We got to the ArcLight at about 11:40 p.m.  Outside the entrance were several camera crews interviewing people.  As Jamie and I entered the lobby, we were approached by a man and woman who wanted to interview us about the movie.  We answered their questions, while reserving judgment of the movie until after we saw it.  Unfortunately, they just said they were from a “Christian magazine”.  They didn't tell me which one, but I guess I'll be seeing that magazine in heaven.  Anyway, we headed into the theater, dodging other reporters, and settled in to our reserved seats.  (For DC Talk fans, there was a possible K-Max sighting.)  The movie was playing in the CineramaDome, which I'm not a big fan of, but what is important to note is that this particular screen has a curtain that covers it entirely.  It opens for the previews, then closes and reopens to set the feature apart.  So, the previews played, the screen closed, reopened, and then we all just sat in black silence waiting for the movie to begin.  It didn't.  The lights came back on, and we had to wait several minutes for them to work out the problem.  Very un-ArcLight.  Eventually, it got started, and was captivating from the first moment.  I did have to fight hard to watch it as a movie on its own terms, because all the controversy and things I heard would pop into my head as a new scene would begin or a new character would appear.  Man, it was gut-wrenching.  It was bloody and violent.  Kind of like real life.  I've read about people who complain that it was too violent, about people who had to leave in the middle of it.  I guess I'm just glad that Jesus didn't leave in the middle of it, that he endured it until everything was accomplished.

As the credits began to roll, an odd thing happened.  The curtain closed, the lights came up, and the film stopped rolling.  A few people began to get up to leave.  However, the majority demanded that they roll the credits, which they did.  Then they demanded that the curtain reopen, which it did.  Then they demanded that the lights go off, which they did.  Then, everyone stayed until the last credit rolled and then applauded.  If I were in Texas, this would not have surprised me, as I would have assumed that I was in the theater with a church group.  But I saw the movie in Hollywood, on Sunset Boulevard.  I'd be surprised if there were enough Christians in Hollywood to fill a theater.  I just think it says a lot that even this audience showed this amount of respect for this movie.

We saw the movie tonight.  It is indeed powerful both in art and in message.  Mel Gibson's career will not suffer.  The movie inspired no feelings of anti-semitism in me, only devastation at the display of what my sin cost Christ, instead of me.  I don't know yet how a non-Christian might respond to this.  I will probably see it again in the next week.  Don't wait until it's on DVD; you need to see it in theaters to feel the full weight of its impact.  I would not take my niece and nephew to see it.  More tomorrow after I've had time to reflect.

It happened this Monday.  I got my email newsletter from the ArcLight, and it featured the 'sneak preview' of The Passion of the Christ on Tuesday at midnight.  (Technically Wednesday at 12:01 a.m.)  I thought, “Awesome!  I'll get an early shot at the movie, and come back and blog about it for you guys.”  So, I immediately bought tix online and called Clinton to encourage him to do the same.  So, the next night we went over to Clinton's for Taco Tuesday.  Jamie lasted until about 10:00 p.m., then went to take a nap.  We woke her up in time to get going, and headed down to the theater.  When we got there, the place seemed pretty closed up, but we went in, and the security guard told us, “No more movies tonight.”  We said, “We've got tickets for the midnight show in the dome.”  The dome is separated a little bit from the regular theater.  That seemed to satisfy the security guard.  Clinton went up to Guest Services to get his actual tickets, because he had been forced to order them over the phone, and all he had was a confirmation number.  The attendant did something, then told him to just bring a certain piece of paper back when we came to see the movie.  Clinton said, “I'm here to see the movie now.”  Everyone was pretty confused at this point, because we had showed up for the movie a week early.  Doug even wore a tie.  The good news was that the ArcLight had already validated our parking.  Real review coming next week.

(Three posts in one week.  Booyah!)

