While I was driving from Consolacion to the Cathedral in Cebu City last Saturday, I heard a Monster Radio DJ interviewing a band called Drip Manila. At first I did not find the discussion interesting at all because the female DJ seemed clueless about the quartet and their brand of music. But since I like [...]

Does the Vatican condemn the movie “Elizabeth: The Golden Age”? Has it denounced it as an attempt to undermine Christianity? Does it consider the film an atheist plot to promote secularism worldwide?
Signis, the world Catholic association for communication, recently released a statement to clarify these issues, sort out the controversies and review the [...]

It’s choice, not chance, that determines who we become. This for me is the main point of the film Spider-Man 3. Peter Parker/Spider-Man faces a lot of crucial, often difficult choices in this one-hour-and-a-half movie. Sometimes he has to make split second decisions while battling his opponents in midair, while at other times he chooses to do something important after a careful thought.

When he learns that his Uncle Ben’s killer is finally identified, Peter goes to his room, shuts himself from the world, and plans his next move. An internal struggle sets in, and Peter has to make a choice – whether to avenge his beloved uncle’s death or to forgive Flint Marko/Sandman, the killer. In other words, whether to use his powers for his own benefit or for the good of others. To aggravate the situation, a slimy black substance attaches itself to Peter and transforms him from a jovial, selfless hero into a dark, egocentric jerk.

The black Spider-Man chooses to punish Flint and enjoys it to the full. For a while, Peter feels good about his transformation, and in the process, needlessly hurts Mary Jane, Harry, Gwen and other people that matter to him. Acting as if his voice of conscience, auntie May makes Peter realize that even if his dark side rages within him, he still has a choice to do the right thing. After all the terrible choices he has made in the past, Peter does the right thing and forgives Flint in the end.

Of all the three films in the Spider-Man franchise, I like the latest installment best. Its fast-paced fight sequences, the love triangle between Peter, MJ and Harry, the superb visual and sound effects, and a coherent storyline are wonderful entertainers. Aside from its technical and literary merits, the film also teaches many valuable lessons to viewers. One of the important lessons it imparts is that a person’s good character is not something ready-made, but something in a continuous formation through good choices and sincere efforts. Becoming a good person does not just happen – it is a goal to be achieved, it is a matter of making the right choices.

It is a real joy to recommend this film to moviegoers of all ages.

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Image credit: Internet Movie Database

Many films have attempted to portray the life, death and resurrection of Jesus from the perspectives of those who have lived during his time on earth. A good example is Jesus Christ Superstar (1973), which presents Jesus from the point of view of Judas, the disciple who betrayed him. Mary and Jesus (1999) portrays Jesus from the viewpoint of Mary, his mother. The Miracle Maker (2000) tells the Jesus story through the eyes of Jairus’ daughter, the girl that Jesus healed.

A new movie of this kind has recently been broadcast in the Middle East and North Africa. It presents Jesus from Mary Magdalene’s vantage-point and is aptly entitled “JESUS, As Witnessed By Mary Magdalene.” LifeAgape Director Henri Aoun says that the goal of the film is “to help every woman to know her value in Jesus Christ…” as well as “to help give women back their pride and respect, exactly like Jesus did when he touched the heart of Mary Magdalene”. Mary Magdalene has been unfairly characterized in Hollywood as no more than a prostitute who was saved by Jesus from being stoned to death. Not many films put the spotlight on the fact that she was the first one to witness the resurrection of Jesus and that she herself was a follower of Christ.

“JESUS, As Witnessed By Mary Magdalene” presents “the loving Jesus who protected a woman’s honor, built up her dignity and gave her a role in preaching the good news.” I agree with Jinan Slim of SAT-7 when he said that the film “is a much-needed production, one that is very important in the Arab world where women’s position in society, and even in the Church, has historically been marginalized”.

The idea of the movie interests me big time. But the film is in Arabic so it might take some time before it reaches the Philippine shores (if ever it will reach these shores). I hope a lot of women will be able to watch it because I’m sure many of them can relate to Mary Magdalene’s story.

Just last Friday, I facilitated a short seminar on “Film and Faith”, an exploration on how to use film for evangelization and values education. Most of the participants were catechists coming from different parts of the Philippines. They were particularly interested in learning how to utilize film in catechism.

Drunk Souls is a french rock and reggae band. It is easy to fall in love with their upbeat music and thought-provoking lyrics. According to their webpage in Jamendo, the aim of the music of the Drunk Souls is “to make you dance, to make you think, and to reconcile all the musical tribes,” for [...]

Was the film well made? Does it stay close to the original novel? Is it misleading? Is the story faith threatening? These are some of the questions answered by Fr. Peter Malone, an Australian Missionary of the Sacred Heart, who is an expert in films. He watched the film during its premiere in Cannes and has written an objective and intelligent review of it.

Peter had such an riveting life story that I always thought it would make a very good film. Thus when I learned that RaiUno would broadcast a film about the first pope for two nights (24-25 Oct at 2100), I went to the TV room on the dot. San Pietro (Saint Peter) was directed by the Italian filmmaker Giulio Base. In the title role is the septuagenarian Omar Sharif.

It was the biggest concert I have ever attended. Italian dailies reported that there were some seven hundred thousand people who took part in it. Although it began around three in the afternoon, I was there from seven in the evening until one thirty in the morning. Live8 was one experience that will stay fresh in my heart for many years.

Bob Geldof says that it is going to be the greatest concert ever. And I will be part of it. I am going to the Live8 concert this afternoon at Circus Maximus.

This evening I went to the Warner Village in Piazza Repubblica to get a glimpse of the stars of Star Wars Episode III. I was actually hoping Natalie Portman (Padmé) would show up but it was fine that Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker) and Anthony Daniels ( C-3PO) were there to grace the premiere of the movie in Rome. What I truly love about the Star Wars films is that it does not only tell you a good story and show you smashing special effects, it also behooves you to ask questions about yourself and about your faith.