Reviews

FILM

Monsters Inc. (U)

There's no escaping the merchandising for Monsters Inc at the moment, but don't let the commercial push put you off going to see the film - it's great.

And like the Toy Story films, it succeeds because it's sophisticated on one level, and very simple on another. The dialogue is sharp, witty and crackling with great lines - many of the jokes will register with adults - yet the characters, the plot and the sheer visual fun provide heaps of fun for kids of all ages.

Our two heroes are the eight-foot tall blue monster Sully (voiced by John Goodman) and Mike (a lime green eyeball with arms and legs, voiced by Billy Crystal). They both work for Monsters Inc, a giant factory in Monstropolis, which provides monsters to go into kids' bedrooms around the world. Their job is to capture the children's screams in special containers, which then are converted to energy for the city.

Problem is, the kids scare much less easily these days, so Monstropolis has an energy crisis. This is forcing the monsters to even greater lengths to capture those all-important screams. And it's not made any easier because the monsters are actually terrified of the children ("they're toxic!" they're told during training - "one touch could kill you!").

Disaster strikes when one little girl - Boo - follows Sully back to the factory. Sully and Mike battle to get her back home without being seen, while also trying to foil a dastardly plan led by Monsters Inc chairman Henry Waternoose (James Coburn) and sidekick Randall Boggs (Steve Buscemi) to perfect a device which removes children's screams on its own, giving them control of the factory.

The animation is simply incredible, and the pace of the film rarely lets up, with a superb chase scene near the end that is fantastic fun. There are some moving moments, too, particularly as Sully and Mike begin to discover that a child is rather different to what they expected, and they learn to love her.

What's in it for Christians, then? Well, it provides a great opportunity to talk to your kids about things that frighten them and why. You can remind them that you shouldn't judge by appearances, and that people who appear tough and powerful are often insecure on the inside.

There's plenty of useful mileage for tackling school bullies, and dealing with night-time fears.

Our security is in Jesus, and his perfect love can cast out our fear. It's said that the phrase "Do not be afraid" appears in the Bible 366 times - one for every day of the year including leap years!

Monsters Inc is a superb piece of film-making by Pixar and Disney, and means you can just about live with the ferocious merchandising that accompanies it. Oh, and if you see it at the cinema, don't leave before the out-takes that roll with the credits. They're a hoot.

Russ Bravo is director of Christian Family Network. He's married with three children aged 14, 12 and six

Big questions

Vanilla Sky (15)

THE publicity material for this Tom Cruise-Penelope Cruz film says this:
"The guy with the perfect looks, job and sex life, David Aames (played by Cruise) seems to be missing something. When unexpected events force him to change his life, he must go on an emotional journey to search for his soul to discover the meaning of true love."

Sounds OK so far, but this film has received an absolute pasting from the critics. Self-indulgent, confused, a poor attempt at art house movie – just some of the criticism levelled. True enough, watching it you start by thinking it’s a romance at first, a thriller halfway through and science fiction by the end: but time to nail my colours to the mast – I liked it!

There are some things in Hollywood movies that do make me uncomfortable and this film has a couple. The incessant use of four-letter words is one, and the blithe acceptance of a lifestyle where friends of the opposite sex sleep with one another out of convenience, is another.

Yet I found in Vanilla Sky many more redeeming qualities. It features a great soundtrack and a cameo appearance from Stephen Spielberg.

Seriously, what can we as Church reasonably expect from a Hollywood blockbuster? Will it ever, realistically, point to Jesus or give an eloquent and powerful presentation of the Gospel? Unlikely!

Yet it might be filled with grace or examine loyalty, commitment, love, sacrifice, or friendship, for example. Instead of giving answers it might just raise the questions.

Vanilla Sky is, I believe, one such film.

In the very first scene, David Aames says that like most successful men of 33 he thinks he can live forever. Without spoiling the story, the remainder of the film asks such questions as: What is reality? What are the really important things in life? When we die do we take memories of those things with us? Is it possible to defeat death? If so, what will life be like?

Massive questions aren’t they? The type of questions that we have the answers for and the type of questions we should be grateful that now and again Hollywood opens up to a mass audience.

