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 | Jonathan’s Resource Ezine |
Weekly Resources, Ideas and Articles from The Source for Youth Ministry
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
| In This Issue |
- Featured: A Regular Dose of Youth Ministry Help from Jonathan’s Blog
- New Movie Reviews: Spiderwick, Jumper, American Gangster, Michael Clayton, Martian Child…
- Coming Soon: Just a Li’l
| If you aren’t a subscriber of this EZINE and would like to subscribe – it’s free – just pop on www.TheSource4YM.com and sign up in the upper right hand corner. |
| Featured: A Regular Dose of Youth Ministry Help from Jonathan’s Blog |
After years of writing articles about youth ministry, parenting and youth culture, Jonathan has launched a free resource at one location where people can go to get a regular dose of this content. The buzz is out… check it out for yourself… Jonathan’s Blog.
Check out this crazy video of “Child Preachers” from Jonathan’s blog yesterday…
Child Preachers
Wow… I preached my first sermon as a freshman in High School and I thought I started young!
These are hilarious. These children not only are imitating preaching, they have every gesture, every voice inflection… these kids have been paying attention!
Some of Jonathan’s Other Recent Blog Entries:
She’s Like So Whatever
Jonathan takes a peek at the young role model Avril Lavigne, her new tour, her lyrics and a little about the reputation she’s living up to.
You Mean… the Lyrics DO Affect Me?
Jonathan looks at what recent studies are saying about the ties between music and sex & substance abuse.
Miley Cyrus is like… so popular!
Disney’s star of Hannah Montana is one to watch. Jonathan looks at the popularity of this young diva and some of the choices she’s making.
MTV Top 10 Artists… Not quite Role Models
MTV posted their top 10 artists on their web site this week. Jonathan takes a closer look at this list and what kind of role models some of these artists are.
Soulja Boy Up In “the What?!!”
Jonathan diggs a little deeper into this raunchy song that held the #1 spot on charts for months and shares about how now the “Superman” dance is being taught in the PE class at some public schools.
Why Teenagers Like Amy Winehouse
Jonathan talks about “authenticity” and why teenagers admire Amy Winehouse over Lindsey Lohan.
Jonathan McKee is president of The Source for Youth Ministry and author of numerous youth ministry books like “Do They Run When They See You Coming?” and “Getting Students to Show Up.” Jonathan studies youth culture and trends, speaking and training across the country and providing free online resources, training, & ideas for youth workers at www.TheSource4YM.com| New Movie Reviews: Spiderwick, Jumper, American Gangster, Michael Clayton, Martian Child… |
Spiderwick Chronicles, The (2/15/2008)
Rated PG for scary creature action and violence, peril and some thematic elements.
Directed by Mark Waters (Mean Girls, Freaky Friday…)
Starring Freddie Highmore, Mary-Louise Parker, Nick Nolte…
Jonathan’s Rating: Rental
Good family fun.
I have to tell you right off the bat that scoring this was difficult. This was a really enjoyable film and almost received a “Theatre Worthy” score from me. It’s not often that you can find a good clean film these days that the whole family will enjoy. The Spiderwick Chronicles definitely is one of those. (So understand that my 14-year-old son is upset with me for not scoring it higher. In my kid’s mind, this film is Theatre Worthy.)
But I don’t give out my second highest score-Theatre Worthy-to any ol’ film. Spiderwick was good fun, but not without its problems.
The film is a fantasy film about a mother and three kids that move into the old run-down Spiderwick estate, only to find themselves pulled into an alternate world of fairies, trolls and other bizarre creatures.
The story, based on the popular children’s books, was very well written. The performances weren’t bad either. The problem was the genre…
Jumper (2/14/2008)
Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action violence, some language and brief sexuality.
Directed by Doug Liman (Mr. and Mrs. Smith & The Bourne Identity)
Starring Hayden Christensen, Samuel L. Jackson, Rachel Bilson, and Jamie Bell
Todd’s Rating: Only if Free
20 minutes in I was wishing I could teleport out of the theater.
Jumper is the story of David Rice (Hayden Christensen) who discovers he has a genetic anomaly that allows him to teleport himself anywhere in the world. He learns that “Jumpers” have existed for centuries and that he is now in the middle of a war that has been raging for thousands of years.
The trailer was so good it got me to attend the midnight showing on opening day. Samuel L Jackson, sporting very cool white hair, and Jamie Bell both deliver entertaining performances and although the idea of Jumper is interesting and special effects throughout are amazing, it was unable to overcome some very big shortcomings, the biggest of which was Hayden Christensen. He was the same, whiny, almost manic-depressant character that we saw in the Star Wars prequels.
As I said, I love the idea of Jumper, but I wish they had explained the “gift” a little more or even had shown some of the “historical jumpers.” I also would have liked to have seen more jumpers, this film only had three, but I guess that will all come in the squeals…yeah there will be squeals…even if they are a direct to DVD release.
That being said, my biggest peeve with the film was the anti-hero hero…
American Gangster (2/19/2008)
Rated R for violence, pervasive drug content and language, nudity and sexuality.
Directed by Ridley Scott (Kingdom of Heaven, Gladiator)
Starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe
Todd’s Rating: Theatre Worthy
Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Brian Grazer and Ridley Scott, another movie-making dream team, bring to the big screen the true story of 1970s Harlem’s larger than life gangster Frank Lucas and his mirror counterpart top cop Richie Roberts. The result is a two and a half hour wild ride filled with intense drama and a whole lot of violence.
The story revolves around two similar characters. Both Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) and Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) share the same work ethic and strong, yet flawed, ethical code that separate them from their colleagues. Their only difference: they stand on opposite sides of the law. Frank Lucas was the quiet driver to one of Harlem’s African-American crime bosses. At his side when his boss suddenly dies, Frank seizes the opportunity and begins to build his own empire. It’s not long before Lucas is sitting on top of the inner-city drug trade. His method is simple: a better product at a better price. Richie Roberts, who because of his honesty, is an outcast with the other cops. After the death of his partner he becomes obsessed with finding the man behind the powerful heroin on the street, Blue Magic.
This is a great movie…the fact that it is based on a true story makes it a stinking (or freaking) great movie about one man’s rise and fall and another man’s fall and rise…
Michael Clayton (2/19/2008)
Rated R for language including some sexual dialogue.
Directed by Tony Gilroy (wrote the screenplay for the Bourne films…)
Starring George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson, Sydney Pollack, Michael O’Keefe
Jonathan’s Rating: Theatre Worthy
Michael Clayton has been nominated for several Academy Awards, and I’m not surprised. It was one of the better films of 2007.
In the spirit of The Firm or The Rainmaker, Michael Clayton grabs you with this intense story of an attorney known as the “fixer” at his law firm who comes across the biggest case of his career. The outcome could create devastating results for all involved.
Clooney was fantastic as always. But I have to give special recognition to Tilda Swinton for her Oscar nominated performance. She’s come a long way since The Chronicles of Narnia…
| Coming Soon: Just a Li’l Bit |
It’s coming soon…. a free podcast just for teenagers… helping them get just a li’l bit of scripture to get them through the day.
Wouldn’t it be cool if we could get THE WORD into their ears?
Coming Soon!
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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.