Reviews

FILM

ICE AGE (U)

If you're familiar with the graphical wizardry of the Toy Story films and Shrek, then the technical brilliance of Ice Age may not come as much of a surprise.

But great graphics don't make a great film on their own. Thankfully, Ice Age has much more going for it - endearing characters, a witty script that adults and children alike will enjoy, and a storyline that includes some genuinely moving moments. Plus a cute little running story about a squirrel-like creature and his acorn that is worthy of an award on its own.

The plot is a simple one: cute, talkative and accident-prone Sid the sloth teams up with gruff and stoical Manny the mammoth when the animals migrate without him. A human baby girl lands in their lap after an attack by sabre-tooth tigers sees the mother and daughter flee.

They decide to try to reunite the little girl with her family, not realising that the sabre-tooths' leader is determined to get his claws into her first. He sends the sinister Diego, one of his pack, to deliver the unlikely trio into his carefully planned ambush.

I'd spoil the film if I revealed the rest, but you'll be glad to know there's a happy ending, and some very positive messages about self-sacrifice, parenting and looking out for each other along the way.
Some of the chase sequences are simply breathtaking, as well as great fun, and you'll enjoy the banter between the endlessly chattering but endearing Sid and his world-weary, hairy great chum.

There's more than a passing resemblance to the relationship between Mike Myers' Shrek and Eddie Murphy's Donkey in the recent award-winning fairytale animation, with the vital difference that none of Sid's witticisms are lost to British ears in the way that Donkey's often were thanks to Murphy's machine-gun delivery.

My six-year-old and 12-year-old were captivated for the whole 80 minutes and given plenty of food for thought.

Plenty of laughs, plenty of thrills, plenty to admire but an animated classic with plenty of depth, too.
Highly recommended.

Russ Bravo is director of Christian Family Network

BOOKS

Wake up call for families

Beyond The Clouds, by Laurence Singlehurst. Hodder and Stoughton £5.99

Imagine the scenario. You’re a respected church leader, a conference speaker, employed by a nationally recognised Christian organisation. Then one day, without warning, your 13-year-old son starts to tell you how much he hates you. He begins to use language to you and your respected Christian colleagues that turns the air blue! Then he tries to commit suicide.

Social workers suggest that your whole family go for counselling as it’s obvious that your family is dysfunctional – and they conclude that you, the respected Christian worker, are the cause of the problem!

Far-fetched? Over-the-top? No! True in every respect. The awful story of Laurence Singlehurst which is told in this book is painfully honest, and should act as a wake-up call to all families, Christian or not, who aren’t taking the time and effort to tend the relationships within their family unit, and who haven’t laid down secure boundaries which everyone recognises and adheres to.

It’s a story of a family – a 'nice' family – in the process of meltdown. But a family that throws itself on to God, who shows a way through the pain.

I can only imagine the agonies that Laurence went through whilst all this was going on, and then again when he came to write his powerful story. The man has great courage – and his story deserves to be read by the very widest audience. The weakest part of the book is the title, but the text is extremely thought-provoking.

Highly recommended.

David Waite is a freelance writer and broadcaster based in Oxford

MUSIC

Worship stateside

PETER DILLEY reviews recent releases from US contemporary worship artists
Worship God, by Rebecca St James. Forefront Records (EMI Christian Music Group), CD £14.99

Rebecca St James works on her sixth album, again with producer and co-writer Matt Bronlewee. Rebecca takes a similar musical direction on Worship God to the previous project Transform.

However, this is intended not only to appeal to her existing audience, but also to parents who are known to indulge teenagers’ interests in Rebecca’s music (presumably in preference to more unsavoury alternatives). Not that this means Rebecca is going soft – the wall of sound generated by the combination of rock band and full orchestra is of Phil Spector-like immensity in places.

Of special interest to British audiences is the inclusion of two songs by Matt Redman, with Rebecca’s distinctive interpretation of Let My Words Be Few selected as the opener, and Better Is One Day appearing several tracks later. Vineyard favourite Breathe is another high spot, and Rebecca has written or co-written four solid tracks herself, but nowhere is her faith more confidently expressed than on It Is Well, recorded on 11 September.

And don’t miss the 'bonus' track – a fiery remix of Omega from Rebecca’s Pray album.

Lost In Worship, by Fusebox. Elevate Records/Inpop (EMI Christian Music Group), CD £14.99

The trio known collectively as Fusebox were once members of Rebecca St James's backing band, and despite its title their first release Lost In Worship has a clear sense of purpose.

Worship songs these may be, but most are great rock tunes too – with dc Talk bassist Otto Price in the producer's chair there are sounds to blow you away.

Put on the CD and turn it up loud for Every Move I Make and You Are My King; or mellow down for the more soulful Whisper, a track particularly well-suited to vocalist Bill Buchanan.

But a reunion with their erstwhile employer results in the tour de force – Rebecca duets with Bill on Light The Fire as it rises to massive crescendo, then fades as almost unaccompanied chorus. Irresistable as a singalong.

