Shawn Levy Shuffle: Just In Time

 We are onto movie number two of movies directed by Shawn Levy. It wasn't very long after his first movie that he got to make his second film. Just In Time is a movie that I never even heard of before looking into Mr. Levy's career. However, it's a movie that I was surprised to like as well as I did.

Lilly is struggling in her day to day life after her mother died from an accident a year and a half ago. Her dad is always struggling, but it trying to hide it more than anything. Lilly keeps getting into fights at school, and at home with a revolving door of nannies that her dad keeps trying to higher. One day, on the way home from school, Lilly is getting bullies, and Faith intervenes. The two becoming unlikely friends. They only  grow closer when, in an usual set of circumstances, lead Faith to coming Lilly's nanny. 

Like I said before, I was surprised by this film. I really thought that this movie was going to be so insanely cheesy that I would not be able to handle it. It was cheesy (it's still a family centers 90's film after all) but it was sweet, and lighthearted in the best of ways. I didn't cringe at any of the acting, and I really loved the message to the film. 

Is it a film that I would tell someone to watch right away? No, but if someone brought it up I would give it a good review. 

There's No Place Like Movies At Home: Fiddler On The Roof

 We are back! 

No only are we back to talking about movies that I own, but we are back for another bought of classic musicals. This one comes from 1971, and it's one of MGM's most beloved classics, Fiddler On The Roof. 

A Jewish family living in Russia, is trying to make ends meet day to day. Trying to find how they will marry off their five daughters, with no way to be able to pay a dowery for each of them. They are trying to keep up with their traditions of their faith, while the a looming war and more modern ideals are introduced to them along the way. 

Now, this is why I love watching movies, cause sometimes, somehow, you just miss things. I have always wondered why in the world this movie has the title that it does.... only to find this time around, it's said in the opening monologue of the movie. Trying to keep tradition and face a new world is like being a fiddler on the roof. Beautiful things can come out of the most strange places, life is always a balancing act. 

This is one of those movies that I didn't fall in love with right away growing up. It's a meatier story than most musicals. The more I watch it the most I fall in love with it. I feel like the most I learn about history, art, or even just the technical aspects of music/musicals the more I love musicals like this. The has wonderful songs, and is so much fun to watch, however it's not always the fun, vibrant, and sunshiny musical that most people watch and remember. 

I think that only thing I would change for my next watch is do do a small amount of research of the original play in general. I think it's based of a real like journal, or notes, from a Jewish man who lived in Russia during this time. I do know that the town in Fiddler is not a real town, so there are some aspects that re not 100% the same. I think if I find out more on how this musical came to life in the first place, that I will love the musical more than I already do 

There They Are And There They'll Stay: Shawshank Redemption

Today is a noteworthy day when it comes to watching movies. I finally sat down and watched The Shawshank Redemption.

This is a very long movie, so I'm going to do my best is summarizing. 

Andy is serving two live sentences for the murder of his wife, and the man she was having an affair with. However, Andy has been wrongfully convicted of the crimes. With no real evidence is prove his innocents, he is sentenced, and sent to Shawshank. It's there that Andy fine a new purpose for his life, while also finding out how hard the life of an inmate can be. He does everything he can to improve his new living situation (sometimes in illegal ways), but also planning an escape that no one ever saw coming. 

I think I saw this movie once years ago with my dad. However, I didn't see right from the beginning. While most of what I did see made sense at the time, there were a few things that I felt like I was missing. Now seeing it in all of it glory, I understand why this movie is going to be labeled a classic forever! 

This movie is think is remember most because of the daring escape at the end of the movie, however, I think really that reason that escape is so wonderful is because of all of the things that Andy had to go through before his escape. 

The most was not only innocent of the crime he is there for but, during his time in prison, he suffered abuse, sexual assaulted, and blackmail. He didn't always make the right choices during his time in prison, but he tried to do what he could to improve the lives of those people around him. he got a new library for the inmates, helped several of them get an education while they were serving there time, and had a hand in getting some pretty nefarious people out of the prison. 

Then he learns from a new inmate who the real killer of his wife and her lover is, he tries to go and get help from the warden for help. However, over the years that Andy has been there, there has ben some fraudulent taxes on the books (manly due to Andy's expertise) and because the Warden doesn't want to stop lining his pockets, he refuses to help Andy. Then, just for good measure, has the new inmate murdered claiming that he had been trying to escape. 

This is when we finally see Andy escape, but also finally see how long he has been planning for it. 

This escape is memorable because we have lived so much life with Andy in just a few short hours. I don't really think movies today would have spent so much time focusing on the daily life of Andy in prison as they did in this film. That is what makes the payoff for the movie so sweet! We have been there through the suffering, pain, and ruthlessness of it all. 

"Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord."

                                                                                          Romans 12:19

Jesus Loves Movies uses this verse, and talks about how Jesus was an innocent man, brutally punished, and sentenced to death. The only thing is that it doesn't talk much about God's revenge on that situation. 

See, Jesus did get revenge on all of those people who not only killed in, but those who supported the he be sentenced to death. 

His revenge was not death or torture to those who were against him. It was freedom. 

Jesus's death gave a path for Him to be risen from the dead so that we may be given the chance to be free under His convent. Under His Blood. Under His law. 

Andy's escape, his freedom rather, lead so an investigation of Shawshank, or the guards, or the warden, of all of the people who should have given him freedom when they had the chance to help an innocent man. However, Andy's freedom lead to the uncovering of sins the men in charge tried to hide. 

Jesus's escape from death gives us freedom to choose Him. To seek Him. To love Him. To be free from the craziness of this world, and to show His love and mercy.