Movie Critique and Editorial

Maybe I am getting old but where have all the good movies gone?

Can't Hollywood just make an entertaining movie without a political or social statement rammed down our throats and without swearing, nudity, crass humor, sexual innuendo, drug references, etc..?

They certainly have their free speech rights and I certainly have my right to not go and see their garbage. But what irks me is that I pay to get into a movie that seems interesting from the trailers only to be disappointed when they take a perfectly good story and ruin it with trash.

Two cases in point: Wall-e and Hancock. The animation and base storyline in Wall-e was great and the characters were well developed - but what's with the man is a lazy, fat, non caring, trash the planet message? Notice that the corporate CEO type who trashes the planet and gives up in trying to clean it up is a real human while the ignorant humans who are the hope of the world are animated.

Hancock was even more disappointing. Besides having a dumb ending, the swearing throughout the movies was nauseating. After the show I noticed how many young kids were in the theater with their parents. I wonder what they think - if at all. It is a sad state of affairs today but I just wonder had I asked those parents what they thought of all the swearing in the show (and by children, I might add) how many of them would have agreed with me or, looked at me as if I had a bug on my face. Call me cynical but I believe most parents today don't even recognize it as a problem and would dismiss my comments as prude and outdated. How sad for those kids.

I for one am going to talk to my congressman (who is a friend of mine) to try to get the "clean flicks" idea back in business. Let Hollywierd make what they want to make but give us a choice to cut out all the garbage.

Happy 4th of July!!!

We all had a relaxing and fun time this holiday. On Thursday afternoon we went to Carpinteria beach where we met up with Donald and Sam. Friday was a blast doing the traditional swim, BBQ, go the movies and then watch fireworks kinda thing. On Friday morning there was a pancake breakfast at the church. We hung out with friends and Heidi's family most of the day. Saturday was more a a recoup day with another movie and then dinner with the Riddles at Don Cuco's. We hope everyone out there had a great time.

Now we head into the birthday celebrations where we have on Heidi's side of the family 6 birthdays over the next 12 days. Yikes!

On the missionary front we are praying for the quick recovery of Elder Tyler French serving in the Ogden, Utah mission. Tyler underwent surgery the other day on his shoulder (an old football injury). From all reports he is doing great. We also enjoy receiving the letters of Elder Adam Figgat who comes home soon from the Cleveland, Ohio Mission and Elder Brandon Crow serving in Seoul, South Korea. All of them great young men.