Thrive, by The Newsboys. Sparrow Records (EMI Christian Music Group), CD £14.99

Worship hasn’t always appeared to be the primary focus for Rebecca's compatriots The Newsboys, but they’ve shown in the past that beneath the zany public persona lies a mature sprituality, deeply rooted in worship. A similar picture emerges on Thrive, with worship song It Is You and the prayerful title cut providing the album’s centrepieces.

The Newsboys’ previous collaborations with lyricist/producer Steve Taylor have resulted in some of their most memorable tracks, and here Live In Stereo bounces along with a similar 'whistling' vibe to the classic Breakfast, Cornelius ("what rhymes with Cornelius?" they ask), as it tackles modern-day Christian legalism over a retro guitar riff and Adam Ant drum beat. Million Pieces is an excellent reminder of what they do best – pop-rock with a chorus hook you’ll end up humming or singing for days.

City On A Hill – Sing Alleluia. Essential Records (Authentic Music), CD £14.99

City On A Hill might have originally been conceived as one of those all-star worship projects which have proliferated in the last few years, but it evolved to become something way beyond that – those who contributed to the album coalesced into a worshipping community, out of which this second volume was born.

And with that sense of community comes co-operation; Sing Alleluia crosses stylistic boundaries to an even greater extent than its precursor. For example, the title track is a three-way collaboration between singer-songwriters Jennifer Knapp and Nichole Nordeman, and Third Day vocalist Mac Powell, while on Shine Your Light Nichole joins up with pop foursome FFH, and Mac duets with Fernando Ortega on Our Great God.

There are of course notable solo/band contributions too – You Are Holy from Nichole Nordeman (with a brief snatch of Fernando singing Be Thou My Vision), FFH’s Hide Me In Your Heart and The Comforter Has Come by Jars of Clay. A body or community of many different parts – didn’t St Paul write something about that?

The Eleventh Hour, by Jars of Clay. Essential Records (Authentic Music), CD £14.99

Besides their involvement in City On A Hill, Jars of Clay have been at work on their own fourth album: "music that is because of faith more than it is about it". And they’re right – themes here of openness, vulnerability and intimacy affect us both as spiritual beings and in our human relationships. "I’d really love to know, I'd really love to climb way into your heart, see what I could find, walk into your skin, swim through your veins, see it from your eyes," sings Dan Haseltine on Disappear.

Something Beautiful will have a resonance for anyone feeling a need for inner transformation. It's surely no fluke that Jars of Clay have come to be respected way beyond the confines of contemporary Christian music.

Peter Dilley is a bass guitarist and co-ordinator/mentor for a support scheme for young people with learning disabilities with the charity InterAct

