"Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so."

Title: For the Bible Tells Me So

Rating: Unrated

Release Date: October 5th, 2007

Directed by: Daniel G. Karslake
Written by: Helen R. Mendoza, Daniel G. Karslake 

Run time: 95 Mins 

        Daniel Karslake's For the Bible Tells Me So, chronicles the lives of five Christian families as they react to finding out their children are homosexual. Each family's story is different. The Robinson's find out their son, Gene is gay. While not actively supportive, they have grown to support him and believe that being appointed the first openly gay bishop of the Anglican Church was what God intended for their son. There is Mary Lou Wallner who retells the story of her daughter's coming out and subsequent suicide. After her daughter's death, Wallner's faith is shaken and her beliefs reexamined. Then there is the Reitan family from Eden Prairie, Minnesota. When Randi and Phil's son, Jake, comes put they fear for his safety and their pastor suggests a conversion therapy. However, now the family as grown closer, each and every one advocates for LGBTQ rights. There is the Poteats who have come to accept their lesbian daughter, but do not consider her and her partner eligible for marriage. Finally there is the Gephardts, a political family who has a lesbian daughter. The parents are extremely supportive of their daughter. Richard Gephardt describes his role as a parent as "unconditional love." Every family has an individual story, but each family reaches the conclusion that they must their children no matter what. Yet some learn the message a bit too late.
     Gene Robinson planned to be a minister when he was older, but he was worried  about his sexuality  he wasn't attracted to women. He continued to theological studies and got married to one of his friends.However, the two got divorced and Gene has been committed to his long time partner, Mark. Gene Robinson is the first gay bishop of the Anglican Church worldwide. Tonia Poteat is a graduate of Yale University and still has issues with her parents, but the Poteats have made lots of progress over the years. Jake Reitan came out in high school to his parents, but they were worried about their son's safety. Over the years, Reitan and his family have become advocates for the causes. According to Karslake, the family has now been arrested at protests multiple times. Mary Lou Wallner's daughter, Anna, came out to her in a letter. Wallner's reply was less than cordial and the two lost touch. Months later, Anna committed suicide, Since then Wallner has studied the Bible extensively and her change of heart is profound. Finally, the Gephardts are in the middle of a campaign when their daughter, Chrissy, comes out to them after her divorce. The family is wholly accepting and asks Chrissy to be a large part of their campaign. Chrissy was publicly out and she recalls that she has been approached by parents and children alike to say, "Thank you."
      The film itself is well written using easy transitions into each story. One of the highlights of the film is a cartoon written about the scientific investigation performed regarding homosexuality, it brings humor to a largely heavy film. The script wove all the segments together  fluidly. Then tension builds easily and engrosses the viewer, investing them in each family's story. Another strong point of the film was the editing. The use of B-roll footage helped the viewer view family life before a child came out. It also provided family history and general background information, such as dates and time. The transitions were also well put together connecting each story with their most basic similarities, like concerns for a child's health. Each family was able to present their opinion in an organized platform.
    Overall, I would highly recommend the film. Each person had something special to contribute to the film. Some had tearful confessions of grief, some shared a change of heart, and some overcome situations of extreme scrutiny. Each had an anecdote or two up their sleeves and a unique story to tell. It was refreshing and provocative. It was thought- provoking and well done.
 

For the Bible Tells Me So, Unrated, 95 Mins 

"There are times when we're dirt broke, hungry, and freezing, and I ask myself, why the [heck] am I still living here? And then they call. And I remember."

