Calvary McAllen

INVINCIBLE

I went to see the movie INVINCIBLE this weekend. I have to start by saying that I am biased on this movie for several reasons.

1. I loved playing football throughout my middle school and high school years. In high school I pretty much lived and breathed football for at least 9 months out of the year. So I am biased toward football movies.

2. I played football in high school during the seventies (the years that the movie is set in). I knew all the players mentioned in the movie. Nothing like good, ole-fashioned nostalgia.

3. I'm a sucker for a good underdog story.

That being said, this is a great, true story of the Philadephia Eagle player, Vince Papole, who made the team as a walk on even though he never played high school or college football. The thing that makes the story even better is that it is set against the backdrop of an economically depressed south Philly neighborhood. Papole and his friends come from a desperate neighborhood where surviving is the best you can hope for. The lives of these folks was grim and difficult and in the midst of that they found a hero in the home-town boy who beat astronomical odds to play in the NFL.

It has some great themes including the importance of father-son relationships, mother-son relationships (Papole's mother died when he was young and she is always spoken of in the most reverent and respected terms), the importance of loyalty and friendship, and the power to overcome no matter your station in life.

The movie is clean too (rated PG). There's a little cussing (hey, it's football). But for the most part very clean. Although the movie drags in a few places it's overall message is worth the trip. I highly recommend it ... especially if you love football!

blessings,

pastor ellis

AMAZING GRACE

Walden Media, the production company behind movies like Holes, Because of Winn-Dixie, and The Chronicles of Narnia, has a number of interesting projects coming out. The most interesting has to be AMAZING GRACE, a movie based on the true story of William Wilberforce, a British statesman and reformer from the early part of the 19th century. This feature film will chronicle his extraordinary contributions to the world, primarily his 20-year fight to abolish the British slave trade, which he won in 1807. He was also instrumental in passing legislation to abolish slavery in the British colonies, a victory he won just three days before his death in 1833.

It's in post-production so it will be coming out soon, and promises to be a great movie with a positive Christian message.

blessings,

pastor ellis

WORLD TRADE CENTER

I don’t often recommend movies. I’m not sure I’m recommending this one. But, I thought it worth mentioning that the new Oliver Stone movie on the World Trade Center is premiering next week. I probably will NOT see it … right away … it’s still too soon and too difficult for me to watch. The only reason I’m mentioning it is because Cal Thomas, whom I deeply respect, wrote an interesting article on the movie (which he has already seen).  Cal Thomas, on occasions, weighs in on Hollywood. The article is entitled, World Trade Center Is A World Class Movie.

The movie, aptly named, World Trade Center, is due to be released next week (August 10th), and in Thomas' review of the movie he says, "It is one of the greatest pro-American, pro-family, pro-faith, pro-male, flag-waving, 'God Bless America' films you will ever see."

Thomas tells us that the movie is about five Port Authority Police officers who helped clear the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, where "three of them died and two, Will Jimeno (played persuasively by Michael Pena) and Sergeant John McLoughlin (played magnificently by Nicolas Cage), were buried in the rubble. These are real men who love their wives and children and are not afraid to say so. They are religious men who pray without shame or reserve. In fact, Jesus makes an appearance in Jimeno's hallucination, carrying a bottle of water to quench his thirst). Treating faith as genuine and with respect has only recently made a comeback among filmmakers."

Another pastor, who has not seen the movie either, predicted that if you choose to see it: “(1). You will be moved to literal tears when watching the movie, (2). You will realize that true heroism comes from people with character, and (3). You will be reminded why the war against terrorism is necessary.”

I don’t know … but it’s probably worth a try. First, I have to get myself emotionally prepared for it. One thing is for sure -- this movie will be a powerful emotive force. Watch the World Trade Center trailor here and pray about watching the movie next week.

blessings,

pastor ellis