PRE-OSCAR LOOK AT MOVIES THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON ME, PART 8 OF 12: NEVER CRY WOLF

 For the loyal readers who have followed this series thus far, you may have noticed the first two were both Disney movies, but none since. Folks, we're back to Disney today. Not a typical Disney movie - this one is aimed for a more mature audience. Note this was about a year before the creation of the PG-13 rating and the emergence of Touchstone Films, which was a Disney imprint that was aimed for movies less family oriented.

Important to make a distinction. I said this movie was more mature. If it came out later, it would have probably been rated PG-13, and I have no problem with that. However, this is a movie that looks at the balance of nature, and if you have a more mature child or teen-ager (I know these often are two different things), it is one I'd recommend seeing with them and talking about it afterwards.

 

PRE-OSCAR LOOK AT MOVIES THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON ME, PART 7 OF 12:

 

Some movies make you better for having seen it, and others make you worse. For me, "Gandhi" is a clear-cut example of the former. After I watched it the first of two times for a matinee showing, I went to a coffee shop afterward to ponder the movie. Not many movies influence you like this.

Also, this movie introduced me to my all-time favorite actor, Ben Kingsley.

 

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 9 OF 48 - PSALM 33:1

 

Garfield Park Conservatory/Sunken Gardens, Indianapolis

Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
For praise of the upright is beautiful.
                    Psalm 33:1, New King James Version

Yes, I'm only doing one verse today. Those familiar with the Psalm will say it's too good just to do one verse. And they're right - I'll be in this verse next week as well. Reason: There are two verses that stood out in this Psalm.

Can I really say more than the first verse of this Psalm? And isn't this exciting? I'm blessed every time I see this verse. 

PRE-OSCAR LOOK AT MOVIES THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON ME, PART 6 OF 12: CHARIOTS OF FIRE

 We are at the half point of this series, and you may be wondering, "Will Jeff let us know what his favorite movie is?" I'll be glad to, but we need a rolling drum... or better, the pounding low D-flat on Vangelis' synthesizer. Oh, you've already guessed "Chariots of Fire,' because that's the name of the film and the picture. I suppose I'll need to make it more challenging next time.

This is the 1st Best Picture in my collection (my list contains one other best picture winner and two nominees - including "Mary Poppins", which did win best  actress). Unlike the other winner (which you'll see at some point in the second half), this was a surprise, winning over "Reds" and "On Golden Pond." It also won for best original screen play, costumes, and, unsurprisingly, Vangelis' score. (It also was nominated for director, editing, and supporting actor Ian Holm, who lost out to John Guilguld; Guilguld won for his role in "Arthur," but also was in "Chariots.")

I heard producer David Putnam interviewed. He commented some people said about "Chariots," "Great movie about Harold Abrahams, and the Eric Liddle character was interesting," and others commented, "I love that movie about Eric Liddle, and that Abrahams character was intriguing." 

I've watched it about 9-10 times. The last time was about two years ago, and I noticed something in it I didn't before: in one scene Vangelis played "Eric's Theme" in a minor key, and that definitely added to that scene.

 

PRE-OSCAR LOOK AT MOVIES THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON ME, PART 5 OF 12: WHAT'S UP, JOSH?

 If I made a list of favorite albums or songs, you'd find I tend to the obscure. I was in a group when a member asked us to submit our 100 favorite Christian items, and I believe it was around 40 of my top 100 were not on anybody else's list. So far, I've got a hunch my movie list hasn't been as obscure... until now.

"What's Up, Josh?" is a 1975 Christian movie. They may have been inspired for the title by Bugs Bunny's tagline, as well as a '72 WB comedy movie starring Barbara Streisand and Ryan O'Neal. Plot wise, it's what I considered a typical Christian movie, about a young adult overwhelmed with complications in life and learning the answer is in Jesus. 

You probably are guessing the main character is named Josh. That's a good, logical, natural, and wrong guess. Neither is it the protagonist's Christian roommate. No, this is referring to the speaker at on-campus meetings that the roommate invites the protagonist to, named Josh McDowell, who plays himself.

My hunch is most of my readers recognized Josh's name. In the movie, Josh deals with the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and deals with alternative views of what happened. This movie planted a seed on my interest in Christian apologetics. 

Most of the movies I've listed are available on Amazon. Sorry, not this one. However, it is up on YouTube if you want to take an hour and watch it. 

Allow me to add - "Thief In The Night" was a movie that almost made this list. That movie and others I've liked were produced by Mark IV (this one wasn't). One thing I like about Mark IV is that everybody doesn't come to Christ, just as in real life. In fact, sometimes the protagonist doesn't become a Christian.

 

PRE-OSCAR LOOK AT MOVIES THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON ME, PART 4 OF 12: MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (1974)

I have read Agatha Christie's novel twice, and seen three different film adaptations of this movie. I could make an argument for including David Suchet's rendition as well. But one could argue that I may not have watched the other versions or even read any Agatha Christie (who is at the top of authors I read the most novels by at 23, not counting movies I've seen based on other stories) if I hadn't seen this one first. 

This was my favorite of the three versions (though Suchet's my favorite Poirot). I re-watched this recently, shortly after watching the 2017 remake. Windmark's performance as the victim was one that didn't scream "evil" as the novel and the other versions hinted (though in Suchet's version, you had a split frame of the soon-to-be-deceased and Poirot praying that made me think of the Pharisee and Publican, and you can guess which is which).

My introduction to Sean Connery was this star-studded movie; I didn't realize at that time he played James Bond, and I forgot that he was in this movie as I became familiar with 007. In fact, I didn't know any of the actors prior to this film (with the possible exception of seeing Albert Finney's Christmas Carol musical prior to this; I'm not sure which I saw first). By the way, if you're wondering if Bond will be showing up in this list... nope. But if you're wondering what my favorite Bond movies are, those would be "Diamonds Are Forever" and "Man With A Golden Gun."

 
 

 

 

PRE-OSCAR LOOK AT MOVIES THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON ME, PART 3 OF 12: FANTASTIC VOYAGE

 

 This may be the highest on my list of favorite movies of the ones I've looked at so far. It's one I keep rewatching every five years or so. Part of it is the special effects. I will admit that I've been exposed to Sci Fi at this point (Dad took me to see "Robinson Crusoe on Mars," "The Day The Earth Stood Still", and "Planet of the Apes" at this point of my life.

One thing I appreciated in this movie when I watched it as an adult is to realize that this was my introduction of creation vs. evolution, and it didn't make you think the creationist was an idiot either.