I don't do a lot of music reviews here, but I'll tell you that I've really been enjoying my Valentine's Day gift from Jamie of Jet's album Get Born.  I really liked the song 'Are You Gonna Be My Girl', which is why Jamie got me the CD.  That song sounded like a classic the first time I heard it, you know what I mean.  I like most of the CD as well.  They've got some nice piano-driven tunes, reminiscent of Ben Folds.  So, if you liked the single, check out the CD, I guess that's what I'm really trying to say.

Update: Here's a link just for you B-dub. http://www.jettheband.com/

Today I had my first LA subway experience, and I'd say it was a pretty smooth one.  Jamie took the car to work today, but then we ended up having some friends who wanted to meet us for lunch at Universal City where she works.  So, I decided to walk the 7-8 blocks up to Hollywood & Highland, where I caught the Red Line going west.  It seemed like kind of a long walk, which is pathetic.  It's obviously been awhile since I lived in NYC, where the walk would have been nothing.  I bought my ticket ($1.25 one way) and headed down to the train, noticing the peculiar lack of any ticket agent or turnstiles to verify my ticket.  The train was pulling up as I headed down the stairs.  Since it was my first time, I wasn't sure which direction I needed to be heading.  Just as I figured out that this was the train I needed, the doors closed.  Alas!  But fortunately, someone down a ways stuck his hand in, which caused all the doors to reopen, so I hopped in.  I was just going one stop, but the ride lasted a good 5 minutes, very strange compared to NY.  The train stopped on Lankershim, which, as I had worried, was at the bottom of the hill upon which sits Universal CityWalk.  There was a shuttle, but I was already late, so I trudged up the hill and through the CityWalk.  All in all, it took me about 35 minutes door-to-door.  Not too bad, though I was late.  I think I just got my exercise for the year in as well.

Wow, the half-century mark!  How does it feel?

Now that gay marriage is the hot topic sweeping the country, I've been trying to formulate my own arguments against it.  As a Bible-believing Christian, the moral argument is the easy one.  But moral arguments are not going to get me very far with, at best, amoral people.  So, I'm looking for more practical arguments against gay marriage.  Let me know what you think.  Even if you think that there are no practical arguments, only moral ones.

We saw The Station Agent last night.  It was pretty enjoyable.  It wasn't one of those movies that has a thoroughly satifsying conclusion, but many of the scenes are compelling and the comic relief is pretty good.   It struck me how low of a budget it must have been shot on, and yet how many people were involved with it.

OK, it's official, we'll be in Texas April 19th-25th!

Hey everybody, Jamie and I are probably going to be in Texas late in April.  Be sure to mark your calendars!

The last thing we did on our Christmas trip to Vegas was to see Cirque du Soleil's Mystere.  It was quite cool, but I think the amazement factor lowers slightly with each Cirque show based on diminishing returns.  Along Came Polly was quite funny.  I'm not sure when the last time I saw a movie in which I laughed that much.

Sorry for the paltry entries in January.  I got really popular work-wise, which is good, but I didn't feel like spending my leisure time at the computer, too.  We'll see how February goes.

Sure, it's been a while, but I thought I'd continue on the Christmas story.  On our first full day, we did a little gambling, got some appetizers at Bradley Ogden's restaurant, and then saw Jerry Seinfeld perform at Caesar's palace in the theater built for Celine Dion.  I really enjoyed Jerry's standup.  Probably the second best I've seen.  First up is Jim Gaffigan, whom we are going to get to see again in February.  After the show we went back to Bradley Ogden's for dinner, which was muy excellente.  I mean, wow.  The only downside was that they were out of mint, so no Mojitos for Pete-o.

The next day we caught a van out to the airport, where we boarded a helicopter.  I should preface this with the fact that my stomach was not too happy with me for several hours before we got to the airport.  Anywho, we got on the helicopter and flew to the Grand Canyon, where we landed down inside and had champagne and crackers.  It was awesome!  I only wish that I weren't so queasy going into it.  But I pulled through without incident.