Reel Talk with Laura

Heaven is for Real

Approaching Easter, the Holy Week in which Christ died for our sins and rose on the third day, it is very meaningful to see a movie that is based on the simple fact that sometimes seeing isn't just believing.

Heaven is for Real is a movie based on true events that unfolded in the summer of 2003 when a young boy named Colton went to heaven. Colton was four years old at the time and was suffering from a ruptured appendix. During the time the surgery was being performed, Colton lifted out of his body and saw things - incredible things. When he awoke from surgery, Colton did not share his experiences right away, but with time began to open up to his father.

Greg Kinnear leads a stellar cast in the story, bringing Todd Burpo to life on film. Todd is a pastor and has been most of his life, leading a small church in Nebraska. His wife Sonja Burpo, played by Kelly Riley, leads her women's choir group and is the ever faithful church wife. Along with Thomas Haden Church, Margo Martindale, and Conor Corum (Colton) rounding out the cast. When events put their son into the hospital they are forced to make a choice: believe that God can bring their son back or fall into despair. As Todd struggles with this question in the chapel he gets angry with God while his wife Sonja calls the church family for prayer - an image that Colton sees as he walks with Jesus.

Many other stories unfold about Colton's visit to heaven. He sees images of family members that have passed away, visions of what heaven looks like, and even Jesus' appearance which is not like the pictures he has seen in Sunday School books. Many people in the small town do not want to believe this, finding it too scary to believe or struggling with the fact that maybe there truly is a heaven. One fact remains - a young boy visited heaven and he believes it. Scripture says that we must come to Jesus as children and Colton certainly did that.

There has been much criticism about the book and now the movie, debating theological doctrine, actual medical reports that Colton did not really die at any point, and that there are holes around the story biblically. However, the idea remains: it's an imperfect story for an imperfect world. Jesus came to a little boy and revealed Himself in a way that Colton would understand. The truth is, Jesus does that for us each and every day. We are all imperfect and undeserving of His love, and yet He gives it freely. So I ask, what is so wrong with believing that He could hold the hand of a four year old and take him on a walk? He desires to do that with each one of us, if only we would believe and let Him.

 

My Rating: 

     

Rated: PG, for some adult content including medical sences. 

Captain America: The Winter Solider

Oh Marvel, how I love thee...let me count the ways. I start by saying that Captain America isn't my favorite Avenger. I like him, but out of Thor, Iron Man, The Hulk, Hawkeye, and the Black Widow, the Captain is not my first choice. I enjoyed the first film and it was quite a bit more “human” than any other Marvel film. However, this film has completely changed my mind. To say that it was amazing does not even come close to describe my feelings about it. As the set up goes - Thor, The Dark World, and Iron Man 3 are all leading up to Avengers 2: Age of Ultron, with Captain America : The Winter Soldier setting it up the best!

Captain America ( Chris Evans) aka Steve, picks up right where we left off, with him attempting to find a place in an ever advancing world. Where he would choose a simpler life, he is forced to find satisfaction in the one that he is in. Being an agent for S.H.I.E.L.D, he continues to complete missions that are assigned by Director Fury ( Samuel L Jackson) alongside The Black Widow/ Natasha (Scarlett Johansson). When the Captain's world is turned upside down with revelations that things are not what they appear to be, he is forced to make a stand. He fights enemies that he thought were friends and faces on old enemy.

Along with returning faces, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L Jackson, Cobie Smulders, and Haley Atwell, we get new characters in Robert Redford as Alexander Pierce, Anthony Mackel as Sam Wilson, aka Falcon. And of course we can't forget our beloved Stan Lee who makes his appearance; I'm not telling where so be on the look out - it's funny as always! Everyone brings their A-game to the film with superb acting. It is 136 minutes of non-stop action and pure enjoyment. Quite a bit of hand to hand combat occurs with the fighting scenes that are beautifully choreographed - fighting that only Captain America can do with his shield at his side. The film also has quite a bit of comedy which has become a staple of the Marvel films as well. There's everything from one liners to Natasha attempting to set Steve up on a date.

Not giving much away, because even if you are not a fan of Marvel (which you should be ashamed if you aren't :-) ) if you like movies it is worth every penny. You will not be bored and you will find yourself wanting more. Make sure that you stay til the end, because as is true with every Marvel film you don't want to miss the surprise scenes, and yes there are multiple. At the end I dare you to not want to join S.H.E.I.L.D yourself, or at least go home and watch all the other Marvel films. It's a great movie, one of the best so far this year! Can't wait for Avengers: Age of Ultron: 2015 can't come soon enough!!!!

 

My Rating: (my first 5 star rating!)

       

Rated: for some violence and fighting

Veronica Mars

When a show is cancelled way before it should be, what is one to do? You begin a kick starter and raise enough money, and then some, from your fans to fund the making of your movie. Oh, and did I mention that you also do this in 12 hours? Thus, the movie became available through AMC theaters and any type of On Demand screening. I was lucky enough to be able to see the film at a local Independent movie theater since there are no AMC theaters where I live.

The movie gives a great recap of what the TV series was all about, so if you had never seen an episode of the show you wouldn't be completely lost. However it could have used a little more explaining of who is who. Kristen Bell reprises her role as Veronica Mars but this time she isn't the crime solving detective that she once was. Nine years later, Veronica in her own words, is living in New York City with her boyfriend Piz and about to embark on her first “real” job as a lawyer. Veronica hears a TV news story about one of her high school peers, Bonnie DeVille, who is now a pop singer, who has been murdered and the prime suspect is her boyfriend, Logan Echolls, Veronica's one true love. Cue the call that Logan makes to Veronica for a “favor”. As Veronica returns to Neptune to try and help her old friend Logan find a lawyer, she is once again pulled back into her old world, quite quickly I might add. Attending her 10 year high school reunion, one she vowed she would never attend, provides some real entertainment.

All the gang is back. Wallace and Mac are back as her trusty sidekicks; also Dick Casablancas, Weville, Leo (Max Greenfield), and Keith Mars, just to name a few. There are great cameo appearances from James Franco, as well as Dax Shepard, my favorite!

As the story unfolds we hear the traditional Veronica narration throughout the story. It's not hard for Veronica to fall back into her private investigating ways, as she tries to put the pieces of the story together. How could Logan kill Bonnie when that was against everything that she had ever known about him? What other people could have been involved? Was it a conspiracy? Could it have been a jealous fan? Or another lover? Veronica knows that Logan is not capable of murder but how is she going to prove it?

It's pretty much a 100 minute episode and a little funnier than I remember the show being: great chemistry and just what fans have been waiting for. It did not let me down. I know that all Veronica Mars fans will be seeing this movie but I would encourage those of you who haven't seen one episode to give it a try. It has fantastic one liners plus fast, quick dialogue. If you are a Kristen Bell fan it's worth seeing as well. “ After all life is tough, but she's tougher!”

 

My Rating: 

   

Rated PG-13, for some violence, language, and sexual content

 

Happy Thursday all,
As you may have noticed I do not have a ThrowBack Thursday post today, and I promise there is a good reason for that. I am seeing new movies this weekend, even tonight, and I plan to post all my thoughts a review in the next few days. I will be seeing Veronica Mars tonight, Captain America tomorrow night, and Noah sometime this weekend. So stay tuned, it'll be worth it, promise!