Shawn Levy Shuffle: Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

 We finally come to the conclusion of a very special trilogy.

 Larry Daley is on the cusp of an extortionary concept the the Museum of Natural History. Since all of the exhibits come to life at night, why not say that he upgraded them to animatronics and then teach people at night but have them "come alive". Everything is going to plan, until is doesn't. When on opening night the characters start to glitch out and mess everything up, Larry has to figure out why. That's when Ahkmenrah comes to Larry and shows him the the talisman that bring them to life is being corroded and needs a cure. 

Larry, in doing research to find how to fix the stone, learns that Cecil (one of the guards from the first film) was on the dig that discovered the tomb where Ahkmenrah was buried. Larry goes to him for help, and Cecil tells him that he needed to take the talisman to London's museum and talk to the Ahkmenrah's parents about what is happening. 

So, I love this movie for a few different reason. Not only is it actually a  really wall done sequel for a franchise, but it's the last movie that Robin Williams appeared in. 

It also the last movie that my favorite all time actor Mickey Rooney was in. 

Both passed away in 2014. I love that their last movie was one that was part of such a beloved franchise and that it was memorable. 

 This movie will always be special to me because it was the last the Mickey Rooney was in. 

Which if I ever get the chance to meet Mr. Levy, I would love to think him for showcasing Mickey Rooney in the way that he did.

There They Are and There They'll Stay: Real Steel

 Now, had I realized that Real Steel was going to be reviewed twice this year, I would have just done one post. Yet, here we are. 

"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still" Exodus 14:14

We all want people to fight for us. Sometimes is in defense of other people and sometimes it's fighting against ourselves. In a whole movie, and honestly the whole world, of fighting.... being still does not feel like it's an option. 

We just have to be still and the Lord of the whole universe is going to fight for us? It seems like something crazy! Yet, it's true. There are times that God asks us to lift our weapons (pray, worship, ect) and fight. We need to fight with those weapons daily. However, fighting with words and other things when if feels like your being attacked, being still is hard. However, I see how it's the right thing to do. 

Max's dad finally learned that his Max needed to be still be fought for not have Max fighting for to get his attention. Thankfully that is a lesson that God doesn't have to learn. 

There They Are and There They'll Stay: Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

 I think that might be one of the longest titles I have had thus far in writing on here. 

 So, lets talk about Star Wars....

Look.... it's a story of good verses evil and spoiler alert the big baddie is Luke's father... 

I hate star wars. I don't get it. I don't get the hype. I firmly believe that there are very few people that love these films weren't introduced to them at birth. Like all but one person that loves them that I know has seen them since they were young. They get it I don't. Yes, I have watched them, several times. 

Still don't get it.

So, while this movie was on I was very distracted. 

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17

I love the fact the someone can find something about faith in this movie and Luke having a terrible father is a good one. I love the God can be out perfect father, no matter how broken and mistake earthly fathers can be. 

There They Are and There They'll Stay: Monster's INC

This time around we are entering into another Disney movie! I have no problems with this at all. 

This time around, it's Monster INC.

Sully is the top scarer at the company Monsters INC. He is on his way to breaking the all time scare record. Everything is going well, until he finds a door after hours on the floor and he investigates. He thought that it was some sort of oversite and just brushes it off, until he finds out the he let a human child into the building.  Now Sully, along with his best friend Mike, have to try and get her back to the right door, before everyone finds out.

Now, I won't lie, I got caught up in the movie that I didn't really think about a theme for how this lines up with faith, so we are just going to see what the book Jesus Loves Movies says.

"...Like a shepherd, he will care for his flock gathering the lambs in his arms, hugging them as he carries them, leading the nursing ewes to good pasture." Isaiah 40:9-11

I don't think that I would have thought of a more perfect comparison of the movie as to God rescuing us sheep and brining us to where we belong. 

We as humans are so stupid! It's no wonder why the Bible compares us to Sheep! 

However, having someone we can trust, like Boo trusts Sully, is such a blessing that we constantly overlook.   

There They Are and There They'll Stay: Hacksaw Ridge

 We are back talking about the one movie that was ROBBED of the Best Picture Oscar in 2017!