Rent 
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: November 23rd, 2005
Director: Chris Columbus
Starring: Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Jesse L. Martin, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Idina Menzel, Taye Diggs, Tracie Thoms, Rosario Dawson
Based on: Rent by Jonathan Larson
Screenplay: Stephen Chbosky
Running time: 135 Minutes

            Rent is a film adaption of the rock opera of the same name. That sentence alone would make any "Renthead"  cringe, luckily this movie didn't turn into the cringe worthy fest it could have been. Not to say the film isn't without flaws, that would be a ridiculous statement. The film was well received by Rent fans or those with previous knowledge of theatrical show, but the film fell short with the critics.
           Jonathan Larson's Rent, a rock opera loosely based on Puccini's La Boheme, tells the story of a year in the life of seven friends in 1990's New York City. The story begins on Christmas Eve, roommates Mark (Anthony Rapp) and Roger (Adam Pascal), are at least a year behind on their rent. Mark, Roger, and their neighbors are given a choice, eviction or pay, no one's really into that paying option. Later, their landlord Benny (Taye Diggs), Mark and Roger's ex-roommate shows up with a proposition for the boys, if they stop a protest by their friend, Maureen (Idina Menzel), he will let the two of them off easy. Benny proposes a future where they achieve their dreams together. However, Mark and Roger aren't biting.
             Later that night, when Mark goes out, Roger laments the death of his girlfriend, his disease (HIV), and questions whether or not he will be able to produce one truly great song before he dies. After, Roger is visited by his neighbor, Mimi (Rosario Dawson), a dancer and a drug addict. She shamelessly flirts with Roger. Roger becomes anxious when learning about Mimi's drug habit and as a recovering addict, tries and fails, to hide Mimi's "stash" that fell on his floor.
             The next morning Tom Collins (Jesse L. Martin), an old friend of Mark and Roger, who was mugged on Christmas Eve and was nursed back to health by a drag queen, Angel (Wilson Jermaine Heredia), shows up with gifts. The two are also HIV positive and are heading to a life support meeting. They extend an invitation to Mark and Roger. Mark accepts and plans to stop by after helping Maureen, his ex, whose production manager can't properly set up the equipment  for the protest. Mark and Joanne (Tracie Thoms), the new spouse and production manager, strike up an unlikely friendship. Meanwhile, Mimi pursues Roger, who denies her in hopes of protecting her. Roger apologizes and the two attend Maureen's protest together. Benny orders an injunction effectively ending the protest.
           The first half takes place over approximately 48 hours and over the year to come, everything will change. Relationships will be tested, dreams will be discovered, steps will be taken, and the group will face the death of one of their own. So what makes the divide? Why do theater enthusiasts love the film, while critics hate it?
          Well, bringing back more than half the original Broadway cast definitely helped win over fans. That scored Chris Columbus major brownies point with the fans and  is mostly likely one of the reasons this film is so widely embraced in the fan community because, whether they admit or not, all Rent fans have a favorite cast, and let's face it the original cast is simply adored. That's not all the film does well.
        The story as flimsy as it may sound transitions to the screen fairly well, however many little facets of the plot are lost and the film suffers for it. Witty dialogue becomes gritty and back story is lost. Of course, the plot is still strong, it just lacks the humor of the complete libretto and some of its greatest moments. What I'm saying is that Chbosky's fluid and heart-wrenching writing lacks some of Larson's initial humor.
        The highlight of Rent is it characters. The feisty Maureen, the uninspired Roger, the lonely Mark, the charismatic Angel, the intellectual Collins, the playful Mimi, and the disciplined Joanne. Each character is three dimensional and relatable. We've all felt something similar to love and to heartbreak. We've all felt lonely before. What makes the show's energy is the real edge the characters present. This is why Rent is so successful. Not only is it a rally cry for the youth, it's a rally cry for people. People from all walks of life can find themselves in the triumph and the heartbreak that Rent presents because at its core Rent is a human story. It's about the the cycle of life and death and celebrating the days we've been given.
          While Larson's message and his characters are what shines the brightest in the film, the acting is superb as well. Adam Pascal shines in his delivery of "One Song Glory" and "Your Eyes." Pascal's raw emotion makes Roger's reluctance heart-wrenching and Pascal's subtle wandering eyes convey a deep sadness, lots of "baggage." Also, Anthony Rapp, like Pascal, uses his singing voice to really draw the audience towards his dilemma, his massive fear of being left behind as his friends continue to become ill. As he makes sacrifices to pay the rent, as he sits with his best friends and is still isolated. The stand out performance is, as always, Wilson Jermaine Heredia as Angel. Heredia is not only a fantastic singer and dancer, but he also gives a chilling performance. He is the face stuck in your head. He will be the character to haunt your memory; his portrayal will uplift you and shake you.
          In conclusion, this movie isn't perfect in any manner of the word. It could include more of Larson's joke and more of the short songs. It isn't perfect technically, but what film is perfect? Isn't that the point that it isn't perfect? Columbus's vision is better than the critics believe. The film captures the spirit of Rent. The humanity and the humility. And at the end of the day that's all the film needed to be. "Rentheads" didn't need a gritty or overly polished film. All they needed was Larson's words.
         In the end, there isn't much more to be said but this:
Thank you, Jonathan Larson

