Yellow Legged Honeycreeper via MrClean1982. Gorgeous!

Color me intrigued by the potential of this film in asking really important questions about life and internal debates.  And possibly shedding some needed light on a very shrouded religious sect’s history:

The project was initiated by a member of Opus Dei, is partly produced and financed by the group’s members and has enlisted an Opus Dei priest to consult on the set. News of the project has set off criticism among some former Opus Dei members that the movie will be little more than propaganda for the organization. But Mr. Joffé, in the first interview he has given about the film, said that he had been given complete creative control and that Opus Dei never had any influence on the project.

He ditched the script he was originally given, he said, because he did not want to make what he called a “biopic” about Escrivá’s life. But, he added, he was intrigued by Escrivá’s ideas about the power of forgiveness and the capacity of every human being for sainthood. Opus Dei — the name is Latin for work of God — teaches that ordinary work can be a path to sanctity if the believer maintains a demanding regimen of religious practices intended to achieve holiness.

And yet? I’m skeptical about the "full creative control" from financial backers.

Does that smack of set up for contrived public protest and victimhood if the film isn’t sufficiently reverential of its subject to anyone else?

Anyone heard anything about this film? 

I loved the shades of gray and bleak honesty of Joffe’s prior work in "The Killing Fields."  Would love to see some of that on this subject matter, good or ill, as well.

Gorgeous shot via AmpamukA.

I have been on a travel book kick of late. It’s a bit of escape reading for me, really, without having to actually leave the house.

There is a line in Out of Africa where Karin Blixen is asked whether she’s traveled much — she’s being teased about bringing Limoges to Africa to set up house.  She replies that she has been "a mental traveler," meaning she’s done a lot of travel reading but never done much of the actual travel itself.

I fall into that category, partly because of budget constraints but, mostly and in all honesty, because life takes over and you forgo travel when you choose to do other things.

Some of my favorite books are those of Paul Theroux, whose acerbic wit and snarky attitude matches up so well with the idiocy of inane logistical snafus and rustling sweatsuit-clad tour groups with large cameras and tchotchke-seeking rapacious consumerism on their minds.

When I travel, I like to observe and soak things in where I happen to be in the moment, and so nattering on about the next shopping excursion down the road drives me batty.  Theroux captures that irritation hilariously.

One of my all-time favorites of his is "Riding the Iron Rooster."

I re-read it recently when we were on the train back and forth from New York City. It turned out that both Mr. ReddHedd and The Peanut had caught the family ick that had gone around just as mine was beginning to ebb. What ended up happening is that both of them slept a lot on the train both ways, which gave me some quiet, uninterrupted reading time.

Despite the coughing and motherly worry, it was heaven. And I managed to read the entire book, cover to cover, from the time we left until just before we pulled back into Pittsburgh.

Another that I found enthralling was Colin Thubron’s "Shadow Of The Silk Road," also about China (I’m sensing a trend here.). His historical background is amazing, but it is his capacity to see both the good and bad in people that is captivating. For a more recent take on China, try Rob Gifford’s China Road — I’ve always loved his NPR reporting, and his book is a fascinating glimpse, especially about AIDS, Chinese bureaucracy and the difficulties in reporting real life details anywhere.

Two of my favorite books on the Afghanistan/Pakistan region capture difficulties — and historically inspirational underpinnings — as well. Jason Elliott’s "An Unexpected Light" remains a long-time favorite of mine precisely because his capacity for joy in the face of really tough odds is contagious. And I defy anyone to read Greg Mortenson’s "Three Cups Of Tea" and not come away inspired to do more, to be more. (more…)

Balloons via Jakob E.

Here’s my weekend movie recommendation for you.  Go see Up.

Go today.

Seriously.

You can thank me later.

Poignant, hilarious…at times, almost pee yer pants funny.

And yet? It reminds you all over again what the best things in life are about: holding the hand of someone you love, ice cream cones and nothing but time, watching the clouds float by, picnics in the park…and dreaming big dreams and small ones. And making them come true.

"Look! Squirrels!"

hehehehehehehe

You’ll get it when you see the movie. I haven’t liked a film this much in ages.  Be forewarned, all my pals who have had fertility issues, the beginning of the film may make you weepy — it did me.  But it’s worth it for some very sweet and very silly moments afterward.

It’s beautifully done.  Ed Asner alone is worth the price of admission and then some.

Seen anything good at the movies? Found a new favorite song? Good recipe? Anything lighting up your life lately? Do tell. Pull up a chair…

PS — The Peanut and I will be going out of town for a few days of "Momma and Me vacation." She needs some time with me without a computer now that school is out. We leave tomorrow and I’ll be back on the page on Friday. Wanted to give everyone a heads up lest someone think some dire consequence had befallen us. Nope — just having a little summer fun. Try not to tease each other too much in my absence. *g*

I can remember the first time I saw Star Wars, sitting in that darkened theater with my older cousin, in awe of the star cruisers that seemed to fly right out of the screen at us. It was magic. I became hooked on science fiction at the ripe age of eight because of the genius of Yoda. And all the potential of space travel and our own possibilities.

Now THIS is some kick-ass messaging pushback…

(From The American President.)

For all the googlie wooglie bears out there…happy valentine’s day.

A little Monster’s, Inc….