel, a united, consistent focus on "things above, not on things of this earth" (Col 3:2). We prayed that you would be blessed from above with a united heart for the things of God, that you would seek Him with all your heart, that conviction of sin would stem from this united heart, and that you would "humble yourself in the sight of God, and He will lift you up" (James 4:10).