Thus Saith the Lord: The Prince of Egypt (1998)

     The Prince of Egypt is an animated epic. The films depicts the Book of Exodus, also known as The Second Book of Moses Called Exodus, but whatever right? It follows the life of Moses, the prophet, as he makes the transition from Egyptian royalty to leading the Israelites out of Egypt. The best part? It's Biblical and well done. It all comes together. It's miraculous.
      The film opens with a bang, The Pharaoh orders that Hebrew babies must be done away, Yocheved sends her baby boy, Moses, down the river with the hope he will live. And where does Moses end up? The Pharaoh's palace! The very man who wants him dead, is now his father. This just got complicated!
       Anyway, Moses (Val Kilmer) grows old as most children tend to do. He's a sovereign prince of Egypt and really close to his foster/adoptive brother, Rameses (he's very important later). The Pharaoh holds a party for Rameses (Ralph Fiennes) and brings him a woman as a surprise, Tzipporah (Michelle Pfeiffer), a Midian woman. Moses is intrigued and helps her escape, he pursues her, but she gets away.
       On his walk back home, Moses run into two slaves, Miriam (Sandra Bullock) and Aaron (Jeff Goldblum). They're Moses' biological siblings, but Moses does not believe Miriam. When he arrives home, he confronts his family and finds out he is truly a Hebrew, but he family assures him that he is loved and still a soverneign Prince of Egypt. But feelings of inadequacy sneak up on Moses.
      The next day, Moses and Rameses take a day trip to the temples. While there, Moses sees Hebrew severely beaten, and decides to intervene, ultimately killing a man. He flees to the desert where he stumbles upon the Midian tribe and Tzipporah. Moses joins the tribe, marries Tzipporah, becomes a Shepard, and gets a message God. God tells Moses to free his people of the oppression of Egypt (LET MY PEOPLE GO!).
       Moses travels back two Egypt and begs his brother Rameses to let his people go. Rameses says he will not free the slaves. See told you he was important and thus the plagues begin. They end with Passover (that is a really terrifying) and the real question is will Moses' people ever be let go?
     The film comes together and is an epic for all ages. Kilmer and Fiennes deliver passionate, raw, and believable performances.  They're easy to buy as brothers and have fantastic chemistry. Michelle Pfeiffer and Sandra Bullock also given heartwarming performances as Miriam and Tzipporah, reminding the audience the power of love and the power you have when you believe.The animation is stunning and the design is stunning. It's hard to articulate this movie well. It;s touching and beautiful visually and thematically.
      Not to mention the music! The music ties the film together and always enhances the plot, unlike some popular television shows (Glee). The music is written by Hans Zimmer, and the lyrics by Steven Schwartz (Godspell anyone?). "Deliver Us" starts the film with a bang, "The Plagues" explores Rameses and Moses' relationship, and "Through Heaven's Eyes" inspires Moses to become someone he can be proud of. Honestly, the music could not be better written or done better! It is the highlight of this fantastic film.
      This film is amazing and the quality of the film makes so you don't even have to care about the Old Testament/ Torah to enjoy it. Rent a copy or something, I guarantee you won't regret it.