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Jonathan’s Resource Ezine |
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
- Something You Can Use – The Princess Bride: Yes, it’s a 20-year-old cult classic…but this film has so many awesome scenes in it, including one that will help your students understand an important promise Jesus gave His followers. Use this MOVIE CLIP DISCUSSION to help your students realize that not even death can stop Jesus’ true love for us!
- Youth Culture Window – MTV’s Newest Show ‘Skins’ Shows a Lot of It: MTV has borrowed another television show from the UK. Like several other European imports, this show crosses the line when it comes to drugs/alcohol, sex, and overall vulgarity. Read David R. Smith’s latest Youth Culture Window article so you’re familiar with the-most-talked-about-TV show currently aimed at kids in America.
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Main Point of Discussion: We have to remain faithful to Jesus because He has given us His promise to return.
The Movie Clip: The Princess Bride is S. Morgenstern’s classic tale of true love and high adventure. The plot revolves around a girl named Buttercup, who runs a farm, and Westley, (aka Farm boy) who helps her. In the opening of the movie, we’re told that the only words Westley ever speaks to Buttercup is “As You Wish.” One day, Buttercup realizes that when Westley says, “As You Wish” he is really saying, “I love You.” Buttercup realizes she loves Westley and Westley leaves to go and seek his fortune across the sea, and promises he will come back for Buttercup. Unfortunately, Buttercup learns that Westley’s ship was attacked by the Dread Pirate Roberts and that he was killed. Buttercup was left in despair.
Five years later, we find that Buttercup is engaged to be married to Prince Humperdink, even though she does not love him. Buttercup is then kidnapped by 3 men, Inigo, Fezzik and Vizzini. The three kidnappers and Buttercup are followed by The Man in Black who proceeds to outsmart and outfight the three kidnapers and he himself steals Buttercup back. It is revealed that the Man in Black in the Dread Pirate Roberts, himself.
Introducing the Clip:
I want to show you a clip from a cult classic, The Princess Bride. This movie has it all: sword fighting, giants, magic, torture, castle attacking, and the occasional kiss. Here’s what you need to know. Princess Buttercup lost her only true love 5 years earlier; his name was Westley. She loved him because he told her he loved her, but never with the words, “I love you.” No, Westley always said it this way: “As you wish.” They were set to be married, but while Westley was preparing for marriage, his ship was attacked by the dread pirate Roberts, and Buttercup discovered that Westley had been killed. In this scene, Buttercup has become engaged to Prince Humperdink, even though she doesn’t love him…and then she’s kidnapped by some bad guys. To make matters worse, a Man in Black is also on her tail. Let’s see what happens.
MTV’s New Program Shows a Lot of It
An article from David R. Smith at TheSource4YM.com
The Parents Television Council just called MTV’s Skins “the most dangerous program,” period. Surely that’s hyperbole, right? I mean, think of its competition: Gossip Girl, Tila Tequila, Real World and Nip/Tuck.
After watching Skins’ pilot, I gotta say, the PTC might be on to something.
From the UK…With Lust
(The American version of) Skins debuted on MTV on Monday, January 17, 2011 at 10:00 EST. The hour-long, scripted “dramedy” is one of the latest television imports from Great Britain. The show is largely uncensored in its portrayal of teenage life – or at least MTV’s concept of it: indulgent drug use, alcohol-drenched parties in rich suburbs, the ups and downs in various relationships, dysfunctional families, etc.
Ummm…here’s a rule of thumb I’ve noticed over the years: when a TV show crosses the pond, it usually does so with the intent of crossing lines, too. Coupling (NBC), Three’s Company (ABC), and even All in the Family (CBS) are just a few examples; in one way or another, they each crossed lines.
Unlike the British version of Skins, which employs twentysomethings to pose as teenagers, the American version actually uses teenagers in front of the camera (and in script consultation, off-camera). While MTV might boast about this “attention to detail,” it just may be one of the biggest reasons the cable network is in trouble up to its neck over Skins.
That’s because the content of the show is definitely “adult” in nature, but it uses teens to portray the mature subject matter to millions of other teens watching via television.
Sadly, it appears as though Skins skipped customs inspection; here’s a teaser for the TV show. (Bear in mind that this isn’t an actual scene from any particular episode; it’s just promotional material, but it does a great job preparing viewers for the actual show.) The content of that teaser explains why the Parents Television Council called Skins “the most dangerous program that has ever been foisted on your children” in a recent Action Alert.
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Jonathan McKee
Jonathan McKee is the author of over twenty books including the brand new The Guy's Guide to FOUR BATTLES Every Young Man Must Face; The Teen’s Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices; If I Had a Parenting Do Over; and the Amazon Best Seller - The Guy's Guide to God, Girls and the Phone in Your Pocket. He speaks to parents and leaders worldwide, all while providing free resources for youth workers on TheSource4YM.com. Jonathan, his wife Lori, and their three kids live in California.