© 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 ICE AGE (U) If you're familiar with the graphical wizardry of the Toy Story films and Shrek, then the technical brilliance of Ice Age may not come as much of a surprise. But great graphics don't make a great film on their own. Thankfully, Ice Age has much more going for it - endearing characters, a witty script that adults and children alike will enjoy, and a storyline that includes some genuinely moving moments. Plus a cute little running story about a squirrel-like creature and his acorn that is worthy of an award on its own. The plot is a simple one: cute, talkative and accident-prone Sid the sloth teams up with gruff and stoical Manny the mammoth when the animals migrate without him. A human baby girl lands in their lap after an attack by sabre-tooth tigers sees the mother and daughter flee. They decide to try to reunite the little girl with her family, not realising that the sabre-tooths' leader is determined to get his claws into her first. He sends the sinister Diego, one of his pack, to deliver the unlikely trio into his carefully planned ambush. I'd spoil the film if I revealed the rest, but you'll be glad to know there's a happy ending, and some very positive messages about self-sacrifice, parenting and looking out for each other along the way. Some of the chase sequences are simply breathtaking, as well as great fun, and you'll enjoy the banter between the endlessly chattering but endearing Sid and his world-weary, hairy great chum. There's more than a passing resemblance to the relationship between Mike Myers' Shrek and Eddie Murphy's Donkey in the recent award-winning fairytale animation, with the vital difference that none of Sid's witticisms are lost to British ears in the way that Donkey's often were thanks to Murphy's machine-gun delivery. My six-year-old and 12-year-old were captivated for the whole 80 minutes and given plenty of food for thought. Plenty of laughs, plenty of thrills, plenty to admire but an animated classic with plenty of depth, too. Highly recommended. Russ Bravo is director of Christian Family Network BOOKS Wake up call for families Beyond The Clouds, by Laurence Singlehurst. Hodder and Stoughton £5.99 Imagine the scenario. You’re a respected church leader, a conference speaker, employed by a nationally recognised Christian organisation. Then one day, without warning, your 13-year-old son starts to tell you how much he hates you. He begins to use language to you and your respected Christian colleagues that turns the air blue! Then he tries to commit suicide. Social workers suggest that your whole family go for counselling as it’s obvious that your family is dysfunctional – and they conclude that you, the respected Christian worker, are the cause of the problem! Far-fetched? Over-the-top? No! True in every respect. The awful story of Laurence Singlehurst which is told in this book is painfully honest, and should act as a wake-up call to all families, Christian or not, who aren’t taking the time and effort to tend the relationships within their family unit, and who haven’t laid down secure boundaries which everyone recognises and adheres to. It’s a story of a family – a 'nice' family – in the process of meltdown. But a family that throws itself on to God, who shows a way through the pain. I can only imagine the agonies that Laurence went through whilst all this was going on, and then again when he came to write his powerful story. The man has great courage – and his story deserves to be read by the very widest audience. The weakest part of the book is the title, but the text is extremely thought-provoking. Highly recommended. David Waite is a freelance writer and broadcaster based in Oxford MUSIC Worship stateside PETER DILLEY reviews recent releases from US contemporary worship artists Worship God, by Rebecca St James. Forefront Records (EMI Christian Music Group), CD £14.99 Rebecca St James works on her sixth album, again with producer and co-writer Matt Bronlewee. Rebecca takes a similar musical direction on Worship God to the previous project Transform. However, this is intended not only to appeal to her existing audience, but also to parents who are known to indulge teenagers’ interests in Rebecca’s music (presumably in preference to more unsavoury alternatives). Not that this means Rebecca is going soft – the wall of sound generated by the combination of rock band and full orchestra is of Phil Spector-like immensity in places. Of special interest to British audiences is the inclusion of two songs by Matt Redman, with Rebecca’s distinctive interpretation of Let My Words Be Few selected as the opener, and Better Is One Day appearing several tracks later. Vineyard favourite Breathe is another high spot, and Rebecca has written or co-written four solid tracks herself, but nowhere is her faith more confidently expressed than on It Is Well, recorded on 11 September. And don’t miss the 'bonus' track – a fiery remix of Omega from Rebecca’s Pray album. Lost In Worship, by Fusebox. Elevate Records/Inpop (EMI Christian Music Group), CD £14.99 The trio known collectively as Fusebox were once members of Rebecca St James's backing band, and despite its title their first release Lost In Worship has a clear sense of purpose. Worship songs these may be, but most are great rock tunes too – with dc Talk bassist Otto Price in the producer's chair there are sounds to blow you away. Put on the CD and turn it up loud for Every Move I Make and You Are My King; or mellow down for the more soulful Whisper, a track particularly well-suited to vocalist Bill Buchanan. But a reunion with their erstwhile employer results in the tour de force – Rebecca duets with Bill on Light The Fire as it rises to massive crescendo, then fades as almost unaccompanied chorus. Irresistable as a singalong. Thrive, by The Newsboys. Sparrow Records (EMI Christian Music Group), CD £14.99 Worship hasn’t always appeared to be the primary focus for Rebecca's compatriots The Newsboys, but they’ve shown in the past that beneath the zany public persona lies a mature sprituality, deeply rooted in worship. A similar picture emerges on Thrive, with worship song It Is You and the prayerful title cut providing the album’s centrepieces. The Newsboys’ previous collaborations with lyricist/producer Steve Taylor have resulted in some of their most memorable tracks, and here Live In Stereo bounces along with a similar 'whistling' vibe to the classic Breakfast, Cornelius ("what rhymes with Cornelius?" they ask), as it tackles modern-day Christian legalism over a retro guitar riff and Adam Ant drum beat. Million Pieces is an excellent reminder of what they do best – pop-rock with a chorus hook you’ll end up humming or singing for days. City On A Hill – Sing Alleluia. Essential Records (Authentic Music), CD £14.99 City On A Hill might have originally been conceived as one of those all-star worship projects which have proliferated in the last few years, but it evolved to become something way beyond that – those who contributed to the album coalesced into a worshipping community, out of which this second volume was born. And with that sense of community comes co-operation; Sing Alleluia crosses stylistic boundaries to an even greater extent than its precursor. For example, the title track is a three-way collaboration between singer-songwriters Jennifer Knapp and Nichole Nordeman, and Third Day vocalist Mac Powell, while on Shine Your Light Nichole joins up with pop foursome FFH, and Mac duets with Fernando Ortega on Our Great God. There are of course notable solo/band contributions too – You Are Holy from Nichole Nordeman (with a brief snatch of Fernando singing Be Thou My Vision), FFH’s Hide Me In Your Heart and The Comforter Has Come by Jars of Clay. A body or community of many different parts – didn’t St Paul write something about that? The Eleventh Hour, by Jars of Clay. Essential Records (Authentic Music), CD £14.99 Besides their involvement in City On A Hill, Jars of Clay have been at work on their own fourth album: "music that is because of faith more than it is about it". And they’re right – themes here of openness, vulnerability and intimacy affect us both as spiritual beings and in our human relationships. "I’d really love to know, I'd really love to climb way into your heart, see what I could find, walk into your skin, swim through your veins, see it from your eyes," sings Dan Haseltine on Disappear. Something Beautiful will have a resonance for anyone feeling a need for inner transformation. It's surely no fluke that Jars of Clay have come to be respected way beyond the confines of contemporary Christian music. Peter Dilley is a bass guitarist and co-ordinator/mentor for a support scheme for young people with learning disabilities with the charity InterAct © 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.