Desmond Doss is a solider that Volunteer for WWII. However he doesn't want to hold a gun. He wants to train as a medic and help save lives, not take them. His deep faith and conviction helps him to press on during boot camp when his character, faith, and freedoms come under fire. He is torments by his comrades, bullied by superiors, and is questioned about what he wants to do over and over and over again. Yet, he stays faithful to what he hold true and ends up saving the lives of 75 men on one of the bloodiest fights during the war. 

I love this movie. I was always say that it was robbed at the 2017 Oscars. It had so much heart, faith, great acting and directing. I could go on and on but I will save it for another time that I know will one day come again. 

"...The lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the Heart." 1 Samuel 16:17

In the book Jesus Loves Movies Phil Strangolagalli explains that Doss' character is under attack. Now, I did overlook that a bit seeing this film. I know that he faith was tested, but I never came to me that it was also his character. That who is is was coming under attack. Which I have agree with Phil about the message of faith. We can talk all da about Desmond's faith, but we need to focus on God's faithfulness. God knew who Desmond was. The kind of man that he wanted to be and what kind of Man God wanted him to be. 

I am so glad that God looks at what people can't see because people get it wrong all of the time. 

There They Are and There They'll Stay: Wonder Woman

 Literally on of the best superhero movies ever to be made!

Diana is the most powerful of the Amazon Women. She was training since she was a child to defeat Ares. When a man is cast ashore their Island of no men, it causes a still. Not in the way that you think. This man is being followed by his enemy, the Nazis, and it's discovered the Ares is running amuck on earth. Diana leaves to go and defend the world and fight a God is disguise. 

Now I have always loved this movie. I think that the guitar riff to introduce Wonder Woman herself is enough to make me want to keep watching. Now I thought that this movie was simple in way of faith. Good vs. evil, mankind at stake, ect., ect.

Not for Phil! He had a different take on this than what I could have ever come up with. 

"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days of come" Proverbs 31:25

He talks about how woman can be in the kingdom of God in ways and men can't. The world makes it seems like Women have always "had it bad" or how we are lesser than. In reality, being built different than a man does not make them lesser. Just built different. We are no less important in the kingdom of heave then men. It was women who Satan attacked in the garden. Mary was told about her giving birth to Jesus before Joseph. It was Mary that Jesus revealed Himself to, alive, at the tomb. Women are DIFFERENT not LESS IMPORTANT. 

There They Are and There They'll Stay: Split

 So, we are, again, to a scary movie. No, I didn't watch the film. However, What Phil Stranoglagalli has to say about it is pretty wonderful. 

Ok, so my understanding is this movie is dealing with a man who has a multiple personality disorder. What makes it worse, is that this man kidnapped three teenage girls, and took them to an underground facility. 

So, let's introduce that verse that is used for this movie. 

"Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: 'Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.' and he went outside and wept bitterly." Matthew 26:75

 Here is what I love about this devotional I am working through. Mr. Strangolagalli makes a connection that I would have never seen. He talks about how the main character in this movie is brought back to a place of fear, worry, and shame when you say his name. Peter is brought back to the truth of denying Jesus three times when he heard the rooster crow. How it moved him to weeping because he denied, not only he most beloved friend, but the savior of the whole world! 

What's more amazing is that when Jesus came to speak to the reaming 11, Peter got to talk to Him and ask for forgiveness. He got to reconcile with his friend before he was left to live the rest of his life on this side of heaven. 

I love that is something the Jesus still does with us every single day.  

The Shawn Levy Shuffle: This Is Where I Leave You

My faith in Shawn Levy may have faltered a little bit. However, I know what the future holds and I think I will be ok. 

 When the patriarch of the family passes, everyone comes home to mourn. However, they all bring their problems home with them. The failed marriages, the never grow ups, the wish they dids and wish they didn't's are all under the same roof for a prolonged period of time.

Now, this start studded cast of wonderful people are some of the best in the business. However, I didn't like this movie that much. Now, I really just might be a matter of taste here. You can't really put that many people who are known for their comedy chops and try to pull of the amount of drama needed for a funeral. However, I will say that I know that, if this move was more my taste, I would say that Mr. Levy is still a master of tell stories about families. How weirdly complicated that they could be, and how they are there for each other when nothing else makes sense. 

Now, I am going to say that Mr. Levy has lost his touch?

NO!

I know that we still have some huge movies coming up that I can't wait to rewatch, and they are some of the best work he has ever done.