The Ripken Way…

On Sunday, two of baseball’s greatest, classiest players were inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. Cal Ripken, Jr. and Tony Gwynn are the epitome of what professional athletes should be both on and off the field. Their induction ceremony and speeches are reminders of all that is good about baseball and professional sports, especially in the midst of so many controversies surrounding every professional sports league. Ripken’s comments are doubtless directed at professional athletes but are also an encouragement to us all. Below are some excerpts from his speech. [Read more]

SUCCESS…

I doubt that any group of filmmakers have been under the amount of pressure to create a successful film like the writers and animators of The Simpsons Movie have been over the past two or three years. With an eighteen-year-strong fan base, that has weakened some over the past few seasons, Matt Groening et al not only had to provide something fresh to millions of dedicated fans but also something funny for the general public. I admit to some skepticism and pessimism before going to see the film, but kept a sincerely open mind. I went with a diverse group of folks to see the film, many of whom were much more pessimistic than me. I am delighted to say that we all came out of the film more than pleasantly surprised. While not the funniest film of the year, The Simpsons Movie movie comes close and is a successful big screen transfer that, like the television shows, demands repeat viewing. [Read more]

The Spiritual Simpsons

So here they are, on the eve of The Simpsons Movie’s release, my top three “Spiritual Simpsons” episodes. I’m off to catch the midnight show with all the other fanboys(girls), but if you are waiting until later in the weekend to see it, let these memories of the good old days tide you over. [Read more]

The Definitive Guides

While Mark I. Pinsky’s religious dialogue with The Simpsons is certainly intriguing and Chris Turner’s Planet Simpson is an excellent example of how the series infiltrates nearly every aspect of the human experience, neither book, nor any of the others discussed here, offers the wealth of information on each episode like the “Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family” series. The best part of this series is that it is broken down into a collection of seasons (the first volume features seasons 1-8, the second features seasons 9-10, the third 11-12, and the fourth 13-14), so if you, like many critics, feel that the show lost a little bit after the 8th season or maybe the 10th, then just buy the volume that fits your interests. The books devote a page or two to each episode and provide memorable lines, Bart’s chalkboard writing, guest appearances, and plot synopses. Some of the books also contain tallies of each time Homer says “D’oh!,” descriptions of Itchy & Scratchy programs, and other “useless” trivia. A must for even mild fans!

More From The Simpsons Library

Thankfully, yesterday’s post did not run the gamut of Simpsons-critical texts. Here are two more, one worth adding to your library, and the other, well it’s nothing short of the worst…book…ever. [Read more]

It’s Finally Here!

D’oh! I mean, only four more days until The Simpsons Movie opens. PopTheology is dedicating every post this week to all things Simpsons. First, we will focus on several books based on pop-culture’s first family and, as the movie approaches, Daniel Skidmore and I will offer up our top five “spiritual Simpsons” episodes and hope that they will generate some discussion about your favorite “spiritual Simpsons” episode or your favorite episode in general. I’ll be making my way to the nearest Kwik-E-Mart tonight down in Mountain View to load up on Squishies, Buzz Cola, and, Mmmmmm, donuts. For now, check out perhaps two of the best books inspired by The Simpsons. [Read more]

Darker Arts…

The new Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (directed by David Yates) hit theaters last week, uncoincidentally close to the concluding book of the saga, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Unfortunately, I have not remained wrapped up in the books like most of the free world; however, I have enjoyed the films immensely, even the weaker ones. The latest one proves to be the best yet, thanks in no small part to a darker tone and stronger performances, all the while retainings its key themes of self-sacrificial love and the importance of community. [Read more]

Ratings, ratings, ratings…

In his latest contribution to PopTheology, Daniel Skidmore reflects on the MPAA’s rating system and its implications on the values that it promotes or withholds.

The recent release of Live Free or Die Hard and the filmmakers controversial choice to edit it to garner a PG-13 rating has struck anew in my mind the debate about the Hollywood rating system. [Read more]

The Word Made Flesh: A Review

Much has been written about Martin Scorsese’s films and hopefully we can expect more of both. Theologians and religious studies professors often drool over the theological over/undertones in his work. His early struggle of whether or not to enter the priesthood should add complexity to his work and our viewing of it. In The Word Made Flesh: Catholicism and Conflict in the Films of Martin Scorsese, Michael Bliss discusses Scorsese’s films from Who’s That Knocking at My Door to The Age of Innocence. While the book begins with much promise as a dialogue between theology and Scorsese’s films, it quickly fades into mere film criticism only slightly tinged with religious flavor. [Read more]

Pro-Life Cinema

Thanks to Alexander Carpenter of the Beatitudes Society and The Spectrum blog for steering me toward this great article from Christianity Today. A couple of these films have been reviewed on PopTheology, and despite our negative review of Knocked Up, I happen to agree with McCracken’s take on it. I appreciate this writer’s willingness to look beyond the offensive elements of these films to find a deeper, life-affirming message. Check it out at:

Pro-Life Cinema

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