Nigel James is an evangelist working with Big Ideas in Cardiff

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		FILM Monsters Inc. (U) There's no escaping the merchandising for Monsters Inc at the moment, but don't let the commercial push put you off going to see the film - it's great. And like the Toy Story films, it succeeds because it's sophisticated on one level, and very simple on another. The dialogue is sharp, witty and crackling with great lines - many of the jokes will register with adults - yet the characters, the plot and the sheer visual fun provide heaps of fun for kids of all ages. Our two heroes are the eight-foot tall blue monster Sully (voiced by John Goodman) and Mike (a lime green eyeball with arms and legs, voiced by Billy Crystal). They both work for Monsters Inc, a giant factory in Monstropolis, which provides monsters to go into kids' bedrooms around the world. Their job is to capture the children's screams in special containers, which then are converted to energy for the city. Problem is, the kids scare much less easily these days, so Monstropolis has an energy crisis. This is forcing the monsters to even greater lengths to capture those all-important screams. And it's not made any easier because the monsters are actually terrified of the children ("they're toxic!" they're told during training - "one touch could kill you!"). Disaster strikes when one little girl - Boo - follows Sully back to the factory. Sully and Mike battle to get her back home without being seen, while also trying to foil a dastardly plan led by Monsters Inc chairman Henry Waternoose (James Coburn) and sidekick Randall Boggs (Steve Buscemi) to perfect a device which removes children's screams on its own, giving them control of the factory. The animation is simply incredible, and the pace of the film rarely lets up, with a superb chase scene near the end that is fantastic fun. There are some moving moments, too, particularly as Sully and Mike begin to discover that a child is rather different to what they expected, and they learn to love her. What's in it for Christians, then? Well, it provides a great opportunity to talk to your kids about things that frighten them and why. You can remind them that you shouldn't judge by appearances, and that people who appear tough and powerful are often insecure on the inside. There's plenty of useful mileage for tackling school bullies, and dealing with night-time fears. Our security is in Jesus, and his perfect love can cast out our fear. It's said that the phrase "Do not be afraid" appears in the Bible 366 times - one for every day of the year including leap years! Monsters Inc is a superb piece of film-making by Pixar and Disney, and means you can just about live with the ferocious merchandising that accompanies it. Oh, and if you see it at the cinema, don't leave before the out-takes that roll with the credits. They're a hoot. Russ Bravo is director of Christian Family Network. He's married with three children aged 14, 12 and six Big questions Vanilla Sky (15) THE publicity material for this Tom Cruise-Penelope Cruz film says this: "The guy with the perfect looks, job and sex life, David Aames (played by Cruise) seems to be missing something. When unexpected events force him to change his life, he must go on an emotional journey to search for his soul to discover the meaning of true love." Sounds OK so far, but this film has received an absolute pasting from the critics. Self-indulgent, confused, a poor attempt at art house movie – just some of the criticism levelled. True enough, watching it you start by thinking it’s a romance at first, a thriller halfway through and science fiction by the end: but time to nail my colours to the mast – I liked it! There are some things in Hollywood movies that do make me uncomfortable and this film has a couple. The incessant use of four-letter words is one, and the blithe acceptance of a lifestyle where friends of the opposite sex sleep with one another out of convenience, is another. Yet I found in Vanilla Sky many more redeeming qualities. It features a great soundtrack and a cameo appearance from Stephen Spielberg. Seriously, what can we as Church reasonably expect from a Hollywood blockbuster? Will it ever, realistically, point to Jesus or give an eloquent and powerful presentation of the Gospel? Unlikely! Yet it might be filled with grace or examine loyalty, commitment, love, sacrifice, or friendship, for example. Instead of giving answers it might just raise the questions. Vanilla Sky is, I believe, one such film. In the very first scene, David Aames says that like most successful men of 33 he thinks he can live forever. Without spoiling the story, the remainder of the film asks such questions as: What is reality? What are the really important things in life? When we die do we take memories of those things with us? Is it possible to defeat death? If so, what will life be like? Massive questions aren’t they? The type of questions that we have the answers for and the type of questions we should be grateful that now and again Hollywood opens up to a mass audience. Nigel James is an evangelist working with Big Ideas in Cardiff © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.