Rangers 2 MY PADRES!! 3 :>)

Rangers 5 My PADRES!! 6

Thank you very much!!!!

Having much to learn but still appreciating aesthetics, I’m impressed with LUTHER. It wasn’t the box-office smash of PASSION OF THE CHRIST, partly because the two came out simultaneously and had overlapping potential audiences. On balance LUTHER is neither pro-Luther nor anti-Luther, or, to put that another way, it is BOTH pro-Luther and anti-Luther. The directors chose not to go into topics such as anti-Semitism, which existed on both sides of the Reformation, but rather to use the film’s 124 minutes to highlight the contrast between Luther and the abuses he was protesting. Common Catholics are portrayed as devout believers manipulated by corrupt officials, who, as the story progresses, come to realize the church is in a mess, they have gotten her that way, and they must cleanse their own sanctuary.

On minor points the film misses the target. Luther cites chapter-verse in opposing the Petrine theory, but the chapter-verse breaks weren’t there until after Luther died. Some scenes need different staging; if a 5-second distraction turns your head, you’ll miss the 95 theses, the renowned nailing coming across as daft, with few spectators (historical accuracy perhaps, just not gripping drama). The repetitious background music would more effectively incorporate themes popularly identified with Luther, particularly “Ein’ Feste Burg” (”A Mighty Fortress”), the Reformation’s default anthem. Some carnage scenes are too graphic for unaccompanied children—thus the PG-13 rating.

Nonetheless, in general the largely European cast and directors have done a superb job of making an authentic but spell-binding documentary. LUTHER was the last film in which Sir Peter Ustinov appeared before his death, and he does a masterful job of playing the Duke of Wittenburg. The film is overall awesome. The episode in which Luther makes his “Here I stand” statement could not possibly be better done. Whether you agree with Luther or not, you will see leadership, conviction, pathos, relationships between ideas and consequences, noble traits and evil traits in the human nature which Christ came to remake and save. This film causes you to think. There’s even some fitting comic relief, as when nuns, escaping a convent, pop out of a wagonload of “herring” barrels. Presto Luther’s happy wedding to the lead mutineer, Katherina von Bora.

Highly recommended, including for congregational viewing and discussion.

Now back to CARS . . . .

“We are going to the Rangers game tomorrow… ” Hush ya mouth!

That’s the PADRES!!/ Rangers game! :o)

Give a shout of thanks to all Rangers fans for Adrian Gonzalez and Chris Young. They’re more than welcome in San Diego! :O)

No comment about your Sox game… still bitter…. We are going to the Rangers game tomorrow…

I had heard so much good about Cars it was a little bit of a let down. But still good. Our three boys loved it!

I got to see Pedro pitch at Fenway in 2000. The crowd is invested in every pitch. Quite different from baseball in southern Cal where they show up in the third, leave in the seventh, and chat in between.

Great to see you and your family yesterday, Mike.