Weekend Update June 27 & 29, 2008

This weekend we conclude our fifth installment of God at the Movies with the movie  Enchanted.  This movie was the second leading vote getter in the people's choice.  Here is a review by Journey Weekend Service Producer Daniel Benitez.

Enchanted is the story of what happens when the real and animated worlds collide – or that’s what Disney tells us it is about. Rather, it’s a modern send up to the Disney animated classics of old. It seems that no one can make fun of Disney like Disney. With tongue-in-cheek references to the perfect fairytales, Enchanted tries, and succeeds a little at, deconstructing the tired genre.

The film begins in the 2-D animated world of Andalasia, where archetypal Disney princess Giselle (Amy Adams) meets her prince charming – and after a day, decides to marry him. But their perfect story is spoiled by the evil Queen Narissa, played wonderfully by Susan Sarandon, who throws Giselle through a magic portal to “a place where there are no happily ever afters” – New York City. In typical fairytale fashion, her prince chases after her, searching for his true love in the Big Apple. Along the way, Giselle meets a divorcee and his young daughter. While they teach her what it is to live in the real world, she teaches them what it is to hold on to optimism, innocence and the belief that people are good.

Though Enchanted implodes back in to the cheesy Disney ending, it is still a film that holds some deep themes. At first glance, it is a film about love – in the most superficial sense. However, at further inspection, it is also a film that analyzes what it means to live between to worlds, or rather, two kingdoms. How would it be to know that there is a place of perfection – a place where there are happily ever afters; but live in a world of pain and suffering, a world that has lost hope? As the film progresses, Giselle matures as she comes to grips with the hurt of our world. But unlike her un-animated human counterparts, she still maintains the hope that there can be and is a better world out there – that broken people can still find their “happily ever afters.”

ALSO THIS WEEKEND:
There will be a great run of worship songs and special video presentation including Ed Noble, Jason Denison, Matt Bradford and Rod Kaya.  Below are some behind the scenes pictures while producing and filming the video -- you will not want to miss this.

 

Please pray for the following:
1. That this series would finish strong with many invites made too this weekend's services.
2. That a real anointing would be on all the programming elements (message, music, video, technical arts).
3. That in view of the Married Couples Retreat, all areas of ministry would be fully staffed.

For a Look Back at Highlights of Last Weekend click here.

For an update on how are recent service time changes are going click here.

Comments

[Rod Kaya]

Evonn,

I am not sure if we will have a trivia question this week. If we do -- it will be seen in the Weekend Update (extra) that comes out on Friday.

thanks

rod

[Evonn]

Rod,
I have to admit... I am one of the people who voted for this movie. I have enjoyed watching this movie (over and over again) with my two daughters, and I am looking forward to the message that comes out of this movie. One question: Where is your trivia question(s) this week? I'm sure I will have this one in the bag.